INTRODUCTION
A most awesome gift and blessing of God is healing. Scripture
tells us that God heals all our diseases. Let's look at
the context of that verse in Psalm 103 by David who died, it seems,
in sickness from some kind of problem with poor blood circulation
in his old age of seventy years (1Kings 1:1-3; 2:10).
We know the NT Gospels have many examples of people being healed
of crippling and paralysis, blindness, deafness, leprosy, other
diseases, demon possession, and of resurrection from death. How
often do we see such healings today? And how often do we see honour
and blessing of God, ecstatic remembrance of God's blessings,
forgiveness, healing, redemption, powerful love and wonderful
mercy? Why is healing stuck in the midst of descriptions of spiritual
blessings and practical Christianity (cp. 1Cor 11:28-30)?
In our previous Bible study, entitled The Effects of Healing,
based on Luke 5:12-26, one vital aspect I didn't cover was what
the apostle Peter said in his first epistle:
HEALING OF THE BODY OR HEALING OF THE SPIRIT?
SPIRITUAL HEALING
Who fully identifies with what Isaiah 53 says? Those who really
want to know the Son of God always seek to know and do the Will
of His Father. Those who seek the Will of God recognize that their
Christianity demands growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ—for we are to become perfect: that is the demand of Scripture
(Mt 5:48). We all know this, but why do we not consistently and
wholeheartedly apply this? Why the reluctance to overcome and
why the resistance to correction?
With so many different Christian groups, who really knows which
will is the Will of God? And are differences among Christians
and groups defined by personal preference and opinion or irrefutably
defined by Scripture which is revealed by the Spirit of God? Isn't
godly understanding and action always coherent, always ready to
answer, always full of grace and truth? How does the Bible define
the differences between the righteous before the true God and
the righteous before their own versions of God? If I may
speak in a parable: the Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo have their
justifications for their separation, they have their just causes
disputed by the other, they have their justifications for their
unwillingness to open up discussions.
Let's continue with Christ's words in John 12:
It should be seen that the difference between righteous decision
and self-centred, misperceived opinion is the same as the difference
between Cain and Abel, Judas and Job, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau
and Jacob. One is not prepared to fully confess his sins, is not
receptive to being questioned in the Light of Scripture, is subsequently—sometimes
years later—proven to be self-willed and proud. The other readily
admits to his sins, is prepared to answer all questions, and is
not self-willed. His humility leads him to be healed of any spiritual
sickness and therefore he walks, talks, sees, hears, thinks, does
what is different to what he was earlier, for he is receptive
to truth even if that truth hurts his carnal sensitivities.
Even if a child should correct me on a point of Christian behaviour,
I am obliged to heed, admit error to the child if I am wrong,
repent, and do good. Receptivity to correction is a distinguishing
feature of Christian behaviour. If rebuke, expression of disagreement,
or criticism is in error then sound proof of invalidity of the
correction offered should be willingly forthcoming. If not, then
one has to ask, 'Why is there a willingness to prolong a bad situation?
Why is there an unwillingness to resolve problems?' Sometimes
we have to just let go because the other is not ready for more
godliness. In marriage, when couples are unwilling to resolve
their problems, they guarantee more pain, more disappointments.
Let's continue with Isaiah 53:
But notice what Isaiah goes on to say:
The crippled person knows he is crippled and doesn't want to be.
But how often is the spiritual cripple prepared to admit to sickness?
The person who is blind knows, just as all observers know, that
he is blind. But the spiritually blind—who is able to see? What
kind of Christian will admit to being spiritually blind? Job did!
Jacob eventually did! Job's spiritual blindness was recognized
by only one person, Elihu, until Job came to see his blindness.
Job was then healed! Let's look more at the human walls of resistance
to correction.
WALLS OF RESISTANCE TO CORRECTION
If I don't give to others the kind of treatment I receive from
God and His Son then I am cursed. The love of God gives correction
to the children He loves.
If I, with all my might, my mind, my heart and the grace of God,
strive to treat others as God treats me, then I am blessed. "How
well do I know this?" I ask myself. I am, nevertheless, unconvinced
that we all know this well! Why am I unconvinced? Because the
spirit that drives this world is the same spirit that uses the
same tactics to misinform, disinform and misdirect the people
of God. Why do people respond to situations emotionally rather
than with godly discernment and wisdom? I too often see and hear
of people who prefer personal impressions and naïve opinions
rather than the difficulties of long-suffering and righteous discernment
of realities—realities as defined by God, and not those naïve,
wrong and impatient impressions which then give rise to false
conclusions and then the misuse of those false impressions. If
and when I am guilty of that someone should have the courage to
tell me right away.
It is an invisible spiritual darkness that distorts the differences
between good and evil, between right and wrong, between recognition
of the tree of life, in which there is no darkness at all, and
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The tree of the knowledge
of good and evil always masquerades as good, as innocent, well-intentioned,
correctly-informed, justified. However, this is all a front for
questionable intentions, falsehood, misrepresentation and hidden
deceits. Its intent is to get what is evil in the eyes of God
as acceptable in the eyes of men. Worldwide advertising and the
political and cultural propaganda industries thrive on this seductive
ideology. We know this but fail to recognize it when it is close
at hand. Why?
The frightening assumption in what I'm saying is that it is godly
discernment, godly recognition, godly wisdom, godly intentions
that govern the perceptions conceived and conveyed to others.
But each person is right in his own eyes, just as Job and Judas
were. Their ends, however, were markedly different. Why? Cain
and Abel both worshipped, supposedly, the same God. Ishmael and
Isaac worshipped the same God. Esau and Jacob worshipped the same
God. Lucifer got his following from among those who were all worshippers
of the Almighty God. What caused angels to follow Lucifer rather
than the One who is the promised Firstborn of all creation (see
Col 1:15; Rom 8:29; Ps 89:27; 45:7)? What is the essential difference
between these sets of characters? Do we think we know, or do we
know? And is that understanding based upon clear, logical, irrefutable
use of Scripture? And do my questions irritate? Why?
What are the crucial factors that tell those who seek the Will
of God who is righteous before God and who is wrong and in sin
before God, but who may still appear to be righteous before
some? We know, don't we, that folly and perversity are inherent
in civilization? So what is it that separates those who, as true
Christians, want to live by every word of God from those who want
to live by their emotionally-driven perceptions of the Word of
God? We know that wisdom begins with the reverential fear of God.
The more an individual fears God in reverence of His Word and
Will, the more clear thinking he becomes. The proof of this we
shall look at more fully.
FORGIVENESS AND CORRECTION
Everyone is welcome to come here. Anyone who goes to a synagogue
can come here. Anyone who regularly or sometimes attends another
church is welcome to come here. That does not mean I approve or
agree with all their behaviour. Christ's example is that anyone
could come to Him and He taught them all, He fed them, and healed
those who had faith. If someone comes here always, sometimes,
or rarely and if that person does wrong in our presence, we, as
Christ instructs, must deal with that problem. Godly correction
and exhortation must be carried out. If I don't follow Christ's
example then someone should have the courage to tell me. We should
know, however, that in too many cases the NT evidence and current
history suggest that people, when it really counts, do not commit
their lives to living by every word of God. I hope and desire
that as many as possible will commit themselves to His Will in
sincerity and truth. If possible and acceptable, I'll help in
that with all the power given me by the God who is immeasurably
gracious to me and to others who know we all need His grace.
Most of you understand that I also believe the prophecies of Jeremiah,
Isaiah, Zechariah and Malachi that speak of the scattering of
the sheep, that the shepherds and those pretending to be shepherds
are the primary destroyers of the sheep. I want no part with such
shepherds. I see the spirit of this world working ever more strongly
to divide, confuse and conquer. And just as the world does not
recognize the work of Satan, so likewise too many Christians don't
recognize the Devil's work among the saints. And similarly, far
too many do not recognize where and how the Spirit of God, the
Spirit of Love and Truth, is working among those called, chosen,
and faithful (Rev 17:14).
We should also know that what we wish on others will fall upon
us:
A principle of God's Will, expressed in various ways, such as
in Luke 6:31, is included in the promise to Abraham and his spiritual
descendants: I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
those who curse you (cited in Gen 12:3; also Num 24:9). Examples
are:
May I again examine, in part, Matthew 18:15-20, which deals with
a sinning brother. It has been taught and believed that the first
approach is by an offended brother going to the brother or sister
in Christ who has sinned against him. That is not necessarily
the case, as the NT Greek original raises a question. There is
the possibility that a Christian has seen another Christian sin.
It may not necessarily be against him personally. The NJB, NASB,
TEV and comments by Bruce Metzger (in Textual Commentary on
the Greek New Testament) suggest that the phrase "against
you" is not part of the original text. The Alfred Marshall
interlinear has (Mt 18:15): Now if your brother sins go and
reprove him … The word translated as reprove is
elenzon, from elencho. The some word is used in
Those who doctor doctrine don't need God's medicine, whether He
offers it directly or through any servant of His.
And God, as we should well know, does not call the righteous,
those who have their own visions of God and His Kingdom. God calls
sinners to repentance, grants the forgiveness they humbly and
hungrily seek, gives the promised blessings of love for God and
fellow man, the blessings of enduring hope and faith, of loving
your neighbour as yourself, of treating others the way each of
us—who seek the righteousness of God—experience being treated
by God—and strive with all their might toward the Kingdom of God.
May the grace and peace of God be with all those who agree and
who will fully agree with the Almighty God and His Son, Jesus
Christ.
My wife and I had our 27th wedding anniversary last weekend. We went
away and stayed in a cottage on the edge of a state forest between
Castlemaine and Maldon, in Victoria's goldfields country from
1853 until about 1926. The Ballarat area gold discoveries began
in 1851. The weather was wonderful and the area is filled with
interest: bush, birds, various native flowers and plants, numerous
mullock heaps and mine shafts, derelict gold processing plant,
local history, older architecture, antique and book stores, fascinating
people. We had time for peace, quiet, meditation, thought, discussion,
and enjoyment. We came home greatly refreshed. I had extra and
necessary time to re-consider where I'm going and why. What are
my hopes and plans? So I want to address fundamental issues—perhaps
not in the way expected.
Ps 103:1-4 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within
me, bless His Holy Name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget
not all His benefits: 3 For the LORD forgives all your
iniquities, heals all your diseases, 4 redeems your life from
destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
It's an amazing list of doctrinal precepts: honour and gratitude
expressed to God. And there's warning not to forget God's blessings:
forgiveness, healing, redemption, love and mercy.
1Pet 2:24-25 Jesus Christ bore our sins in His own
body on the tree, that we, having died to sins (as Romans 6 and
7 powerfully describe), might live for righteousness; by whose
wounds and stripes you were healed (Healed of what?). 25
For you were like sheep going astray (because sheep are easily
hurt, easily scattered, easily killed. History and recent events
bear this out), but those who are called, chosen, faithful,
who grow in the grace, knowledge and wisdom of God have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls—
i.e., your whole being is continually and amazingly transformed—a
transformation that astounds and astonishes you, because you see
God's immeasurable grace and priceless truth given to you ever
so generously. "Why is God so good to me?" each of us
should often ask.
Before enlarging on the criteria for spiritual transformation,
let's look at how God defines and emphasizes healing through the
prophet Isaiah:
Is 19:22 The LORD will strike Egypt, He will strike and
heal it; they will return to the LORD, and He will be entreated
by them and heal them.
The cursing of a nation that symbolizes the problems of the world
is spoken of in the context of final healing of those characteristic
behaviours that cause error, folly, suffering and destruction.
Is 57:15-21 has similar things to say: For thus says the
High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose Name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and Holy Place, with him who has a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to
revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I will not contend
(argue, pressure, strive) forever, nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have
made.
God's anger must end, for if He were to press us harder, our spirits
would be crushed. His love and wisdom know the level of pressure
we can bear—as 1Cor 10:13 assures us.
17 For the iniquity of his (i.e., Israel's) covetousness I was
angry and struck him; I hid and was angry (for God forsakes us
if we forsake Him; [Dt 31:17; 1Chr 28:10]), and he went on backsliding
in the way of his heart (for cursed is the person or people who
trust in themselves, as Jer 17:5-7 tells us). 18 I have seen his
ways, and will heal him;
We notice that the promise made to Egypt is given to Israel. Since
the Gospel, the Good News, is for all the world, and God wants
as many as possible to be saved, we are assured that this healing
is for all who turn to God and to His Son.
I will also lead him, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners
(i.e., subject to returning to God on His terms, and not our own.
Job is a good example of this). 19 I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,"
says the LORD, "And I will heal him." 20 But the wicked
are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast
up mire and dirt.
Jude uses this kind of language (vv 12-13): These are spots
in your love feasts …. Raging waves of the sea, foaming
up their shame.
Is 57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for
the wicked."
Again, we see healing spoken of in the context of seeking to live
a godly life. But it is strife, war, and evil for the wicked.
Is 58:8-9 says to us: Then (after proper fasting) your
light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring
forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the
glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call,
and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here
I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing
of the finger, and speaking wickedness.
Once again, the context of healing for Christians is the recognition
of sin, overcoming sin, and living the righteousness that God
defines. Sin can't be seen for its sinfulness unless the perfect
goodness of God is seen for its magnificence and pure excellence.
In Is 61:1-4 Jesus Christ is describing the Father's sending
of Him as Apostle, Teacher, Redeemer, Messiah: The Spirit of the
Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach
good news to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison
to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the
LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who
mourn, 3 to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty
for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise
for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called Trees of
Righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the
former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the
desolations of many generations. Please read Is 49:8-13; 58:12;
Ezk 36:33-38 which speak in the same vein of the same Life.
On Wednesday I saw a documentary that spoke of the work of the
EU Task Force head-quartered in the capital of Kosovo, Pristina.
The chairman has 20 co-ordinators and each has a specialist area
to carry out restoration of the devastated country. The devastation
is material, structural, cultural, social, psychological, spiritual.
One man has responsibility for restoration of roads and bridges,
another co-ordinates the rebuilding, re-equipping, re-staffing
of schools and universities, another is responsible for restoring
hospitals, their medical equipment, their staffing and services,
and so on, for the various areas of restoration. These co-ordinators
meet regularly to discuss progress, causes of problems and how
to overcome them. Pristina has a smaller Serbian population with
most people being Albanian and the groups living quite separately
and antagonistic towards each other. The main hospital happens
to be in the Serb quarter and the doctors and nurses refuse to
treat Albanian patients. What can the EU Task Force leader do?
At the moment the situation is stalemated. While watching the
documentary I was thinking at two other levels: absorbing the
documentary, considering present problems elsewhere, and contemplating
the necessary skills and characteristics required for this kind
of work immediately after Christ's Return. What qualities will
the saints who rule with Christ have in the restoration of all
things? What kind of opposition would one expect? How would the
saints overcome problems such as I've briefly described that exist
in Pristina?
Let's note the background the apostle Peter used in his epistle.
I'll read the NIV translation of Isaiah 53:1-6, then consider
it further:
(NIV) Is 53:1-6 Who has believed our message and to whom
has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2 He grew up before Him
like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had
no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance
that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom
men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet
we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for
our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon
him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have
gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD
has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Let's consider Isaiah 53 more carefully.
Is 53:1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the
Arm of the LORD been revealed?
A few days before the 30 A.D. Passover, John
made these interpretative remarks about what Isaiah said:
Jn 12:37-40 But although He had done so many signs before
them, they did not believe in Him, 38 that the word of Isaiah
the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who
has believed our report? And to whom has the Arm of the LORD been
revealed?"
In Romans 10, Paul applies this Scripture in Isaiah to disbelief
in the Gospel and a refusal to hear.
39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:
40 "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand
with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."
But is it not we who blind ourselves?
Is 53:2-6 Jesus Christ grew up before the Father
like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had
no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance
that we should desire Him.
Examples of godly righteousness have similar little effect. Christ's
life illustrates that. Human righteousness, however, has more
appeal to the naïve mind. Fear is the reason for the weaker
choice of human trust rather than the courage to seek the confronting
truth. Fear responds with inaction and denial of some truth. Godly
courage seeks righteousness, abhors all evils, fulfills truth.
And expressing hatred of evil without righteous actions is hypocrisy.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows, and familiar
with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was
despised, and we esteemed Him not. Is 53:4 Surely He took
up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.
Though many see that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world,
many do not see the Jesus, the perfect example of godliness, nor
do they see their own sins as God does.
5 He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,
and by His wounds we are healed.
When we suffer as Christ did we then see who heals and how we
are healed. We seek healing because we readily admit to spiritual
sickness. Questioning does not offend nor alienate us! A sick
person surely doesn't mind the diagnostic questions of a doctor—unless
he believes the doctor doesn't know his job. Then why waste time
with him? If we disregard someone's correction is it because of
disrespect for the person rather than respect for resolution and
righteousness? These principles separate good and evil so that
good and evil are not on the same tree.
Is 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray (i.e., we
are so easily duped by ourselves and/or others, easily divided,
easily scattered), each of us has turned to his own way; and the
LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (i.e., God wants all
to repent and come to the grace and knowledge of His Christ. So
likewise I forgive and wait, as we all must, for any who
have gone astray from the righteousness God requires of us all).
Isn't it strongly evident that the healing Isaiah speaks of is
of the spirit in man? Man's sickness may include some or many
of these kinds of sins: arrogance, ignorance, pride, self-deceit,
self-will, folly, capriciousness, greed, lust for status and prestige
and many other sins. Constantly, I have given more credit than
warranted. Constantly, I have given more benefit of the doubt
than was probably deserved. Constantly, however, I am mindful
that I must always forgive, always seek peace, always be gracious,
and I must never defile any of the Word of God. This is a vital
part of the Christian's very difficult struggle. Getting the godly
balance is difficult. And each of us must plead for that kind
of help from God. That truth-directed willingness is a measure
of the kind of character we are developing (see Rom 7:16-22).
In fact, the more righteousness we seek the more difficult it
is, as Romans 7 illustrates. So why make life more difficult by
complicating it with more and more godliness?
The Holy Spirit leads one to overcome evil with good. Reluctance
to address, neglect of, or blindness to any evil surely indicates
blind resistance to the revelation of the Spirit of Truth—a quenching
and grieving of the Spirit. The fruits of the Holy Spirit always
conform with righteousness and are visible and always good to
those can see. Why then do so many, when rebuked for doing wrong,
refuse to heed and to overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21)? Why
should a person neglect or refuse to think about that?
Heb 12:3-8 Consider Him who endured such hostility from
sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls (because those who whole-heartedly struggle to live
godly are frequently assailed with this kind of hatred and it
is very discouraging). 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed,
striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation
which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the
chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked
by Him; 6 for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every
son whom He receives" (cited from Prov 3:7,11-12). 7 If you
endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son
is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without
chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate
and not sons.
Do we notice? Resistance to correction and rebuke is a form of
hatred.
We have no doubts that sins are forgiven by God and by the Son
of God! Thousands of Christian churches understand that. We are
taught to pray, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
(Mt 6:12). And Scripture teaches, If you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if
you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses (Mt 6:14-15). And if our sins are
not forgiven, i.e., they are not repented of, then can we forget
that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23)? Do we, however, have
power to forgive sins? We've heard that if we don't forgive others,
we are not forgiven. When I've corrected or disagreed with anyone,
I cannot assume it is understood or accepted. I hope for the best,
wait for the best, and strive for the best of all. I offer forgiveness
and hope it is accepted. Just as Christ said, Father, forgive
them for they don't know what they're doing (Lk 23:34), and
just as Stephen, while being stoned to death, cried out, Lord,
do not charge them with this sin (Acts 7:60), so I offer and
request forgiveness. However, it is God who ultimately forgives,
and that is upon recognition of sin, repentance of sin, real desire
to flee from evil. Please read 1Cor 8:9-13; 9:19-23; Gal 6:1-4;
Rom 15:1-6 for Paul's supreme efforts not to offend anyone weak
in the Faith. Sometimes I've made the mistake of assuming someone
is strong in the Faith but have been proven to be wrong. I suffer
for it and I'm sorry that you do.
Lk 6:31 Just as you want men to do to you, you also do
to them likewise.
We could say: Just as you wish to be treated with generous
sensitivity to your preferences, so treat others with respect
to their sensitivities, their well-being, their preparedness.
Do not impose your own will nor your own misperceptions, but respond
in the way Jesus Christ or the apostle Paul did and would in the
particular situations you come across that require discernment,
discretion, patient kindness, long-suffering. Whatever evil we
wish on others will be brought upon us. If anyone should try to
nail someone, quite inevitably, he will be nailed. If you want
to live by the sword of retribution, you shall die by the sword,
as Christ said to Peter in Gethsemane (Mt 26:52). If you believe
false opinions, they will devour you. If you support and disseminate
secret sin, you will be exposed in public. If you honestly profess
Jesus Christ's teachings and live them, you will be publicly rewarded
with the grace of God, the righteousness of God, the life of God,
and spiritual riches beyond our present capacities to understand.
Obad 15 For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is
near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal
shall return upon your own head.
When Isaiah was sent to preach, this is what he was told to say:
Ezk 35:15 As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the
House of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be
desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom; all of it! Then
they shall know that I am the LORD.
Is 6:9-10 "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing,
but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 10
Make the heart of this people dull, (i.e., you won't have a good
effect on their prospects for conversion because they want to
stay blind and paralyzed in their understanding of Truth; they
act to ensure they keep) their ears heavy, their eyes shut; lest
they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts, and then return to the true God and
are healed by Jesus Christ."
We are washed, made whole, cleaned, healed by God by His love,
mercy, forgiveness, through the shed blood of His Son, through
repentance and faith, through being godly doers and not merely
hearers, through accepting correction. So why refuse
correction?
Eph 5:11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather expose them.
What happens if these rebukes are rejected? The OT basis for these
instructions by Paul is in
1Tim 5:20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence
of all, that the rest also may fear.
Tit 1:13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke
them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.
Lev 19:16-18 You shall not go about as a talebearer among
your people (which recently happened); nor shall you take a stand
against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD. 17 You shall
not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your
neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take
vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people,
but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD.
Negative reaction to rebuke and correction takes these kinds of
courses:
Let's note some Scriptures on this:
Ps 141:5 Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness
(Hard rebuke from a friend is precious). And let him rebuke me;
it shall be as excellent oil (the oil suggests anointing and healing);
let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the
deeds of the wicked.
What amazing attitude to acceptance of correction. Do we see why?
Prov 9:7-9 He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not
correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and
he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will
be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Do we notice the implications? Whoever takes correction heeds
the rebuke, sees, hears, comes to greater righteousness and does
not deride the one who corrects. Many Proverbs speak of
this. Some examples are:
10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF CALLING AND REPENTANCE
10:18 Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever
spreads slander is a fool.
12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he
who hates correction is stupid.
12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he
who heeds counsel is wise.
13:1 … a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
14:6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge
is easy to him who understands (because his humility makes him
amenable to all that is for his good).
14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way;
the folly of fools is deceit (and self-deceit).
14:16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool
rages and is self-confident.
15:5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but he who
receives correction is prudent.
15:10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the Way,
and he who hates correction will die.
15:12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor
will he go to the wise.
17:10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man than a hundred
blows on a fool.
18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing
his own heart (his own opinion).
19:25 Strike a scoffer (who cannot learn), and the simple
(i.e., the naïve who is willing to learn) will become wary;
rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern (even more)
knowledge.
19:29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings
for the backs of fools.
22:10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
yes, strife and reproach will cease.
23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will
despise your words of wisdom.
26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest
you also be like him.
26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise
in his own eyes.
28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever
walks wisely will be delivered.
29:11 A fool vents all his feelings (and opinions), but
a wise man holds them back.
29:20 Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more
hope for a fool than for him.
The relationship of the Father's calling and drawing the person
to Himself is tied to repentance. Repentance occurs when recognition
of personal sin takes place. The complication is that the carnal
mind is in denial about its own sinfulness. Repentance occurs
when humility is present. Humility, like that of Job, after quite
a spiritual battering, brings a person to an awareness of his
sinfulness. The humble person is willing to listen to someone
who disagrees with him and is willing to discuss. We'll look at
Luke 5:27-32, which illustrates this. If we are drawn to God then
we willingly do His Will. If we love God we accept His rebukes
irrespective of where they come from, for we are not respecters
of persons nor filled with self-importance. Josiah rejected the
rebuke of Pharaoh Necho and died in consequence (2Chr 35:20-24).
If we love God's Way we do not neglect any of God's Word and accept
correction, or at least begin to consider it—for we just might
be blind to something.
Lk 5:27-32 After these things (i.e., the healing of the
leper and the paralytic) He went out and saw a tax collector named
Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow
Me."
This is very like our personal call from the Father. Christ tells
us in John 6:
Jn 6:44-45 No one can come to Me unless the Father who
sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45
It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by
God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father
comes to Me.
The calling by the Father is miraculous, is experienced very powerfully,
is productive in godly fruits. The result of the calling is that
one turns wholeheartedly to God, is led by Jesus Christ, the Shepherd
and Overseer of our lives, and by the Holy Spirit to a life that
lives by the Bread of Life, the Fountain of Life into a life that
is continually transformed, willingly, humbly, into the fellowship
of the saints who live by the same process: the calling of God,
the recognition of sin, repentance, the experiences of forgiveness,
the complete willingness to have others share in the same, and
the willingness to share the promised immeasurable blessings.
Let me ask: Is a refusal to fellowship a silent statement against
love for the brethren? Who is willing to answer that question?
Lk 5:28 So Matthew (who was a disciple of John the Baptist
and who had been prepared to give his life for total service to
God) left all, rose up, and followed Him.
Please note how this incident is also a parable. These religious
people were righteous and had their followers. They, after
all, knew the Scriptures. They were regarded as religious leaders,
trend-setters in God's Word, exemplars of living by the Word of
God. They understood their truth! They knew they were saved and
blessed. Others were required to recognize and follow their perceptions
and precepts. Their ideas were founded in their truth. So why
was Jesus Christ inconsistent with their teachings? Surely this
Man who called Matthew to be a disciple and apostle was mistaken?
That's why they would not answer His questions.
29-30 Then Levi gave Jesus Christ a great feast
in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors
and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the
Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why
do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Lk 5:31-32 Jesus answered and said to them, "Those
who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
CONCLUSION
So Christ was interested in and devoted to those who are spiritually
sick and who admit to their sickness. Their healer is Jesus Christ.
This is how Matthew must have regarded himself. The scribes, the
theological writers of the day, and the Pharisees, the theological
teachers of the day, were not "sick." They didn't need
the healing that God, through His Son, was offering. The righteous
did not need to be called, did not need to repent, did not need
to experience forgiveness, did not need the blessings of the God
and Father of Jesus Christ. They had it all worked out for themselves.
They didn't need God's correction, for they were not His children.
They knew what God wanted. They knew what the vision of the Kingdom
of God was. They were preaching the visions of their god. They
knew they were right and righteous. They did not need to answer
the questions of those they regarded as spiritually ignorant.