On Saturday we traveled to the small site of th ancient town of Pella. Pella overlooks the Jordan Valley and Israel to the West. Its connection to the Church of God comes from the time in the first century when Christians fled Jerusalem as it was being surrounded by the armies of Rome. This group, called in history Nazarenes, kept the Sabbath and holy days. They obeyed God's law, kept the dietary laws of Leviticus and understood the resurrection of the dead. They also understood the need to flee Jerusalem in light of Christ's warning in Matthew 24 to flee the city should they see approaching trouble.

This group remained in Pella for sixty years before a part of the group desired to return to Jerusalem. As a condition of their assimilation back into the religious climate of the second century they had to renounce any observance of the law. This meant they gave up the all observance of God's way that made them look like Jews. In short they adopted heretical teachings including observance of the first day of the week.

However, a small group remained in Pella and maintained their distinct character. They eventually migrated into the mists of history.

Jude 3 instructs us to contend for the faith once delivered. Every generation of God's people have had to guard and maintain the truth of God in a hostile world. I suspect the future will hold additional challenges for God's people.

I will upload an audio of the file of the message.