This is a huge question because there have been volumes—not pages, but volumes—written on the Calvinism/Arminian debate.  To complicate matters, very few Christians are completely in one camp or another.  Many fall between them in recognized places along the continuum of salvation.  Having said that, your question dealt with the remark about someone not being “the elect” as the reason for their rejection of Christ so let’s deal with that.

First, “election” is a Biblical concept.  Abram was chosen (“elected”) by God to be the father of the nation of Israel.  He was a pagan and God chose him (Genesis 12:1-3).  Through Israel’s history, God supernaturally intervened to create a people for His very own.  Looking to part of the seed of the church, the Apostles, Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16).  Romans 8:29 teaches, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

What your friend is saying is the person rejected Christ because they were not “predestined to be conformed to the image of” Christ.  In other words, they believed this person was obviously not part of the elect because they rejected Christ.

Welcome to the deep theological waters of soteriology.  To keep this simple (note: VERY simple), this is the language of Calvinism or covenantalism.  Calvinism is typically explained by an acrostic, TULIP.  It is important to note: John Calvin (for whom the movement is named) would probably have disagreed with the extreme some Calvinists go but that’s another question/answer.

Here’s what TULIP stands for and a brief explanation of each point.

T – Total Depravity: Humans are completely and totally corrupted by the fall of Genesis 3 and therefore incapable of even making a decision to follow Christ.  The faith to believe comes from God because our sin makes us incapable of choosing Him.

U – Unconditional Election: Unconditional election means God, in His sovereignty alone, chose some to rescue from damnation.  This is His choice and not ours.  Those whom God chooses to save are called, theologically, the “elect.”  This is also referred to as “predestination.”

L – Limited Atonement: If God has chosen some to be saved, then “limited atonement” becomes its logical result: the offer of salvation is limited only to those whom God chose.  In this view, God didn’t love the world and send His Son for it, He loved the elect because “the world” at large (the “unelect”) were not going to accept salvation anyway therefore, atonement is not available to them.  This is sometimes referred to as “particular redemption.”

I – Irresistible Grace: Since God has chosen some to be saved, His grace is irresistible.  To say it another way: the elect WILL be saved—they have no choice in the matter.  The grace of God is irresistible to the elect.

P – Perseverance of the Saints: This refers to the certainty of the elect’s status in Christ.  Since they were chosen by God, they cannot be “unchosen” and they will remain in His grace.  This isn’t to say they can’t stumble or make mistakes but that once they are regenerated, they will stay that way.

Calvinism is not based on TULIP.  Calvinism is based on God’s sovereignty: His absolute control and power.  We have no place to judge God by His choices or decisions because we are the created and He is the Creator.

Only God knows who “the elect” are.  We have no way of knowing.  Of the friends in Christ I have who hold to all five points of TULIP, they love the Lord and present the Gospel to all.  Our mandate is to reach the world with Good News of Jesus Christ.  Again, remember, “election” is a Biblical concept but the pride of our station in Christ is shameful.  There are, unfortunately, Christians in this camp who subscribe to the old English Calvinist hymn:

We are the pure and chosen few

And all the rest are damned

There’s room enough in hell for you

We don’t want heaven to get crammed

I don’t think this is what Jesus meant when He said, “Go…make disciples…baptizing them in the name of the Father…Son…Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey…” The truth is: God knows who will accept the gift of grace through His Son Jesus.  We can argue all day long about which came first, His knowledge or His choice, but the truth is this: we do not know who the elect are or aren’t.  We simply are not sovereign.  There are times we can’t be sure ourselves (ever doubt your salvation?) so how can we presume to make a judgment any one else’s eternity?

Again, I confess and admit: this is scarcely an overview of a much deeper school of thought and theology and I haven’t had space to present the other side in totality but that will have to wait until another time.

Until then, may we pray like the famous Calvinist Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “Lord, save the elect then elect some more!” It is up to our Father to determine these issues.  What we do understand and know is He doesn’t want “anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9) and knowing “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Ephesians 1:4).

The origin of Satan, or the Devil, is shrouded in mystery.  Some point to Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-19 as descriptions of Satan’s fall from Heaven.  As much as we might like it to, Isaiah 14:12-14 seems to be pointing to an Earthly king and not Satan.

Taking Ezekiel 28:12-19 and various New Testament passages into account, Satan was created by God as an angel whose heart became corrupted because he wanted to be God.  Pride led to rebellion resulting in his removal from heaven to the earth.  The first time we hear about him in Scripture is Genesis 3 in the Garden of Eden where he is twisting the truth and tempting Eve.  He has been tempting us ever since.

Since Satan is an angel we know this much:

• Satan’s power is limited.
• Satan is not omnipresent.
• He is not a demigod or “lesser god.”
• His end is already set.

The battle between good and evil was waged during the crucifixion and was won by the resurrection.

As of this answer, there are over 38,000 denominations in the United States calling themselves “Christian.”  Needless to say, there are differences between them.

The first part of this answer is “what is a denomination?”  Catholics, for example, do not refer to themselves as a denomination.  A denomination is “a recognized autonomous branch of a church or religion.”^[1] This is why the Catholic Church doesn’t refer to themselves as a denomination; they hold they are the church, not a branch of the church.  But that’s really an entirely different issue.

Of course, the New Testament closes without any mention of separate denominations although there were certainly separate churches.  Without going into an extensive church history lesson, by the time of the Protestant Reformation, the church—what we would call the Roman Catholic Church—had strayed from the foundations given in the New Testament.

To keep this simple, Christianity took three different pathways: Catholicism, Protestantism, and Evangelicalism.

By the end of 1517, Martin Luther had nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Gutenberg Church and the Protestant Reformation was underway.   The Protestant Reformation was known for an emphasis on Scripture as the only rule of faith—in other words, if came down to a choice between tradition and Scripture, we choose Scripture.  One of the major implications of this includes the belief that Christians should study the Scriptures for themselves and it shouldn’t be limited to a preacher or priest simply telling you what to believe.  Today, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and some types of Presbyterians and Methodists represent Protestants.  They also go by the name “mainstream.”

Evangelicals represent a group that grew out of Protestants.  In the eighteenth century, the Gospel was being proclaimed in more enthusiastic way.  A “personal relationship with Jesus” was being emphasized.  Also part of this distinctive movement is a belief in the lack of error in the Scriptures.  This also means the Bible was ultimately written by God Himself (even though He used the human authors to physically write it).  Evangelicals are ultimately known for their evangelism—spreading of the Gospel.  Today, evangelicals find representation in most American denominations: Assembly of God, Covenant, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and many nondenominational churches.

My responses would be VERY lengthy if I went though listing the differences between every denomination.  The denominational websites usually provide a good doctrinal statement of beliefs, which are very helpful.  However, it is important to note: there is more to denominations than just their beliefs.  There are their philosophies of how “church is done.”  A Southern Baptist church, for example, has a very different perspective on how church is done than, say, a Lutheran church.  Those belonging to the Assembly of God churches will “feel” very different than a Calvary Chapel church.

Even when the doctrinal positions are very similar between denominations, there are philosophical differences between these churches—they just “feel” different.  Even the size of the church will make it different from a large church in the same denomination!

I know…it’s confusing and maybe more than you wanted to know.   But remember this: while there is a certain “core” of Christian doctrine one must hold to be considered a true church, there is plenty of room for freedom.  This freedom, however, is taken away by most denominations as they attempt to define the indefinable and this makes them all unique.  Yes, there are theological differences and many of them are important but the bottom line of why we have over 38,000 denominations is we’ve confused unity for unanimity.

If you mean does God forgive us of sin in this life and give us a fresh start, the answer is unequivocally yes.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  Jesus also said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).  There are countless examples of people who sinned and God gave them second chances…Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jonah, Peter, Saul/Paul.  So it is accurate to say our God is a God of second chances.  Praise the Lord!

If your question means will we have a second chance to accept Christ after we die, then we’re facing an entirely different subject.  It’s a nice idea that when we die the Lord would then let us choose to accept Jesus as Savior.  So long as we’re alive, we have plenty of chances but once we’re dead—that’s it, the choice we’ve made is set.  Hebrews 9:27 instructs, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” Although it might make us feel better if we could think that death would change someone’s heart and mind, it probably doesn’t.  The same spirit refusing to accept Christ now would reject Him then.  Jesus was discussing a similar situation when He said,  “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:31).  Our chance for believing is now.  After death, there are no more chances; our destiny is set.

This is why Scripture implores us, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

This has troubled Bible readers for a long time.  It certainly seems strange to us, doesn’t it?  Here are the two verses which birthed this question:

• 1 Samuel 16:23 (NIV) “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
• 1 Samuel 18:10 (NIV)  “The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand…”

It’s important to note where this is in the chronology of King Saul’s life.  Saul had been rejected by the Lord as king of His people (cf. 15:23, 26; 16:1).  David had been anointed as the future king of Israel and these two events are linked together.  The Lord’s protection over Saul had been removed and the Lord’s covering was now on David.  This removal of the Lord’s anointing left Saul in a vulnerable position.

Saul’s torture was not an accident of nature, bad genes, or nothing more than a medical condition.  Saul was supernaturally attacked at the Lord’s will and it was a result of Saul’s disobedience.   Part of understanding this passage is realizing the worldview they espouse and express.  Keeping the Law (found in the first five books of the Bible, the Torah) was the path to life (and blessing) while repeated disobedience was a recipe for judgment and death.

I think most people aren’t troubled by Saul being tormented by a demon.  Most people, it seems, are troubled by the fact that God sent it.  What does this mean?  How can a Holy God “send” evil?  Doesn’t this violate His character and goodness?

Well, in a word…no.  Judges 9:23 records “God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.” This, along with passages like Job 1, remind us: nothing happens in the universe without its King allowing it.  When God’s protection is removed, the forces of evil simply to what they do best: destroy and ruin.

This is also a great example of the Holy Spirit’s function in the Old Testament.  We know the Holy Spirit from the New Testament perspective (rightly so!), but in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was not directly related to salvation.  The Spirit could “come on” and “leave” people and their salvation (or home in heaven) was never in question.  In the New Testament, this isn’t the case but when we’re reading the Old Testament we must always remember: we are talking about pre-Jesus, pre-cross, pre-resurrection, and pre-Pentecost.

If nothing else, the injurious spirit sent to Saul is another proof of God’s sovereignty and omnipotence.

1 Peter 4:6 “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”

Great question!  The “now” in the first phrase is not present.  The phrase, a little more literally, reads, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are dead…” Does this mean some kind of evangelism of those who have died without Christ?  Perhaps more ominously: does this mean we should all go out and burn our NIVs?

The short answer to both is “no”.

Some have presented the option that perhaps Peter is referring to the spiritually dead and not the physically dead.  This argument seems to fit the context of this verse and harmonizes well with Paul’s idea of those without Christ being “spiritually dead”.  We are forced, however, to discard this interpretation since the word for “dead” (nekros) is never used by Peter to refer to anything but physical death.  More than that: Peter’s immediate use of nekros (“dead”) in the preceding verse (1 Peter 4:5) is referring to those who have died.

Another potential interpretation of this verse is that the Gospel was, in fact, preached to the dead.  This view connects this verse with 1 Peter 3:19.  To those holding this view, 1 Peter 4:6 (our verse in question) is an elaboration on this concept.  While some believe this refers to those who died without hearing about Christ, others view this verse as a reference to anyone who has died.  An obvious advantage of this interpretation is we would not need to suddenly shift meanings of “dead”.   The major obstacle with this interpretation is it’s based in a kind of universalism and not the total witness of Scripture.  1 Peter 3:19 and 4:6 are only connected because some want them to be.  They are in different sections and really have no connection except some common words.   Ultimately, Jesus Himself said there is not chance of “changing sides” from hell to heaven (or vice versa) in Luke 16:26, “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

Where does this leave us?

This leaves us with the interpretive help offered in the NIV.  Peter was discussing the case of believers who have died.  Although they were made alive in Christ, they still tasted physical death.  “What’s the use in becoming a Christian, then?” some thought.  Those without Christ who feel this way, however, aren’t seeing the big picture.  Death does not have the last word for believers in Jesus Christ.

Humanly speaking, they were dead and the stillness of their body was judged to be “evidence” for the absence of God’s power.  Those without Christ might even put them to death but their spirits will live on forever.  Their lives truly begin at the moment they closed their eyes in physical death.

And so it is today with us in Christ.  When we close our eyes on this side, we open them in a place of perfect peace, joy, and happiness where the Son of God waits to show us the place He has prepared for us.

So, do we hear the gospel once we are dead?  No.  We provide evidence of the power of the gospel because we live forever in the presence of our Lord.  We will all give an account of our lives to our Lord.  The question will remain, “what did you do with Jesus?”

There is a school of theology stating Jesus was indwelled with the Holy Spirit at His baptism thereby making Him “baptized in the Holy Ghost”.  This Holy Spirit baptism, these adherents propose, made it possible for Jesus to perform the ministry in front of Him.  I’ve heard of some going so far as to say the miracles Jesus performed would have been impossible without His baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Let’s back up and look at the verses this comes from.   Matthew 3:13-17 teaches:

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The “key verse” is the end of verse 16.  When Scripture says John the Baptizer “saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him”, what does it mean?  Was Jesus indwelled by the Holy Spirit—like we are?

Let’s read this verse in a few translations for comparison:

• English Standard Version: “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him”
• New Living Translation: “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.”
• New American Standard Bible: “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him”
• Holman Christian Standard Bible: “After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him.”

As you can see, all the major translation read virtually identically choosing either “resting”, “lighting”, or “coming down” as their translation of the underlying Greek.  Most of the argument, however, rests on two words: “descending” and “alighting” (to use the NIV’s translations).  Let’s look at these two words and see if our question finds an answer.

“Descending” – This is a Greek word meaning to “go/come down/send down” or refers to “things coming down”.   This is the same Greek word (and tense) used in Luke 3:22; 8:23; Acts 10:11, 11:5; James 1:17, among other places.   This word is one of relative space.  It is used as a description of something being lowered onto something else.^[1] In our passage in question, it is referring to the Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) being lowered in the form of a dove.

“Alighting” – This Greek word in this usage refers to “movement from one point to another, with focus on approach from the narrator’s perspective”.^[2] This definition implies a rest but does it imply “indwelling”?

Was this what is meant by “indwelling”?  Did Jesus not have the Holy Spirit and after the dove “alighting” on Jesus, He now possessed the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Here is a great case where the whole is more than the sum of its parts.  Alone these words do not convey anything supernatural or special.  In the context of Matthew 3:16, they are very significant.  At the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, many people held the Spirit was not available.  At the least, it was believed the Holy Spirit (however He was understood) simply did not work with the same power as He did in the time of prophets.  However, they didn’t believe the Holy Spirit was never to work again.  They expected the Holy Spirit to accompany the Messiah.  Since Jesus was bearing the Spirit of God, it validated His identity as Messiah.^[3]

With this understand, I hope you can begin to see the issue: the question posed by my brother in Christ because of something he was taught is an illustration of reading into the text.  To say Jesus did not posses the Holy Spirit before His baptism is to deny the reality of the Tri-unity of the Godhead.  If Jesus did not have the Holy Spirit, by what authority was He teaching at age 10 in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)?

Certainly, Jesus’ baptism and the Spirit’s descending on Him was not a sign for Jesus’ sake but a sign for the sake of John the Baptizer (and all of humanity).  This was the sign John was waiting on and the events of Matthew 3:16 confirmed the identity of the Messiah to humans (cf. John 1:32-34).

Whether or not Jesus could have performed miracles apart from the Spirit’s descent is an exercise in pointless discussions.  It implies a separation in the Godhead that exists only in our limited understanding coupled by the fact that it is a moot point: the Spirit, in the plan of God descended and gave the world the sign it was waiting for.  Unmistakably and undeniably, this sign said, “this is the Christ”.

Works Cited

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New

Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3rd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago

Press, 2000.

Keener, Craig S. and InterVarsity Press. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New

Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Of course…one of the most disturbing areas of Scripture.   Great question and here’s an attempt at an answer.  I apologize in advance at the length of this answer.  Understanding of this passage is dependent on understand a great many other things in the Old Testament.  The OT writers, unfortunately for us, do not remind us where we have been and where we’re going—not directly, at least.

Judges 19 is titled in most Bibles as “The Levite and His Concubine”—already we know we’re in for some kind of adventure.  Verse 1 begins simply “In those days Israel had no king”.  Why is this important?  Without a king, there was no ruler—seems easy enough.  But what this really means is there was no civil system to enforce the “laws of the land”.  There was no one or no system to enforce right from wrong.  Throughout Judges, there is this pattern of a continual downward spiral getting worse and worse.  By Judges 19, we’re pretty far down.

There is another component to this lack of king as well.  Israel refuses to accept the Lord, Yahweh, as their king.  Without any kind of theological framework, the nation sinks into whatever depravity they can imagine.   Even though they claim with their lips they belong to Yahweh, their actions belie their words.  Forget being led into temptation; their refusal to follow leadership allowed them to wallow in the mud and muck of the darkest sides of humanity.  Therefore, not only did Israel have no human king, their lives demonstrated they refused to acknowledge the King of Heaven as well.^[1] Also, never forget the commentary on Judges found in the book itself: Judges 21:25 (New Living Translation) “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” Having no king (the Lord or human) allowed them the “freedom” to do “whatever seemed right in their own eyes”.

This still leaves us with the glaring questions found in Judges 19:

1. What is a “Levite”?
2. Why does he have a concubine?
3. Why did the old man offer his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the men wanting to have sex with the Levite and why did the Levite actually do it (!)?
4. Why did the Levite cut up her body into twelve parts and send it to “all the areas of Israel” (verse 29)?

What is a “Levite”?

Levites were descendants of Levi, Jacob’s third son by Leah (cf. Genesis 29:34).  Very early on in Israel’s history, the Levites were loyal to Yahweh when the rest of the nation turned to worshipping the golden calf (cf. Exodus 32).  As a tribe, they were given a special place around the Tabernacle and later in the temple.  Throughout the history of Israel (and Judah), the Levites served as a kind of “clergy” (to use a modern term) for the people.   As the “holy men of Israel”, the Levites had duties in maintaining the worship of God and the purity of God’s people.^[2] Even in this time frame, the Levites held these roles if not a formal office.

What does he have a concubine?

The first issue is “what is a concubine”?  A concubine, contrary to popular belief, was not a prostitute or a mistress.  She was a wife entering into marriage without a dowry.  As such, she didn’t enjoy the usual rights and protection of a “wife”.  A concubine, then, might better be understood as a legal title, not a moral title.  In our way of thinking, they are “lesser wives” but are still “wives” (from our way of understanding).  Concubines get a “shady” reputation because sometimes they were married for sexual interests.  This was, of course, not necessarily their choice and put them in a lower status than wives who would be the queen of the house.^[3]

The second issue is “why does this ‘holy man of Israel’ have a concubine?  That one’s a little tougher.  There is no indication this Levite had another wife and we cannot assume polygamy since concubines were considered (to use our terms) “lesser wives”.  There was a not a social stigma associated with a concubine the way we might associate it today.  Also, verses 2 and 3 he speaks tenderly to his unfaithful concubine and woes her back—this was after she had an affair and returned home.  Regardless of her legal standing, the Levite apparently loved her.

Why did the old man offer his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the men wanting to have sex with the Levite and why did the Levite actually do it (!)?

In verses 19-25, we have the disturbing part of the narrative where the old man offers his own daughter and the Levite’s concubine instead of offering the Levite himself.  It seems repugnant to us that these men would not have defended the honor of these women.

Before we get to a possible solution, notice the similarities between this part of the narrative and Genesis 19: the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The similarities are meant to stand out to us as an indication of how bad the people of God had gotten.  Remember, these were not some “pagans”; these were the chosen people of God.  Yet, they obviously were not acting like it.

In this skewed world, no man or woman was safe.  Just as Judges 21:25 reminds us: at this time, everyone did as they saw fit.  In other words, they did whatever they wanted.  It should be noted that women were the legal extensions of their husbands and would enjoy the same protections under the law as their husbands.  Even concubines enjoyed this benefit.  Technically, the same customs, laws, and expectations protecting her husband, the Levite, should have protected the concubine.^[4]

As best as we can determine, the concubine and the daughter were offered so as to protect this old man’s reputation as a host.  Expectations of hospitality demanded he protect his guest.  Perhaps to save his own neck, the host knew he was unable to protect his household so he offered an exchange.  The men were not in a dealing mood.

Remembering the comparisons to Genesis 19, the men of that town also wanted the men in the house.  In Genesis 19, the host, Lot, offered his daughters and the guest had to defend themselves.  Here in Judges 19, the host, the old man, offered (presumably all) the women in the house.  Here, too, the guest had to defend himself which forced the Levite to offer his concubine.  This action, thereby saved not only himself, but also the host (who showed them great hospitality) and the man’s daughter.

Now we talked earlier that the Levite apparent loved her but that love seemed pretty shallow—perhaps it was just physical.  No wonder she left him (beginning of the passage)—the guy sacrificed her to save himself!   Clearly, this was not the model holy man.

Why did the Levite cut up her body into twelve parts and send it to “all the areas of Israel” (verse 29)?

This is connected to a greater picture.  When the Levite went out the next morning, he didn’t expect her to be dead.   He coldly tells her to get up and when she doesn’t, he puts her on his donkey and heads towards home.  Even the fact this passage refers to him as “her master” instead of husband doesn’t cast him in a very good light.

But why does he perform this barbaric act in verse 29?  In a sense, the Levite is merely reporting to the nation the horrible depravity of the Lord’s own people. In a more obvious sense (to the text, at least) is this Levite—this priest—is cutting her body up as one does an animal for sacrifice (cf. Exodus 29:17; Leviticus 1:6).  In sending a body part to each tribe, including Benjamin which is the offending tribe, the Levite was sending a message: respond to the travesty of Gibeah or be struck by the sword the divided her remains.^[5]

In world where men have sunk to the lowest state we can, women have no protection.  The book of Judges is not intended to be normal or normative.  The purpose was to show how bad humanity had gotten.  Stories like this show how low humanity had gotten without a godly leader-and a rejection of Yahweh as their king.^[6]

Works Cited

Block, Daniel Isaac. Vol. 6, Judges, Ruth. The New American Commentary. Nashville:

Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

Elwell, Walter A. and Barry J. Beitzel. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI:

Baker Book House, 1988.

Gaebelein, Frank E., Earl S. Kalland, Donald H. Madvig et al. The Expositor's Bible

Commentary, Volume 3: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel. Grand

Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992.

Matthews, Victor Harold, Mark W. Chavalas and John H. Walton. The IVP Bible Background

Commentary: Old Testament. electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

“⁶ If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. ⁷ You may take the young, but be sure to let the mother go, so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.”

Before we answer this question directly, some background is needed.  First, the preservation of life is typically mixed with the permission to take it.  Note: we are discussing animal life, not human life!  Genesis 9:2-3, for example, gave humans permission to eat meat.  Eating meat obviously involes killing an animal.  This permission to enjoy a steak, however, is balanced by responsibility for caring for God’s creation.  Just as life and death is held in a balance philosophically in Scripture, so the literal killing and preservation of life is in balance in life.

These verses also exist in context of the section of Deuteronomy when instructions were given from descending order of value from oxen and sheep (verses 1-2) and donkeys and oxen in verse four.  Then we come to animals listed in verses six and seven: undomesticated birds.  A hen and her chicks were the example of life.  If the birds were taken for food, it should be the chicks and not the hen.  Why?  The hen would continue producing food for human consumption.  If the people were to always eat the hens, there would eventually be no more birds.  This would kill part of their food supply and potentially this bird from part of God’s created order.

Compare Deuteronomy 22:6-7 and with Deuteronomy 20:19-20.  There you will also notice a concern for providing for immediate needs while at the same time preserving creation for future use.  These are examples of the Law’s concern with preserving the limited resources around them while not displacing the greater needs of human provision.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas has started!  For over 1,500 years, the church has celebrated Advent beginning four Sundays before Christmas Day and ending at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve (technically, that would be Christmas Day, of course).  After that, Christians down through the centuries have celebrated Christmas for twelve days.  We now join the cloud of witnesses of those who have gone before as we celebrate the Gift of Jesus.  Christmas doesn’t END today, it BEGINS!

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:6-7).

This is the message of Christmas: our Savior has been born.   Still today, He is born, “incarnated” in the hearts of those who accept Him as their Lord and Savior.  The message of Christmas is one of hope, peace, joy and love.  It is a hope that only God can give.  It is a peace that only comes from the reconciliation between God and humanity.  It is a joy springing from the Author of all good things.  And it is a love in God the Father giving the world His Son.  The Apostle John summarized Christmas this way:

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:14,18).

A song says it this way: “Tonight, Heaven touches earth: promised Holy birth, a manger holds this wondrous sight.  Tonight, we hear the angels sing.  We see the newborn King for God has sent His holy Light, tonight.” (“Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth” Words and Music by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse © 2008 PraiseGathering Music.)

Take time today to reflect on this question: “what changed since Christmas?”  Not only is that a great book by the late D. James Kennedy, it is an appropriate question to reflect on during this season.  What has changed in your life as a result of what we celebrate?  If Jesus has been born in your heart, do you live this way?  Is Christmas just a secular holiday for you or does it actually remind you of Easter?  Oh yes…Easter.  Without Easter, Christmas has no meaning.  “There have been many babies to become kings, but only one King became a baby.” (“One King” Words and Music by David Phelps © 2007 Wordspring Music)

Suggestions for reading and meditation through the next twelve days:

• Psalm 8
• Psalm 96
• Psalm 98
• Psalm 147: 12-20
• Psalm 148
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
• Isaiah 60:1-6
• Matthew 1:18-24
• Matthew 2:13-23
• Luke 2:1-20
• Luke 2:22-40
• Ephesians 3:1-12
• Song: “One King” (by David Phelps)
• Song: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (I’m partial to the “Casting Crowns” version)
• Song: “He Made A Way in a Manger (by Vicky Beeching)
• Song: “In the First Light” (I’m partial to version by “Point of Grace”)

It is so hard to believe it is almost here!  Christmas is next weekend! I still have presents to buy!!!!

Before we get too excited, however, about the mistletoe, gifts, and the end of our laborious attempts to keep out Christmas trees alive, we have one more week of Advent.

This week’s Advent theme is love.

It was love that brought Jesus down here to clean up our mess.  It was love that caused God the Father to send His one-and-only Son into the world to save it (cf. John 3:16-19).

Today’s reading is John 1:6-8, 19-28.  Listen to the words of John the Baptist.

John 1:6-8, 19-28

⁶ There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

¹⁹ Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. ²⁰ He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.”

²¹ They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

²² Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

²³ John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”

²⁴ Now some Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵ questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

²⁶ “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

²⁸ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

It was love that sent Jesus to this cold place called humanity.  In a song by Chris Rice, he sang,

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born
Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God
Welcome to our world

“Welcome to Our World” Words and Music by Chris Rice © 1995 Clumsy Fly Music.

Indeed, welcome to our world.  The celebration we are about to have is not a celebration of humanity but one of holiness.  It is not a celebration of presents but of His presence.  “This is love,” the Apostle John writes (1 John 4:10), “not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

This week—in these final days until Christmas—do not forget to celebrate the love of God in sending Christ to us.  The one for whom we are not worthy to untie His sandals.

Spend time this final week of Advent showing Him love and being thankful for the love He “demonstrates…for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

Suggestions for reading and meditation through this week:

• Isaiah 7:10-16
• 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
• Micah 5:2-5a
• Luke 1:46-55
• Hebrews 10:5-10
• Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
• Song: “O Holy Night”
• Song: “Mary, Did You Know”
• Song: “We Are the Reason”
• Song: “When Love Comes Down” (Point of Grace)

Yesterday began the third week of Advent!  This week’s theme is joy.  Fitting that the theme is joy, since we now cross the halfway marker of Advent.  The celebration of Christmas is just around the corner.  Ironically, this month (and next) typically set the record for the year in terms of prescriptions for medicines treating depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness (and I don’t mean children on Christmas Eve!).  All evidence seems to indicate we have forgotten about the joy of the season.

What is the joy of this season?  It all started in the heart of a girl willing to believe the message from the angel.

Luke 1:46-55

⁴⁶ And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

This passage is known as “Mary’s Song of Praise” or the Magnificat.  Have you ever stopped and imagined the situation she was in when she was declaring/singing this?

Unmarried.

Pregnant.

Strong possibility of her engagement (to use our terms) being canceled (divorce in their way of thinking).

Could even be stoned (and I don’t mean Egg Nog…).

Yet, in spite of all that…“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (verses 46-47).  I guess it’s really true: Mary really was the first one to carry the Gospel!  She understood the Good News of Jesus in her womb long before He was ever born.

She rejoiced in the goodness of God.  Look at why…

• He is merciful to those who revere Him (verse 50).
• He has performed miracles (verse 51a).
• He has humbled the proud (verse 51b-52).
• He has filled the poor in spirit (verse 53).
• He has kept His word of promise (verse 54-55).

So…are you joyful on this third week of Advent?  Look over that list again and personalize it: list ways God has been merciful to you and ways you have revered Him.  What miracles has He performed for you?  (I can’t look into the eyes of our daughter and son and not see the miracles He has performed!)  How has He humbled you or how has He brought you peace from those that are?  Has He ever filled your spirit?  When the last time you counted your blessings?

O Holy Father in Heaven, forgive us for not being joyful here in the shadow of the ultimate miracle of Christmas: the incarnation.  Give us the eyes to see your mercy, miracles, corrective hand, filling of our spirits, and your promises.  May we, like Mary, magnify You, O Lord of all Joy!

Be joyful on this third week of Advent, my friends.  May God bless you with the joy found only in Him this season.

Suggestions for reading and meditation through this week:

• Isaiah 35:1-10
• Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
• Psalm 100
• Zephaniah 3:14-20
• John 1:29-34
• Philippians 4:4-7
• Song: “How Great Our Joy” (Point of Grace has a wonderful version of this hymn)
• Song: “Joy to the World”
• Song: “Good News” (As performed by group “Avalon”)

Yesterday was the second Sunday of Advent and we are now in the second week of Advent with the theme of peace.  A few minutes of news from the Internet, TV, radio, or friends/family will quickly remind us we need peace.  The night that Christ was born, the angels praised God and said, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:12).  Too many of us think “peace” is a promise to the entire world.  If the entire world accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, then there would be global peace, but like the bumper sticker reads, “No Jesus, no peace.  Know Jesus, know peace.”  Truer words have scarcely been spoken…and on a bumper sticker of all places.  Our Lord does work in mysterious ways.

On this second Sunday of Advent, let’s turn our attention to the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 40:1-5

¹ Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. ³ A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. ⁴ Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  ⁵ And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Verses 3-5 were also John the Baptizer’s purpose as given in Matthew 3.  When John came on the scene, most did not see the connection between John and the Messiah.  But it was there.  Luke 1:5-25 provides the account of John the Baptizer’s birth foretold by the angel Gabriel.  He told Zechariah (John’s father), “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:14-17).

Like the hymn says, “Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear…”

May we find peace during this season.  May God grant us the spiritual eyes to see He prepared the world for the coming of His Son.  Although few noticed and fewer came and worshipped, God provided a way to have “peace to men on whom His favor rests”.  Child of God, be at peace.  He who calmed the storm is still walking on the waves of your life.

Madeleine L’Engle said, “Possible things are easy to believe.  The Glorious Impossibles are what bring joy to our hearts, hope to our lives, songs on our lips.”¹

Peace be with you all!

Suggestions for reading and meditation through this week:

• Malachi 3:1-4
• Isaiah 11:1-10
• Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
• Romans 15:4-13
• Matthew 3:1-12
• Song: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (Casting Crowns has a wonderful version of this hymn)
• Song: “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”
• Song: “It is Well With My Soul”
• Song: “Lead Me to the Rock” (CompassionArt)

____________________

¹ John Randall Dennis, The Book of Worship: 365 Inspiring Readings Based on Worship Songs and Classic Hymns (Bloomington, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishing, 2007), 8.

Welcome to Advent 2011!  If you are new to Advent, follow this link to learn more about it. Really, it’ll help you.  I’ll wait.

Where do we start with Advent?

We started yesterday with the firs

t Sunday of Advent.  The theme for the first Sunday (and this week) is hope.  Indeed, Advent is a time for hope.  This is not the “I hope I get an iPad for Christmas”.  This is hope based on, and for, Jesus Christ.  Think of Advent as a journey: here we are four weeks away from celebrating Christ’s birth.  We hope.

Read the following two passages of Scripture for today and meditate on the hope we have in Christ!

Jeremiah 33:14-16

¹⁴ “ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. ¹⁵ “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

⁴ I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— ⁶ because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. ⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Suggestions for reading and meditation through this week:

• Isaiah 2:1-5
• Isaiah 64:1-9
• Psalm 80:1-7; 17-19
• Romans 13:11-14
• Song: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
• Song: “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”

Happy first Sunday of Advent!  In Romans 5:5 Paul writes, “Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Unless you grew up in “liturgical” Christian traditions, “advent” might be a foreign word.  I did not grow up in one these traditions but Advent has become something very near and dear to my heart.  It's not something to fight over if your church doesn't do it, but it certainly helps me to focus at a time when focus is a littler harder to come by.

What is “Advent”?

“Advent” means “coming”.  There are two ways this word is used.  In one way it can be used as “the advent of our Lord” or “His second advent”.  “The advent of our Lord” typically refers to the time before Christmas while “His second advent” refers to His return.  Germane to this devotional, Advent is a season of preparation immediately preceding Christmas.  The celebration of Advent began, most likely, around the fourth century.  It wasn’t until the Middle Ages, however, that it was “standardized” as beginning four Sunday before Christmas.  In terms of the Christmas Calendar, it is considered the beginning.  Makes sense, doesn’t it?  We are preparing for the birth of Jesus: the beginning, so to speak, of when everything changed.

Why Advent?

Advent helps us manage this season which has grown from a week before Christmas to beginning sometime after Halloween.  Full disclosure: I was listening to Christmas music around November 1!  Advent helps keep us grounded in the meaning of the season and keeps December from being nothing more than about a Christmas tree that will die and end up on the curb hoping someone comes by and recycles it while more and more needles continue to drop off.

When is Advent?

Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day and lasts for four weeks.  It ends at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve and Christmas begins.  This year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 27 and ends Saturday, December 24.

Question:

Do “good people”, like Gandhi, go to heaven even though they have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior?

Answer:

Let’s begin here with this...Romans 3:10 states, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” Paul unequivocally states there is no human being who meets the qualification God requires: righteousness.

A few verses later in Romans 3:23 Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Who has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? All. Every single one of us. “Good” people and “Bad” people—ALL. That means there is nothing we can do to make ourselves “good enough” so God sits up and declares, “Wow! That’s great! You get into heaven because you’re good.”  It’s the fact that we are all sinners that proves we need a Savior.

If it were possible to be good enough on our own, why did Jesus have to die?

The half-brother of our Lord Jesus wrote this in James 2:10–11, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  For he who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’  also said, ‘You shall not murder.’  If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”

Let me ask you questions about the “good” people we know—even ourselves:

• Have you ever committed adultery? Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 that if you’ve looked on someone lustfully you’ve already committed adultery.
• Have you ever murdered? Jesus said in Matthew 5:22 if you’re angry with someone you’re subject to judgment and if you call them a fool, you’re in danger of hell.

Therefore, 100% of us—at some point in our lives—have broken at leasttwo of the commandments (probably all of them). Again, James said if you keep part of the law but stumble in one part, you’re guilty of breaking it all (James 2:10). Clearly, we have a problem. No human being is “good” from a Biblical perspective.

Without “something” to pay our debt to God, heaven is impossible to gain.

It was Jesus Himself, in John 14:6, that said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” So...who can get to the Father in Heaven without Christ? Jesus said, “No one”. That means even those we consider “good”.

Perhaps the most famous verse in the Bible is John 3:16. But read what John 3:16-18 says:

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Read verse 18 again slowly: “whoever believes in him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (emphasis mine).

This is why Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9:“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” If we could be good enough and earn our salvation on our own, it wouldn’t be grace. And ultimately, we can’t be good enough—that’s why we can’t earn it.

If we could be good enough to prove ourselves worthy of heaven, Jesus’ death would not have been needed.  But we do need His death and resurrection. We are not good enough on our own. We need heaven’s mercy. That mercy is only obtainable through the gift of grace offered in Jesus Christ.

God is not in heaven waiting to condemn us. John 3:18 tells us we already stand condemned unless we accept the grace God offers. All humanity has a terminal disease: sin. “The wages of sin if death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We could waste our entire lives looking for another way to heaven but we would end up dying of this terminal disease in the process. The cure, my friends, is not found in religion but in a relationship with Jesus Christ.