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Hostile Takeover
Mara Wilson
As Susan Walker
One of my favorite Christmas movies is the 1994 remake of Miracle on 34th Street, starring Mara Wilson of Matilda fame as Susan Walker and Richard Attenborough of Jurassic Park fame as Kris Kringle.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
At the time of C.F. Coles Thanksgiving Day Parade, their store on 34th Street was in deep financial trouble and fending off a hostile take over by Shoppers Express and its owner Victor Landbergh. In order to pay its loans, Coles needed extraordinary Christmas season sales. However, the season almost begins with a disaster, as Coles Santa Claus gets drunk and is unable to ride in the parade. When all seemed lost, Kris Kringle (aka Santa Claus) comes on the scene to take the place of the inebriated Santa and saves the day. He not only saves the parade, he saves Coles.
Fighting Hostility w-Love
Macys
Gimbels
If you are not familiar with this story, the 1947 version involved two stores on 34th Street in Manhattan, Macys and Gimbels. Macys would not grant permission to use its name in this remake, so the story centers around a fictitious store named Coles (COLES rather than KOHLS). As Gimbels went out of business in 1987, another fictitious store, Shoppers Express, was introduced as Coles rival.
As Coles department store Santa, Kris introduces an attitude of making sure the costumer gets the best product for the best price, even if that means sending them to rival stores, including Shoppers Express. This attitude so impresses shoppers that they intend to shop at Coles more often. Coles 1
stock rises quickly. Everyone is happy; everyone that is except Victor Landbergh. He and his cronies develop a plan to discredit Kris Kringle, in a last ditch effort to destroy Coles. They use Coles former inebriated Santa to slander Kris. Without going into the details, Kris ends up in court to determine his sanity.
Santa in Court
explain. If you watched the movie, it does not take much imagination to see the Shoppers Express owner as the evil one. Who does Satan want to destroy? The first thing we see the evil one doing in Scripture is successfully tempting Adam to sin. As a result of Adams sin, Paul writes (SL 8):
Satans Attack on Mankind
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, on which (eph ho) all sinned. Romans 5:12
Coles decides to place its faith in Kris and stick by him through the scandal. In the end, the New York State Supreme Court not only declares Kris to be sane, but also that he is in fact Santa Claus. Shoppers Express attempt at a hostile take over is thwarted. Thus, the miracle mediated by Kris Kringle.
34th Street Parable
Your version may read because all sinned, as though we die as a result of our sin. But because is not an accurate translation of the Greek eph ho. Consider this passage:
Meaning of Eph Ho
And when they could not come near Him (Jesus) because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which (eph ho) the paralytic was lying. Mark 2:4
I see a parable in this version of Miracle on 34th Street in which Victor Landbergh is Satan, Coles department store is sinful mankind, and Kris Kringle is Jesus. Let me 2
Pauls use of eph ho indicates that our personal sin is a result of our being born in a state of death, rather than our death resulting from our sin. One way Paul describes this state of death is to be carnally minded. In Romans 8:7, 8, the apostle indicates that to be in such a state is: (1) to be at enmity against God; (2) to be unable to obey Gods law; and, (3) to be unable to please God.
Satans temptation of Adam was so devastating to mankind that the writer of Hebrews described Satan as him who had the power of death (2:14). It is for this reason I have compared the financially crippled Coles to sinful mankind. It was in need of someone who could overcome the work of Victor Landbergh. This is where Kris Kringle came in. Through his work, Coles debts were covered. Landbergh tried to stop his work and in a sense killed him, but he was in a sense resurrected and declared to be exactly who he said he was. Coles was saved by placing its faith in him. This corresponds to the work of Jesus:
Jesus Death for Mankind
The death of Jesus on the cross counter altered the work of Adam. According to the Apostle John, Jesus was the propitiation for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Therefore, God is conciliated to mankind; His enmity is removed by Jesus death. However, it is one-sided, as men remain enemies. Conciliate would be a better way to translate katallasso than reconcile, which requires laying down arms by both parties. Consider Pauls words in 2 Corinthians 5:
Katallasso = Conciliation
Now all things are of God, who has conciliated (katallasso) us to Himself through Jesus the Messiah, and has given us the ministry of conciliation (katallage), that is, that God was in the Messiah conciliating (katallasso) the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of conciliation (katallage). Now then, we are ambassadors for the Messiah, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Messiahs behalf, be conciliated (katallasso) to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
For when we were without strength, in due time the Messiah died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us. When we were enemies we were reconciled (katallasso = down change / counter alter) through the death of His Son. Rom. 5:6, 8, 10
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The Greek word translated reconciled is katallasso, which literally means downchange or possibly counter alter. By Adams sin, all of mankind are constituted sinners (Romans 5:19) at enmity with God by no choice of their own.
Jesus Propitiation Counter Alters the Work of Adam
If Jesus death brought reconciliation, then we would not be ambassadors pleading with the world to lay down their enmity and be conciliated to God. There is a Greek word that expresses actual reconciliation. We find it in Colossians 1:
Apokatallasso = Reconciliation
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (apokatallasso) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Colossians 1:21-23
He (Jesus) Himself is the propitiation (i.e., the sacrifice satisfying the righteousness of God) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:2
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katallasso. This word truly speaks of complete reconciliation. When the sinner lays down his enmity and places his faith in Jesus death on the cross, he is reconciled to God. Apokatallasso is also used in the passage that I want to touch on briefly tonight, Ephesians 2:11-22:
Ephesians 2:11-13
Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Messiah Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Messiah.
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only does the death of Jesus the basis for reconciliation between God and man, but also Jew and Gentile. Pauls use of built together for a dwelling place of God in the last verse reminds me of Jesus promise in Matthew 16:
Built Together for a Dwelling Place
I will build My church, and the gates of Hades* (pulai hadou) shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:8
In the end of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave (pulais hadou).
Isaiah 38:10 (LXX)
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Ephesians 2:14-18
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and He might reconcile (apokatallasso) them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
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Based on LXX translation of Isaiah 38:10, the gates of Hades is equivalent to death. We have seen that Satan is the one with the power of death he is only interested in stealing, killing and destroying. He attempted to destroy mankind, he attempted to destroy Jesus, and he continues to attempt to destroy churches. What destroys churches? Is it persecution? No, the book of Acts is a testament that persecution does not destroy churches, in fact it causes the church to flourish. No, Paul tells us what destroys churches in addressing the Corinthians:
Church Destruction
Now I plead with you, brethren that you all speak the same thing, and that their be no schisms among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared unto me concerning you brethren that there are strifes among you. You are still carnal. For where there are jealousy, strife, and dissensions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For I fear lest, when I come, I shall find strife, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, factions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults. (1 Cor. 1:10, 11; 3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20)
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Ephesians 2:19-22
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus the Messiah Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
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We dont have time to look at this passage in detail, but the point I want us to see is not 4
The attitudes that destroy the unity of the Spirit are what destroys a church. What happened right here two years ago is a testament to that. I will have to admit there were periods of time over the past two years when I thought it would just be best to close the doors of Grace Baptist.
Miracles
1. Dunamis Manifestation of Power;
2. Teras Effect Produced in Those who Witnessed the Manifestation of Power; 3. Semeion Significance of the Manifestation of Power
By His power, God did exceeding abundantly above all that we thought about or asked Him. This merger is a manifestation of Gods power. After the man lame from birth was healed and seen walking and praising God, we read:
Teras Wonder
Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. Acts 3:10
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But I did not entitle this meditation Miracle at 67 Bedford Road for no good reason. What is a miracle? In the New Testament, three words are used relating to miracles: dunamis (manifestation of power), teras (wonder the effect produced in those who witnessed the manifestation of power), and semeion (sign the significance of the manifestation of power). I would say the bringing together of Heritage Baptist and Grace Baptist is a miracle in every sense of the word. It has been stated before that the charge given to GBCs pastoral search committee was simply to find a pastor. But we did not find anything God sovereignly brought together two congregations one in need of room, one in need of a pastor, both desirous of reaching this part of NH for Jesus the Messiah. I am reminded of Pauls words to the Ephesians:
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When Gods sovereign power is displayed, it will produce awe in those who observe it. I am sure there are those who thought GBC was done but now are amazed at what God has done. Finally, I think of Jesus words:
Semeion - Significance
I pray that they may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
Father, thank you for the Miracle at 67 Bedford Road. We ask that you would help each one of us to do our part in maintaining the unity of the Spirit made possible through the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah, in whose name and for whose honor we pray and whose birth we celebrate tonight. Amen.
I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:20-23
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That is the significance of Gods display of power here that the world may know that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for their sin. Its all there dunamis, teras, semeion power, wonder & significance. A miracle has truly happened at 67 Bedford Road and God deserves all the glory. But we will only continue to glorify God and let the world know of His provisions in Jesus as long as we allow Him to build us together into His dwelling place. Hopefully, as we are built together as one, that unity will spread and erase any disharmony that may exist between GBC and Grace Christian School, between GBC and New Hope Christian Fellowship, between GBC and all who have left GBC or HBC in the recent past for whatever reason. The coming months are going to take hard work on the part of all of us but if something will testify to the world that the Father sent the Son then its worth the cost. And if Jesus can conciliate God to sinful mankind, provide the basis for man to be conciliated to God, and reconcile Jew to Gentile to God and to each other, He certainly can help a group of Baptists work through whatever issue may arise in the upcoming year.