Category: Mining the Scriptures

Light contrasted with darkness.  This is a concept that John talks about often.  A true Christian is “in the light.” This refers to a right relationship with God, who is our illumination. It is the place a Christ is supposed to be.  But, any man who claims such a place, and yet shows hatred for others (in this context, another brother in Christ) remains in the darkness rather than the light.

God loves the world (cf. John 3:16).  Love must be characteristic of His children, especially love for those in this glorious family. If we love our brother we abide in the light, “and there is no cause for stumbling.” (10) Light illuminates, making the way easy, and directing the paths of the child of God.

However, hatred keeps one from the light. Without light we do not know where we are going.  Sightless and yet walking is a dangerous proposition.  Physically we can stub an toe.  Spiritually we can lose our soul, a far worse possibility.

Love is the answer.  Love for one another.  Don’t fool yourself!

This section of Peter’s epistle uses several examples from scripture to note God’s judgment. First is the angels who sinned, of which we know little beyond speculation. However, this judgment seems to be the first meted out by God. We are familiar with the flood, and the judgment of the ancient world. Next are Sodom and Gomorrah, who God destroyed with fire and brimstone. He states these two cities serve as an “example to those who afterward would live ungodly” (6).

In the midst of such judgment of evil stood righteous men like Moses and Lot, who were oppressed by the evil which surrounded them. But, they were spared by God.

This is to let us know today that “the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment” (9).

As always, your standing before God and treatment by Him depends upon your own obedience or disobedience.  God treats us all fairly because God is just!

Peter in previous verses had established the end of the faithful.  An “inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1:4).

This salvation was not fully revealed in times past. The prophets of old had questions about it as they spoke of the promise of it in words supplied by God. They did not fully comprehend the nature, or the time when redemption would come.

Now we have all revealed.  We can look to the New Testament and read from it all that Jesus had to suffer to secure our redemption. We know of His resurrection, His ascension, and His reign in heaven at God’s right hand. We are so blessed with this knowledge, and that we live in the “last days.”

As our redemption is secured through our belief and obedience to the good news of Christ, we have reason to rejoice. We have had revealed to us things that even angels could not fully comprehend before Jesus came.  We know, we can read. We are blessed by God!

Those who hold to the doctrine of salvation by faith only must ignore the admonitions of the Holy Spirit in this text. Remember, the writer was not just James, he was inspired. So, verse 21 tells us that we must stop practicing filthiness and wickedness. In other words, we must repent.

We also must obey, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” The idea that God does not require works of obedience to receive us is a lie. To equate the requirement of obedience to “earning” our salvation is a simply not so. God has made clear His insistence upon our obedience. Otherwise we are fickle.  Responding to the extended grace of God by seeing it; and then immediately forgetting it as a man who looks into the mirror, but immediately forgets what manner of man he is; shows a blatant disrespect for the Almighty. God directs His blessings upon those who are led to obedience, not on those who only hear, but do not do.  We must “look into the perfect law of liberty and [continue] in it.”

Here in our text the writer talks about why Jesus did what He did while on earth. Since we humans and flesh and blood, Jesus too became fully human (cf. John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-8). His intent in coming was to free us from the bondage of sin and death, by gaining the victory over the devil, “him who had the power of death” (14). He did this through His death on the cross, serving as a sufficient sacrifice for sin.

Jesus did not do this for angels, but for humankind, “the seed of Abraham” (16). It was necessary for our redemption that Jesus become in all points like we are (Philippians 2:8; Hebrew 4:14-15). He is unique, both man and God. His humanity makes Him a “merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God”(17) i.e. no one can take his position as  both our High Priest, and our propitiation for sins.

In being a man, He was tempted like us. So, this gives Him the power to aid us in our own temptations. Praise be to God.

It is important to note that here Paul is giving Titus instructions on what to teach. It is important to declare the “whole counsel of God”, (cf. Acts 20:27). An aspect of that declaration is to teach every person, young or old, male or female, how they should direct their lives.

There are specific admonitions that different ages or genders need. This is not sexist or ageist, it is merely an acknowledgment of the order of life, and what God always requires of us.  With this in mind, the text is a treasure trove of good instruction.

Older men are to be characterized by sobriety and reverence. The old women as well, and they are to teach the younger women with less experience.  The younger women are to show love, deference and care to their husbands and children.  The younger men are to be act with maturity. They are to have integrity and soundness in action.

Finally, bondservants are to serve their masters with fidelity as Christians should always do.  The exhortations are simple, but needed. As too often they are ignored.

Here the apostle Paul wrote an important admonition to Timothy.  “…be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (1). It seems that Paul wanted Timothy to always be mindful of the extended grace of God given through Jesus Christ.  This serves as a great source of strength for the child of God.  Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:3).

The wonderful thing about such strength and conviction is that it can be passed along to others. Paul wanted Timothy to do this in his work. “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2). It is like a never ending reaction. One thing continually leads to another. The gospel, if it is embraced and shared propagates quickly and well. We do well if we plant and water (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6), knowing that God will give the increase. Paul knew it, and he wanted his ward to know it too.  It was true then, and it certainly remains true for us.

Paul did not have a dislike for the law of Moses. Though his reputation was often attacked, Paul realized the main purpose of that Law. It is “to bring us to Christ” (cf. Galatians 3:24). It was good. But, it had to be used correctly. It had to be obeyed.  The law of Moses is not where redemption is found, it was given to prepare and lead to redemption.

The law is abused by the disobedient. He includes in this passage a sampling of that.  He references the unholy and profane. Individuals like murderers, fornicators, sodomites, kidnappers, liars, perjurers. These are not exclusive, they are representative of all types of sin.

But, the law is contrasted with what Paul refers to as “the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust” (11). The abuse of the law does teach an important truth, such sins are “contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel” as well, and worthy of judgment, (cf. Romans 1:28-32). The law also is not the end all.  The glorious gospel of God, committed to Paul, is.

Our text gives more details concerning the “son of perdition” (3) whose coming predated the final day of judgment. While the passage is a difficult one, the previous teaching that Paul had given to the Thessalonians when he was with them (5) would have made it clearer to them.

For us, it is important to note that the day of the Lord hadn’t come because the “son of perdition” had not yet been revealed.  This individual, whoever he was, was to be defeated before the day of judgment. Up to that point, something (we do not know exactly what) had been holding back the revelation of the “son of perdition.” It has been suggested that some power (maybe God, maybe Satan) has held him back, but when revealed, God would defeat him.

Regardless, he would deceive many before his fall.  This is the reason Paul wrote his letter.  He wanted warn of the danger, and dispossess some of the view that the day of the Lord had come.  He was successful on both counts.

Our text brings to mind the common saying, “A picture is worth a 1,000 words.  In verse 8 of the passage, Paul affirms that their example had traveled far and wide, so that “we do not need to say anything.”

It is indeed powerful to note that the Thessalonians had turned away from serving idols, and embraced God due to the preaching they had received from Paul. They had readily received him and the gospel (though not all did, cf. Acts 17). They were content to bear their burden until the coming of the Lord.

This is something we all need to emulate.  A good example is of great importance, as is steadfastness.  God has promised, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Remember that the world (and the Lord) are watching.  We have spent enough time living as the Gentiles (1 Peter 4:3). Now we are to glorify God in our life (Matthew 5:16).

It pleased the Father. This truth radiates throughout the scriptures.  God’s intent, and pleasure in redeeming man through Jesus Christ. Paul wrote that it was in His mind since before time began, cf. Ephesians 1:4. So, when it happened, the Father was pleased. He said as much in Matthew 17:5, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

It is in Jesus that all “the fullness should dwell” (19). In this context is has reference to the preeminence of Christ. He fulfilled the Father’s intent in redemption. He is the Lord.  He is the Savior. He is the “word” that became flesh (John 1:14) and created all. As verse 20 of our text states, Jesus is the one who reconciles all things to the Father, “whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Jesus accomplished this by shedding His blood on the cross of Calvary.

This is the proper answer to any ecumenical tendency. It is not what we think or wish. It is what pleased God the Father. And it pleased Him to reconcile all things through His Son.

In our text we have the identification of the author, John.  It is almost unanimous that this refers the the apostle.  This depending upon the writing, would make John and old man.  One of the prevalent views is that the book of Revelation was written at the end of the century, about 96 AD.

Also identified are the ones to whom the book was written, the 7 churches of Asia. The number 7 is a complete or holy number in Jewish literature, and would signify the same in this letter. This is not to say that their were only 7, but the 7 mentioned in chapters 2 and 3 are representative.

Jesus is identified here as the one who washed us from our sins with His own blood, and made us kinds and priests before God. His return is predicted, a time of judgment for all (cf. 2 Peter 3:11-13).

Jesus is the “Beginning and the End” and His Deity and eternal nature is established as true.  He is the Almighty, which foreshadows the conflict and end of the entire book.

Jude finishes his dissertation on the false teachers troubling disciples in the first 19 verses of his letter.

In verse 20 Jude begins to establish what Christians are to do to avoid the fate of those caught in error. To combat error it is necessary to build oneself up via faith.  Since faith derives from the word of God (cf. Romans 10:17), this entails study and application. It also requires prayer, and the obedience which is a prerequisite to any sustained relationship with God.

A proper application of our obedience is seen in our treatment of  those in sin.  It requires knowledge and discernment, allowing one to make a “distinction.” Is an expression of compassion required to save a soul? Or, is it more appropriate to act boldly, lest ungodly influences gain a hold, and lead to the fall of others. The key is “making a distinction” (22). Faithful Christians are to be sympathetic to all men, however, they can’t all be treated the same. Like the false teachers discussed, arrogance and destruction must be dealt with firmly.

The idea of walking in Christ is the fundamental premise of the disciple. What is clearly evident is that love is the foundation of that walk.  Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34). This is how the would be “known” as His disciples.

John’s statement that his commandment is not a new commandment indicates that Jesus’ required it from His disciples from the very beginning. John speaks in great detail about the importance of loving one another.  He is known as the “apostle of love.” Perhaps this emphasis was because it was so revelatory to him.  He and James were at one time called by Jesus the  “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17). But John became associated most with the call to love. The command was “old”, or well established.

It was, however, “new” in the sense that Jesus’ call was revolutionary to a world in sin. Never before had “the true light” shined as it was in the hearts and lives of Jesus’ disciples.

There were false prophets in Israel, and Peter promised that false teachers would exist in the church. What is the difference between a false prophet and a false teacher?  In reality, nothing at all.  A prophet is one inspired of God. A false prophet may claim to be inspired, but his message is his own. A preacher of truth is not inspired, but speaks in accord with inspiration. A false teacher claims to preach truth, but his message is his own. Such men may evidence characteristics that are worldly and evil, but they are known by their fruit (their doctrine, cf. Matthew 7:15-20), which does not accord with righteousness.

Peter warns about such men because some would follow their teaching, contradicting truth. They would exploit Christians, convincing some that their message was from God when it was not.

It is obvious that such men will come into judgment.  However, their doctrines destroy those who follow them as well. This is why Peter warns of them, and why we must as well.