Using Scripture in Context

The proper use of Scripture requires that it only be used to teach the truth to which it applies. Romans 14:23 is the classic example of Scripture often taken out of context; “faith,” here refers to one’s conscience — not the system of faith, the Gospel. It may be that Scripture is frequently used “out-of-context” proportionately to our preference for and experience in topical preaching over expository preaching. Perhaps the most often overlooked context which troubles denominational people and brethren is the backdrop to the first century church of miracles and intervention in the affairs of men by the Godhead (i.e., chiefly the Holy Spirit) and angels (e.g., mustard-seed-mountain-moving faith, Matthew 17:20; 1 Corinthians 13:2; elders anointing the sick with oil, James 5:14; Mark 6:13; 16:18). 1 Thessalonians 5:22 First Thessalonians 5:22 reads, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” KJV or “…every form of evil” ASV. I have often heard the KJV rendering of this verse used to teach avoidance of conduct or activities that perhaps harmless themselves may be perceived as evil by someone observing such (e.g., turning around in the parking lot of an unsavory and sinful establishment). The word “appearance” (KJV) and “form” (ASV) come from the Greek eidous — from eidos, which means: “kind” or “species.” The same word (eidous) occurs in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and means “sight” or “perception.” A derivative (eidei) occurs in Luke 3:22 and means “form” or “external appearance.” The contexts of 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Luke 3:22 demand that our word refer to what is seen. …

Homosexuality: This Is Where We Part Ways

The phone call was like many we receive at our offices. Someone had come across an article on our Web site, and wanted to talk to someone about it. In the course of our conversation, the young man spoke passionately about his beliefs, defending what he felt was right. About fifteen minutes into the conversation, he made the following comment: “Yes, I feel like I must speak up and be heard, similar to the homosexuals today who desire equal rights.” Up until that moment, we were having a healthy conversation and were both able to communicate various views and ideas. But with those words, our conversation took an abrupt turn. I told this young man that this is where he and I “were definitely going to part ways.” (Obviously, this individual was not familiar with Apologetics Press, and our stance to defend New Testament Christianity). Having struck a nerve, the caller asked me if I was kidding. In amazement, he went on to comment that he could not believe I did not want all people to “share equal rights.” I assured him that all people were created in the “image and likeness” of God (Genesis 1:26-27), but that did not stop people from committing acts that God would not endorse (e.g., rape, murder, stealing). He then questioned my love for others, and asked, “How can someone who professes Christianity treat others with such disdain.” Sadly, the world has done an excellent job of teaching this young man that anyone who …

Tail Swallowing Religion

An article by Richard Kelley on the front page of the December 2003 issue of Therefore Stand made a very interesting (and telling) observation. Brother Kelley borrowed a practice from me where both he and I record information in computer databases about articles in religious journals we read, respectively. He is just getting started, whereas I have recorded this type of information regarding over 17,000 articles in several journals over the past three decades. He noticed that very few articles appearing in our journals either have references to Jesus Christ in the title of the article or are about our Lord. Brother Kelley rightly concluded that we need to preach Jesus more than we sometimes do, especially in our printed journals. “…Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). In addition to brother Kelley’s valid observation, I have observed that most of the articles appearing in our religious journals fall in a category in my database labeled “Church Problems.” Granted, it is imperative that false teachers be “belled” (Romans 16:17-18), and teachers and preachers need to be screened by Scripture because there are false teachers  in and out of the Lord’s church (1 John 4:1). However, even were one to suppose, for instance, that 2 Timothy 4:2 portrays preaching as two parts negative and one part positive, still, preaching “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) requires much of what we preach to be positive and uplifting. Preaching that invariably relapses “to find fault with, correct” (Strong’s, “reprove” in 2 Timothy 4:2) and …

Whose Child Are You?

It is a well-established fact that children take on the characteristics of their parents. This is explained in the Bible by what we call the seed principle, namely that everything, plant and animal, produces, “After his kind,” (Genesis1: 11, 12, 21, et al.) Farmers who plant corn expect to harvest, of all things, CORN! Contrary to the infamous theory of organic evolution, dogs do not produce cats; lizards do not produce birds; and monkeys do not produce people. This is true of human beings as well. Examining this subject in the negative, many times children have been disowned and disinherited because they offended their parents who felt that in some way, due to perhaps rash actions or decisions, their offspring no longer resembled them. The cutting phrase, “He’s no son of mine,” is sometimes heard because the child has done differently than his parents expected and is somewhat of a disappointment to them. This is, of course, tragic, but it is an occurrence that happens all too frequently. Jesus pointed this out in John 8:31-33: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? To the first century Jew, just simply being born of Israel meant being in a covenant relationship with God, …

How Could It Happen?

For over two centuries, our nation has professed to have been established and to have been preserved by the providence of God. The citizens of the United States of America have long claimed to comprise a Christian nation. How, then, could our beloved country legalize homosexual marriages in direct contradiction to what God’s Word (the Bible) teaches about homosexuality? Yet, that is precisely what has transpired in America. A recent case in point is the judicial decision by the Supreme Court of Massachusetts when in November 2003 it ruled that barring same sex marriages was unconstitutional. How could it happen? Another recent episode in American current events respecting endorsement of homosexuality was the promotion to Bishop in the America Episcopal or Anglican Church of an openly avowed homosexual on November 2, 2003. The elevation of V. Gene Robinson to Bishop of Episcopal Church USA is threatening to split that church in America and further cause that denominational body to run amok with its European counterpart, as well as with its denominational and Catholic correspondents. One would think that a professedly Christian religion would have enough respect for God’s Word not to endorse precisely the things that the Bible condemns. How could it happen? Though there are many biblical passages that condemn homosexuality as sinful, notice the following sample of such references, before we direct our attention in this article otherwise. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, …

Overcoming False Doctrine

Jesus warned his disciples, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits… Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 7:15-16 & 10:16). The world has intolerance for the truth; therefore, the scenario is used of Christians being sheep, a prey animal, sent forth into the middle of the worldly, the wolves. When Jesus says to be “wise as serpents,” he is not referring to the manifestation of Satan in the Garden. For all their fearfulness, snakes are really very fragile creatures and are usually cautious in avoiding dangerous situations. Christians could here learn a valuable lesson from the snake. Rather than subjecting one’s self to danger, we should “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The Gospel is the “power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). It is important that we do not follow false teaching primarily because it is void of the power to save. Jesus said, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). It is a useless waste of time and life to worship God by manmade creeds and such teaching is prevalent. Yet, Jesus also promised a reward seven times in Revelation 2-3 to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor to “him that overcometh”. So, it can be done! We can overcome …

Historical Review of the King and His Kingdom in Matthew

Matthew 3:2; 4:17; 10:7 Backdrop According to the Gospel of Matthew, the “kingdom of heaven” was the obvious topic of the preaching by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:2), Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:17, 23) and the apostles (Matthew 10:7). “Both Jesus and John began their ministries preaching that ‘the kingdom of God (sic, heaven) is at hand’ (Matthew 3:2:4:17). The establishment of the church [kingdom] at this time was only about 3 years away.” (Morrison 20). Lenski writes regarding the grammatical structure of Matthew 3:2, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” that it “has been drawing near and is thus now at hand.” (93). Further, Jesus Christ decreed that “the gospel of the kingdom” was to be the permanent topic of preaching until the end of time (Matthew 24:14). The phrase “kingdom of heaven” appears exclusively in the Bible only in the Gospel of Matthew, 32 times; the companion and equivalent phrase “kingdom of God” appears 69 times in the New Testament, four of which are in Matthew. Even Matthew used the phrases “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably (19:23-24). “The nuance ‘of heaven’ suggests that the essential meaning is ‘reign’ and that this kingship does not arise by human effort.” (Kittel). The Greek word for “kingdom” is basileia, which means “properly, royalty, i.e. (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively).” (Strong). The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says of basileia, it “denotes the lawful king (usually hereditary, later distinguished from the tyrannos, ‘usurper’). … This term refers to …

The Heart and the Tongue

It has been said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” This is a way of saying that the power of words, for good or evil, is staggering. This being true, the tongue must be mightier than a cannon! Proverbs 6:16-18 outlines what God hates. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Of these seven abominations, at least three of them deal with sins of the tongue. Someone has also said, “No matter which screw is loose in a man, it is always his tongue that rattles.” A loose tongue is symptomatic of a deeper-seated problem. Decades ago old time doctors would check a patient’s tongue, and if it were coated, would prescribe castor oil for an ailing liver. They believed a connection existed between the two organs. This, of course, is doubtful today, but spiritually speaking, when we have a problem with the tongue, the heart is always the problem. How does one check for heart problems? Medically, we look for symptoms — shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. Spiritually speaking we also need to look for the symptoms of heart problems, and they almost always show up in the tongue! Of this connection between the heart and tongue Jesus spoke in Matthew …

The Gospel of the Empty Tomb

1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-23 It is impossible to over emphasize the extreme importance of the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christianity. Perhaps no hymn better characterizes our Savior’s glorious resurrection than Christ Arose. Introduction Christianity is the most unique religion on earth because the tomb of its founder is empty! The corpses of the founders of other world religions lie motionless in tombs across the globe, and their decaying remains offer neither hope regarding this life nor approaching eternity. Jesus Christ, though, resurrected from the grave never there to return and is alive today, whereby he gives us great hope regarding life that now is and eternity to come. The whole of Christianity depends on the cardinal doctrine of the resurrection of Christ. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there would be no Christianity! Without the resurrection of Christ, the despairing disciples would have long ago abandoned their posts as the apostles of Christ and proponents of Christianity. Without the resurrection of Christ, the New Testament would not have been written and the Old Testament would remain incomplete, unfulfilled and worthless. Every spiritual promise; the eternal character and nature of God; the deity and authority of Jesus Christ as well as the saving power of the Gospel rests firmly on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the first spiritual promise in Genesis 3:15, including the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 and every promise respecting the establishment of the kingdom of God (Daniel 2; Isaiah 2; Joel 2) would be empty …

Who Is a Real Christian?

Every day of our lives we are called upon to distinguish what is real and what is not. Advertisements make bold claims, but in reality, we always need to read the fine print, do we not? Many times things appear to be one way but in reality, they are opposite. In Christianity, often times the hypocrite passes himself off as a legitimate Christian, but he is really only play-acting. How then can one ascertain whether or not one is a Christian? The Jewish perception was that they were in covenant relationship with God simply because they were the seed of Abraham, but this was only partially true. In reality, they needed the Savior to be “free indeed.” Read John 8 31-36: Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Have we deceived ourselves today, like the Jews of old? Is it possible that we could be displeasing to God, even though we believe we are following …

How Obedience Saves

Hebrews 5:8-9 The Bible shows conclusively that obedience is essential to salvation. Many religious people despise the thought of associating obedience with salvation. Many would defend with their lives some manmade doctrine, but they refuse to obey God’s Word and they would not die for it (Revelation 2:10). It is no secret that we live in a disobedient society where disobedience manifests itself variously: failure to obey speed limits, disobedience to parents and teachers, cheating on taxes, widespread immorality, stealing, robbery, assault, murder, etc. At the risk of being viewed as unpatriotic, I remind you that this nation was conceived in disobedience to the government of England. Mankind in general has a long history of disobedience toward God. However, man can obey God, and he must obey God to receive God’s grace and mercy, resulting in salvation. Obedience has always been essential to be saved. Obedience to God was essential under Patriarchy. Cain was disobedient whereas Abel was obedient to God (Genesis 4:3-5; Hebrews 11:4). Faith results from the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Therefore, Scripture implies that Cain was disobedient to God’s instructions pertaining to worship, but Abel was obedient to the same instruction from God. The wicked world was disobedient whereas Noah and his family were obedient to God (Genesis 6-9). God chose a righteous man named Noah to build the ark to save his family and him from the universal flood. Noah obeyed God regarding the construction of the ark and was saved from the impending disaster that enveloped the rest of the …

Him Shall Ye Hear

Acts 3:22-23 The events leading up to our text are described in Acts 3. The lame man at the Beautiful Gate was healed by Peter and entered into the temple court “walking and leaping and praising God” (verse 8). This got the attention of the worshippers who were amazed at the miracle, and began to regard Peter and John to be something they most definitely were not. It is then that Peter replies in verse 12, “Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk.” As was always the case with the miraculous, this miracle was used to produce faith. John 20:30-31 reads, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” So, it was only fitting that Peter use the opportunity to preach the Gospel. In verse 23, he proclaims, “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” This was a prophecy quoted from Deuteronomy 18:15 concerning the coming of Christ, and Peter ably applies it here. This is …

To Fulfill All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13-17 Introduction Each of the Gospel accounts records the baptism of Jesus, with Matthew providing the most detailed information (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1:29-34). The baptism of John the Baptist is discussed in the Gospel records as well as the Book of Acts (Matthew 3:6-12; Mark 1:4-8; John 3:23; Acts 10:37; 13:24; 19:3-4). John the Baptist was our Lord’s cousin and he was six months older than Jesus was. However, this may have been the first time that Jesus and John had seen each other (John 1:33-34). Jesus was reared in Galilean Nazareth while John the Baptist was reared in Judaea. Yet, since John recognized Jesus as he approached (Matthew 3:14; John 1:29) before the baptism was administered, John saying he did not know Jesus before the baptism, may indicate that he did not publicly acknowledge Jesus as the Christ until that time (John 1:30-34). John’s baptism represented a ceremonial washing with which Jesus commenced his ministry as our Prophet, High Priest and King (Acts 3:22-23; Hebrews 7:17-27; Matthew 21:5). Discussion “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him” (Matthew 3:13). Jesus traveled about 65 miles from Galilee to Judaea to be baptized by his cousin John. The baptism of Jesus at the hands of John the Baptist marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Apparently, John the Baptist had begun his ministry to prepare the way of the Lord six months before the baptism of Jesus, and both were about 30 years old (Luke …

The Resurrection of the Dead

This time of year, Spring, is often associated with the time of Christ’s resurrection. Rightfully so, for it was about this time of year when the Jewish Passover was observed, and it was during the time of Passover Jesus became our sacrificial “Lamb,” as John the Baptist noted, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). By being crucified, the Creator of mankind (John 1:1-3), was now demonstrating his tremendous love for mankind and becoming the Savior of his church. He hung on the Cross, arguably the cruelest means of torture ever devised by man, for the space of about six hours before finally succumbing to death. He was buried in a borrowed tomb belonging to one Joseph of Arimathaea, but Jesus did not stay in the grave. It has been said that every major world religion can point to a grave, but only Christianity’s grave is empty! In modern times, there are those who attack the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. No wonder! The resurrection is foundational to our Christianity. Without it, faith in him is void and meaningless. With it, we have hope! Consider Paul’s instruction to the those of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus …

The Grace of God

Ephesians 2:8-9 Introduction The English word “grace” occurs 170 times in the Bible (KJV), 39 times in the Old Testament and 131 times in the New Testament. The Greek word for “grace” appears 156 times in the Greek New Testament, and besides “grace” is translated as ‘thanks,’ “pleasure,” “joy,” “benefit,” “acceptable,” “favour” and “liberality”; Jesus Christ used the Greek word for “grace” four times (translated as ‘thanks’) (Luke 6:32-34; 17:9). The respective Hebrew (chen) and Greek (charis) words that are translated as “grace” are equivalent to each other and mean “favor.” The most common and maybe simplistic definition of the extension of God’s grace toward mankind is “unmerited favor.” After only a little contemplation, then, it is certain that God’s grace toward mankind is reflected in both testaments of the Bible and under all three religious dispensations (i.e., Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity). However, there is much confusion in the religious world respecting the grace of God (e.g., Calvinism, Universalism, unconditional grace, conditional grace). One can only sweep away the denominational fog and confusion regarding the grace of God by resorting to the Bible for God’s definition and divine instruction about grace. God’s Grace Defined The Hebrew word “chen” means “to favor someone”1 and is the Old Testament counterpart of the Greek word “charis.” The Greek word “charis” when referring to God’s grace toward humanity means unmerited favor. However, charis has several other meanings depending on the contexts in which it appears. “In secular Greek of all periods it is also a …

The Bible Concept of Hell

There is no more unpopular subject to teach than that of, yet it is a Bible doctrine. Yet, like Paul, we feel compelled “to declare all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27), even the unpleasant. Preachers of old were known for preaching hellfire and brimstone, so that people often could imagine the stench of the smoke as they left the church building after services. Some have suggested this to be too extreme, but we must ask, how extreme is? Is it not extreme enough that we should go to any length to warn the lost and erring of their impending doom? The Scriptures mention  some 54 times in the Old and New Testaments, but a cautionary word is advisable here. There are different original words used in different places throughout the Scriptures that have been translated “,” and sometimes the word would have been better translated, “grave” or “Hades.” Let us consider some scriptural facts about this important Bible doctrine. To begin, one must come to the realization that “” and “Hades” are not the same place. Sheol in Hebrew Old Testament corresponds to Hades in the Greek New Testament. Both terms refer to the place departed spirits go after death. These have been rendered “grave” (31 times), “” (31 times) and “pit” (3 times) in the KJV. These are unfortunate translations. There is a place within Hades called “torment,” (basanos) and also a place referred to alternately as “Abraham’s bosom” or “paradise.” Luke 16:23 reads, “And in he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar …

The Benefits of Hell

Luke 16:19-31 Apparently, some outside the Lord’s church as well as some brethren must desire the benefits of. It is also much easier to travel the broad way through the broad gate to than it is to travel the narrow way through the narrow gate to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14). Further, most or all of some people’s friends will be in, and to be with them eternally, they will have to go there, too. There is no restrictive law filled with prohibitions by which one must order his life on earth in order to arrive in someday. In addition, note some of the benefits of. There will be no preaching in. For some folk, even Christians, no preaching in will be a definite advantage. Often mankind considers Bible preaching as mere foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-21). Non-Christians and Christians alike sometimes consider distasteful biblical doctrines as merely the opinions of men (1 Thessalonians 2:13). However, God’s preachers must preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:1-2). Yet, many consider preaching as meddlesome in their personal lives, too tedious and boring and unnecessarily long (Matthew 14:1-12; Acts 6:8-7:60; 20:7; Ephesians 4:15). Though there will be no preaching in, there will be preachers in. Many false prophets, preachers and teachers will be in (Revelation 20:10; 1 John 4:1; Romans 16:17-18; James 3:1). The rich man of Luke 16:19, in the part of Hades that is a foretaste of, illustrates that the inhabitants of will desire to hear preaching with the subsequent opportunity to respond, …

When We Confess

Most have probably heard the term “the good confession” as it applies to confessing one’s faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God before one is baptized into Christ. Certainly we can find authority for making such a confession in Acts 8:37-38 where we read of the Ethiopian Eunuch’s conversion. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” What does it mean to confess Christ? Is it a one-time act, or is it perpetual? Paul builds upon the theme of “justification by faith” throughout the Book of Romans rather than by the good works of keeping the Old Testament Law. Faith is our response to grace, which is God’s initiative. We are not saved by works of merit, or because we figured out a way to be saved on our own, but we are saved by grace, (God’s initiative), through faith, (our response). (See Ephesians 2:8.) Part of our response to God is the confession we make. What are we doing when we confess faith in Jesus as God’s Son? First of all, we are admitting that …

The Godhead

Truth is nevertheless truth whether it is recognized as such. Likewise, the Godhead is what the Godhead is regardless of whether it is properly acknowledged. This is said only to emphasize that though the religious world holds to several conflicting doctrines about the Godhead, the truth concerning this subject exists in spite of prominent errors. Namely, two primary factors are true about the Godhead. (1) The Bible distinctly teaches that the Godhead is made up of three divine persons. (2) The Bible teaches with equal certainty that the Godhead possesses precise (therefore predictable) divine characteristics The very nature of God is revealed by the Bible. Godhead Defined At least two contemporary denominations deny that the Godhead consists of three persons (commonly called the doctrine of the Trinity). Whereas Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus Christ is God, the United Pentecostal Church admits to only one person in the Godhead, Jesus Christ. In either case, they both disclaim that there are three persons in the Godhead. The word Godhead is translated from words derived from the Greek, Theos, which simply means divinity. Romans 1:20 uses the word Godhead and refers to evidences apparent in the physical universe that testify of the divine nature of the Creator. The power responsible for creation is of incomprehensible magnitude and contrary to natural law, so much so it can only be the product of Divinity. Acts 17:29 records the word Godhead in the speech of the apostle Paul before Greeks at Athens. There, the word conveys the idea of the Deity, the one …

Along Came Joseph

Human beings are worriers! We fret and stew about nearly every situation in life that involves some difficulty. The famous Serenity Prayer, though not a Scripture itself, nonetheless contains much wisdom. God grant me the serenityTo Accept the things I cannot change,To Change the things I can change,And the Wisdom to know the difference. Also, it is not without scriptural precedent! We should in the face of difficulty heed the advice of Psalm 46:10 — “Be still and know that I am God…” Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” There is a master plan and God is in control. When the situation warrants, God has always provided what was needed to get through a difficult time. And, he has usually specifically chosen one to accomplish his task. Such is the case with men in the Bible, all of them named Joseph. Let us study about… The Joseph who savedhis family from starvation Joseph told his brothers in Genesis 50:19, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” Remember, Joseph’s older brothers, being jealous of the coat their father had given him and the favoritism shown to their younger sibling, treated him poorly. Eventually they cast him into a pit and sold him into slavery in Egypt. But, all of this was necessary to get Joseph in …

Accountability to God

John 9:21-23, 41 In these days of reluctance to accept personal responsibility for anything, it is especially appropriate to examine one’s accountability to God, including when that accountability begins. It has always been the case with God that individuals bear personal responsibility for sins and do not inherit the sins of others. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus established a principle that they who have the capacity to understand and to comply with Divine Law and do not comply are guilty of sin (John 9:41). It has always been the case with God that individuals who bear the guilt of sin must turn away from or repent of that sin to avoid eternal, spiritual ruin. “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30). First, who is accountable to God? Young children are not accountable to God for their conduct; children do not inherit the sin of Adam and Eve or anyone else (Ezekiel 18:20). Children are born innocent and without sin, suitable examples for imitation in this regard; Jesus used a small child as an illustration of what our Lord’s disciples had to become to …

Power, Love and a Sound Mind

Most of us like to think of ourselves as bold and courageous. Many times, we prove it to ourselves by how fast we drive, or when we confront someone about a wrong that has been done. Why is it, then, when it comes to teaching someone about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the “Power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16), all of our vaunted courage vanishes like a puff of smoke? As a preacher of the Gospel for the last twenty years, this writer has heard many excuses offered for this phenomenon — “I can’t do that” or “I just don’t know enough Scripture” and the list goes on. Why does our bold, lion-like approach to life fade away and turn into timidity when the topic of discussion is the salvation of one’s soul? We certainly agree that all of us need to be encouraged at times. A pat on the back is effective when applied in the proper circumstances. However, there are times when a good, swift kick in the backside is also needed! Too long have Christians cowered under the pressures of the worldly-minded. We have forgotten who is on our side and that none can stand against him! “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Consider, for a moment, the gentle but firm rebuke of young Timothy by the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 1:6-8: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of …

Common

Words are intriguing. They serve as the vehicles by which ideas and concepts are carried from the mind of one person to another. God has used these things that we call “words” to bring to our minds those things he would have us to know in order that we may be acceptable in his righteous sight. In the Book of 1 Corinthians, chapter two, Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit searched the mind of God, and that he revealed to man what God would have man to know from that well-spring of eternal truth that God has in his own mind. Many of the words of God are very striking and we are immediately drawn to do a word study to try and learn all the nuances of those words so that we may better understand and appreciate Christianity. Others are words that we are very likely to pass over, thinking that we understand them sufficiently to get the meaning of a given text. In the third verse of the Book of Jude, the half brother of our Lord spoke of the “common salvation.” Because the word “common” in this text is coupled with the word salvation, one is almost immediately drawn to it wondering in what sense the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ can be thought of as “common.” In Titus 1:4, Paul used the very same word in addressing Titus as his “true son in our common faith.” Again, one cannot help but wonder how the …

Euthanasia: The Moral Side of the Issue

When dealing with moral issues, emotions can often overcharge the situation and cloud our better judgment. The subject of euthenasia is one such issue. Although opposed to it, one can sympathize with those who struggle with a loved one who is non-recuperative and suffering.There is no reference in the Bible, Old or New Testament, that directly deals with euthanasia, so we cannot give a “Thou shalt not…” here. But, in principle, the Scriptures do teach that euthanasia is wrong. But, that means little if we don’t first define some terms. According to International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, “[euthanasia] formerly called mercy killing, means intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. Put bluntly, [it is]killing in the name of compassion.” The question is, do we have the right to make such a decision? People are divided on this. One Scripture that serves as a guideline on this issue is Job 1:21-22, where Job states, “…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” Only God has the right to take human life away. Some related terms that need to be discussed are: Murder: The taking of one’s life. Most concede this is morally wrong. Exodus 20 reveals, “Thou shalt not kill.” This means literally, to do no murder. It is not a prohibition against capital punishment for the same God commanded …

Four Years Completed with This Issue

Moving my residence to another city and changing our Internet Service Provider contributed to the delay in production of the December 2002 issue of Gospel Gazette Online. In addition to the busy schedule we already maintain, necessarily we busied ourselves with all of the details of setting up our household anew. We are still putting things away or in order and have fallen behind in some of our responsibilities. We hope to meet all our obligations respecting demands on our time in the near future. Thank you for your patience. With the December 2002 issue of Gospel Gazette Online, we have completed four years of publication on the Internet. Each month, GGO has provided 20 pages of sound biblical articles. Hundreds of these articles are available through the Archive of GGO and can be accessed at will from anywhere in the world. Readers from around the globe often pose questions or offer some word of encouragement. While we hope that this effort proves useful to God and glorifies his name, we are emboldened to continue the rigorous pace of the ongoing demands of producing a 20-page monthly ezine whenever we receive kind notes. Some correspondents have advised us that they have little or no other resources in their localities to which they can turn for the type of edification derived from the pages of GGO. Please pray for the ongoing efforts of Gospel Gazette Online and tell as many others as possible about the free subscriptions available. Presently, hundreds have …

A Four-Foot Wall

Scarcely anything from the Jewish Temple has been found, but a few items have been unearthed that pertain to the Temple. These finds include the Wailing Wall, a limestone sundial and an ivory pomegranate from the top of a priestly scepter. Another discovery pertaining to the Temple is a simple stone sign on which is engraved a serious warning. Formerly, the sign and others like it were affixed to a short wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the (Jewish) Women on the Temple Mount. The sign threatened death to any Gentile who went beyond that wall. It read, “No stranger is to enter within the partition wall and enclosure around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will be responsible to himself for his death, which will ensue.” Aside from the physical barrier that it represented to prevent non-Jews from trespassing in the Jewish sanctuary, the apostle Paul referred to that four and a half foot high wall for an illustration in a spiritual lesson (Ephesians 2:11-22). That little wall was a fitting representation of Judaism, which was the actual distinction between Gentiles who lived under Patriarchy and the Israelites to whom God gave the Law of Moses (Judaism). At the time Paul penned the Ephesians epistle (between A.D. 60-65), that little wall still stood. Earlier, Paul was accused of taking a Gentile past that wall in A.D. 59 (Acts 21:27-29). This false accusation was the catalyst for the aroused mob seizing the apostle, after which he …

Fatal Error

One of the worst experiences one can have with a computer is a Fatal Error message. It is often called “the blue screen of death” by many in the computer science field, because it means whatever you are doing has just come to a halt and the best you can hope for is to reset the machine, and maybe it will reboot the way it was before the error occurred. Sometimes, the error is so severe it requires new hardware or software to fix the problem. We are reminded of some “Fatal Errors” that are recorded in the Bible. These are sins that people committed and resulted in their deaths because of their disobedience. Yet, there is no new software to install or hardware to replace that could restore life to them. Unlike computers that can be turned off and on, human beings only have one life, and when it is gone, physical existence is over for that person! Hebrews 9:27 states, “…it is appointed unto a man once to die, and after this the judgment…” (Emphasis mine, SPS.) Consider Nadab and Abihu, the first priests to serve in the tabernacle in the wilderness. One can read the full account in Leviticus 10. God had commanded the priests to use coals from the brazen altar of sacrifice to start burning incense, but actually, the sins of Nadab and Abihu were many. Coffman writes: All that they did here was SINFUL. Their taking of censers, unbidden, their putting incense upon censers carried by themselves, …

The 25th Sect

By the time of Christ, Judaism had become a badly divided, bitterly disputed religion from within its own ranks. For instance, in about 94 B.C., the Pharisees and the Sadducees were locked in a brutal civil war with each other. The Sadducees prevailed and crucified 800 Pharisees in the presence of their families, who then were executed as those being crucified helplessly looked on from the crosses to which they had been fastened, and on which they themselves were dying in indescribable pain. There were 24 Jewish sects within Judaism in the first century, most of which are not mentioned in the Bible; only the Sadducees (Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:6), the Pharisees (Matthew 19:3; 23:23ff; Luke 11:39), the Herodians (Mark 12:13) and the Zealots (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13) appear in Scripture. Beginning in 63 B.C., when the Jews were warring with each other again (Aristobulus vs. Hyrcanus, siblings), through the general Pompey, the Roman Empire took control of Palestine and restrained the Jews from civil war, by subordinating all the Palestinian Jews to Roman rule. Rome lost control of Palestine for a while in 40 B.C. to the Parthians from the East. However, in 37 B.C., Rome regained control of Palestine, which control it maintained throughout the New Testament era and beyond. Hence, the Roman Empire with its iron-fisted control of Palestine in the first century kept the embittered Jewish sects in check. During the ministry of Jesus and the subsequent ministries of the apostles, the Jewish sects embraced an …

The Great Baptism Battle

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5). There may be no more controversial biblical topic among Bible-believers than “baptism.” However, we need to be honest about what the New Testament teaches about baptism, despite what our theological leanings may be. For instance, one preacher, who had a preference for what he styled spirit baptism, affirmed that the phrase “like figure” in 1 Peter 3:21 means “opposite to.” He arrived at that inescapably erroneous conclusion to distance “baptism” in the passage from “water” in the preceding verse. That type of conduct is not being honest with the Holy Word of God, with himself or anyone else he may influence. We have to do better than that if we are to be enlightened and enriched by God’s Word. More New Testament passages address baptism than any other facet of the Lord’s redemptive plan. This represents divine anticipation that baptism more than any other part of God’s plan for our salvation would be assaulted. Similarly, any besieged fort will see the greatest concentration of defenders mustered precisely at the point most fiercely under attack. Numerous aspects …

The Return of Glory to Jerusalem

In modern times the book of Zechariah is not the most read, nor studied book of the Old Testament prophets, but the Jews of old certainly poured over its contents. Most preachers today would confess that we have preached very little from this grand book, and yet it contains profound prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah and the church. Both Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries who prophesied some seventy years before the completion of the new temple, (around 520 B.C.), during the return from captivity in Babylon. Both they and Malachi make up the group known as the post-exilic prophets. Zechariah was a priest as well as a prophet and he is mentioned by Ezra in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14. The book of Zechariah may be divided into two sections, the first dealing with eight specific visions describing the return from Babylon and the re-establishment of the temple worship. The second deals with then future events, such as the coming of Messiah and the establishment of an everlasting kingdom. Zechariah Chapter 12 contains such a prophecy that may have been misinterpreted by first-century Jews, and gives readers today some insight perhaps as to why the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were expecting a military leader. If this passage which describes the restoration and return of glory to Jerusalem were understood literally, the Jews would have believed themselves to be all but invincible, even against the Roman legions. Sadly, this interpretation has a fatal flaw. In the preceding chapter, the Lord cut …

The New Testament Church Is Divine in Discipline

Among the identifying, often unique characteristics of the church, about which one can read upon the pages of the New Testament, are such things as its: name, origin, organization, worship, doctrine, unity, mission and baptism. No less unique and descriptive of the church of the Bible is the discipline it practices upon itself. Usually, the word discipline is viewed solely as a negative term involving unpleasantness and punitive measures. However, synonyms for the word indicate a much broader potential application. For instance, the word discipline may mean: activity, drill, data, information, pursuit, vocation, self-control, course or study. Discipline involves teaching and is essentially embodied in discipleship. POSITIVE DISCIPLINE To the extent that discipline relates to self-control and voluntary conformity to God-given data or information (namely, the Bible), discipline can be very positive. This type of discipline involves the active pursuit of the Christian vocation, that is, discipleship. This is no more than God requires of each who would name Christ as Lord. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). Willing compliance to God’s Word amounts to self-discipline and is admittedly positive. However, even encouragement of a weak or erring Christian to conform to God’s Word is positive in …

Marriage Is Honorable

It is certainly no secret that we live in a permissive society. The “anything goes” mentality seems to be the rule. The word “fornication” is rarely, if ever, spoken, let alone understood. And yet the Bible is clear. “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). The American Standard Version words it, “Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” The term fornication is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “Consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.” This modern definition does nothing to connote the unlawful nature of such an action. Vines Expository Dictionary renders its definition, “Illicit sexual intercourse.” From Bible times, the original language conveyed the meaning of the word as being all encompassing sexual sin. In other words, fornication is anything of a sexual nature that is practiced without God’s sanction or blessing, and God’s Word has plenty to say on this subject. Yet, it is still a delicate topic due to the deeply personal nature of the male/female relationship. One needs to strike a balance as he teaches or preaches on this touchy issue. As Tom Holland put it, “I don’t want to be crudely frank, nor naively evasive.” With this statement, we concur. However, whether we should preach on this subject is not an option if we desire to do the work of the Lord. Paul told Timothy to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” in …

The Crucifix

A crucifix is a cross with a depiction of the crucified Christ upon it. The background of the crucifix, of course, relates to a horrific form of execution used anciently and the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified on such a cross. However, the cross and crucifixion on a cross was anciently a dreaded way to die and one surrounded by great shame (Hebrews 12:2; 6:6). Neither the cross nor the crucifix were symbols employed by Christians in the first century. Not Christ, not the Holy Spirit, no apostle and no inspired writer ever sanctioned the use of either a cross or the crucifix as a symbol of Christianity. The cross and the crucifix are nowhere authorized in the Bible as a memorial or symbol of Christianity. Wearing a cross or a crucifix as jewelry by a first-century Christian would be equivalent to someone today wearing a guillotine on a chain around his neck or tiny electric chairs as dangling bangles on a bracelet. Crucifixes according to Guericke, did not appear in churches till after the 7th century. Such images, probably, in the early days of the Church, would produce too crude and painful an effect on the Christian imagination, and to that of the more hopeful pagan they would be intolerable; not only because his feelings would recoil from the thought of the punishment of the cross, but from superstitious terror of associating the “unhappy tree” with a Divine Being.1 The cross was not a symbol associated with Christianity until the Roman …

I Am Not a Toaster!

Those who know me best know that I love science fiction. I was a Star Trek fan long before I ever heard the word “Trekkie.” I suppose I enjoy reading and watching science fiction because it is highly imaginative and stimulating, not that I agree with every conclusion the characters in a science fiction story reach. I remember a particular Star Trek episode in which an android (or artificial life form, appropriately named “Data“), was called upon to prove he was a sentient being, or else be returned to a lab for study against his wishes. Yes, the plot was far fetched, but one memorable line in the episode was uttered by one in supposed authority, an Admiral, wanting the mechanical man to be returned for examination. She said, “Data is a toaster. Have it report to me.” With that, the ranking officer ordered the crew and captain of the Enterprise to send their android friend back to Starfleet because he was really nothing more than a machine and had no real rights as an individual. It occurs to me, that many in our society today are saying essentially the same thing about human beings. To the organic evolutionist, we are merely the product of chance — the result of millions or billions of years of mindless evolution. (This is the theory that espouses what some call the “particles to people” or “goo to you” concept!) According to this model of origins, we came, supposedly, from less complex forms and the entire human race is just …

The Schools of the Prophets

Fundamental to understanding The Schools of the Prophets is understanding the usual way in which the Bible employs the term prophet. Typically today, we first think of the word prophet meaning “3:one who foretells future events:predictor.”1 While it is true that sometimes prophets foretold the future, reception of new revelation was not a daily occurrence, but an extraordinary event even during miraculous eras. Primarily, a biblical prophet was “one who utters divinely inspired revelations,”2 irrespective of when and by whom those revelations were received. Outside of receiving new revelation, a prophet in the Bible was essentially comparable to what we know as a preacher. “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). “And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear” (Jeremiah 25:4). Ezra illustrated this facet of being a prophet in Nehemiah 8:1-8. (Ezra is described as being a “priest” and a “scribe” also.) “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning …

Am I Good Enough to Go to Heaven?

Ask anyone you meet if he or she believes in God, and the response will usually be an emphatic “Yes!” Ask further if they expect to be in heaven, and the answer will almost invariably be “Yes!” Now ask, “What steps have you taken to secure your place in heaven?” The response now may be a confused look, or words to this effect: “I am a good person …” For practically every person we know, something good can be said — they are terrific singers or good managers or kind-hearted, etc. But, are these the criteria for which we will be either accepted or rejected at heaven’s gate? Is this all we have to do to gain eternal life, just regard ourselves or be regarded by others as “good people“? What Does the Bible Say? “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:9-11, 23, Emphasis mine, sps) Compared to God’s righteousness, we are all lacking. That’s not to say there is no good in anyone. It’s all a matter of perspective. The story is told of a young girl …

Evolution and Creation on the Same Shelf?

A recent news editorial I read suggested that religion and evolution should be placed on a shelf side by side. It was argued that one can accept both, creation and evolution, as explanations of our origins. Is this possible? Can we mix the two together? Apparently not, for the writer seemed to want to choose, cafeteria style, just what he wanted and did not want from the Bible. It is always amazing when an opponent of the Bible criticizes the Scriptures, just how ill-informed he usually is about the Word of God. Additionally, in this article the author gave his reasons for preferring the evolution model to creation, but they were anything but scientific. His beliefs, in a nutshell, are that evolution teaches the human race sprang up in Africa, and therefore, the dark skinned peoples are the “father of mankind.” He further states that the Bible teaches that the blacks are a result of Noah’s curse placed upon his youngest son, Ham, in Genesis 9:18-27. Preferring the “father role” to the supposed “forever servant unto mankind” scenario, He states, “Any white who believes in the Hamitic curse as Jefferson did, is not only a racist midget, (I assume he means bigot here), but an insufferable a**.” (His words. Actually, we find this language “insufferable” for one claiming proclivity toward intellectualism.) Further, he states, “Any black who believes such rubbish is a disingenuous fool to a fault.” We realize that many are passionately devoted to their beliefs, particularly on this subject; …

Let Every Man Have His Own Wife

“Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband” (1 Corinthians 7:2). The sex scandal among Catholic priests in the USA that has been highly publicized since January 2002 is not a new development. Further, the natural conflict between forced celibacy and ordinary sexual appetite, which often results in fornication (and other sins), is not limited to the USA. It is remarkable and dumbfounding that the Bible predicted and condemned the doctrine of celibacy two millennia ago, and yet the Catholic Church adopted celibacy anyway. There is a biblical solution to the evil fruit of forced celibacy. These four sentences comprise the multifaceted thesis of the following lines. History, even sources otherwise friendly to Catholicism plus authorized Catholic documents themselves, is replete with testimony to the often rampant sexual sins of Catholic priests and nuns.1 For instance, one Catholic priest documented that through the centuries the doctrine of celibacy resulted in much homosexuality, fornication, abortion and infanticide among Catholic priests and nuns. Consider a few citations from his book. The proof of the harm done by celibacy comes not from bigoted anti-Catholic sources; on the contrary, it includes papal and conciliatory documents and letters of reforming saints.2 Monasteries full of women; every friar had his “Martha,” every nun her lover. Bishops, in every sense the fathers of their people, kept harems and a few brave souls who tried to enforce the discipline risked being poisoned or beaten to death … John XXII allowed priests to keep their mistresses …

Companions in the Kingdom

Scripture demonstrates that God promised a kingdom, that those promises or prophesies have been fulfilled and that the church and the kingdom are the same institution, and therefore, that the kingdom now exists. There are several matters over which the religious community is confused: properly dividing the Old Testament from the New Testament, the frequency with which communion should be observed, tithing versus free-will giving, music in worship, the Sabbath, church organization, baptism (and salvation in general), among many other matters of some importance. Many sincere religious people are also greatly confused about the establishment and identity of the kingdom. Many churches teach premillennialism — namely, that the church and the kingdom are not the same institution, and that the kingdom is yet future. Really, though, the church and the kingdom are the same institution, and both are the same as the house, the temple and the body, too. The Bible simply uses different perspectives to demonstrate several characteristics of the same divine institution. God promised or prophesied he would build a kingdom. The king of the promised kingdom was to be a descendant of David (Psalms 89:3-4, 29; Isaiah 9:6-7). “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David” (2 Samuel 7:16-17). “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall …

God Bless America

Many of the first settlers who flocked to the shores of America came seeking religious freedom. Further, the laws that our founding fathers made to govern this nation were often based on biblical principles. At one time, the United States of America was referred to as a Christian nation. (Strictly speaking, of course, since mankind has freewill and as long as he continues to make wrong spiritual choices, no nation will ever truly be a Christian nation.) Few reflective souls would seriously doubt that America has been wonderfully blessed by Almighty God over the past two centuries or so. It was no wonder that in former years when facing great trials, our nation petitioned God on bended knee in prayer. However, do we as a nation, as individuals or even as the church, have a right today to expect God to grant our plea that he bless America? “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Today America is far from being a Christian nation. First, the face of religion in America has changed. There has been a great influx of other world religions into our nation, including: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. American denominationalism in so-called Christianity has greatly expanded and in the process significantly diminished its reliance on biblical principles. Increasingly, the American population is at best indifferent to religion and at worst has embraced practical atheism. Consequently, our country is guilty of many …

Glimpses of Patriarchy

The Patriarchal Age or Dispensation is the first period of God-authored religious history, which was subsequently followed by Judaism and Christianity, respectively. The type of interaction between God and mankind that was characteristic of Patriarchy began immediately following creation of Adam and Eve. Until the institution of Judaism for the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, Patriarchy was a universal religion. After God gave the descendants of Jacob Judaism, Patriarchy continued for the rest of humanity not included in God’s covenant with the Israelites. Upon the establishment of Christianity, Patriarchy seems to have continued for a time also parallel to Christianity, until the Gospel of Christ was proclaimed to non-Jews (the Gentiles, Acts 10-11). Patriarchy, then, commenced with the dawn of human residency upon planet earth and was, at first, applicable to all of mankind. Yet God is revealed as God not merely of a tribe, but of all the earth (Gen 18:25). All nations were to be blessed in Abraham. The Gentile Pharaoh and Abimelech have revelations. God is called “almighty” (Gen 17:1; 28:3; 35:11). Melchizedek, of Canaanite Salem, is His king priest, and He punishes Canaanite Sodom and Gomorrah.1 It is applied in the NT to Abraham (Heb 7:4), to the sons of Jacob (Acts 7:8-9), and to David (2:29). In common usage the title patriarch is assigned especially to those whose lives are recorded in Scripture previous to the time of Moses.2 All of the Book of Genesis and part of the Book of Exodus contain …

The Queen of Sheba

“And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart” (2 Chronicles 9:1). The designation “Sheba” appears 32 times in the Bible (KJV). Sometimes the reference is to various individuals, while often it refers to a political kingdom. Once, the Bible cites “the kings of Sheba” (Psalms 72:10) and other references appear to “the Queen of Sheba” (1 Kings 10; 2 Chronicles 9). Further, Scripture refers to “the Queen of Sheba” with the phrase “the queen of the south” (Matthew 12:42; Luke 11:31). SHEBA …the name of five men, a city, and a country in the Old Testament: 1. A descendant of Ham. Sheba’s descendants are believed to have settled on the shores of the Persian Gulf (Gen 10:7). 2. A son of Joktan of the family of Shem, whose descendants have been traced to southern Arabia (Gen 10:28). 3. A grandson of Abraham (Gen 25:3). Sheba was a son of Jokshan, who was a son of Abraham by Keturah. Sheba and his descendants probably lived in Edom or northern Arabia. 4. A city of the territory of Judah assigned to the tribe of Simeon (Josh 19:2). Some modern translations of the Bible (NKJV, NIV, NASB) equate Sheba with Beersheba. 5. A son of Bichri, …

Candace, Queen of the Ethiopians

“And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet” (Acts 8:26-28, the context continues through verse 40). The name “Candace” appears but once in the Bible (Acts 8:27). However, Ethiopia is mentioned by that name 20 times in the Bible, as well as otherwise referenced (e.g., Cush). There is no controversy regarding the usage of the term “Candace” though there is some confusion regarding the location of the biblical Ethiopia. The following material defines “Candace,” locates biblical Ethiopia for the Bible student and indicates the relationship of ancient Ethiopia to the antique world. Ethiopia, like other formerly obscure deceased empires that interacted with God’s people, deserves some exposure to the student of Holy Writ. Historically, kings rather than queens usually ruled kingdoms in antiquity. Typically, men ascended to thrones, led armies and were warriors. However, two notable exceptions ascribing regal rule to women appear both in the Bible and in secular history. “In the New Testament we read of the ‘queen of the south,’ i.e., Southern Arabia, Sheba (Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31) and the ‘queen of the Ethiopians’ (Acts 8:27), Candace.”1 Further, the …

The Church for Which Jesus Died Is Divine

TEXT: Ephesians 3:3-11 THESIS: To identify and exalt the church of the Bible; secondly, to distinguish the church of the Bible from imitations. SONG: The Church’s One Foundation INTRODUCTION: Only the church for which Jesus died deserves exaltation. It is HIS CHURCH, Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16. His church is the BODY, 1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30. Jesus is the HEAD of the church and the body, Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18. Further, this church is the BRIDE OF CHRIST, 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:27; Rev. 21:2; 22:17. Churches of human origin do not deserve praise and exaltation that rightfully belongs to the Lord’s church alone. (a) A denominational church is neither correctly styled HIS CHURCH,  the BODY OF CHRIST or the BRIDE OF CHRIST. (b) Jesus Christ did not die for a denominational church, Matt. 15:13. (c) Denominational churches are NOT DIVINE, but DIVISIVE, 1 Cor. 1:10-13. BODY:  THE CHURCH FOR WHICH JESUS DIED IS DIVINE IN ORIGIN: The church originated in the mind of God, Eph. 3:3-11 (10-11). The church was not an after-thought. The church of the Bible is, therefore, DIVINE IN ORIGIN. Denominational churches were never in the mind of God. Some of the most popular denominations are outgrowths of the human minds of Martin Luther, Henry the VIII, John Calvin, Robert Browne, John Smythe, John Wesley, Joseph Smith, William Miller, Mary Baker Eddy and Charles T. Russell. Therefore, denominational churches ARE NOT divine in origin. THE CHURCH FOR WHICH JESUS DIED IS DIVINE IN ESTABLISHMENT. Jesus built his church, Matt. 16:18. Our Lord built the FOUNDATION of …

Wrestling the Bible

The apostle Peter made this observation about the apostle Paul’s epistles: Some of the Scripture that Paul wrote is difficult to understand. Therefore, uneducated and careless readers twist it or wrestle with it to make Scripture teach something false. To treat the Word of God in this manner is spiritually hurtful. “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16). To “wrest” means to wrestle with, fight against, twist or pervert. Also, some teachers and preachers pervert the Bible. Their false teaching condemns them and those who are taught by them. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2). Every student of the Word of God has a great responsibility to properly study the Bible to learn what it truly teaches. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the …

Verbal Inspiration

Acts Chapter Two decisively proves “verbal inspiration” to be the true definition of “inspiration” as it pertains to the Word of God (Bible). That some sort of “thought inspiration” instead was bestowed upon the apostles and other writers of the Bible is absurd. Thought inspiration as a means of transmitting divine communication to mortal men would be ineffective and therefore useless in the production of a standard moral code. The inefficiency of supposed thought inspiration would completely negate definitive religion (no patterns, just a vague and subjective “love letter”). The Bible confirms the validity of verbal inspiration. Presumably, both proponents of thought inspiration as well as adherents to verbal inspiration concede that God is the Divine Author of the Bible. Surely, each acknowledges “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Incidentally, however, the two preceding verses forcefully, though indirectly, utterly dispel the possibility of thought inspiration. The definitive character of God’s Word is easily discerned from: (1) “We also have a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19a), (2) “no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). The two verses preceding these refer to the literal “voice” and words of God (2 Peter 1:17-18). The context, then, of 2 Peter 1:17-21 pertains to verbal inspiration — not thought inspiration. Now, consider the conclusive evidence for verbal inspiration found in Acts Chapter Two. First, as either thought or verbal inspiration disputants admit, …

Unity of the Faith

Religious leaders write and preach, “We have not arrived; we don’t have the unity of the faith yet.” Although maybe highly educated, those who espouse some such sentiment could not be more wrong. Further, words like these are really blasphemous and pose great potential harm to the church. The biblical phrase to which reference is made appears in Ephesians 4:13, in the context of verses 11-14. Much like the context of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, the Ephesians 4:11-14 passage teaches the then partial revelations of God were to be replaced with complete, permanent revelations. Namely, the ministry of miraculously endowed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11) was coming to an end. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Partial revelations persisted “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The “unity of the faith” here addressed is equal to “that which is perfect” (1 Corinthians 8:10) or “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12). “Unity of the faith” is also synonymous with “the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3), “the law of faith” …

True Unity

Jesus prayed for unity. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). (Emphasis added.) The apostle Paul also encouraged the Corinthian church to practice unity. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). (Emphasis added.) From both passages of Scripture, one learns that biblical unity requires singleness or oneness. Both passages place Jesus …

Miracles in the Gospel of Mark

Before we can discuss the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel according to Mark, we must render a biblical definition for what we mean by miracles. Easton’s Bible Dictionary, in part, says a miracle is “an event in the external world brought about by the immediate agency or the simple volition of God, operating without the use of means capable of being discerned by the senses, and designed to authenticate the divine commission of a religious teacher and the truth of his message (John 2:18; Matt. 12:38).”1 The first definition in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary likewise represents the biblical sense in which the word miracle is used: “an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.”2 Both of these definitions note that a miracle involves (1) divine intervention in the affairs of men, and (2) not the effect but the affect of the miracle is clearly discernible to mortal observers. Importantly, Easton’s also (3) denotes that a miracle has a purpose, namely to: (a) bring forth new revelation from God and (b) validate that message and its messenger. Incidentally, miracles and providence differ chiefly in that though they both derive from divine power and involve divine intervention, the former is designed to be observable whereas the latter is not open to inspection. The former may provide new revelation and proves something through its discernible evidence. The latter does not provide new revelation directly and because it is not discernible, it is not designed to prove anything. The purpose of miracles is concisely stated in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every …

The Operator’s Manual

There is just something about the smell of a new car. (Old cars have an odor, too, but it is just not the same.) That new car is just waiting for someone to take it home. Surely, somehow the new car is much the same as any other car, yet it may look radically different from our last vehicle. It seems every new car has more buttons and gadgets than the last one. A glance at the specifications page in the operator’s manual tells the story of dissimilarities between this car and perhaps another car we once had. Driving down the street, we reach for a familiar knob or button, now in an unfamiliar place. Bump! The hand ignorantly crumples against the dashboard, reaching for the lights or windshield wipers. Where is the dimmer switch? How much gas does this thing hold anyway? There is a light on the dash that will not go off; I wonder what it is for? Whether it is driving a new car or assembling a bicycle, man typically tries to accomplish the task according to his own ingenuity. Often mankind only consults an operator’s manual or assembly instructions when he cannot figure things out for himself, and then he is driven to them, reluctantly. Unfortunately, man also uses the same approach concerning himself, God’s creation. While we were not made on an assembly line in some plant, we nevertheless have a Creator. As new cars have operator’s manuals and nearly every manufactured item comes …

The Faith

The phrase “the faith” appears frequently throughout the New Testament and refers to the Gospel. “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). “The faith” stands distinct from the Law of Moses (Old Testament) that it superseded (Galatians 3:23-25). “The faith” is styled as “the word of God” and that to which we must be “obedient” (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). “The faith” must be preached (Galatians 1:23) and results in the establishment of both individuals and congregations (Colossians 2:7; Acts 16:5). Not only will some attempt to turn others from “the faith” (Acts 13:8), regrettably, even Christians will “depart” (1 Timothy 4:1), deny (1 Timothy 5:8) and err (1 Timothy 6:10, 21) from it. We, though, are encouraged to “continue” (Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:23) and “stand fast” (1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 5:9) in “the faith.” Scripture admonishes Christians to examine themselves to ascertain if they are indeed in “the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). If we are not found in “the faith,” we are “reprobates” (2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Timothy 3:8). Christians are further urged to be “grounded and settled” (Colossians 1:23) and “sound in the faith” (Titus 1:13). Consequently, we are charged to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). According to the inspired apostle Paul, “the faith” is the …

Where Is Your Sword?

Recently, I wandered on to the site of what must have been a horrific battlefield. From near the dawn of man’s habitation of earth through the present, warfare has raged with little relief from its consequential atrocities and devastation. Battlefields, both ancient and modern, continue to yield artifacts carelessly discarded by fallen soldiers. Many battlefields have been memorialized to commemorate the principles for which armies fought and the soldiers who became casualties of those conflicts. I have visited several such sites, including: Kings Mountain, associated with our nation’s war of independence; Fort Niagara, involved in the War of 1812; the Alamo; and Gettysburg. One of the most widely known memorialized battlefields is at Pearl Harbor. Especially one battlefield in biblical history was noteworthy, in part, for the things left behind by the Syrians as they fled Samaria (2 Kings 7). The battlefield on which I happened was the auditorium of the meetinghouse after worship. Scattered about and unattended were spiritual swords, or Bibles. The “. . . sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . .” is part of the Gospel armor (Ephesians 6:12-17). The sword was an effective weapon of both defense and offense. The Word of God is depicted as such an effective tool. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of …

The Cure!

We lament the absence of a cure for the “common cold” and resign ourselves to combating the symptoms. Tragically, there are also several medical maladies for which there are no cures yet, some of which are lethal. It is no less than pathetic when real cures do exist for some illnesses, and they are not applied to the patients who desperately need them. Even more difficult to understand is the patient who refuses or neglects to obtain the cure for what ails him, especially should the disease be particularly hurtful or life threatening. While not a medical cure, the Bible is the cure for much of what ails mankind. Not religion, as such, but the Bible, from which Christianity springs, is this potential cure. Like any cure on earth, the Bible cure is useless until applied. Man is a composite or dual being, body and soul. The Bible addresses the whole man, his spiritual and physical self. In a sense, the Bible is a spiritual road map, able to guide one in his earthly pilgrimage toward the celestial city of heaven. Yet, the Bible is no less a map for man’s physical trek on this sphere. To the extent the Bible serves as a map to be used during our earthly existence, it is also the potential cure for the various things we encounter in this life. For instance, the Bible is the cure, if heeded, where there is no “work ethic” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Further, it is the cure …

Canonicity: Critique and Reply

Dear Friend, Thank you for reading my article on canonicity and your subsequent letter to correct my “omissions and misstatements.” Though I wonder, how seriously should one consider a critique in which the critic is neither named nor introduced? However, I will presume that you are sincerely interested in this topic and that the omission of your name, etc. was an oversight on your part. I must admit that I am saddened by your apparent low regard for the Bible. Uninspired men writing equally uninspired Scripture is hardly a useful transmission of a divine message from God to man. It would seem, then, we can truly know little if anything certain about God, redemption, worship, Christian service or eternity. You wrote: Most of the writers did not know they were writing Scripture. Paul certainly did not. . . . The first 100 hundred [sic] years of the writings of the New Testament, the early Christians did not know or believe these writings were the word of God. That is when all the differences in the early manuscripts crept in. That is why we have 5,000 Greek manuscripts of all or parts of the New Testament, yet there is not one verse in the New Testament were [sic] there is absolute agreement. The King James Version . . . the original version contained the Apocrypha. We hold ourselves up to ridicule (the unnecessary type) when we don’t get our facts straight. First, though you, from the overall tenor of your letter, …

Notes on Church Benevolence

Sundry Passages “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need” (Acts 2:44-45). Christians in Jerusalem sold possessions and distributed to needy Christians (who had remained in Jerusalem after their conversion beyond the preparation they had made to attend the feast of Pentecost).  The manner of the distribution is not here cited.  The recipients of the benevolence, called “all” in vs. 45, were the needy ones of those “that believed” of vs. 44. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. … Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:32, 34-35). Christians in Jerusalem are again noted for selling possessions and generally sharing their resources. The proceeds were presented to the apostles for distribution to the needy. Individual Christians practiced benevolence through the church. The recipients, called “every man,” were the needy ones of “them that believed” of vs. 32 and “among them” (referring to saints) of verse 34. “And kept back part of the price, his wife …

Pivotal Chapter

Without intending to demean any of God’s Word, still, there appear to be several especially outstanding chapters in the Bible. A whole series of lectures or articles could easily be presented from such biblical narratives; doubtless Isaiah 2, Isaiah 53, Daniel 2, Joel 2, Proverbs 31, Acts 2 and Hebrews 11 deserve inclusion in a list of great chapters of the Bible. Chapters like the ones cited virtually jump off the pages, are filled to overflowing with activity or grasp the reader by the heart with piercing power.  Additionally, Acts Chapter Two is a pivotal chapter, center and critical to God’s redemptive plan for humanity. Sometimes called the “hub of the Bible,” around Acts Chapter Two revolves the truths on which Christianity depends for its existence. Without Acts Two, the Old Testament is reduced in a moment to mere vanity and the New Testament is only an empty mirage.  An overview of Acts Two unfolds the following themes: vss. 1-4, baptism in the Holy Spirit; vss. 5-11, biblical definition of ‘speaking in tongues’; vs. 12, purpose of miracles; vs. 13, there will always be scoffers in spite of indisputable evidence; vss. 14-15, rebuttals to false accusations–defense of the truth; vss. 16-21, quotation of Old Testament Messianic prophecy and announcement of its fulfillment; vss. 22-36, explanation of Old Testament Messianic prophecy and its fulfillment in Jesus of Nazareth; vs. 37, the apparent faith and repentance of many souls among the multitude present then; vss. 38-39, terms of pardon declared and scope …

Saved Like Paul

The apostle Paul, also known in Scripture as Saul of Tarsus, wrote several New Testament books and he is a prominent character in the Book of Acts. Once an unbelieving Jew and a great persecutor of the church, after his conversion, Paul became an apostle and a tireless servant of Jesus Christ. Details about his obedience to the Gospel are recorded in Acts chapters 9, 22 and 26. This information is useful today to learn how to receive the forgiveness of sins. Paul was an unbelieving Jew as he neared the city of Damascus. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem had given him authority to capture and imprison Christians. Paul was already famous for his capture and imprisonment of other Christian men and women, some of whom were executed with his approval. Jesus Christ caused a bright light to blind Paul. Jesus then convicted Paul of his sins against the church of Christ. Paul was sincere and obviously believed in the Christ whose church he was before trying to destroy. “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). Paul’s question is evidence that he was not yet saved. Our Lord’s reply is further evidence that Paul was still lost. However, Jesus assured Paul that in Damascus he would be told what he must do to be saved. Paul, then, was not saved on the road …

Deliverance from Bondage

The Old Testament contains types of New Testament anti-types. A type is a “representative form” or “characteristic” of something else. There are striking similarities between the liberation of Israel from Egyptian captivity and the freedom enjoyed in Christ from the slavery of sin. Judaism was never intended by God to be His final revelation to man, but it contains figures, types, patterns, shadows and examples of New Testament counterparts (1 Corinthians 10:1-11; Hebrews 10:1). Old Testament types perfectly fit the New Testament church and its doctrine. Therefore, one can learn valuable principles relating to the Lord’s church and its teaching by examining Old Testament types. Types confirm that the church of the first century is the fulfillment of the long standing will of God (Ephesians 3:10-11). The background to the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery begins when Joseph invited his father and brothers to resort from famine to the land of Goshen in Egypt (Genesis 46:27, [70 souls]; 47:1-12). Later, a different line of kings ruled Egypt, during which time the Israelites were enslaved. Moses was born during this period of oppression. Eighty years later, while a shepherd in the wilderness of Sinai, to which area he fled from Egypt 40 years earlier, Moses was commissioned by God to liberate Israel (Exodus 4). By the mighty hand of God, Egypt was punished and Moses was enabled to lead Israel across the Red Sea to freedom. These points especially need emphasis: (1) All the power at the command of Pharaoh …

The Menacing Internet

Varying degrees of pornographic manifestation have saturated public outlook through every form of media (e.g., books, magazines, the Internet, movies, music videos, television, live performances). “Nearly 900 theaters show X-rated films and more than 15,000 ‘adult’ bookstores and video stores offer pornographic material, outnumbering McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. by a margin of at least three to one.”1 One immediate result of the widespread popularity of pornographic expression is that society rapidly becomes jaded by it, susceptible to, and often drawn to even more greatly depraved representations of it. Pornography is psychologically addictive. In the technologically advanced age of the twenty-first century, the computer via the Internet provides the most pervasive source of pornography. How is computer pornography being used, and by whom? An unlimited trove of pornography on the Internet is readily available to any determined user. Therefore, unattended children — a bumper crop of whom are styled “latchkey children” — may well stumble upon or purposely pursue the most perverse examples of pornography on the planet. Researchers determined that the incidences of the most graphic pornography occur significantly more often on Internet sites over previous and more traditional outlets for pornography. Further, the frequency and ease with which even the most outrageous pornography can be obtained anonymously is greatly enhanced through the Internet. Civil law has been unable or unwilling to interfere to any great extent with Internet pornography, excepting successful prosecution of child pornographers (providers and consumers). The Internet is not without its redeeming values. The Internet from its conception to the …

Pornographic Proliferation and the Christian

Our English word “pornography” derives from the Greek word “pornographos.” This Greek word is a compound of “porne” meaning “harlot” or “prostitute” and “graphein” meaning “to write.” By definition, it matters not at all whether the harlotry is for gain or purely for lust. Technically, pornography is “writing about prostitutes.” However, the Greek “graphein” is related to the Greek “grapho” which not only means to write but also includes drawings and paintings. Therefore, “pornography” pertains to the depiction of erotic behavior through writings, pictures and movies, and is intended to cause sexual excitement or lust. Pornography directly, forcefully and adversely affects humanity on several fronts. The Bible student is at once aware that pornography runs counter to several biblical principles (e.g., teachings about fornication, lust, modesty). Further, pornography contributes to the debasing, desensitizing and brutalizing of human society or civilization. Whatever affects society affects the members that comprise it, including you and me. Pornography especially portrays subsets of society — women and children — as the special targets of sexual aggression. At the least, pornography is an insult, especially to womanhood; she has so much more to offer and possesses so much more self-worth than what pornography pictures for her. Pornography dehumanizes men, women and children, presenting them as objects of base, animalistic indulgence. Pornography leaves in its wake victims of all sorts (e.g., men and women addicted to it; men, women and children depicted in it; men, women and children who though not directly involved with it may be assaulted by others fueled with …

Straight Talk About Hard Things: Marriage, Divorce & Remarriage

“Don’t they know anything except Matthew 19:9?” That was the intermission discussion between auditors of a day-long series of lectures concerning “Marriage-Divorce and Re-marriage.” Several preachers ably and faithfully examined passages touching the theme. Critical book reviews compared permissive schemes regarding divorce and re-marriage with pertinent Bible texts. Vocal members of the congregation perceived that Matthew 19:9 was a thread common to each discourse. They were unhappy with conclusions drawn from Matthew 19:9 and related verses by the contingent of lectures that day. Between the close of the series on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, the elders had been moved by voices of dissent to retract their commendation of the speakers. Further, to appease their aroused constituency the elders labeled the preachers of the previous day as false teachers. An elder spokesman tenured a summary, appealing explanation to the subject of marriage, divorce and re-marriage. “Whatever the law of the land allows, God will recognize and accept.” At other times and in other places brethren pose emotionally charged questions tainted with bias. “Would you really tell a husband and a wife that they have to get a divorce?” One sister asked. “My husband is a drunkard and my life with him is miserable; can I divorce him and marry someone else?” At best, a preacher is a mailman for God! If a preacher accurately and compassionately presents a message from God, he has discharged his duty in the matter (Acts 20:20, 27). Sometimes the auditors of his message recognize and …

The Church Divine

By divine redemption, we mean the redemptive plan that is divine in origin. In other words, “How did God in the New Testament state that he is willing to save people from their sins?” It is unreasonable to believe that God will accept one or more man-made redemptive plans instead of his plan for the salvation of lost souls. God the Father through his mercy (Titus 3:5) and grace (Ephesians 2:8) designed a redemptive plan. Essentially, by God’s mercy he withholds punishment from us that we deserve.  By God’s grace, we receive good things from him that we do not deserve. Through mercy and grace, God sent Jesus Christ to be our Savior (John 3:16). Jesus brought the divine redemptive plan with him (John 1:17). Jesus Christ died on the cross for our salvation (Hebrews 9:28). Through mercy and grace, God caused the Holy Spirit to reveal the redemptive plan through the New Testament (2 Peter 1:20-21). The Holy Spirit, along with the Father and the Son, participates in the redemption of souls: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Finally, God’s redemptive plan requires the participation by those who would be saved. Jesus is said to be the author of salvation to them who obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9). “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author …

The Value of a Soul

(Matthew 16:26) The value of a soul lies at the heart of Christian discipleship. Jesus Christ, our Savior, was sent to a sin-sick and dying world by a benevolent God “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). The Lord’s mission was transferred before his Ascension first to the apostles within the framework of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and then to others (2 Timothy 2:2). The apostles were charged to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 18:19, ASV) and that responsibility has now passed from them to contemporary disciples, much as runners pass a baton to their fellow team members in a relay race. It is a grievously sad day, however, when many children of God seem to care little for the welfare of their souls and exhibit even less concern for other souls! Planet Earth is now home to several billion souls, the vast majority of whom will cross the threshold of eternity unprepared to meet man’s Creator and God. It is evident from Scripture, though, that all heaven is keenly interested in the spiritual welfare of humanity. Also, godly disciples are concerned about the souls of fallen brethren and sinners besides their own souls. A single human soul is more valuable than all this world’s wealth were every bit of it gathered together (Matthew 16:26). Man’s soul is so valuable that its purchase price is not silver and gold, but the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19). The only source, therefore, from which …

The Day the Church Began

When the apostle Peter said, “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16), followed by a quotation from that prophet (Acts 2:17-21), Peter was announcing the beginning of the church. Prophecies concerning the establishment of the kingdom or church and the salvation offered inside that spiritual institution began to be fulfilled on the Pentecost following the Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts Chapter Two). The first recorded Gospel sermon is found in this chapter. In that sermon the apostle Peter referred to many prophecies about the Savior, all of which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ; thereby Peter proved that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Son of God. The miracles that were performed by Peter and the other apostles also confirmed this truth. Further, through Peter’s preaching, the audience learned that they were guilty of sins, including the murder of God’s Son on the cross. About 3,000 persons demonstrated belief in Jesus as the Christ and repentance by asking what they should do. Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). They were obedient to Peter’s preaching and were baptized and the Lord added them to the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those that were saved” (Acts 2:47). Before Acts Two, the church was still future; the church first appears in Acts Two. Before Acts Two, there was no available cure for sin; in Acts Two, at …

Christian Joy

Mankind often seeks joys, pleasures, gratification, happiness and even thrills. It is not wrong to enjoy life on earth. Pleasure becomes sinful, though, when the activity from which one derives joy is itself sinful (e.g., adultery, alcohol) or when a right activity is abused (e.g., eating, sleeping). Something not itself sinful can also become sinful if family, employment or Christian responsibilities are neglected to seek pleasure (e.g., recreation, hobbies). The ways in which Christians may find joy in life are nearly as numerous as people themselves; I find great joy in my family and I also enjoy writing, computers, model railroading and woodworking. However, besides the earthly joys Christians (or other people, too) may know, there are joys that only Christians can experience (Romans 14:17-18). The Book of Philippians is an epistle peppered with references to Christian joy (e.g., Philippians 2:16-18). Among the joys enjoyed exclusively by Christians is the joy that arises from the forgiveness of sins. Following his baptism for the remission of his sins (Acts 2:38; 8:26-39), the Ethiopian noble continued on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). With the apostle Paul and the Philippian church to which he wrote, we, as well as all other Christians, can “rejoice in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:3) because through Jesus our sins have been taken away (Acts 22:16). Further, through the blood of Jesus our sins are continually forgiven (conditional upon our continued espousal of God’s Word) (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:1). This joy alone should pervade our every waking …

The Sin of Backbiting

A backbiter is a person with back trouble — not his own, but someone else’s. He is a pain in another person’s back. How is your neighbor’s back today? The word “backbite,” according to Webster, means “to say mean or spiteful things about (one absent): slander.” The word in the Hebrew from which backbite comes suggests the idea of “to play the spy.” That is, the backbiter attempts to spy out the faults and defects of another person’s life or to circulate reports unfavorable to others by low and petty remarks as well as those which may be malicious and slanderous. It is conveyed in the New Testament by the word “evil speaking” (James 4:11; 1 Peter 3:16). The sins of the tongue are many and they are serious. The tongue is not steel, but it cuts and it wounds. Its wounds are not always to the face, but more often to the back. The scorpion harms only the one it stings, the snake only the one it bites, and poison only the one who ingests it, but the backbiter hurts, wounds and slays both near and far, at home and abroad, and spares neither the living nor the dead. There is an amazing scarcity of material on problems such as this one. It is little wonder that there is so much wrangling, bitterness and backbiting in the church today. Granted, we have many doctrinal problems, but we also have many personal problems (Galatians 5:15). In writing this article, I simply went to four passages in the …

The Church Jesus Built

Jesus said, “. . . I will build my church . . .” (Matthew 16:18). He did build the church on himself; “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Speaking of Christ, Acts 4:11 reads, “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” First Peter 2:4-8 repeatedly refers to Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone of a “spiritual house.” In this same passage Christians are called “stones,” also a part of the same “spiritual house.” The church Jesus built is not made of brick, wood or stone; it is comprised of souls. The church Jesus built is spiritual. You too can be a “stone” in the “spiritual house” of God by becoming a Christian. To become a Christian you must rely wholly on the Gospel, believe it, be changed in mind and conduct by it, begin telling the world about Jesus the Christ and obey the Lord’s commands — starting with being baptized for the remission of your sins. For more information on how to become a member of the church Jesus built, especially study the book of Acts. The churches of Christ will gladly assist you in that study. Copyright © 2000 Louis Rushmore. All Rights Reserved.  Conditions of Use rushmore@gospelgazette.com

Baptism

In his letter to the Ephesian church in Chapter Four and Verse Five, the apostle Paul told Christians that only one baptism remained. When writing to Christians at Rome, the same apostle taught that this one baptism is a burial or a planting, which means that Bible baptism is immersion. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5). The apostle Peter stated the purpose of baptism in Acts 2:38, “. . . Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” Peter later wrote that Christian baptism occurs in water, and though it may appear to unbelievers to be a bath, really it cleans the conscience and saves the soul. “…in the days of Noah, while the ark [ship] was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of …

Make a New Friend Out of an Old Enemy

The Bible calls death “the last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26), and most people view death as the enemy. They don’t like to talk about it; they don’t even like to think about it. They go to expensive extremes to postpone it — even for a few months. But Jesus came so we can make a friend out of this old enemy. Jesus told Martha that “. . . whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die . . .,” then asked if she believed it (John 11:11-15). He did not mean believers never die physically. A Christian’s body dies like everybody else’s. Jesus was inviting her to see the old enemy, death, as a new friend that opened the door for the spirit to eternal life. Paul looked forward to dying because he knew he would then be with God (Philippians 1:22). Jesus wants us to look at death from God’s perspective. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalms 116:15; Revelation 14:13). Why? God Sees Deathas Just Going to Sleep To Jesus, Lazarus had just “gone to sleep” (John 11:11). Parents do not fear their children going to sleep; rather they plan for it. They work family schedules so there will be plenty of hours for naps and sleeping. Jesus saw raising a dead man as no more difficult than for us to wake someone from sleep (cf. Matthew 9:24). On resurrection morning, Jesus will wake all those in the grave with the angel’s “alarm clock” …

Sin Is Not Inherited!

A popular religious error is the idea that babies are born with the sins of others on their souls. We inherit physical traits from our parents, but we do not inherit their sins. Nor has anyone ever inherited the sins of the first couple, Adam and Eve; this, too, is a widely believed error. God caused the prophet Ezekiel to clearly teach that sin is not inherited. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity [sin] of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity [sin] of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). This verse also teaches that a soul is only guilty of his own sins. Misguided men began the practice of baptizing babies to take away their sins. But, since babies are NOT born in or with sin, they do not need baptism (some call it christening). Further, the Bible plainly teaches that Christian baptism is for believers: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . .” (Mark 16:16). Babies, though, are unable to believe. Also, baptism is described in Scripture as a burial or a planting (immersion) — not something ideally suited to babies. How can one know that babies are not born in sin? First, as noted from Ezekiel 18:20, sin is not passed on from parents to their babies; each person is only responsible for his own sins. …

New Testament Doctrine

During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ condemned human ideas which men added to religion. Jesus said, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). God communicated his will to mankind in such a way that we can understand it, and God expects us to comply with his revealed will (for us, the New Testament). Jesus also said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). To disregard, change or add to the Word of God is to enter into an argument with God. Men cannot win that argument! The ideas or creeds of men are the source of much religious division around the world. And, though men sometimes change their religious creeds, the New Testament or doctrine of the church of the Bible does not change. Only the changeless doctrine of the New Testament (if men will accept it alone) can produce religious unity. For instance, the New Testament alone binds the independent congregations of the churches of Christ together. Further, the New Testament alone is the absolute and final standard of authority in religion today. By the New Testament all souls now living will be judged someday. Once again hear the words of Jesus: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge …

Building a House of Prayer, Part 2

A praying church begins in a single closet in a single home. We can make the church a house of prayer by making our houses “churches” of prayer. No one can keep us from praying. The devil can’t. The atheists and evolutionists can’t. The ACLU can’t. A hypocrite or a hypercritic can’t. The liberals and the radicals can’t. Do you remember how Daniel responded when “all the king’s men” told him he could not pray for thirty days? “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God” (Daniel 6:10-11). Nobody could stop Daniel from praying, and his prayers were powerful enough to shut the mouths of the king of beasts. Our prayers can keep another “lion” at bay (cf. 1 Peter 5:8). The Church of Christ MustPray to be Like Its Ancestors. The Bible’s history book, Acts of Apostles, tells us why the Jerusalem church of Christ was great,1  a growing church. Even a casual reading of Acts reveals that the early church relied heavily upon prayer. They “continued steadfastly . . . in prayers” (2:42). This phrase (proskartereo) means, “to be earnest towards, to attend assiduously, be instant in.” This they did! Prayer, prayers, prayed, praying and pray are …

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45-46 Introduction This parable, only two verses, is variously interpreted.  Commentators assign sundry meanings to such words as “merchant man” and “pearl of great price.”  A view of The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price that is conservative, simple and largely parallel to TheParable of the Hidden Treasure seems the most useful. Pearls are not mentioned in the Old Testament and were little valued by the Jews.  However, pearls appear several times in the New Testament. The Pearl of Great Price and The Hidden Treasure are companion, kingdom parables.  In the previous lesson they were called “twin parables.”  Each parable emphasizes the inestimable value of the kingdom of heaven.  “The parable illustrates the unsurpassed value of the church.”1 The Parable “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). In both cases the finder gladly parted with everything he had to acquire the object of the parable.  The chief difference between the two parables is that The Hidden Treasure may have been found accidentally, while discovery of The Pearl of Great Price was the fruit of an ardent search. The “merchant man” was a businessman whose profession led him to travel in search of valuable or “goodly pearls.”  The man was not pursuing a mere hobby and neither was his acquisition of the “pearl of great price” a matter of covetousness.  It was a business transaction — the greatest of his career.  The …

Definition of Discipleship

Both English and Greek definitions for disciple lend insight to the meaning and proper application of Christian discipleship. According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, disciple means: “One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.”1 Two other sources further define the word thus: “A follower of a particular teacher: an adherent of the principles of some leader of thought”2 and “One who professes to have learned certain principles from another and maintains them on that other’s authority.”3 Greek definitions of disciple include: “To learn, be taught, to learn by practice or experience, acquire a custom or habit”4 and “To learn, to understand, to know, to be informed, to comprehend.”5 Disciple(s) appears in the Old Testament once (Isaiah 8:16) and about 221 times in the New Testament. A biblical portrait of a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ is depicted by Scripture to include adherence to the Lord’s teaching, practicing the same until it becomes a daily habit. To be a disciple of Christ is to understand and be informed of his divine will in order to present one’s body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2) and to disciple the nations (Matthew 28:19, ASV). True discipleship is maintained only by the divine authority of Christ (John 8:31) and not by the human authority (Matthew 15:9). Furthermore, effective disciples of the Lord are fruitful workers (Matthew 7:15-20; John 15:1-8) and good stewards (Matthew 25:14-30), who have anticipated and acknowledged the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-35). Cost is also variously defined: (1) “That which must be given to …

Christian Work Ethic

Occasionally, one might pause while at work and ponder, “What am I doing here!” Certainly there are many other places, doing many other things, by which one might make a living. It may be that a person simply does not enjoy his or her livelihood and further may feel unable to alter the vocational circumstances at hand. Caution is warranted lest we are overpowered by exasperation or even desperation. Further, there is a role that every Christian employee has toward our Lord that goes beyond the simple role of an employee. It is not difficult to imagine that Joseph could have sometimes posed the question, “What am I doing here!” Would we have asked that question were we sold into slavery by our siblings? Would we have uttered that refrain again as a slave in Egypt and maybe again while in an Egyptian prison? Joseph, however, excelled in the face of adversity and did not forget God. His work ethic under intolerable conditions (by our standards) was outstanding. Several other Bible characters demonstrated admirable work ethics under difficult circumstances — and did not forget God. From a purely human perspective, one may be in a job where everything is going right and the child of God still ponders, “What am I doing here?” Hard to imagine, perhaps, but it is possible. Moses was a child of God in such a situation. Essentially, he asked himself this question and answered it by choosing not to enjoy the pleasures of sin for …

Adam’s Infamous Gift

Initially, Adam and Eve possessed either immortal bodies or mortal bodies immortally maintained. In any case, after they sinned and they were no longer allowed to eat from the tree of life, the mortality with which we are familiar was first experienced by them. As a penalty for their sin, God decreed that they were to die. As a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin, death was passed on to all mankind. Contrary to Calvinism, though, the guilt of sin is not inherited by descendants of the first couple. Adam and Eve were created, but their posterity is the result of procreation. Since we neither have access to the tree of life nor has procreation endowed us with immortal bodies, we are subject to death, too. In this way we can easily understand “. . . in Adam all die . . .” (1 Corinthians 15:22), “. . . by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12), and “. . . by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation . . . by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners . . .” (Romans 5:18-19). Obviously, death and mortality, as a consequence of Adam’s sin, are universally experienced by mankind. In a sense, all men are participants in the first sin representatively through Adam — in the same way Levi representatively through Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Hebrews …

Building a House of Prayer, Part 1

Is the congregation you attend a “praying church?” “We always have an opening and closing prayer,” you say. That’s good, but is it enough to qualify us as a “praying church?” Do we have special periods of prayer set aside for members to get together and pray? Does anyone go to them? Are there opportunities for members to make prayer requests and lists kept and distributed to them? How many Bible classes, sermons and bulletin articles in the past twelve months emphasized prayer? What percentage of the membership prays daily beyond offering thanksgiving for meals? God’s house is many things, but it is nothing if it is not a house of prayer. Many congregations would benefit from giving more emphasis to prayer. One said, “To pray without action is hypocrisy. To act without prayer is pagan.” It’s easy for a Christian to be guilty of both. Do you remember what the Lord said the day he cleaned house at the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13)? Try to picture him standing to one side of the Court of the Gentiles and watching the Jews buying and selling sacrificial animals. His anger grew as their profits amassed. One historian tries to paint the scene: Money was changed from foreign currency into the half shekel used to pay the Temple tax. These actions were seldom quiet and not always honest. As He watched the buying and selling, the haggling and cheating, His displeasure grew. If those who passed Him by had noticed, they might have …

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

Matthew 13:44 Introduction The parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Price are sometimes called the twin parables.  Both emphasize the value of the kingdom to individuals and together represent the common Hebrew practice of parallelism.  These two parables plus The Parable of the Drag Net and The Parable of the Householder were spoken to the apostles after Jesus sent the multitude away, returned to Capernaum and entered a house (Matthew 13:36). Especially in The Parable of the Hidden Treasure there are details that often arouse curiosity.  Some people propose that a moral or ethical problem exists.  For instance, was the treasure-finder in this parable dishonest for hiding the treasure again, not informing the owner of the land and purchasing the field? The parable does not address the ethics of the treasure-finder.  Jesus neither sanctioned nor condemned the motives and activities of the man in this regard.  Similarly, God is somewhat compared to an unjust judge in a parable that encourages persistency in prayer (Luke 18:1-8).  Not every part of a parable is presented for imitation.  One must be careful not to press a parable beyond the lesson it was intended to teach.  The emphasis in The Hidden Treasure is on the vigor with which an individual sought the kingdom of heaven.  Idle questions such as why the owner of the treasure never retrieved it or why the current owners of the field were willing to sell it or why the treasure-finder was prospecting on another person’s property are not relevant to the spiritual message Jesus conveyed.  “The secret …

The Role of Women in the Church

Discussion of “The Role of Women in the Church” treats the topic of subjection, though only a single facet of that God-appointed chain of authority; excepting God the Father, everyone is subordinate to someone else (1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Hebrews 2:8). “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). “It is just as wrong for a woman to take man’s place as it is for man to take Christ’s place” (Lottie Novak).  The church is subject to Christ (Ephesians 1:22; 5:24); all men are subject to “the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3; James 4:7); everyone is subject to governments (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13); and, children are subject to parents (Luke 2:51; Hebrews 12:9). Further, it cannot be denied that the Bible also plainly teaches that women are subject to men (1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:3). And, Scripture abundantly denotes that wives are required to be subordinate to their own husbands (Ephesians 5:22-25; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:5-6), even if their husbands are not Christians (1 Peter 3:1).  The “Role of Women in the Church” or the home is only controversial to those who exhibit diminished respect for the authority of God and his Holy Word! Christians who reject the subordinate role of women despise “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1, 4-5) and blaspheme the Word of God (Titus 2:5)!  The subjection of women to men is a divinely given …

A Decent Devil?

“It is notable that nearly all the poisonous fungi are scarlet or speckled and the wholesome ones brown or grey, as if to show us that things rising out of darkness and decay are always most deadly when they are well dressed.” ~ Ruskin Some people think that if you believe in the devil, you never really graduated from childhood. Or as one put it, “Belief in a personal Satan is part of mankind’s nursery furniture.” Others believe in a quasi-devil who is really not as bad as everybody makes him out to be. He’s pictured as a red-suited, pointed-horned, long-tailed, fun-loving cartoon character in Hollywood films and Saturday Night Live skits. The Bible, however, is not unclear about his existence or evil intentions. It should be enough to say that Jesus acknowledged Satan and talked often of him (e.g., Matthew 25:41; John 8:44). Satan is found in the Bible 55 times (19 times in the Old Testament; 36 in the New Testament). Devil is found 59 times (all in the New Testament). Analyzing these texts gives us much detail about our enemy. Nature: What is Satan like? He is a slanderer (Job 1:7-8; Psalms 109:6). Devil means “slanderer” or “accuser.” He slandered Job, but take heart, God defended him. When Satan accuses us as Christians before God (or to ourselves), we should remember that Jesus defends us as our Advocate in heaven. A faithful Christian’s case is in good hands (1 John 2:1-2; Romans 8:31-39; Revelation 12:10)! He is a counterfeiter of God (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43; 2 Corinthians …

The Parable of the Leaven

Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21 Introduction The Parable of the Leaven is one of the two “sandwich parables” that were mentioned in the previous lesson.  It is also one of seven kingdom parables presented by Jesus in Matthew Thirteen. The Parable “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33). The word “leaven” means “sour dough.”  It is the fermented remnant of dough from a previous incident of baking bread. In ancient times leaven as a separate ingredient was not available as it is today.  In the leavening of bread, dough was kept over from a previous baking and inserted in the new mixture to ferment it. 1When I was a boy, my mother bought cakes (cubes) of yeast to make her bread rise.  Today, my wife buys dry yeast for the same purpose.  The bread that we commonly eat (loaf bread, sticky buns, etc.) is essentially leavened bread.  In contrast, the communion bread we eat lacks leaven or yeast and does not rise. Jesus used leaven in this parable to emphasize similar characteristics between leaven as it affects bread dough and an object that affects the kingdom of heaven.  Similarities include: (1) A small amount affects a larger mass.  (2) The effect is gradual and constant.  (3) Growth and progress are emphasized.  (4) Small beginnings are contrasted with substantial results.  (5) The effect occurs quietly or with little …

The Authority of Biblical Silence

Sometimes biblical silence is as outspoken as any scriptural statement. What the Bible does not say contributes as much to Bible authority as what the Bible does say on any particular subject. It is precisely because the Bible does say something regarding a topic which causes biblical silence on the same topic to be authoritative. In areas, though, where the Bible stipulates nothing, in the same areas silence does not constitute Bible authority.  Music in New Testament worship illustrates this axiom. Scripture clearly authorizes singing as the kind of music to be used in New Testament worship (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Therefore, silence regarding other kinds of music re-enforces what God did say. Humming, whistling, other extraneous vocal sounds, clapping, stomping, drumming and mechanical instruments of music are: (1) antagonistic to what God did say; (2) opposed to biblical silence; (3) extra-biblical and anti-scriptural; and (4) therefore, sinful. They go beyond the authority of Christ and his doctrine (Colossians 3:17; 2 John 9-11).  The Hebrews writer presumed the recipients of his epistle would acknowledge silence as authoritative in matters already addressed by God. Based on Old and New Testament statements, Jesus Christ is not qualified to be a priest on earth (Hebrews 8:4; 7:13). Hebrews 7:14 is an argument from the silence of the Scriptures to prove the same thing. “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” (Emphasis added.)  The inspired penman matter-of-factly used silence of the Scriptures as …

A Study of Satan, 2 of 2

Works: What Does Satan Do? Ø    He deceives (Genesis 3:1ff; Matthew 16:21-23; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 11:3, 14; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 2:9). Think! Ø    He insinuates doubt (Genesis 3:1). Does God really mean what he says? Surely not, he says. Believe! Ø    He snatches away God’s Word (Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15) and turns men from the Truth (1 Timothy 5:15). He often does this by misusing Scripture (Matthew 4:6). He is present whenever the Word is being preached and is ready to turn our attention from it by the crying of a baby or the color of the preacher’s tie. Concentrate! Ø    He traps (1 Timothy 3:7). Paul speaks of his snare (pagis) which literally is a “trap fastened by a noose or notch” (2 Timothy 2:26). Metaphorically, it refers to “a trick or stratagem.” An alcoholic is a classic example of one snared and held in one of his traps. Watch! Ø    He wants to control the mind (1 Chronicles 21:1ff; Acts 5:3). Books, magazines, radio, television, the internet and conversation are all used as tools. Discern! Ø    He attacks bodies. He did Job’s (2:4-7). In the New Testament, Paul called his “thorn in the flesh” a “messenger of Satan to buffet me” (2 Corinthians 12:7; cf. Matthew 17:5-18; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38). At least we may safely say that he uses normal body afflictions to tempt us. Interestingly, Satan disputed with Michael over Moses’ body (Jude 9). What he wanted with it we cannot tell, but we can be assured that it was not just to give it a decent burial! Endure! …

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19 Introduction The “busy day” of Jesus continued as he recited additional parables.  The Parable of the Mustard Seed and The Parable of the Leaven are called by some “sandwich parables.”  These two parables appear between the initial presentation and later explanation of The Parable of the Tares. The Parable of the Mustard Seed has the distinction of being the first fully developed parable of our Lord (in Matthew) for which he gave no interpretation.  Jesus only interpreted two of his parables: The Parable of the Sower and The Parable of the Tares. The Parable of the Mustard Seed is outstanding for its brevity, contained within two verses in each of the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark and three verses in Luke.  However, the parable adequately conveys the single point regarding the kingdom for which Jesus uttered it.  No extraneous words clutter this message.  Yet, there is no apparent void due to a lack of words.  As one would expect, considering that the parable was spoken by the Master Teacher, it is perfect the way it is. Sometimes commentators stumble over the simplicity of the parables.  Each of the parables of our Lord emphasizes one main idea, but often they are twisted to teach additional lessons and not infrequently false doctrine. It should be the goal of every student of the Bible to ascertain what the original recipients of a divine message were expected to understand.  It is equally indefensible to teach truth from a passage that does not teach that truth as it …

Living Soberly, Righteously and Godly in This Present World

TEXT: Titus 2:12 THESIS: Reflection on Titus 2:12 SONG:”I Surrender All” INTRODUCTION: Titus 2:12 and the rest of Titus is addressed to Christians (the church, the saved); it does not detail how to become a child of God, but it details how the child of God should be moved by the Word of God in Christian living. Titus 2:12 is the summary definition of the manifestation of true Christianity in the lives of Christians and churches of Christ; while it is possible for individuals and churches to appear to manifest Titus 2:12 when really they are corrupted with sin, Christians and congregations cannot be acceptable to God without demonstrating Titus 2:12. The implementation of Titus 2:12 involves both the eradication of some things from one’s life and the replacement of such with godly virtues. BODY:I. Titus One: A. The instruction of 2:12 rests in the authority of an apostle (1:1).B. Heeding truth and practicing godliness are the bases of hope (1:2).C. The Word of God is the sole medium by which this truth is revealed to men (1:3).D. The appointment of elders is a contributor to individual Christian and congregational ‘soberness, righteousness and godliness’ (1:4-9).E. Manifestation of the lack of ‘soberness, righteousness and godliness’ is evident among unruly, vain talkers and deceivers (1:10).F. The Jewish error and abuse of the Gospel oppose ‘soberness, righteousness and godliness’ (1:11-14).G. A defiled conscience prohibits ‘soberness, righteousness and godliness’ (1:15).H. Evil works negate professions of godliness (1:16). II. Titus Two:A. Sound doctrine (truth) underlies …

A Study of Satan, 1 of 2

Some people think that if you believe in the devil, you never really graduated from childhood.  Or as one put it, “belief in a personal Satan is part of mankind’s nursery furniture.”  The Bible, however, is not unclear about the existence or work of our adversary.  It should be enough to say that Jesus believed in Satan and talked often of him (e.g., Matthew 25:41; John 8:44).  Satan is found in the Bible 55 times (19 times in the Old Testament; 36 in the New Testament).  Devil is found 59 times (all in the New Testament).  An analysis of these texts gives us much detail about our enemy. Origin: From wheredid the devil come?   Satan was on the scene as early as the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1).  But since he is not introduced and no account of his birth or creation is given, how are we to know his origin?  Consider that there are only three kinds of beings: Deity, angels and human.  Satan is not divine since he is obviously subject to God (cf. Job 1).  He is not human because he possesses powers superior to humans (cf. Matthew 4).  Therefore, he must belong to the class of angels.  God does not create evil (James 1:17[1]), so he must have been created good and became evil (like man).  It follows then that Satan is a rebellious angel who was judged by God and fell from holiness to wickedness.  Jesus indicated this when he said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18).  Peter adds to our understanding when he wrote, “For if God …

Some Things You’ll Never Do in Heaven

You probably did not realize it, but likely today you’ve been involved in activities that would be inappropriate in heaven. Not sinful things (hopefully), but little things that remind us we are not at home in this world. What are some of these things? You’ll never go to the medicine cabinet. Here we have to deal with headaches, arthritis and a million other pains. There are no drug stores in heaven! John wrote, “. . . neither shall there be any more pain . . .” (Revelation 21:4). You’ll never attend a funeral. Thee are no hillsides dotted with the markers of loved ones “across Jordan.” You won’t find silent cities of the dead in heaven, for no one ever dies there! John wrote, “. . . there shall be no more death . . .” (Revelation 21:4). You’ll never turn on a light switch. There is no darkness there “. . . for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Revelation 21:23). “There shall be no night there” (Revelation 21:25b), so there will be no street lamps, no nightlights and no light switches. You’ll never face a temptation. We face temptations daily in this life because the devil and his workers are very busy (1 Peter 5:8). Oh how we wish we could lay our armor aside and just rest from the constant battle of faith (Ephesians 6:13-18). That day is coming! In the land where we are staking our claim, the devil has no passport! In fact, he will have been cast down into the …

Unspotted From The World

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). It is imperative that every Christian develop a heightened awareness of the need for moral living in an immoral world. All around us the world openly and shamelessly practices every kind of immorality (e.g., homosexuality, fornication, abortion, gambling, alcohol and other pleasure drugs, theft, murder and lying, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 19-21; Romans 1:26-32; Revelation 21:8).  Obviously, non-Christians need to be made aware of their responsibility to practice moral living. However, Christians are also instructed by numerous passages to practice moral living. Evidently, the first century church needed to be exhorted to better practice moral living in an immoral world (e.g., a fornicator, coveting, an idolater, a railer, a drunkard, an extortioner, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 11).  The Greek word, spilos, equals “spot” or “stain.” Figuratively, it means “moral blemish.” Preceded by the negating prefix, “a” (aspilos), the Greek word means “unspotted” (James 1:27). Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of being unspotted by the world.  “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20). That Jesus is our …

The Treasurer Finds the Treasure

Dr. Williamson, a Canadian geologist, had been slipping along a rain-soaked road that led through Tanzania’s backcountry when suddenly his Land Rover sunk to its axles in sticky mire. Pulling out a shovel, he began to dig his four-wheel drive out. After some time he uncovered some sort of pink-like stone. Being a geologist and naturally curious about rock formations, he picked it up. The more mud he removed, the more excited he became, but hardly believed what he saw. At last the stone was clean, and Dr. Williamson had found a diamond! Any diamond would be a surprise in that situation, but he had found the now famous giant pink diamond of Tanzania. That muddy stone sparkles today in the royal scepter of Britain, and Williamson is world renowned for this find – accidental though it was. Interestingly, the geologist found the diamond. Similarly, the Bible tells of a treasurer who found treasure. Jesus compared a sinner who learns the Gospel to one who finds great treasure (Matthew 13:44-46). This is illustrated by an Ethiopian treasurer who found the Gospel treasure on a lonely road leading back to Africa from Jerusalem (Acts 8:26-40). Why did he – of all the people in the world – find the treasure that day? The treasurer was willing to look for something more. This Ethiopian had traveled fifteen hundred miles to worship (one way), but was still reading his Bible (Isaiah 53) on the way home! Because he was an eunuch, he had not even been allowed into the temple proper during the ceremonies (cf. Deuteronomy 23:1). He rode 3,000 miles to sit …

The Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15 Introduction Jesus, the Master Teacher, frequently used figurative language in his teaching.  Some people classify nearly all these colorful illustrations as parables (e.g., Matthew 5:13-16).  However, strictly speaking, Jesus began to use fully developed parables in Matthew 13.  Our Lord’s disciples acknowledged that he changed his method of teaching and asked why.  “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10). The parables of our Lord were very effective.  Jesus outfitted “. . . each parable with lines as sharp as an etching.”1   His parables are noteworthy for their brevity and simplicity.  In theme he appealed to the familiar circumstances of agriculture, home life, merchants, civic duties, social life and nature to teach spiritual truths.  Hence, a common definition of parables is that they are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. The Parable of the Sower received its name from Jesus himself (Matthew 13:18).  It is one of only two of our Lord’s parables that he interpreted for us.  (Jesus also explained The Parable of the Tares, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.)  Therefore, a thorough understanding of these two parables is necessary to have sufficient insight as to the meanings of the rest of them.  Understanding The Parable of the Sower (and The Parable of the Tares) is the key to understanding all the parables of Christ. Jesus also explained why he spoke in parables (Matthew 13:10-17).  Our Lord recited a phrase that was applied often to the Jews throughout their history (Deuteronomy 29:4; …

Do You Still Believe in God?

Some imply it subtly.  A few come right out and say it.  You won’t get through your freshman year of college without noticing it in some class.  Belief in God is for the back-woodsy, uneducated – though perhaps well-meaning – folks back home.  It belongs to those who still use typewriters and think CDs are something you put in a bank.  It is not for a person worthy of a college degree.  Is this the case?  Don’t be intimidated by unbelieving philosophers, professors or scientists.  An intelligent, educated, up-to-date person can believe in God and in the Bible as his Word.  Some of the world’s greatest men – whose intelligence is indisputable – were believers.  Consider these quotations: Sir Isaac Newton:  This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.  This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord God . . . I find more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history whatever. George Washington:  It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible . . . He is worse than an infidel who does not read his Bible and acknowledge his obligation to God. John Adams:  The Bible is the best Book in the world. Thomas Jefferson:  I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Scared Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, …

Who’s to Say What Is Modest?

Hello.  I’ve read what you have to say in regards to modesty and as a Christian woman, I have to agree with most of it.  However, you have a pretty all-inclusive list here which let’s not forget, was created by “YOU.”  Who’s to say exactly what is modest and what is immodest?  We all have different opinions.  In the early 1900’s it was considered indecent or immodest for women to show their legs.  And therefore shorts were outlawed.  Today, women wear shorts. My point is that what was considered immodest in Biblical times is not considered immodest today.  Are you suggesting we stick to the fashions of Biblical times?  If so, you’ll have to throw away your pants then because modesty is not ONLY required of women, you know.  And men did not wear pants in biblical times. By the way, there are still some in Christendom who consider pants worn by women to be immodest.  So to say that to wear tank tops, for example, is sinful is just plain ridiculous in my opinion. . . . Who’s wrong, who’s right?  Who has been called to set the standard?  You?  And what EXACTLY do you expect women to wear at the beach if not swimsuits? ~ Sincerely, Eve Lopez The above statement is a typical response to lessons presented about the subject of biblical modesty, even among many members of the churches of Christ for whom I preach.  To reconcile the societal norms with which we have been inundated (which societal …

Moral issues: Are they also social and political issues?

Moral issues include such topics as abortion, homosexuality, gambling, drug abuse, suicide, prostitution, pornography, adultery, public nudity, pre-marital sex and the recreational use of alcohol. Other moral issues could be listed, but these are enough to show the range and type of conduct that is under consideration. Some of these topics (that is, abortion, homosexuality and gambling) recently have been the subjects of much controversy.  These issues, and others, are moral topics because God, through the Bible, has said something about them. Through the Scriptures, God regulates human conduct. They are issues because mankind resists God’s regulation of his behavior. Anyone who is even somewhat familiar with the Bible probably knows the difference between God’s position and man’s practices of these moral issues.  These topics are social issues because they affect our society. What we practice regarding moral issues determines what kind of society we are now and what kind of society we will become. With a little thought, it is not difficult to see that there is a great difference between our society now and our society just a few generations ago.  In part, this contrast is the result of a shift in moral values. This liberal shift in moral values is the result of a disregard for God and his Word (the Bible, in which he included his moral code for humanity). We, therefore, have changed. The moral nature of God, though, does not change (Hebrews 13:8). Further, God has not changed his instructions to mankind in about …

Abortion

In the eyes of God there is no difference between abortion and the murder of children of any age. A concise and easily understood biblical principle that confirms this fact has to do with the New Testament usage of the Greek word “BREPHOS.”   “BREPHOS” is translated as “babe” twice in Luke 1:41, 44 and refers to an unborn child (here John the Baptist): “And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost . . . For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”   Elsewhere, “BREPHOS,” again translated as “babe,” denotes a new born child (here Jesus Christ): “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger . . . And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12, 16).   [See also Acts 7:19 and 1 Peter 2:2 where a form of “BREPHOS” in the former verse is applied literally to newborn “children,” and in the latter passage is used figuratively of new converts, fresh from the “new birth.” A form of “BREPHOS” is also used in the New Testament to identify slightly older children: “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them” (Luke 18:15); “And that from a child thou hast known the holy …