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Living by the New Testament in Today’s World

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FAMILY TIES

David is the brother of the late, popular, radio host, Rush Limbaugh, who died of lung cancer at age 70 on February 17, 2021. “He was my best friend. I miss the everyday conversation and 25 or so texts we’d exchange daily.”

When people ask him what it was like at the Limbaugh dinner table when the boys were growing up, David says it was fun, though both boys were quiet, while their dad, also named Rush, did most of the talking. “He was a character and very opinionated,” he says. While Rush was also known for being a character with strong opinions, David says his brother was also a very good listener. David says they were very close and he misses his brother terribly.   

Delighted to collaborate for the first time on a book with his daughter, Christen, a Fox News producer and Bible study leader, David says they worked as a team on all the research and writing. David wrote the initial drafts of each chapter, then Christen would review them for continuity and edit as needed. This is his first book to be punctuated with written prayers for salvation, faith, understanding, peace, and living the kind of life prescribed by Paul’s epistles. Christen wrote nearly all of the prayers, with suggestions by David.  

COLOSSIANS: STAMPING OUT HERESIES 

David makes clear in the book that the Apostle Paul wouldn’t stand for any of the many heresies circulating in his day. “He didn’t hold back, and had no problem being offensive for the sake of Christ. The gospel had to be pure for effectiveness and the power to convert,” he explains.

More false ideologies came about in the early centuries of the church, some of which persist today in various forms. False teachings are dangerous because they strike at the heart of the gospel, David warns. “They devalue Christ’s supremacy and the biblical teaching that salvation can be found only through Him.” Many erroneous teachings involve a distortion of the truth that Christ is both fully God and fully human, such as Adoptionism, Docetism, Apollinarianism, Arianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism.

One heresy which remains today, David says, is the claim that Christianity can’t be exclusively true because it’s just one of many religions. David examines this notion in light of the current demand for “tolerance” in our culture. “If all ideas are correct, then no ideas can be wrong, including mutually contradictory ones.”  

To rightly respond to people who say they accept all views as valid, David poses these searching questions: “Even if they did accept all views, which they don’t, is it moral to falsely claim two mutually contradictory positions are both true? Is it right to deny truth? Is it morally right to contradict the Son of God who so clearly stated that He is the only way to the Father and eternal life? In sum, don’t we have a duty to preach what we believe to be the truth even though it runs afoul of today’s cancel culture?”  

PHILEMON: PAUL ON SLAVERY 

In the book of Philemon, written by Paul during his first Roman imprisonment, David comments on the apostle’s plea to the affluent Philemon. Paul asks the church leader to show grace to his servant, Onesimus, by receiving him back as a Christian brother. David emphasizes here that Paul laid the groundwork for the abolition of slavery, though he was not an activist for the same, his mission being spiritual, not social/political.

David points out that scholars debate whether Paul is requesting full emancipation for Onesimus or just a new sort of relationship between the men. “He could mean that it’s Philemon’s prerogative as to whether he frees him, but even if he doesn’t, he’ll henceforth be honor-bound to accept Onesimus as an equal in Christ which would create an entirely different relationship between the two,” he says. “Regardless of whether Paul is issuing a firm directive, Philemon would surely find it hard to continue to enslave a man whom Paul is now imploring him to recognize as an equal brother in Christ.” 

EPHESIANS: SPIRITUAL WARFARE 

Referring to the book of Ephesians, David remarks that it has been called “one of the most sublime compositions of the kind, that ever came from the pen of man,” the “jewel case of the Bible,” and the “Canyon of Scriptures.” His analysis covers the entire book, concluding with the famous “spiritual armor” admonition of chapter six.

David reminds believers that we must learn to rely on Christ’s strength because we simply cannot fight spiritual enemies in our power solely. “He commands us to put on the whole armor of God, which is figurative but only insofar as likening our spiritual battle gear to the physical. The enemy and the warfare are real, and the imagery of physical shields and weapons impresses upon us the gravity of the spiritual threat confronting us.”

Two of the weapons he elaborates on are the “belt of truth” and the “shield of faith.” Regarding the former, David says, “As the father of lies the devil can’t stand up against God’s truth.” He says believers must preach the gospel in truth, overcoming and resisting the deceit of false teachers who deny that Jesus is fully who He says He is. “There are many mental struggles we encounter because we believe – whether consciously or subconsciously – lies about our identity, just as Adam and Even were originally led astray by the devil.”

David then explains that the shield of faith likely referred to the small, round shield Roman soldiers used to block their enemy’s sword, arrow, or spear. “To don the shield of faith, then, means to reject the temptation to doubt, to sin, or even to quit. By resting in your faith you’ll shield yourself against these assaults,” he encourages.  

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About The Author

Julie Blim
Julie
Blim

Julie produced and assigned a variety of features for The 700 Club since 1996, meeting a host of interesting people across America. Now she produces guest materials, reading a whole lot of inspiring books. A native of Joliet, IL, Julie is grateful for her church, friends, nieces, nephews, dogs, and enjoys tennis, ballroom dancing, and travel.