Welcome to relentless truth with John Warren, the podcast that extracts truth from a wide range of topics. Revealing who God is, who we are and how we relate to each other. Now, here's John with this week's powerful and practical insights. Welcome to relentless truth. I'm John Warren. It's good to be with you again. Please like share review and subscribe to relentless truth.
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going to do today. We're going to continue. God willing. We're going to continue our study of, We're And I'm excited about that study, but there have been a few events. I have something on my on my heart, deep deep on my heart to share with you, and it it just it just comes from a place of a very practical concern. III can connect it, with with scripture, a couple of a couple of different ways. And and, that is, our need in relationships to really, I wanna call it taking the next step.
And I'm gonna tell you what I... What I mean by that. There there there's something I see in the apostle Paul in his ministry, and I know many of you are very learned and studied in scripture because I... I... You've told me that you listened into the podcast, and I know who you are. And I'm sure there are some who listened to podcast who who I don't have the pleasure of knowing who who have this knowledge, lots of biblical knowledge. 1 of the things I noticed about the
Apostle Paul's ministry. If it it 1 1 thing that just jumps out in a study of Philippians, which we did a while back. Is that we are to imitate Paul as he imitate Christ. He said that in Romans as well. He says in lots of his epi And and he's he's not arrogant about that. He's very humble, and, you know, we talked about his greetings and talked about himself calling himself a slave. In the beginning of Philippians and calling his audience saints. So he's a humble guy, but
encouraged us to imitate him. And if you notice unless I've missed it, you you never read Paul where he says, you know, you'll you'll never sort of hear him say, as you read. That that he he missed an opportunity to talk to someone about biblical things He talks about some regrets. He talks about some struggles, Romans thinking of Romans 7 right now. Oh, W man that I am. And I'm sure he had regrets and and mistakes. And and we've talked on this podcast about
regrets in the context of our... Our study of Philippians where Paul talks about looking forward. I think that's really important doctrine. But but I wanna mention, just a hideous subject an awful 1. And I I really don't wanna talk about it, but I believe it's necessary to do so, and and that is suicide among Christians. It sad me that that I know about several cases of over the years of of Christian
suicide. People even involved in ministry, and I'm not gonna name the names, but but 1 happened recently. And the the sudden death of a loved 1 is awful. The sudden death of a friend is is awful. III don't think based on scripture, god expects us to be something other than human with respect. To to death. That the the sense of loss is is powerful is is real. But 1 thing that troubles me and and III don't think we have to be weird about this.
But I bet most of you have had a conversation that goes something like this. I I wanted to tell you that but I thought it might blank. You know, III decided not to. It it would have been that next step, that next thing. They they... Maybe, I'll, I'll be just just really my optic and talk about my own teaching. I'll I'll have people who You say, you know, III was gonna make a really positive comment because your teaching has meant so much in my life.
But I thought people would think I was grand standing or or or I I thought, you know, that probably wasn't the setting. When when when God would have used that to really bless me that, you know, it it would have told me all the preparation is worth it... These... This person and probably these people are getting it, biblical truth is being a spouse. We're making disciples. We're growing in god's grace. That feedback is just so valuable. I'm not solicit.
Feedback for me in this conversation. I'm talking about a a larger topic, and that is saying the next thing. And sometimes in my case, saying the next thing is met with pride. They're gonna think I'm weird. They're not gonna like it. They're not gonna agree with me. They're gonna think I'm sucking up. They're gonna think that that's really simplistic. I really don't have time. They don't care about my opinion. They don't know me well enough.
Well, when when there's loss, like like this suicide, We we we, you know, we lose all ability then obviously to communicate with the person. This particular 1 that just happened is a beloved pastor. And I don't know what was going on in his life. I don't know about his mental health. I I know 1 of his children from 1 of my classes years ago, and I I know him by reputation, and his church was thriving. And I think his personal life was good from what I know, but I don't know. And I
met him once or twice. Don't know him well. I don't personally have regrets in this particular situation except. God has used this to point me to this reality that we don't know what we're all going through, and we need to be more loving and gentle and tender with each other. I don't I don't know if anybody who wasn't, loving and gentle and tender with this pastor.
I'm just saying that should characterize us as Christians, being right, especially on, you know, political issues and this Christian nationalism stuff is is driving me crazy if I'm candid. This taken a view that is extreme and trying to win clicks and is followers and it's just not something god willing I won't ever do it here. We're gonna talk about truth and continue to talk about truth and the the truth I I really just wanna get across is, let let's be gentle and loving with each
other. I mean, let let's look for truth. In scripture. Scripture is absolutely true absolutely truth has a sharp edge to it doesn't it. But we don't have to stick it in the face of people who don't get it. You're not gonna win over a gay person who's in a gay relationship. You... You're not gonna win them over by by quoting Romans 1 and shoving it in their face probably.
I mean, it's not a bad idea too if you're asked to you have a relationship and and, you know, you have credibility, you have standing with them. But but you're you're not you're not going to... If you they're not gonna hit themselves in the forehead and say, oh, then then what I'm doing is wrong. There... There's a way to be gentle and and loving. And with each other with just the people we go to church with that that, you
know, we don't love them well enough. My wife does this really well and I wish I did it. She will hold the hands of her friends and look them right in the eyes and tell them that we're praying for them, and that she's praying for them, and she cares. She remembers the details. It embarrass me that I'll say, oh, what's going on with her and she'll say remember I told you this this and this. Oh, yeah. I do. And we prayed for her. Well, there's just beauty in Christian
relationship. There's there's there's... Harsh nest too. There's a there's a a jagged edge to it. It's it's not easy always, but it's so important take to take the next step. If God is prompting you or you're prompting you through your knowledge of truth to reach out to someone. I went to see a guy in our church named Dan Hoffman, when he was in rehab, I think I mentioned him on 1 of these episodes a while back. And, you know, I actually thought about not going.
I thought, well, you know, I don't know him too well, and he's gonna think it's awkward, and I I could just tell when I talk to him. He was starved. For for visitors. And and he's got relatives nearby, and he's he's loved by his family and and and all of that, but I went and visited with him, and I I think it did more for me than for him. I know many of you found that. I I did the next thing. I took the next step. And and wow was it a blessing. I could've stayed there all day with him.
And it's just a dear sweet brother in Christ, who was going through just a little bit of a struggle from a health standpoint. So we we we just don't know what the other person is going through. And and more importantly, we we we don't know the the the impact of our relationship with other people. We... You have the ability to impact people. I... I'm not just talking about this in a suicide context. I... I'm just saying that reminds me they...
With the the sudden of that that that death, it just reminds me that we are to be loving and caring and gracious. And gentle. Why wouldn't we? And and just realize and I'm I'm talking to me because I'm terrible at this. That it's pride that keeps us from reaching out from doing that from loving other people will. So that's our sort of issue of the day that has been heavy on on my heart. The rest of this becomes just an academic exercise if we don't live
it out. If we aren't making disciples and following Christ and recognizing that we're in him, which is really the point of. So let's take a look today Let's just review for a moment. We've we've talked about Paul's introduction. We talked about the setting. He's in prison in Rome. As he writes this, we talked about the city of And their challenge. The theme of the letter is completeness in Christ, and we read.
Versus 9 and following. And so from the day we heard, we've not ceased to pray for you asking that you may be filled with the knowledge and that word it is epi that's a strong knowledge, understanding, deep understanding intimate relationship. We said that root, but is the word used for a man knowing his wife, and and we've we've talked we've talked a lot about that with that word no or epi in this case. It's it's a stronger word with the prefix Epi that really means not just a casual knowing.
That's a different it together. Idaho is the English translation of that word. That's I know this flower is red. I know that the grass is green. I know that, word I'm to do certain things today. That's just basic knowledge, but No is knowing with deep understanding and epi. Is is even stronger and and it it implies intimacy. Doesn't imply intimacy. It it confirms deep intimacy, relational intimacy. So so, yes, the academic knowledge is there.
It's important, but don't don't go try to impress me or anybody else with your. Your your seminary knowledge. If you don't really have a relationship with Christ. Paul consistently talks about are being in Jesus Christ, our lord. So, anyway, filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and understanding, So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing.
In the knowledge of God. We talked about the fruits of the spirit, love joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy, attributes that we don't usually put together endurance and patience with joy. I get so sick of hearing faster. Say, oh, don't. Pray for patience, God will give you a tribulation. Really, why does Paul long to see endurance patients with joy?
Developed in people. Why is he calling developing patients a joyful activity. This is an imperative. This is AAAA requirement giving thanks to the father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption. There's a a definite article there. Let me read the rest of this verse 14. And whom we have redemption. The forgiveness of sins.
This definite article really makes this mean released by payment or or ransom. And then he says that forgiveness of sins, that... That's to to to send away from something forgiveness to send away from sin in a sense, and that forgiveness of sins has the idea of that the word it sends is to to miss the mark, miss the missed the requirement. You've heard that before. In whom we have redemption that is the repurchase
or released by payment of ransom. He's using language that the culture would have understand relative, understood relative to slavery. So then we have another paragraph or 2 that I wanna get to today or or 3, maybe, we'll see how we do. On the the pre of Christ and Paul's ministry to the church. First 15, he is the image of the invisible god. He's talking about Jesus Christ, the first firstborn of all creation. He's not saying Jesus Christ was born just before creation. He he he was
beg forgotten. He was eternally, be gotten by the father any eternity past. I... Can I really articulate what that means? While he always existed. God has always existed in 3 persons. But this idea being the first born of all creation is just it's just the first 1 born. It's but born before everyone else created before everyone else, it doesn't conflict with the doctrine that he has always been throughout all eternity.
For by him, all things were created in heaven and on earth visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or rulers or authorities. All things were created through him and for him that is Jesus Christ. We need to think of him as as creator, he is the creator. God the sun. So... And he is before all things and in him all things hold together, that that hold together the idea of he's he's a sustain. It... They're they're preserved. All all things are held together. Isn't that beautiful.
And he is the head of the body that is the authority, the church... So the church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head of the body. He's he is the beginning, the first born from the dead that in everything, he might be preeminent. That that's not a wish that that that's that's that's a statement that that he would be preeminent to to have the first place is the idea there. For in him, all the fullness of god, that is the total essence of deity was pleased to dwell.
That dwelling is is his his will, his plan. God's, god's will dwell, all the fullness of God, all of his attributes his will, everything about God, his essence, his nature dwell in Jesus Christ that in everything he might be preeminent verse 18 says, That is that he might... This idea is if total reconciliation, with with Christ that we're reading here. That in everything he might be preeminent might have
first place. He is above all else for in him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and through and through him to reconcile himself to all things. That that is that is to change completely to reconcile to himself, all things, whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of his cross. Isn't that beautiful, making peace by the blood of his crust. You know, I just read I'm I'm trying to read the psalms a little bit now. And III just read psalm
4. So I just started this this week and said the last first of that psalm, which is verse 8. Says in peace, I will both lie down and sleep for you alone, o Lord, make me dwell in safety. Our Lord is above all things we can rest in him, making peace by the blood of his cross. There couldn't be a greater j position.
You mean Paul that you're telling us that this violent horrible death on across a made peace was used by Jesus Christ our Lord to reconcile us to God to make peace in spite of all the sin that you've talked about that you had already written about in Romans 3. They're being non righteous, no not 1 for all of sin, and come short of the glory of God no 1 seeks after god, our throats are an open grave. Goes on and on. There's none righteous, no not 1 and yet.
Jesus Christ has made peace by the blood of his Christ in the by the blood of his cross. I'm sorry. I... I was jumping ahead with my eyes here looking at versus 21 through 23. This is this is the reconciliation for for all believers. Listen to this. And you who once were alienate and has... Style in mind, doing evil deeds that that makes us hostile to god. He has now reconciled style that isn't that beautiful?
Given us right standing in his body of flash by his death in order to present you wholly and blame and above rep approach before him. If indeed, you continue in the faith stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I paul became a minister. So Paul is saying, I am a minister of the gospel. I'll listen to this. He says in verse 24. Now I rejoice in my suffering.
For your sake. Paul's a prisoner under house arrest in rome. I rejoice in my suffering So if we're gonna imitate Paul, that's what we need to do. Alright, This is Apr pro for me at this moment, I've got some back problems making pain shoot down my leg, never had that before that I can recall, and I had to go see a neuro surgeon Getting a second opinion tomorrow. And and Paul's talking about a different kinds
of kind of suffering. He's talking about suffering for the sake of the gospel, but any suffering that we do is is a picture of reminds us of our our our limitations, our our, we we should rejoice in our suffering and Paul is saying, I'm suffering for your sake, the first century church. The first century church at C. And and in my flesh, I'm filling up what is lacking in Christ's a friction for the sake of his body.
That is the church of which I became a minister, according to the stewardship, from God that was given to me for you. He became 1 a minister to grow their their spiritual condition and to the stewardship from God that was given me for you. You, you know what a Steward is. The person responsible for somebody else's assets. There's a stewardship duty that we all have And the third thing he says from god that was given me to you to make the word of God fully known.
So Paul knew, not only he a administer of the gospel. He had a stewardship requirement, and and to to make the word of God fully known. He's a Steward to make the word of God fully known. Can can you just imagine reading this? Paul is talking about how he is he is filling up his in his flesh, he's suffering for the sake of Christ, for the sake of his body, that is the church of which he became a minister according to stewardship from God that was given to me.
For you to make the word of God fully known the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints. That that is that Jews and gentile would become 1 in Christ. That is the mystery. The efficacy of the cross justification by faith, in no uncertain terms. Due to the death, burial and resurrection, and of Jesus Christ and his ascension he sits today at the right hand, the father, making inter session for us. To them God chose to make known how great among the gentile.
Are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is christ in you, the hope of glory, him were y pro claim. Warning everyone. So so there's a negative, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom. That we may present everyone mature in Christ for this I toil, struggling with all its energy, all his energy that he powerfully works within me. That is Paul is saying, I know that I labor because of Christ's enable. Isn't that beautiful for this I toil struggling with all his
energy that he powerfully works in me. Paul struggles, but Christ gives him his energy that is our our intimacy with Christ. He equip us. Are we to work hard? Yes. I I don't like those expressions let go and let God. No. We are to work hard at this. We are to keep the commandments. Where to care about good moral living. But it is Christ, who powerfully works within us as we engage in gospel ministry. I see it over and over and
over. I'll come out of a teaching session where I've prepared well and realize, Wow. The beauty of that truth did not occur to me. God clearly enabled me to to to see this truth and to communicate it. It clearly. Well, that's just a a beautiful section of of scripture. It is the end of chapter 1 of c. But but Paul is driving home this point that he rejoice in his suffering for their sake. If you just keep in
mind where Paul is. He's under house arrest, He has to pay to rent the house, and he's chained to a pre guard So for him to say that he rejoice in his suffering. He has, he is joy in his suffering. He he's already said that that he he doesn't have a problem with that apparent contradiction. That that joy is rich, deep. Abiding joy. It's not pleading happiness. It's not just tolerable for a bit. It is deep joy that only comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.
And and he's glad that he has become a minister according to the stewardship from God. That is... To grow their spiritual condition that was given to me for you to make the word of God fully known. So Paul says I have a duty, and I understand it. And then he says to them, God chose to make known how great among the gentile are the riches of his the glory of his mystery, which is Christ in you. The hope of glory. Paul had battled the Jewish leaders. He he battled the no,
the... These cerebral thinkers who thought they had special dis compensation, special information. He battled the J who who did not believe that Jesus Christ our Lord was the messiah. They did they did not believe in justification by faith. They held on to compliance with the law and even the ceremonial law and wanted to ci sized profess believers who were gentile. And and and they pursued Paul aggressively. They wanted to kill him. They they thought this justification by faith was a heresy.
If you think about it in Roman culture, It's a lot like where we are today. I'm not 1 of those who says, yeah. Look at the Roman empire and what happened. That's gonna happen to the United States. I. I think that that's that I mean, that may be true, but I I think IIII think some of the some of the underlying concepts there are helpful. But I'm not sure that we're gonna fall like, the Roman empire did, we might. I'm not saying we're not going to. But but I am saying that the culture in Rome
rejected Christianity. In fact, the true, if I can say it this way, people who would have been acknowledged as religious people. What did they do? They worship idol? In remember, the Christians were a narrow kind of a cult thing to them, kind of a counter cultural thing. The the tolerance of rome. Was incredible. They tolerated 1 of everything over a hundred idol. They they they had... I mean, if you look at the people who battled paul ideological.
Paul is setting the record straight with the facts with ideological facts with theological facts that are absolutely true from scripture and and Paul often is quoting scripture if you look at his letters. The these truths are beautiful and deep, and and Paul is saying, look. Now we know this mystery this was hidden for ages and generations is now revealed to the saints in Jesus Christ. That's what he's talking about. And and isn't that just beautiful? And he's explaining it. So
clearly, but he's getting post. He's he's riding under house or arrest chained to a guard, but but when he when he does his sal mutations and and it kinda wraps up Philippians isn't that beautiful the way Caesar... Caesar's household greet you. Well, when he made Caesar's household, great. What are you doing with Caesar? Well, clearly, the guards had come to know Christ. And, I mean, lots of people did apparently?
In Rome, under Paul's ministry, while under house arrest, which couldn't have been a pleasant thing, but wow, all this truth they heard imagine hearing Paul pray 24 7. Imagine what that was like. So he's thankful, even in his suffering. He knows the role that suffering plays in in our lives. Well, thank you and for ind this lesson and my discussion about doing the next thing. I hope you will do the next thing. When you look at Paul's ministry, he took the next step, didn't he?
He didn't say, well, you know, I thought about doing it, but then thought maybe they'll throw rocks at me or. They might not respect me as my know. I'm not exactly like the rest of the culture and what I'm teaching is is is not gonna be met with with warmth by everyone. My goodness, I serve on board and we try to engineer communication sometimes to all of our constituents and we try to be so careful that we don't offend and and and we try to get it
right. But, you know, you know what, Paul encourages me in, and I want to do this more and more. I wanna tell the truth, I wanna tell the truth with a biblical worldview clearly. I wanna communicate it lovingly and gently, but clearly, Don't wanna be afraid to stand. I don't want to be a people please who is afraid to stand, and I know many of you live that way as well.
Well, we we grieve at the loss of a pastor, like the 1 that I mentioned earlier out of respect for his family and their church family, I'm I'm not gonna, name him over the church. But but please pray for them. This is, it's a a beautiful opportunity that we have to to imitate policy imitate Christ and and and to pray, for his dear sweet family. And they are dear and they are are sweet. And then please allow me if I may just to leave you with this. Let let's do the next thing. Say the
next thing. Don't hold back. I tilt... Tell the teacher, you you did you did well. Thank you. That means a lot to me. That that that that verse you shared that that concept is has been powerful in my life. Thank you. It's the mutual building up of the saints that I think we forget to do. We we'll often say did you see the game? Did you see the score? Did you see the running back? Did you see this or that? And it's kind of our way, especially as guys are kinda relating to each
other? How much more important is it to care to to to say expressions of care. And to remember to pray when we say we pray? And we can go on on and on. But the beauty of this section, really, I think in C is clear, we'll start God willing, and next week with chapter 2. We'll have some economic updates along the way. I want to present the truth to you here on on this podcast. And I don't spend a lot of time predicting the future, but I want to equip you the as best I can.
So, without giving you investment advice per s. Well, thank you for listening. This is relentless truth. You can go to our website, john warren media dot com for more information about our work. Please like a review and subscribe. To relentless truth you can find us review your your podcast, We grow by you sharing this podcast with your friends. So please your do so if this has been a blessing to you until next time. Thanks for listening. To relentless truth with John Warren.
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