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Poor (πτωχός)

Poor is a word that means to lack something. It can be used of financial means, understanding, knowledge, or doctrine. If we are not careful with context it can be miss applied by implying it is addressing someone who is in financial need, but really is lacking in other areas.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to the poor in spirit as being happy ones (Matthew 5:3). He is referring to the Jews during the Tribulation period who will be lacking information concerning what the man of lawlessness is doing in the temple after Israel flees to the wilderness because he has set himself up as God. When Jesus said He came to preach good news to the poor, He was not referring to those who lacked financial means, but the truth. He healed the lame, cleansed the lepers, even raised the dead, while presenting the good news to those who were poor in understanding (Matthew 11:5).

We live in a time where wealth and numbers are more valuable to the assemblies than truth, because they are poor in doctrine (Revelation 3:14-22). Many claim to follow Jesus, but really are just mockers of the truth following after their own ungodly desires (Jude 17-19). They masquerade as messengers of light, just as Satan does, while walking in darkness not knowing where they go and leading others astray with them.

When it comes to the things of the world system and religion, they are described as weak and poor (Galatians 4:9-10). Touch not, taste not, observance of days, months, new moons. These have an appearance of wisdom but are just weak and poor self-made religions serving to indulge the flesh (Colossians 2:21-23).

It is far greater of an issue […]

Poor (πτωχός)2023-11-25T08:03:45-08:00

The Law of the Christ – Theological Forum 2018

The Law of The Christ – Download paper in PDF.

The Law of The Christ

Caring for Members of the Body

Pastor Luther Walker

In the book of Galatians[1] Paul states that the bearing of another person’s weight[2] is filling up again the law of the Christ; yet, in Romans he writes that a Christian is not under any quality of law[3]. How do we reconcile passages of Scripture that seem to contradict each other? What does Scripture mean when it states a Christian is not under any quality of law, yet then indicates there is a law of the Christ and a law of the Spirit? Is a Christian under law or not? Ultimately this leads to the underlying question, “As a Christian, what are the guidelines for my life?” To better understand the rules of our household[4], that is to say God’s expectation for how the saved are to live their life today, we can examine how the word “law” is used in Scripture along with its normal meaning and use in everyday life so we know the difference between being under the Mosaic Law or any quality of law and filing up again the Law of the Christ by loving another saint while fulfilling the law the Spirit of life by our walk.

Since we are in the Dispensation of Grace, not the Dispensation of Law, the standard for our household is different. Scripture is very clear on the fact that a Christian is not under the Mosaic Law or any quality of law[5]; however, there is still a standard by which those who are a […]

The Law of the Christ – Theological Forum 20182018-11-11T22:50:12-08:00

Pure compared to Clean

Pure compared to Clean

1 Peter 1:22 Being in a state of purifying your soul by the obedience of the truth through [the] Spirit into un-hypocritical brotherly love out from a clean heart, you all fervently love one another [of the same kind].

Pure – ἁγνός; ἁγνίζω

Purification is the removal of that which contaminates1. In the life of a Christian purification (an action done in the past with abiding results) is done by obedience to the truth through the Holy Spirit2. Pure is used for a person who is seen as not being defiled in certain types of actions3. The heart is involved with purification and it is necessary to be purified before drawing near to God4. Since Christ is pure – separated from anything that would defile Him, the Christian should also seek the same5 and give consideration to that which is pure6. Pure is also used of the condition in which something exists7, which will effect one’s conduct8. A good example of what is pure is the wisdom from God9.

Clean- καθαρός; καθαρίζω

Cleaning is the removal of filth or dirt

Pure compared to Clean2018-11-09T14:07:36-08:00

The Beatitudes – Thirsty and Hungry for Righteousness

The Beatitudes – Part 2

  1. Happy are the Ones Hungering and Thirsting for the Righteousness, Matthew 5:6
    1. They are characterized as hungering and thirsting
      1. They do not possess righteousness
      2. Hunger and thirst come from lack
        1. After 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus was hungry, Matthew 4:2
        2. The disciples become hungry on the Sabbath, Matthew 12:1
        3. Primarily used of the lack of food and water, Revelation 7:16;
      3. Those who came to Christ during His earthly ministry would not hunger or thirst, John 6:35; Romans 12:20
    2. A Christian already possesses a quality of the Righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 1:30
    3. They will be satisfied (used of eating and drinking until one is full)
  2. Happy are the Merciful, Matthew 5:7
    1. “Mercy” is relief from the affects of one’s own sin
    2. An expression of God’s mercy results in salvation, Titus 3:5
      1. God’s show of mercy upon Paul, 1 Timothy 1:13, 16
      2. God’s show of mercy upon the Gentiles, 1 Peter 2:10
      3. God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all, Romans 11:30 – 32
      4. Mercy is not shown to a man on the basis of his desire to receive it, Romans 9:16-18
    3. Mercy and the Christian
      1. Christians receive mercy on the basis of God’s mercy apart from works of righteousness, Titus 3:5
      2. Mercy is upon a Christian who walks by the rule of the New Creation (The Christ), Galatians 6:15, 16
      3. God showed us mercy while we were still dead in our trespasses, Ephesians 2:4, 5
        1. A trespass is within the mind
        2. Sin ultimately results from a trespass
      4. We can draw near to the Throne of Grace where we receive mercy, because Christ is our High Priest, […]
The Beatitudes – Thirsty and Hungry for Righteousness2023-12-14T11:19:44-08:00

The Proper Use of the Old Testament

Two types of doctrine are found in Scripture that are revealed through two Greek words used for different types of teaching; doctrine that is to be learned and practiced and doctrine that is to be learned, but NOT practiced.

“All Scripture is God breathed and profitable towards teaching, towards conviction, towards correction, towards child training in the righteousness” , 2 Timothy 3:16.

“Teaching” refers to information to be learned but not practiced. Conviction, correction and child training in the righteousness relates to doctrine that is to be learned and practiced.

“And having various gracious gifts according to the grace, the one given to you, whether prophecy, according as the portion of the faith, whether the one serving, in serving or the one teaching, in teaching…” Romans 12:6, 7.

“… and He gave the Apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors even teachers…” Ephesians 4:11.

The “Pastor” and the “Teacher” in the Ephesians passage are the same person. It is the primary responsibility of the Pastor as the shepherd to teach doctrine that is to be learned and practiced; however, he is also to properly handle Old Testament information by teaching it as information that is to be learned, but not practiced. In addition to the Pastor properly handling the Old Testament information, God has proved others with the Spiritual gift of teaching who properly teach the value of the Old Testament information without abusing it by seeking to make it doctrine to live by in this day and age (Romans 12:6,7). This is not restricting doctrine to be learned and practiced to only a Pastor being able to teach it, but the Pastor is the primary method by which this type […]

The Proper Use of the Old Testament2023-12-10T07:25:07-08:00
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