Sound Teaching

The foolishness of the Galatians can be seen in their willingness to turn away from the fundamental principle of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Because of false teachers, the Galatians had turned away from the truth Paul had proclaimed to them, and had begun to depend upon their standing upon the law of Moses to justify themselves before God.

Paul argues against this throughout his epistle to the Galatians, but here he is simply stating his incredulity regarding such a backward move. He states, “Are you so foolish?” (3). Paul had taught them their standing with God was dependent upon their faith in Christ. They had started off so well. But their conversion, (which causes conflict and suffering with an ungodly world), seemed to be in vain because they were now rejecting what they once accepted.

The law of Moses can’t and never could bring the perfection that comes in Christ. This can only come through faith in Him.

Certain unique characteristics of Christ make Him the great and sufficient High Priest for us today. Note the points made by the Hebrew writer in chapters 4 & 5.

Jesus passed through the heavens (4:14). This makes Him great.  His ascension and exaltation (cf. “the firstfruits”, 1 Corinthians 15:23) indicate that His position emanates from the Father in heaven.

Jesus can sympathize with the weakness of men (4:15).  All have been tempted and sin (cf. Romans 3:23). Jesus is uniquely qualified to offer a sacrifice for sin because of His Deity, as seen in the preceding point. But also as One who has been tempted like we have, “yet without sin” (5:15).

He was appointed by God. (5:1-4).  No high priest can simply appoint Himself to the position. In the Old Testament, God appointed the tribe of Levi and the house of Aaron for this important work. The High Priest was the one to offer the sacrifice for the sin of the people. Under the New Covenant the Father appointed Jesus, after the priesthood of Melchizedek as uniquely the High Priest for all of humanity (5:5-6).

Jesus is uniquely qualified and has been perfected by His death, resurrection and ascension. He has become the “author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest…” (5:9-10).

The common characteristic of men who pleased God in the Bible is the devotion they showed to God. For example, Abraham’s son Isaac, “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening…” (Genesis 24:63). Or, David’s practice of prayer and meditation. “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6). Our greatest example, the Lord Himself, customarily sought solitary places at times where he could immerse Himself in His devotions to His Father. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35).

While I am typically unimpressed with the books and helps that are supposed to facilitate “devotional time”, the private efforts to focus our minds on prayer, meditation, and Bible reading are a laudable endeavors. Those who seek to draw near to God are successful! As David told his son Solomon, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever” (1 Chronicles 28:9). God wants this closeness, but it takes effort on the part of man to obtain it. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). Continue reading “A Life of Devotion” →

So many seek self-validation, or the validation of others.  More problematic is the fact that society in general requires the same. It seems the wisdom of the day is that if you don’t brag about yourself, then you have little chance to be accepted.  Think of the constant self-promotion of politicians as an example.

Paul here objected to that.  While some may need it to bolster themselves, Paul’s validation came from the Corinthians themselves.  They knew of Paul’s legitimate ministry in Christ because they themselves benefitted from it.  His words, “clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us” (3).

The contrast is wonderful, where others need the written word, to get a “letter of commendation” to be accepted, Paul depended upon the epistle of Christ, written on the heart of those he ministered to, the Corinthians themselves!

Some might have been grudging in their acceptance. That was their problem, not the problem of Paul. His work spoke for itself!

“But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance” (1 Timothy 4:7-9).

The fitness industry in America is a 22.4 Billion industry. Despite this fact, the obesity rate in America (BMI>30) is over 40% among adults.

What Paul wrote is true. Bodily exercise (and a good diet) does do some good. The problem is focus and priority. Jesus said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

In contrast to the good that exercise can do, to spiritually exercise yourself to godliness is far better and more important.  Why is this so? Jesus said it. It is because of the eternal nature of the soul!

Paul emphasized the same. It has “the promise of the life that now is (like physical exercise) and of that which is to come” (where it is uniquely helpful). That is why it is such a “faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.” Think about it!

Paul here (and in chapter 3) seeks to downplay his personal abilities and proclamations, instead showing the Corinthians that the true power for salvation was in God’s word.  He said in 3:7 that he was not “anything.” He stated in Romans 1:16 that the power of God to salvation was in the message of the gospel, not in the messenger.

So, here in chapter two he affirmed it wasn’t in his abilities of wisdom that salvation came. Only that in weakness, fear and much trembling he preached only Christ and Him crucified.

This demonstrates and important truth that Paul emphasized in all of his epistles. The power that brings redemption does not come from men, but from God. Not in human wisdom, but “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

His conclusion here is an important one. We should not consider any success we have in Christ to be because of us!  It is because of the power of God!

Paul had a problem to solve when he wrote his personal appeal to Philemon. Philemon had a slave, the slave had become a Christian and was helpful to Paul, but Paul knew it would be wrong to impose his desire regarding the slave, Onesimus, without Philemon’s permission.

How was the problem solved? By all three men acting selflessly. Paul deferred to Philemon, Philemon deferred to Paul, Onesimus deferred to both men. All showed love, humility, selflessness, and the brotherhood that is seen in Christ. A circumstance that was fraught with potential tension and conflict was resolved because of the Christian attitudes that existed and were acted upon.

No doubt you, (as do I), have a problem with slavery. This article is not about that. It is noting this truth: You can make laws, compel or shame —  however, if one is not of a mind to treat others with love and selflessness, problems follow.

Instead, the way of the Lord is love, service and sacrifice. It is selflessness. If that is the way we all act, then God’s desires will be upheld and served.

This is the solution, though many refuse to follow it. This is the way of God, and should be our practice as well. Think about it.

In 2 Corinthians 4 we have an interesting comparison between the precious gospel of Christ, and the men and women who possess that gospel.  In verse 4 Paul describes the good news in the following way, “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

In contrast,  in verse 7 he simply states, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels.” Such a great dichotomy. The treasure is ultimate, of inestimable value. The vessel in which it is housed is not significant in comparison to the contents.

The value of the gospel is clearly indicated in scripture.  In Romans 1:16, Paul writes that it is “the power of God to salvation.”  In another place he wrote, “it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).  In fact, the Lord Himself weighed in on the subject, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come”  (Matthew 24:14). Continue reading “Earthen Vessels” →

In addition to homosexuality, clearly dealt with in previous verses, Paul lists a series of other sins that was characteristic of the Romans at the time of his writing.  These sins are listed in verses 29-31. They include sexual sin, greed, hateful speech and actions, gossip, rebellion and cruelty.

The key to this list, concluding this chapter, is Paul’s condemnation not only of their actions, but condemnation of tolerance of the practices.  “…Those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (32).

Why are these things condemned? Because God is righteous!  As the Lord instructed Israel in Leviticus 19:2, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Because God is holy, Paul wrote, “It is a righteous thing with God… [to take vengeance on] “…those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:6,8).  Righteousness is a requirement of God!

“Where is the promise of His coming” (2 Peter 3:4).  This was the question that scoffers asked as time passed in the first century, and the world continued.  Many in that time (both Christians and unbelievers) misunderstood the fact that the promise of Jesus’ second coming did not necessarily mean he would come within a few months or years of His leaving the earth after His resurrection from the dead.

The teaching of both Jesus and the apostles — that Jesus would come, that no one knows the exact time of His return, but that it was important to be prepared — is teaching that every generation needs to take to heart.

Consider that accepting that teaching will cause a child of God to live faithfully throughout his life, as he looks for and seeks to hasten “the coming of the day of God” (3:12). Continue reading ““Where is the Promise of His Coming?”” →

The text of Ephesians 3 references the “fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ” (9). While it was hidden through the ages, it was finally revealed as first came John, then Jesus Himself, and then the ambassadors that Jesus sent into the world, inspired by the Holy Spirit (cf. John 15:13-15).

Those who lived faithfully toward God, but lived and died before Jesus, “did not receive the promise” apart from us (Hebrews 11). Paul writes about this in 2 Corinthians 3:15-16, “But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord the veil is taken away.”

Peter referred to the prophets who sought to know this mystery, but Peter made clear that the prophets were ministering to those of us who live in these last days, when the gospel of Christ would be preached, “things which angels desire to look into” (1 Peter 1:12).

So in the revealing of that mystery, we return back to our initial text in Ephesians 3. It has now been revealed “by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (5). This revealed mystery is encapsulated in the promise that all men, both Jews and Gentiles, “should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (7).

The text of Acts reveals the preaching of Jesus’ completed gospel, with power, for the first time. It was accompanied with power from the Holy Spirit.  One sign given as seen in our text is the gift of tongues or languages.  The apostles were able to speak to the audience “each in our own language in which we were born” (8) through the power of God.

Some mocked in response, “They are full of new wine” (13). This contention was obviously false.  Getting drunk does not make one a polyglot. Setting aside Peter’s objection that it was still early in the day, what they claimed simply was not possible.

The other response was perplexity and amazement (12), as God’s intended.  The fact that on that day 3,000 became obedient to that gospel (41) with growth continuing in the days and weeks to come indicates clearly both the power of God, and the significance of Pentecost. It was the establishment of Jesus’ church, as God has in these “last days spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:2).

In our culture today, the word “doctrine” has a negative connotation. In effect, most believe that anyone who emphasizes doctrine in his teaching is divisive  and sectarian.  Add the word “sound” and now you can include judgmental to the stereotype.  In contrast, many claim that all we need to do is emphasize the love of Jesus and His Father, and solely trust in His mercy and longsuffering to ensure acceptance by Him.

Paul told Titus, his young evangelist friend, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).  Consider what this includes (as seen in his instructions).  Older men are to be sound in faith.  Older women as well, and also reverent in behavior. Younger women are to be obedient to their husbands, “that the word of God may not be blasphemed” (2:5). The younger men are to show integrity in doctrine.  Other things are mentioned, but these directly impact the idea of doctrinal teaching having importance and relevance.

We are to “declare the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Doctrine is in fact God’s instructions for man given through the words of inspiration. We should accept the reality that in any area where God has directed us, our options are only to ignore, rebel, or submit. Submission is God’s way. You may ignore or rebel at your own peril!

Back in 2018, when Beto O’Rourke ran for the senate against Ted Cruz, I received a political phone call from O’Rourke’s campaign. I decided to make a point. I told the worker I would never vote for someone who used profanity in campaigning, like he did. It floored the young lady. “But, he is so passionate about his positions.” She couldn’t understand why profanity could be considered such a negative.  She had never heard such a thing!

Beto was fairly novel at the time. Of course, societal use of profanity has a long history in our nation. But in the public discourse of political speech (not in the backrooms, but in campaign speeches and television appearances) it was still rather uncommon. Continue reading “God’s View of Profanity” →

In John 5, we read of the healing of a man who had been lame for a long time. It is an interesting narrative, and one of the first times in Jesus’ ministry that He came under fire by the Jews, who were angry at Jesus for healing this man on the Sabbath day.

Our interest comes from verses 2-4. “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had” (John 5:2-4). Notice that the healing of an individual came if he was the first to step into the pool at the appointed time. Continue reading “Jesus and Healing” →