John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
All posts by David Stevenson
Chewing the Cud
Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud”that you may eat. Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you. (Leviticus 11:3″6)
Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax; for they chew the cud but do not have cloven hooves; they are unclean for you. (Deuteronomy 14:7)
In the modern scientific classification system, animals that chew the cud are called ruminants. Cattle, sheep, deer, giraffes, and camels2 are ruminants. Ruminants have four stomach compartments. They swallow their food into one stomach compartment where food is partially digested. Then the food is regurgitated back into the mouth, chewed again, and then swallowed into a different stomach compartment. This process is called rumination.
So is the Bible wrong? After all, rabbits are not ruminants.3 They do not have four-compartment stomachs. How can they “chew the cud”?
The Solution
Obviously, rabbits do not share the digestive anatomy of modern ruminants. However, to describe rabbits chewing the cud is not incorrect. Simply stated, it is not reasonable to accuse a 3500-year-old document of error because it does not adhere to a modern man-made classification system.
Consider what rabbits do. They engage in an activity called cecotrophy. Rabbits normally produce two kinds of feces, the more common hard feces as well as softer fecal pellets called cecotropes. Cecotropes are small pellets of partially digested food that are passed through the animal but are then reingested. As part of the normal digestive process, some partially digested food is concentrated in the cecum where it undergoes a degree of fermentation to form these cecotropes. They are then covered in mucin and passed through the anus. The rabbit ingests the cecotropes, which serve as a very important source of nutrition for the animal.
WHY WOULD IT BE STRANGE TO THINK THAT CENTURIES AGO, THE IDEA OF “CUD” HAD A SOMEWHAT BROADER MEANING THAN A MODERN DEFINITION.
Is this the same as cud? In the final analysis, it is. Cud-chewing completes the digestion of partially digested food. Why would it be strange to think that centuries ago, the idea of “cud” had a somewhat broader meaning than a modern definition.
But does the rabbit actually chew the cud? The Hebrew word translated “chew” is the word ‘alah. With any attempt to translate one language to another, it is understood that there is often more than one meaning for a given word. A cursory glace at any Hebrew lexicon reveals that ‘alah can mean go up, ascend, climb, go up into, out of a place, depart, rise up, cause to ascend, bring up from, among others. Here it carries the implication of moving something from one place to another. So the phrase translated to English as “chew the cud” literally means something on the order of “eats that which is brought forth again.”
Also, most reference material on rabbit digestion says that the cecotrope pellet is swallowed whole and found intact in the rabbit stomach. However, experts have observed that rabbits keep the cecotrophe in the mouth for a time before swallowing.4 So even though the mucin membrane covering the cecotrope is not broken, the rabbit is able to knead it in its mouth before swallowing, possibly to enhance the process of redigestion.
Conclusion
So is the Bible in error here? No it is not. Rabbits re-ingest partially digested foods, as do modern ruminants. They just do so without the aid of multiple stomach compartments.
massive changes in the world due to Jesus Christ
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17″18)
4. All the promises of God in the Old Testament are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. That is, when you have Christ, sooner or later you will have both Christ himself and all else that God promised through Christ.
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
5. The law was kept perfectly by Christ. And all its penalties against God’s sinful people were poured out on Christ. Therefore, the law is now manifestly not the path to righteousness; Christ is. The ultimate goal of the law is that we would look to Christ, not law-keeping, for our righteousness.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)
“When you have Christ, you also have everything God promised through him.” Tweet Share on Facebook
Therefore, with the coming of Christ, virtually everything has changed:
1. The blood sacrifices ceased because Christ fulfilled all that they were pointing toward. He was the final, unrepeatable sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 9:12, “He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
2. The priesthood that stood between worshiper and God has ceased. Hebrews 7:23″24, “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.”
3. The physical temple has ceased to be the geographic center of worship. Now, Christ himself is the center of worship. He is the “place,” the “tent,” and the “temple” where we meet God. Therefore, Christianity has no geographic center, no Mecca, no Jerusalem. John 4:21, 23, “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. . . . But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.’” John 2:19, 21, “‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ . . . He [Jesus] was speaking about the temple of his body.” Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my [Jesus’s] name, there am I among them.”
4. The food laws that set Israel apart from the nations have been fulfilled and ended in Christ. Mark 7:18″19, “[Jesus] said to them, . . . ‘Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?’ . . . (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”
5. The establishment of civil law on the basis of an ethnically rooted people, who are ruled directly by God, has ceased. The people of God are no longer a unified political body or an ethnic group or a nation-state, but are exiles and sojourners among all ethnic groups and all states. Therefore, God’s will for states is not taken directly from the Old Testament theocratic order, but should now be re-established from place to place and from time to time by means that correspond to God’s sovereign rule over all peoples, and that correspond to the fact that genuine obedience, rooted as it is in faith in Christ, cannot be coerced by law. The state is therefore grounded in God, but not expressive of God’s immediate rule. Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” John 18:36, “My [Jesus’s] kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting.”
Let us worship the wonder of Christ, who unleashed these massive changes in the world.
Christ redeemed us from the curse
The passage you are referring to is found in Galatians 3:13-14.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (NASB) Gal. 3:13 -14
To answer your question, we will first discover what the curse is about and then we will find out why it is applied to Jesus.
The Curse. Ancient Israel used four methods for putting criminals to death: “stoning, burning, the sword, and strangulation” (Dr. J. H. Hertz. Pentateuch & Haftorahs. Soncino Press, London. 1960. p. 842.). A criminal or an enemy could then be hung on a tree until evening as a spectacle to everyone of their evil deeds. Joshua 10:25-26 is an excellent example of this humiliation. “Hanging on a tree” was a symbol of humiliation. God did not want a person to be hung on a tree unless he/she had been killed for disobeying God’s moral law. Therefore, God established this law.
If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), . . . (NASB) Deut. 21:22-23
Hanging was for an exceptionally wicked man or woman.
Applied To Jesus. Jesus was “cursed” before He died on that Roman cross which was made out of wood. The scriptures tell us that Jesus was a holy baby (Luke 1:35); He found favor with God as a young person (Luke 2:52); and at the beginning of His ministry God the Father said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased . . .” (Matt. 3:17). Near the end of Jesus’ ministry, God the Father repeated the statement, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased” at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:5). Finally, Jesus died on a cross for the sins of every man and woman. The scriptures say that Jesus was perfect. He was sinless. We deserved to die because of our sins. He did not. Therefore, when He willingly died a physical death on a cross in our place for our sins He became a “curse.” The Apostle Peter repeats this fact in His writings and to a crowd which was listening to him preach about Jesus Christ.
. . . and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness . . . (NASB) 1 Pet. 2:24
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.” (NASB) Acts 5:29-30
Jesus died on the cross and continued hanging on it until that evening. So when we come to Gal. 3:13-14, the Apostle Paul says that we can inherit the promise of the Spirit by faith by believing in Jesus. This is possible because Jesus became a curse bore our sins when He hung on the cross a tree.
Why did jesus do this? Because He loves you. It is that simple. Now He asks you to believe or trust in Him.
Signs of the End of the Age
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am (J)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Jesus Christ told us to follow him
People who follow Jesus Christ are called Christians because Jesus Christ told us to follow him.
Matthew 4:19
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Christians take Jesus Name
Signs of the End of the Age
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him (D)privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, (H)“See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am (J)the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you (K)are not alarmed, for this (L)must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Church
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:16″18,
Jesus was referring to Peter’s declaration: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This confession of faith is the rock upon which the church is built, and just like Peter, everyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord is a part of the church.
Church Definition in the New Testament
The word “church” as rendered in the New Testament comes from the Greek term ekklesia which is formed from two Greek words meaning “an assembly” and “to call out” or “called out ones.” This means the New Testament church is a body of believers who have been called out from the world by God to live as his people under the authority of Jesus Christ:
God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (Ephesians 1:22″23
Church attendance
Church attendance is not proof that you are saved. It is not a free pass to sin because you will soon make CONFESSION in a booth to a man who cannot forgive you.
[ 1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which has called you is holy, so be all of you holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be all of you holy; for I am holy. ]
BEING SAVED IS NOT BEING THAT PERSON YOU ONCE WERE BEFORE YOU STARTED PROCLAIMING JESUS AS YOUR LORD.
Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as all of you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
BEING SAVED IS ALSO BEING AWARE AT ALL TIMES, MEDITATING AT ALL TIMES SO THAT YOU DON’T FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND THEN INTO YOUR OLD SINS.
JESUS SAID “PRAY SO THAT YOU DON’T FALL INTO TEMPTATION. WE LIVE IN A TEMPORARY BODY THAT INSIST ON SINNING BUT IF YOU HAVE TRULY RECEIVED GRACE, YOU LEARN HOW TO REJECT IT.
[ Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ]
WE RECEIVE THIS GRACE THAT TEACHES AND REMINDS US THAT JESUS IS COMING SOON. WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING SOMEONE, YOU MAKE YOURSELVES READY, YOU MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS PICKED UP, TIDY AS IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE INSPECTED.
LIVE EVERY DAY, IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED GRACE, AS IF INSPECTION DAY IS COMING. DON’T LIVE YOUR LIFE LIKE WAITING FOR THE END OF THE WEEK TO THROW YOUR TRASH ( SIN ) IN THE RECYCLE BIN AND WAITING FOR THE TRUCK TO PICK IT UP.
[ Matthew 24:42-44
42 Watch therefore: for all of you know not what hour your Lord does come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be all of you also ready: for in such an hour as all of you think not the Son of man comes. ]
THERE IS NO TRASH DAY WHEN JESUS COMES.
THERE IS THOUGH A SEPARATION.
[ Matthew 13:24-30
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? from whence then has it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy has done this. The servants said unto him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while all of you gather up the tares, all of you root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather all of you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. ]
GOD WILL SEPARATE THE TARES ( THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE CHRISTIANS, BUT ARE NOT ) AND WILL BURN THEM. WE CAN TRY OUR HARDEST AND ASSUME WE ARE CHRISTIANS BECAUSE WE GATHER IN CHURCH, BUT THE TIME WILL COME WHEN GOD WILL SEPARATE HIS CHILDREN FROM THOSE WHO NEVER WANTED TO RECEIVE ADOPTION THROUGH CHRIST.
IF YOU DIED TODAY WITHOUT JESUS, WITHOUT RECEIVING JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR, ONLY A CERTAIN SEPARATION WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN YOU AND GOD AND THERE IS NO SECOND CHANCE. RECEIVE CHRIST NOW, REPENT FROM YOUR SIN BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. THERE ARE MANY WHO WILL BE IN HELL WISHING THEY COULD BE BLESSED TO HEAR THE CALL TO REPENTANCE ONE LAST TIME AND WILL NOT HAVE IT.
Clapping
Clapping is not evil, we are told to clap. Are you calling God evil because he clapped his hands in Ezekiel 21:17
Once again – please look at the context, Remember context is important.
2 Kings 11:12
Then he brought the king’s son out and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
Psalm 47:1
O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.
Psalm 98:8
Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy
Isaiah 55:12
“For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Ezekiel 21:14
“You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,
Ezekiel 6:11
“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague!
Ezekiel 21:17
“I will also clap My hands together, and I will appease My wrath; I, the LORD, have spoken.”