He came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Luke 3:3
IN THIS ISSUE
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In this month’s issue: 3.
Frailty Clothes Omnipotence
4.
What If I’ve Missed the Will of God?
5.
Grace: More Powerful
7.
Six Seals Opened Revelation 6
10.
Faith-builders Bible Study Mark 2
14.
Jesus was Born for You
15.
Pure by Association
16.
Daily Moment of Thought
17.
In Depth Study – 1 Corinthians 9
Edwin & Lillian Harvey (USA) Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Ken Legg (Australia) Mathew Bartlett (UK) Derek Williams (UK) William F. P. Burton (Congo) Abby Kelly (USA) Sonja Burketh (USA) Mathew Bartlett (UK)
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Frailty Clothes Omnipotence An extract from “Royal Insignia” by Edwin & Lillian Harvey Image (c) Olga Naidenova
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He was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God (2 Cor. 13:4). When I am weak, then am I strong (2 Cor. 12:10).
more than twelve legions of angels?” Let us more fully understand our Master’s greatness, and we shall share His confidence and peace.
IN nature we see that all the grandest forces are best expressed through the frailest mediums. The awful energy known as electricity works most effectually through slender wires. The mighty magnetic stream is revealed in the trembling needle. Thought is not located in an organ like a man’s fist, all bone and muscle: its chosen seat is the delicate brain, and it best acts through fairy cells and attenuated films compared with which the gossamer is coarse. Life does not reside in the massive skeleton, but pulses along the silver cord of alarming delicacy.
The Church of God is the theater of disappointment and failure. Nothing here seems to succeed. Workers are snatched away when most wanted; expensive undertakings born in enthusiasm are buried with tears; missions starting in poetry die into prose; we are distressed on every side by delay and disaster. There is more failure with us than anywhere else. We suffer more defeats than any army. Our shipwrecks exceed those of the high seas. There would be a panic on the Stock Exchange every day if our bankruptcies were commercial. And all this implies our glory.
This principle comes out supremely in Christianity—the cross is its last and highest expression. The aspect of frailty clothes omnipotence. “He was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God.” In the moment of His utmost weakness, Christ had the consciousness of measureless power and the full assurance of victory. “Thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and He shall even now send me
The sense of failure is acutest where the aim is highest, and the catalog of defeats suggests the grandeur of the enterprise. Think of the enemies we challenge: our vast ambition, our immense field of action, the difficult elements in which we work, and no wonder that we know most of the sense of failure, and feel failure most keenly. But our failures are infinite successes, our defeats— victories, our martyrs— 3
conquerors; we faint only to prevail, we die to live in resurrection power and beauty. He Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, knows all this. It is His own program, and He is not disheartened. —W. L. Watkinson. By failure and defeat made wise, We come to know, at length, What strength within our weakness lies, What weakness in our strength. What inward peace is born of strife; What power of being spent; What wings unto our upward life Is noble discontent. O Lord, we need Thy shaming look That burns all low desire; The discipline of Thy rebuke Shall be refining fire!—Frederic Lucian Hosner. Our Lord died an apparent failure, discredited by the leaders of established religion, rejected by society, and forsaken by His friends. The man who ordered Him to the cross was the successful statesman whose hand the ambitious hack politician kissed. It took the Resurrection to demonstrate how gloriously Christ had triumphed and how tragically the governor had failed—A. W. Tozer
What If I’ve Already Missed the Will of God? A Bible Study by Daniel Kolenda (CfaN) Photo: © Sebastian Grecu
Part 2 - Repent
Repentance is such an oftenmisunderstood concept. Contrary to what many people think, repentance is not a dirty word. It’s not just for the sinner who wants to get saved, nor is it just for those who are committing gross sins and living in blatant immorality. For the child of God repentance should be a lifestyle. To repent means to “turn,” to change one’s mind and direction.
If we think of repentance only as a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn, then we fail to understand that sometimes a minor but crucial finetuning is necessary to keep us calibrated with the heart of God. If I am hiking through the wilderness and look at my compass and notice that I am only two degrees off course, I don’t turn one hundred eighty degrees and go in the opposite direction, because if I did, I would still be going in the wrong direction! Instead my goal is to recalibrate myself so that I am once again moving toward my desired destination.
But here is where many people misunderstand. We tend to think of repentance as primarily turning away from something, as in turning away from sin and making a onehundred-eighty-degree change to the opposite direction. But this is missing the real point. For example, a sinner could turn away from a sin and still be lost. In fact, there are many religions that teach morals and abstinence from various sins, but that in and of itself does not save anyone. Therefore, from the Christian perspective, what you turn away from is not really the issue. It is what you turn to that makes the difference.
If I am only two degrees off course, I still must turn, even if it is a slight adjustment, to align myself with the right direction. Repentance is the practice of the righteous. We must constantly turn our hearts to God—from darkness to light, from the flesh to the Spirit, from the temporal to the eternal, from death unto life. With this understanding repentance takes on a whole new meaning. If I have lusted, lied, or stolen, if I have missed God’s will because of disobedience, I must repent, yes. But I am not just repenting or turning away from those sins. I realize that those sins are actually a symptom of a deeper
This Bible study has been taken from chapter 5 of LIVE BEFORE YOU DIE
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and more serious problem: that I am moving in a direction away from Christ. If there is sin in my heart or if I am not walking in God’s will, it shows me that my heart is not toward Christ. I must refocus my heart and recalibrate it to point my whole being toward Christ. Sometimes repentance may have nothing to do with sin at all. It may simply be a slight correction in mind-set or attitude that brings our spirits back into alignment with the Spirit of God. Turn to Jesus, and you will automatically turn from sin. Turn to Jesus, and you will always be facing in the right direction. If you have missed God’s will, you need to stop moving in the wrong direction, acknowledge your mistake, and then get your heart realigned with Christ.
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Grace Roots by Ken Legg
by running to the refuge of their habit/drug the basis for addictive behaviour has been set. Of course the relief never lasts, necessitating a return to the same sinful practice and, eventually, bondage to it. I always smile when I hear that well-worn cliché, “Grace is just a license to sin.” Paul teaches the opposite. Grace is the only power that can deal with habitual sinful behaviour. He assures us that sin will no longer have dominion over us because we are not under law but under grace (see Rom.6:14).
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Grace: More Powerful Than Addictive Behaviour Often, people believe that sin is the pathway to pleasure; otherwise they wouldn’t do it. People become addicted to anything that gives temporary pleasure as a means of distraction from the emotional pain they are going through. The brain works in such a way that when we do something we enjoy it releases endorphins as a reward. This encourages us to repeat the behaviour each time we need relief from emotional pain. It serves as a coping mechanism. Once a person has learned they can manipulate their emotions
Dealing with sinful habits and addictive behaviour is different for a believer than it is for a nonbeliever. A believer is now free not to sin.
Why do Christians choose sin? So why would a Christian still choose to live in sin? This is a very important question. In Romans 6, Paul asks, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Rom.6:16). The reason he asks this question is not so much because we might not know that sin leads to death, but that we might not believe it. We often need 5
convincing that sin really is the source of our pain and grief. Now if we believe that sin is what would make us happy, and God appeals to us not to yield the members of our bodies to sin but to yield them to righteousness, then in our heart we would conclude that God is the source of our unhappiness! He is withholding good from us. Does that sound familiar? It was the logic behind the temptation in the Garden of Eden. From the beginning of time Satan has deceived people into believing that what God has forbidden is the very thing they need for happiness and fulfilment in life. This makes God the source of our unhappiness. Many Christians would never admit this openly, but it’s what they believe it in their heart. Having set before us life and death, God gives us the freedom to choose for ourselves. Why does He do this knowing that we may choose sin and death? If we do not believe Him when He tells us that sin leads to pain and unhappiness, then He allows us to learn it by tasting the fruit of the choices we make. He says, “You choose; and you live with the consequences.” Similarly, Paul counsels us to reflect upon the fruit of our behaviour when we were under the dominio n of sin. He asks, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death” (Rom.6:21). We
need to be honest with ourselves. What good fruit ever resulted from going down the road of sin, either before we were saved or after? Contrast this with the fruit of making our bodies available to God: “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” (Rom.6:22).
Being free indeed Jesus said, “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (Jn.8:36). Real freedom consists not merely of breaking free from habitual sinful behaviour, but of wanting to do so and having no desire to go back there. People don’t genuinely repent because they are told to. They change their behaviour when they change their minds about sin. That’s what the word ‘repent’ means. Sometimes it is only after a long, painful process that we come to truly believe - in our heart as well as in our mind - that sin is our enemy and God is our Friend; sin is the cause of our pain and God is the fountain of all true, lasting pleasure. Maybe you are puzzled by Paul’s terminology. He said that we are either a slave to sin or to righteousness. It seems strange to speak of our freedom in terms of slavery.
In my book This Is The Life I wrote, “A slave is in the total grip of the master whom he serves. Whenever a person chooses to sin he is no longer in control of what will take place. That’s the deceptive power of sin. It makes you think you are getting what you want. In fact, you lose control the moment you give yourself over to its power. Sin always takes us much further than we want to go.” Adam had no idea that committing that one sin would result in him and the planet coming under Satan’s control. If sin is so powerful, how much greater is grace! When we are in the grip of grace God will take us much further than we ever imagined possible! Is there a limit to what God has in store for those who yield their bodies to do His will? “…as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor.2:9&10).
(This article is an excerpt from Ken's new book, Grace: The Power To Reign, which is due to be released at the end of this year) 6
God shall always stand with in every storm. Lord of all Creation, I thank you for saving me from the storms of life. I thank you for putting my feet once again on a firm land. I was in spiritual anguish. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on me, all hope of my being saved was at last abandoned” (Acts 27:20). But you, O Lord, were gracious and kind to me. I called to you, and you saved me (Psalm 55:16). Because you are God and you constantly show yourself to be faithful, I will trust in you (Psalm 55:23). I will wake up excited, ready to enjoy the adventure of a new day. I will discover your love today. I will encounter your faithfulness as I enjoy the blessings you have given to me. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness”. (Lamentations 3:22-24). My hope is unquestionably in you. Without your strength and safety, I am lost in anguish, overwhelmed with horror, and will be consumed by the swirling storms of life. I only have hope because of you and in you. Keep me by your power.
ISAAC MWAGI (KENYA)
Six Seals Opened Revelation 6 He loved us enough to give His son to die so that we may be made sinless. But because He desires for us to love Him, He left it up to us whether to “plug” into Him or to live in the darkness. Just like the lamp, we too need a source of power in order to shine. God is our power source. He is to us what the electrical outlet is to a lamp.
Have you heard the question “What is the world coming to?” It’s a fair question. With all the trouble in the world today, more and more people are beginning to wonder what the end of it all will be. The future seems so uncertain: is the world really out of control? You may have seen the figure of a man walking around with a sandwich board on which is written “the end of the world is nigh”. But let’s not be tempted to laugh, for the end of the world is more nigh than we think. The important thing is to understand what is meant by the “end of the world” - how it happens and what will be the result. In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples asked Him “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?” Thank God, that we as Christians, like the disciples, know that the future is in God’s hands, but we would like to know how will the future will unfold. Only the God who holds the future is able to unfold the future, and in Revelation 6, He does just that, giving us a picture of our world’s situation throughout he church age and until Christ’s second coming. In Rev 5 we saw a scroll written on both sides & sealed with seven seals. In Rev 6, as Christ opens the scroll, “the words come alive to John in the form of a vision, revealing to him the things that were to come.” DRW As the Lord Jesus Christ opens the seven seals, the purposes of God for His world begin to unfold. V1,2 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a 7
crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. As the Lamb opens the first seal, a horseman is depicted riding out into the world, bringing war and conquest. “Throughout the history of the earth men have sought to rule, conquer and dominate other men.” DRW This unfolding of the future is closely matched by our Lord’s own teaching to his disciples in Matt 24. Jesus told them that until the time of his coming again would be wars and rumours of wars Mt24.6. These, like all the other signs of Christ’s coming have continued throughout the church’s history. V3,4 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. It is appropriate that this red (or flame coloured) horse of {violence} should follow the white horse of conquest. Take Iraq as an example. The war is officially over, but peace has fled the country as people turn on one another to butcher each other. The great (megas) sword represents their tremendous thirst for blood. Peace is a great blessing, but it can only be given by God, not obtained any other way. The experiment of the UN is commendable, but it will never work. Neither military intervention, nor political dialogue will never ultimately bring peace to the world. Only the God of peace can do this. V5,6 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature
say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine." As the third seal is opened, a black horse appears, signifying famine. Matt 24.7 “there will be famines.” Whilst it is true that worldwide famines affected the Roman Empire, famine has affected more people in our time than ever before. This increase in the intensity of the signs Christ gave for His coming is an indication that his coming draws nearer. The prices in v6 denote the inflation of prices due to the shortage of food. But notice how God, although he allows famine, does not permit it to affect the oil and wine, mitigating the suffering caused. These are still days of grace. The church is still here, and in the early church, for example, the suffering of the Judean Christians during a famine was relieved by the Gentile converts. God’s people are not immune from suffering, thank God that he provides a way for us to be provided for. V7,8 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. The final horse unleashed on the world by the fourth seal brings with it death and hell, as the disasters,
natural and manmade, increase in the earth and large numbers die. No one can fail to see the significance of this in the light of the Tsunami of 2005 or great earthquakes such as the one in Pakistan, which have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands in an hour. In Luke 21 Jesus says “There will be great earthquakes in various places.. there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, at the sea and the waves roaring Luke 21:11 & 25 When the Tsunami hit in 2005, I suggested that it was not unpredicted by Christ, who had already foretold that nations would be perplexed, unable to hold back the devastating power of the sea. Yet the Lord Jesus reminds us in Mat 24:8 that “all these things are the beginning of sorrows.” These disasters are the symptoms of a creation that is groaning in pain, waiting for God to lift its burden, which is the sin of men. Though in all these things we can discern something of the judgment of God, please bear in mind that God has not yet begun to pour out His wrath on the earth. Instead, these things are like an early warning system, telling us of more terrible things are to come. V9-11 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to 8
each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who would be killed as they were was completed In the fifth seal, John sees unveiled the altar of God - the holy place near Him - the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God. Derek Williams notes that in the Law, the blood of the animals sacrificed was poured out at the bottom of the altar (Lev4.7) It is significant that these saints have not yet been reunited with their bodies. This indicates that the resurrection of saints has not yet happened. Instead, they are told to wait until the full number of their brothers be slain for the word of God as they were. The persecution of Christians, even to death, has continued throughout the church age, is happening now, and will continue until the time the Lord comes for his people. "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. Matt 24:9 Up until this point in chapter 6, all the events we have seen depicted can be said, at least in part, to have been fulfilled. But then in v12 comes a catastrophic event heralding the coming of the Lord. Some evangelists say they are “waiting for the sixth seal to be opened” and link the opening of the sixth seal with the event known as the rapture - when the church is taken from the earth. I would however, point out that these events depicted by the sixth seal will take longer to happen than the rapture which is “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”.
What we can say for sure is that when the church age is over, and the saints are gathered together to their Lord, the wrath of God will be poured out on the earth. The events depicted in the sixth seal are elsewhere described in the scripture as accompanying the “Day of the Lord”. Look at them for a moment: V12 - 14. I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Compare these words with passages such as from Peter’s sermon quoting Joel: I WILL SHOW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH: BLOOD AND FIRE AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE COMING OF THE GREAT AND AWESOME DAY OF THE LORD. Acts 2:19-20 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
As Jesus says in Luke 21.27: Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. V15-17 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" We will find these events foretold in much greater detail as we continue through the book of Revelation. It is clear that only those who are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are safe from that wrath that will come in that day of the Lord. Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? If so, are you living in readiness for his coming. Jesus isn’t coming to take unbelievers home to heaven. And he isn’t taking backsliders either. Listen to his warning.
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Mat 24:4251 Christian - are you watching and waiting for the Lord could come today. If our hearts are right with God that we are looking forward to Christ’s coming. For us, his appearing holds no terrors, for we are looking for that blessed hope. Bottom right image: © Bcdesigns
"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. (Luk 21:34)
This “Day of the Lord” is not a reference to one 24 hr period, but to a time during which God will visit judgment on the earth, culminating in the coming of the Lord to judge the unbelievers.
is coming again… 9
New Bible Study Resource Out Now! The ‘Faith-builders Bible study series’ has been developed a useful resource for today’s students of God’s Word and their busy lifestyles. Pastors, home or study group leaders and indeed for anyone wishing to study the Bible for themselves will benefit from using Faith-builders studies. Each volume is the result of many years of group Bible study, and has been revised again and again to be relevant, challenging and faith building whilst remaining clear and easy to understand. Each chapter had thought provoking questions to aid study and sample answers are provided. Below are the study notes for chapter 2.
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Mark Chapter 2 (abstract) By Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett (UK) Image © Rorem Paralytic Healed 2:1-2 Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them. After all the excitement in Capernaum had calmed down, Jesus returned there; most probably he stayed again at Peter's house. As soon as it became known that he was there multitudes of people came to him, filling and surrounding the house. This time the people came not just to be healed but to be taught and receive the word of God. Most of these people had been healed already! Nevertheless wherever and whenever there was a need of healing Jesus responded, for healing was one of the signs to say that he was the Messiah (Luke 7:22). 2:3-4 Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. As Jesus was preaching, four men arrived carrying a friend who was completely paralysed. It would seem that he was unable to do anything for himself and so most probably had be fed, clothed and washed by his friends; he could not move any part of his body. The man’s comrades had heard about Jesus’ healing power and came expecting their friend to be healed. When they arrived at Simon’s house, Jesus was in the middle of preaching, and there was no way they could get through the crowd. But their faith was so great that they were determined to bring him to Jesus by any means. There are instances like this that obstinacy and stubbornness can be good traits; but only if they are directed towards doing right and acting in faith toward God. 10
These men did not give up but persevered until they accomplished what they set out to do - even if it meant carrying their friend up to the roof, tearing it apart and lowering him down on ropes to the feet of Jesus. Like them, we must never give up our acts of faith and service to God (Gal. 6:9). 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’
mission in coming into the world would be achieved and that nothing would stop him obtaining salvation for us. Perhaps it was on the strength of this foreknowledge that Jesus could say, even before the cross, “your sins are forgiven you”. 2:8 Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking such things in your hearts
Seeing the faith of the man and his friends, Jesus responded. He saw beyond the physical need of the man, and we might suppose that the man himself was more conscious of his spiritual need that his physical. Perhaps this is why the Lord does not say “be healed” as the people expected him to but “your sins are forgiven you”.
Although they did not openly speak, Jesus knew what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts and minds (John 2:25); so he questioned their reasoning.
2:6-7 Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds: ‘Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’
Since they incessantly demanded signs from Jesus, demanding infallible proof that he was who he claimed to be (Mark 8:11), Jesus decided to give them a sign they had not asked for. When he asked them which was easier to say “your sins are forgiven” or “be healed”, they did not answer him.
This caused a stir among some of the teachers in the crowd (though not all of them). They began to reason in their minds the implications of what Jesus had just said. According to their knowledge of the scriptures no one could forgive sins (remove guilt, remit the penalty of sin and bestow righteousness) except God; so by making this statement Jesus was claiming the prerogative of God and so in their minds was guilty of blasphemy. Yet since Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16) the prerogative to forgive sins is always his. Moreover, because he is the Son of God he knew that his
2:9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'?
Evidently, it is equally easy to say both, and divine power could justify either statement. Nevertheless, there is no outward sign by which the reality of forgiveness of sins can be tested; whilst it is obvious to all whether a man can walk or not. So although forgiveness was more important, only by healing the man’s body could Jesus prove the validity of his claims. Cole remarks, “a prophet might heal, but no mere prophet could ever forgive sins.” 2:10-12 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ — he said 11
to the paralytic — I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.’ And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this! In order to demonstrate his authority as the Son of God; having the right to forgive sins, Jesus turned to the man and told him to arise, pick up his bed and go home. He immediately did so, much to the amazement of the people, who gave glory to God. 2:13 Jesus went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. Jesus next went to the seaside and was followed by the crowds, to whom he taught the things of God. In Mark 1:4 we saw that Jesus “heralded” the good news (as in Mark 1:21). He teaches in Mark 2:2 and in this verse he speaks the word. From the use of these three different terms we can say that Jesus evangelised, instructed from the scriptures and he informally taught the people.
Another Disciple Chosen 2:14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. ‘Follow me,’ he said to him. And he got up and followed him. As with the other disciples Jesus did not just pass by or happen to see Levi (also called Matthew); he had planned this meeting. The other disciples were fishermen, but Levi was an entirely a different kettle of fish! He was one of the despised tax collectors, a man who collected wealth for the Romans. Many
people would have been shocked to see Jesus calling him. Tax collectors were usually greedy and immoral. Nevertheless, when he was called, Levi immediately left his job and followed Jesus.
When Jesus became aware of their criticism, he told them that it was for the sake of the lost and for sinners that he had come into the world (Luke 19:10); to call them to repent and be saved.
2:15 As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.
It is such people who are most conscious of their need of salvation, whereas the religious often have no sense of their need. Only a sick person needs a doctor; those who are healthy do not. Jesus was not suggesting that the religious leaders did not need God’s forgiveness, but rather that they needed to have their eyes and hearts opened to the truth about their own condition before God - “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
From Luke 5:29 it seems that this feast was put on by Levi so that his old business acquaintances might have an opportunity to meet Jesus; and indeed he seems to have introduced a great many to his new master. 2:16 When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ This incited the wrath and criticism of the Pharisees; in their eyes Jesus was contaminating himself by mixing with notorious sinners and tax collectors. We know from the story of the Good Samaritan that neither the priest nor Levite would help the man attacked by robbers in case they became ceremonially unclean (Luke 10:30-37). But the Pharisees were wrong in their judgment of Christ for firstly, whenever a person became a friend or follower of the Lord Jesus they turned from their sins; and secondly, Jesus needed to be among this kind of people, for their need of him was great. 2:17 When Jesus heard this he said to them, ‘Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
2:18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came to Jesus and said, ‘Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?’ John the Baptist, together with his disciples (like the Pharisees) rigidly kept to the ceremonial laws of the Jewish religion. Several of the Lord's disciples had previously been followers of John, and although it was not required by the law that a man should fast every week, it had become an important practice of many devoted Jews. Here we see some of John's disciples joining the Pharisees by questioning Jesus about why his followers did not observe this custom of fasting.
The First New Thing 2:19 Jesus said to them, ‘The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast. 12
In reply Jesus used this illustration; that of a bridegroom at a wedding. “How can the friends fast while they are rejoicing in the presence of the bridegroom?” he asks. Here Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom (as he also does in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-6), and the church is his bride (2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21:2; Rev. 22:17). As long as Jesus was with the disciples they could not fast; for weddings are meant to be joyful occasions whilst fasting is a sign either of some terrible disaster or of voluntary abasement. As Cole observes, “in a time of joyous fellowship who thinks of fasting?” In Hebrew weddings the friends remained with the bridegroom throughout the celebration feast, which could last from seven to fourteen days, before taking away his bride to the bridal chamber to finalise the wedding ceremony. 2:20 But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast. Yet Jesus foretells that the day would come when he would be taken away from his disciples and be crucified; then would be the time for them to fast (John 16:20). There is a right time for everything (Eccl. 3:1-4).
Second New Thing 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. For the first time in his ministry, Jesus clearly speaks of his introducing a new covenant which would entirely replace the old.
Although this had been foretold in the Old Testament (Jer. 31:31) the religious people of his day were still not prepared to accept it. Jesus describes the nature of this new covenant by comparing it to a new piece of cloth. Just as no one sews a new piece of cloth onto an old garment so the new covenant would not be a patched up version of the old. Nor would it be a sect within the Jewish religion. The result of an attempt to modify the old covenant would be to make matters worse. The problem of the spiritual state of humankind would not be addressed, and the gap between Jew and Gentile would remain or become even greater. Instead, part of the plan of the new covenant was for Christ to “reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of his cross; thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end” (Eph. 2:14-16). Only a completely new covenant could do away with the old (Heb. 8:13), so that God's law could be written in the hearts of every person (Heb. 8:10, 10:16).
Third New Thing 2:22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine is poured into new wineskins.’ Here Jesus uses another illustration to show the blessings of the new covenant. In this one, he speaks of putting new wine into new bottles. The new wine which Jesus brings to us is the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16). In Acts 2:13 those who received the
Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost were thought to be drunk with new wine. Only those who are born again of the Spirit of God, who are new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15) can be filled with the Holy Spirit and are able to contain him without being destroyed by the holiness of God.
The Sabbath Day 2:23 Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way. On a certain day, the disciples were feeling hungry, and so as they passed through corn fields, they plucked the ears of corn, rubbed off the husks in their hands and ate the grain, as was permitted by the law of Moses (Deut. 23:25). 2:24 So the Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?’ Seeing this, the Pharisees alleged that by plucking and rubbing the corn the disciples were breaking another law, that of not working on the Sabbath. As they accosted Jesus about this, the Pharisees were not so much concerned for the Sabbath as their desire to obtain evidence with which they might discredit him. 2:25-26 He said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry — how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?’ Jesus turned the tables on the Pharisees by referring to an incident in the life of King David, whom they 13
honoured as the greatest king Israel ever had; a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). When David and his soldiers were fleeing from Saul on a Sabbath day, being very hungry they took and ate the sacred bread which had been consecrated and set before God as an offering. (The bread had only just been removed, which is how we know it was a Sabbath). Only the priests were allowed to eat this bread (Lev. 24:5-9). Therefore David broke the law. Jesus uses this as evidence that the law of love means that providing for genuine human need comes before the ceremonial law. 2:27 Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. The Pharisees had put many burdens upon the people by their rules and regulations (Matt. 23:4), and had twisted the purpose of the Sabbath as if man was made for the Sabbath instead of the Sabbath being given to man for his physical and spiritual good; an opportunity to rest from his labours and keep a holy day of worship to the Lord (Exodus 20:8, 34:21). 2:28 For this reason the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’ Jesus goes even further by stating that since the Sabbath was made for man and he is the Son of Man then he has “the absolute right to overrule the Sabbath if he wills, because of his person and work as God's representative man” (A. Cole).
Jesus – Born for You!
To give God’s children an example. 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:12; Heb. 12:3. To make powerless the Devil’s works. 1 John 3:8:Heb. 2:14; Col. 2:15. To experience our temptations, that He might deliver us. Heb. 2:9-18; 4:15. To become our great High Priest. Heb. 2:16-17; 9:11-12. To reign on David’s throne. Luke 1:32; Rom. 15:8, 12; 2 Sam. 7:16; Acts 2:30-36. To become Head of the church. Col. 1:18. To die in the place of sinners. Heb. 10:5-10. To bring us eternal life. 1 John 4:9. To take upon Him the curse due to us. Gal. 3:13.
Bible Study from W. F.P. Burton WHY DID GOD’S SON BECOME MAN?
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To show us what God is like. Matt. 11:27; John 1:18; 14:9. To bring us God’s grace and love. John. 3:16; Rom. 5:8. 14
Study from William F. P. Burton, who founded the mission that is today Central African Mission. They still stock several of Mr Burton’s PRICELESS books. We commend them as worthy of your prayers and financial support. Visit www.camafrica.org
Pure by Association – by Abby Kelly Image: © zaliha yussof | Dreamstime Stock Photos
“And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” Acts 10:15 (ESV) What comes to mind when you think of a lotus flower? Google it, and up pops all the spiritual meaning associated with it in Buddhist and Hindu cultures. The reputation of this lovely blossom has been attached to something other
than the glory of its Creator. As humans, it’s common for us to judge people based on associations. But, it’s important that we look closely for the impression of the Creator of all things. Just as every budding lotus flower, is perfectly shaped by the Master Designer, so every single person, no matter how sinful, offensive, broken or rebellious, bears the image, the indelible stamp of the Creator. If God took the time to endue a simple flower with the stamina to press through layers of mud and murky waters, and then to bloom 15
even just barely above the surface; then He certainly placed redeemable value in every human heart. To be like the Savior who rescued us, we must be willing to look beyond cultural associations and recognize the fingerprints of God on every life. This includes ourselves; we cannot associate our value with our past, our circumstances, or our deeds. We have intrinsic value because God said so; and for those of us who trust Jesus as our Savior, we have restored purity, because we are associated with Him.
A Daily Moment of Thought By Sonja Burketh……….. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel. Nehemiah 2:10 New Living Translation It's pretty much a guarantee that whenever you pursue what you believe to be God's purpose for your life there will always be those that have a problem or issue with it in some form or another. Sadly, such (often well meaning) people produce only discouragement. The fact is that misery loves company and there will always be those who would rather drag you down to their discontent than rise to your state of blessing. That's exactly what Nehemiah experienced at the hands of Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah had a desire to assist the people of Israel; but Sanballat and Tobiah decided that they didn't like Nehemiah's plans and sought to discourage, intimidate and frighten him. These types of individuals are common in all of our lives. Visions and dreams with great potential for mankind have been abandoned. Dying instead at the hands of modern day Sanballats and Tobiahs.
Image © Kam Por
Don’t let discouragement get the better of you! There is an alternative! Nehemiah provides us great examples on how to handle discouraging people. Be prepared to recognize that whenever you pursue anything positive the naysayers will immediately show up. It's their "job." Somebody has to do it. Not. Despite their best efforts to discourage you, hold on to your passion. Formulate your plan.
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Nehemiah had a clear understanding of what he needed to do and knew what kind of help he would need. He also prayed earnestly to God. Make sure you do the samespend more time talking to God than giving place to the negative! Finally, no matter the discouragement, stay focused on God until the task is complete. He will see you through!
Our In Depth Study. 1 Corinthians 9:1-27 By Mathew Bartlett Photo © Godfer Scripture taken from the NET Bible®.
Chapter 9 Paul’s Example for the Church In the preceding chapter, Paul urged the Corinthians to relinquish their rights and serve others in love. In this chapter, he shows that for a long time he has been selflessly giving himself without demanding his rights as an apostle. Paul’s words in previous chapters have already alluded to the fact that some in the Corinthian church questioned his apostolic authority. These hero worshippers looked down on Paul because he did not fit their idea of what made a great man, as did some of the other church leaders whom they venerated. Not only was it wrong for them to measure one servant of Christ by another, disparaging Paul was very unfair, for he had sacrificed much on their behalf. So it for the sake of the Corinthians, rather than for his own sake, that Paul begins this chapter with a defence of his apostolic ministry.
Paul Defends his Rights as an Apostle 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
Paul assures the church that they are wrong not to accept his claim to be an apostle, asserting that he had seen (in person, not in a vision) the risen Lord Jesus Christ, just as the original twelve apostles had done (Acts 22:14; 1 Cor. 15:8). Paul was free in that he was not the servant of any man, but of Christ Himself (Gal. 1:1). Even those who would not accept Paul's apostolic credentials could not argue with the fact that the church at Corinth had begun as a result of his ministry; and being an apostle gave him certain rights and privileges. 9:2 If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord. Even if no one else considered Paul to be an apostle, the Corinthians should have done so, for he had led them to Jesus Christ. Their conversion was the seal of God's ownership and approval on Paul's ministry. In those days, such a seal was put on letters to indicate that they were genuine. The genuineness of Paul's ministry was evident in the redeemed lives of his converts. 17
9:3 This is my defence to those who examine me. Paul's detractors at Corinth had made certain accusations against him, and so Paul exonerates himself of their slander by answering their allegations. We all ought to be careful of slandering those in leadership (Heb. 13:17), and recall what happened to Miriam when she exalted herself by claiming for her ministry equality with that of Moses (Num. 12:110). Similarly, Korah died when he criticized Moses’ leadership (Num. 16:1-3; Num.16:32-33). 9:4-5 Do we not have the right to financial support? Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? Could anyone dispute the fact that Paul and Barnabas had the right to receive their maintenance (food, drink and lodgings) at the church's expense? If others claimed this right among the Corinthians, surely those who had commenced the church had even more right than they?
It was a well-known practice in the early church, which Paul later defends (9:7), that churches should financially support their ministers in return for their labour. If the minister was married and responsible before God to provide for his wife, then the church was obliged to provide financially for them both, as well as for their children. Paul was, of course, a single man, yet had he chosen to be married with children (as Peter was) then he shared equal rights with Peter regarding the matter of financial support. By being single men, Paul and Barnabas were less of a burden on the church. 9:6 Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work? It appears that whilst the church at Corinth supported other missionaries, such as Peter, they had given no support to the apostle Paul. They had given money so that others might devote themselves to the work of the gospel, but they were not prepared to pay their own pastor. That is why Paul is forced to ask them why is it only I and Barnabas who must continue to work for our living? It is not clear whether some in the church opposed Paul’s claim to the right of financial assistance, or whether they mistook his forgoing of this right and his willingness to work for his own living as a signal that they were free from any responsibility to him. It is
possible that in Paul’s case, their familiarity with Paul had bred contempt and that they were taking his selfless ministry for granted. To correct this problem, Paul insists that he had more right to their financial support than anyone else, but also points out that he had refused it voluntarily. This did not excuse the church for being unwilling to give. The fact was that they were so taken up with themselves and with their spiritual heroes that they lacked any appreciation for Paul and what he had done for them. 9:7 Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk? Paul defends the gospel minister's right to receive his living from the church by the following illustrations: A soldier never pays his own expenses in order to fight a war, since that is the responsibility of his king or country. Similarly the soldiers of Christ, who wield the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God), should not have to concern themselves with their own living; it is the responsibility of the church. Anyone who plants a vineyard expects to eat its fruit. So the minister who tends the Lord's vineyard may expect a material reward for doing so. 18
Would any shepherd feed a flock without himself feeding from the produce of that flock? The principle is a simple one. All those who work do so in the hope of receiving their wages; and when work is done, a wage is due, whether that wage is the produce of nature or the result of trade. Christ does not call his ministers to serve for nothing. 9:8 Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? This was not a regulation which Paul himself had laid down; it was taken from the law of God. Ellicott points out that ‘the pointed and emphatic mention of the Law of Moses would give the words great weight with Jewish opponents’, though it is by no means clear whether Paul had them specifically in mind. 9:9-10 For it is written in the law of Moses, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." God is not concerned here about oxen, is he? Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest. Moses wrote you must not muzzle the ox which treads out the grain (Deut. 25:4). As the animal trampled the corn to separate the grain from the husks, it was to be allowed to eat as much as it wanted from time to time, and was not to be
prevented. Of course, God does take care for oxen, as he cares for all his creatures, but the principle was laid down for the benefit of God's servants. If it is not right to muzzle an ox, then it cannot be right to muzzle a pastor!
financial gifts, Paul should have been the first person considered - but he never was. Yet Paul remained determined not to receive financial support from the churches, but to work for his living as he preached and taught among them.
9:11 If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?
From time to time, especially when in prison, Paul did accept gifts from some churches (especially from the Philippians) when they were given out of genuine love and concern. But he did not receive his living form any church, instead he worked as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Paul did this so as not to give anyone grounds to accuse him of preaching for the money; such an accusation (if it could be demonstrated) would have hindered the spread of the gospel.
Since Paul and Barnabas had laboured among the Corinthians in a spiritual capacity, leading them to Jesus Christ and instructing them in the Christian faith, was it an excessive to ask in return that the church should provide them with enough to live on? Men will pay their doctor and their accountant; through their taxes they pay the wages of the police and school teachers. So they should also support their pastor, whose work is infinitely more important than any of these.
Paul had not Fully Used his Rights 9:12 If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ. If the Corinthians paid others for their ministry, what about the one who founded and cared for the church? When it came to
Paul would rather put up with anything than hinder the progress of the gospel. The words we endure everything imply that the Corinthians should have been providing for him, although they were not. However, it was not the money, but the willingness to act in the right way that Paul was looking for; this would have reflected a genuine love and concern in the Corinthians’ hearts for the apostle, which are Christian virtues, and these virtues are the fruit which Paul longed to see in his converts’ lives (Phil. 4:15-17). 9:13 Don't you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who 19
serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? According to the law of God, the Levites and the priests in the temple at Jerusalem were to live off the sacrifices and the offerings which were made to God by the people (Num. 18:2632; Deut. 14:28-29). These tithes were collected, in accordance with God's will, for the maintenance of the priests, so that they could continually serve Him. Otherwise, they would be forced to leave the priesthood and the worship of God in order to find enough to eat, something which did actually happen in the days of Nehemiah (Neh.13:1012). 9:14 In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel. In the same way, under the New Covenant, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should make their living from doing so (Luke 10:7). 9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than -- no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! Paul knew his rights and has explained them, but he had used none of them. Nor did he write these things so that the Corinthians would begin to pay him. He assures them that he
would rather die than be deprived of his boast that he did not preach the gospel for financial gain. For Paul had relinquished his right to financial reward in order to gain a heavenly reward. Just as he had told the Corinthians in the previous chapter not to stand on their rights, so now he has demonstrated that he had not stood on his.
Rewards for Willing Service 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! Paul could not boast about preaching the gospel. Indeed, since the gospel originated with God, who can boast of preaching it? In Paul’s case, such was the grace of God given to him in Christ, such was the revelation and the clear command from Christ for him to preach, and such was the divine anointing and grace which enabled him to fulfil that command, that he, more than others, felt that there was nothing to boast of. The responsibility of preaching the gospel had been laid upon him by the Lord Jesus Christ as a stewardship. Every believer has a similar responsibility. Those who know the grace of God which has brought us salvation through Christ have a debt to pay to others who do not know. We
must tell others of this wonderful salvation that we have received and which is freely available for all. Paul felt the weight of the awful responsibility laid on him and shudders to think what would be the consequences of not preaching the gospel. Paul never taught salvation by works, but recognized the obligation assumed by those who receive much from the Lord. If the Lord has given us a task to do then we will answer to Him for how well we do it. Christ gave a dreadful warning against our being unfaithful servants (Luke 12:45-48). 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. Serving Christ with a willing spirit is what brings us our reward. The Lord will have no half-hearted servants in His household – it is all or nothing with Him. Such was the revelation and call given to Paul as he saw and heard the risen Christ, initially in Damascus (Acts 22:10-15) and later in the desert of Arabia (Gal. 1:15-17), that even if he did not wish to preach the gospel, he was still required to do so, and to fulfil the stewardship God had given him. When we are entrusted with any task by Christ, we can choose to do it gladly and willingly and so receive a reward. On the other hand, we might choose to grumble and approach our 20
service with some reluctance, in which case we will have no reward, even though the Lord will not excuse us from our responsibility in completing the task. The Lord never trusts someone with any further responsibility until they have first done what God requires of them (Luke 16:10). The servants of Christ in every generation should be ready and willing to serve Him with all their hearts in whatever service they find ready to hand (Eccl. 9:10). 9:18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel. Although compelled to preach the gospel, Paul would have been quite within his rights to receive financial help from the churches as a result of his ministry. He saw the opportunity to give up this right voluntarily as a blessing from God, something he could do for Christ which would one day be rewarded. This was his boast and his basis for expecting a reward. He relinquished his rights out of love for Jesus. As Blomberg says that ‘Paul did at times accept money from churches to whom he was not currently ministering (cf. Phil. 4:10-19), but even then he never demanded it.’
Reaching Out to All Men for Christ
19. For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. Paul reveals the full extent to which he had discarded his own rights in the interest of the gospel. Despite his status as a free man (as a Roman citizen he could not be a slave), he voluntarily became a slave to all so that he might win more people for Christ. Since no one paid Paul a salary, he could not be accused of being controlled by anyone. 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. Paul did not needlessly antagonize his own countrymen. He respected Jewish scruples. Whilst he did not regard himself as being bound by the Law of Moses, and recognized the Jewish rituals to be of no value, yet as Morris says ‘he conformed to practices which would enable him to approach them that are under the law with greater acceptability.’ He did not make waves unnecessarily. In this sense, true Christianity is neither radical nor revolutionary. 9:21 To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.
Among the Gentiles, Paul did not behave as a Jew, but lived with them on their own terms. By saying he was free from the law he does not mean that he was under no moral control, but that when living among the Gentiles, he did not observe the rituals of Jewish law. At all times Paul remained under the personal authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and sought to please Him. Only as far as obedience to Christ would allow did he conform to the lifestyle and customs of the Gentiles in order to win them. 9:22 To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some. We have already seen in previous chapters that Paul was concerned for the weak. He respected their standards and when required would conform his behaviour to fit those standards. In saying I have become all things to all people he does not mean that his own actions were unprincipled, for on matters of principle Paul would be completely unyielding in spite of strong opposition. Yet if no principle were at stake, Paul was willing to go to tremendous lengths to meet people where they were. His one aim was that by all means I may save some. A minister friend of mine had no interest in sport whatever, yet he regularly read the sports page in the newspaper. He knew that 21
other men he might meet would be interested in last night's results, and would begin to discuss them on the way to work. Being able to discuss sport gave him many opportunities to turn the conversation to more spiritual matters with good effect. The Living Bible reads, Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him (1 Cor. 9:22). (Living Bible) 9:23 I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it. The gospel was of first importance in Paul's life; being so wonderful and powerful that it was itself the motivation for his sharing it with others. News as good as the good news which God proclaims in Christ simply must be passed on.
Self-Discipline Required to Win the Prize 9:24 Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Anyone who knows the history of the Olympic Games will know that athletic contests were common in first century Greece. Paul uses imagery from these contests to illustrate the need of self-discipline in believers’ lives. There can be only one winner of a track race. That is why all the
runners put so much effort into trying to win. Thankfully, there is more than one winner in the race which we run as Christians, for all can reach the heavenly prize; it is not the end result but the dedicated lifestyle of the athlete which Paul wants us to imitate. Every Christian should emulate the athlete’s effort by straining every nerve to produce their best work for the Lord.
perfectly acceptable for them to have, in order to win the prize. The Christian is called not only to avoid deliberate sin, but to reject anything which hinders his effectiveness in the gospel of Jesus Christ, or his walk with the Lord (Heb. 12:1).
9:25 Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
In a day when fewer and fewer Christians commit themselves to long-term pastorates, career missions... or other multi-year ministries, we need people who will make such commitments to Christ and to a particular local body of believers.
In order to win in the gold medal in the Olympics; a great deal of work and an agony of effort is expended. Every competitor goes into strict training all year round, a regime which involves a great deal of self-discipline. Their aim is to be successful in the games and win (in Paul’s day) the laurel or pine wreath today's gold medal. Athletes are prepared to go through all that in order to win a medal which shall not last, but Christians aim for a crown that will never pass away. That is why we should spend every effort in Christ's service, because of the prize set before us. If athletes discipline themselves to obtain an inferior prize, the Christian should be prepared to do more so as to obtain an eternal and incorruptible crown. Many committed athletes will deny themselves a number of things which would normally be
Blomberg highlights the contemporary significance of Paul’s thought with these words:
9:26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. Still using the illustration of the Olympics, Paul says that he is not like a runner who does not know where the finishing line is, or a boxer who wastes his punches. Paul has a definite aim in life, and puts everything into his service for Christ. All else is wasted.
would subdue his body, a verb which, as Clarke explains, was used in both boxing and wrestling, to signify the conquest of an opponent. The appetites and passions of the body should never be allowed to master us, but we must yield them to the controlling influence of the Spirit. Like an athlete, Paul engages in this kind of selfdiscipline for he has his eyes on winning the prize from Jesus. When he says that he does not want to be disqualified from receiving his reward, he is not afraid of losing his salvation, but of ruining his testimony and so spoiling his chances of receiving a reward for his labour. This was why self-discipline was so important. In one way or another (e.g. sexual sin, lust for money, or dishonesty) many Christian ministers have lost their testimony and ruined their effectiveness for Christ, a fact which disqualifies them from receiving a full reward for their labours. If we want to stay effective in our witness for Christ, then we must keep our testimony.
Keep Your Testimony 9:27 Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified. Paul describes how he disciplines himself and his natural desires. He does not allow himself to be led by them, nor does he give in to them. He 22
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Online are ministries of Sharon Full Gospel Church. UK Reg. Charity No.
Current prices (UK pounds) including postage for 12 monthly issues are:
1050642 www.sharonchurch.co.uk
UK/USA £42 for 12 issues. Tel: (+44) 01495 753561 Lines open 9am-5pm
Canada £48 for 12 issues.
Mon to Fri with answerphone.
Rest of World £82 for 12 issues.
Living Word digital magazine is available free
Go to our Living Word page for more
details.
of charge. Print copies also available at cost price from: www.biblestudiesoline.org.uk 23