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
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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.
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