The second warning is found in 3:1-4:16. The opening words, “holy brethren,” link this chapter with the preceding chapter and with the concept of sanctification… Read More »Hebrews 3:1-6 – The Call for Faithfulness
Today, we conclude our study of the film, The Apostle, and examing the word “apostle.” We look at how Paul’s apostleship has been disputed and… Read More »THE CONCEPT OF THE APOSTLES IN FILM AND SCRIPTURE, part 3
This post continues to look at the word apostle and how it has been used in modern movies as well as some modern-day people calling… Read More »THE CONCEPT OF THE APOSTLES IN FILM AND SCRIPTURE, part 2
I was asked to write an article on the word “apostle” found in Scripture, how it is used, and if it is still applicable to today (or did it cease after the last apostle died). This stems from an older movie called “The Apostle” as well as other modern-day pastors/preachers calling themselves apostles. This is a three part-series where today we will focus on introducing the subject, reviewing the movie, and beginning to look at the usage of the word “apostle.”
The word “apostle” and its meaning is easily misunderstood. Many seem to think that apostle only refers to members of the original twelve men called by Christ. But what about Matthias? He became an apostle in Acts when he was chosen to replace Judas. Also, Paul considered himself an apostle as did many others of that time. Since Paul’s letters are some of the earliest writings of the New Testament, and since he uses the Greek word for apostles, apostolos, more than any other author in the New Testament, all historical investigations of the origin, meaning and significance of the word properly begin with his letters.[1] However, many dispute Paul’s claims at being an apostle for various reasons which leads back to the matter at hand of apostleship. What is an apostle and how does one become an apostle? This paper will show that there are two definitions for an apostle, one in a narrow or provides a definition in the technical sense and the other in a broad or non-technical sense. Apostle refers to the twelve members originally called by Jesus and includes Matthias and Paul who both met the qualification of Acts 1:21; and the word apostle refers to those sent as messengers of the church. It will be shown that unlike Sonny from the film The Apostle, who declared himself an apostle, that people were declared apostles by others for a purpose. This paper will examine the film The Apostle and how the word apostle is used. In addition, the narrow and broad use of the word apostle will be examined including qualifications to be an apostle and whether or not Paul was an actual apostle.
Read More »The Concept of the Apostles in Film and ScriptureMay 6 – Colossians 1:1-2
GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD
The previous post finished our reading plan from the “Unshakeable” series from Northeast Bible Church. Now, we embark on a new devotional journey. Over the next few weeks, we will look at the book of Colossians. This will still take the form of a devotional with study and application. These devotional posts will focus on what the text is saying and how it can be applied to our current lives. Don’t forget, some texts may have multiple applications. Our current moods and situations may cause us to focus on one more than the other or the Spirit may point something out that we need to hear.
These posts are definitely not meant to be detailed studies on Colossians like you would find in commentaries. You probably won’t find synthetic charts, outlines, deep expositions or detailed discussion on some of the controversial passages (there are many great resources out there for this). But what we will do, is read God’s Word, review the background or context, and look for applications.
However, in this first post, I would like to provide some general information to get us on the same page regarding Colossians. Today, our text will be shorter so we can review the author, purpose, background, time frame, and introductory statements.
We start our study by getting an overview of Colossians, including the place, the time, the author, and the setting, as these will help us better understand the text. Knowing more about the context is helpful in going deeper into the text to understand more about what the author is saying and what the ultimate Author is saying. Thinking through these things will help us in our application of the text and its principles.
The Book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul about a.d. 60–62, while he was imprisoned in Rome. One purpose was to correct the heresy that had sprung up in the Asian city of Colosse. Paul seems to write as though he had our own society in mind. Even today, new cults claim to be Christian yet deny the deity of Christ and the basic beliefs of Christianity. Many today view Jesus as no more than “a great teacher.” Paul’s patient correction of the Colossian believers should remind us that we need to keep the worship of Jesus Christ central in our churches. But we must remember, some of these “new” beliefs have its source in the occult (though hidden under new names) and in other religions that go all the way back to the beginnings of history with the fall of man.
Pantheism is at the center of the New Age movement and other movements like it. It teaches that “all is God.” But their God is not a personal being; he is an impersonal energy, a force or consciousness. This thinking leads to another idea. Since all is one and all is God, we too are gods. One of the goals of the New Age movement (and maybe the only goal) is to awaken us to the god who sleeps within us, to teach us to live like the gods we are. This type of thinking is reminiscent of Satan’s temptation in the Garden of Eden.
Paul described Jesus with some of the grandest language in all the New Testament, focusing on Christ’s preeminence and sufficiency in all things. Paul presented Christ as the center of the universe, not only as the active Creator but also as the recipient of creation—in His taking on of human flesh.[1] Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible God, containing within Himself the fullness of Deity (Colossians 2:9). Because of His divine nature, Jesus is sovereign, above all things with an authority given Him by the Father (1:15-20). As such, Jesus is also Head over the church. He has reconciled all things to Himself through His death on the cross, making believers alive to God and setting them on the path to right living (1:21-23). By providing a proper view of Christ, it served as the cure for the Colossian heresy as well as a building block for Christian life and doctrine both then and now.
Read More »Colossians 1:1-2 Devotional