Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 5
1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting. KJV
Paul begins this very next verse with the conjunction 'howbeit' in order that he might join together the fact of him being (in his own soul) the worst sinner ever born of a woman on the earth with this reality as written for Timothy with these words, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting." (1 Timothy 1:16) (KJV). The little English phrase 'for this cause' is translated by one Greek word dia which is a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act. The little English phrase 'I obtained mercy' we defined in part 2 and so we repeat again that it is translated by one Greek word eleeo meaning to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on). That is, in other words, it was the fact that Paul was a sinner and the worst sinner according to himself that he was granted the Mercy of God that brought to him the Grace of God that turned him from a hater of Jesus Christ to being in love with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and caused him to no longer persecute other Christians to imprison or murder them, but now Paul was compelled to care for, protect, and love his now new brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
When Paul writes here to Timothy these words 'that in me', first he is telling Timothy and everyone else that has read this letter that our Lord Jesus Christ showed to the whole world that no one, that is, no human being or human sinner has sinned too far from His Mercy and His Grace that they (mercy and grace) cannot retrieve them and bring them into a relationship, a loving relationship with the very God (Jesus Christ) that created them and loved them before the foundation of the world was even formed by Him. Secondly, Paul is saying to his brethren in the flesh (other Jews) that our Lord Jesus Christ has never abandoned them as a Nation because He was rejected as the Messiah and then Crucified by the Jewish leaders by turning Him over to the Romans to be murdered, as it is written for us by Dr. Luke documenting what Peter spoke to his fellow countrymen with these words, "The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified His Servant {and} Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], Whom you indeed delivered up and denied {and} rejected {and} disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go. But you denied {and} rejected {and} disowned the Pure {and} Holy, the Just {and} Blameless One, and demanded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses." (Acts 3:13-15) (Amplified Bible).
Christ ordained it to be this way, yet He will at all times and on any occasion that a Jew or Gentile turn to Him show mercy and give grace to the sinner, for let us remember what our Lord Jesus said while He was nailed to the Cross suffering in agonizing pain and pouring out His Life Blood for all sinners, He said, "And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments {and} distributed them by casting lots for them." (Luke 23:34) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes the word 'first' concerning himself, here he is telling Timothy that he as a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin, even he was not blocked out or barred or blotted out from the mercy of God and with this being seen now by all the Jews, Paul considered himself as the first example to the obstinate, stiff-necked ruling body of the Jewish people (remember what Steven said to them and about them before they stoned him to death), "You stubborn {and} stiff-necked people, still heathen {and} uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are always actively resisting the Holy Spirit. As your forefathers [were], so you [are and so you do]! Which of the prophets did your forefathers not persecute? And they slew those who proclaimed beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you now have betrayed and murdered--You who received the Law as it was ordained {and} set in order {and} delivered by angels, and [yet] you did not obey it! Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart {and} infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen]." (Acts 7:51-54) (Amplified Bible).
Paul was there when this murder happened and he was complicit (holding the coats of the murderers) in this brutal act of violence carried out against a man who only witnessed to them the truth, yet now Paul has come full circle to find himself in the same shoes as Steven telling other Jews like this that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that in Him only is their forgiveness of sins and salvation because he received mercy. The little English phrase 'might shew forth' is translated by one Greek word endeiknumi meaning to indicate (by word or act). The English word 'longsuffering' is translated by the Greek word makrothumia meaning with long (enduring) temper, that is, leniently: - patiently; that is, (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude: - longsuffering. In other words, the Apostle Paul's sin was not greater than the patience of Almighty God Jesus Christ in waiting for the opportunity to open his blind spiritual eyes that he would see the truth of the Gospel and the truth of the Messiah being Jesus Christ, that is, Paul could not stoop low enough or long enough in sin to outlast the longsuffering of God just as the Apostle Peter wrote with these words, "The Lord does not delay {and} is not tardy {or} slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) (Amplified Bible). The life of Saul who became Paul served then and still serves now as a sketch, a survey, a study in the willingness of our Lord Jesus Christ that any sinner be pardoned for his sins, no matter how bad the rest of the world may view a man's sin, for it is only the maker of Heaven and Earth that can declare a sinner forgiven and Saul/Paul's life serves as a pattern to humanity that Jesus Christ has indeed come into this world to save sinners (all types of sinners) and none are disqualified from His Mercy and His Grace and His Life which is Eternal, that is, forever lived with Him.
"The fact that great sinners have been pardoned, is a proof that others of the same description may be also. The same mercy that saved them can save us - for mercy is not exhausted by being frequently exercised. The Blood of Atonement which has cleansed so many can cleanse us - for its efficacy is not destroyed by being once applied to the guilty soul. Let no one then despair of obtaining mercy because he feels that his sins are too great to be forgiven. Let him look to the past, and remember what God has done. Let him remember the case of Saul of Tarsus; let him think of David and Peter; let him recall the names of Augustine, and Colonel Gardiner, and the Earl of Rochester, and John Newton, and John Bunyan - and thousands like them, who have found mercy; and in their examples let him see a full proof that God is willing to save any sinner, no matter how vile, provided he is penitent and believing." Albert Barnes
"The smallest of God’s creatures, if it were only a gnat dancing in a sunbeam, has a right to have its well-being considered as an end of God’s dealings. But no creature is so isolated or great as that it has a right to have its well-being regarded as the sole end of God’s dealings. That is true about all His blessings and gifts; it is eminently true about His gift of salvation. He saves men because He loves them individually, and desires to make them blessed; but He also saves them because He desires that through them others shall be brought into the living knowledge of His love. It is most especially true about great religious teachers and guides. Paul's humility is as manifest as his self-consciousness when he says in my text, 'This is what I was saved for. Not merely, not even principally, for the blessings that thereby accrue to myself, but that in me, as a crucial instance, there should be manifested the whole fulness of the divine love and saving power.' So he puts his own experience as giving no kind of honour or glory to himself, but as simply showing the grace and infinite love of Jesus Christ. Paul disappears as but a passive recipient; and Christ strides into the front as the actor in his conversion and Apostleship." Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
I am a Christian Writer of non-fiction primarily and a little fiction. My purpose for forming this site is to Edify Christians with my writing and reach the lost with the uncompromising Gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saturday, March 10, 2018
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume10
Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 4
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. KJV
Paul now in continuing to give God glory for His amazing grace again tells Timothy (something he surely had done many times during their travels together) how he looked upon himself after he was confronted (on the Damascus road) with the awesome glory that is present and inherent in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when he writes these words to him, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15) (KJV). When Paul begins this verse with the little English phrase 'This is a faithful saying', he is trying to communicate to Timothy and anyone else who would read this letter that what he has already written (thus far) and what he writes at present is not the rambling words of a religious zealot or a religious nut, but these words are sure and true and can be trusted. The little English phrase 'This is a faithful' is translated by one Greek word pistos which means objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believe, faithful, sure, true.
In other words, what Paul writes here to Timothy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ is not speculation, but Paul concludes it to be sure and true, because of what mercy he received (a sinner who killed those people whom Christ Jesus our Lord loves), yet despite that truth and reality he (Paul) was granted and shown mercy by the Person who was the very object of Saul's rage and hatred. When Paul writes 'worthy of all acceptation', this is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning these words of Paul, 'Worthy to be embraced or believed by all. This is so, because: all are sinners and need a Saviour. All, therefore ought to welcome a doctrine which shows them how they may be saved.' Paul means that what he declares here to Timothy should be received with great reverence and honor and should sink down deep into the soul or inner man or inner woman of every person (not just Timothy) who reads these words because of the faithfulness of our God Jesus Christ to fulfilling His own Word just as Paul wrote with these words to the Thessalonian Church, "Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] {and} utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]." (1 Thessalonians 5:24) (Amplified Bible) and also these words, "Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] {and} set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes to Timothy 'that Christ Jesus came into the world', is a reminder to Timothy and to all Christians everywhere of what a tremendous sacrifice was made for our redeemption, for our Lord Jesus Christ is the very God who created us all and He did not owe us/humanity anything, for we plunged ourselves into darkness by virtue of Adam's sin and everyone of our own personal sins against Him, yet He chose to lower Himself below all of His Own creation and suffer ridicule, railing, and reproach from an unworthy creature whom He could have wiped out of His universes and started over, but instead He became the propitiation, that is, atoning and becoming the atonement for our sin and wrongdoing, just as the Apostle John wrote with these words, "And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world." (1 John 2:2) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'to save' is translated by the Greek word sozo which means to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save, make whole. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means a human being who misses the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass; to be sinful, that is, a sinner.
So, in other words, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ came into this world to deliver and protect, to heal, preserve, and make whole any sinner, that is, sinful human being who would turn to Him for forgiveness made only possible by His death on the Cross and shedding of His Blood and then His Resurrection from the dead and His Ascension back into Heaven to sit now on His Throne of Grace. Finally, when Paul writes to Timothy these words ('of whom I am chief'), he is not being over dramatic or practicing self-loathing, or false humility, but instead he by mercy received that brought to him the grace of God, he sees himself in truth and in reality as he stands up or stacks up against the unpenetrable purity and holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, Paul (like every honest sinner should) saw himself as the most heinous sinner that there was against Jesus Christ our God, but truth be told every human being is the chief of sinners (I know I am, thats why I thank and love my Lord Jesus Christ so much), for all are equal in their offense to Almighty God, no matter whether this is believed or not by all of humanity. Oh, by the way this English word 'chief' is translated by the Greek word protos which means foremost (in time, place, order or importance).
"'Christ Jesus came.' Then He was before He came. His own will impelled His feet, and brought Him to earth. 'Christ Jesus came to save.' Then there is disease, for saving is healing; and there is danger, for saving is making secure. 'Christ Jesus came to save sinners'—the universal condition, co-extensive with the 'world' into which, and for which, He came. And so the essence of the Gospel, as it lay in Paul’s mind, and had been verified in his experience, was this—that a Divine Person had left a life of glory, and in wonderful fashion had taken upon Himself manhood in order to deliver men from the universal danger and disease. That is the Gospel which Paul believed, and which he commends to us as 'a faithful saying.'" Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. KJV
Paul now in continuing to give God glory for His amazing grace again tells Timothy (something he surely had done many times during their travels together) how he looked upon himself after he was confronted (on the Damascus road) with the awesome glory that is present and inherent in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when he writes these words to him, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." (1 Timothy 1:15) (KJV). When Paul begins this verse with the little English phrase 'This is a faithful saying', he is trying to communicate to Timothy and anyone else who would read this letter that what he has already written (thus far) and what he writes at present is not the rambling words of a religious zealot or a religious nut, but these words are sure and true and can be trusted. The little English phrase 'This is a faithful' is translated by one Greek word pistos which means objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believe, faithful, sure, true.
In other words, what Paul writes here to Timothy concerning our Lord Jesus Christ is not speculation, but Paul concludes it to be sure and true, because of what mercy he received (a sinner who killed those people whom Christ Jesus our Lord loves), yet despite that truth and reality he (Paul) was granted and shown mercy by the Person who was the very object of Saul's rage and hatred. When Paul writes 'worthy of all acceptation', this is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning these words of Paul, 'Worthy to be embraced or believed by all. This is so, because: all are sinners and need a Saviour. All, therefore ought to welcome a doctrine which shows them how they may be saved.' Paul means that what he declares here to Timothy should be received with great reverence and honor and should sink down deep into the soul or inner man or inner woman of every person (not just Timothy) who reads these words because of the faithfulness of our God Jesus Christ to fulfilling His own Word just as Paul wrote with these words to the Thessalonian Church, "Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] {and} utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]." (1 Thessalonians 5:24) (Amplified Bible) and also these words, "Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] {and} set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]." (2 Thessalonians 3:3) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes to Timothy 'that Christ Jesus came into the world', is a reminder to Timothy and to all Christians everywhere of what a tremendous sacrifice was made for our redeemption, for our Lord Jesus Christ is the very God who created us all and He did not owe us/humanity anything, for we plunged ourselves into darkness by virtue of Adam's sin and everyone of our own personal sins against Him, yet He chose to lower Himself below all of His Own creation and suffer ridicule, railing, and reproach from an unworthy creature whom He could have wiped out of His universes and started over, but instead He became the propitiation, that is, atoning and becoming the atonement for our sin and wrongdoing, just as the Apostle John wrote with these words, "And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the sins of] the whole world." (1 John 2:2) (Amplified Bible). The little English phrase 'to save' is translated by the Greek word sozo which means to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, save, make whole. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means a human being who misses the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass; to be sinful, that is, a sinner.
So, in other words, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ came into this world to deliver and protect, to heal, preserve, and make whole any sinner, that is, sinful human being who would turn to Him for forgiveness made only possible by His death on the Cross and shedding of His Blood and then His Resurrection from the dead and His Ascension back into Heaven to sit now on His Throne of Grace. Finally, when Paul writes to Timothy these words ('of whom I am chief'), he is not being over dramatic or practicing self-loathing, or false humility, but instead he by mercy received that brought to him the grace of God, he sees himself in truth and in reality as he stands up or stacks up against the unpenetrable purity and holiness of our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, Paul (like every honest sinner should) saw himself as the most heinous sinner that there was against Jesus Christ our God, but truth be told every human being is the chief of sinners (I know I am, thats why I thank and love my Lord Jesus Christ so much), for all are equal in their offense to Almighty God, no matter whether this is believed or not by all of humanity. Oh, by the way this English word 'chief' is translated by the Greek word protos which means foremost (in time, place, order or importance).
"'Christ Jesus came.' Then He was before He came. His own will impelled His feet, and brought Him to earth. 'Christ Jesus came to save.' Then there is disease, for saving is healing; and there is danger, for saving is making secure. 'Christ Jesus came to save sinners'—the universal condition, co-extensive with the 'world' into which, and for which, He came. And so the essence of the Gospel, as it lay in Paul’s mind, and had been verified in his experience, was this—that a Divine Person had left a life of glory, and in wonderful fashion had taken upon Himself manhood in order to deliver men from the universal danger and disease. That is the Gospel which Paul believed, and which he commends to us as 'a faithful saying.'" Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 9
Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 3
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. KJV
As Paul continues in his declaration to Brother Timothy of who he was before he encountered our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, we find Paul pausing for just one moment and writing of what turned him around and opened his blind spiritual eyes and halted him in his tracks from wanting to do harm to Christians, to him now wanting to help his fellow Christians in any way he could and this was due to the grace applied to his inner man by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as Paul so writes with these words, "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:14) (KJV). The English word 'grace' is translated by the Greek word charis meaning graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. In other words, Paul's mercy received manifested itself in the grace of God he received in his inner man causing him to no longer want to blaspheme the Name of Christ, but now he worshipped the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and regarded Him as the One and Only True God.
The grace of God caused him to have his spiritual eyes opened to the truth and now as a fellow believer in Jesus Christ, Paul saw other Christians as his brothers or his sisters and no longer as his spiritual enemy because he had now (by grace) been delivered from the power of Satan just as he declared to the believers in the Church @ Colosse with these words, "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:12-14) (Amplified Bible). This is what Paul (and everyone of us who truly believe today) had obtained by receiving mercy that translated into God's grace, that is, His Divine influence upon the heart or the inner man or inner woman and its reflection in the individual sinner (now saints) life.
The little English phrase 'was exceeding abundant' is translated by one big Greek word used this one time only in the New Testament huperpleonazō which means to super abound: - be exceeding abundant. In other words, Paul's sin (just as every persons sin is whether they think so or not) was enormous against our Heavenly Father, yet he (as well as I and every saint of God) received an overwhelming, overcoming, and even an overpowering abundance of grace/divine influence that broke his stubborn, that is, his resolute adherence to his own ideas and desires or his stubborn unbelief in refusing to see Jesus Christ as the Messiah just as he wrote of this dichotomy or duality to the believers in Rome concerning sin and grace, "But then Law came in, [only] to expand {and} increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased {and} abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it {and} increased the more {and} superabounded, So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21) (Amplified Bible).
Paul is also now declaring to Timothy that the grace of God that came to him was exceedingly abundant in dispensing to him 'faith' (that he previously did not have) and this English word is translated by the Greek word pistis meaning persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. In other words, now in a complete turn around, that is, totally opposite to his previous unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13) Paul is now flooded in his inner man with a firm, fixed, and focused conviction that Jesus Christ is the One True and Only God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message sinful humanity needs to hear and this faith was not his own faith, but it was what he received by obtaining mercy that brought the grace of God enabling, empowering, and ensuring that he (Paul) would believe (Wow!).
Just as this grace had implanted faith in Paul's heart or inner man, it also brought to Paul's inner man 'love' and this English word 'love' is translated by the Greek word agape which means love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - or simply put it is God's love implanted in the inner man or inner woman. In other words, as Saul of Tarsus he was doing as it is written here for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "Meanwhile Saul, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2) (Amplified Bible).
But now the 'new creation' Paul as it is written by him to the Corinthian Church with these words, "Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh {and} new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Amplified Bible), now no longer desires to persecute and oppress believers in Jesus Christ, but a true believer in Christ himself he loves his fellow brothers and sisters and only wants to show them this love that has been implanted into his inner man by God the Holy Spirit as it again is written by Paul himself with these words to the Roman believers, "Such hope never disappoints {or} deludes {or} shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5) (Amplified Bible). All that this Apostle (and we believers today) received was and is found in our Lord Jesus Christ, for He Only is the source of all mercy, grace, hope, faith, and love.
"That is, in his conversion under these circumstances and in the aid which was afterward imparted to him in his work. Accompanied with the exercise of faith and love; or producing faith and love. The grace which was imparted to him was seen in the faith and love which it produced." Albert Barnes
"The original is very emphatic, that grace of our Lord, hath superabounded - it manifested itself in a way of extraordinary mercy. Not only pardoning such offenses, but leading me to the full experimental knowledge of Christianity; of that faith and love which are essential to it; and giving me authority to proclaim it to mankind." Adam Clarke
"That is, the love of Jehovah the Father; so the Ethiopic version reads, 'the grace of God'; of God the Father, since He is distinguished in the text from Jesus Christ. God is abundant in grace and goodness; He is rich and plenteous in mercy; there is an overflow of love in His heart to His chosen people, and in conversion it flows out, and abounds and superabounds. These are the effects of the love and favour of God displayed in conversion, or which the grace of God brings along with it, and implants in the soul at that time, as it did in the Apostle; for by 'faith' is not meant the faithfulness of God to His Son, and to His covenant, oath, and promise, which now began visibly to be made good; nor the faith of the Gospel committed to the Apostle's trust, which was an high favour; but the grace of faith, which is a pure gift of God, and a distinguishing instance of His grace; for all men have it not, only His elect; and is a most precious and excellent grace, and of great use and importance: it receives every blessing from Christ, and gives Him all the glory; through it much peace, joy, and comfort are enjoyed here, and with it is connected eternal life and salvation hereafter: and by 'love' also is meant, not the love with which God loves His people, for that is designed by the grace of our Lord, though there is a very great display of that in conversion, which is a time of love; but the internal grace of love, even love to God, to Christ, and to His people, which the Apostle was before destitute of; but now instead of unbelief he had faith, and instead of rage and madness against Christ, and the saints, his soul was filled with love to both." Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. KJV
As Paul continues in his declaration to Brother Timothy of who he was before he encountered our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, we find Paul pausing for just one moment and writing of what turned him around and opened his blind spiritual eyes and halted him in his tracks from wanting to do harm to Christians, to him now wanting to help his fellow Christians in any way he could and this was due to the grace applied to his inner man by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as Paul so writes with these words, "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:14) (KJV). The English word 'grace' is translated by the Greek word charis meaning graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. In other words, Paul's mercy received manifested itself in the grace of God he received in his inner man causing him to no longer want to blaspheme the Name of Christ, but now he worshipped the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and regarded Him as the One and Only True God.
The grace of God caused him to have his spiritual eyes opened to the truth and now as a fellow believer in Jesus Christ, Paul saw other Christians as his brothers or his sisters and no longer as his spiritual enemy because he had now (by grace) been delivered from the power of Satan just as he declared to the believers in the Church @ Colosse with these words, "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:12-14) (Amplified Bible). This is what Paul (and everyone of us who truly believe today) had obtained by receiving mercy that translated into God's grace, that is, His Divine influence upon the heart or the inner man or inner woman and its reflection in the individual sinner (now saints) life.
The little English phrase 'was exceeding abundant' is translated by one big Greek word used this one time only in the New Testament huperpleonazō which means to super abound: - be exceeding abundant. In other words, Paul's sin (just as every persons sin is whether they think so or not) was enormous against our Heavenly Father, yet he (as well as I and every saint of God) received an overwhelming, overcoming, and even an overpowering abundance of grace/divine influence that broke his stubborn, that is, his resolute adherence to his own ideas and desires or his stubborn unbelief in refusing to see Jesus Christ as the Messiah just as he wrote of this dichotomy or duality to the believers in Rome concerning sin and grace, "But then Law came in, [only] to expand {and} increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased {and} abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it {and} increased the more {and} superabounded, So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21) (Amplified Bible).
Paul is also now declaring to Timothy that the grace of God that came to him was exceedingly abundant in dispensing to him 'faith' (that he previously did not have) and this English word is translated by the Greek word pistis meaning persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. In other words, now in a complete turn around, that is, totally opposite to his previous unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13) Paul is now flooded in his inner man with a firm, fixed, and focused conviction that Jesus Christ is the One True and Only God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only message sinful humanity needs to hear and this faith was not his own faith, but it was what he received by obtaining mercy that brought the grace of God enabling, empowering, and ensuring that he (Paul) would believe (Wow!).
Just as this grace had implanted faith in Paul's heart or inner man, it also brought to Paul's inner man 'love' and this English word 'love' is translated by the Greek word agape which means love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - or simply put it is God's love implanted in the inner man or inner woman. In other words, as Saul of Tarsus he was doing as it is written here for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "Meanwhile Saul, still drawing his breath hard from threatening and murderous desire against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and requested of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus [authorizing him], so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way [of life as determined by faith in Jesus Christ], he might bring them bound [with chains] to Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2) (Amplified Bible).
But now the 'new creation' Paul as it is written by him to the Corinthian Church with these words, "Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh {and} new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) (Amplified Bible), now no longer desires to persecute and oppress believers in Jesus Christ, but a true believer in Christ himself he loves his fellow brothers and sisters and only wants to show them this love that has been implanted into his inner man by God the Holy Spirit as it again is written by Paul himself with these words to the Roman believers, "Such hope never disappoints {or} deludes {or} shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5) (Amplified Bible). All that this Apostle (and we believers today) received was and is found in our Lord Jesus Christ, for He Only is the source of all mercy, grace, hope, faith, and love.
"That is, in his conversion under these circumstances and in the aid which was afterward imparted to him in his work. Accompanied with the exercise of faith and love; or producing faith and love. The grace which was imparted to him was seen in the faith and love which it produced." Albert Barnes
"The original is very emphatic, that grace of our Lord, hath superabounded - it manifested itself in a way of extraordinary mercy. Not only pardoning such offenses, but leading me to the full experimental knowledge of Christianity; of that faith and love which are essential to it; and giving me authority to proclaim it to mankind." Adam Clarke
"That is, the love of Jehovah the Father; so the Ethiopic version reads, 'the grace of God'; of God the Father, since He is distinguished in the text from Jesus Christ. God is abundant in grace and goodness; He is rich and plenteous in mercy; there is an overflow of love in His heart to His chosen people, and in conversion it flows out, and abounds and superabounds. These are the effects of the love and favour of God displayed in conversion, or which the grace of God brings along with it, and implants in the soul at that time, as it did in the Apostle; for by 'faith' is not meant the faithfulness of God to His Son, and to His covenant, oath, and promise, which now began visibly to be made good; nor the faith of the Gospel committed to the Apostle's trust, which was an high favour; but the grace of faith, which is a pure gift of God, and a distinguishing instance of His grace; for all men have it not, only His elect; and is a most precious and excellent grace, and of great use and importance: it receives every blessing from Christ, and gives Him all the glory; through it much peace, joy, and comfort are enjoyed here, and with it is connected eternal life and salvation hereafter: and by 'love' also is meant, not the love with which God loves His people, for that is designed by the grace of our Lord, though there is a very great display of that in conversion, which is a time of love; but the internal grace of love, even love to God, to Christ, and to His people, which the Apostle was before destitute of; but now instead of unbelief he had faith, and instead of rage and madness against Christ, and the saints, his soul was filled with love to both." Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 8
Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 2
1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. KJV
Now, Paul begins to detail to Timothy (surely this testimony he had told him many times before during their travels together preaching the Gospel) again these words concerning himself and his normal way of life or his normal course of action before he encountered our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Damascus road many years earlier as he writes speaking of himself, "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13) (KJV). First Pauled called himself a 'blasphemer' and this English word is translated by the Greek word blasphēmos which means scurrilous, that is, someone who expresses offensive reproach or abusive reproach calumnious, that is, someone who uses denigrating, defamatory, and derogatory statements against man and against God that are harmful and untrue; tending to discredit or malign or specifically being impious and irreverent (against God): - railing. The little English phrase 'a persecutor' is translated by one Greek word diōktēs used this one time only in the entire New Testament meaning a persecutor, that is, someone who pursues or follows after an individual or many people in order to inflict harm to them physically or in other methods, such as emotionally/spiritually or even financially or other ways. The English word 'injurious' is translated by the Greek word hubristēs meaning to exercise violence, that is, abuse: - use despitefully, reproach, entreat shamefully (spitefully); an insulter, that is, maltreater: - injurious.
In other words, Paul in his unregenerate state or condition, that is, before he was born again by God the Holy Spirit, he hated Christ and all Christians and made it his mission to speak against them or rail against them spreading negative information against Christ and His Children that was not true just as he also chased after them in order to do them physical harm thinking this would stop them declaring our Lord Jesus Christ to be Risen from the grave and to be the One and Only True God of Israel and of the Gentile Nations also just as he spoke of himself with these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts, "I myself indeed was [once] persuaded that it was my duty to do many things contrary to {and} in defiance of the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; I [not only] locked up many of the [faithful] saints (holy ones) in prison by virtue of authority received from the chief priests, but when they were being condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. And frequently I punished them in all the synagogues to make them blaspheme; and in my bitter fury against them, I harassed (troubled, molested, persecuted) {and} pursued them even to foreign cities." (Acts 26:9-11) (Amplified Bible), in like manner how he detailed it to the Galatian Church using these words, "You have heard of my earlier career {and} former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted {and} abused the Church of God furiously {and} extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it {and} destroy it." (Galatians 1:13) (Amplified Bible).
Yet despite Paul's zeal to destroy Christ Church, our Lord Jesus Christ looked on this violent, vicious, and volatile sinner persecuting and even killing those redeemed children of His with mercy and turned this man from a persecutor into a saint, so Paul writes to Brother Timothy that despite his actions, he says, 'I obtained mercy' and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word eleeō meaning to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), obtain, receive, show mercy. The English word 'ignorantly' is translated by the Greek word agnoeō and I think this is where we get our English word agnostic from, it means not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - be ignorant, not know, not understand, unknown. The English word 'unbelief' is translated by the Greek word apistia which means faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. In other words, the Apostle Paul received mercy/compassion from our Lord Jesus Christ because he was a sinner doing what sinners do in ignorance, that is, because he thought his ritual observance of the Law of Moses (as a Jew) made him right with God, but through his spiritual blindness, he could not see that God had come down to earth as a man, that is, the God/Man Jesus Christ in order to die for all sinners (including Jews), but Paul rejected this truth and consequently it kept him bound up in unbelief which blocked him from seeing who Jesus Christ really was due to the blindness in his inner man being spiritually dead while he was yet very religious in the Jewish faith being a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin.
"The meaning is, that he had reviled the name of Christ, and opposed Him and His cause - not believing that He was the Messiah; and in thus opposing he had really been guilty of blasphemy. The true Messiah he had in fact treated with contempt and reproaches, and he now looked back upon that fact with the deepest mortification, and with wonder that One who had been so treated by him should have been willing to put him into the ministry." Albert Barnes
"Not having considered the nature and evidences of Christianity, and not having believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, I acted wholly under the prejudices that influenced my countrymen in general. God therefore showed me mercy, because I acted under this influence, not knowing better. This extension of mercy, does not, however, excuse the infuriated conduct of Saul of Tarsus, for he says himself that he was exceedingly mad against them. Let us beware, lest we lose the man’s former crimes in his after character." Adam Clarke
"Unbelief is what made Saul of Tarsus such a hateful persecutor of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and it alone kept him from seeing who Jesus Christ really and truly was just as it is with every sinner of every generation or era. Unbelief is the most vile sin that there is eclipsing all other sin, for our Lord, Master, and Savior has already died and shed His Powerful Blood to cleanse any sinner from every other sin, but the sin of unbelief blocks sinners like atheist, agnostics, Buddhist, Hindus, and every other false religious or non-religious belief system, from receiving the power that is inherent in the Blood of the Lamb just as was true for many of those who came out of Egypt with Moses, yet they did not truly believe as it is written concerning them with these words, 'For who were they who heard {and} yet were rebellious {and} provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He irritated {and} provoked {and} grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dismembered bodies were strewn {and} left in the desert? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]? So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to {and} trust in {and} rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].' (Hebrews 3:16-19) (Amplified Bible). Remember these words spoken by my Lord Jesus Christ and let them burn into your brain, into your mind, into your conscience, into your spirit, and decline from unbelief or believing that there is some other way to go to Heaven than what He says with these words, 'Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.' (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible)." Did you get that 'except by (through) Me'? I don't care who you are or how you are, because you are not going to Heaven because your 'good' or think you are good or because you have thought yourself to have done a lot of 'good' things via giving money, talent, or time, you can only go to Heaven if and only when you come to the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ with nothing, but confessing that you are a rotten filthy sinner who needs His Mercy and Grace, get it, good." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. KJV
Now, Paul begins to detail to Timothy (surely this testimony he had told him many times before during their travels together preaching the Gospel) again these words concerning himself and his normal way of life or his normal course of action before he encountered our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Damascus road many years earlier as he writes speaking of himself, "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." (1 Timothy 1:13) (KJV). First Pauled called himself a 'blasphemer' and this English word is translated by the Greek word blasphēmos which means scurrilous, that is, someone who expresses offensive reproach or abusive reproach calumnious, that is, someone who uses denigrating, defamatory, and derogatory statements against man and against God that are harmful and untrue; tending to discredit or malign or specifically being impious and irreverent (against God): - railing. The little English phrase 'a persecutor' is translated by one Greek word diōktēs used this one time only in the entire New Testament meaning a persecutor, that is, someone who pursues or follows after an individual or many people in order to inflict harm to them physically or in other methods, such as emotionally/spiritually or even financially or other ways. The English word 'injurious' is translated by the Greek word hubristēs meaning to exercise violence, that is, abuse: - use despitefully, reproach, entreat shamefully (spitefully); an insulter, that is, maltreater: - injurious.
In other words, Paul in his unregenerate state or condition, that is, before he was born again by God the Holy Spirit, he hated Christ and all Christians and made it his mission to speak against them or rail against them spreading negative information against Christ and His Children that was not true just as he also chased after them in order to do them physical harm thinking this would stop them declaring our Lord Jesus Christ to be Risen from the grave and to be the One and Only True God of Israel and of the Gentile Nations also just as he spoke of himself with these words recorded for us by Dr. Luke in the Book of Acts, "I myself indeed was [once] persuaded that it was my duty to do many things contrary to {and} in defiance of the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is what I did in Jerusalem; I [not only] locked up many of the [faithful] saints (holy ones) in prison by virtue of authority received from the chief priests, but when they were being condemned to death, I cast my vote against them. And frequently I punished them in all the synagogues to make them blaspheme; and in my bitter fury against them, I harassed (troubled, molested, persecuted) {and} pursued them even to foreign cities." (Acts 26:9-11) (Amplified Bible), in like manner how he detailed it to the Galatian Church using these words, "You have heard of my earlier career {and} former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted {and} abused the Church of God furiously {and} extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it {and} destroy it." (Galatians 1:13) (Amplified Bible).
Yet despite Paul's zeal to destroy Christ Church, our Lord Jesus Christ looked on this violent, vicious, and volatile sinner persecuting and even killing those redeemed children of His with mercy and turned this man from a persecutor into a saint, so Paul writes to Brother Timothy that despite his actions, he says, 'I obtained mercy' and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word eleeō meaning to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), obtain, receive, show mercy. The English word 'ignorantly' is translated by the Greek word agnoeō and I think this is where we get our English word agnostic from, it means not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - be ignorant, not know, not understand, unknown. The English word 'unbelief' is translated by the Greek word apistia which means faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. In other words, the Apostle Paul received mercy/compassion from our Lord Jesus Christ because he was a sinner doing what sinners do in ignorance, that is, because he thought his ritual observance of the Law of Moses (as a Jew) made him right with God, but through his spiritual blindness, he could not see that God had come down to earth as a man, that is, the God/Man Jesus Christ in order to die for all sinners (including Jews), but Paul rejected this truth and consequently it kept him bound up in unbelief which blocked him from seeing who Jesus Christ really was due to the blindness in his inner man being spiritually dead while he was yet very religious in the Jewish faith being a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin.
"The meaning is, that he had reviled the name of Christ, and opposed Him and His cause - not believing that He was the Messiah; and in thus opposing he had really been guilty of blasphemy. The true Messiah he had in fact treated with contempt and reproaches, and he now looked back upon that fact with the deepest mortification, and with wonder that One who had been so treated by him should have been willing to put him into the ministry." Albert Barnes
"Not having considered the nature and evidences of Christianity, and not having believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, I acted wholly under the prejudices that influenced my countrymen in general. God therefore showed me mercy, because I acted under this influence, not knowing better. This extension of mercy, does not, however, excuse the infuriated conduct of Saul of Tarsus, for he says himself that he was exceedingly mad against them. Let us beware, lest we lose the man’s former crimes in his after character." Adam Clarke
"Unbelief is what made Saul of Tarsus such a hateful persecutor of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ and it alone kept him from seeing who Jesus Christ really and truly was just as it is with every sinner of every generation or era. Unbelief is the most vile sin that there is eclipsing all other sin, for our Lord, Master, and Savior has already died and shed His Powerful Blood to cleanse any sinner from every other sin, but the sin of unbelief blocks sinners like atheist, agnostics, Buddhist, Hindus, and every other false religious or non-religious belief system, from receiving the power that is inherent in the Blood of the Lamb just as was true for many of those who came out of Egypt with Moses, yet they did not truly believe as it is written concerning them with these words, 'For who were they who heard {and} yet were rebellious {and} provoked [Him]? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He irritated {and} provoked {and} grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dismembered bodies were strewn {and} left in the desert? And to whom did He swear that they should not enter His rest, but to those who disobeyed [who had not listened to His word and who refused to be compliant or be persuaded]? So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to {and} trust in {and} rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].' (Hebrews 3:16-19) (Amplified Bible). Remember these words spoken by my Lord Jesus Christ and let them burn into your brain, into your mind, into your conscience, into your spirit, and decline from unbelief or believing that there is some other way to go to Heaven than what He says with these words, 'Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.' (John 14:6) (Amplified Bible)." Did you get that 'except by (through) Me'? I don't care who you are or how you are, because you are not going to Heaven because your 'good' or think you are good or because you have thought yourself to have done a lot of 'good' things via giving money, talent, or time, you can only go to Heaven if and only when you come to the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ with nothing, but confessing that you are a rotten filthy sinner who needs His Mercy and Grace, get it, good." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 7
Paul Gives Glory to God for His Grace Part 1
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; KJV
You would think that immediately after Paul makes a list of offenses, that is, of sins that are against the Holiness of God the Father that he would begin to instruct Timothy or to lecture him on what he must do and how he must do it to keep these sins from entering into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead the Apostle right away contemplates or reflects upon the grace of God to himself and gives Him thanks for it as he writes these words to Brother Timothy, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" (1 Timothy 1:12) (KJV). The Apostle Paul didn't see himself as someone special that our Lord Jesus Christ was fortunate to have in His Body, nor did he think of himself as better or greater than other sinners. Paul was humbled by the goodness, graciousness, and the grace of God that was granted to him a vile sinner. The little English phrase 'who hath enabled' is translated by one Greek word endunamoō which means to empower: - enable, to increase one in strength, be made strong.
In other words, Paul was not some super human being even though he had the intellect of someone having multiple PhD's. Paul was just a vile, vicious, and vulgar sinner just as everyone born into the human family is and he needed to have God (Jesus Christ our Lord) to reveal Himself to him just as every sinner on the earth does, for this is what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church concerning just this, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power {and} influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by {and} under the power {and} influence of the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) (Amplified Bible). Paul was just as spiritually blind as any other sinner without Christ even though he was among the religious Jewish Rulers serving as a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin which was the supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem, yet Paul and every other Sanhedrin member was nothing but a lost sinner in the sight of God the Father whom they supposed themselves to be worshipping.
The Apostle Paul writes here to Brother Timothy that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself counted him faithful and the little English phrase 'he counted' that Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hēgeomai which means to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, esteem, judge, suppose, think. In other words, Paul had been not only saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but then He considered and esteemed Paul to be someone He (Christ) could trust with the task of expositing His Holy Word faithfully and without skewing it or softening it to be palatable, that is, acceptable to the sinful mind of humanity. Christ Jesus our Lord counted, considered, and commanded Paul to go forth and clarify the meaning of His Holy Word and the Gospel of Grace without compromise or without bending on the truth to gain popularity, position, or profit, just as Paul said to the Corinthian Church when he wrote these words of his own opinion and advice to them on marriage, "Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion {and} advice as one who by the Lord's mercy is rendered trustworthy {and} faithful." (1 Corinthians 7:25) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes to Timothy the words, 'putting me into the ministry', he is simply saying that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself that appointed him into the service (for Him, for Christ) that he was then presently fulfilling by what he was doing and where he was going, just as our Lord Jesus said to Brother Ananias with these words, "But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;" (Acts 9:15) (Amplified Bible) and likewise the Apostle Paul affirmed and confirmed this with these words he wrote to the Ephesian Elders shortly before his execution in Rome when he said, "And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit {and} obligated {and} compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there--Except that the Holy Spirit clearly {and} emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. But {none of these things move me;} neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course {with joy} and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)." (Acts 20:22-24) (Amplified Bible).
"The Apostle breaks off into expressions of heartfelt thanks to God for the abounding grace which had overcome his former obstinacy and blindness. Only his ignorance could palliate his outrage and insult toward Christ, who was now the beloved object of his entire surrender." F. B. Meyer
"I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, who hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of His Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, the deaconship, the service of mankind, by preaching the Gospel, for that He counted me - He knew that I would be, faithful to the charge that was delivered to me." Adam Clarke
"Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ's work, as King and Head, Prophet and Teacher, of His Church. Those whom He puts into the ministry He fits for it; whom He calls He qualifies. Those ministers who are no way fit for their work, nor have ability for it, are not of Christ's putting into the ministry, though there are different qualifications as to gifts and graces. Christ gives not only ability, but fidelity, to those whom He puts into the ministry: He counted me faithful; and none are counted faithful but those whom He makes so. Christ's ministers are trusty servants, and they ought to be so, having so great a trust committed to them. A call to the ministry is a great favour, for which those who are so called ought to give thanks to Jesus Christ: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath put me into the ministry." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; KJV
You would think that immediately after Paul makes a list of offenses, that is, of sins that are against the Holiness of God the Father that he would begin to instruct Timothy or to lecture him on what he must do and how he must do it to keep these sins from entering into the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but instead the Apostle right away contemplates or reflects upon the grace of God to himself and gives Him thanks for it as he writes these words to Brother Timothy, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" (1 Timothy 1:12) (KJV). The Apostle Paul didn't see himself as someone special that our Lord Jesus Christ was fortunate to have in His Body, nor did he think of himself as better or greater than other sinners. Paul was humbled by the goodness, graciousness, and the grace of God that was granted to him a vile sinner. The little English phrase 'who hath enabled' is translated by one Greek word endunamoō which means to empower: - enable, to increase one in strength, be made strong.
In other words, Paul was not some super human being even though he had the intellect of someone having multiple PhD's. Paul was just a vile, vicious, and vulgar sinner just as everyone born into the human family is and he needed to have God (Jesus Christ our Lord) to reveal Himself to him just as every sinner on the earth does, for this is what Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church concerning just this, "Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power {and} influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by {and} under the power {and} influence of the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) (Amplified Bible). Paul was just as spiritually blind as any other sinner without Christ even though he was among the religious Jewish Rulers serving as a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin which was the supreme judicial and ecclesiastical council of ancient Jerusalem, yet Paul and every other Sanhedrin member was nothing but a lost sinner in the sight of God the Father whom they supposed themselves to be worshipping.
The Apostle Paul writes here to Brother Timothy that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself counted him faithful and the little English phrase 'he counted' that Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word hēgeomai which means to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: - account, esteem, judge, suppose, think. In other words, Paul had been not only saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, but then He considered and esteemed Paul to be someone He (Christ) could trust with the task of expositing His Holy Word faithfully and without skewing it or softening it to be palatable, that is, acceptable to the sinful mind of humanity. Christ Jesus our Lord counted, considered, and commanded Paul to go forth and clarify the meaning of His Holy Word and the Gospel of Grace without compromise or without bending on the truth to gain popularity, position, or profit, just as Paul said to the Corinthian Church when he wrote these words of his own opinion and advice to them on marriage, "Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion {and} advice as one who by the Lord's mercy is rendered trustworthy {and} faithful." (1 Corinthians 7:25) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes to Timothy the words, 'putting me into the ministry', he is simply saying that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself that appointed him into the service (for Him, for Christ) that he was then presently fulfilling by what he was doing and where he was going, just as our Lord Jesus said to Brother Ananias with these words, "But the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel;" (Acts 9:15) (Amplified Bible) and likewise the Apostle Paul affirmed and confirmed this with these words he wrote to the Ephesian Elders shortly before his execution in Rome when he said, "And now, you see, I am going to Jerusalem, bound by the [Holy] Spirit {and} obligated {and} compelled by the [convictions of my own] spirit, not knowing what will befall me there--Except that the Holy Spirit clearly {and} emphatically affirms to me in city after city that imprisonment and suffering await me. But {none of these things move me;} neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course {with joy} and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy)." (Acts 20:22-24) (Amplified Bible).
"The Apostle breaks off into expressions of heartfelt thanks to God for the abounding grace which had overcome his former obstinacy and blindness. Only his ignorance could palliate his outrage and insult toward Christ, who was now the beloved object of his entire surrender." F. B. Meyer
"I feel myself under infinite obligation to Christ who hath strengthened me, who hath endued me with various miraculous gifts of His Holy Spirit, and put me into the ministry, the deaconship, the service of mankind, by preaching the Gospel, for that He counted me - He knew that I would be, faithful to the charge that was delivered to me." Adam Clarke
"Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ's work, as King and Head, Prophet and Teacher, of His Church. Those whom He puts into the ministry He fits for it; whom He calls He qualifies. Those ministers who are no way fit for their work, nor have ability for it, are not of Christ's putting into the ministry, though there are different qualifications as to gifts and graces. Christ gives not only ability, but fidelity, to those whom He puts into the ministry: He counted me faithful; and none are counted faithful but those whom He makes so. Christ's ministers are trusty servants, and they ought to be so, having so great a trust committed to them. A call to the ministry is a great favour, for which those who are so called ought to give thanks to Jesus Christ: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath put me into the ministry." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 6
Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 4
1 Timothy 1:10-11 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. KJV
Now as the Apostle Paul continues to list some of the sins that are against the Holiness of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us remind all that this list by no means is a complete list of humanities sin, but it is used here by Paul to see to it that no man or woman be in the business of declaring sinful rebellion as some sort of overlooked human right that needs no cleansing or purifying by the Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord. So, Paul declares this next list of human sin as a lawful use of God's Law being against them as he writes these words, "For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" (1 Timothy 1:10) (KJV). The English word 'whoremongers' is translated by the Greek word pornos meaning a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger. In other words, this is the describtion of a man who is morally unrestrained and finds no limits in or to the pursuits of his sexual gratification, even in such activity as rape or sexual molestation of children and in the Law of Moses these words were declared against this very sin as it is written, "Do not profane your daughter by causing her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry and become full of wickedness. You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary. I am the Lord. Turn not to those [mediums] who have familiar spirits or to wizards; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:29-31) (Amplified Bible). Likewise in the New Testament here is another place that the Apostle Paul wrote against the sin of being a whoremonger when he wrote this to the Hebrews, "Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge {and} punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4) (Amplified Bible).
The somewhat long English phrase 'for them that defile themselves with mankind' is translated by one Greek word arsenokoitēs which means a sodomite: - abuser of (that defile) self with mankind, that is, a male homosexual who engages in anal copulation (especially a male who engages in anal copulation with another male). In other words, this sin goes against not only the written Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but also against the law of nature (also this is God's Law) which means for male and female to come together in sexual copulation, therefore, we find God the Father using very strong and harsh language to desribe His punishment for those who commit this sin as it is written, "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22) (Amplified Bible) and "If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13) (Amplified Bible) and "And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another--men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies {and} personalities the inevitable consequences {and} penalty of their wrong-doing {and} going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution." (Romans 1:27) (Amplified Bible) and lastly "[The wicked are sentenced to suffer] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent towns--which likewise gave themselves over to impurity and indulged in unnatural vice {and} sensual perversity--are laid out [in plain sight] as an exhibit of perpetual punishment [to warn] of everlasting fire." (Jude 1:7) (Amplified Bible), you think God the Father could make His view any clearer on this sin, I think not, and every false profit or teacher or biologist or psychologist or DNA specialist or Geneticists or anyone who declares to a boy or teenager or young man 'the lie' that he is born this way deserves the very highest level of the eternal fire that will be theirs in eternity.
The little English phrase 'for menstealers' is translated by the Greek word andrapodistēs which is used this one time only in the New Testament meaning an enslaver (as bringing men to his feet): - men-stealer. In other words, this is the sin against buying and selling another human being as if he or she were any other kind of animal just as occured in this 'so-called' Christian nation the United States of America and went on for a few hundred years, this is what the JFB Commentary has to say concerning this sin, "The most heinous offense against the eighth commandment. No stealing of a man’s goods can equal in atrocity the stealing of a man’s liberty. Slavery is not directly assailed in the New Testament; to have done so would have been to revolutionize violently the existing order of things. But Christianity teaches principles sure to undermine, and at last overthrow it, wherever Christianity has had its natural development (Matthew 7:12)." The English phrases 'for liars' and 'for perjured persons' are pretty self explanatory for the sins of lying, that is, the deliberate act of deviating from the truth or the telling of an untruth to pretend with the intent to deceive leads only to make the sinner engaging in such look like the father of lies the devil (John 8:44). When Paul writes to Timothy these words, 'and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine', he is simply declaring this list not to be including all sin that is opposed to God the Father and to His Holy Word and therefore, every other sin that is opposed to Him and His word is referenced by this statement. It is Paul desire to convey to Brother Timothy that everything he has listed here all conforms to what he received personally from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when he met Him long ago on the Damascus road, so Paul now concludes this discourse to Timothy with these words, "According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." (1 Timothy 1:11) (KJV). Paul with these words convey to Timothy and to we believers today that he writes not his thoughts or his opinion or his judgements, but he is the vessel, the conduit, the servant of Christ Jesus our Lord and it is his desire, determination, and his duty to speak the Word of God only and not the word of man (even himself).
"The sound teaching which is thus commended is Paul's, who teaches in Christ's name and by His authority. In all the three letters it is called the truth, the knowledge of which is bound up with salvation. As truth it is sound or healthful. It is the object of faith. To be sound in the faith is, practically, to follow sound teaching or the truth. The subjective characteristic of Christians is godliness or piety and the teaching and knowledge of the truth are represented as according to godliness. The contents of this sound teaching which is according to godliness are not theoretical or dogmatic truth, but Christian ethics, with faith and love. See truth is used of moral things, rather than in the high religious sense of Paul. Whoever grasps the truth has faith. That the ethical character of faith is emphasized, appears from the numerous expressions regarding the false teachers. There is a tendency to objectify faith, regarding it as something believed rather than as the act of believing. In comparing the ideal of righteousness with that of Paul, note that it is not denied that Christ is the source of true righteousness; but according to Paul, the man who is not under the law is the man who lives by faith in Christ. Paul emphasizes this. It is faith in Christ which sets one free from the law. Here, the man for whom the law is not made is the man who is ethically conformed to the norm of sound teaching. The two conceptions do not exclude each other: the sound teaching is according to the Gospel, but the point of emphasis is shifted." Vincent's Word Studies
"The Gospel is a system of divine revelation. It makes known the will of God. It states what is duty, and accords in its great principles with the law, or is in harmony with it. The law, in principle, forbids all which the Gospel forbids, and in publishing the requirements of the Gospel, therefore, Paul says that the law really forbade all which was prohibited in the Gospel, and was designed to restrain all who would act contrary to that Gospel. There is no contradiction between the law and the Gospel. They forbid the same things, and in regard to morals and true piety, the clearer revelations of the Gospel are but carrying out the principles stated in the law. They who preach the Gospel, then, should not be regarded as arrayed against the law, and Paul says that they who preached the Gospel aright really stated the true principles of the law. This he evidently intends should bear against the false teachers who professed to explain the law of Moses. He means here that if a man wished to explain the law, the best explanation would be found in the Gospel which it was his office to publish; compare (Romans 3:31)." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:10-11 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. KJV
Now as the Apostle Paul continues to list some of the sins that are against the Holiness of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, let us remind all that this list by no means is a complete list of humanities sin, but it is used here by Paul to see to it that no man or woman be in the business of declaring sinful rebellion as some sort of overlooked human right that needs no cleansing or purifying by the Blood of Christ Jesus our Lord. So, Paul declares this next list of human sin as a lawful use of God's Law being against them as he writes these words, "For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" (1 Timothy 1:10) (KJV). The English word 'whoremongers' is translated by the Greek word pornos meaning a (male) prostitute (as venal), that is, (by analogy) a debauchee (libertine): - fornicator, whoremonger. In other words, this is the describtion of a man who is morally unrestrained and finds no limits in or to the pursuits of his sexual gratification, even in such activity as rape or sexual molestation of children and in the Law of Moses these words were declared against this very sin as it is written, "Do not profane your daughter by causing her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry and become full of wickedness. You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary. I am the Lord. Turn not to those [mediums] who have familiar spirits or to wizards; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:29-31) (Amplified Bible). Likewise in the New Testament here is another place that the Apostle Paul wrote against the sin of being a whoremonger when he wrote this to the Hebrews, "Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge {and} punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous." (Hebrews 13:4) (Amplified Bible).
The somewhat long English phrase 'for them that defile themselves with mankind' is translated by one Greek word arsenokoitēs which means a sodomite: - abuser of (that defile) self with mankind, that is, a male homosexual who engages in anal copulation (especially a male who engages in anal copulation with another male). In other words, this sin goes against not only the written Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai, but also against the law of nature (also this is God's Law) which means for male and female to come together in sexual copulation, therefore, we find God the Father using very strong and harsh language to desribe His punishment for those who commit this sin as it is written, "You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination." (Leviticus 18:22) (Amplified Bible) and "If a man lies with a male as if he were a woman, both men have committed an offense (something perverse, unnatural, abhorrent, and detestable); they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13) (Amplified Bible) and "And the men also turned from natural relations with women and were set ablaze (burning out, consumed) with lust for one another--men committing shameful acts with men and suffering in their own bodies {and} personalities the inevitable consequences {and} penalty of their wrong-doing {and} going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution." (Romans 1:27) (Amplified Bible) and lastly "[The wicked are sentenced to suffer] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the adjacent towns--which likewise gave themselves over to impurity and indulged in unnatural vice {and} sensual perversity--are laid out [in plain sight] as an exhibit of perpetual punishment [to warn] of everlasting fire." (Jude 1:7) (Amplified Bible), you think God the Father could make His view any clearer on this sin, I think not, and every false profit or teacher or biologist or psychologist or DNA specialist or Geneticists or anyone who declares to a boy or teenager or young man 'the lie' that he is born this way deserves the very highest level of the eternal fire that will be theirs in eternity.
The little English phrase 'for menstealers' is translated by the Greek word andrapodistēs which is used this one time only in the New Testament meaning an enslaver (as bringing men to his feet): - men-stealer. In other words, this is the sin against buying and selling another human being as if he or she were any other kind of animal just as occured in this 'so-called' Christian nation the United States of America and went on for a few hundred years, this is what the JFB Commentary has to say concerning this sin, "The most heinous offense against the eighth commandment. No stealing of a man’s goods can equal in atrocity the stealing of a man’s liberty. Slavery is not directly assailed in the New Testament; to have done so would have been to revolutionize violently the existing order of things. But Christianity teaches principles sure to undermine, and at last overthrow it, wherever Christianity has had its natural development (Matthew 7:12)." The English phrases 'for liars' and 'for perjured persons' are pretty self explanatory for the sins of lying, that is, the deliberate act of deviating from the truth or the telling of an untruth to pretend with the intent to deceive leads only to make the sinner engaging in such look like the father of lies the devil (John 8:44). When Paul writes to Timothy these words, 'and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine', he is simply declaring this list not to be including all sin that is opposed to God the Father and to His Holy Word and therefore, every other sin that is opposed to Him and His word is referenced by this statement. It is Paul desire to convey to Brother Timothy that everything he has listed here all conforms to what he received personally from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ when he met Him long ago on the Damascus road, so Paul now concludes this discourse to Timothy with these words, "According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust." (1 Timothy 1:11) (KJV). Paul with these words convey to Timothy and to we believers today that he writes not his thoughts or his opinion or his judgements, but he is the vessel, the conduit, the servant of Christ Jesus our Lord and it is his desire, determination, and his duty to speak the Word of God only and not the word of man (even himself).
"The sound teaching which is thus commended is Paul's, who teaches in Christ's name and by His authority. In all the three letters it is called the truth, the knowledge of which is bound up with salvation. As truth it is sound or healthful. It is the object of faith. To be sound in the faith is, practically, to follow sound teaching or the truth. The subjective characteristic of Christians is godliness or piety and the teaching and knowledge of the truth are represented as according to godliness. The contents of this sound teaching which is according to godliness are not theoretical or dogmatic truth, but Christian ethics, with faith and love. See truth is used of moral things, rather than in the high religious sense of Paul. Whoever grasps the truth has faith. That the ethical character of faith is emphasized, appears from the numerous expressions regarding the false teachers. There is a tendency to objectify faith, regarding it as something believed rather than as the act of believing. In comparing the ideal of righteousness with that of Paul, note that it is not denied that Christ is the source of true righteousness; but according to Paul, the man who is not under the law is the man who lives by faith in Christ. Paul emphasizes this. It is faith in Christ which sets one free from the law. Here, the man for whom the law is not made is the man who is ethically conformed to the norm of sound teaching. The two conceptions do not exclude each other: the sound teaching is according to the Gospel, but the point of emphasis is shifted." Vincent's Word Studies
"The Gospel is a system of divine revelation. It makes known the will of God. It states what is duty, and accords in its great principles with the law, or is in harmony with it. The law, in principle, forbids all which the Gospel forbids, and in publishing the requirements of the Gospel, therefore, Paul says that the law really forbade all which was prohibited in the Gospel, and was designed to restrain all who would act contrary to that Gospel. There is no contradiction between the law and the Gospel. They forbid the same things, and in regard to morals and true piety, the clearer revelations of the Gospel are but carrying out the principles stated in the law. They who preach the Gospel, then, should not be regarded as arrayed against the law, and Paul says that they who preached the Gospel aright really stated the true principles of the law. This he evidently intends should bear against the false teachers who professed to explain the law of Moses. He means here that if a man wished to explain the law, the best explanation would be found in the Gospel which it was his office to publish; compare (Romans 3:31)." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 5
Paul Declares to Brother Timothy the Purpose of God's Law Part 3
1 Timothy 1:8-9 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, KJV
Paul now gets to the substance of his proclamation of what the purpose of God's Law truly is and that is to show sinful humanity what sin or transgression against a Holy and Perfect God really looks like. The Law of God was not given by Him to Moses to fix man or to change man, but it was to prove to man his wickedness against God the Father and to make man run to the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for, redemption, resolution, and regeneration, so Paul first writes these words to Brother Timothy, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (1 Timothy 1:8) (KJV). First Paul declares that it is understood or perceived that God's Moral Law 'is good' on its on or by nature and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, honest and worthy. The Moral Law of God is Holy and every man or woman sees that to be true and cannot dispute it at all.
The English word 'lawfully' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word nomimōs meaning legitimately (specifically agreeably to the rules of the lists): - lawfully. What is the legitimate, legal, and lawful way the Law of God should be used today under the dispensation of grace and the Gospel of Christ? The answer is simple, yet made complicated by so many, it should not be used (as it is by some) as a way of attaining to a higher standard and thus making a man or woman into a righteous man or woman (for this is an impossible attainment), but it should be used as the only means to awaken the sensation of sin that is in every person born under the sun (there are no good people born into humanity, deal with this truth/reality Romans 3:10-12) and its vileness, vulgarity, and vicious nature in order to lead the sinful soul to the only cure being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Power in His Cleansing Shed Blood for every sinner, if they will see themselves as such and turn to Him only. This is what the Prophet Nehemiah said concerning the Law of God given to Moses, "You came down also upon Mount Sinai and spoke with them from Heaven and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments, statutes, and a law through Moses Your servant." (Nehemiah 9:13-14) (Amplified Bible).
This is what this same Apostle Paul said of himself when he was first awakened to his born sinfulness concerning the Law of God, "We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice {or} accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge {and} agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) {and} that I take sides with it. However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me {and} has possession of me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]" (Romans 7:14-18) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, it is only when a man or woman sees his or her old nature as the monster it actually is, can they then be open to allowing God the Holy Spirit to do His internal restoration work.
Paul now reminds Brother Timothy of this very fact by writing to him this first list of sins that are contrary to the Holiness of God the Father, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," (1 Timothy 1:9) (KJV). When Paul says here a 'righteous man' this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just. In other words, God's Law does not have to be explained to a man or woman that has been born again by the Spirit of God and it does not condemn him, for they/we now know and understand all the things that are opposed to our Heavenly Father and are no longer in the business of rationalizing or apologizing or even justifying our sinful behavior before His Throne of Grace.
Instead we will constantly and continually do what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews with these words, "Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended {and} passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand {and} sympathize {and} have a shared feeling with our weaknesses {and} infirmities {and} liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly {and} confidently {and} boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." (Hebrews 4:14-16) (Amplified Bible).
However, Paul now refers to some as the 'lawless' and the 'disobedient' and the first English word 'lawless' is translated by the Greek word anomos meaning transgressor, unlawful, wicked, and the second English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. In other words, the lawless and disobedient are those who do as John Wesley declares with these words, "They who despise the authority of the lawgiver violate the first commandment, which is the foundation of the law, and the ground of all obedience." They do not want our Lord Jesus Christ to rule over them by way of His Holy Spirit and His Holy Word just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke of at the end of a parable He spoke during His earthly ministry, "[The indignant king ended by saying] But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them--bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!" (Luke 19:27) (Amplified Bible), Read Luke 19:11-26 for entire parable meaning.
The English word 'ungodly' is translated by the Greek word asebēs which means irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means sinful, that is, a sinner: - sinful, sinner, which is every human being born into the human family. In other words, Paul declares to Timothy that the Law of God is for those who resist, refuse, or reject the One True God and worship idols like 'Mother Nature' or the 'Stars' or the 'Moon' or anything or anybody that is not the One True and Only God Jesus Christ our Lord. The ungodly and sinners are simply all people void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that means, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Wickens, Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, Spiritualist, or any type religious or spiritual practices apart from or opposed to Jesus Christ.
The English word 'unholy' is translated by the Greek word anosios meaning wicked: - unholy. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos meaning heathenish, wicked: - profane (person). In other words, the unholy and profane persons would be those who mock the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and treat His Bloody Sacrifice for man's sin as a trivial thing or of no significance such as do all Atheist and some Agnostics. The two expressions Paul uses here 'murderers of fathers', 'murderers of mothers', and 'for manslayers' are pretty clear in their meanings, even without the Greek translations, that is, the people who willfully plan, plot, and perpetrate the killing of their own Father, Mother, or any other person is abominable and detestable and during the rule of Moses was subject to immediate execution themselves as written for us by Moses with these words, "Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:15) (Amplified Bible).
"The Jews used it unlawfully, as an engine to divide the Church, a cover to the malicious opposition they made to the Gospel of Christ; they set it up for justification, and so used it unlawfully. We must not therefore think to set it aside, but use it lawfully, for the restraint of sin. The abuse which some have made of the law does not take away the use of it; but, when a divine appointment has been abused, call it back to its right use and take away the abuses, for the law is still very useful as a rule of life; though we are not under it as under a covenant of works, yet it is good to teach us what is sin and what is duty. It is not made for a righteous man, that is, it is not made for those who observe it; for, if we could keep the law, righteousness would be by the law (Galatians 3:21): but it is made for wicked persons, to restrain them, to check them, and to put a stop to vice and profaneness. It is the grace of God that changes men's hearts; but the terrors of the law may be of use to tie their hands and restrain their tongues. A righteous man does not want those restraints which are necessary for the wicked; or at least the law is not made primarily and principally for the righteous, but for sinners of all sorts, whether in a greater or less measure." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 1:8-9 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, KJV
Paul now gets to the substance of his proclamation of what the purpose of God's Law truly is and that is to show sinful humanity what sin or transgression against a Holy and Perfect God really looks like. The Law of God was not given by Him to Moses to fix man or to change man, but it was to prove to man his wickedness against God the Father and to make man run to the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for, redemption, resolution, and regeneration, so Paul first writes these words to Brother Timothy, "But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;" (1 Timothy 1:8) (KJV). First Paul declares that it is understood or perceived that God's Moral Law 'is good' on its on or by nature and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, honest and worthy. The Moral Law of God is Holy and every man or woman sees that to be true and cannot dispute it at all.
The English word 'lawfully' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word nomimōs meaning legitimately (specifically agreeably to the rules of the lists): - lawfully. What is the legitimate, legal, and lawful way the Law of God should be used today under the dispensation of grace and the Gospel of Christ? The answer is simple, yet made complicated by so many, it should not be used (as it is by some) as a way of attaining to a higher standard and thus making a man or woman into a righteous man or woman (for this is an impossible attainment), but it should be used as the only means to awaken the sensation of sin that is in every person born under the sun (there are no good people born into humanity, deal with this truth/reality Romans 3:10-12) and its vileness, vulgarity, and vicious nature in order to lead the sinful soul to the only cure being our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Power in His Cleansing Shed Blood for every sinner, if they will see themselves as such and turn to Him only. This is what the Prophet Nehemiah said concerning the Law of God given to Moses, "You came down also upon Mount Sinai and spoke with them from Heaven and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments. And You made known to them Your holy Sabbath and gave them commandments, statutes, and a law through Moses Your servant." (Nehemiah 9:13-14) (Amplified Bible).
This is what this same Apostle Paul said of himself when he was first awakened to his born sinfulness concerning the Law of God, "We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a creature of the flesh [carnal, unspiritual], having been sold into slavery under [the control of] sin. For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled, bewildered]. I do not practice {or} accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe [which my moral instinct condemns]. Now if I do [habitually] what is contrary to my desire, [that means that] I acknowledge {and} agree that the Law is good (morally excellent) {and} that I take sides with it. However, it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me {and} has possession of me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]" (Romans 7:14-18) (Amplified Bible). Therefore, it is only when a man or woman sees his or her old nature as the monster it actually is, can they then be open to allowing God the Holy Spirit to do His internal restoration work.
Paul now reminds Brother Timothy of this very fact by writing to him this first list of sins that are contrary to the Holiness of God the Father, "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers," (1 Timothy 1:9) (KJV). When Paul says here a 'righteous man' this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively): - just. In other words, God's Law does not have to be explained to a man or woman that has been born again by the Spirit of God and it does not condemn him, for they/we now know and understand all the things that are opposed to our Heavenly Father and are no longer in the business of rationalizing or apologizing or even justifying our sinful behavior before His Throne of Grace.
Instead we will constantly and continually do what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews with these words, "Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended {and} passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him]. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand {and} sympathize {and} have a shared feeling with our weaknesses {and} infirmities {and} liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly {and} confidently {and} boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]." (Hebrews 4:14-16) (Amplified Bible).
However, Paul now refers to some as the 'lawless' and the 'disobedient' and the first English word 'lawless' is translated by the Greek word anomos meaning transgressor, unlawful, wicked, and the second English word 'disobedient' is translated by the Greek word anupotaktos meaning unsubdued, that is, insubordinate (in fact or temper): - disobedient, that is not put under, unruly. In other words, the lawless and disobedient are those who do as John Wesley declares with these words, "They who despise the authority of the lawgiver violate the first commandment, which is the foundation of the law, and the ground of all obedience." They do not want our Lord Jesus Christ to rule over them by way of His Holy Spirit and His Holy Word just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke of at the end of a parable He spoke during His earthly ministry, "[The indignant king ended by saying] But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them--bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!" (Luke 19:27) (Amplified Bible), Read Luke 19:11-26 for entire parable meaning.
The English word 'ungodly' is translated by the Greek word asebēs which means irreverent, that is, (by extension) impious or wicked. The English word 'sinners' is translated by the Greek word hamartōlos which means sinful, that is, a sinner: - sinful, sinner, which is every human being born into the human family. In other words, Paul declares to Timothy that the Law of God is for those who resist, refuse, or reject the One True God and worship idols like 'Mother Nature' or the 'Stars' or the 'Moon' or anything or anybody that is not the One True and Only God Jesus Christ our Lord. The ungodly and sinners are simply all people void of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that means, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist, Wickens, Witches, Wizards, Sorcerers, Spiritualist, or any type religious or spiritual practices apart from or opposed to Jesus Christ.
The English word 'unholy' is translated by the Greek word anosios meaning wicked: - unholy. The English word 'profane' is translated by the Greek word bebēlos meaning heathenish, wicked: - profane (person). In other words, the unholy and profane persons would be those who mock the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and treat His Bloody Sacrifice for man's sin as a trivial thing or of no significance such as do all Atheist and some Agnostics. The two expressions Paul uses here 'murderers of fathers', 'murderers of mothers', and 'for manslayers' are pretty clear in their meanings, even without the Greek translations, that is, the people who willfully plan, plot, and perpetrate the killing of their own Father, Mother, or any other person is abominable and detestable and during the rule of Moses was subject to immediate execution themselves as written for us by Moses with these words, "Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." (Exodus 21:15) (Amplified Bible).
"The Jews used it unlawfully, as an engine to divide the Church, a cover to the malicious opposition they made to the Gospel of Christ; they set it up for justification, and so used it unlawfully. We must not therefore think to set it aside, but use it lawfully, for the restraint of sin. The abuse which some have made of the law does not take away the use of it; but, when a divine appointment has been abused, call it back to its right use and take away the abuses, for the law is still very useful as a rule of life; though we are not under it as under a covenant of works, yet it is good to teach us what is sin and what is duty. It is not made for a righteous man, that is, it is not made for those who observe it; for, if we could keep the law, righteousness would be by the law (Galatians 3:21): but it is made for wicked persons, to restrain them, to check them, and to put a stop to vice and profaneness. It is the grace of God that changes men's hearts; but the terrors of the law may be of use to tie their hands and restrain their tongues. A righteous man does not want those restraints which are necessary for the wicked; or at least the law is not made primarily and principally for the righteous, but for sinners of all sorts, whether in a greater or less measure." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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