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Articles from Pastor Jon's Blog

Numbers – An Introduction - 1 2007-12-30 00:00:00 Numbers – An Introduction A. Background to the Book of Numbers. For most Christians, Numbers is the second most popular book of the Bible, coming in just behind Leviticus. 1. The first five books of the Bible, called the Pentateuch (pentateuch means “five books”), were written by Moses. They are identified in Scripture as the Law or the books of Moses. Although the Mosaic authorship has been questioned, it is affirmed by conservative scholars and confirmed by archaeology. Bible believers unanimously accept the Mosaic authorship. Most importantly, the Mosaic authorship is testified to repeatedly by Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. a. In the Book of Exodus, Israel escaped slavery in Egypt - God miraculously set them free from four hundred years of bondage. They came through the Red Sea and saw God provide through the desert wilderness. They came to Mount Sinai where God appeared to them in a spectacular way; where Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God and r ...

John 7:40-52 2007-12-29 00:00:00 John 7 - At the Feast of Tabernacles C. Who is Jesus? 1. (40-43) Jesus brings division among men. Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Will the Christ come out of Galilee ? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" So there was a division among the people because of Him.    a. This is the Prophet . . . This is the Christ: Some say one thing, others say something else about who Jesus is. But everyone had an opinion. One can not be confronted with Jesus and remain neutral; feigned neutrality is rejection, the same as open hostility. b. Will the Christ come out of Galilee? Their rejection of Jesus was based on their ignorance. They didn’t know Jesus really was born in Bethlehem.  c. So there was a division among the people because of Him: There ...

John 7:30-39 2007-12-28 00:00:00 John 7 - At the Feast of Tabernacles 4. (30-36) The leaders try to seize Jesus because many believed in Him. Therefore they sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come. And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?" The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him. Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go to Him who sent Me. You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come." Then the Jews said among themselves, "Where does He intend to go that we shall not find Him? Does He intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What is this thing that He said, ‘You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come’?" a. Because His hour had not yet come: Un ...

John 7:19-29 2007-12-27 00:00:00 John 7 - At the Feast of Tabernacles 2. (19-24) Objection: Jesus is a Sabbath breaker. "Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" The people answered and said, "You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?" Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." a. Why do you seek to kill Me? Because He healed a man on the Sabbath, the rulers wanted to kill Jesus (John 5:16). The multitude didn’t know this, but the Jewish leaders did - though they denied it.  b. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so ...

Romans 11:28-36 2007-12-26 00:00:00 Romans 11 - The Restoration of Israel 2. (28-29) God’s love and calling for Israel still endures. Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. a. Concerning the gospel . . . concerning the election: Even though it seemed that in Paul’s generation the Jews were enemies of God and were against the person and work of Jesus, they are still beloved - if for no other reason, then for the sake of the fathers (the patriarchs of the Old Testament). i. Of course, they are loved for more than the sake of the fathers, but that by itself would be enough. b. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable: This is another reason why God hasn’t given up on national and ethnic Israel. This principle, stated by Paul, comforts us far beyond its direct relevance to Israel . It means that God will not give up on us, and He leaves the path to restoration o ...

Merry Christmas 2007-12-25 01:00:00 Merry Christmas to all who frequent these pages. I pray the God will bless you richly in the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus Christ. Jon Clayton<:))))><< ...

Romans 11:25-27 2007-12-25 00:00:00 Romans 11 - The Restoration of Israel C. God’s plan for Israel includes their eventual restoration.  1. (25-27) The promise that all Israel will be saved. For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”  a. Paul’s warning to us that we should not be wise in your own opinion should remind us to take what he says here soberly. Christians must not be ignorant of this mystery. b. Blindness in part has happened to Israel : Paul summarizes his point from Romans 11:11-24 is summarized. God’s purpose in allowing hardening in part to come upon Israel is so that the fullness of the Gentiles ...

Romans 11:15-24 2007-12-24 00:00:00 Romans 11 - The Restoration of Israel 3. (15-21) To the Gentiles: yes, Jewish rejection of Jesus was made into a blessing for you; but consider how great a blessing their acceptance of Jesus will be. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. a. If the ...

Sunday Quotes 12.23.07 2007-12-23 00:30:00 All the graces of a Christian spring from the death of self. -- Madame Guyon There's enough Bread of Life to supply the whole world, but are there enough volunteers to distribute it? - Unknown Who is more irrational? A man who believes in a God he doesn't see, or a man who is offended by a God he doesn't believe in. -- Brad Stine The "little voice inside" used to be our conscience - now it's a pocket radio. -- Croft M. Pentz An imperfect conscience needs a perfect Guide. - Unknown Behind every sin is a lie I believe. - Unknown If the trials of many years were gathered into one, they would overwhelm us; therefore, in pity to our little strength, He sends first one, and then another, then removes both, and lays on a third, heavier, perhaps, than either; but all is wisely measured to our strength that the bruised reed is never broken. We do not enough look at our trials in this continuous and successive view. Each one is sent to teach us something, and altogether they ...

Romans 11:11-14 2007-12-23 00:00:00 Romans 11 - The Restoration of Israel B. God’s plan in saving only a remnant at the present time. 1. (11a) Does Israel’s stumbling as predicted by Psalm 69 mean that they have fallen away permanently? I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall?a. Stumbled . . . fall: As Paul presents it here, there is a difference between stumbling and falling. Israel had stumbled, but they would not fall - in the sense of being removed from God's purpose and plan. You can recover from a stumble, but if you fall you're down.  2. (11b-14) No, God had a specific purpose to fulfill in allowing Israel to stumble - so that salvation would come to the Gentiles.  Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my mini ...

Romans 11:2-10 2007-12-22 00:00:00 Romans 11 - The Restoration of Israel 3. (2-5) The principle of a remnant. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel , saying, “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”? But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.   a. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew . . . at this present time there is a remnant: Paul knows that as a whole Israel had rejected their Messiah. Yet a substantial remnant embraces the gospel of Jesus Christ, and God has often worked in Israel through a faithful remnant (as He did in the time of Elijah).  i. “It is just possible that Paul, likewise persecuted by his own countrymen ...

1 John 5:20-21 2007-12-21 00:00:00 1 John 5 - Born of God and Believing in the Son of God 2. (20-21) Abide in Jesus and avoid idols. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. a. That we may know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ: In the conclusion of this letter, John returns to his major theme: fellowship with Jesus Christ.  We must know Him, and the word John uses for know (ginosko) speaks of knowledge by experience. That is how Jesus wants us to know Him! b. Has given us an understanding: The work of Jesus in us gives us an understanding, and the ability to know Him, and to be in Him - the abiding life of fellowship that John invited us to back in 1 John 1:3. i. Significantly, this understanding must be given. We cannot attain it on our own.  If God ...

1 John 5:18-19 2007-12-20 00:00:00 1 John 5 - Born of God and Believing in the Son of God D. Protecting our relationship with God. 1. (18-19) Knowing who we are and who our enemies are. We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. a. Whoever is born of God does not sin: In the battle against sin, it is all-essential that we keep our minds set on who we are in Jesus Christ; if we are born of Him, we have the resources to be free from habitual sin. i. John is repeating his idea from 1 John 3:6: Whoever abides in Him does not sin.  The grammar in the original language makes it plain John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin.  John is not teaching here the possibility of sinless perfection.  As Stott says, “The present tense in the Greek verb implied habit, continuity, unbroken sequence.” b. He who has bee ...

1 John 5:16-17 2007-12-19 00:00:00 1 John 5 - Born of God and Believing in the Son of God 2. (16-17) Praying for a sinning brother. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. a. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin . . . he will ask: When we see a brother in sin, John tells us the first thing to do is to pray for that person.  All too often, prayer is the last thing we do, or the smallest thing we do in regard to our brother having a difficult time. b. And He will give him life: God promises to bless the prayer made on behalf of a brother in sin.  Why? Perhaps it has a special power before God because it is a prayer in fulfillment of the command to love the brethren.  Surely, we love each other best when we pray for each other. c. What does Jo ...

1 John 5:14-15 2007-12-18 00:00:00 1 John 5 - Born of God and Believing in the Son of God C. Help for the praying Christian. 1. (14-15) Confidence in prayer. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. a. John has been developing the idea of confidence in Him.  In the previous verse, 1 John 5:13, he wrote to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know you have eternal life.  Now, for those who know they have eternal life, John relates the idea of confidence in Him to prayer. b. If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: In this, we see the purpose of prayer, and the secret of power in prayer.  It is to ask; to ask anything; to ask anything according to His will; and once having so asked, to have the assurance that He hears us. c. First, God would have us ask in prayer.  Much prayer fail ...