Our Ordained Nation ...
United States of America

The Asking, the Search, the Knock, the Travel ... "Remember"

No clearer statement of the intimate interworking of the God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and especially of the Spirit’s powerful role can be found in the Old Testament than in Isaiah’s prophecy of the Servant of the Lord (Is. 42:1–9).

The passage of Isaiah summarizes the redeeming work of all three Persons for salvation of the lost. Thus it ties together in remarkable harmony both the Old Testament and New Testament understandings of God’s grace. It also sheds light on our understanding of the Holy Spirit.

A Commentary for Acts 17:26
(26) And hath made of one blood all nations of men.--Literally, every nation. The previous verses had given what we may venture to call St. Paul's Philosophy of Religion. This gives his Philosophy of History. And the position was one which no Greek, above all, no Athenian, was likely to accept. For him the distinction between the Greek and the barbarian was radical and essential. The one was by nature meant to be the slave of the other. (Aristot. Pol. i. 2, 6.)

In rising above his own prejudices of fancied superiority of race, the Apostle felt that he could attack, as from a vantage-ground, the prejudices of others. He naturally accepted the truth as it was presented to him in the Mosaic history of the Creation; but the truth itself, stated in its fullest form, would remain, even if we were to accept other theories of the origin of species and the history of man.

There is a oneness of physical structure, of conditions and modes of life, of possible or actual development, which forbids any one race or nation, to assume for itself that it is the cream and flower of humanity. Few words, even in St. Paul's teaching, are more pregnant with significance. They justify all that the wise of heart have said as to the "manifold wisdom of God," as seen in history and in the education of mankind.

The special gifts of character of each race--
Hebrew thought of God,
Greek sense of beauty,
Roman sense of law,
Teutonic truthfulness,
Keltic impulsiveness, docility
--have all their work to do.

All local circumstances of soil and climate that influence character come under the head of the "bounds of men's habitation." All conditions of time--the period at which each race has been called to play its part in the drama of the world's history--come under the head of the "appointed seasons."

A Pulpit Commentary Acts 17:26 - From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. From the unity of God Paul deduces the unity of the human race, all created by God, all sprung from one ancestor, or one blood (whichever scripture spoken), and so not to have their several national gods, but all to be united in the worship of the one true and living God, the Father of them all.

It may be remarked by the way that the languages of the earth, differing like the skins and the features of the different races, and corresponding to those various bounds assigned by God to their habitations, yet bear distinct and emphatic testimony to this unity. They are variations, more or less extended, of the speech of man. Bounds of their habitation; τὰς ὀροθεσίας κ.τ.λ.: the word only occurs here; elsewhere, though rarely, τὰ ὀροθέσια.

The Modern Appeal of Our Steadfast Faith

The initial appeal of the Ancient Faith is as strong to-day as it has ever been. Faith attracts as good men now as in the past. But in the absence of a dedicated effort to teach quickly what in a more leisurely age could be spread over many years, the Faith of our ancestors often fails to hold the interest of the new brother and sister against the many attractions of modern life. Habits of attendance and interest in the Faith should be created while the first enthusiasm is high; moreover, every seeker has an inherent opportunity to understand the reality, the meaning of faih's mysteries, the truth of tenets, and the significance of believers symbols.

Faith is a sacred bond extending throughout the world, and never are the faithful truly alone, fitting our minds as "living stones"for that spiritual building, during our travels to that undiscovered country, that house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens. One who is dedicated, recognizing a need for justice, truth, charity, freedom, and true moral integrity to their Living God and with all aspects of mankind more especially a family trusting of Christ Jesus.

To define our Faith, a well found truth..."we admit that it is not in the power of any man, or body of men, to make innovations in the body of Faith."

But why? Why should I let God redefine me? Why should I release every last part of my will to this process? What will God do in my life if I say yes? If you are not asking these kinds of questions, you should.

Christ Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:1-5 NIV)

Emmanuel, "God with us," delivers to the mind a few verses in Matthew (28:17-20): When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”