Romans 6:23 tells us clearly the punishment for sin is death. The Old Testament sacrificial system illustrated this fact. One who sinned brought an offering to the priest. The sinner placed his hands on the animal, symbolically transferring guilt to the animal. The priest killed the animal, put blood on the altar and burned the offering. The perfect animal died in the place of the sinner. Leviticus describes the required sacrifices.
When the New Testament says Christ died for our sins, it is a similar process. We, like the Old Testament Israelites, bear the guilt of sin and need atonement. Jesus bore the penalty for our sins as foretold by the sacrificial system. His blood atoned our sins. The Father accepted the Son's sacrifice, even more pleasing to him than the aroma of burnt offerings.
We know this because animals were repeatedly sacrificed, but Christ died once for all.
You can no longer take car of your sin problem by sacrificing animals. That age has ended for all time. Now you must believe in Christ and receive him to receive the benefit of his sacrificial death and sinless life.
Now would be a good time.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
It is the 120th anniversary of Spurgeon's death. He was only 57 when he died. Yet, his sermon manuscripts fill 63 volumes. People still read them, along with his books, articles and tracts. He defended the gospel from downgrade. His devotional book is read every day by millions, morning and evening. He built a large church on preaching and prayer. What a prolific and faithful servant. Well done, sir. Well done.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
2 TIMOTHY 2
Carry On The Ministry
2:1-7
In chapter 1, Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong and to avoid being ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. He urged him to guard the gospel. He gave examples of those who were ashamed and abandoned him. But he concluded with the example of Onesiphorus, who was not ashamed of Paul, but rather came to Rome and searched until he found Paul and helped him. So, when Paul says “you then”, he refers to these examples.
Paul told Timothy several things to do in ministry. They are part of not being ashamed of the gospel. He told him to:
1. teach the gospel to others who will be able to teach;
2. share in suffering; and
3. avoid entanglements in the world.
First, Paul instructed Timothy to teach others who would be able to teach. The heart of the gospel ministry is to teach and preach the gospel message. Jesus commissioned the apostles to do it. He told them to teach their disciples to observe all things that Jesus commanded them. (Matthew 28:20) They were to take what they were taught by Christ and teach it to others. Jesus specifically instructed Peter to do this. He said three times “feed my sheep”. (John 21:15-17)
The apostles understood their mandate. They immediately began to teach and preach. The Jews arrested them. (Acts 5:18) The high priest said “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. (Acts 5:28)
The apostles protected their teaching time by appointing deacons to accomplish the ministry to widows. They said “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Acts 6:2.
Paul continued the work of the apostles, preaching and teaching all over Europe and Asia. He found younger men who could preach and teach and trained them, then sent them out to churches. Now he wants Timothy to do the same. This is the pattern of ministry that built the church and the pattern that should continue today.
Second, Paul told Timothy to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3) This is somewhat like his instruction in 1 Timothy 1:18 to wage the good warfare. He wanted Timothy to take the fight to the enemy even though it resulted in suffering. He wanted him to be aggressive for the gospel, out there preaching and teaching the gospel without reservation and without corruption. Both the Romans and the Jews would come to persecute those who did so. But it was God’s calling.
Third, Paul told Timothy to avoid entanglements in the world that would sidetrack his ministry. He said no soldier gets involved in civilian pursuits. Rather he fights to please his commander. (2:4). This applies to preachers and teachers first of all. They are to be devoted to teaching the gospel, teaching the Bible, not involved to distraction in other things, such as politics or sports or the accumulation of wealth. The Word comes first.
But it also applies to all of us in a way. There is not really a secular world and a religious world. We believe all the world comes under the domain of Christ. Abraham Kuyper said “In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, That is mine!"
We have the duty to live for Christ and speak for Christ at all times. There is no time off and no secular space. We live first to please God.
Paul gave two examples. First, the athlete only wins the prize if he competes according to the rules. Those who try to jump in at the end of a marathon and claim to win are disqualified. Jesus made the rules for us. He often called them commandments. To please him, we must follow his instructions. We must obey his commandments. We must want to do this. Jesus said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”. (John 14:15) It is we who have created exceptions to living totally to please him. He calls us to it full time.
The second example Paul used is that of a farmer. The hard working farmer gets the first share. (6) Paul again encouraged Timothy to be strong in the task, to get out there and engage the world for Christ.
Now, drop back to verse one of this chapter. Paul told Timothy to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. This faithful, hard work of the ministry can be done despite Timothy’s human nature and ours. We draw our strength from grace. God knows we are weak. Some are weak because they have timid natures. Some are weak because they are prone to pride. He does not expect us to rely on our own strength. We should not expect it either. Rather we constantly seek and receive his strength, then move out in faith to rely upon it.
Notice here that Paul does not ask Timothy to remove his mind from the process. Too many in our day stress emotion and minimize the mind. Paul told Timothy to think over these things and God would give him understanding. (7) God would provide the understanding as Timothy used his mind on the problem. That is why God renews our minds when he regenerates us. So we can know and understand more of his mind and behave accordingly.
Romans 12:1-2 tells us that it is this renewal of the mind that transforms us from understanding the world to discerning the will of God. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they could live in a way that fully pleased God. And in doing so they would even increase more in knowledge. (Colossians 1:9-11)
I love the fact that Ravi Zacharias calls his radio show “Let My People Think”. He challenges the church to think about everything in Biblical terms. Then he goes to non-believers and challenges their thinking also.
To further strengthen Timothy, Paul even preached the gospel to him. He said “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel…” (8) Certainly Timothy had not forgotten the facts of Christ and his resurrection. But they needed to be a present reality for him. Paul continually burned with passion because he experienced the risen Christ and longed to please him. His divinity (his being God) was proven by his rising from the dead.
Your religion can get really abstract. You can go through the motions. You can look good, but be rotten on the inside. You can be intimidated by atheists and liberals. Eventually you will come to doubt.
But consider this if you believe Christ rose from the dead. It is the most revolutionary fact in history. It means he defeated death and reigns in heaven. It means all will stand before him in judgment. It means he is the only thing that ultimately matter.
For example, Jesus does not exist to make your marriage better. Your marriage exists to glorify Christ. Jesus does not exist to make your job better. Your work exists to bring glory to Christ.
That is why those early church members were so crazy about Christ and about each other. They believed in the resurrection and it was the most exciting thought they had and it consumed them. It consumed them so much, awe came upon them. (Acts 2:43). They devoted themselves to the study of the word as taught by the apostles, to fellowship with each other, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) They went to the Temple every day, then went home and had meals together.
They shared everything they had together. They did this because possessions were not near as important as having fellowship with everyone who believed in Christ and his resurrection. They were grateful for what they had. They were so radical and excited and good that people came and joined them every day.
Have you seen the video on YouTube of the kids reading John 3:16? It was made by Focus on the Family and they played it during a football game. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1fdAHbUM9o&feature=endscreen&NR=1.
At the end, a kid says “wow!”. And it is “wow”!
What happened to us? What happened that we hear the gospel preached and we do not say “wow”. What happened to make it so people do not come to worship for a year at a time, do not read God’s word (I mean, it is God’s Word!), we do not talk to God, we do not live for him or talk about him or worship him?
Let’s repent and get our “wow” back!
2 TIMOTHY 2
Carry On The Ministry
2:1-7
In chapter 1, Paul exhorted Timothy to be strong and to avoid being ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. He urged him to guard the gospel. He gave examples of those who were ashamed and abandoned him. But he concluded with the example of Onesiphorus, who was not ashamed of Paul, but rather came to Rome and searched until he found Paul and helped him. So, when Paul says “you then”, he refers to these examples.
Paul told Timothy several things to do in ministry. They are part of not being ashamed of the gospel. He told him to:
1. teach the gospel to others who will be able to teach;
2. share in suffering; and
3. avoid entanglements in the world.
First, Paul instructed Timothy to teach others who would be able to teach. The heart of the gospel ministry is to teach and preach the gospel message. Jesus commissioned the apostles to do it. He told them to teach their disciples to observe all things that Jesus commanded them. (Matthew 28:20) They were to take what they were taught by Christ and teach it to others. Jesus specifically instructed Peter to do this. He said three times “feed my sheep”. (John 21:15-17)
The apostles understood their mandate. They immediately began to teach and preach. The Jews arrested them. (Acts 5:18) The high priest said “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. (Acts 5:28)
The apostles protected their teaching time by appointing deacons to accomplish the ministry to widows. They said “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Acts 6:2.
Paul continued the work of the apostles, preaching and teaching all over Europe and Asia. He found younger men who could preach and teach and trained them, then sent them out to churches. Now he wants Timothy to do the same. This is the pattern of ministry that built the church and the pattern that should continue today.
Second, Paul told Timothy to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3) This is somewhat like his instruction in 1 Timothy 1:18 to wage the good warfare. He wanted Timothy to take the fight to the enemy even though it resulted in suffering. He wanted him to be aggressive for the gospel, out there preaching and teaching the gospel without reservation and without corruption. Both the Romans and the Jews would come to persecute those who did so. But it was God’s calling.
Third, Paul told Timothy to avoid entanglements in the world that would sidetrack his ministry. He said no soldier gets involved in civilian pursuits. Rather he fights to please his commander. (2:4). This applies to preachers and teachers first of all. They are to be devoted to teaching the gospel, teaching the Bible, not involved to distraction in other things, such as politics or sports or the accumulation of wealth. The Word comes first.
But it also applies to all of us in a way. There is not really a secular world and a religious world. We believe all the world comes under the domain of Christ. Abraham Kuyper said “In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign, does not declare, That is mine!"
We have the duty to live for Christ and speak for Christ at all times. There is no time off and no secular space. We live first to please God.
Paul gave two examples. First, the athlete only wins the prize if he competes according to the rules. Those who try to jump in at the end of a marathon and claim to win are disqualified. Jesus made the rules for us. He often called them commandments. To please him, we must follow his instructions. We must obey his commandments. We must want to do this. Jesus said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”. (John 14:15) It is we who have created exceptions to living totally to please him. He calls us to it full time.
The second example Paul used is that of a farmer. The hard working farmer gets the first share. (6) Paul again encouraged Timothy to be strong in the task, to get out there and engage the world for Christ.
Now, drop back to verse one of this chapter. Paul told Timothy to “be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. This faithful, hard work of the ministry can be done despite Timothy’s human nature and ours. We draw our strength from grace. God knows we are weak. Some are weak because they have timid natures. Some are weak because they are prone to pride. He does not expect us to rely on our own strength. We should not expect it either. Rather we constantly seek and receive his strength, then move out in faith to rely upon it.
Notice here that Paul does not ask Timothy to remove his mind from the process. Too many in our day stress emotion and minimize the mind. Paul told Timothy to think over these things and God would give him understanding. (7) God would provide the understanding as Timothy used his mind on the problem. That is why God renews our minds when he regenerates us. So we can know and understand more of his mind and behave accordingly.
Romans 12:1-2 tells us that it is this renewal of the mind that transforms us from understanding the world to discerning the will of God. Paul prayed that the Colossians would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that they could live in a way that fully pleased God. And in doing so they would even increase more in knowledge. (Colossians 1:9-11)
I love the fact that Ravi Zacharias calls his radio show “Let My People Think”. He challenges the church to think about everything in Biblical terms. Then he goes to non-believers and challenges their thinking also.
To further strengthen Timothy, Paul even preached the gospel to him. He said “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel…” (8) Certainly Timothy had not forgotten the facts of Christ and his resurrection. But they needed to be a present reality for him. Paul continually burned with passion because he experienced the risen Christ and longed to please him. His divinity (his being God) was proven by his rising from the dead.
Your religion can get really abstract. You can go through the motions. You can look good, but be rotten on the inside. You can be intimidated by atheists and liberals. Eventually you will come to doubt.
But consider this if you believe Christ rose from the dead. It is the most revolutionary fact in history. It means he defeated death and reigns in heaven. It means all will stand before him in judgment. It means he is the only thing that ultimately matter.
For example, Jesus does not exist to make your marriage better. Your marriage exists to glorify Christ. Jesus does not exist to make your job better. Your work exists to bring glory to Christ.
That is why those early church members were so crazy about Christ and about each other. They believed in the resurrection and it was the most exciting thought they had and it consumed them. It consumed them so much, awe came upon them. (Acts 2:43). They devoted themselves to the study of the word as taught by the apostles, to fellowship with each other, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42) They went to the Temple every day, then went home and had meals together.
They shared everything they had together. They did this because possessions were not near as important as having fellowship with everyone who believed in Christ and his resurrection. They were grateful for what they had. They were so radical and excited and good that people came and joined them every day.
Have you seen the video on YouTube of the kids reading John 3:16? It was made by Focus on the Family and they played it during a football game. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1fdAHbUM9o&feature=endscreen&NR=1.
At the end, a kid says “wow!”. And it is “wow”!
What happened to us? What happened that we hear the gospel preached and we do not say “wow”. What happened to make it so people do not come to worship for a year at a time, do not read God’s word (I mean, it is God’s Word!), we do not talk to God, we do not live for him or talk about him or worship him?
Let’s repent and get our “wow” back!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
PAUL'S FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO TIMOTHY
2 TIMOTHY 1:10-18
THE WORK OF CHRIST
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
Let’s talk about death for a minute. When God placed Adam in the Garden, he gave him instructions. In my opinion, he made a covenant with him. He said in Genesis 2:16: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that eat of it you shall surely die.” Adam ate the fruit of the tree. He violated the covenant with God. He disobeyed God’s instructions. So God, who is always faithful to fulfill his part of the covenant, imposed death upon Adam. First, there was spiritual death. God drove him out of the Garden and out of his presence. He also was condemned to physical death, for he was prevented from reaching the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22).
Paul picked up the theme in Romans 5 as he compared Christ to Adam. He wrote “…sin came into the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin…” (Romans 5:12).
So, we inherit death through Adam. This is the theological concept of original sin. There are two thoughts that are relevant to this. First, because Adam sinned, every human being born since then, including you, entered the world with a fallen nature. We have sinful tendencies and desires from birth. David acknowledged this in Psalm 51:5. Jesus said “…whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God”. John 3:18. We are children of wrath unless and until we become children of God. Ephesians 2:1-3. If you do not believe children are sinners, go to the children’s building and watch.
Second, the guilt of Adam's sin is credited not just to Adam but to all of us. God regards us as having sinned in Adam. Therefore we deserve the same punishment as Adam. So, we inherit sin and death from Adam.
But do not worry if you think this is unfair. The Bible says we all sin. Romans 3:23. And the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23. So, either way you get to the fact that you sin and you must die. Every man and woman must die physical death unless they are blessed to be alive at the Second Coming. That is the judgment on mankind.
But part of Adam’s punishment was banishment from the presence of God. Not only will we die physically, but we will die spiritually. Hell is the place where those who reject God are gathered to live outside of his presence and blessing. So it will be terrible. It is so bad, Revelation calls it the Second Death. Revelation 20:14-15 describe it as a lake of fire.
Jesus spoke of eternal punishment in parables. In the parable of the weeds, Matthew 13:24-30, he said used weeds as a symbol of those who rejected Christ and said the weeds would be gathered first and burned (verse 30). He explained the parable to his disciples in verses 36-43. He said “…at the close of the age the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all breakers and thrown them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashingof teeth. (verses 39-43).
There is only one exception. That is the gospel message. Here, in 2 Timothy 1: 10, Paul said Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality. When we commit our lives to Christ and repent of our sins, God imputes our sin to Christ who paid for it on the cross. He also imputes Christ righteousness to us and gives us eternal life.
This physical body will die for now. But our spirit will live forever. And one day, Christ will renew and remake our physical bodies and we will walk the new earth forever in them and in his presence.
In 2 Timothy 1:11, Paul states again that he was appointed to preach this message (preacher), to take it to other nations (apostle) and to teach its ramifications (teacher). This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11).
This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) Why was he persecuted? Why do men hate the gospel message and the people who preach it? If it is such good news, why do many react so violently to it?
I think it is because it puts all power on God and none on man. Man is only saved because God has mercy on him and extends grace. It is not because of personal worth or good works. We would rather think God must accept us because we are acceptable for whatever reason. Jesus said they hated me and they will hate you.
Paul suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV.
However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
How could Timothy do that? How can we do it? Paul told Timothy in verse 13-14. He said “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
Timothy was to follow the teaching of Paul. Paul followed the teaching of Christ. Make of list of the things Paul taught and put them up against a list of the things Christ taught and see how they match up.
What of us? We are to follow the teaching of Christ and of the apostles. Read and study your Bible. Listen to sound teaching. Only by knowing the truth do you recognize counterfeit. You must do this to be safe.
The job of the teacher is to learn the text and teach what it means. It is not the job of the teacher or the theologian to come up with new ideas that are not Biblically based. It is not the job of the teacher or the theologian to explain away the text. Be on guard when any message starts with the words “this does not really mean this”. It is the inspired word of God. You may not change it.
Does any false teaching or preaching occur today? Since there is no accountability for media based ministries, you have to judge what they say. There are some great ones. There are some terrible ones. There are many cults and spin offs of Christianity. You must guard against them. And if you are a teacher, you are even more accountable.
Part of Paul’s suffering was due to the fact that many he won to Christ abandoned him. In verse 15, he states that all in Asia turned against him. He named two men specifically. In contrast, he touted Onesiphourus, who stayed faithful to Paul and even found him in Rome and refreshed him. To him Paul said the Lord would grant mercy on the day of Judgment. The implication is that those who abandoned him would not find mercy, but rather judgment, for they had fallen away.
Follow the steps of Paul and Timothy. Whether you are persecuted or abandoned or live in freedom, proclaim the Gospel, guard the Gospel and bring glory to God.
2 TIMOTHY 1:10-18
THE WORK OF CHRIST
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
Let’s talk about death for a minute. When God placed Adam in the Garden, he gave him instructions. In my opinion, he made a covenant with him. He said in Genesis 2:16: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that eat of it you shall surely die.” Adam ate the fruit of the tree. He violated the covenant with God. He disobeyed God’s instructions. So God, who is always faithful to fulfill his part of the covenant, imposed death upon Adam. First, there was spiritual death. God drove him out of the Garden and out of his presence. He also was condemned to physical death, for he was prevented from reaching the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22).
Paul picked up the theme in Romans 5 as he compared Christ to Adam. He wrote “…sin came into the world through one man (Adam) and death through sin…” (Romans 5:12).
So, we inherit death through Adam. This is the theological concept of original sin. There are two thoughts that are relevant to this. First, because Adam sinned, every human being born since then, including you, entered the world with a fallen nature. We have sinful tendencies and desires from birth. David acknowledged this in Psalm 51:5. Jesus said “…whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God”. John 3:18. We are children of wrath unless and until we become children of God. Ephesians 2:1-3. If you do not believe children are sinners, go to the children’s building and watch.
Second, the guilt of Adam's sin is credited not just to Adam but to all of us. God regards us as having sinned in Adam. Therefore we deserve the same punishment as Adam. So, we inherit sin and death from Adam.
But do not worry if you think this is unfair. The Bible says we all sin. Romans 3:23. And the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23. So, either way you get to the fact that you sin and you must die. Every man and woman must die physical death unless they are blessed to be alive at the Second Coming. That is the judgment on mankind.
But part of Adam’s punishment was banishment from the presence of God. Not only will we die physically, but we will die spiritually. Hell is the place where those who reject God are gathered to live outside of his presence and blessing. So it will be terrible. It is so bad, Revelation calls it the Second Death. Revelation 20:14-15 describe it as a lake of fire.
Jesus spoke of eternal punishment in parables. In the parable of the weeds, Matthew 13:24-30, he said used weeds as a symbol of those who rejected Christ and said the weeds would be gathered first and burned (verse 30). He explained the parable to his disciples in verses 36-43. He said “…at the close of the age the son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all breakers and thrown them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashingof teeth. (verses 39-43).
There is only one exception. That is the gospel message. Here, in 2 Timothy 1: 10, Paul said Christ abolished death and brought life and immortality. When we commit our lives to Christ and repent of our sins, God imputes our sin to Christ who paid for it on the cross. He also imputes Christ righteousness to us and gives us eternal life.
This physical body will die for now. But our spirit will live forever. And one day, Christ will renew and remake our physical bodies and we will walk the new earth forever in them and in his presence.
In 2 Timothy 1:11, Paul states again that he was appointed to preach this message (preacher), to take it to other nations (apostle) and to teach its ramifications (teacher). This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11).
This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) Why was he persecuted? Why do men hate the gospel message and the people who preach it? If it is such good news, why do many react so violently to it?
I think it is because it puts all power on God and none on man. Man is only saved because God has mercy on him and extends grace. It is not because of personal worth or good works. We would rather think God must accept us because we are acceptable for whatever reason. Jesus said they hated me and they will hate you.
Paul suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV.
However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
How could Timothy do that? How can we do it? Paul told Timothy in verse 13-14. He said “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
Timothy was to follow the teaching of Paul. Paul followed the teaching of Christ. Make of list of the things Paul taught and put them up against a list of the things Christ taught and see how they match up.
What of us? We are to follow the teaching of Christ and of the apostles. Read and study your Bible. Listen to sound teaching. Only by knowing the truth do you recognize counterfeit. You must do this to be safe.
The job of the teacher is to learn the text and teach what it means. It is not the job of the teacher or the theologian to come up with new ideas that are not Biblically based. It is not the job of the teacher or the theologian to explain away the text. Be on guard when any message starts with the words “this does not really mean this”. It is the inspired word of God. You may not change it.
Does any false teaching or preaching occur today? Since there is no accountability for media based ministries, you have to judge what they say. There are some great ones. There are some terrible ones. There are many cults and spin offs of Christianity. You must guard against them. And if you are a teacher, you are even more accountable.
Part of Paul’s suffering was due to the fact that many he won to Christ abandoned him. In verse 15, he states that all in Asia turned against him. He named two men specifically. In contrast, he touted Onesiphourus, who stayed faithful to Paul and even found him in Rome and refreshed him. To him Paul said the Lord would grant mercy on the day of Judgment. The implication is that those who abandoned him would not find mercy, but rather judgment, for they had fallen away.
Follow the steps of Paul and Timothy. Whether you are persecuted or abandoned or live in freedom, proclaim the Gospel, guard the Gospel and bring glory to God.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
I often stay at the office after the staff leaves. In the winter, that means walking out of the empty building alone, into the dark night. The empty and dark parking garage echoes my footsteps. It reminds me of the poem by Thomas Gray "Elegy Written In A Country Churchyard".
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.
The plowman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
The curfew tolls the knell of parting day,
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.
The plowman homeward plods his weary way
And leaves the world to darkness and to me.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Genesis 39 tells the story of Joseph coming to Potipher's house in Egypt. His brothers sold him as a slave. But he served his master faithfully. God was with him. God blessed his work. Potipher benefited from the blessing. So Potipher began to notice Joseph and promote him.
Work can be a challenging environment. All kinds of people are there. Some are not nice. Some ate poor workers. Some cause problems for everybody.
God is with the believer at work. God will bless you at work. It may not be with promotions; it may be the chance to live for him and even talk about him. We are to work for his glory. Paul said to do everything for the glory of God.
When you work for God's glory in the work place, you work diligently at your assigned tasks. You exhibit the fruit of the spirit in the work place. You love the unlovely, care for the needy and go the extra mile.
When you live out your faith at work, you will be blessed and your employer will be blessed through you. And God will be glorified in you. Jesus said to let your light shine before the men and women in your workplace, and your co-workers will see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
That is your real job.
Work can be a challenging environment. All kinds of people are there. Some are not nice. Some ate poor workers. Some cause problems for everybody.
God is with the believer at work. God will bless you at work. It may not be with promotions; it may be the chance to live for him and even talk about him. We are to work for his glory. Paul said to do everything for the glory of God.
When you work for God's glory in the work place, you work diligently at your assigned tasks. You exhibit the fruit of the spirit in the work place. You love the unlovely, care for the needy and go the extra mile.
When you live out your faith at work, you will be blessed and your employer will be blessed through you. And God will be glorified in you. Jesus said to let your light shine before the men and women in your workplace, and your co-workers will see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
That is your real job.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Because God gave Timothy the spirit of power, not fear, Paul told him not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. (8) Many had turned against Paul. They were ashamed of him. In verse 15, he said “all who are in Asia turned away from me”. Can you imagine the pain of that? Paul preached the gospel to them. He started their churches. He taught them. Then, when he went to prison for the gospel, they abandoned him. Was it because they did not want to be put in prison also? Was it an opportunity to take over control? Imagine having invested your life in people who abandoned you when you needed them the most.
That is the way it goes, though. Jesus experienced it. The Twelve abandoned him when he was arrested. He told his disciples they would experience the same. He said “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my sake.” Matthew 24:9. He also said “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you….If they persecuted me, the will also persecute you.” John 15:18
Paul knew Timothy would take flak for being Paul’s protégé. He told him to stand his ground and not shrink back in fear or timidity because of that. Paul also knew persecution had begun and would get worse. He admonished Timothy not be to ashamed of the gospel. Rather he was to be ready to suffer for the gospel by the power of God. (8)
The gospel normally takes hold through suffering. We preach the gospel. We suffer for it. People believe it. This was the story of the early church. The church suffered until Rome broke under the weight of it. The Reformation was brought about by a return to the preaching of justification through faith and suffering for it. Men were killed for preaching the gospel in almost every country in Europe. Luther lived in hiding for years for his preaching. Calvin left France for Geneva to avoid death. The French slaughtered hundreds of Huguenots. The English garroted and burned men alive for translating the Bible into English and preaching the gospel. The Catholic Scots beheaded Protestants and displayed their heads or sent them to their families.
Pastors in China today vanish or go to jail. Muslims bombed a church in Nigeria recently. Christians in Iraq are bombed, beaten and killed now that the control of Saddam Hussein has been removed. Iran hangs believers. Christians in Afghanistan have lost their church buildings and live in fear of death. Indonesian churches are bombed and burned.
Yet, Christ calls us to stand for him in the face of persecution. Jesus said “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. That is a scary verse. But verse 26 is even scarier. He said “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Paul was always able to launch into a little sermon about the gospel at any given time. Here he did it describing God in verse 9. He described both God the Father and God the Son.
First, Paul saved us and called us to a holy calling. He did not do this because of our works. In Ephesians 2:9, he said it is not the result of works so that no one may boast. Isaiah said “…all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”. (Isaiah 64:6) Titus 3:5 says “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” Our works can never save us.
Much of the Bible was written to point this out to us. God created Adam with a free will and no sin nature. He placed him in a perfect place. He gave him a wife. He walked with them daily. Yet, they rejected God and chose to elevate themselves. God created the nation of Israel, redeemed it from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them and blessed them. Yet they rejected him in favor of gods of stone and wood.
Rather, God saved us because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (9) It might humble you a little to reflect on the fact that God saved you for his own purpose, not just for your sake. There are larger things going on than your life. God has a purpose in this creation and in humanity.
What was that purpose? That is a big discussion. But, we start with the simple proposition that God created humanity for God’s glory. He made Adam in God’s image. He was to rule the earth as God’s representative. He was to reflect the glorious character of God. He was to spread the knowledge and glory of God over all the earth. Paul portrayed Jesus the Second Adam because he accomplished what Adam failed to do.
God chose and created Israel for the same purpose. In Isaiah 43:7, God referred to his people as: “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”.
God chose us, we who believe, before the foundation of the world, to be holy. (Ephesians 1:4) That is, he chose us and saved us to reflect his glory. He is holy. He says be holy as I am holy. He is saying because he is holy, we must be holy to reflect his nature and bring glory to him. (1 Peter 1:15-16) We are to reflect his glory of holiness. Romans 8:29 says “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” The result is the “praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). When we live holy lives, we reflect God’s perfect nature and bring glory to him. This is our holy calling (8).
We are to spread his glory over all the earth, just like Adam. Psalm 37:29 says “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever”. Jesus told his disciples to make disciples in all nations. Matthew 28:19.
And what is the picture of eternal life at the end of the Revelation? It is a new earth, made like the Garden of Eden, over which the glory of God is permanently manifested. Revelation 21:23 describes it this way: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb (Jesus).”
In other words, we were not saved because we did good things. We were saved because it was God’s purpose to save us and he did it through his grace. He planned this all before the world began, but later manifested it when Christ appeared. So, to an extent, Paul was speaking of God’s election of believers. God knew what he was going to do for us before he made any of us.
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11). This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) He suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV. However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
That is the way it goes, though. Jesus experienced it. The Twelve abandoned him when he was arrested. He told his disciples they would experience the same. He said “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my sake.” Matthew 24:9. He also said “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you….If they persecuted me, the will also persecute you.” John 15:18
Paul knew Timothy would take flak for being Paul’s protégé. He told him to stand his ground and not shrink back in fear or timidity because of that. Paul also knew persecution had begun and would get worse. He admonished Timothy not be to ashamed of the gospel. Rather he was to be ready to suffer for the gospel by the power of God. (8)
The gospel normally takes hold through suffering. We preach the gospel. We suffer for it. People believe it. This was the story of the early church. The church suffered until Rome broke under the weight of it. The Reformation was brought about by a return to the preaching of justification through faith and suffering for it. Men were killed for preaching the gospel in almost every country in Europe. Luther lived in hiding for years for his preaching. Calvin left France for Geneva to avoid death. The French slaughtered hundreds of Huguenots. The English garroted and burned men alive for translating the Bible into English and preaching the gospel. The Catholic Scots beheaded Protestants and displayed their heads or sent them to their families.
Pastors in China today vanish or go to jail. Muslims bombed a church in Nigeria recently. Christians in Iraq are bombed, beaten and killed now that the control of Saddam Hussein has been removed. Iran hangs believers. Christians in Afghanistan have lost their church buildings and live in fear of death. Indonesian churches are bombed and burned.
Yet, Christ calls us to stand for him in the face of persecution. Jesus said “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. That is a scary verse. But verse 26 is even scarier. He said “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Paul was always able to launch into a little sermon about the gospel at any given time. Here he did it describing God in verse 9. He described both God the Father and God the Son.
First, Paul saved us and called us to a holy calling. He did not do this because of our works. In Ephesians 2:9, he said it is not the result of works so that no one may boast. Isaiah said “…all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”. (Isaiah 64:6) Titus 3:5 says “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” Our works can never save us.
Much of the Bible was written to point this out to us. God created Adam with a free will and no sin nature. He placed him in a perfect place. He gave him a wife. He walked with them daily. Yet, they rejected God and chose to elevate themselves. God created the nation of Israel, redeemed it from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them and blessed them. Yet they rejected him in favor of gods of stone and wood.
Rather, God saved us because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (9) It might humble you a little to reflect on the fact that God saved you for his own purpose, not just for your sake. There are larger things going on than your life. God has a purpose in this creation and in humanity.
What was that purpose? That is a big discussion. But, we start with the simple proposition that God created humanity for God’s glory. He made Adam in God’s image. He was to rule the earth as God’s representative. He was to reflect the glorious character of God. He was to spread the knowledge and glory of God over all the earth. Paul portrayed Jesus the Second Adam because he accomplished what Adam failed to do.
God chose and created Israel for the same purpose. In Isaiah 43:7, God referred to his people as: “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”.
God chose us, we who believe, before the foundation of the world, to be holy. (Ephesians 1:4) That is, he chose us and saved us to reflect his glory. He is holy. He says be holy as I am holy. He is saying because he is holy, we must be holy to reflect his nature and bring glory to him. (1 Peter 1:15-16) We are to reflect his glory of holiness. Romans 8:29 says “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” The result is the “praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). When we live holy lives, we reflect God’s perfect nature and bring glory to him. This is our holy calling (8).
We are to spread his glory over all the earth, just like Adam. Psalm 37:29 says “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever”. Jesus told his disciples to make disciples in all nations. Matthew 28:19.
And what is the picture of eternal life at the end of the Revelation? It is a new earth, made like the Garden of Eden, over which the glory of God is permanently manifested. Revelation 21:23 describes it this way: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb (Jesus).”
In other words, we were not saved because we did good things. We were saved because it was God’s purpose to save us and he did it through his grace. He planned this all before the world began, but later manifested it when Christ appeared. So, to an extent, Paul was speaking of God’s election of believers. God knew what he was going to do for us before he made any of us.
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11). This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) He suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV. However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-7
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from prison in Rome. He was released from the imprisonment we read about it Acts. He did more missionary work. Then he was arrested again. He was eventually executed.
Eusebius wrote in his book, Church History, that Nero executed Paul. If Eusebius was correct, Paul had to write the book before 68 A.D., the end of Nero’s reign. Nero’s persecution of Christians became intense in 64 A.D. Many people think this letter was written in 64 or 65 A.D.
Paul and Timothy had a very strong relationship. Paul thought of him as a son. Timothy travelled with Paul, served with him, took care of him during his first imprisonment in Rome, carried messages from Paul to churches and, ultimately, was sent by Paul to the church in Ephesus to lead it. 1 Timothy 1:3. This letter is likely from Paul in prison in Rome to Timothy in Ephesus.
The Greeting
1 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul referred to himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God. (1) The apostles were special. God chose them and called them. Jesus told the Twelve: “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you…” John 15:16. Paul’s conversion and appointment was a dramatic act of the Lord, not a volunteering by Paul. In fact, Paul (Saul) persecuted the church until the dramatic appearance of Christ in Acts 9. The Lord told Ananias about Paul “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles…” Acts 9:15.
Paul’s apostleship was to preach the gospel. Here in 2 Timothy he calls in the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”. In Acts 13:26, he said the message of salvation had been given to him to preach.
In verse 2, Paul called Timothy his “beloved child”. Paul and Timothy had a father-son relationship. Paul loved Timothy dearly: he called him “beloved”. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 he called Timothy his beloved and faithful child. In Philippians 2:22 he said Timothy served him as a son serves a father.
Paul thanked God for Timothy. He prayed for him day and night. (3) That is a good example for us. We all have friends. We do not see them all the time. But we can pray for them all the time. You like to get an email or note that says someone prayed for you. So do the same for others.
The Encouragement
2 Timothy 1:3-14
Paul longed to see Timothy. He knew it would fill him with joy to see Timothy again. (4) Timothy must have felt the same way about Paul. Paul remembered his tears, probably when Paul sent him off to Ephesus and they were parted. So we see here that Paul is a real person. He got lonely. He needed support. He missed his younger friend and longed to see him before he died. He may have been a super apostle, but it was not without cost. He loved. He suffered.
Paul also used his greeting to encourage Timothy. First, he commended Timothy’s faith as “sincere”. (5) He had proved his sincerity by sticking with Paul through adversity and through faithfully fulfilling the assignments Paul gave him.
Paul also reminded Timothy of his heritage of faith. He mentioned Timothy’s grandmother and his mother, saying he knew their strong faith resided in Timothy as well. You may take comfort and strength from this as well. I often think of my grandmother, who had only a few years of education, but who never missed church, knew her Bible and passed on her faith to her children and grandchildren.
Paul wanted Timothy to know he thought well of him. He wanted Timothy to know he had a strong heritage and a strong personal faith to stand on as did Paul. Then he moved on to give specific encouragement.
Timothy evidently had the gift of preaching. The gift was given by God. This gift was given to Timothy when Paul laid hands on him. Paul compared it to hot coals ready to catch fire. He said Timothy needed to fan it into flame.
Here we get an idea that Timothy, despite his faithfulness, might have been timid. Paul told him in verse seven not to be timid or fearful, for God gave us a spirit that was not fearful, but a spirit of power and love and self control. The Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible say “timidity” rather than fearful. Paul recognized Timothy’s gift and wanted him to use it boldly.
Because God gave Timothy the spirit of power, not fear, Paul told him not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. (8) Many had turned against Paul. They were ashamed of him. In verse 15, he said “all who are in Asia turned away from me”. Can you imagine the pain of that? Paul preached the gospel to them. He started their churches. He taught them. Then, when he went to prison for the gospel, they abandoned him. Was it because they did not want to be put in prison also? Was it an opportunity to take over control? Imagine having invested your life in people who abandoned you when you needed them the most.
That is the way it goes, though. Jesus experienced it. The Twelve abandoned him when he was arrested. He told his disciples they would experience the same. He said “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my sake.” Matthew 24:9. He also said “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you….If they persecuted me, the will also persecute you.” John 15:18
Paul knew Timothy would take flak for being Paul’s protégé. He told him to stand his ground and not shrink back in fear or timidity because of that. Paul also knew persecution had begun and would get worse. He admonished Timothy not be to ashamed of the gospel. Rather he was to be ready to suffer for the gospel by the power of God. (8)
The gospel normally takes hold through suffering. We preach the gospel. We suffer for it. People believe it. This was the story of the early church. The church suffered until Rome broke under the weight of it. The Reformation was brought about by a return to the preaching of justification through faith and suffering for it. Men were killed for preaching the gospel in almost every country in Europe. Luther lived in hiding for years for his preaching. Calvin left France for Geneva to avoid death. The French slaughtered hundreds of Huguenots. The English garroted and burned men alive for translating the Bible into English and preaching the gospel. The Catholic Scots beheaded Protestants and displayed their heads or sent them to their families.
Pastors in China today vanish or go to jail. Muslims bombed a church in Nigeria recently. Christians in Iraq are bombed, beaten and killed now that the control of Saddam Hussein has been removed. Iran hangs believers. Christians in Afghanistan have lost their church buildings and live in fear of death. Indonesian churches are bombed and burned.
Yet, Christ calls us to stand for him in the face of persecution. Jesus said “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. That is a scary verse. But verse 26 is even scarier. He said “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Paul was always able to launch into a little sermon about the gospel at any given time. Here he did it describing God in verse 9. He described both God the Father and God the Son.
First, Paul saved us and called us to a holy calling. He did not do this because of our works. In Ephesians 2:9, he said it is not the result of works so that no one may boast. Isaiah said “…all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”. (Isaiah 64:6) Titus 3:5 says “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” Our works can never save us.
Much of the Bible was written to point this out to us. God created Adam with a free will and no sin nature. He placed him in a perfect place. He gave him a wife. He walked with them daily. Yet, they rejected God and chose to elevate themselves. God created the nation of Israel, redeemed it from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them and blessed them. Yet they rejected him in favor of gods of stone and wood.
Rather, God saved us because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (9) It might humble you a little to reflect on the fact that God saved you for his own purpose, not just for your sake. There are larger things going on than your life. God has a purpose in this creation and in humanity.
What was that purpose? That is a big discussion. But, we start with the simple proposition that God created humanity for God’s glory. He made Adam in God’s image. He was to rule the earth as God’s representative. He was to reflect the glorious character of God. He was to spread the knowledge and glory of God over all the earth. Paul portrayed Jesus the Second Adam because he accomplished what Adam failed to do.
God chose and created Israel for the same purpose. In Isaiah 43:7, God referred to his people as: “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”.
God chose us, we who believe, before the foundation of the world, to be holy. (Ephesians 1:4) That is, he chose us and saved us to reflect his glory. He is holy. He says be holy as I am holy. He is saying because he is holy, we must be holy to reflect his nature and bring glory to him. (1 Peter 1:15-16) We are to reflect his glory of holiness. Romans 8:29 says “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” The result is the “praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). When we live holy lives, we reflect God’s perfect nature and bring glory to him. This is our holy calling (8).
We are to spread his glory over all the earth, just like Adam. Psalm 37:29 says “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever”. Jesus told his disciples to make disciples in all nations. Matthew 28:19.
And what is the picture of eternal life at the end of the Revelation? It is a new earth, made like the Garden of Eden, over which the glory of God is permanently manifested. Revelation 21:23 describes it this way: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb (Jesus).”
In other words, we were not saved because we did good things. We were saved because it was God’s purpose to save us and he did it through his grace. He planned this all before the world began, but later manifested it when Christ appeared. So, to an extent, Paul was speaking of God’s election of believers. God knew what he was going to do for us before he made any of us.
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11). This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) He suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV. However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-7
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from prison in Rome. He was released from the imprisonment we read about it Acts. He did more missionary work. Then he was arrested again. He was eventually executed.
Eusebius wrote in his book, Church History, that Nero executed Paul. If Eusebius was correct, Paul had to write the book before 68 A.D., the end of Nero’s reign. Nero’s persecution of Christians became intense in 64 A.D. Many people think this letter was written in 64 or 65 A.D.
Paul and Timothy had a very strong relationship. Paul thought of him as a son. Timothy travelled with Paul, served with him, took care of him during his first imprisonment in Rome, carried messages from Paul to churches and, ultimately, was sent by Paul to the church in Ephesus to lead it. 1 Timothy 1:3. This letter is likely from Paul in prison in Rome to Timothy in Ephesus.
The Greeting
1 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul referred to himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God. (1) The apostles were special. God chose them and called them. Jesus told the Twelve: “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you…” John 15:16. Paul’s conversion and appointment was a dramatic act of the Lord, not a volunteering by Paul. In fact, Paul (Saul) persecuted the church until the dramatic appearance of Christ in Acts 9. The Lord told Ananias about Paul “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles…” Acts 9:15.
Paul’s apostleship was to preach the gospel. Here in 2 Timothy he calls in the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”. In Acts 13:26, he said the message of salvation had been given to him to preach.
In verse 2, Paul called Timothy his “beloved child”. Paul and Timothy had a father-son relationship. Paul loved Timothy dearly: he called him “beloved”. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 he called Timothy his beloved and faithful child. In Philippians 2:22 he said Timothy served him as a son serves a father.
Paul thanked God for Timothy. He prayed for him day and night. (3) That is a good example for us. We all have friends. We do not see them all the time. But we can pray for them all the time. You like to get an email or note that says someone prayed for you. So do the same for others.
The Encouragement
2 Timothy 1:3-14
Paul longed to see Timothy. He knew it would fill him with joy to see Timothy again. (4) Timothy must have felt the same way about Paul. Paul remembered his tears, probably when Paul sent him off to Ephesus and they were parted. So we see here that Paul is a real person. He got lonely. He needed support. He missed his younger friend and longed to see him before he died. He may have been a super apostle, but it was not without cost. He loved. He suffered.
Paul also used his greeting to encourage Timothy. First, he commended Timothy’s faith as “sincere”. (5) He had proved his sincerity by sticking with Paul through adversity and through faithfully fulfilling the assignments Paul gave him.
Paul also reminded Timothy of his heritage of faith. He mentioned Timothy’s grandmother and his mother, saying he knew their strong faith resided in Timothy as well. You may take comfort and strength from this as well. I often think of my grandmother, who had only a few years of education, but who never missed church, knew her Bible and passed on her faith to her children and grandchildren.
Paul wanted Timothy to know he thought well of him. He wanted Timothy to know he had a strong heritage and a strong personal faith to stand on as did Paul. Then he moved on to give specific encouragement.
Timothy evidently had the gift of preaching. The gift was given by God. This gift was given to Timothy when Paul laid hands on him. Paul compared it to hot coals ready to catch fire. He said Timothy needed to fan it into flame.
Here we get an idea that Timothy, despite his faithfulness, might have been timid. Paul told him in verse seven not to be timid or fearful, for God gave us a spirit that was not fearful, but a spirit of power and love and self control. The Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible say “timidity” rather than fearful. Paul recognized Timothy’s gift and wanted him to use it boldly.
Because God gave Timothy the spirit of power, not fear, Paul told him not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul. (8) Many had turned against Paul. They were ashamed of him. In verse 15, he said “all who are in Asia turned away from me”. Can you imagine the pain of that? Paul preached the gospel to them. He started their churches. He taught them. Then, when he went to prison for the gospel, they abandoned him. Was it because they did not want to be put in prison also? Was it an opportunity to take over control? Imagine having invested your life in people who abandoned you when you needed them the most.
That is the way it goes, though. Jesus experienced it. The Twelve abandoned him when he was arrested. He told his disciples they would experience the same. He said “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my sake.” Matthew 24:9. He also said “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you….If they persecuted me, the will also persecute you.” John 15:18
Paul knew Timothy would take flak for being Paul’s protégé. He told him to stand his ground and not shrink back in fear or timidity because of that. Paul also knew persecution had begun and would get worse. He admonished Timothy not be to ashamed of the gospel. Rather he was to be ready to suffer for the gospel by the power of God. (8)
The gospel normally takes hold through suffering. We preach the gospel. We suffer for it. People believe it. This was the story of the early church. The church suffered until Rome broke under the weight of it. The Reformation was brought about by a return to the preaching of justification through faith and suffering for it. Men were killed for preaching the gospel in almost every country in Europe. Luther lived in hiding for years for his preaching. Calvin left France for Geneva to avoid death. The French slaughtered hundreds of Huguenots. The English garroted and burned men alive for translating the Bible into English and preaching the gospel. The Catholic Scots beheaded Protestants and displayed their heads or sent them to their families.
Pastors in China today vanish or go to jail. Muslims bombed a church in Nigeria recently. Christians in Iraq are bombed, beaten and killed now that the control of Saddam Hussein has been removed. Iran hangs believers. Christians in Afghanistan have lost their church buildings and live in fear of death. Indonesian churches are bombed and burned.
Yet, Christ calls us to stand for him in the face of persecution. Jesus said “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23. That is a scary verse. But verse 26 is even scarier. He said “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
Paul was always able to launch into a little sermon about the gospel at any given time. Here he did it describing God in verse 9. He described both God the Father and God the Son.
First, Paul saved us and called us to a holy calling. He did not do this because of our works. In Ephesians 2:9, he said it is not the result of works so that no one may boast. Isaiah said “…all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment”. (Isaiah 64:6) Titus 3:5 says “he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…” Our works can never save us.
Much of the Bible was written to point this out to us. God created Adam with a free will and no sin nature. He placed him in a perfect place. He gave him a wife. He walked with them daily. Yet, they rejected God and chose to elevate themselves. God created the nation of Israel, redeemed it from slavery in Egypt, made a covenant with them and blessed them. Yet they rejected him in favor of gods of stone and wood.
Rather, God saved us because of his own purpose and grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. (9) It might humble you a little to reflect on the fact that God saved you for his own purpose, not just for your sake. There are larger things going on than your life. God has a purpose in this creation and in humanity.
What was that purpose? That is a big discussion. But, we start with the simple proposition that God created humanity for God’s glory. He made Adam in God’s image. He was to rule the earth as God’s representative. He was to reflect the glorious character of God. He was to spread the knowledge and glory of God over all the earth. Paul portrayed Jesus the Second Adam because he accomplished what Adam failed to do.
God chose and created Israel for the same purpose. In Isaiah 43:7, God referred to his people as: “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”.
God chose us, we who believe, before the foundation of the world, to be holy. (Ephesians 1:4) That is, he chose us and saved us to reflect his glory. He is holy. He says be holy as I am holy. He is saying because he is holy, we must be holy to reflect his nature and bring glory to him. (1 Peter 1:15-16) We are to reflect his glory of holiness. Romans 8:29 says “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son…” The result is the “praise of his glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). When we live holy lives, we reflect God’s perfect nature and bring glory to him. This is our holy calling (8).
We are to spread his glory over all the earth, just like Adam. Psalm 37:29 says “The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever”. Jesus told his disciples to make disciples in all nations. Matthew 28:19.
And what is the picture of eternal life at the end of the Revelation? It is a new earth, made like the Garden of Eden, over which the glory of God is permanently manifested. Revelation 21:23 describes it this way: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb (Jesus).”
In other words, we were not saved because we did good things. We were saved because it was God’s purpose to save us and he did it through his grace. He planned this all before the world began, but later manifested it when Christ appeared. So, to an extent, Paul was speaking of God’s election of believers. God knew what he was going to do for us before he made any of us.
Next Paul described God the Son. (10) He, Christ, abolished death and gave us eternal life. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ through his death on our behalf brought eternal life to those who believe in him. Jesus said it this way: “For God so loved the world (or God loved the world this way), that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. (John 3:16)
This is the message of the gospel Christ appointed Paul to preach (11). This gospel is the reason he was persecuted. (12) He suffered terribly. Yet, Paul was not ashamed. He said this in his introduction to the book of Romans: “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16. The gospel is the only message for salvation.
In verse 12 (2 Timothy 1:12), Paul stated the reason he was not ashamed, the reason he did not back away from the gospel when he was persecuted. The reason was that he trusted Christ to preserve him and the gospel. He said this in verse 12: “for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” (ESV) Other versions say “what I have entrusted to him”, and the hymn you know is written for that translation because it is based on the KJV. However, the context here and later in the letter is Timothy’s guarding the gospel that was entrusted to him as it was to Paul. Paul will later tell Timothy to entrust the gospel to other faithful men as it was entrusted to him. It is the same idea of Paul’s saying he was made a steward of the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
Christ entrusted the gospel to Paul, then to Timothy, then to us. We are pretty weak. We do not spend enough time concentrating on what the Bible says. Many redefine the gospel. But Paul says God is able to guard the gospel, to keep it undefiled. He has many times brought revival or reformation to accomplish that. He raised up men and women who read the Bible and cry out against those who have corrupted its message.
So, in verses 13-14, Paul exhorted Timothy to guard that deposit of the gospel. He could do this by the power of the Holy Spirit. As can we.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-7
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from prison in Rome. He was released from the imprisonment we read about it Acts. He did more missionary work. Then he was arrested again. He was eventually executed.
Eusebius wrote in his book, Church History, that Nero executed Paul. If Eusebius was correct, Paul had to write the book before 68 A.D., the end of Nero’s reign. Nero’s persecution of Christians became intense in 64 A.D. Many people think this letter was written in 64 or 65 A.D.
Paul and Timothy had a very strong relationship. Paul thought of him as a son. Timothy travelled with Paul, served with him, took care of him during his first imprisonment in Rome, carried messages from Paul to churches and, ultimately, was sent by Paul to the church in Ephesus to lead it. 1 Timothy 1:3. This letter is likely from Paul in prison in Rome to Timothy in Ephesus.
The Greeting
1 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul referred to himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God. (1) The apostles were special. God chose them and called them. Jesus told the Twelve: “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you…” John 15:16. Paul’s conversion and appointment was a dramatic act of the Lord, not a volunteering by Paul. In fact, Paul (Saul) persecuted the church until the dramatic appearance of Christ in Acts 9. The Lord told Ananias about Paul “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles…” Acts 9:15.
Paul’s apostleship was to preach the gospel. Here in 2 Timothy he calls in the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”. In Acts 13:26, he said the message of salvation had been given to him to preach.
In verse 2, Paul called Timothy his “beloved child”. Paul and Timothy had a father-son relationship. Paul loved Timothy dearly: he called him “beloved”. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 he called Timothy his beloved and faithful child. In Philippians 2:22 he said Timothy served him as a son serves a father.
Paul thanked God for Timothy. He prayed for him day and night. (3) That is a good example for us. We all have friends. We do not see them all the time. But we can pray for them all the time. You like to get an email or note that says someone prayed for you. So do the same for others.
The Encouragement
2 Timothy 1:3-14
Paul longed to see Timothy. He knew it would fill him with joy to see Timothy again. (4) Timothy must have felt the same way about Paul. Paul remembered his tears, probably when Paul sent him off to Ephesus and they were parted. So we see here that Paul is a real person. He got lonely. He needed support. He missed his younger friend and longed to see him before he died. He may have been a super apostle, but it was not without cost. He loved. He suffered.
Paul also used his greeting to encourage Timothy. First, he commended Timothy’s faith as “sincere”. (5) He had proved his sincerity by sticking with Paul through adversity and through faithfully fulfilling the assignments Paul gave him.
Paul also reminded Timothy of his heritage of faith. He mentioned Timothy’s grandmother and his mother, saying he knew their strong faith resided in Timothy as well. You may take comfort and strength from this as well. I often think of my grandmother, who had only a few years of education, but who never missed church, knew her Bible and passed on her faith to her children and grandchildren.
Paul wanted Timothy to know he thought well of him. He wanted Timothy to know he had a strong heritage and a strong personal faith to stand on as did Paul. Then he moved on to give specific encouragement.
Timothy evidently had the gift of preaching. The gift was given by God. This gift was given to Timothy when Paul laid hands on him. Paul compared it to hot coals ready to catch fire. He said Timothy needed to fan it into flame.
Here we get an idea that Timothy, despite his faithfulness, might have been timid. Paul told him in verse seven not to be timid or fearful, for God gave us a spirit that was not fearful, but a spirit of power and love and self control. The Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible say “timidity” rather than fearful. Paul recognized Timothy’s gift and wanted him to use it boldly.
2 TIMOTHY 1:1-7
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from prison in Rome. He was released from the imprisonment we read about it Acts. He did more missionary work. Then he was arrested again. He was eventually executed.
Eusebius wrote in his book, Church History, that Nero executed Paul. If Eusebius was correct, Paul had to write the book before 68 A.D., the end of Nero’s reign. Nero’s persecution of Christians became intense in 64 A.D. Many people think this letter was written in 64 or 65 A.D.
Paul and Timothy had a very strong relationship. Paul thought of him as a son. Timothy travelled with Paul, served with him, took care of him during his first imprisonment in Rome, carried messages from Paul to churches and, ultimately, was sent by Paul to the church in Ephesus to lead it. 1 Timothy 1:3. This letter is likely from Paul in prison in Rome to Timothy in Ephesus.
The Greeting
1 Timothy 1:1-2
Paul referred to himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God. (1) The apostles were special. God chose them and called them. Jesus told the Twelve: “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you…” John 15:16. Paul’s conversion and appointment was a dramatic act of the Lord, not a volunteering by Paul. In fact, Paul (Saul) persecuted the church until the dramatic appearance of Christ in Acts 9. The Lord told Ananias about Paul “…he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles…” Acts 9:15.
Paul’s apostleship was to preach the gospel. Here in 2 Timothy he calls in the “promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”. In Acts 13:26, he said the message of salvation had been given to him to preach.
In verse 2, Paul called Timothy his “beloved child”. Paul and Timothy had a father-son relationship. Paul loved Timothy dearly: he called him “beloved”. In 1 Corinthians 4:17 he called Timothy his beloved and faithful child. In Philippians 2:22 he said Timothy served him as a son serves a father.
Paul thanked God for Timothy. He prayed for him day and night. (3) That is a good example for us. We all have friends. We do not see them all the time. But we can pray for them all the time. You like to get an email or note that says someone prayed for you. So do the same for others.
The Encouragement
2 Timothy 1:3-14
Paul longed to see Timothy. He knew it would fill him with joy to see Timothy again. (4) Timothy must have felt the same way about Paul. Paul remembered his tears, probably when Paul sent him off to Ephesus and they were parted. So we see here that Paul is a real person. He got lonely. He needed support. He missed his younger friend and longed to see him before he died. He may have been a super apostle, but it was not without cost. He loved. He suffered.
Paul also used his greeting to encourage Timothy. First, he commended Timothy’s faith as “sincere”. (5) He had proved his sincerity by sticking with Paul through adversity and through faithfully fulfilling the assignments Paul gave him.
Paul also reminded Timothy of his heritage of faith. He mentioned Timothy’s grandmother and his mother, saying he knew their strong faith resided in Timothy as well. You may take comfort and strength from this as well. I often think of my grandmother, who had only a few years of education, but who never missed church, knew her Bible and passed on her faith to her children and grandchildren.
Paul wanted Timothy to know he thought well of him. He wanted Timothy to know he had a strong heritage and a strong personal faith to stand on as did Paul. Then he moved on to give specific encouragement.
Timothy evidently had the gift of preaching. The gift was given by God. This gift was given to Timothy when Paul laid hands on him. Paul compared it to hot coals ready to catch fire. He said Timothy needed to fan it into flame.
Here we get an idea that Timothy, despite his faithfulness, might have been timid. Paul told him in verse seven not to be timid or fearful, for God gave us a spirit that was not fearful, but a spirit of power and love and self control. The Revised Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible say “timidity” rather than fearful. Paul recognized Timothy’s gift and wanted him to use it boldly.
Friday, January 06, 2012
REBOOT
Whenever my work computer freezes up, the tech tells me to reboot. Somehow that causes the computer to restart without the difficulties I experienced.
You can reboot, too. If 2011 was not a good year for you spiritually, reboot now. Get a fresh start. Make 2012 a great year.
How do you do it? First of all, be honest. Be honest with yourself. Acknowledge you did not regularly attend church and Bible study. Realize you did not read and study the Bible. Remember you had no significant prayer life and no ministry to others.
Then be honest with God. We call that confession. Confess these shortcomings to God. He will forgive them. 1 John 1:9 is the promise of this.
Now that you have a fresh slate, what do you do? Let the past go. Move on. Learn from the past without the paralysis of guilt. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul put it this way: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Put the past behind you. Press on to live for Christ. Make 2012 a great year of spiritual growth and joy.
Reboot.
Whenever my work computer freezes up, the tech tells me to reboot. Somehow that causes the computer to restart without the difficulties I experienced.
You can reboot, too. If 2011 was not a good year for you spiritually, reboot now. Get a fresh start. Make 2012 a great year.
How do you do it? First of all, be honest. Be honest with yourself. Acknowledge you did not regularly attend church and Bible study. Realize you did not read and study the Bible. Remember you had no significant prayer life and no ministry to others.
Then be honest with God. We call that confession. Confess these shortcomings to God. He will forgive them. 1 John 1:9 is the promise of this.
Now that you have a fresh slate, what do you do? Let the past go. Move on. Learn from the past without the paralysis of guilt. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul put it this way: “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Put the past behind you. Press on to live for Christ. Make 2012 a great year of spiritual growth and joy.
Reboot.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The Next Billy Graham Might Be Drunk Right Now
Great article by Russell Moore. Christianity does not reproduce genetically, but spiritually.
Great article by Russell Moore. Christianity does not reproduce genetically, but spiritually.
THOUGHTS ON TIM TEBOW
Mr. Tebow impresses me. Many famous people mention Jesus but live like the devil. Mr. Tebow seems to walk as well as talk. I just saw a video of him calling a young boy with cancer. The boy looked up to Mr. Tebow as a hero. He said he was awesome.
Mr. Tebow promised to see the boy and did so after a game. The boy was speechless. Way to go, Tim Tebow.
"You are the light of the world...let your light sine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Mr. Tebow impresses me. Many famous people mention Jesus but live like the devil. Mr. Tebow seems to walk as well as talk. I just saw a video of him calling a young boy with cancer. The boy looked up to Mr. Tebow as a hero. He said he was awesome.
Mr. Tebow promised to see the boy and did so after a game. The boy was speechless. Way to go, Tim Tebow.
"You are the light of the world...let your light sine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Sunday, January 01, 2012
NEW YEARS RESOLUTION\OLD YEARS EVALUATION
TAKING SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
It is New Years Day, the first day of 2012. Many are making resolutions. Some of the most common are to start exercising or to lose weight, to read more good books, to quit robbing convenience stores.
When you make a New Years Resolution, you acknowledge that you fell short in some area and need to do better. So that can be a good thing.
It is also a good thing for the follower of Christ to evaluate his or her life in light of the Bible and resolve to grow where needed.
Paul addressed this in his letters to the Philippians. He told them:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).
Paul had just given them the great vision of the reigning Christ is 2:1-11. In light of that, he wanted the Philippians to continue to grow in obedience and Christ-like character even while he was gone.
It is easy for a believer to find a nice place on the road and stop there. He comes to a place where he does not sin overtly, he takes care of his family, he works, he reads a little of his Bible now and then and attends church. It gets comfortable and he stops. But the road goes on.
This road is the path of sanctification. It runs from the day of salvation to the day of glorification. God continually works to make us more like his son.
Paul put it this way: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) The fact that he began a good work means it is not complete, but he intends to complete it.
But where God did all the work in salvation, he expects us to do something regarding our sanctification. That is why Paul said to work out your salvation. Yet it is not ultimately our work, for he said it is God who works in you. We are trying to work it out, but God is working in us to accomplish his will. The Father’s will is that we become like his Son, like Christ. Romans 8:29 says “for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn of many brothers.” He predestined that believers would be conformed to the image of his son individually and that there would be a great number of us.
In light of this, one way to be sure we continually move toward becoming like Christ, to growing in sanctification, is to look at the things that the Bible says make up the Christian life and measure ourselves against it. Christian maturity comes from the patient practice of the Christian virtues and disciplines.
Let me suggest a process. First, you get alone somewhere quiet. You pray, asking God to reveal yourself to yourself and convict you of your shortcomings. Then, you read Scripture, make a list of areas to evaluate, then compare yourself to the standard God set in his word. When you find an area where you have had a good year, thank God for bringing this about in your life and ask him to help you continue in that area.
Where you find an area in which you fell short, acknowledge that to the Lord and ask forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Numbers 14:18 tells us God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression.
“Confess” means to acknowledge what you did, or did not do, and that it fell short of God’s standard.
What are some specifics with which we can evaluate ourselves? Here are a few.
One thing we know is that those who have believed in Jesus have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works for our sanctification. If we live in obedience to him and follow him, he will bear fruit in our lives. That fruit is a character that reflects the character of God. Paul spelled it out in Galatians 5:22. He said “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control”.
This is a place to start. How did you do in 2011 exhibiting these fruits of the Spirit in your daily life? For example, I am a little edgy. It is hard for me to be at peace and to extend peace to people who make me mad. I often have to consciously give a situation to God and back away. I often have to ask forgiveness for not doing that. Yet, I can see how, as I began to apply this evaluation process, I have grown.
Matthew 5:1-11 contains a list of people who are blessed by God. They are commonly called the Beatitudes. They are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ.
Jesus told us not to be anxious about our economic situation, but to live for God’s glory and trust him to provide for us. Matthew 6:25-34. Paul taught the same principle in Philippians 4:6-7. Around 2.5 million Americans suffer anxiety disorders. Women have them twice as frequently as men (probably because they live with men). How are you doing in the anxiety department?
Hebrews 10:25 tells us to continue meeting together. Are you faithful to gather with other believers in worship and fellowship?
1 Corinthians 11 tells us to observe the Lord’s Supper and to observe it correctly? Do you regularly attend the Lord’s Supper?
Do you walk by the Spirit, seeking to please God, or do you seek to please your flesh? Galatians 5:16 speaks to that. You should not be involved in any kind of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, etc., as listed in the following verses.
Do you help those who are in need? Romans 12:13 says “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Do you obey the law of the government? Romans 13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.”
Are you humble? Ephesians 4:1 says humility is walking worthy of our calling. The Bible constantly denounces pride.
Do you work to preserve the unity of the fellowship or cause divisions or hard feelings? See Ephesians 4:3.
Husband to you love your wife? See Ephesians 5:25.
Wives, do you submit to your own husband as to the Lord? (Ephesians 5:22)
Do you thank God for his blessings? Colossians 2:6 says you should abound in thanksgiving.
Do you rejoice in the Lord? Do you live a life of joy because you have Christ? Paul commanded us to rejoice (Philippians 3:1).
The Bible is full of statements of the things that please God, the traits God wants us to exhibit and the work he wants us to do. These are just a few to get you started.
One last thing: what if you go through this list and there is no way any of these describe you? Then, that part of working out your salvation is to make sure you are indeed saved. You can attend church and not be saved. Do you believe in Christ? Paul said the important facts are these: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to many after he died (1 Corinthians 15:3). Do you believe in this Jesus who died for your sins and was raised from the dead?
And if you do believe, have you also committed to live your life for Christ? Believing facts is not enough. James said the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19). You must commit your life to him regardless of the cost. Jesus put it this way: “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23).
You must follow him. Follow means to obey him and trust him. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me (John 10:27). Following is evidence of salvation. Good works are evidence of salvation. James wrote that faith apart from works is useless. Some versions say dead. (James 2:20). The Father created us in Christ for good works which he prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus commanded us to do good works. He said “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
We do not work to get salvation, but we work out our salvation in the fear of the Lord as he works in us to bring about his purpose and will. Work out your salvation this year. Pursue sanctification. Be brutally honest with yourself and God.
The rewards are great.
TAKING SPIRITUAL INVENTORY
It is New Years Day, the first day of 2012. Many are making resolutions. Some of the most common are to start exercising or to lose weight, to read more good books, to quit robbing convenience stores.
When you make a New Years Resolution, you acknowledge that you fell short in some area and need to do better. So that can be a good thing.
It is also a good thing for the follower of Christ to evaluate his or her life in light of the Bible and resolve to grow where needed.
Paul addressed this in his letters to the Philippians. He told them:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).
Paul had just given them the great vision of the reigning Christ is 2:1-11. In light of that, he wanted the Philippians to continue to grow in obedience and Christ-like character even while he was gone.
It is easy for a believer to find a nice place on the road and stop there. He comes to a place where he does not sin overtly, he takes care of his family, he works, he reads a little of his Bible now and then and attends church. It gets comfortable and he stops. But the road goes on.
This road is the path of sanctification. It runs from the day of salvation to the day of glorification. God continually works to make us more like his son.
Paul put it this way: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) The fact that he began a good work means it is not complete, but he intends to complete it.
But where God did all the work in salvation, he expects us to do something regarding our sanctification. That is why Paul said to work out your salvation. Yet it is not ultimately our work, for he said it is God who works in you. We are trying to work it out, but God is working in us to accomplish his will. The Father’s will is that we become like his Son, like Christ. Romans 8:29 says “for those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son in order that he might be the firstborn of many brothers.” He predestined that believers would be conformed to the image of his son individually and that there would be a great number of us.
In light of this, one way to be sure we continually move toward becoming like Christ, to growing in sanctification, is to look at the things that the Bible says make up the Christian life and measure ourselves against it. Christian maturity comes from the patient practice of the Christian virtues and disciplines.
Let me suggest a process. First, you get alone somewhere quiet. You pray, asking God to reveal yourself to yourself and convict you of your shortcomings. Then, you read Scripture, make a list of areas to evaluate, then compare yourself to the standard God set in his word. When you find an area where you have had a good year, thank God for bringing this about in your life and ask him to help you continue in that area.
Where you find an area in which you fell short, acknowledge that to the Lord and ask forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Numbers 14:18 tells us God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression.
“Confess” means to acknowledge what you did, or did not do, and that it fell short of God’s standard.
What are some specifics with which we can evaluate ourselves? Here are a few.
One thing we know is that those who have believed in Jesus have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works for our sanctification. If we live in obedience to him and follow him, he will bear fruit in our lives. That fruit is a character that reflects the character of God. Paul spelled it out in Galatians 5:22. He said “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control”.
This is a place to start. How did you do in 2011 exhibiting these fruits of the Spirit in your daily life? For example, I am a little edgy. It is hard for me to be at peace and to extend peace to people who make me mad. I often have to consciously give a situation to God and back away. I often have to ask forgiveness for not doing that. Yet, I can see how, as I began to apply this evaluation process, I have grown.
Matthew 5:1-11 contains a list of people who are blessed by God. They are commonly called the Beatitudes. They are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ.
Jesus told us not to be anxious about our economic situation, but to live for God’s glory and trust him to provide for us. Matthew 6:25-34. Paul taught the same principle in Philippians 4:6-7. Around 2.5 million Americans suffer anxiety disorders. Women have them twice as frequently as men (probably because they live with men). How are you doing in the anxiety department?
Hebrews 10:25 tells us to continue meeting together. Are you faithful to gather with other believers in worship and fellowship?
1 Corinthians 11 tells us to observe the Lord’s Supper and to observe it correctly? Do you regularly attend the Lord’s Supper?
Do you walk by the Spirit, seeking to please God, or do you seek to please your flesh? Galatians 5:16 speaks to that. You should not be involved in any kind of sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, etc., as listed in the following verses.
Do you help those who are in need? Romans 12:13 says “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Do you obey the law of the government? Romans 13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.”
Are you humble? Ephesians 4:1 says humility is walking worthy of our calling. The Bible constantly denounces pride.
Do you work to preserve the unity of the fellowship or cause divisions or hard feelings? See Ephesians 4:3.
Husband to you love your wife? See Ephesians 5:25.
Wives, do you submit to your own husband as to the Lord? (Ephesians 5:22)
Do you thank God for his blessings? Colossians 2:6 says you should abound in thanksgiving.
Do you rejoice in the Lord? Do you live a life of joy because you have Christ? Paul commanded us to rejoice (Philippians 3:1).
The Bible is full of statements of the things that please God, the traits God wants us to exhibit and the work he wants us to do. These are just a few to get you started.
One last thing: what if you go through this list and there is no way any of these describe you? Then, that part of working out your salvation is to make sure you are indeed saved. You can attend church and not be saved. Do you believe in Christ? Paul said the important facts are these: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to many after he died (1 Corinthians 15:3). Do you believe in this Jesus who died for your sins and was raised from the dead?
And if you do believe, have you also committed to live your life for Christ? Believing facts is not enough. James said the demons believe and shudder (James 2:19). You must commit your life to him regardless of the cost. Jesus put it this way: “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23).
You must follow him. Follow means to obey him and trust him. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me (John 10:27). Following is evidence of salvation. Good works are evidence of salvation. James wrote that faith apart from works is useless. Some versions say dead. (James 2:20). The Father created us in Christ for good works which he prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus commanded us to do good works. He said “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
We do not work to get salvation, but we work out our salvation in the fear of the Lord as he works in us to bring about his purpose and will. Work out your salvation this year. Pursue sanctification. Be brutally honest with yourself and God.
The rewards are great.
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