Facial Recognition

In these verses, Paul continues to describe to the Galatians the very important trip he made to the home office in Jerusalem (Gal 2:1).  He met with the Apostle Peter and Jesus' brother James, two crucial leaders of the church (Gal 1:18-19).  He took Barnabas, a Jew, and Titus, a Gentile with him.  His mission: to make sure the Gospel he preached to non-Jews wasn't rogue (Gal 2:2).  

Pete and Jim made a key decision regarding Paul's message when non-Jewish Titus "was not forced to be circumcised" (Gal 2:3).  This not only affirms what Paul preaches but is certainly great news for Gentile men everywhere!  

The apostle describes how these dastardly false teachers slipped into the Galatian churches in sleeper cells in order to sabotage the freedom the disciples have in Jesus (Gal 2:4).

Paul tells us when he and the boys were in Jerusalem, they didn't waver for an instant to the perverted gospel being spread by the Judaizers.  "To them we did yield in submission even for a moment" (v5).  This isn't a contradiction of what the apostle wrote to the church in Ephesus: "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ" (Eph 5:21).  

When the truth of God's salvation and the eternal destiny of others is at stake, you must take a stand.  We certainly are do so "with gentleness and respect" (1Pet 3:15).  But we much stand strong against evil (Eph 6:13).  And when it came to the counterfeit message spreading like a cancer in Galatia, Paul didn't budge.  Not even for the blink of an eye.

The Apostle Paul stood rock steady because of what was at stake.  "So that the truth of the Gospel might be preserved for you" (v5).  This isn't about Paul.  This isn't about his reputation.  This isn't about what others thought about him.  

This is about the message of Jesus the Gentile Galatians have embraced.  This is about the Gospel they've heard.  If Paul is wrong and these moles who've infiltrated the church are right, it changes everything.  Everything.

Reading the phrase "the truth of the Gospel," I can't help but think of what Jesus said to His boys.  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).  The truth of the Gospel is Jesus Himself.  As Henry Blackaby likes to say, Truth is a Person.  Jesus is Truth.  And Jesus is the Truth of the Gospel.  

The Good News is not simply head knowledge or some mental acceptance.  It is a relationship with the One who is the Truth.  Jesus.  Paul is fighting for Truth.  Paul is fighting for the Galatians' personal relationship with Jesus.  

The apostle twice refers to the heavy hitters he and his boys meet with in Jerusalem.  "Those who seemed to be influential...those, I say, who seemed to be influential" (v6).  Again, this is the Apostle Peter and James, the brother of Jesus.  Paul uses a common phrase of the day to describe them (Gal 2:2, 9).

While the man from Tarsus understands who they are meeting, he really doesn't care.  "What they were makes no difference to me" (6).  What may seem like absolute arrogance is actually anything but.  Paul understood who he was in Christ.  

He understood that Jesus Himself handpicked him before birth (Gal 1:15).  The risen Christ personally appeared to him and commissioned him as a full-fledged apostle (Gal 1:16; Acts 9:3-6, 15).  

Paul's identity is not in himself.  It is in Jesus and His righteousness.  Because of that, he was bulletproof.  This made him the perfect apostle.  If you killed him, "to die is gain."  If you let him live, "to live is Christ" (Phil 1:21).  A little meeting with Peter and James wasn't going to shake Paul.

The apostle then makes a HUGE statement that is easy to blow right past.  "God shows no partiality" (v6).  The Greek here is very awkward.  It literally reads "God does not accept the face of man."  What in the wide, wide world of sports does this mean?  

As a matter of fact, we find this same idea written in a similar Greek idiom in two other places.  "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34).  "For God shows no partiality" (Rom 2:11).  Both times, it refers to God's offer of salvation to all people, regardless of race or ethnicity.

The original text uses the noun προσοπον/prosopon.  It means face or outward appearance.  Paul is telling us that God doesn't use facial recognition to identify us.  

Remember the movie "Face Off"?  Nicolas Cage and John Travolta had radical plastic surgery to actually become the other person.  From looking at them, it was impossible to know who they were.  That's because as fallen human beings, we look at the appearance.  Too often we judge by facial recognition.

God isn't fooled by faces.  Remember when He tapped Samuel on the shoulder and told him to go find the next king of Israel?  "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him.  For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1Sam 16:7).  

God doesn't rely on facial recognition.  He uses heart recognition.  That's absolutely foolproof.

Paul's meeting with Peter and James confirms what he knew all along.  His message was indeed THE Message!  Pete and Jim "added nothing to me" (v6).  His Gospel lined up perfectly with their Gospel.  Don't change a thing, they told him.  It's perfect.  

The reason they agreed is because they all heard it from Jesus' lips personally.  Peter walked with Christ during His earthly ministry and saw the resurrected Jesus.  James became a follower of his Brother after seeing Him rise from the dead (1Cor 15:7).  Jesus mugged Paul on the Damascus interstate and personally delivered His message of salvation.  The common denominator is Jesus.

The bottom line: Paul and his Gospel are good to go.  What he preached to the Galatians is right on target.  They are to forget everything those goobers told them and get back to grace.

©2012

Jay Jennings

Scratching the Itch

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2Tim 4:3-4).

Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Ever have an itch that you couldn’t quite scratch? What am I saying…of course you have! What begins as a little tickle quickly escalates into an all-consuming search for relief. You’ll do whatever you can, use anything available, or ask whomever is around to help.

Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Your Spiritual Thumper Leg

What a wonderful sense of immediate relief when you finally can. A little to the left…up just a bit…right there…oh yeah! AHHHHHH! At this point, a smile spreads across your face and your eyes close. If you’re not careful, your leg will start thumping like your dog Bootsie does when you scratch him in the magic place.

There are lots of causes for itching. That irritation is actually a symptom of something else. Poison ivy. A bug bite. A rash. An allergy. Eczema. Did you know that can even be an indication of more serious problems like food allergies, kidney failure, or even lymphoma? Just another reason to stop making regular visits to WebMD and see your own doctor!

A Symptom of Something Deeper

While Paul’s not a doctor and never played one on TV, he warns Timothy that appears to be a simple itch is actually a symptom of a deeper spiritual disease. “For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths” (v3-4).

The apostle delivers a scary prognosis for what appears to be only a slight tickle on the ear. It begins innocently enough. You scratch that itch by listening to what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear. You suddenly find yourself searching the internet and downloading podcasts of preachers and teachers who pump your ties and make you feel good.

Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

It doesn’t matter that what you hear isn’t true and full of, shall we say, “alternative facts” (seems to be a lot of that going around these days). The next thing you know, you’re pulled off a sinful spin called the reverse repentance. It’s way more dangerous than anything you see in Olympic halfpipe snowboarding. Hard to believe it all started with an itty bitty itch. That’s because the itch is a symptom of a much deeper disease.

Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

The Last Letter

Before we go any further, let’s pump our brakes and take a quick look at why Paul is writing this letter in the first place. It’s somewhere between the years 64-67 AD. We find the apostle behind bars (2Tim 1:8, 16; 2:9). That’s nothing new. The message he brings upsets people so often that you might think he’s traveling the Mediterranean Rim reviewing local jails and prisons for VRBO or TripAdvisor (Acts 16:19-24; 22:23-29; 24:23, 27; 25:14, 21, 27; 26:31-32; 27-28; Eph 4:1; 6:20; Phil 1:17; Col 4:4, 10, 18; Phm 9-10, 13, 23).

But this is different. This time, he’s run out of time. He’s on Death Row (2Tim 4:6-7). Historians believe he’s walking the Green Mile in the Mamertine Prison, Caesar’s SuperMax. With time quickly running out, the apostle writes one last letter with two purposes. One, pass the baton of the Gospel to the young pastor at the Ephesian megachurch (2Tim 2:1-4:5). Two, beg Tim for one last visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21).

Don’t Get Blindsided

As he wraps up his instructions about ministry, Paul gives Timothy a very important heads up about what he can expect. “For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching” (v3). The mentor doesn’t want his protege to get caught off guard. Don’t let it blindside you. It’s going to happen. Don’t let it throw you off your game when it does.

Wearing Steel-Toed Boots to Church

Two thousand years later, the story is still the same in the local church. There’s going to be times when a percentage of people will have little patience for tough but necessary teaching. Oh, we love it when sermons go after the sins of others. Oh, I wish so-and-so could hear this! I need to send them a link ASAP!!

But then there are those days when I wish I’d worn steel-toed boots because the pastor is suddenly stomping all over my toes. The message has gone from preaching to meddling. As the old saying goes, church is there to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. When things get uncomfortable, will I hang in there and let God’s Spirit do His work in my heart? Or will I bail? Will I submit to God’s work in my life? Or will I hightail it for the nearest exit?

When the Going Gets Tough

The word “endure” is the Greek verb ανεχω/anecho. It means to exercise self-restraint, tolerate, or hold up under adversity. It means to stand tall no matter what. Paul uses this term when he encourages us follow Jesus “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with (Gr. ανεχω/anecho) one another in love” (Eph 4:2). We’re to hang in there in love because our Savior hung on the cross out of love.

Too many times we don’t tolerate the tough truth of God’s Word. Too many times when the going gets tough, we get going…right out the door! We tune out. We check out. We shut down. That’s when we minimize the Bible app on our phone and open Facebook. Instead of the messy business of conviction of sin, let’s see how many likes I got on that snarky comment I posted about the election!

A High Protein Diet

Paul wants us to know it’s not bad teaching that folks are tuning out. It’s actually “sound teaching” (v3). The apostle uses a word here he may have picked up from his old friend Dr. Luke. “Sound” (Gr. ‘υγιαινω/hugiaino) is a medical term that means healthy or the state of wellness.

Luke actually uses it that way twice in his biography of Jesus. When the religious police freak out when Christ hangs out with the spiritual riff raft, our Savior says, “Those who are well (Gr. ‘υγιαινω/hugiaino) have no need of a physician, but those who are who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance” (Lk 5:31-32). Later when Jesus heals Roman military officer’s servant without even making a house call, folks back at the house “found the servant well (Gr. ‘υγιαινω/hugiaino)” (Lk 7:10).

So “sound teaching” (v3) is actually healthy doctrine. It’s not spiritual junk food that does us more harm than good. It’s good for you. It builds you up. It gives you the fuel you need for spiritual growth. Think of the high protein diet a high performance athlete needs. A big part of getting ourselves in top physical shape, is eating healthy. It’s the same in our walk with Jesus. A healthy diet is loaded with the protein of “sound teaching” (v3).

Scratching the Itch

When we regularly consume the spiritual superfood of the Gospel, it prevents us from “having itching ears” (v3). Paul uses an interesting little word we translate as “itching” (Gr. κνηθω/knetho) which describes to scratch, tickle, or even titillate. This is the desire something for something pleasant.

You know how you scratch your dog in that one spot that gets his thumper leg going? Oh yeah, right there! That’s the ticket! It’s the very same with us. We want our ears tickled. We want our itch scratched. We want to hear what we want to hear. Stop trying to give me what I need. Too many times we’re only interested in what feels good.

Itch, itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Collecting in the Medicine Cabinet

We see that when folks start scratching that spiritual itch “they will accumulate for themselves teachers for their own passions” (v3). In other words, people begin kicking their own pastor to the curb for preaching truth. Then they replace him with a handpicked assortment of teachers who tell them exactly what they want to hear.

They surround themselves with voices who don’t bruise their egos. And it usually takes a small army. The apostle drops the word “accumulate” (Gr. επισωρευω/episoreuo), which can mean to persist in or insist on something. But it literally paints a picture of gathering in big piles. Think of a hoarder. They’ll completely surrounded themselves with teaching that will never challenge their sin or question their behavior.

The best comparison I can think of is that place where we store over-the-counter medicines that don’t really work. That medicine cabinet, closet, or drawer where OTCs go to die. We’ve got that nagging itch that just won’t go away. We bring home another new ointment, cream, spray, or pill every time we go to the drug store. We accumulate them. They pile up.

My latest purchase might provide a little relief from the itch but the truth is they don’t really work effectively. Why? Because they only treat the symptom and not the deeper problem. The same with my itching ears. I have a bigger issue that must be addressed. Until then, I’ll keep surrounding my self with all sorts of teaching that simply skims the surface and never does serious spiritual surgery.

Virtual Preaching Leads to Virtual Obedience

The New Living Translation says how folks will “look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear” (v3 NLT). Let’s face it, with the internet and countless podcasts available to us, we do this now more than ever. We may listen to the teaching from our own pastors on the weekend. But too many of us are more devoted to what someone like Chuck Swindoll, Matt Chandler, or Andy Stanley has to say. Hey, I’m just as guilty as the next person here.

There are a couple of dangers when we do. First of all, we have a habit of looking for itch scratchers and ear ticklers who tell us only what we want to hear. We want a “feel good” gospel that provides pleasure without any pain. Grace without any of that nasty talk of sin. God’s love without any mention of God’s wrath. John MacArthur says it’s wanting blessing without forgiveness or salvation without repentance.

The other danger is more subtle. When we gather our dream team of digital pastors, we slowly start shifting our submission their way. There’s an almost imperceptible transfer of authority to those teaching on smart phones and tablets from preachers who lead our local congregations. Before we know it, our own pastor supplements what we hear online, not the other way around.

When this happens, who will ever know if you’re applying the teaching? There’s very little opportunity for accountability. Virtual preaching leads to virtual obedience.

You Can’t Handle the Truth!

Scratching those itching ears eventually results a radical move that will leave your head swimming. We’ll “turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (v4). Call it reverse repentance. Instead of spinning from our own sin and toward Jesus, it’s just the opposite. We do a 180 away from God’s truth and find ourselves falling for something phony. From Good News to fake news. From spiritual truth to alternative facts.

According to Paul, some folks have little stomach for what they need to hear. Remember that famous line from “A Few Good Men”? You know the one. Jack Nicholson as Colonel Jessup yells, “You can’t handle the truth!!!” Same for some of us in the local church.

Tearing an ACL

When God’s truth starts hitting a little too close to home, we must be careful not to tuck our tail between our legs and head the other way. When we do, we’ll find ourselves sliding down a slippery slope and “wander into myths” (v4).

It’s interesting to note that the Greek word the ESV translates as “wander” (Gr. εκτρεπω/ektrepo) means a whole lot more than a mindless stroll down the greenway. It’s actually another medical term that describe an injury to the ligaments of a joint, a dislocation or a joint pulled from the socket. Think season ending ACL tear.

The writer of Hebrews uses it when talking about having a healthy walk with Jesus. “Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint (Gr. εκτρεπω/ektrepo) but rather be healed” (Heb 12:13). Picture a radical and painful twist. Your arm or leg suddenly heads in the wrong direction.

Swerving toward Pleasure

Instead holding the course when biblical teaching gets uncomfortable, our tires screech and we run toward fun and pleasure. The irony is that God wants us to experience the ultimate joy and the only way to get there is through our submission and obedience to His guidance.

Don’t turn away. Don’t wander. Avoid reverse repentance. The best way to do that is to not scratch that itch in the first place. Let’s realize this is the symptom of a deeper problem. Chances are there’s an area of my life that I haven’t fully submitted to Jesus. When people do, “they’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages” (v3-4 The Message).

Take It from Jeremiah

To stop the itch means curing the problem behind it. Stop filling your medicine cabinet with salves and ointments. Take Jeremiah’s recommendation and try the Balm of Gilead (Jer 8:22; 46:11). It doesn’t come in a tube or a tub. You can’t buy it at Walgreens or Walmart. It’s the true healing that only comes from Christ.

Following Jesus’ lead and obeying God’s commands will be hard at times. But remember two things. First, it is the source of true blessing and joy of the overflowing life that our Savior came to bring us (Jn 10:10). Second, Christ gives each one of us His Spirit to live in us to give us the power to do everything He asks.

This doesn’t mean the itching will stop forever. But we’ll have the supernatural strength to keep from scratching.

Itch. Itch. Itch. 

Stop.

The New Neighbor

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish” (Jn 1:14 The Message).

Who Are They?

A moving van rumbles past your house and down the cul-de-sac. It pulls up in front of the house that sold last month. Yup, you’ve got new neighbors. 

What will they be like? Noisy? Nosey? Kind? Quiet? Do they have kids? Are they teenagers? Do they own a dog? Can you trust them? 

These are just a few of the questions that run through your head. New neighbors can change everything in the neighborhood.

A Big Change in the 'Hood

A couple of thousand years ago, a Galilean fisherman named John remembers the day he got a new Neighbor. This new Neighbor changed everything in the ‘hood. In a good way. A VERY good way. 

And when he says “neighborhood,” he means the entire world. Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to this neck of the woods.

So what exactly did John say? Here it is as we find it in The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible. “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish” (v14).

The Why of Christmas

Believe it or not, John is writing about Christmas. You’ve probably heard the other more popular versions of Jesus’ birth as told by a former tax collector (Mt 1:1-25) and a first century physician (Lk 2:1-20). 

These guys tell us the play-by-play of how God uses a young carpenter and his pregnant teenage fiancee to bring His one and only Son into the world. John backs up and explains the story. Matthew and Luke give us the what. John gives us the why.

Before the Big Move 

First of all, we read about what our new Neighbor was doing before the big move. “The Word became flesh and blood” (v14). John’s referring back to what he had to say at the very beginning of this document we’ve come to call the Gospel of John. “The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word, in readiness for God from day one” (Jn 1:1). 

This is his way of saying the Son of God was hanging out at the heavenly palace with God the Father from the very beginning. God’s mansion is so upscale that it makes Beverly Hills and Palm Beach look like the projects.

Packing for the Move

But Jesus is about to pack up and move. Instead of packing boxes and calling the movers, something else happens. Something amazing! “The Word became flesh and blood” (v14). The Second Person of the Trinity took on human form. 

The One who was already 100% God also became 100% human. The math doesn’t make sense, but as one of God’s spokespersons told Jesus’ mom, “Nothing, you see, is impossible with God” (Lk 1:38).

Putting on His Earth Suit

In order to make the move, the Son of God puts on His Earth suit. He becomes the God-Man. Theologians, preachers, and a long list of smart folks have been trying to wrap their brains around this one for several hundred years. 

Some like to call it the Incarnation. That basically means God with meat. Don’t believe me? Ever have chili con carne or chili with meat?

Hypostatic What?

Another term we’ve cooked up to describe this divine/human combo is hypostatic union. It’s a high fallutin’ way of saying nobody can really figure out how Jesus did this. 

The writer of Hebrews points out how this gave God the opportunity to fully experience what it’s like to be mortal with one important exception. “He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin” (Heb 4:15). Let’s break down the divine math this way: 100% God + 100% Man = 100% Savior.

The Ultimate Missionary

After the Son of God packed Himself in a human box, it was time to hit the road from Heaven to Earth. That’s when He “moved into the neighborhood” (v14). It’s because Jesus is the ultimate Missionary. 

Just like missionaries move right into the heart of the communities they will serve, so did our Savior. He buy a McMansion in a gated community and swing by to slum with us a couple of times a year. Jesus moved in.

One-of-a-Kind Glory

Because the Son of God lived just down the street, He gave folks a a glimpse of who He really was. “We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son” (v14). 

John’s not talking about Jesus’ baby pictures. He’s probably describing the time on a mountain when Christ let us Godness shine to John, his brother James, and their buddy Peter (Mt 17:1-8; Mr 9:2-8; Lk 9:28-36).

Like Father, Like Son

Just to make sure these three are sure of what they’re seeing firsthand, Jesus’ Heavenly Dad connects the dots for them. “This is My Son, marked by My love, focus of My delight. Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). That’s why the apostle likes to say, “Like Father, like Son.” (v14). 

Want to know what God the Father looks like? Take a long look at the radical Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee. They share a glory you don’t see anywhere else. “Like Father, like Son” (v14).

Generous Inside and Out

John says our new Neighbor is the kind of person you hope moves in just down the street. He’s “generous inside and out” (v14). Jesus isn’t the stingy guy on the block who never loans any of His tools, keeps a death grip on His wallet, or is too busy to talk. 

He’s generous with everything He has whether we deserve it or not. ESPECIALLY when we don’t deserve it. That’s the definition of grace. He gives. And it’s not phony. Need anything, just ask. Our new Neighbor’s “generous inside and out” (v14).

A Straight Shooter

Jesus is also “true from start to finish” (v14). He’s the one guy in the neighborhood we can always trust. Christ didn’t move in and immediately start complaining to the HoA. He’s true to His word. 

If He says, He does it. He’s a straight shooter and not afraid to say what needs to be said. No hidden agenda. Our new Neighbor has been that way ever since He rolled into town. There’s no reason to think He’ll ever change.

John wants us to know there’s no reason to worry. You’re going to love our new Neighbor. Why don’t you go say “hello”?

©2016
Jay Jennings

Jesus Pitches a Tent

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14).

The One who spoke the entire universe into being made a decision to rough it.  As the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son was 100% God.  Then something absolutely crazy happened.  Somehow, someway, He added to His 100% Godness.  He took on 100% humanity too!  That’s the new math.  The new DIVINE math. 

          100% God+100% Man=100% Savior!

But the Son didn’t sit back and chill out after taking on His brand new humanity.  He was about to make a road trip.  He had mission.  The Son packed up and headed to Earth.  He headed into the very creation He shaped and formed.  But when He left the lap of heaven’s luxury, He didn’t check into the Four Seasons or the Plaza.  He “dwelt among us.”  

Setting up Camp

John tells us that the Son of God went camping.  The original text tells us us that He literally “tabernacled” (Gr.σκενοω/skeno’o) once He got to earth.  In other words, Jesus set up camp and pitched a tent.  The Message describes how Christ “moved into the neighborhood.”  For the Second Person of the Big Three, His accommodations were just a bit less posh than the glorious palace He enjoyed back home in heaven.  

Jesus pitches a tent.  God is roughing it.  And if you have any doubts about all that, remember where Jesus made His arrival.  In a stinky old barn behind the Motel 6 in Bethlehem. 

Eyewitness to Glory

At this point, John jumps into the story and tells us what he saw.  “We have seen His glory.”  Since we know Jesus’ buddy wasn’t hanging out with the shepherds when the angels lit up the sky in glory, that can’t be what he’s talking about.  

Most likely, the apostle is talking about that crazy day Christ took him, his big brother Jim and their fishing buddy Pete mountain climbing.  Once they arrived at the summit, something wild happened.  Jesus started changing and glowing!  Their Leader pulled back the curtains of heaven to let them know just who He really was.  

Or John could be describing Jesus’ appearance after His resurrection.  And their’s a chance that this is his way of summing up all of their experiences with the remarkable Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilean.  His teaching exposed God’s glory.  His miracles revealed God’s glory.  His love disclosed God’s glory.  John and the boys saw Jesus’ glory with their own eyes.  They didn’t get this crazy stuff second hand.

The One and Only

John and the rest of the posse realized Jesus was more than Mary and Joe’s kid from Nazareth.  He was the one and only Son of God.  While Joe was a great dad, he was Jesus' adoptive father.  He and his wife had other kids.  But Christ was an only Child.  

His Dad in heaven had just one Boy.  Jesus was someone special.  That’s the meaning behind the term we translate “only.”  This is μονογενες/monogenes, which means unique, one of a kind, the one and only or the only one like it.  Jesus is unique.  He’s one of a kind.  He’s the one and only.  He’s the only one.  There was and is NOBODY like Him.  Ever.  

It’s interesting to understand that the word “Son” isn’t there in the original Greek text.  You can actually write this phrase in English as “the Unique of the Father.”  The First Person of the Trinity had only one Son.  There was and is no one else like Him in the history of the universe.  Jesus, the one and only. 

Grace and Truth

One of the things that makes Christ unique is the fact that no one who was so overflowing in goodness spoke so bluntly.  Jesus was “full of grace and truth.”  Everywhere He went, He opened up the fire hose of God’s blessing.  Healing.  Teaching.  Loving.  Caring.  

But Christ also pulled no punches when it came to telling the truth about sin.  Just ask the lady caught in adultery.  Or the woman sitting by the well in Sychar.  Or the religious bullies known as the Sanhedrin.  He told them the truth.  He made it perfectly clear that they needed a Savior.  One way to understand John’s wording is that Jesus made the Good News REALLY good because the bad news is REALLY bad.  

That’s what happens when you experience the one-of-a-kind Son of God.  
          100% God+100% Man=100% Savior!

God Went Camping

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14).

Not everybody loves camping.  However, there are some who love the thrill of leaving the comforts of home and pitching a tent for a few days.  

But even the most enthusiastic of campers are ready to strike camp and head home after a few nights on the cold, hard ground.  Ready for a hot shower.  Longing for that warm, familiar bed.

Did you know God went camping?  Yup.  It's true.  That's what the Apostle John tells us.  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Jn 1:14).

Leaving the Palace

Here in John's magnificent prologue, the apostle paints one of the most breathtaking pictures of Jesus incredible expedition from heaven to earth.  We read that God Himself left the opulence and comforts of His royal home and made the descent onto the disgusting, sin-filled swamp we call Earth.  

We simply cannot comprehend the level of what He left and what He came to.  Imagine Donald Trump leaving Manhattan to live in the stinking slums of Mumbai...willingly!  But that doesn't even scratch the surface.

The Word Became Flesh

John tells us that "the Word became flesh."  The word-for-word Greek reads "the Word flesh became."  Word is λογος (Gr. logos).  This is Jesus.  As the Word, Christ is God's full self-revelation and declaration of who He is.  

Paul tells us, "For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:19).  This Word became flesh.  This is the Greek noun σαρχ (Gr. sarx).  This is the muscular part of the human body which covers the bone.  

Elsewhere in John, Jesus clearly says, "God is Spirit" (Jn 4:24).  So for God to take on muscle, flesh, tendons, ligaments and organs, this must be something very special.  VERY special.  This was no ordinary camping trip. 

Dwelt among Us

John goes on to say that the Word "dwelt among us."  The original text uses the verb σκενοω (Gr. skeno’o).  It certainly means to live somewhere.  

But the idea is much deeper and richer.  It's the thought of not only taking up residence, but actually camping in a tent.  Some translations render this as He "tabernacled among us.”  

Remember the tabernacle?  That's the tent God ordered Moses to construct as the portable dwelling place for His divine presence among His people.  

From this God tent, Yahweh would live among the Israelite people.  Many times His glory would fill and overflow His royal campsite.  

Finding a Campsite

That's EXACTLY what's happening all over again!  Except this time God would show up as both fully God and fully Man.  

God was going camping.  And His first campsite was a filthy manger in the podunk town of Bethlehem.  Not a prime location.  There in the middle of a stinky stable, God went camping.  

Aren't you glad He did?

©2016
Jay Jennings

Phonies Exposed

“Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” (2Tim 3:8-9).

Man, we love us some magic. Allow me to conjure up a few examples. Harry Potter has made millions appear in J.K. Rowling’s bank account. David Blaine dazzles crowds with his patented Street Magic. There’s America’s favorite Mind Freak, Criss Angel. Penn and Teller remain one of the biggest acts in the history of Vegas. David Copperfield has not only made the Statue of Liberty disappear but, in one of the greatest illusions ever performed, dates Claudia Schiffer.

No matter the magician, we watch them closely. This time they won’t fool us. This time we’re gonna figure it out. Then…ABRACADABRA ALAKAZAM! They pull off yet one more spectacular piece of hocus locus and leave us scratching our heads. How in the world did they do THAT?!?!

But here’s the deal. These magicians are really just illusionists. They only appear to pull off the impossible. You do realize they really aren’t sawing a woman in half, don’t you? Remember the show “Breaking the Magician’s Code”? The star was some dude named the Masked Magician who spent an hour each week revealing the ugly truth behind some of the greatest tricks.

What in the world does this have to do with following Jesus? There are plenty of phonies out there conning believers with their spiritual sleight of hand. And it’s nothing new. Two thousand years ago, Paul wrote a letter to a young pastor warning him about folks who were the latest in a long line of religious hucksters.

The apostle compares them to a pair of ancient Egyptian wizards back in the day. “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men” (v8-9). He reassures Tim that these posers won’t get away with their con in the end. God will expose them for the phonies they really are.

Paul is writing the last letter of his life. He’s on Death Row in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:8, 17; 2:9; 4:6-7). He fires off this final note with two important purposes. One, he begs Tim to drop everything and hurry to Rome for one final visit before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). Two, he scribbles down critical info for ministry after he’s gone (2Tim 2:1-5).

A critical part of his instructions are dealing a growing number of false teachers. Earlier we read how they have begun to weasel their way into the church like an aggressive cancer, even driving some folks to doubt their trust in Jesus (2Tim 2:1718). Their M.O. is to suck you into endless arguments and ridiculous controversies in order to distract people from the following Jesus (2Tim 2:12-16, 22-23).

These spiritual snake oil salesmen are nothing more than self-centered, self-obsessed, self-lovers to be avoided at all costs (2Tim 3:1-5). Paul pulls no punches when he describes them as pseudo-Christian creeps. They’re sexual predators on the prowl, looking for women who are desperate for male companionship (2Tim 3:6-7).

For those who are familiar with Moses and the amazing Israelite escape from Egypt, the apostle compares them to a pair pharaoh’s personal wizards. “Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses” (v8). You won’t find this demonic duo named anywhere in the original story in the Old Testament. They’re only described as the top “magicians” of Egypt skilled in the “secret arts” (Ex 7:11, 22; 8:7, 18-19; 9:11). This is yet another example where the Holy Spirit inspires to writers of the NT to pull back the curtain on what we read in the OT.

But the writer of Exodus uses a Hebrew term translated as “magicians (Heb. chartom)” that paints these men as much more than as master illusionists who dazzle their friends at dinner parties. These are sorcerers deep into the dark corners of the occult. In case you didn’t know, the people of God are supposed to steer clear of stuff like witchcraft, soothsayers, sorcery, and seances (Dt 18:9-12). In other words, toss that Ouija board in the trash and flip open your Bible ASAP.

Flipping back to 2 Timothy, Paul says the phonies he and Tim are facing are the direct diabolical descendants of Jannes and Jambres. Just as Pharaoh’s sorcerers tried to stand up to Moses, “these men also oppose the truth” (v8). A couple of things to remember. First of all, it didn’t end well for the Egyptian wizards. Sure, they had a couple of cool things in the black magic bag of tricks. But after Aaron’s snake eats theirs (Ex 7:12) and they end up covered in boils (Ex 9:11), Jannes and Jambres tap out and are never heard from again.

Second, John MacArthur believes Paul’s comparison to pharaoh’s sorcerers indicates the first century false teachers were also dabbling in the occult. This is an important reminder that not everything supernatural is from God. Our enemy has the ability to mimic the miraculous. Jesus’ best buddy John encourages us to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God” (1Jn 4:1). We can know a spirit is legit when it makes Jesus famous (1Jn 4:2-3). Anything else is from the dark side, young Padawan.

Jannes and Jambres’ opposition to the Big Mo was incredibly similar to these dudes who “also oppose the truth” (v8). By using a Greek verb we translate as “opposed” (Gr. ανθιστημι/anthistemi) not once but twice here, Paul goes out of his way to point out the open and obvious rebellion. This is NOT simply agreeing to disagree. The original language paint a picture of of active and hostile resistance. 

A little later in this letter, the apostle warns Tim about a coppersmith named Alexander who “strongly opposed (Gr. ανθιστημι/anthistemi) our message” (2Tim 4:15). Paul writes to the Galatians about the time his buddy Peter stopped hanging out with non-Jewish believers. He has to get up in Pete’s grill and says “I opposed (Gr. ανθιστημι/anthistemi) him to his face” (Gal 2:11).

But probably the best example of supernatural opposition to the Gospel comes in Acts, Luke’s description of the incredible tsunami of grace across the Mediterranean rim. When Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark brought the message of Jesus to the island of Cyprus, that “Elymas the magician…opposed (Gr. ανθιστημι/anthistemi) them” and used every trick in the book to keep folks from hearing the Gospel (Acts 13:8). Just so you know, God blinded Cypriot sorcerer and people placed their trust in Jesus (Acts 13:11-12). Oh, you can resist. But when you make the mistake of resisting Almighty God, resistance, as they say, is ultimately futile.

Opposing the truth standing in the way of someone’s relationship with Jesus. Throughout his two letters to Timothy, that’s exactly how Paul talks about it. He describes how God “desires all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:4). In his sequel, he says we must treat our enemies gently so that “God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 2:25). And some of these very same sleazy false teachers search for fragile female victims so that they will “never be able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 3:7).

The truth Paul’s describing is much more than a list of facts. He’s talking about Jesus, the One who is Truth with capital T. That’s how He describes Himself to His closest followers. “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6). The resurrected Rabbi from Galilee isn’t inviting to memorize a long list of religious FAQs. You see, Truth is a Person inviting into a relationship.

So why do those ancient Egyptian sorcerers and these first century phonies use any means necessary to keep folks from know Jesus? Because they are “corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith” (v8). Paul uses a verb the ESV translates as “corrupted” (Gr. καταφθειρω/katathpheiro) that describes what’s going on between their ears as totally perverted. That certainly lines up with how he calls them creeps just up the page, doesn’t it?

If that’s not enough, they’re “disqualified (Gr. αδοκιμος/adokimos) from the faith” (v8). In doing so, the apostle tells Tim these spiritual con artists have failed the test and proven to be frauds. In NASCAR, drivers and teams that cheat are DQ’d and kicked out. In a note to another protege, the former Pharisee tells Titus to watch out for people who talk a good game about their relationship with Jesus but have absolutely zero evidence for it in their lives. “They are detestable, disobedient, unfit (Gr. αδοκιμος/adokimos) for any good work” (Titus 1:16).

There’s no magic spell or incantation necessary to be a qualified and bonafide follower of Jesus. It’s simply trusting in who He is and what He’s done that we could never do for ourselves. The sinless Son of God lived the perfect life that we’ve failed to live. He died the death for our sin that we should have died. He rose to new life that we in no way deserve. He trades His perfection for our rebellion (2Cor 5:21). As a result, we willingly submit ourselves to His loving leadership in order to enjoy the overflowing life of abundance He came to bring (Jn 10:10).

Just God exposed Jannes and Jambres for the phonies they were, Paul reassures us that these false teachers “will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was the of those two men” (v9). It’s like the scene in “The Wizard of Oz.” Dorothy and friends catch a glimpse of what’s really going on. When he’s exposed as a fraud, the not-so-great-and-powerful Oz desperately tries to divert their eyes, “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!” Too late. The jig is up. The con exposed. The folly plain.

God guarantees that con artists, counterfeits, and frauds won’t get away with it. He’ll reveal them for who they really are. They’ll get what’s coming to them. But don’t miss the big idea. He knows EVERYBODY for who they really are. You. Me. Them. Everybody. That’s the big idea behind one of King David’s hit songs (Ps 139). Jesus makes it plain that there will come a day when nothing is left secret and everything brought into the bright light of God’s truth (Lk 6:17).

Maybe you’re a fan of the Masked Magician and love finding out how illusionists pull off their tricks. But that’s nothing to what’s going to happen when God exposes religious phonies for who they really are. No magic wands. No secret potions. No incantations. Just the Light of the World revealing every single spiritual hoax while at the same time showing Himself to be Truth Incarnate. 

The Superpower of Gentleness

“Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 2:25).

Every hero has an enemy. Sherlock has Moriarity. Harry Potter has Voldemort. Seinfeld has Newman. Every superhero has an archenemy. Superman has Lex Luthor. Batman has the Joker. Captain America has the Red Skull.

In each and every case, the enemy MUST be defeated. A fight is inevitable. The only way to win is beat them in battle. And it’s going to take every bit of our hero’s amazing abilities or superpowers to come out on top.

According to Paul, someone who follows Jesus is going to run into enemies but must have a totally different method in mind. Instead of an all-out war against their rival, the Lord’s servant should be “correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). Well that’s not exactly the kind of storyline you see in the Marvel Comic Universe! The apostle tells Timothy that every believer has a superpower and it’s kindness. When used correctly on the enemy, God may not only give them the gift of changing their mind but may also be giving you a teammate in the process.

Now don’t get the idea that Paul is some comic book fan boy living in his parents’ basement. Not even close. The apostle is doing hard time on Death Row in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:16; 2:9) and his execution date is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7). So he’s not writing to some random guy he met at Comic-Con but to the young pastor he sees as his spiritual son (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). In this epistle, Paul pleads for one last visit from Timothy (2Tim 4:9, 21) in order to pass the baton of spreading the message of Jesus (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

The apostle tells Tim that a mega-theme in ministry is dealing with folks outside the faith who may actually weasel their way into the church. He wrote to him about it in his first letter (1Tim 1:3-7, 20; 4:1-3; 6:2-10, 20-21). Three times here in chapter two of this epistle he tells his protege not to get sucked into a word war with these knuckleheads (2Tim 2:14, 16-17, 23-24). It’s time to grow up and put on your big boy pants and start chasing the things of God (2Tim 2:22).

A huge part of that chase is dealing with people who aren’t on Team Jesus. Paul calls them “opponents” and uses a word (Gr. αντιδιατιθημι/antidiatithemi) that literally describes a person intentionally setting themselves against something or someone. Picture a nose tackle digging his cleats in the turf right across the line from offense. It describes someone who is not only headed in the opposite direction but who’s openly hostile to what you’re trying to do. They’ll do anything necessary to stop you.

But here’s the deal. They may look like the enemy. They may act like the enemy. They may talk like the enemy. But they’re NOT who we’re really fighting. In a previous letter to his Ephesian friends, Paul provides a detailed scouting report on our foe. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). In other words, the REAL enemy is Satan and his unholy horde. Jesus wants us to realize that the person who appears to be our opponent may actually be a future teammate!

Once we understand who we’re really fighting, our strategy changes when dealing with human opposition. The idea isn’t to pound them into submission. Instead we should be “correcting his opponents with gentleness” (v25). We shouldn’t destroy but instruct. The goal isn’t to eradicate but educate. A servant of Jesus is to school an enemy but not embarrass them. You don’t beat them over the head with a ten-pound Bible. You don’t rub their nose in it. You don’t run up the score.

We do it with “gentleness” (v25). Paul drops a Greek word here (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) that can be translate as meekness and mildness. Now before you think we’re to wimp out and wave the white flag when challenged, that’s NOT what’s going on. This is the idea of strength that accommodates the weakness of another. It’s the opposite of acting harshly. We’re to be like Jesus. Instead dropping onto our planet on His first visit as the Lion of Judah (Gen 49:9-10; Rev 5:5) He came as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29). Don’t bulldoze someone weaker than you. Overpower them with strength under control. Defeat them with gentleness.

Did you know God gives all His followers the superpower of “gentleness” (v25)? Okay, the Bible doesn’t exactly call them superpowers per se. Paul describes this package of supernatural abilities as the “fruit of the Spirit”. One of the awesome things that happens when Jesus comes to our rescue is that the Spirit of God makes His home in us. When He does, things change in a BIG way from the inside out. We begin exhibiting “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness(Gr. πραοτης/praotes), self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). I’ll take that over gamma rays or a bite from a radioactive spider.

This supernatural strength under control comes in handy as a follower of Christ. Paul says anytime someone sins we should always try to “restore him in a spirit of gentleness(Gr. πραοτης/praotes)” (Gal 6:1). The apostle makes a point to Titus how those who trust in Jesus are “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) to all people” (Titus 3:2). Paul’s buddy Peter writes that every believer should be ready to tell others about our Savior, “yet do it with gentleness (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) and respect” (1Pet 3:15). God gives us the ability to overpower our opponents with strength under control.

Just as this supernatural gentleness comes from God, so does any change in our opponent. If we approach them with love and humility, “God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). What?!? Repentance is a gift? You got it. Not only does the Lord provide us with the ability to be gentle, He gives our opponents the ability to turn from their sin and rebellion.

This isn’t the only place we see this idea of repentance as a gift. When Peter describes to the guys at the home office in Jerusalem how God is doing His patented crazy saving thing among non-Jews too, church leaders realized, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance (Gr. μετανοια/metanoia) that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). In the same way God’s Spirit gives believers the power of gentleness, He also gives us the power of repentance. Think of it this way. We can’t turn from our mess and turn to God without His divine help.

So what exactly is repentance, anyhoo? For most of us who grew up in traditional or fundamental churches, it conjures up images of red-faced preachers trying to scare us into heaven with sermons of hell’s fire and brimstone. “Turn or burn!” While purchasing eternal fire insurance certainly should be at the top of our spiritual to-do list, that’s not exactly a true understanding of the idea.

A closer look at the word “repentance” in the original language reveals the compound word μετανοια (metanoia). It literally means “after (μετα-/meta-) thinking (-νοια/-noia).” Repentance is a change of mind. It’s thinking again about something and coming to a new conclusion. Once God opens my eyes to His truth and my sin, I come to a new conclusion. I now see me as He does. I desperately need help. I desperately need a Savior. The result is a 180. I spin from my own hot mess to the holy Son of God. And it’s all a gift from God.

Jesus doesn’t bully anybody into belief. Sure, He does have a habit of blindsiding folks. Just ask Paul (more on that in a moment). But instead using threats and intimidation, He loves to overwhelm us with His overflowing goodness. It’s “God’s kindness that is meant to lead you to repentance(Gr. μετανοια/metanoia)” (Rom 2:4). In other words, Jesus is so incredibly wonderful to us that we have a massive change of heart and mind. It’s what inspired John Newton to write the famous line in his hit tune Amazing Grace: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.” God’s grace is SO amazing that we turn from the counterfeits we’ve been chasing and make a beeline to our Savior!

The apostle knows this is the reality of repentance because it is HIS reality! Before he was missionary Paul, he was known as murderer Saul. The man from Tarsus absolutely hated the followers of Jesus and made it his life’s purpose to wipe them off the face of the planet. He hunted them down. He tortured them. He dragged many to prison (Acts 8:3). He murdered others. The dude was so ruthless toward what was known as the Way that he happily ran the coatcheck table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58; 8:1). Paul openly admits every bit of it (1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13).

But before Saul could execute his next black ops search-and-destroy mission in Damascus, the resurrected Jesus blinded the young Pharisee in order to open his eyes (Acts 9:1-6). In an incredible act of divine kindness, our Savior gave him the gift of repentance. He graciously allowed the man devoted to terrorizing the church the chance to think again about what he was doing from God’s perspective. The result led to his “knowledge of the truth” (v25) about who Jesus is and what He has done. In this case, Jesus’ gentleness transformed an assassin into an apostle!

Back in Paul’s letter to Timothy, the apostle tells the young pastor how God’s gift of gentleness to us combined with His gift of repentance to our opponents may eventually be “leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). When the apostle uses this phrase, he’s talking about understanding truth with capital T. He’s talking about a relationship with Jesus, the embodiment of the ultimate truth (Jn 14:6). “Knowledge of the truth” is one of Paul’s ways of describing a relationship with Jesus.

The apostle’s talking about salvation. In his previous letter, he describes how God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:4). Later Paul uses a very similar idea when talking about how false teachers love to target certain women in fragile situations who are “never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 3:7). In other words, they find easy marks and distract them from true salvation in Jesus with all sorts of religious mumbo jumbo.

The Lord certainly calls us to take on our opponents but not in the way you would expect. We’re to use the supernatural superpower of gentleness He’s given us. What we don’t see is what He may be giving them as well: the superpower of repentance. Instead of a very predictable knock down, drag out battle between good and evil, the enemy may well have a change of heart and mind. They may come to their senses and come to Christ. If that happens, our opponent may suddenly become our teammate. 

But that only happens when we unleash our superpower of gentleness.

The Sword and the Scalpel

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worked who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2Tim 2:15).

Chain saw. Samurai sword. Meat cleaver. There are certain tools so sharp and powerful that you can do a lot of harm when you don’t use them carefully. They are finely honed blades which give someone with a steady hand the ability to cut closely and accurately (please note: “with a steady hand”!). That’s exactly why your mom told you not to run with scissors.

That’s basically the same warning Paul gives his protege Tim here. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (v15). God’s Word is razor sharp. It can slice and dice better than the best Cutco knife or Ronco’s Veg-O-Matic. Scripture can do the most delicate of spiritual surgery. But in the wrong hands, it can amputate and mutilate. Maybe you have the scars to prove it. When it comes to God’s Word, we must handle with extreme care.

What would lead Paul to slap a warning label on Scripture? Good question. Let’s rewind his story just a bit for a little better perspective. The man from Tarsus spent most of his adult life carrying and cutting people down to size with his biblical Bowie knife. Before Jesus jumped him outside of Damascus, the apostle formerly known as Saul was among the best and brightest among the Jewish religious elite (Phil 3:5-6; Acts 22:3). We’re talking top of his class. Five-star recruit. First round draft pick.

One look at Saul’s LinkedIn profile tells you this dude is going places. Oh, he went places all right. He went to places looking to arrest, torture, and kill the followers of Christ (Acts 22:4-5; Gal 1:13). He was a fully loaded Pharisee wielding God’s Word like a weapon. That all changed when the resurrected Jesus blindsided Saul on one of his notorious black ops missions. The next thing you know, the Son of God transforms this assassin into His spokesman.

Let’s cut to the chase. The Lord turned murderer Saul into missionary Paul. In the process, the apostle learns how to properly use Scripture. As a sword to protect. As a scalpel to help and heal. He begins a lifetime on the road around the Mediterranean Rim telling everybody who will listen about Jesus. That eventually puts him on the opposite side of his old team the Pharisees. If that’s not dangerous enough, Nero has had enough of this Jesus talk, tossed him jail and given him a death sentence.

As a result, he writes to Timothy from Death Row. He’s locked up in the incredibly nasty Mamertine Prison waiting for his date with the executioner (2Tim 1:16; 2:9; 4:6-7). Paul begs his young buddy to hightail it to Rome before it’s too late (2Tim 4:9, 21). He spends the rest of his last letter frantically scribbling down important instructions for making sure the message of Jesus keeps rolling (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

A huge part of what he has to say is about using the Bible carefully and accurately. God holds all the teachers of Scripture to a higher standard. If that’s you, are you ready for the day when He asks you about how you used His Word? Will He give you His stamp of approval? Or will you be embarrassed by how thrown His truth around willy nilly? Paul desperately wants both Tim and the rest of us to always treat God’s Word with great care. The same sharp blade that will can cut out our your heart is also capable of healing your soul. It’s both a sword and a scalpel.

The apostle begins by telling his spiritual son, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved” (v15). A closer look at the original language here is a whole lot stronger than a parent encouraging their child before a little league game. The Greek word here is σπουδαζω, which means to not only give it everything you’ve got but to do it in a big hurry. Drop everything and drop the accelerator. Do your best and do it fast!

It’s the same word Paul uses when he pleads with Tim to immediately stop what he’s doing and get his rear to Rome (2Tim 4:9, 21). He drops it again when wanting Titus to make a beeline to Nicopolis for a visit (Titus 3:12). It’s the idea of making something a top priority and doing it with maximum effort. Trekkies know all about Captain Kirk’s constant plea for more power for the Starship Enterprise right here, right now. Scotty would always respond, “I’m giving her all she’s got, Captain!”

That’s the kind of effort Paul is talking about when it comes to teaching and preaching God’s Word. It’s not a half-hearted, I’ll-get-to-it-when-I-have-a-free-moment deal. We’re talking urgent. Immediate. Total focus. Pedal to the metal. All the gauges on the dashboard in the red. God’s truth requires an urgent max effort. There’s simply too much at stake for anything less.

God raises the bar for those who teach and preach. Take it from Jesus’ kid brother James who was a leader in the early church. He went out of his way to tell any prospective preachers to pump their brakes and think twice about what they’re about to do. “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1).

Great Googly moogly! As someone who has a passion for teaching God’s truth, this scares the pants off me! My passion is to shine a light on Scripture with creativity and context. The last thing I want to do is teach it inaccurately or dishonor the rep of our Savior. The thought of having to look Jesus in the eye to answer for what I’ve said about Him reminds me of the seriousness of what I say and write.

It’s a powerful reminder to do my best to present myself to God as one approved. I can’t be haphazard. I can’t be careless. Let me give her all she’s got! If we do, there will be no reason to be embarrassed or ashamed when He meets me with us for the ultimate performance review.

Paul wants Tim to make sure he’s always “rightly handling the word of truth” (v15). Translators have a heck of a time getting across what the apostle writes here in the original langugage. “Rightly handling” is actually the Greek verb ορθοτομεω, which is a compound word that literally means “straight (ορθο-) cutting (-τομεω).” It’s the idea of cutting or slicing evenly and accurately in a single stroke.

Like the Blues Brothers comeback concert at the Palace Hotel Ballroom, this word appears one time and one time only in the New Testament. A few big time Bible scholars take a shot at explaining it. According to Theodoret, it describes a farmer plowing a straight furrow in his field. Parry likes to picture a stonemason deftly cutting stones with great accuracy. I like how Robertson sees it. Since Paul is a tentmaker, he knows all about cutting cloth with care.

In the same way, the apostle wants the young preacher to carefully and accurately teach the truth found in God’s Word. We must be meticulous in how we use Scripture. It is sharpest blade we’ll ever experience. It has the power to heal. It has the power to harm. Paul tells his Ephesian friends how it’s the “sword of the Spirit” is only weapon listed in the inventory of the armor of God (Eph 6:17).

The Lord trains you and me in effectively using our Bible as a blade to defend ourselves from the attacks of the enemy as we read, study, and memorize Scripture. Just what does that look like? Check out how Jesus swings His sword to fend off Satan’s triple temptation in a way that would make Zorro jealous (Lk 4:1-13). A great way to keep our saber sharp is by doing life with other followers of Jesus. Solomon compares it to iron sharpening iron (Prov 27:17).

But as the writer of Hebrews points out, God also uses His Word like a scalpel to do spiritual surgery. “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12). God delicately and skillfully extracts our sin like a supernatural neurosurgeon. He also removes lies we come to believe which grow like malignant tumors.

Paul encourages Pastor Tim as well as every other teacher and preacher to handle Scripture with great care. It’s incredibly sharp. If I misuse it by taking His truth out of context somebody’s going to get hurt. I can injure others as well as myself. Think of a careless knife thrower. He’s not winning America’s Got Talent if he’s missing a couple of fingers and his lovely assistant is covered in stitches and bandaids.

We also need to be very cautious not to bully others with the Bible. Sadly it happens far too often. You can usually recognize those religious thugs who use Scripture like a switchblade. They’re the ones who have a 2x4 sticking out of their own eye while pointing out the splinter in yours. Don’t be a 21st century Pharisee. There’s no reason to get cocky. We’re simply beggars who’ve figured out where to get the bread.

Use God’s Word skillfully and delicately on those who need healing. If Jesus has called you to teach His truth, give it everything you’ve got. If you do, there’s no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. Handling His Word rightly means cutting carefully. We meet so many hurting people each day. They desperately need the therapy found only in the Gospel. Allow the Great Physician to use us to share His very Good News of grace.

Scripture can be an amazing spiritual scalpel. But in the wrong hands, it can butcher, slash, and maim. Sadly too many of us have been on the wrong end of their gruesome attacks. God has given us His Word in order to reveal the Word, His Son Jesus. Knowing who He is and what He’s done protects us from attacks but also provides the healing we desperately need. God give us His Word to love people where they are and encourage them in their walk with Christ.

It’s both a sword and a scalpel. So when it comes to God’s truth, please handle with maximum care.