Romans Chapter Six verses One through Twenty Three

 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 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.

Just as the Law makes us sinners. Paul asks should we sin so that God’s grace may grow, more and more, to free us from sin. He answers “Certainly not.” Rather we are baptized into the death of Christ Jesus that we may participate in His resurrection unto the newness of life. We are to be dead to sin and become alive in Christ.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, as we are one with Christ Jesus in his death we are also one with Him in his resurrection. In Christ our flesh was crucified with Him. The result is that our fleshly sinful selves are done away with and we are enslaved to sin no longer. If we died with Christ we will live with Him. Therefore, being alive in Christ Jesus, sin no longer reigns over us. Christ has set us free as He is free from sin Himself having overcome it. So we must reckon ourselves dead to sin but alive to righteousness in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

We are then not to allow sin to reign in our bodies calling us to unrighteousness and dragging us away from God. Paul exhorts us to present ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. Sin no longer dominates over us because we are no longer under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace. May it never be. If we sin we are the slaves of sin and if we are obedient we are the slaves of righteousness in Christ Jesus. Believing on Christ Jesus we are delivered and set free from sin and lead our lives in His service unto righteousness and eternal life.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In our sins, we laboured unto death and the fruit of our labours was unrighteousness. Now in Christ, we are free from sin and have fruit unto righteousness and to eternal life. The wages that we should reap is death. The gift of God in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is Eternal life.

Calvinism - In Basis...

 

Calvinism

noun

Cal·​vin·​ism ˈkal-və-ˌni-zəm 

 

: the theological system of Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of humankind, and the doctrine of predestination

 

From <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Calvinism>

 

Scriptures which underpin Calvinist precepts.

 

Those in Christ are predestined from the foundation of the world.

 

Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV 

 

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

 

We are predestined to election or to damnation though we were not born and had done neither good or bad.

 

Romans 9:11-13 ESV

 

Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

 

The Father gives us to Christ Jesus and we will never be cast out. Everyone who looks on the Son should have eternal life and be raised on the last day.

 

John 6:37-40 ESV  

 

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

We are foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. We are also called, justified and glorified in Christ Jesus.

 

Romans 8:29-30 ESV 

 

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

Our salvation is dependent on the mercy of God not our own will or works.

 

Romans 9:16-18 ESV 

 

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

 

We are called to a holy calling because of grace not our own works.

 

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

 

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

 

We are appointed to salvation.

 

Acts 13:48 ESV 

 

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

 

Christ Jesus chose us to bear fruit.

 

John 15:16 ESV

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

 

We are saved not by our righteous works but according to mercy, by the actions of the Holy Spirit.

 

Titus 3:5 ESV 

 

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

 

We are called to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession

 

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Philippians 1:29 ESV 

 

 

From <https://www.openbible.info/topics/scriptures_that_underpin_calvinism>

 

No comes to Jesus Christ unless the father draws him.

 

 John 6:44

English Standard Version

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day

 

From <https://biblia.com/bible/esv/john/6/44> 

What Does TULIP Stand for?

The meaning of each letter is listed below, with further brief explanations from R. C. Sproul’s book, What is Reformed Theology?

T - Total depravity: Humanity’s radical corruption

U - Unconditional Election: God’s sovereign choice

L - Limited atonement: Christ’s purposeful atonement

I - Irresistible grace: The Spirit’s effective call

P – Perseverance of the saints: God’s preservation of the saints

Calvinism is indeed the theological system of Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of humankind, and the doctrine of predestination. It has a strong basis in scripture as has been established by the scriptures reproduced above. The TULIP acronym stands as a representation of the thinking of those who hold Calvinism to be their truth. It declares the final result of predestination being individual salvation while accepting the depravity of mankind and our inability to save ourselves. At the same time it declares God's Sovereignty over our election, acknowledges that God is the authority over who is atoned for and God's Lordship in applying grace and preserving the elect.

 

Halloween in a Nutshell

 

 

 

When we think of Halloween we often think of children running around dressed as ghosts and ghouls. Knocking on doors and trick or treating and gathering sweets and having a lovely, if scary time. What could be the harm, right.

 

The contrast to this point of view might be that this festival is based on All Hallows Day or the festival of Samhain celebrated from October 31 to November 1 in Ireland. This was to usher in the dark half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and thought to allow more traffic through the barriers between the physical and spiritual world. Thus more spiritual activity with ghosts and ghouls in evidence. Added to this and noted, by Julius Caesar, of the Druids was human and animal sacrifices in wicker containers that were set alight to burn their occupants.

 

So, how does all of this effect Christians and their decision to participate in this festival of Halloween. In the book of Judges at chapter 2 verses 12 -13 "The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. They abandoned the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt." MEV

 

When, the people of Israel switched worship to other God's, God judged them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies. He then raised a judge whom He supported and delivered them from the hands of their enemies as they repented.

 

However, the main issue here is that they broke the Commandments of God.

 

Exodus chapter 2 verse 2 - 5

 

1. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2.  You shall not make for yourself any graven idol, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water below the earth.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them…

 

So, my point here is that it doesn't matter how attractive Halloween is or, how culturally delightful, or, how harmless it seems to you. What matters is the it is called Halloween and that it is an event driven by spiritual forces of darkness to encourage people, Christian and other, to hallow, venerate and worship various pagan entities and deities. All of this by participating in the event.

 

By doing this as a Christian, you are placing gods before Yahweh and by participating in the event you are effectively bowing down to them or, serving them. You are breaking the first two commandments and you know this is true if the Holy Spirit is in you. 

The Gospel

 

1 Corinthians 1: 1-9 

Now, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which you have received, and in which you stand. 2 Through it you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and was seen by Cephas, and then by the twelve. 6 Then He was seen by over five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, though some have passed away. 7 Then He was seen by James and then by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born at the wrong time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. And His grace toward me was not in vain. I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

 

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015%3A%201-28&version=MEV;KJV>

 

This is the apostle Paul giving the kernel of the gospel as it was related to him and as he preached it to the Corinthian Church. By believing this gospel that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and rose on the third day. He was seen by Peter and over five hundred saints at once."

 

Paul contends he is the least of the apostles because he persecuted the Church. But by the grace of God he is who he is. Through that grace he laboured among the Corinthians and through grace they believed the gospel that he preached.

 

John 3:16

16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A16&version=MEV;KJV>

 

God so loved you that he gave His only begotten Son, that you who believe on Him should not perish but have eternal life. The Gospel - The Good News

 

This is justification in Jesus Christ. You believe on Christ Jesus and are restored to eternal life.

 

Acts 2:38

38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202%3A38&version=MEV;KJV>

 

You need to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins  and that you might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

This is sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Through water baptism your sins are washed away and you receive the Holy Spirit. You are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ and raised from the waters of baptism into the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the newness of life.

 

The Holy Spirit writes God's Law on your heart and puts it into your mind. His purpose is to present you blameless before God in the Kingdom to make you into a temple of the Living God. This is salvation in Jesus Christ.

Matthew Chapter Eight Study

 

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus  stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

 

In this passage we see the importance of faith. If you believe and you ask in accordance with God's will then God will answer your prayers or in this case requests. The leper believed that Jesus could heal him and asked the Savior if He would make him clean according to His will. Jesus said "I will." The leper was cleansed and Jesus instructed him to tell no one but to show himself to the priest and make sacrifice for being healed according to the law.

 

The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,  ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marvelled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel  have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

 

The centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant who was desperately ill and in great pain. Jesus indicated that He was prepared to come immediately and to heal the man's servant. However, the centurion told Jesus not to come but that he trusted the Lord to merely say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus was astonished at his faith and marvelled that no one in Israel had such faith.

 

He told how many would come to see Abraham, Issac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven while many sons of the kingdom would be thrown into the outer darkness. Indicating the Pharisees and rulers of Israel who rejected that Jesus was the Messiah. He then told the centurion to go and that his servant would be healed as he had asked and believed.

 

Jesus Heals Many

14 And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

 

 

With a touch on her hand Jesus heals Peter's mother and she rose well enough to take care of Him. Many demon possessed were brought to Him and He cast the demons out with only a word. Such was His power over them as the Son of God. The sick were brought to Him also and Jesus healed them all. Thus the prophecy from Isaiah 53 verse 4 was fulfilled that the Messiah would take their illnesses and bare their diseases. That all would know that Jesus was the promised seed and our redeemer.

 

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

 

Jesus explains the cost of becoming His follower to the scribe and one of the disciples. To follow God means to be prepared to rough it. There won't be many creature comforts. The life of Jesus is at times not too different from the life of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon when God cast him out of his kingdom. Jesus may not have had to eat grass but he often slept outside and under the trees. He was often awake at night praying and communing with His Father in Heaven.

 

However, as He explained to the disciple the work that was being done by Messiah was more important than even attending a family funeral. If he was to follow Jesus then his commitment needed to be complete and the priority of being with the Messiah was of the first order. He needed to give up his old life entirely and dedicate himself to the service of God.

 

Jesus Calms a Storm

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marvelled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

 

A great storm arose and Christ Jesus slept unworried by the commotion among the disciples and the tossing of the waves and the fact that boat was beginning to founder. When the disciples woke Him, He was angry at their lack of faith and that they hadn't handled the situation themselves. He arose and commanded the winds and the sea to be calm and it was calm. The disciples were amazed that Jesus had such power over nature.

 

Part of Jesus annoyance here is that the disciples simply panicked. They never even thought to pray about the situation. Instead they ran for their master to save them fearing for their lives. This was a powerful lesson to them about how to handle themselves in trying situations. An example of how to behave in a situation like this would be where the apostle Paul was with the boat caught for days in a storm in the Mediterranean. He prayed to God about the situation and duly received an answer "None would perish so  long as all stayed with the ship." On the boat on Lake Galilee, Jesus needed the disciples to learn that God will always be with them in any trial. They need only pray and trust Him. So it is for all Christians in our time.

 

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

 

When they make landfall on the other side of the lake. They are confronted by two demon possessed men. Recognising Jesus as the Son of God and that he had authority over them they asked Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs nearby. The pigs panicked, ran into the lake and drowned. The herdsmen rushed to the nearby city and told all that had happened to the pigs and the demon possessed men. The people of the city then came out to meet Jesus and asked him to leave their region.

 

Matthew Chapter Eight demonstrates  the power that Jesus has over illness, natural forces, and in the demonic realm. The event with the storm on Lake Galilee shows the important part the faith plays in the Christian walk. Jesus gives teaching about the cost of becoming one of His disciples that undoubtedly has given and will continue to give pause to many who would consider taking up their cross and following Him.

Matthew Chapter Two Study

 

The Visit of the Wise Men

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

 

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

 

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 

The King mentioned in this text is Herod I or Herod the Great and lived from 72 BCE to 4 BCE. He was a Jewish Roman client king who ruled the Herodian Kingdom of Judea.  He was known for the extensive building projects that he completed in the region, such as, the renovation of the second temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the defended fort at Masada and his palace Herodium.

 

The wise men who travelled from the East looking for the Messiah. Matthew calls them Magi and little else is known of their origins. It may be surmised that they had great wisdom and were aware of the prophecy of the coming of Messiah and also were aware of signs in the Heavens that indicated that the time was nigh. In this case a star of Jesus. They came to Jerusalem and enquired widely enough about the birth of Messiah to alert King Herod of the impending event and assembling his priests and scribes he ascertained that the birth of the ruler to come would happen in Bethlehem of Judah.

 

The prophecy that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah quoted in Matthew chapter two verse six is found in the Old Testament book of Micah in chapter five verse two. It seems almost certain the wise men were aware of at least a part of this prophecy and knew to watch for the star. It must have been important to them as they embarked on a significant journey to see the Messiah and brought expensive gifts for the coming King.

 

Herod sought to craftily have the wise men locate the new born Jesus for him and return to with news of that location. Such, that he could move against the Messiah. The wisemen followed the star and found Jesus with His mother Mary and rejoicing they fell down and worshipped Him and gave Him the gifts they had brought with them. They were warned in a dream to avoid King Herod and returned to their country by another route. I perceive that these were not just magi but Men of Yahweh. The devil would not have sent righteous men to find and worship Jesus nor would he have warned them in a dream to avoid King Herod. They were obviously followers of Adonai Elohim (The Almighty Creator God), and when He gave them the dream, they obeyed him, avoided Herod and made their way home by a different route.

 

The Flight to Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

 

Knowing the threat that Herod meant to the child Jesus. God made plans to move Jesus, Mary and Joseph to safety. With this in mind he sent an angel to Joseph in a dream instructing him to move his family to Egypt and to remain there until he was told it was safe to return to Israel. Joseph did as he was told and took Mary and Jesus by night. He remained in Egypt until the death of Herod which fulfilled the prophecy from Hosea 11:1 'When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.' ESV

 

Notice, that God took care not to use overtly super natural methods to protect Jesus from the attacks of the devil. Rather, he warned using dreams and caused both the magi and Joseph to simply walk out of harm's way. He allowed nothing that would draw unwanted attention to the child beyond initially announcing that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

 

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

 

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

 

Herod was well known to be jealous for his throne. Apparently killing family members and anyone that he felt represented a threat to his reign. There is a story that he gathered people of note to be killed after his death to ensure that he would have mourners for his funeral.

So, it is certainly not out of character for him to have ordered the slaughter of the innocents in an attempt to kill the baby Jesus. It is understood he did this after ascertaining the age of the Messiah from the wisemen. Apparently, he had all of the boy babies killed under the age of two in the Bethlehem and the surrounding region. The non-Christian writer Macrobius quoted Augustus Caesar as saying 'It’s better to be Herod’s pig, than his son' claiming one of his Herod's own children was put to death at the time as the slaughter innocents in Bethlehem.

 

Once again this event was described in prophecy in Jeremiah chapter 31 verse fifteen "Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” Thus the event which is from the time of the captivity of Israel is also applied in this case by Matthew.

 

The Return to Nazareth

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene

 

In due time Herod the Great died and God sent and angel to Joseph once again in a dream to take Mary and Jesus back to Israel because those who sought Jesus life were dead. Joseph obeyed God once again and took Mary and Jesus back to Israel. He was intending to go to Judea but heard that Archelaus was King there and so retreated to settle in the area of Galilee after once again being warned in dream of the danger. So, they settled in Nazareth and Jesus became a Nazarene or as He is better known as Jesus of Nazareth. 

 

Reference List

 

Is there secular evidence Herod killed babies under the age of two? From <https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/is-there-secular-evidence-herod-killed-babies-under-the-age-of-two/> 12/10/24

 

Jeremiah Chapter Thirty One verse Fifteen From <https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Jeremiah%2031%3A15>

 

Matthew Chapter Two From <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/mat/2/1/s_931001> 12/10/24

Oh! I'm a Sheep…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

 

From <https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jhn/10/1/s_1007001>

 

I have always struggled to understand how God could care about me. How I a sinner, a fallen man, could ever be desirable to Adonai Elohim. What is there about me that merits His love and forgiveness. Especially, when you factor in that repentance is a daily struggle for me and one that I am seldom the victor in.

 

I have always appreciated that Jesus said He was the good shepherd in a kind of 'That's so cool God kind of way.' You know, soft woolly feelings of cuteness and warm fuzzy hearts. I just didn't understand what He was actually saying here. I almost completely missed the most important thing in John's gospel.

 

You see Jesus is saying here He is the Good Shepherd. He's saying I know my sheep and they know me. We're talking people with sheep like characteristics. If you know sheep they have many endearing characteristics. Lambs are cute and playful. Ewes are maternal, protective and loving of their offspring and family groups. Rams are dominant and show leadership of the flock. Sheep are loyal and loving and can be wise, gracious, obedient and worthy of admiration just like people.

 

Sheep can also be rebellious, obstinate, independent, arrogant, angry, violent, aggressive, impulsive, unwise, foolish and stupid creatures, just like people. If God can love sheep so completely that he would give His life to find one of the flock that is lost. I can finally understand how God can love me. I completely associate with all of the characteristics of sheep. I can be stupid and sinful and make the worst and most impulsive decisions and yet Jesus Christ is my Lord, my Savior and my Good Shepherd. I am His sheep and I know Him and He knows me. He loves me and I love Him. My beloved Adonai Elohim. I'll be a sheep in His flock any day and forever.