by John Carpenter | Dec 18, 2019 | Devotional
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, (79) to give Light to them that sit in darkness – and – in the shadow of death – to guide our feet into the Way of Peace.” [Lk.1:78-79]
We are continuing with our examination of these two final Holy Spirit inspired statements of old Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist – the prophet/forerunner of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ – the only sovereign Savior/Substitute that there ever was, is, or ever will be! He is “the Dayspring from on high” who “hath visited us”. And, this visitation is referring to what the religious world around us celebrates at this precise time of the year – Christmas!
There is nothing about this particular extraordinary event in our history that took God by surprise. No – that is impossible to do! He planned, purposed and decreed every detail concerning the circumstances of the birth of John the Baptist through the barren Elizabeth and the old priest, Zacharias. In like manner, He planned, purposed and decreed the birth of Christ Jesus through the virgin Mary. This event marks the wonderful, marvelous, gracious, spiritual dawning — that literally takes us from the blackest part of the spiritual night that encompasses this lost and fallen world – and unfolds and reveals unto all those that God the Father has given to God the Son (see Jn.6:37) the beautiful and blessed Light of the gospel of the glory, only, of Christ Jesus, the eternal Savior! (see 2Co.4:3-6)
We all sit in the darkness of “the shadow of death” – which is the everyday environment that exists all around us within this ever constant passing-away-world. Here we sit until our individual and personal divinely covenanted and appointed time that God’s everlasting love finds us…and gives life unto our souls (see the scriptural descriptions of 1Jn.2:17 and Eze.16:4-8). This marks the divine quickening of the Holy Spirit of God that we all desperately need in order to be saved. Note the words of Jesus, Himself, from Jn.6:63> “It is the Spirit that quickeneth – the flesh profiteth nothing! The Words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” [see also Jn.6:64-71]
The reality is this: God — who has brought to pass the eternally covenanted and accomplished incarnation of the eternal Son of God into the likeness of fallen human flesh – through His doing this – He has accomplished the absolute greatest miracle that He has ever done! Ps.115:2-3 descriptively declares: “Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? (3) But our God is in the heavens – He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased!” And, once again – from Ps.135:6 it says: “Whatsoever the Lord pleased – that did He in heaven – and in earth, in the seas, and all the deep places.” These texts dogmatically declare that God has done – He has absolutely accomplished all things — just as He pleases! That’s — in all of time — past, present, and future – and — in all of eternity! Praise His Sovereign, Almighty Name.
The gospel truth concerning Christ’s eternally atoning sacrifice is descriptively declared from Is.53:10. It says: “…it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief; when thou shalt make His soul and offering for sin, He shall see His seed – He shall prolong His days – and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” This is the substance of pure gospel preaching. And, 1Co.1:21 says: “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (see 1Co.1:18) to save them that believe!” This is what constitutes the real eternal purpose of the birth of Christ.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Nov 27, 2019 | Devotional
“Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, (79) to give Light to them that sit in darkness – and – in the shadow of death – to guide our feet into the Way of Peace.” [Lk.1:78-79]
Once again, we have been examining these two verses which are the capstone conclusion of the Holy Spirit inspired declaration of old priest Zacharias – the earthly father of John the Baptist. Last month we noted a very significant comparison of this account in Luke 1 – with Malachi’s prophecy of the coming of Christ as the “Sun of righteousness” – arising with healing in His wings. This is recorded in Mal.3:1 and 4:1-2. Old Zacharias’s unbelief (and his consequent inability to speak) was immediately healed with the arrival and consecration of his son who would become the prophet/forerunner of the promised “Dayspring from on high”. This marked in our history of fallen humanity the coming of our Kinsman Redeemer — the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ! Whereas, as we have already noted, the prophecy of Malachi descriptively declares the final coming of our Kinsman Redeemer into the actual history of fallen humanity – the final Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Now we’re ready to give consideration to verse 79 – which outlines the eternal purpose of the person and work of the Lord Jesus, the incarnated into the likeness of sinful flesh of the eternal Son of God and Son of man! Verse 79 tells us that He who is the “Dayspring from on high” (the Lord Jesus) is the “Light to them that sit in darkness”. These that sit in darkness are, in turn, the “people prepared for the Lord” whom Gabriel announced (in Lk.1:17) that Zacharias’s son (John the Baptist) would “make ready”. These are the publicans and harlots, &c., unto whom John the Baptist ministered the baptism of repentance! It was unto these multitudes of different persons that he proclaimed Christ Jesus as being “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world”!
The “darkness” that they sit in – is this dark and sin-filled world. 2Co.4:3-4 descriptively declares “if our gospel be hid –it is hid to them that are lost (4) in whom the god of this world (the prince of darkness) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not (exactly like Zacharias was) lest (lit.) the Light of the gospel of the glory only of Christ – who is the image of God – should shine unto them!” It is these “prepared” people that make up the same as those whom Peter describes from 1Pe.2:9-10 as being “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (or, a people of God’s own personal possession) – that – should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light (10) which in time past – were not a people – but are now the people of God – which had not obtained mercy – but now had obtained mercy.”
The apostle Paul writes to us from Eph.5:8,11 and 14: “For ye were sometimes darkness – but now are ye Light in the Lord – walk as children of Light.” “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness – but rather reprove them.” “Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest! And arise from the dead – and Christ shall give thee Light!” That’s the Light of the Truth concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ – which only the Holy Spirit of God and Christ can truly communicate and convey unto us. [see Jn.16:13-15] Therefore does the Holy Spirit through Zacharias also describe being in this world as spiritually being “in darkness and in the shadow of death”. We must always be aware of where we are — and where we are being led! Lord willing — we shall look more closely into all this next month.
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Oct 29, 2019 | Devotional
“Through the tender mercy of our God – whereby the dayspring from on high visited us – (79) to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death – to guide our feet into the Way of peace.” [Lk.1:78-79]
As we continue to examine the Holy Spirit inspired statement of old priest Zacharias concerning his newborn son, John the Baptist – we see that it is all about the yet to be born (which is only a few short months from happening) – the birth of the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the eternal Savior/God, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He that is being referred to as: “the Dayspring”.
The “Dayspring” is descriptive of the precise moment that the light of the beginning of a brand new new day brilliantly bursts forth into existence and springs into view — completely dispelling the prevailing and all encompassing darkness of the night. And, the Lord Jesus Christ is being referred to here as the “Dayspring – from on High”! Our Savior – the incarnated, holy and beloved eternal Son of God, was already conceived by the Holy Spirit of God — in the womb of Mary. Jesus – who was to be born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth — was being made ready to make His appointed and promised-by-God appearance in our history – and in the likeness of our sinful flesh (see Ro.8:3) — when old Zacharias was making this Holy Spirit inspired utterance! The event described in Gal.4:3-5 – which text says: “…we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: (4) but when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” – the description of this text — was just months away from becoming a gospel reality in the midst of our fallen world! Praise the Name of God!
The sudden appearance of the glorious light of the “Dayspring from on high” marks the glorious visitation of our great, holy and sovereign Savior/Redeemer into fallen-in-sin humanity! This is the “light of the truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ” that suddenly and gloriously showed up and cured, or healed, poor old Zacharias of all his unbelief in God.
This whole event around the birth of John the Baptist – the prophet/messenger and forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ – was foretold — four hundred years earlier through Malachi. Mal.3:1 says: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me – and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple – even the Messenger of the Covenant – whom ye delight in. Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts!” This prophecy was Holy Spirit inspired and recorded by Malachi 400 years before its fulfillment which we are presently looking at in Luke one! And, take careful note of this additional fact – just as Luke 1 narrates the announcement of the event of the first coming of Jesus in the flesh – the prophecy of Malachi declares the event of the second coming of Jesus in the flesh. It says: “For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts…But, unto you that fear my Name – shall the ‘Sun of righteousness’ arise with healing in His wings…” [Mal.4:1-2] The Lord Jesus is the “Dayspring” of Lk.1:78 – and He is the “Messenger of the Covenant” and the “Sun of righteousness” of Mal.3:1 and 4:2. And, just as Zacharias’s unbelief was healed with the actual birth of his son, John the Baptist, even so will all of God’s eternal covenanted loved and saved ones be rescued with the rising of the Sun of righteousness – the Lord Jesus Christ. He comes with the eternal rescue of redemption in His wings! But wait, there is yet still more wonderful blessings to be focused on here. . .
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Sep 23, 2019 | Devotional
“Through the tender mercy of our God – whereby the dayspring from on high visited us – (79) to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death – to guide our feet into the Way of peace.” [Lk.1:78-79]
In the previous newsletter we noted the context of Lk.1:78-79. How that Zacharias, an old priest of the temple, had received a visitation by Gabriel, the Angel. He brought to him the news that the son whom he and his barren wife, Elisabeth, had long prayed for — would finally be given to them. Furthermore, that son would be John the Baptist, the forerunner and prophet/messenger of the promised Seed – the incarnate Christ of God. And these two verses deliver to us a short list of the eternally saving blessings that by God’s grace have been bestowed upon all the redeemed “people prepared for the Lord” [see vs.17] with the coming of Him who is the Christ! However, Zacharias could not believe the news divinely delivered unto him through Gabriel. Therefore, God made the priest unable to speak even a word until all “…these things shall be performed”.
Consequently, Elisabeth — Zacharias’s barren wife — conceived and gave birth to their son – who was — in fallen human history — the messenger/forerunner of Christ Jesus, our Lord. And, after over 9 months of God-caused silence the Lord opened Zacharias’s mouth and the first thing he spoke by the Holy Spirit was Lk.1:68: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel – for He hath visited and redeemed His people…”.
The capstone, however, of his whole Holy Spirit induced and inspired statement points directly to the glory of the greatest and most incomprehensible miracle that God ever performed: the incarnation of His eternal, holy and beloved and only begotten Son into the fallen human “likeness of sinful flesh” [see Ro.8:3]. He became the literal, historical Jesus of Nazereth. This utterance becomes Zacharias’s announcement of the gospel of the glory only of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ – the only sovereign Savior/substitute and Redeemer that there ever was, is, or ever will be! Praise His Holy Name! [see 2Co.5:21 and Col.2:9-10]
God’s Word tells us from Lk.1:78-79 of four blessings given unto His redeemed people. The first one is His “tender mercy”; and he tells us that it is “through” His “tender mercy” that the other three blessings are bestowed upon us. This way of expressing His “everlasting mercy” (see Ps.136) emphasizes the Lord’s great compassion that He has for all those that are His “prepared people”. From Ex.33:19 God descriptively declares that He – “will be gracious to whom He will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom He will show mercy.”
God’s “chosen” sinner “peculiar people” [see 1Pe.2:9-10] – which are the same as the “people prepared for the Lord” [of Lk.1:17] – need His “tender mercy”! Mercy is where we sinners do not receive that which we truly do deserve for our sins through the person and redemptive work of Christ Jesus. Grace is where we sinners do receive that which we truly do not deserve in our eternal salvation, once again, through the person and redemptive work of Christ Jesus.
Every one of God’s eternally saved ones are quickened by the Holy Spirit to see clearly that they are hopeless and undeserving sinners just like the publican described by the Lord Jesus in Lk.18:13. We all cry out for holy God to (lit.) “be mercifully propitious to me a sinner”. The only one who can and does fulfill this for us – and in us — is He who is: “the dayspring from on high”!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 25, 2019 | Devotional
“Through the tender mercy of our God – whereby the dayspring from on high visited us – (79) to give light — to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death – to guide our feet into the Way of peace.” [Lk.1:78-79]
These verses mark the end of a remarkable utterance! The whole of which statement constitutes the Holy Spirit inspired and induced words of Zacharias, the earthly father of John the Baptist. Before we look directly at our text, and what it delivers to us, let’s observe first some important things from its greater context.
The birth of the Baptist was announced by the angel, Gabriel, unto Zacharias, a priest of the Temple of the Lord. Gabriel delivered to the aged Zacharias the message that his prayers for a son would finally be answered. He told him that his son (whom he was to name, John) would go before the One who is to be the Christ, “to make ready – a people – prepared for the Lord” (vs.17). However, Zacharias could not believe the good news. So, therefore, gracious and merciful God closed his mouth so that he would not be able to speak — until all that was reported to him concerning the birth of his son came to pass in its appointed time (vs.20). The silenced Zacharias returns home — and, Elisabeth, his known-to-be-barren wife, conceives. Only God who “quickeneth the dead – and calleth those things which be not – as though they were.” [Ro.4:17] could do something like that! Praise His Name! Fear not! Believe in Him! [see and note: Mk.5:36]
Unbelief is indeed a plague of sin to real and vibrant spiritual life and growth. Its weeds and thorns and thistles are always springing up in the grace planted garden of God in and among the hearts of mortal men and women in this fallen-in-sin and law-cursed world. Satan, himself, works tirelessly in the hearts and minds of unbelievers – “lest the Light (lit.) of the gospel of the glory of the Christ – who is the image of God – should shine unto them.” [2Co.4:4] And even an old Priest like, Zacharias, who had served many years in the Temple of the Lord is not immune to the sinful existence of unbelief. But, praise the Lord God – He will not allow unbelief to have its reigning and damning dominion over any of His servants [Ro.5:21]. From Rev.3:19 our Lord says: “As many as I love – I rebuke and chasten! Be zealous therefore, and repent!” He sends His angels as a messenger with the good news of His grace and truth – that will cure His servant of the plague of unbelief – and super-abundantly provide the answer to the prayerful longing of the heart of Zacharias. This will give him joy and gladness! [see: Lk.1:13-14]
Vs.57 says: “Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.” When the boy was 8 days old they came to the Temple to get him circumcised according to the command of the Lord – and they named him, John, just as they were told to do. This is when the Lord opened once again the mouth of Zacharias — and as vs.67 says, he, having been filled with the Holy Spirit – heralds forth vs.68-79. This remarkable statement reaches its profound peak in the words of our text (vs.78-79).
These two verses bring forward to us: “…the tender mercy of our God” — which is the source of all the rest of the good things that the most high God declares through His Priest – that will surely come to pass. Which things include: the actual coming of the birth of the God/man – and the purpose of His coming – and the ultimate divine accomplishment where rescuing the people of God is concerned! This makes up the context that encompasses Lk.1:78-79.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 25, 2019 | Devotional
“Sanctify them by thy truth – thy Word is truth.” “For both He that sanctifieth – and they who are sanctified – are all of one. For which cause, He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book – it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.” “By the which will – we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ – once for all.” “For by one offering – He hath perfected forever – them that are sanctified.” [Jn.17:17; He.2:11; 10:7,10,14]
In God’s Word, to sanctify means to be set apart by holy God – for God’s holy purpose. And, in each of these descriptive passages – it is the person of our Savior/God, the Lord Jesus Christ – or, His saved ones – which is being referred to where sanctification is concerned. Specifically, God’s eternally saved ones are defined in Jn.17:2 as those out of all of fallen human flesh that the Father has given unto the Son. Unto these the Son of God has the sovereign divine authority and power to give eternal life. Even – “to as many as” – the Father has given unto Him! All of these persons will – by God’s will and grace — at some point in the time of their earthly existence, they will come to personally repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as being their eternal sovereign Savior propitiatory substitute. Praise His Name! [see Jn.6:37]
The Jn.17 text also declares unto us that our sanctification is all because of the person and work of Christ Jesus, our Lord. He is both the “Truth” [Jn.14:6] and He is the living “Word” [Jn.1:1-3,14]. If it’s not all Christ, dear ones, it’s all wrong! In fact, this is substantiated by the first text brought forward from the epistle of Hebrews: “For both He that sanctifieth – and they who are sanctified – are all of one.” We are one with Him, because we have been placed in Him. This verse echoes that which is written in 1Jn.4:17, which says: “…as He is – so are we – in this world!”
This sanctification of God’s saved ones is obviously a vital part of the eternal council and purpose of our great and sovereign God in sending His eternal Son into our world to set us apart from the rest of this fallen-in-sin world. Hence, the Son declared from eternity – in eternity – and for eternity: “Behold, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.” Jesus said in Jn.6:38-39: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me – that of all which He hath given me – I should lose nothing – but should raise it up again at the last day.” Praise the grace of God!
Finally, the matter of the “will” is addressed. He.10:10 explicitly says of God’s will in our being sanctified: “By the which will – we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ – once for all.” This text makes it clear that it is not at all the will of man that initiates, or completes, his sanctification unto his eternal salvation – no – it’s all been done by the will of God – to the glory of God – alone! 1Co.1:30-31 declares the pure gospel truth: “But of Him (or, by His doing) are ye in Christ Jesus – who is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that according as it is written – he that glorieth – let him glory in the Lord.” The pure truth of the gospel is in the fact that it is the gospel of the glory — only – of the Lord Jesus Christ – the only sovereign Savior/ substitute that there ever was, is, or ever will be! Hence, He.10:17 boldly proclaims: “For by one offering He hath perfected forever – them that are sanctified!” The Holy Spirit through Paul, without reservation, declares from Acts 20:32: “And, now, brethren, I commend you to God – and to the Word of His grace – which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance – among all them which are sanctified.” All glory to Christ Jesus!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
