He Died Outside of Jerusalem

Jesus Died Outside of Jerusalem

In our minds, we think of the carcasses of animals sacrificed at the temple as being totally consumed in the fires which continually burned at the altar. While this was true of some sacrifices, there were those times when carcasses of the animals were taken outside the camp and to be burned. In such instances the animals had been part of a sin offering, given to bring about purification of the Jews.

The writer of Hebrews affirms that those things in the law were “a shadow of the good things to come” (Heb. 10:1). Is it possible that those sin offerings which were taken outside of the camp (later, when the temple was built, they were taken outside of the city) had a hidden message from God which He would later reveal to His people? Sacrifices were made at the altar, but the bodies of the animals used in sin offerings were often taken outside of the camp. How could this have any possible significance?

The last chapter of Hebrews is remarkable. From the first word in this book our God presented unanswerable arguments to the Hebrews (Jewish Christians) showing how Christianity excels above Judaism. At least twelve times the word “better” is used to contrast a lesser way (Judaism) with a better way. Judaism had its purpose, but Christ came to fulfill its requirements so that it could be removed from God’s plan for the redemption of all mankind. Thus, in the final chapter, the writer urges, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines” (verse 9).

The Jews still had the altar at the temple, but the writer affirmed, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat” (v. 10). One could no longer approach God through the system revealed by Moses. Jesus Himself is the way, the only way, and no man can come to God apart from Him (see John 14:6). The writer of Hebrews points out that those animals used in sin offerings were removed from the tabernacle/temple. He then makes this amazing conclusion. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate” (v. 12). This is followed immediately by another conclusion, “Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach” (v. 13). Eternal redemption was found in the environs of Jerusalem when He died, but it was not found in the temple. It was outside of that place!

What a blessing that He died outside the city of Jerusalem, outside the camp, outside the gate. Christianity is the only way for men to find forgiveness. Take time to count your blessings and to thank God that you have found the Redeemer, the one who suffered outside the camp for you!

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Dinosaurs?

Dinosaurs on the Ark?

[Noah standing at the door of the ark with a checklist in hand]: “That’s two dogs, two giraffes, two bats, two elephants, two stegosauruses, two pterodactyls, …”

When most people first hear the suggestion that dinosaurs were on the ark they find this incomprehensible. The visual image of dinosaurs walking up a ramp through the doorway of the ark is not a picture many have ever considered. Two mental stumbling blocks make it especially difficult for the average person to give any consideration to this suggestion: evolutionary teaching and their gigantic size. The mainstream media has done such an outstanding job of convincing the general population that dinosaurs lived millions of years ago that the idea of dinosaurs on the ark seems ludicrous. After all, they would have us believe that humans are separated from the dinosaurs by 65 million years.

The other stumbling block is the size of these great lizards. Oftentimes when we picture dinosaurs, we imagine massive Sauropod dinosaurs such as the Apatosaurus that easily weighed over 50 tons! How do you get such massive creatures on the ark—and once onboard, how do you feed such enormous creatures? Furthermore, how did Noah’s family and domestic creatures share living quarters with ferocious creatures such as the Tyrannosaurus rex?

In evaluating what animals were on the ark, it is important to consult God’s inspired Word for details. (Remember, this is the only inspired book.) Consider the following Truths that can found in the Bible:

1. All land-dwelling creatures were created on day six (Genesis 1:24-26).

It is clear that on the sixth day God created all land-dwelling creatures and man: “Then God said, ‘Let the Earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping things and beast of the Earth, each according to its kind’; and it was so…. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image…’” This creative history is emphasized again in Exodus 20:11 which tells us: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the Earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.” Clearly, everything—including man and dinosaurs—was created during the six days of creation.

2. Noah was to take two of every unclean land-dwelling creature on the ark—which would include dinosaurs (Genesis 6:19-20).

Moses wrote: “And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the Earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive” (Genesis 6:19-20). God brought every land-dwelling creature to Noah for safekeeping. If dinosaurs were around during this time then one can reasonably conclude that they too would have required safekeeping.

3. The book of Job describes the “behemoth” (40:15), a creature that fits the description of a dinosaur that was living after the Flood. (Additional scientific evidence exists that these amazing creatures lived after the Flood.)

In Job 40:15 God questions Job about a creature He describes as the behemoth. While many (uninspired) footnotes describe this creature as an elephant or hippopotamus, the description better fits a dinosaur-like creature. (How many elephants or hippos have “tails like a cedar,” Job 40:17?) While most scholars consider Job to be one of the first books written, we can tell from the way Job and his three “friends” were worshipping that it fits in “post-Flood.” Also, there is extensive scientific evidence that men living after the Flood saw these amazing creatures. [We will cover this in detail in an upcoming issue on the dinosaurs!]

4. Genesis 1:29-30 indicates that both man and animals were to eat vegetation before the Flood. It was only after the Flood that God allowed the eating of meat (Genesis 9:3). If it were the case that both man and animals were vegetarian prior to the Flood, then sharing close quarters on the ark would not have presented a problem.

5. The Bible does not specify that Noah had to take adult animals onboard the ark. While many would argue that dinosaurs would have been too large to fit on the ark, we must bear in mind that there are some mysteries that God’s Word does not reveal. For instance, why couldn’t Noah have taken juveniles? Consider they take up less space, eat less food, produce less waste, and you don’t have to worry about reproductive problems! Also, not all dinosaurs were massive in size.

So could dinosaurs have been on the ark with Noah and his family? Absolutely!

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Blind Traditions

The story is told of a young lady who was fixing a ham dinner for her husband.  As she was about to place the ham in the oven, she took a knife and cut off the end of it.  Her husband asked, “Why did you cut the end off of the ham?”  She replied, “I don’t know? That’s the way mamma always did it.”  So they asked her mother why she always cut off the end of the ham. She answered, “That’s the way my mamma always did it.”  They went to grandmother and asked her why she did it.  She likewise replied, “That’s the way my mother always did it.”  They then asked great-grandmother why she did it and she said, “I cut the end of the ham off because my pan was too small.”

Likewise, in religion many follow the traditions and doctrines of men without question or investigation – and they may not realize that not all “traditions” are acceptable to God.  For example, in Matthew 15 the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread. He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?…you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men'” (vv. 2-3, 6-9).

Paul said, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). And know this, “Every plant which My heavenly
Father has not planted will be uprooted” (Matt. 15:13).  What traditions do you follow, friends?

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Leaving the Faith

Some Thoughts About the Christian Leaving the Faith

Possibly one of the most puzzling aspects of Christianity is the conscious decision of some that have been faithful to Christ — to leave HIM and go back into the world. I have agonized over this matter for many years and have prepared many sermons to encourage faithfulness realizing that others who are now faithful may be the next to fall away. Indeed, we know that the New Testament teaches that a Christian may “fall away“, may “fall from grace“, etc.  As I have considered this matter it has become evident to me that many leave the faith for many different reasons. It is never acceptable to God to leave the faith for any reason but I know through interaction and conversation with some that have left the faith that they had reasons that they considered more important than remaining faithful. You see; many people do not seriously consider the instruction from God via the Bible as being truly important. This is a great fallacy; mankind cannot be all that God intended for him without heeding God’s instruction – Jeremiah 10:23.

The question of keeping the faith is important as the Christian’s hope rests upon his faithfulness unto death — cf., Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)  The question is also of great interest to those that are continuing faithful. The faithful are concerned about, “why do the faithful leave?” Is there something that we should have done or are we in some way responsible for their failure? Let us look at the Bible’s teaching about the condition of the backslider.

First of all let us recognize that we must never become a stumbling block in the life of any Christian or anyone for that matter:  Rom. 14:12-13. A stumbling block is any obstacle that we place before another that may hinder their forward progress toward godly living. God will not approve or accept those that create stumbling blocks to truth, faithfulness and unity. We must all do everything that we can to keep each other growing in the faith …

Ephesians 4:15 -“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 8:9-10 – “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

Revelation 2:14 – “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” NKJV

In the second place we that are faithful have a responsibility to one another to love each other and to bear one another’s burdens:

Romans 12:9-10, Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; ASV

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – Love suffereth long, (and) is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never faileth: but whether (there be) prophecies, they shall be done away; whether (there be) tongues, they shall cease; whether (there be) knowledge, it shall be done away.” ASV

Gal 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ASV

In the third place the faithful are to try to restore those that turn away from the faith (i.e., backslide):

Galatians 6:1-2 – Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ASV

Finally, whenever the faithful have been a pattern of good works, love, patience, and possess a willingness to go to the backslider and try and restore him/her to faithfulness, surely they can do nothing else. After the faithful have exhausted all avenues of Biblical instruction  in their attempt to restore such a one, the faithful ones must not blame themselves for the failure of the backslider to return to the faith. The guilt for sinning and leaving the faith belongs to him who has chosen to leave the faith and remain in the world.

CONSIDER THIS: Ezekiel 18:19-21 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. NKJV

IS THE LORD WITH US?

Often when we become discouraged or lonely we wonder if anyone cares about us;  that person will soon find a peace that passes human understanding {i.e. that person will become a Christian AND WILL PURSUE RIGHTEOUS THINGS; ESPECIALLY THE FAVOR OF GOD}. You will be much happier than you are today if you will become a Christian and live your remaining days in faithful service to HIM.

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Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a special day for people of Mexican heritage. It is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico gained independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In that battle a severely outnumbered Mexican army of 4,500 decisively defeated a French army of over 8,000 near the city of Puebla, Mexico. The French had invaded Mexico earlier that year because Mexico had been unable to pay their debts. The battle of Puebla was the only significant battle won by the Mexican army in the war with France. The French eventually won the war and placed a “puppet” dictator  as the Mexican president. After three years of this occupation, in 1866, the French were forced to withdraw from Mexico, when the U.S. Army under General William T. Sherman threatened to invade Mexico in order to liberate it from France. Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated primarily by Mexican-Americans as a way to celebrate the cause of freedom.

Christians also have a cause to celebrate freedom! Freedom from sin. (Rom 6:6-7, 18) Freedom from the death sentence that comes from sin. (Rom 6:23) Freedom from the shackles that we would have had to share with the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:4, 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) Freedom from oppression. Freedom from the debt of sin. Freedom to live for Christ!

At one time, in our innocence,  we were pure and free from sin. (Luke 18:16-17)  But sin entered our life and bound us. (Rom 6:16; 7:9-11); leaving us in the same miserable state, in which Paul had found himself, when he declared,  “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death…?” (Rom 7:24 ) Who could deliver us? We could not, on our own! (John 15:5) Man could not devise it. (Jer 10:23) Who could deliver us? Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:25; 1 Cor 15:57). Man does have a part to play in all this. We must obey Jesus, the Captain of our salvation. (Heb 2:10; 5:8-9)

On our part, we have to only win one battle over sin in our lives when we obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We could lose every other battle in the war, but ultimately we are assured of freedom, because Christ has already “invaded Mexico” and liberated us from sin and its oppression! Like Mexico, we have a day to celebrate and remember the cause of freedom! The Day that our Lord overcame death and defeated the works of darkness. We don’t celebrate this day only once a year, but we do so every first day of the week! Join us this Cinco de Mayo in worship to our Loving and Holy God!

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