Paul's warning against endless genealogies affects another teaching that has been popular in the United States for several centuries. Some teach that curses are passed from one generation to another, quoting Exodus 20:5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;".
They teach that a doorway has been opened to demons by ancestor's sins, therefore they must find out what the sins were and repent of them to close the doorway. But God said in Jeremiah 31:29-30 "In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge."
And in Ezekiel 18:19-20 "Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son:the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."
We are held accountable only for our sins.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Ancestors
A woman explained to a class why she was becoming a Buddist. "I was raised as a Christian," she said with a smile. " But I never learned the religion of my ancestors. Buddhism is my heritage." I felt pity for her. Her Christian upbringing must never have touched her heart.
We are warned in scripture against the dangers of basing beliefs on ancestors. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith..." 1 Timothy 1:4).
This does not mean we should not know our personal history, because the Bible itself gives us the genealogy of the Hebrew nation and Jesus' human family line (Mathew 1:1-17; the books of Numbers and Chronicles).
But, we do not believe because our ancestors believed, or because our grandparents or parents believed, though we may learn from watching them (Hebrew 13:7-8). We believe because God has put faith in our hearts and called us to himself (Hebrews 12:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 1:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 24-25).
We are warned in scripture against the dangers of basing beliefs on ancestors. "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith..." 1 Timothy 1:4).
This does not mean we should not know our personal history, because the Bible itself gives us the genealogy of the Hebrew nation and Jesus' human family line (Mathew 1:1-17; the books of Numbers and Chronicles).
But, we do not believe because our ancestors believed, or because our grandparents or parents believed, though we may learn from watching them (Hebrew 13:7-8). We believe because God has put faith in our hearts and called us to himself (Hebrews 12:1-3; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 1:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:2, 24-25).
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Three Gifts
Timothy held a very special place in Paul's heart. He had been with Paul through many of his persecutions and imprisonments. He had proven to be a trustworthy and faithful friend as well as a faithful minister to Paul and to the church at large. Timothy would soon be ministering without his mentor, because the time set for Paul's martyr was approaching.
Though we have seen similar words in every letter, let's not skip over these important references to God's gifts to each of his children, "grace, mercy and peace" (1 Timothy 1:1-3). These three gifts are the most important gifts to every believer because they embody all other gifts.
Grace encompasses strength, faith, God's compassion toward us and much more. You could almost refer to Grace as the name of the larger Package that holds all God's gifts (Ephesians 2:1-12). Mercy refers to God's bountiful forgiveness that we need, both for initial salvation and our subsequent failures(Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 1:9). And peace incorporates comfort in sorrow, rest in God's wisdom and forgiveness, as well as in the fact that our lives are under his control (Psalm 4:8; John 14:1-8).
Though we have seen similar words in every letter, let's not skip over these important references to God's gifts to each of his children, "grace, mercy and peace" (1 Timothy 1:1-3). These three gifts are the most important gifts to every believer because they embody all other gifts.
Grace encompasses strength, faith, God's compassion toward us and much more. You could almost refer to Grace as the name of the larger Package that holds all God's gifts (Ephesians 2:1-12). Mercy refers to God's bountiful forgiveness that we need, both for initial salvation and our subsequent failures(Titus 3:4-7; 1 John 1:9). And peace incorporates comfort in sorrow, rest in God's wisdom and forgiveness, as well as in the fact that our lives are under his control (Psalm 4:8; John 14:1-8).
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Not Home Yet
There is an interesting final note from Paul. He brings attention to the fact that he writes the salutation and closing remarks by his own hand. The body of the texts were dictated to a companion, usually Timothy or Silvanus or Epaphroditus. He wrote the beginning and the ending in his own handwriting as a token of his love for the recipients (2 Thessalonians 3:17).
This is one of the reasons many scholars believe Paul had problems with his eyes. In his letter to the Galatians, he feels so strongly about a warning that he writes a note in the middle of his letter, "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand" (Galatians 6:11). He also tells the Galatians "you know it was because of physical infirmity that I preached the Gospel to you" (Galatians 4:13-14). He writes to the Corinthians that God would not remove the "thorn in his flesh" to protect him against arrogance (2 Corinthians 12:10-17).
We know Paul suffered torture several times in his missionary trips (2 Corinthians 3:23-29. Suffering is not an indication of lack of faith, or distance from God. Jesus suffered throughout his life, not just at the cross (Isaiah 53). Suffering reminds us that we're not home yet.
This is one of the reasons many scholars believe Paul had problems with his eyes. In his letter to the Galatians, he feels so strongly about a warning that he writes a note in the middle of his letter, "See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand" (Galatians 6:11). He also tells the Galatians "you know it was because of physical infirmity that I preached the Gospel to you" (Galatians 4:13-14). He writes to the Corinthians that God would not remove the "thorn in his flesh" to protect him against arrogance (2 Corinthians 12:10-17).
We know Paul suffered torture several times in his missionary trips (2 Corinthians 3:23-29. Suffering is not an indication of lack of faith, or distance from God. Jesus suffered throughout his life, not just at the cross (Isaiah 53). Suffering reminds us that we're not home yet.
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