Numbers 3
Family line of Aaronverses 1-4
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the
LORD spoke with Moses in mount Sinai
And these are the names of the sons of Aaron
Nadab – the firstborn – Abihu – Eleazar – Ithamar
These are the names of the sons of Aaron – the priests which were anointed
whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD
when they offered strange fire before the LORD
in the wilderness of Sinai – and they had no children
and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the
priest’s office in the sight of Aaron
their father
Levites to assist Aaron and his sonsverses 5-10
And the LORD spake unto Moses – saying
Bring the tribe of Levi near
and present them before Aaron the priest
that they may minister unto him
And they shall keep his charge
and the charge of the whole congregation before the
tabernacle of the congregation
to do the service of the tabernacle
And they shall keep all the instruments of the
tabernacle of the congregation
and the charge of the children of Israel
to do the service of the tabernacle
And you shall give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons
they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel
And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons
and they shall wait on their priest’s office
and the stranger that comes nigh shall be put to death
Firstborns belong to the LORDverses 11-13
And the LORD spoke unto Moses – saying
And I – BEHOLD – I have taken the Levites from among the
children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that
opens the matrix among the children of Israel
therefore the Levites shall be MINE
BECAUSE all the firstborn are MINE
for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt
I hallowed unto ME all the firstborn in Israel
both man and beast – MINE shall they be
I am the LORD
Moses lists names of children of Levitesverses 14-16
And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai – saying
Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers
by their families – every male from a month old
and upward shall thou number them
And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD
as he was commanded
Levi’s three sonsverses 17-20
And these were the sons of Levi by their names
Gershon – Kohath – Merari
And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families
Libni – Shimei
And the sons of Kohath by their families
Amram – Izehar – Hebron – Uzziel
And the sons of Merari by their families
Mahli – Mushi
These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers
Descendants of Gershonverses 21-26
Of Gershon was the family of Libnites – and the family of the Shimites
these are the families of the Gershonites
Those that were numbered of them – according to the number of
all the males from a month old and upward
even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand
and five hundred
The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward
and the chief of the house of the father of the Gereshonites
shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael
And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the
congregation shall be the tabernacle – and the tent – covering thereof
and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation
And the hangings of the court – curtain for the door of the court
which is by the tabernacle – and by the altar round about
and the cords of it for all the service thereof
Descendants of Kohathverses 27-32
And the Kohath was the family of the Amramites – Izeharites – Hebronites
and the family of the Uzzielites
these are the families of the Kohathites
In the number of all the males – from a month old and upward
were eight thousand and six hundred
keeping the charge of the sanctuary
The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle
Southward – and the chief of the house of the father of the families
of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan – the son of Uzziel
And their charge shall be the ark – and the table – candlestick
altars – vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister
and the hanging – and all the service thereof
And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief
of the Levites – and have the oversight of them that keep the
charge of the sanctuary
Descendants of Merariverses 33-37
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites – Mushites – Mushites
these are the families of Merari
And those that were numbered of them – according to the number of all the males
from a month old and upward – were six thousand and two hundred
And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel
the son of Abihail – these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward
And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the
boards of the tabernacle – and the bars thereof – and the pillars thereof
and the sockets thereof – and all the vessels thereof
and all that serves thereto – and the pillars of the court
round about – and their sockets – and their pins
and their cords
Moses and Aaron tent in front of tabernacleverse 38
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east
even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward
shall be Moses – and Aaron and his sons
keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge
of the children of Israel
And the stranger that comes nigh shall be put to death
Numbering of children of Levi completedverse 39
All that were numbered of the Levites
which Moses and Aaron numbered at the
commandment of the LORD – throughout their families
all the males form a month old and upward
were twenty and two thousand
Moses to count firstborn sons of Israelverses 40-41
And the LORD said unto Moses
Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel
from a month old and upward
and take the number of their names
And you shall take the Levites for ME (I am the LORD)
instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel
and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings
among the cattle of the children of Israel
Moses completed count firstborn in other tribesverses 42-43
And Moses numbered – as the LORD commanded him
all the firstborn among the children of Israel
And all the firstborn males by the number of names
from a month old and upward – of those that were numbered of them
were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore
and thirteen
Redemption price setverses 44-48
And the LORD spoke unto Moses – saying
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of
Israel and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle
and the Levites shall be MINE I am the LORD
And for those that are to be REDEEMED of the two hundred and
threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel
which are more than the Levites
You shall even take five shekels apiece by the poll
after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them
(the shekel is twenty gerahs)
And you shall give the money
wherewith the odd number of them is to be REDEEMED
unto Aaron and to his sons
Moses collected redemption moneyverses 49-51
And Moses took the REDEMPTION money of them that were
over and above them that were REDEEMED by the Levites
of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money
a thousand three hundred and threescore and five
shekels after the shekel of the sanctuary
And Moses gave the money of them that were REDEEMED
unto Aaron and to his sons
according to the word of the LORD
as the LORD commanded Moses
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.” (NKJV) (8435 תֹּולֵדֹות [towlâdah, tolâdah /to·led·aw ], 39 occurrences; AV translates as “generations” 38 times, and “birth” once.)
In the first three chapters, we can see that God is preparing the children of Israel for the wilderness march. First of all, it is noted in chapter 1 there was a census so that the men of war might be chosen. The people needed to be certain they knew they were the chosen people of God. Chapter 2 presents the order for the tribes to be positioned in the camp.
Chapter 3 gives us a record of the tribe of Levi and what they are to do. This is the tribe that had the oversight of the tabernacle. Although they were not included in the first census, a census is taken of them separately so that they may be assigned a definite position in the camp. The first verse of the third chapter begins with the record of Aaron, leader of the Levites, and Moses.
In verse one we see Aaron mentioned before Moses as he was assigned the role of High Priest of the Temple. This was done as the priesthood was given solely to the Levites and Aaron and his offspring were to be priests. Moses’ offspring is assigned the more common duties of Levites and mentioned under the general name of Amramites in verse 27.
It is important that we see that rank and privilege cannot ensure the same positions in future generations. Moses was the leader of the nation of Israel, yet his offspring would assume and carry out normal responsibilities. Each person was and is given duties and positions based on God’s will not birthright. While we are who are believers are all sons of God, we are given gifts and talents to accomplish different ministries and tasks. Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 12 where he speaks of various gifts and uses of those gifts for the building up of the body.
CHALLENGE: Like the offspring of Aaron and Moses, you may have a heritage that you are expected to follow. You may be a Pastor’s child or a child of someone who is successful business man and well-known. God may want you to trust Him to accomplish the work He has specifically designed for you. Dr. Brian D. Miller. Pastor
: 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. (3027 “consecrated” [yad] means the hand of God is upon, stretch out hand to, or the force and ability sufficient to accomplish a task, care)
DEVOTION: The LORD puts HIS hand on those who are supposed to serve HIM in the ministry. This was done in the Old Testament by Moses to Aaron and his sons for the purpose of serving the LORD before the children of Israel.
The LORD picked on of the sons of Jacob for this position. HE wanted this tribe to give themselves wholly to service to HIM. HE gave them the responsibility to be the spiritual example to the rest of the children of Israel.
We know that the first two sons of Aaron died because of offering strange fire before the LORD. We know that it caused fear in the rest of the sons of Aaron. This was necessary to show that they were to take their position seriously.
Today we have men who say they are called to serve to the LORD. They have an education. They have the ability to speak. They have the ability to communicate well with people. But all these traits are not necessarily enough if the man is not called of the LORD to serve.
God looks at the heart of the person who wants the office of minister. HE wants those who have a genuine interest in serving the LORD with their whole being. It is not an easy calling but it is a calling that the LORD gives strength for through the Holy Spirit.
Those who are consecrated by a group of pastor’s through a local church are questioned and then evaluated by their answers. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the individual is ready for ministry but it helps.
Only God knows the heart of the individuals HE calls to serve HIS people. If the heart is not right then the service will be selfish rather than for the honor and glory of the LORD. Time tells what is true.
CHALLENGE: If you feel the LORD is calling you to serve HIM in the office of leader in the church remember to check your motives and attitudes. Two of the four sons of Aaron failed.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father. (3547 “minister in priest’s office” [kahan] means mediate in religious services, serve as a priest, anointed person, perform duties, adorn like a priest, or officiate as a priest)
DEVOTION: There are those who respect the office of a ministry while others have no respect for the office. Here are two examples of individuals who didn’t have respect for the office they were holding for the LORD. HE had given them a special assignment and they didn’t really care to fulfill their responsibility. They would rather do their own thing than obey the commands of the LORD. They were judged for their attitude and actions very quickly.
Now we find that their two brothers are given the same responsibilities and they took them seriously. They were the younger brothers but the example of what happened to their older brothers must have had an impression on them.
Aaron their father was the High Priest. They were to do other duties as priests. They had to make sure the Tabernacle was taken down properly and cared for properly while the children of Israel were wandering in the wilderness. They worked on the sacrifices. They each had their spot around the Tabernacle. The priests were the last defense of the Tabernacle. No one that was a stranger was to come near the Tabernacle or they were put to death.
Only the priests were allowed close to the Tabernacle. They even had their spots closer to the Tabernacle than the rest of the children of Israel. When camp was set up the three tribes gathered a far away from the Tabernacle and the Levites were close to the Tabernacle.
There are individuals who are called to be special priests who stay close to the Sanctuary and those who were set up as helpers of the priests. All had their responsibility. We have our responsibility to the LORD as HIS priests today to fulfill our ministry.
Each of us that are followers of Jesus Christ is minister to HIM. Not all are called to the office of pastor/teacher. There are a few offices designated in Scripture for the local church most are gifted people who help minister with those who have an office.
CHALLENGE: What are you doing to keep your temple clean and what are you doing to keep your local church clean?
: 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. (4931 “charge” [mishmereth] means watch, keep, ordinance, guard, obligation, what is to be held in trust, service, function, a station, or responsibility)
DEVOTION: God gives each person a personal gift to do their duty in the local church. This is a gift given by the Holy Spirit to each individual believer at the point of salvation. We are all to be witnesses for the LORD outside of the church. We are to manifest the fruit of the Spirit when we meet with other individuals whether they know the LORD or not.
The sons of Aaron had to do special service to the LORD in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and in the Temple in Jerusalem when it was built. This is the starting point for them to serve the LORD. They were not to take their responsibility lightly as two of Aaron’s sons did and died because they didn’t serve the LORD properly.
We need to find out what our place is in the local church and then use our gift or gifts for the LORD as soon as we can. Children can serve the LORD through their helping with other children or singing in choirs or playing musical instruments in church.
It is our sacred duty to use what the LORD has given us to bring glory to HIS name in the church and in the community.
CHALLENGE: We are all called to ministry. It might not be as pastor or leader but in some capacity. Never just sit in a pew in a church. Everyone needs to be active in at least one ministry.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. (8104 “wait on” [shamar] means to keep, guard, observe, give heed, watch, protect, celebrate or have charge of)
DEVOTION: Now the LORD will concentrate on the children of Levi and their responsibilities and relationship to Aaron and his son. The children of Levi were to be servants to Aaron and his son. They were the labor force for them. They were responsible for setting up and taking down the tabernacle. They were responsible for the care of the parts of the tabernacle. They were given set places to set up around the tabernacle to protect it from their fellow Israelites and strangers.
When the priest’s, came to work they were to celebrate their service to the LORD. The priests were to protect the worship of the LORD. Two of the sons of Aaron were killed because they offered strange fire before the LORD. Two sons were left to Aaron.
These two sons had responsibilities in the service of the tabernacle. They were to guard all the holy things. They were not allowed to let any stranger to come near the tabernacle. If a stranger did come near. they were to be put to death.
The LORD described the tribe of Levi as HIS selection to replace the firstborn of all the children of Israel. Those firstborns who were a month old and upward were counted in Israel and compared to the number in the tribe of Levi. There were more firstborns of the children in the other tribes of Levi. The LORD required a redemption tax to be collected by Moses for the difference and the money given to Aaron for the upkeep of the tabernacle.
Today we have many serving the LORD in our churches. Everyone is chosen to serve with their individual gifts. The list of gifts is given in the books of Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians. This is probably not a complete list but it gives us the idea that there are many areas to serve the LORD in the local church.
Every gifted individual is important to God and the local church. Some gifted individuals have a greater responsibility and a greater judgment. These individuals need our help. We call them pastors, evangelist, Missionaries and so on.
We need to keep the standards high. Leaders have to have help. Everyone in the congregation should be using their gifts to help the leaders lead in a proper manner. Everyone will be judged regarding their use of their gifts. Everyone will be judged regarding their attitude towards others with different gifts. Sometimes there are individuals who covet a gift they have not been given by the Holy Spirit. We find this to be true among the children of Israel later in the book of Numbers.
Are we helping those in leadership positions to do their jobs well? Are we praying for our leaders? The enemy loves to see leaders fall. What is our reaction to them falling? Can we help leaders not fall? Our prayers and support are necessary.
CHALLENGE: Accept your responsibility. Use your gift to help. Don’t covet someone else’s gift. God has given you the gift HE wants you to use for HIS glory
: 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses. (3701 “money” [keceph] means silver, price, shekels, talents, a substitute for trading goods directly, or value)
DEVOTION: The shekel is thought to be a month’s pay for a regular Israelite. So it wasn’t a cheap price to redeem the firstborn of a family. Five shekels was five months wages.
It is thought that Moses put the names of all the firstborn of Israel in a container and the ones who pulled out the one that had the word shekel on it have to pay the money while the rest of the firstborn received a piece of parchment that had Levite on it.
Not sure how it was done but there was a way for Moses to have the ones who needed to pay chosen. The money was collected and given to Aaron and his sons for the upkeep of the Tabernacle.
The ones who were redeemed and didn’t have to pay probably were relieved that they didn’t have to pay. We should realize that we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and because of that we don’t have to pay for our sins for eternity.
We should be very thankful and show it by our words and actions each day. Too often we forget what it cost for our redemption. Christ left HIS place in glory to come to this earth to redeem sinful mankind. How many of us would take such as step to help a small amount of people who appreciate what HE had done? Most people reject Jesus Christ after all HE did to provide them a way to escape eternity in the lake of fire.
CHALLENGE: Money given to the LORD is important to the LORD and to the growth of the individual giving it as it is a sign of obedience to the commands of the LORD.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Tabernacleverse 7
Tabernacle of the congregationverse 8
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of the LORDverses 16, 51
Commandment of the LORDverse 39
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD (Jehovah)verses 1, 4, 5, 11, 13, 14, 16, 39-42, 44, 45, 51
Hallowed to ME firstbornverse 13
I am the LORDverses 13, 41, 45
Word of the LORDverses 16, 51
Commandments of the LORDverse 39
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Mount Sinaiverses 1, 14
Stranger – put to death verses 10, 38
Land of Egyptverse 13
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Strange fireverse 4
Stranger come nigh tabernacleverse 38
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Anointedverse 3
Ministerverses 4, 6, 31
Chargeverse 7
Serviceverses 7, 8, 26, 31
Appointverse 10
Wait onverse 10
Redeemedverses 46, 48, 51
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Aaronverses 1, 6, 38, 39
Mosesverses 1, 5, 11, 14, 38-44, 49
Sons of Aaronverses 2, 3, 10
Nadab
Abihu
Eleazar
Ithamar
Anointed
Consecrate to minister
Priest’s office
Nadab and Abihu died – strange fire before
the LORDverse 4
Tribe of Leviverses 6-8, 12, 15-37
Minister to Aaron
Keep his charge
Are the LORD’s
Whole congregation
Service of the Tabernacle
Gershon – 7,500
Responsibilities listed:verses 23-26
Kohath – 8, 600
Responsibilities listed:verses 27-31
Merari – 6,200
Responsibilities listed:verses 33-37
Children of Israelverses 9, 12
Levites numbered: month old upwardverse 14
West side of Tabernacle: Gershonverse 23
South side of Tabernacle: Kohathverse 29
Eleazar – son of Aaron
Chief over the Levitesverse 32
North side of Tabernacle: Merariverse 35
East side of Tabernacle: Aaron and Mosesverse 38
Firstborn belong to LORDverses 40-48
273 firstborn
Redemption moneyverses 47-49
Five shekels apiece
Moses took redemption money
1,365 pieces of silver
Gave money to Aaron
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Nadab and Abihu died for offering strange fireverse 4
Stranger put to death for going to closeverses 10, 38
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QUOTES regarding passage
3:1–4. Chapter 3 refers back to the Lord’s revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai concerning the family of Aaron and Moses (cf. Ex. 28–29). Aaron, the high priest, had had four sons who were to assist him and succeed him in the sacred office. But two of these four, Nadab and Abihu, died as the result of an arrogant deviation from authorized priestly procedure (see comments on Lev. 10:1–2). This left the other two sons of Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar, who served with their father. Since only Aaron and his direct descendants could serve as priests (Ex. 28:1; 29:9; 40:15) it was impossible for them to attend to all Israel’s religious needs by themselves. So the entire tribe of Levi was selected to undertake religious responsibilities short of actual priestly ministry. Since Aaron was a Levite this meant that all the priests were Levites but not all the Levites were priests. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). Numbers. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 218–219). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
3:1 Aaron and Moses. Because Aaron and his sons are emphasized in this chapter, Aaron is named first. Mount Sinai. The Lord had first communicated to Moses His choice of Aaron and his sons as priests in Ex 28:1–29:46 while he was in the midst of the cloud on Mt. Sinai (Ex 24:18). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nu 3:1). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
The priests (3:1–4). The priests were the descendants of Aaron, the first high priest, who had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Ex. 6:23). Nadab and Abihu brought unauthorized worship into the sanctuary and were killed by the Lord (Lev. 10). Eleazar was chief over the Levites (Num. 3:32) and eventually replaced his father as high priest (20:22–29). Ithamar had received the offerings for the building of the tabernacle (Ex. 38:21) and was in charge of the Gershonites and Merarites (Num. 4:28, 33). It was no insignificant thing to be one of God’s priests, for the priests were God’s anointed servants, especially consecrated for His glory (Ex. 28–29). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1999). Be counted (p. 17). Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub.)
Ver. 1. These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses, &c.] The descendants of them, those of the former, who is named first, because the eldest, were priests, and those of the latter Levites, and who are not very plainly pointed at, but are included among the Amramites, ver. 27 the posterity of Moses being very obscure, only Levites, and these not particularly named, but swallowed up among the Kohathites: and the following account was as it stood, in the day that the Lord spoke with Moses in mount Sinai: and not altogether as it then was when he spoke to him in the wilderness of Sinai, for then Aaron had four sons, but now two of them were dead, as is after observed; and it seems to be for the sake of this circumstance chiefly that this clause is so put.
(Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 714). London: Mathews and Leigh)
1. I think it worth observation in the opening of this chapter, that Aaron is mentioned before Moses. Probably on this account: as in this chapter of the order of the Levites, an eye to the priesthood is particularly attended to; Aaron, as a type of the ever-blessed Jesus in the order of the priesthood, supersedes the authority of the law, in the person of Moses. Heb. 7:12, 15, 16. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Genesis–Numbers (Vol. 1, p. 565). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
1 Corinthians 15
Christ’s resurrection is the basis for our resurrection, which is the final victory over sin.
INSIGHT
It is difficult for us to imagine what our resurrected bodies will be like. Yet there are snatches of information in the Scriptures that may give us some idea. In Matthew 17, for example, we read about Jesus, Moses, and Elijah who, having lost their earthly appearance, glow with a dazzling light. From this one brief example, we might conclude that our bodies will shine with dazzling light, that we will be free from gravity, that we may travel at fabulous speeds, and will be able to appear and disappear. C. S. Lewis once wrote that if we were to see our glorified selves coming down the street, we would be tempted to fall at our own feet and worship ourselves. (Quiet Walk)
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ANOINTED
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Ephesians 4:8
We are told that our Lord was, as it were, anointed and set apartfor His Messianic and saving work when the Holy Spirit came upon Him in Jordan when He was baptized by John the Baptist; and in a sense, the same thing is true of the individual Christian. “Ye have an unction from the Holy One,” says John (1 John 2:20). Who is that? The context makes it quite plain—He is none other than our Lord Himself; and in verse 27 the reference is still to the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is an interesting point that can be looked at in two ways. We are told by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:8 that “when he ascended up on high, he….gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). It was the Lord Jesus Christ who sent the Holy Spirit upon the infant Christian Church. The Holy Spirit did not come until Christ had ascended into heaven; then the Spirit came. He comes from the Father and the Son, or from the Father through the Son; it is as a result of the perfect work of the Son that the Father gives the Holy Spirit to all who belong to Him. That is one way of looking at it.
But there is another way of looking at it. Because we are incorporated into Christ and into the life of Christ, we partake of what is true of Him. Therefore, as He has been anointed and has received the Holy Spirit without measure, all of us who are in Him receive the gift of the Holy Spirit because we are in Him. That is why any kind of teaching that would ever suggest that you can be a Christian without receiving the Holy Spirit is unscriptural. It is impossible for one to be a Christian and then later on receive the Holy Spirit. To be in Christ means that you are receiving the Spirit.
A Thought to Ponder: Any kind of teaching that would ever suggest that you can be a Christian without receiving the Holy Spirit is unscriptural.
(From Walking with God, pp. 119-120, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Delivered, Translated, Forgiven
“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)
The central message of the gospel lies in Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. There is much more, of course, to our salvation. The immediate result is described in the two short verses of our text.
We have been delivered “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18). We have been delivered “from unreasonable and wicked men” (2 Thessalonians 3:2) and “from every evil work,” and are preserved “unto his heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18). Ultimately, we have been delivered “from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
We have also been “translated” into the eternal kingdom of the Lord Jesus. We will “not come into condemnation” but have been turned “from death unto life” (John 5:24). Our life prior to salvation was darkness, but we have been made “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8). No longer are we aliens outside of God’s family, but we have been “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
Furthermore, all of our sins have been forgiven, and we are “justified freely by his grace” (Romans 3:24). That forgiveness and justification seal us “unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). And since this is an eternal transaction brought about by a transcendent Creator, we have been raised “up together, and made [to] sit together in heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6). Already we have the “earnest of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14) and the assurance that we will “obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).
In this life, we may struggle with human rejection. David’s comment seems appropriate: “I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge” (Psalm 71:7).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
According to a recent survey, nearly a third of self-described evangelicals do not believe that Jesus Christ is truly God. Arianism, as it turns out, is a heresy that plagues multiple generations of the church, not just the one of the third century.
Well, over and over the church has, in various times and ways, ruled that some beliefs are not acceptable alternatives within Christianity. Adherents are, in fact, outsiders to the faith. For example, nearly 100 years ago, in a book entitled Christianity and Liberalism, Presbyterian scholar J. Gresham Machen argued, in an extensive scholarly treatment, that liberal Christianity was not a version of the one, true faith handed down once and for all to the saints. Liberalism was, he argued, a completely different religion from Christianity.
The Liberal Christianity of Machen’s day focused on a social-reform agenda, fueled by feelings and informed by secular thought, barely draped in religious language. The God it preached was not sovereign over creation and providential over the affairs of men; did not really come in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, who did not really perform miracles or physically rise from the dead. The Bible was not really the fundamental and decisive revelation of God, nor the final authoritative source for morality, but must be understood according to our evolving scientific knowledge and political agendas.
Today, there is also an effort to update Christianity, to adapt and re-form it according to the spirit of the age. From church pulpits to the Christian blogosphere, from once-reliable Christian publishing houses to the campuses of Christian colleges that are Christian in name only, from beautiful and historic churches decorated with gay pride flags and pastored by ordained ministers who “bless” abortion clinics to the “exvangelicals” who become self-styled spokespersons for “what Jesus would really say and do,” there is, in our day too, a Christianity that is no Christianity at all.
Devoid of the truth claims and moral teachings of historic Christianity, what is today called “progressive Christianity” is not another side of the same coin. It is a different religion founded on a different worldview.
Machen’s crucial insights were presented in a largely academic book written for a largely academic audience. Since the progressive Christianity of our day is far more populist than the liberalism of his, I am pleased that a new book, theologically robust and very accessible, is now available to address the ideas deceiving so many Christians. The book is titled Another Gospel: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity.
Alisa Childers grew up in the church and eventually became a member of the very successful Christian pop group “Zoe Girl.” Despite that pedigree, as she told my colleague Shane Morris on his Upstream podcast, she was completely unprepared when she learned her pastor was a skeptic, and confronted her with questions and counterclaims about the reliability of Scripture, the morality of the atonement, whether God answers prayer, or cares about our sexual choices, or even exists.
Flailing in doubt Childers went to work to find answers, studying Scripture, church history, great apologists for the Christian faith (past and present), and critiques of the claims of progressivism. In the process, she found that her beliefs had rock-solid foundations, and answers to the toughest questions. A “progressive Christianity” that denies the divinity of Christ, treats His incarnation and resurrection from the dead as myths, and reimagines human nature away from God’s created design and according to sexual libertinism isn’t just another take on the faith. It’s another gospel entirely.
Childers’s book Another Gospel is an incredibly valuable resource. Every week it seems, I talk with pastors, youth pastors, parents and grandparents watching the next generation buy into a false gospel and questioning the historic truth claims of Christianity. Using the framework of Childer’s story, Another Gospel provides a thorough, rigorous, and entirely readable take-down of progressive Christianity, and a reliable introduction to the non-negotiables of the Christian faith.
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