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Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (7/8) Paul Preached the One True Gospel (1.10-24) 2/3

"But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1.11-12). With these words, Paul makes the most straightforward argument possible for the authenticity of his message. If Paul speaks truth here, he speaks truth elsewhere; if Paul is wrong here, he is wrong elsewhere. If he is not the teacher of truth that he…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (6/8) Paul Preached the One True Gospel (1.10-24) 1/3

Motive goes a long, long way when one is trying to determine the truth of a matter which is of significant importance. This is true whether one is addressing a criminal case, or politics, or religion, or any one of a number of other areas of concern. Every criminal investigator knows that motives lead to arrests and convictions.

In the matter of truth that concerned the Galatian churches, what possible motive could Paul have for preaching his message, the message that implied…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (5/8) The One True Gospel (1.6-9) 2/2

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1.8-9).

The gospel was a precious commodity worthy of great reverence; reverence not merely because of its words but because its words were the means to salvation for its hearers. The clandestine intent of the troublers…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (4/8) The One True Gospel (1.6-9) 1/2

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1.6-7).

The marvel which sparked Paul's statement was the soon apostasy of the Galatian brethren. Some things are marvels to be held in admiration; others are marvels of dismay and sadness. The apostasy of the saints in Galatia was of the latter sort. Note that their…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (3/8) The Apostolic Greeting (1.1-5) 3/3

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1.3-5). This greeting contains three salient points that demand our attention.

Christ gave Himself for our sins. There is no parallel to sin in the physical realm. Any hope for sin exists outside the realm of the material. You can…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 1 - The Superior Rank Gospel (2/8) The Apostolic Greeting (1.1-5) 2/3

"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:" (Galatians 1.1-2). The focus of this message is to consider the addressees of this epistle.

In the first century, Galatia was a large area situated in Asia-Minor located between Bithynia and Cappadocia. It was located in the center of what is modern-day Turkey. Paul preached in the region of Galatia…  ( Click for more )

The Superior Rank Gospel of Christ Chapter 1 (1/8) The Apostolic Greeting (Galatians 1:1-5) 1/3

"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me…" (Galatians 1:1-2a)

Apostles came in various shapes and sizes in the first century. Some were apostles of men. By this it is meant that some men were sent on a particular mission by another man. Those sent were apostles of those doing the sending. That incidentally is the meaning of the word (apostolos)…  ( Click for more )

Matters that Matter! (1/1) Matthew 5-7

The Sermon on the Mount was no ordinary sermon; its contents were not ordinary; its speaker was not ordinary; its purpose was not ordinary; its implications were not ordinary. About the only thing ordinary about the Sermon on the Mount were the issues with which the hearers were dealing. These were as old as time itself; they have not changed since then by any appreciable amount. The names are different, the customs are different, but the struggles are the same. It is a timeless message aimed directly at the heart of humanity.

While…  ( Click for more )

There is a single hint at a problem with the church at Philippi. It is found in the text that follows: "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." (Philippians 4:1-3).

The Holy Spirit wants no dissension in the ranks of the believers. He makes this clear in other passages…  ( Click for more )

Focus Text: Matthew 26.52-56

There is something to be said for the WWJD [What Would Jesus Do?] mentality; however here is an indisputable fact: No one can know what Jesus would do without knowing what Jesus did! In other words, it is fruitless to discuss what Jesus would do in any given circumstance if we do not know with certainty what Jesus did while here upon this earth. Those who brandish the WWJD acronym must either trust the written record of Jesus’ life (i.e. the Bible), or they ought to admit they simply do not know what Jesus would do and are hopelessly left without…  ( Click for more )

What Would Jesus Teach [WWJT]… if someone publicly asked Him a crucial religious question, a question that if left unanswered could result in the loss of a soul? Would He attempt to study in private with the querist, hoping to avoid a public confrontation, but yet capitalizing on the possibility of teaching a lost soul? Would He seize the opportunity to respond to the inquiry, teaching the lost person but at the same time demonstrating His superior knowledge of the subject and impressing other hearers for good? WWJT? The correct answer is, “None of the above” (at…  ( Click for more )

Three well know verses are used to introduce this subject; they are: “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7.28-29). “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” (Luke 4.22). “Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The…  ( Click for more )

“But He [Jesus] needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’ For Jews have…  ( Click for more )

Sweet words and deeds linger long after the emotion and excitement of the moment have passed. If you stop and think, I almost know that you can remember some kind words and/or deeds that someone spoke or did years and years ago. However, I also know that no words or deeds could be sweeter than those spoken and performed by Jesus as he concluded His meeting with the sinful woman in Simon’s house. See what you think; He said, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7.50).

The most significant result for the woman in her meeting with Jesus was the fact that…  ( Click for more )

I doubt that Jesus had ever personally met the woman, but that is speculation on my part. However, regardless of how it happened, she had learned a lot about him. Moreover, she had thought a lot about herself and her condition. But on this particular day, this woman’s spiritual fortunes would change dramatically; she would never be the same again!

If first words make lasting impressions, the woman must have been impressed for a long, long time with the words of Jesus. After Jesus finished talking to Simon and teaching a great lesson about how God treats sinners (as well…  ( Click for more )

“Therefore I [Jesus] say to you [Simon], her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’” (Luke 7.47-50).

Read the focus text again paying particular attention to who is speaking as well as the person(s) being addressed. At first, Jesus was…  ( Click for more )

Jesus asked Simon a question by means of a short parable or real life illustration. Here is the parable, His question, and then the much needed application:

“‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said…  ( Click for more )

The reading is long, but it has to be taken in at one time to gather its richness.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’ ‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which…  ( Click for more )

We continue our analysis of our focus text, and for that reason it is repeated today: “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee…  ( Click for more )

How does God treat sinners? The truth sometimes shocks our sensibilities! To our surprise, and sometimes chagrin, He doesn’t treat them the way we want Him to! Consider our primary question of how God treats sinners as we investigate our focus text.

“Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping;…  ( Click for more )

In our study of how God treats sinners, we are considering the use of the word sinner as it is used in contrast to faithful believers. Contrary to what some religious creeds say, not every thing that sinners do is reprehensible; some things sinners do are actually worthy of imitation. However, in matters such as we consider today, they do not go far enough. Consider the words of Jesus which follow immediately.

“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those…  ( Click for more )

Who or what groups of people are referred to in the scriptures as sinners other than believers in Christ who inadvertently stray or who temporarily leave the path of righteousness only to return after a short time? Actually, the answer to this question is probably my first response to the query, “Who is a sinner?” I prefer to think of those who have never named the name of Christ as sinners – and most certainly they are. For the next few days, we will examine some usages of the word sinner in the New Testament and how it was used when referring to unbelievers. …  ( Click for more )

Clarification is necessary when it comes to the use of the word sinner(s) in the New Testament. Sometimes the word is used to refer to a group/class of people who live in obvious rebellion to God’s word. At other times it is used to refer to those who live in subjection to God’s will, but who momentarily or inadvertently stray. And as if that were not enough, sometimes the word is used simply to refer to the fact that all of us sin from time to time, and hence, we are all sinners by that definition. As we proceed with this study, we will examine some usages of the word…  ( Click for more )

Someone has observed that one cannot even pronounce the word sin without hearing the heinous hiss of the serpent. Had the serpent not wielded his influence upon mankind, this discussion of how God treats sinners would not be taking place. The hiss of the serpent made the word sin necessary. One thing is certain: If all our information were limited to the first two chapters of Genesis, the time when man lived virtually in God’s presence, we would never know nor need to know how God treats sinners – there would be no such thing! Be that as it may, that condition did not…  ( Click for more )