Lessons

The message on January 3, 2021 was a New Years 2021 lesson on “Looking Back Then Forward” and was a one-off message prior to starting a new study next week.  Wayne took time to recount the blessings America has in its foundation.  Our Founding Fathers were ordinary men who were sinners but some they were inspired Christians to produce the founding documents that establish the blessing we have in America.  The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are brilliant because in them they establish the ideals Americans hold so dear.  One of which is the ownership of property.  Free speech and the right to bear arms to defend our rights.  Rights and Freedom come from God, not government!  ““We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The Constitution was written and can only be changed through an amendment process.  There are those that say the Bible promotes communism!  The use the phrase “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” is a slogan popularised by Karl Marx and is commonly used by socialist. Some scholars trace the phrase to the New Testament. In Acts of the Apostles the lifestyle of the community of believers in Jerusalem is described as communal (without individual possession), and uses the phrase “distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (διεδίδετο δὲ ἑκάστῳ καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν).  They come to this conclusion from Acts 2:44  “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;” and Acts 4:32  “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”  Through Right Division of scripture, this was only true during the Acts period.  After Acts, it all changed.  This will be covered in the next study on Acts!  The scripture reading was from Acts 4:31-37 KJV

“31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”