A Slave of Jesus Christ Update

I am writing today to update you on what the Lord has been doing this past year and my plans for next year. This past March 13th, I posted a blog titled “Breadth and Depth,” named so after the departed Jerry Bridges. In that blog post I announced that I would begin classes at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, working towards a Master of Theological Studies. I began graduate studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, March 21st of this year. Last week I completed my fourth class in that educational pursuit.

The first four classes of the program are called Bible Survey classes. We were required to read every book of the Bible, do a great deal of reading about each book in the Bible, discuss what we read with the other students, and write several papers. Some of my papers (not all) have been posted to this blog. The subject matter that you see on this blog will likely change over the next year, because this spring I will be taking Church History courses, a Hermeneutics course during the summer, and Theology courses in the fall.

The Gospel According to John evangelism ministry that the Lord has given me continues. Since June of this year I have been going down to the Smith County Courthouse one morning each week, on the weeks that jurors are being called; proclaiming what is written in “The Gospel According to John,” while passing our copies of the book. Lord willing, I plan to do the same in downtown Houston, Texas, and at NRG stadium during the Super Bowl Outreach with Sports Fan Outreach International, February 2-5, 2017.

Lastly, by profession I am a Critical Care Registered Nurse. I am now beginning my 20th year in the profession. Most nurses do not stay at the bedside as long as I have; they will either go into hospital management, case management, some sort of sales job, or return to school and get an advance practice degree. I had considered doing Critical Care/Cardiovascular nursing education within the hospital given my many years of experience. In fact, I was contacted by the Chief Nursing Officer of the hospital about that very thing. I jumped at the opportunity, because I have a burning desire within me to teach. After she connected me with the head of the education department I was disappointed to find out that the job had already been filled by a nurse with much less experience from another hospital.

I was, to say the least, very disappointed that I didn’t get the opportunity to apply. That disappointment has caused me to become discontent with my current job status. So, I have decided to quit my full-time job and work on an as needed status in all the ICU’s in the hospital; not just the Cardiovascular ICU, where I have been for many years. In this new position I will be able to work as often as I did before, but make my own schedule while continuing graduate studies and ministry.

A Philosophy for Apologetics Based on 1 Peter

In an on-line search for the noun apologetics, a definition is given; “Reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine.”1 A Christian website gives this definition of apologetics, “Apologetics is the branch of Christianity that deals with the defense and establishment of the Christian faith.”2 Now to the verse often sighted for Christian apologetics, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Some have taken this to mean debating atheist on a stage in front of an audience about the existence of God. I am not writing to discredit that enterprise, but rather to give a philosophy of apologetics based on what has been written in 1 Peter. The on-line definition from google as well as the definition from the website quoted would indicate debate, but I do not think that this is what Peter had in mind.

The epistle of 1 Peter can be structurally divided into three parts. The first part (1 Peter 1:1-2:10) focuses on the readers; identifying the readers as God’s people. This is based on their being born again; thereby, having a hope of salvation in Christ Jesus. The second part (1 Peter 2:11-4:11) exhorts the readers to have a focus on reverence towards God, love for the brethren, and loving those outside of the church as oneself. The third part (1 Peter 4:12-5:11) reiterates what has been said in the second part, but with a focus on the elders of the church.3

The first step in having a philosophy of apologetics based on first peter is that you must have been born again; according to the foreknowledge of God, by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, through the seed of the living word of God to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (cf. 1 Peter 1:2-3, 22-23) Now that you have this living hope you are putting away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. You are longing for the word of God and are seeking to grow in your salvation. (cf. 1 Peter 2:1-3)

The next step in a philosophy for apologetics based on 1 Peter is that you are seeking to live according to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ. Peter first tells the readers to honor authority and lastly he tells the readers to live Godly lives. (cf. 1 Peter 2:13-20 and 3:1-7) In between these two he exalts Christ as our example; saying, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) He then uses Isaiah 53 (Christ being the suffering servant of the Lord in Isaiah 53) to demonstrate that Christ committed no sin or lies, when reviled he did not revile, when suffering he offered no threat in return, but trusted in God. Then he describes how Christ died for the ungodly and bore our sins in his body on the cross while we were yet sinning. (cf. 1 Peter 2:22-25 and Isaiah 53:4-9)

The next step after honoring authority and living Godly lives is to “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

This is implying that when someone sees the way that you are living; respecting authority, being kind to everyone, when reviled not reviling in return, when suffering not offering threats. When someone sees this, they may ask about the hope that is in you, because this sort of behavior is strange to the world. So when they ask, tell them about Jesus Christ. It is this living hope that the first century Christians had within them while being martyred.

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1  “Apologetics,” Google, accessed December 1, 2016, https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Apologetics.

2 Matt Slick, “Apologetics,” CARM, accessed December 1, 2016, https://carm.org/apologetics.

3 J. R. Michaels, “1 Peter” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, eds. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H, Davids (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1997), 917-918.

The Old Testament in James

The book of James begins with this passage; “James, a bond- servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.” (Jas 1:1) Who wrote the book? Though there has been much discussion about authorship the only real viable answer is James the brother of Jesus. This view also has much support from ancient tradition.1

Who is the audience? The first verse says, “To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” (Jas 1:1b) Is he literally writing to the twelve tribes of Israel or is it metaphor for the chosen people of God? At face value this could mean that the letter was written to Jewish believers who were dispersed outside of Palestine, but the apostle Paul contends that the true Israel of God is spiritual and not ethnic. Therefore, in that since it could be written to all believers who are facing the hardships of being citizens of the kingdom of God who are presently dwelling in the kingdom of man.

Because of its placement in the New Testament canon most consider it to be an epistle, but I think it best viewed as a homily or sermon. The book begins with a thesis statement (Jas 1:2-21) and concludes with exhortations to keep walking in the faith. (Jas 5:7-20) In between the thesis statement and the conclusion are three wisdom essays on being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. (Jas 1:22-5:6) “James refers to wisdom as the divine word of truth.”3 One of the main purposes for James is to promote active faith in the believer. (cf. Jas 2:20)

James uses Old Testament figures as examples. The first two Old Testament figures that James uses are Abraham and Rahab. Both of these Old Testament figures appear in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews chapter 11. These Old Testament figures are exemplified in the “Hall of Faith,” because of their actions that resulted from their faith; which is the point that James is making by using them in his writing. Abraham offered Isaac on an alter out of faith, (Jas 2:21) and Rahab the harlot received the messengers and sent them away another way out of faith. (Jas 2:24) James follows Abraham's example of active faith by saying, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (Jas 2:23) Then he follows Rahab’s example of active faith by saying, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (Jas 2:25) James used the Old Testament figures of Abraham and Rahab as examples of active faith.

The next two Old Testament figures that James uses is Job and Elijah. In James chapter 5 he is extorting the readers to not be inpatient and to not complain, but to have endurance during their suffering. He then uses the prophets and Job as examples of patients and endurance while suffering. (Jas 5:10-11) He then turns to the subject of prayer saying, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (Jas 5:16) He then uses Elijah as an example of effective prayer in a righteous man and declares him to be no different than us. (cf. Jas 5:17-18) The only difference would be the faith of Elijah.

The epistle or homily concludes with James’ purpose for writing it; that is enduring active faith until the Parousia. (Jas 5:19-20) Abraham was an example of faith; he trusted God and demonstrated that faith by offering Isaac on an altar. (Jas 2:21-22) Rahab was an example of faith; she believed in the God of the Israelite's and demonstrated that faith by receiving the messengers and sending them out a different way. (Jas 2:23) Job was an example of faith; he endured suffering believing God to be good, and therefore, saw the Lord’s compassion and mercy. Elijah is an example of faith; he believed that God would answer when he prayed. (Jas 5:17-18) All four of these figures demonstrate the point James makes; and that is you cannot demonstrate faith without works, therefore, faith without works is dead. (cf. Jas 2:18-20)

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1 R. W. Wall, “James, Letter of” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, eds. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H, Davids (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1997), 545.

2 R. W. Wall, “James, Letter of” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, eds. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H, Davids (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1997), 548-549.

3 R. W. Wall, “James, Letter of” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments, eds. Ralph P. Martin and Peter H, Davids (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 1997), 552.