Category: Mining the Scriptures

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!

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!

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!

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).

Our text refers to the circumstances surrounding the recruitment of the first of Jesus’ inner circle, (The twelve apostles).

One of two disciples of John was named Andrew. When John identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” We are told that both of them began to follow Jesus, and Andrew told his brother Simon about the Lord.  He told his brother, “We have found the ‘Messiah’”, and brought him to meet Jesus.

It was Jesus who gave the name Peter to Simon.  Note verse 42, “Now when Jesus look at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated, A Stone).”

Later in Jesus’ ministry Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God.  In response, Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).  Peter, one of our greatest examples of discipleship!

The birth and circumcision of John the Baptist are here described. (Earlier in the chapter we see the significance of John’s conception, re: Zacharias and Elizabeth, 5-23).

The Lord’s blessing upon Elizabeth was a cause for great joy to her neighbors and relatives, who rejoiced with her (58).

It was required of the Jews by law to circumcise male children on the eighth day following birth.  At this time they named him John. John was not a family name, so it had to be confirmed by both Elizabeth and Zacharias his name would be John, as directed by the Lord in a vision to Zacharias in 1:13.

At this time, the Lord also loosed the mouth of Zacharias (he had been mute since the vision of 1:5-23. However, though God had indicated to Zacharias the nature of the boy, it was not yet known to the friends and relatives, who rejoiced at the miracle of the return of Zacharias’ voice, and asked in wonder, “What kind of child will this be?” One who would be a great servant of God!

Here we see a pattern of Jesus during his adult life, seeking solitude to pray to His Father in heaven. It shows us the importance of such conversations with God, which help to  sustain us and provides comfort and strength to handle whatever comes our way.

As the pattern begins here, near the beginning of his Galilean ministry, it took the followers by surprise. Their teacher had disappeared! We are told that when they finally found the Lord, they said, “Everyone is looking for You.”

Instead of apologizing (He was not sorry for His prayerful preparations, Jesus told them it was time to go to the next towns to continue his ministry. Verse 39 tells us that he went throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

Understand the significance of his words, “for this purpose I have come forth” (38). This is the central truth of the entire New Testament, Him coming to establish His covenant for sinful man.

After Matthew records the departure of the young Jesus to Egypt (a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1), the massacre of the infants in Bethlehem, and finally the death of Herod; an angel appeared to Joseph to return with the child and His mother back to Israel.

However, Joseph was afraid to return to Judea because the son of Herod,  Archelaus was reigning the place of his father.  Apparently Joseph’s fear was legitimate as God warned him in a dream about the danger there, and Joseph instead turned to Galilee.

The city of Nazareth was where Joseph settled, and where Jesus was raised. In fact, he was often referred to and known as Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament.  Nathanael, in John 1:46 asked about Jesus, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Indicating the city did not have a good reputation in Israel at the time.

This was also a fulfillment of a prophecy concerning the Christ. “He shall be called a Nazarene”, which was written hundreds of years previously, in Judges 13:5.

The text refers to John’s reaction seeing Jesus, “I fell to his feet as dead” (17). It must have been an awesome and overwhelming vision.

But, Jesus quickly assured Him, identifying Himself in this first vision, not as a foe, but as God the Son. The eternal being who had directed this, and subsequent visions, for John to record through the written word. The visions had reference to the past, present and future and were designed to give Christians faith and confidence despite their present trials.

Christ also began to explain what it was that John was seeing.  The seven stars were the seven angels (or messengers) for the seven churches of Asia, to which Christ wrote letters in the next two chapters.  The context makes it difficult to know whether these angels were divine or men associated with those churches.  The seven lampstands were the churches themselves, the number seven indicating a full representation of such congregations.

A Christian is not to have affection for anything characterized as worldly. It constitutes a conflict of interest. Worldliness and a love for God are antithetical. Hence John’s statement, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (15).

The threefold manner in which the Devil entices is through the lust of the flesh (an illicit desire to satisfy physical appetites), the lust of the eye (an illicit desire that reacts to beauty, sensuality, or anything that is alluring to the sight or imagination), and pride (of position, money, influence, race, etc. Whatever  pertains to self-glorification).

The question that must be answered is are you interested in the passing pleasures of sin? Or the greater joy of eternity? It seems a simple question to answer, but too many get it wrong. What this life has to offer, no matter how enticing, is but for a moment and then passes away. However, this life should be understood by every child of God as a life lived in preparation for eternity!

Peter continues his description of the character and actions of the false teachers troubling the church by noting their actions as being like Balaam.

Balaam was a  prophet during the days of Moses as the children of Israel were in the wilderness of Judea.  Balaam’s greed and desire for glory led him to initially disobey God, as the King of Moab  wanted him to curse God’s people (Numbers 22).  On the way, a dumb donkey kept him from such an evil task (cf. 22:22-34).

The false teachers addressed by Peter have the same motivation, leaving truth for personal gain.  In verse 3, “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words…” Such actions can rightly be described as “madness” – they go against God!

Just as a well or storm clouds promise water, but disappoint us when they are dry or pass by without rain, these false teacher’s disappoint.  Their words are useless and corrupt.

They are condemned and will be punished by God in eternity.

Peter affirms here that God’s plan for redeeming man was formulated before the creation. This was not an effort to mitigate any mistake, God knew that free will would bring about disobedience. As such, a means of reconciliation between Him and man was necessary. The same sentiment is expressed in Ephesians 1:3-14.

This scheme of redeeming man came to a climax in the first century, the latter days, when Jesus was manifest to man.  He came to earth as a man, lived a sinless life, taught His will, died on the cross, was resurrected from the dead, and ascended back into heaven.  This was done, as Peter wrote, “to you who through Him believe in God.”

Jesus, who humbled Himself even to the point of death (cf. Philippians 2:8), was given glory by His Father, as He raised Jesus to sit at His right hand on heaven’s throne.  In this it can truly be said that in Jesus, (and in Him alone, cf. John 14:6), reside our faith and hope for an eternity as the redeemed in heaven!

Here we have a general command of James, which is produced by the characteristic of love. If indeed we want to heed Christ’s imperative: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12), James’ admonition must be obeyed. “…Do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.”

Although the context gives the example of material wealth (not preferring the rich man over the poor), there is nothing in the admonition which would limit it to this case.  An understanding of Galatians 3:28, which affirms the value of every soul, shows that any partiality shown, whether it be wealth, gender, race or culture is in fact becoming “judges with evil thoughts.”

The gospel of Christ is for every man.  All have the same value to Him, and so should have the same value to us. Those who are vulnerable, disenfranchised, poor, desolate — whatever their state — as we consider their souls, should be cherished by us.

In the Hebrew writer’s general efforts to show the superiority of the new to the old, he here makes a central and strong argument. This would be especially stirring to the Jewish Christians, as our Lord is compared to perhaps the most significant individual in the establishment of their nation and old law — Moses.

First, Jesus was fully faithful to his Father in heaven, as Moses was faithful. But, as was written, “For this one has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses”! Why? Because of the fundamental difference between Moses and Jesus.

Moses was a man. A servant. Jesus is God the Son. Moses is described as “a house”, where Jesus is described as the Builder of the house, thus worthy of more honor.

When we contrast the Old to the New, it is not merely a consideration of the relative merits. They’re both from God, they are both Holy. But it was God’s plan to supplant, in these last days, a limited law with His supreme gift to mankind. His Son!

After Paul’s admonition to “obey”, he noted his own previous “foolish” state as a sinner. It is interesting to note his description, starting with the word “foolish” – unintelligent or unwise.

His foolishness led to disobedience – he had not complied to the will of God. He was contumacious – stubborn willful against authority. He was deceived – led away from the truth. He served his own desires and pleasures. In effect, he did what pleased himself, not what pleased God.  He lived in malice – malignity, ill-will, a desire to injure; and envy – ill will, jealousy, spite. He was hateful – detestable or odious; and was actively involved in hating others.

Verses 4-7 indicate a change.  This is conversion.  But, prior to it Paul was like everyone else.  By not serving God he was serving himself. He caused injury to the cause of Christ.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). Paul was honest in assessing himself, this led him to call others to righteousness!