Question 169: Who were the first believers?

Answer:

See Acts 11:26; 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16 which make the earliest mention of the term "believer (Christian)" being used to distinguish this from other religious sects. Thus, though the three Magi or Eastern princes, who came, led by the star, to worship the infant Moshiach (see Matthew 2:1-5) and the shepherds who also worshiped (see Luke 2:15, 16, 17) and the aged Simeon and Anna (same chapter) doubtless believed, they were not believers in name; nor does it appear that either the divine nature of the Master or His mission were clearly comprehended until John the Baptist proclaimed Him as Moshiach. His disciples were literally the first believers, being both believers and followers. The first
Believers known as such by name were those of the church founded by Paul and Barnabas at Antioch about A.D. 34. The term "believer" is said to have been first used in the Episcopate of Evodius at Antioch, who was appointed by the Apostle Peter as his own successor.

Question 168: What is the Bible definition of a believer?

Answer:

A believer is (1) one who believes in Yeshua Moshiach the divine Son of YHVH and that through his life and atonement we have everlasting life; (2) the believer through his fellowship with Moshiach receives the adoption of a child of YHVH (see 1 John 3:2 and 5:1) ; (3) he enters into fellowship and communion with YHVH. See Hebrews 2:11, 16; 1 John 1:3; Proverbs 18:24. (4) He is sanctified and separated. See Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:14, 15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23. (5) He is a soldier. 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3, 4. (6) He is an heir of glory. Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Galatians 4:7; Titus 3:7; 1 Peter 1:3, 4.

Question 167: What is it to be “risen with Moshiach”?

Answer:

Paul had described himself as having been crucified with Moshiach (Galatians 2:20). He was dead to the world through the death of Moshiach, dead to sin, to worldly ambition and to all the worldly principles and motives. But he might have been asked, "Was he really dead? and in Colossians 3:1, he answers that, like Moshiach, he had received a new life, having been raised with Him, as he had been crucified with Him. This was the resurrection life by which he had become transformed and was a new creature in Yeshua Moshiach. It was this that Augustine meant when he was greeted by a dissolute companion of his youth, whom he had passed on the street without recognition. "August, it is I, do you not know me?" He replied: "I am August no longer." Having become a believer (risen with Moshiach) he had abandoned all his old life with its companions and associations.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 166: In what sense is the believer “in Moshiach”?

Answer:

The reference is exclusively to the relation of the believer to the risen Saviour and expresses a peculiar spiritual connection. Reverend David Smith, the distinguished theologian, defines it as a spiritual way of four connecting links, viz.: (1) Moshiach for us (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), which is substitution; (2) We in Moshiach (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 6:11), which is justification; (3) Moshiach in us (Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20), which is sanctification and (4) We for Moshiach (2 Corinthians 5:10), which is consecration. This is the condition of Moshiach's free disciple. He stands in the world as representative and witness-bearer for Moshiach It is not merely a question of his own salvation; he must be a shining light to guide others and must live the Moshiach-life, under whatever circumstances he may be placed. One who lives the Moshiach-life and all of whose thoughts, acts, influences and hopes are centred on carrying on the work of Moshiach and who is guided by His will, can be said to be truly "in Moshiach."

Question 165: What and where is the Kingdom of YHVH?

Answer:

There are several senses in which the word "Kingdom" is used. It may be taken in general terms as the Kingdom which is set up in the heart (as Moshiach told the Pharisees, Luke 17:21, "The Kingdom of YHVH is within you") and the Kingdom which is set up in the world (see Daniel 2:44) and the Kingdom Moshiach will establish at His second coming (2 Timothy 4:1) and there is the Kingdom in heaven where YHVH reigns. In the first of these senses, we enter the Kingdom at conversion when we give our allegiance to Moshiach.

Question 164: What is meant by “casting out devils”?

Answer:

The question has been the subject of dispute for many generations. The plain meaning of the narrative however, seems to us to be that Satan had gained absolute possession and control of the afflicted persons and that Moshiach evicted him by his superior power. It seems to us impossible on any other assumption to satisfactorily explain the words of exorcism Moshiach used, the words uttered by the afflicted persons and the effects which followed. The symptoms described very closely resemble those of some forms of epilepsy and insanity of our time. Science however, does not now ascribe the affliction to demoniacal possession. Nevertheless, some of the patients do occasionally display a degree of malignity and cunning which could scarcely be exceeded if they were really possessed by the devil.

Question 163: Were the giants mentioned in Genesis 6:4 descendants of angels as some interpreters claim?

Answer:

This has been answered by a notable authority as follows: "Genesis 6:1-4 forms the introduction to the story of the Flood. All races have preserved the tradition of a flood; whether it was universal or local is a moot point. The Jewish Scriptures leave the investigation of natural phenomena to human research. The Bible is not a scientific treatise. Its sole concern is religious and moral. Its aim is to justify the ways of YHVH to man and to show that natural phenomena, being controlled by YHVH, are in harmony with divine justice. Hence, before relating the story of the Flood, Holy Writ sets forth the universal corruption which justified the destruction of the human race, with the exception of one family. Chapter 6:1-4 describes the violence and immorality prevalent in the antediluvian period. Mankind had in course of time, fallen into two divisions - the classes and the masses. The masses were the common multitude of toilers, the ordinary 'sons of men.' The classes were the 'supermen,' 'the sons of YHVH,' 'the mighty heroes.' The latter formed the aristocracy; they were the ruling class, the children of judges and princes. Small in number, they were physically strong and mentally vigorous and had moreover, appropriated a large portion of the wealth of the then known world. They should have used their power and position for the benefit of their kind and set an example in chastity, temperance, self-restraint, justice and kindliness. Instead, they gave way to unbridled lust, to indulge which they resorted to violence. "They saw that the daughters of men (i.e., the common folk) were fair and they took (by force) whomsoever they chose.' This abuse of power was punished by the destruction of the race. "The Eternal said: My spirit shall not abide in man forever.' The Hebrew word may mean 'abide as a sword in a sheath'; or it may mean 'contend with man' - the higher with the lower nature - the spirit of heaven with the body formed of dust and its instincts, of the earth, earthy; or it may mean 'My spirit shall not rule in man.' The struggle is too severe. 'Since he is but flesh, his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.' On account of the moral infirmity incident to human nature, time will be given for repentance. If the opportunity is not taken, destruction will follow the respite. Nephilim literally means 'the fallen.' On the principle of Incus, a non lucendo, the term refers to the men of gigantic stature who existed in ancient times. They were the mighty men who yielded to licentious passions. The children of these illegitimate unions were also, for some generations, Nephilim of gigantic stature, famed for their physical and mental development, but morally degenerate. They were the renowned heroes of old - the mighty warriors, like the berserkers of the northern sagas." Another view is that "the sons of YHVH" were the Semites, who had maintained in some measure the filial relationship to YHVH and who now intermarried with the Cainites, who had been spiritually disowned on account of their godlessness and unbelief. All the evidence leads to the conclusion that the whole arraignment of wickedness upon the earth related to beings of flesh and blood (see Genesis 6:3) and not to supernatural beings who we are elsewhere told distinctly, have no distinction of sex and never marry (see Luke 20:35, 36). In this view, which seems to be the correct one, the appellation "sons of YHVH" refers to men's moral and in no sense to their physical state. There are many passages elsewhere that bear out this belief. (See Acts 17:28; Exodus 4:22, 23; Deuteronomy 14:1; Hosea 11:1, etc.)

Question 162: How was the brazen serpent a type?

Answer:

"As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up." These were the Saviour’s words. Yeshua' death on the cross was an uplifting and, in this sense, it is compared to the uplifting of the brazen serpent. In both cases the remedy is divinely provided and there is another striking similarity: As death came to the Israelites in the wilderness by the serpent's sting and life came by the uplifting of a serpent, so in redemption, by man came death and by the death of the YHVH-man in the likeness of sinful flesh comes life eternal. In the first instance the cure was affected by directing the eye to the uplifted serpent; in the other, it takes place when the eye of faith is fixed upon the uplifted Moshiach.

Frequently asked questions and answers

Question 161: What is meant by the beast and his mark?

Answer:

The Seer of Revelation appears to have had his visions in the form of a series of scenes, as in a panorama. Almost at the close (Revelation 14:9) he saw the beast you refer to. It is evidently identical with the beast described by Daniel (7:7). It is representative of the power which is said to have throughout the world's history opposed YHVH. It appears in John's narrative in a series of forms and is sometimes identified with a persecuting church and sometimes is the civil power. At the culmination of its career, John saw it as the great Anti-Christ, who is yet to arise, who would attain to such power in the world that he would exclude any many from office and from even engaging in trade, who did not acknowledge him. Only those who bear the mark of the beast can buy or sell in that time. This mark may be a badge to be worn on forehead or hand or as some scholars think, merely the coins to be used in business, which will bear Anti-Christ's title symbolized by the number 666.

Thought for Today: Wednesday January 22

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.