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To Be One in Christ: We Have Treasure in the Jars of Clay (12)-1

(2006-10-03 22:03:51) 下一个

To Be One in Christ: We Have Treasure in the Jars of Clay -- the Series of Explanation and Analysis of Scripture (12) -1

The Explanation and Analysis of Some of the Verses in Charter 1 of 2 TIMOTHY

“ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, ” (2 TIMOTHY 1:1 )

“According to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”; this verse is especially written in this letter without appearing in other letters. The letter of 2 Timothy is the last letter written by Paul with the inspiration and enlightenment of Holy Spirit. At that time Paul already knew in advance from Lord (2Ti 4:18) that he was going to sacrifice his life (2Ti 4:6: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ).

“The promise of life ”:

(1) “The promise of life ” is the promise of receiving the life of Christ. It is through faith by relying on the redemption of LORD Jesus Christ to receive the promised Spirit.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. ” (2Co 1:20-22)

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. ” (Gal 3:14)

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ” (Eph 1:13)

(2) “The promise of life ” is to be one in the life of Christ, and to be heirs together, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. ” (Eph 3:6)

(3) “The promise of life ” is to let the believers purify themselves from everything that contaminates, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God, and to be godly, participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2Co 7:1)

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. ” (1Ti 4:8)

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ” (2Pe 1:4)

(4) Those who have faith and perseverance will inherit what has been promised.

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” (Heb 6:12)

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ” (Heb 10:36)

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ” (Jam 1:12)

(5) Those who disobey and are hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, just as the Israelites who can not enter the promise land of Canaan (Heb 3, 4), are not able to enter God’s rest.

“Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. ” (Heb 4:1)

“ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. ” (2 TIMOTHY 1:7 )

The Holy Spirit given by God is the Spirit of power. If we let Holy Spirit show from us, we will have the characters and power from God; that is the life of power, love and self-discipline. God want the workers of God to show the life given from LORD, and to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, also be strong and full of love in spirit. If one is not self-disciplined, the sinful nature will come in easily to take an action and produce the chaos.

Only when one submits himself completely to Christ Jesus, is clear about his status of servant, and does everything for Christ and His kingdom, he will not care about the gain and loss of himself any more. Since God give us the spirit of power, love and self-discipline, we should by relying on LORD fan into flame the spiritual characters such as love, power and self-discipline and so on. To fight with the devil requires the brave and courageous attitude. We need the spirit of power to deal with the enemies of the cross of Christ. However, God give us the spirit of power, also including the love from God. On one side, the spirit is courageous and brave; on the other side, the spirit is full of the love of God. This love does not yield to the sins and evils, and does not yield to the falsehood. The true love is connected with the power. When we love LORD wholeheartedly, and love others according to the will of God, we have nothing to fear. By the love we walk in the will of God, we have no fear of the attacks from the devil and evil spirits.

God give us the spirit of power so that we have strength to fight for the truth; give us the spirit of love so that we can put into practice the love of God to love God and love others; give us the spirit of self-discipline so that we will be humble and fulfill our responsibility by relying on God. These are all the characters of the Spirit that God give us by grace. We should fan into flame the gifts of God. We should apply them well so that we will overcome in the work for LORD.

“ who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ” (2 TIMOTHY 1:9-10 )

About the Gospel:

<1> This Gospel is about the salvation of us by God. For the wages of sin is death, after the death, men are destined to face judgment. However, God love us and give us the redemption in Jesus Christ.

<2> This Gospel is not what we earned and obtained in exchange, but is the purpose and grace of God. Before the beginning of time, He called us in Christ. In another word, we originally are not worthy of it.

<3> This Gospel is about the new life. How do we know? On the cross, Jesus has destroyed the death. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God reborn us so that we can share in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires, and show the life of Christ.

Since we were called by the holy calling of God, we should live and work according to the purpose of the calling of God for us. We should not follow the worldly people to live a sinful life. We must live a holy life and are willing to suffer for living in His will.

“Called us to a holy life”, in the original text, is “called us with a holy calling”. “Holy calling” shows that the calling of God comes from a complete holy motive. All the deeds of God are holy. This “holy calling” includes: the grace of rebirth, the grace of gifts, and the grace to be with Him in the eternity. Since God have called us with a holy calling, we should pursue a holy life worthy of the grace of the calling, and live a life faithfully according to His will, and absolutely should not devoid of gratitude, hold any impure and selfish thought and be unworthy of His holy calling.

God called us to fight a good fight: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ” (1Ti 6:12) The believers should endure the sufferings for the sake of LORD, to this we were called. “But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ” (1Pe 2:20-21)

“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ” (1Pe 3:9)

God called us by His grace before the beginning of the time. We were reborn in Christ; it is the grace freely given by God, and it is by faith, but absolutely not by our own deeds. However, after we were called, we must live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ” (Eph 4:1)

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. ” (Gal 5:13)

We are called to be one in Christ:

“There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- ” (Eph 4:4)

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ” (Col 3:15)

The salvation came to us through Gospel and brings the immortal life to the light. The living and death, rising from the dead, ascending the heaven, and Second Coming of Christ Himself, all of this whole salvation is the Gospel to us and the most wonderful news to us. To proclaim the message of Gospel is to show His immortal life; whoever accepts His Gospel receives His life. The believers should live the testimony of the Gospel to proclaim the Gospel. Thus, when we suffer for the sake of Gospel, that is the best opportunity for us to show the new life of Christ in the adverse circumstance.

“ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. ” (2 TIMOTHY 1:13-14 )

Since Holy Spirit lives in us, with the help of Holy Spirit we can guard it continuously and firmly. The believers should keep hold of the deep truths of the faith. Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down the series of letters in the New Testament; they are the sound teachings and good deposit from God. The believers should keep it with the faith and love in Christ, and guard it with the help of Holy Spirit. We use “faith” to absorb the pure truth we heard and make it the spiritual benefit for us. “Love” makes us capable to obey the word of God; for the sake of loving God and loving others, it won’t be difficult to obey the words of LORD. When we love someone, it is not difficult to obey his words. As long as we have the love of God, we are able to do the words of LORD. The faith and love are in Jesus Christ. Only with the faith and love in Christ, we can keep the pure truth. How we can have the faith and love in Christ, it depends on the Holy Spirit in us. Holy Spirit gives all kinds of gifts to us, just as He determines; and gives us the faith to rely on God and pours out the love of Christ in us. The verse 14 repeats the verse 13; it is to emphasize by relying on the Holy Spirit in us to keep hold of the truth in Christ.

It is edited and compiled under the guidance of Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!

(2 TIMOTHY 1:1,7,9-10,13-14)

2 TIMOTHY 1:1 “ Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, ”

(NOTES)

“according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”:

This verse is especially written in this letter without appearing in other letters. The letter of 2 Timothy is the last letter written by Paul with the inspiration and enlightenment of Holy Spirit. At that time Paul already knew in advance from Lord (2Ti 4:18) that he was going to sacrifice his life (2Ti 4:6: For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ).

“the promise of life ”:

(1) “the promise of life ” is the promise of receiving the life of Christ. It is through faith by relying on the redemption of LORD Jesus Christ to receive the promised Spirit.

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. ” (Gal 3:14)

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ” (Eph 1:13)

(2) “the promise of life ” is to be one in the life of Christ, and to be heirs together, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. ” (Eph 3:6)

(3) “the promise of life ” is to let the believers purify themselves from everything that contaminates, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God, and to be godly, participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.