Defending the Faith

In line with the recently announced 'policy', this being the fifth Sunday of the month, I have not prepared a devotion for either of the blogs - in  English or French. Instead, I wish to share a little about the third of my books in the brief series on getting to know "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3). This third book is named "Defending the Faith", and is based on the First Letter of John (there are appendices on the other two letters from the apostle).

One of those who endorsed the book wrote:

"In "Defending the Faith", Brian Ross takes us through the three letters in the New Testament, penned by the ‘beloved disciple’, the elderly apostle John. He deals, in I John with, among other things, the need for disciples of Jesus to be aware of false teaching – specifically the Gnostic heresy; the importance of fellowship; and the need to grow in the faith. In II John, he draws out the apostle’s warning against false, itinerant, teachers while, in the third of the letters, he shows that John commends hospitality, and condemns a spirit of control in the church. Brian writes, as does John, from a pastor’s heart."

The Venerable Dr Paul Vrolijk
Senior Chaplain and Canon Chancellor
Archdeacon of North West Europe.

As with the other two books in the series - and the one that is currently 'a work in progress' - I have sought to steer clear of language that requires a Doctorate in Theology to be understood. Rather, having sat under the tutelage of Prof. William Barclay, and the ministry of Rev. George B Duncan - in my opinion two of the finest communicators of Biblical truth of the last century - I have sought to do what they did, and use language that may be understood by the majority of people.

Also as with the other books, ALL royalties from sales go directly to Release International, in support of the persecuted church. I do not even know how many books have been purchased, whether in paperback, or Kindle e-book, formats. Of course, that may be a good thing, if no-one is buying!!

Links to all three books are available at the top of the blog. The paperback retails at £8.99, and the Kindle version at £3.99, so they are also affordable. If you use the relevant link at the top of the blog, you will be able to read, free of charge (!) a percentage of the book that will, hopefully, give you more of the flavour thereof.

If you do purchase, please leave a review. This helps other folk to decide whether (or not!) they also wish to buy.

Thank you.                                                                                

What is a Christian - Pt. 3

 A Christian - a true disciple of Jesus - I suggested in the previous post, is someone who enjoys a Presence, even the Presence of the Lord Jesus. But such a person also, we discover, forms a practice.

The apostle Paul, shares this encouragement with us: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and, again I say, ‘Rejoice’” (Phil. 4:4). What not everyone realises is that he was writing while under "house arrest" in Rome. While that wasn't as bad as being in a prison cell, it was no picnic!  He would have been constantly chained to a Roman soldier and, while this was not as bad as the conditions in, for example, the Philippian jail where he spent a night alongside his partner in the Gospel, Silas, it was a loss of freedom. In addition, while modern prisons provide food, medicine, etc., ancient prisons provided almost nothing for prisoners.  To survive, a prisoner's family or friends had to bring him food, blankets, medicine, and other necessities. Not the sort of conditions in which any of us would wish to spend our summer holiday!!

Yet it’s almost as if Paul tells his amanuensis (scribe) to write “Rejoice”; stops; recalls the many hardships he had experienced as disciple of Jesus; and thinks of what he knew might lie ahead – his own beheading.  He thought of this young fellowship in Philippi – and all the dangers and difficulties that these believers were certain to experience.  And he says, in effect, “I know what I’m talking about; I’ve considered everything that can possibly happen; I’ve counted the cost; and still I say it – “Rejoice”.’

Prof Barclay writes: “The Christian joy is independent of all things on earth, because the Christian joy has its source in the presence of Christ.  Two lovers,” he continues, “are always happy when they are together, no matter where they are.  That is why the Christian can never lose his [or her] joy, because he [or she] can never lose Jesus Christ.” (Daily Study Bible, in loc. bracketed words added).

Paul tells us two things we must do to ensure that we have this joy, deep down in our hearts. The first of these, unsurprisingly, is prayer

Life can be worrying for many of us.  So Paul tells us “Don’t worry; pray” (see v.6).  Nothing is too small, or too great, to take to Father God in prayer.  Many years ago, the former Strathclyde Regional Council sent out, to every employee, an A4 sheet of paper with a list of telephone numbers to be used when one was stressed, worried, facing seemingly insurmountable problems.  In my school we were instructed to stick a copy on the wall of each staff base.  Being an obedient employee, I did so.  However, I printed off another sheet of A4 paper and stuck it up, immediately below the other.  It had only two words printed on it – “Alternatively, pray!” (By the way, my headmaster saw it - and agreed!).

There’s a certain kind of worry that betrays a lack of trust in the love of God; in His care for us.  Peter Marshall, a son of the Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who emigrated to the USA and eventually became a much-loved and respected Chaplain to the US Senate spoke, in one of his recorded messages, of ulcers as “the badge of our lack of faith”; the mark of our unbelief and meagre trust in the all-loving, all-powerful, all-caring God Whom we profess to follow.  Prayer, and then praise.

Praise is an important accompaniment to true prayer.  Praise reminds us of His love and care as we have already experienced them.  The Gaither Vocal Band (the, impo, best line-up of David Phelps, Guy Penrod, Mark Lowry, and Bill Gaither) sang a song that contained these words: “The miles that I’ve travelled have proved my Lord true”.   And, as already mentioned, it was in the Roman jail in Philippi itself that we read of Paul and Silas in Acts 16.  These “servants of the Most High God”, as the slave-girl had correctly described them, were used by that same God to free her from the spirit of divination that brought great financial gain to her owners – but left her tortured in her own spirit.  And her owners didn’t like to see their investment turn so sour.  So they had Paul and Silas brought before the magistrates who had them flogged and thrown into “the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

But at midnight, Paul and Silas were whining and whinging; bemoaning their lot; complaining about their situation and circumstances!  No, we read that they were – “praying, and singing hymns to God ...”  Not the kind of reaction that would have been expected of high-security prisoners then, any more than now.

We may pray about anything, and may praise in every situation.  May give thanks in times of laughter, and of tears; in joy, and in sorrow; in good times, and in bad.  Because when we can truly do that, then we are truly in the will of God, in perfect submission – and in that, is fulness of joy. 

For anyone who is, at this time, dealing with difficulties, here is a song, the lyrics of which may help!

Watch your tongue!

In my personal devotions I have, for some weeks, been going through the letter from James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus. I have now completed it (again!) and, earlier this week, I spent some time looking at just one verse. It was the 12th verse of chapter 5 which reads: "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation."

In the earlier parts of the letter, James has shown his concern about "the tongue" - in other words, about our speech. For example, in chapter 3 he writes: "... the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no human being can tame the tongue - a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh." (James 3:5-12; emphases added). Sadly, most of us know, all too well, the truth of those words!

Now the words of 5:12 may be interpreted, quite properly, as referring to the oaths that Jewish people of the time were prone to take. Jesus, Himself, referred to this practice: "Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is His footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matt 5:33-37). 

William Barclay explains that there was a distinction between 'binding' and 'non-binding' oaths. Any oath that used the name of God was binding; but those that did not, were not binding! This resulted in people becoming expert in what the Professor names "evasive swearing", and it was to this practice that the Lord Jesus referred.

However, Steve Maltz, a Messianic Jew, makes another valid point - not directly from James' letter! He points out that "Oh my God", "God help me", and similar expletives are all too common - and that they are blasphemous: a breaking of the Third Commandment. However, he points out that one place we will never hear, or read, any such exclamation is in a synagogue, or a devout Jewish home! Indeed, devout Jews have such a reverence for God that they won't even write, or say, "the Name". They will use "HaShem" (the Hebrew for "the Name"), or "G-d/L-rd", omitting the vowel.

Sadly, many who claim to be disciples of Jesus, use the Lord's Name in vain without even realising it! Just exclaiming the Name of God, or of Jesus, even if it is in 'code form', or thinly disguised, (e.g. "Jeeze", "O.M.G.", "Goodness gracious"), is not a reverent invocation, but a casual disrespectfulness. Jesus said: "I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt 12:36-37).

R.V.G.Tasker, in his Tyndale NT Commentary on James, writes: "There are few spheres of conduct in which the young Christian today needs to take the injunctions of the Epistle of James more to heart, than in this matter of frivolous and indiscriminate oaths, and the thoughtless mention of the divine name in general conversation." (p.125).

I suspect that those words apply, equally, to many who are not "young Christians"! "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Ps 141:3).

The Ultimate Physician

Covid-19 notwithstanding, 21st-century medical science is amazing! Physicians are able to cure many illnesses, both mental and physical; surgeons can perform surgery that, even a few decades ago, would have been considered impossible; therapists can assist in recovery using equipment that can sometimes appear to have been developed by science fiction aficionados. However, only the Lord Jesus can bring about the healing that makes 'bad' people 'good'! 

My former Professor of New Testament at the University of Glasgow, the Rev. Dr. William Barclay, tells of a conversation he had with a noted psychiatrist - and one who recognised his own limitations! "All that a psychiatrist can do," said the doctor, "is strip a man naked until you get to the essential man; and if the essential man is bad stuff, there's nothing you can do about it. That's where you come in!" Prof. Barclay later commented: "I think that he meant that this is where Jesus comes in!"

In Luke's account of the Gospel record, he shares the situation regarding a man named Zacchaeus.  You may read the story in Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus was a 'bad' man who needed, not medication, or surgery, or therapy, but inner healing. He was, Luke tells us that "... he was a chief tax collector, and rich." (Luke 19:2). This latter fact is not surprising since, as a chief tax collector, he was able to 'take a cut' from what his subordinates had collected - always more than what the Roman authorities demanded! He was, indeed, a very wealthy man!

However, he appears to have heard about this wandering Teacher, Jesus of Nazareth and, for whatever reason, he wanted to see him. Unfortunately for Zacchaeus, he was a man of great wealth, but small stature. He wasn't the only person in Jericho who wished to see Jesus! Now, if he had been a butcher, a baker, or a pottery maker, people would gladly have ushered him to the front of the crowd. But a tax collector - a chief tax collector?! No way! What was Zacchaeus to do?! 

He did something that must have raised quite a few eyebrows! He climbed a conveniently-situated sycamore tree! To help us to realise what this meant, think of your local Provost, or Mayor, in full ceremonial robes, doing the same thing! To most people, it would probably be quite shocking! But, in this situation, not to Jesus!  He stopped, just under the tree; looked up, and said: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus hurried back down to the ground - as quickly as his flowing robe allowed him! - and Jesus went to his house.

This, to the crowd, was an even bigger shock than seeing Zacchaeus climb the tree! Luke writes: "And when they saw it they all murmured, «He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.»" (Luke 19:7). Zacchaus was a very happy man - or was he? 

I suspect that he was, in fact, overwhelmed with guilt when Jesus looked up and told him that He was coming to his house. Jesus had reached into what that psychiatrist had referred to as "the essential man" - what Zacchaeus really was, stripped of his fine clothes; his luxurious (by contemporary standards) home; his great wealth. The evidence for this is that, as the day progressed, he "... stood and said to the Lord, «Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.»". (Luke 19:8).  That was a sign of true repentance, and a willingness to make full reparation. So, Luke's record ends: "And Jesus said to him, «Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.»" (Luke 19:9-10).

"Today salvation has come to this house, ..." As Jesus spoke those words, Zacchaeus was spiritually healed. Only the Ultimate Physician can do that. And what He did for Zacchaeus, He can, and will, do for you. You may not have the same wealth that Zacchaeus had. You may not exercise the greed that he had exercised. But, like him - and like me! - you are a sinner in the sight of Almighty God. That is the essence of your being. It's in your DNA. The Psalmist-king David penned these words: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Ps. 51:5). That is not making a comment on the act of sexual intercourse between a husband and wife in a Biblical marital relationship! It is merely making the point that, from the moment of my conception, I have been a sinner!

Are you aware of your sinfulness? Are you experiencing guilt? That is because God the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Yield to His prompting, and allow the Ultimate Physician to perform His amazing surgery of the soul.  It will be for your eternal good; and to His eternal glory.

 

I do not know you!

I am currently reading in the Gospel according to Luke for my daily private devotions. This morning, I arrived at chap.13, and verses 13-20. Those verses contain some of the most terrible words that any mortal will ever hear. In v.27, we read these words of the Lord Jesus: "... depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity!'"

The frightening thing about those words is that they were being addressed, not to murderers; adulterers; fraudsters; drunkards; thieves; etc. They were being addressed to those who had claimed:  "'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'" (v.26).

Now, those words were spoken in the presence of a crowd of Jewish people. However, as Paul reminded young Pastor Timothy: "All scripture is inspired by God and 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). So those words must have something to say to you an to me to day! Permit me to suggest some of what they might say.

There are, sadly, too many who appear to believe that, as long as they live in a "Christian country" (if such a place can be truly found at this time!), then all is well. When they die, they will, automatically, 'go to heaven'! I am amazed at the number of notices I read in social media that announce the death of a loved one, with the assumption that that person has 'gone to heaven'! I am sorry - but there is nothing in the Bible that teaches such a view of "universal salvation"!

Yet others seem to think that attending a worship service from time to time; doing 'good' things; giving to any form of charity; being 'nice' and 'kind' is sufficient. After all, God will take all of their good works into account, and they are sure to outnumber their less benevolent actions! I am sorry - but there is nothing in the Bible that teaches such a view of "salvation by works"!

I recall, many, many years ago, that the Glasgow Evening Times published a particularly scathing article about the Rev. Prof. William Barclay, headed "Divinity professor who doesn't believe in miracles!" (or some such words!). Now, I had the distinct privilege of sitting under Prof Barclay's tutelage, and may have known more about his personal views than the author of the article appeared to know! I also had the distinct privilege of sitting under the ministry of the Rev George B Duncan in St George's-Tron Church. On the Sunday evening after the article had been published, Mr Duncan was preaching. I confess that I do not recall the complete message - but I can still see him, in my mind's eye, leaning a little over the pulpit lectern. "You know", he said, " there are some people who are going to die, and discover that there are, in heaven, those whom they had never expected to be there." He leaned back, and paused. Then he leaned forward again. " There are going to be some who die, and discover that there are some whom they had expected to be in heaven, but who are not there!" He leaned back again. Then he leaned forward a third time and, with what I can only describe as a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, said, "And, of course, there are some who are going to die, and discover that they are not in heaven themselves!"

Prof. Barclay comments: "The standards of heaven are not the standards of earth." (Daily Study Bible on Luke. p.190). Centuries before, the prophet Isaiah uttered these words of YHWH: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says YHWH. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." 

There will, indeed, be many surprises when the final membership of the Kingdom of God is revealed. The Good News is that you may be there! Not because of anything at all that you have done, are doing, or may yet do. Paul, writing to the early disciples of Jesus in Ephesus summed it up in just one sentence: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9; emphases added).

Have you responded, in faith, to that wonderful grace of God - God's Riches At Christ's Expense? He has paid the price, the penalty for your sin and mine, that we may go free. As I have noted before: "He paid a debt that He did not owe, because I owed a debt that I could not pay".

Turn to Him, today. You have no guarantee of another opportunity! Another commentator writes: "... there is inevitably a time-limit on the offer of salvation. When the door of opportunity is finally shut, it will be too late. Men must strive to enter now." (Leon Morris; TP Commentary on Luke). Paul writes: "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (II Cor 6:2).

Come now - tomorrow may be too late! 

Walking the walk, not just talking the talk!

It's been a while since I posted on the subject of marriage. It is, however, a very important subject - perhaps more than ever in these days when its God-ordained status is being increasingly downgraded - not least by the fact that, Biblically, it is used as a picture of the relationship between Almighty God and His people: El Shaddai and the Children of Israel under the Old Covenant; and the Lord Jesus and the Church under the New Covenant.

The 'Minor Prophets' are a group of Hebrew prophets whose writings are gathered together, in English-language versions of the Bible, at the end of the "Old Testament". However, this is not the case in the Hebrew Old Testament (the Tanakh). One of these men, whose book is at the beginning of the Minor Prophets, is named Hosea, and his message is more than interesting! The book that is named after him commences with these words:

"The word of the Lord that came to Hosea the son of Be-eri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. When YHWH first spoke through Hosea, YHWH said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry, for the land commits great harlotry by forsaking YHWH.” So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son." (Hos.1:1-3).

Read those words again - carefully! Did you catch on what Hosea was commanded to do? Not simply to get himself a wife - nothing unusual in that - but to be married to a prostitute!

Hosea came into prominence some 700 years before the birth of the Lord Jesus, during what was a period of stability in the northern kingdom of Israel (Ten tribes; Judah, to the south, was composed of the other two tribes). Indeed, it was known as the "Golden Age" because of Israel's military, political, and economic strength: the greatest since that of the united kingdom under Solomon. Morally, however, she was rotten to the core! She had turned her back on the one thing that made her unique - her faith in the Covenant God Who had redeemed her from bondage in Egypt.

I suspect that I was not unusual when I proposed to the young woman who became my wife. I had high expectations for our marriage, and anticipated that any problems we encountered would be met by the two of us together.  However, when God spoke to Hosea at this point in the nation's history, and commanded him to marry a woman who would be unfaithful to him, he "proposed" knowing that, right from the start, his marriage would be plagued with deep and disturbing problems. 

Why would God lead one of His chosen prophets into a marriage of such a kind?! The answer is provided in those opening words: "...  the land commits great harlotry by forsaking YHWH." or, as another translation puts it: "... for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord." (NIV). In Exodus 24:3, we read that, after the Children of Israel had been delivered from Egypt, they entered into a covenant relationship with YHWH (the Lord) that they would be faithful to Him. The vow that they made to Him was similar to a marriage vow. However, by 'flirting' with other gods, the nation was guilty of adultery. So, in effect, God is saying to Hosea: "I need your help! I have marriage problems. Stick to Gomer, no matter what happens, and perhaps the nation will understand, through you actions, something of my undying love."

Hosea faced an astonishing request from God - not only to preach His message, but also to live it!

"Words", the old adage has it, "are cheap!". A similar proverb reminds us that "Actions speak more loudly than words!". Personally, I have to be honest and confess that, if God had given me a challenge similar to the one He gave Hosea, I would have had great difficulty in meeting it! Yet Hosea's is the level of faith to which all who own the name of Jesus are called - a faith that trusts Him, even although it cannot see the way ahead. Indeed, that is the only true faith. William Barclay states, somewhere, that for the disciple of Jesus, "faith is spelled R.I.S.K."

Are you willing to stake your all on Him today? Are you willing to walk the walk - or merely talk the talk? 

Make yourself clear!

One of the many privileges that I have enjoyed during my increasingly long life was sitting under the ministry of the late Rev. George B.Duncan (in the original St George's-Tron), and the tutelage of the late Rev. Prof. William Barclay in the University of Glasgow.  Both men instilled in me the need to speak that others might understand.  You see, there is no point in talking to people who can't understand what you are saying.  I have been discovering that, all too often, since I came to live in France!  I speak to someone - and receive blank looks; they respond - and I look just as blank!

Paul writes to the early disciples of Jesus on the great city of Corinth, and asks: "Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will any one know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves; if you in a tongue utter speech that is not intelligible, how will any one know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning; but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me." (I Cor 14:6-11).

Paul was making reference to the specific gift of speaking in a spiritual language (the gift of tongues), but the message may well be expanded.  We who are preachers have a special responsibility to keep our message so simple, and interesting, that even a child will be able to grasp it.  I have listened to many preachers who have been so intent on displaying their own academic excellence that they have simply talked "over the heads" of the gathered congregation!  But God's people are described, not as giraffes, but as sheep!  We who give out the Gospel message must keep the feed at a level that the sheep can reach!

Of course, this doesn't only apply to preachers!  All of us are preaching the Gospel, all of the time, whether we are aware that we are doing so, or not!  In the workplace; at our leisure activities; in the home (especially if we are the only disciples of Jesus there); wherever we may be, if people know that we claim to follow the Nazarene, then they are reading us, and listening to us, all of the time!

There is an old poem - that I may well have quoted on this blog before - that reminds us of this:

“Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;

He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way.

He has no tongue but our tongues to tell men how He died;

He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read;

We are the sinner’s Gospel; we are the scoffer’s creed.

We are the Lord’s last message given in deed and word;

What if the type is crooked?  What if the print is blurred?”

The story is told of a judge who, having listened to the arguments in a divorce suit, said to the husband: "I have decided to give your wife £400/month in maintenance."  The husband's face brightened.  "That's very kind of you, your Honour.  I'll try to slip her a few quid, myself, now and then"!    A misunderstanding that may cause us to smile.  However, when it comes to the preaching of the Gospel, lack of clarity may lead to disastrous results.  Whether it is from a platform or a pulpit; in our general conversation; or when someone has asked a specific question, and we need to "... make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, ... with gentleness and reverence;" (I Peter 3:15); let us make clear that each of us is born a sinner, destined for hell (eternity without God); but that, out of His unsurpassable, immeasurable, love for us, Jesus died (and rose from the dead!) to pay the penalty for our sin.  Salvation, therefore, is the free gift of grace to all who will receive it, by faith.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9).

Jesus said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him Who sent Me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." (John 5:24).   That's pretty clear!