A Very Brief History of the Church:Part 12

"the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes. "Dan:5:21c

The Diocletian Persecution upon the Christian Church was very severe. As time wore on for the Church,   Diocletian be came came convinced that there was a Christian conspiracy against him, this led to a dercee  demanding the arrest leaders of the Church where they could be found, this action then led to not only arresting Christians, but now , pressure was put upon Christians to renounce their alliance to Jesus and sacrifice at the alter of the gods.

The persecution against the Church was very cruel and the pressure difficult, many gave in and offered sacrifices to the Roman gods.

Diocletian Abdicates

In the year 304 AD, Diocletian became ill, this gave opportunity for Galeiurs, who wanted to be the Supreme Emperor  to move politically against Diocletian, at first, Galerius fained concern for Diocletian. When this tactic failed to secure the abdication of Diocletian , Galerius then brought threats against his weaken rival.

In 305 AD, Diocletian left the throne of the Empire and Galerius consolidated his place as the  Supreme Emperor. Galerius' politicking led to the abdication of Maximian as well, this left Galerius and Constantius Chlorus each claiming the title of Augustus, and under them were two weak appointees, Severus and Maximinus Daia.

Discontent Begins

This new order of governance did not abide well with many in the Roman legions. In the Legion of Rome were the sons of both Constantius and Maximian ,Constantine and Maxentius respectively,   both of them were very well like and admired by many with in in the Legions.
Galerius brought Constantine to his court holding him hostage, this was done to assure that his father Constantius Chlorus would be loyal to Galerius.

Constantine, however, was able to escape and went to his father. When Constantius Chlorus died the legions under his command pledged loyalty to  his son Constantine and they then declared him to be their Augustus.

Maxentius had been taken to Rome where Galerius' appointee Severus ruled.Severus committed suicide. Galerius began to lose control of the situation with in the Empire.

As the situation in the Roman Government worsened,  Galerius appealed to his his predecessor Diocletian , asking  him to give assistance in managing the problem. Diocletian refused his help, other than,  that of being a negotiator , and the condition deteriorated.

Many claimants came forward demanding appoint to the position(s) of power. Gaelrius wishing to avoid a civil war, and to keep his  hold on power firm, he  finally reached an agreement, this tenuous agreement   led to  the appointment of Licinius.

Preparing the Way

All the political motion and chaos  within the Empire was setting stage for what would ultimetly lead to the legalization Christianity. As suitors to the position(s) of power came forward, Constantine was using his time, gaining power and resources, waiting for the right moment to move so that he  ascend the throne of the whole of the Empire.

ven as the winds of Imperial politics blew, the Church was still being persecuted by Galerius. Many Christians were being sent as slaves into the stone quarries of the Empire as well as other forms of slavery.

This action, of sending Christians into slavery and or banishment in some cases,  often had unintended consequences. As Christians found themselves being scattered to varies places  they began to share their faith in Jesus, and to proclaim the Gospel to those who needed to hear it the most. What was occurring is very much like we see in St. Luke's account in Acts: 


"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went." Acts:8:1-4

Those scattered Christians who were  impressed into slavery or banishment,  found themselves Missionaries and Evangelist to those who needed hope the most. As a result Slave Churches arose wherever these Christians founded themselves, the Holy Spirit already having prepared the way for the preaching of the Gospel of Christ and the Kingdom of God.

The Time Had Come

As Gaelerius' persecution against Christians wore on,the Emperor's health began to deteriorate. Some Christians attributed this to the hand of God against Rome and Galerius himself.  This led to Galerius suspending his persecution against Christians as he issued a decree on April 30th 311 AD. Five days later Galerius died of his sickness.

Many Christians were released from the prisons around the Empire, many however, had died in the terrible persecution over the years.

Civil War

The Empire was now under the divided control of Licinius, Maximinus Daia, Constantine and Maxentius. There was mutual recognition thee of the rulers, Maxentius revived no recognition from the other three.
For Christians in the Empire most persecution had come to and end, but some unhappy few were still being by Maximinus Daia.

Constantine was now ready for power, he ready his legions in Gaul and then led them over the Alps and into Italy. His forces stormed Rome where Maxentius ruled. Maxentius  was unprepared for the attack, Constantine's legions took the city and occupied the area with Mazentius held up behind the city walls.

In Hoc Signo Vinces

There are differing accounts as to what actually took place one Christian historian who was an acquaintance of Constantine records that on the evening prior to the battle Constantine had a vision or revelation. Lactantius said,  that Constantine had a dream in which commanded to place a Christians symbol upon the shields of his legionnaires.

Eusebius wrote in History of the Church,  that Constantine saw a vision in the clouds  of a Cross, or the Labarum, the letters PX, also called in Geek the Chi Rho, and saw the words "In Hoc Signo Vinces" which means by "in this sign you will conquer" .  

What ever it was that Constantine saw or heard ,he followed  the instructions and placed a symbol upon his soldiers shields. Maxentius was defeated and was killed at the Milvian Bridge. Constantine won the victory and consolidated his power over the Empire.

After the battle,  Constantine met with Licinius at Milan in North Italy  in Febuary of 313 AD, and the two leaders made an alliance together which led to the "Edict of Milan" in 313 AD, this put an end to most of the persecution against Christians, yet some persecution  still persisted for a time.

It is generally conceded by historians and scholars, both Ecclesiastical and Secular, that Constantine was not a genuine convert to Christianity. It is known that Constantine funded and even encouraged some to worship the "Sol Invictus" , that is the "Unconquered  Sun",   and he even funded pagan temple to the "gods", yet,   the Edict  of Milan restored properties to Christians and gave the Church freedom to worship and to carry out it's mission for a season of peace ; for God's own purpose he raised up Constantine to accomplish his will in the Earth.

Benediction: May we each and ll give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ who's Kingdom rules, even in the kingdom's of man, today, tomorrow and forevermore .Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

A Very Brief History of the Church:Part 13

"Jesus 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. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." Mark:16:15-20

From the very beginning of the Christian movement established by our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church, that is those who have come to believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, peoples from many nation were now participating with the ministry with Jesus, thru the Holy Spirit.

The Church had weathered many storms and dealt with issues, as it made it way thru history transforming as it went.

The Church had felt the heavy hand of persecution at the cost of blood and suffering and great sacrifice, yet even among the sacrifice and suffering there were times  that were  glorious and the power of the Holy Spirit was evident and the great God, the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, were glorified in the person of Jesus Christ.

Through out the years many great things had occurred, the Gospel was preached, the people came to experience the forgiveness of God and the Holy Spirit moved to confirm that the word which was preached was truth. 

The Church's focus had been , for centuries the proclamation of the name of Jesus and the advancement of his Holy Kingdom into the lives of people. We can read histories of the power of the Spirit moving in peoples lives: healings, deliverance, prayer answered miraculously. These things were accomplished not just by the clergy, but members of the body of Christ, ordained and laity alike.  Such things were common even amidst the hardships which the Church faced. 

With eyes toward Heaven and always looking to Jesus, the Church went forward boldly proclaiming the Gospel, the miraculous happened, but then as we look at the history of the Church we note a change in the moving of the Holy Spirit among his people, of course,  there were still events which miraculously occurred but we see a change .

What would cause this? Was it by divine purpose or was something other transpiring? What would have altered the blessed state and the power which the Church moved in even among hardship?

Edict of Milan

After the Emperor Constantine conquered with a Christian symbol ablaze upon the shields of his legions and won the victory over his opponents at the Milvain Bridge and consolidated his control over the Empire.

Constantine  and Licinius then met in Milan Italy and came to an arrangement of power which led to the issuing of the Edict of Milan in 313 AD putting and end to the persecution of Christians in the Empire for the most part.

With the end to persecution in most of the Empire the Church now found itself free to openly engage the people of the society of the Empire, in so doing the Church began to once again transform. Whether this transformation was an expression of the divine will of God or sprang from the human component of the Church , we may never fully know this side of eternity.

Constantine Gathers Power 

Within the Empire  things were shifting, in fact,  the shift had begun long before the Civil war which led to Constantine ascension to the pinnacle  of power with in the Empire. Power was shifting east away from it's ancient seat in Rome. As time would pass the east would be more influential and seat of power become more firmly established.

Constantine, however  still ruled out Rome with the east being a divided administration between Licinius and Maximinus Daia.These two rulers found themselves at odds and even warred against one another allowing Constantine time to gain power.

Constaintine and Licnius became related thru marriage. While  Licinius was in the west , Maximinus invaded the city of Byzantium, he was however, defeated leaving the Empire in the control of Constantine in the west of Europe and a great area North Africa, while Licinius ruled the east and Egypt.

The long hoped for peace ended in another civil war, which  ultimately  left Constantine holding great power in the Empire. Constantine was able to seize control over the city of Byzantium. A peace was established  around 314 AD.

The peace between the two rulers was short lived.In 322 AD Constantine invaded the territory ruled by Licinius claiming that he was searching for "Barbarians" who had crossed the Danube River.
There were difference which were between the two rulers , there were divides even within the Church in Licinius' territories leading even to civil unrest at times. Licinius moved to keep the peace,this caused some Christians to believe that they had been wronged by the government.

Those Christians  who felt wronged began to consider Constantine as the true defender of their faith and one Christian leader of the time  called him "the Emperor whom God loved" .

The war which erupted between the Constantine and Licinius came. Constatine again adorned his legions with the symbol of the Labarum, which Licinius feared believing that it held "power". Licinius order his legions not to look upon the "Labarum" or to directly assault it.

A  violent storm damaged most of Licinius' ships. Licinius found himself fearing that he would be isolated crossed into Asia Minor.Constantine pursued Licinius into Asia Minor. After losing several battles Licinius became distraught .

Licinius' wife, Constance,who was the sister of Constantine , went to her brother, possibly long with the Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia, asking her brother to spare her husband Licinius if he would abandon his hold on any power, this Licinius did, giving Constantine the throne of the Empire and control over all of Rome and beyond, shifting the power center further to the east toward the city of Byzantium, which would be renamed Constantinople meaning the "city of Constantine" which would in time become the true capital of the Empire.

Constantine sought to restore the glory of the Empire, whereas those who came before him attempted this very thing  using the pagan worship of the traditional "gods" of Rome, Constantine, however, sought to do so thru Christianity, seeing it as a power social force which would unite the Empire providing social cohesion and balance.

The Church Imperial

Most Scholars are in agreement that Constantine was not a genuine Christians , yet he did provide at least a semblance of justice and fairness toward the people over which he now ruled.
Constantine maintained the freedom of assembly and worship for the people which included Christians. With this new found freedom the Church began to move within society of the Empire, it now had the tactical support of even the very Emperor himself.

Under the new freedom of the "Constatinian Era"   the Christian Church, as it began to effect  the society of the Empire , began a process of transformation into , not just being a "spiritual organism", but into becoming a "religious institution". 

The mission of the Gospel proclamation ,which fueled the miraculous , was being redirected into transforming the the Empire itself , the Church of God was becoming the "Imperial Church" with a goal of extending "Christendom" in a territorial sense, in short,  the Church was attempting to civilize the pagan Empire into a Christian image.

As the focus went toward Imperial civilizing, there was a noted diminishing of the miraculous as the focus went more to sacramental duty and emphasis .

The Church even found itself even elevated to being council of the Emperor.

To Be Continued... 

Benediction:May we each and all  give glory to God for his gracious guidance throughout history, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

A Very Brief History of the Church:Part 11

 "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the World."Matt:28:20b

 

The Christian Church had faced many hardship from it's inception on that glorious Pentecost, moving those frighten believers out of the upper room into the streets of the Holy City of Jerusalem and into all the Earth.

There were challenges and strife from within and without.There had been uncertainties which gave way to great  glory. Opposition had come from many quarters, yet the movement grew and transformed as it spread across the face of the Earth.

In the very early days of the Primitive Apostolic Church, there was a true sense of anticipation that the Lord Jesus would return, and that they would personally be on the Earth at that glorious moment, this anticipation  is evident even the Epistles of St.Paul.

But,  as time past it became clear that the return of Jesus would still be for a time yet to come which the Apostles, and other Apostolic believers  would not live to see, but rather there was Kingdom work yet to done for many years to come.

Challenges and Changes

The Church leadership had contended with and confronted questions which had arisen ,and  sometimes these questions were divisive ones,  and had had  resolved some,  only to produce more questions.

The Church had gone from thinking of itself ,and  being thought of, as a sect Judaism to emerging as something very different, yet very much an inseparable part of the sacred heritage of the History of Salvation  which had come down thru the millennia, from the Garden of Eden thru the Patriarchs and the Children of Israel and now to people of all nations.

The Church had relinquished it's hold upon the Law which original believes had been taught at the Temple of God or in the many Synagogues which were found throughout the land.Now the Church was quite different. This difference allowed for the Gentiles to be admitted into the Christian movement  as equals  participants in the work of the Kingdom, had this changes not come,  the Christian movement would languished in the shadow of Judaism and may have faded away altogether over time.

There had been over the years  Imperial persecutions which would arise at times and then close for a season giving rise to a time of peace for the Christian Church.

Perodoxicly,  these times of Imperial persecution would fuel the growth of the Church , as many onlookers saw the courage and faith of the martyrs who trusted in Jesus accepting death over deliverance, even going to the death with praises, prayers and hymns  to God that they could die for their Lord.

Diocletian's Administration

After a "relatively" peaceful season for the Church , Diocletian became the Emperor of Rome .  Many Christians had hoped that Diocletian's ascension to power was to be a blessing to the Church at large,because both Diocletian's wife, Prisca,  and their daughter ,Valeria  professed to be Christians.

Upon the ascension of Diocletian to the throne of the Empire , he created an reorganized administration whereby the Empire was governed by himself as the Supreme Emperor who ruled in the East and Maximiam who ruled in the West. Under each them was a "Caesar", Calerius under Diocletian and Constantius Chlorus under Maimiam, each of these "emperors"  had a specific territory  over-which they ruled.  This arrangement brought prosperity to the Empire and would ultimetly prove providential for the Christian Church.

Leading to Persecution

Over the years many Christians were drawn from many sector's Roman of society ,there were even Christians who wore the Armor of the Roman Legion and fought for Empire and Emperor.
The Church strongly encouraged Christians bot to join the Legions of Rome. Many Christians refused to go to the army which resulted in a death sentence passed against many around 295 AD.

Galerius exploited this Christians refusal to be in the Legion and convinced Diocletian to expel Christians out of the Roman Legion. Some commanders attempted to compel some Christians Legionaries to renounce their faith in Christ, as to not weaken their ranks which resulted in the death of many ,this occurred mainly in the Legions of the Danube under Calerius. 

Diocletian's Edict

Diocletian being influenced by Galerius issued a edict against Christians in 303 AD ,not to put them to death,  but rather  to remove them from all stations of life where they might have had influence in Roman society,  even Christians who held positions in the Roman government were not exempt.

This edict issued by Diocletian led to the destruction and confiscation of any Christian properties which were held, and any Christian literature that was to be found.

Fire and Furry

The persecution took a statutory and cruel  turn when a fire broke out at the Imperial Palace, an advisor to Diocletian named Galerius charged Christians with the responsibility for setting the fire just as Nero  had done years before. Some Christians of that day believe that Galerius himself was the one who in truth set the fire for the purpose of enraging the Emperor.

It was after the palace fire that Diocletian issued a decree demanding that Christians make a sacrifice to the "gods" .This decree led many Christians to death ,  again refusing to renounce Jesus and worship "gods" of Rome or the Empire itself.

This time of the Diocletian persecution was one of most sever  faced by the Church.

Galerius Acends

By the year 304 AD  Diocletian became sick nearly to death.  and even in what recovery which Diocletian had he was left weak and drained with a loss of vitality. This weaken state left the Emperor in a vulnerable political position for   during this period of Diocletian illness , Galerius was in the background posturing and gaining power and influence within the Imperial government.

Galerius , at first approached Diocletian under the pretense of concern for Diocletian, this pseudo concern quickly gave way to threats which led to Diocletian's abdication of the throne in 305 AD,  and ceding power  to Galerius.

Galerius also brought about the abdication of Maximinian thru threats of military action against him.....

To be Continued..

Benediction:May each and all take comfort in the ever abiding presences of our Lord Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

 Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"

From the Foundation of the World

"the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the  world."  Revelation:13:8b

When was our forgiveness and salvation  truly accomplished?  

Before the great God , the Holy Trinity ,brought into being all creation, even before Heaven and Earth was,  our God made a sovereign decision to enlarge the perfect Holy relationship that he has within himself.

The Holy Trinity is an eternally  perfect ,eternally  Holy Communion within our God. This Holy relationship is founded , motivated and perpetually perfect in mutual perfect love that can not be contained, but by it's nature is expansive and pursuent. This perfect divine holy love defines who God is.

"God is love" 1Jhn:4:8

This is a love that will not ever remain static or stagnate . This love motivated, for a lack of a better way to describe it,  our God to create and admit others into this holy relationship that he has within himself.  

God wanted us to know and understand that he loves us. Motivated by this love, God brought into being the Heavens and the Earth and brought forth life upon the Earth and created our first parents Adam and Eve. We can read of this creation in the creation epic of the first two chapters of the book of Genesis.  

God manifested himself in a way which Adam and Eve could understand and relate to him. He gave them everything which they would need and instructed them and offered them the Tree of Life which they could eat of freely, but of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they were not to take.

They and We Sinned

The narrative of the Genesis account tells us that Adam and Eve were then enticed by Satan, in the guise or form of a serpent , to take and eat what God had told them not to eat. In that moment their idyllic life in the garden was altered and their minds were then focused upon themselves. In short they sinned ,creating a riff between they and their creator.  

 St.Paul writes of this to the Roman Christians two thousand years and to believers thru out the ages. 

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—" Rm:5:12

This sin caused a riff which passed to all their decedents bringing forth  every hardship that has come forth upon the Earth and in the lives of humanity.  

"Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses,"(14a)

Sin was in the world and we are told that each and all humanity has sinned.


"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Rm:3:23

Even the most pious of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the holiness of God, that is,  each and all of us have fallowed suite with Adam.


Israel's Purpose 


God called and chose a nation, the nation of Israel. many see Israel as the chosen nation, but what was Israel chosen by God to do? One of the purposes of Israel was to demonstrate that even a nation that found itself in a "Covenant"  relationship with God could not save themselves. Speaking of the Law, which was the bear minimum of what God would ask of them, which formed the very heart of the "Covenant" that was enjoined between God and Israel, the assembled Disciples at Jerusalem determined:

 "putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?"Act:15:10



 This realization tells us,  that even a "Covenant nation" could not bear it, even though they had been in a relationship with God, in fact having this Law enjoined upon Israel exposed their very inability to keep it. In fact this Holy Law of God was so inditing that it intensified Israel and all humanities limits and inability to save our selves. 

"and the power of sin is the law"1Crth:15:56b.
 
 A Culture Prepared


As God worked in human history and made ready for the introduction of the Messiah, the one who could and would save humanity, would of necessity need to arise out of a culture, it was in God's purpose to prepare a given culture for this Messiah. That culture would again be that of Israel. 

  "for salvation is from the Jews."Jhn:4:22

 Israel would be that nation conduit through which the Messiah would enter human history 


Sin Dealt With

When did God, the Holy Trinity then deal with sin? It was clear that Adam and Eve and we all have sinned  as St. Paul has written. The great God obviously was not caught off guard , he knew and understood who and what Adam and Eve, and all of  us are . 

God would have had provision to deal with this situation. When then, did our God truly act to deal with the sin which issues from our flesh, that is,  when did forgiveness become a reality? 

In the Book of Revelation St. John the Apostle makes this reference, which says far more than we might first realize. St. John  says that  Jesus is;

"the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world." Rev:13:8b

What is this truly telling us?

 Forgiven Preveniently

St. John uses a cultural axiom often spoken in the ancient world; "from the foundation of the world". This axiom was used to mean in the conversations of the ancient world  that something "has always been". It means that,  "as far back as you go this condition has been in existed".  It speaks not just from the dawn of creation but even from before it into eternity.

That means that the power of the  forgiveness of God was already at work "preveniently" before the inauguration of the  creation of the of all things , even before Adam and Eve and all of us ever sinned.

How are we then to understand this?

The Scriptures are written in the Language  of Accommodation, this means  that our God speaks to us in human languages thru the Holy Bible  in a way that helps us to understand things eternal. 

From God's divine vantage point in Heaven, there is not future or past only an "eternal ever present now"  . This is why our God is able to "declare the end from the beginning" . He is outside of time, so God's sovereign decision to "preveniently" forgive us can be a reality even before we ever are aware of it or experience it personally even though it be reality.

When  we grasp this "prevenient forgiveness " , we can come to understand that our God as Holy and righteous as he is , has never truly held sin against us. We can see this enacted in the very Garden of Eden, that even after Adam and Eve sinned it is God who comes to them in spite of their sin , and it is they who hide from God. Gen:3:8-10. 

God has,  from the very beginning reached out to humanity, and it is humanity who hides in the bushes.

Holy Scriptures

If God has "preveniently forgiven"  us,  then we are to ask then why do we read the accounts in the Holy Scripture written as they are? What was the purpose  of Israel's experiences and the Biblical personalities which we read of in the Old Testament, what then is the purpose of the Old Testament?

It is important to bare in mind that the Old Testament Scripture were written at a particular point in the history of salvation in a particular cultural and before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament, had more than one purpose. These holy writings look forward to the coming of our Lord Jesus making the Scriptures the Incarnation Anticipated.

From the very Garden of Eden we see the promise of the incarnation, in the verse which are at times called the "Proto-Evangeliuem" meaning the first preaching of the Gospel.

"And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your seed and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.” Gen:3:15

This set the theme for all the Scriptures and the outworking of the purpose of God which has from eternity been decreed by God and is now realized in the life of humanity when the message of the Gospel is heard and is accepted.  This means what has been true from eternity is experienced by faith, when we hear the message about Jesus and come to believe in that message. This means that all which we encounter with in the Holy Word of God is preserved  there as an eternal record  to dramatize humanities inability to save our selves and to starkly lay bear our individual and collective need for a Savior.

"Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did."1Crth:10:6

 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."Heb:4:12-13

  Humanities' Hostility

The problem is with humanity, not God. It is due to a hostility  toward God within humanity.This hostility in humanity manifest it's self  in subtle and overt ways.  It is God who has from eternity done everything needed for humanity to have a relationship with him, yet it is on the human side that there is a problem.

St. Paul tells us in his Epistle to the Colossians Christians of this problem which is found within the mind of humanity, and all of us before we came to believe in Jesus.

"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." Cols:1:21

 Thru Jesus

In spite of humanity hostilities toward God, he still reaches out to humanity thru the message of the Gospel about Jesus, that in Jesus, thru the incarnation,  God has manifested the forgiveness which was extended even before creation, or even before sin entered the world.

In the person of Jesus, the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, assumed up our humanity and entered into the history of salvation all so that we might see the eternal perfect love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ.

Thru Jesus Christ we see the love of God perfectly displayed toward and for all of us. In Jesus we see the love of the Trinity expressed toward us and for us all thru Jesus.

If we could understand that our God is truly for us it would invigorate our spiritual life,yet many deeply sincere genuine Christians have a latent fear of our God' fatherly heart toward and for us.

A Misconception 

Over a century ago Rev. John McLeod Campbell who was a pastor of the Church of Scotland  thought deeply upon this very subject. Rev.Campbell witnessed that many of the members of his congregation held a view of God which kept their spiritual life in check and banked down any vibrancy in the Christian life.

Rev.Campbell found that deep within the hearts of his congregation was a misconception regarding the Father's heart toward and for, they ,and all humanity.This misconception which was ingrained within Campbell's parishioners sprang out of a misunderstanding of the atoning work and  of reason of the Cross and work of Jesus. Rev.Campbell found that his congregants and many Christians see the Cross of Jesus as something which is Godward , meaning that,  the Cross , in the minds of many Christians was ,and is,  a forensic act undertaken to satisfy the Father's need to deal with sin and bring to pass a punishment of sorts , this punishment was accepted and bore by Jesus to accomplish humanities forgiveness.

This misconception and view of God in the minds of some Christians created an uncertainty as to how they believed God felt about them seeing that in view God acted out God a necessity rather than love. This conception about God acted as a repression upon the hearts of many Christians causing a lessening  of the Christian life.

Rev.Campbell searched the Scriptures, he found in Scripture that the heart of the Father has even from the depths of eternity been ever been inclined toward each and all of us even before  the creation of all things or any of humanity drew breath upon the Earth.

Rev.Campbell wrote of his quest to understand the Cross and atonement of Jesus and it's meaning for each and all of us in his book "the Nature of the Atonement".

This speaks to us all that God's love was unmeasurable and out flowing toward and for us , his forgiveness was not a reaction, rather,  God has always forgiveness us.This changes the way we see the Cross of Jesus, and how we see God.

This means that the Cross, rather than directed  to God, was, and is,  in realty directed toward humanity, to each and all of us to show us the love inspired forgiveness of the Father's heart has always ,from eternity, has always had  toward us all.

The Cross shows us the length that our God would go that we might come to see and know him. This was demonstrated to us all thru Jesus, the incarnate of the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity ,who is the object and expression of the love of the Father.

 The Cross Shows Forgiveness

This means,  that when we properly understand the Father's heart toward and for us all,  we can now see the Cross as being directed toward us as an expression of love toward and for us, not an expression of wrath or anger,  that the Cross is then seen as the outworking in history of what has ,and is,  eternally true,  that we all are loved and  forgiven, not just of what we have done or said thought or attitudes of the heart but rather of who and what we are.

This is what the Cross is  there to declare to all for all time and eternity. Jesus came that we know this truth and see it expressed in way that shows us the love of God and his desire to have each and all of us with him for eternity.  

That means that we are not forgiven because of the Cross but rather the Cross is because we are forgiven. 

 This forgiveness which is revealed at the Cross is what St. John was, and is telling us in his statement found in Revelation.

"the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the  world."  Revelation:13:8b

This forgiveness is experienced when we come to see and believe in Jesus who is the perfect revelation of the heart of the Father, showing us that God loves us more than he loves himself. The whole Gospel is the proclamation and invitation for each and all to come and receive this forgiveness which is our's thru Jesus.

When we see it sets us free to experience our God's unwavering love knowing that he holds nothing against us or makes us to be responsible for the accomplishing of our own Salvation but rather has done so thru Jesus all on our account. This should liberate us to worship our God with eternal graduate and praise him unending.

The Father loves us and want each and all to know that we have been and are loved by Him in spite of our weakness and even our failures. The Father's love know no limits and it is toward and for us all.

This is what St.Paul was trying to tell us about God's unwavering love toward each and all of us.


"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rm:8:37-39

Our God will let nothing keep us from eternal life but our own unwillingness ti receive it this has by the Father;s own divine appointment of his beloved Son to do what none of us could ever do, Jesus has saved us even before the dawn of creation,God created us to experience this decreed salvation.

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time",1Tim:2:9


All thru God's eternal love, before the stars burned in the vacuum of space, before we have even before we drew breath and walked the Earth  our Lord God  had forgiven us all and has sent his Holy Son that we might experience this forgiveness which has been from the Foundation of the World.

Benediction: May we each and all ever give glory and thanks to our God for the forgiveness which is our's thru God's Holy Son Jesus Christ, today, tomorrow and forevermore.Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion

2101 Old National Pike

Washington, Pa. 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Fountain of Life WebCast Program- http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/71243900

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link under our Helpful Links

The Forgiven Worship

"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" Ps:32

 Worshiping in The Tabernacle 

In Ps:32, we find King David standing among assembled worshipers in the Tabernacle of God,which was erected prior to the building of the Temple at Jerusalem.  This Psalm is thought to be a liturgical dialogue between King David and the Great God. This dialogue is the result of David being the grateful recipient of the forgiveness of God toward and for David, and we all.This Holy conversation is carried out before an assembly of worshipers who stand with David before God.

Psalm is a two voice Psalm, the first voice which is found in verses 1-7 and 11 is that of David.  In verses 8-10 it is thought  to be the voice of the Lord God perhaps speaking thru a Priest or Leivite or even a Prophet who was present in the worship service at the Tabernacle.

 Maskil

Noted in the tile of this Psalm is the Hebrew term Maskil which is also found in other Psalms which carry within them instruction on living Holy Godly lives this would indicate that the content of David's conversation with God will instruct worshipers in living godly lives.

 A Blessed State 

The Psalm opens with a declaration of joy over experiencing the forgiveness of God in the lives of the assembled worshipers, and this is true not just for those who gathered with David but all who accept God's free offer of salvation in any and all ages.

"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,whose sins are covered."Ps:32:1

The embrace of the forgiveness of God leads also to the change of heart and "spirit" within those who exprince it, David proclaims this transformation in the very next breath of the Psalm.

"Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit"(2) 

 This lack of deceit mentioned by David also suggest that those who are honest with themselves will come to see their need and look to God for the salvation which is so freely offered to each and all of us.

  

Confession

David's part in the conversation with the Great God moves to recount how, when David  was lead to confesses and acknowledge sin and the release which our God afford him and the peace that came over his being at that confession.

David found that his internal  struggle with sin was difficult,  and that had even a detrimental effect upon even his very life.

"When I kept silent,my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.(3)

 David then acknowledges, in his recounting of his confession , that it was by the very intervention of God in his life  which ultimately resulted in the confession of his need for the forgiveness of God. 

 "For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer"(4)

David experienced what the New Testament tells us in St.Paul's epistle to the Roman Christians  about the kindness of God toward and for us and how our Lord leads us in coming to a change of heart and mind. 

"not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?"Rm:2:4

 St.Paul tells us that God's kindness reaches out toward and for us and works upon our hearts and minds and brings us to see need for his graciousness, love and forgiveness and he dose this so that we can live with him for all eternity.  

David before the assembly,  declares to God how by his divine leading brought David  to the resolution which led to his forgiveness experience by frankly and without self justification to confess his need for the forgiveness of God and the resolution of his guilt.

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess

my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin." (Ps:32:5)

 David experiences what St.John wrote of in his general Epistle to the early church and to Christians throughout the ages.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1Jhn:1:9

St. John is not just talking about sins in the sense of things we have done or said, thoughts or attitudes of the heart alone , but rather, he is being led by the Holy Spirit to address our need of who we are,  and is speaking of our need to be forgiven of who we are. This is set right when we come to see who Jesus is and who we are in contrast to to his perfect holiness and accept him as the Holy Son of God humanities only Savior.  

Worship Amidst the Waters

David then address the assembly and  believers through out the ages with the admonishment  to seek God in times of difficulties or times of stress , to enter into worship even in the midst of hardships.

Confession of our need and acceptance of Jesus  has removed from us anything which might prevent or hinder us from experiencing God's blessings in our lives and finding peace even in the midst of hardships. 

"Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (6-7)

David's is declaring,  to they in the Tabernacles and to believers in all ages,  is,  that those who have come to see themselves in light of who Jesus is and then are led to confess their need for Jesus will then worship the Great God as an act of gratitude and love for God's forgiveness found by and thru Jesus alone.  

David is saying that when we see the magnitude of God' s graciousness and kindness and all that has been done for us in Christ we can have no other response than that of worship, thanking our God for his kindness toward and for us all.

This worship is especially needed when the flood waters of difficulties rise within our lives. It is then and always that we should seek our God and resort to him for deliverance and safety. 

"surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (6b-7)

It is important to understand why David is moved to uses the imagery  of waters which swirl around us and rise against us. 

"surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them."(6b)

In the Hebrew Cosmological order , that is how they understood the world, waters were a dwelling place the spirits and of the powers of chaos. Many of the ancient cultures had myths and legends regarding the powers found within the sea and other bodies of waters and these powers would at time besiege  humanity and bring confusion and  chaos to their lives. 

David is telling us all that when the powers of the world assault us we can find our refuge in our God  who is always faithful to see us thru our problems,and that,  we can receive assurances of God's faithful deliverance when we ,even in  the midst of the rising flood waters, worship him. 

"You are my hiding place;you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance"(7)

For Christians today we can look to the words of lour Lord Jesus who assures us that we need not fear what the world  might bring against us.Jesus tells us of his victory over the world and by implication the unseen spiritual powers of the world. 

"Do not be afraid; for I have defeated the world" Jhn:16:33

God Speaks

After David's declarations and admonishment ,  we now hear the voice of God to his people gathered in  the Tabernacle long ago,  and to all his people who now worship in the Sanctuary of the Christian Church.  

The voice of God may have been uttered thru a Priest or Levite or a Prophet who was there,  or it may have been added by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at some point. 

The Lord speaks and gives to those who have confessed their need for forgiveness and have now  entered into worship of God instructions and assurances that he is very much aware of all that is transpiring in our lives.

  "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you"(8)

The Lord's first instruction to us seeing we have been led to confess our sin, is to not be led about by the impulses of our flesh which can only , in the end , lead to hardship. To be such, and so led,  is to be an animal that is , to be carnal. The pulls of the flesh, the very things which we are to confess,  will lead us only to suffering but looking to God for his divine guidance will spear us such problems. 

"Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you" (9)

God then tells us that the way of the flesh brings many unwanted consequences upon us, and upon those who persist in following the pulls of the flesh to their detriment, but rather , we should trust that our God has our best interest uppermost in his mind and by giving heed to his instruction thru his Holy Word the Bible  we can and will avoid a host of problems and we can be insulated and protected from chaos and troubles thru God's unfaltering perfect divine love toward and for us. 

"Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him" (10)

The Forgiven Worship 

After receiving God's gracious instruction to the assembled worshipers David once again joyfully proclaims and admonishes each and all who have accepted the forgiveness of God to respond by worshiping in humble gratitude and lavish praise to God for the salvation which is afford to each and to all who will but freely receive it and have been transformed by God's graciousness and forgiveness

 "Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"(11)

In short David  is declaring that when we experience God's love and forgiveness we can have no other response other than that of lavish worship and grateful praise to our God.

Benediction: May we each and who have experienced God's gracious forgiveness forever worship and give praise to him, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com


You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"