Tag: Jesus

Don’t Worry or Be Anxious

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date December 17, 2008

The news has been bad lately—and there is seemingly little hope in sight.

The global economy is bad, there is a credit crisis, the US automotive industry is in trouble, unemployment is increasing, many of those with jobs are concerned, and a turnaround seems a long ways off.

But in the big picture, this has happened before and will happen again.

The news has been bad lately—and there is seemingly little hope in sight.

I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
Luke 12:22, 23, 31

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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Tags hope, Jesus

Bible Insights

The Allure of Mystery

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 13, 2008

The Allure of Mystery

There are things about God, Jesus, and salvation that the Bible simply describes as “mystery,” that is, hidden truth or a mystic secret.

This drives some people crazy. They want to understand all and be able to fully explain everything. Anything less causes frustration and angst.

For me, I relish the realization that some things of God are but a mystery. That draws me to him; it is an allure. Daily, I strive to unravel his mystery and know him more fully. This is as it should be.

To explore this mystery motif more fully, consider the following verses that evoke the mystery explanation:

The word mystery is used in other contexts in Daniel 2:18-47, 4:9, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 14:2, and Revelation 1:20, 17:5, 7.

May we embrace the mystery of God.

[Discover more about the Bible at ABibleADay.com: Bible FAQs, Bible Dictionary, Books of the Bible Overview, and Bible Reading Plans.]

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Tags Jesus, mystery

Bible Insights

Would You Dare Tell Someone “Imitate Me?”

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date November 6, 2008

Discover Why Paul Says This

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul tells readers to follow his example and to the Corinthians he writes, “imitate me” (Philippians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 4:16). This strikes me as bold and audacious, arrogant and presumptuous.

This seemingly brash statement, however, is illuminated when he later instructs readers to imitate him as he imitates Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:1).

I’m certainly more comfortable with that. After all, Jesus provides us with the ultimate example, which we are wise to follow.

To take this line of thinking one more step, Jesus asserts that he “can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing” (John 5:19). Therefore, he is imitating God the Father.

So, when we encounter the command in Ephesians 5:1 to “be imitators of God”—who we have never seen—we are not taken aback. Paul imitates Jesus, Jesus imitates God, and there are ample examples about the both of them in the Bible.

Note that Paul can’t expect the Corinthian church to imitate Jesus, because they have never seen Jesus. Therefore they don’t know how to imitate him. But Paul does know Jesus and imitates him.

This means that has the people imitate Paul—as he imitates Jesus—the people are in effect, imitating Jesus, and thereby imitating God.

So through Jesus and Paul, we know God’s character and are thus able to imitate him.

This begs the question, is our life lived as one worthy of being imitated by others?

Read more in Peter’s book, Love is Patient (book 7 in the Dear Theophilus series).

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Tags Heavenly Father, Jesus, Paul

Bible Insights

Are Grace and Mercy the Same Thing?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 28, 2008

Are Grace and Mercy the Same Thing?

Are grace and mercy the same thing? That might seem so, since they are both good things that God gives us. However, in some respects they are opposites. Consider these simple definitions:

Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

Mercy is not getting what you do deserve.

For example, if I were to give you $100, that would be an example of grace.You didn’t deserve it, didn’t earn it, and I wasn’t obligated to give it to you. Grace is something that is freely given to people who don’t merit it.

On the other hand, if you hit my car, you would need to pay to have it fixed. Or I could forgive you; that would be mercy. You should rightly repair my car, but I willing choose to let you off the hook and not hold you accountable.

God shows us grace when he gives us good things that we didn’t earn and don’t deserve.

Also, God shows us mercy when he doesn’t hold us accountable for the wrong things we do.

Since it is through Jesus that we can receive both grace and mercy, you might consider them to be opposite sides of the same coin. So maybe they’re the same after all.

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Tags grace, Jesus, mercy

Bible Insights

How Does Salvation “Work”?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 23, 2008

How Does Salvation “Work”?

In one Paul’s letters, he says something that is quite curious and strange. He tells readers to “work out your salvation” (Philippians 2:12).

Ugh? Didn’t Paul also write that we are saved through faith and not by our “works” (that is, not of our own doing or striving)? (Ephesians 2:8-9).

So, if we can’t earn our salvation, why do we need to work it out? Is Paul confused? Is he schizophrenic? Is this a paradox?

Actually, I think it’s a matter of timing.

First, we need to follow Jesus—by faith. We don’t need to do anything else to get God’s attention or earn his affection.

There is no working involved in being made right with God. That means it’s a gift—we didn’t buy it and can’t earn it; it was given.

The second part is our response. Out of sheer gratitude for the gift, we can opt to respond by behaving differently. I think this is what it means to “work out our salvation,” that is, to cultivate it or complete it.

Consider what if I gave you a million dollars. Would your attitude towards me change? I think so. You might want to find out more about me, learn why I did it, and maybe help me in my future philanthropic efforts.

In essence you might be working out my gift to you. It’s still a gift, but one that evokes a grand response.

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Tags faith, Jesus, salvation

Reviews of Books & Movies

Movie Review: End of the Spear

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 15, 2008

Reviewed by Peter DeHaan

End of the Spear is the compelling true story of dedicated missionaries needlessly speared to death by the violent tribe they are seeking to help.

This tragically occurs because one of the tribesmen lies about them in order to protect himself from deadly reprisals within his own clan. T

he result is five men are murdered and their families are thrown into disarray. Even so, their wives—with their children—valiantly continue to pursue the visions they once shared with their husbands.

With courage and bravery they make slow but steady inroads by moving in with the native people and then winning their trust, providing medical help, and telling them about Jesus.

Even more gripping is when the son of one of the slain missionaries encounters one of his father’s now-believing murderers. Instead of revenge and anger taking over, love and acceptance prevail.

This movie is well done. It isn’t preachy, but is an inspiring and moving example of what can be done through love and by faith.

(Also, be sure to check out the DVD extras for background and interviews with some of the real people in this story.)

[Read more reviews by Peter DeHaan of other faith-friendly videos and movies.]

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Tags faith, Jesus, love

Bible Insights

What Good is a Little Bit of Yeast?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date October 2, 2008

I did a word study on the usage of yeast in the Bible. Here is what I found:

Yeast is used symbolically to represent influence, usually negatively. Just as a little bit of yeast, permeates dough and produces a noticeable result, so to does influence, be it good or bad.

The Bible contains many references to not using yeast in various religious practices, which symbolically shows the removal of sin.
Paul compares false teaching to yeast.
Another negative connotation is when Jesus says, beware of the yeast of the Pharisees (which is hypocrisy) and also the Sadducees and Herod.
In seemingly the only positive usage of yeast in the Bible, Jesus says that the Kingdom of God (that is, the Kingdom of Heaven) is like yeast.
In a final reference to yeast Paul uses it as a metaphor for boasting. Paul talks about getting rid of bread with old yeast (malice and wickedness) and using new bread without yeast (sincerity and truth).

[Check out where these references to yeast are found.]

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Tags Jesus, kingdom of God, Paul

Bible Insights

Do You Live by the Law or by Faith?

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 30, 2008

Do You Live by the Law or by Faith?

In what initially seems to be shocking statement, Jesus says that if we want to have eternal life, we must follow the commandments in the Old Testament. [Matthew 19:17]

Of course, this is impossible, because if we break even one law, one time, we are found guilty and therefore separated from God. Clearly, following rules is not the solution.

So what is? The realistic answer is that we need to turn from our wrong-doing and follow Jesus by faith, who took the hit for our law-breaking, making us right with God.

Even Abraham, was made right with God through his faith, not by following a bunch of rules. [Galatians 3:6]

For further contemplation, this contrast between the law (following rules) and faith (following Jesus) is expanded upon and explained in greater detail in Galatians 3, especially verses 10-11,19, and 21-22. Also see Ephesians 2:8.

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Tags Abraham, faith, Jesus

Bible Insights

Raised From the Dead for Physical and Spiritual Life

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 25, 2008

When Jesus died, many dead people came to life. This is a literal, physical event that Matthew documented.

This can also be understood and applied on a figurative or symbolic basis, in that for all who follow Jesus: We came alive when Jesus died.

This is a new, spiritual, eternal life.

In short, Jesus died so that we may live.

[Read through the Bible with us this year. Today’s reading is Matthew 26-28 and today’s post is on Matthew 27:52-53. Read more about Jesus.]

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Tags eternal life, Jesus

Reviews of Books & Movies

Book Review: The Threefold Art of Experiencing God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date September 17, 2008

The Liberating Power of Trinitarian Faith

By Christian A. Schwarz (reviewed by Peter DeHaan)

The Threefold Art of Experiencing God is a short book (32 pages) that is packed with profundity.

Author Christian Schwarz asserts that although most Christians believe in the Trinity (that God exists in three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in practice there is a tendency to focus on only one part, be it the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

The other two persons of the trinity are downplayed or even ignored.

This over-emphasis is generally a result of the church we attend, how we were trained, or our particular theological bent. Some people may address two parts of the trinity, but again dismiss the third.

Only occasionally do people equally consider all three.

Providing balanced attention and maintaining a holistic perspective of all three persons of the trinity is the result that we should pursue.

As such, this book is poised to make a significant improvement in how one views God and connects with him.

[The Threefold Art of Experiencing God: The Liberating Power of Trinitarian Faith, by Christian A. Schwarz. Published by ChurchSmart Resources, 1999; ISBN: 978-1889638140; 31 pages.]

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Tags author, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, trinity