Defending a lion?!

Budding evangelists, and those who wish to witness more overtly concerning the Christian faith, could do a lot worse than take some lessons from that star evangelist, the Apostle Paul.

Dr Luke records, in Acts 17:1-15, two basic requirements for effective sharing of the Gospel message. The first of these is, quite simply, to concentrate on the Lord Jesus:

"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and for three weeks he argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ'.” (vs.1-3)

It is Jesus Who is the centre of the Gospel message, rather than the benefits He confers. Paul stressed two specific points. First of all, the historic man, Jesus, is the Messiah (the Christ). No one can properly respond to Jesus, the Christ, until they are sure as to Who He is. This requires the study of His claims, and how they were vindicated by His life, and His final triumph over the grave. Secondly, we need to be confident about the theological explanation of why it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead.In other words, granted the facts, what do they mean? So the Gospel proclamation must be Christ-centred, factual, and theological.

However, as we read on, and discover that Paul has now arrived in Beroea, we learn the second requirement. That is to use the Scriptures! So we read:

"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so." (v.11)

The Christian message is reasonable, but its reasons should be drawn from the written Word. This is the weapon that God has placed in our hands. This is "... the sword of the Spirit ..." (Eph.6:17). At Beroea, the preaching was made doubly effective because the hearers checked what they heard by the touchstone of God's Word - which was, of course, for them, the Tanakh (the Jewish Scriptures; what we know as the Old Testament!). I suspect that there are many in churches today who have not yet caught on that the early church did all of its evangelisation with just the Old Testament to hand. Check out Peter's great sermon on the first Day of Pentecost of the Christian era (Acts Acts 2:14ff); Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26ff); and note that when Paul writes to Timothy and tells him that "All scripture is inspired by God and[a] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (II Tim.3:16-17) he is referring only to the Old Testament of which, he also states, Timothy has from his childhood, "... been acquainted ..." (v.15). Because of Paul's use of the Tanakh, many believed (Acts 17:12). When our arguments make no headway, the written Word will often strike home, simply because it is the living Word of the living God. There is great power in the Word - power to convict; power to convert; power to construct (or 'build up' - but I do like my alliteration!!).

Even although others distort, dilute, diminish, deny, and even seek to destroy the truth of God's Word, the faith remains unaltered - this "faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude:3).

It was C.H.Spurgeon who once remarked: "Defend the Bible? I would as soon think of defending a lion!" Use the Word to share the Saviour. It's a great combination.

"My Beloved is mine, and I am His"

A recent newspaper article concerned the claim by someone, who claimed to be an "atheist" (although no such being actually exists!), that death is the end - because he had "died" on two separate occasions, and experienced "... just black emptiness. No thoughts, no consciousness, nothing." 

His first ‘death’ came as a result of a motorcycle accident where he claims to have "died" for two minutes because  “... my body shut down from the pain and physical damages on my body. No pulse, no breathing and no consciousness”.  Regarding the second occasion, he wrote: “I was in agonising pain after surgery so I received loads of pain killers. The pain, coupled with an immense amount of pain killers, caused my pulse to drop to around 10bpm and my respiratory system shut down.”

Now, apart from the obvious fact that, in neither case has he provided any evidence that he was pronounced to be clinically "dead" (and one does not need to be medically qualified to realise that even a pulse of 10bpm is evidence of life!) one would wish to comment that he may simply have "experienced" what he wanted to experience!  Mind you, he came up with the interesting comment that: "I experienced something, and that something was nothing."!!

How different the situation for the disciple of Jesus, the Christ!  Such a one may have the confidence that (s)he has already passed from death unto life!  This is not a conclusion based on introspection, or mystic feelings of supernatural elation, but on the sure and unshakable Word of God.  John records the words of the Lord Jesus: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes [has total trust in Jesus] has eternal life." (John 6:47) - and note the present tense that I have emphasised!  This is not "pie in the sky when you die", but a new life "in all its fulness" (Jn.10:10) lived out in the here and now!

The great 19th century preacher, C.H.Spurgeon told the true story of some disciples of Jesus who had tried to teach Biblical truth to a young boy whose brain was damaged.  They worked hard, and did what they could, but it was a tiring task.  The child had little intelligence but, having spent many hours seeking to instruct him in the great doctrines (teachings) of the Christian faith, one of them asked: "John, do you have a soul?"  The response caused a twinge of disappointment - "No, I have no soul."  However, dismay was quickly turned to great joy as the lad continued: "I used to have a soul, but I lost it, and Jesus Christ found it, and I always let Him keep it.  So, it is now His, and not mine!"

That lad, in spite of the apparent handicap that he carried, had grasped a wonderful truth - one shared by Paul when he wrote "... I know Whom I have believed, and I am totally convinced that He is able to guard until that Day what I have entrusted to Him." (I Tim.1:12).

What a difference it would make for many of us if we were to stop analysing our feelings to see if we are saved and, instead, simply rest on the solid assurance of the Word of God!  That Word reveals, very clearly, that His undying love remains "sure and steadfast" (Heb.6:19) for all who come to Him, "the new and living Way" (Heb.10:20), seeking His eternal forgiveness - and knowing that, as they come in sincerity, and with repentant hearts, they will not be rejected (see John 6:37).

There is a lovely song that I used to sing, that may well have been inspired by the words of Solomon that I have used as a heading to this post (Song of Solomon 2:16):

"Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms
Cannot now disturb my rest;
Closed in everlasting arms,
Pillowed on the loving breast.
Oh, to lie forever here,
Doubt and care and self resign,
While He whispers in my ear,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His:
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine."

"I am His, and He is mine".  Are you able to make that statement today - with real conviction?  If not, may I commend my Saviour to you?  He will do a work in your life that will never cease to surprise you - even 'though it costs!