It’s Only Singing

How many times have we heard it? Sadly, how many times might we ourselves have actually thought or even voiced it? It’s the once monthly Sunday or Wednesday evening service that the leadership of our local congregation has decided is going to be a night of singing God’s praises together, and the attendance and interest is way down, because inevitably somebody is either going to be thinking or speaking of staying home from the assembly of the saints because, “After all, it’s only singing.” Really?

God’s people had painfully endured 400 years of bitter slavery at the hand of the merciless Egyptians who afflicted them without measure – even going so far as to order the brutal murder of their newborn male children (Exodus 1). God heard their cry and sent Moses to lead them to freedom. Ten plagues and countless Egyptian deaths later at both the hand of the Lord at midnight (Exodus 12:29-30) and at the hand of the Lord by Whose power the Egyptian armies lay dead at the bottom of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31), God’s stunned and suddenly surprised and redeemed children stood free and clear on the opposite shore… and as they did, what did they do? They sang about their incredible, incomparable, and unbelievable God and His divinely empowered deliverance! They sang to God and one another as they celebrated their sweetest of victories over a very formidable four-hundred year old foe! Go back and read that song they sang in Exodus 15:1-22. Dare any Israelite not join in praising God for that freedom, saying “Well, it’s only singing!?”

When the children of Israel were later “harshly oppressed” once again, this time by Jabin, king of Canaan and his army commander Sisera, and God gave His children resounding victory through Deborah and Barak, what did they do (See Judges 4 & 5)? Was that “only singing?”

First Chronicles chapter sixteen catalogues what occurred on that momentous occasion when King David finally managed to maneuver the precious and holy Ark of the Covenant – which signified the presence of God – into the tabernacle he had constructed for it in the holy city of Jerusalem. And lo and behold, what resonated and reverberated from the rafters and rooftops of Jerusalem’s residences that day? Music sweet music! Music to minister, commemorate, thank and praise the Lord God of Israel (vs. 4); the singing of Psalms to “talk of all His wondrous works” (vs. 9); singing “to the Lord” and to “proclaim the good news of His salvation” (Vs. 23)! As you read that chapter – and read it you must – ask yourself this question: “Does that sound like it wasn’t as worthwhile as sitting home and either falling asleep or watching the Jerusalem nightly news because after all, it was ‘only a song service?’”

King David, the man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) and the sweet Psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1), a man whose turbulent and tumultuous life was fraught and filled with life and death outward danger as well as inward turmoil, along with a few of his Psalm-authoring contemporaries, included the inspirational instruction to “sing” some 69 times in the Psalms alone! Why? Let’s let them tell us, with just a few “sacred selections” from their Psalms!

 

  • And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord (27:6).
  • Sing praise to the Lord, You saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name (30:4).
  • My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise (57:7).
  • But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy (59:16-17).
  • Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious (66:2).
  • Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation (95:1).
  • Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day (96:1-2).
  • Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (100:1-4).
  • I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being (104:33).
  • Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful (147:1).

 

Does that sound like it wasn’t worth their time; like it was “only singing?” They sang because of their God-given victory and the unbelievable joy in their hearts because of it (27:6). They sang at the remembrance of His holy name and because their hearts were steadfast with Him (30:4; 57:7). They sang of His incredible power, infinite strength, and all-encompassing mercy; and how He was therefore their defense and refuge (59:16-17). They sang in honor of His name and made His name glorious, singing out loudly and joyfully to Him Who was the Rock of their salvation (66:2; 95:1). They sang to bless His name and proclaim the good news of the salvation He had provided (96:1-2). For His many blessings they even came into His presence with glad, joyful, and thankful singing of His praises (100:1-4). They sang constantly and never missed the opportunity to sing to Him (104:33). They sang because it brought goodness, peace, harmony and beauty into their lives when they did (147:1). And this is just a very few of the plenteous examples found in the Psalms… “Only just singing?” I think not!

Second Chronicles, chapter 20:1-30 contains the story of a simply phenomenal and almost unbelievable victory God’s overwhelmed children enjoyed from His hand. When He promised redemption through His prophet Jahaziel, the people responded with singing His praises. The next morning as the people went forth to see and experience God’s deliverance firsthand, Jehoshaphat “…appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another” (vss. 21-23).

In second Chronicles, chapter 29, it is recorded how good King Hezekiah repaired the Lord’s house that had been abandoned and left to fall into ruin, and then restored temple worship that had long been neglected by God’s people. Verses 29-30 report that, “And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

“Only singing?” You’ve got to be kidding! Folks, there is power in the praising and proclaiming of the name of the Lord in reverent and heartfelt worship in song! Whether patriarchs, prophets, priests or kings, many of the Old Testament faithful – and subsequently victorious against all odds – knew the full-forged power of singing God’s praises! And even the great and godly prophet Isaiah would be quick to join their victorious chorus:

 

  • Sing to the Lord, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth (12:5).
  • And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away (35:10).
  • Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted (49:13).

And what about the New Testament? What about Jesus’ last, incredible, and all-important pre-crucifixion evening on earth? Let us now turn our attention to the events of that evening. The Lord Jesus had just instructed and illustrated for His hand-picked apostles the true meaning of godly love in action; He had celebrated the Passover, named His betrayer, instituted the “Lord’s Supper,” and was now headed out to deal with the ordeal and agony of Gethsemane, Golgotha, and then finally to be delivered to the glory beyond. So what did He do in between? What was so vitally important to Him on that final, fatal evening, that on His way to His arrest and crucifixion for the sins of the entire world, He felt was so essential to make sure to take the time to do? I think it is of no small or arbitrary importance that Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26 of the divinely inspired record record, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Why would He, the Lord and Savior and Son of the living God, under those circumstances make sure to stop and sing? And why would God see fit to ensure that this tiny tidbit was included in the divine record? Was that really “only just singing” and therefore worth missing? Apparently not to Jesus – or to God the Father. Nor did God the Father believe we ought to miss the fact that Jesus stopped to sing at that point either seeing as how He included it here. Why?

Although that text does not tell us why Jesus stopped and took the time to sing a Psalm, it tells us that He did. And this writer believes the answer as to exactly why is not all that difficult to figure out, especially in light of all we’ve discussed in this article so far: There is victory and power to endure even the worst of trials, in the reminder given us as we vocally express and faithfully extol God’s praises, singing them out both to Him and to one another while focusing fully on Him in song, period. (Remember the story of Paul and Silas punished and shackled and singing in prison in Acts 16:16-34?)

This is why Romans 15:1-14 (which see) connects such essential items for our assistance/assurance as edification, patience, comfort, hope, confirmation of God’s promises, glorifying God, and rejoicing and praising with our singing; concluding in verse 13 with: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

God knows and needs for us to experience and unleash the awesome privilege and unlimited power of praising and sharing Him and His deliverance in faithful and joyful song at each and every opportunity! Just listen to His pleadings in these providentially power packed New Testament passages:

 

  • See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5:15-20).

 

  • And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Col 3:15-17).

 

  • Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Heb 13:15).

 

  • Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13).

 

The absolute and God-given privilege of getting together with the family of God to share the unmitigated and unrestricted power of singing His praises at any and every opportunity we’re ever given may be “only just singing” to some of us, but certainly not to those of us who have come to clearly understand the biblical truths re-covered in this article. And certainly not to those of us who realistically and faithfully look forward to eternity with God in heaven. What do you think the faithful will be doing up there? Singing His praises! See Revelation 5:6-14 and 14:3-13!

Will there be some of the saints who will say, “Well, I’d rather not go to heaven; after all, they’re only just going to be singing?” (As insane as that may sound to some, I once had a co-worker whom I invited to worship, who, once he and his family came, claimed he’d not come again because we “sang too much” !?!).

And what about Zephaniah’s words regarding the Messianic Kingdom’s blessing and reward regarding, not us singing God’s praises, but He, God, singing over His children?!? The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Would anyone in their right mind consider such notice and expression by God to be “only just singing?”

It should be extremely and abundantly clear at this point, that there is no such thing as “only just singing” in the Scriptures when it comes to God’s children faithfully and fearfully seeking and praising Him together in song. Let us be sure that in our hearts, souls, minds, and attitudes and actions, that there is no such thing in existence either. And if there is, let us repent, and let us SING!

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on It’s Only Singing

A Fall from Grace

Possibly one of the most puzzling aspects of Christianity is the conscious decision of some that have been faithful to Christ — to leave HIM and go back into the world. I have agonized over this matter for many years and have prepared many sermons to encourage faithfulness realizing that others who are now faithful may be the next to fall away. Indeed, we know that the New Testament teaches that a Christian may “fall away“, may “fall from grace“, etc.  As I have considered this matter it has become evident to me that many leave the faith that those that do leave the faith leave for many different reasons. It is never acceptable to God to leave the faith for any reason but I know through interaction and conversation with some that have left the faith that they had reasons that they considered more important than remaining faithful.

The question of keeping the faith is important as the Christian’s hope rests upon his faithfulness unto death — cf., Revelation 2:10, “Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (ASV)  The question is also of great interest to those that are continuing faithful. The faithful are concerned about, “why do the faithful leave?” Is there something that we should have done or are we in some way responsible for their failure? Let us look at the Bible’s teaching about the condition of the backslider.

1. First of all let us recognize that we must never become a stumbling block in the life of any Christian or anyone for that matter:

Rom. 14:12-13, “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” NKJV

1 Cor. 8:9-10, “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

Rev. 2:14, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the Children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” NKJV

2. In the second place we that are faithful have a responsibility to one another to Love each other and to bear one another’s burdens:

Rom. 12:9-10, 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affection one to another; in honor preferring one another; ASV

1 Cor. 13:4-8, 4 Love suffers long, (and) is kind; love envies not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; 6 rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;

7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  8 Love never faileth: but whether (there be) prophecies, they shall be done away; whether (there be) tongues, they shall cease; whether (there be) knowledge, it shall be done away.” ASV

Gal. 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” ASV

3. In the third place the faithful are to try to restore those that turn away from the faith (i.e., backslide):

Gal 6:1-2, 1 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

4. Finally, whenever the faithful have been a pattern of good works, love, Patience, and possess a willingness to go to the backslider and try and restore him/her to faithfulness, surely they can do nothing else. After the faithful have exhausted all avenues of Biblical instruction in their attempt to restore such a one, the faithful ones must not blame themselves for the failure of the backslider to return to the faith. The guilt for sinning and leaving the faith belongs to him who has chosen to leave the faith and remain in the world.

CONSIDER THIS:

Ezek. 18:19-21, 20 he soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. 21 but if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

There is never a good reason to leave the good relationship that exist with Almighty God when one has been faithfully serving Him for a short time or for a long time. Perhaps something happens in the life of the person that leaves the faith and he/she cannot understand the cause and/or results of the event. There are many things that man controls in his relationship with God that is within the individual’s realm called “obedience” to God’s instruction. Whenever an event occurs in the life of any Christian that creates doubt in their relationship with God; it is wise to set down and consider the reason for the event; did I fail to do something that caused the event; was it within my ability to stop or alter the outcome of the event; if so then you must not cast aspersions upon God but you must accept responsibility for your actions and seek forgiveness from God for the deed – note: Titus 2:11-12 – 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Posted in Garreth L. Clair | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Fall from Grace

Have Miracles Ceased?

Miracles do not continue today. First, look at the quality of miracles that people claim to perform today. Where are the ones who can walk on the water? Where are the ones who can still the storms? Where are the ones who can raise the dead? Where are the ones who can make the deaf hear? Where are the ones who can make the blind see? Where are the ones who can heal a withered arm? These are all the quality of miracles that occur within the Bible. You will never find a single person who can perform this quality of miracle. Instead, you find people trying to perform more ambiguous type miracles–things that are not obviously miracles. You find people shaking around on the ground. You find people speaking in “tongues” which are not tongues at all according to the Bible definition of tongues (read Acts 2:1-11 and pay attention to what tongues are in this passage). You find people being healed of diseases that they can’t see or define. The quality of miracles that you have today is simply not the same as what Jesus and the apostles did.

Second, though, and perhaps more importantly, the Bible says that miracles have ceased. While 1 Corinthians 13 is mostly looked at as the great chapter of love in the Bible, that is not what is under consideration by the apostle in the broader context of the book. Paul is discussing the use of miraculous gifts in chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians. In chapter 13 he is drawing a distinction between miracles and the way of love. Notice what he says in the middle of the chapter regarding what is going to remain and what is going to cease (verse 8). “Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” The miraculous is going to cease but love is not. That is the contrast that Paul is drawing.

Now at the end of the chapter he adds two more things to the concept of love that shall not cease. These three things together are faith, hope, and love. These three will abide, but the miraculous will cease. Some people say that miracles have not ceased now, but will cease when Jesus comes. This is what they say “that which is perfect” means in verse 10. However, “that which is perfect” cannot mean Jesus because when Jesus comes hope will be done away with. Paul writes in Romans 8:24 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” When Jesus comes again, we will see Him and no longer have hope in Him. If “that which is perfect” is Jesus, then not only must miracles cease at that time, but hope as well. But Paul says in verse 13 that hope abides. So “that which is perfect” must be something other than Jesus. In fact, “that which is perfect” has already come. “That which is perfect” is the completely revealed word of God. James calls it the “perfect law of liberty” in James 1:25. Additionally, we read that Ephesians 4:7-13 also talks about when miracles will end. The gifts that were given (apostles, prophets, etc) were given UNTIL we all come to the “unity of the faith.” This means that when the “Unity of the Faith” came, there was no longer a need for the miraculous gifts. The unity of the faith is no less than God’s complete revealed word.

To phrase the argument succinctly:

1. Miraculous gifts will cease, but faith, hope, and love will abide ( 1 Cor. 13:8,13).
2. Miraculous gifts will cease when that which is perfect comes ( 1 Cor. 13:10).
3. Faith, hope, and love will continue when that which is perfect comes ( 1 Cor. 10:13).
4. Hope can’t continue when Jesus comes because hope that is seen is not hope and Jesus will be seen (Romans 8:24).
5. So, that which is perfect can’t be Jesus’ coming because then hope would not abide.
6. Therefore, that which is perfect must come after the time Paul writes and before Jesus comes again.
7. Therefore, miracles must cease sometime after Paul writes and before Jesus comes again.
8. This was going to happen when the “unity of the faith” came ( Eph. 4:13).
9. The “unity of the faith” came after John wrote the book of Revelation ( Rev. 22:18,19).
10. Miraculous gifts ended after John wrote the book of Revelation.

Finally, we must take into account the purpose of miracles. We read in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” The purpose of miracles was to confirm the word of God. They did not have a Bible like you and I have. They had people who were preaching. They needed something to show that what they were preaching and saying was the truth. God gave witness to them through miracles that what they were saying was the truth. This is the purpose of miracles. Notice also Hebrews 2:3,4 “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” The words which were first spoken were confirmed by God bearing witness to the words. How did He do this? Through signs and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. This is how the words of the apostles and prophets were confirmed–proved to be God’s truth. We have the completely revealed word of God today in the Bible. It was confirmed by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and by the miracles that the apostles performed and is a historical document. We have no more need to have it confirmed today. Where is the need for miracles today? There is no need.

Now take these three things into account. 1) That there is no need for miracles today, 2) that the quality of miracles that are allegedly done today are inferior to the miracles done in the New Testament and 3) that the Bible says that miracles have ceased and where does that leave us?  Those who claim to perform miracles today are really charlatans of the basest kind. They are hoaxes and frauds or perhaps profoundly self-deceived. Miracles do not exist today. (By the way, my wife is deaf and would very much like to hear, so if you know of someone who claims to be able to perform miracles, just tell them that we would be happy for them to come down and try.)

Posted in Kevin Cauley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Have Miracles Ceased?

Colossians 1:18-29

It is my pleasure, by request, to present the topic “ Setting Our Minds on the Church of Christ and the Peace from Christ ”.  In attempt to simplify this topic in my mind, let me restate the topic in this way: “Who Is Christ and Who Were We”.  It seems fitting to state it this way as we shall see a study of Christ cannot be truly separate from the Church and the peace He brings represents a transformation from the former state of man.  The guidelines of examination require the primary text to be Colossians 1:18-29.  As the text is examined, the role of Christ, man, the role of the apostle Paul, and the role of the Word of God will be laid forth.  Furthermore, the analysis requires the inclusion of the following three concepts: First – The work of Christ bringing to the saints the peace from Christ.  Second – The Church of Christ, the only church in prophecy.  Third – We all must obey God and serve Him through the church to be saved.  With these objectives in mind, let us tackle Colossians 1:18-29.

THE ROLE OF CHRIST IN THE CHURCH

Colossians 1:18-19 as read in the American Standard Version – ASV – (Utilized throughout this article unless otherwise stated) states:

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell;”

From these verses, the Role of Christ is put forth.  He is the head of the Church.  And what is the Church?  The Church of God was established on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  It consists of those who repented from the perverse things of the world and were baptized in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38-41, 47).  Verse 38 presents the requirements for entry in the Church, the reason for entry is expressed in both verse 38 and 40, and the destination is presented in verse 47 – “The Lord added to the Church Daily” (KJV).

To be head of the Church establishes Christ as the one with authority.  In fact, Jesus has all authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18).  He has preeminence!  He is judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).  Jesus will reward those faithful to Him (Revelation 22:12) and eternally destroy those ignorant and disobedient toward Him (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).  The authority of Christ to the Church is described as that of a husband to his bride in Ephesians 5.  The bride is subject to her husband in all things and he loves her.  He gives himself up for her, cherishes her, leads her by the Word of God such that He presents her as holy and blameless.  How is Christ able to do this?

All fullness dwells in Christ.  This fullness is mentioned further in Colossians 2:9 – For now understand it as the nature of God.  Within the flesh, Jesus had the power to control the wind and seas (Mark 4:41), cure all illnesses (Luke 4:40), Raise the dead (widow’s son, Synagogue Ruler’s daughter, Lazarus), prophecy his own death and resurrection among many other things (Mark 9:31), command spirits (Matthew 8:16), and forgive sin (Matthew 9:2).  He himself was without sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and he was the perfect definition of all aspects of the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  In Christ’s eternal Deity of which there is no beginning or end, Jesus had no lack.  This is what qualified Christ in the role as head of the Church, Husband, Shepherd, Savior, Physician, and Leader.  There is only one head to every body and only one body which is the Church (Ephesians 4:4).

THE ROLE OF MAN IN THE CHURCH

Moving on to Colossians 1:20-23 we see the following words presented:

“and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. ”

Though information is provided about the work of Christ as Savior, we want to examine the role of man in these verses.  Reconciliation reaches its goal when compatibility exists.  That reconciliation exists only through Jesus’ bloodshed on the cross.  Who needed this reconciliation?  Man did.  What needed reconciliation?  The relationship between man and God!  Man by his own choosing rejected the righteousness of God.  By accepting sin in our lives, we separated ourselves from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  We became incompatible with God.  Christ brought the opportunity for compatibility between God in heaven and man upon the earth with His sacrifice.  Thus, man is able once again to return to the spiritual image of God.  Yet, this is a conditional state which highlights the role of man.  A great “if” in the control of man.

To continue to be compatible with God through Christ, man must stay in Christ.  Man can reject this role and choose to return to his sinful ways or choose the role presented by the Gospel.  But man cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).  He cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons (I Corinthians 10:21).  Rather the role of man in Christ must be as stated by Paul in Ephesians 4:14-16:

“that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.”

Paul spoke those words to the Ephesians expressing how man is to operate within the body which is the Church.

THE ROLE OF PAUL IN THE CHURCH

Moving to our Colossians text, verses 24-26, describe Paul’s role as related to the Church.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church; whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,”

Paul was an apostle of Jesus, but like all men, he needed to be reconciled to God through Christ (Acts 22:16).  He needed to be a Christian.  This passage certainly establishes that God made Paul a minister of the Word and that Paul shared that Word.  However, at its core is the reiteration of the role of man and Paul establishes in this he was not exempt.  This passage states he was “filling up what was lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of the… church”.  This does not in any way mean Christ was lacking in the affliction which he went through during his life in the flesh, including his ministry, trials, and crucifixion.  Rather, Paul declares, as a Christian, he serves God with his best effort and endures the Christian destiny to aid the Church.  What affliction must all Christians meet?  We will be persecuted (Romans 12:14), hated (Matthew 10:22), and suffer (Romans 8:16-18).  Christians will suffer in the name of Christ such that they will even cry from death to be avenged (Revelation 6:10).  Was Paul put in a role that caused him to suffer more than most Christians?  Yes.  However, each Christian is called to pick up his own Cross in service of Christ (Luke 9:23) and for the love of others (2 Corinthians 8:8-9).  Paul stated in I Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ”. Paul’s role here, as stated in Colossians, provides further example for us.

THE ROLE OF THE WORD IN THE CHURCH

The Final portion of the Colossians text to be examined is verses 27-29:

“to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

“[The Word of God] is suitable for doctrine, evidence, correction, and teaching that the man of God might be perfect, equipped for every Good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).  In both Colossians and 2 Timothy the reference to the word “perfect” means complete.  The Word of God provides the knowledge of Christ and thus all that is necessary for life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:1-3).   When the perfect Word of God came, man was enabled to put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:10-11) and become a fullgrown man not carried away with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:13-16).

Christ dwelling in us, in unity with us through the Word of God, making us compatible with God, gives us hope!  The hope of Glory!  The hope that heaven is real and we will be there with Him forevermore!  God sent his son that we might have everlasting life (John 3:16)!  Everlasting life has to be somewhere!  Jesus dwells in heaven at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33).  He has prepared a place where He dwells and He wants us there!

John 14:2-3 – “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

The Word of God provides this hope!

As we have finished our exegesis of our main text, let us thrust our attention upon our three thesis statements.  First we turn to: “The work of Christ bringing to the saints the peace from Christ”.  The work of Christ as we have studied it, can be identified as “Reconciliation”.  Jesus made the incompatible man, compatible.  Jesus provides every man the opportunity to shed the filth of their sins and be reunited with God.  This thesis has been clearly born out in our text.

Now our second thesis: “The Church of Christ – The only church in prophecy.”  Verse 18 of our text called Jesus the head of the body, the church.  Ephesians 4 said there was one body.  Acts 2:47 said the Lord added to the Church.  In Matthew 16:15-18 the scriptures read:

“[Jesus] saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus declared He would build his church – singular.  If He planned on doing this, when did He do it?  He declared Peter will have the keys to the kingdom.  Paul declares it is the foolishness of preaching that saves (I Corinthians 1:21).  Thus, the keys are the preaching.  In Acts 2 where we first see people added to the Church, we see Peter preaching Jesus and salvation from sin through Him for the first time.  That freedom from sin is called justification.  Men were made as if they were innocent.  Jesus could only do this because all fullness dwelt in Him.

As Peter Spoke on the day of Pentecost he identified that day of salvation as prophesied by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32).  Isaiah 2:1-4 and Micah 4:1-3 both point to a time when the Word of God would go from Jerusalem to all men.  On that day when men submitted themselves to the authority of Christ, as Head of the Church, they found salvation in an eternal kingdom started in Jerusalem.  Daniel prophesied the eternal kingdom set up on the time of the Romans in Daniel 2:31-35, 44.  The eternal kingdom was headed by the one spoken of in Daniel 7:13-14.  The individual appearing as a son of man ascended to heaven and none has done that except Jesus (John 3:13).  The Old Testament scriptures point toward Jesus.  Jesus declared one Church and He stated: “I am the Truth, the Way, and the Life, no man cometh to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)  Christ’s Church is the only Church in prophecy and Colossians sums that up by declaring Him as its Head.

The final thesis statement is “We must obey God and serve Him through the Church to be saved”.  This has thoroughly been confirmed in our Colossians text.  When Christ by reconciliation (verse 20), brought us to God through justification (verse 22), he made our state of salvation contingent upon sanctification (verse 23).  That is: He set us apart from the filth of the world as “holy and without blemish” and as long as we continue setting ourselves apart in the role of filling up the affliction of the body of Christ, as Paul, we have the hope of Glory.

Who is Christ and who were we?  Christ is the head of the Church, our Savior who we are exhorted to serve without wavering.  We were sinners, unclean, impure, and far from God.  Faced with an eternity of that horrible condition, Christ came and made us compatible with God once again by reconciliation through justification resulting in sanctification.  Christ brings us peace and for that we should be eternally faithful.

Posted in Travis Main | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Colossians 1:18-29

Apostle Paul: Secret to Sucess

Besides the Lord Himself, no man in Scripture better demonstrates the forward-looking faith with hope and with the strength in love that should be ours other than the apostle Paul. This man who described himself as the, “chiefest of sinners and unworthy to be called an apostle” we remember as the great apostle to the Gentiles.

So, here is an example for us in that if God could show His marvelous grace to Saul of Tarsus by forgiving his sins, he can surely forgive any sinner who repents. That is what Saul (Paul) told Timothy (1 Tim. 1:12-16). From God’s point of view, Paul is an example of the limitless extent of diving love.

Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee, the persecutor of the church, zealous beyond all his contemporaries, became the Apostle Paul. This man then suffered innumerable hardships and persecutions for Christ’s sake (2 Cor. 11:23-28), counted all his human achievements as refuse for Christ’s sake (Phil. 37‐11) and forgave his enemies as the Lord has done and commanded (2 Tim. 4:14-18). From the human standpoint, Paul is an example of the power of God to change character and reshape human lives for good.

So, what was the key to Paul’s success as a Christian? Sometimes we have made the same mistake as the people of Lystra in thinking Paul was more than merely human (Acts 14:8-15). But, he was not. Sometime we think that his miraculous powers gave him an advantage along this life. But, those gifts brought him more trials and difficulties (Acts 16:16-24). So, what was the secret of his success? The answer is that he was totally convinced that Jesus was God’s Son and that judgment was coming and that God had forgiven his sins through Christ. His epistles mention these things over and over.

Paul believed fervently that Jesus was the Son of God. This meant that judgment was certain (Acts 17:30‐31). But, Paul was ready to face the judgment. Though not perfect in his own life, Paul was ready to face God in the righteousness of Christ that, “Righteousness which is of God by faith” (Phil. 3:9).

Paul was committed to Jesus as God’s Son and sought to obey the Lord in all things. Because he knew the judgment was coming, he tried to tell every human being that did not know the facts.

So, are you totally convinced that Jesus is God’s Son? If not, you will never be an effective Christian. Do you really believe that Judgment is coming? Unless you do, your life will likely be careless in God’s service. Do you understand the good news that you are completely forgiven and accepted by God because of your relationship with Christ? The Key to all this is the new life (Rom. 6:3‐4).

Paul was not superman. He was human. But, he was totally sincere in his Christian faith and was committed completely to Christ. Are you?

Posted in Robert Notgrass | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Apostle Paul: Secret to Sucess