In this episode, Arnie and Fred discuss the hostility among people that seems to surround us. Malice - among nations, between ethnicities, against other races, toward different political or religious views, of one person against another. Why is that? When it doesn't have to be this way. We discuss New Testament cases of animosity resulting in violent persecution and the fact that God has no racial, ethnic or gender partiality. We note that Christ's Gospel removes prejudice and strife when obeyed. Finally, we discuss some things we need to remember. Take about 30 minutes to listen in on our discussion. We encourage you to have your bible available to make sure we use the scriptures correctly.
In this episode, Arnie and Fred discuss the hostility among people that seems to surround us. Malice - among nations, between ethnicities, against other races, toward different political or religious views, of one person against another. Why is that? When it doesn't have to be this way. We discuss New Testament cases of animosity resulting in violent persecution and the fact that God has no racial, ethnic or gender partiality. We note that Christ's Gospel removes prejudice and strife when obeyed. Finally, we discuss some things we need to remember. Take about 30 minutes to listen in on our discussion. We encourage you to have your bible available to make sure we use the scriptures correctly.
Fred 0:00
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at 10:30am, 5:30pm. We meet for bible study at 9:30am on Sunday, at 7pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson you may email them to Fred Gosnell at, fgosnell@ftc-i.net or to Arnie Granke at, agranke440718@twc.com.
Arnie 0:31
Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke and Fred Gosnell. This is What Does The Bible Say?, with the Woodland church of Christ. Let's begin with Titus chapter three verse, verse one, Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, having living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Hostility among people seems to surround us, Fred, malice among nations, between ethnicities against other races toward other different political or religious views of one person against another. Why is that when it doesn't have to be that way?
Fred 1:36
Well, you know Arnie, it seems it's been that way, a long time. In New Testament, animosity, it seems, always resulted in some kind of violent persecution. And in Jesus crucifixion. hatred for His influence was involved there. Of course they were envious. There was false testimony, lies. So Mark records Mark 15 eight through 15. he says now, And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? for he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy. But the chief priests moved people that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify Him. Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath He done? They cried out the more exceedingly,Crucify Him. And so Pilate willing to content the people released Barabbas unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged Him, to be crucified. And in, that's yours.
Arnie 2:56
Okay, well, yeah, you know, Stephen, Stephen's death was very much the same. His martyrdom really, you learn about him in Acts chapter six beginning in verse eight, Stephen full of faith and power did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue which is called the synagogue at the Libertenes, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia, and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom in the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, recruited liars, in other words, Which said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes came upon him and caught him and brought him to the council. And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place of the law, but we've heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all they that sat in the council looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Well, in the beginning part of Acts chapter seven, he begins to describe the disrespect for God's word that the Jews had had over the years, and in Acts chapter, chapter seven, and beginning in verse 57, They cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord and cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God and saying, Lord, Jesus receive my spirit and he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord lay not this sin to their charge. And when he said this, he fell asleep.
Fred 5:04
Well, Arnie Saul is spoken of again. In chapter nine. Saul was a very powerful Pharisee and he was, had some uncontrolled rage against Jesus and it was based on false knowledge of the Messiah. And we begin in Acts chapter nine. And verse one, it says, And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this Way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. and then in Acts 26 nine through 11, where Paul describes what what he thought. In verse nine we begin, I verily thought with myself that I ought do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Arnie 6:21
Well, the same thing, kind of thing happened in Thessalonica. Paul was preaching there. Many of the Greeks were converted to Christ. And in Acts 17, beginning in verse five, But the Jews which believed not moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down, are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: And these do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, one Jesus. And they troubled the city and the the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things, and when they'd taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
Fred 7:25
Well, and there was a, they had a riot in Ephesus, as well and of course, there, there was outrage from these people over their false religion. And in Acts 19:24 through 28 says, For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith which made silver shrines for Diana brought no small gain unto the craftsman. Look through look at the money that's the problem. "Yeah". Whom he called together with the workman of like occupations, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover, ye see and hear that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people. Of course Paul had become a Christian at this point, Saying that they be no Gods which are made with hands, so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these things, they were full of wrath and cried out saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians!
Arnie 8:35
We know, on at the end of Paul's third missionary journey, he returned back to Jerusalem he was bringing funds from the Gentile churches to give to the to the needy brethren there. And he had gone into the temple for a purification ceremony and and was falsely accused of having brought a Gentile in there. Of course they hated the Gentiles anyway. And in Acts chapter 21 and verse 26, Paul took the men and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out Men of Israel help. This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere, against the people and the law and this place and further brought Greeks also into the temple and have polluted this holy place. (For they had seen before they had seen him before in the city Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was moved and the people ran together and they took Paul and drew him out of the temple and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar, who immediately took soldiers and Centurions, and ran down unto them: And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating Paul. Just to mention that the the chief captain was commander over 1000 soldiers, he had 10 Centurions, so and each of them had 100 soldiers under him. So this is a pretty large military force to have you necessary to put down this riot. "It's easy to put down a riot whe you have enough man to do so." You got to have enough men to do too and have got to have a will to do it.
Fred 10:52
Yes. Well the fact is that as far as God is concerned, He has no partiality toward people Whether by their race or their ethnic origin or their their gender, God looks at people based on their spirits, not not their external attributes. So in Acts 10:34 35, Peter, he's at the Cornelius's house. Then Peter opened his mouth and said of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that fears Him and worketh righteousness is accepted with Him. Then in Ephesians, Paul writes in chapter six, beginning in verse, verse five through nine, Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ. Not with eyeservice, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he bond or free, and you masters do the same things umto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven. Neither is there a respecter of persons with Him.
Arnie 12:07
Fred, I'm thinking of Colossians chapter three and verse 23. Whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance;l for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive of the wrong, which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons. And and Peter speaks along that line in First Peter chapter one and verse 13, Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not fashioning yourself according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of person judgeth, according to every man's work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.
Fred 13:15
Well, Paul, Paul is addressing the philosophers on Mars Hill, in Acts chapter 17. And beginning in verse 24, Paul makes a statement there he says, God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Neither is worshipped with men's hands as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life and breath and all things. And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation. We can get blood transfusions, and it doesn't matter what race you are, the blood right blood type. We all have the same blood basically. We all bleed red if something happens to us.
Arnie 14:04
And every man, every woman is made in God's image as well. And it's not talking about the physical body. It's talking about the spiritual aspect of of man, God being spirit and, and they worship Him must worship Him in spirit and the truth. God includes and God even unites every race, every nation, every gender, in the church who and the word church is is ecclesia, in the New Testament, and it means his called out body, all races, nations and genders are part of that. And Paul says in Galatians, chapter three, beginning of verse 26, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There's neither Jew nor Greek. There's neither bond nor free. There's neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus and if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, seed and heirs according to the promise. And that just reminds me of Isaiah, his prophecy about the church in Isaiah chapter two, beginning in verse two verse two, And it shall come to pass, in the last days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow into it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob and He will teach us His ways, we will walk in His paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning books. nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. And of course that refers to in the church, it brethren are are not warring with one another, the rest of the world may but in the Lord's body they do not.
Fred 16:18
Yes and and of course He has, His word is directed to all people. He doesn't have one law for one and different law for another one. Jesus says in John 14:24 and 25, He answered and said, If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not My sayings. And the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me. So God's words are directed to us all in the same way, and not a different word for different nationalities or different colors or different whatever.
Arnie 16:57
You are all one in Christ Jesus. Christ's gospel really removes prejudice, it removes strife. You cannot be a Christian and continue to war and fight with one another and have prejudice and hatred against one another. The Gospel reconciles people who who were adversaries that Paul wrote to the Ephesians chapter two and verse 13. He said, But now in Christ Jesus, Ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, speaking of Jews and Gentiles, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace. And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the entity thereby and came and preached peace to you, which were afar off, and to them which were nigh.
Fred 18:09
Well, Christians are forbidden in the scriptures to hate. John in his, ah, First John three verses 10 and 11. John writes, he says, In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil, whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Of course, we are all brethren from a human standpoint. John here is talking about brethren as far as Christians are concerned, But we can't hate someone and be faithful to God it is simply contrary to His word. And he does not accept that.
Arnie 18:54
Jesus taught to love your, love your neighbor as yourself. Disciples aren't allowed then to, to hold prejudices. Aren't allowed to have partiality and regard to our fellow man and and Paul writing to Timothy in First Timothy chapter five and in verse 20 spoke about elders in particular, he said, Against an elder receive, not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. The same would be true, of course with other allegations against other Christians to, Them that sin, rebuke before all that others also may fear. I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels, that you observe these things without preferring, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality, nothing by partiality, James said and James chapter two, and beginning in verse one, My brethren and have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory with respect to persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, and goodly apparel and there come in also, come in also a poor man in vile raiment and you have respect to him that weareth the fine clothing and saith unto him, Sit thou here in a good place, and say to the poor, stand thou there or sit here under my footstool, are ye not then partial in yourselves and are become judges of evil thoughts? Harkin my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that holy name by which you are called? If ye fulfill the Royal law, according to the Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,, ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin and are convicted of the law has transgressors.
Fred 21:11
Well, Arnie saints are, should endeavor to get along with all men, whether they're Christians or whether they're not. And Romans 12:16 through 19, Paul writes there and he says, Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things but associate with men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to know man evil for evil, provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. The implication is sometimes it's not possible, but it's what it but it's up to you as a Christian to do that. He says, Dearly Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine. I will repay sayeth the Lord. And then Paul in Galatians, six, nine and 10 he says there, Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As you have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially into them who are of the household of faith.
Arnie 22:15
You know, while we're thinking of things that Paul wrote, in writing to Titus in chapter three. And beginning in in verse one. He emphasizes that the concept of saints getting along with with all men. He said, Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, but to to be no bra..., no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that the kindness of love of God our Savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly thru Jesus Christ our Lord; and being justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. And looking at Hebrews chapter 12. And, and verse 14, the Hebrew writer said, Follow peace with all men, with all man and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Fred 23:47
Well Arnie, you know Peter makes, starts a statement in the First Peter chapter two. He goes from verse 17 through 24. He begins, he says, Honor all men, love the Brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants be subject to your masters with all fear not only to the good, and gentle, also to the froword. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it if when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently. But if when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. When He suffered, He threatened not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously. Who is, Who His own self, bear our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Arnie 24:56
So really, Fred, we've covered we've covered three thoughts here. And the first had to do with all the New Testament cases of animosity, resulting in violent persecution. The fact that God has no racial or ethnic or national, you know, or gender, partiality, any partiality of one man contrary to partiality with another. And, and of course that Christ's gospel removes the problem of prejudice, removes strife. I think there's one more thing to remember. And that is, is the fact that sin is common to all mankind. Paul writes in Romans chapter three and verse 21, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Christ Jesus unto all and upon all them that believe; For there is no difference: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God. To declare I say, at this time, His righteousness, and He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Fred 26:34
Yeah, well, Arnie also, forgiveness is available to all men. Well, to you, our listeners and to us alike. Paul writes in First Timothy chapter two, beginning in verse one through six, he says, I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers intercessions and giving of thanks being made, for all men, for kings for all that are in authority. that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior, who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time. He forgave us, basically, when He gave Jesus on the cross died for us. And we ought to always remember to forgive others, too. That'll take away a lot of animosity,
Arnie 27:35
That that's very, very correct. But somebody might be asking you a question, you know, How do we receive this? How do we get this forgiveness there? So let's go back to Acts chapter two very shortly here very quickly. And and note that Peter had preached on the day of Pentecost, about the death, burial resurrection of Jesus Christ and the guilt of those that were in his audience for having crucified The Messiah. And in Acts two verse 37, when they heard this, they were pricked their heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call, and with many other words, did he testify and exhort, saying Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they they gladly received his word were baptized, the same day there were added unto them about 3000 souls. The same thing is available to you today. We hope that you'll take advantage of it. This was Fred Gosnell, Arnie Granke with Woodland church of Christ. This has been What Does The Bible Say? We hope you'll listen to us again next Lord's Day. Have a good day.