I believe most of us would answer this question, "Our sin was nailed
to the cross." In saying this, we fully understand the Bible truth that
our sins were taken to the cross by Jesus Christ. However, were our sins
actually nailed to the cross? Colossians 2:14 tells us, "Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Not too much study on this verse clearly shows us that it was the Law
that was nailed to the cross. Here, when Jesus was nailed to the cross,
our obligation to fulfill the ordinances of the Law was done away with.
Here, Jesus fulfilled the ordinances of the Law for us just as he promised, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17). PRAISE GOD for this!
When
it comes to this question, I still can emphatically answer, "Our sin
was nailed to the cross." This is easily revealed in that Christ became "sin for us"
(II Corinthians 5:21) and He was nailed to the cross. However, as I was
studying the cross this past Easter the answer to this question became
even clearer when I asked myself, "Why a Crown of Thorns?" I took the
first step that I do in any any word study and the answer was revealed
plain as day. Looking to the rule of first mention, I went to where
"thorns" first appeared in the Bible. This took me to the beginning
where Genesis 3:17-19 showed me that "thorns" represent the curse of
sin. I thought for a moment about the Crown of Thorns and about the Law
actually being nailed to the cross. Then it became so clear, my sin was
not nailed to the cross. Through the Crown of Thorns my sin was nailed
directly to my Lord and Savior! WOW! Do you see in this what I see? He
literally took my sin away, NOT THE CROSS! His literal blood took my sin
away, NOT THE CROSS! My faith is thus in His precious blood, NOT THE
CROSS (Romans 3:24,25; I Peter 1:18,19)! HALLELUJAH, before Christ even
made it to the cross, by the Crown of Thorns He was already shedding His
precious blood for my wicked sin! He took the curse of my sin and
LITERALLY NAILED IT TO HIMSELF! Thus, at the cross of Calvary, Jesus was
made both the curse of sin (II Corinthians 5:21) and the curse of the
Law (Galatians 3:13), each for me, taking each out of the way by His
precious blood, making then a perfect way of salvation through His blood! HALLELUJAH, WHAT
A SAVIOR!
Thursday, 24 April 2014
Thursday, 20 March 2014
WORD STUDY - "comfort" in Colossians 4:11
WORD STUDY - Word studies truly open up the Word of God from skimming the surface to digging for jewels. I am encouraged with what God gave me in this study and I trust it will encourage you the same.
At the end of Colossians, Paul is commending several servants of the Lord. There is much to be learned in our service for the Lord when we study out each of these men. This is not my thought here, but one we can all study out.
"Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." (Colossians 4:10-11)
In my study of words in this passage I was stopped at "comfort" in verse 11. The word "comfort" in its different English spellings is used 47 times in the New Testament. However, in doing a word study of "comfort" in verse 11, I found this to be the only place the particular Greek word for "comfort" is used. This struck my interest to study deeper into this word and the context of the passage.
In context, Paul is using this word for those "of the circumcision" who he calls his "fellowworkers" (Aristarchus, Marcus and Justus). We know that the other men in the passage were equally his "fellowworkers" but apparently not in the same context or same moment, and those reading this letter knew fellwell what Paul was saying. Realize, these men "of the circumcision" were ones who are Jews that were now Christians, they were ones who had been then rejected by their families and friends and no doubt persecuted alongside of Paul. In studying I thought, how then were they a "comfort" to Paul if they were obviously in need of "comfort" as well? I found the answer to become crystal clear in my word study.
The word for "comfort", by definition, means "a source of encouragement." This shows that their comfort was not as much physical as it was emotional or physiological or moral. Looking deeper into the word I saw exactly how they were a "comfort." The Greek word is a compound word. The prefix is the preposition "para" which means "to come alongside or beside" and the noun is "agora" which means "street or marketplace assembly, or it could be any assembly." Now the definition of "comfort" is becoming clear. We know that Paul spent his time soul-winning in "the market" which is what "agora" is translated as in Acts 17:17.
Putting this together, I see through this word study that their "comfort" was "encouragement" and moral support, and the place of their "comfort" was "the market." These Jews who were now Christians and now stood unashamedly shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul in the public marketplace giving him the "comfort" and encouragement he needed to have the boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who did not want to hear it, to those who were persecuting him for sharing it.
What do we learn from this? DON'T LET THE MAN OF GOD STAND ALONE! His boldness and power to proclaim the Gospel comes as "two or three are gathered together" in the name of Jesus (Matthew 18:20). Stand by your pastor; support your pastor; soul-win with your pastor. YOUR PASTOR NEEDS YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU NEED HIM! You may not have the gift of preaching or exhortation, but every Christian has the ability to hold up the arms of the ones who do (Exodus 17:11-12)!
At the end of Colossians, Paul is commending several servants of the Lord. There is much to be learned in our service for the Lord when we study out each of these men. This is not my thought here, but one we can all study out.
"Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) 11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me." (Colossians 4:10-11)
In my study of words in this passage I was stopped at "comfort" in verse 11. The word "comfort" in its different English spellings is used 47 times in the New Testament. However, in doing a word study of "comfort" in verse 11, I found this to be the only place the particular Greek word for "comfort" is used. This struck my interest to study deeper into this word and the context of the passage.
In context, Paul is using this word for those "of the circumcision" who he calls his "fellowworkers" (Aristarchus, Marcus and Justus). We know that the other men in the passage were equally his "fellowworkers" but apparently not in the same context or same moment, and those reading this letter knew fellwell what Paul was saying. Realize, these men "of the circumcision" were ones who are Jews that were now Christians, they were ones who had been then rejected by their families and friends and no doubt persecuted alongside of Paul. In studying I thought, how then were they a "comfort" to Paul if they were obviously in need of "comfort" as well? I found the answer to become crystal clear in my word study.
The word for "comfort", by definition, means "a source of encouragement." This shows that their comfort was not as much physical as it was emotional or physiological or moral. Looking deeper into the word I saw exactly how they were a "comfort." The Greek word is a compound word. The prefix is the preposition "para" which means "to come alongside or beside" and the noun is "agora" which means "street or marketplace assembly, or it could be any assembly." Now the definition of "comfort" is becoming clear. We know that Paul spent his time soul-winning in "the market" which is what "agora" is translated as in Acts 17:17.
Putting this together, I see through this word study that their "comfort" was "encouragement" and moral support, and the place of their "comfort" was "the market." These Jews who were now Christians and now stood unashamedly shoulder-to-shoulder with Paul in the public marketplace giving him the "comfort" and encouragement he needed to have the boldness to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who did not want to hear it, to those who were persecuting him for sharing it.
What do we learn from this? DON'T LET THE MAN OF GOD STAND ALONE! His boldness and power to proclaim the Gospel comes as "two or three are gathered together" in the name of Jesus (Matthew 18:20). Stand by your pastor; support your pastor; soul-win with your pastor. YOUR PASTOR NEEDS YOU JUST AS MUCH AS YOU NEED HIM! You may not have the gift of preaching or exhortation, but every Christian has the ability to hold up the arms of the ones who do (Exodus 17:11-12)!
Saturday, 15 March 2014
ARE WE KNOWN FOR PREACHING CHRIST
I was studying Acts 19 this morning where the disciples were thrown
into the coliseum for preaching Christ and God gave me this thought,
"Are we known for preaching Christ." God stopped me at Acts 19:37, "For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess." I see in this verse that these men were not there for slamming the cults, "nor yet blasphemers of your goddess,"
but they were there for preaching Christ. We certainly need to reprove
the cults, but if we loose focus and that is all we do then the Gospel
will not be preached ... OR ... when we the Gospel is preached we are so
known for slamming the cults that their ears are stopped to their only
message of Hope. Another thought in my study, "robbers of churches" is a
single Greek word meaning sacrilege. I see in this word that they were
not known for slamming religion either. We know throughout the Epistles
that the Apostles reproved both the cults and religion, but to the cults
and religion they were known for preaching Christ because that was
their primary focus through it all.
You will find me to be the first to stand firm against both religion and the cults, and you will hear preaching and teaching against each of these from our pulpit. However, I want to be known for preaching Christ. Then, when I am thrown into the coliseum, per-say, it is not for my "Rambo" tactics that I am known, but it is for the preaching of the cross. Then, it is Christ that is lifted up and glorified, and not me getting a single ounce of the glory.
We need preaching and teaching concerning the cults and "religion" in our pulpits. However, the cults and "religion" do not need our debate as to why they are wrong and why we are right, they need Christ preached to them. Example: I will not debate a JW, I will defend what they throw at me while I will continue to preach the Gospel to them until they leave my doorstep.
You will find me to be the first to stand firm against both religion and the cults, and you will hear preaching and teaching against each of these from our pulpit. However, I want to be known for preaching Christ. Then, when I am thrown into the coliseum, per-say, it is not for my "Rambo" tactics that I am known, but it is for the preaching of the cross. Then, it is Christ that is lifted up and glorified, and not me getting a single ounce of the glory.
We need preaching and teaching concerning the cults and "religion" in our pulpits. However, the cults and "religion" do not need our debate as to why they are wrong and why we are right, they need Christ preached to them. Example: I will not debate a JW, I will defend what they throw at me while I will continue to preach the Gospel to them until they leave my doorstep.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
HE IS A PERSONAL SAVIOR
HE IS A PERSONAL SAVIOR - "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." (Luke
15:10)
I love this verse. Read it carefully, it does not say the angels rejoice as some preach this verse, but it says that the joy is in the presence of the angels. Angels have nothing to rejoice over, they have no Savior, they do not understand the grace of God and were clueless as to why God would come in the flesh to die for such a wretched people (Ephesians 3:1-12, notice verse 10 that we are, right here and now, God's trophy of grace to the angels to make known the grace of God even to the angels who are clueless).
In Luke 15:10 I see it is God Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, doing the rejoicing in the presence of the angels. Why? We are the masterpiece of His creation (angels are not even mentioned in creation while man is the "very good" of His creation in Genesis 1:31). Why? We are the apple of his eye (Psalm 17:8; Zechariah 2:8). Why? We are His pride and joy (Hebrews 12:2). NO DOUBT, He personally stands (Acts 7:56) and rejoices when another sinner comes home. WHY? HE IS A PERSONAL SAVIOR, PRAISE GOD!!!
I love this verse. Read it carefully, it does not say the angels rejoice as some preach this verse, but it says that the joy is in the presence of the angels. Angels have nothing to rejoice over, they have no Savior, they do not understand the grace of God and were clueless as to why God would come in the flesh to die for such a wretched people (Ephesians 3:1-12, notice verse 10 that we are, right here and now, God's trophy of grace to the angels to make known the grace of God even to the angels who are clueless).
In Luke 15:10 I see it is God Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, doing the rejoicing in the presence of the angels. Why? We are the masterpiece of His creation (angels are not even mentioned in creation while man is the "very good" of His creation in Genesis 1:31). Why? We are the apple of his eye (Psalm 17:8; Zechariah 2:8). Why? We are His pride and joy (Hebrews 12:2). NO DOUBT, He personally stands (Acts 7:56) and rejoices when another sinner comes home. WHY? HE IS A PERSONAL SAVIOR, PRAISE GOD!!!
Sunday, 25 September 2011
What would soulwinning be without our eyes?
What would soulwinning be without our eyes, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:6)
In this day of technology, the majority of people, like myself, use email, texting or facebook as a major source of communication. Technology continues to replace our eye to eye communication where our word was once stronger then our pen. Psychologist Dr. Mehrabian is known for his publications on verbal and nonverbal communication. His most famous finding is known as the 7%-38%-55% rule. He found that our communication is only 7% words, whereas 38% is tone and 55% facial expressions. Looking at these numbers, it is easy to see why so many emails and facebook posts are taken the wrong way breaking long standing friendships and even marriages. Why? Because today our communication consists of nearly 100% words, no more eye to eye contact or expressiveness in our communications.
We cannot do our Lord’s work this way. It is only through the Word that one can be born-again (Romans 10:17). However, the Bible also tells us that it is our whole communication that wins them over to want to be born again, "...that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation..." (I Peter 3:1).
In this day of technology, the majority of people, like myself, use email, texting or facebook as a major source of communication. Technology continues to replace our eye to eye communication where our word was once stronger then our pen. Psychologist Dr. Mehrabian is known for his publications on verbal and nonverbal communication. His most famous finding is known as the 7%-38%-55% rule. He found that our communication is only 7% words, whereas 38% is tone and 55% facial expressions. Looking at these numbers, it is easy to see why so many emails and facebook posts are taken the wrong way breaking long standing friendships and even marriages. Why? Because today our communication consists of nearly 100% words, no more eye to eye contact or expressiveness in our communications.
We cannot do our Lord’s work this way. It is only through the Word that one can be born-again (Romans 10:17). However, the Bible also tells us that it is our whole communication that wins them over to want to be born again, "...that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation..." (I Peter 3:1).
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