Tag: Christianity

Absolutely Subjective

Gary Pollard

Carl sourced several of the most commonly asked questions and gave me 70 of them to write about. So I’ll try to tackle a question or three every week for a while (or until something more interesting grabs my attention). This week’s question is, “Are all morals absolute? Where does morality come from?”

Morality concerns itself with the difference between right and wrong. Some things are always wrong: murder, sexual sin, theft, neglecting people in need, etc.

But are all morals absolute? 

Some things are wrong, but forgivable. Jesus used David as an example of this. Leviticus 24.9 said that a special kind of bread was for “Aaron’s descendants only.” In I Samuel, David (left with no other options) ate that bread. This was a sin. Jesus used this incident to prove God’s desire for “mercy over sacrifice” (cf. Mt 12.5-7). Rahab flat out lied about keeping Israelite spies in her home, but was praised as an example of faith because of her actions (Hb 11.31). Then, of course, there’s I John 5.16-17: There’s a type of sin that doesn’t lead to death, and a type that does.

The Bible also teaches — unambiguously — that some things are wrong for some people, and not wrong for others (Rom 14.23; I Cor 8.7-8). The message of those texts is: 1. “Keep your beliefs about these things a secret between you and God, because it’s a blessing to be able to do what you think is right without feeling guilty” (Rom 14.22). 2. “Never do anything that would cause a weaker Christian to mess up” (Rom 14.13, I Cor 8.9, cf. Mt 18.7). 

Where does humanity’s sense of right and wrong come from? 

Some things are self-evident to most people. Most people understand that killing someone for no good reason is morally wrong. Most people understand that taking something that belongs to someone else is wrong. Not everyone is this regulated, though — I Timothy 1.9 says that the law was made for people inclined to harm others. 

On the flip side, “sin gets its power from law” (I Cor 15.56, Rom 3.20, 5.20, 7.7-8), so we should be careful not to emphasize the regulation side of Christianity with people who are generally inclined to do the right thing. 

But some things are not second nature. Not everyone understands that chasing happiness (which is often conflated with euphoria, pleasure, and dopamine) at the expense of someone else’s character or feelings is wrong. Fornication and adultery fall into this category. There are many (often understandable) reasons someone might fall for these, but none of them are ultimately justifiable. Not everyone understands that ordering their lives around anything other than God, or giving immense adoration and respect to a human over God, is wrong (this is idolatry). Our understanding of what is morally right in these (and other related) areas comes from God. 

God’s standard of what’s right has always existed to benefit humanity, prevent abuse of the vulnerable, to give us the most fulfilling life here, and to make us eligible for rescue when Jesus returns. Morality is an extension of God’s existence. It is the first and last line of defense against darkness. This Earth is still around, so bad people and bad things still exist. God gave us a standard of right and wrong that we can’t always live up to, and that’s where grace comes in. But some things are always very wrong and can’t be practiced by anyone who wants to live forever. 

Why You Must Repent

Carl Pollard

There’s a story told of a man who came forward every Sunday to ask for prayers. 

He continued responding every week for several months. Every time he would confess this same sin he would say, “Lord, take the cobwebs out of my life.” 

Finally, one Sunday, the man responded again with the same sin, and asked for the cobwebs to be taken out of his life. To which the preacher responded, “just kill the spider already.” Often, we come to God asking for forgiveness from the same sin time and time again, and yet we continue to leave the source of temptation in our lives. 

Sin always requires forgiveness. Forgiveness requires repentance. Repentance requires change! Repentance is a topic we are all familiar with. The word repent/repentance is used over 170 times in the Bible It is stressed as a part of the process by which we are forgiven of our sin. Verses like Acts 2:38 come to mind when we hear this word. To repent means to change your mind which leads to a change in direction. It means to feel remorse for sin, and it includes a change in lifestyle. 

When faced with temptation, true repentance is choosing not to sin. When caught in sin, repentance is a godly remorse. It is sincerity in your desire to “go and sin no more.” We understand this. It’s important for the born again Christian, but also for those who are wanting to be immersed and added to the body of Christ. 

We know what it is, but we also need to realize what it isn’t. Repentance isn’t just feeling sad. Paul tells us that worldly remorse is just feeling sorry that you were caught. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” Godly grief that leads to repentance is remorse that you have sinned against the God of our salvation. 

Worldly repentance is hollow and empty. 

It isn’t feeling remorse just because you were caught doing what you shouldn’t. True repentance is so much more. True repentance does not regret parting with sin, false repentance does. True repentance hates sin, false repentance hates the consequences of sin. True repentance accepts godly counsel and accountability, false repentance avoids accountability. 

Our goal must be to practice true repentance, and we can’t fool ourselves. We are ALL in need of forgiveness, but we must be willing to confess our sins, to hate the sin, and change our lives to mirror Christ. 

Why Is repentance needed? Whether it is in relationships, in the church or in the world, God will not forgive us if we are unwilling to change sinful behavior.

Repentance isn’t just guilt, although guilt can sometimes motivate us to repent. 

In Luke 13:3,5, Jesus tells those who come to him to repent or they will perish. In this section several people come to Jesus to talk not about their own sins, but the sins of others. It’s a whole lot easier to see the faults in others rather than the blatantly obvious faults we have in our own lives. 

Here the people have done exactly what we continue to do today, talk about the sins of others rather than their own. But Jesus tells them they are horribly mistaken. There is power in repentance, and twice in this one conversation Jesus tells them to repent.

If I am honest, there have been far too many times I have failed to just “kill the spider.” I am ashamed of the sin I continued to feed all the while pointing out sin in everyone else’s lives. God will look at each and every one of us. He sees our sins and there is no one to blame but ourselves. Repent. Before your conscience is seared or the end comes. Repent.

We Have A Problem

Gary Pollard

Nearly every culture in history hoped for immortality or rebirth or “the transmigration of the soul.” This is evident in the myths and stories handed down for millennia. Ancient Egyptians believed in Duat, the terrifying world of departed souls. Here, among other tests, the departed soul must verify that they’ve not committed certain sins (theft, murder, deceit, adultery, blasphemy, and 39 others). If they passed all of these tests, they believed they’d be reborn among the stars of heaven. Many other ancient cultures had remarkably similar beliefs, but we won’t go into these for the sake of word count.

The point is that everyone desired new life. We have it already! Jesus came to this earth when every major culture had a well-established, fully-developed…problem. What do we do after we die? Just about everyone believed we’d go to “heaven” (among the stars), but their views of life-after-death varied somewhat. Jesus — God in human form — gave a solution to this very well-developed problem: Himself. 

We’re so far beyond this archaic conundrum. Colossians 3 tells us what God wants us to do now that we already have new life! 

  1. In 3.1-4, our new life means thinking about higher things. 
  2. In 3.5-9, our new life means getting rid of bad behaviors. 
  3. In 3.11-12, our new life means we have an identity that transcends cultural boundaries because our allegiance is to Jesus first. 
  4. In 3.12-17, our new life means we do everything we can to be at peace with each other and pursue a united spirit. 
  5. In 3.18-4.1, our new life means that we try to structure our homes and lifestyles in the most functional possible ways. 

Our new life is hidden in Jesus. We are already immoral, and death is just the pivotal moment when the “seed” of this body becomes the fully-developed “plant” of a new, immortal body (cf. I Cor 15). Jesus and his inspired writers beautifully and simply answered the millennia-old questions asked by every culture prior to his arrival. We will meet him in the air. He will rescue us when earth is destroyed. We will live with him forever in a perfect new world. No other religion so boldly answers these questions, another evidence of Christianity’s divine origin! 

Dozen Thousand

Gary Pollard

It’s so encouraging that many public figures (by extension, many of their audiences) have rejected outright atheism and godless evolution! Even those who would never consider themselves believers have rejected some of the main pillars of evolution. Among them are people like Joe Rogan, Randall Carlson, Graham Hancock, Jordan Peterson (who does describe himself as a believer in some capacity), Ben Van Kerkwyk, and many others. 

What have they rejected (minus Peterson)? Gradualism/Uniformitarianism — a belief (it is a belief) that current processes are sufficient to explain how things were in the past. Uniformitarianism is the foundation supporting a belief that our earth is billions of years old, that geological processes take millions of years, and it serves as the bias behind radiocarbon/radioisotope dating. 

So what’s the problem? These same proponents of catastrophism (the belief that geological processes are best explained through natural disasters rather than gradual changes over long periods of time) still view the earth as being billions of years old. They still have an evolutionary view of our timeline. Progress is progress, so I don’t want to be harsh in discussing these people! 

But I would like to remind myself (and whoever may read this) of why I don’t believe the earth is any more than (at most) 12-15,000 years old: 

  1. Population of earth — We double in population every couple of decades. Allowing for disasters, if humans (or humans-ish, as evolutionists say) came onto the scene 1,000,000 years ago, we’d have something like 1×105000 people on earth today. The known universe couldn’t hold anywhere near that many people, much less our one planet. Since the current population of earth is around 8.02 billion (according to commerce.gov), we can safely assume that we’re no older than 12-15,000 years. 
  2. Sediment layers across our ocean floors are far too “thin” to support an age of hundreds of millions of years. Sediment should be “choking the oceans” if the oceans were that old. The salinity (saltiness) of the oceans is another problem for old-earth proponents — it has been convincingly proven that our oceans are getting saltier with time (rather than remaining constant). Based on current salinity, our earth is no more than several thousand years old. 

Many other brilliant authors have written much more than can be contained here. I recommend perusing the Institute for Creation Research’s website, as well as Apologetics Press and Answers in Genesis for more proofs. While the secular world is still off on quite a few things, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that progress is being made. 

At least for right now, there does seem to be a positive trend in society’s thirst for meaning! Let’s make the most of this by showing God’s love even more. Let’s prove to the world that there’s no better life than a Christian life! Our God is coming back — when he does, the entire world will see him. Let’s show them that we believe in him enough to love like Jesus!  

1  Butt, K. (2001). Fighting the crowd over a young earth. ApologeticsPress.org. https://apologeticspress.org/fighting-the-crowd-over-a-young-earth-882/

2  Tomkins, J.P. & Clarey, T. (2021). The oceans point to a young earth. Institute for Creation Research. https://www.icr.org/article/oceans-young-earth

God’s Word Is Your Compass

Brent Pollard

“For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.” (Deuteronomy 30.11–14 NASB 1995)

The Bible is widely known, but not all individuals believe in it. Moreover, simply believing in the Bible does not guarantee a transformation in behavior. This fact is unfortunate, as the Bible provides easily understandable and actionable instructions from God (see Psalm 19:7).

Despite the varying levels of belief, it is essential to acknowledge the Bible’s widespread availability and recognition. In this digital age, accessing God’s word is just a swipe away on a smartphone. Given the Bible’s evergreen status, it’s reasonable to assume that most people also possess a printed copy. This accessibility demonstrates God’s neverending ability to provide guidance and wisdom.

Given the Bible’s widespread availability, it is crucial to understand that it offers guidance and advice. We should always count on the Word of God as our compass, using it as both guidance and assurance. The Bible instructs us to discuss and share its teachings as a practical guide for daily living, using the phrase “in your mouth” (v. 14). It’s like a handbook for navigating life, packed with wisdom we can draw upon for all our daily decisions.

However, merely reading or hearing God’s words is insufficient; they must be internalized in our hearts (see Psalm 119.11). The text emphasizes the importance of internalizing the Word of God in our hearts. It is crucial to adopt the messages conveyed by the Bible to develop our values and actions. This internalization marks the beginning of a genuine transformation. As the teachings of the Bible permeate our existence, they shape our decisions, leading us to act with deep understanding.

The ultimate purpose of religious truth is to promote obedience, not satisfy curiosity or thought. Consequently, the word of God has immense power to motivate us to take action. As believers, we must implement the teachings of the Bible into our daily lives. Following its principles is a clear indication of our genuine faith. The Bible reinforces the importance of putting one’s beliefs into action (see Hebrews 11 and James 2.14–26). As James urged, we must be “doers of the word, and not merely hearers” (James 1:21 NASB 1995).

In conclusion, the Bible is more than just a book; it is a personal compass that deeply connects with our hearts and influences our conduct. God has crafted the teachings to make them easy to understand and practice daily. To fully benefit from the Bible, we must actively engage with it, allowing it to shape our beliefs, decisions, and actions. By doing so, we can experience the transformative power of God’s word in our lives.

Rational Faith

Gary Pollard
  1. Universal constants (ie. truth) exist. They must, or civilization would not be able to sustain itself. 
  2. Only one religious system has a flawless narrative from beginning to end: Christianity. The collection of sacred writings we call the bible is uncanny in its preservation and authenticity. No other ancient document has ever held up to academic scrutiny like the bible has. 
  3. While no organization is perfect, none have positively impacted the planet like Christianity has. Not even close. No civilization has been as functional as those which have been built on Judeo-Christian principles. Literacy is as wide-spread as it is because of the bible. 
  4. Evidence for the existence of a higher power is everywhere. If the bible — which contains a supernaturally infallible narrative — claims that the God we serve is that higher power, it is only rational to serve that God. 

“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this. Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by his command. This means the things we see were created by something that cannot be seen” (Hb 11.1-3). 

We were not there 2,000 years ago when Jesus walked the earth. We were not there when he created the earth. We were not there when he came back to life. We were not there to witness any miracles. 

But what has been left to us is a series of compelling proofs, such as the complexity and order of the universe from the cosmic scale to the microscopic scale. We have a collection of ancient documents which have been preserved to a degree that no other ancient documents have, and which contain no narrative contradictions. We have a system of belief that, when followed properly, is the most functional way to live. We will not see with our own eyes until Jesus returns. Until then we are satisfied with the evidence we have, and we are confident in who God is and that he exists. This is the very definition of faith. 

If The Gospel Isn’t Working

Dale Pollard
The longest train ever recorded in history was the Australian BHP Iron Ore. The cars behind it stretched approximately 4.6 miles. To provide some mind-boggling perspective here's what one train-fanatic wrote, 

“Driven by a single driver, the line’s 99,734-ton and 682-car train was able to carry 82,000 tons (181 million pounds) of iron ore. The Australian BHP Iron Ore can fit about 24 Eiffel Towers…The weight of this train being the same as about 402 Statues of Liberty.”

Trains are impressive heavy-haulers, but only under the right conditions. On the tracks they’ll whistle while they work but once they’re derailed— they only whistle. Trains don’t work without tracks. 

Paul would make an interesting appeal to the saints who met at the infant church family in Thessalonica. He asks that they pray for the powerful gospel to have a straight path so it could move quickly. His exact words were,

“pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified…”

2 Thess. 3.1b 

In a simple yet inspired prayer request a practical and profound implication steps out of subtlety— Prayerlessness will hinder the furtherance of the gospel. 

Based on this text, the content of congregational prayers may be in need of careful inspection. Reevaluating your evangelistic ministries, online presence, visibility in the community, advertising efforts, kingdom expenditures, and even the dynamics the worship service— all must fall below the prayer line on the priority list.  

While Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, God was writing to the rest of us. He reminds us that this request should ring in the prayers of His congregations today. The written petition by itself informs the modern church that this is something that God is willing and able to do for us, He would just have us ask. The powerful gospel needs prayer— like a train needs tracks. 

A 21st century church member may occasionally think 

The gospel doesn’t seem to be as convicting in my community. It works just fine in other parts of the world, and it worked well in the past— but not so much here and now. 

More Reasons Can Be Found 

Here: James 4.2-3 
Here: Matthew 21.22 
And Here: Ephesians 6.19-20 



———————————
Quote, (A-z-trains.com)

Genesis: These Are The Generations (XLVII)

Reconciled (45:1-28)

Neal Pollard

Now, it was time. In fact, it appears that Joseph could no longer hold it back. All the emotion, all the years came flowing out in this moment of time. The days of contention with her brothers, the day in the pit, the years in the dungeon, as difficult as they were to endure, must now have seemed like a distant memory. In the entire narrative, this is probably my favorite chapter. Don’t you hate to see loved ones and dear friends at great odds with each other? Or those who have hurt loved ones and friends who refuse to make it right? So much water has gone under the bridge leading us to these touching moments.

Disclosure (1-3).

Joseph’s emotions are uncontrollable and he cries (1). He dismisses everyone but his brothers. His weeping could be heard all the way to Pharaoh’s house (2). Then, he said it! “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” (3). How many times since he had first seen them had he wanted to tell them, restrained only by his wisdom and perhaps the providence of God? 

Dismay (3-5).

While it may not have been divinely intended, I wonder if there’s a touch of humor in the brothers’ response? Joseph reveals his identity, “But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence” (3). They are speechless! They believed him long ago dead, having rotted in some prison, abused by some taskmaster, or killed in the toil of a slave. But here he is before them. Of course, it was a sobering moment for them. The brother they betrayed had the power and backing of the powerful Egyptian nation behind him. Joseph beckons them to come near him, and he seeks to console them.

Discernment (5-8).

The brothers had been selfish, calculating, and without self-control. They had been wicked and sinful. What was Joseph’s perspective? He saw God in all this. Four times in his answer, Joseph credits God: “God sent me before you to preserve life” (5), “God sent me before you to preserve a remnant” (7), and “it was not you who sent me here, but God” (8; see his instructions in verse 9, too). Oh, for a heart, a mind, and a maturity to see life through Joseph-shaped glasses! To see my challenges, setbacks, adversities, and trials as the tools God uses to accomplish His purpose (Js. 1:2-4)! How that transforms tears into triumphs!

Directions (9-25).

Joseph urges the brothers to go back home without “delay” (9). He tells them where they will live, in the rich pasturelands of Goshen. He directs them to tell his father the power and position he had in Egypt. After all the weeping, embracing, and catching up with them, Pharaoh learns the news and rolls out the red carpet for Joseph’s family. He offers the best of the land (20), then Joseph lavishes them with many gifts. He heaps Benjamin with an extraordinary measure of goods and garments and his dad with extravagant gifts (23). Interestingly, he admonishes them not to quarrel on the way (24). The brothers comply!

Delight (26-28). 

Jacob is given the news and reacts like the brothers. He was stunned and in disbelief (26). But when he was shown evidence of the truth of their news, we read, “the spirit of their father Jacob revived” (27)! Something he thought was impossible was now the prospect before him. He would see Joseph again!

For all the dysfunction and missteps of this household, the beauty of unity rises like cream to the top! How it reminds me of God’s family today. While it is better to never have strife (1 Cor. 1:10-13), it is beautiful to see the humility, the spirit of forgiveness, the penitence, and the fruits of repentance that brings us back together again! When self is surrendered for the good of a brother or sister (Phil. 2:3-4), God is glorified and His work progresses. It is worth repeating: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133:1).

God’s Endless Love

Dawson Eubank

Since the world this week celebrated Valentine’s Day, I saw it fitting for us to talk about God‘s love. In the bustling noise of life with all its hardships, trials and tribulations, there is an unwavering truth–God’s endless love,. Let’s jump through Romans and unravel the depths of this divine love that sustains and transforms our lives.

Romans 5:8 – Sacrificial Love: 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Reflect on the sacrificial love of Christ, willingly laying down His life for us, even in our brokenness. It’s a love beyond comprehension, a love that saw our flaws yet chose to redeem us.

Romans 5:5 – Overflowing Love: 

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Let’s dwell on the overflowing nature of God’s love, filling every corner of our hearts through the presence of the Holy Spirit. It’s a love that brings hope, assurance, and a sense of belonging.

Romans 8:38-39 – Unbreakable Love: 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Meditate on the unbreakable bond of love between us and our Creator. Nothing in this world, no circumstance or force, can sever this divine connection. It’s a love that endures through eternity.

As we ponder Romans, may we experience the richness of God’s love. Let’s embrace the truth that we are cherished, forgiven, and empowered by His love. Let this love be our anchor in the storms of life, our light in the darkest nights, and our joy in every season. For in God’s love, we find our ultimate fulfillment and purpose.

Genesis: These Are The Generations (XLI)

Joseph’s Purity And Integrity (39:1-23)

Neal Pollard

Moses resumes the saga of the rejected brother, Joseph, who through slave traders made his way into the home of a prominent Egyptian soldier named Potiphar (1). In this chapter, we learn much more about the character of a young man who had gone from favored son to subjugated stranger in a foreign land. He appears friendless, but not alone (2)! 

Joseph was blessed (2-6). Most of all, he was blessed because “the Lord was with him” (2-3). He was also blessed with competency and capability (3,6). He was blessed with people skills (4). He was even blessed with a good physique and handsome features (6). Despite the traumatic events that led him to Egypt, Joseph did not sulk or surrender in defeat. He made the most of what God gave him. We do well to do as the song says: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God has done” (Eph. 1:3; Rom. 2:4). 

Joseph was besieged (7-12). Joseph drew more than the admiration of his master’s wife. He was the object of her unwholesome desire (7). She illustrates the progressive nature of sin. First, she lusted (7). Then, she propositioned him (7). She totally ignored his well-reasoned refusal (8-9). She persisted in her efforts to seduce him, “day after day” (10). Finally, she waited for an opportune moment when they were alone to step up her immoral pursuit (11-12). 

How hard was this for Joseph? We are not told whether or not Potiphar’s wife was pretty, but we know she was powerful. Joseph was a young man with presumably normal, God-given sexual desires. Joseph was far from home, might have felt forgotten by God, and had tried repeatedly to resist this woman’s advances. He could have said, “Oh, well. I tried.” But he did not give in and would not give in to her seduction.

Joseph was betrayed (13-20). We are not told if it was embarrassment at being rebuffed or fear that her aggression might be discovered, but she lies about what happened. Joseph, in his effort to escape her literal clutches, left the garment that she had grabbed in her hand as he fled (13). She shows the men of the household the garment, claiming he had tried to force himself on her (14-16). She repeated the lie to Potiphar later that day and even insinuates Potiphar was partially to blame (17-19). Potiphar’s anger burns and he has Joseph thrown in prison (19-20). 

Be reminded that sometimes you will suffer through no fault of your own. You can be the victim of others’ lies, slander, and scorn. Peter’s words are spiritual salve: “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name” (1 Pet. 4:15-16).

Joseph was buoyant (21-23). There is no indication that Joseph grew bitter against God. Did he wonder what he had done wrong to suffer at the hands of his brother then his master’s wife? If so, Scripture is silent about it. Later, he indicates that he saw God’s hand with him through all of this (50:20). No, Joseph landed on his feet in the prison. Why? God continued to uphold him. God was with Joseph, extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailor (21). He is given responsibility once more (22). The Lord made him to prosper (23).

Joseph is a great example of a New Testament principle applicable to every child of God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31b). Also, there is no temptation too great that we must give in; God will provide a way of escape and help us endure whatever we face (1 Cor. 10:13). He did that for Joseph and He will do that for you and me. 

The Dividing Christ

Neal Pollard

Wait a minute! We rightly say that Jesus died so that we all might be one in Him as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-21). How do we reconcile that with what Jesus says in Luke 12? He says He came to grant division (51). “Grant” means to give out, bestow, or donate, also with the idea of producing or imposing (BDAG 242-243). When Jesus makes this statement, it’s in the midst of a very distressing prospect for His own physical future (50) but also the impact His completed mission would have on His followers. 

HE REVEALS THE FACT OF THE DIVISION (Luke 12:49-53). This had to surprise His disciples for Jesus to issue this warning. Houses would divide over Him, as some tried to follow Him while others fought against Him. He desires us all to have peace (John 14:27; Col. 3:15), but it is a peace that requires submission and obedience to Him. That very prospect works like a sword (Mat. 10:34) that fights against peace for those who refuse to take Christ on His terms. Our response to Jesus may divide us from parents, children, in-laws, and no doubt siblings and even spouses (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1ff). How many of us today have experienced that very thing? Surely God would want us to be at peace, but choosing Him when loved ones refuse to do so inevitably causes division. 

HE REVEALS THE SOURCE OF THE DIVISION (Luke 12:54-56). There is a seeming abrupt change of subject here. How does their ability to read the weather relate to what Jesus has just taught? He is talking about a mindset or worldview. People in His day, like ours, were adept at analyzing earthly things like predicting weather from observing the earth and sky, but could not analyze things of greater importance. Here was Jesus who had come with the truth, something they should be able to hear, consider, and then rightly choose, but instead they chose to reject it. As long as there are those who treat Jesus this way, there will be division. 

HE REVEALS A WAY TO PREVENT DIVISION (57-59). Jesus closes this paragraph dealing with how to achieve peace when it comes to earthly things. It may be unavoidable that there will be division when it comes to who is lord of our lives, but there are ways to keep peace. If we see the spiritual as more important than the material, we will avoid unnecessary division with others. Jesus calls this judging what is right (57). Don’t fight and divide over earthly disputes. These drain our time, energy, and maybe more! It may exact a higher price than we anticipated. Reserve your fight for what really matters–things spiritual and eternal. 

We are in a divided world right now. That’s not just true politically, but certainly also spiritually. Everyone whose heart is open to the truth are those with whom we can find the common ground of unity in Christ. But our allegiance to Him may also make us some enemies. Jesus warns of this potential, but He also warns us not to unnecessarily create barriers that divide us from others. Discipleship is about priorities, prioritizing Jesus’ will above our own interests. That can be hard, but that mindset can help us win those in the world who are searching for truth. 

Temporary Versus Permanent

Eli Watson

Good evening, Today before church I was working on cleaning a house out; the lady that had lived here passed two years ago, and in the meantime the objects in the house sat and gathered dust. And after taking countless trash bags out to the dumpster, it got me thinking about how none of the earthly possessions we collect in this life matter. They’re not coming with us nor will we need/miss them when we’re gone. Let us turn our attention to Matthew 6:19-21, which says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

These words offer a powerful reminder that our earthly existence is not meant to be permanent. God, in His infinite wisdom, has instilled within each of us a deep yearning for something beyond the boundaries of this temporary life. Our souls are eternal, but we are on a temporary trip. We have a longing and sense to be with him for eternity because that’s what He had intended from the beginning when He was walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Making the right decisions in life by focusing on what’s truly important is the only way to get back to him though. 

Now, before we jump to the wrong conclusion, Jesus didn’t say that … 

You can’t own a phone

You can’t buy a computer.

You can’t purchase a home.

You can’t drive a car.

You can’t buy gifts for someone.

You can’t save or invest money for retirement.

You can’t buy more than one shirt or a pair of jeans.

What Jesus did say was, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth …” 

Said another way, stop focusing on accumulating money and things and set your heart pursuing “treasures in heaven,” which leads us to the next question. What does this mean?

Consider the seasons of life mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to weep, and a time to laugh – all encompassing the spectrum of human experiences. Each phase serves as a stitch in the tapestry of our existence. However, it’s crucial to recognize that this earthly journey is not our final destination. There’s a longing for eternity within us. In acknowledging our impermanence, we can take a look at the apostle Paul, who in 2 Corinthians 4:18 encourages us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. This shift in focus beckons us to consider the eternal significance of our actions, relationships, and faith. Everything that we do in this short life counts, but the possessions we have won’t affect our judgement day determinations, there’s no Forbes list in heaven. 

Our temporary journey on Earth prompts us to seek a deeper connection with God. It’s an opportunity to align our lives with His divine purpose, and spread his word along the way. That’s one of the most important parts of our walk in this life, and as we navigate the complexities of life, let us remember that our existence here is just a sneak peak to the everlasting reality promised through faith in Jesus Christ.

The transient nature of life doesn’t diminish its value; instead, it underlines the importance of living purposefully. In Psalm 90:12, we’re encouraged to “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This wisdom involves recognizing the brevity of life and using our time wisely, investing in eternal treasures. These eternal treasures don’t care about your credit score or any debt to income ratios but rather of the spiritual score, are you living the way you know you should. Having the spiritual wisdom and maturity to get through this life will be what matters in the end. 

Our journey on Earth also invites us to share the love and hope found in Christ with those around us. Matthew 28:19-20 compels us to go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we participate in God’s redemptive plan, extending the invitation to eternal life to others. While on this earth we were instructed to be fishers of men, and we are meant to use draw people in by showing them the love of God that is pouring out of us. We have been given an opportunity to show the everlasting mercy and grace of God that has been shown to us. 

In conclusion, as we contemplate the temporary nature of our earthly existence, let us be inspired to live intentionally. May we find purpose in aligning our actions with God’s will, nurturing deep connections with Him, and sharing His love with a world longing for eternal hope. For in the tapestry of life, our temporary moments find eternal significance in the hands of our Creator.

Bearing the Marks of Truth:

Living the Gospel in the Footsteps of Paul

Brent Pollard

Paul made a statement in Galatians 6.17 that is worth considering. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he declared, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus” (ESV). This statement raises the question: was he speaking literally? Did his fearless preaching of Jesus Christ result in physical marks? Considering the hardships listed in 2 Corinthians 11—195 stripes from the Jews, beatings with rods, and being stoned in Lystra—it’s plausible that Paul bore physical scars from these experiences. It’s unlikely any of us bear such marks for Jesus.

However, Paul’s message delves deeper than the physical scars. His letter to the Galatians also defended against accusations of being a false apostle. Critics claimed he received his message from men, not from divine revelation. Paul countered this by pointing to his scars as evidence of his apostleship and dedication to God’s truth. Thus, his physical marks were not just scars but proof of his faithfulness and the truth he preached.

This proof leads to a reflective question: if someone examined your life closely, would they see the truth of God’s Word as clearly as they might see the physical scars on Paul? It’s a challenging thought. Paul encourages us to bear the marks of Jesus, the marks of truth, in our lives. Remember Jesus’ words in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (ESV). God’s word, the Bible, calls us to bear its marks in our lives actively.

Bearing the marks of Jesus Christ means living in alignment with His teachings and principles, allowing His truth to permeate every aspect of our lives. This involves reflecting His love, grace, and forgiveness in our interactions and consistently seeking to grow in understanding and applying His Word. As we embody God’s truth, we become living testimonies of His transformative power and a beacon of hope to those around us.

In conclusion, the marks of Jesus Christ that Paul bore are a profound metaphor for Christian life. Whether physical scars from persecution or the spiritual imprints of living according to Christ’s teachings, these marks signify a life committed to the gospel. Paul’s dedication serves as a reminder of discipleship’s cost and divine truth’s strength. As followers of Christ today, we are challenged to bear our own marks through our actions and life choices, not necessarily through physical suffering but through a commitment to living out His teachings. Let us strive to make the gospel’s truth visible in our lives, serving as clear indicators of our faith and commitment to Jesus Christ, thereby honoring the legacy of apostles like Paul and contributing to the witness of God’s kingdom on earth. 

Thoughts On Love (Part 2)

Gary Pollard

Love for other people means taking care of them, even if we don’t like them. We’re also expected to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. How is it possible to show love to God the same way we show love to people? It isn’t possible, because God needs nothing. Everything we have comes from him, so we cannot give him anything he doesn’t already have. 

Jesus told a story about two sons. Their father asked them to work in the field — one of them said, “I will,” the other said, “I won’t.” The one who agreed to work never went to the fields, and the one who didn’t want to work eventually worked. Who actually did what their dad asked them to do? 

We show love for God by doing what he wants us to do, even if we don’t want to do it. It’s very difficult (often bordering impossible) to love our enemies. But if we love God, we’ll love our enemies. In our current political climate, it’s very tempting to violate the unconstitutional policies that have been shoved down our throats for decades. But if we love God, we’ll follow every law that doesn’t demand sin on our part. If we ever reach a point where our physical safety is threatened because of our faith, we will remain passive if we love God. 

Having love for God means doing what he wants us to do. John makes it very clear that we cannot love God and hate other humans at the same time. We cannot love God and neglect our Christian family. The point of love is to prove the goodness of God! If we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, the natural expression of this is to take care of the people God created! Loving God means emulating his nature — God is love. He proved this by sacrificing his son while we were neck-deep in violating everything he holds sacred. We deserved nothing, and he gave us everything. If we love God, we try to emulate that level of sacrifice for other people. 

The Message Of The Cross

Carl Pollard

“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, til my trophies at last I lay down. I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” 

The cross has long been an integral part of Christianity. It has been a symbol of faith, a marker of hope, and a reminder of God’s love. 2000 years ago Jesus died on a cross, and ever since, millions have associated Christianity with a cross. Before Christ was crucified on one, the cross was just a terrible way of putting someone to death. 

Crucifixion was used by the Persians, Greeks, and Macedonians, but the Roman’s really perfected it. 

Tens of thousands of people have been put to death on a cross throughout history.

It was considered at the time to be one of the most brutal, shameful and humiliating ways to die. The cross was seen as a source of death and pain, but Jesus turned it into a symbol of life and joy. God’s own Son forever changed the meaning of the cross when He was nailed to one and gave His life. Now when you google, “the cross” the first thing that pops up is a description of Christianity and our beliefs. 

Jesus changed the entire purpose of a cross, and He did it for us. Sadly, the cross doesn’t mean to some what it means to others. The cross is a reminder of the life we have to come, but for others it is a made up story or fairytale. It is truly incredible how two people can look at the cross and think two entirely different things. 

Interestingly enough, Paul actually wrote about this very problem in 1 Corinthians 1. 

Written around 55 AD, Paul, the author, wrote to the church at Corinth for several reasons. They needed to understand the difference between divine and human wisdom. They needed pointers on marriage and sexual conduct. They had an idol problem, weren’t sure how Sunday services should be conducted, had no idea about the resurrection, and so much more. All in all there’s a lot to learn from this letter, but the part we will look at is found in 1:18-25. 

Chapter 1-4 is all about human wisdom versus divine wisdom. If you’ve ever wondered why the world thinks we’re crazy, Paul answers that in this section. 

The message of the cross. The cross causes different reactions in each person. 

The cross divides, delivers, and decides. 

  • The Cross Divides The Saved and Lost (18) 
  • The Cross Delivers True Wisdom (19-21) 
  • The Cross Decides Your Future (22-25) 

”The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent.” Isaiah 29:14 So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments? God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish. This is what God in his wisdom decided: Since the world did not find him through its own wisdom, he used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it. The Jews ask for miraculous signs, and the Greeks want wisdom. But this is the message we tell everyone: Christ was killed on a cross. This message is a problem for Jews, and to other people it is nonsense. But Christ is God’s power and wisdom to the people God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom. Even the weakness of God is stronger than human strength“ (1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭25,‬ ‭ERV)‬‬

What does the cross mean to you?

Thoughts On Love (I)

Gary Pollard

I’ve been studying the nature of Christian love recently. I try to study where my knowledge is insufficient or personal character is lacking. It has been difficult for me to love others the way Jesus loved others. I still have a long way to go. Other people can be unlovable, and threats are to be dealt with! This is the perhaps one of the more common baselines of human thought. 

Jesus calls us to transcend these primal dispositions and pursue a truly selfless love. We have many obstacles to overcome in our pursuit of the kind of love Jesus shows. The idea of “love of self” has been perverted by the world. We’ve all seen a saying that goes something like, “You can’t love others unless you love yourself.” While the underlying motive behind that saying may have been pure, it has been used to justify narcissistic tendencies or excuse bad behavior. 

But what if I genuinely don’t love myself? How can I love my neighbor like I love myself if I don’t feel anything (or very little) positive about myself? Our understanding of biblical love may need to change a little. In all of scripture (and even in apocryphal and pseudepigraphal writings), love for our neighbors almost always translates to providing for their needs. 

A person may not love self, but they will not starve their bodies out of hatred (remember, an exception by its nature is not the rule; a rule is something so often true that it is reliably predictable). They will not neglect the basic functions of being just because their view of self is not completely perfect. 

Love does not necessarily have anything to do with how we feel about a person. It is sometimes called “the strongest emotion” but this is not completely accurate. There is an emotional aspect to love, often described as σπλαγχνον (splanknon, compassion) or οικτιρμος (oiktirmos, heartfelt pity), though this is not exhaustive. But αγαπη love is a decision to help another person, despite how we might feel about them. 

What does biblical love look like? If we love our neighbor, we’ll feed them when they’re hungry, encourage or give affirmation when they need it, help them financially (anonymously, if we want to avoid God’s judgment), give grace to their weaknesses and mistakes, and overlook hurtful actions done to us. 

Who are our neighbors? Our enemies, our friends, and everyone else who lives on this planet. More realistically, any other human in our proximity. If we see a need and have the ability to help, godly love compels us to help. When Jesus comes back he will ask, “Did you take care of my people?” So much more could be said about this, but next week we will look at the kind of love God wants us to have for him. 

The Kingdom Is Here Today

Brent Pollard

The author of Hebrews uses the example of the Melchizedekian priesthood to establish the priesthood of Christ. Jesus belonged to the tribe of Judah, which Moses did not mention regarding the earthly priesthood. Therefore, there was a need for a covenant change to allow a non-Levite to serve as a priest. The writer of Hebrews spends chapters eight and nine explaining how the New Testament replaced the Old Testament in line with prophecy (see Jeremiah 31.3–14). In summary, the Holy Spirit confirmed that it was God’s will for Jesus to be a priest, but since He could not serve as a priest on earth because of Moses’ Law, Jesus instituted the New Testament so that He could be our High Priest in heaven.

Some believe that Jesus will reign as King from David’s throne in a future Jerusalem-based kingdom. However, there is an obstacle preventing Jesus from doing so on earth. God cut off David’s seed from sitting on David’s throne, as mentioned in Jeremiah 22:30, making it impossible for any of Jeconiah’s (or Jehoiakim’s) descendants to reign in Judah. This fact is relevant because Jeconiah was an ancestor of Joseph, Jesus’s foster father. Matthew traces Jesus’s legal lineage through Joseph in Matthew 1:12. Since Jesus is a descendant of Jeconiah, he cannot reign as an earthly king even though it was God’s will for Christ to be King. If God had not taken away the right of Jeconiah’s descendants to reign in Judah, Jesus could have certainly been an earthly king.

So, how is Christ a king? Jesus promised to establish a kingdom (Matthew 16:18–19). When Pilate pressed him, Jesus admitted to being a king (John 18.37). However, consider how Jesus qualified the nature of His kingdom in John 18.36. “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (NASB 1995). This truth means that Christ’s kingship is spiritual rather than earthly, as is His priesthood. It is worth noting that Jesus also accomplished this through His New Testament.

Many people misunderstand the truth and think that the apocalyptic language of a millennial kingdom in Revelation 20.6 refers to a future earthly kingdom that Christ will rule in Jerusalem. This misunderstanding is because they do not understand the interchangeability of the terms “kingdom” and “church” in Matthew 16.18–19. The word “church” is a Latin loanword that does not appear in the Bible. The actual word for church is “assembly.” Thus, the church represents the people. The word for “kingdom” is “basileia,” which means a kingdom or realm over which a king has sovereign authority. Therefore, God’s will was for Christ to choose a group of people from all over the world willing to submit to his authority.

According to the Book of Daniel, God showed King Nebuchadnezzar a prophetic dream about the future (see Daniel 2). In the dream, a cut stone struck a large image at its feet, causing the entire image to shatter and signifying the end of all worldly authority. Different materials comprised the image’s body parts, representing different empires. Babylon was the head of gold, Persia was the chest and arms of silver, Greece was the belly and thighs of bronze, and Rome was the legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. The feet mingled with clay represented the internal weakness of Rome. Commentators are familiar with this dream’s timeline. However, some believe that the Kingdom of God, symbolized by the cut stone, is yet to appear. However, according to Daniel, the kingdom emerged during the reign of the Roman emperors, referred to as “those kings.”

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” (Mark 9.1 NASB 1995). For those who refuse to believe that Jesus established His kingdom as He intended, there must be more than one person of advanced years who can prove they are older than two millennia! We understand that the power to which Jesus referred was the Holy Spirit, who descended on the apostles on the day of Pentecost, around 33 AD (Acts 2.4). As a result, Jesus reigns as King today and will continue to do so until His return. Following His return, Jesus will hand over His authority to the Father and the redeemed from all ages (1 Corinthians 15.24).

Combining biblical texts and prophecies creates a deep understanding of Jesus Christ’s position as King and High Priest, which goes beyond worldly limitations. Jesus fulfills the roles God has designated for Him, not as a political leader or a member of the old priesthood, but in a heavenly and everlasting sense through the New Testament and His heavenly kingdom. This understanding challenges traditional beliefs about a future earthly kingdom, instead emphasizing Christ’s spiritual reign, which began during His ministry and continues today. As Christians, we have the honor of living in this heavenly kingdom that Christ, our eternal King and High Priest, rules over in a merciful and benevolent manner. Recognizing this broadens our spiritual understanding and strengthens our faith in the eternal truth of God’s word and His ultimate plan for redemption.

The Meat

Gary Pollard

There were some members of the early church who had difficulty accepting some of the basic teachings of Christianity. The Hebrews writer told them, “We have many things to tell you about this. But it’s hard to explain because you’ve stopped trying to understand. You’ve had enough time by now that you should be teachers. But you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s teaching. You still need the teaching that is like milk. … Anyone who lives on this is still a baby and not able to understand much about living right. But solid food is for people who have grown up. From their experience they’ve learned to see the difference between good and evil” (Hb 5.11-14). 

What’s the basic stuff that prevents us from being mature? 

6.2 — Baptisms. This is probably Jewish washings and other irrelevant customs from the old system. They should’ve been past this by now. 

6.2 — This one doesn’t really apply to us today, but “laying hands on people”, usually to give them God’s blessing or supernatural power. 

6.2 — The resurrection of the dead and final judgment. 

These basics should be a given for every Christian. The Hebrews writer’s audience had “had enough time by now to become teachers” only a couple decades after Jesus’s work. It’s been about 2,000 years for us. We have no excuse to be stuck in the basics! 

So what should we be doing? 

Hebrews 7-10 — Understand that Jesus is far superior to any other system of belief, he’s in the highest position of power in the universe, he lives to serve as our perfect high priest, the old system (Old Law) is irrelevant now (8.13), that Jesus’s sacrifice cleared humanity of how the Old Law convicted us of sin (9.15), understand that his return means rescue for those of us who are waiting for him (9.28), to think about and encourage each other to show love and do good things for other people (10.24-39), and to never lose our confidence in the power of our king (10-11). 

This is a very simplified list for the sake of brevity, but a mature Christian tries hard to be like Jesus in how they live. They don’t give in when pressured by circumstance to deny Jesus through bad behavior. They accept suffering with grace and patience. Their confidence in who Jesus is and what he will do for us is never severely shaken. Their love for Christian family compels them to do good for them, and to encourage them by living like Jesus. 

Genesis: These Are The Generations (XXI)

Abraham Deceives Abimelech (20:1-18)

Neal Pollard

God’s choice of people to carry out His plan is never solely based on merit. If so, who could He use? Noah had exceptional, extraordinary faith, but he also struggled with weakness. Abraham is renowned for his faith, but in Genesis 20 he is going to fall back into the same moral trap he had previously laid for himself. In fact, this chapter reveals a habitual failing on his part (12-13). Developing faith is not flawless or perfect, even as it grows and matures. Let’s notice five things in Abraham’s stumbling steps on his road of trusting God’s providence. 

The Deception (1-2). It seems like deja vu, a repeat of the circumstance with the Pharaoh in Egypt (12:11-13). Abraham has journeyed south, back near the border of Egypt. He encounters the king of Gerar, Abimelech, there, and he tells the king that Sarah is his sister. Taking Abraham’s word at face value, Abimelech “sent and took Sarah” (2) in order to make her his wife. 

The Dream (3-7). We know nothing of the man’s character until God comes to him in a dream. Abimelech could declare his blamelessness to God (4), his integrity of heart, and the innocence of his hands (5). God validates his claim and informs him that He had intervened to prevent sin in his interaction with Sarah (6). The heart of God’s message to Abimelech is to restore Sarah to Abraham, a prophet, to have him intervene on his behalf. There is also a warning concerning His wrath if the king disobeys (7). 

The Discussion (8-13). Abimelech’s first discussion is with all his servants, “greatly frightened” at their master’s news (8). There had to be no small amount of righteous indignation when the king addresses the patriarch, asking, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?” (9a-b). Abraham receives a deserved, stinging rebuke (9c). The king also shows incredible empathy, wondering aloud what Abraham had experienced to resort to such tactics (10). The best Abraham could do is rationalize that he anticipated widespread unbelief and aggression wherever he went, and telling a half-truth (whole lie!) would keep his wife and himself safe (11-13). You wonder if Abraham could see the flimsiness of his excuse as he said it out loud. 

The Diplomacy (14-16). Abimelech believes what God says about his counterpart, and the offended shows great kindness and generosity to the offender. He endows Abraham with sheep, oxen, male servants, female servants, land, and 1000 pieces of silver. With this, he shows his integrity and character from beginning to end in this matter. 

The Devotion (17-18). The best thing Abraham did in this encounter was pray to God for the king of Gerar. In response, God opened the wombs of Abimelech’s household, wombs he had closed because of the appropriation of Sarah. While there was certainly a lesson for Abimelech to learn concerning the uniqueness and greatness of Jehovah (we will see this king not only in the next chapter, but in the next generation in an eerily similar situation with Isaac in chapter 26), was there also a lesson for Abraham? He had already shown so much faith in his life, going where God said go and believing what God promised. But, he had this blind spot in his faith. 

We should constantly evaluate our faith. Are there any blind spots? Maybe we trust Him in our relationships, but not in our finances. Maybe we are trying to seek Him first in so many areas, but we keep falling into the same bad habits or poor coping mechanisms in some area of struggle. This incident shows us God’s patience and special regard for His children, but it also reveals the need we have for letting our trials and temptations refine us and get us to a better spiritual place. We might occasionally be shamed by those outside of Christ who prove greater integrity than we show in a moment of weakness. That should drive us closer to God and make us trust Him more in subsequent trials! It appears to work that way for Abraham. 

Genesis: These Are The Generations (XV)

War And (The King Of) Peace (14:1-24)

Neal Pollard

Genesis 14 is more than a Sunday morning Scripture-reader’s nightmare (though the first ten verses would intimate the most golden-tongued!). We are introduced to an obscure, enigmatic character whom David and the writer of Hebrews will compare to Christ. However, what is the background of this King of Salem and his important encounter with Abram?

There is a local war around the Salt Sea, “four kings against five” (9). The cause of the conflict is the rebellion of the kings of the valley (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela) against Chedorlaomer, who had conquered all the nations in the region–the Rephaim, the Zuzim, the Emim, the Horites, the Amalekites, and the Amorites (4-7). The confederation of the valley kings “arrayed for battle against” Chedorlaomer and his allies (1) “in the valley of Siddim” (8). The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, Bera and Birsha, died in the tarpits of Siddim as they fled from the invaders’ army, and the rest of the army of the five kings fled to the hill country (10).

Chedorlaomer and his allies plunder all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and take Lot, the women, and the people of his house along with his possessions (11-12,16). An escapee tells Abram what happens, and the patriarch musters his allies and his own personal army to get his nephew and his house back safely (13-15). He has a battle plan, dividing his forces and attacking at night, and they defeat the invader in what is modern-day Syria (15-16). On multiple occasions, I have visited the ruins at Dan and have seen the so-called “Abraham Gate.” It dates back at least as far as Abraham’s day, almost 2000 years before Christ. 

(My photo of the “Abraham Gate,” March 2018)

After rescuing Lot and his house and goods, Abram is met by a priest named Melchizedek (18). The Holy Spirit, through the author of Hebrews, uses Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 119:4, and this one incident with Abraham to drive home an incredibly powerful point. Jesus is a High Priest, not like the Levites who descended from Aaron, but like this obscure figure, Melchizedek. 

The Bible uses a literary device called an antitype. “From the Greek antitupos, which occurs in Heb. 9:24 and 1 Pet. 3:21, where the AV translates it ‘figure.’ An antitype is the substance of which a type is the shadow, or the fulfilment of that which the type foreshadowed” (Cairns, Alan. Dictionary of Theological Terms 2002: 33). The antitype is always the greater; the type is always lesser and represents in some way the greater. So, Melchizedek is a type of Christ. He himself was greater than the Levitical priesthood in the ways we read in Hebrews 7, but the specific attributes we read about Melchizedek in this chapter are more fully and greatly found in Jesus.

What are the specific types? 

  • His position (18; Heb. 7:1). He is the king and priest of the Most High God. As king, he is king of righteousness and king of peace (2). 
  • His preeminence (20; Heb. 7:2,4-5). Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, signifying the greater prominence of the priest over the patriarch.
  • His perpetuity (Psa. 110:4; Heb. 7:3). “Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.” None of Melchizedek’s ancestors or descendants filled this role, so in that way “he remains a priest perpetually.”
  • His purpose (19; Heb. 7:6-7). Melchizedek blessed the one who had the promises, an indication of his greater position and authority.
  • His precursory place (Heb. 7:8-11). Melchizedek lived many generations before Aaron, through whom the Levitical priesthood descended. Aaron was still in “Abraham’s loins,” meaning that Abraham did not have children yet. Much later, he would sire Isaac, who beget Jacob, etc., until finally Aaron was born through this genealogy.

In the way that Melchizedek served as greater than Levi, Jesus more fully and greatly serves as greater than Levi. If it were a math problem, we would say Levi < Melchizedek < Christ. Obviously, then, Levi < Christ. The writer of Hebrews, in chapter seven, draws some conclusions about this type of Christ. Because Christ is the antitype of Melchizedek,

  • It makes sense that perfection comes from His priesthood rather than the Levitical priesthood of Judaism (11).
  • There needed to be a change of laws (from Moses’ to Christ’s)(12).
  • It is right that this greater High Priest comes from a different tribe in which none had or could have served as priest (13-14).
  • Christ serves as priest “not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life” (15-17).
  • He sets aside the old law and brings in a better hope (18-19).
  • He was appointed High Priest by means of the oath of God (20-21).
  • He has become the guarantee of a better covenant (22). 
  • He does not die, but continues forever as High Priest (23-24).
  • He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him (25-28). 

It is this last truth, concerning His salvation, where the author draws out several incredible points for our consideration. It is the crescendo of his “Melchizedek argument.” His work is unparalleled–He always makes intercession for us (25). His character is unparalleled–He is holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens (26). His sacrifice and offering is perfect (27). His oath is unparalleled–He is a Son, made perfect forever (28).

Of all the ways the writer establishes the superiority of Christ over all rivals, this one is the most interesting to me. It shows the masterful way God weaves events and Scripture together. The writer of Hebrews is making the point that the Levitical priesthood has been replaced by something better. Why would you exchange the superior for the inferior? 

After this encounter, which seems relatively insignificant until David and the writer of Hebrews later expound upon it, Abram refuses to enrich himself by the unsavory people of Sodom. The new King of Sodom only wants the people, but offers Abram to keep all the returned spoils from Chadorlaomer. Abram will have no part in that, taking only provisions necessary for the completed battle. Abram will continue to rely on God’s promises to take care of his needs, and he parts company with the king of this wicked domain. 

(Picture taken on March 10, 2018, running at the Dead Sea with Keith Kasarjian)