Podcasts about although christ

Title: The Church: Distinct and Strong Text: Acts 16:35-40 FCF: We often struggle being used of God to preserve His church. Prop: Because Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, we must be used by God to preserve His church. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 16. In a moment we'll begin reading in verse 35 from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. In the Philippian episode of the missions journey so far, we have seen that the Lord is the one who prepares His missionaries, and the mission field. The Lord is the one who builds His church. But in the midst of that, the Lord has enemies that oppose Him. They range from powerful dark spiritual forces all the way to petty sinful humans and everything in between. But in Philippi we've seen the Lord conquer His enemies. Last week we saw the might and grace of God as He released His missionaries from prison while simultaneously destroying one of His enemies by giving a jailer and his household new hearts to believe on the Lord Jesus. Today, we will see the somewhat perplexing conclusion to this Philippian mission. We will see the Lord continue to lead His church to be victorious. But we will also see that God uses His people to accomplish that victory. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Father, we marvel at this thing that You have created called the church. The assembly of those who have been called out from their darkness and into Your light. This gathering that has been predestined in Your Son since before time began. This body that has been given the status of friend, brother, sister, bride, priesthood, co-heir, princes and princesses. We marvel at this, because we know that while all this is true of us – we are most undeserving of these gifts. We were once Your enemies. Now we are part of Your royal court. We were once children of the Devil, and now we are the bride of Your Son. Never has any rags to riches story come close to compare to the story of how You left Your throne and sought Your bride. Father use Your word today to help us recognize how Your church is distinct and unique in the world. That we have been called to a purpose that no other entity on earth can fulfill. Help us also to see that when Your church remains strong in faith it will be able to withstand the various wicked schemes we face. Help us for Your Son's sake we pray… Amen. Transition: Let us again dive right into the text this morning and consider the end of the beginning of the church in Phillipi. I.) Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, so we must do what we can to make our identity clear to the world. (35-37) a. [Slide 2] 35 - Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” i. It is interesting that nothing in this text is said at all about the previous night's earthquake. 1. In the western manuscripts we do have a small comment inserted which suggests that the earthquake sent the chief magistrates into a similarly fearful state as the Philippian jailer, and led them to conclude that Paul and Silas needed to be released quickly. 2. However, no early manuscripts include this statement and it is almost certainly an inserted commentary and not original to the text of Acts. 3. So why do the magistrates act as if nothing happened the night before? 4. Perhaps, since earthquakes are so common in Greece, an earthquake shaking foundations but not collapsing buildings is not worth further consideration? 5. And so the next day proceeds as they had planned it would. ii. Paul and Silas' crime was disturbing the peace and insisting that Romans practice cultic Jewish practices and beliefs rather than being Romans. 1. Jews had earned many reputations in the Roman Empire. Some of the more unsavory reputations were that they were rebels, diviners, and shysters. 2. We have already pointed out that the general consensus of the city of Philippi was antisemitic. And with reputations such as these, we might understand why. 3. And now, unfortunately, Paul and Silas were lumped into this and viewed as rebels and shysters peddling anti-Roman beliefs and practices. iii. For this crime, they were beaten with rods and spent a night in prison pinned to a wall. iv. This completed their sentence in the eyes of the city magistrates. v. So, the next morning they send their policemen to the jailer to inform him of their release. b. [Slide 3] 36 - And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore, come out now and go in peace.” i. Here we see that the jailer did, in fact, return Paul and Silas to their jail cell for the night. ii. Even though he was now a believer, and even though he knew that these two men were unjustly punished for a crime they did not commit, and even though he had washed and fed these men the previous night, the jailer still obeys the city magistrate and does not free Paul and Silas from their cell. To do otherwise would risk his life, career, and is wholly unnecessary to defend the cause of Christ. iii. Even in the cell though, it seems by his statement that Paul and Silas are not bound to the wall any longer since he simply told them to come out and go in peace. iv. The jailer either adds to the words of the policemen or Luke gives a fuller account of what the policemen said through the words of the jailer. v. In any event, the blow is softened some by bidding them to go in peace. vi. However, this peace was attained in the eyes of the magistrates by the payment of what was owed because of their crime. vii. They can go in peace because they had paid their debt to the city. c. [Slide 4] 37 - But Paul said to them, “Having beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, they have thrown us into prison. And now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” i. This is, perhaps, one of the more perplexing statements in the book of Acts to understand. ii. We need to know what Paul is saying and we need to know why he is saying it. The “what” is actually fairly straightforward, but the “why” is where we will have to do some detective work. iii. What is Paul saying here? 1. The core of the matter is that Paul claims that he and Silas are both Roman citizens. 2. Now for a fuller discussion about Roman citizenry, you can always chat with me later or come to a Thursday Night Bible Study (not this week) but another perhaps. 3. The Scriptures indicate to us that Paul was actually born a Roman citizen and probably had the birth declaration to prove it. Silas, we aren't sure, but in other texts he is referred to as Silvanus, which is a purely Latin name, like Paul. 4. Paul and Silas would be unlikely to impersonate a citizen since this would be a crime with heavy penalties. 5. But what are the privileges of being a Roman citizen. a. Well among other things they had legal rights. b. They could sue and be sued, they could appeal court decisions, they had the right to a legal trial which required specific charges and genuine witnesses which supported that charge. Evidence would need to be brought and a lawyer must be present to argue their case. c. And, a citizen was NEVER allowed to be whipped or tortured during an investigation and the only way they could be sentenced to death was for the crime of treason against the Empire. 6. I hope you see the issue Paul is raising. a. They are both citizens… yet… b. They have been treated as though they were non-citizens. c. So, what is the punishment for that? i. For the magistrates, they could be stripped of their office, they could be heavily fined, they could be publicly shamed, they could be exiled, or even worse punishments than these. ii. Certainly, it would be a very shameful thing for the city to endure, being so prideful in their status as a Roman colony to be found abusing Roman citizens. d. So… Paul saying this is no small matter. 7. But that still leaves us with the question of… why. iv. Why does Paul say this? He and Silas were free to go. There doesn't seem to be anything to gain here by revealing after the fact that they were Roman citizens. So, what are Paul's motives? 1. Is Paul seeking revenge? Is he just a stickler for the law? Is he the kind of guy that will always stick up for his rights? None of these explanations fit with the context of Acts nor the character of Paul. So why is Paul doing this? 2. Even though it may be hard for us to see at first, the real reason Paul brings this whole matter to a head here, is the future security of the Philippian church. a. We have already established that Philippi was a city of antisemitic inclinations. b. So much so that Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned on the basis that they were Jews and had the audacity to tell the Romans to be more Jewish and less Roman. c. They were publicly beaten, and shamefully imprisoned. Their reputation now affiliates them with Jewish rabble rousers who are anti-Roman. d. Such a public image is now being projected onto the church and the gospel it preaches. e. What we have here from Paul is a shattering of that narrative. f. The story that everyone bought was that they were a bunch of Jewish shysters trying to peddle their faith and practices in this Roman city, when in fact they were Roman citizens, freely teaching and preaching things that were neither Anti-Roman nor pro-Jew. g. And because their beating and their imprisoning was public, in order to disassociate their shame from the church there in Philippi and the cause of Christ in general, they needed their citizenship to be made public too. h. Paul demands that the civil magistrates come down to the jail and release them themselves. Not secretly… but publicly. i. What is the motive behind this? j. Paul is attempting to secure the future of the church in Philippi. k. If the church inherits and keeps this anti-roman stereotype, it would certainly be quickly purged from the city.. l. But if the church was established by Roman citizens of various ethnic backgrounds who believed in the message of the gospel, it would be acceptable in the city. m. In fact, in the book of Philippians, which was written probably about 10 years later, the church there was just beginning to suffer persecution. n. Meaning that Paul's actions here, at least from a human perspective, bought the church a decade of peaceful development. d. [Slide 5] Summary of the Point: What is clear from the entire record of the missionaries' time in Philippi, is that no matter who or what stands against it, the Lord and His church cannot be stopped. All the wicked schemes of demons and men cannot hope to thwart what God is doing in and through His true church. Even though God will do this, that does not mean that His church does nothing to preserve itself. In fact, the MEANS that God often uses to lead to His church being victorious is when His church rises to action. In this text we will see two ways that we can be God's tools in preserving His church. The first of these is demonstrated by Paul in verse 34. We must do all we can to make sure our identity as Christ's church is clear to the world. For Paul, it was making sure that no one thought the church was anti-Roman or pro-Jew. Now were there things about Jewish culture that the church agreed with? Of course. Were there things with the Roman culture that the church opposed? Of course. But when the church's identity is skewed, even slightly, it loses its savor and becomes good for nothing. When individual local churches do this… they lose their candle. In the application today, we will explore this more deeply. But for now, we must move on. Transition: [Slide 6 (blank)] One way we can be used of God to preserve His church and come out victorious is by preserving the identity of the church and not allowing it to be affiliated with improper or lesser causes. But what is another way we can be used to preserve the church? II.) Christ's church will not be stopped by wicked schemes, so we must do all we can to encourage one another and build each other up. (38 -40) a. [Slide 7] 38 - And the policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, i. Here we see the desired effect of Paul's revelation of their citizenship coming home to roost. ii. The chief magistrates of the city are severely afraid of what might happen to them and to the city, should it get out that they and the city had beaten and imprisoned Roman citizens without a fair trial. iii. All of them were guilty and all of them could be sued and face harsh penalty. iv. And so, what must they do? b. [Slide 8] 39 - and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept requesting them to leave the city. i. The chief magistrates humble themselves to come to the prison and personally release Paul and Silas from prison. ii. Notice that they appeal to them – or another way to say this – they begin deep negotiation with them. The question is… how do we all save face here. Certainly, they don't want to publicly admit they did this for a couple reasons. 1. First, as we've pointed out, if this gets too public, they might be on the hook for some penalties from Roman authorities. 2. We also need to consider the potential political and economic dilemma they face. Paul and Silas were brought into this mess by a fairly wealthy syndicate of slave owners. If the magistrates overcorrect, they could have a political problem on their hands too. iii. But, Paul and Silas cannot allow their reputation, and the church's reputation by extension, to be so marred by the events that have transpired. iv. There is no question that these magistrates have been severely humbled and are forced to enter what we can imagine was a very tense negotiation with Paul and Silas. v. We see also that they are now requesting them to leave the city. Why? 1. First, we should see that this is a continued request. Meaning that Paul and Silas, at least for a time, refused to leave. 2. Second, this is a request and not a command nor is it as if they were allowing them to leave. This is further proof of their humbling. 3. But why do they want them to leave? a. Well of course to lessen the impact of this word getting out. b. The longer Paul and Silas stayed in Philippi the more likely it would be that people would find out that they were Roman citizens and that they had treated them unjustly. c. Also, the longer Paul and Silas stayed, the more likely that trouble would continue with the masters of the slave girl and the chief magistrates. vi. So, what is the outcome of all this negotiation? vii. Basically, going forward, we can assume a “you scratch my back I scratch yours” kind of arrangement. viii. The church will be allowed to continue to operate without hindrance from the city officials, and with a good reputation to boot. And Paul and Silas would leave, somewhat quietly, and without causing a ruckus. c. [Slide 9] 40 - And they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and left. i. After Paul and Silas leave the prison grounds, they travel to Lydia's home where they reconnect with those who had believed in Philippi up to this point. ii. More than likely they had been in the city for several weeks and many had believed on Jesus and been saved. iii. It is in Lydia's home, the staging ground of the Philippian church, that they encourage these believers, no doubt to continue in the faith and preaching of the gospel. iv. As we move on to chapter 17 we will notice that the pronouns will change from “we” to “they”. v. Since we see that Paul, Silas and Timothy are mentioned later by name, this means that Luke stays behind in Philippi, no doubt to help the fledgling church continue to thrive. 1. This would further perpetuate the true identity of the church there since Luke was a gentile. 2. Him staying back would also be enough to pressure the chief magistrates to keep their end of the bargain. d. [Slide 10] Summary of the Point: And so, we see that the Lord has preserved and kept His church in Philippi from being uprooted and cast out. Instead, it has been given a chance to thrive. The Lord used the shrewdness of Paul to accomplish this. But it wasn't only Paul's wisdom in handling the situation with the reputation of the church – but it was also his pastoral heart to go and encourage the small body of believers that had sprung up there in Philippi. He returns to Lydia's home to encourage them. This is another way we can be used of God to preserve His church. We can encourage one another. We can teach and grow each other. We can edify each other. We can build each other up. As we encourage one another, it actively preserves and builds the individual faiths of those who make up the body of Christ. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 11] The book of Acts clearly establishes God's sovereignty in the advancement of His gospel and the building of His church. Of course this doesn't mean He has no enemies opposing Him. In fact, there are both spiritual and physical enemies actively opposing Him and His church. But as we've seen in the city of Philippi, Christ will preserve His church through all the wicked schemes against it. But Christ's assured victory does not lead to our complacence. Rather, knowing that He will preserve us gives us the confidence we need to go and be faithfully used of God to preserve His church. We see that in two ways in the text today. First, externally toward the world the church's identity must be preserved. In order for the church to endure, it must remain clear what the church is and is not. The church's distinctives must remain. Therefore, we ought to be used of God to clarify and clean up the identity of the church to the watching world. Secondly, internally toward the faith of the church, we must encourage one another and build each other up in the teachings of the Lord. This includes both discipleship toward Christ likeness and also faithful reminding of the Lord's promises. Being used in this way ensures the endurance of the church through the trials we face as our faith is built and perfected. But let me see if we can get to some specifics regarding these things. 1.) [Slide 12] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must believe that the Lord will preserve His true church. a. God kept the missionaries from going anywhere but Macedonia. b. God guided them here to Philippi. c. God opened the heart of Lydia. d. God shook the ground to release them from prison. e. God struck fear into the heart of the jailer. f. God gave faith to the jailer and his entire household. g. God gave Paul and Silas their citizenship. h. God used their citizenship to preserve His fledgling church in the city of Philippi. i. And for 2000 years God has preserved His church. j. And should the Lord wait that long… He will preserve it another 2000 and beyond. k. God's true church, those who are truly united to Christ by faith, are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. They will be presented faultless before the throne of God. The work which Christ began in them will be completed. l. There is no shadow of doubt that God's true church will be preserved until the end and that no force of hell and no scheme of man will ever pluck them from His hand. m. Why? n. Because He will do this. And what the Lord has said He will do… It is as good as done. o. But we cannot pendulum swing too far in this teaching… 2.) [Slide 13] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that this applies to every single local visible church assembly. a. Every word in what is on the screen is very important. b. Certainly, God will preserve His true church. c. But not every local assembly will be preserved. d. Not every visible church will endure. e. How do we harmonize these two statements? f. Quite simply – not every local church, not every visible church, and not every member of every local or visible church are actually part of Christ's true church. g. When I say local and visible, I mean the entity that we often associate with the church. This building. This denomination, This particular assembly here in Columbus Michigan. The collection of our particular membership rolls. h. Christ's true church is global. It is not bound by a certain location. Christ's true church is invisible. There is not one name or one building in which they meet. And the true church's membership roll is the book of life. And only Christ as the judge will open this book. i. The day may come when Columbus Baptist Church no longer exists. All our members may withdraw or abandon their membership obligations, our constitution may fail, our Elders may fail, or persecution may make it impossible for us to keep any visible mark of our existence. j. But my friends, should a day like this ever occur – it in no way destroys the promise that Christ will preserve His church. k. In Revelation 2 and 3, we find a series of 7 churches in Asia. Each of them is a local assembly who had been established by the direct result of the ministry of the apostles. l. Five of those seven churches were already failing in one way or another to accurately represent Christ or to maintain a strong faith amid trials. John writes them to correct this. This proves to us that it is not wrong for us to act in order to preserve a local assembly… m. But today – 0 out of those 7 local churches exist. n. This is not because Christ has failed, but rather because no local assembly has such an eternal promise given to them. o. So, what can we do to be used of God to see His church preserved, in our local assembly and beyond? 3.) [Slide 14] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must do all we can to encourage and build up the body of Christ. a. This is what we might call an internal check against the decay that visible churches often face. b. In this text we saw Paul ministering to the fledgling church in Lydia's home, encouraging them before he departed the city. c. We also see Paul appoint a godly and trusted man, who was equipped to lead this fledgling church forward. d. Although our view is very brief, we get the impression that this is the role we all must have when considering the spiritual fitness of the visible church. e. In order to battle atrophy of the muscles, you must use them and exercise them. In order to fight against the atrophy of faith, it must also be exercised and fed. f. And so, the question arises – how can we build our faith? How do we make our faith stronger? g. Historically the church has recognized that the way our faith is built is by attendance to the means of grace that the Lord has given His people. h. These means are particularly the ministry of the Word, prayer, the fellowship of the saints, and the sacraments. Interestingly, the historical means of grace are essentially what the church devoted itself to in Acts 2:42. i. From the Elders all the way down to those who are new believers, we all must do all we can to build up the body of Christ. Although Christ is sure to preserve His church, the way that we as individuals are preserved, and we as a local assembly are preserved, is to be His true church. And the way we do that is by growing in our faith and Christ-likeness. j. And so, the question is – who are you building up in the faith? Who is building you? k. If the answer to either or both of those questions is… no one. Then you must give attention to this thought. l. Those whose faith does not endure to the end, will not enter the kingdom of God. m. But this internal check is not the only way we can be used to preserve the church. 4.) [Slide 15] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop muddying the identity of the church. a. Inadvertently Paul and Silas had yoked various causes to the church in Philippi. The church became pro-Jew, Anti-Roman, Anti-Commerce, and thus Anti-Philippi. b. It appeared to those outside the church that it was a threat to their way of life and an attack on their city and even on the empire. c. Paul, shrewdly confesses at the most opportune moment that he and Silas are Roman citizens. And demands that the chief magistrates of the city come down and release them from prison themselves. d. In doing this, Paul divorces these petty causes from the church, allowing the church to continue to exist in peace in the city of Philippi. e. Now I have not made a great study of this, but I'd wager that if you go down through the ages, I'd say that at least in many cases if not most, when the local church fails, it is because it has lost its true identity. f. There are two ways the church can lose its identity. Either by adding to what it should be or by taking away from what it should be. Or both. g. In our culture and around our world the visible church and the different movements within it are constantly battling against the church being co-opted by lesser causes or against sacrificing God given distinctives in order to be relevant or acceptable to the world. h. Here are a few things the church is not. The church is… i. Not a charitable organization ii. Not a place of healing for all broken people iii. Not a welcoming place that accepts you for who you are iv. Not a great place to raise a family v. Not a great way to meet people like yourself vi. Not a bastion for conservative values vii. Not a prop for a political party viii. Not a weapon against abortion or the LGBTQIA+ community i. Certainly, the church has much to say about each of these things… but none of these are the identity of the church. j. What is the church's true identity? k. [Slide 16] The church is a community of individuals who have each been elected of God and appointed for eternal life, whom the Father called out from darkness into His light, whom the Son sought and purchased through His atoning death, whom the Spirit convicts, guides and unifies into all truth, who loves God through Christ in the Spirit and shows this by worshipping Him and growing in personal knowledge of Him through His Son and who make Him known through the nations by discipling one another, living holy lives, and sharing the gospel publicly even if it costs them everything. l. The church must keep its identity pure, otherwise it will be cast aside. m. The church of Ephesus in Revelation 2 had lost its first love. It was many good things – but it was not what it was supposed to be. Why? Because it had abandoned putting the love and worship of God… first. n. My friends, Columbus Baptist Church must be known as this kind of church – or we are sure to fall. o. But even if we do fall… take heart and take comfort. 5.) [Slide 17] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” The gates of hell will not prevail against the church that Christ is building. a. Many great individuals, organizations, movements, churches, and even entire denominations have fallen in the last decade. b. Though they were once great bastions of truth and beacons of the gospel – they have succumbed to weak faith and identity collapse. Now they are empty husks. Chaff fit for the fire. c. We may be tempted, my friends, to allow their failure to steal our hope that the Lord will preserve His church. d. But my friends… even if they are left behind… The Lord will preserve His remnant. Though many men abandon the gospel – God's true church never will. e. Though the gates of hell stand against it… Christ will build His kingdom at the very entrance… for it will not fall. Not while the captain of our salvation leads the charge. [Slide 18(end)] Let me close with a prayer from the Apostolic Constitutions. Lord, we pray for peace in this world, and in our churches, spread around the world. God of the whole world, give us your everlasting peace, and take it not away. Preserve us. Keep the church unshaken and free from the waves of this life, founded on a rock until the end of the age. We pray for this local church, that the Lord of the whole world would preserve and keep it unshaken, and free from the waves of this life, until the end of the world. Stoop down to us here to keep us following the hope of heaven, as we rightly divide your word of truth. We pray for our pastors and those in leadership. God of compassion, give them health and honor in godliness and right living. We pray for your protection and mercy in their lives. We pray for those who give, that you would return to them eternal things for earthly things. We pray for new believers, that you would strengthen and confirm them in their faith. We pray for the sick, that you would deliver and heal them from every disease, and restore them to us in full health. We pray for those who travel, and we pray for those in prison. We pray for those who oppose or even hate us, and for those who persecute us. Pacify their anger and scatter their wrath. We pray for those who are still outside the fellowship, and for those who have wandered. Save them, Lord. We pray for the youngest, that you would meet them and perfect them in holy reverence for you, and bring them to a complete age. Preserve us by your grace to the end, and deliver us from the evil one. Keep us from scandals and preserve us for your kingdom. Raise us up by your mercy, as we dedicate ourselves to one another and to you, the living God, through Jesus Christ, amen. Benediction: May the Lord who never sleeps, Who Keeps Israel in His holy care, Who will not suffer that your foot be moved, Nor fail in his certain aid, Keep you from now on, yea, forever more. Until we meet again, go in peace.

A MAJOR theme in the book of Mark is Christ's authority. In Mark, Jesus continuously reveals His authority, begging the question, "does Christ have authority in MY life?" Bev and Delaney discuss Christ's words and actions which reveal His supreme authority. Although Christ's authority isn't always a popular message, it is crucial to understand. Understanding the authority of Christ should be a Christian's comfort, because it mean Christ has permission and control over all areas of life. Thankfully, Mark has a lot to say about Christ's authority, tune in to learn more.

Generational Curses Part 1 A generational curse in the bloodline means you may have a propensity, a bent, to go down the same path as someone in your family, but it is not until you do, that you would have the consequences of that sin. You always have a choice. Jesus died for all, but all are not saved. To come to salvation, a person must repent of their sin and appropriate-or claim-the blood of Jesus. Although Christ is the remedy for generational curses, we must personally repent for the sin that brought the curses and then renounce the curses and appropriate His blood. Date of Service June 6th, 2024

Generational Curses Part 1 A generational curse in the bloodline means you may have a propensity, a bent, to go down the same path as someone in your family, but it is not until you do, that you would have the consequences of that sin. You always have a choice. Jesus died for all, but all are not saved. To come to salvation, a person must repent of their sin and appropriate-or claim-the blood of Jesus. Although Christ is the remedy for generational curses, we must personally repent for the sin that brought the curses and then renounce the curses and appropriate His blood. Date of Service June 6th, 2024

After a game, a college basketball star stayed behind to help workers throw out empty cups and food wrappers. When a fan posted a video of him in action, more than eighty thousand people viewed it. One person commented, “[The young man] is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life.” It would’ve been easier for the basketball player to leave with his teammates and celebrate his role in the team’s victory. Instead, he volunteered for a selfless job. The ultimate spirit of humility is seen in Jesus, who left His high position in heaven to take the role of a servant on earth (Philippians 2:7). Jesus didn’t have to do it, but He willingly humbled himself. His ministry on earth included teaching, healing, and loving all people—and dying and rising to save them. Although Christ’s example can inspire us to sweep a floor, pick up a hammer, or dish up food, it may be most powerful when it finds its way into our attitude toward others. True humility is an inner quality that not only changes our actions but also changes what’s important to us. It motivates us to “value others above [ourselves]” (v. 3). Author and preacher Andrew Murray said, “Humility is the bloom and the beauty of holiness.” May our lives reflect this beauty as, through the power of His Spirit, we reflect the heart of Christ (vv. 2–5).

Luke 2:7 — The Christmas message as found in Holy Scripture is full of mystery. As one meditates on the true meaning of Christmas, one wonders why the eternal Son of God came in the particular way He did. Why was He born of a virgin? Why was He not born in a palace? Why did the Son of God live such a humble existence on earth as a carpenter? In this sermon on Luke 2:7 titled “As Little Children,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores these questions in this thought-provoking Christmas message. He reminds the listener that the manner in which the Son of God came to earth stands in direct opposition to the pride, pomp, and outward show of fallen humanity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the coming of the Son of God condemns the world. It condemns the world in how it evaluates greatness, in its belief in wealth, and belief in itself. But, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Son of God coming to the world offers hope to the world. Although Christ comes in an entirely different manner than the world might expect, He comes to point to the way of salvation. He shows the world the necessity of becoming humble, so that God will become powerful in His children's lives.

Series: All! Jesus has all authority, So that all nationsMight pledge all allegiance to him.Title: “How do you prepare for the return of Jesus Christ?” Part 2Scripture: Matthew 24:36-51Bottom line: As we watch and wait for his sudden return, we prepare by loving people in word and action.David Platt's main idea: “Although Christ's delay may be long, His return in judgment will be sudden and irreversible, so we must be prepared by trusting Him now with a persevering faith that bears fruit.”DISCUSSION QUESTIONSSERMON OUTLINE & NOTESMAIN REFERENCES USEDDISCUSSION QUESTIONSDiscussion questions for group and personal study. Reflect and Discuss:1. What differentiates unhelpful speculation from a sincere desire to understand our future hope? 2. Summarize the overarching point of Matthew 24:1-36 in one or two sentences. 3. What factors make it difficult to determine the timing and the relationship between the destruction of Jerusalem and Jesus' second coming? 4. How should we respond to those who take a different view of prophecies such as those we read in Matthew 24? 5. Explain how this passage points us away from sinful, short-term pleasures. 6. How does this text speak to the authority and divinity of Jesus Christ? 7. What kind of treatment should believers expect as they await Christ's return? 8. What does it look like for followers of Christ to be eagerly watching for Jesus and urgently working for His kingdom purposes? 9. As it concerns Jesus' return, which truths in this passage should discourage us from date-setting or from making rash judgments based on current events? 10. How should the second coming of Christ inform our witness in the world?Final Questions (optional or in place of above)What is God saying to you right now? What are you going to do about it?Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcastQ. What do I want them to know?A. Jesus is coming back any day and he will reward or judge.Q. Why do I want them to know it?A. Because their eternity will be based on what they do with this knowledge.Q. What do I want them to do about it?A. Prepare for his sudden return by serving loving people in word and deed.Q. Why do I want them to do it?A. Because that will be the fruit of true repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation.Q. How can they begin to do this?A. Repent of your sins, turn to Christ for your eternal salvation, and love people as you await his sudden return.SERMON OUTLINE & NOTESIntroductionToday we will answer the question: how do we prepare for the return of Jesus Christ?Illustration: NEAR THE END OF World War II downtown Warsaw was almost completely leveled. According to one witness, the only skeletal structure remaining on the main street was the Polish headquarters of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The words engraved upon the only wall standing, which were clearly legible from the street, were the words, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." —O'DonnellIn Matthew 24:35, the passage states, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” In this context, “heaven” refers to the physical realm, the sky, or the universe. It emphasizes the enduring nature of God's words compared to the transient nature of the material world. It signifies that God's words and promises are steadfast and reliable, transcending the temporary nature of earthly things.Jesus said this in the midst of talking about his return. He says what he means and he means what he says. We should take his words seriously. SERMON OUTLINEWhat do we learn about God?God is omniscient.God is sovereign.God is moving providentially.God is moving purposefully.God will send his son again suddenly, unexpectedly, and very publicly. God is holy and will judge wickedness thoroughly.God is holy and judges sin for eternity while rewarding with righteousness by grace through faith.God will rescue by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.God commands with all authority calling for all obedience.God expects all allegiance from all nations for he is worthy.What do we learn about people?We doubt/don't trust God/Christ.We disobey his commands regularly.We live for the moment instead of in light of eternity.We are largely unprepared for his return.We cannot know when he will return. We are unfaithful servants, at best.We are unwise apart from God's grace.We don't do good very often.We don't take responsibility.We are not omniscient.We do not fear God or the consequences of our sins.S.P.E.C.Sins to avoidNot keeping watch for Christ's sudden return.Not preparing for Christ's sudden return.Trying to predict when his return will be.Living only for today.Faithfully and wisely serving the Lord as we await his return.Promises to rememberHe's coming back and you can't miss it.He'll judge in holiness for our faithfulness and wisdom and how we prepared.He will gather his elect.Examples to followThe one who keeps watch for his return.The one who prepares for his return.The one who is faithful and wise in serving the Lord as they await his return.Commands to keepKeep watch for his return.Prepare for his return. Believe his words about the future by watching and preparing.Illustrations in the textCosmic display and like lightning (that even the blind can see) and trumpet blast (that even the deaf can hear) will announce his obvious and public return.Days of NoahIt is business as usual for most people just as it was in the days of Noah. Few are watching and preparing for God's righteous return. Noah watched and prepared by building the ark and preaching why for 120 years.Christians today watch and prepare by building our salvation by grace through faith (Sanctification) so that when he returns we will not be alarmed by ready to continue love people through our words and actions.2 men in the field; 2 women grinding grainWe are with others who know/didn't know the LordNo matter what else you think can save you (family, church, good works), ultimately, only faith in Christ. Could be the rapture too. What do we do while we wait?We serve God and people FaithfullyWiselyWell By grace through faith“We live with our eyes on the clouds and on the crowds.” -Greg Stier, Dare2Share.org Are you watching and preparing for Jesus' return?ConclusionBottom line: As we watch and wait for his sudden return, we love people with our words and actions.The Folly of What Noah Preachedby Jon Bloom, desiringgod.org, https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-folly-of-what-noah-preached March 28, 2014Paul wrote, “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). In Noah, we have an Old Testament illustration of this. Ponder how Noah's warnings about fantastic “events as yet unseen” (Hebrews 11:7) must have sounded to his hearers (I've imagined two, Talmai and Bakbukiah).“This is madness!” Talmai was alarmed by the huge piles of logs around the vast clearing and all the hired men cutting and hauling them. “How long will this boat be?”Noah braced for a deluge of ridicule. “Three hundred cubits.”“Unbelievable!” Bakbukiah laughed incredulously. “Three hundred? You were right!” he said slapping Talmai's back. “I said, ‘No one's that stupid.' But I stand corrected!”Talmai shook his head in disbelief. “Noah, you've lost your mind! No one can build a boat that big!”“You are an idiot!” shouted Bakbukiah. “You're building a three hundred cubit boat six-day's journey from the sea?”“It won't need to be near the sea,” Noah replied.“Oh, come on, Noah!” said Talmai exasperated. “You've been preaching about this flood of divine judgment. But look around! You seriously believe all this is going to be under water?”“Talmai, I don't base my faith merely on what seems plausible to me,” said Noah.“Well, that's obvious!” Bakbukiah scoffed.Noah held up his hand and continued, “I base my faith on what God says he will do.”“Whose god, Noah?” said Talmai flatly.“The only God there is, Talmai: Elohim, the Almighty, the Creator,” said Noah.“So Elohim is a mass murderer then?” said Bakbukiah mockingly.“Bakbukiah, you're speaking foolishness,” said Noah firmly.“I'm speaking foolishness!” snapped Bakbukiah. “You're building a colossal boat in the middle of nowhere because some bloodthirsty god told you to and you're calling me foolish?”“Yes, I am! because you're assuming that what looks foolish to you is foolish,” replied Noah unwaveringly.“Building this ark doesn't just look foolish, Noah,” said Talmai curtly.“Tell me what foolishness is, Talmai,” countered Noah intensely.“Foolishness is that, my friend,” said Bakbukiah, gesturing toward the site.“No, I want you to answer the question. What is foolishness?” said Noah.“It's believing something that isn't real!” exclaimed Talmai. “Basing your life on a delusion!”“Exactly!” said Noah. “Foolishness is basing your life on a delusion.”Both men looked at Noah for a moment perplexed.Talmai snorted. “You're saying that we're the deluded ones?”“Yes. What makes you certain that you're not deluded?” asked Noah.“Common sense, Noah!” Try it! Comes in handy in boat building,” chortled Bakbukiah.“Common sense? Whose common sense, Bakbukiah?” responded Noah. “Yours? The common sense you exercise when beating your wives when you're angry? Or when you try to take advantage of every customer you can? Or perhaps it's the common sense of your friend, Jobab, who extorted sex from the wife of a man indebted to him? Or the common sense of that man to cut Jobab's throat? Or, Talmai, was it your common sense in working your slave into the ground and beating him mercilessly for petty infractions? Or your slave's common sense in raping your daughter before he escaped? Or, Bakbukiah, was it the chief's common sense to run your father through with a spear for laughing at him?”“Watch your tongue, old man, if you want to keep it,” threatened Bakbukiah.“Point made then,” replied Noah. “Depravity is rampant everywhere. We always carry our weapons because we can't trust anyone. And when we're honest, we know we aren't trustworthy. The most common sense we share is our evil selfishness.”“Listen, that's beside the point!” asserted Talmai. “The point is there isn't going to be any flood and this huge ark is a waste of time, money, and trees!”“It's not beside the point,” said Noah. “Elohim has been warning us for generations to forsake our evil, self-absorbed sin and return to him. No one has listened! We have only gotten worse. We're consuming each other! The point is that your perception of reality is distorted by self-centeredness, Talmai. Elohim created the predictable world you know. And it's foolish to presume that he can't turn this plain into a sea.”“Well, if he does, this Elohim of yours is as wicked as the rest of us. He's just going to drown us all like dogs,” replied Bakbukiah. “Except you, of course, being so righteous.”“Not true, Bakbukiah! It is not Elohim's blood thirst and selfishness that is bringing the flood. It's his justice. It's what our sin deserves! Don't you see? In his mercy he has been warning us over and over. But the ark is a sign that he will not wait forever. And God isn't sparing me because my nature is any better than yours. He's sparing me because I trust him. I believe what he says. And this ark will shelter anyone who will trust him. Join me, brothers! You don't have to perish in Elohim's judgment! Believe him and escape!”Talmai looked blankly at Noah. “Build your boat, crazy man. But keep away from me and my family.”“Me too,” added Bakbukiah. “If Elohim's going to wipe out everyone I know and love, then I want to go where they're going. I'm not going on a boat ride with a murderous god, religious fanatics and a bunch of wild animals!”The clever and contemptuous mockery of those who find the gospel simply ridiculous stings us. And it can stir up fears and doubts that we might really be foolish after all and tempt us to keep our mouths closed.God knows this and prepares us by explaining that the gospel will sound foolish to the world because he's “[making] foolish the wisdom of the world” (1 Corinthians 1:20). Then he repeatedly tells us not to be ashamed of it (Luke 9:26; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8).Like Noah, who was a “herald of righteousness” in his age (2 Peter 2:5), we also are heralds of “events as yet unseen” (Hebrews 11:7). Jesus tells us that Noah's flood was a foreshadow:For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. (Matthew 24:37–39)But in this greater judgment a greater, more perfect Ark has been provided: the crucified and risen Son of Man. All who are in him when the flood of God's wrath comes will be saved. But only those who believe his word can enter this Ark.If Noah's warning and gospel sounded foolish to his hearers, how much more does our warning and gospel sound to our hearers? We must not be surprised when others ridicule it, for “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18). But “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).Our call is not to be respected by the unbelieving world. Our call is to trust our Lord's word over the confident contempt of those who are blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4), endure the reproach Jesus endured (Hebrews 13:13), and preach the gospel for the sake of those “who are being saved” (1 Corinthians 1:18).Original Page: http://t.co/gdR40sj9s5Repent and believe. The first way to prepare is to trust Jesus' words, ways and works. That is the good news of the kingdom that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. To rest in that for our eternal security.Serve & love. The second way is to love and serve people through your words and actions bearing the fruit of the Spirit until he returns.PrayNotesOutline BibleIV. THE CHALLENGE FROM CHRIST'S SERMON (24:36-39, 42-51): Be watchful.A. The reason for this watchfulness (24:36, 42): No one knows when Christ will come!B. The reminder of this watchfulness (24:37-39)C. The reaction to this watchfulness (24:43-51)1. The wise servant (24:43-47): He watches and is rewarded.2. The wicked servant (24:48-51): He ignores the warning and is condemned.D. The slaughter (24:28, 40-41): Armageddon!1. The assembling of the victims (24:40-41): One will be taken, another left.2. The appearing of the vultures (24:28): To eat the bodies of the slain warriors!We've all been hopeful for some thing or some anticipated event, waiting eagerly to experience it, only to be deeply disappointed when it didn't meet our expectations. It will not be so with the second coming of Christ. Our words are inadequate to describe the glory of what that scene will be like, as well as all that will unfold in the days to come after that. In The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis gives us a rich, imaginative picture of what that eternal state will be like. He ends the last book in the series like this:‘As Aslan spoke, he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.'For believers, the return of Christ and the end of this world will be the beginning of a new heaven and a new earth (Rev 21-22). While waiting and watching confidently, Christians urgently work. We fight deception and temptation, we persevere through tribulation, and we…”David Platt, Matthew, P. 323MAIN REFERENCES USED“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O'Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes“Matthew” by RC Sproul“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)Outline Bible, D Willmington NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.orgChatGPT https://openai.com/blog/chatgptAnswerThePublic.comWikipedia.com

In The Unseen Realm, by Michael Heiser, he says, “When an enemy wants nothing, but your defeat and annihilation, neutrality means choosing death.” We believe that there is no neutrality. We can't and don't sit on the sidelines. We are loyal to God, or we are loyal to something else. Although Christ has won the ultimate and final victory, we live in the already but not yet defeat of Satan and his followers. What does this mean then? What do we do? How do we fight in the spiritual war? In this episode, Mary and Tory continue the spiritual warfare conversation and get practical as we discuss what it means to push back darkness. Visit our website for show notes and more information: https://thewellaustin.com/podcast/darkness

This week we covered quite a bit of ground from Exodus 21:1-23:9. We learned and discovered God's love and justice in His Law. These chapters cover Case Law for the nation of Israel. In other words, God demonstrates how to apply His law using different scenarios that may occur within His covenant community. Although Christ is the fulfillment of the law and these laws do not specifically apply to us today, the understanding of God's heart behind His law for Israel is important for us to understand as believers today. Too often people believe that the Laws of God are not binding and therefore we do not need to be acquainted with them. As we understand the law we learn of God's heart for His people (images bearers), property, possessions, principles, and priorities. Although this may be the only message you ever hear on these chapters, it is important to appreciate and honor God's heart in the giving of the Law. May this message be an encouragement to you as you continue to seek the Lord. Speaker: Jeff Schwarzentraub

Notas en español e inglés:

Confession & Forgiveness: How do they work together?We're opening up a serious discussion about an area of the Christian faith that is widely misunderstood and highly overlooked. Although Christ has paid our penalty for sin, and we are saved, Scripture clearly tells us that we still must confess our sins to God...and to each other.In this first episode of the conversation, we're talking about Confession. What is it? Why do we need it? How do we do it? What are the benefits? We think what we have to say on the matter...just might surprise you.Support us and tell a friend to tell a friend about what we're doing here!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchositypodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchositypod/

IntroductionToday we are exploring one of the most important topics in human history: the Incarnation of the Word of God. What we celebrate on the Solemnity of the Annunciation and then nine months later on December 25th is the most marvelous of mysterious miracles. What does the Church definitively teach about the Incarnation? What is the Hypostatic Union? Is Jesus half-God and half-man or fully God and fully man? How does that work? What are some of the heresies about Christ?This week's episode will exclusively focus on the fact, nature, and truth of the Incarnation. There is far more to say about the nature of Christ than I can cover in one short episode. So, know that there is more to say, more distinctions to draw, and more fruitful reflection to be had! Next week, in a second part, we will explore the effects of the Incarnation on Christ Himself as well as the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas on the fittingness of the Incarnation. As well, we will look at the effects of the Incarnation on humanity and the world. In other words, what is the significance of Christmas for you and I personally? The Marvelous Fact of the IncarnationTwo thousand years ago, the Eternal Word of God took on Flesh. In the Nicene Creed, Christians acclaim that: “For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.” Belief in the Incarnation of the Son of God, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is distinctively Christian. No other religion claims something so seemingly outlandish: that the Almighty God would condescend to share in His creation. Yet, this is the truth. The Incarnation is a marvelous fact, a “unique and altogether singular event (CCC 464)” to borrow the language of the Catechism. This marvelous reality is not simple to understand, nor is it something intuitively grasped by our feeble human intellect. However, there is much that God has revealed to us and unpacked through the guidance of the Holy Spirit over the centuries. The “Incarnation is… the mystery of the wonderful union of the divine and human natures in the one person of the Word (CCC 483).” We will walk through the Divinity of Jesus Christ then His human nature, and then we will be able to talk with some level of clarity on the Hypostatic Union. I am going to try hard to keep this simple without watering anything down. I will also try to define any technical terms that I use. My hope is that this will remain accessible while faithful and accurately explaining the Church's perennial teachings on the nature of the Incarnation. The Divinity of Jesus ChristTwo thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was conceived and born, a real person of history. Historical consensus confirms this reality. We also have the faithful witness of the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Wisdom Literature, and the Prophets all speak of the coming Messiah. The Jewish people at the time of Jesus were waiting for the Messiah, an anointed one, who would take the throne of King David and rule as a militaristic warrior to expel the Romans from the Holy Land. In the New Testament, St. Matthew traces the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam and St. Luke traces the genealogy of Jesus back to God Himself. St. Matthew's genealogy also particularly centers Jesus as the expected heir of David's throne. From the perspective of today, we, of course, know that Jesus did not come as a militaristic warrior-king. But, how do we know that Jesus Christ is God, that He is Divine?In the beginning of the Holy Gospel according to St. John, there is no genealogy. Instead, the prologue of John identifies Jesus with the uncreated Word of God through which all things were made: the Logos. The Word of God has become man and pitched His tent among us. He is the Emmanuel foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. The Gospels firmly show that Jesus is not merely another anointed one (messias), He is the Divine Messiah (cf. Mt. 1:23, 2:6; Mk. 1:2, Lk. 7:27). He is God's own Son (cf. Mt. 16:13; Jn. 10:36; Mk. 14:62; Lk. 1:35). And, finally, He is God. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God… (cf. Jn. 1:1).” There is a phenomenal exploration of the claim to divinity of Jesus in the New Testament by Dr. Brant Pitre entitled: The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ. I highly recommend reading that book, if you are interested!The remainder of the New Testament further solidifies the Divinity of Jesus Christ and this fact is upheld by the Fathers of the Church in the first millennium of the Church as well. By a singular miracle, the uncreated Son of God, consubstantial with the Father was made man and dwelt among us. He is, thus, truly and appropriately called a Divine Person. As the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. put it: “We confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is not parted or divided into two persons, but is one and the same only-Begotten Son and Word of God (Chalcedon, Part ii, act. 5).”Modern academics of all stripes will try to poke holes in the doctrine of the divinity of Christ. This makes sense for those who wish to conform God to their viewpoint rather than be conformed by Him. If Jesus Christ is God, then everything He said carries the full authority of Almighty God.The Human Nature of Jesus ChristJesus Christ is fully God. But Jesus Christ is fully man, with flesh supplied from the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is a Divine Person, not a human person. However, He possesses a full and complete human nature: body and soul. As St. Thomas Aquinas puts it: “Although Christ is not the human nature, He has human nature (ST III, q. 10, a. 10, ad. 1).”The human nature of Christ is difficult to wrap our minds around. Some in the history of the Church, for example, have tried to claim that Jesus' human body was an illusion. To this, St. Augustine answers: "If the Body of Christ was a fancy, then Christ erred; and if Christ erred, then He is not the Truth. But Christ is the Truth; hence His Body was not a fancy' (Augustine, QQ. lxxxiii, q. 14; P.L., XL, 14).”Just as we acknowledge wholeheartedly that Jesus Christ is truly God, we also acknowledge that a true human soul animates the truly human body of Jesus. St. Thomas Aquinas explains:“The body is not said to be animated save from its union with the soul. Now the body of Christ is said to be animated, as the Church chants: ‘Taking an animate body, He deigned to be born of a Virgin' [Feast of the Circumcision, Ant. ii, Lauds]. Therefore in Christ there was a union of soul and body (cf. ST III, q. 2, a. 5, s.c.).”The Hypostatic UnionFully God and fully man, Jesus Christ is the God-Man. The central mystery within the mystery of the Incarnation is how the divinity and humanity of Jesus interact. This mystery is called the hypostatic union. Hypostasis is the Greek word for person. St. John Damascene teaches that “In our Lord Jesus Christ we acknowledge two natures, but one hypostasis composed from both (De Fide Orth. iii, 3, 4, 5). The Catholic Encyclopedia explains of this union:“We speak here of no moral union, no union in a figurative sense of the word; but a union that is physical, a union of two substances or natures so as to make One Person, a union which means that God is Man and Man is God in the Person of Jesus Christ (CE).”St. Thomas Aquinas speaks at length about the nature of the hypostatic union, but one insight that I find most helpful is the difference between assumption and uniting. He speaks of assumption as an action - the Word of God assumed human flesh. This is not wrong to say, but St. Thomas prefers the idea of uniting or becoming. The Word of God became flesh or united with the human flesh of Jesus at His first moment of existence. Here we can already run into problems if we are not careful. Did Jesus have a beginning? Yes! Did the Son of God have a beginning? No! He is begotten, not made, eternal and consubstantial with God the Father. As St. Thomas concisely explains: “Whatever has a beginning in time is created. Now this union was not from eternity, but began in time. Therefore the union is something created (ST III, q. 2, a. 7, s.c.).”There is a true union of divinity and humanity in Christ. But we should not think that the divinity of Christ overpowers and consumes the humanity of Christ. Pope Alexander III, in the 12th Century, quipped: “Since Christ is perfect God and perfect man, what foolhardiness have some to dare to affirm that Christ as man is not a substance?" In other words, the metaphysical substance of the human nature of Christ is real and persists, completely and perfectly united to His divine nature.How did this happen? How were the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ united, in time? It is by God's grace! It is a true miracle, a unique and singular event. St. Thomas Aquinas echoes St. Augustine when he teaches: “Augustine says (De Praed. Sanct. xv): ‘By the same grace every man is made a Christian, from the beginning of his faith, as this man from His beginning was made Christ.' But this man became Christ by union with the Divine Nature. Therefore this union was by grace (ST III, q. 2, a. 10, s.c.).”Thank you for reading Will Wright Catholic. This post is public so feel free to share it.False Natures of the Incarnation - Heresies about ChristThere is no shortage of false teachings about Jesus Christ. Catholic orthodoxy is a thin line which has been guarded as a precious jewel from apostolic times. Without the authentic measure of orthodoxy provided by the Catholic Church, then any opinion would be fair game. In fact, this is unfortunately the state of affairs in many Protestant communions. Before we further clarify what the Catholic Church teaches truly about Jesus Christ, it is helpful to look at some of the heresies about Christ in the early Church. By looking at what the incarnation is not, we can come to a better understanding of what it is. There is a lot to be said about these heretics and heresies, but I am going to try to keep it brief.ArianismArius was a priest in Constantinople in the late 3rd Century and early 4th Century. He believed that God the Father was uniquely God and Christ was subordinate in every way to the Father. He denied the hypostatic union and believed that Christ was the highest of the creatures of God. No small historical issue, there was a time when the majority of the Church's episcopacy was Arian in belief. Suffice it to say, Catholic orthodoxy was victorious. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., led by the great Saint Athanasius formulated the first version of the Nicene Creed that is professed on Sundays. We believe in “one Lord Jesus Christ… true God of true God… Who took Flesh, became Man and suffered.”NestorianismIn 428 A.D. the Patriarch of Constantinople was a man named Nestorius. He called the union of the two natures a mysterious and an inseparable joining, but would admit no unity in the strict sense of the word to be the result of this joining. The union of the two natures, to Nestorius, is not physical but moral. As he put it “the Word indwells in Jesus like as God indwells in the just.” There is not a true, physical and lasting union of divinity and humanity. To explain his view he said that Mary is the Mother of Christ (Christotokos) but not the Mother of God (Theotokos)Nestorius denied the hypostatic union but, unlike Arius before him, did acknowledge the divinity of Christ. He just did not believe that there was a physical union or substantial union of humanity and divinity. So, to Nestorius, when Christ suffered, He did so in His humanity, not in His divinity. On the contrary, Saint Athansius taught (against Apollinarius) that: “They err who say that it is one person who is the Son that suffered, and another person who did not suffer ...; the Flesh became God's own by nature [kata physin], not that it became consubstantial with the Divinity of the Logos as if coeternal therewith, but that it became God's own Flesh by its very nature [kata physin] (Contra Apollinarium, I, 12, in P.G., XXVI, 1113).”The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. condemned Nestorius as a heretic and defined that Mary was mother in the flesh of God's Word made Flesh. In this way, it is right to call her Theotokos or God-bearer. The specific anathema against Nestorianism was written by St. Cyril of Alexandria who wrote extensively on the nature of Christ. He said:“If in the one Christ anyone divides the substances, after they have been once united, and joins them together merely by a juxtaposition [mone symapton autas synapheia] of honour or of authority or of power and not rather by a union into a physical unity [synode te kath henosin physiken], let him be accursed (can. iii).”MonophysitismThe Christological heresies, so-called, did not end with the Council of Ephesus. Eutyches took part in that Council of Ephesus and was fiercely opposed to the teachings of Nestorius. However, he went too far in the other direction. He developed the heresy of Monophysitism which held that there was only one Person in Christ (which is true) but he only held one nature in Christ (which is heretical). His denial was that Christ was “consubstantial with us men” as St. Cyril of Alexandria held. Eutyches was stressing Christ's uniqueness, not intended to deny Christ's full manhood. The error of Eutyches is the cautionary tale of not swinging too far in our refutations.This heresy was condemned by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. It was formulated in this way:Jesus Christ remained, after the Incarnation, “perfect in Divinity and perfect in humanity… consubstantial with the Father according to His Divinity, consubstantial with us according to His humanity… one and the same Christ, the Son, the Lord, the Only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures not intermingled, not changed, not divisible, not separable (cf. Denzinger, n. 148).”MonothelitismThe next heresy of monothelitism began orthodox enough. The monothelitists defended the union of two natures in one Divine Person. They went off the rails in saying that this Divine Person only had one divine will - they denied the human will of Jesus.Sacred Scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ has a human will. He performed acts of adoration, humility, and reverence. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father that the “cup” of His sacrifice and death pass without His drinking it. Praying to the Father in this way, He showed His human aversion to death but also the human act of the will of obedience in saying: “not my will, but thine be done.”Monothelitism was condemned by the Third Council of Constantinople in 680 A.D. They defined that in Christ there were two natural wills and two natural activities, the Divine and the human, and that the human will was not at all contrary to the Divine, but rather perfectly subject thereto (cf. Denzinger, n. 291).The Truth About the Incarnation - Catholic TeachingBy way of summary, what then does the Church authentically teach about the nature of Christ and the hypostatic union? Jesus Christ is a Divine Hypostasis - a Divine Person. The unique hypostatic union of Jesus Christ is the complete union of two natures, one divine and one human, in one Divine Person without change, division, separation, or the like. When the Eternal Word of God took Flesh, there was no change in the Word. All the change that took place was in the Holy Flesh of Christ. At the moment of conception, in the womb of the Blessed Mother, through the forcefulness of God's activity, the human soul of Christ was created and the Word became the man that was conceived. Next Time on WWCNext time on WWC, we will explore the second part of this series on the incarnation. Namely, we will be looking at the effects of the Incarnation on Christ Himself, on the world, and on us! We will also look briefly at what St. Thomas Aquinas had to say on the fittingness of the Incarnation. For example, if mankind had not sinned, would God have still become incarnate?! Stop on by next time and see what the Angelic Doctor had to say. The next part of the series should also be a fruitful reflection for us entering into Christmas! Thanks for reading. See you next time on Will Wright Catholic!Thanks for reading Will Wright Catholic! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit willwrightcatholic.substack.com

Acts 11:19-26 ESV 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS As the believers were dispersed, they proclaimed the gospel where God had brought them. They crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. At first, they proclaimed to the Jews. But, some believers from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and preach Jesus to the Hellenists Jews . They spoke Greeks like the Gentile Hellenists or actual Greeks. Or, they may have been from modern-day Asia Minor, Arabia, or Syria. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Indeed, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The news spread around so that the church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch. It was understandable that they chose Barnabas. He was a Cypriot, a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He has had proven in the past to have the gift of exhortation. He even sold his property to help the needy. He encouraged the young believer Paul and introduced him to be received by the church at Jerusalem. Here, he came to Antioch and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. Resultingly, a great many people were added to the Lord. But, one interesting note. Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul. Why? He brought him to Antioch inorder to seve together with him. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. In other words, Barnabas mentored Paul through having firsthand experience in ministry. Paul shouldn't have matured and equipped if not for Barnabas who spent time with him. The tandem of Paul and Barnabas' ministry paid off. In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Typically, believers in the New Testament use words like followers of the Way, disciples, saints, and brothers. It was certainly coined by non-Christian Gentiles. Although "Christ" is Greek, the suffix "ian" is a Latin addition, as in Phoenician or Herodian. This suffix means "of the party” and was used to mean those who imitated or supported some charismatic leader or figure. To some extent, this made the term "Christian" as an expression of sarcasm or derision. Peter hints at this in his writings (1 Pet 4:16). Today, let's not be ashamed to bear the name of Christ. He was not ashamed to die for us, was He? He is warning us not to be ashamed of Him, saying, “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”[ Mark 8:38]

This past February, Jennifer Sey, the global brand president of Levi’s, quit her job and refused to accept a million-dollar severance package. “More than 20 years ago I joined Levi’s,” Sey explained in a Twitter post. “I quit so I could be free.” For Sey, freedom meant speaking out on issues that were important to her without having the approval of her employer. Sey’s decision illustrates a common assumption about freedom. Most of us think of freedom as the liberty to do as we please. Today’s passage describes another dimension of freedom. It is the liberty not to do something that we might otherwise do. The freedom to which Paul refers to in verse 13 is freedom from the Law, something he describes as “a yoke of slavery” in verse 1. Although Christ has freed the believer from the bondage of the Law, that does not mean we are free to do anything. This freedom is not an excuse to “indulge the flesh” (v. 13). Flesh in this verse does not refer to the skin that covers our bodies, but the part of our nature that is opposed to God. The natural inclination of our flesh and the presence of God often result in an internal conflict (v. 17). The freedom Paul celebrates in today’s passage is the ability to choose the way of the Spirit. In essence, this freedom says “no” to the flesh’s impulses and says “yes” to God. The difference between these two ways are described in verses 19–26. It shouldn’t surprise us that the way of the flesh looks like the lifestyle of someone who doesn’t care what God thinks. The alternative is a life marked by the two great commandments Jesus identified (Matt. 22:34–40). >> How do we live a life marked by true freedom? Paul says the secret is to live in God’s power. Day by day, our goal is to “keep in step with the Spirit” (v. 25).

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Although Christ has set the believer free from legalistic bondage, he is now under a still higher law&md... More...

Romans 6:23   You can't earn salvation. It is God's free gift. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Romans 1:16   The gospel is the message we believe for salvation. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Luke 8:12   The devil works to prevent people from understanding and believing the gospel. The gospel includes three truths: Christ died Christ rose Christ is coming again This is the good news message we tell people. Christ Died 1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 5:8   Christ died for our sins. Romans 6:1-2; Matthew 7:22-23   Although Christ died for our sins, that does not mean we should continue in sin. Christ Rose 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 10:9   God raised Jesus from the dead, proving to all that he is Lord (Messiah). Christ Is Coming Again 1 Corinthians 15:22-25   Christ is coming again to establish the Kingdom of God on earth—a time when He will make everything wrong with the world right. Matthew 5:5; 6:10   Although many believe heaven is our “home” and ultimate destination, Jesus is clear that our hope is to inherit the earth and enjoy a new age when God's will is done.The post What Does It Mean to Be a Christian? 1: Believe the Gospel first appeared on Living Hope.

Power of Christ and the Breaker pour forth in victory for the believers amidst the trials of this world in this week's advocacy. We will discuss Missions, Martyr's, and other prophetic topics this week. Vision is imperative as we focus all our efforts on the many Christians worldwide who are facing death daily. In addition, many are not killed; but oppressed and persecuted. For Christians in the west this is a wake-up call. In America, we know all too well the divisions and problems here. One answer is required. #JesusChrist is #Lord.   To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com/shop   Power of Christ is revealed when the powers of light and dark collide. Although #Christ triumphed overall #principalities and #powers, #evil continues to exist alongside #sin in the world. #Christians #delivered by the #power of #ChristJesus live and daily know the battle of #good and #evil upfront. Yet, during all this we are more than #conquerors through the #victory found in our #Lord and #Savior. This issue is whether we will truly be found in Him rather than one foot in #heaven and the other one dabbling in hell. #PowerofChrist   Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info.

Although Christ does not condemn the woman caught in adultery, he finds himself condemned to death, a death he freely accepts for our sakes. We can meditate this Lent more frequently and more deeply on our Lord's Passion and Death, and in doing so find greater security and the means to be better every day.

Bible Study with Jairus – Leviticus 12 Leviticus 12 is a short but intriguing chapter. In this discussion, we will focus on the specific laws, which may seem strange to us today.  This chapter describes how when a woman gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days and must stay at home for 33 days, but when she gives birth to a daughter, she will be ceremonially unclean for two weeks and she must stay at home for 66 days. This discussion will focus on that law and the reason for the differences.  (Leviticus 12:1-5). Why does it take twice as long for the woman to be unclean when giving birth to a daughter? Does the Bible discriminate against women? It may sound this way to the modern ear, but when we take a closer look and understand the culture of the time, we realize that this is not a discrimination against women. When a woman gives birth to a boy, she will be ceremonially unclean for 7 days, but on the 8th day the boy is to be circumcised (NIV, Leviticus 12:3).  This represents that the flesh is being dealt with. But the girl will not be circumcised, so it took twice as long being unclean, which means that it would take longer to experience spiritual cleansing and become spiritually mature. Boys also represent a strong part of the people of God; they are willing to accept being circumcised by God, which represents dealing of the cross and becoming a strong people of God. Girls represent a weak part of the people of God. They may not have experienced circumcision and the cross, so they need double grace and additional time to being perfected by God before they could become clean and mature. This does not mean that girls are inferior to boys.  David established a principle that those who went out to the battle and those who stayed with the supplies would both share the spoils. It is not only those who go to battle who benefit from their victory. Those who stayed home also benefited. This reveals that God will raise men, God's strong people to achieve victory in battles. But with regards to God's weaker people, He will also look after them. This is what the Bible means when it says that He will treat the parts that are unpresentable with abundant and complementary love and grace. Spiritually, each of us is like a woman.  We are all Mary. Our spirits are all spiritual wombs, in which the seeds of God's immortal words are sown, and the life of Christ is born in us. But not every pregnant woman's child can be born easily. There are abortions and premature death.   The same is true spiritually. Although some people may hear the gospel, they are not always reborn. There are also others that have been reborn and saved, but are not free from sin and weakness, and have not lived a victorious life; while still others are free from sin, but have not achieved spiritual maturity. Every Christian can achieve spiritual maturity, which is what the man child represents. But many people have not reached spiritual maturity by the end of their journey on earth, so they still need to continue learning in heaven. On the individual side, the man child represents the maturity of our spiritual life as Christians. But this maturity does not come automatically. It comes at a price. Here, circumcision represents the price we have to pay. Only when we die to ourselves and the world can we reach spiritual maturity. Circumcision is a physical way to give a part of yourself.  It symbolizes sacrifice. The woman can also represent the church. As a woman, the church collectively is predestined to bear a man child. There is a woman in Revelation 12 that may be a representation of the church. The man child born later may be a representation of God's strong people, because this man child will rule all the nations with an iron scepter, and was snatched up to God and to his throne (NIV, Revelation 12:5). The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days (NIV, Revelation 12:6). I don't know if you agree with the statement of the woman representing the church and the man child representing the victor, but that was the teaching I received in the Local Church Movement. I remember when I was attending meetings at a church in Baltimore, I was often tended in love by a brother and his wife. When my wife and I were infertile and seeking medical treatment, he often helped us through acupuncture, hoping to help us. While doing acupuncture, he also shared some spiritual provisions in order to comfort us. He told us that the first time he heard the explanation of Witness Lee, the leader of the Local Church Movement, about the woman and the man child, he was very encouraged. This brother described Witness Lee's teaching as follows: Most churches are like women, and the few victors are each a man child. Without a woman, there would not be a man child. Therefore, among the churches, even families and couples, there are people who seem to be the women, nurturing and perfecting man childs; while others are man childs who accept perfection and who reach maturity in the end. Even in a family, unbelievers persecute those who believe, and those who turn away persecute those who love the Lord more. God often arranges an environment in churches and houses to allow us to experience the lessons of the cross. Some people, like Joseph's brothers, were used by God to perfect Joseph. Joseph's brothers were like the women here. They played the role of nurturing and perfecting Joseph. Some people are like Joseph. They are in a position of being persecuted, but in the end they are perfected and have become victorious. Most people in the church are like women, but the few victors are the man childs. Most people, God will use to perfect and mold others. Some, however, God will bring to perfection. This brother told me that when he heard this teaching, he sighed, and said that he was determined not to just be a person whom God used to perfect others, someone who will learn how to bear the cross and become a spiritually mature person. He said that he hoped to experience the death on the cross to let the life of Christ be fully mature in him. His words had a great influence on me. God had used my marriage and the difficulties of my wife's ten years of infertility to give me a lot of trials and training. Many times, I have to die to myself again and again, but I am not willing to die. Sometimes, I asked the Lord, “Why do I have to give in, admit my mistakes and change every time? Why don't you change my wife?” I prayed to the Lord many times. The inspiration that the Lord gave me is like when Peter was asking the Lord Jesus about John. "What about him?” And the Lord's answer to him was "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (NIV, John 21:21-22). The Lord told me that He wants me to learn the lesson of obedience through this environment. I was unable to obey in the beginning. I could only kneel down and pray before the Lord, asking Him to help me. At that time, Satan often spoke to me, provoking me to quarrel with my wife through the flesh. I experienced a deep internal battle. God overwhelmed me through the situation of marriage and infertility. Deep inside, I refused to be obedient, so I was in a lot of pain. During our ten years of infertility, in addition to being used by God to build my faith in Him, He also used it to deal with my flesh, allowing me to experience death on the cross. After a long process, with countless prayers and tears, I finally gradually moved towards being obedient to God. I am also grateful for the marriage God had arranged for me. I sincerely realized that all the difficulties I experienced were tailored to me by God, and my wife was just a tool in God's hands. After I had fully obeyed God from my heart through all the situations that He arranged for me, I sincerely thanked my wife and everyone around me.  I then experienced a breakthrough in my spiritual life. I am not saying that I have won all my spiritual battles. However, I did experience a great breakthrough. In 2016, after ten years of marriage, I experienced a miraculous healing from God - He gave us a miraculous baby. Before and after this, the Lord appeared to me many times. Once, he appeared to me in a dream as an eagle with multicolored wings covering almost the entire sky. He told me how the great eagle is perfecting the little eagle.  He will also train me personally. On the last day of 2017, I was even taken up to heaven in a dream. The Lord Jesus personally said to me that if I would be obedient, He would greatly use me. There are still many problems in me that God needs to continue to deal with, but I did experience a spiritual breakthrough. Looking back at this difficult process, I know that it is very difficult for us to give birth to a child whether physically or spiritually. Many people long for spiritual maturity, but not everyone is willing to pay the price. I rarely talk about this experience. I remember that Watchman Nee had said that an apple tree does not need to tell how deep its roots are, as long as it bears a lot of fruit, others will know how deep its roots are. Similarly, a spiritual person does not need to talk about how he experienced the cross. As long as he lives the abundance of life and bears rich fruits, others will know how deep he has been dealt with by the cross. It is also okay if I choose not to obey. I have my own free will. But then, God's calling for me will be hindered. I remember hearing the testimony of Kathryn Kuhlman, a healing evangelist. She said that when God gave her the healing anointing, He told her that she was not His first choice. Before that, God tried to give this anointing to another man, but that person refused to obey, so God did not give him this anointing. Therefore, as an individual Christian, many people may not be able to give birth to this child. This child may be salvation, or spiritual maturity, or it may be a ministry entrusted to us by God, or obedience to God so that God can use us. Many times, obeying the Lord is a difficult task. I know when I obeyed, I was able to receive from God and grow and mature. Genesis 3 records that the descendants of the woman would crush the serpent's head, and that women have to suffer through the pain of childbearing. Paul said, “Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” (NIV, 1Timothy 2:14-15). Christians have many different views with regards to the meaning of “women will be saved through childbearing”. My personal view is that not only can women be saved because they have suffered, but that they can always have children through childbearing, and they may become the woman who bears the “descendant of the woman”. For example, God only promised that Eve's descendants would crush the serpent's head, but did not promise when this will happen. The descendants of the woman may refer to Christ, because He crushed the serpent's head on the cross. Before the coming of Jesus Christ, every time a man child was born, it may have been Christ. Although Christ was destined to be born in Bethlehem as a Lion of the tribe of Judah, this was revealed later. So perhaps when Eve gave birth to Cain, she might have thought that he was a descendant of that woman. Cain means "get". After giving birth to Cain, Eve said "Jehovah, I have brought forth a man." (NIV, Genesis 4:1). From the meaning of the name and Eve's words, we can guess that Eve might have thought that Cain was the "descendant of the women" that Jehovah promised. Unfortunately, this was not the case. But this does not mean that the hope brought by each birth of a boy is not true. This hope is true. Christ has already come in the flesh. The descendants of this woman can also be a victorious man child, as shown in in Revelation 12 because they represent God's judgment of fallen angels. Revelation 12 recorded that after the man child was brought to God, war had broken out in heaven as recorded in verses 7-9. In the end, the devil and his angels were hurled to the earth. In addition to our hope of the return of the Lord Jesus, the birth of this man child is also the hope of the church. The most important thing for each of us as Christians is to be spiritually mature on earth and give birth to the man child in ourselves. Unfortunately, many people did not give birth to this spiritual maturity. I often listen to Rick Joyner's preaching, a prophet in the United States. He often mentioned in his message that the prevalence of abortion in the United States is a natural manifestation of spiritual abortion in the church. Many Christians have buried the calls and gifts that God has given them, and have aborted all the “spiritual children or dreams” that God has given them. When he was thinking about how to deal with the prevalence of abortion in the United States, he heard God say to him, “Your church is also like that”. In his preaching, he reminded Christians not to bury God's inspiration, dreams, leading and gifts for them so that they could give birth to this spiritual life or spiritual ministry. A Christian attending the meeting was encouraged by this light. She said: "I feel very hopeful that each of us is Mary spiritually, but the key is whether we can give birth to children and push them out." Many Christians have experienced a spiritual miscarriage as Christ who is the head, did not mature and grow in them. They didn't grow into maturity with a stature measured by Christ's fullness.  This does not mean that God has abandoned them. They will experience God's double grace and mercy. It is like what Paul said that God would treat the parts that are unpresentable with special modesty (1 Corinthians 12:23-24). They are like those who went up with David to chase after the enemies and those who stayed with the supplies. Although they could divide the spoils, David still had to rely on a small number of warriors to chase after the enemy, win, rescue the captives and recover the plunder. For God to fulfill His purpose on earth, He requires a small number of victors to cooperate with Him to reach spiritual maturity. My testimony sharing ends here. I hope that my testimony and experience can help you better understand the spiritual significance of the story that I was talking about here. Let's look back at Numbers 12:1-8 again. We have already talked about verses 1-5, which is about the difference in days of purification of the woman after giving birth to a boy and a girl. The third verse specifically mentions that the boy is to be circumcised on the eighth day. Verse 6 (NIV) says when the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. The priest shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. (NIV, Leviticus 12:7). If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean (NIV, Leviticus 12:8). The whole chapter ends here. The same is true when Paul says "women will be saved through childbearing" in 1 Timothy 2. The church, as represented by the woman, must bear a certain number of victors (man child), in order to meet the conditions of the second coming of Jesus. But when the man child is born and when a part of God's plan has been completed, God will continue to perfect this woman so that she may mature. Therefore, the circumcision makes the male baby clean, and childbearing makes the woman clean. This is why a woman stays unclean for a longer period of time when she gives birth to a female child. Xiulan Laiwang of Taiwan mentioned her testimony of heaven in her book "Jehovah Jirah". She said that in the valley outside the paradise, there are some Christians who are being disciplined and studying the Bible and spiritual truths, and some mature people are specifically keeping watch over them and help them (pages 160 -161). She saw her mother-in-law and dad studying the Bible in paradise. In paradise, there is an angel in each family who is teaching them the Bible (page 45). Xiulan Laiwang said that her father and mother-in-law had received salvation when they were already old. They had no chance to study the Bible on earth, so they still have to study the Bible in paradise. She reminded Christians on earth that if they did not study the Bible well on earth, they would still have to make up missed lessons in the future so they need to seize the opportunity on earth. I was also taken to a place where my father-in-law was in a dream (I am not sure if it was paradise or a valley outside the paradise that Xiulan Laiwang mentioned). I saw many people there. An old, Chinese lady sitting at the door even showed me the Large Print Bible she was reading. I believe that my father-in-law did not believe in the Lord during his lifetime, but I believe he did not perish nor was he in the lake of fire. Thank God, they still have the opportunity to continue to study the Bible in after life. I don't know how to explain this theologically but it was one my spiritual experiences. Perhaps God judged him by his conscience, as Roman 1 suggests. Heaven is just the beginning, not the end. If some people reach spiritual maturity on earth, they will be used by God in the afterlife to help train many other people who are not spiritually mature. What's more, if we reach spiritual maturity on earth, we can be used by God today to bless many people. Why not? May we all be able to nurture, give birth, push out the "man child" - God's calling, gifts, entrustment, and ministry to us, and more importantly, spiritual maturity.    

#dailybible #bible #bibleversefortoday #bibleverse जीवनदायी वचन #47: ईश्वर मनुष्य बने क्योंकि वे आपको चाहते हैं [Origen] John 1:1,14 Biblical Guide to Life #47: God became man [flesh] because He loves YOU (Origen of Alexandria) God is in love with YOU and me. That love of God brought Him like YOU and me. Because love has the power to do so, as St. Clare says, "We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become." There were so many heresies in the Early Church and most of them were on the Most Holy Trinity and Incarnation. Origen of Alexandria (185-254) is considered to be the greatest Greek Father. His teachings and writings helped the Church to deal with the heresies. He said, हालांकि मसीह ईश्वर थे, वे शरीर धारण किए; और मनुष्य बनने के बाद, वे वही रहे जो वे थे, ईश्वर। "Although Christ was God, he took flesh; and having been made man, he remained what he was, God." The Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity took flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary and became man. He is the Divine Person. By assuming human nature, He, the Second Divine Person has both the natures - divine and human. He is fully divine and fully human. To understand this great Mystery, let's take the help of St. John. आदि में शब्द था, शब्द ईश्वर के साथ था और शब्द ईश्वर था। शब्द ने शरीर धारण कर हमारे बीच निवास किया। (सन्त योहन1:1,14a) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1,14). The Word, Who is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, became flesh. But, what is the reason behind His becoming man? The reason is HIS unconditional love for YOU and me. As St. Clare said, love makes the lover become like the beloved. That is the intensity of the love God has for YOU and me! Let's acknowledge His love, accept it and let ourselves be loved by the Word Incarnate! Let's take the risk! =================================== You are most welcome to follow me on the following platforms. =================================== To understand the Incarnation (the Word made flesh), try this book by Fr. C. George Mary Claret "God's Journey to Bethlehem: God's Way of Alluring You to Enter Into Your Heart" https://geni.us/nnB5 Connect him on http://bit.ly/WebGGOG Facebook Personal http://bit.ly/FacebookGeo Group http://bit.ly/GGOGFB Amazon Author Page http://bit.ly/FrGeorge Twitter http://bit.ly/TweetGMC YouTube Hindi Channel https://bit.ly/3yff7ef English Channel http://bit.ly/EngYTube Instagram http://bit.ly/InstaGMC LinkedIn http://bit.ly/LInGMC Medium http://bit.ly/MedGMC Pinterest http://bit.ly/PinCGMC Tumblr http://bit.ly/TumCGMC Quora http://bit.ly/QuoraCGMC --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/greatergloryofgod/message

#dailybible #bible #bibleversefortoday #bibleverse Biblical Guide to Life #47: God became man [flesh] because He loves YOU (Origen of Alexandria) God is in love with YOU and me. That love of God brought Him like YOU and me. Because love has the power to do so, as St. Clare says, "We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become." There were so many heresies in the Early Church and most of them were on the Most Holy Trinity and Incarnation. Origen of Alexandria (185-254) is considered to be the greatest Greek Father. His teachings and writings helped the Church to deal with the heresies. He said, "Although Christ was God, he took flesh; and having been made man, he remained what he was, God." The Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity took flesh from the Blessed Virgin Mary and became man. He is the Divine Person. By assuming human nature, He, the Second Divine Person has both the natures - divine and human. He is fully divine and fully human. To understand this great Mystery, let's take the help of St. John. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1,14). The Word, Who is the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, became flesh. But, what is the reason behind His becoming man? The reason is HIS unconditional love for YOU and me. As St. Clare said, love makes the lover become like the beloved. That is the intensity of the love God has for YOU and me! Let's acknowledge His love, accept it and let ourselves be loved by the Word Incarnate! Let's take the risk! =================================== You are most welcome to follow me on the following platforms. =================================== To understand the Incarnation (the Word made flesh), try this book by Fr. C. George Mary Claret "God's Journey to Bethlehem: God's Way of Alluring You to Enter Into Your Heart" https://geni.us/nnB5 Connect him on http://bit.ly/WebGGOG Facebook Personal http://bit.ly/FacebookGeo Group http://bit.ly/GGOGFB Amazon Author Page http://bit.ly/FrGeorge Twitter http://bit.ly/TweetGMC YouTube Hindi Channel https://bit.ly/3yff7ef English Channel http://bit.ly/EngYTube Instagram http://bit.ly/InstaGMC LinkedIn http://bit.ly/LInGMC Medium http://bit.ly/MedGMC Pinterest http://bit.ly/PinCGMC Tumblr http://bit.ly/TumCGMC Quora Space http://bit.ly/QuoraGGOG Personal http://bit.ly/QuoraCGMC Reddit http://bit.ly/RedditGMC Apple Podcasts http://bit.ly/trinityhspirit Google Podcasts http://bit.ly/podcastsgoogle --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/greatergloryofgod/message

Although Christ physically left the world, He left behind the Holy Spirit so He would always be present with us.

AMBITION, EXCELLENCE, HUMILITY, PERFECTIONISM Humility as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary: : freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble Humble as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary: : not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:1-11 If we are to strive to lead, serve, teach, love and live as Jesus did, we must exude humility. We must be humble, and not prideful. To have the same mind as Christ, we must strive to do things not from selfish ambition or conceit. This is not to say we do not do all that we do to the best of our ability, talents, knowledge and strength. We should pursue excellence in all that we say and do. “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,” - 2 Peter 1:5 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,” - Colossians 3:23 “so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;” - Philippians 1:10 “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames him is like rottenness in his bones.” - Proverbs 12:4 Not to coin the phrase from the movie, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, but we should indeed “be excellent to one another.” and we should pursue excellence but not perfectionism. There is nothing wrong with ambition. In fact it is good, just as in the verses I shared above to pursue excellence. We should be ambitious, we should set goals, and strive to achieve them and excel in all that we do, and set out minds to. However, in the flesh, it is easy to pursue selfish ambition. When your efforts become more about you, ways of this world, or overly financial gain, that can often be selfish, and come from of source of conceit. We should think about others, just as Christ did, and does. Even more significant than ourselves. This may not seem natural. However, was it natural for Christ to wash Judas feet, and break bread and drink wine with him at the Last Supper when Jesus knew Judas would betray Him. Christ exuded love and humility. Although Christ prayed to the Father to have this cup pass, which was the suffering and death on the cross, Christ did ask be it God's will, and He let God's will be done. That was humility to a suffering, and humiliating death. So whether you are a leader, or a subordinate, whether you are a teacher or a student, whether you are a parent or a child, we must exude humility and do nothing from selfish ambition, or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than ourselves. #Devotional #Humility #Philippians2 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bromartin/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bromartin/support

The virtue of Poverty IV Lourdes Pinto, 1/30/18 Diary of a MOC, “Mission of the 12” (Mathew 10:1-24) My little one, I have chosen you to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God on earth. The mission is not easy, for the ways of God are never the ways of the world. All who are chosen by God to fulfill His plan on earth are hated by some, rejected by others, ill-treated, persecuted, for I came upon the earth to set one against another, for the ways of God will never be accepted nor appreciated by those who live for the things of this world. You have been asked by God to bring Him victim souls. A victim soul must fix his eyes on Christ, must desire with all his being to become one with his Master, must be willing to learn from Him and imitate Him. He must be willing to fight against all his disordered desires. This requires certain disciplines for my disciples: 1)    “take no gold, nor silver, nor copper”- that means detached from the riches of this world, trusting that God will provide. 2)    “no bag for your journey” –that means that My disciples must allow My spirit to detach them from all disordered attachments. (my Lord how do we know what a disordered attachment is?) Anything that weakens your desire for Me, distracts you from loving Me, takes your gaze from Me.  3)    “nor two tunics”– My disciples must live simply as I did, poor, never in excess.   4)    “nor sandals”– a life dedicated to sacrificial love, penance, renunciation.  5)    “nor a staff”– My disciples lean on Me; I become their support; I lead the way.   My disciples wear My yoke-the wood of the Cross, united to Me. I am their All. My disciples are the men and women consumed in love and desire for Me. They choose to live this way of life for love of Me and the consuming desire to be made perfect- which is to become Love. Only in this way will My disciples reflect the face and light of God in the world. These are my victim souls that possess the power of God on earth. Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, POVERTY  The Old Testament introduces us to a God who is open “for the poor,” while the New Testament shows us a God who Himself becomes poor. Only the gospel tells us About God who makes Himself one of them, choosing weakness and poverty for Himself: “Though he was rich, Jesus Christ became poor for your sake” (2 Cor.8:9). The two essential components of the ideal of biblical poverty are now made clear: to be “for the poor” and “to be poor.” John Paul II combined both aspects in his catechesis on poverty: “The Church feels ever more strongly the impulse of the Spirit to be poor among the poor, to remind everyone of the need to conform to the ideal of poverty preached and practiced by Christ, and to imitate Him in His sincere and active love for the poor.” (p27) Poverty in the Life of Christ (p36) -       “Although (Christ) was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.” ( 2 Cor 8:9) -       St Thomas comments: “He endured material poverty in order to give us spiritual riches.” Christ's poverty is an aspect of His self-abasement in the Incarnation.   -       “became a victim for sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21) -       Blessed Angela Foligno explains Christ's three kinds of poverty: “Christ's poverty was of three kinds: Christ, the way, the guide of our souls, exemplified the first degree of the most perfect poverty by choosing to live poorly and to be poor, bereft of all earthly possessions. He kept nothing for Himself: no house, vineyard, coins, money, estate, dishware, or any other possessions. He neither accepted any earthly...

THE WEEK OF INVOCAVIT - SUNDAYLESSON: MATTHEW 4:1-11We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10It is customary to read the Gospel of Christ's temptation by the devil at the beginning of the season of Lent to set Christ's example before Christians and encourage them to fast as Christ fasted.This is utter tomfoolery!In the first place, no one can ever measure up to such an example and fast without any food at all for forty days and nights as Christ did. Christ, moreover, followed the example of Moses, who also fasted for forty days and nights when he received God's law on Mount Sinai. Accordingly, Christ also wanted to fast when He was about to bring us the new law and to publish it.In the second place, our fasting is a complete mistake instituted by men. Although Christ fasted for forty days, there is nothing at all in His Word in which He orders us to do likewise. He probably also did other things that He does not want us to do. But what He tells us to do and not to do, we should keep carefully in mind and act according to His Word.Our worst mistake of all was to regard and practice our fasting as a good work. We did not fast to discipline our flesh but to acquire merit before God, to blot out our sins, and to obtain grace.SL.XI.532,1-2AE 76,365PRAYER: You have bound us, O Lord, as your children to your Word as our rule of faith and life. In this Word, you assure us we shall know the truth, and the truth will set us free. This we also pray in your name. Amen.

To support the ministry and get access to exclusive content, go to: http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy John 1: 43-51 - 'You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man.' Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs: - 878 (in 'Why the Ecclesial Ministry?') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ's ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: "You, follow me" in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting "in his person" and for other persons: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ..."; "I absolve you...." Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

To support the ministry and get access to exclusive content, go to: http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy Matthew 4: 18-22 - 'I will make you fishers of men.' Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs: - 878 (In 'The Hierarchy of the Church') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ’s ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: “You, follow me” in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting “in his person” and for other persons: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .”; “I absolve you. . . .” Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

Although Christ and the Church are distinct and not the same, the Bible describes them as inseparable. You can't have Christ without also having His Church. You can't be united to Christ without also being united to His Church. » View: The Definition of The Church

Jesus, the Son of God, is also known as our Mediator, or Intercessor. As the Father is the source of all the Godhead's purposes, the Son is the one who mediates the Father's love to us and who mediates our prayers and fruit-bearing to the Father. Jesus is interceding on behalf of those who have put their trust in Him for their salvation. Although Christ's work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, His care for His redeemed children will never be finished. Our salvation is not only based on a historical event, but also on the life and intercession of Christ in the present and in the future. He is able to intercede nonstop because He always lives. Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man.

Jesus, the Son of God, is also known as our Mediator, or Intercessor. As the Father is the source of all the Godhead's purposes, the Son is the one who mediates the Father's love to us and who mediates our prayers and fruit-bearing to the Father. Jesus is interceding on behalf of those who have put their trust in Him for their salvation. Although Christ's work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, His care for His redeemed children will never be finished. Our salvation is not only based on a historical event, but also on the life and intercession of Christ in the present and in the future. He is able to intercede nonstop because He always lives. Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man.

Jesus, the Son of God, is also known as our Mediator, or Intercessor. As the Father is the source of all the Godhead’s purposes, the Son is the one who mediates the Father’s love to us and who mediates our prayers and fruit-bearing to the Father. Jesus is interceding on behalf of those who have put their trust in Him for their salvation. Although Christ’s work to secure the salvation of the elect was completed on the cross, His care for His redeemed children will never be finished. Our salvation is not only based on a historical event, but also on the life and intercession of Christ in the present and in the future. He is able to intercede nonstop because He always lives. Jesus is the only human mediator between God and man.

To support the ministry and get access to exclusive content, go to: http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy John 1: 47-50 - 'You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man.' Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs: - 878 (in 'Why the Ecclesial Ministry?') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ's ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: "You, follow me" in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting "in his person" and for other persons: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ..."; "I absolve you...." Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

To support the ministry and get access to exclusive content, go to: http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy John 1: 43-51 - 'You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man.' Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs: - 878 (in 'Why the Ecclesial Ministry?') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ's ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: "You, follow me" in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting "in his person" and for other persons: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ..."; "I absolve you...." Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

To support the ministry and get access to exclusive content, go to: http://patreon.com/logicalbiblestudy John 21: 20-25 - 'The disciple is the one who vouches for these things and we know that his testimony is true.' Catechism of the Catholic Church Paragraphs: - 878 (in 'Why the Ecclesial Ministry') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ's ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: "You, follow me" in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting "in his person" and for other persons: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ..."; "I absolve you...." - 515 (in 'Christ's whole life is a mystery') - The Gospels were written by men who were among the first to have the faith and wanted to share it with others. Having known in faith who Jesus is, they could see and make others see the traces of his mystery in all his earthly life. Got a Bible question? Send an email to logicalbiblestudy@gmail.com, and it will be answered in an upcoming episode! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

Luke 2:7 — The Christmas message as found in Holy Scripture is full of mystery. As one meditates on the true meaning of Christmas one wonders why the eternal Son of God came in the particular way he did. Why was He born of a virgin? Why was He not born in a palace? Why did the Son of God live such a humble existence on earth as a carpenter? Why these particular facts? Why this way, God? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores these questions in this thought-provoking Christmas message. He reminds us that the manner in which the Son of God came to earth stands in direct opposition to the pride, pomp, and outward show of fallen humanity. In short, teaches Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the coming of the Son of God condemns the world. It condemns the world in how it evaluates greatness. It condemns the world in its belief in wealth. It condemns the world in its belief in itself! But, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the Son of God coming to the world offers hope to the world. Although Christ comes in an entirely different than the world might expect, he comes to point to the way of salvation. He shows the world the necessity of becoming humble, so that God will become powerful in our lives. Celebrate the mystery of godliness by listening to this Dr. Lloyd-Jones Christmas sermon on Luke 2:7. 

Matthew 4: 12-23 - 'He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled.' CCC Passages: - 1720 (in 'Christian Beatitude') - The New Testament uses several expressions to characterize the beatitude to which God calls man: — the coming of the Kingdom of God; — the vision of God: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”; — entering into the joy of the Lord; — entering into God’s rest: - 1989 (in 'Justification') - The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.. - 878 (In 'The Hierarchy of the Church') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ’s ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: “You, follow me” in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting “in his person” and for other persons: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .”; “I absolve you. . . .” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

MALACHI 1-2: We heard a very difficult conclusion to Zechariah yesterday. Chapter 14 started out with horrendous news for Jerusalem. But the Lord himself steps in: Zec. 14:3 NLT Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart … We will see the following from Zech 14 very soon in Revelation: Zec. 14:5c NLT “Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him. 6 On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, 7 yet there will be continuous day! … 8 On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.” We turn now to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. The name means, “my messenger.” There is debate as to the date of the writing of this post exilic prophet, but generally speaking it is true that there is a 400 year gap between this last Old Testament prophet and New Testament. It could be that Malachi prophesied in Nehemiah’s day. Both Malachi and Nehemiah dealt with priestly laxity (Mal. 1:6; Neh. 13:4-9), neglect of tithes (Mal. 3:7-12; Neh. 13:10-13), and intermarriage between Israelites and foreigners (Mal. 2:10-16; Neh. 13:23-28).” Re-reading ISAIAH 65: Note that the chapter starts with a verse that Paul quotes in Romans 10. REVELATION 20: After the judgment wreaked against Babylon (chapter 18), we heard songs praising God’s justice in chapter 19. Then we saw the appearing of Christ riding on a white horse. Typical of John’s reticence to name deity, Christ is not named, but is beautifully described. Note that even Jesus has a name written on his person which only He understands. And like in John 1:1, Christ’s title is the ‘Word of God’. It is possible that this account of His appearing may not be in chronological order in its position following the destruction of Babylon. Although Christ’s army is mentioned, note how the victory is won by Christ alone.

MALACHI 1-2:We heard a very difficult conclusion to Zechariah yesterday. Chapter 14 started out with horrendous news for Jerusalem. But the Lord himself steps in: Zec. 14:3 NLT Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart … We will see the following from Zech 14 very soon in Revelation: Zec. 14:5c NLT “Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.6 On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, 7 yet there will be continuous day! …8 On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean,flowing continuously in both summer and winter.” We turn now to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. The name means, “my messenger.” There is debate as to the date of the writing of this post exilic prophet, but generally speaking it is true that there is a 400 year gap between this last Old Testament prophet and New Testament. It could be that Malachi prophesied in Nehemiah’s day. Both Malachi and Nehemiah dealt with priestly laxity (Mal. 1:6; Neh. 13:4-9), neglect of tithes (Mal. 3:7-12; Neh. 13:10-13), and intermarriage between Israelites and foreigners (Mal. 2:10-16; Neh. 13:23-28).” Re-reading ISAIAH 65:Note that the chapter starts with a verse that Paul quotes in Romans 10. REVELATION 20:After the judgment wreaked against Babylon (chapter 18), we heard songs praising God’s justice in chapter 19. Then we saw the appearing of Christ riding on a white horse. Typical of John’s reticence to name deity, Christ is not named, but is beautifully described. Note that even Jesus has a name written on his person which only He understands. And like in John 1:1, Christ’s title is the ‘Word of God’. It is possible that this account of His appearing may not be in chronological order in its position following the destruction of Babylon. Although Christ’s army is mentioned, note how the victory is won by Christ alone.

Matthew 4: 18-22 - "I will make you fishers of men." CCC Passages: 878 (In 'The Hierarchy of the Church') - Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Christ’s ministers act in communion with one another, they also always act in a personal way. Each one is called personally: “You, follow me” in order to be a personal witness within the common mission, to bear personal responsibility before him who gives the mission, acting “in his person” and for other persons: “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .”; “I absolve you. . . .” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daily-gospel-exegesis/message

Life can be hard. Life can get challenging at times. But nevertheless, we have a Father that is loving and will take care of us. This Thanksgiving holiday, we discussed things we have to be thankful for. Due to being mistreated and persecuted, we often feel neglected and upset with God, wondering why he allowed it. So in this lesson, we see that God does take notice and he is keeping note of what our enemies do to us. Thus, we can find solace in knowing that the Lord will avenge us. Moreover, we take a look at the story of Stephen and how he was stoned for the name of Jesus. Although Christ allowed it to occur, he did take offense and stood from his seat(Stephen seeing a vision of heaven while looking up into the clouds). So it is one thing for certain, Christ will repay all of our evil and good works. So we pray you remember this holiday season that God is merciful and will not forget anything that we endure for his name’s sake.  Focus: Acts 7:55 All Verses Covered: Acts 7:47-60, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Psalms 73:2-5, 94:3-7 Original Air Date: November 28, 2019 We go live every Thursday evening at 6:30pm central time. Join us LIVE on our Facebook page to ask questions and get live answers! Even if you disagree with something we say, mention it to us so we can see what the scriptures say! If you have any questions about a specific scripture or topic and would like for us to discuss it on our Facebook live streams, please send us an email at JMStorm2019@gmail.com. We are open to any and all questions or concerns. Joy in the Midst of the Storm Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/JMSBible/ 

Pentecost Sunday (the 60th Anniversary Msgr. Ed Fairchild) June 8, 2019 Deacon Tom Barford                                                                             We come together to celebrate this great feast of Pentecost.  On this final day of the Easter season, we celebrate what some have called the “birthday of the church.”   The sending of the Holy Spirit, this great gift from our God, makes possible the Christian Life, that is, our relationship to God our Father and our ability to follow Jesus.  Although Christ has ascended, he is still with us in the sacraments, in the scriptures, in the community of believers (as he was to the early disciples). And through this gift the Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of every Christian.      Many Catholics don’t seem to appreciate the great gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  In our 2nd reading from Corinthians we hear; “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings by the same God who produces all of them in everyone.  To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”  So, plainly we are told that while each one of us receives the Gift of the Spirit, at baptism, we do not receive the same understanding of our faith; that is we understand things according to our individual gifts.     Jesus says, in chapter 16 of John, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.”   Jesus is saying this to us also, that each one of us learns differently and we only have the capacity to learn as our gifts have been given to us. So we are all not all expected to be great Theologian’s.  We all grow in our faith differently as our gifts allow us to learn.       In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”  Writing about the works of the Holy Spirit, St. Basil says, “The Holy Spirit raises our hearts to heaven, guides the steps of the weak and brings to perfection those who are making progress.   He enlightens those who have been cleansed from every stain of sin and makes them spiritual by communion with himself.”   The point I want to make is that the gift of the Holy Spirit continues to live within each Christian. And throughout our lives helps us through many ways including outward revelations, the most important in my mind is the guidance that we all receive from Holy Mother Church through our priests.   So let me introduce myself to you.  My name is Tom Barford, a permeant deacon from St. Paul Catholic Church in Westerville.  And Msgr. Ed Fairchild asked me to preach at this celebration of his 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.  After Msgr. asked me to preach I was feeling honored.  I give my thanks and appreciation to Msgr. for all that he has done for me over the years. Msgr. Ed and I have become very good friends over the past 25 years from the first time I met him at St. Peter church.  At that time I was a newly ordained deacon, almost two years when we found out the Msgr. Ed would be coming to be our new pastor.  And then I received a phone call telling me that Msgr. Ed would like to talk to me.  I really did not know what to expect.  As I entered the office at St. Peter Parish I was a nervous wreck, I felt calmed by Carol Wooten, Msgr’s Secretary.  Carol has always had the way to make people feel more comfortable.  Any way I think the interview went well, or at least he didn’t fire me.  One thing I did notice was that he did not seem to have a very good sense of humor; he was all business; which is day and night different from me.  I live by the words of Will Rogers; “Everything is funny, as long as it’s happening to somebody else.”  But over the years he seemed to put up with my humor. Msgr. Ed, like all the priests, moved to different parishes throughout their priesthood and hold other positions in the diocese.  But we all know that the two most important positions were one, as the founding pastor of Seton Parish and, two as pastor of St. Paul in Westerville.  I have always known Msgr. Fairchild as a humble priest who did not push to be assigned to any one parish but served the Bishops of Columbus be going where they needed him from Bishop Issenmann, who ordained him to Bishops Herrmann, Griffin and Campbell.  Msgr. Ed has always loved his God, his Church and his Family.   Msgr. Ed is and has been a good family man ever since I’ve known him.  Before her passing I had the pleasure of meeting his mother, Marie, at parish gathering at St. Paul.  I approached her and introduced myself and she looked at me as if I were “strange”.  I’m not sure she enjoyed meeting me but I felt good.  Msgr’s brothers Bill, Joe and Jim have always been close to him.  They still go out with their wives to dinner four times a year, and try to go on vacation each year together.         Msgr. Ed has and will always be an avid reader.  I’ll let him tell you about his favorite authors.  And you know that most of us as we grow older, we tend to grow wider.  Msgr. Brags that he still weighs the same as he did in high school.  I for one believe him! But I have to tell you that Msgr. Ed has had three serious love affairs in his life!  My wife, Halina, told me not to say “love affair” well because he is a priest!  But you’ll understand.  The first love was his pickup truck; a 1970 Chevy that he bought from his youngest brother, Jim.  He took me for a ride as he told me of the way he had taken care of the truck over the years.  I smiled a lot, but I have to tell you, I just don’t get into cars or trucks that much.  I think he loved that truck because he could carry a large deer to the butcher shop several times a year.  I did learn some things to do for my own car that would prolong its life.  The truck is gone but he took great care to put it in the hands of someone who would take care of it.  I’ll bet he sold it with the stipulation that he get weekend visitations.   His second affair was deer hunting.  A love he shared with many friends.    I think he lived by the words of George Bernard Shaw, who said, “Everyone can see that people who hunt are the right people and the people who don’t are the wrong ones.”  Again he would spend time telling me of the ones that “got away” or how long he sat in a blind for hours and never firing his gun.  He probably was reading a book and didn’t see the deer passing by.   All I could think of is “wow, how exiting!”  He has hung up his guns and no longer hunts, but I am sure he still has some stories about the “ones that got away.”  I do have to say that he gave Halina and me, on several occasions, some deer sausage, and some venison, which was great.  I’m pretty sure that Msgr. Ed has eaten every part of deer that can be eaten. And his third Affair is still going on.  The love he has for his dog, Paulie.  He had another dog, a pug, when he retired from St. Paul who was getting older, so our school principal, Ann O’Flynn had the St. Paul School  children gave him a present of a puppy; a pug.  So you can see where the name “Paulie” came from.  Paulie is still with Msgr. And I know that the two just love growing old together.    In my 27 years as a deacon in the Diocese of Columbus, I can tell you that I have always found Msgr. Ed Fairchild to be a very spiritual and compassionate person and I have learned a great deal about how to be a person of service from him.  Msgr., please accept my sincere thanks for all you have done for Halina and I and may God bless you with many more years of priestly ministry.   As we turn now in anticipation of receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, let us recall his pledge to send the Holy Spirit and the importance of the Holy Spirit into our lives.  In all we do, the Holy Spirit is with us. When the Scriptures are proclaimed, the Spirit opens our ears to hear the word of God. When bread and wine are offered, the Holy Spirit descends on them, making them Christ’s Body and Blood. Likewise, we offer ourselves so the Holy Spirit may descend on this community of believers, truly making us members of the one Body of Christ.

MALACHI 1-2:We heard a very difficult conclusion to Zechariah yesterday. Chapter 14 started out with horrendous news for Jerusalem. But the Lord himself steps in: Zec. 14:3 NLT Then the LORD will go out to fight against those nations, as he has fought in times past. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart … We will see the following from Zech 14 very soon in Revelation: Zec. 14:5c NLT “Then the LORD my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.6 On that day the sources of light will no longer shine, 7 yet there will be continuous day! …8 On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean,flowing continuously in both summer and winter.” We turn now to the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi. The name means, “my messenger.” There is debate as to the date of the writing of this post exilic prophet, but generally speaking it is true that there is a 400 year gap between this last Old Testament prophet and New Testament. It could be that Malachi prophesied in Nehemiah’s day. Both Malachi and Nehemiah dealt with priestly laxity (Mal. 1:6; Neh. 13:4-9), neglect of tithes (Mal. 3:7-12; Neh. 13:10-13), and intermarriage between Israelites and foreigners (Mal. 2:10-16; Neh. 13:23-28).” Re-reading ISAIAH 65:Note that the chapter starts with a verse that Paul quotes in Romans 10. REVELATION 20:After the judgment wreaked against Babylon (chapter 18), we heard songs praising God’s justice in chapter 19. Then we saw the appearing of Christ riding on a white horse. Typical of John’s reticence to name deity, Christ is not named, but is beautifully described. Note that even Jesus has a name written on his person which only He understands. And like in John 1:1, Christ’s title is the ‘Word of God’. It is possible that this account of His appearing may not be in chronological order in its position following the destruction of Babylon. Although Christ’s army is mentioned, note how the victory is won by Christ alone.

Sup, Thomists, Please consider supporting PWA on Patreon: Patreon.com/pwa Here's Thomas' text for this week: There are four reasons why Christ together with His soul descended to the underworld. First, He wished to take upon Himself the entire punishment for our sin, and thus atone for its entire guilt. The punishment for the sin of man was not alone death of the body, but there was also a punishment of the soul, since the soul had its share in sin; and it was punished by being deprived of the beatific vision; and as yet no atonement had been offered whereby this punishment would be taken away. Therefore, before the coming of Christ all men, even the holy fathers after their death, descended into the underworld. Accordingly in order to take upon Himself most perfectly the punishment due to sinners, Christ not only suffered death, but also His soul descended to the underworld. He, however, descended for a different cause than did the fathers; for they did so out of necessity and were of necessity taken there and detained, but Christ descended there of His own power and free will: “I am counted among them that go down to the pit; I am become as a man without help, free among the dead” [Ps 87:5–Vulgate]. The others were there as captives, but Christ was freely there. The second reason is that He might perfectly deliver all His friends. Christ had His friends both in the world and in the underworld. The former were His friends in that they possessed charity; and the latter were they who departed this life with charity and faith in the future Redeemer, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and other just and good men. Therefore, since Christ had dwelt among His friends in this world and had delivered them by His death, so He wished to visit His friends who were detained in the underworld and deliver them also: “I will penetrate all the lower parts of the earth, and will behold all that hope in the Lord” [Sir 24:45]. The third reason is that He would completely triumph over the devil. Now, a person is perfectly vanquished when he is not only overcome in conflict, but also when the assault is carried into his very home, and the seat of his kingdom is taken away from him. Thus Christ triumphed over the devil, and on the Cross He completely vanquished him: “Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world (that is, the devil) be cast out” [Jn 12:31]. To make this triumph complete, Christ wished to deprive the devil of the seat of his kingdom and to imprison him in his own house—which is the underworld. Christ, therefore, descended there, and despoiled the devil of everything and bound him, taking away his prey: “And despoiling the principalities and powers, He hath exposed them confidently in open show, triumphing over them in Himself” [Col 2:15]. Likewise, Christ who had received the power and possession of heaven and earth, desired too the possession of the underworld, as says the Apostle: “That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth” [Phil 2:10]. “In My name they shall cast out devils” [Mk 16:17]. The fourth and final reason is that Christ might free the just who were in the underworld. For as Christ wished to suffer death to deliver the living from death, so also He would descend into the underworld to deliver those who were there: “You also by the blood of your testament, sent forth your prisoners out of the pit where there is no water” [Zech 9:11]. And again: “O death, I will be your death; O hell, I will be your bite” [Hosea 13:14]. Although Christ wholly overcame death, yet not so completely did He destroy the underworld, but, as it were, He bit it. He did not free all from the underworld, but those only who were without mortal sin. He likewise liberated those without original sin, from which they, as individuals, were freed by circumcision; or before [the institution of]. circumcision, they who had been saved through their parents’ faith (which refers to those who died before having the use of reason); or by the sacrifices, and by their faith in the future coming of Christ (which refers to adults)”. The reason they were there in the underworld is original sin which they had contracted from Adam, and from which as members of the human race they could not be delivered except by Christ. Therefore, Christ left there those who had descended there with mortal sin, and the non-circumcised children. Thus, it is seen that Christ descended into the underworld, and for what reasons. Now we may gather four considerations from this for our own instruction.

This is the first podcast in a special series on reading the Bible. These podcasts include helpful excerpts from books by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee that provide insight about reading the Bible. The Bible is the foundation of Western civilization—morally, politically, literarily. Even the secular world recognizes the Bible as the most influential book in the world. It is the highest in its record of the origin of mankind, human history, and prophecies and in its wisdom, profoundness, ethics, and morality. While these qualities are compelling enough reasons to read the Bible, they cannot compare with the amazing fact that God Himself is embodied and expressed in His Word. But God does not want His words to remain confined in a book, and He tells us so in the Word: John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you.” And Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” God’s destination is our inward being, and He gets there through His Word. By reading the Bible with our spirit, we can touch God and allow Him to enter into us. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “the word of God is living and operative” within us. When we read the Bible in a consistent and prayerful way, the Bible becomes a subjective and practical part of our daily living. It reveals God’s person and fills us with life, truth, and light. Our spiritual life depends on the nourishment we receive from the supply of life in the Word. By contacting the Lord through our reading of the Bible, we are washed, filled in spirit, and infused with faith. Furthermore, as we receive more of the Word, the Lord Himself increases within us, and we mature to become full-grown, fully-equipped men of God. Now we’ll take a look at what the Bible is. First, the Word is God. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This verse indicates that God and the Word are not separate, but one. Christ is the living Word of God, as indicated by John 1:14, and the Bible is the written Word of God. Although Christ is not physically with us, He is the Spirit, embodied and expressed in the written Word of God. In his book The Full Knowledge of the Word of God, Witness Lee says, “Ultimately the word in the Bible is God Himself. It is the embodiment of God Himself. This does not mean that we consider the words in black and white as the living God. What we mean is that the words in black and white contain God Himself.” In a series of messages titled The Conclusion of the New Testament, he adds: “God is mysterious. He needs the Word to express Him. Christ, as the Word, defines, explains, and expresses Him. Therefore, Christ as the Word, is the definition, explanation, and expression of God. This Word is actually God Himself, not God hidden, concealed, and mysterious, but God defined, explained, and expressed.” Second, as 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, the Scripture is God-breathed. God’s Word, the Scripture, is the breathing out of God. When we touch the breath of God in the Bible, we touch the very essence and substance of the Bible, which is nothing less than the Spirit. In John 6:63 the Lord Jesus said that “it is the Spirit who gives life” and that the words He has spoken are “spirit and are life.” The Word of God is spirit, or breath. When we receive His Word with our spirit, we get God into us. In another passage in The Full Knowledge of the Word of God, Witness Lee says, “God’s Word is God’s breathing out (2 Tim. 3:16). The Bible is God’s breathing out; that is, it is the breath breathed out by God. The Bible is God’s breathing. To God it is a matter of breathing out; to us it is a matter of breathing in. Through God’s breathing out and our breathing in, God’s word enters into us and becomes our life and life supply. Therefore, when we read the Bible, we must understand that the Bible is not merely black and white words on paper, but it is the breathing out of God. It is full of spiritual breath.” In the series Truth Lessons he adds, “As Christians, our greatest joy, or shall we say, our greatest blessing, is to be able to contact God and taste Him daily through the word of His breath.” Third, the Bible is the complete revelation of God to man. We must read the Bible to know God’s revelation to man. In addition to revealing God’s Person to us, the Bible also reveals God’s plan to accomplish His heart’s desire. God’s heart’s desire can be seen in His economy, which is His plan to dispense Himself as life into us so that we can become His expression. The center of this plan is Christ, and the goal of this plan is the church. The Old Testament contains types, shadows, and figures that show us God’s economy. All these types, shadows, and figures are fulfilled and realized in the New Testament. When we read the Bible, more of God’s economy is revealed to us, and this revelation becomes a controlling vision that guides our entire Christian life. Reading the Bible brings us into God’s economy. Note 1 on Genesis 1:1 in the Holy Bible Recovery Version says, “The Bible, composed of two testaments, the Old Testament and the New Testament, is the complete written divine revelation of God to man. The major revelation in the entire Bible is the unique divine economy of the unique Triune God (Eph. 1:10; 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:4b). The centrality and universality of this divine economy is the all-inclusive and unsearchably rich Christ as the embodiment and expression of the Triune God (Col. 2:9; 1:15-19; John 1:18). The goal of the divine economy is the church as the Body, the fullness, the expression, of Christ (Eph. 1:22b-23; 3:8-11), which will consummate in the New Jerusalem as the union, mingling, and incorporation of the processed and consummated Triune God and His redeemed, regenerated, transformed, and glorified tripartite people. The accomplishing of the divine economy is revealed in the Bible progressively in many steps, beginning with God’s creation in Gen. 1—2 and consummating with the new Jerusalem in Rev. 21—22.” The fourth item of what the Bible is concerns its content; the content of the Bible is truth and life. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” By reading the Bible, we come to know the truth. The Lord Jesus said that God’s word is truth. Truth brings us the knowledge of all the realities in the universe, particularly the reality of Christ and the church, and reveals God in His Person and economy. This is God’s desire for us. In 1 Timothy 2:3-4 we read, “Our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.” God desires for us to know the truth, but as the phrase “come to the full knowledge of the truth” implies, fully knowing the truth is a progressive matter. The Bible always has more to speak to us concerning the truth. Therefore, we must regularly read the Word so that we can be filled more and more with truth and revelation. In his book Life Lessons, Witness Lee writes, “The content of the Bible is both extensive and inclusive; the two main aspects of this content are truth and life. Truth brings us revelation and knowledge of all the realities in the universe, such as the reality of God, the reality of man, the reality of the universe, the reality of the things of the present age, the coming age, and the eternal age, and in particular, the reality of the Christ appointed by God and the church chosen by Him.” Fifth, the Word of God is life. When we read the Word with our spirit, we get life. In John 6:63 Jesus said, “The words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” Life is God Himself coming to be our life. As we read the Bible, which is the embodiment of God, He comes into us as life. The more this divine life grows within us, the more we become His expression. Hence, we need to read the Bible so that we may continually receive God as life into us that we may express Him to fulfill His heart’s desire. In the Life-study of Matthew, Witness Lee says, “The Bible is a book of life. This life is nothing less than the living Person of Christ.” In Life Lessons he writes, “Life is God coming to be our life that we may be regenerated, grow, be transformed, and be conformed into the image of Christ, who expresses God, that we may become the expression of God.” Tune in to the next podcast in this special series on reading the Bible to hear about some of the functions of the Bible in our experience.

Although Christ died, God resurrected and exalted him. In the same way, we also were dead in our sin, but God resurrected and exalted us through and with Christ!

Muslims claim that if Jesus were God, He would say so clearly. Why didn't Jesus just say, " I am God, worship me." Although Christ did not say those exact words but he did make it clear that he was God in the flesh.

Although Christ has freed the Christian from the guilt and power of sin, sin's pollution remains so that we struggle with sin. How can we have victory over sin? How can we put it to death in our lives?

Q. 71. How is justification an act of God’s free grace? A. Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified; yet inasmuch as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, […]

This is the 9th episode in our series examining the impact Christianity has had on history & culture. Today we take a look at the influence the Faith had on property rights & individual freedom.I begin by saying I know what follows, some will take great exception to. While some of what follows will sound like politicizing, I will attempt to steer clear of that. There is an undeniable political component to this topic but I'm not politicking here. I'm simply trying to show how a Christian Worldview, that is, one that is Biblically consistent, does tend to promote a certain kind of economic system. And that system flows from what the Bible says about property rights.Some listeners might wonder why CS, a church history podcast, as left off its narrative timeline to engage in this series we're calling “The Change.” Well, really, it still is history. I'm attempting to show HOW the Christian Worldview has impacted WORLD history and how people live and think today. That's when history becomes relevant, more than just academic fodder – when we understand how the past influences today.In our last episode we took a look at Christianity's impact on labor & economics. It shouldn't take long to realize that 12 minutes isn't long enough to deal with THAT massive subject. A 12 hour podcast would just scratch the surface of the Faith's impact on economic theory & practice. A 12 month graduate course might make a bare beginning on the subject. Today, we'll delve a little deeper, realizing that we're really only dabbling in the shallows of a vast subject.A person's labor and finances have little dignity when he/she lacks the freedom and right to own property. Both are rooted in 2 of the Ten Commandments; Exodus 20:15, 17 =“You shall not steal” and  “You shall not covet”Both these commandments assume the indi­vidual has the right and freedom to acquire, retain, and sell his/her property at their own discretion.Private property rights are vital to people's freedom. The 2 cannot be separated. Yet this most basic truth is not well recognized today. It's rarely taught in public schools which seem bent on promoting socialism, which we'll see in a moment is contrary to Scripture. Promoters of socialism often decry private prop­erty rights, arguing that “human rights” are more important. This sophistry is deceptive and lacks historical support, because where there are no private property rights there are also virtually no human or civil rights. What rights did the people under Communism have in the former Soviet Union, where the state owned everything? Except for a few personal incidentals, private property rights didn't existent. Not having the right to private property was closely linked to not having the right to freedom of religion, freedom of speech, or freedom of the press. Similarly, what human rights do the people have today in Cuba or China, where property rights are also non­existent?The American Founding Fathers, who were strongly influenced by bib­lical Christian values, knew that individual economic, political, and social freedom was intrinsically linked to private property rights. Even while still subjects of the British king, they made it clear property rights and liberty were inseparable. Arthur Lee of Virginia said, “The right of property is the guardian of every other right, and to deprive a people of this, is in fact to deprive them of their liberty.” That's why when the Constitution was written, its formulators included private property rights in the Article I, Section 8. The 3rd Amendment gives citizens the right to grant or deny housing on their property to soldiers. And the 4th Amendment protects the property of citizens from unlawful search and seizure.But ever since the appearance of Karl Marx's economic and political philosophy known as Communism, private property has been politically attacked. The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels, written in 1848 says, “The theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.”Immediately after the October Revolution of 1917, Lenin, the first Communist leader of Russia, took the words of the Manifesto seriously when he secretly ordered the destruction of all legal documents showing property ownership, making it impossible for former owners to prove title.Following the founding of the Communist party, numerous politicians, writers, & even a few theologians, have argued that socialism, a term synonymous with Communism in the Manifesto, is the most compatible economic and political philosophy with Christian values.For instance, during the Great Depression, Jerome Davis said Christianity, like socialism, holds human values as higher than property values. While that's true, it's also misleading. It suggests property values are the same as property rights. They aren't. Davis argued that human values are God-given, while property rights are merely human constructs.But nowhere in the Old or New Testament are property rights ever disparaged. On the contrary, the Commandment “You shall not steal” underscores such rights.In his parables and other teachings, Jesus often referred to property and material goods, but He never condemned anyone for possessing them. He only condemned people's over-attachment to possessions because that interfered with loving God and others. The parable of the Rich Young ruler in Matthew 19 well illustrates this. In another parable a chapter later, Jesus has the owner of a vineyard say to one of this hired hands, “Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money?” It would seem some socialists today would answer, “No you don't! We'll tell you what to do with that money.”The book of Acts records Ananias as judged severely by God, not for withholding his property, but for lying to God. The possession of private property was assumed by Peter asking him, “Didn't it belong to you before it was sold?”Even though Christianity doesn't espouse a specific economic ideology, it would be wrong to conclude that any & every economic theory is compatible with Christianity. Despite that, many look favorably upon social­ism, which is an ideology that is in several regards contrary to Biblical doctrine.A less discriminating student of scripture might assume that because early Christians sold their possessions and “had all things in common, & gave to each as anyone had need” or because they were expected to be their brother's keeper, that socialistic governments are a reflec­tion of Christianity. Such thinking makes at least 3 mistakes.First, it fails to recall that not all of the early Christians sold their possessions. Mary, the mother of Mark, retained her house and received at least implied commendation for doing so as that's where the church met. Simon, a tanner in Caesarea, retained his house where he hosted Peter in Acts 10.Second, they fail to note that the supposed socialism some of the early Christians practiced was totally voluntary. Whatever they shared in common was out of love for that individual, not because it was forced upon them by government coercion. As we noted in a previous podcast, behavior that's forced, no matter how noble its objective, is no longer Christian. This point is all too often overlooked today, even by many well-meaning but confused Christians.Third, while Christ wanted all to follow him, He also let them have the free­dom to reject him, a precedent that God already established at the time of creation when he gave Adam and Eve the gift of a free will. Christ healed 10 lepers, but only 1 returned to thank him. He'd not denied the 9 the freedom to reject him. Another time He said that He wanted to gather Jerusalem's people to himself spiritually, like a hen gathers her chicks, but they were unwilling. He wept over Jerusalem's spiritual stubbornness, but compulsion was not his MO.Just as God does not want people to be coerced in spiritual matters, so too He does not want them to be coerced in earthly matters, such as in their economic activities. There's not a single reference in either the Old or New Testaments in which God denies economic freedom to people, as do fascism, socialism, and it's Siamese twin, Communism. The parables of Jesus that touch on economic issues are always couched in the context of freedom. Consider his parable of the talents, which relates the case of 1 man having received 5 talents; another 2; and a third, 1 (Matthew 25:15-30). The implication is quite clear: each was free to invest or not; there was no compulsion.If we fail to understand that the involuntary, coercive nature of social­ism and its state programs is utterly incompatible with the economic practices some early Christians engaged in when they voluntarily had all things in common, we may think that socialism is a good way to practice Christianity. In 1848 this unfortunate thinking led F. D. Maurice to coin the term Christian socialism. Something done involuntarily or as a result of compulsion is no longer Christian. Christian socialism is an oxymoron. As the Austrian economist F. A. Hayek argued, socialism fails to tell people that its promises of freedom from economic care and want can only happen “by relieving the individual at the same time of the necessity and of the power of choice.” The prescient author Dostoyevsky expressed the incompatibility of socialism and Christianity by having Miusov, in The Brothers Karamazov, say, “The socialist who is a Christian is more to be dreaded than a socialist who is an atheist.”Ever since the atheist and communist Karl Marx wrote Das Kapital in the mid-19th C, the economic system of capitalism has been both misunderstood and castigated, partly because of Marx's definition of labor. He wrongly saw labor as an antithesis to capital, when in reality capital is just labor transformed. Marx's definition has dominated the discussion, even though it's based on a false premise. Another misunderstanding relates to capitalism itself. Although Marx didn't use the term, it became a despised concept to his sympathizers who used it in their pro-socialist, and so necessarily anti-capitalistic propaganda. Capitalism is negatively portrayed in the mass media. Ironically, even many news anchors, celebrities, & university professors who are paid millions of dollars annually—a capitalist salary—cast aspersions on capitalism, biting the hand that feeds them.In reality, capitalism is only a synonym for free enterprise & free markets. If these terms were consistently used instead of the word “capitalism,” socialists would have a more difficult time getting people to see capitalism as evil. This would be especially true in societies that have a strong tradition of freedom, such as the United States, Canada and Great Britain. People would ask: How can this economic system be evil if it's the product of political and economic freedom and has never been found to exist without such freedom?A definition of capitalism by Pope John Paul II is relevant. In 1996, he asked rhetorically whether the eastern European countries, where Commu­nism failed, should opt for capitalism. Said the Pope, "If by 'capitalism' is meant an economic system which recognizes the fundamental and positive role of business, the market, private property and the resulting responsibility for the means of production, as well as free human creativity in the economic sector, then the answer is certainly in the affirmative.” The Pope's definition of capitalism underscores that it's a synonym for free enterprise.This is not to be understood to mean that Capitalism is the official Christian economic ideology. It's merely that capitalism is a mate­rial by-product of the Mosaic law. Capitalism is a by-prod­uct of Christianity's value of freedom applied to economic life and activities.  The economic freedom of capitalism can be & IS sometimes abused and misused. It's also the only thing anti-capitalists like communists & socialists attribute to capitalism. Karl Marx believed that the abuses in cap­italism would inevitably destroy it. As an atheist, he couldn't envision the humanitarian spirit of Christianity internalized by thousands of leaders in the West would correct economic abuse. So the free market has not only has survived, it's given to a greater proportion of the world's people more prosperity and freedom than any other economic system in history. As Milton Friedman has shown, in countries where the free market is not permitted to operate, the gap between the rich and poor is the widest.It can be argued further that a free market economy as it practiced in America, is of all economic systems the most moral in that it does not coerce or compel individuals to make economic transactions. It permits individuals or companies to act voluntarily. Individuals need not buy or sell their products unless they so desire. Furthermore, individuals are not compelled to produce a product against their will as is the norm in socialist, or so-called “planned” economies.Finally, given the positive relationship between economic freedom and a nation's prosperity, the following question needs to be asked: Is it merely accidental that the greatest amount of freedom and the accompanying eco­nomic prosperity happen to exist in countries where Christianity has had, and continues to have, a dominant presence and influence? The evidence shows rather decisively that Christianity tends to create a capitalistic mode of life whenever siege conditions do not prevail.On a deeper level, and maybe this gets more to the heart of the issue, is the question of the profit motive. Is the desire for profit inherently sinful, and if it is, should it be regulated by civil law and an economic system that makes profit something to be shunned?In both the Old & New Testaments, the Bible says a worker is worthy of his/her wages. To pay those wages, the employer has to make a profit, or she/ he has nothing to pay the worker with.In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus gave legitimacy to the profit motive. The crisis of the parable revolves around what each of the 3 servants did with what was given to them. The 2 who made a profits were commended while the one who had no interest in increasing what he'd received was condemned.The idea that the profit motive is evil doesn't come from the Bible or Christian theology. It was Karl Marx, the atheistic Communist, who said profit, which he called surplus value, was the result of labor not returned to the laborers. So, profit was cast as exploitation of workers. The Soviet Encyclopedia projects this belief when it states, “Under capitalism, the category of profit is a converted form of surplus value, the embodiment of unpaid labor of wage workers, which is appropriated without compensation by the capitalist."Contempt for the profit motive is common fare for some intellectuals who harbor socialistic ideas. They impugn profit by identifying abuses in the world of banking, industry and commerce. To be sure, profits can and have been abused—horribly. But if this is to be used as condemnation of free enterprise, then socialism has to be held to the same standard. When it is, it fares worse than the free market.What's important to note is that it's the Christian ethic that ensures the abuses inherent in profit are kept at bay. The Apostle Paul warns that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The NT repeatedly warns of greed & avarice, and their cousin, Envy.Let's take a look at a case study that well illustrates all this.After the disaster at Roanoke Island and the mystery of the Lost Colony, the next English settlers in America landed in 1607 and called their set­tlement Jamestown. After a rough start that saw the colony nearly destroyed, Captain John Smith arrived & made moves to make it successful. The colonists were economically organized as a socialist community, requiring all the settlers to give all products of their labor to "the common store." Individuals had no private property and no economic freedom. This system quickly turned disastrous, bringing famine and starvation. An early his­torian wrote, “It was a premium for idleness, and just suited the drones, who promptly decided that it was unnecessary to work themselves, since others would work for them."' Smith's threats that if a person didn't work, he wouldn't eat did little to improve the economic malaise. So, begin­ning in 1611, Governor Thomas Dale ended the common store, and 4 years later had the London Company deed 50 acres to each colonist if he would clear the trees and farm it. The injec­tion of private property and economic freedom brought about a dramatic change in Jamestown. The colonists immediately went to work and prospered. The new economic system demonstrated that socialism does not work.A similar situation happened among the Pilgrims at Plymouth. When they landed on the shores of Cape Cod in 1620 and set up their Colony, like Jamestown, they tried to equate Christianity with socialism. Their common store system failed as well. The colony experienced economic disaster.  So in 1623 William Bradford, the colony's governor, like Governor Dale in Jamestown, assigned all able-bodied persons a portion of land as their own. Before long the slothful and unproductive turned from laggards into will­ing, productive workers. Men who previously had “feigned sickness were now eager to get into the fields. Even the women went out to work eagerly.... They now took their children with them and happily engaged in labor for their own family. The result was that the following harvest was a tremendous, bountiful harvest, and abundant thanksgiving was celebrated in America." With the common store, the Pilgrims had had little incentive to produce com­modities other than those needed for their immediate sustenance.The new system, based on economic freedom, revealed for the second time that when people own their own property, they become energetic rather than lethargic and dependent on others. Socialism could only work if human beings were sinless & always sought the best for their neighbor. That person, however, does not exist. As both the Old and New Testaments teach, man is a fallen, sinful creature who does not seek his neighbor's wel­fare.As stated earlier, while Christianity doesn't advocate a specific economic ideology, its support of human freedom and private property rights provides fertile ground for the free enterprise economic system. Contrary to a socialist mentality that advocates a redistribution of wealth, Christianity encourages productivity and thrift, which often results in an individual's wealth.While Christianity isn't opposed to individuals becoming wealthy, it doesn't promote wealth as an end in itself. Christians have always been expected to use their acquired wealth to God's glory and to the welfare of their neighbor, as Martin Luther and John Calvin often made clear.Closely related to the dignity of labor and economic freedom is Christianity's concept of time. The British historian Paul Johnson contends that one of Christianity's great strengths lies in its concept of time. Unlike the Greeks, who saw time as cyclical, Christianity, with its background in Judaism, has always seen time as linear.  Life and events proceed from one historical point to another. Groundhog Day is a fun movie, but it's fiction.Christianity's linear concept of time led to the invention of mechanical clocks in the Middle Ages. In his fascinating books The Discoverers & The Creators, venerable American histo­rian Daniel Boorstin says that for centuries “Man allowed his time to be parsed by the changing cycles of daylight, [and thereby remaining] a slave of the sun.” This changed when Christian monks needed to know the times for their appointed prayers, giving rise to Europe's first mechanical clocks. The appointed periods of prayer in the monasteries became known as "canonical hours."Referring to his second coming , Jesus said, "Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” This linear concept of time had the effect of Christians seeing time as limited and having an end point. Although Christ's warning referred to his sudden return and the need for Christians to be pre­pared, Paul Johnson says this awareness caused Christians "a sense of anxiety about time, which made men dissatisfied by progress but for the same reason determined to pursue it.” This time-related anxiousness motivated Christians to make the most of their time, economically and religiously.By giving dignity to labor and accenting the spirit of individual free­dom, Christianity produced profound economic effects. Johnson says that “Christianity was one of the principal dynamic forces in the agricultural rev­olution on which the prosperity of Western Europe ultimately rested, and it was the haunting sense of time and its anxiety to accomplish, its urge to move and arrive, which gave men in the West the will to indus­trialize and create our modern material structure. . . Christianity provided the moral code, the drill and the discipline-as well as the desti­nation-which enabled the unwieldy army of progress to lumber into the future.”