Tag: moses

  • Sanctification – saints washed in Christ’s Holiness

    Sanctification occurs only 5-10 times in the New Testament, while “sanctify” occurs 70 times in 65 verses in the KJV throughout the Bible.

    Doesn’t sanctification require someone or something to be ‘sanctified?’

    What is sanctification?

    How is it different since Christ Jesus?


    Sanctification in the Old Testament

    congregation of the Hebrews at Mount Horeb

    Moses on Sinai

    Exodus 19 NKJV excerpt

    And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain..

    ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant,

    … ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

    Exodus 19:3-6 except NKJV

    So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.

    קָדַשׁ qâdash,

    to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):—appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self),

    https://davidfowlerpreacher.com/2014/06/08/pictures-of-the-holy-spirit/
    Exodus 21:5-7

    “Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set H6942 themselves apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942, lest Yahweh break out against them.”

    And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You [testified to] warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set H6942 it apart H6942 as H6942 holy H6942.’”

    Exodus 19:22-23 LSB – noting H6942 meaning Sanctify or Hallow

    שְׁמֹות (Exodus) 19 :: Masoretic Text

    19:23 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־יְהוָה לֹא־יוּכַל הָעָם לַעֲלֹת אֶל־הַר סִינָי כִּי־אַתָּה הַעֵדֹתָה בָּנוּ לֵאמֹר הַגְבֵּל אֶת־הָהָר וְקִדַּשְׁתּוֹ׃

    Does this washing for holiness before God bring any sanctifying fear over you before facing the LORD your Maker?


    An Old Testament Word

    You may recognize the same word in a couple of important places in the Bible.

    Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified H6942 it, because on it He rested from all His work which God had created in making it.

    Genesis 2:3 LSB

    זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ׃

    “Remember the sabbath day, to keep H6942 it holy H6942.

    Exodus 20:8 WLC, LSB

    Pray then like this:
    Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

    Matthew 6:9 RSV

    Sanctification then prepares unholy sinners to face the Most Holy.


    Sanctification in the New Testament

    verb - From ἅγιος (G40) adjective (most holy thing, a saint) 
    - From hagos adjective (an awful thing) [cf ἁγνός (G53) adjective, properly, clean, i.e. (figuratively) innocent, modest, perfect:—chaste, clean, pure.
    • to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow
    • to separate from profane things and dedicate to God
    • to purify
      • to cleanse externally
      • to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin
      • to purify internally by renewing of the soul

    The Apostle Paul, in referring to a long list of sins of the Corinthians writes:

    And such were some of you; but you were washed,

    but you were sanctified G37,

    but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

    1 Corinthians 6:11 LSB


    a most holy thing, a saint ?


    Are YOU a HOLY Saint of JESUS Christ, therefore sanctified to Him in your mortal AND eternal life?


    Sanctified saints

    “For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

    Gospel of John 17:20 LSB


    In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

    For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

    Hebrews 2:10-11 BSB


    Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

    John 17:17 CSB – Jesus’ prayer for disciples


    Sanctification of children learning to walk in Christ

    To the saints in Galatia:

    Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

    But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

    Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 4:8-9 ESV


    To the saint sitting with you in church:

    In conclusion, the best way to examine some of the jargon of Scripture like anointed, consecrated, sanctified, justified and holiness is in prayerful time in the Bible itself.

    How better to explain sanctification (or any ‘Christian’ jargon) to a new child of the faith with whom you worship than with Biblical text?


    READ any of the links provided in the Scriptures above. 

    OR For more on the topic of Sanctification you may search it here on TalkofJESUS.com OR simply read the earlier post below with my closing thought.

    Sanctification – a refining of our holiness in Christ

    For this is the will of God, your sanctification.. For God did not call us to impurity,

    but in sanctification. 

    Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man

    but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

    1 Thessalonians 4:3a, (3b-6 short list of our impurity) 7-8 LSB

    ~A.D. 51 – Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonian Church

    A look back from 2025 CE to an earlier look at Sanctification

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  • What God Hath Wrought 2

    What God Hath Wrought 2

    Paul’s Mission – 2 REPORTS

    A.D. 57

    Previously:

    TO James and the Church:

    And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.

    Acts of the Apostles 21:19 – ASV – Paul’s account of his third mission to th
    “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed..” – Acts 21:20b ASV

    James and the leaders of the church in Jerusalem then put forth a plan for Paul to prove his faithfulness to the LAW of Moses to the thousands of Jews in the Temple.

    TO Jewish Worshipers including Proselytes in the Temple courts:

    Followers of the Way of Jesus Christ are convinced, yet through the Spirit Paul will proclaim Christ to the larger multitudes of the Temple courts divided for Jews and separately set-apart areas for God-seekers among the Hellenists and pagans.

    blueprint of Herod's temple

    Acts of the Apostles 21: ASV

    and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

    James, of course, does not receive the murmuring of those influenced by the anti-Christs among the temple leadership; however the issue at hand is for Paul and the Apostles to proclaim CHRIST TO JEW AND GENTILE ALIKE.

    The Lord Jesus had received the same sort of reception in the Temple as the Apostles do now.

    John 5:

    “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

    Gospel of John 5:39-40 LSB – witness of the Lord Jesus to the leaders of the Temple

    “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?

    “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.

    “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.

    Gospel of John 5:46 – The Lord Jesus challenging leaders of the Temple

    “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”


    James knows how these same Temple officials some twenty ago had falsely convicted and then crucified his beloved half-brother, JESUS.

    These will not believe Paul either.

    Yet by God's grace some will believe the Apostle when Paul once again proclaims Christ in Jerusalem's Temple.

    What God hath Wrought through MOSES

    a Scriptural sample from the Torah from which PAUL or any of the Apostles could have preached on this or any day.

    מֹשֶׁה

    מֹשֶׁה (mōšê), occurs 766x in 704 verses in the WLC Hebrew.

    He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses H4872 hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

    Exodus 3:6

    Then Moses H4872 answered and said, “What if they will not believe me and will not listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’”

    Exodus 4:1

    So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their weakness of spirit and hard slavery. – Exodus 6:9


    Therefore the people contended with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.”

    And Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you test Yahweh?”

    But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, “Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to put us and our children and our livestock to death with thirst?”

    Exodus 17:2-3 LSB


    the Tabernacle & the Temple

    Now it happened, in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected… He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and he put up the screen for the gateway of the court.

    Thus Moses finished the work.

    Exodus 40:17,33 LSB

    Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.

    40:34 וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃

    Paul could have preached of MOSES and the Tabernacle. 

    The Apostle could have witnessed SCRIPTURE recalling THE GLORY OF THE LORD filling the Temple during its dedication by Solomon.
    Paul legitimately could have asked Judea's leaders,

    WHEN HAS THE GLORY OF THE LORD EVER FILLED THIS TEMPLE REBUILT BY HEROD UNDER ROME?

    Yet Paul had no need to reiterate this truth that leading Jews under ROME seeking the Apostle knew all too well.

    AND the Apostles knew all-to-well that ‘circumcision’ (the mark of the Jew) was NOT the real issue.

    ‘forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children..’

    FALSE WITNESS against the Apostle to the gentiles, Paul.

    Nor was Moses, against whom many had been stiff-necked.


    περιτομήCircumcision

    Earlier in Paul's missionary journeys:
    (the matter settled by James and the A.D. 49 Council of Jerusalem)

    But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.”

    Both the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

    Acts of the Apostles 15:5-6 LSB

    ACTS 21

    Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

    27 Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him, crying out,

    “Men of Israel, help!

    This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place;

    and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”


    MORE false accusations and lies

    This latest stirring of the CROWDS in ROMAN JERUSALEM resembles earlier riots and controversies ignited against the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST which Paul and many disciples of The Way have now proclaimed throughout much of Asia and Europe.

    Paul, a Jew among jews, has abandoned an old Covenant broken by the Jews many centuries Before Christ.


    “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.

    Deuteronomy 10:16  וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם וְעָרְפְּכֶם לֹא תַקְשׁוּ עוֹד׃
    “Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh
    And remove the foreskins of your heart,

    Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

    Lest My wrath go forth like fire
    And burn with none to quench it

    Because of the evil of your deeds.”

    Jeremiah 4:4

    NEXT God-willing, we will return to the controversy unraveling in the Temple.


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  • Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

    Epistle from the Council of Jerusalem – Acts 15:20

    The Council of Jerusalem has come to a decision. They will write an epistle of instruction to the gentile churches.

    ἐπιστολή – a written message: — epistle, letter

    So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: G1992

    Acts of the Apostles 15:30, King James Version

    WHAT DO WE DO WHEN AS SOON AS WE MAKE AN IMPORTANT DECISION IMPACTING EVERYONE?

    We send out an epistle or letter or message or broadcast.

    AND like any council with authority this council of Church leaders in Jerusalem go back to their followers personally as well. These apostles of the gospel will also send their epistle or letter of instruction with other trusted messengers to churches they cannot encourage personally.


    We're getting a little ahead of today's work of the Jerusalem Council, but I thought it important to DEFINE our term and impact of today's meeting of the Apostles in Jerusalem.

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G1992 – epistolē

    – From ἐπιστέλλω (G1989) epistellō –

    Outline of Biblical Usage

    • to send one a message, command
    • to write a letter
    • to enjoin by letter, to write instructions

    Christians familiar with traditional readings of Scripture from the King James Version recognize an introduction like:

    “A reading from the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.”

    The cover letter pictured is an actual parchment of Romans 1:1-7

    Acts of the Apostles 15:30 [above] reads ‘epistle‘ in the KJV.

    But most Bibles simply translate it ‘letter.’

    You may have seen a similar epistle in Acts 9 where Luke records a previous ‘official letter’ also sent with Paul (aka at that time Saul of Tarsus) from Jerusalem.

    But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
    – Acts of the Apostles 9:1-2 ESV

    Christians familiar with the epistles or letters of the New Testament (after Acts) see epistles addressed to an individual church, i.e. Corinth, Ephesus, where these letters were also circulated to churches throughout and beyond those regions.

    However this important earlier letter from the Council at Jerusalem was sent to as many churches as possible. And the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem specifically address Gentiles as participants and members.

    SO It could have, but was not, named:

    The Epistle of the Council of Jerusalem,

    TO the Church at Antioch Syria (where it is to be sent) OR due to apostles sent out into all the world:

    ‘TO the churches of the Gentile Nations.’


    Leaders of the Christians in Antioch had requested clarification from the Apostles and leaders of the church in Jerusalem. Most Hellenist or Greek church members were Gentiles rather than Jews of the Diaspora.


    Acts 15 – Conclusion of Pastor James

    Previously, from ACTS 15:6-19

    Do not trouble those turning to God

    .. we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
    but should write to them
    to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

    Acts 15:19b-20 ESV

    Don’t cause trouble. Do not annoy. Do not harass.

    You get the idea; this is what Saul of Tarsus had planned to do in Damascus with the authority of the Jewish Council to persecute the converted.

    ἐπιστρέφω – Lexicon :: Strong’s G1994 – epistrephō

    transitively, a. to turn to the worship of the true God, 
    b. to cause to return, to bring back; figuratively, to the love and obedience of God ..
    

    Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God [theos] from among the Gentiles ἔθνος [ethnos].

    YES, God chose the Jews

    BUT why would we want to keep those Gentiles whom the Lord our God has drawn through Christ?

    AND WHY add requirements which would hinder Gentiles from turning to God?

    SO James adjudicates the matter also addressing the concerns of the Jews.

    EXCEPT these practices of Jewish Law

    Here, James adds a requirement for the Gentiles but it is NOT circumcision.
    • abstain from 
      • the things polluted by idols
      • sexual immorality
      • what has been strangled
      • [from] blood

    21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

    Epistle of James greeting of 1:1 map major Jewish cities of Roman Empire - Rome Antioch Damascas Jerusalem Alexandria
    James .. To the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings.

    A Map [above] shows first century Jewish cities of the Roman Empire to which James refers in an epistle he authored most likely during Paul’s first missionary journey just prior to the Council at Jerusalem.

    As you can see, much more communication will be required to cover so many Hellenist cities with Jewish and Christian worshipers.


    Acts 15:20 King James Version — But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

    Scriptural (Old Testament) Reasons for James’ exceptions

    Pollutions of idols

    – Gen 35:2; Exo 20:3-5,23; Exo 34:15,16; Num 25:2; Psa 106:37-39; Eze 20:30,31;

    “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I *be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not *be inquired of by you.

    Ezra 20:30-31 KJV – *note: Lexicon :: Strong’s H1875 – dāraš
    Fornication – πορνεία – Lexicon :: Strong’s G4202 – porneia –
    • illicit sexual intercourse
      • adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
      • sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
      • sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
    • metaph. the worship of idols
      • of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

    The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of *whoredoms and children of *whoredoms: for the land hath committed great *whoredom, departing from the LORD.

    Hosea 1:2 KJV note: *Lexicon :: Strong’s H2183 – zᵊnûnîm
    from Lexicon :: Strong’s H2181 – zānâ – A primitive root [highly-fed and therefore wanton]
    Things Strangled – πνικτός pniktós, pnik-tos’

    from G4155; throttled, i.e. (neuter concretely) an animal choked to death (not bled):—strangled.

    and Blood – αἵματος – αἷμα Lexicon :: Strong’s G129 – haima of man or animals
     καὶ τοῦ αἵματος - "from what has been strangled, and from blood." - ESV is best understood in the context of Leviticus, Book of the Priests, which provides some detail about Sacrifices to God, which Christ became by His own Blood, the flesh of our Lord Jesus pierced for our transgressions.
    The Sacrifice of Blood
    Leviticus 17: ESV

    וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus) 17 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)

    וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

    1. And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

    10 “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.

    For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls,
    for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

    Leviticus 17:11 ESV

    12 Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.

    13 “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.

    For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.

    Leviticus 17:14 ESV

    Letter from the Council

    Acts 15:

    22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas…


    To Be Continued…

    .. with the text of their Epistle authorizing apostles for another mission to the Gentiles. 

  • According to the Custom of Moses

    According to the Custom of Moses

    Paul and Barnabas have returned from Cypress and the mountain cities of nearby Asia minor after nearly two years of an amazing first missionary journey from Antioch.

    But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

    Acts of the Apostles 15:1 ESV

    TRADITION, TRADITION, TRADITION, some preach. — We all know the type (and EACH of us in our own way have danced the dance).

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    map of Mediterranean coastline - Jerusalem, Antioch Syria Cypress & Antioch Pisidia on Paul's first missionary journey

    And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. Acts 15:2 ESV

    ἔθος – Ethos of Μωϋσῆς

    Controversies of the Custom of Moses Continue

    ethos  Lexicon :: Strong’s G1485 – ethos

    • custom
    • usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite

    ἔθος – Ethos from the Greek of Paul, Barnabas, the local language of the church at Antioch Syria from where these apostles had been sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit and the church — Ethos from the common Greek Jesus preached to the crowds of Galilee and Judea nearly two decades earlier

    ἔθνος – Ethnos NOT of Μωϋσῆς

    ethos, so similar and applicable to ethnos, that is, ἔθνος, used for ‘the nations’ or gentiles.

    ἔθνος – Lexicon :: Strong’s G1484 ethnos

    • a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together
      • a company, troop, swarm
    • a multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus
      • the human family
    • a tribe, nation, people group
    • in the OT, foreign nations not worshipping the true God, pagans, Gentiles
    • Paul uses the term for Gentile Christians

    Circumcision (and other Mosaic traditions)

    ~ A.D. 60-62 – Luke’s two accounts of the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles are published for a church suffering severe persecution throughout the Empire, including Jerusalem which is about to be destroyed by Rome in A.D. 70.

    ~ A.D. 49 – Luke’s records this encounter between some men of Judea and Gentile Christians of Antioch Syria. This takes place after their first missionary journey, leads to a council at Jerusalem and consequently to a second missionary journey (into the world of the gentiles).

    So my first reaction to such opposition is WHY is circumcision such a BIG DEAL with these men?

    ~ A.D. 32 [Jerusalem]

    Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. .. and they set up false witnesses who said, “..we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

    Acts of the Apostles 6:9-14 ESV – excerpt from Jewish accusation of Stephen

    The issue of the LAW, covenants and traditions is NOT who has broken with tradition but who the LORD now separates to HIMSELF by the Sacrifice of Christ.

    Timeline: Moses *uncertain *(~15th or 13th c. B.C.); (Precise timeline of Joshua & the Judges of Israel uncertain.):
    David *~1000 B.C. (dates differ between various sources); Solomon ~900's B.C. - First Temple of the United Kingdom of Israel (Judah in the south & Israel in the north) ended in 931 B.C. at Solomon's death.
    
    Stephen's testimony before Jerusalem's leaders takes place about ten centuries (1000 years) after David, 
    but just two years after these judges of Herod's temple reject their Messiah Jesus.

    Acts of the Apostles

    Paul and Barnabas have prevailed over such opposition by the power of the Holy Spirit throughout their first missionary Journey already.

    Acts 13:9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 

    For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
    “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
    that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

    Acts of the Apostles 13:47 ESV

    The issue of salvation of the Gentiles NOT the traditions of Moses, Israel, Abraham or David.

    But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. – Acts of the Apostles 13:50 ESV
    Lystra, Derbe and Iconium in the Taurus mountains.

    Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.

    But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.

    Act of the Apostles 14:1-2 ESV

    But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds [at Lystra], they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.

    Acts of the Apostles 14:19 ESV

    And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. – Acts 14:23 ESV

    Acts 15 of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas

    So several months back before this year of our Lord 49, the Holy Spirit anointed these apostles to be sent out from the church at Antioch. Their mission was first to the Jews, but also to Romans in the Roman cities and Greeks in the Greek cities — men NOT of the circumcision AND women as well – the ethos of the ethnos as it were — the uncustomary customs of the gentiles accepted into the Church by its Apostles and Elders as new traditions of grace in Jesus Christ.

    2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

    map of first century coast of Phoenicia, Samaria and Judea
    Journey from Antioch to Jerusalem via Roman roads to Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia, Caesarea on the Samarian coast and Joppa on the Judean coast to Jerusalem is approximately 350 miles.
    So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

    NEXT: The Council at Jerusalem

    Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem (by the church at Antioch Syria) from where the Holy Spirit had sent them into the lands of the Gentiles.

    These apostles of Antioch continue to proclaim the Gospel as previously on this next journey of more than three-hundred miles to Jerusalem.

    The Samaritans and certainly Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon are NOT of an ethos like the Judeans either (but Jesus had brought the Gospel to these towns too).

    The church has also added Romans in Caesarea when Peter previously visited, as had Samaritans witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit in Joppa.

    In Jerusalem Peter, Paul, Barnabas, the Apostles and many others will sort it all out as the Holy Spirit continues to bring both Jew and Gentile together in the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ.


    To be continued…

  • Gardener, Shepherd and Hunter: 4- Tragic Death of a shepherd

    Gardener, Shepherd and Hunter: 4- Tragic Death of a shepherd

    sunrise over earth from space

    I had opened my eyes (just for a moment) and thought that I saw a sunrise from long long ago.. Watching for a long time (it seemed) or maybe for just an instant (I could not tell). I then observed the sun waning beneath the surface of this paradise.

    Tragic DEATH!


    This instant of time quickly reverted into a darkness.. and my eyes (I thought) were not even closed again. I quivered and held my breath (I thought), as an eerie sense of a chaotic scene drew me down beneath the place where I thought I had just stood above the once magnificent paradise.

    So I was no longer filled with any breath of joy at what I had already seen.

    Then a scene planted my mind into a still and horrific place which pierced the ash-like fog into which I had fallen. I knew that this place emerging into the strain of my blinded eyes was not only beyond the garden, but it is beyond the fields where I had just witnessed a contentious conversation between two brothers.

    I looked deeper into the darkness.. and then, I now realize, — beneath it.

    Just then, I remembered my Guide, who I guessed had not only led me to the garden east of Paradise but also to this place. And I remembered straining to hear what the two brothers were saying: Kahyin, the gardener, and Heḇel, the shepherd whose offering had pleased the LORD.

    .. It was only then that a dark and joyless truth wounded my briefly revived heart.

    HE KILLED HIM!


    So it came about in the course of time that Cain [qayin] [Smith {like Moses’ father-in-law}] brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.

    Bereishit (Genesis) 4:3 :: קַיִן The same as קַיִן (H7013) The KJV translates Strong’s H7013 in the following manner: spear

    Once again I wanted more knowledge from my Guide about what I had just seen.

    So CAIN, a disgruntled gardener, KILLED his brother, a shepherd?

    You have just witnessed its result, my Guide confirmed.

    So Cain was ALSO the Hunter, wasn’t he?

    No.

    I was wrong already..

    Who then, I wondered as my Guide continued His response.

    He murdered Abel, just as later in your timeline you know that Moses would murder a Hebrew brother.

    WHY? Why did the Lord allow it?

    I plead for the bloodied body I had just seen of the shepherd brother of Cain not even thinking (in my response) of the man Moses had killed.

    I reasoned with my Guide:

    This shepherd, Abel, was a righteous man. AND the LORD even accepted his offering at the same time He rejected what Cain brought Him.

    And logically I added:

    HE could have stopped Abel’s murder.

    Yes, of course the LORD could have prevented Cain from killing Abel.

    AND The Almighty could have prevented the guilty man to whom HE gave this story, Moses, from killing a Hebrew slave when he lived as a prince in Egypt.

    I had no answer..

    You asked why the LORD allowed these things to happen to Cain who mostly lived as a good man trying to please God.


    I thought of Moses (this time)..


    and Joseph in Egypt before their slavery..


    THEN I remembered what my Guide had just asked me an instant ago, “Why would it make any difference to you if one brother’s offering is better than the other’s OR if either brother knows about the offering of the other?

    And I even remembered that David was also a later shepherd, just like Abel, yet like Moses and Cain King David had murdered a man.


    Do you think it would be better for these men to have NO choice in what they do and just have God lead them here and there to do as the Lord their God pleases?

    I began thinking about Cain and Able BOTH being FREE to choose their own actions and reactions in the paradise of God.

    Each of them Slaves!!? — I thought. IF we are NOT FREE to choose wrong, it would make us like slaves of GOD..

    I’m thankful that I am free from slavery, even to GOD.

    I wondered if maybe I shouldn’t have said that out loud.

    Of course you are free to say whatever you would like to me.. and to God.

    And even though you may say anything to any other man you encounter on the earth the LORD does not restrain you, think of those words you cannot hear. You just witnessed the consequences of only one such encounter.

    Now look ahead to right judgment of the LORD when we freely choose to accept His Word.


    sunrise over earth from space
    IN THE BEGINNING…

    For an instant I looked back.. further to the west of the endless line..


    I thought I heard sobbing.. and “I’m so sorry I didn’t raise you right” and “We didn’t want you to know the mistakes we made..” ..and yet more wailing the way I felt over the death of Abel. Adam and Eve loudly lamented all of this.. and the separation of a father and mother from one sinful son: Cain, who had just killed the other son they loved..

    I could only imagine my own father or mother IF I had actually killed any of my siblings.. (or anyone, for that matter).

    “Not only is this tragic death of their son Abel new to them,” my guide pointed out to me, “the impact of DEATH itself has just gripped Adam and Eve — two parents who the LORD had told many years before,

    ‘You shall surely die.’”

    I thought of those times one of my brothers had been MAD at ME… What if it were my blood in that field?



    Then the LORD said to Cain,

    “Where is Abel your brother?”

    And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

    Genesis 4:9 NASB20

    Then He said, “What have you done?

    The voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to Me from the ground.

    “Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

    “When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you;

    you will be a wanderer and a drifter on the earth.”

    Genesis 4:12 NASB20

    4:16 וַיֵּצֵא קַיִן מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה וַיֵּשֶׁב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־נוֹד קִדְמַת־עֵֽדֶן׃


    קַיִן [

    Once upon a time there was a man named Kahyin.. who brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.

    I heard the Voice of my Guide in Hebrew, yet somehow I understood every word.

    I have told you about qayin and heḇel his brother for good reason.

    Now it’s time for me to introduce you to the hunter.

    3:1 וְהַנָּחָשׁ הָיָה עָרוּם מִכֹּל חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־הָאִשָּׁה אַף כִּֽי־אָמַר אֱלֹהִים לֹא תֹֽאכְלוּ מִכֹּל עֵץ הַגָּֽן׃

    Genesis 3:1 – Masoretic Text [Click this link to meet the Hunter, the first character Moses mentions here]

    The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter

    Roger Harned, Christian Author

  • The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter: a shepherd

    The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter: a shepherd

    Once upon a time there was a man named Kahyin Smith. (His friends called him Cain, a nickname long forgotten since his time near the beginning.)

    Now I know that if you think back to ACT 1, SCENE 1 or most recently SCENE 2 of our story that you might think of Cain in Moses’ story. I mention this not only because we will momentarily continue with ACT !, SCENE 3, but in keeping with our LINE of thought,

    I’d like to ask you a question:

    IN the beginning..

    Do you think that ‘Once upon a time..’ mirrors Moses’ story ‘IN THE BEGINNING’ in some way?

    Please add your ANSWER to a COMMENT at the end of any of these SCENES.

    Continuing with SCENE 3 of our Story:

    Now Abel was a keeper of flocks..

    So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground.

    Abel, on his part also brought an offering, from the firstborn of his flock and from their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard..

    Does Cahyin know that Heḇel made an offering that the LORD accepts while this brother of his worked even harder EVERY DAY as a farmer cultivating the soil full of weeds and thistles, I wondered?

    I struggled to keep my eyes covered to keep out so many pictures of this world. And without me saying a single word, my Guide answered me with a question of his own.

    Why would it make any difference to you if one brother’s offering is better than the other’s OR if either brother knows about the offering of the other?

    Hmmm.. I had not considered that they may not have had just one place to make their offerings. Since Cain worked the farm while Able wanders the fields as a ‘keeper of sheep..’ maybe goats.. and other creatures roam the earth too.., I wondered; then I asked my Guide,

    But even if they worshiped at the same stone altar, how would they know if God accepted either offering? Could both brothers see the LORD?

    Look closer.. What do you see?

    Two men approaching each other from a distance.

    It seems to be the end of a day — twilight — and a stone altar stands at the edge of one field and also near a field — I think it’s wheat — the one coming from a partially cultivated field behind him has an armful of early, small stalks.

    And he seems to have some tinder, like thistles and dry stocks, too. (It must be to start a fire.)

    Do YOU see the LORD?

    I hear a young lamb in the arms of the shepherd as he also approaches the altar of sacrifice.

    I don’t see anyone else.

    .. And do you hear His Voice?

    I looked back on the scene then listened.. But now the scene had quickly progressed and both men had reached the altar.

    I could hear a quick crackling of dry branches and thistles burning away in an instant.. then a low roar of burning fat as the fire brightened where the slain lamb had been laid..

    And a bright smoke rose into the darkness from the sacrifice of the lamb, while the fire faded into coldness where so many thistles and an unripened harvest had been lain so hastily.

    Do you hear His Voice?

    YES!

    The LORD’s Voice sounds in my own hearing like a Fatherly rebuke of a child who has done something he shouldn’t have.

    “Why are you angry? And why is your face gloomy?

    “If you do well, will your face not be cheerful? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door;

    and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

    Genesis 4:6-7 NASB20 – :וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה

    a change of Scene..

    And Cain talked with Abel his brother..

    Genesis 4:8a KJV

    What do you suppose Cain said? (I couldn’t hear his words.)

    AND What words do you think Cain and Abel had in their conversation of our NEXT Scene?


    Synopsis (so far)

    I’m going to have to leave our story right here for now.

    So far: I had discovered that the garden near Eden was not exactly paradise. And you must realize by now that Cain was a Gardener, and just now that his brother Abel was a Shepherd.

    NEXT: We will meet a hunter. (Any guesses who?)

    Don’t forget to COMMENT on Moses’ IN THE BEGINNING compared to ONCE UPON A TIME..

    The Gardener, the Shepherd and the Hunter

    Roger Harned, Christian Author

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