TableTalk

The First Gospel

Genesis 3:14-15 "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel" ( v. 15).

Since the early days of the church, scholars and theologians have found in Genesis the first announcement of the coming Messiah. Today's passage gives us what is called theprotevangelium - the "first gospel."

The context of this passage is well-known to most of us. Having thumbed their noses at God by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve find themselves alienated from their Creator (Gen. 3:1-13 ). Before He pronounces His righteous judgment upon them, however, the Lord curses the tempter. The serpent will crawl upon the ground and lick the dust. He will bruise the heel of the woman's offspring or, in other translations, "her seed," and her seed will bruise the serpent's head (vv. 14-15).

This pronouncement has cosmic significance. The serpent in this passage is no ordinary reptile, he is Satan, the adversary of God and His people (Rom. 16:20; Rev. 12:9). The Lord pledges to put enmity between the serpent and the woman's seed (Gen. 3:15). This conflict is God-initiated and perpetuated. It has a visible reminder in snakes who lick the dust of defeat, but the one whose head will be bruised - the one who will suffer a crushing blow - is the Devil himself.

It is the identity of the woman's seed that tells us this passage is messianic. Grammatically, "seed" is a collective singular and can refer to a whole group of people. The woman's seed cannot be every child of Eve because Scripture calls God's human enemies "the children of the Devil" (John 8:39-47 ), thereby identifying some people as the serpent's seed. If the Lord's enemies are the seed of the serpent, then His friends among mankind must be the victorious woman's seed. These will suffer bruising from the evil one before bruising his head. God's people will suffer, but they will win in the end (for example, Ex. 1, 14).

However, even the friends of the Almighty cannot defeat Satan themselves. They need a representative to fight on their behalf. We have seen that this One is King Jesus, who as the Son of David defeated Satan on the cross for our sake. He is the seed of the woman par excellence who suffered the worst bruising of all so that He might crush the Devil (Col. 2:13-15).

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Proverbs 21:31 tells us that "the victory belongs to the L ord." Jesus defeated death, sin, and the evil one on the cross and now shares with us the benefits of His conquest. No problem of ours is too formidable for the Lord. There is no sin that we cannot overcome if we are in Him. There is no enemy of ours that can finally defeat us. Be encouraged today that our Savior has won a great victory, and, therefore, we who are in Him need not worry about tomorrow.

For further study:

Deut. 20:1-4

The Bible in a year:

Exodus 11-12

For the weekend:

Exodus 13-16

INTO the WORD daily Bible studies from TableTalk Magazine, Matthew Studies. Copyright © 2008 by Ligonier Ministries.

TableTalk Devotional

In the Fullness of Time

Galatians 4:4-5 "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law" (v. 4).

Our study this month has dealt mainly with the miraculous birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. This Messiah, we have seen, comes in fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. In the interest of looking at the biblical prophecies about Jesus more closely, we will take a short break from Matthew and follow Dr. R.C. Sproul's teaching series Coming of the Messiah as our guide.

Across the United States this day, many college students are sitting under professors hostile to the New Testament. Parallels are often drawn between Greek myths of dying and rising gods and the biblical account as proof that the Scriptures are just another work of mythology. Unfortunately, young people are too often unprepared for this onslaught and begin to doubt the Christian faith.

However, as those familiar with ancient literature well know, these similarities are superficial. The Greeks made no real attempt to defend their myths as historical while the Bible grounds itself in real space and time. Luke 2, for example, locates the birth of Jesus during the reign of Caesar Augustus and the governorship of Quirinius, both of whom were real people. The evangelist assumes that we will take his account at face value - that Jesus was a real person who lived in space and time. Scripture is also clear that God became incarnate in the person of Christ Jesus (John 1:14 ). Ancient Greeks abhorred this idea because they believed the physical body to be corrupt, unlike the spiritual realm. Many other such differences between the Bible and pagan thought could be cited.

We must not miss the emphasis Scripture places on history. God's Word is clear that the events it describes actually occurred, and even tells us our faith is in vain if events like the resurrection of Jesus never happened (1 Cor. 15:14 ). Yet, Scripture does not give us every detail concerning what happened between the time of Adam and the apostles; it often omits pedantic figures and details (as was common in those days) in order to relay God's plan of redemption (2 Kings 20:20-21). When time was "full," when all things were perfectly ready, the most significant event of all took place - Jesus was born (Gal. 4:4-5 ). Tomorrow we will begin to study what the Old Testament says about this fullness of time.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

College students are not the only ones who face attacks on the historicity of Scripture. Hollywood, the Internet, apologists for other religions, and so on bombard us with assaults on Scripture's integrity. The Bible is the most vilified book on the planet, and yet its stories are regularly found to be historically reliable. Take time to find some resources on the historicity of Scripture so that you may be able to answer its critics ( 1 Peter 3:15-16).

For further study:

Exodus 20:16

The Bible in a year:

Exodus 7-10

INTO the WORD daily Bible studies from TableTalk Magazine, Matthew Studies. Copyright © 2008 by Ligonier Ministries.

R.C. Sproul - TableTalk

BibleGateway.com http://www.biblegateway.com/, offers a free email devotional from R.C. Sproul. The devotionals have been excellent thus far.

With Spirit and Fire

Matthew 3:11-12 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I.... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" ( v. 11)

John Calvin looked to John the Baptist's condemnation of the Pharisees and Sadducees as an example of how the church should deal with those especially hard in heart. He comments on Matthew 3:7-10 that "those whose habits of uttering falsehood to God, and of deceiving themselves, lead them to hold out hypocrisy and pretension, instead of the reality, ought to be urged, with greater sharpness than other men, to true repentance." At times only strong confrontation will rescue the soul of a professing believer who has grown complacent and presumed upon the Lord's grace (18:15-20; James 5:19-20).

Matthew 3:7-10 is clear that the Sadducees and Pharisees needed such upbraiding. These Jewish leaders during the Lord's earthly ministry were often at odds because of their conflicting theological opinions. The party of the Sadducees was a kind of priestly aristocracy not against conforming to Roman customs and law. They also denied the bodily resurrection of God's people, but the idea that they accepted only the five books of Moses as Scripture is probably mistaken. Like the Pharisees, they submitted to the entire Old Testament. On the other hand, the Pharisees added the oral law - traditions that people followed as a guide to the Torah, that is, the Scriptures. The Pharisees were not priests but scholars who affirmed the resurrection and were popular with the people. Despite their disagreements, both groups united against John and later, Jesus. After all, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Both groups had seats on the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews, and many of them apparently felt that Abrahamic descent guaranteed them a place in the kingdom (v. 9).

It is one thing to reject John the Baptist, but quite another to deny the One whom he precedes. John promises in today's passage that the Messiah will baptize not just with water but with the Spirit and fire ( v. 11), an image with double meaning. The long awaited flame of the Holy Spirit will purify the soul and eventually remove all corruption from those who submit to the Son of David (Isa. 1:24-26). But those who continue in their rejection of this king will find only a fiery destruction (Isa. 66:15-16; Matt. 3:12).

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

The purifying work of the Holy Spirit commences in the believer when he first turns to Christ. Sometimes the Spirit works on us in the fire of adversity, through which the Lord promises to take us for His good purposes (Isa. 43:1-7 ). When we face trials in our lives we have an opportunity to prove our faith and reliance on God. If you face trouble this day, consider how the Lord may be using it to purify your soul.

For further study:

Deut. 4:32-40

The Bible in a year:

Exodus 2-4

INTO the WORD daily Bible studies from TableTalk Magazine, Matthew Studies. Copyright © 2008 by Ligonier Ministries.

Happy Late Christmas and New Years!

Yes we have neglected to blog lately- much to our shame.
But, we have excellent excuses. School and work, plus activities of daily living that we endeavor to stay on top of (cleaning, laundry, neatness, cooking, eating and grocery shopping somewhat).
We had an enjoyable time with our family over the holidays and perhaps I'll be able to steal some picures from Joy's computer so you can see for yourself. Meanwhile, just remember if this blog is quiet, it is for a good purpose:)
We did miss the boys though because they were working on Christmas. Enjoy this verse to welcome in the new year.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
I Peter 1:3.

Auf Wiederhören!

Christmas Gift

Our new niece Heidi. We are so thankful and blessed!

In Honor of Veterans Day (Armistice Day)

There are somethings that were written within a certain time, and place, for a specific event. Some things that are written are eternal. They contain an overarching principle that applies to all ages. This song is one of them.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

-Lt. John McCrae-

Hind's Feet

The phrase 'hinds' feet' is used in the Bible to denote an ability to overcome difficult challenges successfully, as in Verse 33 from Psalm 18 which reads 'He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.' A hind, which is a female red deer, is able to move quickly and easily across the rocks of a mountain, leaping from one rock to another without ever losing its footing. Thus the biblical verse means that God has inspired his believers and empowered them to overcome the obstacles which confront them, doing things that would otherwise be difficult or impossible without divine aid.

Deuteronomy 33:29 "Blessed are you, O Israel; Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, Who is the shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! So your enemies will cringe before you, And you will tread upon their high places."

2 Samuel 22:34 "He makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me on my high places.

Psalm 18:32-33 The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless?

makes my feet like hinds' feet, And sets me upon my high places.

Psalm 27:1 LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Isaiah 45:24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.' Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.

The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

Habakkuk 3:19

The Great Change

Today while I was out running I suddenly became overwhelmed by emotion. So much so, that I has to stop running and walk. It was about halfway into my run I was feeling great, then all of the sudden, emotion. I began to think of God. Where I have been, what He has taught me, where he has brought me. I know He is writing a story, a poem, of my life, if I will but let him lead the way. This past weekend I attended a camp and ran into an old friend of the family who does quite a bit of missionary work. He began talking to my brother and I about knowing the Lord's will. The key he said is to be willing. To go where He wants you to go, to be what He wants you to be. God convicted my heart there and then that I needed to be willing. I sort of knew this before, but now it was made really clear to me. If you want to be used of God you must be willing to go where he sends. It does NOT mean you stand still and do nothing, It does mean that you are watching for His guidance in what you may think are the mundane things of life.

There was a special speaker at the camp. He talked about salvation. What it means to disciple your sons as younger brothers. Also, what it means to be a "standard bearer" and what it means to be and "image bearer". Standard bearers do what they do so that others may see how well they match the required standard (or what is perceived as the required standard). Image bearers, on the other hand, bear in themselves the image of God.

Another thing the speaker spoke of was how to know if you or your son has experienced salvation. He called it the "great change". It is marked by brokenness over sin. Not just a mental assent to the truth of Christ as Savior, but a broken heart over the blackness of your sin compared to the beauty and character of God. He told of his own salvation, how he prayed the sinner’s prayer, and went up for renewal many times, but it was not until he was 29 that he experienced the "great change".

I first prayed the sinner’s prayer at age 6. I also re-committed multiple times, but it was not until age 14 that I experienced the "great change". All the sudden my hidden sin(s) hit me square in my face; I knew that I deserved the wrath of a righteous, holy God. It was a very painful time for me, as my sister and parents can attest, I honestly never want to repeat it again. But, up until that time, I was self-righteous; believing I could keep my little sins and still be a Christian (after all I could repent of them and be forgiven, right?). God wanted to free me from the bondage I was in. Christ never left me during that time, even though half the time I felt as if I would never find Him.

The speaker ended with "we serve a God who is living today, and who still works." He is the one who works in people to save them.

I hope that this post is a blessing to someone out there. God is living and alive and willing (quite willing) to save.

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell

(This essay was in an email I was sent by a friend).

In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one' but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff.

Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David.. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament.. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans.

Jesus also had twelve opossums.The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount.

But the Republicans and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.

Order of the Orange and the Battle of the Diamond

The Battle of the Diamond birthed the Orange Order in Ireland that still exists to this day. The story of the battle has always been near and dear for two reasons. 1) Because one of the main players, Dan Winter, is one of our direct ancestors, and 2) because it is a true story of heroism and of men willing to take a stand for right, and defend that right when attacked with no cause. Dan Winter and his sons were working on their farm in Ireland, when they and the other Protestants in the area were warned that a band of the Defenders were on their way with weapons to attack the Protestant families that lived in Armagh. (Now you must remember that Ireland was split between Catholic and Protestant). The Defenders were of the Roman Catholic persuasion and determined to drive the Protestants out of the country. Dan Winter's property was right in the middle of the battleground he and his sons holed up in it until it was lit on fire and they had to retreat to Diamond Hill. The Protestants lost no lives; the Defenders (I find it ironic that they have the name "Defender" when they were the attackers) lost thirty. From this battle was birthed the Order of the Orange (The Irish flag has both green and orange signifying Protestant and Catholic). One of my dreams is to go to Ireland and see Dan Winter's cottage. If you would like more information about the Battle of the Diamond and the Order of the Orange go to: http://www.orangenet.org/winter/battle.html

The Battle of the Diamond

(21 September, 1795)

It was not in faction, it was not in hate,
 That we men of the North assembled;
 It was that our own and our children's fate,
 In the balance no longer trembled.

For there came - 'twas at night, a lawless band,
 Their ranks like a torrent swelling,
With the weapon of slaughter in each man's hand,
Where we in our homes, were dwelling.

Darkly they came, in the dead of night,
 They gave no word of warning,
 And they laughed at the blaze their brands should light, 
And the smoke that should greet the morning.

They paus'd--did they fear the storm they'd woke?
 That they faltered as forth we sallied?
 For we saw when the light of the morning broke,
 On the Diamond Hill they'd rallied.

What though they were many, and we but few,
Yet each to the conflict hasted,
 And the shot was sharp, and the aim was true,
 While that fearful struggle lasted.

Yes, last it did - aye, many a day!
 But the shield of our God was o'er us;
 Till at last, like a quarry long held at bay,
We drove them like chaff before us.

Then blame us not, when all was o'er,
 And we looked on the dead around us,
If then, and for ever, an oath we swore,
To be found as that day had found us.

Stern and steadfast, and linked as one,
 On God and ourselves relying; 
Seeking quarrel or feud with none,
 But all on our hearths defying.

Traverse who will that wretched land, 
Now rife with revolt and riot;
 And where'er ye shall hear of our loyal band
 There alone shall ye find it quiet.

Yes! cold suspicion, and scoff, and scorn, 
And caiumny, have assailed us; 
Aye! hard though it was - all these we've borne,
 Not once have our true hearts failed us.

We have bided our time - it is well nigh come!
 It will find us stern and steady;
 It will need not to rouse us with trumpet or drum,
 For our hearts and our arms are ready.