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The Martyrdom of the Theban Legion
On this day in Christian history, the Roman Emperor Maximian martyred a legion of Christian soldiers. September 22, 2022. Ryan Denison, PhD
Today is the day of salvation
God has told the sinful world, in no uncertain terms, to repent (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:47; Acts of the Apostles 3:19, 17:30). To repent means to change your mind from embrace of sin and rejection of Christ to rejection of sin and embrace of Christ. Those who refuse to repent and turn to Christ in faith will suffer eternal consequences. Given the fact of hell, mankind in his sin is in a dire situation. Why would anyone delay repentance? Yet many do, even while admitting their sin and claiming to see their need for salvation.
James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Once we know what is right, we are responsible to do it. And once we know something is sin, we are responsible to repent of it and forsake it. We dare not delay repentance. There was a time when the Lord shut the door of the ark, and the flood swept everyone outside the ark away (Genesis 7:16). There came a time when the wedding party began, and those who were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom were locked out (Matthew 25:1-13).
On this day in Christian history, the Roman Emperor Maximian martyred a legion of Christian soldiers. September 22, 2022. Ryan Denison, PhD
Tradition holds that on September 22, 286, a legion of Christian soldiers—more than six thousand men—were killed for choosing faithfulness to Jesus over obedience to Caesar.
The legion hailed from the area of Thebes in Egypt and was fiercely loyal to their Roman Emperors, Diocletian and his co-ruler, Maximian. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the Caesars.
Regardless of whether the Theban legion was martyred for refusing to call Caesar Lord or for their refusal to kill their fellow believers, their story of courage and faithfulness has inspired countless generations since.
And though it is highly unlikely that you or I will be faced with the prospect of dying for our faith anytime soon, we don’t have to risk our lives to show those same qualities. Living for Christ and remaining committed to his calling will require courage and faithfulness as well.
So decide right now that you will remain as committed to God in life as the legion from Thebes was in death. And understand that neither would be possible without his help.
Have you asked for that help today?
Today is the day of salvation
God has told the sinful world, in no uncertain terms, to repent (Mark 6:12; Luke 24:47; Acts of the Apostles 3:19, 17:30). To repent means to change your mind from embrace of sin and rejection of Christ to rejection of sin and embrace of Christ. Those who refuse to repent and turn to Christ in faith will suffer eternal consequences. Given the fact of hell, mankind in his sin is in a dire situation. Why would anyone delay repentance? Yet many do, even while admitting their sin and claiming to see their need for salvation.
James 4:17 says, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” Once we know what is right, we are responsible to do it. And once we know something is sin, we are responsible to repent of it and forsake it. We dare not delay repentance. There was a time when the Lord shut the door of the ark, and the flood swept everyone outside the ark away (Genesis 7:16). There came a time when the wedding party began, and those who were not ready for the coming of the bridegroom were locked out (Matthew 25:1-13).
