Since March 24, 2009
We should all today become models of Paul imitating him and his ministry. Paul gave emphatic instructions to his associates that they should be identified with him and his ministry which was not in accord with man. For neither did he accept it from a man, nor was he taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Speaking to Timothy he said; "...Let no one be despising your youth, but become a model for the believers, in word, in behavior, in faith, in purity. [1.Tim.4:12] Speaking to Titus he said; "...The younger men, similarly, entreat to be sane as to all things, tendering yourself a model of ideal acts, in teaching with incorruptness, gravity, with words sound, uncensurable, that the contrary one may be abashed, having nothing bad to say concerning us..."[Titus.2;6-8]. To the Philippians Paul wrote; "...Become imitators together of me, brethren, and be noting those who are walking thus, according as you have us for a model, for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, [Col.2:16-23] and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed. For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Savior also, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation, to conform it with the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself..." [Phil.3:20-21] When someone beats a die against a softer object. This leaves an impression which is a copy of the original which it was beaten against. We are to be copies of Paul in the same way he copied or imitated Christ so that we may serve as something to be copied by those around us becoming models for them. D.E.K. In the following areas. In word, in behavior, in love, in faith, in purity. "...Let no one be despising your youth, but become a model for the believers, in word, in behavior, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give head to reading, to entreaty, to teaching. Neglect not the gracious gift which is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the imposition of the hands of the eldership. On these things meditate. In these be, that your progress may be apparent to all. Attend to yourself and to the teaching. Be persisting in them, for in doing this you will save yourself as well as those hearing you..." [1.Tim.4:12] Paul encouraged Timothy in his final epistle before his martyrdom; "...You may not then be ashamed, then, of the testimony of our Lord, nor yet of me His prisoner, but suffer evil with the evangel [Paul's evangel, good news. Gal.2:1-2] in accord with the power of God, Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, not in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is given to us in Christ Jesus before times eonian, yet now is being manifested through the advent of our Savior, Christ Jesus, Who indeed abolishes death, yet illuminates life and incorruption through the evangel [Paul's evangel] of which I was appointed [Rom.1:1-7] a herald [Acts.13:1-3] and an apostle and a teacher of the nations. For which cause I am suffering these things also, bit I am not ashamed, for I am aware Whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to guard [and re-awaken from time to time] what is committed to me, [Paul's "my evangel" and the "secret of the evangel"] for that day. [Timothy] "...Have a pattern of sound words, which you hear from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. The ideal thing [Paul's evangel and the secret of the evangel] committed to you, guard though the holy spirit which is making its home in us..." [2.Tim.1:8-14] It is truly a wonderful statement from Paul to Timothy, a charge, to "have a pattern of sound words" that Paul had instructed and taught all his associates with during his ministry to the nations. The reason Paul gave this charge to Timothy is clearly seen in the following verse; "...Of this you are aware, THAT ALL THOSE [ecclesia's] in the province of Asia were turned from me, [Paul's evangel and the secret of the evangel] whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes..." [2.Tim.1:15] They never turned from God, but from Paul and his ministry of the new administration of the grace of God and the new dispensation of the secret. They turned back to the administration of Law and the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles which had closed at [Acts,28:28] and continued with Peters commission to Judah Israel of repentance and the rudiments of Christ which the writer of the Hebrews said; "...Wherefore leaving the word dealing with the rudiments of Christ, we should be brought on to maturity, not again disrupting [overthrowing] the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith on God, of the teaching of baptizings, besides the imposition of hands, and the [Gr. anastasis] resurrection of the dead, and of judgment eonian..." These six foundation stones of the Hebrews evangel of the Kingdom should have been left where they belong in the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles as they moved on to maturity, but they left them for apostasy and returned to Judaism. The modern church has left Paul's revelation teaching for the nations and has returned to the dispensation of the Acts of the apostles during the administration of Law and has fallen out of the grace and knowledge revealed for them through the spirit of truth through Paul's prison epistles. "in place of repentance and pardon, we today have faith and justification, which know no falling away, being entirely of grace and Paul says exactly that in his epistle to the Ephesians; "...For in grace through faith, [the channel which grace comes through] are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of [our doing] works, [at all] lest anyone [of us] should be boasting. For His achievement are we, being created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God makes ready beforehand, that we should be walking in them..' [Eph.2:8-10] God bless you real good. David and Carol Buckman. Down-Under in the land of OZ. Email:
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Since March 24, 2009