Search the Scriptures (required download)

Search the

Scriptures

a comparison of the apostles’ teaching

with the traditions of denominations

including

How To Become A Christian and

Didache II: Forty Principles for

Understanding Scripture and much more

prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

3 Want to learn more? Visit www.wbschool.org

Prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria,

Canada.

No rights reserved. Print and distribute freely. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture references are from the New International Version. Date of Publication: August 17, 2015 ISBN-13: 978-1516948765 ISBN-10: 1516948769

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Table of Contents

Search the Scriptures 9

How To Become A Christian 37

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled 67

Ideas of Hell and Salvation in Scripture 91

Nonviolence in Early Christian Thought 121

Decisions for the Poor 133



Search the Scriptures a comparison of the apostles’ teaching

with the traditions of denominations

“They worship me in vain; their teachings are

merely human rules.” - Matthew 15:9

“They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ teaching,

the breaking of bread, and in prayer.” – Acts 2:42

Directions: Followers of Jesus desire to

follow the apostles’ teaching rather than

human rules and traditions. Read the

scripture passages for each numbered set

below, then decide which statement is the

Truth of God’s Word and which is false

human tradition. Enter (T) for the Truth of

God’s Word and (F) for human tradition.

Remember that other scriptures may also

be relevant.



JESUS

1. ( ) Mary is a mediator between God and man. ( ) Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5

2. ( ) Mary remained a perpetual virgin and had no children other than Jesus. ( ) Jesus had other brothers and sisters, the children of Mary.

Scripture: Mark 6:3; Matthew 13: 55, 56

3. ( ) Jesus Christ was God in the flesh or God in the form of a man. As deity, He is to be worshipped. Christians can pray to Jesus. ( ) Jesus was only a man with special wisdom and power. He had a special relationship to God, but he is not God and should not be worshipped.

Scripture: Matthew 1:23; John 20:28; Hebrews 1: 6; John 1:1, 14; Acts 7:59, 60



THE CHURCH

4. ( ) Jesus’ followers are called

Christians.

( ) Jesus’ followers are called

Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans,

Pentecostals, etc.

Scripture: Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4: 16

5. ( ) Christians should assemble

regularly together.

( ) A Christian need not meet

regularly with other Christians.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25

6. ( ) There is one church, one body of

Christ. Divisions are sinful.

( ) It is good to have many

denominations among professing

Christians.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 1:24;

1 Corinthians 1:10



7. ( ) Women are to be silent in the

church assembly and may not have

authority over men.

( ) Women may preach to the

church and may be leaders in the

church and have authority over

men.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:34-3; 1

Timothy 2: 11, 12; 1 Timothy 3: 1-13

8. ( ) The church can be called the

United church, Anglican,

Pentecostal, Orthodox, Roman

Catholic, Baptist, Mennonite, etc.

( ) The church should be referred to

as the church of God, churches of

Christ, the body of Christ, the

household of faith.

Scripture: Romans 16:16;

2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 6:10;

1 Corinthians 12: 27



9. ( ) One does not have to be a

member of the body of Christ, the

church, in order to be saved.

( ) Jesus bought the church with his

own blood. He is the Saviour of the

church and gave himself up for her.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:23-25; Acts 20:28

CHURCH LEADERS

10. ( ) Saints are a special group of holy

ones among God’s people.

( ) Every follower of Jesus is a saint.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1: 2; 14:33;

Romans 1:7

11. ( ) All of God’s people today are a

royal priesthood.

( ) Only a special class among

God’s people may be called priests.

Scripture: Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:9



12. ( ) The title “Reverend” belongs only

to special church leaders.

( ) All of God’s people are to be holy

or reverend.

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:15, 16

13. ( ) Jesus is the head over everything

for the church, and the church

headquarters is therefore in heaven.

( ) The church may have a human

head such as a pope, patriarch, or

other appointed individual, and the

church headquarters may be on

earth.

Scripture: Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians

1:17, 18



14. ( ) The terms bishop (overseer),

elder (presbyter) and pastor

(shepherd), refer to one office in the

church.

( ) A bishop is higher than a pastor

who is higher than an elder.

Scripture: Titus 1: 5-9; 1 Peter 5: 1-4; Acts

20: 17, 28

15. ( ) A bishop is a ruler over several

congregations.

( ) A bishop is one of a plurality of

bishops who rule one congregation.

They are served by deacons.

Scripture: Philippians 1:1; Acts 14:23; 1

Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-7

16. ( ) Bishops must not be married.

( ) Bishops must be the husband of

one wife.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3: 2, 4, 5; Titus 1: 6, 7



17. ( ) Peter alone was given power to

bind and loose.

( ) All the apostles had power to

bind and loose.

Scripture: Matthew 16: 16-19;

Matthew 18: 1, 18

18. ( ) Peter held first place among the

apostles and was the recognized

head of the church.

( ) There was a plurality of leaders in

the Jerusalem church including

James, Peter and John. James

gave the final judgment at the

Jerusalem council. Jesus is the

head over all things for the church.

Scripture: Galatians 2:9; Acts 15: 13-21;

Ephesians 1: 22



BAPTISM

19. ( ) Baptism does not save us.

( ) Baptism saves us. It is the pledge

to God of a good conscience. It

saves us by the resurrection of

Jesus Christ.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21

20. ( ) We are baptized so that our sins

may be forgiven and that we may

receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

( ) We are baptized to show that our

sins have already been forgiven.

Scripture: Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16

21. ( ) He who believes, is saved and

should then be baptized.

( ) He who believes and is baptized

shall be saved.

Scripture: Mark 16:16



22. ( ) Baptism is a sprinkling or pouring

of water.

( ) Baptism is a burial or immersion

in water.

Scripture: Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:4

23. ( ) To be forgiven after baptism, one

should confess his sins to a priest

who will pray to the Lord.

( ) To be forgiven, a Christian should

repent and confess his sins directly

to the Lord.

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Acts 8:13, 22



24. ( ) Salvation is obtained by praying

to receive Jesus as Lord and

Saviour.

( ) Salvation from sin is obtained by

believing the gospel, plus

repentance, plus confessing Jesus

as the Christ and Son of God, plus

being immersed into Christ and His

death in order to receive the

forgiveness of sin. By baptism one

pledges to keep a good conscience

toward God.

Scripture: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38;

Matthew 10:32, 33; Romans 6:3,4;

1 Peter 3:21



25. ( ) Babies and little children need to

be baptized.

( ) Little children are innocent. No

one inherits the sins or guilt of an

ancestor. Only older people who

have sins of their own need to be

baptized.

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-6, 10, 11;

Acts 8:12; Ezekiel 18:19-32

26. ( ) After believing the gospel, people

should be baptized immediately.

( ) After believing the gospel, people

should wait until the church can be

assembled or until relatives can

observe this special occasion. One

should wait for a special day like

Sunday or Easter.

Scripture: Acts 2:41; Acts 8:35-38;

Acts 16:32,33; Acts 22:16; Acts 19:4,5



27. ( ) One does not have to be

baptized in order to enter the body

of Christ, the church.

( ) In order to be united with Christ

and His body, the church one must

be baptized.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:13;

Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27

28. ( ) In order to enter the kingdom of

God one only needs to be born of

the Spirit. Water is not necessary for

salvation.

( ) Unless one is born of water and

the Spirit, he cannot enter the

kingdom of God.

Scripture: John 3:5

Stari Grad, Hvar, 6th century A.D.



29. ( ) We receive salvation and

forgiveness simply by praying for it

and asking Jesus to come into our

hearts.

( ) We receive salvation and

forgiveness by being baptized into

Jesus’ death so that we may live a

new life.

Scripture: Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3, 4;

Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16

THE COMMUNION

30. ( ) The practice of the early church

was to take communion or the

Lord’s Supper on the first day of the

week.

( ) The communion or Lord’s Supper

may be taken quarterly or annually.

Scripture: Acts 20:7



31. ( ) In the communion or Lord’s

Supper it is the real flesh and blood

of Christ that we eat.

( ) In the communion or Lord’s

Supper, it is bread and fruit of the

vine (the cup) that we eat and drink.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:25,26;

Matthew 26:29

32. ( ) Only the priest may drink the cup

in the communion or Lord’s Supper.

( ) All Christians are to receive both

the bread and the fruit of the vine

(the cup).

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-28



THE HOLY SPIRIT

33. ( ) Special gifts or manifestations of

the Holy Spirit were given by the

laying on of the apostles hands.

( ) Gifts of the Holy Spirit were

received through prayer with any

Christians laying on hands.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:6; Romans 1:11;

Acts 8:14-18; Acts 19:6

34. ( ) The baptism of the Holy Spirit

was received simply by praying for

it.

( ) The baptism of the Holy Spirit

came unexpectedly and was never

prayed for, did not save anyone, nor

was it a sign that the person

receiving it was saved.

Scripture: Acts 1:4,5; Acts 2:1-4; Acts

11:13-17; Acts 10:44-48



35. ( ) The gift of tongues was the ability

to speak a foreign language without

learning it. This was to be a sign to

unbelievers that the gospel was

true.

( ) The gift of tongues was the ability

to make ecstatic sounds, not a real

human language but a prayer

language that could be received by

human prompting.

Scripture: Acts 2:4-12; 1 Corinthians 14:22



36. ( ) God is the same yesterday,

today, and forever. This means His

Will has never changed and that He

still performs miracles like those

recorded in the Bible.

( ) God’s Will for man has changed.

The old Will or testament has been

replaced by the New Testament.

Miracles were for the purpose of

confirming the word of God, the

message of salvation. The record of

miracles in the Bible is given so that

we might believe in Jesus.

Scripture: Hebrews 8:7, 13; Hebrews 9: 14-

18; Mark 16: 20; Hebrews 2: 3, 4; John

20:30, 31



SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE

37. ( ) Any additions to or deletions from

the Bible are forbidden. The

scriptures are sufficient.

( ) Inspired prophecy and

revelations are still being given and

can be added to the New Testament

as instruction in righteousness.

Scripture: Revelation 22: 18, 19

38. ( ) The tradition of the church is just

as true as the Word of God. The

scriptures are not adequate to

explain everything a Christian must

believe and do.

( ) The tradition of the church may

nullify the Word of God. The

scriptures thoroughly explain what a

Christian must believe and do.

Scripture: Matthew 15:3,6-9;

2 Timothy 3: 16,17



39. ( ) The apostles were given all the

truth we need, and this faith has

been delivered once for all.

( ) Additional truths of the faith are

still being given and revealed to

special men who God has chosen.

Scripture: Jude 3; John 16:13; 2 Peter 1:3

OLD TESTAMENT RULES

40. ( ) God’s people today must observe

the Sabbath day, Saturday, as a day

of worship and rest.

( ) God’s people today worship on

the first day of the week. The

Sabbath kept by Jews was a

shadow of a reality found in Christ.

Scripture: Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2;

Colossians 2:16, 17



41. ( ) Christians should not eat pork

and certain other meats.

( ) Everything God created is good,

and nothing is to be rejected if it is

received with thanksgiving.

Scripture: Colossians 2:16; 1 Timothy 4:3-5

BEFORE AND AFTER MARRIAGE

42. ( ) Divorce should be granted for

incompatibility or any other good

reason.

( ) Divorce should not be permitted

for any reason.

( ) Divorce for any reason, except

for the cause of fornication, should

not be practiced.

Scripture: Matthew 5:31,32;

Matthew 19:3-9



43. ( ) Sex before marriage (a life

commitment) is healthy and may

help a couple discover if they will be

compatible in marriage.

( ) Sex is good and honourable but

belongs only in marriage. Sex

before marriage (fornication) is

condemned.

Scripture: Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 13:4

44. ( ) Marriage to the one you love can

last through eternity in heaven.

( ) In heaven no one will be married

but will be like the angels.

Scripture: Mark 12: 24, 25

OTHER RELIGIONS

45. ( ) It doesn’t matter what you believe

as long as you are sincere.

( ) One may be zealous for God yet

still be wrong about what he

believes and not please God.

Scripture: Romans 10:1-3



46. ( ) All world religions are true and

teach basically the same thing. It is

not absolutely necessary to believe

in Jesus to be saved.

( ) Unless one believes that Jesus is

who He claims to be, the Word that

was God and became flesh, one

shall die in his sins and not see

eternal life.

Scripture: John 3:36; John 8:24; Acts 4:12

47. ( ) A person should not try to change

his religion but should die in the

religion he was born with.

( ) Both the Jews and the Gentiles

had to change their religion in order

to be saved.

Scripture: Romans 10:13-15;

1 Thessalonians 2:16



48. ( ) People who have not heard the

gospel, would not need to hear and

obey it in order to be saved.

( ) Unless someone takes the

gospel to those who have not heard

it, they will not be saved.

Scripture: Romans 10:13-15;

1 Thessalonians 2:16



FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

49. ( ) Everyone must die once, then

face purgatory.

( ) Everyone must die once, then

face judgment.

Scripture: Hebrews 9:27

50. ( ) Most people will go to heaven.

Only a few really bad people like

Hitler or Judas, will go to hell.

( ) Most people will go to hell.

Punishment for not obeying God’s

Word will be never-ending.

Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15;

Matthew 7:13, 14; Matthew 25:45, 46;

2 Thessalonians 1:8-10



51. ( ) Hell is only the misfortune and

suffering that people experience in

this life. There is no hell after death.

( ) There will be a final judgment of

all people and many will then suffer

eternal punishment.

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46;

Revelation 20: 11-15

52. ( ) After becoming a child of God, a

Christian is unable to sin to the point

that he would be lost eternally.

( ) After becoming a child of God,

one may be severed from Christ.

The possibility always remains that

a Christian may so sin that he would

be lost eternally.

Scripture: Luke 8:13; John 15:1-7;

Romans 11:19-22; Hebrews 4:11;

Hebrews 6: 4-6, 12; Hebrews 10: 26, 27;

Hebrews 12:15-17; 2 Peter 2:17-22;

2 Peter 3:17



53. ( ) There is no forgiveness for sins

committed after baptism.

( ) If we repent and confess our sins,

God will forgive us even after we are

baptized. But shall we sin knowing

this is true?

Scripture: 1 John 1:9; Acts 8:13,22;

Romans 6:1-3



How To Become a Christian



Dedicated to The Author of Life

and my loving Wife, Jennie



CONTENTS

How To Use This Guide 43

Foretold 45

God With Us 45

Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ 46

The Lamb Sacrificed For Our Sins 47

What Jesus Wants Everyone To Do 49

Forgiveness of Sins 47

Crucified With Him 51

How To Be Happy 52

Why Be Baptized 53

Encouraging Words 54

Shall We Go On Sinning After Baptism? 59

What About Little Children? 60

Can One Be Forgiven After Baptism? 61

How To Stay Faithful To God 62

A Final Question 63

Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled 67

What People Say About This Book 82



How To Use This Guide

If you want to help someone decide to become a Christian, ask the person to read the scriptures aloud from this guide book or from the Bible. Then ask them to read and answer the questions aloud. Then ask the person if they believe what they have read. Another approach is to refer to the guide while inviting the person to read the scripture verses from their own Bible. Then after each reading, ask the corresponding questions from the guide. If you are not yet a Christian, simply read the scriptures and answer the questions for yourself. If you decide you want to become a Christian as described in this guide, contact the person who gave you this booklet or find a Christian community by doing searches on the internet. God bless you as you travel farther down the path that leads to a life of love, compassion, peace, and adventure in reaching the lost.



FORETOLD

Read Isaiah 53 (written in the 8th century before Christ)

Question: Who is this chapter speaking about?

GOD WITH US

Read Matthew 1:21-23 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).

Question: According to the verses above, who is Jesus and what was he to save people from?

Do you believe it?

Read John 1:1-3,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things


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were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.... The Word became flesh and lived among us.

Question: According to the verses above, who was the Word?

Do you believe it?

Read John 20:28-29 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Question: According to the verses above, who is Jesus?

Do you believe it?

DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I


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preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures....

Question: According to the verses above, what must we believe that is of first importance?

Do you believe it?

THE LAMB SACRIFICED FOR OUR SINS

Read John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Read 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Question: According to the verses above, what did Jesus do?

Do you believe it?


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WHAT JESUS WANTS EVERYONE TO DO

Read Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Read Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Question: According to the verses above, what does Jesus want everyone to believe and do to be saved?

Do you believe it?


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FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Read Luke 24:46-49 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Question: According to the verses above, where would forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name begin to be preached to all nations?

Do you believe it?

Several days after the above words were spoken, the disciples were in Jerusalem.

Read Acts 2:14,36-41 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven (apostles), raised his voice and addressed the crowd.... “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the


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heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Question: According to the verses above, what two things were the people told to do to receive forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit? Is the same promise also for us today? What did people do when they accepted the message?

Do you believe it?



CRUCIFIED WITH HIM

Read Romans 6:1-4,6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.... 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin...

Questions: According to the verses above, how do we enter into Christ and his death, in order to live a new life? When is a person crucified with Christ, to give up sin?

Do you believe it?


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HOW TO BE HAPPY

Read Acts 8:32-39 This is the passage of Scripture (Isaiah 53) the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch


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did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Question: According to the verses above, what does the eunuch want to do immediately after he was told the good news about Jesus? When does the eunuch rejoice? Why do you think he was so happy?

Do you believe it?

WHY BE BAPTIZED?

Read Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.

Question: According to the verse above, why should one be baptized?

Do you believe it?

I wonder if you have thought about being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and to start a new life following the teaching of Christ.


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ENCOURAGING WORDS

Read 2 Timothy 1:10 ...it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Read 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Read 1 Peter 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Question: Do you want to be happy knowing your sins are forgiven and hopeful that you will go to heaven when you die? What will you do?


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Sixth century immersion baptismal basin at Nocera Superiore, Italy



Crucified with Christ Fourth century immersion baptismal basin in the shape of a cross, San Pedro Alcantara, southern

Spain

SHALL WE GO ON SINNING AFTER BAPTISM?

Read Romans 6:1-5 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus


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were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Read Romans 6:6-13 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your


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mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Read Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Read Colossians 2:12-13 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...

Questions: According to the verses above, when is one done with sin, crucified with Christ, made alive with Christ, and forgiven of sins?


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Read 1 Peter 3:20-21 ...in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ...

Question: According to the verses above, what saves you? What is our pledge to keep a clear conscience before God? Do you believe it?

Immersion baptism of Christ, depicted by Paolo Veneziano, artist of the 14th century, Venice, Italy


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A20-21++++++++&version=NIV


WHAT ABOUT LITTLE CHILDREN?

Read Matthew 18:2-5 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

Question: According to verses above, what is the spiritual condition of little children?

Read Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Question: According to the verse above, what did people do when they heard the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ? Were little children baptized?

Do you believe it? What will you do?


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+18%3A2-5++++++++&version=NIV

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CAN ONE BE FORGIVEN AFTER BAPTISM?

Read Acts 8:13,18-23 Simon himself believed and was baptized.... When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Question: According to the verses above, what was Simon told to do to be forgiven when he sinned after being baptized?

Do you believe it?


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Read 1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Read 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Question: According to the verses above, how can we be forgiven of sins committed after baptism?

Do you believe it?

HOW TO STAY FAITHFUL TO GOD

Read Hebrews 3:12-14 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in


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Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Read Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Question: According to the verses above, what can help us stay faithful to the end?

Do you believe it? What will you do?

A FINAL QUESTION: HOW SOON WERE PEOPLE BAPTIZED?

Read Acts 2:40-41 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Read Acts 8: 35-38 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture (Isaiah


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53) and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Read Acts 16: 32-33 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

Question: According to the verses above, how soon were people baptized after they heard the message or good news about Jesus? Why do you think they wanted to be baptized so soon?

What will you do?


https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A+32-33++&version=NIV


Are you thinking of being baptized to receive the forgiveness of your sins, new life, and the Holy Spirit?

To find someone to assist you to be baptized, email Daniel at [email protected]

Or phone 1-778-433-1547


mailto:[email protected]


Mosaic of the immersion baptism of Christ

13th century, Florence, Italy



Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled

HOW CAN WE KNOW JESUS IS THE

ONE WHO WAS PROMISED TO SAVE

THE WORLD?

"As to this salvation, the prophets who

prophesied of the grace that would come to

you made careful searches and inquiries,

seeking to know what person or time the

Spirit of Christ within them was indicating

as He predicted the sufferings of Christ

and the glories to follow. It was revealed to

them that they were not serving

themselves, but you, in these things which

now have been announced to you through

those who preached the gospel to you by

the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things

into which angels long to look."

- 1 Peter 1:10-12



Given the eyewitness accounts of the life

of Jesus of Nazareth are accurate, the

following details selected below out of

hundreds contained in ancient Hebrew

writings (Old Testament) that pre-date

Jesus, appear to confirm his identity as the

Messiah, the promised one who would

save Israel as well as the Gentiles who

turn to God.

1. He would be born in the town of

Bethlehem. - Micah 5:2 (700 BC) fulfilled

in Matthew 2:1-6

Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of

Judah, out of you will come for me one

who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins

are from of old, from ancient times.

Matthew 2:1-5 After Jesus was born in

Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of

King Herod, Magi from the east came to



Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one

who has been born king of the Jews? We

saw his star when it rose and have come to

worship him.” When King Herod heard this

he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with

him. When he had called together all the

people’s chief priests and teachers of the

law, he asked them where the Messiah

was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,”

they replied, “for this is what the prophet

has written…”

2. He would be born of a virgin. - Isaiah

7:14 (700 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 1:18-25

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will

give you a sign: The virgin will conceive

and give birth to a son, and will call him

Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus

the Messiah came about: His mother Mary

was pledged to be married to Joseph, but



before they came together, she was found

to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

3. He would perform miracles. – Isaiah

35:5-6 (700 BC) fulfilled in all the gospel

accounts.

Isaiah 35:5-6 Then will the eyes of the

blind be opened and the ears of the deaf

unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a

deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.

4. He would calm the storm.- Psalm

107:29 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Mark 4:39

Psalm 107:29 He stilled the storm to a

whisper; the waves of the sea were

hushed.

Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and

said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then

the wind died down and it was completely

calm.



5. He would speak in parables. – Psalm

78:2 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Mark 4:34

Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth with a

parable; I will utter hidden things, things

from of old.

Mark 4:34 He did not say anything to them

without using a parable. But when he was

alone with his own disciples, he explained

everything.

6. He would enter Jerusalem as a lowly

king, riding on a donkey. – Zechariah 9:9

(500 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 21:6-9

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter

Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See,

your king comes to you, righteous and

victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on

a colt, the foal of a donkey.



Matthew 21:6-8 The disciples went and did

as Jesus had instructed them. They

brought the donkey and the colt and placed

their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A

very large crowd spread their cloaks on the

road, while others cut branches from the

trees and spread them on the road.

7. The price of his betrayal would be

thirty pieces of silver. – Zechariah 11:12-

13 (500 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 26:14-15

and Matthew 27:3-10

Zechariah 11:12-13 I told them, “If you

think it best, give me my pay; but if not,

keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of

silver. And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to

the potter”—the handsome price at which

they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces

of silver and threw them to the potter at the

house of the Lord.



Matthew 26:14-15 Then one of the

Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—

went to the chief priests and asked, “What

are you willing to give me if I deliver him

over to you?” So they counted out for him

thirty pieces of silver.

Matthew 27:3-10 When Judas, who had

betrayed him, saw that Jesus was

condemned, he was seized with remorse

and returned the thirty pieces of silver to

the chief priests and the elders. “I have

sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed

innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s

your responsibility.” So Judas threw the

money into the temple and left. Then he

went away and hanged himself. The chief

priests picked up the coins and said, “It is

against the law to put this into the treasury,

since it is blood money.” So they decided



to use the money to buy the potter’s field

as a burial place for foreigners.

8. His death would be as a sacrificial

lamb. – Isaiah 53:5-8,10-11 (700 BC)

fulfilled in John 1:29

Isaiah 53:5-8 But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our

iniquities; the punishment that brought us

peace was on him, and by his wounds we

are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone

astray, each of us has turned to our own

way; and the Lord has laid on him the

iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and

afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he

was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as

a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he

did not open his mouth. By oppression and

judgment he was taken away. Yet who of

his generation protested? For he was cut

off from the land of the living; for the



transgression of my people he was

punished.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus

coming toward him and said, “Look, the

Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of

the world!”

9. Lots would be cast for his garment. –

Psalm 22:18 (1000 BC) fulfilled in John

19:23-24

Psalm 22:18 They divide my clothes

among them and cast lots for my garment.

John 19:23-24 When the soldiers crucified

Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them

into four shares, one for each of them, with

the undergarment remaining. This garment

was seamless, woven in one piece from

top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said

to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will

get it.” This happened that the scripture



might be fulfilled that said, “They divided

my clothes among them and cast lots for

my garment.” So this is what the soldiers

did.

10. His manner of death (crucifixion):

hands and feet pierced. – Psalm 22:16

(1000 BC) fulfilled in Matthew 27:38 (see

nail marks in his hands in John 20:25)

Psalm 22:16 Dogs surround me, a pack of

villains encircles me; they pierce my hands

and my feet.

John 20:25 So the other disciples told him,

“We have seen the Lord!” But he said to

them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his

hands and put my finger where the nails

were, and put my hand into his side, I will

not believe.”



11. Specific words would be spoken by

those mocking him at his death. – Psalm

22:7,8 (1000 BC) fulfilled in Matthew

27:42-43

Psalm 22:7,8 All who see me mock me;

they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He

trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord

rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he

delights in him.”

Matthew 27:42-43 “He saved others,” they

said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the

king of Israel! Let him come down now

from the cross, and we will believe in him.

He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now

if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son

of God.’”



12. He would be buried in a rich man’s

tomb. – Isaiah 53:9 (700 BC) fulfilled in

Matthew 27:57-60

Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with

the wicked, and with the rich in his death,

though he had done no violence, nor was

any deceit in his mouth.

Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached,

there came a rich man from Arimathea,

named Joseph, who had himself become a

disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked

for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it

be given to him. Joseph took the body,

wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and

placed it in his own new tomb that he had

cut out of the rock.



13. After his death, he would return to

life. – Isaiah 53:10-11 (700 BC) fulfilled in

Matthew 28:5-6

Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it was the Lord’s will to

crush him and cause him to suffer, and

though the Lord makes his life an offering

for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong

his days, and the will of the Lord will

prosper in his hand. After he has suffered,

he will see the light of life and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will

justify many, and he will bear their

iniquities.

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the

women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that

you are looking for Jesus, who was

crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just

as he said. Come and see the place where

he lay.”



14. He would be Light to the Gentiles. –

Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:6 (700 BC) fulfilled in

Luke 2:29-32

Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I

uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I

will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring

justice to the nations.”

Isaiah 49:6 he says: “It is too small a thing

for you to be my servant to restore the

tribes of Jacob and bring back those of

Israel I have kept. I will also make you a

light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may

reach to the ends of the earth.”

Luke 2:29-32 “Sovereign Lord, as you have

promised, you may now dismiss your

servant in peace. For my eyes have seen

your salvation, which you have prepared in

the sight of all nations: a light for revelation

to the Gentiles, and the glory of your

people Israel.”



15. He would bring a new testament or

covenant. – Jeremiah 31:31 (600 BC)

fulfilled in Luke 22:20

Jeremiah 31:31 “The days are coming,”

declares the Lord, “when I will make a new

covenant with the people of Israel and with

the people of Judah.”

Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the

supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup

is the new covenant in my blood, which is

poured out for you.”

Do you believe Jesus of Nazareth is the

one who was foretold by the ancient

Hebrew prophets; the divine son of God

who came to earth, died for the sins of

the world, and rose to life again?



WHAT PEOPLE SAY

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Phyllis B. (Oklahoma-Catholic) “It is so

inspirational! Just the little I've read, brought

me to God's dwelling place, and I can see how

it'd be very effective! Very beautiful, Daniel!”

Cherylyn Roddenberry (Florida – Mennonite)

“I believe there is great potential for

effectiveness. It is well written and the

questions are thought provoking. I think it

would be a great witnessing tool.”

Febin John (Bangalore – YWAM) “It's really

fantastic, Mr. Daniel. Awesome..... Explained

well too... God Bless you....”

Miguel Abaunza (El Paso – Catholic) “I believe

that this would be an excellent and effective

tool to evangelize.”

Sean St. Jean (Vancouver- Church of Christ) “I

just read through your booklet and I really like

it. Specifically, I like that it is Jesus-focused,

built on scripture references, and generally



keeps to the essentials.... Of course one could

argue that there are many additional points

that ought to be communicated when leading

someone to Christ, but I think you do a fine job

of communicating the fundamentals. I hope

that helps, and good luck! I am sure that God

is already blessing your efforts.”

Deanna Magistad (British Columbia) “Sir, I

have read your booklet. It was easy to open

and read. I do believe it has potential and can

be effective.”

Donna Saumell Golder (California - Catholic) “I

very much like your booklet. It is to the point

and contains all of the important elements

addressed to adults. Thank you for this

wonderful booklet. Our Lord desires each soul

He created to know and love Him.”

Peter Tucker (New York – Anglican) “Well

done from a road-to-Damascus (Bible)

perspective.”

Sam Lalonde (Victoria, British Columbia –

Church of Christ) “Hey Dan, I just scrolled

through the booklet you sent me. I definitely

like the simplicity, yet effectiveness of the



message the booklet is trying to send to the

reader. The format is good. I give it a thumbs

up! Thanks for sending it to me.”

Nathaniel Ogden Kidd (Wisconsin – Anglican)

“Without question, to the extent it IS effective, it

is a very clear testament to the Scriptures as

the core and foundation of Christian faith and

theology. I appreciate that emphasis --

whatever ways we win people to Christ, this

certainly needs to be emphasized, and the

sooner we can get people thinking this way,

the better.”

Suzanne Gyles (New York – Catholic) “Good

morning, Daniel. Thank you for the booklet. I

appreciate it and had no trouble downloading

on my tablet. I will print it and give it to my

family.”

Victoria Patricia (Philadelphia – Catholic) “You

did an excellent job as always, Daniel! I

enjoyed reading this! I think it may be helpful to

those who choose to read it.”

Barry Leonard (Kentucky – Methodist) “I think

this would be a very effective tool for

evangelism, especially in a discipling situation,



One-on-one or in a group. I like the logical

progression of the material and the way it is

laid out. Thanks for allowing me to preview this

and to comment on it.”

Shawn Paden (Texas – Church of Christ) “It

looks good to me. Keep up the good work” (1

Cor. 15:58).

West Nigeria Christian College: “The booklet is

definitely a solid potential and very effective

means of evangelism. It has a general link of

better understanding of salvation. God bless

you.”

Diana Cooper (California - Baptist) “Hello

Daniel, I very much enjoyed your booklet, and I

think that it has the potential for effectiveness

in the very best of ways. I understood it; in fact

it was very well understood. I personally liked

the layout, and being a child of God is a very

special place. Yes we ask for forgiveness

through Jesus Christ, but we also need to be

baptized. I would enjoy reading some other

books, God Bless.”

Roger L. Leonard (Georgia - Church of Christ)

“I think the booklet is clear and straightforward.



Well done. Do you mind sharing the program

used to make this electronic book?”

Towers Chelsea (Tennessee) “I enjoy reading

and found it very interesting from the start. It

started off well. The time flow was well

designed. I was very impressed with the visual

pictures that were added. I was trying also to

figure out what particular audience of readers

you were or maybe applying to in this book.

Could you have been writing to someone who

backslide and need a refresher or a person

who do not know Christ at all who needs a

starter? But according to your title the answer

is well enough said. I say thank you for writing

such material and hope to see you continue to

share God's words. Thanks.”

Denise Gansmann (Illinois – Pentecostal) “Well

it seemed OK to me....a person new to

Christianity needs simple basics to receive

....had some nice pics to it to help it be

interesting...is simple so I like it.”

Katherine Mary Martin Osb (Alabama –

Anglican) “Daniel, several thoughts and

questions: Who is the intended reader? Your



Denomination only? Looks like a booklet to be

discussed with someone who has knowledge.

Not sure it is a stand-alone booklet without a

mentor. But would be a good "structure" for a 1

on 1 discussion set. Thanks for allowing me

the privilege of reading and the gift of time to

respond.”

Christa Smith (British Columbia – Church of

Christ) “First of all, I really appreciate you

made a resource to this end. I think this is

important. One thing I've learned over the past

few years in ministry is the need for breaking

things down for people, helping them interpret

what is going on in their lives. I really like the

part on baptism, particularly how you've

incorporated the photos of the baptismals you

came across while in Europe.”

Adaeze Emilia Mbakwe (Nigeria – Catholic)

“Viewed it on Academia and consider it a good

medium for spreading the Gospel. This simple

booklet contains basic truths about our faith

which every Christian should know and

answers certain questions which the curiosity

of a new believer may raise. The questions you

ask after each Bible Verse makes one think



deeply about what the verse says and come to

their own decision about it. Keep up the good

work.”

Karen Songe (Louisiana – Catholic) “I find this

guide How to Become a Christian, to be very

well laid out for the person discerning

becoming a Christian, but more than that, it

gives basic answers to many Catholics who

were not properly catechized in their formative

years. This of course has been the cause of a

number of Catholics turning away from the

Church or even turning to another religion. This

Guide reminds me of the Baltimore Catechism,

which was the way many of us learned about

the Catholic faith. I am on our RCIA team and

believe it to be one effective tool to those

Catholics who were baptized, but never were

catechized and did not receive the other

Sacraments of the Church. I believe you did a

great job in putting this together and offering it

at no cost, showing us where your heart is.

Hopefully this will lead to other material to help

many in their journey to follow the narrow path

to the Father.”



James D. Suiter (Tennessee – Church of

Christ) “I have read, posted and sent to many!

Great book!!”

Maybe you are thinking of being baptized to receive the forgiveness of your sins, new life, and the Holy

Spirit? To find someone to assist you to be

baptized, email Daniel at [email protected]




Ideas of Hell and Salvation in Scripture

prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada

(All scripture references are from the New

International Version.)

The idea of hell is fundamental to the meaning

of the cross and the good news about Jesus

Christ. Three ideas about hell are believed by

those who identify themselves as Christians:

ANNIHILATION: Those who die outside of

Christ will be utterly destroyed or annihilated at

the final judgment of all humanity. Edward

Fudge advocates this view in his book The Fire

That Consumes.

TEMPORARY PUNISHMENT: Those who die

outside of Christ will be punished or disciplined

for a temporary period of time depending upon

their sin or works. Eventually everyone will

spend eternity with God in heaven. Arthur

Chambers advocates this view in his book Our

Life After Death.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Fire-That-Consumes-Historical/dp/0595143423

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fire-That-Consumes-Historical/dp/0595143423

http://www.amazon.com/after-death-Reverend-Arthur-Chambers/dp/1110886187

http://www.amazon.com/after-death-Reverend-Arthur-Chambers/dp/1110886187


ETERNAL CONSCIOUS TORMENT: Read the

scriptures below to determine whether or not

this view is true.

The Idea of Hell

Daniel 12:1-2 At that time shall arise Michael,

the great prince who has charge of your

people. And there shall be a time of trouble,

such as never has been since there was a

nation till that time. But at that time your people

shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall

be found written in the book. And many of

those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall

awake, some to everlasting life, and some

to shame and everlasting contempt.

Matthew 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he

will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his

wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the

chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 8:12 But the subjects of the kingdom

will be thrown outside, into the darkness,



where there will be weeping and gnashing

of teeth.”

Matthew 18:8 If your hand or your foot causes

you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is

better for you to enter life maimed or crippled

than to have two hands or two feet and be

thrown into eternal fire.

Matthew 22:13 “Then the king told the

attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw

him outside, into the darkness, where there

will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:30 And throw that worthless

servant outside, into the darkness, where

there will be weeping and gnashing of

teeth.’

Matthew 25: 41,46 “Then he will say to those

on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are

cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the

devil and his angels.... Then they will go away

to eternal punishment, but the righteous to

eternal life.”



Mark 8:36-37 For what shall it profit a man, if

he shall gain the whole world, and lose his

own soul? Or what can anyone give in

exchange for his soul?

Mark 9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble,

cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed

than with two hands to go into hell, where the

fire never goes out.

Mark 9:48 “…hell where 'the worms that eat

them do not die, and the fire is not

quenched.' “

Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, “Go into all the

world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be

saved, but whoever does not believe will be

condemned.”

Luke 12:4-6 “I tell you, my friends, do not be

afraid of those who kill the body and after that

can do no more. But I will show you whom you

should fear: Fear him who, after your body



has been killed, has authority to throw you

into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Luke 16:22-28 The rich man also died and was

buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he

looked up and saw Abraham far away, with

Lazarus by his side. So he called to him,

‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send

Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and

cool my tongue, because I am in agony in

this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son,

remember that in your lifetime you received

your good things, while Lazarus received bad

things, but now he is comforted here and you

are in agony. And besides all this, between us

and you a great chasm has been set in place,

so that those who want to go from here to you

cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there

to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father,

send Lazarus to my family, for I have five

brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will

not also come to this place of torment.’”



John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not

condemned, but whoever does not believe

stands condemned already because they

have not believed in the name of God’s one

and only Son.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has

eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will

not see life, for God’s wrath remains on

them.

John 8:23-24 But he continued, “You are from

below; I am from above. You are of this world; I

am not of this world. I told you that you would

die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am

he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and

the truth and the life. No one comes to the

Father except through me.

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else,

for there is no other name under heaven given

to mankind by which we must be saved.



Acts 17:29-31 “Therefore since we are God’s

offspring, we should not think that the divine

being is like gold or silver or stone—an image

made by human design and skill. In the past

God overlooked such ignorance, but now he

commands all people everywhere to repent.

For he has set a day when he will judge the

world with justice by the man he has

appointed. He has given proof of this to

everyone by raising him from the dead.”

Romans 2:5 But in accordance with your

hardness and your impenitent heart you are

treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day

of wrath and revelation of the righteous

judgment of God…

Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking

and do not obey the truth, but obey

unrighteousness—indignation and wrath…

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now

been justified by His blood, we shall be saved

from wrath through Him.



2 Corinthians 5:9-11 So we make it our goal to

please him, whether we are at home in the

body or away from it. For we must all appear

before the judgment seat of Christ, that each

one may receive what is due him for the things

done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with

empty words, for because of these things the

wrath of God comes upon the sons of

disobedience.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 …and to wait for His Son

from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,

even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath

to come.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 God is just: He will pay

back trouble to those who trouble you and give

relief to you who are troubled, and to us as

well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is

revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his

powerful angels. He will punish those who do

not know God and do not obey the gospel

of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with



everlasting destruction and shut out from

the presence of the Lord and from the glory

of his might on the day he comes to be

glorified in his holy people and to be marveled

at among all those who have believed.

Hebrews 2:2-3 For since the message spoken

through angels was binding, and every

violation and disobedience received its just

punishment, how shall we escape if we

ignore so great a salvation?

Hebrews 3:10-11 That is why I was angry with

that generation; I said, 'Their hearts are always

going astray, and they have not known my

ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger,

'They shall never enter my rest.'

Hebrews 10:28-29 Anyone who rejected the

law of Moses died without mercy on the

testimony of two or three witnesses. How much

more severely do you think someone deserves

to be punished who has trampled the Son of

God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy

thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified



them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know him who said, “It is mine to

avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will

judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall

into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:25, 27-28 See to it that you do not

refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape

when they refused him who warned them on

earth, how much less will we, if we turn away

from him who warns us from heaven?...

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom

that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and

so worship God acceptably with reverence and

awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels

when they sinned, but sent them to hell,

putting them in chains of darkness to be

held for judgment;

2 Peter 2:9-10 …the Lord knows how to rescue

the godly from trials and to hold the

unrighteous for punishment on the day of

judgment. This is especially true of those who



follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and

despise authority.

2 Peter 2:17 These people are springs without

water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest

darkness is reserved for them.

2 Peter 3:7 By the same word the present

heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being

kept for the day of judgment and destruction

of the ungodly.

Jude 6 And the angels who did not keep their

positions of authority but abandoned their

proper dwelling—these he has kept in

darkness, bound with everlasting chains for

judgment on the great Day.

Jude 7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the

surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in

sexual immorality and pursued unnatural

desire, serve as an example by undergoing a

punishment of eternal fire.

Jude 13 …wild waves of the sea, casting up

the foam of their own shame; wandering stars,



for whom the gloom of utter darkness has

been reserved forever.

Revelation 14:9-11 If anyone worships the

beast and its image and receives a mark on

his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink

the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength

into the cup of his anger, and he will be

tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence

of the holy angels and in the presence of the

Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up

forever and ever, and they have no rest, day

or night, these worshipers of the beast and its

image, and whoever receives the mark of its

name.

Revelation 20:10-15 And the devil, who

deceived them, was thrown into the lake of

burning sulfur, where the beast and the false

prophet had been thrown. They will be

tormented day and night for ever and

ever.... And I saw the dead, great and small,

standing before the throne, and books were

opened. Another book was opened, which is



the book of life. The dead were judged

according to what they had done as recorded

in the books. The sea gave up the dead that

were in it, and death and Hades gave up the

dead that were in them, and each person was

judged according to what they had done. Then

death and Hades were thrown into the lake of

fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Anyone whose name was not found written

in the book of life was thrown into the lake

of fire.

Revelation 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it (the holy city), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.



When we hear the bad news about the wrath of God against all ungodliness, we are glad to hear the good news about the forgiveness and salvation offered through Christ our Lord.

The Idea of Salvation

2 Timothy 1:10 "...our Savior, Christ Jesus,

who has destroyed death and has brought

life and immortality to light through the

gospel"

John 1:1-8, 10-14 “In the beginning was the

Word, and the Word was with God, and the

Word was God. He was with God in the

beginning. Through him all things were made;

without him nothing was made that has been

made. In him was life, and that life was the

light of all mankind. The light shines in the

darkness, and the darkness has not overcome

it. The true light that gives light to everyone

was coming into the world. He was in the

world, and though the world was made through

him, the world did not recognize him. He came

to that which was his own, but his own did not



receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to

those who believed in his name, he gave the

right to become children of God— children

born not of natural descent, nor of human

decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his

dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son, who came

from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Acts 26:23 “that the Messiah would suffer and,

as the first to rise from the dead, would bring

the message of light to his own people and to

the Gentiles.”

1 John 4:9-10 “This is how God showed his

love among us: He sent his one and only Son

into the world that we might live through him.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he

loved us and sent his Son as an atoning

sacrifice for our sins.”

Mark 16:15-16 “He said to them, Go into all the

world and preach the good news to all

creation. Whoever believes and is baptized



will be saved, but whoever does not believe

will be condemned.”

Luke 24:46,47 “He told them, ‘This is what is

written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from

the dead on the third day, and repentance for

the forgiveness of sins will be preached in

his name to all nations, beginning at

Jerusalem.’“

Acts 2:36-38 “ ‘Therefore let all Israel be

assured of this: God has made this Jesus,

whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ ”

When the people heard this, they were cut to

the heart and said to Peter and the other

apostles, “ ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ ”

Peter replied, “ ‘Repent and be baptized,

every one of you, in the name of Jesus

Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And

you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...’”

Acts 22:16 “And now what are you waiting for?

Get up, be baptized and wash your sins

away, calling on his name.”



After your baptism, you will be “giving joyful

thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to

share in the inheritance of his holy people in

the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us

from the dominion of darkness and brought us

into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom

we have redemption, the forgiveness of

sins” (Colossians 1:12-14).

1 Peter 1:3-6 Praise be to the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he

has given us new birth into a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from

the dead, and into an inheritance that can

never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance

is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are

shielded by God’s power until the coming of

the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the

last time. In all this you greatly rejoice,

though now for a little while you may have had

to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

Do you believe? Do you repent of your sins?

Will you be baptized? If so, email



[email protected] and let me assist you

in your adoption to become a child of God. I

will arrange your baptism as soon as possible.




Forty Principles for Understanding Sacred

Scripture by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada

[email protected]

While the author cannot speak for

churches of Christ, common among

them are unique ways of understanding

holy scripture, believed to have been

written by the apostles and prophets of

the Lord before the destruction of

Jerusalem (70 A.D.) and circulated

among the early Christian communities

(E.g. A letter called First Clement in

about 95 A.D., refers to at least ten

New Testament books), then collected

as a volume by the self-identified

Christian community of the second

century A.D. or earlier, e.g. the list of

Marcion (140 A.D.).




1. A concept is informed by all

scriptures that speak of the concept.

E.g. “The sum of Your word is truth” in

Ps.119:160. All gospel and resurrection

accounts are true and can be added

together for the whole record available

to us.

2. Personal experience, zeal, or

sincerity should never be elevated

above God's revealed will in scripture.

E.g. “For I testify about them that they

are zealous for God, but not on the

basis of knowledge. Because they were

ignorant of God’s righteousness and

sought to establish their own, they did

not submit to God’s righteousness” in

Romans 10:2-3.

3. The number of times a word or

concept is mentioned in scripture

does not determine its truth.

E.g. stated only once but the record is

significant: "on the first day of the week

we came together to break bread" in

Acts 20:7. Paul waited seven days at



Troas until the first day of the week

when the Christians at Troas would

meet: “… we rejoined them in Troas,

where we stayed seven days. On the

first day of the week we came together

to break bread. Since Paul was ready

to leave the next day, he talked to them

and kept on speaking until midnight.”

4. A matter of Christian faith and

practice is approved only if it is

stated in writings given by the

apostles and prophets of the Lord

who were guided “into all truth” by the

Holy Spirit, as stated in John 16:13.

The only means of knowing what the

apostles and prophets taught is by

reading what the apostles and prophets

wrote.

E.g. “Therefore you are no longer

strangers and foreigners, but fellow

citizens of the saints and members of

God’s household, built on the

foundation of the apostles and

prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as

the cornerstone” in Ephesians 2:19-20.



5. The writings given by the apostles

and prophets of the Lord (the new

covenant), take precedence over the

writings of the old covenant which is

obsolete.

E.g. “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he

has made the first one obsolete; and

what is obsolete and outdated will soon

disappear” in Hebrews 8:13.

6. If a teaching seems to enjoin a

crime or vice, it is figurative.

E.g. “unless you eat my flesh and drink

my blood, you have no life in you” in

John 6:53.

7. A biblical practice or teaching is only

culturally-related and not universally

commanded if there is no eternal

spiritual principle or meaning attached

to it.

E.g. “When the Sabbath was over,

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of

James, and Salome bought spices so

that they might go to anoint Jesus'

body” in Mark 16:1.



8. Aim to teach only the language of

the text without extending the

meaning.

E.g. when David speaks of his personal

remorse in Psalm 51 “in sin did my

mother conceive me,” we do not extend

this to include all humanity from

conception.

9. If a specific kind of a thing is

prescribed, all other kinds of that

thing are excluded.

E.g. “sing and make melody in your

heart to the Lord” excludes playing a

musical instrument to the Lord. This

principle is sometimes stated as:

“Whatever is not expressly enjoined, is

prohibited,” as Paul says, "Do not go

beyond what is written" (1 Corinthians

4:6), as opposed to, “Whatever is not

expressly forbidden is permitted.” This

was also a principle of the Old

Testament: “Do not add to what I

command you and do not subtract from

it, but keep the commands of the LORD

your God that I give you” in

Deuteronomy 4:2; see also



Revelation 22:18-19. A negative

assertion is not provable because if

“everything that is not specifically

prohibited is approved” is the guiding

principle, scripture would require

enormous impractical volume. In our

struggle with evil, we are authorized to

employ only nonviolent spiritual means

rather than worldly or physical means.

10. The onus is upon the individual

to distinguish truth from error.

E.g. “Whoever knows God listens to us

(John and those led into all truth such

as the other apostles); whoever is not

from God does not listen to us. By this

we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit

of error” in 1 John 4:6. In Acts 20, we

learn that apostasy occurred among

those who were taught by the apostles,

which means traditions, teachings, and

writings presented as the word of God

must be compared and agree with

writings believed to have been authored

by the apostles and prophets of the

risen Lord.



11. Metaphorical language given by

inspiration should not be given meaning

unless the inspired writer reveals the

meaning.

E.g. Peter is “rock” and given “keys to

the kingdom of Heaven” in Matthew

16:16. If it means Peter was made head

of the church, it must at least be stated

in one subsequent passage. The reader

should also consider principle #12

below: If Peter was appointed to be the

head of the church on earth, there must

be at least a single reference thereafter

to confirm this understanding. If there is

no such confirmation, one should

consider another meaning that has

confirmation in subsequent scripture.

12. Test your understanding of a

text, against the faith and practice of

Christians who lived soon after the

text was written.

E.g. If Jesus cleansing the temple or

telling his apostles to buy swords,

means followers of Jesus can make a

violent defense, one should be able to

see this understanding believed or



practiced by early Christians during the

earliest period after the apostles and

prophets of the Lord.

13. When trying to understand the

meaning of scripture intended by the

writer, consider the full context and

parallel passages.

E.g. “made alive with Christ” in

Ephesians 2:5, is a promise associated

with baptism in Colossians 2:12-13.

14. Some teachings are more

important than others, and the Lord

requires obedience to all His teaching.

E.g. “You give a tenth of your spices--

mint, dill and cumin. But you have

neglected the more important matters

of the law--justice, mercy and

faithfulness. You should have practiced

the latter, without neglecting the former”

in Matthew 23:23. Beware the tendency

toward legalism that majors on minors.

15. Although full obedience is required

of servants, full obedience does not



make the servants worthy.

E.g. “So you also, when you have done

everything you were told to do, should

say, 'We are unworthy servants; we

have only done our duty’ ” in Luke

17:10.

16. Legalism occurs when one adds

to God’s word or substitutes traditions,

rules, and teachings of men for the

word of God.

E.g."Thus you nullify the word of God

for the sake of your tradition….They

worship me in vain; their teachings are

merely human rules" in Matthew 15:9.

17. To get the meaning, consider the

context of a verse or phrase or book,

and ask yourself, “What is the intent of

the writer?”

18. The will of God can be understood

through direct command, apostolic

example (e.g. “follow me as I follow

Christ” – Paul), and necessary

inference, e.g. assembling together

necessarily includes a place to meet.



19. A concept may be expressed in

more than one word or phrase.

E.g. “baptized into Christ were baptized

into His death” in Romans 6:3 is also

described as “crucified with him” in

Romans 6:6.

20. The ability to perform signs and

wonders was given through the

laying on of the apostles’ hands.

E.g. “When the apostles in Jerusalem

heard….., they sent Peter and John,”

and “When Simon saw that the Spirit

was given when the apostles laid their

hands on people, he offered them

money to buy this power” in Acts

8:14,18.

21. Baptism is necessary to and part

of believing the gospel message.

E.g. “….preach the gospel to all

creation. Whoever believes and is

baptized will be saved, but whoever

does not believe will be condemned” in

Mark 16:15-16.



22. Calling on the name of the Lord

for salvation is fulfilled in biblical

baptism. E.g.

“everyone who calls on the name of the

Lord will be saved” in Acts 2:21 is

“repent and be baptized” in Acts 2:38.

23. Biblical healing miracles were

always visible, immediate, and

complete.

E.g. “Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch

out your hand!’ He stretched it out, and

it was restored to normal, like the other”

in Matthew 12:13 and “Paul entered in,

and prayed, and laid his hands on him,

and healed him” in Acts 28:8.

24. An apostle of Christ must have

been a witness of the resurrected

Christ and also demonstrate the

signs of an apostle.

E.g. “Therefore, it is necessary to select

one of the men who have accompanied

us the whole time the Lord Jesus went

in and out among us, beginning from



John’s baptism until the day Jesus was

taken up from us. For one of these

must become a witness with us of His

resurrection” in Acts 1:21-22 and “I

persevered in demonstrating among

you the marks of a true apostle,

including signs, wonders and miracles”

in 2 Corinthians 12:12.

25. The concept of saving faith

includes the idea of baptism.

E.g. “You are all sons of God through

faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who

were baptized into Christ have clothed

yourselves with Christ“ in Galatians

3:26-27, and “having been buried with

him in baptism, in which you were also

raised with him through your faith in the

working of God, who raised him from

the dead” in Colossians 2:12.

26. Baptism requires the conscious

personal faith formed within the one

who is baptized. E.g. “But

thanks be to God that, though you once

were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly



obeyed the form of teaching to which

you were committed. You have been

set free from sin and have become

slaves to righteousness” in Roman

6:17-18, and “having been buried with

him in baptism, in which you were also

raised with him through your faith in the

working of God, who raised him from

the dead” in Colossians 2:12, and “this

water (of the flood) symbolizes the

baptism that now saves you — not the

removal of dirt from the body, but the

pledge of (to keep) a clear conscience

toward God. It saves you through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ” in 1

Peter 3:21.

27. The terms elders or presbyters,

bishops, and pastors are

synonymous and interchangeable in

scripture, referring to the same position,

always a plurality of supervising men,

served by a plurality of deacons in local

Christian communities.

E.g. “Paul sent to Ephesus for the

elders of the church…..Keep watch

over yourselves and all the flock of



which the Holy Spirit has made you

bishops. Be pastors of the church of

God…” in Acts 20:17,28.

28. To understand scripture, first try to

identify the genre of literature it fits

into: law, history, wisdom, poetry,

narrative, epistles, prophecy and

apocalyptic literature.

29. By reading, one will understand.

E.g. “In reading this, then, you will be

able to understand my insight into the

mystery of Christ, which was not made

known to men in other generations as it

has now been revealed by the Spirit to

God’s holy apostles and prophets” in

Ephesians 3:4-5.

30. The reader must use the word of

truth correctly.

E.g. “Do your best to present yourself to

God as one approved, a worker who

does not need to be ashamed and who

correctly handles the word of truth” in 2

Timothy 2:15.



31. In ancient Israel, government was

a theocracy in which God commanded

the nation through prophets and gave

power to carry out genocide and defeat

idolatrous peoples. In the new Israel

(the Christian community), forgiveness

and grace have been made possible by

the cross, and the rule is nonviolence,

gentleness, and love. Divine

vengeance will be carried out at the

final judgment of all humanity.

E.g. “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”

says the Lord. On the contrary: If your

enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is

thirsty, give him something to drink. In

doing this, you will heap burning coals

on his head. Do not be overcome by

evil, but overcome evil with good” in

Romans 12:19-21.

32. One’s love for God, and love for

one’s neighbor (the two greatest

commandments), are fulfilled in

obedience to the teachings of Jesus.

E.g. “Anyone who loves me will obey

my teaching” in John 14:33.



33. The Christian community has

only one head, Jesus Christ, and

there is no headquarters on earth.

The head and headquarters are in

heaven. Jesus does not share his

authority.

E.g. “And he is the head of the body,

the church; he is the beginning and the

firstborn from among the dead, so that

in everything he might have the

supremacy” in Colossians 1:18.

34. If two understandings of a verse

are possible, choose the one

reflected in other scripture.

E.g. If ‘rock’ and ‘keys’ in Matthew

16:18 mean: 1) Simon Peter was made

head of the church or 2) Simon was

named Peter to commemorate the

centrality of the revelation that "Jesus is

the Messiah, the son of the living God."

The correct understanding is number 2

because it is the confession given by

those seeking baptism for the

forgiveness of their sins in Acts 8, and

the keys are understood spiritually

when Peter opened the kingdom first to



Jews in Acts 2 and to Gentiles first in

Acts 10. In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul

identifies “that rock was Christ.”

35. To confirm an understanding of a

concept or practice, look for

important reasons associated with it.

E.g. Baptism occurred in the earliest

church as soon as possible after

hearing and believing the gospel,

because baptism was commanded in

the gospel message and was

associated with the forgiveness of sins,

new life, and receiving the Holy Spirit

as a gift. For more on the timing of

baptism see this document.

36. Consider the use of synecdoche

in which the text contains an element

pointing to a larger picture or collection

of ideas.

E.g.”believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”

in Acts 16:30, includes accepting the

facts of the good news, repentance,

baptism, and faithfully following the


https://issuu.com/collegeofmentalhealth/docs/timing_of_baptism


teachings of Jesus and His apostles

and prophets.

37. Consider whether a teaching

pertains only to the apostles of

Christ or to all, such as the washing of

feet in John 13:1-17.

E.g. “And Peter said to him, Lord, are

these words said to us only, or to all?“

in Luke 12:41.

38. In our struggle with evil, we are

taught to employ spiritual means rather

than worldly or carnal means. In the

New Testament, Christians are only

victims of violence and never

perpetrators of violence.

E.g. “The weapons we fight with are

not the weapons of the world” in 2

Corinthians 10:3 and “Even though I

was once a blasphemer and a

persecutor and a violent man, I was

shown mercy because I acted in

ignorance and unbelief” in 1 Timothy

1:13.



39. Whether or not one cares for those

in trouble, will be a condition for the

“inheritance, the kingdom prepared for

you since the creation of the world.”

E.g. “Then the King will say to those on

his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed

by my Father; take your inheritance, the

kingdom prepared for you since the

creation of the world. For I was hungry

and you gave me something to eat, I

was thirsty and you gave me something

to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in, I needed clothes and you

clothed me, I was sick and you looked

after me, I was in prison and you came

to visit me’ ” in Matthew 25:34-36.

40. If a thing is not taught or

confirmed after the day of Pentecost

in Acts 2, it is not the apostles’ doctrine

that Christians must follow.

E.g. Tithing is not taught after the day

of Pentecost in Acts 2, therefore it is not

the apostles’ doctrine that Christians

must follow. The apostles were guided

into all truth, and we must listen to them



as per 1 John 4:6. The apostles are

lawyers implementing a new covenant,

effected by the death of Christ as per

Hebrews 9:16-17. Tithing is not

included. Even Irenaeus had a partial

understanding of this in the second

century: “And instead of the tithes

which the law commanded, the Lord

said to divide everything we have with

the poor.” – Irenaeus, 130-200 AD

(Against Heresies, Book IV, Chapter

XIII, paragraph 3)

HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

https://www.academia.edu/11778382

JESUS OF NAZARETH


COMPARING APOSTOLIC TEACHING

WITH DENOMINATIONS







Nonviolence in Early Christian Thought

prepared by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada

If nonviolence is the teaching of Jesus in the

New Testament, we would expect to find it in

the earliest writings of Christians after the

apostles and prophets of the Lord. What do we

find?

First Century

Love your enemies – Luke 6:27-28 do good to

those who hate you, bless those who curse

you, pray for those who mistreat you.

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. –

Matthew 5:38-39 If anyone slaps you on the

right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

Stephen stoned – Acts 7:54-60 when stoned to

death, Stephen says “forgive them”.

Christians dragged to prison and death - Acts

8:1-3, Acts 22:3-5, Acts 26:9-11, Galatians

1:13



James killed – Acts 12:1-3 was killed with the

sword.

Paul threatened and arrested – Acts 28:19 but

had no charge to bring against those who

conspired to kill him.

Christians treated violently – Romans 12:17-

21 overcome evil with good.

Christian slaves beaten for doing what is right

– 1 Peter 2:18-25 suffer patiently as Christ did.

Do not fear suffering violent attack – 1 Peter

3:14-15, Rev.2:10 be faithful unto death.

Christians facing opposition were called to

have their own blood shed – Heb.12:3-4.

Do not war as the world does but use your

spiritual weapons – 2 Cor. 10:3-6, Eph.6:12-

18.

The death of Jesus for His enemies (when He

could have destroyed them) defines a new kind

of love. – “This is love: not that we loved God,



but that he loved us and sent his Son as an

atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10

Christian Gnosticism emerged in part because

of the inability of some early Christians to

reconcile the violent God portrayed in the Old

Testament with the nonviolent God of Jesus’

teachings in the New Testament, so they

concluded there were two gods: an evil violent

creator god who created the material world,

and a good nonviolent loving god.

Second to Fourth Century

Ignatius of Antioch (80-140 AD) in Epistle to

the Ephesians: “And let us imitate the Lord,

who, when He was reviled, reviled not again ;

when He was crucified, He answered not;

when He suffered, He threatened not ; but

prayed for His enemies, Father, forgive them;

they know not what they do. If anyone, the

more he is injured, displays the more patience,

blessed is he.”

Justin Martyr (110-165 AD) in Dialogue with

Trypho: “…we who were filled with war, and



mutual slaughter, and every wickedness, have

each through the whole earth changed our

warlike weapons,— our swords into

ploughshares, and our spears into implements

of tillage, —and we cultivate piety,

righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope…”

Irenaeus (120-202 AD) in Against Heresies:

“But if the law of liberty, that is, the word of

God, preached by the apostles (who went forth

from Jerusalem) throughout all the earth,

caused such a change in the state of things,

that these [nations] did form the swords and

war-lances into ploughshares, and changed

them into pruning-hooks for reaping the grain,

[that is], into instruments used for peaceful

purposes, and that they are now

unaccustomed to fighting, but when smitten,

offer also the other cheek…”

Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) in

Justin Martyr (100-165 AD), First Apology,

Ante-Nicene Fathers: “The Emperor Caesar

Marcus Aurelius, to the People of Rome, and

to the sacred Senate… I was surrounded by

the enemy; and the enemy being at hand...



there was close on us a mass of a mixed

multitude of 977,000 men, which indeed we

saw… Having then examined my own position,

and my host, with respect to… the enemy, I

quickly betook myself to prayer to the gods of

my country. But being disregarded by them, I

summoned those who among us go by the

name of Christians. And having made inquiry, I

discovered a great number and vast host of

them, and raged against them, which was by

no means becoming; for afterwards I learned

their power. Wherefore they began the

battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms,

nor bugles; for such preparation is hateful

to them, on account of the God they bear

about in their conscience.” (Note: While the

authenticity of the letter is disputed, scholars

accept that even if it is a forgery, it was written

in the latter part of the second century and

therefore reflects the values and beliefs of

Christians at an early stage. Later Christians

would embrace the just war theory of

Augustine.)

Athenagoras (about 170 AD) in A Plea for the

Christians: “…for we have learned, not only not



to return blow for blow, nor to go to law with

those who plunder and rob us, but to those

who smite us on one side of the face to offer

the other side also, and to those who take

away our coat to give likewise our cloak.”

Clement of Alexandria (150-215 AD) in

Paedogogus: “In peace, not in war, we are

trained.”

Clement of Alexandria in Protrepticus: “If you

enroll as one of God’s people, heaven is your

country and God your lawgiver. And what are

His laws? You shall not kill, You shall love your

neighbor as yourself. To him that strikes you

on the one cheek, turn to him the other also.”

Tertullian (145-220 AD) in On Idolatry: “But

how will a Christian man war, nay, how will he

serve even in peace, without a sword, which

the Lord has taken away? For albeit soldiers

had come unto John, and had received the

formula of their rule; albeit, likewise, a

centurion had believed; still the Lord afterward,

in disarming Peter, unbelted every soldier.”



Hippolytus (170-235 AD) in Apostolic Tradition:

"Persons who possess authority to kill, or

soldiers, should not kill at all, even when it is

commanded of them. Everyone who receives a

distinctive leading position, or a magisterial

power, and does not clothe himself in the

weaponlessness of which is becoming to the

Gospel, should be separated from the flock."

Hippolytus in Canons: “No Christian should go

and become a soldier unless a commander

who has a sword compels him; let him not

draw any guilt of blood shed upon himself.”

Origen (185-254 AD) in Against Celsus: “To

those who inquire of us from where we come,

or who is our founder, we reply that we have

come agreeably to the counsels of Jesus. We

have cut down our hostile, insolent, and

wearisome swords into plowshares. We have

converted into pruning hooks the spears that

were formerly used in war. For we no longer

take up sword against nation, nor do we learn

war any more. That is because we have

become children of peace for the sake of

Jesus, who is our leader.”



“We do not indeed fight under him, although he

require it; but we fight on his behalf, forming a

special army -- an army of piety -- by offering

our prayers to God.”

Arnobius (died 326 AD) in Against the

Heathen: “A numerous band of men as we are,

we have learned from his teaching and his

laws that evil should not be repaid with evil.

Rather, it is better to suffer wrong than to inflict

it. We would rather shed our own blood than

stain our hands and our conscience with that of

another.”

Lactantius (220-330 AD, tutor for the emperor

Constantine’s children) in The Divine Institutes:

“For how can a man be just who injures, who

hates, who despoils, who puts to death? And

they who strive to be serviceable to their

country do all these things…”

“For when God forbids us to kill, He not only

prohibits us from open violence, which is not

even allowed by the public laws, but He warns

us against the commission of those things



which are esteemed lawful among men. Thus it

will be neither lawful for a just man to engage

in warfare, since his warfare is justice itself, nor

to accuse any one of a capital charge, because

it makes no difference whether you put a man

to death by word, or rather by the sword, since

it is the act of putting to death itself which is

prohibited. Therefore, with regard to this

precept of God, there ought to be no exception

at all; but that it is always unlawful to put to

death a man, whom God willed to be a sacred

animal.”

Martin of Tours (316-397 AD) in The

Paedagogus - “I am a soldier of Christ. To fight

is not permissible for me.”

Change in the 4th Century

Lactantius (see above) in On the Death of the

Persecutors: “Constantine was directed in a

dream to cause the heavenly sign to be

delineated on the shields of his soldiers, and

so to proceed to battle.”



Eusebius (260-339 AD) in The Life of the

Blessed Emperor Constantine: “Then, in his

sleep, the Christ of God appeared to him with

the same sign which he had seen in the

heavens and commanded him to make a

likeness of that sign which he had seen in the

heavens and to use it as a safeguard in all

engagements with his enemies.”

Ambrose (340-397 AD, teacher of Augustine)

in Duties of Ministers: "For the fortitude which

in war defends the fatherland from barbarians

or defends the weak at home, or companions

from thieves is full of justice."

Augustine (354-430 AD) in Epistle 189, To

Boniface, A Soldier: "Do not think that no one

can please God who is a soldier in military

arms. Holy David was among these, to whom

the Lord gave such great witness [see 1 Kings

14.7, where God says David, "followed me with

all his heart, doing only what was right in my

eyes:] and many just men of that time among

them. Among these was Cornelius [Acts 10] to

whom the angel was sent.... Among these

were those who came to John for baptism....



Surely he did not forbid them to serve in arms,

to whom he ordered to be content with their

pay. ....Some therefore fight for you by praying

against invisible enemies; you work for them

by fighting against visible barbarians.... So

think first of this, when you arm yourself for

battle, that even your bodily strength is a gift of

God...."

Related Reading

http://www.amazon.com/Concordance-

Testament-Christian-Pacifism-

Nonviolence/dp/1499186436

http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Christianity-

Peace-Justice-Testament/dp/0973454652


http://www.amazon.com/Concordance-Testament-Christian-Pacifism-Nonviolence/dp/1499186436



http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Christianity-Peace-Justice-Testament/dp/0973454652

http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Christianity-Peace-Justice-Testament/dp/0973454652


Decisions for the Poor

By Daniel Keeran, MSW

In recent decades, a number of benevolent organizations and non-religious efforts, have made extensive appeals for contributions from the public. Undoubtedly, we will see more presentations of this kind as world population increases and as the gap widens between rich and poor nations. Every Christian must now ask this question, “What does God expect of me in view of the millions who are starving right now?”

Good News for the Poor

To answer this question, we will begin with a Messianic passage found in Isaiah 11, verse 4: “With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.” One of


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the primary ministries of the Messiah was to bless the poor. The place of rich and poor in relation to the Messianic kingdom is introduced by Mary’s magnification of God and by the first preaching of John the Baptist and of the Christ himself.

Mary affirms that God has “scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts” and that he has brought down the powerful and “sent the rich away empty.” Moreover, she declares, God has “lifted up the humble” and has “filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:51-54).

When John the Baptist appears, he

refers to Isaiah 40:3-5 as his program of ministry. John understands that his purpose is to prepare the way of the Lord by a type of landscaping that brings down mountains and hills while the valleys are exalted or filled in. This is reminiscent of Mary’s statement, for when the multitude inquire about the proper fruit of



repentance, mountains and hills are lowered and valleys are exalted as John instructs the people to distribute their abundance to the poor. Even specific groups among the crowd are divested of their lucrative incomes as John exhorts soldiers and tax collectors to cease extortion, to collect only the tax due, and to be content with meager wages (Luke 3:4-14). The powerful and rich are brought down and sent empty away while the poor and humble are filled with good things and lifted up, even as Mary had declared concerning the justice of God.

When Jesus appears, he refers to Isaiah

61:1,2 as his program of ministry. Jesus understands that he is “anointed to bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18ff). Since the term “Messiah” actually means “anointed one,” Jesus is announcing that good news for the poor is at the very heart of his teaching and preaching ministry. Jesus corroborates the statement of Isaiah



11:4 that he will make “decisions for the poor of the earth.” In fact, the proof for the imprisoned John that Jesus was indeed the expected Messiah was that Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 61: 1,2, for he was blessing the afflicted and preaching the Gospel to the poor (Luke 7:21, 22).

The Gospel message of Jesus to the poor themselves is this: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). These are not the spiritually poor but the literally poor, for in the same address Jesus pronounces a woe upon the literally rich (v. 24). That the poor filled the kingdom is verified by James 2:5: “Listen, my dear brothers: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes to world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?” It is not surprising that James again echoes Jesus in pronouncing the strongest condemnation on the rich: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail because of the



misery that is coming upon you” (James 5:1).

A Costly Response Demanded

The message of the New Testament to the rich demands a costly response, for the rich enter the kingdom and benefit from the Gospel only as servants of the poor. This is clear from the very beginning of the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, for those who have must distribute to those who have not, in order to receive John’s baptism (Luke 3:10-11).

To all his disciples Jesus says, “Lay not

up treasure on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (Matt. 6:19f). To the little flock Jesus explains how treasure is laid up in heaven: “Sell what you have and give to the poor” (Luke 12:33). The rich young ruler was given the same instruction: “Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have



treasure in heaven” (Matt. 19:21). To the Pharisees, Jesus declared, “Give what you have to the poor, and all will be clean for you” (Luke 11:41). The mandate of Jesus’ earthly ministry is clear: in order to be assured of eternal life, heavenly treasure, spiritual cleanness, the rich must distribute their abundance to the poor.

Zaccheus, the rich tax collector,

received salvation - treasure in heaven - by responding to this new ethic of the Messianic kingdom. He made a commitment to distribute his wealth to the poor and to those whom he had oppressed. Surely, by the time he had kept his promise to restore four-fold to those he had wronged, Zaccheus would find himself among those to whom the kingdom belongs (Luke 19:8,9). Because of the radical response of Zaccheus, we can infer that he had heard Jesus preaching a radical commitment in terms of distributing one’s wealth to the poor.



Indeed, those who store up treasure for themselves on earth rather than distributing to the poor are like the rich fool of whom Jesus speaks. To sacrifice one’s affluence for the poor is to be “rich toward God” (Luke 12:21; Matt. 25:40). The rich do not give abundantly and acceptably until they give as the widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41f). This teaching from the account of the widow’s mite should be regarded as providing the definition of liberality and “sowing abundantly,” as Paul later enjoins (II Cor.9:6). The widow, however, was not resigned to death by starvation, for her support came from the temple treasury, but her degree of giving reinforces what Jesus has said about the obligation of the rich to give out of their need level, which means all of their abundance and then some.

In the parable of the unjust steward Jesus teaches powerfully that to withhold God’s trust of worldly wealth from those



in need is embezzlement, and the consequence is to be denied true riches. “I tell you,” he said, “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:8-12).

Jesus then immediately gives warning

to the wise in the illustration of the rich man and Lazarus. The fate of the rich man who failed to come to terms with worldly wealth illustrated Jesus’ pronouncement of woe upon the rich, for they have already received their comfort in this life (Luke 16:19-25; 6:24). The rich man died and was refused entrance into eternal dwellings. His worldly wealth was gone, and he had not been trustworthy.

It is in the context of what is said in the parable of the unjust steward, illustrated again by the rich man and Lazarus, that we must understand Jesus’ teaching about serving two masters. Serving God is using



“worldly wealth to gain friends,” thus being “trustworthy with someone else’s [God’s] property”(Luke 16:9,12). Serving mammon or wealth is withholding God’s trust from the poor, preferring rather to live in luxury and comfort in a world of suffering and want (Luke 16: 19-25).

The injunction to distribute one’s

abundance makes it impossible to keep God’s property for self and maintain trust in God. This is the meaning of Jesus’ statement that “you cannot serve God and wealth” (Luke 16:13). He who chooses to keep God’s possessions, has despised God and his will for the affluent: “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15). Giving, not out of one’s wealth, but out of one’s need, is the teaching of the Kingdom from the words of John the Baptist to the widow who gave a fraction of a penny.



A universal principle of discipleship is stated in Luke 14:33: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Jesus is calling upon prospective followers to forsake, relinquish, or renounce the possession of earthly goods. He is not here speaking of family relationships as in verse 26, because the Greek phrase for “everything he has” refers to literal material possessions or earthly goods. “The expression always (fourteen times) denotes earthly goods in the New Testament” (G. Kittel, ed., Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Vol. 8, p. 33). The same principle is stated in other words when Jesus commends laying up heavenly treasure instead of, not in addition to, earthly treasure (Matt. 6:19).

Generosity of Early Christians

Not only does this emphasis pervade the Gospel accounts, but it is also found throughout the New Testament. The



immediate response of the first Christians was to determine that all things would be held as common property. This meant that they sold their possessions and gave to the poor. The result was that no one among them was in need (Acts 2:44, 45; 4:32, 34, 35). Ananias and Sapphira felt compelled to do what was being done by others: selling and giving. Laying the money at the apostles’ feet was not compulsory, but was simply one method of distribution. Yet there was perhaps a degree of status attached to the act, at least in the minds of this couple, who were prompted to go so far as to lie about having given all (Acts 4:32- 5:11).

Eventually during a long famine, the saints in Jerusalem had spent their resources. Paul then tried to encourage the same kind of giving from the Corinthians as had occurred earlier in Jerusalem, suggesting that the sincerity of one’s love in giving is to be measured or defined by



the example of the Macedonians, who gave out of “their extreme poverty” (II Cor. 8:2), and by the example of Christ himself, who “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor…” (v.9).

Paul does not want to command or compel the Corinthians to give in this way, because he wants them to be willing and cheerful in their giving (II Cor. 8:12; 9:7). Yet the expectation is clear in terms of the degree of giving Paul wants from them, for he continues by urging, “At the present time your plenty will supply what they need… as it is written, he that gathered much did not have too much, and he that gathered little did not have too little” (II Cor. 8:14,15). Further, Paul emphasizes the importance of sowing generously, defined by the preceding examples of Macedonia and of Christ, which reflect Jesus’ definition of abundant giving in the example of the poor widow who gave



more than the rich because she gave what she needed to live on.

The Source and Purpose of Wealth

Paul identifies God as the source of one’s abundance, and the purpose of God’s gift is two-fold: (1) to provide for the needs of the one who receives from God, and (2) to allow the one who receives to provide for the needs of others (Acts 20:34-35; Eph. 4:28). The rich have received from God, not to increase their enjoyment of luxury and comfort, but to increase their distribution unto “every good work” and so they “can be generous on every occasion.” It is through the generosity of the rich that God “has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor” (II Cor. 9:8-11). When the rich neglect to do this, they have embezzled God’s gifts and fail in their servant role.

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul suggests that generosity and good deeds



enable one to lay up treasure in heaven – reminiscent of Jesus’ instruction to the little flock, the rich young ruler, and all disciples (Matt. 6:19ff). Notice that rather than being rich in the possession of wealth, the affluent are to be rich in the giving of those possessions (1 Tim. 6:17-19). Certainly, Paul could not have meant less than Jesus meant in his definition of generosity.

John makes a similar point. Those who live in luxury and abundance in spite of the suffering of the poor do not have God’s love within them (I John 3:16,17). While John emphasizes this responsibility to the poor brother, the New Testament extends the demonstration of love to all men (Gal. 6:10; II Cor. 9:13; I Thess. 3:12). The love and grace of Christ find reality in the believer’s life in sacrificing possessions as Christ did (I John 3:16; II Cor. 8:9).

Giving as the Macedonians, Christ,

and the poor widow gave, will reduce us



to a simple life style, with basic necessities and minimal possessions (I Tim. 6:8). Luxury and self-indulgence are among the sins of the rich (James 5:5). Christians are specifically forbidden to wear expensive clothes and jewelry (I Pet. 3:3; I Tim. 2:9-10). According to Jesus, those who have already received their comfort in this life will find no comfort in the next life (Luke 6:24; 16:19-25). But those who are caring and generous can know the blessedness of giving (Acts 20:35) and the assurance of the Lord’s promise never to abandon us (Heb. 13:5).

In the book of Revelation, the church of Laodicea claims to be rich and in need of nothing because of her accumulated wealth. But Jesus assesses her situation differently: “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich” (Rev. 3:17-18). One can convert earthly



riches into “gold refined in the fire” by distributing one’s wealth to the poor.

The Abominations of Babylon

The abominations of Babylon the Great are a final reminder of the thesis of this study. The rich and powerful are intimately associated with the sinful city. “The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries” (Rev. 18:3). God’s people must not share in her sins (v. 4). She will receive “as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself” (v. 7). In her day of judgment, Babylon the Great will mourn with all those who became rich through her wealth (v. 7,9,19). Here we see fulfilled the truth of Jesus’ words: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort” (Luke 6:24).



Moreover, Mary’s words at the beginning of the New Testament are strangely fulfilled in this closing vision of Babylon, for the rich and powerful are brought down and sent empty away. In Babylon is seen the fate of all who live in luxury at the expense or neglect of the world’s poor. On the other hand, God’s faithful poor and those who distribute their wealth according to God’s purpose can look forward to the comfort and luxury of the New Jerusalem, the heavenly treasure for those who have invested wisely.

Attitudes of the Early Church

Isaiah promised Messianic decisions for the poor, and we have seen their fulfillment in the words of Mary, John the Baptist, the Messiah himself, Paul, James, the apostle John, and in the deeds of the Jerusalem and Macedonian churches.



The early church writers from the close of the New Testament through the time of Constantine soundly support the biblical teaching concerning the place of rich and poor in the kingdom of God. Clement of Rome (96 A.D.) observed that many Christians had sold themselves into slavery in order to buy food for others. Aristides (120 A.D.) pointed out that early Christians fasted in order to send their food to the poor (see Apology 15). The Shepherd of Hermas (136 A.D.) affirmed that God gave abundance to the rich so that they could spend their wealth and “all their possessions” to relieve others (see Similitudes, I:8f). In the Epistle to Diognetus, 10:4,5 (140 A.D.) the affluent are instructed to distribute the things received from God, to help those in need. In the Preaching of Peter (180 A.D.) it is said that the abundance of the rich belongs to the poor. Clement of Alexandria (190 A.D.) said it is not right for one to live in luxury while



others are in want (see Instructor II.xiii.20:6).

In Against Heresies, IV.xiv.3, Irenaeus (180 A.D.) expressed the following: “And instead of the tithes which the Law commanded, the Lord said to divide everything we have with the poor.” (See the chapter entitled, “Early Christian Acts of Mercy,” in Everett Ferguson’s Early Christians Speak, Austin: Sweet, 1971).

Conclusion The values of the kingdom with regard to wealth have remained obscure amid the “pursuit of happiness.” Perhaps this is partly because those whose salaries are paid by the wealthy, have sought to please and accommodate the rich. If so, the advice given to the church of Laodicea is appropriate for us. We must obtain gold from our Lord that we may become truly rich. We must flee from the destruction of



Babylon and partake in her sins no longer. May God help us as we seek always to have less of this world that we may possess more of the kingdom of God. We will realize more of his Kingdom when we have lived by his “decisions for the poor of the earth.”


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