But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.

Jude

But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Jude 10

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 8-10.  Building on previous verses, Jude warns those with little to no faith of not leaning into God or remaining in sin, as they will fall prey to the same damnation many in Israel did (see v5) as well as those willfully sinning knowing full well they are sinning (v7).  V8 warns of "defil[ing] the flesh, rejecting authority, and blasphem[ing] the glorious ones." While v9 for me at this time is not clear to me, v10 is more clear as it describes apostates as "not understand[ing that which they] blaspheme, and they are destroyed by...[God whom] they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively."  This is a reference to what is often referred to as "general revelation" (as opposed to special revelation from scripture - for more on this see here) which "God gives to every human being on earth. It’s general in the sense that it’s not limited to any specific group of people. It’s global, and it extends to every human being. The audience is general, and the information given is general as well....General revelation mediated through creation is clear enough that every single person knows God exists and, therefore, is without excuse. Immediate general revelation is revelation that is transmitted to every human being without an external medium. It’s internal, not external. It’s the revelation God plants in the soul of every person. God reveals his law in the mind of every human being by planting a conscience within each of us." Jude warns those who recognize God but reject Him that they will suffer eternally.  We are encouraged to grow in our faith so that we can withstand the devil's schemes and be steadfast until the end. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself not just in creation but also through scripture, so that I can come to know You, grow closer to You, and become more like You.  Thank You for making me one of Your children, one of Your elect, then going further by sanctifying me...Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Jude

Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Jude 7

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 5-7.  Per the commentary:

Main idea: "Learning from those who have rejected the Lord, Christians must continually run to and cling to the mercy of God available in Christ Jesus."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• RE: our culture, "unbelief, rebellion, and immorality (the three sins Jude highlights in vv. 5-7) characterize with greater intensity and influence our way of life....[it] has turned its back on God and his Word, shunned his standards, and mocked his character."
•  Unfortunately, "[u]nbelief, rebellion, and immorality run to and fro across the land and within the congregation of God’s people....So we must ask, What does God think about our current situation, and what will God do? Jude 5-7 provides the answer to these questions with three truths we ought never forget."

Divisions:

1. Remember the Danger of Unbelief (5): V5 "flows from" the preceding verses where we are warned of false teachers and v5 describes the judgement that awaits. We are encouraged not to forget the moments when God saved us just as He did Israel from the Egyptians.  We are prone to forget as Israel did but we should not - God interceded for us then and He still does.  Jude wants us to remember that these moments are every day. The commentary encourages us to not doubt the power of God today as it describes how Jude pointed us to Numbers 14, "when the twelve spies returned from their reconnaissance mission into the promised land." Although the other spies came back afraid both Joshua and Caleb were undeterred as God was on their side and they were confident they could overtake those possessing the land God promised them. [The others] missed the promised land. They missed God’s best. Forgetting God’s grace and greatness, they dug their graves in the wilderness within sight of the land God had promised[.]"  We are encouraged to avoid the mindset that God is not with us now and every moment. 
   
2. Remember the Dishonor of Rebellion (6): The commentary postulates that Jude 6 refers to Genesis 6 where "where fallen angels had sexual relations and cohabited with women and produced an evil race of men who brought God’s judgment on the world through the flood." In light of the ambiguity of this verse, the commentary highlights instead clear application where we must accept God's plan for our lives and instead let ambition and arrogance subvert God in our lives. We must rest in the goodness of God's providence and His plan.  Otherwise, if we reject God as these angels did then we face being slaves to sin now and eternal damnation.
   
3. Remember the Destiny of the Immoral (7): The commentary points to how Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction is referenced 20 times in the Bible, showing how powerful a sin sexual immorality is and how God deals with it harshly, along with other sins such as poor treatment of the weak. We are encouraged to think carefully and in awe about the reality of Hell avoid getting close to any sin that might drag us closer to this reality.
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides for my all and all - You give me peace about my future.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide for all of my needs and how You are saving a place for me in Heaven.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving one bit...my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

Jude

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. Jude 5

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 5-7. Here, we are reminded to remain in Jesus, so that He is in us (see also John 15:5-6), so that we are spared eternal damnation.  True believers cannot lose their salvation, but most commentaries I have read focus on those who are not true believers in the sense that they never truly had faith and what faith they did have was not strong enough to prevent apostasy.  In v5, I believe, this is the group where Jude focuses - those who believed in Jesus because they perhaps felt awe and wonder at one point (due to miracle perhaps) but beyond awe and wonder never truly believed and then focused on doubt and fell prey to sinful influences and false teaching.  Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega - He was their in the beginning during Creation (see Genesis 1:2 reference to Spirit of God) and the Fall (as the one who will destroy the serpent - see Genesis 3:15) and He will be there at the end coming on clouds (Revelation 1:7-8).  As such Jude (v5) refers to Jesus as "the one who saved a people out of the land of Egypt," but then because much of Israel refused to believe and have faith, God (Jesus) destroyed them in the wilderness. Jude not only uses Israel as an example of those who refused to believe but also fallen angels (v6), and then those in Sodom and Gomorrah (v7) - all of whom perish for eternity.  Key takeaway for those whose faith is weak is avoid focus on doubt but instead to lean into God and ask for strengthening of faith and not to fall away. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that not only saved me but also provides a way out for me to remain in You and You in me - thank You for my faith.  I am not deserving of my faith.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jude 3-4

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 3-4 which is covered by the second chapter of my commentary.  Per the commentary:

Main idea: "Because of the constant threat of false teachers and enemies of the gospel, Christians must continually defend and obey the Christ-centered, Christ-exalting faith that has been passed on through the true Church."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "Jude writes his epistle to warn the church about spiritual terrorists [apostates], spiritual subversives who stealthily crept inside the church with WSDs (Weapons of Spiritual Destruction)."
• These apostates are those who have "corporately, theologically and spiritually they have left and followed after false and destructive teaching. [They have] received the truth, rejected the truth, ridicule the truth, and eventually will attempt to replace the truth." See also Adrian Rogers Snakes in the Garden.
• "Sadly, this strategy of infiltration by the devil’s deceivers is even in full swing within the camp of evangelicalism."
• "There is today a great need for evangelicals to heed the words of Jude and “to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all” (v. 3). There is a fight for the faith, a struggle to preserve and pass on what has been delivered to us, and it is time to step up."
  

Divisions:

1. Know What You Believe (3): The word contend from v3 is derived from the Greek word when translated to "fight or struggle with intense effort."  It is not intended to be easy. "He understood clearly the rebellious nature of the human heart and the moral havoc that reigns from a rejection of Christ’s lordship. Because of the tendency of the human heart to wander, Jude knew that the faith would need to be explained and defended continually. This is not a time for cowards or the weak hearted. This is not a time for the timid or thin-skinned. This is not a time for retreat, compromise, or surrender. The faith must be earnestly defended." We are reminded that the gospel is complete and nothing needs to be added or subtracted - it is perfect.  It is dangerous to believe that it needs to "evolve".   The commentary lists 12 "non-negotiable" re: scripture: (a) The inerrancy and infallibility of Holy Scripture, (b) The full and eternal deity of Christ, (c) The miraculous virgin birth and sinless life of Jesus the Messiah (d) The historical creation of man and woman made in God’s image, (e) The sanctity of all life from conception to natural death, (f) The sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman, (g) The sinfulness of all human persons, (h) The substitutionary death of Christ for sinners, (i) The bodily resurrection of Christ from the grave Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, (j) The exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ for sinners, and (k) The return of Christ and the assignment of all people either to eternal blessedness in heaven or eternal condemnation in hell."
   
2. Know How to Live (4): We are cautioned to beware of those who deceive the church, distort God's grace, and those who deny Jesus. In the closing words of the commentary for the text today we are referred to 2 Timothy 2:23-26 which the commentary describes as "contend[ing] for the faith without being contentious about the faith."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank You for my faith and for giving me the full armor of God, and for scripture in particular which serves as a "lamp unto my feet" as You enter my heart, transforming me into more of Your image, helping direct me and avoid sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude

I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.  For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  Jude 3-4

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 3-4 which is covered by the second chapter of my commentary (that I will lean on tomorrow).  Here, in these verses, Jude urges believers to "contend for the faith," which in this context is defined as fighting for and not letting any opposition to faith get any foothold.  In v4, Jude explains why as there are people who have "crept in unnoticed" and these "ungodly people" have perverted "grace of our God into sensuality" and denied Christ (instead of course submitting to Him as Lord and Savior).  Of course, sinful influences and the ungodly people have existed since the fall and will until Jesus comes again to defeat Satan and sin for the final time.  We should be on guard for Satan and these sinful influences as they exist everywhere, including inside churches!  Peter also warns us in 1 Peter 5:8-9 that Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  [Like Jude, we are urged to] resist him, [and remain] firm in [our] faith." That is why our spiritual disciplines of daily reading/study of God's Word, prayer, corporate worship, etc. are important.  They give us the full armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-20).  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank for keeping my salvation safe and for giving me the full armor of God so that I can protect myself from sinful influences.  You are a great God and worthy of my worship also because I know I exist to bring You glory...so please help me do this!  Forgive me for my sin of anger and impatience with others.  Help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1b-2

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of Jude 1-2.  Per the commentary:

Main idea: "Because of the mercy, peace, and love of God shown through Jesus Christ, Christians can rejoice in their status as the Lord’s servants."

Excerpts from the introduction (for the entirety of the book):

• Jude writes "a word of encouragement about “the salvation we share,” [and] is redirected by the Holy Spirit to bring a word of warning, calling all believers “to contend for the faith”".
• "[Jude] will expose the false teachers for who they are, and he will prescribe a plan of attack that allows us to take the fight to these spiritual terrorists. However, he lays the foundation for the battle both at the beginning and at the end of the letter with a word about our security: we are safe in Christ (vv. 1,24)."
  

Divisions for Jude 1-2:

1. Know Who You Are in Christ (1): Jude, like many from Jesus' family, did not believe in Him during Jesus' earthly ministry years; however, the "resurrection changed everything" for Jude. In v1 Jude describes himself first as a "servant of Jesus Christ." We are referred to 1 Corinthians 6:20 where believers are "bought with a price." We are owned and belong to Christ. Also in v1 we are called, and "[h]ere the word means the effectual calling of God that opens the heart to freely respond to the gospel.  In Scripture there are two types of calling. There is a general call (see Matthew 11:28-30), and there is an effectual call (see Romans 8:30).  There is a mysterious wonder in this truth that the sovereign God effectually brings persons to salvation in perfect harmony with their freewill response to the gospel...This is the only place in the Bible where this phrase “loved by God the Father” appears. There is a sense in which God loves all persons indiscriminately as his creatures (John 3:16), but there is also a sense in which God especially loves his children. It is comparable to the difference between the love I have for my friends and that which I have for my wife and sons....Kept: by his work on earth, Jesus obtained my salvation. By his work in heaven, Jesus maintains my salvation. God is preserving fallen angels and apostates for judgment (vv. 6,13). God is preserving you and me for glory!"
   
2. Know What You Have from Christ (2): "[Mercy] is a characteristic of God that moves him to seek a relationship with persons who have no right to be in relationship with him. The word speaks of compassion, loving kindness. It is gracious, undeserved, and unmerited; yet it is not blind, dumb, or ignorant. It is something in God that moves him to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves and we do not deserve....God saw us beaten by Satan and left for dead by sin; and he went into action and sent his Son, binding our wounds, healing our souls, and making us his own!...God is the Lord of peace. Jesus is the Mediator of peace. We are the heirs of peace....Jude prays that his readers would see...love from God as ever real and ever increasing toward them....In John 17:23 we are told, amazingly, that as the Father has loved the Son so he has also loved us. In Romans 8:31-39 we are informed that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. And in 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul reminds us that because love is at the center of who our God is, it will never fail, never end! Jude knows the power of this love, and he wants his readers to know it as well....Because we are his, we have internal security in our hearts, external security in the world, and eternal security in heaven."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who showers me with mercy, peace, and love - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Jude

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1b-2

With my study of 1,2,3 John coming to a close, today I start a study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of Jude 1-2 which is covered by the first chapter of my commentary (that I will lean on tomorrow). Jude, a brother of James writes to believers to encourage them, wishing them to experience the mercy, peace and love of God.  He is directing these blessings to believers.  Jude seeks not just that they experience these blessings of faith, but that they experience a "multiplication" or as the dictionary defines this word, a "spreading" or a greater amount of these blessings.  Jude wants these believers to have more of these blessings.  If we truly believe in God we should experience an overwhelming abundance of mercy (see Lamentations 3:22-23), peace (see Philippians 4:7), and love (see Ephesians 3:18).  God intends for believers to act in such a way that others see something supernatural in our lives so that others may be drawn to God through us.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You ARE mercy, peace and love and bless me and all believers with these blessings - thank You Jesus.  My cup overflows...I am certainly not deserving of these blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

 3 John 1

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name. 3 John 1:15

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of 3 John 1, focusing on the fourth and final division - vv13-15 and the associated commentary (John: A Man with a Pastor’s Heart). With this text, we see John revealing his heart for those whom he discipled and many of whom likely he helped lead to Christ.  He often in his letters refers to these as his children and greets them with my much warmth and affection.  As I posted this previously, the text highlights the importance of face-to-face interactions with other believers as God intends for us. John signs off by sharing that he desires his children to experience the peace of God (that Paul refers to as that which surpasses all understanding - see Philippians 4:7) and to know they are loved as he sends his greetings.  The commentary shares that John's reference to his fellow believers as "friends" reflects similar sentiments he expressed in John 15:13. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, provides new mercies every morning that never cease, and You provide brothers and sisters in Christ who support and encourage me in my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.

 3 John 1

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. 3 John 1:11a

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of 3 John 1, focusing on the third division - vv11-12 and the associated commentary (Demetrius: A Man with a Good Testimony). While v11 shares that we are to imitate good, presumably by watching godly examples such as Gaius and Demetrius, we are reminded that we should most importantly be more like Jesus Christ - we are referred to 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Hebrews 12:2-3.  This said, godly examples such as these men prove helpful and God provides us these men in our lives as "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17).  The commentary also points out how Godly brothers and sisters in Christ serve as examples not just for us in our own journey but also for the next generation.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who serves as the example for all to follow, and You give me Godly men and women in my life to sharpen me and to give me examples to follow.  You also give me the Holy Spirit and Your Word to guide me as a lamp unto my feet.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[H]e is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

 3 John 1

[H]e is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of 3 John 1, focusing on the second division - vv9-10 and the associated commentary (Diotrephes: A Man with a Harmful Agenda). Diotrephes is described as a negative example of someone walking in the truth (see post yesterday on Gaius).  He puts himself first (as opposed to demonstrating humility and allowing others to see Jesus through him) and does not acknowledge the authority of John and the other church leaders and apostles (as opposed to submitting to church leadership).  Diotrephes is then described as slandering those in the church (see Proverbs 10:18 and James 4:11 on this).  Finally Diotrephes is described as not demonstrating hospitality and support/encouragement for other believers.  The commentary shares how Diotrephes was arrogant, wanted to be the church boss - to bring glory to himself vs God - stirred up conflict through slanderous accusations against John and church leadership, and failed to support others in the church.  We are referred to Colossians 1:18 where Jesus is "first place in everything" and encouraged to avoid attempting to taking the place only Jesus holds.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - You came not to be served but to serve and to be an example for those who submit and follow You.  You willingly laid down Your life for all of humanity to give life.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for continuing to intercede for me daily.  I am not deserving of how You serve and love me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth.

 3 John 1

For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:3

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of a commentary-assisted review of 3 John 1, focusing on the first division - vv1-8 and unpacking the introduction and main idea for the entirety of the chapter per the commentary, as well as the commentary for the first division.

Main idea (vv1-15): "As followers of Jesus, our lives and reputations ought to reflect His love, affection, and hospitality toward one another."

Excerpts from introduction: 

• "Like 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, it is written to an individual, a man named Gaius. Written by John between AD 80 and 95, Eusebius, the ancient church historian, says it was penned after John was released from the rock quarry island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. If this is correct, 3 John may have been the last book written in the New Testament."
• John writes about four men, including Gaius, and the text highlights the importance of reputation for believers as the world is watching us to assess whether we are truly walking in the truth of simply talking the truth but then not walking the truth as many believers unfortunately do.
  

Title of text and highlights of associated commentary for first division: "Gaius: A Man with the Right Balance (1-8)":

• John commends Gaius in four areas of his life, encouraging all believers to follow this example.  These four areas include: living in the Spirit (vv1-2), walking in the Truth (vv3-4), serving faithfully (vv5-6), and ministering generously (vv7-8).
• Gaius had a clean bill of health spiritually. Perhaps he was suffering some physical difficulty, but his soul was “ship shape,” in top condition."
  
• "In doctrine and deed, Gaius was commendable, praiseworthy, praiseworthy, and a joy to his brothers and sisters in Christ. There was no contradiction between his profession (talk) and practice (walk)."
• "In providing lodging, food, money, encouragement, and prayer, and in standing with them even though they were “strangers,” Gaius had honored God, the gospel, and John. Sensitive to the hospitality expectations of the ancient Near Eastern world, Gaius had received these traveling teachers into his home and honored the Lord and the apostle who sent them."
• "We may not physically go where [missionaries] go, but we can go with them anyway by our support. All pray. All give support. Some are sent. All are essential as we cooperate together in the work of God."

Much of today's text flows from v3 where we are encouraged by Gaius' example to walk in the truth and avoid hypocrisy.  If we are not walking in the truth, then all of the other attributes of Gaius' live praised by John don't apply. Walk the walk!
 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving my faith and salvation, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ who guide me in my journey to bring glory to Christ and assist me in my journey towards walking the walk...thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

 3 John 1

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face. 3 John 1:13-14

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of 3 John 1, primarily looking vv13-15 which per the commentary is the fourth (and final) division for 3 John 1.  In John's concluding words for this book/letter, he longs for fellowship with other believers and hopes to meet his brothers and sisters in Christ face to face. He ends the book/letter by praying for peace of mind and by offering warm greetings to his fellow believers.  God designed us for human fellowship and scripture provides many examples of this fellowship.  Core to this fellowship is our local church where we share corporate worship and other activities such as group prayer, Bible studies, and service opportunities.  A shared love of Jesus Christ binds us together in ways that earthly pursuits (i.e. work, sports, etc.) never will.   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You give us the local church as a means to build up its members to serve You for Your Glory.  Thank You Jesus for the local church and for my local church - Bayleaf Baptist.  I am not deserving of how You provide for my church and all of my needs, physical, emotional, and spiritual.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

 3 John 1

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of 3 John 1, primarily looking vv11-12 which per the commentary is the third division for 3 John 1.  3 John 1 includes three examples - two positive (Gaius, Demetrius), one negative (Diotrephes) - for who to imitate and who not to imitate.  In v11, John is clear that we are not to imitate evil (see also 2 John 1:7, 9a, 11) but instead to imitate good and and in v12 we have an example of Demetrius.  Demetrius is described is having "received a good testimony" from John and the other apostles - those sharing the gospel - and "from the truth itself" (all testimony is based the gospel and the Holy Spirit living in us giving us our faith).  When something is received implies that something is both given or shared and the recipient welcomes the something that is given or shared.  Diotrephes, on the other hand, does not welcome those sharing the gospel and spurns the gift of the gospel, even though, like Demetrius, it is offered to him.  In previous books (1 John, 2 John, the Gospel of John), John shares how we are to abide in Jesus and He will abide in Him - this is how we are to respond and receive the gospel.  God then works in our heart, then begins a process of sanctification to bring about obedience and to make us more like Him - this continues until glorification when this process is complete as we meet Jesus face to face in Heaven. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True Example of Good, perfect in all ways, and Holy.  You save me and I am undeserving of such grace and mercy.  Thank You Jesus!  But again I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

 3 John 1

Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 3 John 1:8

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of 3 John 1, primarily looking vv9-10 which per the commentary is the second division for 3 John 1.  Here, in contrast to my reading on Gaius yesterday, where we are encouraged to walk like Gaius and support fellow workers for the truth, vv9-10 describe Diotrephes, who is opposing the work of the church and the Truth.  Diotrephes is described as someone "who likes to put himself first" (v9). Humility is an attribute of Jesus and absolutely something we as believers should emulate. Diotrephes also does "not acknowledge [the] authority" of John and the other church leaders (v9).  Believers are called to submit to church leadership and authority.   Diotrephes also lacks hospitality and does not support and encourage other believers - he is disruptive to the church.  We must be more like Gaius and not like Diotrephes. Diotrephes' sin should be confronted and dealt with according - see also Matthew 18:15-17.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth and the Life and You are SO good to me - I seek to respond in white hot worship to who You are and how You love me so much - because I am undeserving of such blessings and grace.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

 3 John 1

Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. 3 John 1:8

I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my study consists of an unassisted review of 3 John 1, primarily looking vv1-8 which per the commentary is the first division for the 3 John 1. Here, John gives us an example of what he has been encouraging in his words from the previous chapter - to walk in the Truth. This example is Gaius. Gaius is walking in the truth - being obedient to God (v3).  John is greatly overjoyed to see this (v4).  He ministers to his brothers and sisters in Christ - offering hospitality, even those who are "strangers" (v5).  Gaius' hospitality and love is so striking - unworldly or supernatural we might say (v6).  John encourages Gaius in his role as a missionary and as someone who supports missionaries - adding that he should support (v7) those to whom he ministers as they are humble and not seeking gain for themselves instead seeking to save others (v8).  Believers must support other believers who are fellow workers for the truth. Help me be more like Gaius.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me...giving me brothers and sisters in Christ who support and encourage me in my journey with You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.