To understand the New Testament development/flow, it is helpful to note the non-recurring events. There are some that are obvious, like the birth of Jesus, the death of Jesus, His resurrection. And in a sense, the resurrection of Jesus can be looked at as a recurring event; He only rose once, but He showed that we would follow.
As we look further at non-recurring events, we see that the apostles were appointed, they were given power by the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 after Jesus had left. There was the appointment of the 12th apostle after Judas had betrayed Jesus and died (Acts 1), and Paul being visited by Jesus in a miraculous way, allowing Paul to meet the qualification of being an apostle (recorded in Acts 9, 22, 26). These events are key to the development of the church and Christianity, but we don't find a continuation of the appointment of apostles.
Another example of non-recurring events is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This occurred in Acts 2 in Jerusalem bringing miraculous powers to the Jewish converts to Christianity. It occurred a second time in Acts 10:44, "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also." The fact that these events never occurred again in the Biblical record has been missed by most Pentecostals today. They still believe that God is pouring out the Holy Spirit powers in the use of speaking in tongues, healings, and other "miracles." That is not happening today.
The Jerusalem conference in Acts 15 is a further example of non-recurring events of the NT. Dissension occurred in Antioch because some were teaching that Christians needed to be circumcised according to the Jewish Law. To solve this problem, men were sent up to Jerusalem to the apostles there for a discussion and decision. Note the letter that was sent back to Antioch: "The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind......" This is a one time event, orchestrated, solved, by the apostles. The reason that one church appealed to another here is that they had apostles who were being led by the Holy Spirit. They knew that the apostles in Jerusalem would have the answer, so they went to them. We don't have apostles today, nor do we need them. We have the Bible given to us through the works of the Holy Spirit, God-breathed. Churches today are autonomous, self ruled according to the pattern given in the NT. We don't have Jerusalem conferences because we don't have apostles.....and we don't need them.
Things were different in the early church. They had apostles still alive, eye-witnesses of the teachings of Jesus, miraculous gifts--the ability to do miracles, no Bible. We have to realize that was then, this is now. For direction, we have all that we need in the written Word.
Thanks for reading with an open mind. Have a great week!
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Relationships
The Bible teaches us a lot about the importance of relationships and how we are to conduct ourselves. Ephesians 5 and 6 in the NT tell about our responsibilities toward others. In Eph. 5:15, Paul makes the general comment, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise, making the most of every opportunity..." He then goes on to discuss the responsibility of wives to husbands and husbands to wives. And the Bible talks a lot about the importance of each loving the other and respecting each other. This is covered in detail at the end of Ephesians chapter 5.
In a very practical way, the New Testament discusses in some detail some of the other common relationships that we form in life. Eph. 6 begins with teaching to children: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.."
Fathers--"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." For this to be addressed to fathers shows that it can be a common problem. It is important that fathers consider carefully their responsibility to the children.
Slaves--"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly...." This teaching would apply to anyone who works for another. This teaching is not given to support slavery, nor for that matter to abolish it; but realizing that it was a common practice, it teaches how one, anyone, is to serve.
Masters--"And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him." We see how people who have others working under them are to treat those. It could be summed up by treating others in the way we want to be treated.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His might power." It certainly isn't always easy to serve the Lord in His way, but it is what we must do. Have a great week!
In a very practical way, the New Testament discusses in some detail some of the other common relationships that we form in life. Eph. 6 begins with teaching to children: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother.."
Fathers--"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." For this to be addressed to fathers shows that it can be a common problem. It is important that fathers consider carefully their responsibility to the children.
Slaves--"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly...." This teaching would apply to anyone who works for another. This teaching is not given to support slavery, nor for that matter to abolish it; but realizing that it was a common practice, it teaches how one, anyone, is to serve.
Masters--"And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him." We see how people who have others working under them are to treat those. It could be summed up by treating others in the way we want to be treated.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His might power." It certainly isn't always easy to serve the Lord in His way, but it is what we must do. Have a great week!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
What God Wants Most
It is interesting to note what God says when He speaks. To look at this, we should summarize the progression of how God speaks as it is recorded in the Bible. As the Bible begins, it shows God speaking to early people directly. And we see people worshipping in a rather simple way, using altars and often offering animal sacrifices. As time progresses, God brings the Law, a special law for His special people, the Jews. This law becomes the standard all of the way through the rest of the Old Testament. As the NT begins, we find that God is not speaking directly to His people, but does so through His Son, Jesus. Then as Jesus departs the earth as finally recorded in Acts 1, God through the Holy Spirit speaks to and through the apostles. Knowing that these men will not live forever, God through the Holy Spirit, has these men and a few others write words approved by God, breathed in by God; thus, the NT books. God now speaks to us through His Word which has been completed and provided for us to follow. It is a beautiful progression....and produces a beautiful result in us.
Now with all of that summarization completed, I want to focus on a couple of common things that God would often say. Many times, over and over in the OT, God would say these two things when He began to speak to His people:
1) "I Am the Lord your God....." (Note Exodus 20:2 where God gives the 10 commandments). And:
2) "...who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
It was very important, imperative to God, that His people understand and believe that HE IS GOD. And secondly, He wanted His people to remember that He is a god who takes care of them. This brings to mind Hebrews 11:6 in the NT:
"...he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." This is a restatement of exactly what God said in Exodus 20. It is obviously important to God for us to remember these two things: that He is....and that He is a rewarder; He was then; He is now.
A final thought is that when God speaks/spoke, He never said was or will be about Himself. It was always is IS. God IS. "I AM!" This seems to be the definition of His name, Jehovah: I AM, emphasizing that God always IS. And remember that Jesus said many times about Himself, "I AM......" I am the light of the world, etc. Let us always honor Him by observing these two things about the Lord, our God.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
Now with all of that summarization completed, I want to focus on a couple of common things that God would often say. Many times, over and over in the OT, God would say these two things when He began to speak to His people:
1) "I Am the Lord your God....." (Note Exodus 20:2 where God gives the 10 commandments). And:
2) "...who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage."
It was very important, imperative to God, that His people understand and believe that HE IS GOD. And secondly, He wanted His people to remember that He is a god who takes care of them. This brings to mind Hebrews 11:6 in the NT:
"...he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." This is a restatement of exactly what God said in Exodus 20. It is obviously important to God for us to remember these two things: that He is....and that He is a rewarder; He was then; He is now.
A final thought is that when God speaks/spoke, He never said was or will be about Himself. It was always is IS. God IS. "I AM!" This seems to be the definition of His name, Jehovah: I AM, emphasizing that God always IS. And remember that Jesus said many times about Himself, "I AM......" I am the light of the world, etc. Let us always honor Him by observing these two things about the Lord, our God.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Romans Chapter 6
Romans 6 is an interesting place to go for an explanation of what baptism really means. Really, the discussion is about sin, a continuation of the discourse on sin and grace from chapter 5. Note the final words of chapter 5: "...just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Then as chapter 6 begins, the discussion continues. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection."
There is a figurative relationship established by the physical act of baptism. That is, by being baptised in the physical act, we are figuratively joining in the death of Jesus. And just as He was raised from the dead, we are joined with Him in being raised up out of the water. It is an interesting concept that is carefully detailed in this one place of the New Testament.
But the main point of the whole discussion is that since we Christians have given up the old life of living in sin, we have no right to go back to it, counting on the grace of God to save us. We know that God wants to save us through His grace. But the message here is that we shouldn't try to play games with God, keep on sinning, living the life of sin, thinking that He will overlook whatever we do. Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
So the warning is clear that we must not try to play games with God. Some people believe that once a person has been saved, has become a Christian, there is no being lost. But the Bible surely does not teach that. He wants to save us, but we must be diligent, diligently seeking Him, and truly trying to serve Him.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week. Feel the love.
Then as chapter 6 begins, the discussion continues. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection."
There is a figurative relationship established by the physical act of baptism. That is, by being baptised in the physical act, we are figuratively joining in the death of Jesus. And just as He was raised from the dead, we are joined with Him in being raised up out of the water. It is an interesting concept that is carefully detailed in this one place of the New Testament.
But the main point of the whole discussion is that since we Christians have given up the old life of living in sin, we have no right to go back to it, counting on the grace of God to save us. We know that God wants to save us through His grace. But the message here is that we shouldn't try to play games with God, keep on sinning, living the life of sin, thinking that He will overlook whatever we do. Galatians 6:7 says, "Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
So the warning is clear that we must not try to play games with God. Some people believe that once a person has been saved, has become a Christian, there is no being lost. But the Bible surely does not teach that. He wants to save us, but we must be diligent, diligently seeking Him, and truly trying to serve Him.
Thanks for reading. I hope you have a great week. Feel the love.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
The Most Powerfull Message of the Bible
The most powerful message of the Bible can be summed up in one word: Resurrection. Jesus came to earth to save those who would follow Him. When we say, "save," we mean beyond the grave. There are many clear passages throughout the New Testament that show the significance of "beyond the grave," but let's look at the words of Jesus as recorded in John 5:24.
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will be not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man."
"Do not be amazed at this, for time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."
This teaching of Jesus shows clearly that there is salvation in Jesus for those who believe...and follow. That is, that there is a resurrection to come for every person, and a judgment by the Lord Himself. Jesus proved that there is a resurrection by overcoming death Himself, showing that if He can come back from the dead, we can also, through His power.
There is no more powerful message than that of the resurrection. Many of the Jews did not want to hear it, and Jews today persist in that opposition. It is important that we see the significance of the resurrection, the eternal life that Jesus offers us.
Have a great week!
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will be not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man."
"Do not be amazed at this, for time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."
This teaching of Jesus shows clearly that there is salvation in Jesus for those who believe...and follow. That is, that there is a resurrection to come for every person, and a judgment by the Lord Himself. Jesus proved that there is a resurrection by overcoming death Himself, showing that if He can come back from the dead, we can also, through His power.
There is no more powerful message than that of the resurrection. Many of the Jews did not want to hear it, and Jews today persist in that opposition. It is important that we see the significance of the resurrection, the eternal life that Jesus offers us.
Have a great week!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Truth
It is always important to tell the truth....in whatever setting we find ourselves. But in dealing with God and His Word, it is especially important. Many people look at God as a God of love; and of course, He is. And they feel that He is a patient and understanding God; and of course, He is. But He is a God that expects us to do things His way. He establishes what is truth, and right, and what He wants by giving us instruction through His Word, the Bible. But the first question to answer is, Does it really matter? To answer this question we simply go to the Bible, and we find out that it matters a lot.
Many places in the New Testament talk about the importance of doing things God's way. It also talks, warns, of those who would not do so. Jesus Himself talked of false teachers, warning His disciples to be on guard. Note these passages:
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. .....Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
2Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth...." Paul is warning Timothy about false teachers....and false teaching.
1Timothy 2:1 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies...."
Acts 20:29-31 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch...."
2Peter 2 "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."
With all of this teaching by Jesus, Paul and Peter, it is clear that false teachers and false teaching were, and still are, a real concern. Let us care about the truth....and stick to it.
Thanks for reading again. May God bless you!
Many places in the New Testament talk about the importance of doing things God's way. It also talks, warns, of those who would not do so. Jesus Himself talked of false teachers, warning His disciples to be on guard. Note these passages:
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. .....Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."
2Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth...." Paul is warning Timothy about false teachers....and false teaching.
1Timothy 2:1 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies...."
Acts 20:29-31 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch...."
2Peter 2 "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed."
With all of this teaching by Jesus, Paul and Peter, it is clear that false teachers and false teaching were, and still are, a real concern. Let us care about the truth....and stick to it.
Thanks for reading again. May God bless you!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Adoption
As Christians, we are adopted children of God. This is an interesting relationship in that we aren't the born children of God, but have to be adopted in. Let's look at a few Bible passages that talk about this adoption principle.
Galatians 4:4, "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." We aren't actual descendants, aren't blood kin, aren't direct descendants of Abraham. But previous verses say that we are "heirs," heirs according to promise, that is, according to the promise that God made to Abraham in Gen. 12, that all the world would be blessed through his seed, Jesus. This is stressed at the end of Hebrews 11, the faith chapter: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them (OT characters) received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
John 1:12, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Romans 8:14, "..those who are led by the Spririt of God are sons of God.....The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..."
Those of us who have been involved with adoption know that an adopted child is very special. It really can't be fully described, put into words. This is the effect that we see with being adopted into God's family. It truly is a blessing, one that almost goes beyond description. It is powerful, it is special, it is amazing. We are God's children!
Have a great week. Feel the love!
Galatians 4:4, "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." We aren't actual descendants, aren't blood kin, aren't direct descendants of Abraham. But previous verses say that we are "heirs," heirs according to promise, that is, according to the promise that God made to Abraham in Gen. 12, that all the world would be blessed through his seed, Jesus. This is stressed at the end of Hebrews 11, the faith chapter: "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them (OT characters) received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."
John 1:12, "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--children not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Romans 8:14, "..those who are led by the Spririt of God are sons of God.....The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ..."
Those of us who have been involved with adoption know that an adopted child is very special. It really can't be fully described, put into words. This is the effect that we see with being adopted into God's family. It truly is a blessing, one that almost goes beyond description. It is powerful, it is special, it is amazing. We are God's children!
Have a great week. Feel the love!
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