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The Goal: All Nations

October 13, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The inspired apostle Paul noted at the beginning and the end of the great epistle of Romans that God’s purpose for the gospel is for obedience to the faith among all nations (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). The word for “nations” in the Greek New Testament is the same word rendered “Gentiles” — it refers to all the nations/peoples of the world. The Jews are a people. All the other ethnic groups or nations are Gentiles.

God is not only the God of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles (Rom. 3:29). God wants to save both the Jews and the Gentiles. The nations of the world are guilty of sin. Romans 1:18-32 shows the guilt of the Gentiles before God for their multitude of sins. Romans 2 explains the guilt of the Jews before God. The evil that people do to one another throughout history screams out to the Holy God (Gen. 4:10; Rev. 6:10). When people commit sins worthy of death (Rom. 1:32), God’s justice demands punishment—tribulation and anguish on every soul that does evil, whether Jew or Gentile (Rom. 2:10). Sadly, all are guilty of sin and worth of death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). God cannot look on wickedness (Hab. 1:13). Justice is demanded, and a judgment must be rendered.

The only way of hope is the gospel, the power of God to salvation for all nations (Rom. 1:16). Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them and teaching them all He has commanded (Matt. 28:19). We are to go proclaim the gospel to all of creation (Mark 16:15). Jesus is the way that God can remain just while also justifying the sinner by the grace of the gospel (Rom. 3:26).

When Jesus was placed on the cross, the cruelty and injustice of humans was highlighted. Jesus endured the hostility of sinners (Heb. 12:3). In speaking of this shameful death, Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (Jn. 12:32). The unjust and inhumane treatment of the innocent at the hands of men is put on display at the cross. No matter what people group we identify with, there is something in the cross that all people of the world desperately need. With the blood of Christ, God redeems individuals from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9).

People in the world are willing to risk their lives to kill others. Wars and terrorism are rampant in our day. We have not outgrown them with civilization. As long as sin is in the world, the story will be the same. In contrast, the redeemed people in the church must be willing to risk their lives so that others can be saved eternally. In His Word, God provides multiple examples of members of the New Testament church being willing to go to prison and even death to spread the gospel. After being arrested and beaten, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Lord’s name and did not stop teaching and preaching Jesus Christ (Acts 5:40-42). If we are to restore the New Testament church, we must have the evangelistic zeal of the church we read of in the New Testament.

The Mutual Work and Care of Body of Christ

October 5, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

The church of Christ is also called the body of Christ in the New Testament (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). The body illustration is used by the apostle Paul to explain the contribution of the different miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit which were present in the first-century church (1 Cor. 12). Paul also used the body metaphor in Romans 12:4-8 in reference to different gifts, some miraculous (Rom. 12:6), and some seemingly non-miraculous such as giving or showing mercy (Rom. 12:8). Though the nine miraculous gifts detailed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 have vanished, having served their purpose (1 Cor. 13:8-10), the principles the inspired apostle explained in these passages of the body of Christ working together can still teach us how to interact in the Lord’s church even today.

The body is not one member, but many (1 Cor. 12:14). One member is not more important than another (Rom. 12:3); just because one person does not fulfill the role of another does not mean that either is superfluous (1 Cor. 12:15-17). My feet balance the rest of my body so that my hands may perform their tasks. The ear and the eye complement one another. The man who stands in front of the assembly to teach is not more important than the lady who brings food and sits with one who is grieving. Both are necessary. Both are part of the function of the body of Christ.

If one member of the body suffers, then all the members of the body suffer with it (1 Cor. 12:26). If I hurt my foot, my hands rush to help, my back bends to position the hands to attend to the wound, etc., so that the whole body is involved in helping to respond to the hurt. Hurts in the body of Christ must be comforted by members that can continue to function.

Corporate worship involves all members of the body. The Lord’s supper is called “communion” because of the joint fellowship and participation we have with each other and Christ (1 Cor. 10:16). One cannot properly take of the Lord’s supper with selfish interests to the detriment of other members of the body (1 Cor. 11:17-29). The Lord is pleased when we come together for the betterment of one another, to stir one another up to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25). Our singing involves teaching and admonishing one another (Col. 3:16). While one may certainly sing and pray alone outside the assembly (James 5:13), the joint, reciprocal singing in the assembly is for the mutual benefit of all involved. The prayers offered edify all whose hearts are united in the same thoughts as the one leading the prayer (1 Cor. 14:15-17).

The church is to spread the gospel to the world (Mk. 16:15-16). Making disciples is a process that involves going, teaching, baptizing, and more teaching (Mt. 28:18-20). Every member has a part in helping with evangelism. Every individual’s role will not be the same, but all must contribute. When one is baptized into Christ, one is baptized into the one body (1 Cor. 12:13). While one may teach, another may assist in showing the love that makes a person receptive to being taught. This is how the body of Christ increases (Eph. 4:16). Let’s all do our part.

Responses in Acts 17

September 29, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Acts 17 provides different responses to God’s word that are common in our world today. Paul arrived in Thessalonica and reasoned from the Scriptures in the synagogue for three Sabbath days (Acts 17:2). This reasoning involved opening the Scriptures and drawing arguments from the text (Acts 17:3). Much like how Jesus Himself opened the Scriptures (Luke 24:32, 44), Paul also went to the Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament) to show how it foretold that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead (Acts 17:3). Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures. How did those in Thessalonica respond? Some were persuaded and became Christians (Acts 17:4); however, others became angry and sought to get Paul into legal trouble (Acts 17:5). Anger and jealous rage are the responses many have to the Gospel today.

Paul then traveled to Berea, and opened the Scriptures in the synagogue as he had done in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10). A different response occurred among the Bereans, as Luke records: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). These people were well-disposed to give a fair hearing to logical arguments from the Scriptures. They did not merely accept what Paul said without critical examination. They searched the Scriptures to determine whether his teaching was sound. They accepted the truth based on intellectual conviction that Jesus was indeed the Christ who came to suffer, die, and rise again according to the prophecies of the Old Testament. The example of the Bereans is one we should follow today. How wonderful it is to come across honest souls who are open-minded and receptive to the Gospel today, who reflect the same disposition as the Bereans.

Paul also preached in Athens in Acts 17. He encountered schools of philosophy including Epicureans and Stoics (Acts 17:18). The Athenians were overloaded with ideas. They were distracted, flitting from one idea to another. Acts 17:21 says, “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” Many today likewise are so bombarded with information and obscure questions that they become too overwhelmed to benefit from the Bible. Some of the Athenians mocked Paul’s presentation of the Gospel, and others stated they would hear him again (Acts 17:32). Many are so busy and distracted with various issues in life that they have no time to really think about the most important issues that involve the salvation of their eternal souls.

How do you respond to God’s word? Do you take time to study, investigate, and meditate on what it says? Jesus pointed people to the Scriptures. Paul pointed people to Scriptures. We should point people to the Scriptures today. God’s word is able to save our souls, if we will take it into our hearts and live it out in obedience in our lives (James 1:21).

Face to Face

September 22, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Aaron and Miriam rebelled against their brother Moses; they used his choice of a wife as a smokescreen for their envy of the authority given to him by God (Num. 12:1, 2). In response, the Lord declared Moses to be faithful in His house (Num. 12:7), saying of him, “With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold” (Num. 12:8a).

Moses desired to be close to God and he was. Exodus 33:11 says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” He beseeched God, “Show me thy glory” (Ex. 33:18). The famous epithet is repeated after his death: “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,” (Deut. 34:10).

Differences certainly exist between ourselves and Moses. God has not called us to reveal the law or do the same miraculous feats he did. Yet, we should desire to be close to God as Moses was. You are as close to God as you desire to be. James 4:8 exhorts: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Moses was often seen in prayer interceding for Israel (Ex. 32:11-13; Num. 14:13-19) and petitioning God for blessings on their behalf (Num. 10:35, 36; Deut. 1:11; 33:1-29). One of the blessings of being close to God and living a righteous life is that our prayers are effective (James 5:16). God listens with favor to those who listen to Him. Those who disregard God do not have this privilege (Prov. 28:9). “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Pet. 3:12). There is a world of difference between those who seek God’s face (Psa. 24:6) and those whom the Lord’s face is against because of their evil (Psa. 34:15-17).

We are encouraged to ask, seek, and knock at the gate of our Father in heaven (Mt. 7:7-11). Some don’t pray. They don’t receive certain blessings from God because they do not ask (Jas. 4:2). If we love God, we will want to talk to Him often; our prayers will unceasingly arise to His throne (1 Thess. 5:17, 18).

Because of his closeness to God, Moses was able to be meek in his response to wrong done to him (Num. 12:3). He had confidence that the Lord would work righteousness and left the matter with Aaron and Miriam in God’s hands; Moses did not have to avenge himself, instead he prayed to God on Miriam’s behalf (Num. 12). When I am close to God, I can more easily let Him take care of attacks against me. The ultimate example of this is Jesus, who prayed for the forgiveness of those crucifying Him (Lk. 23:34).

What a blessing it is to be close to God, to be a friend of God! Tremendous power and peace are available for us to deal with the burdens of life when we are close to God. We should follow the example of Moses spending time seeking God’s face. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:5-7.)

Love Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism

September 8, 2023 by admin Leave a Comment

Love is more powerful than fear; mature love banishes fear (1 Jn. 4:18). Paul came to Corinth and declared the gospel of Christ; some opposed and blasphemed while others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:1-8). “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 19:9). The Lord encouraged Paul to overcome the fears of preaching there and he stayed eighteen months doing that great work (Acts 18:11). In his later correspondence with Corinth, Paul admitted he had been downhearted when he came to them, writing, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). Yet, think of all the fearful opposition that Paul overcame to spread the gospel. What was his motivation? He later explained, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).

Love for God and the souls of men motivates Christians to spread the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ to all. Instead of deceiving men, we speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Sometimes the more we love people and try to speak to the truth to them the less they show love to us (2 Cor. 12:15). Sometimes people regard us as enemies because we tell them the truth (Gal. 4:16). Though we do all we can to make the truth as palatable to people as possible, still several will resist it. When Jesus sent His disciples on the limited commission in Matthew 10, He reminded them that people would mistreat them just as they mistreated Him their Lord (vv. 16-25); moreover, He also reminded the disciples not to fear persecution because of their value before God (vv. 28-31). Love not only from God but for God would help them overcome. As we go out on the great commission, let us also be reminded of these truths. People need the word of God to save their souls (Jas. 1:21). The seed of the kingdom must be spread everywhere (Lk. 8:11), so that it may find lodging in good and honest hearts (Lk. 8:15).

In the first few chapters of the book of Acts, the church grew exponentially despite opposition from the political powers in and around Jerusalem. The high priest and the council had commanded Peter and the other apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18; 5:28); however, the Lord’s command to preach the gospel (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15) outranked the commands of men (Acts 5:29). Thus, Acts 5:42 reports, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Let us pray that we may have this kind of boldness to spread the gospel instead of cowering before those who oppose it (Acts 4:29).