Sunday Sermons
Incredible Access
Incredible Access
What really has impressed me about the truth that Jesus taught, is that access to God is equally available to all who obey Him. There are not different levels of access, or better access for one ethnic group over another, but rather the same great and open access is available for all:
* "But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ...and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross....for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household" (Ephesians 2:13-19).
In the above verses even those who had lived in darkness and had embraced a thoroughly pagan lifestyle (2:1-3) are now, in Christ Jesus equally part of the same family. There are no second class citizens, a "B" or "Minor League" team, or a bronze verses gold level of access.
* "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree" (Romans 11:17).
I am impressed here that Gentiles are not only part of God's family now, they are said to be partakers of the "rich root" of the olive tree. That is, they are fully members of the family of God with all the blessings associated with such a relationship.
* "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
* "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).
Point of Access/No Real Language Barrier
There are various faiths in the world which argue that God's truth cannot be fully appreciated unless it is communicated in a certain language. For the Muslims, the language is Arabic. For some of Jewish descent, the language is Hebrew. Yet God has never connected our salvation or access to Him to a specific language. In fact, here is what I find:
* The Bible has actually written in three languages, not just one. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, while the New Testament was written in Greek. Therefore, it is clear that there is not one language that conveys God's truth perfectly while all other languages are unable to convey His truth fully.
* On the Day of Pentecost the Holy came upon the apostles and gave them the miraculous ability to instantly speak in languages they had never learned (Acts 2:6-12, 14). God choose to have the gospel preached on this day in several different languages or dialects. Observe that one group did not immediately grasp the truth while all the others only gradually understood. It is not that the people who heard the gospel in languages such as Hebrew, Greek or Latin caught on faster while the other groups said, "Could you preach that sermon again, we didn't quite get it". People from all the various groups said, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). So the gospel was equally understood, no matter which language was used to present it. In fact, if there is one language that is head and shoulders above the rest in revealing God's truth, then the miracle should have been the gift "of ears" rather than the gift of tongues. The Holy Spirit should have come upon the audience and enabled them to hear the gospel preached in the same language.
* God never says that His word is only understandable in one specific language. That would be a critical point for God to mention if such is the case. The stress is not on a particular language, but rather the stress is on be willing to listen to the truth in whatever language it is being presented (James 1:19-21).
* The world is filled with experts in Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or even Arabic who are not obeying the truth. For example, many people who are experts in the Greek Language refuse to accept:
1. The Scriptural mode for baptizing someone is immersion. This is the correct definition for the term translated "baptize", but such a truth is equally found in the English text as well (Acts 8:36-38; Romans 6:3-5).
2. The rock that the church is built upon is Jesus, not Peter. This is also found in the English text as well (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:20).
3. The meaning of the Greek term eis in Acts 2:38 means "for" or "in order to receive", which is also brought out clearly by a good English translation.
Point of Access/No Elite Class
* Aaron was the high priest, yet he is the one who made the golden calf: Exodus 32
* The Levites and Priests did not help David when it came to the proper way of moving the ark of the covenant: 1 Chronicles 15:12 A whole lot of "experts" in the Law stood by and watched as the ark of the covenant was being moved incorrectly, and said nothing!
* In the time of Malachi the experts were allowing people to bring blind, sickly and lame animals to the Temple for sacrifice: Malachi 1:8-10
* During the time of Ezra there were many "experts" who had intermarried with pagan women: Ezra 9:2, 18
* Nehemiah found that an "expert" was allowing Tobiah to live in the Temple! (Nehemiah 13:4-5).
Added to all this, in the time of Jesus we often find Jesus rebuking the religious experts of the time. In fact an entire chapter is dedicated to such a rebuke (Matthew chapter 23).
There is nothing wrong with being educated and being an expert in various areas, but the Bible makes it clear that such is no substitute for loving the truth. For example, Ezra is a good example of a man who took pains to educate himself in the Scriptures and who loved the truth as well (Ezra 7:10). In Jesus' time there were a number of experts who believed in Him, but what ruled their hearts was a love for the praise of men, rather than a love for the truth (John 12:42-43). By contrast, the First Century churches were filled with members who knew the truth and yet were just average and ordinary people (1 Corinthians 1:26).
Point of Access/No Specific Culture
The Bible makes it clear that the truth can be heard, understood, lived and practiced in any culture (Mark 16:15). The early churches were filled with people from all walks of life (Galatians 3:26-27). All cultures need the truth and one culture is not superior to another, for all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Therefore, our loyalty needs to be to the truth, rather than to the customs or traditions of our favorite culture. Paul sums it up well, that what matters are not the customs of a culture, but saving souls, thus he was willing to fit into any culture where he could and still serve God (1 Corinthians 9:19-21). What matters after all, is not what the culture or tradition says, but keeping the commandments of God (1 Corinthians 7:19).
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
