The Persecution at Ephesus

from Google Images

According to Peter’s epistles, believers in the Roman provinces of Asia Minor—that is, the provinces of Asia (of which Ephesus was a major city) Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Bithynta—were undergoing a season of persecution (1Peter 1:1, 6-7; cf. 5:10). Peter called upon believers to suffer the wrongdoing patiently (1Peter 2:20), which implies working against the natural tendency to retaliate in some manner. Bullying and violence promote a like response. To be reproached for the name of Christ is an honor, not something to be ashamed of (1Peter 4:14, 16), because the Spirit of God rests upon such a one who suffers for the sake of Christ’s name.

 

Sending Out the Seventy

from Google Images

In the shadow of the disciples question of who is the greatest (Luke 9:46), and the Apostle, John, demanding that others who were not of the Twelve keep themselves from using Jesus’ name in casting out demons (Luke 9:49), Jesus sent out the Seventy ahead of himself into towns and villages, as he journeyed toward Jerusalem.

 

The Bittersweet

from Google Images

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to say good things than to do good things?[1] The fact is: it may be the most bittersweet lesson I’ve ever learned about myself—that good intentions are merely the whitewash on the face of a cold stony heart that has neglected to exercise what I had acknowledged as good. Ezekiel was told to take the scroll God had given him, containing his words for his people, and eat it and then go to the House of Israel and speak to them. In his mouth the scroll was as sweet as honey (Ezekiel 3:1-3), but the performance of the task was a bitter undertaking (Ezekiel 3:14).

 

Free to Be Me!

from Google Images

Recently, I’ve come face to face with some very uncomfortable emotions, like becoming angry with God.[1] I realize this is wrong, and even in my anger I understand it is wrong and confess to him that although I am angry, I understand that he is perfectly righteous. Moreover, I also understand in my anger toward God that he is not only aware of my disposition toward him, but, in spite of it, he is working out all things in my life for my ultimate good (Romans 8:28). I confess my ignorance of his will and apologize for my inner wrath, but still this is most discomforting.

 

Submission According to Paul

from Google Images

Paul speaks of submission in Ephesians 5:21-33, and in my opinion this scripture has been both misunderstood and abused for quite some time by many in the Body of Christ.[1] The family, especially the marriage relationship itself, is considered an allegory of a close relationship between those Paul refers to as husbands and wives. But, notice two things before we consider what else Paul writes. First, in Ephesians 5:21 Paul tells us to submit ourselves to one another. In other words, whoever the husband is, and whoever the wife is, they are mutually submissive. This mutual submission cannot take place if one is lording it over the other—such a thing Jesus, himself, forbade (Luke 22:25:26). Secondly, in Ephesians 5:32-33 Paul specifically tells us that his analogy is not about what we understand to be the normal marriage relationship, but, rather, he is speaking of a relationship within the Church—generally Christ and the Church is the example, but the relationships of church leaders and local churches in particular are under consideration.

 

How to Identify a Christian

from Google Images

Don’t you think it is odd to understand that neither the Apostles’ Creed nor the Nicene Creed offer a single statement about love?[1] Theology seems to be the most important thing when it comes to us wanting to identify someone as Christian or not. We test one another according to this or that creed, or whether or not we embrace this or that doctrine! Yet, Christ tells us that we would be known by our fruits (Matthew 7:15-20), and the identifying fruit is one’s love for the brethren (John 13:35). Isn’t it odd that God’s people have shifted the emphasis for the mark of a Christian?

 

Paul’s Gospel

from Google Images

A few years ago I published my understanding of Paul’s Gospel, while I was going through the Book of Acts for the second time: What Was Paul’s Gospel? In this blog-post I wish to offer the same point of view from a different perspective. In the first chapter of Galatians Paul offers a glimpse of the Gospel he preached to the gentiles. Although it was somewhat different from that preached by the Twelve, in essence it was the very same Gospel preached at Jerusalem. Notice that in Galatians 1:4 Paul says that he preached that Christ gave himself for our sins in order that we might be delivered from this world. In a nutshell, this is the Gospel, and, as I hope to show here, it was the Gospel preached in Jerusalem, minus the Jewish traditions that the Apostles preached Jews should obey, just as Paul preached gentiles should obey the authorities who governed them.

 

The Jerusalem Council’s Verdict

Luke’s placement of the Jerusalem Council at about the center of his thesis tells us how important this event is. It is also only here that we find Paul, Barnabas, James and Peter together in one place at the same time. While Paul did visit with Peter and James on his first visit to Jerusalem after his conversion in Acts 9, Luke doesn’t put them all together in one place until here, and according to Paul (Galatians 2:9), the apostle, John, was there too. So, what was done here was of key importance to the Gospel afterward.

 

Paul and the Marriage Supper

It seems that some of the Jews and many of the gentiles who heard Paul speak in the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch wished to speak of these things again the next Sabbath (Acts 13:42-43), and both Paul and Barnabas spoke with them at that time and encouraged them to remain in the grace of God. That is, to believe the Gospel is a lot like receiving an invitation to an event and being excited over attending that event. Paul and Barnabas told these believers to remain excited; don’t be persuaded by someone who makes light of its value that the event isn’t worth attending.

 

Why is Paul’s Conversion so Important?

We need to remember that authors of books in ancient times didn’t have the luxury that modern writers have of adding a few pages here and there for color and depth. In the first century CE authors like Luke were limited to the length of a scroll. They had to be concise and choose carefully what they wished to say in order to successfully express the theme behind their work. Luke chose to record Paul’s conversion three times (Acts 9, 22 and 26)! Why? Wouldn’t once have been sufficient, knowing that space was limited? Looking back, our vision is 20/20; Paul turned out to be one of the most significant figures of western civilization. What he did, or rather what God did through Paul, changed the direction of the whole continent of Europe and ultimately of the Americas, and to some degree even how the East developed into our modern societies. But, Luke didn’t know this, so why did he take such an interest in Paul’s conversion?

 

Saul’s Conversion & the Body of Christ

from Google Images

Saul was a zealous persecutor of Messianic believers, but I don’t think he persecuted the Church for more than six or seven months, or from the mid 7th month of 34 CE to cir. 1^st month of 35 CE. Therefore, the reigning high priest would have been Caiaphas and from him Saul would have sought papers of extradition (Acts 9:1-2) in order to arrest Messianic believers at Damascus and bring them before the Sanhedrin at Jerusalem for judgment.

 

The Ethiopian Eunuch and the Body of Christ

from Google Images

Luke has Philip joining an Ethiopian on a road near Gaza, south of Jerusalem. The man was returning from worshiping at Jerusalem, probably after one of its Holy Day seasons, which, in this case, would probably be Passover of 35 CE. (accounting for a six-month ministry for Philip in Samaria).

 

The First to Die for Christ

from Google Images

Stephen’s death (Acts 7:51-60) is probably the most significant chapter in the life of the Church since Pentecost. He is the first believer whose blood was shed in Jesus’ name, and I don’t believe its significance is fully appreciated in the Church today. It may come as a surprise to know that he was probably stoned on the Day of Atonement 3 ½ years after Jesus’ crucifixion and comes at the culmination of the second half of the 70^th week of Daniels 70 Weeks Prophecy. The first half of that week incorporated Jesus’ public ministry which ended in his crucifixion in the “midst of the week” (cp. Daniel 9:26-27). Both halves equal 7 years or the 70^th Week beginning on the Feast of Trumpets in 27 AD and ending on the Day of Atonement or 10^th day of the seventh month in 34 AD.

 

Who Am I In Christ?

All mankind are descendants of Adam, who, though created to live forever, are swallowed up in death. I cannot live forever, because Adam’s life had become corrupt and began to decay. As my most ancient ancestor, he defined me. He was my truth. My power to know was written in the map of life that I inherited ultimately from him. Adam was my way. I could experience only what he could. He was a rebel, so how could I be more than him? What Adam gave up, I cannot inherit from him.

 

Cooperative Effort Produces Eternal Results!

The sources of Luke’s gospel are the records given him by many eyewitnesses (Luke 1:2). That is, he was not the eyewitness, but his record is an account of the eyewitness testimony of others. This included the testimony of the Twelve (verse-2), which was believed by so many throughout the world (verse-1), of which Theophilus is an example (verse-3).