Author: Stan Cox

Through examples and commands, the Lord supplies a pattern for the family. The roles, dynamics and structure of the family are given. Consider the following:

God established the institution of marriage from the beginning. In introducing Eve as a companion to Adam, the text records, “Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man” (Genesis 3:22). Note God’s intent, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). We then consider our Lord’s divine commentary on the text in Genesis when He said in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Continue reading “The Family: God’s Plan” →

On one of the occasions of Israel’s rebellions against God during the time of the judges, God chastised them. We are told that because of God’s anger for their idolatries, “He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon” (Judges 10:7). After eighteen years of harassment and oppression, “the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’” Continue reading ““The gods which you have chosen”” →

Having established a remaining rest (indicating eternity in the presence of God), here the Hebrew writer encourages his readers to act in a way that secures that rest.

Notice the way (diligence) is regarding obedience to God’s commands. Put negatively, the Israelites failed to enter Canaan because of their disobedience (cf. 11).
Here is stated a preeminent principle in scripture. Our salvation is tied inextricably to our obedience to God’s revealed will. This does not mean we earn our salvation, only that the gift of redemption is reserved by Him for those who obey Him. God’s word is the key. He has revealed His will for us.

God’s word is powerful, sharp, piercing. As the Hebrew writer states, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (13).

Carefully consider the part that the Bible has as God judges us to be worthy or not. He has told us what to do. We will be judged by whether we are willing to do it. Nothing could be more plainly revealed!

Consider Peter’s instruction in 1 Peter 3:8-9a, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling…” Peter’s words are typical of instructions given to God’s people in the New Testament. We are to be loving toward one another. We are to seek peace as we can. We are to treat each other like precious family.

One of the words used here by Peter is “tenderhearted.” It is the Greek word eúsplanchnos. It is translated in the King James version as pitiful. Other translations use tenderhearted or compassionate (though this word is different from the one earlier in the verse “having compassion” which comes from a familiar Greek word sympath?s, from which we get our word sympathetic).

eúsplanchnos has an interesting etymology. It’s primary and original meaning was: having strong bowels. Like our present practice of using the word heart (a muscle) to reference deep emotions and compassion, the Greeks attributed the same to the intestinal tract. It would be similar to us having a “gut feeling”, but primarily referencing strong emotions and sympathies.

So, being pitiful or tenderhearted has reference to the deeply held emotions that Christians should have toward one another. How do you feel toward your brethren?

A discussion of the book of Zephaniah reveals much about the behavior that disappoints God, and the judgment He visits upon those unwilling to submit to Him.

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A discussion of the night Paul addressed his brethren in Troas, where we learn more about the Lord’s Supper, and the legitimacy of Paul’s apostleship by the miracle performed. Acts 20:7-12.

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There are some important truths we must consider on the matter of judgment. This has been illustrated through the egregious false statements typically seen on the news following any issue of consequence. The truth does not matter, all that matters is how it can be spun to benefit “our party” or “our interests”.

Our Lord said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). It is important to adjudicate facts, not what we wish to be so. It is important that we be fair. Later in the same chapter, Nicodemus counseled the same basic thing with regard to the judgment they sought against Jesus Himself, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (51).

Let’s do that now. Was Jesus what men claimed about Him? Concerning those who witnessed Jesus, we are told that some said, “He is good”, while others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people” (John 7:12). After Jesus protested His innocence among them some said, “You have a demon” (7:20). Some who were more impressed with Jesus said, “Truly this is the Prophet” (7:40). Continue reading “What About This Jesus?” →

It is obvious that the physically healthiest among us (setting aside unfortunate genetic illness or injury) are that way because of a good diet, sober life and appropriate exercise. There is a spiritual equivalent to this revealed in the New Testament.

Consider first Jesus’ description of Himself in John 6:35, “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.’” It is correct to note that every aspect of our spiritual sustenance comes directly from Jesus. We are without strength without Him. But as Paul noted, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Continue reading “Spiritual Growth” →

In our text, the Hebrew writer enlarges upon his statement in 3:19 that the Israelites were not able to enter into the rest of God (the land of Canaan) because of their unbelief.

He begins by noting that a promise of rest remains for God’s people. The reference here is obviously to heaven, the final rest promised to the people of God. He refers to several “rests” in the text. The rest of God after the creation of the world, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and rested…” (Genesis 2:2). The rest of Canaan missed by the unbelieving Jews, “They shall not enter My rest” (5). He then refers to Psalm 95 where David mentions those rebellious Jews, and said, “Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not harden your hearts, as in the wilderness…” (7-8). In the word “Today”, David was indicating another rest yet attainable for the people of God.

The key is the same here. We must believe to attain the eternal rest promised by God. “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his words as God did from His” (10). Do not harden your heart. Believe in the promise of God!

This short article is not what you think. It is an examination of 1 Corinthians 4:6-15, and especially verse 10 where Paul writes, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” Looking at the context of Paul’s letter, he here is obviously using sarcasm. He is referring to the Corinthian’s self-satisfaction and arrogance. He writes in verse 8, “You have reigned as kings without us – and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!”

The actual state of the Corinthians was not what they thought. Their view of themselves was similar to how the Laodiceans thought of themselves in Revelation 3:17, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”

When Paul called himself a fool for Christ, he was not in any way resentful of such a designation. He actually was willing to give up anything for his Lord, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Galatians 2:20).

Likewise the Corinthians wisdom was not as it appeared. They thought themselves, wise, but “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25). Become a fool for Christ!

Things we can learn from examining the great apostle’s meeting with the Ephesian elders while in Miletus. (Acts 20).

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Man has to realize how great, preeminent, wise and powerful God is, and learn not to mold God according to their own flawed concepts. A discussion based on the phrase in Psalm 50:21.

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When you read through the prophecy of Amos, you see a primary problem with Israel at this time was the oppression of the lower class. A primary emphasis of the prophet was a condemnation of those in power and influence; of those who were enjoying their riches while others suffered. Consider the following verses:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals. They pant after the dust of the earth which is on the head of the poor, and pervert the way of the humble’” (Amos 2:6-7).

“Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your husbands, ‘Bring wine, let us drink!’” (Amos 4:1).

“Therefore, because you tread down the poor and take grain taxes from him, though you have built houses of hewn stone, yet you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink wine from them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate. Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time” (Amos 5:11-13). Continue reading “Sell the poor for a pair of sandals” →

The text is one of the most sublime found in all of scripture. It is a part of Paul’s discourse on the redemptive work of God, accomplished in His Son Jesus, Paul concludes by considering the victory we enjoy as a part of our relationship to Him. Consider Paul’s glorious words!

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39). Continue reading “Our Victory in Jesus!” →

The Hebrew writer ends this chapter with a “cause and effect” argument using his reference to the rebellion of the Jews as as they left the land of Egypt. He calls it again a rebellion (cf. 15), and asks, “who, having heard rebelled?” (16). It was in fact the entire generation that was guilty of rebellion, despite God’s assurance of protection and victory.

That was the cause, “having heard” they “rebelled.” The effect followed. They angered God and it led to the refusal of God to grant to that generation the rest of Canaan. An entire generation was sentenced to a fruitless wandering until all died in the wilderness. God swore punishment to those who did not obey Him. But, when the explanation is given, verse 19 states, “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”

True biblical faith is described in scripture as faith that leads to obedience. “By faith Abraham obeyed…” (11:8). If someone professed faith in God or His Son, but is not willing to obey, it is not the faith that God prescribes. It is empty and its impact is God’s judgment!