Category Archives: Biblical Studies

Baltimore Pastor Defies Government Order Against In-Person Church Service

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A pastor in Baltimore tore up a cease and desist letter the church received for holding in-person services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The church was threatened with a $5,000 fine.  The pastor cited Hebrews 10:25 as his reasoning for defying the order.

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

https://www.newsmax.com/us/baltimore-pastor-stay-at-home-church/2020/05/21/id/968353/

Now I don’t care that he wants to defy a government order.  That’s fine with me and I think he’s likely on good legal ground, although it may not sit as well with the community there regarding the church’s testimony.  That’s for him and the church to decide.  But I do object to misinterpreting and misapplying biblical passages.  Here’s my beef with using that verse the way he does. 

  1. The context of that passage is not a formal church service.  It’s provoking one another to love and good works and exhorting (coming alongside) each other in support.  This does not require a church service.  I would argue that this, very often, is best done outside of a formal service.
  2. The “assembling” simply means a gathering together in one place.  It does not refer to a specific number or percentage of people.  It’s just Christians getting together in any context which supports provoking to love and good works which should prevent God’s punishment for those who otherwise could fall into sin.  (Heb. 10:29)
  3. If he really believes that “so much the more” refers to church services, then I would ask him when he is adding more regular church services to the weekly church schedule.  The fact that he doesn’t proves my point.

My interpretation and application of that verse is that Christians should gravitate towards one another for support as our world approaches the end.  There are a few other details involved, but that’s the basic idea.  It has nothing to do with a church service.  As a matter of fact, the Bible does not specify what day or time that a local church should meet (contrary to popular opinion). 

In my reading of this passage, if Christians gather informally in a home, workplace, or at a restaurant for mutual exhortation, they likely are fulfilling Hebrews 10:25. 

Sermon Shorts from Spurgeon – Sermon 4: The Personality of the Holy Ghost

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But is it not said in Scripture, and do we not feel it, dear brethren, that it is the Holy Ghost who regenerates the soul? It is the Holy Ghost who quickens us. “You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins.” It is the Holy Spirit who imparts the first germ of life, convincing us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment to come. And is it not the Holy Spirit, who, after that flame is kindled, still fans it with the breath of his mouth and keeps it alive? Its author is its preserver. Oh! can it be said that it is the Holy Ghost who strives in men’s souls; that it is the Holy Ghost who brings them into the sweet place that is called Calvary—can it be said that he does all these things, and yet is not a person? It may be said, but it must be said by fools; for he never can be a wise man who can consider these things can be done by any other than a glorious person—a divine existence.

From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 1, Sermon 4 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

https://ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons01/sermons01.iv.html

Forgiving Sins, Healing the Lame

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Here is another passage where Jesus’ words (and actions) demonstrated that He is truly God in the flesh. It involves His teaching ministry and the religious leaders of His day learned more than they could handle.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. (Luke 5:17-25)

First, notice the priority of the lame man’s friends. They had to get him to Jesus! And they weren’t above destroying the roof of the house to do it! This prompted an immediate response from Jesus.

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Equal with God

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Several times in the Gospels, Jesus said or did things which demonstrated to others that He is truly God in the flesh. As we have seen in previous articles, sometimes it was a direct statement of Jesus or others affirming His divinity. However, in the passage today, it was the implication Jesus’ hearers perceived which showed His divine nature. In addition, He then claims to have the ability to do something which only God could do—raise the dead.

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. (John 5:17-21)

These two words, “My Father”, caused offense among the Jews. They understood this as Jesus stating that He and God were equal. In Greek, it’s the word isos, which can mean equal in either quantity or quality. Here, it is obviously quality. That’s why the Jew were upset.

In verse 19, Jesus goes on to explain that the Father’s work and His work are the same. Then Jesus tells them that they haven’t seen anything yet! (vs. 20) As a matter of fact, Jesus tells them that He can raise the dead! (vs. 21) That was something only God Himself could do. Since God created life, He can give life to whoever He wills. Likewise, Jesus said that He could do the same thing. Notice in verse 21 that Jesus states that He can quicken (make alive) whoever He (Jesus) wills.

Do not miss the significance of this. The Jews accuse Jesus of making Himself equal with God, then Jesus goes on to state that (1) the Father and the Son do the same things, (2) the Father reveals His works to the Son, and (3) the Father and the Son both have the power to accomplish them. Essentially, Jesus was telling the Jews that they were absolutely correct—He is equal with the Father.

Sermon Shorts from Spurgeon – Sermon 2: The Remembrance of Christ

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Let Jesus come; let the poor heart remember Jesus, and steadily then the ship shall sail, for Christ has the helm. The winds shall blow no more, for Christ shall bid them shut their mighty mouths, and never again disturb his child. There is nothing which can give you strength in temptation, and help you to weather the storm, like the name of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. Then again, what comfort it will give you on a sick bed—the name of Christ! It will help you to be patient to those who wait upon you, and to endure the sufferings which you have to bear; yea, it shall be so with you, that you shall have more hope in sickness than in health, and shall find a blessed sweetness in the bitterness of gall. Instead of feeling vinegar in your mouth, through your trouble, you shall find honey for sweetness, in the midst of all the trial and trouble that God will put upon you, “For he giveth songs in the night.”

From the Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Volume 1, Sermon 2 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

https://ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons01/sermons01.ii.html