The Christian Home – Children
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
THE CHRISTIAN HOME IS MADE UP OF FATHERS, MOTHER, AND CHILDREN. Of course, the total family structure includes grandparents, great-grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunts, etc. But the Christian Home is limited to those who are “in thine house.” Within “thine house” may include grandparents or someone who has been taken in. But our text today is speaking of those who are in authority: mother and father, and those who are under authority: children.
THE CHRISTIAN HOME IS PATTERNED AFTER THE JEWISH HOME, established under the Law of Moses. The moral code of the Mosaic Ten Commandments was carried over into the structure and conduct of the early Christian church. There was a transition period when almost all of the Christians were Jewish, and these Jewish Christians continued to attend the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem and Jewish synagogues scattered about. They observed Jewish customs. They studied and taught their children the Old Testament Scriptures.
It was only when Christians were driven out of the Jerusalem Temple and Synagogues that they began to meet in each other’s homes. The conversion of the apostle Paul and his writings was a serious break of Jewish Christians from the Jewish mold. Herod’s Temple was finished in A.D. 64 and hundreds if not thousands of men were put out of work. Discontent against Rome increased, and revolt set in. In A.D. 70, Titus and his army destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem and slaughtered a million Jews who had gathered for Passover.
I have read that the Christians were warned by the Lord and they left town before the destruction of Jerusalem. With the Temple and Jerusalem gone, the Christians were then completely cut off from their Jewish ancestry and made the final transition to a separate identity from Judaism.
CHILDREN CONTINUED TO BE BORN AND THEY WERE TAUGHT THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES. Christians had no New Testament books for about 30 years. James, the brother of Jesus, was the leader of several thousands of Christians in Jerusalem. This James wrote the book of James. Other books followed.
The Christian doctrinal books of Paul retained much influence from the Old Testament. Paul wrote to young Timothy: And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2Timothy 3:15)
What “holy scriptures” was Paul talking about? The only “holy scriptures” that existed: the Jewish Old Testament. The New Testament had not yet been written. In America, we commonly speak of our Judeo-Christian Heritage. When we speak of a Christian home, I think it is proper that we speak of our Judeo-Christian home. Without the Old Testament we would not have a New Testament, nor proof of its validity. The two strongest elements of truth proof we have for the Christian faith are fulfilled Old Testament prophecies and the resurrection of Christ from the dead.
IT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO REVIEW OUR JEWISH ROOTS if we are going to define a “Christian Home” and decide how we should raise our children in a “Christian Home.” I have not wandered off-base in reviewing our Christian heritage from the days of Judaism.
It is essential that we know what we are talking about when we say: “Christian Home.” It is indeed, Jewish in its roots, though we do not retain the ceremonial and civil parts of Jewish Scripture. We retain the moral code of Jewish law, Jewish prophecies, Jewish history, Jewish explanation of creation, the Jewish Savior and the Jewish home.
JACOB SAID: The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10) "Shiloh" is Our Lord Jesus Christ, the promised Jewish messiah as promised by Jacob.
AND MOSES SAID: The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; (Deuteronomy 18:15)
WHAT SHOULD A CHRISTIAN HOME TEACH ITS CHILDREN? We should have them memorize our text for today, and some other closely related verses, plus the stories and prophecies of the Old and New Testament. We should especially teach our children about the promised Savior, his life, death and resurrection and future return to earth and His kingdom. We should teach the authority and reliability of the Scriptures and God’s way of living on this earth.
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9)
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:9-11)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16) Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
FEBRUARY 12, 2018 – MONDAY
A.M. Leviticus 14 P.M. Matthew 26:55-75
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
A Good Verse to Memorize:
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. (1Corinthians 10:31)
Song for Today:
The Blood That Stained the Old Rugged Cross (3:21)( Evangelist Lester Roloff)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPN2n3PtJ8
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