Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 3 (TMF:2505)

Friday, December 13, 2024

Peace to Live By: Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 3 (TMF:2505) - Daniel Litton
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The truth is that the Gospel will always bear fruit, as it never returns void, but it may not always be reaping great success, (at least, by our evaluation of external appearances). The fact that it is successful in this circumstance is what makes Paul happy. Remember, Jesus noted that “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town” (Matthew 10:14, ESV). Now, granted he was referring to the people of Israel when he spoke that, but the principle is still the same in that the Gospel is not always going to bear a lot of fruit. People have the choice to accept or reject the truth, and that has no forceful persuasion from God. Notice that the character of the individual person is said to be “bearing fruit and increasing” as well. It isn’t just the message, but it is also the individual who is growing or abounding.

Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 2 (TMF:2504)

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Peace to Live By: Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 2 (TMF:2504) - Daniel Litton
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One can give up the actual ‘isness’ or ‘beingness,’ but without revelation of what actually is, of what exists, one cannot believe in anything. It is belief in God through Jesus where one finds life. All other pathways, no matter what they are, fall short. They cannot get us there. Many pathways bear fruit, including all those that pertain to falsity. There is a common belief that numbers tell the true story. But, we know, or should know by now, that that isn’t the case. If numbers told the story, then a lot would be true that is contrary to Christianity, contrary to the Word of God. Paul is thankful that his Gospel “is bearing fruit and increasing.” We need to be careful, though, that “bearing fruit and increasing” isn’t a sure marker of denoting in life that which is true, but it was just the case that during this time in Paul’s ministry the Gospel was having success.

Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 1 (TMF:2503)

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Peace to Live By: Belief in the Gospel of Jesus, Part 1 (TMF:2503) - Daniel Litton
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There it is. He’s talking about the Gospel. That is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to make everyone right with God, anyone who will chose it, anyone who makes the choice. It isn’t limited for certain individuals, but it is for anyone and everyone. Once a person hears about it, they then have a choice to make. This is the eternal decree. There is no other way to enlightenment. One cannot achieve enlightenment from rigorous effort or even by surrendering one’s self to that position. That is because the truth is contained in God himself—and it is shown forth through the Gospel. It is as Paul told the Roman believers, “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (ESV). One can effort or surrender all they want, but without a word from God, without the light of the pathway to what the truth actually is, it is all for nothing.

Exploring the Colossians' Love, Part 3 (TMF:2502)

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Peace to Live By: Exploring the Colossians' Love, Part 3 (TMF:2502) - Daniel Litton
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Who wants to not love right now, only to arrive in Heaven and see that person and say, “I’m sorry, but I should have loved you in the past.” That doesn’t seem right. We love now because these are the people we will be with in the future. Sure, we could love because of rewards, to gain rewards. That might be a lesser motivation at least at times. It doesn’t seem that’s what Paul’s referring to, however. The hope laid up for us in Heaven is found first in God the Father, then in Jesus Christ, and then in the great truths which surround them. These truths are worth much more than possessions. It is our very beingness that will be in Heaven, and this with God and others. But Paul gets more specific, he says of this hope: “Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth” (Colossians 1:5-6, ESV).

Exploring the Colossians' Love, Part 2 (TMF:2501)

Monday, December 09, 2024

Peace to Live By: Exploring the Colossians' Love, Part 2 (TMF:2501) - Daniel Litton
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Paul uses the word “all” here… “the love that you have for all the saints.” So, it just isn’t local love that is had, but love for the surrounding churches. Note there could have been divisions, judgments, disagreements, and the such, but the Colossians didn’t choose that approach. Rather, they loved their fellow brothers and sisters, not focusing on those things where there might be differences. And why the faith and love? What was behind those things? Paul said these were “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven” (ESV). See, it is fundamental that what we believe now is tied to what will be in the future, namely, the future after this life is over. In other words, we aren’t just living for now. We are living for the future. Those whom we ‘love’ now, most of those will be with us in the future. Indeed, they will be known for the whole eternal state. That makes love seem more important, doesn’t it?