peace to live by

Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 4 (TMF:2600)

Friday, April 25, 2025
Peace to Live By: Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 4 (TMF:2600) - Daniel Litton
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       And this indwelling, as Paul said, is “the hope of glory.” A couple verses come to mind in light of this. First, Romans 8:16: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (ESV). That’s how we know we are saved, we are truly in right relationship with God. Lack that, then question it. The second verse is Ephesians 4:30: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (ESV). Note he must be constantly indwelling us if we can grieve him. And also that he is our seal for “the hope of glory.” Continuing on in Colossians. The first part of verse 28: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone… with all wisdom” (ESV). The understanding of Paul and his companions, specifically Timothy in this letter’s context, proclaiming Christ is really of no need of explanation. That is understood by this point in the New Testament. The Book of Acts shows that clearly.

Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 3 (TMF:2599)

Thursday, April 24, 2025
Peace to Live By: Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 3 (TMF:2599) - Daniel Litton
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       We know Christ does not himself dwell within us. He is in a physical body in Heaven right now. Rather, he said, recall, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16, 17, ESV). Notice that the Old Testament way was that of the Spirit of God dwelling with the believer, versus inside the believer. Jesus contrasts the two. The second, newer way, is obviously much greater. It gives us permanent fellowship with God, versus a fellowship that comes and goes. It doesn’t seem that it’s often thought to be like that—that really we are in continual connection with God. And this indwelling, as Paul said, is “the hope of glory.” A couple verses come to mind in light of this. First, Romans 8:16: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (ESV).

Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 2 (TMF:2598)

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Peace to Live By: Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 2 (TMF:2598) - Daniel Litton
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       This part of the mystery, which can safely be assumed is the indwelling of the Spirit of God in the one who believes, was not revealed during Old Testament times. So from the time of Abraham, all the way to when this was revealed, a time period of about 2,000 years, this part was not known. And that’s how God generally works. He doesn’t always reveal the full picture right in the beginning. We are familiar with this idea, in understanding the recent Evangelical theology, that the Rapture of the Church was not conceived until some 1,800 years after it was written about from the Apostle Paul. Yet, that is what we believe, and the evidence for such a position does seem strong. Some believers, like Eastern Orthodox, might say, “Well, doctrines like the Rapture of the Church can’t be true because they weren’t believed by the early church fathers. They knew nothing of it.” Well, the Old Testament writers knew nothing of this indwelling of the Spirit of God that was to become so monumental for the Christian.

Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 1 (TMF:2597)

Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Peace to Live By: Christ in Us, Which is Our Hope, Part 1 (TMF:2597) - Daniel Litton
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       We should not assume, however, that God wanted the Israelites to reject Jesus to seemingly give the Gentiles a chance. That couldn’t have been the plan because God is foreordaining individuals actually sinning against him in that case. The Israelites chose that path—it was their sin for which they are responsible. Paul even says, going back to Romans, now in chapter 11: “And even they [the Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again” (23, ESV). Of course, this is the famous discussion of the Israelites’s failure to attain right standing with God. Regardless, of whether Jew or Gentile, Paul notes to the Colossian believers that the riches of the mystery are “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This part of the mystery, which can safely be assumed is the indwelling of the Spirit of God in the one who believes, was not revealed during Old Testament times.

The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 3 (TMF:2596)

Monday, April 21, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 3 (TMF:2596) - Daniel Litton
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       We know that the Israelites decided to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and had him crucified through Pontius Pilate, their Roman leader. Now, this wasn’t the case with every Jewish person, as many did come into faith in Jesus, as the Gospels clearly show, but it was the case in an overall, collective picture of the group as a whole. That which Paul talks about in Romans 9 through 11. He would conclude starting in Romans 9:30: “What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law” (Romans 9:30, 31, ESV). The whole mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles was part of God’s plan from the beginning, all the way back to the beginning in Genesis 12 with God’s dealings with Abraham. We know this; we are familiar with it. That’s good news indeed. We should not assume, however, that God wanted the Israelites to reject Jesus to seemingly give the Gentiles a chance.

The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 2 (TMF:2595)

Friday, April 18, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 2 (TMF:2595) - Daniel Litton
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       In the New Testament, with the appearance of Jesus on the scene, we see this focus shift. It shift’s first for the Jewish people, in that they are encouraged to come into personal relationship with God through belief in Jesus as Messiah. But, first through the Apostle Peter, we see God start to offer the gift of salvation to the Gentile peoples as well. The riches that were had for Israel, then, come to the Gentiles also. Paul talks about this in Romans 9. We usually think of Romans 9 as a deep and complicated discussion on the individual salvation of people within the two groups. Many have taught this perspective, including who you’re listening to right now. Really, though, it seems more likely that Paul’s real emphasis there in Romans 9, which carries over into chapters 10 and 11, was on the whole people-group of Israel verses the people-group of the Gentiles. We know that the Israelites decided to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and had him crucified through Pontius Pilate, their Roman leader.

The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 1 (TMF:2594)

Thursday, April 17, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Gentiles are Now Included, Part 1 (TMF:2594) - Daniel Litton
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       “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26, ESV). This is a big verse. A foundational summary would likely be helpful at this point. We know, in reading our Old Testaments, and going back toward the beginning of our world, that all the way back in the book of Genesis, God choose Abraham, and it was Abraham’s offspring that would become the Nation of Israel, a race of people who God choose specifically as his own from all the people groups of the world. During the times of the Old Testament then, God’s focus and dealings was with Israel as a people group. And, they would be dealt with collectively rather than individually, and by this it is meant that the focus was more or less on the group as a whole versus the individual as a whole. In the New Testament, with the appearance of Jesus on the scene, we see this focus shift.

Is the Word Presented Well? Part 2 (TMF:2593)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Peace to Live By: Is the Word Presented Well? Part 2 (TMF:2593) - Daniel Litton
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       As onlookers, we are typically astonished at the latest iPhone keynote. Or the latest OSU press conference, whether we agree with the decisions or not. Does the minister present the Word of God in an astonishing way? Well, we don’t want to get too out of bounds. The minister may not have the most innovative or fired up speech, but it should bring faith and hope to the table, with some love mixed in, right? But, perhaps like Jesus, it doesn’t hurt for the minister to be as innovative as he can. We know some great Christian thinkers who have been. Rick Warren is coming to mind. What is the mystery? Actually, Paul reveals that for us in the next verse: “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (ESV). This is a big verse, a big verse. One of the biggest we’ve come across in Colossians 1. Much to discuss.

Is the Word Presented Well? Part 1 (TMF:2592)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Peace to Live By: Is the Word Presented Well? Part 1 (TMF:2592) - Daniel Litton
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       Back in verse 25: “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.” The keynote presentation or the press conference the comes with purpose for the laborer of God. It is the make the mystery which was hidden in the past—to make that known to everyone who will listen. Jesus modeled this perfectly for us when he began his earthly ministry. We know he was doing something right, for right after he began, right after he gave his famous Sermon on the Mount, remember, the Scripture records for us, “the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28, 29, ESV). As onlookers, we are typically astonished at the latest iPhone keynote. Or the latest OSU press conference, whether we agree with the decisions or not. Does the minister present the Word of God in an astonishing way? Well, we don’t want to get too out of bounds.

The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 3 (TMF:2591)

Monday, April 14, 2025
Peace to Live By: The Freedom of Ministers & Missionaries, Part 3 (TMF:2591) - Daniel Litton
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       To use another example, we can think of a head coach of a football team, and how that coach makes good and effective decisions to manage the team. We can note how Ryan Day, head coach of The Ohio State Buckeyes, recently vowed to give a couple Buckeye defenders more time in games. A decision he made. So, we understand these things. It’s easy for us. But does the minister of God, or missionary for that matter, understand then the tremendous responsibility entrusted to him or her? It doesn’t mean they don’t pray. Surely, prayer can be and often is a part of decision making. The point is that just like the CEO, or the head coach, the minister and missionary is expected to make wise choices that will lead the church in the right directions, down the right paths. The freedom and responsibility is there. It takes boldness, and perhaps more leaders in the ministry need to follow their hearts and make bigger and better choices. That’s what God wants.