recognized the Roman's law permitted capital punishment. In fact, two years before this, Paul had written to the Church of Christ at Rome and made a comment on that law. He said, "If thou do evil, be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger of wrath, to him that doeth evil."

Not only was the executioner a minister of God for wrath for the Romans, but God considered the executioner an avenger of wrath ever since the days of Noah. The first law that God made, after Noah came out of the Ark, was the law of capital punishment. In Genesis 9:6, it was the Lord Himself who said, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for, in the image of God made He him. In any presidential election, it is good to see a candidate who has an execution plank in the platform. Moses has an interesting comment on capital punishment when he states in Numbers 35, Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against one person to cause him to die.

In the same chapter, Moses enlarges on this statement. He says, if anyone slay by throwing a stone, he is a murderer and the murderer shall surely be put to death. Would not the throwing of a stone be the same as a bullet? Then again, if anyone smite with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: and the murderer shall surely be put to death. Would not the instrument of iron be the weapon that a doctor uses to perform an abortion?

Evidently, an execution is not considered a murder. Moses broke the Ten Commandments and commanded that the idolaters that worshipped the Golden Calf to be slain and 3000 died by the sword. When you think about it, the flood of Noah's day was capital punishment on a super duper scale. Of course, capital punishment in the absolute will be Hell fire for the unrepentant.

So Paul, knowing that he could not get a fair trial in Jerusalem appealed unto Caesar. If a Roman citizen appealed unto Caesar, Roman law stipulated that he must be sent. Now this, like we said at the beginning, was a problem to Festus. He is backed into a corner where he must send a prisoner to Caesar with no charges against him. This will make Caesar wonder about the sanity of the man he has appointed governor. Just imagine a similar situation in court today. The Judge wants to know what charges are there against the defendant. The defense attorney says there are no charges. The prosecutor says there are no charges. At this point somebody looks awfully stupid.

Festus is desperate. At this point, he sees a way out. King Agrippa has arrived on the scene with Bernice. So Governor Festus lays the case before the king. He frankly tells the King what a predicament he is in and says, it seems to him unreasonable in sending a prisoner not to signify the charges against him. Agrippa whose granddaddy slew the infants at Bethlehem, whose uncle cut off the head of John the Baptist, and whose Father cut off the head of the Apostle James, is very well acquainted with Christians and tells Festus, "I could also wish to hear him." Tomorrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.

Three times in this event those two names are mentioned as a pair - Agrippa and Bernice, Agrippa and Bernice, Agrippa and Bernice. Bernice is not the judge. Why is such a point made about her presence? Agrippa and Bernice! Bernice is the sister of Agrippa. She has been married to another king before and, at this time, is living with her brother. It is generally regarded by historians that this brother and sister were living together in an incestuous relationship. The Holy Spirit links the two together as they are to listen to Paul. Paul's aim, at all times, is the salvation of those who hear him speak. It is not merely Agrippa that is important to Paul, but Agrippa and Bernice. If a decisions is made by Agrippa regarding salvation, it will involve Agrippa and Bernice. This sin of incest clings to both and repentance is needed by both Agrippa and Bernice. If there is no repentance, it will be Agrippa and Bernice that will face Jesus together at the Second Coming. Agrippa and Bernice will see Him together. Agrippa and Bernice will stand side by side in the Judgment. Their sin will still cling to them at that day when we shall all give account unto God. Without repentance, it will be Agrippa and Bernice that will enter Hell together. Ladies and Gentlemen, is there any sin that clings to you, that without repentance will witness against you on that day? Agrippa and Bernice, Agrippa and Bernice, Agrippa and Bernice.

Now let us get back to the problem of Festus. What charge can be made against Paul? Let us look at it again. Many charges were made which could not be proven. Festus can see whatever it is; this Paul is regarded as public enemy number one. What could it possibly be? What terrible crime has he done? Is he a rapist? Is he a child abuser? Is he a drug lord? There is one statement Paul made that made Festus think. Festus told Agrippa, the only thing concrete I can figure out, is this Paul keeps referring to a person named Jesus who is dead, but Paul says he is alive. Now Ladies and Gentlemen, we have the reason for all of Paul's trouble. Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive. That is the one thing the Devil hates the most, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive!

Before I go any further, this needs to be noticed. There are many troubles in church work today. Many churches are in a fight right now or just getting out of one, or getting ready to get in one. The fights among Christian people are like the angels. Their number is innumerable. Is the trouble in your church over money? Is it over the preacher? Is it over some of the members being shacked up? Is it over drugs? Is it over doctrine? All of these things and many more may seem to play a part. But, whatever you think it is, all of those problems caused by the Devil are a cover up for the over riding reason for all church problems. The Devil wants to hijack the empty tomb. He wants to destroy the faith of the Christian in the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, Himself tells us like it is when He said to John in the first chapter of Revelation, I Am He that was alive and was dead, and now, I Am alive forever more and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Today, we can affirm with Paul, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive, and the Devil hates it.

I read a statement by Martin Luther; and the reason I quote Luther is because, although I have said the same thing myself, if I make it some would say there he goes again riding the same old hobby horse, so I'll blame it on somebody else. Here is the statement. There are three things the Devil would like to get rid of. Those three things are number one: the Gospel; number two: the Baptism; and number three: the Lord's Supper. I agree with that one hundred percent. The Devil hates, despises, abominates, and abhors every message I bring to this radio audience regarding any of these three doctrines. Look first at the Gospel.

THE GOSPEL

Paul identifies the gospel when he says, Now I make known unto you first of all the gospel that I preached unto you which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which was preached unto you except ye have believed in vain, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He arose the third day according to the scripture. That is the gospel and the Devil hates it because he knows we have received it, we stand in it, and we are saved by it. He will do everything he can to stop the proclamation of it. The Devil knows that without the open grave, there is no open Heaven.

The Devil knows that the stone that was rolled away from the door of the tomb of Jesus was not a stone of rock. The real stone was the stone of death itself.

Paul said, God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ through which the world is crucified to me and I unto the world. Today many of us may wear crosses of gold studded with precious gems, but the real cross is just as ugly as it was when Jesus died on it. Paul says the world is crucified unto us. Actually, in one sense, the world is doing a good job of crucifying itself.

Marx, Lenin, Krushchev, Stalin, Breschnev, and Gorbachov, dug the hole where the cross of Communism was raised and crucified millions of the Russian people. Sexual perversion has dug the hole where the cross of AIDS was raised to crucify millions in a modern day plague of AIDS, a plague like the Black Death of the middle ages. The women's lib movement has dug the hole that raised the cross of abortion that crucified millions of unborn babies. Atheism has dug the hole where the cross of evolution has crucified the faith of millions of school children. Rejection of the death penalty has dug the hole where the cross of violence has been raised on the streets of America. Lust for money has dug the hole where the cross of drugs was raised to crucify many more millions. Without the cross of Christ and his resurrection, another hole is dug by the sins of the unrepentant sinner where the cross of his own sins is raised for an eternal crucifixion in Hell.

In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time.

All the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'er take me, Hopes deceive and fears annoy. Never shall the cross forsake me, Lo, it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of life is beaming, light and love upon my way.

From the cross a radiance streaming, Adds more luster to the day. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified. Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abides.

No wonder the Devil would like to get rid of the gospel, but he also wants to get rid

of the baptism.

THE BAPTISM

As far as the form of a baptism is concerned here is what the New Testament says: Baptism requires going down into the water. Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. Baptism requires coming up out of the water. When Jesus was baptized He came up out of the water. Baptism is like a burial. Paul says we are  therefore buried with Him by baptism. Baptism is like a resurrection. Paul told the Romans when baptized we arise to walk in newness of life. As to form a scriptural baptism is by immersion.

As far as the purpose is concerned, Jesus said it clearly enough when He said, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Paul was told to arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins. If Paul was saved before he was baptized, he was saved before his sins were forgiven. Peter gives his testimony, which is obviously overlooked by a vast number of preachers, when he said the day the church began, Repent ye and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Devil receives much assistance in getting rid of the purpose of baptism from some preachers. One popular evangelist on a nationwide television program, in speaking of the thief on 'the cross, said the thief did not even have time to get baptized. This is a powerful argument the Devil uses through the mouthpiece of some preachers, that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Listen to the warning of Paul about such statements. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves into ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works. The Devil would like to get rid of the gospel, the baptism and also the Lord's Supper.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

When the Lord's Supper was instituted, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to the disciples and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for you unto remission of sins. In Acts 20, Luke tells us that upon the first day of the week we were gathered together to break bread In the Old Testament the command remember the Sabbath Day meant every Sabbath Day. Upon the first day of the week means every first day of the week.

The Devil wants to get rid of the Lord's Supper because he hates the blood of Christ. To a great extent, he has succeeded. In many cases, and their number is growing, the Devil has shifted the observance of the Lord's Supper to Saturday night to draw away attention from Sunday, the resurrection day. In addition to this, you will note that in any  Church of Christ and or Christian Church, only a third to half of the members are present on a given Sunday. The message is loud and clear. By and large the Devil has gotten rid of the Lord's Supper.

That dreadful night before His death, the lamb for sinners slain,

Did almost with His dying breath this solemn feast ordain

To keep the feast Lord we have met and to remember thee.

Help each redeemed one to repeat, for me He died for me.

And so the battle continues over the blood of Christ as the Devil strives to get rid of

the Gospel, the Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Festus said, "Jesus is dead." The Christian can still affirm with Paul: Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive, Jesus is alive!