A Pentecost Q & A

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. I thought a brief Pentecost Q & A would be timely.

Q What was Pentecost in the Old Testament?

A It was one of the seven seasonal feasts Israel was commanded to observe: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles (see Leviticus 23). Passover is in the Spring, followed immediately by Unleavened Bread. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks or Shavuot) is 50 days after Passover. Pentecost is from a Greek word which means 50. It is a harvest feast, marking the beginning of the harvest. They would bake two loaves of bread and the priest would “wave” them before the Lord, celebrating the first signs of harvest, as well as expressing faith in the Lord that there would be a full harvest in the fall.

Q What was Pentecost in the New Testament?

A "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4)

As Peter explains in his sermon which followed, this was a fulfillment of the promise in the prophet Joel, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…” Both John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus had spoken of being baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is it. The promise of the Father, the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Q What did the apostles say about Pentecost?

A Amazingly, nothing. Not one word. In fact, Pentecost is mentioned only two other times in the New Testament and then simply as a feast day of the Jews.

Q So, what is the significance of Pentecost?

A The feasts of the LORD are God’s prophetic calendar: Passover the death of Christ, Unleavened bread the new life in Christ, Firstfruits the resurrection of Christ. Pentecost is a foreshadowing of the great harvest; two loaves speaks of two people groups to be brought in: Jews and Gentiles. The next feast on God’s calendar is Trumpets, the second coming of Christ, which takes place in September, after a summer of harvest. This is where we are on the calendar – the summer of a worldwide harvest!

Q Is Pentecost the birthday of the Church?

A This is a very popular view today, but the answer is, No. The Bible never says this. The church of Christ began during the ministry of Jesus.

Q Is this when the disciples received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?

A No. In John 20:21-22 we read: “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.” Pentecost is when they were baptized with the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, received power from on high.

Q Will the day of Pentecost be repeated?

A No. Like the cross and resurrection it was a special, significant, one-time event - the Spirit was poured out. As the old hymn says,

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!
The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father's promise given;
O spread the tidings 'round wherever man is found:
The Comforter has come!
(Frank Bottome, 1890)

Q Can I experience Pentecost?

A Oh yes! Every believer in Christ is heir to the gift of the Holy Spirit, the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The prophets, the Lord Jesus, Peter, Paul, all spoke of this; and Peter and Paul are very clear – this is an experience you may know whether you have received or not.

In chapter 8 of Watchman Nee’s great book, The Normal Christian Life, he speaks of Pentecost then and now. He picks up on a statement the apostle Peter made on the day of Pentecost in his explanation of what was happening. He said, This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel. Watchman Nee points out that our this needs to be and can be that. I think it is fair to ask, Is our ‘this’ ‘that’? What?? Yes, Is our this - our Christian experience – that which Joel spoke of and the apostles experienced? In other words, Are we experiencing all that the Gospel promises? As Pastor Chuck Smith said it, “We are seeing God’s last day outpouring of His Holy Spirit. You don’t have to beg God for this free gift, just accept it. Just say, ‘Lord, you promised it. Lord, I need it. Lord, I want it. Thank you, Lord, I accept it.’ The Holy Spirit is a free gift of God, you don’t have to continually beg God for Him, you have to receive Him by faith . . . If you want the baptism with the Holy Spirit, just take a deep breath and say, ‘God, I’m going to breathe in now the fulness of your Spirit’ and He will begin to fill you to overflowing.”

Q Ah, but what about speaking in tongues?

A What about it? Oh, you mean, “Do I have to speak in tongues to be filled?” To quote Pastor Chuck again, “Many times when someone is baptized with Holy Spirit, God will bless them with the gift of speaking in tongues . . . I’m not on a speaking in tongues kick. I thank God for what it means to me and I praise the Lord for it. But I don’t go around saying, ‘Oh, you have to speak in tongues – you MUST.’ You don’t have to speak in tongues; you can know the fulness of God and the fulness of His love without it. You cannot, however, experience a blessing quite like speaking in tongues unless you speak in tongues.” He goes on to say, “I believe the only true evidence of the filling and baptism with the Holy Spirit is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.”

What will it be like or feel like when we are filled with the Holy Spirit? How will we know? I have briefly mentioned speaking in tongues, but here is a story from F.B. Meyer that really speaks to the point:

A woman came to her pastor and asked if she could use the church building for the day. He asked her why and she replied, “I’m going to seek God and wait on Him until He fills me with the Holy Spirit.” So he gave her permission and she went to an upstairs room and locked herself in. About supper time she came down.

“How did it go, sister? Did God meet you? Have you been filled with the Spirit?”

With much sorrow she replied, “Alas, no. I was not filled with the Spirit.”

The pastor then asked, “Tell me, sister, how is it with you and Jesus?

Her face lit up and she answered, “Oh pastor, it has never been better. He is so sweet to my soul!”

The pastor told her, “Sister, THAT is the Holy Spirit!”

 

 

Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit?

What is "ministered to the Lord"?

 

I’ve always been fascinated with this verse. There are three parts to it: (1) ministered to the Lord; (2) fasted; (3) the Holy Ghost said. Numbers 2 & 3 I’ve always pretty much understood: fasted: a season of not eating; the Holy Ghost said: a word of prophecy. Got it. But what is ministered to the Lord?

biblegateway.com has this verse in 63 translations – ministered 18 / serving 10 / worshiping 35 / praising and praying 1 (don’t bother counting, I’m off by one!). Obviously, most translations went with “worshiping”.

Our pastor preached through the first 12 verses of chapter 13 Sunday morning. He uses the NIV, so he went with “worshiping” and encouraged us to worship, fast, and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit. Amen. But for most of us, “worshiping” conjures up images of the praise team leading us in worship songs, and I’m 120% sure there was no praise team involved. While Pentecostal churches (20th century) had small bands, and in the black church the worship leader had a choir (also 20th century), the praise team as we know it rose up in the Jesus Movement / charismatic renewal of the 60s and 70s, as Jesus Freaks brought their guitars to church and sang songs they had written. This is not a criticism or statement of some kind, just simply pointing out there was no brother with an acoustic guitar and a sister singing praise and worship in Acts 13.

So, what were they doing when they ministered to the Lord? For that answer I did a word study.

The Greek word for ministered is the verb λειτουργέω (leitourgeō), the root word is the noun λειτουργός (leitourgos). OK. What does this mean? Well, according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

I.        to serve the state at one's own cost

II.       to do a service, perform a work

A.       of priests and Levites who were busied with the sacred rites in the tabernacle or the temple

B.       of Christians serving Christ, whether by prayer, or by instructing others concerning the way of salvation, or in some other way

It occurs 3 times in the New Testament

Act 13:2

Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

This refers to the Gentiles helping the Jewish Christians in their time of need.

Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Here the ministering is related to worship, but it’s not singing songs and all, the priest was offering prayers and sacrifices.

I’m pretty sure ministering to the Lord here is related to the ministry or serving described in Hebrews 10. 

Our word liturgy comes from this Greek word family. In case you are not familiar with liturgical worship, simply put, it is a worship service with prescribed prayers and Scripture readings in which the entire congregation participates. For example, here is the beginning of the Holy Eucharist or Sunday morning service from the Anglican Church of North America Book of Common Prayer:

The People standing

Celebrant: Blessed be God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

All: Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I am not suggesting the church in Antioch was using the Book of Common Prayer (at least not the English version!!). I do however believe that if this refers to worship, it is a greater possibility they would have been using some liturgical form of prescribed (written) prayers and Scripture readings, while obviously open to and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and speak, after all, there was that word of prophecy, “Separate to me Barnabas and Saul…” 

But I’m not really sure this describes a time of worship.

Remember the definition above? “To do a service, perform a work . . . of Christians serving Christ by prayer.” I used to think ministering to the Lord referred to worship, liturgical worship at that. But now I’m much more inclined to see this as a time or season of prayer. Their fasting seems to me to support that.

What difference does it make? Well, it makes a difference to me in that I want to properly understand what Scripture says. But in the long run, I don’t think it really matters: whether worship or prayer, we need to be serious and sensitive to the working of the Spirit. This of course means that our prayer meeting / worship service needs to be open to manifestations of the Spirit (expectant, receptive, and the service can’t be so tightly structured there is no room for Him to move). And of course, the people need to know what the gifts are and how they work.

As I said at the beginning, I’ve always been fascinated with this verse and wondered just what ministered to the Lord meant. And now I feel like I finally have a handle on it, so this was mostly for me. The bottom line is, in all our prayer meetings and worship services, the leadership needs to cultivate an atmosphere that is open and receptive to the moving of the Spirit, and the folks in attendance need to have an expectant attitude.

They were praising the Lord God and they were praying (EasyEnglish Bible)

Pray Until Something Happens

CHAPTER II  PRAYING UNTO GOD 

1. In the 12th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles we have the record of a prayer that prevailed with God, and brought to pass great results. In the 5th verse of this chapter, the manner and method of this prayer is described in few words:

“Prayer was made without ceasing of the church UNTO GOD for him.”

The first thing to notice in this verse is the brief expression “unto God.” The prayer that has power is the prayer that is offered unto God.

But some will say, “Is not all prayer unto God?”

No. Very much of so-called prayer, both public and private, is not unto God. In order that a prayer should be really unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God when we pray; we must have a definite and vivid realization that God is bending over us and listening as we pray. In very much of our prayer there is really but little thought of God. Our mind is taken up with the thought of what we need, and is not occupied with the thought of the mighty and loving Father of whom we are seeking it. Oftentimes it is the case that we are occupied neither with the need nor with the One to whom we are praying, but our mind is wandering here and there throughout the world. There is no power in that sort of prayer. But when we really come into God’s presence, really meet Him face to face in the place of prayer, really seek the things that we desire FROM HIM, then there is power.

If, then, we would pray aright, the first thing that we should do is to see to it that we really get an audience with God, that we really get into His very presence. Before a word of petition is offered, we should have the definite and vivid consciousness that we are talking to God, and should believe that He is listening to our petition and is going to grant the thing that we ask of Him. This is only possible by the Holy Spirit’s power, so we should look to the Holy Spirit to really lead us into the presence of God, and should not be hasty in words until He has actually brought us there.

If then we would pray aright, these two little words must sink deep into our hearts, “UNTO GOD.”

2. The second secret of effective praying is found in the same verse, in the words “WITHOUT CEASING.”

In the Revised Version, “without ceasing” is rendered “earnestly.” Neither rendering gives the full force of the Greek. The word means literally “stretched-out-ed-ly.” It is a pictorial word, and wonderfully expressive. It represents the soul on a stretch of earnest and intense desire. “Intensely” would perhaps come as near translating it as any English word.

It is the word used of our Lord in Luke 22:44 where it is said, “He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

We read in Heb. 5:7 that “in the days of His flesh” Christ “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.” In Rom. 15:30, Paul beseeches the saints in Rome to STRIVE together with him in their prayers. The word translated “strive” means primarily to contend as in athletic games or in a fight. In other words, the prayer that prevails with God is the prayer into which we put our whole soul, stretching out toward God in intense and agonizing desire. Much of our modern prayer has no power in it because there is no heart in it. We rush into God’s presence, run through a string of petitions, jump up and go out. If someone should ask us an hour afterward for what we prayed, oftentimes we could not tell. If we put so little heart into our prayers, we cannot expect God to put much heart into answering them.

When we learn to come to God with an intensity of desire that wrings the soul, then shall we know a power in prayer that most of us do not know now.

But how shall we attain to this earnestness in prayer?

Not by trying to work ourselves up into it. The true method is explained in Rom. 8:26, “And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (R.V.) The earnestness that we work up in the energy of the flesh is a repulsive thing. The earnestness wrought in us by the power of the Holy Spirit is pleasing to God.

Here again, if we would pray aright, we must look to the Spirit of God to teach us to pray.

3. A third secret of right praying is also found in this same verse, Acts 12:5. It appears in the three words “OF THE CHURCH.”

There is power in UNITED PRAYER. Of course there is power in the prayer of an individual, but there is vastly increased power in united prayer. God delights in the unity of His people, and seeks to emphasize it in every way, and so He pronounces a special blessing upon united prayer. We read in Matt. 18:19, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven.” This unity, however, must be real. The passage just quoted does not say that if two shall agree in asking, but if two shall agree AS TOUCHING anything they shall ask. Two persons might agree to ask for the same thing, and yet there be no real agreement as touching the thing they asked. One might ask it because he really desired it, the other might ask it simply to please his friend. But where there is real agreement, where the Spirit of God brings two believers into perfect harmony as concerning that which they may ask of God, where the Spirit lays the same burden on two hearts; in all such prayer there is absolutely irresistible power.

CHAPTER VI  ALWAYS PRAYING AND NOT FAINTING 

In two parables in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches with great emphasis the lesson that men ought always to pray and not to faint. The first parable is found in Luke 11:5-8, and the other in Luke 18:1-8.

“And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him: ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?’ And he from within shall answer and say: ‘Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give thee.’ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”(Luke 11:5-8) 

“And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men always ought to pray and not to faint, saying: There was in a city a judge which feared not God, neither regarded man; and there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying:

‘Avenge me of mine adversary.’ 

And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself: ‘Though I fear not God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubleth me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ 

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8) 

In the first of these two parables Jesus sets forth the necessity of importunity in prayer in a startling way. The word rendered “importunity” means literally “shamelessness,” as if Jesus would have us understand that God would have us draw nigh to Him with a determination to obtain the things we seek that will not be put to shame by any seeming refusal or delay on God’s part. God delights in the holy boldness that will not take “no” for an answer. It is an expression of great faith, and nothing pleases God more than faith.

Jesus seemed to put the Syro-Phoenician woman away almost with rudeness, but she would not be put away, and Jesus looked upon her shameless importunity with pleasure, and said, “O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” (Matt. 15:28) God does not always let us get things at our first effort. He would train us and make us strong men by compelling us to work hard for the best things. So also He does not always give us what we ask in answer to the first prayer; He would train us and make us strong men of prayer by compelling us to pray hard for the best things. He makes us PRAY THROUGH.

I am glad that this is so. There is no more blessed training in prayer than that that comes through being compelled to ask again and again and again even through a long period of years before one obtains that which he seeks from God. Many people call it submission to the will of God when God does not grant them their requests at the first or second asking, and they say:

“Well, perhaps it is not God’s will.”

As a rule this is not submission, but spiritual laziness. We do not call it submission to the will of God when we give up after one or two efforts to obtain things by action; we call it lack of strength of character. When the strong man of action starts out to accomplish a thing, if he does not accomplish it the first, or second or one hundredth time, he keeps hammering away until he does accomplish it; and the strong man of prayer when he starts to pray for a thing keeps on praying until he prays it through, and obtains what he seeks.

We should be careful about what we ask from God, but when we do begin to pray for a thing we should never give up praying for it until we get it, or until God makes it very clear and very definite to us that it is not His will to give it.

Some would have us believe that it shows unbelief to pray twice for the same thing, that we ought to “take it” the first time that we ask. Doubtless there are times when we are able through faith in the Word or the leading of the Holy Spirit to CLAIM the first time that which we have asked of God; but beyond question there are other times when we must pray again and again and again for the same thing before we get our answer. Those who have gotten beyond praying twice for the same thing have gotten beyond their Master (Matt. 26:44). George Muller prayed for two men daily for upwards of sixty years. One of these men was converted shortly before his death, I think at the last service that George Muller held, the other was converted within a year after his death. One of the great needs of the present day is men and women who will not only start out to pray for things, but pray on and on and on until they obtain that which they seek from the Lord.

How To Pray by R.A. Torrey (1856-1928)

An Ancient Homily On Holy Saturday

 

An Ancient Homily on Holy Saturday: The Lord’s Descent Into Hell

"What is happening? Today there is a great silence over the earth, a great silence, and stillness, a great silence because the King sleeps; the earth was in terror and was still, because God slept in the flesh and raised up those who were sleeping from the ages. God has died in the flesh, and the underworld has trembled.

Truly he goes to seek out our first parent like a lost sheep; he wishes to visit those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. He goes to free the prisoner Adam and his fellow-prisoner Eve from their pains, he who is God, and Adam's son.

The Lord goes in to them holding his victorious weapon, his cross. When Adam, the first created man, sees him, he strikes his breast in terror and calls out to all: 'My Lord be with you all.' And Christ in reply says to Adam: ‘And with your spirit.’ And grasping his hand he raises him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.

‘I am your God, who for your sake became your son, who for you and your descendants now speak and command with authority those in prison: Come forth, and those in darkness: Have light, and those who sleep: Rise.

‘I command you: Awake, sleeper, I have not made you to be held a prisoner in the underworld. Arise from the dead; I am the life of the dead. Arise, O man, work of my hands, arise, you who were fashioned in my image. Rise, let us go hence; for you in me and I in you, together we are one undivided person.

‘For you, I your God became your son; for you, I the Master took on your form; that of slave; for you, I who am above the heavens came on earth and under the earth; for you, man, I became as a man without help, free among the dead; for you, who left a garden, I was handed over to Jews from a garden and crucified in a garden.

‘Look at the spittle on my face, which I received because of you, in order to restore you to that first divine inbreathing at creation. See the blows on my cheeks, which I accepted in order to refashion your distorted form to my own image.

'See the scourging of my back, which I accepted in order to disperse the load of your sins which was laid upon your back. See my hands nailed to the tree for a good purpose, for you, who stretched out your hand to the tree for an evil one.

`I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side, for you, who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side healed the pain of your side; my sleep will release you from your sleep in Hades; my sword has checked the sword which was turned against you.

‘But arise, let us go hence. The enemy brought you out of the land of paradise; I will reinstate you, no longer in paradise, but on the throne of heaven. I denied you the tree of life, which was a figure, but now I myself am united to you, I who am life. I posted the cherubim to guard you as they would slaves; now I make the cherubim worship you as they would God.

"The cherubim throne has been prepared, the bearers are ready and waiting, the bridal chamber is in order, the food is provided, the everlasting houses and rooms are in readiness; the treasures of good things have been opened; the kingdom of heaven has been prepared before the ages.”

The Prophets

Isaiah

Isaiah prophesied from 739-681 BC. He saw Assyria attack and scatter Israel (10 northern tribes) from their land and fail attempting the same with Judah. This book is 66 chapters long, second longest book in the entire Bible, and has two parts: chapters 1-39 (focusing on judgment) and 40-66 (comfort & salvation).

“Isaiah abounds with mentions of Messiah including a virgin conceiving, a child born, the name Immanuel, a sacrificial death, resurrection, the salvation of the Gentiles and more. In fact, Isaiah’s words are quoted more times in the New Testament than any other Old Testament book. Because of the number of messianic references found in the book, Isaiah has been referred to as a fifth gospel.” ¹

Jeremiah-Lamentations

These are two separate books, both written by Jeremiah. He prophesied from 626-587 BC. He saw the Babylonians attack Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the temple, and carry most of the people to Babylon.

He ministered “with matchless zeal and fidelity in the midst of a most crooked and perverse people, by whom he was continually persecuted, and whom he boldly reproved, often at the hazard of his life. The pitch of desperate wickedness to which the Jews had arrived previously to their captivity was truly astonishing. They had exhausted all the means that infinite mercy, associated with infinite justice, could employ for the salvation of sinners; and they became in consequence desperately wicked; no wonder, therefore, that wrath fell upon them to the uttermost. Were ever people more highly favored, more desperately ungrateful, or more signally punished! What a lesson is their history to the nations of the earth, and especially to those who have been favored with the light of revelation!” (Adam Clarke) 

He is sometimes called “the weeping prophet.”

Ezekiel

Ezekiel’s entire prophetic ministry was in Babylon, prophesying to the captive Jews. I think he is the harshest of the prophets. He saw in a vision the glory of God leave the temple and the city of Jerusalem, but in chapters 40-48 he saw the rebuilding of the temple and the city. His very last words are, and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there (YHWH shammah; Yahweh is there). Amen! He spoke of the valley of dry bones (restoration of Israel), the new birth, the Good Shepherd, and the covenant of peace (millennial kingdom).

Daniel

Daniel was carried into Babylon as a youth and then rose to great power and prestige in Babylon. For some reason the Jews do not consider Daniel and his book is not listed in their Bible among the prophetic writings. Nevertheless, he had some amazing prophecies! In this book we read of what Christ called the times of the Gentiles (that period from Babylon to right before the second coming), the second coming and the kingdom of God on the earth the dreadful antichrist the resurrection and the most amazing prophecy, seventy weeks are determined upon thy people…unto the Messiah the Prince (9:24-27), in other words, Messiah will come in 490 years!! And he did. Amen and Hallelujah!

The Twelve

Hosea – prophesied for 50 years in Israel

Joel – spoke of revival and the outpouring of the Spirit

Amos – a shepherd in Judah, called to prophesy to Israel

Obadiah – denounced Edom; may have prophesied around Babylonian Captivity

Jonah – and the whale (or huge fish); prophesied to Ninevah

Micah – prophesied in Judah along with Isaiah

Nahum – prophesied to Ninevah

Habakkuk – prophesied the coming of the Babylonians

Zephaniah – prophesied in Judah, about the time of Josiah

Haggai - prophesied during Nehemiah’s restoration of Jerusalem and the temple

Zechariah – prophesied during Nehemiah’s restoration of Jerusalem and the temple

Malachi – the last prophet of the Old Testament

 

They are often referred to as “The Minor Prophets” because of their length (most are short books – 8 are less than 5 chapters long), but I think this confuses folks, so I prefer to call them The Twelve, as do the Jews (since they are all on one scroll).

Hosea through Zephaniah all prophesied during the period covered by 2 Kings. Haggai (520 BC) and Zechariah (520-518 BC) prophesied in Nehemiah’s day, when the Jews returned from Babylon. Malachi’s ministry was 450 BC. He was the last prophet until the appearance of John the Baptist. This is known as the 400 years of silence.

How fitting that our Old Testament ends with a prophecy of both John the Baptist and Jesus the Christ:

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

¹ https://women.lifeway.com/2022/09/07/isaiah-as-the-fifth-gospel/

The Poetical Books

Job

“Except the two first chapters and the ten last verses, which are prose, all the rest of the book is poetic: it is therefore properly called a Poem.” (Adam Clarke)

The why of the book is, “Why do bad things happen to good people? Is God really in control of this world? Is He just?

Job’s friends suggest that perhaps there’s some sin for which God is now punishing him.

When God finally spoke to Job at the end of the book He answered differently: In essence, He told Job that ‘I am God, and you are only a tiny, finite human being – you can’t possibly hope to understand the way I run My world. Everything I do is just, even if you can’t see the justice.’” ¹

Is Christ in this book? Yep! 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Psalms

This is Israel’s song book. The psalms celebrate the goodness, love, power, wisdom, and faithfulness of God; they also chronicle people struggling with God, wrestling with Him; expressing dismay, doubt, fear, and faith. This is the longest book in the Bible.

“The Hebrews divide the Psalms into five books. The origin of this division is not easily ascertained; but as it was considered a book of great excellence, and compared for its importance to the Pentateuch itself, it was probably divided into five books, as the law was contained in so many volumes.” (Adam Clarke)

The five books are: Book I 1–41, Book II 42–72, Book III 73–89, Book IV 90–106, Book V 107–150. The first four books end with a doxology. Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the entire collection.

Throughout the Book of Psalms we see and hear Christ, the Spirit of Christ speaking of the life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, return, and kingdom of our Lord.

Proverbs

“I think it very likely that Solomon did not compose them all; but he collected every thing of this kind within his reach, and what was according to the Spirit of truth, by which he was inspired, he condensed in this book; and as the Divine Spirit gave it, so the providence of God has preserved it, for the use of his Church.” (Adam Clarke)

Proverbs 1:1-4,7

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Ecclesiastes

“In his declining years, perhaps a bit cynical about life, Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. He uses his vast personal experience to teach us about the emptiness of a life devoted to anything but the Lord. If anyone could say “I’d tried this world and it’s not worth it,” it was this man. As he says, there is nothing eternal, nothing of lasting value “beneath the sun”” ² . He ends with this advice, 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments.

Song of Songs

“In his youth, he wrote the eternally optimistic (and deeply symbolic) “Song of Songs”.” ²

This is a love story. Some see it as a simple love story. The Jews saw it as a love story about God and Israel. Many in the church see it as a love story about Christ and the Church.

Psalm 98:1-3

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 

NEXT: The Prophets

The Kingdom Years

 

The Book of Judges ends, 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. This is stated four times in Judges 17-21 and is kind of a set up for what follows in Samuel and Kings.

1&2 Samuel

The period of the judges is still in force as 1 Samuel begins: Eli the priest was judge for 40 years; he raised Samuel who was judge for many years; when Samuel grew old he set his sons up as judges, but they were wicked (not counting Samuel’s sons, the Bible names 15 judges). Samuel ministered as seer (prophet), priest, and judge for Israel. When he was old, the people said unto him … now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. (8:5) So Samuel anointed Saul, son of Kish, who was tall and looked like a king. (10:23-24). His reign began well, but quickly deteriorated. After a couple of big failure, he is told, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God… for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart (13:13-14). Then in ch 16 Samuel anoints David, son of Jesse, as king, but he does not begin to reign immediately. In fact, the rest of 1 Samuel is devoted to Saul’s attempt to kill David. 1 Samuel ends with the death of Saul (ch 31).

2 Samuel is devoted to David’s reign. He enjoyed much success as king, the highlight of his reign and life is in ch 7, where God tells him, And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (7:16) That is, the Promised One will be your son. Hallelujah! But, David is not perfect. There was Bathsheba and at the end of 2 Samuel he, contrary to the will of God, conducts a census of the people.

1&2 Kings

1 Kings opens with David old and stricken in years. He appoints Solomon as his successor and in 2:10 David dies. Solomon reigns as king for 40 years, chapters 2-11.

When Solomon dies, Israel goes on a wild roller coaster ride! The people divide into the northern 10 tribes, Israel, and the southern 2 tribes, Judah. Israel rebels against the house of David while Judah remains faithful. There were 19 kings in Judah (and one queen), all of the house of David, some evil and some righteous. Israel also had 19 kings, but from 9 different families, none of whom were the house of David. All 19 kings of Israel were wicked. In 2 Kings 17 Israel (the northern 10 tribes) was carried away by Assyria (721 BC). 2 Kings ends with Judah being carried into Babylon (605 & 597 BC; in 587 the Babylonians destroyed the temple). Israel scattered to the winds, Judah in Babylon. Very sad times indeed.

1&2 Chronicles

These books cover the same period as 2 Samuel-2 Kings, but with a spiritual emphasis. Saul is mentioned but almost in passing. Israel’s Assyrian captivity is not mentioned. The final chapter of 2 Chronicles has Judah in Babylon but ends with the proclamation of Cyrus, 36:23 the LORD God of heaven… hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. And thus the restoration is anticipated!

Ezra-Nehemiah

I’m combining these books because the Jews have traditionally considered them one book and they treat the same subject – the return of the Jews from Babylon. They were separated when the Jews translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek, the Septuagint, probably because they are about two strong and godly leaders, Ezra and Nehemiah. These books have a three-fold significance:

1) This is the history of the return of the Jews to Judah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

2) Jeremiah had prophesied that the Babylonian captivity would last 70 years (Jer 25). Daniel noticed that while himself a captive in Babylon and prayed for restoration. This is the record of the fulfillment of that prophecy and answer to that prayer.

3) Daniel prophesied that there would be 70 weeks or 490 years from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the Messiah. These books provide the starting point for this amazingly specific prophecy!

Esther

The main characters are two Jews, Mordecai and his niece Esther, who were living in Persia 100 years after the Babylonian exile; apparently, not all the Jews returned to Jerusalem.

The book was written to explain the origin of the (still celebrated) Jewish feast of Purim. You’ll have to read the book for the story!

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?  (Exodus 15:11)

NEXT: The Poetical Books

Conquest and Compromise

 

Conquest and Compromise

Joshua

Joshua logically begins in Deuteronomy 34 when Moses died on the top of Pisgah, after the LORD showed him the promised land.

Joshua wrote this book (see 24:26) to remind Israel how they entered in and conquered the land, as it says in Psalm 44:3 (Easy-to-Read Version)

It was not our fathers’ swords that took the land.

    It was not their strong arms that brought them victory.

It was your power. 

    It was because you accepted them and smiled down on them.

The book has 24 chapters. The first 12 describe the conquest; beginning with ch 13 things change:

14:15 And the land had rest from war.

18:1 And the land was subdued before them.

Since the land was subdued, they received new orders:

13:7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance

This pretty much takes up the rest of the book. In chapter 24 Joshua encourages them to serve the LORD and then we read, And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance. (24:29-30)

Judges

Chapter 1 begins well, but halfway through the chapter things change for the worse.

Judges 2:7, 10-12 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:  And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

There is a pattern that runs throughout the book:

SIN • SERVITUDE • SUPPLICATION • SAVIOR

 Judges 2:13,14,16 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

There are 13 judges or deliverers described in the book itself (but see 1 Samuel).

Ruth

This is a short book, the story of a Jewish family, Elimelech, Naomi, and their two boys, who in time of famine move to Moab. The boys marry Moabite girls. Then tragedy strickes: the father and his sons die. Naomi decides to return to Israel and encourages her daughters-in-law to go back home, but Ruth stays. Her well-known words:

1:16-17 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

This is just chapter 1!! The rest of the book describes how she met and married a man named Boaz.

Why the book of Ruth?

4:13,17 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife…and she bare a son… and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The David stream begins here. This is really the Messianic river, but David plays a major role.

 

and Joshua... and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.

(Joshua 5:13-15)

NEXT: Historical III

Historical: The Torah

 

66 books means I can’t deep dive into each one individually – this series would be over a year long! And I can’t really look at the Historical books in one post, because there are 17 of them!! Therefore my plan is 6 posts, and I will strive to be as concise as possible.

The Torah

The Torah is the five books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy; the Word of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Genesis

This book explains the beginning of everything: Creation, man, sin, death, salvation, the nations, with the emphasis on Israel - the origin of the world, people, sin, death, and the nations is covered in chapters 1-11; the rest of the book, chapters 12-50, is about Israel!

In 1-11 we read about creation, the garden of Eden, Adam & Eve, the Fall, the promise of a redeemer, Noah and the flood, the tower of Babel, the nations.

In 12-50 we read of Abraham Sarah, the promise to Abraham (the theme of the rest of the Bible), Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob & his wives, Jacob’s 12 sons and daughter Dinah. We also learn how this small family, 70 souls at the time, wound up in Egypt.

Exodus

Exodus means departure. This book explains how Israel became enslaved in Egypt, and how God raised up Moses to rescue them. We read of Moses and Pharaoh, the ten plagues, the Passover, the exodus (the greatest event in the Old Testament), the crossing of the Red Sea, the 10 Commandments, God entering into covenant with Israel so they would be his people and he would be their God, water from the rock, and the tabernacle (built under the guidance of Bezaleel, then filled with the Shekinah glory of God). The tabernacle must be important – 37½ % of the book is devoted to it!

Leviticus

This is their worship book. It is called Leviticus because it is for the Levites, the priestly tribe. It describes in detail their worship, the sacrifices, and the concept of clean and unclean. Israel was a sanctified people, and the statues show them how they are to be a separate people: through the worship of one only God, their priests and sacrificial system, the sabbath, their diet, their dress, how they built their houses and more. In ch 23 we see their feasts, which guided their year and was God’s prophetic calendar.

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Numbers

This is their travelogue. It covers their 40 year wandering in the wilderness. First, why did they wander in the wilderness for 40 years? Did God deliver them from Egypt only to abandon them in the wilderness? Nope. He saved them from Egypt, brought them to Sinai, entered into covenant with them, then brought them straight to Kadesh-barnea, from whence they sent out the 12 spies. When the people believed the report of the 10 instead of Joshua and Caleb, God said, You will not see the promised land, but your children will. So it was 40 years in the wilderness, where he protected and provided for them (manna). We also read the amazing prophecies of Balaam and water from the rock, part 2.

Deuteronomy

After 40 years of wilderness, Israel is on the other side of the Jordan River, poised to cross over and enter the land. These are Moses’ final words to Israel. He reminds them of the covenant, renews the 10 commandments, and encourages them in their faith and confidence in God. At the end of the book Moses dies, being 120 years old. Wait, Moses, the one used of God to rescue Israel from Egypt, the one God spoke to face to face, the one God gave the Law to, the first books of the Bible, the one who guided these obstinate, hard-headed, stubborn people, who were prone to unbelief, this Moses didn’t enter the promised land? Why? This is explained in Numbers 20:1-13, Deut 1:37-38 and 31:2. But in his mercy, God allowed Moses to see the promised land from the top of Mount Pisgah.

And God said to Moses, I Am The One Who Is, and this is what you will say to the sons of Israel, The One Who Is has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:14 LXX)

NEXT: Historical II

A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament - Introduction

 

In November of 2024, I did a four-part series I called A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament (you can read it here. I call this series A Bird’s-Eye View of the Old Testament.

I love the Old Testament! I know many people see only tedious lists of rules and judgment and innumerable sacrifices, but I see something entirely different. I see redemption. I see God. I see Jesus!

New Testament. Old Testament. What is a testament? Covenant is probably a better word. “A covenant is a relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal. They’re often accompanied by oaths, signs, and ceremonies. Covenants define obligations and commitments, but they are different from a contract because they are relational and personal.

Covenant relationships are found all throughout the Bible. There are personal covenants between two individuals (David and Jonathan), political covenants between two kings or nations (King Solomon and King Hiram), legal covenants with a nation (such as the laws about freeing Hebrew slaves), and so forth. Entering into covenants was a major part of what it meant to live in the ancient Near East.” ¹

There are six major covenants mentioned in the Bible:

Noahic (Gen 8:20-9:17)
Abrahamic (Gen 12, 15, 17)
Mosaic (Exo 19)
Davidic (2 Sam 7)
New (Jer 31:31-34)
Peace (Eze 37, esp v 26-28)

What we call the Old Covenant (Old Testament) is really the Mosaic Covenant, the giving of the Law and the forming of the children of Israel as God’s covenant people.

Did you notice that all the covenants were revealed in the Old Testament? The Old Testament is the revelation and unfolding of God’s promise of redemption, first revealed to Eve in Genesis 3. I’m telling you, the Old Testament is exciting!!

This series will be fun because the Old Testament is longer than the New. The Bible is made up of 66 books – the Old Testament has 39 of them! (27 in the New.) There are 929 chapters in the Old, compared to 260 in the New; which means on average each Old Testament book has 23.8 chapters, while New Testament books have 9.6. All this means it will take a little longer to cover the Old Testament!

We divide the Old Testament into three sections: Historical (Genesis-Esther), Poetic (Job-Song of Solomon), Prophetic (Isaiah-Malachi). The traditional Jewish division is similar but called Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim, also known as the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. The arrangement of books in the Hebrew Bible is a little different than ours, and their Bible contains 24 books because they combine books that we divide (1 & 2 Kings for example). This dividing happened when the Jews translated the Hebrew Old Testament into Greek (Septuagint or LXX). ²

What is the Old Testament about? Simply put, It is the story of Israel. But, with 66 books, surely there is more to it than that. Yes, indeed. The river that runs through the Old Testament is the promise and hope of The Coming One, the Messiah, the Promised Savior. Another current is King David, because Messiah will be of the house of David.

The logical end of the Old Testament is the New, but the New is not the end of the Old as much as the fulfillment of it. It is the flower of the Old; the fruit. If the Bible were compared to a skyscraper, the New would be the Penthouse, built upon the foundation of the Old. We can never understand the New apart from the Old, nor the Old apart from the New, and none of it makes sense without the Son of God, Jesus Christ

NEXT: A Bird’s-eye View of the Old Testament – Historical I

¹ The Five Key Covenants God Makes With Humans in the Bible by Whitney Woollard 

https://bibleproject.com/articles/covenants-the-backbone-bible/#

He says 5 covenants, I say 6. What gives? He combined the New Covenant and the Covenant of Peace. I don’t know why.

² https://torah.org/learning/basics-primer-torah-bible/

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith: What Paul says in Galatians

 

Tuesday I began a three part series asking the question, “How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament?” I offered a very brief survey and came up with the answer, “People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.” Wednesday I looked at what Paul said about this in his epistle to the Romans. Today, in my final post I will look at what Paul said in his epistle to the Galatians.

Why is this even important? I believe a fairly common misconception is that Jews in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the Law. But, if folks could ever get right with God by their obedience to the law, under any covenant, then Christ died in vain, it was all for nothing - we don’t need the cross. or Christ. But we do need Christ, and the blood of the cross, because getting right with God has always and only been by grace through faith.

Galatians 3:10-12 

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

v 11 No man is justified by the law in the sight of God. What he means is, No one ever has, ever will, or ever can be made right with God by the law.

And why not? Because the principle has been laid down, The just shall live by faith. This is Habakkuk 2:4. In the Old Testament! The one who is righteous by faith is the one who shall live. Anybody, anywhere, anytime who needed to get right with God, did so by faith. There’s no other way.

Galatians 3:16-27 

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.  18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

God made a covenant with Abraham in which he promised Christ, a covenant of promise, grace, and faith. 3:7 know ye, then, that those of faith -- these are sons of Abraham (YLT) and 3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham (NKJ)

Verse 17 reveals another eternal principle: the law, which came 430 years after the promise, cannot strip the promise of it’s power, make it of none effect. Paul’s point is, the blessing of Abraham was given by promise and received by faith; this is all grace.  This is the original and only way God deals with us. The giving of the law does not change this. In other words, they were not saved by keeping the law.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 

Is the law against or contrary to the promises? That is, God dealt with Abraham by promise, grace, and faith, does the law change that? God forbid or no way!

if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law - Here’s why no one ever could or ever can be made right with God by the law – it can’t give life.

the promise by faith of Jesus Christ - that is the promise of Christ and the blessing of righteousness and life in him, this can and does give life to them that believe.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 

This, before faith came, does indeed look like there was no faith until Christ came. But this can’t be true - Hebrews 11. What Paul literally wrote was, before the faith came and the faith revealed. The faith, the faith of Jesus Christ, the gospel. This in no way indicates that people were not saved by grace through faith, that was always God’s way of dealing with us - it’s just official now!

24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

Once again, v 26 after the faith is come; the faith of Jesus Christ, the gospel.

In Old Testament days, people looked forward to the Christ who was to come, and God forgave sins because Jesus was coming to die for them. Now we look back to the Christ who has come, and God forgives sins through faith in his shed blood. Old Testament, New Testament, our hope is Christ. We are both, we are all, saved by grace through faith in Christ. (see Romans 3:25-26) Thank God!

YLT - Young's Literal Translation

NKJ - New King James

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith What Paul says in Romans

 

 Yesterday I asked this question, How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament? I presented a very brief survey and came up with the answer, People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.

The epistles of Paul to the Romans and the Galatians deal specifically and pointedly with the question of being made right with God, which is called justification. Today, I will take a look at what Paul says about this in Romans chapters 3 and 4.

Old Testament: saved by grace through faith: Part 1 What Paul says in Romans

Romans 3:20-22 

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Verse 20 could not be clearer, by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him (Young’s Literal Translation). This is not a new thing. This is a principle that spans both the Old and the New Covenants.

But what about v 21, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. Isn’t this a new thing? No. Manifested means to be plainly recognized, thoroughly understood; the smoke has been cleared away, what the law and the prophets spoke of is now manifest to all: the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ (the gospel), and is offered to and given to all who believe.

Surely this idea of justified by faith is New Testament truth, unknown in the Old Testament. Paul says, not so.

Romans 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. From the very beginning people were made right with God by faith. But one might say, “Ah, but Abraham was before the law; once the law was given people were made right with God by their works.” OK, let’s take someone who lived under the law.

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
David lived under the law. David had also sinned grievously. When he confessed his sin God forgave him. Yesterday I asked, Didn’t they [folks in the OT] have to get all their ducks in a row before God would forgive them? Listen, David’s ducks were all over the pond; he had nothing to offer, nothing to commend himself to God, but God forgave him when he confessed his sin.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 
Forgiveness is a grace word. He was made right with God by grace through faith. He didn’t earn it or deserve it, he didn’t get righteous first; no, God blessed him with it. Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

People in the Old Testament were saved, made right with God, and forgiven by grace through faith. I’m so glad that God has not changed, that I can be saved, forgiven, justified, restored when I confess my sins, and in faith call upon the name of the Lord!

NEXT: Part 2 What Paul says in Galatians

How did a person get right with God in the Old Testament?

 

This is a somewhat tricky question because of terminology. People in the Old Testament didn’t ask, “What must I do to go to heaven?” (Actually, the New Testament doesn’t talk this way either.) While the word “saved” is used in the Old Testament 104 times, the context is usually a physical enemy, as in Psalm 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Nevertheless, we can see how people were saved in the OT: I will call upon the LORD. But it is used in a way closer to the New Testament idea of being saved:

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength 

Isaiah 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation 

21 …there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour 

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth 

In the Old Testament they didn’t speak of dying and going to heaven (even though they did believe in the resurrection and eternal life), instead they spoke in terms of being saved, salvation, and God their Savior. I believe the words saved, salvation, and Savior give us a major clue – these are not works and merit words, they are all grace words. And keep in mind that in the Old Testament, the Jews thought of ultimate, eternal salvation in terms of the coming Messiah – he would be their Savior.

I believe the real question, the one that allows us to compare the Old and the New, is, How were people made right with God in the Old Testament? 

+ Repentance   

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

+ Confession 

Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

+ Calling upon the name of the LORD 

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

+ Faith 

Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. 

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

I know, v 10 says God saw their works, but what were their works? They believed God, repented (sackcloth), fasted, and cried mightily unto God (see v 5-9). The only promise they had was judgment, they believed that and turned to God for mercy. And God had mercy. They believed and were saved!

This all looks very much like New Testament talk. The answer to my earlier question, How were people made right with God in the Old Testament? is, People in Old Testament days were made right with God by faith.

It is obvious that the Old Covenant was a little different than the New Covenant. I mean, they had the sabbath, circumcision, sacrifices, the temple, the priesthood, and all that. Didn’t they have to get all their ducks in a row before God would save them? No! They were saved by grace through faith, just like we are. After all, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Isaiah, is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he hasn’t changed.

Numbers 21:8-9 

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

 

NEXT: Old Testament folks were saved by grace through faith: Part 1 What Paul says in Romans

A few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving

Our pastor is preaching through the book of Acts. We are currently in chapter 5. I wanted to share a few thoughts on all things common, deacons, and giving from chapters 2-6.

 Acts 2:44-46  

⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common; ⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. ⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 4:32, 34-35

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

The church in ch. 2 had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. They could say the same thing by the end of ch 4, neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. They were a self-supporting community. Nothing they possessed was "his own", and if they had lands or houses they sold them. This sounds like they were essentially a commune. The most amazing thing was, Neither was there any among them that lacked.

This continued through ch 6, where the apostles needed help regarding the daily ministration, so they appointed 7 men to help.

Acts 6:1-6

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

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.

³ Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Ministration and ministry are the word diakonia. I find it interesting that the word deacon is diakonos. I believe there is a word play here – diakonia (ministration) and diakonos (deacon) – and that it is intended to lead us to believe these are the first deacons. Tradition confirms this. I believe the Bible teaches us that every church ought to have deacons.

We don’t read any more about this all things common in the book of Acts or the epistles. I used to say that this continued for a brief time in the Jerusalem church and nowhere else, however Tertullian, writing in the latter part of the 2^nd century (155–220), adds a new twist to this:

“our brotherly love continues even to the division of our estates, which is a test few brotherhoods will bear, and which commonly divides the dearest unions among you.
But we Christians look upon ourselves as one body, informed as it were by one soul; and being thus incorporated by love, we can never dispute what we are to bestow upon our own members. Accordingly among us all things are in common, excepting wives
But is it any great wonder that such charitable brethren as enjoy all things in common should have such frequent love-feasts?”
The Apology Of Tertullian, Chapter XXXIX (translated by Wm. Reeve)

I don’t know exactly what Tertullian meant by all things are in common,  but I’m don’t think they were all living in communes, which may mean that the Jerusalem church wasn’t a commune either.

I am persuaded there are three questions we need to ask from these chapters:

1) Is there any further apostolic instruction regarding or concerning this?
No. Absolutely no mention of it after Jerusalem in Acts or in the epistles.

Many movements in church history began as or featured communal living: the Jesus Movement, Shiloh Youth Revivals (John Higgins), Mansion Messiah (Calvary Chapel), His Place (Arthur Blessit), Waldensians, Moravians, Monasteries, Hutterites, the Jesus Army (England) to name a few. They all faded after just a few years. The only ones that lasted were monasteries and Nunneries. I conclude this is clearly not an essential.

2) Is there anything here that is expected or required of following generations?
Ah, this is a different matter. Neither was there any among them that lacked. I believe this is an essential, something that should mark all our churches.

3) Is there any apostolic teaching concerning money?
Jesus talked about money and giving, but that was almsgiving, an individual practice.

Paul talked about money in 2 Corinthians 8-9 (an offering for the churches in Judea and Jerusalem) and 1 Corinthians 16:1; otherwise, the apostles didn’t talk about money, giving, or offerings. But Paul did say something in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 that reflects a principle from Acts 2-6:

“For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.”

That something seems pretty powerful to me!