The Heaton File

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)

Was Jesus Born West Of Nazareth?

The birth of Jesus was not only an incredible miracle of a virgin birth, but it was also a fulfillment of some amazing prophecies made hundreds of years before. More than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Micah declared the place the Christ would be born. It was a time of upheaval in the land of God’s people as the fall of Samaria was imminent and within one hundred fifty years, Jerusalem would be burned and the Temple destroyed. Micah tells of hope for a restored Zion and universal peace including the coming of a shepherd king who is to be born at Bethlehem. From the pen of God’s prophet, the place of Christ’s birth is determined to be in the tribal land of Judah.

Bethlehem of Judea was a small village of no particular importance. Located some five miles south of Jerusalem, it had a long and important history in the story of God’s people. This was the place that Rachel, wife of Jacob, died and was buried. East of the village was the field Ruth the Moabitess gleaned when she met Boaz. Her great-grandson, David, was born in Bethlehem and became one of the kings of Israel and notable figures of the Old Testament. Joseph and Mary returned to Bethlehem when Caesar Augustus decreed a universal census. This must have been a most difficult journey for Mary as she was full with child and arriving in Bethlehem, gave birth to Jesus. A few years later, wise men from the East came looking for the Christ. They first inquired in Jerusalem where the King of the Jews was born and the chief priests and scribes said the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Judah. The wise men found the child Jesus with his parents in a house and after leaving gifts for the young boy, returned home.

The significance of Bethlehem of Judea is to know there is another Bethlehem located about six miles west-north-west of Nazareth. When Herod learned how the wise men had deceived him, he sent his soldiers into the Bethlehem of Judea and killed all the male children from two years old and under. Warned by God, Joseph had taken his family to Egypt and stayed there until the death of Herod. Instead of returning to Bethlehem of Judea, Joseph took his family seventy miles north to Nazareth. Jesus would grow up in the northern border of the Plain of Esdraelon just a few miles from Bethlehem of Galilee. Throughout His life, Jesus would be known as the man from Nazareth.

During His ministry, many argued about where the Christ was born and rejected Jesus because was not from Bethlehem. They knew the Christ would not come out of Galilee and that the Messiah would come from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was born. It seems remarkable that no one asked Jesus directly where He was born. Jesus was born in the town prophesied by Micah to fulfill the divine will of the Father. He was not born in Nazareth and He was not born in Bethlehem west of Nazareth. The timing of Jesus’ birth was in accordance with the plan of God as Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea and not Nazareth.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

The Main Thing Is The Only Thing

Paul was a former blasphemer, persecutor and as he would reflect to his traveling companion, Timothy, the worst sinner for what he had done to the church of Christ. Through the grace of God, the man from Tarsus became an apostle of Jesus Christ spending the rest of his life fully dedicated and purposed to preaching the good news of the risen Christ. His preaching was direct and simple. He did not try to impress men with human wisdom. The style of Paul’s preaching was not to receive the praise of men but only to teach what the Holy Spirit guided his mind to say. This would not please the ears of most people and he often would find himself at odds with his fellow brethren, the Jews. He suffered a great deal because of what he preached. At Lystra, the mob tried to kill him. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. What would cause men to want to kill the apostle? Jews from Antioch and Iconium came to Lystra persuading the multitudes to kill the preacher because he taught a resurrected Christ.

The preaching of Paul brought many hardships to him personally. He told the Corinthian brethren he spent many days in prison, he was whipped often facing death on numerous occasions. Five different times he was beaten by the Jewish leaders and three times he was beaten with rods. He faced danger almost constantly but he never flinched or stopped preaching his message. With all the dangers that swirled around him, Paul never gave up on the God who saved him and gave him mercy. Why did so many people hate the apostle and want to kill him? He preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The main thing in the preaching of Paul was the only thing that mattered to him. He preached Jesus Christ. There was no fanfare, fluff, exciting stories to regale the crowds with and the apostle did not present a health and wealth philosophy of everyone was going to heaven preaching. Preaching a crucified Christ required a crucified message from a heart crucified by the message of Jesus Christ.

Many preachers preach a message of hope and joy based upon the desires of the carnal spirit. Jesus taught the purest doctrine of God and they killed Him. Paul was not popular in the world because he preached Christ crucified. Many would accept and follow the message of Jesus Christ because they recognized the message of saving truth. The message of Paul was not to bring in large crowds and tickle the ears of the multitudes. Three thousand devout Jews believed the message of a crucified Christ on the day of Pentecost because their hearts were open to the grace of God. Peter boldly declared to those gathered in Jerusalem that God made Jesus, whom they crucified, both Lord and Christ. Many people were angered by this message and refused to believe the preaching of the apostles but Peter was not going to preach any other message. The main thing was the only thing he could preach.

The preaching of Jesus Christ has not changed. To love God and obey His commandments requires a message of a risen Christ that demands His followers to take up a cross and follow Him. This cross does not come with padding and is not equipped with a wheel to make it easy. Jesus refused the anesthetic gall at the cross because He wanted the world to know He bore the sins of all men in its full measure. When preachers offer a diluted or softened message of an accepting God for all the sins of men, they deny the Lord they falsely preach. There is only one message a true preacher of the gospel can preach and that is the only truth found in the word of God. Those who preach the gospel will receive a heavier penalty in judgment. If the message is not Christ crucified there can be no hope. Preach the word! There is only one way, one truth, and one life and this is the foundation of any true sermon. The main thing is the only thing.

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)

The Influence Of A Godly Life

One of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of a child of God is the influence of their life on others. Nothing shines as bright as the example of how a person conducts himself before the world. It is impossible to lose influence because everyone influences another whether good or bad. We suggest a person can lose their influence but what we mean is the conduct of a person’s life can have a negative impact on others. In fact, the influence remains and it can be one that helps to encourage, exhort, and uplift the lives of others or it can bring harm, hatred, and mistrust. This is especially true for those who profess to follow Jesus Christ. The world judges the character of a Christian by the conduct he follows as a child of God. Whatever the life of that man or woman is will reflect upon the nature of God.

The influence of a person’s life leaves an indelible impression on others. Peter begs and warns the early disciples to stay away from the influences of the world that will damage their impact as righteous, faithful, and holy people. In a world filled with the desires of the flesh, the Christian must rise above the carnal pleasures and show a life of purity devoted to the will of God. Hypocrisy will turn the hearts of people away from the truth that will save their souls if they see the Christian preach purity and yet indulge in the same sins. The lusts of the flesh war against all souls – righteous and unrighteous. Ungodly people do not resist their desires because they are not living after the righteousness of God. There is no hypocrisy in their lives because they do not profess to be different. It is the child of God that declares they will serve the will of the Father and follow guidelines of holiness that set them apart from the world.

With all the efforts of the Christian to live a good and peaceable life before all men, there will be criticism. Righteousness has always suffered at the hand of persecution. Even when a person lives with noble aspirations, the world will speak evil of them. Desiring to live a godly life will bring persecution from a world that has no restraint and no love for God. The Holy Spirit never suggests that living a righteous life will be without oppression. What He does say is that if a man is to be spoken evil of, let the evil that is spoken be the good a person is doing. It seems a conflict but the world does not recognize the value of righteousness. Honorable conduct will be spoken evil of because the world is threatened by the judgments of God’s will. The Christian must conduct their life in keeping with the character of Christ. Jesus never reviled any man and yet they killed Him. The world will do the same with the Christian so by the good works of the child of God, the world will see the glory of the Father. Everything should be for the glory of God so the world can know how much God loves the world.

The influence of a godly life may be the only way some will come to know the truth. Evangelism requires more than a good example but without the proper influence, it will be impossible for a heart to see God when the life of the Christian is without God. The world is only a temporary place for those who see God. This becomes the basis of life to show the world that life is but a vapor and eternity is the most important part of life. The conduct of the Christian is to show the world that life is a brief moment but eternity is without end. Any life that is measured by eternity will live with a fully purposed life glorifying God. The sad reality of those who measure their lives by the world will find nothing at the end of life. As temporary residents of a world destined to be destroyed, the influence of the child of God will show what is of greater value. Honorable conduct can change a life.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

The Reality Of False Teachers

Satan is the father of lies. He deceived the woman in the garden of Eden and his onslaught against truth and righteousness has continued unabated. The sad reality is that because of the lies of Satan, most people will be condemned to eternal fire. Jesus told the multitude on the mountain that few would find salvation. Most people will find the broad way an easy path and listening to the sirens of Satan’s whisper will lead them not to life but to damnation. God has never left men without knowledge of the truth. His word has always instructed the way of man but the lust of the flesh and eye and pride of life takes a greater hold on the desires of men. Many souls are lost because of the lusts of the flesh but one of the tools used by Satan is to allow men to believe in God but accept a perverted form of worship.

False teaching is just as effective as tempting a man with the lusts of the flesh. The world is filled with religion in various forms and doctrines tempting men to worship how they believe. Worship is one of the strongest emotions driving men to create systems of belief whether idol worship or a tainted view of worship to Jesus Christ. At the end of the day, man is a deeply religious creation. The difference is what he worships that will determine his eternal destiny and the reality has always been there is only one way to worship. There is one God and one way and one truth. This is the way the world was created. Adam and Eve rejected obedience to God and His way and the truth given by the Creator. They accepted the word of a false doctrine. Sin is the rejection of the word of God for the word of Satan. Today the world is filled with multitudes blindly following a form of worship that serves the will of self rather than the will of God.

Paul warned the early disciples of those who would depart from the faith. That is an astonishing fact that was not easy for the apostle to write. Consider the implications of those who tasted the heavenly gift and tasted the good word of God and then to turn away from salvation. Giving heed to deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons, people will follow the lure of Satan’s call and find nothing but condemnation. They will become hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. That is tragic. It is an eternal consequence. The end is deceived religious people lost in a lake of fire. That seems impossible but it is more reality on a larger scale.

What most people refuse to accept is there is such a thing as false teaching and false teachers. It seems that if a man and woman present a pleasing presence of truth that everyone should accept them as followers of God. The Holy Spirit expressly said that many will arise that will lead the masses to Hell. They will teach things not found in the word of God. This is a reality. The world is filled with religions that deny Jesus as the Son of God. Among the followers of Christ, salvation is offered as nothing more than a feeling. Churches abound throughout the world that teach different doctrines, call themselves by different names, worship God in a variety of ways and all call themselves faithful to God.

The early disciples taught one church, one way, one truth and one avenue of salvation. False teachers will have a person believe it does not matter what is believed. This is a lie. Jesus preached in the sermon on the mount that some religious people will be condemned because they did not follow the will of the Father. Are there false teachers? Yes – lots of them. The truth is found in one book – the Bible. Salvation is found through one man – Jesus Christ. Hope can only be offered in one way – the will of God. If you do not follow the truth you will be lost. Do not follow a man – follow Jesus Christ and His word alone. If it is not in the Bible – IT IS NOT!

So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God. (Acts 10:33)

Hearing The Word

It was an exciting time in the early church as thousands obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Devout Jews gathered in Jerusalem were the first Christians and for a time the focus of the church was directed toward the nation of Israel. A time would come for the rest of the world to hear the good news of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and this story would be told to a most unlikely person. Cornelius was a Gentile. He was not a common man and he was not someone of political importance or position of wealth. The man chosen to be the door of salvation for all non-Jews was a soldier in the army of the Roman Empire. It would seem the most improbable selection for a centurion to be chosen. What set Cornelius apart from many of his counterparts was not that he was a leader of soldiers but his spiritual life. The text reveals he was a devout, God-fearing man and those in his household were of the same persuasion. His life exemplified faith in God as he gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. But this good man was not saved.

Through the providence of God, an angel came to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter who was staying in Joppa at the time. The angel told the captain that Peter would tell him what he needed to do. Following the instruction of the heavenly messenger, men were sent to Joppa and brought Peter along with some brethren from Joppa. When the party arrived at the house of Cornelius, the Roman centurion explained to Peter why he had sent for him. He understood that he was not saved and needed Peter to speak words to him that he may know the path of salvation. The apostle replied that he clearly saw the work of God in bringing him to Caesarea and began teaching Cornelius the words of truth. Later, Peter would recount to the brethren in Jerusalem that he went to the house of Cornelius to tell them words by which he and his household would be saved. Following the sign of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles, Cornelius and his household were baptized in water for the remission of sins.

Cornelius was not saved by the appearance of an angel. The divine messenger could have told Cornelius what he needed to know but the agency of the gospel was always through the means of men teaching other men. The Roman Centurion was a man of authority but he needed to send to Joppa for Peter to come and tell him words by which he would learn the path of salvation. Peter came to Caesarea and taught the household of Cornelius the words of truth. The gospel is transmitted through the word of God. Salvation comes from learning the grace of God through the word. On the day of Pentecost, twelve men stood before the multitudes and preached the word. Phillip the evangelist went throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria teaching the gospel. Directed by an angel of the Lord, Phillip found an Ethiopian reading the book of Isaiah and beginning at a passage in the ancient text, taught the man the gospel of salvation. Every example of conversion in the book of Acts is where men taught others the words of truth. Salvation came to those who heard the word and obeyed the message of grace. Hearing the word was essential. No one was saved apart from the preaching of the word.

Faith comes from hearing the word of truth and without the word, there can be no faith. Cornelius is an example of the many opportunities for salvation to be accepted through divine messengers, being a good man, or some miraculous story but he and his household were not saved until they heard the word of truth and obeyed the gospel. Many people are diluted into thinking salvation is some personal experience or simply a feeling. Others accept the idea that if they are good people and religious they will be saved. The world rejects the need of preaching the word of God as a means of salvation. This is found in the ‘better felt than told’ experience many find in the churches of men. At the core foundation of salvation, the word must be preached and acceptance of the word is where truth is found. Jesus sent His disciples into the world to preach the gospel. That same word is where the joy of salvation is found.

But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:7)

Man Cannot Destroy The Earth

There is a lot of talk of global warming and many pundits of scientific technologies declare that if changes are not made with humanity the world will come to an end. Political machines are driven on a green deal that will save the earth from the destruction of man. Scientists talk of the emissions of industry, pollutions of commerce, and the overall impact of the human footprint on the delicate mother earth leading to the cataclysmic destruction of the atmosphere and death of humanity. Children are taught the fear-mongering lessons of the doom of mankind in the next century. Governments ban together to direct accords that will force nations to submit to a global policy fraught with despair and dread. If the politics of fear have their way, mankind will be dead within fifty years. And yet there is one study that is denied, rejected, and never discussed. It is the study done of the climate changes by the Creator of the world.

Man cannot destroy the earth. That is not a supposition. It is a Biblical fact. Of course, if a person does not believe in God and accept the Bible as an authority, nothing God says about the matter will matter. For God-fearing children of God, the Bible clearly teaches that as long as the earth stands there will be seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night. God told Noah after the worldwide flood that destroyed every living thing on the earth outside the ark – the world would remain. Noah built the ark but he did not unleash the flood. God brought destruction on the earth. The rainbow is the promise God made that he would never destroy the world with a flood again. This is a covenant that has been in place for thousands of years and God has not changed His mind. Man cannot destroy the earth because God has placed a covenant between Himself, all animals that live on the earth, and a covenant promise made to man.

There are many things that man can do that can and will harm the environment. While these things can have an immediate impact, they are not lasting. An oil spill will devastate the waters of the gulf but in time God’s creative plan will return the oceans to their beauty. Pollution can change the air but there is not enough pollution man can generate that will destroy all life. In the early days of the nuclear world, fear was raised at the annihilation of humanity by a global nuclear war. Man cannot unleash enough bombs to destroy the world. In the recent pandemic, fear of a virus causes some to believe humanity will be wiped off the face of the earth. Millions died in the Black Plague but billions remained alive. Man cannot destroy the earth.

The philosophy behind the political movements of global warming is from the belief there is no God and that man is his own god. Imagine the tiny human speck of flesh having the immense power to destroy the earth. That is laughable at the highest level of an angel’s perspective. The pride of man is nothing considering he is made a little lower than the angels. Mankind moves about as tiny ships on the vast ocean of God’s creation with barely a ripple in the scheme of God’s creation. The Bible teaches the earth is reserved for the power of God and nothing man can do will change that. One day the world will burn up but not from the efforts of men but the will of the Creator who has reserved the earth and universe for fire. Man cannot destroy the earth. God will destroy the earth. Nothing man can do will change that. The elements are going to melt with fervent heat and dissolved. Praise God. He reigns and He is in control.

And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. (Revelation 1:5)

Washed

The human body is a frail organism. It requires care and nurturing allowing it to grow with a prosperity of health and wholeness. Disease is an enemy of the body as it destroys the cellular design of creation leading to death. The world is filled with many agents of infection that without proper care will bring harm to the body. One of the most important tools for keeping a healthy life is cleanliness. The Black Death or Bubonic plague in the 1300s killed millions of people largely due to unsanitary conditions allowing the spread of the disease throughout Eurasia and North Africa. So-called “filth diseases” are responsible for numerous conditions leading to multiple medical conditions and death. Keeping a clean and healthy environment is paramount to maintaining a quality of life free from disease. Children are taught early to wash their hands, take baths, and keep clean as much as possible. In every society, the need for washing is understood as necessary for a good life. This is especially true in the spiritual world.

Sin is the filth of the world that invades the pure soul of man. Every person is born with a clean heart that will become corrupted with the disease of sin. Children are innocent from the burden of sin because their hearts are pure. As the heart of accountability becomes aware of sin the spirit of man becomes defiled, filthy, and filled with the darkness of sin. There is nothing man can do to rid himself of this filth. The blood of bulls and goats could not wash away the stain of sin. There were millions of animals sacrificed for the sins of men but to no avail. Men sought to use their own wisdom to remove their sinful nature but failed. They sought to live good lives but this could not remove the ugly stain. Sin had a stranglehold on mankind.

Jesus was made in the fashion of humanity to bear the frailties of the flesh and to show His life a pattern of purity. What is remarkable about the life of Jesus is He lived for more than thirty years and never once soiled His life with sin. No one can live long without becoming dirty in one form or another and this is abundantly clear in the spiritual life of every human. No man (with no exception) has lived a perfect, sinless, and pure life without the ugly stain of sin. Jesus Christ is the only human to fulfill His life without one speck of dirt upon His soul. All men are dirty – all men sin. The question for eternity is this: what can wash away sin?

The dirt of the physical world can bring disease and death but this does not compare to the dirt of sin that will remove a soul from the presence of God. Sin is the ultimate dirt factor with the ultimate consequence. This required the ultimate sacrifice so that all men could find a way to remove the stain of sin and become clean. Jesus provided that way when He died on the cross and rose the third day to overcome the power of sin. The victory of the cross is the means to remove the dirt of sin. When the devout Jews assembled in Jerusalem heard the first gospel sermon and pleaded with the apostles what to do to be saved, they were told to be washed. Peter told them to be baptized for the remission of their sins. Throughout the Acts of the apostles, untold multitudes were washed in the blood of Jesus with their sins removed in the waters of baptism. In the Revelation, John declared the Son of God as the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. John writes that Jesus loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. This is the joy of God’s grace to know that we are clean. There is no dirt.

Washed in the blood of Jesus is where salvation is granted by the grace and mercy of God. Without the blood of Jesus, a man remains in his filthy state. Salvation becomes a question of if a man has bathed in the blood of Jesus. Belief alone is not washing. Grace alone will not clean the body. Doing good works cannot remove the ugly disease of sin. Washed in the blood is the only place sins can be removed. Ananias told Saul to arise and wash away his sins. He did. So can you. Let the blood of Jesus wash your sins away.

Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5)

Salvation Is In Burial

The scheme of redemption is the plan of God to save mankind. Created in the image of the divine, man quickly turned away from his eternal nature serving the desires of the flesh. There was no means of escape from the wrath of God whether in being a good person, offering thousands of animal sacrifices, or worshiping himself as a god. Every attempt made by humanity to find light in the world of darkness failed. Jesus came to open the path of salvation from God to man. It was not the desire of the Father for men to perish. Throughout the ages, the Lord gave man directions to find mercy in his presence but there remained the debt of sin that could not be washed away with the blood of bulls or goats. Before the world was created, the will of God determined that salvation would only be found in the blood of His only begotten Son. Jesus became the image of flesh to live in the world as a man and suffer death. God would experience the suffering of the flesh in crucifixion. Jesus gave His life to take away the sin of mankind.

A perfect sacrifice needed to be offered as the penalty of sin. The heinous nature of sin required the highest sacrifice and Jesus willingly went to the cross to die and bring hope to humanity. He knew the incredible pain to be endured as the hatred of men beat Him, spit on Him, cursed the Son of God, scourged His flesh with brutality, and finally nailed His hands and feet to the cross. The suffering of Jesus was intense. Finally, relief from the fleshly suffering came when Jesus died. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus from the cross and buried Him in the new tomb belonging to Joseph. They were unaware of their place in the scheme of redemption but their act of love set forth the eternal plan of God. Burial was necessary for the light of hope to spring forth from the darkness of sin.

Death alone did not save men. Jesus was crucified like many thousands of men were. A man dying on a Roman cross was a familiar picture and Jesus died in the same horrible manner as those before Him. Not every man was buried after death. The burial of Jesus was a powerful testimony to the scheme of man’s redemption. Nicodemus and Joseph established a pattern of salvation that would last until the Lord’s return. The apostle Paul told the saints in Rome that redemption was found in the death and the burial of Jesus. Salvation is found in the burial for two reasons. First, it shows the need for death. Dead men are buried, not living men. A burial requires first a death. Jesus was dead when He was placed in the empty tomb. Salvation comes for a man when he dies in Christ. He is not saved yet. He must be buried. That burial is an overwhelming experience.

Second, burial precedes a resurrection. The greatest miracle is the will of the Father to bring Jesus from the clutches of Hades and for Jesus to reign supreme. Many were resurrected but they all suffered the pains of death again. This is not the case with Jesus. Two thousand years ago Jesus was buried in an empty tomb and on the first day of the week, the sealed tomb was empty. Jesus reigns as the Son of God who lives in the presence of the Father. Resurrection required a burial. The fulfillment of redemption is found in the resurrection. Baptism is the burial where a dead man is placed by the grace of God to be brought from the tomb – resurrection. If there is no burial there is no death and there is no resurrection.

Baptism is the moment a man dies in Christ and sins are washed away so a new man can rise in the newness of life as a new creation. Without baptism, there is no salvation. If a man is not buried in Christ, there is no salvation. Without the resurrection, there can be no hope. Only in baptism can a man find the power of the resurrection. Baptism requires immersion. Sprinkling or pouring is not burial and is not salvation. Belief is a part of salvation but faith alone does not save. Resurrection requires a burial. Have you been resurrected? If you have not been buried, you are not saved. Crucify the old man, be buried in baptism to rise saved in Christ.

It has finally arrived. The final Sunday of a year that has been the most life-changing time in recent history. This time a year ago, spirits soared with the hope of a brand-new year filled with exciting plans and promises that would make 2020 an incredible year of hope, prosperity, and joy. January began with a renewed strength of purpose. As February unfolded into March, the hopes and dreams of a prosperous year began to fade. March blew in with the overwhelming reality of a worldwide pandemic. The year never recovered.

It was thought in the beginning, the virus would be short-lived and life would soon return to normal. This dream was shattered as the reality of the longevity of COVID-19 entrenched itself in the lives of a worldwide population. More than 1.7 million people lost their lives to the pandemic. National economies will take years to recover and some industries will never recover. The year 2020 has become an indelibly marked history with the story of a social distancing, wearing masks, and fear of the unknown.

And the year 2020 will be remembered as one of the bloodiest, most divisive, and politically explosive time in recent history. The moral fiber of America was put to a severe test in the arena of a Presidential election. Not since the days of protests against the Vietnam war have the opposites attracted such attention. The fallout from the election will carve a new direction for politics in the decades to come. It is safe to safe that no one will forget 2020.

Today marks the final Sunday of a tumultuous year and that is the joy of this day. With all the dark prophecies of the past 361 days and fears that filled the hearts of the world, a new day has arrived and the sun is shining. The world continues to revolve on its axis at the amazing speed of 1,037.5646 miles per hour. Birds flitter around seeking food and the seas abound with life. Life continues as it has since God first placed the universe in its order. And so it goes.

There is much to reflect in the year 2020. For many, it is a year of incredible loss as loved ones have died. It is a time of renewed hope with families welcoming the birth of a child. New directions are taken that promise hope. The world has changed. Wearing a mask seems normal. The impact of the virus has changed the lives of everyone. For many, it has been a test of faith, and sadly for many – it has been a defeat in their faith. Many have left the Lord. Churches are dealing with efforts to keep the family of God together. Some are winning while others struggle. This has been a time of spiritual challenge.

Today is the final Sunday of the year and should be viewed as a milestone to reflect upon the previous year and to look with anticipation to a new year. God is still in control and regardless of how 2020 has impacted our lives, the work of the Kingdom continues, souls must be saved and churches around the world must find ways to grow stronger. It is a new year by the grace of God. The death of Jesus remains at the forefront of the need of every man. Holy lives must be lived showing the love of God in a world filled with despair.

This final Sunday is a time to reflect upon another time of change and the lessons learned and the instructions given. Joshua stood on the banks of the Jordan River peering into a land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses had died and now the leadership of the nation of Israel was in the hands of the son of Nun. He must lead the people. The past forty years were filled with great strife and heartache. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of the age to see the promised land and enjoy the fruits of God’s promises. The lessons given to Joshua will serve the hearts of God’s people on this final Sunday of 2020.

The Lord tells Joshua: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:2-9)

Here are the lessons for 2020. This year is gone and cannot be changed. It is time to arise and enter the new year with a renewed resolve to serve the Lord. God will be us every step of the way if we walk in the paths of righteousness. Nothing will stand against us when we walk with the Lord. God will not leave us nor forsake us (just look at 2020 and you will see that). We must be strong and of good courage. The new year demands we observe to do according to all the law of God. Our lives must be directed by the gospel of Christ without turning to the right or the left so that 2021 will be a year of hope. The word of God must not depart from our hearts. It shall be our meditation day and night to observe to do according to all that is written in it. Has our Father not commanded us to be strong and of good courage? There is nothing to fear and no reason to be dismayed. THE LORD GOD IS WITH US!

Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. (Romans 16:23)

Gaius, Erastus And Quartus

There are names in the Bible that jump off the page with familiarity, popularity, and recognizable stories attached to them. Most people would know who Adam and Eve were and would recognize names like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Peter, John, Paul, and of course Jesus Christ. There are many people in the Bible that nothing is known of them and yet they are enshrined on the pages of holy writ for all time. As the apostle Paul concludes his letter to the saints in Rome, he commends a host of Christians with nearly thirty people specifically named including men and women. Three of these individuals are Gaius, Erastus, and Quartus.

Gaius is a name found two other times in scripture. Paul mentions in his letter to Corinth that he was thankful he had not baptized any of the Corinthians except Crispus and Gaius. There was a controversy among the brethren of sectarianism with some appealing to Paul, to Apollos, to Peter, and Christ as to some type of spiritual badge of honor. The apostle John will also mention Gaius in his third epistle as a beloved saint. John’s love for Gaius is noted in the epistle as a faith rooted in truth and the life of Gaius as one exemplifying the qualities of Jesus Christ. There was a man named Diotrephes in the church that was causing a great deal of trouble and men like Gaius and another saint called Demetrius were the stabilizing force to neutralize the preeminent rule of Diotrephes upon the brethren.

One of the notes Paul makes about Gaius is he hosted the apostle in his own home. Considering the many places Paul had to stay in his work as a preacher, the home of Gaius was a splendid relief from the rigors of missionary work. Gaius seems to be a man of wealth who was willing to use his blessings for the work of the Lord. The house of Gaius was also the meeting place for the church at Corinth. Gaius was a man of great hospitality enjoying the abilities to help the church with his home which was no small undertaking. The character of Gaius was sterling. His example as a man of position but a man with a humble heart serving the Lord is clearly defined.

Erastus was the treasurer of the city of Corinth. This was a position of great influence and power. He presided over the financial affairs of the city. Serving as the steward of the city was an office of high respectability and responsibility to the Roman Empire. This suggests that many first-century Christians were people of note, influence, and power. The gospel can change the heart of a man who holds a high position of authority because the heart is willing to accept the grace of God. Luke mentions a helper of Paul in Ephesus named Erastus and it is unknown if this is the same man or not. It is suggested Paul’s reference to Erastus in the Roman letter was simply a designation of the former position held by Erastus but any conclusion is conjecture. In Paul’s final letter to Timothy, the apostle does mention that Erastus stayed in Corinth and could suggest the steward of Corinth had been involved in the mission work of Paul at one time.

Finally, Paul mentions Quartus. The letter to Rome is the only place where this saint is mentioned and all that is said of him is that he was a brother. It is interesting and should be noted that Quartus is mentioned in the same exhortation as Gaius and Erastus. What qualities Quartus had is unknown. His place in life whether rich or poor, a man of authority or a common man is unknown. He is listed with Gaius and Erastus, men of note and wealth, and to Quartus Paul simply says that he was a brother. It does not take away from Gaius and Erastus to recognize their place in the work of the Lord and all the contributions they gave to the Corinthian church, but Quartus stands out in the kindly tone of Paul calling him his brother. To be wealthy like Gaius would have been an advantage. Being the treasurer of a Roman city like Corinth was a place of great honor. But Quartus was a brother and while Gaius and Erastus were brethren also, the quality of the unknown man was that he was a brother in Christ to Paul.

Not every person can be like Gaius and Erastus but these two men would agree that to be called a brother was all that mattered. Quartus was a brother. Simple. Direct. Honorable. Defining. He may not have been a song leader, fill-in preacher, or Bible class teacher but he was a brother. His work may not have been recognized as much as Gaius and Erastus but Paul penned his name on a letter two thousand years saying Quartus was a brother. There are many saints like Quartus that quietly go about their lives showing Christ and the love of God with little or no fanfare. These are the saints that build churches up and keep them strong. They are at services every time the doors are open. The singing is infused with their joyful hearts singing to the Lord. Their kind words and humble presence encourages the downtrodden and weak. The examples of saints like Quartus are treasured. We are brethren. God bless the men and women who may only be known as brother so-and-so or sister so-and-so. We need those saints like Quartus. Lots of them.