Who is responsible for the education of my children?

/in

In Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, we find God giving to Israel the greatest commandment. The first three verses give the primary responsibility of man toward his God, the duty to love the Lord with his entire being. This is followed by the commandment to teach this to the next generation. The Jews call this passage the “Shema” and have made a covenant to hear or read this passage twice a day. It is that important to devout Jews.

This passage teaches that the parents are to teach their children the doctrines of their faith and the reasons for believing them. They are to be taught diligently to the children, by the parents. “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:7-9)

Notice two things about this passage. It is not a suggestion given for man’s consideration. It is a command from the God of the universe. Second, the command is not given to a government or village of people. It is given to the parents of the children. A responsibility given to parents may not be passed on to anyone else without God’s permission. A study of the Bible does not release the parents from this responsibility. It will be the parents who will give account to God for what they have done with the children committed to their trust by a Holy God! God will hold the parents responsible for their receiving an education that leaves God out.

For many years, the parents in the home taught the children. Long before the term “homeschooling” was first used, the education of children was done in the home. Later, parents felt that someone with more education should do the teaching, so they paid tuition for private schools or educated their children in schools sponsored and run by churches. Private or parochial schools provided God-centered education that was watched over by the parents of the students.

The Pilgrims left England to get away from religious persecution and made their home in Holland. They soon found that they had to leave Holland, where they had been given religious freedom but not the right to educate their children themselves. They knew that their children would lose their faith if they were educated in the schools of Holland. They sailed to America, endured the hardships of life in a new country, and suffered greatly to guarantee a Christian education for their children.

Many of the institutions of learning in America began as God-centered educational institutions. The first 100 institutions of higher learning in America were founded as Christian schools; some to train missionaries and pastors.

Soon, however, a need became evident for schools to train the children of those who did not have enough money to afford the private or parochial schools. “pauper schools” were founded to provide schooling for these children. These were funded either by townships, or counties, or by churches. Before long, Christians resented paying for the education of their own children while having to pay for the education of children in the “pauper schools.” They insisted that their children should receive a “free education” like the others. “Pauper schools” became “public schools,” and the curriculum was determined so that no particular religion would be presented. Today, we see the end result of that program.

The question for the Christian parent is, “How do we carry out God’s command regarding the education of our children?” For some, the answer is clearly homeschooling. Several educational institutions have provided all the tools necessary for a parent to provide a good education right in the home. For others, the answer may be seeking the help of a Christian school. Many fine learning institutions provide a Christ-centered education with good academics.

There may be some that will need to have their children in public schools. Perhaps these parents have the toughest job of educating their children according to God’s order. They must know what is being taught and counter false teaching that would rob their children of their faith. Since they are going to have to do a lot of teaching over again, they might be wise to consider one of the other two alternatives.

Remember, children are not born in institutions and are not given to governments. They are the blessing of the Lord to parents, the fruit of the love relationship in marriage that is the symbol of the love Christ has for the church. God gives children to parents, so that the children will be taught the love of God and a love for God. God never gave a command to maintain a certain lifestyle or to achieve a level of wealth. He did say, “These words I teach you this day… teach them diligently to your children.” (Deuteronomy 6)

Grandparents involvement in child rearing

/in

Often I will pick up the counseling phone and hear something like, “I am upset with the way my daughter (or son) is raising my grandchildren. What should I do?” Of course, this question and brief statement must be followed up with a good many details in order for me to know what advice to give.

One thing stands out in the way the question is phrased. It is the emphasis on these being “my grandchildren.” While there is an emphasis in scripture on the role of grandparents, like 2 Timothy 1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also,” the primary responsibility for raising children and disciplining them is vested in the parents, not the grandparents. Most wise parents will put into practice the techniques of child rearing that their parents used on them. However, there will be times when ideas and techniques will differ. It is at that time that grandparents need to yield the right of way, unless what the parents are doing is definitely against the teaching of the Bible.

The role of a grandparent is much more passive than the role of the parent. Since we have very few examples of the active interaction of grandparents and grandchildren that lead to good results, and since God has no grandchildren, only children, we must realize that God intends for the parents to bear the primary responsibility for disciplining and raising their children. Grandparents should be ready to give advice — when it is asked for, or when it is necessary to keep the parents from violating scripture. Otherwise, remain silent. When advice to parents is given, it should be given in private, in love, and with the children absent from the meeting.

If you are a grandparent, remember: Your children are your investment, your grandchildren are the dividends on that investment. Pray for them and love them.

Keeping love alive in marriage

/in

Since our occupations can take one fourth of our week, or one third of each week day, without figuring overtime or that part time work, it must be reckoned within our effort to keep love in the home. I feel that there are certain signs that will help us keep the love fire burning brightly in the home.

“No Dumping Allowed” read the sign on an attractive piece of property that was starting to show the signs of neglect. Some thoughtless persons had discarded trash, and that made it difficult or impossible for the owner to keep the landscape neat. Many times the working partner or partners in a marriage use the home and their mate for a dumping ground. Problems and frustrations on the job find a resting place in the home, but they clutter it up and make keeping love alive and attractive impossible. While there should be a sharing of ideas and communication in the home, don’t use your mate for a garbage pit.

“Private Property, No Hunting Allowed” were words on another sign I observed on a wooded lot. Its owner knew that it was home to some creatures that others would want, and he was going to protect them and himself by posting the land. There needs to be an intimacy in marriage that is private and peculiar to the spouses alone. I am not talking just about sexual privacy, but also spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical intimacy. Paul told the Corinthians that there was to be a sharing in the marriage that would keep the partners hunting on their own property and would forbid others from encroaching on that hunting ground. (I Cor. 7:1-9) Proverbs 31:11 says that the heart of a husband can trust the virtuous wife, and he has no need for spoil or extramarital affairs. If your spouse is not your best friend and confidant, you are headed to the spoil – it is only a matter of time.

The ad in the newspaper read, “Attractive car, Well kept.” We too should realize that our spouses attracted us, and we attracted them. Reserve those attractions for each other, and remember what they are. So many times a wife will say to her husband, “You never date me any more like you did before we were married.” He probably counters with, “And you don’t fix those cookies you used to bake either.” From here it can get nasty, as his waistline comes into the discussion, and her physical appearance gets noticed. My wife reserves her first minutes on awaking to two important areas of her life, and mine. She spends time on her physical appearance and she spends time with the Lord, working on her spiritual life. Any wonder that I still count myself fortunate to be able to date her after 44 years of marriage?

In the classified, I found a little ad describing a “Time-share.” This is an arrangement by which many can enjoy the features of a piece of property, because each respects the others’ interest in it. We, too, need to share our time and interests. There should be things that couples do together, and there should be time for things that only one wants to do. My wife is artistic and enjoys crafts, sewing, etc. While I know men who crochet, knit, and sew, and do it well, that is not my thing. She needs time for that, but we spend time together while she does what interests her, and I enjoy my time on the computer, or reading the newspaper. We also share many interests, and we spend time together doing them. A hobby I enjoyed and plan to enjoy again soon is model railroading. My wife makes excellent model buildings from scratch, and we enjoy working on our projects together. Since a marriage puts together two people with different backgrounds, there will be unique interests and talents, and there should be time to develop them.

Above all, there must be a time together with the Lord. For a long time I struggled with the idea of leading that time, but as a husband it is my duty and privilege to make sure that we pray together each day. Even as the sides of a triangle come closer together as they reach the top, so the two of us come closer together as we approach the Lord together. The family that prays together does stay together.

For more about this topic visit our BBN BI and study course # 21400 Promoting Happiness In The Home

Dealing with family and marital problems

/in

We have received a number of counseling calls and letters on the subject of the family and marital relationships. It is surprising how many families are experiencing difficulty in one area or another. Some are having financial problems, communication problems, or other types of trouble.

It is amazing how many families do not have a financial budget, or have an unrealistic budget. In this day, when we have organizations like Christian Financial Concepts, it is hard to understand why couples do not avail themselves of some financial planning tools. Jesus said, in Luke 14:28, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” When more couples break their marriage vows over finances than over any other problem, it is courting disaster not to plan the family finances properly.

A number of other couples face problems in their marriages over infidelity. These are very difficult to counsel, since we rarely hear both sides of the story. It may be the wife who complains that her husband is seeing another woman, or a husband that says his wife is finding her completion in another person. The Bible says in Proverbs 5:15, “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.” If his own well has fresh, clean water, and his thirst is quenched at that well, he does not seek to drink from another well. A wife who is loved as she should be according to Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” will find it easy to return that love in a way that keeps her husband drinking at her well.

Unfortunately, both of these problems which wreck homes, could be solved by more communication between husband and wife. In some homes, though, as soon as either partner starts talking finances or marital relations, the other partner becomes defensive and the battle begins. I try to suggest that the two agree before the discussion begins that both are entering into the discussion to find solutions, not faults. Avoid trying to think of a comeback to each statement by your mate, and be ready to admit and confess your shortcomings in the interest of finding a solution to your problem. Take time to pray together, and ask your Heavenly Father for His direction. Remember that He established marriage, and declared it a good thing for a man and a woman to live together in marriage. It is His plan, and we need His direction to carry it out.

To hear more about this topic go to: 202 Marriage and Divorce

Family revival

/in

The family is the first unit that God created, right after He created Adam, and well before government or even church. It is logical that revival must move from the personal to the family level. The ones we live with on a daily basis know us best and will sense what is happening in our lives. What a natural environment for further development of revival!

I must assume that by now you have begun the process of personal revival that must precede anything done with the family. Remember, in revival far more is caught than is taught. In other words, your family will learn more from your example than from your exhortations.

A good way to start is to gather the family together to discuss the need for revival. Share with them what has been happening in your lives you have asked God to lead you in personal revival. Share with them some of the things about which God has convicted you, particularly those things that touch their lives. They have noticed selfishness, pride, lack of prayer and Bible times, absenteeism from Sunday School, Church, etc. These things should be confessed to them.

It is important that the family unit be strengthened by this process. A genuine Holy Ghost revival will do this, since the family was instituted by God and is nurtured by anything God does. After all, a good family life is one of the signs of the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18 to 6:4)

Dad should take the leadership in this family renewal; however, where Dad is not in the home, or refuses to provide the spiritual leadership for the family, Mom should encourage revival in the home. If her husband is present in the home, she must be careful not to nag him or put a guilt trip on him for his failure to lead. She should pray for him, and hold him up before the family. Family revival should emphasize the importance of our relationship with the Lord, and point out the ways to improve that. Family prayer and Bible reading helps, as does family giving, encouraging the children to participate.

Since revival will always result in righting wrongs, take a member of the family with you when you return that tool or utensil that you borrowed a long time ago and never took back. A renewed conscience may help you to realize that this is the same as stealing. It will also provide an opportunity to witness to the person who owns the item, and it will help in the humbling process in your life. The child who observes this will get an object lesson in how the Lord works in the life of one who is surrendered to Him and is seeking God’s best for his life.

A good family project could be going over the family budget with an eye to determining if the Lord is being treated with honor in our spending. With the same energy, it would be good to discuss as a family what we are watching on the television or viewing through our VCR. Be careful not to turn this into a legalistic session or you will miss the point of revival. Getting the family to discuss revival will lead to discussion of other areas, such as ways we can do for the Lord.

Above all, there needs to be a family spiritual time set up. This may be a formal devotional time, such as a family altar, or it may be a more informal time of sharing from the Bible while on a family walk, or riding in the car. Remember, our Saviour taught his disciples in all sorts of situations and in many different places, indoors, and out. In my family, some of things I thought were unimportant were actually the things our children remembered most. They cherished the spiritual lessons learned, probably better than they might have done had we had a formal devotional time that day. However, the most important part of family devotions is to get started. Don’t wait for the perfect setting or time. Do it today!

For more about this topic see: Christian Home  or visit the BBN BI and register to study course # 20300 Love In The Home

Why do Christians try to get morality put into law?

/in

There are times that people will ask, “Since we live in a pluralistic society in our country, why do Christians try to get their morality put into law?” Or they will ask, “Why do Christians back certain candidates for office?”

The answers to these questions involve much Bible study and a knowledge of the Word. As we read the history of Israel in the Old Testament, we see that Israel either flourished or languished depending on the leadership that was present. When Israel had a leader that “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,” the Lord blessed Israel. On the other hand, when the leadership was sinful, Israel suffered under the hand of God, and became all the more sinful as a nation.

As long as Israel obeyed the Lord, the promise to Israel in Deuteronomy 28 was one of blessing. However, almost twice as much of that chapter speaks of the cursing that would come upon the land when it chose to disobey the Lord. In other words, the nation was dealt with according to its moral conduct, with that conduct being measured by the law of the Lord. Since we are told in I Cor. 10:11 “And all these things happened to them as examples; and it is written for our warning on whom the ends of the world have come, ” we need to heed the warning! God says, in essence, “Obey my law and be blessed, but disobey my law and be cursed!”

It follows to reason, that a person who studies and believes the Bible would want godly leaders in office and God’s law as the rule of the land. It is not a matter of legislating morality. Every ruling body legislates some kind of morality, but it is a matter of accepting God’s law as the authority for our lives and the law for our land. That does not mean that every person in the land must be a Bible believing Christian, or attend a Bible believing church. (However, it would be wonderful if everyone did.) It does mean however, that when God has spoken about a matter, we must accept His Word as final.

Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood.

10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He breaks the plots of the people.

11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people He has chosen for His inheritance.

13 The LORD looks down from Heaven; He beholds all the sons of mankind.

14 From His dwelling place He looks on all the people of the earth.

15 Together He forms their hearts; His understanding is to all their works.

16 The king is not saved by a great army; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is to those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy;

19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we trust in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be on us, according as we hope in You.

Is morality a Biblical requirement for leadership?

/in

This question has been dealt with in the media, in discussion groups, and in the minds of many citizens in the light of the scandals that have dominated our political scene. Some feel that a leader’s private life is no one’s business. They feel the real test of a leader is how well he can lead others.

If we leave the Bible out of the discussion, that might very well be a good test of leadership. However, God laid down some principles for choosing a leader. He said, in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, the person who would be the king, or leader of the people, should be a person who is not covetous (does not multiply horses or silver and gold to himself), and he must be one who is sexually pure. He is not to have a multitude of wives (or mistresses) so that his heart is not turned away from God.

Further, this leader is to have a copy of God’s law beside him at all times. He is to study it so that he may keep his heart in tune with God. He is to remind himself of the standards God puts upon leadership. God blessed Israel when she had kings that were righteous, and He cursed them when the king was a wicked, immoral person.

Yes, morality is a biblical requirement for leadership in government.

For more about Leadership see the BBN BI course # 50400

Predestination or the freewill of man?

/in

Predestination and the freewill of man is our topic today as we consider the major doctrines of the Bible. Perhaps, no two doctrines seem farther apart from each other than these two. Predestination teaches that God controls the destiny of each person, and freewill teaches that each person makes his own choices, using his or her free will. It would appear that these two ideas could not coexist. Perhaps, after our Bible study today, you will see that they can, or maybe you will be even more emphatic in saying that they are poles apart. Let’s look at each of these concepts and the scriptures that would seem to teach each.

Those who teach the freewill of man would use, among other portions of the Bible, those that use the term, “whosoever.” There are many of these in the Bible.

John 3:14 But even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Ironically, this verse is in the chapter that speaks the most powerfully on the sovereignty of God. Romans 9: 9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

In the next chapter, we have further teaching on freewill. Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In the last book of the Bible, the last chapter, God once again gives the invitation to all to come to Him for salvation. Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

Those who believe the Bible teaches that God predetermines the destiny of the saved and the lost would use the verses that have the word “predestined” or “predestination” in them. Here are several.

Ephesians 1:4,5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Those who are predestined or chosen are sometimes called the “elect.” The word “elect”, means “one chosen or set apart, designated by God to salvation, predestinated to glory as an end and to sanctification as the means.” (according to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) This term is used in several Bible verses. First Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Looking at the verses that seem to support these two opposing views, we do see one thing that sheds some light on the subject. In the verses that are used to support predestination, we usually find the words “according to the foreknowledge of God.” God, Who knows the end from the beginning, knows who will claim the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, as their payment for sin, and elects them to salvation, thus predestining them to Heaven. Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. I like to summarize that by this phrase, “There is enough room in the sovereignty of God to handle the freewill of man.” A God as awesome as the God of the Bible is in control of all things and all beings. However, our God is also a God of love, giving each person the will to choose or refuse His Son as Savior and Lord. To go too far on either side in this area, is to misinterpret the Bible. On the one side would be the fatalism that says, “Whoever God is going to save is who will be in Heaven, so we do not need to witness or send missionaries. On the other side is a view of God that makes Him inferior to man and bound by man’s decisions. Neither extreme is biblical.

As someone have aptly put it, “As you approach the gate of Heaven, you see the phrase engraved over the gate, ‘Whosoever will, let him come.’ After you pass through the gate, you turn and read the phrase again, and it reads, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:.” Ephesians 1:4

Now, the question comes down to this, “Have you chosen to receive God’s gift of life in His Son, Jesus Christ?” I felt led of the Lord to teach this lesson, because there may be someone listening today who may feel that they are not one of God’s chosen, elect, predestined saints. My friend, if you have an interest in Heaven, trust Jesus Christ today and He will save you. If you have not done so, and you would like to trust Him right now, where you are, just call this number and someone will be glad to help you, 1-800-888-7077. Don’t let anything stand in your way. God’s invitation is clear, and it is for you. “And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is a thirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

For more on this topic see BBN Bible Institute course # 00900 Doctrine of Salvation

Where is your sacrifice for sin?

/in

No sooner had sin entered the world, with the eating of the forbidden fruit, than God gave the principle of a sacrifice for sin. Genesis 3:21, ” Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” An animal died, blood was shed, to provide a covering for the naked sinners. They had tried a vegetable covering, an action to be repeated by their first son to cover his sin by bring the fruit of the ground as a sacrifice. That failed to satisfy God, just as our good works will not pay for sin. Titus 3:5-7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Throughout the Old Testament, the appropriate sacrifice was a blood sacrifice. At the time of deliverance of Israel from Egypt, God gave specific instructions for what would be the Passover feast. Exodus 13: 3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.” The blood on the doorposts and the lentil were a sign of the dependence on God for deliverance.

Following the giving of the Ten Commandments, recorded in Exodus 20, God gives the requirement for the offering to be made three times a year at the special feasts. Exodus 23: 18 “Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.” Exodus 24: 3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do. 4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”

In Leviticus 16, we have the teaching on the Day of Atonement. On this day, the high priest slew the sacrificial animal as an offering for sin. He entered the holy of holies, within the veil before the mercy seat and there sprinkled the blood in the presence of the Lord. By this act, the blood covered the sins of the nation. The ideas of “imputation” and “representation” are both important in this event. The sins of the people were transferred to the animal victim, or put to its account. The Bible term for this is “reckoned” to the animal. The High Priest was the nation’s chosen representative in the atoning process. How amazing that the Lord Jesus Christ can be both our sacrifice and our High Priest.

On the Day of Atonement, the high priest wore a special garment. On the breastplate were precious stones to represent the tribes of Israel, signifying that the high priest was the representative of the nation. The robe he wore was described in detail in Exodus 28:31-35: “And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent. And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.” When our Savior died on the cross, He presented His sacrifice to God the Father as the payment in full. He needed no pomegranates or bells to let us know that He was alive. He came forth from the tomb, before the stone was rolled away, alive and triumphant. His resurrection is listed as a part of the Gospel over and over because it was when the high priest appeared again to the people, having returned from inside the Holy of Holies after offering an acceptable sacrifice, that the people knew that God had accepted their sacrifice.

With all of these elaborate sacrifices, the believer in the Old Testament really had no complete payment for his or her sins. The animal sacrifices were merely an admission of a debt owed. It was like a debtor showing up at the place of the creditor and acknowledging that a debt was owed, and that it would be paid someday by someone. The debt was still carried on the books, but payment was not demanded at that time. Romans 3:25 teaches that God was just in forbearing the collection of the debt for sins from Old Testament saints. He merely passed over that debt, knowing that His Son, Jesus Christ would pay that debt in full by shedding His blood on Calvary’s tree.

The New Testament also stresses the need of a blood sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” No remission, no forgiveness, no salvation, without a blood sacrifice. The sacrifice of Christ far exceeds the Old Testament example. First, because of the One Who died. Second, because the Old Testament atonement could only put off the debt for one year. Christ has paid the debt off completely by His death. Now there is “no more condemnation” Romans 8.

One of the problems faced by modern day Judaism is a lack of a place for blood sacrifice. The Temple Mount is not open to Jewish sacrifice, because a greater blood sacrifice took place on Golgotha when Christ died for our sins, shedding His blood for us. Let me ask you, my friend, regardless of what religion you have, where is your blood sacrifice to pay for your sins?

Jesus Christ paid your sin debt. He died, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. If you have not trusted Him as your personal Savior, may I lead you in the sinner’s prayer? If you are able to bow your head where you are, do so and pray this prayer with me. “God, I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot pay for my sins. I know that I need a Savior and I ask that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead be counted as my payment for sins. Forgive me and cleanse me. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Please give me eternal life as You have promised in Your Word. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen” Now, receive the gift of God, eternal life and forgiveness of sin. In your own words, right now, thank Him for saving you.

Please let us know that you have made that decision, contact us at www.bbnradio.org

Where does it say that in Scripture?

/in

Sometimes we go looking for something, and we are just sure we know where it is. We hunt and search, but it is not where we thought it would be. After a while, that item shows up in another place and we realize we would never have found it in the place we originally searched, because it was not there.

We often get questions from people who ask where in the Bible a certain idea or phrase is found. When I do, I think back to my freshman year in college. I had an idea for a message to submit to the “preacher boys” contest. I wanted to write the best sermon I was capable of writing. I wanted an attention getting start to the message, and I needed to locate that famous verse in the Bible, “God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” I had heard that phrase many times, and just needed the Scriptural reference for it to make it a part of my introduction. After asking several people, I was referred to the library and a book on famous quotations. I was embarrassed to find that it is not in the Bible, but was written by a hymn writer, many centuries after the Bible was completed!

Not too long ago, a gentleman called here to BBN and asked where in the Bible he could locate the passage that spoke about the seasons of the year becoming indistinguishable as the end of the age approached. He referred to the unusually warm weather we were having for the winter season. When I told him it was not in the Bible, he would not accept my answer. After a little discussion about it, I pointed to Genesis 22 “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” God would not put a verse in the Bible that would contradict a prophecy that He announced until the time period prescribed has run out. The caller finally agreed that the phrase he had heard was not in the Bible.

Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “Cleanliness is next to godliness”, but your study of the book of Proverbs failed to turn that verse up. That is because it is most often ascribed to Ben Franklin, and is not in the Bible. “God helps those who help themselves” also qualifies for a phrase that is not in the Bible. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) is found in the Bible, and would seem to teach almost the same thing, but it is not the same phrase.

Another caller asked about a phrase that had been quoted to him that would justify a man having relations with a prostitute if his wife was unable to meet his need. This phrase condemned spilling one’s seed on the ground, and thus it taught that the immoral act of fornication was the better of two alternatives. (The idea of spilling one’s seed on the ground is mentioned in Genesis 38:9, but the problem was one of not wanting to raise up children for his brother, who had died, not self gratification.) When I told him the phrase he had quoted was not in the Bible, he offered to bet me that it was. I declined, and told him one could always tell when something was not in the Bible if it violated a clear command of God. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” and “Flee fornication” are biblical verses, so nothing that contradicts them could be biblical.

Perhaps our problem is that we are not familiar enough with what is in the Bible. We, therefore, tend to fall for teaching that sounds like it could be in the Bible. Since we have the Bible to read, let us dedicate ourselves anew to reading its truth. It has been honored by literary experts, hailed by great thinkers, accepted by millions, but read thoroughly by so few. Rather than looking for answers that are not in that Book, let us find the Truth that it teaches. Read it, meditate upon it, seek to understand it.

As the billboard in Florida reads, “Have you read my book? A final exam will be given. God” Have you been doing your homework lately?

For more about this topic see: 0503 Understanding Truth