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Dividing the Word of Truth
2
Timothy 2:15
Is there more than
one gospel in effect today?
Part
VIII
“There are two great revelators,
or unfolders of Divine Truth in the Bible—Moses in the Old Testament, and Paul in
the New.” William R. Newell
Before
we begin let’s review the historical backdrop of this era.
To
get the most out of your Bible study it’s a good idea to review the events taking
place at that time, the politics, the religions, and the stresses these people
encountered in their day-to-day.
It
is now the year 37 AD. Eight years after
the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
The
Roman Emperor Tiberius is dead after a long illness. It is rumored that he was smothered with a
pillow while lying in bed. Evidently, he
wasn’t dying fast enough.
·
Caligula
is now emperor of Rome.
·
Pontius
Pilate commits suicide.
·
The
future Roman emperor Nero is born.
·
It
has been a year since Stephen was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.
·
The
members of the Jewish Council who were responsible for this act had hoped that
Stephen’s death would weaken others faith in Christ, if not destroy it
altogether, but it had the opposite effect.
Faith in “the Way” or in Jesus Christ continued to spread throughout
Judea and Samaria.
·
Saul,
a Pharisee, and believing he was working in the service of God, persecuted these
believers. Facing imprisonment and/or
death for their faith, eventually these Messianic Believers fled beyond their
homeland.
·
Saul
sought permission from the Jewish High Priest to search for these Believers in
the city of Damascus in Syria. If any
were found, he would capture them, and return them to Jerusalem to be judged and
martyred.
Acts 9
1: Now Saul, still
breathing threats and (what’s the next word) murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2: and asked for
letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus so that if he found any
belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to
Jerusalem.
3: As he was
traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus (Damascus is
gentile ground even though Jewish synagogues are located there), and suddenly a light from (where) heaven flashed around him;
4: and he fell to
the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?”
5: And he said,
“Who are You, Lord?” (Now I believe Saul
had a pretty good idea who this was. A
light from heaven just knocked him off his horse. A disembodied voice called him by name. Think about it. But I also believe he thinks its Jehovah (God) because his response
reveals this. A God-fearing Jew will not
utter the name of God instead they will use the name Lord) And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
There’s a kick in
the head. The very person’s memory he
had been trying to erase from the planet and anyone who confesses faith in Him
is the very One he worshiped!
FYI:
since Genesis 2:4, God the Son and Jehovah are One and the same.
Jesus
is Jehovah.
[Question:
when Saul encountered Jesus Christ on the Damascus road, do you recall where He
spoke from? Jesus speaks from
heaven. See Psalms 110:1; Acts 1:9-11.]
Acts 9
6: but get
up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
(This
isn’t a request. It’s a command.)
7: The men who
traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8: Saul got up from
the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; (Saul who was
fanatical in his efforts to eradicate
any and all who believed in Jesus Christ, with his “eyes” wide open, was in all actuality blind as a bat spiritually) and leading him by the hand, they brought
him into Damascus.
Jesus
and Saul were contemporaries. In other words, they existed at the same time
and in the same place but more than that.
It’s quite likely that Saul had heard Jesus preach. Hearing is not the same as seeing, and seeing
is not the same as believing. Although
it’s more than likely Saul heard Jesus teach, he was obviously not a
follower.
Today
we have the Word of Truth and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Author.
The
risen Lord has given us sound doctrine through the Apostle Paul, and yet many
Christians,
with their “eyes” wide open, choose
to go their own way.
Lest
you think this is only my opinion, please allow me. Scripture reveals truth.
II Timothy 4
2: preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great
patience and instruction.
3: For the time
will come when they (Christians)
will not endure (what) sound doctrine; but wanting to have their
ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to
their own (what’s the next word) desires,
(you could substitute the word lusts without harming the text.)
4: and will turn
away their ears from the (what) truth
and will turn aside to myths (myth = a widely held but mistaken belief).
Who doesn’t believe we are seeing this activity
taking place in our homes, in our communities, in the workplace, and in our
churches? Open your eyes.
o
There
are gay and lesbian pastors preaching in the church.
o
Homosexual
marriage is approved by many church denominations.
o
Contraception
devices are being given to children as young as eight years old with parent
approval.
o
The
divorce rate among Christians is greater than 50%. Our children look at this figure and we
question why they are disillusioned about marriage. Consequently, they choose to live together out
of wedlock because they believe that separation at some point is inevitable. “Try it before you buy it” is their motto.
o
Many
churches have “drifted” away from the doctrinal teachings of the New
Testament. Some of these churches have
even denied the deity of Christ, the virgin birth, and salvation by grace alone
through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
o
Many
Christians have a “liberal” perspective on abortion. What does this mean?
Every conception creates a human life
and God loves and honors that human life and wants it to develop to its full
potential. Every abortion is tragic
insofar as it ends a human life.
Every woman's life is dear to God as
well. God loves the mother as much as
the child and wants childbearing to be a joy for her. God never values the child above the mother
(as most anti-choice advocates do) nor the mother above the child.
In some circumstances,
bearing a child would bring great hardship to the mother and to others in her
family. In such a case, one may have to
weigh whether the cost of bringing a new life into the world is justified when
the impacts on other lives are considered. This is a never a judgment to be made
lightly, nor is there a simple rule one can follow, as the circumstances vary
so much from one situation to another. All
things considered, in some circumstances it is better not to continue the
pregnancy. (Just as, in some
circumstances it is better not to continue a marriage.)
Abortion A Liberal Christian
Perspective
- Four out of ten Christians surveyed believe that Satan is only a “symbol” for evil. He does not exist.
- 25% of the Christians polled believe that Jesus was a sinner
- 40% of Christians surveyed believe the Holy Spirit is only a symbol for good. He does not exist
- One out of five Christians denies the accuracy of the Bible. Another 5% aren’t sure what they believe.
These
folks have rejected “sound doctrine.”
They accept and believe “myths” instead.
Saul
was an intelligent man. He had the Old
Testament; the prophecies included.
Saul
also had the benefit of witnessing Jesus teach in public. If he did not see the miracles firsthand, I
know he heard about them.
But
Saul was blind to the truth as many are today.
2 Corinthians 4
3: And even if our
gospel (1
Corinthians 15:1-4) is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing,
4: in whose case
the god of this world (Satan) has
(what) blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory
of Christ, who is the image of God. (Satan
does exist.)
Acts 9
9: And he (Saul) was three days (There’s the number 3
again. Jonah was a rebel. How much time did Jonah spend in
the great fish’s belly…three days is the answer. For
those 3 days Saul was) without sight,
and neither ate nor drank.
10: Now there was a
disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here
I am, Lord.”
11: And the Lord
said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the
house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
12: and he
has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so
that he might regain his sight.”
13: But Ananias
answered, “Lord I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your
saints at Jerusalem;
14: and here he has
authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15: But the Lord
said to him, “Go, (In
other words, stop right there! Do not
question My authority) for he is a (what) chosen instrument of Mine, (Saul was selected
by the risen Lord as He did the other apostles for His service. The one important fact to bear in mind about
Saul’s ministry is this. Saul was chosen
beyond Israel’s territory on gentile ground.
Where were the 12 apostles chosen?
I’ll let you research this one.)
to bear My name before the Gentiles (If you know you’re
Bible, then you understand that this is a significant change in God’s
program. Salvation has not been preached
or offered to the gentiles) and kings (this was
fulfilled - Acts 25:23; 26:32; 27:24) and the sons of
Israel;
16: for I
will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
(Saul
would suffer. Some say to make up for
all the harm he caused to those he persecuted.
In any case, he would eventually be martyred)
17: So Ananias
departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you were
coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be (what) filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18: And (how soon) immediately there fell from his eyes
something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was
baptized;
19: and he took
food and was strengthened.
(to be continued)
©
Copyright 2011
GJ
Heitzman’s Ministry
All
Rights Reserved
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