<BrethrenVoice>
<GLEANINGS-FOR-THE-DAY>
<17 September 2002>
In this issue:
---------------
(1) <Devotional> "Where is meaning found?" - Ravi Zacharias
(2) <Doctrinal> "In the beginning it was not so!" (Pt-19) - C.E.Wigg
(3) <Prophetical> "The Redeemer's Return" (Pt-29)- A.W.Pink
(4) <Exhortational> "Do you have a broken will?" - Le Lien Fraternal
(5) <Apologetics) "Christian Apologetics" (Pt-17) -M. Copland
(1) <DEVOTIONAL> <SLICE-OF-INFINITY>
WHERE IS MEANING FOUND?
Ravi Zacharias
Harvard professor Stephen Jay Gould has said the following regarding the
quest for meaning:
The pathways that have led to our evolution are quirky, improbable,
unrepeatable and utterly unpredictable. Human evolution is not random; it
makes sense and can be explained after the fact. But wind back life's tape
to the dawn of time and let it play again-and you will never get humans a
second time . . . We cannot read the meaning of life passively in the facts
of nature. We must construct these answers ourselves-from our own wisdom
and ethical sense. There is no other way. (Footnote 1: Stephen Jay Gould,
quoted in David Friend and editors of Life magazine, The Meaning of Life,
33.)
Compare that conclusion from a prominent scientist to the thoughts of a cab
driver, as recorded in Life magazine:
We're here to die, just live and die. I live driving a cab. I do some
fishing, take my girl out, pay taxes, do a little reading, and then get
ready to drop dead. You've got to be strong about it. Life is a big fake .
. . You're rich or you're poor. You're here; you're one. You're like the
wind. After you're gone, other people will come. It's too late to make it
better . . . The only cure for the world's illness is nuclear war-wipe
everything out and start over. We've become like a cornered animal,
fighting for survival. Life is nothing.
One man declares that the arrival of humanity is "quirky, improbable, and
unrepeatable." The other believes that life is, essentially, a mere
animalistic fight for survival.
It may be easy to dismiss one view as academic and the other as the
catharsis of a hardened cynic. Yet if we take a closer look, there is a
striking similarity between them. For both, ultimate reality is impersonal
and material. That is, there is nothing beyond us to give meaning to our
lives. And with that starting point, whether a professor or a cab driver,
the conclusion will be the same: We are left to our own devices to
manufacture meaning. This is the inevitable conclusion if all of life is
reduced to the chemical and molecular.
Is this really the nature of reality? Are we really nothing more than time
plus matter plus chance?
In the following days I would like to present to you a
counter-perspective-that there is something beyond us that gives us a
framework for meaning. Because unlike the professor and the cab driver, I
think we can root our meaning in more than the quirks of neurochemistry.
We can find that meaning in the very being of a personal 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-19)
LEARNING
Charles E. Wigg
....
We can never help or teach others until we have learned ourselves. It is
wonderful how quickly one is able to learn the basics of Christian doctrine
and practice, if we go about it in the right way. However we can never learn
without a teacher. You must give that place and honour to the Lord Jesus
alone. He calls Himself our "LORD and TEACHER" (John,13;13-15.) Here the
word translated in the KJV. As Master, is the Hebrew word "Rabbi", and
really means "TEACHER". He is the greatest of all teachers, and in Job
36;22, we read the words, "Who teaches like Him?". Thus we are brought into
a most privileged position, we have the greatest Teacher of all as our
personal tutor, and we have immediate access to Him at all times. What could
be greater?
If you are keen to learn, then discipline your life, so that you can spend
time alone in His presence each day. This is what is known to many as the
"quiet time". Just bow in His presence and worship Him, then ask Him to
teach you what the Scriptures mean before you begin to read the Bible. Learn
to "Search the Scriptures", this is one of His commands, (John,5;39.). Never
be content until you can understand the meaning of a passage. You will find
that the best commentary on the Scriptures, are the Scriptures themselves.
As you search the Scriptures, learn to compare passage with passage. Then as
He teaches you, never forget to thank Him for His wonderful grace and help.
Do not be discouraged if you seem to learn only very slowly. Remember He has
promised that "If any man will do His will, shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God".(John,7;17.). So far we have only dealt with the area
of private study, but there is another place to learn.
LEARNING IN THE CHURCH - The genuine local Church is the place where we
should also learn the "Teaching of the Apostles". It is a sad fact that
today many so-called Churches have wandered away from the truth of the word
of God. There is but little opportunity for the teaching of the word of God.
In some Churches, or Assemblies, there is only 15 minutes allowed for the
teaching, or ministry of the word of God. (After the remembrance meeting).
However it is normal for those in the Assembly who have the ability to teach
the word, to regularly and systematically teach publicly in the Church.
There are some groups that focus mostly on what is claimed are supernatural
experiences, and have no place for sound teaching, or prayer.
This makes it important that each believer should find a Church where what
is taught in the Scriptures is practiced, and the word of God is regularly
taught. Having found such a company, it is important that they should
regularly attend all the meetings, so as to gain the advantage of the sound
teaching of the word. The local Church is the very best place to prepare for
the service of the Lord.
[To be concluded]
---
[Reproduced with permission]
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(3) <PROPHETICAL>
"THE REDEEMER'S RETURN" (PART-29)
THE FACT OF THE REDEEMER'S RETURN
Arthur W. Pink
....
5. The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was foreshadowed in the Ritual on
the annual day of Israel's Atonement.
The order of events on the Day of Atonement are described in Leviticus 16, a
chapter which is exceedingly rich in its typical signification. The Day of
Atonement had to do with the putting away of Israel's sins, therefore, its
dispensational application refers mainly to Israel though, as we shall see,
the Church was also typically represented. We shall not now attempt anything
more than a bare outline of the happenings of that most memorable day on
Israel's sacred calendar. The order of its ritual was as follows:--
First, Aaron washed in water and then attired himself in the holy linen
garments. It is to be noted that Aaron was provided with two sets of
garments--those which were "for glory and for beauty" (Ex. 28:2), and the
plain linen garments which were used when he offered sacrifice to God: the
change from the latter into the former is referred to in Lev. 16:23, 24. It
was the plain, linen garments which were worn by the high priest on the Day
of Atonement, because clad thus in robes of spotless white he prefigured the
sinlessness of the One who came to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Second, Aaron offered "a bullock of the sin-offering" to "make an atonement
for himself and for his house"(vs. 6). Our Great High Priest was without
sin, He "knew no sin," yet He became so identified with His people that God
"made Him to be sin for us" (2 Cor. 5:20), hence in the type Aaron makes
atonement not only for his "house" but for "himself" as well. But observe
particularly "and for his house." That is where the Church is seen, the
Church which by Peter is termed "a spiritual house, a holy priesthood" (1
Pet. 2:5; Heb. 3:6).
Third, Aaron took two goats and presented them before the Lord at the door
of the tabernacle where he cast lots upon them--"one lot for the Lord, and
the other lot for the scapegoat" (vss. 7, 8). The two goats bring before us
the two great sides of Christ's cross-work, namely, the Divine and the
human. The death of the Lord Jesus not only provided a salvation for lost
sinners but it also vindicated and glorified God Himself. On the Cross
Christ met the claims of God's justice, satisfied the demands of His
holiness, vindicated His governmental rights and publicly exemplified His
righteousness. "One lot for the Lord," then, is what God obtained in the
death of His beloved Son.
Fourth, the goat of the sin-offering was killed and its blood brought within
the veil and sprinkled both upon and before the mercy-seat. (vs. 15). The
mercy-seat was God's "throne" in Israel. Observe that the blood was
sprinkled but once upon the mercy-seat and seven times before it (vss. 14,
15). Once was sufficient to meet all the claims of God, for that which the
blood of the goat typified--the "precious blood" of Christ--was of infinite
value in the sight of heaven, but seven times it needed to be sprinkled to
meet our deep, deep need in order to provide for us a perfect standing
ground before God!
Fifth, after making atonement for the holy place and the alter--showing
there is that, even in our communion with and worship of God, which needs
cleansing- Aaron laid both his hands on the head of the second, live, goat,
and confessed over him "all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and
all their transgressions in all their sins, and putting them upon the head
of the goat" and sending him away into the wilderness, into "a land not
inhabited" (vss. 21, 22). Just as the first goat represented the great truth
of propitiation, the Divine side of Christ's cross-work, the satisfying and
glorifying of God, so this second goat represented the other great truth of
substitution, the manward side of Christ's cross-work, the acting of the
Lord Jesus as the Surety of His people and bearing away their sins "as far
as the east is from the west." The laying on of the priest's hands upon the
head of the innocent goat signified an act of identification, the
counterpart of which now enables us to say by faith "I was crucified with
Christ" (Gal. 2:20--Greek). The confession of Israel's iniquities over its
head, intimated the transference of guilt, pointing forward, at it did, to
Christ bearing "our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Pet. 2:24). The
thrice repeated "all" evidenced the completeness of the atonement there
made, and thus it was with the Anti type "who gave Himself for us, that He
might redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:14). The sending away of the
goat bearing Israel's sins into "a land not inhabited," typified the
complete removal of sin; and blessed be God our sins have all been
completely taken away so that it is written "There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1).
Sixth, after atonement had been effected, the high priest came out of the
Holy of Holies, attired himself in his robes of beauty and glory returned to
the waiting Congregation in the outer court (vss. 23, 24). It is in this
last act of Aaron that we arrive at the point which is specially germane to
our present study. The Anti type, our great High Priest, has already made
atonement and has passed through the veil into the Holy of Holies on high
"now to appear in the presence of God for us," but soon He shall divest
Himself of the sacrificial garments and attired in robes of glory and beauty
He shall come forth to His waiting people whose sins and iniquities shall be
remembered "no more for ever." It is to this coming forth of our High Priest
that Heb. 9:28 (speaking in the very language of the above type) refers--"So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look
for Him shall He appear the second time without sin (our sins gone) unto
salvation." Thus we see that the Ritual of Israel's annual Day of Atonement
foreshadowed not only the cross-work of Christ and His present session at
God's right hand but that it also typified and looked forward to His return
in glory.
[To be concluded]
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(4) <EXHORTATIONAL>
DO YOU HAVE A BROKEN WILL?
Le Lien Fraternal
Faith is a divine plant which grows in the soil of a broken will. We are of
no use to God until our will is broken. We cannot expect an answer from God
if our will is not broken. (Luke 22 :42, Eph. 5;17). Breaking the will of
the Christian is the true means of opening his spiritual intelligence (Ro.
12 :1-2). Submission to the will of God will make us grow in holiness ( 1
Thes. 4 :3). If we are in the path of God's will, we are also in the path of
power ( 1 John 2 :17).
---
[Reproduced with permission]
_______________________________________________________________________
(5) <APOLOGETICS>
"CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, AN INTRODUCTION - (PART-17)"
M. Copland
....
II. THE IMPLICATIONS IF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS NOT TRUE
A. THE NEW TESTAMENT IS A CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED LIE!
1. We have seen the great accuracy they used in describing events,
places, and people (as confirmed by archaeology) - Lk 2:1-5
2. If the record of miracles and the resurrection is false, then
they very carefully intertwined fact and fiction!
-- IS IT REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT?
B. THE AUTHORS SUFFERED EXTREME HARDSHIP FOR WHAT THEY KNEW WAS A
LIE!
1. Many people will lie if they can get something out of it (such
as money, power)
2. But what did the apostles get out of it? - cf. 1 Co 4:9-13
3. What did Paul get for holding to his testimony? - cf. 2 Co
11:24-29
4. How do we know they really suffered this hardship?
a. The fact that the letters of the New Testament were even
saved!
b. For example, consider the letters 1 & 2 Corinthians...
1) These letters are filled with rebuke of the Corinthians
2) The Corinthians would have every reason not to save
these letters which exposed their faults
3) The Corinthians had first hand knowledge as to whether
the apostles and Paul really suffered the hardship
spoken of in their letters
4) If they knew the accounts of such hardship to be false,
they would have quickly destroyed these letters written
by a liar who embarrassingly wrote about their problems!
5. So especially the author of half the books of the New Testament
(Paul) suffered extreme hardship for a lie, if the New Testa-
ment is not true
-- IS IT LOGICAL TO BELIEVE THAT?
C. THE AUTHORS WHO WERE MARTYRED KNEW THEY WERE DYING FOR A LIE!
1. History and tradition record that:
a. JAMES was stoned to death
b. PAUL was beheaded
c. PETER was crucified
2. If the New Testament is a lie, they went to their deaths KNOWING
they were dying for a lie!
-- IS IT RATIONAL TO BELIEVE THAT?
D. IN SUFFERING AND DYING FOR A LIE, THEY WENT AGAINST EVERYTHING
JESUS AND THEY THEMSELVES TAUGHT!
1. "But let your 'yes' be 'yes', and your 'no' be 'no'." - JESUS
(Mt 5:37)
2. "Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his
neighbor..." - PAUL (Ep 4:25)
3. "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy,
envy, and all evil speaking" - PETER (1 Pe 2:1)
-- DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO BELIEVE THAT?
E. IN FACT, THE BOOK WITH THE WORLD'S HIGHEST STANDARD AND LOFTIEST
GOALS WAS COMPOSED BY LIARS, FRAUDS, AND DECEIVERS!
1. What book presents a higher standard of love and morality than
the New Testament?
2. For example, Jesus' "Sermon On The Mount" (Mt 5-7) and Paul's
"Discourse On Love" (1 Co 13)
-- CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
[To be concluded]
---
© M. Copland 2002
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