The Italian Memorandum

“And the priest said to them, Go in peace.
The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD”

(Judges 18:6)

The New Testament contains a phrase which expresses a profound sentiment from God to man—“Go in peace”(Luke 7:50; 8:48). This concept is elsewhere expressed in such terms as: “Now the God of peace be with you” (Romans 15:33) and, “the Lord of peace himself give you peace” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Where does this rich religious thought originate? We understand that the New Testament term “peace” came from the Hebrew concept shalom.

1. Shalom was a greeting of well-wishing (see Gen. 29:6).

2. Shalom meant security; contentment; and, sometimes absence of war (Ps. 4:8; Isa. 26:3; 1 Sam. 7:14).

3. Shalom carried the theological idea—to journey under the eye of the Lord (Judg. 18:6).

Those “in Christ” may go in peace. “Peace be with you all that are in Christ.” (1 Pet. 5:14). Is it well with you today?

-Robert M. Housby

“the purpose of his will”

(Eph. 1:5)

“the mystery of his will”

(Eph. 1:9)

“the counsel of his will”

(Eph. 1:11)

When we reflect upon what makes life worth living, the words of old Mark Twain come to mind: “Now, that will depend on the liver” (London Punch). In addition to Twain’s pithy and pointed remark, it remains to be said that the life worth living is the life lived out in the will of God.

In referring to Ephesians chapter 1 as Paul’s Magnum Opus, we mean his great literary contribution to the inspired word of God. Many biblical prophets were not literary—Elijah and Elisha, for example. Paul was the Lord’s “chosen instrument” (Acts 9:15); and, as such, he wrote most of the New Testament.

“His will” takes on three dimensions in Ephesians 1: Purpose, Mystery, and Counsel (1:5,9,11). Unlike those who neglect their creator/redeemer, and have no meaning for their existence, Christians know meaning. Christians seek to live in the will of God; and in the will of God, they find their meaning, their power, and their affirmation of what is truly worthy.

-Robert M. Housby

“Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently”

(Acts 26:3)

Most people today have little understanding of the Bible. They may be fluent and conversant in The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter, or, pop psychology, but they definitely lack an accurate knowledge of the gospel. One such area where the gospel is surely misunderstood regards the fact that it makes an appeal: it asks something from those who hear it.

In Acts 26, Paul makes his defense before King Agrippa. It is in 26:3 where we find an appeal; an appeal to listen with patience to the message of the gospel. If 26:2,3 was all the information we had of Paul’s appeal, we might think that he was only interested in vindicating his own name. However, a perusal of the rest of his speech shows the substance of his appeal (see 26:6,8,9,18,23).

1. 26:3 – “I beg you [Agrippa]”
2. 26:20 – “that they [Damascus/Jerusalem/Judea/Gentiles]”
3. 26:29 – “all that hear me this day might become as I am”

The older English has the word “beseech” to convey this appeal. Surely, the gospel has been found amusing by those who reject its appeal. But, the gospel makes an appeal; and this appeal has never been repealed.

-Robert M. Housby

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Life “in Christ” is about newness (2 Cor. 5:17). When Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “The old has passed away,” he uses a historical tense, pointing back to a definite moment and event (that is, baptism: see Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 6:11; Gal. 3:26,27). This newness is constantly new (perfect tense—“…the new has come”). Although the Old Testament speaks of newness from the standpoint of God (Lamentations 3:23 and Isaiah 43:18,19), under the new covenant, newness is extended to the believer himself/herself—“if anyone is in Christ.” Newness changes how the believer looks outward upon the universe:

1. Re: Nature –“This is my Father’s world” (contra randomness; Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:15-17; 2 Cor. 10:5).
2. Re: Knowledge—absolute knowledge (contra sensory and limited; 2 Pet. 1:20,21; 2 Cor. 2:14; 11:6).
3. Re: Ethics—according to the will of God (contra humanistic and situational (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 13:5).
4. Re: History—purpose, meaning, goal (contra chance cycles/ uniformitarianism; Heb. 9:28; 2 Cor. 6:1-3).
5. Re: Death—hope, good courage (contra hopelessness, fatalism, the end; 2 Cor. 5:1-10).

Newness today, newness tomorrow, and newness through eternity! Take time to evaluate where you are on life’s journey. It is never more exciting than being “in Christ”!

-Robert M. Housby