Who and when was Adam?

Some people have worked out that, according to Bible chronology, Adam’s time was some 6,000 years ago. They combine that with the 6 “days” of creation to reject the Bible’s account in the face of considerable evidence that the planet and some of its peoples have histories which are much longer. I’ve encountered at least one professing Christian who posits that the Creator has planted false evidence to mislead those who do not have the grace or good sense to believe Him.

That’s difficult to swallow and no such gymnastics are necessary. Following the apostasy after the takeover of the Church by the Roman empire, two of the fables which were incorporated into doctrine concerned the actual duration of the period of creation and the identity of Adam.

There is an interesting verse in Proverbs regarding understanding the things that God has revealed. We know that he refers to His people as kings and Jesus as King of kings.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)

The days of creation

This is another illustration of the danger of assuming that a word in our English translation means the same in the scripture as in does in our common parlance. The word ‘day’ is a translation of the Hebrew ‘yom’ which does not necessarily refer to a period of 24 hours. It is not necessarily that specific. It can mean any period of time. There is evidence that creation occurred in six geologic periods.

I have wondered about the refrain in Genesis 1 to the effect that

And the evening and the morning were the … day. (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31)

I don’t know the answer to that; perhaps a reader does. It would not hurt to do some research but my guess is that the original text used words capable of less specific meanings than ‘evening’ and ‘morning’ or that this is an example of the poetic way and/or the symbolic way in which much scripture is expressed.

Grass and trees were created on the third day (Genesis 1:11-13), creatures of the sea and air on the fifth day (Genesis 1:20-23) and other animals before man on the sixth day (Genesis 1:24-31).

Man was created on the sixth day and in both male and female form:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)

The Hebrew word translated as ‘created’ is ‘bara’ suggesting a literal creation from nothing as in “God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

Humans were given dominion over the earth and all creatures in it:

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:2

They were permitted to eat of the fruit of every tree bearing seed:

And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. (Genesis 1:29)

Adam was not the first man

Adam and Eve were formed (Hebrew ‘yatsar’), not created (’bara’):

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

Notice that there is no vegetation and there are no animals at that point. Far from it, they are provided after Adam is formed. Notice also that no female is formed at the same time as the male. The next verse deals with the planting (not creation) of a garden in a specific geographic location (not over “the earth” as in Genesis 1:11-12):

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:8-9)

There we have the first mention of those special trees. God’s created humans were told to multiply and to have dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:28, above). Adam was given a quite different and more modest commission:

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. (Genesis 2:15)

Moreover, Adam was not permitted and was, indeed, forbidden to eat the fruit of every tree:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Adam needs a partner (Genesis 2:18). God brings beasts and fowl into being (no mention of sea creatures). Such were created before humans in the account in Genesis 1. Here, Adam gets to name the creatures which are formed:

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (Genesis 2:19)

Not only does Adam have no companion at this point, the various creatures are considered as possible companions:

And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (Genesis 2:20)

It is only then that woman is made:

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Genesis 2:21-22)

There is still no commandment to multiply or to dominate the earth. The scripture only speaks of Eve bearing children after Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden (Genesis 3:16).

Adam was the first man in the sense that he was of the first type. He was not literally the first man any more than Jesus was literally the second or last man:

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:45-47)

Conclusion

A little learning is a dangerous thing. It is foolish to be wise in your own opinion (Proverbs 3:7). They who assume they can read the Bible and understand it like any other text have erred greatly.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. (Psalms 14:1; 53:1)

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:7; see also Romans 12:16)

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Corinthians 1:19)

The significance of speaking in tongues

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy

Thus spoke Peter (Acts 2:16:1 when answering those who heard the disciples speaking in tongues on the Day of Pentecost. This is “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3). It is part of the gospel of which the apostle wrote

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

When Jude exhorted the Church “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3), he was saying the same as Paul when he wrote to the Galatians:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:

We are warned of men “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:5). The Emperor Constantinople subsumed the Church into Rome and it became secularised and paganised. The apostles (”saints”) became the objects of worship or prayer as did Mary, the mother of Jesus. Tongues ceased generally to be spoken - these were not what Jesus called “true worshippers” (John 4:23). In later times there were minor revivals of “the faith … once delivered to the saints”. Early speakers of tongues were Martin Luther and the Booth family which founded the Salvation Army. * There have been reports of certain well-known individuals speaking in tongues; these may no longer be possible to document, partly because the significance of speaking in tongues has not been understood. * [see addendum below regarding the sentence between the asterisks] In this latter day there is a relatively major revival. Thousands are receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues was foretold by Jesus:

And these signs shall follow them that believe; … they shall speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17)

The apostles and their companions were unequivocal. They baptised the first Gentiles when they heard them speak in tongues (Acts 10:44-48):

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. (vv.44-46)

It appears that speaking in tongues is foretold in this verse (Zephaniah 3:9):

For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Isaiah wrote (chapter 28:11):

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

It was necessary for Paul to tell the Corinthians that they should not all speak in tongues at once; we can deduce that they were all able to speak in tongues. First, Paul cites the verse from Isaiah:

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you … hath a tongue …. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:21-23,26)

He laid down a procedure for the orderly exercise of the voice gifts of the Spirit - tongues, interpretations and prophecies. Notice that he speaks of interpretation, not translation, “for no man understandeth him” (1 Corinthians 14:2).

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Corinthians 14:27-29)

Tongues is described as the language of the Spirit:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

Paul writes to the Corinthians:

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh … unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 14:2,14)

Remember what Jesus said:

the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)

Addendum Exception was taken to the words struck out. The following sentence (that between asterisks) has been substituted. I will add a comment within the next few days.

What must I do to be saved?

The keeper of the prison at Philippi asked Paul and his companions that very question. The answer is a stumbling block to many; it is deceptively simple (Acts 16:31):

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

People forget that the scripture was not written in English, even the English of the time of King James. Our use and understanding of language can be quite casual and we can use the same word to signify a range of different concepts. The New Testament scriptures, for example, evidently use several different words which we translate as ‘love’ yet the original words have different meanings. We should not be hasty to think that we understand the full import of a word such as ‘believe’. Jesus said (John 14:15):

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Surely, if we believe Him, we should keep His commandments. If we believe Him, we trust in what He says and do as He says. That’s what the prison keeper did. He knew that ‘believe’ signified more than holding an opinion (Acts 16: 33):

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptised, he and all his, straightway.

The Bible is consistent in its salvation message, once you forget about snatching at a word or a phrase. Jesus was baptised and this is what was said between him and John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 13-15):

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptised of him.

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptised of thee, and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Those witnessing the miraculous events of the day of Pentecost also had the good sense to know that they had to do something and Peter told them exactly what that was (Acts 2: 37-38):

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

It’s exactly the same message as Jesus gave to Nicodemus (John 3: 3-5):

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

And exactly what John the Baptist said (Matthew 3:11):

I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

The way in which baptism (real baptism, not sprinkling) signifies re-birth is explained in Romans 6: 3-5:

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection

And again in Colossians 2: 12-13 which also mentions the quickening of the Spirit:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses

Powered by ScribeFire.

The foolishness of preaching

When writing about the sanctification of the Spirit, I remembered the misconception that some people have about 1 Corinthians. 13:10 which states

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

I’ve heard it said (by a person professing to be a Christian) that the scripture there refers to the Bible as “that which is perfect” and which, in the context, means that which will give us perfect knowledge, as stated in verse 12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known

Such people infer that the manifestations of the Spirit in the apostles’ time no longer exist - because they are no longer required when we have the Bible. Somehow we have a Spirit which does not manifest in the same way. Or perhaps we no longer need “the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Perhaps the Spirit has changed? The apostles were able to discern when someone had received the Spirit by the manifestations which followed. Are we supposed to guess? Remember Jesus saying that He had to leave before the Spirit could come. Can the Spirit remain when Jesus returns? Do we see the Bible “face to face” or will we see Jesus “face to face”? Who can I know from reading the Bible “even as also I am known”?

What does the Bible say about its own role? We could start with 2 Peter 3:16, where he refers initially to Paul’s epistles:

As also in all his epistles, … in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter does not seem to hold out a lot of hope for all those who may expect perfect knowledge from reading scriptures.

It’s necessary to make a distinction here between those baptised into the Church and those outside the Church. For the first, Ephesians 4:11-12 says

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

As for those outside the Church, that brings me to preaching. Why “the foolishness of preaching”? I’d like to suggest that it’s foolishness of a different kind which keeps many from entering through the strait gate. They are ‘rich’ with their own ideas, beliefs, thoughts; captives of their own intellects. Do you believe that those who are rich in such ways have no difficulty entering the Kingdom of God? Some scoff at the notion of a virgin woman giving birth, the idea that a crucifixion could open the way for salvation, baptism, speaking in tongues.

“The foolishness of preaching” is not my expression; it comes from 1 Corinthians 1 from which I’d like to quote verses 19, 21, 25 and 27

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. [citing Isa 29:14] ….

For … it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe….

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; ….

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3: 8-9

Unto me … is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

and in Romans 11: 33-34

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Isaiah wrote in chapter 55 verses 8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ….

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How could Paul preach “riches” and “judgments” which are “unsearchable” and “ways past finding out”? I believe that we need the same Spirit which the apostles received if we are about “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). In 1 Corinthians 2:7, 10-14 Paul writes

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom ….

the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

… the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have … the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

That is why the world still needs preachers. Preaching the Gospel “to every creature” is the commission given by Jesus to His disciples. Paul writes in Romans 10: 13-14

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. [citing Joel 2:32]

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

The sanctification of the Spirit

The title is taken from 2 Thessalonians 2:13 cited in the previous post. That verse mentions “salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”. We see there two elements the same as (or, if you will, similar to) those mentioned in John 4:23 (cited in the first post) which says “the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth”. There is salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and worship in spirit.

It’s the first I want to look at in this post. Remember John the Baptist talking about Jesus (Matthew 3:11) baptising “with the Holy Ghost”. Jesus spoke about that baptism and His words are reported in John 14:15-20:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you….

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

It may not be obvious to those without the Spirit (a subject for another post) but Jesus is there speaking of Himself and the Spirit as one and saying that He will be in his disciples. It’s also apparent that he is talking about a future time; the disciples with Him then did not have the Spirit within them. For them, salvation was yet to come. Indeed, as we see in John 16:7, the Spirit would not come until Jesus had left:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

When did that salvation come to them? We have to go forward to the day of Pentecost described in Acts, chapter 2. In verses 1 to 4 we read:

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place….

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When Peter, who previously did not have the courage to admit to being a follower of Jesus (Mark 14:72), stood up to explain the occurrence, he cited a passage from the Old Testament prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32). Peter’s words, from Acts 2:16:18:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy

The prophet spoke of “the last days”. There are those who claim that the experience is not for our time. Are they correct? The apostles lived in “the last days” but we do not? I’ll finish with John in the same book as I cited in the previous post. He writes (1 John 4:2-3):

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

And again, in 2 John 1:7

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Chapter 10 of the book of Acts is worth reading. It tells the tale of salvation of Cornelius, an Italian and a gentile. He is described in verse 2 as “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” That was not enough for salvation. God sent him a vision which caused him to send for the apostle Peter. Peter in turn was sent a vision and answered the summons with “certain brethren from Joppa”. Peter saw that the gospel was to be preached to the gentiles also. He preached to Cornelius and those gathered with him. The result, in verses 44 to 48:

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord.

What followed Peter’s speech on the day of Pentecost? We read in verses 37 to 39:

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

God’s people

This is how Peter described God’s people (1 Peter 2:9):

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

I see there the words ‘chosen’ and ‘called’. John records Jesus telling the disciples with Him that He had chosen them (John 6:70, 15:16 and 15:19). We read how He literally asked them to follow Him. All God’s people are chosen; thus we read at 2 Thessalonians 2:13:

God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth

I’ve emphasised the phrases “from the beginning” and “sanctification of the Spirit”. In Romans 8:29-30 we read:

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.

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.

Not only does the Almighty do the choosing, it seems that He did it long before His chosen even lived. Peter calls His people “a chosen generation.” Isaiah writes in chapter 41:4

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am He.

Later (46:9-10), Isaiah writes:

I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Turning to the “sanctification of the Spirit”, we know that John the Baptist went before Jesus. This is what John the Baptist said (Matthew 3:11)

I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

John the Baptist was a worthy servant of God, surely. Not only does he say he is not “worthy to bear” Jesus’ shoes, Jesus says this of John the Baptist and His chosen people (Luke 7:26-2

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Now that to me is a remarkable thing. What could possibly make me greater than John the Baptist? He whom Jesus described as “much more than a prophet”, a “messenger” sent by the Father to “prepare [the] way” for Jesus. I can think of only one thing that would make me greater than John the Baptist: the “sanctification of the Spirit”. So I’ll deal with that next time.

False prophets

Michael’s comment merits a post rather than a simple reply. Thanks for the comment, by the way. Michael says

It still seems pretty obvious to me (from the verses you quoted) that Christianity is the way that is “straight” and “narrow”

The nub of his comment is the word ‘Christianity’ and my use of single inverted commas with that word in my original post. Certainly, those who are not Christians are not on the narrow way. My point is that many who identify themselves as ‘Christian’ are also not on the narrow way.

That brings me to the matter of “false prophets”. Matthew 7:15 seems like a good place to start:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [my emphasis]

I’ve added the emphasis because Jesus refers to Himself as the shepherd and his followers as the sheep, as reported, for example, in John 10:14:

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Paul is more explicit, saying (after a verse which I find difficult to decipher) in II Corinthians 11:13-15:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; [emphasis added]

and again (in Acts 20:29-30):

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. [my emphasis]

I think we have a hint there of apostasy, also mentioned elsewhere. John writes (I John 2:18-19):

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. [my emphasis]

There are numerous allusions to false doctrine, false teachers and the like. I only want to make the point here that untruth does not exist solely beyond the bounds of what passes for ‘Christianity’. This discussion raises related issues such as how one knows a true believer and how one approaches the scriptures.

I’m willing to be led on the order in which I file posts. If the blog serves even one person other than myself, I’ll be well pleased. The theme of the blog is an enormous one, best consumed by taking one small bite at a time. I began by posting elsewhere. I mention the other blog because it provides access to a masked email address if anyone wants to use that instead of posting. The settings here seem not to allow for an email address which is different from the administrative address.

Seeing, they do not see

I want to set some thoughts down. Some 20 years and 5 months ago I was baptised, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit 8 years previously. I was fortunate to have been led to a group of true believers. I am not a Pastor or elder of the fellowship.

One thing that has been clear to me from the beginning has been the truth of Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 13:13

they, seeing, see not; and, hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand.

Experience has given me some appreciation of what it must have been like for Noah when he tried to warn of the oncoming destruction by water. We are told in Matthew 24:37-39 that mankind has not learnt:

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

I have a sister who professes to be a Christian. Unfortunately, the word ‘Christian’ itself is misunderstood and I’ve taken as the theme of this blog yet another passage from Matthew (7:13-14)

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Many of those professing to be His followers do not realise how strait is the gate and how narrow the way. In my childhood, attending meetings of a group which professed to be Christian, I thought ‘Christianity’ to be the narrow way and everything else to be the broad way. Not so. One more quotation, this time from John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [emphasis added]

God seeks “the true worshippers”. They are those who “worship … in spirit and in truth”. In later posts I want to examine what that means.