From Gary... NOT...

Right!  What doctor in their right mind would say such a thing?  It would literally be an open invitation for litigation!!!  More likely, this is just sarcasm; meant to wake the patient us to the seriousness of his physical condition!!!  Sometimes, to get a point across, it is necessary to shock people a bit!!!  This is how I understand the Romans passage below...

Romans, Chapter 6

 1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?  3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;  6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.  7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.  8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;  9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!  10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.  11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul had been accused of licentiousness; supposedly, his "gospel" would allow you to sin all you wanted and the grace of God would cover up anything you would want to do.  The apostle makes it clear that if you are alive to God, then you are DEAD TO SIN!!!  Face it, we all sin- but not willingly!!!  God's grace gives us forgiveness, but we need to constantly try to follow The Almighty's will in everything.  What has all this to do with pizza and cheeseburgers?  Nothing, except we need to think about how we live and continue to hate sin as much as the day we were baptized.

PS. Over the past 16 months or so, I HAVE had some pizza, but not one cheeseburger!!!  "Some pizza" means a slice or two- NOT a whole pie. How things have changed!!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 24: Was Jesus wrong? (1)

Matthew 24: Was Jesus wrong? (1)

In Matthew 24 Christ said his coming would occur before his generation would pass away. Was he wrong?

Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 all deal with the same discourse by Jesus Christ though obviously they all have their own agenda while they report it. What event or events does Matthew 24 speak to? A glance at some of the literature shows there is more than one answer possible. Some hold that Matthew speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and the final coming of Jesus Christ which is still yet future.

I’d like to suggest Matthew 24 has the destruction of Jerusalem in mind. There is only one massive event in view in Matthew 24 and not two events.

1. The comment of the disciples:

"Some of his disciples were remarking how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God." (Luke 21:5) "As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings’." (Mark 13:1)  

"Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings." (Matthew 24:1)

2. The initial statement by Christ:"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." Luke 21:6 " ‘ Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus, ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ " (Mark 13:2)  

" ‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked, ‘I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ " (Matthew 24:2)

 3. The questions asked by the disciples:

Luke 21:7 "When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"

Mark 13:4 "Tell us when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?

Matthew 24:3" ‘Tell us,’ they said, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’

4. Some things to note:

The disciples asked about when and about signs that indicate when.

"When" is a time question and "signs" is a what question relating to the time.

In all three Gospels the when question concerns the "these things" relating to Christ’s temple remarks.

Matthew does not ask, "When is your coming and the end of the age."

So if we’re asked, "Which writer asks when the Lord is coming?" the correct answer is, "Not one of them."

Luke asks: When will these things happen? 
Mark asks: When will these things happen?            

Matthew asks: When will this happen?

To paraphrase them, the three writers ask, "When will the things you say about the temple happen?"

This seems crystal clear from a simple reading of the text.

"Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. ‘Do you see all these things?’ he asked, ‘I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’ " ‘Tell us,’ they said, when will this happen...?’ " (Matthew 24:1-3)

This should mean that if Jesus responds to a time question it will concern the destruction of the temple because that’s what they asked him about.

In Mark and Luke (read the texts again) both the when and the signs questions relate to the same thing— "these things" relative to the temple’s destruction. They are responding to Christ’s remarks about the temple and its buildings and they are asking when the temple would be destroyed and what signs would warn them when it was going to happen.

We would expect a time question to be answered with an hour or a day or a week or some time indicator.

Let me repeat, Matthew does not ask about the time of "the coming"! He asks about the time of the temple’s destruction. So if we find Jesus saying "but no one knows about that day or hour..." we need to remember that no one, not even Matthew, asked when the coming was to take place. When Christ answers a day and hour question he is answering their question about the destruction of the temple.

It won’t do then to go to Matthew 24:36 (or Mark 13:32) and say, "But of that day and hour no one knows..." and apply it to the coming of the Lord as if any of them had asked, "when will you be coming?" As the texts word it, not one of them asks when he is coming. All three asked, "when will the temple be destroyed?"

When we read the three chapters we discover (allowing for some differences in phrasing) that the signs are the same in all three.

Mark and Luke say the signs relate to the same thing as the when question. Read the texts above. This being true, both the when and the signs concern the fall of the temple.

Mark and Luke ask for signs related to the fall of the temple in 70 AD and Christ addresses that with signs.

Matthew asks for signs related to "your coming and the end of the age" and Christ gave him the same signs that he gave to Mark and Luke for the 70 AD judgment.

This means that "your coming and the end of the age" is another way of speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple.

But why would Matthew introduce such a concept as the coming of Christ and the end of the age? Why doesn’t he phrase it just as Luke and Mark have phrased it? Perhaps that’s because he has a habit of linking Christ’s discourses and this one is linked with the one in chapter 23 which speaks of the desolation of Jerusalem and the coming of Christ.

Throughout his book Matthew stresses the kingdom authority of Jesus Christ. In chapter 23 the Christ speaks to his enemies who deny his divine commission and refuse to accept that he is the One that comes in the name of the Lord. At the close of chapter 23 he assures them that they will indeed be forced to confess it (see also Matthew 26:63-64). So in light of the judgment that is coming on that generation with the destruction of their house I think Matthew is giving the theological meaning of the destruction of the temple in 24:3. It is the coming of the Lord in judgment and it is the sign that God has ended the Jewish age (compare Acts 2:17-20, Hebrews 1:2 and 1 Corinthians 10:11).

It’s important to note that after he has spoken of trembling heavens, signs in the skies, the shaking of the powers, the massing of nations, wars and rumours of wars, false Christs, the appearance of the abomination of desolation and widespread fear and panic then he gives a general time clue. He says his generation will not pass away before all those signs are accomplished.

Note Matthew 24:34, Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Bearing Burdens (Galatians 6:1-5)

"THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

Bearing Burdens (6:1-5)

INTRODUCTION

1. Justification by faith in Christ provides wonderful blessings...
   a. We enjoy true liberty, freedom from the yoke of bondage - Ga 5:1
   b. We live in the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit as we
      walk in the Spirit - Ga 5:16-26

2. But such blessings do not come without responsibilities...
   a. There are burdens to bear
   b. There is good to be done

[In Galatians 6, Paul expounds on our responsibilities, beginning with
"Bearing Burdens"...]

I. WE ARE TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS (1-2)

   A. THE DUTY OF THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUAL...
      1. Who are producing the fruit of the Spirit
         a. That fruit delineated in the previous chapter - Ga 5:22-23
         b. Which fruit (e.g., love, longsuffering, kindness) prepares
            one to be of service
      2. Fulfilling the law of Christ
         a. Perhaps alluding to that 'new commandment' to love one
            another - cf. Jn 13:34
         b. What Jesus described as 'My commandment - Jn 15:12
      3. Bearing with the infirmities of the weak
         a. The duty of those who are strong - Ro 15:1-2
         b. Following the example of Jesus - Ro 15:3; cf. 1Th 5:14
      -- The spiritually strong are to bear with the burdens of the weak

   B. TO RESTORE THOSE OVERTAKEN...
      1. Those overtaken by their sins
         a. Referring to cases of surprise, or of sudden temptation
            - Barnes
         b. Not gone into sin as a result of sinful premeditation, but
            surprised by it - B.W. Johnson
      2. Restoring them in a spirit of gentleness
         a. In the exercise of that grace which is a gift and fruit of
            the Spirit of God - Gill
         b. As Paul charged Timothy - 2Ti 2:24-26
      3. Considering one's own potential for temptation
         a. Aware that we all stumble in many things - Jm 3:2
         b. Remembering that we too can easily fall - 1Co 10:12
      -- The spiritually strong are to graciously restore their weak
         brethren - cf. Jm 5:19-20

   C. ARE WE WILLING TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS...?
      1. It begins with getting to know one another
         a. Enough to know when one is overtaken in a fault
         b. Enough to care when one is overtaken in a fault
      2. This is one reason we should attend every assembly of the
         church when possible
         a. It provides a way to become better acquainted with one
            another
         b. It provides a way to know when something may be wrong with a
            brother
      -- Are we willing to care enough to share one another's burdens?
         - cf. He 10:24-25

["Bearing Burdens" is not limited to the spiritually strong.  Enjoined
upon all Christians is this duty...]

II. WE ARE TO BEAR OUR OWN BURDENS (3-5)

   A. THE DUTY OF ALL WHO FOLLOW CHRIST...
      1. Otherwise we are nothing, no matter what we think
         a. There is the temptation to think higher of ourselves than we
            ought  - Ro 12:3
         b. Yet we can easily deceive ourselves - e.g., Jm 1:22
      2. Only then can we rejoice in ourselves, and not in another
         a. Some trust in being part of a group, without really
            contributing to the work
         b. But we will be judged as individuals, not as a group- Ro14:12; 2Co 5:10
      -- Are we willing to bear our own load, or do we expect others to
         carry us?

   B. TO BEAR ONE'S OWN LOAD...
      1. By first examining ourselves
         a. Starting with the fundamentals:  are we even in Christ?
            - cf. 2Co 13:5
         b. Then examining our lives weekly, as we observe the Supper
            - cf. 1Co 11:28
      2. And then carrying our own load
         a. Doing our part as members; in kindness, with faithfulness
            - Ep 4:16; Ga 5:22-23
         b. Understanding that we are needed just as much as anyone else
            - 1Co 12:15-20
      -- Do we handicap the body of Christ by failing to do our part?

   C. ARE WE WILLING TO BEAR OUR OWN LOAD...?
      1. It begins with accepting personal responsibility for our own
         spiritual growth
         a. Willing to learn what the Lord would have me know
         b. Willing to do what the Lord would have me do
      2. This is another reason we should attend every assembly of the
         church when possible
         a. It provides many opportunities to learn the Lord's will
         b. It provides many opportunities to do what the Lord desires
      -- Are we willing to do our fair share in bearing our own load?
         - cf. Ep 4:16

CONCLUSION

1. The Lord saved us that we might be zealous for good works... - Ti
   2:14
   a. Redeeming us from every lawless deed
   b. Purifying for Himself His special people

2. Are we not willing to accept the work of the Lord with zeal...?
   a. To bear one another's burden, out of love for one another?
   b. To bear our own burden, out of love for the Lord?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary.... A gift of kindness

Last month I was walking on Brahman St. nearby my home and took this photo.  Just a bird feeder in the morning sun, right?  But it does say something about the people who live there.  They feed the birds out of their love of animals.  They don't have to do it- they want to do it.  Who knows what birds they have helped by their act of kindness?  The thought occurred to me: Where would I be without the kindness of God?  I suppose that there are many answers to this question, but I thought of this passage from Paul's letter to Titus...

Titus, Chapter 3

 1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.  3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,  5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;  7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The birds didn't earn their daily seed; it was (and still is) freely given to them by someone who loves them.  I have never EARNED salvation, or any blessing for that matter, yet because of God's love, I have the assurance of a myriad of blessings; both now and in heaven.  When I take the dogs for a walk today and see this little bird feeder, I will think of how much God loves me.  Think about that the next time you see a bird-feeder!!! 

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 20:1-16: What will I get?

Matthew 20:1-16: What will I get?

Matthew 19:16-30 is the background for the interpretation of the parable in Matthew 20:1-16. It’s all about heart, about motivation and about trusting in God to do the right thing. The young rich man (rich because he was blessed by God) came thinking he loved and served God because God was worthy of it and (perhaps, maybe even probably) he learned that it was God’s blessings he truly cared for. Jesus taught him that if he wanted to come closer to God he needed to distance himself from the blessings. The young man discovered something about himself; he was a poor rich man and now even poorer since he walked away. 

At that point Jesus began to speak of the seduction of wealth (19:23-26) and this didn’t sit well with Peter (19:27) for it sounded like there’d be no reward for faithfulness when in truth the OT spoke of blessing that would come on those faithful to the God of the covenant (compare Deuteronomy 28). Should Peter conclude that God promises come up short? Jesus in 19:28-30 makes it clear that God will do the right thing and that he fulfils his promises. That might have settled Peter’s little heart but there was something Peter and his companions needed to know (19:30), many who are first will be last and the last first. The parable makes that point (20:16). 

I don’t see any reason to think the parable is dealing with Jews in contrast to Gentiles. I see nothing in Matthew’s’ context to suggest that and I see a lot that speaks of the motivation for service. See Matthew 20:1-16. 

• The Master doesn’t say that all that are first shall be last.
  
• The parable doesn’t say all were paid the same amount. (Ten dollars for ten hours work is not the same wage as ten dollars for one hour’s work. The protesters didn’t think they were all paid equally.)
  
• The parable teaches that the earlier workers didn’t go to work until they had haggled out an agreed pay with the owner. They got what they bargained for. (This was usual in labour-markets.)
  
• The parable teaches that the late-comers only came late to work because they had not been hired. It wasn’t because they didn’t want to work or that they were lazy.
  
• The parable tells us that they went eagerly to work without haggling, depending on the word of the owner that he would do what is right.
  

  I think we’re being taught the difference between a heartfelt desire to please God and a mercenary spirit. That’s what I think. 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Those Who Belong To Christ (Galatians 5:24-26)

                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                  Those Who Belong To Christ (5:24-26)

INTRODUCTION

1. In previous studies we have noted Paul contrasting the flesh and the
   Spirit...
   a. How the works of the flesh:
      1) Oppose the Spirit - Ga 5:16-17
      2) Prevents one from inheriting the kingdom - Ga 5:19-21
   b. How walking in the Spirit:
      1) Helps one to not fulfill the lust of the flesh - Ga 5:16
      2) Produces the fruit of the Spirit in one's life - Ga 5:22-23
      3) Frees one from the condemnation of any law - Ga 5:18,23c

2. In summarizing his discourse on the flesh and the Spirit, Paul
   reminds us of what is true of those who belong to Christ...
   a. They have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires - Ga 5:24
   b. They live in the Spirit - Ga 5:25a
   c. They should therefore walk in the Spirit, not in conceit,
      provoking and envying one another - Ga 5:25b-26

[This passage (Ga 5:24-26) alludes to much that is revealed elsewhere as
to what it means to be a Christian, a disciple of Christ.  For example,
those who truly belong to Christ are those who...]

I. HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH

   A. IN PRINCIPLE...
      1. When we died with Christ in baptism - Ro 6:3-6
      2. So that now Christ lives in us, and we live by faith - Ga 2:20
      -- Have you crucified the flesh in 'principle', through baptism?

   B. IN PRACTICE...
      1. As we seek to put off the old man, and put on the new - Col 3:
         5-14
      2. As we were taught by Christ - Ep 4:20-24
      -- Are you crucifying the flesh in 'practice', by living a holy
         life?

[Crucifying the flesh in both principle and practice cannot be done
without divine help.  And so those who truly belong to Christ are those
blessed to...]

II. LIVE IN THE SPIRIT

   A. IN THE BEGINNING...
      1. It is the Spirit who gives life - Jn 6:63; 2Co 3:6
      2. Which He does in the washing of regeneration (i.e., baptism)
         - Tit 3:5
      3. So that we are truly born again of both water and the Spirit
         - Jn 3:5
      -- Have you been made alive in the Spirit, through baptism?

   B. IN THE PRESENT...
      1. By virtue of His indwelling - Ro 8:11; cf. 1Co 6:19
      2. Who empowers us to put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:
         12-13; cf. Ep 3:16
      -- Are you living in the Spirit, by utilizing His strength?

[Because we live in the Spirit, there is great potential for spiritual
growth.  But that growth is not automatic.  We can be guilty of grieving
the Spirit (cf. Ep 4:30).  Thus those who belong to Christ...]

III. SHOULD WALK IN THE SPIRIT

   A. NOT CONCEITED...
      1. Manifested by selfish ambitions, contrary to the mind of Christ
         - cf. Php 2:3-5
      2. Manifesting instead lowliness of mind that leads to gentleness
         (meekness) - cf. Ga 5:23
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from conceit?

   B. NOT PROVOKING...
      1. Manifested by conduct such as immorality, outbursts of wrath
         - cf. Ga 5:19-20
      2. Manifesting instead joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
         goodness, faithfulness - Ga 5:22-23
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from provoking others?

   C. NOT ENVYING...
      1. Manifested by hatred, jealousies - cf. Ga 5:20-21
      2. Manifesting instead love that does not envy, thinks no evil
         - cf. 1Co 13:4-8a
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from envy?

CONCLUSION

1. Those who belong to Christ are they who...
   a. Crucify the flesh in both principle and practice
   b. Live in the Spirit from their baptism to the present
   c. Should walk in the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit

2. Do we truly belong to Christ...?
   a. It begins with baptism into Christ - Ga 3:27
   b. It continues with a life of faith - Ga 2:20
   c. It produces a whole new person - Ga 6:15

Such is the life that Christ offers:  made alive in the Spirit, walking
in the Spirit, bearing fruit of the Spirit.  Is this not the life you
want...? - cf. Jn 10:10

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Maybe I should get a ball?

He almost says: want to PLAY???? This week both my dogs have both chosen to sleep in the living room; Buddy (the white one) on the pillow on the sofa and Pal in his cage (yes, he actually prefers it- and goes there often).  So, when I went in there early this morning to greet them and give them a treat, I was amazed at their reaction.  They both started to run from one end of the house to the other and back again. Not once, twice or even three times- but about five or more!!!  Then they both kept nudging me and wanted to play.  So, when I saw Walter Vogt's picture of his dog (sorry, but I have forgotten the dog's name) I was reminded of the episode of intense happiness I was exposed to this AM!!!  This in turn, reminded me of the following verse from the book of Philippians...

Philippians, Chapter 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”

The thing is: Are we like that?  I mean, do we love life because of what Jesus has done for us?  When was the last time you thought about how blessed you really are?  Does the very thought of being with God in heaven for eternity make you REJOICE????  Admittedly, some days I feel better than other (and I know it become obvious in my writing - I have been told so), but EVERY SINGLE DAY I think of heaven and what Christ has done for me.  Well, enough of writing- today, I am going to have some fun!!!