Sound Teaching

In Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, we are introduced to a diligent minister by the name of Epaphras. He was one who was with Paul during certain parts of his journeys. We know very little about him. He is referenced twice in Colossians, and once in Paul’s letter to Philemon, a personal letter which Paul wrote while imprisoned in Rome. In this letter he mentioned Epaphras, telling Philemon, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you” (Philemon 23). So, he was with the great apostle at least part of the time Paul was under house arrest during his first imprisonment. Perhaps while there he was among the brethren, “having been confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14). Continue reading “Epaphras – A Servant of God” →

Because the problem of sin’s guilt has been dealt with in Jesus’ offering of Himself, we can now truly have an intimate relationship with God. Unlike under the Old Covenant where access to God was limited, the Christian can be bold to appear in God’s presence!

This is the the new and better way brought to us by Jesus. By His flesh (in His sacrifice on the cross) the Hebrew writer tells us we can pass through the veil (symbolized by the tent separating the Jews from the Holiest of Holies in the tabernacle). This “new and living way” has been consecrated by Jesus, meaning He has dedicated it exclusively for the one who comes to Jesus through faith.

Therefore, we approach God completely cleansed of sin. In baptism, our sins are “washed away” (cf. Acts 22:16). We are pure heart and soul. In other words, it is no longer figurative, we are literally cleansed from our sins. This allows us full assurance as we approach God.

It also gives us a reason for full confidence regarding our salvation. God has promised it to the faithful God keeps His promises!

When the remnant was allowed to return to the promised land following the Jew’s 70 years in Babylon, the people settled in the cities that were initially theirs before the captivity. However, we are told in the seventh month, they with one accord traveled to Jerusalem. On that occasion leaders of the people had an altar built to offer sacrifices to God. This despite the fact that the foundations for a new temple had not yet been laid. It was important for them to begin their worship of God. We are told, “Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and the evening offerings” (Ezra 3:3).

Opposition from the Gentiles in the land was fierce. This is seen clearly from details supplied concerning the rebuilding of the temple and the city walls. However, in these early days the zeal of the people was commendable and they determined to do God’s will despite their fear of reprisal.

This attitude was mimicked by the apostles in the early history of the church (Acts 4 & 5). They determined, though threatened by the Jewish leaders, to serve God without compromise in their preaching of the gospel.

Great examples for us! What about you?

The study of Nebuchadnezzar (the arrogant king of Babylon) is used to introduce important teaching for the Christian about the sin of pride.  Its dangers, other sins it produces, its consequences, and practical suggestions on how to handle the problem. 

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Preparation is important for most things. It is important to prepare remarks before public speaking. It is important to train and practice before athletic events or dramatic performances. Preparation helps proficiency in almost every circumstance. There is nothing more humiliating than to enter any endeavor and show yourself to be ineffective simply because you did not put in the effort to succeed.

The importance of preparation is a central theme of Jesus regarding the coming judgment. The parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 is an example of His teaching. Five virgins went to a wedding feast without sufficient preparation. They had lamps, but did not take oil with them to replenish the vessel. The other five, took the time and effort to take oil in vessels in addition to their lamps. When the feast was delayed as the bridegroom had not arrived, their lamps all went out. The foolish virgins had to go buy more oil, and while they were absent, the bridegroom arrived, and the doors were shut to the feast. Jesus’ lesson from this simple illustration, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 15:13). Continue reading “Prepare!” →

The scripture reveals that Moses led the people of Israel to the promised land, but was unable to to enter the land of promise itself as punishment for his sin against God at Kadesh, Numbers 20. Moses in anger struck a rock to bring forth water, disregarding God’s words to speak to the rock. It is interesting to note that previously the striking of the rock was indeed God’s instruction. However, on this occasion He required something different from Moses. In response to this disobedience, in Numbers 20:12 God spoke to both Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Moving forward in time to Joshua 12, a list of accomplishments is given both of Moses (who had died), and Joshua, the next leader of Israel. The text begins by noting kings who had been defeated on the east side of the Jordan. This is where Moses led the people. We are told, “These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh‘’ (12:6). Then the narrative continues with Joshua’s leadership in Joshua 12:7. “And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions.”

Such an interesting phrase, “on this side of the Jordan.” It is a contrast to the phrase used in 12:1 when Moses was in charge, “on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun” referencing the land just east of the river. It is not a surprising thing that the Jews having entered and conquered, would now refer to their promised land as “this side” of the Jordan and the land they had left as “the other side.” Canaan now belonged to them. Their perspective had been altered at the fulfillment of God’s land promise to Abraham back in Genesis 12, 15 and also in 17:8, where we read “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

A worthy lesson for us. For the child of God, this side (the side God has promised and where we belong) is heaven. The other side is this physical world. It took a while for the children of Israel to get to Canaan, and it may take us a while to get to the place God has promised for us! We need to remember we are on a pilgrimage until we reach our place of rest. May we steadfastly go that way until we reach the gates!

Having established that Jesus’ one offering of Himself brought our sanctification, the writer supplies the witness to this truth from the Holy Spirit. He has reference to a passage from Jeremiah 31:33-34.

Two points are made from the Holy Spirit’s testimony. First, this new covenant the Hebrew writer has been affirming supplants the old is one prophesied from old. The basis for standing under this new covenant is faith in Christ. “I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”

Second, the true sanctification to which the Hebrew writer refers in verses 11-14 is fully accomplished in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Lord’s word’s through Jeremiah, “Their sins and the lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Under the old covenant there was a reminder of sins on each Day of Atonement, every year. With Christ’s sacrifice there is no longer that requirement.

Why? Because of Jesus’ sacrifice there was true remission! Since that happened, the final sacrifice for sin has been achieved.

An interesting aspect of Moses’ institution of the first Passover feast, as God prepared to take them from Egypt and its bondage is a statement of accommodation in Exodus 12:3. Moses related God’s command that one lamb per household be offered as a part of Passover. However, in verse 4 God instructed Moses, “And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb” (Exodus 12:4).

Two thoughts to consider here. First, God understood the privation of the people, and was willing to make accommodations to those who were too poor (their household “too small”) to offer a full lamb. By application, we know that God will accommodate any limitations we ourselves have. For example, if we are poor (just like the widow with two mites, Mark 12:41-44), God does not require what we are incapable of offering. This principle is true with our health, age, talent, and any other aspect of our service to Him. He only requires what we can offer.

Second, God accommodates our needs, but that does not give us an excuse not to strive for zeal and liberality in our service to Him. You must not try to take advantage of God!

We have recorded in the gospels various prayers of Jesus, offered up to His Father in heaven. For example, in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 we have what is called by many today, “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was in response to the request of one of His disciples who said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). The designation of “The Lord’s Prayer” is inappropriately given to this prayer. It was a model prayer designed to teach the disciples. There are other prayers much more personal to our Lord.

One example of this is the prayer that Jesus offered up in John 17. He first prayed for Himself (17:1-5), then His intimate apostles (17:6-19), then the rest who believe in Him which would include you and me (17:20-26). According to John, this prayer was offered on the same night of His most intimate prayer, recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 15 and Luke 22. It is this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane that we want to examine now. Continue reading “The Garden Prayer” →

Jesus here, in his capacity of High Priest of the new covenant, is compared to the priests under the old. They ministered daily, offering sacrifices that were not capable to truly taking away sin. In contrast Jesus offered up His sacrifice once. He offered up Himself as our perfect and effective sacrifice, accomplishing what the blood of bulls and goats could not.
After the sin problem was solved through His shed blood, He sat at the right hand of the Father, where He continues to reign in His kingdom. He is both Priest and King (after the order of Melchizedek).

The text indicates that this reign will continue until all his enemies are defeated. Elsewhere we are told that the last enemy is death (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26). After that, “then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (28).

That sacrifice truly takes away the sins of those who come to Him in faith. We are told that we are made complete (or perfect) in our cleansing. This is it. We have been given the forever sacrifice that sanctifies us!

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Our verse does a good job disclosing what is not evident from Jesus being born over 2,000 years ago. What had come before, all the prophecies and inspired writings compiled leading to that point, were a preamble to Jesus. As Paul so eloquently put it, “But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:23-25). Continue reading “He Speaks Through His Son” →

His name is Jesus. His earthly family consisted of a carpenter named Joseph, and his young wife Mary. We don’t know much about Jesus’ youth. We know at an important age for a Jewish boy, 12, He visited Jerusalem for Passover.

We know nothing more about Jesus’ earthly life until He became an itinerant preacher at about age 30. Within three years His teaching and claims incensed the Jewish leaders, who prevailed upon the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, to crucify Him on a cross between two other criminals.

In His life Jesus never traveled more than 150 miles from the place of His birth. He never owned His own home, never had wealth, and traveled in His ministry with 12 ordinary men, who were recognized as uneducated Galileans. He was buried in a tomb purchased by a friend.

What none of these modest facts about Jesus’ physical life tell us, is the significance of His birth and death, shown by His resurrection from the dead and His exaltation to God’s right hand.

Jesus was not just a man. He is God’s only begotten Son, sent from His Father to earth to redeem mankind. The scripture says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus was not only a man, He is our Lord and our Savior!