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Studio "B" Transcripts Key Concepts Of Christianity
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Bible Scholar Dr. Mark Black is a Professor of Bible at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. He recently visited our KNLS studio "B" to share with our listening friends some of the Key Concepts of the Christian Faith. You will find his comments below. Please note the copyright notice at the bottom of the page.
You may now jump to any of the following:
- The Christian View Of Sin
- Christians and Grace
- A Christian View of Faith
- The Importance of Repentance
- Incarnation: God Made Flesh
- Christians and Atonement
- The Importance of Confession
- Baptism Defined
- The Need For Resurrection
- BACK TO THE STUDIO "B" PAGE?
WELCOME, RADIO FRIENDS. GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US FOR THIS ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRANSMISSION FROM THE NEW LIFE STATION, KNLS. THIS IS MIKE OSBORNE, YOUR HOST FOR THE BROADCAST AND JOINING ME HERE IN THE STUDIO IS PROFESSOR MARK BLACK WHO JOINS US HERE IN THE STUDIO NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO COME HERE ON NEW LIFE STATION. MARK WILL BE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CENTRAL IDEAS OR KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. MARK, I APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING TIME TO JOIN US.
PROFESSOR BLACK: THANK YOU, MIKE, FOR INVITING ME.
MIKE: OUR CHRISTIAN PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN A GREAT DEAL OF ABUSE OVER THE CENTURIES FOR INSISTING ON AN UNWAVERING MORAL STANDARD. MANY PEOPLE FIND OUR CONCERN WITH SIN, IF YOU WILL, OFFENSIVE EVEN UNHEALTHY. WHY DO CHRISTIAN PEOPLE FEEL COMPELLED TO DEAL WITH SUCH A DISTASTEFUL ISSUE?
PROFESSOR BLACK: THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. LET’S TALK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES ABOUT THIS VERY FUNDAMENTAL IDEA OF SIN. I BELIEVE, THAT WITHOUT A REAL UNDERSTANDING OF SIN THERE CANNOT BE ANY REAL CHRISTIANITY. SIN IN ESSENCE, THAT IS IN ITS SIMPLEST TERMS IS BREAKING GOD’S LAW, BREAKING GOD’S RULES, FAILING TO LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT GOD HAS SET. OUR SIN CAN BE KNOWN OR UNKNOWN. THAT IS, SOMETIMES WE DO IT KNOWINGLY AND SOMETIMES WE SIN WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT. VERY OFTEN OUR SINS ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING THAT ARE WRONG, THAT IS WE KNOW WE ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD NOT DO. AND OTHER TIMES OUR SINS OCCUR WHEN WE FAIL TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. THAT IS, WE SIN BY DOING NOTHING. THE FACT IS, ALL SIN, PAUL MAKES THAT SO CLEAR IN ROMANS 1 AND 2. THERE IS NO ONE WHO IS A HUMAN BEING WHO IS ABOVE SIN. THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY DON’T SIN ARE JUST FOOLING THEMSELVES. IT IS A CONCEPT THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE QUESTIONED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THAT IS, WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS NEGATIVE IDEA THAT THERE ARE THESE THINGS THAT GOD HATES? I THINK THAT IS A GOOD ENTRANCE INTO THE DISCUSSION. WHY DOES GOD HATE SIN? WHY DOES GOD HAVE THESE RULES AND THESE LAWS THAT HE WANTS US TO LIVE BY? I THINK IT’S BEEN A MISUNDERSTANDING THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION THAT HAS LED TO SUCH A NEGATIVE VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN. IT’S NOT SIMPLY THAT GOD IS PERSONALLY OFFENDED BY OUR SIN. I BELIEVE THAT HE IS PERSONALLY OFFENDED BECAUSE IT IS HIS NATURE TO BE SINLESS, TO BE PERFECTLY HOLY. SO HE IS PERSONALLY OFFENDED. BUT THE FACT IS WHAT MAKES GOD HATE SIN IN HUMANS IS THE FACT THAT SIN HURTS HUMAN BEINGS. IT HURTS THE SINNER AND IT HURTS THOSE THAT THE SINNER IS SINNING AGAINST AND THOSE WHO ARE ANYWHERE NEAR THAT PERSON. SOMETIMES WE KNOW THAT. THE FACT IS THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE DO SOMETHING TO SOMEONE OR WE SAY SOMETHING TO SOMEONE AND THE INTENT IS TO HURT THEM. WE KNOW BECAUSE IT’S BEEN DONE TO US. WE KNOW JUST HOW MUCH IT HURTS TO HAVE SOMEONE VERBALLY OR PERHAPS EVEN PHYSICALLY ABUSE US. AT THAT TIME, OF COURSE, WE BELIEVE IN SIN. EVERYONE BELIEVES IN SOME SORT OF SIN, IT’S JUST THE OTHER TYPES THAT SOME DON’T BELIEVE IN. BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT ALL SIN HURTS US. THAT’S WHY GOD HATES IT SO BAD. BECAUSE OUR SIN IS KILLING US, AND SO WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT, WHEN WE SIN WE ARE HURTING OURSELVES AND WE ARE HURTING THOSE THAT WE LOVE AND THOSE WHO ARE AROUND US, EVEN IF WE DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE DOING TO THEM. THE FACT IS THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN IS BASED ON THE FACT THAT GOD KNOWS SIN. MY BELIEF IS THAT MOST OF THE SIN; FOR EXAMPLE, YOU LOOK AT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS “THOU SHALT NOT KILL”. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH INDISCRIMINATE KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL”. THAT ONE IS ALSO VERY, VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THOUGH THAT PERHAPS WE DON’T UNDERSTAND AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR WORLD IS REALLY QUESTIONING ABOUT “THOU SHALT BE SEXUALLY PURE”. THAT IS THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY HAVE A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE THAT YOU ARE MARRIED TO. SO OUR WORLD SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THAT ONE. THE FACT IS IT’S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO DO. WE HAVE THE ANALOGY OF A PARENT AND A CHILD IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO UNDERSTAND SIN. AS WE’RE RAISING OUR CHILDREN, WE SAY, “DON’T DO THIS AND DON’T DO THAT”. “I WANT YOU TO MAKE YOUR BED”. WHY? WELL SOMEDAY YOU’LL UNDERSTAND IT’S JUST IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO THAT. I WANT YOU NOT TO GO NEAR THE STOVE OVER THERE, FOR EXAMPLE. WHY? WELL IT’S HOT, IT WILL BURN YOU. THEY MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A CONCEPT OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BURN. YET, WE DO THAT NOT BECAUSE WE’RE PERSONALLY OFFENDED BY THEM BURNING THEMSELVES, BUT BECAUSE IT IS SO HARMFUL TO THEM. CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THE LAWS, ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US ARE WHAT’S BEST FOR US EVEN SOMETIMES WHEN WE DON’T UNDERSTAND THEM. SO I BELIEVE THE PRESENT REFUSAL TO CALL SIN WHAT IT IS, THAT IS SIN, IS LEADING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF CULTURE. IF I CAN USE THE EXAMPLE AGAIN OF THE SEXUAL FREEDOM THAT OUR CULTURE REFUSES TO CALL SIN. YOU LOOK AT THE FRUITS OF THE SEXUAL FREEDOMS IN OUR CULTURE AND WHAT HAS IT LED TO? THIS THING THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT OUGHT TO BE UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHAT HE DOES OR WHAT SHE DOES HAS LED US TO UNWANTED CHILDREN. CAN THERE BE ANYTHING MORE HEARTBREAKING THAN CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS DON’T WANT TO RAISE THEM? IT HAS LED OUR SEXUAL FREEDOM WHICH PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO CALL SIN, HAS LED TO LIFE-THREATENING DISEASES. CAN THERE BE ANYTHING MORE THAT’S SADDER THAN WATCHING SOMEONE DIE BECAUSE HE OR SHE REFUSED TO USE SELF DISCIPLINE? IT HAS LED TO THE ABORTIONS OF MILLIONS OF UNBORN INFANTS. IT HAS LED, I BELIEVE EVERY TIME EVEN WHEN THERE AREN’T UNWANTED CHILDREN OR DISEASES, HAS LED TO A HORRIBLE THOUGHT OF SELF IMAGE. CAN THERE BE ANY WORSE FEELING THAN FOR SOMEONE WHO YOU THOUGHT LOVED YOU? NOT TO EVEN CALL? TO LIVE YOUR LIFE COMPLETELY AFTER A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP? YOU SEE, GOD KNEW ALL OF THIS WHEN HE GAVE THAT COMMAND. THEN THE FACT IS THAT GOD IS PERSONALLY OFFENDED AND WHEN WE’RE INVOLVED IN SIN IT SEPARATES US FROM GOD. IT PUTS A WEDGE BETWEEN US AND GOD AND SO FAR ALL OF THESE REASONS, GOD HAS LABELED CERTAIN ACTIVITIES AND THOUGHTS AS SINFUL. SO CHRISTIANS TRUST GOD, THAT HE KNOWS WHAT’S BEST AND THAT THESE RULES THAT HE HAS GIVEN US ARE VERY MUCH LIKE THE RULES WE GIVE OUR TWO YEAR OLDS, OUR FIVE YEAR OLDS, AND OUR TWELVE YEAR OLDS WHICH THEY DON’T UNDERSTAND. SO EVEN THE ONES THAT WE DON’T UNDERSTAND, WE ACCEPT ON FAITH AND WE REFUSE WILLINGLY TO GET INVOLVED IN THESE ACTIVITIES. THEN, ULTIMATELY, DESTROYED. IT IS THAT WHICH IS AGAINST GOD’S NATURE AND THEREFORE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF SIN WAS ONE THAT LOOKED CRAZY TO THE WORLD AND ONE THAT WE MUST UPHOLD. THE HOLINESS OF GOD IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. WHAT MORE CAN I SAY ABOUT THAT?
MIKE: YOU’VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED THE ANALOGY OF A PARENT AND CHILD. WE BOTH HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME AND THAT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL TO ME. LET ME ALSO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU PAINTING FOR US A PICTURE OF A GOD THAT ISN’T OUT TO SIMPLY SPOIL OUR FUN BY MAKING RULES THAT WE HAVE TO OBEY, BUT A GOD THAT WANTS TO PRESERVE US AND PROTECT US AND LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE IS WILLING TO SAY, “NO, THIS IS GOING TO HARM YOU. DON’T DO IT.”
PROFESSOR BLACK: THAT’S A VERY GOOD WAY OF PUTTING THAT. I WISH I WOULD HAVE USED THOSE WORDS.
MIKE: YOU PAINTED A WONDERFUL PICTURE OF THE LOVING GOD AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. AS I MENTIONED AS THE BEGINNING OF OUR TALK, WE ARE MAKING A COPY OF ALL OF MARK’S VISITS WITH US ON AN AUDIOCASSETTE TAPE. WE WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEND THAT TO YOU FREE AND WITHOUT OBLIGATION. JUST WRITE TO US AT STATION KNLS, ANCHOR POINT, ALASKA 99556 USA. ASK FOR THE AUDIOCASSETTE TAPE ENTITLED “KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH”. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT US VIA THE INTERNET, OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS KNLS@AOL.COM.
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PROFESSOR BLACK, PART TWO
MIKE: PROFESSOR MARK BLACK JOINS US IN THE STUDIOS TODAY HERE ON STATION KNLS. MARK WILL BE HERE WITH US ALL OF THIS WEEK IN FACT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CENTRAL IDEAS OR KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. MARK, THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US AGAIN.
PROFESSOR BLACK: I ENJOY BEING HERE. THANK YOU.
MIKE: MARK, I’D LIKE YOU TO TALK TODAY ABOUT A CONCEPT THAT IS REALLY QUITE UNIQUE IN A RELIGIOUS WORLD. THE IDEA OF GRACE. MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU TO BEGIN SIMPLY BY DEFINING THIS TERM FOR US. THEN GO ON TO EXPLAIN WHY GRACE IS SUCH A CENTRAL CONCEPT TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
PROFESSOR BLACK: SURE, MIKE. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GRACE, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS, THAT IT IS SOMETIMES PUT. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT GOD’S MERCY WHEN IT’S UNDESERVED. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE CENTRAL MOST IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD HIMSELF AND THAT IS THAT OUR GOD IS A GRACIOUS GOD. WE’RE GOING TO TALK LATER ABOUT HOW HE IS A HOLY GOD. HOW HE IS A JUST GOD. HOW HE IS EVEN A WRATHFUL GOD. BUT WE DON’T UNDERSTAND GOD UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS A GRACIOUS GOD. HE’S ALWAYS BEEN A GOD OF GRACE. THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT GOD BECAME A GOD OF GRACE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN SEEN BY CHRISTIANS AS A HERETIC. GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOD OF GRACE AS YOU LOOK BACK TO THE TIME OF THE EXODUS. GOD DELIVERED ISRAEL OUT OF EGYPT, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE THE BEST PEOPLE ON THE EARTH. NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE THE STRONGEST OR THE BEST LOOKING OR THAT THEY HAD ANY OTHER SORT OF VIRTUE GOD CHOSE TO DELIVER THEM BECAUSE HE HAD CHOSEN TO DELIVER THEM. IT’S JUST THAT SIMPLE. HE LOVED THEM. WE’RE NOT GIVEN A REASON THAT HE LOVED THEM. THEY WERE OPPRESSED PEOPLE AND HE WANTED TO DELIVER THEM FROM EGYPT. SO HE LED THEM AWAY FROM EGYPT. HE LED THEM THROUGH THE RED SEA AND DELIVERED THEM AND WAS TAKING THEM TO THE PROMISED LAND LONG BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING TO DESERVE IT. THAT GETS TO THE ESSENCE. THAT TELLS US THE ESSENCE OF GRACE IT IS GOD’S COMPLETELY UNDESERVED KINDNESS TOWARDS HUMANITY. SO GRACE IS PREEMINENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH CHRIST. THOSE OF US WHO ARE CHRISTIANS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD’S GRACE WE TEND TO THINK OF JESUS CHRIST. IF THE EXODUS EVENT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TELLS US ABOUT GOD’S GRACE, THEN THE CROSS OF THE GOSPEL AND THE NEW TESTAMENT TELL US EVEN MORE ABOUT GRACE. PAUL, PERHAPS, EXPLAINS IT BEST IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS. THERE PAUL TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHY WE WERE STILL SINNERS, WHILE WE WERE IN OPEN REBELLION AGAINST GOD, WHILE WE COULD DO NOTHING FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE WE HAD NOTHING TO OFFER GOD, GOD ACTED ON OUR BEHALF. GOD CREATED US FOR FELLOWSHIP WITH HIMSELF AND HE WANTED THAT FELLOWSHIP SO BADLY THAT HE CHOSE TO PAY THE PRICE THAT HAD TO BE PAID BECAUSE OF THE SINFULNESS OF HUMANITY. SO GOD HIMSELF BECAUSE HUMAN. WE’LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT TOMORROW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INCARNATION. GOD HIMSELF BECAME HUMAN, THE PERFECT HUMAN, AND TOOK ON OUR SINS AND THIS WAS ALL DUE TO NOTHING THAT WE HAD DONE TO DESERVE IT. SO NOW GRACE IS OFFERED TO ALL OF THOSE WHO LOOK TO GOD. TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ADMIT THEIR SINS, WHO WILL CONFESS THEIR SINS, AND ASK FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS. GOD GIVES HIS FORGIVENESS FREELY. GOD ACCEPTS US BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING. GOD ACCEPTS US AT THE POINT OF OUR FAITH IN HIM AND OUR RESPONSE TO HIS GRACE. THAT IS GOD OFFERS, OURS IS SIMPLY TO ACCEPT. BECAUSE FOR GRACE TO BE TRULY GRACE, THAT IS A GIFT OF GOD, IT MUST BE FREE. WE’RE SAVED PURELY ON THE BASIS OF GRACE AND NOT WORKS. PAUL SAYS IT VERY CLEARLY IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 WHERE HE SAYS, “WE’RE SAVED BY GRACE AND NOT WORKS BECAUSE IF WE WERE SAVED BY WORKS, SOME WOULD BOAST THAT THEY HAD SOMEHOW SAVED THEMSELVES."” THIS, OF COURSE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOOD WORKS ARE NOT DEMANDED FROM CHRISTIANS. GRACE IS GIVEN AS A GIFT AND THEN GOOD WORKS WILL ALWAYS FOLLOW AS A RESPONSE TO THE GIFT. IT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD THAT FOR GRACE TO BE GRACE, THE GOOD WORKS ARE NOT A PREREQUISITE. THAT IS, THE GOOD WORKS ARE NOT THE REASON THAT GOD GIVES US SALVATION, BUT THEY ARE THE THANKFUL RESPONSE. THAT IS, GOD HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING AND HAS EVEN GIVEN HIS SON TO DIE. HOW CAN WE DO ANYTHING BUT RESPOND BY GIVING BACK TO GOD? RESPOND BY BECOMING LIKE HIS SON? HOW CAN WE DO ANYTHING BUT RESPOND BY DOING GOOD WORKS FOR OTHERS AND TRYING TO BE LIKE GOD HIMSELF IN BEING GRACIOUS OURSELVES.
MIKE: MARK, WHILE YOU WERE TALKING I STARTED THINKING ABOUT MY CHILDREN ACTUALLY. IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT PERHAPS OUR CHILDREN IS ONE WAY THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BETTER RELATE GOD’S GRACE TO US. I LOVE MY CHILDREN DEARLY, BUT IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY DO OR WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISH. I JUST LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE MY CHILDREN. THAT’S WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING ABOUT THIS GOD OF GRACE.
PROFESSOR BLACK: I THINK THAT’S A FINE ANALOGY. OF COURSE, ONE THAT JESUS USED IN LUKE 15 WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE REBELLIOUS CHILD WHO TOOK HIS INHERITANCE AND WENT AWAY AND WASTED IT LIVING FOOLISHLY AND THEN REALIZED THAT HE COULD AT LEAST GO HOME PERHAPS AS A SERVANT. YOU’LL REMEMBER THAT THAT STORY ENDS BY THE SON COMING HOME AND THE FATHER ACCEPTING HIM COMPLETELY DESPITE THE FACT OF HIS HAVING EMBARRASSED THE FAMILY AND DEGRADED HIMSELF. THE FATHER SAID, “GO SLAUGHTER THE FATTED CALF, WE’RE GOING TO PARTY TONIGHT. BRING THE RING FOR HIS FINGER AND A ROBE AROUND HIS SHOULDERS AND THE SANDALS ON HIS FEET. MY SON IS ALIVE; I ACCEPT HIM COMPLETELY.”
MIKE: HOW WONDERFUL THAT WE HAVE A GOD THAT LOVES US SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARK, FOR THAT INSIGHT ON THIS KEY CONCEPT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH CALLED GRACE.
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MIKE: MARK, THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO BE WITH US AGAIN TODAY.
PROFESSOR BLACK: THANK YOU. I ENJOY IT VERY MUCH.
MIKE: MARK, TODAY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST BASIC OF ALL CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. THAT IS THE IDEA OF FAITH ITSELF. SINCE THIS TERM CAN BE USED IN MORE THAN ONE WAY, PERHAPS IT WOULD BE BEST FOR YOU TO BEGIN BY DEFINE THE EXPRESSION FOR US.
PROFESSOR BLACK: I’LL DO MY BEST. THERE ARE ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF DEFINITIONS OF FAITH. I THINK THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY CONCEPTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CHRISTIAN FAITH. ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE CONTENT OF THE FAITH AND THE OTHER HAS TO DO WITH THE ATTITUDE OF FAITH. THEREFORE, I THINK PERHAPS THE BEST TWO SYNONYMS FOR CHRISTIAN FAITH WOULD BE BELIEF AND TRUST. THE BELIEF SIDE IS THAT AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT WHICH WE HAVE NOT DIRECTLY EXPERIENCED THAT WHICH WE WERE NOT EYE-WITNESSES OF. WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD WHO CAME TO EARTH TO LIVE AS A HUMAN BEING, WHO LIVED A SINLESS LIFE AND WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS AND THEN WAS RESURRECTED. WE BELIEVE THAT AFTER THREE DAYS JESUS GOT UP OUT OF THE TOMB AND WALKED AND WAS ALIVE ONCE AGAIN AND APPEARED TO THOSE FOLLOWERS. HE DIDN’T APPEAR TO US, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT. THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF THE BELIEF SIDE OF FAITH. AT THE SAME TIME, FAITH INVOLVES OUR ATTITUDE. THAT IS, FAITH MEANS TRUST. WE TRUST THAT THE DEATH OF JESUS AND HIS RESURRECTION SOMEHOW AFFECTS US AND DEALS WITH OUR PROBLEM OF SIN. WE TRUST THAT IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF OUR OWN GOOD WORKS, IT’S NOT BECAUSE OF OUR GOODNESS THAT WE WILL BE SAVED. WE TRUST THAT WE WILL BE SAVED ON THE BASIS OF JESUS’ DEATH. SO CHRISTIANS HAVE PUT ALL OF THEIR TRUST IN GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. WE BELIEVE THAT THAT MEANS THAT ONE DAY WE ALSO WILL BE RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SINS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. WE TRUST THAT NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM GOD. WE TRUST THAT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR FUTURE HERE ON THE EARTH. WE TRUST THAT IF WE GIVE OURSELVES FOR HIM WE WILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE, THAT HE WILL PROVIDE THOSE FOR US. WE TRUST THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE NO MATTER WHAT OUR DEEPEST WOES – AT THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES, AT THE TIMES OF ILLNESS WE TRUST THAT GOD IS ALWAYS THERE. SO GOD IS THE ALL-POWERFUL AND ALL-KNOWING AND ALL-LOVING FRIEND WHO CAN DO ANYTHING FOR US AND WE TRUST IN HIM. PERHAPS THE BEST ANALOGY FOR THIS TRUSTING SIDE OF FAITH IS THAT WHICH THE YOUNG CHILD HAS FOR HIS MOMMY AND HIS DADDY. THAT IS HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN’T DO FOR HIM OR FOR HER. THAT IS THE WAY CHRISTIANS FEEL ABOUT GOD. WE HAVE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEF THAT GOD WILL PROVIDE BOTH NOW AND IN ETERNITY FOR US.
MIKE: MARK, THIS WORD “FAITH” FOR MANY PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD HAS ALMOST BECOME A DIRTY WORD. THEY LOOK AT THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE AND SAY HOW CAN YOU TRUST SO BLINDLY IN SOMETHING. THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT CHRISTIAN PEOPLE ARE DOING. YOU MENTIONED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENT AND CHILD. THAT FAITH OR TRUST THAT A CHILD DEVELOPS IN PARENTS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS DEVELOPED OVER THAT CHILD’S LIFETIME. THAT FAITH OR TRUST IS THE RESULT OF THE PARENTS HAVING CARED SO VERY CAREFULLY FOR THAT CHILD OVER TIME. SO THE CHILD ACTUALLY HAS GOOD REASON TO HAVE FAITH OR TRUST IN HIS OR HER PARENTS.
PROFESSOR BLACK: THAT’S CORRECT. JUST AS WITH THE CHILD, OUR FAITH IN GOD IS BASED ON A RELATIONSHIP. IT IS BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST, OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US IN THE PRESENT, AND THEREFORE WE’RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FUTURE. WHEN I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT FAITH BEING BASED ON THAT WHICH WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED, I MEAN WE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED SEEING JESUS ALIVE. YET FAITH IS ANYTHING BUT WITHOUT EVIDENCE. THE RESURRECTION HAS TREMENDOUS EVIDENCE AND THAT’S WHY WE HAVE THESE WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TELLING US ABOUT ALL OF THE EYE- WITNESSES; THOSE WHO NOT ONLY SAW JESUS ALIVE AFTER HE WAS KILLED ON THE CROSS, BUT WERE WILLING TO DIE FOR THEIR BELIEF IN THAT. SO WHY WE DIDN’T WITNESS THE RESURRECTION, WE HAVE WONDERFUL EVIDENCE THAT THE RESURRECTION ACTUALLY OCCURRED HISTORICALLY IN TIME. SO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON TRUST AND BASED ON HISTORICAL VERIFIABLE EVIDENCE. SO FAITH IS BELIEF IN THAT WHICH IS UNSEEN, BUT IT’S NOT WITHOUT EVIDENCE.
MIKE: WE CERTAINLY WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY OF OUR LISTENERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS SUBJECT TO PURSUE IT FURTHER. YOUR FRIENDS HERE AT KNLS WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT WITH YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WRITE TO US AND ASK US TO EXPLORE THIS IDEA OF FAITH WITH YOU.
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MIKE: JOINING US HERE IN THE STUDIO IS PROFESSOR OF BIBLE, MARK BLACK. HE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS AND WILL BE WITH US FOR SEVERAL DAYS MORE HERE ON STATION KNLS. HE’S BEEN TALKING TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE CENTRAL IDEAS OR KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. MARK, THANKS AGAIN FOR TAKING TIME TO JOIN US.
PROFESSOR BLACK: I’M ALWAYS GLAD TO TALK ABOUT THE GOSPEL.
MIKE: MARK, TODAY WE WANT TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. TALK TO US ABOUT THE CENTRAL CONCEPT CALLED REPENTANCE.
PROFESSOR BLACK: I BELIEVE YOU’RE RIGHT WHEN YOU CALL REPENTANCE A CENTRAL CONCEPT. REPENTANCE IS PART OF OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN CHRIST. TO DEFINE REPENTANCE YOU WOULD PROBABLY USE WORDS LIKE TURNING, A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE AND A CHANGE OF ACTION. REPENTANCE REFERS TO THE ACT OF TURNING AWAY FROM A LIFE OF SIN TO A LIFE DEVOTED TO GOD. IT IS AN ACT THAT WILL BE REPEATED DAILY FOR CHRISTIANS BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER COMPLETELY PUT SIN BEHIND US. BUT IT IS CENTRAL TO THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING THAT WE CAN LEAVE A LIFE OF SLAVERY TO SIN, NOT TO LIVE A PERFECT LIFE OF OBEDIENCE, BUT TO LIVE A LIFE WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY OBEDIENCE AND DOING THAT WHICH IS RIGHT. IT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF FAITH. I WOULD EVEN INCLUDE IT UNDER THE UMBRELLA, UNDER THE GREAT CONCEPT OF FAITH. IT IS PART OF THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE. SOME HAVE SAID THAT GOD’S PART IN REDEMPTION IS THAT HE GAVE US GRACE; THAT HE EXTENDS HIS MESSAGE OF SAVING GRACE FOR US TO ACCEPT AND OUR PART IS TO RESPOND IN FAITH. PART OF THAT RESPONSE OF BELIEVING AND TRUSTING GOD IS THE BELIEF THAT WE MUST TURN FROM THAT FROM WHICH GOD IS SAVING US. THAT IS, GOD DOESN’T SAVE US FROM SIN SO THAT WE WILL CONTINUE IN SIN. GOD SAVES US FROM SIN BECAUSE SIN IS SO HORRIBLE. SIN IS SO DESTRUCTIVE. SIN DOES SUCH HORRIBLE THINGS TO RELATIONSHIPS THAT HE WANTS US TO PUT IT BEHIND US. SO AS HE SAVES US FROM SIN, WE DEVELOP WE DEVELOP A HATRED OF SIN. WE DEVELOP THE GREATEST DESIRE TO LIVE AS GOD’S PEOPLE, TO LIVE AS GOD WANTS US TO LIVE. WE MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT THAT WE WILL NO LONGER SIN. WE MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT THAT EVERYDAY WE WILL FIGHT SIN. WHAT IS WONDERFUL IS THAT AT THE SAME TIME GOD HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO US THAT HE WILL HELP US IN REPENTANCE. SO GOD GIVES TO THOSE WHO CONFESS HIS NAME AND ARE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE GIFT OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. WE’RE TOLD NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US REPENTANCE. THAT IS THAT GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT HELPS US PUT OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS, HELPS US TO THROW OFF OUR GREEDINESS, OUR FLAVOR TO VARIOUS ADDICTIONS, OUR ACTIONS THAT HURT OUR RELATIONSHIP AND ALL OF THOSE SINS AND THAT THE SPIRIT GIVES US STRENGTH. THE SPIRIT WORKS WITH US AND FOR US TO ENABLE US TO LIVE A LIFE OF REPENTANCE. THAT IS, TURNING FROM SIN AND TURNING TOWARD GOD.
MIKE: MARK, YOU MENTIONED SUBSTANCE ABUSE JUST A MOMENT AGO. I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT WHERE SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS CONCERNED, THAT THERE CANNOT BE HEALING UNTIL THE PERSON THAT IS ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS IS WILLING TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEN THE HEALING CAN BEGIN. IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE SAYING HERE FOR REPENTANCE?
PROFESSOR BLACK: I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. THERE CANNOT BE REPENTANCE UNTIL WE ADMIT THAT WE’RE CAUGHT UP IN SIN. ONLY THEN CAN WE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING OFF THAT SIN.
MIKE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WONDERFUL INSIGHTS. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE WORD “REPENTANCE” ANOTHER OF THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WHICH IS THE TITLE OF THIS SERIES AND THIS SERIES OF VISITS WITH PROFESSOR MARK BLACK. MARK HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS DEFINING THESE CONCEPTS AND WILL BE WITH US FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO COME HERE ON STATION KNLS.
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MIKE: MARK, TODAY I’D LIKE FOR YOU TO TALK TODAY TO OUR LISTENING FRIENDS ABOUT A RATHER STARTLING CHRISTIAN CONCEPT CONCERNING GOD BECOMING FLESH OR INCARNATION. MANY WORLD RELIGIONS INCORPORATE THE IDEA OF A GOD TAKING ON HUMAN FORM, BUT I DON’T THINK OF THEM BEARING EVEN A PASSING RESEMBLANCE TO THE REMARKABLE STORY OF JESUS CHRIST.
PROFESSOR BLACK: YOU ARE CERTAINLY RIGHT. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF INCARNATION ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. IN FACT, EVEN IN THE ANCIENT GREEK AND ROMAN RELIGION, YOU HAD GOD-MEN TYPES, BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS STORY. IN THIS STORY, GOD BECOMES HUMAN IN ORDER TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR HUMANS WHO WERE SO MUCH BENEATH GOD. IT’S A CRAZY CONCEPT TO MOST OF THE WORLD. I MUST ADMIT, IT’S ONE THAT CHRISTIANS, I BELIEVE, CAN UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. THE IDEA OF GOD BECOMING MAN IS ONE THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET OUR PHILOSOPHICAL MINDS AROUND. THAT IS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND ON A PURELY INTELLECTUAL BASIS. WE HAVE SUCH A LIMITED CONCEPT OF GOD ANYHOW AND OUR CONCEPT OF MAN IS ALSO SOMEWHAT LIMITED. THE THOUGHT OF BRINGING GOD AND MAN TOGETHER IN ONE BODY, QUITE FRANKLY, MAKES OUR HEADS HURT SOMETIMES. IT’S ONE OF THOSE CONCEPTS THAT CHRISTIANS ACCEPT ON SEVERAL BASES. PERHAPS THE REAL REASON THAT CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN INCARNATION IS BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST. AS YOU LOOK AT JESUS AND YOU SEE THAT HE WAS CLEARLY MAN, YOU ALSO SEE IN HIM A QUALITY THAT IS MORE THAN SIMPLY HUMAN. YOU SEE THE MAN WHO IS WITHOUT SIN. YOU SEE THE MAN WHO IS WITH PERFECT UNDERSTANDING. YOU SEE A MAN WHO THINKS THE THOUGHTS OF GOD HIMSELF. I BELIEVE THAT IT’S BECAUSE OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS WITH WE ACCEPT THIS IDEA OF INCARNATION. EVEN THOUGH WE’LL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT IN GREAT DEPTH, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DOCTRINES THAT WE BELIEVE BECAUSE WE’RE TAUGHT IT IN THE BIBLE. WE’RE TAUGHT THAT IN ESSENCE THAT GOD WANTED TO DEAL WITH SIMPLENESS SO BADLY THAT HE CHOSE TO SEND THE SON AS A HUMAN, AS A BABY. THE THOUGHT OF GOD IN THE BODY OF A NEWBORN BABY IS SOMETHING THAT WE THINK A LOT ABOUT AT CHRISTMAS AND IT BRINGS A LOT OF SENTIMENTALITY TO OUR MINDS, BUT THE GREATNESS OF THAT THOUGHT IS THAT GOD CONDESCENDS TO BECOME LIKE US TO DO SEVERAL THINGS FOR US: ONE, HE SHOWS US HOW WE’RE SUPPOSE TO LIVE. HE COMES AND LIVES THE LIFE THAT ADAM AND EVE AND DAVID AND PAUL WERE SUPPOSE TO LIVE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO LIVE. HE COMES AND SHOWS US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE PERSON THAT GOD HAS ALWAYS WANTED. AND AT THE SAME TIME, HE COMES TO GIVE HIMSELF BECAUSE OF OUR INABILITY TO BECOME THE PERSON WE’RE SUPPOSE TO BE. SO GOD COMES (AS PHILIPPIANS 2 SAYS) NOT JUST AS A HUMAN, BUT AS THE HUMAN ON THE LOWEST SOCIAL LEVEL. THAT IS AS A SERVANT OR IN THAT DAY THEY WOULD SAY A SLAVE. HE BECOMES NOT SIMPLY AS A HUMAN ONE WHO WAS ALSO A SLAVE, BUT HE BECOMES A HUMAN WHO IS A SLAVE, WHO IS SO OBEDIENT TO THE FATHER IN HEAVEN, THAT HE’S WILLING TO FACE DEATH. AT THAT, THE MOST SHAMEFUL DEATH OF THAT ERA, THE DEATH ON A CROSS. SO THE IDEA OF GOD HIMSELF BECOMING A HUMAN BEING AND GIVING UP NOT JUST THE ABILITIES AND THE POWER INHERENT IN BEING GOD, BUT HE COMES AND GIVES UP EVEN THE SORT OF HUMAN LIFE THAT MOST OF US LIVE. HE SUFFERS AND DIES AND TAKES ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD. IT’S A STORY THAT WHILE HUMAN HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO UNDERSTAND PHILOSOPHICALLY IT HAS BEEN SO CONVINCING JUST IN ITS BEAUTY WE ACCEPT THIS DOCTRINE OF INCARNATION.
MIKE: IT’S CERTAINLY TRUE. MARK, OUR MUSLIM FRIENDS WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING IN, NOT ONLY DO THEY NOT ACCEPT THIS CONCEPT OF INCARNATION, BUT ARE OFTEN IN FACT OFFENDED BECAUSE OF, IN ERROR, THEY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SOMEHOW SUGGESTING THAT GOD HAD SOME KIND OF A PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A WOMAN TO PRODUCE THIS GOD-CHILD. THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT CHRISTIAN ARE SUGGESTING HERE. IS IT?
PROFESSOR BLACK: THAT’S CORRECT. BOTH LUKE AND MATTHEW IN THEIR GOSPELS EXPLAIN TO US HOW THIS IDEA OF INCARNATION ACTUALLY OCCURRED. THAT IS, MARY IS THE TRUE MOTHER, BUT THE TRUE FATHER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, NOT JOSEPH. JOSEPH ONLY APPEARED TO PEOPLE TO BE THE FATHER OF JESUS SO THAT JESUS IS TRULY THE ONE WHO IS GOD AND MAN.
MIKE: MARK, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THAT ENLIGHTENING EXPLANATION OF THIS VERY DIFFICULT CONCEPT CALLED INCARNATION, ANOTHER OF THE KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
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MIKE: MARK, I’M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY’S TOPIC, A CONCEPT UNIQUE TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IT REALLY TURNS OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE DIVINE UP-SIDE- DOWN. NORMALLY WHEN WE THINK OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH A GOD OR GODS, WE THINK IN TERMS OF WHAT THE DIVINE EXPECTS FROM US. BUT IN A CHRISTIAN FAITH, THIS IDEA OF PROPITIATION OR ATONEMENT PICTURES A GOD WILLING TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR US.
PROFESSOR BLACK: PROPITIATION IS ONE OF THOSE TERMS THAT SOUNDS LIKE A TWENTY-FIVE CENT WORD. ONE OF THOSE LARGE WORDS FILLED WITH CONTENT AND IT IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT. AT THE CENTER OF THE IDEA OF PROPITIATION IS THE FACT THAT GOD IS A COMPLETELY HOLY, THAT IS COMPLETELY GOOD, MORALLY UPRIGHT AND THAT GOD IS A COMPLETELY JUST GOD. THAT IS GOD MUST ALWAYS DO RIGHT AND THAT MEANS GOD CAN NEVER JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN WRONG IS DONE. THERE MUST ALWAYS BE A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN. OTHERWISE SIN IS ALLOWED TO GO UNCHECKED AND IT IS ALLOWED TO DO FURTHER DAMAGE. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THE JUST, THE RIGHT, THE CORRECT PUNISHMENT FOR SIN IS DEATH. BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING WHEN WE SIN IS WE’RE CHOOSING TO GO OUR WAY INSTEAD OF GOD’S WAY. THE CORRECT PUNISHMENT FOR THAT IS SEPARATION FROM GOD. BY OUR OWN CHOICE WE ARE CHOOSING TO GO OUR WAY INSTEAD OF GOD’S WAY. THE CONCEPT OF PROPITIATION DEALS WITH THE QUESTION, “HOW CAN GOD ACCEPT SINFUL HUMAN BEING?” HOW CAN GOD CREATE A SITUATION SO THAT HE CAN FELLOWSHIP, THAT IS HE CAN HAVE DEALINGS DIRECTLY WITH HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE SO CAUGHT UP IN SIN? THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES ARE THE PROPER BACKGROUND FOR UNDERSTANDING PROPITIATION. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD TOLD THE ISRAELITES TO OFFER BULLS, GOATS AND THE LITTLE LAMBS AS A WAY OF PROPITIATING GOD. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE SENSE OF JUSTICE MUST BE MAINTAINED. THERE MUST BE A PUNISHMENT. THAT IS THAT GOD’S WRATH DEMANDS THAT THERE BE DEATH WHEN PEOPLE ENGAGE IN SIN. BACK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, GOD WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT THE DEATH OF ANIMALS. I WOULD ADVISE YOU TO THINK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES. FOR MODERN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT USE TO SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS WHAT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR THE WORSHIPPER TO TAKE THIS LITTLE LAMB, OR PERHAPS THIS RATHER LARGE CALF TO THE TABERNACLE OR TO THE TEMPLE AND THERE SLAUGHTER IT; SLIT ITS THROAT, DRAIN THE BLOOD, KILL THE ANIMAL, AND THEN BEGIN TO BUTCHER IT WHERE IT WAS THEN, VERY OFTEN ALL OF IT, WOULD BE BURNED – JUST IS THE CASE OF THE BURNT OFFERING. THE WAY IT IS UNDERSTOOD IS THAT GOD, FOR WHATEVER REASON BACK THEN, DECIDED TO ACCEPT, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING, THE DEATH OF THESE ANIMALS. BUT IT WAS A WAY OF REMINDING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL JUST HOW BAD SIN REALLY WAS AND THE FACT THAT HE BEING A HOLY AND JUST GOD COULD NOT SIMPLY LET IT GO. THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, AS THE WRITER OF HEBREWS TELLS US IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THAT BULLS, GOATS, AND LAMBS DYING DID NOT REALLY TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS HUMAN BEINGS WHO WERE COMMITTING THESE SINS. SO TO BE JUST AND FAIR, IT WAS THE HUMAN BEINGS WHO NEEDED TO DIE. THAT’S WHY THE NEW TESTAMENT STORY IS SO REMARKABLE BECAUSE GOD CHOSE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. SIMPLE HUMAN BEINGS, OF COURSE, COULDN’T DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ONE WITHOUT SIN WHO COULD MAKE ATONEMENT, WHO COULD PROPITIATE GOD’S WRATH AND SATISFY HIS SENSE OF JUSTICE. THEREFORE, GOD SAID I WILL GIVE MYSELF. I WILL SEND MY SON TO BECOME HUMAN AND LIVE A PERFECT LIFE AND THEN, ONLY THEN, CAN THERE BE A SACRIFICE WHICH ACTUALLY DEALS WITH THE PROBLEM OF SIN IN THE LIVES OF HUMANS. WHAT HAPPENS HERE IN A PHRASE IS THAT THESE INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS DIES ON BEHALF OF ALL THE GUILTY HUMAN BEINGS? THAT WAY, GOD’S SENSE OF JUSTICE COULD BE SATISFIED. SO JESUS COMES AND HE DIES ON THE CROSS. THAT DEATH SATISFIES GOD’S SENSE OF JUSTICE BECAUSE JESUS IN THAT MOMENT TAKES ON THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND PLACATES OR SATISFIES GOD’S WRATH. AT THAT TIME, SATAN’S GREATEST ENEMY, DEATH, IS DEFEATED AND JESUS OPENS UP THE WAY FOR US TO SPEND ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD BECAUSE GOD ACCEPTS JESUS’ DEATH INSTEAD OF OUR OWN. THAT’S WHAT PROPITIATION IS ABOUT.
MIKE: MARK, YOU HAVE PAINTED A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF PICTURE OF GOD THAN MOST OF US ARE USE TO PERHAPS FORMING IN OUR OWN MINDS -- WHETHER RIGHT OR WRONG. I THINK MANY OF US HAVE A MENTAL IMAGE OF GOD OF BEING VERY CRUEL AND VINDICTIVE IN MANY RESPECTS, BUT THE PICTURE YOU HAVE JUST PAINTED IS OF A GOD THAT IS VERY LOVING AND WILLING TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING TO BRING US BACK INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF.
PROFESSOR BLACK: THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. HE’S A GOD WHO IS COMPLETELY LOVING AND YET COMPLETELY JUST. THEREIN LIES THE PROBLEM. SO GOD DECIDED TO DEAL WITH IT HIMSELF BECAUSE WE COULDN’T. THAT OUGHT TO CALL FOR THE GREATEST SORT OF DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO SERVE THIS GOD WHO GIVES HIMSELF FOR US. I MIGHT ADD ONE MORE THING HERE, MIKE. THIS PROPITIATION, THIS ATONEMENT ALSO SERVED TO PURIFY. THAT IS, NOT ONLY DID IT DEAL WITH GOD’S SENSE OF JUSTICE, IT ALSO PURIFIED US SO THAT GOD’S SPIRIT CAN COME AND DWELL WITHIN US. I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED MATTERS OF THE ATONEMENT. JESUS’ DEATH OPENED THINGS UP SO THAT HE COULD RETURN TO HEAVEN AND SEND HIS SPIRIT INTO ALL OF GOD’S PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT IT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, NOT THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS, HAD BEEN OFFERED.
MIKE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARK. VERY WELL SAID AND VERY WELL DONE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME WITH US TODAY.
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MIKE: I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS TODAY REGARDING ONE OF THE MOST BASIC OF ALL CHRISTIAN CONCEPTS AND THAT IS THE IDEA OF CONFESSION. I MUST CONFESS THIS IS A KEY CONCEPT THAT IN MY OWN WALK WITH THE LORD THAT I DON’T THINK I REALLY HAVE ALL THAT GREAT A HANDLE ON. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT THIS IDEA OF CHRISTIAN CONFESSION.
PROFESSOR BLACK: THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TERMS THAT IS USED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK, JUST BRIEFLY, ABOUT TWO OF THEM. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CONFESSION WITH MOST CHRISTIANS, THEY WILL THINK OF AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONFESSIONS – THAT IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS WE SAY WITH OUR MOUTHS, THOSE THINGS WHICH WE UTTER WITH WORDS WHETHER TO GOD OR TO OTHERS. THE FIRST THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL THINK OF IS THAT CONFESSION THAT WE MAKE WHEN WE BECOME CHRISTIANS. IT IS THE TIME AT WHICH OUR HEART AND OUR MINDS HAVE BECOME CONVINCED THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, THAT HE DIED FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE RESURRECTED ON THE THIRD DAY, AND IS NOW IN HEAVEN INTERVENING FOR US. IT IS THE TIME WHEN WE CHOOSE TO ANNOUNCE THAT TO THE WORLD. IT IS THE TIME WHEN WE STAND UP BEFORE WITNESSES AND WE SAY, AS PETER DID AND LATER AS TIMOTHY IS SAID TO HAVE DONE, “I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.” THAT IS THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CONFESSION. IT IS ALSO THE CENTRAL COMPONENT OF OUR FAITH. SO THERE IS THAT TIME AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK IN WHICH THE PERSON WHO IS OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT HIS OWN SIN, WHO HAS MADE A DECISION THAT HE OR SHE BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, STANDS AND SAYS, “I BELIEVE THIS AND I AM GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE IN LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL STORY. I’M GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE FOR JESUS.” AT THE SAME TIME, THE WORD CONFESSION HAS A VERY DIFFERENT MEANING IN MANY CONTEXTS AND THAT IS THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH NOT THE CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH, BUT THE CONFESSION OF OUR SIN. SO AN ONGOING CONFESSION IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THE DAILY, I SUPPOSE, CONFESSION THAT, “YES, I AM A SINNER, CONSTANTLY IN NEED OF THE GRACE OF GOD.” WE’RE TOLD, PERHAPS MOST CLEARLY, IN THE FIRST LETTER THAT JOHN WROTE TOWARD THE END OF THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT IF WE CONTINUE TO CONFESS OUR SINS, THOSE OF US WHO ARE CHRISTIANS, IF WE WILL CONFESS OUR SINS CONTINUALLY WE WILL BE FORGIVEN OF THOSE SINS CONTINUALLY. NOT BECAUSE WE’VE DONE ANYTHING THAT MERITS OUR BEING FORGIVEN, BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE AND ONLY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE DEATH OF JESUS COVERS OUR SINS. SO CHRISTIAN CONFESSION REFERS TO THE ACT OF CONFESSING TO GOD AND TO OTHERS THAT WE ARE SINNERS. SO MUCH GOOD COMES FROM CONFESSION THAT IT IS HARD TO INNUMERATE ALL OF ITS BENEFITS. FOR ONE THING, IT GIVES US A CLEAN CONSCIOUS. THE ACT OF FALLING TO YOUR KNEES AND TELLING GOD, “YES, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE SINNED AGAIN TODAY AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE HURT PEOPLE AND I DON’T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE” CLEANSES THE CONSCIOUS AND ASSURES OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR CONFESSION SHOULD BE TO OTHERS. JAMES TELLS US TO CONFESS OUR SINS TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE BY ADMITTING TO EACH OTHER, YES, I’M STRUGGLING WITH THIS SIN OR I’M STRUGGLING WITH THIS PROBLEM, WOULD YOU PRAY FOR ME, WOULD YOU ADVISE ME. WE CAN GAIN SO MUCH STRENGTH FROM CONFESSING TO OTHERS. CONFESSION IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS AT THE BEGINNING OF CHRISTIAN LIFE. OUR CONFESSION OF JESUS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS AND OUR CONFESSION OF SIN IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUALLY OCCURS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN AND CONTINUALLY ASSURES FORGIVENESS.
MIKE: MARK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. VERY WELL SAID. I BET OUR LISTENING FRIENDS APPRECIATE THOSE REMARKS. IT’S ALWAYS A JOY TO TALK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS SO PASSIONATE AND LOVES THEIR SUBJECT SO VERY MUCH.
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MIKE: WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS YOU HAVE HAD TO SAY AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING TIME TO DEFINE SOME OF THESE TERMS FOR US, SOME OF WHICH CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THE TERM WE’D LIKE FOR YOU TO DEFINE TODAY IS JUST ONE OF THOSE AND THAT’S THE EXPRESSION OR CONCEPT OF BAPTISM. THIS IS AN IDEA, EVEN FOR THOSE OF US INSIDE THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, HAVE SOMETIMES DISAGREED OVER. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US HOW THE TERM BAPTISM CAN AND SHOULD BE USED?
PROFESSOR BLACK: I WILL DO MY BEST, MIKE. I’M GLAD TO HAVE THE CHANCE BECAUSE, YOU’RE RIGHT, THERE’S A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT ABOUT BAPTISM. FOR ANY WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BAPTISM. BAPTISM IS A RITUAL THAT THE ONE THAT WANTS TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN UNDERGOES IN WHICH HE IS DIPPED OR SHE IS DIPPED INTO WATER AS A WAY OF SYMBOLIZING SOMETHING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE BELIEVER IS SAYING AND THAT IS BEING DONE TO THE BELIEVER. LET’S SEE IF I CAN EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE. THE DISAGREEMENT OVER THIS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT WHY PEOPLE SHOULD BE BAPTIZED AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE ARE BAPTIZED. LET’S TALK A FEW MINUTES MORE ABOUT BAPTISM. SOME HAVE COMPARED BAPTISM TO A WEDDING CEREMONY, SUGGESTING THAT JUST AS A COUPLE DECIDES THEY WANT TO GET MARRIED AND THEY MAKE SOME PROMISES TO EACH OTHER, THEY WILL BE MARRIED, THEY WILL LOVE EACH OTHER FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. THERE STILL ISN’T SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN YET. IT’S NOT LEGAL, IT’S NOT QUITE OFFICIAL UNTIL THE ACTUAL WEDDING CEREMONY, UNTIL THE FINAL “I DO’S” THAT WE, AT LEAST, HAVE HERE IN AMERICA. SOME SAY BAPTISM IS LIKE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON HAS ALREADY SAID I AM AWARE OF MY SIN, I DO BELIEVE THAT JESUS CAME AND DIED FOR MY SINS, WAS RESURRECTED AND THAT HIS DEATH TAKES CARE OF MY SIN. I WANT TO OFFICIALLY BECOME A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. IT IS AT THAT TIME THAT THAT PERSON IS BAPTIZED. IT IS A CEREMONY PERHAPS WHERE A PERSON OFFICIALLY BECOMES A CHRISTIAN, WHERE THE PERSON HAS HIS OR HER SINS REMOVED AND THE TIME AT WHICH THE PERSON RECEIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM GOD. LET’S TALK ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE THINGS THAT PERHAPS WILL CLARIFY SOME OF THE ISSUES AMONG CHRISTIANS ABOUT BAPTISM. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT’S PROBABLY VERY IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT NO ONE SHOULD THINK THAT THE POWER OF BAPTISM IS IN THE WATER ITSELF. WE ALL TAKE BATHS REGULARLY AND WE DON’T THINK THAT THAT DOES ANYTHING ABOUT OUR SIN. THE POWER IS NOT IN THE WATER, BUT IS IN THE SYMBOLISM OF THE WATER AND THE DIPPING IN THE WATER. EVEN AS PETER SAYS (IN I PETER 3:21), PETER THERE SAYS THAT BAPTISM SAVES US. YET, HE SAYS, IT IS NOT THAT ANYTHING IS BEING WASHED OFF OF US, IT IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CONSCIOUS. IT’S WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE HEART THAT LEADS TO THE EFFECT WHICH IS SALVATION. IT’S INTERESTING THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING BAPTIZED, IT IS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE. THAT IS, WE ARE BAPTIZED. WE DON’T BAPTIZE OURSELVES. BAPTISM IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE TO US AND NOT NECESSARILY BY US. WE MAKE THE DECISION, BUT WE MAKE THE DECISION TO BE BAPTIZED WHICH REMINDS US THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE’RE DOING THAT LEADS TO SALVATION, BUT SOMETHING THAT WE DECIDE WE WANT TO HAVE DONE TO US. WE WANT, IN A WAY, BE MARRIED -- IF THE WEDDING CEREMONY IS A GOOD METAPHOR. WE WANT TO SHOW OUR OWN ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS IN THAT CEREMONY. THAT’S THE FIRST POINT. THE POWER IS NOT IN THE WATER, BUT THE REASON THAT THE RITUAL INVOLVES WATER, AND A DIPPING IN WATER OR AN IMMERSION IN WATER, SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO TWO IDEAS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. ONE IS THE SYMBOLISM IS THAT OF A BATH, THAT IS YOU GET DOWN IN THE WATER WHERE CLEANSING TAKES PLACE AND SO EVEN THOUGH SINS DON’T WASH AWAY BECAUSE OF THE WATER, THAT IS THE SYMBOLISM. THE SECOND REASON THAT BAPTISM DEALS WITH WATER AND THE IMMERSION IN WATER IS THAT IT SYMBOLIZES A BURIAL. THAT IS A DEATH TO THE OLD SELF, TO THE OLD LIFE OF SIN AND, THEREFORE, WE ARE IMMERSED IN WATER AND THEN AS PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS CHAPTER 6, WE ARE RAISED BACK UP AS A NEW PERSON, SOMETHING OF A NEW CREATION. BOTH OF THESE, THE CLEANSING AND THE BURIAL, ARE SYMBOLIC BUT THEY ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT SYMBOLS. THAT LEADS ME TO NUMBER THREE. IT SEEMS VERY CLEAR THAT THE EARLY CHURCH BAPTIZED PEOPLE BY IMMERSION, NOT BY SPRINKLING AND NOT BY POURING. IN FACT, THAT’S WHAT THE WORD BAPTIZE MEANS. THE WORD BAPTIZE IS A GREEK WORD AND RATHER THAN TRANSLATING IT, WE SIMPLY USE THE SAME GREEK WORD. IT MEANT BACK IN THE FIRST CENTURY, WHEN THEY WERE FIRST BECOMING CHRISTIANS, TO IMMERSE OR TO DIP. THAT’S WHY I BELIEVE THE APPROPRIATE WAY OF BAPTIZING IS TO IMMERSE OR TO DIP. THAT WAY YOU HOLD ON TO THAT BURIAL IMAGERY AND THAT SYMBOLISM. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. THE NEXT MATTER, IN MY MIND, THAT’S IMPORTANT IS SINCE BAPTISM IS A MATTER OF THE HEART, THAT IS IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS, IT SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO ARE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE FAITH. THOSE WHO ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE AWARE OF THEIR PERSONAL SIN AND TO EXPRESS THEIR FAITH IN JESUS. THAT’S WHY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE ONLY ONES WERE BAPTIZED WERE THOSE WHO, IF NOT ADULT, WERE AT LEAST OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE DOING. WE USUALLY THINK OF THOSE WHO ARE PAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE WHERE THEY CAN HAVE SOME IDEA OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS EVENT. FINALLY, JUST TO SUMMARIZE, WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT SEEMS TO SAY ABOUT BAPTISM IS THAT BAPTISM IS FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN. IT IS NOT JUST FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN, IT ALSO IS THE TIME AT WHICH WE BECOME PART OF THE CHURCH OR THE BODY OF CHRIST AND IT’S ALSO THE TIME WHEN THE CHRISTIAN RECEIVES THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE INDWELLING SPIRIT. ACCORDING ACTS 2:38, PETER TOLD THE PEOPLE ON THAT OCCASION, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS AND TO RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.” THAT’S THE WAY WE STILL NEED TO DO IT NOW.
MIKE: VERY NICELY DONE. I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED THE METAPHOR OR ANALOGY OF THE WEDDING AT THE BEGINNING. IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT I’M CELEBRATING MY 20TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY SO I FOUND THAT ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL. I HADN’T HEARD THAT PARTICULAR METAPHOR BEFORE.
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MIKE: FOR TODAY, MARK, WE HAVE SAVED ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPT FOR THIS OUR LAST DAY TOGETHER. IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE TELL US WHY THE IDEA OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION IS SO VITAL TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
PROFESSOR BLACK: I’LL DO MY BEST. YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE IS NOTHING MORE CENTRAL TO CHRISTIANITY THAN BELIEF IN RESURRECTION. THE FACT IS AS CRAZY AS THIS SOUNDS TO A LOT OF NON-CHRISTIANS, WE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT THE GRAVES WILL SOME DAY BE EMPTY. WE BELIEVE THAT AFTER WE DIE AND ARE PUT IN THOSE GRAVES, THAT WE’RE GOING TO GET UP AGAIN BECAUSE GOD IS GOING TO MAKE US ALIVE AGAIN. HE’S GOING TO BRING US TO LIVE WITH JESUS AND EACH OTHER FOREVER. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE CONTEMPLATE RESURRECTION AND ESPECIALLY THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS VERY MUCH MISUNDERSTOOD AMONG CHRISTIANS TODAY. RESURRECTION IS NOT IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. THE BRILLIANT GREEK PHILOSOPHER, PLATO, TAUGHT THAT SOULS, THAT IS THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF HUMANS, WERE SEPARATE SOMEHOW FROM THE BODY AND THAT THE SOUL WAS GOING TO LIVE ON AFTER DEATH AND THE BODY WOULD OF COURSE JUST ROT AWAY BACK TO THE DUST. THAT’S WHAT LIFE AFTER DEATH IS ALL ABOUT. CHRISTIANS BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT NOT ONLY WILL OUR SOUL LIVE ON BUT THAT OUR BODY IS GOING TO GET UP AGAIN. THAT’S WHAT RESURRECTION MEANS, “TO STAND UP AGAIN”. THE CHRISTIAN BELIEF IS THAT JUST AS JESUS LEFT THE GRAVE AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THAT TOMB AGAIN, THAT WE CHRISTIANS WILL RECEIVE A NEW BODY. PAUL TALKS ABOUT THIS NEW BODY THAT JESUS HAD AND THAT WE WILL HAVE IN I CORINTHIANS 15. HE SAYS IT’S NOT LIKE THE ONE THAT WE HAVE NOW; IT’S NOT A FLESH AND BONES BODY, IT’S ONE THAT’S SORT OF LIKE THAT, IT’S BETTER. NO LONGER IS IT MORTAL, THAT IS IT DOESN’T DIE, AND IT DOESN’T DECAY. HE SAYS IT’S IMPERISHABLE; IT ISN’T DYING DAY AFTER DAY, BUT IT IS A NEW AND PERFECT BODY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THIS NEW BODY AND WERE GOING TO INHABIT THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT TALKS ABOUT. IT’S BEEN A TIME WITHOUT DISEASE, A TIME WITHOUT PAIN, A TIME WITHOUT THE DISASTERS THAT HAPPEN, THE TIME WITHOUT THE BAD RELATIONSHIPS. THAT’S THE FIRST THING I WOULD HAVE YOU REMEMBER ABOUT RESURRECTION. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING UP OF THE BODY; THAT IS WE’RE GOING TO LIVE AGAIN, NOT IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. THE SECOND THING I WOULD HAVE YOU REMEMBER IS THE ONE REASON THAT WE CHRISTIANS BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION IS WHAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, MIKE. THAT IS THAT JESUS WAS RESURRECTED. PAUL SPENT A GOOD BIT OF TIME AS DOES LUKE TALKING ABOUT THE PROOF, THAT IS THE EYE WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES CHRISTIANITY SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN OTHER RELIGIONS. IT IS BASED ON A HISTORICAL FACT; WE CAN LOOK BACK AND EVEN THOUGH WE CANNOT EXAMINE THE EMPTY TOMB, WE CAN EXAMINE THE WITNESSES, WE CAN ASK THEM QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEFT US RECORDS. WE HAVE PAUL FOR EXAMPLE IN I CORINTHIANS 15 WRITING ABOUT THE GREAT NUMBER OF THOSE WHO SAW JESUS ALIVE AGAIN AFTER THEY SAW HIM DIE ON THE CROSS. PAUL SAID FIRST THERE WAS PETER, THEN THERE WERE THE 12 APOSTLES. THEN HE SAID JESUS APPEARED TO MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE AT ONCE. HE SAYS YOU CAN GO AND TALK TO THEM BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE STILL ALIVE. THEN PAUL TALKS ABOUT A FEW OTHERS AND THEN PAUL SAYS, “AND FINALLY JESUS APPEARED TO ME”. WHAT PAUL IS DOING IN THIS CHAPTER IS THAT HE IS SAYING THIS IS A HISTORICAL FACT THAT CAN BE VERIFIED. GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR LISTENERS TO THINK ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS. HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT NOT ONE PERSON, NOT TWO PEOPLE, OR EVEN FIVE PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THEY SAW JESUS ALIVE AGAIN AFTER HIS DEATH, BUT THAT ONE PERSON HAD SORT OF A STRANGE DREAM YOU CAN’T EXPLAIN IT THAT WAY. YOU CAN’T EVEN SAY THERE WAS A GROUP HALLUCINATION BECAUSE AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND AT DIFFERENT PLACES, HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY SAW JESUS ALIVE AGAIN. TO PROVE THAT THEY BELIEVED IT WITH ALL OF THEIR HEART, HERE IS THE REALLY WILD THING ABOUT THIS STORY, THEY WERE WILLING TO DIE FOR THAT BELIEF. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO STAND BEFORE THE ROMANS AND SAY, “I BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD AND EVEN IF YOU KILL ME, I STILL BELIEVE IT BECAUSE I SAW IT”. THAT IS STRONG HISTORICAL EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT MANY YEARS AGO. THE THIRD THING I WOULD UNDERSCORE ABOUT RESURRECTION IS THAT RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS IT GOD’S WAY OF SAYING “YES, JESUS’ DEATH WAS THE CENTRAL EVENT IN ALL OF HISTORY AND I AM PROCLAIMING HIM VICTORIOUS BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD”, BUT IT IS ALSO RESURRECTION IS THAT WHICH KEEPS US GOING. NO MATTER HOW TOUGH LIFE GETS, NO MATTER WHAT STRUGGLES YOU HAVE, NO MATTER WHAT PERSECUTION YOU MIGHT UNDERGO, JUST TO REMEMBER THAT THIS LIFE IS JUST A TINY LITTLE BLIP, A TINY MOMENT COMPARED TO THE TIME OF ETERNITY THAT WE’RE WAITING FOR. IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT AFTER YOU DIE, YOU’RE GOING TO LIVE AGAIN FOR ETERNITY, THERE’S NOT ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN’T LIVE WITH IN THIS LIFE. RESURRECTION IS OUR HOPE, IT IS THAT WHICH KEEPS US GOING IN BAD TIMES. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS WAS GOD’S WAY OF SAYING JESUS IS MY SON, HE LIVED THE WAY I WANTED HIM TO LIVE AND THE WAY I WANT ALL OF YOU TO LIVE. HIS DEATH BRINGS SALVATION AND I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW LIFE JUST AS I GAVE HIM A NEW LIFE. RESURRECTION IS THE CENTER OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH.
MIKE: MARK, I COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK A MOMENT AGO WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THOSE WHO WITNESSED THE RESURRECTION PERSONALLY BELIEVED IN THAT SO STRONGLY THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DIE. BUT WE BOTH HAVE SEEN REPORTS THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE HAS BEEN ON THE INCREASE. I COULDN’T HELP BUT THINK THERE ARE STILL MANY CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE EVEN IN THIS DAY AND TIME WILLING TO DIE FOR THEIR FAITH AND THE IDEA THAT CHRIST WAS RESURRECTED AND THAT THEMSELVES WOULD SHARE IN THAT RESURRECTION EVENTUALLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE WORDS. WE APPRECIATE IT.
MIKE: LET ME MENTION TO OUR LISTENING FRIENDS THAT WE ARE RECORDING ALL OF OUR VISITS WITH BIBLE PROFESSOR MARK BLACK AND WOULD BE PLEASED TO SEND THAT AUDIOCASSETTE TO YOU FREE AND WITHOUT OBLIGATION. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS WRITE TO US AND REQUEST THE TAPE “KEY CONCEPTS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH”. OUR ADDRESS IS: STATION KNLS, ANCHOR POINT, ALASKA 99556 USA. YOU CAN ALSO MAKE YOUR REQUEST VIA THE INTERNET. OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS KNLS@AOL.COM.
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