--The origins of Christmas can be traced back to the ancient Roman and Norse civilizations. In fact, 25th December was not even Jesus' date of birth. The early Christians appropriated what was originally a pagan holiday because it was convenient. Before that, the people of ancient Europe had celebrations of the pagan god Saturn or even Odin at the end of December to mark the shortest day of the year. Indeed, many of the Christmas traditions we have today come from these ancient festivals. Examples of this include kissing under the mistletoe and decorating trees.
----History Cooperative: The Pagan Origins of Christmas: Saturnalia, Yule, and Other Pre-Christian Traditions
(In the above read "early Christians" as Roman Catholic, and those that fail to fully break away from them.)
82% of those identifying as born-again Christian believe Christ Jesus even existed. According to the Cultural Research Center of Arizona University. I am sure most of the 18% that do not celebrate Xmas. It is way past time that the true believers (those that believe Jesus was the virgin-born Son of God, that he died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again the third day) quit being lukewarm ( Rev 3:15-16), study God's word, adhere to it precisely, and make manifest the CINOs (Christian in Name Only) to the world.
-- Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
As stated prior to this post, each individual saint must decide how important their salvation is.
-- Philippians 2:12 WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING.
How many are lost because we want the comfort of looking and acting like the deceivers of this world?
Till we meet at the Judgment Seat of Christ. ( 2Co 5:10, 1Co 3:11-15)
Mid-Acts dispensationalism and progressive revelation are grounded in Scripture's own unfolding of God's plan. The Bible reveals that God's truth was not given all at once but in stages-what Paul calls "dispensations" or stewardships ( Eph. 1:10; 3:2). Each period marks a distinct divine administration-before the Law, under the Law, and now under Grace. This is not contradiction but progression, displaying God's manifold wisdom revealed "in due times" ( Titus 1:3).
Mid-Acts teaching holds that the current dispensation of grace began with the revelation given to Paul ( Eph. 3:1-9; Col. 1:25-27). Through him, God made known the mystery of the Body of Christ-Jew and Gentile made one through faith in the finished cross work of Christ ( Eph. 2:13-16; 1 Cor. 12:13). This message of salvation by grace alone apart from works ( Rom. 3:21-28) was not part of Israel's prophetic program but a hidden mystery revealed only after Israel's fall ( Rom. 11:11-12).
Many reject Mid-Acts dispensationalism as false or unbiblical, just as people in Paul's day accused him of heresy for preaching a message apart from the Law ( Acts 24:14; Gal. 1:11-12). The religious crowd called his message dangerous because it freed men from Moses' commandments and introduced a new spiritual organism-the Body of Christ. Yet Paul warned that rejecting this revelation is no light matter. He declared that God will judge mankind "according to my gospel" ( Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8). To ignore Paul's message is to reject the very truth by which God now reconciles the world.
Thus, Mid-Acts dispensationalism is biblical because it honors the progressive revelation of God's Word, rightly divides prophecy from mystery ( 2 Tim. 2:15), and recognizes Paul as the divinely appointed apostle of this age of grace-whose gospel all will one day be judged by.
The recent events with Mr. Kirk have as of today made me more confident to say that he was indeed a martyr; as he espoused and approved the Gospel approach of Ray Comfort in the past which in no uncertain terms as far as I can tell is a clear and Biblically sound approach to the Word. I am as people here can tell skeptical of much that is going down and trying to be deliberately vague so as not to be flagged but also focus on how a Christian in general should approach things going on today.
What is happening now; with the upcoming communion event in D.C. (I'll just leave it at that) is steeped with NAR and therefore with false teachings and I am giving a strong caution for anyone that wants to engage in such an event. Communion I believe should be offered to any true believer; but how it is determined in such a mass of people remains to be seen and what certain false teachers have done to that ceremony is at best questionable and at times clearly blasphemous.
To anyone with a normal human brain (I will avoid being overly sarcastic but need to make a point here); the attempt to hold onto all of our riches of this world and the attempt to push the prosperity gospel (small g) is a clear indicator of this:
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.16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ( Titus 1:14-15).
Now again to someone with a normal intelligence can read verses such as this to see what true persecution is
Philippians 3:8
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
or read 2 Corinthians 11 as to what happened with a TRUE Apostle.
Regarding Eph. 3-5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
The Apostle Paul labored with many faithful co-workers to spread the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24) during the dispensation committed to him ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). These individuals helped preach, teach, and establish churches among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was Paul's companion on his first missionary journey ( Acts 13-15) and helped him gain acceptance among believers.
Silas traveled with Paul on his second journey ( Acts 15:40), enduring persecution and planting churches in Macedonia and Greece. Timothy, Paul's "dearly beloved son" in the faith ( 1 Tim 1:2), served closely with him and was entrusted with important ministry tasks ( Phil 2:19-22; 1 Cor 4:17).
Titus, a Greek believer, was sent to Corinth and later to Crete to set church leadership in order ( Titus 1:5).
Luke, the physician, was a faithful companion and authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts ( Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11). Apollos, though not directly sent by Paul, was mighty in the Scriptures and preached effectively in line with Paul's message ( Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor 3:6). Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers, taught Apollos and hosted churches in their home ( Rom 16:3-5).
Other trusted workers include Tychicus, a faithful messenger ( Eph 6:21), Epaphroditus ( Phil 2:25), Onesimus, a converted runaway slave ( Philemon 10-13), Aristarchus, Erastus, Sopater, and Gaius. Sadly, Demas abandoned Paul, loving this present world ( 2 Tim 4:10).
These men and women formed the core team Paul used to carry the grace message throughout the Gentile world.
With the exception of Luke I find none of the Disciples of Christ preaching faith without works.
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived ( 2 Timothy 3:13).
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ( Matthew 24:11).
As we get closer to the time of the end; and the approach of the Antichrist's appearance; more and more false prophecies will seem to be fulfilled. It is only expected that if a man deceives the whole world as Revelation 13:8 says And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Surely a false Messiah will appear to mirror many aspects of the true one; and reading Revelation shows how miraculous signs from heaven and most importantly an apparent restoration from death ( Revelation 13:3) after the deadly wound mentioned in Zechariah 11:17. The events of the first seal in Revelation 6:1 and also mentioned in the Daniel 9:27 passage and other verses from that book in particular show how he arises. It only takes a little homework to see that Islam teaches of an eventual 12th Imam who will arise and bring forth a time of peace; which echoes New Age; the Maitreya and other manifestations of a utopia believed to arrive after we have "evolved" to the next level.
For this study; I just pass through the final manifestation of evil on the earth in this age and will now focus on the false prophets of today as well as in the past to see characteristics. The first thing I would say is that a false prophet usually has false "profits". Titus 1:10-11 states For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. There are some who clearly are fleecing the flock for exorbitant living that are in megachurches; but other times cults will declare a vow of poverty but bilk funds.
Trust and dependence on the Son of God, believing in His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, Romans 5:8-10. Titus 1:2 states that God has promised eternal life to us from before creation, but it is our future hope in Jesus through faith, as seen in Romans 1:16. This hope has been established for us in Jesus before time; this hope is eternal life. It is not seen or enjoyed now; that is not hope, Romans 8:24-25.
Is Jesus praying for just the disciples or also future believers? This was determined before the foundation of the world, as we see in John 14:3, and Paul confirms it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. We will see the glory of Christ that the Father has given Him when He returns to establish the kingdom.
Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, and salvation was part of God's plan. The word " chose, " from the Greek word eklego, means to pick out for oneself, to choose, elect, or select. God's plan and purpose for humanity was for us to have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:19-20 explains that Jesus, through His obedience to the Father and His sinless life as a lamb without blemish and spot, shed His blood for us. This was foreordained before the foundation of the world. The word " foreordained " is derived from the Greek word proginosko, meaning to know beforehand, representing the foreknowledge of God, a plan manifested in the last times for us. Various verses refer to the foundation of the world, meaning from the creation of the earth and humanity.
Matthew 25:34 speaks of the glory in God's plan, in the mind of God, encompassing all things from beginning to end, something we as humans cannot fully comprehend. We see the culmination of this verse in Revelation 20:11-15.
I did read your earlier post but not before you posted the second time. I'm not sure what you mean by a "Wonderful time" lady, but I can share my thoughts on this.
A man, whether he is a pastor or not is free to re-marry if his current spouse dies. You asked about this pastor justifying getting remarried to a "wonderful time" lady by using Titus 1:6. I would say that Titus 1:6 has nothing to do with his situation. What bothers me about this is that this pastor is having a wonderful time with another woman while his wife is still alive. It should not matter that his current wife is critically ill. He is still required to be faithful to his wife. No man, especially a pastor should become involved with another woman while he is still married. Even though there may not be anything sexual or romantic going on, there is still the appearance of evil which every believer is to avoid.
We see this same phrase "husband of one wife" in 1 Timothy 3:2. As I share before when I went through 1 Timothy, it is literally a one-woman man. That's the way it reads in the Greek text. It doesn't have anything to do with marriage, divorce, or re-marriage. It means to be a one-woman man, faithful to one wife.
I hope this helps. Thank you so much for your message.
Enjoy your explanation and the ongoing study of Titus. I wrote earlier and it seems that it got lost somewhere in cyberspace. My question is on Titus 1:6.....husband of one wife. Does that imply that a man can re-marry again because he had only one wife and not two or more, at the same time?
I want to ask this question. If a pastor's wife is critically ill and the pastor is having a wonderful time with another lady. Then the wife passed off and within a year, the pastor marries that "wonderful time" lady.
And the pastor justify the marriage as a personal choice by quoting " Titus 1:6 - Titus 1:6 (KJV)
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,".............is this pastor applying the correct interpretation?
Titus 1:14 - Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables. What this phrase is referring to is that what some people would do in these fellowships is they would establish doctrine by personal experience. They would tell stories of experiences that they had in their own life, and from those experiences, they would say that because of my experience, that establishes this truth about life.
Paul says no, it doesn't. In fact, the word fables is the word myths, MUTHOS. Not giving heed to Jewish stories, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. The word turn is a Present Participle which means always turning from the truth.
Titus 1:15 - 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.
A pure person is going to look for purity in all things. But unto those who are defiled and to the unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind, and that would be the Greek word for perception, even their perceptions and their conscience is defiled. So, there isn't anything that's pure.
Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him. So, with their mouth they talk belief, but with their life they live corruption. Being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work, and that's the word AGATHOS for the work of God, and they are reprobate (rejected).
Those are tough words, but Paul is dealing with a pagan practice and society that is in the church. And Titus has to go in there and say "look, if you profess to be a believer, and you're still living that pagan lifestyle, there's a question mark right over you."
You cannot be saved just by a profession or confession, because truth produces godliness.
Titus 1:8 - But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
So, we just had five negatives in Verse 7, and in Verse 8, we have some positives.
But a lover of hospitality, meaning hospitable. The Greek word is literally a lover of strangers. Christians, as they pass through town would seek other believers to stay in their homes. And that's what it means to be hospitable to strangers.
A lover of good men, and the word good here is AGATHOS, which is spiritual good.
To be sober, no influence, and in fact, the Greek word is sober minded. Your mind can be influenced by various thoughts and issues of life and can cloud your thinking and your judgment and your decision making, just like alcohol can take over your system. The influence of thoughts are not to be part of the thinking process of the leader.
He must be just, or righteous. That means to be right with God.
He must be holy. This means pure.
He must be temperate; which means self-controlled. Only this Greek word has to do with being controlled from the inside by an outside force. Galatians 5:22 says that the Holy Spirit controls the believer. He is to be controlled on the inside by an outside force. And of course that's a reference to God's Spirit.
Titus 1:9 - Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Gainsayers is to speak against the word.
Titus 1:10 - For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, meaning the Jews: There were even Hebrew Jewish people coming in and telling the believers that they must live by the law, even in the island of Crete.
Titus 1:6 - If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
He says if any be blameless. That is a legal term that means unimpeachable. Blameless in the following area: the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. The word riot means destruction. The word unruly means insubordinate. It is the same phrase that's found in 1 Timothy Chapter 3. In the Greek, when it says the husband of one wife, it means a one-woman man. It has nothing to do with divorce. It has to do with faithfulness. A man must be faithful to his wife, while at the same time having faithful children.
Titus 1:7 - For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
It says, for a bishop, and this is the word for an overseer, EPISKOPOS. It's the same as pastor, and the same as elder. For a bishop must be blameless, again unimpeachable, as the steward of God;
Here's the list:
Not selfwilled, which is somebody that's not looking to have their own way all the time.
Next, it says not soon angry. There's no word soon in the Greek text, but the Greek word indicates impulsive outbursts of anger.
Not given to wine. The Greek word is literally not alongside of wine. Don't be associated with wine. That means if it's sitting in front of you at the table and you're not drinking it, you're still associated with it. Do not be alongside of wine.
He is not to be a striker. This has nothing to do with going on strike! Literally, it is a person that doesn't hit.
Not given to filthy lucre; Many years ago, I didn't know what that was, but just by the sound of it, I didn't want it whatever it was. It literally means shameful gain in dealing with the material objects of the world. It is shameful gain with materialism. It is a shame for leaders to lust after and go after material things that are beyond the necessity.
Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
So, the premise of Paul's ministry includes three things: According to the same faith that God's elect has, according to the full knowledge of the truth which produces godliness, and upon the basis of the hope of eternal life. And then the promise of God: All of these things, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began; or more literally, before the time of the ages.
The God who cannot lie, that's a Hebraism from the Old Testament. In fact, the word lie in the Greek text is in the Attributive Position. It is the un-lying God. He can't lie. It's impossible.
Titus 1:4 - To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
The person the letter is written to is to Titus, my own son, and the word own is the word genuine. He says my genuine son, after the common faith:
In other words, Titus was born out of the same faith that Paul has. And Paul has mentioned this, and it is interesting that 2 Timothy 1:5 mentions the fact that Timothy had the same faith as his grandmother and his mother, and Paul says I'm persuaded that it's the same faith that is in you.
Believers are born out of the same faith. It's not different. Some people have a different faith. But if you are born out of the Spirit of God, you have the same faith as Paul, and Timothy, and Titus. So, he pronounces to Titus Grace, mercy, and peace. And again, in the pastoral letters, he includes one word more than in his other letters. It's the word mercy.
Grace is the Greek greeting. Peace is the Jewish greeting, Shalom. And mercy, he puts in for both Timothy and Titus who were leaders in the church. He then says this is from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Interesting, God our Savior, and now from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus our Savior!
But the full knowledge of the truth, and this is going to be brought out in this letter that if the truth is being taught, then your life should be in the process of being changed, and your life should be more godly, more God fearing and respecting. If there is no life change and transformation, then Paul's presentation is that it's not the truth.
Thirdly: according to the hope of eternal life. The word hope in Greek ELPIS, doesn't mean hope like a wish, but it means to be expectant for something to happen, expectancy. It's not you wish it would happen, but you expect it to happen.
Peter, in 1 Peter 1:3, he said blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It's a living hope! It's a hope that's alive. It's not a wish. We're looking for the coming of Christ. If we die first, we're looking to be in His presence. We're looking for the hope that Jesus gave us through His resurrection.
The premise for Paul's ministry, he says three things:
First of all, according to the faith of God's elect. The term God's elect is making reference to the Jewish remnant. The Jews, the Hebrew remnant is called the elect of God. Gentiles, or the church are not called the elect. That's why we're going to find when we get into the Jewish literature that the Jews, the letters to whom they're written to, the Jews will be called God's elect. It's not the Gentiles. It's the Jews.
So, when he says according to the faith of God's elect, he's appealing to the Jewish people that Paul's faith is the same faith from God as God's elect has. It's the same faith. The basis for his ministry is the same God, and the same faith. And by the way, there was a Jewish remnant on the island of Crete. It is believed because of the information in Acts 2:11.
We're told that Jews from the island of Crete were there on the day of Pentecost, and were believers, and received the outpouring of God's Spirit, went back to the island of Crete, and that's how Christianity first spread, and then of course was established when Paul and Titus came through as more people were saved. So, there was a Jewish population, a Jewish remnant in these home church fellowships.
Secondly: according to the full knowledge.
The King James says acknowledging, but the Greek word means full knowledge of the truth, not just bits of information, but the complete knowledge of the truth, which is according to, or after godliness;
What this phrase is saying without getting into too much technical points here, is that the truth of God produces godliness. The emphasis is lifestyle. The word godliness, EUSEBEIA, means to have a respect and a reverence for God. An ungodly person is someone who doesn't respect God at all.
Written by Paul to Titus who was overseeing the churches on the Island of Crete (160 miles long, 35 miles wide, located south of the Aegean Sea). The theme of Titus is Pastoral Instruction. Paul sets in order the things that are lacking in the fellowships in Crete.
Titus 1:1 - 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;
There is a lot packed into this one verse, so I will have to break this one up. He says Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. The word servant is the word DULOS. In Exodus Chapter 21, it gives us the account of the DULOS. A slave is someone who would be a slave to a master in order to pay a debt.
And after the debt is paid, the slave would be free to go. But if the slave did not want to leave the master's house, he would voluntarily come to the master and say I want to be your slave for life. The master would take the slave to the front door of the home, he would take an awl, and he would nail his ear to the doorpost. He would then take the nail out and put a ring in his ear, and that ring would designate him as a DULOS, a voluntary slave to his master.
And Paul used this term for himself, that he was a slave to sin, but Jesus Christ set him free, and he has committed his life to be the Lord's DULOS for life, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. An apostle, the APOSTOLOS, is someone who is sent out with a commission. In this instance, because Paul says he's a DULOS, he's a slave sent by his master on a mission.
info that no one will tell you for whatever reason you know like 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Matthew 24 & Titus 1:10-11. Grace is not unmerited favor, it is the spirit of conviction your heart to obey. (G5485) it's NOT "legalism" it's LOVE ( 1 John 5:3) We've got to be obedient to his 2 covenants of promise (10 commandments and rainbow covenat "eat clean") thats what Christ(Yeshua) magnified and made honorable, just like his very own character and life was pleasing unto God(Yahovah) he opened the door for all nations to enter that covenant verbally presented and agreed to at the rock at Horeb, and *then* written in stone at Mt Sinai. but Israel had already transgressed that agreement ( Exodus 19 & 20) when Moses came down with the 10 commandments in writing. *then* the sacrificial law was added until Christ(Yeshua) would finish the punishment with a perfect sacrifice, effectively restoring the original covenant (10 commandments.) Moses prophesies about ending the punishment of the sacrificial law here in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 but never did the eternal 10 comandments go away. now because the 10 northern tribe were scattered into all the world via mixing seed(mixed offspring) the covenant is open to ALL nations and people. I really wish people actually read this book most have it wrong, with many false gospels and dangerous doctrines of men and demons, mixing holy and profane, teaching traditions as commandments while tossing out the actual commandments, ( Matt 24)
this is why he said "narrow is the path, few will find it." - Matt 7:14
Love your neighbor according to scripture - James 2:8 what scripture? Leviticus 19:15-18.
If we look to what was considered at the time to be of the devil in the entertainment industry; namely the Beatles sadly it puts to shame the egos of those who are in what I often call the Christian Music Industry. At the inception; no doubt there was a spirit of rebellion in their souls but they came forth wearing suits and ties; bringing a very modest boxed lunch to eat (imagine that today) and keeping their lyrics family friendly for the most part. Of course time went on and they became more hippie in appearance (forgot to mention earlier cropped haircuts); more demonic in the implications of their lyrics and finally were involved in Eastern mysticism showing pictures of all sorts of nefarious characters on their album cover (I'll leave it nameless once again) where famous dictators and a couple Satanists were featured as they got into their LSD phase. As is common among musicians in particular all four members were divorced and remarried while their spouse was alive; in McCartneys case his first wife died and his second he divorced which is allowed Biblically.
In the same light female "Pastors" often are along with others in the Megachurch world divorced and remarried. I hold personally to the belief that if a spouse is alive remarriage isn't permissible; but whatever one espouses as to the meaning of Matthew 5 and 19 in such matters clearly many do this for unscriptural reasons; those other than a cheating spouse if we take that as the meaning of those verses. As a sidenote I heard an interesting comment the other day; that a church hosts a marriage ceremony but never a divorce. Interesting concept...
At any rate; the concept of "filthy lucre" is in Titus 1:11 and THREE other places in scripture. That word isn't used today but it has the proper nasty implications in KJV. Women preachers and often musicians that are scantily clothed are more often than not scanty in any scriptural meat for their flock.
Apostle Paul always writes to believers. Remember, Jesus Christ is ascended in Heaven. If Jesus Christ didn't have the Godhead, he couldn't of died on the cross, it would of been impossible.
Philippians 2:5-6
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Because of the sinful flesh Jesus Christ had, God was in Christ Jesus as one.
2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, thatGodwas in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us thewordofreconciliation.
Jesus Christ was the voice and Word in Genesis .
Genesis 3:14-15
14And theLordGod said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Jesus Christ spoke in Genesis about bruising Satan's heel.
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shallbruiseSatan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Jesus Christ was always the Son of God and took on flesh by the virgin Mary.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ is our Saviour God.
Titus 1:3
But hath in due times manifested hiswordthrough preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandmentofGodour Saviour;
Jesus Christ is the Word.
1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, theWord, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
May we all believe that Jesus Christ is a Man, Sevant, King , Saviour, and our God in three persons.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 BELIEVE ONLY
Your posts are helpful, I understand how long it would be on this site with 2000 characters to go verse by verse, but what you do should inspire us to study all the verses around what you post. The conscience: I understand what you are saying but I understand it a little differently. I understand our conscience which is sometimes called our heart, Proverbs 4:23, is a gift God gave us to help us overcome the curse that we received when Adam and Eve ate that fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.
The law and sacrifices could not cleanse our conscience, and we have been told to guard our conscience. When we repent and are born again our conscience is cleaned Hebrews 9:13-14, Hebrews 10:22 and when we slip, we are given confidence if we repent it is cleaned by the blood of Christ, 1 John 1:9. Our conscience and our mind are separate, Titus 1:15.
Our subconscious mind learns from experiences without us being aware of it. It processes information and makes connections effortlessly. We operate 80 to 90 percent with this part of our mind. This kind of learning affects our actions and choices without us consciously realizing it. My thoughts, this is the part of us that is attracted by the world, the part of our flesh that is tempted.
Our conscience can be weak and defiled 1 Corinthians 8:7 and seared like in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 and our minds can become so corrupt 2 Timothy 3:8, that God can turn us over to a reprobate mind Romans 1:28. I feel people can get to a point where their conscience is dead, and they live on the instinct of their subconscious mind for just survival in this earthly world. But there is always hope, I have seen where people have been restored and their conscience cleansed and made alive again, Jesus's blood can wash away all sins.
This is just me, but I believe our conscience is the spirit of man, Zechariah 12:11 Corinthians 2:11.
Dear Momsage. Thank you for your kind sentiments expressed here. I know that you, and so many others here, love the Lord with all their hearts & your desire is to bring forward your understanding from the Bible, and where there is a difference of opinion, then a good, hearty & loving discussion can ensue. I don't believe that a topic being discussed at great length as 'being run into the ground', since a discussion is as good as those who are prepared to engage in it & want to keep it going. If exchanges cease, then the topic ends, and as often is the case, without agreement, whether in full or part.
Concerning the inspiration of the KJB translation, I believe that brother Jesse has explained it very well, in that inspiration came in the original writings, when holy men of God & prophets had direct interactions with the LORD, or as in the case of Genesis, where Moses was so directed to pen those words or to access other writings from those preceding him, giving us the history. What we have now in our modern translations (including the KJB), is wholly dependent on the texts that they have derived from & the quality of the translators. Does this mean that those translators of the NIV, NASB, etc. were not inspired or diligent in their work? Or rather, their source material, though older, may not necessarily be the more reliable (for they even differ between each other, depending on which one is used or used in combination with the others).
Just as an example concerning the translators themselves: take 1 Timothy 3:1 or Titus 1:7, focussing on the word 'bishop'. Today, we envision a bishop as a senior member of a clergy, maybe in charge of a diocese & one who confers 'holy' orders to his parishes. As well, he robes himself in a long embroidered gown with a mitre on his head. Do you feel that Paul when writing those words in his letters pictured such an official person in the Church, so admirably dressed to lead Christ's Church? Onto Page 2.
The Holy Spirit: Living out our faith vs. "smoke and mirrors"
I have discussed apparently more than once in Philippians 1 about how many preached out of envy to add to Paul's suffering as no doubt those preaching this way would bring the accusation that Christians truly are unhinged; and not in the way the Lord intends.
God says that He "draws all men to Himself" ( John 12:32) to be accomplished after the Resurrection.
When we see the sideshow that is so often the megachurch power and numbers game; which in reality is usually just "filthy lucre" as a motivation ( Titus 1:11; 1 Tim. 3:3 etc) it kind of reminds us of Judas Iscariot on steroids; everybody out for a buck and willing to pay into the system so that they can also gain earthly riches. The only one this works for is other hucksters hence we see the company many of these fraudulent Pastors keep which in reality is the only company they respect. I can only imagine what the true titles of some of their conference meeting motivational topics would be if exposed.
INTERNATIONAL conference on ways to fleece the flock: No holds barred. Special invite only for ministries grossing 10 Million a year: Highlights
How to pass the buck with the shell game approach; avoid paying taxes in the US; how to apply to YOUR country
How to impress your King or President with favors
How to maximize giving through flattery; guilt and confusion. Special EVENING devotion on the new "Shock and Awe" approach
How to make it happen: signs; wonders-get the right title for your ministry: "Healing" and "Deliverance ministries OFFICIAL decal for 5000 dollar annual fee.
I may get flagged for this sarcasm but these are techniques being used today. It is truly sobering to see that in many of the so called revivals in the last century there were serious problems; from the anarchy that was prevalent in the Azuza street ministry to many unverified "miracles" with A.A. Allen and others with questionable morals. And no persecution?
As stated in some comments some months ago; we should still be able to trust God in regard to His Word; and that indeed He can and will prosper people financially. In this world we should adhere to 1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Some are born into riches; others earn it through hard work and God's Providence of resulting financial success. Money is uncertain and we can't put our trust in things that "moth and rust" corrupt ( Matt. 6:19).
Certainly it isn't Pastors who should be cornering the market or seeking "filthy lucre" ( Titus 1:11 AND 1 Peter 5:2). The best they can hope for is making it into heaven as through the fire; but there is probably a much better chance they aren't saved at all. Only God knows but why make that lifestyle your legacy?
What we see today is more of these so called "Apostles" dying; while others making half hearted "repentance" statements then continuing on with the sin of covetousness; much like the parable of a dog returning to its own vomit ( Proverbs 26:11). We certainly bring nothing into this world and we aren't taking anything out ( 1 Timothy 6:7). What we can do is gain heavenly treasure by harvesting souls ( Matt. 6:19).
He who covers or conceals his sin is not doing themselves any favors. ( Proverbs 28:13). It actually says the man will not prosper. There are enough warnings in scripture including to the Pharisees as to the spiritual ramifications of continuing in such behaviors and many others in the Old Testament as well.
Ultimately; the desire for fame and popularity is tied into those with this narcissistic mindset and lifestyle. All will be lost after this life; which is as a vapor has passed. Let us live lives in strict obedience and holiness not due to compulsion but love and gratitude for what Christ did for us.
Thank you again, from my heart, the truth is my search not to offend. It all goes back to one verse when I read it, it stood out in my heart, Corinthians 11:4. I know I am alone here on this, but saying Jesus is part of the Triune God, who eternally exists and expresses himself as three distinct persons with one essence all three co-equal. One God in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This to me denies the Son, 1 John 2:23
What I see in the Bible is the relationship between the Father and the Son, the Son is obedient to the Father. Jesus said His Father is greater than Him, John 14:28. Jesus has said the Father is His God, John 20:17Revelation 3:12.
The Bible defines God's nature as eternal and unchanging; there is only one throne of God and through the Bible, only the Father is on the throne until the Father raised His Son from the dead and placed Him on His right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, there is nothing about the Holy Spirit.
As we see in Revelation Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, Rev. 21:22-23 no Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, not another person.
Jesus confirmed there is only one true God, Mark 12:28-34, in Jesus's prayer to His Father said in John 17:3. All the greetings in the New Testament are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3Ephesians 6:231 Thessalonians 1:12 Timothy 1:2Titus 1:42 John 1:3 and more but no Holy Spirit.
If the Trinity true and is so important, why is it not once taught in Scripture? God cannot change and God cannot die, so how do we understand John 3:16 if God the Father did not send his actual begotten Son to die for our sins? We see Jesus also had His own will, Luke 22:42.
Isaiah 30:10 warns about people wanting to hear "smooth things" being prophesied. Such may be the case for those who wish to invoke blessings on themselves for any other reasons than scripturally backed statements. Galations 5:19-21 is one of about ONE HUNDRED verses warning us about those who do NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. This is something also found in Ephesians 5:5; the book of 1 Corinthians; Hebrews; Romans; Revelation AND the Gospels.
To remind God of blessings promised in the Scriptures; if done in the correct way is honoring to God. Without discernment; however we may not be aware of what this means; and also if we are living in a sinful lifestyle we are trying to deliberately ask for something we cannot have as long as we refuse to submit to the Lord and we are producing bad fruit.
The church much like Israel has certain CONDITIONAL as well as unconditional promises. The POSSESSING church (that is those who have the Holy Spirit and are truly saved) is and always will be a subset in this age of the confessing or professing body of believers (i.e. the church). The difference is there are some who believe in the true God and others in a God of their own imaginations; fitting the parameters that a person finds reasonable; or comfortable living with by mentally cherry picking what appeals from the Word and filing the unpleasant verses somewhere in the cobwebs in the back of their mind.
God is no respecter of persons ( Acts 10:34 also Romans 2). He does whatever He chooses and we know for certain that He desires glory for Himself and no other. (See Isaiah 42:8). John 16:10 shows how God seeks glory for the Son; therefore His desire for worship is never selfish as He always does the Father's will. This is selfless love and shows an example of how we are to live. If we thank God for things in our lives that bring us into sin such as excess money for greedy gain ( Titus 1:11); we are only heaping greater condemnation on ourselves.
Thank you Rainwalker. You are correct, that the same word, 'adokimos' is used in relation to 'reprobate or castaway'. And this word gives the definitions as 'failing to pass the test, unapproved, counterfeit'. So we see a number of meanings that can be given, whether a test is given & one fails it, or to the other, of one being a counterfeit.
Thus if one feels that 1 Corinthians 9:27 might be Paul indicating that if he fails to keep his body (his flesh) under subjection, that when he preaches to others, then God would cast him away; could he then just be a failure, or incur God's disapproval, or even actually be a counterfeit Christian to be relegated to a destiny with other unbelievers?
Then do verses such as Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8, or Titus 1:16 apply also to Paul if he neglected to keep his body under subjection? And if Paul is deemed to be a castaway (i.e. having lost his salvation), does this then open the door to the Lord's failure to call & appoint His primary apostle to the Gentiles? But as we know, Paul didn't let the flesh or the Devil overcome him - he remained clear in conscience & faithful to his Lord; and this power, could it have come from within, i.e. the Holy Spirit in him, Who helps those endued with the Spirit, to not only do as Paul did, but also to be confident that He will indeed keep them from falling & be presented faultless before the Throne?
It's for such questions & verses in the NT, that confirm to my heart that God makes no mistakes in calling, redeeming, justifying & sealing His children. Readers of those passages will have to satisfy their own hearts & minds as to how to understand the different word usages for 'castaway or reprobate'.
If I may add a few points to this subject, I know we have different understandings on this and I hope you will not be offended, these are questions I have asked myself. What does Scripture support, our soul is an immortal entity that consciously lives on after the death of the body or does it sleep in the grave until the resurrection? Is the definition of death a separation of the soul from the body or is it the end of life, a permanent cessation, and the grave is our home until we are resurrected?
John 3:15-16 Without the belief in Jesus we will perish the Greek word apollumi means destroy utterly, to put out of the way entirely, abolish as in Psalms 37:10Psalms 92:7Proverbs 10:28-29Job 20:4-7Malachi 4:1-32 Peter 2:12.
Matthew 10:28 we are to fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell, the Greek word for destroy is apollumi same as perish, a permanent/absolute destruction. Hell, the Greek word is geenna the fire and smoke that goes up and burns forever that never goes out is a reference to the lake of fire. Job 17:13 the Hebrew word sheol is the same word translated as hell. Job 17:16 the word pit is the same Hebrew word.
Our first death is sleep, Psalms 13:3Daniel 12:2Acts 13:361 Cor. 15:51. If all souls are immortal which means they have eternal life, the question must be asked, what is the gift of eternal life we see in John 3:15John 6:54Romans 6:23Titus 1:21 John 2:25Jude 1:21? If our soul is immortal, why do we have to put immortality on as said in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58?
----History Cooperative: The Pagan Origins of Christmas: Saturnalia, Yule, and Other Pre-Christian Traditions
(In the above read "early Christians" as Roman Catholic, and those that fail to fully break away from them.)
82% of those identifying as born-again Christian believe Christ Jesus even existed. According to the Cultural Research Center of Arizona University. I am sure most of the 18% that do not celebrate Xmas. It is way past time that the true believers (those that believe Jesus was the virgin-born Son of God, that he died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again the third day) quit being lukewarm ( Rev 3:15-16), study God's word, adhere to it precisely, and make manifest the CINOs (Christian in Name Only) to the world.
-- Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
As stated prior to this post, each individual saint must decide how important their salvation is.
-- Philippians 2:12 WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING.
How many are lost because we want the comfort of looking and acting like the deceivers of this world?
Till we meet at the Judgment Seat of Christ. ( 2Co 5:10, 1Co 3:11-15)
Mid-Acts teaching holds that the current dispensation of grace began with the revelation given to Paul ( Eph. 3:1-9; Col. 1:25-27). Through him, God made known the mystery of the Body of Christ-Jew and Gentile made one through faith in the finished cross work of Christ ( Eph. 2:13-16; 1 Cor. 12:13). This message of salvation by grace alone apart from works ( Rom. 3:21-28) was not part of Israel's prophetic program but a hidden mystery revealed only after Israel's fall ( Rom. 11:11-12).
Many reject Mid-Acts dispensationalism as false or unbiblical, just as people in Paul's day accused him of heresy for preaching a message apart from the Law ( Acts 24:14; Gal. 1:11-12). The religious crowd called his message dangerous because it freed men from Moses' commandments and introduced a new spiritual organism-the Body of Christ. Yet Paul warned that rejecting this revelation is no light matter. He declared that God will judge mankind "according to my gospel" ( Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8). To ignore Paul's message is to reject the very truth by which God now reconciles the world.
Thus, Mid-Acts dispensationalism is biblical because it honors the progressive revelation of God's Word, rightly divides prophecy from mystery ( 2 Tim. 2:15), and recognizes Paul as the divinely appointed apostle of this age of grace-whose gospel all will one day be judged by.
G&P
The recent events with Mr. Kirk have as of today made me more confident to say that he was indeed a martyr; as he espoused and approved the Gospel approach of Ray Comfort in the past which in no uncertain terms as far as I can tell is a clear and Biblically sound approach to the Word. I am as people here can tell skeptical of much that is going down and trying to be deliberately vague so as not to be flagged but also focus on how a Christian in general should approach things going on today.
What is happening now; with the upcoming communion event in D.C. (I'll just leave it at that) is steeped with NAR and therefore with false teachings and I am giving a strong caution for anyone that wants to engage in such an event. Communion I believe should be offered to any true believer; but how it is determined in such a mass of people remains to be seen and what certain false teachers have done to that ceremony is at best questionable and at times clearly blasphemous.
To anyone with a normal human brain (I will avoid being overly sarcastic but need to make a point here); the attempt to hold onto all of our riches of this world and the attempt to push the prosperity gospel (small g) is a clear indicator of this:
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.16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. ( Titus 1:14-15).
Now again to someone with a normal intelligence can read verses such as this to see what true persecution is
Philippians 3:8
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
or read 2 Corinthians 11 as to what happened with a TRUE Apostle.
Food for thought; time to shop
The Apostle Paul labored with many faithful co-workers to spread the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24) during the dispensation committed to him ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). These individuals helped preach, teach, and establish churches among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was Paul's companion on his first missionary journey ( Acts 13-15) and helped him gain acceptance among believers.
Silas traveled with Paul on his second journey ( Acts 15:40), enduring persecution and planting churches in Macedonia and Greece. Timothy, Paul's "dearly beloved son" in the faith ( 1 Tim 1:2), served closely with him and was entrusted with important ministry tasks ( Phil 2:19-22; 1 Cor 4:17).
Titus, a Greek believer, was sent to Corinth and later to Crete to set church leadership in order ( Titus 1:5).
Luke, the physician, was a faithful companion and authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts ( Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11). Apollos, though not directly sent by Paul, was mighty in the Scriptures and preached effectively in line with Paul's message ( Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor 3:6). Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers, taught Apollos and hosted churches in their home ( Rom 16:3-5).
Other trusted workers include Tychicus, a faithful messenger ( Eph 6:21), Epaphroditus ( Phil 2:25), Onesimus, a converted runaway slave ( Philemon 10-13), Aristarchus, Erastus, Sopater, and Gaius. Sadly, Demas abandoned Paul, loving this present world ( 2 Tim 4:10).
These men and women formed the core team Paul used to carry the grace message throughout the Gentile world.
With the exception of Luke I find none of the Disciples of Christ preaching faith without works.
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
James 1:22
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Titus 1:16
"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."
Matthew 7:21
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Blessings
"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived ( 2 Timothy 3:13).
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. ( Matthew 24:11).
As we get closer to the time of the end; and the approach of the Antichrist's appearance; more and more false prophecies will seem to be fulfilled. It is only expected that if a man deceives the whole world as Revelation 13:8 says And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Surely a false Messiah will appear to mirror many aspects of the true one; and reading Revelation shows how miraculous signs from heaven and most importantly an apparent restoration from death ( Revelation 13:3) after the deadly wound mentioned in Zechariah 11:17. The events of the first seal in Revelation 6:1 and also mentioned in the Daniel 9:27 passage and other verses from that book in particular show how he arises. It only takes a little homework to see that Islam teaches of an eventual 12th Imam who will arise and bring forth a time of peace; which echoes New Age; the Maitreya and other manifestations of a utopia believed to arrive after we have "evolved" to the next level.
For this study; I just pass through the final manifestation of evil on the earth in this age and will now focus on the false prophets of today as well as in the past to see characteristics. The first thing I would say is that a false prophet usually has false "profits". Titus 1:10-11 states For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. There are some who clearly are fleecing the flock for exorbitant living that are in megachurches; but other times cults will declare a vow of poverty but bilk funds.
Part 6
Trust and dependence on the Son of God, believing in His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection, Romans 5:8-10. Titus 1:2 states that God has promised eternal life to us from before creation, but it is our future hope in Jesus through faith, as seen in Romans 1:16. This hope has been established for us in Jesus before time; this hope is eternal life. It is not seen or enjoyed now; that is not hope, Romans 8:24-25.
Is Jesus praying for just the disciples or also future believers? This was determined before the foundation of the world, as we see in John 14:3, and Paul confirms it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. We will see the glory of Christ that the Father has given Him when He returns to establish the kingdom.
Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, and salvation was part of God's plan. The word " chose, " from the Greek word eklego, means to pick out for oneself, to choose, elect, or select. God's plan and purpose for humanity was for us to have eternal life in Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:19-20 explains that Jesus, through His obedience to the Father and His sinless life as a lamb without blemish and spot, shed His blood for us. This was foreordained before the foundation of the world. The word " foreordained " is derived from the Greek word proginosko, meaning to know beforehand, representing the foreknowledge of God, a plan manifested in the last times for us. Various verses refer to the foundation of the world, meaning from the creation of the earth and humanity.
Matthew 25:34 speaks of the glory in God's plan, in the mind of God, encompassing all things from beginning to end, something we as humans cannot fully comprehend. We see the culmination of this verse in Revelation 20:11-15.
See part 7.
I did read your earlier post but not before you posted the second time. I'm not sure what you mean by a "Wonderful time" lady, but I can share my thoughts on this.
A man, whether he is a pastor or not is free to re-marry if his current spouse dies. You asked about this pastor justifying getting remarried to a "wonderful time" lady by using Titus 1:6. I would say that Titus 1:6 has nothing to do with his situation. What bothers me about this is that this pastor is having a wonderful time with another woman while his wife is still alive. It should not matter that his current wife is critically ill. He is still required to be faithful to his wife. No man, especially a pastor should become involved with another woman while he is still married. Even though there may not be anything sexual or romantic going on, there is still the appearance of evil which every believer is to avoid.
We see this same phrase "husband of one wife" in 1 Timothy 3:2. As I share before when I went through 1 Timothy, it is literally a one-woman man. That's the way it reads in the Greek text. It doesn't have anything to do with marriage, divorce, or re-marriage. It means to be a one-woman man, faithful to one wife.
I hope this helps. Thank you so much for your message.
God Bless!!!
Enjoy your explanation and the ongoing study of Titus. I wrote earlier and it seems that it got lost somewhere in cyberspace. My question is on Titus 1:6.....husband of one wife. Does that imply that a man can re-marry again because he had only one wife and not two or more, at the same time?
I want to ask this question. If a pastor's wife is critically ill and the pastor is having a wonderful time with another lady. Then the wife passed off and within a year, the pastor marries that "wonderful time" lady.
And the pastor justify the marriage as a personal choice by quoting " Titus 1:6 - Titus 1:6 (KJV)
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.If any be blameless, the husband of one wife,".............is this pastor applying the correct interpretation?
I hope she comes back and clarify!
God bless.
And I should should ace the test as long as it's an open book.
I have all of it copied!
Also Titus 1:1 has a lot in that short verse!!
Blessings
Titus 1:14 - Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
Not giving heed to Jewish fables. What this phrase is referring to is that what some people would do in these fellowships is they would establish doctrine by personal experience. They would tell stories of experiences that they had in their own life, and from those experiences, they would say that because of my experience, that establishes this truth about life.
Paul says no, it doesn't. In fact, the word fables is the word myths, MUTHOS. Not giving heed to Jewish stories, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. The word turn is a Present Participle which means always turning from the truth.
Titus 1:15 - 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.
A pure person is going to look for purity in all things. But unto those who are defiled and to the unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind, and that would be the Greek word for perception, even their perceptions and their conscience is defiled. So, there isn't anything that's pure.
Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him. So, with their mouth they talk belief, but with their life they live corruption. Being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work, and that's the word AGATHOS for the work of God, and they are reprobate (rejected).
Those are tough words, but Paul is dealing with a pagan practice and society that is in the church. And Titus has to go in there and say "look, if you profess to be a believer, and you're still living that pagan lifestyle, there's a question mark right over you."
You cannot be saved just by a profession or confession, because truth produces godliness.
Titus 1:8 - But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
So, we just had five negatives in Verse 7, and in Verse 8, we have some positives.
But a lover of hospitality, meaning hospitable. The Greek word is literally a lover of strangers. Christians, as they pass through town would seek other believers to stay in their homes. And that's what it means to be hospitable to strangers.
A lover of good men, and the word good here is AGATHOS, which is spiritual good.
To be sober, no influence, and in fact, the Greek word is sober minded. Your mind can be influenced by various thoughts and issues of life and can cloud your thinking and your judgment and your decision making, just like alcohol can take over your system. The influence of thoughts are not to be part of the thinking process of the leader.
He must be just, or righteous. That means to be right with God.
He must be holy. This means pure.
He must be temperate; which means self-controlled. Only this Greek word has to do with being controlled from the inside by an outside force. Galatians 5:22 says that the Holy Spirit controls the believer. He is to be controlled on the inside by an outside force. And of course that's a reference to God's Spirit.
Titus 1:9 - Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Gainsayers is to speak against the word.
Titus 1:10 - For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, meaning the Jews: There were even Hebrew Jewish people coming in and telling the believers that they must live by the law, even in the island of Crete.
Titus 1:6 - If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
He says if any be blameless. That is a legal term that means unimpeachable. Blameless in the following area: the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. The word riot means destruction. The word unruly means insubordinate. It is the same phrase that's found in 1 Timothy Chapter 3. In the Greek, when it says the husband of one wife, it means a one-woman man. It has nothing to do with divorce. It has to do with faithfulness. A man must be faithful to his wife, while at the same time having faithful children.
Titus 1:7 - For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
It says, for a bishop, and this is the word for an overseer, EPISKOPOS. It's the same as pastor, and the same as elder. For a bishop must be blameless, again unimpeachable, as the steward of God;
Here's the list:
Not selfwilled, which is somebody that's not looking to have their own way all the time.
Next, it says not soon angry. There's no word soon in the Greek text, but the Greek word indicates impulsive outbursts of anger.
Not given to wine. The Greek word is literally not alongside of wine. Don't be associated with wine. That means if it's sitting in front of you at the table and you're not drinking it, you're still associated with it. Do not be alongside of wine.
He is not to be a striker. This has nothing to do with going on strike! Literally, it is a person that doesn't hit.
Not given to filthy lucre; Many years ago, I didn't know what that was, but just by the sound of it, I didn't want it whatever it was. It literally means shameful gain in dealing with the material objects of the world. It is shameful gain with materialism. It is a shame for leaders to lust after and go after material things that are beyond the necessity.
Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
So, the premise of Paul's ministry includes three things: According to the same faith that God's elect has, according to the full knowledge of the truth which produces godliness, and upon the basis of the hope of eternal life. And then the promise of God: All of these things, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began; or more literally, before the time of the ages.
The God who cannot lie, that's a Hebraism from the Old Testament. In fact, the word lie in the Greek text is in the Attributive Position. It is the un-lying God. He can't lie. It's impossible.
Titus 1:4 - To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
The person the letter is written to is to Titus, my own son, and the word own is the word genuine. He says my genuine son, after the common faith:
In other words, Titus was born out of the same faith that Paul has. And Paul has mentioned this, and it is interesting that 2 Timothy 1:5 mentions the fact that Timothy had the same faith as his grandmother and his mother, and Paul says I'm persuaded that it's the same faith that is in you.
Believers are born out of the same faith. It's not different. Some people have a different faith. But if you are born out of the Spirit of God, you have the same faith as Paul, and Timothy, and Titus. So, he pronounces to Titus Grace, mercy, and peace. And again, in the pastoral letters, he includes one word more than in his other letters. It's the word mercy.
Grace is the Greek greeting. Peace is the Jewish greeting, Shalom. And mercy, he puts in for both Timothy and Titus who were leaders in the church. He then says this is from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Interesting, God our Savior, and now from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus our Savior!
Titus 1:1 Continued:
But the full knowledge of the truth, and this is going to be brought out in this letter that if the truth is being taught, then your life should be in the process of being changed, and your life should be more godly, more God fearing and respecting. If there is no life change and transformation, then Paul's presentation is that it's not the truth.
Thirdly: according to the hope of eternal life. The word hope in Greek ELPIS, doesn't mean hope like a wish, but it means to be expectant for something to happen, expectancy. It's not you wish it would happen, but you expect it to happen.
Peter, in 1 Peter 1:3, he said blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It's a living hope! It's a hope that's alive. It's not a wish. We're looking for the coming of Christ. If we die first, we're looking to be in His presence. We're looking for the hope that Jesus gave us through His resurrection.
Titus 1:1 Continued:
The premise for Paul's ministry, he says three things:
First of all, according to the faith of God's elect. The term God's elect is making reference to the Jewish remnant. The Jews, the Hebrew remnant is called the elect of God. Gentiles, or the church are not called the elect. That's why we're going to find when we get into the Jewish literature that the Jews, the letters to whom they're written to, the Jews will be called God's elect. It's not the Gentiles. It's the Jews.
So, when he says according to the faith of God's elect, he's appealing to the Jewish people that Paul's faith is the same faith from God as God's elect has. It's the same faith. The basis for his ministry is the same God, and the same faith. And by the way, there was a Jewish remnant on the island of Crete. It is believed because of the information in Acts 2:11.
We're told that Jews from the island of Crete were there on the day of Pentecost, and were believers, and received the outpouring of God's Spirit, went back to the island of Crete, and that's how Christianity first spread, and then of course was established when Paul and Titus came through as more people were saved. So, there was a Jewish population, a Jewish remnant in these home church fellowships.
Secondly: according to the full knowledge.
The King James says acknowledging, but the Greek word means full knowledge of the truth, not just bits of information, but the complete knowledge of the truth, which is according to, or after godliness;
What this phrase is saying without getting into too much technical points here, is that the truth of God produces godliness. The emphasis is lifestyle. The word godliness, EUSEBEIA, means to have a respect and a reverence for God. An ungodly person is someone who doesn't respect God at all.
(Titus Part 1a):
Written by Paul to Titus who was overseeing the churches on the Island of Crete (160 miles long, 35 miles wide, located south of the Aegean Sea). The theme of Titus is Pastoral Instruction. Paul sets in order the things that are lacking in the fellowships in Crete.
Titus 1:1 - 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;
There is a lot packed into this one verse, so I will have to break this one up. He says Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. The word servant is the word DULOS. In Exodus Chapter 21, it gives us the account of the DULOS. A slave is someone who would be a slave to a master in order to pay a debt.
And after the debt is paid, the slave would be free to go. But if the slave did not want to leave the master's house, he would voluntarily come to the master and say I want to be your slave for life. The master would take the slave to the front door of the home, he would take an awl, and he would nail his ear to the doorpost. He would then take the nail out and put a ring in his ear, and that ring would designate him as a DULOS, a voluntary slave to his master.
And Paul used this term for himself, that he was a slave to sin, but Jesus Christ set him free, and he has committed his life to be the Lord's DULOS for life, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. An apostle, the APOSTOLOS, is someone who is sent out with a commission. In this instance, because Paul says he's a DULOS, he's a slave sent by his master on a mission.
this is why he said "narrow is the path, few will find it." - Matt 7:14
Love your neighbor according to scripture - James 2:8 what scripture? Leviticus 19:15-18.
(come learn with us at straitisthegate dot net)
If we look to what was considered at the time to be of the devil in the entertainment industry; namely the Beatles sadly it puts to shame the egos of those who are in what I often call the Christian Music Industry. At the inception; no doubt there was a spirit of rebellion in their souls but they came forth wearing suits and ties; bringing a very modest boxed lunch to eat (imagine that today) and keeping their lyrics family friendly for the most part. Of course time went on and they became more hippie in appearance (forgot to mention earlier cropped haircuts); more demonic in the implications of their lyrics and finally were involved in Eastern mysticism showing pictures of all sorts of nefarious characters on their album cover (I'll leave it nameless once again) where famous dictators and a couple Satanists were featured as they got into their LSD phase. As is common among musicians in particular all four members were divorced and remarried while their spouse was alive; in McCartneys case his first wife died and his second he divorced which is allowed Biblically.
In the same light female "Pastors" often are along with others in the Megachurch world divorced and remarried. I hold personally to the belief that if a spouse is alive remarriage isn't permissible; but whatever one espouses as to the meaning of Matthew 5 and 19 in such matters clearly many do this for unscriptural reasons; those other than a cheating spouse if we take that as the meaning of those verses. As a sidenote I heard an interesting comment the other day; that a church hosts a marriage ceremony but never a divorce. Interesting concept...
At any rate; the concept of "filthy lucre" is in Titus 1:11 and THREE other places in scripture. That word isn't used today but it has the proper nasty implications in KJV. Women preachers and often musicians that are scantily clothed are more often than not scanty in any scriptural meat for their flock.
Philippians 2:5-6
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Because of the sinful flesh Jesus Christ had, God was in Christ Jesus as one.
2 Corinthians 5:19
To wit, thatGodwas in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us thewordofreconciliation.
Jesus Christ was the voice and Word in Genesis .
Genesis 3:14-15
14And theLordGod said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Jesus Christ spoke in Genesis about bruising Satan's heel.
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shallbruiseSatan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Jesus Christ was always the Son of God and took on flesh by the virgin Mary.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ is our Saviour God.
Titus 1:3
But hath in due times manifested hiswordthrough preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandmentofGodour Saviour;
Jesus Christ is the Word.
1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, theWord, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
May we all believe that Jesus Christ is a Man, Sevant, King , Saviour, and our God in three persons.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 BELIEVE ONLY
I hope you don't mind brother.
Your posts are helpful, I understand how long it would be on this site with 2000 characters to go verse by verse, but what you do should inspire us to study all the verses around what you post. The conscience: I understand what you are saying but I understand it a little differently. I understand our conscience which is sometimes called our heart, Proverbs 4:23, is a gift God gave us to help us overcome the curse that we received when Adam and Eve ate that fruit of the knowledge of good and evil.
The law and sacrifices could not cleanse our conscience, and we have been told to guard our conscience. When we repent and are born again our conscience is cleaned Hebrews 9:13-14, Hebrews 10:22 and when we slip, we are given confidence if we repent it is cleaned by the blood of Christ, 1 John 1:9. Our conscience and our mind are separate, Titus 1:15.
Our subconscious mind learns from experiences without us being aware of it. It processes information and makes connections effortlessly. We operate 80 to 90 percent with this part of our mind. This kind of learning affects our actions and choices without us consciously realizing it. My thoughts, this is the part of us that is attracted by the world, the part of our flesh that is tempted.
Our conscience can be weak and defiled 1 Corinthians 8:7 and seared like in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 and our minds can become so corrupt 2 Timothy 3:8, that God can turn us over to a reprobate mind Romans 1:28. I feel people can get to a point where their conscience is dead, and they live on the instinct of their subconscious mind for just survival in this earthly world. But there is always hope, I have seen where people have been restored and their conscience cleansed and made alive again, Jesus's blood can wash away all sins.
This is just me, but I believe our conscience is the spirit of man, Zechariah 12:1 1 Corinthians 2:11.
Keep up the good work and God bless,
RLW
Dear Momsage. Thank you for your kind sentiments expressed here. I know that you, and so many others here, love the Lord with all their hearts & your desire is to bring forward your understanding from the Bible, and where there is a difference of opinion, then a good, hearty & loving discussion can ensue. I don't believe that a topic being discussed at great length as 'being run into the ground', since a discussion is as good as those who are prepared to engage in it & want to keep it going. If exchanges cease, then the topic ends, and as often is the case, without agreement, whether in full or part.
Concerning the inspiration of the KJB translation, I believe that brother Jesse has explained it very well, in that inspiration came in the original writings, when holy men of God & prophets had direct interactions with the LORD, or as in the case of Genesis, where Moses was so directed to pen those words or to access other writings from those preceding him, giving us the history. What we have now in our modern translations (including the KJB), is wholly dependent on the texts that they have derived from & the quality of the translators. Does this mean that those translators of the NIV, NASB, etc. were not inspired or diligent in their work? Or rather, their source material, though older, may not necessarily be the more reliable (for they even differ between each other, depending on which one is used or used in combination with the others).
Just as an example concerning the translators themselves: take 1 Timothy 3:1 or Titus 1:7, focussing on the word 'bishop'. Today, we envision a bishop as a senior member of a clergy, maybe in charge of a diocese & one who confers 'holy' orders to his parishes. As well, he robes himself in a long embroidered gown with a mitre on his head. Do you feel that Paul when writing those words in his letters pictured such an official person in the Church, so admirably dressed to lead Christ's Church? Onto Page 2.
I have discussed apparently more than once in Philippians 1 about how many preached out of envy to add to Paul's suffering as no doubt those preaching this way would bring the accusation that Christians truly are unhinged; and not in the way the Lord intends.
God says that He "draws all men to Himself" ( John 12:32) to be accomplished after the Resurrection.
When we see the sideshow that is so often the megachurch power and numbers game; which in reality is usually just "filthy lucre" as a motivation ( Titus 1:11; 1 Tim. 3:3 etc) it kind of reminds us of Judas Iscariot on steroids; everybody out for a buck and willing to pay into the system so that they can also gain earthly riches. The only one this works for is other hucksters hence we see the company many of these fraudulent Pastors keep which in reality is the only company they respect. I can only imagine what the true titles of some of their conference meeting motivational topics would be if exposed.
INTERNATIONAL conference on ways to fleece the flock: No holds barred. Special invite only for ministries grossing 10 Million a year: Highlights
How to pass the buck with the shell game approach; avoid paying taxes in the US; how to apply to YOUR country
How to impress your King or President with favors
How to maximize giving through flattery; guilt and confusion. Special EVENING devotion on the new "Shock and Awe" approach
How to make it happen: signs; wonders-get the right title for your ministry: "Healing" and "Deliverance ministries OFFICIAL decal for 5000 dollar annual fee.
I may get flagged for this sarcasm but these are techniques being used today. It is truly sobering to see that in many of the so called revivals in the last century there were serious problems; from the anarchy that was prevalent in the Azuza street ministry to many unverified "miracles" with A.A. Allen and others with questionable morals. And no persecution?
As stated in some comments some months ago; we should still be able to trust God in regard to His Word; and that indeed He can and will prosper people financially. In this world we should adhere to 1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
Some are born into riches; others earn it through hard work and God's Providence of resulting financial success. Money is uncertain and we can't put our trust in things that "moth and rust" corrupt ( Matt. 6:19).
Certainly it isn't Pastors who should be cornering the market or seeking "filthy lucre" ( Titus 1:11 AND 1 Peter 5:2). The best they can hope for is making it into heaven as through the fire; but there is probably a much better chance they aren't saved at all. Only God knows but why make that lifestyle your legacy?
What we see today is more of these so called "Apostles" dying; while others making half hearted "repentance" statements then continuing on with the sin of covetousness; much like the parable of a dog returning to its own vomit ( Proverbs 26:11). We certainly bring nothing into this world and we aren't taking anything out ( 1 Timothy 6:7). What we can do is gain heavenly treasure by harvesting souls ( Matt. 6:19).
He who covers or conceals his sin is not doing themselves any favors. ( Proverbs 28:13). It actually says the man will not prosper. There are enough warnings in scripture including to the Pharisees as to the spiritual ramifications of continuing in such behaviors and many others in the Old Testament as well.
Ultimately; the desire for fame and popularity is tied into those with this narcissistic mindset and lifestyle. All will be lost after this life; which is as a vapor has passed. Let us live lives in strict obedience and holiness not due to compulsion but love and gratitude for what Christ did for us.
Matthew 7:21 - not everyone who claims to follow Jesus will be saved.
Thank you again, from my heart, the truth is my search not to offend. It all goes back to one verse when I read it, it stood out in my heart, Corinthians 11:4. I know I am alone here on this, but saying Jesus is part of the Triune God, who eternally exists and expresses himself as three distinct persons with one essence all three co-equal. One God in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This to me denies the Son, 1 John 2:23
What I see in the Bible is the relationship between the Father and the Son, the Son is obedient to the Father. Jesus said His Father is greater than Him, John 14:28. Jesus has said the Father is His God, John 20:17 Revelation 3:12.
The Bible defines God's nature as eternal and unchanging; there is only one throne of God and through the Bible, only the Father is on the throne until the Father raised His Son from the dead and placed Him on His right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, there is nothing about the Holy Spirit.
As we see in Revelation Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, Rev. 21:22-23 no Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, not another person.
Jesus confirmed there is only one true God, Mark 12:28-34, in Jesus's prayer to His Father said in John 17:3. All the greetings in the New Testament are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 6:23 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Timothy 1:2 Titus 1:4 2 John 1:3 and more but no Holy Spirit.
If the Trinity true and is so important, why is it not once taught in Scripture? God cannot change and God cannot die, so how do we understand John 3:16 if God the Father did not send his actual begotten Son to die for our sins? We see Jesus also had His own will, Luke 22:42.
God bless,
RLW
To remind God of blessings promised in the Scriptures; if done in the correct way is honoring to God. Without discernment; however we may not be aware of what this means; and also if we are living in a sinful lifestyle we are trying to deliberately ask for something we cannot have as long as we refuse to submit to the Lord and we are producing bad fruit.
The church much like Israel has certain CONDITIONAL as well as unconditional promises. The POSSESSING church (that is those who have the Holy Spirit and are truly saved) is and always will be a subset in this age of the confessing or professing body of believers (i.e. the church). The difference is there are some who believe in the true God and others in a God of their own imaginations; fitting the parameters that a person finds reasonable; or comfortable living with by mentally cherry picking what appeals from the Word and filing the unpleasant verses somewhere in the cobwebs in the back of their mind.
God is no respecter of persons ( Acts 10:34 also Romans 2). He does whatever He chooses and we know for certain that He desires glory for Himself and no other. (See Isaiah 42:8). John 16:10 shows how God seeks glory for the Son; therefore His desire for worship is never selfish as He always does the Father's will. This is selfless love and shows an example of how we are to live. If we thank God for things in our lives that bring us into sin such as excess money for greedy gain ( Titus 1:11); we are only heaping greater condemnation on ourselves.
Thus if one feels that 1 Corinthians 9:27 might be Paul indicating that if he fails to keep his body (his flesh) under subjection, that when he preaches to others, then God would cast him away; could he then just be a failure, or incur God's disapproval, or even actually be a counterfeit Christian to be relegated to a destiny with other unbelievers?
Then do verses such as Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8, or Titus 1:16 apply also to Paul if he neglected to keep his body under subjection? And if Paul is deemed to be a castaway (i.e. having lost his salvation), does this then open the door to the Lord's failure to call & appoint His primary apostle to the Gentiles? But as we know, Paul didn't let the flesh or the Devil overcome him - he remained clear in conscience & faithful to his Lord; and this power, could it have come from within, i.e. the Holy Spirit in him, Who helps those endued with the Spirit, to not only do as Paul did, but also to be confident that He will indeed keep them from falling & be presented faultless before the Throne?
It's for such questions & verses in the NT, that confirm to my heart that God makes no mistakes in calling, redeeming, justifying & sealing His children. Readers of those passages will have to satisfy their own hearts & minds as to how to understand the different word usages for 'castaway or reprobate'.
Part 1
If I may add a few points to this subject, I know we have different understandings on this and I hope you will not be offended, these are questions I have asked myself. What does Scripture support, our soul is an immortal entity that consciously lives on after the death of the body or does it sleep in the grave until the resurrection? Is the definition of death a separation of the soul from the body or is it the end of life, a permanent cessation, and the grave is our home until we are resurrected?
John 3:15-16 Without the belief in Jesus we will perish the Greek word apollumi means destroy utterly, to put out of the way entirely, abolish as in Psalms 37:10 Psalms 92:7 Proverbs 10:28-29 Job 20:4-7 Malachi 4:1-3 2 Peter 2:12.
Matthew 10:28 we are to fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell, the Greek word for destroy is apollumi same as perish, a permanent/absolute destruction. Hell, the Greek word is geenna the fire and smoke that goes up and burns forever that never goes out is a reference to the lake of fire. Job 17:13 the Hebrew word sheol is the same word translated as hell. Job 17:16 the word pit is the same Hebrew word.
Our first death is sleep, Psalms 13:3 Daniel 12:2 Acts 13:36 1 Cor. 15:51. If all souls are immortal which means they have eternal life, the question must be asked, what is the gift of eternal life we see in John 3:15 John 6:54 Romans 6:23 Titus 1:2 1 John 2:25 Jude 1:21? If our soul is immortal, why do we have to put immortality on as said in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58?
See part 2