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When we survey the later part of the book of Acts we find a faithful band of men and women who traveled the ancient world preaching and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the center of this sojourners and pilgrims was the apostle Paul, the tireless workhorse of the early church. But Paul didn’t work alone. He was not an army of one. He was not a one man show. Instead he surrounded himself with people he called “his partners and fellow workers.”
Some of Paul’s “partners and fellow workers” that Luke mentions are well known to most Bible students, such as: Barnabas, Silas, Pricilla and Aquila, Timothy, Apollos and Aristarchus. While others, such as Gaius, Secundus, Sopater, Tychicus Trophimus, and Erastus are not as well known. But there is one “partner and fellow worker” that Luke never mentions and that’s Titus. Titus was always there, tirelessly working behind the scenes, go where he was needed, saying what needed to be said and that’s why Paul would call him “my partner and fellow worker” (2 Cor 8:23). Titus is only mentioned twelve times in the New Testament[i] which has lead him to be an overlooked man of the faith. There’s a lot to be learned from Titus. Let’s his work with the early church and then learn four lessons from his life that will help strengthen our faith today.
[read more: Titus - Paul's Partner and Fellow Worker]
[i] Passages that mention Titus by name: 2 Cor 2:13, 7:6, 13, 14, 8:6, 16, 23, 12:18; Gal 2:1, 3; 2 Tim 4:10; Tit 1:4.
When Paul and James wanted to present their readers an example of faithfulness to God they used Abraham. And for good reason, he’s the father of the faithful (Rom 4:12; Gal 3:7). Let’s learn the lessons that Paul and James wanted to teach them, and us, concerning the faith of Abraham.
"Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God." (James 2:20-23)
By Faith Abraham was Justified (Rom 4:1-25) – In his discussion that righteous before God is on the bases of faith and not in the keeping the Law (Rom 3:28), Paul points back to Abraham and shows that he was justified by faith before he was circumcised say, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Rom 4:3; cf. Gen 15:6) So Abraham was in a right standing before God because his faith not because he relied on his work of circumcision to be right before God. This is why Paul would remind his audience, “The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11).
But somebody might ask, “So are you saying that we are saved by faith alone?” We’ll let’s James answer that question.
By Faith Abraham was Obedient (Jms 2:14-26) – In this passage, James is teaching that one must have faith and works in order to be saved (Jms 2:14) because faith without works is dead (Jms 2:20). He illustrates this point by turning to Abraham and using the same passage that Paul used in Romans, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Jms 2:23; Gen 15:6). However instead of talking about Abraham’s faith and circumcision, James talks about Abraham’s faith and the offering of his son Isaac as a sacrifice. James says that Abraham’s faith was made complete by his willingness to perform the work God had given him. So James concludes then “that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone” (Jms 2:24).
On the surface these two passages (Romans and James) seem to contradict each other. On one hand Paul is saying we are justified by faith, while James says it is by works and not faith alone that we are justified. To alleviate any confusion just look back at Romans 1:5, 16:26, and look at the kind of faith that is under consideration. It’s an obedient faith. Roman’s begins and ends with an obedient faith in mind. So when Paul points to Abraham as being justified by faith was it not an obedient faith that justified him? Yes that’s why he was obedient to God’s command to be circumcised (Rom 4:11). It wasn’t the circumcision that justified him but the faith that lead him to obey God’s commandment to be circumcised.
This applies to Christians today. While some religious groups use Romans as their proof-text to point out that a person is saved by faith alone, nothing could be farther from the truth. For Christians to be justified before God, like Abraham was, we must have faith in God (that’s Romans) and be obedient to God’s word (that’s James). What does that look like? Well a person who is justified by faith will believe God and His promises and their faith will lead them to do the obedient works to His word. Together, faith and works, a person will be saved.
Are we justified by faith? Yes but not by faith alone but by an obedient faith that works.
It would be my pleasure to talk with you about the salvation of your soul. Please email me at clay@claygentry.com and let’s talk about God’s word.
In the second letter to the Corinthians Paul dedicates two chapters (8, 9) to persuading the Corinthians to complete their collection of funds for the needy Saints in Judea before he arrives. For the purposes of this study I would like for us to focus our attention on what Paul writes in 2 Cor 9:2.
“for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.”
In this verse you can see that the Corinthians possessed a willingness to collect money for the Saints in Judea. As a matter of fact, they were more than willing; they were zealous with such zeal that other churches were stirred up by the Corinthians willingness and zeal. But sadly a year had passed; their willingness and zeal had waned and the collection had not been completed. Paul is writing to them urging them through persuasive statements to get their act together, be ready for his coming and finish the work they had so zealously started.
Times have not changed. As Christians today we are prone to begin a work with all willingness and zeal to only find the task not completed after a year or more. How many good works have you started that were never completed for one reason or another? I would suspect the reasons the Corinthians did not complete their work would apply to us today. Such reasons as losing heart, letting life get in the way, or growing weary in doing good do not only apply to the Corinthians but to us as well. How then can we overcome these obstacles to completing works we were so willing and zealous to complete “a year ago”?
“Do Not Lose Heart…” - Four times in the epistles of Paul he tells his readers “do not lose heart” (2 Cor 4:1, 16, Gal 6:9, Eph 3:13 NKJV). How many Christians, then and now, need to heed those same words, “do not lose heart?” Think back to when you were baptized into Christ. When we “put on Christ” (Gal 3:27) we were like the Ethiopian Eunuch who went “on his way rejoicing” ready to take on the world. Who didn’t feel “ten foot tall and bullet proof” but somehow and somewhere along the way our stature shrank back down and we didn’t feel so invincible so we lost heart.
When we first become Christians we possess a willingness and zeal to work for the cause of Christ and the Kingdom but we meet with some disappointment or failure and we lose heart. I think about what Paul endured in his travels and especially the physical beating he endured at Lystra (Acts 14:19, 20). The Jews had stoned him, dragged him out of the city and supposing him dead leave him outside the city. Can you see Paul bruised and bloody; knocked down and beat up and left for dead? But he doesn’t “lose heart”; he gets up, dusts himself off, and goes back into the city to complete his work. We know from Acts that his willingness and zeal never faulted but grew stronger as he worked for the Lord. We too must not lose heart even when we face disappointment, or we get knocked down. The price for losing heart is too great; our soul’s salvation is dependent upon our willingness to serve God with zeal.
Life Got In The Way - Another reason for the Corinthians delay in collecting the funds could be that life got in the way. Other responsibilities took precedent over the work of reliving the needy Saints of Judea. When you read Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians you can see they had a lot of work ahead of them if they were to be a sound church. There were divisions to heal, a sinful brother to rebuke and bring back, lawsuits to settle, and doctrines to teach on marriage, idol’s meat, head coverings, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts and Christ’s resurrection. Essentially life got in the way because of the mountain of work in correcting the problems the church faced.
Jesus taught about similar people his Parable of the Great Supper found in Luke 14:15-24. When these people were invited to the great supper, life got in the way of their attendance. One could not come because of the obligation of a land transaction, another because of his livestock and the last because he had just married. These three thought that the necessities of this life took precedent over the call of the Lord. Their soul’s were damned because the let life get in the way of setting at the table of the great master. May we never let life get in the way of serving our God. He and his work must be first and foremost in our lives.
“Do Not Grow Weary In Doing Good.” - Let’s face it; doing good can be tiresome at times. The Corinthians were willingly and zealously preparing a “generous gift” (2 Cor 9:5) for the needy Saints in Judea. The text seems to imply that some may have grown weary in doing this good work; tired of the sacrifice they had to make in order to complete the work. Paul tells them that he doesn’t want them to give “grudgingly or [out] of necessity” but instead he wants them to give cheerfully “for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)
Do you grow weary in doing good? We start a good work with all willingness and zeal; only to find “a year” later that we are doing our good work “grudgingly [and out] of necessity.” Our good works can take on many different forms; teaching, preaching, visiting, preparing meals, etc. It could also extend to attending worship services, singing certain songs, leading prayer or other acts of worship. When we find ourselves working (attending, singing or praying) with a grudge full attitude it’s time for us to remember 2 Cor 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Paul says that God will provide an abundance of grace for every good work. We have all that we need to stay focused on the task at hand so that we can work for God with a willful and zealous attitude.
As we continue to work for God and the Kingdom we should tackle each and every task with a willingness to work and zeal to carry us through its completion. We will be tempted along the way to lose heart, to make other responsibilities priority, and to grow weary in doing good. But we must be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:58) Great is the reward for those who persevere.
We understand that God is all knowing and all present. In his loving kindness toward us He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Matt 10:30) and there is nowhere we can go that God will not be by our side (Psalm 139:7). To the believer the thought of an all-knowing, ever-present God is comforting. Yet there are times when we act as if God is limited in his knowledge and in the places He can go. It is not God who is limited but we limit God. We limit God in his presence, in his purposes and in his saving power.
Limiting God in His Presence - In 1 Kings 20 the Children of Israel are fighting against the King of Syria and his allies. The battle took place in the hills and mountainous country where the Syrians fled before the army of God. The Syrians concluded they needed to take the fight to the valley since the God of Israel was the God of the hills. (1 King 20:23) The Syrians were limiting God to the hill country and we do the same today.
We limit God’s presence in our lives when we limit him to just the mountains despair. We are pushed heavenward by the anxieties, and worries of life. We stand on top of this mountain and plead with God to be with us, to stand beside us and carry our heavy load. But when times are good, when we have trekked back down the mountain into the Valley of Good we don’t call God into our lives. We limit God’s presence to the hill country; we limit him to the mountains of despair.
God is our father, and as our father, He desires to apart of every aspect of our lives. We miss a large portion of fellowship with Him if we limit His presence. In the 23rd Psalm, David understood that it was God, the Good Shepherd, who led him to green pastures, still waters and in the paths of righteousness. We too need to give God the praise He deserves in leading us to the green pastures and still waters of life. Don’t limit God’s presence in your life; allow Him into every corner of your existence both in the bad times and the good times.
Limiting God to the Spectacular - Quickly following his Mount Carmel victory, Elijah is on the run to save his life (1 Kings 18, 19). Elijah travels for forty days before hiding in a cave. It is here that God presents himself to Elijah. The text says that there was a great wind that came through the valley and tore down the rocks but God was not in the wind (19:11). After the great wind there was a mighty earthquake but again God was not in the earthquake (19:11). After the earthquake there was a great fire but God was not in the fire (19:12). Following these spectacular events was a still small voice (19:12) in which God spoke to Elijah. God was teaching Elijah that He is not only limited to the spectacular but He is also present in the still small voice.
We too look for God in the spectacular. Many times, we think that God only works through the spectacular events of our lives. The story of Elijah at the cave teaches us to not limit God to just the spectacular. People in the religious world today seek churches that present God through the spectacular events of life while shunning those who only rely on the still small voice of His word. Let us seek the word of God in all His ways, not just the spectacular but also in the still small voice.
Limiting God in his Power - Throughout his ministry, Jesus was called upon to heal the sick and raise the dead. In Mark 5 Jesus is called by Jarius to come and heal his daughter. Jesus was delayed in coming and Jarius’ servant comes and tells him “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” (Mark 5:35) The servant was limiting Jesus’ power to only healing the sick not raising the dead. Jesus then proceeds to the Jarius’ house where He raised the girl from the dead.
The power of Jesus has not changed. There is power in the gospel to heal and raise people from spiritual death. We can be tempted to have the same mindset as Jarius’ servant and limit Jesus’ power to save. We look around us and see the corruptness of our society. There are so many who are spiritually dead and we think how can they be saved? If we do not take the gospel to those who need it most then we have limited the gospel’s power to save.
God is all-powerful; there is no limit to what He can accomplish in our lives. We need to be careful that we do not limit God by limiting his presence in our lives, limiting him to just the spectacular, or by limiting his power to save. There is an old song that we sing, “God has no hands but our hands to do his work today… God has no feet but our feet to lead other in his way…” Are we working as the hands of God or using our feet to lead others in his way? When we limit God, then we limit our work and we limit our ability to lead others to Jesus. Examine your life today and look for ways to increase God’s presence, works and power in your life, not limit them. God bless.
The phrases, “Pray for me” and “I’m praying for you” have been used so much they have become Christian small talk akin to “How you doing?… Fine, thank you.” But when it comes to praying for each other we need to be people who inform others that we are praying for them.
"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Rom 1:8
Telling someone that you are praying for them and what your prayers for them consist of does two things for the person on whose behalf you are praying:
First: they see your concern for them. Epaphras was a man who was concerned for the church at Colossae. His concern for them caused him to “labor fervently for them in prayer” (Col 4:12). Can you imagine how the church at Colossae felt when they heard that their friend Epaphras was praying for them and that in his prayers he asked God to make them “stand perfect and complete” in His will. Their hearts must have overflowed with joy.
The second benefit is that it gives them strength to continue on in the faith. Why did Paul know that his first imprisonment would end with his deliverance? It was because of a supply of God’s Spirit and because he knew the church at Philippi was praying that his imprisonment would end with his deliverance (Php 1:19). It was because of God’s help and because Paul knew others were praying for him that he had enough strength to “this will turn out for my deliverance… whether by life or by death.” (Php 1:20) Imagine for a moment what it would have been like for Paul if he thought no one was praying for him? Paul would have only been half the man he was.
Paul understood the power of telling people that he was praying for them and what his prayers consisted of. In nearly every one of his epistles he tells his recipients he his praying for them and what he prayed for on their behalf. Paul encouraged the church at Rome (Rom 1:9-12), Corinth (1 Cor 1:4-8; 2 Cor 13:7), the churches of Galatia (Gal 6:18) Ephesus (Eph 1:16-23), Philippi (Php 1:3-6), and Thessalonica (1 Ths 1:2-3; 2 Ths 11-12) by telling them that he prayed for them and what he prayed for on their behalf.
In addition to his letters of encouragement to the churches, Paul also personally encouraged Philemon (Phl 4-7) and Timothy (1 Tim 5:21, 6:13-16; 2 Tim 1:3-7) with news of his prayers for them.
As we pray for others we need to tell them that we are praying for them and what we are praying for on their behalf. You never know, it just might be your encouragement that gives the strength to keep on another day.
Have you been praying for someone special in your life? Maybe it’s a person who is sick, or recently lost a loved one or a job, or perhaps you’ve been praying for someone who is struggle with overcoming sin. Sent them a note or go see them and tell them you have been praying for them and what your prayers for them consist of. They will benefit greatly from your love and that you remembered them.
I would love to know how it went. Drop me an email at clay@claygentry.com and tell me your story of how prayer has changed your life.
Paul’s voyage to Rome, as recorded in Acts 27-28, is some of the most interesting passages in all the New Testament. With depth of detail, Luke
"And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage." Acts 28:15
brings to life the voyage, the storms, the sailing conditions, being lost at sea and the shipwreck on Malta that nearly cost the lives of 276 people. Finally, after several months of traveling, Paul and his companions landed in Italy and made their way to Rome. Along the way, brethren from Rome came to meet Paul as he made his way to the capital. The text says that when Paul saw them, that is the brethren from Rome, “he thanked God and took courage” (Act 28:15). There are two lessons that I would like for us to take away from this short verse:
The first is, give God thanks, for His ways are right. Paul had longed to see the brethren in Rome (Rom 1:8-15) and he had planned to see them as he traveled to Spain (Rom 15:24). To aid him in coming to them quickly he asked them to pray that he would be delivered from the unbelieving Jews in Judea, that his service of bringing the gift of relief to the church in Jerusalem would be acceptable, and that he would come to them with joy (Rom 15:30-32). Paul was finally able to see the brethren but as a prisoner instead of a freeman. Nevertheless, Paul gave thanks for God’s way of bringing him to Rome because it was the right way.
It’s so easy for us to think that God should answer our prayers in the manner in which we deem best. But when God answers us, whether it is with a yes, no, or not right now, let’s give thanks, for His ways are right. Paul’s trip to Rome was long (nearly three years after he wrote Romans); it was fraught with danger (he nearly lost his life three times) and on the surface it seemed like there could have been a better way to answer Paul’s prayer. Yet, Paul gave thanks when he arrived in Rome. Can’t we do the same? When we don’t get the job we wanted, or a family member doesn’t recover from a sickness like we wanted can’t we give thanks for God’s answer? Sure we can, because we know that His ways are right. We may not always know God’s plan for us but no matter where he leads, His ways are always right.
The second is, be a source of encouragement to someone else. What a sight it must have been to witness Paul seeing all the brethren come out to meet him along the Roman road. There must have been tears, prayers, hugs, and words of encouragement from the scriptures. Some of those who came out to see Paul would have been old friends (Rom 16:1-15), while others would have been meeting him for the first time. But the sight of these brethren and their demonstration of love caused him to be encouraged as he faced an unknown fate in Rome.
Let’s not underestimate the value of encouragement. Because the saints in Rome came out to see Paul he filled with courage to fight on for another day. We can do the same for someone else. We can do the same for a person who has been tossed to and fro by the storms of life. We can do the same for a person who has made shipwreck of their life. We can do the same for the person who is waiting on the Lord. We can do the same for the person who faces an uncertain future after life has thrown them a curveball. We can be a source of encouragement that helps them fight on for another day and it’s so simple… just be there for them. Cry with them. Pray with them. Hug them. Read your Bible with them. Walk with them. You never know; you might just be the person who gives them the courage to fight on another day.
We have learned two very powerful lessons from this short verse; (1) give God thanks, for His ways are right, (2) be a source of encouragement to someone else. I hope that you will take these jewels of wisdom to heart. If you need help in finding your way, you know I’m always here to lend a hand. God bless.
You can reach me at clay@claygentry.com
Turn on your radio to any local talk show and before long you will hear someone complaining that God is being removed from our society
. Without a doubt this person will site such examples as: the removal of “In God We Trust” from our money, the unconstitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance because of the phrase “one nation under God”, the removal of Ten Commandments displays from public buildings, or the prohibition of prayer in schools. Many Christians have “rallied ‘round the flag” of the fight to keep God’s name in the consciousness of America by keeping God’s name on our money, on our walls and on our lips. But is this the fight that a Christian should be engaged in? Is the purpose of the Church to fight for the public display of God’s name? Or is the fact that God’s name is being removed from our society merely a symptom of a greater illness?
If a doctor addresses the symptoms of his patience’s disease but never diagnoses the problem he is at best incompetent, at worst irresponsible. The same is true with our current societal sickness. God being removed from our society is but a symptom of a greater illness. If all our efforts are going to “cure” the symptoms then have we really accomplished anything? The illness is that people have not given their hearts to God and this is manifested by the symptoms of removing all traces of God from society. What then does God want from us as a nation? 1) God wants His name on our hearts, not just on our walls, 2) God wants us to not only honor Him with our lips but with our hearts and 3) God wants us to obey his voice and then He will be our God and we His people.
God wants His name on our hearts, not just on our walls. As Moses’ life is coming to a close, he relates the words of God to the Israelites “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” (Deu 6:5, 6). Moses follows this statement with commands to teach the law diligently to their children and write the law on the doorpost and gates of their homes (Deu 6:7, 9). If his law does not dwell in our hearts then the practice of writing his name on our doorpost and gates yields nothing. For many generations God’s name and laws have been written on the doorpost and gates of our country with little results because they are not written on the hearts of the people. Christians should fight to write the name of God on the hearts of people not on the walls of our country.
God wants us to not only honor Him with our lips but with our hearts. In rebuking the Pharisees of His day, Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah saying “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matt 15:8, 9) God does not want our lip-service by the minting of his name on our money, or the posting of commandments, or the recital of the pledge; God wants our hearts! Don’t be fooled by the devil. If we engage in the fight to keep God’s name in society without the people of this nation first giving God their hearts, then we only exacerbate the illness.
God wants us to obey His voice and then He will be our God and we His people. Our nation exists in a paradox. Some would call us a “Christian nation”, yet immorality permeates our society. Does the placing of God’s name on our money, our walls or in our schools make us a “Christian nation”? From Jeremiah we learn God’s thoughts “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.” (Jer 7:23) If this nation is to ever be considered a “Christian Nation” then we need to heed the voice of God and to walk in His ways. We must write His name and law on our hearts, we must draw near to Him in worship not with our lips only but first with our hearts and in doing so He will bless us and it will be well with us.
Our efforts should not go to secure God’s name in the emblems of our nation. Our efforts must go toward securing God’s name in the hearts of our friends, family and nation. When we direct our efforts to curing the illness, the symptoms will then take care of themselves.
In Acts 26:1-23, the apostle Paul is standing before King Agrippa and makes a compelling defense for the hope that was in him (Act 26:1 ESV, 21:6; 1 Pet 3:15). As we read his defense (or sermon if you will,) we’ll learn some valuable tips that will help us all in presenting a defense for the hope that is within us:
"So Agrippa said to Paul, 'You have permission to speak for yourself.' Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense..." (Acts 26:1)
- Be Happy (v. 2) – Paul was happy when he talked about Jesus. When you speak about God, Christ and the church… be happy. You’ll never convert anybody by being down in the mouth about and Jesus. It’s called hope for a reason.
- Be Considerate (v. 3) - Paul complimented Agrippa’s knowledge and asked the King to hear him out. Don’t talk down to people by insulting their intelligence or taking them for granted. Be considerate of their experiences and time.
- Be Open (vv. 4-18) – Paul’s life was an open book. He talked about his days as a Pharisee, a persecutor, and his conversion. When you talk to people about your hope be open and honest about you were before Christ and how you came to know the truth. They’ll appreciate your honesty and the authenticity of your faith. You’ll win more people to Christ this way because people will see how Christ has transformed you life.
- Be Obedient (vv. 19-21) – Paul told Agrippa that he had been obedient to the heavenly calling he received from Jesus by preaching to Jews and Gentiles alike. Though we will never have a “heavenly vision” from God we do have his revealed word and we too must be obedient. The old saying is so true, “I would rather see a sermon any day than hear one.” People would rather see your hope and obedience to hear about it any day so be obedient.
- Be Humble (v. 22) – Paul said it was by God’s help that he was able to witnesses to the small and great of the world. When someone ask about your hope, let them know it’s not by your strength that you are able resist temptation and follow Christ. Instead, be humble and acknowledge that it’s by the power of God that you are able to resist temptation be a follower of Christ.
- Be Scriptural (vv. 22-24) – Paul tells Agrippa that he has only preached those things, which Moses and the prophets had said regarding the Suffering Savior. When you give a defense for your hope lean solely on the teachings of scripture for the truth and reason for what you believe and why you believe it. Your hope is not to be based on what your preacher says, your church believes or you families religious heritage. It is to solely be based on the scriptures.
- Be Persistent (vv. 26-29) – As Paul spoke, Festus made a contemptuous remark and Agrippa seemed noncommittal. Nevertheless, Paul was persistent and pleaded with them to obey God and possess the same hope he had. Many times the people who ask about your hope will mock you or put you off but you be persistent, because their souls are at stake.
Peter said, “be ready to give a defense” and Paul was ready. Are you? Are you ready to give a defense for the reason you have hope? You need to be, because one day, one day soon, some will ask you, “Why do you have hope in Jesus?”
If you need some assistance I’m here to help, just email me at clay@claygentry.com
As Paul defended himself before Felix and his accusers in Acts 24:10-21 he makes a great statement in regards to the way he had lived his life:
"I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Act 24:16)
“I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Act 24:15-16)
Notice Paul said the he strived to have a conscience without offense (a clear conscience ESV). Because Paul knew there would be a judgment (24:25) and so he strived to live his life the best way he could so as to have a clear conscience in whatever he do for God or and men.
We too need to strive to have a clear conscience before God and men. But how do we do that? Let’s look at four other verses were Paul talked about his conscience to learn the answer.
Be Selfless – In his relationship with the church at Corinth, Paul said, he had a clear conscience because he had conducted himself in “simplicity” toward them (2 Cor 1:12) or as Thayer’s defines it, he was not self-seeking but was generous of heart toward them, he was selfless.
As we strive to have a clear conscience before God and men we too need to be selfless. Selflessness will require us to be generous toward God and men by giving of ourselves, our goods and our time. No longer will we plot or scheme against others; instead we will go the second mile and look out for the interest of others as we would look after our own interest (Php 2:4).
Be Sincere – In addition to being selfless in his relationship with the Corinthians, Paul also said he had a clear conscience because he had conducted himself with “sincerity” toward them (2 Cor 1:12). Paul’s purposes and aims of life were sincere, meaning they were pure and since his motives were pure they were open for all to know and examine.
As we strive to have a clear conscience before God and men we need to be sincere in our actions. Sincerity demands that we will be honest and open with others about our motives and intentions and since we are selfless our actions will be pure.
Be Truthful – Paul had a clear conscience because he was not deceitful or crafty but instead he was truthful in all things (2 Cor 4:12). When Paul opened his mouth truth came out. Not only did he speak truth but he went one step further and renounced shameful, underhanded ways.
As we strive to have a clear conscience before God and men we need to be truthful in our words and dealings with others. As We need to truthful with God by humbly confessing to Him our sins so that we can say “I know nothing against myself” (1 Cor 4:4). Truthfulness must permeate our dealings with others for it is in truthfulness that we will find favor and delight from God (Pro 12:22).
Be Loving – Paul had a clear conscience because he had a heart full of love (1 Tim 1:5; 1 Cor 13). When Paul acted, he acted out of love. He would later say, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Gal 5:14) For Paul, a clear conscience was rooted in love; love for God and love for men (Mrk 12:29-31).
As we strive to have a clear conscience before God and men we need to love them and act on that love. If we have love we will be patient and kind; we will not be envious nor boastful, arrogant or rude. If we have love we will not insist on our own way; nor be irritable or resentful; we will not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoice with the truth. If we have love we will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things (1 Cor 13:4-7). If we have love we will have a clear conscience.
Having a clear conscience is not just something that happens because of perfection but it’s something that happens because we strive for it daily by being selfless, sincere, truthful, and loving.
If you’ve messed up and you conscience has been seared don’t give up. You, like Paul, can have a clear conscience with the strength that comes from Christ (Php 4:13). God bless you today.
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16
The words of Ananias in Acts 22:16 are simple to understand. There’s nothing complicated about them. Nothing complex or ambiguous; “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” And yet the religious world of today, has taken baptism and they have twisted it and made it into something that is so confusing. One group says that baptism is the pouring on of water. While another says, it’s just sprinkling with water. While a third says it’s immersion into water.
If arguing about the mode of baptism isn’t enough then there’s the whole debate about why a person needs to be baptized. One group says that you don’t have to be baptized. While another say it’s to join a certain church organization. While a third says you have to be baptized to be saved.
What’s a person to do? Where are they to turn to find the answers to their questions about baptism? The best place to find answers to your Bible questions is the Bible itself. Let’s allow the Bible to provide the answers to our questions concerning baptism by looking Acts 22:16.
URGENCY – The need to be baptized is of an urgent matter. Paul was asked, “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized.” Paul didn’t wait to be baptized. We learn in Acts 9:18 (another account of this same event) we learn that as soon as Paul received his sight he arose and was baptized.
In the Bible there was no baptism service, there was no waiting weeks after one was saved to be baptized. Baptism was so important to the believer’s salvation they didn’t want to wait. Looking at the conversion accounts of Acts, you can see that baptism was something that a believer urgently wanted to submit to: (Acts 2:41, 8:12, 8:38-39, 10:44-48, 16:14-15, 16:30-34, 18:8, 19:15)
MODE – As Paul arose to be baptized he was not sprinkled, nor was water poured on him from a pitcher or cup. Rather, he was immersed in water. How do we know that? The Greek word translated baptized is baptizo which means to dip, immerse or submerge (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Because baptism is immersion Paul would later relate baptism to being buried with Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
With the proper understanding of baptism Acts 22:16 reads this way, ““And now why are you waiting? Arise and be immersed [buried with Christ], and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Doesn’t that make is much easier to see that baptism is immersion?
WHY – Why was he baptized? It wasn’t because he was joining the church at Damascus; nor was it because he was already saved. For the answer let’s look at our verse again, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Paul was baptized so his sins could be washed away. As Paul went down into the waters of baptism he went down into them as a dead man, full of sin; but as he came up from those waters his sins were washed away (he was forgiven) and he was made alive with Christ (Colossians 2:13).
We’ve seen that Paul was urgent in his being baptized. His baptism was administered by being immersed into water as if being buried. He was baptized so that his sins would be washed away. But what part did faith play in his baptism? Was it in himself and his baptism or was it in the Lord and what the Lord was doing through the baptism?
FAITH – Paul did not put his faith in the man who baptized him to save him, or the water that he was buried in to purify him. Instead, Paul put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by “calling on the name of the Lord.” For Paul to call on the name of the Lord at his baptism meant he was putting his faith in the Lord and not in himself (Titus 3:5), recognize his baptism as a working of the Lord (Colossians 2:12), and he was confessing his belief that Jesus is Lord and Son of God (Acts 10:20; cf. Mark 16:16, Acts 8:37).
I hope that by using the baptism of Paul from Acts 22:16 you better understand the role baptism plays in the life of a Christian. Perhaps you’ve looked at your own baptism and have seen that it doesn’t fit what the Bible teaches. Maybe you were sprinkled, or told baptism was to join a church or whatever it was, you know it wasn’t the truth. “Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Ask your preacher or pastor to baptize you today so your sins will be washed away and put your faith in Jesus and confess that He is the Son of God.
I want to hear from you. Make a comment or drop me a note at clay@claygentry.com. God bless as you strive to serve Him.
