TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 3:1-30
I am the Lord your God....You shall have no other gods before me. - Exodus 20:2-3
TODAY IN THE WORD
The statement of A.W. Tozer we referred to yesterday is a great illustration of the point we have been making this month: theology matters. You will also see how much it matters each month this year through the column we are introducing in this issue of Today in the Word.

Tozer said the most important thing we could know about him was what he believed about God. There are some other remarkable people about whom the same thing could be said. We want to study a few of them today and tomorrow. If you read today's Scripture passage, you already know three of these friends.

You have to admit that people who are willing to stake their lives on their theology are pretty serious about it. That was the case for the three young Hebrew men in Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made a courageous, principled stand against King Nebuchadnezzar's order to bow to his golden statue.

At the heart of their commitment was their view of God. These young men, taken as captives from Israel to Babylon, took with them their knowledge of God's commands. From their very first days of captivity in this pagan country, these three and their pal Daniel decided that the most important thing they could do was obey God.

Actually, the Hebrew captives seemed to have made the same decision as Daniel to put their lives on the line for God long before the fiery furnace or the lions' den (compare 1:8-14 with 3:12). Daniel 1:1-16 may not sound as threatening, but these four men were making a dangerous decision. Had things gone wrong, they along with their Babylonian overseer may have lost their heads.

God honored their decision (Dan. 1:17), and now the three Hebrew young men became officials in Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. They served him, but they worshipped God and God alone.

This is what we need to remember. Verse 18 of today's reading records an unconditional commitment to the God these Israelites worshipped. They didn't try to make any deals. They believed God was worthy of their allegiance, regardless of what might happen to them.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Have you ever tried to make a deal with God?

Most of us would be uncomfortable to admit it, but we often live our Christian lives by some unspoken assumptions: if we do this, God will do that. If we make certain decisions, they will produce certain results. God's Word does contain many promises, but they are not boxes into which we can stuff God. God has the freedom to work in our lives according to His plan and timetable. Maybe you need a Daniel 3 kind of commitment in some area of your life. Talk to the Lord about it today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Daniel 6:1-28
People must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For he is the living God. - Daniel 6:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
When the early Bohemian reformer John Hus was brought to the stake to be burned for his stand for Christ, he was given a chance to renounce his teachings. But the courageous reformer replied, 'What I have taught with my lips, I now seal with my blood.' Hus died for his commitment to the truth.

What John Hus believed about God was as important to him as it was to the prophet Daniel. Daniel in the lions' den is one of those Bible stories we adult Christians ought to read a couple of times a year, just to remind ourselves of the kind of courage it takes to stand for the Lord.

You may not see any great theological statement made by Daniel in these verses. In a way, that's true. Daniel is only quoted once in the text (vv. 21-22). The irony is that the good theology flows from King Darius after the incident (vv. 26-27).

But the whole story came about as a result of the quality we have been studying the past few days. Daniel placed his commitment to God above every other loyalty in his life, because what he believed about the true God was the most important thing to this courageous prophet.

Daniel's faith was the same here as it was years earlier with his three friends. The God of Israel was the only true God, and He had commanded His people to worship no one else. Therefore, Daniel would not bow to any idol, regardless of the cost involved.

Daniel wound up in the den of lions because Darius's vanity led him to agree to a very bad idea cooked up by some very bad men.

Talk about bad theology. The government officials who hatched the plot knew Daniel wouldn't go for it, and they were right. In the words of our theme this month, theology mattered way too much to Daniel for him to accommodate a human king's ego.

There's no doubt that God's nature and power were the focus of Daniel's theology. Darius made that clear in his prayer for Daniel just before the stone was put in place (v. 16). He knew what Daniel believed.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This story is really the same song, second verse when it comes to the importance of what we believe about God.

Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, God's people need to examine how their belief in God needs to impact their attitudes toward others. We worship the God who, in Christ, has broken down every racial and cultural barrier that seeks to divide us. Reconciliation is not only possible, it is God's will that we be one body. Let's pray today that God's people will lead the way across all barriers.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 7:1-16
The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
The writings of C.S. Lewis form the basis for a popular statement regarding the choices people have about the claims of Jesus Christ. The statement says that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord of all in His claim to be the Son of God.

People are also faced with several choices concerning the birth of Jesus. His divine origin is validated by the Bible's teaching that He was born of a virgin. And people's eternal destiny may hinge on what they believe about this doctrine.

The prophecy of the Messiah's virgin birth is embedded in a passage that has immediate and far-reaching implications. The setting is the threat against the southern kingdom of Judah by an alliance between the kings of Aram (Syria) and Israel, the northern kingdom. God sent Isaiah to King Ahaz of Judah to assure him that the attack would never take place, because within several years God would bring down the kings of Aram and Israel.

Ahaz's refusal to ask for a confirming sign of this prophecy sounds very pious, but it was actually a way of rejecting God's message and His messenger Isaiah. This is why the prophet reacted the way he did.

Then came the message that God would sovereignly provide a sign. The virgin in the prophecy may have been the woman Isaiah called 'the prophetess' (Isa. 8:3), who could still have been a virgin when the prophecy was given.

This wife of Isaiah had a son, and by the time the boy was two or three, old enough to know right from wrong, the kings of Aram and Israel were no longer a threat to Judah. The boy's name, Immanuel, was a reminder of God's presence with Judah.

But the Holy Spirit clearly had something more in mind for this remarkable prophecy. Matthew said its ultimate fulfillment was in the birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:22-23) and the word Matthew used means a woman who is sexually pure.

That's why the Gospels are so careful to establish that Mary conceived Jesus before she had any relations with Joseph. Even in his genealogy, Matthew was careful to show that although Joseph was the husband of Mary, he was not the biological father of Jesus. The term 'of whom' (Matt. 1:16) is a feminine pronoun, pinpointing Mary alone as the parent of the Messiah.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The claims of Jesus rise and fall together. If He was not virgin born, then His death would have no power to do anything for us.

But God left us with a divine record of His Son's earthly origin, even in the middle of an eighth-century B.C. prophecy about human kings. It's time we paused this month to thank God for the truth and accuracy of His Word, which makes it possible for us to know what we believe.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-6, 12-20
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Corinthians 15:20
TODAY IN THE WORD
More than one Christian writer has pointed out that the enemies of Jesus could easily have quashed rumors of His resurrection before the word ever got beyond Jerusalem. All they had to do was produce His body, and the movement they worked so hard to stop would have collapsed. Without a resurrected Jesus, Christianity has nothing to offer anyone. Worse than that, it is a deception.

That's how important Jesus' resurrection was for Paul. It was 'of first importance' (v. 3), in fact. Every doctrine in the gospel is crucial. The work of Christ would not stand the test if He were not 'raised on the third day according to the Scriptures' (v. 4).

Paul's argument for the centrality of the resurrection is powerful, and his conclusion is inescapable. There are at least three outcomes we would have to deal with if the doctrine of the resurrection were untrue because our hope of eternal life is firmly linked with Jesus' resurrection.

First, if Christ were not alive, then our faith is futile. Every-thing we believe would be empty, and we would still be saddled with our sins (v. 17).

Second, our loved ones and other fellow believers who have died would be 'lost' (v. 18). We could not expect to see them again.

Third, without the resurrection we would be the most unhappy, hopeless people on earth (v. 19). Most people pity someone who has been duped by a hoax.

But Paul's argument takes a bright turn with the declaration of today's verse. We have an example of the hope resurrection brings in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where Paul addressed the fears of the church there that they would never see their deceased fellow Christians again. He answered their despair with the truth of Christ's resurrection.

At the grave of Lazarus, Jesus told Martha, 'I am the resurrection and the life' (John 11:25). Then He went to Jerusalem to face death and told His disciples, 'Because I live, you also will live' (John 14:19).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Turn the three points we mentioned around, and you'll find three benefits of Jesus' resurrection: a certain faith, anticipation of seeing loved ones, and joy in the hope of eternal life.

Here's another benefit we gain because Jesus is alive. Paul says He was 'raised to life for our justification' (Rom. 4:25). The resurrection was God's proof, His 'receipt,' that He accepted Christ's death as payment for our sins. There's one receipt we never have to worry about losing! Thank God for His power that brought Jesus back from the dead.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:13-32
[Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
At one time or another, most Christians wonder what it would have been like to be one of Jesus' original disciples, to travel with Him and hear Him teach.

We can't go back to those days, but based on the Gospels we can say one thing for sure. You couldn't have followed Jesus without getting a first-rate education in the Old Testament. It's amazing how many times Jesus referred to the Scriptures to explain or reinforce what He was teaching.

Jesus' careful and frequent use of the Scripture tells us that it mattered a lot to Him what people believed about Him, about His Father, and about God's Word itself.

The well-known story of Jesus' walk to Emmaus with two of His discouraged followers is a good example of this. Remember, this was the greatest day in history, the day of His resurrection. You'd think Jesus would have more important things to deal with than these two confused disciples. But there He was on the road with them.

The problem with these two was that, like a lot of Jesus' disciples at that time, they had been reading the Scriptures with blinders over their minds. Everything they needed to know about 'the Christ,' Jesus the Messiah, was there in the Old Testament scrolls. But they were 'slow of heart to believe' (v. 25).

Jesus cared intensely t

hat they believe, and that they believe the right things. So

He led them in a Bible study about Himself that left their hearts burning.

The Gospels contain other examples of how important proper belief, or correct theo-logy, was to Jesus. When a group of Sadducees tried to

trap the Lord with a ridiculous case concerning marriage and the resurrection (Matt. 22:23-32), Jesus set them straight,

saying, 'You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures' (v. 29).

Again and again, Jesus pointed His listeners to the Word of God to verify what He was saying or doing. Jesus cared so much about the truth because He is the truth (John 14:6). Jesus knew it was the truth about Him that would set people free (John 8:32).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If the Emmaus disciples should have had their theology straight despite having only the Old Testament, what does that say about us?

It says we need to know God's Word! And that means you're in the right place as you study the Word with us each day. How are you doing so far in your 1999 Bible study? We encourage you to do whatever it takes to make the Word a daily priority. And if you have missed a few days, don't let that discourage you. Keep at it!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Peter 3:1-13
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you. - 2 Peter 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
A recent issue of the magazine Timeless Insights says this about the great colonial American pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards: 'At the mention of the name Jonathan Edwards, you may immediately picture a dour man in a black suit, proclaiming bleak visions of eternal judgment. Such a picture comes because of his well-known sermon, 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.' Edwards's fire and brimstone message...was really a powerful plea for callused churchgoers to consider afresh God's love and mercy.'

It's true that Edwards has been caricatured at times because of his famous sermon. But let's face it. 'Bleak visions of eternal judgment' is an accurate description of the future that awaits those who reject God's love and mercy.

It's important that we have our theology right on this point. One reason is the growing chorus of voices inside the church saying we must reconsider what the Bible teaches about the punishment of those who do not accept Jesus Christ. One idea is that the lost will simply be annihilated at the judgment rather than sent to hell.

Some people believe that eternal suffering is both unfair to those who have not had a chance to hear about Jesus, and inconsistent with God's character. The arguments against eternal judgment are often a sincere attempt to come to grips with the painful reality of judgment for those who don't know Christ.

The biblical doctrine of judgment is a difficult truth. No one enjoys the thought of facing punishment. God's express desire is that everyone 'come to repentance' (v. 9). But we cannot base our belief about judgment on our aversion to suffering. Instead, we must believe what the Bible says.

Peter dealt with a different group, the scoffers who simply do not believe God's judgment is coming at all. They laugh at the idea, not realizing that God's delay is a sign of His mercy to them.

But God's judgment is not all doom. For believers, it is the fulfillment of His promise of a new heaven and earth ruled by righteousness. For us, the reality of judgment means warning the lost and living in anticipation of Christ's return.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Peter had heard Jesus teach that the days of His coming would be like the days of Noah (Matt. 24:36-39).

Both Jesus and Peter have a timely warning for our world today, but not many people seem to be paying attention. Please pray that God's people will be faithful to deliver the message, and that He will give our generation a spiritual revival like the Great Awakening that Jonathan Edwards was so instrumental in bringing about..

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
Let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. - 1 Thessalonians 5:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
This past May, a woman in Rotorua, New Zealand hired a man to mow her lawn. Everything went fine until the man hit a geyser in the yard, unleashing a stream of water so powerful it threw rocks the size of television sets into the air. When the eruption was over, the woman was left with a hole six feet wide and ten feet deep in her front yard.

Mowing a lawn on an ordinary day is about as routine as life gets. So you can imagine the terror that gripped this handyman as his mower uncapped the geyser. News reports of the incident said the startled worker ran for his life a good idea, given the size of the rocks falling around him.

What a picture of the suddenness and fury with which God's judgment will fall upon an unbelieving, unsuspecting world. Paul used similar imagery, as did Peter, when saying that the day of the Lord, the beginning of His judgment, 'will come like a thief in the night' (5:2; cf. 2 Pet. 3:10).

Yesterday we talked briefly about the tremendous contrast between the significance of Christ's coming for believers and unbelievers. Today's reading elaborates on that contrast. The message to the church in chapter 4 is filled with encouragement and hope.

The next event on the church's prophetic calendar is the rapture, which is the trumpet call of God and the command calling us into the air to be with Christ forever.

The Thessalonians were worried about their deceased fellow believers, and Paul dealt with that. He also sought to ease their anxiety about God's end-time events. It was very important to the apostle what Christians believed about the future, because of its impact on daily life.

Chapter 5 has much to say to us. While the world may be asleep spiritually, we can't afford to be caught napping. Jesus could return at any moment. If we really believe that, it will affect the way we live.

For instance, twice Paul tells us to be 'self-controlled' (5:6, . We need to be living disciplined lives so that we're ready for whatever comes. We are also commanded to encourage and build up each other (v. 11), so the church will be at its best in these days of opportunity before Jesus returns.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In verse 8 Paul referred briefly to the spiritual armor that God gave us for successful spiritual warfare. The full armor is described in Ephesians 6:13-18.

For Paul, being awake and alert meant having God's armor in place so that he would be ready for spiritual battle. A soldier is one person who can't afford to be caught off guard by the enemy. In what shape is your spiritual armor today? We suggest you turn to Ephesians 6 and check out each piece.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 1:1-14
About the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever. -
TODAY IN THE WORD
English author Charles Lamb was once involved in a discussion about the greatest literary figures of all time when the names of William Shakespeare and Jesus Christ were mentioned. 'The major difference between these two,' Lamb said, 'is that if Shakespeare came into this room we would all stand in honor and respect. But if Jesus Christ were here, we would all humbly bow and worship Him.'

That's a good summary of the infinite distance between Jesus and everyone else. It may seem like stating the obvious to say that Jesus Christ is the unique Son of God, the only Lord and Savior, God Himself in the flesh, superior to everyone and everything else in creation.

But as we mentioned earlier this month, beliefs that used to seem standard are being challenged constantly. The uniqueness of Christ, and by implication the nature of His gospel, is one of those beliefs. Writing in Christianity Today, Daniel Clendenin says, 'The vast diversity of world religions pose competing claims and offer 'gospels' other than that of Christ alone as Savior and Lord.'

Obviously, we need to be sensitive to people's spiritual needs. And we can't deny that there are serious issues on the table when it comes to claims of spiritual truth. But the answer is not to compromise or abandon the Bible's clear teaching concerning the uniqueness of Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews established Jesus' superiority to the best earth has to offer: the prophets, and the most exalted of heaven's created beings, the angels. Some scholars believe that angel worship was practiced in that day. But Hebrews 1 draws on an impressive array of Old Testament texts to demonstrate that Jesus is far above the angels in majesty. 'Let all God's angels worship Him' (v. 6).

We are made in God's image, but Jesus is 'the exact representation of His being' (v. 3). The writer identifies Jesus as both the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe (vv. 3, 10), and also refers to His eternal existence (vv. 11-12). In every way possible, Jesus is presented as the one and only Son of God to whom we must pay attention if we want to know what God is saying to us 'in these last days' (v. 2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The problem of competing gospels and truth claims is not new.

At one crisis point in Jesus' ministry, Peter spoke for us all when he said, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life' (John 6:68). That's an affirmation we need to make every day as the church is being pressured to soften Jesus' claim that He alone is the way, the truth, and the life. You can today pray that the body of Christ will hold to the truth, while presenting it with love and compassion to a lost world.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10
God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. - Ephesians 2:4-5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Author Mark Twain received so many photos from men claiming to look like him that he composed this form letter to send out: 'My dear Sir, I thank you very much for your letter and your photograph. In my opinion you are more like me than any other of my numerous doubles. I may even say that you resemble me more closely than I do myself. In fact, I intend to use your photograph to shave by.'

Twain's humorous letter helps to illustrate a serious spiritual truth. When we hold the Bible up to our lives, the picture it gives us of ourselves is more accurate than what we see in the mirror, because the Bible shows us our hearts.

It's important that we know and believe what the Bible says about the condition of the human heart, because simply looking at the truth and then walking away unchanged doesn't do anyone any good (James 1:23-24).

The picture we get of humanity in today's reading is undeniable. People who do not know Jesus Christ are not wounded or misguided. They are spiritually dead, enemies of God and captives of Satan who can't do anything but follow their sinful desires, which puts them under God'swrath against sin (v. 3).

But there is another picture in these verses. 'But...God' (v. 4) are two of the most hope-filled words in Scripture. Because of God's great love, He extended His grace to those who had no claim on His forgiveness. That's what makes His grace so gracious!

Last week we talked about the importance of believing in Christ's resurrection (see the January 20 study). After God raised His Son from the grave, Jesus ascended to heaven to take His place on the throne at God's right hand (Heb. 8:1).

Christ's resurrection also has important benefits for us. Paul says that as a result of God's gracious work in saving us, we too are raised and ascended into heaven with Him. We commune with Him spiritually now, and will be with Him in heaven someday in bodily form.

If you are a Christian, this is the way you need to see yourself. But there is no room for bragging here, because you had nothing to do with your new status. It is a gift from God, which means we couldn't possibly earn it.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Ephesians 2:10 tends to be overshadowed by verses 8-9, two of the most well-known and often-quoted verses in Scripture.

But verse 10 has a great message for us. Not only do we benefit from God's grace, but we also have the privilege of serving Him. You have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and His spiritual gifts to help you accomplish the good works God has for you to do. Does your schedule this week make room for these priorities?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 139:1-18
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. - Psalm 139:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to the Christian magazine Home Life, 'Scientists are discovering that there's a guard protecting [a] preborn baby. It's in the form of a naturally occurring antibiotic found in the female urinary and reproductive systems....It acts as a guard, protecting the fetus from any offending infection.'

The writer of the article offered this item as further evidence that God's care for us begins even in the womb. David would agree. Psalm 139 is among the strongest biblical affirmations of the divine origin and sanctity of human life.

Given the abortion tragedy that has engulfed our nation, and the horror of the growing planned suicide movement, it goes without saying that our theology of human origins matters. It makes a life-or-death difference.

But this psalm does not just make a matter-of-fact, clinical statement about God's creative work in the forming of a life. David did not get to God's work in the womb until verse 13. It's the context in which this teaching occurs that makes the psalm such a rich tapestry of truth.

We can divide the verses of today's reading into a three-part outline of God's attributes. Since we're talking about theology this month, let's use the theological terms for these attributes. Psalm 139 teaches God's omniscience (vv. 1-6), His omnipresence (vv. 7-12), and His omnipotence (vv. 13-18) in relation to our lives.

God's omniscience, His full knowledge, means there is not a detail of our existence that escapes His attention. David felt enveloped within God's concern, and it was 'wonderful' to him.

David also realized he could not go outside of God's omnipresence. God's all-encompassing presence is just as real in the darkness as in the light. Knowing there is no escape from God's presence can be comforting when we are in need, and sobering when we feel the need to hide. But either way, the theme of God's total concern for us is carried through.

And what can we say about God's omnipotent power in the fearful and wonderful creation of a new life? The all-knowing, all-present God is the Creator and protector of human life. No human decision can change that.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 139 teaches plainly that God is the giver of life. The psalm also speaks to God's sovereignty over the end of human life. He has set the number of our days on earth (v. 16).

Today, we are seeing the moral and spiritual damage that comes on a society which devalues human life. Even though it seems that the violators of life's sanctity have the upper hand, we must not stop praying that God will bring an end to the holocaust. Let's bring this request to the Lord today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Galatians 3:1-9, 15-18
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. - Genesis 15:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
One New Year's Day, the famous Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California ground to a halt as the truck pulling one particular float sputtered and died. It had run out of gas and stalled the entire parade. The irony of it is that the float was sponsored by one of the world's largest oil companies.

That's what happens when people start overlooking the basics--like the principle that a gasoline engine needs gas to run! The failure at the New Year's Day parade was minor. But overlooking the basics in the Christian life can have major damaging effects. In other words, it makes a difference whether our theological foundations are solid.

Galatians 3 is a great case study on the importance of sound theology. Paul makes a crucial argument about the relationship between God's promise by faith to Abraham and the coming of the law hundreds of years later.

Paul's argument would be important if nothing more were at stake than accurate theology. But the issue in question was threatening to overthrow the faith of the Galatian believers with the burden of legalism.

The problem came up when the church in Galatia was visited by Paul's nemeses, a group called the Judaizers because they tried to equate faith in Christ with obedience to the law. The Galatians were being pressured to follow the law's stipulations, including circumcision (5:2-4), to make themselves fully acceptable to God.

Paul attacked the problem head-on with a simple argument. First, he asked the Galatians whether it was faith or law that had saved them and given them the Holy Spirit (vv. 1-5). While the readers were thinking about that one, Paul helped them along. He took them back, not to Moses, but to Abraham. Abraham himself was justified by faith, and by faith he received God's promise that all nations, including the Gentile believers in Galatia, would be blessed through his seed (vv. 6-9).

That seed--singular, not plural (v. 16; cf. Gen. 22:18)--was Christ, through whom the Galatians had been saved. The law did nothing to set aside the blessing of faith. It was added to expose sin as sinful, not to save anyone (v. 11). End of argument.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Romans 3:20 Paul argued that we can't earn salvation by keeping the law, because no one has ever kept it perfectly.

Here, we learn that trying to please God by works is futile because salvation has always been by faith. You may know someone who believes that living a good life will earn heaven. One way you can approach moralists is to ask them how they will know when they have done enough to earn heaven. Try this the next time a friend tells you he or she expects to make heaven by being good.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Timothy 3:14-16
You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. - Matthew 16:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
For hundreds of years, various denominations have used manuals of Christian instruction known as catechisms to instruct believers in the basic truths of the faith, usually in preparation for baptism. The term 'catechism' is taken from a Greek word that means 'to teach' or 'to instruct,' and many of the catechisms achieved that goal in admirable ways.

The method often included a question-and-answer format that required the student to answer the instructor's question concerning a particular spiritual truth or article of Christian faith. The catechetical method also involved much memory work, especially before the invention of printing when written texts were scarce. The genius of the church's great catechisms, such as the Westminster Larger Catechism of 1647, was the way in which they captured the Bible's teaching in a concise and memorable way.

The writers of the catechisms had a good model for this method. Today's reading shows that the early church also used concise summaries of truth to train and instruct believers. Some believe this confession Paul recorded was part of an early hymn, composed to capsulate the basics of Christ's life and ministry: His incarnation, resurrection (His vindication 'by the Spirit'), and ascension.

Summaries like this are another proof of how much theology mattered to Paul and the first-century saints to whom he ministered. Years earlier, he had warned the elders from Ephesus that after his departure, the church would be attacked by 'savage wolves' who would tear at the body of Christ (Acts 20:29).

Sadder still, 'Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth' (v. 30). Paul lived to see it happen in the churches he founded (see yesterday's study), and it's still happening today.

The good news is that knowing the truth is still the best defense against heresy. The not-so-good news is that as a whole, modern-day Christians aren't big on the idea of the systematic learning of truth. We need to take a cue from our ancestors. When even the shepherd boys were armed with theological truth through catechism, the wolves had a harder time getting to the flock.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We often recommend good reading to our Today in the Word family. Today, we want to mention a series of books you'll want in your Christian library.

The series is called Foundations of the Faith, published by Moody Press. These books were written by some of today's finest Christian Bible teachers and leaders. Check your local bookstore for this dynamic series that will help you build strong foundations for your faith.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 9:1-8
[The gospel] is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. - Romans 1:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
One of the issues Christian theologians have wrestled with for generations is the question of where and how the nation of Israel fits into God's plan for the present and the future. The theology of this matters because it will help to shape our belief about Israel and the Jewish people, the nature of the church, and the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Some theologians contend that Israel no longer has a place in God's plan. These people see the church as the 'new Israel' or 'spiritual Israel' that took the place of Old Testament Israel in God's program.

God worked through Israel in the old covenant, and now He's working through the church in the new covenant, believers of this argument maintain. Therefore, there is no reason to expect that God will bring Israel back onto the stage of divine history.

We believe, however, that to identify the church with Israel in this way clouds the clear teaching of Scripture concerning God's chosen people.

As we will see today and tomorrow, Paul teaches that instead of the church being the continuation of Israel, Israel was set aside temporarily because of unbelief so that God could bring forth a new entity called the body of Christ. Israel and the church retain their distinctive identities in the New Testament.

Romans 9-11 is a thorough treatment of Israel's past, present, and future in the unfolding of God's plan. We will touch on these elements today and tomorrow in an attempt to get a handle on what the Bible says about Israel.

It's pretty obvious from Paul's anguish over his unbelieving fellow Jews that he didn't think God was finished with the children of Israel. There is no argument that God chose Israel to be His representative people on earth, the human line through which His Son would come to earth. Paul listed Israel's spiritual privileges an impressive list (vv. 4-5).

Given all of this, then, how did Israel reject its Messiah, Jesus Christ, and wind up being rejected by God [a rejection, by the way, that was not total (Rom. 11:1-6)]? Paul's answer is that not all the physical descendants of Abraham are the true Israel, only those who receive and believe God's promise.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We will be reminded tomorrow that God has not forgotten or abandoned His chosen people.

Paul had a great burden and desire for his fellow Jews to be saved. We can imitate his example by praying that the gospel will penetrate many Jewish hearts as God's people are drawn to their Messiah. The psalmist urged us, 'Pray for the peace of Jerusalem' (Ps. 122:6). Pray that God will enable His ancient people to find the peace that comes through faith in Christ.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 9:30-10:4; 11:25-32
The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. - Romans 11:26
TODAY IN THE WORD
Concerning the future of Israel in God's plan of the ages, Bible teacher John MacArthur writes, 'If in His sovereign grace [God] is now granting salvation to believing Gentiles, 'how much more' (Rom. 11:24) will He bring His covenant nation Israel back to Himself in belief?...God is not finished with His ancient chosen people, and even during this time when Jews as a nation are severed from God's special blessing because of unbelief, anti-Semitism in any form is anathema to the Lord.'

Dr. MacArthur's warning against arrogance or mistreatment toward the Jewish people echoes Paul's warning against conceit on the part of Gentile believers toward Israel. God has a future, a glorious future of salvation, for the nation which He redeemed from Egypt and made His own.

This is the message Paul wanted to communicate to the Christians at Rome. It's a message we need to remind ourselves of today, because God's salvation for Israel is still a future reality.

We have noted God's rejection of Israel as a nation for the sin of rejecting the righteousness offered by Messiah and going about to establish their own righteousness. But in Romans 11:25, we learn that Israel's unbelief is both partial and temporary. This 'hardening' of Israel is a 'mystery,' a truth that had been previously concealed but was now revealed.

The use of this term suggests that Israel's failure to receive its Messiah was more than just a matter of human unbelief. God sovereignly chose to set aside Israel so that He could show His mercy to the Gentile world.

But even though Israel has been temporarily set aside in God's plan, a day is coming when the Gentile body of Christ will be full. Then God will turn again to Israel.

Paul declares, in fact, that 'all Israel will be saved' (11:26). Does this mean that at some future point, every Israelite will be converted? Some Bible teachers believe so, placing this great event at the end of the Tribulation. Others believe the 'all' does not imply everyone, but the nation in general.

Whatever the case, God clearly has something special in store for His ancient people. He is not finished with Israel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Paul leaves no doubt in Romans 9-11 that Gentile believers owe a great spiritual debt to the Jews. The roots of our faith are firmly grounded in the Old Testament.

One way we can help return the blessing is by praying for and supporting Christian ministries that specialize in witnessing to the Jews. Yesterday we prayed for the salvation of God's chosen people. Today, let's pray that believers will be faithful in taking the gospel to the Jewish people (Rom. 1:16).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 4:1-6
Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. - 1 John 4:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
At his death in 1836, founding father James Madison, the last surviving signer of the Constitution and last surviving member of the Continental Congress of 1776, left behind a document entitled 'Advice to My Country.' In part, Madison advised his fellow countrymen to cherish the 'Union of the States,' and to be on guard against enemies who come disguised, like 'the Serpent creeping with his deadly wiles into Paradise.'

Good advice, isn't it? Madison's use of biblical imagery drives the point home forcefully. This great leader recognized that, in the words of today's text, there is a 'spirit of falsehood' (v. 6) at work in the world. James Madison was not a theologian, but he was right in locating the fountainhead of this deception in the Garden of Eden.

We have been saying all month long that theology matters. It matters because theology seeks the truth about God, and God is the source of all truth. The truth about God saves people and sets them free. So we should not be surprised that Satan, the 'father of lies' (John 8:44), and his demons are active in spreading falsehood.

And since no one can be saved without believing that 'Jesus Christ has come in the flesh' (v. 2), we can understand why a person's belief about Jesus is always the test of truth.

John reminds us there is a lot more going on in the battle for truth than is visible to the eye. Sometimes Christians wonder why unbelievers just don't get the picture when it comes to the gospel. After all, God has made His truth evident to everyone (Rom. 1:19-20).

But grasping spiritual truth involves more than just having the right information. Unbelievers often do see the truth, but they suppress it (Rom. 1:18) because they don't want to forsake their sin and submit themselves to Jesus Christ.

Satan is in there doing his part, too. His job is to '[blind] the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel' (2 Cor. 4:4). Except for grace, we would be among that number. Praise God for showing us His truth!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you feel confused by conflicting truth claims, or if you just want to sharpen your understanding of the Bible compared to what other religions say, we want to recommend a great resource.

It's a pamphlet from Moody Press called The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error. There are two editions, one on cults and one on world religions. These give handy comparisons of what others teach about doctrines such as the Person and work of Christ, and what the Bible says. Ask your local bookstore for these attractive pamphlets.