fencepostdigest

“And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” Acts 11:26 NASB.

“Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” Acts 26:28-29.

“Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;  but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” 1 Peter 4:15-16.

Actually, the word “Christian” as we see it in these three verses is not the definition of the Greek word for Christian. The Greek word is Χριστιανός and what we find in all or Bible texts is nothing more than a transliteration.

The Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos), meaning “follower of Christ”, comes from Χριστός (Christos), meaning “anointed one”, and the word χριστός  meaning “anointed” and which became the Christian theological term for the Messiah. The Greek name Χρίστος is derived from the earlier word χριστός. Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One.

My thought has been for many years that we who are Believers and are immersed in water or ‘baptized, ’should not be called ‘Christian,’ but rather, “Followers of Christ.” And the question then arises, should we not refer to Christ as Messiah or The Anointed One? Should we not get this correct?

“Christians are “those of Christ” (οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ) (i.e., “Christ’s); they belong to Christ, as his possessions, because Christians are “slaves of Jesus Christ” (δοῦλοι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ). Of course, this is why Jesus Christ is known as our “lord,” or Greek κύριος, literally “master” (as in slave-master). Therefore, the words Christianus and Χριστιανός imply slavery. For this reason, these words were applied to Christians by non-Christians as a derogatory epithet, for the condition of servitude (slavery) was ignominious. However, believers in Christ cherished the epithet because it was a honor to be slaves of Christ, unlike other masters.” Stack Exchange, https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/

This is not a ‘first’ as a conversation, but we should get this right.

Jesus is Lord.

“We are Christian” is a phrase that may be becoming articulately ‘old fashioned.’ But this does not have to be and should not be. No, we Christians, we who are Followers of the Way of Christ, must continue to be the bold standard-bearers of the Word of God.  We must proclaim the teachings of the Word of God to be the final and authoritative standard by which all our beliefs and behaviors are to be determined and assessed. We must not subject ourselves to the multi-cultural belief that we are all alike because we have ten toes and ten fingers. We are not all alike, but those of us who do know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord discover, “But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:25-29 HCSB. 

From Genesis, the Book of Beginnings, we find that we are male and female, and from that moment until this we have known our kinship as the children of God through His grace by faith in His risen Son, Jesus Christ the Lord. There is no other God but He. Yes, there are multitudes of gods created in the image of humanity, but God to whom we belong was not created, He simply has always been. In His Son we find salvation and “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders,which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” Acts 4:11-12. The crowd standing around Peter were asking for his pedigree, as it were, and wanted to know in what authority given to him was he able to heal a broken man who could not walk. We who know Christ should respond to our culture in the same way, “We stand here before you in the Name of Jesus Christ and in Him only can anyone be saved.”

“Diversity” seems to be the catch-all theme of our time. We hear things like, “There are no Democrats; there are no Republicans, male nor female in the Church!” This is true to some degree. The truth of these two things is simple: Christians do not murder, and God created male and female. Just as Paul said to the church at Galatia, “we are all one in Christ Jesus.” We must stand on the Truth, on the Name of Jesus who said before the coming crucifixion, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7. 

Jesus was in His final hours of human existence as He encouraged the Twelve to continue in His message of grace and truth. They now walked into the Garden of Gethsemane moments before being arrested. In John 17 we find an awesome prayer spoken by the Christ while His closest friends slept, “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me Through their message. May they all be one,as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me. I have given them the glory You have given Me. May they be one as We are one.  I am in them and You are in Me. May they be made completely one, so the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.” vv 20-23.

Yes, we find diversity expressed in Scripture, but this is NOT the message concerning salvation for this is a theme of strict exclusion; there is no other Name by which anyone can be saved. Paul wrote many affirmations about this Message, but there are two I want to leave here: 

1.”The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

2. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.” Romans 1:16-20.

Jesus is Lord.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “We have the mind of Christ.” Because this is true we should know this is true and not be afraid to utilize His mind in our daily living. However, at the same time we should also understand the power of the statement of John found in 1:26-27, Luke 3:16, Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7 and Acts 13:25. “I am not worthy to untie His sandals.”Among you stands one whom you do not recognize, who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!” There is a progression of spiritual  growth as we read these texts and understand what happened to these people. For in Acts 13:50-51 Luke writes that the Jewish community refuses the new message being put forth by the Followers of the Way and ejects them from Pisidian Antioch. However, before leaving Paul and Barnabas “shook the dust off their feet.” This is a reference to Jesus’ instructions to His disciples, “And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!” Matthew 10:14-15 NET2. We who are, indeed, born again Believers and Followers of Jesus Christ must not be afraid of those who say demeaning things about us and wish harm upon us. We are to dust the dirt of our shoes and move along. These poor souls are without Christ and do not understand who we are in Christ, they cannot make judgment upon those who are spiritual, “who have the mind of Christ.”

Believers do need to understand the importance of not only ‘who’ we are, but ‘Whose’ we are. Followers of Jesus Christ belong to Him for we are His possession, “So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.” So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,  and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  You once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:4-10. Yes, indeed, Christians ARE different from those who do not know Him.

But, there is more. We must understand what it is John was saying, “I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal.” He is greater than we are and, in fact, we are but His servants. We stand in His shadow, but we must also understand His Spirit lives within our bodies, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If someone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, which is what you are. Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-19. Our culture is being deceived by Satan, the god of this world. The people who are spiritually blind and on their way to Hell are being used by the Devil and utilized by some who think they are Believers, perhaps they are, to bring harm to the spiritual souls. We must be aware of this and “Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 10 -13. Stand firm!!

Jesus is Lord…

I write much of the things I believe, not all, but much. I find it difficult to be clear enough sometimes, but these things you find here are fairly basic to who I am as a person and Believer/Follower of Jesus Christ. Much of what I write are responses to things I read and hear from other folks; some I believe and others I do not, but the following are thoughts that are foundational to my life.

I believe and understand that God, by His Holy Spirit, inspired every word found in Holy Writ, each of the books in the Old and New Testaments. Each book is a record concerning His saving work in the world. These statements are the only verbally inspired Word of God being without error in the original writings and are the revelation of His will for mankind to believe.

In the beginning God created human beings, male and female, in his own image and God declared them to be very good as care-takers of His creation. By design they were to live in fellowship with Him alone. Adam and Eve were made in the image of Godto to enjoy this relationship by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve were intended to have a matrimony being the only design of sexual relations for men and women. Reading closely we understand marriage demonstrates a similarity between Christ and His church. That which is taking place in culture today is an abomination to His design.

I understand the Word of God clearly explains that God has determined to save a great multitude of lost sinners from every tribe and nation. From the beginning, whenever that was and is, God determined to save them by His grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. And there is no doubt He foreknew them and chose those who would believe to be His children. His justification results because of their faith in Jesus and His work of sanctification begins. He foreknew them and chose them as they believed. Please understand God did not choose some for salvation and others for damnation, but He does choose those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ to be saved. I do not fully understand how He does this, but Jesus said this, “ For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.” John 3:16-21 NET2. Plain and simple.

When Jesus was crucified and came forth from the grave after three days He told His disciples, “I have spoken these things while staying with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will cause you to remember everything I said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I am. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.” John 14:25-29.

The Holy Spirit glorifies the Lord as He resides in every Believer. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and by his power regenerates dead sinners to repentance by grace through faith. These new creations are then baptized into a perfect union with Jesus Christ as Lord. By His grace and through their faith in Jesus Christ a miraculous work of sanctification begins. These new Believers are born again, sanctified, and adopted into God’s family, “So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come! And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.

There is so much more to be written as I have and will continue to write. My journey is a short one and is quickly coming to the end He has decided upon. I encourage you to read as much of the Word of God as is possible for you to do for your time is short as well. I am not asking you to believe me, but to believe and absorb as much of the Word of God as is possible.

Jesus is Lord.

Most people struggle with the idea that faith results in salvation and then followed by righteousness. Paul writes, “ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. But I ask, “Did they not hear?” Yes, they did:

Their voice has gone out to all the earth,and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.” Romans 10:13-18 HCSB.

The entirety of Romans chapter 10 speaks to faith resulting in righteousness and salvation for just as Doctor Luke writes in Acts 4:11-12, “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders,which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” The Gospel Message is founded upon the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. And in Him alone everyone who is saved finds that  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! Together with Christ Jesus He also raised us up and seated us in the heavens, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace through His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10. Truth is, mankind has mostly turned a deaf ear to the Message heralded around the globe for fear of being transformed by the power of the Gospel, “Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2. The will of God is far outside the understanding of man.

The Apostle Paul asks, “What should we say then? Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith. But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness, has not achieved the righteousness of the law. Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over and a rock to trip over,yet the one who believes on Himwill not be put to shame.” Romans 9:30-33. The fact is, the lost heart will continue to stumble along in spiritual darkness because their hope is only in what can be achieved without God, the presence of Jesus Christ. They, therefore have ‘stumbled over the stumbling stone, that is, Jesus.

Going further we find, “Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed. Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live. But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:8-14.

There is one common denominator for those who do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord…a simple lack of faith in the Risen Lord. “ Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while,the Coming One will come and not delay. But My righteous one and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.” Hebrews 10:32-39. The last two phrases are of utmost importance for everyone, “But My righteous one and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.” Some are destroyed for lack of believing and others obtain eternal life because of their faith.

And what we know is, “Jesus remains Savior and Lord.

“Let whoever is wise understand these things,and whoever is insightful recognize them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9 HCSB.

Many years ago there was a television show entitled, “Father Knows Best.” This was one of the most popular shows of all time, I suppose because it was simple and demonstrated what American culture was about, at least, in the most predominant side of our culture. Of course, time changes things dramatically.  That America is no more, for what it is worth.

Unfortunately, just as few paid much attention to “Father Knows Best,” I will suggest fewer give much thought to what the prophetic statement of Joel tells us, yet today. However, I want to examine his words.

God’s Word points us to a very, very poignant statement, “whoever is wise…and whoever is insightful.” These may have been rare people ‘back in the day,’ and the very same most likely holds true in 2022. Listening to events on television newscasts really leaves little doubt. Wisdom and insightful people are far and few between.

As defined by the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary we find:

1. Wisdom: “The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them. This is wisdom in act, effect, or practice. If wisdom is to be considered as a faculty of the mind, it is the faculty of discerning or judging what is most just, proper and useful, and if it is to be considered as an acquirement, it is the knowledge and use of what is best, most just, most proper, most conducive to prosperity or happiness. wisdom in the first sense, or practical wisdom is nearly synonymous with discretion. It differs somewhat from prudence, in this respect; prudence is the exercise of sound judgment in avoiding evils; wisdom is the exercise of sound judgment either in avoiding evils or attempting good. Prudence then is a species, of which wisdom is the genus.”
2. Insight: “Sight or view of the interior of any thing; deep inspection or view; introspection; thorough knowledge or skill. A garden gives us a great insight into the contrivance and wisdom of Providence.”

These two words are absolutely overflowing with the meaning of what God is attempting to tell us in His Word.  Mr. Webster gives evidence of avoiding evil that is the result of the exercise of sound judgment and a complete knowledge of skill sets from God. Godly people will absolutely walk in the teaching of God, but the ungodly will avoid the teachings of God. Everyone I know is personally aware of these things. Some of these people will acknowledge these things of God because He is professed by them, and the others will absolutely deny the existence of the things of God because they deny Him. For just as John writes, “Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.” John 3:18-21.

Really, there is no need to expound upon what Jesus has said because He has made His truth clear.  We are indeed instructed to follow the things of our Lord, and by doing so His truth will make us free and His truth also condemns. 

Jesus is Lord.

When the End Comes

We made one last visit to UT Southwest Medical Center in Dallas, Texas the first of September, 2021. The actual date is immaterial, but the cold hard fact is simple, there would be no other. Patti was dying from Non-Hodgkin’s Disease having been diagnosed in June, 2017. However, this was but a continuation of the leukemia diagnosed in 2014. She was sick for two years before the diagnosis came. Her long-term nearly 9-year battle was quickly coming to the feared end that was now in sight. The oncologist would now suggest palliative care and hospice for there were no more chemotherapy options, and there would be no more radiation treatment, “We have no answers for your condition.” 

A few days later Patti turned to me and said, “I am not giving up, but I am submitting to the truth that is facing me. I will call UT and tell them I will not take the remainder of the drugs, but I will call a hospice provider.” 

By now we were at the end of September. Hospice came with all their hospital tools for us to use during the final days of her life. Those end days were terribly difficult as the brutal onslaught of the disease ran its course. The pain was unbearable even with the morphine and other cocktails that she called for ‘as needed.’ 

Family surrounded her, and many friends dropped by for short visits. Everyone knew what was taking place. One of the very last things she said to me the day before she died was simple and powerful, “I love you, Bob and I want you to know that I want to live. I want to live for my grandkids. It is time for me to go Home, it is time for me to see Jesus.” 

On the afternoon of November 8th the hospice nurse came to check on her patient. I caught her outside the front door and asked, “What are we looking at as you see Patti now?” She replied with tears in her eyes, “Mr. Williford, her time is very, very short. I do not think she will live past tomorrow afternoon.” She left and in less than two hours Patti did, too.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 HCSB. 

Grief is a strange thing. As a pastor and missionary for more than 50 years I was an observer and sometimes participant of grief in many ways. Death is not the only reason we humans grieve and I will not attempt to make a list for there are too many items to cite. However, what I know now is that the death of one’s husband or wife may be the most difficult event of all.

There is no end for the grief journey and the grip it has is very, very powerful. There is hope, however. God has given us solutions and everyone who passes through the veil of losing a spouse to the Father in Heaven will understand the Comforter is, indeed, present. Because those of us who are eternally saved by grace through faith will understand what Jesus told His disciples soon before His crucifixion, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:16-20.

The Helper by the Name of Holy Spirit is present in the body of every Christian, every committed Follower of Jesus Christ. I am where I am today because of His presence in my life, in my body and my praise and honor to Him are unceasing.

On June 18th I married a beautiful Christian woman. She is Sharon, a lady I knew as a 7th grader in Lubbock, Texas. This is a long story and I will not repeat it here. We are survivors of a common trail of tears and grief, and God brought us together for His comforting purposes about which we continue to discover. Sharon was married to Greg Deering for 47 years and I was married to Patti for 50. Someone asked me, “How long have you been married?” I paused and replied, “97 years.”

Jesus is Lord.

The Psalmist often records God’s promises to deliver those who know and love Him. We may not be participants in longevity in this life nor escape harm while we are here. However, He will eventually answer our cries for help. Please read the contextual evidence surrounding the following Scriptures before forming your opinion or becoming angry.

Joel 2:31-32, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and awe-inspiring Day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.” HCSB.

Acts 2:17-21, “And it will be that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,your young men will see visions,and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out My Spiriton My male and female slaves in those days,and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven and signs on the earthblood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Rom. 10:8b-13, “The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

No matter the issues at hand our God will not leave us alone in turmoil. We do find promises of rescue accomplished by God in His Word, but we may not experience the rescue in this life. We cannot understand this, but He does always rescue the perishing on the other side of the grave. 

We preachers of the Gospel must be very, very careful when we are attempting to comfort those who are struggling with physical and emotional problems.God always gives His blessing to  people who follow His will, but they may not see the blessings here.

Joshua 1:5-11, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’”

John 11:17-21, “When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem (about two miles away). Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him. But Mary remained seated in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” “Your brother will rise again,”

Matthew 28:16-20, “The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We Followers of Christ must be very, very careful choosing our words shared with those who are presently suffering awful diseases or with those whose loved ones are caring for them. My own father who was suffering from terminal cancer said, “God may not heal me on this side of Heaven, but I will be healed when I leave here.” What we do understand is simple, God adds life to our years and makes that life worthwhile. Our Lord gives many illustrations in Scripture and we sometimes fail to understand, and when we fail to understand, we find this, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.” John 10:7-18.

How, then, are we to explain these difficulties, that God has apparently not been faithful to His statements? You and have known many Godly people that have died young, and there are others who have indeed perished at the hands of evil actions. Does this mean that God is unfaithful and we cannot depend upon His statements? Because we view life beyond the grave there should be no difficulty with the truth of Scripture. In the end His deliverance does follow even as He allows some to suffer and others to die at the hands of enemies. WE who are Believers may die young, but we do have eternal life because we are devoted to God as He is faithful to us.

Jesus remains Lord.

For some time the use of the word ‘deacon’ as we know it has been a troubled question for me. The office of deacon has been far more emphasized for many generations than is given in Scripture. Most, if not all, Bible translations do not translate the word, but only transliterate it; that is, giving an English pronunciation rather than providing a literal translation. This should be troubling to everyone. There are other words that have been treated in like fashion; baptism being one of them, but I will not address this here.

Are we ignoring biblical guidelines affecting deacons, and now have positions that have absolutely no biblical authority? In fact, some churches give titles such as “Children’s Ministry Director” or “Women’s Ministry Director” or “Lay Counselor.” Those serving in these positions are sometimes Bible instructors, or involved in discipleship and pastoral care. My  question is simple, “Are these biblical positions of leadership?” What biblical criteria are used to support them?” There are obvious biblical standards for leadership, why not use them? Do we have ministry positions developed to fit cultural needs but no biblical authority for assigned offices?

The following question(s) come from the Greek word for “deacon,” found in etymological studies:

The word diakonos or διάκονος, transliterated “deacon” actually means “servant” and  appears 29 times in the New Testament. 36 verses contain the verb diakoneo meaning “to serve” and the noun diakonia defined as “service, ministry, office,” is applied 33 times. Why not use the term correctly? The word diakonos does have a defined meaning. Most often diakonos in the New Testament is defined as helping or serving and not as a deacon in a church setting as you and I might see it used. 

The following verses from the New Testament provide  us with the following:

John 2:9: “…The master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants (diakonoi) who had drawn the water knew.”

 Luke 22:25-27: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them… But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves (diakonon)… I am among you as one who serves (diakonon).”

 John 12:26: “Whoever serves (diakone) me must follow me; and where I am, my servant (diakonos) will also be. My Father will honor the one who serves (diakone) me.” 

Romans 13:4: “[The ruler] is God’s servant (diakonos) to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant (diakonos), an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.” 

Eph 3:7: “I became a servant (diakonos) of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given to me through the working of his power.” 

1 Timothy 4:6: “If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister (diakonos) of Christ Jesus…” In these five instances diakonos expresses the idea as “servant.” Looking more closely we find diakonos used in the NT to describe the office of deacon as we understand it. Look briefly at Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13.

 Philippians 1:1: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons…” In both of these instances the Greek term diakonos is utilized,  why not use them in the same way in the same verse…as servants?

1 Timothy 3:8-13: “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove 

themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” 

Diakonos contains the idea of servant. Is a deacon a servant of Christ and His church? But we might say, “not everyone who serves God or the church does so in the official capacity of deacon.” Some might say that every deacon is a servant, not every servant is a deacon, but because Believers are to serve the local church these are servants of the Lord.

Does the office of Deacon really exist in the New Testament? The fact that there are only two clear references to the office in the New Testament has caused some to question whether or not it does exist. Some suggest that elders and deacons in Philippians 1:1 are only defined activities in the church at Philippi but not as offices. I must, however, decline the suggestion. Elders and deacons are indeed, offices specified by Paul, but the office of deacon as we understand it does not. There is an office of a servant, but not that of a deacon.

The New Bible Dictionary gives us this explanation, “There is little to suggest that in New Testament times the term ‘deacon’ is ever more than semi-technical.” Another writer, Hermann Beyer, a Continental scholar, tells us that Paul’s first statement from Philippians 1:1 “is a reference to the office of deacon: In Paul’s statement our understanding of the office deacon can be linked to elders.”

When Paul wrote the Philippian letter there were two offices and one may be more important. Is a deacon the role of a servant in the local church and is any church member able to fill that post? If the word “deacon” points to an office should there not be both elders and deacons in God-ordained offices? We must remain in biblical context.

Do the writers of the New Testament direct us to the office of deacon, or better said, servant? We find these two statements of Paul in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3 and these men are sitting next to the elders. Paul and Peter are speaking of elders to be appointed by the apostles with doctrinal instruction and care. We are able to observe this in Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:1-3 and Titus 1:9.

In Acts 14:23 Luke records that Paul “had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.” Paul instructed Titus to “appoint elders in every town” on the island of Crete, “The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God’s work, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled. He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it.” Titus 1:5-9. 

Paul gives this in 1 Timothy 3:8 -13,  Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless. Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect. Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” We must translate the word ‘deacon’ to be ‘servant,’ and not transliterate it.

Acts 6:1-4, Here Luke gives foundation for the places of elder and servant leadership. However, we must not forget the reason for the appointment. There was a complaint from the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebrews because the widows were ignored in the distribution of food. The Apostles then responded by calling on the congregation in vv. 2-3,  “So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.”  However, because the noun ‘deacon’ is not used here we should not suggest that these men were to be the first deacons. A great disservice has been accomplished by transliterating the Greek verb ‘διακονίᾳ’ to indicate something that is not. The word only tells us that the Greek widows were not being served. “Served” is the appropriate verb, not the use of the noun taken from the same root word. The apostles did not establish the office of deacon in Acts chapter 6.

In my opinion, elders must be the priority. The local church should begin with the appointment of qualified elders. Paul planted a new church with elders followed by the servants. Elders are given to theological, doctrinal, and moral training by faithfully teaching Scripture. The servants are given to the practical leadership instructed by the elders. To transliterate the Greek word is simply not correct. Elders delegate tasks to deacons as servants in ministry under the direction of the elders.

Paul writes into his friend Timothy 1 Timothy 3:8-13 with definite qualifications for the place of servants in the church and women are not allowed to be “teaching or exercising authority over a man.” In the context of 1 Timothy, there is a clear restriction on authoritative leadership in the church. The Apostle demands elders to be men as the biblical roles of men and women in the home and the church: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church (he himself being the savior of the body). But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body, but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of his body.  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great—but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:22-33. Both men and women as servants/helpers must follow the male elders within God’s instructions. The biblical qualifications for elders are specific to men, while the qualifications for helpers can include women. 

The egalitarian view of the role of women in the church is determined by a foundation of sand, not solid rock. From the late 20th Century is found much talk about the role of women in the church. The role of women finds root in the book of Genesis and continued in the New Testament. We do find, at best, suggestions, but no clear statements that men and women are on the same footing socially. We must comply with the Word of God.

The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 under Article XVIII, The Family, states, “The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.” 

Galatians 3:28 is a Pauline statement of equality, but we must keep this verse within the context of the entire letter to the church in Galatia. Paul is not suggesting in any manner whatsoever anything about social order. NONE!!

Notice again what the Apostle clearly states in 1 Timothy 2:9-15, “Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet. For Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression. But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.” 

No, I am NOT an egalitarian, no, not at all. But, can women serve in the local church? The answer is obvious, “yes,” so long as they are willing to follow the instructions of the appointed elders just as the Word of God instructs. Elders are to be men only and deacons are to be understood as being servants of the Lord, both biblically qualified men and women following the directives of the Elders.

In most cases, however, we Baptists for the most part are a very long way from this. There is a conflagration of how men and women serve in our churches. Whether we like it or not most women are the real driving forces of our church and the Deacons mostly serve at their bequest; their beckoning call. Elders are becoming more and more popular in some settings as young Pastors are beginning to understand. Our social order is changing in all of our churches.

I might add that for many years my wife and I served as missionaries to Peru under the auspices of the Southern Baptist Convention. Observing our women missionaries helped me to determine their invaluable service to our Peruvian churches. They were extraordinary in their service to God. Many excelled as both teachers and speakers giving biblical directions in every manner. They worked just as hard and successfully as their men counterparts. Peruvian women accomplished just as much as did their men in the local churches. I might add, these were Peruvian Baptist churches and not Southern Baptist churches.

As more and more churches are ordaining women in places of leadership and elders are beginning to emerge in others we will find a greater division as a result. Most likely, I will not see the solutions of the issues and I am much better for it. As I write this the great divide among Baptists will continue to grow and grow. There will be more quakes to come, perhaps big ones. May the Lord bless.

But, Jesus remains Lord of His Church.

There is a difficult question concerning these 9 verses taken from the 28th chapter of Ezekiel. The question is, “Are these verses speaking of the fall of Satan?”

 My interest is always found in the contextual study of the Word of God and this is no different. We MUST consider viewing the surrounding chapters of these verses chosen for study. Look here for some help, “‘Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”‘ Ezekiel 28:25-26 NASB.

I think the context views the future of Israel and that of the surrounding nations of Israel. There is no doubt this prophecy is not a mere restoration of Israel, but we find all nations and kingdoms including the Body of Christ. Everyone who knows God will be gathered in triumph over evil. The power of evil over the nations of the earth will be defeated by the eternal establishment of the Kingdom of Christ..

From Barnes Notes on Ezekiel 28:1 we read, “The prophecy against the prince of Tyre. Throughout the east the majesty and glory of a people were collected in the person of their monarch, who in some nations was worshiped as a god. The prince is here the embodiment of the community. Their glory is his glory, their pride his pride. The doom of Tyre could not be complete without denunciation of the prince of Tyre. Idolatrous nations and idolatrous kings were, in the eyes of the prophet, antagonists to the true God. In them was embodied the principle of evil opposing itself to the divine government of the world. Hence, some of the fathers saw upon the throne, not simply a hostile monarch, but “the Prince of this world, spiritual wickedness (or wicked spirits) in high places.” Whenever evil in any way dominates over good, there is a “prince of Tyrus,” against whom God utters His voice.”

You and I MUST understand the power of Satan, and God has already condemned him and will ultimately destroy him. But to answer your question concerning the insertion of Satan in Ezekiel 28:11-19 is a bit of a stretch for many as he is NOT mentioned except by implication, and the same holds true for Adam. Years ago a seminary professor said to a class I was attending, “We must remain silent when the Bible is silent and speak when the Word speaks.” We must be very, very careful by stating things that are ‘implied’ in the Inspired Text. While we study the Word of God we MUST avoid the temptation to insert assumptions into the purpose and meaning of what Ezekiel has written.

We could see these verses as a glimpse of the “New Jerusalem” coming down out of Heaven when Christ returns. There are many references concerning Mount Zion in the Old Testament. One that stands out is from Zechariah 8:1-8 we find these words, “Then the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I am exceedingly jealous for Zion, yes, with great wrath I am jealous for her.’ 3 Thus says the Lord, ‘I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’ 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age. 5 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lord of hosts. 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the land of the east and from the land of the west; 8 and I will bring them back and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth and righteousness.”

So, the end of Ezekiel is clearly talking about a time that has not yet happened. God’s people will indeed live securely in their own land, but this is talking about the end of days, the new heavens and earth. But let us go back to your question concerning Adam and Satan. I speak of context, and biblically speaking, I clearly understand how either Adam or Satan can be, and are, inserted into the text for prophetic reasons. It is interesting to see that Satan is, however, the motivating force behind the evil of the King of Tyre. F.B. Huey, Jr, a noted Hebrew Scholar identifies “four Hermeneutical options: 1) the ‘literal history’ of Satan’s fall; 2) the king of Tyre as “a satanic person”; 3) the king or kingdom of Tyer under judgment, couched in the language of the familiar paradise story; and 4) the fall of the king or kingdom of Tyer as parallel to the fall of Adam (and Eve).  Layman’s Bible Book Commentary, vol. 12, Ezekiel, Daniel.

I do not find it erroneous to say that Satan’s fall is to be found in Ezekiel 28:11-19, but my inclusion of him within this text is somewhat difficult as I read the surrounding chapters. My answer is found in what I read and will say without hesitation that Satan is the source of the evil of the King of Tyre AND old Slewfoot is also the source of evil in the world. 

Jesus is Lord.