by Jamie Pantastico | Sep 2, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
The following is an overview of the first 2000 years of Biblical and human history. God deals with all mankind directly and all mankind speaks one language. There is no written law, no temple worship instead God provides mankind simple instructions to both live out their daily lives and how to worship Him.
4000 B.C. – 2000 B.C.
The first two thousand years of Biblical and human history are recorded in the first 11 chapters of Genesis.
Creation, God created man, the fall – sin and the curse come on the scene, Satan takes dominion of the planet, the Redeemer, the flood, the earth repopulated and the tower of Babel.
Outline of First 2000 Years of Biblical History
- Creation – Genesis 1: 2:1-4.
- God created man – Genesis 1:26-27.
- The Fall (Sin and the Curse) – Genesis 3:4-7
- Satan takes dominion of the planet – Matthew 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4
- The Redeemer – Genesis 3:15
- The Wickedness of Man and the Flood – Genesis 6 & 7.
- Noahic Covenant for All mankind/Human Government – Genesis 6:18, 9:9-17
- Noah & his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth to repopulate the earth – Genesis 9:1,7
- The Tower of Babel – Genesis 11:1-9.
We Must Know
To be a good Bible student we must “KNOW” (and we can know) how these first eleven chapters of biblical and human history apply to our study of the Bible?
- Is there Doctrine for the body of Christ, in the first 11 Chapters?
- Is there a message of salvation “the gospel” for “mankind” today in these first eleven chapters?
- Are there commands that we must follow in the first eleven chapters of Genesis?
To repeat these first two thousand years of Biblical history are recorded in just the first 11 chapters in the book of Genesis.
Moving ahead 200 years from the Tower of Babel Genesis 11 to the Genesis 12:1-3, and we find that God makes a massive change on how He will reveal Himself to mankind. When He calls out one man…Abram or Abraham as we know him now, to start a people for His name, the Jewish people.
To that end it is crucial know that the Bible is a progressive revelation, and not to get ahead of what God has revealed within a particular time period. It is a wise practice to always ask who’s writing? To whom is the writer writing too? And what are the circumstance for what the writer is revealing?
Study Scripture Don’t Just Read It
Most difficulties in interpreting the Scriptures occur from neglecting a passage’s context. The guiding principle of sound interpretation is taking passage literally unless strong and clear reasons exist for not doing so.
Not sticking to this discipline, interpreting the Scripture becomes whatever you want it to mean. The result is erroneous or ridiculous interpretations.
We can know these answers by asking the following questions;
- Who is the author and who is the author writing too?
- When did the events happen as a “time element”?
- When was it written? (date)
- What are the circumstances?
- What came before and what happened after?
- What has God revealed? (reading in-time, not to get ahead of what God has revealed. In other words, read Genesis 1 – 11, as it was happening at that time and know nothing of future events on what God has revealed at THAT TIME!!!)
By examining a passage with a few simple questions, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and reading the first eleven chapters of Genesis in-time we can establish context. Knowing the context of Genesis 1-11, will greatly help us better understand the full counsel of God. And how to apply the first eleven chapters of Genesis to our Christian walk. And yes we can make application.
‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.’
II Timothy 3:16-17
‘For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ‘
Romans 15:4
by Jamie Pantastico | Aug 23, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
Doctrine for the Body of Christ is Found in Romans to Philemon But We Study ‘ALL’ of Scripture “Romans 15:4”
Romans 15:4a
‘For whatever things were written before (In other words, before God called Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles) were written for our learning,…
Learning
So what’s the difference between learning and doctrine? All the difference in the world. Learning is the building blocks, the background to how we got to this unbelievable gospel of grace for mankind today, and what’s ahead. How did it happen that Christ was crucified? How did it happen that He ascended back to Glory? Why did God need a thirteenth apostle, the apostle Paul? This is all building the foundation for where we are today in this age of grace.
Doctrine
Doctrine, on the other hand, tells us how to be saved, how to live the Christian life, what to look for at the end time. That’s in Paul’s epistles. But all of Scripture is for our learning. Now the second half of verse four.
Romans 15:4b
that we (as the body of Christ, in the age of grace) through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.’
The world is in perplexity today. Even before the coronavirus, the world was in chaos and uncertainty. The dilemma that the whole world finds its self in is ‘perplexing’. Mankind doesn’t know what to do, there are no real solutions because mankind can provide no solution. The Lord Himself made it so clear that in the last days the world would be filled with ‘perplexity’.
But through the patience and comfort (encouragement) of the Scriptures (as we study ALL of Scripture Old & New Testament we learn) we might have hope (and as we learn what is for our learning and what is for our doctrine, we understand that what is going on in the world is all part of God’s design. And we have nothing to worry about. God is in control). That’s the hope.
God hasn’t left mankind (all mankind saved and unsaved) in a fog about what we are to know about Him. We have His word and it is clear for anyone that wants to know. As for believers, we are commanded to study His word because it is the body of Christ’s only resource for our existence during our earthly sojourn.
Study don’t Just Read your Bible…
Recommended reading. (2-minute read)
God Is Sovereign Believe What He Says
by Jamie Pantastico | Jul 24, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
Christians Submitted to Government…
When the coronavirus first came on the scene in March 2020, it was projected to kill millions of American citizens (2.2 million).
Americans across the country did the right thing and followed government guidelines like washing our hands, social distancing and sheltering in place. Willfully following what our leaders told us to do faced with the potential for mass casualties was the right thing to do.
The threat was taken seriously by all Americans and still is but we now know the projections were dead wrong. We also know that COVID-19 isn’t what the government portrayed it to be and expected government restrictions to ease in accordance with new data, the science. Remember we were told two weeks at the most to flatten the curve.
On the contrary, the government has gone full-tyrannical at every level imposing more and more restrictions on healthy people that have not only taken away our God-given right to worship but have added severe punishment for not obeying their unlawful decrees in the form of fines and even arrest.
With the help of the sinister mainstream media, these tyrannical governors and mayors nationwide have been broadcasting a consistent message of death and despair. “Fearmongering” the masses.
As believers we don’t rebel against the government we obey God. And now more than ever is it time for the body of Christ to obey God.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
– the ‘First Amendment’ to the Bill of Rights
The Apostle Paul and Peter Rebelled Against Government
There are many examples throughout Scripture describing believers rebelling against the government. Below is just one example of many.
The same author of Romans 13 is the same person that rebelled against government leadership in Acts 16 and Acts 23. This post will touch on the events in Acts 16.
Paul boldly and openly protested his arrest, beating, and imprisonment by the local government in Philippi.
Why?
Because Paul and Silas were punished severely without a trial. As Roman citizens, their “RIGHT” to a trial under Roman law never happened. Paul knew his rights ‘under Roman law’ were violated and called the government officials out on this fact. Eventually, when the Roman magistrates were confronted with the truth they were afraid and immediately released Paul and Silas.
It’s Clear Why We Must Obey God Over Men
First, law-abiding citizens in America have had their God-given ‘RIGHTS’ taken from them which should never happen under any circumstance. Secondly, Government officials have made unlawful decrees superseding the law of the land “the United States Constitution” giving all power to the executive level of State and Municipal government. In other words, these tyrannical Governors and Mayors are knowingly avoiding the legislative process and taking a dictatorial approach to governance. In doing so the people have zero representation.
Most local governments (Governors & Mayors) have dreamed up decrees banning Christians from Worshiping, conducting in-home Bible Studies and in some states, Christians are even banned from singing.
These are not laws! There must be a legislative process before the government can create laws. Shockingly most Christians and Pastors have decided to go along with having their right to worship God and even sing praises to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taken from them. Breaking the clear command from God not to forsake the assembly…
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25
Pastors should be ashamed of themselves by cowering to the local magistrates instead of obeying God. They not only rebel against God but forsake their flocks.
During this perplexing and chaotic time in our country and around the world believers need each other more than ever. Not being able to fellowship and worship God is not only being disobedient to what God commanded but it is adding tremendous hardship to an already difficult time for the body of Christ.
Using Romans 13 as an excuse not to worship is the pinnacle of absurdity. It is a complete misrepresentation and twisting of Scripture.
We Must Obey God over Man
Again, given what we now know about the coronavirus; the data and the science. And understanding that Romans 13 isn’t instructing believers to obey the government over God. We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves…not for another day and never again.
The apostle Paul makes so clear why we as individual members of the body of Christ rely on each other no matter where we are in the world. Please read the passages below to see how important we are to each other and why not forsaking the assembly is a command.
We are all part of one body, the body of Christ
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
I Corinthians 12:13-19
‘But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ‘
I Corinthians 12:20-25
‘And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.’
I Corinthians 12:26
In Conclusion
Pastors, elders, and members of the body of Christ must assemble now! We know enough about this virus to take all the necessary precautions. But we can no longer obey government decrees that forbid or hinder healthy blood-bought believers from worshiping of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We have both the truth of God and the law of the land on our side and the tyrannical Governors and Mayors will lose because they fear the truth.
Christians Don’t Rebel Against Civil Authority We Obey God
by Jamie Pantastico | Apr 21, 2020 | Daily Encouragement |
Christianity is Practical
Christian living is practical and the last five chapters in the book of Romans (12-16) are just instructions on practical Christian living. Not a long list of do’s and don’ts, there isn’t anything in these five chapters that would take you out of the mainstream of your community. Nothing the Lord commands us to do would make the unsaved around us say “these Christians are nuts”. The bottom line is Christians are to live peaceably and with love for ALL mankind. And what could possibly be wrong with that?
It is crucial that Christians know they are commanded by God to obey ALL civil authority; from our local police to our Presidents and Prime Ministers regardless of their political affiliation or whether or not they are believers. There is no Scripture support for Christians to fight civil authority period! We are not left here to take over the government or dictate policy.
The reason the Lord doesn’t just take us home with Him the moment we believe the gospel is so we can share the good news with the lost world around us we are ambassadors for Christ. Again, there is no Biblical record of God commanding members of the body of Christ to fight civil authority or dictate policy. This belief is man’s idea and in total opposition to what the Lord has commanded.
On the other hand, Romans 13 does NOT say that Christians can’t own guns, join the military or fight to defend their life or the lives of their loved ones. Nowhere does the Lord say because we are Christians we are to let people walk all over us without defending ourselves from physical harm. Remember Paul himself disobeyed the local magistrates when he refused to leave out a side door in secret (Acts 17:35-40). More about this in another post.
Romans 13:1-5 and the Command to Obey Government
Romans 13 admonishes believers to submit to government authority because ALL GOVERNMENT and Civil Authority are placed there by God himself whether they are believers or not.
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Romans 13:1
That can’t be any more clearer, can it? The next verse is a warning and instructs believers to obey civil authority or they will face punishment, not from God but the government He placed in authority.
Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Romans 13:2
In the following verses, the apostle Paul expands on why Christians are to obey civil authority.
Romans 13:3a
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil…
Again, look at the practicality. First, God Himself ordained all government authority, from the local level like our police departments right up to Prime Ministers and Presidents of the world. They are in their positions of authority for our benefit, even ungodly countries have laws to maintain order and punish the criminal element. Now the second part of verse 3…
Romans 13:3b
Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Simple enough right? This isn’t pie in the sky stuff. If you don’t want to be in fear of government authority obey government authority. Furthermore, Christians above all should be setting the example of being obedient and living peaceably with our fellow man regardless of the government’s, beliefs or political affiliation. Governments don’t punish law-abiding citizens.
In the next verse, Paul expands on what he has written in the previous three verses by reminding believers that God is Sovereign and that ALL civil authority is placed by Almighty God. Read on…
Romans 13:4
For he (government or whatever civil authority like our police) is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil (disobey), be afraid; for he (civil authority) does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath (judgment) on him who practices evil (brakes civil law).
Repetition is the mother of learning and I hope you are seeing the repetitiveness in so much of what Paul writes regarding this subject. As verse four is more of the same as in the previous verses with more emphatic language. Civil authorities are God’s ministers, for our good! So if we go contrary to what God has ordained we should expect punishment. In Romans 13:5, we have the underlying reason why Christians are to obey the government.
Romans 13:5
Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
The wrath portion of verse five was already expanded on up in verse three. But the last part of verse five “for conscience’ sake” is not only the underlying reason why believers are to be subject to civil authority but it is at the core of the Christian experience.
In Conclusion
Ultimately, we obey the government because Christ died for us, was buried for us and was resurrected from the dead never to die again so that we too will be raised from the dead to be with the Lord forever. We no longer are compelled to do things according to what the world instructs us to do, we are compelled to obey civil authority because we are compelled because what God did on our behalf.
‘For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.’
II Corinthians 5:14-15
‘For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.’
I Corinthians 6:20
‘For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. ‘
II Corinthians 1:12
‘Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ‘
Colossians 3:22-23
‘Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ‘
Ephesians 6:5-7
‘Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.’
Titus 2:9-10
The bottom line is that we submit to the government but ultimately we obey God.
