The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Paul

  • The Time Will Come, and May Already Be…

    Paul wrote encouraging words to Timothy, for he was to never forget the faith instilled within him or to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. But he also wrote Timothy words of warning that are relevant – especially today!

    Paul told Timothy to “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13). The word sound here means “sound doctrine; as in true, pure, uncorrupted.” Timothy was encouraged to hold on tightly, or possess, the pure doctrine that Paul had taught him. The same sound doctrine that we have recorded in God’s Word, the Bible. But in order to know what that sound doctrine is, we must read and study God’s Word. That is why Paul taught Timothy to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It was important that Timothy understood that he had to not only study the Bible, but he must “rightly” divide the word of truth. One must compare Scripture with Scripture. He had to understand and know the true doctrines written within the Bible in order to recognize false teaching and stay away from it.

    Paul warned, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). He wanted Timothy to understand that times would become difficult and dangerous. Paul went on to warn: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). Times would come when things would look and sound good, having the form of something real, but it would deny the power that would make it real – faith in Jesus. By having a form of something real or true, many could be deceived or tricked into believing they had something real. Most people (or churches) are prepared for an attack on them from the outside. But when it comes from within, people are surprised – caught off guard. There is something to be said about “conquering from within.” We are prepared for the enemy outside of the camp, but woefully unprepared when the enemy comes from within. False doctrine is often able to creep in unaware until it is too late. True doctrine must be known in order to defend it against false doctrine. The only way to know the difference is to study God’s Word and know it.

    “3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5. But watch thou in all things …” (2 Timothy 4:3-5a). Today it is too easy to listen to teachers (or preachers) tell us what good people we are and what good things we are doing for the kingdom of God. They sound so nice and make us feel so good about ourselves. But words like these turn ears away from the truth of God’s Word; for there is nothing good in mankind – unless one has given their heart and life to Jesus, living according to the Bible and its teachings. Any other teaching is a fable – fiction, not real. Knowing this would happen, Paul warned Timothy to “watch” in all things. He was to be ready by knowing the Bible and its true teachings.

    Do you hold fast to true doctrine?

    Have you studied to show yourself approved and not ashamed?

    Do you endure sound doctrine or have itching ears?

    Be sure to watch!

  • Faithfulness to Christ

    “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”           (2 Corinthians 5:10)

    Excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life, Year Three Quarter Three” Lesson 5:

    “Read Paul’s conflict of continuing to work for the Lord here on earth, many times in tribulation, desiring to be in heaven. “6. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-11) Terror means “the fear of God as in a deep and reverential sense of accountability to God or Christ.” Paul’s conflict was resolved when he understood that God had much work for Christians to do here on earth: teaching Jesus. And that each Christian would stand before the Lord one day to give an accounting of their faithfulness in their Christian walk, “whether it be good or bad.” As we understand that, remember something important that we have already learned. God knows everything, even the things done in secret (see Ecclesiastes 12:14: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil”). We are to understand that each Christian will stand before God and be accountable for what they have done with his or her life. What are we to do? We are to “persuade men.” Not only tell about Jesus, but to live for Him, faithfully.

    Why live for Christ? “14. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17). Jesus died on the cross for man’s sin. Once He gave His life, He gave the ability for any who would believe in Him to have life instead of death. Once a Christian receives that gift of life, he must understand that he is now “in Christ, he is a new creature.” No longer what he once was, a sinner doomed for eternal separation from God. Now, all things are become new. There is a new life to live in Christ; for Christ. “20. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21. 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 5:20-21). Because God took man’s sin, placed it upon Jesus (“made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin”), it made those who believe able to stand righteous before God. Each Christian must understand that he represents Christ here in this world. According to the dictionary, ambassador means “a minister of the highest rank, representing the power and dignity of his sovereign. They are ordinary when they reside permanently at a foreign court, but extraordinary when they are sent on a special occasion.” Christians must be considered extraordinary for they do not permanently reside on the earth, but were sent especially by Jesus to represent Him, living right and telling others about Him, until He returns. 

    Paul lived as an ambassador for Christ.”

  • How to Prepare for Living a Christian Life

    “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

    (2 Timothy 2:15)

    Timothy was a great Christian and Paul’s faithful friend. Although Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him about Jesus, Paul had led Timothy to Jesus (taught him how to be saved) and watched him grow in his Christian faith.

    Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to Timothy. After reminding him of his salvation, he encouraged him to step up to the task God had placed before him. Timothy was to not be ashamed of the Gospel message, but to be willing to stand up faithfully and teach the truths of that Gospel. And to even be proud if he suffered “afflictions of the gospel” (see 2 Timothy 1:8-10).

    Paul had taught him the importance of sound doctrine. “13. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us” (2 Timothy 1:13-14). See the following definitions to help you understand what Paul was telling Timothy:

    • Form: “a sketch, or concise, representation or form”
    • Sound: “sound doctrine, i.e.: true; pure; uncorrupted”

    Paul wanted Timothy to understand the importance of holding on to the sound doctrine – true, pure, uncorrupted – that he had been taught (that is now recorded in God’s Word for us to read). Paul followed this with a warning that there would be some who would turn away from him when he stood for the truths in God’s Word –  for Paul had already seen a departure from the faith, leaving him to stand alone in Asia (see 2 Timothy 1:15). Paul had already warned him this would happen (see 1 Timothy 4:1). But Paul also encouraged Timothy that he could endure this because the Holy Spirit dwells in us – He won’t leave!

    But how do you prepare for a life pleasing to God? “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Christians must study and know God’s Word. They must be able to discern between the truth of God’s Word and false teaching. This is just the first step in knowing how to live a Christian life. But it is a very important one.

    There is a child’s song that I am reminded of…

    “Read your Bible, pray every day, and you will grow, grow, grow!

    Don’t read your Bible, or pray every day, and you will shrink, shrink, shrink!”

    Do you want to grow?

    Or do you want to shrink?

    The choice is up to you!

  • A Living Sacrifice

    “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

    There are some very important things we need to learn about how a Christian is to live.     

    Paul encouraged people who have given their hearts and lives to Jesus to understand the importance of living their lives in a pleasing manner. Romans 12:1-2:  “1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Just as Jesus willingly died for each Christian, each Christian is then to present their life to Jesus as a “living sacrifice.” 

    What does this mean?  Living sacrifice means the physical life and existence, as opposed to death or nonexistence, always with some duration as a living and constant sacrifice. God expects His people to live a life, always, as if they belong to Him – acceptable to Him. That is the very least we can do (“reasonable service”). 

    Paul went on to remind us that because we are now spiritual creatures, we are not to be “conformed” to this world. 

    • Not conformed means to be fashioned alike; one is not to be molded by the external and fleeting manners or ways of this period of time, but to undergo a deep inner transformation that can only be brought by the Holy Spirit.  Instead of being conformed (changed to be like the world by outside influences), we are being transformed. 
    • Transformed means that invisible process that begins to take place in a Christian during his/her life here on earth.  To be changed from the inside out. How are we to be transformed?  By renewing one’s mind. 
    • Renewing means a renovation which makes a person different than in the past.  A Christian is not to think like they always have according to the world’s system.
    • Prove means to put to the proof or examine; the notion of proving a thing whether it is worthy or not.  Once Christians know how to live, they are to implement those things into their life.

    A Christian is to live a life, not like the rest of the world, but different from the world! We are to always remember that our life is not our own, for we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20)!