Christ's Commandments

WebersHome · Apr 26, 2015

Continued From #200

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347) 2Tim 2:3-7 . . Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ
Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs-- he wants
to please his commanding officer.

Combat soldiers are focused. They have but one solitary goal, and that's to
accomplish their mission while doing their level best to stay alive. Soldiers
dodging bullets, ducking shrapnel, and looking for trip wires, IED's, booby
traps, and snipers, are not distracted by Wall Street, the real estate market,
universal health care and/or the civil rights movement.

I truly believe that if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr had stayed in the pulpit and
complied with Paul's directives as per the epistles of 1&2 Timothy instead of
getting involved in politics, he could have served Christ and his sheep
another thirty-five years instead of getting himself assassinated as a
political activist when he was only 39 years old.

Was Dr. King a martyr? Well, if he was, it certainly wasn't for Christ. No, it
was for his political agenda. Dr. King marginalized his pastoral
responsibilities as per the epistles of 1&2 Timothy. He put duty to the color
of his skin first, and duty to Christ second. That was a very bad move for a
Christian pastor ordained to serve Jesus Christ.

348) 2Tim 2:8 . . Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant
of David, according to my gospel

It may seem preposterous, beyond belief, and even impossible to
comprehend; but there are literally millions of people wearing the Christian
label who refuse to believe that Christ was a human being. They'll readily
mouth that he was fully God and fully Man; but in reality they only believe
he was fully God; in other words: a divine being only, rather than a divine
being and a human being. Well, according to 2Tim 2:8 Christ does not wish
to be remembered as a divine being.

On numerous occasions, Christ identified himself as "son of man" which
literally means "son of Adam". That title was neither new nor unique in his
day. God addressed the prophet Ezekiel as "son of man" on at least 93
occasions, and Daniel at least once. In every case, the Hebrew word for man
is 'adam (aw-dawm') which is the proper name of the human race God
created in the beginning. (Gen 1:26-27, Gen 3:9, Gen 5:2)

You would think that Christ's humanness would be a given in Christian
circles; but no, it isn't. To this very day, people passing themselves off as his
believing followers, and as beneficiaries of his crucifixion, still challenge his
humanness. They're okay with him being God's progeny-- but David's
progeny? No; that they won't allow.

†. Rom 1:3-4 . . who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh

Disbelief in Christ's humanness is due to the success of satanic influences.

†. 1John 4:2-4 . . By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every
spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of
the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is
already in the world.

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wordhelpsme · Apr 27, 2015

John 13:34, 35

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

just-me · Apr 27, 2015

john832 said:

Agreed
And the first covenant with Israel is all that is defined in Exodus chapters 20 though 23. Those sayings of God are commemorated in chapter 24 by the blood of a burnt offering and a peace offering relating to commitment, relationship and communication. They are not trespass or sin offerings.

Nothing up to that point has anything to do with the erecting of the temple, or defining the apparel of the priests. The instructions for that begin in chapter 25 after the Covenant is established with Israel. With that, I don't think that Exodus 20 thru 23 have been made void by the New Covenant, even if the temple sacrifices, and Levitical priesthood (being only part of the Old Covenant) are void and abolished via the New.

just-me · Apr 27, 2015

wordhelpsme said:

I have read the the original scripture reads literally "my soul" or "my breath" in relation to New commandment. It isn't as if this commandment didn't exist before, it is the first time Jesus is giving this particular teaching to His apostles.

1 John 2:7-8
[SUP]7 [/SUP]Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

2 John 1:5-6
[SUP]5 [/SUP]And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

WebersHome · Apr 27, 2015

Continued From #201

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349) 2Tim 2:14 . . Command them in God's name to stop quarrelling over
trifles.

In a Sean Connery movie titled "The Name Of The Rose" church dignitaries
assembled a meeting of the minds to reach a resolution on a theological
question which was: Did the Christ own the clothes that he wore or not?
Well, needless to say, the discussion turned into bickering wherein nothing
was resolved. Tempers flared, shouting ensued, feelings were hurt, and
people were alienated over the issue— a rather trifling issue; which is
precisely what it means to fiddle while Rome burns down around you.
Christians are often embroiled in arguments over things that in the grand
scheme of things mean zero while all around them are weightier issues
needing attention.

It's interesting that Paul didn't instruct the flock to avoid quarrelling over
trifles but to stop quarrelling. I can't help but wonder how many Christians
think to seek absolution for the sin of quarrelling over trifles when they go to
confession.

350) 2Tim 2:15 . . Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker
who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Some folks construe rightly dividing the truth as a mandate to keep the Old
Testament completely separate from the New. But that's not even close to
what Paul is instructing.

Paul was a blue collar tradesman: he fabricated portable shelters for a living
(Acts 18:3). The koiné Greek word for "rightly dividing" is orthotomeo (or
thot-om-eh'-o) which means: to make a straight cut as opposed to a
crooked cut, or a cut that misses the line and yields a piece of material
that's either too long, too short, or the wrong contour; thus resulting in a
tent whose pieces won't join properly when it comes time to sew them
together. The results? A distorted tent and a black mark for the craftsman.

The intent is not one of severing the Bible in half and treating each as a
separate book; but to be accurate in its interpretations and applications so
that the whole Bible fits together perfectly, like a well made armoire instead
of a hastily constructed rabbit hutch.

Pastors who relegate the Old Testament to the status of a non-essential, are
not yet journeyman Bible students; no, they're apprentices: they lack the
skills necessary to piece the Bible all together and make everything fit; thus
they're stalled at a rudimentary level.

351) 2Tim 2:16 . . Avoid worldly, empty chatter; for it will lead to further
impiety.

What he's talking about there are bull sessions wherein people discussing
the Bible haven't a clue what they're talking about. Their interpretations
consist of sophistry, conjecture, theory, and personal opinions.

Some years ago I was invited to a home Bible study. Before considering his
invitation; I asked the man if his group was led by a competent Bible
teacher. He said "No; we don't have a teacher. The group teaches itself. In
other words: we speak as the Spirit leads us to speak." I declined.

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WebersHome · Apr 28, 2015

Continued From #205

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352) 2Tim 2:19 . . Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain
from wickedness.

The wickedness he's talking about in this particular instance regards
quarrelling over trifles, unskilled use of the Bible; and sophistry, conjecture,
speculation, theories, false science, and lines of bull that sound very
convincing but are nevertheless quite untrustworthy. Ministers ordained to
serve Jesus Christ do him a disservice when they represent him with that
kind of baloney.

353) 2Tim 2:22 . . Flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith,
love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

One of the "youthful lusts" that ministers need to avoid is political activism;
especially the kind that leads to militant behavior and/or civil disobedience.

A "pure" heart is one that's unadulterated, in other words, it's not an
amalgam of good and bad; viz: it's a heart that's whole-heartedly dedicated
to serving Christ rather than half-hearted.

Righteousness, Love, Peace, and Purity are all blessing-worthy attributes.

†. Matt 5:6 . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness

†. Matt 5:7 . . Blessed are the compassionate

†. Matt 5:8 . . Blessed are the pure in heart

†. Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peaceable

According to Christ's testimony as an expert witness in all matters pertaining
to the hereafter, people whose personalities fail to exemplify those four
beatitudes will neither see God, nor obtain sympathy from God, nor obtain a
place around the table in God's home.

354) 2Tim 2:23 . . But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing
that they produce debating.

Christ doesn't forbid all speculation; only the kind that that's foolish and
ignorant.

The koiné Greek word for "foolish" is moros (mo-ros') which means,
essentially: unwise.

The koiné word for "ignorant" is apaideutos (ap-ah'-ee-dyoo-tos) which
means: uneducated.

I seriously doubt that 2Tim 2:23 is addressing one's IQ, but rather, the
propensity of some to shoot from the lip without really knowing what they're
talking about. That's not a smart thing to do when one is supposed to be
representing a master who says of himself "I am the truth". Well,
uneducated speculation isn't truth, no, it's one's own personal opinion; and
typically an opinion based upon incomplete information.

355) 2Tim 2:24a . . And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome

People challenge ministers all the time with letters, emails, and sometimes
open confrontation. Why they have to make an issue of telling ministers
they're wrong is a mystery as it seems to me a futile act of desperation.

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WebersHome · Apr 30, 2015

Continued From #206

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356) 2Tim 2:24b-26 . . The Lord's bond-servant must . . be kind to all, apt
to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in
opposition, if perhaps God may grant them a change of heart leading to the
knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from
the snare of the Devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

We're still talking about instructions for pastors rather than rank and file pew
warmers.

What Paul spoke of there is a category of demon possession that gets very
little press these days. It doesn't make people foam at the mouth nor fall on
the ground quivering with spasms. It's a silent killer like high blood pressure.
It can't be detected by scientific instruments like oscilloscopes, X-rays,
CatScans, Sonograms, Echoes, or MRIs.

People don't usually get the creeps when demonic spirit beings are present
because they have no effect upon human intuition, nor upon the five natural
human senses of taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell. Demonic spirit
beings are covert-- ultra covert-- secrecy, silence, and invisibility are the keys
to their success.

Anyway, what Paul is revealing is somewhat disturbing. He's saying that
there are people in church who have ideas in their heads that they think are
their own ideas; but in reality those ideas have been skillfully implanted in
their organic minds by supernatural means beyond our comprehension.

That kind of possession is socially acceptable because it's so common and
widespread; and infects everyone regardless of race, age, or gender.

All believers, including Paul himself, were at one time manipulated by
demonic spirit beings.

†. Eph 2:1-3 . . And you He made alive, who were at one time dead in
trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the kingdom of the air-- the spirit who
now works in the sons of disobedience --among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

From that passage, I know three facts about the current state of the world
we live in.

1) Demonic spirit beings are all around us, in every situation; inhabiting the
very air we breathe. Astronauts in the International Space Station have
demonic spirit beings on board with them. Whenever the US Navy's nuclear
submarines go out patrol, demonic spirit beings go out too because
wherever there's people; there's going to be demonic spirit beings.

Demonic spirit beings are invasive and pervasive: they're in coal mines,
subways, office buildings, barber shops, bedrooms, restaurants, elevators,
waiting rooms, television studios-- and there are no known control
measures. Demonic spirit beings are similar to geological forces of nature
like earthquakes and volcanoes in that puny little organic creatures like man
are completely at their mercy.

(2) Those who have not yet been "made alive" constantly undergo demonic
manipulation; and don't know it.

(3) Those who have not yet been "made alive" are in grave danger of the
lake of fire depicted at Rev 20:11-15 because they are "by nature" children
of wrath.

This is why Paul instructed his pal Timothy to "be kind to all, apt to teach,
patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in
opposition." In other words; to treat those who opposed him as he would
patients in a mental hospital who lack the faculties to think for themselves.

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pwrnJC · Apr 30, 2015

Re: Continued From #178

What a total waste of time and space this is. Who has time to read this entire blog and try to make sense of it? What a bunch of rhetoric that amounts to nothing but a hill of beans! I see nothing Holy SPIRIT inspired here, especially with the intent. What would the one responsible for this elongated scenario do if they could not vent. I would not want to be around when they explode.

just-me · Apr 30, 2015

pwrnJC said:

Agreed. The only thing necessary to understand Christ commandments is to read Colossians chapter one, and all would know that Jesus' commandments entail the entire scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. It's simple.

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Colossians 1:17

WebersHome · Apr 30, 2015

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pwrnJC said:

Internet forums attract people from all over; but it's to be expected that
only a small fraction would be interested in Christ's commandments.

†. Matt 22:14 . . Many are called, but few are chosen.

The main reason that few are chosen is because so few are loyal.

†. John 14:23-24 . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching . . He
Who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

It's also to be expected-- from the parable of the sower --that not all soils
are suitable for farming. Some seeds fall on compacted soil, some on rocky
soil, some on thorny soil, and some on productive soil.

I've never seen reactions like that of post #208 in Sunday school; but they
are very common online; and that's to be expected seeing as how the
internet speaks to a worldwide audience consisting of all four soil types;
whereas Sunday school mostly consists of just one.

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just-me · Apr 30, 2015

WebersHome said:

The sower and the seed is my favorite parable. I was raised on a farm and there is much to be said about what Christ does, what we do, our heart condition, and what it takes to bear fruit. It all relates from taking care of the promised land to being a good steward of our inheritance through Christ. It's certainly phenomenal!

WebersHome · May 1, 2015

Continued From #207

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357) 2Tim 3:12-15 . .You, however, continue in the things you have learned
and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them; and
that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to
give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus.

The "sacred writings" upon which Timothy cut his teeth are of course the Old
Testament's collection; which Paul affirms are useful to Christians.

†. Rom 15:4 . .Whatever was written in earlier times was written for our
instruction that we, through patience and the encouragement of the
scriptures, might have hope.

358) 2Tim 4:1-2 . . I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of
Christ Jesus-- who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing
and His kingdom --preach the word; be ready in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Preaching and teaching are areas where pastors must take the reins. They
can't wait until their boards take a vote on it. No, the pastor's vote is the
only one that counts because left to themselves, congregations (and boards)
are just like any other flock of dim-witted sheep: they're prone to wander.

†. 2Tim 4:3-4 . . For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but wanting to have their ears rubbed, they will accumulate for
themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires; and will turn
away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to fiction.

Gently caressing your pet's ears sometimes soothes them and has a marked
calming effect; especially when they're itching from mites and fleas. The
truth actually does hurt sometimes-- with or without mites and fleas.

359) 2Tim 4:5a . . Be discreet

Webster's defines "discreet" as: using good judgment, caution, and
prudence.

Human nature can be so inconsistent. Though most adults have fairly good
judgment, they oftentimes do things that are contrary to their better
judgment and make foolish choices (especially on Black Friday) because they
don't always use their heads but instead yield to their feelings; and
everybody knows that one's feelings, by and large, are mostly incoherent.

360) 2Tim 4:5b . . endure hardship

Some of the aspects of hardship are adversity, mischance, misfortune;
danger, hazard, peril; affliction, trial, tribulation; drudgery, toil, travail;
discomfort, and distress. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are a part of
that too. Nobody really cares to sympathize with somebody when they're at
the top of the food chain. Pastors comfort others, but who comforts the
pastors? Hardly anybody; though maybe his wife; if she's the type.

The lives of Christ's pastors are not supposed to be a piece of cake. If
they're doing their jobs in a way that pleases the Lord, pastors will have
some struggles. Hardship comes with the turf; it's a given when Christ's
pastors serve him faithfully and effectively.

The reason being that a pastor is essentially a shepherd. Well; according to
Jacob, that job was a rough career path back in the day.

†. Gen 31:40 . .Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the frost by
night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

Part of the reason that tending sheep was rough in Jacob's day is because a
shepherd was essentially a security guard, constantly keeping an eye out for
rustlers and predators. That part alone was a 24-7 task; which is why Jacob
lost a lot of sleep outside in the fields; and when you throw in exposure to
the elements; a shepherd's life was really not one to be desired.

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WebersHome · May 2, 2015

Continued From #212

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361) 2Tim 4:5c . . do the work of an evangelist

The koiné Greek word for "evangelist" is euaggelistes (yoo-ang-ghel-is
tace') which means: a preacher of the gospel.

Here in America, we typically think of evangelists as guys like Billy Graham
and Louis Palau. But according to Paul, pastors are supposed to be
evangelists within the walls of their own churches rather than on the road.

My ex-Catholic wife begged and cajoled her Catholic father to accompany
her to a Baptist church back in the 1970's before we met. On that particular
Sunday, of all days, the pastor spoke about money; especially giving it to
support his church and its programs. My father-in-law was disgusted, and
commented afterwards: Baptists are no different than Catholics; all they
care about is money. He never went back. Had that pastor spoken about
Christ instead of money, my father-in-law might have returned.

Services are the best venue for in-church evangelism because the public is
more likely to visit those than Sunday school.

Paul described pastoral evangelism as: fulfilling their ministry. (2Tim 4:5d)

362) Titus 2:2 . . Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance.

The koiné Greek word for "older men" is presbutes (pres-boo'-tace) which
means: an old man. Presbutes is different than presbuteros, which refers to
church officers; e.g. deacons (1Tim 5:17).

I used to get my watches serviced by an aging repairman at a local mall
until the day finally came when I could no longer tolerate his manners. He
was around seventy-five years old, cantankerous as can be, and perpetually
cross. I often felt like asking him if he ever gave any thought to his future.
You know, heaven is a place of peace. A hateful man like that repairman
would not only never fit in there, but it wouldn't be fair to the others to
permit him in their world.

"Cantankerous" can be defined as habitually ill-humored, irritable,
disagreeable, bearish, cankered, cranky, cross-grained, dour, morose, sour;
crabby, cross, crusty, huffy, petulant, prickly, snappish; dyspeptic, ill
conditioned, thin-skinned, complaining, and ill-natured.

A Christian man in old age really ought to be a sweet, mellow guy: a pal and
a big brother for the younger ones rather than somebody they'd prefer do
the world a favor and kill himself.

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WebersHome · May 3, 2015

Continued From #213

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363) Titus 2:3-5 . . The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as
becomes holiness: not traducers, not given to much wine, teachers of right;
that they may train the young women to be sensible, to love their husbands,
to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, and
subordinate to their own husbands; that the word of God not be dishonored.

Traducers are particularly ugly human beings; especially the kind that
misrepresent their own friends and say things about them that their friends
would never approve; thus needlessly disparaging their friends' reputations
save for the pure pleasure of gossip. Traducers aren't regular gossips, no,
they're malicious gossips. Webster's defines malice as a deep-seated, often
unexplainable desire to see another suffer. In other words, traducers like to
hurt people for no good reason other than that it feels good. One could
hardly characterize malicious gossips as either good or discreet.

Too many women in America have been trained for marriage by feminism.
Far from teaching younger women to respect their husbands, feminism
teaches the younger women to stand up to their husbands; and rather than
be keepers at home, feminism has them out seeking means to compete with
men and break the so-called glass ceiling; and rather than love their
children, feminism has them dominating their offspring in a home-life society
structured on divisions of labor, command and control, tyranny, and
despotism. Those behaviors certainly can never be categorized as honoring
the word of God.

The biggest road block to feminism-trained women becoming true disciples
is the Lord's gender. You see, at the heart of women's hostility towards men
is the drive to be independent of males. Yet the very lord and master of
Christianity, the supreme male in the universe; demands death to a
woman's self interests, and submission to His monarchy.

†. Luke 14:26 . . If you want to be my follower you must love me more than
your own father and mother, wife and children brothers and sisters-- yes,
more than your own life. And you cannot be my disciple if you do take up
your own cross and follow me.

In the Lord's era, crosses were for executions. So when he told his disciples
to "take up their own cross" it meant stifling their own way; viz: it was a call
to abandon self interests, and comply with their Master's wishes.

†. Rom 12:1-2 . .Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your
spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God's will is-- His good, pleasing and perfect
will.

That mandate runs 180° counter to modern feminism's self-aggrandizing
attitude that homemaking is oppressive and demeaning to women, and that
respect for one's husband is somehow abusive; which is obviously an
attitude that vilifies the word of God instead of honoring it.

Christian marriage and motherhood are not for militant females; no,
marriage and motherhood are for grown-up, mature, emotionally stable
women; and I'm not talking about years of life; no, even some 35 and 40
year-old women often fall short of being grown-up. Their association with
men is on no higher a level now than when they were the 17 year-old, self
absorbed brats they were in high school. Christian women like that
desperately need to read, and heed the guidance offered in the three books
recommended below.

For Women Only
By Shaunti Feldhahn
ISBN 1-59052-317-2

The Proper Care And Feeding Of Husbands
By Dr. Laura Schlessinger
ISBN 0-06-052061-2

What Our Mothers Didn't Tell Us
By Danielle Crittenden
ISBN 0-684-83219-4
ISBN 0-684-85959-9 (paper back)

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WebersHome · May 4, 2015

Continued From #214

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364) Titus 2:6 . . Similarly, encourage the young men to be sensible.

Just in case the young women were feeling a bit persecuted; Paul switches
over to the guys and urges them to be just as sensible as the girls; in other
words: to love their wives, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste,
keepers at home, and good; that the word of God not be dishonored.

Chastity is getting to be almost non-existent in America as more and more
male celebrities engage in extra-marital affairs. Governor Kitzhaber here in
the state of Oregon was not all that long ago shacking up with a woman
right in broad daylight and cares not what anybody thinks about it. President
Clinton messed around with women while he was in office, and not that long
ago, former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer was discovered to be seeing
expensive prostitutes which eventuated in his resignation. So Christians
really can't depend upon America's leaders to set the example for young
men.

Paul urged Titus to "encourage" the young men in his church to be sensible;
which is quite a bit different than hounding them or getting on their backs.
There's an awful lot of young men out there today with metal pinned in their
faces and tattoos on their necks, taking ecstasy, smoking pot, joining gangs,
using meth, shoplifting, and missing school because the adults in their lives
refuse to let them grow up at their own pace.

Many years ago, before I was even interested in having a family of my own,
there was a cartoon in the newspaper comics called Rick-O-Shay. Rick was
sheriff in a small town out in the olde west. Well, he had a son that was a bit
immature and Rick was concerned the boy was never going to amount to
anything and he didn't know what to do about it. So, while he was
complaining about his son to his good friend Hipshot Percussion (a local
gunfighter) Hipshot interrupted and gave Rick some very good words of
wisdom. He said (in so many words): Instead of frettin' about turning your
son into someone you can admire, why not instead try and find out who he
is and go with that?

Relentless criticism and ridicule, unreasonable expectations, zero sympathy,
and disapproving everything they think, say, or do are the surest ways I
know to ruin a young man's attitude and drive him far, far from home and
God; hence the below :

365) Titus 2:7-8 . . In all things show yourself to be an example of good
deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond
reproach, in order that those who oppose us may be put to shame, having
nothing bad to say.

Young men today desperately need role models because you can't just
disapprove their life-style and not show them an alternative; and the best
way to do that is by your own example; viz: instead of preaching to
youngsters with words; preach to them with your conduct.

366) Titus 2:9-10a . . Bond slaves are to be subject to their own masters in
everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering;

A bond slave is someone who has sold themselves into slavery for any
number of reasons. But the one aspect I would like to dwell on is pilfering
because this is a serious problem for employers here in the USA.

The koiné Greek word for "pilfering" is nosphizomai (nos-fid'-zom-ahee)
which means to squirrel something aside for one's self: viz: embezzle; which
Webster's defines as: to appropriate (as property entrusted to one's care)
fraudulently to one's own use.

Embezzling isn't limited to strictly stealing money; no, it's also the misuse of
an employer's property such as company cars, office materials and office
equipment, and/or shop materials and shop equipment; including water and
electricity.

My last job before retiring was as a civilian employee for the US Army Corps
of Engineers in the Portland Oregon district. It was a violation of Federal law
for us to even take anything out of a dumpster, or use a battery charger to
jump-start our cars, or even to so much as pump up a low tire on our cars
with the air produced by a government air compressor. We were definitely
not supposed to use the government's computers for surfing the web or
composing personal e-mails.

Everything on the facility where I worked was US Government property,
including the trash, and could not be used in an unofficial capacity without
first obtaining special permission. Violators were subject to prosecution for
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse.

Unofficial use of office computers alone is costing employers multiplied
thousands of hours of wages and benefits paid to employees who are online
during the work day for personal reasons. The most outrageous case I heard
of at work was a lady downtown in the district office who was caught
conducting her Mary K cosmetics business via a US Government computer;
and on official time no less.

Those are things from which Christ's believing followers are ordered to cease
and desist.

=====================================

WebersHome · May 5, 2015

Continued From #215

-
367) Titus 2:10b . . but showing all good faith that they may adorn the
doctrine of God our savior in every respect.

The koiné Greek word for "adorn" is kosmeo (kos-meh'-o) which means:
to put in proper order; viz: decorate

When women buy a pretty new dress, they usually get things to go with it;
things we call accessories; like a purse, shoes, stockings, necklace, earrings,
and/or a watch and a bracelet. In the old days, women usually bought some
gloves to go with their new dress too-- thus they create an "ensemble"
which gives them a complete look rather than an unfinished look as if they
just threw the dress on to work around the house or run down to a nearby
convenience store.

Well, a Christian who's a Christian in label only is like a pretty dress without
accessories. In point of fact, they are quite basic: just a house-dress
Christian. In other words; faith without piety is like leaving the house for
work in the morning half dressed.

368) Titus 2:15 . . These things speak and exhort and reprove with all
authority. Let no one disregard you.

There's really nothing a pastor can do to prevent people from blowing him
off, but it is in his power to not let negative people dissuade him from his
duty.

I have been often criticized for posting daily-bread style topics on Christian
message boards that nobody reads or responds to. I answer my critics that
everybody has an audience of at least one, and that one is God. Be faithful
to God, and He will be faithful to you. Don't ever let anyone marginalize you
and/or make you feel like a moron in what you're doing for Christ.

†. Ezk 2:7 . .You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or
whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

†. Mark 8:38 . .Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous
and sinful generation, of him also will the Son of Man be ashamed of him
when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

†. 2Tim 4:1-2 . . I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ
Jesus-- who is to judge the Living and the Dead, and by his appearing and
his kingdom --preach the word; be ready whether it's convenient or
inconvenient: reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and with
doctrine.

=====================================

Pumicestone · May 5, 2015

Re: Continued From #200

WebersHome said:

Methinks that Weber has some weird denominational axe to grind.
AND - he's the greatest "cut-and-paster" I've encountered online for many moons !
I wonder if he has any original thoughts ......

Giving Dr King a verbal flogging for trying to achieve equality and justice for people is really, really STRANGE.

WebersHome · May 6, 2015

Continued From #216

-
369) Titus 3:1 . . Remind your people to submit to the government and its
officials. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.

Seeing as how we're talking about the law of the land-- viz: civil ordinances
--what might be some examples? Well; I should think that things like J
walking, illegal U-turns, feeding parking meters, drifting through stop signs
without coming to a complete halt, exceeding the speed limit, impeding
traffic by driving too slow and refusing to pull over, double parking, failure to
yield the right of way, unsafe lane changes, parking in a red zone, road
rage, horn blowing, littering, trespassing, fishing without a license, keeping
illegal size fish, keeping too many fish, feeding city-park ducks where it's
prohibited, setting off fireworks where they're prohibited, dumping radiator
coolant into a storm drain, ignoring California water restrictions, removing a
swallow's nest that has eggs in it, killing a protected species, etc.

If there is one kind of person that God has always despised all the way
through the Bible it's a scofflaw. In point of fact, according to the covenant
that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God; scofflaws merit neither
forgiveness nor atonement; that's how serious it is.

†. Num 15:30-31 . .The person, be he citizen or stranger, who acts defiantly
reviles the Lord; that person shall be cut off from among his people.
Because he has spurned the word of the Lord and violated His
commandment, that person shall be cut off-- he bears his guilt.

370) Titus 3:2 . . malign no one, be non-contentious, gentle, showing every
consideration for all men.

The koiné Greek word for "malign" is blasphemeo (blas-fay-meh'-o) which
means: to vilify

Webster's defines vilify as: to lower in estimation or importance, and/or to
utter abusive statements against

Vilification is a clear violation of Php 2:3, which reads: Do nothing out of
selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves.

Should I consider Bernard "Bernie" Madoff as better than myself? (chuckle)
No. It isn't vilification to say the man is a crumb when he's been clearly
proven to be one. That's neither malignant nor malevolent. What we're
talking about here are innocent victims of mean-spirited, unwarranted
vilification rather than those fully deserving of it. And besides, pastors need
to be careful what they say about people because sometimes it seems the
walls themselves have ears.

†. Ecc 10:20 . . Curse not the king, even in your thought; curse not the rich,
even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird
in flight may tell the matter.

=====================================

Shilo · May 6, 2015

Thank you for this thread, lot of information.

WebersHome · May 8, 2015

Continued From #218

-
371) Titus 3:8 . .This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these
things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God
may be careful to engage in good deeds.

The koiné Greek word for "deeds" is very common throughout the New
Testament; more often translated "works" than deeds. We're not talking
about Boy Scout kinds of deeds but just simply the spiritual morality of one's
day to day conduct; viz: a life that pleases God instead of one that irritates
Him to no end.

†. Eph 4:30 . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.

The Greek word for "speak confidentially" means to speak with an assertive,
"not buts" attitude; viz: the things a preacher teaches his congregation
should not be open to debate.

372) Titus 3:9 . . Shun foolish controversies, and genealogies, and strife,
and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless.

The "law" in question is the covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with
God in the Old Testament. Disputes generally revolve around its
interpretation and its correct application. Yhvh stipulated the formation of a
panel of lawyers to interpret the law for those among His people who lacked
the wherewithal to do it for themselves (Deut 17:8-13). But since Christians
are outside the covenant's jurisdiction, then they can get by without those
lawyers to interpret it for them; and besides; there are nine Justices on the
US Supreme Court who seldom agree unanimously on anything. How much
chance do you reckon a panel of seventy has of reaching a consensus?

One of the "foolish controversies and genealogies" I would highly
recommend that believers avoid is Rome's roster of so-called apostolic
successors. Don't even go there. It's unprofitable, futile, and pointless to
strive over something like that. Pick your battles, and make sure your
conflicts accomplish something truly useful for Christ. The Vatican has much
bigger problems within its walls and its dogmas than that one.

373) Titus 3:10-11 . . A man that is an heretic after the first and second
admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth,
being condemned of himself.

The koiné Greek word for "heretic" is hairetikos (hahee-ret-ee-kos') which
means: a schismatic; which is someone in your very own church who causes
dissent, rebellion, division, discord, and disharmony.

Heretics are not outsiders; no, a true heretic goes to the same church you
go to and professes to believe and practice the very same religion that you
profess to believe and practice; viz: for Catholics, a heretic would be a
professing Catholic who openly disagrees with Rome, and attempts to
persuade other Catholics to join their cause in opposing Vatican Council II in
order to reform the Church.

Webster's defines a heretic as: 1) a dissenter from established church
dogma; especially one who disavows a revealed truth, and 2) one who
dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine; viz: a nonconformist.

I am an ex-Catholics and I oppose Rome. However, I don't fit the definition
of a heretic. I'm what's known in Christian circles as an apostate; viz: a
defector; which Webster's defines as a person who forsakes one's cause,
party, or nation for another often because of a change in ideology. Heretics
don't usually defect; but remain inside to foster insurrection: to undermine
hierarchy, to bring about reform, to weaken, and to cause division. Every
church has its fair share of heretics and they can be very disruptive in a
Sunday school class.

The koiné Greek word for "reject" is paraiteomai (par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee)
which means: to beg off; viz: deprecate, decline, and shun. In other words,
don't give heretics the time of day, nor even be seen with them.

374) Titus 3:14 . . And let ours also learn to maintain good works for
necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

The pronoun "ours" obviously excludes the heretics. They don't need to
maintain good works since they're essentially tares rather than wheat and
nothing they do in Christ's name is merit-worthy.

†. Matt 7:22-23 . . Many will say to me in that day : Lord, Master, have we
not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in
thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: I
never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.

=====================================

Christ's Commandments

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