Category: Subject Index

A Discussion of the last verses of Luke 24, and the first 2 chapters of Acts. Texts written by Luke.

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It is interesting how often Paul would name his fellow workers in the gospel, heaping praise upon them and enjoining his readers to care for them and accept their help on Paul’s behalf. An example of this is found in Colossians 4:7-14, and giving short biographies of these men can be quite interesting and enlightening to us.

Tychicus: A frequent companion of the Apostle, Tychicus is mentioned 5 times in the New Testament. He was a Christian from Asia, and described by Paul as “a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21). Paul sent him to Colosse with Onesimus (Colossians 4:7-9). And also Ephesus on two occasions, once during his first imprisonment, and then a second time near the end of his life, freeing Timothy to go to Rome (cf. 2 Timothy 4:9,12). We can see from these mentions just how faithful and helpful this Christian brother was to the great apostle. Continue reading “Accolades from Paul” →

Here Jesus showed his compassion to a man stricken with leprosy. Touching the unclean man, and healing him of the disease. Leprosy was and is a horrific disease, and was without a cure in Bible times. While it was often not fatal, it was contagious, progressive, and caused deformation and degeneration of the tissues of the body.

In our time, it can be treated, as it is caused by bacteria. Doctors can administer a concoction of drugs to kill the bacteria.

The contagious nature of the disease as well as the horrific symptoms is why lepers were shunned from society. And why leprosy was determined to be an uncleanness in the law of Moses (cf. Leviticus  14).

This leper could not contain his joy despite being instructed by Jesus to tell no one of the healing. It is intimated that the reason for Jesus’ desire for secrecy was that knowledge of the miracle would impede His work. This is, in fact, exactly what happened.

1 Kings 16 relates the reign of perhaps the most evil ruler in the history of Israel, Ahab. He was the son of Omri, and reigned in Samaria for 22 years. Verse 30 states, “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.” Among the other sins he committed, married the evil woman Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon (Phoenicia), and began serving and worshipping Baal. Following her influence, Ahab built a temple and altar to Baal in Samaria, and fashioned a wooden image to worship him. The historian relates, “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (33).

This was also the time of Elijah, a man who was willing to stand up for God during Ahab’s reign. With God’s authority, Elijah said in Chapter 17, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1). At God’s direction he hid from the bloodthirsty king as the drought commenced. Continue reading “Who Troubled Israel?” →

From time to time we need to be reminded of the importance of God’s plan for congregations. An aspect of that plan we currently do not have is an eldership. The reason for this is irrelevant to the need. We need elders because:

The word bishop (episkopos) means overseer (cf. 1 Timothy 3:1). In God’s plan those who are engaged in this work have the large responsibility of overseeing the flock among them. Without an elder, such oversight is lacking.

The word elder (presbuteros) indicates an older man (cf. 1 Peter 5:1). This accords with the qualifications. Age enables a man with sufficient wisdom and experience to  guide the flock. Young men may not make wise decisions, and are not given this position in the Lord’s house.

The word pastor (poimen) means a shepherd (cf. Acts 20:28). It is the work of feeding and protecting the sheep. These two things make up much of the elder’s work. The feeding is done through the word, and the protection is against false influences and evil efforts to damage the congregation. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian church, “savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock…” (Acts 20:29).  Without elders, God’s flock is vulnerable.

Any congregation that is bereft of elders is vulnerable, and should have as a primary intent the appointment of qualified men.

A present issue of controversy.  My convictions regarding the issue.

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What constitutes false teaching, and how does God require we limit ourselves as preacher’s of the gospel?

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Last week while studying, in the background on the television was an old movie about the biblical characters in the book of Ruth. The  movie, “The Story of Ruth” was released in 1960, starring Elana Eden as Ruth, and Stuart Whitman as Boaz. The movie is described as an adaptation of the biblical story of Ruth, and that “The film explores themes of tolerance, acceptance, love, and faith.”

Do I suggest you watch the movie?  No, not at all. It is only a loose adaptation. Certainly not as ridiculous as the more recent Hollywood treatment of Noah, as an example, but no effort was made for “The Story of Ruth” to be an accurate representation of God’s word. Hollywood does not do a good job of following the Bible, something that should be obvious to all. Continue reading “The Real Ruth of Moab” →

John the Baptist, the son of Martha and Zacharias and cousin of Jesus, was born to his mother in her old age and heralded by his father (inspired with the Holy Spirit) as “the prophet of the Highest, for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77).

This ministry of John is described by Matthew here. He preached repentance as he proclaimed the coming of the Christ. He prepared “the way of the Lord.”

John was described as an austere man here and elsewhere. As he appeared on the scene from the wilderness, his clothing was rough, and his food was simple “locusts and wild honey.” He was a successful preacher, capturing the hearts of the common people in Judea. His call to repent, and to be baptized for the remission of sins in preparation for the Messiah, was heard in “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan.”

The characteristics of love, expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, are outward, not inward. Less emotional, the love Paul describes is a demonstration of a charitable nature, concerned with others.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

If you are a loving person you are longsuffering. Rather than quick to anger and judgment, you strive for patience and kindness in your interactions with others. Continue reading “Outward Expressions of Love” →

The two groups which make up humanity are naturally divided, and categorized by John’s description:

“In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

The characteristics of these two groups are easily discerned. In other words, it is necessary only to know them to know where they abide. The differences are “manifest.”

The children of the devil

They do not practice righteousness

They do not practice love (here for a brother in Christ).

The children of God

They practice righteousness

They love their brethren in Christ

Consider, if one strives to be righteous and yet is at strife with his brethren he can’t accurately claim to be a child of God. Consider, if one loves the brethren but lives a profane life he can’t accurately claim to be a child of God.

Can you and I rightly claim that we are children of God in every sense?  We pray it is so, but it is not if these characteristics are not both present in our daily walk!

We must be fervent in spirit!  The sluggish disciples does not receive a reward from the Master.

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The concept of Sanctification requires that we as Christians address issues of Gender in accord with His will, rather than societal influences.

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The government now allows churches to endorse candidates and issues from the pulpit.  Does God give us the same liberty?

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In Galatians 5 the apostle Paul describes the conflict between the lust of the flesh and the fruit that is developed in the child of God as we grow and mature, heeding the Spirit of God. Noting the works of the flesh first, (19-21), we will in this lesson describe and define the fruit of the Spirit, listed in verses (22-23). This is important, for in this context Paul assures us to, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (16).

Love

The Greek word agape  is the word that Paul uses here.  It is uniquely used in the New Testament to describe the highest expression of love for others. It is an unselfish love, motivated and informed as to what is best for others.  For example, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It is the type of love we should have for God (John 4:15); for our brethren (1 John 2); for our wives (Ephesians 5:25); and even for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). It is not surprising that this heads Paul’s list. A love for God and for man is the basis of God’s expectations for us as we serve Him (Matthew 22:36-40). Continue reading “The Fruit of the Spirit” →