Titus 1
Opening of a letter by Paul to Titusverses 1-4
Paul – a servant of God – and an apostle of Jesus Christ
according to the faith of God’s elect
and the acknowledging of the truth
which is after godliness
In hope of eternal life – which God – that cannot lie
promised before the world began
But has in due times manifested HIS word through preaching
which is committed unto me according to the
commandment of God our Savior
To Titus – mine own son after the common faith
Grace – mercy – peace from God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior
Qualification for elders in local churchverses 5-9
For this cause life I you in Crete
that you should set in order the things that are wanting
and ordain elders in every city
as I had appointed you
If any be blameless – the husband of one wife
having faithful children
not accused of riot or unruly
FOR a bishop must be blameless – as the steward of God
not self-willed – not soon angry – not given to wine
no striker – not given to filthy lucre
but a lover of hospitality – a lover of good men – sober – just
holy – temperate
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught
that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort
and to convince the gainsayers
Elders need to deal with false teachersverses 10-16
FOR there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers
specially they of the circumcision
whose mouth must be stopped
who subvert whole houses
teaching things which they ought not
FOR filthy lucre’s sake
One of themselves – even a prophet of their own said
The Cretians are always liars – evil beasts – slow bellies
this witness is true
WHEREFORE rebuke them sharply
that they may be sound in the faith
not giving heed to Jewish fables
and commandments of men
that turn from the truth
Unto the pure all things are pure
but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure
but even their mind and conscience is defiled
They profess that they know God – BUT in works they deny HIM
being abominable – disobedient
and unto every good work reprobate
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. (1861 “promised” [epaggello] means to announce that someone is about to do or furnish something, assert, lay claim to, profess, declare, report, to offer, or to vow)
DEVOTION: This might surprise some of you but there are many people who say they will do something for you and they never do. They will give their word and then not keep it. I know you are really surprised at this fact.
Sometimes even leaders in the church will make a statement that they will do something but they never do. God doesn’t want this to happen but it does sometimes. Believers should not give their word if they know they will never keep it.
Paul is making a statement that comes from God. He is saying that God has announced that HE will do something for someone who is a believer. He goes on to say that God will never or cannot lie. It is against HIS holy nature to lie. HE will never mislead anyone. HE will never leave a believer alone. HE will provide something for everyone who repents of their sins.
HE made a promise before the world was created. HE knew that Adam and Eve would sin. HE didn’t cause them to sin but gave them a choice regarding eating of a tree and they failed. They listened to Satan misquote God.
So before the world was created by God in six twenty-four hour periods HE provided a way to escape eternity in the lake of fire. HE gave hope to all those who confessed their allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Those who accepted HIS gift of eternal life are called the elect of God. They were elected before the foundation of the world. Their names are written in the book of life. They will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards for what they have done with their life here on this earth.
CHALLENGE: Understand that you serve a God who has made a statement before the foundation of the world that HE was going to provide for all those who make a commitment to Jesus Christ through their personal repentance of sin and trust in HIS sacrifice on the cross alone for their salvation.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. (410 “blameless” [anegkletos] means unreproveable, that cannot be called into account, without accusation, irreproachable, or innocent)
DEVOTION: Children are important in the life of a leader in a church. Those who want to be leaders have to first be able to lead their family in the things of the LORD. Some leaders leave their family responsibility to go to church to be a leader there where there is more praise. It is hard to raise a family to love the LORD if the father is not there to lead the way.
So anyone who becomes a believer and is a male has to try to live up to these requirements even if they never desire to be an elder in a church. Why do I say this? It is because it is a standard that all families should try to meet for their witness to be accepted in public.
Too often there are men who think that because they are not up front in church they don’t have to have such a hard standard for themselves or their family. They are wrong. God wants all families to look like the families of the leaders.
Some men will not have the gift of pastor/teacher but he will be given the ability to lead his family in daily devotions. He will be able to teach his children to pray over every meal. He will be able to open his house to visitors. He will be able to help those in the church who are looking for good male role models to follow.
Our society has very few men who can be held up as good role models.
CHALLENGE: The church should have an overabundance of these types of models. Children need someone to look up to as a representative of Christ in a human body.
: 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate. (5382 “hospitality” [philoxenos] means fond of guests, generous to guests, hospitable, loving strangers or pertaining to show care for strangers)
DEVOTION: Paul is writing to Titus on the island of Crete. He wants him to ordain elders. He gives a list of characteristics that were to be found in them. The list is positive, as well as, negative.
One of the characteristics is to love strangers. It seems that there were many Christians traveling around that part of the world. The mission trips of Paul brought new people into the island of Crete. Titus was to teach all of the Christians to be lovers of strangers.
The ordained men are supposed to be ones who love to have company in their homes. They are supposed to entertain strangers. The book of Hebrews talks of entertained angels unaware.
How many of us have a love of strangers today. Our children are warned not to talk with strangers. If we find someone different in our neighborhood we might call the police. Our world is afraid of strangers. If a stranger visits our church this Sunday, what are we willing to do for that stranger? How do we change a stranger into a friend? One of the characteristics of leadership is to love strangers.
In each church every member should be taught to welcome strangers into the congregation and try to get to know them. Too often those who attend church regularly don’t know each other. Some churches are small enough that everyone knows each other but even there some people can be overlooked.
We have to start with those who we see each Sunday. Our homes are supposed to be open to our fellow believers. Yes, some will take advantage of the situation but we still have to be lovers of strangers. We have a responsibility to be ones who love to have others around us. We need to show the world that we are different from those who don’t know Christ. We can invite people who can never invite us to their place. Are we a people who are fond of guests or are we afraid like the rest of the world?
One couple in my last church invited visitors to come out to dinner with them after the morning worship service. This caused many to return to the church for another visit. Some even stayed the whole time they were in the area. This couple was not even a member of our church.
CHALLENGE: Invite someone into your home from church that has never been there. Have an open door policy for those who need encouragement in the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. (396 “subvert” [anatrepo] means overthrow, to ruin, to upset belief, cause to fall, or to turn upside down.)
DEVOTION: When there is a description of a faithful elder it includes that he should not be one who is doing it just for the money. I met some men in seminary who stated that they would not take a church unless they had so much money. It was wrong thinking because they had to come to the realization that their paychecks came from God not the church. God was the one who promised to provide for their every need.
In this verse we find that false prophet were training people in Crete just for the money. They wanted to get dishonest gain at the expense of the people they were teaching false doctrine to. They were in it for the money not to bring glory to God.
Paul said that the mouths of these individuals should be stopped. The only way people could stop their mouths was to learn the truth and confront them with it. If they didn’t whole families would turn away from the LORD. They would believe that there was another way to get to heaven besides a personal repentance of their sins.
Too often there are people who think they can obey the Ten Commandments and that would get them into heaven. That again is wrong thinking. The purpose of the Ten Commandments was to teach that no man can be pure in God’s eyes and therefore need a savior which is Jesus Christ alone. Church can’t save anyone. Money can’t save anyone. Baptism can’t save anyone. It is only through a person trust in Jesus Christ that an individual can be saved.
Also they don’t have to say “I hope I am going to heaven” because the Bible says that all those who genuine TRUST in CHRIST ALONE will go to heaven. Their life will show if they mean business with God.
CHALLENGE: Learn the truth of the Word of God and practice it. It is a fulltime occupation being a Christian.
:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. (2513 “pure” [katharos] means 1 clean, pure. 1a physically. 1a1 purified by fire. 1a2 in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit. 1b in a levitical sense. 1b1 clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness. 1c ethically. 1c1 free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt. 1c2 free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine. 1c3 blameless, innocent. 1c4 unstained with the guilt of anything. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.])
DEVOTION: What does your mind wander to in those silent moments of the day? For many of us, it is the fears of what tomorrow holds. For some, it is the desires of this life which we think will make us happier. For a few of us, it is thanksgiving to the LORD for what He has accomplished for us during the day. Our chief problem seems to be that we are not thinking about the things of the LORD often enough.
Here was a problem for the Cretans that Titus was ministering to. They had been influenced by their sordid culture, much as we have been. That means that they had twisted normal male-female relationships as well as normal family relationships. They would sit around all day and gossip about what was going on and see who could get away with doing the least work. They were like those David wrote about in Psalm 18:26.
Jesus had promised that the pure in heart would be blessed. This means those who thought in terms of His kingdom and His righteousness, and desired these things above all else. The idea of purity is mixed with that of cleanliness, so God wants to get into our thoughts and clean them up for us (Philippians 4:8). Hiding God’s Word in our heart is the process by which we clean house in our minds (Psalm 119:9). So God does not want us to reflect on the things that the world reflects on, but rather commit ourselves to Him.
For some of us, this idea of cleanliness and purity will involve taking a spiritual bath to get spiritually pure (1 John 3:3). We are like those whose minds have become so defiled it is impossible for us to think pure thoughts any more about people or things. But God promises that He is in the business of rewriting our thoughts if only we will let Him. Wanting to be pure is the first step.
CHALLENGE: Where in your thought life do you wrestle with purity? The best way to have a pure heart is to repent and turn towards God and away from sin. Ask God to help you do this (Psalm 51:10). Then, hide God’s Word in your heart starting every day with Him. (MW)
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)
Commandmentverse 3
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1-4, 7, 16
Servant of Godverse 1
God’s electverse 1
Cannot lieverse 2
Creatorverse 2
God our Saviorverse 3
Fatherverse 4
God the Fatherverse 4
Steward of Godverse 7
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verses 1, 4
Christ verses 1, 4
Lordverse 4
Saviorverse 4
God our Saviorverse 4
Lord Jesus Christ our Saviorverse 4
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)
Before world beganverse 2
Creteverses 5, 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lieverses 2, 12
Self- willedverse 7
Soon angryverse 7
Given to wineverse 7
Strikerverse 7
Given to filthy lucreverses 7, 11
Gainsayersverse 9
Unruly and vain talkersverse 10
Deceiversverse 10
Subvertverse 11
Teaching things which they ought notverse 11
Teaching for filthy lucre’s sakeverse 11
Evil beastsverse 12
Slow belliesverse 12
Jewish fablesverse 14
Commandments of menverse 14
Turn from the truthverse 14
Defiledverse 15
Unbelievingverse 15
Defiled mind and conscienceverse 15
Works deny Godverse 16
Abominableverse 16
Disobedientverse 16
Reprobateverse 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Servantverse 1
Faithverses 1, 4, 13
Electverse 1
Truthverse 1
Godlinessverse 1
Hopeverse 2
Promiseverse 2
Common faithverse 4
Graceverse 4
Mercyverse 4
Peaceverse 4
Ordainverse 5
Blamelessverses 6, 7
Stewardverse 7
Lover of hospitalityverse 8
Lover of good menverse 8
Soberverse 8
Justverse 8
Holyverse 8
Temperateverse 8
Sound doctrineverse 9
Rebuke false teachers sharplyverse 13
Pureverse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
They of the circumcision verse 10
Whose mouths must be stopped
Who subvert whole houses
Teaching things which they ought not
For filthy lucre’s sake
Jewish fablesverse 14
Commandments of menverse 14
Commandments that turn from truthverse 14
Church (New Testament people of God)
Paulverse 1
Servant of God
Apostle of Jesus Christ
One of God’s elect
Apostleverse 1
Faith of God’s electverse 1
Acknowledging of the truthverse 1
Preaching: manifested HIS Wordverse 3
Titus to set in orderverse 5
Ordain elders (bishop)verses 5-11
Blameless
Husband of one wife
Faithful children
Not accused of riot or unruly
Steward of God
Not self willed
Not soon angry
Not given to wine
No striker
Not given to filthy lucre (money)
Lover of hospitality
Lover of good men
Sober
Just
Holy
Temperate
Holding fast the faithful word
Sound doctrine
Able to exhort
Convince the gainsayers
Rebuke false prophetsverse 13
Last Things (Future Events)
Eternal lifeverse 2
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QUOTES regarding passage
9 Doctrinal fitness is also necessary. The overseer must be known to “hold firmly to the trustworthy message,” clinging to it despite the winds of false teaching and open opposition. “Trustworthy” underlines that the Christian gospel is perfectly reliable and completely worthy of his confidence. He must adhere to the Word “as it has been taught” and be in accord with the teaching given by the apostles. Unfaithfulness to the biblical revelation disqualifies a man for leadership in God’s church. Doctrinal fidelity will give him a standing ability to perform a twofold task: First, he is to “encourage others by sound doctrine,” appealing to them to adhere to and advance in their Christian faith. This can be done by proclaiming “sound doctrine,” teaching that is not only correct but healthful, promoting spiritual health, in contrast to the unhealthy false teaching. Secondly, his work also demands that he “refute those who oppose” the true gospel and speak against it as the advocates of error. He must “refute” them be exposing their error and trying to convince them that they are wrong. Christian truth needs not only defense against attacks, but also clear exposition. Effective presentation of the truth is a powerful antidote to error. (Hiebert, D. E. (1981). Titus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 431). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Holding to (ἀντεχομενον [antechomenon]). Present middle participle of ἀντεχω [antechō], old verb, to hold back, in middle to hold oneself face to face with, to cling to, as in 1 Thess. 5:14. The faithful word (του πιστου λογου [tou pistou logou]). See 1 Tim. 1:15; 6:3; Rom. 16:17. Some would see a reference here to Christ as the Personal Logos. That he may be able (ἱνα δυνατος ᾐ [hina dunatos ēi]). Final clause with present active subjunctive. Paul several times uses δυνατος εἰμι [dunatos eimi] in the sense of δυναμαι [dunamai], with infinitive as here (Rom. 4:21; 11:23; 2 Tim. 1:12). The gainsayers (τους ἀντιλεγοντας [tous antilegontas]). Present active participle of ἀντιλεγω [antilegō], old word, to answer back, as in Rom. 10:21. “The talkers back.” (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Tt 1:9). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
1:9. Not only must an overseer meet moral and spiritual standards in his personal life, but he must also be a reliable man of the Word. (15) He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught. This last clause, “as it has been taught,” actually comes first in the Greek, for emphasis. According to Paul, an elder is a conservator of the truth, one who must understand it, hold it fast; (16) encourage others by teaching it; and (17) refute those who oppose it. To be qualified as an elder a man must be a capable handler of the truth (cf. comments on 1 Tim. 3:2). (Litfin, A. D. (1985). Titus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 762–763). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
“Holding fast the faithful Word” (v. 9). The word faithful was a favorite with Paul (see 1 Tim. 1:15; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8). God’s Word is trustworthy because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Because the Word is faithful, those who teach and preach the Word should be faithful. Again, Paul used the term sound doctrine which we have already met in 1 Timothy 1:10. It means “healthy doctrine” that promotes spiritual growth.
So the elders have a twofold ministry of God’s Word: (1) building up the church with “healthy” doctrine, and (2) refuting the false teachers who spread unhealthy doctrine. The naive church member who says, “We don’t want doctrine; just give us helpful devotional thoughts!” does not know what he is saying. Apart from the truth (and this means Bible doctrine), there can be no spiritual help or health.
The mentioning of those who oppose true doctrine led Paul to give the third responsibility that Titus was to fulfill. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 262). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
9. Holding fast the faithful word. That is, the true doctrines of the gospel. This means that he is to hold this fast, in opposition to one who would wrest it away, and in opposition to all false teachers, and to all systems of false philosophy. He must be a man who is firm in his belief of the doctrines of the Christian faith, and a man who can be relied on to maintain and defend those doctrines in all circumstances; comp. Notes, 2 Thess. 2:15.
As he hath been taught. Marg., in teaching. Gr. “According to the teaching.” The sense is, according to that doctrine as taught by the inspired teachers of religion. It does not mean as he had individually been taught; but he was to hold the faith as it was delivered by those whom the Saviour had appointed to make it known to mankind. The phrase “the doctrine,” or “the teaching,” had a sort of technical meaning, denoting the gospel as that which had been communicated to mankind, not by human reason, but by teaching.
That he may be able by sound doctrine. By sound teaching, or instruction; Notes, 1 Tim. 1:10; 4:16. He was not to dictate, or to denounce; but to seek to convince by the statement of the truth; see Notes, 2 Tim. 2:25.—
Both to exhort and to convince. To persuade them, or to bring them over to your views by kind exhortation, and by the instruction which shall convince. The former method is to be used where men know the truth, but need encouragement to follow it; the latter, where they are ignorant, or are opposed to it. Both exhortation and argument are to be used by the ministers of religion.
The gainsayers. Opposers. Literally, those who speak against; that is, against the truth; Notes, Rom. 10:21. (Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: I Thessalonians to Philemon. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 269). London: Blackie & Son.)
The need of godly order in the Church was evident. In Crete, as elsewhere, there were many unruly, vain talkers and deceivers, particularly those who had come out of Judaism. Never having been fully delivered from the law, they prated of their greater privileges, and sought to bring the Gentile believers into bondage. “Whose mouths must be stopped, for they subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.” That is, they were seeking to form a party around themselves, having in view their own aggrandizement and enrichment.
These Cretan Jews were like their Gentile fellow-countrymen of whom Epimenides had written, “The Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.” The last expression might read, “greedy gluttons.” What people are by nature comes out even after Christ has wrought in their souls, and therefore calls for greater watchfulness. The old nature is not changed by conversion, though a new nature is given. But the motions of the flesh must be put to death if there would be a life of victory and piety. So Paul commands Titus to rebuke them sharply in order that they may be sound in the faith. They must be warned against Jewish fables and commandments of men (taking the place of revealed truth), that would only lead to apostasy. (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Addresses on the First and Second Epistles of Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (p. 265). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
Ver. 9. Holding fast the faithful word, &c.] The doctrine of the Gospel, so called because it is true, and to be believed; it is the word of truth, and truth itself, and contains nothing but truth; and because it never deceived any that gave credit to its doctrines, and its promises; and because it is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated, and is the sincere milk of the word; and because in it is a glorious display of the faithfulness of God, to his perfections, to his holiness and justice, to his law, and to his covenant, word, and oath; and of the faithfulness of Christ, to him that appointed him, and to his covenant-engagements, and which has appeared in the discharge of his several offices: and this is not only to be held forth by the elder, but to be held fast, and tenaciously abode by; in opposition to all wavering about it, departure from it, dropping or concealing any part of it, and pusillanimity concerning it; whatever temptations there may be to the contrary, through popular applause on the one hand, and reproaches and persecutions on the other; and though there may be many that may endeavour to wring it out of his hands; see 2 Tim. 1:13 as he hath been taught; or according to doctrine; that is, according to the doctrine of the Scriptures, Christ, and his apostles; according to the doctrine that lies in the Scriptures, that was delivered by Christ, and preached by his apostles; whatever is according to that should be held fast: or which is for doctrine, which tends to teach, instruct, and edify the minds of men, that ought to be constantly abode by: or as the elder himself has been taught, not by men, in a theoretical way, as logic, rhetoric, and other arts and sciences are taught; for such who are only taught the faithful word in this way, are not likely to hold it fast, in a time of temptation; but as he has been taught it experimentally by the spirit of God; and such an one, who has not only the knowledge of it in his head, but the experience of it in his heart, will hold it, and hold it fast against all opposition: that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers; sound doctrine is the faithful word, the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, which being retained, qualify an elder to discharge the following branches of his office; to exhort the members of churches to their duty, according to their age, sex, state, and condition, as in ch. 2 to which the doctrines of grace influence and engage; or to comfort, them, as the word also signifies, and the Alexandrian copy reads, to comfort them in all tribulation; and this is one considerable part of the elder’s work, to comfort souls under affliction, whether of body or mind; and sound doctrines, or the doctrines of the Gospel, are wonderfully suited to such a purpose: and the other part of his work is, to convince gainsayers; such who resist the truth, oppose themselves to it, cavil at it, and object against it; these are to be refuted, and convinced by the Scriptures, and arguments taken from them, as the Jews were by Apollos, Acts 18:28 and nothing is so powerful to do it as sound doctrine, and holding fast the faithful word. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 349–350). 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!!)
“Renew a right spirit within me.”
—Psalm 51:10
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with “renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life—“Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, “Renew a right spirit within me.” (Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.)
I have, indeed, had for many years an occasional happy Lord’s day with the church of which this Pennsylvania reader is the justly esteemed pastor, and I do not to this day know to which branch, limb, or twig of our manifold Presbyterianism his great church belongs. But I love that church, and I love him.” (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 118). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration. In this renewal the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We wanted faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the like grace can bring us to Jesus now. We wanted a word from the Most High, a word from the lip of the loving One, to end our fears then; we shall soon discover, when under a sense of present sin, that we need it now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first, because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as ever they were. Let thy personal weakness, O Christian, be an argument to make thee pray earnestly to thy God for help. Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with “renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper. O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life—“Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin. The Lord has his own appointed ways; sit by the wayside and you will be ready when he passes by. Continue in all those blessed ordinances which will foster and nourish your dying graces; and, knowing that all the power must proceed from him, cease not to cry, “Renew a right spirit within me.” (Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.)
I have, indeed, had for many years an occasional happy Lord’s day with the church of which this Pennsylvania reader is the justly esteemed pastor, and I do not to this day know to which branch, limb, or twig of our manifold Presbyterianism his great church belongs. But I love that church, and I love him.” (Trumbull, C. G. (1920). The Life Story of C. I. Scofield (p. 118). New York; London; Toronto; Melbourne; Bombay: Oxford University Press.)
Katheen H. writes (AL): After the President’s news conference was over tonight, one of the reporters made the observation that for the first time in our nation’s history we won’t be celebrating Easter. Well let me tell you one thing, he’s dead wrong. We might not celebrate what Easter has become in that there may be no new clothes bought for that Sunday. We might not hide and hunt eggs in mass quantities. We may not travel home to attend church with our family. We might not see some folks at our worship services that we haven’t seen since Christmas, but we’re going to Celebrate JESUS’ Resurrection. As a matter of fact, every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. Every time we assemble for worship we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Pilate couldn’t kill Him and the grave couldn’t hold Him. You think the Coronavirus is going to stop our remembrance of HIS Resurrection? More people this year will hear the gospel than any other Resurrection Day before.
It is not just about special programs. Its not about the egg hunt or good lunch. It’s not about the trumpet call or the mass crowds. It’s the fact that we serve a living Savior who is still transforming lives today. This day is not only about His resurrection, but our ability to rise with Him. It is about the hope of tomorrow and the gift of everlasting life. Yes indeed, we will celebrate. We’ll celebrate what God did for all of us at Calvary. How? By remembering Him. By loving Him. By worshipping Him. By praising Him. His Resurrection, for us, is everyday. Let the celebration begin. Sing with me:
I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He’s always near
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart
Yes, a FB friend said it so well and it resonates with me so much that I just had to copy & pass along!
Happy Sunday and Resurrection Day, my friends!🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Mary and Mary Magdalene discover that Jesus has risen from the dead.
INSIGHT
It is a momentous morning as Mary and Mary Magdalene walk to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, intent on anointing the body of Jesus but not knowing how they will get into the tomb. They say to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us?”
Miracle number one: The stone has been rolled away. Miracle number two: An angel is sitting in the tomb to explain to them what has happened. Miracle number three: Jesus is gone; He has risen.
They have two responses. They were amazed! And they report to the disciples all that they have seen.
They expect to deal with death. But they find themselves in the middle of more life than they can imagine. Such paradox is God’s way. He brings life from death. (Quiet Walk)
THE PURPOSE OF THE CROSS
The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
In the Old Testament the Israelites transferred their guilt to a lamb, and then the lamb was killed, and his blood was offered. Why did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, come? John the Baptist, who went around before Him, gave the answer. John the Baptist had only one sermon, and he kept repeating it, and this was it: “Behold,” he says in essence, “I am not He. I am unworthy to undo the laces of His shoes. Behold, behold, behold, ‘the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’”
All the others were types and shadows, indications and adumbrations [foreshadowings]. The Lamb of God has come. God has provided His own sacrifice; it is His own Son—the Lamb of God. This is what happened on Calvary’s tree. God took your sins and mine, and He put them on the head of His own Son, and then He smote Him, He punished Him, He struck Him, He killed Him. The wages of sin is death.
So what was happening on the cross was that God Himself was laying your sins and mine upon His own dearly beloved Son, and Christ paid the penalty of our guilt and our transgressions. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). That is what the Father did. What did the Son do? He was passive as a lamb. He did not grumble; He did not complain. He took it all upon Himself. He allowed it to happen. He surrendered Himself deliberately and freely. As the apostle Paul puts it: “Who gave himself for [on behalf of] our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).
A Thought to Ponder
On the cross God Himself was laying your sins and mine upon His own dearly beloved Son. (From The Cross, pp. 33-34, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The First Stone
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
When the self-righteous men in the crowd surrounding the woman caught in the act of adultery were about to stone the woman (apparently indifferent to the man with whom she had been caught!), the Lord Jesus turned them all away with His suggestion that the privilege of casting the first stone should go to one who was without sin of his own (John 8:7). They realized that He knew the condition of their sinful hearts, and “being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one” (John 8:9).
This incident is a perpetual reminder that “the Father…hath committed all judgment unto the Son” (John 5:22), not to any one of us. We are not qualified to judge others, since we ourselves are also sinners—saved sinners, perhaps, but sinners.
One of the most certain doctrines of Scripture is the universality of sin in human experience. “There is none that doeth good, no, not one,” the Scripture says (Romans 3:12). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). “The Scripture hath concluded all under sin” (Galatians 3:22). “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). These and many other Scriptures tell us clearly that, while we urgently need to judge sin in ourselves, we are not qualified to condemn others, at least not on a personal level.
Only the Lord Jesus Christ, being Himself sinless (1 Peter 2:22), can judge a sinner. Thus it is only He who could be made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) and thereby forgive sins and bring salvation. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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