February 8, 2014

From Mark Copeland.... Introduction To The Epistle ( Titus 1:1-4)

                         "THE EPISTLE TO TITUS"

                  Introduction To The Epistle (1:1-4)

INTRODUCTION

1. As the apostles of Christ fulfilled their ministry, it lead to the
   creation of churches...
   a. Initially established by the preaching of the gospel - cf. Ac 14:
      1-21
   b. Further established by following up - cf. Ac 14:21-23

2. From Ac 14:21-22, we learn that the process of follow up involved...
   a. Strengthening the souls of the disciples
   b. Exhorting them to continue in the faith
   c. Appointing elders in the church

3. The apostles did not always do the follow up themselves...
   a. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus - 1Ti 1:1-3
   b. He also left Titus on the island of Crete - Tit 1:5

[By studying such epistles as Titus, we learn what was expected for
churches to becoming established.  With that in mind, we begin this
series of lessons based on Titus, starting with a basic introduction...]

I. THE AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE  (1:1-3)

   A. PAUL...
      1. Known formerly as Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of the church - Ac 9:1-2
      2. Who became known as the "apostle to the Gentiles" - Ac 9:15
      3. Author of half of the books of the New Testament

   B. HIS SELF-IDENTIFICATION...
      1. A bondservant (slave) of God
         a. So James described himself - Jm 1:1
         b. Also Peter and Jude - 2Pe 1:1; Jude 1:1
         c. Paul normally identified himself as a bondservant of Christ,
            only here does he describe himself as bondservant of God
            - cf. Ro 1:1; Php 1:1
      2. An apostle of Jesus Christ
         a. apostolos - a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with
            orders - Thayer
         b. An apostle chosen by Christ Himself - Ga 1:1
      3. Paul expresses his objective as an apostle - Tit 1:1-3
         a. Proclaim the faith of God's elect (chosen people)
         b. Preach the truth that leads to holy living
         c. Nurture hope for eternal life
            1) Which God promised before time began
            2) And has now made manifest through preaching, as God
               commanded Paul

[The epistle itself was written toward fulfilling Paul's objective as an
apostle.  Assisting him in fulfilling his objective will be the one to
whom the epistle was written...]

II. THE RECIPIENT OF THE EPISTLE (1:4)

   A. TITUS, A TRUE SON IN OUR COMMON FAITH...
      1. Calling him "a true son" suggests he was a convert of Paul
         - cf. 1Co 4:15
      2. There is no mention of Titus by name in the book of Acts
      3. But we can glean some things about him from the epistles of
         Paul

   B. HIS BACKGROUND...
      1. He was a Gentile by birth - Ga 2:3
      2. He accompanied Paul to Jerusalem during the controversy over
         circumcision - Ac 15:1-2; Ga 2:1-5
      3. During Paul's third journey Titus became his personal emissary
         to the church at Corinth
         a. First seeking to learn how they received his first letter
            1) When Titus did not return to Troas as expected, Paul went
               on to Macedonia - 2Co 2:12-13
            2) There Paul and Titus finally connected, much to Paul's
               relief when Titus reported how well he was received by
               the Corinthians - 2Co 7:5-7,13-15
         b. Paul then sent Titus and two others back to Corinth - 2 Co 8:16-9:5
            1) Bearing the letter we call Second Corinthians
            2) Exhorting the brethren to complete their collection for
               the needy saints in Jerusalem

   C. HIS PRESENT AND FUTURE MINISTRY...
      1. At the time of Paul's epistle to Titus - Tit 1:5
         a. He had been left on the island of Crete by Paul
         b. To "set in order the things that are lacking"
      2. If Paul's plans as expressed in this epistle materialized...
         - Tit 3:12
         a. Titus left soon after the arrival of Artemas or Tychicus
         b. He met Paul at Nicopolis in northwest Greece
      3. We last read of Titus that he had gone to Dalmatia (in modern
         Croatia) during the final days of Paul's life - 2Ti 4:10

[Titus proved to be a true son to Paul, also a "partner and fellow
worker" (2Co 8:23).  Now let's consider what we can about...]

III. THE TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING

   A. THE TIME AND PLACE IS UNCERTAIN...
      1. Not all are in agreement as to when and where it was written
      2. It really doesn't matter in the final analysis

   B. ONE POSSIBLE SCENARIO...
      1. Following his first imprisonment in Rome the apostle Paul was
         released and allowed to travel for several years before being
         arrested again
      2. The following itinerary has been proposed by the Ryrie Study
         Bible:
         a. Paul was released from his house arrest in Rome (where we
            find him at the end of Acts - Ac 28:30-31), probably because
            his accusers did not choose to press their charges against
            him before Caesar
         b. Paul visited Ephesus, left Timothy there to supervise the
            churches
         c. He went on to Macedonia (NE Greece) and from there he wrote
            1 Timothy - 1Ti 1:3
         d. He visited Crete, left Titus there to supervise those
            churches, and went to Nicopolis in Achaia (NW Greece) - Ti
            3:12
         e. Either from Macedonia or Nicopolis, he wrote this letter to
            Titus
         f. He visited Troas (2Ti 4:13), where he was suddenly
            arrested, taken to Rome and imprisoned
         g. During this second imprisonment, he wrote 2 Timothy before
            he was finally beheaded
      3. It cannot be established with certainty, but it possible that
         Paul wrote this letter from Corinth, sometime around 63-66 A.D.

[Now let's examine...]

IV. THE PURPOSE AND CONTENT OF THE EPISTLE

   A. THE PURPOSE...
      1. This letter is written to a young preacher assigned a difficult
         task
      2. The churches on the island of Crete were in need of maturation,
         and this letter is designed to assist Titus in that work
      3. Therefore, Paul wrote to encourage Titus:
         a. To see that qualified elders were appointed in every city
            - Tit 1:5-9
         b. To preach things befitting "sound doctrine" - Tit 2:1
         c. To exhort the brethren to be "zealous for good works" - Ti
            2:14; 3:1,8,14

   B. THE CONTENT...
      1. The epistle is unique in that every chapter includes the phrase
         "good work(s)" - Tit 1:16; 2:7,14; 3:1,8,14
      2. Here is a brief outline of the epistle:
         a. Introduction - 1:1-4
         b. Instructions concerning church organization - 1:5-16
            1) Qualifications of elders - 1:5-9
            2) Dealing with the insubordinate - 1:10-16
         c. Instructions concerning Christian conduct - 2:1-3:11
            1) For older men and women - 2:1-3
            2) For younger women and men - 2:4-8
            3) For servants - 2:9-14
            4) For brethren in general - 3:1-11
         d. Conclusion - 3:12-15

CONCLUSION

1. With such an emphasis on good works, an appropriate theme for this
   epistle would be:

                        "Maintain Good Works!"

2. In keeping with such a theme, I offer the following passage as the
   key verse of the epistle:

   "This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm
   constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful
   to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to
   men." - Tit 3:8

3. As we proceed through this epistle, it will be my prayer and aim that
   our study will help...
   a. To "set in order the things that are lacking"
   b. To encourage one another to be "careful to maintain good works"

Note finally Paul's greeting to Titus:  "Grace, mercy, and peace from
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior" (Tit 1:4).  Are you
lacking in that wonderful grace, mercy, and peace...?

From Jim McGuiggan... ETHEL & CASSIE

ETHEL & CASSIE

Some of you might know that I live with a little Yorkie called Cassie. She’s maybe seven inches tall, eighteen inches long and weighs about seven pounds. I bought her for my Ethel something over seven years ago and the two of them finally got along famously until Ethel went away. She didn’t want to go; she just couldn’t stay. Cassie—we called her after my mother—well, actually, my mother’s name was Catherine and only her peers called her “Cassie”. We called her nothing but “mother”. Well, that’s not exactly what we called her. Our working class speech conventions helped, no doubt, by phonetic laziness, had shortened it to “mor”. Fathers were called “far”. (As in, "Where duz your far work?" or, "I saw your mor at the shop a wee while ago.")

In any case my little dog Cassie—I call her “my” little dog not in the sense of “ownership” for if either of us owns the other she owns me. She’s bi-lingual, fluent in Dogese and English. Her proficiency in English has grown exponentially in the last four years; her vocabulary is massive and she has mastered the idioms while I’m still a complete dunce in Dogese, despite Cassie’s patient instruction, which I notice has fallen off over this past year and more. I can speak a few Dogese words that I can’t spell—that’s it. Of course I don’t even know if Dogese has an alphabet. As best I can determine, Dogese is only a spoken language. I don't know, maybe that’s a good thing.

I need hardly tell you that it gobsmacked me when I first heard her speak to me. “Do you think we’ll be eating any time soon?” the voice said, “I’m close to starvin’. My ribs are starin’ at each other.” It was a small voice, clear enough but anything but booming and since I don't hear very well I often doubt what I hear or think I hear. In any case, I looked around (I live with our daughter Linda and her family in their basement—she calls it the “first floor,” her husband, Stan, calls it “the dungeon”)—as I said, I looked around and there was no one but Cassie and me. I stared at her for a minute and she finally nodded, “Yes, I know, a bit of a shock. It’s me. So now you know.”

I sat down stunned, she let me chew on it even while I spluttered things like “but…” or “This must be a…” But just then my mind leaped back several years to puzzling experiences that might have made me suspicious if the truth hadn’t seemed so preposterous. Like several times when I walked into the bedroom and Ethel was talking earnestly to Cassie. (Ethel had to spend a lot of time in bed in the last years.) I thought I’d heard two voices and once when I was opening the door I was close to convinced that I heard Ethel say, “Shush, here’s Jim.” Then there was the time when I heard the two of them laughing (I now know it must have been the two of them) at the antics of some characters on the Andy Griffiths Show. By the time I got the door open, though Ethel was still laughing, Cassie had burrowed under the blanket. I ran over, pulled back the blanket and Cassie had that happy but ordinary dog look—you know, tongue out, bright eyes, button black nose and…ordinary.

I looked at the two of them, they glanced at each other, Ethel giggled and Cassie buried her head under Ethel’s arms, her wee body shaking. I now know it wasn’t from effort at snuggling in close to Ethel—the little rascal was muffling her laughter. What a dope I was. As soon as I left the room Ethel began to squeal with laughter, I ducked my head back in and she pointed at the TV—or was it at me since the TV sat right inside beside the door? But how could I have known? As the days went by they must have taken more care and, anyway, the months became more sobering and it was getting near time for Ethel to leave.

The last time I caught a glimpse of anything of that sort was one day I came home, Ethel was in the wheelchair and tearful, Cassie was up on her hind legs on the wee tabletop, front paws on Ethel’s shoulders with her head snuggled into her neck. Perhaps I should have known there was something between them that was beyond special.

It took me several months to come to terms with Cassie’s giftedness that was way beyond just being able to speak, and speak English. To do that she must be able to—well, never mind—there’s more to speaking English than speaking English.

I tried to tell Linda and our younger son George that Cassie spoke English but how can you get people to take you seriously when you say things like that? I brought them in to see Cassie and I asked her to say something, anything, but she’d just put on that ordinary-dog act and scratch her ear or jump up on to their laps, some such thing. Linda and George were only there because I insisted that they come down and listen to her but the humor soon wore off—In her silence Cassie triumphed.

Maybe I'll continue this. I'm not sure.

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

From Ben Fronczek... Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway (Part 2)

Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway (Part 2)

By Ben Fronczek

Most all of us have read and heard that Jesus is God’s one and only son. Quite frankly there is no other quite like Jesus.

Yes in one sense we are all God’s children in that He created us, and gave us life, but Jesus is so much more than that. Somehow by miracle God’s Spirit impregnated a virgin by the name of Mary. Exactly how that happened no one really knows, but it did happen. It is the only time in history a virgin woman was ever impregnated without the seed of a human male, and it will probably never happen again.

The skeptic may say, ‘Prove it.’ I personally cannot. I can only show you the testimony of eye witness who made these claims in the Holy Scriptures.

I personally believe some of the best evidence is the fact that this whole event of God coming in the flesh was foretold or predicted years earlier.

Centuries before Jesus ever came on the scene the prophet Isaiah wrote down a prophecy that came from God Himself. In Isaiah 7:14 he wrote,

^“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (or God with us)

So 700 years before it ever happened God told His people through the prophet Isaiah that one day this miracle would occur – ‘A virgin would conceive and God would come in the flesh.

Through the Old Testament prophets Micah, God lets his people know that He would be born in Bethlehem. (5:2)

The Old Testament is just full of prophecies that were fulfilled in Jesus. I read online that Jesus actually fulfilled some 360 Old Testament prophecies. Either you are going to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, as God incarnate, or our God in the flesh or you’ll choose not to believe in this wonderful glorious event. I choose to believe. There is too much evidence for me to deny it.

As I thought about this lesson I kept coming back to the question, why? Why was it so important for God to come to us in this manner? Why did He choose to leave all the splendor and majesty of Heaven behind to come in contact with all the sorrow, and pain, the corruption and evil of this world. I mean, are we really that important, that significant for Him to leave all that behind and experience poverty, and hunger, and temptation, and arrogant know it all people, as well as the pain and suffering He knew He would have to go through? Are we really that important to Him?

Apparently we are; even though not one of us is good enough to make to heaven on our own. He apparently thought it was worth His effort to come to us in person and make things right.

But then the question comes to my mind again, ‘But why? Why couldn’t you just do something from up there? Why expose yourself to all this? You were born in a barn. Not to long after your parents had to take you and flee to Egypt because King Herod wanted kill you and so he killed all the boys 3 years and under. You life was a struggle from the very beginning until they nailed You the crossed which You died on? WHY go through all that?

Here are a few reasons I came up with; why He chose to come to us in the flesh, as a man.

To begin with it all stems back to His amazing love for each one of us. Simply put, you and I are worth that much to Him. He was willing give it all up and leave it all behind, and endure all the evil that this world could dish out and experience the pain and suffering, even death on the cross because He loves every one of us that much. So, first and foremost it was because of His unquenchable love for us that He came in the flesh.

But why? Why does He love me, or any of us for that matter? Probably because He created us, He put life in us. We are His. He made us all special and unique. And because He is God it is His choice to love us.

So why come in the flesh; what is the significance?

#1) So that we could come to understand a little more about Him

Last week I read an interesting discussion between Jesus and His disciple Philip in John 14: Where Philip said,

“Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.””

The point of what He was telling Philip is, ‘you want to know what God the Father is like, just look at me! If you’ve seen Me you’ve see the Father. If you what to know what He is like, how He feels about things, how He acts or reacts to things, if you want to know how much He cares about you just look at me.

”Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

The letter to the Hebrews starts off by stating,

“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”

Do you want to learn more about God? Study everything you can about Jesus. Jesus is God but in a human body.

#2. ‘A second reason that God became man was so that He might be able to identify with us. God knows everything about us

– even the number of hairs on our heads. It is possible to KNOW a lot about someone but not UNDERSTAND who that person is or how the feel in a situation.

Jesus understand us and knows what we are going through because He has gone through it all himself. We can’t say, ‘God you don’t know what it like to hurt or feel hungry or cold or lonely or bored. You don’t know what it feels like to hit your thumb with a hammer or stub your little toe in the middle of the night. Or you don’t know what it feels like to be tempted by food or by the opposite sex, or what it feels like to be teased or made fun of or to be falsely accused or have friends and family turn their back on you when you need the most. God knows about those things because He experienced all of them in Jesus. He knows what it is to be tempted, abandoned and mistreated.

The author in Heb 4 wrote, ¹

⁴So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. ¹⁶So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)

Did you get the last part of that verse? Jesus understand what we go through, He can empathize with us and therefore we don’t have to approach God’s throne with fear. Why? Because He is more incline to show us grace and mercy because He understands.

King James V of Scotland would on occasion lay aside the royal robe of king and dress as a peasant. In disguise, he could move freely about the land, making friends and entering into their difficulties, appreciating their handicaps, sympathizing with them in their sorrow. When as king he sat again upon the throne, he was better able to rule over them with fatherly compassion and mercy. God shared in the human experience and thereby is better able to accept and show us mercy and helps us. Isn’t that wonderful?

#3) God also came in the flesh to save us.

The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. We read in Hebrews 10:4-7

“It is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵That is why, when Christcame into the world, He said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But You have given Me a body to offer. ⁶You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. ⁷Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do Your will, O God— as is written about Me in the Scriptures.’” NLT

Scripture also declares that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). Animal sacrifices of the Old Testament were really not good enough, they were only a temporary fix until God Himself came in the flesh, shed His blood, and died on that cross for us.

He was the perfect Lamb who was sacrifice for us. Listen to what Peter writes in I Peter 1:18-19:

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. ¹⁹It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. ²⁰God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” NLT

God, in the state of His eternal glory, cannot die. Therefore it became necessary for God to become a man so that He could put away sin by sacrificing Himself (Hebrews 9:26).

What an honor it is to have a God who loves us so much!

One of the ancient kings of Persia loved to mingle with his people in disguise. Once, dressed as a poor man, he descended the long flight of stairs, dark and damp to the tiny cellar where the fireman, seated on ashes, was tending the furnace.. The king sat down beside him and began to talk. At meal time the fireman produced some coarse black bread and a jug of water and they ate and drank. The king went away but returned again and again for his heart was filled with sympathy for the lonely man. They became very good friends as time passed. At last the king thought, “I’ll tell him who I am, and see what gift he will ask.” So he did, but the fireman didn’t ask for a thing. The king was astonished and said, “Don’t you realize that I can give you anything—a city, a throne?” The man gently replied, “I understand your Majesty. But you have already given the greatest gift a man could receive. You left your palace to sit with me here in this dark and lonely place. You could give nothing more precious. You have given yourself and that is far more than I could ever deserve.” God did the same thing! He came to us in this dark world.

God gave us Himself in Jesus. Because HE loves us, and wanted to He show Himself to us. He got to know us better; what we go through and feel. And then He allowed Himself to become the ultimate sacrifice to save us from our sin. And now He is ready to adopt us as His children and make us His heirs. No cost to us, He just wants our trust, belief, faith, and love. Wow, what a God! He offers us so much and has given us so much. Let us praise and love HIM forever!

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

February 7, 2014

From Gary.... Incredible!!!

The movie "Star Wars" has had its effect upon our society. Since the late 70's (1977?) there has been movie after movie, all sorts of merchandising and an influence on spirituality in our nation. Now, we understand that someone photo-shopped this photo to be humorous (and it is), but true spirituality involves caring for others. The apostle Paul exemplifies this throughout his entire Christian life, but I like this one passage the best...

2 Corinthians, Chapter 11

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 forever more, knows that I don’t lie.

Paul really cared for his fellow Christians- I mean really cared for them!!! How this man did everything he did is beyond me, but loving others as he did along with all he went through is incredible!!! We can't all be as spiritual as Paul, but we CAN LOVE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS "IN CHRIST". Good news!!! And you don't even have to be physically fit; just have a heart full of love. Enter spirituality, level JEDI!!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading February 7

Bible Reading

February 7

The World English Bible

Feb. 7

Genesis 38

Gen 38:1 It happened at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Gen 38:2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her, and went in to her.

Gen 38:3 She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.

Gen 38:4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.

Gen 38:5 She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.

Gen 38:6 Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

Gen 38:7 Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.

Gen 38:8 Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and raise up seed to your brother."

Gen 38:9 Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and it happened, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.

Gen 38:10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he killed him also.

Gen 38:11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;" for he said, "Lest he also die, like his brothers." Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

Gen 38:12 After many days, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.

Gen 38:13 It was told Tamar, saying, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

Gen 38:14 She took off of her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn't given to him as a wife.

Gen 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.

Gen 38:16 He turned to her by the way, and said, "Please come, let me come in to you," for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

Gen 38:17 He said, "I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock." She said, "Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?"

Gen 38:18 He said, "What pledge will I give you?" She said, "Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.

Gen 38:19 She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Gen 38:20 Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, but he didn't find her.

Gen 38:21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?" They said, "There has been no prostitute here."

Gen 38:22 He returned to Judah, and said, "I haven't found her; and also the men of the place said, 'There has been no prostitute here.' "

Gen 38:23 Judah said, "Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this kid, and you haven't found her."

Gen 38:24 It happened about three months later, that it was told Judah, saying, "Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute; and moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution." Judah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."

Gen 38:25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child." She also said, "Please discern whose are these--the signet, and the cords, and the staff."

Gen 38:26 Judah acknowledged them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah, my son." He knew her again no more.

Gen 38:27 It happened in the time of her travail, that behold, twins were in her womb.

Gen 38:28 When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This came out first."

Gen 38:29 It happened, as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out, and she said, "Why have you made a breach for yourself?" Therefore his name was called Perez.

Gen 38:30 Afterward his brother came out, that had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

From Mark Copeland... A Tale Of Three Men ( 2 Timothy 4:10-11)

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

A Tale Of Three Men (4:10-11)

INTRODUCTION

1. As Paul nears the end of his second epistle to Timothy, he mentions
several people...
a. Demas, Crescens, and Titus, who are no longer with him - 2Ti 4:10
b. Luke, Mark, and Tychicus - 2Ti 4:11-12
c. And others as well - 2Ti 4:14-22

2. An interesting comparison can be made between three individuals in
particular...
a. Demas, who had forsaken Paul
b. Luke, who was with Paul
c. Mark, who was to come to Paul

[In "A Tale Of Three Men", there are lessons to be gleaned that
hopefully all can take to heart. Let's begin by considering...]

I. THE APOSTATE DEMAS

A. THE STORY OF DEMAS...
1. He served as a fellow laborer with Paul
a. Joining Paul and others in sending greetings - Phm 1:24; Co
4:14
b. During the time of Paul's first Roman imprisonment
2. Yet at the end of Paul's life, he forsook Paul - 2Ti 4:10a
a. Not that he merely left Paul
b. But that he left him in the lurch, i.e., abandoned Paul
- Hendriksen
3. Because he "loved this present world" - 2Ti 4:10b
a. Barnes and Gill believe it simply means Demas did not want
to die
b. Clarke contends Demas reverted back to Judaism
c. The tradition is he became apostate from the faith - cf.
Erdman
d. Loving the world is certainly contrary to loving the Father
- cf. 1Jn 2:15-17
4. At best, he deeply disappointed Paul; at worst, he fell away
from the Lord

B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF DEMAS...?
1. Beginning a life of faith, only to fall away?
a. It is possible to fall from grace - Ga 5:4
b. We can become entangled again by the pollution of the world
- 2Pe 2:20-22
c. We can fall from our own steadfastness - 2Pe 3:17
d. We can become hardened by sin's deceitfulness - He 3:12-14
2. Loving the world, more than we love God and our brethren?
a. Letting the world's distractions render us fruitless? - cf.
Lk 8:14
b. Leaving our brethren and God in the lurch?

[The cause of Christ is often hindered by those who forsake their faith
and brethren because of their love for the world. On the other hand,
consider...]

II. THE STEADFAST LUKE

A. THE STORY OF LUKE...
1. He too was a fellow laborer with Paul
a. A Gentile, a medical doctor, "the beloved physician" - cf.
Col 4:11,14
b. Who first joined Paul at Troas on his second journey (note
the "we") - Ac 16:10-11
c. Who stayed at Philippi until he rejoined Paul on his third
journey - Ac 20:3-5
d. Who went to Rome with Paul for his first imprisonment - Ac 27:1; 28:16
2. He proved to be a steadfast companion and faithful Christian
a. Who wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts
b. Possibly the "brother whose praise is in the gospel" - cf.
2Co 8:18
c. Who was with Paul during his first imprisonment - Phm 1:24;
Col 4:14
d. Who was with Paul during his last days - 2Ti 4:11

B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF LUKE...?
1. Living a life of faith characterized by steadfastness?
a. Faithful to the Lord in our service? - cf. 1Co 15:58
b. Remaining faithful steadfast to the end? - cf. He 3:14
2. Pleasing not just the Lord, but a constant source of
encouragement to the brethren?
a. As the Colossians were to Paul? - Col 2:5
b. Refreshing the hearts of brethren, as did the household of
Stephanus? - 1Co 16:15-18

[What a contrast between Demas and Luke! The difference was determined
by the direction of their devotion. Demas loved the world; Luke loved
the Lord and his brethren. But let us also note...]

III. THE PENITENT MARK

A. THE STORY OF MARK...
1. A man who proved unreliable at first
a. His name was John, surnamed Mark, son of Mary - Ac 12:12
b. He joined Paul and Barnabas on their return to Antioch - Ac 12:25
c. He started with Paul and Barnabas on their first journey
- Ac 13:5
d. He left them prematurely and returned to Jerusalem - Ac 13:13
e. His departure later caused a rift between Paul and Barnabas
- Ac 15:36-41
2. A man who eventually redeemed himself
a. He later proved useful to Paul for ministry - 2Ti 4:11; cf.
Col 4:10; Phm 1:24
b. He was also dear to Peter - 1Pe 5:13
c. He wrote the gospel that bears his name (Mark)
d. Thought to have gone to Alexandria in Egypt and martyred in
62-63 A.D.

B. WILL WE FOLLOW IN THE STEPS OF MARK...?
1. Perhaps we are more like Mark than Luke
a. Our service to God and brethren has not been what it should
be
b. We have not been as steadfast and dependable as Luke
c. Rather than like Luke, we have instead been 'lukewarm' - cf.
Re 3:15-16
d. Maybe like Mark (and Demas), we have left other brethren 'in
the lurch'
2. Yet the example of Mark gives us hope and direction!
a. Mistakes can be corrected, sin forgiven
b. We who may have been useless can still become "useful for
ministry"
c. Accepting opportunities for restoration and service - cf. Ac 15:39; Re 3:18-19
d. Responding to calls to get back up and continue the race of
faith - e.g. He 12:12-15

CONCLUSION

1. And so we have "The Tale Of Three Men"...
a. The apostate Demas
b. The steadfast Luke
c. The penitent Mark

2. In the course of our spiritual sojourn in this life, which person
will we be like...?
a. Hopefully never Demas!
b. Ideally like Luke
c. But if necessary, then at least be like Mark

Remember, the difference is determined by the direction of your
devotion. Will you love the world, or will you love the Lord and His
brethren...?

From Jim McGuiggan... MUST I be baptized?

MUST I be baptized?

Numerous people ask me if they must be baptized to be united with Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection.

I wonder who was the first to ask that? I read of a man in the NT (Acts 8:36) that wanted to know, "Why can’t I be baptized?" It wasn’t, "Do I have to be baptized?" His whole hearing of the gospel was unlike so many moderns in this respect. The moderns want to know if they must be baptized and he wanted to know what would keep him from it. [Maybe it has something to do with what they are being told and the way in which they’re being told.]

I read of an astonished apostle asking, concerning a Gentile household (Acts 10:47-48), "In light of what God has just done here, what’s to keep these people from being baptized?" Some might have wanted to keep it from them—Peter among them, up to that point—but now the apostle insists it’s their right (as well as obligation). All over the place today I read and hear of people that want to debate the matter rather than obey. All over the place I hear people teaching that people don’t need to be baptized or that we shouldn’t say they need to be baptized. What am I missing? In the NT God’s credentialed ministers and apostles are arguing for the right of non-Christians to be baptized and today we have people who not only won’t practice the ordinance, they insist that others don’t need to submit to it.

Why would they do that?

But why should people be baptized when they have loved and believed Jesus Christ for years? Perhaps—and maybe this should be sufficient—because the Lord would have it so! When God sent his Holy Spirit on the open-hearted Cornelius you don’t hear him debating whether he needed to be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ. You don’t hear the crushed and penitent Saul arguing with Ananias when he was told to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). None of this, "What? Do you know who you’re speaking to? I have seen the risen Lord and have been called to apostleship." None of that! Like everyone else in the NT, he rose and humbly obeyed.

No one today understands salvation by grace more clearly than Paul did. And no one today knows the profound witnessing power of baptism as Paul did. In three gospel saturated books (Romans, Galatians and Ephesians) he links baptism with union with Christ, sonship and life in Christ (see Romans 6:3-8, Galatians 3:26-27 and Acts 19:1-5 with Ephesians 2:8).

In Galatians 3:26-28 a faith-filled baptism is not only the door to sonship by faith and clothing with Christ, it is a protest against all that divides humans! And In Matthew 28:19 it links Jesus Christ with his "colleagues" in the Godhead, bearing witness to his nature and person. In Romans 6:3-8 it is a foe of sin and wickedness and a witness to the nature of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And some dare to make it optional!

From Ben Fronczek... Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway? (Part 1)

Exactly Who is Jesus Anyway? (Part 1)

By: Ben Fronczek

Read: John 1:1-14 (Click on verse to read)

Too many times we see things, or hear about something unfamiliar or new and we:

- Assume we know all about it. Or, we think we understand more than we really do. Or, we guess a lot about what we see or hear.

Unfortunately some people do the same thing when they consider or hear the name of Jesus.

Each day people pass by our church buildings, some simply stare at the old building, some may wonder what we do inside. Some could care less. Some may even make fun of what we do here and shake their head as we enter this building as they drive by.

I wonder, ‘How many really have any idea who Jesus is?’

Maybe this is why so many people choose not to go to church anymore.

Over the next few weeks I would like to share with you a few lessons on WHO JESUS REALLY IS. I don’t think we can possible understand everything about Him, but I do want you to know some of the amazing facts that the Bible has revealed about Him.

Jesus has been named and described in many ways; for example:

●The Prince of peace

● the King of kings

●the Messiah

●the Lamb of God

●the Christ

●Rhabboni (or teacher)

● Savior

● the Son of God

● the Son of man

● the capstone

● the cornerstone

● wonderful

● Counsellor

● Immanuel

● Light of the world

● Bread of life

● and the Lord

Some evil men called Him Beelzebub (or lord of the flies). Some today have doubts about Him, or just consider Him a nice guy, or just a prophet.

So many descriptive titles. So the first thing that I would like to touch on is the fact that

JESUS IS GOD!

Jesus is the ‘one and only God’. He is, ‘God of the universe’, the ‘Almighty Creator’ of all heaven and earth.

I personally believe that the theological term, ‘Trinity’ has confused many of us as to the true identity and nature of Jesus and understanding that HE is God.

Through the ages this term has been used to describe a plurality of God’s being; the idea that God is somehow 3 persons, yet one.

The term ‘Trinity’, was coined by the 3rd century theologian, Tertullian, and was first used by Theophilus of Antioch. Unfortunately sometimes meanings of words change over the passing of time.

I hope to clarify how this term was originally used, and how our understanding of it differs today. I would also like to share with you my understand of how God has revealed Himself to us throughout the ages based on what we see in Scripture.

In reference to the definition of three persons, yet one, one Scholar wrote: “The word person has changed its meaning since the 3rd century when it began to be used in connection with the three-foldness of God. When we talk about God as a person, we naturally think of God as being one person. But Terullian writing in the 3rd century used the word ‘person’ with a different meaning. The word ‘person’ was originally derived from the Latin word, ‘Persona’, meaning an actor’s face mask; and by extension, the roles which the actor takes in a play.

By stating that there were 3 persons but only one God, Tertullian was asserting that all 3 major roles in the great drama of human redemption are played out by the one and the same God. All three great roles in this drama are all played out by the same actor, God. Each of these roles reveal Him in somewhat different ways, but it is the same God in every case.

So when we talk about God as one person, we mean one person in the modern sense of the word, and when we speak of God as 3 persons, we mean 3 persons in the ancient sense of the word.”

Any other definition would portray God as a committee of individuals. It is God, the one God alone manifesting Himself in different ways as He saw fit throughout Human history. For example, consider some of the different ways God has revealed Himself in scripture taking on different roles for a particular purpose

The following are some different ways God has revealed Himself throughout history:

1) God appeared ‘Man-Like Genesis 3:8 ‘God walked in the garden…’ Gen. 18 ‘The Lord appeared to Abraham and ate with him…’ Gen. 32:22-30 ‘Jacob wrestled with God…’

2) God appeared in ‘super natural’ forms Exodus 3:1-6 God appeared in the flaming bush and spoke to Moses. He called Himself (YHWH) or YAHWAH – the ‘I Am’, ‘He who is active and present’.

Exodus 19:16-20 God appeared before Israel in Mt. Sinai as a pillar of smoke, lightening, fire, with a loud trumpet blast, and caused tremors.

God also appeared as a pillar of cloud and fire to lead the Israelites. Exodus 13:21; 16:10; 33:9; 40:36-48 Numbers 12:5; 16:42-43; Deut. 1:32-33; 31:15.

3) God Appeared as ‘the’ Angel of the Lord (Not just any angel)

Judges 13:1-24 Manoah recognizes the Angel of the Lord as God.

4) Jesus and others refer to God as the FATHER Psalm 68:4-5, Isaiah 64:8; Matthew 6:9, 7:11; Romans 8:14-17; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:17

5) God Manifest Himself as a Holy Spirit The Hebrew word for Spirit (ruach) means ‘wind’ or ‘breath’. It suggests the idea of an unseen power, movement, activity, or force.

Though we cannot actually see the movement of air or wind we can see what it does. In much the same way God, as He manifest Himself as the Spirit, though unseen is present, and at work in His creation and in us.

It is in the form or Person of the Spirit we see God as ‘All Knowing, the All Powerful Force, and everywhere present Nature’. Read Psalm 139:1-16

6) God Became Flesh – Born of woman, yet the Son of God – Jesus Christ Read: John 1:1-14; 17:1-5; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Col. 1:15-23 & 2:9-12, I Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:1-3

I believe that it is important to remember God had a special purpose in mind as He appeared in different forms. The angel of the Lord, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are ONE and the same, just a different (persona) or manifestation of our one God, playing or accomplishing different roles. As a man, Jesus has physical limitations (eg. He cannot be divided or present everywhere at once or omnipresent), whereas God in Spirit form can. And likewise the Spirit could not have been the perfect sacrifice for our sin; it needed to be a man or ‘the Son of Man’, flesh and blood. Each manifestation is still the same person – God! Jesus is GOD!

I would like to share with you a verse that helps me see and understand more about the true nature of Jesus:

In Colossians 1, describing Jesus, the apostle Paul wrote,

^{15 “}The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”(1:15-17)

In 2:9 he also wrote,

“⁹For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

So what do we see here in this passage?

#1. Jesus is God in the Flesh – or in human form. In John 1:1-14 we read that “In the beginning and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” And in verse 14 it says that this WORD “became flesh.” (Jesus!!!!)

Jesus is God! In John 14 we see an interesting discussion between Jesus and His disciple Philip: “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.””

#2. Also according to Col. 1, Jesus holds the #1 supreme position in the universe. Vs. 15 states that ‘He is the first born OVER all creation.’ In verse 10 it says, ”He is the head over every power and authority.” In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Also see Phil. 2:6-11 ’His name is above all names.’ and before Him every knee will bow.

This is why Jesus is referred to as the ‘King of kings, and the Lord of lords.

#3. Jesus Created all things – HE IS THE CREATOR! – Of all things in Heaven and on earth. – of all things visible and invisible – everything! See John 1:3; & Hebrews 1:2..

4. Col. 1:17, not only lets us know that He is the Eternal God ‘existing before all things,’ Jesus is also the One that holds all things together. He is the ‘atomic glue that hold all matter and anti-matter together and in place. Take Jesus out of the equation and everything we know would just fly apart even down to the molecular level. Everything would just dissipate and vaporize. John 1:3 adds that He is also the source of life itself! What is the origin of life itself? Jesus!

5. In Col. 1:9 Paul sums this up by writing,

“⁹For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

Who is this Jesus we worship? He is God, the one who emptied Himself of so much glory and majesty and became a man, flesh and blood.

The writer if Philippians put it this way in Chapter 2: (I like how the Amplified Bible translate this verse)

⁵Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

⁶Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,

⁷But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

⁸And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!”

When we call upon the name of Jesus, when we say His name, and when we worship Him here in this building or someplace else we worship God, God who stepped out of His home and true element to become like one of His own children, like you and me but without sin so He could save us, make us whole and one day bring us home.

This is why we love Jesus. This is why we call Him ‘Lord’. It is because HE IS GOD!

I therefore proclaim that Jesus is worthy of our: HONOR - RESPECT – WORSHIP -TIME – and ALLEGIANCE.

HE is our GOD. HE created us. HE sustains us. HE came to us in the flesh to help us understand God like never before. HE loved us. He even died for us on that cross to pay the penalty for our sin.

What and Awesome God we have… AMEN!

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Steve Singleton... How do I know the Bible is true?

How do I know the Bible is true?

We have to begin with the claims of the Bible. Here is a sampling of its truth claims from both the Old and New Testaments (we could give many, many more than just these).

Psalm 119:160: “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”
2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Especially note what Jesus himself says. Looking back to the Old Testament, He states, “scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Looking forward, He made this promise to his apostles, those mainly responsible for writing the New Testament, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).

Jesus, whose life is the very foundation of reality and truth”the One who could justifiably claim, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)”stamped His endorsement on the Old Testament and empowered the authors of the New Testament. If He says the Bible is true, I can believe it.

Additional confirmations involve such matters of deeper study as fulfilled prophecies, historical accuracy, archaeological confirmation, statements confirmed by science centuries later, and so on. I would not claim, however, that these add even an ounce to the infinite weight of the testimony of Jesus Christ. They are merely consistent with that testimony.

Want to go deeper?
The following are useful resources for pursuing your study of the reliability of the Bible:
Recommended for purchase:

Erwin W. Lutzer. Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible. (2001).

F. F. Bruce, et al. The Origin of the Bible (2004).

Online resources:
The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F. F. Bruce.
http://www.worldinvisible.com/library/ffbruce/ntdocrli/ntdocont.htm

Checkable Bible Accuracy

http://www.doesgodexist.org/Charts/CheckableBiblicalAccuracy.html

Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton, for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com