5/18/20

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Anger That Kills (5:21-26) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Anger That Kills (5:21-26)


 INTRODUCTION 1. In His sermon on the mount, Jesus challenges us to attain to a high level of righteousness... a. To exceed "the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" - Mt 5:20 b. He illustrates what is meant through a series on contrasts 1) Between what they had heard from those of old 2) And what He was now declaring to them 2. The first contrast (Mt 5:21-26) pertains to properly understanding and applying... a. The Sixth Commandment b. I.e., "You shall not murder" - cf. Exo 20:13 [How should the sixth command be understood and applied? Is the actual act of murder the only thing we need to be concerned about? Before we consider what Jesus taught, let's look at...] I. THE "TRADITIONAL" INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION A. NOTE THAT I SAY "TRADITIONAL"... 1. Jesus is responding to traditional interpretations of the Law, not the Law itself a. I.e., what had been taught by the "traditions of the elders" - cf. Mt 15:2 b. Note His preparatory remarks: "You have HEARD that it was SAID..." c. Referring to oral traditions rather than the written Law (cf. earlier lesson on "Jesus And The Law") 2. Which traditions had likely been accepted by the scribes and Pharisees B. THE TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION... 1. Is seen in the phrase "whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment" 2. The term "judgment" likely refers to the local courts of their day (see below) 3. This interpretation may sound fine, but evidently did not go far enough in how the Law should have been interpreted and applied a. Was the Law only concerned about the actual act of murder? b. Should the disciples of Jesus also limit their concern to actual acts of murder? [To answer these two questions, let's now take a closer look at...] II. THE TEACHING OF JESUS A. JESUS PRONOUNCED JUDGMENT ON ANGER... 1. As found in Mt 5:22... a. One angry without a cause should be in danger of the "judgment" 1) I.e., the local courts through Palestine 2) Which were normally reserved for common criminals b. One who calls his brother "Raca!" (stupid, empty-headed) should be in danger of the "council" 1) I.e., the Sanhedrin council 2) Which was the high court normally reserved for special criminals c. One who says "You fool!" would be in danger of "hell fire" 1) I.e., Gehenna 2) The place of everlasting torment - Mk 9:43-48 -- The judgment normally accorded to murderers, Jesus deemed worthy of those whose anger led to just verbal abuse! 2. Jesus' teaching was in harmony with the Law regarding anger cf. Pr 6:16-19 a. "Hands that shed innocent blood" (murder) are an abomination to the Lord b. So also a "heart that devises wicked plans" and "one who sows discord among brethren" (due to anger) -- This being true, the Law should have been interpreted and applied accordingly 3. Thus the traditional interpretation and application of the Law fell far short a. The "righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" only condemned murderers when those with hateful emotions were just as guilty! b. While the righteousness of the kingdom would be in harmony with the original intent of the Law 1) The Law taught to forsake wrath and anger - Ps 37:8 2) So does the righteousness of the kingdom - cf. Ga 5:19-21; Ep 4:31 B. JESUS ILLUSTRATED THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANGER... 1. We should not try to worship God when we are "at odds" with a brother - Mt 5:23-24 a. Repair strained relationships with a brother before worshipping God b. Just as a husband must treat his wife with understanding if he desires to have his prayers heard - 1Pe 3:7 -- Wrong emotions toward others can "kill" our relationship with God! 2. We should be quick to "make amends" lest uncontrolled anger cause us to wind up in court, possibly prison! - Mt 5:25-26 a. Many "hot-heads" let anger prompt them to do things that send them to prison b. But note how those in the kingdom are to act - Ro 12:18-21 -- Wrong emotions can "murder" our relationships with man as well! CONCLUSION 1. In His first contrast between the "righteousness of the kingdom" and the "traditional treatment of the Law", Jesus: a. Declared that the ancients did not go far enough in applying the Law b. Illustrated how it should be applied by those seeking to surpass the "righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees" -- The "righteousness of the kingdom" is actually in harmony with the Law! 2. Jesus also reminds us that there is "The Anger That Kills"... a. Improper anger toward our fellow man can "kill" our relationship with God b. It can "murder" our relationships with our fellow man, and ruin our lives in the process -- One does not have to be guilty of actual murder to do this! Thus Jesus calls upon us to deal with the anger that often leads to murder, if we desire to truly be His disciples! This requires that we be "born again"... - cf. Jn 3:5; 1Pe 1:22-23

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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How Old Was Isaac When Abraham Was Told to Offer Him? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1272

How Old Was Isaac When Abraham Was Told to Offer Him?

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The Bible does not give a direct answer to the question of Isaac’s age when he was about to be offered as a sacrifice by his father. We therefore must conclude that neither our understanding of the passage nor our grasp of the points that God wants us to learn depend on knowing his age. However, some linguistic data are available that shed some light on the matter by pointing us in the direction of Isaac being older than we normally think, i.e., 20+.

In the first place, consider the details pertaining to chronology. Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was 90 years old (Genesis 17:17). She would have been 92 or 93, 95 at most, when Isaac was weaned. She died at age 127 (Genesis 23:1)—when Isaac was 37 years old. Following Isaac’s birth, the events of the rest of Genesis chapter 21 (i.e., the driving out of Hagar and Ishmael, and the incident with Abimelech), as well as the events of chapter 22, all occurred during a 35-year period (approximately). Notice the expression “many days” in Genesis 21:34, as well as the phrase “after these things” in 22:1. These allusions would suggest that some time had elapsed prior to the offering of Isaac.

In the second place, the term “lad” used to refer to Isaac (21:5,12) is a flexible Hebrew term that does not necessarily refer to what we ordinarily think of—i.e., a boy. Rather, the term encompasses a wide range of meanings—from a baby (e.g., Exodus 2:6; 2 Samuel 12:16) to a young man (e.g., Absalom in 2 Samuel 14:21; 18:5). It even can refer to “servant” or “attendant” (e.g., 2 Samuel 16:1) as well as soldier/leader (1 Kings 20:14,15,17,19). Look closely at the context of the Isaac passage in 22:5 where the servants that accompanied Abraham and Isaac are referred to as “young men” (22:3,5,19). The word “servants” is precisely the same term that is used in verses 5 and 12 to refer to Isaac (cf. Gesenius, 1979, p. 555; Wigram, 1980, p. 823; Harris, et al., 1980, 2:585-586). Were the servants that accompanied Abraham 5 to 7 year olds? Or were they older?

Third, Isaac was given the task of carrying the wood for the impending sacrifice (22:6). There would have been enough wood to consume a human body when set on fire. Could a 5- to 7-year-old child carry such a burden?

Several commentators have weighed in on this question. Leupold wrote: “He may by this time have arrived at the age of some eighteen to twenty years” (1942, 1:625). Josephus stated: “Now Isaac was twenty-five years old” (1.13.2). Adam Clarke said: “[I]t is more probable that he was now about thirty-three” (1:140, emp. in orig.). Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown asserted that Isaac was “then upwards of twenty years of age” (n.d., p. 29). J. Curtis Manor described him as “a youth of sufficient strength and agility to carry a load of firewood up a mountainside” (1994, p. 103). Keil and Delitzsch affirmed that “this son had grown into a young man” (1976, 1:248). Morris added: “[T]he meaning in Isaac’s case should also be ‘young man’ ” (1976, p. 373).

We conclude that as the several lines of evidence converge, they point to Isaac being a young man—not a young boy.

REFERENCES

Clarke, Adam (no date), Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible (Nashville, TN: Abingdon).

Gesenius, William (1979 reprint), Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Harris, R. Laird, Gleason Archer, Jr. and Bruce Waltke, eds. (1980), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago, IL: Moody).

Jamieson, Robert, A.R. Fausset, and David Brown (no date), A Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).

Josephus, Flavius (1974 reprint), “Antiquities of the Jews,” The Life and Works of Flavius Josephus, transl. William Whiston (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Keil, C.F. and F. Delitzsch (1976 reprint), Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans).

Leupold, H.C. (1950 reprint), Exposition of Genesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Manor, J. Curtis (1994), Adventures From the Pentateuch (Fort Worth, TX: Star Bible Publications).

Morris, Henry M. (1976), The Genesis Record (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Wigram, George V. (1980 reprint), The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

How Many Will be Saved? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=706

How Many Will be Saved?

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

In our present “politically correct” societal climate, the “I’m Okay, You’re Okay” sentiment that surfaced in the 1960s has since blanketed American culture. Consequently, even Christian peoples have been infected with the ideology that the only moral evil is the sin of “intolerance,” and that everyone ought to subscribe to complete “acceptance” of everyone else—regardless of belief or behavior. Of course, those who are so influenced have ceased studying the Bible and acquainting themselves with Deity. For those who still are convinced that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, they would do well to subject themselves to the corrective provided by that Word. Doing so would alter their present tendency to embrace society’s pluralistic propensities.

The Bible provides the only inerrant history of the human race from its inception. What does the Bible teach with regard to the number of people who ultimately please God, are acceptable to Him, and thus will one day be with Him forever in Heaven? A perusal of the history of the world from its very beginning, will undoubtedly shock most people—even those who claim to be Christian. Why? Because the Bible portrays a consistent pattern of human behavior in which most people have rejected God’s will for their lives and thus were rejected by God. While the Bible does not claim to report everything that has happened to all peoples in human history, it nevertheless presents a proportional sampling of the ebb and flow of world history. And in doing so, it unmistakably conveys the fact that not only will most people in the world be lost eternally, but even most people who profess to be Christians will be lost as well. In his famous “Blue Back Speller,” a public school textbook used to teach millions of American school children during the 19th and 20th centuries, Noah Webster made the following insightful observation: “History is an account of past events. A great part of history is an account of men’s crimes and wickedness” (1857, p. 42, emp. added). Consider the following abbreviated sketch of human history.

FROM THE BEGINNING

The very first human beings on the planet, Adam and Eve, violated God’s will and were ejected from the beautiful garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23-24). Of course, they could be forgiven of their sin, but their behavior demonstrated a pattern that set the tone for the rest of human history. Of their children who are referred to specifically, one refused to worship God as He instructed and, out of a jealous rage, rose up and committed human history’s first murder by killing his brother (Genesis 4:8). Some 1,700 years later, “the wickedness of man” was so “great in the earth” (Genesis 6:5), that God had no other choice but to cleanse the Earth of its human population by means of a global Flood (Genesis 7-8). How many people were on the Earth at that point in time? No one knows, and any speculation would be mere conjecture. However, in his book The Flood, Alfred Rehwinkel attempted calculations of the antediluvian world’s population, taking into account factors relevant to population statistics (e.g., the amount of time from the Creation to the Flood, the extended lifespan of the antediluvian people) and came up with estimates ranging from 900 million to nearly 12 billion (1951, pp. 28-31). In any case, the Bible explicitly states that only eight people survived the Flood (1 Peter 3:20)—not even one-tenth of one percent.

After the Flood, the world’s population again multiplied, but the people clustered in one geographical location in direct defiance of God’s directive to multiply and fill the Earth (Genesis 9:1). This defiance apparently involved most or all of the human population (Genesis 11:1ff.). By 2100 B.C., attention is directed to a man who became the genetic predecessor to the nation of Israel. Little information is given regarding the spiritual and moral condition of the Earth’s population during this period. However, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities of the plain are pinpointed for their wickedness (Genesis 13:13; 18:20; 19:1ff.). The cities were literally burned off the surface of the planet.

MOSAIC PERIOD

For the next few hundred years, again, the Bible reports world events largely insofar as they relate to the descendants of Abraham in order to set the stage for the commencement of the Israelites’ national existence. During this period, occasional references are made to the moral condition of the world. For example, referring to the Canaanite population of Palestine in Abraham’s day, God explained that “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Genesis 15:16). The polygamy of Egypt’s Pharaoh (Genesis 12:14ff.), the king of Gerar (Genesis 20:2ff.), and even Esau (Genesis 28:9) are mentioned, as well as the rape of Dinah (Genesis 34:2). Egypt in Joseph’s day had “magicians” (Genesis 41:8). Extra-biblical sources provided by archaeological investigation coincide with the Bible’s depiction of the various peoples of the Near East as being dominated by pagan practice—everything from sexual perversion to child sacrifice.

By 1500 B.C., the Israelite population that came out of Egypt numbered approximately 2 to 3 million men, women, and children, based on the census figures of the men fit for military service, i.e., at least twenty years old, but not too old to go to war (Numbers 1:46). Yet, out of the entire adult population of those who came out of Egypt, only two men (Joshua and Caleb) are specifically mentioned as being permitted eventually to enter the land of Canaan (Numbers 14:30). Even Moses, Aaron, and Miriam did not enter in.

During Joshua’s leadership, the people as a whole stayed fairly faithful (Joshua 24:31; Judges 2:7). But with the onset of the period of the Judges, the “Dark Ages of Jewish history” commenced. During this roughly 350-year period, apparently most people were unfaithful (Judges 17:6; 21:25). At the close of that period, the majority of the people in Samuel’s day disobeyed God by clamoring for a king (1 Samuel 8). God went ahead and gave them one—Saul—but promised negative repercussions. Indeed, Saul’s entire reign was miserable (1 Samuel 10-31). The nation did better under the second king of Israel, David (2 Samuel 1-10), until he committed adultery (2 Samuel 11). The rest of his reign was unpleasant (2 Samuel 12-24). Under Solomon, social conditions improved (1 Kings 1-10), but in his old age, he, too, became unfaithful (1 Kings 11).

Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, took over the reins of the nation, but shortly thereafter, Jeroboam ruptured the monarchy by leading ten of the twelve tribes into apostasy (1 Kings 12). He immediately built an alternate worship site away from Jerusalem and introduced idol worship. The history of this northern kingdom (known as Samaria or Israel) is recorded in the rest of 1st and 2nd Kings through a string of 19 kings, every single one of whom is said to have been wicked, i.e., “he did evil in the sight of the Lord.” It appeared that as the king went, so went the nation. Though great prophets, like Elijah, Amos, and Hosea, were sent to turn them around, the nation persisted in its estrangement from the spiritual and moral precepts given to them by God. When God finally had His fill, He allowed them to be taken into captivity by Assyria (2 Kings 17). So much for five-sixths of the Israelites.

One sample of the spiritual anemia of the people during the years leading up to captivity is seen in 1 Kings 18. Having assembled the entire nation on Mt. Carmel, Elijah called upon the people to stand up for the Lord and truth, but they would not commit. Only after a dazzling demonstration of divine intervention did they come around and agree to execute the false prophets of Baal and Asherah. Despite such valiant attempts to recall people to their spiritual senses, every single one of the 19 northern kings were evil and fomented the general depravity of the nation. The northern kingdom only lasted just over 200 years.

Meanwhile, the southern kingdom, consisting of the remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin (known simply as Judah), lasted nearly 400 years as recorded in 1st and 2nd Kings and in 1st and 2nd Chronicles. They, too, had 19 kings. Perhaps six may be said to be somewhat good—with qualified commendation. Only two receive unqualified commendation from God. The prophetic books of the Old Testament are largely interspersed during the period of the divided kingdom, with most of the prophets addressing the southern kingdom (e.g., Jeremiah, Ezekiel). In those books one can see clearly that the majority of the people were unfaithful to God and refused to receive moral and spiritual admonitions. God eventually allowed the two southern tribes to go into Babylonian Captivity.

One is forced to conclude that most of the people, through whom God was working out His redemptive scheme to bring Jesus to the planet, were apostate. In fact, the prophets used a term to describe the few faithful: “remnant.” Numerically, those among God’s people in the Old Testament that were faithful were few. If most of God’s own people under Judaism were lost, what was the condition of most of the contemporaneous Gentiles who lived under Patriarchy? They, too, were alienated from God’s way, living in pagan wickedness.

Shifting to the New Testament, John arrived on the scene, followed by Jesus Himself, in an attempt to reform the Jews in and around Jerusalem and to get them to accept the Messiah. Most Jews were scattered throughout the world due to the previous captivities. Those who had returned to Judea after the Babylonian Captivity were a small minority (see Nehemiah and Ezra). John and Jesus attempted to get those in Judea to repent and to accept Christ and His new religion that He would launch beginning in Acts 2. Unfortunately, the Jews rejected Jesus in mass and participated in His death. Before His death, Jesus denounced Israel and declared that the Jews as a nation had rejected Him and consequently would be lost (Matthew 23-24). This widespread Jewish rejection of Christ and Christianity is confirmed in Acts and Romans. Paul forthrightly bemoaned this astonishing turn of events (e.g., 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

With the advent of Christianity in A.D. 30, about 3,000 Jews were converted on Pentecost (Acts 2). This occurrence was followed by a few thousand thereafter (Acts 3-5). But the estimates of how many Jews would have been in Jerusalem for the dual Old Testament feasts of Passover and Pentecost number in the millions. In fact, assembled in Jerusalem at the time Christianity commenced were Jews “out of every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5). Those who embraced Christianity were the minority—again, not even one-tenth of one percent. The Jewish rejection of Christ, as predicted by Jesus in Matthew 24, culminated in A.D. 70 when the Romans marched to Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and killed over one million Jews. This destruction of Jerusalem effectively dismantled the Jewish Commonwealth. The very people who should have embraced God’s religion in large numbers largely rejected it, evoking this stinging declaration: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46).

The Gospel was eventually introduced to the Gentile population in Acts 10. Paul was selected to be the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15). The remainder of Acts records the spread of the Gospel throughout the rest of the world. After its presentation to the Jews (Acts 2-7) and the Samaritans (Acts 8), and the initial Gentiles (Acts 10), the missionary journeys of Paul and others took the Gospel to the uttermost part of the world (Acts 1:8; 28:28-31). Yet, again, the vast majority of the Roman world rejected the Gospel.

SUMMARY

Observe what is readily apparent from this brief perusal of human history. Most of the Jews rejected Christianity—even to this day. And even though the Gospel then went to the whole Gentile world, the vast majority of the first century world rejected Christianity. So it continues to this very day. Over six billion people live on Earth, yet how many are New Testament Christians? Not even one-tenth of one percent! Throughout the history of mankind, only a small number of individuals will be saved. The unmistakable conclusion is that most people throughout human history will be in hell. Jesus confirmed this observation when He stated: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14, emp. added).

Who is to be blamed for the vast majority of all human beings who ever live being lost eternally? Not God! He has done everything He can legitimately do to reconcile lost humanity to Himself (Romans 5:8-10; 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 2:14-15). But He coerces no one. All are free to choose their eternal destiny. Most choose momentary pleasure in exchange for their soul. We would do well to think carefully and soberly: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

REFERENCES

Rehwinkel, Alfred (1951), The Flood (St. Louis, MO: Concordia).

Webster, Noah (1857), The Elementary Spelling Book (New York, NY: American Book Company).

How Could Jesus be God if He was Seen by Man? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1404

How Could Jesus be God if He was Seen by Man?

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, one of the reasons Jesus could not (and cannot) be God is because Jesus was seen by humankind. The official Web site of Jehovah’s Witnesses (www.watchtower.org) indicates that “[a]s the Son of God, he [Jesus—EL] could not be God himself, for John 1:18 says: ‘No one has ever seen God’ ” (“What Does the Bible Say...,” 2000). The problem with such reasoning is two-fold.

First, it ignores the fact that man only saw Jesus (“the Word”—John 1:1) after “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). He came in a veiled form. No human has ever seen Jesus in His true image (i.e., as a spirit Being—John 4:24—in all His glory and splendor). In his letter to the church at Philippi, the apostle Paul mentioned that Christ—Who had existed in heaven “in the form of God”—“made Himself of no reputation,” and took on the “likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). Men saw an embodiment of God as Jesus dwelt here in a fleshly form. Men saw “the Word” that “became flesh.” But no one has ever seen God’s true, complete image (as a spirit Being).

The second problem with Jehovah’s Witnesses’ denial of Jesus’ deity (based on the fact that “no one has ever seen God”) is that their argument crumbles when Jehovah God’s appearances to man are considered. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jehovah is God and “is the name of the true God only” (“Identifying...,” 2002). According to their doctrine, Jehovah, not Christ, is God Almighty. Yet, man has seen Jehovah. Genesis chapter 18 records an occasion when “Jehovah appeared” to Abraham near Mamre (vs. 1). Jehovah spoke directly to Abraham (vs. 13), and the faithful servant of God “stood before the Lord” (vs. 22). The final verse of Genesis 18 states: “And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham. And Abraham returned unto his place” (vs. 33). If Jehovah’s Witnesses were consistent with their argument, Jehovah could not be Almighty God because man has seen Jehovah. If John 1:18 somehow disqualifies Jesus from being God, it must also prohibit “Jehovah” from being God, because they both were seen. What Bible students must understand is that man has only seen manifestations of God (i.e, in human flesh, or in the midst of a burning bush—Exodus 3:2, etc.); he has never seen God (the Father or the Son) in His true spirit image.

[NOTE: If you would like to read further on the subject “Has Man Seen God?” and examine the alleged contradiction between such passages as John 1:18 and Exodus 33:11, click on the following link: http://www.apologeticspress.org/AllegedDiscrepancies.aspx?article=2682.] 

REFERENCES

“Identifying the True God Only,” (2002), [On-line], URL: http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/1999/2/8/article_04.htm, originally appeared in Awake!, February 8, 1999.

“What Does the Bible Say About God and Jesus?” (2002), [On-line], URL: http://www.watchtower.org/library/ti/index.htm.

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND by steve finnell



http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-blind-leading-blind-by-steve.html

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND by steve finnell

Luke 6:39And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they both not fall into a pit?(NASB)
  
You ever wonder why everyone in a certain denomination believes exactly the same false doctrine? Could it be, a log problem? If all the church leaders and all the church members have logs in their eyes, would that not be the blind leading the blind? A denomination with logs in their eyes have a difficult time understanding the Scriptures. It is like a blind man trying to read the Bible without a Braille translation.

Luke 6:42 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye. (NASB)

Believing false doctrine could be a log problem.

Acts 4:10-12....by the name of Jesus Christ.......12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among by which we must be saved."(NASB)

If all the members in your church believe that Jesus is just one of many ways to heaven, do think there just might be, a log problem.

Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved..(NASB)

When every member of your denomination agrees that "and" in Mark 16:16 is not a conjunction, and therefore only belief is required to be saved, your denomination may have, a log problem.

Mark 2:7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" (NASB)

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity..(NASB)

Jesus could forgive sins because He is God.

If everyone in your denomination believes that the local priest can forgive sins against God, you denomination may have, a log problem.

THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND!

How can we know the truth? by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/knowtruth.html

How can we know the truth?

This is a fundamental question in the religious world.

Especially in eastern religions people believe the ultimate source of truth lies within themselves. Such statements are made as: "There is a book of knowledge within every man!" "One gets all truth from the Book of Knowledge Within." "We tap the ancient wisdom and cosmic knowledge within, making it accessible and practical!"

To access this "truth within" people must perform bodily motions, chant mantras and meditate.

According to the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, the truth has been revealed by God in words that have been recorded as sacred Scripture for subsequent generations.

Jeremiah says: "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23).

You cannot find the truth by searching within yourself! Without a knowledge of the Scriptures, much of the truth you know you know is simply not so. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Jude wrote: "These speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves" (Jude 10).

The truth cannot be found by delving into our own hearts. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). How can the truth be found in a deceitful and wicked heart?

The nations "do not know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand His counsel" (Micah 4:12). "There is none who understands" (Romans 3:11). "The way of peace they have not known" (Isaiah 59:8). "They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness" (Psalm 82:5).

Without revelation from God, man wanders in the dark spiritually. To find his way he needs the light of God's word: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).

The Scriptures enlighten us.

"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:19-21).

Jesus said to the religious leaders: "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?" (Mark 12:24).

Paul wrote to Timothy: "Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:13-17).

When Christ came, God revealed the mystery of salvation and commanded that the truth be made known to all nations through the prophetic writings. Paul glorifies God "who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith" (Romans 16:25, 26).

We cannot know God through human wisdom: "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

The truth is not found within man. God is the source of truth. He has revealed the mystery and it is made known to all nations through the prophetic Scriptures. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

Through the Scriptures we learn about Christ who is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). At the close of his Gospel, John wrote: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30, 31). At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke explains that he wrote an orderly account so we might know the certainty of the things in which we have been instructed (Luke 1:3, 4).

Through the Scriptures we know the doctrine of Christ. Paul told Timothy: "These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:14, 15).

Shortly before his death, Peter wrote: "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior" (2 Peter 3:1, 2).

Peter also mentions Paul's writings: "Consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation -- as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you" (2 Peter 3:15).

To know the truth we must want to do the will of God. Jesus said: "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:16, 17).

To know the truth we must remain in the doctrine of Christ. "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free'" (John 8:31, 32). These words were spoken to people who believed. It is not enough just to believe in Jesus. We can know the truth only if we abide in His word. To really know the truth we must experience it by living according to the truth, by abiding in the doctrine of Christ: "Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9).

Paul said some would turn away from the truth: "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, and be turned aside to fables" (2 Timothy 4:3, 4).

How can we know the truth? The way of man is not in himself. Without revelation from God, man wanders in darkness. The word of God is a light for our path. The Scriptures can make us wise for salvation.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

Through prophetic Scriptures, the truth is made known to all nations. Through the Scriptures we learn about Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. Through the Scriptures we know how to conduct ourselves in the house of God. To know the truth we must want to do the will of God and we must abide in the doctrine of Christ.

Like the Bereans, let us search the Scriptures daily to know what is so (Acts 17:11). Let us not be "led away with the error of the wicked" who "twist the Scriptures," but let us "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:16-18).

Then we can know the truth.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

A hidden message or a revealed wonder? by Gary Rose



Books on a shelf, so what? Books contain all sorts of things, from the ridiculous to the sublime; things that can make you wise or foolish. Christians are to followers of God’s BOOK; it is more than something to be read- its meant to be taken to heart and lived. This message from God will either be hidden by our disbelief or revealed by faith. What we do about God’s book will have consequences...



Revelation 5 ( World English Bible )

1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.

2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”

3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.

4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

8 Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 They sang a new song, saying,

You are worthy to take the book,

and to open its seals:

for you were killed,

and bought us for God with your blood,

out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,

10 and made us kings and priests to our God,

and we will reign on earth.”


Revelation 20 ( WEB )

11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.

12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades * gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works.

14 Death and Hades * were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.



All books have a message, but God’s book has an eternal message; accept it and live, reject it to your own peril. Now, as far as those books in the bookcase, their combined titles say:

“The English patient had caught it on the beach, I should have stayed home she said, now she was in quarantine in the dark house of splendid isolation. Still, hope springs eternal. With a little bit of luck,common sense, and personal hygiene, the corona book of horror stories must end soon. Always remember, clean hands save lives and when in doubt- don’t go out!” (OK, I added some punctuation).

Some librarian just had a bit too much time on their hands- but that message might just do some good. Just think about all the goodness the Bible can bring to your life (now and forever). Are you listening yet?