Tag Archives: Christianity

1 Timothy 1- Our Testimony

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And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:12-17

Have you shared your personal testimony with anyone recently? Have you told people what Jesus Christ has done for you? Our personal testimonies are the most powerful evidence of Gods power and salvation. People can refute the existence of God, however they can’t refute your personal testimony. They can’t deny the evidence of Gods salvation presented before them. 

This is what the Apostle Paul is sharing with us, he is a walking testimony for Christ. As Paul said “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” Notice God is the one who qualifies and calls us for ministry, its not man. There are many people in the pulpit today, with seminary degrees, that its clear God has never called to be there. God is the one who calls and qualifies us, if your calling is not supported by scripture, then your calling was not from God

And as the Apostle Paul states, God can use and transform anyone who wants for his service. The Apostle Paul humbly admits “who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor,and a injurious or violent man, but I obtained mercy” The Apostle Paul went from persecuting the Church to planting Churches all throughout Asia Minor. People looked at Paul as a wicked and depraved man, who hated and killed Christians, but he became Born Again in Christ, Paul became a New Creation in Christ, on the Road to Damascus, he literally had a “Come to Jesus” moment, and Paul was transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Some would say “Paul doesn’t deserve mercy” but as Paul says here “the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant” none of us deserve mercy, however this is the grace of God, that through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven and saved. “With faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”. We are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8) Its not by our own works or our own power, its by the power of God through our Lord Jesus Christ

As the Apostle Paul ends “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”, Christ came into this world to save you and me, just like he came for Paul, and not only saved us , but transformed us to be Born Again, Amen!

1 Timothy 1- The Law is Good

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But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust. 1 Timothy 1:8-11

When people think about the Ten Commandments, or the Moral Law of God, they often view it in a negative perspective. However as the Apostle Paul says here “The Law is good if one uses it lawfully” So what does the Apostle mean by this? How can The Law be “good” when The Law brings death (2 Corinthians 3:6) Well as the Apostle said “if one uses it lawfully”

Without The Law of God nobody would ever know that they are sinners in need of a Savior. As the Bible defines Sin is Lawlessness (1 John 3:4) You are a sinner because you break the moral laws of God. And ultimately this impacts everyones as the Bible says “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) 

When Jesus was speaking with the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17-27), he asked Jesus “How may I inherit eternal life”? Jesus first made the statement, “Nobody is Good (Morally excellent, sinless) except God” (Mark 10:18) Revealing we are all sinners, but also revealing Jesus Deity as God incarnate. And then Jesus goes on to list some of the Ten Commandments, why? Because the Moral Law of God (Ten Commandments) is a mirror that reflects our sinful nature and our desperate need for a Savior

As the Apostle Paul says here “The Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the Lawless” The purpose of The Law is not to make yourself righteous, its to show you the nature of God and how much you need Jesus Christ. There were false teachers during the time of Paul that would use The Law to preach a false gospel, there are many still today who do the same thing. They basically were teaching Jesus wasn’t enough to be saved, you needed circumcision plus Jesus then you could be saved. Anytime we add something because Christ, it becomes a false gospel

The Apostle Paul then goes on to list sins of the lawless, and since we are in “Pride Month” I just want to point out Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit mentions sodomites, which our modern word would be homosexuals. I’m bringing this to your attention because many false teachers today claim, The Bible never forbids homosexuality. It’s clear here and other passages such as Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6.

However we have a living hope, Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul also said “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Amen!

1 Timothy 1- False Teachers

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Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 1 Timothy 1:5-7

These instructions given to Timothy by the Apostle Paul, remind me of the instructions he gave to Titus, “avoid stupid arguments” (Titus 3:9-11) “For which some have strayed, having turned aside to idle talk” Many wolves and false teachers want to implement false teachings into the Church, to create confusion and division. They don’t care about the truth of God, because they don’t have the love of God, they are lovers of themselves.

This is what the Apostle Paul is stating in the beginning here “the purpose of this commandment is love from a pure heart” False teachers will always state “Jesus loves you” and that’s correct, but do you love Jesus? Do you want to do the will of God? Are you being led and sanctified by the Holy Spirit? Jesus said “If you love me , keep my commandments” (John 14:15) “From a good conscience” are you truly trying to please The Lord or are you trying to please people? We are not perfect people, but God reads our hearts, He knows whether we are trying to worship Him in Spirit and Truth

As the Apostle Paul describes these false teachers “desiring to be teachers of the Law” we still see this today, many elevating themselves wanting the power and authority of a religious leader to control and manipulate the Church. But they preach a false gospel, they teach a works based salvation that leads to a dead end. Their true love is for themselves, to fulfill the desires of their flesh and not the will of God.

 And as the Apostle Paul says “understanding neither what they say or what they affirm” These false teachers misquote scripture and don’t even understand the scripture themselves. Why? Because they don’t have the Holy Spirit, they are unregenerated, led by the flesh. As the Apostle Paul said “the natural man doesn’t understand the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14) The false teacher can’t comprehend the truth of scripture, they are blinded by their pride and flesh

These false teachers mislead many , they try to divide the flock, that’s why they must be rebukes and removed from the congregation. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9) Amen!

1 Timothy- 1- False Gospel

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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.  1 Timothy 1:1-4

As we begin to dive into the Epistles of Timothy, clearly written by the Apostle Paul, these were basically “Pastoral instructions” for Timothy to run the Church of Ephesus and for other used for other Pastors within the Christian Church. It’s very clear that Paul considered Timothy as his “spiritual son” as he states “my son in the faith” Timothy was believed to be very young when he came to Christ, probably in his teens and had accompanied Paul on many missionary trips. 

Timothy was very well versed in the teachings of Christ through Paul, as he had been working side by side with him for many years. The Church of Ephesus , like many other Churches, had false teachers who had rise up and began misleading many with a false gospel. This was not going to be allowed or tolerated by the Apostle Paul and assigned Timothy to oversee the Church of Ephesus to keep them on the narrow path. We see this today more than ever, false teachers preaching a false gospel, we need to rebuke and expose their heresies for the greater good of the Church

As the Apostle Paul instructs Timothy “that you might charge/instruct/warn that they teach no other doctrine”  As the Apostle Paul said in the Church of Galtia “anyone who preaches another gospel to you , than  we have preached to you, let them be accursed” (Galatians 1:8) The Apostle Paul wants it clear and known, that the true gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-5) in the central doctrine of the Church, any false gospels will not be tolerated, let them be accursed! 

So what were they teaching? As the Apostle Paul goes on to say “neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies” If you have been in Christianity long enough, you have heard it all. I’ve heard people preaching the strangest man-made doctrines that I wouldn’t even repeat, and I rebuke them, and you should rebuke them also. Preaching a false gospel is a great sin against God, the majority of our Churches today are preaching a false gospel. A false gospel not only dishonors our Lord Jesus Christ, by minimizing his death and resurrection, but a false gospel can’t save anyone, its a broad road to Hell that just justifies a false teacher. Let them all be accursed!

As the Apostle Paul says here “which cause disputes/questions rather than godly edification which is in faith” False teachers always claim to have a “special revelation” or basically are “works based salvation” These false teachings flood the Church with confusion and take away from the power of God, by grace through faith (Ephesians 2)

As the Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, rebuke the false teachers, rebuke the false gospels, because our faith is in Jesus Christ alone, Amen!

Jude 1- Benediction

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Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

As we come to the end of the Epistle of Jude, we see one of the great benedictions of the Bible, this is a doxology believed to have been written at the very early Church. As the Apostle Jude after warning us of all the traps and dangers that are out there to destroy our soul, that God can still save us. Regardless of how bad it gets, God is still in control, Christ is still King and Lord, the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, the gates of Hell shall not prevail against Christ true Church (Matthew 16:18)

I find the language intriguing here, as to me it implies Triune language. As we showed earlier the Apostle Jude clearly demonstrated the Triune God a few scriptures before this, notice the language “Now unto Him” who is Him? Is this a reference to Christ? Yes, Is this a reference to the Holy Spirit? Yes, is this a reference to God the Father? Yes, they are all able and willing to save and preserve us.

“To Keep You from falling” As the Apostle Jude talked about throughout his Epistle, the false teachers, the false religion, it continually creeps into the Church, it deceives even the elect (Matthew 24:24) however God will sustain us and keep us from falling away. However we need to listen to God and not to man, if what we are being told is not supported by scripture, then its a false teaching, don’t be deceived 

Remember the power of the gospel, remember that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, came to pay for the sins of the world and make you Born Again (John 3:3) If you Abide in Christ, Christ will Abide in You (John 15) and you will be justified before the Father and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. God will keep you and transform you into a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7)

True wisdom only comes from God, the world is deceived and blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4) and salvation comes from only Christ alone (John 14:6) repent and put your faith in God your Savior, your living hope , who has power, glory and dominion as King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords, the Great I AM, who was , who is , and is to come, (Rev. 1:8)  Amen!

Jude 1- Spiritual Firefighters

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And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

If you see a person in a burning building, what is the loving thing to do? Is the loving thing to allow them to burn in the building or to grab them out of the fire? The obvious answer is to save the person from destruction, however in our culture today, which has crept into the Church, they have it backwards. The “loving” thing in todays society is to allow people to remain in their sin and to destroy themselves, basically leaving them in the fire.

As Christians we are “Spiritual Firefighters” it’s our job to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Jude says here “pulling them out of the fire” . But while we do this, we do this with compassion, as other English translations state “have mercy”. The loving thing is to want to save peoples souls, not justify their sin. It’s like a child/parent relationship, a parent who never disciplines their child because they fear it will make them upset, is a parent who doesn’t really love their child. If you love your child, you want them to be prosperous in life, teach them right or wrong, to neglect the child is a great failure of a parents responsibility

This is the state of the fallen Church today, instead of pulling people out of the fire, they are leading them into the fire. As Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate, broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who goin by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life,  and there are few who find it” ( Matthew 7:13-14) Is this the message the Rainbow Church is telling sinners? The world is headed on the broad road to Hell, however there is noone warning them! Is this loving to lead them to the slaughter?

Now think also about FIrefighters, do they just show up one day and do their job? No, they train and learn how to properly save people. We as Christians need to do the same, study your Bible, learn from other Christians, be led by the Holy Spirit, pray without ceasing, submit to The Lord, you can’t enter this spiritual warfare unprepared or you will end up in the fire yourself. We are not battling against flesh and blood but against evil demonic forces, put on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6)

Last thought I want to leave with you, is remember when you were saved from the fire also. Have mercy and compassion on these lost souls, remember The Lord had mercy on you, have mercy on others, pull them out of the fire, tell them the good news that Christ died for our sins, Christ rose on the 3rd day defeating sin and death forever, repent and believe the gospel, Amen

Jude 1- The Triune God

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But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:19-20

The Apostle Jude reveals alot to us in this small letter, including the affirmation of the Trinity. While alot of Chistians will try to deny the Triune God, they will claim the doctrine of the Trinity doesn’t exist in the Bible, here is another example of an Apostle affirming the Triune God. That the true living God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While the nature of God can be difficult for our human minds to comprehend, its Biblical and revealed by the Holy Spirit

I’m often reminded of what John Wesley said “ Show me a worm that can comprehend man, and I’ll show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God” The fact that the nature of God is difficult for our minds to grasp, should not be a surprise. Look out in the vastness of the universe or the ocean, look at the complexity of the human body and the DNA code, there are many things beyond our human comprehension, it shouldn’t be surprised the Creator is complex in nature

The Apostle Jude here gives us almost a benediction here, praying in the Holy Spirit, Keeping yourselves in the love of God (Father), looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ (Son)  The Apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit addresses God as Triune , Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is consistent with the teachings of Christ and the other Apostles

As Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “ Just as the Apostle Paul taught about the Triune God “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Son), and the love of God (Father), and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14) Or just like the Apostle John taught about the Triune God “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7) Or just like the Apostle Peter taught about the Triune God “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.” (1 Peter 1:2)

So if your going to deny the Trinity, you have to deny the words of Jesus Christ himself and the Apostles, this is alot of denying of scripture. You either believe the Word of God or you don’t, regardless if your human mind can comprehend the nature of God, we must believe what scripture has revealed to us about God. 

But as the Apostle Jude states here to the Church “Build up yourselves on your holy faith” Put your faith in the Triune God, the God of the Bible, not a God made up in your mind or through man-made ideas. Jesus Christ and the Apostles are the foundation of the Christian faith, if you reject their words, your faith in simply built on sinking sand, God bless

Jude 1- Last Days

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These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 1:16-19

As we look around Christianity today, the Church has become almost unrecognizable. Could you imagine the Apostles witnessing the state of the Church today? Could you imagine the “Church Fathers” walking into some of these congregations or even some of our older theologians like Spurgeon or Ravenhill? Even though apostates and heresies have always been in the Church, I don’t know if we have ever seen a time period of the Church , where the overwhelming majority has fallen away from the true gospel and orthodox faith of Christianity.

I believe this is an affirming sign of the last days, as we see rainbow flags and unregenrated leaders across our denominations. This was prophesied by the Apostle Jude here “these are murmurs, complainers, walking after their own lusts” doesn’t that sum up the new progressive movement in Christianity? They walk after their own lusts, they are carnally driven by their own sexual desires and greed. They have no love for God or the Church, they are driven by demons to lead as many to the broad road of Hell as possible.

 As the Apostle says “their mouth speak great swelling words” They come up with new arguments to discredit the deity of Christ, to remove the need for repentance, they have totally rejected the authority of the Holy Spirit. They are exactly like Satan in the garden of Eden, “Did God really say?” They deceive those ignorant to the Word of God, they prey on the unregenerated people who put their faith in a religious system rather than Christ alone. 

As the Apostle Jude reminds us, we shouldn’t be shocked by this great falling away, because it was prophesied by Christ himself and the Apostles. As Jude reminds us “there will be mockers in the last times (days) , who walk after their own ungodly lusts” This is exactly what is driving the rainbow flag movement, ungodly lusts, its not driven by the Holy Spirit. 

I want you to notice what the Apostle Jude says next under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” How can these people be so depraved and deceived? Because they are not regenerated, they don’t have the Holy Spirit. How do so many people fall for these false teachers? They don’t have the Holy Spirit, this is the unregenerated Church, a carnally minded Church that leads to death, but the Church led by the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, in Jesus name, Amen!

Jude 1- Return of Christ

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And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 1:14-15

The book of Enoch and yet again another controversial topic in Christianity. While some believe it should be considered “inspired scripture” , others reject its writings all together. What we do know is the Apostle Jude quotes it here as a reference, this confirms to us the text was well known in the 1rst century, and most of the early Church was probably aware of its writings. While I don’t believe it should be part of the Bible, I do believe its beneficial writings that gives us the beliefs and mind set before Christ.

As Matthew Henry comments “ We have no mention of the prophecy of Enoch in any other part or place of Scripture; yet one plain text of Scripture, proves any point we are to believe. We find from this, that Christ’s coming to judge was prophesied of, as early as the times before the flood.”

This is an interesting thought, the return of Christ was known and expected since the days of Noah, think about that! The patriarchs and prophets of Israel were long awaiting the coming of the Messiah, they knew the Son of Man from the prophecy of Daniel 7, would sit at the right hand of Yahweh, the Ancient of Days, coming with the clouds. This was understood and expected, yet when The Word became Flesh and dwelt among them, (John 1:14) and yet the world didn’t know him (John 1:10) They crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Just as when Jesus stood before the Religious leaders on trial , before they executed him on the cross, he quoted Daniel “Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)  The coming of the Messiah was well known and Jesus made it very clear, He is the Christ

And just as it was foretold in the book of Enoch and well known, Christ said He is coming back with his angels to execute judgment on the world ““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory” (Matthew 25:31) As the Apostle Paul said “Christ will judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1)

Every knee will bow, that means every knee believers and non-believers, and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord! (Philippians 2:9-11) Amen!

Jude 1- Tares in the Church

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These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Jude 1:12-13

The Apostle Jude under the influence of the Holy Spirit then talks about the false apostate religious leaders planted in the Churches today, stealing the money, power, and resources to feed themselves, and in the process destroying the local community of believers. We see this today all throughout Christianity, denominations are falling at a rapid pace, why? Because of corrupt and wicked religious leaders misleading the Churches down a path of blasphemy.

The Apostle Peter mentions the same thing “They are spots (blemish, disgrace) and blemishes, carousing and reveling in their own deceptions while they feast (communion, fellowship) with you (Church) (2 Peter 2:13) These false deceptive leaders are planted into the Churches, walking side by side with the body of Christ, misleading them on the broad road to Hell. Again we see this across the board in mainline Christianity today, wolves leading the sheep to the slaughter of sin and carnality.

Feeding themselves without fear, they live a life of luxury off the backs of Gods people. While the Church faithfully tithes their money, the wolves use if for their carnal pleasure and gain. They have no fear of God, they have no disregard for the body of Christ, they have sold their souls to gain the whole world. However they are “clouds without water” people look to them for spiritual wisdom and guidance, and they can’t provide it, because they don’t have the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle Jude says “trees who fruit withered, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots” As Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” ( Matthew 7: 16)

However there is a great price they are going to pay for their Apostasy, as the Apostle Jude says here “to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” As the Lord Jesus said “they will be cast into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth “ (Matthew 8:12) God will not be mocked, what you reap and what you sow (Galatians 6:7) These false leaders will pay a heavy price for their deception, as the Apostle James warned “Not everyone should be teachers, because you know we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1)

But God is allowing this to happen, why? The Lord Jesus explains “Let them both grow together until the harvest” (Matthew 13:30) God is allowing the true remnant Church to coexist with the false Church until judgment day, don’t be alarmed when there is a wolf within your flock. But on that day of judgment, everyone will stand before The Lord , every knee will bow to our Lord Jesus Christ, don’t be deceived! Amen!