Messages

Looking at parallel passages all throughout scripture, this verse does not allow or encourage overlooking sin, but rather turning a sinner from his ways to repentance, forgiving and forgetting the sin in love, and not gossiping or repeating the sin in order to preserve peace and unity in the body of Christ.

Confrontation is the first step toward peace in the body of Christ, seeking to preserve unity through admonishment and purging sin. Unruly or disorderly members of the body should be admonished by their brethren, in humility, kindness and with wisdom in the word.

Lemuel's mother was given wisdom from The Lord that she passed on to her son, the king. Do not give your strength to women or yourself to strong drink, being diligent to judge and rule with justice, defending the weak and needy.

Believers have a responsibility to understand, respect, honor in love, and submit to their leaders who labor in the midst of them in teaching and admonishment.

Do you desire to give to the gospel? Are you content with what God has given you, working to be productive with it, whether abounding or in want? Just as the Philippians' giving to Paul was a sweet smell to God, so is our giving to kingdom work.

The purpose of sovereignty in the scriptures is to invoke thankfulness and worship of a merciful God. The wrath of God is his response to the wicked unrighteousness of men who have sinned against him, but he has not destined his elect for that wrath for for his glorious salvation through our union with the substitutionary death of Jesus.

The Righteous and the Wicked Until Christ's Return We are sons of day and sons of light, alert and sober for Christ's return, but the wicked are asleep and sinning as at night, oblivious to the day that is coming, the day of The Lord. We have been fitted with armor, faith and love and the hope of salvation, by The Lord for the attacks against us in this war.

Paul explains his goal for the saints in regard to the second coming if Christ as alertness and soberness. The motivations he gives to meet this goal is its unexpectedness, their identity as sons of light and day, and their being awake.

The second coming of Jesus will be a glorious reunion for those who know and love Christ, as we meet him in the sky on that conspicuous day, and this truth should be a comfort for us. This same day, the Day of the Lord, will come like a thief in the night, suddenly and inescapable for the wicked who in darkness.

This carefully chosen term in the Greek describes the only one, the beloved firstborn of God, his son, who was not created but is co-eternal with the Father. The Council of Nicea and Calcedon were helpful in clarifying the teachings of scripture against heresies such as modalism.