I Timothy 3
Description of the office of bishopverses 1-7
This is a true saying
IF a man desire the office of a bishop – he desires a good work
A bishop them must be blameless – the husband of one wife – vigilant
sober – of good behavior – given to hospitality – apt to teach
not given to wine – no striker – not greedy of filthy lucre
but patient – not a brawler – not covetous
one that rules well his own house
having his children in subjection with all gravity
(FOR if a man know not how to rule his own house
how shall he take care of the church of God?)
not a novice – lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil
MOVEOVER he must have a good report of them which are without
lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil
Description of the office of deacon and his wifeverses 8-13
Likewise must the deacons be grave – not double-tongued
not given to much wine – not greedy of filthy lucre
holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience
AND let these also first be proved
then let them use the office of a deacon – being found blameless
EVEN so must their wives be grave – not slanderers – sober
faithful in all things
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife
ruling their children and their own houses well
FOR they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase
to themselves a good degree
and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus
Conduct in local church importantverses 14-15
These things write I unto you – hoping to come unto thee shortly
but if I tarry long – that thou may know how thou ought
to behave yourself in the house of God
which is the church of the living God
the pillar and ground of the truth
Hymn of the faithverse 16
AND without controversy great is the mystery of godliness
God was manifest in the flesh – justified in the Spirit
seen of angels – preached unto the Gentiles
believed on in the world – received up into glory
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. (1984 “offices of a bishop” [episcope] means visitation, bishoprick, investigation, oversight, office of an elder, presiding officer of Christian church, church leader, position of responsibility, place of service, supervision or watching over)
DEVOTION: Paul is concerned with the type of leadership a church should have to move forward for the LORD. Here he describes all that is necessary for a man to serve the LORD as a leader in a local church.
The list is long but necessary as he was picking new individuals to lead the church out of pagan or false religions into the only true followers of Jesus Christ. Each church he started was filled with new believers. Some matured faster than others but they were all still new believers. It was hard to find just the right leaders.
Sometimes there were people put in leadership who were wrong for the position and had to be removed. It was not easier then as it is not easy now. Once in a position of leadership there had to be a church meeting to remove them from office and some didn’t want to go.
Today it is the same. Sometimes we put people in leadership who have not had the training or the maturity to fulfill the responsibility. In fact, we have many in leadership in churches that don’t hold to the Word of God telling those who are trying to hold to the Word of God that they are wrong and need to stop teaching the truth of the Word of God.
The battle is real. Leadership according to Paul is a good work. God will honor those who honor HIM. We need to be sure that the leader we are following really loves the LORD and not just the position. If they love the LORD they will only teach what is written in the Word of God correctly. No additions or subtractions allowed.
Throughout the history of the church we have had Biblical leaders and false leaders in churches. Today is not different.
CHALLENGE: Check out where the leader and church is headed before committing to it and it’s ministry.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 One that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity. (4587 “gravity” [semnotes] means entitles to reverence or respect, dignity, sanctity, purity, the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect, propriety, befitting behavior, or proper conduct)
DEVOTION: Pastor’s children are important to the ministry. There is a long list of requirements for those who enter the pastorate in any church. Paul included the family of the pastor because if he is going to lead he had to lead by example.
Is it easier for a pastor to raise his children than for the rest of the congregation? NO!! Many times there are people in the church who want to help the pastor raise his children. They seem to think that they can do a better job than the pastor. This might be because some of them want to be pastors but they don’t have all the qualifications or education necessary and so they are want- to- be’s. These individuals think that if they give the pastor a hard time about his family they might have an opportunity to lead themselves in the absence of a pastor in their church.
Pastors have to realize these people exist in every church. Once they accept this fact then they need to work with their family to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD. It takes both the pastor and his wife to have a home that is pleasing in God’s sight. Once a home is pleasing in God’s sight the mature believers in the church will see this characteristic and follow his example.
Today we have more pastors called from out of town rather than in the local community. So the example of the pastor’s family can only be learned after the fact of his call. There can be testimony from the previous location or from neighbors of the man that is called.
It is important to pray for your pastor as he raises his family to please the LORD. Many times people have come alongside the pastor to help with some of the needs of the children of the pastor which is an encouragement to both the pastor and their children.
CHALLENGE: If the children are treated well by the church members they will find it easier to live within the fishbowl called the parsonage.
: 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. (4586 “grave” [semnos] means honest, dignified, worthy of respect, honorable, or held in honor)
DEVOTION: The deacon’s wife is supposed to fulfill some requirements before a man can be called to be a deacon in a local church. Why would the LORD want Paul to require something of the wives of the deacons?
The reason is that the deacons are to be those who serve with the pastor. They are privy to all the decision made by the pastor. They are the ones who are to help the pastor in the leadership of the church. They are the ones who know the movements of the pastor. They know what is going on with the families of the church in a more intimate way than the regular church congregation.
Once they are alongside the pastor or pastors they can council other church members. They can give money to some of the church members who need extra funds.
If the deacon shares any of this information with their wife then she has inside knowledge into what is happening in the church. If she was someone who was given to talking too much then secrets could be passed on to other members of the church and then individuals personal matters could be spread throughout the church which is the sin of gossip.
The deacon’s wives as well as the pastor’s wife need to set the example of what should be done in church. How individuals should dress in church. How individuals should pray in church. How individuals should care for one another.
CHALLENGE: Leadership is a big responsibility. There are requirements for a reason.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:15 But if I tarry long, that you may know how thou ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1477 “ground” [hedraioma] means a stay, prop, support. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Hopefully no one reading these devotions needs to be reminded of the importance of God’s church. Paul’s purpose for writing this letter to Timothy was to encourage this young pastor in his ministry in the church. So, Paul emphasizes the importance of the church and how Timothy should act as pastor. Of course, we know that there is both the church universal and the church local, but Paul’s comments in this letter are directed at the church local.
God’s plan for reaching the world starts with those of us who are His people and who have been saved by His grace. However, it does not stop there. We are to exist in community with each other, and the church is not supposed to simply be a place where we gather only one time a week (or even worse, twice a year!). It is to be the place where we show love and encouragement to one another and to those who come seeking an answer.
So, church is not supposed to be simply a spectator sport, where we watch the staff (pastor) do all the work. The function of the pastor is to build up the saints so that they may do the work of service of the church (Ephesians 4:12). Those in the church are charged with meeting those who are new, reaching out to the lost through visitation, and encouraging one another in discipleship. These are all the marks of a healthy church. We are supposed to be the household of God.
CHALLENGE: If you are waiting to serve in the church, wait no longer. You need to be on the forefront of what is going on in your local church. Ask your pastor or elder how you can become an active part of your church. (MW)
: 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (3672 “without controversy” [homologoumenos] means by consent of all, confessedly, it must be admitted, beyond all question or most certainly.
DEVOTION: Paul deals with the ordaining of elders and deacons in the church. He is giving instructions to Timothy so that he knows who is appropriate to be in offices of elder and deacon. The deacon’s wife is even mentioned. Both men were to have their children under control.
One of the things that all Christians should remember is that these characteristics should be the goal of all those who are followers of Christ. Some fit better than others but all should be ask the LORD to help them be willing to fill these offices.
Paul desires to come to this church but gives instructions, so that, Timothy can continue without him. He calls the church the pillar and ground of the TRUTH.
Our churches should have this testimony. Many churches are not even opening their Bibles each Sunday. Many Christians don’t carry their individual Bibles to church. This is the sad state of affairs in our Christian culture today. It should never be.
Paul ends this part of the letter with a hymn. It has more than one stanza. Some say there are three stanzas of two verses each. Others think there are two stanzas. It does not matter but what matters is the truth that this hymn teaches.
It seems to be a confession of faith. Here is a six-fold hymn in this verse regarding Jesus Christ. First, HE was manifest in the flesh. Second, HE was justified in the Spirit. Third, HE was seen of angels. Fourth, HE was preached unto the Gentiles. Fifth, HE is believed on in the world. Sixth and finally, HE was received up into glory.
This gives an outline of Christ from birth to ascension. Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary. HE lived a life of about thirty-three years and died on the cross for our sins. HE was our substitute. We are saved by HIS blood. HE was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven after a time with HIS disciples.
The faith that we hold is not easy to understand. It is great and a mystery for all to examine. When we examine our faith, it involves so much of what God has done for us. Our reaction should be reverence and awe and thankfulness.
What do we think of our faith? Are we willing to confess it to the world around us? If we don’t share this message, who will????
CHALLENGE: Know what you believe and spread it. Learn more as you mature in the faith. Don’t use your lack of knowledge as an excuse for not witnessing to others.
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)
Writeverse 14
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)
House of Godverse 15
Church of living Godverse 15
Pillar and ground of the Truthverse 15
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Writeverse 14
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 5, 15
Church of Godverse 5
House of Godverse 15
Church of the living Godverse 15
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
Christ verse 13
Jesus verse 13
Christ Jesusverse 13
God manifest in the fleshverse 16
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverse 16
Justified in the Spiritverse 16
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God manifested in the fleshverse 16
Justified in the Spiritverse 16
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Devilverses 6, 7
Condemnation of devilverse 6
Snare of the devilverse 7
Angelsverse 16
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Without (unsaved)verse 7
Preached to the Gentilesverse 16
Believed on in the worldverse 16
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Given to wineverses 3, 8, 11
Strikerverse 3
Greedy of filthy lucre (money)verses 3, 8
Brawlerverse 3
Covetousverse 3
Prideverse 6
Double-tonguedverse 8
Slanderersverse 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Good workverse 1
Blamelessverses 2, 10
Vigilantverse 2
Soberverses 2, 11
Good behaviorverse 2
Given to hospitalityverse 2
Patientverse 3
Graveverses 8, 11
Pure conscienceverse 9
Faithful in all thingsverse 11
Boldnessverse 13
Faithverse 13
Mystery of godlinessverse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Office of a bishopverses 1-7
Good work
Blameless
Husband of one wife
Vigilant
Sober
Good behavior
Given to hospitality
Apt to teach
Not given to wine
No striker
Not greedy for money
Patient
Not a brawler
Not covetous
Rules his house well
Children in subjection
Not a novice
Good report among unsaved
Church of Godverse 5
Deaconverses 8-13
Grave
Not doubletongued
Not given to much wine
Not greedy for money
Holding mystery of the faith
Pure conscience
Proved
Blameless
Wives
must be grave
not slanderers
sober
faithful in all things
Husband of one wife
Ruling children
Ruling household well
Boldness
Church of the living Godverse 15
Pillar and ground of the Truthverse 15
Preached to the Gentilesverse 16
Believed on in the worldverse 16
Last Things (Future Events)
Received up to gloryverse 16
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
9 KJV gives a literal rendering of this verse: “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.” The word mystērion was used in that day for a secret that was unknown to the masses but disclosed to the initiated. In the NT it signifies the secret of salvation through Jesus Christ, which is revealed by the Holy Spirit to all who will believe. Today the word mystery implies knowledge withheld; in the Bible it indicates truth revealed. That is the reason for the change in translation.
Probably “the faith” is to be taken in an objective sense, referring to the truths of the Christian religion, rather than as subjective, having to do with one’s personal faith in Christ.
This Epistle has a strong emphasis on a pure conscience as well as a pure faith. We have already had the expression “a good conscience” twice (1:5, 19). Vine writes, “A pure conscience is that which has been cleansed by the blood of Christ, Heb 10:22, and is exercised to avoid offence towards God and men, Acts 24:16” (p. 56). (Earle, R. (1981). 1 Timothy. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 367). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
9. The mystery of the faith (τὸ μυστήριον τῆς πίστεως). The phrase N. T.o. In the Gospels only, mystery or mysteries of the kingdom of God or of heaven. In Paul, mystery or mysteries of God, of his will, of Christ, of the gospel, of iniquity, the mystery kept secret or hidden away. Several times without qualification, the mystery or mysteries. See on 2 Th. 2:7. The mystery of the faith is the subject-matter of the faith; the truth which is its basis, which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation. Comp. Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26; 1 Cor. 2:7. For the faith see on Gal. 1:23, and comp. Introduction to these Epistles, VI.
In a pure conscience (ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει). Comp. 2 Tim. 1:3, 5, 12. Const. with holding. The emphasis of the passage is on these words. They express conscientious purity and sincerity in contrast with those who are described as branded in their own conscience, and thus causing their followers to fall away from the faith (ch. 4:1, 2). The passage illustrates the peculiar treatment of “faith” in these Epistles, in emphasising its ethical aspect and its ethical environment. This is not contrary to Paul’s teaching, nor does it go to the extent of substituting morals for faith as the condition of salvation and eternal life. See 2 Tim. 1:9; 2:1; Tit. 3:5. None the less, there is a strong and habitual emphasis on good works (see 1 Tim. 2:10; 5:10; 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:21; 3:17; Tit. 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14), and faith is placed in a series of practical duties (see 1 Tim. 1:5, 14; 2:15; 4:12; 2 Tim. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:19; 2:7; 3:9; 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22; 3:10). “Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” is a significant association of faith with ethics. As Weiss puts it: “It is as if the pure conscience were the vessel in which the mystery of the faith is preserved.” The idea is sound and valuable. A merely intellectual attitude toward the mystery which, in every age, attaches to the faith, will result in doubt, questioning, and wordy strife (see 1 Tim. 6:4; 2 Tim. 2:23; Tit. 3:9), sometimes in moral laxity, sometimes in despair. Loyalty and duty to God are compatible with more or less ignorance concerning the mystery. An intellect, however powerful and active, joined with an impure conscience, cannot solve but only aggravates the mystery; whereas a pure and loyal conscience, and a frank acceptance of imposed duty along with mystery, puts one in the best attitude for attaining whatever solution is possible. See J. 7:17. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, pp. 234–235). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
3:9. Most important of all, deacons must be men of spiritual depth (cf. Acts 6:3). Specifically they should be men who understand and hold fast the deep truths of the faith. By the phrase with a clear conscience Paul (cf. “good conscience” in 1 Tim. 1:5) meant that there must be nothing in the conduct of these men that was glaringly inconsistent with their professed beliefs. In other words they must not profess one thing but practice another. (Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 738). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Doctrinally sound (v. 9). The word mystery means “truth once hidden but now revealed by God.” The great doctrines of the faith are hidden to those outside the faith, but they can be understood by those who trust the Lord. Deacons must understand Christian doctrine and obey it with a good conscience. It is not enough to sit in meetings and decide how to “run the church.” They must base their decisions on the Word of God, and they must back up their decisions with godly lives.
I have noticed that some church officers know their church constitutions better than they know the Word of God. While it is good to have bylaws and regulations that help maintain order, it is important to manage the affairs of a church on the basis of the Word of God. The Scriptures were the “constitution” of the early church! A deacon who does not know the Bible is an obstacle to progress in a local assembly.
A pastor friend of mine, now home with the Lord, took a church that was a split from another church and constantly at war with itself. From what he told me, their business meetings were something to behold! The church constitution was revered almost as much as the Bible. The people called it “the green book.” My friend began to teach the people the Word of God, and the Spirit began to make changes in lives. But the enemy went to work and stirred up some officers to defy their pastor in a meeting.
“You aren’t following the green book!” they said.
My friend lifted his Bible high and asked, “Are we going to obey the Word of God, or a green book written by men?” This was a turning point in the church, and then God blessed with wonderful growth and power.
A deacon who does not know the Word of God cannot manage the affairs of the church of God. A deacon who does not live the Word of God, but has a “defiled conscience,” cannot manage the church of God. Simply because a church member is popular, successful in business, or generous in his giving does not mean he is qualified to serve as a deacon. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 221–222). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 9. Holding the mystery of the faith, &c.] The doctrine of the Gospel, called the faith, because it contains things to be believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable without it: it is called the mystery, because it is of divine revelation, and could have never been discovered by human reason; and now it is revealed, the modus of many things contained in it remains a mystery; several of the doctrines of it are mysterious ones, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity; and which the ancient Jews call by this very name, דזא דמהימנותא, the mystery of faith; the incarnation of the son of God, the union of the saints to Christ, and their communion with him, and the resurrection of the dead, with others. Now this mysterious doctrine of faith is to be held by deacons; they are to profess it, and to bold fast the profession of it and that in a pure conscience; with a conscience sprinkled by the blood of Christ; with a conscience void of offence both towards God and man; with a suitable life and conversation; a conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ, and by which it is adorned: and this part of their character is necessary, that such may be able to instruct and establish those who are weak in the faith, and oppose and refute the erroneous, and also recommend the Gospel by their own example; otherwise should their principles or practices be bad, their influence on others might be very pernicious and fatal. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 290). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
(a) Possessing the Truth (3:9)
i. His Convictions (3:9a)
A deacon must be a man of the Word. Paul wrote that he must be able to hold “the mystery of the faith.” The word translated “mystery” here refers to a sacred secret. In the New Testament it refers to the great plans and purposes of God that were not revealed in the Old Testament but are the subject of the New Testament revelation (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:5, 9; Col. 1:26). Various mysteries surface in the New Testament: the hidden mysteries of the kingdom (Matt. 13:10–11), the mystery of Israel’s blindness during this present age of grace (Rom. 11:25), the mystery of the rapture of the church (1 Cor. 15:51), the mystery of the church itself (Eph. 3:9–11), the mystery of iniquity (2 Thess. 2:7), the mystery of godliness (1 Tim. 3:16), and the mystery of Babylon (Rev. 17:5).
ii. His Conscience (3:9b)
It is incumbent on deacons to have at least a basic working knowledge of these truths and hold them with absolute integrity—”in a pure conscience.” The word translated “pure” here means “cleansed, free from any mixture with impurity, unblemished.” Paul called for purity of conscience in deacons because a conscience can be warped, deadened, and seared.
The only thing that Adam and Eve brought out of the Garden of Eden was a conscience; they left the garden with an awareness of guilt before God and with the burdensome knowledge of right and wrong. Conscience in and of itself might be a good goad, but it is not always a good guide; therefore, it has to be monitored by the Word of God and motivated by the Spirit of God. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Pastoral Epistles: An Expository Commentary (1 Ti 3:9). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant)
Comment from the past: Cary writes (AR): As always, I enjoy getting the devotions. I especially like how you have given each level of believer something to “chew” on. The font color scheme makes it easy to choose the section you wish to read. Your commentary helps bring perspective to the passages discussed. I am going to the Dominican Republic again this summer on a mission trip at the end of July. Please pray for provisions for the trip for all who are going, safe travels & life changing experiences for those we minister to as well as the team members. Thank you for all you do!
When conservative Christians respond to sexual matters with ambivalence or embarrassment, we slander the goodness of God and hid His glory, which is intended to be revealed in the right use of creation’s gifts. (p. 36)But the first task of love is to tell the truth, and the sign of true hatred is the telling of a lie. (p. 83)Christians must continue to talk about right and wrong even when the larger world dismisses morality as an outdated concept. (p. 102, Desire and Deceit by R. Albert Mohler Jr.)
YOUR SPIRITUAL FRUIT
poem by Anne R. C. Neale
A single act of kindness can have a rippling effect,
The person who receives the kind deed feels wonderful knowing that someone one cares,
The person expressing kindness feels an inner glow of the joy of their giving,
It is a two way street, giving and receiving, uplifting both people anytime and any where.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, and Faithfulness too,
Are the Fruits of the Spirit listed in the Bible in Galatians 5 verse 22
Giving and Spreading your Fruits of the Spirit you know,
Will have a wonderful effect to everyone,
When you give them to others from you.
SANCTIFICATION—A CONTINUOUS PROCESS
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
We must not think of sanctification as something that happens suddenly. People seem to think (and here they are logical, though they are wrong) that if it is a gift and to be received, then obviously it must be something that happens suddenly; when you receive a gift, it happens suddenly. But surely this is incompatible with the New Testament teaching on this matter. It is, rather, characteristic of the cults, of a man-made idea of sanctification.
We always like to do things suddenly and to have anything we want at once. So you find that those false teachings always offer a kind of short cut, and that is their appeal to the carnal mind, because we are always so impatient, always in such a desperate hurry. But this very verse that we are now considering makes it quite impossible for sanctification to be something that happens suddenly.“Sanctify them,” says our Lord, “through thy truth.”
Our Lord has already said the same thing in John 8:31-32. He said to certain men who appeared to believe, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It is always the truth, therefore, that does it, and that is something that is progressive. We do not grasp the whole of the truth at once; we go through stages, from babies to full, matured age, from being a child to being an old man, as it were, in terms of faith. We see the same thing again in Philippians 2:12: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”—it is something you keep doing. “Not as in my presence only,” says Paul, “but now much more in my absence.” The exhortation in all these writings is to be steadfast, to progress, and to go on with the work.
A Thought to Ponder: John 17:17 makes it quite impossible for sanctification to be something that happens suddenly.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 61-62, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Holy Goodness
“[Barnabus] was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.” (Acts 11:24)
The Holy Spirit indwells all believers (1 Corinthians 1:22; 6:19, etc.) and the fruit of the Spirit includes “goodness” (Galatians 5:22) among eight other godly traits. One should therefore expect those empowered by the Spirit (Romans 15:19) to demonstrate holy goodness.
How does holy goodness manifest itself in people?
• Good people delight in God’s holiness (Psalm 37:23).
• Good people expect God’s blessing (Proverbs 12:2).
• Good people secure their children (Proverbs 13:22).
• Good people are satisfied with life (Proverbs 14:14).
• Good people love wisdom (Matthew 12:35).
• Good people are just people (Luke 23:50).
• Good people are full of faith (Acts 11:24).
Our Lord Jesus made it clear that the “fruits” borne by our lives provide the identification of our spiritual status (Matthew 7:20) for all to see.
The parables of the “talents” and the “pounds” (Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27) teach two different applications of the same principle.
In the one case, the same amount was given to everyone and reward was based on how well each did with their resources.
In the other case, different resources were granted to each, and the reward was distributed in proportion to the faithful use of what was initially given.
In both cases, the “unfaithful” and “lazy” servant was castigated and his initial wealth confiscated. No man “having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Good people are productive people.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
In contrast to the lackadaisical and haphazard approach that the modern church has taken to theology and doctrine, the early church viewed doctrine as the very expression of the soul of one’s belief in God. Theology may be defined as “a right understanding of who God is and what HE does and how we are to respond to HIM.
(p. 49, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.