<BrethrenVoice>
<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY>
<10 September 2002>
In this issue:
--------------
(1) <Devotional> "Human nature, racism and dignity" - Ravi Zacharias
(2) <Doctrinal> "In the beginning it was not so!" (Pt-14) - C.E.Wigg
(3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-24)- A.W.Pink
(4) <Apologetics) "Christian Apologetics" (Pt-12) -M. Copland
(1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY>
HUMAN NATURE, RACISM, AND DIGNITY
Ravi Zacharias
There has been an ongoing attempt in our culture to look at human nature
apart from any transcendent accountability. Once that feeling of alienation
from God is etched upon our consciences, we are alienated not only from God,
but even from our fellow human beings and, ultimately, from ourselves.
I don't know how many of you heard the great tennis player Arthur Ashe
interviewed when it first became public knowledge that he had contracted
AIDS from a blood transfusion. He was one of my favorites. Tragically,
Ashe had felt the sting of racism throughout his life. This mild-mannered
gentleman looked into the eyes of the reporters and said, "As painful as it
is to know that I have this dreaded disease, nothing could be as painful as
the rejection I have endured all my life because of racial prejudice."
Think of the agony encased in those words. Think about it. That a man so
respected, so talented, so gentlemanly could express such pain endured over
a lifetime of personal rejection because of someone else's capacity to
hate. That is very sobering. As we look across the globe today, there are
few things as deeply volatile as this issue-the tragedy and the hell of
bigotry and racism. The pain of rejection by reason of birth alone is one
of the deepest pains a person can ever experience.
In our day we have tried to do away with prejudice apart from God, seeking
solutions by rewriting laws, by re-educating ourselves. Yet, who among us
can say that we have succeeded in eliminating the victimization of people?
If anything, our society constantly stands at the brink of conflict as
violence erupts suddenly if there is even a hint of discriminatory
judgment.
I am convinced that all our attempts to change laws and to re-educate people
are merely band-aid solutions for a fatal haemorrhage. The system will
never change because our starting point is flawed. The secular view of man
can neither give the grandeur that God can give, nor can it see the evil
within the human heart that God alone can reveal and cure. Naturalism
implicitly denudes each individual of the grand image that God has
imprinted upon his creation.
You see, if we can acknowledge that God is the author of life, then we lose
any claim we may have made to superiority. If we can acknowledge that
there is evil in our hearts, then God can transform us through His Son. If
we want to right our social situation, we must start vertically with God.
---
Copyright (p)(c) 2001 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).
Reprinted with permission. A Slice of Infinity is a radio ministry of
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
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(2) <DOCTRINAL>
IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO! (PART-14)
PERSECUTION OF STEPHEN CONTINUED
Charles E. Wigg
....
Little did he know, that standing there witnessing his cruel sufferings, as
principal legal witness to the execution, was one who would afterwards take
up the banner of the cross and carry the Gospel to the gentiles, reaching as
far away as Spain in the West and Albania in the North. One who would be
used of God to bring countless souls to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus as
their Saviour. Thus Stephen became the first to wear the martyr's crown,
many have followed him since, sealing their testimony with their blood,
including the young man called Saul.
The Apostle James is the next whose name is given to us (there were
doubtless many others whose names are not given), who also gave up his life
for the Lord Jesus. On one occasion when asked by the Lord Jesus, whether he
was able to drink the cup which He was about to drink, or to be baptised
with the same baptism of that He was to receive. In misplaced
self-confidence he and his brother replied, "We are able", the Lord Jesus
told him that he would do so. What a wonderful person James was, one of the
three who were taken into the inner circle of the Lord's confidence. We are
told but little of what he suffered, only that he was killed by the sword of
Herod. It is doubtful that Herod himself committed the crime, but commanded
one of his soldiers to do that terrible deed, yet God held Herod,
responsible, for the awful deed. Politicians may get others to do their
dreadful deeds, but God who knows the truth holds them responsible. They
must finally answer to Him, they must appear before the "Judge of all the
Earth" and none can ever bribe Him.
Seeing that his action made him popular with the people, he became bolder
and went on to take Peter also. He delayed his execution, so as not to
offend the religious scruples of those whose favour he sought. However God
had other plans and though He permitted the execution of James, yet He sent
an angel to deliver Peter from a seemingly impossible situation. In this
case another matter is referred to, that is the prayers of the Church. Those
who suffer today in the increasing persecution in many countries, can rest
in the assurance that believers all over the World are praying for them.
However though the hearts of those who prayed were right, yet their faith
was greatly lacking. For though they prayed for the deliverance of Peter,
yet when their prayers were answered, they refused to believe it.
Thank God, that though He has commanded us to pray in faith, (nothing
doubting), yet He is not restricted to our feeble faith, but will accomplish
His own perfect will in each circumstance. Let our suffering brethren and
sisters take courage. God is still in control, and will perfect that which
concerns Himself in each one of our lives. As of old, He heard the groans of
the children of Israel, (though He seemed indifferent to their misery), so
He hears your prayers and groans and in His own good time will bring you
through the trial. May He bless you and enable you to bring glory to His own
great and wonderful name !
[To be concluded]
---
[Reproduced with permission of Charles E. Wigg]
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(3) <PROPHETICAL>
"THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-24)
THE FACT OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN
Arthur W. Pink
....
2. The Interpretation of this Fact
This third great fact which is presented to our notice in the New Testament
must be interpreted on precisely the same lines and by the same canons as
the other two Facts, i.e.., the Scriptures which set forth the Second Advent
of Christ must be received just as we receive those statements which tell us
of His first advent and of the descent to earth of the Holy Spirit. Those
verses which treat of the Redeemer's Return must be taken at their face
value: they must be received by faith just as they read: they must be
understood literally. We press this point upon our readers because there
have been many teachers who have sought to spiritualise the Scriptural
references to our Lord's second coming and who have treated them as though
their language must be regarded as figurative and symbolical. Just as the
Lord Jesus came to the earth the first time in person so will He come the
second time. Our Redeemer is to return bodily and visibly. The language of
Holy Writ gives as much reason for believing in a literal and personal
return of Christ as it did for His First Advent. "Occupy till I come." "If I
will that he tarry till I come." "Ye do shew the Lord's death till He come."
"Ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait
for His Son from heaven." These are representative passages, and no one
reading them for the first time without theological bias would ever think
that they meant anything else than a literal, personal Advent. And yet the
plain language of the Word has been twisted and distorted and made to teach
almost anything and everything other than its obvious signification. We
shall not weary our readers by examining and refuting at length every forced
and fanciful interpretation which has been indulged in by various
commentators, such a task is unnecessary and would be unprofitable. Those
theories which have gained the most adherents may be grouped into three
classes.
First; there is a class of commentators who regard the coming of the Holy
Spirit on the day of Pentecost as the fulfilment of Christ's promise to
return. This view is based upon our Lord's Word in John 14 where, after
declaring to His disciples that He would give them "Another Comforter" who
would abide with them for ever," He immediately added, "I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you" (vs. 18). But to regard the descent of the
Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the accomplishment of Christ's promise "I will
come again" is to confuse the Persons of the Holy Trinity. A sufficient
refutation of this error is found in the fact that the Epistles which were
all of them written after Pentecost contain numerous references to and
promises concerning the personal return of Christ.
[To be concluded]
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(4) <APOLOGETICS>
"CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, AN INTRODUCTION - (PART-12)"
M. Copland
....
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT
Introduction
1. In examining the question of the New Testament's reliability as a
HISTORICAL DOCUMENT...
a. We saw in the previous study that the New Testament passes the
"ACID TEST"
b. That is, it was written in the same generation in which the events
to place
1) It was circulated among the very people about whom these
documents spoke
2) While they were still alive to confirm or deny it
2. So it was written early...WERE THE AUTHORS ACCURATE in their depic-
tion of the events which took place?
3. This is where the science of ARCHAEOLOGY can be very helpful in deter-
mining the historical reliability of the New Testament:
a. If the archaeologists prove that the New Testament is filled with
errors concerning people, places, and events...
b. Then the New Testament could not be trusted as an accurate record
of the life of Jesus and the early church!
4. Not too long ago, some discounted the Biblical record because it
frequently referred to things not mentioned by any source outside the
Bible
5. But discoveries by archaeologists in recent years have vindicated the
New Testament and silenced the skeptics!
[In this study we shall consider just a few examples of how archaeology
has confirmed the New Testament as a reliable document...]
I. A CENSUS, AND QUIRINIUS GOVERNOR AT THE TIME OF JESUS' BIRTH?
- Lk 2:1-3
A. IT WAS ONCE ARGUED THAT LUKE WAS IN ERROR...
1. In other words, that there was no such census
2. Also, that Quirinius was not governor of Syria at that time
3. And that people did not have to return to their ancestral home
B. BUT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES HAVE PROVEN OTHERWISE...
1. We now know that the Romans:
a. Had a regular enrolment of taxpayers
b. Held censuses every 14 years (begun by Augustus Caesar)
2. An inscription found in Antioch tells of Quirinius being
governor of Syria around 7 B.C. (evidently he was governor
twice!)
3. A papyrus found in Egypt says concerning the conducting of a
census:
"Because of the approaching census it is necessary that all
those residing for any cause away from their home should at
once prepare to return to their own governments in order that
they may complete the family registration of the enrolment..."
II. WHO IS THIS LYSANIAS? - Lk 3:1
A. THE ONLY LYSANIAS KNOWN TO ANCIENT HISTORIANS...
1. Was one who was killed in 36 B.C.
2. This caused some to question Luke's reliability
B. HOWEVER, AN INSCRIPTION WAS FOUND NEAR DAMASCUS...
1. It speaks of "Freedman of Lysanias the tetrarch"
2. And is dated between 14 and 29 A.D.!
[To be concluded]
---
© M. Copland 2002
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