Words from the apostle Paul

 Words from the Apostle Paul

The following are not my words, but rather the words of the apostle Paul recorded in the book of acts, who spoke at the Areopagus. The ancient Greek equivalent of what we today would be called a Ted Talk.

The book of acts records,

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:17-31.

The reaction to Pauls speech is recorded in acts 17:32-34. It states,

“When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others Acts 17:32-34

So having read Pauls sermon where do you stand? Do you sneer at the though of the resurrection from the dead? Do you want to hear more? Or do you believe what Paul said?

Please think about it.

How

  How

The Psalmist writes,

"Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth." 

                                                          Psalm 46:10.

Here is a no nonsense statement. God will be exalted among the nations. The apostle Paul tells us,

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11.

If these two scriptures are correct, and I believe they are, then one day everyone from the lowliest citizen to the mightiest leaders of the world will one day bow before God.

Not only that, the apostle Paul speaking about Jesus states,

“For he (God) has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts 17:31.

The question is how will God judge you? 

Please think about it.

An Odd Statement?

 An odd statement?

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

 “A good name is better that perfumed oil 

and the day of death better than the day of birth." 

                                                                          Ecclesiastes 7:1.

The first part of this scripture portion is easy to understand. A good name in this world is far better than anything else the world has to offer.

At first glance however the last portion of this scripture “the day of death better than the day of birth” seems odd. But is it?

From my standpoint as a believer in Christ Jesus. One who truly believes in God I can understand why the writer of Ecclesiastes said “the day of death is better than the day of birth.”

The logic being if we truly have faith in God death becomes a transition between this life with all its trials and tribulations and the eternal life in heaven where trials and tribulations are no

more.

On the day of our birth into this life by contrast, we must walk an earthly path that not only has good times but also bad times. 

So the question becomes are you ready for the day of your death?

On the day Jesus was crucified with two criminals we read in Luke’s gospel,

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'" 

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43.

The criminal who asked Jesus to remember him showed what we must do to have eternal life. 

1/ He confessed his sins.

The apostle John writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1John 1:9.

2/He believed in his heart that Jesus was the Messiah.

The apostle Paul writing,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”  Romans 10: 9,10.

 Thus my question to you, Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

A Question to ask

  A Question to ask

The apostle John writes,

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:17,18.

There are over 2000 verses in the scriptures that deal with responding to the needs of people.

So here is one simple test of a true believer in Christ Jesus. Does that person have pity on his brother in need?

It is a question we need to ask not only of pastors, evangelist and those who sit in the pews on Sunday. But it is a question we need to ask of any political leader that claims they are a Christian.

Please think about it.

This kind of faith

 This kind of faith

The Apostle Paul writes,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38,39

The apostle Paul is right. No one can separate us from the love of Christ. That’s because a true believer in Christ Jesus has faith.

I believe there is two kinds of faith if you will. One an intellectual faith. Where in our mind we believe in something. This kind of faith however is the kind that disappears when hard times come. When persecution comes.

The other is what the writer of Hebrews states,

 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                                                  Hebrews 11:1

This is the kind of faith that is part of a persons very being. A person who has such faith is willing to die for what they believe in. This is the kind of faith God asks of all who would believe in Him.

Do you have the kind of faith in Christ Jesus you are willing to die for?

Please think about it.

Fighting God

  Fighting God

 In the book of Acts we read a Pharisee named Gamaliel standing before the Sanhedrin as they were presiding over the trial of two of Christ's apostles saying,

"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." Acts 5:38,39.

I firmly believe Gamaliel was right about what the apostles were preaching about being from God. The proof is that two thousand years later what the disciple of Christ were preaching is still going on. The message of the Gospel of Christ has reached into every nation.

Not only that any attempts by governments from the time of the Romans to the present day to try and stop the spread of the Love of Christ has failed.

I do believe that those governments and government leaders that try to stop the spread of the gospel will one day stand before God and give an account for their actions.

If I am wrong those who oppose the Gospel message. Those who oppose Christ Jesus have nothing to fear.

If on the other hand I am right, as I believe I am, then all who oppose and try to suppress the Gospel message have a lot to fear.

Please think about it.

Something Jesus said

 Something Jesus said

Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12

Put this way in the year 2021 this means;

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals on others

however good they may be.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

are telling the world you are a Christian

You should be telling the world 

I love you as Jesus loves you,...

unconditionally.

Please think about it

The Greatest thing

The Greatest thing

The apostle Paul writes,

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."1 Corinthians 13:1-8a,13.

Within this portion of scripture we see the ultimate definition of love. Paul telling us that if we do not have love we are nothing.

Jesus when asked,

 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.

So do you love? Do you truly love the way the apostle Paul defines love? 

Next question; do you love your enemy? If you are a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus you should Jesus said,

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  

  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.

So my final question; Do you love your family friends and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Do you sing?

  Do you sing?

The psalmist writes,

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;

 I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.” 

                                                                    Psalm 9:1,2.

Here is something to think about if you claim to be a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus.

Do you praise The Lord with your whole heart?

Do you tell people about the wonders of God?

Do you rejoice in God?

Do you sing praises to the name of the Lord God Most High?

Do you do all of this with your whole heart without any kind of reservation?

Please think about it.

God did not

 God did not

In the gospel of John we read Jesus speaking of himself saying,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.

I think quite often this is an overlooked portion of scripture. We hear from many quarters that God will one day judge the world, and He will. All people will be held accountable for their actions and be Judged by God. But that was not why Jesus came. 

Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save the world. To save all who would believe in Him.

It is very clear cut. Believe in Jesus and you will not perish but have everlasting life.

Question; do you believe this? 

Do you believe this?

 Do you believe this?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:22-25.

God does not do things the way man does. God could have entered this world with all his power and might setting his throne physically on this earth destroying all evil and demanding people worship Him. That however is not how God works.

He chose to enter this world in the form of a child (Jesus) that grew up knowing all of what it is to be a man. Everything from the mundane such as the smell of a dusty road. Rain on his face. The love of friends and family. He also endured the worst of mankind could offer, a horrible beating followed by death on the cross.

Then after all that God asks us to believe that Jesus is the one and Only Son of God and that we should have faith in Him in order to get to heaven.

To our human way of thinking this seems foolish, illogical. Even crazy. Yet it is what God asks us to believe. What God asks you to believe.

Jesus put it this way.  Speaking about himself he said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

Thus my question to you do you believe this?

Please think about it.

No other

 No other

In the book of Exodus we read God as saying,

"You shall have no other gods before me.”

                                                            Exodus 20:3.

That is a pretty explicit statement. We are to have no other gods in our lives except The Lord God Almighty creator of heaven and earth.

What that means is very simple nothing should come before God in our lives. No matter how good or right a thing or activity seems, God must always take first place in our lives.

Please think about it.