Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...
Heresies in times past claimed Jesus went to France with Mary Magdalene, was married to her and they had children together. This was supposed to be the best kept secret of certain secret societies that got passed on and 'protected' throughout the generations, so reveal authors Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh and Henry Lincoln in their book The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail (rather a vile book in my opinion, relating many heresies and those supposedly with proof of truth according to history and published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1982...I highly recommend you know your Bible well before you start reading such a book so that you do not get turned aside to such heresies).
This is similar to the many heresies and false teachings as are mentioned in an earlier blog entry, Alert and Vigilant . These have been mentioned in several other entries and we have attested to them through reading Paul's epistles (and can be seen in Peter, John, James and Jude's epistles).
What does the Bible, and even Jesus Himself have to say about who His family is?
Look at Luke 8:21 and John 1:12-13. In Luke 8:21, Jesus says His relatives are "those who hear God's Word and put it into practice." John says, "yet to all who receive Him (Jesus), to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
Very straight forward and speaks for itself. These verses clearly state who Jesus' true children were and are even still to this day.
Galatians 3:26 goes on to inform us, "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Again in 4:6 we learn "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts...Why would He do that? He did it because "God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." (Galatians 4:4, 5). Together, these children are the Church, the bride of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27, 28 and Revelation 22:17 & 21:1, 2). As God's children, those who have put their faith, trust and hope in Jesus, God's son, He wants us to be "blameless and pure" (Philippians 2:14-15) so we can "shine like stars in the universe".
Turn aside then from those heresies, go to the Scripture which is able to make you wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15); learn God's truth. This is what we must do...when we hear something that sounds wrong, search the Scriptures to see what God has to say about the matter. You will get straightened out if your heart is truly willing and of noble character, truly seeking truth.
The apostle Paul continues to tell Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-21 to "flee from all of this"! This is not a gentle stroll away. But, a "flee"! Flee from the false doctrines, controversies, evil suspicions and the love of $$.
This is part of the "put off" and the "put on" that prevails in God's Word. That which does not please God nor is good for us needs to go. Do not keep yourselves "empty" however, rather "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance & gentleness" (KJV renders this "meekness" which has a connotation of humble submission) (vs 11). This is the "put on".
You want to fight? Fight this good fight of the faith. Not in the form of Crusades as in ages past which were more about power and wealth and in some instances, according to the above mentioned book, was in part that some supposed descendant of Jesus was trying to establish himself in his "rightful" kingship place in Jerusalem! How outrageous is that!
The "good fight of the faith" (vs 12) is about "taking hold of eternal life" and to be "without spot or blemish". In other words, we are back to the theme of sanctification; that process of becoming more like Christ in character and conduct. Paul just cannot emphasize this enough. This 'fight' and ongoing process needs to be kept from now til we depart to be with Christ either through death or the rapture, whichever comes first.
Part of this "fight of the faith" is to relinquish our hold on $$. You see in verse 17 we are reverted back to this topic. The rich & those who "put their hope in wealth" need to take note. What is our attitude towards riches? Check yourself. We may well have to fight against greed and love of money. This is another case of "put off--put on". Do not put your "hope in wealth...but put your hope in God". Riches can be eroded in a blink. God is the sure and steadfast One. Trust in God.
Putting our hope in God will help us to release our grip on $$ and instead be "rich in good deeds...be generous and willing to share." (vs 17, 18). This is truly life.
Here's some more "last warnings" in verses 20 and 21. Warnings against the heresies and false teaching. Timothy was to "guard what was entrusted to his care and to turn away from godless chatter, opposing ideas and false knowledge". Paul wanted Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" well and definitely NOT to wander from the truth.
That would have been a devastating tragedy after Timothy's careful early childhood upbringing in the Scriptures, taught faithfully by his mother and grandmother and then in Paul's 'finishing school', to have him "wander from the faith"!This is always a godly Christian parent's concern. My sons, cling ever to Jesus, your Heavenly Father, He'll see you through. Finish the good fight of faith all the way Home to Heaven. When you "hear God's Word and put it into practice", you'll show in word and in deed that you are God's children who also belong to Jesus.
"Grace be with you." (1 Timothy 6:21)
~ERC 2016~
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