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“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (v. 6)

This verse has a story behind it: It is said that as D. L. Moody was boarding a train while rushing to his next speaking engagement, a man asked him how he might receive Christ as his Savior. Mr. Moody, being very much hurried, did not have the time to disembark the train and talk to the fellow, so he told the young man to Look up Isaiah 53:6, and enter in at the first “all” and come out at the last “all”. If we will take Mr. Moody’s advice, we too will find the salvation of the Lord, freely given to all men. This verse says it all. We are as sheep, who stray by nature. They need to be led.

Our Lord saw us as sheep, scattered among the hills. He knew that we were in danger of being ravished by a lion or a bear or wolf, but he knows too that He is our strength against such peril. We need to lean upon the Lord. He was despised, and at times we are too; He was smitten, as we will be; He was rejected and so are we; but He was our healing balm. (vs. 3 - 5)

The 53rd chapter of Isaiah, though a prophetic chapter, depicts the plight of Christ and mans attitude toward Him. Because of sin, we are not drawn to righteousness, as seen in this chapter. It is no wonder that man crucified the Savior who is the epitome of right and the holiest of the holies. We, from a wicked heart, will produce wicked actions; we all have rejected Christ at sometime in our lives, either by direct will or by our evil deeds.

Note that, as we are like sheep, He takes on the form of a lamb. The lamb “mothers” the sheep, and cares for them with all her heart. (v. 7) Jesus loves us like a mother loves her siblings. He “bore” us, as a woman in labor, and, spiritually speaking, He loves us because He suffered for us, and we belong to Him. All this for the transgression of his people, (v.8). We stray away as lost, and lowly sheep, but as a mother lamb, our Lord seeks us out, and brings us back. He knows the danger we could face, and keeps us close by His side.

Job 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation.
3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.
5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.
14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

Job 18
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place.
5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.

Job 19
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
4 And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.
5 If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:
6 Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.
7 Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.
8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.
9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.
10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book.
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
28 But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me.
29 Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.

Job 20:1-19
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2 Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.
3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
4 Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment.
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds.
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
11 His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth.
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.
17 He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.
19 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not.

Psalm 119:113-120
SAMECH
113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

15. It may be well just here to take time to show the differences between the Roman and Greek Catholics:

>>(1) In the Nationalities: The Greeks mainly are Slavs, embracing Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, etc., speaking Greek. The Romans are mainly Latins, embracing Italy, France, Spain, South and Central America, Mexico etc.

>>(2) The Greek Catholics reject sprinkling or pouring for baptism. The Romans use sprinkling entirely, claiming the right to change from the original Bible plan of immersion.

>>(3) The Greek Catholics continue the practice of Infant Communion. The Romans have abandoned it though once taught it as another means of Salvation.

>>(4) The Greeks in administering the Lord's Supper give the wine as well as the bread to the laity. The Romans give the bread only to the laity--the priests drink the wine.

>>(5) The Greeks have their priests to marry. The Roman priests are forbidden to marry.

>>(6) The Greeks reject the doctrine of Papal "Infallibility," the Romans accept and insist upon that doctrine. The above are at least the main points on which they differ--otherwise the Greek and Roman Catholic churches, it seems, would stand together.

16. In our lectures we have just about gotten through with the ninth century. We begin now with the tenth.

Faithful/Thursday, August 27, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell

Matthew 26:55-56

Your faithfulness to God will depend on your daily commitment to Him.

Have you ever wandered through a graveyard and read the headstones of those who had passed on? Most give a day of birth, day of death, and perhaps a short description of their lives. "Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Friend" "Friend to All, Foe to None" "A Great Fisherman"-the essence of a person's life is many times summed up in a few short words on a tombstone.

I remember visiting an old cemetery back East one time. As I wandered through the tombstones, I came upon one that caught me off guard. There was no day of birth, no day of death. No picture or fancy inscription. There was a single word carved into the tombstone over that body. The tombstone simply read "Faithful." The word that summed up that person's life was faithful.

As I read that tombstone, I wondered what that person had done to earn the title of "faithful." How much had they sacrificed to earn that title? What had they endured to be worthy of such an honorable word? But more than that, I wondered if I could be described as faithful at the end of my life. Would people look back and remember that I had faithfully served my Lord, even during the difficulties of life?

Think about the Christians who have remained faithful through history. Paul was beaten, stoned, left for dead, and suffered unbelievable difficulties. Yet he remained faithful. Early church leaders were persecuted for their faith, and some were even killed, yet they remained faithful. The Waldensians and many during the Middle Ages were threatened with unthinkable torture for professing Christianity, yet they remained faithful. John Bunyan was beaten and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, yet he remained faithful. John Wesley was chased out of churches for his biblical views, yet he remained faithful. Early pilgrims had to leave their homes and travel to a new land to freely worship, yet they remained faithful. So many Christians who have gone before us have endured the harshest of treatment yet have remained faithful to God. What would it take to turn us away from the Lord?

One of the saddest moments in biblical history is relayed in our verses today. Notice the end of verse 56, "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." The men into whom Christ had invested three years of His life, the men Jesus had personally chosen to accompany Him, the men over whom Christ had labored, decided that standing with Christ wasn't worth the cost. They chose to turn from the Lord rather than suffer.

Too often Christians follow God when it's convenient for them. They want God's blessings so they attend church and read their Bibles when things are going well, but the minute Christianity begins to cost them something, they give it up. They aren't committed to God; they aren't faithful.

Take a minute to think about this question: What would it take to make you turn from Christ? What would have to happen in your life for you to turn your back on God? Like Peter, so many people refuse the thought of denying Christ, but stronger Christians than us have fallen in times of adversity. Only those who are completely committed to God will be able to remain faithful in all circumstances.

How strong is your faith? At the end of your life will people be able to describe you as "Faithful"? Trials will come and difficulties will arise, but God wants you to remain faithful to Him in spite of them. Spend time right now to recommit your life to God. Commit to remaining faithful to Him, even if everyone else turns away from Him. Remember that even though all forsook Christ, He faithfully faced the Cross for you.

“How long will it be ere they believe me?”
- Num_14:11

Strive with all diligence to keep out that monster unbelief. It so dishonours Christ, that he will withdraw his visible presence if we insult him by indulging it. It is true it is a weed, the seeds of which we an never entirely extract from the soil, but we must aim at its root with zeal and perseverance. Among hateful things it is the most to be abhorred. Its injurious nature is so venomous that he that exerciseth it and he upon whom it is exercised are both hurt thereby. In thy case, O believer! it is most wicked, for the mercies of thy Lord in the past, increase thy guilt in doubting him now. When thou dost distrust the Lord Jesus, he may well cry out, “Behold I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.” This is crowning his head with thorns of the sharpest kind. It is very cruel for a well-beloved wife to mistrust a kind and faithful husband. The sin is needless, foolish, and unwarranted. Jesus has never given the slightest ground for suspicion, and it is hard to be doubted by those to whom our conduct is uniformly affectionate and true. Jesus is the Son of the Highest, and has unbounded wealth; it is shameful to doubt Omnipotence and distrust all-sufficiency. The cattle on a thousand hills will suffice for our most hungry feeding, and the granaries of heaven are not likely to be emptied by our eating. If Christ were only a cistern, we might soon exhaust his fulness, but who can drain a fountain? Myriads of spirits have drawn their supplies from him, and not one of them has murmured at the scantiness of his resources. Away, then, with this lying traitor unbelief, for his only errand is to cut the bonds of communion and make us mourn an absent Saviour. Bunyan tells us that unbelief has “as many lives as a cat:” if so, let us kill one life now, and continue the work till the whole nine are gone. Down with thee, thou traitor, my heart abhors thee.

1 John 4

“We love him, because he first loved us.” (v. 19)

I have said it before, and will no doubt say it again, “Love responds to love.” Our children only love us because we first loved them! Think of it; when we nurture them, and coddle them, they quickly grow to love us, because of their dependency on us! When we learn to depend on Christ, we will learn to love Him. Love grows from dependency.

God created in us the need for dependence, so that we would, through dependence, demand love. If someone else would have responded with love to our need, we may have loved them instead! I think of our children, and newly born babies, they know not how, nor whom to love! They respond, because they are dependent on us, to whoever meets the need! They learn to love the one who provides for them, no matter who that may be, whether the mom, or the nurses in the hospital, etc., they will grow to love the one that cares for them. Our dependence demanded love, and thereby drew the love of God out of Him, but it was because He implanted the need within us in the first place! Just as we need to be needed, God also needs to be needed, and repays us with love.

New born babies, while in the hospital, learn to love their nurses because they are usually the caregivers, at least at first. They wash them, and check them over, and perhaps are the first to clothe them. The mother then gets to “take over” soon, and the baby learns to love “momma”. Why? Because mom is the one who meets the baby’s needs. At that age, they don’t know what love is, they do not know really who is who, all they know is that this woman is meeting their need, whatever it may be. They learn to love whom they have depended on. When we find our love growing cold, and our heart being wrenched away from the Lord, we need see where our dependency lies. Are we fully depending on Him, or on someone else? It is so easy for us to transfer our dependency to another, but we need to focus on Christ, and trust Him, and depend on Him; it will help us to love Him more. Become dependant on the Lord, and you will love Him more.

Job 13:16-27
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.
23 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.

Job 14
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he.
11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18 And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.
19 The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.

Job 15
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind.
3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?
4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.
5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.
7 Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?
8 Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?
9 What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?
10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
11 Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?
12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,
13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?
14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16 How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
17 I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;
18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:
19 Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.
20 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.
22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.
23 He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.
24 Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
25 For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.
26 He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:
27 Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.
28 And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.
29 He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.
30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.
31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.
32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.
33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.
34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.
35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest.
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased.
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour.
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Psalm 119:105-112
NUN
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.
108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
109 My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.
111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.
112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

10. It is well to note also that in order to prevent the spread of any view of any sort, contrary to those of the Catholics very extreme plans and measures were adopted. First, all writings of any sort, other than those of the Catholics, were gathered and burned. Especially was this true of books. For several centuries these plans and measures were strictly and persistently followed. That is, according to history, the main reason why it is so difficult to secure accurate history. About all persistent writers and preachers also died martyr deaths. This was a desperately bloody period. All of the groups of persistent heretics (So-called) by whatever name distinguished, and wherever they had lived, were cruelly persecuted. The Donatists and Paulicians, were prominent among the earlier groups. The Catholics, strange as it may seem, accused all who refused to depart from the faith with them, believe with them--accused them of being heretics, and then condemned them as being heretics. Those called Catholics became more thoroughly paganized and Judaized than they were Christianized, and were swayed far more by civil power, than they were by religious power. They made far more new laws, than they observed old ones.

11. The following are a few of the many new variations that came about in New Testament teachings during these centuries. They are probably not always given in the order of their promulgation. In fact it would sometimes be next to impossible to get the exact date of the origin of some of these changes. They have been somewhat like the whole Catholic system. They are growths of development. In the earlier years especially, their doctrines or teachings were subject to constant change--by addition or subtraction, or substitution or abrogation. The Catholic Church was now no longer, even if it had ever been, a real New Testament Church. It no longer was a purely executive body, to carry out the already made laws of God, but had become actively legislative, making new ones, changing or abrogating old ones at will.

12. One of their new doctrines or declarations about this time was "There is no salvation outside of the Church"--the Catholic Church, of course, as they declared there was no other--be a Catholic or be lost. There was no other alternative.

13. The doctrine of Indulgences and the Sale of Indulgences was another absolutely new and serious departure from New Testament teachings. But in order to make that new teaching really effective, still another new teaching was imperatively necessary: A very large Credit Account must somehow be established--a credit account in heaven, but accessible to earth. So the merit of "good works" as a means of Salvation must be taught, and as a means of filling up, putting something in the credit account, from which something could be drawn. The first large sum to go into the account in heaven was of course the work of the Lord Jesus. As He did no evil, none of His good works were needed for Himself, so all His good works could and would of course, go into the credit account. And then in addition to that, all the surplus good works (in addition to what each might need for himself) by the Apostles, and by all good people living thereafter, would be added to that credit account, making it enormously large. And then all this immense sum placed to the credit of the church--the only church(?)! and permission given to the church to use as needed for some poor sinning mortal, and charging for that credit as much as might be thought wise, for each one needed the heavenly credit. Hence came the Sale of Indulgences. Persons could buy for themselves or their friends, or even dead friends. The prices varied in proportion to the offense committed--or to be committed. This was sometimes carried to a desperate extreme, as admitted by Catholics themselves. Some histories or Encyclopedias give a list of prices charged on different sins for which Indulgences were sold.

14. Yet another new doctrine was necessary, yea imperative, to make thoroughly effective the last two. That new doctrine is called Purgatory, a place of intermediate state between heaven and hell, at which all must stop to be cleansed from all sins less than damning sins. Even the "Saints" must go through purgatory and must remain there until cleansed by fire--unless they can get help through that credit account, and that they can get only through the prayers or the paying for Indulgences, by those living. Hence the Sale of Indulgences. One departure from New Testament teachings lead inevitably to others.

A Shield against Sin
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
by Dr. Paul Chappell

"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Matthew 26:41

You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.—Margaret Thatcher

A Christian magazine once conducted a survey on the types of temptations people faced and when these temptations were often strongest. The top three temptations people often struggled with were materialism, pride, and self-centeredness. The interesting part of the survey, though, was the times when these people felt the "weakest" or most susceptible to temptation. Eighty-one percent of those polled said they were more likely to fall into temptation when they had missed their daily time with God. When asked what helped them resist temptation, eighty-four percent of people said praying was an effective way for them to resist giving into temptation. Seventy-six percent of people said avoiding compromising situations helped them avoid temptation, sixty-six percent of people cited Bible study as a help, and fifty-two percent of those polled said being accountable to someone helped them.

Temptation is a natural part of the Christian life. God saves us from the penalty of sin but we still must face the temptation to sin. The devil’s pull is great and is often found in every corner of our world. Yet, God desires that we would resist temptation and choose to follow Him.

Many times Christians believe that temptation is sin. Being tempted happens to everyone; it is the act of giving into temptation that brings sin. It’s knowing what is right, what is wrong, and choosing to do wrong. Another misconception Christians have is that when we become spiritually mature, we will no longer be tempted or will have superhuman strength to resist temptation. There is no level of maturity or age that negates temptation; we all struggle with it! So how do we resist temptation? How do we see the devil’s trick and consciously choose to do what’s right? Our verse today gives us two ways to shield ourselves against falling into sin.

First, Christ tells us to watch. One of the hardest things for Christians to do is to keep a heavenly-focused gaze. It’s as if they focus on God on Sundays and Wednesdays, and perhaps in daily time with God, yet put God aside to focus on their to-do lists each day. God desires that you keep your gaze toward Heaven every day and watch for His soon return.

How can you balance a busy schedule on earth with a focus on Heaven? Do you remember the bracelets some years ago that were popular that simply said "W.W.J.D"? These bracelets were intended for their wearers to consider what would Jesus do each time they saw that bracelet. The idea behind the bracelets was something we all need to incorporate into our lives—how would Christ act in the situation we’re in? How would Christ treat others; how would Christ respond to this trial; what would Christ do in my situation? As you keep your gaze on God and consistently look to Him throughout your day, you will be able to shield against the temptation to sin.

The second way Matthew 26 tells us we can shield against sin is to pray. We must consistently be in prayer, as we saw yesterday. Spending time with God and staying close to His heart will help us see temptation for what it is and choose to follow God.

Temptation abounds in our world, there’s no denying it. Yet God has given us a way to shield ourselves from falling into sin. God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, yet He desires that as we grow in Him, we would see temptations and consciously choose to not give in to them.

Have you been struggling with a certain temptation in your life? Has the devil been targeting you in a certain area? Take to heart the advice of Matthew 26:41. Christ knows that your flesh is weak, but He wants to strengthen you as you keep your eyes on Him and continue in prayer. Ask God now to help you see temptation and resist the urge to sin. As you seek God, He will help you continue to faithfully live for Him each day.

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” (v. 3)

The Lord, through Paul, commended the Thessalonians for three basic services: Their “work of faith”; their “labor of love”; and their “patience of hope”. I wonder how we all would measure up in these areas? First though look at the first few words of our verse, Paul prayed “without ceasing” as he later urges them to do (1 Thess. 5:17). “Without ceasing” is constant prayer. Paul kept them in remembrance, because, even though they were commended for doing right, they needed prayer to maintain, as we also do. Let’s look now at the three works of the Thessalonians, and the testimony that was resultant from them:

The first was a “work of faith”: this entails a life that is steeped in faithfulness, and a church that is in one accord. The individual lives of each of them collectively, made a great and honorable “work of faith” for the Lord. They were an active, working church.

Secondly, they were commended for their “labor of love” which shows a charitable spirit. The Lord’s work is indeed a “labor of love” and is performed in love when applied correctly. It takes a lot of love to continue in the work of the Lord. Without a loving spirit, the preacher would never make it, he would not be the success he should be, or could be.

This is very closely linked with the “patience of hope” which is the third work that the Lord commends them for. You see, patience is love stretched out. This patience refers to the patience of our great hope, that the Lord is coming back. We are to work until He comes, and not grow impatience with Him, but also there is a more fleshly aspect to their patience, that being, patience with men. It takes a loving patience to deal with the problems that come our way at times, and with people ion general. Not everyone is of the kind nature that they should be. We owe every man a certain degree of kindness, and it takes patience to exercise it many times. In fact, this entire chapter speaks of the good works of the Thessalonians.

There is another interesting trilogy in this chapter, and it may be directly linked to the three previously mentioned: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” (v. 5). The Gospel came in word; in power; and in assurance, rather “much” assurance, by the Holy Ghost. It came with the backing of God Himself.