Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Keys of Truth: First Timothy (Chapter 5)
1) Never use harsh words when correcting someone older than yourself. However, speak to them with the same respect you would give your father or mother. Speak to the younger person as if you were speaking to a brother or sister.
2) We are to keep ourselves morally pure.
3) Give honor to the woman (widow) who has no family.
4) The children of a woman or man must learn to respect their own family; repaying their parents. God is pleased with this.
5) The person with no family can place their confidence in God.
6) The older person who lives for pleasure is dead, though alive.
7) It is important for those who are older to have a good reputation.
8) The person that has no concern for their own family, especially their immediate family, denies the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9) Only women that are 60 and older, that were married and there husband has died, can be considered widows.
10) The honored widow (woman) should have a good reputation; raising children, being hospitable, taking care of other believer’s needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.
11) The woman that is young and her husband has died, should not be made to live as a widow. She will have natural desires that are stronger than her devotion to Christ, and want to marry.
12) Women that are younger condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith.
13) Young women should not be gossips and involved in the business of other people; saying things that they should not say. Young women should marry, have children, manage their homes and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them.
14) We must be careful, and not be turned away to follow Satan.
15) If a younger woman has a family or relatives that are older, she should help them. The Church should not be burdened; being able to help the older person that has no family.
16) Give double honor to the spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching the Word of God. The person who works deserves to be paid.
17) Do not accept an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
18) Do not hesitate to reprimand leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that other leaders will also be afraid.
19) We are to be impartial concerning the things mentioned above. Never play favorites.
20) Do not be in a hurry to ordain anyone.
21) Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.
22) The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. In the same way, the goods things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.
2) We are to keep ourselves morally pure.
3) Give honor to the woman (widow) who has no family.
4) The children of a woman or man must learn to respect their own family; repaying their parents. God is pleased with this.
5) The person with no family can place their confidence in God.
6) The older person who lives for pleasure is dead, though alive.
7) It is important for those who are older to have a good reputation.
8) The person that has no concern for their own family, especially their immediate family, denies the Christian faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
9) Only women that are 60 and older, that were married and there husband has died, can be considered widows.
10) The honored widow (woman) should have a good reputation; raising children, being hospitable, taking care of other believer’s needs, helping the suffering, or always doing good things.
11) The woman that is young and her husband has died, should not be made to live as a widow. She will have natural desires that are stronger than her devotion to Christ, and want to marry.
12) Women that are younger condemn themselves by rejecting the Christian faith.
13) Young women should not be gossips and involved in the business of other people; saying things that they should not say. Young women should marry, have children, manage their homes and not give the enemy any chance to ridicule them.
14) We must be careful, and not be turned away to follow Satan.
15) If a younger woman has a family or relatives that are older, she should help them. The Church should not be burdened; being able to help the older person that has no family.
16) Give double honor to the spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching the Word of God. The person who works deserves to be paid.
17) Do not accept an accusation against a spiritual leader unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.
18) Do not hesitate to reprimand leaders who sin. Do it in front of everyone so that other leaders will also be afraid.
19) We are to be impartial concerning the things mentioned above. Never play favorites.
20) Do not be in a hurry to ordain anyone.
21) Do not participate in the sins of others. Keep yourself morally pure.
22) The sins of some people are obvious, going ahead of them to judgment. The sins of others follow them there. In the same way, the goods things that people do are obvious, and those that aren’t obvious can’t remain hidden.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Keys of Truth: First Timothy (Chapter 4)
1) In the days that precede the return of Jesus Christ, some believers will desert the Christian faith; following spirits (demons) that deceive, believing teachings that are influence by demons (evil spirits).
2) These deceived believers will speak lies that sound like truth. However, their conscience will be flawed having lost the influence of the Spirit of God and His Word.
3) There will be erroneous teaching concerning marriage and the eating of certain foods. However, God created food to be received with prayer and thanksgiving by those that believe and are grounded in the truth.
4) Everything that God created is good. Our faith does not mandate that we abstain from certain foods in order to please God. We are to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the food we eat.
5) The Word of God and pray makes the food we eat holy.
6) As believers we should point these things out to our brothers and sisters in the faith, for these truths are scriptural and liberating.
7) We are to discipline ourselves to live Godly lives, and avoid old myths.
8) The believer that trains and exercises his or her body will see the benefit of their workouts in this life only, however, Godly living will benefit us now in this life and in the life to come (eternal life).
9) This statement is true and should be accepted; we struggle to live Godly lives, because we place our confidence in the Living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially those of us that believe.
10) These fore mentioned truths should be taught.
11) Our speech, behavior, love, faith and holiness must be a Godly example to all people.
12) Those of us that teach and preach should encourage believers’ to read the Word of God, worship and encourage one another in the faith.
13) Those of us that are ordained have received gifts by the will of God; don’t neglect the spiritual gift given by God. Use your gift!
14) Let's devote our lives to the practice of truths learned from the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. Our spiritual growth and development will be noticeable.
15) If we continue in the truths of God’s Word that we are taught, we will save our souls, and those that see and hear our witness of Jesus Christ.
2) These deceived believers will speak lies that sound like truth. However, their conscience will be flawed having lost the influence of the Spirit of God and His Word.
3) There will be erroneous teaching concerning marriage and the eating of certain foods. However, God created food to be received with prayer and thanksgiving by those that believe and are grounded in the truth.
4) Everything that God created is good. Our faith does not mandate that we abstain from certain foods in order to please God. We are to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the food we eat.
5) The Word of God and pray makes the food we eat holy.
6) As believers we should point these things out to our brothers and sisters in the faith, for these truths are scriptural and liberating.
7) We are to discipline ourselves to live Godly lives, and avoid old myths.
8) The believer that trains and exercises his or her body will see the benefit of their workouts in this life only, however, Godly living will benefit us now in this life and in the life to come (eternal life).
9) This statement is true and should be accepted; we struggle to live Godly lives, because we place our confidence in the Living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially those of us that believe.
10) These fore mentioned truths should be taught.
11) Our speech, behavior, love, faith and holiness must be a Godly example to all people.
12) Those of us that teach and preach should encourage believers’ to read the Word of God, worship and encourage one another in the faith.
13) Those of us that are ordained have received gifts by the will of God; don’t neglect the spiritual gift given by God. Use your gift!
14) Let's devote our lives to the practice of truths learned from the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. Our spiritual growth and development will be noticeable.
15) If we continue in the truths of God’s Word that we are taught, we will save our souls, and those that see and hear our witness of Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Keys of Truth: First Timothy (Chapter 3)
1) The believer that sets their heart on becoming a leader desires something excellent.
2) The person in leadership must have a good reputation. If he or she is married, they must honor and respect the vows of marriage.
3) The person that desires to lead must be serious, use good judgment, be respectable, be kind, and able to teach.
4) A person in leadership should not drink excessively or be a person of violence, but gentleness.
5) A person in leadership should not be argumentative or a lover of money.
6) The leader must manage his or her own family well, being respected and obeyed by their spouse and children, if this is the structure of their family.
7) The leader that cannot manage his or her own family cannot be trusted to manage and care for God’s church.
8) New converts should not be put in positions of leadership. The appointment to leadership could lead to arrogance (pride), which was the sin of the devil causing his condemnation.
9) People that are not Christians should speak well of us (leaders and laity). This way we will not become victims of disgraceful insults, which sometimes become traps set by the devil.
10) The believer (leader) must have good character; not be two-faced or addicted to intoxication.
11) The believer (leader) cannot seek to make money in ways that are shameful.
12) Those in leadership must have a clear conscience concerning the mystery of the Christian faith.
13) The person who desires a position of leadership should be evaluated first. If the person is found to have godly character, and a good reputation, then an appointment to leadership can be made.
14) If a person in leadership is married, their spouse must also have a good reputation. The spouse cannot be a gossiper and unable to control their temper. They must be trustworthy.
15) Those that serve well will gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.
16) As God’s family, we must live a certain way. God’s family is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
17) This is the great mystery of our faith that causes us to worship God:
• Jesus was a man; having a human nature
• was approved by the Spirit of God
• was seen of angels
• was preached throughout the nations
• was believed in the world
• was taken to heaven in glory
2) The person in leadership must have a good reputation. If he or she is married, they must honor and respect the vows of marriage.
3) The person that desires to lead must be serious, use good judgment, be respectable, be kind, and able to teach.
4) A person in leadership should not drink excessively or be a person of violence, but gentleness.
5) A person in leadership should not be argumentative or a lover of money.
6) The leader must manage his or her own family well, being respected and obeyed by their spouse and children, if this is the structure of their family.
7) The leader that cannot manage his or her own family cannot be trusted to manage and care for God’s church.
8) New converts should not be put in positions of leadership. The appointment to leadership could lead to arrogance (pride), which was the sin of the devil causing his condemnation.
9) People that are not Christians should speak well of us (leaders and laity). This way we will not become victims of disgraceful insults, which sometimes become traps set by the devil.
10) The believer (leader) must have good character; not be two-faced or addicted to intoxication.
11) The believer (leader) cannot seek to make money in ways that are shameful.
12) Those in leadership must have a clear conscience concerning the mystery of the Christian faith.
13) The person who desires a position of leadership should be evaluated first. If the person is found to have godly character, and a good reputation, then an appointment to leadership can be made.
14) If a person in leadership is married, their spouse must also have a good reputation. The spouse cannot be a gossiper and unable to control their temper. They must be trustworthy.
15) Those that serve well will gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus.
16) As God’s family, we must live a certain way. God’s family is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
17) This is the great mystery of our faith that causes us to worship God:
• Jesus was a man; having a human nature
• was approved by the Spirit of God
• was seen of angels
• was preached throughout the nations
• was believed in the world
• was taken to heaven in glory
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Jesus' resurrection from the dead is one of the important facts and doctrines of the gospel.
If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost, Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prophecy in Psalm 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly prophecied his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22).
The gospel writers give accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles in their public teaching insist upon it.
How many times did Jesus appear after his death and resurrection?
Eleven different appearances of our risen Lord are recorded in the New Testament…
1) To Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre alone.
This is recorded at length only by John (20:11-18), and alluded to by Mark (16:9-11).
2) To certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulchre. Matthew (28:1-10) alone gives an account of this.
(Compare Mark 16:1-8, and Luke 24:1-11.)
3) To Simon Peter alone on the day of the resurrection.
(See Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5.)
4) To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, recorded fully only by Luke (24:13-35. Compare Mark 16:12,13).
5) To the ten disciples (Thomas being absent) and others “with them,” at Jerusalem on the evening of the resurrection day. One of the evangelists gives an account of this appearance, John (20:19-24).
6) To the disciples again (Thomas being present) at Jerusalem
(Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:33-40; John 20:26-28. See also 1 Cor. 15:5).
7) To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee. Of this appearance also John (21:1-23) alone gives an account.
8) To the eleven, and above 500 brethren at once, at an appointed place in Galilee
(1 Cor. 15:6; compare Matt. 28:16-20).
9) To James, but under what circumstances we are not informed (1 Cor. 15:7).
10)To the apostles immediately before the ascension. They accompanied him from Jerusalem to Mount Olivet, and there they saw him ascend “till a cloud received him out of their sight” (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:4-10).
The disciples had many opportunities to test the fact of Jesus' resurrection. He conversed with them face to face. They touched him (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:39; John 20:27), and he ate bread with them (Luke 24:42,43; John 21:12,13).
11) In addition to the above, mention might be made of Christ's manifestation of himself to Paul at Damascus, who speaks of it as an appearance of the risen Savior (Acts 9:3-9, 17; 1 Cor. 15:8; 9:1).
12) It is implied in the words of Luke (Acts 1:3) that there may have been other appearances of which we have no record.
Who performed the resurrection?
The resurrection is spoken of as the act of:
A: God the Father
(Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:24; 3:15; Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; Hebrews 13:20)
B: The Holy Spirit (1 Peter 3:18)
Why is the resurrection important?
The resurrection is a public testimony of Christ's release from his undertaking as surety, and an evidence of the Father's acceptance of his work of redemption. It is a victory over death and the grave for all his followers.
The importance of Christ's resurrection will be seen when we consider that if he rose the gospel is true, and if he rose not it is false. His resurrection from the dead makes it manifest that his sacrifice was accepted.
Our justification was secured by his obedience to the death, and therefore he was raised from the dead (Rom. 4:25).
His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins, that his sacrifice was accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice, and his blood a ransom for sinners. It is also a pledge and hope (confident expectation) of resurrection for all believers (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:47-49; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). As he lives, they shall live also.
It proved him to be the Son of God, inasmuch as it authenticated all his claims (John 2:19; 10:17).
If Christ did not rise, the whole idea of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be a fantasy and a dream. ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.’ Therefore the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown, Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven, and the triumph of truth over error, of good over evil, of happiness over misery is forever secured
If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost, Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prophecy in Psalm 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly prophecied his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22).
The gospel writers give accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles in their public teaching insist upon it.
How many times did Jesus appear after his death and resurrection?
Eleven different appearances of our risen Lord are recorded in the New Testament…
1) To Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre alone.
This is recorded at length only by John (20:11-18), and alluded to by Mark (16:9-11).
2) To certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulchre. Matthew (28:1-10) alone gives an account of this.
(Compare Mark 16:1-8, and Luke 24:1-11.)
3) To Simon Peter alone on the day of the resurrection.
(See Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5.)
4) To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, recorded fully only by Luke (24:13-35. Compare Mark 16:12,13).
5) To the ten disciples (Thomas being absent) and others “with them,” at Jerusalem on the evening of the resurrection day. One of the evangelists gives an account of this appearance, John (20:19-24).
6) To the disciples again (Thomas being present) at Jerusalem
(Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:33-40; John 20:26-28. See also 1 Cor. 15:5).
7) To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee. Of this appearance also John (21:1-23) alone gives an account.
8) To the eleven, and above 500 brethren at once, at an appointed place in Galilee
(1 Cor. 15:6; compare Matt. 28:16-20).
9) To James, but under what circumstances we are not informed (1 Cor. 15:7).
10)To the apostles immediately before the ascension. They accompanied him from Jerusalem to Mount Olivet, and there they saw him ascend “till a cloud received him out of their sight” (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:4-10).
The disciples had many opportunities to test the fact of Jesus' resurrection. He conversed with them face to face. They touched him (Matt. 28:9; Luke 24:39; John 20:27), and he ate bread with them (Luke 24:42,43; John 21:12,13).
11) In addition to the above, mention might be made of Christ's manifestation of himself to Paul at Damascus, who speaks of it as an appearance of the risen Savior (Acts 9:3-9, 17; 1 Cor. 15:8; 9:1).
12) It is implied in the words of Luke (Acts 1:3) that there may have been other appearances of which we have no record.
Who performed the resurrection?
The resurrection is spoken of as the act of:
A: God the Father
(Ps. 16:10; Acts 2:24; 3:15; Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; Hebrews 13:20)
B: The Holy Spirit (1 Peter 3:18)
Why is the resurrection important?
The resurrection is a public testimony of Christ's release from his undertaking as surety, and an evidence of the Father's acceptance of his work of redemption. It is a victory over death and the grave for all his followers.
The importance of Christ's resurrection will be seen when we consider that if he rose the gospel is true, and if he rose not it is false. His resurrection from the dead makes it manifest that his sacrifice was accepted.
Our justification was secured by his obedience to the death, and therefore he was raised from the dead (Rom. 4:25).
His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins, that his sacrifice was accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice, and his blood a ransom for sinners. It is also a pledge and hope (confident expectation) of resurrection for all believers (Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14; 15:47-49; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2). As he lives, they shall live also.
It proved him to be the Son of God, inasmuch as it authenticated all his claims (John 2:19; 10:17).
If Christ did not rise, the whole idea of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be a fantasy and a dream. ‘But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.’ Therefore the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown, Satan has fallen as lightning from heaven, and the triumph of truth over error, of good over evil, of happiness over misery is forever secured
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