Losing, Forgetting, & Finding!!

Losing, Forgetting, & Finding!! North Seattle Bible Students Convention March 26,2011 Bro. John Blackwell

Lost Book is Found…A lesson in Jewish & Church History King Josiah – 659-628 BC - 31 Year Reign 5th Last King Matt.1:10-Genealogy of Jesus “Last good thing to happen to Israel before 70 Year Desolation” • Why was finding a lost book important? • It was the Book of the Law • communication had been from memory • much, if not most, of Word of God lost • a proper condition of heart shown • immediate action taken

Who was Josiah? 2 Kings 22 & 2 Chron. 34 • Josiah was 8 years old when began reign of 31 years • In eighth year of reign, he began to seek after the God of David his father • In twelfth year, he began to purge Judah , Jerusalem of idolatry

What kind of king was Josiah? • One of few righteous kings of Israel • Greatest reform king of Israel • Prophecy-Josiah’s Reform300 Years Before-I Kings 13:1-3 “Deuteronomic Reform” • Celebrated the Passover as never before

Josiah as Reformer • Spent 6 years purging the land of idolatry • Personally attended to enforce destruction of idol worship • Began to repair the house of the Lord with money gathered from the people. (Tax Money for Renovations)

The Lost Book is Found! • Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law given by Moses • Shaphan the scribe carried the book to the king • It was read to the king

King Josiah’s Reaction and Action • He rent his clothes • He sought direction from the LORD • The LORD’s reply • Josiah’s condition of heart pleased God

Josiah’s Action • The Law was read to the elders • Josiah made a covenant with the Lord • Kept the Passover like no other had been kept from the days of Samuel!

Lessons to be Learned • Story of Josiah parallel to Gospel Age • Israel given law of God in time of Moses • Early church given Word of God through Christ and the Apostles • Israel turned quickly to idolatry, corruption, ignoring law of God • Signs of deterioration came quickly to early church • Reaction to finding something lost, Action taken

Gospel Church Deteriorates • God’s Word was lost from sight • Grasping for power led to hierarchy of organization • Formulation of creeds • Strong heathen influence

Organization of Church • Organization simple in Apostles’ day with elders and deacons servants of church • Elders, or bishops, began to rule church • Distinction formed between clergy and laity • Bishops alone had authority to read and interpret scripture • One bishop acquired power over other • Bishops of large churches in big cities more important than those from smaller. • Rome became chief city, thus bishop of Rome called pope or “father” from Latin word. • This called Episcopal form of church government

Formulation of Creeds • Creeds – credo – “I believe” • 325 A.D. Nicean Council – first written creed • 381 A.D. Council of Constantinople – doctrine of Trinity declared creed • Other councils/other creeds • End of study of these doctrines

Unscriptural practices became deeply rooted • Exorcism • Prayers for dead • Belief in purgatory • Lord’s supper became sacrifice of mass; priests as administrators • Sharp division between clergy and laity • Veneration of martyrs, saints and their relics • Worship of Mary • Superstition and belief in magical powers • Images and altars in churches • Gorgeous vestments for clergy; splendid rituals • Pilgrimages to holy places • Monasticism • Persecution of heathen and heretics

Prelude to Reformation • Famine in the land for word of God • Evidences of true church in wilderness • Peter Waldo (1200’s) • Did not believe in mass, prayers for dead, purgatory • Prayers offered in house or stable as effective as in church • His followers, called Waldenses, practiced lay preaching and grew in number

Prelude to Reformation • Wycliffe (1320 – 1384) • Criticized clergy’s wealth, corruption & political power • Believed church should return to poverty and simplicity of apostles’ times • Pope was antichrist • Bible should be rule of faith only • Translated Bible into English • Disciples named “Lollards”

Prelude to Reformation • Huss (1369 - 1414) • Became familiar with Wycliffe’s teachings and taught them boldly • Believed that Christ was head of church • Distinguished between being in the church and of the church • Condemned practice of indulgences • Burned at stake • Followers called Hussites

Reformation • Luther (1483 – 1546) • Luther spoke up against Tetzel’s conduct regarding indulgences • In 1517 nailed 95 theses on door of Castle Church in Wittenberg • Within 4 weeks, news of this had spread all over Europe

Reformation • Some of Luther’s teachings included • Rejection of Papacy • Distinction between clergy and laity was discarded; no place for bishops or priests • Justification by faith alone • Denial of the mass • Denial that bread and wine were changed into literal body of Christ • There is only one visible church – Roman had departed from the New Testament Church • Believed that everyone has right and duty to read and study Word of God for himself • Believed in education of church, that each should be thoroughly grounded in doctrine • Translated Bible into German

Reformation • Zwingli (1484 – 1531) • Reformed church in German-speaking Switzerland • Lord’s supper bread and wine were symbols only of body and blood of Christ • Images were removed from church buildings • Mass abolished • Altars, relics, processions were discarded

Reformation • Calvin (1509 – 1564) in France • Believed election and predestination most important doctrine • Simplified church organization into four scriptural offices – pastors, teachers, elders, deacons • Departed as far as possible from form of Roman church • Denied state any power over the church • Believed everyone has right and duty to read and study the word of God for himself • Believed in education of members of church • Sermon the main form of church service • Translated Bible into French.

Reformation • Tyndale • Acquainted with Luther’s teachings • Lived in England • Translated Bible into English in 1526 • Suffered martyr’s death in 1536

The Lost Book is Found! • Scriptures were translated into various languages of the people • 1516, Erasmus published Greek New Testament • 1522 Luther translated NT into German; 1532 entire Bible into German • 1526 Tyndale translated Bible into English • Calvin translated into French • 1611 King James version of Bible published • 1710, Francke published Bibles in inexpensive form for people • 1804 onwards Bible Societies were formed

The 19th Century • William Miller (1782-1849)-- study of time prophecies drew attention to second advent of our Lord • Charles Russell (1852-1916) • “Blessed is that servant…” • “I will come in to him and will sup with him..” • “He shall make him ruler over all his goods” • Storehouse of His Word opened up through • Assembled, compiled, organized truths logically • Studies in the Scriptures-6 Volumes-Tabernacle • Many aids & tools to Bible study

SummaryLessons to be Learned • Story of Josiah parallel to Gospel Age • Israel given law of God in time of Moses • Early church given Word of God through Christ and the Apostles • Israel turned quickly to idolatry, corruption, ignoring law of God • Signs of deterioration came quickly to early church • Reaction to finding something lost, Action taken • Learn from this

Lost Book & ….. Understanding is Found! • Let us read it, study it and feast upon it! Psalms 119:105 “Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path”

Losing, Forgetting, & Finding!!