Finding Love in Leviticus

On Sunday evening, April 2, 2017, Greg Wanderman, gospel preacher for the Clover (SC) church of Christ spoke at the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 during the worship hour.

He very admirably spoke on the subject; "Finding Love in Leviticus."  Though many wrongly assume that the God of the Old Testament is an angry tyrant, Greg pointed out with proof after proof from the text that quite the opposite is true.  He showed that the eastern gate of the Tabernacle (the tent of meeting) was the only entry to the abode of God Himself as Christ is the only "true door."  He noted that the show bread reminds us that Christ is the bread of life.  It was illustrated that the candles are symbolic for the fact that Christ is the light of the world.  The brazen sea was used for the priest to ritually cleanse themselves before serving in the Tabernacle as Christ commands baptism in water for the remission of sins. The prayers of the saints are symbolized by the incense of the temple.  In both the Tabernacle and in baptism, atonement is made by the shedding of blood to blot out sin.  Mercy is extended to the poor as two measures of flour would substitute for a pigeon should one be too poor to possess one.   The flour would be poured by the priest onto the burning sacrifice of a bloody sacrifice thus combining the blood going up in smoke with the powdery flour.

No, far from being the "God of Wrath," there is nothing but love to be found in Leviticus because above all else, God wants to Tabernacle with us, now and forever.

Thanks, Greg, for a job well done as God gets all the glory for "loving us while we were yet sinners." 

He Began to Speak to Them in Parables - Part 1

“He Began to Speak to Them in Parables”

“From Ulster Plantation to the Carolina’s with the Gospel!” *

 

Russell H. McCullough / Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210

www.archdale.org / gospelcall.blogspot.com - Date:  2 April 2017

Text: Mark 12.1 - 12

Thesis:  In order to rightly divide the Scriptures we must understand how language is used in Scripture.

1           Introduction

A.   Keys are required to open doors.  Language and its use is the key to understanding.

B.   The NT uses Metaphors, Similes, Parables, Epigrams, but not Allegory to communicate God’s Will.  We are going to examine each.

1.      Metaphor – A metaphor is the comparison of two factual things that are essentially unalike in order to make a point – Luke 13.32

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

2.     Simile – A simile is a more overtly stated metaphor to underline, as it were, the meaning.  A simile is likely to us words such as “like” or “as” – Isaiah 53.6

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

3.    Parable – A parable is an extended simile or metaphor that is characterized by a setting, an account, and an application.  Many times, such as in Mark 12.9, a parable asks questions of the audience – Mark 12.1.  Sometimes the questions are rhetorical, providing the obvious answer.

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

4.    Epigram – “…any witty, ingenious, or pointed saying tersely expressed.” – Dictionary.com  -  “Epigram is a clever and witty statement expressed in just a few lines, pointing out foibles and truths of mankind.” – Literarydevises.net – Luke 6.42

a.    IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES, WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN SCRIPTURE.

5.    Allegory

a.    An allegory is a “½ true metaphor” as it has real things doing or saying things not found in reality, in other words, a fable – Judges 9.7 – 15

1)     This is the only true allegory in the entire Bible.  What Paul calls an “allegory” in Galatians 4 turns out to be a metaphor for the true meaning of the contrast is revealed by the Holy Spirit at the end of the context.

b.    An allegory is also the drawing of factual conclusions with no supporting evidence as taught by the so-called “church father,” Origen in the 3^rd century.  Origen “spiritualized” or “assigned meanings by imagination” to the Scriptures drawing downright stupid conclusions.  His interpretation of the Prodigal Son in Luke 10?

1)Adam is the victim

2)Jerusalem is heaven

3)   Jericho is the world

4)   The Robbers are the devil and his demons

5)   The Priest is the law

6)   The Levite is the prophets

7)   The Good Samaritan is Christ

8)   The Beast is the Body of Christ

9)   The Inn is the church

10)           The 2 denarri coin is the Father and

11)  The Son Promise to come back is the Second Coming of Christ.

c.     The “Allegorical Jump”

1)     “Well, that’s not a heaven and hell issue.”

2)    “We know that babies are baptized in the New Testament because the “entire household” of both Cornelius and the Philippian Jailer were baptized.”

3)   “The Bible never says we can’t __________”

2          The Meaning of the Text in It’s Theological, Historical & Cultural Context:

A.   If we ignore how language is used in the Scriptures, we will not have “ears to hear.”

B.   Peter refers to the misunderstanding of the language of Scripture, either done ignorantly or on purpose, as “twisting.” – II Peter 3.15 - 16

3          The Challenge of the Text for Christians Today

A.   At the heart of every error lies a misunderstanding of how language is used in the Bible.

B.   IN ORDER TO RIGHTLY DIVIDE THE SCRIPTURES WE MUST UNDERSTAND HOW LANGUAGE IS USED IN THE SCRIPTURES.

C.    “Why?”

D.   Luke 12.9 – “What will the owner of the vineyard do?”

4         “The Gospel Call”

·         My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book of his time; Gaston’s Collections.  It allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.”  Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died prematurely of the measles.  He is buried just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House Cemetery.”   Uncle Hugh continues to inspire my ministry to this very day.  You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston

Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.