10/18/19

"THE BOOK OF PROVERBS" Heed The Call Of Sophia (1:20-33) by Mark Copeland


"THE BOOK OF PROVERBS"

Heed The Call Of Sophia (1:20-33)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that wisdom requires...
   a. Fearing the Lord, so that we heed His Word - Pr 1:7
   b. Respecting our parents, so that we listen to their advice - Pr 1: 8-9
   c. Not heeding friends who have us join them in doing evil - Pr 1:10-19

2. At this point, Solomon personifies wisdom as a woman...
   a. A motif used several times in the first nine chapters 
       - e.g., Pro 8:1-5; 9:1-6
   b. A virtuous woman, later contrasted with the foolish woman who
      leads astray - Pr 9:13-18

[In Greek, the word for wisdom is sophia.  To emphasize wisdom's
personification as a woman, we'll use the name "Sophia" as we examine
the text for our lesson (Pr 1:20-33).  Notice first of all...]

I. SOPHIA'S PLEA

   A. MADE PUBLICLY... (1:20-21)
      1. She calls aloud outside, in the open squares
      2. She cries in the streets, at the gates of the city
      -- Wisdom is not hidden, but reaches out to all who will listen
         - cf. Pr 8:1-5

   B. TO THOSE WHO NEED HER... (1:22)
      1. Simple ones, who love simplicity - the morally naive, easily
         influenced by others
      2. Scorners, who delight in their scorning - the cynical and
         defiant, prone to ridicule others
      3. Fools, who hate knowledge - those hardened to the point of
         hating that which is good
      -- People caught up in varying degrees of hardness of heart
         - e.g., Ep 4:17-19

   C. BE FILLED WITH HER WISDOM... (1:23)
      1. Turn at her rebuke - respond to her warning, and repent
      2. She will pour out her spirit on them, she will make known her
         words to them
      -- Wisdom stands ready to forgive and bless those who open their
         hearts and minds, much like God is for those who repent and
         turn - cf. Ac 3:19

[The grace of God is clearly seen in Sophia's plea for all to heed her
call for wisdom.  Those caught up in varying degrees of hardness of
heart are given opportunities to repent.  But such opportunities do not
last forever.  Thus we now read of...]

II. SOPHIA'S WARNING

   A. DIRECTED TO THOSE WHO REFUSED TO HEAR... (1:24-25)
      1. Who refused her call, disregarded her outstretched hand
      2. Who disdained her counsel, refused her rebuke
      3. Just like Israel rejected her prophets - cf. 2Ch 36:15-16
      -- Will we be like those who refuse to heed the Lord's wisdom and
         warnings?

   B. THERE WILL BE NO HELP WHEN CALAMITY COMES... (1:26-30)
      1. She will laugh and mock when terror and destruction comes like
         a storm
      2. Despite their cries for help, it will be too late
      3. Because they hated knowledge when they had the opportunity
      4. They did not choose the fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom)
      5. They had rejected her counsel and despised her rebuke
      -- Heed wisdom is when it is being offered, not when it is too
         late! - cf.  Isa 55:6-7

   C. THEY WILL SUFFER THE FATE OF THEIR FOLLY... (1:31)
      1. They will eat the fruit of their own way
      2. They will be full of their own fancies (foolish counsel)
      -- Contrast of the righteous in times of trial to that of the
         wicked - Pr 3:25-26; 10:24-25

[Too many people wait until it is too late to do any good.  To benefit
from the value of wisdom, we need to learn from her while we still have
time.  Finally, let's consider...]

III. SOPHIA'S SUMMARY

   A. DESTRUCTION COMES UPON THE SIMPLE AND FOOLS... (1:32)
      1. Because they turn away from the true wisdom God has to offer
      2. Because they allowed their complacency (regarding wisdom) to
         destroy them
      -- Will we be naive and foolish when it comes to receiving God's
         wisdom?

   B. SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE FOR THOSE WILLING TO HEAR... (1:33)
      1. Who are willing to listen to wisdom - cf. Pr 8:32-35
      2. Whose fear of the Lord will enable them to fear no evil 
           - cf. Pr 3:21-26
      -- Are we willing to listen and heed the wisdom God offers?

CONCLUSION

1. From lady "Sophia", we learn that wisdom is a lot like the grace of God...
   a. Opportunity to obtain it does not last forever
   b. The time will come when it is too late

2. Today is the day to learn wisdom from God...
   a. Just like today is the day of salvation - cf. 2Co 6:1-2
   b. Who will we be like:  those who are simple and fools?  Or those
      willing to hear God's wisdom?

How we respond to "Sophia" reveals our true character and ultimate end...

   "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For
   scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

   Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
   I will make my words known to you."

                                                   - Pr 1:22-23

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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How Could There Be Light Before the Sun? by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.





How Could There Be Light Before the Sun?

by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.


Q:

Genesis 1:3-5 indicates that God created light on day one of the Creation week. It was not until day four, however, that He made the Sun, Moon, and stars. How could there have been light in the beginning, before the Sun was even created? What was that light?

A:

The first thing to note is that whatever the light was, God divided it from darkness and then defined “Day” and “Night” based on the distinction (vss. 4-5). Moses highlights that “the evening and the morning” were in effect at the end of that first day, even though the Sun had not yet been created. Apparently, the light was directional and fixed, like the light from the Sun, allowing a light period for day and a dark period for night as the Earth turned on its axis as it does today, also allowing for an evening and a morning. Wayne Jackson noted that “[t]he ‘light’ of Genesis 1:3 obviously radiated from a ‘fixed’ source, in its relationship to the earth, inasmuch as it facilitated the dark-to-light arrangement, as the primitive orb rotated upon its axis” (2014). Henry M. Morris concurred, stating, “Such a cyclical light-dark arrangement clearly means that the earth was now rotating on its axis and that there was a source of light on one side of the earth corresponding to the sun, even though the sun was not yet made (Genesis 1:16)” (1977, p. 55). Biblical scholars Spence and Exell explain, “On the fourth day the light [that was—JM] developed on the first is concentrated and permanently fixed in the celestial luminaries” (2007, Genesis 1:3-5).
Can we surmise anything else about that light? Spence and Exell point out that Augustine argued that the light was spiritual in nature (2007). However, such a postulation does not harmonize well with the rest of the chapter. How could spiritual light be divided into the days and nights that are described throughout the rest of Genesis one to denote God’s activity on each of the days of the Creation week?
Though “light” was once thought to be inherently a substance or element, we now understand it to be merely a result of matter being in a certain condition. Spence and Exell point out that it would not conflict with the text to argue that the light of Genesis one referred to the “mode or condition of matter,” with luminosity, for example, being merely the result of incandescence (Genesis 1:3-5). This hints that some physical source could have been present to emit the light, unless, of course, the light was purely supernatural and temporary. Adam Clarke and Spence and Exell note that the Genesis one word for “light” is used elsewhere in the Bible to denote fire (Isaiah 31:9; Ezekiel 5:2), the Sun (Job 31:26), lightning (Job 37:3), and even heat (Isaiah 44:16). Clarke concluded “that it is caloric or latent heat which is principally intended by the original word” (2013, Genesis 1:3).
There is no doubt that when the Earth was created on day one, likely with its mantle intact, light (and heat) was immediately in existence due to the nature of the magma therein. Keep in mind also that “light” occurs in a wide spectrum—a range which far exceeds what humans can visibly detect. Henry Morris noted, “[I]t is obvious that visible light is primarily meant [in Genesis 1:3—JM], since it was set in contrast to darkness. At the same time, the presence of visible light waves necessarily involves the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Beyond the visible light waves are, on the one hand, ultraviolet light and all the other shortwavelength radiations and, on the other hand, infrared light and the other longwave phenomena” (p. 56). John D. Morris observed:
Actually there are many sources of light, not just the sun. There are also many types of light, not just visible light. Short-wave light includes ultraviolet light, X-rays, and others. Long-wave light includes infrared light, radio waves, etc. Light is produced by friction, by fire, by numerous chemical reactions, as well as the nuclear reactions of atomic fission and fusion, which is what we think is occurring in the sun. God had at His fingertips many options to accomplish His purposes. Light does not automatically require the sun (2008, p. 14).
Bottom line: while we know the light spectrum and heat (entropy) were created on day one, there is simply not enough information in the text to understand the nature of the fixed, directional light source that allowed for a division of night and day during the first three days of Creation. Whatever it was, no sustained contradiction can be levied against the Bible due to its commentary on the events of the Creation week. [NOTE: Consider that such charges, if sustainable, would have likely caused the Bible millennia ago to be patently rejected by all rational people, fading into obscurity along with the mythological stories of old. Humanity has simply understood that there is an explanation to the enigma, even if the details are not known, and that a legitimate absurdity cannot be levied against the biblical text.] Interestingly, Jackson points out that the ancient, mythological Babylonian account of creation, Enuma Elish, dating back as far as 1800 B.C., also claimed that light was in existence before the lightbearers themselves (2014). For thousands of years, humanity has had such texts, and while not understanding the full implications of such accounts, people have understood that such a concept is not inherently inaccurate. Interestingly, if the Bible were written by humans conning the masses, one might imagine a re-write of the events of day one would be the first edit to be made to give us some more insight.

REFERENCES

Clarke, Adam (2013), Adam Clarke’s Commentary (Electronic Database: WORDSearch).
Jackson, Wayne (2014), “What Was that ‘Light’ Before the Sun (Genesis 1:3)?” Christian Courierhttps://www.christiancourier.com/articles/882-what-was-that-light-before-the-sun-genesis-1-3.
Morris, Henry M. (1977), The Genesis Record (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
Morris, John D. (2008), “Sunlight Before the Sun,” Acts & Facts, 37[1]:14, http://www.icr.org/article/sunlight-before-sun/.
Spence, H.D.M. and Joseph S. Exell (2007), The Pulpit Commentary (Electronic Database: WORDSearch).

How Can a Person Know Which God Exists? by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.



How Can a Person Know Which God Exists?

by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.


Poseidon: Greek god of the sea
Several decades ago, the United States was overwhelmingly Christian in its religious persuasion. When naturalism and Darwinian evolution picked up speed in the U.S. and challenged the biblical story of man’s origins—the perspective most held by Americans—apologists sprang up in response, dealing a death blow to the naturalistic religion in the minds of many. Once evolutionary theory had been dealt with, both biblically and scientifically, it was natural for many Americans to recognize that they had always been right—Christianity is the true religion.
Sadly, under the banner of “tolerance,” the “politically correct” police have made significant inroads in compelling the American public, not only to tolerate, but to endorse and encourage pluralism and the proliferation of false religion in America. What was once an understood conclusion—that if evolution is wrong, then biblical Creation must be true—is now heavily challenged in America.
Nisroch: Assyrian god of agriculture
It has become a popular tactic among atheistic scoffers to mock Bible believers by sarcastically arguing that there’s just as much evidence for the Flying Spaghetti Monster as there is for any god. Therefore, if intelligent design doctrine deserves time in the classroom, so does the doctrine of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster—the Pastafarians (cf. Langton, 2005; Butt, 2010, p. 12). At the University of South Carolina, a student organization made up of Pastafarians was responsible for sponsoring the debate held between A.P.’s Kyle Butt and popular atheist, Dan Barker (Butt, 2010).
One such scoffer approached me awhile back after one of the sessions of my evolution seminar—a biology professor from the local university in the city where I was speaking. His quibble was a fair one: “Even if you’re right that naturalistic evolution/atheism is false, you still haven’t proven which God exists. You haven’t proven it’s the God of the Bible. Why couldn’t it be Allah? Or [sarcastically] the Flying Spaghetti Monster?”
It is true that many times when apologists discredit naturalism and show that the evidence points to supernaturalism, they do not necessarily always take the next step and answer how we arrive specifically at the God of the Bible as the one true God. Perhaps the main reason, again, is because the answer was once so obvious that the additional step did not need to be taken. People already had faith in the Bible, and they only needed someone to answer an attack on its integrity. Upon answering it, they went back to their faith in Christianity comfortably. But as naturalism and pluralism have eroded the next generation, and Bible teaching—the impetus for developing faith (Romans 10:17)—has declined, Christianity is no longer a given.
Jupiter: Roman god of light and sky, and protector of the state and its laws
Many in Christendom would respond to the professor’s questions by saying, “You just have to have faith. You just have to take a leap and accept the God of the Bible. You don’t have to have tangible evidence.” That reaction, of course, is exactly how scoffers want you to answer. Their response: “Aha! You don’t have proof that God exists. So why should I believe in Him? I might as well pick one that suits me better or make up my own god to serve.”
The Bible simply does not teach that one should accept God without evidence. We should test or prove all things, and only believe those things that can be sustained with evidence (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We should not accept what someone tells us “on faith,” because many teach lies; they should be tested to see if their claims can be backed with evidence (1 John 4:1). The truth should be searched for (Acts 17:11). It can be known (John 8:32). God would not expect us to believe that He is the one true God without evidence for that claim.
While there are different ways to answer the question posed by the professor, the most direct and simple answer is that the Bible contains characteristics which humans could not have produced. If it can be proven that a God exists and that the Bible is from God, then logically, the God of the Bible is the true God. It is truly a sad commentary on Christendom at large that the professor, as well as the many individuals that are posing such questions today, have not heard the simple answer about the nature of God’s divine Word.
After taking a moment to recover from the fact that he clearly had never experienced anyone responding rationally to his criticisms, the professor said, “Really? [pause] I’d like to see that evidence.” I pointed him to our book that summarizes the mounds of evidence that testify to the inspiration of the Bible (cf. Butt, 2007), and although he said he did not want to support our organization with a purchase, he allowed an elder at the church that hosted the event to give it to him as a gift.
Ganesh: Hindu god of wisdom, knowledge, and new beginnings
If you have not studied the divine qualities of the Bible, or are not prepared to carry on a discussion with others about the inspiration of the Bible, might I recommend to you that you secure a copy of Behold! The Word of God through our Web store immediately. Consider also getting the free pdf version in the “PDF-Books” section of our Web site, browsing the “Inspiration of the Bible” category on our Web site, or at the very least, order a back issue of our Reason & Revelation article titled “3 Good Reasons to Believe the Bible is from God” (Butt and Lyons, 2015). Consider also those friends, loved ones, and even enemies that might benefit from a copy. The professor’s question is one of the most pivotal questions one can ask today, and the Lord’s army must be armed with the truth to be able to aid those seeking it.

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle (2007), Behold! The Word of God (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
Butt, Kyle (2010), A Christian’s Guide to Refuting Modern Atheism (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).
Butt, Kyle and Eric Lyons (2015), “3 Good Reasons to Believe the Bible is from God,” Reason & Revelation, 35[1]:2-11.
Langton, James (2005), “In the Beginning There Was the Flying Spaghetti Monster,” The Telegraph, September 11, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1498162/In-the-beginning-there-was-the-Flying-Spaghetti-Monster.html.

How Big Is a Giant? by Kyle Butt, M.Div.





How Big Is a Giant?

by Kyle Butt, M.Div.


Who could ever forget the thrilling story of a youth named David who defeated the Philistine champion, Goliath? Touching the hearts of all “underdogs,” this story has become the battle cry for thousands who have found themselves up against a “giant.” But, due to Goliath’s status as a giant, some might view the tale of his defeat as a fable or myth. After all, don’t giants live at the top of huge beanstalks or under bridges waiting to grind bones into bread or gobble up passers-by? Surely, no reasonable adult is expected to believe that there is (or ever was) such a thing as a real giant.
The word “giant” conjures up all kinds of mental images. Probably the most common images are those of a huge, beastly fellow who stands at least 30 feet tall and makes monstrous imprints with his feet—imprints so impressive that they could be used as watering ponds for cattle. However, the biblical description of Goliath does not quite fit that mold. The text of 1 Samuel 17:4 states that Goliath’s height was “six cubits and a span.” Several suggestions as to the length of a cubit have been offered by Bible scholars. The most commonly accepted is the idea that a cubit was the measurement from the tip of the middle finger to the elbow, or about 18-21 inches. A span was the distance between the tip of the pinky finger and the thumb, about half a cubit, which equals about 9 inches (Elwell, 1988, p. 2136). Given these dimensions, Goliath was about 9 feet 9 inches tall. The text goes on to say that he had a coat of armor that weighed 5,000 shekels (1 Samuel 17:5). Referring again to Elwell’s Encyclopedia of the Bible, that armor would have weighed about 125 pounds. Also, the tip of his spear, which weighed 600 shekels, would have been about 15 pounds. The picture, then, that we are given is of a man about 9½ feet tall, who wore armor that weighed more that most fifth graders, and who carried a spear that had a tip which weighed as much as a trophy-sized large-mouth bass. This man was huge, but he was a far cry from the 30-feet-tall mythical characters we often envision.
In fact, documentation for other men reaching close to Goliath’s stature can be found in ancient writings, as well as modern records. The ancient historian, Herodotus, wrote about a man named Artachaees, who “was the biggest man in Persia—about 8 ft 2 ins. high—and had the loudest voice in the world” (1996, p. 408). Furthermore, most wrestling fans will recall the huge stature of “Andre the Giant,” who weighed in at about 500 pounds and reached a height of 7 feet 4 inches tall. The Guinness World Record group has something to say about large stature as well. Simply go to their Web site at www.guinnessworldrecords.com, type in the word “tallest,” do a little scrolling, and you will see all kinds of stature marvels. Take, for instance, one of the tallest NBA players in history, Gheorghe Muresan, who stands 7 feet 7 inches and can virtually dunk a basketball without jumping. Or consider the tallest man documented in modern times, Robert Pershing Wadlow, “for whom there is irrefutable evidence,” states the Guinness writer. On June 27, 1940, he was measured to be 2.72 meters or 8 feet 11.1 inches. Go to www.nightscribe.com/Sports_Recreation/tallest_folks.htm and see even more giants who hover around the 8 feet mark.
Granted, we have little documentation, besides Goliath, for any nine-footers, but Robert Wadlow surely opens the door of plausibility for the Philistine. In fact, after looking at just a few of the world’s tallest people, there is no legitimate reason to discount the Bible’s description of its most famous giant. When all the evidence is in, the story of David and Goliath remains a true victory for the “underdog”—one that cannot be relegated to the status of myth or legend. The story also reminds us that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

REFERENCES

Elwell, Walter A., ed. (1988), Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).
Herodotus (1996), The Histories, transl. Aubrey De Sẻlincourt (New York: Penguin Books).
“Tallest Famous Folks” (no date), [On-line], URL: http://www.nightscribe.com/Sports_Recreation/tallest_folks.htm.
“Guinness World Records” (no date), [On-line], URL: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com.

THE KING JAMES ONLY DEBATE by David Vaughn Elliott



THE KING JAMES ONLY DEBATE 
by David Vaughn Elliott 

Is the King James Version of 1611 the only trustworthy translation of the Bible into modern English? Are all other versions corrupt and filled with poison? Does the KJV contain the exact English words that God wants in today's Bibles? Is the KJV the only true Bible in English? 

There is no desire here to bash the King James Version in the way that some King James Only people bash all other versions. Rather, the purpose is to expose the false claim that the KJV is the only perfect, inspired English Bible. 

Languages Are Not Static

Over time, languages change. For example, in the lifetime of many of us, there has been a significant change in the meaning of the word "gay." During the past 400 years, since 1611, many words have changed meaning. As a result, the KJV contains several words that were good translations 400 years ago, but they are bad translations today. 

Example: Over a dozen times, the KJV uses the word "conversation," which in 1611 meant "conduct." Today, "conversation" means "talk." Thus, in today's English, the KJV does not say what the apostles wrote. In fact, the KJV makes 1 Peter 3:1 contradict itself: "They also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives." "Without the word... by the conversation"? No way. Peter said, "without a word by the behavior of their wives."

Another example: 1 Thess. 4:15 does not make sense in the KJV when it says, "We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." Not prevent them? Again, it is a case of old English. In today's English, the word is "precede." Live Christians will not precede dead ones in meeting the Lord in the air.

Other examples: Of course, there is the old English "thee," "thou," "wouldest," "shouldest," etc. Then there are such terms as "Holy Ghost" for "Holy Spirit, "charity" for "love," and even "gay clothing" for "fine clothes" in James 2:3. 

Poor Translations

However, there are more problems than just changes in the English language. There are a few words in the KJV which were simply wrong from the beginning. For example, the KJV translates "pascha" correctly as "passover" 28 times. However, in Acts 12:4, the KJV renders it as "Easter." Easter? No such thing even existed in the first century.

More serious yet, the KJV in Acts 2:27-31 tells us that Jesus went to hell. In fact, the KJV renders the word "Hades" as "hell" every time it appears in the NT. This is erroneous. Hades is the abode of the dead, and that is where Jesus went when He died. As Psalm 16 predicted, and as Peter proclaimed on Pentecost, Hades could not hold Jesus. He came back from Hades; He rose from the dead. In addition, the KJV tells us in Rev. 20:14 that "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire," thus making hell temporary. What John actually wrote is that "death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire." Hades, yes, will end when Jesus returns.

False Bashing of Modern Versions

It can be helpful to learn the strengths and weaknesses of various translations of the Bible into modern English. It is quite another matter to publish frivolous accusations against all "modern" translations while keeping a closed eye to weaknesses of the KJV. An outstanding example of this attitude is the 1993 book, New Age Bible Versions, by Gail Riplinger.

For example, in Chapter 20, "Test 1 for Antichrist -- Is Jesus the Christ?" Riplinger says: "New version editors look down in contempt saying..." – followed by a box of examples where the KJV reads "Jesus Christ," while the "new" versions read simply "Jesus." According to Riplinger, to say just "Jesus" is to have contempt for Jesus. She says, "The devil... darkens 'the door' in the new versions. His shadow falls over the word 'Christ'... The ultimate campaign against Jesus is to deny that he is the Christ." According to her, whenever any Bible reads just "Jesus," that is a denial of Jesus being the Christ! 

Unwittingly, Riplinger is attacking the very Authorized King James Bible of 1611 which she intends to defend. If she had done only a few minutes’ search in the Online Bible or similar software, she would have found that the KJV uses the names "Jesus" and "Christ" in the same verse only 258 times, whereas it uses the name "Jesus" by itself, without "Christ," 684 times! 

The King James Version is not wrong 684 times when it reads "Jesus" instead of "Jesus Christ." Rather, it is Gail Riplinger who is wrong when she invents such frivolous arguments – and her book is filled with such arguments. Well does Romans 2:1 say: "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

Proper Perspective
 
None of the above is said to discredit the KJV 1611 or to say it should not be used. Rather, it is to discredit the doctrine that the KJV 1611 is a perfect, God-inspired translation, as good today as it was in 1611. All versions of the Bible were made by uninspired men. Overall, the KJV was a good translation in its day. If you grew up with it, enjoy the archaic English, and are aware of some of its limitations as discussed earlier, the choice to continue using it is yours. On the other hand, if you are looking for a good version, the KJV is not the best option today. 

If you would like my opinion, the most accurate translations available today are the New King James Version (NKJV) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB). For those seeking an easier-to-read version, the New International Version (NIV) is the best in that category. These are my opinions. 

Actually, there are many benefits in using and comparing various versions. In addition, I find it a good practice, when teaching the unconverted, to make use of the Bible they already possess (if they do have one). God's Word is powerful – in its many translations – to lead people to Christ. There are those who think that the difference between Catholics and others is that we have different Bibles. That's not so. The difference is what people do or don't do with what their Bible tells them.

As people mature in Christ, it's good for them to learn and understand the differences between versions. But whatever version you prefer, whatever version you have, the most important thing is to open it, read it, study it, meditate upon it, and put it into action.

Scripture quotations (other than the KJV) taken from the NASB. 
_________________________________________
You can now Google my entire site on this page:
http://insight2bp.homestead. com/Subject.html

Keep yourselves in the love of God by Roy Davison



Keep yourselves in the love of God

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20, 21).
Important documents are often kept in a safety deposit box. We like to keep valuables in a safe place.
Where can we keep ourselves safe? In God’s love! “Keep yourselves in the love of God.” The word ‘keep’ here means ‘preserve’, ‘keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss or destruction’.
Jude uses the passive form of the same word in verse 1: “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ” (Jude 1). A Christian is preserved in Christ.
Paul wrote: “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Timothy 4:18).
David prayed: “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust” (Psalm 16:1).
“Keep yourselves in the love of God.” This is a command, which indicates that we must do something to remain in God’s love, and also that it is possible to forfeit the protection of God’s love. Otherwise this command would have no meaning whatever.
Nothing external can separate us from the love of God: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39).
Only by his own neglect can a Christen lose the eternal protection of the love of God. Thus, it is extremely important that we know how to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Jesus gave a similar command: “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:9, 10).
Thus we must keep the commandments of Jesus to abide in His love.
Let us examine the context: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:4-10).
Thus, we remain in the love of Christ, we keep ourselves in the love of God, by keeping the commandments of Jesus. Jesus told His followers: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Jude mentions two essential activities for keeping ourselves in the love of God: spiritual edification and prayer. “Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20).

“Building yourselves up on your most holy faith”

Our most holy faith is the Christian faith. It is holy because it comes from God.
In verse three Jude wrote: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
This original faith for which we must contend is our most holy faith on which we must build ourselves up if we want to keep ourselves in the love of God.
To abide in Christ’s love we must abide in His word: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31, 32).
To abide in the word of Christ we must abide in His doctrine: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).
God’s word builds us up. Paul told the Ephesian elders: “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 20:32).
We are built up in Christ: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6, 7).
In the church of Christ, His “one body” (Ephesians 4:4), we build each other up “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” (Ephesians 4:13).
The church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20; 4:11).
To His church, Christ has also given evangelists, elders and teachers “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). To edify means to build up.
Each Christian helps to build up the church, that we, “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 4:15, 16).
We build ourselves up on our most holy faith to keep ourselves in the love of God.

“Praying in the Holy Spirit”

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 20).
“By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1 John 4:13).
To keep ourselves in the love of God we must pray in the Holy Spirit, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).
We need help when we pray: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26, 27).
Thus when we pray in the Spirit our inadequate prayers are accompanied by pleadings of the Holy Spirit in accordance with the will of God.
In Revelation, golden bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8). An angel with a golden censer is “given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints” (Revelation 8:3).
Though we are weak, we pray as well as we can by following the guidelines on prayer in the Scriptures. Then we pray with confidence in the knowledge that the Spirit intercedes for us.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life”

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20, 21).
When we keep ourselves in the love of God by keeping the commandments of Jesus, building ourselves up on our most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, we may look forward to eternal life.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24). Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Tough life by Gary Rose



Small dog; I am guessing Bichon Frise? But whatever breed he is, my second guess is that he is NOT HAPPY. Who knows what happened to him this week to cause him to feel this way (except, of course that little matter of a BATH). What does it take to may YOU feel like this? Family problems, boss giving you a hard time, money problems – well it could be almost anything (or a combination of problems).

When you feel like this, remember, other people have had worse weeks than you. Here is the example of the Apostle Paul’s life as a missionary


2 Corinthians 11 ( World English Bible )
[1] I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. [2] For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ. [3] But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. [4] For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough. [5] For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles. [6] But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.
[7] Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God’s Good News free of charge? [8] I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you. [9] When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so. [10] As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. [11] Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows.
[12] But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we. [13] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. [15] It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
[16] I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little. [17] That which I speak, I don’t speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. [18] Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast. [19] For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise. [20] For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.
[21] I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also. [22] Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. [23] Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. [24] Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. [26] I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; [27] in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness. [28] Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies. [29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don’t burn with indignation?
[30] If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness. [31] The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don’t lie.


Think you had a bad week; consider Paul. In this passage, he is “boasting”. To me, it sounds like a Torturer's bucket list. Worst of all, is his intense concern and mental anguish for the Corinthians Christians. Now, THEY had real PROBLEMS!

Through all his sufferings, Paul endured and even excelled. How? He dedicated his life to God’s service and knew that God was with him in everything that happened to him. So can we; if God is with us!