Author: Stan Cox
The Confession of Sin
The book of Nehemiah describes an interesting day in the lives of the remnant who returned to Jerusalem out of Babylonian captivity. The wall protecting the city had been finished, and the Jews had gathered at Jerusalem. Chapter 8 relates a reading of the law by Ezra, followed by the keeping of the Feast of Tabernacles. Chapter 9 picks up the narrative. The children assembled on the twenty-fourth day of the month and fasted “in sackcloth, and with dust on their heads” (1). These were signs of mourning as the sins of Israel weighed heavily upon the people as they woke spiritually. Verse 2 says, “Then those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners; and they stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.”
For a quarter of the day they read from God’s law. Another fourth was taken up in their confession of sin and worship to God. After half the day was over the Levites addressed the assembly, sharing the history of Israel. They emphasized God’s graciousness despite the consistent rebellion of the people which led to their demise as a sovereign nation. I would suggest a reading of the address in verses 5-38 of the chapter. Continue reading “The Confession of Sin”
The Value of Heirship
God made a covenant with Abraham, noted first in Genesis 12. This covenant included the promise of a great nation, and a land in which they would dwell. This land — Canaan — was given as an inheritance to the Israelite nation. Under that Old Covenant, the Jews were Abraham’s seed and heirs. “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass” (Joshua 21:43-45). In fact, the very word is used to describe this gift. “These are the areas which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan” (14:1).
Things have changed with Christ. No longer is the physical Jew the heir of God’s promises. As Paul explained in his epistle to the Romans, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:28-29). Continue reading “The Value of Heirship”
Mining the Scriptures: 1 Timothy 1:18-20
Paul ended his first chapter in his letter to Timothy with a charge to his young ward — to wage spiritual war against evil. In this charge he called for Timothy to maintain his faith and purity in conscience.
Such an admonition was necessary. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus (1:3), and there was a need not only to edify, but to defend the truth against false teachers. This is true today as well. The work of an evangelist is not done well unless spiritual warfare is waged as soldiers in Christ’s army. Conviction and sincerity was and is needed that truth be allowed its victory against the wiles of the devil.
Paul named two men: Hymenaeus and Alexander. They had departed from the faith and were condemned. They were examples of men who had to be withstood and fought against, lest we be “children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men…” (Ephesians 4:14).
Why So Fast?
Our Lord Jesus taught us to love, and to exercise mercy and forbearance toward others. With this the writings of all the apostles agree. This is because the Holy Spirit is the author of scripture. What the men wrote agree with Jesus because the Holy Spirit and Jesus are one. This is affirmed in John 16. In this passage Jesus said of the Spirit, “He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
In the midst of calls to love and practice patience with others, Paul wrote by inspiration in Titus 3:10-11, “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” We might ask, “Why does Paul encourage such fast discipline against this type of sin?”
Consider it’s nature, as described here. Division is antithetical to the unity to which Christians are called. Jesus prayed that we might all be one as He and the Father were one. A divisive man is a destructive force, thwarting the efforts for us all to be one!
The divisive man is warped. His nature has not been altered by his nominal claim to be a follower of the Lord. His actions condemn him, and if he is unwilling to change his ways, he should be refused quickly.
The divisive man infects the body of Christ. This we must not allow!
Spring 2025 Meeting with Reagan McClenny
Our Spring 2025 meeting with Reagan McClenny took place May 10-15, 2025. All lessons were audio recorded and livestreamed.
To see other sermons visit our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@WSchurchofChrist
Saturday: Underestimating God’s Grace
Sunday 1: Grace for Grace: The Reciprocal Nature of Grace in the New Testament
Sunday 2: When My Love to Christ Grows Weak
Sunday 3: An Axe-Head Worth of Grace
Monday: What God’s Grace Teaches Us About Marriage
Tuesday: “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?” God’s Grace and the Laborers in the Vineyard
Wednesday: Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace
Thursday: Salvation: By the Numbers
Ordinances of Divine Service
The Hebrew writer, in the first part of chapter 9, describes the implements of sacrifice and worship under the old covenant. He included in his description things like the tabernacle itself, as well as lampstand, the table, the showbread the ark of the covenant and its contents. He called them “ordinances of divine service” (1).
The point of his book is to describe the difference between the old and new, showing the superiority of Jesus and His new covenant of grace for men. That is why this chapter begins with the phrase, “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service.”
Consider the intent of the writing. If even the old covenant had these things, and they were holy, designating worship and service to God. How much more important are the “ordinances of divine service” under the New Covenant! What are those ordinances? Consider the singing of psalms. The praying of prayers. The observance of Jesus’ sacrifice on each first day of the week when we serve His supper. Our free will offerings each Lord’s day. Consider also calls to evangelize, edify and help the poor. To care for Christian widows and the indigent. Finally consider the calls to love, to obey, to “Be holy, for I [God] am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
We dare not neglect ordinances of divine service under the new covenant! (cf. 2:3).
Diotrephes the Prater
John’s third epistle is a personal letter to his beloved brother Gaius. There is a reason why John is known as the apostle of love. His greeting of Gaius is a wonderful example of John’s true devotion to others. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers … I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (2,4).
Further, a good portion of his letter is a commendation of the hospitality Gaius showed to other Christians, notably those who were traveling as ministers of the gospel of our Lord. John wrote, “We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth” (8). Continue reading “Diotrephes the Prater”
Mining the Scriptures: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15
Paul had a special admonition for those Thessalonians who had adopted an idle lifestyle, possibly because they thought their time on earth was to be ending soon. His teaching, both by example and inspiration, is that Christians have a social and familial responsibility until the Lord comes. “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (10).
So, he commanded it again here (12), as he had heard of some in the congregation who were not only idle, but their idleness was leading to sin. He called them “busybodies.”
The preparation of a Christian for eternity is seen in his obedience and positive efforts to life righteously. He is an example to the unbeliever and believer alike. Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to steadfastness, “But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in doing good” (13). This command is serious, a matter of Christian fellowship and eternal standing with God. Those who will not work are to be rejected, though our love for them is retained (15).
Sermon: The Disciple and the World
The text of 1 Peter 2:9-10 reveals that we as disciples of Christ are at odds will the world, antagonized by the flesh, and should consider ourselves as sojourners and pilgrims, as our citizenship is heavenly.
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Sermon: Proper Alliances
Our friendships and associations can be helpful or destructive, depending upon who it is that we fellowship. This is especially true spiritually.
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Cheerful Giver
In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, he commanded them to give of their means to fund a benevolent need in Judah. Such giving is an important aspect of our service to the Master. He has given us so much, it is only right and proper we respond by giving back to Him and the work He would have us to do.
In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul revisited the command, giving some extra thoughts for us to consider. He wrote, “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation” (2 Corinthians 9:5). You might consider it surprising that anyone would begrudge an offering made to the Lord, but it is in fact quite common. There could be many reasons, but consider first of all that it is giving up your money to fund something for someone else. It is easy to think of the someone else as being anyone other than God. Continue reading “Cheerful Giver”
By This…
A favorite turn of phrase by John in his first epistle is “by this”, the NKJ version’s interpretation of the Greek preposition “en”. For example:
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3). The Greek word is translated “hereby”, “in this”, “this is how” in other translations. The Christian Standard Bible makes the meaning plain, though the construction is awkward, “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commandments.” The amplified Bible (more of a commentary) explains it well. “And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings). So, the idea is that the Greek preposition “en” is the means by which something is accomplished (in this case knowing). If we keep God’s commandments, we can know that we have a personal relationship with God. Continue reading “By This…”
Mining the Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
Paul establishes 3 simple points in this short text:
- He greatly desired to be with the Thessalonians. This was Paul’s motivation in his work. He established churches in many places, and desired to revisit the locations to encourage and strengthen the brethren. Everything that Paul did was for others, whether the lost, or his precious brethren. His own life and comfort was always secondary to his ministry.
- Satan was real to Paul (and should be to us). Through the Spirit’s inspiration he attributed his absence to the work of the Adversary. Not surprising as Paul’s effectiveness was a great force against the Devil’s work. Remember the wiles and efforts of the devil to condemn us! (cf. 1 Peter 5:8).
- The value of the Thessalonians was inestimable to Paul. How about you and I? We too must love one another! “For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1 John 3:11).
Full Redemption
Titus 2 tells us that Jesus appeared on earth over 2,000 years ago, giving Himself for us by dying a sacrificial death on the cross, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed.” (14).
Our appreciation for what Jesus did is without limitation. Paul reveals here that no matter how heinous our sins have been, redemption is available to all. Think of the very worst atrocity of any man. No matter the degree of degradation and sin, redemption is available. Paul called himself the “chief” among sinners, because of His persecution of Jesus and His disciples. And yet he was redeemed and purified as one of God’s elect.
Is that fair? Wrong question! “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The fact is that you and I are every bit as guilty of sin and worthy of condemnation as the rankest and most vile. We all are unacceptable to God as our Creator. But God loves us, and so sent His only begotten son to be the sacrifice, redeemer, propitiation for our sin. (Propitiation — the act which regains the favor or goodwill of our just God). In effect, Jesus paid the price for sin so that we do not have to.
So, as it impacts us this is about mercy and grace, not fairness. And we are so glad this is true. How about you? Do you think about God’s love and mercy given to you?
Sermon: A Single Step
A discussion of what God requires of man as a part of His covenant with man to be their God. In other words, man’s obligations in God’s scheme of Redemption.
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