Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 36

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SATANS' SEED

 

SATAN’S SEED

In the Book of Genesis, the statement is made that:

“And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman, 

And between your seed and her Seed;

He will bruise your head,

And you shall bruise His heel.”

(Genesis 3:15)

This statement is made in the context of the curse proclaimed by God on the serpent:

“You are cursed more than all cattle,

And more than every beast of the field;

On your belly shall you go,

And you shall eat dust 

All the days of your life.”

(Genesis 3:14) 

And also on the earth:

“Cursed is the ground for you sake;

In toil you shall eat of it 

All the days of your life.”

(Genesis 3:17)

This implied that since Satan is immortal the curse would be as long as the present world system endures. But it should be noted the curse was on Satan and the earth and not on Adam and Eve who were told to essentially be fruitful and multiply. From the remainder of the Bible, we are familiar with the eventual coming of the Seed of the woman, but how about the seed of Satan?

It is interesting that, due to the initial fall of man from the grace of God, sin has always been at man’s doorstep. This is why, when Cain became angry at not being accepted through his own efforts, God relayed this message to him: “…if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.(Genesis 4:7) When Cain slew Abel, the response was: “So now you are cursed from the earth…” (Genesis 4:11). 

So, it was the descendant of Adam and Eve who was cursed and not the parents. The same seems to have applied to the son of Noah. When Noah, after the flood, planted a vineyard and drank too much of its benefits, he was subsequently seen naked, by his son Ham, who relaid the event to his brothers. Noah, angry at Ham for this, cursed Ham’s son, Canaan, when he said:

“Cursed be Canaan;

A servant of servants

He shall be to his brethren.”

(Genesis 9:25)

As Cain was cursed, it identified him with his figurative father, the devil. This follows the original curse that God placed on Satan and later His warning that sin was at his door. This concept has been carried down through history in the premise that those who rebel against God and His purposes will be identified as followers of Satan. Christ confirms this when He confronts Abraham’s descendants and says:

“You are of your father the devil, 

and the desires of your father you want to do… 

…If God were your father, you would love Me…”

(John 8:44,42)

“…whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.”

(John 4:34)

1 John 3 puts it this way:

He who sins is of the devil, 

for the devil has sinned from the beginning…

…Whoever has been born of God does not sin, 

for His seed remains in him…

…In this the children of God 

and the children of the devil are manifest:

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God,

nor is he who does not love his brother.

(1 John 3:8-10)

This further illustrates why Paul, in the Book of Romans, states that:

nor are they all children 

because they are the seed of Abraham…

…those who are the children of the flesh, 

these are not the children of God,

but the children of promise are counted as seed.

(Romans 9:7,8)

So, in essence, those who rebel against God and His promises are the ones considered to be the seed of Satan and are under the curse. This is why there has always been such animosity between God’s people and the peoples of Canaan and why God said:

O Canaan, land of the Philistines:

“I will destroy you;

So there shall be no inhabitant.”

(Zephaniah 2:5)

And also why people still refer to the mark of Cain and the way of Cain in reference to wrongdoers:

not as Cain who was of the wicked one 

and murdered his brother…

…because his works were evil 

and his brother’s righteous.

(1John 3:12)

Woe to them! 

For they have gone in the way of Cain,  

have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit…

(Jude 1:11)

So it should be clear that the seed of Satan really refers to anyone who has rebelled against God and His precepts, and therefore, follows in the character of Canaan or in the footsteps of Cain. And so, whether one is a follower of the Seed of the woman or belongs to the seed of Satan is something which we all have to eventually decide.

And it certainly is something to think about.  

Pastor Caroline - Be At Peace

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY JESUS?

 WHY JESUS?

There’s no question that the most important person in the Christmas story is Jesus Himself. But the question remains why Jesus? Why did the creator of the cosmos, an all powerful deity, elect to come to earth as a human? Why did He choose to endure the indignities and problems of childhood and the subsequent teenage years in order to grow to manhood and then be a sacrifice for us? Many people of other religions, and even some in Christianity, say that God would not demean Himself in such a way, and therefore, disbelieve much of what the Bible says about Christ.

So why should we accept the story that Christ came to earth as a child and was born to a virgin in such humble circumstances as the Bible relates it to us? Why Jesus and why the story of His birth as it is told? Why should the creator of all, and the most powerful being of all, subject himself to such indignity and humility? It is this disbelief that causes many to disavow Christ’s divinity on the basis that God would not do such a thing and would not create a child - “His only begotten son” (1 John 4:9). Of course, not believing that God could or would not do such a thing puts human limits on an omnipotent and limitless God.

But the question still remains - why Christ? There are a number of reasons why God might come to earth as He did in human form. 

Firstly, it could be because of man’s priority in God’s creation. The question of man’s importance is asked in Hebrews 2:

“What is man that you are mindful of him?” (Hebrews 2:6) 

It is then stated:

“You have made him a little lower that the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
(Hebrews 2:7-8)

And in addition to mankind as a whole

Jesus [as well]…was made a little lower than the angels…
(Hebrews 2:9)

Secondly, it could have been to help unify God with man. Since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) and since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23) it makes sense…

…that He, by the grace of God, 

might taste death for everyone and [make] 

their salvation perfect through [His] sufferings.

(Hebrews 2:9-10) 

In order to accomplish this, He had to be human Himself.

Thirdly, to free us from captivity.

…that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, 

that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death 

were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

(Hebrews 2:14-15)

Fourthly, to simply relate to us. Since we all sin and are tempted into sin everyday, He came to relate to us in our environment so that it could be said:

For in that he Himself has suffered, being tempted, 

He is able to aid those who are tempted.

(Hebrews 2:18) 

He was 

…in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

(Hebrews 4:15)

Fifthly, and perhaps most importantly, so that we can relate to Him. He can know everything about us but the opposite is certainly not true. How does a finite being come to really understand anything about an infinite deity? He is remote; far removed from our circumstances and understanding. And this is the case still with most religions in which the god worshipped is aloof and distant, striking fear into those who seek to worship him.  Hence, the sacrifices that occur in order to appease and assuage such a god. 

But the true God is different, even though one of His names, Elohim, means creator, powerful, and transcendent. God is also called “the Lord God" referring to a more personal, and intimate deity. So how could we relate to an all-powerful, transcendent creator unless He was willing to relate to us on our level as a human as well? 

By seeing Him as He grew alongside us, we should have been able to fully relate to His message and purpose. The fact that most still do not illustrates the stubbornness and self-reliance we still retain within ourselves. It also may explain to a large extent the present situation of the world and why more may eventually be lost than what we expect.

And those may be lost just because they do not believe or understand. The Bible refers to this in the following scriptures:

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 Corinthians 1:18)

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God,

it pleased God through the foolishness of the message to save those who believe.

(1 Corinthians 1:21)

“And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; 

for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”

(John 12:47)

So why Jesus? He is the manifestation of an all powerful deity in a human form so that we could understand and relate to the loving, personal side of God. A God who only wants love and respect from us in return.

At Christmas, we should stop thinking so much of the presents we receive and give to each other and think more of the gifts of peace, joy, and hope brought to us by that fateful star (“I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Revelation 22:16) that led the wise men to the house where Jesus lay so long ago. 

It is something we all should think about. 

 

Pastor Caroline - Jesus is The Light - The Last Sunday of Advent

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 35

Dr. Barclay said that he'd see you next week. He meant in two weeks time on January 3.

Merry Christmas and he'll see you in the new year.

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - WHY HEROD?

 

WHY HEROD?

In order to see the good in some people, it is often necessary to see the evil in others. Such is the case with Herod who reigned at the time of Jesus’ birth. Herod was the King of Judea, a puppet king under the rule of Rome. He was not a native Jew but an Arab who had converted to Judaism. Both himself and his father had developed ties with the Roman Emperors and because of these ties, Herod, in time, succeeded in being appointed the King of Judea. He was a proud man who loved to display his own prowess by erecting large fortresses and palaces as well as the rebuilt Jewish Temple, all of which the people apparently paid for by heavy taxation. At same time, however, Herod was insecure and, to a degree, mentally unstable. He eventually became so insecure regarding his power and position that he ended up murdering his wife and five other members of her family.

Such was the man who reigned at the time of Jesus’ birth. But there also was some  question regarding his intellect and insight as well. After all, his advisors had to be aware of the prophecies regarding the Messiah. Was he just not informed? After the shepherds heard the news and visited the manger “…they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2:17-18).

Herod must have had spies and informants throughout his territory. Did they not hear of this news and report back to the King? Or were they too afraid to do so? Perhaps Herod just would not listen. After all, what could shepherds know?

It appears that Jesus must have lived under Herod’s rule and close to his location for almost two years before the wise men came and sought out Herod’s court. It was only then that Herod “…gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, [and] inquired of them where the Christ was to be born” (Matthew 2:4). After he was informed, Herod secretly called the wise men and “…determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me…” (Matthew 2:7-8). 

The question remains as to why Herod did not send personnel to tail the wise men and to report to him directly as to Christ’s location. Did he still not believe what he had been told or was he too arrogant to accept advice? In any case, it was only after the wise men did not return that he became desperate and angry and “…set forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under…” (Matthew 2:16). 

Herod really only reacted when he felt that his own position and power were truly threatened and then in a way that caused destruction and chaos. In a way we’re all a bit like Herod. In fact, we really all fall into one of the three categories represented by the players in the Christmas story. Some are like the shepherds, who respond in a basic and humble way to the Good News when they receive it and apparently believe without question what has been told to them.

Other are like the wise men, who ponder what they have heard and look for supporting evidence in science before they may react. However, when they see the facts will go to wherever they are directed to seek out the truth, and will respond to that truth when it is found.

Unfortunately, many are also like Herod and are so interested in believing in themselves and responding to their own impulses that they do not see what really lies before them. They refute the evidence and deny the obvious because it does not comply with their preconceived concept of reality. They may not listen to advice and may only react with anger and hostility when (and if) they react at all. Denial can be a great preserver of individual control but only up to that point at which it is no longer possible to maintain.

Are you like those who see a miracle and just know that it’s true and then go forth seeking in faith? Or are you like one who hears the news but waits for more evidence before reacting and heading out for wherever, no matter how far that journey may take you? 

Or do you belong to that group of people who are basically insecure and so set in their ways that they will continue to deny the evidence, missing what is right in front of them, and reacting with anger and hostility when forced to confront the facts?

We all to some extent belong to one of these three groups and perhaps at times a combination of all. Considering all this should give each of us something to think about.