The following Scriptural Rerun, although not a part of our current Apostolic Faith SERIES, will provide additional context for our look at the Gospel of John written about five years before the Elder's Epistles.
READ any post linked below from our 2020 SERIES from the Gospel of John
Scriptural exposition in the context of A.D. 85-90,
19 March AD2020 Churches ordered closed..while during recent months:
some sought to stream the stage of worship
some sent seeker-friendly scripture into our homes
some church communities disintegrated while others diminished & distanced (like our 2020 remote office meetings complete with slides).
To review the Gospel of John, simply click on any link in the outline below& it will open in a new window.
Roger – author of A.D. 2020 series on the Gospel ‘Good NEWS’ of John
I hope you were blessed by the secure links to reliable sites for further study of Scripture, as well as insight into the 1st century church of John’s Gospel (written ~A.D.- 90).
IN THE BEGINNING was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
ALL THINGS came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of
MANKIND.
And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The Book of the Prologue
John’s Prologue [1:1-18], from which the Apostle next proceeds to the testimony of John the Baptist and the Messiah’s calling of the Twelve, states many important theological themes & along with his Epilogue [21:1-25 {linked below}] provides additional depth of purpose of John’s Gospel.
‘My Father’s House – John 2“You must be born again.I am the Messiah – John 4Before Abraham was, I AM John 11“..and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.also love one another-John 13Jesus prays – John 17Jesus answered him – John 19:11 Jesus said:
Gospel of John
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29b
As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. – John 9:1
Are you greater than our father Abraham who died? And the prophets died. Who do you claim to be?” – John 8:53
“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. – John 10:26-28
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise from the dead.”
.. “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.
Hear all the unrelenting bad news of yesterday or today or any future year in the Common Era of these last days.
For followers of Jesus, His death diminished life’s hope in eternal life;
that is, until the GOOD NEWS of the Lord’s resurrection reached the eyes and ears and touch of His dearly beloved friends.
John and the Disciples witnessed the Lord Jesus in His Risen Flesh several times after His resurrection, as had hundreds of other disciples also seen their risen Christ!
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
John 20:20
Their sorrow had turned into joy and so must ours; for in Christ Jesus his disciples of every generation have eternal life through His sacrifice for our sins. This is our Gospel, John’s Good News to those who would believe.
John’s Epilogue
John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:21 CSB
Go in Peace and Believe
I pray that the Lord has blessed you through the Gospel of John in A.D. 2020 and now I might add, the Good NEWS of John by God’s grace continuing these last days in 2023 of the Common Era ..
May our Lord Jesus Christ
draw you into His grace,
giving you new hope of Eternal Life in the remaining years of our Common Era of 2023 and beyond if it is God's will,in the Name of the Father and the Son Christ JESUS, Who IS and Was and will judge all things when the Lord returns, and the Holy Spirit who sustains saved sinners in these last days.
AMEN.
More than thirty years earlier the Apostle Peter preaching on Pentecost had charged all Israel to accept JESUS as both God and Christ:
“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses…
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying,
“Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:32,40 ESV – Peter preaching on Pentecost ~AD 30
You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,
commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 2:1-2 Christian Standard Bible
The Elected Saints (among the Gentiles)
By the grace of God, Paul — that is, Saul of Tarsus — was commissioned by Christ on a road to Damascus to fulfill his election as the Apostle to the Gentiles.
It had been some thirty years ago and Timothy, who had first met Paul in Lystra and followed the Apostle is now a pastor to the church at Ephesus.
Be Strong in the Lord
Paul points to Christ, writing:
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:3 CSB
The Apostle had enlisted Timothy in the service of Christ back in Lystra.
No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
2 Tim 2:4 CSB
In his humility and citing other witnesses Paul has pointed to Christ whom he serves as well. Certainly a soldier of Jesus Christ, risen from death, will be strong in the word given directly to the Apostle who enlisted his service.
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
2 Tim 2:5
If ever there was a zealous follower of the rules it would be Paul, that is, Saul. And the Apostle had even insisted on circumcising Timothy (though not other gentiles) to fulfill the Lord’s purposes among the Jews.
Remember that Timothy’s absent biological father was Greek, but his grandmother had been a faithful Jew and his mother a Christ-follower.
Why does the Apostle use these two illustrations and the work of the farmer which follows?
Paul has written to the saints in Corinth:
To the Jews.. I became as one under the law–though not being myself under the law–that I might win those under the law.
To those outside the law (that is, Gentiles) I became as one outside the law.. but under the law of Christ–that I might win those outside the law. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Corinthians 9 excerpt CSB
The Apostle with whom Timothy also traveled to Corinth also writes words likely recalled now in Ephesus:
I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.
Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize?
So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NET
Paul will return to this before the close of this final pastoral epistle.
The Gospel for the Elect
Remember that Jesus Christ,
of the seed of David,
was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains;
but the word of God is not chained.
Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 2:8-9 NKJV
As the Apostle nears the finish line of his race into the gentile world of the Roman Empire, Paul’s encouragement of Timothy as pastor of the elect Ephesian saints builds up a key church in a city of a quarter-million people, the third largest in the Empire.
Clement of Alexandria, second largest city in the Empire, would be an important convert in the second century of our Lord Jesus Christ and of course Rome remained the Empire’s largest metropolitan area.
For the Sake of Salvation of the Elect
WHY do all these early Christian saints endure persecution, martyrdom and rejection by the vast majority of those in the cities in which they preach?
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV
Among the millions of souls surrounding the Apostles and martyred saints in Rome, Ephesus, Corinth and throughout the Empire, Paul encourages pastors in what Christ Himself has promised in the salvation of the elect — believing Jew or pagan Gentile.
The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. – Gospel of John 14:19
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – Gospel of Matthew 19:28 NKJV
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:33
if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven… – Matthew 24:35-36a
Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 2:12-14 ESV – quoting the Gospels and other Scripture
You may recognize my Heading from Joshua's challenge to the Elect to remember the LORD of their Salvation.
(Remember that this successor[יְהוֹשׁוּעַ] of Moses has a name [yᵊhôšûaʿ] meaning: "Jehovah is salvation" — iēsous, the Greek name for Jesus having the same Hebrew root.)
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
.. “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ..
“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served…
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24 excerpt NKJV
PAUL now encourages young Timothy — the Apostle builds up pastors and saints to follow until the Day of Jesus Christ.
Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them in the presence of God..
Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 2:14a LSB
Many commentators cite the importance and difficulty of these key verses in 2 Timothy 2:10-13. We will close this section with these observations for your consideration (IF you are among the remnant elect saints of this Common Era):
God must be sovereign in our salvation precisely because we are neither willing nor able to choose salvation for ourselves.
John MacArthur – THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE
Why did the world hate Christ?
.. Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus explained,
“The world … hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil” (7:7)
Fallen man does not want to be confronted with the true nature of his heart, he doesn’t want to face his inherent wickedness.
He has to find a way to tolerate and excuse himself from the guild he naturally faces each day.
So he falls back on his most dominant sin, pride, and imagines a version of himself that can escape condemnation. He spins a web of delusions, convincing himself that he is truly good and noble—anything to distract from the fact that his deeds are evil.
ibid. pp 7-8
It was true in Ephesus and Rome in the first century AD; it is true in this twenty-first century of the Common Era in Rome and in every other city.
Salvation in God alone
“It’s a well established reality that the doctrine of election is disturbing to many people,” observes MacArthur.
He continues, “Numerous ministry leaders, pastors, and major authors harbor animosity toward the doctrine of election.”
ibid. pp 55,56
Note a later idolatry and heresies which crept quickly into the churches with false teaching seeking to include men as only interpreters of Scripture and intercessors for active sin through memories of saints gone before.
MacArthur cites numerous Scriptures besides those here [2 Timothy 2:10]
ibid. 68-
Before we return to a brief MacArthur outline from this section from his commentary on 2 Timothy, note his QUOTE of Martin Luther introducing this section on:
DIVINE ELECTION:
NO MAN CAN BE THOROUGHLY HUMBLED UNTIL HE KNOWS THAT HIS SALVATION IS UTTERLY BEYOND HIS OWN POWERS, DEVICES, ENDEAVORS, WILL, AND WORKS, AND DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE CHOICE, WILL, AND WORK OF ANOTHER, NAMELY, OF GOD ALONE.
MARTIN LUTHER
2 Timothy – NEXT in our outline
An overview Outline of 2 Timothy [Kress Biblical Resources] follows Paul’s brief prologue (2 Tim 1:1-2) with an extended section we have just completed:
Persevere in the ministry and be unashamed to suffer for the gospel (1:3-2:13)
The following extended section we will follow next pivots on 2:14.
Proclaim the truth and be unashamed to confront error (2:14-4-8)
John MacArthur in his NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY OF 2 TIMOTHY outlines this section of Paul’s second letter to Timothy:
The Elements of a Strong Spiritual Life [2 Tim 2:1-7]
Motives for a Sacrificial Ministry [2 Tim 2:8-13]
The Danger of False Teaching [2 Tim 2:14-19]
and completing 2 Tim 2 – An Honorable Vessel
Remember
Paul’s pivotal imperatives of this section of the Apostle’s second pastoral epistle.
BE STRONG – v.1
CONSIDER – v.7
REMIND – v. 14 (our pivotal hinge today)
AVOID, ABSTAIN, FLEE, PURSUE, REFUSE
ALL next in Paul’s commands to Timothy.
MACARTHUR NT COMMENTARY 2 TIMOTHY, p. 55
Looking for some more Apostolic controvery?
NEXT – We’ll address these warnings against false doctrine.
“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark.. Genesis 6
“I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth.” – Genesis 9
IMAGINE the historical NOAH preaching to a corrupt church about this ADVENT of the Last Days when JESUS will return to judge creation with fire and fellow sinners sitting right beside you at this year’s Christmas program.
The chosen Before Christ
A PERSONAL interaction between the Creator and Living God of timeless eternity and a created son of Adam and NOAH.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died; whom dost thou make thyself?’
Jesus said to them,
‘Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham’s coming — I am;’
excerpt from Gospel of John 8: Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
AFTER this unique time of ABRAHAM Before Christ,
Judah (and Israel) had yet to be conquered, named, lost, regained and renamed over centuries of the chosensons of Abraham.
Chosen for Covenant and Curse
FROM the LAW of Moses for the generations of the LORD's chosen; administered by Levite priests (sons of Jacob, Isaac and Abraham:
If, however, you fail to obey Me and to carry out all these commandments, and if you reject My statutes, despise My ordinances, and neglect to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, then this is what I will do to you: … Those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when no one pursues you.
18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride…
And YES,
(You know some of the long history of God’s chosen)
it gets worse from here even BEFORE Christ.
YET could the LORD’s prophesy apply even to US?
Our sin and disobedience continue into these Common Evangelical post-Christian times — (notably by some adopted in Christ Jesus).
The Advent of Defeat
You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. “For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
But if your heart turns away and you do not listen.. – Deuteronomy 30:17a
Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” – Joshua 24:22
Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. – 1 Kings 11:11-12 NKJV
But King Solomon loved many foreign women.. from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.
.. his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.
All this took place a millennium BEFORE the Common Era centered around the very incarnation of JESUS CHRIST.
Failed Kings Before Christ
Saul, as most of us know, failed in disobedience to the Lord’s word through His Prophet Samuel.
Even David was a failed king, but he repented of his sin before the Lord and publically in sight of Israel.
To name just one king of Israel or Judah who did evil in the sight of the Lord, Ahab (and Jezebel) come to mind due to their zeal to destroy God’s Prophet Elijah.
Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
In this traditional Advent season of these last days we anticipate more than simply celebrating Christmas in the year of our Lord (A.D.) 2024.
For the similarities of centuries of evil times Before Christ bring to mind our own disobedience to God’s will.
Ourincarnate redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man: And NOW celebrate Him in a manger, though our Savior was sacrificed on a Cross for repentant sinners – sinners who love babies and good gifts, even while we fear DEATH and judgment.
SO what does Advent mean to YOU? And how will YOU evangelize Christ our Lord in these brief days before our ever-popular CHRISTmascelebration?
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![“He who loves his [fn]life loses it, and he who hates his [fn]life in this world will keep it to life eternal.](https://talkofjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/triumphal-entry.jpg)
