Yesterday I Wrote About How To Be Saved

 

One reason for the many branches shown above - and many that are not even mentioned - has to do with mankind's interpretation of God's requirements for salvation beyond what Jesus and Paul so succincly added. There are a couple of reasons common to many. First is man's traditions. The Bible speaks of this often. My favorite verses are:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:36-39)

The Ten Commandments were given to Moses as he led the Israelites from Egypt to the home God promised them. The first four have to do with our relationship to God - Jesus cut those four down to one: love God. The next six have to do with our relationship to everyone in our lives - again that one: love everyone around us.

Every split above was done by people who interpreted the Bible differently than the people in the room with them. Just as the Bereans, when they first heard Paul's gospel message:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. (Acts 17:11-13)

God's messages to people are usually disturbing. Just as disturbing as it was to Adam and Eve. We become complacent in comfortable lives where a certain amount of sinfulness surrounds us with a level of comfort. God's messages usually cover specific sins, and are unwelcome by those wrapped in that comfort. Don't think of examples out of your sight - count the ones that have made themselves (and you) comfortable. Yep, that's a toe-stepper. I know. I've had to look at those. And I've had to face God in prayer and discuss their disappearance.

Jesus continues to build His church - His assembly of believers. Some belong to a specific denomination - but not all to the same denomination. Some are members of underground churches in countries where congregations are not allowed. They are just as saved as church members in centuries-old cathedrals. The organization, the building, the prayers, the attendance, the membership written on a ledger does not create followers of Christ. That's what a Christian is a follower, a disciple:

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

Some Christians meet on the Sabbath - that is still Saturday, the last of seven days - to fulfill the fourth of the Ten Commandments. Other Christians meet on Sunday, the day of resurrection for our Lord, the Lord's day. Jesus spoke in the synagogue on the Sabbath, but He also picked grain, and told the naysayers:

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: (Mark 2:27)

Once again, my answers to religious questions/debates/arguements has to come down to the Bible. No - I do not have it all memorized, nor do I know what all of it means.I don't have to. I have to use it for my life and my relationship with God. What I have to change in my life may not be what you have to change in yours. What we both are to change is what separates us from God.

The primary separation from God is unbelief. How do we come to know Him whom we do not know?

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:12-15)

Paul was well versed in scripture. Just as Nicodemus, he was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin:

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:16-18)

If you've read this page this far, you've heard the good news of God's salvation for mankind. What choice do you make of it?

What About How To Be Saved?

Wikipedia article

This photo (and the linked article) shows what is known as the schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, or either one as The Holy Catholic Church. But it isn't the only division among Christianity:

From another Wikipedia article, we see divisions and we haven't even touched on the differences Christian organizations require for membership. Take our church for example. To become a member, the applicant must make a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the propitiation of our sins. After making such a statement, members are expected to show their obedience by participating in baptism. That's all.

It is my understanding that several Christian denominations operate along similar lines. Others require specific training prior to membership, still others require specific participation as ongoing members. Methodology in worship fluctuates, too. But ...

But ... have you ever studied what the Bible says is required for salvation? And what happens after that?

Let's drop in on the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (John 3:1-4)

Two thousand years ago Nicodemus, an educated leader in Judaism, member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus to learn more about Him and His miracles. I assure you, today people have the same question when the subject "You must be a born again Christian" arises. Yet Jesus states it as a fact, and expects Nicodemus to know about it:

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (John 3:9-11)

Throughout the Bible God is shown as saying facts to people - and people decline to listen. There are consequences subsequent to not listening:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:16-21)

I would almost wager that when you learned John 3:16 as a child you never read nor memorized John 3:18. More than likely you assumed everyone understood. A large number don't. Let's continue into Acts, the followup to the gospels, which tells what the Disciples took from Jesus teachings, though their actions often got them thrown into prison. Once, a good question from a prison guard was answered by Paul after a miraculous encounter:

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:31-33)

Jesus said it. Paul said it. It is written several times in the Bible, what it takes to be saved. Now, what is "saved"? From the condemnation God has for those who do not believe He is who He says He is. Yes, it is that simple. Tell anyone you do not believe there is a God, and if there were, He would never have dealt with mankind they way the Bible says. Two types of people say that - one who believes there is no god, another believes his god is bigger, better and spoke differently that the biblical one.

Thanks, but I'll stick with the biblical God. We don't know all there is about Him, but He has given us instructions that have lasted well over four thousand years. A drop in the bucket within the timeline science has given. I remain firmly convinced the Bible - written by men over a two thousand year timeframe - does provide all mankind needs to build the same relationship defined in Genesis, Psalms, Micah, the four gospels, and all the letters to the churches. Mankind walks with God just as Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Isaiah, Micah, Matthew, John, Peter, and perhaps one step out of time, Paul. 

Aren't you the least bit curious what made all of these men across history sufficiently firm in their conviction that God provided for them? Can you understand that I believe exactly the same thing?

Salvation through Jesus, the promised Christ, the Jewish Messiah, is this simple:

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:5-9)

Come back tomorrow. I have a bit more on where it gets difficult.

What Is Church?

That's a screen capture of our church building from our church website 

But - that is simply a building where the church meets. The church is the people who come to the building to worship God. We are also called a congregation, when speaking of the entire group, or the membership. Not everyone who attends is a member of this church because membership requires some specific actions. All of them are defined in the Bible, because our beliefs are centered in the Bible and we consider it God's word for mankind.

I do take a bit of pride in the concrete between the church building on the right and the fellowship hall/gymnasium on the left. Those two L shaped roofs cover a ramped walkway from our lobby into the gym. My Beloved Husband built the roof alone. Our family poured the concrete for the ramp, steps and drive. It was a gift we were so very happy to offer because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we love being in our Lord's service. It has been almost 30 years since that was built. This year it got it's first new roof (due to some severe storms) and new ceilings out of hardiboard due to fire danger.

This is not, however, a building Jesus spoke of in the gospels. He did not set out to rebuild the Temple, or its replacement. He went specifically to individuals. The first He spoke with about religion was His cousin, John the Baptist. Next came Andrew and Peter, followed by public speaking to crowds, even huge crowds of thousands of people. Individuals came to Him, too. One reached out to touch the hem of His garment, and was healed. Oh, she was noticed - when He is touched by faith, He knows it.

In fact, it is faith in Jesus that activates God's grace:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

No boasting on my part simply because I have faith in God's word that He provides grace to believers. Thousands upon thousands of people come to believe that every day. Some know it, almost show it, then become those upon which seed reach stoney ground, interest showed, but it withered and died before it became faith that actually bears fruit. Read Matthew 13 if you want more on that subject.

Back to the church - a word used only twice in the gospels:

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:17)

Context of  verse 16:18 goes back to the full conversation in Matthew 16:13-20. Peter had just confirmed that he believed Jesus to be the Christ (the Messiah promised to the Jews), the Son of the Living God. That is what Jesus was to build His church upon. For our congregation, a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ is required when asking to become a member. No one gets to be a member of our congregation without making that public statement. Our church is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Yes - that is an outstanding statement from "Solid Rock" hymn. 

Now, if you are Catholic, that's not what you've been told. But - Bible reading is outstanding for everyone. I did have a couple of Catholics tell me I was not only outside their church, but outside salvation for taking such information from the book available only to their Church to interpret. Can't apologize, either, because the Bible also tells me what a preacher used today:

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:3-5)

One mediator between God and man - not a priest, not a high priest (that veil was torn apart), not a bishop, not a pope, not even a pastor - but Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Remember one of my most favorite verses:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

The Holy Spirit - the Comforter that Jesus promised in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7. This Comforter will "... teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Just as firmly as we believe God is one, that Jesus died and was resurrected to be in heaven, we believe the Comforter came upon those who also believed at Pentecost. After that, there was clarification between John's baptism and the spiritual baptism. 

So - back to what is church? Our English Bible translates as Strong's:

ἐκκλησία    ekklēsia    ek-klay-see'-ah

a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

It is the people who assemble at a meeting place who believe Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. Nothing more - and more certainly nothing less. 

Out of All The World, Why Here?

 

Why here? Why does Genesis begin here? Look at that book - lots of names - people and places - lots of stories, but concentrated in a small area. Could it really be that an omnipotent deity picked a specific time, place, people to tell the story that would determine where humans spend eternity? Could there be an eternity - an existence beyond a person's lifetime on earth? The Bible tells us so, and Jerusalem is pretty much in the middle of the world's continuous trade route.

Abraham was sent from Ur to settle along the Jordan River. By doing so, he was promised three specific things by the God he believed: 

1) a son who would lead a nation; 

2) a specific area of land; 

3) a blessing for the world. 

Within three generations, there is a large following of tribes from 12 male descendants of Abraham that end up going to Egypt. Led by Moses centuries later, he took their descendants to the Promised Land - they rejected it. He led that group for forty years, until all the naysayers were gone. Then took the land and promised God they would always follow His will.

Every one of the following books in the Bible addresses their current situation based firmly on this first book, which focuses on the area around what became - and is now - Jerusalem. Pretty much the center of world trade from pre-history to our current trade wars. Why wouldn't we be focused on the area that has provided three religions that claim the same God, but with tremendously different aspects.

Right place - center of world population. Set to always be that center. More so today than any other time in the past, but never losing the central trade route designation. Seems as though we should give consideration to the truths behind such history.

What were the descendants of Abraham chosen to do? My answer is: To show the world that following God's will brings out the best in mankind and God rewards men who do so. That also means God showing His displeasure for an entire nation's actions. We see examples throughout the Old Testament, to the point both Israel and Judah are taken into captivity, which is very specificly described in several books of the Bible, by specific prophets.

Christ as born at a turning point in history. Greek had captured a large portion of the world, encompassing a large amount of the trade routes, instilling education, language, business, and arts across a wide area. With a century or so, Rome achieved the same thing, with greater power, moving into even more area. The words of Jesus and His disciples would be scattered throughout the Roman Empire, quickly, from the same center of trade - which even today impacts our modern world.

Not until the seventh century Common Era was there the seed of another religion planted. Mohammed conquered Mecca and instilled in the conquered people the belief that Arabs were the chosen children of Abraham. That the prophets, including Jesus, were Arabs who taught the correct religion. That untruth is being distributed today, and is the source of error in so many ways.

Why would an angel bring such a message to one specific man? There are many assumptions that could be made, but my personal link goes back to a letter Paul wrote to a church:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Paul knew about angels:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

John 8 is a wonderful chapter to see the difference between the Jewish religious/political leaders who defend themselves as the chldren of Abraham, while Jesus states plainly He was sent by God as God, and recognizes them for what they really are - just as He knows what we really are:

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (John 8:42-45)

I will use biblical phrases without citing chapter and verse, but you can search: God is no respecter of persons. There is nothing ethnic nor racial in His followers. God is open to anyone who seeks Him, for He may be found by those who do. God has offered to anyone the ability to live with Him eternally through belief in Him and His gift of salvation through Jesus. Christianity is monotheistic. Christianity has one single God who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God works with us as the Creator, the Salvation, and the guiding Spirit of education and comfort in our lives.

If this raises more questions for you than it answers - ask them. Much we are not supposed to know, but much is open to our hearts when the Holy Spirit guides us. Do not allow any other spirit to take root:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

Disfunctional Families and Actions

 

Pardon Me by Norman Rockwell, 

appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on January 26 1918. Oil on canvas

This Norman Rockwell painting is owned by Stephen Spielberg, but this graphic is in the public domain. Rockwell painted America as he saw it, and Saturday Evening Post carried it across our country. To us it depicts moments out of American life across decades. Somewhere across those decades, American life became quite dysfunctional. From a Google query:

A poll by Fox News found that 81% of Americans view the country as a dysfunctional family.

Public Perception and Polling Data

Country as a Family: 81% of respondents in the poll described the U.S. as a dysfunctional family

Since that fits my criteria of this being a family discussion, I won't give the remaining responses of being on a wrong track and the show of broader dissatisfaction. Back to yesterday's analogy of toes being stepped on, we have much more than the tender toes of a young lady. So let's take a look at sin.

Sin is disobeying the will of God. First earth creature to do that was in the form of a snake, according to Genesis 3. It lied to Eve. Eve was the first person to believe the lie and not only do what God said not to, but shared her thought process with her husband, who joined her in doing what God told them not to do. 

It was a simple request - do not eat the fruit from that tree. The result would be death. 

As any of my readers would agree, we know exactly what it is like to not understand what the exact consequences are to our actions. I wonder if Adam or Eve truly understood what "thou shalt surely die," meant. Did their lives ever see death? They were in Eden, the garden of perfection created by God. They walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day. What was so important about that fruit?

Same things that become important to us simply because it caught or attention and we wanted it. That is temptation. Giving in to temptation, acting on our desires and not God's instruction is sin. 

Sin is not following God's instruction. 

So why do we have such problems? God has inspired men to write what sin looks like. We can recognize it from Paul's writing:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:21-32)

That's a long list of sinfulness. Verse 32 affirms that people know the result of sinning, and do it for pleasure. Eve would understand that:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

Jesus changed the results of sin by becoming the sacrifice, but he also gave the instructions that can keep us aware and away from temptations:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)

Everything else in the Law and the messages of the prophets falls within following these two - love God and love people. How difficult is that?

Very difficult, because Paul continues a little later:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

That means me, you, and everyone alive today. Definitely falls under the "whosoever" of John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

Oh, you didn't expect the following two verses? People seem to forget them a lot. It is very much like giving your child instructions, then telling them the consequences. IF you do this, THEN this will happen, or ELSE something bad will happen. 

Almost twenty years ago I used those programming lines in a blog - July 5, 2008 - and if you look at it, I've been giving out this same message since long before that date. God has been giving the exact same message for eternity: If you believe, then you are safe, or else we will be separated for eternity. 

King Hezekiah and Disfunctional Families

King Hezekiah, clothed in sackcloth, spreads open the letter before the Lord. 1873, unknown

 

What Bible stories do you remember about King Hezekiah? My quickest one is that he was one of the good kings, but his son lost Jerusalem to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar II. He came to mind this week as I was listening to Isaiah beling read. I had forgotten Isaiah was the prophet during a portion of Hezekiah's reign. Doing a quick search in the KJV version on e-Sword came back with 117 verses with Hezekiah in them, sometimes twice.

That covered II Kings, both of the Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemia, Proverbs, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. For someone to be mentioned across several verses in eight books of the Bible, it might be a good idea to take a look at this man's life. The earliest mention is a verse that is repeated often in both Kings and Chronicles, giving the name of the just deceased king along with the name of the new king:

And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 16:20)

This can get confusing because the kingdom David and Solomon built as Israel ended up being divided into the northern (Israel) and the southern (Judah) as the tribes split not only politically, but religiously. Judah held Jerusalem - the center of Judaism, the location of the Temple David was not allowed to build, and Solomon was.

Both men eventually followed their wives into divisive religions. Not that they themselves ceased to worship the great I AM, but they allowed their politically added wives to bring their own religions into the country. Kept a bit of peace in their disfunctional households, but destroyed their nations.

Might I take a moment to remind us what Jesus said about marriage - which goes back to God's creation of Adam and Eve. Pharisees  - prients of Judaism at the time - approached Jesus with a "Gotcha!" question. As usual, Jesus went to the very core of the question, and back to scriptures:

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:3-6)

Just as usual, the Pharisees reverted to tradition. Yes, the Mosaic Laws allowed divorce. Jesus knew that - because He was there when Moses took the law from God:

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:7-8)

Take a look at the Strong's for the Greek word translated here as "suffered" - it does not mean "endured pain":

ἐπιτρέπω epitrepō ep-ee-trep'-o

From G1909 and the base of G5157; to turn over (transfer), that is, allow: - give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer.

That should read: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to put away your wives. That is not what God created."

Problems that arise in a family often come from what some people say are "disfunctional actions." We've all read about disfunctional families. The vast majority of us come from families with huge disfunction. May I make a small suggestion here and define most of the "disfunction" can really be described as sinfulness?

Ooops - I do believe I've stepped on a few toes. I know mine felt some pressure from my own words. There have been disfunctions in my family, too. Some of the actions that were painful for my children can be traced to actions and attitudes that were in our home while they were children and teens.

How about your home - no, I am not asking that you answer any of them here - were there actions and/or attitudes in your own home that could be considered sin if measured by biblical standards?

Not my standards, biblical standards. Think for a few moments. Becasuse of the next few days I will be looking at what the Bible standards are. And they may not match your own. You may decide to call me on some of what I say - please do not hesitate to e-mail me if adding a Comment below is too public.

However, we do need to discuss sin - or people cannot understand why we say people are sinners in need of a Savior, and why we believe Jesus Christ is that very salvation. Alone. Without churches. And then we are going to discuss what a church is. Stick around for a few days.

Other Bible Readers

 When we talk about reading the Bible, we really mean the Holy Bible. It should contain both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is fulll of different books, divided into chapters and verses for easily locatable use. No - it was not originally written in that form. 

When I was a child, a boy not much older than I was at the time discovered an entire cave holding scrolls that matched specific books of the Old Testament. So we know that what we have of the book of Isaiah matches what people over two thousand years ago were reading, and copied hundreds of years after they were originally written. These are eye witness acounts of actions taken by people interested in what their God had to say about what was happening at specific times.

My Bible reading is semi-scheduled, but I also listen every evening to YourVersion Bible plans. There are a multitude to choose from. I've gone through specific books, and I've gone through the entire Bible as laid out, plus as it occurs chronologically. That made for some interesting reading, especially through Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets. It was very helpful in the Gospels.

By the time one reads the Bible several times, when you read it again you do think "How did I miss that?" Sometimes it is a specific name, or a story. Other times the words are exactly the same and I  remember reading them, but they seem to have a specific meaning in this time of my life. This last week I read two devotional postings that focused on events I knew, names that were familiar, but the focus was a bit different.

Elijah was the first one. You find him to be an absolutely fascinating prophet. He raised the dead, healed a leper, killed Baal priests, hid from God, was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Oh, yes, his life was extremely active and dedicated to the God who created the earth and set Israel on its path. 

When he challenged Baal's priests, it was after God withheld rain. By 1 Kings 18, the country was desparate for rain. Elijah had King Ahab summon Baal's priests and the citizens to choose:

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. (1 Kings 18:20-22)

The challenge wasn't about rain. It was about whose God would accept their sacrifice. Baal did not respond. God did:

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (1 Kings 18:37-38)

No rain. Fire took the sacrifice, but no rain. Elijah knelt - the Bible doesn't say he prayed, but that is a prayful position. He sent his servant to look for a cloud. Seven times. That seventh time there was a small cloud. Elijah's faith lasted and at that point he told Ahab to leave the mountain, or the rain could stop him:

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (1 Kings 18:44)

I tend to neglect that continued prayer for what is needed. Just as I forgot Abigail's name, and how she stopped a slaughter. We meet Abigail in 1 Samiuel 25, the wife of a very wealthy man, not long after Samuel's death. David was still hiding from King Saul, who was determined that David should die. While hiding, David sent a group to ask Nabal for food for his men:

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. (1 Samuel 25:10-12)

David prepared his men for battle. While he did not want to attack his King, a wealthy opponent was no match. Abigail knew that, and when she learned both sides of the story:

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. (1 Samuel 25:18-20)

By her actions, Abigail saved her husband's life, their home, their wealth, and lives on both sides of the battle. Eventually, her husband died, and David took her to be his own wife. He had lived through her example of strategy and planning that kept her family from harm as well as gaining the friendship of their future king.

God's hand is seen in both of these stories - not in these specific verses. There are no praises, no commitments, no promises, no prayers that were answered except those given within God's will. Most of the biblical stories are just that - examples of what happens in - and without - God's will in the lives of ordinary people who become very extraordinary while living in God's will.

Reading and studying the Bible gives historical insight, too. These people lived thousands of years ago - but experienced many of the same political, economical, personal, and religious elements of life we face today. We should be learning from them.