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December 1, 2021

A City Full of Idols

There is a fascinating adjective that Paul uses to describe the city of Athens. In Acts 17:16 as he saw the city he described it with this transliterated Greek word, “kateidols.” The last five letters, “idols” point us to the main focus of this word. The word begins with the preposition, “kata” which serves as an intensifier. This one word is translated with a variety of phrases in our English translations such as, “wholly given to idolatry” or “given over to idols” or “full of idols.” When Paul saw the city of Athens, he observed an idolatrous city. What makes a community, city, or nation idolatrous? What adjective would Paul use to describe our local region? Why did he describe Athens as “kateidols”?

Athens had a synagogue, was inhabited by religious people, was economically prosperous, and was marked by human philosophy (Acts 17:17-18). Paul later describes them as very religious (Acts 17:22). Yet, he describes them as fully given to idolatry. What brings him to the conclusion that this city is “kateidols”? The answer can be summarized by the reality that the city didn’t know or recognize the true God. When Paul preached to them Jesus and the resurrection, they knew nothing of that truth. To them, Paul was preaching a “foreign god” (vs. 18). Later as Paul comes across a statue to the unknown God (vs. 23), he makes it known that the city doesn’t know the true God. They had gods, but they didn’t know the true God. And the gods that they worshipped had replaced the true God! They devised their own gods (vs. 29) through their educational systems, business adventures, art and entertainment platforms, political establishments, and philosophical systems to the point where the true God was no longer acknowledged or recognized.

Because the true God was replaced with gods that the people of Athens devised, Paul was able to easily tell that the city was wholly given to idolatry. Idolatrous beliefs affect the policies, the principles, and the practices of the city. Ideas and beliefs have consequences. They worshipped the earth and the sun and the moon and the stars instead of the Creator of the heavens and the earth (vs. 24). They had gods that they worshipped that would provide health and fertility instead of worshipping God who gives life and breath and all things to us (vs. 25). Yes, they had stone idols dedicated to those gods, but those gods permeated from their religious and philosophical institutions into everyday life in the marketplace. It is good for us to ask, who is worshipped in our day and age when it comes to giving us breath or life? Do we recognize the true God as our sustainer? Or is He not even recognized? For example, our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator God. He therefore made our immune system! For years scientist have acknowledged something called “natural immunity.” It should not surprise God-fearing believers when we hear studies showing how effective “natural immunity” is against COVID! Sadly, what should be a reason to worship our Creator God, the one in whom we live and move and have our being (vs. 28), is often times not even acknowledged because of philosophies that devise an idolatrous god as the supreme god for our life and health.

Another consequence of idolatry is the usurping of power and authority that ultimately belongs to the Lord of heaven and earth (vs. 24). Idolatry doesn’t acknowledge that someday Jesus Christ will judge the world in righteousness (vs. 32). The majority of the people mocked (vs. 32) Paul when he preached about Jesus and the resurrection. Mockery is a form of persecution that wants people to suffer for their religious beliefs. Mockery doesn’t allow for religious liberty, but rather it usurps the Lord’s authority and sets itself up as the final authority.

Thankfully in Athens there were some who wanted to hear the gospel message again. And some who were marked by “kateidols”, yet they repented and believed (vs. 32). Let us, like Paul, take opportunity to daily testify of Jesus Christ and the resurrection in a context that is increasingly marked by “kateidols” and not knowing or acknowledging the true God.

December 2, 2020

Viewing Christmas through the Lens of Revelation

What happens when our expectations are high, but then they are not realized? Consider a child who has high hopes to receive a certain gift, only to be disappointed when the gift is opened. When you look at the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the coming of Jesus Christ, one would rightfully expect a King who would rule the nations. For example, Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ in referencing the birth of Christ, alludes to this high expectation of Jesus ruling the nations. Revelation 12:5 states, “She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.” If all we had was this verse, then viewing Christmas through the lens of Revelation would be a big disappointment. Jesus who was to rule the nations, didn’t fulfill that when He came to earth the first time. And now Jesus has been caught up to His throne.

Thankfully we have more than this one verse in Revelation regarding Christ’s first coming. And there are two powerful perspectives that the final book of the Scriptures encourage us with as we celebrate Christ’s first coming. First, the purpose of Christ’s first come was to be a sacrificial lamb. Just because Christ didn’t rule the nations during His first coming doesn’t mean that His first coming was without a purpose. The primary description of Jesus Christ in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. Twenty-nine times in The Revelation the word “lamb” is used to describe Christ. The reason why Jesus came to the earth nearly 2,000 years ago was to give His life as the sacrificial lamb, a ransom for many. Revelation 5:9 describes the Lamb as the one who has “redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” As you celebrate Christmas this year remember that the reason Jesus Christ came into the world was to seek and save that which was lost. He came as the Lamb of God to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins!

The other perspective that we ought to have as we celebrate Christmas is that Jesus Christ still has some unfinished business to fulfill. Just because Christ didn’t rule all nations with a rod of iron at His first coming doesn’t mean that He will not do that. Revelation 19, which is a climax chapter in the book, shows Jesus Christ being revealed as He comes again to this earth. On His thigh and on His robe the name, “KING of KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” will be written and He Himself will rule the nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15-16). As we celebrate Christmas, our perspective is to be looking forward to the day when Christ will come again to this earth and we will rule and reign with Him! “The Child who was born was to rule all nations” (Revelation 12:5). Don’t be disappointed because that didn’t happen when He came the first time, instead keep your expectations high. It is true He is coming again and He will rule all nations! Have a blessed Christmas worshiping Christ the Lamb and the coming King of kings and Lord of lords!

December 10, 2019

Why Great Fear is Necessary to the Christmas Message

Usually one of the last things associated with Christmas is fear and certainly not “great fear.” Yet, in The Gospel According to Luke, the author emphatically declares that on the night of Christ’s arrival, the shepherds were greatly afraid (Luke 2:9). And these shepherds were not wimps. They spent many nights in darkness fending off predators as they defended and protected their sheep. Yet, on the night of Jesus’ birth, they were “megas” – the Greek word for “greatly” – afraid! What started as a typical night quickly changed as an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them (Luke 2:9). It is interesting that both the angel and the glory are said to be “of the Lord.” The angel of the Lord certainly could have been responsible for causing some fear. In Luke 1:11-12, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, and when Zacharias saw the angel, “he was troubled and fear fell up-on Him.” In Luke 1:29, Mary was troubled when the angel Gabriel appeared to her. But it is interesting that even though Zacharias and Mary experienced fear when they saw the angel, neither of them were said to be greatly afraid. When the angel of the Lord appeared the to shepherds, they too would have experienced fear. But it is when the angel of the Lord is connected with the glory of the Lord that the shepherds experienced great fear!

Consider for a moment why the all-consuming, perfect and holy glory of the Lord would produce great fear. First, think of Isaiah’s response to seeing the glory of the Lord: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” The word “woe” describes a passionate cry of despair because of impending danger and judgment. The words “for I am undone” mean that he is about to perish or be cut off or destroyed. Isaiah was greatly afraid because he understood what his sins deserved when confronted with the glory of the Lord. Second, think of the often quoted memory verse found in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” And just four verses earlier, we read how all the world is guilty before God. The perfect glory of God exposes our sinfulness and the just judgment that our sin deserves.

It is this great fear that causes the shepherds to truly comprehend the “great joy” that the Christmas message from the angel of the Lord contained. Again, back in Luke 1, both Zacharias and Mary received a message of joy from an angel (Luke 1:14; 28), but the message that the angel of the Lord brings in Luke 2 is great joy. The angel of the Lord pro-claims to the shepherds why their message is one of great joy: “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Without the great fear produced by the glory of the Lord causing the shepherds to recognize that they were under the impending judgment of God, the shepherds would have no need for a Savior. The reason why so many people miss the Christ-mas message of great joy found in our Savior is because they have never been greatly afraid in light of the glory of the Lord!

Without the great fear, the shepherds would not have understood the great joy! When we understand our condition in the presence of the glory of the Lord, we will be ready for the gracious proclamation from the Lord and we will find great joy in the Savior, Christ the Lord! Luke 2 is a testimony of God’s amazing grace. It is His grace that “taught our hearts to fear and grace our fears relieved.”

December 11, 2018

Joy to the World!

The hymn-writer, Isaac Watts, had the words 100% correct when he wrote, “Joy to the world! The LORD is come!” Joy is gladness in our soul that radiates to every area of our life. The word “joy” appears at least 165 times in the Bible. Joy is an attribute of the Godhead (Psalm 16:11). It is a fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22. Jesus states in John 15:11, “these things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” And the last part of Nehemiah 8:10 proclaims, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Now go back to the popular phrase by penned by Mr. Watts, “Joy to the world! The LORD is come!” His theology of joy was found in the LORD.

People today are rightfully looking for joy. The problem is that it is possible to look for joy in the wrong places. This becomes apparent when our theology of joy is not built on the LORD. Psalms 16:11 states, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures forever-more.” And when we connect that verse with the previous verse which proclaims: “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption,” we see that joy is possible because of the death and burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You see, the Lord has come, and He came into this world so that He could die on the cross for our sins. The angel proclaimed on the night that Jesus was born: “I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people, for there is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Praise the LORD that Jesus Christ was born to die, so that you and I might have “the way” (John 14:6) for our sins to be paid for and that we might be able to enter the presence of the LORD where there is fullness of joy. May our theology of joy both in thought and in practice be based upon the LORD and what He has done in providing salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!

If our theology of joy is not based on the LORD, we will miss out on the “fullness of joy.” And instead, we will settle for partial joy at best. Even at Christmas time, we can settle for partial joy. There are many joyful blessings of Christmas: being with loved ones and giving and receiving presents. But may I encourage you this Christmas that even if every present on your Christmas wish list comes true, don’t be content with that partial joy. If our joy is based on any-one other than the LORD, we will miss out on fullness of joy. So in the midst of the fullness of this season, remember the lyrics to the familiar Christmas carol, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

From Our Pastor’s Desk

Welcome to Pastor Leary’s Blog! Here you will find encouraging articles to equip you with biblical principles for the practical issues of life.  Read along, be encouraged, and stay updated with the ministries of FBC as we continue to be changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

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