Musick-al Notes

Musick-al note # 67

            Do we misunderstand Jesus as we consider his life in the world?  Do we look upon his life as a person who just wandered about the Judean hills telling stories, parables and healing people? Was he just a wandering preacher who did good deeds but died on a cross in Jerusalem?  NO!  He came into the world to complete the eternal purpose of God.  He read the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2, then said, “This scripture is fulfilled in me” (Luke 4:21).  He declared that he was the ‘Anointed One’, the Messiah and his work was to: (1) proclaim the good news to the poor, (2) proclaim liberty to the captives, (3) recover the sight of the blind, (4) free those who are oppressed and (5) proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.  His teaching, parables and healing established the fact that God’s eternal purpose was to save humanity through His Son, Jesus.  He came to seek and save the lost (Matthew 18:11).  Our greatest loss is to be separated from God because of sin (Isaiah 59:2).  We know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but we have forgotten that God has declared that ‘the soul that sins shall die’ (Ezekiel 18:4).  Knowing that he was soon to die, Jesus said, “for this cause I came” (John 12:27), then considering the outcome with joy, he endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2) and now sits at God’s right hand giving eternal salvation to all who obey him (Hebrews 5:9).  Thus he completed the eternal purpose of God for which he came into the world.  We continually thank God that Jesus provided for everyone who would live in this world that through believing and obeying His Gospel they might be saved (Matthew 28:18-20).  Paul wrote (that the eternal purpose of God is salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:11).  Paul also wrote that we are made children of God in being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27) and forgiven of sin (Acts 22:16).  God’s eternal work is completed in every person who obeys the Gospel of Christ (Romans 6:3-18) and continues to live in Him until death (1 Timothy 4:16, Revelation 2:10).

                           Gordon Musick

Musick-al Note # 66

         Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be strengthened in their spirits so that Christ would dwell in them and that they might comprehend the breadth, length, height and the depth of His love that surpasses knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19). Jesus’ love is greater than man can comprehend.  He left the joys and the bliss of heaven where He had the fellowship of God and the angels in order to save man.  His love reaches to the very depth of sin, stretches to the ends of the earth, continues throughout all generations of men and saves every sinner who believes and obeys His will, bringing them to the throne of God (1 Corinthians 15:24, Hebrews 5:9).  Jesus submitted to the Father’s will to ransom all men by paying the debt of sin for all men (Luke 22:41-44, Hebrews 5:7-8) was indeed a demonstration of his great love.  God had long ago decreed that the soul who sinned would die (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary was the final demonstration of His love (Hebrews 12:2).  His death paid the penalty for the sins of all men (Hebrews 2:9, Romans 5:8, 18). The prophet Isaiah said that God would see his death and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).

          His great love should cause us to love Him in return (1 John 4:19).   When we love the Lord we will keep His words (John 14:15) and the words of his apostles (John 16:13-15, 2 Peter 1:3, 3:2) but what a great treasure we receive when we respond to Him!  God also loves us and will dwell with us (John 14:23).  If we do not obey Him, it is ample proof that we do not love Him. (John 14:24).  Love inspires us to do the will of the Lord, but lack of love will cause us to fail to keep His sayings. Jesus stated in John 3:5 that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God.  That ‘birth’ of life in Christ is baptism (Galatians 3:26-27) in which all sins are washed away (Acts 22:16).  This enables us to live a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-14)/

          Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14 that the love of Christ constrains us.  It urges us to go with the gospel of Christ for He would save the world.  Death overtakes men and women daily who are unprepared to meet God.  Many have never heard a single gospel sermon, none has told them the glorious message of Christ that they might be saved.  His love impels us to be busy in the work of the Lord, to encourage one another, to strengthen the weak, care for the sick and do all that is within our power to bring them to Christ.  He loves us.  Do we really love Him?  Do we love Him enough to obey His will (John 14:15-24)?

                  Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 65                             

     The term “doctrine” means “teaching” so what is the teaching of Christ Jesus?  Peter declared that Jesus was the prophet that Moses said God would send and all men were to hear him or be destroyed (Deuteronomy 18:18-19, Acts 3:20-23).  Jesus said he gave us the Word of God (John 14:24) and those words would judge us (John 12:48-50).  John said the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).  Some people think that only the words of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are to be seen as the teaching of Christ but Paul said “the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 14:37).  Peter also wrote, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:1-2), therefore all the words of the New Testament are to be considered the doctrine or teaching of Jesus Christ.

     It is correct that no doctrine is right, true or divine unless it is according to the Will (Testament, Doctrine, and Teaching) of Christ Jesus.  This does not mean that man cannot seek his own way and teach error.  It does mean that when man does teach other doctrines than the New Testament reveals, that man is teaching error and the curse of God falls upon him and all those who follow that false teaching for Jesus said, “And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).  Paul said that following anything other than what is written is false even if from an angel of heaven.  We must follow only the original Gospel and not be guilty of following the teachings of man or we will be accursed.  (Galatians 1:6-9)

                  Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 64 

     God gave Moses a prophetic view of the authority of Christ in the beginning of the Jewish Dispensation.  He said in Deuteronomy 18:18-19 “I will raise up a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put my words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.  And it shall be that whoever will not hear my words, which He speaks in my name, I will require it of him.”    Peter said that Jesus was that Prophet (Acts 3:20-21).

     The Hebrew writer stated that his authority included His ability to take away the Old Law (the Law of Moses) (Hebrews 10:9-10).  Jesus took away the first will (the Law of Moses) to establish a second will (the will of Christ) in which he can and does sanctify those who come to God by Him (Hebrews 5:9).  Peter declared that Jesus is the only one who has authority to save men from their sins.  Acts 4:12   Jesus said that He is the ONLY way to the Father (John 14:6). God said we must listen to and obey Jesus His Son.  Matthew 17:5

     Jesus said in Matthew 28:18   “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”  He has the authority to give commands regarding remission of sins, entrance into His church, the organization of His church, the acceptable avenues of worshipping God, and how man is to live daily upon the earth.  He has given some delegated authority to certain men known as elders (presbyters, bishops, pastors) that the church be regulated today.  See Ephesians 4:11-12, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-7).  These men are to tend the flock of God (1 Peter 5:1-3) so that none of the sheep be lost. This is the only authority that any man has on earth today.  No person, group of men, churches, conferences, elders or “authorities” of one sort or another have any authorization to make new and different religious laws, rules or regulations that change anything having to do with our salvation.  Any teaching that does not conform to the teaching of Christ and His Apostles is a false doctrine (2 John 9-11). No individual should dare to believe, stay in and support false doctrines that makes their worship vain (Matthew 15:9).

                          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 63

     Jesus announced his mission in the synagogue at Nazareth fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2, they marveled at his words, however his own synagogue did not receive him and they sought to kill Him (Luke 4:18-29).  Jesus spoke of His mission in another way, “I have come to seek and save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11).  His teaching was received by the common men and women but rejected by the religious leaders of His day.  He gladly received the poor, the lame and broken of humanity, but His scathing words of rebuke were for the teachers, scribes and Pharisees whose lives were filled with hypocrisy and deceit.  He came to give His life for the lost that they might have abundant life (John 10:10, 12:23-27).  He proclaimed that eternal life was in Himself alone and the only way to the Eternal Father in heaven (John 14:6). 

      His disciples taught this same message, “There is no eternal life outside of Christ”!  Study carefully these verses (Acts 4:12, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, Hebrews 2:3).  We will come before Him in Judgment and be judged by the words of Jesus (John 12:48).  How sad to realize that many are ignorant of His Word and sadder still to know there are those who simply ignore His Word or who change His teaching for the teachings of man (Matthew 7:13-14, 7:21-27, and 15:9).  Many are the teachers of man and many have built whole religious structures around those teachings. Sadly they are touted as ‘following Jesus’ but I ask you again to read Matthew 15:9 again.  Please note also that Peter declared, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).  He has given us ‘all things’ what more can man need?  The Revelation letter has warned about adding to or taking away from the things written (Revelation 22:18-19).  Let us then be careful to do what He asked and how we do them that we might be pleasing to Him.

                  Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 62

      After his baptism (to fulfill all righteousness Matthew 3:15) Jesus was led into the wilderness where for forty days of fasting, he endured the temptations of Satan.  He was tempted to use his power to turn stone to bread (Luke 4:3), become a great king to rule over all the nations of the world (Luke 4:5-6) and to exalt himself before men by doing a remarkable feat (Luke 4:9-11).  Jesus countered each of these by using the Scriptures as his shield.  Even when Satan used Scripture to tempt Jesus, he had the far greater Word of God as truth to guide him.  How great were the temptations that he overcame.  Feed your physical body, the world at your feet and being esteemed by man because of his powers would all fill the desires of man to fill the stomach, have great authority before mankind and to be looked upon with awe.  Jesus, however, had greater desires than those of mortal man for his sustenance was the Word of God, being submissive to the Lord God in all things as his desire was to save mankind from sin and be the servant of all. 

      We should remember that Satan never stopped tempting Christ Jesus after those 40 days for the Scripture stated that Satan left ‘until an opportune time’ (Luke 4:13).  There were undoubtedly many ‘opportune’ times that Jesus could have taken a ‘short-cut’, but most outstanding was in the garden when he prayed ‘if it is possible, let this cup pass, nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done’ and on the Cross of Calvary when the Pharisees said, ‘Come down from the cross and we will believe’.  Facing death was not easy for Jesus but he looked beyond the Cross to the joy of saving man through his death (Hebrews 12:2).  Jesus did not lack confidence in God’s care and concern so he did not consider Satan’s proposals for every one of them would end with separation from God.  To gain the whole world and lose one’s soul leaves nothing to give in exchange for the soul that follows Satan (Mark 8:34-38).  We must follow Jesus example and place all our trust and lives by believing in the Lord God as we do His will.

                   Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 61

     Little is said in the Scriptures concerning Jesus’ early life as a baby or as he began to grow up. Mary kept remembering the words of the angel Gabriel who had spoken to her and how the angels had sung of His coming as related by the shepherds.  Luke stated that ‘the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him (Luke 2:40).  Joseph and Mary undoubtedly taught Jesus the circumstances of His birth and the Word of God as faithful Jews, but I can imagine that His wisdom amazed them.  He remained an obedient child until the fateful trip to Jerusalem at age twelve.  After the Passover, Joseph and Mary started their journey back to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind.  On the third day they found him in the temple with the teachers, listening and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When questioned about his actions, he replied, “Did you not know I must be in my father’s house?”  They did not understand what he was saying, but he went with them and was submissive to them.  Mary treasured all these things in her heart.  Nothing more is said about his life until adulthood.

     What was Jesus doing?  As every faithful Jew, Jesus helped his mother with his younger siblings, went to school in the synagogue, worshipped on the Sabbath, read the scriptures (Luke 4:16) and provided for his family.   Since Joseph is never mentioned again, it is supposed that he died and Jesus became responsible for the family.  We know that he became a carpenter in Nazareth (Mark 1:9, 6:1-3). When he was about thirty years of age, he heard the preaching of John the baptizer and was baptized (Luke 3:21-22.  Anointed with the Holy Spirit, he left his home and began his work of preaching (Luke 4:1-32).                                                                                      

                          Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 60                                                  

        God taking on flesh (incarnate) – impossible!  Why would He do such anyway?  Jesus told a parable to explain (Matthew 21:33-37).  God had sent Godly men, prophets and messengers to gather His own.  All this failed so God sent His Son (vs 38-43), Jesus whom they crucified.  God, who still wanted to save man to inhabit heaven, raised Him from the dead and seated Him on His right hand (Acts 2:32-33) from where He invites all to obey Him and enjoy salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9, Revelation 22:16-17).  God planned salvation for all mankind in the beginning (1 Peter 1:19-20) and now anyone who desires eternal life with God may come to Him and become God’s child.  

       The Apostle Paul declared that ‘in the fullness of time’ God sent forth His Son’ (Galatians 4:4). God’s plan began with the miraculous conception within the virgin called Mary (Matthew 1:18-23). Then in the most humble circumstances, He was born in a stable while they were away from home on a journey (Luke 2:1-7), without attendants and in unsanitary conditions.  In keeping with the Law, Jesus was circumcised on his eighth day of human life and was named ‘Jesus’.  God’s plan did not start from a palace with great public praise and adoration, yet every minuscule of Scriptural prophesy relating to Him was fulfilled. In the course of time, Magi from the East came to Jerusalem searching for the one born ‘King of the Jews’.  When King Herod learned of His birth from the Magi, he was told when the star appeared to them, Herod sought to kill Him to prevent His becoming king of the Jews and ended by killing all the children two years and younger in and around Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-16). Being warned by the Lord, Joseph took his family to Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod (Matthew 2:12-16).  After Herod’s death, they returned to Nazareth where Jesus grew to manhood until beginning His ministry of seeking and saving the lost.

      Will you be one of the saved and blessed by obeying Him?

                               Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 59

       He is coming!  Planned from the creation, prophecies that the Messiah was coming into the world had been given.  Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between her seed and your seed. He will bruise your head and you will bruise his heel”. While the Patriarchs ruled their families but sin was rampant, prophecies of his coming were given as Jude 14 stated.  To Abraham, God said, “In your seed all the world will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:16). Long before he came into the world, many prophecies concerning the Messiah were given of which I will only mention a few. (1) Regarding His birth (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:17) a virgin shall bear a son. (2) Regarding His death (Deuteronomy 21:23, Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 53) He would die on a tree, but no bones broken (Psalms 34:20), and his side pierced (Zechariah 12:10). He was destined to carry our sins, satisfying the Lord God by paying the sin-debt of all men (Ezekiel 18:3, Romans 6:3).  (3) Moses spoke of Jesus when he prophesied concerning his life and work (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) He would be sent from God, teach His Words (John 14:24) and be the final voice from heaven (Hebrews 1:2). 

      John the Baptizer prepared His way in preaching in the region of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  He spoke the words of the prophet Isaiah who said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” (Matthew 3:2-3).  The time is close!  John was a witness about the light that was coming.  Every prophecy of the Messiah, the Anointed One was constantly studied and anticipated by the Jewish people. Many Israelite mothers who gave birth to a girl wondered if her child would be the ‘virgin’ that would carry the ‘Immanuel’.  Those prophesies that spoke of His Kingship were elevated, while others were downgraded and dismissed as being too lowly for the coming King.  It seems that they looked for a King to overthrow Rome and to make Judaism the ruling class above everyone else.  Still, He is coming!!!  Hallelujah!!!  

                             Gordon Musick

Musick-al note # 58                                                 

     There many passages of Scripture that show that Jesus lived in eternity before the world began.  It is recorded in John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  Genesis 1:26, When God said, ‘Let us make man in our image’, He was referring to Jesus and the Spirit who were with Him at the creation of the world.  Hebrews 1:3, “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”  Hebrews 1:10, “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.”  2 Timothy 1:9, Paul said that God’s purpose for man was made in Christ “before the world began”.

    The eternal Godhead (Father, Son and Spirit) created man and gave him ‘freedom of choice’, either to obey His Word or choose another way.  God foreknew that man would disobey (sin) and prepared redemption for those who would repent and obey Him.    Peter stated, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:18-20).

     This great gift of sending Jesus into the world to redeem all who believe in Him and follow His will (Hebrews 5:9) was prepared before the world was created.  Jesus carried out the Father’s will in dying for all men (2 Corinthians 5:15) by paying the debt every person incurs when we sin (Ezekiel 18:3). We are freed from sin when we obey Him as the apostle Paul obeyed (Hebrews 5:9, Acts 22:16).

                              Gordon Musick