Starting on August 20th (the first day back 2 school for MTHS) the fbcnewlondon Blog will reappear. The website will be revamped, will have new features, hopefully more student participation, and the daily devotions will reappear. Until we begin our study on the Minor Prophets in September our devotions will be from the letter of Jude.
This letter has been called by some the most “neglected of all NT books”[1]. The author is more than likely Jude, not only the brother of James but also the brother of our Lord Jesus. It is therefore, interesting to note that even his brother (if this indeed be him) considers himself a doulos (slave, bond-servant) or Jesus. What a mighty change from the earlier view that Jesus’ brothers had of him (John 7:5). But something extraordinary had happened; Jude became exactly what he spoke of his recipients, “called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ”.
What is Jude about? Jude is writing to a congregation that has recently been plagued with heresy and false teachers. Mark Dever does well in entitling his overview of Jude, “Having Faith in a Faithless Time”[2]. Jude is encouraging his readers to keep the faith in these difficult times. Our study will be focusing on this central theme--"How do we contend for the faith?"
I hope you come back on August 20th and every day after. It is my prayer that you God might be glorified through this study and that you might be edified. To Him be all praise honor and glory! Be sure to come back on the 20th!!!
[1] Indirectly quoted from Carson, Moo, Morris. Introduction to the New Testament. p.461
[2] The sermon can be heard at http://www.chbcaudio.org/1995/06/25/having-faith-in-faithless-times-the-message-of-jude/
Wednesday I challenged you with a couple of questions. Can you truly say that your life=Christ? And again can you truly say that your death would be gain? The only way to answer in the affirmative on either of those questions is a life that is consumed by faith in Christ. Below are links to two sermons; the one on Wednesday and then the one that I preached at the FCA event on Friday:
Wednesday's sermon can be found at http://uncutsermons.blogspot.com/2007/04/lifechrist-deathgain-philippians-119-26.html and the FCA sermon can be found at http://uncutsermons.blogspot.com/2007/04/harvest-is-plentiful-matthew-936-38.html
Also, I am really hoping that I am able to begin the devotionals again soon. Let me briefly explain the delay. First of all Brian McMillen and I are working hard on (more Brian than I) on revamping the youth building. Secondly, I am in the process of implementing our summer student leadership program. So, my time has been taken up in these ventures along with sermon preperation. Also, I have been battling an ongoing cold for the past week or two. So, hopefully Lord willing next week my schedule will be a little better and I can begin putting more time into the blog...
One of the most penetrating questions I must consistently ask myself is this: “Why are you preaching the gospel”? It is imperative that as ministers of the gospel (that means all who are Christians) that we check our motivations. It is so unbelievably easy to preach the Word of God with the wrong motives. I can preach for my own glory. I can preach to tickle someone ears (making men happy). I can preach to follow the mold of great preachers of the past (glorifying men). I can preach for money. I can preach out of envy. I can preach to harm others ministries. There are numerous motivations and aspirations in preaching the gospel. I can even use the gospel to further political causes or social issues.
What motivated these preachers who were preaching Christ “from envy and rivalry”? Some commentators erroneously believe it is a heretical group like the Judaizers. But it is obvious from the context and Paul’s stern rebukes in Galatians 1 that these are not heretics. Paul would not commend or call any type of heretical teaching “preaching Christ”. Perhaps these men are trying to create a “strife by preaching and thus incur the anger of Rome, in order to bring down upon themselves and Paul suffering, persecution, even martyrdom, in the belief that tribulation (was necessary to hasten the end of the world and the return of Christ?”[1] But that view cannot be correct either, as Hawthorne later points out, “(a) since, similar to “good will” and “love” the words “envy” “strife,” and “selfish-ambition” are relational words, (b) since these latter words are exactly parallel to the former words, and (c) since Paul was the object of those former words—“love” and “good will”—therefore one is forced to conclude that, for whatever reason, he is also the object of the latter words—people reacted against Paul himself and thought to hurt him by their preaching.”[2]
I think our best bet at understanding this passage is to look at an example given by Vincent Cheung. “In the University of Pennsylvania a professor of history read to his class Jonathan Edwards' sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The aim of the professor was to show how harsh, disagreeable, and morose the New England Puritans were. Because of his reading, however, at least one student was converted to Christianity.”[3]
The point that Paul is making and the reason Paul is still able to rejoice (see v.18) is because even though they are not preaching Christ from the right motives the gospel is still being preached. And Christ is still being proclaimed and for this we have cause to rejoice. Amidst all of this we must ask the question; “Am I even preaching the gospel”? What a shame that those who are proclaiming Christ from wrong motives actually give more cause for rejoicing than Christians who sit on the truth of God’s Word and never proclaim it. Get off your duff and proclaim the beauty of Christ to the nations!
Tomorrow we will look at the correct motivation for preaching the word of God
[1] quoted by Gerald Hawthorne in Word Biblical Commentary. Taken from www.biblecentre.net
[2] Ibid
[3] quoted by Cheung, Vincent www.rmiweb.org/books/philippians.pdf pg 33
One of the most powerful and influential books in the history of mankind is John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. It chronicles the lives and stories of Christians who have been persecuted from the time of Christ up until the reign of Bloody Mary in the late 1500’s. It held such influence that at one time it, along with the Bible, was chained to the pews in many Protestant churches throughout England. (Books were often so rare and valuable that they would chain them to the pews to keep them from being taken). In the introduction to one edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyr’s a man by the name of James Miller Dodds said it well:
"After the Bible itself, no book so profoundly influenced early Protestant sentiment as the Book of Martyrs. Even in our own time it is still a living force. It is more than a record of persecution. It is an arsenal of controversy, a storehouse of romance, as well as a source of edification."[1]
It is evident from the great influence Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (or even the modern Jesus Freaks) that people giving their life for the cause of Christ is a great motivator towards evangelism and a great source of edification. Something stirs deep within me whenever I read these stories of men and women who gave their lives for the cause of Christ. I am always inspired to ask myself two questions whenever I read these accounts; do I love Christ so much that I would suffer for Him and do I love Christ so much that I am willing to live every moment for Him?
Apparently the Apostle Paul’s imprisonment had the same impact upon those Christian’s who had heard of his situation. The way that this sentence is worded helps us to know that it is not as if the Philippians had been not preaching the word at all—it is more that they are no more passionate and bolder than they have ever been and because of this Paul is rejoicing.
So, we see the mighty influence that Paul’s chains are having. Even though Paul is chains the gospel is not. The great truth that Paul is proclaiming to us is that even though Christian’s might be killed or chained their message (the gospel) cannot be fettered (chained). The great gospel of the glory of God cannot and will not be stopped-and for this Paul (and we) will rejoice. As John Eadie eloquently puts it, “though they might grieve at the confinement of the man, they would be comforted that the cause with which he was identified had not been arrested in its progress.”[2]
Today:
- Rejoice in and worship the Lord who will not be thwarted
- Be emboldened in the cause of Christ and continue to advance the gospel without fear
- Ask yourself, “Do I love Christ so much that I am willing to suffer for Him?
- Ask yourself, “Do I love Christ so much that I am willing to live for Him?
For your benefit Foxe’s Book of Martyrs can be checked out of the youth library (as can Jesus Freaks). Also you can read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/foxe/martyrs/files/martyrs.html
[1] Taken from http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/book-sum/foxe.html but can also be found in the Forbush edition of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
[2] Eadie, John. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians. Taken from http://www.biblecentre.net/
In Rome there were for basic types of custody: imprisonment (with or without chains), military custody (which might include being chained to a soldier), release into the custody of a trustworthy person, and release on one’s own recognizance.[1] More than likely Paul would have been in military custody. It is quite likely that while Paul was dictating this letter he would have been chained to a Roman guard.
It is not difficult to imagine that Paul would have had a significant influence upon these men that he was chained to. They would have undoubtedly witnessed Paul’s character, his attitude, and his deep love for Jesus Christ. It would not be hard to imagine Paul even preaching sermons to these men. These men were chained to the preaching of the gospel—Paul had a captive audience. With each shift change Paul would have a new person to share the gospel with. You can see then how Paul’s chains where used to spread the gospel all throughout Rome. As William Hendriksen noted, “Paul’s case and even better, Christ’s cause, became the ‘talk of the town’.”[2]
It is also possible that Paul’s imprisonment would have been a little different. Even if Paul where not specifically chained to a Roman guard (praetor) Paul’s meaning does not change: The gospel is not hindered in fact it is actually advancing. As Hendriksen further commented, “when the apostle went to Rome as a prisoner, it was in reality the gospel that went to Rome”.[3] What Hendriksen is saying is that no matter where Paul was or in what circumstance he was in the gospel went with him. Even in his death Paul would bear witness to the greatness of Christ.
The questions that we must ask ourselves today are thus:
- If I were chained to a guard would they consistently here the gospel and see the gospel modeled in the way I lived my life?
- Does the gospel go with me wherever I go? Meaning: Am I a witness to the greatness and glory of Jesus Christ no matter where or in what circumstance I am in?
Tomorrow we will learn about the second way the gospel is advancing through Paul’s imprisonment. Today we learned that Paul’s chains are advancing the gospel into the community at Rome. Tomorrow we will see how the gospel is advanced inside the Church through Paul’s imprisonment.
[1] Arnold, Clinton. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary. p351
[2] Hendriksen, William. NT Commentary: Philippians, Colossian, Philemon. p69
[3] Ibid, p68
“In the Autumn of 1955, missionary pilot Nate Saint spotted an Auca village. During the ensuing months, Elliot and several fellow missionaries dropped gifts from a plane, attempting to befriend the hostile tribe. In January of 1956, Elliot and four companions landed on a beach of the Curaray River in eastern Ecuador. They had several friendly contacts with the fierce tribe that had previously killed several Shell Oil company employees. Two days later, on January 8, 1956, all five men were speared and hacked to death by warriors from the Auca tribe.”[2]These men never had the opportunity to share Christ with the Auca tribes—at least not with their lips. What is really interesting to note is that a few years after Jim Eliot was martyred his wife, Elisabeth, among many of the other missionary wives were able to make contact with the Auca Indians and many where led to Christ; in fact it is told that Elisabeth had the opportunity to lead the Indian who had killed her husband to faith in Jesus Christ. Jim Elliot and those 4 other missionaries where much like the Apostle Paul—pioneers cutting a way before the gospel could march through.
Jim Elliot’s now famous quote sums up well the motivation of those who give their lives (whether in life or death) to the cause of Christ. In a journal entry a few years before he ultimately gave his life Elliot wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
- Ask yourself today am I giving my life for what I cannot keep? Or am I giving my life to gain what I cannot lose? To put that another way—are you living for eternity or for the fleeting pleasures of today?
- In what areas of your life is God calling you to be a “path cutter”?
- In what areas of your life is God calling you to advance the gospel after those who have already “cut a path”?
The movie, End of the Spear, is about Jim Elliot and the other missionaries. Elisabeth Elliot has also published two wonderful books about the mission to the Auca Indians and her husband’s life: Through Gates of Splendor and Shadow of the Almighty. You can also check out Jim Elliot’s journal in from our youth library.
[1] Hawthorne, Gerald. Word Bible Commentary. Taken from http://www.biblecentre.net/
[2] Taken from http://www.intouch.org/myintouch/mighty/portraits/jim_elliot_213678.html
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