Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

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1 CORINTHIANS

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Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JESUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

Define God

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke… Hebrews 1:1 excerpt

So you ‘go to church’ to hear a man say what God has said. Or you read a book by a man (supposedly of God) who will tell you what God has said. Or you will agree with nearly anyone who will mention God in conversation, even if they say Allah is god or Jehovah is god or Buddha is god or best of all, god is in everything.

What do you believe about God? Can you define it? Can you define God?

Genesis 1:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth… And the Spirit of God… And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light… And God made… And it was so.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Who IS this God who was in the beginning, who created; this Spirit who said and made and it was? Who is this God who said, “Let us…” let the reader understand, ‘us, plural; “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness?” What Spirit can say, “Let us make man in our image?” How can the likeness of God live in the flesh of a man? How can the image of God exist in the image of a woman?

One of many supposed preachers of the Gospel, a wolf clothed as a sheep who would claim that nearly all paths could lead to God, has written a book asking the reader to consider his understanding of the all-inclusive forgiving nature of god to include unrepentant sinners. (That is not how he states is, but that is what he preaches.) A promotional review of a supposedly traditional protestant denomination states of his book (and definition of God): “Good news for people who want nothing to do with religion; better news for those of us who are deeply committed to the faith, but see that religion is way off track.”

Really? A book with only a passing, eventual reference of Jesus Christ, Son of God, proclaims an all-inclusive grace for unrepentant sinners apart from the purification brought forth by a permanent change and repentance to our sinful nature.

Religion, which the world maligns, is much more than a feel-good routine. Religion is a dedication of purpose to a constant worship of God in our very life, created in His Image. For the purpose of definition: Religion – The belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

We had best be clear that the distinctive of Christianity is Christ. How can a book, preacher or christian claimant speak of God without pointed reference to Christ Jesus?

Perhaps the one who references ‘god’ does not have any more commitment to faith in all of God’s word than one who claims many gods or even the one god of the deceitful heart.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” – John 10:30 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

If any preacher, author or friend would claim a religion other than what Christ Jesus teaches in the Gospel – yes, forsaking our sinful flesh for a new life in Christ is Good News – let us remind the one who would re-define God what Holy Scripture has instructed. Perhaps they will tell us, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” – Matthew 7:1 (a favorite of many of the unrepentant) Let us remind them of the rest and the context of Jesus’ teaching.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

‘God’ or ‘god’ is many things to many people. The Bible contains more than four thousand references to ‘God.’ Perhaps it is time for some of us to review just a few of these and renew what it is we believe in our faith in God. Are we not called by scripture to ‘in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you… – 1 Peter 3:15

Our Lord cautions us: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14 We cannot define God with only slight mention of Christ Jesus, and that not as a true Lord of our life. We cannot define God without support of faith in the Gospel or without belief in the truth of all of scripture. We cannot have god serve our flesh, while we will not worship Christ our Lord, who was sacrificed for our sins.

You may certainly ponder our Creator in the light of John’s introduction to the Gospel. You know well John’s description of Jesus love for the world; that is, sinners like you and me [John 3:16].

It is not enough to just smile and pitch love without repentance and change. Jesus also cautions: … but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

How dare we claim Christ without mention of His Lordship over our will! May Thy will be done.

The writer of Hebrews finishes his description of God in the context we must consider and believe to have true faith in the One God who IS and was and will be.

God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

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

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?

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

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

No, our “religion” is certainly not about angels or spirits, worshiping earth or the heavens, conjecture in aliens or chance, teaching from prophets or authors. Our religion and faith is in the One hope of all mankind for the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of our spirit into the very presence of God our Father, the love of Christ Jesus the Son, who became Holy sacrifice for our sins, and eternal life in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit; our God Who IS and was and will be forever. Amen.

September 22, 2014
SELF-absorbed

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3 NLT

I have a list of texts I have sent to friends and loved ones which end with my request for their response. It seems that we have all become too busy with our own agendas to take proper time and response to others. Are they too SELF-absorbed to answer ME?

The worst offenders on MY list are those I care about most. (Why don’t they answer ME?) Really, I would have called them, but they are always so busy and it seems I can never find a good time for them that works into MY own busy schedule.

In fact, what I would most prefer is more PERSONAL contact and time just for ME and them in person… but that never seems to happen. Really, I need a hug now and then. It seems no one in available for such intimate things in these busy days and lonely nights.

Now for the personal disclaimer: I am most guilty of thinking of MY SELF before serving others in the way I communicate. YOU may add me to your list of those who do not reply instantly to your impersonal texts, emails, forwarded clever emails, facebook stuff, game requests, etc. I do, however, respond personally to telephone calls (unless you are a bill collector or a recording from one of our personal physicians, dentists, school principals & others).

We all seem to have gone off the deep end into the cloud and no message from our communicator can beam us up to the reality of the relationships of this brief life.

I And then there is:

“Social media” – an oxymoron for the internet where we can be superficially social.

It is a place where a “selfie” can define who we are at one instant and then another selfie for our next hours online.

What does all this have to do with living our life as a Christian in this world? you may ask.

The application is quite simple (and should be quite SELF-convicting to you and ME). Let’s look at our letter from Paul to the church at Philipi.

Philippians 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Christ’s Example of Humility

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Have the same love, Paul advises, as Christ Jesus, who as God humbled Himself to men as a servant.

Do you empty yourSELF as did our Lord?

How can we claim Christ, while we witness that we are too busy for our loved ones?

Therefore, what should we do?

Be a loving wife – a loving husband – in Person, as if you were Christ Jesus and served your beloved in the same way He washed the feet of His Disciples.

Be a loving friend, even as Christ wept for Lazarus, dined with Martha and Mary and visited His dear friends in Person at every known opportunity. (Do you think that our Lord did not have other things to do on His important agenda?)

Be a loving friend like Paul and Peter and John, who all wrote from their hearts to their friends in many churches so many times as they traveled from place to place. The Apostles never forgot their friends, the saints of other churches, as they moved on in their mission, yet continued to pray for these beloved ones.

Be a listener to those who cry out to you for help. Think how many times Jesus paused in an unexpected place to engage the heart and soul of one who cried out.

Help me, their eyes say. Help me, their silence speaks. Help my emptiness (even their ‘selfie’ stares into your scrolling heart).

Have we become, even as those claiming the love of Christ, so busy with our SELF-image of what a ‘christian’ ought to be that we seldom take the time to relate to one another as we would have our Lord love us?

I offer no answer for us – we, the SELF-proclaimed ‘christians’ who look to others just like everyone else. (Perhaps a little SELF-examination through scripture and prayer would be in order.)

I will suggest one possible snare into which we ought not fall as we get so caught-up in the rush and impersonal ‘social’ habits of these last days. It is from the Apostle Paul’s caution for the church of the next generation in his letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3English Standard Version (ESV)

Godlessness in the Last Days

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

Paul is speaking of NON-Christians; however he warns how such godless people and behaviors easily creep into contact with believers (and he has some unequivocal advice about these relationships).

Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Perhaps the time has come in our own busyness to examine the quality of our love we so flippantly and familiarly overlook in our responses to loved ones – especially in our heartless blind eyes so evident, so near and so frequent in our ‘personal’ devices and ‘social’ communication.

Is anyone listening? (Please comment.)

August 27, 2014
but have not love,
1 Corinthians 13

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Way of Love
13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love,

Let us summarize the list (from the ESV):
- 2 And if I have prophetic powers,
- and understand all mysteries
- and all knowledge,
- and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains,
- but have not love, I am nothing.
- 3 If I give away all I have,
- and if I deliver up my body to be burned [to death],
- but have not love, I gain nothing.
WE are nothing and we gain nothing without this love – we are NOT Christians without Christ’s love evident in our faith and in our lives.

This famous “love chapter” of 1 Corinthians 13 is most notably read (often at weddings) as an example of the love of a husband and a wife. The following verses, more notably than the opening verses, are truly much more than just the romantic love between a husband and wife; for the Apostle Paul speaks not of eros, nor phileo (brotherly love), but of agape – a godly love to which Christians must cling, pouring out sacrificially from the overflowing fountain of the love of Christ Jesus.

The literal translation of agape love in the King James Version is charity. (Don’t get it mixed up with the giving away of money; charity is an outpouring of the overflowing love of God.) Think of ‘charity’ as the love given so personally by our Lord Jesus Christ – charity is the touch of love Jesus would give to another, if He were you.

1 Corinthians 13 in the original KJV.

IF you were to replace the word ‘love’ with ‘charity’ or ‘agape’ in your Bible, you would likely come nearer the intention of what the Apostle is telling Christians about its importance in the witness of our lives. The following is such an example from the Amplified Bible:

4 Agape [Charity] endures long and is patient and kind; charity never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Agape (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Charity bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Agape never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].

Please study more about this special love Christians must have for each other; for it is a command of our Lord Christ Jesus.

Let us close in consideration of the briefness of this life in the flesh, in witness to the charity of Christ Jesus. Closing in the same manner of substituting “charity” or the original Greek word, agape. from the Amplified Bible:

13 And so faith, hope, charity abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; charity —true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is agape.
August 15, 2014