SELF CONTROL AND THE REWARD

SELF CONTROL AND THE REWARD

“And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Cor. 9:25

self-control  To an almost incredible degree; using the most rigorous self denial in food, sleep, and every other sensual indulgence. A perishable crown - A garland of leaves, which must soon wither. How a life is lived and who they choose for their Leader determines the outcome of the race that all compete. Some exert little or no control based on the leadership of whom they follow. The follower of Christ the Master and Lord of John 13:13 show the same life traits of the only Leader to follow (Matt. 23:10). And their ability to exert this self-control receives power from the Spirit that was the controller of Him who set the example (John 13:15) even to the Apostle Peter (1 Pet. 2:21).

all things  One would have to follow the Leader to know this self-control.

perishable-imperishable The rewards for the self-controlled last forever and are never taken away by decay of any sort, due to a differing judgment seat. The “judgment seat” (Greek bema) for the self-controlled (believer) (2 Cor. 5:10) is not the “great white throne” (Rev. 20:11) where unbelievers that are marked by uncontrol are to be judged by their works and then sent into hell, but a judgment for rewards, or loss of rewards, to believers.

Rev. 20:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."

END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS

LINES IN THE SAND-END DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE MEANS

“To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” 1 Cor. 9:22-23

That would seem a lofty application of the principle of accommodation, and it is somewhat startling. Moreover, it is none the less so when interpreted by Paul's illustrations of its working in his own case; to the Jews, under law, he had become as one under law; to the Gentile, without law, he had become as one without law; to the weak he had become weak. The question arises as to how far we may go in this direction. Many applications might be suggested which would seem to us in danger of imperiling our testimony and our usefulness. A second look at the apostolic word will save us from all doubt in the matter. Paul became all things to all men that he might save some. The purpose in view must for ever qualify our accommodations. To go so far with men as to imperil our chances of saving them is wrong. Thus the idea of these words is, not that the end justifies the means, but rather that the end qualifies the means. In our modern life, it means that I may travel sympathetically with men along the pilgrimage of their doubts but I must not go so far as to deny my faith. If I do, I cannot help them to faith. Or again, it means that in order to save men I may enter into their social life and share their recreations, but never in such ways as to imperil my power to help them in spiritual matters.

Paul’s obsession to “gain” people for Christ had constrained him to learn how to approach all types of prospects in terms of their own particular backgrounds and concerns. This can be a great example to modern Christians provided they do not carry it beyond the bounds set by the apostle. That is, his purpose was always “for the gospel’s sake” (1 Cor. 9:23), and it was vital to him that the gospel was not “another gospel” and that the Christ he preached was not “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4). Being “made all things to all men” does not involve compromise of God’s truth concerning Christ and His gospel, as is often the case today. People are not really won to the true Christ and His saving gospel by compromising with the beliefs and behaviors of the ungodly world. Lines are drawn in the sand on how far to go with the gospel. Many draw people to another Jesus with another gospel.

THE ONE GOD AND EVOLUTION

THE ONE GOD AND EVOLUTION

“Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one……yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”  1 Cor. 6:4, 6

One's faith needs to be placed in the One God of the Bible instead of that which takes more faith who is the god of science or the coming god of artificial intelligence in the computer realm.

In contrast to both the evolutionary pantheism of the ancient pagans and the evolutionary atheism of modern intellectuals, the testimony of both Scripture and all true science is that there is only one true God of creation, who created all things, including us, by His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, all idols—whether wooden representations of the forces of nature and the evil spirits that influence them, or the philosophical constructs of modern humanists—are in reality “nothing in the world” (1 Cor. 8:4).

The Father planned the original creation as stated here. The Son and the Spirit assisted in its implementation. The unity of the Godhead is on display with the creation, all in one accord, one purpose as the revealed one God of the Bible.

FREE AT LAST-IN SOME THINGS

FREE AT LAST-IN SOME THINGS

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” 1 Cor. 6:12

Paul, the great champion of Christian liberty, must often have said, "I am out from under the bondage of the law, I am free from all legal demands; all things are lawful to me." But, in this context he makes it clear that when he says "all things" he is not using that term in its broadest sense. There are some areas where Christian liberty applies; for example, in the matter of meats or food. "Food for the belly, the belly for food." These two correspond to each other. They suit each other. Both are temporary. God will put both of them out of use (Greek, katargeo). In the resurrection food and stomachs will not be needed. In other words, food and eating are matters which are morally indifferent, and a proper realm for Christian liberty to act. Finally, free at last.

But not so in the next example which Paul adduces. "The body is not for fornication." We may imply that some in Corinth were saying, "The body is for fornication, just like food is for the belly. Both are natural appetites (a very liberal train of thought) and it is proper to seek satisfaction for both alike." Paul vehemently denies this analogy. This is an entirely different situation. The body belongs to the Lord. They correspond to each other; they suit each other. Notice how he calls the body a temple of God. It is His body (vs. 15; cf. Eph. 5:30). The body is not temporary, but permanent (vs. 14). It is going to be resurrected, transformed, and glorified, and we are going to keep it throughout eternity, unstraightened. Therefore, the use that we make of our bodies is not morally indifferent, and its abuse is outside the realm of Christian liberty. Christian liberty does not include fornication. Free at last-to use my body as He desired it to be used and that for eternity to rule and reign with Him.

NOT DONE YET

NOT DONE YET

“"Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'” John 13:33

See also John 7:34; 8:23; 13:33. Also Mat 5:20; 1 Cor. 6:9; 15:50; Rev 21:27

 

You can't come because you have one final part of My ministry to be performed at this point. You are in need of a transformation that gives you an eternal body. The problem for men who choose to serve the Son of Man in an everlasting Kingdom is that they die. Death or rapture brings about the transformation and the unstraightening needed. You have need of a change. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the eternal kingdom, for you need an imperishable body to serve Me and My Father without interruption. You need to be unstraitened as I was.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit (i.e. to become a ruler in it) this Kingdom. Just as it is with the Head, the Mighty One, that the covenant and promises demanded an immortal Ruler, so it is with His members, the body. As King He is to be manifested in His gloried form-a David's Son possessing all that is requisite to fulfil the Word; so also the saints, as co-heirs, kings and priests must be in their glorified condition before they receive the Kingdom. Hence, while in the church, in flesh and blood, they only await the promises---hope and pray for their realization. They await death to unstraighten their limitations or the rapture when they shall be perfected before entrance along His side to rule. The church, then, instead of possessing a Kingdom, as actually existing according to promise, only possesses it in anticipation, in looking for and expecting its arrival.

DEPLORABLES

DEPLORABLES

“When we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.” 1 Cor. 4:13

Being a deplorable is not a new term. Hillary borrowed it from the NT. Did Paul become a Christian for reputations sake? No; those with whom he united were held in universal contempt; their Leader had been put to death as a criminal among thieves; the chiefs of the cause that he had espoused were illiterate men. On the other hand, the wisest and the greatest men in all the land indignantly rejected the teachings of this new sect. The preaching of Christ crucified was to the Jew a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. There was no reputation for the great disciple of Gamaliel in parting with his splendid honors and identifying himself with a lot of ignorant fishermen. He would only be execrated as a deserter and betrayer of the Jewish cause, and he might rest assured that the same bloody knife that slew the Shepherd of the scattered flock would soon be unsheathed against himself. All the reputation that he had so zealously built up was gone the hour that he went over to the new religion, and from that day on contempt was his portion. He was accounted as the filth of the world and the off scouring of all things. He became a deplorable.

And did Paul enter Christianity for the sake of wealth? No, all the wealth was in the keeping of those whom he had forsaken; the poverty was on the side of those with whom he now identified himself. So poor had they been, that those among them possessed of any little property sold whatever belonged to them in order to provide for the dire necessities of the rest. Indeed, one of the burdens afterwards laid upon Paul was to collect means for those who were threatened with starvation. Such was the humble condition of these early Christians, that he often refused to take anything from them even for the bare necessities of life, but labored himself to provide for his scanty needs. To the Corinthians, he writes, "Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and we toil working with our hands." (1 Cor. 4:11, 12, 13. See also 2 Cor. 12:14; 1 Thess. 2:4-9; 2 Thess. 3:8, etc.) In his farewell to the elders of Ephesus, he appeals to them as knowing it to be true that, "I coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me" (Acts 20:33, 34). He forsook the great Jewish hierarchy with its gorgeous temple and its overflowing treasuries, where his zeal in putting down the hated sect of the Nazarene would have been almost certainly rewarded with a fortune. He cast in his lot among the poverty-stricken disciples of Jesus Christ, among whom it was his ambition to be poor. Near the end of his life he presents to us the picture of an old man shivering in a Roman dungeon and pathetically asking for a cloak to be sent him to cover his naked and suffering limbs during the severity of an Italian winter.

A LIFE UNSTRAIGHTENED

A LIFE UNSTRAIGHTENED

“So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you,” 1 Cor. 3:21

It is not unusual for Scripture, on behalf of believers, to assert ownership regarding certain blessings even before they are possessed in Christian experience. Compare 1 Cor. 3:21-22 where "all things" are said to belong to the believer, yet among these things are some that are yet "to come." The ownership is legally certain, though the experience of possession may be future.

In a sense, as far as salvation, there are no second blessings. They are present possessions while some considered not to be blessings such as death are yet to come but yet ours. Having not yet experienced death as Christ has, we know not the blessing unless we perceive the blessing received from the death of Christ. He is straightened no more (Luke 12:49-50) and after our death we shall no longer be straightened and our full ministry capabilities shall begin as did His, all that is a result of His passion-baptism. Christianity is not one perpetual agony of sorrow. Your Christianity is not witnessed to by the misery of your countenance. God has freely given "all things." All things are ours to enjoy because He went to the Cross. It is by the way of the tree that the leaves of healing come. It is by way of the Cross that the crown is placed upon our brows. It is by way of the passion-baptism, that the baptism comes to us which are the baptism of fire, of purity, of energy. Now we labor straightened but soon our limitations are gone forever to a life unstraightened.

A SPIRITUAL GROWN UP

A SPIRITUAL GROWN UP

“But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.” 1 Cor. 2:15

The perfection reached being led by the Spirit in vs. 6 rather than the flesh as in their past brings the believer to that place where he is able to examine "all things". He comprehends the movement of the times, and he realizes his own place in that grand system of the ages is overwhelming. It is the conviction born of this comprehension that leads one to say in life's darkest hour: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day" (2 Tim. 1:12).

A spiritual man who is experiencing a grown-up relationship with the Holy Spirit and is able to discern all things and at the same time not be understood by others who are dead to these things or immature.

The easiest place to be spiritual is in public; the most difficult is home. The relationships at home are intimate and continuous, while our activities and impressions made in public are intermittent and casual.

DEATH PRONOUNCED AT CREATION OVERCOME

DEATH PRONOUNCED AT CREATION OVERCOME

“For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10

Confining the attention exclusively for the moment to the new union as seen in the Man Jesus, it is evident that now the triune God has moved into a new relationship with fallen man, and man is lifted in spite of his fall into new relation with the triune God in the Person of Jesus. Jesus the unfallen is yet Jesus, Who has kept the final issues, resulting from the fall. His reception of the Spirit is therefore a representative fact declaring forevermore that in spite of sin and death pronounced from that sin, a way has been made back to fellowship with the triune God and reception of life eternal. Such relation had never been nor could be, apart from this great fact. The Holy Spirit Who knows the mind of God, Who "searches all things, yea the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10) Who is the Spirit of life forever proceeding from the Father, is now vested in the Man of Nazareth, and through Him, is at the disposal of all such as submit to His Lordship as well as His teaching. The Spirit of God Who had been grieved from humanity, and prevented operating in the human heart, as to the knowledge of God and the life of God, and the power of God, is now through this perfect Man, in Whom was no sin, yet in Whom is resident the moral value of cancelled sin at the disposal of the rebellious also. The ascended Christ has now become the new Center of a new race. Henceforth the Spirit will plead with man the cause of Christ, demonstrating the fact that sin and death consists in rejection of Him, declaring the evangel that righteousness and life is possible because He has ascended to the Father, having overcome the grave and denouncing forever the ultimate doom of evil, because the "prince of this world hath been judged." (John 16:11).

WHAT TO EAT OR NOT

WHAT TO EAT OR NOT

“One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.” Rom. 14:2

 

In his approach to the problem of what is right to eat and permissible according to the view of the Creator, Paul takes two concrete examples "One believeth that he may eat all things; another . . . eateth herbs." Now which is right? There are many who according to their view leafy green things promote the best health and they recite studies to prove their view. Being a diabetic for over 50 years there are many things I have been warned to avoid and that due to prior studies within the diabetic realm that prove people can commit suicide by their abusive usage of food. Using a pump and learning the carb values of all foods as Paul here suggests is the correct view of the Creator Who says the first is right doctrinally, because God has given us everything in Christ, and if we give thanks to God we have a right to eat them. How much insulin determines the result of ingesting what I choose for my meals. All those distinctions in eating and drinking were swept away in Christ. Two professions I have determined that need careful consideration after living on this earth for 70 years is this, one needs to be extremely careful in the religious and the medical realm in the one they allow to exercise that calling, for they can kill you or bring you to health in their knowledge of their realm they practice. The best Teacher in both of these realms is the Master and Lord of John 13:13. He will not lead you astray. And the Dr. or the Pastor who care to argue with Him over these issues is a fool and has more to learn.

CREATOR SUSTAINER REDEEMER

CREATOR SUSTAINER REDEEMER

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”  Rom. 11:36

all things. Compare Col. 1:16-20. Christ created all things, sustains all things and reconciles all things and being handed all things from the Father (John 13:3). Also note Heb. 1:2-3; 2:10. God’s Son “made the worlds” in the past, is “upholding all things by the word of His power” in the present, and will be “heir of all things” in the future. Jesus Christ is “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Rev. 22:13), “the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8). See 1 Cor. 3:21-23 where all things were gifts from God. Apostles, prophets, life, death; even Christ is One of the list. See -1 Cor. 15:24-28 to see where all things are headed going back to the Father

SEARCHING ON MY BLOG

SEARCHING FOR ARTICLES FROM THE PAST

I have always assumed that people understand they can search for past articles and find certain phrases, titles, etc. by using the search bar at the upper left hand corner of the Blog site. Here is a picture of that search bar.

Say you wanted a search for destiny. All you have to do is enter the word destiny in that search box and hit the search icon and all articles will appear on the right with that word in the article. Have fun. And may be most already knew of this capability.

ALL THINGS AND THE CROSS

ALL THINGS AND THE CROSS

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32

All things are from an unstraitened Lord. The gracious provision of the Cross. The Cross flings light out unto our future and cares for all possible needs and contingencies that arise. These 4 questions which surround this verse are at the last of this chapter, the chapter of final triumph. The chapter which begins with "no condemnation" and ends with "no separation." These are the questions which arise with every person who reads the opening and ending verse of this chapter. These are questions of limitation which comes from our own consciousness. A speck amidst immensity. Is there something out there that could ultimately stop the flow of God's grace towards me a sinner. This verse is an answer to just one of the four questions. It has two parts, the first historic "He that spared not His own Son," and the second which is a logical conclusion, "Shall not He freely give us all things?" God gave the best He had and that something included all. When He gave His Son He really gave it all. Colossians says it this way "Who is the Image of the Invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in Him were all things created . . . and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." All 4 questions might be answered with a calm, quiet assurance. A man at the Cross challenges all attack, all accusation, all condemnation, all separation, and ends in the glorious declaration that none can be against, none dare accuse, that none can condemn, that none can separate. The better question is Who can unite me? The answer is none can unite me if I reject the Cross of His dear Son. Shall He not give us all things- pardon, peace, purity, and power, all His promises.

EARS TO HEAR

EARS TO HEAR

“The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not disobedient, Nor did I turn back.” Isa. 50:5

 

Here we hear the voice of the Servant of Jehovah; and in these words we have His response to the call of Jehovah. As we saw in Isa. 49, He is represented from the beginning as conscious of the fact that His service means suffering. This consciousness is yet more definitely marked in this record of His response. It grows in intensity until it culminates in Isa. 53. Here, it is a consciousness of the sufferings which His enemies, these being the enemies of Jehovah, will inflict upon Him. The physical figures are arresting, the smiting, the plucking off of the hair, the shame, and the spitting. The call of Jehovah to His Servant was a call to these experiences, and in regard to this fact he said, "The Lord Jehovah hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward." This statement, "The Lord Jehovah hath opened Mine ear," is very significant. We must not confuse it with another great Messianic Word, "Mine ears hast Thou opened" (see Psa. 40:6), where the reference is to the willing surrender of the Servant to His Master's service. Here the thought is that of the communication of the secret of the Master to His Servant. To His Servant, Jehovah had made known His secrets; He had revealed to Him, not only the experiences awaiting Him, but the meaning and purpose of them. He was His friends knowing all things (John 15:15). Thus the following statement "I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward," means that between Jehovah and His Servant there was no conflict, but perfect agreement; they were One. Therefore this response to the call of Jehovah, involving consent to suffering was vibrant with confidence in the help of Jehovah.

DEATH AS A GIFT – NOT AN ENEMY

DEATH AS A GIFT – NOT AN ENEMY

 

G. Campbell Morgan knew dark shadows in his own life and yet always found the grace of God was sufficient for every need. One of his greatest sorrows was the sudden deaths of his sister and his youngest daughter. He called their deaths “the sacrament of sorrow.”

His 12-year-old sister and only childhood playmate, Lizzie, died suddenly in 1873. Overcome with grief, the 10-year-old boy ran from the house to lie weeping on her grave, desiring nothing more than to join her in death. Jill Morgan wrote, “Pneumonia was difficult to fight in those days, and aided by physical frailty and will to survive, almost claimed another victim. But God has a special mission for this child . . . .”

That loss was exacerbated 23 years later when his first-born daughter, Gwennie, then only 5 years of age, died suddenly in 1896. These were losses he felt throughout the rest of his life. In an early sermon, Death Abolished, preached in 1911 at Westminster Chapel, Book 5, pg. 100, he alluded to Gwennie’s death: “I pass no day when I am not conscious of the nearness of at least one who entered the veil 16 years ago. I know the touch of her spirit upon mine . . . .”

When asked how he dealt with his young daughters as well as his sister’s death and why they should have left this life at such a tender age and how he thought of God’s reasoning for these shadows in his life he said: “Only God can answer that questioning and when I attempted to consider that questioning I was reminded that the One Who might give me the answers was the very One that sent His young Son to death in behalf of not only my daughter as well as my sister and  myself included." By His death he would be reunited with both his sister and his daughter and that would be forever. They are now mine as they have never been before.

He encircles our sorrows with His own. He is our dwelling place forever and He has everlasting arms that enfold us. And in His arms there is neither sadness nor weakness. That which we believed to be our enemy at last is our friend and one of the gifts from God (1 Cor. 3:21-23).

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.” God has reasons that only He can bring answers and understanding. And it takes time for understanding to finally come while we rest in His arms.Learn more about books on Google Play

Page 43

3 When Loved Ones Die Throughout his life G. Campbell Morgan faced many
losses, beginning with the death of Lizzie, his twelve~year-old ... As a child,
Morgan practiced preaching his sermons to Lizzie and her dolls as his “
congregation.

Page 44

The Life and Meditations of G. Campbell Morgan Richard L. Morgan, Howard
Morgan, John C. Morgan. his own children were asked how many were in the
family, they would respond there were seven, six on earth and one in heaven.
Morgan also experienced the ... And in 1914 his closest friend and ministerial
colleague, Albert Swift, died suddenly from a coronary. Morgan saw death as an
enemy.

Page 46

The Life and Meditations of G. Campbell Morgan Richard L. Morgan, Howard
Morgan, John C. Morgan. versal. . . . This fear of death still abides . . . even
among the children of God, the children of light. Perchance it is the last fear to be
 ...

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ULTRASOUND AND PREDESTINATION

ULTRASOUND AND PREDESTINATION

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;  and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Rom. 8:28-30

The threefold work of Christ in salvation in these three verses. See also the three verses Eph 5:25-27. God has seen the ultrasound having predetermined some things. Here we get to see the ultrasound.

"called according to His purpose" Men cherish the fact that they have freedom to make choices. And some thoughts on predestination produce road blocks to what they feel concerning the freedom of those choices. Predestination is a term which God uses on a couple of occasions but is connected and used with 3 other terms which also touch upon choices. God uses it in a certain sense which is entirely different from some abuses of the thought connected with its use. Predestination always has a context. The abuse enters into the train of thought when men by their nature try to make God be solely concerned with causing an act when He predetermines. But God does not think or act according to human nature but thinks and acts according to His Godly nature which Isa 55:8 forewarns. God's main concern is with the effect produced as well as the cause. That is where men stumble on this doctrine. To see what this is saying look at Rom 8:28 where it says He causes (Rom. 8:29) when He predestines...and the effect produced is "....to be conformed to the image of His Son." Now that is a pretty good production as well as outcome based on forethought.

SOLITARY GOD

SOLITARY GOD

“Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things.” Acts 17:25

Our Solitary God is self-existent, self-contained, self-sufficient, and self-satisfied. He is self-existent in that He is not dependent upon anything external to Himself for originating or continuing existence, for "the Father hath life in himself" (John 5:26). He is self-contained in that He is complete within Himself and in no sense dependent upon anything external to Himself, "as though he needed anything" (Acts 17:25). He is self-sufficient in that He possesses all fullness and is therefore the fountain source for everything else, "seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25). And He is self-satisfied in that there is no reason external to Himself why He performs as He does. "He works all things after the counsel of his own will" (Eph. 1:11).

One would be wise as His followers for 3 years called Him "the Teacher and the Lord" in John 13:13.

MISGUIDED HOPE

MISGUIDED HOPE

“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.” Acts 17:24

Lord of heaven and earth--This message to the pagan intellectuals at Athens can be considered as typical of Paul’s method with people who did not already know and respect the Scriptures, just as his message in the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch can be considered typical of his approach to those who did (Acts 13:16-41). In the one case, he began with God’s witness in creation, in the other with Scriptures; in both cases, he ended with Christ and the resurrection, urging his hearers to believe the good news accomplished in their behalf.

 temples made with hands--Athens was filled with beautiful temples, monuments and images, but to Paul they were merely depressing symbols of the city’s idolatry-misguided and misaligned hope.

God that made the world and all things . . . therein—The most profound philosophers of Greece were unable to conceive any real distinction between God and the universe. Thick darkness, therefore, behooved to rest on all their religious conceptions. To dissipate this, the apostle sets out with a sharp statement of the fact of creation as the central principle of all true religion—not less needed now, against the transcendental idealism of our day.

seeing he is Lord—or Sovereign of His creation.

of heaven and earth—holding in free and absolute subjection all the works of His hands; presiding in august royalty over them, as well as pervading them all as the principle of their being. How different this from the blind Force or Fate to which all creatures were regarded as in bondage!

dwelleth not in temples made with hands—This thought, so familiar to Jewish ears (1 Kings 8:27; Isaiah 66:1-2; Acts 7:48), and so elementary to Christians, would serve only more sharply to define to his heathen audience the spirituality of that living, personal God, whom he "announced" to them.

ONES DESTINY IS DETERMINED

DESTINY DETERMINED BY THE CROSS

"Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die."

  John 12:31-33

 

DESTINY Word used in modern translations for God's act in electing or predestinating people and nations. This is determined by ones attitude towards the Cross.  

DETERMINED AT THE CROSS THE DETERMINATION OF DESTINY WAS SETTLED FOR THE WORLD IN THE JUDGMENT AT THE CROSS

 By this statement I mean that the sentence was passed at the Cross. The execution of the sentence was to wait till the appointed time. The sentence involved destiny, not degree of punishment. The degree was to be settled at another time.

•The Destiny of the Entire World System including Satan and his Accomplices was Involved

• Satan was defeated and his destiny was determined  John 12:31-33

The Destiny of Angels was also settled by the Judgment of the Cross.

Defeated and destiny determined.  Col. 2:16

"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days."

“And He saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this Book; for the time is at hand. He that is unrighteous let him do unrighteousness yet more: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy yet more: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness yet more: and he that is holy, let him be made holy yet more. Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to each man according as his work is."—Rev. 22:10-12

 

FATE That which must necessarily happen. The Old Testament speaks of death as the common fate of humankind (Psa. 49:12; 81:15; Eccl. 2:14; 3:19; 9:2, 3). The Old Testament similarly speaks of violent death as the destiny of the wicked (Job 15:22; Isa. 65:12; Hos. 9:13).

ONE TIME TOO MANY

ONE TIME TOO MANY

“And through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” Acts 13:39

In Acts 13:4 it says “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” From Cyprus, Paul and his company sailed to Asia Minor. They traveled north into the mountains to Antioch of Pisidia, one of at least 16 cities named Antioch in the empire. In this thriving Roman colony, as in other cities he visited, Paul spoke first in the synagogue, telling Jews and God-fearing Gentiles alike that forgiveness of sin was proclaimed through Jesus and that "by him every one that believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). This was not an exception clause but an explanation clause. The meaning is not, "Though the law justifies from many things, it cannot justify from all things, but Christ makes up all deficiencies"; but the meaning is, "By Christ the believer is justified from all things, whereas the law justifies from nothing." His words were apparently attentively received, for he was asked to speak again the following week. On that occasion, says Acts 13:44, "almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God." But tradition-minded Jews, who saw the substantial threat to their community in Paul's words, tried to turn the meeting into a debate. Paul responded by quoting Isaiah, "I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 13:47).

The Jews had turned this message concerning all things down one time too many. Paul turned to the Gentiles around them with the good news message. The Jews will eventually be taught this message through very tough means – great tribulation.

THREE IS ONE

THREE IS ONE

"And so I sent to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord." Acts 10:33

 

Peter had his Teacher and Lord (John 13:13) do the same for him the three years He sat under His commission from the Father having taught all He heard from His Father (Luke 10:22; John 15:15) and now Peter was about to preach the Great Commissions intended meaning to Gentiles in the presence of 6 Jewish believers and which was his great commission assignment (Matt. 28:18-20). This is 8 years after Pentecost and this sermon presents problems that if kept in context are easily overcome. Tongues in vs. 46 and the baptism wording in vs. 47-48, the name of Jesus Christ meant in His authority for Peter was commanded to baptize them from the great commission by triune immersion which would identify this Jew to the triune God, and therefore bring chastisement to all who traditionally believed that God was one (1 Cor. 8:6), not understanding what that meant. Jesus came from the Father with that assignment.

COMMON THINGS

COMMON THINGS

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.” Acts 4:32

“One soul” connotes a common spirit of enthusiasm for the job at hand.

all things common. “Common” in the Greek means simply “ordinary.” Some believers (e.g., Barnabas—Acts 4:36-37) were well to do, but considered their possessions as just common goods which could easily be given up. This was not an early example of socialism or communism, as some teach, for it was entirely voluntary, not planned and enforced governmentally. They did not give up their possessions except as needed, but were quite willing to do so. Furthermore, this was done because of the special circumstances at the time and was not the practice among other churches.

Three times the men of Israel were to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deut 16:16): Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths. They had just experienced the true and intended purposes of the first two of three Jewish Feasts. They had a right to expect the true intended meaning of the third of the Feasts which was that of Tabernacles. This meant an installation of the Kingdom of God at this time. cf Acts 4:34.

“For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales,”

UNIVERSALISM or RESTORATIONISM?

UNIVERSALISM or RESTORATIONISM?

“Whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.” Acts 3:21

What is meant by the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21)?        

1. The people addressed are the Israelites and not all people (Acts 3:12).
2. It follows immediately upon the second coming of Christ (Acts 3:20-21).
3. It must then refer to the Kingdom of David and all that goes with it. It cannot refer to the wicked.
4. This verse then cannot be used to support the doctrine of universalism or restorationism.

According to David L. Cooper the following is God's seven-point program for Israel.

1. God sent His Son the First time to be the Messiah of Israel (Acts 3:13).
2. Israel rejected and crucified the Son of God, their Messiah (Acts 3:13-15).
3. God glorified His Son and He is now in Heaven again (Acts 3:13, 15).
4. Israel's present obligation is to repent and turn back (Acts 3:19).
5. Then the Messiah will come back to earth to assist them (Acts 3:20).
6. Whereupon the presence of the Lord will result in regeneration (Acts 3:19) of Isa. 66:8.
7. Having been regenerated, Christ will restore to them the kingdom (Acts 3:21).

The word "restore" is rendered from the Greek noun <apokatastasis> meaning <return to original conditions> (cp. Acts 1:6). The meaning is limited by the words: "as he [God] promised long ago through his holy prophets." The prophets speak of the restoration of Israel to the land (see Israel, Gen 12:2 - 3; Rom 11:26; also Palestinian Covenant, Deut. 30:3); and of the restoration of the Theocracy under David's Son. No prediction of the conversion and restoration of the wicked dead is found in the prophets or elsewhere. Cp. Rev 20:11 - 15. The animals restored to submission to man as to Noah and Adam. (cf. Isa 11:9). Garden restored.

TRUE COMMUNISM

TRUE COMMUNISM-COMMONISM

“And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common.” Acts 2:44

If Jesus was the Messianic King, as Peter had proven; and if there could be remission of sins extended even to the very Jews who were responsible for His death as Peter had declared; then his hearers could have drawn only one conclusion, namely, that the restoration of the long-awaited Kingdom to Israel was still a possibility in their own generation.

                That the Jewish converts did so conclude seems to be indicated by their immediate course of conduct. First, there is absolutely no record of any break with the Jewish temple worship, but on the contrary they continued daily with one accord "in the temple" (Acts 2:46) where, according to Old Testament prophecy, all worship would be centered in the future Kingdom (Isa. 56:7). Second, the attitude of these early Jewish believers toward property suggests the expectation of an imminent establishment of the Kingdom. The selling of their possessions and the sharing of the proceeds was no adoption of a communistic policy but a common policy. For what they did was wholly voluntary on every man's part (cf. Acts 4:34-5:4). Moreover, in the coming Kingdom, the prophets assign an important place for private property rights: "they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree." And in these rights men will be fully secure: "none shall make them afraid" (Mic. 4:1-4). But every devout Jew knew that the Kingdom would begin on earth with a divine rectification of ancient wrongs: "the crooked shall be made straight" (Isa. 40:4). And of all wrongs upon earth, none are more complex and difficult of settlement than those arising out of the violation of property rights. Moreover, on the basis of Old Testament prophecy, the Israelites anticipated a restoration of the Promised Land on a grand and greatly enlarged scale (Gen. 15:18-21); and in this restoration each tribe would be assigned an allotment (Ezek. 47-48). With an aroused expectation of the immanency of the divine Kingdom, in which there would be a divine rectification of historic maladjustments, it cannot be surprising that these Pentecostal converts did not attach very much value to existing possessions and property titles. To them, the Grand jubilee of all the centuries seemed at hand. Give it up and let His wisdom divide my portion.

                Furthermore, these converts must have been encouraged in their expectation by the "signs and wonders" performed by the Apostles (Acts 2:43). For these were signs of the Kingdom, as predicted in the ancient prophets, and which had marked the offer of the Kingdom by the Messiah during the period of the Gospels. See also Acts 4:34.

DO YOU LOVE ME

DO YOU LOVE ME

“He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said^ to him, "Tend My sheep.” John 21:17

Jesus had twice asked Peter if he loved Him with agape love (true self-less devotion to the one loved). Peter had answered that he did love Him, but with phileo love (brotherly kindness). This third time, Jesus also used phileo, and Peter was grieved. He finally recognized that the thrice-repeated question was intended to remind him of His thrice-repeated denial of the Lord (John 18:17, 25, 27). Further, the Lord had not addressed him as Peter (“the rock”) but by his old name Simon. Jesus wanted to bring him back to the point where he would henceforth not just go fishing (John 21:3) but would “Feed my lambs,” “feed my sheep” and “tend my sheep” (John 21:15,16,17). The converts must be fed and tended with God’s Word (see 1 Pet. 5:2-3), and this must be done through love for Christ.

THREE HOURS ON THE CROSS

THREE HOURS ON THE CROSS

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty." John 19:28

 

And so we come to the central Wonder. John says, "After this." How long after? Probably three hours, for the word to His mother was probably uttered at the beginning. John does not tell us about those three hours. He says, "After this." John's account here is the most revealing of those of the evangelists. Of course Matthew wrote by inspiration, so also did Mark, and Luke unquestionably; but equally by inspiration John has written something in simple sentences that is more revealing than what Matthew, Mark, or Luke were inspired to write about that hour, and what transpired.

                John says, "After this Jesus, knowing." What? "That all things are now finished, that the Scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst." The work He voluntarily left heaven to accomplish was accomplished. Jesus did not say "I thirst" until He knew that everything was done. He knew that all things were accomplished. Then there passed His lips the only words in all the process, either of trial or crucifying, or long-continued agony on the Cross that gave expression to physical suffering. As the Son of Man He Displayed normal human appetites. Cf. Matt. 4:2. He was also capable of death. Then He said, "I thirst," but He did not say that until whatever He had gone to the Cross to do was done. When He knew that "all things were accomplished, He said, I thirst." There was a vessel standing there with vinegar in it; and somebody took some hyssop, and saturated it with the vinegar and gave Him, and He received it. At the very beginning they had offered Him wine, mingled with gall, drugged, and He refused it. He refused anything that would deaden the physical pain. But now knowing that all things were finished, He said, "I thirst." Three years earlier He furnished as the Creator the very best wine from water at the wedding He and His mother attended. Here they gave Him the simple sour wine of Palestine on hyssop, and He took it. He made wondrous displays His whole journey on earth. Many miss the wonder of God here on earth to redeem mankind.

FATHER SHARES WITH ALL HIS SONS

SHARED FROM THE FATHER - ALL THINGS

“Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?” John 18:4

Conversations of the Servant with His Master in all night prayer; the Servant receiving His orders. Conversations to the Son of Man and we are allowed as His servants to understand the movements of the trinity to save those that might believe. Now mark the majesty of these next four verses. "Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth." That statement is full of significance, bearing out and emphasizing the fact that the pathway of Jesus to His Cross was not the pathway of a Victim. All the way He knew all that was coming to Him. Perfectly familiar with it all, He "went forth," went forth in majesty, never more majestic than when His eyes were set upon His Cross. He not only went forth but He shared all things with us His followers.

                This statement that "He went forth" means that He left the garden. He went forth from it. He went outside. There and then happened a remarkable thing, which was the ultimate evidence of His majesty. He faced them. He said, "Whom seek ye?" They said, "Jesus the Nazarene." He then said, "I am." Our versions render it "I am He." Quite literally He simply said, "I am." When He did so, a cohort of Roman soldiers, the Temple police, the rulers themselves, Judas guiding them, went backwards and fell to the ground. Some burst of majesty halted them. There may have been the emerging of something we cannot interpret, a flaming of glory. I think rather that something in the mien of Jesus as He stood confronting His enemies caused their shrinking and fall. They could not lay a hand on Him. Right to the very margin He revealed the fact referred to again and again, as we have seen in the process of the Gospel that no man could lay hands upon Him until His hour was come. His hour had now come, but even now, the entire cohort and the police of the Temple and the elders were powerless of themselves to lay any hand on Him. "I am," He said, and they went backwards, and fell. Thus the majesty of Jesus was revealed.

Only by grace would God come to the garden at Creation each day to share with Adam that he might share with Eve. Daily conversations that we  can share with He Who came to die for us that we might know "all things". Truth Himself speaking with His creatures that He has openly shared His love for us by His death on the cross that opens the door for our understanding. Daily we might grow in our understanding of Truth and His Father through the Spirit He and the Father sent us. Only a fool would neglect that privilege. God has no fools on His side.