THE EMMAUS WAY

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emmaus road

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

We were on the road, just the two of us,
To a local village called Emmaus.
We were troubled and confused, as we walked.
A stranger drew near, and joined as we talked.

He inquired as to why, we were so downcast.
Have you heard of events, just three days past?
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.
With Him, all our hopes for Israel died.

Some women were early at Jesus’s tomb
His body had been stolen; they did assume.
But, an angel told them, when they arrived,
He is risen, and that He was alive.

Then the stranger, rebuked our unbelief,
And showed us Scriptures, dispelling our grief.
Understanding came, as he told the story,
How Christ must die, and then enter glory.

From Moses, the prophets, and from the Psalms,
Truths once hidden; understanding now calms.
Searching the Scriptures, and you too will see,
The volume of the Book, is about Me.

Reaching the village, He would have gone on,
Constraining Him to stay, daylight was gone.
Abide with us, the disciples said to Him.
He went inside, and partook bread with them.

He blessed the bread; and He broke it that night.
Their eyes were opened; He vanished from sight.
We walk by faith, and not by sight today.
All became clear, on the Emmaus way.

GRAFTED INTO WHAT?

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grafting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” 1 Corinthians 10:32.

When it comes to right divisions, the reader should notice that God classifies three distinct groups in Scripture. They are Jews, Gentiles, and the Church of God. Although a Jew and a Gentile may be in the Church of God, the context of Romans 8-11 shows that God is speaking about them as three distinct groups, and not as individuals.

Failure to rightly divide these three has caused many in the Church of God to fear being “cut off,” and “cast aside.” All manner of mischief can develop when we ignore the context. The believer in Christ discovers in chapter 8 that nothing can separate him from God’s love. Then, he turns the page, and reads that he must fear lest he be “cut off.”

The key is to follow the context, and see that all three groups are dealt with in these chapters. For instance, in Romans 8 we read, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39. It is clear that chapter 8 is speaking of all believers within the Church of God.

When we come to chapter 9 and 10, we see that the Jew is the subject. There, Paul explains why the Jews have been temporally “cut off,” and that God would save Gentiles without Israel’s conversion. It is important to see that prior to Israel being “cut off,” and their “fall,” they held the favored place in the plan of God as a nation. Paul says, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 9:4-5.

However, as a result of Israel’s rejection of their King and the kingdom, they have been temporally “cut off,” and have “fallen” from having the favored status among the nations. “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?” Romans 11:12. Notice that the fall of Israel, resulted in them being scattered among the Gentile nations, and Paul was also sent to the Gentiles with the gospel of free grace. The result of their fall resulted in the riches available to the Gentiles. The wisdom, financial ingenuity, and understanding of science has benefited every nation wherever they have gone.  

Today, Israel is like all other nations, and each Jew must come to Christ just like the Gentile. Gentiles, have the same standing, and privileges as the Jew. The Gentiles have been placed, or “grafted,” into a new place of privilege, and opportunity, without the conversion of Israel, which they did not have before. Chapter 11 is not talking about, individual believer in Christ, but rather Gentile nations as a whole.

No one is grafted into Israel, nor does the Gentile or the Church take the Jew’s place or promises. The text is clear; Gentile nations now have the same privileges, and standing as the Jews. All are sinners and must come to Christ the same way. The time will come when the Gentile nations will be removed from this status, and the Jews will be “grafted” once again into the favored position with God. They will become the head of the nations.

When God begins to “graft” Israel back, the following will be true for them. “1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. 2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. 5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; 7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.” Micah 4:1-7.

Many Christians erroneously think that Israel has been removed from her covenants and promises, and that the church of God has replaced them. Nothing could be further from the truth. The illustration of “grafting” simply shows that the Gentile nations must not be high-minded against the nation of Israel, and many have. The warning is against Gentile nations, not individual believers.  All are on equal ground. This is the new privilege for the Gentile nations at this time.

MISSIONARY VS. EVANGELIST

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evangelist

By Ken Blue

 

I don’t expect this article will win the good neighbor award. However, I think it is time we give the subject some thought. We are well aware that there are “evangelist” for about every subject on earth. There are clown evangelist, singing evangelist, vintriqualist evangelist, carpenter evangelist, and evangelist telling established churches how to run their church. This is only the tip of the iceberg.  Then we find the same thing concerning “missionaries.” They come in all varieties, and many are doing everything except what Paul did.

Technicality, there is no office in the New Testament for missionaries. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Ephesians 4:11. The “evangelist” is supposed to be doing what the missionary is “supposed” to be doing. These are not two different ministries. There is but one, and it is the evangelist.

The question is, what is a “real” evangelist supposed to be doing? Evangelist are supposed to go on a mission into an area where the lost are, preach, and win people to Christ. Their task is not to have some “unique” ministry where they entertain members of local churches. Their task should be to win a group of believers, and then let the group call a pastor, or chose one from the group. The evangelist moves on, and repeats that same form of ministry; that is his “mission.” We have given that task to a group called missionaries, while evangelist do everything except start churches.

I’m sure I’ll be accused of straining at a gnat, but it is time we take a long, hard look at what we are doing, and supporting. Evangelist have written their on job description, and missionaries have been pushed out into another category. Paul, the Apostle, had a mission, and did the work of an evangelist. He went everywhere preaching the gospel, and establishing churches.

Now if you disagree with me, that’s ok, we can still get along, I don’t expect anything to change. I am contemplating becoming a missionary to retired pastors in Arizona. I need your support, and help purchasing a truck and a fifth wheel. I just want to be a blessing to others.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BABIES DIE?

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By Ken Blue

I am confident that there is nothing that grieves the heart more than the loss of a child or infant.    The saddest part of my ministry was counseling couples whose infants had died. However, in the midst of all their grief, there is hope.

Jesus loved little children and said, “…Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16. I cannot but believe infants go to heaven at death.

Also, King David was informed that his infant son had died. He had fasted and prayed for days that God would spare the child. However, after receiving the news of its death, he did the following. “But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20  Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21  Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:19-23.

Paul, in Romans 5:19 gives us an answer to the question. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18. He is contrasting the actions, and consequences of Adam with those of Christ. Through Adam’s disobedience, all are condemned to die. However, through the obedience of Christ, one can be made righteous.

Now, we realize that those capable of understanding the gospel message are required to accept it by faith. And let there be no misunderstanding here. The text is not teaching universal salvation for all men. Faith in the finished work of Christ is always the requirement for those capable of having it. However, we have ample reason to believe that those too young, or who are incapable of faith, are saved by His free grace, without faith.  

The following epitaph from St. Andrew’s churchyard in Scotland is a case in point.

  • Bold infidelity, turn pale and die. Beneath this stone, four sleeping infants lie: Say, are they lost or saved? If death’s by sin, they sinned, for they are here. If heaven’s by works, in heaven they can’t appear. Reason, ah, how depraved! Turn to the Bible’s sacred page, the knot’s untied: They died, for Adam sinned; they live, for Jesus died!

Thank God that He has not left us in the dark on this important matter. There is no reason to doubt that infants, and little children are ushered into the very arms of Jesus at their death. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18.

HEAD, HANDS, AND FEET, THAT EVEN DOGS WOULDN’T EAT

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jazebelBy Ken Blue

“And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.” 2 Kings 9:35.

I can’t remember a time when we didn’t own a dog or two. They make great pets, and I enjoyed training and, working with them. Someone has said that a dog is man’s best friend. A good test is to lock your wife and your dog in the trunk of the car. Open it after thirty minutes, and see who is the happiest to see you. You’ll have a greater appreciation for your dog after that experiment.

However, there is a negative side to dogs also.

Dogs can be disgusting much of the time. In fact, there are very few things they will refuse to eat. They are meat eaters, and are attracted to the smell of blood. That is what makes the above text so interesting.

Jezebel may have been the most wicked, and the most corrupt woman who ever lived. I have yet to find any child who was so named by their parents. Her vile nature is also demonstrated in that the dogs refused to eat the spawning ground where her wickedness originated.

The dogs would not eat her skull. It was as if divine providence made it repulsive to them. Her brain was the incubator that hatched every form of wickedness and cruelty imaginable. It was there, she plotted the death of God’s prophets. It was in her immoral and twisted mind she established the worship of Baal. The dogs must have been repulsed at the skull that gave birth to the plot to have righteous Naboth killed, and his land stolen by her wicked husband, Ahab. Thus, against their nature, they refused to eat her wicked skull.

The second thing the dogs refused were her feet. Those feet were too vile for the dogs to stomach. Her feet had walked the path hundreds of times to where the “groves” stood, and Baal was worshipped. Her feet had led the ten tribes of Israel into total apostasy, and to forsake the true God or face death. Those feet led her soldiers to where God’s prophets were in hiding, and she had defiled her feet by having them executed. Elijah was also on her “most wanted” death list.

The third item the dogs could not stomach were her bloody hands. Dogs, who scavenged garbage dumps for any scrap they might find, were repelled at the scent of her vile hands. Those hands had signed, and falsified documents with orders to have the righteous put to death. She had lifted those hands in worship to the idols of Baal. God did not give a record of the extent of the wickedness those hands had committed. The dogs, themselves, testified to her wickedness.

All her wickedness was produced in her perverted skull. It demonstrated itself through her bloody hands and corrupted feet. There is no doubt that God had this text recorded to amplify for us the wickedness of Jezebel. Whatever a dog refuses to eat is indeed beyond description. Thus, the dogs refused to eat her skull, her hands, and her feet.