Thursday, April 15, 2010

Is the Sanctuary a Holy Place? Are Church Services & Gatherings Holy Times?

In the old testament we find striking instances of the importance God placed on people treating sacred things with great respect.

King Uzziah is suddenly struck with leprosy upon his forehead for entering the temple and acting like he had just as much rights as the tribe of Levi while he was actually of the tribe of Judah. (God had called a certain tribe to handle the things of God in an 'up-close' kind of a way when it came to corporate gatherings and when it came to tabernacle/temple 'furniture'.)

Uzzah reached out to steady the ark of the covenant with his hand and God struck him dead on the spot. 2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Nadab and Abihu, who were certainly of the proper tribe, were struck dead for bringing strange fire into the holy tabernacle.

What can we conclude from these things? Do they have any relevance for us today?

In the old testament we find God setting up the tribe of Levi as those who would handle the 'furniture' of the tabernacle/temple. Within the tribe of Levi was the subgroup of priests (Aaronic priests.) And yet even the priests and levites had clearly defined limits on how they were to handle holy things. For example, the ark was to be carried by poles. This was plainly God's will.
(Note: Elders and Deacons seem to me to correspond quite closely in roles and duties to Aaronic Priests and Levites)

In the church today, is God at all concerned about how we handle things??? Consider the following passages:

1Ti 3:14 These things (the entire preceding portion of the book of 1 Timothy?) I write unto you, hoping to come unto you shortly: 1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

This is a very, very important passage! God cares deeply about how things are done 'at church.' Paul very much wanted Timothy to know how he ought to do things 'at church.'

Heb 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Heb 13:24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

It seems like there is a growing attitude in churches that anything goes. Similarly, people seem to think that anyone at all can lead. The idea of having a group of Biblically qualified, Spirit-led elders ruling the local church while they themselves seek to carefully follow the word of God is out. The idea of majority rule (no matter the spiritual condition of the majority) or family or personality rule is in.

Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Will the way the average local church is being structured and handled lead God to say to His children in the great day of judgment "Well done, good and faithful servant"?

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Church Leadership and Qualifications - Deacons

What does the new testament have to say about the very important subject of church leadership??? (Do churches today tend to go by the word of God in this area?)

The Bible present two main titles - Pastor or Shepherd/Elder/Overseer (all titles for the same office and not necessarily used in that order Biblically) and Deacon.

What are some key things to remember about deacons???

Act 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples were multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look you out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

This is widely held to be the first Biblical reference to deacons. ('The law of first mention' is an helpful thing to remember in Bible study.) How many deacons today are men of this level of Christian maturity? Much might change for the better in a great many churches if only men who were full of wisdom and truly full of the Holy Spirit were serving as deacons. Do we find deacons running things in this text from the book of Acts? We seem to find them taking care of physical labor and entrusted with some financial distribution in order to free up time for another group of men in the church who are in a position of oversight. Is there any place in the Bible that speaks of deacons having any kind of a church leadership (i.e. church government)position? Not that I am aware of.

1Ti 3:8 Likewise the deacons must be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 1Ti 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 1Ti 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1Ti 3:11 Even so their wives must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

The type of men who God considers deacons are men of outstanding Christian character who rule their houses well. Perhaps some men ought to step down from being deacons, at least until they clearly meet the qualifications that are found in these portions of God's own word.

Friday, April 9, 2010

What Did Adam and Eve Look Like?

What did the first man and the first woman that God created look like? Does this question even matter? I have seen different renderings of Adam and Eve in the paradise that the loving Father placed them in.

In every instance I can remember, Adam is portrayed as clean-shaven. This seems to be a clue about how we tend to approach the Bible. We tend to come to our study of God's word with our presuppositions in place. We may subconsciously think "In general men today shave and so he must have been clean-shaven because he must have looked like us."

We certainly do not know what "color" either or both of them were - though we know that all "colors" came from them!

What would their hair length have been like???

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 1Co 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 1Co 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

These are interesting new testament verses. Are we under the new testament today? Did the Holy Spirit have Paul write these verses just for the people of Corinth in the first century or are they for us today as well? Is it possible that God really cares about our hair length?

On the day they were created perfectly by God, when He made them just the way He wanted them...Adam may have been bearded and short haired... and Eve may have had long hair. He that made them in the beginning made them male and female. (see Gen. 1:27) Though they were both made in His image they were created distinctly different from one another.

What does this matter of 'nature itself ' teaching the Corinthians something about hair mean? It has been suggested that this ties in to the God-given difference in the strength of men's and women's hair follicles. You have probably noticed that many men have a tendency to baldness! Long hair is a gift that has been given to women. It is a God-given covering...it is even a glory to her!

One of the ways we help the world may be in accepting, embracing, and even celebrating the gender God made us and looking to God's word for our guidelines rather than being "conformed to this world." Perhaps manly men and feminine women give God more glory.

In reference to the sufferings of Christ we read this (is He speaking of His beard?):
Isa 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Who Belongs to the Body of Christ?

We are told in Ephesians 5 that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Who all does this include???

Is there any way of salvation other than the cross of Christ??? (For instance, many seem to think that old testament saints such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, Rahab, Ruth,and David were saved in some other way than people in our day are saved.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; Eph 2:12 That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ. Eph 2:14 For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two one new man, so making peace; Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near. Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph 2:19 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Genesis 3:15 is called the Proto-Evangel or the first good news. The coming of Jesus was promised and prophesied immeditately upon the heels of mankind's fall into sin in the garden. Old testament saints were saved by looking forward to the cross just as new testament saints are saved looking backwards to the cross. The old testament blood sacrifices were only a picture. The blood of animals never saved anyone. (Good works or baptism will never save anyone, either.)

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. Acts 4:11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

God wrote checks to old testament saints that were paid at Calvary. For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are "yes" and "amen." (2 Cor. 1:19-20) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. (2 Cor. 5:19)

In Hebrews we are told that Jesus is not ashamed to call us His brethen. Romans speaks of being heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Is this God's amazing grace to all saints or is it limited to new testament saints?

When Christ died on the cross, it seems He must have been there as much for Noah's sake as He was for Paul's. It seems the LORD, the great Three in One, has but one bride and but one body. All of the saved of all of time will, as David spoke of in Psalm 23, "dwell in the house of the LORD forever," one big blessed family redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!


Saturday, April 3, 2010

Does God Have a Wife?

I have heard that Jehovah has a wife. And who is the most fortunate woman? The answer I have often heard is Israel.

I have heard that the Lord Jesus has a wife. And who is the most fortunate woman? Some say the church from Pentecost to the Rapture. Some say only certain Baptists from the apostles to the Rapture(Baptist Bride.)

Here is the big question that I have...just how many wives does God have???