Thursday, October 31 - Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6

New International Version (NIV)

6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting, we will do so.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

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THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
   The author of Hebrews warns, here, that the human heart can become so calloused against the Lord that it is irretrievable.  When someone is convinced of the truth of God's grace and their heart has been moved by the Holy Spirit to believe that Jesus is the Christ, yet they actively choose, by design, to push Him away, deny His power, and live contrary to His leading:  this is the Sin against the Holy Spirit.
   He who has committed this Sin is so hardened that he no longer cares whether he is loved by God or whether he has committed this sin.  Instead, he is dead set upon a lifestyle that shows a despising of the Lord and an antagonism toward His grace.
   Some of the Pharisees seem to have fallen into this snare.  They saw Jesus' miracles and recognized that they could only be performed by One who was from God.  Yet, instead of honoring Jesus as the Christ, they declared that His works were from the Devil.
  
   If one cares whether or not he has committed this sin, he has not committed it.  However, the path which leads to this sin is certainly something to be concerned about.  Continuously rejecting one's conscience, God's Word, and living contrary to the known will of God is the path that hardens the heart.  May God preserve us from such sin and keep us secure in His embrace.
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⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴ saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. ¹⁷ Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Wednesday, October 30 - Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5

New International Version (NIV)

 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. ³ This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

⁶ And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ⁸ Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered ⁹ and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

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HIGH PRIEST

    The Old Testament priest's job was to offer the sacrifices, on behalf of the people.  This temporary measure was intended to point forward to Him who would make the ultimate personal sacrifice, once and for all, for all humankind (Jesus).  All the way back in Genesis, God had promised that there was a Messiah coming who would crush the serpents head by His suffering on our behalf.  The sacrificed animal, then, as a precursor to this Messiah, paid for sins only in the sense that a person's evils were laid upon Him in whom the animal sacrifice found its fulfillment.  

   Jesus, as our great High Priest, not only offers the sacrifice on our behalf, but He also IS the sacrifice that is being offered to rescue a sinful humanity.  As the communion hymn Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord declares, "Offered was He for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and Himself the priest."

   Only the sacrifice of the perfect Son of God could truly wash away the guilt of sin for ALL people.  A sinful High Priest could only make sacrifices for himself, but the sinless Jesus could make restitution for all.

   The Concordia Self-Study Bible has a meaningful note on the confusing 5:8-9  .  Referencing "he learned obedience from what he suffered."  it says, "Jesus was made "perfect" through suffering namely, his temptation in the desert and his ordeal on the cross.  Though he was the eternal Son of God, it was necessary for him as the incarnate Son to learn obedience - not that he was ever disobedient, but that he was called on to obey to an extent he had never before experienced.  The temptations he faced were real and the battle for victory was difficult, but where Adam failed and fell, Jesus resisted and prevailed.  His humanity was thereby completed, "made perfect", and on the basis of this perfection he could become "the source of eternal salvation."

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Warning Against Falling Away

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 4 - Tuesday, October 29

Hebrews 4

New International Version (NIV)

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ² For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. ³ Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. ⁴ For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” ⁵ And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

⁶ Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, ⁷ God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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ESCAPE?
  Of all the Israelites who escaped from Egyptian bondage (who were over twenty years old at the time), only two entered the Promised Land.  Their names were Joshua and Caleb, and they were permitted to enter because, early on, they trusted that God would enable them to win victory over the land of Canaan and to live in peace and freedom there.  They tried to convince all the Israelites, but the group chose to listen to the other spies who said victory was impossible.
   These two men got to experience the fulfillment of their dreams and rejoiced as God's people eventually conquered the land.  The others could only experience the Promised Land as a dream yet to be accomplished because they did not trust that God could lead them to victory.  They perished in the wilderness and it was their children and grandchildren who would experience the actual "land flowing with milk and honey."

   The writer of Hebrews reminds us of this truth because he wants to be sure that a worse thing doesn't happen with the eternal Promised Land.  That is, he does not want God's people to lose heart and faith because they fall into the trap of disobedience, and ultimately lose out on their future reward.
   He is right.  Sin can so easily grab hold of us and lead us down a slippery slope.  The Tempter wants to use whatever tools are at his disposal to erode our faith into nothing.
   Let Joshua and Caleb be reminders to us that our God is a God of promise and victory.  His Promised Land is real, and we need to continue to fight the battle against our sinful desires, or they may lead us away from His heavenly promise.
   Thank God that we have a King who fights for us, and in Jesus Christ has already won the war.  As we trust in Him, He enables us to battle against The Enemy and to bring him to naught each time he seeks to lead us astray.  And so, as we trust in Him, we know that the Promised Land is ours!

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Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Friday, October 25 - Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2

New International Version (NIV)

Warning to Pay Attention

  We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Jesus Made Fully Human

⁵ It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
⁷ You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
⁸     and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them.  Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. ⁹ But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. ¹¹ Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.¹² He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

¹³ And again,

“I will put my trust in him."

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

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IN OUR SHOES

   The above chapter strongly highlights that our God is not out of touch when it comes to who we are and the challenges we face.   Quite the opposite.  He chose, willingly and voluntarily, to climb into this sinful world and to be victim to the worst that this world can bring.  He did it not only so that He could be our substitute, but also so that we can know that He sympathizes with us in our temptations and struggles.

   Isn't it comforting to know that Jesus' feet walked the same places we go  -- that He knows who we are not only because He is our All-Knowing God, but also because He is our Compassionate Brother?

   He knows about the little things and the big things -- the simple and the mundane as well as the monumental and important.  And He cares about them, He truly does, as an Insider.

   May He also help us to see all people as our brothers and sisters, and treat them with the same compassion and care that He shows to us.

Thursday, October 24 - Hebrews 1

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The Son Superior to Angels

⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”^[a]?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”^[b]?

⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”^[c]

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”^[d]

⁸ But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”^[e]

¹⁰ He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.”^[f]

¹³ To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet”^[g]?

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

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ANGELS

  These special beings have two specific functions.  1)  to serve God and carry out His commmands, and 2) to serve humankind as God's arm of protection and assistance.

   Humans do not become angels when they die.  But angels, it seems, can sometimes take on human form if they are called upon to do so by God's design.

  The writer of Hebrews, though, wants to make it perfectly clear that Jesus is superior to the angels,, and that He alone is the ultimate source of our strength.  It would be a mistake to glorify angels beyond the scope of their work or to seek them above or instead of our Lord Jesus.

   Many of us have had our memorable experiences where there is little explanation for our health or safety beyond God's ministering spirits being dispatched to assist us.  And while we cannot often quantify this truth, we relay these stories because they have strengthened our faith.

   I, for one, believe that God's angels, at least twice in my life, have rescued me from death by automobile.  Many of you have heard the story of my family's drive to PA back in 1996 and our head-on collision.  I truly believe God's angels cushioned our blow so that everyone in both cars was kept safe from harm.

   What's your story?   Share it with me, if you wish -- or share it with the other blog readers in the comments section!

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Wednesday, October 23 - Philemon

 Philemon 1

New International Version (NIV)

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I particularly appreciated this commentary from the Concordia Self-Study Bible, which shares the ironic way that Paul reminds us of Christ as he advocates for Onesimus, the runaway slave.  Look for the parallels as you read this one-chapter book:

From the Self Study Bible:    God's grace is portrayed in Philemon by analogy.  Paul's love for Onesimus, who is guilty of a great offense (vv. 11, 15, 18) motivates him to intercede on behalf of the runaway slave.  Paul sets aside his rights (v. 8) and becomes Onesimus' substitute by assuming his debt (vv. 18-19).  By Philemon's gracious act Onesimus is forgiven and placed in a new relationship with his lord (vv. 15-16).  

We are, like Onesimus, guilty of sin.  Jesus' ministry on earth and mediation before His Father parallel Paul's advocacy before Philemon.  We, like Onesimus, are condemned by law, but saved by God's grace.

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¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— ² also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

⁴ I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. ⁶ I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. ⁷ Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, ⁹ yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— ¹⁰ that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. ¹¹ Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
¹² I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. ¹³ I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. ¹⁴ But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. ¹⁵ Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— ¹⁶ no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
¹⁷ So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. ¹⁸ If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. ²⁰ I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. ²¹ Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
²² And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. ²⁴ And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

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SLAVERY

   While Paul makes no particular commentary about slavery in this book, his urgings for Philemon to treat Onesimus as a brother show clearly that God intends fellow human beings to be treated not as property, but with respect, compassion and love.  The misuse of other humans for one's own personal gain is forbidden by scripture.  All attempts to use the New Testament's supposed silence on the subject to employ God as an advocate for slavery are ridiculous nonsense.
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Tuesday, October 22 - Titus 3

Titus 3

New International Version (NIV)

Saved in Order to Do Good

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, ² to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

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GENTLENESS

    Sometimes, it seems to me, disagreements have a tendency to lead people away from gentleness.  In our desire to "be right," to "prove our point," and to "get the upper hand" on those who disagree with us, we can sometimes resort to manipulation, gossip, and rudeness.

   Paul encourages Titus to remind the believers in Crete that they should avoid such games and approach one another with a mind toward peace and unity.   Gentleness should characterize their words and actions.

   This is, of course, a hard thing to do when we feel strongly about an issue.  Our sinful tendency is to push for our way and let our passions run their course as we plow through.

   Self-control, however, is the way of the Spirit;  and God desires His people to tame their tongue and to guard their actions.  Jesus Himself shows this attitude as He walks the road to the cross..  His desire to save us and to serve His Father trumps His own human desire to fight back and win the battle.  Instead, He wins the bigger war against Satan and his henchmen by being a servant unto death.

   It helps, I think, to try and see the bigger picture and to recognize that grudges, anger, and gossip are not tools to advance the Kingdom of God.

   May God bless you today with gentleness and patience as you serve Him in a sinful world.

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³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. ¹³ Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.
¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.

Monday, October 21 -- Titus 2

Titus 2

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. ² Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.⁷ In everything set them an example by doing what is good.In your teaching show integrity, seriousness ⁸ and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
⁹ Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, ¹⁰ and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
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ATTRACTIVE
   Often the first thing that draws us to someone has to do with how he or she looks.  Outer beauty and physical attraction have a way of making us want to get to know someone better.  And sometimes the outer beauty is combined with a great personality;  and other times we find that beauty is only skin deep.
   Paul encourages people from every age (and every walk of life) to live a life worthy of the Gospel -- that is, to be so consistent and honest in ones dealings with others, that onlookers want to know more about what we believe.
   It is, of course, unattractive when people see Christians acting with the same kind of greed, anger, and self-centeredness as the rest of the world.  But when God's people display integrity, compassion, generosity and love, then, sometimes, the world is attracted to its beauty and wants to know more.
    This is especially evident when we find ourselves in difficult situations or in the middle of injustice.  Letting our faith rise to the occasion rather than seeing ourselves as victims who deserve to give in to our passions, helps others to see what Christianity is like "when the rubber meets the road."
   This is, of course, a high calling, and cannot be accomplished without the power of the Savior "who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light."  And, there will, of course, be frequent need for His forgiving grace to pick us up when we fail.
   May God bless you as you seek to adorn the changeless Gospel with a life worthy of your calling.
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¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Friday, October 18 - Titus 1

Titus 1

New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, ³ and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

⁴ To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good

⁵ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. ⁶ An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. ⁷ Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

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ELDERS
    Paul's use of the term "elders" in this section refers to the spiritual leader in a congregation -- specifically the pastor.   He directs Titus to appoint men in every town to fulfill this Office so that God's work is not "left unfinished."
   Paul then creates a laundry list of qualifications that Titus should look for as he seeks these men.  He tells Titus that the Lord wants men who stand above reproach, who are exemplary, and who have a shepherd's heart.   
   This list of qualifications is a little intimidating.  In fact, there is really no one who can truly fulfill all of these requirements.  No one is exempt from sin and can withstand the scrutiny of God's perfect judgement.  Nevertheless, in Christ, the pastor's sins (like those of every Christian) are covered over and he is given the blessing of the Lord's righteousness.  The unqualified becomes qualified because of Him who laid down His life.
   So Titus' charge is to seek men who are recognized by the community as standing out because of their love for the Lord, their knowledge of the Scriptures, their godly living, ethical conduct, and faithful family.  In short, rather than having just anyone apply for the job, Paul wanted Titus to seek those who were well-regarded as representatives of Him.  
   These guidelines serve as a blessing to the Church even today.   Those who are called by congregations to be pastors can't be perfect, but they can be well-respected as they honor God with their lives both professionally and personally.
   All pastors, like myself, are keenly aware of our unworthiness for this Office, but we pray that God will continue to make us competent through the gift of His Holy Spirit.
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Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. ¹¹ They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. ¹² One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”^{[c] 13} This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith ¹⁴ and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Thursday, October 17 - 2 Timothy 3 and 4 (since there was no blog yesterday)

2 Timothy 3

New International Version (NIV)

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

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CONTINUE

   This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday, and it will be my privilege to encourage Kyle, Charlie, David, Joe W and Joe K in their spiritual journey.  One thing I will certainly be saying is that they should always remember that Confirmation is not "Graduation."  That is, a disciple of Christ recognizes that faith requires a lifetime of learning and a continual reliance of the Word of God.  Confirmation is simply one step in this process, but it is certainly not the "end-all."

 

   This is actually a good word for everone to consider.  For far too long, many Christians have been deluded by the concept that once they know the basics of Christianity, there is nothing more to be attained.  And the Bible sits on the shelf, and the Catechism gathers dust.

 

   I wish that they would think of faith more like a race.  A race requires continual training and regular workouts.  Similarly, as our faith is challenged by the temptations of the world, it also requires a regular diet of spiritual exercising.  Prayer, Bible Study, worship, remembering our baptism, participating in Holy Communion, family devotions, and the like, should be a regular part of our growth.

 

  May God bless you in your continuing education.

 

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2 Timothy 4

New International Version (NIV)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: ² Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. ⁵ But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

 

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THE PASTOR'S CHARGE

   "Itching ears" are nothing new.  For as long as the Tempter has been roaming the earth, one of his favorite tricks is to encourage people be their own theologians.  He loves it when anyone rejects the objective truths of God's word for his or her own opinions and feelings.   And the more he can encourage us to "trump" the Word with ideas grounded in sinful humanity, the more he can lead us astray.

   St. Paul reminds Timothy that it is his charge not to pander to "itching ears" so that he can be well-liked or popular, but rather to "preach the word."  This, of course, can be a hard task, because there will always be someone else out there who is ready to jump in and tell people what they want to hear.

   As Christians we ought always have our antennas up.  We should listen to those who purport to be speaking God's truth with our fingers near a Bible to be sure they are accurately reflecting His desires. After all, a diet of spiritual sugar-water will ultimately be bad for our health.

   The "New Age" movement is very popular today for this very reason.  It rejects such long-held, traditional concepts as original sin, and the need for an atoning Savior, for a general quest toward an uncertain "spirituality" not grounded in Christ.   For New Agers, the ultimate goal seems to be more about "being in touch with yourself" rather than being "transformed" by the image of Christ.

   May God help His preachers to indeed be grounded in His Word;  and may He also bless the hearers to seek only the true Gospel that can be found within its pages.

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⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Personal Remarks

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly, ¹⁰ for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
¹⁴ Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. ¹⁵ You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.¹⁷ But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla^[a] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. ²¹ Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[b]
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.