“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend. We who had sweet fellowship together, walked in the house of God in the throng (large, densely packed crowd of God’s people).” (Psalms 55:12-14)
In this scripture, David is reflecting on the good times he enjoyed in his relationship with King Saul prior to Saul becoming envious of him to the point of wanting to kill him. In the past they would be together in God’s house, enjoy His presence and worship Him in the presence of many people. David refers to those times as times of sweet fellowship. However, once Saul heard the words of the women who came out of all the cities of Israel sing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” after David had killed Goliath then he became very angry and looked upon David with suspicion for fear he would take over his kingdom (I Samuel 18:7-9). An envious and bitter heart will soon destroy any meaningful fellowship between people. Until Saul’s death David was fleeing from his presence. The fellowship he once enjoyed with Saul had now been broken and was only a memory.
I wonder how many times “sweet fellowship” moments between members of the Lord’s body have been annulled because of an envious heart. God’s design for every member of the church is that they become a part of a fellowship that will last forever.
I hope this article will, in some way, make us more appreciative of what it means to be called into the glorious fellowship that we can have with God and His people.
Understanding the term “fellowship.”
The Hebrew word for fellowship is “achavah.” It conveys the idea of brotherhood, kinship, and covenantal union. The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia” which conveys a sharing, partnership, communion and mutual participation.
How and when were individuals called into fellowship with Jesus Christ?
The apostle Paul reminds the brethren at Corinth of this wonderful calling when he said, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Corinthians 1:9).
In II Thessalonians 2:13-14 Paul appeals to the brethren in Thessalonica, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Gospel of Christ calls all mankind to believe that He is truly the Son of God, to confess that conviction and to obey His call by being baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. At that time and in this way, God brings them into the fellowship of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Luke reveals just that in Acts 2:37-42, as we read in verses 41-42, “So then, those who had received Peter’s word were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and there was added that day (by God) about three thousand souls. And these (new Christians) were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
There are various kinds of fellowship enjoyed by God’s people, including:
The spiritual fellowship one can have with God and Christ
The relationship that we can enjoy with God and Christ cannot be surpassed by any other. The apostle John alludes to this when he says, “what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete (when you also enjoy this fellowship)” (I John 1:3-4).
This fellowship of oneness with the Father and the Son was the very thing that Jesus prayed for before going to Gethsemane: John 17:20-21, “I do not ask in behalf of these (His apostles) alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may believe in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.”
The fellowship of suffering for Christ as He suffered for us.
There’s another type of fellowship that Paul was eager to participate in. It was to experience the fellowship of Christ’s suffering and, in so doing, truly know how much Jesus had suffered for him. We can read in the Bible about the degree of Christ’s suffering for us but we’ll never understand the fullness of it until we walk in His shoes and suffer for Him. So Paul aspires to this when he writes, “that I may know Christ, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection of the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
In Paul’s closing remarks of his second recorded letter to the brethren at Corinth he admonishes them with these words, “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” (II Corinthians 13:11-14).
It was Paul’s desire that the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all the members of the church. In order for Christians to experience that fellowship they must be willing to submit to the will of the Spirit and produce His fruit. They do this by walking by the Spirit or in accordance to the will of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
When does the fellowship of the Spirit become apparent in the Lord’s church? Paul answers this in Philippians 2:1-11:
Enjoying sweet fellowship within God’s family.
Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
So, it is not unusual for our relationship with members of the Lord’s church to be closer and more encouraging than the one that we have with our biological family. We share the common goal of obedience to Jesus who calls us to mutual love and forgiveness in the hope of life eternal. And it yields a joy found nowhere else on earth.
God designed that our fellowship in the church would bring glory to him and create a desire in the hearts of unbelievers to have what we have. A sermon lived is often better than a sermon preached. Oneness in Christ and unity in purpose both testify that we belong to Him…and are the church of Christ.
Would you describe the fellowship existing in your congregation as a sweet fellowship? If not, is there anything you can do to make it sweeter? May God help all of us to see the importance and value of being a part of a fellowship that gives witness to exactly who we are…”that Christ might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27).
Owen Sound, ON
Brethren, churches throughout the world are in desperate need of Godly elderships and the leadership they are designed to provide. When churches fail to encourage younger men to aspire to become an elder one day, those churches will find it very difficult to face Satan in the future. And over time their membership, without proper leadership, will likely scatter or join some denomination. We need to remember that preachers/evangelists are not elders although in many cases they find themselves acting like one simply because no one else will address church problems and provide Biblical guidance. Some members actually expect their preacher to act like an elder if none exist in the congregation. We need men to be elders and men to be preachers and a membership that desires such for the church.
Aspiring to serve as an Elder in the Lord’s church.
How many men were ever asked when they were a young Christian to one day consider becoming an elder of the Lord’s church? If members fail to see the importance that elders can bring to their congregation then it’s unlikely they’ll try and encourage young men to one day become one.
Having Shepherds in the Church.
Have you ever wondered why societies require police officers? Just imagine the havoc and chaos that would occur without them. Their presence brings us an assurance that if things get out of hand, they would be there to restore law and order. How much more so is there a need for elders in the church today? They exist to keep things spiritually in order in the Lord’s church? If members reject God’s law and try to do things the way they want to, then elders will soon remind them that they have broken God’s law and, unless they repent, they will be punished. Like police officers, elders are designed to keep God’s society (church) on the right path. They need our respect!
Tendencies of Sheep.
Sheeptend to wander wherever the green grass leads them. In so doing they often get in trouble because they are too curious or inquisitive.
Isaiah admits this, when he says that, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:6). I used to own a farm house that was surrounded on three sides by a sheep farm. The sheep were cute and fun to watch as they frolicked, but at times they were also kind of dumb. Finding a sheep with his head caught in the fence was not an uncommon. Unfortunately for them, their curiosity caused them to being ensnared and without a shepherd they were doomed.
God’s Design in Having an Eldership.
The scripture quoted below is the key to having/maintaining a Godly eldership in any congregation. It is imperative that we all follow God’s design for a healthy church. So let’s break down the content of this verse:
“Obey your leaders, and subject to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this will be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
Obey Your Leaders.
We live in a world that does not like to be told to do anything by anyone. Such thinking leads only to trouble and conflict and is especially dangerous when it creeps into the minds of Christians. As members of the Lord’s church we are told to obey the Godly instruction of the leaders of the church. In the text above, I believe it is referring to the Godly leadership of the elders. We are to obey their instruction and guidance. If we reject them we reject God who has qualified them to be in charge of His church since they’ve met the elder’s qualifications set out in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.
Be Subject to Them.
This implies one’s willingness to be guided, controlled or ruled by something or someone. The head of the church is Christ, not me or you. Since it is His church then His design for leadership needs to be obeyed and followed. If one refuses to be subject to His leadership, they are, in fact, disobeying the Lord.
Elders Keep Watch Over Your Souls.
Shepherds protect the flock from things that will harm them. In the church they keep watch over every sheep in the flock. Their presence is to make sure the members are safe from danger and they will do anything to protect them from harm and from getting lost. They are watching you, for your own good.
They Will Give An Account About You to God.
God will enable elders to remember the details of their leadership and your response to their leadership. Their account will either be joyful or marked with grief and disappointment.
An Elder’s Account About You Will Either Be Profitable or Unprofitable For You.
No one will want to stand before God and learn that their life as a sheep has brought grief to the shepherds of their congregation. It will not be a good time for that individual.
Take Advantage of Being Under A Godly Eldership.
Do whatever you can to support the choices that the elders make for the church. For example, when they say it’s time to meet for Bible study then you need to be there if at all possible. By wilfully neglecting to be there reveals that you are unwilling to be subject to them and that would be unprofitable for you before God.
Aspire to serve as an Elder in the Future:
Young men, please consider becoming a leader of the Lord’s church one day. Timothy encourages you to do this when he writes, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer (elder), it is a fine work he desires to do” (I Timothy 3:1). The Lord’s church in the future needs you to start desiring to be an elder today.
Owen Sound, ON
Key Passages:
“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His ownkingdom and glory.” (I Thessalonians 2:10-12)
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of
the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.” (Philippians 1:27-28)
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power; according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1:9-12)
Why did God choose Israel to be His people?
How does God call mankind to Himself today and why?
“And it was for this, He called you through the gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Why is it so special that God calls us?
Why did God call us?
have been bought with a price (the greatest price). Therefore, glorify God in
your body.” (I Corinthians 6:20).
Walking in a manner worthy of His calling
Consider the Christian walk discussed by Paul in Ephesians 4:17-32
Walking In a Manner Worthy of the God Who Called Us is to walk in the way that pleases Him with an attitude of extreme appreciation. As Paul aptly states, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to Good the Father.” (Colossians 3:17)
Owen Sound, ON
A loved people should be a loving people I John.4:11
Introduction
In a questionnaire completed by preachers in Canada in the early 1990’s on “The Preacher and Stress”, brother Walter Hart mentioned that a significant stress preacher’s experienced was in getting along with a co-worker like another preacher. That may seem like a surprise but really all of us in the church struggle in our relationships with one another. At times it’s difficult to get along with each other the way God expects us to.
Concerns within the Early Church
“And there arose such a sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas that they separated from one another…” (Acts 15:39)
“For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you.” (I Corinthians.1:11) “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:21) “I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:2) “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” (James 4:1)
Concerns in the Church Today
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had no concerns in the church today? There would no bickering or heated arguments, no friction or tension, just the oneness Christ enjoyed with His heavenly Father (John 17). Imagine for a moment what that would be like. Non-believers attending worship services would see Christ lifted up in our lives and would be drawn to Him.
Taking a Close Look at the Problem
From the time the church began in Acts 2 until now, this never ending battle between the human side and spiritual side of every Christian has existed. Unfortunately our tendency to think and act as non-believers was not washed away at our baptism. We’ve had to learn to act like children of God from the day we were born into God’s family. That involved personal and congregational Bible study and by observing God’s love at work in mature brethren in the brotherhood.
It’s very discouraging when brethren demonstrate little interest in becoming mature. Spiritual immaturity in particular is harmful as it leads to poor and often unbiblical decisions. And it will always be a hindrance to any congregation trying to grow up into the image of Christ and to love one another.
Love One Another as I Have Loved You
In John 13:34-35 Jesus told His disciples that all men would know that they were His disciples if they loved one another as He has loved them. What’s interesting about this statement is when it was given. Jesus said these words right after Judas had left the room to betray Him and just before He told Peter that he would deny Him in the near future. Is this a coincidence? I don’t think so! It’s the way God’s love always works – it’s an unbelievable, wonderful, amazing, and unconditional kind of love! Now here’s the thing, if every member of the church expressed that same love to each other, then non-members who came in contact with the church, would be drawn to Christ and His church.
It would not guarantee that they will become Christians but at least God would have their attention. And if the condition of their heart is right I believe they will become a Christian. Do you really believe that it is imperative and affective today, to love like Jesus? Jesus said that if He was lifted up (God’s demonstration of love) that He would draw all men to Himself (John12:32). Therefore the church must, at all times, lift up their Saviour. Jesus must be seen in order to be believed – seen in His word and seen in His church!!
Practical Ways to Lift Up Christ’s Love in the Church
Conclusion: It is one thing to build a loving atmosphere within the church but it’s another thing to maintain it. The only one who can help us do this is Christ, if we allow Him to be in control of our lives (II Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 2:20). Also, we are told not to quench the Holy Spirit from producing God’s fruit of love when the season for fruit bearing comes upon us (I Thessalonians 5:19). Whenever you are having difficulty loving another, take a few moments to read I John 4:7-21. It’s one of the best scriptures to encourage you to build and maintain a loving atmosphere within the church.
Owen Sound, ON
“I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.’ And behold, it was futility”(Ecclesiastes 2:1).
In I Kings 1:38-48 David, in his old age, had his son Solomon anointed king. Although it is not specifically mentioned how old Solomon was when this happened he refers to himself in a dream he had with God as being but a little child who was to be king of a great people who could not be numbered or counted. So faced with the challenges of ruling over such a great number of people he asked God for an understanding heart to discern between good and evil (I Kings 3:7-9). What he had asked of God pleased Him because it indicated Solomon’s concerns were focused more on others and God than about himself. He wanted to rule God’s people well in the way he had been instructed to do so by his father David in I Kings 2:1-4. He had not asked for a long life nor for riches or victories over his enemies but rather discernment to understand justice (I Kings 3:10-11). Impressed with such a request God gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart which was greater than any before him or after him as well as bestowing on him riches and honour (I Kings 3:12-13).
Near the end of his reign Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. It is a book often regarded by many as being negative because it continually states that one’s life has no meaning or lasting fulfillment in and of itself. Such is the conclusion Solomon has after reading his words in the second chapter of this book. In it and other places throughout Ecclesiastes Solomon uses the phrase, “I said to myself” at least sixteen times as he pursued the meaning of life. The goal of that pursuit has not changed even to this day as mankind, in his wisdom, still seeks what he believes will bring him lasting happiness and contentment in areas such as pleasure, possessions and accumulated wealth.
I find it interesting that God permitted Solomon to indulge in every pleasure available to him so he could experience, reflect and share with us how those pleasures could or could not satisfy his longing for the true meaning of life. There’s a reason why God allowed him this indulgence. It was to teach him and the world after him that nothing on earth will ever bring lasting joy and fulfillment to anyone. They only cause one to realize and admit that there has to be something else in life, something better that satisfies more than them.
In the parable of a certain rich man Jesus said this man thought thus to himself, “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God” (Luke 12:19-21).
So why do people long for things in life that are only temporally satisfying? Well, they bring immediate joy, right? That’s why in Ecclesiastes 2:1 Solomon said to himself, “Enjoy yourself in pleasure.” He knew pleasures brought joy. There are pleasures out there in the world just waiting for you and I to try them out; to see if what they promise us is really the type of pleasure that will bring us the kind of contentment we’re searching for in life. However, Solomon discovered in that pursuit that the joy found in any pleasure he participated in was empty and void of any lasting usefulness. Again and again every pleasure he participated in lasted only for a while. So, as one continues to read this chapter, Solomon concludes that any form of pleasure cannot provide us with what we need – eternal contentment and peace.
The apostle Paul warns against seeking contentment and fulfillment on earth when he says, “For the love of money is a root of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness” (I Timothy 6:10-11). When one’s love for money is greater than one’s love for God then they need to hear these words of Jesus: “For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds” (Matthew 17:25-27). He also states, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches)” (Matthew 6:24).
I remember the story of a very wealthy man who had a terminal illness. Prior to his death he made his wife promise that she would put all of his achieved wealth in the coffin with him before he was buried. Obviously, this would leave her with nothing. She agreed to his wishes and when the rich man died she wrote him a cheque for the amount in his bank account and placed it in his coffin. We laugh at this story but there is a real lesson here to be had. Nothing here will ever bring us as much joy as what has been prepared for us by God in heaven. It is eternal and does not fade away over time. There will be no tears, sorrows of any sort, no worries, or fears of any kind. We will dwell in the absence of evil and there will be no night there in heaven.
Solomon’s wisdom from long ago is just as true and useful today as it was then because his wisdom came from God. When he spoke it was God speaking. So, we need to receive his instruction about what constitutes a meaningful life. Here it is: nothing in our life will ever fill that empty spot we have in our heart which always longs for something better. And that better cannot be found in the physical allurements of this life but only in the spiritual life that Christ provides. Jesus says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Whoever lives on this earth should always feel like there’s something missing that brings meaningfulness to their life and that that something is the abundant life they can have in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Do you have meaning in your life? Are you satisfied with your existence on earth? Do you have anything to look forward to after you die? Remember, you can’t take your money with you but you can take your faith in Jesus right into heaven where you’ll realize and experience every eternal pleasure from the Lord God.
Owen Sound, ON
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (II Timothy 4:1-4)
One of the things in the Bible that puzzles me the most is when one of God’s people in the Old Testament went and cut down a tree and with half of it he made a fire to keep warm and to bake bread and cook a roast and with the other half he made a graven image and worshipped it by falling down before it and prayed to it saying, “Deliver me, for thou art my God” (Isaiah 44:12-17). The fact of the matter is that this block of wood couldn’t deliver him and never would and just because he said that it was his god didn’t mean that his block of fashioned wood was a god, right? Too many people today claim to be Christians but are they? Just because they say they are doesn’t make it so either.
In the New Testament there is another thing that puzzles me and it is what Paul refers to in II Timothy 4:3. Here he mentions that some Christians would replace God’s teachings for another kind of teaching. They would accumulate teachers who would teach them only what they wanted to hear and then they would follow that person saying, “Guide me, for thou art my teacher.”
There’s not a whole lot of difference between the attitude found in the Old Testament and that of those mentioned in the New Testament – is there? It’s all about them getting tired of the same “old god” and the same “old teaching”. In both cases they reasoned to themselves, saying, “I will make a new god and a new teaching and I will follow that instead.” Both Malachi 1:13 and Isaiah 43:22-24 have something to say about God’s people becoming tired and weary of doing things God’s way. What they failed to consider is that while they were becoming tired of God and His ways, that He too, in time, would become weary of them and their iniquities. Just a word of advice – don’t continually weary God or grieve Him. Just check with Noah on what happened to the people in his day who continually wearied and grieved God (Genesis 6:5-8).
I think we’ll all agree that it is absolutely stupid to think that I could actually create my own god. But do we feel the same way when it comes to creating our own teachings and then claim that they are God’s teachings? The reality is that in either case God is replaced and rejected and these replacements or substitutions are given the honor and praise that God rightly deserves.
So how long do you think God will put up with being replaced, with being ignored? He is the Creator, we are the created. Since when does the created have the right to say to the Creator that their ways are better than His and their wisdom superior? Yet church members do exactly that whenever they replace Him for what they want in their Christian belief.
In II Timothy 2:15-18 Paul warns Timothy of the teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus who had gone astray from the truth when they taught Christians that the resurrection had already taken place. What? Think about this for a minute. If the resurrection had taken place then that would mean they would be in heaven, right? But in fact, they were still on the earth. Perhaps their “resurrection” teaching involved heaven being on earth. Who knows? What we do know is that some members in the church were led astray by their teaching and came to believe something that was not true. This new teaching also cast doubt on what God had specifically said. Who would ever have thought that members in the church could believe such a teaching… but they did. And so, today, we shouldn’t be surprised when members are easily convinced by similar teachings, no matter how false or ridiculous.
Jesus tells us to seek first His kingdom (things that pertain to His will as King) and He will take care of us, for He knows what’s best (Matthew 6:33). In this life instead of living for ourselves we should be striving to live for God. That means that we take Him at his word and obey. We must do this regardless of whether anyone else is.
Right now in our fellowship there are various teachings and practices that contradict those found in the Scriptures. These ‘put God to the test’ in a way that should never be done. By contrast, God has a divine right to put us to the test…to discover if we love him enough to obey him.
So the question remains, Can God depend on you to always keep and defend His truth?
Owen Sound, ON
“But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.” (Philippians 2:19-20)
Jesus had such an impact on Paul’s heart, that whenever someone saw Paul they saw Christ at work in his life. Because of the great results that come from living a Christ-like life it is no wonder then that Paul appeals to all Christians to imitate him as he imitated Christ (I Corinthians 11:1). Paul did it successfully, as every part of his conduct and speech reflected the very nature of Christ. Should not this imitation be the desire and goal of every Christian today – to let the world see Christ in us?
In our text, we see one aspect of Christ at work in Paul – his genuine concern for the spiritual well-being of the church at Philippi. Throughout his letters to the early church, Paul revealed his love and concern for each congregation. He alwasy wanted to know if their faith was strong and if they loved each other as they should. It mattered to him if their hope in Christ remained steadfast and secure and he encouraged them to share it with others through the gospel. He wanted every case of disunity addressed and corrected quickly, lest Satan use it for his advantage (I Corinthians 1:10-17). Whenever immorality was creeping into the church that also needed to be addressed as soon as possible (I Corinthians 5:1-13). Paul confronted false teachers and did so publicly, lest the brotherhood be led astray by their “persuasive words of wisdom” (I Corinthians 2:1-5; I Timothy 1:18-20).
Paul longed to meet with his brethren wherever they met. They meant everything to him as he did to them. After facing much opposition to his teachings as well as heated debate and persecution (Acts 25:1-27; 26:1-32; II Timothy 4:14-15), Paul couldn’t wait to be with those of like common faith. It was a special gathering, a meaningful one whenever he was permitted to feast on that spiritual fellowship table with his brothers and sisters in Christ (Romans 1:8-15).
Paul sent Timothy to the brethren at Philippi, hoping that their spiritual condition was just what it needed to be – that they were remaining faithful to the cause of Christ and were in no way influenced by Satan’s deceptions and schemes (II Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11). Nothing could encourage the apostle Paul and Timothy more than this, for they were cut from the same cloth.
I am challenged by that kind of concern. How about you? Do we share in it for the Lord’s church ? Is our concern as sincere and genuine as theirs? How are we expressing that concern? Is it limited to our local congregation or does it extend to the Lord’s church throughout the world? Do we pray for the church? Do we weep for her and try to encourage her in whatever way we can? How deep is our concern for her spiritual condition?
Owen Sound
All of us can vividly remember the day we became a Christian. It was the best day ever! To confidently face God at the Judgment knowing that all our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by Him is to know joy and peace to the fullest. As a new Christian you want others to know of your joy and how they can experience such for their lives. But have you noticed since your conversion that your excitement and willingness to share the gospel has dwindled, if not ceased all together? Have you been able to figure out why? It usually comes down to the fact that someone has placed a wall of opposition in our path of enthusiasm and conviction. And that someone can be a member of the church or a faith group in your community. It can be devastating. You feel like someone has “burst your bubble.”
Opposition, how do you handle it? Paul wrote to Timothy about spiritual opposition.
He states, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (opposed)” (II Timothy 3:12). Timothy had known how much Paul had been opposed through persecutions and sufferings (Vs 10-11).
Timothy didn’t like opposition, Who does? He was afraid of it (II Timothy 1:6-18). Paul had to remind him of his purpose and to rekindle that spiritual spark; to keep on keeping on; pushing through the opposing thoughts, words and actions of others. Paul reminded Timothy that God had given him a spirit of power, love and discipline and that he shouldn’t be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord or of Paul’s imprisonment. Rather, the apostle invited Timothy to join him in suffering; in being opposed for Christ’s sake who had saved them (Vs 7-11). He would need this reminder because “evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13). In other words, things were going to get worse; opposition would greatly increase.
Jude speaks of such times as well (Jude 1-19). Whenever Christians face opposition Jude offers some advice that may not necessarily get rid of opposition but enable them to get through it (Vs 20-23). It is a thought for them to dwell on during those times of discouragement.
The firstthing he mentions is they are beloved. They are beloved of God and beloved of their brothers and sisters in Christ. When people don’t agree with our thoughts, or ridicule and mock, it can leave us with a lonely feeling. Especially is this true when it is a majority of people who are opposing us. Paul knew this feeling well, but he reminded himself that the Lord stood with him and strengthened him (II Timothy 4:16-17). As long as he spoke what was right and true then he knew he was not alone. Jesus felt the same way. He said, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him” (John 8:29; 16:32).
Secondly, Jude advises Christians to build themselves up on their most holy faith. Reaffirming one’s faith can only make one stronger in it. Jesus said to His disciples that if they had faith as a mustard seed they could say to a mountain to move from here to there and it would move (Matthew 17:19-23). Paul mentions that Christians are no longer to be children (in their spiritual knowledge and convictions), tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine (false teachings), by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming (Ephesians 4:14). To build yourself up is to reinforce and reaffirm your faith; to make it stronger than ever before; full of unwavering conviction. And one of the best ways to do this is to have God reaffirm your faith by comparing it to what He tells you in His word (Romans 10:17).
Is what you believe, based on His words alone and not those of others? Regardless of opposition, if God is for us then who can be against us. Not even opposition to the truth will ever separate us from the love of Christ. This was Paul’s conviction and it should be ours as well (Romans 8:31-35).
Thirdly, Jude encourages us to pray in the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our prayers are more self-centred than God-centred. We may want all opposition to be removed from us whereas God may want us to remain in it, endure it and use it so as to develop a more persevering, steadfast spirit within. He may use opposition to prepare us, maturing us for what might lie ahead.
Praying in the Spirit is to pray in accordance with the will of the Spirit. It does not include asking God for revenge on those who oppose us, but rather that their heart will be open to the truth. Jesus instructs us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us in order that we may be sons of our Father who is in heaven. Since God sends the sun on not only the good but also the evil should not His children display that same attitude to all mankind? God’s expects all of His children to share in the perfection of His love for mankind (Matthew 5:43-48). Our goal in everything that we do and say should be to reveal that God is clearly abiding in us. Part of the Christian armour is to pray at all times in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18).
Fourthly, it is absolutely imperative that Christians respond to opposition and persecution by remaining in God’s love. This is quite a challenge and one I’ve failed to practice on a number of occasions. If there was anyone who was so mistreated and opposed by others it was Paul. Yet God uses him to teach us how to respond to false teachers and anyone who tries to hinder us from teaching the truth.
Here’s what the apostle says to us: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is (not who is) evil; cling to what is good…Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:9, 17-21).
With God’s help, let us look for opportunities when His love can be extended to those who oppose it. All Christians needs to extends God’s love in whatever way they can to all those who treat them in an unloving way. God will always work with us when we’re willing to allow Him. Remember, God’s love is the greatest gift of all (I Corinthians 13). It can be such a powerful influence upon any who receive it when they don’t deserve it.
Fifthly, we need to remember that Jesus is coming back for us. Rather than focusing on the here and now (all our trials in living the Christian life) we need to focus on being ready for His return. It would be such a victory for Satan if Christ returned and found us responding to opposition and false teaching in an ungodly way. Each of us are responsible for keeping ourselves in the love of God during all situations. That’s where we all belong and it’s only when we remain there, that God will be able to accomplish His will through us. Only there, will we be able to please Him and be the exact representation of Jesus Christ our Lord – as He was of God (Hebrews 1:3).
The sixth thing that Jude encourages us to do is to have mercy on some who are doubting. It can be very difficult to remain faithful under duress or when facing fearful opposition. As mentioned earlier even Timothy needed encouragement when he saw the suffering and imprisonment that Paul experienced for teaching the truth and standing up for it. (II Timothy 1:7-8). Paul stated, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,”
Finally Jude wants us to save those who have given in to opposition and stand under God’s condemnation. No one really knows how they will stand against the schemes of the devil, until that moment arrives. Some are confident that they’ll stand firm. Others are afraid they’ll be unable to stand because of doubt. Every Christian needs to extend mercy to those who doubt, fearing that that person might lose their soul because he/she was unable to face the devil’s deception. Also, they need to fear that the devil might even win them over to his way of thinking. In that regard Peter warns us, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (I Peter 5:8-9).
The best way to fight sin is to hate it. Sin is of the devil (I John 3:8). Love is of God (I John 4:7). Where are you in your struggles against Satan? Paul is cheering us on. We can face any opposition through the strength that only God can supply (Philippians 4:13).
“O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’ which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you” (I Timothy 6:20-21).
Owen Sound, ON
I’m sure every Christian has at one point or another been asked the question, “What church do you belong to?” Usually our answer is, “The church of Christ.” Quite often we hear them respond with, “I’ve never heard of the church of Christ.” Then they ask, “What church out there is the closest to resembling the church of Christ?” You see, they want to identify us with some “faith group” out there – that they are familiar with. Shouldn’t they be identifying faith groups (those claiming to be the church) with the church that is found in the New Testament?
Have you ever answered their question by saying, “The church that I belong to is the one that is found in the New Testament?” I remember one person’s response when I said this to them. They said, “Well, we all claim to be a part of that church.” I thought of that for quite some time and even to this day it baffles me how some can claim we are unified in our overall view of God and Christ’s church yet believe and practice different things.
If Jesus was asked, “What church in Christendom is His church?” what would His response be? He certainly would have a lot to choose from? On what basis would He decide which church was His church? What about Paul’s response to the same question?
To be honest, it really doesn’t matter what you or I think when it comes to identifying the church. The church can only be identified by its owner, by the One who established it and by the sacred teachings of the Spirit that directed it into all truth.
Yet some will argue that there are good and bad people in various denominations just as there are in the church of Christ. So how can the church of Christ be accepted as God’s church and they can’t be? Because becoming a member of the Lord’s church is not determined by one’s goodness but by God’s. His goodness and grace is revealed to the world through the gospel of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:1-5) which calls upon every sinner to obey it in faith while trusting that God will forgive them of all of their sins (II Thessalonians 2:14; Colossians 2:12-13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 2:22-42; 16:22-35; Romans 6:1-11).
When it comes to identifying the church that Jesus established, we can know for sure that Satan will have his foot in the door just as he did in the Garden of Eden. I believe everyone would agree that Satan does not want anyone to know what the Lord’s church is and how to be a part of it.
Satan’s name means an adversary or one who opposes. He is known by many other names in the Bible that depict his very character and nature. He is referred to as the devil (slanderer) who always looks for opportunities to influence us over to his side; to his way of thinking (Ephesians 4:26-27). John tells us that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one (I John 5:19) and Christ mentions that he is a liar and father of lies (John 8:44). Jesus also informs us that Satan is the ruler of this world (John 14:30) and Paul adds that he is the god of this age (world) who had blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (II Corinthians 4:4).
All these names describe who Satan is one and explain his influence when it comes to answering the question: “Which Church Is the Lord’s Church?” Satan is a deceiver and will convince people that they are a member of the Lord’s church when, in fact, God’s word says differently. He even used some whom Paul said were, “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their deeds” (II Corinthians 11:13-15). The activity of Satan is with all the deception of wickedness (II Thessalonians 2:7-10) and he is just waiting to take advantage of people in the church. So it is best not to be ignorant of his schemes (II Corinthians 2:5-11). The church is also warned not to give Satan any opportunity to use our anger against another for his own purposes (Ephesians 4:25-27). Unless we put on the full armour of God we will not be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:11).
So why mention all these scriptures that reveal how Satan works? Without God’s word we are helpless to protect ourselves against him. He is so powerful in his deceptions that many Christians don’t realize that he is actually using them and not just those in the world. Such brethren find themselves justifying a particular thought or action on the basis of how they feel or on what they believe or think without any authoritative reference to scripture. They believe that their opinion is authority enough to justify their thoughts or actions for the direction of the church. If the opinion of everyone in the church is justification for the doctrine of the church then that church ceases to be the Lord’s church. It has become the “people’s church.”
The church needs to understand who they are (church identity), who they belong to, that Jesus is the head of the church, what He has in mind for it and that the church is His church and not theirs. If someone asks you to tell them about your church, then gently remind them that the church you belong to is not your church but the Lord’s church. This answer may lead to further discussion about the church found in the New Testament.
Are Christians today prepared to clearly identify the Lord’s church from scripture? Is the “church” that you are a part of the same one found in scripture? Does its teachings coincide with the teachings Christ has for His church as indicated in the New Testament or is it just one of the many “churches” found in Christendom? Did the original church have any doctrines and traditions that had to be adhered to by its members and if so, what are they (II Thessalonians 2:13-15; I Corinthians 11:1-2)? Do you regard professing Christians to be Christians simply because they are more committed to their convictions than you are to yours? What if they have not been baptized into Christ as the gospel of Christ calls them to obey (II Thessalonians 1:3-12)? All these questions have their answers only in Christ’s word and never in man’s opinions.
As those professing to be members of the Lord’s church do you honestly know if the “church” you are a member of is, indeed, the Lord’s church? Christ has not left us helpless, without any way of being able to identify His church or of knowing how to become a part of it. When it comes to understanding any subject in the Bible answers are found by those who search for them with all their heart and fervently pray for their discovery. Search for God’s answers like you would search for hidden treasure and you’ll be amazed at what God will allow you to discover (Proverbs 2:1-7; James 1:5-7).
Are you a member of the Lord’s church or the “people’s” church? In searching for that answer be like the Berean brethren and examine the Scriptures daily to see if the things said by Paul and Silas were true concerning the Lord’s church (Acts 17:10-11).
Remember that God is a rewarder of those who search for Him (Hebrews 11:6).
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions (identifiable traditions) which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us” (II Thessalonians 2:13-15).
Owen Sound, ON
Part 2
The world’s bondage to sin.
Honesty is always important but especially so when it comes to admitting sin in our life. The Apostle Paul tells us that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The bondage to slavery in Egypt was, to the Israelites, a never ending bondage. Generations were born in slavery and died in it. It was oppressive, never ending and left them in a hopeless despair. The bondage of sin leaves us feeling the same way – living in a world without hope, captured by and enslaved to sin. Then God intervened by sending His Son and, like Moses, He became our deliverer from bondage. God’s power at work through Moses brought about Israel’s deliverance. God’s power at work through the Gospel of Christ makes deliverance from the bondage of sin available to all mankind.
What is the Gospel of Christ?
I think it would be safe to say that the majority of people would reply that it is the good news that God sent His Son Jesus Christ to the earth to be the Savior of the world, to deliver all mankind out of the bondage of sin.
Biblically speaking, the Apostle Paul answers the question this way: It is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It was what he preached to the Corinthians, it is what they received and it is in what they took a stand and it is the means by which they were saved if they remained faithful (I Corinthians 15:1-11). Later, when trying to encourage afflicted members of the church at Thessalonica , he told them that God would deal out retribution to all those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus (II Thessalonians 1:1-12).
How does one obey the Gospel of Christ?
First of all, it is important to remember that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jews first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16). It is not a power of God for salvation but rather, the power of God for salvation. Thus it is so important that one understand what it is so that one can obey it, right? It is more than a verbal acknowledgement that Jesus is the Christ but it is the means whereby God’s power is at work saving people from the bondage of their sin. Just a few chapters later in the book of Romans Paul goes on to explain that in baptism one obeys the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (the gospel) through a re-enactment of it. In baptism, like Christ, one dies, is buried and rises victorious over death by being baptized into His death, by being buried with Him through baptism and by being raised from the waters of baptism to walk in newness of life like the Israelites did on the other side of the Red Sea (Romans 6:1-11). Their song of deliverance was sung after they crossed the Red Sea and not before their crossing. Their crossing was not a work of merit in which they tried to earn their salvation but rather their crossing was, in response to God’s mercy, one of complete faith, trust and obedience. They did what they were told to do and they were saved forever from the bondage of Egypt.
Back to the topic of this article.
According to Paul’s words in Titus 3:5 God saved Christians not by their numerous self-righteous deeds but rather by His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.
In John 3:1f Jesus speaks of this washing and renewing of the Spirit as He states that unless one is born of water and the Spirit they cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. This rebirth occurs when one, in faith (John 3:16), obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:36). God is merciful to mankind’s bondage to sin; mankind responds in obedience, trusting in faith that God will forgive all of their sins as they are baptized into Christ.
In Acts 2:37, upon hearing Peter’s message that they had crucified the Messiah, the people were pricked to the heart and said to Peter, “Brethren, What shall we do?” Now if there ever was a time to tell them how to be saved, it was in response to this question. Was Peter’s reply, “Just call upon the Lord and you’ll be saved?” “Was it that all they needed to do was to believe in the Lord Jesus and they would be saved?” “Did they just have to confess Jesus as Lord and they would be saved?” Or was there something more?
Acts 2:38 is the Holy Spirit’s response to their question. They needed to repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins … and then Peter went on with many other words solemnly testifying and exhorting them to be saved from this perverse generation (Acts 2:39-40). Do you think those other words would include the necessity of calling upon the Lord, of believing in the Lord, of confessing that Jesus Christ was God’s Son? It was quite a day and 3000 souls were baptized after they had received Peter’s words regarding their need to be saved.
Have you obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ?
In Colossians 2:8-15 the Apostle Paul makes it quite clear that when someone is baptized it is not a work but rather an expression of their faith in God’s work to forgive them of their sins. The Apostle Peter states that baptism is an appeal of the individual being baptized to God for a clear conscience. It is what puts them into a saving state as long as they remain faithful to God (I Peter 3:18-22; I John 1:5-10). The only way the scriptures teach that one can be “in Christ” or get “into Christ” is through baptism (Galatians 3:26-29). And it’s when one is in Christ that they receive numerous blessings that they would not otherwise receive prior to their baptism.
Once baptized God gives the individual His Holy Spirit as a pledge and earnest down payment that He will come through (guarantee) their salvation if they walk in His light and practice what is right (Acts 2:38; Ephesians 1:3-14; I John 1:7; 3:7). The Israelites who were baptized into Moses were so glad to know they would never be in bondage to Egypt again. So, today, every individual who has been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins should also be very glad for their deliverance from the bondage of sin.
Thanks for taking the time to read both parts of this article. Please feel free to share it with anyone who has a faith in God and His Son Jesus Christ but has not yet been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
Owen Sound
Part I
The parable Jesus spoke to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous while viewing others with contempt is so vital to our understanding of God’s mercy and forgiveness. It is the story of the Pharisee and the Publican recorded in Luke 18:9-14.
This Pharisee trusted in himself that he was righteous. The Bible is pretty clear that when it comes to trusting someone on matters of being righteous before God that that trust needs to be in God, the righteous One, and Him alone. Only through God can one be made righteous and continue to be righteous in His sight. The Apostle Paul alludes to this fact in Ephesians 2:1-10 when he states that, “God being rich in His mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) … For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works that no one should boast…”
What kind of works is Paul referring to when he states, “salvation by works that one should boast?” It is important to note that in this parable, the Pharisee is already a child of God while the Publican is not. He is an outcast. The Pharisee was proud to be a child of God but only at the expense of those who were not. He felt that as long as he was a child of God, no one could be as special as he was. He was chosen of God. They were not. In essence, he believed God would only be interested in his righteousness. Instead of thanking God for choosing him to be his child, he thanked God that, in his opinion he was more righteous than others because of the many righteous deeds he did. However, the other righteousness Jesus saw that day was that of the heart of the Publican. Today, like then, people are saved by God’s mercy and not by their righteousness or self- righteousness.
According to His mercy, how does God save us? God has always had a plan to redeem mankind. And I think it would be safe to say that those with faiths under Christendom would agree that Jesus is the biggest part of that plan. Unfortunately, Satan is aware of his defeat at the cross and, being full of wrath, has gone after all who follow Jesus (Revelation.12:10-17). One of the best ways he can accomplish this is not so much to destroy all professing Christians but rather confuse them into thinking that they are a Christian when, in fact scripturally, they are not. Jesus describes Satan as the deceiver. His nature from the Garden of Eden until now has not changed. The way to hurt Jesus and get back at God is to deceive people into believing they are God’s people when scripturally they are not. Many professing Christians are very good at quoting scripture to defend their point of view but they do so to the neglect of other scriptures. Is that the right way to treat the word of God which is holy? Should one not look at every scripture from God that pertains to any particular subject?
Any Biblical subject is like a scriptural puzzle. For those who like to sit for hours to complete a puzzle piece by piece, you know what I’m saying. Until every piece of the puzzle is joined to the next only then does one have the intended picture clearly before them. Take for example, the Salvation puzzle with each piece of the puzzle being a verse that pertains to the subject of salvation. Until they are all joined together one does not have the complete and intended picture from God before them.
Looking at the Salvation Puzzle. There are numerous verses in the New Testament pertaining to salvation. For example here are just a few:
When it comes to a spiritual buffet which of the verses above would satisfy your spiritual palate the most? Which would you choose and which would you ignore? Or do you suppose that God wants us to join all these facts/truths together to see the picture about salvation that He’s trying to show to us? Wouldn’t it be easier to just confess that Jesus is Lord then to be baptized? Yet, why has God included all these scriptures as to how one can be saved if there is only one that is required?
When it comes to studying the scriptures. In Acts 17:10-12 the Jews in Berea were described as being noble-minded because they received God’s word with great eagerness and examined all the Scriptures given to them on a daily basis to see (verify) if the things spoken were true or not. To do this they would have to study every subject thoroughly before they would come to any conclusion on what any one verse was saying. Thus, they were called noble-minded. Too many people today come to quick conclusions on what God is saying on a particular subject without fully getting all the pieces of the scriptural puzzle together. One such subject is what God says about how an individual is saved.
The Salvation puzzle in the book of Acts. Throughout the book of Acts one finds numerous situations in which people were converted to Christ. Initially, we see Jews being converted and then later, the Gentiles. If one was to make a chart of these conversions one would find what one might describe as discrepancies as to what is required in order for one to be saved.
Questions to consider concerning salvation. If all I have to do is to call upon the Lord, am I saved? Is it enough to just believe in the Lord and be saved? What if I just confess that Jesus is Lord, won’t that save me? If any of these three questions are true then why on earth would anyone want to be baptized to be saved? That involves getting wet and why go to all that effort if any one of the other three are suitable for one’s salvation? Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that all four are necessary in the plan of salvation. It’s not either or but all four. When people in
Acts were converted they believed Jesus to be the Son of God; they confessed Him to be Lord and they called upon God to forgive them of their sins and then they were baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Then they went on their way rejoicing because they were in a saved state and would continue to be so if they remained faithful to God.
Isn’t baptism for the forgiveness of sins a work of righteousness? There’s a big difference between being justified before God by law-keeping and being justified before God by faith. The former trusts in being saved not by God so much as in themselves keeping laws of God while the later trusts in being saved by a faith that is willing to obey whatever God has commanded them to obey in order to be saved. In other words, there is a big difference between works of merit and works of obedience. The former is trying to earn one’s salvation through acts of self-righteousness; the latter is accepting God’s mercy and grace through obedience to His will.
Israel’s bondage to slavery in Egypt. For 430 years the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. Their predicament as slaves under bondage was hopeless. There was no way of getting out of their bondage until God intervened. And what an intervention that was! However, their deliverance from bondage was not complete when they left Egypt but only when they saw all that which represented their bondage as being dead and done away with; when they were safely on the other side of the Red Sea and saw that all their adversaries were dead. Now here’s the point. Their deliverance from bondage occurred when they were baptized into Moses (I Corinthians 10:1-4). Not one of them would say they were delivered from bondage before they were baptized into Moses, would they? Not one of them would say they had earned their deliverance by being baptized into Moses, right? They wouldn’t have been boasting that they had delivered themselves from the Israelites by doing what God told them to do. They simply had, in faith, obeyed what Moses told them to do – cross the Red Sea and be saved from your Egyptian bondage.
To Be Continued
Matthew 5:9
The result of Jesus’ sermon on the Mount was that the multitudes (thousands) were amazed at His words for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Matthew 7:28-29). His words were noticeably different to what they were used to hearing. Not only were they comforting and re-assuring but also helpful in strengthening relationships between others that were in danger of falling apart. Being the Son of God, Christ’s teachings were centred on reaching the needs of His hearers rather than selfishly calling attention to Himself as many of the Jewish leaders were doing (Matthew 6:1-15).
One of the things He spoke about was the joy and blessings that come to one who makes every effort for peace between himself and others (Matthew 5:9). Since the beginning of time Man has wrestled with knowing how to get along with one another. Times have not changed, have they?
As December approaches many people throughout the world will be remembering the birth of Christ. There will be scriptures read and hymns sung that will speak of His coming to earth to be the Savior of mankind. One such scripture will be Luke 2:1-20. Just imagine, if you will, hearing a multitude of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:13-14). But what is this peace among men referring to? The Scriptures speak of the peace that Jesus had (John 16:33), a peace that others could experience if they were “in Him.” Jesus had peace with God, with Himself and with His fellow-man and He wants all His followers to experience that same peace.
But how does one have peace with others?
Paul suggests the following, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:18-21).
Again Paul writes, “for the kingdom of God (the church) is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:17-19; Hebrews 12:14).
As members of Christ’s body we can either tear down or build up our relationships with one another. It’s our choice. But what should influence us to make the right choice is knowing what Christ would do. He is referred to as the Prince of peace, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of peace. There will be no end to His government or of peace,…” (Isaiah 9:6-7). We are a part of the kingdom that belongs to the Prince of peace. As He has brought peace to this world so should we. Jesus said, “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes un-salty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Matthew 9:50).
It is impossible to love one another, forgive one another or be a peacemaker in the church without the strength Christ provides us with to do so.(Philippians 4:13). Remember, He dwells in us and desires to further accomplish His will through us. We need to simply submit to His will when it is required of us. We love others because He first loved us. We forgive others as He has forgiven us and we pursue peace with one another as He has made peace between us and God’s wrath (I John 2:1-3). The person who is a peacemaker is one who submits to the will of the Prince of peace who dwells within them. Paul puts it this way, “I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
“Walking in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called involves all humility, gentleness, patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, and being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Unfortunately these verses are ignored by some Christians who think more of their feelings than they do of their Lord’s. Whenever tensions arise between them and members of the church there is an immediate need for a peacemaker. Why? Because there is the potential for a “fleshly reaction” to occur rather than a “spiritual reaction.” How many times have we heard of members leaving their congregation to join another because they simply could not get along with another member or members? Dividing instead of reconciling is not a God-approved resolution to any personal differences unless it is for scriptural reasons.
Concerning peace existing among God’s people David exclaims, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1). Maintaining peace and unity among brethren exists only when every member continually strives for it. It only takes one member to disrupt that peace and unity and the ripple effect can be devastating. Yet it only takes one member to be a peacemaker and the ripple effect of their efforts can be a God-pleaser and church saver.
In my days at a Christian college I remember hearing heated words outside my dormitory door between two brothers both of whom I was very close to. I sensed they would soon venture into a fight over I’m not sure what although I have my suspicions. Before long I found myself between them and gently calmed the tension by simply stating that the way they were acting was not how Christians should be acting. Eventually things calmed down and everyone went back to their room. One of them was a Bible major. That taught me that it doesn’t matter how faithful to God I may think I am or how long I’ve been in the church, it is so easy to get caught up in “the moment” and set Christ aside and do my own thing. That is not the way of a peacemaker in the Lord’s church. Since it’s His church, it needs to be His way and only His way. And that’s why it’s so very important to learn how to not only be at peace with all my brethren but be a peacemaker between my brethren.
So how does one become a peacemaker in the Lord’s church and in the world? Believe it or not, the answer is simple. It is by recognizing and applying the latter words of Jesus in His sermon on the Mount. With regard to getting along with one’s enemies one is to love them and pray for them (Matthew 5:43-44). This action is what God expects of His children. We are not to just love those who love us but also those who don’t. As God sends the sun and rain upon the righteous and the unrighteous so should we send good things upon those we have trouble getting along with. The way we treat others needs to reflect the way our heavenly Father treats the world, even His enemies.
Loving and praying for those we have difficulty getting along with is a clear indication of who is in control of our lives and what our heavenly Father means to us. If we are peacemakers then He rules our hearts, our words and our actions. People need to consistently see God at work in our lives. When they see us as peacemakers they’ll recognize that we, like God, see good in all people. After all, who are you more attracted to – a troublemaker or a peacemaker?
Jesus states that peacemakers shall be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). He restates this concerning those who love their enemies and pray for them with these words, “in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;…” (Matthew 5:44-45). When it comes to treating everyone the same like God does Jesus tells us to have that same perfection in our treatment of others as well (Matthew 5:48).
Perhaps the words of Peter will help us seek and pursue peace with one another more than ever before. Listen carefully to his words, “To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, ‘let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'” (I Peter 3:8-12)
And the angels praised God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth (the Prince of) peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:14) May each of us be an extension of Christ’s peace to the world.
Owen Sound, Ontario
