God’s Wisdom
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Here we have Paul pointing out that Christianity, and the preaching of the cross is foolishness to both Jew and Greeks.
The Jews were looking for a conquering Messiah not a suffering one. The Greeks by their way of thinking could not understand that a great man who claimed to be all Jesus did, would let himself go to the cross.
Even today one has to admit that for a someone who is to be saviour of the world to be put to death is illogical at least to man’s way of thinking. But then God does not do things the way man does them.
God did not have is son born to high birth. He chose a poor girl and her carpenter husband to look after his child. And while the message of Jesus is for all. His ministry reached the average person on the street first.
The message of the Gospel requires nothing from the individual but faith.
Kenneth L Barker states,
“The Corinthian Christians themselves were living proof that salvation does not depend on anything in themselves, so that those who are saved can only “boast in the Lord” (v. 31). Their salvation did not spring from the cleverness of human intellect or the centers of human power but from the free grace of God."
( Zondervan’s NIV Study Bible copy right 2002)
Paul makes it clear,
“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30,31.
That is the beauty of Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Saying you are saved by My Grace not by your works.
In sending Jesus down to this earth to be born of parents of low birth, to live among and preach to average people, means God fully understands all that man is going through.
Think about it. Jesus experienced everything it is to be a man. Everything from the mundane such as walking along a dusty road. To feeling the sun and rain. To constantly being harassed by his enemies and ultimately suffering and dying for a crime he didn’t commit.
Man’s logic would be to come in power wipe out his enemies and attempt by force to convert those who didn’t believe.
I like the words of Napoleon when it came to Jesus he got it right saying,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Think about it.
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Saturday, 5 July 2014
A Church Divided
A Church Divided
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
I like the way Paul starts here. He points out the divisions. It’s the same in the church today.
We have people who hang on every word of various preachers and evangelist. At times they take the word of the interpretation of the evangelist or pastor over the bible clear statements.
Here in our city we had one big church fall apart. The senior pastor fell into sin. The situation was complicated but the short version was. That the pastor left to set up an independent church elsewhere rather than accept correction from his church board.
Many people fell away because of the incident to the point the congregation no longer exists. It left people questioning their faith.
Many people from that church no longer attend any church. I believe they fell away because they followed the pastor not Christ.
Pastors, evangelist and church leaders all make mistakes. That’s why we should not be following a man.
We must follow Christ. We must be studying the scriptures and following the teachings there in.
There is a saying that is very true. “The teachings of Christ and the Apostles are true. It unfortunately is the interpretation of them by modern teachers, evangelist and other Christians that are frequently in error.”
As Christians we must follow Christ not a man.
I’m old enough to remember Jones town. A situation where a very enigmatic preacher named Jim Jones lead followers from the United States down to a Jungle town in South America where they committed mass suicide. Hundreds of men women and children died.
This was admittedly a very extreme occurrence but is an example of what happens when one follows a man and not Christ.
There are other less extreme things happening in the Christian world all the time. Especially when it come to evangelist in the media.
We as Christians need I believe from time to time check ourselves and ask are we following a man, a movement or Christ.
If the answer is not Christ we need to turn from our error and turn back to Christ.
Think about it.
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.
(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
I like the way Paul starts here. He points out the divisions. It’s the same in the church today.
We have people who hang on every word of various preachers and evangelist. At times they take the word of the interpretation of the evangelist or pastor over the bible clear statements.
Here in our city we had one big church fall apart. The senior pastor fell into sin. The situation was complicated but the short version was. That the pastor left to set up an independent church elsewhere rather than accept correction from his church board.
Many people fell away because of the incident to the point the congregation no longer exists. It left people questioning their faith.
Many people from that church no longer attend any church. I believe they fell away because they followed the pastor not Christ.
Pastors, evangelist and church leaders all make mistakes. That’s why we should not be following a man.
We must follow Christ. We must be studying the scriptures and following the teachings there in.
There is a saying that is very true. “The teachings of Christ and the Apostles are true. It unfortunately is the interpretation of them by modern teachers, evangelist and other Christians that are frequently in error.”
As Christians we must follow Christ not a man.
I’m old enough to remember Jones town. A situation where a very enigmatic preacher named Jim Jones lead followers from the United States down to a Jungle town in South America where they committed mass suicide. Hundreds of men women and children died.
This was admittedly a very extreme occurrence but is an example of what happens when one follows a man and not Christ.
There are other less extreme things happening in the Christian world all the time. Especially when it come to evangelist in the media.
We as Christians need I believe from time to time check ourselves and ask are we following a man, a movement or Christ.
If the answer is not Christ we need to turn from our error and turn back to Christ.
Think about it.
Friday, 4 July 2014
Paul to Believers
Paul to the Believers in Corinth
Paul to Believers today
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
1 Corinthians 1:2-9
I like the phrase, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,”
This was it seems a church that was a good solid believing church. Paul referring to it as being “sanctified”.
He makes it clear that “For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”
Such a church one commentator I read said also had to be morally holy. This must have been hard for the church in Corinth. It was surrounded by sin.
We are in many ways in the same situation as they were. Especially those of us who live in large cities and towns.
We do not live in a Christian world.
The cities of today while not filled with temples to the gods such as Aphrodite, Asclepius, and to Apollo still have gods.
One only has to walk down the financial district of Bay street in Toronto here in Canada or Wall Street in the United states to see temples to the god of money.
We don’t have to go far in any major city to find the seamy side of life. Prostitution, and illegal drugs, are everywhere.
As are the legal sins, stripper bars and taverns, x-rated movies and live shows. The writer of Ecclesiastes was right when he wrote,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
It can be hard to be a Christian here even in the west as freedoms in the secular states of the west include the freedom to sin.
That is why Pauls letter to the Corinthians is so important to us today.
The Corinthian church was far from perfect and it made very real mistakes the same as we in the church do today.
It is precisely why we study such writings.
When Paul wrote this letter he aimed it at the Corinthians but he could just have easily written it to us.
“To the church of God in Corinth,” could just as easily been expressed as ‘to the church of the twenty-first century.
Paul say’s“to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:” is something that can be said to us today. We are called to be holy together with believers around the world.
The question is however when it comes down to you as the individual and your church congregation could Paul say of you and your congregation,
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
Think about it.
Paul to Believers today
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
1 Corinthians 1:2-9
I like the phrase, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy,”
This was it seems a church that was a good solid believing church. Paul referring to it as being “sanctified”.
He makes it clear that “For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”
Such a church one commentator I read said also had to be morally holy. This must have been hard for the church in Corinth. It was surrounded by sin.
We are in many ways in the same situation as they were. Especially those of us who live in large cities and towns.
We do not live in a Christian world.
The cities of today while not filled with temples to the gods such as Aphrodite, Asclepius, and to Apollo still have gods.
One only has to walk down the financial district of Bay street in Toronto here in Canada or Wall Street in the United states to see temples to the god of money.
We don’t have to go far in any major city to find the seamy side of life. Prostitution, and illegal drugs, are everywhere.
As are the legal sins, stripper bars and taverns, x-rated movies and live shows. The writer of Ecclesiastes was right when he wrote,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
It can be hard to be a Christian here even in the west as freedoms in the secular states of the west include the freedom to sin.
That is why Pauls letter to the Corinthians is so important to us today.
The Corinthian church was far from perfect and it made very real mistakes the same as we in the church do today.
It is precisely why we study such writings.
When Paul wrote this letter he aimed it at the Corinthians but he could just have easily written it to us.
“To the church of God in Corinth,” could just as easily been expressed as ‘to the church of the twenty-first century.
Paul say’s“to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:” is something that can be said to us today. We are called to be holy together with believers around the world.
The question is however when it comes down to you as the individual and your church congregation could Paul say of you and your congregation,
“I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
Think about it.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
An Intro
An Introduction
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul identifies himself here as “an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.”
Paul had been a persecutor of Christians but had been converted on the road to Damascus in a dramatic fashion. He then went on to be a dynamic force within the early church. Writing a good portion of the New Testament.
Acts chapter nine records his conversion. Acts 9:27,28, recording Barnabas bringing him to the apostles in Jerusalem stating,
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”
Acts 9:27,28.
Paul is a good example of how someone persecuting the church can be converted. One must remember that Paul and all of the other Apostles were only ordinary men like us.
I’m sure those who knew of Pauls persecution of the church were like any of us would be today when faced with such harsh persecution. They would be scared. They like I’m sure we would be unsure of a man like Saul, a vehement opponent of Christians, suddenly becoming a believer.
Acts 9:26 even notes that scepticism,
“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple”
God had indeed intervened and changed Saul for good.
When I was a young Christian I worked in a warehouse. That place attracted anyone an everyone.
Most people were there for the excellent wage and good benefits it payed. Most could have cared less about what I believed.
I was a young Christian at the time and while I didn’t beat people over the head with my faith. I never hid what I believed and for the most part people had a problem with me sharing my faith with them.
Three men however were a problem. One was the rebellious son of a Baptist pastor. He caused me no end of grief. He did not like what his father stood for and in his mind at the time I was the same.
Another was into martial arts and dappled in the occult. He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with my faith. He was also very openly hostile to me at times in a physical way.
Looking back on it with the benefit of four decades, I realize I was too dumb to realize he could have cause me some serious harm. Still thanks to God he didn’t.
The third person was a hard drinking drug taking guy who constantly made fun of me. While he was never a threat to me. His constantly trying to humiliate however drove me crazy.
One day was a particularly bad day. I was so upset with these three that I was almost in tears when I came home from work.
I literally called out to God in my grief and asked them to either convert them or take them out of my life.
Within I believe two or three weeks things changed dramatically.
The one who made fun of me was in a car accident. He wasn’t hurt but it was discovered that he had cirrhosis of the liver and had to stop working.
The rebellious pastors son decided to hitch hike to Florida and back from Canada. On his way back he was mugged and attacked. It shook him up and he changed his ways going on to become a pastor himself.
The one into martial arts met a girl who introduced him into Christ. It changed his life and he entered Bible School also becoming a minister.
I thank God to this day for what happened.
It bothered me to some degree about the man with the cirrhosis of the liver. But I had witnessed to him as I know others did. Ultimately what happened to him I don’t know. It was like all of us between him and God.
Within a year or so later I got married and the Lord led me elsewhere.
The incident with those three men reminded me of Paul. He when persecuting the early church must have been hard on them.
I’m sure people were praying for God to deal with him.
God did making him a pillar of the young church. Paul himself would go on and know what it was to be persecuted and put in prison. To be beaten and stoned and left for dead.
Paul would write to the Romans,
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:14
Paul here echoed the sentiments of Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48.
We may not like what our persecutors are doing to us. I don’t think any normal person likes to be persecuted. Never the less we are called to love our persecutors. For it is our duty to try and point all men to the salvation that is in Christ alone.
Think about it.
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul identifies himself here as “an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God.”
Paul had been a persecutor of Christians but had been converted on the road to Damascus in a dramatic fashion. He then went on to be a dynamic force within the early church. Writing a good portion of the New Testament.
Acts chapter nine records his conversion. Acts 9:27,28, recording Barnabas bringing him to the apostles in Jerusalem stating,
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.”
Acts 9:27,28.
Paul is a good example of how someone persecuting the church can be converted. One must remember that Paul and all of the other Apostles were only ordinary men like us.
I’m sure those who knew of Pauls persecution of the church were like any of us would be today when faced with such harsh persecution. They would be scared. They like I’m sure we would be unsure of a man like Saul, a vehement opponent of Christians, suddenly becoming a believer.
Acts 9:26 even notes that scepticism,
“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple”
God had indeed intervened and changed Saul for good.
When I was a young Christian I worked in a warehouse. That place attracted anyone an everyone.
Most people were there for the excellent wage and good benefits it payed. Most could have cared less about what I believed.
I was a young Christian at the time and while I didn’t beat people over the head with my faith. I never hid what I believed and for the most part people had a problem with me sharing my faith with them.
Three men however were a problem. One was the rebellious son of a Baptist pastor. He caused me no end of grief. He did not like what his father stood for and in his mind at the time I was the same.
Another was into martial arts and dappled in the occult. He made it clear he wanted nothing to do with my faith. He was also very openly hostile to me at times in a physical way.
Looking back on it with the benefit of four decades, I realize I was too dumb to realize he could have cause me some serious harm. Still thanks to God he didn’t.
The third person was a hard drinking drug taking guy who constantly made fun of me. While he was never a threat to me. His constantly trying to humiliate however drove me crazy.
One day was a particularly bad day. I was so upset with these three that I was almost in tears when I came home from work.
I literally called out to God in my grief and asked them to either convert them or take them out of my life.
Within I believe two or three weeks things changed dramatically.
The one who made fun of me was in a car accident. He wasn’t hurt but it was discovered that he had cirrhosis of the liver and had to stop working.
The rebellious pastors son decided to hitch hike to Florida and back from Canada. On his way back he was mugged and attacked. It shook him up and he changed his ways going on to become a pastor himself.
The one into martial arts met a girl who introduced him into Christ. It changed his life and he entered Bible School also becoming a minister.
I thank God to this day for what happened.
It bothered me to some degree about the man with the cirrhosis of the liver. But I had witnessed to him as I know others did. Ultimately what happened to him I don’t know. It was like all of us between him and God.
Within a year or so later I got married and the Lord led me elsewhere.
The incident with those three men reminded me of Paul. He when persecuting the early church must have been hard on them.
I’m sure people were praying for God to deal with him.
God did making him a pillar of the young church. Paul himself would go on and know what it was to be persecuted and put in prison. To be beaten and stoned and left for dead.
Paul would write to the Romans,
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
Romans 12:14
Paul here echoed the sentiments of Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:43-48.
We may not like what our persecutors are doing to us. I don’t think any normal person likes to be persecuted. Never the less we are called to love our persecutors. For it is our duty to try and point all men to the salvation that is in Christ alone.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
A Study
A study.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2Timothy 3:16,17
One thing I’ve discovered in my now forty years serving the Lord, no one is perfect. Because we are human with all our frailties we from time to time make mistakes or get into practices that are wrong.
Even individual church congregations and denominations need to address what they are teaching and practising from time to time to see if things do indeed line up to what the scriptures say.
This is why we must continually study Scripture to help us make corrections that bring us back to the basics teachings of the bible and our faith.
Something I have found of interest that seems to be coming popular in some churches, is the establishment of a group of well educated members of the congregation.
These groups are made up of a board members, bible study teachers and others well educated in the Bible from the congregation, along with the pastor.
These groups examine the teachings of the congregation and denomination. They look directly at scripture not at interpretations of scripture by any specific person.
They look to see that what is being practised and taught is truly in line with Scripture.
One Church congregation that seemed to have more than it’s share of problems during it’s day was the Corinthian Church to which Apostle Paul addressed at least two letters.
As a result of these letters and the fact the problems the Corinthians had are no different to what we have today we can learn a lot from Corinthians.
The writer of Ecclesiastes long before Paul was even born observed,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
That is why over the next while I will be posting material taken from Pauls letters to the Corinthians.
The authorship of the letters was attested to by Clement of Rome in 96AD and today virtually all scholars agree with this.
They were written around the year 55AD. At a time near the end of Paul’s two year stay in Ephesus.
Corinth from what I have read was, like many major cities today, a major trading place a crossroads for travellers from around the Roman world.
It’s culture was Greek who were deeply into philosophy placing great emphasis on wisdom.
Twelve temples have been found at Corinth although it is unknown whether they were all active in the time of Paul.
Still there was one temple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose worshipers practiced religious prostitution. At it’s height there were believed to be over 1,000 priestess prostitutes serving in the temple.
So immoral was Corinth that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.”
Now while you may not be able to say that of most major cities in the world are like that today. All of the sins of Corinth are still within our cities today to one degree or another.
Someone said to me the only difference between the citizens of Corinth and the citizens of any city, town of village in the Twenty-first century. Is that we can sit in the comfort of our living room and invite sin in through television, radio and the internet.
That is why I believe we need to study Corinthians for as Paul wrote to Timothy.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2Timothy 3:16,17
Think about it.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2Timothy 3:16,17
One thing I’ve discovered in my now forty years serving the Lord, no one is perfect. Because we are human with all our frailties we from time to time make mistakes or get into practices that are wrong.
Even individual church congregations and denominations need to address what they are teaching and practising from time to time to see if things do indeed line up to what the scriptures say.
This is why we must continually study Scripture to help us make corrections that bring us back to the basics teachings of the bible and our faith.
Something I have found of interest that seems to be coming popular in some churches, is the establishment of a group of well educated members of the congregation.
These groups are made up of a board members, bible study teachers and others well educated in the Bible from the congregation, along with the pastor.
These groups examine the teachings of the congregation and denomination. They look directly at scripture not at interpretations of scripture by any specific person.
They look to see that what is being practised and taught is truly in line with Scripture.
One Church congregation that seemed to have more than it’s share of problems during it’s day was the Corinthian Church to which Apostle Paul addressed at least two letters.
As a result of these letters and the fact the problems the Corinthians had are no different to what we have today we can learn a lot from Corinthians.
The writer of Ecclesiastes long before Paul was even born observed,
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9.
That is why over the next while I will be posting material taken from Pauls letters to the Corinthians.
The authorship of the letters was attested to by Clement of Rome in 96AD and today virtually all scholars agree with this.
They were written around the year 55AD. At a time near the end of Paul’s two year stay in Ephesus.
Corinth from what I have read was, like many major cities today, a major trading place a crossroads for travellers from around the Roman world.
It’s culture was Greek who were deeply into philosophy placing great emphasis on wisdom.
Twelve temples have been found at Corinth although it is unknown whether they were all active in the time of Paul.
Still there was one temple to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose worshipers practiced religious prostitution. At it’s height there were believed to be over 1,000 priestess prostitutes serving in the temple.
So immoral was Corinth that the Greek verb “to Corinthianize” came to mean “to practice sexual immorality.”
Now while you may not be able to say that of most major cities in the world are like that today. All of the sins of Corinth are still within our cities today to one degree or another.
Someone said to me the only difference between the citizens of Corinth and the citizens of any city, town of village in the Twenty-first century. Is that we can sit in the comfort of our living room and invite sin in through television, radio and the internet.
That is why I believe we need to study Corinthians for as Paul wrote to Timothy.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2Timothy 3:16,17
Think about it.
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
The Great Commission
The Great Commission
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20.
Here is the commission given by Jesus to his disciples and passed on to us. It is something many people of other faiths do not like. Yet it is the most important part of Christianity.
Christianity is if you think about it evangelical Judaism. The Jews were the first to worship the one true God creator of the universe by faith.
For thousands of years they kept that faith. They followed by faith the one true God. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Hebrews 11:8-16.
This is what we as Christians are proclaiming. We believe one must have faith in the one true God. That we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. It is the same faith Abraham and the Jewish patriarchs had.
I believe God’s plan all along was for the world to know Him on a personal level that’s why at just the right time Christ came into this world.
We who believe in Jesus want every individual in the world to know that they can meet God on a personal level.
We believe its only through faith in Jesus Christ that one can enter heaven. Paul writing to the Ephesians wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation and eternal life with God are a gift from God through Jesus Christ.
It is as if God placed a free meal for us to have. A banquet that is free to all who will come. All we have to do is partake.
The decision is up to us. To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the one and only Son of God who takes away our sins, or he is not.
The choice is always left to the individual.
The choice is yours.
John writes,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1:12,13
Jesus himself make things clear saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
He also said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
These statements are bold and I know controversial but they never the less are what Jesus taught His disciples and it is what Christians today believe.
Think about it.
“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20.
Here is the commission given by Jesus to his disciples and passed on to us. It is something many people of other faiths do not like. Yet it is the most important part of Christianity.
Christianity is if you think about it evangelical Judaism. The Jews were the first to worship the one true God creator of the universe by faith.
For thousands of years they kept that faith. They followed by faith the one true God. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
Hebrews 11:8-16.
This is what we as Christians are proclaiming. We believe one must have faith in the one true God. That we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. It is the same faith Abraham and the Jewish patriarchs had.
I believe God’s plan all along was for the world to know Him on a personal level that’s why at just the right time Christ came into this world.
We who believe in Jesus want every individual in the world to know that they can meet God on a personal level.
We believe its only through faith in Jesus Christ that one can enter heaven. Paul writing to the Ephesians wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
Salvation and eternal life with God are a gift from God through Jesus Christ.
It is as if God placed a free meal for us to have. A banquet that is free to all who will come. All we have to do is partake.
The decision is up to us. To believe that Jesus is the Christ, the one and only Son of God who takes away our sins, or he is not.
The choice is always left to the individual.
The choice is yours.
John writes,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1:12,13
Jesus himself make things clear saying,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
John 3:16-18
He also said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
These statements are bold and I know controversial but they never the less are what Jesus taught His disciples and it is what Christians today believe.
Think about it.
Monday, 30 June 2014
A Most Important Day
A Most Important Day
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them.“Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:1-10.
This is the most important day in human history. Jesus rose from the dead. He was not reincarnated, he rose from the dead and would be seen by many people.
No other faith in world history has such beliefs. Jesus physically rose from the dead.
This is something the individual must believe or dismiss. As with everything else with Jesus there is no middle ground.
Jesus would go on from here to eventually ascend to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Flavius Josephus, Born: 34AD died 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. Wrote,
“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.
[Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Josephus definitely not a Christian. A Romanized Jew living during the time of Christ confirms the events of Jesus life. He calls him a wise man who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. That many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples.
And he ends with the question “Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders."
This is the question all individuals must answer. Is Jesus the Christ the Saviour of the world or is he not. The choice is yours.
Think about it.
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Suddenly Jesus met them.“Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:1-10.
This is the most important day in human history. Jesus rose from the dead. He was not reincarnated, he rose from the dead and would be seen by many people.
No other faith in world history has such beliefs. Jesus physically rose from the dead.
This is something the individual must believe or dismiss. As with everything else with Jesus there is no middle ground.
Jesus would go on from here to eventually ascend to heaven where he now sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Flavius Josephus, Born: 34AD died 98 A.D., was a romanized Jewish historian. Wrote,
“About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine. They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders.
[Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]
Josephus definitely not a Christian. A Romanized Jew living during the time of Christ confirms the events of Jesus life. He calls him a wise man who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. That many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples.
And he ends with the question “Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders."
This is the question all individuals must answer. Is Jesus the Christ the Saviour of the world or is he not. The choice is yours.
Think about it.
Sunday, 29 June 2014
A Truth or a Lie
A Truth or a Lie
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
Matthew 27:57-66.
The Romans were good at what they did and the priests and Pharisees wanted to make sure they did it exceptionally well at this time. They went to Pilot and asked that he seal the tomb to ensure that Jesus disciples couldn’t steal the body and claim that he rose from the dead.
Pilot ordered it but Jesus still rose and it was miraculous. The priest and Pharisees knew this that’s why they bribed the Roman soldiers, Matthew recording events after the women had discovered Jesus had risen.
“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Matthew 28:11-15.
The lie that the disciples of Jesus had stolen the body circulated and was still doing so when Matthew wrote his gospel.
To day people believe that lie.
I know it’s hard to believe that a person can rise up from the grave. The writers of the New Testament realized that.
When the Apostle Paul presented the truth about Christ in Athens he concluded with these remarks recorded in Acts,
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
Acts 17:31-34.
Believing in the resurrection from the dead is an act of faith. Acts of faith can be very hard.
The writer of Hebrews defines faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
It’s hard to believe in what we cannot see, hear, or touch. Yet that is what is required to become a Christian.
The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Do you believe that this Jesus of Nazareth spoken of in the New Testament in both the Saviour of mankind as well as Lord and God creator of the universe?
Think about it.
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”
So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
Matthew 27:57-66.
The Romans were good at what they did and the priests and Pharisees wanted to make sure they did it exceptionally well at this time. They went to Pilot and asked that he seal the tomb to ensure that Jesus disciples couldn’t steal the body and claim that he rose from the dead.
Pilot ordered it but Jesus still rose and it was miraculous. The priest and Pharisees knew this that’s why they bribed the Roman soldiers, Matthew recording events after the women had discovered Jesus had risen.
“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Matthew 28:11-15.
The lie that the disciples of Jesus had stolen the body circulated and was still doing so when Matthew wrote his gospel.
To day people believe that lie.
I know it’s hard to believe that a person can rise up from the grave. The writers of the New Testament realized that.
When the Apostle Paul presented the truth about Christ in Athens he concluded with these remarks recorded in Acts,
“For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”
Acts 17:31-34.
Believing in the resurrection from the dead is an act of faith. Acts of faith can be very hard.
The writer of Hebrews defines faith as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
It’s hard to believe in what we cannot see, hear, or touch. Yet that is what is required to become a Christian.
The writer of Hebrews stating,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Do you believe that this Jesus of Nazareth spoken of in the New Testament in both the Saviour of mankind as well as Lord and God creator of the universe?
Think about it.
Saturday, 28 June 2014
The Death that Saved the Word
The Death that Saved the World
“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
Matthew 27:45-56
There is something interesting here. The events noted here and the miracles of Jesus are noted in a piece of work that is not Christian at all, it’s Jewish, the Talmud,
Although not explicitly referred to by name, later rabbis identify the person as Jesus. These references to Jesus are neither sympathetic to Him or His Church. Also these writings were preserved through the centuries by Jews, so Christians cannot be accused of tampering with the text.
“The Talmud makes note of Jesus' miracles. No attempt is made to deny them, but it ascribes them to magical arts from Egypt. Also His crucifixion is dated as "on the eve of the Feast of the Passover" in agreement with the Gospel (Luke 22:1ff; John 19:31ff). Similar again to the Gospel (Matt. 27:51), the Talmud records the earthquake and the tearing in two of the Temple curtain during the time of Jesus' death.”
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, also tells of these events.
Flavius Josephus was born in 34AD. He became a Pharisee at 19, later he became a Roman Jewish historian.
Josephus writes,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles.
He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
So we have proof these events were real from the records of his enemies. If these things are true then its not much of a leap to say all of Jesus teachings are true.
For me the evidence both inside and outside the bible is irrefutable. Jesus is the Son of God. The Savior of mankind.
If there is any problems with the teachings of Jesus it is due to interpretational errors of man.
Many of these errors are due to men taking verses and phrases out of context. It is therefor incumbent on us to read the bible correctly. Studying it as a whole and not taking words and phrases out of context and changing the meaning to suit one’s own way of thinking.
The teachings of Jesus, and the apostles have real meaning for those of us living in the twenty-first century. All we have to do is study them correctly and they can change our life for the better.
Not only that they point us to life eternal.
Think about it.
“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
Matthew 27:45-56
There is something interesting here. The events noted here and the miracles of Jesus are noted in a piece of work that is not Christian at all, it’s Jewish, the Talmud,
Although not explicitly referred to by name, later rabbis identify the person as Jesus. These references to Jesus are neither sympathetic to Him or His Church. Also these writings were preserved through the centuries by Jews, so Christians cannot be accused of tampering with the text.
“The Talmud makes note of Jesus' miracles. No attempt is made to deny them, but it ascribes them to magical arts from Egypt. Also His crucifixion is dated as "on the eve of the Feast of the Passover" in agreement with the Gospel (Luke 22:1ff; John 19:31ff). Similar again to the Gospel (Matt. 27:51), the Talmud records the earthquake and the tearing in two of the Temple curtain during the time of Jesus' death.”
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian, also tells of these events.
Flavius Josephus was born in 34AD. He became a Pharisee at 19, later he became a Roman Jewish historian.
Josephus writes,
“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many Jews, and many of the Gentiles.
He was the Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first, did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day.”
So we have proof these events were real from the records of his enemies. If these things are true then its not much of a leap to say all of Jesus teachings are true.
For me the evidence both inside and outside the bible is irrefutable. Jesus is the Son of God. The Savior of mankind.
If there is any problems with the teachings of Jesus it is due to interpretational errors of man.
Many of these errors are due to men taking verses and phrases out of context. It is therefor incumbent on us to read the bible correctly. Studying it as a whole and not taking words and phrases out of context and changing the meaning to suit one’s own way of thinking.
The teachings of Jesus, and the apostles have real meaning for those of us living in the twenty-first century. All we have to do is study them correctly and they can change our life for the better.
Not only that they point us to life eternal.
Think about it.
Friday, 27 June 2014
In Microcosm
In microcosm
“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).
There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
Matthew 27:32-44
We have here Matthews account of the crucifixion. Here we see humanity in microcosm.
First of all we have uncaring soldiers who had mocked Jesus and were now gambling for the only real possessions he had, his clothing.
Today there are armies and governments who are uncaring. People to whom life is cheap. People who if you don’t conform to their ways treat you as less than human.
Next we have the sign”This is Jesus the King of the Jews” the religious leaders objected to the sign. John’s gospel recoding,
“The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
John 19:21,22.
I was I think pilots way of needling the religious leaders. He knew Jesus was innocent. And while he may not have thought Jesus the son of God. He may have thought of him as at least a good man simply caught up in politics.
So he without realizing it placed a sign for the ages. “The King of the Jews”.
I believe that when Jesus returns to this earth the Jews of that day will recognize Him as their Messiah. And truly worship him.
We as Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah that in accordance to Old Testament prophesy came to the Jews first then the rest of the world. That he was a suffering Messiah that died for our sins.
The way Christians see things about Jesus is depicted by the reaction of the thieves crucified with him that day.
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43.
These criminals had the same choice to make as we do today.
To believe Jesus is who he said he is the Christ the one and only Son of God or to reject him.
One chose to reject Jesus and I believe did not go to heaven.
The other however confessed that he was being punished for the crimes he had committed. He confessed his sins and by faith believed that Jesus was indeed the one and only son of God the Saviour of the world.
In doing so he fulfilled what we Christians believe you have to do to inherit eternal life. Confess your sins to God and believe by faith that Jesus is the Son of God.
The final group was the men that for political expediency had condemned Jesus to death they mocked him.
For them all Jesus was, was a political enemy. A threat to their authority. They never listened to what he had to say. Some from what we know thinking some of what Jesus taught foolishness.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1 Corinthians 1:18-23
Think about it.
“As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.
They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull).
There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.”
Matthew 27:32-44
We have here Matthews account of the crucifixion. Here we see humanity in microcosm.
First of all we have uncaring soldiers who had mocked Jesus and were now gambling for the only real possessions he had, his clothing.
Today there are armies and governments who are uncaring. People to whom life is cheap. People who if you don’t conform to their ways treat you as less than human.
Next we have the sign”This is Jesus the King of the Jews” the religious leaders objected to the sign. John’s gospel recoding,
“The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
John 19:21,22.
I was I think pilots way of needling the religious leaders. He knew Jesus was innocent. And while he may not have thought Jesus the son of God. He may have thought of him as at least a good man simply caught up in politics.
So he without realizing it placed a sign for the ages. “The King of the Jews”.
I believe that when Jesus returns to this earth the Jews of that day will recognize Him as their Messiah. And truly worship him.
We as Christians believe Jesus is the Messiah that in accordance to Old Testament prophesy came to the Jews first then the rest of the world. That he was a suffering Messiah that died for our sins.
The way Christians see things about Jesus is depicted by the reaction of the thieves crucified with him that day.
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43.
These criminals had the same choice to make as we do today.
To believe Jesus is who he said he is the Christ the one and only Son of God or to reject him.
One chose to reject Jesus and I believe did not go to heaven.
The other however confessed that he was being punished for the crimes he had committed. He confessed his sins and by faith believed that Jesus was indeed the one and only son of God the Saviour of the world.
In doing so he fulfilled what we Christians believe you have to do to inherit eternal life. Confess your sins to God and believe by faith that Jesus is the Son of God.
The final group was the men that for political expediency had condemned Jesus to death they mocked him.
For them all Jesus was, was a political enemy. A threat to their authority. They never listened to what he had to say. Some from what we know thinking some of what Jesus taught foolishness.
Paul writing to the Corinthians states,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1 Corinthians 1:18-23
Think about it.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Fighting God
Fighting God
“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”
Matthew 27:17-31.
The Roman soldiers were the best in the world at the time in dishing out punishment. They were ruthless.
Here they are mocking Jesus inflicting pain on him. They did not believe who he was. As far as they were concerned once Jesus was put to death that was the end of the story. They were wrong.
The words of Pharisee named Gamaliel, at the trial of Peter and another apostle I think sums the situation up here at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Luke records in the book of Acts,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
Acts 5:34-40.
Those Roman soldiers didn’t know what they were up against. This movement started by Jesus was of God. The proof as they say is in the pudding. The story of Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ has reach every nation in the world despite being the most persecuted faith in the world.
I like what Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France said of Jesus. He said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Even as you read this there are many groups doing what ever they can to silence the gospel of Jesus Christ. But they will not for I am certain they are fighting God.
Think about it.
“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him.
They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again.
After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.”
Matthew 27:17-31.
The Roman soldiers were the best in the world at the time in dishing out punishment. They were ruthless.
Here they are mocking Jesus inflicting pain on him. They did not believe who he was. As far as they were concerned once Jesus was put to death that was the end of the story. They were wrong.
The words of Pharisee named Gamaliel, at the trial of Peter and another apostle I think sums the situation up here at the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.
Luke records in the book of Acts,
“But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”
Acts 5:34-40.
Those Roman soldiers didn’t know what they were up against. This movement started by Jesus was of God. The proof as they say is in the pudding. The story of Salvation through Faith in Jesus Christ has reach every nation in the world despite being the most persecuted faith in the world.
I like what Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France said of Jesus. He said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Even as you read this there are many groups doing what ever they can to silence the gospel of Jesus Christ. But they will not for I am certain they are fighting God.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 25 June 2014
Political Expediency
Political expediency
“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”
Matthew 27:11-26
Here is the trial or what passed for one before the Roman governor Pilot.
Pilot could have let him go. He himself knew Jesus was innocent. His wife even said to him,
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Pilot was as they say between a rock and a hard place.
The religious leaders were whipping up the crowd to have Jesus crucified he may have even thought that were they not to get their way they would riot. That was something Rome would not want.
So he gave into the crowd. Matthew records,
“...he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
At that moment Pilot was as guilty of killing Jesus as was the Jewish leadership of the day and the crowd.
Jesus knew such a thing would happen to him. That’s one of the reason I believe he truly was the Christ. The Son of God.
If he wasn’t the Son of God then he was insane and he has fooled people now for two millennia.
C.S. Lewis wrote this of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus): I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell.
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”
Matthew 27:11-26
Here is the trial or what passed for one before the Roman governor Pilot.
Pilot could have let him go. He himself knew Jesus was innocent. His wife even said to him,
“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
Pilot was as they say between a rock and a hard place.
The religious leaders were whipping up the crowd to have Jesus crucified he may have even thought that were they not to get their way they would riot. That was something Rome would not want.
So he gave into the crowd. Matthew records,
“...he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
At that moment Pilot was as guilty of killing Jesus as was the Jewish leadership of the day and the crowd.
Jesus knew such a thing would happen to him. That’s one of the reason I believe he truly was the Christ. The Son of God.
If he wasn’t the Son of God then he was insane and he has fooled people now for two millennia.
C.S. Lewis wrote this of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus): I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say.
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell.
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Think about it.
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