We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

Contemporary Christian literature is awash with the notion that, in order to be effective and successful, we must respond to market forces. In earlier generation, such an approach was unheard of. The tactic employed by Paul in Corinth was far closer to the model of the day. “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That was his message. Even though the Corinthians we demanding miracles and wisdom, Paul did not give them what they wanted. Indeed, he continued to supply the one thing they clearly did not want – preaching. He rejected the style and content that was most acceptable in his day… It is not possible to give people what they want to hear and proclaim the message of the Cross at one and the same time.
Alistair Begg

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

{1:1} Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, toPhilemon our beloved and fellow-worker, {1:2} and to Apphia our sister,and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:{1:3} Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord JesusChrist. {1:4} I thank my God always, making mention of thee in myprayers, {1:5} hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hasttoward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints; {1:6} that thefellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of everygood thing which is in you, unto Christ. {1:7} For I had much joy andcomfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have beenrefreshed through thee, brother. {1:8} Wherefore, though I have allboldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting, {1:9} yetfor love’s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged,and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus: {1:10} I beseech thee for mychild, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus, {1:11} who once wasunprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me: {1:12}whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my veryheart: {1:13} whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalfhe might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel: {1:14} butwithout thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be asof necessity, but of free will. {1:15} For perhaps he was thereforeparted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;{1:16} no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brotherbeloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in theflesh and in the Lord. {1:17} If then thou countest me a partner,receive him as myself. {1:18} But if he hath wronged the at all, oroweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account; {1:19} I Paul write itwith mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thouowest to me even thine own self besides. {1:20} Yea, brother, let mehave joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ. {1:21} Havingconfidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wiltdo even beyond what I say. {1:22} But withal prepare me also a lodging:for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.{1:23} Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;{1:24} [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.{1:25} The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.


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