His Resurrection and Ours

 

Romans 8:11

 

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you,” Romans 8:11.

 

 

 

The glorious reality of a believer is that after death, he will rise again. The believer’s resurrection is twofold; resurrection from sin to new life and resurrection from death.

 

The fact is that the Bible describes an unbeliever as being dead in trespasses and sins. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). When a person accepts the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ his sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit moves in and gives life to the lifeless. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13). After salvation a person is quickened by the Holy Spirit and comes to life as a new creature in Christ.

 

On the third day, God raised Jesus from the dead as predicted by the prophets and preached by Jesus. And one day, that beautiful day, when the trumpet shall sound then all the dead in Christ rise from their graves, no matter where they are and come forth. The grave could not hold Jesus and it shall not hold the children of God.

 

 

 

REFLECTION

 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10).

 

Beverly Barnett

 

 

 

WHO YOU KNOW

He Gave Himself for Us

 

Galatians 1:3, 4

 

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father,” Galatians 1:4.

 

Jesus gave His life for us! The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus combined is the fundamental doctrine of the Christian religion and declared it throughout the Bible. Furthermore, it is the reason we do not have to wait until Heaven to enjoy the blessings of being believers! The beautiful reality of the sacrifice of Jesus is that He gave His life for us so that we can give our lives to Him. It is a win-win situation. (Gal. 2:20)

 

Salvation is so much more than escaping hell. It is having victory over Satan through Jesus while we live on earth (Rom. 8:38, 39). Satan cannot defeat Jesus. He has tried multiple times and failed; he will never win. But Satan can defeat us if we do not let Jesus fight with us. We are not watching the battle from the sideline; we are soldiers in the Lord’s army. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10, 11). Jesus gave His life so that we can be more than conquerors with Him (Rom. 8:37).

 

 

REFLECTION

 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).

 

Beverly Barnett

 

 

Hebrew – Marriage (1)

 

bā‘al, lāqach, yāḇam, ‘’iššāh

 

Several Hebrew words are translated “married,” “marry,” or “marriage,” each of which provides insight into what this relationship should be biblically. One is bā‘al (H1166), which means “to marry, have dominion, or to rule over.” It is used, for example, to demonstrate political dominion (1Ch_4:22) as well as God’s dominion over His people (Isa_26:13), which in turn is pictured as a marriage (Jer_3:14). This does not mean a husband rules like a little Napoleon over his wife, rather that he leads in a godly way and cherishes her as his own body (Eph_5:25-29). It is used also in the contexts of both virginity (Isa_62:5) and adultery (Deu_22:22), the latter of which was punishable by death. These demonstrate that purity should be part of both the foundation and continuing structure of marriage.

 

Another word is lāqach (H3947), which is used more than one thousand times in a variety of ways. With the basic meaning “to take, to grasp, to take hold of,” it is used for Noah taking hold of the dove to bring it back into the ark (Gen_8:9), taking vengeance (Isa_47:3), or even figuratively for “taking on” commands, a metaphor for obedience (Pro_10:8). It is, therefore, easy to see the significance of taking a wife (Gen_25:1), as this word also includes the idea of keeping what one takes (Gen_14:21).

 

Another word is yāḇam (H2992), which specifically addresses the custom in the Mosaic Law called “levirate marriage” (Latin levir, “brother-in-law”), which required that upon his brother’s death, if there was not already a male heir, a man was to marry his brother’s wife so the family name could be passed on (Deu_25:5-10). Obviously, we have no such custom today, but it does at least illustrate the importance of having children.

 

One other word is ’iššāh (woman or “wife,” H802, February 5). It underscores that the woman is part of the man. God has instituted marriage to make two people into one person (Gen_2:24; Mar_10:6-8; Eph_5:31; 1Co_6:16) so they can function to the fullest. While God leads and empowers some Christians never to marry so they can more fully devote themselves to the Lord’s work (Mat_19:11-12; 1Co_7:7-9), the general rule is marriage. Let us each cherish the one-person relationship God has given us.

 

Scriptures for Study: There was much Scripture mentioned in today’s study. Read those verses that particularly interest you, and consider the critical importance of marriage.

 

 

 

He Is Coming!

 

Revelation 1:7

 

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen,” Revelation 1:7.

 

 

One, hot, August day Joe sat on the porch looking down the dusty road—waiting. His dad had gone on a business trip but was due home any moment. Joe did not act very nicely while his dad was away. He disrespected his mother, terrified his sister and his mom had warned him many times to behave politely—he did not listen to the warnings and now he knew the consequences that faced him. Suddenly, he saw a cloud of dust rising from the road—daddy is coming home.

 

Many people are like Joe. The gospel has been preached, and they have turned a deaf ear. The Bible is made available in every form possible and yet, they do not read it. A witness of His salvation has told them personally but they mock and laugh. They must face the consequences of their choice. The clouds are gathering—Jesus is coming.

 

My friend, do not be like Joe. This is your warning—Jesus is coming again. Do not turn away from the message of salvation. Do not spend your Sundays, leisurely, as you please. Come to Jesus as He pleads. Do not laugh or mock when family, friends, or even strangers tell you about the only begotten Son. Believe. He is coming again, and that day will not be a happy day if you do not heed the warning.

 

 

Reflection

 

Jesus is coming in the clouds on that day. It will be a sad, sad day for many people when their loved ones are gone and they alone remain.

 

Beverly Barnett

 

 

02 – January 02 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

 

Johann Gerhard Oncken

Baptists go to Germany

1884 – Johann Gerhard Oncken, the “Apostle of the German Baptists,” finished his course, and went home to be with His Lord. As a young Lutheran he had left his native Germany for England to serve an apprenticeship under a devout Presbyterian tradesman. He treasured his Bible, but it was only after a serious accident, and a near death encounter, that brought him to salvation in Christ after hearing a rousing sermon in a Methodist church. Immediately he desired to be a missionary and from that day he became a witness for Christ. He was sent to Germany by the British Continental Society. He united with the English Reformed Church and set out for Hamburg, Germany, but the German State Church for bid him to preach. He became an agent of the Edinburg Bible Society. During his lifetime he distributed over two million copies of the scriptures. Upon the arrival of his first child he began to question infant baptism and after studying His Bible, he longed to be immersed himself, but had to wait five years before he could. In time he found the Rev. Barnas Sears, an American studying in Germany. On April 22, 1834, seven believers were immersed at night in the river Elbe near Hamburg. This became the First Baptist Church in modern Germany, and Oncken became their pastor. Within four years churches were begun in Berlin, Oldenburg, and Stuttgart. In May of 1840, he was arrested and cast into prison, for the first, of what was to become numerous imprisonments. But the opposition merely caused spiritual advancement by the Baptists. Oncken’s work spread into Denmark, the Netherland’s, as well as Lithuania, Switzerland, Poland, and Russia. In 1860, Germany passed a law granting religious freedom. The Hamburg church seated 1400 people.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon, Adapted from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins Thompson /, pp. 02-03

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No Stumbling Block

 

Romans 14:13

 

“Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way,” Romans 14:13.

 

 

Paul joins the idea of judging a brother to putting a stumbling block in one’s way. Paul was writing to people aware of the arguments over holy days and eating meat offered to idols which could be bought cheaper in the market place.

 

If we cannot do something without worrying about it, it’s best not to do it. If we violate our conscience, that is sin. Often the things that make us feel guilty have nothing to do with morals, but are merely preferences foisted upon us by the culture that raised us. “Stumblingblock” comes from the Greek word scandalon from which we get scandal.

 

Jesus taught that if the Bible doesn’t clearly forbid something, and it is not harmful, illegal or immoral, don’t make a big deal out of it. “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (1 Cor. 11:15-19).

 

When people go to church to find fault and squabble with worshipers, God does not take it lightly.

 

 

Just Saying

 

When the king is coming to town and you come across stumbling stones in the road, cast them to the side and straighten up the place …that you may be found in love at His appearing.

 

Robert Brock

 

 

 

The Price of A Book

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325 – Nov. 21 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

“A meeting like he had never witnessed”

 

1868 – The James McDonald family joined the Rome, Georgia Baptist Church. Weak, sick, and feeble, McDonald died a few months later on April 25, 1869, at 71 years of age. His bachelor life ended when he married when he was forty-four. God blessed them with eight children all of whom had Bible names, the boys being Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. His testimony was that he had been born in popery, lived in wickedness and rebellion but received Christ at seventeen. At thirty-nine James had left a successful pastorate in Darien, Georgia to go to East Florida to preach the gospel at the time of the Second Seminole War. An Indian party had murdered and scalped General Wiley Thompson. Major Francis Langhorne Dade and 103 of his men lay dead from a Seminole ambush. President Andrew Jackson ordered General Winfield Scott to take command of Florida. The fear and insecurity of the frontier settlers did not discourage McDonald he went forward with his Bible and musket. As soon as he crossed the St. Mary’s river he held a three day protracted meeting in a barn and had, “such a three day meeting like he had never witnessed.” He had to continue to console families as he preached. He recorded that, “he saw Mrs. Johns, who was scalped, and whose husband was killed…Her husband had been burned to ashes; she escaped crawling away, the blood from her head quenching the fire. Another woman reported, “When they killed my husband, he was ploughing the field, making bread for my poor children. He and my brother were both dead.” McDonald planted seventeen churches and ministered to seven personally. [Robert G. Gardner, Viewpoints of Georgia Baptist History (Atlanta: Georgia Historical Society, 1986), p. 71. This Day in Baptist History II: Cummins and Thompson, BJU Press: Greenville, S.C. 2000 A.D. pp. 636-38.]
Prepared by Dr. Greg J. Dixon

 

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310 – Nov. 06 – This Day in Baptist History Past

 

The real root of fundamentalism

 

1863 – Dr. A.T. Robertson, universally known as the greatest Greek scholar of his day, was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. In that he died in 1934 he lived during the Fundamentalist/modernist battles. However, like many of his Southern brethren he never became involved in those controversies except to oppose A.H. Strong’s pantheism. Following is one of his most famous quotes: “Give a man an open Bible, an open mind, a conscience in good working order, and he will have a hard time to keep from being a Baptist.” Baptists have long held the tenet that the Bible is our only rule of faith and practice. Literal interpretation leads one to dispensational/premillennialism. In the early days Fundamentalists could be found in most denominations but today Fundamentalism is primarily a Baptist movement. All others refer to themselves as Evangelicals. Dr. A.J. Frost, a Baptist Bible teacher addressed the 1886 International Prophecy Conference with the thesis that the world’s moral condition was “growing worse, etc.” based on II Tim. 3:13. Ernest R. Sandeen concluded that millenarianism was the root of Fundamentalism. But the real root is the literal interpretation of God’s Word. Dr. Robertson taught the book of Colossians from his Greek N.T. in the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City as Dr. H.A. Ironsides listened. Then he listened as Dr. Ironsides taught 1st and 2nd  Thessalonians in English. Dr. Robertson told Dr. Ironsides that if he had his life to live over again he would be much more positive about this matter concerning premillenialism, because in all of his ministry he had never met a premillennialist who was a Modernist.  [George M. Marsden, Fundamentalism and American Culture (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), p. 66. This Day in Baptist History II: Cummins and Thompson, BJU Press: Greenville, S.C. 2000 A.D. 606-07.]   Prepared by Dr. Greg J. Dixon

 

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