Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
Editors: Warren E. Berkley, Jon W. Quinn
The Power of the Resurrection and our Hope
The Front Page 16.4 (April 2009)
By Jon W. Quinn
Jesus was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4). Upon His death, burial and resurrection Christians place their confidence and hope. This helps explain why it is that Christianity did not die with its founder - the disciples of the first century faced persecution and sometimes death - and were willing to do so because the Lord had proven Himself trustworthy and more powerful than death - He lives again!
The resurrection was not an obscure event, by the way. Many, many people saw Him and talked with Him (see 1 Cor. 15:4-11 for a partial list). His small band of disciples who had earlier trembled in fear after His arrest and crucifixion were made to rejoice upon seeing Him alive again. For a period of 40 days He discussed with the apostles His plan for launching the message of the gospel into the world, and then in their view He ascended into the sky and was taken out of their sight.
These earliest of disciples knew the message they taught was true. They were eye witnesses. This is what had changed their fear and doubt into boldness and confidence. They did not fear even death because they knew their Lord had the keys to death and Hades. Our faith does not rest on shaky ground. The resurrection of Jesus fills our hearts with hope because He was only the first to break the bonds of death never to die again (1 Cor. 15:20-28). We look forward to that blessed event in the future when we, too, will slip out of death's grasp, change into the incorruptible, and win the victory.
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
Shall I Sit Here While Others Fight?
"We do not war according to the flesh..."
Numbers 32:1-27
By Jon W. Quinn
Prior to Israel's occupation of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad wanted to settle in the land east of the Jordan River. Their request and Moses' response are found in the book of Numbers, (32:1-27) and have practical application to our attitudes today with regard to our responsibilities to God, His purpose, and to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The Two Tribes Make a Request
Reuben and Gad were two of the twelve tribes of Israel and had much livestock. As Israel prepared to cross over the Jordan River and enter into Canaan to possess it, Reuben and Gad saw that the land of Jazer and Gilead (the Transjordan) was good for livestock. They determined that rather than cross the Jordan and settle in that land, they wanted instead to remain on the eastern side of the Jordan River and settle there (Numbers 32:1). So they requested to be given the land east of the Jordan as their possession, and not the lands west of the Jordan with the other ten tribes Numbers 32:2-5).
Moses responded that the request, as it stood, was not fair to the ten tribes. There were enemies in the land, and so he asked, "Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?" (Numbers 32:6). Moses knew that the people could be discouraged if their numbers dwindled significantly (Numbers 32:7). The only reason the lands Reuben and Gad desired were now safe is because of a united effort of all the people. They would be no different than the ten spies of the previous generation who had discouraged Israel by their report and had aroused God's anger. This could turn out to be very destructive to God's people (Numbers 32:8-15)!
Reuben and Gad then offered to send their warriors to help possess the Promised Land (Numbers 32:16-19). Moses agreed to this solution, but with a stern warning. All will be fine if they do as they had promised. However, if they renege on their promise, Moses said, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out." (Numbers 32:20-23).
A War Still Rages Today
We need to understand that Israel was at war. So are we. It is a different kind of war in which we are engaged; a spiritual war. The New testament Scriptures put it this way: "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). It is a spiritual war that requires specialized armor and weapons. Since it is a war against Satan, and the spiritual forces of wickedness, the armor and weapons we employ are different from the ones used by Israel, different, but not without parallel.
"Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17; see context vss. 10-18)
Application-"Shall You Brothers Go to War While You Yourselves Sit Here?"
Think of the battlefield! Many have stood for the truth in the past, finding their way of the religious creeds and systems concocted by man turning to the Scriptures, the Word of God alone. Once established on such a wonderful and firm foundation, brethren have withstood new innovations that would lead them back into the religious apostasies of the past. Also, standing firm on God's Rock, brethren have rejected the ever changing moral dictates of human society and culture favoring instead the moral teachings and principles found in the revelation of God. We, today, are the recipients and beneficiaries of countless struggles and battles, waged in the hearts of men and women.
How much should we appreciate the efforts of those in the past to secure and make known the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the "perfect Law of Liberty"? We are free to enjoy the blessings of God's family as we look with fond expectation toward "our promised land"; our "Canaan's Land"; our "unshakeable heavenly kingdom" . Yes, there is still a "Jordan River" which we, too, must cross.
But the war wages on!
The battlefield is the heart. Paul wrote that "every thought must be brought captive to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Jesus once asked what was probably a rhetorical question about His return. He asked about when He comes again, will He "find faith upon the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Let us answer, "Yes! If we have anything to do with it!"
But then, there is another question we would do well to think about as well. "Shall our brethren go to war while we sit here?" Will I be content to let others make all the sacrifices and do all the work? Will I expect them to carry extra oil for their lamps and mine? Will I watch them take the risks that faith sometimes calls for? Will I see their lights shining forth into a dark world while I have dimmed my own? Will it be only them, and not me, who labors in the vineyard, who rebukes and encourages, who shares and serves with dedication, courage and resolve?
Shall I just sit idly by as my brethren exert themselves by faith? Will I jealously guard my "comfort zone" doing all I can to ensure that I am not overly disturbed? Do I really think or expect I can really enjoy all the wonderful spiritual blessings in Christ for which I will not labor myself? How can I be filled with peace, hope, joy, love and confidence if I am willing to sit safely on the other side of the river while others cross over to meet their obligations to the Lord and His kingdom?
Moses said, "Now why are you discouraging the sons of Israel from crossing over into the land which the LORD has given them? " (Numbers 32:7). When we neglect our responsibility to God and His people, we also discourage our brethren!
When Reuben and Gad realized the effect of sitting while their brethren went to war, they immediately made arrangements to do their part. Moses was even patient with them, allowing them time to care for their families (Numbers 32:24) They in turn promised to do their part in going to war. They succeeded because they understood that they could not just cast aside their own responsibilities to God. Let us all, today, realize the same lessons as we serve our King, Jesus, and fight the good fight of faith.
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
A Great Chasm
Luke 16:26
By Karl Hennecke
Abraham told the rich man, "between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' (Luke 16:26).
There was no possible relief for the rich man who found himself in the agony of the flame. A great chasm separated him from Lazarus, who was in the bosom of Abraham. No water would be forthcoming to ease the rich man's agony and cool his tongue. The finality of that conclusion is too horrible to comprehend and we are reluctant to dwell upon on that possibility for ourselves or for any one else for that matter. The chasm was fixed and therefore the destinies of these two men were fixed, for one eternal comfort and for the other endless agony.
Before these men died all options were still open, the opportunities endless. There was a great chasm that separated them in life but it could have been crossed. The rich man had an opportunity to cross that chasm and relieve the suffering of Lazarus. It would have taken empathy and love on his part but he was not lacking the means to make it happen. Discovering Lazarus at his doorstep he could have chased the dogs away, lifted the man to his feet and with the assistance of his servants he could have gently washed away the dust and bandaged his wounds. In clean garments of purple and fine linen, free from stench and stain, he could have brought Lazarus to his table to dine on the sumptuous fare. The rich man's generosity and kindness could have lifted the spirits of all who knew him. The brothers, that he was concerned about too late, could have been influenced by their brother's attendance to one he now treated as a brother. Upon their deaths Lazarus and his benefactor could have continued to dine together around the Lord's table in the bosom of Abraham, what a wonderful possibility but what a tragic reality.
Satan creates false chasms in our minds. Those chasms send too many to the brink of that fixed chasm in eternity over which they, like the rich man, will look with longing, but without hope. We cannot let Satan so deceive us. God reveals to our hearts through His word the endless opportunities of a blessed life. Greed, selfishness, shortsightedness, alienation and ignorance, are chasms that can be crossed now if we will let God show us the way.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:57, 58).
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
Visible Virtues
By Brady Cook
(Note: In the place of Warren Berkley's usual expository article we will have the following guest editorial. It's an excellent observation on the need not merely to pursue knowledge, but also noble virtues and attitudes along with it. It will be the difference between whether one becomes an arrogant know-it-all or an intelligent, noble success. Warren will be back in May. Please see this issue's Final Page for more information.)
By far, the best teacher I ever had any year in school would have been Dr. Powell, who taught four different sections of American History at Amarillo College. Apart from having two doctorates, one in Foreign Relations and another in American Colonial History, he had also earned a Purple Heart in the Gulf War and the Medal of Bravery for heroics during the time he was a lieutenant in the Cincinnati Fire Department, all by his 40th birthday. Incredibly knowledgeable and very well-rounded, his office was a library, housing nearly 500 books which he called "only a little bit of his complete collection." Talking with him in his office one day, I complimented him on his extensive knowledge over many different subjects, aside from just history, to which he responded, "Brady, there are two different types of people who have Ph.D.'s in this world: those who think they know everything and stop reading, or those who are scared to death that everyone will find out how much they don't know, and never quit studying."
While this may seem to be advice addressing the actions of a man, they are largely representative of the inner workings of the individual. Remember what Solomon said concerning the conduct of a person as stemming from the heart (Proverbs 23:7), and we will understand that if they are forced, actions of humility can only last so long. The only way to really convince a person to act a certain way is to change what they believe concerning their present conduct. That is why, in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul would discuss the changing of the inward man as being a "renewing in the spirit of your mind." He would spend the preceding verses discussing the walk of those who don't follow trust in God as corrupt and good for nothing; Peter would say a similar thing to those who would not grow in 2 Peter 1:9, calling them "shortsighted." What is the solution then? To have the actions of Christ is not enough -- we must also have the mind.
Speaking to carnal people in 1 Corinthians 2:16, Paul would say that to have the spiritual mind is to have "the mind of Christ." What then does the spiritual mind entail? For starters, it includes an attitude of humility. In Philippians 2:3-13, Paul discusses the actions of Christ as being extremely humble, but yet also calling Him glorified above all other names. In this we have a paradox. To seek humility in one aspect, yet gain glory seems to us to be contradictory. Yet we can see this same aspect throughout our own recent history, that those who have been praised with sincere gratitude have also been those who have uttered the least glory to their own name (i.e. Cpt. Chesley Sullenberger's speech in Danville, CA, following the Hudson River plane crash). To this, Jesus agrees, stating in Luke 14:11, "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
But yet man still drives on in their pursuit of fame and fortune, believing notoriety and self-promotion to be the keys to eternal remembrance. The Temple of Diana in Ephesus was burned down by a man named Herostratos who wished for his name to be remembered throughout the ages. Despite what those whom he loved thought about him, he chose to focus his fame on the masses, picking quantity over quality. Similarly, those of us who draw our names in the sands of time may be remembered, but what are we remembered for? And who will remember us? This pursuit of glory will overshadow everything else we have done in our lifetimes. Though we give our very livelihoods to the poor of this world, if we ask for honor in return, that is what they will remember us for. Along the same lines: "Though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3). To give and not to expect is the true measure of character.
Humility cannot be discovered in any man who proclaims his virtues from the rooftops, but by the individual who allows his virtues to speak for themselves. This applies to virtually every act of conversation between man, whether it be for persuasion, inspiration, or teaching. Peter wrote to the women in 1 Peter 3:1-6 that the thing that should convince their husbands of God's goodness should not be their clothes but their lifestyle. Along with this, the qualities of "The Virtuous Woman" in Proverbs 31 says little about her speech (although when it is, it is discussed as wisdom and kindness, vs. 26), but a great deal about her actions. Likewise it should be for our own lives, women and men, with our humility displayed prominently through our actions.
Getting back to what Dr. Powell told me in his office that day, I realize that his words didn't just speak to pursuits in academia, but a mentality that we go through in life. If we believe we don't need to improve, what use are we to others and to God? Our conversations with people will drip with arrogance, our teaching will spew condescension, and souls will be lost. To believe that there are many, many people out there who know volumes more than you do is not just a virtue, it's necessity. As Galatians 6:1 tells us, when we teach others, we are to take heed to ourselves, "lest we also be tempted."
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
Marital Hermeneutics
"Husbands... live with your wives in an understanding way."
1 Peter 3:7
By Kenny Chumbley
These words easily constitute one of the toughest assignments handed out in the Bible. And by saying this, I'm not insulting women (for being difficult or incomprehensible) or impugning men (for being stupid). Rather, I'm merely acknowledging the reality that communication between the sexes can be a challenge.
The single, greatest reason for this is likely the fact that God has made men and women to be different-"male and female created he them" (Genesis 1.27). A woman is not innately designed to look at things the way a man does, and a man is not inherently inclined to see things from a woman's point-of-view (just recognizing this truth is the first step toward establishing effective transgender communication). A long-running argument in anthropological circles is whether or
not the differences between men and women are biological (due to nature) or cultural (due to nur- ture). While culture is undoubtedly responsible for some differences, the evidence for the differ- ences being biological is undeniable (e.g., boys and girls tend to align themselves with traditional biological patterns regardless of their culture or nurture).
That men and women come into the world with different perspectives, however, does not ex- cuse husbands from the responsibility of understanding where their wives are coming from. A husband can fathom his wife's outlook, thereby surmounting the frustration that different com- munication styles can cause, thereby promoting the closeness that comes from learning to speak another's language.
Although I think I glimpse some of the enormity of the obligation Peter assigns to husbands, no one should think me an expert on the subject-"clueless" is my middle name. Here, though, is some advice I'd give husbands who take seriously the divine imperative to understand their wives.
• Understanding involves more than knowing. A husband can know his wife's favorite color, sweater, restaurant, etc. and still not understand her.
• Understanding involves learning your wife's communication style. Women, for example, tend to speak in- directly. What your wife may frame as a question ("Does the trash can look full to you?") may ac- tually be a request, an order, or an expectation ("Take out the trash!").
• Understanding involves grasping your wife's communication perspective. Women tend to see communica- tion as the glue of a relationship, whereas men tend to see it as something you do when there's a problem. For women, self-revealing conversations are valued because they make them feel close to another. Accordingly, a wife can be extremely hurt when her husband gives her the silent treat- ment, or she feels he is keeping secrets from her.
• Understanding involves appreciating your wife's communication rituals. For instance, when women discuss a problem, they're often looking for concern, not a solution. When a decision needs to be made, they typically want to negotiate a consensus (unilateral decisions by husbands invite resentment and are asking for trouble). Understanding your wife requires cracking her communication code.
• Understand there are exceptions to every rule. What may be true of women in general may not be true of your wife in particular. If you want to understand your wife, study her, pay attention to what she pays attention to. There is no shortcut to comprehending the feminine psyche.
In Camelot, when King Arthur asks, "How do you handle a woman?" the answer given is the truest answer of all: "love her, love her, love her." The word isn't used in 1 Peter 3.7, but hus- bands, know this: what Peter says in this verse is what loving a woman is all about.
"Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows; marriage does." Groucho Marx
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
If God Wrote a Book...
"To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
Topic Page
By Jon W. Quinn
If God wrote a book... Imagine for a moment or two that you never heard of the Bible, but you still believe in God since you have seen His work in the creation of nature and there is also that sense of a deeper, spiritual part within you that causes you to think about your purpose and ponder the reason you exist at all. You want to know more about Him. How would you determine if a book was a message from Him? What would you expect from a book given to man by the creator of the Universe? What are some of the questions that it would answer?
You are approached by someone carrying a Bible who tells you that this Book contains many of the answers to the questions you have. As you read it for the first time, what would you find?
The Book About the One Whom You Seek is Inspired
The Bible claims inspiration. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness..." (2 Timothy 3:16). So, you learn that these writings claim that they exist because God Himself "breathed" these words through the human writers. This does not prove anything in itself, but if a book was from God you would expect it to say so.
But then again, the Bible, or any other writing, just saying it was from God would not convince me that it really was. I hope you're not so gullible as to believe a message is really from God just because it says so.
"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2 Peter 1:20-21). This claim is certainly worth investigating to see if it is a reasonable claim. In fact, the Scriptures repeatedly issue the challenge for us to use our reason to investigate its trustworthiness. It commends those who do so. There is none of this "just believe it but don't ask any questions" nonsense in the Bible. (Acts 17:11; 19:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15).
The Book About the One Whom You Seek is Indestructible
Certainly this Book will be among man's most valued possessions! But, I would learn, that is not necessarily so. Many have tried to destroy the Bible. There have been political, social, military and religious campaigns waged against it, hoping to destroy it from the face of the earth. It has been, and in many places still is today, illegal to own a copy of it. In some places, if you are caught telling someone else what it says you could be thrown into prison. But in spite of the best efforts of very powerful enemies and rulers of the world, be they Caesars or dictators or false prophets or narcissists or religious leaders, the Bible still exists and is freely available in many parts of the world. In other places, there are still those who risk everything to have a Bible that they can read.
At the very beginning of the gospel age, a respected teacher who was not a believer in Jesus by the name of Gamaliel had some advice for early enemies of the gospel. They wanted to kill the apostles. Gamaliel's advice to them is worthy of consideration: "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." (Acts 5:38-39; cf. vs. 33-39). Here is a movement that has no chance of success if it is not of God! The group's Founder and Leader is dead (not really, He had risen, but the council's position states that He is dead). The apostles are not scholars; they are "unlearned". Also, they have no weapons; and they don't even fight back even if they did. They have little financial backing and the movement is not widespread. If it is just a fad it will pass because there is nothing to keep it going.
That may well have been true, but it did keep going in spite of the odds against it. In fact, Jesus had said "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) The teachings of Christ will endure even if (when) heaven and earth pass away! Seasons change; men come and go. God's word remains (see also 1 Peter 1:24-25).
The Book About the One Whom You Seek is Unified
"...(and the Scripture cannot be broken)," (John 10:35b). Jesus taught that the "scriptures cannot be broken". In other words, they are consistent in their teaching when properly understood and applied. They mean what they mean and those who would seek to manipulate them for their own purposes are endangering themselves and others (2 Peter 3:16).
How could 40 writers, over a period of 1500 years write 66 books in two large sections on so many subjects and have no real contradiction therein-if they wrote on their own rather than inspired by God? The unity of the Bible is one of the greatest marks of inspiration!
The Book About the One Whom You Seek Has a Higher Code of Living
Look at the moral code of those who are not affected by the Bible. "Do unto other, before they can do to you." or, "Do unto others as they do to you." Then look at the moral code of the Bible. (Matthew 7:12; Romans 12:17-21). If people in large numbers ever actually started treating one another as instructed in the teachings of Jesus Christ, think about what wonderful changes in our daily experiences there would be... all of us loving our neighbors as ourselves. It is unfortunate that this has never been done on a large scale.
The Book About the One Whom You Seek Has Prophetic Accuracy
In Daniel, there is a prophecy about the events surrounding the life of Christ written centuries before. God specifies through Daniel that there will be four great empires including the Babylonian Empire which was in power as Daniel prophesied. This one would be followed by three others, and then it would be during the days of "these kings" (the rulers of the fourth empire) that the Messiah would come (Daniel 2:44). The fourth empire turned out to be the Roman Empire, and Jesus was born into the world during that time (Luke 3:1). We could also mention the prophecies concerning the fall of Babylon, Nineveh, and Tyre and Sidon. But most impressive is the dozens of detailed prophecies concerning the coming Messiah which were written hundreds of years before Jesus, yet were completely fulfilled in his coming, life, death, and resurrection.
It is the Bible. It is God's word. To obey it is to obey God. To reject it is to reject God. That is the end of the matter. Believing the Bible is God's Word is important, but still inadequate unless coupled with obeying God's book, living by it every day, and allowing the teachings of His Son to mold us and make us what we ought to be.
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
Plan of Salvation
By Jon W. Quinn
Plan #1
Announced by the apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to new believers in Christ who asked what they must do:
Acts 2:36-38
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -- this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Plan #2
On the back page of a tract, sinner were urged to pray this prayer to be saved. This prayer is not found in the Bible; nor were alien sinners commanded to pray for their forgiveness.
The Sinner's Prayer:
"O' Lord, I accept that I am a sinner and that Jesus died for my sins. I now accept Him into my heart as Lord and Savior asking for your mercy and forgiveness in His name. Amen."
The editors of Expository Files are happy with plan #1 and thankful to the God of all grace for it. We cannot recommend Plan #2 at all, but will change our minds when this prayer can be shown to us in the Bible.
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
"I'm Just a Poor, Wayfaring Stranger"
An Observation of Warren E. Berkley
The Final Page 16.4 (April 2009)
By Jon W. Quinn
Well, my fellow editor is house-selling and moving and traveling and packing and storing. That is the reason for his absence from this issue and he plans on being back next month. He did contribute a couple of guest articles. He says he "owes me one" for this, but that is debatable. I feel pretty indebted to him in all things editorial.
He is probably occasionally feeling like a "poor wayfaring stranger" at times now-a-days, though I know he considers himself to be very blessed; just short on time. He really does not consider himself to be "poor" at all, though perhaps the "wayfaring" part fits pretty well in the short term. Now regarding the "stranger" part, well, that one is just too easy so I won't bother.
"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." (Hebrews 11:13)
I hope that all who have read the beginning paragraph can sense the love and respect I have for Warren and his wife, Paula. Warren is a great co-editor, but more than that, a dedicated man of faith. God's blessings on the Berkleys as they house-hunt. I hope they find a nice one that suits them well.
Speaking of houses on the market, it is wise to make sure the residence is in a good location. There is a neighborhood that Warren and I both have had our eyes on.
"But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:16).
The house located there, well that is where home truly is. Forever.
"For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1)
From Expository Files 16.4; April 2009
