A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken by J.C. Bailey

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Bailey/John/Carlos/1903/Articles/kingdomt.html

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

The Holy Spirit said in Hebrews 12:28 that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Daniel foretold this kingdom in Daniel 2:44. He said this kingdom would stand forever. In this second chapter, Daniel said there would be four world-wide kingdoms.

History reveals that there were four world-wide kingdoms before John the Baptist came preaching that the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 3:2). John was beheaded and Jesus took up his ministry and he preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 4:17). He told us, Mark 9:1, how close the kingdom was, for there were those that would not taste death until they saw the Kingdom come in POWER.

Then the Holy Spirit told us the power would come in Jerusalem, upon the apostles, before they left the city to preach of the resurrected Christ: "And behold, I send forth the promise of the Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:48). Before Jesus left this earth He explained to the apostles when the power would come: "But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). So we have learned that the Lord would set up a kingdom that would last forever. John said that kingdom was at hand. Jesus said that kingdom would come in the lifetime of those people who were there with him at that time. He said that the kingdom would come with POWER. That the Power would come in Jerusalem and then we learned that the apostles would receive POWER when the Holy Spirit came.

Before Jesus left this earth he said that he had all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). The Holy Spirit said that Jesus had POWER when he arose from the dead: "who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:4). Then on the day of Pentecost, Peter ended up the first part of his sermon with this statement: "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." So if we can prove anything by the Bible, we know that the kingdom of Christ was ushered in on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

People often ask why we do not pray the Lord's Prayer. Jesus never prayed what we call the Lord's Prayer. He gave it as a model for the apostles to pray. He said: AFTER THIS MANNER THEREFORE PRAY YE (Matthew 6:9). They were told to seek FIRST the KINGDOM and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33). Did they seek in vain? No, we have shown you that the kingdom began on the day of Pentecost. We do not pray for something that the Lord has already given us. SO NOW WE THANK GOD THAT WE CAN RECEIVE THE KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN. To pray "THY KINGDOM COME" IS A MOCKERY.

The kingdom came and after the day of Pentecost it is always spoken of as something that was already in existence. Paul told the new converts that through many tribulations they must enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:23). In the next verse it says that they appointed elders in EVERY CHURCH (Acts 14:23). Despite the teaching of men to the contrary, the church and the kingdom are one and the same thing. Of necessity this has to be. THERE IS ONE BODY (Eph. 1:4). The body is the church (Eph. 1:22,23). Jesus Christ, himself, made the church and the kingdom ONE. I quote: "And I also say unto thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Let us read next from Colossians 1:13: "who delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love." Then in the 18th verse of the same chapter he says: "and he is the head of the body the church: who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence." If Jesus has the pre-eminence in ALL THINGS, he must be reigning NOW or he does not have the PRE-EMINENCE.

There are many who teach that Jesus did intend to set up his kingdom but when the Jews rejected him he set up the church instead. There is not a semblance of proof for this theory. As we have shown, the Scriptures time after time speak of the kingdom as an established fact. Someone says that Jesus will set up his kingdom on this earth. How can Jesus set up an earthly kingdom when he said in John 18:36: "My kingdom is not of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered unto the Jews; but my kingdom is not from hence?" So this theory that Jesus some time in the future, would set up an earthly kingdom flies right into the face of the statement made by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We shall go farther. People knew that Jesus had taught that the kingdom was at hand when he first began his ministry. They knew that John the Baptist had taught that the kingdom was at hand. So they approached Jesus and asked when the kingdom was going to come (Luke 17:20). JESUS SAID THAT THE KINGDOM WOULD NOT COME BY OBSERVATION. I want to dwell on this. Those who teach that Jesus will yet set up a kingdom on this earth are going to have it come by observation but THE KINGDOM OF GOD is within you (Luke 17:21).

People say we are now living in the church age. When Christ comes we shall then be in the kingdom age. The Bible never talks about a church age or a kingdom age. It does say that the church was the eternal purpose of God (Eph. 3:10-11). So then the church was not an afterthought as some vainly teach. There is to be NO AGE after the church. We read: "unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever." So the church is going to last eternally according to Ephesians 3:21. I would like here to inject the statement that Paul made in Acts 27:25: "I believe God that it shall be even as he hath spoken unto me." Peruse carefully all we have studied and I can say very confidently that I BELIEVE GOD THAT IT SHALL BE EVEN AS HE HATH SPOKEN UNTO ME.

We hear a great deal of talk about a born-again Christian. If you are a Christian you are born- again. Let us look at the fact of being born again. Where are those who are born-again? Jesus said that: "Except ye be born anew ye cannot see the kingdom of God." What is the conclusion of that statement? Those who are born anew see the kingdom of God. If the kingdom does not exist how can one be born anew? Jesus further said, when Nicodemus questioned him about the new birth that: "Except one be born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). So if there it not a kingdom, of necessity there is no new birth. False teaching gets people into queer predicaments.

By our study of the word of God we have learned that there is one body. That body may be referred to as a church or a kingdom. More proof is not needed but we shall speak now from the Book of Hebrews: "But of the Son he saith, thy throne is forever and ever; and the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom." The Holy Spirit says THY THRONE IS. He did not say it had been nor did he say it would be. He says it is FOREVER AND EVER. We turn now to the 12th chapter, verse 23, of Hebrews. "To the general assembly and church of the first born who are enrolled in heaven." The church is enrolled in heaven. However in the 28th verse of the same chapter he calls this church of the first born A KINGDOM THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN.

THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS JESUS WILL EVER SET FOOT ON THE EARTH AGAIN. I read this about the return of our Lord: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thess. 4:16, 17). Ponder the statement. We shall be caught up in the air to meet the Lord and so we shall be forever with the Lord. No room for a reign with Christ on earth.

Those that teach that the kingdom is still future say that the righteous will be raised and a thousand years later the wicked will be raised. This is contrary to the teaching of our Lord for He said that THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED WOULD BE RAISED IN ONE HOUR (John 5:28, 29). There cannot be a thousand years inside of one hour. Then to add to that, Jesus said four times in the 6th chapter of John that the righteous would be raised at the last day, verses 39, 40, 44, 54. You cannot have time after the LAST DAY. After the last day we shall have eternity and there will not be a thousand year reign of Christ after the last day.

The ascension of Jesus is told in this language: "And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight" (Acts 1:9). Daniel tells us what happened on the other side of that cloud: "I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto the son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom which shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:13, 14).

John received a message for the seven churches in Asia and the Lord assured him: "and he made us to be a kingdom, to be priests unto his God and Father, to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever" (Rev. 1:6).

TRUTH NEVER CONTRADICTS TRUTH. Revelation 20 does not teach anything contrary to the truth we have learned. That would be impossible.

J.C. Bailey (1987, Bengough, Saskatchewan)

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

THE ORIGIN OF FAITH GEORGE L. FAULL

http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-origin-of-faith-george-l.html

THE ORIGIN OF FAITH

GEORGE L. FAULL

The Calvinistic preacher had preached a sermon on the text of:

Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God."

He stressed the total depravity of man and his inability to believe the Gospel because of his sinful nature. He stressed that man must be given faith by God in order to be saved. Afterwards, a listener came to him to inquire earnestly for salvation.

Seeker: Sir, I am zealous to receive salvation. How do I do so?

Preacher: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, for without faith it is impossible to please God.

Seeker: Oh, yes. I know and I acknowledge that I am a sinner, but I fear you closed the door to my salvation. I do not yet have what you call "saving faith."

Preacher: You should pray for it and perhaps God will grant it.

Seeker: But how can I call on Him in whom I have not believed? I have heard you preach before that faith is necessary for prayers to be heard. What then can I do?

Preacher: Wait upon the Lord, my friend, for saving faith.

Seeker: But today is the day of salvation. I may die in my sins and be lost. Is there nothing to which I can cling for hope?

Preacher: You are yet depraved, and saving faith has not yet come to you. When God in His mercy gives you faith, you will believe and be saved. The natural man cannot believe, because of his sin.

Seeker: But sir, the devils, depraved as they are, believe and tremble. Surely there is something we are overlooking.

Preacher: (Now frustrated.) Sir, you are dead in your sins. You cannot believe without the Holy Spirit operating in your heart. Being dead, you cannot act. You must first be made alive so you can believe.

Seeker: But sir, Jesus said, "He that believeth hath eternal life." He also said, "He that believeth not shall not see life." How can I get life to believe, when believing is necessary to have life? It appears to me that life is the result of faith, not faith the result of life. I am more confused than ever.

Preacher: Let me put it this way. You cannot believe because you are blind.

Seeker: But I don't understand. If I cannot see because I am spiritually blind, how can I hope to see?

Preacher: God will have to remove your sightless-ness so that you can believe and be saved.

Seeker: You mean that I must tarry for faith and wait for Him to give it to me so that I may see, and then believe?

Preacher: Exactly, sir. Faith is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Seeker: Then why do you so earnestly plead with us sinners to repent? Why does God say, "Why will you die?" I don't want to die in my sins. I want to be saved. I'm terrified. Is there nothing I can do to get God to give me saving faith?

Preacher: You must wait until it pleases God to give you faith and repentance, sir.

Seeker: Sir, do you and your congregation wish me to come to a saving faith?

Preacher: Most definitely, my friend, we are praying for this.

Seeker: "I still think something must be wrong with all this. I want to believe and be saved. You and your congregation are praying for my salvation, yet God is withholding it. Doesn't the Bible say something about God not being willing that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance?

Preacher: Hu-ru-m-ph! Well, it does say something like that. But man is depraved and has lost his ability to believe. Thus God must give him faith so that he can believe and be saved.

Seeker: Woe is me! God commands me under threat of eternal damnation to believe and be saved. But now I find that I must tarry for Him to give me the faith that saves. You tell me to pray for it, yet I must have faith to pray. The offer of salvation is offered to believers today, but I must wait on it for another day. I am too depraved to believe, and yet the devils believe and tremble. I must be made alive so I can believe, yet I must believe to be made alive. I cannot see because I am blind, and yet I must get over my blindness before I can believe. You and your church want me to believe and to be saved, but God has not yet given me faith so I can believe. Yet you say that God is a God of grace, who wants people everywhere to believe. It is so confusing to me. I cannot believe all this. I am forever lost and I cannot see any hope of my salvation. It appears to me that God is at fault if I do not believe. Good-by, sir.

Preacher: Good day, sir. I will pray that God will give you the gift of faith as He has me. For surely God is not a respecter of persons.

Seeker: Indeed? Why then does He give to you what He has not given to me? And why is my salvation dependent upon faith which only He can give? Why does He hold me responsible for my unbelief, though I am willing to believe?

Preacher: You charge God with foolishness, sir!

Seeker: If I may say so, I suspect that we both have much to learn about God's dealings with men. It seems to me that if all you say is true, then God is the author of confusion.

Preacher: (Indignantly) He certainly is not the author of confusion. God cannot lie!

Seeker: I did not mean to slander God. I only know that I desire to be saved. I want a saving faith. The more I read the Scriptures the more I believe in the goodness and mercy of God, His holiness, justice and long-suffering. Yet, I read in His Word that He has appointed a day of judgment. I believe in Jesus, His Son, but I have not yet experienced any "inner light," except that I'm a sinner, and I need a Savior. I had hoped that you could tell me how to find peace.

Preacher: Well, we will pray that faith will come by our prayers. Good-by.

The above dialogue is typical of Calvinistic preaching. Calvinism has God as the one responsible for whether or not a man will believe. The abuse of the text in Ephesians 2:8-9 needs to be corrected. The King James Version states:

Ephesians 2:8-9, "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

It is assumed by many that the text says a man's faith is the gift of God. It does no such thing.

"But," it may be objected, "it says we are saved by faith, and that not of yourselves."

We reply, "It does not. The word 'that' (touto) in the text does not refer back to 'faith' or 'grace.' 'That' is in the neuter gender, and cannot refer to either 'grace' or 'faith.' These words are both feminine. Obviously, Paul is telling us that salvation is by grace, not by our own works. 'That' refers to the whole concept of salvation."

It is a great error to teach that God gives us faith. The Scriptures are plain. Faith is our responsibility before God. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

John 20:31, "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

Again we read:

I John 5:10, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."

Again,

Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel."

Common sense shows that faith is our responsibility. Is it reasonable to think that God would command us to have what only He could give us? Is it reasonable to believe that He would say, "Whoso-ever believeth on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life," if God alone gives faith to an elect few? The doctrine of Calvinism, that God gives faith to some and not to others, is a damnable heresy. Jesus said that if Sodom and Gomorrah had had the advantages of the Jews, they would have repented. He upbraided the cities which saw His power, but would not repent. Calvinism makes God a tyrannical parent who demands from his child that which the child cannot possibly do. This is blasphemy.

God in His mercy gave His Son so that we might be saved. This is God's offer. We need only to accept it. When we do so, we have lost all rights to boasting and pride. Salvation is not of ourselves. It is a gift from God.

A Refuge in Times of Trouble by Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

https://thepreachersword.com/2013/11/21/a-refuge-in-times-of-trouble/#more-4878

A Refuge in Times of Trouble

(This post was the 7th most read in 2013)

The Old Testament Patriarch, Job, observed over 3,000 years ago, “Man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.”

I have been reminded of that this week.  Again.

Rescue teams have been searching the Barren River in Bowling Green, Kentucky, looking for Adam Smelser, missing since Sunday afternoon.  Evidently he went for a run.  Then a swim. And hasn’t been seen since.  I feel the grief and heart-break of his parents, family and friends.

Then on Monday Norma Jean received a call that her cousin, Carolyn Parslow, collapsed suddenly. She was taken to Florida Hospital and never regained consciousness. She passed away on Tuesday evening.  We are leaving for Tampa tomorrow where I will preach her funeral service on Saturday.

I think back this year of those who have left us too soon.  Azaiah DeGarmo. Marty Pickup.  Ted Brewer.  And there are many others.  Friends that I have loved.  Families we’ve been close to.  Earthly relationships that are severed.

Then there those who are suffering with an incurable, debilitating disease. A fire that has destroyed a family’s home.   A father who has walked out on his family.  Someone who has lost their life savings.  And people who have lost everything in the Typhon stricken Philippines.

So what is the answer? How do we cope? Where do we turn when Trouble troubles our lives?

The Psalmist says, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.”  (Ps. 9:9-10)

Let me suggest four ways God can be your refuge that I have observed from my friends who are suffering and based on Biblical teaching.

(1) Live in God’s Presence. James said, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Jesus promised “I am with you always even to the end of the world. Mt 28:29.

When we suffer adversity, we can know that we are in the presence of God. What a great encouragement, comfort and consolation.

One man said, where was God when my son died?” The answer is: The same place he was when His son died. If you feel forsaken, Jesus knows how you feel. God is not a spectator of our pain, we are in his presence.

(2) Learn from God’s Promises. The Psalmist affirmed that God would be with us. That he is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.” God promises help. Comfort. Hope. He says, “I care. And I will care for you.” (I Pet. 5:7). He feels our pain. And will supply our every need.

(3) Lean on God’s Power When Sennacherib, king of Assyria invaded Judah, the king stood up and said. “Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him.  With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (2 Chron 32:7-8)

Finite strength is undependable and expendable, but God’s infinite power is sufficient for every need. Indeed we are “kept by the power of God” (1 Pet 1:5)

(4) Look For God’s Purpose God’s purpose is not to make you miserable. Paul said to “rejoice in the Lord” God does not send pain, problems and pressures. God is the giver of good gifts. (Jas. 1:18)

Why does trouble come? Maybe it is because of the evil of other people. Sometimes it is the result of living in a natural world that is filled with sin, suffering and separation. It could be through our own poor choice (Gal. 6:7-8) Or maybe the Devil is trying to trap us (1 Pet. 5:8)

So what is God’s Purpose for me as I experience life’s problems? To walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) To use adversity to make me stronger (Jas 1:2-3) To focus on God’s eternal plan in Jesus. (Eph. 3:11) To claim victory through His love, grace and mercy. (Rom 8:30-31)

We all will suffer trouble in this life. Sometimes extreme tragedy will befall us. Yet, whatever the trial or trouble, there is help.  Hope. There is God.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman

Veils, Footwashing, and the Holy Kiss by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1275

Veils, Footwashing, and the Holy Kiss

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The average American feels that truth is unknowable, and therefore everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. He or she feels that one viewpoint is as good as another, and no one should be so arrogant or judgmental as to say that one view is correct and all others are wrong. After all, one cannot be certain as to what is ultimately right and what is ultimately wrong. And who is to say who is right and who is wrong? How can we be so sure that we have all the answers?

This cultural inclination has infiltrated the church. It manifests itself among those who insist that we in the churches of Christ have been too narrow and dogmatic about our doctrinal positions. They say we have assumed that we’re right, and that other religious groups are wrong; we have made too much of some issues, and too little of others; and our rigid doctrinal stance has, in turn, caused us to be unloving and intolerant of alternative viewpoints and churches.

Of course, this entire line of thinking proceeds from a humanistic, pluralistic mindset. It constitutes the classic attempt to dodge accountability and responsibility. When Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), He was showing that we must be right about certain matters. We do not know everything. But we can know some things—those things that God expects us to know. We can know truth! We can know that we know (1 John 2:3). We can know which things we have to know, and we can know which things we do not have to know. But we must analyze each matter logically and scripturally.

For example, some have concluded that God wants women to wear head-coverings when they worship in the presence of men. They believe this conclusion follows from the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11:2-16. However, the wearing of a veil in Corinth conveyed a meaning within Graeco-Roman culture that is not conveyed in American culture. It was a cultural phenomenon (“judge in yourselves”—vs. 13). To them, the veil symbolized a woman’s submission to male authority (vs. 10). The removal of the veil symbolized a woman’s rejection of male authority, and was equivalent to the shameful practice of shaving the head—an act done by women of ill-repute (vs. 5-6). Since the symbolism of the veil in Corinthian culture was in harmony with the abiding principle of female submission to male leadership, Corinthian Christians were admonished to conform to the cultural practice.

The application of this injunction is that Christians, who find themselves in cultures today where a particular cultural symbol undergirds an abiding biblical principle, should conform to that cultural propriety. Head coverings have no such significance in American culture, and vary throughout the world (cf. Genesis 24:65; 29:25; 38:14-15; Song of Solomon 4:1,3; 6:7). If Paul intended for veils to be enjoined upon all Christian women in all cultures for all time, then three conclusions follow: a hat is no substitute; veils must be worn outside the worship assembly as well; and those who refuse must be urged to shave their heads.

Another area of confusion about which the truth may be ascertained is the “holy kiss.” Both Paul and Peter urged first-century Christians to greet each other with holy kisses (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). Was this injunction intended to be an abiding feature of Christianity? Does God want Christians today to practice a “holy kiss,” even as He desires that baptism, prayer, and the Lord’s Supper be observed?

Kissing as a greeting predated Christianity (1 Samuel 20:41; 2 Samuel 20:9; Matthew 26:49; Luke 7:45; Acts 20:37). Americans typically have been unable to relate to kissing as a standard form of greeting. They shake hands or offer a pat on the back. However, hugging has become increasingly prominent in recent years. Paul could not have been commanding Christians to start kissing each other as a form of greeting—they were already doing so! Rather Paul was applying Christian principles to the existing and widespread cultural practice of kiss-greetings by urging them to keep their greeting holy. Far from enjoining kissing, he was requiring holy kissing. He was telling Christians to make their kiss-greetings a sanctified activity—set apart for, or in line with, proper Christian living. He was instructing them, “Since you kiss, when you kiss, make it holy—greet one another with a holy kiss.”

A third practice that requires clarification in order to understand its proper application is foot washing. Jesus literally startled and shocked the disciples on the occasion when He insisted upon washing their feet (John 13:1-20). It is nearly as surprising to find religious groups today who believe that Jesus was instituting an abiding occurrence—a worship act to be observed ritualistically in the practice of Christianity.

As a matter of fact, the washing of feet in first-century Palestine was a common cultural amenity that was necessary due to the dry, dusty road conditions and the footwear of the day (i.e., sandals—Genesis 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Judges 19:21; 1 Timothy 5:10). In a typical middle-eastern setting, several social courtesies were ordinarily extended to guests. These expressions of hospitality included the kiss greeting, anointing, and caring for the guest’s animals, in addition to providing food and shelter (Genesis 18:4-5; 24:32; Judges 19:21; Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 12:20; Psalm 23:5; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Daniel 10:3; Matthew 6:17; Luke 7:44-46). Western culture typically has a completely different list of social amenities, including taking a guest’s coat, offering something to drink, and asking the guest to be seated.

In a culture where household servants were in abundant supply, the task of washing a guest’s dusty feet normally would have been performed by a servant of the host. This fact is what made Jesus’ action so repugnant to the disciples. They were disgusted that Jesus would lower Himself to perform such demeaning labor.

Since the disciples of Jesus already were practicing foot washing, Jesus was simply using the cultural custom to teach a spiritual principle. That is why He prefaced His action by noting they would not understand the significance of what He was about to do (John 13:7). That is why, when He finished, He asked, “Do you know what I have done to you?” (vs. 12). Obviously, they knew that He had washed their feet! If He was merely urging them to continue this common practice, they would have understood His injunction instantly. But that was not the point He was attempting to get across to them. He was teaching self-humiliation and forgiveness. We, too, must be humble enough to correct our mistakes and receive the forgiveness that Jesus offers. We must be willing to treat others better than ourselves by serving them and showing concern for the fulfillment of their needs. It would be a simple matter if we could fulfill this edict by ritualistically washing another’s feet. However, Jesus was conveying the fact that the humility and unassuming, servant-attitude that He wants us to display require a far more diligent, consistent dedication of one’s daily behavior.

Was God Satisfied with His Creation or Not? by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

 

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=437

 

 Was God Satisfied with His Creation or Not?

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

At evilbible.com, a Web site that purports to “spread the vicious truth about the Bible” (“Biblical…,” 2013), the very first alleged “obvious contradiction” listed involves Genesis 1:31 and Genesis 6:6. Since Genesis 1:31 says, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good,” and Genesis 6:6 reveals that “the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart,” the Bible is said to be contradictory and untrustworthy. Allegedly, the Lord could not be both satisfied and dissatisfied with His Creation.

The fact is, however, God could logically be both pleased and displeased with His Creation, if the statements were referring to two different periods of time. Most any Bible student knows that, though only four complete chapters separate Genesis 1:31 and 6:6, they are separated—chronologically speaking—by more than a millennium. “In the beginning” God was pleased with His Creation. Several hundred years later, after “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5), God was then “sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (6:6). It is quite telling that such a simple explanation has apparently eluded the minds of many skeptics.

Was Jesus Misquoted? by Dewayne Bryant, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2795

Was Jesus Misquoted?

by	Dewayne Bryant, Ph.D.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was written by auxiliary staff writer Dewayne Bryant, who holds two Masters degrees, and is completing Masters study in Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, while pursuing doctoral studies at Amridge University. He has participated in an archaeological dig at Tell El-Borg in Egypt and holds professional membership in both the American Schools of Oriental Research as well as the Society of Biblical Literature.]

Jesus is under attack like never before. While criticism of the Faith is nothing new, there is an increase in the public exposure of Christianity’s detractors. From documentaries on the small screen to blockbuster movies on the silver screen, critics are pursuing all media venues to preach a message of distrust—and even hate. The members of the new atheism have lambasted the Christian Faith in bestselling books, describing the faithful as simple-minded, anti-scientific, and even dangerous. For Christianity’s critics, the spiritual forecast looks bright for a brisk trade in fear.

Not all of the enemies of the Faith come from a secularist perspective. While plenty come from a scientific background, one of the newest cast members is a former minister and purported biblical scholar. Bart Ehrman, professor of religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is one of the foremost scholars in the country in the area of textual criticism, the art and science of evaluating ancient manuscripts. Trained at Princeton Theological Seminary under Bruce Metzger, a theological conservative and one of the greatest text critics of the 20^th century, Ehrman abandoned his former fundamentalist roots and has penned several books questioning the Bible.

WAS JESUS MISQUOTED?

Ehrman specializes in textual criticism, the art and science of evaluating biblical manuscripts. Textual criticism is concerned with studying ancient documents in order to determine the original wording of the text. Like all other documents from antiquity, the original autographs of the New Testament writings are no longer extant. While scribes from the ancient world were quite exact in their standards of copying, no scribe was perfect. This means that manuscripts possessed by biblical scholars have slight—though usually meaningless—differences due to copyist’s errors. In his bestselling book Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman paints a rather bleak picture of the current state of the study of biblical texts:

Not only do we not have the originals, we don’t have the first copies of the originals, we don’t even have the copies of the copies of the originals, or copies of the copies of the copies of the originals. What we have are copies made later—much later.... And these copies all differ from one another, in many thousands of places.... These copies differ from one another in so many places that we don’t even know how many differences there are (2005, p. 10).

It is amazing that a book about textual criticism made it onto the New York Times bestseller list, but there is one major difference that makes its popularity unsurprising. The very fact that it attempts to discredit the Bible is a major selling point. Members of the modern militant variety of atheism have used Ehrman’s book as a rallying point. Christopher Hitchens lists Misquoting Jesus as essential reading in the book God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (2007). Sam Harris, another of the new atheists, lists Ehrman’s work on his Web site as recommended reading.

Ehrman’s basic approach is one of despair. He asserts the original text is irrecoverable and virtually unknowable. According to Ehrman, the text was written long after the events they purport to record, by “orthodox” scribes who intentionally altered the text itself. He describes this secretive alteration of the text as something akin to a conspiracy. These alterations changed the face of Christianity as we know it. He says, “It would be wrong...to say—as people sometimes do—that the changes in our text have no real bearing on what the texts mean or on the theological conclusions that one draws from them.... In some instances, the very meaning of the text is at stake, depending upon how one resolves a textual problem” (p. 208).

In short, the Christian Faith practiced by millions today is unlike that practiced in the first century. Not only is it different, it is inaccessible because agenda-driven scribes have corrupted the very documents that serve as a window to the early church. Short of the invention of time travel, no one can know precisely how early Christianity was practiced—according to Ehrman.

THE STATE OF THE TEXT

According to scholars and critics like Ehrman, the New Testament documents were transmitted in poor fashion. In one of the greatest hoaxes in textual criticism, liberal scholars like Ehrman perpetuate the misconception that the transmission of the biblical text is like a game of “broken telephone” or “Chinese whispers.” According to the rules of the game, a line of people take turns whispering a phrase into the ear of the next person in line. They must whisper it so softly that the person on the other side of their neighbor cannot hear it, and they are not allowed to repeat themselves. When the message gets to the end of the line, it is usually nonsensical and garbled beyond recognition, much to the delight of the participants.

The “broken telephone” analogy is a popular one, but woefully incorrect. Distorting the message to the point of incomprehensibility is the point of the game. That was not the point of the biblical scribes who copied what they believed to be the very Word of God. It is a well-known fact that Old Testament scribes copied the text with a level of fidelity nearly inconceivable by moderns. Scribes developed a highly sophisticated method of counting words, letters, the middle word of a book along with its middle letter, and everything else imaginable to ensure that the copy of the text was a perfect reproduction of the original manuscript. For that reason, the vast number of copyist errors in the Old Testament manuscripts consists of nothing more than a single letter, usually one that looks similar to another in the Hebrew alphabet. Using rules of textual criticism, scholars are able to classify and correct the error quite easily.

While the Old Testament scribes were quite sophisticated in their efforts, what about the scribes who copied the New Testament documents? Unfortunately, New Testament scribes were not always as faithful as their Jewish counterparts. But this hardly means that their work is suspect. Let us return to the broken telephone analogy. Scribes copying the documents were not copying for an audience of one. Their work could be checked and verified by many others who read the copies, or heard them read aloud in the first churches. Furthermore, they were under no rules that limited their ability to communicate their message or forbade them from correcting anyone else. The sheer gravity of copying the words of the apostolic writers, not to mention those of Christ Himself, would have involved the entire Christian community.

To his discredit, Ehrman uses the broken telephone argument when he surely knows better. Trained at Princeton Seminary, a premiere school for New Testament studies, Ehrman knows that scribes did not transmit the biblical documents in this manner. While scribes in the New Testament world did not have the same checks and balances used by Jewish scribes, it does not mean that their efforts were slack or their standards lax. Copying the biblical documents was not for an audience of one, but for the entire Christian community. Others would have been able to check the documents and note any errors that the scribes might have made.

An inconvenient truth for Ehrman, and others favorable to his views, is the witness of authorities in the early church. The early church fathers began quoting and alluding to the books of the New Testament very early. In his Apologia Prima, Justin Martyr indicates that on Sunday the apostolic writings would be read publicly. Tertullian echoes Justin’s sentiments, saying,

Come now, you who would indulge a better curiosity, if you would apply it to the business of your salvation, run over to the apostolic churches, in which the very thrones of the apostles are still pre-eminent in their places, in which their own authentic writings are read, uttering the voice and representing the face of each of them severally (De Praescriptione Haereticorum 36.1).

As New Testament scholars Darrell Bock and Daniel Wallace point out, “What is at issue here is the meaning of ‘authentic’ writings. If this refers to the original documents, as the word in Latin (authenticae) normally does, then Tertullian is saying that several of the original New Testament books still existed in his day, well over a century after the time of their writing” (2007, p. 45, italics in orig.). Tertullian specifically references Paul’s letters to the churches at Corinth, Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and Rome. Although this point is not entirely certain, it is an interesting thought. Tertullian’s statement provides evidence of a concern for preserving the manuscripts accurately. Given human fascination with historical relics and our interest in preserving them, it is possible that the early churches would have mirrored Tertullian’s concerns, preserving the letters written by the apostles themselves.

Bock and Wallace make a powerful argument concerning two of the earliest manuscripts known today. Citing p⁷⁵ and Codex Vaticanus (also known as B), they argue that the two manuscripts

have an exceptionally strong agreement. And they are among the most accurate manuscripts that exist today. P75 is about 125 years older than B, yet it is not an ancestor of B. Instead, B was copied from an earlier ancestor of P75.... The combination of these two manuscripts in a particular reading must surely go back to the very beginning of the second century (2007, p. 47).

The state of the New Testament text is much better than the situation of despair found in Misquoting Jesus. As a world-class text critic, Ehrman must be fully aware of this material, yet chooses not to cite any of it in his work. In fact, he rarely cites scholars who disagree with him, leaving the inaccurate impression that he represents a vast majority of scholars who hold the same viewpoint. This borders on academic dishonesty.

That Ehrman knows the ancient scribes were conscientious about serving as custodians of the textual tradition is revealed in admissions throughout the text of Misquoting Jesus. He says, “Far and away, the most changes are the result of mistakes, pure and simple—slips of the pen, accidental omissions, inadvertent additions, misspelled words, blunders of one sort or another” (p. 55). The truth finally comes out that the massive majority of errors in the New Testament manuscripts are the result of a copyist’s error, not a deliberate alteration. What Ehrman downplays is that textual critics are well-schooled in how to detect and qualify copyists’ mistakes. By referring to the 400,000 errors in the manuscripts, Ehrman is leaving a false impression with his readership. Some of the errors are easily correctable, and others are downright absurd. As Bock and Wallace explain, “What exactly constitutes a textual variant? Any place among the manuscripts in which there is variation in wording, including word order, omission or addition of words, and even spelling differences is a textual variant. Thus, the most trivial alterations count as variants” (p. 54).

Ehrman does reserve some qualified praise for the ancient scribes. He writes:

The scribes—whether non-professional scribes in the early centuries or professional scribes of the Middle Ages—were intent on conserving the textual tradition they were passing on. Their ultimate concern was not to modify the tradition, but to preserve it for themselves and for those who would follow them. Most scribes, no doubt, tried to do a faithful job in making sure that the text they reproduced was the same text they inherited (p. 177).

Indeed, scribes in the ancient world were expected to copy texts faithfully, despite Ehrman’s assertions that they deliberately altered the New Testament documents. His understanding of ancient scribal custom is made clear by his inclusion of a humorous story about a scribe who deliberately modified the wording of a passage in a copy of the Bible (Codex Vaticanus). A later scribe came along and changed the word back to its original reading, adding the marginal note: “Fool and knave! Leave the old reading, don’t change it!” (p. 56).

A weakness of Ehrman’s argument is that, while he argues that scribes deliberately altered the text, one must ask how he knows it was altered; the charge presupposes that the original reading is still accessible in some way. One cannot argue that the words of Jesus or the teaching of Paul has been changed if one does not know what they actually said, which Ehrman repeatedly confesses. Rather, the very fact that scholars know that the text was altered on occasion means that they have a good idea of what the original reading was. This makes Ehrman’s arguments relatively inconsequential, since he depends upon later examples of change to make his points.

The criticism of Misquoting Jesus has come fast and furious. In the age of the Internet, substantial criticisms of the work have appeared en masse. Not only do Ehrman’s ideas fail to convince those who have studied the issue, New Testament scholars have posted devastating critiques of his work on-line in venues ranging from academic blogs to seminary Web sites. Academic heavyweights such as Darrell Bock, Craig Blomberg, and Craig Evans have all provided measured criticism of Ehrman’s work, although he appears to have paid little attention. Indeed, Ehrman fuels the controversy when interviewed, choosing to rehash the same arguments each time when they have been answered by other scholars in a variety of media venues. In interviews, Ehrman generally tends to overplay the nature of the manuscript errors and attributes much more importance to them than is warranted.

Ehrman’s book Orthodox Corruption is a scholarly version of the popular-level Misquoting Jesus. Of this book, New Testament scholar Gordon Fee writes, “Unfortunately, Ehrman too often turns mere possibility into probability, and probability into certainty, where other equally viable reasons for corruption exist” (1995, 8:204). Some critics of Christianity are notorious for failing to incorporate the criticisms of their peers in their own work and making adjustments where necessary. In this Ehrman is no exception, as Orthodox Corruption generally states a similar case as the one found later in Misquoting Jesus, even after fellow scholars offered criticism that appears to have gone largely unheeded.

Ehrman’s work resonates in a post-Christian culture where Christianity is viewed as secretive and even deceptive. His description of the state of the text is bleak, but it is just as inaccurate. Scholars have great confidence in the Greek text that lies beneath modern English translations, and for good reason. Ancient scribes believed they were copying the very words of God, and treated their duties with a commensurate level of care. They knew that God, and His Word, deserved no less.

CONCLUSION

Bart Ehrman has made something of a career out of selling the idea that the New Testament is not only full of inconsistencies, inaccuracies, and outright contradictions, but that some of those discrepancies were deliberately inserted into the text. He is something of a theological celebrity, enjoying airtime in a number of different radio and television interviews. As one of the foremost New Testament textual scholars in America, Ehrman should be taken seriously. At the same time, his criticism of the Faith is questionable, and, at times, laughable.

Ehrman excels at selling a packaged version of Christianity that is supposedly authentic but falls short. He matter-of-factly describes the supposed difficulties with Christianity almost as if they are trade secrets of the Faith. On the popular level, it is likely that many of his readers have never heard of these criticisms of the New Testament from a scholar writing for a lay audience. At the same time, scholarly treatments of these issues are readily available. Many fine works written by both the scholar and non-scholar alike have answered all of the objections Ehrman raises. From that standpoint, Ehrman’s exploration of these issues gives an appearance of disingenuousness.

Unlike less scholarly, more popular authors such as Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), Peter Baigent (The Jesus Papers), and Simcha Jacobovici (The Jesus Family Tomb), Ehrman must be taken seriously. He is a widely respected scholar who has produced a number of contributions to the field of New Testament studies. At the same time, he also appears to have little interest in resolving the problems he raises. An honest seeker will try to resolve difficulties he uncovers, if for no other reason than to explore the mystery itself. Ehrman seems to have little interest in finding solutions, preferring instead to emphasize what he considers to be problems in the text. The Christian must be aware that the overwhelming majority of those difficulties often have rather simple solutions, offered by scholars bearing the same level of credentials as Ehrman himself.

REFERENCES

Bock, Darrell and Daniel Wallace (2007), Dethroning Jesus: Exposing Popular Culture’s Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson).

Ehrman, Bart (2005), Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why (San Francisco, CA: Harper).

Fee, Gordon (1995), “Review of The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture, by Bart D. Ehrman” in Critical Review of Books in Religion, 8:203-206.

Harris, Sam “Recommended Reading (A-Z),” [On-line], URL: http://www.sam harris.org/site/book_reading_list/.

Hitchens, Christopher (2007), God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (New York: Twelve Books).

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Alternatives To The Resurrection (28:11-15)

 "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

Alternatives To The Resurrection (28:11-15)

INTRODUCTION

1. There are certain facts of history that no one can deny...
   a. Many people testified they saw Jesus raised from the dead
   b. These same people suffered greatly because of their testimony
   -- Such facts support the actual resurrection of Jesus from the dead

2. From the beginning, there have been alternative theories to explain
   the empty tomb...
   a. Matthew records the earliest theory: the disciples stole the body- Mt 28:11-15
   b. Other theories have been raised as well

3. Because of the significance of the resurrection (described in a previous lesson)...
   a. Those opposed to the gospel know this event must be discredited
   b. We who believe in Jesus must always be ready to provide a defense - 1Pe 3:15
      1) Not only why we accept the testimony of the witnesses (see previous lesson)
      2) But why we find alternative explanations impossible to accept

[In this study, we shall consider various "Alternatives To The
Resurrection", and why they are inadequate to explain the empty tomb.
We begin with the first explanation...]

I. THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples stole the body, then claimed He rose from the dead
      2. This was the "official" theory offered from the very beginning - Mt 28:11-15

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The explanation defies logic
         a. If the soldiers were asleep...
            1) How did they know it was the disciples who took the body?
            2) How could the large stone guarding the entrance be
               rolled away without awakening the soldiers?
         b. The soldiers guarding the tomb were Romans - Mt 27:62-66
            1) They were professional soldiers
            2) Charged to guard the tomb with their lives
            3) The punishment for falling asleep on duty was death
      2. This would make those who testified they saw Jesus liars and frauds
         a. As we saw in the previous lesson, they claimed empirical evidence
         b. Suppose just a few disciples stole the body, unbeknown by others...
            1) Such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, or the women
            2) Others still say they saw Jesus, ate and drank with Him
         c. You have to explain why they were willing to lie and die knowing it was a lie

[The likelihood of timid disciples stealing the body of Jesus out from
under the noses of highly disciplined and skilled Roman soldiers while
they slept (an offense punishable by death) is hard to believe! Perhaps
that is why those who refuse to believe in the resurrection have
proposed alternative explanations, one being...]

II. THEY WENT TO THE WRONG TOMB

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The women went to the wrong tomb, and found it empty
      2. They erroneously concluded that Jesus had risen, and their story spread

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The women had been to the tomb before - Mt 27:61
      2. The religious and political leaders could have easily silenced the apostles' claim
         a. If the women went to the wrong tomb, then the right tomb
            was still sealed and guarded by the Roman soldiers
         b. When the apostles' created an uproar with their story of
            the resurrection of Jesus (cf. Ac 4:1-2; 5:27-33), the
            Jewish leaders could have directed people to the right tomb
            and presented the body of Jesus!
      3. You still have the testimony of the apostles to contend with

[A more popular explanation in some circles is...]

III. JESUS SWOONED AND LATER REVIVED

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. Jesus did not actually die on the cross, He only swooned
         a. Suffering from shock, pain, and loss of blood, He fainted
            (swooned) from exhaustion
         b. Thinking that He was dead, the Roman soldiers took Him down
            and buried Him in the tomb
      2. In the coolness of the tomb, Jesus revived
         a. Somehow He left the tomb
         b. Appeared to His disciples, then lived in obscurity to die years later

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. Jesus would have had to revive sufficiently enough to:
         a. Break through the burial garments that bound Him, including
            a hundred pounds of spices used in preparing His body for burial - Jn 19:38-40
         b. Role away the large stone that sealed the tomb
         c. Fight off the Roman guards protecting the tomb
         d. Walk the seven miles to Emmaus where He was seen by the two disciples
         e. Walk back to Jerusalem where He was seen by the apostles
         -- All within the same day!
      2. Every effort was made to prove He was dead
         a. The Roman soldiers at the cross pierced His side - Jn 19: 31-34
            1) Out of which flowed blood and water
            2) An indication He was already dead, having died of a ruptured heart
         b. Pilate made sure He was dead - Mk 15:43-45
            1) When Joseph of Arimathea wanted the body
            2) The Roman centurion confirmed that Jesus was dead
      3. Not only would this make the apostles liars and frauds, but
         Jesus also for allowing a lie to spread for years!

[Another popular alternative explanation is...]

IV. THE DISCIPLES HAD HALLUCINATIONS OR VISIONS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. All of Christ's post-resurrection appearances were only supposed appearances
      2. Those who claimed to see Jesus had hallucinations

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. Remember that the appearances were not just to individuals, one at a time
         a. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus claimed to see Him - Lk 24:13-35
         b. Ten apostles claimed to see Him - Jn 20:19-25
         c. He appeared to over 500 people at once - 1Co 15:6
      2. The hallucination theory contradicts laws and principles which
         psychiatrists say are essential to hallucinations:
         a. Only certain kinds of people have hallucinations
            1) These are usually high-strung, highly imaginative, and very nervous people
            2) Usually only paranoid or schizophrenic individuals have hallucinations
            3) The appearances were not restricted to people of any
               particular psychological make up
         b. Hallucinations are linked in an individual's subconscious
            1) An individual may have an hallucination
            2) But hallucinations do not appear to groups of people
         c. They occur in people when there is a spirit of anticipation or hopeful expectation
            1) The disciples had no such anticipation - Lk 24:13-21
            2) They were prone to disbelieve even after they were told
               of the resurrection - Jn 20:24-25

[Then there is the theory that...]

V. SOMEONE IMPERSONATED JESUS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The appearances were not really Christ at all, but someone
         impersonating Him
      2. This is evident because in some cases they did not recognize Him at first

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples were reluctant to believe in the resurrection
         a. Some were doubtful, such as Thomas - Jn 20:24-25
         b. It would have been hard to convince them unless it was really Him
      2. It would have been impossible to impersonate Christ's wounds
         a. This was Christ's proof it was really Him - Jn 20:26-27
         b. Which convinced doubting Thomas - Jn 20:28-29
      3. The apostles traveled with Jesus for three years
         a. It is incredible that anyone could have gotten away with an impersonation
         b. Which is why the apostles were witnesses of the resurrection - Ac 10:39-41
      4. The one claiming to be Jesus performed miracles
         a. Suddenly appearing in locked rooms - Jn 20:19
         b. Directing them how to catch fish - Jn 21:1-7

[Closely related to this would be the theory that...]

VI. SOMEONE WAS MISTAKEN FOR JESUS

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. The disciples simply mistook for Jesus someone who looked like Him
      2. For example, the women mistook the gardener for Jesus - Jn 20: 14-15

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. The same problems as with the impersonation theory
         a. Disciples reluctant to believe in the resurrection
         b. Impossible to recreate the wounds of Jesus
         c. Ample time with Jesus to verify His identity
      2. While Mary may have mistaken Jesus for the gardener, she was
         able to look through her grief and recognize who He was

[Finally, here is an alternative proposed by some theologians who just
cannot accept the idea of a physical, bodily resurrection...]

VII. IT WAS ONLY A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION

   A. ELEMENTS OF THIS THEORY...
      1. Christ's resurrection was not a real physical resurrection
      2. Christ's body remained in the grave and His real resurrection
         was spiritual in nature
      3. It was only told this way to illustrate the truth of spiritual resurrection

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THIS THEORY...
      1. If it was only a spiritual resurrection, what happened to the body?
         a. The enemies of Christ were never able to produce a body
         b. Which they would have gladly done to discredit the apostles
      2. Again, the nature of the apostles' testimony is empirical:
         they ate and drank with Him, touched Him - Lk 24:36-43; Ac 10: 39-41; 1Jn 1:1-2
      3. Paul argued a bodily resurrection of Jesus as evidence for our
         own bodily resurrection - 1Co 15:12-58

CONCLUSION

1. The resurrection of Jesus has been variously interpreted as...
   a. A great hoax (the resurrection is false)
   b. Mythology (the resurrection is fiction)
   -- Therefore various alternatives have been proposed to explain the empty tomb

2. But there is only one interpretation worth accepting...
   a. It is the supreme event of history (the resurrection is fact)
   b. Supported by empirical testimony provided by reliable witnesses
   c. With implications of great significance for both unbeliever and believer alike

When you consider the strength of the apostles' testimony, and contrast
it with the weakness of the alternative explanations that have been
proposed, it leads an honest person in only one direction:  to faith in
Jesus Christ as the Son of God...

   "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His
   disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are
   written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
   of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
                                                     (Jn 20:30-31)

Are you willing to believe in Jesus, that you might have life in His
name?  Then heed the words of the apostle Peter proclaimed in the first
gospel sermon:

   "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
   has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
   to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what
   shall we do?"  Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
   one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
   remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
   Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to
   all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
                                                       (Ac 2:36-39)  

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

The edge by Gary Rose

This picture of the “Northern Lights” is called “The hem of the garment”. Immediately, I thought of the various places in the Bible where the “Hem” is used. Different Bible versions use different words for hem, such as fringe, edge, tassel, border, but I get the general idea anyway; the bottom.

When used in combination with Jesus, it is associated with healing, as in the following passage…

Matthew 14 ( World English Bible )

34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe * of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Jesus healed people, therefore he was popular. After all, who wouldn’t want to be made better from an illness? I wonder, why did Jesus heal people? To do good, the have mercy on them, out of compassion, or as an example of his spiritual “healing”. These are good ideas, but the best one is probably the simplest- Jesus loves me.

People consider Jesus in many ways.. a mere man, a spiritual teacher, a good person, a prophet, a priest, but to me he is God in the flesh; one who wants to heal me spiritually. Jesus’ physical healing ministry was a bonus and also sign of his true identity.

Now that I think about it- that “Hem of the garment” could also be a curtain coming down. If you relate that to Jesus, then he is the completion of all things, both physical and spiritual. So, again, who wouldn’t want to be healed of our problems? By the way- problems of today, tomorrow and FOREVER!

Bible Reading for October 12 and 13 by Gary Rose

 

Bible Reading for October 12 and 13

World  English Bible

Oct. 12

Proverbs 9-11

Pro 9:1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars.

Pro 9:2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table.

Pro 9:3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city:

Pro 9:4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

Pro 9:5 "Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!

Pro 9:6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding."

Pro 9:7 He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.

Pro 9:8 Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Pro 9:9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Pro 9:10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Pro 9:11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased.

Pro 9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it.

Pro 9:13 The foolish woman is loud, Undisciplined, and knows nothing.

Pro 9:14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

Pro 9:15 To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways,

Pro 9:16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here." as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,

Pro 9:17 "Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant."

Pro 9:18 But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Pro 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Pro 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

Pro 10:3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

Pro 10:4 He becomes poor who works with a lazy hand, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth.

Pro 10:5 He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame.

Pro 10:6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Pro 10:7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.

Pro 10:8 The wise in heart accept commandments, but a chattering fool will fall.

Pro 10:9 He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Pro 10:10 One winking with the eye causes sorrow, but a chattering fool will fall.

Pro 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Pro 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

Pro 10:13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, but a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.

Pro 10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near ruin.

Pro 10:15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Pro 10:16 The labor of the righteous leads to life. The increase of the wicked leads to sin.

Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.

Pro 10:18 He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

Pro 10:19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

Pro 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Pro 10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.

Pro 10:22 Yahweh's blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

Pro 10:23 It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.

Pro 10:24 What the wicked fear, will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

Pro 10:25 When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever.

Pro 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Pro 10:27 The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Pro 10:28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.

Pro 10:29 The way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

Pro 10:30 The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

Pro 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

Pro 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Pro 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.

Pro 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.

Pro 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

Pro 11:4 Riches don't profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Pro 11:5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Pro 11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.

Pro 11:7 When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.

Pro 11:8 A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.

Pro 11:9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

Pro 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.

Pro 11:11 By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Pro 11:12 One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.

Pro 11:13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

Pro 11:14 Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.

Pro 11:15 He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

Pro 11:16 A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.

Pro 11:17 The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Pro 11:18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

Pro 11:19 He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.

Pro 11:20 Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

Pro 11:21 Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the seed of the righteous will be delivered.

Pro 11:22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Pro 11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.

Pro 11:24 There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

Pro 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.

Pro 11:26 People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

Pro 11:27 He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

Pro 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

Pro 11:29 He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

Pro 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.

Pro 11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner! 

 

Oct. 13

Proverbs 12-14

Pro 12:1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Pro 12:2 A good man shall obtain favor from Yahweh, but he will condemn a man of wicked devices.

Pro 12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Pro 12:4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.

Pro 12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

Pro 12:6 The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Pro 12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Pro 12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.

Pro 12:9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.

Pro 12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Pro 12:11 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

Pro 12:12 The wicked desires the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes.

Pro 12:13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.

Pro 12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man's hands shall be rewarded to him.

Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.

Pro 12:16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.

Pro 12:17 He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

Pro 12:18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.

Pro 12:19 Truth's lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.

Pro 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but joy comes to the promoters of peace.

Pro 12:21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.

Pro 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight.

Pro 12:23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.

Pro 12:24 The hands of the diligent ones shall rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.

Pro 12:25 Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a kind word makes it glad.

Pro 12:26 A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Pro 12:27 The slothful man doesn't roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

Pro 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; in its path there is no death.

Pro 13:1 A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen to rebuke.

Pro 13:2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

Pro 13:3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Pro 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.

Pro 13:5 A righteous man hates lies, but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.

Pro 13:6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

Pro 13:7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

Pro 13:8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Pro 13:10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but with ones who take advice is wisdom.

Pro 13:11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

Pro 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

Pro 13:13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

Pro 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life, to turn from the snares of death.

Pro 13:15 Good understanding wins favor; but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Pro 13:16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.

Pro 13:17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.

Pro 13:18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline, but he who heeds correction shall be honored.

Pro 13:19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

Pro 13:20 One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Pro 13:21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

Pro 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

Pro 13:23 An abundance of food is in poor people's fields, but injustice sweeps it away.

Pro 13:24 One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Pro 13:25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Pro 14:2 He who walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.

Pro 14:3 The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Pro 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Pro 14:5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

Pro 14:6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.

Pro 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.

Pro 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

Pro 14:9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.

Pro 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.

Pro 14:11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Pro 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.

Pro 14:14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.

Pro 14:15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.

Pro 14:16 A wise man fears, and shuns evil, but the fool is hotheaded and reckless.

Pro 14:17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.

Pro 14:18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Pro 14:19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Pro 14:20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

Pro 14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has pity on the poor.

Pro 14:22 Don't they go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.

Pro 14:23 In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

Pro 14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

Pro 14:25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

Pro 14:26 In the fear of Yahweh is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.

Pro 14:27 The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.

Pro 14:28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.

Pro 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.

Pro 14:30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.

Pro 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

Pro 14:32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but in death, the righteous has a refuge.

Pro 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.

Pro 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Pro 14:35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame. 

 

Oct. 12

Ephesians 3

Eph 3:1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,

Eph 3:2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you;

Eph 3:3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,

Eph 3:4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

Eph 3:5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

Eph 3:6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,

Eph 3:7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Eph 3:9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Eph 3:10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,

Eph 3:11 according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord;

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

Eph 3:13 Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.

Eph 3:14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Eph 3:15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

Eph 3:16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 3:18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Eph 3:19 and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Eph 3:21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Oct. 13

Ephesians 4

Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

Eph 4:2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

Eph 4:3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

Eph 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Eph 4:8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

Eph 4:9 Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

Eph 4:10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Eph 4:11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Eph 4:14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

Eph 4:15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

Eph 4:16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Eph 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

Eph 4:18 being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;

Eph 4:19 who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Eph 4:20 But you did not learn Christ that way;

Eph 4:21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22 that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

Eph 4:23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

Eph 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Eph 4:25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

Eph 4:26 "Be angry, and don't sin." Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,

Eph 4:27 neither give place to the devil.

Eph 4:28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Eph 4:30 Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.

Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.