What is God's Economy?

[Awoken]

Well, relating to all of this perhaps, I read John 12 today. Listened to it while I was on the treadmill via my convenient British-accented Bible reading bot, then used a parallel Bibles app to compare between 5 versions. Here is what I was "touched by" (to coin an LC cliché) -

Berean Study Bible: "And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say."

Darby Bible: "and I know that His commandment is life eternal. What therefore I speak, as the Father has said to me, so I speak."

NASB: "I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me."

Amplified: "I know that His commandment is eternal life. So the things I speak, I speak [in accordance with His exact instruction,] just as the Father has told Me."

Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Lamsa): "And I know that his commandment is life everlasting; these things therefore which I speak, just as my Father told me, so I speak."

I especially like the Amplified Bible on this one. Very clear explanation from the Son of God - "I know that God's command itself IS eternal life, therefore I make sure I speak/do EXACTLY what He says."

[aron]

Originally Posted by Awoken

I especially like the Amplified Bible on this one. Very clear explanation from the Son of God - "I know that God's command itself IS eternal life, therefore I make sure I speak/do EXACTLY what He says."

This is similar to what I was saying, that to Jesus, the Father's word is the Tree of Life, because Jesus obeys. "My food is to do the Father's will." John's gospel has repeated variations on this theme. Then I quoted Hebrews 5: Because of Jesus' obedience he got eternal life, and with our obedience to him we get also eternal life. Again, no suggestion of pray-reading, but rather obedience. The word becomes life not by repetitive shouting or "mastication" of letters but by obedience.

Heb 5:7-10 "In the days of His earthly life, Jesus offered up both [specific] petitions and [urgent] supplications [for that which He needed] with fervent crying and tears to the One who was [always] able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission toward God [His sinlessness and His unfailing determination to do the Father’s will]. Although He was a Son [who had never been disobedient to the Father], He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered. And having been made perfect [uniquely equipped and prepared as Savior and retaining His integrity amid opposition], He became the source of eternal salvation [an eternal inheritance] to all those who obey Him, being designated by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek." (AMP) He was heard, not because of volume or repetition but because of obedience. And now it's our turn.

Obedience, perfection, eternal life. It could hardly be more clear. It starts with Jesus and flows to us. Now, in 2 Cor 8, Paul says that the sign of obedience is to share with others. Again, Paul says it started with Jesus: "He was rich but for our sakes he became poor." And then Luke has people selling what they have, and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet (note well that Peter still has "no silver or gold" in Acts 3:6, but gave it all to the poor). If you go back and re-read 2 Cor 8 in this light, along with Paul's many epistolic exhortations for the poor of Jerusalem, you see what "God's economy" probably meant: "Give, and it shall be given to you; pressed down, shaken, and running over." ~Luke 6:38

(And I cannot overstress on this forum, that this proposed giving is NOT funding Hank Hanegraaf's his-and-hers Lexus', or Timothy Lee's Motor Home business. These shysters are soooo obvious when you know what to look for. For example, Ravi Zacharias said that profits from the Touch of Eden massage parlour in Alpharetta were for the furtherance of the gospel, just like WL & DCP said about his son's Daystar.)

[Awoken]

aron, somewhat related, reading John 13 today with Wesley's Explanatory Notes; what I found amazing about Mr. Wesley's notes are his thoughts on verse 13:26. When John asked Him which of them was going to betray Him, he was "leaning back" or "leaning down" to speak to Jesus privately, and Jesus answered him privately that it would be the one to whom he gave the bread after he dipped it. This wasn't an open pronouncement against Judas but a secret told privately to John (if you compare this against the other gospels you see that Judas is never actually openly called out by the Lord, who rather just said "One of the twelve who dips his hand with me in the cup" - and only when Judas asked him directly (in Matthew 26) did he say, "You have said it").

Wesley's note:

"Jesus answered - In his ear. So careful was he not to offend (if it had been even possible) even Judas himself. The sop - Which he took up while he was speaking. He giveth it to Judas - And probably the other disciples thought Judas peculiarly happy! But when even this instance of our Lord's tenderness could not move him, then Satan took full possession."

Before this you have the scene of Jesus washing Peter's feet and then teaching the disciples to wash each others' feet - to exhibit humble, servile love to each other. I think even when He was extending the bread to Judas He may have been trying to show him servant-like love, even knowing Judas was going to betray Him. I always used to think Jesus handing the bread to Judas was a kind of pronouncement of guilt, now I think it was a last-ditch extension of mercy and hope that he would repent even when Christ knew it wasn't going to happen. It explains why the disciples were so confused about why Jesus said "What you do, do quickly" - they had no clue this exchange had taken place, so they thought He was telling Judas to go run out and get groceries or something. Can you imagine the heart of God?

[aron]

Originally Posted by Awoken

Wesley's note:

"Jesus answered - In his ear. So careful was he not to offend (if it had been even possible) even Judas himself. The sop - Which he took up while he was speaking. He giveth it to Judas - And probably the other disciples thought Judas peculiarly happy! But when even this instance of our Lord's tenderness could not move him, then Satan took full possession."

I key in on one word in particular: "careful". So careful was Jesus not to offend. If you read the gospels, Jesus offended many! But the Father had decreed something and Jesus was careful with Judas, not to manipulate the Father's will, but that "Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven". Reference two nearby verses:

John 13:3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; (NIV)

John 13:18 I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me" (NIV)

Jesus knew the Father's will, what the Father was doing, and was therefore "so careful" to obey. And v. 18 quotes Psalm 41:9, that the sharing of bread will be linked to the betrayal. The Scripture was written and now must be fulfilled, so in faith Jesus is "so careful" to share the bread and not stumble Judas, knowing all things. In this care we can see Jesus' faith and obedience. He didn't force the issue, as Awoken wrote, as the Divine Will had decreed, the Scripture was written, and cannot be broken. Jesus never failed to fulfill and obey.

I refer to the earlier quote from John 12

Originally Posted by Awoken

I especially like the Amplified Bible on this one. Very clear explanation from the Son of God - "I know that God's command itself IS eternal life, therefore I make sure I speak/do EXACTLY what He says."

Because Jesus did exactly as the Father's will decreed in Scripture, he was raised from the dead to glory (Psa 16:10 [Acts 2:27]; Psa 18:16-24). We do the Father's will by believing into him whom the Father has sent (John 6:29). And "him that is sent" is by definition singular and categorically unique. Psalm 8 "what is man" refers distinctly to One Man, the Last Adam, who was lowered into the earth, and now in resurrection is "crowned with glory and honour". Even Paul conceded, "I have not yet laid hold", but Jesus has, as the singular and categorically unique Christ. We throw our crowns in the dust before him.

Psalm 40:7 says, "I come do to Thy Will, O God, behold in the scroll of the book it is written concerning me." This "me" can only be Jesus. Only Jesus Christ did the will of the Father, the rest failed. In the scroll of the book was written detailed instructions to the Obedient Son, who fulfilled the prophecy. We're the formerly disobedient goats who now believe into the Obedient Lamb and live. But we don't believe in ourselves, our collective expressions on Sunday morning, our faith, our position, our doctrine, our ground, our church order, our ministry or work, our status, or our Bible translations. We focus on Him who gives life.

Yes, "Christ loves the Church" but the Church should not love the Church lest in a flash she become the Great Harlot. Just as Peter instantly fell by looking away from the Master, so can the Church. She should only look to Him. Pretty simple, really.

Back to 2 Cor 8 and "God's economy" as Paul taught in every church, and asked Timothy to make sure got taught in Ephesus. Paul told the Corinthians that Jesus emptied himself, and now the gentile ekklesia should empty their pockets for the poor of Jerusalem. This emptying was a sign of obedience to the gospel. Just as Jesus performed signs that he was obedient to the Father as Messiah, up to and including the pouring out of his very life, so should his believing disciples now demonstrate signs of their faith, in charity.

In the beginning of Acts, the giving and sharing to the poor weren't an anomaly to ignore in our search for a "normal Church life" but rather a pattern of discipleship signs that extend to Paul declaring that he'd returned to Jerusalem with "alms for my nation" in chapter 24. In the gospels Jesus had taught, "Give, and it will be given to you", and "Love your neighbour", and "visit the sick and feed the hungry and you do this to me". Now the far-off gentile disciples had opportunity to do so. Paul was bringing that very gospel message to the world.

[Awoken]

Originally Posted by aron

Yes, "Christ loves the Church" but the Church should not love the Church lest in a flash she become the Great Harlot. Just as Peter instantly fell by looking away from the Master, so can the Church. She should only look to Him. Pretty simple, really.

Always a good reminder. Thanks!