ex.po.si.tion -  a setting forth of the meaning or purpose (as of a writing) Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

Home

Introduction

WEB/Bible Search

Questions or Feedback

Statement of Purpose

Editorial Policy

E-Mail

Daily Bible Lessons - Second 100

By Robert L. (Bob) Craig

THE BEGINNING

by Bob Craig

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

"God said, let us make man ..." (Genesis 1:26)

"If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature (creation)." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God made man, in the beginning, as a creature different from all other created beings. He was a creature of choice. He could and would make decisions according to his own disposition. He was what we call a "free moral agent." He chose to disobey God and in so doing separated himself from God. He died a spiritual death on that day. Death is a separation whether physical or spiritual. Physically: (James 2:26) "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." and spiritually: (Isaiah 59:1) "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

He had sinned, thus separated himself from God and there was no way he could make restitution for his sin. But God made a promise through Abraham that "in thy seed shall all nations be blessed." And that seed was Christ. That seed reaches back to those faithful ones in any dispensation of religious history just as it reaches forward to us today. [see Devotion No. 2] (Galatians 3:16) "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."

So, we hear so much about being born again, and it is a Bible subject, but not a mysterious, miraculous manifestation of some sort, but an intelligent conception that man can understand. When man is born again, he is the new creation that Paul talks about. But who is this new creation, this new man? He is one who has been born again (anew) and if anyone is in Christ he is this new creature. He has been born again.

Simple, isn’t it? How do we get into Christ? The Spirit reveals the entrance in passages such as Romans 6:3 and Galatians 3:27 thus the Spirit performs His part and the water performs its part and thus we are born of the water and the Spirit --- new creatures in Christ Jesus.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[002.

BLOOD REACHES BACK

by Bob Craig

We hear much concerning the universal church. This is the sum total of the saved of God throughout all ages; Patriarchal, Mosaical or Gospel dispensations. We read about it in Hebrews 12:23: "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect ..."

The sacrificial offering of Christ covers all the faithful of all ages. (Romans 4:16) "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all ..."

Of course, it must be understood that faith, whether of Abraham or Adam or us today, will be made known by our obedience to whatever God says. They who were declared faithful in Hebrews 11, were obedient to God’s command for them. Then we have Paul’s statement in Hebrews 9:15: "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

Abraham’s faith was tested when God told him to take the son from whom the seed line should come and offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham did as God directed and thus was declared faithful. Read the story in Genesis 22:1-14 and then understand what constitutes faith by reading of the fulfillment of the story in James 2:21-24.

Not everyone has been tested in that same way. Abel was told one thing while Noah was told something else. And there are unnamed hundreds of faithful people in Hebrews 11 for whom God has already prepared an eternal dwelling place. We, today, are tested for faith. We, who say that we have faith, are told to "Repent and be immersed" (Acts 2:38) and we, too, shall inherit the gift of God through the Holy Spirit, which is this hope of life eternal.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 003

A NEW CREATURE

by Bob Craig

"If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature (creation)" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Man is a NEW creature inasmuch as he has been born again (anew). This does not mean that he has undergone some mysterious "better-felt-than-told" experience. It means simply that he has obeyed the gospel of Christ from a sincere heart, thus he has all his past sins forgiven and he can now have a new beginning even as he did from the first (physical) birth. At his first (physical) birth, he was a new creature without spot nor blemish. He was innocent in God’s sight. "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3).

He reached a certain plateau of life in which he could distinguish between right and wrong. So Satan and sin entered his life and took away his contact with God. I prefer to call this a "STATE of responsibility" rather than the traditional "AGE of responsibility" because it will come at different ages in different people. Now he must be "born again" or "born anew" or "born from above." Jesus says it MUST take place but gives no indication of the HOW in John 3:3: "Ye must be born again." He gives a little more instruction in John 3:5: "Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven."

Now a person, having reached this "state of responsibility" must realize that he is guilty of sin and take on humility to the extent that the recognizes his condition and that he, himself, can do nothing to relieve himself of his guilt so he cries out "What must I do?" His teacher might say, with the apostle, "Believe on the Lord, Jesus, and thou shalt be saved." But he is rather confused and asks, "Who art thou, Lord?" And He answers in the Book, "I am Jesus of Nazareth." Now, he indicates that he needs even more information so he asks the question once again but this time inquires with a believing heart, "What [more] shall I do?" Then we have the Spirit’s final answer as it was revealed through the apostle Peter, "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins ..." (Acts 2:38).

So, with believing, penitent heart, this person comes forth from this watery grave. He is a born again

Christian, [the only kind of Christian there is] a new creature in Christ Jesus, with the attitude now that says, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100- No. 004

MUST WE FORGIVE?

by Bob Craig

Jesus said, in His model prayer, "Forgive us our debts (sins), as we forgive our debtors (or those who sin against us.)" The idea today seems to be that we must forgive folk whether these want to be forgiven or not.

I believe that the attitude of a Christian ought to be one of forgiveness. Be ready to forgive anyone who sins against you. But forgiveness is a two way street. Remember, two parties are involved: the one who sins and the one who is sinned against. It’s like this: when a person sins against another he also sins against God. He erects a barrier between his brother and him and between God and him. Something must be done by both parties in removing the barrier. I am willing to forgive just as God is willing to forgive. "God is not willing that any should perish ....." (2 Peter 3:9).

I have gone as far as I can in the removal of the barrier. God has done all that he can/will in the removal of the barrier. We both wait at the barrier for the sinner’s move. Does he want to be forgiven? If so, he makes this known by his repentance. We now complete 2 Peter 3:9 "... but that all should come to repentance," and we also look at Luke 17 3-4: "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."

We are waiting at the barrier, God and me. We cannot do any more toward removing the barrier. The sinner comes to the barrier and says, "I repent," or, in so many words, "I want to be forgiven." I forgive, God forgives, the barrier is removed and my brother is forgiven and, to our human ability, forgotten.

I think you can see what we mean when we say that "forgiveness is a two-way street."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 005

WHERE EVER THEY WENT

by Bob Craig

The Jews in Jerusalem were displeased when they saw their own people forsaking the law of Moses and embracing the Christ. Their displeasure was manifested in their persecution of these people. This persecution became so severe that many fled the city and went into the surrounding territories of Judea and Samaria. And the record says in Acts 8:4, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word."

Persecution has never hindered God’s people from preaching the truth. Christians were first persecuted by the Jews. This ceased when Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 A. D. Nero instigated persecution against Christians about 64 A. D. and it continued, intermittently, until 313 when Constantine handed down the Edict of Milan giving all religions freedom from persecution.

When persecution ceased, apostasy flourished and produced the Roman Catholic Church which in turn brought forth the Protestant Denominational situation we are surrounded with today. [More later on that.]

But these Christians of Acts 8:4 did not go everywhere in the known world of their day. "... they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria ..." (Acts 8:1). So I think it can be more accurately stated that "Everywhere they went. they preached the word." And that’s the way it should be today. We are not obligated to go everywhere but everywhere we do go, we are obligated to preach the word.

Question: are we doing that? Answer: No! Question: why not? Answer: perhaps because we have it so easy. No persecution. No need for defending the word so we don’t do it. We expect the government to pass moral laws to do our work. But everywhere THEY went, they preached the word and because of their work, they continued to be persecuted until Constantine and then, protection by the government and apostasy flourished.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 006

ADAM’S FIFTH RIB

by Bob Craig

We have four instances where the fifth rib is mentioned in the Bible. Each of these have to do with the despatch of one person by another. The dispatched person was struck "under the fifth rib" and expired rapidly. Why the fifth rib? The encyclopedia in describing the heart uses as part of that description this: "the apex [of the heart] touches the chest wall between the fifth and sixth ribs." Apex is the highest point. So the fifth rib would be the most vulnerable point of entry into the heart.

The heart of man is often used figuratively as the seat of the emotions. It "grieves, gladdens, sorrows, loves, rejoices, fears, etc." God, in the creative mode, seeing that it was not good for the man to be alone, determines to make a mate who would be an appropriate helper. He would make this helper to be one whom, not only Adam, but all male humankind would draw her close to him as the love of his heart. So, God opened Adam’s side and took a rib and made woman. It is logical to assume that God opened his side at the fifth rib; the apex of the heart; that which is the nearest part of the heart to mankind. Just as life was taken from man at the fifth rib, so life was created for woman at the fifth rib.

Woman became a vital factor in the live of man so Adam makes the declaration, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19:5-6). Just as surely as God joined Adam and Eve back yonder so that it is said, "they shall be one flesh," even so when today, man chooses a certain woman as the love of his life and so declares it, in some recognizable way, to the world, God joins them together and they become "one flesh." When God joins them together, man [the man involved in the relationship or any other man] does not have the right nor the power to put asunder. So, even though he may give her a bill of divorcement, she is still his wife until God severs the relationship and he will do this only on the grounds of sexual unfaithfulness. What God joins only God can "unjoin."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100Number[ 007

AUTHORITY

by Bob Craig

We hear much concerning the subject of "Authority," especially how to establish authority in religion. I would not take exception to any of them so long as they use as their thesis the old hermeneutic and does not seek for the "new." But I am interested in the source and the source of that authority is the "King."

Let’s let Mr. James Strong, imminent scholar, define the word, kingdom. He says it better than I. "1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah 1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom 2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king 3) used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah." Until we reach the point where we are willing to submit to authority, it makes no difference how we establish it. When we are really ready to make Christ our King, then it makes no difference what he says nor how he says it. We read a statement in Luke 17:21: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

They looked round about them and saw no robed king, no jeweled crown, no elaborate throne room, but they were looking in the wrong place just as many today are looking for a coming kingdom which they can see, which they can experience with their human senses. But the kingdom of which Jesus is King is a spiritual kingdom. It’s here now and "it is within you," that is, if you are an authenticated Christian.

He rules your life from his throne in your heart. He is your sovereign; he is your ruler, he is your King. Now, what will you, king of my life, have me do? All he wants me to do is contained in His New Covenant, the New Testament. I must not add to nor diminish ought from it and I will not if he is the ruler of my heart.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100Number[ 008

HOW DOES HE SPEAK?

by Bob Craig

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, "All power (authority) hath been given unto me, in heaven and on earth." So, whatever He says, becomes binding upon mankind. I think that all people who claim to believe in Christ, will agree with that statement. But these same believers sometimes say, "we need to hear what Christ says, not what the apostles say. But he said to these apostles, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). This was their charge, their mission and we hear Him once again as he makes the apostles’ voices just as binding as though God, Himself, were the speaker. (Matthew 10:40) "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."

We hear the apostle Paul and he affirms this in 2 Corinthians 5:20 "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." An ambassador is a personal representative of a government and these apostles had the proper credentials and had the message of heaven given them by the King. They were the help of the Holy Spirit, *the Comforter." Read all about that beginning with John 13:31 through the end of chapter 17. All of that is addressed to the apostles. Remember that as you read.

Their writing was just as authoritative as their speaking. Read with me from ASV 2 Timothy 3:16-17: Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." The word "scripture" means "writings." All writings were not and are not inspired but the writings of the apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit and were therefore authoritative and binding.

By the way, there are no successors to the apostles. No man today has the qualifications or the credentials essential to that position!

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[009

THE GLORIOUS CHRIST

by Bob Craig

(John 1:1-2) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

In Bible study we need to be aware of words. The word "God" comes from a Greek word "theos" which means deity or divinity. So, reading the verse literally it would sound like this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with deity, and the Word was deity. The same was in the beginning with deity." Jesus possessed deity just as the Father possessed deity

But verse 14 says, "... the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

The Word was Christ and Christ was deity but deity became flesh. We do not know what form (substance) deity has but whatever that form, it underwent change. His form changed from whatever form deity has into the form of man -- deity "became flesh." But, he lost none of the glory of deity for John says, "we beheld his glory." The "we" in this verse evidently refers to the apostles so John puts it like this in 1 John 1:1: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)"

We too, must see him for what he is, so to that end we hear John again in John 20:30-31 saying, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." They "beheld his glory" by personal contact. We behold his glory through their words which "are written."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 010

COMPREHENSIVE FAITH

by Bob Craig

Several verses that I have used contain only the word "faith" or "belief" in regard to salvation or eternal life. I will be using several more as time goes on. Just to set the record straight, I do not subscribe to the Calvinistic doctrine of "salvation or justification by saith only." James says in James 2:24: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

The word "faith" is used in the New Testament in at least five different ways: Comprehensive faith, Historical faith, Textual faith, Motivational faith and Personal faith. I shall examine each of these in the mentioned order in other articles..

First, comprehensive faith. It is all-inclusive. Billy Graham, after making a speech in which he introduced John 3:16 as the "plan of salvation," was questioned thusly: "Faith or belief is the only thing mentioned in the verse. Do you not believe that the love of God, repentance or confession are necessary components in the plan of salvation?" Mr. Graham said that these things are understood in the word faith or belief. In other words, faith is comprehensive. It includes all things that pertain to salvation.

For instance, if we believe in Christ, we believe all that he says and believing all that he says, we will then, from the heart, obey his every command. Mr. Graham was asked if baptism was necessary. Graham said "no!" Why not? Jesus said, in Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." He sent forth his apostles with the charge to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19 ), and inspired them to say, "... Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins ..." ( Acts 2:38).

This is Comprehensive faith. It includes all things that pertain to salvation.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[011

HISTORICAL FAITH

by Bob Craig

"... he that cometh to God must believe that he is ..." (Hebrews 11:6)

For lack of a better word this is what I call "Historical Faith." We must believe that "he is" whoever he claims to be. He claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah, deity. How can we know this to be a fact? John declares in John 20:30-31 "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." We have the record of a competent eye-witnesses concerning the mighty signs that Jesus did, the apostles. Their competency was never questioned during their life time therefore we can trust their testimony. John said that they saw him, they heard him, they touched him.

Jesus proved that he was the son of God, deity, by his control of the elements. We read the account of he and his disciples being overtaken by a vicious storm in Matthew 8:24-27. The concluding thought in that passage was, "the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!" No man, not even the apostles, were able to do this.

He proved that he was the son of God, deity, by his control of the material things of life. We read of his multiplying the loaves and fishes in Matthew 14:17-21 so that over 5000 were fed. This demonstrates that he had at his command the material needs of mankind. No man other than he ever was able to do this..

He proved that he was the son of God, deity, when he forgave sins. The people all agreed that "only God can forgive sins." Read Mark 2:3-7. Men make claims today to be able to forgive sins but the fact remains that "only God can forgive sins."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[012

TEXTUAL FAITH

I know of no better title to use than "Textual" faith. By that I mean that the word "faith" as used in Jude 3 pertains to the inspired message from heaven which becomes the Christian’s only Articles of Faith. Various books called manuals, disciplines, catechisms, etc., have been written that contain the Articles of Faith of the numerous religious bodies among us. They are all different even though many of them are based on the Catholic’s Nicene Creed.

The various religions of the world are referred to as some kind of faith. The question is often asked, "Of what faith are you?" Whether we like it or not, the Bible teaches that there is "one faith." Read carefully, very carefully, Ephesians 4:1-6. You will notice that it says there is ONE Lord, ONE spirit, ONE father. There are the same number of faiths that there are Lords, Spirits and Fathers.

The Roman Catholics recently handed down an encyclical making plain that it is the only religion (the only faith) that will get one to heaven. The various religions of this town were in an uproar over the statement. But, after all, if Catholic doctrine is the faith of the New Testament, then it is the only way. But I challenge them to prove that most of their faith is even found in the New Testament either their version or the King James Version or any other.

Reader friend: do you believe that the religion you embrace is the one faith of the New Testament? If so, then you are in the position of the Catholics. If not, then you need to begin a search for that which is the one faith. After all, there is only one body of truth that has been revealed from heaven and it was delivered to the saints of the first century; not to the miscalled saints of the Catholic church of the present and Jude exhorts us to contend (defend staunchly) for that faith, that body of truth. Paul warns of departures as did Jesus himself. (Read Matthew 7:21-27) Paul sais, "I have kept the faith." Wherever the word faith is preceded by the word "the" and even sometimes where the word "the" is lacking, it means the body of truth revealed from heaven.

Now, before you file this is file No. 13, read once again Ephesians 4:1-6.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[013

MOTIVATIONAL FAITH

by Bob Craig

"... we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

There is something that causes a Christian, and should cause others to want to be Christians, to diligently seek for heavens recognition and that is what Paul is talking about in the noted verse. He begins the discussion concerning unseen things in the last verse of chapter 4 and continues with it in this fifth chapter.

People do things for various reasons. Every effort we put forth is caused by something. We run a race for a trophy. We seek to be the best at games for the praise we get. We do a good job in our profession looking for advancement or salary increases or both. Something motivates us. But what motivates us in our service to God. Nothing we can see. We have a promise -- eternal bliss in heaven. We can neither see nor hear the one making the promise. We cannot see the results of the promise. We have the word of the Master in regard to it. We believe his Word.

This faith in the unseen is closely connected to hope. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Romans 8:24-25). Hope has been defined like this: "a desire with the expectation of receiving." Eternal life is out yonder in the future. We don’t have it yet. We only have the promise. The other good things we work for are tangible; money or prizes or the adulation of others. But this greatest prize of all is unseen.

So we press on, sometimes suffering the mockery of men. Why do we do it? Because we believe the words of the Master. Peter, by inspiration and authority of the Lord says it is "... an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:4-5). Our faith in God’s promise keeps up going in the right direction.

Read more of motivational faith in Hebrews the eleventh chapter.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[014

PERSONAL FAITH

by Bob Craig

"...whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

That statement could be made concerning each of the various kinds of faith we have mentioned. But it has to do with some personal conviction I have -- something that is peculiar to me. I hold it though, as a matter of religious conviction.

The entire chapter is concerning a weak brother’s conscience. Particularly does it pertain to the eating of meats. It could include the unclean meats of the Old Covenant or meats offered in sacrifice to idols. It could have some application to something in our present life but we need to be careful in making these applications. The weak brother is one who has not reached the plateau of learning the scriptures that others have, therefore we need to deal with him gently and consider his weak conscience. He, in turn, needs to recognize his lack of learning and not try to bind his opinion on others.

In spite of such verses as Acts 10:10-16 and 1 Timothy 4:3-5 he feels that it is unlawful to eat certain meats. Paul points out, once again, that this is not to be bound as a matter of law. He points out that these matters of personal conscience, eating or refraining from eating, keeping a certain a day or not keeping a day, should all be accomplished as "unto the Lord." Even though it was not a matter of law, it would be considered as such if a person had a conviction about it.

Thus, it is all summed up in verses 22 and 23: "Hast thou faith? [do you have some personal belief?] have it to thyself before God. [Don’t try to bind it on others.] Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, [He has doubts about it being right but he eats it any way. In his heart he has rebelled against what he believes the Lord condemns] because he eateth not of faith:[personal conviction] for whatsoever is not of faith [his personal faith or conviction] is sin."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[015

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

by Bob Craig

(John 3:34) "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him."

In the above verse John the baptist was the speaker. He was discussing himself and Jesus. In so doing he talks of one "whom God hath sent." That could be either John or Jesus. But in this talk he lays down a principle that would pertain to many in time to come and it was, "he giveth not the Spirit by measure." The words "unto him" have been added by the translators and are not found in most of the more modern translations. A person else has the Spirit in what he does or he does not have the Spirit. There are no half-measures, quarter measures, no part measures.

This phrase, "filled with the Spirit" carries the same idea. One is "filled with the Spirit or he is devoid of the Spirit. "Filled" carries with it the concept of motivation. There are many illustrations in the Bible concerning what I mean but I’ll only use two to demonstrate the concept of "cause and effect." We read in Luke 4:29: "... they rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong." That was the effect. What caused it? "... they ... were filled with wrath" (Luke 4:28). Another: Acts 5:3: "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan FILLED thine heart (the cause) (and the effect) to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" You see what I mean? When we do something it is caused by being filled with something..

So, we, as Christians, are admonished to be filled with the Spirit (not half-filled) in what we do. (Ephesians 5.18_19): "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." When our spirit is filled with the Spirit of God then what we do will be pleasing to Him. But remember, the Spirit works in us by the power of the word. Compare the above verse with Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[016

THE HOLY LAND

by Bob Craig

I get brochures advertising trips to "the Holy Land." They describe these trips as taking one to the supposed crucifixion site, the burial cave of Jesus, the place where the temple stood, the route of Jesus to the cross, etc. I received an advertisement selling vials of "holy" water from the Jordan where Jesus was baptized.

Battles have been fought, and continue to be fought, over who would possess these "Holy" places. The Crusades of long ago were dedicated to reclaiming this land from the "infidels." One of the obstacles to peace in present-day Israel is who shall occupy the temple area of Jerusalem. So on and on goes the conflict and the promotions pertaining to "the Holy Land."

Under the Old Covenant the temple was holy and Jerusalem was a holy city and after their desecration and destruction by the Babylonians, Nehemiah, Ezra, Zerubbabel, and others labored exceedingly to restore the temple, the town and the worship to their former glory.

But Jesus taught a lesson in John the fourth chapter in regard to physical places. The woman of Samaria said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship" (John 4:20). Jesus answered, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father." (vs 21) "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." (vs 23)

That hour has come. The Old Covenant was fulfilled bringing it to an end and with its ending, no mountain nor place of assembly is any more holy than any other. What makes an assembly of people pleasing in God’s sight is when their worship is "in spirit and in truth."

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[017

SCRIPTURAL WORSHIP

by Bob Craig

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24)

We live in the New Testament era when God has no favorite people and no favorite place of worship. There are no gender nor ethnic boundaries for who may worship Him. Peter used the "keys of the kingdom" and opened the doors into the majestic presence of God to both Jew and Gentile. "God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:34-35). By faith, repentance and baptism we become his children.

As children of God we are to worship Him. This worship must be in harmony with truth. We learn how to worship God by the explicit and implicit commands of the New Testament. We cannot devise our own plans for such worship. To do so is to corrupt God’s ways and place our souls in jeopardy. But even though we do the right things in worship, that worship may not be acceptable unless it is "in spirit" also.

In spirit has to do with attitude or disposition. This has to do with the inward man. The outer man is doing the right thing but is he doing it with his spirit? The spirit of man might be described as the heart of man, the spiritual mind of man, the inner man. The people in Corinth were eating the bread and drinking the fruit of the vine but ate and drank damnation to themselves inasmuch as their hearts were not right in so doing. James said the prayers of some were not heard inasmuch as they had the wrong attitude.

Many people are worshiping God in this present time but their worship is in vain for the same reason that the worship of the scribes and Pharisees was not acceptable. "In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). Worship God with all your heart, soul and mind and do it His way. That’s the kind of worship God is well pleased with.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[018

BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL

by Bob Craig

(NASB John 4:1-2) "Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),"

For various reasons, most modern-day churches believe and teach that salvation is by faith only and that baptism is not necessary [non-essential] for salvation. [Please go back and re-read my lesson No. 10 on "comprehensive Faith"] One of the verses used to teach their doctrine is 1 Corinthians 1:17: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."

Paul tells of some that he baptized. His point is not to diminish the importance of baptism in God’s plan of salvation but to point out that the baptizer is of no importance. It takes no special preparation nor special selection nor special ordination for one to baptize another person. Jesus himself did not personally baptize, even though he was credited with their baptism, but his disciples performed the actual act. And so it was with Paul. Paul baptized very few in Corinth but many were obedient to the command of the gospel to be baptized. Notice Acts 18:8: "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."

Yes, Crispus is here mentioned as he is in the 1st Corinthian letter. He believed and was baptized and all the other Corinthians believed and were baptized. Somebody other than Paul did the baptizing. Who? We don’t have that information perhaps because the one who performs the act of baptizing is of little or no importance. Paul was sent out under the same commission that the apostles were and that was, "... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15).

Paul did what he had been called to do, preach the gospel. The Corinthians did what the Lord commanded them to do, believe and be baptized. When that old time gospel of the New Testament was preached and people obeyed it -- result -- they were saved.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[019

JESUS IS OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD AND DRINK

by Bob Craig

(John 4:14) "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

(John 6:48) "I am that bread of life."

(NKJ John 6:54-55) "Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."

We must have his water; we must have his bread; we must have his food and drink; we must have HIM. How is this accomplished? Let the Bible answer.

(1 Peter 2:2) "... desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"

(John 6:44-45) "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

(John 6:63) "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

(Hebrews 4:12) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

When we have implicit and explicit faith in the word of God, make it our daily sustenance, then we have HIM in our lives. Without the Word of God we have no access to the blessings of heaven. "Eat and be filled."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[020

A SAD STORY

by Bob Craig

(John 6:66) "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."

These disciples had heard something from him that they could not or would not accept. They considered it "a hard saying." Many today will not receive him because they, too, consider something he has said as being "too hard."

For instance, some think his law concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage is too severe. Here’s what he said, "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." (Matthew 19:3-9). This goes back to the beginning of creation. He made one woman for one man and no one but God or death could separate them. So, many of today’s people turn from him and look for an easier way.

Notice; it is one MAN and one WOMAN. Not two men or two women. They come together as husband and wife and in this relationship bring forth children thus producing the happy situation we call the FAMILY, the HOME. What can be better than what God through Jesus ordained?

There are literally hundreds of other scriptural situations that man turns his back on but this one is enough to make my point. It’s always the same sad story when people turn their back on Christ. They forfeit eternal bliss in heaven.

The bottom line: "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-69).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[021

"TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?"

by Bob Craig

We ended last time with this:

The bottom line: "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God" (John 6:67-69)

And now our titled question; "To whom shall we go?" for eternal life?

Not to the atheist who says, "There is no God," therefore no hereafter. Or to the Humanist whose doctrine implies the same while giving materialism as the answer. But to both Paul says, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).

To whom shall we go? To the Methodist Discipline, the Baptist Manual, The Lutheran Catechism, the Catholic Catechism, The Episcopal Prayer Book, The Watchtower Society, The United Pentecostal Handbook, The Book of Mormon, Church of Christ doctrine, etc., etc.?

.Peter answers the question: "thou [Jesus, the Christ] hast the words of eternal life." We would do no violence to the scriptures to add the word "only" to this statement: "ONLY thou!"

What are his exact words concerning this important subject? "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (John 6:45). "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (Read John 8:24-30)." I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). "... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).

"To whom shall we go?" "THOU hast the words of eternal life."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[022

THE WOMAN TAKEN IN ADULTERY

by Bob Craig

In the eighth chapter of John we have the story of a woman begin brought to Jesus of whom it was said was taken in the act of adultery. To tempt him into forsaking the law of Moses, they asked him the question, "They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?" (John 8:4-5).

This story has been used in this present time to contend that we must not judge any one even one who is guilty of adultery. This teaches no such thing. Jesus didn’t answer them at first which might be telling us not to be too hasty in jumping to conclusions. After a little while he made the statement, "... He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7) According to the law there had to be two accusers. Their conscience condemned them and one by one they passed out and there was not left no accuser.

Jesus then told the woman, ",,, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:10-11).

Jesus was acting in harmony with the law. Their law said that there must be two witnesses. His only knowledge of the incident was hearsay. There were no witnesses. According to law she was free to go. They Lord said "go" but further warned her, :"sin no more>" He realized that she was guilty, but he had no witnesses so he recognized her sin and admonished her, :sin no more."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[023

NEW OR OLD --- WHICH?

by Bob Craig

Recently, it came to my attention that some are saying that the four gospels are not a part of the New Testament; they are of the Old Testament. Are the sayings of Jesus for us today or not?

I have emphasized, maybe over-emphasized, the concept of considering the context: who, what, when, where and how. Let me say more. Just because a statement is made to one person or group of persons, doesn’t mean that it cannot be applied to others under certain circumstances. But don’t press the circumstances.

Some of the remarks in the four gospels were addressed to certain people: to Mary, Elizabeth, Lazarus, Judas the betrayer. When that is done, then it can only be applied to them. Sometimes groups of people are addressed; scribes and Pharisees, the multitude, the Sadducees. Some of what is said to these groups can be applied. Many times Jesus addressed his disciples, later called apostles. We must be extremely careful in applying what was said to them to also apply to us.

All of that having been said, what about our question: are the four gospels part of the New Testament? Yes! It is said that he "... went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom ..." (Matthew 4:23).The sermon on the mount is introduced with a beatitude concerning the kingdom. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).Then all of the various parables that are introduced with the statement, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto ..." Jesus is laying the foundation of the kingdom throughout the four gospels and giving the qualities by which he would be know as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Then the mission and charge of the apostles in Matthew 28:19 and the promise of John 14:26 ASV "But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you." And remember, the Book of Acts is just a continuation of the gospel according to Luke.

There are more, but these are enough to convince the believer that the four gospels are a part of the New Testament. So call it what you will, when properly applied, it has many lessons for us today. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[024

JUST ONE SIN

by Bob Craig

It’s been said that just one sin will not condemn a person. But let’s look at the record.

First, there is Adam and Eve. As far as we know, they committed only one sin each. God had told them, and they understood what he said, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). They ate; they sinned; now they stood condemned and must suffer the consequences.

Moses was about as good a man as we can find. He was described thusly: "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)" (Numbers 12:3). But Moses committed one sin for which he must suffer the consequences. So we view the aged Moses standing on Mount Pisgah, overlooking the land to which he had led the Israelites, knowing that he could not enter in because of one sin. "And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither" (Deuteronomy 34:4). (Deuteronomy 32:51-52) "Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel."

There are more instances but that’s enough of the Old Testament; let’s look at the New Testament. From Acts 8:20-23 we take the case of Simon who was called the Sorcerer. "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."

One unforgiven sin can cause us to suffer the consequences, but we can be forgiven if we will hear what the King has to say.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[025

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

by Bob Craig

(John 9:5) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Isaiah prophesied about the light in regard to both Israel and the Gentiles. And when Jesus came into the world much is said of Him as the light of the world. [Read specifically the first chapter of John.] Nearly all the translations put it the same way as in the KJV. Two, that I have access to, use words that convey exactly the same thought but with one word. They use the word "when" and "while" in place of "as long as."

The Jew of Jesus’ day nor the Jew of the present day can abide the idea that God will have mercy on the Gentile in spite of what the prophet says. Hear him in Isaiah 42:6: "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;" and again in Isaiah 60:1-3 "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

Notice that the prophet contrasts the gross darkness with the light which should shine. Then see how the prophecy is fulfilled, even in the personal ministry of the Lord. (Matthew 4:15) "The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Even though the prophet made it plain and the Lord charged the apostles to enlighten the world and to teach the nations (ethnos) they withheld the glorious light of the gospel until the days of Cornelius. After hearing the testimony of Peter the elders and the rest of the apostles in Jerusalem handed down the verdict, "they glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[026

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

by Bob Craig

Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5).

But he was leaving the world and would take his place on the throne of his glory. So we read of the multitude that followed him as he went up on the mountain. From out of the multitude that were certain ones who are called his "disciples." This number probably contained the twelve but was not confined to the twelve. Disciples are sincere students of a master teacher and so it was at this time. We read in Matthew 5:1-2: "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them ..."

We know it was the sincere ones he was addressing specifically for me hear him in vs 11 saying, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." So he tells this group of sincere disciples, "Ye are the light of the world ... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (vss 14-16). They would not be the light that he was but would reflect his light into a world of darkness. They would be the only light the world would have or, as he pts it at another time,. "... Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light" (John 12:35-36).

Just as it was then, even so it is today. We see a world of wickedness, darkness, all around us. Light is the only medium that can dispel darkness. If the light of his disciples goes out, then the world will lie in utter darkness as in the beginning when "darkness was upon the face of the deep." But God said, "let there be light" and there was light. So he says in this present day, "let there be light." And that light is dependent upon people who will open their hearts to a hearing of the master teacher and apply the lessons of the Book in their lives without fear of what the world may think or say or do. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[027

"OTHER SHEEP I HAVE"

by Bob Craig

(John 10:16) "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

Jesus was speaking to the Jewish Pharisees on this occasion. He uses this parable of the sheep fold to teach the lesson that only the ones who hear him, even among these self-righteous Pharisees, and respond to his call, will enter the care of his sheep fold. Then he speaks of "other sheep." These other sheep, I believe, has reference to the Gentiles.

God had promised to Abraham that "in thy seed shall ALL NATIONS be blessed" and that blessing would come through the Christ.(See Galatians 3:14) Jesus charged his apostles to "Go ye therefore and teach all nations ..." (Matthew 28:19). All nations (ethnos) can be summed up as Jews and Gentiles. Paul further tells how this will be fulfilled in Acts 28 25-28: "And when they (the Jews) agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it."

This also harmonizes with the statement of Paul in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

There is room in the kingdom for all who will hear him. To hear him implies that they will respond to what they hear him say and what he says has been recorded in the New Testament. They will all be ONE, of one mind, in this kingdom. There will be no divisions; one of this kind and another of that kind. (Galatians 3:28-29) "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[028

CAN ONE FALL?

by Bob Craig

"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28-29)

Some of my religious neighbors say that this verse emphatically teaches that a child of God can never be lost. They say further, if a child of God can be lost then the Devil would have to be stronger than God and enter into his hand if he is to pluck one of God’s children. Sounds good but I don’t believe that is what the Lord is saying at this place in scripture.

I would agree that the Devil would have to be the greater to violate God’s hand but he doesn’t here

discuss another possibility. That is, if one is so disposed, he can depart from his father’s hand. God will not hold us in his hand against our own will. He does not take from us our freedom of choice when we become his child. And when we depart from him we are then back in the Devil’s territory. This is taught plainly in other places. Look at 1 Timothy 4:1: "Now 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." One cannot depart from a place where he has never been. These had been "in the faith," in God’s hand, but they depart. Then look at Hebrews 3:12 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."

There are 100's of other quotations that could be given but two should be enough for those who love the Word of God. If one or two is not enough then 100 or 200 more would make no difference. The doctrine of once saved, always saved, gives comfort to the rebellious. Bur if a child of God does drifts away or rebels, then returns in true repentance, God will receive him back as did the prodigal’s father. We also have that promise in 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[029

PSALM SUNDAY

by Bob Craig

(John 12:13) "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."

A season called Lent has developed in the religious world which is distinguished by certain days, one of which is based on the above verse and is called "Psalm Sunday." The season has its beginning with Marta Gras which is also called "fat Tuesday." This is the day before the 40 day Lenten season begins and is a day of unrestrained merry making. The next day is "Ash Wednesday," the day when fasting begins. It is distinguished by people making vows to give up certain favorite practices or foods. Its vow is sealed by a priest smearing some ashes on the forehead of the pilgrim.

"Maunday Thursday" is the Thursday before Easter and is celebrated by the Eucharist, washing of feet, etc. "Good Friday" is the crucifixion celebration and it reaches a climax on "Easter Sunday," a day for celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

This seasonal celebration is primarily a Catholic institution but most protestant denominational groups have adopted it or at least parts of it. The "Easter"part is almost universally accepted in the religious world.

The whole thing comes out of the mind of man. The only thing in the whole celebration of which we read in the Bible is the word "Easter" in Acts 12:4 in the King James Version and it is a MIStranslation of the Greek word "pascha." The true translation of that word is "Passover." Even the Catholic Bible fails to translate it as Easter. It renders it simply as "Pasch." All modern translations render it as Passover..

So, like many other beliefs and practices in the religious world, this one has no Bible basis and is also a false doctrine

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[030

A CONSPIRACY?

by Bob Craig

(Matthew 21:4-5) "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."

There are several verses in the New Testament similar to the above that also contain the phrase "that is might be fulfilled." Because of that kind of terminology the enemies of the Bible make the accusation that the story of Jesus is all a conspiracy by the follower of Jesus so palm him off as some divine being.

These accusers overlook completely all the scriptures that are inadvertently fulfilled by the enemies of Jesus. Let’s look at two: (Zechariah 11:12-13) "And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD." Judas and the enemies of Jesus began the fulfilling of this prophecy when they contracted for the betrayal of Jesus. Then it was completed when Judas, smitten with remorse, returned the money and it was used to buy the potteer’s field to bury strangers in. Read the account in Matthew 26:15 and Matthew 27:3-9.

Another: (Psalm 22:18) "They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." The Roman soldiers, who couldn’t care less about the scriptures, fulfilled this one as we read in Matthew 2:35: "And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots."

There are others but this is enough to discount the theory of conspiracy. Every old testament prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in the life and death of Christ.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[031

DULLED SENSES

by Bob Craig

(Matthew 13:15) "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

Jesus addressed the people on several different occasions but had little effect on them. He attributed this rejection to an attitude that had been described by the prophet Isaiah a long while ago. (Isaiah 6:10) It was the attitude of the Jews that Paul addressed in Rome. The Bible says that some believed and some didn’t. Paul said that they were of the same disposition of those of whom the prophet and Jesus had spoken. Paul said, "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it" (Acts 28:18).

This disposition is still prevalent in people today, even among many who call themselves Christians. Sometimes it is found in we who claim to "speak where the Bible speaks and to be silent where the Bible is silent."

The Bible says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). But many people harden their hearts and will not hear of it meaning what it says.. We read a plain statement addressed to Christians in 1 Corinthians 10:12: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." But some close their eyes and loudly proclaim that "a child of God can never fall." We come in contact with Christians who stop their ears so as to not hear the exhortation of Hebrews 10:25: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ..." And some who claim to be students and scholars of the Bible find it hard to understand the simple statement found in Mark 13: 31-32: "Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father." So some fix dates for his coming and others just say, "Soon."

And so the attitude still prevails just as it was in the days of Isaiah, of Jesus and of Paul.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[032

BEARING OUR CROSS

by Bob Craig

(Mark 8:34) "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

The song, "If Jesus Goes With Me," is found in several hymn books. The song declares that we will bear His cross hence we hear preachers preaching about and people talking about bearing the cross of Jesus. But nowhere in all the scriptures does Christ teach us that we are to bear His cross. The cross He bore was not just the wooden stake He would soon occupy, but all the humiliation, shame and reproach along with the pain and suffering he would experience were a part of that burden. It was the culmination of His mediatorship for mankind. No one could bear His cross but Him.

He tells the people and his disciples, specifically, that they, too, have a cross to bear so they must take up THEIR cross and follow Him. That cross would consist of a total commitment unto Him. It would consist of denying self and putting following Him first in their lives. It might even cost them their lives. "... whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it" (Mark 8:38).

The "whosoever" includes us today. We are to take up OUR cross and follow Him. That cross is to consider Him and His words first in every thing we do or say. It may cost us some friends and cost us some time and some questionable pleasures but it will not cost us our lives as it did Him and some of them. But it will require us to publicly confess him on many occasions. The burden of OUR cross will be light as compared to the cross He bore for us.

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (John 8:38).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[033

YE ARE THE BRANCHES

by Bob Craig

(John 15:5) "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

This statement has been used to teach that the branches mentioned are the various denominational churches that exist today. That is a false conception. We must consider the context when studying the scriptures. Who is being spoken to? If you will go back to the 31^st verse of chapter 13 you will find this to be the beginning of a conversation between Jesus and the eleven disciples and which continues through the 17^th chapter. So, when he says, "Ye are the branches" he is addressing them.

He had told them of another Comforter, the Holy Spirit, which he would send them to guide them into all truth and bring to their remembrance all things that he had spoken to them. He would be the source of all they were to teach, the vine, and they were the branches, the messengers of the gospel. They would be charged with the responsibility of "teaching all nations." That teaching would produce much fruit or have great results. You might say, in a round about way, we who today serve Him in harmony with his will, are the fruit of their labors.

He concludes that thought by saying, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (John 15:8-11).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 034

"I ABSOLVE YOU OF SIN"

by Bob Craig

"1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame. 2. To relieve of a requirement or an obligation. 3.a To grant a remission of sin to. b. To pardon or remit (a sin)." (Amer. Heritage Dict.)

Two or three years ago, I thought I heard a Catholic priest, in a TV show [I forget which right now] use the titled phrase. I used it in an article and was told that a Catholic priest could not forgive sins therefore I must have heard wrong. Well, since I am nearly deaf and have to depend on a hearing aid, that might have been true.

But, Thursday night, February 22, I not only heard it again but read it on my "closed captions" monitor. This time I could not be mistaken. On the ER, show the old Catholic priest, on his death bed, said to the young doctor, (after the doctor had made a kind of confession) "I absolve you of sin." Now read the definition, given above, of the word "absolve."

I must concur with the scribes and Pharisees on this one. (Luke 5:21 "And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" When man sins against his fellow man or against society in general or against his own body, we sin against God, and God is the offended one hence He is the only one who can pardon such.

But, say some, "the priest acted as only a mediator." Well, the Bible says,. "For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (quotation from the Catholic Douay Version 1943 [Catholic] of 1 Timothy 2:5) so that eliminates another mediator, whether Mary, saints, angels or statues.

Conclusion: A Catholic priest, nor Protestant "Rev," can neither forgive nor act as mediator for our sins.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 035

REMISSION OF SINS

by Bob Craig

John 20:23 "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

This is the promise Jesus made to his apostles. This passage is sometimes used to prove that a Catholic priest today has the power to remit or absolve one from his sins inasmuch as the priests are the successors of the apostles.

First, how was this power to be administered? This was not a promise that gave the apostles personal pardoning power. They would be given words by the Holy Spirit by which those who heard would receive remission of sins. We hear Peter on Pentecost accusing the Jewish audience of crucifying the Son of God. In answer to their question, "what shall we do?" he said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). His message was one of salvation or remission. 3000 people were granted remission of sins by Peter’s message on that occasion.

Later on, he used the other part of the promise when he told Simon "... thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:21-23). Simon learned that his sins would be retained, lest he repent.

We have no scripture that promises that anyone would be successors of the apostles. Their’s was a unique office. They were personally called by the Lord and were witnesses of the resurrected Christ. No one today has the qualifications of apostleship and, also, there is no promise of such, therefore there are no successors to the apostolic office.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[ 036

CONCERNING INFANT COMMUNION

by Bob Craig

The San Antonio Express-News carried a story of the inter-denominational battle between factions of the Lutheran Church concerning infant communion. The old guard was rejecting the innovation primarily on the basis that tradition excluded the infant from communion. No appeal to scripture. The younger and more liberal Lutherans reasoned that it would be good for the family relationship for the whole family to take communion together. No appeal to scripture, either. But they could have used the argument that so many others use in defending some religious practices today: i.e, "The Bible doesn’t forbid it therefore we can do it." In fact a statement that is attributed to Martin Luther, the father of the Lutheran Church, goes something like this: "Whatsoever is not specifically forbidden we are free to practice." Luther was very strict in complying with certain scriptures. He was insistent that unleavened bread and wine be used in the communion. However, according to the above adage, buttermilk and cornbread were not forbidden in the communion, therefore we are permitted to use those elements if we so desire. But, I am fully persuaded that Luther would have been as adamant as a pope that it had to be unleavened bread and fruit of the vine.

Another reformer and a contemporary with Luther, was Ulrich Zwingli. Zwingli approached a religious subject from more of a Bible concept. He said, "We must have Bible authority for everything we practice." Peter said the same thing: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God," and that concept is the answer to the question of infant communion. Lutherans, like many other denominational bodies, also practice infant baptism. But, like infant communion, there is no Bible authority for it, therefore it must not be practiced and those who do it, do it by the authority of man rather than .the authority of heaven thus becoming workers of iniquity (Matthew 7:23) or spiritual outlaws.

DEVOTIONS Series[The 2nd 100 Number[037

WHAT ARE YOU?

by Bob Craig

According to the archaeological world, the two most recent lines of the evolutionary chain are the Homo-sapiens and Homo-erectus. The Sapiens lived about 250,000 to 500,000 years ago. Homo-erectus came after or actually lapped over into that age and, as such, continue to evolve until this present time.

But recent scientific developments have brought forth a process called DNA testing. I have no idea what all is involved in this DNA test but from all accounts, great things can be discovered. Many crimes have been solved and innocence has been revealed by the use of this test. But, tomorrow may bring forth a new and better test and set aside all that DNA revealed.

Be that as it may, an Associated Press release tells of the test being used in regard to the Neanderthal man and the findings reveal that, actually, Homo-sapien Neanderthal is not in the linage of man. However, they say, from that same line the genes split and Homo-sapien evolved into another species while, from the same gene, Homo-erectus evolved into what we now know as man.

The idea seems to be that from that time the monkey line went one way and the human line went another. The only thing this new finding does is to show us, and them, that science has a long way to go before they declare anything to be 100% proved.

They say that this is all based on scientific facts. But the dates for these various bones have not and cannot be dated with any great accuracy. The Carbon-14 method of dating, which is universally used for dating purposes, has been acknowledged as not being accurate beyond a few hundred years. After all, they dated the Piltdown Man as being the oldest bone found of man --- and he turned out to be a hoax.

For further information on the origin of man, read the 1st and 2nd chapters of Genesis.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[038

RESURRECTION DAY

by Bob Craig

"Easter" Sunday is almost universally recognized in the religious world as being the day set aside for the celebration of the Lord’s resurrection. [Look at No. 25 for more information on these special days.]

On a certain first day of the week, about 1970 years ago, three devout ladies approached the tomb of Jesus. They were coming to anoint his dead body appropriately as was the custom of the Jews. Their concern was about the heavy stone that sealed the tomb. But when they arrived there, behold, the stone had already been removed but the body of Jesus was not there. An angel was there and told the simple story, "He is risen!" (Mark 16:6) Then the resurrected Jesus made himself known to the women and then to the apostles and Paul tells us of 500 of the brethren, and himself, who also saw him after his resurrection. A goodly number of eye witnesses.

Some say the first day of the week, Sunday, is of great significance because the Lord’s Supper was celebrated on that day. No, we’ve got that backwards. The first day of the week and the significance of the resurrection was there first. That great day was chosen to be the day when the notable events of the gospel (the death, burial and resurrection) were to be remembered. Disciples everywhere would remember the great sacrifice of the cross, the death, the suffering Saviour, on this day, the first day of the week, the Resurrection Day.

So, not once a year, but every time the sun rises on the first day of the week, devout followers of Christ remember the empty tomb, and gather together to also remember the Cross.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[039

SOUND WORDS

by Bob Craig

We have the apostles, in many places, admonishing their readers to use "sound words, sound speech, sound doctrine, faithful words, oracles of God, etc." Upon such admonitions, Thomas Campbell formulated the slogan, "We will speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent." Amish people were so impressed with that idea that they used the King James words such as "thee, thou, thine, etc." But the apostles were not talking about the language of some translation. Their admonitions pertained to being sure they did not stray from the teaching revealed by the Spirit and that is what we are to be concerned about today.

Unscriptural doctrines are sometimes advanced by the use or misuse of certain words or phrases. For instance, we hear of "the fall of man." Certainly man fell but the common use of the term indicates the Calvinistic doctrine of Total Depravity. The use of the word "saved" has been so twisted as to teach a false idea. Nothing wrong with the word; just the misuse of it. The Bible says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Then, "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." But most denominational preachers stretch the word out to mean something else. The good word "Christian" has been subjected to such loose usage, both by my brethren and the denominational world, that it has lost its Bible meaning and has become an umbrella that covers most anything that people want covered.

The word "church" has lost the Bible meaning of just being "a called out people belonging to the Lord." A bishop in New Testament times, was one of a plurality of elders in a local church while a pastor was one of the bishops or elders.

There are many more. The lesson is this: instead of being influenced by our denominational neighbors and picking up their language, we should influence them by our correct use of sound words and sound doctrine. Use their misuse of these words as a means of initiating a Bible discussion.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[040

FLESH vs SPIRIT

by Bob Craig

Paul tells of a great battle taking place within man in the 7th and 8th chapters of Romans and the 5th chapter of Galatians. This is a battle between material desires and man’s efforts to serve God. It is flesh vs spirit. When man becomes a child of God, he is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17); he walks in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). Christ, by the Holy Spirit given unto the apostle, fills man with his word. Man’s spirit then carries on the battle against the flesh.

When man’s spirit causes him to walk in the ways of the Lord, he is said to be spiritual (Gal. 6:1). He overcomes the lusts of the flesh, the material desires that sometimes win the battle. But the spiritual man always comes back and is, possibly, stronger than before. Satan, the Devil, uses every material means available to gain followers. The spiritual man has one weapon, the word of God. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Cor. 10:4). Some want to fight that battle with ballots, bullets, courts and they put their trust in such but we have all we need--the Word of God. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God ..." (Rom. 1:16).

Our biggest problem in fighting this battle is that we don’t have enough trust in our weaponry. But remember, "the worlds were formed by the Word of God." And only with the Word of God, Jesus defeated the Devil in the wilderness.

The spiritual man is "filled with the Spirit," is "set for the defense of the gospel," is ready to "contend for the faith," will overcome the "lust of the flesh." To be filled with the Spirit is letting the word of Christ dwell in you. Two parallel verses will prove that point and complete this epistle. Look first at Ephesians 5:18-19: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Then, Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[041

LEST WE FORGET

by Bob Craig

There are things we need to remember and things we need to forget. This lesson was impressed upon the Israelites by Moses a long while ago. (Deuteronomy 4:9) "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons."

Sadly, they forgot.

But, they, with us, expect God to remember the promises he makes to us. Nearly everyone is aware of the covenant that God made on one occasion not to destroy mankind with a flood as he did in the days of Noah.

(Genesis 9:16) "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature ..." We call it the rainbow; a beautiful phenomena; and we remember.

There were other reminders that God gave Israel: the various feast days, the Sabbath, stones set up at various places. Some they remembered; some they forgot.

Under the law of Moses it is said that "sins were forgiven" but, actually, they were "remembered" year by year until the sacrificial offering on Christ on the cross introduced us to the coming of the new covenant. With its coming the covenant would say, "... and your sins and your iniquities will I remember no more forever."

"Remember Lot’s wife," Jesus said. Don’t look back.

The Lord’s Supper is a feast of remembrance. "This do in remembrance of me" least we forget "that we were purged from our old sins."

And, one of the most important forget-me-nots in our lives: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: (attained) but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).

Let us be extremely careful of our priorities: remember the things that need to be remembered and to forget the things that need to be forgotten.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[042

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

by Bob Craig

We are a busy group of people. We are perhaps busier than any generation before us and busier than any generation that shall come after us. There is so much to do and so little time in which to get it done. These are busy days!

Fathers have a double duty. As the head of the house they have the obligation of providing material needs and spiritual needs. "But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel" (1 Timothy 5:8). Also, on the other hand: "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). So, Fathers, you have the obligation to be busy. If these fathers didn’t want this responsibility, then they shouldn’t have taken it on in the first place, but since they did, do it heartily. You are going to have to get your priorities straight.

Ladies, if you are older, you have the double responsibility of being a good example of the right kind of homemaker and then "admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" (NKJ Titus 2:4-5). So, the older women and the younger ones have a busy schedule.

Love is a two-way street. If husbands love their wives as the Lord tells them to, they will share in her duties of home care and the wife will share in the responsibility of "bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." And if they both love the Lord as they ought and have their priorities straight, they will not busy themselves with so much that they do not have time to serve Him.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[043

EACH STEP I TAKE

by Bob Craig

Some of the songs we sing bring forth varying emotions. The word "emotion" has been defined as "a strong feeling: the emotions of joy, sorrow, reverence, hate, and love." Emotions are primarily subjective. That is, the consciousness of man reacts according to his own thinking. What brings joy to me may not affect you in the same way. In fact, some sing a particular song and get an entirely different thought than I do. His emotions are stirred one way and mine, another. And we may have both missed what the poet who wrote it had as inspiration. I think we can eliminate "hate" as one of the emotions our songs bring forth unless when we sing of how "They Crucified My Saviour" we hate the deed that was done.

"Joy To The World" brings forth the emotion of joy in the participant because "the Lord has come." It’s too bad people have relegated it to the Christmas season. Perhaps we should sing it on the fourth of July. We are moved with sorrow as we share the agonies of the Lord in singing "Night With Ebon Pinion Brooded O’er The Deep." We soar to the heights of reverence as we raise our voices to acclaim "How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art." "Wonderful Story of Love" and "O Love, That Wilt Not Let Me Go," causes us to attain a higher degree of love as we attune our hearts unto God.

But the one I used as a title, perhaps affects me more, emotionally, than any other. I am moved to tears, as others tell me they are too as we put our trust in words: "Each step I take, I know that thou wilt guide me." He will guide each step I take, through his divine word, that leads me to a place the song calls "home." Perhaps I am moved more than a 16 year old would be for now I am old and stricken with years of traveling about this old earth we now call home. I wish I could get that 16 or 20 year old to realize that he, also, is closer home by each step he takes. Perhaps he would be more careful about where he walks.

I am emotionally drained when the song is finished because I know that I have but little time left and there is so much to do. "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away" (Psalm 90:10).

"Each step I take, just leads me closer home."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[044

COME OUT OF YOUR CLOSET

by Bob Craig

It would be a matter of speculation to give a count of how many "secret" disciples there might have been in the days of Jesus. Several are mentioned in the divine record so I believe it would be safe to assume that there were numerous others.

Outstanding among these examples are the parents of the blind man whom Jesus made to see and certain of the Jewish rulers and priests. In each case they believed but were afraid to make it known publicly. One is called by name, Nicodemus. He came to Jesus "by night." Various reasons have been attributed for his coming by night but the terminology indicates it was a stealthy approach, a secret rendezvous. Later on it seems that Nicodemus no longer hid his discipleship when he cooperated with Joseph of Arimathea, another secret disciple, in openly asking for and receiving the body of Jesus for burial. (John 19:38-42)

Many of God’s people, today, need to "come out of the closet" of secret discipleship. In the beginning of their gospel obedience they openly confessed their faith in Christ before baptism. But this was before friends. Now, as disciples who live in a world of spiritual darkness, we are admonished, as disciples, to "confess Christ before men." (Matthew 10:32-33) This is not the confession to be made before baptism; this is your daily walk with people of the world.

But often, when someone in our company, belittles the church or the doctrine or the Christ, we hide in our closet and, for some reason, whether for fear or shame, will not take a stand. We are supposed to be fearless soldiers, contenders for the faith! But, as one of His parabolic characters whined, "I was afraid," and we sometimes follow that example.

It’s time we put into action the songs we so lustily sing, "I want to be a worker for the Lord," "I will work, I will pray," "Ring it out," and many other proclamations in song what we deny in practice. Let’s all come out of our closet and publicly confess, He is my Master, my Lord, my King!

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[045

TWO GOOD DEATHS

by Bob Craig

"For he that is dead is freed from sin" (Romans 6:7).

The word "freed" as used in this verse is usually rendered "justified" in other places. To be "justified" is to stand just or right in God’s sight. Notice Romans 6:3: "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" This verse, considered with other verses, seems to indicate that we became recipients of the benefits of Christ’s death when we were scripturally baptized. The outstanding benefit of Christ’s death was for the justification of mankind. This benefit was the result of being baptized. Look also at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." They were washed, (baptized) therefore justified.

How strange it is that outstanding scholars hate baptism so much they do all they can to undermine what the Bible says. Notice the remarks of Robertson on the word washed: "This was their own voluntary act in baptism which was the outward expression of the previous act of God in cleansing (ye were sanctified or cleansed before the baptism) and justified (ye were put right with God before the act of baptism)." But the Bible is plain: "baptized into His death."

Romans 6:4 tells us further, "We are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." We are set free from the bondage of sin, justified. Where did the death take place? The Bible says that it all took place in baptism. "For he that is dead is freed (justified) from sin." A good death!

"... Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13). This is one of the beatitudes of Revelation.

The word "blessed" is sometimes rendered "happy," but it goes further than being just a pleasurable happy. It has to do with the satisfaction of being "in favor" with God.. So, those who "die in the Lord" are highly favored in God’s sight. To "die in the Lord" is more than just having been baptized "into Christ." It means that one is walking in harmony with the commandments of the Lord. So, a person who dies in that condition has a "happy" ending. Another good death!

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[046

119^TH PSALM

by Bob Craig

The 119^th Psalm is the longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verses. It is divided into 22 sections. These sections have as their headings, the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and each portion has eight verses.

The theme of the chapter is the power of the word of God. Each division tells us something of value concerning the powerful word. His Word is sometimes called law, commandments, testimonies, precepts, judgments, statutes.

Aleph-Verse one: "Blessed are they ... who walk in the law of the LORD."

Beth-vs 11: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

Gimel-vs 18: "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

Daleth-vs 27: "Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works."

He-vs 35: "Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight."

Vau-vs 45: "And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts."

Zain-vs 54: "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."

Cheth-vs 64: "The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes."

Teth-vs 68: "Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes."

Jod-vs 80: "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed."

Caph-vs 81: "My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word."

Lamed-vs 89: "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

Mem-vs 97: "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

Nun-vs 105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Samech-vs 114: "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."

Ain-vs 125: "... give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies."

Pe-vs 130: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."

Tzaddi-vs 140: "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it."

Koph-vs 148: "Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word."

Resh-vs 160: "Thy word is true from the beginning ..."

Schin-vs 165: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Tau-vs 172: "My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[047

ANOTHER CHANCE

by Bob Craig

Sixteen years ago, Sunday, May 12, 1985, 9:30 a.m. until about noon, I suffered a massive heart attack. I had had a few chest pains earlier so I had my wife call one of the brethren to preach and teach my class and we headed for the emergency room. About the time they placed me on a gurney and wheeled me into an observation room, the massive attack began. I was fortunate to be at the right place at the right time. So the Lord used the hospital personnel to give me another chance. Another chance to perhaps finish some unfinished work that he wanted me to do.

About 12 hours later on this same day, a very close friend of mine, Roy E. Cogdill, in like manner, suffered a massive heart attack. Roy had fought many battles, a good fight, and he had kept the faith, he had finished his course, so the Lord allowed him to leave this old world of cares and troubles and enter into --- rest. There would be no more work for him to do. So I would like to dedicate this poem, that I originally wrote for another, to his memory. May he never be forgotten.

But I carried it not alone.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[048

ALL THE WORLD

by Bob Craig

(Matthew 10:5-6) "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." This is called "The Limited Commission" inasmuch as the territory is specifically limited to certain ones.

The same twelve (minus Judas), about three years later were sent forth with this charge: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, [or "Go into all the world] baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). This is commonly called "The Great Commission" but I choose to call it "The Unlimited Commission" inasmuch as it has no limitations.

A promise had been made to Abraham and reiterated to Issac and Jacob concerning a time that was referred to like this: "And in thy seed shall all the nations [families, kindred] of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice" (Genesis 22:18). The seed was within the posterity of Abraham and the specific seed was Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

"In the fullness of time" Jesus, of the lineage of Abraham, came and made the sacrificial offering of the cross and sealed a new covenant with his blood. The new covenant was the gospel through which mankind would be saved. (Romans 1:16). The pattern of spreading it was like this: "... ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Jerusalem and Judea was the land of the Jews, Samaria the land of the mixed Jews and the uttermost part of the earth was the Gentile nations. Peter said it would be for the Jews and those "afar off," the Gentiles. (Acts 2:39)

The "families, kindreds, nations" were words that described the totality of Jews and Gentiles. The word "world" was not every individual on earth but was , in like manner, simply Jew and Gentile and when the keys of the kingdom had opened the door to both Jew (Acts 2) and the Gentiles, (Acts 10 and 11:18) the unlimited commission had been fulfilled and it could be said, "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world" (Colossians 1:5-6).

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[049

THE CHOSEN FEW

by Bob Craig

I have often used the statement of Joshua in Joshua 24:15, "... choose you this day whom ye will serve ..." to urge people to make a commitment to serve Christ. But in John 15:16 we read, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you ..." Is this a contradiction? No. We need to do what I have suggested in other lessons. We need to consider the context. To whom was the Lord talking? Here, as in John 13:31 to John 17:26 he is addressing the eleven apostles. We need to be careful to follow the rules of interpretation in these verses just as we urge people of the world and our denominational neighbors to do in other verses. When we do this, the explanation becomes clear.

So, he is saying ONLY to these eleven men, "Ye [the eleven] have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16). He concludes this chapter, definitely identifying the ones he is addressing in all these verses by saying in John 15:27, "And ye also shall bear witness, because YE HAVE BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING."

(Luke 6:13) "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." These men were chosen for a specific purpose. Their task would be to introduce the world to the gospel message which would be divinely conveyed to them by the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. They did not choose to be apostles; Jesus chose only certain ones and a certain number. Paul did not choose to be an apostle; Jesus chose him. (Acts 9:15)

Their task would be to bring forth fruit, that is, to produce results by their efforts. The results would be a called out people built upon a solid foundation that should remain. Peter initiated this mandate to the Jews on the Pentecost of Acts 2 and to the Gentiles in Acts 10 and 11. Whatever they needed to carry out this task would be provided. "... whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[050

HARD SAYINGS

by Bob Craig

( 2 Peter 3:15-16) "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

Peter, in the above verses is commending Paul as a divinely inspired writer but explains that he sometimes writes about things that are hard to understand. He is not saying that Paul’s writings are hard to be understood but there are some things about which he writes that are hard to be understood.

For instance, the people had a hard time understanding the resurrection of the body. So they asked the question, "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?" (1 Corinthians 15:35). Paul went into some detail in regard to the bodily resurrection and finally concludes not with the direct answer to their enquiry but to the fact that their is a resurrection and we will have a great victory over death through Christ Jesus if we are faithful. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

It seems that many found it hard to understand that the Lord was not coming soon. The Thessalonians, in particular, were confused about the matter. Paul assures them concerning this. "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand" (2 Thessalonians 2:2). And reassures them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 and tells them to "... comfort one another with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

There may have been other things that were hard to be understood but God gives us enlightenment on the things that we need to understand in order to go to heaven. People are still confused on the subjects mentioned and many are wresting them to their own destruction.

DEVOTIONS Series[ 2^ND 100 Number[051

THE RAPTURE

by Bob Craig

I have two commentaries, one by John Walvoord and the other by Hal Lindsey. They both take the position that a period of time they call the Rapture is coming. Many good, sincere people have taken up their teaching and are advocating the same doctrine. Some display bumper stickers that say: "WARNING: In case of Rapture this car will be unoccupied." The idea is that when the Rapture occurs the Lord will come and call up all His faithful followers to a heavenly dwelling for a period of seven years. The unfaithful will be left behind. Another book has been written speculating about those who are "left behind."

These seven years will be divided into two 3 1/2 year periods. The first of these will be a time of severe tribulation and the 2^nd will be a time when many people will turn to the Lord. After the seven year period is completed the Lord will return with his saints and be seated on David’s throne in Jerusalem, the Jewish economy will be somewhat reestablished and that reign will continue for 1000 years. (That is another false theory.)

The Rapture theory is based primarily on two passages: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord," and Matthew 24:40-41: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.&qu