Bulletin Articles

In one’s effort to correctly handle or rightly divide the word of God (2 Tim. 2:15), it is important to be able to understand when a passage is figurative or literal. It can result in a great difference in interpretation. For example, the Psalmist states, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalms 18:2). If taken literally, God would be a rock, a tower, and a horn. But understood figuratively, it speaks of the God in whom we can trust, who is steadfast and strong, and who can protect us.

How can one tell if a passage is literal or figurative? If the passage demands actions that are wrong, or prevent those that are good, it likely is figurative. For example, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brother and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). If one takes this literally, he would have to hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters.

But a figurative understanding would teach us that we are to love the Lord more than even those of our own family (cf. Matt. 22:37). Sometimes there is difficulty in understanding something figuratively because the reader will fail to understand that something is spoken with sarcasm, with irony, or mockery. For example, the apostle Paul spoke harshly of Ananias the high priest, and in reply, “and they that stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”

A literal interpretation would have one to believe that Paul did not know that he was the high priest. But likely it is spoken in sarcasm, as one author paraphrased what Paul was saying, “Pardon me, friends; I should not have known that he was high priest if you had not informed me; he has acted more like a leader of a mob than a high priest.” The context will help you to determine the author’s intent.

Let us feel secure in knowing that Jesus is truly our strength and our comfort!

If you have not done so, why not obey him today?

“For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” Acts 17:21 As pleasurable as our intellectual pursuits may be, we must be careful to keep these in perspective. Like the Athenians, we may be thrilled “to tell or to hear some new thing.” But it is to be hoped that we have our sights set on something more than the mere exchange of intellectual information. Seeking God requires the use of our intellects, and there is an intense joy in the right use of the minds that we’ve been given. Yet seeking God is not just an intellectual pursuit. We must work at achieving balance others that are no less between this priority and important.

One of the dangers that we face, of course, is pride. Paul contrasted the benevolent benefits of love with the lofty attitude that often goes with learning when he said, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1). It is a rare individual who can make more intellectual progress than his peers and not begin to feel at least a little proud of that fact. So in seeking the knowledge of God, we must keep pride in check by every possible means.

But the word “love” suggests another danger: We may become so consumed with intellectual activity that we disconnect ourselves from the people around us and from the active responsibilities of daily living. Spiritually speaking, we can’t afford the luxury of living in an ivory tower. Having wrestled, perhaps by the burning of midnight oil, with the ideas that are involved in seeking God, we must come out into the sunshine of real human relationships and put to work the truths that we have learned. Unlike our academic pursuits, the “grade” we receive will depend on how we use what we know as opposed to simply proving how smart we are.

There is a great accountability that goes with knowledge. On the one hand, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and on the other, much will be expected of those to whom much has been given (Luke 12:48). Whether we’ve learned little or much, whatever we’ve learned involves a stewardship. There are serious responsibilities that go with knowledge, and especially with the knowledge of God. To know even a little of Him is a privilege that we should respond to with reverence, caution, and respect.

Each member here at Miami Gardens, must take an individual account of our stewardship to God and make the necessary adjustments.

Keep the Faith!

Therefore you shall be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). At first glance, this is a difficult passage. It seems to be calling us to do or be what seems impossible. “Nobody is perfect,” is what we say. This was also a recent question in our Young Adult class. It is true that all responsible people commit sin. Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That is why Jesus died for all men to give them the opportunity to have their sin removed (Hebrews 2:9; 2 Corinthians 5:14). It is also why the gospel needs to be preached “to every creature” (Mark 16:16). Even after one obeys the gospel, he still commits sin and needs forgiveness (1 John 1:7-10).

If Matthew 5:48 were telling us that we must live sinlessly perfect lives or that we must be as perfect as God, then we obviously have some real problems. When we seek to determine the meaning of any Biblical text, especially one that seems difficult to understand, we must remember, when it comes to Scripture, whatever God’s word says on any subject is right (Psalm 119:128). It is also possible to twist or misuse the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16).

In the study of the difficult text before us, we must answer three questions. First: Can the word “perfect” have several meanings here other verses in the Bible which will help us understand this one?

The Meaning of Perfect

The word “perfect,” in the Bible, can and does mean “complete” or “finished”. Jesus was made “perfect” through suffering (Hebrews 2:10; 5:8-9). He completed or fulfilled God’s plan for Him as our Savior by suffering for us. “Perfect” can also have the meaning of “mature” or “grown up.” In Philippians 3:15, the apostle Paul speaks to “as many as be perfect” (KJV). The NKJV translates this phrase “as many as are mature.”

The Context of Matthew 5:48

Jesus contrasts His teaching with that of the Old Law (Matthew 5:38-39). He shows us what our attitude is to be toward those who want to make life hard for us by forcing us or hatefully treating us (Matthew 5:40-44). He teaches us to love our “enemies” (Matthew 5:44), not an easy thing to do. We are to do this so “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:45a). God acts with concern and love for all men.

When Jesus said, “Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), He was saying, “Let your love be complete as God’s love.” God loves all people, even evil ones. This is how we can be as “perfect” as God. Our love for our fellow-man needs to grow and mature – including loving our enemies. If we do not love our enemies, we are not acting as sons of God ought to act.

Conclusion

We must heed the command of our Savior given in Matthew 5:48 to “be perfect” just as our heavenly Father is perfect. We must be careful, though, not to apply this command to areas in which Jesus never intended for it to be applied. He was speaking of the love that is to characterize those who are children of God. That love is to be complete, extending even to those who are your enemies, who hate you and spitefully use you. In this, as in all other things, we must strive to be as both Father and Son.

The perspective kids have is quite interesting. Instead of eating candy for breakfast; they have to have cereal, eggs and toast. When others had cokes and candy for lunch, they have to eat a sandwich. Their dinner is different from the other kids’ also.

Their mother’s insist upon knowing where they are all the time. Kids think they are on a chain gang. These moms had to know who there friends were and what we are doing. These “mean” moms insisted if the kids said we’d be gone an hour, that we be gone an hour or less, not one hour and one minute. These “mean” moms do not spare the rod; not only once, but each time we did as we pleased. Can you imagine someone actually hitting a child just because he
disobeyed? (Proverbs 22:15). Now you can begin to see how she really was.

These mean moms make sure their kids are in bed by a specific time each night and up early the next morning. No sleeping until noon like other kids. So while they slept these moms actually had the nerve to break the child labor law —they make the kids work…washing the dishes, making the beds, learning to cook and all sorts of cruel things. Kids think these moms lay awake at night thinking of mean things to do to them. So just when you think your “mean” woman was a complete failure as a mother.

Thank God for her helping you stay out of trouble and living a good life. When we look at our lives, we turned out OK! These mean mothers taught us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults (Proverbs 22:6). Using this as a background, may we raise our children the same way. Don’t regret being the parent God would have you to be.

Thank God for our Mothers…may their Godly legacies live on through us!

How do we make sure that we are among the few who are saved and not among the many who are lost (Matthew 7:13-14)? Jesus says in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” If we believe and call Jesus, “Lord, Lord”, we are still lost if we have not done God’s will.

On Judgment Day many will be pleading with Jesus, calling him Lord, Lord, and reminding him of the many wonderful works that they had done in His name, but He will say unto them, “I never knew you, depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.” Why? They had not done the will of the Father in heaven. The worst thing that will ever be said to an individual is when the Lord on Judgment Day says to the majority of people, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.” There will be no appeal to this decision. We must get it right the first time.

These people in the above scripture seemed to be honest, but they were honestly mistaken as the majority of people are today. Apparently, they were good people, because they had “done many wonderful works.” But they had not done the will of the Father, which is in heaven. No single condition, that God imposes, can be ignored. God has no non-essential commands. When we fail to obey a command of God, we have just broken it.

We must obey God by doing what God says to do, when God says to do it, how God says to do it, and for the reason God says to do it. Nothing is more important than pleasing God by doing His will so that we can go to Heaven. God’s will is found right in our Bibles.

Simon Peter, having failed his Lord at a strategic time, lived to recover and become a powerful force for Christ and His church. In a thrilling letter to his brethren, those of “like precious faith,” he declares: “His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue,” 2 Peter 1:3. The verses that follow provide us with the richest motivation to be loyal to the source of that “faith.”

• Godliness
  Words like holiness, inner piety, and goodness are often associated with this term. These are not just a facade or a fake religion, but true, genuine spiritual strength.

  Jesus is the best example of godliness, for in His own words He stated that, in regard to God’s will, “I do always those things that please Him,” John 8:28-29. He was not boasting, for the Father gave Jesus His firm approval, Matthew 17:5. In Galatians 2:20, we see defined a godly man and attitude: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” When the world sees a true Christian, they will see a godly person, following in the steps of Jesus, 1 Peter 2:21-24.

• Brotherly Kindness
  In its English letters, the term is philadelphia, or love for brethren. In Romans 12:10, we read a similar description: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” That “brotherly love” must not be pretended. As we read in 1 Peter 1:22, that love is to be “unfeigned,” a genuine love and concern for one’s brethren in Christ. Jesus said their love would be the means by which others would know they are His disciples, John 13:35.

Conclusion
What if these characteristics are not in someone? 2 Peter 1:8-11 says he will be “blind… barren…unfruitful…forgotten that he has been purged from all of your sins.” But “if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

Let’s all work on these!

For part 1 of this epistle, check out Add to Your Faith (Part 1 of 2)

Simon Peter, having failed his Lord at a strategic time, lived to recover and become a powerful force for Christ and His church. In a thrilling letter to his brethren, those of “like precious faith,” he declares: “His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue,” 2 Peter 1:3. The verses that follow provide us with the richest motivation to be loyal to the source of that “faith.”

• Faith
  The foundation upon which all the following qualities rest is the “faith” that comes from “hearing” God’s word, Romans 10:17. Without that faith no one can be pleasing to God, Hebrews 11:6 and none of the other qualities can prosper.
• Virtue
  The word “virtue” is defined as “moral excellence; strength of character.” This is the means by which our “faith” is made known to the world. Without virtue, genuine faith cannot be seen/known by our associates.
• Knowledge
  This is literally a “seeking to know; inquiry.” In Matthew 5:6 we read, “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Without this, faith is lost and replaced with opinion. “The entrance of your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” Psalm 119:130.
• Temperance
  This term includes self-control that requires the ability to discern good from evil. It is a learned quality of controlling one’s appetites/passions and then putting into practice that which is learned by knowledge. The apostle Paul “kept” his body under control so that his efforts in preaching would not be compromised 1 Corinthians 6:12, 9:27. Temperance here is not “dabbling in wickedness, but not going to extremes.” It is having the will to say “no” to Satan and his devices.
• Patience
  Synonyms for this term include “endurance, steadfast and perseverance.” This quality is attained by having a goal for life, determining to reach that goal, and doing what it takes to achieve the goal. When pressed by an opponent, “patience” does not give up, does not quit until the goal is reached. Jesus told His disciples they would be tested and proved, even to the point of death,  John 16. See also Romans 5:3, 1 Peter 1:3-9, and James 1:2-4.

So, possessing faith, virtue, knowledge, and self-control, we are steadfast though tempted, threatened, and rejected.

For part 2 of this epistle, check out Add to Your Faith (Part 2 of 2)