6/2/14

From Mark Copeland... Lessons From Antioch (Acts 11:19-30)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                   Lessons From Antioch (11:19-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. A wonderful example in New Testament times was the church in Antioch
   of Syria...
   b. Begun by disciples who had been in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
   c. Where disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" - Ac 11:26

2. The church in Antioch of Syria would later...
   a. Serve as Paul's starting point for his three missionary journeys 
      - Ac 13:1-3
   b. Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to resolve the issue of
      circumcision - Ac 15:1-2

[In our text for this lesson (Ac 11:19-30), we can glean from the church
in Antioch of Syria several things that are worthy of emulation.  Let's
start with...]

I. HOW TO START A CHURCH

   A. CHURCHES CAN BEGIN IN VARIOUS WAYS...
      1. Paul started many churches through his missionary journeys -
         e.g., Ac 14:21
      2. Others start when a person or family moves to an area where 
         there is no church
      3. Sadly, today many churches begin as a result of division

   B. CHURCHES START BEST WHEN CHRISTIANS "SWARM"...
      1. Like bees swarming from one hive to begin another
      2. The church in Antioch began when disciples came from Jerusalem
         - Ac 11:19-20
      3. Today, "church plantings" most often succeed when several
         families begin a new work

[What is often needed to for more churches are not just more preachers,
but more families willing to be the nucleus of a new work, whether
locally or abroad.  From the church at Antioch, we can also learn...]

II. HOW TO BE A STRONG CHURCH

   A. MANY CHURCHES HAVE MEMBERS WHO PROFESS FAITH...
      1. They may love to assemble and express their faith in praise
      2. They may even confess their faith to friends and neighbors
      3. But sometimes their faith is not accompanied with true 
         repentance

   B. ANTIOCH WAS COMPOSED OF PENITENT BELIEVERS...
      1. They "believed and turned to the Lord" - Ac 11:21 
      2. They turned from sin, and turned to the Lord (an indication of 
         true repentance)
      3. More than mere confessors, they were true converts - e.g., 2Co 7:10-11

[A church made up of penitent believers who became such through "godly
sorrow" will be a strong, vibrant church.  From the church at Antioch,
we can learn...]

III. HOW TO BE A GROWING CHURCH

   A. BY PREACHING THE LORD JESUS...
      1. They were "preaching the Lord Jesus" - Ac 11:20
      2. Today, some preach the "church", almost to the exclusion of
         preaching "Christ"!
         a. Consider much of the evangelistic tools we sometimes use:
            1) Which stress "undenominational Christianity"
            2) Or focus on the "NT pattern for the church"
         b. What can be the result of such preaching?
            1) People may be converted to the idea of the church, rather
               than to the Lord Jesus!
            2) Extent of faithfulness may be limited to church related 
               activities (e.g., attendance)
      3. We need to be sure that we preach the Lord Jesus!
         a. In other words, proclaiming that Jesus is Lord - cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; 10:36
         b. The result of preaching Jesus as Lord?
            1) They will be faithful disciples in all things that Jesus
               taught - Mt 28:19-20
            2) People will then be converted to Christ, as well as to
               His church!

   B. WITH THE HAND OF THE LORD...
      1. At Antioch, "the hand of the Lord was with them" - Ac 11:21
      2. Without Divine help, we can never have the right kind of growth
         a. It is God who opens doors of opportunity - Col 4:3
         b. It is God who gives the increase - 1Co 3:5-7
      3. With God's help, we should expect growth
         a. That is the nature of the kingdom - Mt 13:31-33
         b. Where there is little or no growth, something is amiss!

   C. WITH THE AID OF TEACHERS...
      1. Like Barnabas, who encouraged them by word and example - Ac 11:22-24
      2. Like Saul, who together with Barnabas taught a great many
         people - Ac 11:25-26

[Preach Jesus as Lord, pray for God's helping hand, utilize those able
to teach, and a church will grow!  Finally, we learn from the church at
Antioch, when faced with an impending crisis...]

IV. HOW TO BE A GENEROUS CHURCH

   A. ACCORDING TO ABILITY...
      1. The prophet Agabus foretold of a famine to come upon the world
         - Ac 11:27-28
      2. The disciples gave according to their ability - Ac 11:29
      3. Which is all that God asks of any congregation - 1Co 16:2; 2Co 8:12-14

   B. WITH DETERMINATION... 
      1. To send relief to the brethren in Judea - Ac 11:29
      2. To send via trusted messengers (Barnabas and Saul) - Ac 11:30;
         cf. 1Co 16:3

CONCLUSION

1. The church at Antioch was where disciples of Christ were first called
   Christians - Ac 11:26; cf. Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16

2. For reasons we have considered, they are certainly worthy of our
   imitation! - cf. Php 3:17

From Gary... After the storm- then what?

http://www.957kjr.com/onair/luciana-bosio-45943/the-cello-cover-of-acdcs-thunderstruck-12093050/

Thunderstruck

Theatrics aside, this is an interesting composition. It reminds me of a somewhat less sophisticated version of Mussorgsky's Night on a bare mountain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8. However, both do manage to convey the power of a storm and after all, that is the point- ISN'T IT??? But, after God's exhibition of power is over- then what??? This is how one famous prophet reacted...

1 Kings, Chapter 19

1Ki 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."

1Ki 19:3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."

1Ki 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat."

1Ki 19:6 Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.

1Ki 19:7 The angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you."

1Ki 19:8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

1Ki 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1Ki 19:10 He said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

1Ki 19:11 So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

1Ki 19:12 After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.

1Ki 19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1Ki 19:14 Then he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

1Ki 19:15 The LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram;

1Ki 19:16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

1Ki 19:17 "It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

1Ki 19:18 "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him."

After God's seeing God's power in 1 Kings, chapter 18, Elijah should have continued in doing God's bidding, but instead, cowered at the word of Jezebel (verse 2). He ran from her and longed to die, but God had other plans. He provided for the next step in Elijah's mission and encouraged him with the words "What are you doing here, Elijah?". I especially like the passage that I emphasized in red, because Mussorgy's and AC-DC's musical compositions both remind me of the fury of a thunderstorm. But, after one has seen God's power- Then what? The answer has always been to keep seeking God and HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE!!! And, oh, yes- DO IT!!!

5/31/14

From Jim McGuiggan... NOT ON THEIR WATCH

NOT ON THEIR WATCH

t's a great Story! There are no losers or useless among Christ's chosen. None at all! They're all on the walls keeping watch and playing their part. They come in different sizes, shapes, genders, ages, degree of giftedness, particularity of giftedness, social status, color, ethnicity, physical and mental health—but they all serve! Their service is flawed, it's true, but nobody knows that better than they do and no union or government, club or community criticizes itself more severely or more consistently than the chosen People. .

They're very often happy but not always "happy" due to their life’s circumstances— they haven't been given exemption from humanity's awful pain, they're called to share it; besides, it isn't only the happy people that serve God's gracious purposes. People in the world might “go down” despite the presence of the Story people in it, but they won't go down without their taking note of it. They can't themselves take away all the world's pain but just by their very existence as the Story and Storied people, in their physical presence they offer an alternative to a sad and harrassed human family—an alternative to its sinking without trace.

The walls they guard are not just the “church” walls. These “chosen in Christ” are not just “church patriots”—they’re “cosmic patriots” (to borrow GK Chesterton’s phrase). They maintain a presence in the world and they do it for the world! Their enemies are not flesh and blood; their enemies are everything that is an enemy of flesh and blood, all that insinuates itself into flesh and blood as a parasite and a destroyer of the human family.

In their better moments these chosen ones have no sense of superiority; they are as sick and beaten-up as the peoples of the world around them. If you cut them they bleed, if you cheat them they feel betrayed, they weep at the graves of their dead ones and groan at a child that has gone astray or a marriage that has fallen apart. They have no personal charisma that the world should admire them but what they have (by God’s good and sustaining grace) is a Story and a place in that Story and as the prophetic embodiment of that Story—the Story that says there is a God who will right all wrongs and that he has given the assurance of that by raising Jesus Christ from the dead. This chosen People in their sacraments, their Story and their embodied preaching at its best proclaim the rejected Jesus who stands for all throughout the world who experience rejection and oppression. Their embodied message is that entrenched evil, enforced poverty and ignorance and brutal oppression are not the end of the Story. After suffering and rejection there was the resurrection and vindication of the rejected One. Believe that, they say, think noble things of God who puts his honor at stake and offers the resurrected Jesus as his assurance that he will keep his word.

Poor souls might go down to oblivion but they won’t go down unnoticed or unmourned—not on their watch!

by Jeff Miller, Ph.D. ... Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3725Tampering with the Chief Engineer's Design

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

The Great Designer designed designers. An exploding mass cannot design anything, much less design a designer. Genesis 1:28 confirms concerning mankind: “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the Earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the Earth.’” Thus began the field of engineering. Using our ingenuity, humans have since engineered many ways to fulfill the commands to “subdue” and have “dominion over” the Earth, from harnesses for oxen to automobiles to space shuttles and beyond. God created the Universe with potential for infinite growth in human knowledge that can lead to many improvements in living conditions when we learn to harness and utilize the phenomena God designed and implemented on Earth for us to discover. Consider the effect that harnessing the power of electricity, magnetic fields, nuclear reactions, and chemical reactions has had on life as we know it. Unfortunately, as the poison of atheism becomes more prevalent in society, encroaching into the field of engineering, we can be guaranteed that progress will be slowed, and eventually, stopped or even reversed.

An image of an artificial heart exhibited at the London science museum.

A few years ago, I attended a Bio-engineering seminar concerning design improvements on artificial hearts for use in transplants. After the presentation, during the question and answer period, a professor stood up and asked the presenter a question that went something like this: “Has nature optimized the heart yet after all of these millions of years of its evolution, or is it still necessary for us to help it along with our designs?” At that moment, it struck me how dangerous the Theory of Evolution can be if allowed to run rampant in the field of engineering. Those who follow out the implications of the Theory of Evolution could cause not only a hindrance to scientific and technological progress, but could actually place us in mortal danger. How so?

If engineering design is approached from an evolutionary perspective, the above question is appropriate. Has nature optimized the ______, or do we need to fix it? If the Theory of Evolution is true, there should be a multitude of examples in the physical world of creatures and plants, and the components that comprise them, that are sub-optimal—since they are all in the process of evolving to better states. [NOTE: Such is not the case, which is further proof that the Theory of Evolution cannot effectively account for the state of the world.] After all, an explosion, plus a series of random accidents, no matter how many, do not produce optimized systems. Vast improvements would be necessary. Thus, the intelligence, experience, and wisdom of mankind could improve the condition of the system that “Mother Nature” dealt us. [Also note: the fact that we have the ability even to consider improving nature, implies that we as humans are too advanced to be the result of a series of random accidents. Nature could not create and then improve us to the point that we can take over and improve it. Mother Nature could not produce an entity greater than herself. The effect cannot be greater than the cause.]
However, if the Theory of Evolution is false, and the God of the Bible is the Chief Engineer of the Universe, an evolutionary approach could be very dangerous. To tamper with the design of the Almighty Engineer of the Universe would be tantamount to placing oneself above Him in knowledge and declaring oneself to be omniscient. Consider also that science is constantly evolving as research is conducted. Views once held as fact have been radically revised or even abandoned. Though some people for centuries held that the Earth was flat, modern science has proven that the Earth is spherical. The medical practice of “bleeding” a sick patient to eliminate ailments in the blood was common only 200 years ago. However, through further research and scientific investigation, and following many deaths, such a practice now seems barbaric.
Now consider an example that could be directly relevant today. If humans become arrogant enough to think that we have the knowledge necessary to improve the design of the heart, act on those feelings, and then find out through further research that the design of the heart was actually already optimal, what damage could have been done in the process? Those whose hearts had been “improved” by the wisdom of mankind, could have shorter life spans or suffer major physical complications due to the arrogance of atheistic engineers. Thus, humans could potentially be harmed due to atheist engineers making design decisions without adequate understanding of the intricacies of God’s design! No wonder Almighty God, by the hand of Paul, warned: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21).
Many other examples illustrate the dangers of atheistic engineering. Since sin entered the world in Genesis three and mankind was evicted from the Garden of Eden, the pristine conditions of life on Earth have severely deteriorated. The Earth, as well as the general condition of the human body, is running down as the Second Law of Thermodynamics implies. Disease and genetic mutation, for example, attest to this. Isaiah declared: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the Earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke. The Earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner....” (51:6). We have used God-given engineering abilities to combat some of this decline through designs of our own, including, for example, medicine to combat disease, and sophisticated structures to withstand the forces of natural calamity. However, with a warped perspective about Who the Author and Designer of the Universe is, mankind could attempt to fix things that do not need fixing, and thereby bring calamity, suffering, and unhappiness.
Now consider: If engineers would respect the Chief Engineer Who has surrounded us with amazing prototypes—an engineering school into which we have all been admitted—they could make quicker and better advancements in technology. Engineers of the past understood this. The Wright brothers, for example, analyzed birds to determine how to get an airplane to stay in the air (Fausz, 2008; Root, 1905), thereby achieving their objective. However, evolutionists will tend not to use God’s optimized designs since, to them, there is no ultimate Engineer to mimic. Rather, they are the results of a multitude of random accidents. Evolutionists would, therefore, have to recognize that optimized designs could not possibly come from an explosion. [NOTE: Ironically, many evolutionists openly gape at the amazing complexity and seeming design of the world, and yet fail to recognize the implications of their awe (Block, 1980, p. 52; Jastrow, 1981, pp. 96-97; Lipson, 1980, 31:138; Wylie, 1962, p. 25).] Thus, technological advancement is slowed and designs often will fail to reach their potential.
If scientists fail to ask the right question, we will begin to see notable deleterious effects in the field of engineering. If engineers ask the right question, they, and indirectly we, will continue to have major advancements in technology as blessings from the Chief Engineer. What is the right question? The correct question to ask is, “Why did the Chief Engineer do it that way?” Studying that question will help us to have better “dominion” over the Earth. He designed the Earth, and we can be assured that His design, and the rationale behind His design, will be very useful. After all, who could possibly out-design the Chief Engineer of the Universe?

REFERENCES

Block, Irvin (1980), “The Worlds Within You,” Science Digest, special edition:49-53,118, September/October.
Fausz, Jerry (2008), “Designed to Fly,” Reason & Revelation, 28[2]:9-15, February, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3599.
Jastrow, Robert (1981), The Enchanted Loom: Mind in the Universe (New York: Simon and Schuster).
Lipson, H. S. (1980), “A Physicist Looks at Evolution,” Physics Bulletin, 31:138, May.
Root, Amos Ives (1905), “First Published Account of the Wright Brothers Flight,” Gleanings in Bee Culture (Medina, OH: A.I. Root Company), [On-line], URL: http://www.rootcandles.com/about/wrightbrothers.cfm.
Wylie, Evan M. (1962), Today’s Health, July.

From Mark Copeland... The Church In Antioch Of Syria (Acts 11:19-30)

"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

The Church In Antioch Of Syria (11:19-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. A major church in New Testament times was the church in Antioch of
Syria...
b. Begun by disciples who had been in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
c. Where disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" - Ac 11:26

2. The church in Antioch of Syria would later...
a. Serve as Paul's starting point for his three missionary journeys
- Ac 13:1-3
b. Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to resolve the issue of
circumcision - Ac 15:1-2

[In our text for this lesson (Ac 11:19-30), we read the beginning of
the church in Antioch of Syria. But first, let's review some
background material concerning the city of Antioch itself...]

I. THE CITY OF ANTIOCH

A. BEGINNING...
1. Founded in 300 B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander the
Great's generals
2. Named after his father Antiochus
3. Located on the river Orontes, 15 miles upstream from the port
city Seleucia (named after Seleucus himself)

B. FAME...
1. Became known as "Antioch the Beautiful"
2. Famous for its fine buildings, and a long, paved boulevard
flanked by a double colonnade with trees and fountains
3. Absorbed by the Roman empire in 64 B.C., it became the capital
of the imperial province of Syria (and later Cilicia)
4. Josephus called it the third city of the empire, after Rome and
Alexandria

C. POPULATION...
1. Estimated at 300,000, extremely cosmopolitan (multicultural)
2. A Greek city by foundation, inhabitants included Latins as well
3. With a large colony of Jews, attracted by Seleucus' offer of
equal citizenship
4. There were also people from Persia, India, and even China,
earning it another name: "the Queen of the East"

[Much of the above information about the city of Antioch is from Stott,
J. R. W. (1994). The Message of Acts: The Spirit, the Church & the
World. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press. Now let's consider the church itself...]

II. THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH

A. ESTABLISHED BY EVANGELISTS...
1. Of those scattered by the persecution in Jerusalem, who first
spoke only to the Jews - Ac 11:19; cf. Ac 8:1-4
2. Some of them from Cyprus and Cyrene, began speaking to
Hellenists (Greeks) - Ac 11:20
3. Preaching the Lord Jesus, with the aid of the Lord, a great
number believed and turned to the Lord - Ac 11:21

B. ENCOURAGED BY BARNABAS...
1. News of this new church reached Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas
- Ac 11:22
a. Introduced earlier as also being from Cyprus - Ac 4:36-37
b. Who helped Saul to be accepted by the church in Jerusalem
- Ac 9:26-27
2. Upon his arrival, Barnabas (whose name means "son of
encouragement"):
a. Saw the grace of God and was glad - Ac 11:23
b. Encouraged them to continue with the Lord with purpose of
heart - ibid.
3. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith
- Ac 11:24; cf. Ac 4:37; 6:5
4. Result: "And a great many people were added to the Lord" - Ac 11:24; cf. Ac 2:41,47

C. EDUCATED WITH SAUL...
1. Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul - Ac 11:25; cf. Ac 9:30
2. Together at Antioch, Barnabas and Saul assembled with the church
for a year and taught a great many people - Ac 11:26
3. It was at Antioch disciples were first called Christians - Ac 11:26; cf. Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16

D. EXEMPLIFIED GOOD WORKS...
1. Some prophets arrived from Jerusalem - Ac 11:27; cf. 1Co 12:28;
Ep 4:11
2. One of them, Agabus, by the Spirit foretold of a famine - Ac 11:28; cf. Ac 21:10,11
3. The disciples at Antioch determined to send relief - Ac 11:29
a. Each according to his ability - cf. 1Co 16:1-2; 2Co 8:2-4,
12-14
b. Sent by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to the elders
4. Thus the church demonstrated one "zealous for good works" - cf.
Tit 2:14; 3:1,8,14

CONCLUSION

1. So began a great church in a great city...
a. Established by evangelists
b. Endorsed by Barnabas
c. Educated with Saul
d. Exemplified good works
-- Perhaps the second most influential church after Jerusalem in the
first century A.D.

2. We will read more of this church in the book of Acts...
a. As an important factor in Paul's missionary journeys
b. Contributing to the successful resolution of a problem involving
Gentiles

Indeed, there are good lessons we might glean from "The Church In Antioch
Of Syria", a few of which we shall look at in our next study...

From Gary... Warning: Stupidity may be hazardous to thinking

Stupidity, sheer stupidity!!! Reading these warning labels shows how sue-happy our society has become. But then again, consider the concept of Law versus Grace. Paul writes...

Galatians, Chapter 3

Gal 3:2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Gal 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?
Gal 3:5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Gal 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
Gal 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."
Gal 3:11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
Gal 3:12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--
Gal 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
Gal 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
Gal 3:17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
Gal 3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
Gal 3:21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.

God accounts righteousness; man tries and fails. Obedience to the Law of God has always been a wonderful thing and there is an eternal blessing for those who attempt to please God in every way. BUT, no matter how hard we try, we fail (at least in some minor point). Like Abraham, it is our faith, which is expressed in our efforts to please God through obedience, that saves us. Do yourself a favor- expand your understanding of faithfulness to God BEYOND MERE OBEDIENCE TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. That is why God sent his son- to show us the way!!! Going back to rules-based religion is like following the directions listed for Dial soap "Directions: use like regular soap". You wind up trying to use common sense anyway!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... ELECT OR ELITE

ELECT OR ELITE

One of the dangers in choosing a special group to act on behalf of a larger group is that misunderstanding and envy may arise. In choosing a special priesthood out of a nation that was, at least, priestly in calling, God was willing to risk the misunderstanding and envy of some of the people. There are numerous texts that show that envy and bitterness were indeed a problem connected with this.

The book of Numbers has this as one of its recurring themes. Chapters 12, 16 and 17 mention the problem. In twelve Aaron and Miriam are chafed by Moses' authority and in sixteen Korah and his companions are maddened by the peculiar claims of Aaron and his family.

In electing a special priesthood God was not creating an elite group but an elect group; not a 'lording it over' group but a servant group; not a 'self-chosen' class but 'an obedient to a call' class of men.

It's clear from a reading of the biblical text that God didn't make these priests paragons of virtue, he didn't work a moral miracle and make them into sinless beings. The behavior of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eli's sons, Hopni and Phineas this and the frequent denunciation of the priesthood by the prophets leave us in no doubt that priests had their character flaws. Nevertheless, though flawed like all others, these God was pleased to choose as leaders of his people.

That being the case, there was no ground for priests to act as though butter wouldn't melt in their mouths. They were chosen not because they were uniformly of wonderful character. In this they were like the nation which God reminded again and again. "I didn't choose you because of your righteousness." Israel had no more reason to look down on their neighbors than the priests had to scorn their fellow-worshipers, the Israelite nation.

But while the priests had to understand and act on that truth, Israel needed to understand that the choice of Aaron and his family was God's choice and as such, when they opposed Aaron, they were opposing God. And when God called Aaron and his family, Israel needed to understand that for Aaron to say no would have been to rebel against Yahweh.

Let me say it again, both priests and the nation needed to understand that the special priesthood was on Israel's behalf. They were called to serve Israel. Envy against the priestly representatives is out of order for many reasons but it misses the mark because it is leveled against those whose very existence was to serve them.

And the priests needed to understand that they were called to serve not to enslave. Authority in the form of representation is for others rather than over others. And this remains true even though the priests are given the authority to settle certain things, they are given decision-making power. The people in many things must submit to the instructions of the priests and are required to regard them as God's representatives to the nation as well as the nation's representatives to God.

This truth of honorable representation is embedded in the very nature of humanity as God created it. He created humans for community and so he created them as interdependent. Deuteronomy 1:9-18; Exodus 18:13-26 and Deuteronomy 16:18-20 speak of the need of honorable representation. Moses isn't able to care for all the needs and troubles of the nation so men who knew and loved God and the nation are chosen to broker peace and justice and contentment between disputing or mutually ignorant parties who differ.Once more, the choice of these judges was for the benefit of the nation and to defy them was to defy God's arrangement by which the entire Community was to be blessed—it was to defy God in the form of anarchy [Deuteronomy 18:7-13]. God-given authority is not an enemy of justice or peace or community!

Imagine thousands who wished to offer sacrifice to God at the Tabernacle. Paint the picture as realistically as you are able. Bearing in mind that the manner of sacrificing was appointed by God, how could they have managed it without priestly representation? Imagine a sinful nation with all its inner conflicts and picture it left to the physically strong or the wickedly influential or those who can gain overwhelming power because they had the money to bribe support among the people [see the case of Absalom]. Honorable and wise representation beats anarchy and national disorder.

Social justice is viewed as profoundly serious in the OT—it's one of the fundamental requirements of Israel's existence as God's nation. When leaders [priests, prophets, judges or kings] become corrupt and in this way corrupt the entire nation God moves to deal with the situation. The authority structures he put in place are not the problem—corruption in all its forms is the problem!

Up to this point I've been dealing mainly with the individuals rights of the nation and how God's choice of authoritative representation is designed to cater to those God-given "rights". But that is only one perspective of the larger picture. Israel's business was to image God and his ways before the nations of the world! The self-disclosure of God in the story of the covenant with Abraham and his children through Jacob, the Exodus and all that is part of that self-disclosure was to shape Israel's Story and national behavior. As a People they were to be a living embodiment of that continuing self-revelation of God. That imaging of God was for the benefit of the entire human family—a Community was called to bring light to the nations and salvation to the ends of the earth. This of necessity involved the pursuit of social justice within the community [note God's "hearing" Israel's groaning under Egyptian bondage—Exodus 2:23-25].

It's clear that some structures came and went with God's appointment and/or approval because they were no longer needed or no longer served their purpose. SEE. It's also true that some laws were introduced that God did not approve or promote—he tolerated and regulated them [polygamy, concubinage, divorce "for any cause" are examples (see Matthew 19:3-9]. But the truths that underlay all these structures, truths that these structures served, truths about God as creatior and Redeemer—these truths abide despite change.

Democracy and egalitarianism can foster dangerous tendencies. In a world like ours, if we pursue equality "in every conceivable area and way" too vigorously we can destroy something more fundamental that gaining our "rights" in every conceivable way. We can destroy "community" without which "rights" can't exist or if they can they could not be enjoyed.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.