by Tim Hall

Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ" has provoked reactions from many quarters. One theme that has been pressed by some is the Jewishness of Jesus and Christianity's supposed disregard of that fact. This comment from the March 8, 2004 issue of "U.S. News & World Report" is an example: "Christians have always had to deal with the fact that Jesus of Nazareth - the founder of their religion, their Messiah, and the second part of the trinitarian God - was himself not a Christian but, indisputably, a Jew." The argument then suggests that Jesus' followers developed Christian doctrines in reaction to the persecution they endured at the hands of Jewish leaders. The result, Christianity, was the child of the early disciples, but not anything Jesus had envisioned.

To say that Christianity was not in the mind of the One claimed to be the head of the movement is a serious charge. It brands the early Christian leaders as renegades, usurpers - hijackers of an ideal. If they had more faithfully followed the teachings of Jesus, Christianity as we know it would never have been born.

Such a view of the illegitimacy of Christianity shows a failure to accept Jesus' own testimony about His mission. Consider His statement in John 7:16,17: "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (NKJV). In saying this, Jesus was challenging observers (of all times) to investigate. Those who honestly consider the evidence "shall know" the veracity of His way.

Of particular interest is the testimony of Scripture that a change would occur in the covenant God had made with the Jews. Significantly, the prediction of this change came from God through a Jew: "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah - not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt . . ." (Jer. 31:31,32). Could honest observers fail to see that this was a prediction that God would somehow alter the covenant made with the Jews through Moses?

This prophecy was later affirmed to have been fulfilled by - again, significantly - a Hebrew. In speaking of Jesus and the "new and living way which He consecrated for us" (Heb. 10:20), he wrote: "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises" (Heb. 8:6). After making that claim, the writer then quoted from Jeremiah 31, the prophecy of the change God would make to His covenant (vv. 8-12).

Here's the point: Jesus was a Jew. Of that there can be no doubt. But of even greater importance is the realization that Jesus was One who accepted and followed the will of God, whatever that happened to be. If His ministry had been conducted during the Christian age, He would have obediently submitted to the requirements of that covenant.

The fact that Jesus observed the Law of Moses does not make illegitimate the later activities of His apostles and disciples. They were merely imitating their Lord, of whom it was prophesied, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God" (Heb. 10:7,9). We now have the possibility of pure and simple Christianity because these early followers of Jesus did the will of God. They were acting entirely according to Jesus' plan.

by Mike Benson

Rudolf was the product of a very religious home. As an adult, he was a quiet, mild-mannered family man.

History records that he was also an adept farmer. Much of his success in agriculture was due to a strict emphasis to detail, and not just his prowess with seed and soil. An acquaintance in government took note of Rudolf's proficiency in the field and offered him a position in the current administration. As expected, he proved himself to be a capable leader. In staccato-like fashion, Rudolf enjoyed a rapid series of promotions up the political hierarchy.

He was a man bound by habit. Each morning began with breakfast with his wife and five children. On his way to work, he would stop momentarily and enjoy the sweet fragrance of the blooms in his well-tended flower garden. He followed a strict work ethic; his days were filled with a routine of staff meetings, decisions, gathering information and issuing directives to his subordinates. At the close of his shift, Rudolf would return home to the warm embrace of his adoring helpmate. His children happily greeted him upon his arrival, because he often brought them little gifts from work.

His loyalty and dedication earned him the trust of the highest ranking official in the party. In 1940, he was assigned to a post 37 miles west of Krakow at the largest factory of its kind in southern Poland. Despite the relentless demands of his employer, Rudolf was able to meet his daily quota of ten thousand "units". In fact, he performed his job so well that he was commended in a report that called him "a true pioneer...because of his new ideas and educational methods."

From the bedroom window of his cozy home in the country, Rudolf could see the smoke stacks where he worked. The dark plumes that filled the air day in and day out served as silent testimony to his efficiency and diligence as a plant manager. Under his watchful eye (and the incessant prodding of his boss — Adolph Hitler), the Auschwitz death camp systematically exterminated somewhere in upwards of 2.5—3 million lives.

That's right. Rudolf Franz Ferdinand Hoess - "Death Dealer". The hard-working "business" manager. The loving husband. The gracious father who tucked his kids into bed each night. The man whose father had brought him up to be a Catholic priest. And the chief architect and SS Commandant of the largest killing center ever perpetrated against mankind.

In May 1941, SS Commander Heinrich Himmler informed Hoess that the Fuhrer had given orders for "the final solution to the Jewish question". 1/ Hoess understood and installed huge gas chambers and a crematoria. Within a short time, mass murder was conducted on an industrial scale. Hundreds of thousands were poisoned with cyanide gas Zyklon B. Hundreds of thousands were tortured, shot, or burned to death. A half million or more died from starvation and disease. Still others, including children, were handed over to so-called camp doctors. "Patients" were forced into pressure chambers, injected with experimental drugs, castrated, frozen to death and exposed to hosts of other agonizing traumas.

How could Hoess not see the blatant inconsistencies in his life? How could he overlook the glaring moral contradictions? How could he count mountains of ghastly corpses, and then go home to the tender affections of his wife and five children? How could he be so incredibly brutal one moment, and yet so genteel the next?

The answer to these questions is profound. Are you ready for this…? Rudolf Hoess "compartmentalized" his soul (Jas. 1:8; cf. Prov. 19:1). He separated his home life from his "vocational" life. He mentally differentiated between the inferno of Auschwitz and the quiet refuge of his residence in the country. He somehow embraced the intellectual dogmas of his religious upbringing as well as the rabid inhumanity of Nazism. In short, Rudolf Hoess lacked integrity.

Dear brethren, we cannot sub-divide our souls. We cannot and must not partition our inner beings. Christian men are the same in every circumstance. We are authentic in either darkness or light. Whether under the discriminating eye of our family and peers, or alone in a quiet room, our actions are consistent, uniform and submissive to the revealed will of God. We harbor no duplicity within. There is no hypocrisy (1 Kgs. 9:4; Job 2:3, 9; 27:5; 31:6; Ps. 7:8; 26:1, 11; Prov. 10:9; Tit. 2:7):

We can't condemn beverage alcohol and then "join in" with our business associates at a local restaurant over dinner.

We can't sing "Purer in heart, O God, help me to be" and then surf the internet to indulge in lustful fantasy.

We can't appear cool and collected in the office and then be volatile and explosive in front of our family.

We can't tell our children to be fair and honest, and then cheat on our own income taxes.

We can't offer a warm handshake to our brethren before worship and then verbally berate our spouses on the way home in the car.

We can't speak caring tones on Sunday and then fire off a string of profanity on Monday.

We can't support elders and preachers in public prayer and then verbally pick them apart when they are out of earshot.

We can't talk about the need for zeal and spiritual direction in the church, but then fail to offer long-term, legitimate effort on behalf of the church ourselves.

The Bible says,

"The righteous man walks in his integrity…" (Prov. 20:7).

Think for just a moment..., what are you really like "behind the scenes" (Ps. 139:23)? Are you sincere (1 Tim. 1:5; Phil. 1:10; cf. Phil. 1:16; 2:20; 2 Cor. 6:6)? Are you genuine?

1/ www.fordham.edu.

by Mitchell Skelton

Yesterday a member of our congregation underwent open-heart surgery. Open-heart surgery is a very delicate procedure. While this Christian lady is still in very serious condition, many people have the surgery today and in many cases, it has almost become routine. No matter the habitual nature of this type of surgery, you still want the most accomplished surgeons, the most up-to-date equipment, and the very best of care. Open-heart surgery is a step of faith and hope. Hope because you know you have heart problems that can be corrected and faith because you place yourself entirely under the care of another.

In the book of Acts, we find the first "open-heart" surgery recorded in the New Testament. "On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home" (Acts 16:13-15a NIV). Of course, the physical heart and the heart that Lydia had opened are entirely different. Paul preached the word to Lydia, the Lord opened her heart, and she responded.

The Power of the Word of God

Paul would be the first to reject any claim that it was by his power of persuasion that Lydia became a Christian. Moreover, he would be the first to assert that it was the power of the Gospel. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:17). The power to save is in the word of God acting upon the heart of man. The heart of man longs to be filled. People spend countless hours and dollars in search of the true meaning of life only to come away empty. Make no mistake about it; man's heart will be filled. The only question is who will be the one to fill it? Will it be Christ or Satan? Satan can fill a person's heart, as in the case of Ananias (Acts 5:3). However, Christ can and wants to dwell in man's heart. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (Eph. 3:16,17a NIV).

The spiritual heart is like the physical heart in that it can become sick. Our spiritual heart can be stubborn. "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed" (Rom. 2:5). It can be hardened. "They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (Eph. 4:18). While our hearts can reject God, they also can be cut. "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37 NIV).

Open Heart Surgery - God's Way

Lydia heeded the gospel message, and God opened her heart. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Heb. 4:12). The psalmist, David, realized that only God was able to cure his heart disease when he proclaimed, "Create in me a pure heart O, God" (Psalm 51:10 NIV).

The word of God is powerful, both convicting man of sin and leading us to salvation. However, it is still our choice whether or not to believe the gospel. God never forces anyone to obey Him. Lydia believed the good news about Jesus and was baptized (Acts 16:15).

Just as the physical heart can become diseased, so too, the spiritual heart can be sick. Physical open-heart surgery requires hope and faith. Spiritual open-heart surgery also requires hope and faith, hope that your problems can be corrected and faith in the one who can heal you, Jesus Christ the Great Physician.

Do not harden your hearts and reject the Lord. Hear the word, and let it have a good effect in your heart. Be captivated by it and respond to it.

by Jimmy Jividen

Worshipping God is more than saying the right word at the right time and place. Jesus corrected such a misconception with the woman of Samaria.

"...Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father....God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:21,24).

Worshipping God is more than giving a pleasing performance to show your devotion. Jesus corrected such a perverted view of worship in the Sermon on the Mount.

"And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full" (Matt. 6:5).

Worshipping God is more than stirring the emotions. Emotional feelings can be caused by human phenomena and false religions. Such emotions can confuse the mind and overpower the will. Paul described it thus:

"You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols; however, you were led" (1 Cor. 12:2). "...we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Eph. 4:14).

True worship is my spirit seeking communion with God's spirit in praise and thanksgiving. Our wills, as well as our words, become living sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God. These - our will and our words — are the only things we really own. True worship is giving ourselves to God.

Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 20, p. 71.

by J. Randal Matheny

Next Sunday, we're beginning a new work in a major city near us, called Taubaté. This city has 250,00 population, with no church there yet.

Three couples of us met there yesterday, in a home, to worship together and plan ahead. I preached on what it takes to start a congregation from Acts 2. Let me encourage you to read this chapter before continuing.

Some years ago, there was a beginning made to establish a congregation in this city. A lot was bought for future construction. But the work stopped and the beginning died. During all these years, the lot has remained empty.

We are not here to condemn that effort. We are here to consider what is necessary to our effort so that our beginning will not end like theirs.

Let us consider, then, from Acts 2, the beginning of the church of Jesus Christ, what is necessary to begin a congregation that will continue and grow.

First, there must be a message. Not just any message, but the message of Christ. Somebody must preach it. That somebody must be me.

This message, by its very nature, explains what God did in Christ and how a person may receive salvation. It includes exhortation or encouragement to act, to save oneself. Preaching seeks for a reaction, a response.

When the gospel is preached, people convert to the Lord, and God adds them to his church. Thus, a church is "born".

Second, there must be a meeting. The word church, in its active sense, means "assembly, a congregating, meeting." We are the people of God united around the table of the Lord.

The breaking of bread is the number 1 reason for our meeting (Acts 20:7). We meet on Sunday in order that Jesus may drink the new wine with us (Matt. 26:29).

In order to have a meeting, we must have a place, though that is an incidental consideration. Whether it's a building, a home, a school - any place that permits Christians to worship is adequate for the purpose.

Third, there must be a mettle, a dedication of those who preach and meet. Without commitment and consistency, little will be done.

This commitment follows the apostles' teachings and offers up constant prayer for the wisdom and power of God.

This devotion uses physical resources and money for spiritual purposes.

This mettle is not turned aside by persecution, nor broken by discouragement.

Some 10-12 years ago, two couples wanted to begin a congregation in their neighborhood. They decided to begin a study group in one of their homes. They committed themselves to meet every week, rain or shine, to share the gospel with people they would meet.

They preached, they met, they showed their mettle.

Today, they are a large congregation with elders and deacons.

Will you preach the gospel? Will you meet as a church? Will you assume the commitment to fulfill God's mission in this city? If so, there will be not only the beginning of a congregation, but great growth in God's kingdom.

That was the gist of my sermon yesterday.

Why do I share it with you?

First, to point you to the message of salvation in Jesus Christ and the need to obey the gospel (v. 38). If you haven't done so yet, believe in Christ, decide to change your life, and be immersed in water so that your sins may be forgiven.

Second, to remind you, if you are a Christian, that every person, every city, every region, needs the gospel. Preach and meet in a new place with dedication. Only in this way will everyone hear.

Third, to ask for your prayers, as one more city hears the gospel. Our resources are meager, but our determination is sharp, and, more importantly, our God is great and powerful.

We see that in the beginning of the church in Acts 2. And we believe we will see it also in the beginning of the church in Taubaté.