Encounter the Truth

On his way to the cross, Jesus faces abandonment by his closest allies. He alone can atone for sin—and he faces the cross alone. Our response is to marvel at what he underwent for us—and then to learn from the failings of his disciples and never desert our Saviour.

On his way to the cross, Jesus faces abandonment by his closest allies. He alone can atone for sin—and he faces the cross alone. Our response is to marvel at what he underwent for us—and then to learn from the failings of his disciples and never desert our Saviour.

Solomon's glorious reign ended in tragedy. He turned to foreign wives and foreign gods. This is a cautionary tale for us; starting well is not the same as ending well. This also teaches us that Solomon is not the ultimate King to whom the promises of God point. There is indeed a greater King to come!

Solomon's glorious reign ended in tragedy. He turned to foreign wives and foreign gods. This is a cautionary tale for us; starting well is not the same as ending well. This also teaches us that Solomon is not the ultimate King to whom the promises of God point. There is indeed a greater King to come!

Solomon's wealth and wisdom were a wonder to behold. As the Lord's representative and ruler, he showed something of the Lord's greatness to the nations. In this sense, he points us to glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the majesty of His Kingdom.

Solomon's wealth and wisdom were a wonder to behold. As the Lord's representative and ruler, he showed something of the Lord's greatness to the nations. In this sense, he points us to glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the majesty of His Kingdom.

At the completion of the temple, Solomon prays for the people—that the Lord might be gracious to them and bless them. He then represents the people in offering praise and sacrifice to the Lord, and the people go home joyful for the Lord's goodness to them. Here we have a picture of the bliss of living under the Lord's King and in the Lord's presence—a beautiful picture of what it will be like to live in the heavenly Jerusalem.

At the completion of the temple, Solomon prays for the people—that the Lord might be gracious to them and bless them. He then represents the people in offering praise and sacrifice to the Lord, and the people go home joyful for the Lord's goodness to them. Here we have a picture of the bliss of living under the Lord's King and in the Lord's presence—a beautiful picture of what it will be like to live in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

Through the obedience of a king who was a man of rest (and not of war), the Lord caused His temple to be completed as a fittingly beautiful house, so that He might dwell among the people. As Solomon labours in obedience to the Lord to complete this great project, we learn a pattern and key principles for how the work of the Kingdom moves forward.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

King Solomon loved the Lord, and the Lord's blessing rested on him in the gifts of wisdom and material abundance. The blessing of the king resulted in the blessing of the people. This truly was a golden age in the life of Israel—and a great picture of a day to come when the Lord's people will live under the rule of his greater King in his greater kingdom.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God's king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

Despite the frailty of human leaders and the sin of human opponents, God's king, Solomon, is enthroned and his plan for his people is moving forward, all in accordance with the promises of his word.

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God's people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don't save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God's kindness.

Ultimately, the gospel will mean that God's people will be devoted to doing good works. Those works don't save us—but they are the natural result of our salvation. Those who refuse to live in this way have clearly not been transformed by God's kindness.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Self-control and a gracious attitude toward others must mark the Christian—and must set us apart from the culture around us. But we will only know how to do this when we remember how incredibly gracious and kind God has been to us in the gospel. Without his gracious intervention in our lives, we would be just like those around us.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

Life-transformation does not come out of nowhere—and we cannot achieve it by ourselves. It only comes through the power of the gospel. Having told us how we need to live, Paul now reminds of why and how this is possible.

We need help knowing how to apply the gospel to our everyday lives. Here Paul breaks down the church into age-and-stage groups and tells each one of us what godly living in accordance with the truth looks like. What practical teaching—and how badly we need it!

We need help knowing how to apply the gospel to our everyday lives. Here Paul breaks down the church into age-and-stage groups and tells each one of us what godly living in accordance with the truth looks like. What practical teaching—and how badly we need it!

The church at Crete faces challenges on every side. Crete is a toxic culture, and there is false teaching threatening the church. This is why a godly eldership is needed to protect the church from error. And this is why Paul is so concerned that the believers will live out their faith in integrity. The culture will call them to compromise at every turn. How very contemporary all of this sounds!

The church at Crete faces challenges on every side. Crete is a toxic culture, and there is false teaching threatening the church. This is why a godly eldership is needed to protect the church from error. And this is why Paul is so concerned that the believers will live out their faith in integrity. The culture will call them to compromise at every turn. How very contemporary all of this sounds!

The church is not complete until godly elders have been put in place. These elders must not only know the truth and defend it from error; they must live out the truth with integrity.

The church is not complete until godly elders have been put in place. These elders must not only know the truth and defend it from error; they must live out the truth with integrity.

Paul writes this letter with the explicit concern that believers at Crete will have a deep knowledge of the truth that “accords with godliness.” He does not want believers just to have "head knowledge"—but to live out the truth in godliness. Doctrine that does not result in godly living is not the real deal.

Paul writes this letter with the explicit concern that believers at Crete will have a deep knowledge of the truth that “accords with godliness.” He does not want believers just to have "head knowledge"—but to live out the truth in godliness. Doctrine that does not result in godly living is not the real deal.

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he promised.

Abraham seeks to be faithful in finding a wife for Isaac from among his family (and not the surrounding nations) and in staying in the land of promise. God honours this in providing Rebekah for Isaac. Thus the family line is secured, and Abraham dies enjoying the blessing of God on every side. Despite all the ups and downs of his faith and failure, God has blessed him and his family, just as he promised.

Abraham's decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord's promise that this land will be his and his children's. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God's people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God's promises in the land yet to come. Do we live in this world as sojourners, trusting in the promises of a homeland above?

Abraham's decision to buy a parcel of land in the promised land to bury Sarah affirms his trust in the Lord's promise that this land will be his and his children's. Yet, the fact that Sarah dies there as a sojourner and the fact that so much of the covenant promise has yet to be fulfilled acts as a stark reminder that God's people are sojourners on this earth, awaiting the fulfilment of all God's promises in the land yet to come. Do we live in this world as sojourners, trusting in the promises of a homeland above?

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God's power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

In a very great test of faith, Abraham is called to give up Isaac and trust God's power to restore him. God does so by providing a sacrifice in his place. Here on the mount we are given a picture of what God will do to keep and fulfil his covenant—he will give his own Son to be the sacrifice and the substitution.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful than we can imagine or comprehend.

Despite all the improbability of an elderly and childless couple having a son, God keeps his promise and gives Isaac to Abraham and Sarah. His faithfulness to the promise has not been undermined by the sin and failure of his servants. In addition to this, God shows his faithfulness to Hagar and Ishmael. God is entirely faithful to his promises—more faithful than we can imagine or comprehend.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

In a very unfortunate case of déjà vu, Abraham fears for his own safety on account of his wife as he leads his family into foreign territory. As he did in Egypt some 35 years before, he decides to pretend she is merely his sister to escape any trouble on her account. In the events that ensue, a Gentile king puts Abraham to shame by his good behaviour—and God shows his faithfulness to his faltering servant.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot's family so vividly illustrates.

Here we see the ugliness of sin unveiled, the judgment of God revealed, and his mercy poured out. We see judgment on Sodom and mercy and salvation in the rescue of Lot and his undeserving family. Tragically, salvation from Sodom does not purge sin from the heart, as the sin of Lot's family so vividly illustrates.

Divine messengers come to Abram's home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Divine messengers come to Abram's home to bring the good news of the blessing of a child to come. But the same messengers who visit Abram with news of divine favour have as their next destination the sinful city of Sodom, where judgment will fall. It is a powerful reminder that the Lord who blesses is also the Lord who judges.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Despite the failure and sin of Abram in the previous chapter, the Lord reaffirms his commitment to give him a land and a people—and he seals that covenantal commitment with the sign of circumcision. He makes it clear to us that his grace and forbearance do not remove the requirement of obedience, but actually reinforce it.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God's timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God's agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.

Abram and Sarai knew the promise of God, but grew impatient with God's timeline, not seeing how the promise could be fulfilled. They took matters into their own hands to further God's agenda—and the results were disastrous. In this messy incident, we see the cost of sinful self-reliance and the abundant grace of God.

When Abram could not see the way forward for the fulfilment of the plans and purposes of God, the Lord reaffirmed the covenant and taught Abraham that he—the Lord—was his shield of protection and the substance and source of his reward. The promise-making and promise-keeping God is faithful and all-sufficient for his people.

When Abram could not see the way forward for the fulfilment of the plans and purposes of God, the Lord reaffirmed the covenant and taught Abraham that he—the Lord—was his shield of protection and the substance and source of his reward. The promise-making and promise-keeping God is faithful and all-sufficient for his people.

The covenant blessing of God does not spare God's people the experience of battling enemy forces, but it does guarantee their ultimate victory. Added to this, in a remarkable event (the encounter with Melchizedek) God adds renewed blessing, while pointing forward to the One who will fulfil the covenant promises in a day to come.

The covenant blessing of God does not spare God's people the experience of battling enemy forces, but it does guarantee their ultimate victory. Added to this, in a remarkable event (the encounter with Melchizedek) God adds renewed blessing, while pointing forward to the One who will fulfil the covenant promises in a day to come.

As Abraham begins to enter into the blessings of God in terms of land and goods and people, we see a godly spirit of generosity come through (and perhaps we see the start of a contrast with Lot). The blessing of God is meant to make his people a blessing to others.