Can you imagine the emotions of Jesus’ followers on Saturday that year? Just a few days previous he had come into Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by praises and palms.

He had shown no mercy to the merchants who had commercialized the Jews’ holiest feast day, Passover, that would take place on Saturday – the greatest possible Sabbath of all.

He had sparred verbally with the religious leaders again, and had put them in their place — again.

They had sat down together on Thursday evening to eat a meal. He had said some weird things that night

…about his body

…about his blood

…about the New Covenant

That’s OK. In just a few hours they would go to the Temple to kill their Passover lamb, and on Saturday they would eat it together, remembering God’s great deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt.

But then it happened (Thursday evening and all day Friday)…

After supper, it was sort of a blur. Something about vines and branches. The Holy Spirit would make us remember…what was it?

 

He was praying. We couldn’t stay awake. And then…Judas! What…?

 

What’s happening? Midnight trials? Pilate…Herod… Pilate again?

 

No, not the scourge! And a cross?!

But we were supposed to kill the lamb today! Tomorrow is the Passover!

He’s…gone. Buried.

[Saturday morning]

We were supposed to celebrate the Passover together today.

I don’t feel like celebrating anything today. We didn’t even get to bury him properly. The girls will do that in the morning.

But…what do we do now?

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1. Project re-scheduled

Photo by ohad

Recently at Oak Tree Church I taught on Ephesians 1:7-12, emphasizing the freedom we gain through Christ’s salvation. (You can listen to the message on our church website.)

However, in this passage there is an important phrase that I did not have time to address. Paul wrote:

In him [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth. In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:7-12

What in the world does “toward the administration of the fullness of the times” mean in verse 10?

If we were to take the whole thought by itself, this is what we get:

He did this [redeemed us, forgave us, and lavished his grace upon us] when he revealed to us the secret of his will…toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ.

In verses 3-6, we find that God’s will in salvation is to make us holy (vs. 4) and to make us family (vs. 5). God’s will is not secret, and it has been his will since Adam sinned. God wants people to be separate from all sin and to be part of his eternal family. No secret there.

But that’s not the end of the story. Often, we hear people say something to the effect that “salvation is the main theme of the Bible.” But that’s not true. Sure, it’s very important, and we can see that as one common thread throughout the Bible, but it’s not the main theme.

When it comes right down to it, the main theme of the Bible is that God is going to bring glory to himself in all things, and primarily by fulfilling the promises he has made over the years.

So, back to “the administration.” Paul used the word oikonomia, translated here as “administration.” It’s a compound word of oikos (“house”) + nomos (“law”), and essentially means “the rule of the house.” In other places it’s translated “dispensation” and “economy.” (Do you hear “economy” in oikonomia? Pretty cool, huh?)

Each of these “administrations” or “dispensations” is distinguished from the others by new information (or “revelation”) that God provided to show people how to live during that time, the “rule of the house” that they would be accountable for. It sees God as an administrator of a great “house,” where his government is the rule the people of the house are to follow.

In Ephesians, Paul points out that there are at least three of these dispensations. In Ephesians 3:5, Paul spoke of the time of “former generations” that did not know the information about the Church that God had revealed to Paul, who was now passing it along to them.

Of course, that means that the Church, which has this new information from God, is set apart as a second dispensation. Paul clarifies that just a few verses later in 3:10.

 The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 3:10

So there are two – at least one before the Church began, and the time of the Church. But in our Ephesians 1 passage, Paul mentions one more: “the administration of the fullness of times.” After the Church, there will be at least one more dispensation, or period of God’s rule which will come with even more revelation than we have now. It is during this rule that God will bring to fulfillment everything that has come before it – “the fullness of times.”

I believe that this is the promised Kingdom period during which Jesus will physically rule on Earth for 1,000 years (see Revelation 20:1-7). During this time, the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David – and the ones made through the prophets – will all come to pass:

• Israel will finally own their land in peace and prosperity (Genesis 15:18-21)
• Israel will finally be ruled by her long-awaited Messiah-King (2 Samuel 7:8-16; Isaiah 9:2-7)
• Israel will finally be completely forgiven of sin and know God (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Of course, many Gentiles will participate in these blessings, too, because God told Abraham that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).

So how does this fit in Ephesians 1? God’s plan of salvation “that he set forth in Christ…to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth” will finally come to fruition during his kingdom rule, “the administration of the fullness of times.”

“People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the LORD. “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.” Jeremiah 31:34

What a day that will be!

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Over the last year, I have worked on summarizing the “big story” of the Old Testament. I just finished teaching a nine-week class on “Old Testament Survey” for Oak Tree Community Church‘s Learning Center.

Based on Dr. Paul Benware’s book, Survey of the Old Testament, during this class I showed that only 11 out of the 39 books of the Old Testament actually carry the “big story” forward. The rest add details, but do not really drive the story.

As a part of my preparation for the class, I wrote “The Story of the Old Testament.” In about 20 pages, I give a summary of those 11 books plus a few charts to help put them into perspective. I also included three articles I wrote:

• “The Abrahamic Covenant” – why God’s promises to Abraham are central to understanding the Old Testament correctly
• “The Mosaic Covenant” – why God does not expect us to obey the Old Testament Law
• “Is God a Genocidal Murderer?” – how we are to respond to God’s command for Israel to annihilate various nations and tribes in ancient Canaan

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Question: If you have read my e-book, what did you think? You can leave your questions and comments below.

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1. What defines a “New Testament church”?

In this case, the adage could say, “Those who ignore history are doomed to revise it.” Consider the Old Testament story of Esther as told in Persia today.

IsraelToday writer, Ryan Jones, offers this insight into the Iranian revision of Esther’s heroic story.

Iran revises story of Esther, labels Purim a day of mourning

[On March 7 at sundown], Israelis and Jews around the world will celebrate Purim, marking the deliverance of the Jews of the Persian Empire from extinction 2,300 years ago. In Iran, the center of the ancient Persian Empire, the date will be marked with mourning and anger.

 

For years already, Iran has been teaching schoolchildren that Purim marks the massacre of 75,000 Persians by the Jews under the command of Queen Esther. It is presented today as an ancient Iranian holocaust perpetrated by the Jews.

 

The Iranian version leaves out the part where Haman, the royal advisor, convinces the Persian king to sign a decree permitting the wholesale slaughter the Jews of the empire. When Esther reveals her Jewish background to the king and reveals that Haman was tricking him, the king issues a second decree, allowing the Jews to defend themselves. By God’s grace, the Jews are largely spared, while their enemies are slaughtered.

 

This year, Iran may go further than simply revising the biblical account. Iranian authorities have decided to downgrade the status of the “Tomb of Esther and Mordechai the Jews” in the city of Hamadan in central Iran. The tomb had previously enjoyed that status of an official pilgrimage site.

Following the downgrading, the Iranian news agency Fars began pushing the idea that Esther and her uncle Mordechai were responsible for a massacre of Iranians, and that their burial place had merely been tolerated until now.

 

The Iranian news agency MEHR reported that a couple of weeks ago, a group of 250 militant Iranian students gathered at the tomb and threatened to tear it down.

Could you tell the real story if someone showed you Iran’s “news” article? How do you keep from revising Biblical truth when others around you change it so freely?

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1. The irrationality of sin
2. Sarah Palin: modern-day Esther or David?

In a previous post, I gave two reasons for why studying biblical theology is necessary: because you learn what God says about himself, and because it is God’s will for every Christian.

Let me give you a third one: a biblical theology saves you from a cut-and-paste theology.

What is “Cut-and-Paste Theology?” In Bible college, we called it “proof-texting” – finding the Scripture passages that supported your belief and made you seem to be correct.

The internet has made this so much easier. A quick search can provide us with thousands of websites dedicated to various factions of just plain bad theology. Armed with those, we can, like my email friend, argue any heretical idea we want, simply by copying someone else’s bad theology and pasting into an email or blog post.

Even more dangerous, though, is when we paste it into our minds and hearts in place of the truth.

So, how do we know if we’re dealing with a Cut-and-Paste Theologian (or if we are becoming one)? Here are four characteristics that I have found to be common in people I’ve debated before and in the man I am emailing with right now:

1. Cut-and-Paste Theologians focus on a short list of favorite passages, sections, or doctrines. They refuse to go outside of a very confined selection of Scriptures that seem to support their beliefs. Regardless of your response, they will keep going back to the same place.

2. Cut-and-Paste Theologians almost always ignore the context of the passages they cite. The whole chapter or book may go against what they believe, but if they can find a verse (or sometimes even just a phrase!) to “support” them, they will blindly ignore everything around it.

3. Cut-and-Paste Theologians often get very defensive if someone tries to correct them. Now, none of us likes to be corrected, but in my experience, nearly every Cut-and-Paste Theologian I have come across eventually gets belligerent if the conversation goes on long enough. They are simply not open to anyone who disagrees with them. This often results in them name-calling and making disparaging remarks about the other person. (My current email friend has questioned my salvation and called me a “blind guide,” a “blind fool,” the “devil’s kid,” and “biblically stupid.”)

4. Cut-and-Paste Theologians like to pick fights, under the guise of humility. Nearly every discussion I’ve had like this has been initiated by the other person who just wanted to argue. In my current email case, the man contacted me through our church website asking me to read his email and tell him where his thinking was not “biblical truth.” Knowing what was coming, I took the bait anyway. (I actually like it because it drives me back to the Scriptures and helps me stay sharp.)

God does not look kindly on those who misrepresent him. His condemnation of Cut-and-Paste Theology is a common theme in both the Old Testament (false prophets) and the New Testament (false teachers). Fortunately, the solution is very simple.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

What safeguards have you placed into your life to keep your Biblical Theology from becoming Cut-and-Paste Theology?

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1. The purpose of theology

“We’re leaving the church.”

“I got a detention.”

“The doctor just called, and it’s not good.”

One that really gets me is when a Christian says: “Yeah, well, I’m just not a theologian. You study the theology. I just want a relationship with God.”

Here’s the truth: If you are alive, you are a theologian; that is, you have beliefs about God. Now, your theology may not be specialized (Systematic, Reformed, Historical, etc.). Your theology might even be “God doesn’t exist.” But you are a theologian, and that means that theology is important for you and it should be important to you.

Let me give you just two reasons for why studying/learning biblical theology is a good thing. The first I’ll take from another writer. The second will come from Scripture.

1. Learning biblical theology is learning what God said about himself.

“Theological categories enable us to more fully and more deeply rejoice in God’s glory. Simple truths are wonderful. It is good for us to sing simple songs like “God is good. All the time!” If you sing that in sincere faith, the Lord is very pleased. But he is also pleased when we can sing and pray about how exactly he has been good to us in the plan of salvation and in the scope of salvation history. He is pleased when we can glory in the completed work of Christ, and rest in his all-encompassing providence, and marvel at his infinity and aseity, when we can delight in his holiness and mediate on his three-ness and one-ness and stand in awe at his omniscience and omnipotence. These theological categories are not meant to give us bigger heads, but bigger hearts that worship deeper and higher because of what we’ve seen in God.”

 

Kevin DeYoung, “Why We Must Be Unapologetically Theological”

 

For me, sitting down and reading the Bible (not for study or teaching prep, just reading) is like having coffee with an old friend. There’s just something “good” about it. But part of a strong, growing friendship is probing each other for knowledge and insight into each other’s worlds. You can have coffee with an acquaintance; a friendship takes much more.

God wants to be far more than just your acquaintance or Savior or God. A strong relationship with God does not happen without learning biblical theology at some level. Knowing him better leads to loving him more.

2. Studying biblical theology is God’s will for every Christian.

“[God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

 

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.” 2 Peter 3:18

In case the practical side didn’t quite do it for you, here’s the other side. God not only wants a strong friendship with you, he wants you to want a strong friendship with him. So, by command, he encourages us, “Learn about Me. Grow in your knowledge about Me.”

And just to make sure that we had no excuses, he gave us 1) the written Bible to read and study on our own; 2) the Holy Spirit to provide insight and cause growth; and 3) human teachers to teach us directly and answer our questions.

So, what’s holding you back from being the theologian that God wants you to be?

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1. Cut-and-Paste theology

Bill Mounce has one of those blogs that is worth reading. Although many of his posts have to do with the Greek New Testament (his Basics of Biblical Greek is one of the most widely used teaching tools right now), he has a lot of good thoughts about other things as well.

A couple of days ago, Mounce shared an essay he wrote in For the Fame of God’s Name, a book in honor of John Piper’s long, faithful ministry. As part of his essay, Mounce tackles the argument that a “pastor” (who spends more time with his people) loves his church more than a “preacher” (who spends more time in his study).

I found this especially appropriate, since I struggle trying to balance these, even when it goes against my personality and preference.

You can read the whole post on his blog, but here is the quote from his essay. I emphasized one part that I agree with very strongly.

We often characterize a person as being a “pastor” (warm, friendly, relational, available), a “rancher” (a successful pastor who now has too many people to spend time with), or a “preacher” (speaker, powerful, teacher, removed). How many times have you asked somebody about their pastor; their response is something like, “He’s a great guy, we love him, but he’s not much of a speaker.” Or, “He’s a dynamic speaker, challenging, but removed from most people.” As the stereotypes often go, the “pastor” is viewed as a friendly person and the “preacher” as not friendly.

 

After seven years in pulpit ministry I understand how this happens. There is so much to do, staff to manage and encourage, elders to train, people to visit, parking lots to plow, and lawns to mow. The pastor spends his energies loving people one-on-one, and come Saturday night he takes long hot baths trying to think of something to speak on the next day (true story I heard).

 

The “preacher” on the other hand is committed to his craft, spends time in his study, rehearsing Greek paradigms, reading generally, staying up on culture, pushing his way through exegesis, crafting the sermon, and trying to determine how he is going to be misunderstood so he can massage the message and avoid foreseen pitfalls. But then the assault on his time comes. He’s not available as much for counseling. He is focused on his sermon between services, and so he is criticized for not being friendly. He wouldn’t sit by the bedside of a person nursing the latest hangnail. And he doesn’t have time to argue about the color selection for the bathroom. And when he suggests that a person go to his or her small-group leader for support and encouragement, the preacher is labeled uncaring and the gossip starts.

 

But I would like to suggest that the preacher is as loving as the pastor, and my hope is that this will encourage you to study. What is the most important thing you can do? What are the most significant obstacles that need to be overcome in people’s lives? I submit that regardless of the size of a church, the mission of the pastor-preacher is to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9). Nothing is as important as that. Not the territorial thinking in the missions committee, not the latest disagreements among parishioners, and not the latest board controversy.

 

Some of these may be (or may not be) important, but when the music has led people to take their eyes off themselves and train on God, when the responsive reading has drawn people into dialogue, when the announcements have reminded people that they are family, and when you stand before your people to preach, there is nothing more important than what you did in the quiet of your study. All of the preparation, from the first day in Greek class to your rehearsing the sermon to an empty room Saturday morning, all your hard work comes to the forefront, and with confidence and humility you stand before the expectant people and proclaim the glory of God. At that moment, you aren’t the church’s plumber. You aren’t the person who has to go to the store to buy more paper for the copier. You are the herald of the king, proclaiming clearly and truthfully the wonders of God. If you have done your work, and if God’s Spirit is so inclined to move, your words will encourage the downtrodden and chasten the sinners. If you are faithful to your king’s decree, you will love your people the most important way, because there is nothing more important than the clear, powerful, rooted-in-truth, Spirit-inspired proclamation of a vision of the glory of God. Nothing. Preachers love their people every bit as much as do pastors. Their love is just shown differently, but it is just as real and just as powerful.

Have you thought about this before? Do you prefer one type over the other? Or would you like both to be available in your church?

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I have been thinking a lot about Daniel 2:21 and Romans 13:1, especially in light of certain world events that have happened this year.

“He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others.” Daniel 2:21

“There is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

It’s amazing to me how often things don’t work out the way we planned them.

After watching an obscure Senator, with no previous business experience, try to lead America through a world-wide economic situation for the past three years, I’m convinced that the President knows almost nothing about good domestic policy and even less about good foreign policy. I don’t think he understands what role the government is supposed to play in a democratic republic or how many limitations our Constitution places on government.

There are people in every political party that want him out of office, and there are a few across the board that think he’s exactly what we need.

Now, to be fair, I also don’t think he’s insincere. I believe that he truly thinks his plan is best for this country, whether it’s jobs, stimulus, military, or anything else. I also don’t think he’s intentionally trying to destroy our country. He has a lot of voices around him, saying a lot of different things, and he has to decide which path to take. And he will certainly be accountable to God one day for the decisions he made.

So, in light of all of that, here’s where I find this fascinating, and, back to my main thought, completely unexpected.

From the very beginning, our President has done everything in his power to cause foreign leaders and people to look at America in a different light. He wanted them to see us in a kinder, gentler light. No longer the warmongering nation of past decades, President Obama’s America is tolerant of Islam, gives away everything we own to the poor, and aims for world peace within “the international community.”

Yet, it was during this President’s understanding and tolerant administration that two of the world’s most famous and meanest Muslim leaders were killed: Osama bin-Laden and Muammar Qaddafi.

bin-Laden, of course, was taken out by a Navy Seal Team on the President’s order in May. And just yesterday we heard that Qaddafi was killed, albeit not by American military.

Now, Republicans and Democrats alike will spin these events their ways. Republicans will say that the President’s accomplishments are because he did not give up on President Bush’s policies. Democrats will say that this is just proof that the President should be re-elected.

One of the few things that both parties have in common is that they want to make the world a better place. Neither wants war, famine, or poverty. We all want these to be eradicated so we can live in harmony.

But here’s the truth.

The truth is, God is sovereign, and he said that this world will get continually worse until Christ returns for his Church (see 2 Timothy 3). Then it will be immeasurably even worse during the Tribulation when God and Satan both pour out their wrath on this planet. Only when Christ returns again to banish evil and set up his kingdom will things finally be the way we have always wished.

Today is not the end of the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming. American government can’t stop it. The Church won’t stop it. All we can do is live like citizens of Heaven on Earth.

And be amazed when God does the unexpected.

Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, “Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”

…

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

…

Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him

2 Peter 3:3-4, 9, 14-15

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OK? Ready…set…go!

Imagine yourself as a technician or trade worker in a long-standing, well-respected industry. (Any industry is fine; it’s your imagination.) You may be brand new to this work, a well-seasoned master, or somewhere in between.

Obviously, in order to do your job well, you must have the right tools. Now imagine that a long time ago, someone invented a tool for your particular line of work. This type of tool has been used by hundreds or thousands of others before you, and you were taught to use it as well.

However, over time, you noticed that there are some defects in the tool, some things that could have made it a lot better originally and now. You also notice that, while the tool probably worked really well on the older models of equipment, it doesn’t fit the newer models as well without some work (sort of like trying to use standard and metric together).

Now imagine that over the years, there have been improvements made to that tool. Newer versions work much better on newer equipment and have had some of the original defects corrected. (Some defects still remain, though, because people got so used to them that correcting them would have actually made them feel “wrong”.)

Here’s my question: Do you keep using the favorite well-worn model, even though it’s not nearly as efficient any more and actually has a few problems, and keep training your apprentices with it? Or do you switch to one of the newer models that you’re not quite as familiar with, knowing that it’s much better and can do a better job than the “comfortable” one?

Once you’ve answered for yourself, you can finish reading after the picture.

Photo by Michael Hartford

OK, this can be applied to any number of issues (customs, traditions, methods, etc.), but here is my point today. The number one tool for the Christian life is the Bible. God has told us over and over that the Bible is his hands-on tool to grow his people (see, for example, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:3).

That being the case, why do people continue to insist on using the King James Version of the Bible? Yes, it has been in use for a long time (400 years). Yes, many people have used it successfully for salvation and godliness. Yes, it is an acceptable English translation.

But it’s not the best translation (some “defects” in the translation), and it certainly doesn’t work as well in the 21st century as it once did (old tool, new equipment).

If you would upgrade your tools to the best available for a trade or industry… If you would insist that your apprentices and new hires were trained on the latest tools… Why would you not do the same for your spiritual life?

Why are we still requiring children and students to memorize passages from the KJV? Why do some insist on forcing them to learn dozens (possibly hundreds) of archaic words they will never use outside of a church setting?

Why are we still trying to adjust our lives with a 400-year-old tool, when there are so many other, better tools available?

In the early ’90s I switched from the King James to the New American Standard Bible when I began studying New Testament Greek. It was like working with a brand new tool. Not only did it “feel” better in my hands, it worked better in my personal study, teaching, and preaching. A few years ago I switched again, to the NET Bible, for the same reasons. As language changes and translation scholarship gets better, I’ll probably switch again in the future.

If you want to do your best work, you have to have the best tools. It’s time to retire the KJV for good.

(On a side note, if you’re interested in learning how to read New Testament Greek so you can use commentaries and Bible study materials that reference the original language, you can learn through our church’s Learning Center. Contact me for more information.)

OK, my rant’s done. It’s your turn. The comments are open.

Do you still use the KJV? Have you switched to something else? Why?

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“JODT” stands for “Journal of Dispensational Theology,” Tyndale’s seminary publication. Yes, this is a theological conference.

Dispensational Theology has three primary tenets that Oak Tree, Tyndale, and I (personally) hold strongly in our teaching:

1. There is a clear distinction between Israel and the Church. Israel is still God’s people and will still receive the many promises that God has not yet fulfilled. This is key in our End Times theology.

2. The only valid meaning of the Bible is found through a consistently literal interpretation. The Bible was written to be understood literally. We don’t have to search for deep meanings or find hidden truths. God did not write a “word search” book to stump us.

3. God’s own glory is the overarching, central theme of God’s work and of the Scriptures. The Bible is not about you and me, not about salvation, not about prophecy or end times — even though all of those things are in there. The Bible is about God. You and I are about God. Salvation is about God. Prophecy is all about God. When we read and study the Scriptures, no matter the topic or story, we are ultimately reading and studying about God and his glory.

For more information about how Dispensationalism approaches specific topics or passages, check out Dispensationalism: Tomorrow & Beyond by Tyndale Seminary Press. This collection of teachings by several well-known authors is a tribute to Charles Ryrie, one of the greatest advocates of Dispensationalism.

For the next couple of days, we’re going to be studying with men and women who hold this highest regard for God and his Word. It’s going to be a great time!

I’ll post notes and thoughts about some of the sessions as I can, so stay tuned to increase your understanding of the Scriptures along with us.

P.S.: We will be back to kick off our new series this weekend at Oak Tree Church – “Fruit of the Spirit”, honoring God in our day-to-day lives. Don’t miss it!

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