DAY 159
Old Testament reading: 1 Chronicles 28-29
The heavenly blueprints for the house of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28 details David’s charge to Solomon in the building of the temple. It should be noted that neither David nor Solomon were left to their own imaginations concerning its construction. While it was necessary for David and Solomon to gather the materials and find the artisans and workers to complete construction, the actual building plans were given to David by inspiration of the Holy Spirit (28:12). David recognized this Divine guidance when he said, “All this the Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the work of these plans” (28:19). Once again we see that man is not left to his own imagination or device in service to the Lord. And so it is today. While men must carry out the building up of the Lord house today (the church – 1 Tim 3:14-15), we must always proceed with Divine authority, not being at liberty to add, remove, or alter the Divine plan in any way (cf Col 3:17).
New Testament reading: Ephesians 1-3
Ephesians 2:8-10 contains what many believe is the “tent peg” for the false doctrine of salvation by faith only. What I find particularly interesting is the charge of “proof texting” against churches of Christ in matters of baptism, when those who oppose Bible teaching on baptism use Ephesians 2:8-10 as their “proof” text for faith only. The question about Ephesians 2:8-10 is, “How would the Ephesians have understood the text when they heard it?” In the context, Paul is showing that there is now no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. What had formerly separated these two groupls? The works of the law of Moses (2:14-15). Paul says that though you were once two distinct people (Jew and Gentile – vv 11-12), “now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off (Gentiles – TC) have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (v 13). The blood of Jesus is the only remedy for sin (Rev 1:5, Heb 9:22). When does one contact Jesus’ blood and receive salvation through the remission of his sins? In baptism – Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16. The recipients of the Ephesian letter would have certainly identified the time of their salvation with their baptism (Acts 18:24-19:5). We must share the Ephesians’ understanding of this text.
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