“WHO TOUCHED ME?”

Ben F. Vick, Jr.

When Jesus was on his way to Jairus’s house, the crowd was thronging him, and a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years and could get no relief from physicians made her way through the crowd and touched the hem of his garment. She thought: I could be healed if I could just touch his clothes. When she felt the border of his garment, Jesus stopped and said, “Who touched me?” Peter and the other apostles said, “Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me” (Luke 8:45-46). Jesus knew that power had gone out of him. He knew that someone had touched him in a unique way. Some inquire not to solicit information but to draw attention to a certain point. This was the case here.

Walk with me through the pages of the gospel accounts to note occasions when individuals touched Jesus. No doubt, like the miracles that are not recorded, it also might be said of those who touched Jesus, but there is no record of them. Also, there are many occasions when Jesus touched others. I want to see when the Bible says that individuals touched Jesus.

When Jesus was born, his mother, Mary, touched and held him. Many of us have held our newborn babies. How special! Mary knew that she held an extraordinary gift from heaven. She knew she held the Son of God, the Holy Thing (Luke 1:35). When Jesus as a baby was taken up to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord, Simeon took Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God (Luke 2:25-32). When it was time to flee from Herod, the earthly father of Jesus must have held him as well (Matt. 2:13-14). I doubt that was the only time he took the babe in his arms, but we have no other record of his having done so. 

John the Baptizer was baptizing in the Jordan River at Aenon near Salem, and Jesus approached him to be baptized. John did not think he was worthy to baptize Jesus. However, Jesus said to allow it to be so now to fulfill all righteousness. This he did. John touched Jesus, taking him beneath the waters and bringing him up (Matt. 3:13-17). What an honor! What a thrill to immerse the Son of God, beloved of his Father!

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. When Jesus arrived, he reclined to eat food. A woman who was a sinner went into the Pharisee’s house, having brought an alabaster box of ointment. She stood at Jesus’ feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears and wipe them with the hairs of her head. She kissed his feet and anointed them. The Pharisee spoke to himself, saying, “This man if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

Jesus, knowing his thoughts, presented a case of two debtors who owed the creditor. One owed 500 pence, the other owed 50 pence. A pence equaled a day’s wages back then. So, the one who owed the largest amount must work many months to pay his debt; the other, about a month. The creditor forgave them both. Jesus asked the Pharisee which of the two would love the creditor the most. The Pharisee admitted that the one who was forgiven the most. Jesus then turned to the woman and compared what she had done with what the Pharisee failed to do. Her recognition of her need for the Savior motivated her to express gratitude for the kindness demonstrated. Her love for the Lord caused her to give regardless of what others might have thought of her. (Luke 7:36-50).

Another account of anointing Jesus’ feet is found in three places: Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; and John 12:1-8. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, did this anointing. She had an alabaster box of expensive ointment – spikenard, very precious. She anointed his head and his feet. The apostles began to grumble about the waste. Judas Iscariot seemed to have begun to complain, and the others chimed in with him. Then Jesus said, “Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her” (Mark 14:6-9). Jesus commended Mary because she did what she could. Her love for the Lord caused her to give sacrificially to him. Though she heard Jesus teach, who said much about giving, I doubt she was told to carry out this loving act. She gave of her own volition without prompting from the sinless Son of God or anyone else. I have seen her kind in my day. They do for the lonely, the heartbroken, the homebound, and the sick without being prompted. By love, they serve others (Gal. 5:13). Though Mary is dead, her actions have echoed and reverberated through the centuries. May her tribe increase. She touched Jesus.

After Jesus’ shameful death on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took his body down, wound it in linen clothes with a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred-pound weight, and laid the body of Jesus in the tomb. Joseph willingly gave the new tomb in which to place the precious body of Jesus. I can only imagine that as they handled it with gentleness, the tears flowed down their cheeks in the loss of the sinless Son of God (John 19:38-42).

On the third day, the Son of God was raised from the dead. The first to see him was Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9). John gives us some details not found in the other accounts. She stood without the tomb weeping. She looked into the tomb and saw two angels who said, “Woman, why weepest thou? She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have taken him.” She turned, and there stood Jesus. She thought he was the gardener, but when he called her name, she said, “Master.” She must have hugged him. For Jesus said, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father….” Some versions render this: “Stop clinging to me.” She was not clinging to a spirit but to the resurrected body of Jesus.

And then, there is Thomas, who touched Jesus’ hands and side (John 20:26-29). He knew then it was Jesus.

The woman touched the hem of his garment, yet Jesus said, “Who touched me?”  Though we wish we could touch him, it is impossible. Paul wrote, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” (2 Cor.5:16). No, we cannot touch him, but we can touch the things that are his – the New Testament, the Lord’s supper, the Lord’s day, etc.

GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE

BEN F. VICK, JR.

Paul wrote to his son in the gospel, Timothy, two letters. These along with Titus are sometimes misnamed, “Pastoral Epistles.” They would be better labeled “Preacher Epistles.” They are profitable for preachers to read regularly. However, they are beneficial for all (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The duties of preachers are set forth in these letters, but it is good for all members to see the responsibilities given to preachers. Some forget the role of gospel preachers. Timothy was even instructed, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance [NKJV says “If you instruct the brethren.”] of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.”(1 Tim. 4:6-9.)

Preachers are to remind brethren and in particular to remind or instruct them in what Paul had said to Timothy earlier. All of us need reminders. Peter wrote, “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” (2 Pet. 1:12-15.) When Paul was traveling back to Jerusalem, he met the elders of Ephesus at Miletus. Among the things he said to them was, “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31.) If preachers remind brethren of the truth, they will be good ministers of Jesus Christ, “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine” which they have carefully followed.

Further, Paul encouraged Timothy to “refuse” or “reject” old wives’ fables. The English Standard says, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.” Why mention “old wives’ fables”? “In this part of the ancient world, old women had a reputation for storytelling which sometimes put the gods in an outrageous light. From earliest times in Anatolia, female religious officials known as ‘old women’ kept alive the ancient myths.” (Reese, New Testament Epistles – Timothy and Titus, p. 172.) Regardless of whether women or men are telling fables or myths, Paul said reject them. See also 1 Timothy 1:4.

Rather than swallowing the fables, Paul told Timothy to “exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”  “Exercise” translates a Greek word from which we get our English word “gymnasium” (gymnazō). The meaning is to train, undergo discipline as would an athlete for an event. However, we are to train, discipline ourselves toward an “awesome respect accorded to God, devoutness, piety.”  This entails exercising vigorously toward godliness, striving earnestly to become godly. Peter exhorts us to put forth every effort to add the Christian graces which include godliness (2 Peter 1:5-9).

How does one exercise himself unto godliness? Personal devotion in prayer and the study of God’s word. This requires each of us taking time out of busy schedules to allot for meditation. “Closet time” that is, time spent in prayer, if you please. Is your spiritual life declining? It may be because your prayer time is waning. Take time to be holy. Every day we must allow God to speak to us through his word; everyday we must spend time speaking to God through prayer.

Striving earnestly unto godliness also includes attending Bible classes, worship services. How many will take advantage of the Stop 11 Lectureship right here in Indianapolis? The date is November 5-9. Check the schedule on the board and plan to attend.

Exercising unto godliness includes visiting the sick and homebound as one has opportunity. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10.) John wrote, “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17.) Putting into practice Glen Campbell’s song, “Try A Little Kindness” would make this world a better place.

Further, Paul said, “For bodily exercise profiteth little.” He was not putting down physical exercise. It is profitable, but in comparison to godliness it profits little. Physical exercise profits in this life, but godliness is profitable for here and eternity. Much time and money are spent on the physical body and how little is given to godliness. The fields, courts, courses, and workout places are filled every day and even on Sunday for the temporal. Yes, one should take care of his body, but how much are we doing for our souls? And what are we teaching our children? They can tell you about great athletes, but how much can they tell you about the apostles? Hardeman said that some people are so ignorant that they think Jesus was shot at Bunker Hill, not crucified at Calvary. That might be an exaggeration, but it is not far from the truth for many in the world.

“Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”  Godliness promises a better life here. People sometimes forget this. If we exercise ourselves more unto godliness, we would have the promise of a better life here. By that I do not mean one will get rich, but following God’s way will be a happy way. Jesus said to his apostles in reference to following him in service: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”(John 13:17.) People can get so caught up in making a living that they fail to make a life. Put the Lord first and all things will fall into place (Matt. 6:33).

Beyond the better life here in living godly, there is the promise of eternal life. Bodily exercise cannot make that promise. Our bodies wear out no matter how hard we try to slow the process down (2 Cor. 4:16-18). They return to the dust (Ecc. 12:7). However, our souls live on.

THIRD JOHN

BEN F. VICK, JR.

        “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: but I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” (3 John 10–14.) 

John, known as the “whom Jesus loved” wrote Gaius, an older man,  whom he loved in the truth (vs.1).  He loved him as a brother in Christ. He loved him because of his love of the truth.  He desired what was best for him.  John prayed above all things that he would prosper, be in health, even as his soul prospered.  He desired that he would be in good physical health as he was in spiritual growth. We can be concerned and pray for fellow believers that they will have good health as well as continue to develop spiritually. 

     It is interesting that John’s joy was exceeding great when he had heard from other brothers in Christ who had acknowledged that Gaius was walking in the truth. It was not mere hearsay, but was confirmed by others of Gaius’ faithfulness to the Lord.  It is always encouraging when we learn of the faithfulness of others.  On the other hand, it is very discouraging when we learn of others who are no longer walking with us.  One reads sadness in the words of Paul when he wrote, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10.) This tells me that John was concerned about his brethren in the Lord.  Paul had daily care for all the churches (2 Cor. 11: 28). Surely the same must have been John’s concern as well.

     We know John’s love for his converts was great for he had written, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 4.) A father’s or a mother's love for their children is beyond words.  A mother in great pain, and sometimes to the brink of death, gives birth to a child. Her love for her children is great.  A father’s love will sacrifice much for his children. Christian parents have tremendous joy when they know their children are walking in truth. John felt that same emotion for his converts for he said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 4.) Instructing and disciplining one’s children in the Lord, setting the right example before them are great investments. The rewards are beyond measure. One’s joy is overflowing. 

A love of brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as strangers, was exemplified by Gaius. John urged him to help them on their journeys. If he did that, he would do well.  Then, John exhorts all, “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” (vs. 8.)

     We then see a change in tone in this short epistle.  John wields the two-edged sword of the Spirit upon Diotrephes who wanted to have preeminence in the church. It was rule or ruin for him.  He would not welcome John. Imagine that! This brother had the gall and gumption to reject an apostle of Jesus! What was John’s plan? Would he ignore this man? John wrote, “Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” (3 John 10.) Diotrophes was making outrageous statements, or chattering maliciously about John and other brethren.  Not only was Diotrophes not willing to receive the brethren, but he forbade others to receive them and would cast them out of the church! What would John do? He wrote, “Wherefore, if I come….”  He planned to go shortly. This is a conditional sentence of the third class which means the probable future. It expresses that which is not taking place, but which probably will take place in the future. John was not going to let it slide. 

     Next in this epistle John exhorts, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” (3 John 11.) All of us need to be encouraged to avoid evil and follow good. Do you do good? Then you are of God. But if one does not do good, he has not “seen God.”  “Hath not seen God”? But no one has seen God (John 1:18). What does this mean? “Seen” is used in the sense of experienced God as “seen the kingdom of God” means to experience the kingdom of God (John 3:3.). 

     John begins to close out this letter by referring to a good brother: “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.” (3 John 12) A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches (Prov. 22:1). So, sandwiched between the rotten ruler, Diotrophes, were two good brothers – Gaius and Demetrius. 

     John closes out his letter by saying that he had many things to write, but would not do so at that time.  He had hoped to see Gaius soon face to face. Letters are good, but personal visits are the best.

     In some versions, the letter ends after verse fourteen, but other versions divide the verse into two verses. Thus, ending at verse fifteen. This does not matter because all is included, whether it is in one verse (KJV, ASV, NKJV) or in two, as others (ESV, NASV, NIV).  Keep in mind, men divided the New Testament into verses in 1551.The closing sentences are: “Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee.  Greet the friends by name.” This is still our wish for peace to be with all. “Friends” here may be another way to refer to brethren. It was not a title like the Quakers use.

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN ELDERS? — II

Phil Sanders

I Timothy 2:11-14

       “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”

While women may teach or have authority over other women and children (Tit. 2:2-4) in spiritual matters, they are not permitted to teach or have authority over a man. Many women are quite talented and have responsible roles in life outside of the Lord’s church, but this passage declares the will of the Lord for the activity of his church.  Women are not to preside over the assembly or to teach men, rather they are to “learn in silence and with all submission.” The apostle Paul gives God’s reasons reaching back to creation, “For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”

Paul explains more plainly, “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God...For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man” (I Cor. 11:3, 8). As a result of the sin of eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God said to the woman, “Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16).

Christ chose men to have places of authority in the church; the twelve apostles were all men; and the seven servants chosen in Acts 6 were all men. While women were given various praiseworthy roles of teaching and service in the New Testament (Acts 18:37; Rom. 16:2; Phil. 4:2; Tit. 2:3-4), they were not given permission to teach or have authority over a man in the church. Everett Ferguson noted, “The prohibition of exercising authority over men, therefore, is not a general principle applicable to any situation, but has a specific reference to the assembled church. These instructions then prepare the way for I Timothy 3, which gives the place of a bishop to a married man with a family.”

Where the Spirit Leads

Shane Hughes, preaching minister for Highland Church of Christ in Abilene explained what led the congregation in Abilene to have female elders. “It seemed good to us and good to the Holy Spirit that not only men but spiritually gifted men and women could and should serve as elders at our church. There’s no judgement on any other church. This is just what’s right for us” (Abilene Reporter-News).

Progressive churches often make decisions after periods of study of the Bible, prayer, and contemporary norms. They believe the Holy Spirit will lead them to do what they perceive is right. Hughes does not explain how the Spirit communicated it was right for them to do what they chose to do. When Hughes says, “This is just what’s right for us,” he is admitting Highland’s choice to have women elders was not acceptable to all. Interestingly, Ferguson clearly states in the history of the church in the second to fourth centuries, “Women were not appointed as elders, nor did they take public speaking roles in the assembly as prophets, teachers, or leaders in the assembly” (Kindle Edition).

If the Holy Spirit led churches to appoint women as elders, surely the early church would have known and practiced it. There is no commandment for wives to serve as elders in the New Testament. There is no evidence of any woman serving as an elder in the New Testament or in the early church. There is a clear, inspired passage of Scripture prohibiting women from having authority over men in the assembled church. One must wonder how the Holy Spirit could say one thing in the first century and lead people to a different conclusion in the twenty-first century.

The Lord Jesus promised the apostles in John 16:12-13, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Since the Holy Spirit led the apostles into “all truth,” we cannot imagine the Holy Spirit leading churches into an activity contradicting what the Holy Spirit first revealed. If indeed the Holy Spirit taught the apostles “all things” (John 14:26), then one would see no reason to think the Holy Spirit is speaking something different today. If the apostles and the early church knew nothing of women as elders, then the practice of appointing women as elders is not part of the “all things” and “all truth” the Holy Spirit revealed in the first century.

 As to what the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit speaks, we should take note of their limits. The Lord Jesus said in John 12:49-50, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak.” If the Lord Jesus would not speak on His own authority, and if the Holy Spirit would not speak on His own authority, what right do church leaders today have to speak or to act on their own authority?

REFERENCES

Ferguson, Everett (2015). Women in the Church: Biblical and Historical Perspectives. Desert Willow Publishing. Kindle Edition.

Jaklewicz, Greg. “Elders at Abilene’s Highland Church of Christ no longer just male,” Abilene Reporter-News, March 4, 2023.

http://www.wherethespiritleads.org/gender_inclusive_churches.htm.   Accessed April 11, 2023.

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN ELDERS?

         Phil Sanders

         The inspired Word of God says, “A bishop must then be blameless, the husband of one wife” (I Tim. 3:2); and “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife” (Tit.1:5-6 All quotations are from the New King James Version, unless noted otherwise).

These passages should settle the question once and for all time, since females cannot be “husbands.” However, in the minds of contemporary people nothing is more objectionable than the biblical concept of an all-male eldership. Many in our day buy into an unbiblical devotion to DEI: diversity, equality, and inclusion. They listen more to sociological studies than to the word of God. They argue “that adult women who had only male congregational-leaders growing up had, as an effect, (1) lower self-esteem (associated with more depression and anxiety), (2) less education, (3) higher unemployment, and (4) more of an authoritarian and judgmental view of God (associated with negative psychological health), on average, than men and than women who had influential female congregational-leaders growing up.” They believe the answer to the ungodly discrimination against women is to rethink and reject the biblical teaching about all-male leadership. They simply reject the biblical teaching of God.

Linda A, King, a female shepherd of the Dayspring Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma, some years ago explained how the congregation came to have female elders. “For the last 4 years, we have also had female shepherds (elders). There is no more gender distinction in our congregation than there is a distinction between tall and short, young and old, rich and poor. I don't mean to sound glib about this: we studied the issue extensively over the course of two years in the early 1990’s. We conducted a series of all-church meetings one summer to examine, assess, and discuss the hermeneutical lens(es) through which we read scripture as well as the traditions and personal/professional/cultural contexts that influences our views. For these meetings we had ground rules and facilitators and plenty of time for people to listen to one another. Over it all, we had prayer. Although we did not reach immediate unanimity, there was a strong consensus. Our elders at the time decided that their ‘rule’ for the Dayspring congregation would be that there would be no rule” (wherethespiritleads.org).

When a human leadership rule there are no rules, they are not permitting the Lord to rule. They are being lawless (Matt. 7:21-23).

More recently the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas decided to include six female elders. Once again, the change took place after much reflection, prayer, and reason. One female elder said, “I have thought forever that if we really, truly believe that every human being is made in God’s image and we’re neglecting half of God’s image bearers as people who can lead God’s people, that’s a miss.” While it is true every human being is made in God’s image, this does not mean every human being has the same role in life.

Just because one is made in God’s image and has gifts and talents does not mean one has the right to step beyond God’s appointed roles for service in the Lord. Even the Lord Jesus, the most talented and capable person ever to walk on the face of the earth, observed the rules of the temple. “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood” (Heb. 7:14). He never served as a Levitical priest in the temple.

King Uzziah, though he early in his reign did right in the sight of the Lord and sought the Lord, later became strong and proud. “But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chron. 26:16). Azariah the priest, accompanied with eighty other priests of the Lord “withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, ‘It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the LORD God” (2 Chron. 26:18).

Uzziah became furious with the priests, but the Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy on his forehead. King Uzziah had trespassed God’s house and proudly assumed the role to which he had no right. “King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (2 Chron. 26:21). Though Uzziah was anointed as king of Judah, he was not a Levitical priest. To presume one can act where he or she has no right is to lose honor from God. Presumptuous sin is a great transgression (Ps, 19:13).

Even though an unmarried man may be godly and talented, he cannot become an elder unless he is the “husband of one wife” and have “faithful children” (Tit. 1:6). Even though a married male may be able to teach and not given to wine, he is unable to be an elder if he is a novice (I Tim. 3:2-6). One who ignores God’s instructions and insists on being qualified regardless is being presumptuous. No one can be faithful to God, if one refuses to listen to what God says (Matt. 7:21-23). A person who goes beyond the stated will of God and fails to listen to the words of the Lord is building his or her house on sand (Matt. 7:24-27).

Galatians 3:28

Egalitarians (people who argue for female leadership equal to male) argue that Galatians 3:28 permits them to assume roles of leadership: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” By doing so, they imagine this passage dismisses the instructions of other inspired passages.

Adult slaves made in God’s image did not cease to be slaves who obey their masters “in sincerity of heart, as to Christ” (Eph. 6:5). Wives, though made in the image of God, are told, “submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). When people fail to obey or submit to those who have authority over them, they are also rejecting the authority of the Lord Jesus. Regarding one’s relationship to God as children (Gal. 3:26-27), slavery and gender do not matter. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Belief in Christ and baptism causes one to be born again as children of God, but it does not permit slaves to act as masters or females to act as males.

To Be Continued