Tag Archives: Bible

Apr 3 2009

Jesus – The WAY


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It was in response to a question from the disciple who earned the name “Doubting Thomas” that Jesus gave the amazing teaching about Himself recorded in John 14. After Jesus was raised from the dead it was this same Thomas who had to see and feel the scars on Jesus’ body before he would finally believe. (John 20:24-27)

If among those in Jesus’ inner circle were still some who were doubtful and unsure about Jesus right up until his death it should come as no surprise that today there are also doubters. Jesus discourse with Thomas, coupled with his conversation with Nicodemus makes clear Jesus is the Way, the only Way to God, heaven, eternal life, and eternity with God and his people.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.”
(John 14:1-7)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:16-19)

Jesus is not “a” Way; He is “the” Way.

Our culture says that all sincere religious people are on paths that lead to the same destination, God. Sincerity is only valid when it is based on truth in the context of religious expression and belief. The central truth of the Bible makes Christianity exclusive and intolerant. Exclusive in that only those who put their trust in Jesus are not condemned and intolerant because only the unique Son of God is indeed the way to God and eternal life. Christians are tolerant of people and their ideas but must insist that Jesus is the only Way. (Acts 4:12)

Jesus is the Way for all people of all ages.

Every person who will finally escape the wrath of God and live in eternity with God will do so on the basis of Jesus’ worth and work. Every Old Testament saint who will be in heaven will be there because Jesus took the penalty of his sins and fully met God’s standard of righteousness on his behalf. Jesus said of the Scriptures;

 “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
(Luke 24:44)

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”
(John 5:39)

The priesthood, the sacrificial system, the offerings, the written code, the tabernacle, the veiled entrance to the Holy of Holies, etc. all were types and shadows of He who was to come and once for all time and once for all people fix the problems of sin and death.

I want to be clear. No person has ever been accepted by God, set right with Him, by what he or she did or did not do. Just as none of those who lived before Christ’s death and resurrection were justified by the law, so it is today that no person will be in heaven because he was in the right church, believed the right doctrine, worshipped in the right way, or did various good deeds. (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, 3:11)

Every other way leads to death and punishment.

What must a person do to miss heaven and eternal life? Nothing! Just continue on a rebellious path, trusting in his own goodness, relying on his religion. Jesus was very pointed when He said to Nicodemus in the passage quoted above “but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:18) Every person who has not surrendered his or her will and put their trust in Jesus is already condemned, they are not waiting to be judged guilty, and they are now guilty and condemned and are objects of God’s awful wrath against sin.

You can be wrong about some doctrine. And we can have disagreements about styles and methods of worship and ministry, but all of us must be right about Jesus. There is no substitute and no supplement for what Christ has already accomplished for sinners. I beg every reader, put your whole trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and you will be safe. He is the only Way!

For Jesus,
Royce

Mar 26 2009

Fellowship Dialogue


I just learned that finally a discussion will take place online between “progressives” and “conservatives” in the churches of Christ. Representing the progressives will be Jay Guinn and Todd Deaver and on the conservative side Phil Sanders and Greg Tidwell. I believe each man is able and will fairly represent his believe and will speak for most of those in his camp.

The very first topic will be about just how a person looses his salvation. I will have questions for both sides I am sure. Follow the discussion at http://graceconversation.wordpress.com .

I’m off to the workshop…

Royce

Mar 23 2009

HEBREWS: ANCIENT ENCOURAGEMENT FOR BELIEVERS TODAY, by Edward William Fudge, a review


coverpicheb2In church of Christ circles Edward Fudge is both despised and loved but one thing everyone, including those outside of churches of Christ, can agree on is Edward’s consistant, life long habit of putting the focus of his message and ministry on Jesus Christ our Lord.

I became acquanted with Edward Fudge upon the recommendation of a friend who disagreed with some of my teaching but did so in a loving way. He thought I would enjoy Bro’ Fudge’s gracEmail and he was right about that. Over the past few years I have solicited his opinion, asked him to critique some of my study and conclusions, and have found in him a kindred spirit who is full of grace and love for all who love Jesus.

When Edward asked me to review his latest book, HEBREWS, Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today I was delighted to do so. This great work comes highly recommended and rightly so. It is a verse by verse commentary on the book of Hebrews.

Edward Fudge, always a scholar, has obviously done his work well documenting back ground work, original languages, several translations of Scripture, and acknowledging other authors ideas. But the finished product is as readable as the morning paper. Every pastor/teacher and every person in the pew or behind a podium will want this wonderful resource at arms length when the book of Hebrews is explored and studied.

I especially appreciate the frankness and fairness exhibited throughout the book. In dealing with those passages in Hebrews which have been historically the most controversial and in some cases the most difficult to understand, Fudge has given not only his conclusions but also a very balanced and fair presentation of the most prominent conclusions as well. Unlike many of his peers, Fudge trusts his readers to read and make their own conclusions. This almost unique treatment I really appreciate.

The whole of the volume is rich and encouraging and well worth reading and sharing, but one thing stands out clearly. Jesus is better! He is better than the angels, better than the Levitical Priesthood, better than the animal sacrifices, and His once for all people, once for all time offering of His own body for sinners is quite enough to satisfy completely our Holy Father.

There is no reconciliation without representation. Just as Adam was our representative head and we died when he died, Jesus is now our representative and we died when He died, and rose when He rose, and live because He lives. And, as Edward Fudge beautifully writes, we now have a man (God/man) in heaven who continues to represent us until He comes again to complete our salvation.

Many thanks brother Fudge for the gift of your love and labor. May it bring glory to Christ our Lord.

The book is published by Leafwood Publishers, Abilene, Texas and will soon be available in your favorite book store or you can contact the author at Edward@EdwardFudge.com

Royce Ogle

Mar 23 2009

Edward Fudges talks about his latest book


coverpichebHEBREWS:  ANCIENT  ENCOURAGEMENT FOR  BELIEVERS TODAY, by Edward William Fudge (Leafwood Publishers, 2009, softcover, 262 pages, $19.95. Delivery on or before May 19, 2009 ). 

The following is an interview with Edward William Fudge, author of HEBREWS: ANCIENT  ENCOURAGEMENT FOR  BELIEVERS TODAY (Leafwood Publishers, 2009, softcover, 262 pages, $19.95). Delivery on or before May 19, 2009).  

A neglected book 

Q: Hebrews is not a book we hear discussed very often. Why do you suppose that is the case? 

EWF: You are right about that. This neglect is very unfortunate, in my view, because Hebrews is one of the most Jesus-focused, gospel-packed books in the New Testament. You will see the evidence for that on almost every page of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today. 

Q: Why do most people miss this focus? 

EWF: It comes from a lack of real study of Hebrews. Folks go away from it without ever seeing and appreciating the book’s real message. They assume it is just an old book about even older Jewish rituals, sacrifices and priests, with no meaning or value for them.   

Who wrote Hebrews? 

Q: Do you know who wrote Hebrews? 

EWF: I know as much about it as anyone else, which is finally nothing for sure! J Origen told the truth about two centuries after Christ when he said that the author “is known to God alone.” It almost certainly was not Paul, for a variety of reasons. My personal vote among the candidates goes either to Barnabas or to Apollos. 

Q: Why do you favor Barnabas? 

EWF: The author of Hebrews calls his own work a “word of exhortation” (Heb. 13:22). The same Greek expression is found at Acts 13:15, where it is translated as “word of encouragement.” There, Paul and Barnabas are invited to address a Sabbath synagogue audience, which they do for the next 31 verses. Their remarks are called a “word of encouragement.” Not only is Barnabas involved in that, his name means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36) – a comment on one of his chief characteristics. He is also a Levite, who would be very interested in the subjects of priesthoods, sacrifices, and their results. These themes  permeate Hebrews and can also encourage us today, as I show in Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today. 

Q: What can you say in favor of Apollos? 

EWF: Well, for starters he is called “mighty in the Scriptures” (Acts 18:24). This fits Hebrews very well since its author clearly was exceedingly familiar with his ‘Bible,’ which was the “Old Testament” as we call it. (Hebrews actually tells the Story of the Son of God — from heaven to earth and back to heaven again — based on four different Psalms.) Apollos was also “an eloquent man,” as was the author of Hebrews). And he was from Alexandria, Egypt – a city of learning noted for a particular type of Scripture interpretation. The author of Hebrews reads his Bible in a similar manner. 
 

Why was Hebrews written?

Q: Do we know why Hebrews was written? 

EWF: Yes we do, although we don’t know exactly to whom, when, where, or precisely what was going on. But we do know that, for a variety of reasons, the original recipients of Hebrews were worn out, disheartened, tempted, and seemingly about ready to walk away from their faith. The book hints at some possible causes, including persecution, passing of time, being misfits in their culture, the appeal of sin, and so forth. 

Q: That situation sounds very up-to-date! How does the author of Hebrews respond to it? 

EWF: I love it! To revive his readers’ spirits and to renew their commitment, the unknown author re-tells the Story – the story of the Son of God who became a man, to live and die as our representative, and who is now in heaven representing us as our High Priest. Hebrews is thoroughly focused on Jesus! Its message is always contemporary. We can never go wrong by focusing on the Savior himself. I am very pleased that several reviewers have described Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today in those same terms.  

A ‘bridge’ commentary 

Q: You call Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today a “bridge” commentary. What does that mean?  

EWF:  When it comes to Bible studies, there are two worlds out there which often never come together. One is the ivory-tower world of academic specialists with all their scholarly issues and technical jargon. The other world is where most believers live and work and worship. Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today attempts to bridge this gap. For example, I worked from the Greek text of Hebrews but Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today doesn’t have a single Greek word in it. Although the bibliography covers eight pages and includes 80+ scholarly articles from theological journals, this book uses everyday language. By linking scholarship with simplicity, I hope to give the reader the best of both worlds.  

A narrative-style book 

Q: You also describe Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today as a “narrative-style” commentary. Tell us about that. 

EWF: That refers to the fact that Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is written as flowing narrative, although it discusses each verse of Hebrews in detail. It does this in 48 chapters, each covering a portion of the Scripture text. Each chapter begins with a very short section called “Why & Wherefore,” which relates that section to the big picture. That is followed by “Unpacking the Text,” which goes into detail, but in narrative style, with subheads to make it read more like a typical book. 

Endorsements 

Q: I see that Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is already endorsed by a considerable variety of notable scholars and church leaders, even before its release. Isn’t that a bit unusual? 

EWF: What is somewhat uncommon in the case of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today is the theological and international diversity of the endorsements. Hebrews contains a number of quite controversial passages, about which Christian “tribes” traditionally disagree. I am very pleased, therefore, that this book is recommended by knowledgeable reviewers across the spectrum. 

For example, the quotes on the back cover of Hebrews: Ancient Encouragement for Believers Today come from Methodist, Calvinist, Church of Christ, Baptist, mainline Protestant, Pentecostal and Emergent church scholars. The full text of these seven endorsements, plus 29 others, fills the first six pages of the book. You can read the endorsements online already, with photos, biographical comments and (where applicable) website links of the reviewers, by clicking here http://www.EdwardFudge.com/endorsements_Heb.html . 

Tomorrow I plan to post my review of this important book.

Royce