(text and audio)
Title: Bringing Humility to the Body
Intro:
When I was 17, I fancied myself an above average athlete. (In total transparency, I still fancy myself an above average athlete, for a chubby 43 year old.)
Anyway, when I was 17, I decided to go back out for the football team after not playing since my freshman year. (At Mentor…) Back when I was a freshman I started as a WR and DB and was the teams kicker. Yeah, I was pretty awesome.
So, to go back out for the football team after two years off should have been no big deal, right?
At the first conditioning practice of the summer it was about 92 degrees. We ran gassers (explain how we survived by rotating hard runners)
at the end of practice and I puked all over my coach…
Coach Pav humbled my body back into submission…and I quickly realized two things:
- This is going to be a long summer…
- We are all in this together…
(read/pray)
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Packer:
Isaiah had prophesied a day when God’s place would be proclaimed to those “far off” and “near” (Is. 57:19). Through the Gospel of Christ the Spirit brings Gentiles (“You who were “far off”) and Jews (“those who were near”) together before the Father, in fulfillment of God’s promise.
And what is the place of this reference to Isaiah 57?
Listen to this verse against the backdrop of violence and looting that we’ve seen in our country:
19
“I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,”
Says the Lord,
“And I will heal him.”
20
But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
When it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21
“There is no peace,”
Says my God, “for the wicked.”
The “wicked” (Those without God through Christ) can not find peace. And in their futile quest for peace, they are creating the exact opposite of peace.
“access”
Greek: prosagōgē
Dave Guzik makes two GOOD points, and one GREAT point:
Good point 1:
Through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father: They enjoy the same access to God, access that comes by one Spirit to the Father. Not only are Jews and Gentiles saved by the same gospel, but they also have the same essential walk with God and access to Him. One group does not have a greater access than the other does.
Good Point Two:
Access is probably the best translation of prosagoge, though it could be ‘introduction.’ In oriental courts there was a prosagoges who brought a person into the presence of the king.” (Foulkes)
Great Point:
When conflict arises among Christian groups of different backgrounds, you can be sure that they forget that they were saved by the same gospel and that they have the same access to God. One or both groups usually feel they have superior access to God. (HUGE)
I am reminded of Mark’s statement of “Denominational Fracturing” two weeks ago and it forces this question in me:
In what ways are we guilty of this?
Closing:
“This text is a plain proof of the holy Trinity. Jews and Gentiles are to be presented unto God the Father; the Spirit of God works in their hearts, and prepares them for this presentation; and Jesus Christ himself introduces them.” (Clarke)
Circle back to football illustration with story of Eric Prichard. Not the best athlete, was the best teammate…
Be Eric Prichard.