II Corinthians 10
Some thought Paul was walking according to fleshverses 1-2
Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ
who in presence am base among you
BUT being absent am bold toward you but I beseech you
that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence
wherewith I think to be bold against some which
think of us as if we walked according to the flesh
Goal of Paul is full obedience to LORDverses 3-6
FOR though we walk in the flesh – we do not war after the flesh
(FOR the weapons of our warfare are not carnal
BUT mighty through God to the
pulling down of strongholds)
Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of God
and bringing into captivity every thought
to the obedience of Christ
AND having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience
when your obedience is fulfilled
Christians are to build one another up in the LORDverses 7-9
Do you look on things after the outward appearance?
If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s
let him of himself think this again – that
as he is Christ’s – even so are we Christ’s
FOR though I should boast somewhat more of our authority
which the Lord has given us for edification
and not for your destruction I should not be ashamed
that I may not seem as if
I would terrify you by letters
Letters from Paul defendedverses 10-11
FOR his letters – say they – are weighty and powerful
but his bodily presence is weak
and his speech contemptible
Let such a one think this – that
such as we are in word by letters when we are absent
such will we be also in deed when we are present
Paul deals with standard of measurementverse 12
FOR we dare not make ourselves of the number
or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves
but they – measuring themselves by themselves
and comparing themselves among themselves
are not wise
Paul given an area of authorityverses 13-16
BUT we will not boast of things without our measure
but according to the measure of the rule which God
has distributed to us
a measure to reach even to you
FOR we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure
as though we reached not to you
for we are come as far as to you also in preaching
the gospel of Christ
NOT boasting of things without our measure – that is
of other men’s labors
BUT having hope – when your faith is increased
that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly
to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you
and not to boast in another man’s line of things
made ready to our hand
Boasting should only be done in the LORDverses 17-18
BUT he that glories – let him glory in the Lord
for not he that commended himself is approved
but whom the Lord commends
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; (4752 “warfare” [strateia] means campaign, military engagement, expedition, or fight)
DEVOTION: Paul likened his ministry in the world as a battle that he needed to win with the help of the LORD. He was not going to use carnal weapons to fight the battle. He was going to use spiritual weapons to fight the enemy.
Remember that we each have three enemies that we fight while we are living in the flesh: the world, the flesh and the devil. These three are constantly working on us to give up and turn in a different direction. We only have victory when we do things in the strength of the LORD.
Paul is not going to measure what he is doing by man’s standards. He is going to measure his ministry by God’s standards. He finds that there are many who claim to be believers who are fighting against him and his ministry.
He knows that the battle is real. His only hope to have victory is to pull down strongholds in the church and in individuals who are working against him is to use the mighty power of God.
Our power comes through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This comes through our prayer life. If we confess our sin HE is faithful and just to forgive our sin. Once we have confessed our sin we can depend on the power of God to help us with any difficulties we run into in our service to Christ.
Too often we try to fight our battles with human strength and we sometimes win a few victories but it is at a cost. Depending on ourselves leads us away from our prayer life and that takes the power of God out of our life. Paul wanted to win battles only through the power of God. We should desire the same.
CHALLENGE: Each day as we face difficulty with others who are in our church we need to turn to the LORD for wisdom to win the battle in a Biblical manner. That is only done through the power of God.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed. (2506 “destruction” [kathairesis] means pulling down, demolition, the act of making something less full, complete or mature (in order to disassemble it completely), understood as if assisting in the demolition of a building, to weaken, to make less able, or decay)
DEVOTION: When we deal with each other it is to build them up and not tear them down. Too often people wonder about our motive when we are trying to help them to grow in the LORD.
Paul wants the Christians at Corinth that he doesn’t want to use boldness when he comes in person but the meekness and gentleness of Christ. This should be our attitude too. We need to be gentle with one another when we are trying to help them understand what God expects of them.
Children want to know what it means to be a follower of Christ in simple terms. Obedience is key. Church leaders have the responsibility to use their position to help individuals understand the truths of Scripture and how to apply them to their lives.
Sometimes people think that church leaders are just the same as all the other members of the church but this is wrong thinking. Once an individual accepts the standard of leadership they are held more accountable to God for their actions. They will receive a greater judgment.
No leader should think they are better than others. Paul didn’t have this thought. He just wanted to do what the LORD had instructed him to do in a given situation. That is the same with any leader.
Every Christian is supposed to build fellow believers up instead of tearing them down. This can only be done with the help of the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We are to never give up on our fellow believers.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. (3586 “measure” [metros] means standard, quantity, proper, proportion, limit, beyond proper limits or determine extent)
DEVOTION: People are fickle. Christians are even fickle. Paul had ministered in the area and started a church. He had written to them about their problems in his first letter. He was going to come to them. However, the people were complaining about him.
They said that he was bold in his letter but weak in his appearance. They were being visited by false prophets who sounded better than Paul. These false teachers showed their resume. The people liked what they had to say and were impressed with the way they said it. There message was not the same as Paul’s message.
Paul explained to them that he was not going to boast beyond the limits of his ministry. His ministry was given by Christ to him. He was going to let Christ write his letter of recommendation for him.
Paul wanted them to realize that they needed to get rid of the teachers that were exaggerating the ministry they had.
We need to learn not to exaggerate our growth in Christ. We need to learn to not worry about impressing people. Paul’s main concern was to give glory to God. Our main concern needs to be to give glory to God.
This word is used for the final two references to measure. It is limiting Paul’s influence over these people. It is limiting Paul’s judgment of these people. He is limiting his ministry to what the LORD set as the standard. His ministry was one of starting churches and helping them to grow spiritually to a certain point and then move on. He wanted to move on to other places that had not heard the gospel but he couldn’t until this church was stronger.
We have the desire to accomplish something with our lives. We want to impress people with our accomplishments. We need to not exaggerate our importance over people but we must realize that we do have an influence. For that influence we have to give an answer when we stand before God. Let’s edify the people we influence. We need to let the LORD write our letter of recommendation too.
Watch out for how much we want the praise of men. They move on quickly to someone else.
CHALLENGE: Let the LORD bless you as HE sees fit with ministry. HE will limit your ministry but let HIM.
: 18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends. (4921 “commends” [sunistano] means strengthened, to present as worthy of regard, stand with, come into existence, give approval to, to associate, recommend, introduce, or to stand with.)
DEVOTION: Watch out for those who brag about themselves. There are many who will tell you that they are approved by the LORD but their teachings are not according to the Word of God.
Jesus will NEVER approve someone who says anything against the Word of God. Some will claim new revelations from God. If they are not consistent with the Bible we have in our hands they are not messages from God but from another source.
The only way we can know if someone is approved by the LORD is to follow their ministry over a given time period. The consistency of their message and their use of the Word of God should determine if their ministry is from God.
The Holy Spirit gives us the ministry of discernment as individual believers. If we are dependent on HIS ministry in our life HE will work with our spirit to tell us if someone is of God or not. We need to listen to HIM. HE is never wrong.
If it doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t. That is one way to make sure you are not following a false teacher. There are many voices out there on the radio, television and in Christian book stores.
CHALLENGE: Today a discerning spirit is very necessary to make sure we are not following someone who commends himself OR someone the LORD gives authority to instruct fellow believers.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Lettersverses 9-11
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 4, 5, 13
Knowledge of Godverse 5
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 1, 5, 7, 14
Meekness and gentleness of Christverse 1
Obedience of Christverse 5
Lordverses 8, 17, 18
Gospel of Christverse 14
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Walk according to the fleshverse 2
Walk in the fleshverse 3
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Walking according to the fleshverse 2
War after the fleshverse 3
Carnal weaponsverse 4
Imaginationsverse 5
Exalt against Godverse 5
Every thought not obedient to Christverse 5
Disobedienceverse 6
Destructionverse 8
Measuring self by selfverse 12
Comparing self by selfverse 12
Not wiseverse 12
False boastingverses 13, 15, 16
Commending selfverse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Beseechverses 1, 2
Meeknessverse 1
Gentlenessverse 1
Boldverse 2
Weapons not carnalverse 4
Pulling down of strongholdsverse 4
Casting down imaginationsverse 5
Casting down every high thingverse 5
Have knowledge of Godverse 5
Every thought obedientverse 5
Authorityverse 8
Edificationverse 8
Ruleverses 13, 15
Hopeverse 15
Faithverse 15
Lord commendsverse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Paulverse 1
Edificationverse 8
Preaching the gospel of Christverses 14, 16
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
12 In one aspect of his conduct, Paul admits his “timidity” (cf. v. 1). He lacked the boldness and temerity to align or compare himself with those who indulged in self-praise, “those who write their own testimonials” (Phillips)! Writing ironically, he asserts that in their folly his opponents were establishing their own conduct as normative and then finding great satisfaction in always measuring up to the standard. The implication is clear. If the Corinthians tried to assess Paul’s credentials against the artificial and subjective criteria established by his detractors, they would be just as foolish. (Harris, M. J. (1976). 2 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 383). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
To number or compare ourselves (ἐνκριναι ἠ συνκριναι [enkrinai ē sunkrinai]). Paronomasia here, play on the two words. Ἐνκριναι [Enkrinai] is first aorist active infinitive of old verb, but here only in N. T., to judge among, to judge one as worthy to be numbered among as here. The second verb συνκριναι [sunkrinai] (first aorist active infinitive of συνκρινω [sunkrinō], old verb, in N. T. only here and 1 Cor. 2:13) originally meant to combine as in 1 Cor. 2:13 (which see), but here it has the sense of “compare” not found in the old Greek. The papyri use it to mean to decide. Plummer suggests “to pair and compare” for the play on the words here. Measuring themselves by themselves (ἐν ἑαυτοις ἑαυτους μετρουντες [en heautois heautous metrountes]). Or “in themselves.” Keenest sarcasm. Setting themselves up as the standards of orthodoxy these Judaizers always measure up to the standard while Paul falls short. Comparing themselves with themselves (συνκρινοντες ἑαυτους ἑαυτοις [sunkrinontes heautous heautois]). Associate instrumental case ἑαυτοις [heautois] after συνκρινοντες [sunkrinontes] (verb just explained). Paul is not keen to fall into the trap set for him. Are without understanding (οὐ συνιασιν [ou suniāsin]). The regular form for present active indicative third plural of συνιημι [suniēmi], to comprehend, to grasp. Some MSS. have the late form συνιουσιν [suniousin] (omega form συνιω [suniō]). It is a hard thing to see, but it is true. These men do not see their own picture so obvious to others (Eph. 5:17; 1 Tim. 1:7). Cf. Mark 8:17. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 10:12). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
10:12. Paul’s opponents (and any who sided with them) could be censured on several counts. The first was the inadequate standard by which they evaluated themselves. The false apostles compared themselves not with the divine standard exemplified by Christ but with other men, using human standards. In doing so, Paul said, no matter how much they vaunted their human wisdom they showed themselves to be not wise, but fools (cf. 1 Cor. 1:20).
10:13–14. The false apostles were censured on a second count. Even if Paul granted for the moment the legitimacy of their apostleship it was he, not they, who had been designated the apostle to the Gentiles (cf. Gal. 2:8). God had authenticated Paul’s commission by producing fruit in Corinth—we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6). The false apostles had grossly overstepped their bounds. They had gone beyond proper limits (cf. 2 Cor. 10:15) but Paul had not.
10:15–16. Paul’s third censure concerned the claims of the false apostles. They had overstepped their bounds but they had also exaggerated their accomplishments. The church in Corinth was a result of Paul’s ministry not theirs. Unlike his opponents he did not boast about work already done … by others. The Corinthians may have had many so-called guardians but they had only one “father,” Paul (1 Cor. 4:15). He was the one they should imitate (1 Cor. 4:16). As their faith grew and they matured, he could then expand his area of activity by evangelizing other Gentiles in the regions beyond them, even as far away as Spain (Rom. 15:23–24). They could take part in this work by prayer (Eph. 6:19–20) and financial support (cf. 1 Cor. 16:6; Phil. 4:15–17). But first they needed to get their own house in order (2 Cor. 10:6). (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 577–578). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
False measurement (v. 12). The Judaizers were great on measuring their ministry, because a religion of external activities is much easier to measure than one of internal transformation. The legalist can measure what he does and what he does not do, but the Lord is the only One who can see spiritual growth in a believer’s heart. Sometimes those who are growing the most feel like they are less than the least.
In a sense, the Judaizers belonged to a “mutual admiration society” that set up its own standards and measured everybody by them. Of course, those inside the group were successful; those outside were failures. Paul was one of the outsiders, so he was considered a failure. Unfortunately, they did not measure themselves by Jesus Christ (see Eph. 4:12–16). If they had, it would have made a difference.
True measurement (vv. 13–18). Paul suggests three questions we may ask ourselves as we seek to measure our ministries by the will of God.
Am I where God wants me to be? (vv. 13–14) God “assigned a field” in which Paul was to work: he was the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; 22:21; Eph. 3). He was also to go where no other apostle had ministered; he was to be a “pioneer preacher” to the Gentiles.
Paul used a bit of sanctified sarcasm in his defense. “The area God assigned to me included even you Corinthians!” (see 2 Cor. 10:13) It was not the Judaizers who had come to Corinth with the Gospel. They, like the cultists today, arrived on the scene only after the church had already been established (see Rom. 15:15–22).
Churches and ministers are not competing with each other; they are competing with themselves. God is not going to measure us on the basis of the gifts and opportunities that He gave to Charles Spurgeon or Billy Sunday. He will measure my work by what He assigned to me. God requires faithfulness above everything else (1 Cor. 4:2).
There is something intimidating about attending a pastors’ conference or a denominational convention, because the people on the program are usually the “front-runners” with the best records. Young pastors and older men in narrow places often go home carrying feelings of guilt because their faithful work does not seem to produce as much fruit. Some of these discouraged men then try all kinds of programs and promotions, only to have more disappointment; and then they contemplate leaving the ministry. If only they would realize that God measures their ministries on the basis of where He has put them, and not on the basis of what is going on in some other city, it would encourage them to stay on the job and keep being faithful.
Is God glorified by my ministry? (vv. 15–17) This is another jibe at the Judaizers who stole other men’s converts and claimed them as their own. Paul would not boast about another man’s work, nor would he invade another man’s territory. Whatever work he did, God did through him, and God alone should receive the glory.
I once listened to a man give a lecture on how to build a large Sunday School. Everything in the lecture was correct and certainly had worked in some of the large ministries in the United States. The only problem was, the man had never built a large Sunday School himself! He had visited many of the large ministries, interviewed the pastors and staff members, and developed his lecture. After he finished his lecture, people flocked to his side to ask questions and get autographs. I happened to be standing next to a pastor who had built one of the finest churches—and one of the largest—in America.
“Those people ought to be talking to you,” I said to him. “You’ve done it and you know more about Sunday School work than he does!”
“Let him enjoy himself,” said my friend with a kind smile. “We’re all doing the same work, and all that counts is that God is glorified.”
Paul added another bit of “holy irony” when he told the Corinthians that the only thing that had kept him from going to “the regions beyond” them was their own lack of faith. Had they been submissive to his leadership and obedient to the Word, he could have reached other lost souls; but they created so many problems for him, that he had to take time from missionary evangelism to solve the problems in the church. “I would have better statistics to report,” he was saying, “but you hindered me.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 667–668). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
10:12 class or compare ourselves. It is a mark of Paul’s humility that he refused to compare himself with others, or engage in self-promotion. His only personal concern was what the Lord thought of him (cf. 1Co 4:4), though he needed to defend his apostleship so the Corinthians would not, in turning from him, turn from the truth to lies. comparing themselves with themselves. Paul pointed out the folly of the false apostles’ boasting. They invented false standards that they could meet, then proclaimed themselves superior for meeting them. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Co 10:12). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 12. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, &c.] Some understand this as spoken ironically, as if the apostle jeeringly should say, he would not pretend to join, or put himself upon a level, who was a poor, little, mean, despicable person, with such great men as the false apostles were, men of such large gifts, and of such great learning and eloquence; though they may be understood without an irony, that the modesty of the apostle and his fellow-ministers would not suffer them to mingle with such persons, and act the vainglorious part they did: or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; they were not so vain and foolish, as to give high encomiums of themselves, therefore would not boast even of the authority they had, and much less say that in letters, which they could not make good in fact: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise, or understand not; how foolish they are, how ridiculous they make themselves; they do not understand what they say, nor whereof they affirm; they don’t understand themselves, what they really are; for to form a right judgment of themselves, they should have considered the gifts and abilities, the learning and knowledge of others, and thereby might have taken an estimate of their own; but instead of this, they only consulted themselves, and measured and compared themselves with themselves; which was acting just such a foolish part, as if a dwarf was to measure himself not with any kind of measure, or with another person, but with himself; only surveys himself, and his own dimensions, and fancies himself a giant. Just the reverse is this, to what is said in Philo the Jew, “την γαρ ουθενειαν την εμαυτου μετρειν εμαθον, I have learned to measure the nothingness of myself, and to contemplate thy exceeding great bounties; and moreover, perceive myself to be dust and ashes, or if there is anything more abject.” (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 823). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Paul likens his contest with the difficulties that oppose him in the discharge of his apostolic duties, as warfare. (Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
Through his ministry in teaching Bible classes of ordinary men and women, his Bible Correspondence Course work reaching great numbers of such people, and his simple but searching and fundamental studies in the little book, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth,” Dr. Scofield had had abundant evidence that multitudes of persons everywhere were needing and hungering for just such guidance in their Bible study as he had been providentially led to discover for himself and to give to others. But the time had come when he saw that if his Bible studies were to be of the widest usefulness they would need to be attached to the Word itself—and in a form not too bulky. Out of his own past experience he asked himself the question: “What kind of reference Bible would have helped me most when I was first trying to learn something of the Word, but ignorant of the very first principles of Bible study?” Looking back then over twenty years of such study, and visualizing again his own need as an uninstructed beginner when he had first come to Christ, he began to see the sort of reference Bible that would have been most useful to him, and that he believed was still greatly needed. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (pp. 76–77). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
Dr. Scofield saw clearly that what was needed was not a commentary on the Bible, but the Bible itself with just enough help in reference form to keep the reader and student close to the Word of God. As he studied and pondered this, very early in his new work the entire plan of what is now the Scofield Reference Bible came to him. Few details were changed or added afterward. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 78). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
For example, a very prominent Arminian theologian and a very prominent Calvinist theologian almost at the same time told Dr. Scofield that they had been examining with much interest his definitions of crucial doctrinal words, such as Election, Predestination, and Foreordination. And both of these men said to him, in effect, that they found that they could accept his definitions. One or the other said, to be sure, that he might guard this point or that a little in his own statement of the doctrine; he might phrase this or that point a little differently; but that, on the whole, he found the definitions in the Scofield Reference Bible sound and satisfactory. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 80). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
Of course we must, as Dr. Scofield points out, be willing to leave out the lacunæ, the intentional gaps in the Bible, the things left unsaid by God, and not attempt to form opinions or draw inferences as to those silences. “Don’t infer doctrines in your Bible study,” is one of the cardinal principles upon which Dr. Scofield has long worked and which he urges upon other Bible students. What does God say?—that is what you must find out. When God does not say anything on a certain subject, then leave it alone. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (pp. 82–83). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
“This is Dr. Scofield’s richest gift. He knows how to read the Word of God, and give the sense, and cause the people to understand the reading. He never writes or speaks in a haze. As was said of another, ‘No trace of indeterminateness can be found in any of his discussions on any subject.’ His insight pierces the intricacies. (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 85). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
Deuteronomy 6
Moses exhorts the Israelites to obey the greatest commandment.
INSIGHT
There are three keys to sharing your faith with someone else. First, it must be real in your life. Moses said the words must be in your “heart,” not just your “head.” Second, we must impart truth and information. That is, we must teach diligently. Finally, this truth must penetrate every corner of our lives. We must talk of it when we lie down and when we rise up.
We rarely fool anyone, and if one of these keys is missing in our lives, we will not make an impact on others. We must know the truth, it must be real to us, and it must permeate our daily lives. (Quiet Walk)
The Title “Christian”
“Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (1 Peter 4:16)
The word “Christian” occurs only three times in Scripture and seems to have changed in its meaning from first to last. In the first instance, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch” (Acts 11:26). The name merely identified them as followers of Christ with no reproach intended.
The second usage was some years later, by which time the term was evidently well known, even among unbelievers. After Paul had witnessed to him, “Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). A more literal translation that renders the sentence “Do you try in such a short time to make a Christian of me?” indicates an air of superiority or incredulity in Agrippa’s voice. It would take more than a short testimony to make a Christian of him.
As the years went by, the church began to be plagued by persecution. Our text indicates that even the name “Christian” was by then regarded with contempt and reproach. But Peter tells us that there is no shame involved in the name “Christian” or in following Christ. Peter, no doubt, recalled the shame he felt for denying the name of Christ, but he also recalled with thankfulness how that even though the Jewish council had “beaten them” and “commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:40), he and the other apostles departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (v. 41).
Furthermore, we can “glorify God on this behalf” or “in this name.” This implies more than just praising the name. We can glorify God in what we do—in how we live in that name. We can certainly also bring dishonor to the title “Christian” by our actions. A solemn responsibility is then ours to bring honor and glory to God through our lives.
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Geoff is a youth pastor today in the same city where he once abused heroin. God transformed both his heart and his circumstances in a breathtaking way. “I want to keep kids from making the same mistakes and suffering the pain I went through,” Geoff said. “And Jesus will help them.” Over time, God set him free from the slavery of addiction and has given him a vital ministry in spite of his past.
God has ways of bringing unexpected good out of situations where hope seems lost. Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt and falsely accused and sent to prison, where he was forgotten for years. But God restored him and placed him in a position of authority directly under Pharaoh, where he was able to save many lives—including the lives of his brothers who’d abandoned him. There in Egypt Joseph married and had children. He named the second Ephraim (drawn from the Hebrew term for “twice fruitful”), and gave this reason: “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering” (Genesis 41:52).
Geoff’s and Joseph’s stories, while separated by three to four thousand years, point to the same unchanging truth: even the hardest places in our lives can become fertile ground for God to help and bless many. Our Savior’s love and power never change, and He’s always faithful to those who trust in Him. (By James Banks. Our Daily Bread)
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
This is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Luke 22:53
What does our Lord mean exactly when He says in the Garden of Gethsemane, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness”? It seems to me that the only possible explanation must be that this hour would never have come to pass were it not for the power of darkness. What makes this hour and all that it involves necessary and essential? It is again the problem of sin and of evil, the problem of Satan and of hell. It is the kind of hour that the devil has staged and brought into being, for in one sense he has manipulated it, though in a much higher sense he has not. I think this is the way to look at it—it is the work of the devil that makes the hour essential from God’s standpoint; it is because of what Satan has produced by sin and evil that God has to do this in order to overcome it.
So it is, in a sense, the hour of evil men, and it is there that we really see the essence of evil and of sin. The devil has produced such a situation that this hour alone can deal with it.
So this hour can be described as “your hour” and the hour of the glorification of the Son at the same time, and that is why He prays that His Father may glorify Him. It is in going through this hour, which has been produced by Satan and hell, that our Lord really is glorified. It is there we know for certain that He is the Son of God. No one had ever before had to meet Satan and conquer him; no one had been able to destroy the power that Satan had over death. The author to the Epistle to the Hebrews puts it like this: “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death”(2:14). And thus He sets the children free, and Christ has done this through His glorification. Christ’s death and resurrection are proof that He is the Son of God.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ’s death and resurrection are proof that He is the Son of God. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 114-115, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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