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by Justin Petershen most of us think of John MacArthur we think of the precision of his preaching and the care with which he has handled God's word. We think of the courage he has displayed in interviews with Larry King and more recently Ben Shapiro as he has boldly declared unvarnished biblical truth and yet done so with love and compassion. All of these things are true.There is another aspect of John, though, that has had just as much impact upon me as has his preaching. His humility.Though I do not pretend to know him nearly as well as do many others, I have had the opportunity to see his humility come through in a couple of totally unscripted moments. One such opportunity came on a Sunday morning in November of 2017. I was guest preaching at the Grace Life Pulpit, led by Phil Johnson and Mike Riccardi. John knew that I was there with my wife, Kathy, and invited us to sit on the front pew with him during the morning worship service.Kathy and I were not there by ourselves, however. Also with us was one of Kathy's close friends, Franke Preston, whom God soundly saved out of lesbianism just a year or so before, and Franke's then 19 year old niece, April. After Grace Life Pulpit the four of us walked to the sanctuary and sat down on the front pew. Kathy sat to my left followed by Franke and then April.A few minutes after taking our seats John walks into the sanctuary from our left so the first person to whom he comes is April. He extends his hand to shake hers and said, "Hello, what is your name?" She responds, "April. What's your name?" Without missing a beat and without the slightest hint of surprise he responds, "Hi April, I'm John. It's so good to have you here with us this morning."You see, April is lost. She does not know Christ. She had never heard of Grace Community Church and had no idea who John MacArthur even was. Imagine this scene for a moment and put yourself in John MacArthur's shoes. You walk into the sanctuary of Grace Community Church on Sunday morning for worship, greet someone on the front pew sitting there by invitation, she looks you in the eye and asks, "What's your name?" I'd be willing to bet that it is not often John MacArthur is asked that question—much less on a Sunday morning by someone sitting in the front pew of Grace Community Church. It had to have been at least somewhat surprising to him that this young lady did not know his name, but if it was, you would have never known it by observing this brief but revealing interaction between a seasoned pastor and a young lady who does not know Christ. He was so kind and gracious with her. It was an impromptu reveal into John MacArthur's heart that I will never forget.Now, lest you think I am giving him undue accolades, I understand theologically that none of us as believers does anything with 100% pure motives. We live in a fallen world with fallen bodies, fallen wills, and fallen motives. Yes, we are new creatures in Christ; the old things have passed away and new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our hearts of stone have been graciously and sovereignly replaced with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). But within every believer resides rebel outposts of sin that not even the most godly among us can completely put to death this side of glorification (Romans 7). John MacArthur is not an exception to this; a reality, I have no doubt, he would be the first to confirm.But if anyone had reason to be prideful it would be John. He has preached through the entire New Testament verse by verse, has written dozens of books including a complete commentary set and systematic theology. He has likely done more to champion expository preaching, sound doctrine and equip pastors and churches than anyone in the modern era. He has now had a full half century of faithful pastoral ministry unblemished by scandal. There are very few men of whom this can be said. There can be no doubt that he has had to put to death the temptation to be prideful. But, at least from what I have observed, John does it as well as anyone.The Apostle Paul was granted the magnanimous privilege of being caught up into the third heaven. Paul writes, "Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself" (2 Corinthians 12:7). Though Paul does not specify exactly what this "thorn" was (The Greek word σκόλοψ—skolops—is better rendered as "stake." This was no minor annoyance.), he does say that it was given to engender in him humility. It seems most likely that the skolops was a false apostle in the Corinthian church who opposed Paul and tried to turn others in the church against him.John MacArthur has certainly had his detractors and to this day has been unfairly maligned and slandered. He has had more than his share of skolops. But I have never seen him return evil for evil. I have never seen him disparage those who disparage him. As the skolops developed in the Apostle Paul genuine humility, its modern-day equivalents seem to have done the same with John MacArthur.I pray that one day April will come to be known by God (1 Corinthians 8:3). If so, she will almost certainly eventually come to know who John MacArthur is and will remember that Sunday morning he beautifully displayed to her true Christian humility.I have learned much from John MacArthur's 50 years of faithful ministry. I have learned much about how to study and preach God's word. As thankful as I am for these things, I am equally thankful for the model of genuine humility he has been to me and countless others.God gives true humility to His slaves, not to glorify them but to glorify Himself. The humility I have seen in John leaves me in awe of God for I know that this is the good fruit borne from a lifetime of study and application of the scriptures."God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:7). I am thankful for the tremendous grace God has given to John MacArthur.JustinPeters

Temple Baptist Church - 11-7-2018Hebrews 2:7-11Introduction:A.� In verse 11,� Jesus is called the “Captain of our salvation.”� “Captain in only one descriptive term or name given to our Lord Jesus Christ.� The word “captain” comes from a Latin word meaning “chief.”� We use the word “Captain” in many ways in the English language.1.� A Captain� is one who oversees a sea going vessel.2.� A Captain� is one who is a rank given to one in charge of a company in the military.3.� A Captain� is the title given to certain civil servants such police or fire departments.4.� A Captain� is a pilot in command of a large commercial aircraft.5.� A Captain, in sports, is one designated as the head of the team.6.� A Captain, in the church, is a title given to its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ.7.� A Captain, in our text, is one who is responsible for our salvation.B.� In Joshua, chapter 5, we see our Lord appear to Joshua in a Theophany or Christophany.Joshua 5:13-15� And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? � (14)� And he said, Nay; but ascaptain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? � (15)� And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.� � (A position of authority, power, and worship.)C.� Our verses for tonight� show us what our Captain did for us in His incarnation.� His authority, power, and glory revealed in Jesus Christ.1.� We see Jesus in His humanity.� � Verse 7� –� “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels.”� Almighty Jehovah God, conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary, chose to dwell upon this earth—robed in flesh.� Matthew 1:23� Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name� Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.Micah 5:2� But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee� shall he come forth� unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;� whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.John 1:1, 14� In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.� (Made – to bring to pass something that would not naturally occur.� The eternal Son of God born in the flesh.)Galatians 4:4-5� But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, � (5)� To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.2.� We see Jesus in His Father's glory.� Verse 7 –� “thou crownedst him with glory and honour.”� John 1:14� (And we beheld his glory,� the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.Colossians 1:15-19� � Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: � (16)� For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: � (17)� And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. � (18)� And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. � (19)� � For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;Hebrews 1:2-3� Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; � (3)� � Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;3.� We see Jesus in His sovereign authority.� Verses 7-8 –� “didst set him over the works of thy hands:� � Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing� that is� not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.”� Jesus made it all, Jesus runs it all, Jesus owns it all!Ephesians 1:21� � Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:Romans 11:36� For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.4.� We see Jesus in His vicarious atonement.� Verse 9 –� “� who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”� Philippians 2:8� And being found in fashion as a man,� he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.1 John 2:2� And he is� the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.� � (Jesus did two things for us concerning our sins: expiation – the removal of sins; and propitiation – the appeasement of a thrice holy God.� Both were necessary to restore fellowship and favor.)6.� We see Jesus in His example.� Verse 10 –� “to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”� 1 Peter 2:21-25� For even hereunto were ye called: because� Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: � (22)� � Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: � (23)� Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:� � (24)� Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,� that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. � (25)� For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.1 Peter 1:7� That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:1 Peter 3:18� For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,� the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:� � (Our suffering in a righteous manner will help others to see Christ in us.)7.� We see Jesus in His purpose.� Verse 11 –� “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified� are� all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.”Ephesians 1:6-7� To the praise of the glory of his grace,� wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. � (7)� In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Colossians 1:13� Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hathtranslated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:1 John 3:2� Beloved,� now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Your weekly Dose of SpurgeonThe� PyroManiacs� devote some space each weekend� to highlights from the lifetime of works from the Prince of Preachers,� Charles Haddon Spurgeon. � The following excerpt is from Only a Prayer Meeting, pages 146-47, Pilgrim Publications. "The much despised truth of election stands us in good stead in troublous times."We sigh, and cry, because so many worship the deity of the hour; but the Lord answereth, "Yet have I reserved unto Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace."The words of the apostle are true at this moment, "The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded, according as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day."I bow before the awful sovereignty of God, and the clamour of the people comes not into my ears.Jehovah's purpose shall stand, and He will do all His pleasure. No drop of the redeeming blood shall be spent in vain, no line of the everlasting covenant shall be erased, no decree of the Eternal shall be disannulled.This angers the adversary, but in its divine truth we find our consolation while the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing.� �

Temple Baptist Church - 9-30-2018Romans 9:14-22Introduction:A. With each of these sermons, I need to reiterate the context. National! It is easy to look at these verses and interpret them as “stand alone verses,” and not take them in context. Keeping the context consistent, we rightly divide the Word of Truth.1. In the first message, we saw Paul's Burden for the Nation of Israel. Verses 1-4.2. We the second message, we saw God's Special Blessings upon the National of Israel. Verses 4-5.3. In the second message, we also saw God's selection of the Nation of Israel through the fathers, Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, and the rejection of the two first born sons: Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and Esau, the son of Isaac. God chose Isaac and Jacob through foreknowledge of what these men would ultimately be. B. Notice the Progression of Selection.1. Abraham had two sons by different mothers: Hagar and Sarah. Ishmael was the son of Abraham's flesh and Isaac was the son of God's Promise. God chose the younger over the elder.2. Isaac had two sons by the same mother: Esau and Jacob. Through foreknowledge of the choices of the sons, Esau would Despise the Birthright while Jacob would Desire the Birthright, God chose the younger over the elder. 3. Jacob had 12 sons and became the Father of the Nation of Israel, God's Elect Nation.a) Isaac, the seed through which the Promised Seed, Jesus Christ, would come.b) Jacob, though a supplanter, would become a man who desired the blessings of God.C. The context has not changed as it continues to deal with the Elect Nation of Israel.D. Tonight, we will look at some people mentioned in the text as they are keys to special Protection and Promises given to the Nation of Israel.1. God has providentially protected the Nation of Israel. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.2. God has given special promises to the Nation of Israel. Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:1. Verse 14. God is not unrighteous! Why would the Holy Spirit even ask such a thing? Because some casual readers may think like the Calvinists, that God is some hateful, unrighteous Creator who makes some people live in hell for all eternity just because He can. GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS! Calvinism teaches that God is unrighteous, hateful, unloving, and a respecter of persons. That is not the God of the Bible!2. Now, in our text for tonight, we will look at three more individuals. Moses, Pharaoh, and the Potter.3. Verse 15. Why is Moses mentioned in this chapter? Because of the statement that follows: “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” To fully understand what God meant when speaking this to Moses, you have to read the context in Exodus 33:12-19.Exodus 33:12-19 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. (13) Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. (14) And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. (15) And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. (16) For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. (17) And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. (18) And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. (19) And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. (God's mercy was to the Nation of Israel. Though they were not a perfect people, God had selected them as His nation and separated them from all other nations. The statement quoted in Hebrews, if properly interpreted, is meant for Israel as a nation. A peculiar people. It is not meant to be for an individual.)4. Verse 16. God's mercy to nations is not to those who do the best or most, it is to the nation of God's choosing. God's sovereign will in the selection of a nation for His own was His choice to make.5. Verse 17-18. Now we find another individual, though not named. Pharaoh was a name like Emperor that was given to the man sitting upon the throne of Egypt. As goes the Pharaoh, so goes Egypt. Now for a little history.1. Joseph was sold into bondage but ascended to the second most powerful man in Egypt.2. Jacob, called Israel, and family came to Egypt to live during the great famine.3. Joseph was 17 when he arrived in Egypt and 110 when he died. Quickly, after the death of Joseph, a new Pharaoh came to power who feared the Nation of Israel and put the nation in bondage.Exodus 1:7-8 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. (8) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.4. The Nation of Israel remained in Egypt 430 years with close to 350 years in extreme bondage.5. The Nation cried out because of the cruelty of their taskmasters (the nation of Egypt) and God send a deliverer, Moses.Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.6. Nothing says that Pharaoh was reprobate from his birth, but like the other Pharaohs who kept Israel in bondage, he was a hardened man who hated Israel and Israel's God. God raised him up to sit upon the throne because he would not let the Nation of Israel go. God took the heart of a hardened, wicked, God denying, Israel hating man and finalized the hardening process.7. This was done so that God could show His power in Protection and Promise. God brought them out so that He could bring them into the Promised Land.8. Mercy upon Israel and hardening and judgement upon Egypt.6. Verses 19-23. Now, off to the Potter's House.1. Verse 20. “The thing formed” is not an individual person for a nation. “The thing formed” is now asking “him that formed it” a question, “Why hast thou made me thus?” 2. Verse 21. Israel became marred upon the wheel. Israel may have been God's chosen people, but down through the ages they had rebelled against God, hardening their hearts against Him. He therefore had no choice but to direct His wrath against them. An honored vessel turned into a vessel of dishonor.Jeremiah 18:1-10 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, (2) Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. (3) Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. (4) And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. (5) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (6) O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (7) At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; (8) If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. (9) And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; (10) If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. (Israel would not yield to the work of God and was marred in His hand. They have paid dearly for their rebellion. One day, God's Elect Nation of Israel will once again be wrought on God's wheel as a glorious, obedient nation again.)3. We all have heard the song that says that He didn't throw the clay away. The proper interpretation is not to the individual, it is to the House of Israel! In these verses, God is showing the setting aside of the marred vessel of Israel because of their national rejection of the Messiah (Israel still rejects Jesus Christ), while calling out a Gentile Bride. Then, when God is ready, He will make a new vessel of the Nation of Israel.

"And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." ~ Genesis 5:21-24There are two notable dispositions in the life of Enoch: before and after he begat Methuselah. The Bible teaches that he was sixty-five years old when his son was born, and after that he walked with God. Therefore the first disposition is that he did not walk with God in the first sixty-five years of his life; the second then being that he walked with God for the remaining three-hundred years before his death. The significance of his latter disposition will be dealt with in this article. In Genesis 5 the phrase "Enoch walked with God" is repeated twice. (This repetition, however, is not verbatim in the original language. The Hebrew text in the original MS includes the word ‘with' in the first rendering of this phrase, possibly offering a clue as to the depth of this relationship he had with ‘elohiym). This is significant in that it is unique throughout the entire Bible. The only other person who we know "walked with God" was Noah, and to him was this tribute ascribed to but once (Gen. 6:9). I'm not implying that repetition is indicative of a ‘closer,' or ‘better' walk, but just that it is noteworthy. It is because of this small but significant detail that I chose to write about Enoch as on of my favorite peoples from the history of the Old Testament. Part 1: Enoch the Prophet Before examining the latter disposition in Enoch's life, it will be important to note the meaning of his and his son's names. Enoch fittingly means ‘dedicated', while Methuselah means ‘his death shall bring'; or ‘when he dies, judgment.' Of Methuselah's name, Matthew Henry writes, "it was fair warning to a careless world, a long time before the judgment came." We know that in the year that Methuselah died came the flood. It would be reasonable to assume that God foreknew he would be taking his dedicated servant Enoch early (Gen. 5:24), and left a prophetic message bound within the name of his progeny. This aptly illustrates a mere fragment of the boundless wisdom of God, and of His sovereignty. The prophetic naming of Enoch's son and the subsequent change in his disposition are not simply coincidental. It would appear that they are somehow linked in implication.So with this knowledge of the coming catastrophe through his son, what did Enoch do for three-hundred years? We can't look any further into Enoch without examining what is said of him in the New Testament epistles: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." ~ Jude 1:14, 15 From Jude we learn that Enoch was a genuine prophet of God. The Holy Spirit sealed this information about Enoch into the Word of God through the writer of this epistle and that is all we need to know. Jewish legends aside, it is clear that the early church had at least an oral tradition about the prophecy of Enoch, and that it was important enough to God to be included in His holy book. And what was the prophecy? In the context of these verses from Jude, we understand that he prophesied that Jesus, with a multitude of His saints, is coming and they will execute judgment upon all of the ungodly men of the world. In Enoch's day, only seven generations from Adam, he was proclaiming the coming of a Messiah and the judgment on the wicked. His prophecy applied both to the antediluvian society in which he lived, and to the ages to come. These prophecies set the tone for the three-hundred years of Enoch's walk with God. They may be exemplary of his preaching in an increasingly evil and God-hating world. One would have to be quite intimate with God to continue in this work. Perhaps this life was passed on to Methuselah. Perhaps he trained his son for those three-hundred before he was, as the epistle to the Hebrews expounds, translated. Part 2: Enoch Walked With God Hebrews 11:5 - "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." The first prophecy of the Bible is in Gen. 3:15. The seed of the woman, Christ Jesus, will crush the head of Satan. This speaks of the hope of the Savior to come and his breaking of the curse brought on by Adam. Enoch's prophecy concerning the Messiah, as recorded in Jude, fits as the Bible's second prophecy (it would have been uttered during the 300 years after the birth of Methuselah; a time when we have no other recorded prophecies). This speaks of the judgment of the coming Messiah on the ungodly. Enoch, a righteous man, would have to have known the prophecy of Gen. 3:15 through oral tradition. We can assume this because it was spoken by God to Adam and pertained directly to Adam's lineage. Enoch, being only the seventh generation from Adam, would indeed have clung to the very words of God as they had been passed down through his contemporaries and forefathers. Some time after the birth of Methuselah, Enoch began walking with God. Undoubtedly he, knowing this prophecy of the coming Savior, and having had received himself a prophecy of God of this Savior's coming judgment, began to draw nearer to God than any of his forefathers had. The book of Hebrews tells us two more things about Enoch that pertain to his relationship with God: 1. In the book of Hebrews we read, "By faith Enoch was translated..." By faith in what? I believe this is tells of his pure, unrelenting faith in God which included everything God had spoken to man at that time. He had faith in the three prophecies of the eternal God that had come down to man thus far: the coming savior (the Lord had spoken this to Adam), the prophecy that God had revealed to him of the judgment of the coming Savior and His saints, and the prophecy of the coming catastrophe spoken of through the name of his first son, Methuselah. 2. Also in the book of Hebrews we read, "...for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." We know from the verse in Hebrews that follows this that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Enoch's life was a living testimony of faith and that he diligently sought after God, the rewarder of faith. From this we can also ascertain that Enoch must have had thoughts which were in alignment with the moral nature of God. Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" It is absolutely clear that Enoch was a man who walked with God, and in so walking with God he was in complete agreement with whatever God had to say. Enoch was surely in agreement with God's coming judgment on the wicked world that he lived in. Conclusion The Bible says that Enoch was translated, or, taken up to be with God. Little is known about this man of God except from what a few verses in Genesis, Hebrews and James tell us. However Enoch's testimony, as extrapolated through diligently studying the Word of God, reveals a great deal about this man. "He walked with God," it says twice about Enoch. He prophesied. He listened. He had faith. Although not always, because it is clear that for the first sixty-five years of his life he walked apart from God. Then, after a revelation from God in the prophetic naming of Enoch's son, we can imagine that he seems to put the pieces together: The coming Savior who will crush the head of the serpent; the coming catastrophe that will follow Methuselah's death; the newly revealed prophecy of God of the coming judgment of this Savior along with ten thousand saints. "And Enoch walked with God: And he was not; for God took him." His faith is counted among the faith of those who we regard as the patriarchs. It is a faith worth examining, for we live in an era not unlike that of Enoch, just before the flood. The kingdom of God is at hand, and we could be taken up at any moment.Able to write to you by the grace of God,Aaron EveringhamRomans 12:1,2 Aaron Everingham and his wife Brittany live in Edmonton, Canada, and by the loving grace of God they were saved through the ministry of an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church in June of 2007. He is currently preparing for a life of serving the Lord as a pastor of a local New Testament Baptist Church. For more articles like this one please visit his blog at Aharown Qadowsh.