David Pawson - ’Unlocking the Bible’ Podcast

In this series David explains the fundamental facts about Jesus on which the Christian faith is based in a fresh and stimulating way.  Both old and new Christians will benefit from this ‘back to basics' call and find themselves falling in love with their Lord all over again.

Part 98 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In this last study on Revelation, David Pawson lists the reasons for his view of the Millennium and resumes looking at John's visions about our future including the final judgment. Books will be opened that reveal our records. Those who are ‘in Christ' on that day – their names will be in His book, the Book of Life. The human race finishes in 2 groups only – those who live under the rule of God and those who want to live their own way. David warns against the lack of the fear of God abroad today which says that those who are not faithful to the Lord will be annihilated. Rather, ‘our God is a consuming fire, so let us worship him with awe and reverence.' The good news for our future is that there is to be a new heaven and a new earth where God and those who have been faithful to him will live together. We can live in this new heaven and earth if we are willing to be ‘recycled' now. Recycling is making useless things (and people) useful. David reveals evidence for the truth of Revelation in regard to the gems that are mentioned in the New Jerusalem – fascinating. He gives 10 reasons for reading Revelation.

Part 97 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says Christian hope is fixed on the ultimate future – as seen in the book of Revelation. Toward the end, there are 7 visions as well as oral messages to John. David warns about the division of the Word of God into chapters and verses which has caused people to become ‘text people' where a verse is taken out of context and misunderstood. The visions thus have been split into 3 chapters. For a thousand years the church had no chapter and verse numbers. David says we need to take the visions in their order, and not juggle chapters. We find 4 enemies of the human race: Satan, antichrist, the false prophet and Babylon. Jesus doesn't ride a donkey – he is on horseback, ready for war against evil. A world battle will take place at Megiddo, at the crossroads of the world, and Jesus will destroy his enemies with a word. Then he will rule the world with Christians sharing that reign for a thousand years - the millennium. It will be a time of world peace. 4 major events in the visions: The Second Coming; The Millennial Rule of Christ on Earth; The Day of Judgment; and the New Heaven and New Earth.   

Part 96 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says, there are 3 women in the book of Revelation that are actually representative of either a group of people, a city or something else. He helps with interpretation. Much of the book deals with 2 cities – one labelled ‘Babylon' – a city of man; and Jerusalem, the city of God – represented by 2 of the women. Throughout the Bible ‘Babylon' is used for all that is secular and wicked. David says that sin, vice, aggressiveness, lust, greed and crime are more concentrated in cities. There are cities of the world now that could be the final ‘Babylon' of Revelation. Revelation shows that politicians will bring about the destruction of ‘Babylon', a city of pleasure, crime and commerce.  David says it is pictured as a prostitute because it takes your money and gives you pleasure. The martyrdom of the church will not be total because there will be those who come out as advised. David says that the whole world finance system will collapse. He discusses the concept of Christians being raptured out before the trouble – a very important teaching.  

Part 95 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson, looking at Revelation, says that when the Lord writes history he gives us the whole picture including what is happening in heaven and in the future – Apocalyptic History. David says Revelation is full of art, worship and singing. Jews and Christians will be one flock under one Shepherd. David explains the animals, pictures and symbols. God has told us the worst of what is coming so that we will be prepared if it happens in our lifetime. We know that the disasters to come will last only 3-and-a-half years. David explains the bowls, seals and scrolls. There will even be satanic miracles on display. The unholy trinity of Satan, the false prophet and the antichrist will rule, and many believers will be martyred. David informs about the differing ways of interpreting Revelation.

Part 94 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Revelation is the only book of the Bible that nobody decided to write. John simply wrote down what he saw and heard at the instruction of an angel. Jesus appears to him in a vision, but now his glory is apparent. David says that we need Revelation to fill out our picture of Jesus. Jesus reveals a knowledge of 7 cities and their churches to whom he is giving personal, individual messages. These cities in The Fertile Crescent are a melting pot of culture, politics and religion where roads between Europe and Asia traverse. Also, it was the area where Satan had his headquarters. The number seven is God's perfect number and appears throughout this book. There are 7 parts to the letters – the Address, an Attribute of Jesus, an Approval of the church, an Accusation, Jesus' Advice to put things right – sometimes with a warning that they will be closed down if they continue in wrong, an Appeal for them to heed, and finally an Assurance.  For two of the churches – the largest ones – he has nothing good to say about them. For those who are suffering persecution, he has no accusation. David gives an outline of the whole book, and though things will get worse, they will ultimately get better and stay that way.

Part 93 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson believes Revelation is one of the greatest books in the Bible. Without it, the Bible would be incomplete. The Church needs to study it to prepare for what lies ahead. God's opinion of this book is clear; it is the only one that has a blessing for reading it aloud, and a curse for tampering with it, attached. The Bible is a history book and we are the only people who know how our world is going to end. It helps to remember it was written for ordinary people and should not be twisted by the highly educated. We need to read it with common sense. For instance, if the same word is repeated in the same context it has the same meaning. If people had used this logic, we would not have made some of the blunders we have. Revelation was written for a very practical purpose – to prepare for the difficulties ahead for believers  so that we will have ‘patient endurance'. ‘Jesus is coming back – that's the very centre of our hope for the future.' There are promises of rewards for those who are victorious. David says, ‘Revelation is written for this very simple purpose – to keep Christians' names in the Book of Life.

Part 92 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says the little neglected letter of Jude is wonderful. He reads his own paraphrase and shows that it divides into 2: a dangerous corruption and how to deal with it. David says that Jude (a brother of Jesus) is like a surgeon ‘wielding a knife to cut out the cancer in the Body of Christ.' All churches are in danger, either from outside – which pushes Christians together and strengthens them; or from inside – being either legalistic or too liberal which can destroy the Body of Christ. Legalism says: you are not free to sin and we're going to see that you don't.  License says: you are free to sin and it's okay now you're a Christian. True liberty says: in the Spirit, you are free not to sin. David says that we are constantly hearing a sentimental view of God being preached on TV and it's not a true picture of God.  Their other problem was regarding Jesus as only one way to God rather than the way. David says when your creed is corrupted, your conduct will be too; when your conduct is corrupted, your character and conversation will be too. He hopes the little letter of Jude will encourage you to contend for the Gospel in truth and love.

Part 91 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  Teaching on the Letters of John, David Pawson discusses the issue of sin in the believer's life. At first sight, there appear to be contradictory verses, but careful study brings clarity. David proves that it is dangerous to take a verse out of its context. Another subject covered is the difference between males and females because two of John's letters are addressed separately to a woman and a man about the same subject, and yet saying opposite things. Hospitality was the very important theme, as it is possible to invite heresy into a church by inviting visiting ministries without verifying the truth of their teaching. David says that churches need both local ministry and travelling ministries. John's third letter addresses the problem of holding a church's ministry too closely and not showing love to honourable visiting ministries. David emphasizes the need for both truth and love in each life.  

Part 90 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says the letters of John are grandfatherly letters because John was an old man - and the only apostle to die of old age. John sees things as black or white. It's in contrast to the relativism which has swept across the world in modern times. He seeks to ensure that his readers' joy may be full, that they may be living blameless lives, that they may be safe from the wiles of the Devil and that they may have assurance. David puts John's aims this way: To Promote Harmony; to Produce Happiness; to Protect Holiness; to Prevent Heresy – (David says “we have to be on constant guard against it”) - and to Provide Hope. The arrangement of John's teaching is characteristic of Jewish Rabbis' manner, not analytical but unstructured wisdom. The heresy of the time came from Greek philosophy which separated physical and spiritual, secular and sacred, temporal and eternal – and gave the impression that anything physical was dirty. They could not see that God could really become man. David says when we come to Christ, only our past sins are forgiven at that time. Future sins must be dealt with as they happen. This is a very important study for all.   

Part 89 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson looks at Paul and how he came to write his letters. Over a third of the New Testament focusses on him. “He's had greater influence on… Europe than any other man.” He had 3 major influences on his life – his Jewish parentage, the Greek language because he came from Tarsus, and his Roman citizenship which gave him certain privileges. He was a missionary before his conversion – but on the wrong side. He had a personal encounter with Jesus (after his ascension) which began his conversion and was his call to evangelize the Gentiles. It was 13 years of preparation before he set off on that mission and he travelled first with Barnabas as his work partner. Most of Paul's letters are written to churches around the Aegean Sea. His strategy was to plant a community of the Kingdom in every key city and then move on, leaving the church to evangelize their district. In the course of his travels he suffered much – shipwreck, flogging, jail, stoning, hunger as well as the care of the churches. He revisited churches as well as writing to them to encourage, teach and rebuke. A man of dedication and zeal, prayer, compassion and tears who was overwhelmed by God's grace. These letters have become the Word of God.

Part 88 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson shows that Peter is teaching what various aspects of true submission are. He also gives advice to wives to win their unbelieving husbands. David sees that Peter is advising his readers on good attitudes which will stand them in good stead when severe persecution comes.  David quotes a friend: ‘If you are faithful in the little battles now, he will give you the grace when the big crunch comes.' Peter reveals what Jesus did while his body was in the tomb. While the first letter is preparing the people for persecution from outside the church, the second letter of Peter emphasizes dangers within the church. When life is easy, people become materialistic but under persecution the church grows. Heresy is a subtle pressure. David says there were four symptoms of disease within the church: A corrupt Creed – their beliefs were being changed. Corrupt Conduct as a result of the first. Corrupt Character so that they became ‘more animal than human', operating by base instincts – greedy and lustful. Corrupt Conversation – grumbling, rebellion. Peter shows how to grow in character and maturity.

Part 87 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that 1 Peter is relevant wherever Christians are fearful of persecution. Peter tells believers how to endure for Jesus. So we need this letter today. It is warm and encouraging. Peter had known what it was to fear threat, now he knew how to face it without fear. Jesus had reinstated him after his betrayal of Jesus because Peter still loved him. Now he wanted to encourage others. He had gone from timid to bold with the filling of the Holy Spirit. In this letter, suffering is one theme, submission to it is another and salvation is the third theme. (He lived up to his own advice when he was finally crucified himself, asking to be crucified upside down.) Peter urged his readers to be sure of their salvation as it was their firm foundation, but also to stick together to encourage each other in the face of trials. He speaks of their ‘living hope'. Like Paul, he emphasizes faith, hope and love, as well as the priesthood of all believers, and that we believers are a holy nation.  

Part 86 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that, although written to dispersed Jews, the book of James is very applicable to Christians today. It is a very practical word for our everyday lives. James was not focusing on doctrine or faith but was giving Christian advice to counter poor attitudes. As many of his readers were businesspeople intent on money making, James warns against neglecting God and the poor. He covers greed, envy, selfish ambition, pride, boasting, presumption, impatience, anger,  arguments, gossip and litigation. If you're not careful, money comes in and God goes out. James says we need to be alongside people but not to be infected by worldly attitudes. He encourages joy in the face of testing. He shows that we can get wisdom from above right away by asking for it without double mindedness, without doubting. This is a very helpful book though some find it objectionable that it focusses on human activity, but David points out that James' reason for writing explains why this is so. “Legalism says we're saved by our good deeds; license says we're saved without good deeds; but liberty says we're saved for good deeds.”

Part 85 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that James is concerned with practical Christianity. James is not hugely on doctrine or belief, but on behaviour which is a vital dimension to Christianity. The keyword is ‘do'. David points out that ‘do' is a keyword to the entire Bible. Though it is well written, James is not a structured book and David describes it as ‘pearls of wisdom that haven't been strung.' The author was the half-brother of Jesus. David reveals two nicknames used of James which give us an insight into his character. The letter was written to help Jews understand how to behave toward Gentiles.

Part 84 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says there are problems in the Bible when you don't understand, and there are problems when you do understand but it doesn't fit with your previous notions. He examines those passages which trouble some readers. One refers to the possibility of losing the salvation which once we have had. David explains this very clearly, giving evidence from other books of the Bible as well. It is important that we grasp the truth – that we can have assurance that we are on the way of salvation, but it is not a guarantee that we cannot turn away into deliberate sin and lose that salvation. This truth runs right through the New Testament, including on the lips of Jesus. Hebrews tells us the relationship between the Old and New Testaments; it keeps our eyes on Jesus; it is faith building; it warns us of the dangers of backsliding; and it emphasizes being an active member of the church.

Part 83 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Hebrews is a very ‘Jewish' letter and is appreciated by Jewish readers whereas Gentiles need familiarity with the Old Testament scriptures. It relates our Christian faith to the ritual of the temple in the old days. David says it throws new light on Jesus that no other writer of the New Testament does. A key word is ‘better' – Jesus is better than… the prophets, the angels, the ancient leaders, the priests. While there is a continuity of faith from the Old Covenant to the New, the substance is better than the shadow. In the Old Testament they had a lot of foreshadowing of Jesus but now they had the real thing. We do not know who the author is, but David thinks it was sent to the Jewish half of the church in Rome at the time of Nero. They were suffering persecution as Christianity was at that time illegal and this drove some believers back to the synagogue where they would have to deny Jesus. David believes this was the catalyst for the letter to encourage them to hold on to their salvation and to go forward. It's very encouraging while being severe.     

Part 82 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says, though these letters were addressed to individuals, they were all about the churches they were trying to help, and these were quite different. Titus, in Crete, had the task of appointing elders and Paul's concern was about the quality of membership there; whereas in Ephesus, the membership was good but they had the wrong elders and Timothy was given the task of replacing them with the right men. The important thing at the beginning of a fellowship is to have quality leadership and membership before numbers expand. David says that confrontation is an important part of church leadership. If you neglect a problem, it just gets worse. Ultimately, the best safeguard of a church is constant good teaching. With the Spirit and the Word of God, you grow up. With a plurality of leaders, they will contribute more strengths and balance each other out much better, whereas one man will communicate his own strengths and weaknesses to the church he leads because people do follow unconsciously a leader's manner of living, rather than what he says. Character is of prime importance. This teaching can help us in choosing those to serve our churches.

Part 81 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson begins by explaining why these letters to Timothy & Titus differ from others by Paul. Paul wrote from the condemned cell; he is older and so were the churches. We learn more about Paul from these than any other letters. We see both the pattern and the purpose of Paul's life. Though trinitarian, Paul has God in priority position. David Pawson objects to these being called the pastoral epistles because they don't have all the instructions needed for pastors. Rather than dealing with how to run the internal matters of a church, Paul here focuses on the external responsibilities. Paul's method of follow-up was three-fold – a second visit, or a letter or he sent one of his team back to do the follow-up. David shows that Timothy & Titus were not sent to be pastors but rather troubleshooters. He sees the two as ‘timid Timothy' and ‘tough Titus' as Paul spoke differently to them.  He also says that there is danger in one-man ministries and apostles need to plant a church, reach the point where it has elders and deacons, and leave it. His work there is done. David discusses the process of salvation, the need to persevere.

Part 80 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In continuing his talk on Paul's 2 letters to the Thessalonians, David Pawson shows why their hope was shaky instead of being certain. Paul gave them understanding of the 2nd coming. Paul shows that if believers are alert, sober and watching, the 2nd Coming will not come as a surprise. We need to watch for the signs we've been given of his coming. He has advice for the church members – 3 things they should not be and 5 things they should. There was democracy in Thessalonica, and it had crept into the church whereas the church should be ruled by the Holy Spirit via Spirit filled leaders. In the 2nd letter, he has similar subjects, but he has obviously heard bad news of them now, and has to be harsher than in his first epistle. They are being persecuted so there is encouragement as well.

Part 79 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that the letters to the Thessalonians were the first part of the New Testament to be written. The early church had only the Old Testament and the Apostles' teaching. Paul wrote to the same people, yet the 2 letters are different in atmosphere. The first is caring, warm; the second cooler and sharper. Thessalonica was a key town, the port for all the trade routes at the head of the Aegean Sea. Paul had needed to leave this town, but later Silas and Timothy brought good news about how the fledgling church was doing so he wrote. Paul gave them the Gospel in 3 ways – word, deed and sign – the deeds were the human proof, the signs were the divine proof that the words were true. Paul's evangelism was based on demonstrating the Gospel before declaring it. Thus he fully communicated it. Results were 3 things - faith, hope and love. True Christianity is trinitarian – to repent toward God, to believe in Jesus and to receive the Spirit. 3 dimensions of the Christian life – to turn from idols, to serve the living God and to wait for his Son from heaven. For the sake of his converts, Paul had to defend his character because of false accusations. Among his subjects are women and work – a practical letter.

Part 78 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  This study is a must for every Christian. The problems in the Colossian church are with us today as we find when we examine Paul's letter to see what he was responding to. Paul had neither founded nor visited this church, but he'd been told of problems there. Colossae was a cosmopolitan town with many religions which presented relational problems. David believes they had brought too much from outside into the church, which is again a problem in our modern age. He says Colossians gives us a wonderful tool to analyse syncretism, the mixture of faiths. Christ loses his preeminence in the church when other beliefs are mixed in. “If there's one thing Christ does, he saves us from religion. Christianity is not a religion… It is a relationship with Christ.” This letter can be summarised by two themes – Syncretism that makes a religion of Christianity; and the simplicity of centring everything on relationship to Christ. The New Testament does not tell us to observe Sunday as a special day, or Christmas or Easter. Colossians warns against losing our salvation.

Part 77 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson tackles Philippians' “controversial” passage in this study – Scholars debate: How much of God did Jesus empty himself of when he became a man? David declares “The things he gave up were not of his nature but of his privileges.” He says that the passage in question is not about theology but about ethics – it is “about Christ's attitudes and his choices”.  Paul said: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” David also warns that we need to take note of the conditions attached to promises of God. Regarding the letter to Philemon, David says that, though it is very short, it is important. It is private correspondence about a runaway slave. David answers the question: Why was it put in the Bible?  He shows that when we are converted, rather than running away from our past, we should put our past right. The story in Philemon is a perfect picture of our salvation.

Part 76 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  ‘A colony of heaven' Paul termed the Philippian church though it was in a Roman- occupied city. David Pawson says that God had his eye on this strategic city and sent Paul there. Thus this became the first church in Europe. Paul was now under house arrest in Rome, hence the need to write a letter of gratitude for a gift he'd received, including an ‘apostle' to help him. David discusses what it is to be an apostle, and also what healing is for. From this letter we have a glimpse of Paul as a person and the kind of relationship he had with his converts. ‘Fellowship is far more than a cup of tea.' With real fellowship, what happens to one happens to all. Though facing possible death, Paul's favourite word in Philippians is joy – plus rejoice and thanksgiving. He lived for Christ and therefore he had nothing to lose.  Paul's true address was ‘in Him', that's where he lived.

Part 75 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says the best defense against heresy is solid, good teaching and that's what Paul gave to the Ephesians via this letter, protecting them against false teaching. This teaching is the very foundation of Christian living. Ephesus was a key town in the history of the early church. A port city, it had an enormous temple to the goddess Diana. Silversmiths sold reproductions of a meteorite which had fallen to Ephesus, supposedly symbolizing the goddess and Paul's preaching had brought hostility from these silversmiths. His letter is in two clear halves, dealing with our relationship with God in Christ and our relationship with others in the Lord. David terms the first half Salvation worked in (doctrine – what we are saved by) and the 2nd, Salvation worked out (duty – what we are saved for). We are not saved by good deeds, but we are saved for good deeds. David says that a Gospel that doesn't work out in life is not the full Gospel. We need both halves – and in the order presented because we cannot live the Christian life before we've been saved. Paul's teaching is couched in a hymn of praise for God's power and purpose. Our battles are not with flesh and blood. David beautifully explains predestination.

Part 74 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that many Christians love the letter to the Galatians while others don't like it. Paul was emotional about its subjects. Galatians ‘strips off all spiritual veneer'.  It was this book which triggered Luther's Reformation. David says that we need to talk together about our differences. In Galatians, Paul tackles ‘fundamental issues without which you lose the Christian Gospel'. Peter and Paul had a disagreement on one of these issues and this had to be put right. Paul, though a Jew, was a Roman citizen and spoke the Greek language so he was equipped for the mission God had for him. David says that later leaders who come in and take over another's work often lead it astray and this was happening in Paul's time. Jewish believers had come into the church in Galatia to try to convince the members that they needed to keep the Law as well as believe in Jesus. They were adding to Paul's message of the Gospel. This would bring them back into slavery to the flesh, and negate the work of Christ, so Paul angrily wrote against this teaching to rescue those he had won to the Lord.

Part 73 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says of Galatians, that it is the Magna Carta of Christian Liberty. It wrestles with issues caused by the differences between Judaism and Christianity in the early church. It came to a head with the issue of whether a person is saved by faith or by works. The Judaisers were saying that they needed to start with faith and then go on to keep the Law. So Paul asked the Galatians: having started in the Spirit, are you going to continue in the flesh? Paul was fighting for ‘faith alone' as the means of salvation. He emphasized the need to ‘go on believing'. David says to introduce the Law at any stage is to put believers under a curse because the only pass mark Jesus would accept for the Law is 100%. Galatians explains why God gave the Law. In speaking on the 3 themes of the book, David says that Legalism is an enemy of Liberty but what people don't always realize is that License is too. It is a delicate edge we walk in the Liberty of the Spirit. It's so easy to slip either into Legalism or into License. Real freedom is the freedom not to sin.

Part 72 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson points out that Corinth was a Greek city & the ancient Greeks separated the spiritual from the physical. The West has taken that & it has infiltrated the Church. Hebrew thinking is quite different, and the Corinthians needed to be helped to understand God's way of looking at things. Greeks thought of the body 3 ways: they indulged them because they thought it wouldn't affect their soul, they ignored them and tried to live a life free from physical desires, or idolized them and made statues of the perfect body. Paul had to say: Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? And what you do with your body will affect your soul. What you do with your body is part of your spirituality. David discusses the various forms of love – sexual, social and sacrificial. The cross was too bodily for the Greeks, and when you get away from the cross you start dividing over other things. Second Corinthians is particularly for leaders. There were leaders who were putting Paul down to raise themselves. The acid test of a man's ministry is not his academic qualifications or his training but the kind of people he produces. Though tender with the people, Paul is tough with those who threaten them.  

Part 71 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson shows from 1 & 2 Corinthians that the early church, as in every other era, was not perfect. But seeing how their problems were handled is a help for us. Corinth was a port city with its attendant sins which had to be dealt with in the church. Without these letters from Paul we would not have the song of love in chapter 13 or the record of Jesus' earliest resurrected appearances in 15. David says the biggest two battles in any church are how to keep the church in the world and how to keep the world out of the church. The world was sadly entrenched in the church in Corinth and Paul sent 1 Corinthians in answer to practical issues such as division among the members, immorality, members suing each other, idolatry creeping in, relationships and roles for men and women, remarriage after divorce and getting drunk at the Lord's Supper - whereas 2 Corinthians deals with personal insults which Paul had suffered at their hands. David untangles some of the misunderstandings about 1 Corinthians. He teaches that we are not so much to slavishly copy the practice, as to find the principle that Paul is employing.

Part 70 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In Part 1 of Romans, David Pawson showed that the reason for Paul to write to the Roman church was the tension between Jew and Gentile within the fellowship. Because of their different backgrounds, he deals specifically with the issues confronting them – whether to eat food offered to idols, keeping one day special each week. David shows that the keyword in Romans is ‘God', occurring more than any other. Paul had to discuss the Law for the sake of the Jews and license for the sake of the Gentiles. The main theme is the righteousness of God, and David says their own good deeds are more likely to keep people out of Heaven than anything else. Salvation is a process that must continue to the end. God justifies us before he sanctifies us. David's brief outline of the book: Chapters 1-4 Faith which looks to the past; chapter 5 Hope which looks to the future; chapters 12-16 Love which is concerned with working out the present. Chapters 9-11 dwell on the Jews. Paul communicated the Gospel by word, deed and sign. David encourages us to examine a book to break it up to find the structure to aid our understanding.    

Part 69 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Paul's letter to the Romans is the longest letter we have from the ancient world, and is very important. Paul is obviously countering arguments. Paul has never met the Roman church so why did he write to them?  David believes that chapters 9 to 11, where Paul speaks so much about the Jews, are the key to the whole letter. David asks what the need in Rome was. There were serious social issues there and that is why Paul deals with such subjects as homosexuality, antisocial behaviour, disobedience to parents, uncontrollable violence and crime. Paul seeks to minister to Christians who have to live in the midst of this city of vice and crime. David explains that what had begun as a church of Hebrew believers in Rome had become one of Gentiles as Jews had been expelled by the Emperor Claudius. But then, when the next emperor invited the Jews back for financial reasons, they found that their church had changed in the hands of Gentiles. David says that everything in this letter is to get those two groups back into fellowship. Chapters 9 to 11 counter replacement theology, the thinking that the Church has replaced the Jews.

Part 68 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson shows the book of Acts is a vital part of our Bibles. Having looked at the original intention in the writing of Acts, David now shows how it can be applied to our lives. The early church wasn't perfect, but had life and power of the Holy Spirit. The growth of the early church is the most astonishing phenomenon and we need to learn from it. David gives wise advice and says that Paul's conversion and some other experiences should not be expected as a pattern for further events. Acts gives clarity to some of the issues and people mentioned in the gospels and is a link between the gospels and the epistles. Only Acts shows how Paul counselled enquirers. The gospels, written before Jesus died and rose again, were too early to tell us how to become a Christian. The letters and Revelation were written too late because they were written to people who were already Christian. After Pentecost, nobody was born again without #repenting for their sins, #believing in the Lord Jesus, #being baptized in water and #receiving the Holy Spirit. That is the basic teaching of this book. John the Baptist and Jesus – and the letters - actually mention all four, but separately.

Part 67 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In looking at the book of Acts, David Pawson says that most of the Bible was written for human reasons but was ‘edited' for divine reasons. In this first talk, he looks at the human side. The author, Dr. Luke is the only Gentile writer of scripture. Medics were trained to be observant, careful and analytical and this comes out in how Luke wrote his gospel and Acts. In Acts he recorded how the good news of the Gospel went from Jerusalem to Rome – from the Jews to the Gentiles. He had insight because he travelled with the Apostle Paul, possibly to look after his health, on his missionary journeys and he was a skillful writer and at heart, an evangelist. Luke wrote for ‘Most Excellent' Theophilus and it is possible that he was a judge, or a lawyer who was going to defend Paul at his trial. And from details in the Bible, it would seem that Paul's lawyer was successful at this particular trial and he was released and able to proceed with his great work. David Pawson says that it was really Christianity that was on trial in Rome, rather than Paul. Luke draws attention to those seemingly small events which resulted in spreading the Gospel.

Part 66 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In this 2nd talk on John's gospel, David Pawson shows that he was correcting misunderstandings which had developed after Jesus' death. He had to correct ancient Greek thinking. They divided the sacred from the secular so had difficulty in seeing that Jesus was both God and man at the same time. So John emphasizes Jesus' full humanity and his prayer life as well as his full divinity. John introduces 7 witnesses to Jesus' divinity, 7 miracles which are the most supernatural, and 7 words of Jesus which were absolutely unique. John's interest in Jesus was in what he was. He went right back to the beginning to show that Jesus already was there as ‘The Logos' who spoke creation into existence. Jesus is ‘The Reason' for everything. John says 4 things about The Logos – In the beginning he was already there (eternal); he was ‘face to face with God' (personal); he was God; and The Logos became flesh and ‘pitched his tent among us'. As believers in Jesus, John says we will know life which continues, we will not walk in darkness, we will live in freedom, not slavery, we'll live a life of truth (reality), and we won't live under God's wrath. This gospel tells more about the Holy Spirit which enables us.

Part 65 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson, in looking at the gospel of John, speaks about the variety and yet the unity of scripture which had 40 human authors and one divine Editor. The authors retained their personalities. The book of John has a difference from the other 3 gospels. David says it's as though John is looking at the ‘inside' of Jesus – what was he like, what was his real Person. Of the 12 disciples, John was the closest to Jesus. He omits much said in the other gospels – the conception & birth, baptism, temptations, casting out of demons, the transfiguration, the Last Supper, Gethsemane, the ascension – because of his purpose in writing. But there are some very important extras – 5 particular miracles which he sees as ‘signs'; Peter and the foot washing; Jesus' dealing with individuals; 7 claims of Jesus. David irons out seeming contradictions. Rather than concentrating on short parables, John writes about Jesus' ministry in the south of Israel where he was not popular, his arguments with the Jews and long discourses. David explains the difference between the ancient Greek thinking which the West has adopted and Hebrew thinking – which is important in our understanding of the Bible.

Part 64 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that while Luke's gospel is the best loved because of some of its stories, it is the least well known. He is the only Gentile writer in the Bible and was a doctor. Because of his medical background he provides unique details. David compares Luke's parables. He wrote for one man, Theophilus, possibly to gain freedom for the Apostle Paul who was at that time released and able to continue his missionary journey. While Luke used material from Mark, he also did a lot of original research. Unique to Luke - #1 The birth stories, all from Mary's angle. #2 A story of Jesus' boyhood. #3 Details about Jesus' baptism in water and Holy Spirit. #4 The ‘Sermon on the Mount' apparently preached at a different time in a different way. #5 A woe for every blessing given. #6 Various parables. #7 Incidents involving individuals. The groups he had an interest in were Samaritans; Gentiles like himself; outcasts; women; the poor; and ‘sinners'. There's also a definite supernatural aspect to Luke – angels, the Holy Spirit. Luke is the gospel for everybody presenting Jesus as the Saviour of the world.

Part 63 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that the gospels are essentially news bulletins, better read aloud. Mark was the first gospel written and he is primarily telling us what Jesus did. The 4 gospels together give us a 4-dimensional portrait of Jesus because they had different readers in mind. Mark and Luke wrote for unbelievers. Though Mark was never a leader in the early church he was an assistant and/or interpreter to no fewer than 4 men at various times. His gospel recorded Peter's preaching and is a book of action. There are more miracles than parables recorded here. There is nothing of Jesus' birth or boyhood. It is thought that Matthew and Luke used Mark's framework and expanded on it from their knowledge for their gospel records. The first 9 chapters deal with the first 2-and-a-half years of Jesus' ministry in Galilee in northern Israel, then he concentrated on his 12 disciples for 6 months (chapter 10) then the last week of Jesus' life on earth took chapters 11 to 16. David shows what altered the course of Jesus' ministry. There is a remarkable emphasis on both the human and the divine aspects of Jesus' death.

Part 62 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  Two of the 4 gospels were written for sinners (Mark & Luke) and two for Christians. Matthew is a manual of discipleship, the best book of the New Testament to take a new convert through. “You disciple someone by teaching them how to live in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.” The expectations of Jew and Christian regarding the Messiah and the Kingdom differ. We are living in the overlap of the “present evil age” and the establishment of the Kingdom on earth. David says that all 5 sermons of Jesus recorded in Matthew are important, and are all about how to be subjects of the kingdom. The Kingdom needs not only the good Sovereign but also good subjects. The 5 sermons: #1The Sermon on the Mount – the lifestyle of the Kingdom. #2The Mission of the Kingdom: we have a mission to bring others into the kingdom by demonstrating and then declaring the Kingdom. #3What to Expect: Don't be disappointed that not every seed sown yields a harvest. #4The Community of the Kingdom: Church discipline is included. #5The Future of the Kingdom: 4 clear signs of Jesus' second coming given. God is both King and Father. Faith, Righteousness and Judgment are themes of Matthew. We must never forget what Jesus has done for us.

Part 61 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David begins by speaking about how God meant us to read the Bible. He says that somebody has damaged our Bibles by adding chapter and verse numbers and we have become ‘text people'. The gospels are not strictly biographies as more than one-third of the text describes the death of Jesus. David says that they are more like extended news bulletins. The writers had witnessed events and they reported on them. Why are there 4 gospels? David compares them. He looks at this book from two angles: who was Matthew hoping to reach and what was his intention. Matthew presents Jesus as the king of the Jews, particularly recording what Jesus said. Jesus was popular in the north of Israel but unpopular in the south where he was eventually killed. Matthew uses Mark as his framework but adds much more, beginning with the conception and birth of Jesus. He has 5 sermons included, collected under 5 themes, interspersed with Jesus' deeds which illustrated his sermons. Matthew aimed toward Jewish readers, referring often to how Jesus' life fulfilled Old Testament scriptures, but it is for gentiles as well. David believes this gospel brings Jew and Christian together.

Part 60 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In studying Malachi, David Pawson points out 3 aspects of God we need to understand: He is the Creator from whom we come, the King under whom we live & the Judge to whom we go. David says the loving Father side in the New Testament supplements this, but doesn't substitute for this. Malachi challenges the priests. Faulty sacrifices were being made; sermons were given for popularity rather than the truths of God; they were man-pleasers instead of God-fearers. David sees a lack of the necessary fear of God in the Church today because he is treated with familiarity but not with reverence. The people were marrying outside the people of God which God had forbidden, as he has today. Divorce was rife, and Malachi told them that God hates divorce. David says, judgment will come, but it doesn't come by next Friday because of God's patience. “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” David says there is a dynamic relationship between God and his people; he is responding to them constantly. There is an important word on tithing as well. At the end of the book: Get back to the Maker's instructions; and the forecast of the coming of one like the great prophet Elijah to prepare the way for the Lord.

Part 59 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson begins the study on Malachi by discussing Replacement Theology which sees blessings promised to Israel (but not the curses) as now transferred to the Church. David says, ‘this seems to me a bad case of prejudice'. Malachi was a prophet to the returned exiles in Israel. Rebuilding had taken place, but times were hard. The people were blaming God and, though they didn't return to idolatry, were becoming complacent, their religion a formality. The priests were not passionate either. David Pawson says the more you put into your faith, the more you get out of it. Goodness disappears when God disappears. The book of Malachi is all in prose indicating that God had become drained of feelings for his people – though the Covenant with them was not broken. David says that when God spoke in poetry, it was to convey his feelings. When a nation gives God up, he gives them up. Malachi is unique in 5 features: a high proportion is the direct Word of God; it is anonymous as Malachi was not his name; sharp exchanges between prophet and people; prose not poetry; it was God's last Word for 400 years. David explains ‘love' and ‘hate' in the Bible.  

Part 58 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  Continuing his study on Zechariah, David Pawson looks at the question brought to the priest/prophet by the people regarding fasting and feasting which were part of their religion. They were wondering how long they needed to go on fasting to please God. Zechariah quoted the enlightening words of Isaiah which show that food fasting is not the principal kind that God requires, but rather ‘fasting' from mistreating others, and to be generous and kind. The exile had been the result of their selfishness and greed. Regarding their feasts, Zechariah pointed out that they needed to be celebrations of God. He seeks to give them a missionary outlook. Much of what he said in the 2nd half of the book regarded the distant future. David points out that Hebrews 1:1 says: God spoke to our fathers in the olden times through the prophets in bits and pieces. And that describes these prophecies. He says that they were like jigsaw pieces and that Revelation is “the picture on the jigsaw box lid”, fitting the pieces together. One of the pictures Zechariah presents is of a King riding on a donkey which obviously was describing Jesus. Eventually all the nations will send representatives to Israel to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

Part 57 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Zechariah overlapped Haggai by one month, and had some similar prophecies but it is not an easy book to understand. It has apocalyptic prophecies. David explains that describing something in the distant future requires pictures and symbols such as Revelation, Ezekiel and Daniel have. How would you describe television to somebody who lived a thousand years ago? Whereas Haggai dealt with the current problems, much of Zechariah's messages were looking far forward. Zechariah was a priest as well as a prophet and for the next 400 years there would be no direct word from God via prophets so priests would assume more importance. The book divides into 2 halves, the first 8 chapters concerned with the current situation in Israel. He reminds them that ignoring the prophets had caused their forefathers to be deported to Babylon. There were angels involved in messages to Zechariah. He was told that there was a window of world peace, so it was an ideal time for the Jews to get the temple built. Zechariah assures his people that the Lord will deal with the nations who harm them, but also, some Gentiles will join them. David explains symbols in the book. This is an encouraging study.

Part 56 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  While some prophets had a lifetime of prophesying, David Pawson says that Haggai spoke for only 3 months. He came after the exile, so his job was to encourage Jews who had returned. Not all Jews returned to Israel as they had become established in Babylon. The returnees had problems because the land had not been cultivated for 70 years, the walls had been torn down, there was opposition from the Samaritans and financial support was withdrawn so this was heavy going for them. Haggai spoke to them 18 years after they had returned, and he provoked them to rethink their attitudes. They had stopped building the temple because money was short, but Haggai showed them that money was short because they had stopped putting God first. When they resumed the building, there was still a drought – because they had not put their lives right with God. They responded well and Haggai encouraged them to be strong and not afraid. And eventually financial support came to them from Persia again. Haggai gave them a promise from God that His glory would fill the temple.    

Part 55 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Zephaniah was a descendant of the last good king, but now, after evil kings, there was a boy king on the throne, Josiah. What kind of king would he become? The whole nation was in chaos, having had bad examples on the throne, and God sent Zephaniah as his prophet. His job was to try to pull the nation  of Judah back to God before He would have to exile them as He had the northern 10 tribes already. Zephaniah warns the people of Judah and also the lands around them that there is coming a Day of the Lord when accounts must be settled, but there is time to repent and deflect punishment. Interestingly, God had brought the Philistines to Canaan at the same time as he had brought his chosen people - as an instrument of discipline for his people. David says it's much better to have the discipline of our Father God now than to reap eternal punishment. Zephaniah is letting the people know that the choice between God's justice and his mercy is theirs. God's last word was always to choose his mercy. For all Zephaniah's and good King Josiah's efforts, the people wouldn't listen.

Part 54 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson looks at Habakkuk and finds that the prophet sometimes argued with God because his view of Him wasn't quite accurate. But he clung to God until he got his answer. At first, he is disturbed by what is happening and calls on God for justice. When God gives his answer, he is further disturbed because He isn't going to do what Habakkuk expects. David reminds us that we often come to God and want him to fit in with what we think He should be doing. David recommends what Habakkuk did - interrogatory prayer – where we ask God questions. David says when God reveals to us what he is going to do, he does so so we can tell people to get ready. Faith - both in the Hebrew and the Greek languages – is the same as faithfulness. So we demonstrate faith by remaining faithful. Habakkuk named 5 things for which God would punish the Babylonians after they had punished the Jews – Injustice, Imperialism, Inhumanity, Intemperance and Idolatry. When he stopped arguing with God, Habakkuk ‘saw the light', and was at peace.  

Part 53 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  In looking at the book of the prophet Nahum, David Pawson says that time had run out for Assyria. Jonah had preached a warning from God 150 years earlier with great success. But now it was time for judgment. David warns that today people think that God will never be angry, because he is slow to anger, offering mercy first. Judgment on Assyria was good news for the Jews who were living under Assyrian occupancy. Chapter 1 of Nahum gives warning to the capital city of Nineveh; chapter 2 gives details of how it will happen. God doesn't judge a heathen nation for breaking the 10 Commandments, but rather for their inhumanity, and this applied to cruel Assyria. Less than a decade later, the devastation occurred & Nineveh has never been inhabited again. Why study the prophets? Because they reveal God to us. He is presented as the all-powerful God, in total control of nature and history. In our modern scientific age, we must keep hold of the fact that God can cause miracles within nature and movement within history. Also, God is a unique combination of both justice and mercy. He can change his plans for people depending on how they react to him. An important study.

Part 52 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” This is a beautiful verse from Micah. In this study of Micah, David Pawson points out that the Bible is unique in that it is a book of history and geography, not just words and thoughts. God unfolded his revelation at particular times and places, and it is helpful to understand why. As a simple country man, Micah was very aware of social injustice, and the corruption of the city was influencing the country areas. Micah was greatly disturbed by what he saw going on among the people of God – idolatry, immorality and injustice. He also has good news for the distant future. David notes that God is both just and merciful. Justice gives us what we deserve whereas mercy gives us what we don't deserve. He says that justice and mercy are not contradictory, but travel down the same road, but mercy goes further than justice. The cross demonstrates this supremely. David says Micah is a message for our time as well as his.

Part 51 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  As David Pawson looks at Jonah, he says that God would give a message to a prophet in either words or pictures and it would become like a burden within them until delivered. The message could be of challenge when people were doing wrong, or of comfort when they were on the right track. Sadly, most of the prophets, like Jonah, had to challenge. Jonah came from the same village as Jesus, Nazareth. He was called to go to Assyria's capital, Nineveh. The Assyrians were a particularly cruel people. Because of the strange story of Jonah being swallowed by a large fish when he tried to run away from his mission, many people take it as a myth or parable. David explains why he believes it is factual. He also says when you've answered the question of why Jonah ran away, the whole book will open up to you. There are 8 physical miracles in the story of Jonah, not just one. This book shows us that God is still in control of the world he created. This is an enlightening study.

Part 50 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson looks at what God was doing in the 8th Century B.C., in particular with prophets Amos and Hosea. God's great plan was to win the world back to himself through his people, the Jews. But his people did not have the same plan. He had made a covenant with them and planted them in the crossroads of the world, promising to bless them as they were obedient to him. The choice was theirs and to disobey would bring curse instead of blessing. There was a time of peace and prosperity and corruption emerged. Religion was popular but it was not true religion. When goddesses come in, religions become sexual. What was supposed to be a holy nation were becoming just like everybody else. Amos goes through the things by which God disciplined his people: a food shortage; a shortage of fresh drinking water; locusts and mildew to the crops and animals; plagues to the people; they were raided; lightning set houses on fire. Each time Amos mentioned the warnings God had sent, the refrain was the same – “yet you did not return to Me”. The last 2 disasters were an extreme earthquake and then exile from their land. Amos's prayers affected God's actions.

Part 49 of the David Pawson 'Unlocking the Bible' Podcast series  David Pawson says that Joel agreed with Obadiah that the Day of the Lord would settle accounts, but Joel warned Israel that they would be included. This was a shock to Israel as they had felt safe from God's judgment. Joel said that a terrible plague of locusts which had left them with famine had been a warning from the Lord. God had visited their enemies with disasters; now they had brought this disaster upon themselves.  David says it is similar with believers today when they realize that the Word of God warns against losing their salvation. “Sin in God's people is just as serious as sin outside God's people.” Joel called the people to repent and come back to God. David notes that Jezebel's daughter Athaliah had seized the throne on the death of the king and killed all his male descendants (except one hidden by the High Priest) and nobody had done anything to stop her. After Joel's words, Queen Athaliah was replaced by the boy who had been saved, Joash. David says that when there is true heart repentance, God can restore the years that the locusts have eaten in our lives. Joel prophesied a time when God's Spirit would be poured on believers.