Today I have the task of looking into an issue that has troubled the Church of Jesus Christ since its very inception. From the beginning sects like the Ebionites formed and forced their traditions and skewed views of Jesus and the Father into their own twisted views of Christianity. Some go farther in their distortions than others. Some distort Jesus Himself others His message. It is my humble and heartfelt prayer that the Lord would take this post and use it for His glory. 

Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  2  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.  4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  5  For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "THE MAN WHO DOES THOSE THINGS SHALL LIVE BY THEM."

The Apostle Paul says the same thing over and over regarding the Jewish nation in this letter to the Romans. The beginning of chapters 9, 10 and 11 begin with this sentiment. This is the key. Romans 10:3 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God." God's righteousness which is a gift to Believers according to His grace because of our faith is the only basis of any one's acceptance with God, including the Jew of the Old Testament (See Romans 3). I begin to understand the Apostle's heart and feel his pain as I consider that I also have a friend who loves God and is Zealous for Him and yet like Israel seems to be stumbling at the same stumbling block that they did, Romans 9:30 "What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;  31  but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.  32  Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone."

I can already hear them saying Amen! to the last passage and saying that they have faith and keep law by faith, but there is more to this discussion and what the Bible says about the Law and the non-Jewish Believer in Jesus Christ. I want to deal with some of this. Particularly an article that was posted by my friend on his Face Book page a month or so ago. The text of the article is at the left margin and my comments are indented.

Without a doubt the most misinterpreted book in all of the Bible is Shaul’s (Paul’s) letter to the Galatians. It has been hailed as the Magna Carta of Christian freedom, with “freedom” meaning freedom from Biblical law. 

Through the centuries Protestants have erroneously assumed that this book eradicated all Old Testament laws, even though Paul contradicts that notion in the book itself and in other books he wrote to other assemblies. To understand this letter correctly it is paramount that we know the reason that Paul was writing to these people of central Turkey known as the Galatians.

Here we see that the person who wrote the article has a basic understanding of hermeneutics. It is very important as they say, to understand Who wrote it, What the situation was that caused them to write, How the original audience would have understood it, and Cultural influences that may have caused them to understand it differently that we would understand it as we read it some 2,000 years later. 

When we read New Testament letters like Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, and Galatians, we are reading personal mail. There was a reason Paul wrote each of these letters and it was primarily to resolve problems endemic to the respective groups.

Unfortunately they fell off the cart in the next paragraph. This in not a "Personal Letter." It is a public declaration to an entire congregation and was intended to be read by many people and as by the Holy Spirit it found its way into Scripture's canon. "All Scripture is Given by inspiration of God and is profitable..."  All of these letters mentioned were not even written to "resolve problems" either. Romans was written to sure up the body of doctrine that they church there had since the Apostle did not found that particular church. Ephesians was again to strengthen that body as well with no real correction present in the epistle.

1&2 Corinthians and Galatians are POLEMIC letters in our New Testament that were written by the Apostle Paul. A polemic is an argument or a controversy over a doctrine or opinion. These are corrective letters.

 So then what was the occasion of the writing of the letter to the Galatians? Galatians 1:6  "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,  7  which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." No gracious greeting, no flowery prayer for their growth and perseverance in the faith. Romans 1:7 "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers," Notice the difference in the opening remarks to the Romans.

• Paul begins with "Paul, an apostle" when he writes to the Galatians.
• He begins with "Paul, a bond servant of Jesus Christ" in his letter to the Romans.
• Paul is taking the position of AUTHORITY with the Galatians in order to correct a serious error in their doctrine. He immediately goes on the offensive as he opens the letter, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, " this is a very grievous error!
  

Why Not Tell the Other Assemblies Also?

A key question that must be asked before we delve into the book is: if Paul were in the process of abolishing all Old Testament law in his epistle to the Galatians, why did he not inform the other assemblies of this monumental, history-making disclosure? Why in his other letters like Hebrews and Romans does he contradict the notion that the law is obsolete?

Wrong again.The Key question we need to ask is not "How can I prove what I want the book to say is actually what it says?" (which is tantamount to what their question says) The question is "What does it actually say?"  

In passages like Romans 3:31 he gives 100 percent support for the law: “Do we then make void the law through faith? Elohim forbid: yea, we establish the law.” He writes in Hebrews 8 that the law is to be in our hearts. And in Acts 24:14 he offers this plain and clear position statement: “But this I confess unto you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”

Some of his statements had been mistaken by Jews in his day and thought to be heretical, yet he assured them (and us) that he was not against the law or prophets (Old Testament). On the contrary, he was a lawkeeper himself. In Acts 25:7-8 he stood before those falsely accusing him, “And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. While he answered for himself, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.’”

In Acts 21:24 Paul was told to prove to the doubting Jews that he was still law observant by taking part in purification rites: “Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.”

This whole document is plagued with bald assertions and question begging comments that almost don't merit a response. 2 Corinthians 3:14 "But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.  15  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.  16  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  17  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." This veil is very obviously over the eyes of the writer of this document. The Law that is established in Romans is it's proper use, to make us helpless in order to drive us to Christ! Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,  22  even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;  23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.  27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith." The Law is to be on our hearts, God's Moral commands are ingrained in our being at creation (Romans 2:15) And of course Paul believes every word in the Law and the Prophets, It is God's Word and it all points to Christ! Paul was working the context of his life and was still making use of the Temple and its means to reach his people.

We must answer the question that is posed in the heading which seems not to actually be answered in the text that follows, [If Paul was abrogating the Law of Moses} Why not tell other assemblies? The reason it is left unanswered is because HE DID TELL THEM. Paul was the first missionary to this region around 47AD. As he went into the region and was preaching the Gospel there. his home base was Antioch, Syria. After his first missionary journey which was into this region he returned home... Acts 14:26 "From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.  27  Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  28  So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."  2  Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.  3  So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.  4  And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.  5  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."  6  Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.  7  And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.  8  So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as  He did to us,  9  and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  10  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?  11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they."  12  Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.  13  And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:  14  Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.  15  And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:  16  'AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN AND WILL REBUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH HAS FALLEN DOWN; I WILL REBUILD ITS RUINS, AND I WILL SET IT UP;  17  SO THAT THE REST OF MANKIND MAY SEEK THE LORD, EVEN ALL THE GENTILES WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SAYS THE LORD WHO DOES ALL THESE THINGS.'  18  "Known to God from eternity are all His works.  19  Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,  20  but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.  21  For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."  22  Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.  23  They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.  24  Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment-- 25  it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  26  men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 31 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.  28  For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:  29  that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.  30  So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.  31  When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement."

We see then that Law keeping is clearly not a part of the Gentile Church's obligation. Again in Colossians 2:13 "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,  14  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  15  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." we were indeed all law breakers as we saw in Romans 3. Christ has taken the Law with its commands and has nailed it to the Cross and in so doing He has freed us from the obligation of the Ceremonial aspects of that Law. Those who would go back to them are those who love the picture of Christ more than they love Christ Himself. They are a shadow, He is the Substance. There is an evangelist who would always put up a picture of his wife on the screen at the beginning of his messages and say, "This is not my wife, it is a picture of my wife." I am sure that when he went home from being on the road for weeks he did not go right to the picture on the mantle and kiss it. He kissed his wife! Those who feel obliged to serve the picture of Christ have their affections misplaced. Why, because being ignorant of the righteousness of God they are seeking to establish their own righteousness. Jesus gets in the way of that. He is easier to serve in shadows and types that in reality. Why, because some men cannot let go of their own righteousness and receive the righteousness of Christ.


And so the legalistic tendencies that brought about the distortions in the beginning of this document are carried into their absurd conclusion with outlandish claims that can only be seen by the blind man that wrote them and others who are wearing the same veil over their own eyes.

Truth Comes with Obedience

Some may ask, how can we presume to know the truth of Galatians if clerics have been debating the book for centuries? One advantage the True Worshiper has is that he comes properly prepared. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.” Those who are obedient to His laws will have a proper understanding of Yahweh’s Word, while the reverse is also true: those who snub His commandments will be misled when it comes to His truths.

Paradoxically, those who argue against obedience are arguing against proper understanding itself and therefore are working at cross purposes to truth, according to Psalm 111:10. His Spirit teaches us of His ways, Ezekiel 36:26-27. If you truly desire to know truth you need His Spirit, and that means obedience to the law because the Spirit is given specifically to those who obey, Acts 5:32. If you want to understand the Scriptures correctly, seek out a teacher who obeys the commandments and you will be much more likely to hear the truth. The requirement of a true prophet is to teach Yahweh’s commandments, according to Deuteronomy 13. Proper teaching does not reject the law either; on the contrary, the law is central to right instruction. Copyright © 2003 | Yahweh's Restoration Ministry. All rights reserved.

This statement is just plain weird! Truth comes from God and His Word. It is given to people as a gift of grace. Our very faith to receive it is also a gift, Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  9  not of works, lest anyone should boast." if Torah observance was the door to truth then the Jews would not have tripped over the Law on their way to God (Romans 9:32) Certainly those who are obedient to the Commandments of God have a good understanding, maybe it was that good understanding that caused them to obey? Those who reject his commands for the New Testament era are in danger of Hell. 1 John 3:23  "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment."  Romans 10:4  "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."

Rejecting the Truth of God's Word is indeed hazardous. There is not disagreement there. However even more hazardous is obscuring His Truth to others. Judgment is immanent for those who preach another Gospel as well as those who believe it. The Apostle Paul says, "Let them be accursed!"  For a proper view, Historically Christian (REFORMATION) of the Law and the Gospel see my previous post on Law and Gospel. I do not hold and Antinomian view of Christianity nor does the historic Christian Church (NOT ROME!)There is a debt to the Law for the Christian, but not an obligation to the Civil or Ceremonial laws of the nation of Israel. There is no debt to the Law for Christ is the END of the LAW for RIGHTEOUSNESS to EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES! Yet there is a debt of LOVE to God that forces the Christian to an obedience to the MORAL LAW. This is where the subject of sanctification comes in though and it must not be confused with justification or error will multiply upon error and you will and up in that legalism that we are trying to overcome in this document.

I will not take the time to deal with the arguments that are given as interpretations of Galatians at this time. I have, I believe, dismantled their underlying premise and show that they cannot yield a valid interpretation because they are based on a faulty starting point. If discussion arises on this post and it becomes necessary I will take that on at that time.

In Christ!

Kevin

Well, today we began to look at 1 Thessalonians from the other angle. There is a transition from the end of chapter 3 and into chapter 4. As in most of the Apostle Paul's letters he makes a transition from the basic doctrines of the Christian faith (this is called the indicative) or what we need to believe concerning ourselves and Jesus, to the commands that govern the Christian life (these are called the imperatives). This is similar to the distinction between Law and Gospel that we looked at a few posts ago. In 1 Thessalonians it is a little less prominent than it is in Romans 6:1 What shall we say then....? o r Colossians 3:1  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above..." Paul always begins with understanding what Christ has done for us and moves from there to an appropriate response.

As Paul writes to the Thessalonians he is really no different although rather than preaching the Gospel to them in so many words he commends them for their faith and the work that has already begun in them because of it. Then he turns to "perfecting what is lacking in their faith" (1 Thessalonians 3:10). This is the intro to Paul's "imperative" section of the letter.  1 Thessalonians 4:1 "Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;  2  for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  3  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality...." From here he goes on to the instruction that is to lead us on to that sanctification; everything from the above mentioned moral purity to understanding death and the second coming and its effects on the life, honoring pastors, love and good works, encouragement, thankfulness, prayer......

The big thing I see here is that what Paul is saying to them is basically, "Great! You have the Gospel down now lets work on your sanctification!" Sanctification is the logical progression and evidence of your salvation. "Believing is great now let's work on living it out." IT IS GOD'S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE! In  my study of this idea of sanctification I have been reading J.C. Ryle's book called Holiness, Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots (I highly recommend it for every Christian's reading list!) He says "Ifthe Bible is true, it is certain that unless we are “sanctified,”we shall not be saved. There are three things which, according to theBible, are absolutely necessary to the salvation of every man andwoman in Christendom. These three are justification, regeneration andsanctification. All three meet in every child of God: he is both bornagain and justified and sanctified. He that lacks any one of thesethree things is not a true Christian in the sight of God and, dyingin that condition, will not be found in heaven and glorified in thelast day." Here is a doctrine that is often neglected by the modern Church. A very important one indeed. God saved us in order not just to keep us from hell but to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) We are told in Hebrews 12:14 "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness without which no one will see the Lord." Our growth needs to be a primary focus as Christians. Growth in holiness is the idea. Not formalism! Paul does not say I wish you guys would start to dress like Jews or like Fundamentalists or like holiness people, He says that, "Hemay establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God andFather at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:13) It is the heart that is changed. The renewed heart that is grateful for God's abundant mercy will want to please God and rather than cold legalism it will create a warm heart with a desire for the things of God!

I love Ryle's solution to the problem, "I say, then, in the first place, that a scriptural view of sin is one of the best antidotes to that vague, dim, misty, hazy kind of theology which is so painfully current in the present age. (140 years ago!) It is vain to shut our eyes to the fact that there is a vast quantity of so-called Christianity nowadays which you cannot declare positively unsound, but which, nevertheless, is not full measure, good weight and sixteen ounces to the pound. It is a Christianity in which there is undeniably “something about Christ and something about grace and something about faith and something about repentance and something about holiness,” but it is not the real “thing as it is” in the Bible. Things are out of place and out of proportion. As old Latimer would have said, it is a kind of “mingle-mangle,” and does no good. It neither exercises influence on daily conduct, nor comforts in life, nor gives peace in death; and those who hold it often awake too late to find that they have got nothing solid under their feet. Now I believe the likeliest way to cure and mend this defective kind of religion is to bring forward more prominently the old scriptural truth about the sinfulness of sin. People will never set their faces decidedly towards heaven and live like pilgrims until they really feel that they are in danger of hell. Let us all try to revive the old teaching about sin in nurseries, in schools, in training colleges, in universities. Let us not forget that “the law is good if we use it lawfully” and that “by the law is the knowledge of sin” (1Ti_1:8; Rom_3:20; Rom_7:7). Let us bring the law to the front and press it on men’s attention. Let us expound and beat out the Ten Commandments and show the length and breadth and depth and height of their requirements. This is the way of our Lord in the sermon on the mount. We cannot do better than follow His plan. We may depend upon it, men will never come to Jesus and stay with Jesus and live for Jesus unless they really know why they are to come and what is their need. Those whom the Spirit draws to Jesus are those whom the Spirit has convinced of sin. Without thorough conviction of sin, men may seem to come to Jesus and follow Him for a season; but they will soon fall away and return to the world.”

And so I can tell you how successful you will be in your Christian life by how seriously you view sin.


• The better you understand it the more you will hate it because God hates it!.

  • The more you hate sin the more you will love Jesus
    

  • Because he took care of it for you!

• The more you love Jesus the more you will want to be holy.

  • Because you love Him and know how much He hates sin.

• The more you want to be holy the more success and happiness you will have in your Christian life.

  • Because sin will not have dominion over you.

  • You will also be humbled by the acknowledging of your own sinfulness.
    

• The more diminished your view of sin the more you will struggle.

  • Because you will not take the proper precautions to guard yourself from it!

So sanctification ultimately makes us better witnesses and happier Christians. So why do we run from it instead of sin? Why do we flee to the world instead of to Christ whose will it is to sanctify us?

After all of that I hope I have not discouraged you from listening to the message. Christian it is a matter of life and death to confront your own sin. Without holiness no one will see the Lord!

Audio is available on my website;

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page.
Blameless Hearts - 1 Thessalonians 3:9-4:3

In Christ!
Kevin

P.S. Sorry for the voice on this one, the cold I have makes it pretty rough.

Next stop on the 1 Thessalonians express, 1 Thessalonians 2:18  "Therefore we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time and again--but Satan hindered us." As we follow the flow of this passage from 1 Thessalonians 2:17 through to 3:9 we see a distressed Apostle Paul as he tells of how badly he wanted to get back the the Thessalonians. Chased out of town only weeks after getting there and then again chased from Berea where he had gone for refuge, eventually he went to Greece. He probably had heard of the great need for the Gospel there. Preaching at the Areopagus and seeing the thousands who had never heard the Gospel, he was compelled to go forward, yet the Thessalonians were stuck in his mind.

1 Thessalonians 3:1 "Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,  2  and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith," And so Paul decides to go it alone. The first Christian to set foot in Greece, preaching there with his companion Timothy on an errand of love to see whether the Thessalonians had really grasped the Faith or not. The news is good! 1 Thessalonians 3:8 "For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.  9  For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,"

And so the lesson that we take away is that the Love that the Apostle had for the Thessalonians could only be hindered by the Devil. It could not be stopped. Though Paul could not get there to see them face to face he made great sacrifices to see that they were well and standing in the Lord. That is what love does, it sacrifices for the benefit of others. Love is the guiding principle of the Christian's life. 1 John 3:23 "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.  24  Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." Here we see that love is evidence of our relationship to Christ. If we do not have love for our brothers and sisters we have no evidence that our faith is real.!

I pray that you listen to the audio of this message and that you are provoked to examine your Christian "Love Life." Instead of saying, "What have you done for me lately? you should ask, "What have I done for you?

Audio of this message is available on my website:

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page.
Crown of Rejoicing - 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:9

In Christ!
Kevin

The Law and the Gospel; are they a contradiction? Is it two ways of looking at the same thing? Is it necessary to distinguish between them? Is it possible to hold both of them in harmony with one another? These questions represent the views of many different groups who lay claim to the title Christian. But what is the proper view on this age old dilemma?

This was a fundamental point for the Reformation. Martin Luther took a very hard stance on dividing the one from the other. Later John Calvin would see less of a dichotomy  but would hold very important distinctions in the relationship of these two Biblical truths. In our time many don't even take the time to examine them. Many modern "dispensational" Believers disregard the Law entirely, assigning it to Israel alone. The Law of God is very important to us even as Redeemed followers of Jesus Christ. He is the "end of the Law for righteousness for everyone who believes." yet He does not make our knowledge of it any less pressing by this. The Moral Law is a reflection of the very Nature of God. It is also a part of those who have been made in His image. The Law is engraved upon our hearts (Romans 2:15) even as fallen men.

First we must understand the Law, what it is and why it was given. We must even make distinctions within the Law as to its Moral, Ceremonial and Civil aspects and see how each of these is applied to God's redeemed people and also to those who are outside of His covenant. We must see how they relate to the Gospel and God's eternal plan of Redemption for the families of the earth who are outside the covenant community of the nation of Israel.

The Bible deals clearly with all of these aspects. Theodore Beza tells us, "We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the 'Law,' the other the 'Gospel.' For all the rest can be gathered under the one or other of these two headings." The Law "is written by nature in our hearts," while "What we call the Gospel (Good News) is a doctrine which is not at all in us by nature, but which is revealed from Heaven (Mt. 16:17; John 1:13)." The Law leads us to Christ in the Gospel by condemning us and causing us to despair of our own "righteousness." "Ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel," Beza wrote, "is one of the principal sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity." (The Christian Faith, trans. by James Clark (Focus Christian Ministries Trust, 1992), 40-1. Published first at Geneva in 1558 as the Confession de foi du chretien.)

This is where many depart from the orthodox teachings of Christianity and and up in legalism or antinomianism (living without regard to law). In our monthly mens Bible study we examined this topic in our February meeting. I chose this topic because it is fundamental to getting our Christian faith right. Paul deals with the topic in Romans very extensively and also in Galatians where it is the main focus of the entire letter. In Acts 15 it is an issue that brings first great confusion and dissension and then great clarity and freedom to Believers. And so we examined all of this and more in our study.

I pray that you find it helpful and I encourage you to click on the link below and listen to the audio of the lesson!

The Law and The Gospel

In Christ!
Kevin

After looking at the concept of suffering for the Gospel we kind of looked at the other side of the coin this week.

Why are the persecutors that way?
What makes men rebel against the Word of God?

An interesting study to say the least! An accurate understanding of human nature, particularly "Fallen" human nature is important to understand how we are to minister to men. What is the source of our power?  We saw two weeks ago that it is the "effective Word of God."  Why is it that this is the only effective means of reaching men? Men must be beyond natural help if only the spiritual weapons can prevail with them.
Paul seems a little harsh as he speaks of the Jews in our text.

1Thessalonians 2:14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

How can it be that the nation who was the only one to possess the accurate revelation of God can be so disobedient? They seem to be actually working against God rather than with or for Him. The Gospel offends human will and a desire to compete for a standing with God through his own efforts. When that is outright denied by the Gospel people seem to get downright violent. I hope that you will take some time and listen and get to understand what human nature is really like according to God's Word.

Audio is available on the following websites;

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page
Displeasing & Contrary - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

SermonCloud.com
Displeasing & Contrary  - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

In Christ!
Kevin

So, when I asked Rhonda to give me brief description of this message she said, "If you are feeling sorry for yourself you should listen to this." I guess that is one way to look at it. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he was encouraged to hear of their faith because just after having preached the Gospel to them he was forced to leave by the persecution that followed. Persecution has been a regular part of the Christian faith from the beginning. Jesus said just before He went to the Cross, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33b)

Far too often we get absorbed into our culture and the satus quo of living in it. Suffering is not a big part of our lives as American Christians. Sure we have the ordinary suffering of disease and bereavement, etc. but we do not suffer with it like many in other parts of the world or those of ages past. As I mentioned with the message on the Kingdom a couple of weeks ago, we are ill equipped to understand and respond to this truth appropriately. When the Apostle Paul preached to the Thessalonians within weeks a mob formed and forcibly entered the house of Jason, at which Paul and his companions had been lodging, and drug those present to the civil magisrate's office where charges of treason were brought against them and a fine was levied.  How would you respond in such a situation?

Paul says that the way that the Thessalonians responded to persecution was another proof of the reality of their faith. I wonder how I would respond in such a situation.

• How would you respond?
• Why does God allow or even make His people suffer?
  
  • Yes I said God makes His people suffer. Get over it. Read your Bible!

He is smarter than us and has a reason for all that He does. I pray that as you listen to this message you begin to see what He has said about suffering and its purposes in the lives of His people.

Audio is available on the following websites:

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page
Imitators in Suffering - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

SermonCloud.com
Imitators in Suffering - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

In Christ!
Kevin


 

Well, this morning we had some fun. It was our first chance to be on the radio here in Lima. Our local Christian Radio Station has a Church of the Week program where they broadcast the service live on the radio on Sunday morning and then have me on each morning during the week at 9am to take prayer requests and pray for them. That should be fun!

The message today was as scheduled from our study of 1 Thessalonians. Today we landed at 1 Thessalonians 2:13 "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."

We studied the Word of God as to what it says about itself, what it really is, how we should respond to it. The proper response to the Word of God in some measure determines it effectiveness in our lives. I spoke a lot about its nature in the last post as I was discussing The Word of God at our Mens' Breakfast last month. Today we talked more about its usefulness, Its effectiveness. If God has given us an effective means of changing hearts and minds who are we to devise our own methods?  Should we try to improve upon it? Should we offer it in uneven amounts in order to make it easier to accept? I would argue that if we alter it then it is no longer God's Word so then whether it is received or not makes no difference.

Paul preached the Word of God! He commanded Timothy, the young pastor, "Before God and Jesus Christ who judge the living and the dead... PREACH THE WORD!" (2 Timothy 4:1-2) We have a responsibility to both men and to God to get it right!

Audio of this message is available on the following websites;

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page
The Effective Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

SermonCloud.com
The Effective Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 2:13

In Christ!
Kevin

This past Saturday I had the chance to enter again upon the work of ministering to men in a small group. This has been my heart for a long time and was a big part of my ministry back in Michigan. Our church, Garden City, has a monthly men's breakfast and this was the second one since we have been here. I saw in it an opportunity to equip the men for their service in their families and in the Church. I set it up like we had been doing the Got Doctrine? meetings in the past. Food, Fellowship and a hardy lesson from the Scriptures.

This month the focus was on the Word of God. It was not just on the Bible however. "What other 'Word of God' is there?" you might ask. There is Jesus in John 1:1 right? "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." The idea of God expressing His mind to humanity was more the idea that we were trying to get our minds around.

God's Word is also creative as well as expressive. His Words in the first chapter of Genesis are more than just the sounds that He made with His mouth, so to speak. They were creative energy and direction of His intent. And as we saw the Word of God (Jesus) was behind the Word of God (The Bible) from the very beginning of God's revelation of Himself to man. He is the ultimate revelation of God, the Express Image of His Person as the author of Hebrews tells us.

For God to condescend to us and take the time and effort to communicate with us is amazing. We are just specks in the universe that is so vast. And not only that but we are rebellious specks. "When I consider the heavens, the work of Your hands, the sun and the stars that You have ordained, what is man that Your are mindful of him or the son of man that you visit him?" Why would God condescend to even initiate that conversation?

God's Word is amazing and our response to it is often less that it should be. We are so slow to hear the voice of God as He stoops to speak to us.  I pray that as you take the time to listen to the lesson that it provokes you to listen more to the Word of God, (The Bible and the Son!)

Audio is available at:
www.1in1000.org on the Sermons Page
The Word of God - Various Scriptures

In Christ!
Kevin

It was a very interesting truth that we looked at today as we continued on in the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians. As the Apostle Paul charged them to "Walk Worthy" of God he qualified that as "the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12b) Being called into a Kingdom is not an easy one for us as Americans. The Virginia State Flag has a picture of a woman standing over a dead king with a spear in her had and reads, "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" or Thus Always to Kings. Kings really are not welcome here and I don't think it has changed a lot in the last couple hundred years. We don't get the idea of "kingdom" unless we look to literature and history and try to understand what it might be like to live under such a rule.

If our "walking worthy" is tied to our understanding of being in "God's Kingdom" then we had better get an understanding of what that means!.

What is the Kingdom of God?

How does being a part of that Kingdom affect us?

I believe that as we truly see God as our "Sovereign" it will affect us in our response to Him. We certainly can't vote Him out of office! I pray that as you listen to this message that you gain a view of God's majesty and His Kingly Office and that it transforms you into one who seeks His glory.

Audio of this message is available at:

www.1in1000.org on the Sermons Page
Called to His Kingdom and Glory - 1 Thessalonians 2:12b

In Christ!
Kevin

   Looking once more at the second chapter of 1 Thessalonians we see that as the Apostle moves from encouragement to instruction he continues to call them back to his own example as a pattern for godly behavior. 

1 Thessalonians 2:10

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

It is not just behavior for behavior's sake that he is looking for. It is the evidence of saving faith that lives are changed and desires are redirected from the world to the things of God. Paul's great motherly love and fatherly exhortations point these Christians toward "walking worthy" of the God who has saved them. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)

What was the Apostle's method of moving these believers toward maturity?

It began with his own example before them as we have already seen. His motherly love, tender caring, unceasing labor opened the door for this Gospel as he came and preached to them and built them up in the faith. His fatherly affection also caused him to Exhort, comfort and charge them to follow him in his example and to love and work and encourage and charge others to this kind of life.  The ultimate goal was to walking worthy of the God who has called them.

What does it mean to "walk worthy?" 

From the idea of the "charge" that the Apostle Paul gave to them and the idea of the worthy walk we see that the redeemed have a "duty" to live lives that glorify God. That's right, Christians have a duty that goes beyond mere belief! If they truly understand the nature of God and His Gospel it must compel them to live differently! Walk is a euphemism in the Bible for lifestyle. A lifestyle born out of duty toward God for His abundant mercy is what Paul was directing them toward by both his example and his teaching.

Do you recognize and live by this idea of duty toward God or are you just winging it and believing that God has forgiven you without giving you the desire to "walk worthy" of Him? 

Audio of the message is available on the following websites:

1in1000.org on the Sermons Page

The Exhortation - 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

SermonCloud.com

The Exhortation - 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

In Christ!

Kevin