One Rainy Day — The Head Covering — What’s the Point?

A young lady had been visiting a small assembly of about 60 believers. She appreciated the teaching and the warm fellowship of the Christians there. Her particular concern, however, was the practice of the head covering worn by the women at the weekly meetings. She and her husband had spent most of their Christian lives in a large denominational church of around 1,000 people. The concept of the head covering was totally foreign to them. Then one day a rainy downpour changed her thinking. It opened her eyes to the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 on this subject. (More on the rain later.)

GLORY AND COVERINGS

1 Corinthians 11 weaves the subject of biblical headship together with the glory of God. There are three glories mentioned in the chapter: the glory of the man (v.7), the gory of the woman (v.15), and the glory of God (v.7). Biblical instruction on the women’s veil should not be confused with cultural fads. It is based on non-cultural principles associated with headship (v.3), creation (vv.7-9), nature (v.14), and angels (v.10).

Veils or coverings are used symbolically in many different ways throughout scripture (e.g. Gen. 3:7; 24:65; Ex. 3:25; 25:20; Isa. 6:2; Ezek 28:14). In 1 Corinthians 11, however, the veil is used as a means to give God the glory in the meetings of the assembly. We read that the man’s glory (the woman) is symbolically concealed with a natural covering, the long hair of the woman (v. 15). The woman’s glory (her hair) is then concealed with a natural covering, the long hair of the woman (v.15). The woman’s glory (her hair) is then concealed with a second, removable covering (vv. 5-6). The end result is the uncovered head of the man which represents God’s glory as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:7, “for a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God…” It is not that man’s glory is to be seen and woman’s gory is to be veiled; God’s desire is that both the man’s and the woman’s glory be veiled so that only the glory of God is evident in the church gathering.

HEADSHIP

Man’s position as “head” is not by merit but by appointment. biblically, men are delegated leadership roles as God’s representatives — or “image” —- in the assembly of believers (1 Cor. 11:7; 14:33-35). while some feel this truth denigrates women, few consider the sobering weight of responsibility associated with this position (Jas. 3:1; Heb 13:17). bible teachers are subject to correction and judgment (1 Cor. 11:29, 32; 14:29), and the overseers cannot be ‘lords” over God’s people (1 Pet. 5:1-3). biblical headship is not an issue of equality any more than is the relationship that exists between God the Father and God teh Son. 1 Corinthians 11:3 reminds us that “the head of Christ is God,” yet surely there is no inequality between God the Son and God teh father.

When it come to equality between the sexes, God’s perspective is this: “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, the concept of headship does not suggest a gender inequality, but rather that God desires order among His people (1 Cor. 14:40).

The young lady who wrestled with the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 changed her thinking during the unexpected downpour of rain. Fuming over her thoroughly soaked hair, she recalled a section from verse 15 that she had steadfastly resisted: “if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her.” Her anger now became a testimony against her. At that particular moment her hair meant everything — it truly had been her glory! she was now convinced that God was to receive all the glory — not a man, not a woman, only God. the following Sunday she happily covered her head as a symbolic testimony that God must have the pre-eminence in the assembly. This was a first step in acknowledging God’s truth regarding headship and the glory of God — Randy Horn

 

Taken from the “Uplook” Magazine issue: May 2006

George Muller and the Crying Baby

George Muller of Bristol went one day to preach in the Free Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, and the place was packed to overflowing. A well-known agnostic, inspired by curiosity, pressed his way into the hall. Just when the preacher began to deliver his address, a young mother attempted to leave the building because her baby began to cry rather loudly, but the crowd was so great that exist was impossible. Mr. Muller came at once to the troubled mother’s help by saying, “Will that dear mother sit down, and we shall ask Jesus to put the baby to sleep.”

The mother quietly took her seat, and the great assembly bowed their heads while Mr. Muller prayed as follows: “Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, be pleased to put this baby to sleep.” Immediately teh child went to sleep, to the evident astonishment of the audience. The agnostic was startled beyond measure and said to himself, “If that man has a God like that, it is time for me to seek Him.” Under the power of the Holy spirit he sought and found Muller’s God. He became a true Christian and an earnest advocate of the faith he so long tired to destroy, and God used him to win many souls to Christ.

Taken from the “Uplook” Magazine, April 2002

Baptism — Part 5 — Baptism In the Commissions

It is after having passed through all the agony of the cross that the risen Lord gives the commissions as narrated in the closing chapters of the Synoptic Gospels. Luke does not mention the baptism at all. He is occupied with the gospel. Baptism is not a part of that, as 1 Cor. 15: 1-4 bears abundant testimony, as also 1 Cor. 1:17. The gospel is concerning God’s Son (Rom. 1:1-4), and not concerning ordinances, however blessed, or works, however proper to the man already justified by faith and a subject of grace (Titus 2:11-14).

We shall look, then, at the commissions recorded in Matthew and Mark. In chap. 28:18-20 of the former, we read: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple, or make disciples of) all nations, baptizing them in (unto) the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (completion of the age). Amen.”

The commission is to make disciples. These disciples were to be baptized and instructed. This command has never been annulled or repealed.

The thought of baptizing nations, as such, we see no warrant for here unless preceded by national repentance. All nations are to be taught the gospel. If indeed the nations as a whole become disciples, then to baptize them is in place, but that, though it shall actually be, is in a future day (Zech. 14:16). At present at least, it is in my judgment, to individuals that the commission applies. In fact the word merely means Gentiles; that is the gospel was to be world-wide in its scope.

Markedly enough, neither here nor yet in Mark 16 is the believer or disciple told to be baptized, for it was to His servants that the word was addressed by the Lord. Consequently the command is rather to the preacher to immerse the disciple; but would any real lover of the Lord Jesus plead this an excuse for evading responsibility in the matter, shifting it altogether upon the shoulders of the servant, and being careless himself as to whether the divine pattern had been carried out? Do not the words, “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you,” show us the importance of the recipient of the gospel seeing for himself that God’s word is carried out? Surely the heart that beats loyally to its absent Lord remembers His saying: “If a man love Me he will keep My words” (John 14:23), as also the other passage, “If ye love me, keep My commandments” (v. 15).

And if these considerations be not enough, is not Peter’s message in Acts 2:38 imperative as to it? — “Repent, and be baptized every one of you,” etc. here is commanded, and by the Holy Ghost. So, in Cornelius’ house, “He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). Baptism, therefore, if not directly commanded by the Lord in person, is by the Spirit in the apostle, and is surely one f Christ’s “words” which he who loves Him will “keep.”

To teach that a later revelation, given to Paul, has rendered all this null and void, is but to make the Word of God of none effect by human tradition.

As to formula, it is ‘Unto the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Being, as it is, “baptism unto death,” it is fitting that it should be unto the name of the Trinity — for how unitedly do father, Son and Spirit participate in the offering of the Son of Man upon the Cross! It was God, as Father, Who withheld Him not, but gave Him out of love to the world (John 3:16), while the Son was the voluntary Sufferer (John 10:17,18); and yet it was “through the eternal Spirit that He offered Himself without spot to God” (Heb. 9:14). Nor does “baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5) nor the kindred passage quoted above from Acts 10 set this aside. Do not these scriptures simply keep before us in whose authority it was done — the former bringing out especially the contrast between the baptism of John and that of the Lord Jesus? It would not seem to be the formula that is in view at all. I take it that a full scriptural formula would be “In the name of the Lord Jesus, I baptize thee unto the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”

In Mark 16:15,16, baptism is directly connected with believing, and in such a way as to make it the public seal of faith, as, in some sense, “confession with the mouth” is in Romans 10:9,10.

Here we read, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Significantly, we do not read, “he that is not baptized shall be damned.” Justification before God is by faith, apart from works (Romans 4:4,5); but it is taken fro granted that a true believer will be desirous of fully identifying himself with the Lord, and thus baptism is looked upon as the very first act of faith, which alone gives it value, for apart from that it is a meaningless form. Some might be immersed in all good faith on the part of the evangelist, who were not real believers at all, as in the case of Simon Magus (acts 8:9-13; 18-23), but nowhere in Scripture do we read of any laborer knowingly baptizing one who was not saved, and never of the baptism of any too young to exercise faith in the son of God.*

Baptism presupposes knowledge on teh part of the subject as to its purport, as is clear from the apostle’s appeal “know ye not,” in Romans 6:3, where he speaks of….

Next Time: “Baptism unto the Death of Jesus Christ”

 

* Philip baptized “both MEN and WOMEN” (Acts 8:12). If little children were also subjects of baptism in apostolic days, this, one would think, would have been the place to mention it. Let the present day evangelist follow Philip’s example and he need not fear that he is acting contrary to Scripture.

Purchase and Redemption — The Difference Between Bought and Redeemed — Part 2

 

THE TWO-FOLD CIRCLE OF CHRIST’S BELONGINGS

 

The point of this parable in Matthew 13 is that the scope of things purchased or bought by Christ extends to all persons and all things. it has been called teh two-fold circle of Christ’s belongings.

It is important to see that Christ’s purchase on the cross covers more than just persons; it also includes all things. Purchase (bought) is the broadest aspect of Christ’s work. Hebrews 2:9 confirms this, saying, “…so that by the grace of God He should taste death for every thing” (J.N. Darby Translation). notice it doesn’t say “…for every man,” (as the KJV erroneously has it) which would make it too narrow. “Every thing” covers all persons and all things.

Firstly, His purchase was for all persons. He now has title and right over all flesh. John 17:2 says, “thou has given Him power over all flesh.” (Some might object to the use of this verse because John 17:2 was uttered before Christ went to the cross. However, John’s gospel, which emphasizes the deity of Christ, views Him as God living in the eternal present, outside of time. Thus, He prays as though the work He was about to do on the cross was already done — i.e. vs. 4.) “All flesh” is extensive — covering all men, saved or lost. This mean that every person, whether they own the purchase or not, has been “bought” by the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, belongs to Him.

Secondly, his purchase was for all things. Ephesians 1:14 says, “…the purchased possession.” the context of this verse in Ephesians indicates that the “purchased possession” is the inheritance, which is every created thing. Christ has purchased the title and right to that as well. Hence, the effect of the purchase that Christ made is not only over all flesh, but extends to all things. It is universal.

A type from the book of Ruth illustrates this two-fold circle of Christ’s belongings. Naomi sold a parcel of land that belonged to her husband Elimelech who had passed away (Ruth 4:3). Since Boaz, who is a type of Christ, desired to have Ruth as his wife, he had to buy that portion of the inheritance which would give him all in it, including Ruth. “Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, thatI have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife” (Ruth 4:9-10). He bought the field which included a person — Ruth.

Now let’s turn to Revelations 5:9, “And they sing a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou was slain, and has bought to God by Thy blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (W. Kelly’s translation). We learn from this verse that the purchase was made by the “blood” of Christ. Not to digress from our subject, but in this chapter the elders in heaven are singing about those on earth that were purchased or bought. They are not singing about themselves, which is why the word “us” in the KJV should not e in the text as J.N. Darby’s and W. Kelly’s translations indicate. Verse 10 says, “…made them (not “us”) to our God King’s and priests,” because it is speaking of those on the earth. It also says, “…and they (not “we”) shall reign over the earth.” This, again, is referring to the Tribulation saints that will be preserved to enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. They will reign “over” the earth, but will be on the earth when they do it. They reign “over” the earth in the sense of rule. The verse has nothing to do with the saints in heaven reigning over the earth, as commonly thought. It is not speaking of the heavenly saints, but of the earthly saints. At any rate, the point I want to focus on here is that the purchase is by the “blood” of Christ. It refers to the price He paid.

Now let’s turn to 2 peter 2:1, “But here were false prophets also among the people, as there shall be also among you false teachers, who shall bring in by the bye destructive heresies, and deny the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (J.N. Darby Translation). Peter warned the saints of the rise of false teachers in the Christian profession. He says that just like there were false prophets in Old Testament times, there would be false teachers in the profession Church. They would bring in “damnable heresies” and would attract a large following — “Many shall follow their pernicious ways.” A heresy is a visible outward split among the people of God. It is the make a party among the saints that splits off from the rest. Most people think heresy is bad doctrine, because bad doctrine is usually associated with a heresy. A “damnable” heresy is a party that rallies around soul damning doctrines, which is a very serious thing indeed.

The point I want you to see here is that these people were “bought,” yet they ended up in a lost eternity! This shows that being “bought” does not mean that they were saved. These false teachers (mere professors) denied “the Lord” or the “master” that “bought” them, and brought upon themselves “destruction.” They masqueraded as teachers, but they didn’t have any real faith! As a result of denying Christ’s purchase they would pass on into everlasting judgment. We see this same class of persons in Jude 4; “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God (”Master” — N.N. Darby Trans._, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Now if “bought” means to be saved, as many Christians think, then these people lost their salvation! We know that that could not be so because it would deny a cardinal truth concerning Christ’s work — the believer’s eternal security. This is an example of why we need to understand the distinction between bought and redeemed, for without it we could get into seriously bad doctrine.

We learn from these verses that as a result of Christ’ purchase, there has been a change of masters. All persons now belong to the Lord on the grounds of His purchase. He is their “master.” Hence, purchase (bought) involves a change of ownership — a change of master. Christ being their Master by virtue of His purchase does not mean that He is their Saviour!

There is a danger of slipping into using such terms synonymously, and the truth being lost. we’ve often heard a well-meaning Christian as a stranger, “do you belong to the Lord Jesus?” The Scriptural answer is (whether they are saved or not) “Yes!” Saved or lost, all persons belong to the Lord Jesus. Of course, we know what is meant. They are really asking if the person has, in faith, owned the purchase that Christ has made on the cross. We’ve alos heard people say such things as, “I met a man the other day who was the Lord’s…” Well, what do they mean? Every man that you meet is the Lord’s! They are all His by the right of the purchase that He made at the cross…..

 

…. To Be Continued.

"Band-Aid" Ministry

This is more of a rant then it is an organized ministry message, so to my readers, please bear with me.

I have been working a lot more lately so I don’t have as much time to write as I would like, but a lot more time to think.

Lately I have listened to a lot of or heard of a lot of ministry concerning how a Christian should deal with stress. Or how can we present a study on self esteem, or how to live for Christ, how to do more for Christ, or what we should be doing for Christ.

At face value you may think, “what’s wrong with this?” Personally I think there is a growing problem with this, and these topics when I hear them spoke on, I like to call them simply “Band-Aid” Ministry.

If I get a serious cut on me, the proper procedure is to put some type of liquid or ointment on it, to heal the wound properly, I then may apply a bandage if needed, to help. But if I simply slapped on a Bandage without taking the time to properly care for my situation, then nothing really gets any better and it may continually get worse.

This is similar to the topics I listed above. Would we need these topics if we spoke more about well …….theology, to sum it up. If we studied God more, perhaps this band-aid ministry would be laid to the side. Perhaps if men that spoke on “self-esteem” “dealing with problems” studied Christ, and preached Christ, then it would come naturally on how to deal with problems in our lives.

 

SELF - ESTEEM

So we want to teach self-esteem from the Bible? Self -esteem is essentially making one feel good about themselves. What does the Bible tell us about ourselves? Well if you are confused or wish to try and present self-esteem topics in your class or study, try starting by reading Romans chapter 3. This chapter is full of things that tell us about who we really are.

v. 12 — no one does good

v. 13 — tongues are full of deceit

v.17 — don’t really care about peace.

Other passages are places such as places like Ps. 51:5 that tells us that we are born in sin. If we are going to be faithful to God then our goal is not at all to preach “self-esteem” Can you imagine if that was one of the roles of the Holy Spirit? Going around to make people feel good? Last I checked, that sounds like an interest of Satan. Our responsibility is to present to a person their need of a Saviour, not their need to feel good about themselves and never fear God.

Joh 16:8  And when he (Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

DEALING WITH STRESS

Do we need all different types of things to help deal with stress? Do we need to hum things? Do we need to find odd things to focus on to help us cope? Do we need to just concentrate on taking a break?

How about realizing that all things are well in Christ? We miss the big picture so often, and forget Hell is real, and that by the grace of God, we Christians are saved from it. Who needs to be stressed when the God of eternity is at peace with us?

Rom 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Are we allowing the stress of this world to get at us? Perhaps it’s because we are forgetting Philippians chapter 4. I am guilty of this too, yet I could never get through a day without knowing I’m saved for all eternity.

Php 4:6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

 

WRAP UP

There’s so much more that could be said, but I don’t know what else to say. It seems so obvious to me. We should all try studying topics a little more such as:

Deity of Christ

Unity of the God-head

The Holiness of God

The Security we have in Christ.

Then perhaps we wouldn’t need this band-aid ministry that is not leading us towards the direction that the Bereans held in the book of Acts, but instead show characteristics of the Cretans in Titus 1:12.

 

“I would rather a thousand times be five minutes at the feet of Christ than listen a lifetime to all the wise men in the world.” –D.L.Moody

Purchase & Redemption — The Difference Between Bought and Redeemed. — Part 1

To anyone following this site, every Monday I have been copying a Baptism article onto this site. But today, I am also going to begin copying a booklet that has the title you see above, written by a Bruce Anstey. This will cover every other day. If you wish to follow along with this very interesting, scriptural reading please visit often, it is definitely worth the read.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION

(Richmond, BC — June 6, 1997)

 

I’d like to speak this afternoon on two lines of truth that run through the New Testament Scriptures that are a result of Christ’s work on the cross — purchase and redemption. Scripture makes an important difference between “bought” (purchase) and “redeemed,” and I want to point that out, with the Lord’s help.

Mr. Kelly said that these two things have been so thoroughly confounded in the minds of Christians that it has led to all kinds of error. It is important, therefore, to understand that difference between them, because otherwise we could run into seriously bad doctrine — such as teh denial of the believer’s eternal security. It only confirms the fact that we need to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

Since, as Mr. Darby put it, “we can’t hunt tow hares at one time,” we’ll look at the subject of purchase first, and then, compare it with redemption.

PURCHASE (Bought)

Let’s turn first of all to Matthew 13:44. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a filed; teh which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” This parable opens up to us the universal effects of the great purchase that Christ mad eon the cross. “the “man” here, is the Lord Jesus Christ. And we are told in verse 38, “the field is the world.” The “treasure” is believers that the Lord puts a great value on. The buying of the field refers to His purchase of the whole world, and all persons in it.

Next Post: “The Two-fold Circle of Christ’s Belongings”

The Existence of Jesus Christ

 

 

Historians today have fairly well dismissed Jesus as being historical — A Candidate for the Progressive Labor Party in New York

 

 

There are many people today that would look at the quote above and completely agree with the lady’s statement. Many people today will completely dismiss anything concerning Christianity because they simply can not believe that the Jesus it talks about actually existed.

We are going to examine this problem, the same way historical experts would examine the authenticity of any form of historical writings.

The experts use three forms of evidence to test something. They are

1) Bibliographical tests

2) Internal Evidence Test 

3) External Evidence Test

Let us look at each test they use to see if all the writings and history support the existence of Jesus Christ

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL TEST

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

This form of testing is the examination of documents we have, that have reached us since the original ones have been written. Another term used to describe the documents we have concerning a topic could be manuscripts. We will be using the term “manuscript” throughout this article.

Another very important point regarding this form of study is what time period is between the original happenings and writings, and the writings we have today.

The first part of this that we will notice concerning this issue is the New Testament which is the part of the Bible that speaks about Jesus’ life. If someone does not believe that Jesus existed, one main reason is because they do not believe the books of the New Testament from Matthew to Revelations.

So how many copies of the Bible do we have?

In the Greek language, we have approximately 5,686 manuscripts

In the Latin language we have over 10,000 manuscripts

In other early versions of the languages we have at least 9,300 manuscripts

So if you do the math you easily come to the knowledge that there are at least 25,000 manuscripts, whole or in part of the New Testament; which is an important point in the Bibliographical test.

It is very important to note, that there is not another single event in history that is as well claimed to as the life of Jesus Christ, according to the writings about him. There is no historical event in history that has anywhere near as many manuscripts supporting it as does Christ. One who could study this form of examination could say this:

“To be skeptical of the resultant text of the New Testament books is to allow all of classical antiquity to slip into obscurity, for no documents of the ancient period are as well attested bibliographically as the New Testament.” — John Warwick Montgomery

Followed is another very lengthy quote from a historian that gives examples of other events in history. Some events in history may not be familiar to you, but the point of the quote is to show the closeness of the writings we have today from when the event actually happened.

“Perhaps we can appreciate how wealthy the New Testament is in manuscript attestation if we compare the textual material for other ancient historical works. For Caesar’s Gallic Wars (composed between 58 and 50 B.C.) there are several extant Manuscripts, but only nine or ten are good, and the oldest is some 900 years later than Caesar’s day. Of the 142 books of the Roman history of Livy ( 59 B.C. - A.D. 17), only 35 survive; these are known to us from not more then 20 manuscripts of any consequence, only one of which and that containing fragments of Books 3-6 is as old as the fourth century. of the 14 books of the Histories of Tacitus (c. A.D. 100) only four and a half survive; of the 16 books of his Annals, 10 survive in full and two in part. The text of these extant portions of his two great historical works depends entirely on two manuscripts, one of the ninth century and one of the eleventh….The history of Thucydides (c. 460-400 B.C.) is known to us from eight manuscripts, the earliest belonging to c. A.D. 900 and a few papyrus scraps, belonging to about the beginning of the Christian era. The same is true of the History of Herodotus (B.C. 488-428). Yet no classical scholar would listen to an argument that the authenticity of Herodotus or Thucydides is in doubt because the earliest manuscripts of their works which are of any use to us are over 1,300 years later then the originals” F.F. Bruce - The New Testament Document.

When it comes to the age of New Testament manuscripts, some of the earliest ones is just 100 years after Jesus Christ would have died and then left this earth. This is remarkably early considering they are copies of originals. Another amazing thing is that even though there are a large number of manuscripts supporting the information in the New Testament, all are in agreement with one another, and none lose the basic, important teachings. Even though they were copied and spread fast during the first 200 years after Jesus Christ was here.

Much more could be said about this topic, if you are interested feel free to search your local Christian Book store or Amazon.ca for more books concerning the reliability of the New Testament.

INTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST

This form of evidence can be easily explained in this term: “one must listen to the claims of the document under analysis, and not assume fraud or error unless the author disqualified himself by contradictions or known factual inaccuracies” — John Warwick Montgomery

In other words, if you have a document in front of you and the author claims it is true, and all the information he has provided can not be proven false, and in fact a lot of the evidence you can prove to be true; then you must accept it. Concerning this topic a great Bible studier by the name of Mr. Archer, a man who knew over 30 languages, and taught for over 30 years in Biblical criticism could say on this topic:

“There is a good and sufficient answer in Scripture itself to refute every charge that has ever been leveled against it.” Mr. Archer could continue to go on to see that all archaeological evidence has supported the Bible. Nothing has ever been proven wrong.

Everything spoken about Jesus in the Bible has never been proven false; the cities he visited and such are actual places. The Bible works as a wonderful history book.

(Here’s some basic links to biblical information showing it’s accuracy in some of its information:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v21/i2/jericho.asp

http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/feedback/negative21-May-2001.asp

http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/

EXTERNAL EVIDENCE TEST

“Do other historical materials confirm or deny the internal testimony provided by the documents themselves?” — Montgomery

In Philosopher Bertrand Russell’s essay titled “Why I Am Not A Christian” he could write “Historically it is quite doubtful whether Christ ever existed at all, and if he did we do not know anything about Him.”

This is a very common quote by many people who have a hard time believing that Jesus Christ ever existed. Even Thomas Paine one of the most infamous Atheists of America and who held Christianity in utter contempt was aware of his history enough to know that Jesus Christ existed: “He [Jesus Christ] was a virtuous and amiable man. The morality that he preached and practiced was of the most benevolent kind….”

In a moment we will look at historical references of both Christian writers and non-Christians writers of history that show the reality of this claim that Jesus existed.

What many people do not realize though is that Christianity is based off facts and history. It is not a religion that can not be supported by evidence like many today. The claims made by Mormons historically and archaeologically can not be supported; the same with Jehovah’s Witnesses and many other religions, but when it comes to Jesus Christ and the New Testament, and the claims that Jesus Christ was God, the Saviour of the world. Evidence if needed can help support the reality.

“True Christianity, the Christianity of the New Testament documents, is absolutely depended on history. At the heart of New Testament faith is the assertion that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself…” — Donald Hagner (New Testament Scholar)

External Christian Writings

Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons (A.D. 180), who was a student of Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna in A.D. 156 (who in turn had been a student of John the Apostle) could write in his day: “So firm is the ground upon which these Gospels rest, that the very heretics themselves bear witness to them…” — Against Heresies 3

Clement of Rome (A.D. 95) used writings from the New Testament as being reliable

Polycarp (A.D. 70-156); this man was a disciple of John the Apostle and his life and actions showed the truth of what he believed. Even as he was about to burnt at the stake he could say to the multitude listening: “Eighty and Six years have I served Him, and he hath done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me?” — Polycarp believed Jesus Christ existed

Non Christian Writings

Tacitus: This man many have called the most accurate historian of the ancient world. Any who have studied ancient Rome history will recall the great fire in Nero’s day. Many blamed it on Nero, but Nero took it as an opportunity to persecute the Christians. Below is a lengthy quote from this historian Tacitus (A.D. 55-120)

(Note: the term Christus in this quote is a misspelling of the word Christ and was common among non-Christian writers)

“But not all the relief that could come from man, not all the bounties that the prince could bestow, nor all the atonements which could be presented to the gods, availed to relieve Nero from the infamy of being believed to have ordered the conflagration, the fire of Rome. Hence to suppress the rumour, he falsely charged with the guilt, and punished with the most exquisite tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were hated for their enormities. Christus, the founder of the name, was put to death by Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea in the reign of Tiberius: but the pernicious superstition, repressed for a time, broke out again, not only through Judea, where the mischief originated, but through the city of Rome also.” (Annals XV, 44)

Pliny the Younger has an interesting writing. Below is the writings from Josh McDowell’s book “The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict” You can find this writing below on page 121, 4B Pliny The Younger

“Governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor (A.D. 112), Pliny was writing the emperor Trajan to seek counsel as to how to treat the Christians. He explained that he had been killing both men and women, boys and girls. There were so many being put to death that he wondered if he should continue killing anyone who was discovered to be a Christian, or if he should kill only certain ones. He explained that he had made the Christians bow down to the statues of Trajan. Pliny goes on to say that he also ‘made them curse Christ, which a genuine Christian cannot be induced to do.’ In the same letter he says of the people being tried: ‘They affirmed, however, that the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verse a hymn to Christ as to a god, and bound themselves to a solemn oath, not to do any wicked deeds, but never to commit any fraud, theft, adultery, never to falsify their word, not to deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up.’ (Epistles X, 96)

Josephus ben Mattathias (37/38 A.D. died after 100 A.D.)

Josephus is perhaps one of the most well known historians. He was a Jew but working for the Romans. Below is a quote by Josephus:

“Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him. And the tribe of Christians so named from him are not extinct at this day. ” Antiquities, XVIII, 33)

CONCLUSION

There are many historical references to the existence of Jesus Christ; people that had no love for the early Christians still acknowledged that Jesus Christ existed. So the evidence is left to you. This is only a very small percentage of evidence that could be presented to support the historical Jesus. Will we allow illogical thoughts to continue, and dismiss Jesus Christ? Are we willing to accept the method of examination to support the existence of William Shakespeare, Socrates, Plato etc, but not for Jesus Christ?

I pray that you will realize that Jesus Christ existed. That Jesus Christ was and is God. He died for your sins, and rose again, to save you from your sins and hell. Will you disregard Him another day? Or trust Him for what He has done for you.

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Answers in Genesis — Great Debate

I have just started watching this series, and enjoy both sides of the debate. I’ve yet to finish it, but would like to recommend it to anyone who is interested in the study of Evolution/Creation; and what the Bible truly says on the issue.

Click on the cartoon below to go to the videos.

Just a side note.

POT AND TORCH:

To any of you who have consistently visited this site, it has become very apparent, that the schedule I have wanted to follow, simply has not happened. So instead, let’s think of the list of topics as interests that will be touched on at Pot and Torch.

With me switching to a new job and Wedding plans busy in the works, it’s hard to keep up to this site like I would like to.

I have started to read “Van Till’s Apologetics” book, and am going to attempt to do a chapter by chapter review of the book on here. Perhaps also another book I am reading called “Reformed Doctrine of Predestination” Lorraine Boettner. (spell his name right?)

To everyone visiting, and writing, thank you for the support and input. I great appreciate it. To all, please continue to visit, and remember, all glory belongs to God.

Unsnatchingly His

Glen H.

Answering Synergism — 2 Peter 3:9

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

I am not too sure how to start to explain this verse. I have sat for a few minutes just staring at it, and re-reading it a number of times, and to me, it seems so very clear. The very beginning of the verse makes it obvious that the subject of the verse will come to fulfillment, so our only two options to believe is that there’s an elect group or the false belief in universalism is actually scriptural.

GOD’S THOUGHTS ON PROMISES

I will not go into great detail on the promises made by God, because I am sure most of my readers would agree on this thought. But here are some verses that are worth thinking on…

Heb 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

Ecc 5:4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
Ecc 5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

THE PROMISE

So, what exactly is the promise that is being mentioned here? The promise is mentioned in chapter 1 and verse 4. We are to be partakers in the divine nature, to escape this corruption. But through who? We know that according to the beginning of chapter 3, that this book is being aimed at the same audience as book 1, and book 1 claims in chapter 1 and verse 2, that it is through the blood of Christ.

FULFILLING THE PROMISE

So if the promise is salvation, why does Peter then say it is not fulfilled? I believe you can find the answer to this question in the very chapter of interest — 2 Peter chapter 3.

The chapter is dealing with the return of God. Peter instructs the Christians to not be discouraged, for the completion of their Salvation, which is leaving this sinful world and being with Christ will come, because God is fulfilling the promise.

WHAT DOES SLOW MEAN?

What does slow mean here in this verse? The word essentially means, that God is not playing around, or wasting His time. Because people are laughing in the chapter saying “Where is the return!?”. And Peter is reminding them to not worry, God is not wasting time, or slacking off. He’s not being like humans can be, but He is being longsuffering/patient.

WHO IS “YOU”?

Perhaps you’re thinking, “shouldn’t that read, who are you?” But look at the verse, who is you? In 1 Timothy 2 and verse 4, the world is mentioned. Yet here it is much more specific. The you that Peter is referring to according to verse 1, are the same as in 1 Peter. In 1 Peter chapter 1 and verses 1 and 2, it is speaking of the elect, the Christians. The ones who were sanctified by the Spirit even before conversion.

So this verse is directed at the elect, and later in the verse you read “any”, but the context of the verse and chapter shows that the any here are included in the “you” that Peter mentions as well, which are the elect.

NOT WISHING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH

The word “Wishing/Willing” here is the Greek word “Boulomai” and is a word touched on in my previous article too. This word means the “the deliberate determination, the result of Thelo. A desire, and then it is acted upon, whether it is in accordance with the original desire or not.”

This term here is not some passive word, describing what God would like to see happen and is now leaving it up to us. No It shows his deliberateness in the matter. The entire context of the books is about God redeeming His people, then trials that they would have to face, and the guarantee that He would deliver them out. This should also affirm in one’s mine the teaching of eternal security. This wishing is not a mere invitation, but shows the deliberate actions of God, in that he is planned a prolonging in his return and His hesitation on the judgment of the world, so that all the “you” would reach repentance.”

WHAT IS “REACH”?

The term “reach” as the ESV uses is almost self-explanatory. It simply means to enter into, to receive it, (the KJV uses “come”).

TO SUMMARIZE

The world around the Christians during that time, as well as today were mocking them, wondering where the return of God was, and Peter instructs them, telling them to not worry, for God has not forgot His promise to “you” which were the elect, of his Redemption. But that He has been longsuffering, He hasn’t displayed His judgment yet, because He is still awaiting for the last of the “you” to enter into repentance. Which is often used synonymously with “believe”.

This verse has nothing to do with a universal invitation to everyone to either take it or reject it. The Greek, and the verbs would not allow it. But is Peter simply explaining why God has not returned yet. Why has God spread the saving of His elect over time as He has done? Only God knows the true answer to that question, while our concern should be, that in everything we do, glory should be given to Him, and that our ways are not His (Is. 55:8)