Solomon sees that the world isn't fair and equitable, things
don't work out the way you think they would, time and chance play important
roles in human affairs. We have a
built-in sense that the world should be a certain way and one of the most
difficult journeys is to the wisdom that we will be surprised and disappointed
because it doesn't work the way we believe it should. Psychological and spiritual issues frequently
arise when that basic truth is not assimilated into our worldview. As the writer notes, one sinner destroys much
good. Since sin came into the world
there is nothing as it should be, nothing predictable, nothing truly good,
right and faith about the world. Sin,
the fall, has brought about the world we live in and until we see our part in
that and grieve over our own sins, we will never be completely whole in our
spirit. Jesus came and recognized the
world for what man has made of it, grieved over it, and gave His Spirit to
those who will believe that we might point to that time and place where things
are restored to their intended state.
What "sign of Jonah" did the Pharisees and
Sadducees think Jesus was speaking about here?
We know that the sign of Jonah could refer to the three days Jonah spent
in the fish before God brought Him forth again to prophesy to Nineveh but it
would be curious to know what they thought He was referring to. Jesus accuses the generation of Jewish
leaders of being evil and adulterous, strong language to be sure, language used
by the prophets of old. Remember here
that Jesus has just fed four thousand people and healed all that were brought
to Him for that purpose. They have
either just missed or completely overlooked signs galore. As they travel back across the lake, Jesus
warns the disciples regarding the leaven of these men and the disciples
completely misunderstand the metaphor but also are guilty of forgetting what
they have just seen as well. The leaven
of which He speaks is that which will never take the step of faith, never be
truly satisfied based on available evidence, that makes more room for doubt
than faith.
The Galatians are essentially hedging their bets by
accepting the law. Their faith is no longer
entirely in Christ but in Christ and the keeping of the law. Paul reminds them that the Gospel includes
being set free from the law by the Spirit.
Either you believe that Jesus has fulfilled the law or you believe that
you add something to your salvation by some righteousness under the law. That truth does not mean we have the freedom
of a libertine but freedom from fear and doubt about eternity. In Jesus, all has been done that was
necessary to purchase us from sin and death.
We deserve death for our sins, but we have instead received grace. Grace is a game-changer, our worldview is
completely turned on its head by grace.
Fairness is no longer the issue, we have received more than fairness, we
are called to be those who live by the principle of grace rather than
fairness. As we have received, so we are
to bestow. Grace can change the
world. A world of sin needs grace far
more than it needs fairness.
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