Ask for Forgiveness to the True God Alone

The Lord Jesus Christ (Who is fully God and fully man; two natures in one Person) the Second Person of the Trinity, had His elect people in view when He graciously made the command to proclaim His gospel truth.  The ones which truly respond are truly His; to truly believe God the Father (see John 5:24); to truly believe God the Son (see John 6:38); to truly believe God the Holy Spirit (see John 14:17); three distinct persons in one true being of God (three in person but one in unity and being; the Holy Trinity) (see Matthew 28:19 cf.  Deuteronomy 6:4).  Christians identify the Holy Trinity rightly as He, Thee or Thou; indicating God (Who is the LORD) is not one person but one true being; God is true; God is one (again Deuteronomy 6:4).  The work of salvation is a Trinitarian work of God (just as His creation and His purpose are as well).  Without the Holy Trinity there would be no salvation, nor creation, nor purpose.

When a person asks for forgiveness, it must not be because they fear to go to hell, that is, punishment, which is attrition, (this is not true repentance).  Rather, true repentance is contrition.  Know this:  you have offended God Himself with serious and eternal sins (every sin is an eternal offense against God).  One must have godly sorrow not worldly sorrow.  An example of godly sorrow is the apostle Peter (see Matthew 26:75).  The sorrow was godly because he knew he committed an offense in wrongdoing against Christ.  That is, he remembered the Lord Jesus’ statement about his denial; his offense of wrongdoing; that is, he repented because of the wrong he did to Christ not because he feared punishment.  Thusly, Peter was forgiven because he had Christ as his Savior (see Acts 5:29-32).  One can never have enough godly sorrow over the wrongness of sin that leads to repentance.  But we know Judas was not forgiven.  Why?  Because Judas had worldly sorrow as did Esau (Matthew 27:2-5 cf. Hebrews 12:15-17); both Judas and Esau were without the Savior.  Esau was a reprobate (that is, a damned person); justly hated by God (Romans 9:13) for “…God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11 NKJV).  The true stories of these reprobate men are written within Scripture for people not to commit the same sin of unbelief, and to believe the Savior for the Savior brings peace with God (Romans 5:1).  These men died without truly believing the Lord Jesus Christ.  After death there is no second chance.  If someone dies without the Savior, there is only one reality they will know: torment in hell.  They will be punished for their sins because no one took their place to bare their sin.  But for elect sinners, the divine Substitute, took their place.  One must recognize their offenses against a sinless God, and to understand it is wrongdoing, and ask for forgiveness because of it being an eternal offense opposed to God.  If one knows of their total depravity, and how they are stinking sinners, how desperately wicked, then surely they will ask for mercy and repent of their total depravity.  Truly ask for forgiveness (not only for sin but also for guilt in real sincerity) through Christ crucified alone (Who solely paid the eternal debt that sinners could never pay; the God-man paid for sin and guilt) in the name of Christ, and it is certain that you have forgiveness only because it is based on the unchanging promise of God Himself.  Thusly “…Bear fruit in keeping with repentance…” (Matthew 3:8 ESV) and “…I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5 ESV).  Therefore acknowledge, forsake and faithfully repent of your sins; it’s repentance of sins unto remission of sins (see 1 John 1:9).  Truly if this is done, it is the lovingkindness of God in Christ Jesus. 

It is possible to know you are saved.  It our duty to seek after assurance of salvation.  Thusly, the Scripture says, “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13 KJV). 

The Holiness of God

God is holy because of Who He truly is.  His way: “Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God?”  (Psalm 77:13 NASB).  The absolute prefect holiness of God:  “Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3 NASB).  God is holy:  “Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He” (Psalm 99:3 NASB).  God is superlatively holy:  “Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.’  And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke” (Isaiah 6:2-4 NASB).  God is true, good and holy:  “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5 NKJV).  Love the God Who is holy and because He is holy.  Love God for Who He is.  God is holy, now, what about you?

The Saving, Life-Changing Gospel of Christ

Herein is about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ:  “…Repent and believe in the gospel.”  (Mark 1:15 NASB).  The gospel is, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…”  (Acts 16:31 NASB).  It is a true story about the expiation (that is, Christ Himself has removed sin for His elect only “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 NASB), and propitiated (that is, Christ Himself has appeased the wrath of God the Father), and at the same time, (the Son of God came into the world to save sinners in sinless conformity with the Father’s will not in opposition to it) for His elect people.  This gospel pamphlet is concerning the holiness of God, man’s total depravity, the negative result of that, which is God’s real wrath, and the actual eternal solution to it, Who is the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is from the will of God the Father by His divine Spirit, and people that are His have repentance and faith toward God.  Within the text of Holy Scripture is the message of the gospel of grace and peace.  The Scriptures, as some say, are merely the words of men, and simply an ancient document written with many errors.  The burden of proof is on those who make such false claims.  On the testimony of the sinless, error-free Christ, the divine Lamb of God; the Scriptures are rightly presented, within this presentation of the gospel, as the very words of God Himself (John 17:17; John 10:35 cf. 2 Timothy 3:16). 

10-Points on the Merits of the Life and Death of Christ: A Gospel Message

1.  There is only one Lord and Savior, and it is in the life and death of Christ alone where we find spiritual redemption.

2.  The life and death of Christ alone saves to the uttermost.

3.  The spiritual success of a Christian is only because of the life and death of Christ alone.

4.  The grounds for spiritual redemption is the life and death of Christ alone.

5.  The life and death of Christ alone is the Gospel message for lost sinners.

6.  The only Redeemer of His people is Christ alone.

7.  The all-sufficient sufficiency is Christ alone for spiritual salvation.

8.  The all-filled grace of Christ alone is His merits of His life and death alone.

9.  There is no work save that which is the work of Christ alone.

10.  There is no merit save that which is the merit of Christ alone. 

The Time is Now

God has given His people an unbelievable message, and “…how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard…” (Hebrews 2:3 NASB).  The time for faith and repentance is now:  “…for He says, ‘AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.’  Behold, now is ‘THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,’ behold, now is ‘THE DAY OF SALVATION…’”  (2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB).  Life is but a vapor:  “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away”  (James 4:14 NASB).  Repent and believe:  “and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:15 NASB).  Will it be you, who the angels in heaven rejoice because of faithful life-long repentance (see Luke 15:10)?  A truly regenerate person, will truly have faithful repentance through Christ crucified.  Regenerate sinners will truly preserve in Christ in the faith through life.  If someone claimed to believe once, and falls away, they never had true faith to begin with for Scripture says, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19 NASB).  The elect sinner will continue to repent of particular sins, particularly.  And will it be you who the Lord Jesus says on the last day, “…Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…” (Matthew 25:34 NASB)?  Or will He say to you “…Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41)?  If a person is truly regenerate, that person will truly preserve in the true grace of God not using His grace as a cover-up for evil (see 1 Peter 2:16):  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand” (John 10:27, 29 cf. Philippians 1:6 NASB).  There is an elect, and only they will be saved (2 Timothy 2:10).  Will it be you?  “They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31 cf. Romans 4:24; 10:9 NASB).  Looking back on how Paul became right with God, he says: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”  (Romans 5:1 NASB).

Faith and Repentance

The fruits of being born again (that is, having spiritual life) are faith and repentance with the promise of the forgiveness of sins.  Believe in your heart:

…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:9-13 ESV). 

Repentance (that is, turning from sin, that is, because we have offended Him and have committed wrongdoing), to God through Christ by His Spirit for forgiveness is proclaimed everywhere:  “…and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem…”  (Luke 24:47 NSAB).  If you truly believe, you have forgiveness of sins:  “…Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43 NASB).  Believe in Christ’s atonement:  “…whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed…”  (Romans 3:25 NASB).  Everyone everywhere must repent or perish:  “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent…”  (Acts 13:38 NASB).  Christ came to save sinners:  “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy 1:15 NASB).  Be reconciled to God:  “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB).  Christ alone nailed it to His cross:  “…having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NASB).  Christ alone freed His people by His cross regarding sin:  “…To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever.  Amen” (Revelation 1:5-6 NIV).  To repent and believe the gospel is the right thing to do.  This is the free offer of the gospel.  Elect sinners have their sins paid in full wherewith Christ Himself said this on His dreadful cross where He took the sin of particular people and paid their debt of which His people could never pay (John 19:30).  Christ came to die in their place for their sins, not any of His; He was, indeed, the “…Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19 NKJV).

The Choice of God

No good nor evil that anyone has done but of Him alone Who calls:  “…(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls)…” (Romans 9:11 NKJV).  The choice of salvation does not depend upon man:  “…Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NASB).  It is solely God’s divine choice (John 10:16; Romans 8:28-30; Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 14:6).

Let us consider the doctrine of blessed self-despair.  It is when the poor sinner is most near to grace as Luther taught.  “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16 NASB).  Have you understood and experienced “blessed self-despair”?  It is when you realize you cannot save yourself. 

Adultery, Fornication and Homosexuality: A Study of the Good Work of Morality in the Holy Bible

Chapter 1:       A Study of the Sixth Commandment

1. All narrow and board sin is included in the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

2. The Bible does not support fornication: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

3. It does not support adultery:  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

4. It does not support any manner of sexual uncleanness:  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

5. It does not support homosexuality:  “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

Chapter 2:      A Study of the Spiritual Crimes in the New Testament

6. Adultery is forbidden, because of Christ and His Word.

7. The spiritual crimes of people are not to be mirrored by others.

8. The sexual sin of the Romans concerning a homosexuality is foreign to the Bible’s teaching of the law of good works and faith.

9. The suffering of people can come from sexual sin, because it can be judgment.

10. There is a judgment unto eternal life, but there is also a judgment unto eternal death.

Chapter 3:      Flee from Sexual Sin to Incarnate Purity

11. We are to flee sexual sin and cling to Christ alone.

12. We are to commit ourselves to Christ alone and His purity.

13. A so-called sexual evildoer who has confessed their sins through His pure life and death alone is purer then an unconverted virgin touching no sexual union.

14. No one should seek sin, because the consequence of sin is judgment.

15. Sexual sin is harm to every sin, because it is everyone’s burden.

Chapter 4:      Put Sin to Death, and Live Uprightly

16. We are called to die to self, but live to God in an upright way.

17. We are called to live by the Spirit of Christ, but not live according to the flesh.

18. We are called to live by Christ’s law, but not live according to lawlessness.

19. We are called to walk uprightly, but we are not called to be unholy.

20. We are called to live in light of the Gospel of holiness, but to run from sin.

Chapter 5:      Only His Unified Righteousness Avails

21. The life and death of Christ alone avails for God’s people, because it is intended only for them.

22. The unified merit of Christ alone avails for God’s people, because it is divinely acceptable.

23. The only merit of Christ that avails is God’s righteousness, because it is His only meritorious sufficiency.

24. There is no hope; there is no peace; there is no value except in and through Him who forever lives.

25. There is no divine righteousness except in Him; for He is the spiritual blessing of His people in Christ Jesus our Lord and Master.

Chapter 6:      Keep in Line

26. We are called to keep in line, because we are His people.

27. We are called to do what is right, because He purchased us.

28. We are called to do what is honorable, because His Spirit lives in us.

29. We are called to do what is pleasing to Him, because it is about the law of good works.

30. We are called to do what is a good report, because we ought to do what is lovely.

Hearken to the Narrow Gate

You must enter the narrow gate:  “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:24 NASB). Those that cannot enter the narrow gate were not drawn by the Father.  Those who are drawn by the Father enter the narrow gate.  It is essential:  “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14 NASB).  Once you are through the narrow gate, it is an indication of being saved.  If God grants you to truly come to Him, you will never truly be forsaken (see Hebrews 13:5) nor will He cast you out.  Once a person is in Christ “there is…no condemnation.”  (Romans 8:1 NASB).  To one person the gospel of Christ is the fragrance of death, and to another person the gospel of Christ is the aroma of life (see 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 NASB).  Believe the eternal Son of God:  “…but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31 NASB).  God’s people who believe, who have received Him, become the children of God (John 1:12).  Moses asked, as do I, “…Who is on the LORD's side?...”  (Exodus 32:26 KJV).

Introduction to the Gospel of Christ

Jesus Christ is the all-sufficient Incarnate bodily Risen Savior and Lord.  Once you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will abhor sin, turn from it in true and faithful repentance and cling to Christ over your sins.  After regeneration (being born again) and justification (being declared righteous) comes sanctification (the pursuit of holiness).  There is a sense in which a believer has already been sanctified in Christ in a past tense.  Believers also go through sanctification in the present tense.  After all of this, in heaven we are glorified.  This is a wonderful reality for God’s people.  God will finish what He started.  God loses none that are His property.  The gospel is not a message of gloom or sadness.  Rather, it is a message of unspeakable love that Christ has for His people.  It is surely and truly the good news of my Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ: “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3 KJV).  If someone dies in their present condition of unrepentant life, he is lost forever.  If you are brought to a time in your life, which indicates that sin is your tremendous plague, in which you are offending God, which is your tremendous grief, and your heart is to please Him and honor Him, then God has given you hope.  This hope is in His Son, Jesus Christ.  “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 KJV).

If you haven’t already done so, may you surrender to His Lordship, Saviorhood, and surrender to His control in your life.  Jesus blood can wash the foulest human person clean.  The grace of God can securely uphold the weakest person.  Jesus actually saves sinners.  When is the right time to be saved?  “…Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2 KJV).  May you, yield your life to Christ.  May you give Him your all this day.  It’s upon Christ’s life; upon His death, that Christians trust in Him, for eternal life all their lives.  Trust in Christ’s life, His unified righteousness alone and His atoning death, Who rose triumphantly and victoriously from the grave in the same body He was crucified in yet His body that He died in, was a resurrected glorified body; therefore Jesus bodily from the grave, which demonstrated that He is Incarnate Divinity, and His bodily resurrection verified the work that He accomplished for His people on the cross in His selfless sacrificial atonement.  Jesus was ascended into heaven and He is enthroned in the heavens; and ladies and gentlemen, He is the Sovereign King!  Yes, He rules and reigns, and all government is subject to Him!

Let's turn to this following example.  Suppose there is a person and his name is F.  His entire life is an F.  He has tried it his own way all his life and he has failed miserably.  God looks down upon the earth and sees person F.  He gives him a failing grade; He gives him an F.  But because God Who is abundant and rich in the depths of His mercy (Eph. 1, 2); He choose to save person F, He will preserve that person unto the very end of life.  Since God choose to save person F, He will never ever leave nor abandon nor forsake person F.  Because, you see, person F, is now His property.  Now that person F is God's possession, God molds the believer (election unto holiness) in conforming the believer to the image of Christ.  Since person F is now saved by God all because of Him for God’s glory alone, He is given a passing grade to enter heaven on the basis of Christ's merits alone.  The believer is given an A+ not because of something the believer has done or will do, but because of the basis and grounds of Christ’s atonement alone; it’s Christ’s righteousness alone that avails to the Father, in order that His people may stand before God, clothed in the very unified righteousness of Christ Himself.  The Father, in accord with His beloved and holy will, accepts the sinner, through the work of Christ, which was made actual by the operational work of the Holy Ghost.  God loves His people that much, as to save them from their own sinful, selfish ways.  The author of Hebrews says:  “...how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation…” (Heb. 2:3 KJV).  Christians know that true Christians truly believe because God truly worked in us and truly loved us and truly gave His Son for His true people that everyone that truly believes in Him should not perish but truly have or truly obtain real everlasting life (see John 3:16).  So, as Christians understand the true gospel of Christ, we are not to be ashamed of the gospel because “...it is the power of God unto everyone who believeth...” (Romans 1:16).  As the apostle Paul said to the Philippian jailor, so I say to you, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved....”  (Acts 16:31 KJV).

33-Biblical Statements on an Evil Truth A Little Study of a Truth-Telling Malice and a Soiled Wickedness

Thursday, August 26, 2010

1. There is a type of so-called glory that is evil, because it is sin.
2. A self-destructive god as Satan is contrary to the law of God; for it is only the God of the Bible that is perfect and true to His name.
3. The greatest desire of Satan is to doom the human race; for it is not inconsistent with what he did to his own demonic followers touching the angelic race.
4. Pride is the evil emperor, because it is the essence of sin.
5. Arrogance is the evil prince, because it is the essence of sin.
6. Idolatry is the foundation of sin, because it is the spring board of every sin.
7. Cruel hatred is the weapon of Satan, but God has the weapon of hatred of sin.
8. There is a so-called tender evil, because it is contrary to the law of God.
9. There is a so-called living violence, for it is submission to evil.
10. The vileness magnified of evil is contrary to the law of God.
11. Satan’s co-called kindness is not a kindness; for it is a violation of the law of zeal kindness.
12. There is a disrespectful respect that is Satan’s so-called respect to God, for it is immersed in sin, wickedness and trickery.
13. If there so-called truth glorifies them, it is acceptable.
14. If God ordaining all things for the good of His people is meant for our good, the enemy turns it on its head to cause more evil in a unjustification of the end justifies the means.
15. There is a wickedness that is a wickedness that is contrary to the law of God.
16. There is a sin that is a sin that is contrary to the law of God.
17. There is an evil that is an evil that is contrary to the law of God.
18. There is a good evil that is not a wicked evil that is consistent with civil righteousness.
19. There is a so-called loving malice, because is it all about submission to wickedness.
20. There is an unkind kindness, because there is sin in the world.
21. There is sin in the world, because of the fall of Adam.
22. There is sin in the world, because of the fall of Satan.
23. There should be no favor between Christian and sin; for it is contrary to the law of God.
24. There is not fellowship between God and Satan, because there is no fellowship with sin in God.
25. There is no darkness with God, but there is much darkness in Satan.
26. There is no goodness in Satan, but God is goodness.
27. There is no holiness in Satan, but God is holiness.
28. There is no godliness in Satan, but God is pure.
29. There is no friendship with Satan, but God is friends with redeemed sinners.
30. There is no fellowship between light and darkness.
31. There is no harmony or peace between God and Satan.
32. There is no god except the Three in One. 
33. There is no divine attributes except with God the Holy Trinity alone

Saints and Faithful Brethren

 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. NASB

Paul was the author of Colossians.  Paul wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and some say Hebrews.  He was an apostle of Jesus Christ.  It was by the will of God that he was an apostle.  Paul mentions Timothy who is our brother in the faith.  There are entire epistles written to Timothy. 

Paul is an apostle of Jesus Christ.  It was by the will of God, and Timothy, his son in the faith is his brother in the Lord.  Timothy is our brother in the Lord just as he is Paul’s brother in the Lord.   Paul was able to minister to Timothy, and train Timothy to be a faithful elder, saint and follower of Jesus Christ. 

Let us turn to the other Scriptures that mirror verse 1 of Colossians to understand what Paul writes, and what he says.  We will look at them in order, and we shall see the common words of the writings of St. Paul.  It helps to understand that he says these things in a certain context.  It is very interesting to see how St. Paul writes in his own epistles. 

We see in Romans that Paul identifies himself as an apostle.  He clearly says he was set apart for the gospel of God.  The gospel is not of man but it is of God.  The commonality here is that Paul identifies himself as an apostle of God.  The difference though it is clearly true that Paul is a bond-servant of Christ.  When he wrote to the Colossians he wrote as a bond-servant of Christ.  He was committed to the gospel of God. 

Rom 1 1Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, ^(A)called as an apostle, ^(B)set apart for ^(C)the gospel of God,

We see that Paul says he was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Again like the epistle of the Colossians, it was by the will of God.  He speaks of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Cor  1Paul, ^(A)called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by ^(B)the will of God, and ^(C)Sosthenes our ^(D)brother,  2To ^(E)the church of God which is at ^(F)Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints ^(G)by calling, with all who in every place ^(H)call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:  3^(I)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see here Paul is approved as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  It was by the will of God, and Timothy is his Paul, and the brother of all Christians.  He also speaks of grace and peace. 

2 Cor1Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)by the will of God, and ^(D)Timothy our brother, To ^(E)the church of God which is at ^(F)Corinth with all the saints who are throughout ^(G)Achaia:  2^(H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is identified as an apostle.  He was not sent from men or through men but through the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. 

Gal 1  1Paul, ^(A)an apostle (^(B)not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but ^(C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who ^(D)raised Him from the dead),

Paul is again shown to be an apostle, and it was by the will of God.  He speaks of the saints and the faithful brethren, and he speaks of the grace and peace.  It is from the Father and from the Lord Jesus.

Ephesians 1, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, 2To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Paul is a bondservant of Christ, and he speaks of the saints, and the grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus:

Phil1: 1^(A)Paul and ^(B)Timothy, ^(C)bond-servants of ^(D)Christ Jesus, To ^(E)all the ^(F)saints in Christ Jesus who are in ^(G)Philippi, including the ^(H)overseers and ^(I)deacons:  2^(J)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that grace and peace is given to the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus.

1 Thess 1^(A)Paul and ^(B)Silvanus and ^(C)Timothy, To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ^(E)Grace to you and peace.

Paul speaks of grace and peace from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Thess 1^(A)Paul and ^(B)Silvanus and ^(C)Timothy, To the ^(D)church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2^(E)Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul here mentions mercy and grace and peace.

1 Tim 11Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)according to the commandment of ^(D)God our Savior, and of ^(E)Christ Jesus, who is our ^(F)hope, 2To ^(G)Timothy, ^(H)my true child in the faith: ^(I)Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and ^(J)Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul mentions grace, peace and mercy.   Again her mentions the will of God:

2 Tim 1Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^(C)by the will of God, according to the promise of ^(D)life in Christ Jesus, 2To ^(E)Timothy, my beloved ^(F)son: ^(G)Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul is an apostle of Christ, and he mentions as a bond-servant:

Titus 1 1Paul, ^(A)a bond-servant of God and an ^(B)apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those ^(C)chosen of God and ^(D)the knowledge of the truth which is ^(E)according to godliness,

Let us understand this part of the sentence, “Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ…”

Calvin says,

1 Paul an Apostle. I have already, in repeated instances, explained the design of such inscriptions. As, however, the Colossians had never seen him, and on that account his authority was not as yet so firmly established among them as to make his private name by itself sufficient, he premises that he is an Apostle of Christ set apart by the will of God. From this it followed, that he did not act rashly in writing to persons that were not known by him, inasmuch as he was discharging an embassy with which God had intrusted him. For he was not bound to one Church merely, but his Apostleship extended to all. The term saints which he applies to them is more honorable, but in calling them faithful brethren, he allures them more willingly to listen to him. As for other things, they may be found explained in the foregoing Epistles.

Matthew Henry wrote,

I. The inscription of this epistle is much the same with the rest; only it is observable that, 1. He calls himself an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. An apostle is a prime-minister in the kingdom of Christ, immediately called by Christ, and extraordinarily qualified; his work was peculiarly to plant the Christian church, and confirm the Christian doctrine. He attributes this not to his own merit, strength, or sufficiency; but to the free grace and good-will of God. He thought himself engaged to do his utmost, as an apostle, because he was made so by the will of God. 2. He joins Timothy in commission with himself, which is another instance of his humility; and, though he elsewhere calls him his son (2 Tim. ii. 1), yet here he calls him his brother, which is an example to the elder and more eminent ministers to look upon the younger and more obscure as their brethren, and to treat them accordingly with kindness and respect. 3. He calls the Christians at Colosse saints, and faithful brethren in Christ. As all good ministers, so all good Christians, are brethren one to another, who stand in a near relation and owe a mutual love. Towards God they must be saints, consecrated to his honour and sanctified by his grace, bearing his image and aiming at his glory. And in both these, as saints to God and as brethren to one another, they must be faithful. Faithfulness runs through every character and relation of the Christian life, and is the crown and glory of them all.

II. The apostolical benediction is the same as usual: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. He wishes them grace and peace, the free favour of God and all the blessed fruits of it; every kind of spiritual blessings, and that from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; jointly from both, and distinctly from each; as in the former epistle.

He comes to the church not from the authority of men but from the authority of Jesus Christ.  He was nothing less then an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Yet he was not a follower of Christ in the Lord’s earthly ministry, but he was surely an apostle of the Lord Jesus.  He was appointed by the Lord Jesus.  Nowadays there are no apostles.  Some people dispute that and say they are, in fact, apostles.  But we know that it is not true that there are apostles nowadays.  Paul saw and spoke with the bodily Risen Christ.  It was a task he was assigned to, and his task was to be an apostle unlike the false “apostles” of today.  He was appointed to the office by the Lord Himself, and the revelation Paul received was not from men, tradition or demons, but from the Living Christ Himself.  He had special authority in all the Christian churches not just the ones he personally started, but even the churches he did not personally start.  We know that Paul believed that the Head of the church was not Peter but it was the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us understand the statement “the will of God.”  It is the clear testimony of Scripture that Paul was an apostle by the will of the Father.  It was not according to the will of men, Satan or the world.  Rather it was in accord with the Father’s will.  It was through the permission of God that he was an apostle.  Nothing could stop Paul from being an apostle.  It is so crucial to be in accordance with the Father’s will.  If it was not in accord with the Father’s will it will not succeed.  But if it is, no man can stop it, because it is from the will of God.  No creature—devil or human being—will be able to stop what Paul wrote because it is in accord with the Father’s blessed will.  No saint should want anything else except it is by the Father’s beloved will. 

The will of God is God sovereignly ordains all that comes to pass.  God is completely sovereign.  No one can thwart or frustrate His blessed will.  He is in control regarding everything.  There is nothing that is not in His control.  God permits whatever to happen to occur.  God passively permits things to happen, and when, He does this He grants or chooses to permit it.  He has the power and authority to stop anything regarding the events of the world.  When God lets events to happen, in a sense, He has willed it to happen.  The sovereign will of God is hidden from us.  It first must happen to be revealed to us.  Yet one aspect of His will is clear to His people.  This aspect of His will is the perceptive will of God.  God shows forth His will by His blessed and righteous law.  For instance it is the will of God to obey His law.  That is, to worship no other gods before Him.  When we break the Ten Commandments we break His perceptive will.  God’s perceptive will is seen, plainly, in His word.  We also see it in regards to our conscience.  God’s has certainly written the moral law upon the hearts of men.  Whether His law is found in the heart or in His blessed Word, it must be obeyed.  Human beings have no authority to break His law.  Human beings can thwart His perceptive will by sinning.  Yet we never have the right to do so.  We should never justify our sin by saying, sinfully, “What will be, will be.”  God in His sovereign or hidden will may permit your sin as He brings things to pass.  Yet He never has a moral approval of it.  God ordained that Christ be betrayed through Judas.  But the sin of Judas is still serious and it makes it no less sinful.  The permission of God provides us with the power to break His blessed will, “but not the right to sin.”  The third way God describes the will of God is His will of disposition.  The will of disposition speaks of God’s attitude.  It shows what is pleasing to our Lord.  God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.  Yet He decrees the death of the wicked.  The ultimate delight of God is in His holiness and righteousness.  When the time comes when the God-man judges the world it is a vindication of His own righteousness and justice.  God is never vindictive toward any, nor is He cruel toward any.  Our Lord is pleased when we find pleasure in our obedience.  God is tremendously displeased when we disobey Him.  When we disobey Him, we must repent of our sins to Him.  He accepts us after we have sinned through His Son.  Continue in faithful repentance.  The prescriptive will of God can be broken.  Human beings break it everyday.  Yet we never have the right to do wrong.  We never have the right to sin.  The hidden will of God is not known to His people.  He keeps this from us according to what seems right and good to Him. What God denies in His all-wisdom for us to know, it is best to detest from our pursuit.  If people unlawfully look into the future, it is the same as stealing.  It is an offense against God.  It is a sin against Him.  If we have ever been to a fortune teller or a physic, we have committed sin, and we must ask ourselves, have we repented?  People want easy access to what is unknown to get immediate comfort and peace of mind about the future.  Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ.  It was accord with His Beloved Father’s will.  Christ appointed Paul as an apostle to exalt His truth and spread His gospel.  Paul spoke by the Spirit of God about the glorious gospel of grace and peace.  God ordained through His blessed will that Paul would be an apostle.  The will of God means that God chosen him and it indicates God’s ultimate authority for his apostleship.  He was appointed to a divine task.

The Lord Jesus whom the apostle is bound to was a man who lived a perfect.  He lived a sinless, perfect and spotless life.  He went about performing miracles and signs that attested His messianic identity.  His miracles surpass all comprehension, and the peace that He gives to His own is far beyond anything of this world.  Because of Christ people that are born from above can say they have a hope laid up for them in heaven.  They can be assured of forgiveness because if Christ who is the Perfect-Savior is the basis for their forgiveness they have the eternal hope of the eternal city in heaven.   Christ not only lived a life of perfection but He taught doctrine free from error and lies.  He was the Master of the apostles.  He was the Lord of the apostles, and He was the Redeemer of the eleven apostles.  He taught eternal life through Himself.  His gospel was a gospel of eternal redemption.  It is nothing less then life-changing and it has eternal value.  Christ who is our Great Incarnate Prophet, Priest and King.  He spoke of the Word of God.  He was the Word of God. He was the only God-man in history who offered Himself as a sacrifice for His own to God the Father.  He is the King who reigns on High.  He is the King who bled and died, and rose again, and ascended on High.  The Lord Jesus Christ died the death that purchased His own.  The death He died was done once and for all.  It was something that was well-pleasing and a fragrant aroma to His Father.  This is the God-man who the apostle has for His Master.  Is He not your Master, Lord and Savior?  What gifts have you used for the glory of Him who lives and reigns and forever shall be?  Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ, the God of Saint Paul, and have you lived a life of obedience?  Saint Paul was a man who rebelled against God.  He sought to torment the church of Christ, and persecute the Lord’s people, and the Lord Jesus said it was persecution against Him.  Paul breathed out persecution and suffered the people of God greatly.  Saint Stephen was a man of God who taught God’s people and rebuked the murders who murdered the Lord Jesus.  Saint Paul was one of the men in his dreadful past who agreed in murdering and putting Stephen to death.  But the Lord Jesus came to him, for He was the Sinner-Seeker.  The Lord Jesus seeks out His own in the world and makes them not of the world.  He saved His own and changed His life.  Paul’s ministry would impact millions, and it still provides a life-changing message that will never fade.  He was a man who went from seeking what was perishable to what is imperishable; from darkness to light; from spiritual death to spiritual life; from being zealous in the law to being grace-driven; from being a sinner without Christ to being a sinner who is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; from being a child of disobedience and wrath to being a child of the obedience and a child of the kingdom. 

Paul mentions Timothy who was a beloved brother in the Lord.  Paul wrote two epistles to Timothy, and He was an elder who loved the Lord and committed His life to Christ and the gospel message.  Timothy knew that the gospel is a life-changing, soul-changing, mind-transforming and heart-warming message that is the difference between eternal damnation and eternal life.  Timothy is called a dear son in the faith.  He is a dear child of the faith of Christ.  He never deserted the faith but was a stedfast man of God for people to see and take his example.  Are you a man or woman of God who walks worthy of the gospel and could a new convert take your example?   He is called “my true son in the faith.”  He was a beloved and dear brother who lived after the teachings of Christ.  How many of us can say that we live consistently and faithful for Christ?  Do you bear the fruits of the Spirit of God?  Do people see Christ in you and do you bear the marks of the death of Christ?  Has He died for you, dear person?  Do you think Timothy abandoned his mission for Christ because of little problems?  We are to walk fearlessly and without hindrance because the glory of Christ is on the line. How high of a priority is the glory of Christ in your life? 

Now we read verse two, “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”  We see that Paul identifies the people at Colossae as saints and faithful brethren in Christ.  You cannot be a believer and be one outside of Christ.  There are many people today that claim to believe in God and therefore they reason themselves “believers.”  James says you do well, the demons believe and tremble.  This kind of belief is not sufficient to save or redeem anyone, for demons have the same kind of belief.  It is a belief devoid of the Spirit of God.  No one is a believer in Christ who denies Him as Lord and Savior.  No one is a believer in Christ who honors Him with his lips and yet their hearts are far from them.  No one is a believer in Christ who denies Christ as the sole Redeemer of mankind.  No one is a believer in Christ who chooses a life of sin over against a life in devotion to Christ.   No one is a believer in Christ who has fellowship with the world and Satan.  No one is a believer in Christ if they have others gods before Him, for is He not the only way to the Father?  No one is a believer in Christ, who uses God’s grace-given freedom for immoral and perversion and homosexuality and rejects repentance.  No one is a believer in Christ who rejects faithful repentance and lingers in sin, and yet says “I believe.”  We are to be saints and faithful brethren.  What does it mean to be a saint?  Does it mean that you must get permission from Rome to call yourself a saint?  Does it mean you need to believe that justification is by faith and works?  Do you feel you must add something to the unified work of Christ and do works of satisfaction?  To be a saint, you do not need to get approval from Rome.  You do not need their gross understandings on this matter because it lacks scriptural support.  Justification is by faith alone not by good works.  And the unified righteousness of Christ is sufficient for the grounds of rustication.  When we see Rome saying they must declare a saint a saint, we see an assault on the truth itself and on the heart of the gospel.   Remember, Rome anathemas those who believe in faith alone, and the very gospel is at stake, for it is the truth of God.  What makes a saint?  Very simply, God makes a saint.  Every Christian is a saint.  God makes a saint; we must be born from above; we must die to sin; we must live for Christ.  Again, God makes a saint.  When we see people of false religions claiming “holiness” such as Rome does, and some people claim that the Pope was holy.  We see they believe this because they have a false way of understanding holiness.  Holiness is not praying the rosary over and over again.  Holiness is not penance and it is praying to saints, having a particular kind of devotion to saints.  Holiness is not celebrating the Rome Mass.  Holiness is not adding to the work of Christ.  The Bible says we are called to be holy as the Lord is holy.  It is an eternal matter and it is a serious matter.  No man can see the Lord without being holy.  We must be holy.  We can only be holy by grace and repentance.  We need not add to the work of Christ.  We have a sufficient Savior who paid the debt for His own.  His merits are enough.  We must proclaim this message of truth and live in holiness.  We must die to sin and live to Christ.  Those who live to Christ have the evidence of being saved, and therefore, have the confidence laid up for them in heaven. 

We are to be faithful brethren.  Faithfulness, faithfulness, faithfulness.  How many of us are truly faithful to the Lord throughout the week?  How many of us have fallen into sin and have yet to repent?  When we look at the Lord Jesus we see a man who was faithful and true to the law of God.  We see a man who was never involved in sin, rebellion, wickedness, and iniquity.  We see in the Bible that God is faithful.  The great hymn proclaims,

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

The Bible speaks of the faithfulness of God:

God is faithful to forgive sin and to clean us from all filth:

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We ought to know that God is faithful, and He is the One who promised to keep His Word:

Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

We have a faithful High Priest, and the Bible speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ as always doing what pleases the Father:

Hebrews 2:17, Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

The Lord is faithful, and He will stand with His own and strengthen His own:

2 Timothy 4:17, But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

When we are faithless, God is faithful.  He has sworn to never forsaken and abandon us because of His faithful Word:

2 Timothy 2:13, If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

The Scripture says God is faithful:

2 Thessalonians 3:3, But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

God calls His people, and He is faithful:

1 Thessalonians 5:24, He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

God is faithful:

2 Corinthians 1:18, But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.

God is faithful and He controls all things even the temptations in your life:

1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

God called His own, and He is faithful to His own:

1 Corinthians 1:9, God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the life of the believer we ought to be faithful.  Yes, we will see sin, but we also repent.  We are to remain obedient.  We ought to pray and thank and praise Him for Who He is.  We ought not to settle for mediocrity.  We are to seek excellence because we desire God to be glorified and magnified.  Let us turn to the Word of truth and hear the wonderfulness of being faithful:

God rewards people who are faithful:

Luke 19:17, And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’

We are to be examples among the brethren that we show we are faithful:

Acts 16:15, And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

Stewards are to be faithful to the Word and to Christ:

1 Corinthians 4:2, Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Timothy is described as a faithful brother in the Lord.  Could someone say that about you?

1 Corinthians 4:17, For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

Do you have the fruit of faithfulness?  Have you praise God for it?

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Are you faithful in Christ?

Ephesians 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

Are you a faithful brother or sister in the Lord?

Ephesians 6:21, But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;

Here we see three examples of faithful brethren:

Colossians 1:7, as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,

Colossians 4:9, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

1 Peter 5:12, By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

We learn that God is faithful and His loyal ones are faithful to Him.   We are to be faithful because He is faithful.  We ought to be saints in a dark world filled with wickedness and sin.  We are to be faithful because of His grace and the peace that we have because of Christ.  We ought to be faithful because our highest aim is to be God’s glory.  We are to be faithful because we have the Holy Spirit.  We are to be faithful because it is true and right to the divine Word.  If we are unfaithful, He will surely be faithful.  We must continue in faithful repentance, and this is done by His grace.  How high a priority is faithfulness in your life?  If Jesus spoke to you today, would He commend you for your faithfulness?  How would He respond to the way you live your life?  Are you faithful to the Word of Truth, the Gospel of Truth?  Are you faithful to God in how you explain theology about Him?  Faithfulness does not extend merely to our outward actions.  Rather it pretends to our thoughts—are you faithful?  Regarding your emotions—are you in line with the Word and being angry and not sinning?  Regarding your actions—are you faithful to God in doing the actions you do for Him with your heart?  Regarding your relationships—have you spoken the truth of God to your neighbor?  These are all cases were we need to be faithful. 

We should look to the Lord Jesus.  Was He not faithful in obeying the will of God for His life?  Was He not faithful in accomplishing His mission for the Father?  Was He not faithful in His thoughts, words, and deeds?  Commit this day to Christ as a day of faithfulness, and do it everyday of your life.  Remember, you will be judged for every idle word, and if every idle every, then every big thing in your life as well.  Keep yourself in the Word, and praying unto the Lord. 

Dear Lord,

Now that we have seen what Your word says; let us be faithful.

Oh, that we would take Your only Beloved Son’s example.

May we be faithful and true to Your Word.

Help us to do this by Your grace.

In Jesus’ name, amen.