Why do we
need to talk about it?
Actually, it
is un-natural to be thankful.
Or, in the
beginning of creation thankfulness was a proper place – even God was
“thankful.” Every day He acknowledged the achievements of every day with the
statement “it is good” or, on the sixth day “it is very good.”
Romans: Block E (see Introduction to Romans)
Chapters 4 –
5
A. 4:1-12,
the example of Abraham, historical example
B. 4:13-25, Realization of faith
B’. 5:1-11, Results of justification by faith
A’. 5:12-21,
Adam and Christ, historical example
Two types of
Scripture:
Law and Gospel
It is not
Old Testament vs. New Testament
Law is what
God demands
Gospel is
what God promises
|
|
Old Testament |
New Testament |
|
Law |
Yes, Leviticus
|
Yes, Luke 1 |
|
Gospel |
Yes, Genesis 3:15 |
Yes, John 3:16 |
Also, we
need to maintain prescriptive and descriptive types:
Historical
accounts – descriptive parts
Prescriptive
– institutional accounts
Why do we
need to keep the difference?
Teaching on
the Baptism – Jesus, being 30 years old, go to be baptized in Jordan.
PSALM 93
Therefore, I would dare to propose another understanding.
The rivers – literal reading of “the floods” (3 times in v. 3) – lift up their
voices and roaring as supportive background of the majesty of the LORD. If this
is a possible interpretation, then I can suggest a three-fold development.
Righteousness and Law
Passage: Romans 3:1-31
Structure:
a. 3:1-4, What is an advantage to be a Jew, oracles of
God
b. 3:5-8, Righteousness
of God
c. 3:9-18, List of witnesses, Scriptures
c’. 3:19-20,
under the Law
b’. 3:21-26,
Righteousness of God
a’. 3:27-31,
What becomes of our boasting? Law of faith.
Commentary:
Advantage to
be a Jew – to begin with, oracles of God. Later, St. Paul comes up with a list
of 8 elements (9:4-5).
All quotes
but one (3:15-17) are coming from Psalter – why?
Jews and
Greeks are under the sin – list of witnesses from Psalms, Proverbs, and Isaiah
(vv. 9-18).
3
juxtapositions:
Unfaithfulness
of men vs. faithfulness of God (vv. 3-4)
Our
unrighteousness vs. Righteousness of God (vv. 5-8). Righteousness of God is
discussed in 1:17. Then, 3:21-26.
PSALM 16
 |
| David between the Personification of Wisdom and Prophesy Vatican Museums |
There is an interesting word that can be addressed here.
While New Testament text saved for us the term “Holy One” as a description of a
person who will not see the corruption or the pit, the Hebrew text literally
says the righteous one. Thou the saints are mentioned in v. 2 of the psalm, it is
the righteous one who is preserved on the path through the doors of death. This
does not change the meaning of the psalm but unites with the other passages of
the Bible. One of these passages can be found in the Book of Habakkuk – the
famous statement later used by St. Paul in the letter to Romans (1:17). It is
the righteous who shall live by faith. Live forever as he is not going to see a
complete separation from the Creator of life but a transformation of
resurrection.
We gives thanks God for what He does for us. But we praise God for who He is. That's why we need to talk about His attributes.
Attributes
of God
Hymn: How
great Thou art!
There is a
long list of attributes, we’ll talk about just a few
Two most
important ones:
Eternal (transcendence), Ps. 145:4 and
at the same time Personal (immanence), Ps. 145:1-2
Three transcendent
attributes or 3 OMNI:
Omnipresent
– present everywhere, Ps. 139:7-10
Omniscient –
Knowing everything (also, most wise), Ps. 147:5
Omnipotent –
All Powerful, Ps. 24:8
Another
“trinity” – 3 immanent attributes, relational to us, to people:
Just – His
judgements/evaluations are always correct, Ps. 51:4
Merciful –
He is forgiving, and doesn’t punish the way we deserve, Ps. 51:1-2
Gracious –
He is (freely) giving, we receive what we don’t deserve, Ps. 51:18-19
All seven are obviously reflected in the fact of creation, Ps. 104
Notes on the High Priest November 10, 2024
Three main
parts of HP job description:
1. Redeeming power of HP death (Number 35:28)
2. Anointment of a king (1 King 1:38-46)
3. Day of
Atonement (Leviticus 16)
Let’s go in reversed order [chiastic structure :)]
Preeminence of Christ over OT High Priest
Text:
Hebrews 9:24-28
I. Intro. A
reminder about the series on Hebrews. So far, we talked about
Angels,
Moses,
Sabbath rest…
Today we
will talk about a ministry of High Priest
II.a. High
Priest “job description”
i. Anointing of a king (1 Kings 1:38-46)
ii. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)
iii. Death of a high priest releases people from the
cities of refuge (Num.35:28)
What is the Day of Atonement?
II.b.
Preeminence of Christ (Hebrews 9:26)
He made a
proper sacrifice
He brought
His own blood
This is
permanent – no need to repeat it!
III. Take
out – Jesus did it on our behalf (Hebrews 9:24)
When we receive
new members as newly born children of the Church, we know that their sins
are forgiven.
When we come
to God in prayer, we can be sure that He listens.
We do not
repeat the sacrifice ON the altar, we receive the benefit of His sacrifice
AT the altar.
Even dying we find comfort, knowing that His
sacrifice established a firm stairway to heaven when He awaits for us.
STRESS OUTSIDE of VOCATION
Psalm 90
This is a famous psalm that “determines” the length of human
life. 70 or 80 years – a good span of life. Lot’s can be done within these
years. Thou people often miss that the subscription for the psalm attribute the
text to Moses. And we know that Moses himself lived 120 years. This raises the
question: what was he doing when he passed 70 years mark?
We know it – the answer is very simple – he was a shepherd
herding the flocks for his father-in-law. Verse 10 says that 70 years is a sure
mark a man can plan for. For sure, Moses was aware of sicknesses and wars that
carry away the lives of the young men and women. Yet, under “normal” circumstances
this is what one can expect. Then Moses pushes the boundaries a little further –
maybe 80…
The Jews and the Torah
Passage: Rom. 2:17-29
Structure:
a. 2:17-20, You call yourself a Jew
b. 2:21-23, breaking
Torah
c. 2:24, name of God reviled among the
Gentiles
b’. 2:25-27, who
breaks Torah
a’. 2:28-29,
one is a Jew inwardly
Commentary – summary: Relying on Torah – a way
of life
A.
Description of a “good Jew” (4 points):
Guide to the
blind
Light to those
who are in darkness
Instructor of
the foolish
Teacher of children
Summary A: Torah
is the embodiment of knowledge and truth
B.
Description of the un-lawful Jews (4 point):
Teach the
others – don’t teach yourself
Preaching
against stealing
Saying against
adultery
Abhorring idols
Summary B:
boast in Torah, dishonor God by breaking the law/rules of Torah
Summary
over all – hypocrisy
of “believers” turns people away from God
Paul’s visit to Troas
The
Passage: Acts 20:3-14
Structure:
a. 20:3-6, Journey of Paul
b. 20:7-8, he
kept speaking until midnight
c. 20:9, when
he was picked up – he was dead
c’. 20:10,
don’t be alarmed – there life/soul in him
b’. 20:11-12,
long conversation until daybreak
a’.
20:13-14, Journey of Paul
Within the
few verses we see a long travel of St. Paul, surrounded by many companions from
different congregations: Berea, Thessalonica, Debre and other Asian
territories. The last two places raise an interesting question: did they come
from the Asia to meet him at Macedonia, or did they accompany him during the
whole Third Missionary journey?
In this
lesson we also see new places mentioned – the ones that were not on the mission
trajectory before (v. 13-14), lit. Assos and Miletus.
There is something in the realm of chronology that we need to pay attention to: the bulk of the story develops within about 40 days. Starting chronological point is the feast of Unleavened Bread (Acts 20:6), while St. Paul hopes to conclude his travels BEFORE the celebration of Pentecost (Acts. 20:16). Well-known period 50 days long, meaning that he had to leave Troas within first 40 days.
(Zion Newsletter, November 2024)
November concludes the Church Year. This year the calendar
is very precise – we begin the next Church Year on December 1. Also, November
concludes the regular part of the Church Year – when our paraments are green
(most of the time), then we talk about our spiritual lives, and when our walk
with God is the focus of our attention.
The regular part begins right after the Day of Pentecost –
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the First Apostolic Church in Jerusalem.
So, we begin this half year with the celebration of the church, and we end it
with a commemoration of All the Saints, contemplating our final destiny, and enjoying
the festivities of Thanksgiving Day. Thinking of the Church what fills a mind
of a Christian these days.
