Riches are Fleeting and Life is Fragile
“Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” James 1:9-11. This reminds us that riches are fleeting and life is fragile. No one’s life lasts forever. We will be lost if we put all our hope in things that do not last forever. A Christian has to live in the light of eternity. People rise and fall, kingdoms rise and fall, kings rise and fall, presidents come and go. James compares the rich to the flowers of the field, like the grass that withers with the coming of the dry season.
 
Temptations Come from Within
“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. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” James 1:12-16. We learn that God cannot be tempted and he does not tempt anyone. God may constructively test us, to make us stronger, to help us to succeed, but the devil destructively tempts us, to make us fall. We need to discern the source of criticism. Is it constructive? Or destructive? What you sow is what you reap. Temptation comes from our inward, selfish, carnal and fleshly nature.
 
God is the Source of Love
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” James 1:17-18. Everything good comes from God. Which is why we can expect to see our furry family members in Heaven, because love comes from God. It is impossible that you could love your pets more than God does, because love comes from God.
 
Be Swift to Listen, Slow to Speak and Slow to Wrath
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20. God gave us two ears and one mouth. We must be more ready to listen than to speak. We must not have a short fuse, ready to assume the worst and misinterpret things. We need to be slow to get angry, but quick to learn and to hear. The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. It is less common to hear of such things as righteous anger, or holy indignation. Although they do exist.
 
Be a Doer of the Word
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:21-25. Here is a contrast between the fruit of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. Faith comes from hearing, hearing by the Word of God. He speaks of being a doer of the Word and a doer of the work. We need to put our faith into action.
 
Care for Widows and Orphans
“If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:26-27. Evil speaking and self-deception are marks of the unregenerate. They deceive their own hearts, they do not bridle their tongue, they are useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God our Father is to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unpolluted by the world. Caring is at the heart of real Christianity. Being practical, putting feet to your faith. There are people who hear the Word of God but do not apply it. We must not be deceived by outward appearances.
 
The Fruit of Faith
We need to understand what is the fruit of faith? What is the evidence of true Faith? A person of true Faith is not only a hearer, but a doer of the work. He receives the implanted Word with meekness and then puts it into practise. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.
 
Do Not Judge by Outward Appearances
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” James 2:1-6. It is so easy to judge by outward appearance, but things are often not the way they look. The Lord has made it clear that many who are now first will be last and the last will be first. The Lord looks at the heart, as only God can.
 
Rich in the Things of God
Many of the poor are richest in the things of God. Some of the happiest people and most dedicated Christians in the world are poor, have so little and are living under persecution. Sabrina Wurmbrand said that before she went to prison she was very poor, but when she went to prison, she became very rich. She was poor in the things of this world, but she was rich in the things of God as she had memorised much of the Scriptures. She was therefore able to enrich many people in prison with the knowledge of the Scriptures and make many rich. A Nuba Evangelist who had no feet, as they were cut off by the Arabs, continued to take the Gospel to his neighbours riding on a donkey. He was destitute, but rich in God. The Bible says: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.”
 
Do Not Honour Blasphemers Who Oppress and Ensnare in Court
“But you have dishonoured the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble Name by which you are called?” James 2:6-7. When James speaks about the rich, he speaks about those who dishonour and oppress believers and who blaspheme the Name of God. Such people hate Christ.
 
The Royal Law
“If you really fulfill the Royal Law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the Law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the Law of Liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:8-13. Do to others as you want them to do unto you. The Golden Rule is to do to others as you want them to do to you. The Royal Law is, Love your neighbour as yourself. The Ten Commandments is the Law of Liberty. It sets us free. The world’s law oppresses. God's Law protects.
 
Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. We who judge others will find ourselves judged with greater strictness. But those who show mercy can expect to find mercy. Jesus taught us to pray in this way: ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Forgive us our debtors as we forgive those indebted to us. Forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who have transgressed against us.’ Mercy is a fruit of a saved person.
 
Faith is Seen in Action
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:14-26
 
Good Works are a Fruit of Faith
We see that faith is shown by works. Presumption is dead. This is not hostile to the teachings of Paul. Some people have said that James was writing against Sola Fide, Salvation is received by Faith alone, but he did not. Good works are the fruit of faith. Faith is the root and works are the fruit. The fruit does not bear the tree, the tree bears the fruit. Barren and unfruitful faith is no faith at all. If you find a body and there is no pulse, no breathing, no heartbeat, then there is no evidence of life. Just as the body without breath, pulse and heartbeat is dead, so faith without works is dead. “Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
 
Law and Gospel
James mentioned two examples from the Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, showing that faith is always seen in works. It is bold and active. Feet needs to be put to your faith. This chapter is very important to show the relationship between faith and works, or Law and Gospel. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The Law is the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ that we can be justified by faith. We are not saved by the Law. The Law points to Christ. It is by the Law that you realise the character of God, the standards and holiness of God and the depravity of man. We then realise how lost we are outside of Christ. Therefore it leads us to a point where we can actually be saved by faith. Faith and works go together.
 
Set on Fire by Hell
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” James 3: 1-12
 
Taming the Tongue
Teachers will be judged by a higher standard. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much more is given, much more is required. James speaks of the tiny tongue and how it can be such a problem. So we need to be slow to speak and quick to listen, slow to wrath. Be careful about what you say, be self-disciplined and restrained in your speech.
 
Do Not Boast and Lie Against the Truth
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18. Here is a depiction of the wicked through the fruit of the flesh. Here the fruit of the Spirit is also spelled out.
 
Friendship with the World is Enmity to God
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’.” James 4:1-6
 
It is Spiritual Adultery to Love the World
You cannot be faithful to God while being a friend of the world. This world system is hostile to Christ. If we are friends with the world, then we become enemies of God. To love this world and to love the things of this world is spiritual adultery. We should be faithful to God in all things.
 
God Resists the Proud But Gives Grace to the Humble
God gives grace to the humble. That is why we have to give Law to the proud and the Gospel to the humble. Grace is for those who humble themselves, acknowledge their sin, mourn and confess their sins. But those who are proud and believe they are a “good person”, need the Law. A person who is justifying themselves is not ready for the Gospel, they still need the Law of God to humble them. Only those who humble themselves before God are ready to receive the Gospel.
 
Submit to God – Resist the Devil
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.” James 4:7-10. If the devil is not fleeing from us then we are either failing to submit to God, or we are failing to resist the devil, or both. If we are submitting to God and resisting evil then satan has to flee. No power is greater than that of God. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves us. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This is at the heart of the Gospel: God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.
 
God is Able to Save and to Destroy
“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the Law and judges the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” James 4:11-12
 
Hypocrisy and Judgementalism
This makes it crystal clear that those who speak evil of God are showing themselves to have the fruit of fake faith, or presumption. If we have received mercy then we will be merciful. He who knows what it is to be forgiven will be more gracious to others. Yet you find hypocrites and pharisees will damn another person to hell for a miniscule fraction of a sin that they, themselves, are guilty of. Ask an unregenerate person: “Would you consider yourself to be a good person?” and they will respond: “I am a very good person!” Such individuals are not humble before God. They do not recognise their sin. They do not appreciate the holiness of God. They do not understand the depravity of their sinful nature. They probably think God is blessed to have them on His side and delude themselves that they are a great blessing to the church! Instead we are all well deserving an eternity in hell. We are saved only by the grace of God alone. A person who understand that, one who has been forgiven, will be able to forgive others. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
 
All Boasting is Sin
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:13-16
 
To Know the Good We Ought to Do and Not Do it is Sin
We do not know what will happen tomorrow. When we speak about things planned for the future, we should say: “God willing,” Deus Volente (DV). We need to be humble, as these things are in God's hands. Boasting is evil. To know the good that you ought to do and to fail to do it, is sin. It is the sin of omission. Neglect of duty.
 
Sins of Omission are Even More Serious
Many people think of sin more in terms of bad things. Some of us can delude ourselves that we are not that bad: “I do not smoke, I do not get drunk, I do not do drugs, I am not a pervert, I am not like that tax collector, I fast twice a week and give one tenth of my income to the Lord.” In Matthew 25 the Lord Jesus says He will condemn on the Day of Judgement, “…you did not visit those in prison, you did not care for the sick, you did not give clothes to the naked, you did not give food to the starving, you did not give water to the thirsty, depart from Me you cursed in the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” The Lord describes the Day of Judgement not so much in terms of the bad things we have done, but more in terms of the good things we failed to do. He describes sins of omission. By that definition there are a lot of people who are self-righteous and think they are good because they do not do a list of bad things. But what good are you doing in terms of fulfilling the Great Commission? Loving your neighbour? Seeking first the Kingdom of God? Doing the good that you know you ought to do?
 
Laying up Fuel for the Lake of Fire
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” James 5:1-6
 
What We Sow is What We Will Reap
The wicked are laying up fuel for the fire. The rich who are corrupt, who heap up treasures for themselves by fraud, who live for pleasure and luxury are fattening their hearts and souls for the day of slaughter. They have condemned and murdered the just. The wicked are laying up fuel for the lake of fire.
 
Patient Perseverance
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the Name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.” James 5:7-12
 
Live Productive Lives in the Light of Eternity
The fact that the Lord will return, should be a great comfort to us, because God will ensure that justice is done. The farmer is lifted up as an example of patient, steadfast, hard work, receiving treasures from the earth. The food that comes out of the soil are treasures. Farming requires a good work ethic, patience and faith. A farmer can sow and reap, but he cannot bring the rain. Only God can send the rain. Only God gives the increase. We should live sober, God-fearing lives of good neighbourliness and showing kindness and mercy to others, in the light of the Day of Judgement. We must learn from the perseverance of Job and see the end intended by the Lord. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. We must say what we mean and mean what we say. Be people of integrity. Be a person of your word. Let your yes be Yes! And your no, No!
 
Effective Fervent Prayer
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again and the Heaven gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.” James 5:13-18
 
A Life-Threatening Situation in a Remote Mission Field
On a Mission to the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, fulfilling the Great Commission, many hours from the nearest hospital, nowhere close to any medical kind of assistance, I was stung by a scorpion. It was a small light-coloured scorpion with big swollen tail and small clippers. These are the ones who are most poisonous. As I was stung, I could feel the poison working through my hand, up my arm, past my elbow. I could do nothing, but call for our Mission team and others around to pray for me, as I felt the poison heading for my heart. I then had the most extraordinary experience. As they started to pray, I felt the poison going back down my arm, past my elbow, into my hand and out my fingers. It was one of the most extraordinary quick answers to prayer I have ever experienced. The context of Mark 16 that you may be bitten by snakes and stung by scorpions, yet they will not harm you, is during the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
 
Confession and Repentance
The great Revival at KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu, was in some ways built around James 5:16. They have a hospital that operates with the knowledge that many illnesses are psychosomatic even though they have physical symptoms. Many illnesses have spiritual, mental and emotional causes. Sometimes when medical science has done everything they can, some doctors send their patients to this Mission, where they counsel the patients, read the Scriptures, encourage them to confess their sins and to make right with the Lord and with others. Many of these people are healed. Not all, but many. While they do not discourage people from taking medication and doing what they can medically, they realise that many patients need spiritual healing first. The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was called on by God to call for drought as a judgement upon a wicked people who were in apostasy against God. After the contest with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, God sent fire on the altar of Elijah. The people shouted: “The Lord, He is God!” Elijah then prayed for rain and it came and the earth produced its fruit.
 
Truth Sets Us Free
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20. Truth is key. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The first part of the full armour of God in Ephesians 6, is the belt of truth. Truth matters. We should stand for the truth. We should oppose all error and falsehood.
 
Summary
True faith is tested. True faith is seen in action. True faith includes joy amidst suffering. True faith includes endurance and perseverance. True faith is eager to search for the truth. True faith is teachable and loves the truth and shows itself in love for their neighbours and in humility before God. We are commanded to draw near to God, to resist sin, satan and the world, to seek wisdom from God and to seek wisdom from His Word. We need to be focused in our faith.
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
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The Message of Hebrews – The Supremacy of Christ

1. Jesus is greater than the prophets. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Heb. 1:1-3
2. Jesus is greater than the angels. “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: You are My Son, today I have begotten You?’ and again: ‘I will be to Him a Father and He shall be to Me a Son?’ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’ And of the angels, He says: ‘Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.’ But to the Son He says: ‘Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore, God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness… But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:4-14
3. Jesus is greater than Moses. “…Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honour than the house. For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:1-6
4. Jesus leads us into a greater rest than Joshua did. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me and saw My works forty years. Therefore, I was angry with that generation and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest.’ Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end...” Hebrews 3:7-14
5. Jesus is a greater High Priest than Aaron. ‘“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins… He is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’ As He also says in another place: ‘You are a Priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek’ …He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 4:14-5:10
6. Jesus is of a greater priesthood than Levi. “…Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better…. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the Law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the Law…. For He testifies: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’…You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’, by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better Covenant. Also, there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:11-28. Christ’s priesthood is superior and permanent.
7. Jesus is the Mediator of a greater Covenant. “…Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises. For if, that first Covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah - not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My Covenant and I disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My Laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God and they shall be My people…. In that He says, ‘A new Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:6-13
8. Jesus serves in a greater Tabernacle than the Temple. “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man.” Hebrews 8:1-2. The Tabernacle is appropriate for people on the march. (The Temple suggests a people who have arrived and settled down.) We are pilgrims.
9. Jesus has offered a greater Sacrifice. “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal Redemption… how much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:12-14
10. Jesus offers us a greater Salvation. “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus.” Hebrews 10:19; “Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12:28; “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honourably.” Hebrews 13:18.

 
In Christ We Have:

1. A superior Name. “Having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than they.” Hebrews 1:4.
2. A greater High Priest. “Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.” Heb. 7:7.
3. A better hope. “For the Law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:19.
4. A better Covenant. “By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better Covenant.” Heb.7:22.
5. A superior ministry. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry…” Hebrews 8:6.
6. A superior Covenant. “…inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant…” Heb. 8:6.
7. Better promises. “…Which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6.
8. A better sacrifice. “…but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Heb. 9:23.
9. Better and more lasting possessions. “…knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven.” Hebrews 10:34.
10. A better country. “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country… for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16.
11. A better Resurrection. “Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better Resurrection.” Hebrews 11:35.
12. A better plan. “God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:40.

 
The Titles, Names and Attributes of Jesus in Hebrews:

1. The Son – Heir of all things – Creator of the Universe. “…His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” Hebrews 1:2.
2. The Radiance of God's Glory. “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person...” Hebrews 1:3.
3. The exact representation of God's being; Sustainer of all things. “…upholding all things by the Word of His power…” Hebrews 1:3.
4. God. “…‘Your Throne, O God, is forever and ever… You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness…’” Hebrews 1:8-9.
5. Lord. “…‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the work of Your hands.’” Hebrews 1:10.
6. Jesus. “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9.
7. The Apostle and High Priest -the Pioneer, One sent by God. “…Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3:1.
8. Christ. “But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:6.
9. Our Great High Priest – Jesus the Son of God. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb. 4:14.
10. Sinless. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15; “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners…” Hebrews 7:26.
11. Selected by God to be High Priest forever. “…Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” Heb. 5:5.
12. Learned obedience from what He suffered and was made perfect. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8; “…the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:28.
13. The Source of Eternal Salvation. “And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:9.
14. Jesus lives forever. “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.” Hebrews 7:24.
15. He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15; “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him…” Hebrews 7:25.
16. Holy, Blameless, Pure – Set apart, Exalted. “For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens.” Hebrews 7:26.
17. Made Perfect forever. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8; “… the Son who has been perfected forever.” Hebrews 7:28
18. Seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” Hebrews 8:1.
19. Mediator of a Superior Covenant. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better Covenant, which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6.
20. The Author and Perfector of our Faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2.
21. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.
22. The Great Shepherd of the sheep. “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant.” Hebrews 13:20.

 
Priesthood
Levitical                                                                     Christ's
They were of the tribe of Levi                                 Christ was of Judah
They were many                                                       He was One
They offered animal sacrifices                              He offered Himself
They died                                                                   He Lives
They were sinful                                                       He is Holy
They had to atone for their own sins first            He was Sinless
Priests                                                                        A King and Priest
Of Aaron's priesthood                                             Of the Order of Melchizedek
Temporary                                                                Eternal
Carnal                                                                         Spiritual
Ineffective                                                                  Effective forever
Many sacrifices                                                         One Sacrifice
All the time                                                                Once for All
Cleaned the flesh                                                     Cleanses the Conscience
Represents Israel                                                     Represents all believers
Appointed on command                                         On Command and Oath of God
Imperfect                                                                   Perfect
Old Covenant                                                            New Covenant
Weak and useless                                                   Strong and Perfect
Incomplete                                                                Complete
                                                                                     Result: Access to God = Sins Forgiven
 
Judgement
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the Judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
 
The Word of God
“For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
 
Holiness
“Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14
 
Perfect

1. Jesus, the Author of our Salvation, has been made perfect through suffering (2:10).
2. He learned obedience through what He suffered and once made perfect, He became the source of Eternal Salvation for all who obey Him (5:8-9).
3. The Law made nothing perfect (7:19).
4. Jesus has been made perfect forever (7:28).
5. The sacrifices made no one perfect (10:1-2).
6. God makes us perfect (11:40; 12:23).
7. Jesus perfects our Faith (12:2).

 
“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…” Hebrews 2:3
 
Let Us

1. Let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of God's Rest (4:1).
2. Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter that rest (4:11).
3. Let us hold fast our confession of the Faith we profess (4:14).
4. Let us, therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our need (4:16).
5. Let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God (6:1).
6. Let us draw near to God with a true heart in full assurance of faith (10:22).
7. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (10:23).
8. Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works (10:24).
9. Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together (10:25).
10. Let us exhorting one another (10:25).
11. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us (12:1).
12. Let us look unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our Faith (12:2).
13. Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (12:28).
14. Let us, go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach (13:13).
15. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer the Sacrifice of Praise to God (13:15).

 
What We, as Christians, Have According to Hebrews:

1. We are God's House (3:6).
2. We have a Great High Priest (4:14).
3. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, firm and secure (6:19).
4. We have an Eternal Redemption (9:12).
5. We have complete freedom to enter the Most Holy Place by the Blood of Jesus (10:19).
6. We are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken (12:28)
7. We have an Altar from which those who minister at the Temple have no right to eat (13:10).
8. We are looking for the City that is to come (13:14).
9. We have a clear conscience and desire to live honourably in every way (13:18).

 
Therefore

1. Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away (2:1).
2. Therefore, holy brethren, consider and fix your thoughts on Jesus (3:1).
3. Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest anyone of you seem to have come short of it (4:1).
4. Let us, therefore be diligent to enter that rest (4:11).
5. Therefore, let us leave the elementary principles and go on to perfection and maturity (6:1).
6. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus (10:19).
7. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin, which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our Faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God. (12:1-2).
8. Therefore, strengthen the hands, which hang down, and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (12:12-14).
9. Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom, which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire (12:28-29). Holiness is not an optional extra. Faith is more than belief. It is obedient action.
10. Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. (13:15-17).

 
Benediction
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za

​To listen to the audio of this sermon, click here.
 
Short and to the Point
Philemon is the shortest letter by the Apostle Paul. Some may ask what is a personal letter from Paul to an individual, a letter that does not even directly deal with any doctrine, asking a man whose slave, Onesimus, has run away with stolen items, to forgive him and to receive him back as a brother in the Lord, doing in the Bible?
 
A Prison Epistle
This letter is a Prison Epistle of Paul, sent with Tychicus to Colossae because Philemon was one of the church leaders in Colossae. So along with the letter to the Colossians, went this letter to Philemon, who hosted a church meeting in his home.
 
A Model Letter
This is a model letter. It deals with a very difficult issue, it is cautious, tactful, thoughtful, inspiring, generous, polite, persuasive and has reasoned appeal. This is an example of the power of the printed page. There is much witness and discipleship that can be communicated through a letter. This is an excellent letter and a good example. This letter is also a picture of how we are saved.
 
Paul, Philemon and Onesimus
The three people in this letter are: Paul the Apostle, a prisoner in Rome, who writes to Philemon to ask him to do something very difficult. Philemon the church leader, who Paul knows and who he had led to the Lord. Onesimus, Philemon’s slave, who also came to the Lord through Paul. Paul asks him to go back to the master he had run away from, whom he had wronged and stolen from and to face up to his responsibilities. Paul said that it was difficult for him to send Onesimus away because he had become beloved and useful.

From Useless to Useful
Onesimus’ name means profitable, but he was a good for nothing. He was a criminal with a bad attitude. Philemon had stolen and fled. A slave who ran away was normally flogged and crucified. If the master was generous, he could just be branded on his face “fugitive” in Latin and would have had to bear this disfiguring mark for the rest of his life.
 
Christian Discipleship in Action
The message is a message of Christian love and forgiveness, applied Christianity, The power of the Gospel to change lives, to redeem slaves, to change hearts and minds. It is a letter that deals with a runaway slave and a thief, converted and now returning to his master. Once worthless, now valuable. From useless to useful. This book of Philemon is a magna carta of liberty. It undermined the institution of slavery, not by revolution, but by regeneration and redemption.
 
Grace, Love and Faith
“Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow labourer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Philemon 1-7
 
Regeneration and Redemption
This letter is an appeal to his friend, a man who could justly have Onesimus flogged and branded, even put to death. He also appeals to Apphia, his wife and to Archippus, his son, or a leader of the house church. Every good thing in us is from Christ. There is nothing good in ourselves, it is the grace of God alone. Sola Gracia! Philemon is a beloved Christian leader who has brought great joy to the hearts of the saints.
 
Slavery in the Bible
This letter is not damning Philemon to hell for being a slave owner. There is slavery in the Bible. The Bible forbids kidnapping. The Bible condemns slave traders to death. The Bible, however, provides for slavery as part of a criminal justice system. So one could become a slave by getting into debt and failing to repay one’s debts. Chronic debtors were enslaved for the time it took to repay their debt. Then they were set free. Family members could redeem a slave and pay their debt for them. There was a time limit. A believing Hebrew could not be enslaved for longer than 7 years. They then had to be set free. Other Biblical requirements were that the slave owner was required to provide for the slave and his family in every way: food, accommodation, medical needs, etc. He owned their labour, he did not own their body. If a slave owner hurt a slave, the slave had to be immediately set free. Physical abuse was forbidden.
 
How Did People Become Slaves
Criminals became indentured servants, as did those who failed to repay their debts. You could also become a slave by choice. Why? Some people did not want all the responsibilities in life, so some chose to become slaves to have their food and accommodation provided, while being told what to do. They did not have to make difficult decisions. Some people are slaves to sin and vice. How much better is the Biblical criminal justice system of indentured servitude to a believing family than our present prison system, which is abusive and degrading, counterproductive and expensive for taxpayers?
 
Restitution and Restorative Justice
The Biblical system of slavery is that if somebody has stolen from you, he must repay you double, up to seven times, depending on the aggravating circumstances. How long has it been before being recovered? For example, if somebody steals your cow and it is immediately found in their possession, they must give you two cows back. If he steals your cow and you only receive your cow back a year later, you have lost a year’s worth of milk production. They then need to give you up to seven cows back. The Bible provides for restitution for the time and produce you have been deprived of. If the person does not have the means, discipline, or willingness to do proper restitution, he then could become an indentured servant, or slave.
 
What Could Have Led Onesimus to be a Slave?
The Romans conquered people in war and took many of the brightest and best back to Rome as slaves. He may have been one of these captives of war. He could also have been a criminal and been made a slave in order to pay back his debt.
 
Paul and Philemon
Paul does not rebuke Philemon for owning a slave, but considers how he treated him. In the Bible, it was more about how you treat your slaves, rather than owning slaves. Were you loving, caring, treated them like members of the family, was there mutual love and respect? Now that Onesimus was converted, it changed the whole relationship.
 
An Appeal from the Heart
“Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you - being such a one as Paul, the aged and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ - I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the Gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave - a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”  Philemon 8-16
 
Compassion Rather than Compulsion
Even though Philemon had the right to have Onesimus flogged, Paul is appealing to Philemon through reason, logic and grace to receive him back as a brother in the Faith. Paul is asking him to do this out of love. This is a model of how Christianity should work. There is a huge contrast between how the world operates in compulsion and how Christianity operates in voluntary compassion.
 
A Picture of our Salvation
“If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you, or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay - not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.” Philemon 17-19. Paul is not operating with a whip, he is operating with wisdom and love. This is also a picture of Salvation. We are like the slave who ran away from God. We have defrauded and stolen from Him and violated His commandments. We deserve the maximum penalty. We were of no use to God, but then Jesus paid our debts. He redeemed us from slavery. He sets us free and then transformed us from useless to useful, from unprofitable to profitable.
 
Justification and Transformation
This is a picture of Justification. Just as if I had never sinned. Our debt is settled. We are made right in our standing before God. We are not just accepted as a servant, but we are received back as a son or daughter of the King. Set free to serve Christ! Justification and Sanctification. Transformed and now made useful to the Master.
 
Knowing that You Will do Even More
“Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow labourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.” Philemon 20-25
 
Go the Extra Mile
Jesus said, if they ask for your shirt, give them your coat as well. Go the extra mile. Do more than required. Jesus fills our cup to overflowing. Paul is expecting to be set free and he asks Philemon to prepare a room, as he will be coming to visit. He then sends greetings from fellow prisoners who also had bad pasts and then were saved by God’s grace and imprisoned for the Faith.
 
Repentance and Restitution
Onesimus did return to Philemon, willing to be a slave for life and willing to do restitution and repentance. “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Titus 2:9-11.
 
Mercy and Forgiveness
Philemon welcomed Onesimus back without the traditional punishment for desertion and theft and He granted him liberty. Onesimus later became a Bishop of the Church in Berea.
 
Do Not Run Away from Your Problems
The message of Philemon is that we should not run away from our problems. We need to face up to our failures. We need to resolve to fulfill our duties. We need to be willing to do hard things. Jesus came to set the captives free. He has come to pronounce Release to the captives! We are commanded to forgive as we have been forgiven. To love as we have been loved. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much more is given, much more is required. Accept others as you have been accepted. As Christ has shown you mercy, show mercy to others.
 
Ask Yourself:
What are you running away from?
To what are you enslaved?
What hard duty are you avoiding?
Is there anyone you are indebted to?
What restitution can you do?
Is there anyone you need to intercede for?
Can you help bring about reconciliation?
Is your home an outpost for the Christian church?
Do you know about the grace of God?
Have you experienced peace with God?
Do you have peace with God right now?
Do you have great joy in Christ?
Is there a letter you need to write?
Is there a letter you need to respond to?
Is there anyone you need to forgive?
Are you effective in your work for God?
Are you refreshing the saints?
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
​

​To listen to the audio of this sermon, click here.
 
“For the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14
 
Background to the Book
The Book of Titus was written by Paul from Ephesus in AD 63, after Paul was released from his first imprisonment in Rome. On his second visit to Crete he left Titus, a Greek convert, to set in order things that need sorting out.
 
Understanding Titus
Titus came from a pagan background. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1). He served in Corinth and was a key messenger of Paul (2 Corinthians 7:6-7). Paul had won Titus to the Lord. He was a trophy of grace to Paul, but he was also a red flag provocation to the Judaizers. Paul appointed Titus, a Gentile, as Bishop over Jews to set in order what needed to be done to deal with false teachers and replace teachers not teaching sound doctrine. Titus was commissioned to fight against false doctrines. Titus was used as a pretext for a riot in Jerusalem because he had not been circumcised. Paul steadfastly resisted all pressure by the Judaizers to have Titus circumcised. Titus was a very capable and trustworthy co-worker. He was sent to Crete, one of the most difficult of all places, a stronghold of paganism. Crete was renowned as the birthplace of Zeus on Mount Ida. Titus was a brave, resourceful, reliable man of few words, but was capable to sort things out. Titus was martyred for Christ in the arena, in the colosseum in Durres (Albania), where the Illyricans fed him to the lions.
 
Truth and Godliness
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His Word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour to Titus, a true son in our common Faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.” Titus 1:1-4. God our Saviour is repeated three times and Jesus Christ our Saviour is repeated twice. The Truth of God is emphasised as the people and Greek gods of Crete are liars. Truth and Godliness go together. Our doctrine must affect our duties. Our belief affects our behaviour. Our creed affects our conduct.

Qualifications for Church Leaders
“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you - if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” Titus 1:5-9
 
Faith, Conduct and Integrity
We see the importance of Godly leadership in the church. It lists the righteous leadership qualifications required for an elder, bishop, or overseer. He deals with faith, conduct and integrity. Conduct in the home is where it starts and this will affect the church. As goes the family, so goes the church and the church will affect society. We need to apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life. We are to be salt and light, seeking to fulfil the Great Commission, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded.
 
Family is Foundational
The family is the basic building block of society. What we believe is going to affect how we behave. An Elder is to be married to one wife and bring his children up in the Lord. Martin Luther pointed out that he learned more in one year of marriage than he did in ten years in the Monastery.
 
Blameless
An Elder is to be blameless, which means he has repented and done restitution in putting things right. No one is faultless. No one is good except God alone. We are to be blameless. Not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent. (Not greedy for money seems to disqualify the name-it and claim-it prosperity cults where it seems to be all about money.) Christian leaders are to be hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded and balanced. They must be holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful Word of God.
 
Confront Corruption
Sound doctrine is essential to enable a minister of the Gospel to encourage and convict. Both our Faith and conduct work together to confront corrupt leaders, to expose false doctrine and to resist that which is against the faith. The context is overwhelming to fight against the two big enemies in Crete, the Greek Gnostics and Polytheists of pagan mythology and the Judaizers who were continually trying to drag people back into worthless circumcision, Jewish rituals and arguments about genealogy and the Sabbath.
 
Recognise, Resist and Rebuke False Teachers
“For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the Faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient and disqualified for every good work.” Titus 1:10-16. This is a description of the wicked, the fruit of false teachers and of the enemies of the church. Crete was infamous for its deception. They claimed Mount Ida as the birthplace of Zeus. They subverted whole households. They were interested in dishonest gain. They were extortionists. They were defiled by what they saw and did. A good teacher is to rebuke false doctrine and to expose false teachers.
 
Consistent Christian Character and Conduct
Paul is encouraging Titus: We need consistent Christian character and conduct. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God's Word is truth. You cannot be a good servant of God if you are not willing to be His soldier as well. You cannot teach good doctrine without exposing false doctrine. The truth is essential for Godly living. Sound doctrine should lead to good works. We are not saved by works, but we are saved unto good works. We are saved by grace alone.
 
Doctrine Includes Duties – Belief Affects Behaviour
“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.” Titus 2:1-10
 
Our Creed Must Be Seen in our Conduct and Character
This shows the importance of Godly living in the church. Christianity is not egalitarian. That it is unbiblical. Distinctions of age, from older to younger, of male and female and of class, each have specific duties. There are requirements given to employers and others given to employees. Each of us have our duties. Today many are trying to make the church a tool of politicians. We are part of the Kingdom of God. We are to be salt and light to the world. We should not allow ourselves to be polluted by the world. You cannot proclaim the love of God without proclaiming the light of God. You cannot proclaim the mercy of God without proclaiming His wrath against sin. You cannot proclaim Christ the Saviour without also proclaiming that He is the eternal Judge. We need to have Biblical balance. This starts in the home, with male and female, husband and wife, who need one another, to be balanced. Children need both a father and a mother. The Gospel includes both the severity of the wrath of God and the comfort of the Word of God. In Crete they were mixing Greek mythology and Jewish fables with Christianity. Titus was instructed to explain the truth and expose error. To root it out and expel false teachers. Make sure your people have good doctrine and good behaviour. Belief and Behaviour. Doctrine and duty must go together.
 
Redeemed from Every Lawless Deed – Zealous for Good Works
“For the grace of God that brings Salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14
 
Salvation, Sanctification and Service
This is an excellent summary of the Gospel. Many important doctrines are emphasised. We are told to leave the old life, to live the new life, to look for the glorious return of Jesus Christ. We see God's generous grace which leads to Godliness. We are saved to serve. We have salvation, sanctification and service. Hope should lead to holiness.
 
Sola Gracia and Solus Christus
It starts with Sola Gratia, salvation is by the grace of God alone. Solus Christus, Christ alone is the Head of the Church. Salvation is through the sacrifice of Christ alone. He saved us, redeemed us and purified us. Salvation includes redemption from lawlessness. The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The Law of God is the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ that we may be justified by faith.
 
Sanctification for Service
He also redeemed us to purify us, to be set apart as His own special servants and soldiers. To work with zeal: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Ecclesiastes 9:10. “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11. “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” 1 Corinthians 14:12. “But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always…” Galatians 4:18. “…stir up the gift of God which is in you…” 2 Timothy 1:6. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19. “…Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests.” 2 Chronicles 29:34. “Thy zeal has consumed Me…” Psalm 119:139. “…His Word was in my heart like a burning fire…” Jeremiah 20:9. “…Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:17. “For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you…” Colossians 4:13. “…being fervent in spirit…” Acts 18:25. “…clad with zeal as a cloak.” Isaiah 59:17. “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” John 4:34.
 
My Utmost for His Highest
Christians are meant to produce excellent work. The Lord deserves the best. He deserves nothing less than wholeheartedness. In Revelation 3, we read that lukewarm Christians make God sick! The Lord wants either hot or cold, but not lukewarm. The Lord requires us to be zealous, enthusiastic and wholehearted.
 
Rebuke with Authority
“Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.” Titus 2:15. This is one of the first lessons taught to any good leader. You must not let anyone despise you. How can you do your work if people do not respect the authority you represent? It is important to teach obedience and respect for parents and respect for elders. Children should not be punished for making mistakes. They need to be punished for bad attitudes! Titus is going to Crete. Cretans despise authority. Paul gives this final instruction after laying out practical discipleship and the importance of Godly living in the church. If challenged, fight back. When it comes to teaching against false teachers, people’s eternal souls are at stake. You must be ready to fight and rebuke. Not many of us should be teachers. Teachers will be judged with greater strictness. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much more is given, much more will be required. This emphasises the importance of Godly witness to the world. It involves social obligations. We need Holy Spirit empowered faithfulness to transform all of life.
 
Prepared to Instruct and Correct
“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:1-7
 
Humble and Teachable
We must be ready for every good work. Be prepared to rebuke and instruct. We must be patient and humble. Sola Gratia! Salvation is by the grace of God alone. There is no room for pride. We did not choose God, He chose us. We did not find God, God found us. This will keep us humble. Anything good in us is by God's grace. Anything wrong in us is our fault. This verse emphasises the Deity of Christ.
 
Be Careful to Maintain Good Works
“This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:8. We are to be careful to maintain good works. Do not waste time arguing about things that are not important. We need to focus on what is Biblical, relevant and edifying and what is actually going to extend the Kingdom of God. Our priority is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love our neighbour as ourselves. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Make disciples of all nations, teach obedience to all things that God has commanded.
 
Reject Divisive Individuals
“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” Titus 3:9-11. False teachers are almost always hypocrites. They tend to condemn things in others that they are happy to excuse in themselves. The divisive have double standards. It is good to receive constructive criticism from a friend trying to help you to be better and succeed. Destructive criticism comes from an enemy who wants you to fail. We must live out our faith in the home, in the church and in the workplace/battlefield.
 
Take Initiative, Be Diligent and Productive
“When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” Titus 3:12-14. When Titus’ replacements come to him, he must come back to Paul. In the meantime, Paul gives him instructions and says he must use the resources they have. Take initiative, work hard and be productive. The Lord made us to be fruitful. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.” John 15:16; “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10; “being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11; “…I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” Philippians 4:17; “That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10. The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17
 
Summary
Descriptions of the wicked in Titus: defiled in mind and conscience, unbelieving, liars, lazy gluttons, giving heed to Jewish fables, they profess to know God but in their works they deny Him. They are abominable, disobedient, disqualified, pilfering, slanderers, greedy, living in sin and malice, envy, hateful, divisive and warped.
 
Descriptions of those people who are disqualified for church leadership: those who are self-willed, quick tempered, drunkards, violent, greedy, insubordinate, idle talkers, deceivers, subverters, liars, lazy and gluttons.
 
Descriptions of leaders: character and integrity, blameless, faithful husbands and fathers, faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to them, holding fast to good doctrine, hospitable, a lover of good, sober minded, just, holy, self-controlled, able to exhort, teach and rebuke, convincing those who contradict.
 
Specific requirements to men: to be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, love and patience.
Specific requirements to women: to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, discreet, chaste, homemakers, lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children, good and obedient.
Specific requirements to young men: be sober minded, maintain a pattern of good works, in doctrine show integrity, reverence, incorruptibility and sound speech.
Specific requirements to servants: be faithful in all things, not pilfering, be obedient and respectful.
 
Organisation, Offenders, Operation and Obedience
We have doctrines and duties which must be done with dedication and discipline. Qualified leaders of integrity and diligence are needed to confront and counter false teachers.
 
Unity in the Faith
“All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the Faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.” Titus 3:15. In the final greeting, we are reminded to be united with those in the Faith.
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
​

Duty and Destiny in the Light of Eternity
After the great fire of Rome and the intense persecution, it looked as if Christianity was wiped out. Exterminated. Yet there is no despair, or sense of defeat, in this Book. It is a tremendous shout of victory. The Apostle Paul was in no way discouraged, even though he was about to be executed. This Book is an extraordinary triumphant Epistle of duty and destiny in the light of Eternity.
 
Firm and Faithful Amidst Trials and Slander
“Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded is in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:1-5. Timothy had a great heritage, he had a believing mother and grandmother and he had been brought up in the Faith and had known the Scripture since his youth. Paul seeks to encourage Timothy who thinks himself inadequate because of his young age. The theme here is: Do not be ashamed. Paul is about to die a criminal’s death. Christians are being accused of being traitors and arsonists. Paul says we must glory in our suffering. It is a privilege to suffer for Christ.
 
We Fear Naught But God
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:6. You need to keep ablaze, keep stoking the fire, the gift you have been entrusted. Throughout the Scripture you hear warnings. Do not quench the Holy Spirit. Many extinguish the fire, throwing water over the flame. You cannot teach a flame but you can spread it, like one candle lighting another candle. In this time of apostasy, intimidation and terror, any fear we feel is not from God. The reverential awe, respect and worship of God frees us from the fear of man. Fear God and be freed from fear of man. “We fear naught but God” should be our attitude.
 
Steadfast in the Storm
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:8-12. Refuse to be guilt manipulated. Resist the psychological warfare. Do not give in to this worldly attempt to make us ashamed of the Gospel and of Christ our Lord. Guilt manipulation paralyses one into inactivity. We have been predestined before the Creation of the world. Paul is facing death and condemnation but is looking forward to life and immortality, which is a result of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul has a three-fold ministry. He is a Preacher of the Gospel, he is an Apostle (Missionary) and a Teacher. Paul has been falsely condemned and is about to be executed and says he is not ashamed.
 
Stand Fast to the Pattern of Sound Doctrine
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day -and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13-18. Your duty is to stand fast in the light of the doctrine that you hold. We have been entrusted with a great treasure, to protect the Word of God. Paul names two people who are difficult and dangerous. Another person is named who provided him with hospitality and who was not ashamed of him and the Gospel. Enemies want to defeat you, falsely accuse you, steal your possessions and take away your good name, your peace of mind and good conscience and your joy. Ephesus is the largest growing church at the time and Timothy is left responsible to guide, direct, disciple and train them. Timothy is about to lose his mentor in the Faith, the Apostle Paul. Paul is doing everything he can to encourage Timothy to stand fast.
 
Sacrificial Service
“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.” 2 Timothy 2:1-6. We are called to serve God as a son (2:1), as a soldier (2:3-4), as an athlete (2:5), as a farmer (2:6), as a worker (2:15) and as a servant (2:24). The first speaks of relationship and the rest speak of duty, sacrifice, hard work and faithfulness.
 
A Ministry of Multiplication
God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We need a multi-generation vision. Paul entrusts to Timothy and Timothy entrusts to faithful men, who must entrust to other faithful men. Today many Christians are satisfied with an evangelistic crusade. But previous generations built cathedrals, universities, Theological seminaries, planted Missions stations and had a vision for future generations. Today most have a bad work ethic and lack of vision. We are to be diligent, present ourselves approved to God as workers who do not need to ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Our doctrine will determine our duty and our destiny.
 
Multiply Multipliers
The apostle Paul is saying, take what I have taught you and teach others, train them to teach others also. We read that God not only added to the church, but He also multiplied the church. You multiply through discipleship. So, our vision is to train trainers. Each one reach one. Each one teach one. The whole church must take the whole Gospel to the whole world.
 
Endure Hardship for Christ
On the night of my Baptism in 1977, Rev. Doc Watson gave me this verse as my commission: “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4. As Christians we are called to commitment and self-sacrifice. A soldier has to be willing to be expendable. In order to obtain your objectives you have to be willing to be expendable. The cause is more important than any individual. You must therefore endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Our Lord led by example. He calls us to do nothing that He has not done Himself. He, Himself, showed us the example. He led from the front, as we need to do also.
 
Dedication and Discipline
Athletes need discipline, dedication, hard work, repetition, rising early, exercising, limiting ones diet and saying no to partying late. Christianity requires the same kind of dedication, training, energy and focus. Farmers must get up early, milk the cows, plough the fields, plant the seeds, cultivate, irrigate and harvest, all at the right time, regardless of your state of health. There is a need for Christians to work diligently. Timothy is to produce people with a real relationship with God, who have the same self-sacrifice as a soldier, the same discipline and training as an athlete and the same hard work ethic as that of a farmer.
 
In Sure and Certain Hope of the Resurrection
“Consider what I say and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my Gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the Word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” 2 Timothy 2:7-13. Jesus is not only the Son of Abraham, destined to the Altar of the Cross, but He is the Son of David, destined to the Throne and Crown, King of kings, Lord of lords. Paul is about to be killed for the Faith. He is about to follow Christ in His sufferings on the altar. He looks beyond the Cross, to the Crown. Jesus has been raised from the dead and so will I. Death for the Christian is not the end, it is actually the beginning of eternal life.
 
Truth Conquers
As he was heading for Worms, for his trial at the hands of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Martin Luther said: “Though there be as many devils as there are tiles on the roofs, I will go. Though the works of Hus were burned, the truth of the Gospel was not burned. Truth conquers!” You cannot destroy the truth just by burning books. You can put Paul in chains, but you cannot chain the Word of God. Paul recited a hymn for their encouragement.
 
Be Diligent Building on the Solid Foundation of God's Word
“Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19. There are some people who enjoy arguing and picking a fight. Some arguments are important, but there are some that are unnecessarily divisive. You need to have a good work ethic. Our approval should come God, the Eternal Judge on the Day of Judgement, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Even if we find disapproval from society, you want to hear ‘Well done good and faithful servant!’ on the last day. You do not want to hear, ‘Depart from Me you cursed into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ We need workers who will be diligent in study to show themselves approved unto God.
 
Cut Out Cancer
We should avoid profane babblings and idle talk. Paul names, names, as they are spreading their message like cancer. Cancer cells do nothing to help the health of the body, but break down the health of the body. Some people do not contribute to the health of the body of Christ to seek first God's Kingdom, instead they break it down.
 
Set Apart for the Master
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honour and some for dishonour. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient.” 2 Timothy 2:20-24. The Church is depicted like a large house, with all kinds of vessels. There are buckets, used to carry water, there are mugs for tea and coffee, plates to eat off, etc. Some things are made with silver or gold and others are made with clay or plastic. They are not all of the same value or for the same purpose. If you want to be used by the Master, you must be sanctified, useful, prepared for every good work. You are not going to use the bucket used to carry dirty water for eating. What you eat off has a higher standard of workmanship and cleanliness. The Lord will use you for His purposes for the extension of His Kingdom, if you are sanctified, meaning set apart, not available for use by the world. Paul then gives us instructions on how to do this. Your attitude matters to God. We have to be able to teach and not busy quarrelling.
 
To Escape the Snare of the Devil
“In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26. Faith and repentance are a gift of God. It is not that we chose God. He chose us. It is not we who found God. He found us. God was not lost. We were. It is not that I believed and repented and then God rewarded me with regeneration. God grants regeneration by grace alone. That enabled me to repent of my sins and place my faith in Christ. There is no room for boasting.
 
Patient Correction
We were deceived and trapped by the devil. Let us be patient in correcting those in opposition. How long were we in opposition? How long did it take us to get to the point that we were obedient? We should remember that it is God who grants Repentance. Let us be patient and correct those who disagree, that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive. Paul, who was once a persecutor of the Church, reminds us to be patient in correcting those who oppose. They may be our future brothers and sisters in the Faith. We need to recognise that we are in a spiritual war.
 
The Sword of the Spirit
Spiritual warfare is very real. We must identify false teaching. We must fan into flame the gift that God has given us. We need to hold fast the truth and endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus, following righteousness, studying the Scriptures, holding fast to the Scriptures and exposing those who oppose the Word of God.
 
Perilous Times
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” 2 Timothy 3:1-4. This sounds like a description of our times. It sounds like our country, our continent, our world and the 21st century. Yet this was written 2,000 years ago. Human nature does not change and that is why the Bible is applicable and relevant to every time and era. Have we ever been in a time where people are more in love with themselves? Many people are self-centred, self-absorbed and lovers of money. They gamble and partake in the lottery and their families suffer, their children starve, but still they gamble.
 
Arrogant Entitlement
We are living in a time of extreme boasting, arrogance and pride. We see the worst blasphemy in Hollywood. They hate the Name of Jesus Christ. Children are more disobedient now than ever. We are living in one of the most entitled and unthankful ages in history. Many people think everyone owes them something and God owes them so much too. But they do not owe God any thanks. Most people have lost natural affection. Millions of mothers abort their own babies. People have no sense of their own guilt and are not willing to forgive anyone who may have done them wrong. Slander has become an art form.
 
Brutal and Treacherous
We are living in an age of brutal, savage, hatred, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous people and nations. People of this age have no self-control and our nations celebrate it. There is a great despising of holiness. Holy is a four letter (swear) word in many churches today. People are selling out their own family members and people don’t care what anyone else says, headstrong they destroy themselves and everyone else around them. This age is very arrogant. We have exchanged the pleasure of worship for the worship of pleasure. This age lives for the moment, for now, for me, myself and I. The attitude of wine, women and song is prevalent. Acts 19:14,19 gives an example of an empty and powerless religion: The sons of Sceva trying in vain to cast out demons who ridiculed them: “Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?”
 
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
“Submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee from you.” If the devil does not flee from us, either we are not submitting to God, or we are not resisting the devil, or both.
 
Depravity and Deserters
This is a description of the depravity of man and of the perilous times in which we live in. A time of imposters and evil men, who both deceive and are deceived. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13. “For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” 2 Timothy 4:10. Demas was one of Paul’s co-workers, yet forsook and deserted him. You cannot keep the things of this world. “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.” 2 Timothy 4:14
 
Rejecting Sound Doctrine for Fables
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Many seek false teachers to tell them what their ears are itching to hear. False teachers tickle their ears with fables and myths. Some people hold to an outward form of religion but deny its real power. They do not want to endure sound doctrine. Doctrine is truth. Theology is teaching about God. Why would we not want the truth that sets us free? Yet many do not want the truth. They prefer lies and fables. In many cases they are not victims of false teachers, but are enablers of false teaching.
 
Always Learning But Never Able to Come to the Knowledge of the Truth
“For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:6-7. Paul names name’s when talking about heresy and mentions: Demas (4:10), Alexander (4:14), Phygellus and Hermogenes (1:15), for others be warned.
 
Knowledge Should Lead to Action
There are many professional students, always learning and accumulating knowledge. In church history one example is John Calvin. It was as a respected young author that Calvin arrived in Geneva. He never intended to stay. He was heading for Strassburg to avoid a local war. The Protestants in Geneva recognised him and William Farel tried to persuade Calvin to stay. However Calvin had other plans. As he later observed: “Being by nature a bit antisocial and shy, I always loved retirement and peace…” Calvin planned a life of seclusion, study and “literary ease.” Farel would have none of this. He threatened Calvin with a curse: “You are following only your own wishes and I tell you, in the Name of God Almighty, that if you do not help us in this work of the Lord, the Lord will punish you for seeking your own interests rather than His.”  Convicted by Farel’s serious threat of imprecations, gripped by the fear of God and ashamed by his selfish plans to avoid controversy and conflict, Calvin agreed to stay. He committed his life to serving the church in Geneva for 26 years. There is a time for us to study and a time for us to put it into practice.
 
Beware of Darkened Understanding
As far as spiritual ignorance goes, “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:18. We are living in an age of spiritual ignorance and spiritual blindness. “The ox knows its owner and the donkey its master; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.” Isaiah 1:3. “The way of peace they have not known and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.” Isaiah 59:8. “…Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they do not know the way of the Lord…” Jeremiah 5:4
 
Ignorance is Condemned
In the Bible, ignorance of the Law is no excuse. Ignorance of the truth is culpable. “Do you not know?”, “The Lord says!” “For they do not know to do right, says the Lord, ‘Who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.’” Amos 3:10. “But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, nor do they understand His counsel…” Micah 4:12. “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness…” Romans 10:3. “…another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done…” Judges 2:10. This is where we find ourselves today. We have a generation who neither knows the Lord, nor even know about the Lord and what He has done. “…They die, even without wisdom.” Job 4:21. Some people grow old and die, without having ever discovered the wisdom of God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
 
Wilful Ignorance
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator…” Isaiah 40:28. The Word of the Lord is available in books, on cell phones and on the internet. You should know! Yet many people do not read. “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me… and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22. We are in a time when people are very, very wise in how to do evil and very foolish when it comes to doing what is right. “Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the Faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.” 2 Timothy 3:8-9.
 
Truths That Transform
The first weapon in spiritual warfare is the belt of Truth. There are many teachers who have not had their minds renewed and have become conformed to this world. Many leading Theological students and future ministers of the Gospel, astray. This is why many pulpits are corrupted and neutralised because their ministers do not know the Lord and do not faithfully teach the Word. Many people believe the folly of false teachers. We are in a spiritual war, there is a battle for hearts and minds, for families and faith, a battle for the church, for fulfilling the Great Commission.
 
Learn from God's Creation
“Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; and the turtledove, the swift and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the Lord.” Jeremiah 8:7. The birds of the air have more knowledge and are more intelligent and more understanding than a lot of people.
 
They Are Not Valiant for the Truth
“‘And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil and they do not know Me,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:3. “…because they do not know Him who sent Me.” John 15:21. All these things they do because they have not known the Father, nor have they known the Lord Jesus Christ. Time and again we see condemnation of ignorance, especially spiritual ignorance. It is absolutely vital that we learn and come to the knowledge of truth. Most people are not getting educated, most are being indoctrinated. They are not being taught how to think critically, they are being taught what to think and to repeat the politically correct fables and myths. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Proverbs 1:7
 
After laying out the depravity of man, there is a reoccurring theme: But you… (3:14; 4:5).
 
Be Steadfast Despite Persecution
“But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:10-15. It does not say some, or many, or most, will suffer persecution. It says all. It does not say may, or probably will. It says will suffer persecution. If you are not being criticised, you are not doing your job. If you are not receiving some kind of resistance, or negative reaction, for your Faith, then you must be compromising. If you are seeking to live a godly life and be a Christian witness in union with Christ Jesus, you will suffer persecution.
 
In This World You Will Suffer Persecution
We need to have good mentors. We read when Paul and Barnabas went throughout the churches encouraging them and teaching “…We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. If this was preached today, many would say, “Get behind me satan! I don’t receive that!” We must warn people that tribulation and persecution is part of this world, but be of good courage, Jesus said, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Time and again we see that Jesus suffered for us and left an example that we should follow in His footsteps. Timothy had a Godly grandmother and a Godly mother, he was brought up in the Faith. The Scriptures that he had learned are able to make us wise for Salvation through faith in Christ. Sola Fide!
 
The Solid Foundation for Doctrine, Devotion and Duty
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. We see Scriptures divine origin and its authority. Sola Scriptura! Scripture is fully sufficient to equip us for every good work. The first priority of any minister of the Gospel is to know the Scriptures. Many of today’s seminaries are not teaching the Scriptures. No wonder so many denominations are going astray and becoming apostate when the seminaries are where the rot starts. They have corrupted minds and conformed them to this world. Scripture is meant to lead to action, to be put into practise.
 
A Solemn and Serious Charge
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:1-5. This is Paul’s last letter, he is about to be put to death. He gives this last command to co-worker, Timothy. He writes about the unchangeable Word of God and the need for us to live in the light of eternity. To live in the light of the fact, that the day will come when you will answer for how well you fulfilled your duty, in the presence of God, before His Throne on the Day of Judgement. This is solemn and serious. Lives depend upon your faithfulness to the Word of God.
 
Walk, Work, Warfare, Weapons and Witness
We are told what to do. Communicate God's Word, at church, on the streets, at a braai, everywhere. You need to encourage, correction or rebuke. There are different situations that require different types of approach. Like a doctor should not use surgery for every affliction. Sometimes surgery is necessary, other times it is medicine that is needed, or a change of lifestyle in what you eat and exercise. The fact that most people are not interested in good doctrine, does not mean that one must change our message according to the times. False teachers design their churches around what people want, according to the world, to make people feel comfortable and not what the Lord intended and what the Bible teaches. Your walk, your work, your warfare, your weapons, your witness, is the focus of 2 Timothy.
 
Fight the Good Fight, Finish the Race, Keep the Faith
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the Faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8. Paul explains that he is about to be executed. He is triumphant and victorious in his race. He is anticipating the Crown (gold medal/wreath) of victory. He is looking forward to the Crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give him. He is about to stand before God, the ultimate Judge.
 
Bring the Books
“Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world and has departed for Thessalonica - Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come - and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.” 2 Timothy 4:9-16. He asked for Mark as he is useful in the ministry, even though he was once a deserter, as he had done restitution and rebuilt the trust of Paul. Mark had become invaluable. John Mark went on to write Mark’s Gospel, plant the church in Egypt and so many other things. It shows us that failure does not need to be final. We may have failed, but in the Lord there is restitution, hope and restoration. He speak of things he still needs to do and asks to bring his books to him. He then speaks of people who have done him wrong and asks God to judge them. Imprecatory prayers are a great comfort to the persecuted. He also warns of specific people to avoid.
 
Strengthened
“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His Heavenly Kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” 2 Timothy 4:17-18. Paul is encouraged that even though we may be deserted by many in the world, we are not alone. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…” 2 Chronicles 16:9. To Him be glory forever and ever – Soli Deo Gloria!
 
Conclusion
“Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:19-22. He gives his final farewell. We see that spiritual warfare is very real and continuous. Paul identifies false teaching and false teachers. He commands Timothy to counter false teaching. Be watchful. Be diligent. Beware of false brethren. Endure afflictions. Fulfil your ministry. Complete that which has been entrusted to your care. Fan into flames the gift that God has given you. Stir up and keep ablaze your gift and your talents that God has entrusted to you. Endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Follow righteousness. Study the Scriptures. Teach the Scriptures. Multiply your ministry. Take this teaching which has been entrusted to you and entrust to other reliable men who will be able to entrust to other reliable men after them. Fight the good fight of Faith. Be faithful to the end. Keep the Faith. Persevere. Preach the Word and finish the race.
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za

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A Solemn Warning
Paul warned the church in Ephesus: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:29-32
 
Missionary Epistle
Timothy is called a pastoral Epistle, but actually it is a missionary Epistle. Most churches see missions as outside of the church. There is no Salvation outside of Christ, or outside of the church. We are believers as a result of Missions. This is a missionary Epistle, written by a Missionary, to a Missionary, about a Missionary Church planting situation. The entire New Testament is a result of missions, written by missionaries in a missionary context.
 
Missionary Training
Missionaries are trained much the same way as ministers and complete the same subjects and requirements as ministers. They even have to receive additional training, but some people still consider missionaries to be on a lower level to minsters. There is a mentality that missions are for people that are not really as qualified as Ministers, as though you could send your second rate to deal with false religions, like Buddhism, Hinduism, Animism and Islam and minister to hostile audiences. To establish work where the Gospel is not legal is actually more difficult. Somehow being a pastor is considered more demanding than being a missionary. Today missions are often seen as an optional extra. Some people are even told they could be so much more effective as a lecturer at a college than as a missionary in the field.
 
Structure
Chapter 1 deals with sound teaching.
Chapter 2 deals with prayer.
Chapter 3 with good leadership.
Chapter 4 deals with spiritual discernment to be aware of false teaching.
Chapter 5 practical instructions to respect elders and importance of serving without fear, or favour, separating from that which is not fully loyal to God.
Chapter 6 deals with right attitudes.
 
Belief Determines Behaviour
“Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Saviour and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, to Timothy, a true son in the Faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Timothy 1:1-2. Chapter 1 speaks about sound teaching. Your belief determines your behaviour. Your doctrine determines your duty. There is fruit you can see in people’s behaviour and conduct. “As I urged you when I went into Macedonia - remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the Law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.” 1 Timothy 1:3-7. Those who are faithful is small matters can be trusted with large matters. Those who are unreliable in small matters, cannot be trusted with large matters. That is why he urges great attention to good doctrine, which determines your duty.
 
Exemplary Leadership
In Timothy, Paul issues warnings and lists qualifications required for leadership. Here instructions are issued for church organisation. Timothy has been given authority and responsibility and told to remain in Ephesus. He is doubtless feeling intimidated because of his age, so Timothy is told: “let no one despise you because of your youth, but be an example to the believers.” Ephesus has been infiltrated with false doctrine. The emphasis of Biblical love, to love God with all your body, mind, soul and spirit. Idle talk and greed reigned paramount, so Paul, as a good example, was not concerned with money and asked nothing from them, except good works, good doctrine and fruit that accompanies repentance.
 
Law and Gospel
“But we know that the Law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.” 1 Timothy 1:8-11
 
Saved by the Grace of God Alone
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” 1 Timothy 1:12-16
 
Set Free to Serve Christ
Ministry is another word for service. Civil government is to be a minister of justice, even as the church is a minister of grace. Being put into ministry is a solemn responsibility. Not many of us should be teachers, as we will be judged with great strictness. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much more is given, much more is required. There is a great responsibility, solemn duty and even burden upon people who have been called by God to teach. Paul humbly admits that he was the worst of sinners and explains how he received mercy, undeserved favour. He is an example of God's grace.
 
Wage the Good Warfare
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen. This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the Faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.” 1 Timothy 1:17-20. Timothy is more inclined to be non-confrontational, quiet and reserved. Timothy has a timid nature so he is reminded that we are in a spiritual world war. This requires sacrifice, confrontation and an earnest striving, fighting the good fight.
 
Protect the Body from False Doctrine
Paul names Hymenaeus and Alexander and explains that they are guilty of shipwrecking their faith. A shipwreck would have been the worst thing that could happen in the ancient world. These men have caused so much devastation, that they have been excommunicated by the church. There is a time to be harsh. A doctor must be intolerant of disease. Some things are so bad they need to be cut out otherwise, it will destroy the whole body. If a person does not respect the truth of the Faith after warnings and counselling them, if they are unresponsive, then they need to be excommunicated, put out from the church. Sometimes church discipline needs to name names and go as far as to hand them over to satan.
 
Faith in Prayer
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle - I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying - a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-7
 
There is One God and One Mediator
Prayers should include thanksgiving, supplications (requesting what I need) and intercessions (praying for others). We are also to pray for kings and all in authority so we can have peaceful lives. Solus Christus – Christ alone is the only Head of the Church. It is through His Atonement on the Cross of Calvary that we are saved.
 
The Roles of Men and Women in Church
“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love and holiness, with self-control.” 1 Timothy 2:8-15
 
Responsibilities and Duties
God desires that men should take the lead and be responsible. Feminism has promised women deliverance from all sorts of oppression by taking the lead, but in the name of feminism, women are more oppressed, more abused, less respected and in more physical danger than ever before. Men need to take the lead, protecting, caring and providing for their women. Some men are willing to let the woman take the lead due to laziness. Feminists, claiming to liberate women, have actually liberated men from the responsibility to care for their wives and children and give them the go-ahead to live irresponsible lives. Men are meant to take the lead. Just like the socialists claim that they will liberate the poor by advocating socialism, the end result of socialism is more unemployment and more oppression. The poor are even poorer under socialism and then they starve and flee as refugees, as in Zimbabwe. Do not become a slave of fashion and excessive make-up.
 
Eve and Mary
A woman’s primary area of influence is in the home, the basic building block of society, nurturing the family by providing love, compassion and healing. It is a privilege to raise the next generation in the love and fear of the Lord. Sin came through Eve, a woman. Salvation comes through Mary’s child, Emmanuel. Sin came through the first Adam. Salvation came through the second Adam.
 
Division of Labour
The order in which God made Adam first and then formed Eve from a rib of Adam shows he intended man to lead and Eve is to be next to him, a helpmeet, under his arm, protected and cared for. Marriage is meant to be a partnership. Man and woman have their strengths and weaknesses and there is a division of labour and responsibilities and we work best when we follow God's natural creative order.
 
Qualifications for Good Leadership
“This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behaviour, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover, he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:1-7
 
Parenthood is a School of Discipleship
A bishop is a pastor, a shepherd, an overseer. The qualifications for a good church leader include: He is to blameless (not faultless), the husband of one wife. These rule out polygamy. The Reformers believed, if a man is not married, he is not qualified to be a pastor of a church. Martin Luther said: “A man who refuses to get married is guilty, as if he had shed innocent blood.” He said: “I learnt more in one year of marriage than I learnt in ten years in the monastery.” How can you be a good and effective pastor of God's people if you are not a faithful husband and diligent father?
 
Trained and Tested
How can we possibly be effective in church leadership if we have not learned to be effective in the home? This re-emphasises the fact that a pastor should be one who has learned how to handle and raise his own children, before he can handle the church. This principle comes out over and over again in the Scripture. It is better to be able to control yourself than to rule a city. A man who is incapable of ruling himself, practising self-control, cannot be entrusted with any kind of authority in the church. We should not be choosing a Christian who is too young. They need to be tested.
 
Faithful at Home and in the Church
“Likewise, deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the Faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the Faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The difference between an Elder and a Deacon, is that an Eder teaches and a Deacon serves in a practical way. Note, the importance of faithfulness, temperance and not being gossips. Not just for the man, but also for his wife. The qualifications for a person in church leadership does not just apply for a man, but for his wife and children. There is a standard for all.
 
The Purpose of This Epistle
“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:14
 
A Hymn of Praise – The Mystery of Godliness
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:15-16
 
Firm Foundations
Do not be surprised if God pushes you out of your comfort zone. God can call you to do something that you are not naturally inclined to do. He will push us to do that which is not normal and natural to us. The emphasis here is on the structure of the churches having unity in the Faith, reciting key doctrines, repeating certain prayers together, singing hymns together. The structure of the Church is grounded in the truth. Your doctrine determines your duty. Your belief determines your behaviour. Salvation is by the grace of God alone. Christ is your hope.
 
A Call for Spiritual Discernment
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the Faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5
 
A Strategic Church
When the Apostle Paul was writing of this church in Ephesus, which Timothy was left behind to care for, it was the largest church in the First Century world, the church that had become the epicentre of Christianity and of Missionary sending in the first century. It was the fastest growing church and consisted of hundreds of house churches around Ephesus. Timothy, a young leader, had been left responsible for overseeing this church.
 
A Solemn Warning
When the Apostle Paul spoke for the last time to the church in Ephesus, he warned them: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. ‘So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.’” Acts 20:29-32
 
Be Prepared to Recognise and Resist Heresy
Paul knew that after he left false prophets would rise up, even from among the congregation. He warned them that the Holy Spirt has expressly warned through the Scripture that there will be times of apostasy, seducing, evil spirits, heresy, false doctrine, false teaching, hypocrisy and attacks. The Nicean Creed, The Apostles Creed, The Athanasian Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, Synod of Dort, the Heidelberg Catechism and many others, were developed to help define and defend the Faith, so that we can recognise false teaching and false prophets. We need to be grounded in the gold standard of the Word of God.
 
Deceiving Spirits and Doctrines of Demons
There is a spiritual world war on the go and we are dealing not just with people who have slid away, but with a society that is giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. The Apostle Paul is specifically speaking against the Gnostics and Judaizers. He speaks against those who try to promote abstinence of certain foods and those who advocate a Saturday Sabbath.
 
Strive to Be a Faithful Servant of Christ Jesus
“If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the Words of Faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. But reject profane and old wives’ fables and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those who believe. These things command and teach.” 1 Timothy 4:6-11
 
Scripture Alone is Our Ultimate Authority
The antidote to heresy is faithful instruction in the Word of God. Sola Scriptura is emphasised. Your teaching needs to be grounded on the rock of God's Word. Train the people in the Word of God with Expository preaching, as Ulrich Zwingli launched on 1 January 1519, line-by-line, verse-by-verse from Matthew 1:1 preaching through the New Testament. All Christians claim to believe the Bible, but most Christians have not read the whole Bible. We are to reject fables and profane worldliness. Jesus is the written Word of God and we need to spend more time in the Word of God than listening to dreams and visions of people. We have to come back to the Word of God. Scripture alone is our ultimate authority. Paul is being told if he wants to be a good minister of Jesus Christ, he needs to be nourished in the Words of Faith and good doctrine and instruct the believers in accordance with this Word.
 
Be Disciplined Like an Athlete, Farmer and Soldier
Some people think bodily exercise profits nothing. That is wrong. As the Scripture uses a lot of athletic imagery. We need to press toward the goal, harden our bodies like an athlete, train ourselves. There are also examples of how a Christian needs to be like a farmer, like a soldier and like an athlete. Bodily exercise and discipline does profit. Godliness is even more profitable for all things.
 
Body, Mind and Spirit
Spiritual exercise is even more important. We should not neglect our physical exercise. Participating in sports is good for your body, soul and mind. It is good to be disciplined and to exercise our bodies. We are not to make an idol of sports, as a spectator. We are not to make anything an idol. Idolatry is the most condemned sin in the Bible.
 
Live and Work in the Light of Eternity
Spiritual exercise is profitable for all things in life that now is and of that which is to come. It is good for the present, for the future and for eternity. It is for this end that we need to labour. Spiritual work is hard work. If you are not being criticised, you are not doing your job. Do not seek to please men. The fear of man is a snare and a trap. A missionary must be ready to preach, pray or die at a moment’s notice. We are to command and teach these things.
 
Commissioned
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in Word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:12-16
 
Youth Is No Excuse
God calls the young. God called David, the youngest and the least. God called Jeremiah and told him not to say that he is too young, but to go to the people He sent him to and to say the things He commanded him to teach. John was the youngest of the Apostles, yet God gave him great responsibility. Do not let your youth be an excuse for disobedience or for holding back from the field. Be an example.
 
Give Attention to Reading
If you want to lead, you must read. A reading Christian is a growing Christian. The library is a gym for the mind. We need to exercise and expand our minds. The average person today spends more money on their feet (shoes) than on their brain (books). Our body’s muscles can be stretched by exercise the brain can be stretched by reading. We are not just to interest or tickle the minds of Christians, we need to challenge and call people to action. There needs to be doctrine and balanced emphasis on body mind and spirit.
 
Do Not Neglect Your Gift and Calling
We are all given a limited amount of time and we have a specific gift, or gifts, that God has entrusted to us. Do not neglect the gift that God has given you. Do not be like the unfaithful servant who buried his talents in the ground. We need to use our talents, not bury them.
 
Stamina and Perseverance
We need to persevere and to have stamina to pass the baton of Faith to the next generation, which will carry it to the next generation. We need to think multi-generationally. We need to be strict on ourselves. Others may, but you may not. Be strict on yourself. Be more gracious to others.
 
Be Respectful of Elders
“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2. These are practical instructions. This verse speaks about the need to be respectful of elders.
 
Qualifications for Support
“Honour widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. And these things command, that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own and especially for those of his household, he has denied the Faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number and not unless she has been the wife of one man, well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore, I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some have already turned aside after satan. If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.” 1 Timothy 5:3-16
 
Worthy Widows Should be Supported
Charity begins at home. We are not to exercise charity indiscriminately. Charity is to be exercised with wisdom and discernment, in accordance with the standards of the person. These are very specific instructions on how to care for widows and orphans. The widow needs to be worthy and deserving of being helped. Today’s modern mentality of welfare is so different, they give to drunkards and the immoral, rather than to those who deserve it. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble…” James 1:27. Caring for widows and orphans is a real fruit of genuine Christianity. We are meant to care for those who are worthy, not those who are worldly. It also speaks about those who are not qualified for welfare. The church is to give priority to believers and to worthy widows.
 
Respect and Protect Your Elders
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the Word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The labourer is worthy of his wages.’ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.” 1 Timothy 5:17-25. This speaks about the importance of respecting and supporting elders who are teaching and preaching the Word of God. There has to be confirmation and proof of any accusation to be God’s Word. We must rebuke false teachers. We must not respect and support false teachers. Do not be a man pleaser. You need to fear God and treat people according to God's Word. Do not appoint someone as an elder or deacon, or to any position of leadership, without first seeing that they are tested.
 
Separation
Separate yourselves from those who do not work and walk faithfully with the Lord. Do not share in other people’s sins, keep yourself pure. “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil.” Exodus 23:2; “They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me. For if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” Exodus 23:33; “…those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.” Ezra 2:62; “…with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord…” Ezra 6:21; “…those of Israelite lineage separated themselves from all foreigners…” Nehemiah 9:2; “We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons.” Nehemiah 10:30; “…when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.” Nehemiah 13:3. Clearly, we need to be separate from those who are not faithful to the Lord’s work and His Word and those not of our lineage.
 
Who Is On the Lord’s Side?
“Moses… said, ‘Whoever is on the Lord’s side - come to me!” Exodus 32:26. The question is not, Is God on our side? The question is, Are we on His side? “…I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10. “…Go out… from the midst of her, be clean…” Isaiah 52:11; “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19. If the world loves you, you must be doing something wrong in God's eyes; “Therefore, ‘Come out from among them and be separate’, says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.’” 2 Corinthians 6:17; “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11; “But we command you, brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6; “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. Again and again, we see the importance of separation throughout the Old and New Testament. Not just that we are faithful in our teachings, but whom we associate with, whom we marry and whom we allow our children to marry.
 
Be Diligent in Your Duties
“Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.” 1 Timothy 6:1-2. Salvation does not change your social status or alleviate you from your duties. We must be respectful and faithful. Christianity does not teach revolutionary egalitarianism. Rather the opposite. Love should make us serve better. We are meant to be diligent in our service.
 
Beware of Prosperity Preachers
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the Faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10
 
Wholesome Words
We start to see the downward spiral of bad leadership. We need to be people of wholesome, whole pure words. Sola Scriptura!
 
Fruit of False Teachers
We are told to separate ourselves from false teachers. They have a different doctrine which comes from proud hearts. Beware of greed. We need to lay up our treasures in Heaven. Where our treasures are, there our heart is. God promises to meet all of our needs, not our greeds.
 
Seek First the Kingdom of God
As Joseph Tson said: “In the West you have a theology of prosperity. In the East we have a Theology of suffering. It is a privilege to suffer for Christ.” There is a huge difference between these teaching. The Eastern Christians are more interested in seeking first the Kingdom of God than all these things that will be added unto you.
 
Contentment
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.” Proverbs 15:16; “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Philippians 4:11; “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have…” Hebrews 13:5. Contentment is very important. This goes against what the media advertises: “be discontent and covetous!” If we have food and clothing, we should be content with that. We bring nothing into the world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
 
Beware of Covetousness
How many people have destroyed their lives and their families due to covetousness? Gambling is theft by consent and is built on greed. That is foolish. A fool and his money are easily parted. If you want to get rich, you will fall into temptation and all kinds of harmful desires that will drown you into perdition and destruction. It will pierce you through with many sorrows and destroy your family and your faith. If you love money, you cannot also love God. You cannot love the things of this world and love the Lord at the same time.
 
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of Faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting power. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:11-16
 
Serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
How much more solemnly and seriously can the Apostle Paul make it? He charges and commands that Jesus is the only One who has all power. He is the King of kings; He is the Lord of lords. When Jesus came to the earth, He came as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The next time He will come as Lion. He will come as the Judge. So, we are commanded to fight the good fight of Faith, to honour the Lord Jesus. Paul is trying to encourage Timothy, who is more reserved, to be more bold.
 
Store Treasure in Heaven
“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19. The rich must not trust in their riches. David did not put his trust in his sling, he put his trust in God. We need to be rich in good works. You may not be able to take the things of the earth with you, but you can send treasures on ahead, for when you give to the poor, you are lending to the Lord. When you give without others knowing about it, as unto the Lord, there is treasure being laid up in Heaven. We can be generous on earth and lay up treasures in Heaven. Where your treasures is; there your heart is.
 
Contend for the Faith
“O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge - by professing it some have strayed concerning the Faith. Grace be with you. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:20-21. Reject false teachers and false teachings. If we accept what is taught in the worlds’ seminaries and colleges, you might depart from the Faith. We should not assume that all professors in Theological Seminaries or Bible Colleges are committed and faithful to the Word of God. We have to guard what has been entrusted to our care. We must avoid the profane and idle babblings and contradictions and what is falsely called knowledge. By professing it, some have strayed. “Contend for the Faith once for all delivered to the Saints.” Sola Scripture.
 
Chapters 1 to 3 in Summary
Salvation is by the grace of God alone. Christ is our hope. Avoid Jewish fables and profane babbling. Reject those who cause disputes. Live with a pure heart. Maintain a good conscience and a sincere faith. Men should take the lead and be responsible and prayerful in thanksgiving, supplication and intercession. Stand boldly for the truth. Women should dress modestly with propriety and moderation, in faith, love holiness and self-control. Church leaders must be faithful husbands and diligent fathers, temperate, sober minded, hospitable, able to teach, blameless, of good behaviour, not double-tongued, not greedy, holding the Faith with a good conscience, tested and found faithful in service. Wives must be faithful in all things, reverend, not slanderers, not gossips, they must be those who serve God and demonstrate boldness in the Faith. The Church is a House of God, the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
 
Chapters 4 to 6 in Summary
Beware of Apostasy, deceptions and false doctrines. Reject Jewish fables and legalism. Nourish yourself in good doctrine. Work hard and diligently. Be an example in word and deed, in faith and conduct, in love and purity. Give attention to reading. Do not neglect your spiritual gifts. Persevere in the Faith. Provide for your family. Honour the elders who labour among you. Do not receive an accusation against an elder. Be respectful of your elders. Be content with what God has given you. Fight the good fight of Faith. Be rich in good works. Live in the light of eternity. Guard what has been committed to your trust. Reject false teaching. Store treasures in Heaven. Christ alone is the Head of the Church. Salvation is by the grace of God alone, received by faith alone. Everything should be done for the glory of God alone. We are more than conquers through Christ Jesus who loved us. This is a very practical pastoral and missionary Epistle and a manual for all Christian workers.
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za
www.LivingstoneFellowship.co.za
www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

 
The New Testament Survey book consists of 304 pages and includes 14 pictures, maps and charts and the New Testament Survey Audio and Data MP3 boxset (31 audio sermons & 1 PDF book) are available from CLB.
 
The Old Testament Survey book consists of 284 pages and includes 37 pictures, maps, charts and chronologies and the Old Testament Survey Audio and Data MP3 boxset (42 audio sermons & 39 PDF sermon notes - 28hrs & 18min) are available from CLB.
 
These above resources are available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za. 

Aphrodite and the Acropolis
Corinth had an acropolis (a high city), which rose 2,000 feet and was used both for worship and defence. The most prominent edifice on the acropolis was a temple to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. The Temple of Apollo was constructed in Corinth 550 B.C. It was still operating in Paul's time, but was destroyed by an earthquake shortly afterwards. Corinth was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire with a population of 800,000 and one of the most corrupt.
 
Wealthy, Worldly and Wicked
The first city of Corinth was partially destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. It was rebuilt and repopulated as a Roman colony in 44 B.C. by Julius Caesar. From 29 B.C., it was the capital of the Senatorial province of Achaia. Its cosmopolitan population of Romans, Greeks and Jews were very wealthy, worldly and arrogant. Not many were of noble birth. However, benefiting from this prosperous and strategic crossroads and host to important athletic games, there was tremendous wealth in Corinth. Along with that new money came a snobbery and arrogance which also infected the church. Idolatry was a central part of Corinthian culture. They worshipped the Roman god, Poseidon (the god of the sea) and the Greek goddess, Aphrodite (the goddess of love). A temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor Octavia (Augustus) was also later destroyed in an earthquake.
 
Who Wrote the Letter to the Corinthians?
This letter to the Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was on his third Missionary journey. The church in Corinth was founded by Paul on his second Missionary journey "After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." Acts 18:1-4
 
When and Where
The Epistle to the Corinthians was written in the first half of A.D. 55, from Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8: "But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost." and in 1 Corinthians 16:19 "The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house."
 
How was the Church in Corinth Established?
When most of the Jews resisted the Gospel, Paul left the synagogue, but not before Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, his family and many other Corinthians were converted (Acts 18:5-8). Paul ministered in Corinth for over a year and a half. "And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them." Acts 18:11 "Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized." Acts 18:8
 
Contentious, Carnal and Childish
The Corinthian church proved to be exceptionally divisive, carnal and immature. After the gifted Apollos had ministered in the church for some time, a group of his admirers established a clique which refused to have anything to do with the rest of the church. Another group developed which was loyal to Paul. Another claimed special allegiance to Peter. "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
 
Worldliness, Weakness and Wickedness
The most serious problem of the Corinthian church was worldliness and an unwillingness to divorce from the carnal culture of Corinth. The Corinthian church had failed to mature in its discipleship. Instead it had developed disastrous division, disturbing immorality and disgusting legal attacks on fellow believers, deplorable idolatry, disgraceful gluttony and disorderly practices in worship.
 
In the World but Not of the World
The two biggest battles for any congregation is how to keep the church in the world, engaged in effective Evangelism and how to keep the world out of the church, so that God's people can be Holy. This conflict between Evangelism and Holiness confronts us today. Most pastoral problems can be put under one of these two headings. Just as a rescue boat needs to be in the sea to rescue the perishing, the sea must not be in the boat. A rescue boat which takes on too much of the sea will be sunk and of no use to anyone. The church must be in the world, rescuing the perishing. The world must not be in the church.
 
Compromised and Corrupted
Corinth, as a typical seaport, was a cesspool of sexual immorality. Almost anything was acceptable in Corinth. It would appear almost anything was also acceptable in this new church of Corinth. One can discern how the Greek culture had infiltrated, infected and polluted the church.
 
Democracy vs. the Rule of Law
Democracy is a pagan Greek concept. Not that many people today would recognise what the Greeks called "democracy." Greek democracy was only for men of the upper classes. Neither women nor slaves had the vote under Greek "democracy" and two thirds of Athens were slaves. Nevertheless, one does not see democracy in the Bible. The Biblical concept is of a representative state based on laws, either a constitutional monarchy, or a constitutional republic. But Law is king. Lex Rex. The Biblical principles for government include: separation of powers, checks and balances and the rule of Law - based upon God's Law.
 
Lex Rex
For many centuries the prevailing ethos was Rex Lex. The king is the law. The king's word is law. However, the Reformers inverted that term to Lex Rex. The Law is king. The king is under the Law. The king is obligated to rule in accordance with God's Law. Constitutional representative government is the Biblical standard. Not the tyranny of the majority. Not 50% plus one. Because man is depraved, democracy would not solve any problems.
 
Democracy Chose Barabbas and Crucified Christ
The mob that screamed for the release of Barabbas and the crucifying of Christ may have been democratic, but it was evil. So in the crucifixion of Christ we see democracy in action. The mob chose a murderous terrorist to be released and condemned to death the Lord of Glory.
 
The Idolatry of Sports
Sport was of supreme importance to the Greeks, as seen in the Olympics and the Isthmian Games. Sports and athletics were effectively the national religion of Greece. Statues of the ideal human form predominated in Greek culture. They worshipped the human body in an idealised, unrealistic fashion.
 
Separating the Physical from the Spiritual
The worst aspect of Greek thinking was the separation of the physical and the spiritual. To the Greeks the body and soul were entirely separate. The Greeks believed that the body was not really integral to the soul. Their thinking was that when the body decays at death, the soul is set free.
 
Body, Mind and Spirit
However, that is not the Biblical perspective. The Biblical concept is expressed in the maritime distress signal S.O.S (Save Our Souls). Souls and bodies are firmly attached. To save someone's soul, in the SOS sense, is to save their bodies from dying, because everybody is a living soul.
 
Comprehensive Fulfilment of the Great Commission
For centuries, Missionaries understood Missions to be ministering to body, mind and spirit. So Missionaries in the 19th century first established hospitals, or medical clinics, to minister to the body, schools to minister to the mind and churches, or chapels, to minister to the spirit. This comprehensive understanding of fulfilling the Great Commission has been integral to Christian civilisation.
 
Indulgence and Idolising
However, to the Greeks, their distortion of both body and soul led them to do one of three things with their bodies: They either indulged their bodies, since what is done to the body does not affect the soul, or they ignored their bodies and tried to live an ascetic life, free from physical desires. Or they idolised their bodies, making statues of the perfect body and effectively worshipping these completely unrealistic bodies.
 
God Has a People for His Temple
To these carnal Corinthian Christians, the Apostle Paul reminds them: "You are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9. God used to have a Temple for His people. Now He has a people for His Temple. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
 
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." 1 Corinthians 7:23.
 
The Resurrection of the Body
Many religions believe in an afterlife. Only Christianity believes in the Resurrection of the body. That is why Christians have traditionally practised burial, "in sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the body from the dead". Jesus Christ is "the Resurrection and the Life". Hence Abraham buried Sarah. Abraham was buried. Joseph gave instructions that, after his body was buried in Egypt, it was to be carried back to the Promised Land to be buried in the land of his fathers. 400 years later, the children of Israel remembered this and carried the bones of Joseph back to be properly buried in his own land. It is important to note that the children of Israel never became Egyptians, not even after 400 years in Egypt. They were still Hebrews, Israelites. A nation is an ethno-linguistic people group of a shared faith.
 
Cremation is a Pagan Practise
Today too many Christians have accepted the pagan concept of cremation. The Greeks and Romans cremated their dead. The Ancient Vikings used to practise cremation until they were converted to Christ. From then on the Scandinavians consistently practiced burial. The Hindus cremate to this day. It is deeply disturbing that, in the latter part of the 20th Century and the beginning of the 21st Century, so many in the church have abandoned over 19 centuries of Christian tradition and adopted the pagan practice of cremation. The burial service is a clear Christian testimony "in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection of the body." "But now Christ is Risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the Resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
 
Heaven
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
 
When Pagan Greek Thinking Infects the Church
We can also see the pagan Greek attitude to the body in how so many Evangelicals today have abandoned the Christian tradition and practise of dressing up in one's best for worship in Church on Sunday morning. For 19 centuries, Christians have seen the attitude of our body in kneeling for prayer as normal, both for family devotions and at church services. Only in the latter part of the 20th Century and the beginning of the 21st Century has most of the Evangelical church abandoned the practise of kneeling in prayer. Those who have lived under a monarchy know what it is to kneel in submission before their monarch and most importantly before the King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
To Kneel or Not to Kneel - That is the Question
Today, some kind of egalitarian republicanism has infected the Church where most Christians find no occasion when they need to kneel before the King of kings and Lord of lords, our Creator and Eternal Judge. In Romans 12:1, the Apostle Paul wrote: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
 
Run to Win
"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
 
Catastrophic Carnality in Corinth
The carnal Corinthians had a catastrophic catalogue of crisis. There was division. Cliques had arisen centered on leadership cults. Immorality and immodesty was prevalent within the congregation. This was also seen in hairstyles and clothing. A litigatious spirit infected the church, where even church members were threatening lawsuits and taking fellow believers to court, rather than settling matters amongst themselves in accordance with Biblical principles. Idolatry was infecting church worship. Corinthian Christians were mixing the worship of God with pagan practices. A radical and aggressive feminism was seeking to abolish gender distinctions between men and women. The Lord's Supper was being abused with drunkenness and gluttony. Instead of the Lord's Supper as a serious, solemn and spiritual ordinance, focussed on Christ's sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary, the love feast had become a farce.
 
Charismatic but Chaotic
Corinth was plainly a charismatic church, rich in the gifts of the Spirit, but it was also a chaotic and carnal church lacking character and integrity. Paul commented that if any unbeliever came into their service they would conclude that the church members were out of their minds, insane! "Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 14:40
 
Do You Understand What True Love Is?
In carnal Corinth, the concept of love had been disastrously distorted. In Greek there are four words that are translated into English as love. The term love has such a widespread application that its meaning can often be distorted. When you can use the same word for: I love ice cream and God is Love, we must know that our language is inadequate to explain the Biblical concept of Love. There are four words for love in Greek: Eros, Philae, Storge and Agape:
Eros is lust, infatuation, attraction to the body, an emotional bond, conditional, reactive, dependent on the flesh and temporary (body).
Philae, often described as Philadelphia, brotherly love, is an affection, a liking, intellectual, reciprocal, dependant, long lasting, mental and emotional (soul).
Storge is family affection, service and loyalty (soul).
Agape is a uniquely Biblical word to describe God's Love. Agape is spiritual attention, unconditional, volitional, commitment, sacrificial and permanent. Whereas Storge and Phileo deals primarily with the soul and Eros with the body, Agape is a uniquely spiritual love. Agape love is the love of God. It is sacrificial, willing to pay the price for someone you love. Biblical Agape love is not a feeling, it is an act of your will (spirit).
 
Love is Not a Feeling - It Is an Act of Your Will
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the Apostle Paul makes clear what true love is: "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. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."
 
An Overview of the Main Subjects Dealt with in Corinthians
The first chapter of Corinthians deals with division in the church. Conflict.
The second chapter deals with wisdom - both human and God's wisdom. Confusion.
The third chapter deals with worldliness in the Church. Compromise.
The fourth chapter deals with the mysteries of God, which ministers must teach as servants and stewards. Contemplation.
The fifth chapter deals with immorality in the Church. Corruption.
The sixth chapter deals with our bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit. Consecration.
The seventh chapter deals with principles of marriage. Commitment.
The eighth chapter deals with idolatry. Conscience.
The ninth chapter deals with the Christian pattern of self-denial. Conduct.
The tenth chapter deals with victory over temptation. Conquest.
The eleventh chapter deals with modesty and the Lord's Supper. Communion.
The twelfth chapter deals with the gifts of the Spirit. Calling.
The thirteenth chapter deals with our motives and attitudes in love. Consecration.
The fourteenth chapter deals with prophecies, tongues and order in church services. Christ-centeredness.
The fifteenth chapter deals with the Resurrection of the body. Consumation.
The sixteenth chapter deals with collections and co-workers. Co-operation.
 
Confronting Contemporary Carnality
First Corinthians is an extremely relevant Book to the problems of our age. It deals with division, leadership cults, worldliness, immorality, marriage, divorce, singleness, gender distinction, gifts and callings, pride, greed, gluttony, lust, idolatry and litigations. It reminds us of the primary tactics of the enemy: "Corrupt and conquer" and "confuse, divide and conquer."
 
Resist Corruption and Refuse to be Confused
We need to resist corruption and refuse to be confused. We need to understand the times and rightly divide the Word of Truth, so that we are not confused, divided or conquered. The Corinthians had become selfish, confused, corrupted and compromised. Their intellect had been perverted. Their conscience had been seared and darkened. Self-indulgence was a result. Christian liberty does not mean the right to do as we like, but the right to do as we ought.
 
Protect the Family
The family is the basic building block of society. Family is foundational. Corruption and undermining of the family affects the church and all of life.
 
Respect the Lord's Table
The Lord's Supper was established on the night in which our Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed. It celebrates His undying love for His people. The Lord's Supper is a symbol of the New Covenant in His Blood. The bread is a symbol of His body, which is broken for us. The fruit of the vine is a symbol of His Blood shed for us. A man ought to examine himself and be careful not to eat or drink in an unworthy manner. "But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:28-32
 
"For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me'." 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
 
Gender Distinctions
"…it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved…" 1 Corinthians 11:6
 
"Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonour to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her…" 1 Corinthians 11:13-15
 
Men and Women are Different and Have Different Responsibilities
God has made men and women differently. Women should not be afraid of being feminine. Men should not be afraid of being masculine. Long hair on a man is a disgrace. Long hair on a women is her glory. Women must have their heads covered when they pray. Men must uncover their heads to pray. Men can be conscripted to the Army. Women should not be conscripted. To women alone belongs the burden and privilege of being pregnant, giving birth to children, being the life-givers and caregivers of babies. Men are called to provide for, guide and protect their family. Men are called to lead in families, church and state. Mothers are to be homemakers, shaping and raising the next generation.
 
War Against the Family
In our godless, rebellious and confused age, there are those aggressively campaigning for the removal of all gender distinctions. According to them, men should have access to women's bathrooms and showers. Women should be conscripted into the army and serve in combat. There are also those who advocate that women should be ministers of congregations. Sadly, too many males are all too willing to hand over their spiritual and other responsibilities to women.
 
Eroding Civilisation
Feminism has been catastrophic for civilisation. As women have poured into the workplace, children have been raised by state-run schools and child-care facilities. Unemployment of men has skyrocketed. Taxes have exploded. The cost of living has escalated. Inflation is rampant. Far more seriously most families are now dysfunctional. Many children are born into broken homes. Many children are raised in single-parent homes. Most men have left the church.
 
Eroding Christianity
Churches have become more feminine. Most men feel alienated from the church. Few males today are real men and few females today are real women. Even less of the males are gentlemen. Sadly, very few females today are ladies. Feminism has actually been waging a war against femininity and the family.
 
Confusing and Corrupting Children
In this gender-confused age, children are the main victims. While women are filling the workplace, children are coming back from state schools, hostile to Christianity, to empty homes, or rather apartments, buildings, even houses, seldom homes. Instead of mothers and fathers raising the next generation in the way that they should go, in the fear of the Lord, the state is indoctrinating, subverting and seducing an entire generation into secular humanism, evolutionism, situation ethics, perversion and debauchery.
 
Catastrophic
The crime and violence of angry young people in criminal gangs, engaged in substance abuse, drunkenness, drugs and sexual immorality, is catastrophic for society and civilisation. As goes the family, so goes the nation. Strong homes are essential for a healthy society. "…Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" 1 Corinthians 1:20
 
The Message of the Cross
"For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18
 
"But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Corinthians 1:23-24
 
"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11
 
"Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us." 1 Corinthians 5:7
 
"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live." 1 Corinthians 8:6
 
"…woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16
 
Strength to Resist Temptation
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
 
The Gifts of the Spirit
"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
 
Active Members are Essential for a Healthy Body
A healthy church needs those who have wisdom and knowledge to teach. Those who have faith to lead and pray. Some people have a healing gift. From the beginning the Lord commanded His Disciples to go out, preach the Gospel and heal the sick.
 
Preach the Gospel and Heal the Sick
That is why the healing symbol of a Red Cross is a universally accepted sign of a hospital. Christianity invented hospitals. The nursing profession was founded by Bible-believing Christians in response to the injunctions of Christ. Many Missionaries, such as Dr. David Livingstone and Dr. Kenneth Fraser, were also medical practitioners. Establishing hospitals and clinics have frequently been an essential part of Missionary strategy.
 
Body, Mind and Spirit
Schools to minister to the mind, hospitals to minister to the body and churches to minister to the spirit.
 
Answers to Prayer and Discernment of the Word
The working of miracles and the proclamation of the Word of God is essential to the growth of the Church through the ages. Discernment must be the least popular gift. However, it is absolutely essential, living as we do in the age of confusion and deception. "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." 1 Corinthians 14:33
 
The Gift of Tongues
From the Day of Pentecost the Gospel was proclaimed in many languages. Learning to communicate in other tongues and being able to interpret from other tongues is an essential part of the fulfilment of the Great Commission. On the Day of Pentecost, this ability was granted, miraculously. For most it is a long and disciplined study to acquire other languages for the purposes of Bible translation and teaching. Some Missionaries, such as William Carey and David Livingstone seem to have had a miraculous gift of tongues and interpretation. They acquired and mastered many languages. David Livingstone preached the Gospel in many languages, which had never before heard the Word of God. William Carey completed the translation of the whole Bible into six languages and New Testaments and Gospels into a further 29 languages! "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." 1 Corinthians 12:12
 
Your Attitude and Motive is Vital
The gifts of the Spirit have been given to believers to serve God and His creatures. If we use these gifts as ends in themselves and covet the public gifts, such as speaking in tongues, it avails nothing. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Attitude is everything. Our attitudes and motives are vital.
 
Three Essentials for Every Church
John Calvin taught that there are three essentials for every church: Faithfully teaching the Word of God, administering the sacraments Biblically and exercising church discipline consistently. If any of those three are missing, it is not a church. "Watch, stand fast in the Faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13
 
Solus Christus! Sola Scriptura! Soli Deo Gloria! Sola Gratia! Sola Fide!
Christ alone is the Head of the Church. Scripture alone is our ultimate authority. Everything should be done for the glory of God alone. Salvation is by the grace of God alone, received by Faith alone. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." 1 Corinthians 16:23
 
Belief Affects Behaviour
Wrong living is directly related to wrong thinking. Bad beliefs lead to bad behaviour. Everything has consequences. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Fax: 086-494-8070
mission@frontline.org.za
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

False Charges Against Paul
From 2 Corinthians we learn that the accusations against Paul included: fickleness, of always changing his plans: (Although the Apostle Paul seems extraordinarily disciplined, focused and dedicated.) The Judaizers accused Paul of being cowardly. (Although it would appear that he was extraordinarily courageous and bold. Paul risked his life and liberty repeatedly in the face of fierce opposition, to advance the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.) The critics accused Paul of being timid! (Yet the Apostle Paul seems to have been one of the most bold and brave preachers in history.) Much of the letter of Corinthians deals with the criticism that he did not come with any letters of recommendation, whereas the super apostles had come with impressive resumes, credentials and certifications from Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. (The Apostle Paul makes clear that the real test of a man’s ministry is not his academic qualifications, or formal training, but the fruit of his ministry and the disciples he produces.) The critics accused Paul of being secretive, distant, aloof, unfeeling and uncaring. They accused him of not being a polished speaker and they despised him for the fact that he did not charge any fees for his service!
 
Defence and Attack
The first nine chapters of 2 Corinthians includes Paul’s defence against these many charges and accusations. The last part of 2 Corinthians, chapters 10 to 13, are Paul’s attacks on the false apostles.
 
Living Epistles that Testified to His Apostleship
Paul makes clear that he is “an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” (1:1). Paul points out that he does not need letters of commendation from others to the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”), the very existence of the Church at Corinth testified to the authenticity of Paul’s Apostleship. He was the one who had brought them to Christ and discipled them in the first place.
 
Evangelism vs. Subversion
He contrasts his ministry with the subversion of the Judaizers. Their ministry is authenticated by ink, his by the Spirit of the Living God. They are calling people back to the Law that was written on tablets of stone. Paul is a servant of the New Covenant, where God's Law is written on the heart. The result of their legalism is death and condemnation, for “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”).
 
Deceit and Death
Paul categorises the ministry of the Judaizers as “the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones.” (3:7), “the ministry of condemnation” (3:9). He describes the Jews: “…their minds are blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in their reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart...” 2 Corinthians 3:14-15.
 
Blinded by Unbelief
Paul condemns these Judaizers in 2 Corinthians 4:2-4: “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
 
Testifying to the Light of Christ
Paul describes his ministry: “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
 
Gospel Treasure in Clay Pots
Paul describes his ministry as: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
 
What are the Marks of True Christian Ministry?
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. Opposition does not negate a ministry, but is its vindication. For Jesus Christ Himself suffered for us and left us an example that we should follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21).
 
Personal Insights to the Apostle Paul and His Ministry
In 2 Corinthians we read details about the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul which are revealed only in this letter. This includes Paul’s escape from Damascus in a basket. (2 Corinthians 11:32-33: “In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped from his hands.”); Paul’s experience of being caught up to the third Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-4: “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows - such a one was caught up to the third Heaven. And I know such a man - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows - how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”); His thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7: “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”); some of his sufferings in ministry (2 Corinthians 11:23-27: “Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”).
 
Sacrificial Service and Steadfastness in Suffering
“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the Word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers and yet true; as unknown and yet well known; as dying and behold we live; as chastened and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.” 2 Corinthians 6:3-10
 
True Love is Measured by Sacrifice
Our Lord Jesus Christ, by His great example, showed us that true love is measured by sacrifice.
In the words of a famous Christian prayer: “Teach us O Lord to serve You as You deserve;
to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to ask for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Your will.”
 
Love in Action
Love gives and does not count the cost. Love rejoices in giving and wants to give – not out of duty, but out of a glad and willing heart. Love entails intense enthusiasm, a longing to be near and a desire to serve. As Anselm prayed: “Let me seek You in longing, let me long for You in seeking, let me find You in love and love You in finding.” As the Apostle Paul taught: “…let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
 
True Riches
The wife of Romanian Pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, Sabina Wurmbrand, in her book The Pastors Wife, reveals that before she was condemned to five years hard labour in a communist concentration camp in Romania, she was very poor, but when she was imprisoned, she became very rich. This was because while she was poor in the things of this world, she was rich in her knowledge of the Scriptures, which were the only currency of value in their state of servitude and suffering. Having so much of the Word of God stored up in her heart and mind and memory, she was able to make many other people rich with the Scriptures.
 
An Aroma of Life and Death
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
 
The saviour unto life and death is a figure of speech based on the incense scented triumphful processions with which conquering emperors and generals returned to Rome, with long lines of captives. Some of these captives were to be put to death, while others were to be permitted to live. So, here, the Apostle Paul describes the ministries of God's servants as being the fragrance of God, which, depending upon a person’s reaction to the Gospel, could mean death or life. Our ministries are, by the sovereignty of God, in a sense, a march of triumph which brings life to those who turn in faith and obedience to Christ and it signals death to those who reject the Gospel, turn their back on the Salvation provided in Christ and offered so graciously by Almighty God.
 
Comfort in Corinthians
The Epistle begins with comfort: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” 2 Corinthians 1:3.
It closes with comfort: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11.
In the middle we find the reason for this comfort: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8.
The source of this comfort is: “…‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’…” 2 Corinthians 12:9.
 
Enduring Trials and Tribulations is Part of our Job Description
Nowhere does Christ promise that a Christian will be free from suffering or sorrow. Indeed the Lord warned that in this world, you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Noah was not protected from the Flood, but in the midst of the Flood. Moses and the Children of Israel were not airlifted over the Red Sea, but were led by God through the Red Sea. Daniel was not saved from the Den of Lions, but protected in the Lions Den. Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were not saved from the fiery furnace, but preserved in the fiery furnace. The Lord allowed Paul to be shipwrecked and saved him through that ordeal.
 
Victory Through Resurrection Power
The Apostle Paul finds comfort for his sufferings in the fact of Christ’s Resurrection and His promise that our weak and suffering bodies, like a tent, will one day be exchanged for resurrected and glorified bodies in eternity. For to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).
 
Do Not Seek Unity with Those Who Reject or Distort the Scriptures
As the Judaizers were seeking to bring the Corinthian Christians back under legalism, bondage and condemnation, by rejecting the reality and substance that is in Christ and going back to the Old Testament shadows, the Apostle Paul challenged them: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the Temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God and they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters’, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18. God does not live in Jerusalem! The Lord no longer has a Temple for His people. Now He has a people for His Temple. There is no Salvation in Judaism. They have rejected Christ.
 
Resisting Babylon and the Beast
It was this very passage that Rev. Richard Wurmbrand quoted to the Communists when they organised a great public gathering for ministers of the Gospel to announce their support of the Communist Party. As one after the other of these compromisers and traitors stood up and made obligatory statements that Jesus Christ was “the first communist” and Communism is “Christianity in action”, “all true Christians must support Communism”, etc. Sabina Wurmbrand turned to her husband, Richard and challenged him: “Go and wipe the shame from the body of Christ!” Richard Wurmbrand stood up, went onto the platform and quote this very passage: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers… Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you!”
 
Tortured for Christ
For this bold and brave Biblical stand, Richard Wurmbrand was condemned to prison. He ultimately served 14 years hard labour, including many years in solitary confinement, in hideous conditions, as testified in Tortured for Christ. But as he pointed out, those traitors who lied and compromised their Faith, bearing false witness, in order to appease their communist masters, ended up in the same prison cells as he did. They just got there a little bit later. However, as he pointed out, the difference was that he was imprisoned with a clear conscience.
 
In the Light of Eternity
“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11. Believers know the healthy fear of God which leads us to please, serve, honour and obey Him. For unbelievers, there is only the fear and terrors of hell and condemnation.
 
A Ministry of Reconciliation
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the Word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
 
The Love of Christ Compels Us
We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, as ambassadors for Christ to implore people, on Christ’s behalf, to be reconciled to God. The love of Christ compels us. We should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again, has ascended on high and is coming again to Judge the living and the dead.
 
The Fear of God Inspires Us
This is the greatest story, which we have the privilege to be involved in, of God reconciling His rebellious world to Himself. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
 
The Lamb and the Lion
The first time Jesus came to this earth He came as the Lamb of God, as the Son of Abraham, destined to be the sacrifice on the altar of the Cross. The second time the Lord Jesus will not come as a Lamb, but as the Lion, the Son of David, destined for the Throne, as our Eternal Judge and Sovereign God. Those who have not submitted to Christ as Lord and Saviour, will be forced to bow before Him as the Eternal Judge. The question is, is Jesus Christ your Saviour, or your Judge?
 
Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance and Life
The Apostle Paul speaks of “…Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to Salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing that you sorrowed in a Godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:10-11. Godly sorry which leads to repentance produces diligence, a clearing of ourselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal and vindication, which proves us to be true Disciples of the Lord. The result is “we rejoice exceedingly.” True repentance leads to joy.
 
A Ministry of Faith
The enemies of Paul criticised him for working with his hands and supporting himself with Tent Ministry. They declared that no Apostle would work with their own hands. Paul explains that while he had the right to expect support from the Corinthian church, yet because of money-grabbing manipulators and false teachers, who commercialised the ministry, he preferred not to be a burden to the churches that he founded. “Freely you have received, freely, freely give.” “To whom much is given, much is required.” To whom much more is given, much more is required. Paul responds that he had accepted no payment from any of the churches for his work, except from Philippi. God has promised to reward the generous giver. God is no man’s debtor. We should give out of our poverty, generously, willingly, proportionately, cheerfully, bountifully.
 
Generosity in Giving
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
 
Christian Stewardship
In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 we have the most complete instructions of our church giving. It is to be voluntary, proportionate, systematic, regular and generous. This is called “the ministering to the saints”. “As a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.” (9:5). “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:10-12
 
Systematic Targeting of Paul
At his conversion, the Lord had said of Paul: “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My Name sake” (Acts 9:16). The Jews plotted to kill Paul in Damascus (Acts 9:24) and in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29), drove him out of Antioch (Acts 13:50), attempted to stone him at Iconium (Acts 14:5), stoned him and left him for dead at Lystra (Acts 14:19). In Philippi the Jews beat him with rods and put him in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). In Thessalonica, the Jews rioted against Paul (Acts 17:5), they drove him out of Berea (Acts 17:13-14). The Jews plotted against him in Corinth (Acts 18:12), in Ephesus they almost killed him (Acts 19:29; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9). In Corinth, shortly after he had written this Epistle, they plotted his death (Acts 20:3), in Jerusalem, the Jews again attempted to kill Paul. Except for the intervention of Roman soldiers they would have succeeded (Acts 22). Paul was then imprisoned in Caesarea for two years and in Rome for two more years. Besides these attacks and imprisonments, Paul endured other beatings, shipwrecks and privations of every kind.
 
The Credentials of Paul
“Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness - besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:22-28
 
Evaluate a Leader’s Track Record and Fruit
Paul goes on the attack against his critics, challenging them to compare themselves with his service and suffering for Christ. True love is measured by sacrifice. The real credentials of a servant of God is his track record, not merely his academic credentials, or endorsements from officials.
 
Visions and Dreams
It is interesting that the Apostle Paul tells us nothing concerning what he heard or saw, when he was caught up into Heaven. He describes what he heard as: “…inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” 2 Corinthians 12:4. What a contrast this offers to modern day super Apostles who write books, produce films and regale audiences of millions on television with their imaginative descriptions of what they claim they saw and heard when they were caught up into Heaven!
 
Strength Made Perfect in Weakness
“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
 
Exposing False Teachers
From chapter 10 through 13, the Apostle Paul goes on the attack against the false apostles, the Judaizers. He describes them: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
 
Tolerating Evil
In a passage dripping with sarcasm, Paul tells the Corinthians: “For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold - I speak foolishly - I am bold also.” 2 Corinthians 11:19-21
 
Beware of Your Mind Becoming Corrupted
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted - you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
 
Do Not Despise and Devalue Those Who Live by Faith
“Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the Gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you and so I will keep myself.” 2 Corinthians 11:7-9. “For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:17
 
Examine Yourself
Paul condemns the church at Corinth for: “…contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, back-bitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults” 2 Corinthians 12:20.
Paul challenges the Corinthians: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the Faith. Test yourselves…” 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Paul urges them: “…that you should do what is honourable…” 2 Corinthians 13:7.
Paul prays: “…that you may be made complete…” 2 Corinthians 13:9.
Paul’s prayer for the Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11.
 
Soli Deo Gloria
The Reformation principle of Soli Deo Gloria is emphasised: “But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord’.” 2 Corinthians 10:17. (Also a quote from Jeremiah 9:24: “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight…”). “For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15
 
Take up the Cross of Christ
We are called to have a Christ-centered ministry, taking up our cross, “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10.
 
Christian Liberty
The principle of Christian liberty is taught: “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17. True Freedom is a fruit of the Gospel. Freedom from sinful habits and addictions. Freedom from drunkenness and drug addiction. Freedom from the fear of man. Freedom in Christ.
 
The Suffering is Temporary the Glory is Eternal
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
 
The Testimony of Track Record
Far from the Apostle Paul needing academic degrees and commendations from famous people, his commendations were in the whippings, imprisonments, sufferings and tribulations he had endured with patience and steadfastness. The authenticity of his ministry was evidenced by the sacrifices he had made in the Lord’s service. The authenticity of his ministry was attested to by the Word of Truth that he taught, the power of God that was evident in his ministry, the fruit of the Spirit in his conduct and the fruit of his Evangelism and discipleship as witnessed by the churches he had established and strengthened.
 
Paradoxes in Christian Service
There are many paradoxes in Christian ministry. There is a certain amount of honour in serving the Lord, but there is also dishonour from those who oppose. Yes, there are good reports, but there are also evil reports. God's servants are often accused of being deceivers and yet they are true. They can be denigrated as unknown and yet in another sense, they are well known. Their suffering, rejection and poverty may be sneered at by others, yet, they can always rejoice and make many rich in a true spiritual and eternal sense.
 
Not a Sacrifice
As Missionary, Dr. David Livingstone, declared: “Can that be called a sacrifice, which is simply paid back a small part of a great debt owing to our God, which we can never repay? It is emphatically no sacrifice! Say rather it is a privilege!”
 
No Sacrifice Too Great
Famous English Cricketer, turned Pioneer Missionary, C.T. Studd, declared: “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice that I can make can be too great.”
 
Conduct is More Important Than Human Commendations
The teachers of the Jewish Law in Paul’s day, carried letters of Introduction with them. They were the chief troublemakers of Paul’s ministry. “Who is this Paul?” They would ask. “What letters of recommendation from Jerusalem does he have?” Paul makes clear that the Corinthian Christians themselves are his letter, written on hearts, known and read by everybody. The lives of all true Christians serve as communication. Most people may not study the Word of God, but many of them study our lives and conduct. This should inspire us as to the serious and solemn opportunity to lead people to Christ, not only by what we say, but by what we do. Not only by our lips, but by our lives.
 
Constructive vs. Destructive Criticism
There is a big difference between being destructively argumentative and divisive and constructive conflict and controversy for the Kingdom of God. If we are criticised, let it be for the stand we make for Christ and His Kingdom in seeking to be Biblical as we apply the Lordship of Christ to all areas of life. Let criticism not be legitimately raised because of bad manners on our part, lack of grace, tactlessness, divisiveness, argumentativeness, or an obnoxious personality syndrome.
 
Expect Opposition
Anything that moves creates friction. Opposition and criticism are to be expected in the Lord’s service. As Dr. James Kennedy explains in his book Delighting God: “If you rise just a little bit above the common herd, if you achieve just a modicum more success than your neighbours, most assuredly those barbs of criticism are going to be shot your way. To avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. There is no defence against reproach – except obscurity.”
 
Only God’s Opinion Will Count for Eternity
Dr. Kennedy quotes one wise old man: “If I try to read, much less answer all the criticisms made of me and all the attacks levelled against me, this office would have to be closed to all other business. I do the best I know how, the very best I can and I mean to keep on doing this, down to the very end. If the end brings me out all wrong, ten Angels swearing I’d been right, would make no difference. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me now will not amount to anything.”
 
Adversity Builds Character
There is no doubt that adversity can build character. A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted. Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors. Such trials should drive us to prayer, humble us and deepen our devotional life as we search the Scriptures and ask: “What is God saying to me through this?” It should also enable us to empathise with and comfort others who suffer such injustices. Christians suffering unjust criticism should find opportunities to glorify God and to witness for Christ. Ultimately, God's opinion and approval is the only one that counts. It is He whom we should continually be seeking to please.
 
It Is Not the Critic Who Counts
As President Theodore Roosevelt declared:
“It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled,
or where the doer of deeds could have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs, who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds
who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory nor defeat!”
 
The Grace
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Fax: 086-494-8070
mission@frontline.org.za
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

Who Were the Galatians?
The Galatians were a Celtic people who had migrated to that region from Gaul (modern day France) in the 3rd Century B.C. The Romans conquered the Galatians in 189 B.C. but allowed them to have some measure of autonomy until 25 B.C. when Galatia became a Roman province, incorporating regions not inhabited by ethnic Galatians. This included Lyconia, Phrygia and Pisidia. During his First Missionary Journey, the Apostle Paul founded churches in Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe (Acts 13:14-14:23), in Southern Galatia.
 
Background to the Controversy
False teachers were undermining central Biblical doctrines including justification by Faith. The Judaizers were spreading the dangerous legalism demanding that Gentiles must first become Jews, submitting to Mosaic Law, before they could become Christians. The Judaizers were distorting the Gospel, agitating among the new converts, perverting the Faith, requiring Gentiles to become circumcised for their salvation. Effectively the Judaizers were seeking to convert Gentile Christians to Judaism.
 
Character Assassins
Not content merely to preach another gospel, the Judaizers attempted to discredit Paul who had founded the churches in Galatia. They claimed that Paul was a renegade who had defied his superiors and the Apostles in Jerusalem. They claimed that Peter had argued against Paul over the requirement of Gentiles to become Jews in order to be saved. The agitators claimed that Paul had originally preached and practiced circumcision for salvation. Understanding this background is essential to appreciating the meaning of the Book of Galatians.
 
Thunder Bolts Against False Teaching
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-10
 
Too Emotional
Some people dislike Galatians intensely. Some claim that it is too emotional. Galatians is a highly charged Letter. It was clearly written in white heat and is full of anger against false teaching, which was deceiving new believers, with disastrous eternal consequences.
 
Too Personal
Some complain that Galatians is too personal. The Apostle Paul speaks of his physical handicaps, evidently an eye-disease as he refers to the large letters he has to use when he writes with his own hand (6:11) and how they did not despise him when he came, but were even willing to give their own eyes to him (4:14-15).
 
Too Unsettling
He explains his side of the public disagreement with the Apostle Peter. Many are anxious to avoid public differences. However, to Paul, when truth is at stake, one even has to be willing to stand up against those we most love and respect.
 
Too Confrontational
There are those who complain that Galatians is too combative, too controversial and too argumentative. We live in an age where people prefer to live in comfortable homes, travel in comfortable vehicles, to go to comfortable churches and to hear comfortable messages. Galatians is discomforting. Some have described a Missionaries Job Description as: “To comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable!” Paul certainly afflicts the comfortable in Galatians!
 
Tactless and Intolerant
Certainly many arguments have been waged over the Book of Galatians. We live in an age when tolerance and tact are considered primary virtues. Not that either is considered a virtue in the Bible! Our Lord Jesus Christ was certainly neither tolerant, nor tactful, especially when He came into the Temple with a whip and condemned the scribes and pharisees as “hypocrites, white-washed tombs, a brood of snakes, twice as worthy of hell! Blind guides!” When the Lord whipped the corrupt Jewish moneylenders out of the Temple, there were probably those who complained that He wasn’t being tolerant, or tactful, enough.
 
Fight the Good Fight of Faith
If Dr. Martin Luther had not been convicted from a study of the Books of Psalms, Galatians and Romans to confront the false teachings and superstitious unBiblical practices of the Roman catholic papacy, then the Reformation may not have occurred. The Scripture commands us to stand firm in the Faith and to fight the good fight of Faith!
 
Too Intellectual
Some complain that Galatians is too intellectual. Indeed there are subtle historic and Biblical intellectual arguments requiring some hard thinking. Paul stretches our minds and requires some serious Bible study and intellectual exercise to grasp the essence of his arguments.
 
Too Spiritual
There are even those who claim that the Book of Galatians is too spiritual! In Galatians we encounter the sharp double-edged sword of the Word of God that penetrates to bone and marrow, dealing with heart-motivations and inner-attitudes. Galatians strips off religious veneers and strikes at human pride.
 
Critical Issues
Galatians tackles some of the most fundamental issues of the Faith, which if we misunderstand, or distort, can be fatal to our Faith. God has entrusted to Christian leaders the responsibility of studying and striving for the Faith, contending for the Faith once delivered to the saints. We need to discern the truth of God's Word and defend it publically.
 
Internal Subversion Can be Devastating
Generally speaking, attempts to destroy the Church by outside attacks and violent persecution have failed. However, subtle attacks from within the church to pervert, erode or corrupt the Gospel have had far more devastating long-term consequences. Entire denominations have been devastated by the legalism or licence exposed and countered in the Epistle to the Galatians.
 
The Unique Qualifications of the Apostle Paul to Deal with These Issues
The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest men who ever lived. One of the most influential thinkers, writers and missionaries of all times. Born in Tarsus, the Roman world’s third most important centre of study, after Athens and Alexandria. Trained by Gamaliel, Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews and a pharisee of the pharisees. He had achieved a great deal of self-righteousness and had sought to destroy the Christians.
 
False Accusations
The false teachers who were disturbing the Galatians were claiming that the Apostle Paul was not a true Apostle that he did not understand the deeper teachings of Judaism and had failed to teach them the real way of religion.
 
Counter-Attack
Paul explains that he understands the teachings and practices of Judaism even better than his critics and that he had done even more to attack the Church. “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” Galatians 1:13-14. The accusers were confusing the new converts, entangling them in a web of Jewish legalism and traditions.
 
The Five Solas
In the Book of Galatians, Paul champions what became known as the five Solas of the Reformation: Sola Scriptura. Scripture alone is our authority.
Sola Gratia. Salvation is by the grace of God alone.
Sola Fide. Salvation is received by Faith alone.
Solus Christus. Christ alone is the head of the Church and it is through the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross on Calvary alone that Atonement is made for our sins.
Soli Deo Gloria. Everything is to be done to the glory of God alone. We must leave no room for human pride and the flesh. Human pride is what is motivating these false teachers “That they may boast in your flesh” (6:13).
 
Adding to the Gospel Dilutes, Subverts and Corrupts It
As in modern cults, the Judaizers were adding to the Gospel. Cults and false religions often seek to either add to the Gospel, or subtract from it. Christian Science add Mary Baker Eddy’s Science and Health. Mormons add Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon and The Pearl of Great Price. The Judaizers were claiming that you needed works in addition to your Faith. Circumcision, the Sabbath and all the other rituals and requirements of Mosaic Law were being put forward as essential for Salvation.
 
Salvation by Works
Most religions of the world advocate salvation by works. You must pray in this way, you must fast in this way, you must give alms to the poor, tithe to the church, attend these meetings, complete these rituals, bow down in this way, repeat these words, complete this formula, so that at the end you may be saved. Salvation by works. Do-it-yourself religion appeals to people because it gives us something to be proud of. It is this self-righteousness of the pharisees that our Lord Jesus Christ condemned so completely in Matthew 23.
 
Religion vs. Relationship
There are a variety of religious options including: Works Alone save you, or Works plus Faith save you, or Faith plus Works saves you. This is what the Judaizers of Paul’s time were saying, that you need to complete your salvation by Faith with these Jewish works and rituals. However, Paul advocates Faith alone. Salvation is by the grace of God alone based upon the Atonement of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary, received by Faith alone.
 
Those Under the Law are Condemned
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them.’ But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by Faith.’ Yet the Law is not of Faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them’. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).” Galatians 3:10-13
 
Liberty vs. Legalism and Licence
Liberty is the key theme in Galatians. The Judaizers were promoting legalism. Others, egalitarians, promote licence. Christians stand for Biblical liberty in Christ, led by the Holy Spirit. Christian liberty is not doing what we want, nor is it doing what others tell us to. Christian liberty is not the freedom to sin. It is the freedom not to sin. Christian liberty is real freedom - To do what we ought, to please God. To be freed from the bondage of the Law and from the curse of antinomian licence.
 
Only Those Who Are of Faith Are Sons of Abraham
Circumcision is condemned as a slippery slope, the first link in the chain of legalism. It is not part of the Gospel. Paul points to Abraham: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain - if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of Faith? - Just as Abraham ‘believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of Faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by Faith, preached the Gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of Faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” Galatians 3:1-9
 
Abraham Was Justified by Faith
Many hundreds of years before the Law was given through Moses, God justified Abraham by Faith. If Faith without works was sufficient for Abraham, why should we apostatize from the Faith and revert to the Law which only brought condemnation?
 
No One is Justified by Law
The Law cannot give righteousness, but it does bring death upon all those who do not keep it. The Law demands perfect obedience. “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them.’ But that no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by Faith.” Galatians 3:10-11
 
Christ Bore the Curse for Us
A curse is upon all those who break the Law. A blessing is upon all those who live by Faith. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).” Galatians 3:13. Do not turn back to the Mosaic Law from which Christ has redeemed us. Who has bewitched you foolish Galatians that you should turn from the blessing of Faith to the curse of the Law?
 
The Law is Our Schoolmaster to Bring us to Christ
The Law deals with what we have done and who we are. While grace deals with who Christ is and what He has accomplished. “Therefore the Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by Faith.” Galatians 3:24
 
The Role of the Law
The Law restrains the wicked, guides our conduct and acts as a schoolteacher to bring us to Christ that we may be saved, justified by Faith. The Law reveals our sin, our failure, our depravity and our need of Redemption through Christ. The Law reveals to us our spiritual blindness and lost condition. The sharp needle of the Law needs to prick our conscience and carry through the scarlet thread of Gospel Redemption through Christ.
 
Only Those Who Have Faith in Christ
To those who claim that Jews are the true children of God, Paul writes: “Therefore know that only those who are of Faith are sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:7
 
Legalists Place Themselves Under a Curse
“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under the curse…” Galatians 3:10
 
There is Only One Way of Salvation
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28-29. This passage has been abused to suggest that there is no more distinction between different nationalities, classes, or genders. Indeed, Galatians 3:28 has even been misconstrued to justify women ministers, inter-racial marriage, homosexual marriage and trans-genderism, with men having access to women’s bathrooms and all manner of other perversions that could never have been imagined by the Apostle Paul, or millions of Christians who have read these passages for nearly 2,000 years!
 
Distinctions Remain
What Galatians 3:28 is making clear is that there is only one way of Salvation for Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female and that is through Christ Jesus. It is not suggesting that there are no more social, or gender, distinctions. Men may not walk into women’s bathrooms quoting Galatians 3:28. We remain of different genders, social and economic classes and nationalities. However, those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.
 
Ishmael and Isaac
Paul uses the example of Abraham having two sons: Ishmael from a slave woman, Hagar and Isaac from his wife, Sarah. “For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two Covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar - for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children - but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:22-26
 
Those Under Bondage Persecute the True Children of God
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.’ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” Galatians 4:28-31
 
Only Those Born of the Spirit are Children of God’s Promise
The true descendants of Abraham are not those who are born of his flesh and blood, but those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord. Those born of the flesh are under the condemnation of the Law. Those born miraculously, of the Spirit, are free. Hagar the mother of Ishmael is symbolic of Mount Sinai and corresponds to Jerusalem. The children of Mount Sinai, the Mosaic Law and Jerusalem, are symbolised by Ishmael. The Jews are not true heirs of the promise. Those who seek salvation by Law are not true sons of Abraham. It is the son born miraculously, as Isaac was, of Sarah, when she was well past the natural age for child bearing, who are the true children of Israel, the true children of Abraham, the true children of the promise.
 
Legalism Cannot Save
The Judaizers, by promoting circumcision, Sabbath observance on the seventh day and other requirements of Judaism were not adding to anyone’s’ salvation, but taking away their salvation, leading them astray into error and bondage. When you tell people that they must keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved, you are consigning them to hell, because they cannot do it.
 
Legalism is a Death Sentence
Judaism is not the cradle of Christianity but its grave. Our Lord Jesus Christ was scathing in His denunciation of Judaism and its legalism and the hypocrisy of the scribes and pharisees. As Moses was raised up to deliver the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt, so the Apostle Paul was raised up to deliver the Christian Church from the bondage of Judaism.
 
The Charter of Liberty
The Book of Galatians is the Magna Carta of the Christian Church. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by Faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
 
From Persecutor to Preacher
Paul gives some of his testimony “…he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the Faith which he once tried to destroy.” Galatians 1:23. The Apostle Paul has moved from enemy to Evangelist, from opponent to advocate, from the persecutor of the Gospel to preacher of the Gospel. Only God could have changed Paul from being a murderer to being a Missionary. Paul makes it clear that he is an Apostle, not from men, or through men, but through Jesus Christ who personally confronted and called him. He makes it clear that he is a man under authority, accountable, teachable and open to correction.
 
Under Authority, Accountable and Teachable
“And I went up by revelation and communicated to them that Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately, to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 2:2. Paul was plainly not a rebel, or a renegade, a law unto himself, refusing to be taught. He was a team player, under authority, accountable, teachable and open to correction, as we read of the Bereans, who were more noble than the rest, because they studied the Word of God daily, to see if the things that they were taught, were true.
 
Accepted and Supported by the Apostles in Jerusalem
“And when James, Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.” Galatians 2:9. Paul went up to Jerusalem and submitted his understanding of the Gospel to the Apostles to be evaluated by them. The Apostles, James, Peter and John, the pillars of the Church, gave Paul the right hand of fellowship, indicating their acceptance, support and recognition of the Hand of God and Call of God on Paul’s life. They endorsed his Mission to the Gentiles.
 
Clarifying the Confrontation
He clarifies that the disagreement with Peter over the legalistic requirements of the Judaizers was one in which Peter acknowledged that he had been inconsistent “…If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?” Galatians 2:14. It was not Paul who was being subtle and subversive, he had openly submitted his teaching to evaluation by the Apostles. He had been open when he needed to rebuke a fellow apostle over inconsistency and hypocrisy. The friendship and mutual respect between Peter and Paul stood the test of time and conflict (2 Peter 3:15).
 
No One Can be Justified by Law
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but by Faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by Faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16
 
Those Who Go Back to Judaism Reject Christ
Paul says he is astonished that these new Christians could have given up the Gospel of freedom in Christ to accept a legalistic message that was no gospel at all, but bondage. He twice pronounces a curse upon those troubling them, adulterating the Gospel and perverting the message. Even if an Angel from Heaven were to preach any other gospel, let him be eternally condemned to hell, accursed, anathema (1:6-9).
 
Why Did Christ Die?
For what possible purpose did Christ die, if we can be saved by keeping the Law? The legalistic Judaizers were effectively denying the Atonement of Christ. How are we justified? Not by works (Galatians 2:16-17). Christ is our sacrifice for sin and He is our sufficiency in the Spirit-filled life.
 
Relationship Not Religion
The daily life of a Christian disciple is to die to self and sin, to forsake the world and to follow Christ. We are not called to a legalistic ritual, or religion, but to a living Faith in a living Saviour. Christianity is first and foremost a relationship with Almighty God through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Not a religion. Religion may be the best man can do. Christianity is what God has done in and though His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. How can we be made just? Not through the Law, but through Faith in the shed Blood of Christ Jesus, our Lord. True Children of Abraham are not those born of his physical descendants, but those who believe in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us…” Galatians 3:13
 
Is the Blessing in Christ or a Political Entity?
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds’, as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed’, who is Christ.” Galatians 3:16. Those who claim that the promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 is fulfilled in the present state named Israel in the Middle East, are denying the clear teaching of Scripture. Galatians 3:16 makes it clear that the promise was to Abraham and to his Seed: Christ. We are blessed in accordance with our faithfulness to Christ and we are cursed if we reject Him. Genesis 12:1-3 is a Messianic prophecy fulfilled in Christ.
 
No Nation Can Claim God’s Blessings without Fulfilling His Conditions
Those who claim that the promise to Abraham is fulfilled in the secular state of Israel in the Middle East, betray a spiritual blindness. For the Scripture is clear that no nation has ever received a blank check from God. All the prophets condemned the nations of Israel and Judah for idolatry, immorality, injustice and ingratitude. God twice condemned Jerusalem to be destroyed and its people sent into exile. How much clearer can it be, that no nation, no people, can ever claim the promises of God without fulfilling His conditions of faithfulness and loyalty to the God who gave those promises.
 
Blessings of Obedience - Curses of Disobedience
Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26 and Jeremiah 18, make it clear that there are blessings for obedience and there are curses for disobedience. To suggest that people’s well-being and blessing before God is determined by how much they support a political state, is unBiblical.
 
The Wrath of God Comes on Those Who Support the Wicked
When King Jehoshaphat of Judah sought to mobilise in support of the Northern kingdom of Israel, the Word of the Lord came to him. “…Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you'.” 2 Chronicles 19:2. That was in context of supporting the Northern kingdom of Israel.
 
Unconditional Support for Any State is UnBiblical
Yet, today, some people would have you believe that you will be blessed by God for any and all political and material support for a secular state, which rejects Christ! Jews have not come back into the land in repentance and in Faith in Christ. How then can we expect God to bless anyone for such support? The state of Israel is not a theocratic state seeking to faithfully apply the Word of God to all areas of life. Nor yet a nation that openly worships our Lord Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Judaizers today would have you believe that support for a secular state (which in point of fact denies Christ, legalises abortion - over 2 million babies have been killed so far in the state of Israel, officially and legally, with taxpayers money - a state which legalises pornography, perversion and prostitution) should receive unqualified support from all of God's people! Why?
 
Promoting Perversion
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs openly posts videos promoting Tel Aviv as the gay capital of the world with vulgar displays of perversion. Homosexual activists have voted Tel Aviv as the most gay-friendly city in the world! Yet we are to believe that such a state that denies Christ, persecutes Christians and conscripts women into the Army, while legalising abortion, prostitution, pornography and perversion, should be supported?
 
Why is America Not Blessed?
Judaizers say that those who bless the state of Israel will be blessed and those who curse the state of Israel will be cursed! Yet, the country that has done more to support the state of Israel than any other, the United States of America, seems to have been progressively cursed since supporting the establishment of Israel in 1948. Crime has increased, the U.S. currency has devalued multiple times, natural disasters have increased, political disasters, the paganisation of the schools and the spread of perversion throughout the United States has increased dramatically over the last 70 years, despite consistently pouring many Billions of Dollars into the state of Israel.
 
Israel Worship Has Become Cultic
Yet according to the teachings of John Hagee and other Judaizers, America should be blessed beyond every other nation, in return for having given more Foreign Aid to Israel than to all other nations in the world combined! But surely this is nonsense. People are blessed and cursed in relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ. God is not obligated to bless false doctrines and foolish distortions of His Word. The fact that so many believe it, does not change the fact that they are unBiblical. “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” Exodus 23:2
 
Your Relationship to Christ is Critical
Those who bless Christ are blessed, those who curse Christ are cursed. That is the plain teaching of Scripture. To twist, adulterate and pervert Genesis 12:1-3 for any political end is inexcusable and indefensible, especially in the light of the clear teaching: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds’, as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed’, who is Christ.” Galatians 3:16
 
UnBiblical Contradictions of Terms are to Be Rejected
Those who speak of Judeo-Christian are confused. Judaism rejects Christ. Christianity is centered on Christ. How did Christians come to put such an unBiblical concept above the clear teachings of Scripture? Nowhere in the Bible will you read of Judeo-Christian, yet today all too many Christians repeat this mantra which is an oxymoron. This tells us something about the pervasive indoctrination by modern media.
 
Conflict of Interest
There is also a tremendous financial incentive for the political entity in the Middle East who call themselves “Israel” to continue to do everything necessary in terms of public relations that the billions of dollars continue to flow in so-called Foreign Aid. (Someone has described foreign aid as the transfer of money from the poor in rich countries to the rich in poor countries.) In this case it is a transfer of taxes from Christians in America to non-Christians in the state of Israel who buy up huge numbers of agents of influence to indoctrinate Christians with unBiblical theology, such as through the Scofield Bible, John Hagee and many ministries, magazines, pulpits and programmes which continue to propagate the very teachings that were condemned so clearly in the Books of Galatians and Hebrews and by the first Church Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15). “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” Galatians 4:16
 
An Inversion of Priorities
It is disturbing that many Christians today are more distressed by criticism of Israel, or of the Jews, than blasphemy against Christ and persecution of Christians. It is idolatry, hypocritical and a bizarre inversion of priorities.
 
Stand for Christ and Resist Those Who Reject Christ
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole Law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by Law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:1-4
 
You Are Either For Christ or Against Him
The Apostle Paul makes it clear that circumcision avails nothing (5:6). “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9. Paul makes it clear that if you desert the true Gospel then you are deserting God Himself, falling from grace and losing all hope of Salvation. There is no Salvation in the blood of bulls and goats. There never was and never will be. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were mere shadows to point one to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Salvation is the gift of God's grace, unearned and undeserved. Received by Faith alone. Faith itself is God's free gift. Faith alone is the key because Christ alone is the Saviour. He bore the curse of the Law in our place, upon the Cross.
 
Woe to You When All Men Speak Well of You
To those who claim that Paul was still preaching circumcision: “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the Cross has ceased.” Galatians 5:11
 
Scars Testify to Sacrificial Service
If you are not being criticised then you are not doing your job. Paul reminds the people that he bears in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus (6:17). There are scars of service testifying to sacrifices made in the service of our Lord. By implication his accusers have no such scars. What have they sacrificed and suffered for Christ? Sacrificial service is more eloquent than many sermons.
 
Do Not Return to a Dead and Empty Religion
There are dreadful consequences to abandoning the Gospel of Christ Jesus as the only Saviour for our sins. There is Salvation in no other. Turning back to dry and dead religion is a rejection of a real relationship with our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
 
You are Called to Liberty – Not Legalism nor Lawlessness
To those who claim that this Gospel of the grace of God received by Faith alone will lead to lawlessness and licence, the Apostle Paul responds: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the Law is fulfilled in one Word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14
 
Recognise What Your Salvation Cost Our Saviour
The Gospel of God's grace gives us true liberty and true Christians will not despise, or abuse, that liberty because they recognise that it cost so much: the Blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We abuse liberty when we degenerate into licence and lawlessness.
 
Recognise and Resist the Fruit of the Flesh
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:16-21
 
Faith and Freedom
With freedom comes responsibility. Freedom from an addictive habit, such as drunkenness, smoking, drug addiction, or from political oppression, is a glorious experience. Even more exhilarating is the spiritual freedom that comes from the grace of God experienced through Faith in Jesus Christ alone. We are free, not to follow our inward lusts, or the decadence of this world, but free to serve our Saviour and do His will. Free to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23
 
Walk in Step with the Spirit
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25
We learn to walk holding onto a parent’s hand. We need to think of walking in the Spirit as walking arm in arm, not running ahead, nor lagging behind. Note the nine-fold fruit or nine graces:
1.     Towards God: Love, joy and peace.
2.     Towards others: Patience, or long-suffering, kindness and goodness and
3.     Towards myself: Faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
 
As our Lord taught in John 15, if we abide in Christ and His Words abide in us, we shall bear much fruit. To walk in the Spirit means to march in step with the Spirit, to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, to be in harmony with the Holy Spirit.
 
Sowing and Reaping
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7. If we sow in the Spirit we will reap a spiritual harvest. If we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption. The harvest will not be so much according to what we know, but what and how much we sow. This refers to both attitudes and actions. We may have a large supply of seed in the barn of our heart and mind, but, unless it is planted in suitable soil, it will bear no harvest. We need to sow Scriptural seed in our thoughts and in our deeds.
 
What You Sow is What You Will Reap
To those who deceive themselves saying it does not matter what I sow, as long as I am sincere… what kind of advice would that be for a farmer? In this instance the Christian life is not likened to that of a used-car salesman, or a politician, but to a farmer. There are agricultural rules and realities to consider here. When it comes to a person’s mind: garbage in - garbage out. What we see influences what we think. What we think influences what we believe and what we believe influences how we act. Thoughts easily develop into attitudes, actions, habits, character and eternal destiny. Every choice we make, makes us more a creature of Heaven or hell. Every decision and choice puts us more down the broad road to destruction, or the narrow road to life.
 
Head, Heart, Hand and Feet
In Romans we find our standing. In Galatians we take our stand. In Romans we are to use our heads to grasp the great facts of the Faith. In 1 Corinthians we are to put out our hand to grasp our privileges in Christ. In 2 Corinthians we are to lift up our hearts to receive the comforts that are ours. In Galatians we are commanded to stand on our feet in the liberty that Christ gives us.
 
What a Saviour
Galatians proclaims our Lord Jesus Christ as a Mighty Saviour. Powerful to deliver us from sin (1:4; 2:21; 3:22); to deliver us from the curse of the Law (3:13); to deliver us from selfishness (2:20; 5:24); to deliver us from worldliness (6:14).
 
Adoption into the Family of God
In and through the miracle of regeneration, the new birth (4:4-7), we receive the Holy Spirit, we are adopted as sons and daughters and made heirs of God through Christ. In Galatians we are called to be “no longer a slave, but a son” (4:7).
 
Apostasy Brings Curse
“But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:9. Paul pronounces a curse on the false teachers because they pervert the Gospel (1:6-9). He describes them accursed and false brethren. “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” Galatians 4:17
 
Justification and Sanctification is by Faith
Salvation is by Faith alone. We are justified by Faith (justification).Sanctification also is by Faith, walking in the Spirit. The Book of Galatians must have been written before the Jerusalem Church Council of Acts 15, since its decision would have been a powerful point in Paul’s argument. The Judaizers were attempting to discredit Paul’s authority as an Apostle and to distort his message of grace. In one of the severest statements in the New Testament, the Apostle warned that those who pervert the Gospel of grace are placing themselves under a curse for eternal damnation.
 
From Persecutor to Apostle
Paul who was once so zealous in his opposition to the Church and violent in his persecution of believers, now finds himself an advocate and Apostle for the Gospel, seeking to defend the Church from false teachers who would distract, distort and corrupt the Church from within.
 
Jesus is Either Your Lord and Saviour or He is Your Judge
The Law places a curse on all who break the Law in any point. As Christ took this curse upon Himself, those of us who identify with Him and are loyal to Him can be Saved from the curse. Those who reject Christ are taking the curse upon themselves, for there is no Salvation outside of Christ.
 
Help Bear One Another’s Burdens and Restore Those Who Fall
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the Law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another.” Galatians 6:1-4
 
Do Not Grow Weary in Your Work for God and His Creatures
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of Faith.” Galatians 6:9-10
 
No Room for Pride
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
 
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
mission@frontline.org.za
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
www.hmsschoolofchristianjournalism.org

​To listen to the audio of this sermon, click here.
 
“For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
 
Prison Epistle
The Epistle to the Ephesians is one of the Apostle Paul’s prison Epistles. Along with Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, Ephesians was composed by Paul while under arrest (Acts 28:16-31) and awaiting trial in Rome (60-62AD).
 
Ephesus
The Church in Ephesus had been planted by Priscilla and Aquila. The Apostle Paul ministered to this congregation in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey. Ephesus was a major port city, a centre of commerce, finance and education. Its theatre could seat 24,000 and the town was dominated by an enormous pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Diana (Artemis in Greek). This temple was known as “one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.”
 
Idolatry Industry
A major industry of idol making had sprung up around this temple of Diana, producing idols which travellers purchased to set up in their homes. The preaching and teaching of Paul led many to destroy their idols and occultic books. “Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them and it totalled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” Acts 19:19-20

Riotous Commotion Whipped up Against Paul
As a result a great commotion arose about The Way and Demetrius, the silversmith who made silver shrines of Diana, called together other idol makers and declared: “…Throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.’ Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out saying: ‘Great is Diana of the Ephesians!’ So the whole city was filled with confusion and rushed into the theatre with one accord…” Acts 19:26-29
 
Ephesus Addressed in Revelation
Both Pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Timothy, were addressed to Timothy in Ephesus and were about the Ephesian Church. In the Book of Revelation, the first of the seven Churches to be addressed was the church of Ephesus. “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ‘I know your works, your labour, your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars and you have persevered and have patience and have laboured for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.” Revelation 2:1-3
 
The Queen of Epistles
To this exemplary church, which would later be the site of the Council of Ephesus (AD431), the Apostle Paul addresses this Epistle to all Christians. If Romans is the Kings of Epistles, then Ephesians can justly be described as the Queen of Epistles. It is a defence against syncretism, a clear exposition of Christian belief and behaviour.
 
Doctrine, Devotion and Duty
Ephesians deals with doctrine, devotion and duty. The first half of Ephesians, Chapters 1 to 3, deals with our belief. The last half, Ephesians 4 to 6, deals with our behaviour. In the first section the Apostle deals with our relationship to God: Doctrine and devotion, adoration, justification and worship. In the second section, the Apostle deals with our relationship to others: Duties, responsibilities, sanctification, our walk, our work and our warfare. The first half of the Book deals with what happens inside the church and the second half with what happens outside the church. The first half deals with the vertical dimension of the Gospel and the second half deals with the horizontal dimension of the Gospel.
 
Foundation for Reformation
Ephesians was, along with Romans, a foundational Book for the Protestant Reformation. In Ephesians, one clearly sees the 5 Solas of the Reformation: Scripture alone is our ultimate authority, Salvation is by the Grace of God alone, received by Faith alone. Christ alone is the head of the Church. He is the only Mediator between God and man. Everything must be done for the glory of God alone. We also find the 5 points of Calvinism clearly enunciated in Ephesians: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance of the Saints.
 
Total Depravity
In Ephesians we learn that outside of Christ, man is dead in his sins and completely incapable of saving himself. We are: “…dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath…” Ephesians 2:1-3
 
“That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12
 
“That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” Ephesians 4:14
 
“This I say, therefore and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Ephesians 4:17-23
 
Fruit of the Unregenerate
Ephesians describes the fruit of the unregenerate life: Lying, anger, theft, corrupt words, grieving the Holy Spirit, with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking (4:25-31).
 
“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.” Ephesians 5:3-7
 
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11
 
Fruit of the Flesh
These are descriptions of men and women outside of Christ: The unregenerate engage in lying, stealing, corrupt communications, bitterness, evil speaking, malice, fornication, uncleanness and covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and course jesting. They give themselves over to lewdness to work all uncleanness with greediness. They are consumed with deceitful lusts, ignorance and blindness of hearts, having their understanding darkened and alienated from the life of God. They are tossed to and fro with every fashion and fad and succumb to the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. The unregenerate are aliens from the people of God. Strangers’ from the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God, in the world they are by nature children of wrath, sons of disobedience. We cannot save ourselves.
 
Unconditional Election
God chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in then, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure. The longest sentence in the Bible is found in Ephesians 1:3-14: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved, in Him we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven and which are on earth -in Him, in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory, in Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your Salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
 
By Grace Through Faith
We did not find God, He found us. God was not lost. We are lost! It is not that we chose God. He chose us! He chose us before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption. “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
 
Created for Good Works
We are not saved by good works, but we are saved unto good works. Our righteousness is as filthy rags before our holy God. There is nothing we could do to make ourselves righteous before God, it is His grace, His undeserved favour that has provided our Redemption through His Blood. There is therefore absolutely no place for pride. Salvation is all of God. To Him alone belongs all the Glory.
 
What Comes First: Repentance or Regeneration?
The Bible makes it clear that Regeneration comes before Repentance. One of the first questions Dr. James Kennedy asked me was: “What comes first: Repentance or Regeneration?” My answer was “Regeneration!” “Ah!” he said, “you must be a Calvinist!”
 
God Alone Saves Sinners
God saves sinners. God alone. His mercy, His undeserved favour, is what saves sinners. Faith is the gift of God – lest any man boast. There is no room for pride. I did not find God. God was never lost! He found me. I was lost, dead in my trespasses and sins and by God's grace and mercy, He regenerated me by His sovereign will. From this work of grace, repentance and faith came into my life. Regeneration precedes Repentance and Faith. Salvation is all of God.
 
Amazing Grace
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
 
All To Jesus I Surrender
We contribute nothing to our Salvation – except the sin that made it necessary. “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.”
 
Limited Atonement
Also known as Definite Atonement or Particular Redemption means that “Christ’s death actually paid for the sins” of His elect people. “In Him we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7
 
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the Blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
 
Irresistible Grace
“God effectively calls people and also gives them regeneration, both of which guarantee that we will respond in saving faith.” (Wayne Grudem) “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6
 
Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance: those who are truly saved will be “kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives.” only those are true Christians. “That you may know what is the hope…” “the eyes of your understanding[a] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:18-23
 
The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
In Ephesians, we read of “the riches of His grace” (1:7); “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8); and “the riches of His glory” (3:16). The word riches is used 5 times in this letter. Grace is used 12 times, glory, 8 times. Fullness or filled, 6 times and the key phrase: “in Christ”, or “In Him”, 12 times.
 
Justification and Sanctification
From Ephesians 1 to 3 we read of our Justification. From Ephesians 4 through 6, we read of our Sanctification. Christian belief leads to Christian behaviour. Christian doctrine leads to Christian duty. Biblical truth requires Christian integrity. We do not have a religion, but a vibrant relationship with the one true Living God.
 
Unity in Christ
The Apostle who is described as “the prisoner of the Lord” and an “ambassador in chains,” emphasises the unity of Christ’s Church. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one Faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1-6
 
Redemption, Atonement and Adoption
There is no room for two people of God. There is no Salvation in Judaism. There is only one Saviour and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. It is only through His Blood Atonement on the Cross of Calvary that Jews and Gentiles, circumcised and uncircumcised, can find Redemption, Atonement and Adoption into the family of God. “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation… having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the Cross, thereby putting to death the enmity..” Ephesians 2:14-16
 
Foundation and Cornerstone
The Church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets and Christ Jesus Himself is the Chief Cornerstone (2:20).
 
Gifts to Build Up the Body
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head – Christ - from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16
 
Many Members – One Body
The Church is not an organisation, but an organism. The Church is an Ecclesia – an assembly of called out ones. Just as a body has many organs and ligaments which are essential for the healthy carrying out of its duties, so too each one in the church, no matter what our gifts or calling, must work faithfully and effectively together for the growth and edification of the whole body.
 
Our High Calling
Leaders in the church are not meant to do all the work, they are meant to equip all the members for the work of ministry. The goal is for all those who name the Name of Christ to come to unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to the full measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ himself. Christ Jesus left us an example that we should follow in His footsteps. Our example is Christ. Not any human leader. Every member must do their share and fulfil their duties for the Church to be healthy and effective in the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
 
Apostles
God gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers. While some people today may have an apostolic church-planting ministry, none can claim to be Apostles with a capital “A” in the sense of the Apostles personally selected, trained and empowered by our Lord Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth. Those Apostles were eyewitnesses of the Resurrection of Christ and they are the foundation of the Church (2:20). Similarly, while some today may have a prophetic ministry, there are no Prophets today with a capital “P” in the sense of the Prophets whom God used to produce the Books of the Old Covenant. Today prophetic ministry needs to be studying, teaching, expounding and applying the written Word of God as found in the Holy Scriptures – the Bible to all areas of life. Scripture alone is our ultimate authority.
 
Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers
Healthy churches need evangelists, pastors and teachers. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Our highest priority is the fulfilment of the Great Commission of our Lord and Saviour, making disciples of all nations, teaching obedience to all things that the Lord has commanded.
 
Walking in the Spirit
The goal is to help Christians walk in humility, in unity, in maturity, in integrity, with charity and love, walking in purity and mutual submission, responsibly, walking in the light, carefully, walking in the Spirit. The first step in all of this, is to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind” (4:23).
 
Spiritual Warfare
The prince of the power of the air works in the sons of disobedience (2:2), producing children of wrath (2:3), who are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (4:18-19), walking in the futility of their mind (4:17). Our priority is to speak the truth in love (4:15), ensuring that the sun never goes down on our wrath (4:26). We are to let no corrupt word proceed from our mouth (4:29), we are not to grieve the Holy Spirit (4:30). “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
 
The Days are Evil
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:15-21
 
Redeem the Time
We are living in evil times. We need to redeem the time. Some people say that time is money. Time is far more valuable than that! You may get more money, but you will never get more time. Every day, every hour is precious and we will not get another opportunity to live those precious days and hours. Therefore we need to understand what the will of the Lord is.
 
Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Scripture commands us not to be drunk with wine, but rather to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is as much a sin to fail to be filled with the Spirit as it is to be drunk.
 
We Have a Reason to Sing
The fruit of the Spirit includes: a joyful heart, which shows itself in singing. Christianity is a uniquely singing religion. You do not find such singing in Hinduism, Buddhism or Islam. We have a reason to sing! We are to sing Psalms and Hymns and spiritual songs, making melody in our hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father, in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
 
A Treasury of Excellence
We have a tremendous treasury of worship in the Psalms and in the great Hymns of the Church. It is a tragedy that so many have neglected this great treasure store of Psalms and Hymns for shallow and superficial modern songs that lack the depth and substance of these great examples of excellence. People will be singing Amazing Grace and Can it Be, Jesus Shall Reign, A Mighty Fortress is our God and Handels Messiah for centuries to come. (It is questionable as to whether the next generation will even be bothering with much of the fashionable choruses of our day.)
 
Relationships
Our belief affects our behaviour. Doctrine determines duty. Ephesians 5:22 to 6:9 deal with our relationships: Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, just as the Church should be subject to Christ. Husbands are commanded to love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her. Children are commanded to obey and honour their parents. Fathers are instructed to not to provoke their children to wrath, but to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Servants are commanded to be obedient to their masters, with fear and trembling and in sincerity of heart as unto Christ, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. Masters are commanded to treat those who serve them kindly, knowing that their own Master is in Heaven. “Masters treat your servants knowing that your own Master also is in Heaven and there is no partiality with Him.” In a word, do to others as you would have them to do unto you.
 
Weapons for Our Warfare
Ephesians ends with instructions for warfare. The Christian walk and work ultimately is a call to war. We are involved in a colossal world war of worldviews. The battle for hearts and minds. A battle for the family. There is a clash of civilisations. Ultimately this is a spiritual war. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and Blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20
 
Be Armed, Armoured and Alert
Satan deceives, deludes, degrades, doubts, tempts, binds, blinds, ensnares, dulling our conscience and searing our conscience. We are called to battle. We need to be armed, armoured and alert. We need to recognise the call to fight and we need to understand our enemy. In Ephesians 6, we read of the full armour of God. The first part of this armour is Truth. We are to stand for the Truth. We are to recognise and expose error and deceit. We are not to allow any corrupt words to come out of our mouth. We need the breastplate of Righteousness, which is the righteousness of Christ. Our feet need to be prepared to proclaim the Gospel. We need the shield of Faith, a solid and substantial Faith, which can put out all the fiery darts of the wicked one. We are to take up the helmet of Salvation (Note it is not a nightcap, but a helmet). We are called to battle. The Scripture is the Sword of the Spirit. The Word of God is an offensive weapon. Prayer is also an offensive weapon. We need to pray the Psalms. We need to be alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, boldly proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even if we are in chains. Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7). God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (1 Philippians 4:13).
 
Be Prepared
God is generous. We are privileged. We need to be considerate. Satan is real. The warfare is serious. We need to be prepared. Christianity is practical.
 
To Destroy Evil
Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, to crush satan’s head. Do not give any ground to the powers of darkness. Do not play into satan’s hands. Be armed. Be armoured. Be alert.
 
To Know Him and to Make Him Known
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19
 
The Benediction
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Website: www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
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