.
This is where Dawkins leaves me cold. He doesn't understand Christianity and there is a large gap in his knowledge. However there is one thing I do agree with him and that is the slogan "Jesus for atheists." That is so true, this is why Jesus came into the world, he came to seek and to save those who are lost. The "lost" are the unbelievers or in today's terminology the atheist and it is the atheist who Jesus seeks to save, firstly from their ignorance because they do not understand the things of the spirit.
We comprise three parts, (1) our body, (2) our brain or intellect, and (3) our soul which is immortal.
Dawkins talks about the meme pool and the “super niceness in a post-Christian society.” Good for him and it is nice of him to say so.
So how does this change come about? Well it happens when we let Christ into our lives. Jesus is the only one who can change us. Mahatma Gandhi can't change us, neither can Mother Teresa and neither can any other human being for the simple reason we are talking about things of the spirit and not things of the flesh. People including you and me are born of the flesh in the first instance as babies, but when Christ comes into our life we are born of the spirit.
(Just as male and female unite to be born of the flesh, when our spirit unites with the spirit of Christ we are born again, not of flesh but of the spirit. This is the “New Birth” and this is when the change takes place in our lives that Dawkins talks about.)
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
So we need a picture of Jesus on our “T” Shirt because it is Jesus who came to seek and to save those who were lost which includes me as well as you.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8)
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Friday, 28 November 2008
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Spread of Christianity
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The history of early Christianity spans the History of Christianity from the death of Jesus Christ and birth of the Apostolic Age in about the year 30 to the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Christianity ultimately became the state religion of Armenia in either 301 or 314, the state religion of Ethiopia in 325, the state religion of Georgia in 337, and then the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380.
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The history of early Christianity spans the History of Christianity from the death of Jesus Christ and birth of the Apostolic Age in about the year 30 to the First Council of Nicaea in 325.
Christianity ultimately became the state religion of Armenia in either 301 or 314, the state religion of Ethiopia in 325, the state religion of Georgia in 337, and then the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380.
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Practicle Christianity
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This is Christianity in practice, from the man himself Jesus Christ. I do not understand your problem.
Whoever loves God must also love his brother
(1 John 4: 20-21).
Therefore, I say to you all:
Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty.
Clothe the naked.
Shelter the homeless.
Visit the sick.
Visit the imprisoned.
Bury the dead.
Counsel the doubtful,
Instruct the ignorant,
Admonish the sinner,
Forgive injuries,
Bear wrong patiently,
Pray for the living,
Pray for the dead.
Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you; do good to those who hate you. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Rom. 12:17-21).
Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult. Return a blessing instead.
Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you. Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you will be sealed for your day of redemption (Eph. 4:29-32).
Rather, encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace with one another, and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11).
All of you should be like-minded, sympathetic, loving toward one another, kindly disposed, and humble (1 Pet. 3:.
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Jesus said to His disciples:
You shall love the Lord your God
with your whole heart,
with your whole soul,
and with your whole mind.
This is the greatest and first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
On these two commandments the whole law is based, and the prophets as well (Matt. 22:37-40).
If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. One who has no love for his brother whom he sees cannot love God whom he does not see.
Let me solemnly assure you: when the Son of Man comes in His glory escorted by all the angels of heaven. He will sit upon His royal throne and all the nations will be assembled before Him.
Then He will separate them into two groups, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep he will place on His right hand and the goats on His left. Then He will say to those on His right: "Come! You have my Father's blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. For
I was hungry and you gave me food;
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink;
I was a stranger and you welcomed me;
I was naked and you clothed me;
I was ill and you comforted me;
I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the just will ask Him, "Lord, when did we do such things to you?" And the Son of Man will answer them: "I assure you, as often you did any of these things for the least of my brothers, you did it for me."
.
This is Christianity in practice, from the man himself Jesus Christ. I do not understand your problem.
Whoever loves God must also love his brother
(1 John 4: 20-21).
Therefore, I say to you all:
Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty.
Clothe the naked.
Shelter the homeless.
Visit the sick.
Visit the imprisoned.
Bury the dead.
Counsel the doubtful,
Instruct the ignorant,
Admonish the sinner,
Forgive injuries,
Bear wrong patiently,
Pray for the living,
Pray for the dead.
Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you; do good to those who hate you. If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Rom. 12:17-21).
Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult. Return a blessing instead.
Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you. Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you will be sealed for your day of redemption (Eph. 4:29-32).
Rather, encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace with one another, and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor. 13:11).
All of you should be like-minded, sympathetic, loving toward one another, kindly disposed, and humble (1 Pet. 3:.
.
Jesus said to His disciples:
You shall love the Lord your God
with your whole heart,
with your whole soul,
and with your whole mind.
This is the greatest and first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
On these two commandments the whole law is based, and the prophets as well (Matt. 22:37-40).
If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. One who has no love for his brother whom he sees cannot love God whom he does not see.
Let me solemnly assure you: when the Son of Man comes in His glory escorted by all the angels of heaven. He will sit upon His royal throne and all the nations will be assembled before Him.
Then He will separate them into two groups, as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. The sheep he will place on His right hand and the goats on His left. Then He will say to those on His right: "Come! You have my Father's blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. For
I was hungry and you gave me food;
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink;
I was a stranger and you welcomed me;
I was naked and you clothed me;
I was ill and you comforted me;
I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Then the just will ask Him, "Lord, when did we do such things to you?" And the Son of Man will answer them: "I assure you, as often you did any of these things for the least of my brothers, you did it for me."
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008
The Rich Young Ruler
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The rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments one of them being to love your neighbour as yourself. The rich young ruler said he did keep the commandments. So Jesus very cleverly said to the young man to sell up and give to the poor. The rich young ruler refused to do this, proving once and for all that he did not keep the commandments. It was a test and the young man failed.
All we are told to do to inherit eternal life is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to confess our sins.
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The rich young ruler asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus told him to keep the commandments one of them being to love your neighbour as yourself. The rich young ruler said he did keep the commandments. So Jesus very cleverly said to the young man to sell up and give to the poor. The rich young ruler refused to do this, proving once and for all that he did not keep the commandments. It was a test and the young man failed.
All we are told to do to inherit eternal life is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and to confess our sins.
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Sunday, 23 November 2008
Cyrenius (Publius Sulpicius Quirinius)
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Cyrenius (Publius Sulpicius Quirinius)
Recent historical investigation has proved that Quirinius was governor of Cilicia, which was annexed to Syria at the time of our Lord's birth. Cilicia, which he ruled, being a province of Syria. He is called the governor, which he was de jure, of Syria. Some ten years afterwards he was appointed governor of Syria for the second time. During his tenure of office, at the time of our Lord's birth (Luke 2:2), a "taxing" (Revised Version, "enrolment;" i.e., a registration) of the people was "first made;" i.e., was made for the first time under his government.
Alleged Biblical Problem
How can the Bible be correct (in The Gospel According to Luke, chapter 2, verse 2) when claiming that the great census decreed by Rome's Caesar Augustus about the time of Jesus' birth circa 4-5 B.C. occurred "when Quirinius was governor" if Quirinius (or Cyrenius) didn't even become governor until the year 6 A.D.?! Isn't this a clear case of the Bible being in error on matters of history?
Sensible Solution
No so fast. Critics used this text for many years to make their case for a Bible that is unreliable. But no more. Today, there are a number of reasons for giving Luke the benefit of the doubt. Over and over (in references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands) the doctor has proven himself to be a reliable historian, as demonstrated by famed scholar and archaeologist, Sir William Ramsey.
See ChristianAnswers' Web Bible Encyclopedia: What is a census?
To date, the only census documented outside the Bible near this time under Quirinius is the one referred to by the historian Josephus (Antiquities XVIII, 26 [ii.1], which he says took place in 6 A.D.
But notice that Luke 2:2 says that the census taken around the time Joseph and Mary went down to Bethlehem was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. This implies that there was a later census--most likely the one referred to by Josephus--which Dr. Luke would have also certainly known about.
There is good reason to believe that Quirinius was actually twice in a position of command (the Greek expression hegemoneuo in Luke 2:2 which is often translated "governor" really just means "to be leading" or "in charge of") over the province of Syria, which included Judea as a political subdivision. The first time would have been when he was leading military action against the Homonadensians during the period between 12 and 2 B.C. His title may even have been "military governor."
A Latin inscription discovered in 1764 adds weight to the idea that Quirinius was in a position of authority in Syria on two separate occasions. There was definitely a taxing during this time and therefore, quite possible, an associated census, the details of which may have been common knowledge in Luke's time, but are now lost to us.
Scholars have advanced a number of other altogether viable explanations which would allow Luke's record (and therefore the Bible) to continue to be regarded as 100% trustworthy.
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/cyrenius.html
*******************************************************
The ten year gap.
There was a census between 8BC and 4BC and the next census was in 6AD. The first census was called by Herod who was Rome’s puppet and was for Judea only while the second census was called by Caesar Augustus and required that the entire Roman world should be registered.
Consequently there were two census ten years apart and either Matthew or Luke had Jesus born in the wrong census, at least that is the way it looks to me.
All I can say is that over the years people have said to me, firstly that the Bible has been edited, secondly people copied someone else’s work, and thirdly the writers collaborated. Plainly this is not the case and obviously the accounts of Christ’s birth are from the pens of independently different people with all the Bibles 40 contributors providing us with their own personal testimony and witness account. It makes powerful reading.
The only other thing I can say is that Quirinius was no minor figure. At various times he was “Consul,” he was advisor to Caesar’s young son Caius, he was a Roman senator, he was governor of Syria, he was in Rome, he was in government, he knew the mind of Caesar, he had Caesar’s confidence, he was an administrator and he was a powerful figure.
At that time the Roman Empire ruled most of the world but by the High Middle Ages, after the end of the Viking Age and the Norman Conquest, the kingdom of England came to rule almost all of the area previously ruled by the Rome. (ref.)
Our English Kings were not just the King of England they held and governed other territories as well just like Quirinius who at the time of Herod’s census would have been governor and administrator of most of the known world including Judea. When the census in Matthew's account was being held Quirinius was answerable to Caesar himself.
Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus and Publius Quinctilius Varus were the governors on the ground in Syria but at the time of the census in Matthew's Gospel Quirinius will have been governor overall under Caesar. Luke could be right and there may not be a contradiction.
Cyrenius (Publius Sulpicius Quirinius)
Recent historical investigation has proved that Quirinius was governor of Cilicia, which was annexed to Syria at the time of our Lord's birth. Cilicia, which he ruled, being a province of Syria. He is called the governor, which he was de jure, of Syria. Some ten years afterwards he was appointed governor of Syria for the second time. During his tenure of office, at the time of our Lord's birth (Luke 2:2), a "taxing" (Revised Version, "enrolment;" i.e., a registration) of the people was "first made;" i.e., was made for the first time under his government.
Alleged Biblical Problem
How can the Bible be correct (in The Gospel According to Luke, chapter 2, verse 2) when claiming that the great census decreed by Rome's Caesar Augustus about the time of Jesus' birth circa 4-5 B.C. occurred "when Quirinius was governor" if Quirinius (or Cyrenius) didn't even become governor until the year 6 A.D.?! Isn't this a clear case of the Bible being in error on matters of history?
Sensible Solution
No so fast. Critics used this text for many years to make their case for a Bible that is unreliable. But no more. Today, there are a number of reasons for giving Luke the benefit of the doubt. Over and over (in references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands) the doctor has proven himself to be a reliable historian, as demonstrated by famed scholar and archaeologist, Sir William Ramsey.
See ChristianAnswers' Web Bible Encyclopedia: What is a census?
To date, the only census documented outside the Bible near this time under Quirinius is the one referred to by the historian Josephus (Antiquities XVIII, 26 [ii.1], which he says took place in 6 A.D.
But notice that Luke 2:2 says that the census taken around the time Joseph and Mary went down to Bethlehem was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. This implies that there was a later census--most likely the one referred to by Josephus--which Dr. Luke would have also certainly known about.
There is good reason to believe that Quirinius was actually twice in a position of command (the Greek expression hegemoneuo in Luke 2:2 which is often translated "governor" really just means "to be leading" or "in charge of") over the province of Syria, which included Judea as a political subdivision. The first time would have been when he was leading military action against the Homonadensians during the period between 12 and 2 B.C. His title may even have been "military governor."
A Latin inscription discovered in 1764 adds weight to the idea that Quirinius was in a position of authority in Syria on two separate occasions. There was definitely a taxing during this time and therefore, quite possible, an associated census, the details of which may have been common knowledge in Luke's time, but are now lost to us.
Scholars have advanced a number of other altogether viable explanations which would allow Luke's record (and therefore the Bible) to continue to be regarded as 100% trustworthy.
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/cyrenius.html
*******************************************************
The ten year gap.
There was a census between 8BC and 4BC and the next census was in 6AD. The first census was called by Herod who was Rome’s puppet and was for Judea only while the second census was called by Caesar Augustus and required that the entire Roman world should be registered.
Consequently there were two census ten years apart and either Matthew or Luke had Jesus born in the wrong census, at least that is the way it looks to me.
All I can say is that over the years people have said to me, firstly that the Bible has been edited, secondly people copied someone else’s work, and thirdly the writers collaborated. Plainly this is not the case and obviously the accounts of Christ’s birth are from the pens of independently different people with all the Bibles 40 contributors providing us with their own personal testimony and witness account. It makes powerful reading.
The only other thing I can say is that Quirinius was no minor figure. At various times he was “Consul,” he was advisor to Caesar’s young son Caius, he was a Roman senator, he was governor of Syria, he was in Rome, he was in government, he knew the mind of Caesar, he had Caesar’s confidence, he was an administrator and he was a powerful figure.
At that time the Roman Empire ruled most of the world but by the High Middle Ages, after the end of the Viking Age and the Norman Conquest, the kingdom of England came to rule almost all of the area previously ruled by the Rome. (ref.)
Our English Kings were not just the King of England they held and governed other territories as well just like Quirinius who at the time of Herod’s census would have been governor and administrator of most of the known world including Judea. When the census in Matthew's account was being held Quirinius was answerable to Caesar himself.
Gnaeus Sentius Saturninus and Publius Quinctilius Varus were the governors on the ground in Syria but at the time of the census in Matthew's Gospel Quirinius will have been governor overall under Caesar. Luke could be right and there may not be a contradiction.
The Birth of Jesus
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Before the name “Christmas” was invented, December 25th was celebrated as “The Great Miracle”. But they were not celebrating the birth of JESUS. The one thing about the First Corning of our Messiah that is not miraculous was His birth. His birth was just like yours and mine. What our forefathers were celebrating was the Great Miracle of His Conception, which was not a bit like mine or yours! So the first riddle to unscramble is the “nine-months-out” one.
But surely, we celebrate the Lord's conception on March 25th, calling it the “Annunciation” because of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. Yes, traditionally we do, which raises the question, ‘who is right? Us or Them?’
The answer can be detected in Dr. Luke's book. He is the Sherlock Holmes of the Gospel, having “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” so as to give us “an orderly account” —Luke 1:3.
There’s nothing like starting at the beginning, so he investigates the Reverend Zechariah’s run-in with the archangel Gabriel. Straightway he discovers a date — very useful things, dates. As one of many priests in those days, you might only get one shot at ministering in the Temple. Each year you would wonder if your name would come up. The only thing you knew for certain was the fortnight in the year when your “division” was on call.
It was King David who ordered the organizing of the priests into twenty-four fortnightly tours of duty, according to their family-groups, through the months of the Jewish Year (1.Chron. 24:6-19). Zechariah was of the 8th Division of Abijah —Luke 1:5, and according to the Jewish calendar this falls in the month of “Tammuz”. By our calendar this is around the end of June and beginning of July.
So it was that the LORD GOD made His first move to fulfill His promise to save us, and here we discover something wonderful. The name Zechariah means “to remember” and his wife’s name, Elizabeth, means “God’s Promise” --their joined names: “God remembers His Promise”! Alleluia!
You know the story of Zechariah being struck dumb in the middle of Evensong —Luke 1:8-22. You don’t argue with archangels, you say “Yes, sir.” Gabriel had told this old man to go home and have a word with his wife and start a baby, at their time of life an act of faith and a daunting prospect!
So now we have our first date-clue: Elizabeth became pregnant with John-the-Baptist sometime in July that year! Then Dr. Luke tells us that when she was six months pregnant, Gabriel visits Mary with the offer of the ultimate Spiritual Gift, to conceive, carry and give birth to JESUS, the SON OF GOD.
Already we have another all-important date —that it was December, according to our calendar, when Elizabeth was “in her sixth month”, when JESUS was conceived —Luke 1 :26-38. This tells us that the birth of JESUS was at the end of September, during the Jewish Feast of “Tabernacles”.
Now here is another of those wonderful things: according to the Prophet Zechariah (same name, different bloke, happy coincidence!) the LORD’s Second Coming also seems to be at the Feast of Tabernacles, and will be celebrated thereafter, every year, at that Feast —Zechariah chapter 14.
But we must return to Bethlehem and do some sleuthing. Luke immediately gets into the story-line, but Matthew, whose Gospel was always set first in the New Testament, appears to be incredibly boring. He begins with one of those family-trees which we are tempted to think could have been left out. How wrong we are to think so.
There are two clues in Matthew’s list that are vital for Christians in any generation to know. First, it was outrageous of him to include women’s names -- not done in Jewish practice. But when you realize that all were Gentiles, of whom the first was guilty of incest, the second a prostitute, the third a decent lass but a Gentile nonetheless, and the fourth the unmentionable Bathsheba! -- then you begin to see that Matthew was stirring the pot. He is warning that this family-tree is a nonstarter.
The clincher comes in verses 11 and 12, with the mention of King Jeconiah, also known as Coniah and Jehoiachin; probably the wickedest king Israel had. If you take your magnifying- glass and scrutinize Jeremiah 22:24-30, you will discover that none of this wretched king’s descendants would be allowed to succeed to the throne of David. Now the Messiah must be “of David’s line.” What Matthew is doing is proving the Virgin Birth: that Joseph could not have been the father of JESUS, the Messiah —for this is Joseph’s family tree. Joseph himself adds his personal testimony to the virginity of Mary, and that he was not the father of JESUS. Say ‘thank You’ for Joseph. Luke’s family-tree is Mary’s line, which is A-OK —Luke 3:23-38.
There is an easily missed clue in what the angels said to the shepherds, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Our God speaks clearly and very often confirms His word. So, it’s not every day that you find a baby lying in an animals’ feeding-trough. That alone would have done it for those shepherds. Where do you find a manger in a town? In a stable, of course. So check the stables first. But just in case there should be another baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem, the LORD provides a second clue: “ wrapped in cloths..”
That we are up against here is the old ‘‘chicken or egg” question. The great King James version says, “wrapped in swaddling-clothes.” Now almost all cultures wrap-up babies in cloths of some kind, both for warmth and to simulate the sense of security they have had in the womb. “Swaddling-clothes,” therefore, have become identified in English with ‘what you wrap a newborn baby in’. But there’s something wrong here!
The angels said that “a baby wrapped in cloths” was part of the sign to enable the shepherds to identify the Messiah. It would hardly have been a sign if JESUS had been wrapped-up in the usual way. So, my dear Watson, it follows that “wrapped in cloths” means something unusual!
Christian Jewish scholars are often more familiar with the expressions current in the days of the First Coming. The Greek expression used is “having been swathed.” Actually, we hardly need the scholars, we have another ancient English term which says it all, “winding-sheets.” Before the days of undertakers, families usually kept some strips of linen with which to wrap those who had died for burial. What the shepherds were looking for was a baby in a shroud!
If this sounds too bizarre, consider: “No room at the inn;” sudden birth in a stable; and all kinds of help required, including something to wrap the baby in. It makes sense to realize that the innkeepers would have some winding-sheets available “just in case!” Whatever the cloths were like in those days, they were clearly distinctive enough for those shepherds to know that this was the baby they had been told about. Not only was his cradle unusual, but his wrappings were notably different.
What is God up to in all this? By the stable and manger He is prophesying the rejection of His SON; and by the winding-cloths His death. As T.S.Elliot puts into the mouth of Thomas Becket, in “Murder in the Cathedral” —“The Cross is never far from Christmas Day!” Becket was murdered on December 29th.
Our detective-story has another truth to uncover. The ‘traditional Christmas’ wants everyone on stage! Winged- angels, even though they don’t have any!, numerous animals, the Holy Family of course, the shepherds, complete with a Welsh sheepdog, and those Wise Men, who actually arrived at least a year later. It is the timing of the Wise Men’s visit that is the clue as to what year Christ was born, and we are greatly aided here by the renowned historian of those times, Josephus.
Herod the Great (so-called for rebuilding the Temple) died in 4 BC The decree for the census, which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, was issued in 8 BC Jospehus records two vital facts: during the year 8 BC Herod was away fighting a war; and for a year before he died, 5 BC, he had left Jerusalem and remained at his home in Jericho.
The Wise Men (astrologers) visited Herod in Jerusalem when JESUS was a child. The Greek word used for “child” indicates a toddler, not an infant, so we are looking at about 15 months after His birth. When you piece all these together we can date the birth of JESUS in 7 BC, and the visit of the Wise Men at the end of 6 BC, or the beginning of 5 BC, with reasonable accuracy.
Perhaps the most fascinating Christmas detective story concerns the identity of these Astrologers, as the Bible describes them. It is a real pity that we have ignored the Scriptures and settled for the fiction that one was African, one was Chinese and the third European. So rally round, you Sherlocks, and be amazed!
First, how many were there? Answer: we don’t know. At least two, could be many more. We imagine three because of the three gifts. Despite the stories which tell of “Caspar, Melchior and Balthazzar” etc., we don’t know their names. So what do we know about them?
They came from the “east” and, as we shall see, this means Iraq, or Babylon as it was then. They came because they “saw a great light”— which is a better translation than “star”. Why can we say that? Because neither stars, planets, asteroids nor comets behave like this “great light” did. Our planet-earth would have been in deep trouble if it had been one of those! In any case we have already been told about this “great light”. It had appeared to the shepherds, where it is described as “the glory of the LORD.” The Bible is full of references to this “glory”. It is known as the “Shekinah-Glory” — the visible Presence of God dwelling with His people. The best known examples are the “burning bush” and the “pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night”; and from the Gospel “JESUS was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light!” Such a Great Light can move around and even appear over a house, as it did for our Wise Men.
So we find a group of astrologers in Babylon seeing this Light in the direction of Jerusalem, at the time of Christ’s birth. Then, about fifteen months later, they arrive in Jerusalem, and ask, “Where is the One who has been born ‘King of the Jews’?” This faces us with three questions: Why are Babylonian astrologers concerned with the birth of a Jewish King? Why do they associate this event with the Light they have seen? And where are they getting their information from?
If you give this a little thought, you will probably remember that the Jews had spent seventy years in exile in Babylon, about 500 years before. Also, we have a Book in the Bible that was written in Babylon at that time, the Book of Daniel. We know that Daniel and his companions were forced to associate with the School of Babylonian Astrology, though they never compromised their own faith in the God of Israel. Astrology was the sort-of-religion practiced in Babylon, and had been for centuries.
Daniel, by interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, was able to save the lives of those astrologers who had been unable to do so. He and his companions became highly esteemed in Babylon. We know that God thinks of everything: so when we learn that the Book of Daniel was written in Aramaic, instead of Hebrew, so that the Babylonian astrologers could read it, then we know that God is up to something! We can be sure that the Book of Daniel was kept among their sacred writings.
In Daniel chapter 9:20-24 the Coming of the Messiah is prophesied for 490 years hence. Being astrologers, with a great love of numbers, they would have been half-expecting something to happen. But why were they so sure that the Bright Light was the sign to look for?
The Babylonian astrologers had information about this Light in their ancient records —just as the Jews had in the Old Testament. Come, detectives-all, to the Book of Numbers and the days of Israel’s desert-wanderings. Do you recall that the King of Moab wanted to do the dirty on Israel? He knew of an astrologer-cum-prophet of great reputation, a certain “Balaam, son of Beor.” He must have been well known, far and wide, because in the Book of Numbers, chapter 22:5, we are told that he lived at Pethor, near the River Euphrates in Babylon! The king of Moab sent all that way for him to come and curse Israel. We remember the story of how God prevented Balaam from doing this, even though he wanted the money! God revealed to him that Israel was a Chosen People with a particular destiny. The story is traced in Numbers, chapters 22 to 24. In 24:17-19 Balaam utters these momentous words,
“I see Him — but not now!
I behold Him — but not near!
A star will come out of Jacob;
A sceptre will arise out of Israel.
A ruler will come out of Jacob..”
I wonder how long it took them to discover the clues and put the pieces together. But when they had, they set out to discover what the God of Israel — acknowledged by Balaam; the God of Daniel — had planned for them.
Keeping our Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker hat firmly on our heads, ask yourselves what kind of ‘arrival’ in Jerusalem could have stirred-up so much concern: “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” It is only one opinion, but I believe that it must have been a whole company of senior astrologers, probably with a Babylonian dignitary and a caravan of servants, that descended on Jerusalem and put a cat among the pigeons!
A word about Herod: he should be called Herod-the-Paranoid! He was convinced that someone was out to get him. Various historical records reveal that this led him to kill his favourite wife, Meriomni, and no fewer than four of his sons! Caesar Augustus joked about him and said, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than his son!” Little wonder that he ordered the slaughter of all the boys up to two years old in the whole Bethlehem area. This also tells us how long before it had been that the astrologers and seen the Great Light.
So we have the answer to the question, why did Joseph and Mary stay so long in Bethlehem instead of getting back to Nazareth? Allowing that the census business would probably take ages to deal with, surely the LORD was ensuring that they were in the south and on the route to Egypt — providing for their getaway. In the meantime Joseph, as we would expect, had rented a house for them, and it was there, led by the Glory-Light, that the astrologers found them.
There is something heart-stopping about the picture of that little Boy tottering towards those gifts — handling the gold that would pay for their years in Egypt, the incense of priesthood, and the myrrh of death.
So has it been worth it, this detective journey to the truths about Christmas? Knowing this, is there anything we should do? Ought we to embrace a new calendar, and leave the world to its Father Christmas extravaganza, its sentimental children’s festival that gives presents, but fails to understand their meaning, a festival which has no cross and has no crown?
8 BC July, say the 25th Zechariah & Elizabeth conceive John-the-Baptist;
8 BC December 25th Mary conceives JESUS by the HOLY SPIRIT “The Great Miracle” celebrated by the early Church;
7 BC March, say 25th John-the-Baptist is born and Zechariah is healed;
7 BC September say 25th JESUS is born in Bethlehem during the Feast of Tabernacles;
5 BC January 6th The Astrologers arrive in Jerusalem, and enquire about the birthplace of the Messiah; they visit the Child Messiah and offer their gifts; this is the Feast of Epiphany, ”The Light of Christ”.
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Before the name “Christmas” was invented, December 25th was celebrated as “The Great Miracle”. But they were not celebrating the birth of JESUS. The one thing about the First Corning of our Messiah that is not miraculous was His birth. His birth was just like yours and mine. What our forefathers were celebrating was the Great Miracle of His Conception, which was not a bit like mine or yours! So the first riddle to unscramble is the “nine-months-out” one.
But surely, we celebrate the Lord's conception on March 25th, calling it the “Annunciation” because of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. Yes, traditionally we do, which raises the question, ‘who is right? Us or Them?’
The answer can be detected in Dr. Luke's book. He is the Sherlock Holmes of the Gospel, having “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” so as to give us “an orderly account” —Luke 1:3.
There’s nothing like starting at the beginning, so he investigates the Reverend Zechariah’s run-in with the archangel Gabriel. Straightway he discovers a date — very useful things, dates. As one of many priests in those days, you might only get one shot at ministering in the Temple. Each year you would wonder if your name would come up. The only thing you knew for certain was the fortnight in the year when your “division” was on call.
It was King David who ordered the organizing of the priests into twenty-four fortnightly tours of duty, according to their family-groups, through the months of the Jewish Year (1.Chron. 24:6-19). Zechariah was of the 8th Division of Abijah —Luke 1:5, and according to the Jewish calendar this falls in the month of “Tammuz”. By our calendar this is around the end of June and beginning of July.
So it was that the LORD GOD made His first move to fulfill His promise to save us, and here we discover something wonderful. The name Zechariah means “to remember” and his wife’s name, Elizabeth, means “God’s Promise” --their joined names: “God remembers His Promise”! Alleluia!
You know the story of Zechariah being struck dumb in the middle of Evensong —Luke 1:8-22. You don’t argue with archangels, you say “Yes, sir.” Gabriel had told this old man to go home and have a word with his wife and start a baby, at their time of life an act of faith and a daunting prospect!
So now we have our first date-clue: Elizabeth became pregnant with John-the-Baptist sometime in July that year! Then Dr. Luke tells us that when she was six months pregnant, Gabriel visits Mary with the offer of the ultimate Spiritual Gift, to conceive, carry and give birth to JESUS, the SON OF GOD.
Already we have another all-important date —that it was December, according to our calendar, when Elizabeth was “in her sixth month”, when JESUS was conceived —Luke 1 :26-38. This tells us that the birth of JESUS was at the end of September, during the Jewish Feast of “Tabernacles”.
Now here is another of those wonderful things: according to the Prophet Zechariah (same name, different bloke, happy coincidence!) the LORD’s Second Coming also seems to be at the Feast of Tabernacles, and will be celebrated thereafter, every year, at that Feast —Zechariah chapter 14.
But we must return to Bethlehem and do some sleuthing. Luke immediately gets into the story-line, but Matthew, whose Gospel was always set first in the New Testament, appears to be incredibly boring. He begins with one of those family-trees which we are tempted to think could have been left out. How wrong we are to think so.
There are two clues in Matthew’s list that are vital for Christians in any generation to know. First, it was outrageous of him to include women’s names -- not done in Jewish practice. But when you realize that all were Gentiles, of whom the first was guilty of incest, the second a prostitute, the third a decent lass but a Gentile nonetheless, and the fourth the unmentionable Bathsheba! -- then you begin to see that Matthew was stirring the pot. He is warning that this family-tree is a nonstarter.
The clincher comes in verses 11 and 12, with the mention of King Jeconiah, also known as Coniah and Jehoiachin; probably the wickedest king Israel had. If you take your magnifying- glass and scrutinize Jeremiah 22:24-30, you will discover that none of this wretched king’s descendants would be allowed to succeed to the throne of David. Now the Messiah must be “of David’s line.” What Matthew is doing is proving the Virgin Birth: that Joseph could not have been the father of JESUS, the Messiah —for this is Joseph’s family tree. Joseph himself adds his personal testimony to the virginity of Mary, and that he was not the father of JESUS. Say ‘thank You’ for Joseph. Luke’s family-tree is Mary’s line, which is A-OK —Luke 3:23-38.
There is an easily missed clue in what the angels said to the shepherds, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Our God speaks clearly and very often confirms His word. So, it’s not every day that you find a baby lying in an animals’ feeding-trough. That alone would have done it for those shepherds. Where do you find a manger in a town? In a stable, of course. So check the stables first. But just in case there should be another baby lying in a manger in Bethlehem, the LORD provides a second clue: “ wrapped in cloths..”
That we are up against here is the old ‘‘chicken or egg” question. The great King James version says, “wrapped in swaddling-clothes.” Now almost all cultures wrap-up babies in cloths of some kind, both for warmth and to simulate the sense of security they have had in the womb. “Swaddling-clothes,” therefore, have become identified in English with ‘what you wrap a newborn baby in’. But there’s something wrong here!
The angels said that “a baby wrapped in cloths” was part of the sign to enable the shepherds to identify the Messiah. It would hardly have been a sign if JESUS had been wrapped-up in the usual way. So, my dear Watson, it follows that “wrapped in cloths” means something unusual!
Christian Jewish scholars are often more familiar with the expressions current in the days of the First Coming. The Greek expression used is “having been swathed.” Actually, we hardly need the scholars, we have another ancient English term which says it all, “winding-sheets.” Before the days of undertakers, families usually kept some strips of linen with which to wrap those who had died for burial. What the shepherds were looking for was a baby in a shroud!
If this sounds too bizarre, consider: “No room at the inn;” sudden birth in a stable; and all kinds of help required, including something to wrap the baby in. It makes sense to realize that the innkeepers would have some winding-sheets available “just in case!” Whatever the cloths were like in those days, they were clearly distinctive enough for those shepherds to know that this was the baby they had been told about. Not only was his cradle unusual, but his wrappings were notably different.
What is God up to in all this? By the stable and manger He is prophesying the rejection of His SON; and by the winding-cloths His death. As T.S.Elliot puts into the mouth of Thomas Becket, in “Murder in the Cathedral” —“The Cross is never far from Christmas Day!” Becket was murdered on December 29th.
Our detective-story has another truth to uncover. The ‘traditional Christmas’ wants everyone on stage! Winged- angels, even though they don’t have any!, numerous animals, the Holy Family of course, the shepherds, complete with a Welsh sheepdog, and those Wise Men, who actually arrived at least a year later. It is the timing of the Wise Men’s visit that is the clue as to what year Christ was born, and we are greatly aided here by the renowned historian of those times, Josephus.
Herod the Great (so-called for rebuilding the Temple) died in 4 BC The decree for the census, which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, was issued in 8 BC Jospehus records two vital facts: during the year 8 BC Herod was away fighting a war; and for a year before he died, 5 BC, he had left Jerusalem and remained at his home in Jericho.
The Wise Men (astrologers) visited Herod in Jerusalem when JESUS was a child. The Greek word used for “child” indicates a toddler, not an infant, so we are looking at about 15 months after His birth. When you piece all these together we can date the birth of JESUS in 7 BC, and the visit of the Wise Men at the end of 6 BC, or the beginning of 5 BC, with reasonable accuracy.
Perhaps the most fascinating Christmas detective story concerns the identity of these Astrologers, as the Bible describes them. It is a real pity that we have ignored the Scriptures and settled for the fiction that one was African, one was Chinese and the third European. So rally round, you Sherlocks, and be amazed!
First, how many were there? Answer: we don’t know. At least two, could be many more. We imagine three because of the three gifts. Despite the stories which tell of “Caspar, Melchior and Balthazzar” etc., we don’t know their names. So what do we know about them?
They came from the “east” and, as we shall see, this means Iraq, or Babylon as it was then. They came because they “saw a great light”— which is a better translation than “star”. Why can we say that? Because neither stars, planets, asteroids nor comets behave like this “great light” did. Our planet-earth would have been in deep trouble if it had been one of those! In any case we have already been told about this “great light”. It had appeared to the shepherds, where it is described as “the glory of the LORD.” The Bible is full of references to this “glory”. It is known as the “Shekinah-Glory” — the visible Presence of God dwelling with His people. The best known examples are the “burning bush” and the “pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night”; and from the Gospel “JESUS was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became as white as the light!” Such a Great Light can move around and even appear over a house, as it did for our Wise Men.
So we find a group of astrologers in Babylon seeing this Light in the direction of Jerusalem, at the time of Christ’s birth. Then, about fifteen months later, they arrive in Jerusalem, and ask, “Where is the One who has been born ‘King of the Jews’?” This faces us with three questions: Why are Babylonian astrologers concerned with the birth of a Jewish King? Why do they associate this event with the Light they have seen? And where are they getting their information from?
If you give this a little thought, you will probably remember that the Jews had spent seventy years in exile in Babylon, about 500 years before. Also, we have a Book in the Bible that was written in Babylon at that time, the Book of Daniel. We know that Daniel and his companions were forced to associate with the School of Babylonian Astrology, though they never compromised their own faith in the God of Israel. Astrology was the sort-of-religion practiced in Babylon, and had been for centuries.
Daniel, by interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, was able to save the lives of those astrologers who had been unable to do so. He and his companions became highly esteemed in Babylon. We know that God thinks of everything: so when we learn that the Book of Daniel was written in Aramaic, instead of Hebrew, so that the Babylonian astrologers could read it, then we know that God is up to something! We can be sure that the Book of Daniel was kept among their sacred writings.
In Daniel chapter 9:20-24 the Coming of the Messiah is prophesied for 490 years hence. Being astrologers, with a great love of numbers, they would have been half-expecting something to happen. But why were they so sure that the Bright Light was the sign to look for?
The Babylonian astrologers had information about this Light in their ancient records —just as the Jews had in the Old Testament. Come, detectives-all, to the Book of Numbers and the days of Israel’s desert-wanderings. Do you recall that the King of Moab wanted to do the dirty on Israel? He knew of an astrologer-cum-prophet of great reputation, a certain “Balaam, son of Beor.” He must have been well known, far and wide, because in the Book of Numbers, chapter 22:5, we are told that he lived at Pethor, near the River Euphrates in Babylon! The king of Moab sent all that way for him to come and curse Israel. We remember the story of how God prevented Balaam from doing this, even though he wanted the money! God revealed to him that Israel was a Chosen People with a particular destiny. The story is traced in Numbers, chapters 22 to 24. In 24:17-19 Balaam utters these momentous words,
“I see Him — but not now!
I behold Him — but not near!
A star will come out of Jacob;
A sceptre will arise out of Israel.
A ruler will come out of Jacob..”
I wonder how long it took them to discover the clues and put the pieces together. But when they had, they set out to discover what the God of Israel — acknowledged by Balaam; the God of Daniel — had planned for them.
Keeping our Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker hat firmly on our heads, ask yourselves what kind of ‘arrival’ in Jerusalem could have stirred-up so much concern: “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” It is only one opinion, but I believe that it must have been a whole company of senior astrologers, probably with a Babylonian dignitary and a caravan of servants, that descended on Jerusalem and put a cat among the pigeons!
A word about Herod: he should be called Herod-the-Paranoid! He was convinced that someone was out to get him. Various historical records reveal that this led him to kill his favourite wife, Meriomni, and no fewer than four of his sons! Caesar Augustus joked about him and said, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than his son!” Little wonder that he ordered the slaughter of all the boys up to two years old in the whole Bethlehem area. This also tells us how long before it had been that the astrologers and seen the Great Light.
So we have the answer to the question, why did Joseph and Mary stay so long in Bethlehem instead of getting back to Nazareth? Allowing that the census business would probably take ages to deal with, surely the LORD was ensuring that they were in the south and on the route to Egypt — providing for their getaway. In the meantime Joseph, as we would expect, had rented a house for them, and it was there, led by the Glory-Light, that the astrologers found them.
There is something heart-stopping about the picture of that little Boy tottering towards those gifts — handling the gold that would pay for their years in Egypt, the incense of priesthood, and the myrrh of death.
So has it been worth it, this detective journey to the truths about Christmas? Knowing this, is there anything we should do? Ought we to embrace a new calendar, and leave the world to its Father Christmas extravaganza, its sentimental children’s festival that gives presents, but fails to understand their meaning, a festival which has no cross and has no crown?
8 BC July, say the 25th Zechariah & Elizabeth conceive John-the-Baptist;
8 BC December 25th Mary conceives JESUS by the HOLY SPIRIT “The Great Miracle” celebrated by the early Church;
7 BC March, say 25th John-the-Baptist is born and Zechariah is healed;
7 BC September say 25th JESUS is born in Bethlehem during the Feast of Tabernacles;
5 BC January 6th The Astrologers arrive in Jerusalem, and enquire about the birthplace of the Messiah; they visit the Child Messiah and offer their gifts; this is the Feast of Epiphany, ”The Light of Christ”.
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Saturday, 22 November 2008
Why did Jesus Need to Die
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Reconciliation is the key. Reconciliation between man and God.
Jesus is the mediator between man and God. No man cometh to the Father except through the Son. We have separated ourselves from God by our sin but through Jesus Christ we are reconciled to the Father.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
[2 Corinthians 5:18-21]
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."
[Colossians 1:19-23]
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
[Romans 5:8-10]
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Jesus said to him, "I am the WAY, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
[John 14:6]
This is what Christ's death on Cavalries Cross and his resurrection has done. It has built a bridge between us and God, it has removed the middle wall of partition that divides us from God in order that we may enter in and be reconciled to Him.
.
Reconciliation is the key. Reconciliation between man and God.
Jesus is the mediator between man and God. No man cometh to the Father except through the Son. We have separated ourselves from God by our sin but through Jesus Christ we are reconciled to the Father.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
[2 Corinthians 5:18-21]
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."
[Colossians 1:19-23]
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
[Romans 5:8-10]
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Jesus said to him, "I am the WAY, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
[John 14:6]
This is what Christ's death on Cavalries Cross and his resurrection has done. It has built a bridge between us and God, it has removed the middle wall of partition that divides us from God in order that we may enter in and be reconciled to Him.
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Proof of Christianity
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There are four major rules for proving the credibility of documents.
1. The writer of the document was either an eyewitness or he was contemporaneous to the same area.
2. Other independent witnesses.
3. Did those witnesses continue to maintain their testimonies until death—even to the jeopardy of their lives?
4, Were there also hostile witnesses who would have reason not to believe the evidence but still say the events occurred?
The New Testament fulfils all of these criteria. Firstly let us look at an eyewitness account.
The Gospel of Matthew, for example, was composed not much longer than a generation (a generation is 20 years) after the death of Christ, at a time when hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses to the crucifixion and resurrection were still alive. Matthew himself had lived through the events he describes.
After he completed his account Matthew then sent it to the very same people who had killed Jesus. They of all people were the ones who knew what actually happened. If Matthew's account was wrong there would have been trouble but they knew it to be true and many of the Jews especially those in Jerusalem came to believe the Christian message and were even willing to give their lives for it.
The second rule involves having independent witnesses to corroborate the evidence of an author.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not done in secret without witnesses. Josephus tells us that at least two million people used to gather every year around Jerusalem at the Passover season (the time when Christ’s crucifixion took place) (Wars, 6. 9. 3). For people living two thousand years after events to ridicule what people knew fist hand is not the most intelligent thing to do and yet in their ignorance they mock Christianity choosing to ignore written evidence with some accounts even appearing in the history of other nations. The flood is an example.
Not only was Matthew’s Gospel written when many thousands who could witness to its truth were still alive but nearly twenty one other New Testament books were composed before 68 C.E.—within thirty-seven years of Christ’s death. The time difference is comparable to the ending of World War II yet there are thousands upon thousands of witnesses who are still alive to testify to the holocaust and it is just the same for Christianity with thousands of living witnesses who can testify the the events that took place in the life of Christ.
The Witness of the Apostles
The third rule concerns continued belief—even until death. Who would die for a lie? No-one would. There have always been death-bed confessions when people have admitted the truth. Christians went to their death proclaiming the truth of what they knew. Human nature being what it is they would have recanted if they had they been telling lies. The charge that Christians were prepared to die for a lie is untenable.
The Law commanded the whole Jewish nation to celebrate three seasons with great solemnity: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The same people who had seen Jesus crucified at the Passover would be back for the next festival. Therefore Christ before his death had directed his apostles to wait in Jerusalem knowing the same people who saw him die would be back in Jerusalem fifty days later. This time those same people, thousands of them, were to witness something different and that was the Lord Jesus Christ resurrected and walking about the streets. It is incredible for us I know, but not for God.
Historians agree that the Christian church began on that Pentecost Day in the First Century (c. AD33). It is also well known that the Christian message began to be preached not long afterwards around the world. The growth of the Christian church gained rapid momentum by the end of the First Century. Thousands upon thousands from all nationalities were beginning to accept the central truth of Christianity—the fact of the resurrection of Christ. Just think all this within a hundred years with children hearing it from their parents. If their parents had told them it was a load of rubbish there would never have been Christianity and Jesus would have been just another statistic but they told the truth which resulted in the rapid spread of belief in Christ’s resurrection which can only be accounted for by peoples astounding enthusiasm resulting from what they had seen and heard for themselves.
The Apostle Paul put out the challenge to people in 55 C.E. to go to Jerusalem themselves and look up those who were at the cross and saw events with their own eyes. Even after a period for reflection of twenty-four years (in 55 C.E.) there were many in Jerusalem who witnessed that Christ rose from the dead. If what Paul wrote was a lie, then he was leaving himself wide open to censure.
The Apostle Paul
The fourth rule for reliability concerns hostile witnesses. Did those who wished not to believe the evidence—even though they were there when it happened—still admit that it was a fact? Paul, among others, was one of those hostile witnesses.
Paul was the chief antagonist of the Church in its very beginnings. The High Priest (the top ecclesiastical man in the Judaic nation) had personally given Paul the responsibility for exterminating the Christian church. And Paul went about his task, according to his own words, with fanatic zeal. He could appropriately be called the Adolf Eichmann of his day in his effort to overthrow the Church.
In that first period, before Paul’s conversion, there was no one more convinced of the non-resurrection of Christ than he. No one was more determined to disprove it. Paul also had many of the elders in the Jewish nation behind him. All of them had "theological" (not actual) arguments against Christ’s resurrection. The practical and logical evidences did not shake their "theological" minds.
At first, Paul was vehemently against the practical evidence. His mind was closed to any acceptance of it. He must have used every intellectual argument to dispute the possibility of the resurrection which thousands of humble, practical-minded Christians were accepting.
Yet, what was the final belief of Paul? This is where he becomes a vital witness to the truth of the resurrection miracle and the divinity of Christ.
Paul, according to his own later testimony, while on the road to Damascus with authority from the High Priest to apprehend Christians, had his mind changed. From that day forward, Paul never turned back. Until the day he was executed for his beliefs, he steadfastly maintained his faith in Christ and the reality of Christ’s resurrection and from being Christianities chief oppressor he became its chief exponent and propagator.
With Paul’s uncompromising acceptance, the proof of the resurrection becomes overwhelming. Here was a man who understood Judaic theology thoroughly. And not only was he trained in Judaism, but being born and reared in Tarsus of Asia Minor, the centre of Stoic philosophy, he was well acquainted with the classical works of Gentiles. With the world’s knowledge in his mind—and most of it would have been very critical knowledge—he would have been one of the most unlikely persons to accept the resurrection of Christ. Yet he did accept the practical and intellectual proofs of this greatest of miracles.
He became so fervent in this belief that it was said he "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Everyone who came in contact with Paul was certainly assured that he was convinced of this major proof of Christianity. Because of Paul’s firm conviction and that of the other apostles, the Roman world became convinced of the legitimacy of Christ’s resurrection in a short three hundred years.
Surely, all this provable history demonstrates that the evidence unanimously supports the fact of Christ’s resurrection. No wonder Christ gave the resurrection sign (The Cross) as a major sign to the world that He was the Messiah. This is the one event that is so provable, by all human standards, that it takes little faith to believe it.
.
There are four major rules for proving the credibility of documents.
1. The writer of the document was either an eyewitness or he was contemporaneous to the same area.
2. Other independent witnesses.
3. Did those witnesses continue to maintain their testimonies until death—even to the jeopardy of their lives?
4, Were there also hostile witnesses who would have reason not to believe the evidence but still say the events occurred?
The New Testament fulfils all of these criteria. Firstly let us look at an eyewitness account.
The Gospel of Matthew, for example, was composed not much longer than a generation (a generation is 20 years) after the death of Christ, at a time when hundreds, if not thousands, of witnesses to the crucifixion and resurrection were still alive. Matthew himself had lived through the events he describes.
After he completed his account Matthew then sent it to the very same people who had killed Jesus. They of all people were the ones who knew what actually happened. If Matthew's account was wrong there would have been trouble but they knew it to be true and many of the Jews especially those in Jerusalem came to believe the Christian message and were even willing to give their lives for it.
The second rule involves having independent witnesses to corroborate the evidence of an author.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not done in secret without witnesses. Josephus tells us that at least two million people used to gather every year around Jerusalem at the Passover season (the time when Christ’s crucifixion took place) (Wars, 6. 9. 3). For people living two thousand years after events to ridicule what people knew fist hand is not the most intelligent thing to do and yet in their ignorance they mock Christianity choosing to ignore written evidence with some accounts even appearing in the history of other nations. The flood is an example.
Not only was Matthew’s Gospel written when many thousands who could witness to its truth were still alive but nearly twenty one other New Testament books were composed before 68 C.E.—within thirty-seven years of Christ’s death. The time difference is comparable to the ending of World War II yet there are thousands upon thousands of witnesses who are still alive to testify to the holocaust and it is just the same for Christianity with thousands of living witnesses who can testify the the events that took place in the life of Christ.
The Witness of the Apostles
The third rule concerns continued belief—even until death. Who would die for a lie? No-one would. There have always been death-bed confessions when people have admitted the truth. Christians went to their death proclaiming the truth of what they knew. Human nature being what it is they would have recanted if they had they been telling lies. The charge that Christians were prepared to die for a lie is untenable.
The Law commanded the whole Jewish nation to celebrate three seasons with great solemnity: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. The same people who had seen Jesus crucified at the Passover would be back for the next festival. Therefore Christ before his death had directed his apostles to wait in Jerusalem knowing the same people who saw him die would be back in Jerusalem fifty days later. This time those same people, thousands of them, were to witness something different and that was the Lord Jesus Christ resurrected and walking about the streets. It is incredible for us I know, but not for God.
Historians agree that the Christian church began on that Pentecost Day in the First Century (c. AD33). It is also well known that the Christian message began to be preached not long afterwards around the world. The growth of the Christian church gained rapid momentum by the end of the First Century. Thousands upon thousands from all nationalities were beginning to accept the central truth of Christianity—the fact of the resurrection of Christ. Just think all this within a hundred years with children hearing it from their parents. If their parents had told them it was a load of rubbish there would never have been Christianity and Jesus would have been just another statistic but they told the truth which resulted in the rapid spread of belief in Christ’s resurrection which can only be accounted for by peoples astounding enthusiasm resulting from what they had seen and heard for themselves.
The Apostle Paul put out the challenge to people in 55 C.E. to go to Jerusalem themselves and look up those who were at the cross and saw events with their own eyes. Even after a period for reflection of twenty-four years (in 55 C.E.) there were many in Jerusalem who witnessed that Christ rose from the dead. If what Paul wrote was a lie, then he was leaving himself wide open to censure.
The Apostle Paul
The fourth rule for reliability concerns hostile witnesses. Did those who wished not to believe the evidence—even though they were there when it happened—still admit that it was a fact? Paul, among others, was one of those hostile witnesses.
Paul was the chief antagonist of the Church in its very beginnings. The High Priest (the top ecclesiastical man in the Judaic nation) had personally given Paul the responsibility for exterminating the Christian church. And Paul went about his task, according to his own words, with fanatic zeal. He could appropriately be called the Adolf Eichmann of his day in his effort to overthrow the Church.
In that first period, before Paul’s conversion, there was no one more convinced of the non-resurrection of Christ than he. No one was more determined to disprove it. Paul also had many of the elders in the Jewish nation behind him. All of them had "theological" (not actual) arguments against Christ’s resurrection. The practical and logical evidences did not shake their "theological" minds.
At first, Paul was vehemently against the practical evidence. His mind was closed to any acceptance of it. He must have used every intellectual argument to dispute the possibility of the resurrection which thousands of humble, practical-minded Christians were accepting.
Yet, what was the final belief of Paul? This is where he becomes a vital witness to the truth of the resurrection miracle and the divinity of Christ.
Paul, according to his own later testimony, while on the road to Damascus with authority from the High Priest to apprehend Christians, had his mind changed. From that day forward, Paul never turned back. Until the day he was executed for his beliefs, he steadfastly maintained his faith in Christ and the reality of Christ’s resurrection and from being Christianities chief oppressor he became its chief exponent and propagator.
With Paul’s uncompromising acceptance, the proof of the resurrection becomes overwhelming. Here was a man who understood Judaic theology thoroughly. And not only was he trained in Judaism, but being born and reared in Tarsus of Asia Minor, the centre of Stoic philosophy, he was well acquainted with the classical works of Gentiles. With the world’s knowledge in his mind—and most of it would have been very critical knowledge—he would have been one of the most unlikely persons to accept the resurrection of Christ. Yet he did accept the practical and intellectual proofs of this greatest of miracles.
He became so fervent in this belief that it was said he "turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Everyone who came in contact with Paul was certainly assured that he was convinced of this major proof of Christianity. Because of Paul’s firm conviction and that of the other apostles, the Roman world became convinced of the legitimacy of Christ’s resurrection in a short three hundred years.
Surely, all this provable history demonstrates that the evidence unanimously supports the fact of Christ’s resurrection. No wonder Christ gave the resurrection sign (The Cross) as a major sign to the world that He was the Messiah. This is the one event that is so provable, by all human standards, that it takes little faith to believe it.
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The Transmission of the Bible to English
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The Transmission of the Bible to English
Text adapted from Greatsite.com
"He being dead yet speaketh." Heb.11:4
"The memory of the just is blessed." Prov. 10:7
500 BC: Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts which make Up The 39 Books of the Old Testament.
200 BC: Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books.
1st Century AD: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make Up The 27 Books of the New Testament.
390 AD: Jerome's Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced which contain 80 Books (39 Old Test. + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test).
500 AD: Scriptures have been Translated into Over 500 Languages.
600 AD: LATIN was the Only Language Allowed for Scripture.
995 AD: Anglo-Saxon (Early Roots of English Language) Translations of The New Testament Produced.
1384 AD: Wycliffe is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible in English (80 Books). Wycliffe had no access to Greek or Hebrew manuscripts and was thus totally reliant on the fourth century Latin translation of St. Jerome.
1455 AD: Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books May Now be mass-produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg's Bible in Latin.
1516 AD: Erasmus Produces a Greek/Latin Parallel New Testament.
1522 AD: Martin Luther's German New Testament.
1526 AD: William Tyndale's New Testament; The First New Testament to be Printed in the English Language. (Worms edition)
1530 AD: Tyndale's translation of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament is Printed.
1531 AD: Tyndale's translation of the Book of Jonah is Printed.
1534 AD: Tyndale's revised New Testament is Printed.
1535 AD: Myles Coverdale's Bible; The First Complete Bible to be printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha).
1537 AD: Matthews Bible; The Second Complete Bible to be Printed in English. Done by John "Thomas Matthew" Rogers (80 Books).
1539 AD: The "Great Bible" Printed; The First English Language Bible to be Authorized for Public Use (80 Books).
1560 AD: The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to Add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books).
1568 AD: The Bishops Bible Printed; The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books).
1609 AD: The Douay Old Testament is added to the Rheimes New Testament (of 1582) Making the First Complete English Catholic Bible; Translated from the Latin Vulgate (80 Books).
1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving 66 Books.
1782 AD: Robert Aitken's Bible; The First English Language Bible (a King James Version without Apocrypha) to be Printed in America.
1791 AD: Isaac Collins and Isaiah Thomas Respectively Produce the First Family Bible and First Illustrated Bible Printed in America. Both were King James Versions.
1808 AD: Jane Aitken's Bible (Daughter of Robert Aitken); The First Bible to be Printed by a Woman.
1833 AD: Noah Webster's Bible; After Producing his Famous Dictionary, Webster Printed his Own Revision of the King James Bible.
1841 AD: English Hexapla New Testament; an Early Textual Comparison showing the Greek and 6 Famous English Translations in Parallel Columns.
1846 AD: The Illuminated Bible; The Most Lavishly Illustrated Bible printed in America. A King James Version.
1885 AD: The "Revised Version" Bible; The First Major English Revision of the King James Bible.
1901 AD: The "American Standard Version"; The First Major American Revision of the King James Bible.
1971 AD: The "New American Standard Bible" (NASB) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Word for Word English Translation" of the Bible.
1973 AD: The "New International Version" (NIV) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Phrase for Phrase English Translation" of the Bible.
1982 AD: The "New King James Version" (NKJV) is Published as a "Modern English Version Maintaining the Original Style of the King James."
.
The Transmission of the Bible to English
Text adapted from Greatsite.com
"He being dead yet speaketh." Heb.11:4
"The memory of the just is blessed." Prov. 10:7
500 BC: Completion of All Original Hebrew Manuscripts which make Up The 39 Books of the Old Testament.
200 BC: Completion of the Septuagint Greek Manuscripts which contain The 39 Old Testament Books AND 14 Apocrypha Books.
1st Century AD: Completion of All Original Greek Manuscripts which make Up The 27 Books of the New Testament.
390 AD: Jerome's Latin Vulgate Manuscripts Produced which contain 80 Books (39 Old Test. + 14 Apocrypha + 27 New Test).
500 AD: Scriptures have been Translated into Over 500 Languages.
600 AD: LATIN was the Only Language Allowed for Scripture.
995 AD: Anglo-Saxon (Early Roots of English Language) Translations of The New Testament Produced.
1384 AD: Wycliffe is the First Person to Produce a (Hand-Written) manuscript Copy of the Complete Bible in English (80 Books). Wycliffe had no access to Greek or Hebrew manuscripts and was thus totally reliant on the fourth century Latin translation of St. Jerome.
1455 AD: Gutenberg Invents the Printing Press; Books May Now be mass-produced Instead of Individually Hand-Written. The First Book Ever Printed is Gutenberg's Bible in Latin.
1516 AD: Erasmus Produces a Greek/Latin Parallel New Testament.
1522 AD: Martin Luther's German New Testament.
1526 AD: William Tyndale's New Testament; The First New Testament to be Printed in the English Language. (Worms edition)
1530 AD: Tyndale's translation of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament is Printed.
1531 AD: Tyndale's translation of the Book of Jonah is Printed.
1534 AD: Tyndale's revised New Testament is Printed.
1535 AD: Myles Coverdale's Bible; The First Complete Bible to be printed in the English Language (80 Books: O.T. & N.T. & Apocrypha).
1537 AD: Matthews Bible; The Second Complete Bible to be Printed in English. Done by John "Thomas Matthew" Rogers (80 Books).
1539 AD: The "Great Bible" Printed; The First English Language Bible to be Authorized for Public Use (80 Books).
1560 AD: The Geneva Bible Printed; The First English Language Bible to Add Numbered Verses to Each Chapter (80 Books).
1568 AD: The Bishops Bible Printed; The Bible of which the King James was a Revision (80 Books).
1609 AD: The Douay Old Testament is added to the Rheimes New Testament (of 1582) Making the First Complete English Catholic Bible; Translated from the Latin Vulgate (80 Books).
1611 AD: The King James Bible Printed; Originally with 80 Books. The Apocrypha was Officially Removed in 1885 Leaving 66 Books.
1782 AD: Robert Aitken's Bible; The First English Language Bible (a King James Version without Apocrypha) to be Printed in America.
1791 AD: Isaac Collins and Isaiah Thomas Respectively Produce the First Family Bible and First Illustrated Bible Printed in America. Both were King James Versions.
1808 AD: Jane Aitken's Bible (Daughter of Robert Aitken); The First Bible to be Printed by a Woman.
1833 AD: Noah Webster's Bible; After Producing his Famous Dictionary, Webster Printed his Own Revision of the King James Bible.
1841 AD: English Hexapla New Testament; an Early Textual Comparison showing the Greek and 6 Famous English Translations in Parallel Columns.
1846 AD: The Illuminated Bible; The Most Lavishly Illustrated Bible printed in America. A King James Version.
1885 AD: The "Revised Version" Bible; The First Major English Revision of the King James Bible.
1901 AD: The "American Standard Version"; The First Major American Revision of the King James Bible.
1971 AD: The "New American Standard Bible" (NASB) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Word for Word English Translation" of the Bible.
1973 AD: The "New International Version" (NIV) is Published as a "Modern and Accurate Phrase for Phrase English Translation" of the Bible.
1982 AD: The "New King James Version" (NKJV) is Published as a "Modern English Version Maintaining the Original Style of the King James."
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Thursday, 20 November 2008
Free Will and Salvation
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The whole Israelite nation often chose not to do God's will and even worshipped a graven image. They exercised their free-will.
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
John 20:31 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.
Acts 16:31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue] [to] believe in the name of the Son of God.
Isaiah 45:22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I [am] God, and [there] [is] no other."
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all [you] who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
John 7:37 On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 6:39b "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Acts 16:31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile).
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Romans 9:33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
John 5:40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden [His] face from you, So that He will not hear.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."
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The whole Israelite nation often chose not to do God's will and even worshipped a graven image. They exercised their free-will.
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
John 20:31 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.
Acts 16:31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may [continue] [to] believe in the name of the Son of God.
Isaiah 45:22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I [am] God, and [there] [is] no other."
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all [you] who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
John 7:37 On the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink."
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 6:39b "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Acts 16:31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Gentile).
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Romans 9:33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
John 5:40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden [His] face from you, So that He will not hear.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008
LAW AND GRACE
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1. Law & Grace
We do not keep the Ten Commandments (old covenant) for the same purpose that Israel was commanded to keep them. They kept it as a demonstration of faith in the promise of a Savior who would institute a new covenant. Once the old covenant was fulfilled there is no reason to still keep it. Now, instead we keep the new covenant of grace.
The new covenant of grace is not absent of elements of the Old Covenant. Like a caterpillar that is transformed into a butterfly, the Old Covenant was transformed into a new and more beautiful covenant. The caterpillar was not destroyed – it was transformed into a new shape. The old covenant (caterpillar) was transformed by Jesus Christ into a new covenant (butterfly) and looks different to those on the grace side of the cross than to Israel on the law side of the cross. We are not subject to the old covenant – it was transformed. We are now subject to the new covenant.
Jesus did not destroy the Ten Commandments, He moulded them into a new covenant (new commandments) having the same moral values as the old, but now personalized, expanded and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Do we keep the Ten Commandments the same way as Israel? No. The Bible explains clearly that it is not enough. We now keep the commandments the way Jesus explained as transformed in the new covenant.
Law and grace work together as a team in bringing salvation in Jesus Christ. Law brings conviction of sin and shows our need for a Saviour, Grace is the lifeline extended to us from Jesus Christ through whom we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Once a person is under grace, the old law changes form. It no longer functions as our master.
At one time Israel was under the law (old covenant), but with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection we are now under grace (new covenant). Even in the old covenant it was not keeping of the law that saved Israel – it was grace through faith in God's promise. Nevertheless, in keeping covenant with God, Israel demonstrated faith by living “under” the law. The law was external and written on two stone tablets (Ten Commandments). And thus, Israel's devotion to God was seen in external works of the law.
The law was in the drivers seat. It was in control for the purpose of leading Israel and all mankind to Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ came the law changed position, and grace took over the wheel. The law was exchanged with grace.
Law did not have the power of grace. The law was defeated by sin, while grace defeated sin. Those who lived under the law were in bondage to the power/control of sin. Jesus defeated sin and offered us grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit all who partake of His grace have a new power that defeats sin.
We are under grace, but not at liberty to live in sin. Grace gives us the freedom and power to obey Jesus Christ. We are not under law. If keeping the law was enough to make us acceptable to God, there would have been no need for Jesus to come. The law proved our need for Jesus Christ.
In fact, it is possible to be an obedient follower of Jesus Christ without knowing the literal words of the Ten Commandments from the old covenant law. I say this only to emphasize that with grace in control it is the Holy Spirit that empowers the believer to “walk in the Spirit” so as not to fulfil the “lust of the flesh”. Should a believer in Jesus Christ should know the Ten Commandments? Absolutely! But when grace came, where did the Ten Commandments go? What happened to the law? There is great value and purpose in the Ten Commandments as you will see in the purpose section and by reading on.
The issues of law and grace and how they operate today is most clearly seen in an understanding of the old and new covenant. What was stated in the above introduction to law and grace is clarified in detail in the following:
http://godstenlaws.com/law-grace/
.
1. Law & Grace
We do not keep the Ten Commandments (old covenant) for the same purpose that Israel was commanded to keep them. They kept it as a demonstration of faith in the promise of a Savior who would institute a new covenant. Once the old covenant was fulfilled there is no reason to still keep it. Now, instead we keep the new covenant of grace.
The new covenant of grace is not absent of elements of the Old Covenant. Like a caterpillar that is transformed into a butterfly, the Old Covenant was transformed into a new and more beautiful covenant. The caterpillar was not destroyed – it was transformed into a new shape. The old covenant (caterpillar) was transformed by Jesus Christ into a new covenant (butterfly) and looks different to those on the grace side of the cross than to Israel on the law side of the cross. We are not subject to the old covenant – it was transformed. We are now subject to the new covenant.
Jesus did not destroy the Ten Commandments, He moulded them into a new covenant (new commandments) having the same moral values as the old, but now personalized, expanded and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Do we keep the Ten Commandments the same way as Israel? No. The Bible explains clearly that it is not enough. We now keep the commandments the way Jesus explained as transformed in the new covenant.
Law and grace work together as a team in bringing salvation in Jesus Christ. Law brings conviction of sin and shows our need for a Saviour, Grace is the lifeline extended to us from Jesus Christ through whom we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Once a person is under grace, the old law changes form. It no longer functions as our master.
At one time Israel was under the law (old covenant), but with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection we are now under grace (new covenant). Even in the old covenant it was not keeping of the law that saved Israel – it was grace through faith in God's promise. Nevertheless, in keeping covenant with God, Israel demonstrated faith by living “under” the law. The law was external and written on two stone tablets (Ten Commandments). And thus, Israel's devotion to God was seen in external works of the law.
The law was in the drivers seat. It was in control for the purpose of leading Israel and all mankind to Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ came the law changed position, and grace took over the wheel. The law was exchanged with grace.
Law did not have the power of grace. The law was defeated by sin, while grace defeated sin. Those who lived under the law were in bondage to the power/control of sin. Jesus defeated sin and offered us grace. Through the power of the Holy Spirit all who partake of His grace have a new power that defeats sin.
We are under grace, but not at liberty to live in sin. Grace gives us the freedom and power to obey Jesus Christ. We are not under law. If keeping the law was enough to make us acceptable to God, there would have been no need for Jesus to come. The law proved our need for Jesus Christ.
In fact, it is possible to be an obedient follower of Jesus Christ without knowing the literal words of the Ten Commandments from the old covenant law. I say this only to emphasize that with grace in control it is the Holy Spirit that empowers the believer to “walk in the Spirit” so as not to fulfil the “lust of the flesh”. Should a believer in Jesus Christ should know the Ten Commandments? Absolutely! But when grace came, where did the Ten Commandments go? What happened to the law? There is great value and purpose in the Ten Commandments as you will see in the purpose section and by reading on.
The issues of law and grace and how they operate today is most clearly seen in an understanding of the old and new covenant. What was stated in the above introduction to law and grace is clarified in detail in the following:
http://godstenlaws.com/law-grace/
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Sunday, 9 November 2008
Punishment
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Murder is unlawful killing. The death penalty as a punishment for sins committed (crimes) is lawful. The person who is in the wrong is the sinner or the criminal not the law enforcer. This means the blame for Old Testament punishment rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the wrong doers.
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Murder is unlawful killing. The death penalty as a punishment for sins committed (crimes) is lawful. The person who is in the wrong is the sinner or the criminal not the law enforcer. This means the blame for Old Testament punishment rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the wrong doers.
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Friday, 7 November 2008
The Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life
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Sin is punishable by death. But the gift of God is eternal life. It is as plain and as clear cut as that. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death came to all men because all have sinned” [Rom 5:12]
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Rom 6:23]
Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Rom 5:21]
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [Rom 8:2]
Jam 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Rom 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
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Sin is punishable by death. But the gift of God is eternal life. It is as plain and as clear cut as that. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death came to all men because all have sinned” [Rom 5:12]
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Rom 6:23]
Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Rom 5:21]
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. [Rom 8:2]
Jam 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Rom 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
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