When reading Romans 5:12-21, it is clear that Paul is drawing a parallel between the work of Adam and the work of Christ; however, the two events are as different as they are similar. “In each case, a critical spiritual condition has been introduced into human history through the act of one man” (Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, NICNT, 339), but comparing the events is akin to comparing cancer and the cure.

To look at these realities, we will implore the old boxing device of “The Tale of the Tape” to see how they measure up.

While the acts are parallel, the effects of each are polar opposites. The sin of the first Adam brought the grave consequences of death into this world that has infected every being born since. It was the moment that destruction and despair were allowed to rule the day. Whether under the law, or even before the law, the curse of death ran rampant through all men and women as they all willfully chose to partake in the reign of sin. All people, born since that day, have come into this world as enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 8, 10).

But the glory of the gospel is that the story doesn’t end there. God sent the Last Adam, Jesus, into this world, while we were still sinners, to die in our place. Christ, in another singular act in human history, changed the destiny for all who would believe in His name. In place of condemnation, Jesus offers justification. In place of death, He offers life. In place of our unrighteousness, the Son of God offers us His righteousness. Where despair once ruled our existence, we can now live with hope. The reign of sin will not forever increase, but grace will rule the day and forever expand.

The two events are forever intertwined, but are as different as night and day. The act of the first man, Adam, is truly a day that should forever live in infamy. However, the act of the last Adam, Jesus, is a day that needs to be celebrated and declared from every corner. Jesus’ glorious obedience to his Father and the free gift He offer us demands our unbridled worship and undivided loyalty.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

The distinction between light and darkness begins very early in the history of this world. Like from the beginning. And by the beginning I mean Genesis 1:3-5. At this time however, distinction between light and dark is not sin, but the contrast is stark. Day and night wereseparatedby light or lack thereof; however, the contrast would take a new narrative in chapter 3 when the fall changed everything.

From that time on, sin has come to be described as darkness, or theabsenceof light. This makes sense, because sin makes us want to hide, and there is no easier place to hide than in the dark. It is where our guilt, our shame and our pleasure in badness runs rampant. Every one of us was born in darkness. Born to love evil and war against the light.

God on the other hand is defined as light, and in whom can be nodarknessat all (1 John 1:5). Many of our L3 passages in the last two weeks have gone to greatlengthsto show this comparison and teach us about the much-older-than-we-are struggle between darkness and light. 1 John 1:6-7 lays out the bottom line for us.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

There is no such thing as having a foot in both worlds. You can't be in darkness and light and the same time. They are opposite. Dark either overwhelms the light or the light cuts through the darkness. There are many who want relationship with God (salvation and ongoing) but don't want to give up a lifestyle or habit. The verse is clear. We can say we have fellowship with the Light and walk in darkness, but it is a lie.

If you have been cleansed by the blood of the Son, you are free from darkness; it has no hold on you. It can never reclaim you. But you can choose to let the dark hide your light for a time. Like Paul in Romans, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we can sure act like we are at times. We are not children of darkness, but sometimes our light is very dim.

So what do we do if our walk is clouded bydarkness? Run towards the light. Get in the Word. Let the Spirit convict you of sin. Confess. Make things right. Be in the Light. Let the Light shine through you. Be a child of light, a city on a hill, so that all may see you and glorify your Father in Heaven. Our God is in the restoration business. He is continually at work, sanctifying us and building us into what He has created us to be - sons and daughters of light.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

Our reading this week in L3 takes us through the resurrection and events immediately following. The importance of this event is impossible to overstate.

The Resurrection is the linchpin of our Christian faith.

Paul says as much in 1 Corinthians 15:13-14... "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain."

Believe in the Resurrection

But here is the issue, I can't prove to you that the resurrection happened. In this era of Twitter, Facebook, iPhones and YouTube, we have evidence of everything, but the resurrection is not something that can be seen to be believed.

What we have is eye-witness testimony found in the Gospels, documents whose validity are attested to more than any other ancient piece of literature, the incredible testimony of faith passed down from generation to generation for close to 2,000 years and the Spirit of the Living God confirming the truth of the resurrection in our lives.

Don't sleep on the last one. Many people look at the Resurrection. Some believe. Some don't. What makes people look at the same evidence and come to different conclusions? Those who believe in the the truth of the resurrection have been made to see by the Holy Spirit, preparing their heart for faith.

That is in fact the purpose of John, right? John 20:31 - "but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." We are being called to believe in the resurrection, so that we may have life.

Declare the Resurrection

Jesus appeared to the disciples to confirm with them that indeed the resurrection had occurred. They were scared, frightened and held up in a locked room, and Jesus entered proving beyond a shadow of a doubt who He was. Truly he was the Son of God.

But proof and comfort were not his only mission in appearing to them. John 20:21 "...peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." Jesus was telling them to take His message to the world. The resurrection gave them full confidence to boldly declare the gospel because they knew the truth, the truth that sets them free. No longer would they be hiding in a locked room; they would be out declaring the risen Savior. The proof of the resurrection and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit were the catalysts that led to coming explosion of the Gospel in the book of Acts.

We are no different from the disciples. If we look at the Jesus and the resurrection and we believe, then we are to go. Believe and tell. Receive and give. It is a true mark of a disciple and the desired responses that God wants from us as we dwell on the empty tomb.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12 comes on the heels (not surprisingly) of Hebrews 11, the great hall of faith chapter. Therefore, in light of the testimony of such a great cloud of witnesses (think Hebrews 11 and the faithfulness of God), we can be sure of things hoped for and certain of things we do not see. Hebrews was written to a group of people who were on the fence between Judaism and Christianity. They liked Jesus, liked the body of Christ, but were scared and hesitant to leave behind their heritage, not fully understanding that Jesus was the fulfillment of their faith. The writer of Hebrews is telling them to let go. Their heritage of faith (Hebrews 11) has pointed them to this, and now it is time to pursue Christ by...

Throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...what are the things in your life that are keeping you from abundant life in Christ? This is not a trick question. Name them. If you are being honest, you know them easily. Name them. Confess them to God and find a brother or sister in Christ to walk life with you, keeping you accountable and celebrating growth in your life.

Run with perseverance the race marked out for us...God is trying to get you to a point B. You started at point A, and he is taking you to the location he has destined. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, this road will NOT be easy. Suffering in life, times of wilderness and desert are invitations to hold tightly to the hand of God. There is no greater moment in your life to run with perseverance, or be transformed in your faith, than when times are tough. We do not rejoice in the sufferings themselves, but in our God who can get us through. Run your race. I know that for many of us, we are going through tough situations, tough decisions and real pain. I am in no way belittling these experiences, just merely calling you to follow hard after the one who is able to save.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...The rest of the verse describes his greatness and worthiness, but he must be our gaze. When he is not our vision, our lives are dictated by lesser things. CS Lewis calls this "lovers less wild." Our eyes must be on Jesus, because he is our standard. Our eyes must be on Jesus, because there is no one else worthy to be followed. Our eyes must be on  Jesus because only through him, will our lives have value.

Our circumstances might be different than the 1st century Jews, but our call is the same. This week in our homes, in our schools, in our places of business, may we pursue Christ above all else.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

The People of God

Galatians 3:26-29…for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Tucked into the context of Galatians, this passage is trying to make sense of the Jewish/Gentile relationship when it comes to the Spiritual realm. Jewish believers thought they were superior, that the OT promises were theirs alone and, if taken to a logical extension, thought themselves superior to Gentile believers (see Cephas “Peter” and his refusal to dine with gentiles when his cronies show up in chapter 1). Paul is writing to show equality and unity in the church; to correct the error in theology and practice. We are all made in the image of God. Yes, the story of God originated with Abraham and Israel was the vessel to take God to the world, but now, the church has been grafted into the people of God. There is one people of God. All who look to Christ as Savior, have God as our father and are heirs to the promises of God.

How does this affect us?

Simply. If we believe that all of our brothers and sisters in Christ really are co-heirs with us, it should affect the way that we treat them. Being a co-heir means they have just as much worth, dignity and value as you, your family and your friends. There are co-heirs that drive us crazy, but we are still called to love and treasure them.

Even as I write this, names come to my head, as do stories of times that I fall short. The good news is that all my sin has been crucified with Christ. It has been washed away. Today is a great day to start anew and treat others the way that we want to be treated. If we call our kids to do it, we must do it as well.

We are family, all my brother, sisters and me. We are family.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

Psalm 104-106

If you are reading these chapters and think, these do not feel like normal Psalms, you would be write. More historical in nature, these three chapters cover just about the entire history of the Old Testament. Psalm 104 begins with the wonder of creation and we move through the Patriarchs, the Exodus, the Kings and all the way to the Exile. However, what is amazing about this passage is not what is about, but why it is recorded.

There are two major takeaways from these chapters that will be beneficial as we walk with God.

1.The repeated faithlessness of humanity
Ever heard that old adage “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it?” That would be a great description of the people of God, both in the time of Israel (Old Testament) and the Church (New Testament). We see the wonder and faithfulness of God, obey for a time and then choose to follow ourselves and place ourselves as king over our own lives. Though we would never say it out loud, often times our actions prove out that we want to be in control of our existence and live the way that is most comfortable/exciting for us. We fall into a rut or into a sin pattern and have to be drawn back by a relentless God. The Psalmist wrote these chapters to remind people to “WAKE UP!” Even if things are good right now, tomorrow is an opportunity to walk away from the Lord. Don’t take it!

2.The relentless faithfulness of God
A line from one of my favorite seminary professors that is worth remembering, “What God has done in the past is a model and promise of what he will do in the future.” The Psalmist records God’s goodness and faithfulness through Creation, through times of trial and through rebellion as a reminder to the people that He is the only God worth following. He provided through Joseph. He provided through Moses. He provided through the prophets. He will provide today. Romans 5:8 tells us that God pursued us through Christ when we were dead in our sins. He provides for us when we are in temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). He provides for us when we are in need (Matthew 6:25-34). He overwhelms us with grace and mercy when we are so undeserving. He has all things at his disposal and will come to the rescue of all of those that are His.

This is an ongoing narrative of life. God is faithful when we are faithful. God is faithful when we are not faithful. He is not moved. He does not change. As you seek him this week through fasting and prayer, thank God for his faithfulness in your life. Use examples. Tell God how you have seen him work. The Israelites continued to tell the Joseph stories and the Moses stories as reminders of the person and plan of God. Your stories, though maybe not as historically epic, are just as tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness and can be helpful in spurring yourself, your spouse, your children, your Trail Group on to following Christ even more.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

Luke 22:42 – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Few statements in Scripture are more selfless. Jesus, facing the cross, a death of great shame, distress and agony, was staring down a moment where He would become sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and take sin’s full penalty and the Father’s divine wrath upon himself. The mental strain of carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders got to him as he wrestled with God through prayer. Yet, he did not back down. He did not hide. He laid down his desire, his will, his comfort to obey his Father.

That is the heart of humility. Christ is the God-Man. He is fully human, fully divine and uniquely qualified to be the atoning sacrifice for sin because he had no sin. Death was not something that he deserved. He laid down what he deserved for the will of his father and a world condemned by sin.

On account of the grace of Christ’s humility, we have the opportunity to have life through belief in him, his death and resurrection. How then should we respond?

With humility.

There are times where we have to give up things we may feel like we deserve (comfort, possessions, time) to accomplish the will of God in and through our lives. This is exemplified very clearly in presenting the Gospel. There are many reasons we can list as to why we don’t share our faith with our neighbors, family and friends, but usually at its heart is some level of pride. What will they think? What will they say? How will they respond?

Humility tells us not to worry about ourselves, but to be more concerned with others. Christ was more concerned with others when he chose to obey his father. We can demonstrate the same type of humility when we overcome our fears (by wrestling in prayer with God) and share His story with those around us.

And what great timing it is. Easter week. Sunday’s coming. What a great chance to share your faith and invite that person to church.

Be strong and courageous. Humility comes before honor.

Brian Tryhus
FBC Family Pastor

September 3  |  Mark 5:17

Read - Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

Examine - Jesus had just cast out the Legion of demons from the local, crazy strong-man and instead of worship being the reaction of the crowd, their response was fear of their financial state. Yes, 2,000 pigs were harmed in the making of this story, but anyone who demonstrated the power and authority that Jesus had just shown should dominate the headlines, reaction and mood. As it turns out, the cost of 2,000 pigs was just too much to keep Jesus around.

Apply - There is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus; a cost to being rescued from an eternity spent without Him.  I would like to believe that cost is nothing compared to the joy of knowing Christ, but for some, the financial, relational or habitual cost is just too great to follow hard after Jesus.  What in my life is more important than following Jesus? It is a question we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis.

Pray - Father, show me the areas of my life that I elevate at the risk of putting you to the side. I might never use the words, "leave town," but I can functionally do the same thing by placing other idols in front of you. For the people of the Gerasenes it was money. Reveal to me the areas where I am lacking so that your Spirit might align them to your desires, O Lord. Examine my heart Lord, and make it like yours. Continue the Spirit's work of making me more like Christ.

 September 2, 2010  |  Mark 4:11-12

Read - He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, "they may be ever seeing but not perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!"

Examine - This is not a difficult passage in terms of comprehension per se; but in terms of coming to grips with can be quite tough.  It involves the tension between Divine Sovreignty (God's ultimate control over all things) and human responsibility (the duty we have to make the wise choice). The secret of the Bible, the secret of the kingdom is Jesus, but knowing Him is a gift. Without knowing Him, the whole story of the Bible fails to make sense, and in the words of Paul is foolishness to a fallen world. The problem for us lies in that we do not know who is destined to understand the secret, and who is destined not to, so...

Apply - We who by grace have been blessed with the knowledge of the secret have a time-sensitive mission on our hands. If we understand Jesus is the secret of the kingdom of God, then we have have an obligation to share it. It is both a priviledge and a duty. However, we are freed up that the salvation of others is NOT in our hands. God has the job of providing (vs. 11) the secret of the kingdom of God, it is just our job to go and do the leg work. As a child of God, who perceives, understands and has been forgiven by the secret, I am compelled to take that message to others as first importance. What others to with that info is between them and the Lord.

Pray - Father, thank you for revealing the secret of the kingdom of God to me, your Son, Jesus. I have done nothing to earn your favor or the right to be brought into your family and yet here I stand, covered by the blood of your Son and your grace. Help me to be bold and courageous in being on mission for you.  Help me to share the secret with others and not hold back out of fear. The response of the hearer is not my responsibility; it is your's alone, and I trust you as a righteous, perfect, good, holy and just God to do what is right in your eyes, not mine.

September 1, 2010  |  Mark 3:6

Read - Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Examine - This story comes in the context of Jesus challenging the Pharisees on their interpretation of the Mosaic Law.  The Pharisees were mainly concerned with applying and interpreting the Law and had considerable trouble trying to fit Jesus into their way of thinking. This particular instance concerned the Sabbath and Jesus busted their paradigm by healing the man with the shriveled hand on that day. This was so over-the-top offensive to their cultural religion of the day that the Pharisees and others began to plot how they might kill him.

Apply - The story is clear that Jesus was not concerned with the traditonal practices or cultutal religious customs of the day.  Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Law, clearly illustrates that true religion is marked by love of God and love of others (like we will see in Mark 12), and is not found through a list of what is moral and immoral.  But what strikes me in this passage is that what was most important to Jesus was that he honored his Father, even though the cultural force at the time would not approve and sought to do Him harm.  He was more concerned with being faithful, than being popular.  He was more concerned with what was true, than what was expected.  The times have changed and our cultural parameters look different, but following the teachings of Christ can still be offensive in an age of "Cultural Christianity." I need to follow Jesus and what the Bible says, regardless of the risk associated of alienating today's group of Pharisees.

Pray - Father, help me to be committed to you before anything else. Beyond the opinions of man or any system they devise, may I follow you with a whole heart. Whatever the risk might be, it is nothing compared to the joy of being found in you.

August 31, 2010  |  Mark 2:5

READ
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

EXAMINE
Three main things to dwell on. (1) Whether or not the man could walk is a secondary issue.  The issue that Jesus first addresses, and the issue of eternal consequence, is whether or not our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ. (2) Jesus responds to faith. Faith is what is desired from us. We should love Him so much that we trust Him completely. (3) The text says "their faith," and I think that is signigicant. God calls us to live in community and trust Him collectively.  It is a powerful thing to trust Him with others.

APPLY
In response...(1) In light of Mark 2:5 and 2:17, there is not a thing more important than one's eternal destiny.  In light of Joe's message from Sunday, it is of the upmost importance to be used of God to lead others to Jesus. (2) Leading in this way can be challenging and fearful, but Jesus responds to faith.  When we our willing to be used and step up to the plate, Jesus responds and gives us grace to carry on. (3) Who am I trusting God with?  Trusting God with my fellow Mountain Trail Guides that God is going to show up and do something in the lives of children and families.

PRAY
Father, your word has testimony after testimony of you responding to the faith of your people.  Though sharing you with others might seem "risky" in this world, the true risk is not sharing you at all and being disobedient to your call.  May your name and renown truly be the desire of my heart, and may you respond to me with sustaining grace as I respond to you through faith.