The Census of Caesar Augustus

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register” (Luke 2:1–3, NIV).

Sadly, too many read those words and overlook the importance of Caesar Augustus’ role in the birth of Christ. Yet it is an excellent example of how God works through the will of man to accomplish his own purposes. Because of Caesar Augustus, God the Father’s plan for the entry of his Son into this sin-cursed world happened exactly on schedule.

This pagan king considered himself to be a god. He ruled the entire Mediterranean world from Parthia to Britain and ushered in the Pax Romana or Roman peace. As a result he had the power to enforce his will on the Jews.

Rulers usually demanded a census so that they would know how many able-bodied men were available for military service. In the case of the Jews, Augustus wanted to know how much tax money he could exact from them. Why he insisted that they travel to their hometowns is a mystery. He did not realize that, by enforcing his own will on the Jews, he was carrying out the sovereign will of God.

From eternity past God determined to put his marvellous plan of salvation into action by sending Jesus as a little baby at that particular point in time (Galatians 4:4). Six hundred years before Jesus’ birth, Daniel prophesied that in the time of the fourth kingdom, God would set up an eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44). The fourth kingdom was the Roman Empire. Moreover the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem according to Micah 5:2.

How wonderful are God’s plans! He would accomplish his plan of salvation in history as promised from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15). Jesus, who is the promised Seed, came to earth to die for sinners. Caesar Augustus played a pivotal role in this plan.     

www.tale2k.com 

The Unity of the Scriptures

<> Have you ever had trouble reading through the entire Bible? Once when I was a teenager, my Mom offered me ten dollars if I could do it. Sadly, I never took her up on her offer.

My book, A Tale of Two Kingdoms, traces the history of salvation throughout the Scriptures. It shows how the Lord planned and carried out our salvation from the beginning to the end of time. God’s plan is the greatest love story ever told! How Satan and people react is an important part of the story.

This book started out being an essay about eschatology or the end times. Twelve years ago I offered to do some research for my pastor on the apostolic fathers. They were the first few generations of Christian authors after the apostles. He thought that they should be closest to the truth. However, a booklet by George Fletcher changed my focus from eschatology to God’s marvellous plan of salvation. I had never thought about the timeline of the Bible before.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord promised to send a Saviour. Throughout the Old Testament God prepared for the coming of the promised Seed. Therefore the first part of the book is entitled Waiting for the Promised Seed. The last chapter in this section deals with Jewish writings between the Old and New Testaments. The second part of the book, called Responding to the Promised Seed, considers the work of Jesus on earth and the development of the early Church. The final chapter discusses the beliefs of the first few generations of Christian writers after the apostles. This is the essay that I promised my pastor!

This story has a villain—Satan. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, Satan became a defeated foe. The cover on my book shows very emphatically that Jesus is the victor.

Dr. Adams, past principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary, kindly checked the book for theological accuracy and made many suggestions. Mostly he asked me to add parts of the story that I had left out in the New Testament. Then a Christian editor critiqued it for sales appeal. He said it was well written, but people would want to know who I am and why I write the way I do. Therefore he told me to do three things, which I did. My testimony is scattered throughout the book. There are pull quotes to draw the reader into the book. Every chapter ends with five “Points to Ponder.”

It is a very easy read. My ninety-three-year old mother-in-law read it in two weeks and then proceeded to be a missionary in her own home. My heart’s desire is that the book will encourage all believers to reach out to those around them with the good news of the gospel. To me, the book has turned into a very long tract.

Some other people are reading it more slowly and using the book as a launching pad for their own personal studies. My daughter-in-law discovered that the index is an excellent tool for her to teach Bible characters at the Christian School where she works. There are also maps and, of course, a timeline. “Points to Ponder” at the end of each chapter serve as a devotional guide.

For more information check out www.tale2k.com.