“…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
I can imagine being asked by a defensive church leader. Robert, assuming that the above verse is true (as if the Bible might not be true) and God is actually the Savior of all men and does so, what exactly are we to do, close all the churches, seminaries and missionary organizations?
I would bow my head in prayer and ask the Father for permission to say YES – but before I did he would go on to ask:
Doesn’t obeying the 10 commandments, repenting when we sin, joining a church, sacrificially giving, getting baptized, reading the bible, winning people to Jesus, getting involved in AWANA, fighting abortion, bashing Obama for his love of Islam and attending and supporting the local church please God?
So I would swallow my pride and humbly say. I don’t know but it will sure please 20% of the Christians I know who need some help in doing those things.
Let’s be honest, none of those things are specifically said in Scripture to please God. But the Bible does specifically tell us what DOES please Him.
The Old Testament prophet Micah, speaking for God to Israel, tells them as simply as can be said what God required of them (simply is the way God says things that are important to Him like He is “the Savior of all men”)…
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
And just as clearly Paul reminds Titus his friend of what everyone is to do since the grace of God has brought salvation to all men…
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Pretty clear to me. To sum it up from the Bible…rather than the creeds of religious institutions.
Be just, kind, and humble….and love people!
I know, it is not as easy as it sounds….but it is SIMPLE.
I can imagine being asked by a defensive church leader. Robert, assuming that the above verse is true (as if the Bible might not be true) and God is actually the Savior of all men and does so, what exactly are we to do, close all the churches, seminaries and missionary organizations?
I would bow my head in prayer and ask the Father for permission to say YES – but before I did he would go on to ask:
Doesn’t obeying the 10 commandments, repenting when we sin, joining a church, sacrificially giving, getting baptized, reading the bible, winning people to Jesus, getting involved in AWANA, fighting abortion, bashing Obama for his love of Islam and attending and supporting the local church please God?
So I would swallow my pride and humbly say. I don’t know but it will sure please 20% of the Christians I know who need some help in doing those things.
Let’s be honest, none of those things are specifically said in Scripture to please God. But the Bible does specifically tell us what DOES please Him.
The Old Testament prophet Micah, speaking for God to Israel, tells them as simply as can be said what God required of them (simply is the way God says things that are important to Him like He is “the Savior of all men”)…
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)
And just as clearly Paul reminds Titus his friend of what everyone is to do since the grace of God has brought salvation to all men…
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)
Pretty clear to me. To sum it up from the Bible…rather than the creeds of religious institutions.
Be just, kind, and humble….and love people!
I know, it is not as easy as it sounds….but it is SIMPLE.