I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  ~ Acts 1:1-2

Luke, the author of the gospel of Luke is also the author of the book of Acts. Acts is actually the sequel to Luke’s gospel, written as a second edition to what Luke had previously written in his gospel.

The footnotes of the NET Bible translation says the following regarding the uses of the word former in verse 1.

tn Or “first.” The translation “former” is preferred because “first” could imply to the modern English reader that the author means that his previous account was the first one to be written down. The Greek term πρῶτος (prōtos) does not necessarily mean “first” in an absolute sense, but can refer to the first in a set or series. That is what is intended here—the first account (known as the Gospel of Luke) as compared to the second one (known as Acts).

The gospel of Luke is the first in the series, and Acts follows in the series as it relates to the events regarding Christ and the gospel. In one sense of the word, each need the other to get the full picture.

Imagine watching a movie and only seeing the sequel. You may really enjoy the movie and get a lot out of it, but if you haven’t seen the first one, you are missing out on a lot. When we think of Acts as the continuation of the story Luke is telling us in his gospel, it takes on a whole new dimension.

When Luke wrote his gospel, it was written specifically to a person named Theophilus. Theophilus is for all intents and purposes historically unknown, but Luke’s respect for him comes through in his address to him.

In Luke 1:3, he refers to him as, most excellent Theophilus. His name means friend of God.

Since there is no historical evidence (yet) as to who Theophilus was, it is possible that this name is symbolic for all true believers who are friends of God. Imagine for a moment if that is the case, then that would mean that Luke intended to write these editions with all of God’s people in mind, including you and me.

It is possible that Theophilus was simply an honorable Christian, businessman, or politician, but whoever he was, he was well respected by Luke.

Theophilus is the receipt of both editions written by Luke.

Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning.  So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed  all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know for certain the things you were taught. ~ Luke 1:1- 4

I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  ~ Acts 1:1-2

I would be remiss if I did not point out that Luke makes a point that many had labored to compile an account of the testimony of Jesus, namely those who were eyewitnesses of his ministry. Likewise, Luke had carefully taken the time to write of these events in order. That is something of major importance as we consider Luke’s gospel and the book of Acts.

As pointed out, Acts is the continuation of the account that Luke began with his first edition to Theophilus, which we know as the Gospel of Luke. Luke and Acts run together as one continuous story. And that just fills my heart with joy and excitement!

We’ll see more regarding Luke throughout the study as Luke was a companion of Paul in the ministry.

Recently, I began a study in the book of Acts. I didn’t realize it would grow into the study it is becoming, but I want to share with you how I got here.

I started with a desire to learn more about the people mentioned in Acts, particularly the people who are actively living and playing a role in the narrative. There are people mentioned in Acts such as King David, and John the Baptist, whose lives and ministry have an impact on the history of the early church as recorded in Acts, but I wanted my focus to be on those who were active participants in the story being told throughout the pages of Acts. However, I don’t want to leave any out because a large segment of people in Acts were influenced by John the Baptist, who isn’t a living participant at the time period Acts documents, but his impact on people in the early church is well documented in Acts.

For instance, Apollos, who is described as an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, was heavily influenced by the ministry of John the Baptist. Even though he only knew the things taught by John the Baptist, he was boldly proclaiming the Word of God he knew at the time.

When Aquila and Priscilla heard him speak, they pulled him aside and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Appollos then continued his ministry and Luke tells us the following after he was tutored by Aquila and Priscilla.

When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia,  the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, for he refuted the Jews vigorously in public debate, demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus. ~ Acts 18: 27-28

Apollos would go on to be a companion of Paul in the ministry and is mentioned several times in Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.

The brief time that I have engaged in this study has been so good and refreshing. It’s amazing what you find in a study like this. There are so many players in the story of Acts that extend into other parts of the New Testament and just open a whole new world of understanding. This study actually started by me wanting to get acquainted with the people who interacted with the apostle Paul in Acts, such as Crispus, the leader of the synagogue in Corinth.

When Paul first visited Corinth to evangelize, he received opposition from the Jews, and while there he lodged with a man named Titus Justus, who was a Gentile and a worshipper of God. Titus Justus just happened to live next door to Crispus (the leader of the synagogue), who along with his entire family came to faith in Jesus.

Paul mentions Crispus in 1 Corinthians 1:14. 

Both Apollos and Crispus show up in Acts 18, but connect us with Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Because this study was so enriching, I decided to go back to the first chapter of Acts and work my way through the entire book of Acts, and Wow! The first chapter is loaded. What’s amazing is it is leading me down a lot of other avenues of study, that are chopped full of edifying truths.

So with all that being said, I am venturing into a study of the people in Acts, and I would like to share with you some of the things I learn and come across. This study just keeps expanding, and I hope you will rejoice with me as I dig into the book of Acts, and I pray that it refreshes your soul as well. There is something about learning about the people in scripture that helps us to understand the faith we embrace so much better.

The next post, which I plan to share promptly will focus on Luke and Theophilus. Some of the posts in this study will be short, some will be longer, and some may venture into other areas, but I haven’t felt this excited about a topic of study in a while. I hope you will join me in this journey.

Blessings!

Before I begin, I want to give a shot out to those who serve in historical Biblical Scholarship, which has aided in my understanding of what I share here.

Acts is a sequel to Luke, and is believed to have been written by Luke as there is strong internal evidence. For example, Luke was written to an honorable and important  person known as Theophilus, to whom Luke refers to as, most excellent Theophilus, in his gospel (Luke 1:3).

In the introduction to the book of Acts, we see that this is a second edition written to the same person.

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.  ~ Acts 1:1-2

Within the book of Acts we have a time stamp that gives us a strong clue as to when it was written and it is found within the last chapter. The book of Acts ends with these two verses:

For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! ~ Acts 28:30-32

Did you notice the clue we have? If not, that’s OK because you will see it in a moment. Among the early church history recorded in Acts is Peter’s early years of ministry, and the documentation of Paul’s ministry.

Acts documents Paul (Saul’s) opposition to the gospel before his conversion. Acts then documents Paul’s conversion, his early years of preaching, his approval by the apostles, his miracles, signs and wonders, his relationships with ministry companions such as Barnabas, Aquila, Priscilla, Timothy, and Silas. Acts also documents Paul’s persecutions, his trials, his imprisonments, his being shipwreck, the physical beatings he endured, and the evolution of his ministry to the Gentiles, and so on.

The one thing that Acts does not cover is Paul’s death. Acts closes with Paul ministering freely from his own home. This is an important point because Luke is not slack on recording the deaths of prominent people. The death of Stephen and James (the brother of John) are a couple of examples.

In fact, Luke tells us in Acts about a time when Paul was stoned and left for dead, but Paul recovered. If the book of Acts had been written after the death of Paul, it would make no sense for Luke to document Paul’s ministry the way that he does and leave off the final years of his life and ministry.

That Acts closes with Paul still alive and ministering freely is a strong indicator that Acts was written during Paul’s lifetime and before his death.

The apostle Paul died approximately around AD 64, before the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. Thus Acts was written before AD 64, possibly within the late fifties, which places the timing of the writing of the book of Acts within the first 30 years of church history after the resurrection of Jesus.

Since Acts is the sequel to Luke, we can be confident that Luke was likely written in the 50s at the latest. This would indicate that the timing of Luke’s gospel is most likely no later than somewhere within the first 20 – 25 years of church history.

It is believed that the gospel of Mark is the oldest of the four gospels, being the first to be written. This would mean that it was written before the book of Luke which was most likely written within the 50’s based on the internal timestamp within Acts.

If Luke was written within the 50’s, it is likely that Mark was written in the early 50’s or even the 40’s. It is commonly believed that Matthew was written before Luke, and that Matthew and Luke both draw their content from the book of Mark, both being an expansion of what is recorded in Mark’s gospel.

Jesus died and rose again in AD 33, so the timing of the writing of the book of Mark is likely somewhere between 15-25 years after his resurrection. With the internal timestamp given to us in Acts, we have strong evidence that Mark, Matthew, Luke, and Acts were all written within the first 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus.

In the past I have refuted the error that repentance of sin is not necessary to be saved. More and more there are those who believe that salvation requires no change, and that a person can remain the same old filthy, corrupt person they have always been and have eternal life if they simply “believe” in the Lord Jesus Christ.

That assertion simply is not true, because it does not represent the belief in Christ that is presented to us in the New Testament.

The New Testament has much to say about what true faith actually looks like. If there is no change in a person’s character, conduct, and desires, there is no true salvation experienced. True salvation from the Spirit of Christ begins a work in the life of the believer, transforming them into the likeness of Christ.

The transformation of one’s life doesn’t happen overnight, but the work of it begins instantly when true faith in Christ occurs in the heart. Those who want the gift of eternal life, without the Spirit of the Lord transforming them into the likeness of Christ, are not saved. They are deceived. If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ… ~ See Romans 8:9

A person cannot have the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ and not have an abiding conviction to turn away from the old sinful life and follow Christ in a renewed desire for righteousness and true holiness.

This is not “works salvation”, as some so erroneously claim. It is the work of the Spirit of Christ in the life and heart of the one who has true faith in Jesus. Listed below are just a few examples for you to consider along these lines.

True belief in Jesus Christ is an act of crucifying the flesh and the appetites of the flesh.

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ~ Galatians 5:24-25

True belief in Jesus Christ is an act of dying to sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ~ Romans 6:1-2

True belief in Jesus Christ is an act of being immersed (baptized) into the death of Jesus Christ.

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.~ Romans 6:3-4

True belief in Jesus Christ is a new birth, by the Spirit of the Lord, after the likeness of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This occurs inwardly, by the Spirit’s power at work within our heart.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ~ Romans 6:5-6

True belief in Jesus Christ is an act of putting off the old man of sin. The characteristics of the old man of sin are listed in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds… Colossians 3:5-9 

True belief in Jesus Christ is not only marked by putting off the old man of sin, but also putting on the new man that is created in the image of Christ.

… seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:9-16

True belief in Jesus Christ is marked by righteousness and true holiness.

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. ~ Ephesians 4:24

For the past 2-3 weeks Deuteronomy 27:19 has made a profound impression on me, especially in view of the traditional “American Christian” political position on immigration.

We’ll get to Deuteronomy 27:19 in due time, but first I want to lay a little bit of groundwork as to why it is important that we as Christians understand that our “patriotic mindset” towards undocumented immigrants isn’t exactly Biblical.

First, many Christians in the United States, especially in the south, have been conditioned politically with some degree of Christian nationalism, even those who have no idea what Christian nationalism actually is have been influenced by it.

Much of the language and agenda of Christian nationalism caters to the extreme. This is evident in how Christians have been conditioned to view undocumented immigrants over the past 15-20 years, possibly longer, as right winged media outlets have repeatedly described undocumented immigrants as illegals.

This rhetoric is intentional.

Please hear me when I say that it is intentional. “Undocumented”, and “illegals” are two completely different descriptions. The term undocumented leaves room for compassion, and justice. The term illegal does not.

The inflammatory nature of the word “illegal” forms a judgment within the mind which leads to a desensitization of the conscience towards immigrants. This is at the root of all the cruelty that is happening in the United States with regards to immigrants.

In recent days, my heart has been grieved as the SCOTUS has given the Trump Administration the green light to end the Temporary Protected Status of Haitian and Syrian immigrants who are in the United States. These are immigrants who have been in the United States for years.

For the most part these immigrants have settled into communities and have been hard workers and contributors to the communities they live in and productive to the overall good of the United States. 

Now, there are many examples of cruelty to immigrants in the United States that could be elaborated on, but for this article, let’s focus for a moment on the cruelty that these Haitian and Syrian immigrants are enduring.

Stop and consider the uprooting of their entire families, the uncertainty of what they will be deported back to, the fear for their children, and all that potential deportation encompasses. It literally affects their entire lives.

Imagine being a 13 year old girl. You dad works hard in construction, and your mom volunteers for the local church to help with whatever is needed. The only country you know is the United States, all your friends are here. You have aspirations of being a nurse, or a doctor because you want to help people. You have lived in this county since you were barely 3 years old. Now you and your family are being told to leave and your family doesn’t have the resources to move to a more progressive nation, and resettle. Instead your family’s only option is to go to an area where you may be an orphan in a matter of weeks.

This is the reality that some immigrants face. If you are a Christian, and your heart isn’t moved with compassion, something is wrong. If you as a Christian view them as just another group of “illegals” now that their TPS is being removed, something is seriously wrong with your Christianity. You are the product of the cruelty intended by those who use the language “illegal” to describe real people with families, who are friends, neighbors, co-workers, and fellow believers in houses of worship.

What is particularly disturbing is that many Christians who have been desensitized to think this way also believe that the United States is a Christian nation, and proudly argue that “America was founded on Christian principles, and is therefore a Christian nation”!

The truth is, such assertions fail miserably when examined in light of the law that God gave to Israel. The mind set that these Haitian and Syrian immigrants are owed no compassion, and should be now deported is contrary to God’s law given to Israel.

Let’s look at Deuteronomy 27:19 and in doing so we will work our way backwards and consider what led the children of Israel to be so forceful in their declaration that we are about to examine. Deuteronomy 27:19 says the following:

Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.

These are some pretty strong words just by themselves, but when we consider the context and background, the seriousness of these words intensify.

Before we proceed forward, allow me to point out one observation for you to consider. The foreigner is in the same category as the fatherless and the widow in this text. And if you will take the time to cross examine what I am telling you, you will find that this is a pattern in the Old Testament.

The foreigner is spoken of alongside the most vulnerable, and they are repeatedly mentioned in the same category as the fatherless and widow.

Now, take a moment and ask yourself, do you have the same sense of compassion for the Haitian and Syrian immigrants as you do for American citizens who have no fathers and who are widows?

The Israelites were not commanded to have a second rate level of compassion for the foreigner in contrast to the fatherless and the widows who were Israeli citizens. They were to have the same level of compassion.

Our text, Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, intensifies when we consider that these words were spoken by the children of Israel before they entered the promised land. 

When the children of Israel crossed the Jordan river, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph and Benjamin stood in Mount Gerizim to bless the people. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali pronounced the curses.

When we consider the other curses, we ought to shutter at the seriousness of this. The Levites recited to all the people that anyone who does the following in the land God was giving them, would be cursed.

1. Anyone who makes an idol.

2. Anyone who dishonors their father or mother.

3. Anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” (Stealing your neighbor’s land).

4. Anyone who leads the blind astray on the road.

5. Anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.

6. Anyone who sleeps with his father’s wife (his mother).

7. Anyone who has sexual relations with any animal.

8. Anyone who sleeps with his sister. 

9. Anyone who sleeps with his mother-in-law.

10. Anyone who kills their neighbor secretly.

11. Anyone who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.

12. Anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.

The people responded with “Amen!” after each of these curses were recited.

I want you to consider the mindset that many Christians in the United States have with regards to immigrants. Some have even argued that immigrants should not be given due process because they are illegals.

Yet, denying due process to the foreigner is exactly what the israelites were referring to when they said, “Cursed is anyone who denies justice to the foreigner.”

Notice that the children of Israel ended the list of curses with an Amen to the words, “Cursed is anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.” ~ Deuteronomy 27:26

Now what are the words of this law a reference to? It is the law of God that was given to Israel to prepare them for Christ. In Galatians 3, Paul says that the law served as a school master to bring us to Christ.

The things which God explicitly taught Israel in the law, as to how they were to treat people, carry over into the New Testament. For example, consider the following command.

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. ~ Leviticus 19:33-34

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. ~ Matthew 22:37-40

Take special note that in Leviticus 19:33-34, the children of Israel were commanded by God to love the foreigner as themselves. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. 

Notice that the children of Israel were told by God to love the foreigner because they themselves had been foreigners in Egypt. 

Consider with me the following texts from the book of Exodus.

Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 22:21

Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 23:9

Did you know that both of these texts were part of God’s explanation to Moses concerning how the Ten Commandments were to be lived out by the Israelites?

In Exodus 20:1-17 we have the Ten Commandments as they were written on the Tables of Stone. In reality, these were only the headings of the Commandments. How the Commands were to be followed in the complexity of daily life with all the nuance involved would have to be expounded upon.

Exodus 20:21- Exodus 23:33 is the first record we have in the Old Testament of how the Ten Commandments were to be lived out.

From verse 21 in the 20th chapter until the end of chapter 23, God expounds to Moses regarding how the Commandments would work in the lives of the children of Israel. How Israel was to treat foreigners was part of that equation.

This is significant when we consider the obsession that some Christians have with placing the Ten Commandments in Government buildings and Educational facilities such as schools.

The very Commandments that some Christians think they are fighting for actually condemns the attitudes of those same Christians who view all undocumented immigrants as “illegals.”

I want you to pause for a moment and consider the seriousness of this.

When God gave the command regarding keeping the Sabbath, this is what God said:

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8-11

Remembering the Sabbath day and keeping it holy wasn’t just meant for the Israelites. They were to keep the Sabbath by allowing their servants, animals, and the foreigners residing among them to rest.

Now I want you to notice the second mention of foreigners as it relates to the Ten Commands. It is explained within the context of the first 3 Commands.

Before we read it, let’s review the first 3 Commands as they were given in Outline or heading form.

And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. ~ Exodus 20:1-7

Now notice Exodus 22:20-28 and how the treatment of foreigners is embedded in these.

“Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord (first command) must be destroyed. “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. ~ Exodus 22:20-28

Notice that Israel’s treatment of foreigners, widows, the fatherless, the needy and neighbors was woven together in the keeping of the first three commands. This theme runs all throughout the Old and New Testaments, as the One True God is the advocate and defender of them.

Consider for example, Deuteronomy 24:17

Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. ~ Deuteronomy 24:17

Christians who hold to the opinion that undocumented immigrants in the United States should not be given due process, have a mindset that is contrary to God’s Law given to Israel.

God’s Word is clear on the matter, Do not deny justice to the foreigner!

While there are some immigrants who are criminals, far too many have been criminalized unjustly, by an unjust Administration.

Even as I write this there are thousands of immigrants in detention centers who are being held in inhumane conditions. These immigrants are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and children. If we refuse to open our eyes and see, what does that truly say about us?

Remember what God said in the text we read earlier from Leviticus 19:33-34 When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. ~ Leviticus 19:33-34

Notice that these instructions come with the declaration, I am the Lord your God. Have you ever noticed that when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, he prefaced it with these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” ~ Exodus 20:2

God wanted Israel to never forget where they came from as foreigners and slaves in Egypt and that it was the One True God who had delivered them. The commands were to reflect this.

Now consider how Exodus 23:9 is woven into the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 23:9 says Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

The command not to oppress foreigners is part of what it means to not be a false witness.

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit. “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent. “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 23:1-9.

When any Christian doesn’t have mercy towards foreigners, and advocates for their oppression simply because they are not “American” or are undocumented, and condescendingly label them as “illegals”, they are by this attitude acting as false witness, and breaking the very Commandments for which they lobby to be posted in public buildings.

They are a false witness against the immigrant by supporting no justice for them!

They also bear false witness against God whom they claim to serve in their “Christianity.” Such attitudes are a violation of the Command not to take the name of the Lord in vain.

While using the name of God as a swear word does indeed violate the command, the force of the command in the Hebrew language is to not misrepresent God. When we have no compassion, no mercy, no understanding, and no grace towards immigrants regardless if they are documented or undocumented, we misrepresent the God whom we claim to serve. That by definition is a form of blasphemy and should be taken seriously.

God gave the Israelites very specific instructions as to how they were to treat foreigners, widows, the needy, and those whose only help was from God, and to treat them in any manner other than with kindness, mercy, and grace, is to be a misrepresentation of God.

Cheering on the exploitation of undocumented immigrants, and having no compassion for them this is blaspheming the name of God. It is misrepresenting him.

And that should make us tremble!

This article is the first installment of a topic I am eager to address and that topic is MAGA Christianity. Now this title may come across as offensive to some, but MAGA Christianity is a thing, just as white supremacy within American Christianity is a thing.

This article is not written to make Christians comfortable. It is intentionally written to make us uncomfortable. We need to be told the truth, and there is much that I need to say but it is difficult to put everything in order in one long post. For this reason, I think I would be more productive to address it in multiple installments, assuming that I stay the course and continue to address it.

Throughout history, Christianity has taken on many forms that did not represent the truth of God in Christ. Such was the case during the time of slavery during the colonial years, when many of the slave owners claimed to be Christians and justified slavery with the Bible.

During this period it was not uncommon for white slave owners and their families to attend church services on Sundays and after leaving the service to gather at a lynching as unsubmissive slaves were put to death. These “Christians” used the lynching not only to punish the slaves but to terrorize the others.

In American history, the original terrorists were white Christians. This is true not only of enslaved people, but also the indigenous people.

While many Christians today believe in a cleaned up version of American history and slavery, and believe that the founding fathers were pretty much God fearing men, the reality is white supremacy was more of a defining trait in many of them than the fear of God.

Nearly 50 % of the framers of United States Constitution, and eleven of the first 16 Presidents of the United States, were slave owners. The racial injustice that we have seen in recent times stems from the roots of white supremacy that has never fully been dealt with by the American Church. For the most part, it has remained a problem within American Christianity, and we have never-ever truly repented of it.

The sad reality is that it is often white Americans outside of Christianity who are actually fighting for equality for people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Even more damning is that Donald Trump knows that it is Christians to whom he can appeal to with his hate, insults, and dog whistles to violence. This played out on the steps of our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021 after Trump convinced an army of his white supporters (some who were confessing Christians) to riot in a manner that dishonored the Name of Christ.

Christianity in the United States has a dark and unsettling history, steeped in White Supremacy. The slavery and oppression of black people, and the hatred for dark skinned immigrants, who are created in the image of God is the “again” in the slogan, “Make America Great Again”

Make no mistake about it, “again” means white power. It does not mean equity for everyone. 

There is no such thing as a physical Christian nation.

All physical nations are secular in the eyes of God. 

Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing. ~ Isaiah 40:17 

There is only one physical nation that was ever given God’s law as their governing law (ancient Israel), and that nation was judged and went into captivity because they could not keep it.

The only nation that God acknowledges as his people is a spiritual nation: the body of believers in the Messiah.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ~ 1 Peter 2:9-10 

God’s holy nation of people are strangers and pilgrims in this world.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul… ~ 1 Peter 2:11

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. ~ Hebrews 11: 13-16

The United States never was, and never will be a physical representation of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. ~ John 18:36 

The only nation that God acknowledges as his own consists of people from every physical nation.

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation… ~ Revelation 5:9

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ~ Revelation 7:9-10

Jesus is not white.

Jesus, who is God in the flesh, was a descendant of Abraham, from the lineage of David of the tribe of Judah.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ~ Matthew 1:1

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead… ~ Romans 1:3-4

MAGA Christians are going to be shocked when they discover that the authentic Jesus looks nothing like them or the blue eyed white European they have envisioned.

First century Jews were typically olive-brown skinned with brown or dark hair and brown eyes. The true Jesus, Yeshua, who walked among men looked more like those being deported from the United States than the images of Jesus on hats, t-shirts, and signs at MAGA rallies. 

Jesus did not come from the white man’s ancestors, and there is nothing virtuous about being white! Absolutely nothing.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were immigrants .

When God began to put his redemptive plan into motion he raised up a man named Abram, who later became Abraham. From the time that God called Abraham until his death, Abraham was an immigrant.

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee… ~ Genesis 12:1 

Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said,  “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.” ~ Genesis 23:3-4

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.  ~ Hebrews 11:8-10

The truth that no MAGA Christian wants to hear is that many of the very immigrants that they want to see mass deported have more in common with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob than they actually do.

The very people that MAGA Christians want expelled from our borders, are the very people that scripture tells us to deal kindly with and not deprive of justice.

Consider for example, Exodus 22:21 and Exodus 23:9

Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 22:21

Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 23:9

Did you know that both of these texts were part of God’s explanation to Moses concerning how the Ten Commandments were to be lived out by the Israelites?

In Exodus 20:1-17 we have the Ten Commandments as they were written on the Tables of Stone. In reality, these were only the bullet points or headings of the Commandments. How the Commands were to be followed in the complexity of daily life with all the nuance involved would have to be expounded upon.

Exodus 20:21- Exodus 23:33 is the first record we have in the Old Testament of how the Ten Commandments were to be lived out.

From verse 21 in the 20th chapter until the end of chapter 23, God expounds to Moses regarding how the Commandments would work in the lives of the children of Israel. How Israel was to treat foreigners was part of that equation.

This is significant when we consider MAGA Christianity’s obsession with placing the Ten Commandments in Government buildings and Educational facilities such as schools. The very Commandments that MAGA Christians think they are fighting for actually condemns their actions and attitudes towards immigrants.

I want you to pause for a moment and consider the seriousness of this.

When God gave the command regarding keeping the Sabbath, this is what God said: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8-11

Now I want you to notice that the second mention of foreigners as it relates to the Ten Commands is explained within the context of the first 3 Commands.

Before we read it, let’s review the first 3 Commands as they were given in Outline, or bullet point form.

And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. ~ Exodus 20:1-7

Now notice Exodus 22:20-28 and how the treatment of foreigners is embedded in these.

“Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the Lord (first command) must be destroyed. “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.  “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset, because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people. ~ Exodus 22:20-28

Notice that Israel’s treatment of foreigners, widows, the fatherless, the needy and neighbors was woven together in the keeping of the first three commands. This theme runs all throughout the Old and New Testaments, as the One True God is the advocate and defender of them.

For example, consider Deuteronomy 24:17

Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. ~ Deuteronomy 24:17

MAGA Christians often hold the opinion that undocumented immigrants in the United States should not be given due process, But God’s Word is clear on the matter, Do not deny justice to the foreigner!

While there are some immigrants who are criminals, far to many have been criminalized unjustly, by an unjust Administration.

Now consider with me how Exodus 23:9 is woven into the Ten Commandments. Exodus 23:9 says Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. The command not to oppress foreigners is part of what it means to not be a false witness.

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit. “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it. “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty. “Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent. “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt. ~ Exodus 23:1-9

There is so much more in this portion of scripture that applies to MAGA Christianity, because Donald Trump is indeed a malicious person who perverts justice. I can say that with integrity because I know the manner of man he is.

When any Christian doesn’t have mercy towards foreigners, and advocates for their oppression simply because they are not “American” or are undocumented, and condescendingly label them as “illegals”, they are by this attitude acting as false witness, and breaking the very Commandments that they lobby for to be posted in public buildings.

They are a false witness against the immigrant by supporting no justice for them. They also bear false witness against God who they claim to serve in their “Christianity.” The Command not to take the name of the Lord in vain is much weightier in the Hebrew language than simply saying a swear word.

While using the name of God as a swear word does indeed violate the command, the force of the command in the Hebrew language is to not misrepresent God. When we have no compassion, no mercy, no understanding, and no grace towards immigrants regardless if they are documented or undocumented, we misrepresent the God whom we claim to serve. That by definition is a form of blasphemy and should be taken seriously.

God gave the Israelites very specific instructions as to how they were to treat foreigners, widows, the needy, and those whose only help was from God, and to treat them in any manner other than with kindness, mercy, and grace, is be a misrepresentation of God.

When MAGA Christians cheer on the exploitation of undocumented immigrants, and have no compassion for them this is blaspheming the name of God. It is misrepresenting him.

I have much more to say, but I think this is a good place to unhook for this article.

In the book of Hebrews, the blood of Jesus is the blood of the New Covenant in contrast to the blood of animals which ratified the Old Covenant.

The Old Covenant as referred to in the book of Hebrews, and elsewhere in the New Testament is the Law of Moses. This is not the covenant that God made with Abraham, but rather, the covenant that God made with Abraham’s descendants when he delivered them from Egypt (Hebrews 8:8-10).

In chapter 8, The writer of Hebrews tells us that if Jesus were on earth, he would not be a priest, because those priests serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. ~ Hebrews 8:5

He then tells us that Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much he also is the mediator of a better covenant.

The covenant is better for one reason alone: Jesus!

Jesus lived a sinless life and pleased God from his heart in every thing he said and did. In contrast, the Old Covenant priests were ritually purified, and served in a system that was only as a shadow of something greater. Thus they were required to offer the same sacrifices over and over again, that could never take away sins.

When Moses read the words of the covenant to the children of Israel at Sinai, he said, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. ~ Hebrews 9:20

I think that sometimes we underappreciate the reality that we are in covenant with God, not by the blood of animals, but by the blood of Jesus. 

Everything we read regarding the Old Testament priesthood, sacrifices, and the tabernacle was but a foreshadowing of something greater that was to come,

Since that covenant was established with the blood of calves and goats, it served as a type and shadow of something greater. It did not have the power to purify the conscience and bring God’s people into his abiding presence.

Thus, it could only point God’s people to a greater blessing, a blessing that would be found in the New Covenant established in the blood of Jesus. But what is it that makes the blood of Jesus so powerful and such a blessing?

Well, for one we know that Jesus had no sin, but this is far more than Jesus being the only person in history to keep all of the rules and never miss the mark. I think we might sometimes think of Christ’s sinlessness in such ways.

The sinlessness of Christ is much more than never missing the mark. Jesus never sinned because he lived his life to always please the Father.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ~ Hebrews 10:5-7

In the reference above, the writer of Hebrews is citing from the Psalms.

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. ~ Psalm 40:7-8

Jesus came to do the will of God, not out of duty, but out of joy, for he says, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

This disposition in the man, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of the New Covenant as the writer of Hebrews explains.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ~ Hebrews 10:8-10

The words, He taketh away the first, is a reference to the first covenant, and contextually that is the Old Covenant (the law of Moses).

He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. The second is a reference to what is said next, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

Notice the contrast. The first was the continual offering of animal sacrifices that could never take away sins. This was the first covenant. The second that is established is, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.

This is what the writer of Hebrews is referring to when he says, By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

By the will that was in Jesus, that delighted to do God’s will, (through that will in Jesus) we are sanctified by the offering of his body once and for all!

The power in the blood of Jesus is not just that it cleanses us from past wrongdoings only, but it also cleanses to serve the Living God.

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ~ Hebrews 9:13-14

Notice that the blood of Christ not only cleanses us from, but also unto. This is why there is a renewing within the heart to please God when we truly seek for cleansing by the blood of Christ. Paul touched on this in his second letter to the Corinthians.

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. ~ 2 Corinthians 7:11 

The cleansing that comes through the blood of Christ frees the conscience into service and fellowship of the Living God. This is because the disposition that was in Christ when he laid down his life for us was one of complete consecration to God, one that says, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

We sometimes say Jesus paid it all, and that certainly is true, but we might also add, he paid it forward as well, because the same Spirit that was in Jesus, to love the Father and to please him always, is the Spirit we receive when we are cleansed in his precious blood.

This is the Spirit of the New Covenant, and the New Covenant is better because Jesus is better!

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead… ~ Acts 13:27-30

According to Acts 13:27-30 the following are true.

• Those who crucified Jesus did not know him.
• Those who crucified Jesus did not know the voices of the prophets who had prophesied concerning the sufferings of the Messiah.
• Those who condemned Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets by their condemnation of him. In their ignorance they did exactly what the prophets had prophesied they would do to the Messiah. 
• They had no other reason for putting him to death than the simple fact that they hated him.
• After they (not God) had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the cross and buried him. 
• God, in opposition to what they had done, raised him from the dead. 

When Jesus was alone with his disciples just prior to his trial and crucifixion, he addressed the hatred of the religious Jews and their leaders who were against him.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. ~ John 15:18 – 25

Jesus tells his disciples that they too would be rejected by the world because the world had first rejected him. In John 8 Jesus had referred to the religious Jews who opposed him as being of the world.

And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. ~ John 8:23 

The rejection that Jesus endured from men, which ultimately resulted in his death, was the people’s rejection of God who had sent him. Jesus interprets the scripture, “they hated me without a cause” as hatred aimed at both he and his Father, God.

This is consistent with the words prayed by the church in Acts 4.

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ~ Acts 4:23-28

These words in Acts 4 are taken from Psalm 2. Notice that those who opposed Jesus and put him to death were gathered together against the Lord and his Christ. This is a reference to God and Jesus. Now consider the words of the prophet Isaiah.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. ~ Isaiah 53:4-5

The phrase “we esteemed him smitten of God and afflicted” is contextually a reference to the perception and not the reality, for it was sinful men and not God who condemned Jesus. The scars which marred his back from the lashings he endured, the nails which pierced his hands and feet, the crown of thorns which was placed on his head, and the shame he endured throughout his trial and crucifixion all came from sinful men who fulfilled what God had declared they would do to him.

Now, consider again, Paul’s words from Acts 13.

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead… ~ Acts 13:27-30

It was sinful men who fulfilled all that the scriptures had foretold about the sufferings of Christ on the cross, and in response to their condemnation of his Son, God raised him from the dead.

The phrase, “But God raised him from the dead” in Acts 13 sums up what the apostles preached over and over again throughout the book of Acts.

The predetermined counsel of God was that Jesus die for our sins and this was fulfilled by what actually happened at the cross when Jesus died at the hands of sinful men.

Absolutely nowhere in the book of Acts will you ever find anyone describing the sufferings of Christ as being something God did to him. It is always, 100% of the time, what the people who rejected him as Messiah did to him.

Furthermore, the resurrection is always (over and over again), God’s answer to the unjust condemnation of his Son by sinful men. If we will stay true to the narrative, we will see that Christ endured the opposition of sinful man against God. This is the testimony of scripture, and it is how God perfected Jesus to become our Great High Priest after he was raised from the dead and entered into his glory.

In Romans 15 we read, Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. ~ Romans 15:3

I think sometimes Romans 15:3 doesn’t get the attention that it should in our theology. This text tells us that Jesus bore the brunt of sinful humanity’s opposition against God.

The body of the crucified Christ became the whipping board, not for God’s anger against sinful men, but for sinful men’s hatred and anger against a Holy God. When we say that it was God’s wrath that Jesus bore, we have it backwards. It was man’s wrath, not God’s that Jesus endured. 

Jesus was God in the flesh dying for all people. Our reproaches against God fell on him. All our hatred and rebellion against God was levied against Jesus and in that place he responded with forgiveness.

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. ~ Luke 23:34

The author of Hebrews tells us to keep looking to Jesus who endured such opposition from men, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God ~ Hebrews 12:2

The shame Jesus endured was humiliation which came from men who hated and opposed both he and God. The son of God was placed on public display in the most humiliating fashion wherein he was mocked and ridiculed by those who despised both he and his Father, God.

The resurrection of Jesus was God’s response to what sinful men had done to his beloved Son. Throughout Acts, the apostles and others like Stephen, always preached the crucifixion of Jesus as unjust condemnation of God’s Son and the resurrection as God’s vindication of Jesus.

This is the narrative!

Jesus is God’s son and he willingly laid down his life as an innocent lamb for our sins. In doing so, he was put to death by evil men who were cruel and unjust in their treatment of him. Stephen actually accused the leaders of Israel of murdering God’s Son.

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: ~ Acts 7:51-52 

By refusing to acknowledge what God had done in raising his Son from the dead, these leaders to whom Stephen was speaking were continuing to resist the Holy Spirit. God had overturned their unjust condemnation of his holy Son when he raised him from the dead and exalted him at his own right hand.

Christ’s purity and innocence before God, his committing of his soul into the Father’s hands, and his laying down his life for our redemption, pleased God.

According to Peter, Christ 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:.. ~ 1 Peter 2: 21-23

Jesus died, committing himself to God, who vindicated him by raising him from the dead.

Remember in Acts 4, the church prayed the words taken for Psalm 2: Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ~ Acts 4:25-26

In Psalm 2, the Psalmist says the following in response to those words.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them (those who were gathered against him and his Christ) in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Notice to whom God’s wrath and displeasure is aimed. It is aimed at those who dishonor him by dishonoring his Son. It is aimed at those like the ones to whom Stephen preached, telling them that they always resist the Holy Spirit.

Rather than repenting and confessing that the One they murdered is indeed the Just One, the Son of God whom God exalted, they hardened their hearts and stoned Stephen. The message of the cross when preached correctly leads to either repentance, or a more hardening of the heart. We see it over and over again throughout the book of Acts.

The Psalmist continues:

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee (give to His Son) the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. ~ Psalm 2: 4-12

This is God’s response in his vindication of Jesus – Kiss the Son, lest he (God) be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (in the Son).

Jesus, God’s Son, is the stone which the builders (the spiritual leaders in Israel) rejected, but whom God has chosen.  If we never grasp the resurrection as God’s vindication of his Son, we will never truly begin to grasp the place of prominence it has within the pages of scripture.

Paul says in his first letter to Timothy, And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. ~ 1 Timothy 3:16

Those words, justified in the Spirit, can easily be passed over or misinterpreted. Paul is actually saying that Jesus, who is God in the flesh, was declared righteous.

The word justified comes from the Greek word, δικαιόω, which means to show to be righteous, declare righteous. In usage form it means: I make righteous, defend the cause of, plead for the righteousness (innocence) of, acquit, justify; hence: I regard as righteous.

This is what God did when he raised Jesus from the dead. He declared him as the righteous One!

God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead. When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” ~ Acts 17:30-32 NLT

Jesus was raised from the dead, because God declared him to be the just and righteous One, whom Peter told the people in Acts 3 that they had rejected.

And this is what the resurrection declaration is all about. Jesus is Lord, he is the Messiah, and God raised him from the dead to prove it! 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? ~ Hebrews 2:1-4 

Have you ever stopped and asked yourself what the great salvation of which Jesus spoke actually was? What about those who heard him?

In the gospels, Jesus declared that he was the Son of Man who is Lord, the true bread from Heaven, the good shepherd, the One sent from above, the Messiah, the way, the truth, and the Life, the true vine, and the list goes on.

He repeatedly claimed that God was his Father in language that no other man could speak of God. For example, in Matthew 11 Jesus declares, All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. ~ Matthew 11:27

Now, who talks like this? Who can claim that no man knows the Father except those to whom he reveals the Father to? Jesus’s claims about who he is, is the great Salvation which began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed by those who heard him. Who Jesus is, is the gospel that was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

When Philip encountered this great salvation, he declared, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. ~ John 1:45

When Peter understood it he said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God ~ Matthew 16:16.

John wrote about it in his letters, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God ~ 1 John 5:1.

This is the great salvation of which God bore witness with signs, wonders, and miracles by the Holy Ghost.

Oftentimes the gospel is presented to us only from the vantage point of what Jesus did for us at the cross as a substitution, and we ought to rejoice and give this our deepest attention. However, we must never forget that what Christ has done for us rests upon the foundation of who Christ is, and the work that God did in and through Christ to reveal who he is.

If Christians would read the book of Acts and pattern their understanding of the gospel after the beliefs of the apostles and the believers therein, the church would most assuredly be stronger and a more effective witness.

The constant message throughout Acts was that of declaring who Jesus is!

When we consider the epistle to the Hebrews, the person of Jesus is set before us as the answer to slothfulness, and dullness of hearing The writer of Hebrews wants us to to Consider Jesus. He wants to know what God accomplished in Jesus for our benefit.

Far too many Christians do not truly take the time to consider the work that God accomplished in the humanity of Jesus to perfect him as our great High Priest, but the writer of Hebrews wants us to know, because this is who he is: Our Great High Priest!

What God did for us through Christ rests upon the foundation of what God accomplished in the person of Christ, that is, in his humanity.

For instance, in 2:9 the writer of Hebrews tells us that it was by the grace of God that Jesus tasted death for every man. Have you ever just taken time to consider the grace that God poured into Jesus so that he could face the cross?

What was it that caused the same man who entered the garden of gethsemane, sorrowful in soul, causing him to pray earnestly to the Father that this cup might pass from him, to suddenly face the cross with courage and strength? It was the grace of God.

In the 12th chapter of Hebrews the writer appeals to his audience to consider this grace by looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God ~ Hebrews 12:2.

There is joy in the grace of God and by the joy set before Jesus, he endured the cross. I want you to notice of what the enduringness of the cross was in the mind of the writer of Hebrews. He tells us in the next verse.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. ~ Hebrews 12:3

It was the hostility of those who rejected him as Messiah that Jesus endured at the cross.

Those who hated Jesus had sought to kill him from the beginning (John 5; 16-18; 7:1, 6-8, 30; 8:20, 37; 10:39; 11:47-57; Matthew 21:45-46; 26:14-16; Mark 11:18; 12:12; 14:1, 11; Luke 19:47; 20:19; 22:2, 6).

They hated Jesus without a cause (John 15:22-25).

They hated him because they rejected the ONE who sent him.  Thus they rejected the works of God, which God accomplished through Jesus (John 5:20, 36-38; 7:7; 9:3; 10:25- 32, 37, 38; 14:10, 11, 12; 15:24).

The works which the Father sent Jesus to accomplish was the proof that he is the Son of God (John 9:1-5; 10:24-33, 37-38; 14:10-12; 15:24).

They wanted to Kill because Jesus said God was his Father (John 5:18).

They wanted to kill him because he healed on the Sabbath (John 5:16-18; 7:19-24).

They wanted to kill him because they were not keeping the Law of Moses (John 7:19).

They wanted to kill him because his word had no place in them (John 8:37-45; 12:47-50; 15:22-25; 18:23, 37).

They wanted to kill him because of the truth which Jesus spoke from the Father (John 8:40).

Their hostility against Jesus was so obvious that it became public knowledge that the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him (John 7:25).

They accused Jesus of being a sinner (John 9:24).

They agreed that if anyone confessed that Jesus is the Messiah that that person would be expelled from the Synagogue (John 9:22).

They even desired to kill Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead, because the resurrection of Lazarus resulted in more people believing in him (John 12:10-12).

They attempted to stone him on multiple occasions (John 8:59; John 10:30-31,33). 

They called a private council meeting and decided to carry out their plot on Passover (John 11:47-53).

After they began plotting to arrest Jesus, the leading priests and the Pharisees publicly demanded that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him (John 11:57).

Jesus was betrayed into their hands by one of his own disciples, Judas who was a traitor (Matthew 17:22; 20:18; 26:2, 21-24, 45-50; Mark 14:18, 21,41-42; Luke 22:2-4; John 13:18, 21; 19:11; Psalm 41:9).

Their hostility was not opposition to Jesus only. They were gathered together against THE LORD and against HIS CHRIST. The opposition against Jesus was against Jesus and his Father in Heaven (Acts 4:24-28; Psalm 2:1-12; Matthew 22;34; 27:17; John 11:47).

They lied and falsely accused him (Matthew 26:59-61; Mark 14:55-59).

They were envious of him (Matthew 27:17-19; Mark 15:9-11)

Even after the gentile ruler, Pilate, sought to release him, they insisted on putting him to death (John 19:12; Acts 3:13; Matthew 27:24).

They crucified him with wicked hands (Acts 2:22-24).

They denied the Holy and Just One and killed the Prince of life (Acts 3:13-15).

They murdered him (Acts 7:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

Jesus endured the hostility of sinners and their reproaches towards God fell on Him (Romans 15:1-3; Hebrews 12:2-3).

Even though they were so hostile towards him, he made intercession for them (Isaiah 53:12).

Jesus died as an innocent lamb at the hands of sinners whose hostility against God inspired their rejection of him. Jesus, by the grace of God endured this suffering at their hands, and by the grace of God, Jesus in his human suffering was perfected as High Priest forever!

For even Christ pleased not Himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of those that reproached you (God) fell on me ~ Rom.15:3, NKJ; cf. Ps.69:9, Ps.22:6-7.

Jesus bore the reproaches of man against God at the cross. The crucified Lord – in one image – represents both the summation of all the sins and enmity of man against God, and the glorious fullness of all the love and compassion of God for mankind (Norman McIlwain). 

Even though they found no cause of death in him they still desired for him to be slain (Acts 13:27-30). 

They condemned Him without a fair trial (Acts 8:33; Isa 53:8).

He  suffered wrongfully at their hands, while trusting God who judges righteously (1Peter 2:19-24).

They brutally assaulted Him (Luke 18:31-33). 

They incited the mob to cry, “Crucify Him!” (Matthew 27:20-26; Mark 15:11-14; Luke 23:10-23; Acts 3:13-19).

Judas, the traitor, was more remorseful than they were (Matthew 27:3-4).

God was not orchestrating the evil schemes carried out against Jesus. Satan was the one behind their evil plotting (Luke 22:52-53; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

Their evil hearts were filled with evil by the prince of this world (John 13:26-28; Luke 22:1-4, 45-54).

They were blind to God’s judgment for their rejection of Jesus (John 9:35-41; 12:23-41; 15:22-25; Acts 13:38-41; See also Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:13-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:23-28; Romans 11:8; and  2 Corinthians 3:14-15).

God delivered Jesus over to be crucified by the surrendered obedience of Jesus to the will of God, who gave him the authority to lay down His life and to take it up again: By this power, Jesus gave himself for us to be the ransom for our sins (John 10:11-18). 

Their rejection of Jesus was the culmination of the rejection of the prophets and righteous men God had sent to their ancestors. They became guilty of the blood of all the righteous prophets of God by their rejection of Jesus (Luke 11:46-52; Matthew 23:31-39).

Jesus died for righteousness sake, like many of the righteous men who came before him. Yet Jesus alone is the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Savior of the World. He is the only one whose blood can redeem fallen humanity. 

They crucified him to prove that he was not the Messiah. God raised him from the dead to prove that he is!