The Antichrist (Part 1)
Text. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5.
Paul has been teaching the distraught believers in Thessalonica about the second coming, and the end of the world. They were really worried. They were asking questions, like, “What if Christ has already returned, and we have missed him?” “What if we have been ‘left behind?’” Paul has to write to reassure them. He reminds them of something that he has previously taught them, that before the Lord returns, two events must happen:
- There must a a great ‘falling away’ within the church. We discussed that in our last study. We called it the Great Apostasy, and we noted some examples of apostasy in the modern church.
- The ‘man of sin’ must be revealed, an event that seems to follow after the apostasy – it’s an interesting sequence of events, for it is a general decline in true Christianity that allows this monster the opening that he needs to gain his evil influence. Laxity in doctrine, in worship, in morality, are not just the work of the man of sin, they are the spiritual conditions that preempt his appearance, the dung, off which he feeds. We call the Man of Sin, ‘The Antichrist’ and Paul gives us a description of him in this passage.
1 Who is the Antichrist?
Trying to establish the identity of the Antichrist has been a fascination with some Christians for quite a long time!
But leaving aside the fanatics and sensationalists, are there any sensible suggestions as to who this ‘Man of Sin’ might be?
Read more…Blending Oil and Water
Acts 15:1-6
Sometimes people are so different, and there are inevitable disagreements, but it’s important to remember that Christ is building his church, not us! Matthew 16:18. This part of chapter 15 is set in Antioch where Paul and Barnabas are based, Here, there are Christians who have come from a Jewish background, and Christians who have come from a Gentile background. Both groups are Christians, followers of Jesus, saved by grace through faith alone. So, what’s the problem then?
1 The Problem with Jews and Gentiles. And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Read more…The First Missionary Journey Ends
Acts 14:19-27
Paul’s first mission trip is coming to an end, and Paul will be going back to Antioch, but not before there are some more lessons to be learned.
1 Left for Dead – Courage for Discipleship. Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city.
We may not agree with John Wesley’s theology, but you have to admire the courage that characterised the early Methodist preachers. When the mob stoned the early Methodists as they preached in the open air, it was nothing new. While Paul was preaching at Lystra a group of Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and they began stirring up the rabble.
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Catechism Class : THE SOURCE OF MURDER
Matthew 5:21-26 – H/C Lord’s Day 40
In our last lesson, we began to look at the sin of murder, as forbidden in the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” We saw that while not all killing is murder, we must be very reluctant to take away a person’s life. We saw that in the bible, abortion is murder, punishable under the rule of limited retribution, a life for a life. Isn’t it strange then, that in our modern society, the judicial killing of a criminal, a murderer, is forbidden, but the killing of an innocent baby in the womb is not only permitted, but by some people, actually celebrated? How morally dysfunctional is our world! In this study we come to Q106-107, and we see how murder begins in the heart of man, and we are going to look at this subject with the help of Matthew 5:21-26.
Catechism Class
L/D40A, Q105
Exodus 20:13, Thou Shalt Not Kill – You Shall Not Murder.
Q105. What does God require in the sixth commandment?
A. I am not to dishonour, hate, injure, or kill my neighbour by thoughts, words, or gestures, and much less by deeds, whether personally or through another; rather, I am to put away all desire of revenge. Moreover, I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself. Therefore, also, the government bears the sword to prevent murder.
We have reached the sixth commandment, found in Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
Pagans and the Gospel
Acts 14:8-18.
How terribly dark is the heart of the unbeliever.
Years ago we used to hear stories about ‘darkest Africa.’ The darkness has spread, and we are living in dark days, in darkest Ulster. (Ephesians 2:12). There is a good illustration of this awful darkness in Acts 14:8-18, where we see Paul and Barnabas…
Catechism Class
LD39B. What does it Mean to Honour Your Parents?
Read Ephesians 5:22 – 6:4 especially Ephesians 6:1-9
Q104. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That I show all honour, love, and faithfulness to myfather and mother and to all those in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to their good instruction and discipline, and also have patience with their weaknesses and shortcomings, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.
In our last lesson, we began our examination of Lord’s Day 39 by establishing the fundamental biblical teaching on human sexuality, – that God created us as men and women, male and female, and that children born as the result of a relationship between a man and a woman require a mummy and a daddy, – so now we can go on to look at the relationships and interactions that should pertain within the family.
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Courage Brother, Do Not Stumble!
Acts 14:1-7
Christian ministry, in fact any aspect of the Christian life and Christian work will require COURAGE. That’s exactly what we are taught in this chapter.
Paul and Barnabas…
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Signs of the Times #1
The Gospel Age and the Great Apostasy
You will often hear people talking about the signs of the times and they will perhaps go on to declare some spectacular event, or some unusual occurrence. Such reckless speculation simply brings Christianity into disrepute. Matthew 24:3 If there are signs, what are they?
Well, first of all, let’s remember that we should never actually be seeking signs in the first place! Matthew 16:4. Yet, there are two ‘signs’ given to us in Matthew 24, and they are: that the gospel age will be over, and a period of intense tribulation.
Three Puzzles in Acts 13.
Acts 13:49-50
In Acts 13 there are at least three puzzles that need to be solved, and all the clues to solving them are contained in the Bible, so in this study we’ll have a go at solving them, learning something about biblical background and the history of the early church, as we go along…
1 Why Did Saul Change His Name to Paul? 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul,
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