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WORD FOR TODAY “does this describe America?”: Isa 37:29 "Because of your raging against Me And because your arrogance has come up to My ears, Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back by the way which you came.

SPOKEN VERSE FOR TODAY: Pro 8:13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.

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"God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

Acts 10

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Question 170: When was the first “church” so called?

Answer:

The word "church" is first applied by Luke the evangelist to the company of original disciples at Jerusalem at Shavuot (Acts 2:47) and is afterwards applied in Acts, Epistles and Revelation to the whole faith body or society, as well as the sanctified of YHVH (Ephesians 5:27) and to those who profess faith in Yeshua under pastors (1 Corinthians 12:28). It was also applied to early societies of believers in cities and provinces (Acts 8:1), to faith assemblies (Romans 16:5) and to small gatherings of friends and neighbours in private houses (1 Corinthians 11:18 and 14:19, 28). In those early days and for a long time afterward, there was no distinctive body and certainly no denomination; the church was simply an appellation describing groups of believers anywhere. Later, these groups were organized into congregations and districts and parishes were defined. Then they were called "believers (Christians)," the first use of this appellation being at Antioch. The Romanist claim to priority is an old one, but it does not stand the test of history. The title "Catholic Church" (meaning the "church universal") was originally given to the Christian Church on account of its not being confined to Jews but embracing other nationalities. The earliest use of this title was about 166 A. D., whereas the Roman Catholic Church as such did not come into existence until several centuries afterward, when the original church divided in consequence of the rivalry between the bishops of Rome and Constantinople.

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.