Video Lessons

 

Baptism (a 6-part study)

The Beatitudes (a 9-part study)

The Church (a 19-part study)

Discipleship (a 5-part study)

Evangelism (a 9-part study) 

The Holy Spirit (an 8-part study)

Interpreting the Bible (a 4-part study)

Jesus Christ (an 11-part study)

Joseph (a 2-part study)

The Lord’s Supper (an 8-part study)

Paul's Conversion (a 5-part study)

Prayer (a 6-part study)  

Questions to Jesus (a 5-part study)

Salvation (a 14-part study) 

Signs and Wonders (a 5-part study)

What the Prophets Teach Us About God (a 5-part study)

 

 

• Bible (New International Version)
• Bible (Revised Standard Version)

Evangelism

An Unchanging Gospel In A Changing World

Recently I addressed a group of Africans about evangelism. Many Africans have come to Ireland over the past several years and established congregations, but they are at a loss as to how to spread the gospel in an alien culture. Because I am Irish and have been evangelising in Dublin for over thirty five years, I was considered to be the expert, with insights on how to evangelise in this country. I?m sorry, but I was not able to offer a formula that guarantees results. However, what I was able to do was introduce them to the alien culture in which the gospel of Jesus Christ first took root. We began in Jerusalem, moved quickly outside the comfort zone of Judaism into Samaria and then into a culture inhabited by the majority of the world?s population ? the Gentiles.
The cultural conditions existing when Jesus charged his disciples with bringing the gospel to all the world did not make the preaching of the good news easy. They proclaimed forgiveness of sins in the name of a Jew who died as a common criminal. They were confronted with ignorance, indifference and prejudice. The pagan world knew nothing of the one true God, the creator of heaven and earth; their religious world revolved around idolatry and pantheism. And let?s not fool ourselves into thinking that the pagans were waiting with open hearts for the apostolic campaign to arrive with the gospel. When they did arrive the audience was not receptive. The message of God?s love, power, justice and redemption was viewed as ?foolishness to the Gentiles? (1 Corinthians 1:23). Yet in spite of unreceptive soil the seed of the gospel was sown and bore the fruit of conversions. Where spiritual darkness was once the dominant force, the light of the gospel was making its presence felt, and an alien culture was beginning to be transformed by an unchanging gospel.

Today we can lament the lack of spirituality around us, the secular mindset that has no room for God, the spirit of tolerance for morals that offend God and the lack of opportunity to bear witness for the Christ. I?m afraid that if we keep moaning long enough about how terrible the world is we will become discouraged and disillusioned and never share the gospel with anyone. We have not been asked by Jesus to give a commentary on the state of the world. Our duty is to preach the unchanging gospel to a world saturated in sin; to bring hope to hopeless situations, pardon where guilt exists, life where death reigns. Though our world differs greatly from the world of the apostles, man?s spiritual needs have not changed. The same gospel that transformed sinners into saints will do the same in our society today. No one ever said it was going to be easy. It?s hard, but it?s rewarding. And we will do well to remember that we are not the first people, and we will not be the last people, who have to evangelise in a culture that is not seeking God. History bears testimony to godly men and women who have taken the gospel to the remotest parts of the world. And in true apostolic fashion they brought the gospel to alien cultures and ?the Gentiles ? the people living in darkness [saw] a great light? (Matthew 4:15-16).

Evangelism will never be taken seriously if we are not convinced that (1) people are lost in sin, (2) people are unable to save themselves and (3) the gospel of Jesus Christ is their only hope. Technology has revolutionised the way we live our lives but none of these advance can resolve the problem faced by every man and woman ? we are all sinners. The solution to the problem is Jesus and him crucified. And the spreading of the gospel is not an optional extra undertaken by a few zealous fanatics among us; it is the duty of the church to be obedient to the command of the Lord and ?go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature? (Mark 16:15).

Studies In the Gospel of Mark

by Tony Coffey

Introductory Remarks

1. Mark’s audience: There are several clues in the Mark’s gospel to indicate he is writing for the benefit of persecuted Roman Christians.

2. Each of the four gospel accounts has a particular audience in mind. Matthew has a Jewish audience in mind, hence the genealogy. Luke’s emphasis is on Christ’s humanity while John focuses on faith/belief. Mark is writing for Roman Christians.

3. Mark is the only writer to mention Jesus’ encounter with ‘wild beasts.’ (1:13). For Christians facing lions in the arena, this would have been comforting.

4. Over half of Mark’s gospel is devoted to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Mark is presenting Jesus as ‘the suffering servant.’

5. A keys verse is 10:45. This is the mission statement of Jesus.

6. A number of references are made by Jesus to his purpose for coming – his death upon the cross. (2:17;8:31; 9:31; 10:33f;45). Highlighting his mission served to remind the Christians that they too are involved in the mission of the cross. But there is resurrection. (16:6).

7. There are two great confession: Peter’s and the centurion’s. (8:29; 15:39). Both give support to what Mark says in 1:1. Mark’s gospel is an announcement, a proclamation, a debate or a defense.

8. A favorite word is ‘immediately’ or ‘straightway’ and is used 41 times.

9. Mark is the author of the book. He was an active member of the early church (Acts 12:1ff) and is referred to in 1 Peter 5:13.

10. Literature in that day was intended to be read aloud to an audience. So knowing the writer would write with that in mind. The reader would know when to emphasize a point by the tone of his voice, and the repetition of words served to drive home a particular point.

The First Witness – The Prophets. 1:1-3

1. Mark’s gospel is about Jesus the Son of God. The stage is set.

2. Mark combines Isaiah, Malachi and Exodus in his OT quotation. The Scripture is his source of authority. This is his strongest source of appeal.

3. Our Lord appeals to the OT to verify who he is. (John 5:46; Lk 24:25-27,44).

· John, a forerunner. One who prepares the way for the coming of a king.

· John’s task was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming of the Messiah by calling them to repentance.

· The spiritual condition of the people – a spiritual wasteland, wilderness. That is the true condition of the heart.

The Second Witness – The Ministry of John. 1:4-7

1. John is called the greatest of all the prophets. (Mt 11:11).

2. John’s baptism had God’s authority. (Matt 21:23ff; Lk 7:29-30).

3. Jesus was baptised by John, identifying himself with the truth John proclaimed – that Jesus is the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

4. Repentance was a major feature of John’s ministry. The evidence of repentance should be obvious. (Matt 3:8).

The Third Witness – The Coming of the Spirit. 1:8

1. John’s ministry was preparing people for the coming of Jesus who is superior to John. John baptised with water, but Jesus would baptised with the Holy Spirit.

2. The baptism of the Spirit is the giving of the Spirit by Jesus. Mentioned six times, fulfilled on Pentecost. (John 1:29,31 = Acts 2:38).

The Fourth Witness – The Father’s Endorsement. 1:9-1

At his baptism the Father endorses Jesus as his Son. This endorsement occurred again on the mount of transfiguration. (Matt 17:1-5) that time with the additional words, ‘Hear him.’ This was significant since on that occasion Jesus appeared with the two great prophets, Moses and Elijah.

The Temptation In the Wilderness. 1:12-1

The wilderness would be a familiar term to the Jews because of their history; their ancestors spent forty years there because of disobedience. Jesus would enter the wilderness and win the battle for us.

Jesus Begins His Ministry In Galilee. 1:14-1

1. Jesus proclaims good news. What the prophets foretold was coming to pass.

2. The kingdom of God is near. What does that mean? The mission of Jesus was to defeat sin and reign over his enemies – Satan and death.

3. Repentance is also a feature of Jesus’ ministry. This is a call to turn from sin and turn to God. To renounce the ways of evil and embrace the ways of God.

4. Jesus calls on us to ‘believe the good news.’

Jesus Calls His Disciples. 1:16-2

1. This was not our Lord’s first encounter with these fishermen. There is good evidence that he had known them for a while before he called them.

2. ‘Fishers of men’ defines the work Jesus has for them. They will be engaged in saving the lost.

3. Without overstretching matters, there are features about fishing that apply to evangelism. Let’s note them:

· Indiscriminate casting of the net into the sea.

· A day’s fishing may mean you catch nothing.

· There can be disappointment and danger.

· You can’t command the fish to get into the net, you have to go fishing.

4. Jesus would give these men ‘on the job training’ so they could continue what he came to accomplish.

Jesus Teaches With Authority 1:21-2

1. Procedures in the synagogue provided for ‘guest speakers.’ (The early church is closely modeled on the synagogue).

2. Jesus taught with authority, he didn’t rely upon what the leading rabbis had said, Jesus quoted himself. ‘I say to you…’ That’s what amazed the people. E.g. Matt 5:21,27. Note John 12:49.

Casting Out Demons. 1:23-28

1. How often this poor soul came to the synagogue we do not know, but on this occasion the demons who possessed him recognized Jesus.

2. This is the third time Jesus is identified as the Son of God (1:1,11).

3. Exorcism was a major feature of our Lord’s ministry. What was it’s significance? It’s like a ‘drum roll’ announcing the coming defeat of Satan and his demons. After all, this was why Jesus came. (1 John 3:8).

Jesus Heals Many. 1:29-32

1 This is a busy day, Jesus had a full schedule.

2 The healings Jesus performed were instant.

3 By the end of the day he had to have been exhausted.

The Source of His Strength. 1:35-39

1 Very early in the morning… He had very little sleep, yet prayer was a priority. Although he is the Son of God, in his earthly ministry he depended upon the Father.

2 A solitary place. Jesus needed some quiet time. No interruptions.

3 There is astonishment in Simon’s words, he’s almost rebuking Jesus (vs. 36).

4 Jesus’ response – ‘Let us go somewhere else.’ (Did he not hear what I just said – there are opportunities waiting for you).

5 Why did Jesus move on? Why were the people coming to Jesus? Was it because they had repented and believed the kingdom of God and wanted to make them their Lord, or was it because of the miracles? (John 6:15).

6 The ministry of Jesus was not intended to sort out every problem, or to heal every illness, but to accomplish salvation through his death. That’s the specific purpose for his coming. His miracles,

Was Jesus Born of a Virgin?

It is of interest to note that the most extensive recording of the birth of Jesus is undertaken by Luke, who was both an historian and physician. He states at the beginning of his gospel account that he made a thorough investigation of everything he has set about to record, interviewing those who had first-hand knowledge of the facts, checking them one against the other. And the most obvious source of his information concerning the birth of Jesus was Mary, Jesus' mother.

Luke's Record of the Event

"In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.' 'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.' 'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her." (Luke 1:26-38, emphasis added)

Luke Continues

"And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." (Luke 2:3-7)

Matthew's Words on the Matter

Matthew, in his gospel, states: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' --which means, 'God with us'." (Matthew 1:22-23) And the prophecy being referred to was foretold by Isaiah, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Conclusion

The virgin conception of Jesus fulfils the words spoken by the prophet Isaiah seven centuries before the event occurred and shows that Jesus is divine. And that in turn points, with divine approval, to the one we call Jesus – God with us.

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Did Jesus Teach That We Must Eat His Flesh and Blood? (Part One)

"Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (John 6:53)

How are we to understand these words of Jesus? Controversy has surrounded our Lord's words: some hold that the words of Jesus are to be understood literally, while others hold that his words are to be understood figuratively.

Some Scriptures can be misunderstood without affecting our relationship with God. The words of Jesus are not in that category. A correct understanding of his words is imperative if we are to be saved from death and given "life." So we will proceed by examining Scripture within its context and comparing Scripture with Scripture. Therefore we will examine the entire sixth chapter of the gospel of John to ensure a correct interpretation of our Lord's words.

The Feeding of the 5,000

A large crowd followed Jesus because of the miracles he performed on all who were sick (vs. 2). The crowd needed to be fed and Jesus said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" (vs. 5) Philip calculated that even eight months wages would not be enough to feed such a large crowd. (vs. 7) Andrew stepped forward with his solution to the problem, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fishes…" (vs. 9) He expected Jesus to work a miracle. So Jesus had the people sit down, then took the boy's loaves and fishes, gave thanks to the Father and miraculously multiplied the loaves and fishes for distribution among the 5,000 people. When everyone had eaten there were still twelve baskets filled with food. (vs. 13) A well-fed people responded, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."(vs. 14) They were referring to the Prophet whom Moses said would come. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). The response of Jesus to their overtures is interesting. "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." (vs. 15) Knowing the condition of their hearts, Jesus refused to submit to their intended coronation. They saw Jesus as the solution to their problems: he met their material needs and they had hopes that he would rid their country of the Romans, since the common view was that this is what the promised Prophet, the Messiah, would do.

The Journey to Capernaum

That evening the disciples were making their way by boat to Capernaum. Jesus was not with them. But that night the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. (vs. 20) He joined them in the boat for the remainder of the journey to Capernaum. The following day the crowd realised that Jesus was not in the vicinity and concluded he must have gone to Capernaum. So they journeyed there.

When they met Jesus he said to them, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." (vs. 26) What did Jesus mean? Jesus is telling them that they have not sought him because his miracles confirm that he is the Son of God, the Saviour of the world, the One foretold by the prophets. They sought him, Jesus said, because of the material benefits he provided. This is confirmed by what he says next.

Jesus continues, "Do not work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." (vs. 27) Knowing what motivated them to seek him, Jesus is saying that they made a poor choice. They pursued him for food that will spoil. They need to pursue him for the food he can give that will impart eternal life. At this point Jesus is contrasting the material with the spiritual, a teaching he will continue throughout this discourse.

Upon hearing Jesus speak about working for food that endures, they respond in typical legalistic fashion. "What must we do to do the works God requires?" (vs. 28) They are asking Jesus to give them a list of duties, works to perform, goals to achieve so that they can make themselves right with God. But Jesus says that a relationship with God is not based upon performance. "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." (vs. 29) Jesus is saying that if you want to do the works of God, then believe in me whom God has sent. That's what God wants you to do! All who believe have been enabled to believe because of the work of God in their hearts. (Romans 10:14) The faith to believe is a gift from God. The only acceptable response to "the food that endures to eternal life" is not works, performance, but faith, trust, belief, obedience.

Who is a Saint?

by Tony Coffey

When people speak about a saint today, invariably their concept of a saint is not the same as the Bible's.

People generally think that a saint is someone who is dead, whose life conformed to Roman Catholic teaching and who has performed some miracles after dying. Once canonised, a saint becomes the object of prayer, devotion and veneration.

But the Bible teaches differently. The word 'saint' simply means one who is sanctified, or set apart for God. It is not a status that only a few Christian attain. On the contrary, a saint is one who has a living relationship with God through his mercy and grace expressed in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, every Christian is a saint and no one has to wait to die before becoming a saint. This can be seen from a very small sampling from the Bible:

When Saul was persecuting the church he was said to have done great harm to the 'saints in Jerusalem.' (Acts 9:13)

Peter visited with 'the saints in Lydda.' (Acts 9:32)

Recalling his persecution of the church, Paul said, 'On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison …' (Acts 26:10)

Writing his famous epistle on the grace of God to the Christians living in Rome, Paul greets them: 'To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.' (Romans 1:7)

Concluding his lovely letter to the church of Christ at Philippi Paul says, 'All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.' (Philippians 4:22)

These examples are sufficient to show that today's understanding of sainthood is not in harmony with what the Bible teaches. Saints in the Bible are all those who are God's children, not just a select few. Saints are found among the spiritually weak and the strong, the educated, the uneducated, the slave, the free, etc. If one is saved, redeemed, forgiven, reconciled to God, then one is a saint. Furthermore saints never became the object of veneration upon their death no matter how pious their life had been. And the idea of actually praying to a departed soul is never taught in the Bible. God alone is the object of all our prayers, our devotion and veneration.

For a full discussion on how God makes one a saint, a redeemed person, see Biblical Topics.

Beatitudes

An Alternative Lifestyle

When I look at the direction in which the world is going, I do not feel optimistic and I find no solace when I see the emerging new society in Ireland that is more and more tolerant of what offends God. Moral boundaries, of thought and action are being moved or dismantled. We are beginning to resemble those whom the Apostle Paul described in the first chapter of his letter to the Romans: a people who rejected God and whom God eventually abandoned.

The alternative lifestyle for those who are followers of Jesus is seen in the beatitudes. (see Matthew 5:3-12) Jesus calls those who practise the beatitudes "blessed". This is not a religious title conveyed upon some elite who has reached a particular standard of spirituality. "Blessed" speaks of God's verdict upon those who practise the beatitudes: the poor in spirit are indeed blessed or highly privileged.

It is the failure of Christians to live their faith that has rendered their witness ineffective in the world. When practised, the beatitudes are a powerful witness in that they display an understanding of life's true calling. They define our perspective on life and identify our values. They teach us to see things as God sees them. We resemble "a city on a hill [that] cannot be hidden". (Matthew 5:14) This "alternative lifestyle" will not go unnoticed, for the difference between a believer and unbeliever is the difference between light and darkness, not only in how we behave, but also in what we believe. And it is in the latter area that many make their mistake. An unconverted person cannot produce the beatitudes. Granted, an unconverted person can live a very good life and many do, exhibiting some admirable ethics. But the beatitudes are the fruit of God's grace in the heart of one who has been converted to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clearly brought out by Jesus when he says: "What are you doing more than others?" (Matthew 5:47) Jesus is driving home the point that his disciples are to be different: If you are being nice and friendly to your brothers, he says, what's so amazing about that? What so special about that? Then he says, "Do not even pagans do that?" (Matthew 5:47) If your good behaviour is the same as the good behaviour of pagans, what's the big deal? What's so special about you? Absolutely nothing!

The beatitudes are not a description of our personality traits. By nature some people are quiet, shy, reserved and cautious. Others are outgoing, cheerful and carefree. These are inherited characteristics and generally do not change much. But the beatitudes can be present in the life of every Christian irrespective of their particular personality.

Jesus did not give the beatitudes as a prescription to cure the world of its ills. No, the gospel is the medicine for that ailment. Neither were they given as an eight-step ethics programme to be embraced by the unconverted. The beatitudes do not tell us how to be saved; they tell the saved how to behave. The beatitudes are a description of what it means to be a Christian and, if all who profess a living faith in Jesus practised them today, our churches, our families and our world would be a very different place.

In the following lessons we will be looking at each of the beatitudes in order to understand what Jesus is actually talking about and what it means to live them out in our lives.

The Holy Spirit

by Tony Coffey

How Are We Baptised By One Spirit Into One Body?

"For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13)

This article builds on two previous articles which dealt with the words of Jesus: "you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit." Briefly, Jesus' words were fulfilled on Pentecost when he was glorified and gave the Holy Spirit. Now that the Spirit has come, he resides in the heart of every believer and, in his sovereignty, he distributes spiritual gifts "just as he determined." (1 Corinthians 12:11) (See also Why Be Baptised?)

The direction of Paul's teaching in chapter twelve is twofold: (1) the body of Christ is one body and (2) within that one body there is diversity. Unity and diversity are from God and can exist in harmony. Everyone in the body of Christ has been placed there by the Spirit, who is involved in conversion from beginning to end. Through his ministry the Spirit: (1) convicts us of our sinfulness, (2) enlightens our understanding, (3) illuminates our spiritual darkness, (4) teaches us about the Lord Jesus Christ, (5) shows us our need for the Saviour, (6) moves us to obedience and (7) baptises us into the one body of Christ.

How does the Spirit baptise us into the one body of Christ? We will arrive at a correct answer when we compare Scripture with Scripture. The apostle Paul writes: "No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) How does the Holy Spirit enable us to make that confession of faith? Earlier in his epistle Paul reminds the Christians how they had come to faith in Jesus Christ. He asks, "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants through whom you came to believe." (1 Corinthians 3:5) It was through the teaching given by Paul and Apollos that they "came to believe." What was happening when Paul and Apollos were teaching? Through the message they proclaimed the Holy Spirit worked in the heart of those who heard and helped them to believe; hence their confession that "Jesus is Lord" is attributed to the Spirit. The Spirit's ministry did not make redundant the ministry of Paul and his fellow workers. The word of God still had to be proclaimed. This point is well established in the Roman epistle. "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)

When the Corinthians heard the gospel how did they respond? "And many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptised." (Acts 18:8) Those who believed the gospel were baptised in water, trusting the atoning death of God's Lamb for their forgiveness. Without any difficulty Paul can speak of their conversion, (and ours) in these words: "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – we were all given the one Spirit to drink." (1 Corinthians 12:13) When the Corinthians "believed [the gospel] and were baptised [in water]" they were said to have been "baptised by one Spirit into one body."

Every immersed believer has been baptised by one Spirit into the one body of Christ. And the racial, social and gender differences that divide society do not exist within the body of Christ: "You are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-27)

The Spirit unites the people of God by having baptised them all into the one body where they have access to "the one Spirit to drink."

The Conversion of the Apostle Paul

Part One

Saul of Tarsus (as the Apostle Paul was known before his conversion) seemed the most unlikely person to embrace the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet he did. And his conversion testifies that there is no one beyond the reach of God's love, mercy and grace. There are no 'hopeless cases'; there is no one God cannot save.

Scripture provides several snapshots of the life of this man, revealing his violent opposition to the message that God had reconciled the world unto himself through a crucified Christ and that one could be saved only through Jesus. Saul did not hold the view that it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. Neither did he favour the notion 'live and let live'. He was a strong defender of the Jewish law.

The young church soon found that persecution was to become their daily companion. The first Christian martyr was Stephen. He proclaimed the good news about Jesus: "When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him... they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." (Acts 7:54-58) Saul would later recall: "And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him." (Acts 22:20) Stephen died because he proclaimed the gospel.

At Saul's instigation, a wave of persecution against the church broke out. "And Saul was there, giving approval to his [Stephen's] death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison." (Acts 8:1-3) Luke records his fanaticism: "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2)

Saul's behaviour sprang from his strong conviction that Jesus was not the promised Messiah and that these disciples were leading people away from God and, therefore, deserved to die. We all find ourselves in disagreement with others on a wide range of issues, but we don't set about killing those whose views are different than ours. On this particular issue, tolerance was not in Saul's vocabulary. It was not his intention simply to scare the disciples of Jesus. He recalls how intensely he "persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it." (Galatians 1:13) This was the action of a man who hated those who believed that the Messiah had come, and who completely rejected the apostles' teaching about the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. Saul was sincere, but completely misguided.

 

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The Way of Salvation

The Need for the Death of Jesus

Why Jesus Came

From the announcement of his conception, the mission of Jesus was linked to our spiritual recovery. The angel told Joseph that the child Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The child was to be named Jesus "because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) This redemptive theme was echoed throughout the ministry of our Lord. He said that he had come "to seek and to save what was lost" and "to give his life as a ransom for many." (Luke 19:10; Matthew 20:28)
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Our Spiritual Condition

The Bible describes us as being lost, separated from God and unable to save ourselves. Ours is a hopeless condition indeed. Yet God wants to save us. The dilemma that faced God was this: How can he forgive our sins and also carry out the justice that his law demands for violators? God cannot ignore the fact that we have broken his holy law and that carries a severe penalty.

In Jesus Christ, the Father found One whose death would fully satisfy the demands of justice, thereby enabling him to forgive our sins. This is how the apostle Paul expresses the thought:

"God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:25,26)
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The Need For The Cross

The cross of Christ vindicates God. It shows God to be just in that he did what his own law demanded. He is also the one who justifies/pardons all those who have faith in Jesus.

God has never been short of sacrifices. Rivers of blood flowed from Israel's altars, yet they were unable to satisfy God's justice. Martyrs too numerous to mention gave their lives sacrificially in the service of the Lord, yet not even their deaths could satisfy God.

Father Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan priest, caught the attention of the world's press when his noble deed became known. He was a prisoner in Auschwitz concentration camp. When Kolbe heard that a married man with a family had been selected for execution, he volunteered to take this man's place. Kolbe became a substitute so that another man might live.

On Good Friday Jesus became our substitute when he took our sins upon himself: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree." (1 Peter 2:24)

The debt incurred by our sins could only be paid by an adequate sacrifice offered on our behalf. Though two other men died along with Jesus on that Good Friday, only his death was able to cancel our debt. Peter captures the concept of Christ being our substitute and Saviour in these words: "Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18)

In a crucified Christ we see the following: the love of God, the wisdom of God, the justice of God and a perfect sacrifice who has made forgiveness possible.

The Cost of Discipleship

A Cross Carrying Disciple

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)

It is only the passage of time that has made the cross acceptable in our society. We unashamedly display it in our churches, our homes and in public places. We even wear it as jewellery. It is respectable, inoffensive. But it was not always seen in such a favourable light. Placing the cross in its historical context, we see that it was a cruel instrument of execution. And it was to this that Jesus referred in teaching about the cost of being his disciple.
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Common Misunderstandings

It is not uncommon to hear people speak about the cross the Lord has given them to bear as they endure an unhappy marriage, tolerate a delinquent child, struggle with poor health or worry over a financial crisis. While sympathy must be given to those for whom life is difficult, this is not the cross Jesus was referring to in his teaching on discipleship.
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A Scenario

On a practical level, how do we go about carrying our cross and thereby following Jesus? A scenario: You are happily married, blessed with a lovely wife and family. You have a job that brings fulfilment. Life is going well for you. Your recent conversion to the Lord has brought blessings in abundance and you wonder how you could ever have lived without the Lord in your life. Then one day, quite by accident, you meet a former girlfriend you have not seen for over ten years. She looks great! And I mean grrrreat! ‘You haven't changed,' she says, ‘you are just the same as when we were last together.' (She is too polite to comment upon those extra pounds that have gathered around your once pencil-thin waist).

The trip down memory lane continues over lunch, recalling old friends and events. Turning the clock back has been fun. No doubt about it, they were good days. But the past cannot be recalled without reference to how you once felt about each other. It was real love. ‘I continued loving you even after we broke up,' she says. ‘ In fact, our meeting only confirms how much I still love you.' Her dreamy blue eyes are moist and she says, ‘You know the flame never went out. It still burns for you.'

Flattered and inwardly pleased with this boost to your ego, you are reluctant to bring the conversation to a close. You've been flirting and now you are drifting into dangerous waters.

She extends an invitation to visit her apartment ‘anytime'. What is a boy to do!? How are you to handle it? Let's face facts: the temptation to be immoral is very, very strong. Satan is working overtime, filling your mind with an assortment of reasons why you should accept her invitation. You rationalise, but you know your are deceiving yourself. Even the idea of going back to her place and sharing the news of your recent conversion with her rings hollow. She is not interested in having Jesus in her heart. You know that! What she wants is you - the husband of another woman! And what you are being tempted with is a sexual encounter with a woman you have no right to have! A civil war is now raging within. Part of you is saying, No! Never! I can't do this! And part of you is screaming, Yes!
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Resistance Requires that a Death Occur

There is only one way to conquer this situation - you must crucify the sexual passions and desires that are seeking gratification outside the parameters of God's will. You must die to what you want to do so you can do what God wants you to do. If resisting such temptation were easy, Jesus would never have spoken of having to put to death, on a daily basis, the sinful desires we sometimes have. He would never have spoken of having to carry our cross. Resisting this sexual invitation involves you in a major battle and the enemy is within. ‘Resist the devil,' the Bible says, ‘and he will flee from you' (James 4:7). This scripture is filled with a divine guarantee. There is nothing passive about resistance. On the contrary, the word ‘resist' brings to mind a fight, a struggle, an act of self-defence against an adversary. You must resist. You must crucify. You must, by the power of the Holy Spirit, put to death the evil that wants to express itself. You must draw near to God and he will draw near to you. (James 4:7).

The invitation from your former girlfriend (and any other temptation to sin for that matter) can be declined and your marriage vow honoured by making it a daily practice to carry your cross. This is living the crucified life. Don't live life without it. This is the type of discipleship Jesus taught.

What the Prophets Teach Us About God:

Habakkuk (Part One)

Frustration with God is expressed in the writings of some of the ancient prophets. It surfaces in the life of the prophet Habakkuk.

It's amazing to me that God allows man to vent his frustration and make serious allegations against him. Listen to Habakkuk: "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!' but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." (Habakkuk 1:2-3) The prophet expresses his frustration in three areas:

The silence of God. "I call for help, but you do not listen." You are silent! We never hear from you! The psalmist was not shy in venting the same frustration: "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?" (Psalms 13:1-2) His fervent pleas to God were not getting any response.

The inactivity of God. Habakkuk cries out to God and laments, "you do not save". You do nothing! You neither hear nor act. Jeremiah expresses similar words: "Why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveller who stays only a night?" (Jeremiah 14:8) The prophet is asking why God doesn't stay around a bit longer and help resolve the problems. To Jeremiah, and to us on occasions, God is so unlike the movie hero, Superman, who can detect the faintest cry for help and respond by flying "faster than a speeding bullet" to rescue a cat trapped in a tree or save a man in a burning building or foil a bank robbery. Superman's "ministry" involves him in immediate and effective interventions when people call his name. It is God's apparent inactivity, God's failure to respond immediately to the cry for help, that creates frustration.

The indifference of God. When we feel God is silent and inactive it's only a short step to accusing him of being indifferent. "Why do you tolerate wrong?" the prophets asks, and repeats himself a little later, "Why do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" (Habakkuk 1:13)

Fortunately the book of Habakkuk does not end after the prophet has concluded his tirade against God. God does respond.
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God Answers the Prophet (Habakkuk 1:5-11)

God tells Habakkuk he is wrong about all three charges: God is not silent, inactive or indifferent. Behind the scenes God is at work preparing the Babylonians to come in judgement upon the very people Habakkuk sees living in rebellion against God. There are times when it looks like God is doing nothing, as Habakkuk and others have thought, when in fact, God is doing extraordinary things. For example:
(1) From an old couple, Abraham and Sarah, God raised up a nation of people at the time when it looked like he was doing nothing
(2) God raised up Moses to deliver the Hebrew people from slavery when it looked like he had forgotten them
(3) God raised up Esther to be queen so that the Jews could be saved from extinction when it looked like they didn't have a friend on their side.

But why does it take God so long to do something? Why doesn't he move at the pace expected by Habakkuk? We must remember that God's judgement is tempered with patience and designed to lead sinners to repentance. For example, God delayed his judgement on the Amorites "for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure". (Genesis 15:16) God was giving them time to repent. And Paul reminds us that our salvatio

Questions People Asked Jesus

Matthew 11:3

"Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
(Matthew 11:3)

The ministry of John the Baptist was extraordinary. No other prophet in Israel had been given such a special assignment. Everything about John was marked with wonder: his birth was announced to his aged father by an angel; from his mother's womb he was filled with the Holy Spirit; and he identified Jesus as the promised saviour - "Behold the Lamb of God," he said, " who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) The success of his ministry in turning the hearts of the people back to God was evidence that the hand of the Lord was upon him. John was fearless in denouncing the immorality of Herod, who had taken his brother's wife. This action led to his imprisonment and, eventually, his execution. (Matthew 14:1-12) Yet from prison John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Prison can have a way of introducing doubt where once strong faith existed. John's faith had taken a hit and he required an assuring word of confirmation.

Look at the Evidence

Jesus could have given a straightforward "yes" in reply to John's question, but he didn't. Instead he replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." (Matthew 11:4-6) Miracles were the balm provided to heal John's doubts.

Jesus often appealed to his miracles to help people move from unbelief to faith. For example, "Believe me," he said, "when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves." (John 14:11) The miracles performed on the blind, the lame, the lepers, and the deaf caused Nicodemus to say, "No one can perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:2) The report of such miracles would have had the same effect on John.

How John responded to Jesus' reply, we are not told. I'm inclined to think that he took time to ponder the Lord's words. It was as if Jesus had sent him the pieces of a puzzle knowing that once John put them together he would see the picture clearly. This is how God dealt with Job when he wanted to question God regarding his suffering. God never answered Job's question directly. Instead, God asked him a series of questions and, as Job considered the questions, he concluded that God was in control of the world and capable of taking care of him.
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Protecting John's Character

The Scripture tells us that as John's disciples were leaving Jesus began speaking to the crowd, this time in defence of John. Three times Jesus asked, "What did you go out to see?" (Matthews 12:7,8,9) Jesus told them that John was no "reed swayed by the wind". This was a man who was not lacking courage or conviction. Neither was he to be found "dressed in fine clothing" the attire of those in palaces. (Remember he was in prison for having spoken out against the king's immorality.) Furthermore, not only was John a prophet, he was "more than a prophet". Jesus said he was a prophet of whom the ancient prophets prophesied. And to crown his defence of John's character, Jesus said, "Among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist." (Matthew 11:11) Such glowing tributes were made, not on behalf of a flawless man, but on behalf of one whose faith had been temporarily shaken. In case any of John's disciples were beginning to think poorly of John for his lack of conviction, Jesus rescued his character and spoke in his defence. His assessment of John was not based on John's one moment of doubt, but on a life that displayed faithfulness, even to the point of death.

When one who doubted asked Jesus "Are you the one?" Jesus was pleased to give a reply that would replace doubt with faith. He is ready to do the same for us today, if we will be open and honest with him.

Questions & Answers

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… they accepted the message most eagerly and studied the scriptures every day to see if what they were now being told was true.
(Acts 17:11)