November 29, 2014
Philippians
This is my mother’s favorite book of the Bible.
I think it has something to do the “joy” this letter exudes. Why is that? We can tell that Paul is writing from a prison cell, that other Christian preachers fell like they’re in competition with him, that he is still combatting the “Judaizer” heresy (chapter 3:1-11), and that the Philippians themselves have been experiencing some division and dissension (2:1-5; 4:2-3). Despite all this, joy attends every section of this letter.
Think back as to how this church was founded. Paul and Silas were whipped and put in jail for the night, yet even so, they sang praises to God. When the earthquake shook their prison doors open, neither they nor their fellow prisoners attempted to escape. This so impressed the jailor (who’d have been executed if they did escape), that he came to faith in Christ that very night, he and his whole household!
So, Paul writes a letter that overflows with joy to the church that was birthed in joyful praise. “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4).
Tomorrow, it’s Colossians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, November 29, 2014
NOVEMBER 28 Ephesians
November 28, 2014
Ephesians
Ephesians is sometimes seen as the most esoteric and mysterious of Paul’s letters. He wrote it to the church where he had labored for 1½ years, where he had introduced the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19), and where he did such an effective work that the local idol-makes union rose “en masse” to protest their loss of business.
But, though Paul uses the word “mystery” several times in this letter, it is far from secretive. Paul is speaking of a mystery solved, a secret disclosed: that we can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (2:8-9).
Three words help us to outline this letter: Sit, Walk and Stand.
SIT. By faith, we are “seated with Christ” in heavenly places, reigning with him (Ephesians 1:20; 2:6-7). Our special identification with Jesus is nowhere more clearly seen than in the church, the “body of Christ” (4:1-16).
WALK. By faith, we walk as “new people” (4:24), in truth (4:25), in forgiveness (4:32), and in love (5:2), being filled with the Spirit (5:18) of Christ.
STAND. By faith, we stand with Christ, clothed in His armor, against the rulers and authorities of this present darkness, and all the forces of evil (6:10f).
We walk, sit and stand in complete “solidarity” with Jesus Christ!
Tomorrow is Philippians.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
NOVEMBER 27 Galatians
November 27, 2014
Galatians
This is Paul’s toughest letter to the churches in the central region of Asia Minor, the very area where Jews had once (or more than once) stoned Paul and left him for dead. Here is where Judaism would attempt to reign in Christianity from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and make it little more than a Jewish sect. To put it simply, the “Judaizers,” as they have been called, were demanding that Gentiles be circumcised and become Jews BEFORE they became Christians. This, in essence, would have created a salvation by works, rather than by grace through faith. Paul wrote to combat this.
He begins by saying, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” (1:6) Paul affirms “justification by faith,” not by works (2:15f), then asks, “After beginning by the Spirit, are you now trying to achieve your goal by human effort?” (3:3).
He reviews some of the same points he made in Romans, quoting Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous shall live by faith.” He confesses his fear that he has labored in vain (4:11). And encourages them to “walk in the Spirit,” rather than the flesh (5:19-24). Only then are we able to “bear one another’s’ burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (6:2).
Tomorrow is Ephesians.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Galatians
This is Paul’s toughest letter to the churches in the central region of Asia Minor, the very area where Jews had once (or more than once) stoned Paul and left him for dead. Here is where Judaism would attempt to reign in Christianity from the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and make it little more than a Jewish sect. To put it simply, the “Judaizers,” as they have been called, were demanding that Gentiles be circumcised and become Jews BEFORE they became Christians. This, in essence, would have created a salvation by works, rather than by grace through faith. Paul wrote to combat this.
He begins by saying, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” (1:6) Paul affirms “justification by faith,” not by works (2:15f), then asks, “After beginning by the Spirit, are you now trying to achieve your goal by human effort?” (3:3).
He reviews some of the same points he made in Romans, quoting Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous shall live by faith.” He confesses his fear that he has labored in vain (4:11). And encourages them to “walk in the Spirit,” rather than the flesh (5:19-24). Only then are we able to “bear one another’s’ burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (6:2).
Tomorrow is Ephesians.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
NOVEMBER 26 2 Corinthians 10-13
November 26, 2014
2 Corinthians 10-13
Today, Paul speaks from the fire of his own experiences. He defends his ministry and his ways, but he refuses to “compare” himself with others (10:12f). He warns the Corinthians about false teachers, who declare a “different Jesus” that the one he had preached (11:4). He lists his many sufferings for the sake of the gospel (11:23f). He admits his many visions and revelations (12:1), but describes the “thorn in his flesh,” which God allowed him for the purpose of keeping him humble. But no matter how low, how weak, he got, he knew, “Christ’s grace was sufficient for him” (12:9). The weaker he grows, the stronger he becomes!
After all this, Paul turns his attention back to his readers. He speaks of visits; he gives them warnings. He encourages them to examine themselves. And he professes his desire to build them up (13:10).
Tomorrow is Galatians.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
NOVEMBER 25 2 Corinthians 6-9
November 25, 2014
2 Corinthians 6-9
Yesterday, I said that 2 Corinthians is the most autobiographical of all Paul’s letters. We’ve already read something of his situation as he was writing this letter (2 Cor. 1:12-2:4), and we read more about the setting of this letter in today’s reading (2 Cor. 7:2-16). And also today, we read a passage in which Paul summarizes the hardships he has experienced in the work of the gospel (2 Cor. 6:3-13), and another, where he indirectly describes his ministry while asking the Corinthian church to collect a free-will offering for the distressed Christians in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8-9). But the most autobiographical passage awaits us in tomorrow’s reading (2 Cor. 10-12).
Amidst all the references to his own life and ministry, Paul gives us these important words about:
- Salvation: “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (6:2b)
- Holiness: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” (6:14)
- Giving: “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (9:6-7)
Tomorrow, we finish 2 Corinthians!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, November 24, 2014
NOVEMBER 24 2 Corinthians 1-5
November 24, 2014
First of all: Happy, blessed birthday to my wonderful wife! I love you, Becky!
2 Corinthians 1-5
This is the most autobiographical of all Paul’s letters. In other words, we learn more about Paul from this letter, than nearly all of his others put together!
The evidence suggests (and the church has traditionally accepted) that 2 Corinthians is the second letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and that Paul is referring to 1 Corinthians when he says, “I wrote as I did (so strongly) so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice” in 2 Corinthians 2:3.
So Paul, probably less than a year after 1 Corinthians writes in a more conciliatory tone. He begins with a great statement on “the God of all comfort,” how it is God’s will work His good in all our sufferings (1:3-7). Paul discusses his own motives for writing 1 Corinthians; he urges forgiveness for a repentant sinner (possibly the sinner described in 1 Corinthians 5); and catches them up on his travels (2: 12-13).
In the rest of today’s reading Paul covers a great deal of material. He exhorts the Corinthian Christians...
To be “the aroma of Christ among those who are perishing” (2:15)
To know that “the Spirit gives life” (3:3:6)
To remember that God’s goal is to “transform us into [Christ’s] likeness with ever increasing glory” (3:18)
Not to lose heart (4:1, 16-18; these last three verses were my theme throughout my knee surgery this last Spring!)
To remember that “if our earthly tent (body) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (5:1)
And to carry “the message of reconciliation” to the entire world (5:19f).
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
First of all: Happy, blessed birthday to my wonderful wife! I love you, Becky!
2 Corinthians 1-5
This is the most autobiographical of all Paul’s letters. In other words, we learn more about Paul from this letter, than nearly all of his others put together!
The evidence suggests (and the church has traditionally accepted) that 2 Corinthians is the second letter Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and that Paul is referring to 1 Corinthians when he says, “I wrote as I did (so strongly) so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice” in 2 Corinthians 2:3.
So Paul, probably less than a year after 1 Corinthians writes in a more conciliatory tone. He begins with a great statement on “the God of all comfort,” how it is God’s will work His good in all our sufferings (1:3-7). Paul discusses his own motives for writing 1 Corinthians; he urges forgiveness for a repentant sinner (possibly the sinner described in 1 Corinthians 5); and catches them up on his travels (2: 12-13).
In the rest of today’s reading Paul covers a great deal of material. He exhorts the Corinthian Christians...
To be “the aroma of Christ among those who are perishing” (2:15)
To know that “the Spirit gives life” (3:3:6)
To remember that God’s goal is to “transform us into [Christ’s] likeness with ever increasing glory” (3:18)
Not to lose heart (4:1, 16-18; these last three verses were my theme throughout my knee surgery this last Spring!)
To remember that “if our earthly tent (body) is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven” (5:1)
And to carry “the message of reconciliation” to the entire world (5:19f).
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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