Numbers 29:7-11 An Offering Without Blemish

7 ‘On the tenth dayof this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work. 8 You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. 9 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 11 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

 

Daily Devotional
God's command here that the sacrificial burnt offerings on the Day of Atonement be without blemish is important for us to understand. Since these foreshadow (or to point to) the Lord Jesus Christ's own sinlessness; and thus this principal runs throughout the Old Covenant beginning with the first commanded Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:5). Now Jesus Christ the Son of Man is in every aspect without blemish from sin, and thus only He could be the Sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 Peter 1:9). For it is only by the blood of Christ, that was shed unto death when He was crucified for us, that we have both cleansing and remission of all our sins when we believe in Him (Matt 26:28; Acts 10:43; Heb 9:22). Therefore Jesus Christ came, as He said, not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17-18); that is every aspect of it, for those who trust in Him. From it's sacrificial ordinances and commands, to its priesthood and tabernacle, all things contained within the Law of God are fulfilled in Christ. And so the Scripture states that all these things that God commanded before of the Israelites (and specifically of the Levitical priesthood) were ordinances that were in affect until the time of reformation (Heb 9:10): For 11 ...Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The question then is have you yet received God's Promise of an eternal inheritance with Himself by faith in His Son Jesus? For that is what God requires of everyone; to look to (that is believe on, or trust in) the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead for the remission of all our sins, so that new and everlasting life might be brought into us the moment we believe (Eph. 1:13-14). For God having fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law through the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus now offers His salvation to all who believe in Him (John 3:16). And so the Scripture states: "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Heb 10:18
And so eternal life is now freely offered to all, as a gift of God's love for us all, the moment we believe. Now if you believe, and thus see yourself as a sinner in need of God's salvation, then please call upon the Name of the Lord as the Bible says we must, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord for in believing He is risen from dead and you will have remission of all your sins and eternal life (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Now you can do this by praying a simple prayer in faith, by praying something like this:
Dear Lord Jesus I confess to You that I am a sinner, and apart from You there is nothing I can do to take away or atone for my sins. Therefore I need You and want You in My life, to be both My Lord and Savior. So that You having already paid the penalty of all my sins might bring God's Promise of new and everlasting life by His Spirit into me. Therefore I now invite You Jesus into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior. amen.

If you have prayed that prayer or something similar because you have seen your need for Jesus Christ to both save you from your sins; from God's judgment against them, but also for Jesus to be your Lord by and through the grace of God. Then this is not the end, but the beginning of your new life In Christ (2 Cor 5:17). And so grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus by beginning each day with some Scripture readings, for that is the best way to get yourself grounded in God's Truth by reading and meditating and inculcating His Word into your inner most person. As well, as soon as possible, find some fellowship in a Gospel believing and preaching church, and there get baptised and make a public confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A great and important first step towards maturing in ones faith and building brotherly/sisterly bonds of love. And so as you come realize all that God has done for you (and or the Spirit moves you) look for opportunities to share your faith and God's love with others by word, surely, but also by acts of kindness and love. For Spiritual rebirth is not the end of being a disciple of Jesus, it is the beginning, and so spiritual growth comes by God's Spirit as we are led by Him and seek to obey Jesus in all grace and truth. If you have any questions or comments feel free to write them in the comment box and I will try to correspond with you. May God bless you richly as you seek to know Him and love Him better.  Your friend Tom

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

1 John 1:5-10

^5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ^6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ^7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ^8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ^9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ^10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Commentary

God is light; that is Holy, Pure, Righteous, without sin or inclination towards it. And thus there is no darkness in Him at all (vs. 5). That sets the backdrop for all that the Apostle John is about to say, specifically to believers, who are living, or are to be living in a right relationship with God by likewise seeking to do so (vs. 6-7). And thus the Apostle John says: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." vs.6

Now in stating this he's not implying that we now as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead must somehow try to live sinless. Or that by living a righteous live someone would enter the Kingdom of heaven. No the point being made here by the Apostle John is not about salvation which we only receive by faith in Jesus and thus we are only justified through the grace of God by His Righteousness, not mans (Rom 3:19-28). No the point being made here by the Apostle John is someone professing to have faith In Jesus Christ but living as though nothing has changed in them. For one can claim to be in fellowship with God if they are living (i.e. wilfully walking) in darkness. If you remember the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18 you might remember that it is the belt of truth that is the principal piece of armor that each and every believer must gird their waist with to withstand the assaults of the Devil. Cast of the belt of truth and the rest of the body armor mentioned their simply falls to the ground and becomes useless for ones defense against Satan's schemes. Therefore believing and obeying the truth; and thus walking and living in the truth, is absolutely critical for a believers well being. And here that truth is being expounded by the Apostle John commanding us all who believe to walk in light as God is light, and thus as children of God reflect the true moral character of God by keeping His commandments. That is to walk in light as God is light; and not in darkness as Satan, sin and all evil is always darkness and abides in the darkness. Those then who are living willingly in their sins are having their eyes blinded to the truth by the darkness; a darkness which darkens heart, soul and mind. Therefore a person who knowingly lives in sins darkness and yet thinks that they are somehow in a right relationship with God is utterly self deceived. For they are not in fellowship with God, but with the darkness and the ruler of it.

Therefore the Apostle John warns us all that if anyone thinks they have fellowship with God by going to church, or Bible studies, or being baptized, or attending worship services or doing whatever "religious" things one might think would approve them to God, but are knowingly living in sin, they are not living in the light as God is light, but are in effect living a terrible lie with eternal consequences for themselves if they continue on in it unrepentant, (Mark 9:42-48). And thus they are leaving a wide open door for Satan (the father of lies) to come into their lives here and now to both use them (for his purposes) as well as abuse them. The antithesis of this being found in 1 John 5:18.

Now in contrast to that very perilous scenario the Apostle John immediately goes on to say: "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." vs. 7

And thus Christian fellowship with each other comes by living in the light as He is light, and so the Apostle says the blood of Christ cleanses us from all our sin. Therefore the onus is on us all who believe in Jesus Christ, to walk in light as God is light. Light being the perfect metaphor for living according to all that is Biblically holy, true, just, righteous and sound. In essence having first received the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel (John 1:12); and thus having our sins washed by the blood of Christ (); we must as a course of life, throughout our new lives, seek to purify our lives from sin, just as God is Pure (1 John 3:2-3). Therefore in living by and in harmony with Jesus Christ's life and Spirit within us we must do so according to His Word. And not according to the worlds ever changing moral standards, which would only make us enemies of God (James 4:4). Nor should we seek to live according to the commandments of men who turn from the truth (Titus 1:14); and thus all manner of legalism and self-imposed restrictions which have nothing to do with obeying God's moral decrees and do even less to keep one from the sinful lusts of the flesh (Col. 2:20-22). But again according to the Lord Jesus Christ's unchanging Words and commandments given in the N.T. by Himself and by His Spirit for us all through the Biblical Apostles. Therefore the promise of God goes out to us all "if we walk in light as He is light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Vs. 8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
Now because of the sinfulness of us all; both our sin nature, as well as the sins we commit even after we believe in Jesus and receive the truth of the gospel; the Apostle John gives us this reality check. For though we don't live in darkness (that is sin as a way of life) we will all stumble and sin. And thus there are to extremes present here in these passages. The first being knowingly and unrepentantly living in sins darkness and thus being utterly self-deceived about ones standing with God while doing so. The other is living as though one has no sin, which is the antithesis of the first, but is also perilous, because just as when someone does not see the danger or care about the seriousness of living in sin, so there is a danger in living a lie as if one has no sin, two extremes yet both are dangerous in that they open one's life to Satan the father of lies.

Therefore to say that one has no sin is to deny the reality of one's person, both before redemption and afterwards. For if we had no sin then there would've been no need for the Lord Jesus Christ to suffer crucifixion death for the atonement of all our sins. Or if we say after we have received the truth of the gospel (having placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus been born-again by His Spirit) that we now have no more sin; and thus implying that we have attained too, or are somehow now sinless, the truth then would not be in us. For that would be to deny both our need for the Lord Jesus Christ first as Savior to save us from our sins; and then deny our ongoing need for His ongoing intercessory work as both our High Priest and Advocate before God the Father (see Heb 4:14-16; 1 John 2:1). Therefore if anyone says they have no sin they are living a lie and truth is not in them. The same should also be said of those who would knowingly advocate for sinless perfection in this life. Though holiness is the goal of every true believer, sinless perfection will not be our nature until we are fully transformed out of this mortal body and into the eternal spiritual bodies that we will have in the presence of God forever. Therefore we are being warned of being self deceived about ourselves or anyone else, whether this happens by comparing oneself to others, or by some other means, the truth of the Scriptures is eternally the same for everyone, before God all are in need of redemption from sin and death, "for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God" Rom 3:23

This basic premise then is foundational for our seeing our need for the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel, as well as keeping our dependency on God as we are transformed into Christ-likeness throughout our sojourn in this life. Unfortunately distortions of this reality have gone on to call mankind totally depraved; (though mankind is indeed corrupted by sin (this includes believers) and are given over to degrees of depravity when they reject the illumination of God given them, (Rom. 1:18-32). Not all of mankind is totally depraved; especially those who believe and seek to obey the truth, whose minds and lives are now being renewed and transformed according to it, by the Holy Spirit of God. And thus our hope lies not in ourselves, or in anything inherently good within ourselves, but in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ whose life and person not only saves us, but also indwells us and is transforming us all who believe. And so again to say that one has no sin. Is in effect to say that one has no need for the atoning work of Jesus Christ or the restoring of Spiritual life by Him in us all who believe in Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God.

Vs. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Having acknowledged then that we all have sin the proper response is not to deny this reality (for again that is not walking in truth but a lie and thus opens the door to Satan in one's life) rather the solution for us all is to confess our sins to God. For as the Apostle John says God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we do. A great promise of God made available to us all who believe because of Jesus' Crucifixion death by which He paid the penalty of all our sins.

Vs. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Again to say that one has not sinned is to make God a liar, for His Word charges all of humanity with having sinned (Rom 3:19-20, 23), therefore to deny that reality is to make God a liar, and thus His word cannot be said to be in anyone who holds to such heretical notions.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1982

Mark 4:21-25

21 Also He said to them, Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

Now Jesus by using the analogy of a lamp (i.e. an ancient oil lamp) not being hidden, but being placed on a lampstand tells us that the Kingdom of heavens secrets are now being revealed; (i.e. God's hidden secrets and mysteries things kept secret from the foundation of the world have now come to light through Christ's Gospel). For Jesus' analogy here is not of the individual believer; as in Matthews gospel in the beatitudes of being a light in the world by which Jesus is revealed and God glorified by a believers good works (Matt 5:14-16); rather here Jesus is clearly referring to His Word (as this passage immediately follows His giving the parable of the Sower). And so in the Lord Jesus Christ's Words, both the King and the Kingdom of heavens secrets are being revealed to all those who hear (i.e. believe and obey Him).

Which leads us into the next immediate passage:

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
 
Notice in this immediate follow up passage Jesus' first exhortation is that we take heed what we hear. For there is a crucial distinction to be made between the Lord Jesus Christ's Words; which have God's Authority in them; rather then just the mere and mortal words of sinful man. Therefore the importance and stress one lays on the Lord Jesus Christ's Words is absolutely crucial if one is going to follow Him and obey Him in discipleship. And so in this passage Jesus once again warns about the importance of hearing His Word; here somewhat differently than in parable of the Sower; for there He warns us not to let the Word get stolen away or choked out by three primary things:

1) By Satan immediately taking away what was sown in someones heart; which happens to all those who do not believe, and thus the Word never takes root. And so Jesus compares this to the seed which falls by the wayside which the birds of the air came and devoured (Mark 4:4).

2) By Persecution and Tribulations In this one the person receives the Word with joy and thus the Word seemingly takes root, but as Jesus says when persecution or tribulation arises they immediately stumble, and thus they lose their faith. And so Jesus compares this to the Word being sown on stony ground where there is no depth of earth and so the sun in heat of the day withers the plant away (Mark 4:5-6). Bringing this Biblical analogy into our reality it seems that this happens to some because they had false expectations about the journey ahead. Likely thinking that the Christian life and God's service would always be a pleasant and easy one. Well it isn't (Matt 7:13-14). As the Apostle Paul also said: "we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of Heaven" Acts 14:22

3) By Jesus' Word being choked out by "the cares of this world"; "the deceitfulness of riches", "the desire for other things", all which Jesus warns makes the Word unfruitful! Now in Jesus last warning in the parable of the Sower in Mark's Gospel He warns about three very specific things that choke out God's Word if one lets them do so:

First "the cares of this world": Jesus addressed this early on in His ministry in Matthews gospel with His Sermon on the Mount. There He told us not to be anxious about food and clothing saying "what shall we eat" or "what shall we drink" or "what shall we wear" (Matt 6:31-32); instead by analogy of how God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field we must know and believe that our lives and thus our very well being is also under the loving hand and watchful eye of God, i.e. the hairs of your head are all numbered.(see Matt 6:25-30; Luke 12:6-7). Therefore the cares of this world must never be a hindrance to our following Jesus and pursuing whatever purposes He has already planned for us to fulfill. Instead rather than worrying about all the "what if's" we must seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things will be added to us (Matt 6:33). It's a truly a great promise from our Lord and a reality that I myself have and continue to experience.

Second: "Deceitfulness of Riches" Probably the biggest deception in Christian dome, people not heeding Jesus' warning about no one being able to serve God and mammon (Matt 6:19-24). And thus the deceitfulness of riches choke out the Word and it becomes unfruitful. The Apostle James also warned that the rich man will fade-away in his pursuits (James 1:11). Now unrighteous mammon has a place in one's life. However if that is one's first desire and pursuit then the Kingdom of heaven, the Lordship of Christ, and thus God's Word will not be. And thus we are called to withdraw from every brother or sister who professes faith in Jesus Christ yet thinks and lives like Godliness is a means for their own financial gain (1 Tim 6:5). Now the antidote as the Apostle Paul said is for those who are rich now, to be rich in good works, ready to give willing to share, and so lay up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come (1 Tim 6:17).

Third: "The desire for other things" this is the most innocuous one in that one can so easily overlook it. For here Jesus is not warning about clearly sinful or wrong things, but rather "the desire for other things". And so He leaves it open to mean just about anything which takes away our focus, time and energies from His Word to pursue "other things". For God's Word will not be second to anything. Therefore we must all be careful that we don't waste the time allotted us here on earth in desiring and thus pursuing those things which ultimately have nothing to do with the Kingdom of heaven. Of course the antidote is living a new course of life and having new priorities by taking heed to Jesus Word: "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:34-38

 

And so back to the passage at hand Jesus having given the parable of the Sower and thus warning us all about His Word getting chocked out by various things now commends us all to hear Him (and not someone else); and so we must Hear Him and believe Him with all seriousness, reverence and diligence. For again He says: “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Therefore lets consider first Jesus' statement "With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given". Though similarly sounding to Jesus warning in Matthew about how we judge others we will be judged (see Matt 7:1-5). Here Jesus' emphasis is on His Word and how we hear it. For if you do not take Jesus' Words seriously; and thus never actively apply it to your life; nor put the hard effort of study into it then it's highly unlikely He will give you anymore than what you yourself receive, do and pursue. That's what He is essentially saying here. The measure you use will be measured to you. You want to rich in all Knowledge and Wisdom and Understanding of God's Word then you got to be an attentive listener of it and heeder to do it. Not an easy task, but certainly well worth the effort when one sees the fruits and results of doing so. And thus when one does so Jesus promises that more will be given them. For Spiritual growth and thus growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes first by faith then by a concerted effort. In contrast to that Jesus says "but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." Therefore where there is no faith there will be neither salvation nor a growing up into Spiritual maturity by Knowledge of, and through Christ's Word.
 
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

 

Exodus 19:1-6 Obedience and Faithfulness

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Devotional
Notice that God again commands Israel's obedience, just as He did when the Israelites first came out of Egypt (). And so God's choosing Israel for Himself, is not just a choosing by which He chooses to redeem Israel from their slavery in Egypt and then require nothing more of them. For God requires of them, as He says both their obedience and faithfulness. That is what is implicitly stated when He says: 5‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

The same then is true of salvation for us now. For it is God alone, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His grace, now rescues us from our own spiritual deadness and bondage to sin when we believe in Jesus His Son as testified to in the Gospel, calling upon His Name. And so as then, He also requires more than just our confession of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. He requires our ongoing obedience towards Himself through it. For that is what discipleship essentially is, believing in then submitting oneself to the Lord Jesus Christ through His Gospel. For though salvation is only received as a gift of God's love by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person. We must having received God's reconciliation In Christ and His Gospel, also strive to be faithful to Him through it. Now in this there will be things in the New Covenant that we see paralleled in the Old Covenant, and then there will be things that we don't see in the Old Covenant that are unique to the New. Jesus spoke of this when He said in Matthew 13:52 “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”

The reason I mention this now is so that you don't get confused about all of the Sabbath requirements and food restrictions that are unique to the Old Covenant in your desire to obey God. For our having been liberated from sin, and redeemed from eternal death, are to serve the Lord Jesus Christ not by the letter of the Law, but rather by the Spirit of God (please read and understand 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9, 18; Gal 5:1, 4, 5 etc.). Which means that we are bound to Jesus Christ and His Lordship through the New Covenant, and not the Old. Thus the Holy Spirit and His fruits (see Gal 5:22-23) then are to be our guide when we face those ambiguous areas of life the Scriptures are silent on. For the glorious liberty of the children of God extends to all areas of life, so that life in all its fullness can be lived and enjoyed by us all in Christ, As Jesus said: "I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly." ^{John 10:10}

Therefore let no one steal your God given liberty In Christ by trying to define for you what is acceptable, or not acceptable for you, when these things are clearly neither immoral nor unethical by Biblical standards. For the Lord Jesus Christ having purchased your liberty for you by His own blood, should you then become enslaved to the doctrines and commandments of men? Therefore don't submit yourself to any such things. For they will add nothing to your new life in Christ. But they will undermine God's grace and commandments In Christ by seeking to establish their own (consider Matt 15:1-9; Rom 10:3-4).  And thus they will only lead you into all kinds of spiritual bondage and oppression by their misapplying and misusing God's Word to justify and impose their own "ideals" on those who sadly heed them. Which again cannot equal nor add anything to the righteousness of faith we have in Jesus, and will only bring spiritual bondage and troubles into your heart and life if you heed them (Consider Matt 16:5-12; Gal 4:9-11, 17; Col 2:20-23 etc.).

Therefore shun all man-made and self imposed "religious" ordinances and ideals which neither liberate the sinful flesh, nor honor God when one holds to them. As if we are required to serve and obey Jesus through them. Instead hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission, and risen from the dead so that new and everlasting life might given to everyone who believes in Him (Acts 10:34). For Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the church, and He alone is the Lord, Master and Teacher of everyone who trusts in and obeys Him as such. Therefore neither heed, nor keep the commandments of men which only undermine the grace and the righteousness of God (consider Rom 10:3-4).
 

Now with that said the other end of the spectrum are those who turn the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ into licentiousness by which all of God's Scriptural decrees on human morality are cast aside for the prevailing "morality" of the day. And in so doing they seek to justify clearly immoral behavior under the guise, of being "liberated" and or living by "grace". Which is neither grace nor liberty for God's grace given to us by faith in Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead first atones for then liberates the believer from their sins. It does not justify sin, it calls people to repentance from it. For nowhere in the Scriptures does God say that He will justify the wicked. He will justify the repentant, that is when anyone turns from their sins to Christ. God will justify them no matter what they have done by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But He will not justify the unbelieving and those who continue to live wicked lives that only testify to their own unbelief. For who could have imagined a generation ago that homosexuality, a clear sin throughout the Scriptures (Lev 18:22; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Rev 22:15 etc.) would now be justified, not just in the world, but by people professing Christian faith! Nonetheless the gospel is the Power of God to salvation for all who believe in Jesus Christ Crucified, Risen, Ascended and now seated at the right hand of the Throne of God (Rom 1:16) waiting till all His enemies are made His footstool, for all who do so will not only have remission of all their sins they will have everlasting life.

 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

 

Exodus 16:15-19 Dependency on God

Exodus 16:15-19
15 So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the Lord has commanded: "Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent." 17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.

 

Notice that God through the manna provided for each person and their households needs. And as the rest of the passage reveals this was to be an ongoing dependency on Him. The same is true of salvation, God provides for us all through Jesus Christ His Son's crucifixion death and resurrection from the dead then His ascension back to the Father which precipitated the Holy Spirit's outpouring bringing to us all that we need for salvation. And so once we are saved from our sins and reconciled back to God; being brought back into a right relationship with Himself by our faith in the Lord Jesus, we are to remain dependent on Him, for all that we will continually need for our ongoing justification before Him, but also for our ongoing sanctification. For God does not wash away our sins by the blood of Christ, bring us to life by the Holy Spirit and then just let us go. He keeps us by His Spirit and His Son Jesus' Person and Word within us, not only in a relationship with Himself, but also He keeps us in His grace (as we trust and obey Him) providing for us all as each person's need arises. For though we earnestly desire to live righteous and holy lives we will all mess up at various points in our lives. And thus we will all have need of His ongoing Provisions in Christ as we journey homeward. Therefore let us always remember whom we know and love and how much His love is for us, because Jesus Christ is not only Savior of us all who believe in Him. He is our High Priest who ever lives to make intercession to God for us all who look only to Him (Heb 4:14-16; 7:25).

I don't know where you are at today? How close your feeling to God today? But if sin or something else has come between you and Him, take time to seek His face in prayer, to find and receive His mercies through the Intercessory work of the Lord Jesus Christ. For though we are chastised for a season (Prov 3:11-12). God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord is God who loves us and is willing to forgive us, when we come to Him in humility and honest confession about it. He will cleanse us of our sins and transgressions (Ps 99:8; 1 John 1:9). For there's no sin or shame that a that believer commits that Jesus Christ Himself has not already born in His own Body on the cross and thus atoned for, and is now willing to make intercession for, on our behalf, when we come to Him in humble and dependent repentance and faith towards Him (Matt 5:3).

 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Exodus 6:1-9

With Pharaoh having rejected the Word of the Lord that Moses was commanded to speak to him; which Moses thought would bring immediate deliverance for Israel (see Exodus 5:22-23), yet did not as Moses thought God would make it happen then. And so with Moses likely feeling dejected in seeing Pharaoh rejecting God's Word and continuing to oppress the Israelites, will now have God reaffirm His plans and purposes for His people to him. For God fulfilling His Word is never restricted or hindered by anyone who sets their will against His own (whether an individual, or an entire nation). Just as God's plans and purposes are neither altered, nor hindered, by those who set themselves against them. And so God reassures Moses that Pharaoh will indeed obey God's Word and Will for His people, when He wills it so (vs.1-2). Then God reaffirms to Moses all that He will do for His people. And to back this up the Lord begins with His Self-Declaration of His Sovereign Person. That the One who appeared to Moses in the burning bush in the wilderness is the One true God who also appeared to their fathers. And to verify this to him, He starts by recalling His own dealings with their ancestral fathers to whom He first revealed Himself to as God Almighty:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” 2 And God spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am the Lord.  3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord I was not known to them.  4 I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers.  5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.  6 Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.  7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am the Lord.’” 9 So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. vs. 1-9

 
Now notice there is not one clause where God says that something is dependent upon Moses or the Israelites to rescue or save themselves. For from the beginning God has placed it all squarely upon His Own Shoulders to fulfill His Word and thus free them from the Egyptians and return them to the Land which He promised their forefathers as an inheritance to them forever. The parallel between Gods dealing with the Israelites then, and us today is remarkably similar in that the salvation of God is always a work of God from start to finish as the Scriptures clearly state (John 6:28-29; Heb 12:1). All God requires of us is to believe and obey Him. For it is God alone who does all the work that is required to fulfill His Word regarding our eternal salvation (Rom 3:19-28). And so we are all, Jew and Gentile alike, commanded to enter His Rest (read Hebrews 4 and contemplate vs. 10) and thus cease from our own works (i.e. attempts to save ourselves by whatever means we would try to do that). And instead enter God's eternal rest by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins, and risen from the dead for our justification, so that we may have and experience peace with God.

I don't know where you are today in your faith journey but know this for certain no matter where you are it's all about what God in His love for you and me and just what He has done through His Son Jesus Christ to not only save us from our sins and the judgment to come, but also to bring us into a personal relationship with Himself, by which we know Him, and thus can obey Him in the Lord Jesus Christ by His Spirit dwelling within us. Everything else then that is obedience to God in the Christian life is really just an outworking of His life; Christ's life and Spirit working within us as we yield to Him. For God's salvation that brings remission of all of our sins and eternal life starts and ends with God. Therefore if you have not made that most crucial decision to receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life freely do so now (Rev 3:20). By a simple prayer of faith you can invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life so that He might not only save you from your sins and the wrath to come, but that He might also transform you and make you all that God ever intended you to be (2 Cor 5:17). If you believe simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that you are the Son of God and that you came to die in my place, and that You rose again, then ascended to heaven so that you could restore me to life and peace with God. Therefore I now invite you into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior in Your Precious Name Jesus amen.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

 

2 Timothy 4:19-22

2 Timothy 4:19-22

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Commentary

 Vs. 19-20 This section concludes the Apostle Paul's second epistle (i.e. letter) to Timothy. Here mentioned are some of Paul's closest fellow believers coworkers, friends. Prisca and Aquila are a husband and wife couple that the Apostle Paul first met after departing from Athens and arriving in Corinth, where they too had recently arrived from Italy (Acts 18:1-4). Being both Jewish and of the same trade, the Apostle Paul stayed with them and brought them to faith in Christ. Later they themselves brought a man named Apollos into the faith (Acts 18:24-28). They also hosted a church in their home and are always mentioned favorably by the Apostle Paul, and so here the Apostle on the eve of his "departure" again sends his greetings to them (Rom 16:3; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Tim 4:19).

Onesiphorus is only mentioned here and at the beginning of this epistle where the Apostle Paul says: 15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. 2 Tim 1:15-18

And thus Onesiphorus was a faithful man when many if not all were turning away from him.

Erastus is mentioned here as staying in Corinth (2 Tim 4:20), there is three occurrences in the N.T. of this name and it's unclear whether they all refer to the same individual. And thus if the Erastus mentioned here was the same individual who ministered to Paul along with Timothy (Acts 19:22). And whether this Erastus is the same Erastus who was a city official in Corinth (Rom 16:23) whose name is inscribed in the pavement of the ancient amphitheater there (Nelson's Bible Dictionary). Now that Erastus was from Corinth and stayed in Corinth while Paul traveled onto Ephesus gives rise to consider that at least two or possibly three of this names occurrences refer to one individual. For it seems unlikely the Apostle Paul on the eve of his own death would mention someone to Timothy whom neither knew Timothy or was not an important part of his Christian ministry and life.

Trophimus Is a Gentile Christian from Asia, i.e. Ephesus. He is first mentioned along with a group of believers who went ahead of the Apostle Paul and his ministry team to meet up with them at Troas while Paul was on his third missionary journey heading onward to Jerusalem (Acts 20:4-6). Later the unbelieving Jews in Jerusalem seeing the Apostle Paul with Trophimus in the city falsely accuse Paul of bringing Trophimus into a restricted area in the Temple which brings about Paul's eventual arrest and being taken to Rome for trial (Acts 21:27 to the end of the Book of Acts covers these events). By the Apostle Paul's mention of Trophimus to Timothy here it appears that Trophimus accompanied the Apostle Paul while Paul was being transported to Rome. That Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletus sick is not an abandonment of him by Paul. Rather one must rightly assume that Paul would've made provisions for him to remain there for his needed care. The Apostle's mentioning him to Timothy indicates that Paul had neither forgotten nor forsaken him, though again himself now imprisoned.

Vs. 21-22 Apostle Paul's exhortation to Timothy to do his best to come before winter indicates that Paul was probably writing in the late summer or early fall. Paul then mentions four brethren by name as personally greeting Timothy; Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and of course all the brethren. And so by them we get a sense of just how closely nit the community of believers truly was. The Apostle Paul's finial exhortation that the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, that grace be with you is truly the greatest need of us all. For true and fulfilling companionship and love maybe found only in Jesus Christ and His love richly dwelling in us all.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

2 Timothy 4:9-18

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. ¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Commentary
Vs. 9-11 The Apostle Paul having already given some exceptional exhortations with gracious words of wisdom and encouragement. Now concludes with a personal exhortation to Timothy, urging Timothy to come to him quickly, saying Demas having loved this present world has forsaken him departing for Thessalonica; Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Now Demas is mentioned favorable by the Apostle Paul in Col. 4:14 and Philemon 24. But here it is very evident that Demas though serving with the Apostle Paul for a season in the end loved this present world more and forsook Paul and the sufferings of Christ with him, for it. The two other men mentioned as having left Paul are Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Crescens is only mentioned here in the N.T. (though he must have been known to Timothy for Paul to mention him). Yet it is uncertain by the text whether Crescens departure was an abandonment of the Apostle Paul or something else. Titus too is said to have gone to Dalmatia, a region on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea, equivalent to Illyricum (the region north of Greece and across the Adriatic Sea from Italy) where Paul once preached. Hence Titus' departure may have been by mutual consent (as it seems) to go and minister there, or he may have went there of his own accord for undisclosed reasons. Nevertheless the Apostle Paul mentions that Luke, and only Luke, is with him, (a great testament to Luke's faithfulness), but hence the urgency for Timothy's coming to him. Now in exhorting Timothy to come to him the Apostle Paul specifically mentions that he should bring with him Mark, saying he is useful for him in ministry. Which itself is a great turn of events as the Apostle Paul previously had a falling out with Barnabas over him (Acts 15:36-41). Yet here there is a genuine desire by Paul to have Mark there with him for the work of ministry. The Apostle Paul likely now upon reflection; both of himself and Mark; now sees Mark no longer as a liability to the gospel's work and ministry (as he once did) but now as a needed and desired asset.

Vs 12 The Apostle Paul now mentions that he has sent Tychicus to Ephesus. A man who became a trusted friend, and was a fellow worker and gospel minister who followed and served with the Apostle Paul early on. Tychicus is first mentioned along with other believers in (Acts 20:4-5) as traveling ahead of the Apostle Paul to await his arrival in Troas. Later the Apostle Paul entrusts Tychicus to carry news of him and his affairs to both the Ephesian (Eph 6:21-22) and Colossian (Col. 4:7-8) church's. It may have been that Tychicus was the person who brought and first read the Apostle's Epistles to those churches? If so it would speak volumes of his trusted person and character. Again the N.T. mentions the Apostle Paul possibly sending Tychicus as a messenger to Titus in Crete (Titus 3:12). And finally here once again in sending Tychicus back again to Ephesus (2 Tim 4:12).

Vs. 13 Having addressed all the personnel issues, the Apostle Paul now asks Timothy to bring with him Paul's cloak (an outer garment) which he left with another believer named Carpus in Troas. Now it was while the Apostle Paul was in Troas that God gave him a vision of a man calling to him to come to Macedonia and help them and thus to preach the gospel there (Acts 16:6-10). Carpus must have been then a convert of the Apostle Paul's preaching and ministry work there and one whom the Apostle Paul trusted to leave his only outer garment with, but more importantly to leave his books, and his parchments with, which if Scriptural works, would have been invaluable to him.

Vs. 14-15 The Apostle Paul now warns Timothy about a man known to them, Paul refers to him as Alexander the coppersmith, saying that man did much harm to him. Though were not told how Alexander the coppersmith harmed the Apostle Paul, it must have harmed either Paul's person or reputation pretty severely for him to say as much about him. Paul, nonetheless rather than seeking personal vengeance invokes a wise Spiritual principle of non-retaliation, of committing justice and judgment to the Lord's hands. Something that King David once invoked when fleeing from the then rejected King Saul (see 1 Sam 24:1-22, vs 12-13; also consider Psalm 17:1-15; Proverbs 3:25-26). Thus the Apostle Paul can say of Alexander the coppersmith may the Lord repay him according to his works! And so in verse fifteen the Apostle Paul continues to warn Timothy of Alexander the coppersmith saying that he has greatly resisted his words. A dead giveaway if you want to know who the troublers inside the house of faith are, or are going to be (consider Luke 10:16). For to resist Jesus Christ's Words and gospel, accurately spoken and presented through a Biblical Apostle can only indicate one thing, Alexander the coppersmith was not a believer. Indeed the words Paul uses to warn Timothy about him indicate that Alexander not only sought Paul's harm, but he set himself against the very faith that the Apostle Paul was preaching! Which gives rise to speculation that he may have been the same Alexander the Apostle mentions in 1 Tim 1:19-20 as having suffered shipwreck in his faith and who had been turned over to Satan by him.

Vs. 16 Having warned Timothy to beware of Alexander the coppersmith. The Apostle Paul now tells Timothy that at his first defense no one stood with him. It appears this was some sort of Roman legal tribunal. What the Apostle Paul was charged with is not stated. But you can be sure of this it wasn't a criminal act. It must have been directly related to the faith, for at this point in the early church there was ever increasing opposition to it. No longer just from unbelieving Jews, but from Rome itself. And so believers seeing how Rome was dealing with those of "the Way" were likely shying away from standing up for church leaders who found themselves in the clutches of Roman justice. And so as Jesus was forsaken by the twelve at His arrest and trial, so here it seems Paul too must drink that cup. Yet few and privileged are those who are called to suffer so much for the Lord while still being called to be a faithful witness for Him. And so there is no bitterness in the Apostle's voice, no ill will towards those whom he loved, yet forsook him at his first defense (gr. apologia). Rather just an appeal that it might not be charged against them. For they likely in a moment of weakness let their fears get the better of them; they did not intend to harm Paul, or abandon their faith, or stand in opposition to it, as Alexander the coppersmith did. They like Apostle Peter after he denied Christ, likely had their own moments of deep regret for not standing with Paul in his hour of need as well.

Vs. 17-18 And so the Apostle Paul though forsaken by certain brethren, was not forsaken by the Lord. As Paul says: 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Therefore the Apostle could boldly declare that the Lord Jesus Christ both stood with him and strengthened him to be His witness (even when others did not). And so it was the Lord who both encouraged and strengthened Paul to fully declare the gospel to all the Gentiles, even if this meant it might end in his own death. Now the Apostles Paul's reference to being delivered out of the mouth of the lion harkens back Scripturally to the prophet Daniel and God's deliverance of him from certain death for his own faithfulness to God. And so here it seems the Apostle Paul standing alone before a Roman tribunal had every reason to cower and doubt, but like Daniel the prophet he too found himself both strengthened by the Lord to be His witness, but also delivered by Him from anyone or anything (even from personal fears or past personal failures) that could have hindered him from effectively declaring the gospel to all. And thus the Apostle Paul's declaration here is one utter confidence in Jesus Christ to both deliver him from whatever present personal weaknesses he had, but also of the Lord preserving him for His heavenly Kingdom; where we will never again have to wrestle against fears; failures or personal weaknesses. And so the Apostle Paul in great gratitude and thanksgiving for being strengthened one more time before his departure from this life gives all glory to the Lord. For ultimately it is the Lord Jesus Christ who upholds, strengthens, sustains and preserves us all who believe in Him for His heavenly Kingdom, to Him alone then be glory forever and ever amen!

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

2 Timothy 4:6-8

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.


Vs. 6-8 The Apostle Paul having exhorted Timothy to fulfill his ministry now begins to tell of the end of his own, at least as far as this life is concerned. Drawing on the analogy of the Old covenant drink offering as a metaphor for his life (vs, 6). The Apostle Paul describes it as being poured out; this time not on the service of others faiths (Phil 2:17); but as the crowning jewel of his having left and lived it all for Christ. Therefore the Apostle Paul's words here are not the words of man whose life is about to end with a meaningless end and death. But of a quiet contentment, knowing that he had sacrificed it all for the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul could confidently look at his circumstances and exhort Timothy to fulfill his own ministry, by saying: 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. vs. 7-8
And so the Apostle Paul confidently looking back must have been amazed at all the Lord Jesus Christ preserved and brought him through (2 Tim 3:11). And that is the secret of having a deep abiding faith. Always moving forward in spite of ones circumstances or opposition. For when by the permissive will of God we go through afflictions; persecutions, perils and or trials. We also experience the reality of His Person in our lives. Sometimes subtly, sometimes rather dramatically, but always it is the Lord who is carrying and preserving us through it all (Ps 34:19).
Therefore drawing on three different metaphors to picture the fulfillment of his duties for Christ.
The Apostle Paul begins by saying that he has "fought the good fight"; that is the cause and proclamation and defense of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to everyone, everywhere (consider Acts 20:26-27; Phil 1:7, 17). Now we who believe in Jesus are likewise charged with the proclamation and defense of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ (consider 2 Cor 10:5; 1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3). Of expounding not only Scriptural truth in a world hostile to it, but of obeying it as well (consider Rev 14:6-12). And thus declaring the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ to the best of our abilities, as His witnesses. From His Divine Person, to His virgin birth as a Man, to His Crucifixion death at Jerusalem. To His Resurrection from the dead and His ascension back to God the Father, now seated at God's right hand until all His enemies are made His footstool. Fighting the good fight is ultimately standing up for Jesus Christ and all His Words, in all the circumstances of our lives (consider Matt 10:27-33; Mark 8:34-38). Therefore the Apostle Paul could confidently say that he fully preached Jesus Christ the Lord, Savior, Judge, Redeemer of all people, everywhere. So that by repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead anyone can have remission of all their sins and everlasting life the moment they believe (consider Acts 17:30, 31; 20:21; 26:20; Rom 2:4; 2 Cor 7:9-10; Eph 1:13-14).
 Now in doing so the Apostle Paul took a lot of flack from all sides. From the Jews, (especially those who did not believe) Paul the former Pharisee, was in their minds, a traitor to their religion and nationalistic ambitions. For the Apostle Paul didn't preach "Judaism" he preached the Messiah (i.e. the Christ) as the Scriptures do, that Jesus Christ is God's King and Priest for all mankind, not just the Jews. For Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of everyone who believes in Him, regardless of their background or nationhood (consider the Apostle Peter's words in Acts 10:34). As well the Apostle Paul early on took no small fight to those Jews who believed yet were commanding the Gentiles who were turning to God by faith in Jesus; and thus by the grace of God; to be circumcised and to keep the Law, as essential to being accepted by God. And thus the Apostle Paul because of his absolute opposition to all such notions was often thought an enemy of Moses by his own countrymen. Not that the Apostle Paul opposed God's Law, just the misuse and miss application of it, and thus their using it as a means to be justified before God the Father by observing it rather than by faith in Jesus Christ as Lord (consider Acts 15:1-29; 21:17-25; Rom 10:1-13; 5:1; Gal 2:16, 19-21 etc.).
Thus the Apostle Paul continually and fully refuted every reasoning and argument that would endorse or impose putting Gentile believers under the Law and it's covenant, (as did all the Apostles and church elders), rather than the New Covenant ushered in by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which binds us all who believe to the grace of God. Now those principals of God's grace given to all by faith in Jesus Christ inundate, and are, the theology of the Apostle Paul's Spirit inspired letters. Everything else in them in regards to righteous; holiness and self-control etc. are born out of a regenerated heart and life, by the Spirit of God indwelling and transforming us all who believe in Jesus (Gal 5:16-23). Therefore do not let anyone bring you into bondage (consider 2 Cor 3:5, 6, 9, 17; Gal 5:1, 4-5 etc.). Either by their misusing the Law (see Rom 6:14; 1 Tim 1:5-11). Or by their developing and or promoting their own ideals of what constitutes our being made right before God. Often by their deciding what is acceptable for believers to do and not do. Essentially taking non-moral things and applying and imposing all sorts of legalistic restrictions on anyone naive enough to heed them (consider 2 Cor 11:18-21).  And so the Apostle Paul fully opposed not just those Jews who wanted to put Gentiles under the Law, but any and all man made traditions, commandments, or ideals whether born out of the Law, or elsewhere, as being incumbent on anyone who believes in Jesus (Col 2:20-23; Titus 1:14). Just as Jesus Himself did and first warns us all about (consider Matt 15:1-9; 16:6-12; 1 Tim 4:1-3). And thus no works based salvation. Nor no faith plus works based salvation, but only the gospel and the grace of God, period. That by faith in Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead, and ones confession of Him, one receives everlasting life as a gift of God. Not as a repayment for good behavior, or services rendered (consider Luke 18:9-13; Rom 3:19-28; 10:9-10, 13; 11:6; 11:34-36; Eph 2:8-9; Gal 2:16; 2:19-21 etc).

"Finished the race"
This is the second in the Apostle Paul's three part declaration that he had finished what God had appointed him to do. For the Apostle Paul was called and appointed by Christ to be His Apostle in every sense of the word. Leader; teacher, preacher, evangelist, church planter, miracle worker and healer, the Apostle Paul in every sense of the word was Christ's chosen messenger and envoy of Jesus' Divine Person. Both to Jews and Gentiles alike. Though the Lord Jesus laid a particular burden on Him as His Messenger to the Gentiles, just as He did with the Apostle Peter to Jews (see Gal 2:6-10). The Apostle Paul never restricted himself to preaching, teaching or discipling any particular ethnic group, or socio-economic class of people. For the Apostle Paul was entrusted by Jesus Christ to the founding of His church by the declaration and defense of His Person and doctrine before Jew and Gentile alike. Whether the worst of societies sinners to the most affluent and powerful amongst us all. The Apostle Paul both preached the gospel and treated all who came to faith in Jesus Christ as dearly beloved and equal brethren (Gal. 3:26-29; Eph. 2:19-22 etc.). And the though the Apostle Paul was one of the last Apostles called and equipped by the Lord Jesus Christ he was arguably one of the most proficient. In season and out of season the Apostle Paul preached and defended the gospel of God (and the sound doctrine that is born out of it) that brings salvation to everyone who believes; irregardless of Paul's personal circumstances, persecutions or sufferings.

"Kept the faith"
The Apostle Paul now declares that he has done is kept the faith. For as fighting the good fight of faith is incumbent upon us all, so is keeping the faith. The difference being "fighting the good fight of faith" is that it is primarily the defense and proclamation of the gospel; while having "kept the faith" is something that each and every believer must do personally irregardless of what others are doing around us. And thus this entails both a lifestyle and grace based heart and attitude that is congruent with the gospel. Now sometimes we are stronger in one area of our lives than in another. So I don't want anyone to come away with a feeling of smugness or of defeat, but rather to be always striving to move forward by the Spirit of God, in the grace of God in spite of ones weaknesses and failings. For keeping the faith is after all a lifetime journey that requires patience (with ourselves and others) and of course steadfastness with Christ as we journey home.

And so the Apostle Paul having exhorted Timothy to continue on in his journey with Jesus by telling him how the end of his earthly sojourn is drawing near concludes by saying: "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." vs 8 

And thus drawing on analogies of competitive athletics or chariot races the Apostle Paul says of himself and all who follow Jesus Christ to the end of their lives in faith and love that there is laid up for him (and us all) the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will give not only to Paul but to everyone who loved His appearing; who received the love of truth rather than carrying on in their sins and transgressions (consider John 5:28-30; 2 Thess 2:9-11). For our lives are either being lived in faith for Jesus Christ and His Kingdom and Righteousness or their being lived in unbelief in sins and trespasses for the world and the things that the world treasures. There is no neutrality.  Therefore do not be like those who disobey the truth. Rather receive it while you can. Receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior then follow Him in discipleship. For there is no other way. For the Lord Jesus Christ alone has the keys to life and death, to an eternity in heaven or hell (Rev 1:18). Therefore choose life, choose to believe and obey Christ!


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982