Light and Darkness (Part 3 of 5) by Kenneth E. Thomas
(http://www.gospelanchor.com/)
The Contrast Between Light and Darkness (continued)
Even after all of these things came to pass, the Jews then,
and many now, are expecting the Messiah yet to come and to rebuild
the nation of Israel and reign on David's literal throne in Jerusalem
Palestine. It will never happen of course. As Jesus was before
Pilate He said, "My kingdom is not of this world..."
(John 18:36). He had promised that this prophesied "spiritual
kingdom" would indeed be established with power in the lifetime
of some of His disciples (Mark 9:1).
Not yet understanding this, after Jesus was crucified some of
His disciples thought that all was lost! Their hopes had been
dashed to bits because this man who claimed to be the Son of God
and their own Messiah had failed to set up his kingdom. Listen
to two of his disciples' conversation on the road to Emmaus: "...And
they talked together of all these things which had happened. So
it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself
drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained so
that they did not know Him. And He said to them, "What kind
of conversation is this that you have with one another as ye walk
and are sad?" Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered
and said to Him, "Are You a stranger in Jerusalem, and have
You not known the things which happened there in these days?"
And He said to them, "What things?" And they said to
Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a
Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
"and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to
be condemned to death, and crucified Him. "But we were hoping
that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides
all this, today is the third day since these things happened"
(Luke 24:13-21).
This idea of Israel's restoration was so ingrained in the minds
of the Jews in the first century (who misunderstood their own
prophets) that even Christ's own chosen Apostles just before His
ascension back to heaven, asked Jesus "...Lord, will You
at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6).
Their question would have to await the advent of the Holy Spirit
for an answer and Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit would make
that answer known on the beginning date of Christ's church/kingdom
in (Acts 2:22-38,40,41,47). Even to this day, most Protestants
are still waiting and hoping for the establishment of an earthly
kingdom with Christ reigning from Jerusalem Palestine for a literal
1000 years on David's literal throne. The doctrine is known as
Premillennialism, and there's not a word of truth in it! The whole
system is flawed from beginning to end!
Jesus Christ did what he came to do in fulfillment of God's predetermined
plan; His mission was to "seek and to save the lost"
by the sacrifice of Himself for the sins of the whole world (Luke
19:10). Jesus came through the door of prophecy. The porter or
doorkeeper (John the immerser) opened this door of prophecy and
Christ came as their fulfillment (John 1:1-18). John said, "Behold!
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John
1:29)! Jesus' death was no accident nor was the founding of His
church purchased with His shed blood an after thought. No, it
was God's eternal plan (Ephesians 3:8-11). The church, which term
is used interchangeably with His kingdom (Hebrews 12:22-28; Matthew
16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-14) was in God's mind from eternity.
This would make it possible for both Jew and Gentile to be reconciled
unto God through Christ's death in the one body, the church, thus
making peace between Jew and Gentile and between God and man (Ephesians
2:10-17).
Many are the precious souls who are yet in darkness as regards
this system of redemption that is centered in Christ and in His
blood bought church by the gospel, even as I write and even as
you consider what I have written! Life and immorality said Paul,
are brought to light by the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). This gospel
is the "good news" of Christ's death, burial and resurrection.
It is "God's power to save" (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians
15:1-4). But those who are lost have had their eyes blinded by
the God of this world, again quoting Paul the Apostle, "lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of
God, should shine unto them" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).
As Christ's chosen apostles began to carry out the worldwide commission
to which we alluded earlier and promised to revisit later in this
study, fierce opposition to the story of the death, burial, resurrection,
ascension and coronation of Jesus Christ immediately began. In
fact, everyone but the apostles themselves, who had accepted and
obeyed what Peter and the rest of the apostles commanded them
to do on the birthday of Christ's church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:22-47),
were run out of town in fear of their very lives! This persecution
was headed up by one who later became the thirteenth apostle,
sent by Christ as a special envoy to the Gentile world. This man
who caused many Christians to be beaten, killed, and imprisoned,
was later himself treated likewise and willingly accepted whatever
he must to be a faithful proclaimer of the fact that this Jesus
whom the Jews had crucified, who had also been resurrected, is
indeed the very Christ, the Messiah for whom the nation had been
waiting (Acts 7:56-8:4; Acts 26:9-11: Philippians 3:7-14).
After Saul's conversion which is recorded in Acts chapters 9,
22, 26, as he defended himself before king Agrippa, Saul told
of his conversion to Christ and of what Christ Himself said to
Him there on the Damascus road. Speaking from heaven in the midst
of a light brighter than the noonday sun which blinded Saul, he
fell to the earth and heard Jesus say, "Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.
"So I said, 'who are you Lord? And He said, "I am Jesus,
whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for
I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister
and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the
things which I will yet reveal to you. ' I will deliver you from
the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now
send you, 'to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to
light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive
forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified
by faith in Me" (Acts 26:14-18).
PSALM 119
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
SAMECH. (Ps 119:113-120).
[113. vain thoughts--better, "unstable persons," literally,
"divided men," those of a divided, doubting mind (Jas
1:8); "a double-minded man" [HENGSTENBERG], skeptics,
or, skeptical notions as opposed to the certainty of God's word.]
113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
114 Thou art my hiding place [(Compare Ps 27:5).] and my shield
[(Ps 3:3; 7:10).]: I hope in thy word. [confidently rest on its
teachings and promises.]
[115-117. Hence he fears not wicked men, nor dreads disappointment,
sustained by God in making His law the rule of life.]
115 Depart from me [Ye can do nothing with me; for, &c. (Ps
6:8).], ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let
me not be ashamed of my hope.
117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect
unto thy statutes continually.
[118-120. But the disobedient and rebellious will be visited by
God's wrath, which impresses the pious with wholesome fear and
awe.]
118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes:
for their deceit is falsehood. [that is, all their cunning deceit,
wherewith they seek to entrap the godly, is in vain.]
119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross:
therefore I love thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy
judgments.
[The "judgments" are those on the wicked (Ps 119:119).
Joyful hope goes hand in hand with fear (Hab 3:16-18).]
When You Thought I Wasn't Looking (Written by a former
child)
Author Unknown (Contributed by L. Dillinger)
A message every adult should read, because children are watching
you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting
on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another
one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite
cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special
things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and
I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to
trust in God.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take
it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to
help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time
and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those
who have something should give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our
house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of
what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your
responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned
that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your
eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right
to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I
wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons
that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I
grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted
to say,
"Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't
looking.'"
Each of us, parent or friend, influences the life of a child.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.geocities.com/~cdillinger/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published
for the members of, and visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly
Shores, Leesburg, Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: dillinc@yahoo.com