The Bible The Lord Jesus And You

[Resource Manager]

THE BIBLE

THE LORD JESUS

AND YOU

 

 

John S. Roberts

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

The Scripture Quotations in this publication are from the New King James Version Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.

 

The New King James Version (NKJV) is also known as the Revised Authorised Version (RAV) in England. Permission to use these is gratefully acknowledged.

 

Thanks are also expressed to all those who, willingly or unwittingly, helped in the writing of this book. The incidents related are all founded in fact, but any names are entirely fictional. The cover photograph shows a rainbow in the spray of the Victoria Falls, from Zambia.

 

Printed by North West Print Ltd., Unit 4, Booth Road, Sale, Cheshire M33 1JS.

Typeset by Sarah Curl Phototypesetting, 051 608 6144.

 

Contents

 

The Bible

 

Chapter 1 to 15

 

The Lord Jesus

 

Chapter 16 to 29

 

And You

 

Chapter 30 to 42

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The Bible

 

CHAPTER 1

 

“IT’S like wallpaper paste,” she muttered.

“It’s semolina,” I told my daughter.

“Salmonella,” retorted her older brother, “that’s food poisoning.”

“Well I don’t like it,” she said. “But you haven’t tasted it,” I reasoned.

“I haven’t tasted it,” she replied, “because I don’t like it.”

 

We laugh at childish reasoning to unsampled food. Yet our attitudes as grown ups are not very different. So many people adopt exactly the same attitude to the Bible. They do not believe it so they haven’t read it!

 

This book asks you to be fair. It asks you to set aside preconceived notions. It asks you to give the Bible a “hearing”.

 

It is not the intention of this book to “defend” the Bible. We shall not present proof for its reliability and accuracy, for two reasons. One is that other books do that and do it very well. The second is that you do not defend a tiger. A tiger speaks for itself. The Bible claims to be the word of God. It too speaks for itself.

 

The object of this book, then, is first to urge you to open the Bible. It asks you to take a look, or another look, at what it says. Sample it. Become more familiar with it.

 

Some years ago there was a series of talks locally about the Bible. Several people came and asked if the series could deal with the contents of the Bible. They had read the gospels often enough. They were familiar with some of the other well known stories too. Yet they did not feel that they knew the book as a whole.

 

“Tell us about some of these more obscure books,” they said. “What are they about?” “Give us a summary so that we can see what the Bible is saying.” “We want to know where its teaching leads.” So that was what we did.

 

The first section of this book is going to do that too. Then it will examine very briefly some of the reasons people give for not reading it. “It’s full of contradictions,” they say. “It’s not reliable:” “It’s out of date:” “It’s too long. I don’t have time.”

 

Some of these complaints must receive attention, but later. We would not dream of criticising the works of Shakespeare if we had not first read them. Nor would we accept the opinion of anyone else who hadn’t studied his subject first.

 

We shall therefore concentrate on getting a good general picture of the Bible. Then we shall be in a better position to evaluate its claims.

 

The Bible is the only surviving history book about the life and work of Jesus Christ. It is the only source of information about the Son of God.

 

For this reason the second part of this book is about the Lord Jesus Christ. No other single person has made such a mark on history as Jesus. He is unique. He is not the far‑removed figure of stained glass. Neither is he party to a “live and let live” society where anything goes. Jesus was a real man, yet he is the glory of God. His devotion to the standards and will of his Father have won him a place at God’s right hand.

 

The simple Bible truth concerning the Lord can help us to find ourselves. Stripped of its mystique and the fables of many years it can help us identify with him. It can give peace of mind for the present and firm hope for the future.

 

The Bible is also the only book which offers an escape route from death. There is scarcely nothing that men and women will not do to save life. Yet in the Bible the issues of life and death are fully explained ‑ and largely ignored.

 

That is why our third section looks at You. It examines some of today’s values and attitudes. It suggests that we should take a long hard look at our priorities in the light of the Bible’s teaching. The word of God and the life of Jesus demand that we rethink, and perhaps restructure, our lives.

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CHAPTER 2

 

I ONCE had a neighbour who bought a roof‑rack and had problems assembling it. He laid all the pieces out on his front lawn, but they did not seem to fit. He had begun to despair of the thing. It made no sense to me either. He was convinced that the wrong pieces had been supplied. When I asked if there were any instructions, he didn’t think so. There had been a piece of paper in the box but he had thrown it away.

 

We retrieved the paper and assembly was a simple operation. Within minutes it all made sense. It fitted together perfectly. I think my neighbour felt a bit of a fool.

 

Yet there are so many like him, ignoring the instructions and wondering why life doesn’t make any sense. Can you imagine it? God, creator of the human being, gives us the Bible, an instruction manual. Most of us try to get by without it!

 

The Book of Books

 

Today, more than ever, men and women are concerned about job satisfaction. Finding “fulfilment” has become important. Yet the one book that tells us why we were made goes largely unread. The Book of books, written to tell us what life is about is seldom consulted. Is it any wonder that the world is in the mess it is?

 

Almost the first noticeable thing about the Bible is its size. Some modern literary masterpieces are long. Most books are not. The Bible is large or, if made smaller, is printed in close type hard to read.

 

This is because the Bible is really a library of books. The title actually means “the books”. The books have been bound into one volume because they make up a set. They depend on one another. Together they form a complete story. Individual books cannot be properly understood on their own.

 

The title also contains the word “Holy”. This means separate, put aside for special use. The Bible is different from all other books.

 

There are several ways in which we may consider it different. First of all we shall be struck with the transparent honesty of the writers. Their openness in writing of failure and sin, even their own, is most unusual. It is clear that they are hiding nothing. Their language is direct and forceful.

 

Secondly the standards they uphold are to be admired. They present ideals far outside those to which men normally aspire. They consistently condemn what is offensive to God and applaud what is right.

 

Thirdly the Bible displays an amazing foreknowledge of future events. It predicts the future with an accuracy that would be alarming if we were to meet it anywhere else.

 

All this is in keeping with the Bible’s claims to be the word of God. The Bible has only one author. God used many writers, but His message has a “wholeness” about it. It harmonises. It fits together.

 

The books ‑ there are 66 of them ‑ are divided into two main sections. One is called the Old Testament, and one the New Testament. The word testament (or covenant) means a solemn undertaking. Each testament shows the way in which God has had mercy on people.

 

The Old Testament is the record of His mercy to the nation of Israel. It describes the covenant, or promises, God made to them. The New Testament is concerned with a development of this for others. It shows God’s mercy to all nations.

 

This fact leads many to conclude that the Old Testament is unimportant. A lot of people have an acquaintance with the New Testament but have not read the Old. Some have Bibles which are not complete. They contain a New Testament and, perhaps, some of the Psalms to give comfort in times of difficulty.

 

This will not do however. We would not expect to understand other books by starting to read over half way through. It is like trying to find the way from Lands End to John O’Groats with only a map of Scotland. Over half of the journey would be missing. It would not be surprising if, in such circumstances, we got lost.

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A Guidebook

 

In fact that is a very good way of thinking of the Bible, like a plan. It is a kind of guidebook through life. It is given by the One who knows what life is about because He created life.

 

So far we have looked at the title of the book. From the contents page we have learned that there are two sections and many books. Some have names familiar to us. Others may sound very strange. We have mentioned the author too. He is God, although His name does not appear on the cover as it might with most other books.

 

Often people like to steal a glance at the last page of a book first. Some want to know how the story ends before they start. The last page of the Bible presents an exciting climax. It promises intervention in human affairs. It looks forward to a great event that will change the course of the world. How this happens and what leads to it we must discover later. Just now we need to go back to the beginning.

 

Almost all the books of the Old Testament were originally the spoken word of God. His messages were given through prophets and righteous men who faithfully recorded them on scrolls.

 

People sometimes ask who chose these books? Who decided which ones were God’s word and which were ordinary books? The answer is that no‑one sat down and made rules about which books would go into the Bible. God saw to it that the ones we need have survived. He has preserved the words that truly reveal Him and teach us of His purpose.

 

The Bible developed, therefore, over a period. It was a collection of holy books which men and women knew were the word of God. These were the books they turned to in times of need or distress. They were the books they revered and relied on for guidance. They were the books, therefore, which were copied and translated when others were lost.

 

The Bible is therefore entirely God’s book.

 

The books which make up our old Testament were once the Bible of Jesus. The Jews divided their Scriptures into three. First was the Law which meant the first five books only of our Bible.

 

Then they spoke of the Prophets. These included the prophets we know such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. They also included books like Samuel and Kings. This was because such books cover a period when other prophets were at work ‑Samuel, Elijah and Elisha.

 

Thirdly there were the Writings. These were other miscellaneous books such as Job, the Psalms, etc.

 

Today we may divide the Old Testament in a slightly different way. There is a group of history books which run from Genesis to Esther Then a group of poetry books follows, Job to Song of Solomon. The third group is a prophecy section occupied by Isaiah to Malachi.

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Beginnings ...

 

Genesis is the book of beginnings; its name tells us this. It tells us of the beginning of the earth. It recounts the beginning of God’s rescue plan to save men and women from sin. A new beginning after the flood comes into this book. Genesis shows how God began to choose men and nations to carry out His will. It contains His first promises to them.

 

The first chapter is devoted to the account of the creation of the world. It is not concerned with the universe. It does not deal with any other activity of God that might take place elsewhere. It shows only how our planet came to be as we know it.

 

The account is not a scientific one. It does not go into detail as to how this and that were done. It is simply God’s explanation of the order in which He made everything. There is no room for the theory of evolution, however. Genesis makes it very clear that God purposefully made each thing that was created. He did not begin a process and leave it to develop over millions of years. He designed and made the work which is described each day. When He had finished, everything was very good.

 

The next chapter is like a magnifying glass, or a zoom lens. It takes us for a close‑up view of the sixth day’s work. Here the creation of man is explained in greater detail. It is not the description of a different creation from chapter one. It merely expands on how man and woman were each made. This shows the reason for differences in their make‑up. It shows too the roles they were each to play. However unpopular these ideas today, they are part of the wisdom of the Creator.

 

Marriage too is seen from God’s point of view. He designed it. It has become unfashionable with some. Yet the family unit is part of God’s wise plan for us.

 

Adam and Eve

 

Chapter three is about the way in which Adam and Eve disobeyed God. It was not a sin of immorality as many imagine. It was simple disobedience of a commandment which God had given. They ate from the one tree that was forbidden to them.

 

Because they refused to believe what God had said, they suffered the death sentence. It was a punishment for their sin. They became subject to the ageing process and, eventually, to death. They lost the privileges of Eden where they had lived in the Creator’s presence. Now they would have to work in order to eat and live.

 

God put in motion a plan to help men and women to find their way back to Him. He promised that from Eve’s descendants there would eventually be born one special man. He would overcome the sinful tendencies to which Adam and Eve had given in. He would be capable of bridging the gulf which man’s sin had caused between God and man.

 

That completes our survey of the Bible’s first three chapters. They are very important chapters. They set the scene for what is to follow. They help us understand our relationship with God. They explain why our society is so sick. They offer real hope for a solution.

 

They have been sadly ridiculed. Distortion of their simple facts has led to ignorance and misunderstanding. We need to get back to Bible truth. We need to get back to the beginning. Then we can make some sense of life.

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CHAPTER 3

 

I RECALL as a small boy standing on the bridge over the river in the village where I was born. It was a fairly new bridge. The previous one had been washed away.

 

It seemed impossible to me that any amount of water could wash away a bridge. Thick stone pillars firmly planted in the river bed carried the road and footpath. A high parapet prevented curious little boys, like me, from falling over. It was hard to believe that all this had been swept away in a flood. But it had, along with a shop, vehicles, chicken huts and a great deal more.

 

Noah and the Ark

 

The cause of that particular flood was a reservoir that burst. A torrent of water swept down the valley causing tremendous damage and some loss of life. The flood of Noah’s day was quite different. That was no accident. It was an act of God.

 

When insurance companies use that expression, “an act of God”, they do so to describe an event beyond man’s control. It does not reflect any belief in God. Yet the flood was an act of God. It was an act of judgment on a depraved world. Fifteen hundred years of history have passed between Genesis chapters 3 and 6. In that time, society had got worse and worse. Eventually the only remedy was its complete destruction. Noah was saved before he became overwhelmed by the wickedness. But it was God who provided the means of his salvation. He told him what to do and how to do it.

 

The value of accounts like these is not confined to the Sunday School. Noah was a man who showed obedience. He no doubt also displayed an uncommon faith in what God had said despite scorn from his friends. But the New Testament draws other lessons from these events for us.

 

Jesus points to the preoccupation with everyday things that characterised Noah’s generation. He warns of the danger of leaving God out of our lives. He speaks too of his second coming being unexpected. It will be as when the flood overtook the unprepared world of Noah’s day.

 

Peter the disciple sees the flood as being like baptism. Noah’s experience was a pointer to our own. Baptism, being fully immersed in water, is the vehicle of our salvation. Noah left behind an evil world, and passed through the waters to a new world. God calls us to leave sin behind, be baptised and make a new start.

 

God made a covenant with Noah. This is the first use of this word covenant in the Bible. As we have previously said, it is a mark of God’s mercy. God promised Noah that he would not again destroy the earth by a flood.

 

Noah’s family grew. They were spread far and wide. Within a very short time sin was again a massive problem. God confounded the language. Families who had already drifted far from God in their thinking now drifted away from each other.

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Abraham and a New Nation

 

Moving house was a regular thing in my childhood. We did it so often it became quite a joke with relatives and friends. By the time I reached my twenties, I had notched up over a dozen different addresses. Sometimes it was fun for a child. We had no car and would often travel with the furniture van. We would be sat on the sofa looking out over the tailboard as we journeyed.

 

It would not have been such fun if there had not been a known destination. It was the looking forward that made it exciting. We always knew exactly where we were going.

 

In Abraham, God found a man who pleased Him. He was an inhabitant of a prosperous city called Ur, a city in Chaldea. God made a covenant with Abraham too. He made him important promises.

 

God also made heavy demands on the man’s faith. Abraham was told to pluck up his roots and move. But his destination was not disclosed. He was to go to a land that God would show him and set off without knowing where. From a human point of view there was nothing to look forward to. Only his confidence in God and what God promised drove him to respond.

 

The promises had to do with ownership of land and blessings for many nations. They concerned Abraham and future generations of his family. They had far reaching effects. Through them Abraham understood about the work of Jesus Christ. He lived 2000 years before Jesus was born. Yet the Gospel was preached to Abraham.

 

Through Abraham’s son Isaac and Isaac’s son Jacob, God pursued His plan. He repeated the promises He had made to Abraham for these men. There seemed to be no immediate fulfilment of them. Jacob even had to leave the land which God had promised them. Famine drove him into Egypt. Yet he also had confidence in God’s covenant. His name was changed to Israel as a sign of God’s mercy to him. In Egypt Jacob’s twelve sons grew to become a nation. They were the children of Israel.

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CHAPTER 4

 

MY father used to speak of a man who did not believe in miracles. He used to point to the drying up of the Red Sea or the River Jordan as examples. Never could he accept that Israel had crossed the sea and the river on dry ground.

 

Then, somehow, he found himself fortunate enough to do what Israel had done. I do not remember exactly where it was. However, he was able, somewhere abroad, to walk across a wide stretch of water on dry ground. The reason was that there had been a landslip upstream. For a while the water was completely cut off.

 

Yet that man would still not believe in miracles. He maintained that it was a sheer coincidence. Some freak event had enabled him to cross the river like Israel had done. No doubt something similar had occurred in their day.

 

In fact it was strong winds that held the sea waters back for Israel. The Bible tells us so. It says that God sent a mighty east wind and made the waters stand up as a wall. God often uses the elements of nature which are in His control. His power operates them to achieve His purpose.

 

But it was a miracle all the same. Israel was trapped. The sea was in front of them. Behind them was the Egyptian army in hot pursuit. Moses stood on the bank. At God’s word he raised his rod above him. At that precise moment the waters parted to allow Israel across. That was the miracle that saved Israel.

 

Israel Leave Egypt

 

The book of Exodus is about the exit of Israel from Egypt. They had become slaves there. As a nation they were thoroughly demoralised. They were unable to rebel.

 

Then God intervened. He sent Moses as a leader of the people to rescue them. After a prolonged display of His power through ten plagues, God brought Israel out. He saved them from their bondage. At the Red Sea He saved them from death.

 

Exodus continues with details of the nation’s journey through desert. They were en route back to the land God promised Abraham. It is the land, part of which is called Israel today.

 

God halted the nation at Mount Sinai. There He gave them His law. He taught them how they were to worship Him. God made a covenant with Israel. His mercy made them His specially chosen people.

 

Here are the verses which tell us about this:‑

 

“You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people; for all the earth is mine. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6)

¹

 

Some people object to what God did here. They feel it was unfair. They cannot accept that the Jews are the chosen people and point to their wickedness to prove it.

 

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¹ All quotations in this book are from the Revised Authorised Version of the Bible. The reader will find it helpful to follow the quotations made in any version of the Bible. The words used will be different, but the basic meaning will be the same. Exodus 19:4-6 means the book of Exodus, chapter 19, verses 4 to 6.

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Responsibility and Privilege

 

However, above all else, God shows that He is just and fair. In the first place God did not choose the Jews from mere favouritism. He chose them because He had made promises to their ancestors. We looked briefly at this when we considered Genesis.

 

Secondly, God’s purpose was not with the Jews alone. His promise to Abraham was to bless all nations through him. If you have been the oldest child in a family, you will know how it feels. There are certain privileges ‑ your bedtime may have been later than the others, for example. But there are great responsibilities, too. The oldest often takes the blame for things. He, or she, was the one who should have known better.

 

It was like that with Israel. God described them as His firstborn, or eldest son. That blessing brought a weight of responsibility. Israel were to keep God’s covenant. They were to be true in their response to His mercy. History shows that the nation was not.

 

Their destiny is clearly described in that phrase, “a kingdom of priests”. The Jews were not all priests of course, but they had a priestly work to do.

 

A priest stands between God and the people. His work is to teach them true worship and to bring them to God. He also gives God’s blessing to the people. The Jews were to stand between God and the other nations. Their job was to teach those nations. In this sense they were priests. They were to turn the nations from their idols to the true God. Then God would bless them as He promised Abraham.

 

The nation was unfaithful in this calling. Instead of bringing other nations to God, Israel went to the other nations. They copied their idols. They became like them. Eventually God let them go to those nations. He scattered them all over the world. Though He was patient with them, He had at last to reject them for a time. Yet His purpose cannot be defeated, as we shall see.

 

The family of Levi was chosen to be the priests for Israel themselves. The book of Leviticus is about the priesthood. It tells of the sacrifices that Jews had to offer and the feasts they had to keep.

 

The book of Numbers is so called because it contains two numberings of the nation. The first census was taken when they came out of Egypt. Then, through lack of faith, they failed to enter the land God had promised them. Therefore they were forced to wander in the wilderness. Forty years they spent there. Numbers tells of their wanderings. The doubters died there.

 

It is a tragic story. The people who had come from Egypt were now condemned to death through their unbelief. They wandered around without any destination. Life had no purpose now. They were just passing the time, waiting to die. Life is like that for many people today. They have no real aim in life. Without God, life has no meaning. Such people are just filling in the time between the cradle and the grave.

 

God’s purpose now lay with the children of those unbelievers. Numbers contains a second census of the new generation.

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Moses’ Reminder

 

Deuteronomy is a second reading of the law. Moses gives a brief history of the nation, their failures and hopes. In his last speech before his death, he urges them on in faith. He outlines blessings and curses which witness against them in their later history. Many of the prophets use this book to warn the nation.

 

Here are some interesting verses. They dramatically reflect the experiences of the Israeli nation. They speak of Jews suffering as they did in the concentration camps of Europe this century. They show how remarkably accurate is our Bible and how up to date:‑

 

“And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will lead you ... And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. Your life shall hang in doubt before you; you shall fear day and night, and have no assurance of life. In the morning you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Oh, that it were morning!’ because of the fear which terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see:” (Deuteronomy 28:37, 65‑67)

 

The period covered by Exodus to Deuteronomy is only 40 years. Israel’s experience is valuable to us, however. The New Testament shows that we are to be warned by their history. Paul, the apostle, says it was written for our learning. Israel’s experiences were examples to us. They show us what to do and what not to do. They help us to appreciate what God wants.

 

Here then is another part of the Bible that cannot be thrown away or ignored. It is important to the true Christian. It is another essential part of the God‑given guide.

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CHAPTER 5

 

SALLY and Debbie were nice enough girls, but they liked to tease each other. During the period I worked with them they would often write cheques for one another. Debbie would make out a cheque to Sally for £100,000, or perhaps even £1m.

 

It was all a huge joke. Neither of them had that sort of money. The cheques were never presented of course. Even if they had been, they would have bounced. There was no possibility that they would ever have been paid. For those girls, and for many of us, cheques for that sort of sum mean nothing. They are a promise that cannot be honoured.

Promises, Promises

 

Today, men and women make promises very lightly. Politicians, for example, may promise all kinds of things before an election. For one reason and another, many of those promises do not materialise. Broken promises breed cynicism. People become distrustful of the word of others.

 

God’s promises are not like that. God is well able to fulfil all that He has promised. He is all mighty to ensure that His word will be honoured. It will come true.

 

God did not just feed and care for a whole nation in the wilderness. He brought them to the land He had promised. He was as good as His word. As we saw in Numbers, His chosen people did not believe His promise. Even with the best evidence of God’s faithfulness around them, they were not faithful. They were afraid of the nations there. They could not accept that God would help them overcome their enemies.

 

That generation died. Yet God, true to His word, gave the land to their children. Here is His explanation of why He was still prepared to keep His word:‑

 

“Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them (the nations) out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that he may fulfil the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff‑necked people:” (Deuteronomy 9:4‑6)

 

Over Jordan

 

Joshua was the successor to Moses. He was the one who led the nation across the River Jordan and into the land. The book of Joshua is the story of the conquest of the land which God gave them. God fought their battles and Israel possessed the land. Joshua also shows how the land was divided up between the twelve tribes.

 

The land was called Canaan. It was the land to which Abraham came. It was the land God had promised his descendants would have. In more recent times it has been known as Palestine. Today, it is called Israel. Its boundaries have not always remained exactly the same. In the main, however, it has been the same narrow strip of land between the continents. It is the bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe. It is a very small country. Yet God has called it the centre of the earth, His land. He chose it as a place for His name.

 

It is clear from the verses quoted above that Israel’s success in the land lay partly in their own hands. It depended to a large extent on their obedience to God’s commands.

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God Sent Judges

 

Judges shows the apathy of the nation towards God. The land had been conquered and shared out between the families. God had enabled them to settle the land. Yet other nations still lived there as well. Little pockets of resistance remained. They were a means of testing the determination of the nation of Israel.

 

After the death of Joshua, things began to go wrong. Without the promptings of a leader the nation forgot God. They forgot that they were His people, and neglected their responsibilities to Him.

 

Those little pockets of resistance then grew. God allowed those nations that were left to become strong. One by one they began to create problems for Israel. Under pressure the nation realised its faults. The people turned again to God to help them. And He did. He chose a leader through whom He delivered the nation. Such leaders were known as the Judges. The word also means Deliverer or Saviour.

 

Once again these things are of importance to the true Christian. Each of these judges reflects an aspect of the Godly life. They help us to understand the work of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

 

The tragedy of the Judges is that Israel did not learn her lesson. Saved by one judge, the people soon forgot and again drifted away from God. Again they sinned. Again He allowed another nation to oppress them. Again they were sorry and repented. God heard them and provided another leader to deliver them.

 

And so the cycle continued, round and round.

 

It shows that the nation was not sorry enough. When they turned over a new leaf, it lasted only a few years. Within a fairly short time they had forgotten. This suggests that they were really only sorry that they were being punished. They were not truly sorry for letting God down.

 

Sin is disobeying God. It means not just the great big things that hit the news. It includes little things as well. We are all guilty of sin. Repentance means being sorry and turning away from sin. It is no use just being sorry that our sins get us into trouble or difficulty. Repentance is being sorry to God, sorry that we have not kept His ways.

 

Throughout the period of the judges, Israel drifted further away from God. They moved a little further from His ways each time they sinned. Slowly, His laws and values began to disappear from their minds. A man’s own conscience became his guide. His behaviour could rise no higher than his own expectations. The Bible says that “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”.

 

The time covered by the books of Joshua and Judges was approximately 450 years.

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A Love Story

 

The little book of Ruth takes place within the time of the. Judges. It is the story of the faith in God of a non‑Jew. The Bible calls such people Gentiles. The story shows an Israelite family’s lack of faith in leaving God’s land. It compares this with Ruth’s faith. She was a Moabitess, yet she wanted to belong to God and His land. Ruth eventually married a Jew. She became an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Samuel ‑ Judge and Prophet

 

Samuel was both a judge and a prophet. He did‑a lot to weld the nation of Israel together again. They had become disunited since the days of Joshua. They were just a collection of tribes. Samuel did much to make them one again and bring them back to God.

 

It should not be imagined that the whole nation became Godly again, however. Many had forgotten God’s words (including the ones quoted from Exodus in our previous chapter). They had forgotten the covenant God had made. They had forgotten that they were God’s kingdom.

 

The First King of Israel

 

They approached Samuel and asked him to appoint a king. Samuel was upset. God was their King. In wanting to be more like the nations around them Israel were rejecting God. However, a king was appointed and reigned for forty years. He was king Saul. Details of his reign occupy most of the first book of Samuel (I Samuel).

 

God rejected Saul and his family for disobedience. His successor was David. He was the shepherd boy who became king. He also reigned for forty years. The second book of Samuel contains the story of his reign, ending just before the year 1,000 BC.

 

David was a man who loved God. He recognised that Israel were God’s people. He did his best to shepherd and guide them for God. He drove other nations out from God’s land. He set about removing idol worship. Jerusalem became the capital of God’s kingdom. David also prepared a temple for the glory of God.

 

A Man After God’s Heart

 

God loved David. He was called the man after God’s own heart. That means that he identified with God. They both looked forward to the same things. God made promises to David as He had to Abraham. He promised that his son should be a king for ever on the throne in Jerusalem. We shall see what became of the promise later.

 

David died. His son Solomon became king. He built the temple which his father had prepared. He was a man to whom God gave extraordinary wisdom to rule Israel. Yet in his own way of life Solomon was often not wise. After his death the kingdom split into two. Solomon’s son retained control of only two tribes. They were known as Judah. The remaining ten tribes of Israel formed a separate kingdom. They were called the kingdom of Israel. The details are to be found in the first book of Kings.

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More Kings and Prophets

 

God sent prophets to warn the people and to turn them from their sin. Elijah demonstrated the power of God, but the nation continued to worship idols.

 

Elisha followed Elijah in speaking for God, but the kingdom of Israel grew worse. Other prophets were also sent to the people. In some cases we have a record of their message in the Old Testament books. Their work was largely without result. Very few responded.

 

At last there was no remedy for their sin. God brought the Assyrians against them to destroy the kingdom. Many of the people were killed. Others were taken away to torture or cruel slavery. A few of the poorest were left in the land.

 

Some of these refugees migrated south to the kingdom of Judah. The Assyrians transplanted other people into the land who intermarried with any who were left. In the time of Jesus these were known as Samaritans, a mixed race. They were hated by the Jews.

 

The second book of Kings relates the end of the kingdom of Israel. It also describes the history of the kingdom in Judah. Judah had some good kings. Men like Hezekiah and Josiah who loved God and were faithful. The kingdom also had bad kings, however. Eventually, it too was removed by the Babylonians.

 

The first and second books of Chronicles deal with the same period. They alternate between contemporary events in Israel and Judah. They contain information additional to the Kings record supplied perhaps from prophets of the time. Originally, there would be only one book of Chronicles. When books were written on scrolls, however, this would have taken two scrolls. The same is true of Samuel and Kings which also appear as two books in our Bibles.

 

In all these books there is a frankness which is almost alarming. They do not flatter the men whose stories they tell. They look at things from God’s point of view. They speak of things that men would have tried to cover up or exaggerate. They deal with them in an open and honest way. This is because they are God’s assessment of these men.

 

At junior school, history used to seem a very dull subject. It was all dates. It was hard to remember and there seemed little point in it.

 

At secondary school we did more social and economic history. That was more interesting. It was things like the history of canals, of railways, of the trade union movement and so on. It involved learning why things happened, why canals declined, why railways took over.

 

Bible history is like that. It is not a succession of dates, or even events. It is certainly not just Jewish history. It is how God’s purpose was working out. It is why the Jews failed to become the most important nation on earth. It is why they could not stay in the land God gave them.

 

Captivity in Babylon

 

The people of Judah spent seventy years in Babylon from about 600 BC. The Babylonians were then defeated by the Medes and Persians. Under their rule the Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem. They began to rebuild the city as God had promised they would. Under Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah the governor they resettled the area. The temple was also rebuilt. The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell us about this.

 

Not all the Jews returned to Judah. Many were comfortable in captivity. The book of Esther, however, describes a persecution that arose in Persia. An ancient “Hitler” tried to wipe out the Jews. Esther, a Jewess who had become queen, saved her people. The wicked Haman’s “final solution” came to nothing.

 

These events are of more than passing interest though. They show the power of God in working out what He has planned and foretold. The work of Esther teaches something of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in saving his people.

 

That concludes this very brief survey of Israel’s career. It takes us right through to the end of Old Testament history. The remaining books of poetry and prophecy fit into the same period.

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CHAPTER 6

 

AS anyone who has learnt a foreign language will know, it is not enough simply to learn the words. To speak a language well you have to learn to think in that language. You have to know idiom, ideas, customs and practices.

 

I lived in Norway for two years. At the end of it my accent could sometimes be passed off for a native’s. Yet I never really felt that I knew exactly how a Norwegian thinks. Different climate, backgrounds and environment make people different. There is more to nationality than just language.

 

That is why to Western ears Hebrew music and poetry often sound strange. Yet the poetry books of the Bible express truth for all mankind. They contain principles which everyone can appreciate as noble and beautiful. They apply to people of every nationality and every age.

 

Comforters?

 

The book of Job is an example. The events probably took place in the time of Genesis. It is the story of God testing a very faithful man. Job’s friends are jealous of him. They attempt, unsuccessfully, to explain his troubles and to relate them to sin. Through his suffering they are taught the power and majesty of God. All are humbled by the experience.

 

Bible Hymns

 

The Psalms are a collection of works. They were written over a long period. Some are the work of Moses. Many are by David, some by Hezekiah and some by men who served David. Their usefulness lies in our being able to identify with some of their experiences. They contain beautiful expressions of praise and thanksgiving, or confidence and trust in God. Some are prayers of repentance. Some are prophecies. Many are a great source of comfort. Sometimes they are bound with the gospels, but they are better read with their Old Testament background.

 

Proverbs is also a collection. It is an assembly of wise sayings or parables. Some of our own everyday proverbs have their foundation here. They contain a lot of sound advice relevant to life today. They are also very practical. They help us understand true wisdom and lead a Godly life.

 

Wise Words

 

In the book of Ecclesiastes, a wise king examines life’s purpose. This is a question that has beaten some of the best brains! Even people highly trained and qualified in different subjects find this hard. Yet this is surely one of the most basic of all questions.

 

What is life about? Why are we here? What is the purpose of our existence? These are things that brains trusts and panels find difficult. Yet here is something fundamental. This we need to know if we are to make anything of our lives.

The author of Ecclesiastes sees that many things go in cycles. They seem empty and a waste of time. But he discovers that everything has a time and place in God’s plan. His conclusions are sound and helpful.

 

King Solomon wrote 1,005 songs. The Song of Songs is the best or most important of his works. It depicts many human feelings ‑ love, temptation, disappointment, loyalty. It describes the love and unity that should exist between God and His people. It is also known as the Song of Solomon.

 

It teaches us to question our priorities. What do I love most? My family? My work? Some particular possession? What is it that finds first place in our hearts and our lives? And, is it right that it should?

 

These are the poetry books of our Bible. They are not always easy reading. Sometimes they contain searching questions. Yet they are also a source of counsel, wisdom and strength. They are as true today as when they were first written.

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CHAPTER 7

 

ALMOST every newspaper in Britain runs a horoscope. The information about the stars is not put there to fill space. Clearly the editors believe it is essential if they are to promote sales. That means that there are a lot of people interested in the future ‑ their future at least.

 

Of the several people I work with, all know their birth sign. Most of them look at what the stars say. Some check it out daily, some less frequently.

 

Some take it very seriously. Others treat it as a bit of fun. They know that consulting a different paper or journal would result in a different reading of the future. Most keep half an eye open for the forecast coming true, however.

And a lot of it never does.

 

The nation of Israel were forbidden to dabble in fortune telling or the occult. Witches, wizards and those who claimed to read the future were not allowed to live under God’s law.

 

This was because no‑one really knows the future but God. In our hearts most of us recognise this. Even the weather forecasters don’t always get it right from day to day. But human nature likes to pretend. Some feel more secure in thinking they know what tomorrow holds. Some are made very frightened by the prospect of things that may never happen at all.

 

Prophets From God

 

The prophets of our Old Testament were not like fortune tellers. They were men sent from God. They were compelled by His power to present His message. Where that message concerned the future, it was part of God’s purpose, certain of fulfilment.

 

God alone knows the future. In fact, He lives in the past, the present and the future. Our finite minds cannot understand His eternity. He makes history happen. If we had a time machine and could be transported into the future, God would be there too. Whatever point in time we live or consider, He is there.

 

The work of the prophets was to encourage the people to worship God and keep His law. They did not only speak of the future. They warned of God’s judgments if the people were wicked. They promised prosperity if the nation turned to Him in obedience. In this way the future became part of their message. It was dark with punishment or bright with blessings.

 

The line of prophets goes back in Jewish history further than the kings. Prophets were appointed by God. Kings were requested by the people. The prophets were ordinary men from different walks of life. Prophesying was not always their main occupation. God moved them to speak His word at times. At others, they appear to have lived a normal life.

 

Because the message is God’s, however, it is timeless. It is not restricted to those who first heard it spoken. Its truth is capable of more than one fulfilment. That means that it may come true again and again in different circumstances. It may therefore be relevant to today. In fact, there is good reason to believe that some of these Scriptures are being fulfilled now. Some even apply to tomorrow.

 

There were sometimes false prophets as well as true ones. God gave certain tests to help distinguish them. Test one was whether or not a prophecy came true. If it did not, then no notice was to be taken of that prophet. God had not sent him.

 

It did not always mean that a prophet was from God because he was right about something. If a prophecy did come true a second test came into operation. The second test was whether or not his message coincided with the rest of God’s word. If it did not his message was false. Only if what he said agreed with the laws God had previously given was he to be obeyed.

 

Even today we should judge the things we hear by the Bible. The Bible is the yardstick. Unless a teaching agrees with the word of God, it must be rejected.

 

Moses was a true prophet. So was Samuel. Elijah and his successor Elisha are well known too. The summary below lists only the prophetic books of our Old Testament.

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Prophets Major

 

Isaiah seems to have had ready access to the royal court. He prophesied to the southern kingdom of Judah. His prophecies contain a lot of detail about the Messiah and his kingdom. For example, chapter seven contains a famous passage about the virgin birth. Chapter eleven presents a picture of the peace of the kingdom of God. Chapter 53 speaks of the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

 

Jeremiah came later in the history of Judah. He began his work near the end of the kingdom. He warned of its decline and of the captivity. Consequently he has a reputation for woe. He was himself a man of faith and hope despite all he suffered. He spoke also of the restoration of the Jews. We can see the accuracy with which his inspired prophecies were fulfilled.

 

Seeing the fall of Jerusalem was heartbreaking. Jeremiah wrote his lament poetically. He writes as though he is the city now ruined and destroyed. These are the Lamentations of Jeremiah, inspired by God.

 

Ezekiel was from a priestly family. He was one of those taken captive. He lived and preached among the Jews who had been carried off in an early assault on Jerusalem. He spoke of current events and of things far future. He foretold the destruction of the important city of Tyre. He also prophesied the re‑gathering of the Jews after they had been scattered in all countries. The re‑establishment of the State of Israel in this century is a fulfilment of God’s word through Ezekiel.

 

He spoke of an alliance between Persia, Ethiopia and Libya and a mighty northern power. He prophesied an invasion of Israel by these forces which has not yet taken place. He said that the invading forces would eventually be beaten. By this God’s power would be known to all. He related a vision of a temple not yet built and the future importance of Jerusalem. This is consistent with what God promised David.

 

Daniel also lived in exile, but rose to a position of importance. Part of his prophecy has to do with world empires and events affecting the land of Israel. Chapter two describes a metallic image where each metal represents a world power. It depicts the succession of these powers and has since happened in history. We now live in the period related to the feet and toes of the image. No single power has world domination and there is no cohesion among the nations.

 

The end of the prophecy is of a stone smashing the whole image to pieces and replacing it. This stone, the prophet says, stands for the kingdom of God which is to replace present systems of government. It will not itself be destroyed or replaced.

 

The way in which these claims relate to our own day cannot be ignored. Many prefer to doubt or dispute them, but they deserve consideration at least.

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Prophets Minor

 

Twelve “minor” prophets make up the rest of the Old Testament. This does not mean that they are less important than other books. The term is given simply because these prophecies are all shorter than the four already mentioned. Briefly, these are set out below.

 

Hosea was sent to the kingdom of Israel in the north. He was to condemn their wickedness before it became beyond remedy. Hosea’s wife was unfaithful to him. Through his attempts to win her back, he understood how Israel had become unfaithful to God. He showed the nation how much God loved and wanted them back.

 

Joel’s prophecy was based on a plague of locusts. He likens them to an army. He describes God’s future judgments on the nation of Israel. He spoke of a final conflict, yet to come, involving all nations.

 

Amos came from Judah. He prophesied of God’s judgments on Israel and other nations around. He showed that the judgments were not just punishment. They were sent to help Israel see the need to turn back to God.

 

Obadiah’s short prophecy was directed against Edom. Edom was the nation descended from Esau, Jacob’s brother. The prophecy was because of Edom’s cruelty towards Israel. The same hatred exists in the Middle East today between the same “brother” nations, between Israel and its Arab neighbours.

 

Jonah was sent to the Assyrian capital, Nineveh. At first he refused to go. He would have drowned if God had not saved him by the “whale”. After that, he repented and obeyed God. The Ninevites repented too. Later, however, they returned to their wickedness. God used them to punish Israel, but afterwards the Assyrians were themselves destroyed.

 

Micah lived at about the same time as Isaiah. He preached to the people of Judah. During his life the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed. He presented a message of hope, therefore, to king Hezekiah in the south. If his kingdom would obey God, they would far better than Israel. Micah is the prophet who named Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah.

 

Like Jonah, Nahum prophesied against Nineveh. His prophecy was probably later than Jonah. He foretold the nation’s destruction at the hands of Babylon.

 

The prophet Habakkuk was sent to Judah about 100 years after Isaiah and Micah. He warned that God would punish their sin as He had punished Israel. God showed him how men of faith could be saved. Habakkuk gladly believed and accepted this.

 

Zephaniah, like Habakkuk, prophesied near the end of the kingdom of Judah. His name means “watchman”. He spoke of the judgments that God told him were coming.

 

Haggai was a prophet who lived after Judah’s captivity. He returned from Babylon and helped to rebuild Jerusalem. People had stopped building the temple because of difficulties. They were busy with their own lives and houses. Haggai warned them of the need to put God first.

 

Zechariah also belongs to this period. He is mentioned with Haggai in the book of Nehemiah. His visions encouraged the people in their work. He spoke of a glorious future for the whole nation of Israel in the purpose of God.

 

Later still, Malachi spoke to those who had returned to the land. He warned them about relapsing into evil ways. He showed the importance of worshipping God in the right way.

 

The period of history covered by the kingdoms of Israel and Judah totals 5‑600 years. The captivity of Judah lasted 70 years. Malachi prophesied a little less than 400 years before the birth of Jesus.

[Resource Manager]

CHAPTER 8

 

I WORKED for a while with a firm of civil engineers. There were many jobs during the years that I was with them, but one contract outlasted all others. It was work at a town on the north east coast.

 

The contract was for rebuilding breakwaters and fortifying the sea wall. As the coast was constantly being eroded, the defences against the sea had to be good. It was a risky business too. If a machine became bogged down in the sand, it could easily be claimed by the tide and lost.

 

The disappointing part about the work was that there was so little to see. Most of the work was underground and out of sight. Pile driving had to be very deep. Several feet of sand had to be gone through to find clay and, beneath that, rock. Failure to get down to something firm would mean disaster.

 

Sure Foundations

 

But there was so little to show for our effort. I have no doubt that many passers­by thought we were doing little or nothing. Yet those strong foundations, the piles, the tons of concrete, all hidden from view, were the most important part of the job.

 

Much the same is true of the Bible. So many people begin reading at the gospels. Yet they are the superstructure. The foundation of the Old Testament is vitally important. Indeed the New Testament cannot properly be understood without it. Its ability to help and save us depends on what has gone before. Its opening words take us straight back to the Old Testament:‑

 

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)

 

Unless we have worked hard at the foundations, we shall be on unfamiliar ground. Worse, we shall not see the importance of the gospel writers’ message.

 

Of course, we should be just as foolish to read the Old Testament and to stop there. That would be like putting in all the footings and not bothering to build a wall. The Old Testament leads up to the New. It makes little sense without Christ.

 

The New Testament claims to be the word of God just like the Old Testament. The apostles of Jesus wrote as they were moved to write by the Spirit of God. History again determined which documents have been preserved, but God controls history. The books which make up our Scriptures are those which God has seen fit to preserve.

 

At the end of the 4th Century a Church Council met at Carthage. It officially confirmed the “canon” of Scripture. The word canon here means a rule or standard. The Bible is the unalterable rule of faith. In reality, however, the books were already regarded as the holy word of God. The Council simply accepted formally the catalogue of books then in use.

 

Like the Old Testament, the New Testament can be broken down into three sub‑groups. The Gospels and Acts are the history books. Romans to Jude are all letters. Some were open letters and some personal. The book of Revelation is sometimes called the Apocalypse. It is a book of symbol and prophecy.

 

The word “Gospel” was once Gods‑spel, which meant God’s story. That is what the Bible is. Today the word means the good news. The good news concerns Jesus Christ. It is the good news about the forgiveness of sins and being saved from death. It is also the good news of a kingdom which Jesus himself preached.

 

This “gospel” was preached to Abraham centuries before Jesus was born. When the word gospel is used today, however, it is usually with another meaning. It refers to the four books which are especially about the life and work of Jesus. These are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

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Four Gospels

 

Matthew, one of the twelve disciples, writes for the Jews. His purpose seems to have been to show that Jesus came to be King of the Jews. He makes many references to the Old Testament to show that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies. He is the Messiah.

 

Mark seems to have been a young man who lived in Jerusalem. He was a disciple of Jesus, but not one of the twelve closest. His gospel is the shortest. It may also have been the first to be written. Mark supplies many interesting little details about the incidents he relates.

 

Luke was a doctor. He writes about Jesus from another point of view. He would be especially interested in the healing work of Jesus and writes about him as the Saviour.

 

John concentrates his story on Jesus as the Son of God and the glory of God. He is much more concerned with the spiritual nature of Jesus’ teaching. His gospel contains many things of deep and hidden significance.

 

Together the four gospels present the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. They begin with the way in which his coming fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. His birth had been anticipated in the word of God. He is God’s Son.

 

Jesus was born by a miracle. He was the son of a virgin through the power of God. He was brought up in a Jewish household in northern Israel.

 

He began his work at about the age of thirty when he was baptised. All through his life he resisted temptation and sin. He devoted himself completely and utterly to doing the will of God in everything. God blessed him with great power for preaching and working miracles.

 

Jesus was the rightful heir to the kingdom of God and to the royal throne of David. Yet he sought to save men and women by humble service. He was rejected by his own people and cruelly crucified. Jesus accepted this, making himself a sacrifice for the sins of men and women. Through his death God grants the forgiveness of sins of those who believe in Christ.

 

After three days in the tomb Jesus was raised to life again by God. He appeared to many before ascending to heaven. There he awaits the time when God will send him back with almighty power as the Gospels promise.

 

A Young Church at Work

 

The Acts of the Apostles is a record of what happened after Jesus had gone into heaven. It is really the acts, or work, of Jesus carried on by his apostles. They received his power of the Holy Spirit to help them.

 

First the church was established at Jerusalem. Then the gospel was preached in other places. Slowly it spread out like ripples on a pond. Peter and John preached in Judaea. Philip and others took the gospel to Samaria. Then the work spread into Asia and all the world. Peter “opened the door” to the Gentiles when he preached to Cornelius. Paul became the “apostle to the Gentiles” and made several missionary journeys to the Gentile world.

[Resource Manager]

CHAPTER 9

 

A FRIEND was telling us about her new job as a saleslady.

 

She had drawn up at the house she was to visit and sat in the car preparing for her first call. She had to ask the lady of the house if she might show her a catalogue for just five minutes.

 

In her heart she wasn’t happy about this. She knew very well that, once inside, her visit would take at least thirty minutes. As a housewife herself, she also knew how hard it was to spare that time from a morning’s routine. As she left the car and walked up the garden path, she felt quite guilty.

 

Needless to say, she didn’t last long at the job. After only a few days she realised that she was not cut out for it. She gave it up.

 

One of the first requirements of salespeople is that they must believe in their product. If they are not convinced themselves, they are not likely to convince others. They need to be persuaded that they are doing a good job. Otherwise they will not be persuasive.

 

Total conviction is what emerges from the writings of the apostle Paul. He was not selling the gospel, of course, but he did have a firm belief in what he preached. He was fully committed to living it in his own life.

 

Letters to Believers

 

He had begun his career violently opposed to the gospel. He had spoken against Christianity. He had accused and persecuted believers. It was the fact that the risen Jesus had appeared to Paul that changed his life. There was no denying the fact ‑ Jesus was alive. He had spoken to him. With that he could not argue. Whatever he might suffer he had to do what was right. He would be branded a turncoat, but he must live by his firm conviction. He must tell people about the living Jesus.

 

To the Romans Paul describes his feelings like this:‑

 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes …” (Romans 1:16)

 

This letter was written before Paul visited Rome. He wrote to show that all men and women are sinners and need God’s help. Salvation is possible for anyone through faith in Jesus. He has shown the righteousness and the mercy of God.

 

Paul wrote two letters to the Corinthians. The first letter deals with many problems which existed in the church at Corinth. It gives advice on questions about marriage, immorality, law suits, unity within the church, charity, and life after death.

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Paul had earlier spent two years at Corinth. He would know many of the people there personally. Some, however, seemed to have challenged his authority to give advice. He wrote his second letter to remind them that God had made him an apostle. He warned those who were arrogant. He encouraged the rest to do what was right.

 

Paul wrote to the Galatians about a different sort of problem. Many of the believers there were turning back to the Law of Moses. They had become Christians. Then Jews had begun to persuade them to keep the old law as well. Paul’s letter showed how Christ had fulfilled the law. He showed that Gentiles could now share in God’s covenant through Christ. No‑one can earn eternal life through the law. God requires faith.

 

Paul had also lived in Ephesus for two years. He was forced to leave after a riot about the goddess Diana. However, the letter to the Ephesians was not about problems. It is about how to live the Christian life. It is about unity. It has good advice for families. The church is also a family.

 

A prison warder and a rich businesswoman were among the converts at Philippi. The Philippians were a great help to Paul when he was in prison in Rome. They sent him gifts. He wrote to thank them for their kindness and to strengthen their faith.

 

The letter to the Colossians was also written from Rome. It warns the brethren not to be led astray by the teachings of men. It shows the need to put our old life behind us and to live for Christ.

 

Paul had left Thessalonica hurriedly due to persecution of the brethren there. From Athens he sent Timothy back to help the church. Timothy’s good report resulted in this letter from Paul. He was glad to learn of their faith. He wrote about the second coming of Jesus, about resurrection and the judgment.

 

A second letter to the Thessalonians quickly followed the first. Perhaps there had been some misunderstanding of what he wrote. In this letter he warns of temptations and a “man of sin”. He urges them not to be idle in waiting for Christ. They need to be on their guard against sin and persecution.

 

Timothy was a young man who was a great help to Paul. He had been left in charge of the church at Ephesus. Paul wrote this personal letter to him. It gives advice on how he was to deal with his duties and problems.

 

Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written much later. It comes after Paul had been released from two years imprisonment. It was written very shortly before his death. It shows his wonderful courage and trust in God in every situation. It also warns Timothy that difficult times would precede the return of Jesus.

 

Titus had the difficult job of looking after the church in Crete. Paul’s letter to him contains instructions for the discipline and organisation of the church. The advice is good for today too.

 

Onesimus, a slave to a man named Philemon, had apparently run away. Later he was converted. Paul, in sending him back to his master, writes this personal note. He asks Philemon to accept Onesimus back without punishment. He is now not only a servant of Philemon, but also of Jesus Christ.

 

The letter to the Hebrews, written to Jewish Christians, shows how Jesus had fulfilled the law of Moses. Things of the Old Covenant pointed forward to Jesus. He was a “better” sacrifice than the sacrifices of the Old Testament. He was a “better” priest than those priests. His work alone is able to take away our sins and bring us back to God.

[Resource Manager]

More Letters

 

James wrote a very practical little letter. It is full of simple advice for the follower of Jesus. He warns to beware of strife, pride, lust, presumption, riches and an unruly tongue. He speaks of the need to have a working faith, a faith in action.

 

Peter wrote his letters in difficult times. He warns of how the faith of believers was to be tested. The last part of the letter (from 4:12) is almost like a post script. Some have suggested that it was added because serious persecution of Christians had begun in Rome.

 

Peter wrote again shortly before his own death. He was anxious about false brethren and their attacks on the church. He wanted to be sure that the Christians would remain firm despite their faith being ridiculed.

 

John had been one of the closest disciples of Jesus. He was also aware of the dangers facing the Christians. He was concerned about false ideas and corrupt practices which were creeping into the church. He called this opposition “antichrist”. His letter speaks of truth and reassures the believers of God’s unfailing love.

 

John wrote two further letters. They were short personal letters. They were written to show that those who walk in truth and show God’s love are the children of God.

 

Jude says that he found it necessary to write urgently about the spread of corrupt teaching and immorality. He too was concerned about the Christians being under pressure. He urged them to hold on to the teaching of Christ and to be faithful in the lives they lived.

 

That completes our brief survey of the letters, or epistles, of the New Testament. Paul, James, Peter, John and Jude all wrote from a perfect understanding of the teachings of Jesus. Their guidance is vitally important to our own understanding and way of life.

 

A Book From Jesus

 

The book of Revelation is not really a letter, but a prophecy. Its message was sent to seven churches in Asia Minor. Revelation means “appearing”. The book is about the second coming of Jesus and the events which lead up to it. It offers a blessing to those who read and try to prepare themselves for that great day. The book is a series of visions given by Jesus to John while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. The symbolism of the book is not always easy to understand. It refers to many other parts of Scripture. Sometimes this book is called the Apocalypse.

 

The Bible concludes with a warning about those who add to or take away from its message. In practice, however, this warning is often ignored. So many people say they believe the Bible. On closer questioning, however, they do not accept “this”. They feel “that” is not inspired. They cannot see that “the other” is important.

 

Others also claim to accept the Bible. They accept other writings as inspired too. They accord as much respect to contemporary writers. They believe that they also are inspired. They put their work on a par with the Bible.

 

The Bible is unique. It alone is the word of God. It is inspired by Him, wholly true. All of it is His message, vital for our salvation. It is a complete guide. It contains all we need to be able to please and honour God.

[Resource Manager]

CHAPTER 10

 

THE diesel and electric trains can never quite replace the old steam engines for fascination. I spent many hours by the railway line as a boy. I would be ticking off numbers and noting the different wheel configurations. Double‑headers (two engines pulling one train) were always a bonus to see.

 

I saw the “Caledonian” on its record‑breaking run. I once told the signalman about some trouble I noticed in a carriage wheel of the “Royal Scot”. The train had to be stopped further up the line and the carriage taken off. That was a proud day.

 

People like to claim an association with something out of the ordinary. They like to be able to say they know someone famous. To claim acquaintance with a film star or athlete sounds good. It immediately promotes a person in the eyes of others. To know their village or their family commands respect in certain company. What are they really like? Are they as ordinary as the rest of us? Do they behave the same in private as in public? What intimate details of their lives can be learned?

 

Of course, there can be times when someone you know is disgraced. No doubt it is wise to be silent about any acquaintance with them then!

 

Friends of Jesus

 

The twelve disciples had an intimate knowledge of the ways of Jesus. For almost three and a half years they lived in his company. Often they seemed to fail him. Yet he was grateful for their help. He said they had stayed with. him through all his trials.

 

It would be nice to be a close friend of Jesus when he was welcomed by people. Jesus healed many sick people who would be excited and grateful. The disciples then would be pleased that they were associated with him.

 

Soon, however, there came a time when to know Jesus was dangerous. At his arrest they all forsook him and fled. At his trial Peter denied him. After his death they most probably went into hiding out of everyone’s way.

 

Then, suddenly, after Jesus had ascended into heaven, they were in Jerusalem again. They were busy preaching about the Jesus they knew and loved. They were successful, too. Even their enemies said they had turned the world upside down in their work.

 

The change in these men was unbelievable. Timidity had become courage. Fear had given way to an amazing boldness. Imprisonment could not confine their message. Even threats of persecution made no difference. Their work could not be halted.

 

Men do not behave like this without reason. They have to be very thoroughly committed to their cause. They need to be fully convinced of what they do before they are prepared to suffer for it. Clearly the disciples, once so afraid, were now totally convinced. They believed enough to hazard their lives for this. Some of them were killed rather than give up speaking about Jesus.

 

This tells us a lot about their message. It shows that they regarded it as highly important. It also proves that they believed it to be true. They would not have suffered for something they knew to be false.

 

For us, centuries later, it’s easy to imagine that the disciples could have been wrong. Perhaps they were genuinely mistaken about some things? Maybe some reports were exaggerated? Could the disciples even have embroidered the stories to push forward their work?

[Resource Manager]

They Wrote The Gospels

 

No! Such suggestions do not fit. Men would not willingly die for that. In fact, Jesus promised that they should have his help in recalling the picture accurately. The Holy Spirit would guide them to an exact reconstruction of events. Here are the words:‑

 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

 

“However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak; and he will tell you things to come.” (John 16:13)

 

These words are not true only for the disciples. They are true of the gospel writers too. Two of the writers were disciples anyway. Matthew Levi and John were two of the twelve men closest to Jesus. They had an intimate knowledge of the story they tell. Two were not. Mark was probably John Mark, a young man mentioned in the gospel story. If so, he must often have been present to hear Jesus’ teaching and to see his work.

 

A Doctor With a Mission

 

Little is known about Luke. He was a doctor and seems to have written the book of Acts as well. He accompanied Paul on missionary visits. His gospel was written for an important man, perhaps a governor, called Most Excellent Theophilus. He begins by saying that he too was absolutely sure of his facts:‑

 

“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which are most surely believed among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.” (Luke 1:1‑4)

 

If we accept this testimony we accept the gospels as true. If we accept Jesus’ promise that his spirit would guide them, there can be no errors. It is popular to disregard this important evidence. Many like to point out that the gospel accounts were not written immediately. The stories must have been passed on by word of mouth. Each one hearing something would add his own little bit.

 

Anyone who has ever played the party game of passing on a message will know the truth of this. Whispering from one to another quickly leads to confusion and misunderstanding. The end message often bears no relationship to the one that started the game. The story becomes embellished and distorted in a funny way. It sounds very plausible when applied to the Bible too.

 

However, it ignores all the evidence. In the first place, there is good reason as shown above for believing that this did not happen. The holy spirit guided these men to record only what was true. It helped them to remember perfectly so that no mistakes were made. Not even inadvertently could any error have crept in.