September 15, 2014

From Gary.... Dance with joy

Chandi-the-amazing-dancing-dog

http://cutepuppylove.me/2014/09/14/chandi-the-amazing-dancing-dog/

This video link from Britian's Got Talent is worth watching, for two reasons!!! First, this is one very talented dog, and second this was a rescue dog. To me, the second reason is really the foremost. This dog doesn't look like much, in fact, you will notice its front left leg is bandaged. However, appearances can be deceiving. Please take a few minutes to look at the video and then read the passage from Paul's second letter to his young co-worker, Timothy...

2 Timothy 4:7-18 NASB
(7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
(8) in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
(9) Make every effort to come to me soon;
(10) for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
(11) Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
(12) But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
(13) When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.
(14) Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
(15) Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.
(16) At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.
(17) But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion's mouth.
(18) The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul, reflecting on his life, penned this last of his letters and this last chapter is applicable to all of us. Sometime, you may have opportunity to reflect on YOUR LIFE, and when you do, please remember verse 18. Why? Well, because every one who is genuinely a Christian is a "rescue", much like that dancing dog. We may not look like much, but we are God's rescued choice. And, the thought of that should make us as happy as that dog in the video. Oh, we may not be blessed with as much talent as that dog, but we CAN BE EVERYTHING WE CAN BE!!! That will be all we need to be. One last thing- like Paul, praise God for what he has done for you!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading September 15

Bible Reading

September 15

The World English Bible

Sept. 15

Psalms 71-73

Psa 71:1 In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.

Psa 71:2 Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me.

Psa 71:3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

Psa 71:4 Rescue me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Psa 71:5 For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh; my confidence from my youth.

Psa 71:6 I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother's womb. I will always praise you.

Psa 71:7 I am a marvel to many, but you are my strong refuge.

Psa 71:8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all the day.

Psa 71:9 Don't reject me in my old age. Don't forsake me when my strength fails.

Psa 71:10 For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,

Psa 71:11 saying, "God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him."

Psa 71:12 God, don't be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.

Psa 71:13 Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me.

Psa 71:14 But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise.

Psa 71:15 My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don't know its full measure.

Psa 71:16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will make mention of your righteousness, even of yours alone.

Psa 71:17 God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.

Psa 71:18 Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don't forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.

Psa 71:19 Your righteousness also, God, reaches to the heavens; you have done great things. God, who is like you?

Psa 71:20 You, who have shown us many and bitter troubles, you will let me live. You will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

Psa 71:21 Increase my honor, and comfort me again.

Psa 71:22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel.

Psa 71:23 My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you!

Psa 71:24 My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.

Psa 72:1 God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son.

Psa 72:2 He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

Psa 72:3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

Psa 72:4 He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces.

Psa 72:5 They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.

Psa 72:6 He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.

Psa 72:7 In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.

Psa 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.

Psa 72:9 Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust.

Psa 72:10 The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Psa 72:11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him.

Psa 72:12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper.

Psa 72:13 He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy.

Psa 72:14 He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

Psa 72:15 They shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba. Men shall pray for him continually. They shall bless him all day long.

Psa 72:16 There shall be abundance of grain throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field.

Psa 72:17 His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed.

Psa 72:18 Praise be to Yahweh God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

Psa 72:19 Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen.

Psa 72:20 This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.

Psa 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

Psa 73:2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.

Psa 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psa 73:4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.

Psa 73:5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

Psa 73:6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

Psa 73:7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

Psa 73:8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.

Psa 73:9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.

Psa 73:10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.

Psa 73:11 They say, "How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

Psa 73:12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

Psa 73:13 Surely in vain I have cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocence,

Psa 73:14 For all day long have I been plagued, and punished every morning.

Psa 73:15 If I had said, "I will speak thus;" behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

Psa 73:16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me;

Psa 73:17 Until I entered God's sanctuary, and considered their latter end.

Psa 73:18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.

Psa 73:19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.

Psa 73:20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.

Psa 73:21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.

Psa 73:22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.

Psa 73:23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.

Psa 73:24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Psa 73:25 Who do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth who I desire besides you.

Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psa 73:27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.

Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Sept. 15

1 Corinthians 11

1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things, and hold firm the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.

1Co 11:3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

1Co 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head.

1Co 11:5 But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonors her head. For it is one and the same thing as if she were shaved.

1Co 11:6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of the man.

1Co 11:8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man;

1Co 11:9 for neither was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.

1Co 11:10 For this cause the woman ought to have authority on her head, because of the angels.

1Co 11:11 Nevertheless, neither is the woman independent of the man, nor the man independent of the woman, in the Lord.

1Co 11:12 For as woman came from man, so a man also comes through a woman; but all things are from God.

1Co 11:13 Judge for yourselves. Is it appropriate that a woman pray to God unveiled?

1Co 11:14 Doesn't even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

1Co 11:15 But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her, for her hair is given to her for a covering.

1Co 11:16 But if any man seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither do God's assemblies.

1Co 11:17 But in giving you this command, I don't praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.

1Co 11:18 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.

1Co 11:19 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.

1Co 11:20 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.

1Co 11:21 For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken.

1Co 11:22 What, don't you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God's assembly, and put them to shame who don't have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don't praise you.

1Co 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.

1Co 11:24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."

1Co 11:25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me."

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

1Co 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.

1Co 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.

1Co 11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.

1Co 11:30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.

1Co 11:31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged.

1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

1Co 11:33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another.

1Co 11:34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

From Mark Copeland... They Beheld His Glory (John 1:14-18)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF JOHN"

                    They Beheld His Glory (1:14-18)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the last few verses of the prologue to his gospel, John identifies
   the Word...
   a. Who was in the beginning with God, and was God - Jn 1:1-2
   b. Through whom all things were made - Jn 1:3
   c. Who was life, and the light of men - Jn 1:4-5,9
   d. Who came into the world, though many did not receive Him - Jn 1:
      10-11
   e. Yet those who received Him, were given the right to become
      children of God - Jn 1:12-13

2. The Word was Jesus Christ...
   a. Who became flesh and lived among men - Jn 1:14
   b. Who glory was seen by men - Jn 1:14

3. The word "glory" as used here...
   a. Means "majesty, dignity, splendor" (Barnes)
   b. Pertaining to Christ, it refers to His personal excellence or
      majesty

[John writes "We beheld His glory".  What majesty, dignity, or splendor
did John and others see in  Jesus when He walked in the flesh among
men...?]

I. THEY BEHELD HIS GLORY

   A. THE GLORY OF HIS DEITY...
      1. "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father" - Jn 1:14a
      2. "The dignity which was appropriate to the only begotten Son of
         God" (Barnes)
         a. "Such glory or splendor as could belong to no other, and as
            properly expressed his rank and character."
         b. "This glory was seen eminently on the mount of
            transfiguration" - Lk 9:28-32; 2Pe 1:16-18
         c. "It was also seen in his miracles, his doctrine, his
            resurrection, his ascension" - cf. Jn 2:11
         -- "All of which were such as to illustrate the perfections,
            and manifest the glory that belongs only to the Son of God."
            (Barnes)
         
   B. THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE...
      1. "full of grace...grace for grace...grace and truth came through
         Jesus" - Jn 1:14b,16-17
      2. "The word grace means favors, gifts, acts of beneficence."
         (Barnes)
         a. "He was kind, merciful, gracious, doing good to all, and
            seeking man's welfare by great sacrifices and love;"
         b. "so much so, that it might be said to be characteristic of
            him, or he abounded in favors to mankind." (Barnes)

   C. THE GLORY OF HIS TRUTH...
      1. "full...of truth...truth came through Jesus Christ." - Jn 1:
         14b,17
      2. "He was also full of truth. He declared the truth. In him was
         no falsehood." (Barnes)
         a. "He was not like the false prophets and false Messiahs, who
            were wholly impostors"
         b. "Nor was he like the emblems and shadows of the old
            dispensation, which were only types of the true; but he was
            truth itself."
      3. "He represented things as they are, and thus became the truth
         as well as the way and the life." - cf. Jn 14:6 (Barnes)

   D. THE GLORY OF HIS PREEMINENCE...
      1. "He who comes after me is preferred before me..." - Jn 1:15
      2. As witnessed to by John the Baptist - cf. Jn 1:27,29-30
      3. John the Baptist recognized His superiority, as did the apostle
         Paul
         a. By virtue of His preexistence ("He was before me") - cf.
            also Jn 8:58; 17:5
         b. By virtue of His creative powers - cf. Col 1:16-17

   E. THE GLORY OF HIS REVELATION...
      1. "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son...He
         has declared Him" - Jn 1:18
         a. "This passage is not meant to deny that men had witnessed
            manifestations of God, as when he appeared to Moses and the
            prophets (cf. Num 12:8 Isa 6:1-13)."
         b. "...it is meant that no one has seen the essence of God, or
            has fully known God."
         c. "The prophets delivered what they heard God speak; Jesus
            what he knew of God as his equal, and as understanding fully
            his nature." (Barnes)
      2. Jesus manifested or declared the Father as no one had done
         before!
         a. As Jesus told Philip - Jn 14:9
         b. As Jesus expressed in His prayer - Jn 17:6,24
         c. As the apostles wrote in their epistles - Col 1:15; He 1:1-4
      3. "This verse proves that, Jesus had a knowledge of God above
         that which any of the ancient prophets had, and that the
         fullest revelations of his character are to be expected in the
         gospel." (Barnes)
         a. "By his Word and Spirit he can enlighten and guide us, and
            lead us to the true knowledge of God;"
         b. "There is no true and full knowledge of God which is not
            obtained through his Son."

[What a wonderful experience it must have been to behold the glory of
God's only begotten Son!  It undoubtedly transformed the life of John
and others who saw Him.  By the grace of God, it also possible that...]

II. WE CAN BEHOLD HIS GLORY

   A. IN THIS LIFE...
      1. We can behold His glory...
         a. The glory of His deity, grace and truth!
         b. The glory of His preeminence and revelation!
      2. How?  Through the words of His eyewitnesses!
         a. Who made known the power and coming of our Lord - cf. 2 Pe 1:16-18
         b. Who declared what they heard, saw, even handled, that we
            might share with them in their fellowship with the Father
            and Son - cf. 1Jn 1:1-4; 5:11-13
         -- Through their gospels, their letters, their inspired
            writings, we can behold His glory!
      3. Indeed, we must behold His glory to be transformed!
         a. Our transformation is fundamental to true discipleship - cf.
            Ro 8:29; 12:1-2
         b. Our transformation is gradual, occurring as we behold His
            glory - cf. 2Co 3:18
         c. Our transformation involves renewing the mind, a mind set on
            things above where Christ is - cf. Ro 12:1-2; Col 3:1-2

   B. WHEN HE COMES AGAIN...
      1. We will behold His glory...
         a. When He appears - Col 3:4
         b. When He comes again, to be glorified in His saints - 2 Th 1:10
      2. Indeed, every one will behold His glory...
         a. For every eye will see Him - cf. Re 1:7
         b. For every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Him - cf.
            Php 2:9-11

CONCLUSION

1. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His
   glory..." - Jn 1:14

2. We may not have seen Jesus in the flesh, but we can still behold His
   glory...
   a. Even now, through the testimony of His apostles and the Word of
      God
   b. Even then, when Jesus comes again to be revealed in His glory

3. What will we do with the glory of Jesus as declared by His
   apostles...?
   a. We should let it transform our lives as we behold the glory of the
      Lord - 2Co 3:18
   b. Then when Christ comes, we will be glorified together with Him! 
      - 2Th 1:10

Here is Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians...

   "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count
   you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of
   His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of
   our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him,
   according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."

                                                     (2Th 1:11-12)

May his prayer be fulfilled in our lives, along with this prayer from
Jude...

   "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make
   you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
   to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be
   glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now
   and forever. Amen."
                                                      (Jude 24-25)

The Essentiality of Evidence in Christianity by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2138

The Essentiality of Evidence in Christianity

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Though “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” is mind-boggling, and though “His judgments and His ways” are “unsearchable” and “past finding out” (Romans 11:33; Deuteronomy 29:29), and even though finite man will never fully be able to wrap his mind around a holy, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient Creator, nevertheless, God has consistently dealt with mankind in rational ways providing the evidence needed for a reasonable faith. Consider, for example, how God has always ensured that enough evidence was available for honest, truth-seekers to know that He exists (cf. Proverbs 8:17; Matthew 7:7-8). Paul wrote: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, emp. added). Since the time of Adam and Eve, mankind has been able to clearly see how “the things that are made” testify on behalf of a powerful, invisible Creator. As the psalmist proclaimed: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth. And their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). The reason why “the fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1, emp. added), is because God has always given man adequate evidence for His existence. Sadly, the foolish person dismisses the evidence.
When the prophet Samuel addressed the nation of Israel at Saul’s coronation, he did not merely deliver an emotionally based speech. He commanded them, saying, “[S]tand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord” (1 Samuel 12:7, emp. added). Similarly, Isaiah wrote: “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’” (Isaiah 1:18, emp. added). Consider also the stark contrast between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In hopes of getting the attention of the bogus god Baal, these emotionally charged, pretend prophets “leaped about the altar,” “cried aloud,” and “cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them” (1 Kings 18:26,28)—all for naught. Elijah, on the other hand, had a rational faith that was grounded in the Word of God. He said to God, “I have done all these things at Your Word” (1 Kings 18:36, emp. added). His personal faith, as well as the message of faith that He preached, were rooted and grounded in the Heavenly revealed, rational Word of Almighty God. Biblical faith, after all, “comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
This same kind of rational, evidence-based faith and preaching can be found in the New Testament. Consider the actions and teachings of Jesus. He could have merely announced to the world that He was the Messiah. He could have only told people that He was the Son of God. He could have expected everyone simply to believe His claims that He was Heaven-sent, and never given His contemporaries any proof for His deity. However, even though there were occasions when Jesus chose not to offer additional proof of His deity (because of the hard-heartedness of many of His hearers; e.g., Mark 8:11-12), Jesus understood the essentiality of evidence. During His earthly ministry, He repeatedly gave ample proof of His deity. He noted how John the Baptizer bore witness on His behalf (John 5:33). He said, “[T]he Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me” (John 5:36, emp. added; cf. John 1:32-33; Matthew 3:16-17). He spoke of how “the Scriptures…testify of Me” (John 5:39, emp. added), and specifically noted how “Moses…wrote about Me” (John 5:46, emp. added). He also noted how His miraculous works bore witness to His deity (John 5:36). Jesus performed many miracles that demonstrated His power over nature, disease, demons, and death. He understood that His own verbal testimony alone would not convince anyone in a court of law (John 5:31; cf. Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Thus, at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem He told the unbelieving Jews, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:37-38, emp. added). Sadly, His foolish, stubborn enemies repeatedly rejected the irrefutable evidence that Jesus presented on His behalf.
Perhaps the greatest evidence that Jesus presented for His divinity was His miraculous resurrection. He could have risen from the dead and never appeared to anyone on Earth. He could have departed from the tomb and allowed speculation to run wild. Christianity could have begun on the back of uncertainty and mysticism. Instead, Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God…by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). He appeared alive to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the apostles, to James, and to over 500 disciples at once, most of whom were still living and could be questioned several years later when Paul, who also witnessed the risen Savior, wrote 1 Corinthians (15:5-8). Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3, emp. added), because He is the Head of a reasonable religion. The excitement, energy, and courage that early disciples manifested was grounded in the rock-solid proofs of Jesus’ resurrection (among other things, e.g., fulfilled prophecies). The emotional, energetic, evangelistic faith of 21^st-century Christians must likewise be rooted firm and deep in evidence.
Jesus was not the only New Testament figure who demonstrated the necessity of a knowledge-based faith. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John packed their gospel accounts with confirmation of Jesus being the Christ. Consider just the beginnings of these four books. Matthew began his account of the Gospel by genealogically proving that Jesus was the promised seed of Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1-17). He then noted how Jesus was born of a virgin, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:18-25). Mark began “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) by quoting Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. Mark proved propheticallythat John the Baptizer was “the voice of the one crying in the wilderness,” and Jesus was “the LORD” (1:3). Luke also opened his account of the Good News with an appeal to evidence, knowledge, and understanding.

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed (1:1-4).

Then there is John’s gospel account, which, from beginning to end, is packed with proof that Jesus is the miracle-working Son of God (1:3: 2:1-11; 20:30-31; 21:25). In fact, the stated purpose of his record of the various miracles of Christ (and there were many others John did not mention) was so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (20:30-31). If biblical faith is merely “a firm belief in something for which there is no proof,” which is one definition Merriam-Webster (on-line) gives for the word “faith” (2011), then why did John and the synoptic writers spend so much time offering proof for Who Jesus is? Answer: Because the truthful, reasonable facts of God, His Word, and His Son are the foundation of real faith (John 8:31-32; 17:17; Romans 10:17).
When the apostle Paul stood before Festus and King Agrippa, he spoke of those things “which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Acts 26:23-24). However, as Paul “made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!’” (26:24). How did Paul respond? Did he answer with a mere emotional appeal? Did he welcome the idea of an unreasonable, unverifiable Gospel? Not at all. Paul humbly, but confidently, replied: “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason” (Acts 26:25).

CONCLUSION

Sadly, most accountable people in the world will never accept the mountain of evidence for Christianity and become Christians (Matthew 7:13-14). But, those of us who choose to put our faith in God, Jesus, and His Word, can do so because “the truth” can be known (John 8:32), rightly obeyed (Romans 6:17; 10:12-13), and logically defended (1 Peter 3:15).

From Jim McGuiggan... Never give in!

Never give in!

The phrase "Never give in" isn't hard to understand and even though it is indeterminate it isn't vague. That is, its meaning is clear even if it doesn't specify a particular setting in which we should "never give in." The phrase while it always means the same thing, means more or less depending on what the speaker has in mind and what the stakes are. I've heard the phrase used to inspire someone who wished to achieve success in his/her chosen sport or endeavor (like boxing, running or writing). In the course of a complete 1941 speech at Harrow, Winston Churchill used the phrase that became famous: "Never give in!" In the middle of WWII with England taking an awful beating and the word was that German troops were preparing for a full scale invasion, the words, "Never give in!" (he didn't say, "Never give up!") have added significance. They had the response to the surrounding events imbedded in them.

It was usual for Paul to open his letters by saying he was an apostle of Jesus Christ but we're not to suppose that the opening was always a matter of convention like our "Dear Sir". In light of the Galatian heresy that offered Jewish national righteousness as the true gospel, Paul's announcement that he was no man's apostle, no church's apostle—that announcement had added significance.

His apostleship is being attacked, he is accused of not teaching what the Jerusalem church authorized him to teach and that what he was teaching (salvation for all people apart from the Jewish Torah and Torah-keeping) was false. He makes it clear that no man or group of men commissioned him—God himself in Jesus called him to the task and it made no difference to him what church leaders did or did not say; he knew whose servant and apostle he was and he knew what gospel was committed to him by the Lord; all that he goes on to establish.

In light of passages such as 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, F.F. Bruce said of Paul that he was the most accommodating of men but that when it came to the gospel he was absolutely inflexible—he wouldn't budge an inch or "give in" for a moment (see Galatians 2:5).

There's enough insecurity in most of us (not to claim humility) that if we're pressed hard by the esteemed or acclaimed we begin to doubt what we were sure of earlier.

There's something truly healthy in that—up to a point. To ignore or dismiss in cavalier fashion the thinking of the centuries will say more about our stubbornness and/or ignorance than about our courage. It isn't the first time I've toiled for weeks in research only to come up with "a discovery" that several hours in a history of theology would have shown was not only well known but so well developed that no reasonable person would doubt it (if it was true) or teach it (if it was false). For more than one reason P.T Forsyth, in his usual uncompromising way, insisted that nobody should be allowed to mount the pulpit that hadn't become very familiar with the writings of those who've gone before. We can become too full of ourselves to allow anyone to rule over us and our love affair with democracy and individualism can seduce us into thinking we don't need the stabilizing effect of many others.

Just the same, the Lord of our conscience is not the Church or the popular vote or the opinion of those with a reputation and there are some truths that are so deeply imbedded in us that we can do no other than say, "Here I stand. God help me!" In light of his meeting with the resurrected Jesus, in light of the truth revealed to him, the commission thrust upon him and the experience of the gospel he had preached among the Gentiles, Paul told the Galatians, "You didn't call me!" He told the Jerusalem church and its esteemed leaders, "You didn't call me!" He told the whole big round teeming world, "You didn't call me!"

He said, "I may be the least of all saints and I may not be worthy to be called an apostle and I may be the chief of sinners but if it pleased Him to save me and call me to this place of service it doesn't matter to me or Him what you think or say!"

There is one God and Father, one Holy Spirit and there is one Lord Jesus Christ. That being the case, all others are relativized.

If in deed and in truth we cling to that one true God what does it matter if the popular and the powerful curl their lips and whisper what they "know" or know about us? What does it matter how great the crowd the bandwagon has attracted? The crowd didn't save us, forgive us, sustain us or bless us with our places of service; the esteemed leaders didn't hang on the cross for us or burst through the gates of Death into immortality for us and they didn't call us on to the stage of life to do service for the King.

It's not about us but it's not about them either! It's all about Him!