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You are here: Home / Archives for Paul

Reaching Forward: Future Plans of the Apostle Paul

April 5, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

The apostle Paul was constantly making plans for the future. One glimpse of this is found in the book of Romans. One of his ambitions was to visit Rome and encourage the brethren in that capital city. He wrote to them in Romans 1:11-12, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” Paul goes on to write in Romans 1:13 that many times he had intended to come to them, but circumstances had prevented him from coming.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters

In Romans 15:20-21, Paul explained what had prevented him from coming to Rome: he worked to preach the Gospel not where Christ had been named, but to lost souls who had never heard of Jesus Christ. Rome, the capital city of the empire, did have a congregation of the Lord’s church within the city limits. Unlike many of Paul’s letters where he writes to his own converts because he is tending to a congregation he had planted, the congregation at Rome had been established by someone other than Paul. Perhaps it was those “strangers of Rome” who were present on the first Pentecost following the resurrection of the Lord (Acts 2:10). Regardless of who it was, the basic fact that made Paul’s visit to Rome less pressing than his visit to other places was that the Gospel was already being preached there. Paul’s statement of his desire to preach where Christ had not been named is followed by these words: “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.” (Romans 15:22-24).

Paul had a priority to spread the borders of the kingdom of Christ to places which heretofore had not heard the Gospel. Next in his list of priorities was to build up the brethren in various places who were striving to live the Christian life. This is seen in his desire to see the brethren at Rome and, through laying on his apostolic hands, give them a miraculous spiritual gift to further equip the developing church there. It is also seen in his involvement in bringing financial relief to the poor in the environs of Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-26). Meeting the needs of Christians around Jerusalem—who had been affected by famine—by funds raised by Christians in Macedonia and Achaia would go a long way toward helping the relationship between the two groups in the one body of Christ (2 Corinthians 9:12-13).

Paul was keenly aware of the importance of the Gospel of Christ. He knew there was no way for one to be saved without hearing it (Romans 10:17). Paul was also acutely aware of the effect trials and temptations can have on the faith of one who has obeyed the Gospel, as he writes, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul had plans for the future because he knew continual efforts needed to be made in order that, in the end, his soul and the souls of many others would be saved. Are you making plans for our Gospel meeting on “Always Reaching Forward” next Sunday? Perhaps you could invite someone who is not a Christian to come with you. Thus, the lost can hear the Gospel and the saved can be encouraged in the faith. Paul plans centered around efforts of preaching the Gospel. What about your plans?

 

– Mark Day

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Future, Mark Day, Paul

Paul’s Rebuke of Peter

March 1, 2018 by admin Leave a Comment

We read in Galatians 2:11-21 Paul’s account of Peter coming to Antioch. This is the only record we have of the apostle Peter being in Antioch. While Peter was there he would eat with the Gentile Christians, however when “certain came from James” (Jewish brethren), Peter separated himself from the Gentile brethren fearing what they would do and say. He influenced other Jewish Christians, including Barnabas, to also act hypocritically. Paul upon seeing this behavior of Peter “withstood him to the face” because “he stood condemned” (ASV). Paul then proceeds to show how Peter’s actions were sinful, inconsistent, and contrary to the Gospel. We learn from this event:

Paul showed great courage in his correction of Peter and the other brethren regarding their hypocrisy. Paul would have been in the minority in this situation. He finds himself standing alone with even his closest brethren being led astray. He also manifested great courage in having to rebuke a respected brother in Christ. As we consider Paul’s courage we ask, how could he not be courageous, people’s souls were in the balance. Peter stood condemned by his actions as also would be those who followed him into error. The greatest act of cowardice that could have been manifested was to not say something, to remain silent and let precious souls be lost.

Photo by Tobias Cornille

Do we remain silent when we should speak out for the truth? Are we concerned enough about people’s soul’s that we will have the courage to correct others in matters religious even when we are in the minority?

Fear can cause us to be influenced negatively. As long as none of Peter’s Jewish brethren were around, he ate and lived with the Gentiles, but when these Jewish brethren came to town, Peter withdrew himself. He was afraid of what they might say or do. Fear causes strange behavior at times. Is it possible that Peter had not changed his views, but, as at the crucifixion, fear of trouble caused him to pull back? Peter acted, not out of conviction, but out of fear. Do we allow fear to dictate our actions when we are among those outside of Christ? Do our Christian views and values change when around others based on the fear of what others may do or say about us?

One’s influence can have great effect on others. Barnabas had been reared on Cyprus among Gentiles. He had helped Paul found many Gentile churches. He had eaten many times with Gentiles. Yet now he too began to treat the Gentiles as second-class citizens of God’s kingdom, unfit for full fellowship with those of Jewish birth. Why did not Paul rebuke Barnabas? He certainly must have talked to him privately later. It may be significant that there is no record that he and Paul ever traveled together again. Paul focused on Peter because he was the leader. Had he not withdrawn from the Gentiles probably none of the others would have withdrawn. Our influence can have a great effect on others as well. We should ask ourselves, “Am I influencing others by my example of standing in the truth of God’s Word? Am I what I need to be, how I need to be, and where I need to be, according as the Bible teaches I am to be?

Public sin requires public correction. Peter and the others failed to live up to the truth of the Gospel in this matter. Their actions were sinful. He withstood Peter in a face-to-face public confrontation. The others are not specifically named as being rebuked, but since they were parties to the error, their actions were likewise denounced. Peter is named as the chief offender since he had greater influence, being an apostle of Christ. The confrontation was public. Paul directed his rebuke to Peter “before them all”. False teachers are to be publicly marked so that the brethren may be warned, Romans 16:17-18. Those who sin are to be identified and rebuked openly, 1 Timothy 5:20. Those withdrawn from are to be marked publicly, 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15. In the case of Peter, the sin was public, so the rebuke was public. If it was right for Paul to take such an action, it is right for Christians today to take similar actions in the same or parallel situations. We should ask ourselves, “Do we stand up and defend the truth publicly when public sin is committed?

Brother & sisters let us be courageous in facing error, not fearful, influence others toward God’s Word, and not hide to rebuke sin, but stand fast for the Truth, publicly and lovingly.

 

-Jerry D. Sturgill

Filed Under: Articles, Featured Tagged With: Jerry Sturgill, Paul, peter

Lesson Audio – Mark Day – What Baptism?

May 7, 2017 by admin Leave a Comment


05.07.17 AM – Mark Day – What Baptism
https://flatwoodschurchofchrist.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/T044_05.07.17-AM-Mark-Day-What-Baptism.mp3

Filed Under: Featured, Lesson Audio Tagged With: Apollos, Baptism, Paul

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