The Paradox of Evidence and Faith - Evaluating the History Channel's: "Bible Secrets Revealed"

John 10:38 "but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."

Luke 16:30-31 "But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Introduction: Why the History Channel's current series - "Bible Secrets Revealed" will end in failure, and the only fitting response

As I have now watched two episodes of the History Channel's "Bible Secrets Revealed", I got to thinking on Jesus' statements in the above two verses.  The series aims to expose and explore the so-called hidden secrets of the Bible and behind the Bible.  In the past two episodes thus far, an entire slate of critics from the fields of religion, Biblical studies and even different faiths outside of Christianity (Dr. Reza Aslan is a Muslim) are used to evaluate the truth claims of the Bible.  The overall thrust of the series is that if only there was more evidence, or if the Biblical text was more clear, then maybe there would not be such widespread confusion and unbelief about the Bible. It is evident that the panel of scholars in the series and the show's producers have hostilities towards the truth claims of scripture and its ability to be clear. But even more so is the mistaken notion that with enough evidence, with enough miracles and with clear enough data, Christian faith can then be achieved and embraced. But is that true? Why is the History Channel's current series flawed and why will its objectives fail? What is the only fitting response? I will hold off on the fitting response part until the end of this post.  For now we will explore the inherent flaw I see in the History Channel's current series. It lies in what I am calling in this post today: the paradox of Evidence and Faith. 

On the one hand evidence is included by God in drawing conclusive proof about the claims of Biblical faith

Biblical faith can be understood under three headings: propositions, proof and persuasion.  When we say propositions, we speak of the doctrinal statements and truth of scripture. Propositions such as "Jesus is God" or "The Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God" or "God created the heavens and the earth" are propositions, truth statements that are drawn directly from scripture.  As Dr. Francis Shaeffer said years ago, God is a talking God who speaks to us through words. The older theologians spoke of this element of Biblical faith by the Latin term notitia, meaning the contents of faith.   

The second leg of Biblical faith has to do with the proof of the propositions brought to the mind.  Proof, in the form of general revelation in nature (such as scientific information) and reason are included in the communication of the propositions or contents of faith.  In this second leg of Biblical faith, recognition is made that such proofs are given by God to man to grant to man knowledge about Himself. Theologians of old used the Latin term ascensus (assensoos) to speak of the mind making its "ascent" or agreement to the propositions (notitia) of the Christian faith.  By evidence drawn from such sources as science, reason or miracles - proofs of God's existence, general identity and Goodness are presented.  

Thus the man born blind who was healed by Jesus makes the following appeal to the Jewish officials who were skeptical of Jesus in John 9:33 - "If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." The Apostle Peter preached these words in Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know." Paul writes concerning God's use of proof or evidence from general revelation to man in Romans 1:18-20 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."  When Jesus makes His statement in John 10:38 that the miracles He performs give  ample enough testimony about His identity and mission, He is speaking about the propositions (He being Messiah, God in Human flesh) and proof. 

God utilizes the propositions of Christian faith from the special revelation of His word (the Bible) and gives proofs from the general revelation of nature and providential use of the miraculous (such as He did in Jesus' ministry) as part and parcel of the overall presentation of Biblical faith. Faith and reason are not foes, but friends. Yet reason by itself is insufficient to bring a person to a true, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Propositions and agreement with the proofs of Christianity alone does not make one a believer. As James reminds us in James 2:19 "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." 

The paradox of evidence and faith is that as much as the evidence of propositions and proof make for a conclusive case for the Christian faith, nevertheless unbelieving man will still conclude that the case is not compelling. It is one thing to say "I conclude with what you say is true".  Yet it is quite another matter to say: "I not only conclude with what you say, I am compelled to trust and embrace your conclusions.  

Unless the Holy Spirit persuades and brings the grace that includes faith and repentance to the unbelieving heart, mankind will willfully and knowingly suppress the propositions and proof of Christianity.  What is needed? Persuasion. Which brings us to the second point about the paradox of evidence and faith....

On the other hand, only the Holy Spirit can persuade the unbelieving heart that the propositions and proofs of the Christian faith are not merely conclusive, but also compelling enough to believe.

In Luke 16 we see the account of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man dies and goes to hell, while Lazarus, the believer in the account, dies and goes to heaven (called Abraham's bosom by Jesus). As the rich man gets in a post-mortem discussion and really and argument with Abraham, he makes this statement in Luke 16:28-30 "for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’30 But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!" The rich man makes the argument that if only there was enough evidence, surely then his brothers could avoid the same destiny as he.  We don't see any words of repentance or regret in the rich man's statements. We see no humility or acknowledgement by the rich man that God's words were right and he was wrong.  His heart is in a runaway rebellion against God, with the proverbial fist shaking itself in God's face. 

What is father Abraham's response to the rich man in Luke 16:31 "But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” The issue is not over proof or proposition, but persuasion.  In Biblical faith, whether we are talking about that initial work of the Spirit of God in salvation (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3-5, 23) or in His ongoing work of keeping the child of God in sanctification (Ephesians 1:18; 1 Peter 2:1), the means of persuasion is the Spirit working in and through the Word.  

Older theologians used to call this third element of Biblical faith by the Latin term "vives fide" (vi-veis fi-day or "living faith"). Romans 10:17 states - "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." It is the gifting of faith from God that shows the Christian propositions and proofs to not only be conclusive, but compelling.  Once the Spirit has done His work in my heart, I freely, willingly and knowingly embrace Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Treasure. (John 16:8-11)  The Apostle Paul states in Galatians 3:24-26 "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

God uses propositions and proof and persuasion to bring a man, woman or child to the point of trust and dependance upon He and His word. Faith by its very definition means "firm persuasion". Any embrace of Jesus and the Christian faith is to be credited to God's work of grace in the human heart. case in point in Lydia in Acts 16:14 "A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."  

Now what happens if a person fails to embrace the Gospel and the propositions and proofs of scripture, is that God's fault or that person's? It is that person's fault because as Romans 1:21-22 "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures."

Conclusion:

So why is the History Channel's current series flawed and why will its objectives fail?  As we have seen through Jesus statements and other scriptures, there is a paradoxical relationship between evidence and faith:

1. On the one hand evidence is included by God in drawing conclusive proof about the claims of Biblical faith

2. On the other hand, only the Holy Spirit can persuade the unbelieving heart that the propositions and proofs of the Christian faith are not merely conclusive, but also compelling enough to believe.

When man fails to embrace what is conclusive concerning the propositions of Christianity (the notitia, doctrines or contents of the faith) and proofs (ascensus or elements to which the mind ascents and agrees with the propositions), the fault lies in man. Why? Because unbelieving man by nature freely and willingly suppresses the truth. So then who is to credit when a person is persuaded that what is conclusive about the propositions and proofs is actually compelling enough to trust? God through the scriptures. The Holy Spirit is the Agent who convicts, convinces and sheds light into an otherwise darkened human heart about the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6) Such a work of the Spirit is called the work of saving faith (vives fide). 

So now what is to be the fitting response? What would be the fitting word to those skeptics who persist in their denials of God's Word and cry for more evidence? Let me close with the words of Acts 16:31 - "They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

1 Peter 3:21-22 - What baptism is & isn't, doesn't do and means

1 Peter 3:21 "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him."

Introduction:

In yesterday's post we considered how 1 Peter 3:18-20 explains Christ's victorious work in terms of its purpose and proclamation.  The purpose of Christ's victorious work was reconciliation (3:18) and its proclamation centers around Christ's victory over sin, hell and death (3:19-20). In today's post we will consider the ordinance of believer's baptism as explained in 1 Peter 3:21 and consider what baptism is & isn't, doesn't do & means.  

Note: If the reader is interested in delving deeper into the text of 1 Peter 3:18-22, please checkout: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/a-study-of-1-peter-318-22/

What baptism is & isn't
What baptism is
When you follow Peter's entire argument in 1 Peter 3:18-22, it is apparent that he is all about explaining to his readers Christ's victorious work.  The question is: how do you picture Christ's death, burial and resurrection? Baptism is a picture. A picture of what? The application and proclamation of Jesus' victorious work in the life of the believer through prior grace-given faith and repentance. 

In baptism the victory of Christ's accomplished work is being proclaimed just as Christ in the time between His death and resurrection made "public" proclamation to the demonic realm of His victory over sin and evil and what was soon to be victory over death and the grave. Christ's preaching in 1 Peter 3:18-19 occurred during his descent into the regions where the fallen angels who rebelled in the days of Noah were kept. In mentioning Noah's ark and flood as the background for that rebellion, Peter uses Noah and his family's protection in the ark as an illustration of salvation from Divine wrath. The ark of safety and work of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection both functioned to save those who believed upon God's salvation. 

In 1 Peter 3:21 we see baptism described as a picture in the following English versions:
1. (KJV) "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us..."

2. (ESV) "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you..."

3. (NKJV) "There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism..."

4. (NLT) "And that water is a picture of baptism...."

5. (NIV) "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also...."


6. (NASB) "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you...."

The word used to describe what baptism is in all the above English translations is found only one other place in the New Testament - Hebrews 9:24 "For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." The word in Hebrews 9:24 is used to show how the Old Testament tabernacle here on earth was a picture, symbol or copy of the true tabernacle in heaven. 

What Baptism isn't 
If Baptism is meant to be a picture, symbol, sign or pattern, then it cannot by itself be anything beyond what it signifies.  Baptism is the sign of the New Covenant salvation administered to those who have experienced New Covenant salvation by the New Birth (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 27; John 3:1-8; Acts 2:28; Colossians 2:12; Hebrews 8).  To make the act of water baptism more than a picture or symbol is to take it beyond the intended meaning of the New Testament. Certainly the Lord affirms and assures the believer by the scriptures and His indwelling of them as they follow the Lord in obedience. (John 14:21) The one who follows through in obedience to believer's baptism is able to have an open heaven much like Jesus had when He modeled baptism in the Gospels.  However the waters of baptism and the baptism itself confer no salvation, but signifies to all that salvation by grace through faith has already occurred. 

What baptism does is re-enact the prior miracle of regeneration and saving faith that takes place when by grace through faith a sinner trusts in Christ and is saved from the wrath of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) That miracle of the new birth is sometimes described in scripture as the Holy Spirit uniting the believer or baptizing them into Christ at salvation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5) The confusion among God's people over this issue arises from failing to recognize such distinctions: resulting in teachings such as baptismal regeneration or some other types of variations. 

Different denominations and groups try to make baptism something that it is not:

1. It is not a saving sacrament that makes a person right in God's sight - i.e justification

2. It has no power to wash away original sin 

3. It is not a power source for regenerating the human heart. 

4. It is not to be associated with being the means through which God raises a spiritually dead sinner to be a new creation in Jesus Christ

Now how do we know baptism is not the source of justification, cleansing away of original sin, power source for regenerating the heart nor making a dead sinner a new creation? Because of what Peter writes next in 1 Peter 3:21 "....not the removal of dirt from the flesh.....".  Why would Peter go to the trouble to define what baptism is not? To insure that everyone reading would be clear on what baptism is - a symbol, pattern, picture, anti-type, pattern and sign of what it signifies: Christ's death, burial and resurrection.

What baptism doesn't do
Therefore if baptism is to be regarded as a symbol, then that means it cannot save a sinner.  Again consider what Peter says: ...."not the removal of dirt from the flesh...." Baptism is essential for testifying about salvation, however it cannot do anything other than what God has ordained it to be: a picture of an invisible work of the Spirit in the believer's heart and the Christian's public profession of faith. How do we know that? Consider what Peter says next: "not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God." 

What baptism means
Baptism provides a public forum for a Christian to make their faith public and to pledge to the Lord that they will live in obedience to what he tells them to do.  How do we know that? Consider yet again Peter's words in 1 Peter 3:21: "but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (NASB). Other versions, such as the KJV, read "the answer of a good conscience toward God". Either rendering is a good translation and describes what only can be done by a true believer: namely the desire to have a good conscience or to interact with God from a good conscience. 

Only Christians coming into baptism have a conscience that has been sprinkled clean, not by the waters of baptism, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. How do we know this? Consider Hebrews 9:14 "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  

Furthermore Peter ends 1 Peter 3:21-22 with these words: "through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him".  What Peter is reminding his readers of here is that the new birth because of what Christ accomplished in his resurrection and is received as a gift from God by faith. (1 Peter 1:3, 23) Baptism by immersion is the New Christian convert's opportunity to pledge to God a life that will conform to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His word and the local church body of which he is joining.  This last point is gleaned from what follows in 1 Peter 4-5 regarding matters pertaining to Christians functioning together in the local church. 

Conclusion:
In today's post we have attempt to Biblical answer from 1 Peter 3:21-22 what baptism is, isn't, doesn't do and means.  
1. Baptism is a picture of what Jesus by His Holy Spirit has accomplished by grace through faith in the life of a new convert. 

2. Baptism isn't a sacrament of salvation conferring the cleansing away of original sin, or justification, or regeneration. Peter's negative statement of it not having the ability to wash away dirt and filth helps us see what it is not.

3. Baptism doesn't save, but rather re-enacts for seeing eyes the previous miracle of salvation in a person's life.  Baptism has no power or effectual working in and of itself.  Scripture alone is the sole means the Holy Spirit uses to raise dead sinners to saving faith and repentance in Jesus Christ.

4. Baptism's meaning then is: public profession of faith, the new convert's first major step of Christian obedience following their prior salvation and the believer's entryway into the membership of the local church. 

1 Peter 3:18-20 Jesus Christ's Victorious Work

1 Peter 3:18-20  For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

Introduction:

In today's post I want us to consider what Jesus accomplished in His death, burial and resurrection. The four Gospels detail the event of Christ's death, burial and resurrection, however the remainder of the New Testament (Acts, 21 Epistles and Revelation) unfolds the meaning and implications of what He accomplished.  The Apostle Peter in his first epistle aims to show how we as Christians ought to stand firm in God's grace. (1 Peter 5:12) Peter's letter ties in our ability to stand in such grace to what Jesus Christ accomplished.  Our ability to accomplish is directly related to Christ's accomplishment, meaning that the more we understand what He did, the better we can grasp what we are able to do. Thus we will consider the following two main thoughts about Christ's accomplished work:

1. The Purpose of Christ's Accomplished Work - reconciliation.  1 Peter 3:18

2. The Proclamation of Christ's Accomplished Work - Victory.  1 Peter 3:19-20

1. Purpose of Christ’s Victorious Work – Reconciliation 3:18 

a. What did He do? He died 

 He died for sins.  As Dr. Danny Akin of South Western Baptist Theological Seminary once noted: "He lived the life I couldn't live and He died the death I should have died."

b. Whom did He die for? The unjust 

Romans 5:6-8 states - "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus' death on behalf of sinners accomplished two necessary effects in order for reconciliation to be possible. The first being expiation or the removal of the cause of God's wrath upon us - our sin. (Romans 5:10) The second and virtually synonymous work is propitiation - that is, the satisfaction of God's wrath. (1 John 2:2) Below in the next thought (point "c"), we see why expiation (taking away of sin) and propitiation (satisfying wrath) are necessary for reconciliation.

c. Why did he die? To bring us to God (reconciliation) 

Dr. Michael Horton notes: "The result of God's wrath being satisfied is reconciliation. Just as we are first of all passive subjects of God's wrath when God propitiates, we are passive subjects of God's reconciliation at the cross.  We do not reconcile ourselves to God; God reconciles Himself to us and us to Him."1

d. How did He do it? Death and resurrection

Christ's death, burial and resurrection are at the heart of the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) The New Testament mostly focuses upon Christ's death and resurrection, however what went on during the three days He was buried is not explained in near as much detail as the two book-ends of the Gospel: namely Christ's death and resurrection.  Death and Resurrection serve to explain how Christ accomplished what he accomplished, and what He did in His burial (down below) reveals some of the behind (and under) the scenes work He did in insuring our ability to walk as believers in His Victorious work. 

2. Proclamation of Christ’s Victorious Work – Victory 3:19-20 

 a. What did he do between His death &    resurrection? Proclaimed victory 3:19 

John MacArthur has perhaps explained this text better than just about everyone I've read or heard: "He was announcing, proclaiming (and) heralding a triumph. About what? It must be pretty obvious, about His triumph over sin, about His triumph over death, about His triumph over hell, about His triumph over
demons, about His triumph over Satan." 2

b. Whom did he proclaim His victory? The  demons reserved for judgment. 3:19-20 

If we were to attempt to offer a faint outline of what Jesus did between His death and resurrection, we could maybe understand why He went to proclaim His victory to the demonic realm.  First He went immediately into the presence of His Father by way of the Holy Spirit in his human spirit to present His once and for all sacrifice. (Hebrew 9:15) 

Next He went down into those regions of hell where some of the demons (especially those who rebelled in Noah's day) are being reserved for judgment. 

Thirdly Christ's proclamation of victory insures that hell will not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18) as well as fulfilling the fact of His triumph over the demonic realm (Colossians 2:14-15). 

Fourthly, Christ's resurrection from the dead meant He had completed His mission of proclamation and thus He arose as a victorious King, subduing all cosmic powers under Himself. (Acts 2:24; 1 Peter 3:22)

c. Why did he proclaim His victory? To  guarantee Christian victory 3:19-20 

He did this to pave the way for what would be His ascension into Heaven 40 days after His resurrection from the dead. (Ephesians 4:7-10) 

d. What was His victory over? Sin (1 Pet 3:18), hell 1 Pet 3:19-20; Col 2:11-12) grave (3:18,21b)

Revelation 1:4-5 states - "John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him wholoves us and released us from our sins by His blood"

Endnotes:

1. Michael Horton. The Christian Faith - A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way. Zondervan. 2011. Page 500

2. http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/60-37/the-triumph-of-christs-suffering-part-2

How prayer and Bible prophecy go hand-in-hand

Luke 18:1&8 (1) Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart. (8) “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

In today's post we want to look at how Jesus and the Apostle Paul link together prayer and Bible prophecy. 

Jesus desires to find His people praying at His return
In Luke 18 Jesus presents a parable on prevailing prayer.  He tells the story of a poor and oppressed woman who had appealed to an unjust judge for a resolution of a situation.  Everyday she went to him, making an appeal for him to take care of the problem that was vexing her life.  Jesus tells us that this Judge cared neither for her nor her plight, however he chose to intervene in order to get her out of his hair - so to speak.  Jesus' point was that if an unjust Judge would answer the pleas of a woman He doesn't know, how much more will not the Father - who is just and fair, hear the pleas of His people whom he loves.  Jesus then closes the section with the statement of His desire to find such prevailing prayer among His people at His return.

Why we must see the connection between prophecy and prayer
Jesus here is making an important connection for us between prayer and His second coming.  When we explore the scriptures, we discover the premium scripture places upon both.  For instance, 1/5 of the over 31,000 verses of the Bible deal with prophecy or Divine statements about the future.  Of those more than 800 prophecies, 1/3 of those focus upon the most important theme in prophecy - Christ's return. 

On the prayer side of things we find over 600 recorded prayers in the Word of God.  Prayer is such a huge theme in the Bible.  In Genesis 4:26 we see prayer first mentioned, with Revelation 21:20 being the last prayer of the Bible.  In that final prayer of the Bible, we find the combinations of prophecy and prayer in these words: "He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

Jesus teaches that prayer needs hope, and prophecy supplies it
Prayer by its very nature is wrestling to know God, hear God and invite God to be front and center in our thoughts and situations.  If anything, prayer needs hope - for often we find ourselves praying for people or situations where hope is in short supply.  It seems that scripture intentionally connects prayer and prophecy together to infuse our prayer lives with the Hope - Christ.  With prayer being possible because of Christ's first coming, and prophecy focusing us upon His second coming, it is clear why both need to be together. 

Having seen Jesus' teaching us how prophecy supplies the hope that prayer needs, we now turn to the Apostle Paul and learn a second important truth about the relationship between prophecy and prayer....

Prophecy supplies hope and prayer is strengthened by it
Paul writes in Philippians 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Hope is present conviction rooted in the certainty of who God is and what He is going to do.  

As you look at the statement made here in Philippians, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul was writing to a church located at a cultural center of the Roman empire.  Much like a "county seat" in an American context - Phillipi was a place where issues such as Roman Citizenship played a huge role.  To be a Roman citizen meant privileges that very few people in the first century had the opportunity to enjoy.  For these people to whom Paul wrote - the fundamental question was: from whence do you derive your hope? The Christian must fight the temptation of placing too much hope in this world, which is why Paul directs their attention, and ours, to the return of Jesus Christ. 

Now in just a few verses we read an incredible statement on the need of prayer.  Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ."  Grammar and context connects Philippians 4:6-7 back to Philippians 3:20-21.  In order to "be anxious for nothing" in prayer, I need to keep my heart focused upon the blessed hope of Christ's return.  The hope needed in prayer is supplied by the hope of His return.

Conclusion: The Bible puts prophecy and prayer together
Prophecy's effectiveness can only be seen as we apply its message to our current situation through prayer.  Jesus teaches us that the hope required by prayer is supplied by prophecy, and Paul taught us that the hope supplied by prophecy reinforces the prayer life. When we pray in accordance to Philippians 4:6-7 we are promised "peace that surpasses all understanding" and "guarding of the heart and mind in Christ".  What prophecy does is lift me above the immediate horizon of my circumstances to see Christ who is Lord over my circumstances.  Paul reminds us in Titus 2:13 "looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus".  To know that the end of all time is not in the whims of chance, but rather in the will of God, gives great hope concerning personal situations.

9 traits of expository preaching in Acts

2 Timothy 4:1-4 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Offering a definition of Expository Preaching

Expository preaching is characterized by proclamation, followed by explanation, clarified by illustration, strengthened w/ exhortation and connecting with application. 

Can we biblically demonstrate this definition? In today's post we will contend that such preaching is Biblical preaching and consider why it is by noting the following nine traits of such preaching in the Book of Acts:

9 Traits that define a pattern for Biblical Expository Preaching
A quick survey reveals actual sermons, or portions of sermons, preached by the Apostles in the early church, as showcased in the Book of Acts:

a. 5 sermons by Peter Acts 2:1-36; 3:11-26; 4:8-31; 10:34-48; 15:6-12                             

b. 1 each by Stephen, Phillip & James Acts 7:1-60; 8:25-40; 15:13-35

c. 11 sermons by Paul Acts 9:1-31; 13:15-43; 13:44-52 ;14:14-15:5; 17:22-34; 20:7-12 ;20:17-38; 21:40-23:11; 24:10-27; 26:1-32; 28:32-31

Whenever we study some of those sermons, the following common traits are found among them:

Trait                        Peter     Stephen    Paul
1. Power                                  2:1-13         6:10,15          13:9 
of the Spirit


2. Proclamation                        2:14             7:1-2            13:16

3. Progression                         2:14,22     Abraham       Smooth
                                                                  to David     Transitions
4. Priority of                              2:22-24    History         13:27-34 
    Doctrine                                2:31-33 

   of SalvationNote: Almost half the messages center on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

5. Exposition                            2:17-36     Exposition   13:17-25                                                                                        of Acts 7 

6. Illustration                       2:15,22,23        Whole 

                                                                  Illustration 
                                                               message within 
                                                                  Exposition

7. Preach                                2:37-40          7:51-56       13:26 
       For a                                  40-41 
   Decision 
(Exhortation) 

8. Pointed                               2:37-40          His            13:40-41 
Conclusion                                               Martyrdom

9. People                                2:41-47       Negative        13:44  Changed                                                      fruit at         

 or affected                                                   first         

                                                                    yet the           nearly
                                                                   the church     whole 
                                                                     grows            city 
                                                                                         came 
                                                                                         to hear

Conclusion:

We proposed the following definition of expository preaching: Expository preaching is characterized by proclamation, followed by explanation, clarified by illustration, strengthened w/ exhortation and connecting with application. From studying some of the those sermons in the Book of Acts, we glean the above definition from them based upon the nine traits discovered in those sermons:

1. Power of the Spirit 
2. Proclamation 
3. Progression 
4. Priority of Doctrine 
5. Exposition 
6. Illustration 
7. Preach for a Decision 
8. Pointed Conclusion 
9. People Changed/Affected

Answering the how questions of prayer

Luke 11:1 "Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Review from Friday November 15th post http://pastormahlon.blogspot.com/2013/11/gods-power-in-prayer-lifes-storms.html
We noted Revelation 8:1-5 and how God's power is shown through prayer in the midst of life's storms. We observed the following thoughts:

1. God's power is perceived through prayer. Revelation 8:1

2. God grants power to live for Him through prayer. Revelation 8:2-4

3. God powerfully affects things here on earth through prayer. Revelation 8:5

Revelation 8:1-5 is undoubtedly an amazing passage of scripture in that it proves that not one prayer prayed  by Christians in accordance to God's will is wasted.  W.A Criswell notes the following great insight: "Why interpose this passage? For two reasons. First the great and final judgment of the earth is in answer to the prayers of God's people. What is the high and holy intercession, what is the spiritual appeal  of God's saints through all the ages? It is the prayer that Christ placed on the lips and in the hearts of His people, 'Thy Kingdom come and thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.' 1

Standing as a little child at the base of the great tree called prayer
The greatness of prayer is due to the Great God who has assigned it.  However I also know too we often feel that we could be far greater than we are in our prayer lives.  The impulse to pray can be in us, however we too many times may not know how to begin or how to proceed forward in prayer. God has so planted the great tree of prayer in His word and in every Christian's life as a sapling He desires to grow in the soil of faith. 

To look at this "tree" analogy in a slightly different fashion, I feel like a little child standing at the base of the great tree of prayer. Whenever I study scriptures on prayer, God through His word causes me to want to grab hold of the lowest branch of that tree and begin to climb onward and upward. 

We must be careful not to over-think prayer, since the easiest advice you can ever receive about prayer is to pray.  Nevertheless I do think in light of Friday's post you and I need some vital "how-to's" when it comes to prayer. In today's post we will consider a few key passages in the Bible that answer the following "how-to" questions about prayer that can aid us in growing greatly in prayer:

1. How do we pray?  Luke 11:1-13
This is the only time in the 3 1/2 years of the ministry of Jesus where His disciples request of Him to teach them something. Think of all the things they could have asked: "How do you walk on the water?" or "How do you multiply loaves and fishes" or "how do you raise someone from the dead?" Yet the one thing that struck them more than the miracles of the Master was the Master's prayer life. Jesus lays out in this passage three ingredients for informing us on how we ought to pray:

a. Begin and end with an exalted view of God the Father.  Luke 11:1-2

b. Base your prayer on God's promises through His Son.  Luke 11:3-12

c. Bridge your prayer and practical life by submitting yourself to the Spirit's leading in the scriptures. Luke 11:13          

2. How does prayer work?  
The Bible gives us enough of an outline of the inner workings of prayer to acquire the confidence needed to begin prayer and stay consistent in our prayer life.  We may not comprehend the mystery that is prayer, however we can discern enough about how God works in and through it to increase our willingness to pray. Just as the first question centered around the activity of the Triune God in our prayer lives, this second question is answered in much the same manner.  

a. Prayer is aimed at the Father. 
1 John 5:14 "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

b. Prayer's advocate on earth is the Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." 

c. Prayer's advocate in heaven is the Son
Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." 1 John 2:1 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Whenever you consider those three above thoughts, the Holy Spirit is the one by whom we pray.  He is the One Who burdens us and presses us to pray. As we pray, He in turn takes our less than perfect prayers to the Son, Who in turn represents us before the Father.  All three Persons are One God, ever in unity and union with One another as One God.  The Father sends the answer worked out between He and the Son by the Spirit back down here to us on earth.  As Ephesians 2:18 reminds us - "for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father." To pray is an extraordinary event when you think about it. 

3. How to pray effectively?
So far we have answered the questions: How do we pray? and How does prayer work? There is one last "how-to question": How do we pray effectively? The answer is found by combining prayer with the scriptures. James 5:11-19 teaches us two reasons why effective prayer goes hand-in-hand with scripture:

a). Enduring in prayer requires the scriptures. James 5:11-15
James utilizes the account of Job in demonstrating how God's grace enabled Job to endure the hardships he underwent and how God raised him up at the end. Job's endurance in faith and in prayer is used as an example throughout scripture.

b). Empowering prayer requires scripture. James 5:16-19
James then switches from Job to the example of Elijah. Elijah was a prophet of Israel who was known for the miracles God wrought through him and the prayers he prayed.  Who can forget his intercession on top of Mount Caramel when his servant saw a cloud the size of a man's hand and Elijah running ahead of Ahab's chariot in 1 Kings 18:41-46. 

James uses both of these men to demonstrate how prayer hitched to God's Word can make for effective prayer that is both enduring and empowering.  To pray the scriptures simply means to take a passage in context and apply it to your situation.  So we can pray something like: "Lord, just as you enabled Job to endure his trial, enable me to endure mine" or "Lord, just as you assured Elijah that You were going to see Him through, would you grant me the same." Scripture is God's Word and so it is through those sacred words the Spirit speaks, for they are His words. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

Endnotes:
1. W.A Criswell. Expository Sermons on Revelation - Volume 3. Zondervan. 1964. Page 167.  
Dr. Criswell continues the quote on the same page - The time has now come for that prayer uttered by God's people through millenniums to be answered by God.  That is why at this point when those prayers are finally to be answered, God has brought before Him the remembrance of those intercessions through the ages. The time has come when God will cast out Satan, will dethrone the usurper, will judge sin. The time has come when iniquity and death and hell and the grace will be destroyed forever. The time has come when God's kingdom shall be established in the earth. At that time God has brought before Him the remembrance of those intercessions through the ages."

P2 - A 12 point critique of History Channel's "Bible Secrets Revealed"

Jude 3-4 "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Introduction:

Today's post will continue what we began yesterday in our 12 point critique of the first episode of a current series on the History Channel called "Bible Secrets Revealed".  For those who may want to view a more detailed and fuller version of the material presented in this post, I invite you once again to view my other blog: http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/p2-a-12-point-critique-of-the-history-channels-bible-secrets-revealed/

In that blog site I deal more specifically with issues related to the Biblical languages, the text of scripture, theology and church history. In this blogsite (Growing Christian Resources) we cover the practical, doctrinal and supernatural aspects of the Christian walk is it pertains to the study and application of God's Word. Below contains the remaining six points of this twelve point critique, therefore I will begin today's post at point #7 so as to continue where we left off yesterday.  May the body of Christ find either this post (or the other more fuller and detailed post) to be useful in defending and proclaiming the truth of God's Word.

7. Addressing the claim that Jesus usage of the title "Son of Man" has no significant meaning or significance
The History Channel's slate of "experts" claim that Jesus' use of the title "Son of Man" has no point to the meaning of the passage and thus renders its meaning incoherent.  What they fail to realize are a couple of things.  First of all the title "Son of Man" is the most utilized title used by Jesus to describe Himself (some 83 times). Second, the title is used of Daniel's pre-incarnate vision of the "Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13.  Clearly when Jesus uses this title, it is His way of asserting His Deity and Lordship as creator over the Sabbath.

8. Addressing the claim that the material of the Bible was sifted around by early Christians

In the copying of the New Testament the History Channel program claims that the early "book like" documents called "codices" could had lost some leaves in the process of their use by early Christians.  With that likelihood, the History Channel claim we may have missing pages or sections in the New Testament manuscripts and translations. The problem with this claim is that they failed to mention that the early scribes used papyrus scrolls in the first two centuries following the days of Apostles before Codices became popular.  In a scroll you cannot lose pages and when we compare those early papyrus manuscripts with the later codices, we don't find missing sections or pages as alleged by the documentary.

9. Addressing the issue of the ending of Mark's Gospel
The shorter and longer ending of Mark's Gospel is certainly a difficult issue to explain without getting overly technical.  However a few basic considerations can help explain and thus defeat the accusations made by the documentary that we cannot trust the Gospel of Mark.  First of all if one takes Mark's Gospel to be the first written Gospel (as alleged by the show), the longer versus shorter ending issue becomes a very big deal.  However if we take the older and historically substantiated view of Matthew being the first written Gospel, the issue becomes manageable and explainable.  Secondly, the words in Mark 16:9-20 are Jesus' words, and when compared to other parts of other Gospels, match His teachings and words.

10. Addressing the claim that John 7:53-8:11 was inserted by the church and other conspiracies of the church trying suppress the truth
The show claims this section of John's Gospel was a conspiracy insertion made by the KJV translators using texts that contained the passage.  Without a doubt the textual details of the account of the woman caught in adultery is difficult to explain without getting overly technical, however its issues are similar to Mark's ending in that we are dealing with the words of Jesus.  Thankfully John 7:53-8:11 is found in manuscripts far older than the manuscripts available to the KJV translators thus dismissing the "conspiracy" theory proposed by the documentary. Also too, the inclusion of John 7:53-8:11 in no-way destroys the context or flow of John's Gospel.

11. Addressing the claim that various Christian groups today with different interpretations of the Bible prove the Bible to be untrustworthy and corrupted
Just because different Christian groups exist today does not mean the Bible is unreliable.  This particular argument tries to show the Bible to be untrue because of the behaviors of certain groups who in times past may very well has misapplied and taken the Bible out of context.  Such an argument is what we call a "red-herring", meaning that irrelevant information is used to throw the audience off to try to cast doubt on the opposing argument.  The bad behaviors of certain Christian groups have no connection to bad texts, only bad theology and miss-application of the inerrant scriptures.

12. Addressing the notion that Constantine and a group of scholars composed the New Testament at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D

This argument has been used for years to try to discredit the New Testament.  For one thing the Council of Nicaea was convened to deal with heresies about Jesus and had nothing to do with the forming together of the New Testament.  Secondly, though Constantine may had been questionable in his political and theological policies, he had nothing to do in the forming of the Canon of scripture.  Thirdly, the New Testament Canon was virtually agreed upon by the entire Christian world by at least two centuries prior to Constantine. It truly is shocking that a group of "experts" who work in the fields of religion, church history and New Testament textual criticism would put forth this argument.  The argument is nothing new and was made popularized by Dan Brown's novel "The Davinci Code" several years ago.  Thankfully we have the entire textual history of the New Testament manuscripts to disprove the claims made by the History Channel's so-called experts.  

Concluding thought: If the reader would like a more thorough and technical version of these final six-points of critique, please see my post today at http://biblicalexegete.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/p2-a-12-point-critique-of-the-history-channels-bible-secrets-revealed/.As we have witnessed in today's points as well as yesterday's, there is nothing to fear when it comes to the inspiration, reliability and accuracy of the Bible in the Old and New Testaments.