Colossians – The People and the Place (Colossians 1:1)

By Martin Wickens

Colossae, a somewhat insignificant city in what is now south-west Turkey, situated on a rocky ledge overlooking the Lycus valley, held no insignificant believers. God does not abandon any of His children to the wiles of the Devil, but always sends help in their time of need. 

When Paul wrote to the church at Colossae he wanted to remind them of who Christ is and what Christ had done. This may oversimplify matters, but meditating on the Person and work of Christ will answer many of the struggles believers face. 

As Paul had witnessed many times before, false teachers had weaseled their way into the fellowship of believers at Colossae. By this time in Paul’s life, he had repeatedly reached out to churches in danger to try and settle disputes and correct error. He had written God’s Words to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, Ephesians, and Philippians. 

Each letter had a focus, an arc of purpose which provided a theme for the epistle, but also tied together many other related truths. Whatever the theme may be, he always brought the believers back to a single solution, a Person, Jesus Christ. 

The focus in Paul’s letter to the Colossian believers was to settle their faith by reminding them that they were complete in Christ. And in so doing, their struggle to live righteous lives, which only found failure in their own strength, would be enabled and empowered by the grace of God. 

The error at Colossae combined false teachings from Jewish legalists, speculative Greek philosophers, and eastern mystics. 

The fellowship at Colossae was most likely founded by Epaphras (Colossians 4:12). The founding of the church at Ephesus and their subsequent outreach to the surrounding areas may indicate when the church at Colossae began (Acts 19).

Paul had led Epaphras to the Lord, and follow his conversion, Paul had discipled and trained him. We see the Great Commission fulfilling its purpose when a trained convert replicates what others have done before him, evangelism and church planting. One of the faithful families at Colossae, and who possibly helped plant the church, was that of Philemon.  

But issues arose that Epaphras felt ill-equipped to deal with, and so he turned to his friend and mentor, Paul. 

When Paul begins his letter to the Colossian believers he does so in the format normal for his day. Paul introduces himself and gives his credentials. He reveals two important truths. He is an apostle, and his office of apostle was ordained by the will of God. 

To a church led astray and sinking under the burden of false teachings, Paul wanted to simply bring them back to God. His message was all about the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and he acted according to the will of God. 

The troubles faced by the believers at Colossae were not unique, but rather they are common to many believers. If you are sinking under the burden of doubts and failures in your Christian life, then I urge you to read Colossians and meditate on Who Christ is, and what He has done. Find your rest in Him. And let Him empower your service to Him and others. 

The Blessings of Sisterhood, Part Two

by Kristen Kelley

“All girls?!”  I have heard it all my life.  The truth is, I went from having only sisters, to now having only daughters!  Four daughters, to be exact.  They are our beautiful little “stair steps”, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.  I daily find myself in a world of pink and purple, dolls and dress-up, hair accessories and tiaras.  But it’s what I’m used to.  It’s all I’ve ever known.  God has surrounded me with female relationships, and in so doing, He has given me a rare perspective on the beauty and the blessing of SISTERHOOD. 

You see, the blessing of biological sisterhood is very special.  The blessing of Christian sisterhood is sacred.  We’re adopted into God’s family.  We’ve been bought with a price.  Our hearts are knit together by a common salvation.  And we each have a special purpose in the body of Christ. 

Romans 12:4-6 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us . . .”

I Corinthians 12:4-6 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

My girls are quite close together in age, but each one has a personality entirely her own.  God intends for it to be that way!  The same is true in the body of Christ. 

I Corinthians 12:17-18, 20-21 “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him . . . But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”

It is so easy for us to look at each other and compare. To complain when other members of the church don’t appear to be doing as much work as we are.  But perhaps Sister-So-And-So doesn’t possess the gift of service, as you do.  Perhaps she won’t be the lady overseeing nursery Sunday after Sunday.  She has been given the gift of exhortation and is writing encouraging letters.  Or she has been given the gift of prayer and is interceding on the behalf of every person in the church directory.  Who are we to judge and say, “You aren’t doing your part” . . .  “I have no need of thee”?

Do sisters sometimes squabble? Certainly!  But God desires that, as His daughters, we seek to be at peace with one another!

I Peter 3:8-9 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that she should inherit a blessing.”

Colossians 3:13-17 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” 

The Scriptures call for UNITY among the brethren.  How much could our loving Heavenly Father accomplish in this world, if His girls would only WORK TOGETHER?!

Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

Philippians 2:1,2 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

“She hit me!” . . . “So-and-so won’t share!” . . . Perhaps our disagreements don’t sound so childish as grown women, but we are prone to aggravate and annoy one another, nonetheless.  This is true, even in God’s family! 

 “The decorations for the Ladies’ Fellowship are horrendous!” . . . “Did you see how short her skirt was on Wednesday night?!” . . . “She doesn’t immunize her children!” . . . “Why am I the only one baking cookies for Vacation Bible School?!”

Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

Philippians 2:3,4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Caring about one another.  Praying for each other.  Rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, and weeping with those who are weeping.  (Rom. 12:15) 

I Thessalonians 5:11 “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today. . .”

Why? Why put forth the effort to “get along”?  Because we are the body of Christ! 

I Corinthians 12:25-27 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

The word “schism” in that verse means “a rent, as in a garment, a division”.  Imagine a beautiful wedding gown - the beads, the embroidery, the sparkles - but when you lift it out of the box, you find there is a giant rip right down the front.  It’s enough to bring any young bride to tears.  May the Lord help us as we seek to “hold the stitching together” . . . As we seek to live in harmony, doing our God-given part in the body of Christ. 

There is something so beautiful about watching my little girls ENJOYING spending time together.  Whenever I happen upon those scenes where the four of them are engaged in some fabulous imaginative play, or where two are snuggled together on the couch reading a book together, I immediately feel the need to grab my camera. Such moments never seem to happen often enough!  How much more must God feel that way about us?  How must HE smile, when He watches His daughters greeting each other pleasantly in church, painting the backdrop for Vacation Bible School without complaining, kneeling in prayer together . . .

Psalm 133:1 tells us, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

I encourage you to do those things that tend toward UNITY with your sisters in Christ, this week! 

This first appeared on Dinner’s in the Oven.

Three Points of Permission From God to Live an Abundant Life

By Steve Schramm

At the time of this writing, I have been a Christian for around 24 years. Although I am “young” (28), I have seen and witnessed many trends in the church--some good, and some bad.

One unmistakable trend I’ve noticed is this notion of defeatism--which I’ve written about recently on my blog. 

In the article I paint a portrait of the “Christian Defeatist”:

She is public about her Christianity, but has nothing but negative things to say. She envies the promiscuous lifestyle of those who live seemingly unbound from God’s eternal directives.

She plays the victim—always waiting for the next person to complain to or about. She tells her problems to anyone who will listen! She is a Christian defeatist. She is a person who believes there is a God, but believes that belief in God is a limitation—not a liberation.

It’s likely you know this person! You may even be this person. But the life Jesus offers is not the one described above. The Bible describes a life of freedom, purpose, and abundance. It’s not all about the “pie in the sky when you die”; you can have steak on the plate while you wait!

Here are just three “points of permission” where the Bible proclaims that we can have life, and “have it more abundantly” (John 10:10):

#1. In Our Identity

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name...

When you become a Christian, a transformation takes place. Much like the caterpillar emerges unrecognizable as a butterfly, so the unbeliever undergoes a kind of “metamorphosis.”

The Christian life is about becoming a son of God.

The Biblical scenario involves Christ uniting his life to ours, through the power of the Holy Spirit, thereby entering into an eternal relationship with our Creator. The Bible describes God using relevant metaphors and analogies, such as the “Alpha and Omega” (which means the first and the last).

The Psalmist wrote this under the inspiration of God:

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof (50:10-12).

Each of us are a unique creation of the God who made the sun, the moon, and “the stars also” (Genesis 1:16); this same God makes us a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17) when he unites his life to ours in salvation.

We have a new identity! “...old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

#2. In Our Prosperity

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

But not only is our identity made new and abundant, but also our prosperity. 

Perhaps one of the saddest things missing in many churches today is a biblical theology of prosperity.

Of course, the reason for this is obvious: False “prosperity gospel” teaching has created the need for correction, and much of this correction has led to an equally unbiblical “poverty gospel.” The Bible does not teach us that we must be poor in order to remain humble and biblical, nor that abundance and prosperity are natural consequences of proper faith and “positive confession.”

Rather, as one preacher recently put it, “between prosperity theology and poverty theology lies a biblical theology of money that teaches work, reward, and societal advancement.”

But there’s a catch! And, it’s the key!

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.

You see, if we’re ever to understand real abundance and prosperity, “[we] must decrease and [God] must increase” (John 3:30). God can take care of our every need if we’ll only seek him and his will foremost in our lives.

#3. In Our Generosity

1 TImothy 6:17-18: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate...

Finally, we see confirmation of our last point here again in 1 Timothy: God gives us all things richly to enjoy; but we’re not to trust in riches (after all, they’re “uncertain”)! Instead, we trust “in the living God.”

But, what next?

Paul takes us to the logical conclusion of this scenario. We enjoy the riches, sure, but we don’t become highminded! Instead, we “do good...be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate…”

In other words, we put what we’ve been blessed with to good use! We use it to serve God and to serve others. And so it comes full circle, because we’ve realized that, to the best of our human ability, we are sacrificing in selflessness--exactly as Christ did which gave us our new identity in the first place.

Here we find an example of what the writer of Ecclesiastes called a “threefold cord [that] is not quickly broken” (4:12):

1. Our identity tells us who we are in Christ.
   

2. This informs our prosperity, because we learn to call on God for our supply.
   

3. These culminate in our generosity when we model Christ, in Whom we find our identity.
   

This is how we arrive at a proper theology: coherence and consistency. Of course, coherence like this is exactly what we’d expect from a Bible that is true, unbroken, inerrant, and infallible: a “more sure word” (2 Peter 1:19) that will “not pass away” (Matthew 23:45).

Thank God for our new identity in him, which affords us an abundant, prosperous, and generous life. 

The Blessing of Sisterhood, Part 1

By Kristen Kelley

Ironed uniforms.  Taps at sunset.  The ear-splitting sound of jets taking off.  Airshows.  Commissaries.  And moving boxes. 

We lived in 8 different houses through the course of my military childhood.  My parents treated each new duty station as an adventure.  Across state lines, the scenery, the brand names, and the accents changed, but my immediate family stayed the same.  We were quite close, my two younger sisters and I.  People often referred to us as “The Guthrie Girls”.  As sisters, we were not only family, but friends and classmates, too.  Homeschooling brought a sense of stability to our constantly changing lives, and we loved it. 

My sister Jessica is nearly 3 years younger than myself.  Being the middle child, my mom used to refer to her as the “Oreo filling.” She was the peacemaker in the bunch.  She was enamored with horses and cowgirls, and could definitely look the part.  Her outstanding feature was her long blonde hair.  Until the time she went off to college, it only saw healthy trimmings.  I had thick bangs and waves that went every which way.  Jess’ hair curled up and frizzed up in humidity, and tangled horribly in water and wind, but she resembled a Medieval princess with a long rippling sheet of blonde down her back when her hair wasn’t braided.  Jessica was lovely.  She’s still gorgeous, by the way.  But, most important of all, she was sweet.  She prayed beautifully.  She read Scripture beautifully.  She often played the role of peacemaker.  And she was nearly always willing to participate in whatever playtime idea her bossy big sister concocted next.  All in all, she was pretty amazing.  Whether it be Barbie “Olympics” or “orphan trains”, elaborate dress-up story lines or Disney karaoke, Lincoln logs or toy soldiers, Jess was my closest friend. 

Ashley was the baby in the family.  She’s in her late 20s now, but forever an adorable curly-headed preschooler in my mind.  Some of my earliest recollections of our homeschooling days include her sitting at the dining room table with us, coloring or playing with the Math-U-See blocks while we did our school papers.  She was learning about “Leif Erikson” and “Erik the Red” right along with us, and for a period of a year or two she had “Luke Skywalker” for an imaginary friend.  She was a little firecracker and consequently the one who got annoyed and pestered the most by her sisters.  Quite special to me is the fact that our sisterly relationship grew stronger in the years after I got married.  Ashley was the member of my family who visited the most often.  She came to help me after every baby was born.  She was the one who took the beautiful newborn photos, the one who helped get lunch on the table amid the toddler wails, the one who sat on the couch and had long talks while I waited for my husband to arrive home from selling cars.  She jumped wholeheartedly into her role of “Auntie”, sending cards for every birthday and holiday, and buying presents to go with every birthday theme her nieces and their mother came up with.  She’s a pretty strong and fabulous young woman, and I love her dearly! 

Jessica and Ashley are my biological sisters.  We memorized AWANA verses together, tent camped together, canoed through alligator-infested waters together, survived eating Mom’s “mush-mush-crumble” together . . . We’ve made hundreds and even thousands of memories, while walking hand-in-hand.  Sisters.  There’s no other bond quite like it on earth. 

But it doesn’t stop there.  Our loving Creator has taken a relationship so special and precious – the bond of SISTERHOOD – and has allowed that concept to spill over into the spiritual realm as well.  How tremendously beautiful that we can also have Sisters in Christ!  We can be members together of GOD’S family!

No two ladies are exactly alike.  God has created us with unique personalities, weaknesses, strengths . . . If we are His children, then He has given us certain spiritual gifts as well.  We may be as different from each other as night and day, and yet, God in His infinite wisdom has woven us together in a beautiful tapestry of grace; members of one body - the body of Christ.        

I Corinthians 12:12, 14 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ . . . For the body is not one member, but many.”

How is this possible? Because when we place our trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, we are adopted into God’s family! 

Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

No matter the race, the nationality, the background . . .

Colossians 3:11 “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.”

Are you a believer in Christ?  Have you been adopted into God’s family? Then you, Dear Lady, have sisters! – Beloved sisters in Christ!  Do you realize how very special that is?!  There are women and girls from every country around the globe united by the redemption that can only be found in the Lord Jesus. 

Do biological sisters, by nature, love each other?  How much more should sisters in Christ love one another!

I John 4:11,12 “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. . . If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”

Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love . . .”

I pray that as you finish reading Part I of this devotional, you’ll thank God for the beautiful blessing of SISTERHOOD. 

Hebrews 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue.”

This article first appeared on Dinner’s in the Oven.

The Call

We all get one - sometimes more than one.

I remember my first one. It was from my sister: Grandma had passed away. I could not do anything about it. I could not even go to the funeral.

I remember my second one. It was from my son. I was tired, had worked all day, and had just laid down the couch for a short nap.

“Hey, got a minute?”

I almost said, “No.” But I said, “Sure! What’s up?”

“Well, ya know I was over at Lee’s house buying his car, right? Um, well, I just wrecked the car. I’m in a field. Can you come get me?”

The fact that I was listening to his voice and not the EMT’s voice told me that he was fine. After he received the tickets for faulty brakes, etc, from the law enforcement officer, he was still fine: poorer financially, but richer in wisdom.

I could go get him but I could do nothing about the tickets and the resulting financial hardship and the fact that he had no vehicle.

Last night I received the third call. A friend is in serious physical hardship, beyond the capacity of the normal human. His ability to gain nourishment has ceased and yet the physical demands are still coming. Everything but two bites of food in the last three days has been vomited back up. Already underweight, life does not look pleasant now or in the near future. In my foggy, just-went-to-sleep brain, I struggled to know what to say. “Encourage” is the right answer, but how?

“Oh, that’s okay. You can just check out and the misery will stop.”

“Hey, everyone fails once in a while.”

But instead, I prayed with him, “God, you made his body and you know what’s happening. You can give strength and wisdom. You know what is best.”

So now we wait. We wait for God’s answer. It may come in three days, three weeks, or three months.

I cannot go to him. I cannot contact him. I cannot tell him all the promise-verses I read this morning. I can do nothing.

Is this not where He wants me, in the “I cannot” realm?

I cannot heal. But He can.

I cannot make the sunshine. But He can.

I cannot ease the pain. But He can.

I cannot change the circumstances. But He can.

I cannot. But He can.

Page 53 in The Battle Plan for Prayer (Stephen and Alex Kendrick) holds this comment about prayer: “But if the final [answer] is not what you hoped, you can trust that God’s Spirit will sustain you, and He is benevolent in His omniscience.”

While we wait for God’s final answer, I can trust that God’s Spirit will sustain my friend, and that God is benevolent in His omniscience. 

The History of British Christianity – John Wycliffe (1330-1384)

By: Martin Wickens

Following the rule of King Alfred the Great, the flow of church and state in England continued to grow. The life of Dunstan (909-988), who became the Archbishop of Canterbury, offers some interesting points demonstrating the development and expansion of the church. In secular history, much happened involving leaders such as King Cnut (990-1035). There was, of course, the Norman invasion under William the Conqueror in 1066. The Magna Carta (1215), a document which continues to guide our laws, society, and government was written and would eventually become part of statute law. However, I want to skip over a few hundred years to get to a man who has likely personally impacted us more than any of these. That man is John Wycliffe.

The Impact of Wycliffe
His Biblical teachings are primary in their influence upon us. But some of his more political comments have influenced the world we live in today. Many will be familiar with an adaption of this phrase he penned,

“This Bible is for the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Some say that John Wycliffe, the morning star of the Reformation, was a man born before his time. It is understandable why some would make that statement, but from another perspective, we have to conclude that God raised up this man at the perfect time.

Though we may find areas of disagreement with Wycliffe, perhaps some of his political views and his teachings on election/predestination, we will find much to agree upon. This has to be because we draw truth from the same single source, the Word of God. Drawing truth solely from God’s Word may be something we take for granted, but it was a radical step by Wycliffe in his day.

The Life of John Wycliffe

John was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1330. Few details of his life are known until he went to Oxford. He quickly earned a reputation as an exceptional theologian and spoke often in debates.

Unlike many at this time, Wycliffe regarded the Bible as alive and the sole authority for believers. He took the radical course of action of teaching through the whole Bible. He placed a strong emphasis on the power of preaching the Gospel and stated,

“Preaching the Gospel exceeds prayer and administration of the sacraments to an infinite degree.”

He was not minimising prayer as we know it, but rather the set prayers of the Roman Catholic church and prayers to saints.

As Wycliffe studied the Bible he saw and spoke out against the differences between the standards set in Scripture and the behaviour of many in the church.

Wycliffe criticised prayers to saints, pilgrimages, the selling of indulgences, confessions, images, celibacy. Another of Wycliffe’s radical beliefs was that each individual is directly responsible to God.

Wycliffe and Politics
At this time political tensions between the Pope and King Edward III were escalating, and Wycliffe, along with other Bishops were appointed to a royal commission to try and de-escalate the conflict. While other Bishops accepted bribes, Wycliffe kept his integrity and would not be bought.

At a time when politics and religion were closely entwined, his beliefs were clear. When the Pope put pressure on England to send taxes, Wycliffe helped draft a response in which he stated,

“Already a third and more of England is in the hands of the Pope. There cannot be two temporal sovereigns in one country; either Edward is King or Urban is king. We make our choice. We accept Edward of England and refute Urban of Rome.”

Because Wycliffe viewed the church to be in sin, he advocated that they should relinquish all material possessions. He believed that the state, particularly the king, should be the means by which the church’s possessions should be removed. He did not seem to view the state as being over the church, but that if the church was in sin, then God could use the state as a means of chastising the church. It is likely that some who opposed the wealth of the clergy used Wycliffe’s teaching in a less noble way than Wycliffe would have approved of.

In Wycliffe’s publication, On Civil Dominion, he made what many would see as an inflammatory remark:

“England belongs to no pope. The pope is but a man, subject to sin; but Christ is the Lord of lords, and this kingdom is held directly and solely of Christ alone.”

For this statement, Wycliffe was brought before a group of Bishops at St. Paul’s cathedral. Wycliffe had powerful supporters. Before the case really began a riot broke out between the bishops and Wycliffe’s supporters and the trial was disrupted and brought to an end.

Wycliffe’s stands on these issues seem to have given him popularity with many and won him some influential supporters. Later, when persecution was threatened this popularity may have shielded him to a degree. But this was not his plan. It seems even Wycliffe’s enemies recognised that he did not act strategically or with guile, but rather he always acted in sincerity and with integrity.

Wycliffe and the Scriptures
Later, in 1378, Wycliffe published another document, “On the Truth of Holy Scripture” and boldly proclaimed that the Bible is without error and is the ultimate authority in all areas of doctrine. Again, Wycliffe was brought to trial, but this too ended before it began when the King’s widow sent a message requesting that no verdict be brought against Wycliffe. So, as with many before him, Wycliffe was told not to publicise his opinions at Oxford or in the pulpit.

In 1381 Wycliffe rejected the teaching of transubstantiation and lost some of the powerful supporters he had previously enjoyed. The next year Wycliffe was accused of being a heretic by a group of theologians and the English parliament issued a bill condemning his teachings.

The Lollards, Wycliffe’s supporters, spread his teachings and ideas across England. Wycliffe’s conviction that the truth of God’s Word should be available to all people in their own language, and the conviction of the effectiveness of preaching, had led to the formation of this group of followers who would travel and preach around all of England. Many faced persecution and many were martyred.

Wycliffe retired to Lutterworth and continued to study and write. He rejected Latin, concluding that the people should have the truth in their own language. This led to Wycliffe instigating a translation of the Bible into English. Some believe two of Wycliffe’s followers actually performed the translation from Jerome’s Latin Vulgate. The translation would not be completed until 11 years after his death. But, for the first time, the Bible was in the language of the ordinary people. The academic influence of King Alfred remained and it is thought about 20% of the people could read.

Though the handwritten copies would be repeatedly confiscated and destroyed, they continued to spread until printed copies by William Tyndale became available.

It is hard, perhaps even impossible, for us to imagine the dependency the people had on priests and the church to teach them the Bible. And the priests and church were far from reliable or trustworthy. So, even if a person truly desired to know the truth, it was kept from them, hidden in a foreign language by a powerful organisation.

It is clear that as God was at work in and through His faithful saints, the enemy increased his fight in fierceness and scale against them. In previous centuries it was sometimes possible to give some benefit of the doubt to those caught up in Roman Catholicism, but now it’s decline into something truly antichrist is evident. One response from Roman Catholic Church described Wycliffe’s work this way,

“By this translation, the Scriptures have become vulgar, and they are more available to lay, and even to women who can read, than they were to learned scholars, who have a high intelligence. So the pearl of the gospel is scattered and trodden underfoot by swine.”

In response, Wycliffe wrote,

“Englishmen learn Christ’s law best in English. Moses heard God’s law in his own tongue; so did Christ’s apostles.”

Following a stroke in 1384, Wycliffe went to be with the Lord. But his influence continued and those who followed his teachings faced persecution.

The Legacy of Wycliffe
In 1401 a law was made that heretics were to be burned at the stake. Soon after Archbishop Arundel said that it was illegal to read the Bible in English. According to his ruling, no one could translate the Bible into English, nor should they read Wycliffe’s English translation. The penalty for both was to be burned at the stake.

Wycliffe served as a lightning rod to draw many to the truth and to challenge all concerning the authority of God’s Word.

In Wycliffe, we find a rare combination of intellectual brilliance, simple faith, and courage. He held up the Bible as the sole authority for believers. He taught that pastors should live simple lives shepherding the people, not lording their position over them. Though passionate about his cause, he is widely seen as a sincere and moral man. Where Luther’s anger would sometimes seem to get the better of him and lead him to make statements that would make modern preacher’s blush, Wycliffe appears to have held forth with more grace. When he did speak in abusive terms, he would confess it.

Although he had been dead for decades, in 1415 Wycliffe was tried again by the Roman Catholic church. The Council of Constance ruled that Wycliffe’s body to be dug up and burned. This ruling was agreed to by Pope Martin V and in 1328, 44 years after his death, Wycliffe’s bones were burned and his ashes scattered in the River Swift.

John Foxe in his book of martyrs wrote,

“though they digged up his body, burnt his bones, and drowned his ashes, yet the Word of God and the truth of his doctrine, with the fruit and success thereof, they could not burn; which yet to this day…doth remain.”

A journalist later described the burning and spreading of Wycliffe’s ashes powerfully,

“Thus the brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into Severn; Severn into the narrow seas; and they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which now is dispersed the world over.”

Though his body had been destroyed, Wycliff’s teachings continued to spread. The people had a taste of the Bible in their own language and this brought a desire that would not be dismissed. The torch had been lit, and the foundation laid for the reformation.

Some Words of John Wycliffe

“All Christian life is to be measured by Scripture; by every word thereof.”

“This Bible is for the government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

“The higher the hill, the stronger the wind: so the loftier the life, the stronger the enemy’s temptations.”

“The gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere – any additional rules made to govern men’s conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“I believe that in the end the truth will conquer.”

“No man is to be credited for his mere authority’s sake, unless he can show Scripture for the maintenance of his opinion.”

“Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on his sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by his righteousness.”

“You say it is heresy to speak of the Holy Scriptures in English. You call me a heretic because I have translated the Bible into the common tongue of the people. Do you know whom you blaspheme? Did not the Holy Ghost give the Word of God at first in the mother-tongue of the nations to whom it was addressed? Why do you speak against the Holy Ghost? You say that the Church of God is in danger from this book. How can that be? Is it not from the Bible only that we learn that God has set up such a society as a Church on the earth? Is it not the Bible that gives all her authority to the Church? Is it not from the Bible that we learn who is the Builder and Sovereign of the Church, what are the laws by which she is to be governed, and the rights and privileges of her members? Without the Bible, what charter has the Church to show for all these? It is you who place the Church in jeopardy by hiding the Divine warrant, the missive royal of her King, for the authority she wields and the faith she enjoins.”

This article first appeared on Reach the Isles.

Do You Have a Haven?

By Gail Gritts

Psalm 107:23-31

“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble.  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end.  Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.  Oh that men would praise the Lord for this goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

To me, this passage describes the ministry.  We are out there doing the work in great waters.  We see the works of God and his mighty wonders.  And yet, even the works of God bring us highs and lows.  We feel tossed about and at our wit’s end. But then, we cry unto the Lord, and he calms the waves.  We are glad to be quiet for a while and to enjoy safe haven.

There is a beautiful old song called Haven of Rest, which reads,  “I’ve anchored my soul in the haven of rest, I’ll sail the wild seas no more.  The tempest may sweep o’er the wild stormy deep, in Jesus I’m safe ever more!” (Henry L. Gilmour)

What a wonderful thing to come in out of the rain! But not just any haven will do.

Acts 27:12 tell us of a haven, which was not commodious.  We can sometimes drift into non-commodious havens.  Places where we think we can get away from the storm, but where we find even more difficulty.  

One such haven is self-pity.  We are driven there by hurts and pride thinking no one will see us or know.  As the tears fall and the groaning grinds on our spirits, we should recognize we have moored in a dangerous haven.  Psalm 6:6-7, “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.  Mine eye is consumed because of grief.”  

Another non-commodious haven is resignation to our plight.  We give up.  We quit trying.  The ministry seems too hard.  We are weary of the battle.  Staying there brings hardness of heart and a loss of joy; not only to ourselves but also to those we are serving.  Jeremiah 20:9 “I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name.  But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”

One most often frequented is the haven of anger.  Moored alongside are resentment and poor judgment.  Those who serve from anger will find it colors every outcome, taints every victory, and becomes a fierce taskmaster.   James 1:20 “For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

We might think these havens provide sanctuary, but they take a toll.  God will not let us stay in these places without rebuke and chastisement.  Winding up in a non-commodious haven is a sure sign you are not weathering the storm with your anchor and lighthouse secure!

Making it to a safe harbor produces some distinct results.  Let’s turn to Psalm 91:1-16 and we will see God’s description of a safe harbor. 

Psalm 91

Verse 1 – “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  We dwell under His shadow.

Verse 2 – “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”  We have refuge and shelter.

Verse 3 – “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.”  We have deliverance from the storm—the noisome pestilence!

Verse 4 - “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  We have a safe and pleasant place.

Verse 5-7 –Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” We have no fear.

Verse 8, 9 – “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.  Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation.”  We have satisfaction and refuge.

Verse 10-13  “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.  Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.”  We have God’s protection.

Verse 14 – “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”
We have God’s favor.

Verse 15 – “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”  We have God’s attention.

Verse 16 – “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” We have God’s blessing.

So let the storms rage high, let the storm clouds rise, they don’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God! (Dottie Rambo)

Proverbs 18:10 describes my favorite haven, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”  I have found refuge there many times.

If your life’s sea is tossing high or your ministry ship is taking on water, run into His tower.  You will find safe harbor, enjoy sweet fellowship, and wind up giving Him praise.

Oh that men would praise the Lord for this goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  Psalm 107:31

The History of British Christianity – King Alfred (600-800 A.D.)

By: Martin Wickens

Missionaries and kings, individuals and groups, gradually brought the Christian faith to these isles and Christianity was firmly established here by the 5th and 6th century. Numbers and influence ebbed and flowed, and the visible church was predominantly Roman Catholic, led from Christian centres in Canterbury and York.

It is thought that Augustine’s mission in 597 A.D. set the course for much of Christian history in these isles by forming a close relationship between Christianity and the monarchy. The focus of this article will demonstrate that further and show its progression.

As noted in the previous three articles, the numbers who were truly born again, as opposed to those who were merely cultural Christians, is hard to know. But compromise certainly abounded during the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries. The historian, Bede, talks particularly of the half-hearted Anglo-Saxon Christians who still held on to Pagan practices.

Whether a church made up of those who possessed Christ or only professed to know Christ existed, the truth is that it did grow in numbers and influence. To many, its increase appeared unstoppable.

Then came the Vikings.

The Vikings came down from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. They had been increasing in power from about 700 A.D. and through their advances in shipbuilding were able to travel to nearby countries to pillage and plunder (and some setup homes and farm).

The Vikings were a pagan, polytheistic people. Their attacks monasteries had more to do with the wealth they often held rather than the fact they were Christian.

Once they settled in Britain and other countries, many quickly adopted Christianity and abandoned their paganism.

Lindisfarne and the Vikings – 871 A.D. 

In 871 A.D. the famous Viking raid on Lindisfarne shook the nation and many attacks followed.

At the time Alfred was the King of Wessex. He professed to be a Christian and in his understanding, the Viking attacks were a punishment allowed by God.

The battles between the Vikings and Alfred and his armies raged for over 15 years. Many of them in around my home county of Berkshire. At one stage Alfred was forced to retreat to the Somerset marshes and waged guerrilla warfare for a time. It was during this time he infamously burnt some cakes.

Alfred rebuilt his forces and in 886 A.D. had defeated the Danes and a treaty was established. One of the terms of the treaty was that Guthrum, the pagan king of the Danes, be baptised as a Christian, with Alfred as his sponsor. Though it seemed for a time that paganism would crush Christianity, once more the name of Christ was raised high.

King Alfred, born in Wantage near Oxford in 849, would become the only English monarch to have “the Great” appended to his name. He would also be the first monarch referred to as the King of England.

Alfred the Great and His Impact Today

He was a brilliant tactician and his efforts to fortify the country through burhs (boroughs) and an interconnected road system continues to impact our society and culture today. King Alfred also established a code of laws and believed strongly in education for all. He learned Latin in his late 30’s and helped translate books from Latin to Anglo-Saxon.

We accept Alfred had short-comings, and two especially come to mind. Alfred remained an adherent of Roman Catholicism. While this was not Catholicism as we know it, it certainly was compromised even in his day. Also, Alfred commissioned a project to trace his genealogy back to Adam. This, the writings of Bede and a growing belief by the Anglo-Saxons led them to believe the English were the new chosen people.

But Alfred’s determination to educate the English people and provide the Bible in the people’s language was something later genuine reformers, such as Wycliffe, would embrace.

The King’s new law code began with the Ten Commandments, and no doubt this went a great way towards establishing what we now refer to as our Judeo-Christian heritage. A heritage which has impacted our society, judicial system, economy and even work ethic.

Alfred’s efforts to educate enabled a system of learning that would bring at least knowledge of Christianity to all the people in his kingdom. Alfred had a noble goal for individuals to embrace Christianity and not merely to follow the lead of their rulers.

In the 10th century, Alfred’s work would lead to lords providing small chapels on their land where local people could attend. This eventually brought about the parish system familiar to any in the country today.

His faith was imperfect, and perhaps was not a born-again believer at all, but there is much about his life that we can appreciate, and through his leadership, we find yet more roots in bringing about the country we know from more recent history and our society today.

If God could use pagan kings like Nebuchadnezzar (Danil 4), Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1) and Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-28) in the Old Testament, then I fully believe He can use a king like Alfred.

One of the benefits of studying church history is to see and understand that God has used many ways to work out His purposes in these isles.

This article first appeared on Reach the Isles.

The Power of God's Word

By Dr. Byron Foxx

The Bible is the only book I know that can absolutely move this nation back to God! The Bible is alive! Christians love it, sinners need it, and it is a weapon against the devil! Read it today!

All preachers should commit themselves to preaching and teaching the infallible, inerrant, inspired, God-breathed Word of God! My soul is troubled for any pastor, church, or institution that begins to doubt the Word of God.

You have likely heard folks say it is full of errors, fables, and inaccuracies. NO! The Bible is the immutable, unchanging Word of God.

• You can build your life on the Book.
• You can build your home on the Book.
• You can build every aspiration on the Book.
• The church is built on the Book.
• My hope of going to Heaven is found in the Book!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.—Psalm 119:105

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.—2 Timothy 3:16–17

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12

The Bible begins in Genesis to unfold the great revelation of Almighty God Jehovah. Without the Bible we would never know Him. Without the Bible we would not know about creation. Without the Bible, we would not know the marvelous story of redemption. Hallelujah for the Bible! O bless the Lord!

I know the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It brings assurance of salvation upon repentance and belief in our loving Saviour, Jesus!

I don’t want the science of the liberals. I don’t want to read about a cosmic egg. I’m not interested in a “fire mist swirling in space.”

Voltaire said, “Within a hundred years there will not be a Bible on the face of the earth except as an antiquarian curiosity.” The infidel Hume said, “I see the twilight of Christianity.”

However! The Lord still reigns, the Bible is still the greatest book, and salvation is still available to all! Give me the Bible. Give me the Book. The queen of all science is theology. We should read and study the Bible, not just for facts, read and study it for TRUTH!

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.—Isaiah 40:8

The History of British Christianity – Rebels, Royalty, and Revival (300-600 A.D.)

By: Martin Wickens

We would find the British Isles of 1500 years ago unrecognizable in many ways, yet in others, the seeds of the nations and society we live in today were taking root.

The edges of our island nations have been eroded over the years, but the major geographical features of the country remain the same. Accounts of vineyards during the times of the Romans indicates Britain had a warmer climate, and in parts of the country, less rain fall. Consequently, the fauna and flora may have varied, but only slightly. We know massive efforts to build the nation’s navy in later years meant the woods and forests that once covered the island were depleted, but large forests sometimes replaced the old.

So, many things may appear different, but much remains the same. As it is with the landscape, so it is with our religion and society.

A familiar issue that connects modern and ancient times is a constant battle with heresy.

Another recognizable feature of modern society which also began in those ancient times is the link between the monarchy and the church

A final thread that will weave its way through this post connecting 1500 years ago with today is revival.

Rebels (360-418 AD)

Blogs abound today that spend their time naming and shaming false teachers. Some do so in an edifying manner and are worthwhile. Others are harsh in spirit and do more to harm than to help. Something I have never seen, however, is the use of poetry to describe a false teacher. Here are two poems written against an ancient rebel, written over 1000 years apart.

The first poem is quoted in Bede’s “Ecclesiastical History of the English People”,

“Against the great Augustine see him crawl,

This wretched scribbler with his pen of gall!

In what black caverns was this snakeling bred

That from the dirt presumes to rear its head?

Its food is grain that wave-washed Britain yields,

Or the rank pasture of Campanian fields.”

This later poem dates from the 17th century and was found on a Calvinist print,

“Accurst Pelagius, with what false pretence

Durst thou excuse Man’s foul Concupiscence, Or cry down Sin Original, or that

The Love of GOD did Man predestinate.”

Though some now question the authenticity of the attacks made on Pelagius, he has had a false teaching named after him, Pelagianism. His contemporaries describe him as British in origin. Though Jerome describes him as “stuffed with Irish porridge”, so perhaps he was Irish. This statement refers to his tall and overweight appearance. Condemned as a heretic, his written work was largely destroyed and most of what we know of him comes through quotes by his opponents.

Pelagianism, whether popularized by Pelagius or merely attributed to him, denies that we are sinners by nature and affirms that we may earn salvation by good works.

If we allow for the historical view on Pelagius, then it is apparent that from its earliest days the church in Britain and Ireland had to deal with the false teachings of rebels.

Royalty

The genuine conversion of much of Britain to Christianity while under Roman rule may be questionable as it did not seem to truly take root. In 410 AD when the Romans withdrew from the British Isles, the native peoples were left to defend themselves against the Saxons and Christianity in those areas went into decline. The pagan Saxon tribes settled along the southern coast, but thankfully, many outside of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms remained Christian.

These early British churches developed independently from Roman Catholicism and were helped and influenced by missionaries from Ireland, which was also independent of Rome.

Sometime between 560-590 the pagan King Ethelbert of Kent, great-grandson of the first king of Kent, married Bertha, the Christian daughter of one of the kings of the Franks, Charibert I, King of Paris.

When Bertha married she brought with her a Bishop named Liudhard. It is thought they restored St. Martin’s Church in Canterbury which dated back to Roman times.

Though King Ethelbert was a pagan, he believed in freedom of religion and tolerated his wife’s Christianity. Under her influence, and perhaps that of the Kentish court, Ethelbert, according to some sources, asked Pope Gregory to send them a missionary. Some attribute the sending of missionaries to Pope Gregory himself after he saw fair haired slaves from Briton in a Roman slave market.

Whatever the motivation or whoever initiated the idea, a missionary was sent, Augustine, later referred to as Augustine of Canterbury (not to be confused with the earlier Augustine of Hippo).

Augustine would come to be known as the Apostle of the English and “founder of the English Church”. The latter is a somewhat misleading title as the church already existed in Britain. However, because they had struggled to withstand the pagan Saxons, the Gregorian Mission pioneered by Augustine is often pointed to as the beginning of the English church’s formal history.

In 597 AD King Ethelbert welcomed Augustine to Kent, but would only do so in the open air as he feared Augustine had magic powers.

King Ethelbert soon converted to Christianity and gave authority and land to Augustine.

Augustine would become the first Archbishop of Canterbury, an impressive cathedral would be built in Canterbury in 597 AD but completely rebuilt in 1070-1077 and extended in later years, and the Archbishop of Canterbury continues to this day to be the head of the denomination of the Church of England.

Augustine had been commanded by Pope Gregory I to purify rather than destroy the pagan temples and customs, and a tragic result was the incorporation of many pagan festival and rites into “christian” feasts.

King Ethelbert’s efforts resulted in the conversion of the East Saxons and this resulted in the first church of St. Pauls to be built in London.

Since this time there has been a clear link between the British monarchy and Christianity.

Revivals

No doubt a remnant of believers remained in Kent from the times of the Romans. However, they do not seem to have held any prominence.

In 598 Pope Gregory wrote to the Patriarch of Alexandria that 10,000 Christians had been baptised in England.

An important detail to note about these baptisms, is that the individuals were not commanded to convert as often happened when an ancient king changed his beliefs, but they seem to have become converts by choice. While the numbers are perhaps exaggerated and in many mass conversions some are not genuine, we could perhaps point to this as the first revival or awakening on the British Isles.

Prior to and during the time of Pope Gregory I error had certainly spread into the Roman Catholic church. Here are some examples,

1. Use of images in worship – 375 A D.
2. The Mass as a daily celebration – 394 AD
3. Beginning of the exaltation of Mary; the term, “Mother of God” applied at Council of Ephesus – 431 AD.
4. Extreme Unction (Last Rites) – 526 AD
5. Doctrine of Purgatory (Gregory I) – 593 AD
6. Prayers to Mary & dead saints – 600 AD

However, sometimes we can see the Gospel still being clearly presented and we can only hope that those who converted in the days of Ethelbert were genuine believers.

Conclusion

Events from 1500 years ago have certainly impacted us today, for good or for ill. We too face Rebels, the Royal connection with religion often leads Briton’s to settle for cultural Christianity rather than genuine conversion, and we hope, pray and work for revival.

Some people dismiss church history as unimportant, and perhaps in the grand scheme of things it does not hold the importance of other subjects, but an understanding of errors of the past and of bad decisions which have led to compromise and generations taking the wrong path can greatly aid us today.

Finally, as we reflect on revivals and mass conversions of the past, we may, with hope, pray and work to see the same outpourings of God’s spirit in our own day.

This article first appeared on Reach the Isles.

The History of British Christianity - Celebrating the Unknowns (100-300 A.D.)

By: Martin Wickens

Looking back through the mist of time to find the earliest believers in the British Isles challenges historians. Especially as some medieval and modern authors have been found to bend or invent the truth to make England’s Christian roots seem established earlier than they perhaps truly were. You can read more about this issue in the previous article, “Facts and Fiction”.

The Spread of Christianity
As Paul, Peter, Stephen, Barnabus and other missionaries preached the Gospel, the church quickly and miraculously spread across the Roman empire. But the unrecorded lives of individual believers and their families must not be underestimated. Though the recorded spread of Christianity might be sparse, it is almost certain that believers migrating due to work or persecution would have spread the Gospel further than official records reveal.

In this article, I want to take a look at what we know through ancient writers, but celebrate the unwritten record which truly made an impact.

Lucius – AD 156

The Venerable Bede, our first church historian, wrote that in AD 156 a British King, Lucius, wrote to Pope Eleutherus, essentially extending the British equivalent of a Macedonian call. Bede states that,

“This pious request was quickly granted, and the Britons received the Faith and held it peacefully in all its purity and fullness until the time of the Emperor Diocletian.” (Ecclesiastical History of the English people, Chapter 4)

Diocletian – AD 303
In AD 286 Diocletian and the less-well-known Herculius became co-Emperors over the Roman Empire. Both persecuted the church, one in the east and the other in the west. They ordered all churches to be destroyed and all Christians to be killed.

Since Nero, persecution of believers had swept through the empire on nine occasions, and this made the tenth. This tenth persecution continued for ten years. Bede summarises this period of persecution with a note of victory,

“But at length, the glory of these martyr’s devoted loyalty to God was to light even Britain.” (Ecclesiastical History of the English people, Chapter 6)

Alban – AD 304
One example is Alban. When a fleeing priest came to Alban’s door he gave him refuge. The example of the priest challenged the pagan and he soon renounced his idolatry and received Christ as his Saviour.

The authorities received a report that Alban was harbouring a Christian and soldiers were sent. When they arrived Alban had put on the priest’s robe and went himself as the prisoner instead of the fleeing believer who had become his teacher and friend.

The judge who was to preside over the judgment of the priest was offering a sacrifice to idols when Alban was brought in. The judge had the soldiers drag Alban to the altar and stood him before the idols. As Alban had concealed a “rebel” and, worse, confessed to be a Christian himself, the judge condemned Alban to suffer all the tortures planned for the priest.

The pain of torture did nothing to dissuade Alban and the judge, now in a rage, commanded that he be taken out and beheaded.

At this point in the record, the facts appear to become mixed with legend. There is a story of a river running dry to enable Alban to quickly get to his place of execution. If I ever am approaching martyrdom I might prefer a miracle that delivers me from the executioner, not deliver me more quickly to him. When they arrived at the top of a hill where the execution was to take place, we read of Alban’s prayer for water being answered by a spring of water appearing at his feet. Finally, the moment arrived when Alban gave his life to testify of Jesus Christ. Of the second executioner, it is said that when he beheaded Alban that his eyes fell out. The first executioner had been so moved by Alban’s example that he converted and was also beheaded. This is the reason for a second executioner being required.

The execution took place at Verulamium on June 22nd, about 20 miles north of London. Today there is a city there called St. Albans and a cathedral is built over the spot he is said to have been martyred.

Constantine – AD 313
Despite the vicious and comprehensive persecution under Diocletian, when Constantine supposedly converted there were still many professing Christians.

In AD 313 a church council in France had three representatives from England, Eborious of York, Restitutus of London and Adelius of Caerleon (Gwent).

This demonstrates that there was a considerable Christian community in England.

Born Again Christians or Cultural Christianity?

Any consideration of church history must take the time to discern between cultural Christianity and genuine, born-again believers.

Though many of the heresies taught by Roman Catholicism did not begin until a couple of centuries later, the purity of the English church at this time had certainly been weakened.

The Nicene Creed, compiled in AD 325, but clarified due to heresies in 381 and 589, gives an insight into what they believed:

“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

“And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

“Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

“And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

“And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

Up until the final paragraph, we would have no problems. And even with the final paragraph there is debate as to what exactly was meant by “baptism for the remission of sins…”

So, as noted before, the church in England could still have been largely pure doctrinally, but it was certainly being weakened by its marriage with the world through the actions of Constantine.

An Application for Believers Today

1. The Unwritten Records – As with our first article, we are still covering a time where records are difficult to verify. However, we can be certain that in the history books of Heaven we will find the names of those first Christians who evangelised the British Isles as they travelled as soldiers, farmers, families, and politicians.
2. The Unknown Martyrs – Some stories of martyrs are well recorded and over time miraculous events have been added to the narrative. But even if we sent them aside, we know there were many who gave their lives as they witnessed for Christ. These early saints lived and died in such a way that the world had to change the word martyr to mean more than just a testimony, but one who testified even by their deaths.
3. The Unfinished Story – Through social media, blogs and digital records we retain much more of daily events and individual lives than at any other time in history. However, the vast majority of believers will not have books written of them, movies recounting their heroics or cathedrals built on the site of their martyrdom. In truth, a true believer would wish for none of those things anyway. However, it is the simple lives of regular believers as that can impact a country more deeply than you realise. By God’s grace live in such a way that impacts history, not in the books or the 10 O’clock news, but in changed lives, families, communities and countries.

The legacy of church planters and pastors today is rarely seen in stories etched in stone or printed on paper, but in the lives lived and changed for eternity.

This article first appeared on Reach the Isles.

Famine, Funerals, and Farming: A Study of the Book of Ruth

By: Jason Tsaddiq

The book of Ruth was written probably by Samuel (1) “during the reign of David (1000-961BC), yet the actual setting takes place during the period of the judges’ rule over Israel, sometime between 1150 and 1100 BC.” Many Bible scholars believe that he wrote it to validate David’s royalty for “. . . Ruth is the only book in the Old Testament that presents the family tree of David, proving to be the most vital link from Abraham to the coming Messiah.” (2)

As one pursues a diligent study of the book of Ruth, he must be determined to study exactly what is there and not to add any romantic or westernized ideas into the story. A survey of the contents includes this summary of the story: a man took his wife and two sons to another country due to the famine in their land. He decided to stay there. He died. His two sons married women from this foreign land instead of choosing wives from their own land. The sons died. The three widows decided to go back to this man’s homeland. Very soon however, one of the widows, (one of the daughters in law) decided not to leave her own land. Thus, the widow of the man and the other daughter in law returned to the homeland. The daughter in law gleaned in the field of a rather wealthy man who turned out to be a kinsman. He noticed her, welcomed her into his fields, and eventually took upon himself the responsibility of marrying her. In the last few verses, the reader is told through the genealogies that this daughter in law was the great grandmother of King David who was in the line of Christ.

Many preachers, teachers, and commentators add to this story. Additions to this story include the “fact” that Elimelech was sinful in traveling from Bethlehem to Moab to avoid the famine. However, Scripture does not communicate that Bethlehemites were not allowed to travel, even to Moab. In fact, Scripture does teach that a man should provide for his family (physical needs as well as other types of needs). Understanding that God expects His children to live holy lives while providing for those needs, one must also realize that an occasion may arise in which a person may take an action that is not the preferred action, even though it is not sin. (3)

God “forbade the Ammonites and Moabites entry into the congregation of the Lord and told His people not to seek their peace of prosperity. (See Deut. 23:3-7.)” (4) He did not forbid children of Israel to sojourn there.

 Pointing to the fact that chapter 1, verse 2b says that “they came into the country of Moab and continued there,” many Bible students claim that Elimelech sinned since he stayed. Nowhere does Scripture say or imply that Elimelech chose to stay because he was a sinner or because he was out of God’s will. Possibly they met unforeseen financial circumstances and could not afford to return as soon as they would have liked. Possibly God allowed severe illness to strike Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, or Chileon, preventing travel until healing had occurred. The current Bible student must acknowledge that he cannot know the mind of Elimelech and must prevent reading his own interpretation into the verse.

Another addition to the story hovers around the fact that the two sons “took them wives of the women of Moab.” Deuteronomy 7 among other passages confirms God’s command that His children be not married to or “unequally yoked with unbelievers.”  It does appear that these two sons disobeyed God’s will. However, to say that “either Naomi made no objection to these marriages because of her resignation of never returning to her home country, or her grief was so great over the loss of her husband that she no longer cared” (5) is definitely reading into Scripture. The current believer has no clue to know if Naomi made no objection or if she were resigned to never returning to her home country, or even if she had grief over her husband’s death. Possibly she had no grief for if one believes Naomi to be a wonderful “Christian,” then maybe Elimelech took her out of Bethlehem against her will and she was glad that he had died.

After the men’s deaths, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem as explained in chapter 1, verse 6. She encouraged her daughters in law to stay in Moab, their homeland. Orpah, in verses 14 and 15 “went back unto her people, and unto her gods;” (6) One Bible teacher claims that “Orpah promptly declared her intention to follow Naomi, and just as promptly she turned back to her own people and her own gods. Such is human nature – frail, shallow, and superficial in some.” Yet in the same book, this author claims that Christians can “practice their faith” (7) in the world. He tells a story of a factory in the south that holds a chapel service for its employees every Monday morning, even at a cost to the employer. Possibly Orpah was not going back to her gods as Naomi said; maybe she was going back to be a light, a missionary to her family. Maybe Orpah was not as shallow and superficial as some may think for God had not told the Moabites to leave Moab. (8)

One of the most heinous additions to the Biblical story of Ruth is based on chapter 1, verse 20 where Naomi states, “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” Almost every preacher, teacher, and commentator use this verse to prove that Naomi was bitter. However, this verse does not claim that Naomi was bitter; it claims that God had allowed bitter events to occur in her life. It is quite possible for a believer to experience bitter incidences and not become bitter. Naomi gave no indication of her heart condition before her journey to Moab, during her time there, and after the men in her immediate family died. God, for some reason, kept quite a bit of personal intimate emotion out of this book of the Bible. 

Several reasons exist for one to believe that Naomi was not bitter. The first reason is that she did not say she was bitter. She said that God had dealt bitterly with her. The careful Bible student must read exactly what is in Scripture and not place his own possible emotions into the people involved.

The second reason is the definition, so to speak, of the word Almighty. In the Hebrew, she used the word el shaddai which has several shades of meaning. One source claims that “the focus does not seem to be so much on power and might (although that is implied) but more on sovereignty and kingship.” (9) It is possible that Naomi was recognizing that the Most Sovereign and Kingly God had brought about bitter trials. Wikipedia presents several ideas, one of which is that “the root word "shadad" (שדד) means to plunder, overpower, or make desolate.” (10) Perhaps Naomi was feeling that God had overpowered and made desolate her family when He allowed the men to die. A woman who truly loves her husband and children may feel plundered and overpowered after three deaths within approximately ten years. Plundered does not mean the speaker is bitter. Wikipedia offers another slight variation: 

"El Shaddai" may also be understood as an allusion to the singularity of deity, "El", as opposed to "Elohim" (plural), being sufficient or enough for the early patriarchs of Judaism. . . meaning a god who is sufficient in himself, that is, a self-determined eternal being qua being, for whom limited descriptive names cannot apply. This may have been the meaning the Hebrew phrase "ehyeh asher ehyeh" (which translates as "I will be that which I will be") and which is how God describes himself to Moses in Exodus 3:13–15. This phrase can be applied to the tetragrammaton Yhwh, which can be understood as an anagram for the three states of being: past, present and future, conjoined with the conjunctive Hebrew letter vav. (11) (Emphasis was added.)

Maybe Naomi was recognizing that, even though all of life’s misfortunes, El Shaddai was sufficient; He was enough. If she were bitter, possibly she would have used the name El Elyon (“the most high God”) or El Olam (“the everlasting God”) or El Roi (“God who sees me”).

An explanation of the theme of the book must include the definition of the name of God that was used in chapter 1, verse 20: El Shaddai – the kingly sovereign, all-sufficient One. The first chapter of this book seems to cover quite a bit of time and quite a few events. Then the action seems to slow down. Yet each step of the story shows an aspect of El Shaddai’s name.

His sovereignty is shown by allowing the family to move to a specific country, by allowing the dad to die at a specific time, by allowing the sons not to marry until after the father’s death, by allowing the news of the famine being over not to reach Naomi until His timing was perfect, by allowing one (and only one) daughter in law to return with Naomi, and so on, all the way until after Obed is born.  Only a Supreme Power could devise and execute such a detailed plan.

His all-sufficiency is shown by His being powerful enough to make all the details fall completely in line, at the right time.  Naomi and Ruth arrived at Bethlehem during the time of harvest – this occurrence was not a coincidence. The only other kinsman redeemer did not want to fulfill the kinsman responsibility – if Ruth were as wonderful as Scripture states, one must wonder why he did not jump at the chance to have her. But God had already planted other responsibilities into his life. God’s plans were sufficient to provide the way for Ruth to be grafted into the royal line. The other kinsman would not have placed Ruth in the royal line.

In pondering the all-sufficiency of El Shaddai, one must consider His only begotten Son -  the king of all. El Shaddai is used to denote a king and this God Who patiently put all the details in order is still the King of kings.

The significance of this book is multifaceted based on the application of each truth. The first significance and thus application is that one must see God’s attributes: kingliness, sovereignty, all sufficiency. If God is king, sovereign, and all-sufficient, then one must obey Him with no argument. Obeying a king is not always easy; however, as Boaz could picture God’s redemptive love for Gentiles, then one may rest in His goodness for being the all-providing One. Naomi, though widowed, was never technically alone – she had her sons and her daughters in law. This Good King still was caring for her even in a foreign country. She may have rested in that knowledge. 

The obedience principle is shown several times through Ruth’s action. Due to Ruth’s Moabite ancestry, many of Naomi’s practices and instructions may have been unusual; yet Ruth still obeyed.

The second significance and application of the book is that one must see that Gentiles can participate in God’s will. Since God is no respecter of persons, each person has a task to perform under His guidance; each person is loved with an everlasting love; no one is better than another. The modern believer must treat others as God treats them: righteously, purely, and kindly.

The third significance and application of the book is that God has everything in control – a very trite but true saying. Bethlehem may not have understood the complete reason for the famine. Naomi may not have understood why she had to move to Moab nor why her husband and sons died. Maybe Naomi did not understand why Orpah went back to her people (What would have happened if she had traveled to Bethlehem?) Ruth may not have known why her husband died before they had children. Boaz may not have understood why he felt compelled to go to the field that particular day since he was a very busy man. Some scholars say that Boaz was a widower – if so, maybe he did not understand why his wife died. Yet these events happened to these people because God was working behind the scenes just as He did with Job and just as He does with believers in the church age.

Even though many so-called Bible students read much of their own emotions into this book, the diligent serious student may glean many other truths that apply to his individual life. Just like all the other books of His Word, Ruth may be read and re-read many times before all its treasures are mined.

1 Diana Hagee, Ruth: The Romance of Redemption, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 2005), 3.

2 Ibid, 7.

3 Current examples would include working and traveling on Sundays, spending money on hobbies and entertainment when missionaries and pastors are going without some necessities, gorging oneself at dinner when God expects Christians to care for their bodies.

4 Stanley Collins, Courage and Submission: A Study of Ruth and Esther, (Glendale, CA: G/L Publications, 1975) 7

5 Hagee, 16.

6 David Nettleton, Provision and Providence: The Books of Ruth and Esther, (Des Plaines, IL: Regular Baptist Press, 1975), 6.

7 Ibid, 12.

8 Granted, because of the assumed close familial ties between Naomi and Orpah, one may conjecture that Naomi knew Orpah’s heart and life choices better than the current Bible student and thus was correct when she said that Orpah had returned to her gods. Maybe Orpah told Naomi that the only reason she was going to Bethlehem was due to the social expectations of the times. Possibly Orpah even told Naomi that she was returning to her own gods as she was leaving. 

9 Cory Baugher, knowingthebible.net/the-meaning-of-el-shaddai, (2017). Accessed June 3, 2017.

10 Wikipedia.com. (2017). Accessed June 3, 2017.

11 Ibid.

When You Can Remember

By: John O'Malley 

Proverbs 10:7   The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. 

God allows us this wonderful tool of memory. The ability to recall events, emotions, and the friends associated with those thoughts is a gift from God. 

Can you imagine if you had no ability to recall something, someone, or somewhere? Can you envision a life that existed only in the present and without any recollection? Can you fathom what a life without memories would be?

I am grateful that God allows us to sort through fond and precious recollections of dear ones who’ve completed their earthly sojourn. The recollection of friends who’ve gone before us is like taking a few steps up into our mind’s attic to reflect on memories shared and moments experienced. Your moment to reflect upon friends may bring smiles, laughter, tears, and warmth. These recollections are precious.

The Holy Spirit made clear to us in this verse that, “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.” I am glad that the fond recollections of your friend are blessed recollections; it indicates they were just. Conversely, a wicked person's name rots with them. 

If you reflect fondly upon a friend, family member, or colleague, remember this: you're able to do so because they were just. Thank God for the gift of memory. Thank God also for the influence your loved one had on you and yours.

The History of British Christianity – Facts and Fiction (100-200 A.D.)

By: Martin Wickens

The definition of what constitutes a Christian nation generates endless debate. But regardless of the definition, many claim that parts of the British Isles have been a Christian nation for millennia.

Over several articles, I want to survey the history of Christianity in the British Isles, particularly in the south of England where possible, and consider what lessons we can learn. It will not always be possible to point to local fellowships that we might identify 100% with today in doctrine and practice. However, we will find groups and individuals that recognized Jesus as the Christ, the Son of Man and Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a perfect life, died as the perfect sacrifice and who rose victorious three days later from the grave.

First, we will consider some facts and then we will throw in some fiction before drawing some conclusions and applications.

Paul arrested and sent to Rome.
In Acts 21 a chain of events began that led to Paul traveling to Rome as a prisoner. False allegations were made in Jerusalem, there was an uproar among the people and the Roman officials had to step in. Paul was placed under guard and taken to Herod’s Palace in Caesarea. During his time of imprisonment and interrogation, Paul made his appeal to have his case heard by Caesar. And so Paul the Apostle was taken to Rome, arriving there sometime in the year A.D. 60.

Caractacus arrested and sent to Rome.

Now we move the scene to ancient Catuvellauni, modern-day southeast England during the same time period. The Celtic ruler, Caractacus (also referred to as Caradog in Welsh, possibly the origin of the King Arthur myth), followed his Uncle’s example and expanded his kingdom into the territory of the Atrebates. The Atrebate’s chieftain, Verica, fled to Rome and appealed to Emperor Claudius for help. Claudius decided it was time for regime change in the British Isles and the appeal from Verica was the excuse he needed to invade ancient Briton.

Caractacus led a fierce and sometimes successful resistance. In set battles, his men stood little chance against the Roman Legions but when using guerrilla tactics Caractacus had some success. Ultimately, in AD 51, Caractacus was defeated, betrayed and he and his family were taken as prisoners to be displayed as a war prize in Rome.

Caractacus was given the opportunity to speak before the Senate, and following a moving speech he and his family were pardoned and freed to live in Rome.

“History became legend. Legend became myth…”
Now, thanks to Iolo Morganwg (the 1700’s) and others, the facts turn to fiction, myth, and legend.

The story goes that Caractacus’ daughter, Gladys, changed her name to Claudia and married Pudens. The leap is then made to connect this Claudia and Pudens to the individuals mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21. The connection is partly made because Caractacus, Claudia, and Paul all resided in Rome at the same time.

Depending on the story you read, either Caractacus or his daughter returned to the British Isles with the Gospel. Some say Joseph of Arimathea came to the south of England with the Gospel and that through his ministry Caractacus was a Christian before traveling to Rome.

There are other traditions about bishops and missionaries spreading the Gospel in the British Isles in the 1st and 2nd centuries. Some are debunked by experts. Others are based upon facts, but the facts are open to interpretation.

The more you delve into this subject the greater the degree of fantasy and imagination.

I want to establish several points:

• Though the exact dates are not known, Christians have been in the British Isles for millennia.
• Up until recent times, there has been a desire to trace the connection to Christ back as far as possible.
• People have gone to great lengths to paint the UK as a Christian nation.

Where are we today? And what does any of this have to do with this church planting, evangelism and discipleship group?

Has God Finished with these Isles?
With such a long history, and having enjoyed so many privileges, does the current trend away from God indicate God is no longer at work here? Some refer to parts of Europe as being “burned over”. They say that great works were done here, but now people are “sinning away their day of grace” and God is choosing to work in other parts of the world.

I know of no Biblical premise for this position and on that basis alone I reject it. Also, God is still calling His people here to proclaim the Gospel, and He is drawing men and women from other parts of the world to minister here. They have a genuine calling and I believe this also demonstrates that God has not turned His back on the people of Europe.

Optimism, Pessimism or Realism?
Ministry in Britain is a challenge. But things have not regressed to the days when the first Christian set foot on British soil. Can you imagine that at some point in history there was only one, single, solitary Christian in the land?

Maybe it was Claudia, daughter of Caractacus. Maybe it was an unknown Roman soldier. Perhaps it was a missionary sent deliberately to the then furthest corner of the Roman Empire.

What we do know, is that over hundreds of years the Gospel would spread, it would be corrupted by some but held to faithfully, if only in great simplicity, by a remnant. Revivals and reformations would bring many back to orthodoxy. Generations would eventually come who would, by God’s grace, become part of a powerhouse that would send and take the Gospel around the globe! The influence of Christianity would permeate society, law, government, education, language, and literature.

And it all began with one.

If God’s work could begin with one believer in the land long ago, then surely we can hope for God to do a mighty work with the many faithful saints that labor here today.

This article first appeared on Reach the Isles.

Overwhelmed!

Psalm 61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

There are some days that seem like the list of things to do and responsibilities far outweigh the available hours in the day.  As a young college student, I remember facing this feeling of being overwhelmed almost daily.  One night at dinner, I was complaining to my friend about all the things that I had to do and the lack of time to complete them.  Her response took me off guard – “Have you taken time to read God’s Word today and really commune with Him?”  I almost choked on my food.  Hadn’t she heard the inexhaustible list of things that I had to get done?  I swallowed my food quickly, and listened as she continued to encourage me to set aside extra time to spend with the Lord on the days when I was the busiest.  We left the subject in our conversation, but I couldn’t get it off my mind.  How could I spare EXTRA time to spend with God when I had all this stuff to do?  I remembered that she also encouraged me to read Psalm 61 if I decided to give it a chance.  So I did!  That night the Lord used this Psalm to convict, challenge, and change me concerning this feeling of being overwhelmed.  I have often run back to this Psalm and many other passages of Scripture amidst the busiest times of my life.  I have had similar conversations with my friends and even my students since the Lord showed Himself able to sustain me using the truths in this Psalm in my life.  That week and many others like it were the most productive when I stopped being overwhelmed with my problems and allowed myself to be overwhelmed by the One Who was trying to teach me through those problems.  I’m so glad that He is my shelter and a place of safety for me when it seems that all that is around me is falling to pieces.  My God hears me and cares about me!  What a wonderful God we serve!

Did God Give Us Meaningless Genealogies in Genesis?

by Steve Schramm

I have a confession to make: Genealogy, anthropology, etc., are not my favorite subjects of study.

 Be honest–you’ve probably skipped the reading of those ancient genealogies more than once in your regular Bible study. 

It’s unfortunate, but this apathy seems to have found its way into academic circles as well. We have a very interesting and detailed accounting of human history found in the Word of God, and yet, most seminaries and many churches today all but reject this history! 

I suggest that everything given to us in the Word of God was given for our learning–including the genealogies.1

They were placed there for a reason. But what is that reason? Did God give us meaningless genealogies? Empty words just to fill up space?

Here are two characteristics of the Scriptural genealogies which suggest significant historical meaning, with special regard to the age of the Earth:

1. The Intention of the Genealogies

As alluded to above, I believe that Scripture teaches every word should be considered with care, precision, and the intent of finding meaning.

It seems wildly inconsistent with the character of God to assume each of our idle words will matter on judgment day, and yet, His can be taken with a grain of salt and all but obliterated by the fallacious context of ancient mythological traditions. 

As we come across these tedious passages of Scripture, then, we must ask what they mean and why they were included. Some have argued that these genealogies are merely for theological purposes and are not meant to convey chronological details at all.

For example, noted Princeton scholar of days gone by, William Henry Green, suggested that “the genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11 were not intended to be used, and cannot properly be used, for the construction of a chronology.” 

An article on the popular Reasons to Believe (RTB) website proposes, “The genealogies place a hard constraint that Adam and Eve appeared no more recently than 6,000 years ago. Since they contain gaps those genealogies cannot serve as timekeeping devices. However, it seems to stretch credulity to argue for anything much older than 100,000 years for Adam and Eve’s appearance on Earth.”

Is Green right when he speaks to the intent of these genealogies? Putting aside the obvious logical issues with the statement from RTB,2 do they have a point?

Many articles and even books have been written on this subject which detail the potential for gaps, etc., but I have a more pragmatic goal for this article.

 My single aim is to show that the details of these genealogies lend credence to their purposefulness and usefulness in determining a chronology. 

In his book Faith Form and Time, Kurt Wise makes a pretty compelling case for the usefulness of these genealogies.

 First of all, he correctly points out that, “Genealogies are usually only marginally useful for chronology purposes. A list of names, even if it contains a complete list of fathers and sons in the proper sequence, provides only the number of generations.” (Wise, FFT, 48). It is well-evidenced that most ancient genealogies were not used for chronological purposes at all–merely to establish family relationship much like we would do today when investigating our own family tree.

It seems, however, fallacious to conflate the general use case for Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) genealogical data to mean that all genealogies are used this way. The most common argument furthered by this notion is that gaps must be allowed in the Genesis genealogies if one is to accommodate old-age geology with the Scriptures.

But as Lisle and Chaffey point out regarding this argument, “This is illogical. It commits a fallacy known as affirming the consequent. The argument goes like this: “If there are gaps in the Genesis genealogies, then we might find gaps in other genealogies. We find gaps in other genealogies; therefore, there must be gaps in the Genesis genealogies.” The consequent in this argument is “we might find gaps in other genealogies.” It does not follow that since this part of the argument is true, that the first statement (antecedent) is also true.”

Wise further contends, “The genealogy that is most useful for chronology is one that provides the age of the parents at the time of the birth of their children. But this is uncommon among genealogies, both ancient and modern. It is interesting, then, that the genealogies of both Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 do provide the age of fathers at the birth of their sons—exactly the kind of information we need in developing a chronology. Since the words of Scripture are both accurate and economical, the structure of these genealogies suggests a chronological purpose…Of all the steps in a biblical chronology from the creation to Christ, only two steps require a genealogy—the time between creation and the Flood and the time between the Flood and Abraham. And guess what? These happen to be the only genealogies that have chronological information!”

 So it appears we cannot conclude a priori that these are useless genealogies, chronologically speaking, and it also appears that if we were meant to draw chronological information from them, we would need exactly the kind of data we have in exactly the place we have it.

This information is, I believe, evidence enough for intent. There seem to be too many “idle words” and too much useless data in these particular genealogies if we’re not meant to use them for dating purposes.

Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, could have established theological or symbolical meaning in the texts by simply treating them as the other genealogies in the Old Testament and leaving out these careful chronological details.

 Of course, this argument could be undermined if there is significant evidence for gaps. Is there?

2. The Convention of the Genealogies

By convention, I mean to convey that the linguistic structure accompanied by the relational details seem to argue for gapless (closed) genealogies.

In keeping with Wise’s argument (which I use due to his clarity and because I find it most compelling), the following case can be made for gapless genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11:

First, the narrative makes it clear that Seth was the actual son of Adam and Eve (Gen. 4:25); Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the sons of Noah (Gen. 5:32; 6:10; 7:13; 9:18-27; 10:1); and Abram, Nahor, and Haran were the sons of Terah (Gen. 11:26-31).

Second, the Scripture indicates that the names of some patriarchs were almost certainly given to them by their actual fathers. This suggests that Seth was the actual son of Adam (Gen. 5:3); Enos was the son of Seth (Gen. 4:26), and Noah was the son of Lamech (Gen. 5:29). 

Third, the distinct way in which the relationship between parent and child is related in Genesis 4:25-26 and 10:25 further suggests that Seth was the actual son of Adam and Eve, Enos was the son of Seth, and Peleg and Joktan were the sons of Eber. 

Fourth, the facts that Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth, and their wives were the only survivors of the Flood and that Arphaxad was born only two years after the Flood (Gen. 11:10) suggests that Arphaxad was actually the son of Shem.

Fifth, Jude 14 states that Enoch was the seventh generation from Adam. This suggests that no gaps exist in the Genesis 5 list between Adam and Enoch.

Finally, the Hebrew name Methuselah is thought by some to mean “when he dies it will come” or “when he dies, judgment.” If one assumes that no gaps exist and that the numbers of Genesis 5 are correct, Methuselah’s death is found to occur in the same year the Flood began. This suggests that God may have waited for the death of Methuselah (“when he dies”) to bring judgment upon the Earth (“it shall come”). This also suggests that the ages and years of at least the second half of Genesis 5 are complete and accurate.

One who has studied this issue at length may remain unconvinced; after all, doesn’t the Hebrew word for “begat” used in the Old Testament allow for wider relational context?

Lilse and Chaffey comment, “The Hebrew word translated as “beget” in the King James Version of the Bible is yalad (ילד). Although it could (in principle) indicate something more distant than a direct parent-child relationship, it is apparently never used that way in the Old Testament. That is, whenever the form “X begat Y” occurs in the Old Testament, it always indicates a direct parent-child relationship. We are aware of no exceptions. The New Testament does sometimes skip generations when using “X begat Y”…But the New Testament is written in Greek, and is using a different word for “begat” (γενναω). The Old Testament “begats” (which are the ones involved in age-of-the-earth estimations) appear to be airtight—and in many cases, the surrounding passages confirm a direct parent-child relationship.”

Final Thoughts

It’s worth mentioning that even if we were to place gaps in these historical accounts, the time required by old-age chronology for the appearance of modern humans is, at minimum, an order of magnitude longer than could be allowed for.

It’s been argued by some that inserting reasonable gaps in the few places where they could exist would raise the age of the Earth to around 10,000 years; but again, this is a far cry from the time required by old-age chronology. 

This article has not attempted to refute the minute details of arguments offered by either open or closed view proponents, however, the concise cumulative case I’ve presented here seems to suggest that:

1. God has not placed any “idle words” in Scripture;

2. We cannot dismiss the intent of these genealogies just because others from the ANE don’t convey chronological content;

3. In regards to chronological intent, the Genesis 5 and 11 accounts give us unique information at exactly the necessary times;

4. The argument in favor of a gapless (closed) understanding is quite thorough and compelling;

5. The OT provides no evidence that distant relationships are implied by the word “begat”;

6. Any reasonable insertion of gaps could raise the Earth’s age to around 10,000 years, but not the ~100,000 proposed by Hugh Ross and RTB.

In light of the above observations, I therefore conclude that not only are we permitted by the immediate and wider context of Scripture to draw chronological information from the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies, but it appears they were intentionally inspired and written in such a way that we do so.

 (This article first appeared on www.steveschramm.com)

True Love

by Amanda Baker

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

There are many familiar passages in Scripture that many of us could probably quote from memory.  But one of the beauties of the unending fathoms of truth from the Word of God, this passage strikes me again with the depth of God’s love for me.  The Fruit of the Spirit is a single fruit that is produced by the Spirit in Christians as we allow Him to work in us.  It is not a mistake that the first part of this fruit is love.  It is on this principle of love that a Christian will see all other parts of the Fruit of the Spirit produced.  Someone has related all the other parts of the Fruit of the Spirit to its basis – love – as follows:

• Joy is love exulting or rejoicing.
• Peace is love resting.
• Longsuffering is love enduring.
• Gentleness is love caring.
• Goodness is love transparent.
• Faith is love unwavering.
• Meekness is love submitting.
• Temperance is love overcoming.

There are a few things we can gather by looking at how Christ interacted with people while He was on this earth.  By the example of Christ’s passion for all men while He was on this earth, we should be challenged to love ALL people like He did.  Following His example, we will love even those who despise and hurt us because His love for us is never conditional on our love for Him.  Lastly, He proved His love for us in His actions – He died for us because He loved us, not because we deserved His love.  

Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

How often do we just give lip-service in our love for Him and for others?  If we are exercising the love He displayed for us, we will love Him and others with our concrete actions rather than just with lip-service.  While the world tells us that love is feeling that we should give into, take some time to mediate on the greatest love that we Christians have been shown and follow His example in exercising true love.

Review of The Emotionally Destructive Marriage

By: Jason Tsaddiq

Review of The Emotionally Destructive Marriage: How to Find Your Voice and Reclaim Your Hope by Leslie Vernick -- Waterbrook Press, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group: New York; 2013

Please hear me: God doesn’t want you to hang on by a thread, my friend. He gives you a lifeline. Grab hold of it and live. (page 4)

Author:

Leslie Vernick is a “licensed clinical social worker and relationship coach,” according to the book cover information. She holds webinars, writes a blog, speaks internationally, and maintains a private practice. The author of several books including How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong and The Emotionally Destructive Relationship, Mrs. Vernick chose to use these Biblical principles in her relationship with her mother, though most readers would assume, by her book titles, that she has a lousy marriage and hates men. 

In perusing her website, leslievernick.com, one cannot find her personal story of salvation or any “religious” associations; however, she constantly states, in various ways, that God has the answer and the answer is simply Him and His Word.

Review:

The book addresses a crucial yet ignored topic in Christian circles – emotional abuse in the home. It appears in the last fifty years or so, that many preachers have preached only two truths concerning the home: husbands are to lead and wives are to submit. However, it seems that the leadership that has been preached, or at least the leadership that has been practiced, is more like dictatorship and not true, Biblical leadership. Much confusion and damage has been done to the Body of Christ through this misstep.

The confusion and damage are further deepened by pastors and church leaders themselves misunderstanding the concept and therefore, they are Biblically ignorant of the proper balance between Godly leadership and Biblical submission. Often, the church leaders are willfully ignorant of this mess.

We’ve also misplaced the responsibility on a wife’s shoulder to somehow maintain a loving and warm relationship with a husband who treats her with cruelty, disrespect, deceit, and gross indifference. It’s not feasible, nor is it Biblical. (page 1, introduction)

The very first concept that Mrs. Vernick addresses is the difference between a disappointing marriage and a destructive marriage, an important concept to understand before reading the rest of the book. Every marriage can be considered “disappointing” for each spouse gets old and wrinkly; however, some marriages are absolutely destructive, not what God intended.

The author gives examples of incidents which have occurred in Christian homes, some of which are less gentle than others. She stresses that the definition of emotional abuse “is not usually diagnosed by looking at a single episode of sinful behavior (which we’re capable of) but rather repetitive attitudes and behaviors that result in tearing someone down or inhibiting her growth. This behavior is usually accompanied by a lack of awareness, a lack of responsibility and a lack of change.” An emotionally abusive marriage is not one that is shaken because a spouse puts the toilet paper on the roll backwards or squeezes the toothpaste tube the wrong way. Emotional destruction runs much, much deeper and is common in Christian circles.

 For context of the book, she defines emotional abuse on page 11: 

 Emotional abuse systemically degrades, diminishes, and can even destroy the personhood of the abused.

In Part One, titled “Seeing Your Marriage Clearly,” in chapter one, the reader is encouraged to take a self-administered test to analyze her own marriage. Chapter two leads the reader in learning the “Three Essential Ingredients in a Thriving Relationship”: mutuality, reciprocity, and freedom. Chapter three explains “Five Patterns That Destroy a Relationship and Damage People”: reactive abuse, controlling abuse, deceit, dependence, and indifference. Chapter four asks the question “Where is God in all This?” The chapter begins with this letter:

Leslie, I don’t know what’s happening to me. Every day I thank God that He’s kept me sane in this web of chaos, anger, and deceit, but I’m starting to lose it. I’m having heart palpitations, I feel sick to my stomach, I can’t think straight, and I’m scared, angry, and hurt all the time.

Despite my husband’s lack of any type of remorse, I stand on the truth of God’s Word and take my marital vows seriously! I don’t want a divorce…but how much can one person take? I feel like I am going crazy! The more Christian wisdom I seek, the more confused I become. [emphasis added] 

I don’t want to manipulate God’s word for my benefit or to relieve myself from this pain or journey. But surely God does not require that we live in this type of hell simply to remain faithful to our marriage vows, does He? Am I forever damned to this marriage?

I have sought much Christian guidance and, sad to say, it has been horribly ineffective and more damaging, which leads me back to the place I started. I don’t want to break the vow I made to God in this marriage, and yet I am trapped in a marriage that I am trying to survive while dying more every day. [emphasis added] What is the answer?

Surely I am more to God than just a sacrificial lamb!

Mrs. Vernick’s last point in the fourth chapter “Where is God in all This?” is the concept that “God values your safety and sanity.” She gives several Biblical illustrations where a child of God was allowed and/or instructed to leave for his life, not staying in a volatile situation. 

Women feel guilty taking measures to protect themselves, because they’ve been taught it’s unbiblical or ungodly. Perhaps their Christian friends or leaders have told them they have no biblical right to safety and they must stay in the marital home, no matter what. They suffer endlessly with verbal battering and even physical abuse, believing that by doing so, they’re being Godly martyrs or fulfilling a call to be a sacrificial lamb. Keeping the family together at all cost is seen as God’s highest value. But there are times when keeping the family together has an extremely high price for a woman and her children, and it may actually cost them their lives. In addition, staying together regardless of the costs continues to enable the husband to grossly sin against them with no consequences, which is not biblical.” [emphasis added] (page 69-70)

Part Two, “Change Begins with You,” begins with chapter five asking the question “What’s Wrong with Me?” The author explains that “change requires self-awareness,” “change happens when we believe God’s Words above all else,” “change happens when we seek and receive feedback from wise and Godly people,” “changes happens when we take responsibility for our part of the marital dysfunction,” “change requires self-reflection,” “change requires self-examination,” and “change requires putting your marriage in its proper place.” In this chapter, the reader is strongly encouraged to “self-reflect” and “self-examine” for any contribution to the mess she herself is making. It is in this chapter that the reader is assured that not all marital problems are caused by the husband. The wife interested in obtaining a clear-eyed view of her situation must be willing to humbly evaluate her own sin patterns, repent and change them, and then move on.

Chapter six warns the reader with this title: “When Trying Harder Becomes Destructive.”

The author explains:

In some marriages, trying harder does not engender a reciprocal response. It has the opposite effect. It feeds the fantasy that the sole purpose of your life is to serve your husband, make him happy, and meet his every need. It feeds his belief of entitlement and his selfishness, and it solidifies his self-deception that it is indeed all about him.

When destructive behaviors are a regular pattern in your marriage, understand this important truth: Your husband doesn’t want a real wife who will reflect to him her pain when he hurts her or God’s wisdom when she sees him making a foolish decision. What he demands is a fantasy wife, a blow-up punching-bag wife who continues to bounce back with a smile even when he knocks her down. He wants a doll wife who always agrees, always acts nice, always smiles, and thinks he’s wonderful all the time, not matter what he does or how he behaves. He wants a wife who loves to have sex with him whenever he’s in the mood, regardless of how he treats her. He wants a wife who doesn’t ask anything of him or hold him accountable for anything, yet allows him to do whatever he pleases. He wants a wife who will never upset him, never disagree with him, or never challenge him. He wants a wife who grants him amnesty whenever he messes up, never mentioning it again even if the same sin happens again and again. Trying harder to become the fantasy wife is not helpful to your husband or your marriage.

She continues in the next paragraph:

The more you collude with his idea that he’s entitled to a fantasy wife, the more firmly entrenched this lie becomes. You will never measure up to his fantasy wife because you, too, are a sinner. You will fail him (as every partner does in a marriage) and won’t always meet his needs (or wants). In addition, you are created by God as your own, unique, separate person. Therefore, you will have feelings of your own and won’t always agree with everything he says or wants. It is not your sole purpose to serve him and meet his every need. Trying to be his fantasy wife not only hurts him, but it hurts you too. It diminishes the person God has made you to be because your husband has now become your god. He dictates who you are to be and what you are to do. And when you bow to this god, you soon become ruled by fear, not God’s love. Your spirit becomes deformed, and you will never grow to be the woman God created you to be.

This concept (It is not your sole purpose to serve him and meet his every need) flies in the face of what the average Baptist church preaches concerning leadership and submission. However, one must acknowledge its truth. A spouse’s sole purpose is to glorify God and other like-worded goals and enabling a loved one to continue in sin is definitely not glorifying God.

Chapter seven is titled “Building Your Core.” The word CORE is used to demonstrate these concepts:

Committed to truth and reality

Open to growth, instruction, and feedback

Responsible for myself and Respectful toward others without dishonoring myself

Empathic and compassionate toward others without enabling people to continue to abuse and disrespect me.

Chapter eight, the last chapter in Part Two, explains how to “Get Prepared to Confront Wisely.” The author discusses the concept that, though all have sinned, a habitual sinner must be confronted in a Biblical method. Confronting any other way produces more destruction. Some information in this chapter also flies in the face of advice given in the typical book or sermon on the Christian home. However, as the reader has seen the Bible’s view of emotional abuse and of leadership and submission, he must acknowledge the truth of the confrontation methods and ideas presented in this chapter. The author does not claim that minor offenses be confronted using these strong methods, only on-going, non-repentant sin.

Part Three, “Initiating Changes in Your Marriage” contains “specific strategies to wake up your husband to his destructiveness and invite him to Godly change.” Chapter nine is titled “Learn to Speak Up in Love.” 

When a woman stops being a resentful martyr or a helpless victim and starts living from her CORE, she can learn to become God’s warrior to bring about her husband’s good. (page 135)

This chapter gives three questions that a wife should ask her husband: “Are you happy?” “What do you see as our most important goal or challenge as a couple if we’re going to improve our relationship?” “What kind of husband and father do you want to be?” Asking these questions and then honestly and kindly listening to the answer will make great strides in discerning the direction of the relationship.

Chapter ten “Stand Up Against the Destruction” gives a suggested strategy to approaching the destructive husband. The author gives Biblical themes and practical safety plans to combat the consequences of the wife’s standing up for righteousness in the relationship. If one begins reading the book in this chapter, ignoring the previous chapters, he may believe that the author is propounding that the wife is in charge of the relationship. The reader must take all the concepts together.

Marriage does not give someone a “get out of jail free” card that entitles a husband to lie, mistreat, ignore, be cruel, or crush his wife’s God-given dignity. (page 157)

Chapter eleven titled “When There is no Obvious Change” explains that a wife may be tempted to allow others to tell her what to believe and do, but the author stresses that a Christian wife has no excuse not to study the Scripture to discern what God would have her do. The concept of “choosing well” is explained. If the wife chooses to stay in the home, then she must stay Biblically – unresentful, submissive. If she chooses to leave the emotional abuse, then she must leave Biblically – humbly, kindly, well-prepared.

In summary, if you stay, stay well. Get help for yourself so you don’t have a breakdown. Distance yourself emotionally. Have no expectations. Connect with other women. Grow, learn, be as healthy and whole as you can while in a destructive marriage.

If you must leave, leave well. Expose his indifference, his verbal abuse, deceit, or whatever is destroying your marriage to your church leaders and separate for the purpose of reconciliation in the hopes that it will bring him to his senses. When you put your foot down and say, “I will not allow myself or the kids to be treated this way anymore. It’s destructive to me, to them and to our marriage,” you are not going against God by speaking the truth in love. You are standing for goodness, for truth, and for the healing and restoration of your marriage. But now you refuse to pretend and stay together at any cost, including your own physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health. (page 176)

Chapter twelve “Necessary Changes for Marriages to Heal” encourages the wife to analyze the situation before the whole marriage can be restored. “He accepts responsibility.” “He makes amends.” “He displays willingness instead of willfulness.” Then the author gives advice to the husband that may help him analyze his own walk with the Lord and with his wife. These suggested steps are Biblical and practical in nature, simple to accomplish step by step.

Chapter thirteen, “Restoring the Destructive Marriage” is really a continuation of chapter twelve in that it encourages the reader to continue learning from God’s Word, standing for righteousness in the marriage relationship, and maintaining her own safety, sanity, stability, and security. Each of these four concepts (safety, sanity, stability, security) are defined and directions on how to incorporate them into the marriage are given in simple stages. 

Appendix A is titled “Resources for Help” and include immediate help, support resources, educational resources, and a list of treatment groups.

Appendix B is titled “Five Common Mistakes People Helpers Make.”

Any honest Christian must admit that emotional abuse is alive and well even in Baptistic circles. Often the Christian man has his church so deceived that the wife has much difficulty in proving his deceit in the marriage relationship. Every Christian must be on guard to discern emotional abuse and must be prepared to combat it immediately. This book is a very practical. Bible-based approach to refuting the evil in the abusive home.

If the Christian marriage is the basis of society…if the Christian marriage determines the spirituality of the church … if the Christian marriage is a picture of Christ and the church, then this blatant sin against God’s will must be stopped. Now.

A Meditation on 1 Timothy 2:5-6

By: Jilene Scherenske

1Ti 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In these verses Paul is making an argument for the command set down in verses 1-3 that we ought to pray for all of our authorities.  Why should we lift up our authorities in prayer?  Why should we pray for them with supplications and prayers and intercessions and thanksgiving?  So what that there is a God Who desires everyone to be saved?  Who is this God Who wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth?   Here it is.  He is The One and only God.  He alone holds our authorities in His hands.  He alone can intervene on behalf of our guilty souls.  He alone can pardon.

“For there is one God…”  To show you how very specific the Word of God is and how important it is to include in your study the Hebrew/Greek definitions, let’s look at the word ‘one’.  Here the Greek word is heis which means ‘one’ numerically.  This is the feminine form of the noun.  The neuter form of the noun is hen which means ‘one in essence’.  So in John 10:30 where Jesus states “I and my Father are one…” the noun used is hen meaning one is essence, but two different personalities(1).  So, here in our verse, there is ONE God, only one, no more, none other, just ONE God!  Numerically ONE!  And He is the Supreme Divinity.  Exceeding God.  He stands alone for there is no other God.  Sure there are many who pretend to be gods, but none really are god.  They are false gods, seeking to confuse mankind.  Only God Almighty is God.  Only He sits upon His throne.  Only He directs/sustains this universe, the half of which we have only begun to view.  Only He created it all.  Only He has power.  Not one other thing/creature created by Him has even an ounce of power that has not been given him by God.  This Greek word for ‘God’ is a general term.  It is also used for gods in general.  But when used for our One and Only God, Almighty God, it is a term that, to me, encapsulates all that God is in one little 3-lettered word.  Of all the things that the word ‘god’ can refer to – and there are many definitions, many applications for this word – but in this context it refers to the God we know Who is over all, in all, and through all.  The Only True God.  The Only God with power and wisdom and honor and glory.  It includes all that God is, all of His attributes, in three letters!

“…and one mediator between God and men…”  The Greek word for ‘mediator’ is mesites.  It means ‘a middle person’, one whose office it is to reconcile two parties at enmity, peace- maker(2).  We certainly needed that for we were the enemies of God in that we were born in sin.  Ro 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  We needed someone to stand between us and God and make peace.  Why?  Because God cannot have sin come into His presence and we were born in sin and had absolutely no way of changing that fact.  So as sinful creatures we could not enter the presence of God, let alone fellowship with Him.  Sin had to be dealt with, punished.  There was only one Man Who had the capabilities to do this – the Man Christ Jesus.  Only He could be our Peacemaker.

I am saved because Jesus wanted me to be saved; God saved me “for Christ’s sake”.  For His sake God forgives my sin.  

Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

In Jesus only I have salvation.  The only way I will ever stand before God’s holiness and hear Him say “Well done” is if I stand there in Christ Jesus.  The only way I stand there in Christ Jesus is if I have believed on Him and accepted the truth of what He did on the cross and the truth of His resurrection.  Here’s the picture I have.  I am standing entirely encompassed by Christ and His holiness.  I am inside Christ, so to speak.  The amazing thing is that, not only am I standing inside Christ’s righteousness, Christ is also simultaneously standing inside me!  That picture is the whole motivation for pleasing God.  When the day arrives that we will find ourselves standing before God and hearing Him say, “Well done”, it will only be because of what Christ has done for us, because He is our Mediator between God and me.  

“..the man Christ Jesus;”  He was a perfect human being.  Truly a flesh and blood man.  Yet He was simultaneously Divine.  Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  Ro 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

It is Jesus’ manhood, His time in the flesh, that connects Him with us.  This time in the flesh is what allowed Him to be our Mediator.  Without this time in the flesh, He could not have become our Mediator.  

“Who gave himself a ransom for all…”  Two words I want to highlight right off the bat.  ‘Gave’ and ‘all’.  Not only did the Father give His Only Begotten Son for us (John 3:16), Christ gave Himself (Phil 2:5-8).  No one made Him do it, not even God the Father.  He gave of Himself willingly.  Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.  No where do we see that Jesus laid down His life under duress!  He willingly gave His life up; He willingly shed His blood; He willingly suffered; He willing bore all of our sin.  He did it “for the joy that was set before him” (Heb 12:2)!!!  I like what Oliver Greene said, “Satan ‘kidnapped’ the human race through the disobedience of the first Adam; but the second Adam, Jesus Christ, paid the ransom in full, willingly – that we who had been ‘kidnapped’ by sin might go free by faith in His finished work.(3)”  This is what He had to do to be our Peacemaker.  He had to give Himself up.  Die.  

“ransom” – The expression is common – “an eye for an eye”, likewise, in the context of our position with God as filthy sinners who could not help ourselves out of our destiny, a life had to be given for life.  Absolute obedience was due to God, and therefore no effort on our own could satisfy for even the least failure (Jam 2:10).  We were the captive slaves of satan.  The only fix was a “life for life”.  Jesus was THE ONLY solution for our state of affairs.  A ransom had to be paid; a price had to be paid.  The price our crime demanded was blood.  Nothing could pay for our crimes except death.  No one could pay that debt for us except Jesus!  He was our ransom.  In Lev 25:48 God made provision that if a brother was sold into slavery, the older brother could redeem him.  So Jesus, as our elder brother, redeemed us (I Pet 1:18-19); but He, because of His sinlessness, not only redeemed one person, but ALL of humanity, if they would just accept the gift.  He ONLY could be our ransom (Eph 1:7).  He alone could step in and intercede for us.  He was the ONLY payment God could accept.  This is why He is our Mediator.  

Just as God wants ALL men to be saved, so the remedy is for ALL.  Let us remember that in Paul’s day and the philosophy which he had grown up under was the notion that salvation was only available to the Jew, or to those who chose to become Jew.  But Christ’s death was accomplished for ALL, not for only a few, not for just some elite, but for ALL.  It was enough to accomplish the goal for every human being that God created.  This, then, is why we should pray for ALL men as verses 1-3 of this chapter command.  There is the same Mediator between God and ALL men, Jesus is not the Mediator for a part of the human race, but for ALL of the creatures God has created.  He is not the Mediator for just kings, nor for just the poor, or just the rich, but for ALL.  Everyone is on the same level.  No one else is a mediator, not Mary, not anyone else.  There is only ONE Mediator.  

So, if Christ died for ALL, and He did, how is it that so many perish?  Yes, He indeed died for ALL, His death was sufficient, it satisfied God Almighty’s justice.  But it is a gift, a gift to be received.  Those who perish have chosen not to receive it!  They have chosen, rather, to go their own way, do their own things, lean on their own desires and pleasures which are but for a short time.  There is no defect, no short coming, in the plan of salvation.  Jesus died for ALL.  That is a fact.  There is no bias in Him.  There has never been born one person for whom He did not die.  Every man has the opportunity to believe in Him and what He has done for us.  This is the ultimate of Love.  No man can love like Christ did.  He proved that by dying for EVERY man.  Now God has left the decision up to EVERY man – to choose His gift, or not to choose it.  The Gift is available and immensely generous.  Its acceptance or rejection determines one’s eternal destiny.  It is not God’s fault if one perishes; it is their own decision.

“…to be testified in due time.”  

When Jesus came into the world it was a witness, it was an evident thing, a testimony to God’s love.  No one could clam that He was never here.  There are multitude witnesses to prove that He indeed lived here on earth.  Jesus came into the world at the exact time that God willed it to be.  Not a moment early; not a moment late.  God had Jesus’ coming all planned before He even created the universe.  1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.  Just think – God knew He would have to sacrifice His only Son for His creation before He even made the world!  Yet He did it!  He created us!  Perhaps so that He could have somebody to love, some way of displaying His great love.  So, again, in God’s perfect timing Jesus came to rescue mankind.  Ga 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  1Ti 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

So, to summarize:  “The Apostle's argument runs thus, We ought to pray for all, because there is one God who is good to all; and one Mediator between God and mankind, who took upon Him the common nature of all men, and gave Himself a satisfactory and sufficient ransom for all, which was in due time testified and borne witness to by us his Apostles. We may learn hence, that the only way of friendly intercourse between God and man, is through a Mediator; that there is no other mediator but Jesus Christ, who is called "the man," not to exclude his Divine nature, but to declare emphatically that nature, in which He gave Himself a ransom for us; and that, since this one Mediator gave Himself a ransom for all, whosoever perishes under the Gospel perishes, not because no ransom was paid for him but because he rejects and refuses the offer of salvation. Burkitt(4).” 

Lesson one:  Let us never forget the truth:  There is only ONE God.  Because we were born in sin, there was a brick wall between us and God so that we could never have fellowship with God, nor could we ever have hope of eternal life.  Isa 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.  But then Jesus came.  Took upon Himself the fleshly body like our fleshly body; was in every way a human being, only without sin.  He never stopped being Divine.  He alone paid the price to God that would break down that wall that was between God and us.  Now to everyone who believes that there was a wall and that that wall is now broken down between us and God by Christ Jesus, to those who receive that truth, to them is offered forgiveness and eternal life!

Lessons two:  If Jesus came at an appointed time, then the happenings of our lives are also at appointed times.  Let us not forget this whenever little or huge things enter our lives.  It is always God’s appointed time.  Ps 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  

Ec 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ec 8:6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Ps 31:15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.

Ac 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Lesson three:  If Christ gave Himself for ALL then we ought to pray for ALL as verses 1-3 of this chapter command.  There is no one that our prayers ought to give up on as we pray for their salvation!

Lesson four:  Such great and tremendous truth are held in this verse.  It makes me want to set down everyone I meet and give them this truth and convince of it!  Oh, that we would not hoard it for ourselves!  Oh, that we would ask the Lord Who lives inside us to give us the boldness and the wording to offer this truth to all that we meet.  I am filled to overflowing with the joy that the remembrance of this truth.  Lord, let me never, not for one moment of my day, forget what a spectacular thing You have done for me.  I cannot imagine life without You.  Blessed be the Lord of my salvation!  

Bibliography

1. The Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible King James Version, World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1992, Lexical aids pg 1711
2. Lexical aids to the The Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible King James Version, World Bible Publishers, Inc., 1992, pg 1737
3. The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to Timothy and Titus; Oliver B. Greene, The Gospel Hour, Inc., 1964, pg. 85
4. Power Bible; British Family Bible; William Burkitt (1650-1703) Expository Notes on N.T., which has passed through many editions, and is still constantly reprinted (N. Y. 2 volumes 8vo)., I Timothy 2:5

Your Attitude Comes Back to You

THE LAW OF REAPING AND SOWING HOLDS TRUE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS 

By Dr. Byron Foxx | October 25, 2017

Have you ever had an experience with a person who had a condemnatory, fault-finding, supercilious attitude? The experience is unpleasant to say the least! On the other hand, have you spent time with someone who is charitable, generous hearted, and kind? What a blessing to be in the company of someone with that attitude!

In Matthew chapter seven, Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” According to the Bible, we reap what we sow.

Here’s a little story to serve as an illustration. Some time ago, there was a family moving from Newport News to Richmond. They packed all their belongings on a wagon and began their journey to Richmond. After traveling about half of the distance to their destination they saw an old man. They called out to him, “We are moving from Newport News to Richmond. What kind of people live in Richmond?”

The old man replied, “Well, what kind of people did you know in Newport News?” The family began to complain, “They are the worst people in the world! They are no good!” At that the old man said, “That’s the same kind of people you are going to meet in Richmond!”

A week later, a family was moving from Richmond to Newport News. They packed up their belongings, put them on a wagon, and started their journey to Newport News. After traveling about half of the distance to their destination, they saw that same old man. They called out to him, “We are moving from Richmond to Newport News. What kind of people live in Newport News?”

The old man replied, “Well, what kind of people did you know in Richmond?” The family began to say, “They are such fine people. They are some of the best people in the world!” At that, the old man said “Well, that’s the same kind of people you are going to meet in Newport News!”

If we want people to have a proper and right attitude toward us, then we should exhibit a right attitude! Christians should “love as brethren.” We are to be good to all, but especially to the “household of faith.”

Don’t tell your critics the burdens of your soul. Critics, railers and scoffers will make you miserable! Proverbs chapter twenty-two says, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.”

But, praise God, if you have a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother,” you can tell him your troubles. He will help carry your burden. He will bring joy to your soul!

Humility and charity are hallmarks of Christian living! O that we all would have hearts full of sympathy and love! Each of us should feed the poor and give cold water to those who are thirsty!

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.—Romans 12:18