Blessing Our Persecutors

“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” (Romans 12:9-14)

We Bless Our Persecutors Because It Is Commanded

We Bless Our Persecutors Because christ Blessed Us

We Bless Our Persecutors Because It Re-Presents Christ

We Bless Our Persecutors Because It Blesses Us

Introduction

His words were the precursor of the 2nd World war.

They motivated his generals to act invade Poland, but not only this, his words justified the command to kill every man, woman and child of the Roman Catholic Polish population.

“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?”

Adolf Hitter brought back into the memory of the Generals the State sanctioned Genocide of the Christian Armenians that began in 1843 and concluded in the horrific slaughter of 1915.

In feigned preparation for the mobilisation of troops in 1914, the word “extermination” became the answer to the “Armenian Question” of the Ottoman authorities in Turkey.  

After over 60 years of the Turkish attempt to destroy Christianity in their nation, they decided to conscript every man between the ages of 18 to 60 to serve as unarmed labourers for the military. 

In 1915, under the cover of the 1st world war, over 800,000 Armenian Christian men were systematically killed. Anyone who tried to assist them were executed. 

Approximately 200,000 Armenian Christians were said to have converted to Islam, and were thereby permitted to live. This alone testified that the slaughter of the Christians was motivated by hatred for Christ.

It didn’t begin this way however, the Ottoman state began at the end of the 13th Century in 1299. And took in large portions of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. At that time Christians were tollerated.

But then came the jizya, it was a Tax on all non Muslims, in effect, it was a Protection racket no different to the Mafia’s later employment. Protection money paid to the Muslims to prevent harm coming to the payers of the Tax.

Persecution comes in many forms.

The world has largely forgotten the Arminian Genocide even as the bloody conflict against the Armenians of Azerbaijan rose again to the fore just last year.

I pray the sermon today will help answer the state of our heart even in light of the most extreme forms of persecution. 

 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not

We Bless Our Persecutors Because It Is Commanded

What we can see that is certain in Romans 12 is that the list of moral principals written of by Paul stems directly from the first five words of verse 9, Let love be without dissimulation. 

Paul desires that Love is attended to with perfect consistency, that there be no hypocrisy in it and with that he commands each item that follows on from those first five words.

From that list of verse 9 to 18 possibly the most contrary to our nature verse 14, “bless them which persecute you”, and just in case you did not think him serious, he emphasises “bless and curse not”.

It is not natural to us to Bless our Persecutors; quite to the contrary, the most natural tendency for us all is to fight fire with fire, those who treat us with spite, we return the favour in kind. 

Those who take from us our freedom to speak, it is natural for us to desire they were silenced; Those who would take away our freedoms, we would like to see imprisoned.Those we see having the power to infringe upon our human rights, we would wish they did not exist. We have murdered them in our hearts.

We do good to them who do good to us, and we natural

It is the privilege of Christians to fully comprehend the experience of the blessedness of giving, and this only in the light of Christ.So few people comprehend this very unique joy, and even fewer have understanding of its eternal significance. Does what is given today in the name of Christ multiply reward eternally? The answer depends only on where you desire your treasure stored.

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another ||with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Romans 12:9-15

The Blessesdness of Giving

Introduction:

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Let me first explain The Blessedness of Giving in light of this verse in Romans 12:13.

Each of us are charged by the Lord to give of our selves to those who are in need. Not only of those things that are physical, but also that we are “given to hospitality”.

Hospitality is something that seems to have really changed alot in these last days, not many people are willing to “entertain strangers” forgetful that “some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2).

But the text before us is not complicated, we give to those who have need, and we should ALWAYS be given to hospitality.

The purpose of this message this morning to bring just a little clarity to the text before us, but then to explain why we do so and what benefit there is in it, both to the giver and the receiver. But most especially to the giver, as Jesus said “It is more blessed to give than to receive”

The Benevolence of Selfless Charity

Romans chapter 12 begins the portion of the book that is practical. 

We have now left the segments dealing with doctrine (the teaching of the fundamentals of God and reality), now we have moved into the application which logically flows from those fundamental doctrines we have witnessed in previous passages.

This portion of chapter 12, and most clearly, this verse (13) relates to the benefit of others, but more specifically, the members of the Church;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

The Lord has directed here a focus of this distribution, this effort of selfless benefit is to the “Saints”, that is, the local assembly of believers, the Church. 

Yes beloved, all the ‘saints’ spoken of in the Bible are alive and well, its the only way you can distribute to their necessity!

We know we are to be a blessing to all people, but this is not what Paul has directed in this passage.

He writes of the Body of Christ from verse 4 to 8 and directs a form of love in the same context that is without hypocrisy;

Let love be without dissimulation. The word dissimulation relates to that which is dissimilar, not the same. Its greek origin is where we get the word Hypocrite.

Let love be without hypocrisy, or perfectly rendered, without dissimulation Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another ||with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

The context makes plain that Paul is addressing the Church in how to live together with one another, and it is without contradiction that we should always be

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Paul writes in Galatians 6:10;

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

We have this distribution not limited only to Gods people, but there is a peculiar setting apart for t

Romans 5 is one of the most incredible portions of the Bible. One of the elements is in the consideration of how Christians are to respond to difficulty in their lives, Paul has an approach that may be seen to be provocative to many Christians.

Brother Jeramie explains how it is that we Glory in tribulations.

The post We Glory In Tribulations Also appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

He Walked On The Water

Pr Edi Giudetti

03-01-2021

We live today in difficult times the world over. This time in history is unique in so much that all people are struggling with fears about what tomorrow will bring. Added to that we have our own difficulties and struggles.

Relationships are usually the source of our woes. There seems to be nothing else that gives us greater anxiety or sadness than broken or difficult relationships. Equally so, there seems to be nothing that brings us greater happiness and joy than good and loving relationships.

But there is one relationship that seems to govern them all, a relationship with one person that, if this is right, all other relationships will be right.

It is that relationship with Jesus Christ.

How many of us have recently said, “I don’t know how people are dealing with the current times without Jesus?”. We say this because we know the comfort he brings and the hope he infuses within us. We say this because our relationship with the Lord is strong, he has our complete attention and has had it for some time, but what happens to our state of heart when we turn our affection and focus away from the Lord?

What happens when the focus is turned from Christ directly to the problems we are surrounded by?

We find ourselves miserable and them look for the source of that misery to appoint blame. Perhaps its people, perhaps it’s simply our circumstances, but is that really the true source of the problem?

OPENING

When history records this incredible event none of us have any question as to whom it alludes. 

To know that God can walk on water is indeed a certainty, in Jeremiah he records for all posterity to know, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jer 32:27), certainly walking on the water is not too hard for the Lord.

It was indeed written about in ancient times that he would physically do this, in the book of Job he records the power of God and wrote of him saying “Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.” (Job 9:8)

Through history we have exalted men and equated them with God, saying even in common conversation that “he walks on water”.

In modern times popular media journals and news items have also equated politicians with deity, depicting them photographically “walking on Water”, Barack Obama and Emanuel Macron (French President) are two recent examples.

The world held them in such high regard as able to do anything, even to ‘walk on water!’

The point is that the world seems comfortable in the acknowledging of Christ, “God… manifest in the flesh” according to 1 Tim 3:16, as walking on water, as treading upon the waves of the sea, but what if there was a mere man doing so?

“Impossible” would be the cry.

Yes beloved, we know that what is impossible with man is possible with God. Remember that Jesus himself said this respecting the attainment of the kingdom of God for the rich of this world?

He said, “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:26), and when the disciples followed that up with the wonder of who then can be saved, Jesus is recorded to say “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God”.

But to walk on water?

The recording of history cannot be doubted on this matter, the Bible is plain to teach that Peter, a mere man, did indeed walk on the water.

“He walked on The Water”, is the Title of this morning’s sermon, and it is lifted directly out of the Bible, the pronoun “He” does not refer to Christ as we already know Jesus came to them “walking on the sea”. 

It was Peter who said “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Peter walked on water. History speaks of two people who physically walked on water. Jesus

An Expectation of Maturity

[Reading: Hebrews 5:1-14]

Introduction:

Those of you who have been part of Hope Baptist for any period of time, know how much value we place on the bible and the correct teaching of God’s word. As such we aspire to be everything the word of God says that we should be. 

In our reading today we see Paul expounding the Old Testament [Psalms and Genesis in particular]. He explains to his readers: Christ’s priesthood and atoning sacrifice; and the reality of his appearance to Abraham [as Melchisedec] in what is known as a “Christophany.

The frustration for Paul is that the Jewish believers did not understand the significance of this; saying that they are dull of hearing.

The focus of today’s message is verses 12-14; and the thing that we aspire to be is apt to teach. 

[Turn to]

Let me read it to you:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

When I read this passage [with fresh eyes] around 6 years ago, it was with more than a certain degree of grief, embarrassment and shame. I fully understood the implications that these verses were telling me. I knew what it meant to be able to teach and I also knew that I lacked the maturity and discernment to fulfill that expectation to teach. 

The bible is filled with verses such as today’s text; and which serve as a wake up call to believers and we do well to take heed. Whether we like it or not, we will be held accountable to God’s word and therefore we are without excuse. 

When it came to biblical literacy, I barely knew what the bible actually taught in regards to anything. And not only that, I literally become like a dog returning to his own vomit.

Praise God, because he doesn’t leave us where he finds us; but is able to give us both the motivation and the means to accomplish his purpose in our lives. 

In view of Pastor’s emphasis [for the men in particular] on the ability to teach, I pray that this is a timely yet hard message. I am conscious that some of the content may seem to be harsh criticism and I do endeavour to temper this with God’s grace.

Let’s Pray:

An Expectation of Maturity:

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers…” Hebrews 5:12

“Ought” is a very strong word in the bible and carries with it an enormous degree of accountability.  Anything which is followed by this word should be seen as a high priority. 

In verse 12 of our text, Paul is speaking, firstly to the Jewish believers here and doesn’t just single out those with a specific teaching gift. 

He is also [possibly] speaking to all believers at that time, by virtue of the fact that the biblical texts were generally copied and circulated throughout all the churches. 

And he is speaking to us by virtue of the fact that we are holding a bible in our hands. In fact if I didn’t know better, I’d have to say that he was speaking directly the contemporary church, given the lack which we see exist.

The end goal of maturity [according to this passage] is the ability to teach. 

And [so] if there is an expectation to teach, there is also an expectation to mature. Imbedded in the 3 verses of our text today: we see that discernment, maturity and the ability to teach are intrinsically connected. And so, as I go through my message today and mention of one of these, keep the other two in mind. 

What we see is a logical progression here [in our text] which the apostle Paul is laying out: For the time ye ought to be teachers, ye [also] ought to be mature and ye also ought to be discerning.

Spiritual maturity leads to discernme

God Keeps His Promises

This sermon by Cody Kereopa is to provide to us an important understanding as to the character of God.

Does God keep all his promises?

What does it say about God if he only chooses to keep some of the promises he made? What confidence would that give us that he would answer our prayers or even listen to our prayers? What about our salvation, will he keep us as he has promised or will he only keep us if we are good?

If God does not keep the covenants he has made with us or with the Jew, what confidence can we have that God has even kept his promise to preserve his words? Can we even trust God at all if we doubt that “every word of God is pure” (Prov 30:5)?

God keeps his promises because he is the only being who can. He is in control of all things, he cannot lie and he is good. Unlike man who both lies and is in control of very little, God can indeed keep his promises and we can have confidence that it will be just as he has said.

But perhaps its not the promises we want him to keep that troubles us, perhaps its the knowledge of things we don’t want him to fulfil that troubles us. There are both blessings and cursing’s in the Bible, blessings to those who do well and cursing to those who do not well….very few of us do well. Indeed, if it were not for our faith in Christ, we all would find ourselves weighed and found terribly wanting.

It seems people like the opportunity to create doubt both in God and his words in the hope that the truth of the Bible will not affect them. In the hope that the cursings spoken of is not applicable to them when doubt in the Bible can have a gleam of justification.

But its our salvation from ourselves that we point to as the good news filled with hope. Yet, as Cody mentions there are so many people who want to deny the promises of God and are effectively “hoping against hope“.

I hope that is not you, I hope you are trusting in Gods promises and can remain confident that every word of God is true and he shall keep you till the end.

God bess you and trust that God keeps his promises.

Pr Edi Giudetti

The post God Keeps His Promises appeared first on Hope Baptist Church.

Continuing Instant In Prayer

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Prayer: 

Constant in HistoryConcentrated On GodCommissioned By ChristContinued In Faith 

Introduction:

We have in the last sermons been considering the different elements of this one verse found in Romans 12:12. The first was what it is to be “Rejoicing in Hope“, the second what it is to be “Patient in Tribulation” and today it is all about the command we have in the scriptures to be instant in prayer.

The topic of prayer covers so many areas it is simply impossible to consider them all in one sermon. Many books have been written on the subject, and in each of them there are gleanings of truth more profound than can be heard of in one message.

Nevertheless, this is one of the areas Paul has seen fit to include as the surest attribute and effort of the Christian. It is a command and not a request. 

Romans 12 to 15 is all about how we should live.

So this sermon is not to tell you why you should pray, or to encourage you to pray, or to tell you of its value and inspire you, why?

Because it is your duty to pray, it is part of that which is your “reasonable service”.

And like all our service to the Lord, it reciprocated back to us as the greatest of blessing.

Three identifiers that can be considered respecting Christians and their prayer life;  

THE CONSTANT CHRISTIAN

To some people Prayer is as natural as the air we breathe, they spend hours in prayer before the Lord, they are themselves truly “continuing instant in prayer”.

These gain to themselves such a love for God and such a confidence in the Lord that would make most other Christians blush. The nature of their private prayer life is manifested in their public prayer life.

You can always identify such Christians as these, 

they are NOT the person they were the previous year. They do NOT struggle with the same sins they did a year ago. They do not neglect their obligations to exercise their gifts for the sake of Christ. They are faithful in all things in the Church. They are often the first to arrive and the last to leave and they have the greatest love for the Lord you have ever witnessed.

They indeed Rejoice in Hope, are indeed Patient in tribulations, and all this simply because they “continue instant in prayer”.

This is a picture of those who’s prayer life is filled with Christ, and simply cannot get enough of his company.

THE COGNISENT CHRISTIAN

In the middle of the spectrum are those who do indeed pray each day, 

THEY KNOW the value of prayer, they are aware they should spend more time with the Lord in prayer, but fall short regularly in that effort. These Christians know that God loves to hear their prayers, and they know God answers prayer, they just don’t believe they pray enough. 

Yet they too Love the Lords company when they commit themselves to pray. They too can pray publicly, but may choose only to pray when called upon. They too are different today than they were a year ago, but they struggle to dedicate the time to spend with the Lord and their transformation in the Lord is slow.

They know it should be first on their daily task list, but often find themselves ‘under the circumstances.’

But they KNOW better, they just don’t DO better.

These are the COGNISENT CHRISTIANS, those who Know but don’t often do.

THE COMPLACENT CHRISTIAN

Lastly there are those who call themselves Christian but rarely call upon the name of the Lord. 

They do not have his company as their daily joy, they do not regularly pray, other than perhaps saying grace at the table, their greatest fear is being called upon to pray! 

They do not have a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord and as a result you should you expect to see any change in their lives from year to year. The struggles of yesteryear are the struggles of yesterday and today.

These are generally those Christians who think m

PATIENT IN TRIBULATION

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Last week we looked at the first segment of this verse and that was what it means to be “Rejoicing in Hope“, this week is a portion that needs our attention as it brings to us that which we greatly desire and that is to be patient in tribulation.

What is Tribulation?

Tribulation: A condition of great affliction, oppression or misery; persecution; distress; vexation; disturbance of life. 

It stems from the Latin word “Tribulare”, which is ‘to press, oppress, afflict’.

It is a word that brings to our minds a range of troubles and trials, temptations and turmoil.

In the text before us it is clear that they are personal; when Paul writes, he writes not only to the Church but also to the individual, because it is the individual who is afflicted above measure in these circumstances and it is the individual who receives the blessings that stem from it.

Individually you will be “rejoicing in hope”

Individually you will become “patient in tribulation”

And individually you continue “instant in prayer”

The entire chapter speaks to you as much as it does to me, it teaches you as it teaches me, it is as individual and independent as the gifts are the each and every member of the body.

Our tribulations are personal, and who are we to minimise the trials and troubles of another?

There was a story told many years ago of a support group that gathered. The leader requested all the members of the group to write on a small piece of paper the greatest single trial they were afflicted with at the time.

He passed a hat around the room and each person cast their tribulatory lot into the hat. 

He shook the hat and passed it around again, instructing all to take the trouble of another and consider of it.

The natures of each person’s new trial were reflected upon and related to through their own eyes and applied to their own life.

Demand was made whether or not they would rather their new tribulation or return to their original complaint. Almost all of them took their own trouble again. 

Our tribulations are personal, take great care before you judge the difficulties of another, you can only do so through their own eyes. 

Tribulation is “A condition of great affliction, oppression or misery; persecution; distress; vexation; disturbance of life.” And it is personal!

What is Patience?

I am guessing it is that which most of us have a lack of!!!

Patience is; a. “The suffering or enduring (of pain, trouble or evil) with calmness and composure; the quality or capacity of so suffering or enduring”

b. “forbearance or bearing with others, their faults, limitations etc”

Jesus: “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you?...” (Mt 17:17, Mrk 9:19, Lk 9:41)

c. “Quiet self-possessed wating for something. The quality of expecting long without rage or discontent”

Latin: Patientia: Suffering.

It is one of the prime virtues of the classical world. 

It is the longsuffering endurance of trial and difficulty and it is that which comes to those who have learned to endure expected trails.

We often have the blessing of listening to or reading books of missionaries, or meeting people who have undergone incredible trials in life, and what stands out most about them is a calmness and a peace even while they endure trials far greater than our present complaints.

Patience in many ways seems to be a practised experience;

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience

The proof of this verse is readily seen in first world adult/children whose greatest afflictions is measured in “likes” and whose greatest tribulation is a lukew

Rejoicing in Hope

29-11-2020

Romans Commentary

Pr Edi Giudetti

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;Romans 12:12

 Paul writes to the gentile Church that was founded by him in Rome. He left this Church to faithful men to continue on in the work, and he writes to them simply one of the most profound and sweeping books of the Bible. The Book of Romans

It is profound respecting its logic and depth of teaching, Paul moves from one incredible doctrine to another with an ease that has been studied and considered for centuries. It is consistent, logical, doctrinal and applicable and is without parallel in the Bible.

It is ‘Sweeping’ because it goes into incredible depth on all the most fundamental doctrines found in the Bible, from the time it was written to this very present day this book remains contemporary, it remains for our present day. 

We see all the foundation doctrines of the Bible in its pages;

The Reality of God understood through creation (Apologetics)The purpose and person of Christ (Christology)The nature of man (Anthropology)The nature of God, his power and sovereignty (Theology)The first few chapters lays the foundation proposing the source of knowledge (Epistemology) The nature of salvation, the fallen state of man and how to be saved (Soteriology)The nature of the Church is seen in this chapter (Ecclesiology)And even the end goal for us to be conformed to the image of his Son (Eschatology)

This is the nature and depth of this incredible book that would take the average person only about 1.5hrs to read (9900 words).

Now, from chapter 12 Paul teaches about the nature of the Church, that is, the assembly of believers that have been saved from the penalty of their sin through the sacrifice of Christ.

This is a group of people that are found all over the world over the last two thousand years, who simply believed the good news that Jesus died for their sins and rose again that they might know they are raised in newness of life.

Paul here writes of how the Christian is to now live, knowing all the has been done for him.

Paul writes of;

the dedication of the life of the Christian in verse 1;the transformation of the life of the Christian in verse 2the consideration of the Christian life in verse 3the distinctive purpose of the individual Christian in verses 4 to 8The outward affections of the Christian in verse 9 to 11And now we come to the inward state of the Christian in 12

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

We are going to consider a series within a series over the next few weeks titled simply Rejoicing in Hope.

I am going to expound this one verse into three sermons, each of which will find their respective titles in the verse.

The first that heads our series is the first few words, Rejoicing In Hope;

In this I aim to show;

What it is to Rejoice in HopeWhy it is that we rejoice in hopeHow it is that we rejoice in hopeAnd when it is that we rejoice in hope

What it is to Rejoice in Hope

12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Paul brings these few words (Rejoicing in hope) out of a passage in which he is teaching Christians how they are to live in this newfound life of theirs. On the surface it seems an ordinary consideration and runs the risk that its value and importance gets lost in the list;

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

We want to consider, What

Humility

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Authority Given By Grace,

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, (Rom 12:3)

Paul here writes with a level of authority in this passage;

3 For I say, …., to every man that is among you,

“to every person that is a part of the Church in Rome” “to all who would read this letter amongst all the churches to which this letter is sent”

We know that the letters did not remain in only the church to which it was sent, we know it not only historically but also biblically;

Colossians 4:16 says: And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

Historically we know because fragments of the New Testament were found in multiple nations around the world, therefore we know that the Bible is the most copied and circulated book of all history. 

It was sent to churches and the volumes that were in those churches were painstakingly copied and those copies were sent to other such Churches. 

Many people use the idea of “Chinese whispers” to reject the Bible’s authenticity and accuracy, forgetting that it was copied by people who believe they were handling the very words of God. 

And if the Jews of old were any example to us, we know that the books of the Bible had the strictest regulations in their respective handling.

I don’t want to digress far, but in Jerusalem there is housed in a building called “The Shine of The Book” where a complete copy of the Book of Isaiah is found. It was discovered in 1948 as part of the Dead Sea scrolls discovery.

It is dated between the 2nd and 3rd Century BC. Prior to its discovery the oldest copy of Isaiah was more than 1000 years younger, approximately 900AD.

When the two volumes were compared, it was more accurate that fine Gold, With only a few spelling derivations. 

Paul wrote to “Every man” (and woman).

And he wrote with an authority that was GIVEN to him;

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, 

It was not an EARNED authority, it was not an authority he had worked for, it was not an authority voted through a ballot system, it was not one he had taken by force, it was through the grace given unto me!

 

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, 

GRACE…WHAT IS IT?

Well if there was ever a word in the Bible that has ever caused perplexity in the minds of Pastors it would be the word “Grace”. 

No word in the New Testament has puzzled Pastors more than this word, and this morning you and I are going to consider just one element of its scope and that is how it is presented here in Romans 12:3.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, 

Turn forward to Romans 15:15

15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Forward again to 1 Cor 3:10

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Forward again to Chapter 15 of this same letter;

1 Cor 15:10

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

We are beginning to get a picture of this “Grace” Paul here speaks of..