My little children

Bible Reading: Galatians 4

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…

Paul saw the people that he had led to Christ as his spiritual children.  There are several times that he spoke in this way.

1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Paul had a deep affection and concern for the well-being of these disciples like a father would have concern for his children.  He wanted them to prosper in the faith.  However, he knew they were floundering.  They had been infiltrated by false brethren who were teaching them doctrines that were contrary to the truth in Christ.  They were being told that they needed to keep the law in order to be saved.  Paul had led them to Christ and they had received the gospel and were believers.  Yet, they were being taught false doctrine and Paul wanted to help them see the light of truth.

Paul uses a metaphor of birth pains to describe his concern and anguish for these believers.  He had seen them born again when they received Jesus.  Now he was in agony once again wanting them to allow Jesus to have control of their lives instead of the false teachers.  Being a Christian is about knowing and following Jesus.  It is not about religion and ritual.  These believers had been influenced by religionists and Paul was hurting for them.

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

If you are born again, Jesus lives in you.  This is the mystery of the gospel and a wonderful reality.  Paul knew these believers had Christ; he wanted them to allow him to fully have them.  This is a powerful verse that teaches us that being Christ-like and being legalistic are not the same thing!  Keeping rules and laws does not make you righteous.  Seeing Christ in you is what righteousness looks like.  

As a spiritual parent, Paul wanted these believers to walk in the truth of Jesus.  Do you walk in the truth of Jesus?  The key is to realize that Christ is in you and allow Him to have all of you.  Don’t go back to bondage.  Live in the liberty of Jesus!

In Christ,

Rody

The scripture hath concluded all under sin

Bible Reading: Galatians 3

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

The scripture has concluded all under sin.  

Psalms 53:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

The great problem of mankind is moral.  We are not the righteous people that we think we are.  We do not obey our loving Creator.  We are rebels at heart.  No government can fix this situation.  Improving education cannot cure this disease of the soul.  No psychiatrist can ‘regress’ us to the point where we stop sinning.  There is only one cure for this moral failure on the part of man.  That is to return to God with repentance and faith.  

The love of the Creator is shown to rebels in the promise of the One who would bruise the serpent’s head.

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

All the way back in the Garden, God promised to send a deliverer.  He promised Abraham when he made his great covenant with him.

Genesis 12:1-3 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Throughout all history, God has graciously promised to provide a Serpent Stomper!  He has promised to bless us all through the Seed of Abraham.  That Seed is Jesus Christ.  The answer to the sin of this world is faith in Jesus Christ.  The promise of forgiveness and eternal life is given to those who believe on him.  Only those who believe on him will receive this great promise.  What an incredible reality!  Let us remember that the answer to this world’s problems is Jesus.

In Christ,

Rody

God Accepteth No Man's Person

Bible Reading: Galatians 2

Galatians 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.

This is Paul’s description of his meeting with James, Peter, John and the other apostles and elders in Jerusalem.  “They seemed to be somewhat”, means these were the men who were leaders in the church.  But Paul will not make them out to be something special.  He tells us that it makes no difference to him of their position because God accepteth no man’s person.  In other words, men are men.  We are not better than one another.  Does this mean that Paul looked down on them?  No, he would not have a religious hierarchy.  This is contrary to what Jesus has established in his church.  There is no pope.  (It is interesting that this was Paul’s view of Peter and yet the Roman Catholic Church insists that Peter was the first pope.)  

These men were apostles and elders.  They were the leadership of the Jerusalem church but they were not “in charge” of all the churches.  At the meeting, Peter told of how God used him to preach the gospel to Cornelius’ house.  Then Paul and Barnabas told how God had mightily worked among the Gentiles.  What they found was that they both preached the same gospel of Jesus Christ.  Men are not justified by the works of the law.  Men are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.  

At the conference, Paul learned nothing new.  They “added nothing” to him.  He had been taught the gospel by God himself and what he preached was exactly the same as what the apostles and elders in Jerusalem preached.  This is a very important passage of Scripture because it reminds us that leaders in the church are not to lord over others.  Peter tells us:

1 Peter 5:1-3 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

An elder is one who has responsibility to the flock.  He is to be treated with honor but not to be treated as someone “somewhat”.  Paul says in another place:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

We should love our pastors and teachers, but we must realize that they are men just like us.  To think someone is “somewhat” is not a Biblical doctrine.  We are brothers in Christ.

In Christ,

Rody

I Went Into Arabia

Bible Reading: Galatians 1

Galatians 1:15-18 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

The gospel is the most important message that mankind has ever heard or ever will hear.  It is important to get a message like this accurate.  Here in Galatians, Paul recounts his testimony and he lets us in on something that we do not learn by reading Acts.  He says that after his conversion on the Damascus road and his short Damascus preaching campaign, he went into Arabia for three years.  He is telling the Galatians this to show that he did not receive the gospel from men.  He received it directly from Jesus Christ himself.  He preached some in Damascus but then he went into a three year time of intense study and prayer. Paul knew the Old Testament well.  Now he knew Jesus and when he went back through the Old Testament, he saw Jesus on every page!

Why did he go to Arabia?  Paul was actually from Tarsus in Cilicia.  I believe he went to Arabia because that is where the law is from and the mighty prophet went.

Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia…

Mount Sinai is where Moses met with Jehovah and received the Ten Commandments and the instructions for the earthly tabernacle.  Mount Sinai is where Elijah ran to when he was wanted by Jezebel.  There he heard the still small voice of God (1 Kings 19:12).  In preparation to preach the gospel and to be used of God to write Scripture, Paul went to the cave where Elijah heard the voice of God.  He needed to be taught of God.  After he had his time of study and learning, then he went to Jerusalem and spent some time with Peter.  During that time it became evident that the gospel Paul preached was the same that Peter preached.  

Preparation is important.  Getting the gospel right is important.  The way to do this is through prayerful, intense study of God’s Word led by the Teacher, the Holy Spirit.  You don’t have to go to Mount Sinai but you do need to get alone with Jesus and hear his voice.

In Christ,

Rody

Head over all things to the church

Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Who is the leader of the church?  Some say it is the Pope or an Archbishop.  Some say it is the pastor.  Some say it is a group or committee.  The Bible says it is Jesus.  He is the head and all things have been put under his feet!  The resurrection of Jesus Christ is his vindication from the Father that he is the Son of God and that he is worthy to be the ruler of all.  As a result of the resurrection, he is proven to be the supreme authority in the universe.  As ruler, all other things are put under his feet.  The Father has made him the head of the church.

How is Jesus the head of the church?  He is head as far as a body is concerned.  The central nervous system of a man is what runs all other bodily functions.  This is run by the brain which is located in the head.  The rest of the body gets its direction from the head.  Jesus leads guides and directs his church.  The head is the one who is responsible for the care and protection of the rest of the body. Jesus cares for his flock!  

How does he carry out his leadership?  He does it by his Word.  He has spoken to us through his Word and when we hear and obey, we prove the wisdom that comes from him.  He has told us what to do and how to carry things out.  He is the one in charge.  He is the Captain of our salvation.  His body is the church and it is full of him.  

Think on this today.  What is the body of Jesus?  It is the church.  He is the head.  Are you a part of the fullness of Christ?  Are you a part of the church?  Do you serve as a member while the Head, Jesus directs all the operations of the body?  Imagine a body with members scattered all over.  It would not function. As a matter of fact, it would be unhealthy and possibly dead.  Can you be what Jesus has created you to be if you are not intimately connected with the church?

In Christ,

Rody

They Will Hear It

Bible Reading: Acts 28

Acts 28:25-28 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Paul explained that the Holy Spirit had inspired Isaiah hundreds of years earlier to explain the reason for them not receiving the message of Christ.  They would hear, but they would not understand.  They would see but they would not perceive.  This was not something God did to them as a cruel joke, but was the result of their own doing.  Their heart was ‘gross’ or thick as with a callous.  Their ears were dull of hearing.  They had closed their eyes.  It was not that they could not hear.  It was that they would not hear.

The Bible says:  Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

When you will not hear the Word of God, you cannot believe.  It is as simple as that.  These Jews were so set in their ways that they could not hear the truth.  They were like many today.  They had made up their minds and would not be confused by the truth.  It is a sad thing when someone will not listen to the Word of God.  You can show them something plain and simple in the Bible and they will contradict it and argue against it.  

This happens often to a group of people who are used to having their ears tickled instead of allowing the sword of the Spirit to pierce into their lives and expose the truth.  Please do not let this happen to you!  Keep your heart tender to God’s Word.  Stay close to Jesus and search the Scriptures daily.  Make sure you are hearing and obeying the Word of Jesus.  That is true faith!

Notice also that Paul said when he turned to the Gentiles with the gospel message they would hear it!  What a wonderful promise in the Word.  Paul knew not everyone would believe but some would and that was his motivation to keep on preaching.  The Salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and they will hear it!  Let’s keep on preaching Christ because some will hear, believe and call upon the name of the Lord.

In Christ,

Rody

I Believe God

Bible Reading: Acts 27

Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Fourteen days the ship was thrashed about blindly in the sea by a massive storm called Euroclydon.  They did not know where they were because of the massive wind and all the stars were covered with clouds.  They were being transported as prisoners from Israel to Rome.  Just at the point when the men were about to give up all hope, Paul came into the midst of them.  He had been in prayer and God had sent an angel to Paul to give him a message.  It was God’s will that Paul stand before Caesar.  God’s message to Paul was that he would be delivered to Rome and God would deliver all those on the ship along with Paul.  

As Paul delivered this message to those on the ship, he encouraged their hearts to “be of good cheer”.  Then Paul gave a wonderful declaration of faith – I believe God.  For Paul, since God said it, that settled it!  He believed it would be as it was told him.  Paul was exercising faith just like Abraham did.

Romans 4:20-21 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

God made Paul a promise that applied to all those on the ship.  Paul was excited to inform them that God was faithful and he believed what God said.  Paul’s fear was gone.  Now he knew what the outcome would be and because of his faith, he was able to lead others.  The decisions that were made from this point on were based on Paul’s message from the Lord.  

Another thing is important.  From the beginning, Paul’s relationship with the centurion Julius was a good one.  He was kind to Paul and before they set sail from fair havens Paul told Julius and the captain that since it was so late in the year he was afraid it would be a dangerous and costly voyage.  Julius believed the captain though and they sailed on.  However, when the time came to abandon the ship, the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so they would not escape.  But Julius wanted to save Paul and so he would not allow this to happen.  God gave Paul favor in the eyes of this man.  

What do we learn?  A believer in the midst of unbelievers can become a leader as he believes and follows Christ.  Do you believe the Word of God?  Does it bring you good cheer even when the circumstances around you are not good?  

In Christ,

Rody