(64) Baptism

Two years ago this lesson was posted:  http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/search/label/Baptism

Some who had read that had and others may have questions about those who say faith only is what you need to be saved.  Some have said that saying baptism is needed is legalism at its core because they think it means someone's works can earn them salvation.  Some have said that to teach baptism as being needed is borderline cultish.  But what is baptism?  And why is it in the scripture?

Baptism-  as with most translations this word comes from the Greek word baptismo.  Those who teach baptism would stress that it means "immersion"and would add that with Acts 2:38, for the forgiveness of sins.  Read the lesson posted above and you will see that baptism in and of itself is more than just these two terms and verses.  But this lesson is not about what it is.  It is about is it needed or not.

Faith is where it all starts.  Believing in Jesus Christ is the first step towards salvation.  But faith is more than just belief.  Faith is action.  Faith will cause us to do things.  Being a Christian means you are Christ-like.  This means that you take on the qualities of Jesus Christ.  "Taking" is a verb.  Verbs are action.  It is not about earning salvation.  It is about following the life of Christ and emulating what He did.  We are called to repent.  Without repentance are we saved?  No.  But some will ask about the thief on the cross since he wasn't baptised.  Well what they fail to consider is did the thief have a chance?  Who knows how long he was in prison as a thief?  He may have been there for all three years of Jesus' ministry and just heard about him right before he was hung on the cross.  Maybe nobody brought water to him.  In certain cases it would like God to allow circumstances to offer other options.  Or maybe he was baptized before he was thrown into jail.  The Bible does not say it either way.  In any case, the thief on the cross repented.  He may not have said the "sinner's prayer", whatever that is.  But nevertheless he told Jesus he wasn't worthy and wanted Jesus to save him.  That is repentance.  But, it is also an action.

Jesus also told us to worship, pray, take communion, teach.   Will these save someone?  More than likely no.  But are they commanded to do?  Yes.  If Christians do not do these things will they still make it to heaven?  That is up to God and God alone to decide.  But if we do not follow a command, then we are sinning.   These actions are commanded.  Saying no to a command is a sin.  You make the call.

 

Is baptism commanded?  If it was not important as a command then why would Jesus tell his followers to baptize people when He said goodbye to them?  Why did He do it Himself?

 

Hebrews tells us all about faith.  Once the book describes what it is it gives examples.  Abel brought a gift.  Noah built an ark.  Abraham left his home and traveled.  It says they were living by faith.  Living is an action.

 

Baptism may not be the thing that saves you.  But having faith only is not an excuse not to do things.  Faith takes action.  Baptism is part of your faith.  So in this case faith only means you do all that is commanded.  If that is the case then yes, having faith only will save you.

(63) Books of Timothy

The man with a shadowed past but a future of reason.

The name Timothy means to honor God.  The books that Paul wrote to Timothy are dated around 64 and 68 AD respectively.  The first one was written about 4 years before Paul's death.  The second one was written the same year as his death, perhaps even days before.  2nd Timothy may be the last words ever written or heard by Paul.  The first letter was sent from Macedonia.  The second one was written from Rome.  Both are probably sent to Ephesus where Timothy would be to carry on the message that Paul was giving.

1st Timothy contains information about church administration and how the leaders are supposed to be picked.  This was the job of Timothy.  It is basically a manuscript for young leaders and churches.  2nd Timothy contains information to equip the Christian worker.  But there is an odd cold feeling when Reading this letter.  It is almost as though Paul knew this would be his last letter.

Timothy was born in Lystra, a Greek city.  Timothy was raised by two women (his mom and grandma) and was taught the scriptures by them.  Being Greek though he was considered "uncircumcised" but Paul had him go through the ceremony (Acts 16:3).  Timothy was young when he started to help Paul.  Paul even called him young in 64 AD which is odd because he picked up Timothy 20 years earlier.  Pure speculation says that Timothy was there when Paul was dragged out of the city, beaten and left for dead.  If Timothy was very young and saw this what did he think his future was about because Paul took him as his own son.  Timothy needed constant reassuring.  His fear would get in the way.  This is why Paul told him don't be timid (2 Tim. 1:6-7) even though he had a major task to do.  2nd Timothy shows a young minister struggling to gain his strength in his spirit.  His stomach was queasy, perhaps an ulcer due to all the things he saw as a child and what he thought his future was all about.  But because of his commitment, he became respected.  Because of his commitment he became compassionate.  Because of his commitment he became an apostle (an emissary).

Some of the main points are:

1. Don't argue over senseless things, but also know what the scripture says (1 Tim 1:3-7, 2 Tim 2:14-18)
2. Worship instructions (1 Tim 2)
3. Guidelines for leaders (1 Tim 3:1-16)
4. Pauls' personal desires for Timothy that could also be us (1 Tim 6:11-14)
5. Be bold in the Lord, there is nothing to fear but fear itself (2 Tim 1:7-8)
6. Be careful with doubt, God is in control, man is not (2 Tim 4:2)
7. Even when faced with death, fear no evil (2 Tim 4:6-8)

Most of these books are manuals for young pastors and/or leaders who are fearing what they have to do.  Pastors have a hard time because they have to say the right things, do the rights,  and respond in the right ways.  And in this world that is hard to do.  They are in the world's eyes.  Whatever they do gets reported ten times as much or as far as what the rest of us do.  But that doesn't mean wimp out to be politically correct or give into the culture.

For more on Timothy: http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/search/label/Timothy

(62)The Books of Philemon and Titus

Two Bold Men.

These two books were written by Paul a couple of years apart from each other.  They really do not have anything to do with each other but since they are short we will study them at the same time. Philemon, whose name means "affectionate", was written first around 61 AD around the same time Colossians was written during Paul's first imprisonment.  He perhaps even wrote those two letters at the same time since Philemon was from Colosse.  Titus was written in 64 AD right before Paul's second imprisonment about 4 years before his death.

Philemon is the shortest book written by Paul.  It is very different than Paul's other letters since most of them were about instructing people how to live and what to watch for.  This one though isn't even a sermon.  It is a plea.  Philemon lived in Colossae, richly so.  Paul wrote this book to remind Philemon about who he was before he was converted; a slave owner (Phil v. 16-19).  And how he was forgiven and that the person Paul is sending him should also be forgiven and received that way. The man's name was Onesimus, who apparently owed Philemon, perhaps stole from him.  We do not know if Philemon accepted Onesimus back as a brother but tradition says that Onesimus became a bishop in Berea.

Titus was a Greek gentile, one of the "uncircumcised" and may have been one of the people that Paul took into the synagogue that got him arrested.  Paul converted this Greek into a Christian.  Titus was sent to Crete by Paul to watch over a church he started.  Seems like he was sent many places.  Crete apparently was an island that had a reputation of being filled with liars and gluttons.  He was to be the head of the church, an elder, if you will, maybe even apostle for he is the one who delivered the letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:13-16).  This is why Paul gave instructions of who should be an elder in this letter.  Tradition says he is considered the 1st Bishop of Crete.  Titus was a very zealous man who was undaunted with the way things were and Paul knew he wouldn't back down from any conflict (Titus 1:11, 2 Cor 8:17).  No one knows whatever became of him.  He left for Dalmatia and that is all we know.

Some of the main point sin these books are:

1. God uses even bad situations for His glory (Phil v 15-16)
2. There are guidelines for selecting leaders of the church (Titus 1:5-9)
3. There are guidelines for living our lives as well (Titus 2)
4. God saved us through mercy, kindness, and love (Titus 3:5-8)

Philemon was written to plea for the acceptance of a former slave and his future treatment and should serve as guideline for all of us.  Titus was written to encourage him and instruct the people about the truth of the Gospel that leads to spiritual maturity.  God can not only transform character but He can also change relationships.  Our reconciliation with God should always lead to reconciliation with man.  But it seems like too many of us only try to get the first one accomplished.  This is why we still can't get along with each other.

(61) Life after Death

Here are the results from last month's poll: What happens to us when we die?

• 39% said, We are "asleep" 
• 11% said, We go straight to the arms of God 
• 6% said, We go to purgatory. 
• 33% said, We are judged and then given our justice 
• 0% said, Nothing. 
• 6% said, Not for sure. 
• 6% said, Other 

Comments to follow soon

(60) The Book of Philippians

The Giving Church.

Philippians is the most affectionate book written by Paul. Actually it was written with Timothy by his side in prison. Two words could describe what this book is about: Joy and Rejoice. It was written in 62 AD from Rome during Paul's first imprisonment, 6 years before his death.

Philippi was a military station for the Roman Empire. It was named after King Philip, the father of Alexander the Great ca. 400 BC. It was reestablished by Caesar Augustus and Marc Antony after they had defeated Brutus and Cassius ca. 40 BC. When Augustus and Antony decided to part ways Augustus allowed him and his men to retire here. The area was also known for its gold mines giving it a nice comfort zone for the retired soldiers. The church that Paul established here held on to their beliefs and remained consistent in their faith (1:4-5).

Some of the main points are:

1. God is always working with us and on us (1:3-6)
2. Even though we die physically, we have life because of Christ (1:18-21)
3. The importance of Christ, who He was and what He did, and what people will do in the end because of Him (2:6-11)
4. We are citizens of heaven and should not be concerned with things that fade (3:17-21)
5. No matter what happens we need to rejoice in the Lord (4:4-8)
6. No matter what the circumstance we can get through because of the strength He gives us (4:11-13)

It was written to thank the church of Philippi for their gift and to encourage them. He also wanted them to welcome Timothy as it seems like he would be released from prison before Paul would be. And the last reason was because he was sending back to them one of their own, Epaphroditus, who had apparently become ill and wanted to return home. But the main key words is what this book is all about; joy and rejoice. It stresses that we can still have joy in our life no matter what happens as along as we remain in Christ. We can get through any situation that this world makes us go through, and for that we need to rejoice in what has been given to us. The world does not understand that. We live in the moment. If the moment seems bad then that is how we treat others. Instead of living for the whole we live for the piece. Joy is not situational. But the world feels it is.

(59) The Book of Colossians

The Church of the Stoic.

Colossians is considered the sister book of Ephesians because it focuses on Christ as being the head of the body which Ephesians said was the Church.  It deals with the supremacy of Christ rather than the Holy Spirit and the gifts.  Paul actually never visited the church here.  It was written in 61 AD during his imprisonment in Rome, about 7 years before his death.  He was either imprisoned with Timothy at this time or Timothy came to to see him and was given the letter to be delivered to Colosae. 

Colosae was a city in a volcanic area.  As a matter of fact during the year this book was written, the city was nearly destroyed by an earthquake. Many Jewish people had settled into the area due to persecution by Antiochus III.   But before it died out, it was a diverse city.  Many educated people came to Colossae to discuss the world.  A group that emerged in this time period were the Stoics, those who explained the world through logic and reason, a predecessor to the Enlightenment thinkers 1700 years later.  Out of this group came a sect of "Christians" called Gnostics; using astrology, mysticism, and Judaism.  They claimed Christ but denied many of the things that the Apostles said Jesus did or commanded.  They believed that God did not really come to earth but only seemed to appear in the flesh.  Jesus was no more than an angel.  God of the old testament was inferior to the God of the new testament.  Man's laws did not put a bind on Christians.  Some people gained "gnosis" (secret knowledge) and this knowledge outweighed the strength of faith.  Hence this is heresy.  The church located here did not understand that knowledge comes from the Spirit so Paul prayed for them to gain this wisdom.

Some of the main points are:

1. The connection between God the Father and Jesus the Son as One.  (1:15-17)
2. God's ways are higher than man's and we can't comprehend everything that is done (2:6-10)
3. We are not of this world and shouldn't live like we are (3:1-4)
4. The Christian household and what it should be like (3"17-23)
5. Prayer is a priority (4:2)

It was written to combat the false teachings of the Gnostics and stoics.  The main theme is that we are united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.  Jesus is the head of the Church.  But people using their own knowledge try to make the rules instead.  Like the stoic and Gnostics they think they can do all by themselves when in reality they can not.  Faith is important, no one can explain everything and when they can't they start to think there is no God.

(58) The Book of Ephesians

Church of the Simpletons.

Out of all the troubles that Paul wrote down that he was having in his ministry this book never really goes into any of that.   It instead focuses on how the Church is the Body of Christ and the spirituality it is supposed to have.  As one reads it though it is understood that this one is definitely for the ages since the issues dealt inside are for the whole church.  It was written around 60 AD, 8 years before Paul's death.  Paul was in prison the time he was writing this.  Ephesus was a city he loved and wanted to spend more time there than time actually allowed.

Being a Greek city Ephesus was heavily into the pagan myths of Greek legends about gods and goddesses (Acts 19:23-27).  But it was also inhabited by Greeks who had adopted earlier religions of the original people located in the area.  The main goddess of the city, the matron, if you will, was Artemis, aka Diana, the goddess of fertility.  The temple of Diana may have been the largest Greek building at the time.  Ephesus was part of a culture center, one of the largest of ancient times and grew to a city the size of about 250,000 people.  It was a leader in politics, religion, and commerce.  In 189 BC it became part of the Roman Empire and thus took on many Roman lifestyles as well.  It's theater, which could sit roughly 24,000 people, became of the seven wonders of the world.  The church that was located here Paul said was strong in its faith (1:15) but didn't know exactly what to do with it (1:17-23).

Some of the main points are:

1. The Church is the Body of Christ and is powerful (1:19-23)
2. Salvation is a gift, not a reward for works (2:8-10)
3. There is so much more to grasp that we don't use (3:17-20)
4. There can be unity and strength through the understanding of each one's gift (4:2-16)
5. We are in a spiritual war, not a physical one (6:11-12)

It was written to the Church that Jesus was our great example and that no matter where we are in our walk with Him we need to constantly grow in our spirits.  Jesus is our goal for our character.  But character is something we do not care about in this world anymore.  We live for the moment.  We worry about what others think about us (reputation) instead of what we really are.  The main difference between character and reputation is this:  reputation is what we want others to think about us, character is what we do when no one else is around.