While reading Peter Enns’ NIV Application Commentary on Exodus, I became aware about some other connections between Genesis and Exodus. We may call these “Creation Connections.” In Genesis, God is presented as the God of beginnings. He is the Creator of all and rules over what he has made. His rule over creation continues into the Exodus narrative. Check out these connections!

The book of Exodus is not about Moses or Israel versus Pharaoh/Egypt; but rather, it is about God versus Pharaoh. Enns’ writes,

The very oppression of the Egyptians in wanting to reduce the number of Israelites is antithetical to the created order. This is the sin of Egyptian slavery, which anticipates a point to be elaborated in subsequent chapters: Since the increase of the Israelites in Egypt is a fulfillment of the creation command, it is fitting to speak of the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt in creation language and to punish the Egyptians by means of a series of creation reversals (the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea) (p. 43).

This is awesome. The nature of the Egyptian slavery and genocide was to control the Israelite population – strong enough to be a productive workforce for Pharaoh, but not too strong so as to rebel against the Egyptians. However, Pharaoh directly opposed God’s creation mandate to “increase, multiply, and spread out over the earth” with his oppression of the Hebrews.

Commenting on the passage concerning Moses’ encounter with the burning bush,

This episode, then presages, the upheaval of the natural phenomena in the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea. Bushes do not remain unscorched when on fire [especially in the desert], but neither do rivers turn to blood. Frogs, flies, and locusts do not normally invade a nation. Gnats are not formed from dust. Hail and darkness do not fall on command. The firstborn of a nation do not die all in one night. Seas do not form walls of water. Moses would have been wise to learn a lesson from this burning bush. The God who is calling him is the God over creation. The natural phenomena do his bidding; all are under his control. In light of this fact, made clear in the burning bush, Moses’ excuses in 4:1-17 to be exonerated from his responsibility are almost comical (p.97) [brackets mine].

Thus, God’s identity as Creator permeates the entire narrative of Exodus. His sovereignty over creation as demonstrated in Exodus aims to accomplish some things for Moses, ancient Israel, ancient Egypt, and for all people in today’s world. First, God’s people need not be afraid when participating in God’s mission for he is with us (Ex. 3:12). His presence and all that accompanies his identity as Creator goes with his people as they seek to fulfill his mission upon the earth. Second, those who find themselves opposed to God should be afraid. He rules over the elements of cosmos. He is the God of beginnings who calls into existence things that were not. He rules over your body and breath. The Creator owns what he has made – whether you acknowledge him or not. Lastly, “the God of creation is the God of salvation” (Enns, p. 46). God rescued the Hebrew people from their oppression and slavery by “unleashing the forces of creation against the Egyptians” (Enns, p. 41).

Do you rest and trust in the Creator and Might Rescuer of the Holy Scriptures? The mark of the true people of God throughout all of Scripture is faith. Faith is best understood a decision or movement toward God in the affections and loyalties of the human heart. Do you love God? Have you expressed allegiance to him through his Son, Jesus Christ? If you’ll allow me, Enns writes on page 56,

The spiritual character of our country (if there even is such a thing) seems to be determined more by the character of the “new pharaoh” we elect rather than by the character of the ever-present God by whose command rulers rise and fall . . . We doubt and we struggle, but we trust God. Things are not the way they ought to be, but we rest in God’s promises. We have faith.”

Exodus teaches us that the Savior and King of the world is the God of the Bible, the God of beginnings. Won’t you humble yourself to him today, and let him give you a new, powerful beginning through his Son, Jesus Christ? And experience your very own exodus out of the bondage of your sin?

As our Sunday evening study at the Z’s on Christian Apologetics kicks off, I did a little reading to make an attempt to get my heart ready for this study. We looked at 1 Peter 3:15 last night, and I can’t shake the idea of Peter’s command to us to “Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts.” Once Jesus is established in our hearts in this most sacred and unique way—that is, as Lord—there is a hope that radiates out from the Christian. This hope is from the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, who was raised from the dead and is returning one day to make all things new. Have we set apart Christ as lord in our hearts? Only then will we be constantly ready with a reasonable word for those who demand from us a reason for the hope in us.

While getting ready for last night’s fellowship, I came across this article by John Starke—a writer for The Gospel Coalition. If you aren’t familiar with TGC, then make haste, and do it! I have posted the link here: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/10/the-case-for-sense-of-the-heart-apologetics/. Enjoy!

In Christ,

Rex

On Wednesday, we gazed deeply into one of my favorite Bible passages – Romans 6. We emphasized that we need to find our identity in Christ. We learned that those last two words – “in Christ” – are loaded. This new location for our identity is a place of rest and newness of life unlike the identities placed on us by/in the world. In this blog post, I hope to go a bit deeper in this idea of rooting our identity in Christ and to clarify some things mentioned on Wednesday at Midweek.

Clarity.

Baptism.

I mentioned on Wednesday that I hold the view that the baptism mentioned in Romans 6 is the Christian practice of water baptism. I have not always held this view, but I do today. I believe that God’s deliverance in the Exodus from the slavery in Egypt is in Paul’s mind and in the Holy Spirit’s intention for the words written in Romans 6. Again, it’s not the water that delivered the people of Israel; it was God who delivered them. In the same way, it is not water baptism that delivers us from the slavery of sin; it is God who sent the Savior to put an end to sin and death and who gives new life in his resurrection. However, much like the sea in the Exodus, water baptism is that physical reference point to which we can point and say that we have identified with the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we have learned already in Paul’s talk about the faith of Abraham, only those who exercise the faith of Abraham (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4; 5:1) experience justification from God, entrance into God’s family, and peace with God.

Others interpret “baptism” as referring to something called “Spirit baptism.” Other passages that develop this teaching are Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. Other passages that are up for debate might include Galatians 3:27-28. In this last passage as well as Romans 6, the Spirit is not directly mentioned in the context. The New Testament clearly teaches that there is a baptism of the Spirit. As the 1 Corinthians passage teaches, this act of the Spirit of God unites us to the body of Christ and is the foundation for his gifting within the body of Christ. The language of “the body of Christ” is applied to the Church (Colossians 1:18). It is also true that unity with Christ’s death and resurrection at the deepest theological level is accomplished by the Spirit of God alone. This teaching of the Spirit’s baptism is unique to the people of God in the New Testament Church (Acts 1:5; 11:16).

So why have I changed my view to think that Romans 6 is speaking of water baptism instead of Spirit baptism? Especially if the Spirit’s baptism is underlying this whole thing anyway? The main reason I believe that water baptism is Paul’s intended meaning here is because of what appears to be Paul’s use of God’s deliverance in the Exodus to teach about a greater Exodus (Jeremiah 23:7-8). This time it is not Moses, but the Lord Jesus who is God’s anointed one who leads his people out of a greater slavery than Egypt (i.e., Sin). God’s delivering hand is seen in the water [i.e., the death (going under the water) and the resurrection (coming up out of the water)]. Like Egypt, Sin was judged by God in the water (i.e., the death of Jesus). Like the new life offered in the promised land, we find new life in Christ’s resurrection. Romans 7 will focus on the Mosaic law. Where did the Israelites go after the journey through the Red Sea? They went to Mount Sinai – where they received and struggled to keep God’s law. Romans 8 will take us into the new creation – a land greater than the land of Canaan. You see, God is demonstrating a greater Exodus in the Lord Jesus for those who have the faith of Abraham. This is the BIG thing; water just happens to be a part of both stories.

The Prodigal.

I asked you to consider on Wednesday what it would have been like if the prodigal son had repeated his offense to his father again, and again. This is indeed the question Paul deals with in Romans 6:1. I want to make sure you follow me here. The one who by faith has entered into Christ can never ever be removed from that location (Romans 8:31-39; btw this is so awesome!). However, as Paul teaches in Romans 6:11 and following, the person who is in Christ is no longer a slave to Sin. He/she doesn’t live there anymore. He/she is now a slave to God by virtue of his/her new life in Christ. In Christ is not a license for whatever but a new life of devotion to God in which our bodies are utilized as weapons of righteousness. So, are there 2nd chances with God? Absolutely, he is kind, patient, and merciful (1 John 1:9-10; 2:1-2). If we are banking on 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances with God, is that a cause for concern? According to Paul’s message in Romans 6, yes there is cause for concern. How shall we who died to sin continue to live in it? We don’t live there anymore.

My (earthly) Father.

Admittedly, this came out of nowhere (actually, it came from somewhere and I know where) and certainly not out of my notes. I attempted to illustrate on the fly and probably confused you more than I helped. What I tried to say, is similar to what we learn in Mark 3:20-35. When we leave the realm and rule of sin and enter into Christ, we enter into a new family with redefined relationships. When Jesus’ family thought he was nuts and had lost it, he asks the questions, “Who is my mother?” and “Who are my brothers?” He answers his own questions by teaching that those who do the will of the Father are his mother and brothers. They are his true family. That is, something bigger than the bloodline has come along.

So, I am no longer my earthly father’s son. I belong to the heavenly Father in Christ. However, the heavenly Father turns around and says that I am identified as a member of his family by doing his will. Guess what part of doing his will happens to be? Look at Ephesians 6:1-3,

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

By being found in Christ and therefore adopted into a new family with a new Father, I am free from the rule of Sin in my earthly relationships. This means that I am free from the anger that sometimes builds up inside of me toward my earthly father. This means that I am free from his limitations and failures. I am not hindered by them anymore. It also means that being one who has experienced the grace of my new Father, I am now able to be a child of grace to my earthly father. In Christ, I am free from Sin and bound to the will of God.

Deeper.

We all long for the reality that we will experience in the age to come (i.e., our lives in eternity). The beauty of the Christian’s identification with Christ, his death, and his resurrection is that we can begin to experience eternal life today. The empty cross is the center of history. In the resurrection, God did a thing that was supposed to happen in the future age. In the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God did something that was to happen in the future age (we’ll read more about this in Romans 8). God has sent some things from the future crashing into our present day ever since the cross event. You see, we can experience that for which we long most . . . now—freedom from the oppressive rule and reign of Sin. How? By finding ourselves in Christ—dead to Sin and alive to God. Remember, you don’t live at your old address anymore. You’ve moved residences. You’re now in Christ.

In Him,

Rex

Here are four things that I have found helpful when diving the depths of talking with teens:

1. Unplug. Both of you have to unplug to accomplish any valuable communication. This means disconnecting from the iThis and iThat, putting the cell phone aware or turning it off, getting away from the television and/or computer. No meaningful or memorable conversation is going to happen when on or both parties are plugged in.
2. Location. Where do you try to talk with teenagers? Related to the previous point, the home used to be a place for connecting, talking, and relating with family. Now, the world is in your living room, bedroom, kitchen, and even the bathroom with the advancement of technology. You need to find a place that is conducive to the conversation you want to have. Sometimes the kitchen table can serve as a good place. Sometimes, you may have to go outside. Coffee shops can be good if you’re unplugged. Regardless of where it is, you need to find the right location for significant communication to take place.
3. Clarity. Make sure you are clear in what you are saying or in what you are trying to find out. Don’t beat around the bush; get straight to the point. I say this because of the attention span of teens, because of adult’s tendency to rely too much on abstract talk (I’m pretty bad at this myself) instead of concrete images, and because teens have an emergency-eject-from-conversation-device (especially with parents) if they feel you’re entering into deep, personal territory. So get to it quick; repeat; use concrete images; and pay attention to anything they say that isn’t “Dunno, yep, nope, sorta, No one, Nowhere.”
4. Culture. Be a student of teen culture. You’ve got to enter their world; discern it; and then lead them into biblical truth. Walt Mueller over at http://www.cpyu.org does a terrific job of educating youth leaders and parents about teen culture. Visit his website weekly just to see what’s going on in the teen world because chances are—that’s where your kid is living. You can employ the things going on in teen culture to talk about the things that you know are important for your teen to know, believe, and cling to.

If you remember, I mentioned two BIG words, and I said that I would come back to those; however, we began discussing something else related to the passage and never made it back to these two BIG words. Do you remember what they were . . . [jeopardy music] . . . [no for real, jeopardy music]? One word began with an “E” and the other with a “P,” and they were not “Etch-a-sketch” or “Platypus” [sorry Zane].

The two words were “expiation” and “propitiation.” In Romans 3:24-26, location is very important. There was this dude named Steve at my last church who always emphasized to me as a young man that when I planned to buy a house, I needed to focus on the location, location, location! Why? Because when it comes to real estate, location is important. When you look at Romans 3:24 and 25-26, you find out that location is extremely important as we consider our relationship with God. Look at verse 24, and notice that the place where we can find the gift of justification and redemption is “in Christ.” The reason “in Christ” is the location is because of Jesus’ faithfulness as highlighted in the NET translation of 3:22.

Romans 3:25-26 talks more about this location “in Christ.” These verses teach us that the Father put Christ on public display – for all the world to see and know. He became the location for hilasterion. Say what? Hilasterion, that’s right. You know, the hilasterion. It’s not clicking is it? Okay, let me explain. This word is used only twice in the New Testament: (1) Romans 3:25 and (2) Hebrews 9:5. Hebrews 9:5 says,

And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the hilasterion [a.k.a. the mercy-seat] . . .

A Sketch of the Ark of the Covenant

Some translations use “mercy-seat” in Romans 3:25, but many use the word “propitiation,” which better describes one of the things that happened at the location rather than what the location is.

So, one of the reasons we must trust the faithful Jesus is because God publicly displayed him as the hilasterion, the mercy-seat. In the OT, the mercy-seat was that part of the ark of the covenant where the priests would sprinkle blood from a sacrifice in order to make temporary expiation and propitiation for the transgressions of the people. Fast forward to Jesus’ death. God declares HIM to be the mercy-seat . . . he himself! The faithful Jesus became the location or the place where all humans (Jewish or otherwise) can now come and receive an expiation and propitiation that is not temporary but that is eternal and permanent. Expiation means to have one’s sins covered or atoned. Propitiation is that which appeases or satisfies God with regard to human sin.

After hearing the awful and hopeless news of Romans 1:18-3:20, Romans 3:25-26 offers us a place of great joy and rest . . . it is the place where humans can be declared righteous . . . it is the place where humans can enter into the “single-plan-of-God-for-the-world-through-Israel” . . . it is found “in” the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our atonement. He is our propitiation towards God. In him, we are declared righteous, a part of God’s family, and experience the abundance of God’s redemption for humanity.

By publicly displaying the faithful Jesus as the mercy-seat for humans before God, the God of the Bible demonstrated his righteousness in two ways: (1) he judged the sins that he had previously overlooked in his tolerance of humanity up to this point in human history, and (2) he revealed himself as just (read “showing mercy” and “judging law-breakers”), and as the Justifier of the person who has faith in Jesus.

Location, location, location! In what place will you find a covering for you sins? What place offers you a satisfaction towards God for your sins? What is your mercy-seat, your hilasterion? The location is of the utmost importance. When the hammer of God’s wrath falls due to the end of his tolerance, will you be found in the family of God? I urge you today to enter into Christ by faith. In him, you will find all the promises of God fulfilled and experience the freedom of a relationship with God in which your sins are covered and in which he is completely satisfied with your standing before him.

Forgive me for taking so long to get a post online. We have been quite busy with training, evangelism, and a little bit of sight-seeing.
My group (a.k.a. “cord”) spent our first day on mission in Union Square in uptown NYC. We received training in the morning for a couple of hours, and then we were sent out to share the gospel via The Story (www.viewthestory.com). So far, Metro rides have been pretty simple really. Once we arrived in the park, we split into our pairs, prayed, and began seeking out people with whom to share the good news of Jesus Christ. I think each person averaged around 5–6 people. I spoke with six people. I believe God had prepared the heart of one young man named Jun. He was hungry for all that I had to share about God’s Story and how he could enter into God’s Story through Jesus Christ. He believed in the gospel and will be receiving more information to help him along in his Christian life.
I had also met some resistance. One young lady was skeptical about the Church in general, which caused her to be unreceptive to my message. Another young man had a deeply thought out tangled mess of a spiritual worldview. I spoke with him for around an hour and a half. He seemed resistant to the supremacy of God in the story of the world, the totality of the fall of humanity, and the centrality of Jesus to making all things new.
Please pray for Caroline, Atom, Jun, Rafe, Christian, and Jorge. May our work be an avenue through which God works to bring about his will in the lives of these folks. Please keep us in your prayers. Tomorrow should allow for some more posts and possibly some pictures—so stay tuned!

In Christ,

Rex

+ Choose one of these Christian commitments:

• Hope in God
• Holiness like the Father
• Love for the Church
• Growth in the New Birth
• Heeding the Warning

ScoGames kicks off our new year and initiates new students into the Scofield Student Ministry. To learn more, visit www.scofield.org. Check out our ‘Students’ pages and related ‘Publications,’ including the Waiver and the Registration Form. Contact Rex at rhowe@scofield.org for more information.