Jesus Christ - God, God and man, still God & man, coming again - Colossians 1:13-22

Colossians 1:13 "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, the overall theme is: "Finding Fulfillment in Christ's Supremacy". Colossians 1:13-22 depicts one of the richest and most detailed descriptions of Jesus Christ found anywhere in the New Testament.
Below I want to sketch out in outline form some of the doctrinal treasures that we can mine concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that you would find fulfillment in this full length mirror view of Jesus Christ.

I. Jesus Christ is God. Col 1:13
In the Old Testament, we read in Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD, And there is no Savior besides Me." Jonah 2:9b tells us: "salvation is from the LORD". With those verses noted, when we read that God (the Father) in Colossians 1:13 transfers believers from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Son, we understand Paul assigning equality of power to the Son. We can place this biblical teaching in the following logical form:

-Premise #1: God alone has the authority to grant salvation

-Premise #2: The Son has the authority (i.e His Kingdom) to grant
salvation

-Conclusion: Therefore The Son is forever God with the Father

Paul combatted his opponents in the Colossian church who denied that Christ was ever God from all eternity. 

II. Jesus Christ God and man. Colossians 1:14-15
Colossians 1:13 reminds us of what Christ was like before he came into this world to take upon Himself full humanity. Because Jesus Christ has been forever God, this means He has the authority to provide salvation. However as God, Christ could not die - thus He had to take upon Himself a second nature - a second way of expressing His existence - namely humanity.

In Colossians 1:14, as well as the parallel passage of Ephesians 1:7, we have redemption (through His blood), the forgiveness of sins. Because Jesus Christ is God - he is Almighty to save and because he is man - he is able to save.

In regards to being the "firstborn" over all creation, this phrase does not mean Christ was the first creature (contra Jehovah Witnesses). Rather the statement points us back to what Christ became in his humanity as the "New Adam". (Romans 5:11-21) Old Adam had been the original heir to creation, and forfeited that in his rebellion in the garden. Just as a man lost the title deed to earth, Christ came as Eternal God in human flesh (i.e "the New Adam") to lay claim to what the enemy had stolen. When He returns, He will come to possess what He legally won at The Cross. What is it that Jesus won? the title deed to this world that had been lost by the first Adam. (Revelation 5)
In contrast to those who taught that Jesus was some type of spirit being, Paul full asserted the true humanity of Jesus Christ.

III. Jesus Christ is still God. Colossians 1:16-19
So when Jesus came into this world to become a man, did His Divine nature change or cease to be a reality? In contrast to his opponents, the Apostle Paul argues that Christ in His Deity underwent no change whatsoever. Though He temporarily chose to not to operate exclusively from His Divine attributes while on this earth (Philippians 2:5-11); yet He never ceased being God. (Colossians 2:9)

As God, the Person of the Son had, did and still holds together all of creation. While ministering on this earth, the Son chose to operate through His acquisition of a human nature in the virgin birth. (Luke 1:35; Philippians 2:5-11) As a man, Jesus Christ the Son got tired, sweated and got hungry. On the cross, the Son experience genuine death and suffering as a man. As God at the same time, He excercised and still does excercise rule not only over creation (Colossians 1:16-17) but also the church (Colossians 1:18).

Jesus Christ never ceased being God, since with the Father and Spirit He retained control of our universe. In His humanity the person of Christ looked up through His Deity and saw the wrath of His Father on sin, while in His deity he looked down through His humanity and willingly endured the wrath and separation he experienced as man for our sin. (Colossians 1:19) One person, The Son, died as a man on the cross and this same Person, as God, possessed the authority to lay down his human life and raise it up again from the dead. (John 10:17)

IV. Jesus Christ is also still man, and coming again. Colossians 1:20-22
So when Christ ascended into heaven, did he still remain fully man? Paul's answer is affirmatively "yes"! Colossians 1:22 plainly states - "yet He now has reconciled you in His fleshly body". This truth is important, since the Bible teaches Christ's full, visible, bodily return. In contrast to the Jehovah Witnesses, who teach that Christ's resurrection brought forth a spiritual, non-physical body - Paul is saying here that Christ's body, now glorified, is a physical one.

This is crucial, since the resurrection and redemption of the believer's body is a cornerstone of the biblical teaching of salvation. If Jesus' physical resurrection had not occurred, statements such as 1 John 3:2 would not make sense: "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is."

These statements by Paul in Colossians served to combat the ancient heresy in Colosse that the material world was totally evil, and thus was never going to be redeemed or restored. Christ's resurrected humanity communicates that God's plan for redeeming His people and the physical creation will not be thwarted.

Conclusion
As Eternally God, Christ, has with the Father and the Spirit forever been the Author of salvation. In becoming man, Christ came to provide salvation through the shedding of His blood as man. By still being God, Christ demonstrated that he never changes and has the authority to provide salvation. By still being man, Christ lives to be the mediator between believers and God. We look forward to His return as the one who is God and man.

Understanding The Helmet of Salvation - Ephesians 6:17

Ephesians 6:17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Introduction:

Today's post features a piece of the spiritual armor in Ephesians 6:17 that is called "the helmet of salvation". As the Apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome, he was continuously chained to one or more Roman soldiers. In the course of his incarceration, he would have had ample time to view soldiers from every conceviable angle. It is certain that as the soldiers would had been changing their watches, Paul would had witnessed them "taking up" or "putting on their armor". In Ephesians 6:10-18, the truth of the believer's warfare and the physical illustration of Roman armament are used to shed light on one another. To take up the helmet and put it on one's head would had been one of the final stages to being fully ready for combat apart from the sword. Helmets protected the head and the eyes, the seat of the senses. 

The importance of both the head and the heart in the Christian life

In the Christian life, growth in discipleship entails not only the heart, but also the head. In fact, unless the mind is initially influenced and shaped by the Word of God, the heart will not follow. The heart is the follower in the realm of the human soul, with the mind being the leader of the two. Granted, without the heart, the mind can only ascent to truth but never commit to it. This is why God has included the conscience, which concretes belief of the mind into convictions of the heart. 

Understanding the meaning of the helmet of salvation

As Paul issues the command to "take up the helmet of salvation", what exactly is he meaning? In one other place in Paul's writings we read of the helmet of salvation in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 - "But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation." Both texts refer to the need to put on the helmet of salvation in contexts require the Christian's alertness in the spiritual battle that must be waged in these last days.  

The meaning then can be discerned by noting Paul's reference to the helmet of salvation in his letters, however is there another source from whence he is deriving this imagery? It appears Paul is is alluding to Isaiah 59:17, which reads - "He put on righteousness like a breastplate,And a helmet of salvation on His head; And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle." 

I have found that oftentimes, when a New Testament writer is referring back or quoting an Old Testament phrase, verse or section of verses, they are in reality thinking of the wider context in which that original quotation occurs. Both Ephesians 6:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:8 can be used as springboards in getting back to Isaiah 59, with Isaiah 59 in turn providing the full context in understanding the significance of this phrase "helmet of salvation". Moreover, as we read Isaiah 59:17 in light of Ephesians 6:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:8, we do so in reflecting upon the accomplished work and Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let the reader note a quick outline of Isaiah 59:

God's saving righteousness - Isaiah 59

1. Power of God's Righteousness - Isaiah 59:1

2. Peril of self-righteousness - Isaiah 59:2-16

3. Protection of His righteousness - Isaiah 59:17-20

4. Perseverance because of the Word of righteousness - Isaiah 59:21

Based upon the context of Isaiah 59, in which the alluded text of Isaiah 59:17 occurs, it appears that when we take up the helmet of salvation, we are taking up the righteous work achieved by God in Christ. Whenever you consider the contexts of both Ephesians 6 and 1 Thessalonians 5 in light of Christ's 1st and 2nd comings, the helmet of salvation's meaning comes into view. In Ephesians 6:17, the concern is with living the Spirit filled life in light of Christ's achievement in His first coming. In the latter text of 1 Thessalonians 5:8,  the reader is urged to take up the helmet of salvation in light of Christ's second coming. 

Putting on the helmet of salvation entails putting on the Gospel, putting on all that God has achieved in Christ. The mind of the child of God ever needs to be saturated with the Gospel, as seen in such passages as Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 12:1-2. Philippians 2:1-4 commands believers to have the same mindset of humility as Christ did. Whenever we put on the helmet of salvation and fix our eyes on Jesus, we will be able to make right and godly decisions in the face of spiritual, moral and interpersonal opposition. 

So today, let us put on the full armor of God and not forget to take up the helmet of salvation - the Gospel, and apply it to our minds, our hearts and our lives. 

The power to "be the man" God wants you to be!

Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

Philippians 2:12 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling."

Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent,children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear aslights in the world."

Introduction:

The past three posts have been aimed at understanding the biblical paradigm for what it means to be a godly man. In the first post we considered how God wants Godly men in our homes, churches and communities. Having considered God's call for Godly men, we then looked at particular foundations of godly manhood in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to achieve not only salvation, but among His specific achievements He came to redeem true manhood. Colossians 3:10 reminds us: "and have put on the new self who is beingrenewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him". So in having viewed the call and foundations for biblical manhood, we saw yesterday the biblical exhortation and command to be men of God. In yesterday's post we learned particular focal areas that are crucial for being consistent men of God: families, marriage, workplace and accountability. 

Thus far the above mentioned posts have aimed to lay out the biblical vision for godly manhood and the necessary exhortations to go and do it. Such truths are vital, however without the power to fulfill what God's Word tells us to do, casting the vision for Biblical manhood will be another failed attempt in laying on guilt trips and result in frustratation. As a man myself, I need to know: is the power to do what I know to do available? The answer is a resounding yes. Philippians 2:1-16 gives us three powersources that all derive from God and include God Himself within and through the resources. Today's post is a quick tour to alert readers, especially men, that the man of God has available the power to "be the man" God wants him to be! Lets look at each of these power sources:

1. Jesus Christ's incarnated life as a man empowers the man of God. Philippians 2:1-11
Recently our men's group at church has been doing a study entitled "33 The Series - A Man and His Design", by Dr. Robert Lewis. This study is powerful due to the fact it connects the vision to biblical manhood to what Jesus achieved in His incarnation as a man. Jesus lived on this earth for 33 years (hence the title "33 series). Even after Jesus died, raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, He ever remained a man, while of course ever being full God. 

I mention this study to bolster the point being made in this post - namely that apart from Jesus' Christ's incarnation, the vision for biblical manhood would be nothing more than an ideal. The Person of the Son chose to take upon Himself a second way of expressing His life - a human expression or nature, and purposefully injected Himself into the bloodstream of fallen humanity. When you look at Philippians 2:1-4, particularly 2:4, the command is issued to essentially put others above ourselves. For men, this is especially undesirable, since as men, we like to fulfill our wants and desires rather than put others first. Such a command, by itself, is nothing more than guilt laden moralism. However under Divine inspiration, the Apostle Paul takes the syringe of life-giving doctrine and injects into the command the full 33 years of incarnate life that Jesus lived while here on earth. Moreover, the injection includes the continuing, ongoing post-resurrected humanity Jesus to which we're connected to by the Holy Spirit at salvation (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). 

The reader needs to read Philippians 2:5-11 to see how they have the power to carry out Philippians 2:1-4. As Robert Lewis points out in his study, Adam and his fallen posterity (us men) have failed in three areas: responsibility to willingly obey, responsibility to work God work and the responsibility to our wives. Ouch! Yet there is hope! how? As Lewis points out, Jesus accepted responsibility for a will to obey (John 4:34); Jesus accepted responsibility for work to do (John 17:4) and Jesus accepted responsibility for a woman to love (Ephesians 5:25). So Jesus' Christ's incarnation is the first power course for biblical manhood, however there is a second, namely....

2. God's indwelling enables the man of God. Philippians 2:12-13
Philippians 2:12 "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Here again we see another command that apart from God is impossible, especially for men to fulfill. As men, we are naturally passive and to put it bluntly - lazy when it comes to what is truly important, whether spiritual or family responsibilities. In the fall of Genesis 3, Adam let his wife deal with the serpent, when in reality it was his job! 

So then, as men of God, we know we are to work out our salvation. But how can we do it? The answer is found in Philippians 2:13 - "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." God in the Person of the Holy Spirit ministers in and through Christ followers the Person of the Son, Who in turn reveals in us and to us the Person of the Father. 

Dr. John MacArthur notes regarding the identity of God in Philippians 2:13  "You say, “Well, now is Christ in me or is God in me?” And the answer is yes. The Spirit of Christ is God. “Well, isn’t the Holy Spirit in me?” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of God who is God. It’s the same. It’s God in the form of His Spirit dwelling in you. And always present, always supporting, always sustaining, always upholding, always supplying, always strengthening, always shielding, never out of His care, always producing, sanctifying effects in your life. That’s why He gets all the credit, because He’s doing all the work."

The reason for laboring this detail is to simply say that apart from the Holy Spirit's indwelling ministry, the man of God could not be a man of God. (Romans 8:14-16; Galatians 4:6; Colossians 1:27) The Holy Spirit is the One Who connects us directly to Christ's life changing perfect humanity and the Father's purposes in our lives. The Triune God is ever at work in the life of the Christian and for our purposes in this post, the man of God. So the man of God has the power of Jesus' incarnation and God's indwelling but now notice the third power source:

3. The Scriptures illuminate the man of God. Philippians 2:14-16
Philippians 2:14-15 once more gives God's people (and we will focus again on men in particular) commands to not grumble, complain and mutter under the breath. Men love to complain and make excuses. It seems as if Paul is delivering one set of commands after another. I do hope though the reader has realized by now that the power the man of God has to carry out the commands exceed the weight of the commands themselves. Notice the power of God's Word in Philippians 2:16  "holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain."

Without the Word of God, the man of God is just a man. The Holy Spirit uses and directs men who give themselves to the scriptures, since the scriptures are the means by which He feeds, empowers and illuminates the man of God to His true identity. Moreover, the scriptures are where we meet with Jesus and He with us. (Luke 24:44) Without the scriptures, the heart cannot be discerned nor have life. (Hebrews 4:12) By the scriptures is the man of God able to live for God and hate sin. (Psalm 119:9-11)

Closing thoughts:
Today's post has aimed to close out this string of posts that have dealt with the subject of what it means to be a man of God. Today we dealt with "The power to be the man God wants you to be." We considered three power sources from whence we can derive the power to take the biblical vision of godly manhood and turn it into reality:
1. Jesus Christ's incarnation
2. The God's indwelling
3. The scripture's illuminating work

Be a man! Focal areas of re-created manhood in Christ

Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the oldself with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him."

Focal areas of re-created manhood in Christ. Colossians 3:18-25
As we noted yesterday, alarms are sounding all around us about the "broken-male culture". The only solution is by recognizing the foundation of re-created manhood that comes by grace through faith in union with Christ. Foundations are vital, since whatever is built atop such foundations will only be as strong as the base upon which the building rests. Practically speaking, when it comes to Christian manhood, what focal areas does such an identity have the power to affect? Consider briefly the following focal areas mapped out in Colossians 3:18-25
1. Marriages.  Colossians 3:18-19

2. Family. Colossians 3:20-21

3. Workplace. Colossians 3:22-24

4. Accountability. Colossians 3:25

Just as Colossians 3 begins with urging us as men of God to prioritize and draw from the power available to us as re-created men in Christ, those priorities are spelled out above. Notice how for re-created manhood, others are first and the self is last. 

In the cultural understanding of manhood, self is first with others maybe or maybe not getting what is needed. In the men's Bible study by Dr. Robert Lewis entitled: "33 the series: a man and his design" (here is a link describing the study: http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/33+the+series+robert+lewis ), we read on page 32: It is sad and should be terrifying how easy it is for us as men to slip on the clothes of passivity, medioctrity and insignificance. Authentic men reject all that." Then on the next page of the same study the following challenge is written in bold print: "Let's 'Man Up' and make, create and cultivate our new normal in every phase and season of life." The term "new normal" is referring to the new life in Christ that is and should ever be both a real and experiential reality in every Christian man's life. 

In Christ the whole-man is rebuilt from the ground up. There is nothing recreational about the Christian life. Christ is not interested in renovating some rooms in the house of your life, but rather rebuilding you as a man of God. Imagine how a manhood re-created in Christ can affect our marriages, families and workplaces. Men of God, this is who we are called to be. Jesus Christ came to re-create true manhood. Our identity and our destiny as men can only be found in Him. Our marriages, families and workplaces will only be affected when we as men of God come to terms with who we are and whose we are.  

Three foundations for Christ-centered manhood

Colossians 3:9-10 "Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him".

Introduction:
Jesus Christ came not only to provide redemption and forgiveness of sins to all who believe but also to provide the restoration of what was lost in Adam. The phrase I have heard being tossed around by men's ministry leaders is the idea that we are the by-products of "broken male culture". Today's study will seek to equip Christian men on the foundations for the re-created manhood that is only found in Jesus Christ. The principles laid out below can be applied to men specifically or anyone in general.

Foundations for Christ's re-creation of true manhood
As men of God, we're not called to be "recreational" in our manhood, but re-creations who have a totally transformed manhood. Colossians 3:1-17 describes the foundation of re-created humanity (and for that matter manhood). We can understand this foundation by noting what I term "three certificates" issued by Christ to the Christian.

Re-created manhood's power to prioritize things around God .  Colossians 3:1-2, 10-12
As a man born-again by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I am issued a birth certificate. (John 3:3-6; 1 Peter 1:23) Becoming a Christian is not merely turning over a new leaf, but becoming a whole new tree altogether. (Psalm 1) Thus as a re-created man, this first foundation tells me I have new priorities (3:1-2) and the power of a newly-formed nature in union with Christ to live out His priorities (3:10-12). 

2. Re-created manhood can put the past behind. Colossians 3:3-9
Colossians 3:3 states - "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." At the cross of salvation the sinner by God's graceful gifting through faith believes and dies to who they were in Adam. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Old convictions (described in Colossians 3:5) and old habits issuing forth from those convictions (Colossians 3:6-9) are written on my spiritual death certificate by the Heavenly Coroner, the Holy Spirit, at my salvation. As a man of God in Christ I have the power to put the past behind.  This is to be a daily resolve and not just merely a once and a while "re-commitment".  The cross that saved me is now the cross that is going to be changing me in my mind, emotions and will. Everyday I must in my mind, emotions and will go to the cross by way of taking in the scriptures and breathing out prayers to God.  Christianity is not a recreational activity, but a re-creational reality.  Old convictions and habits may attempt to rear their ugly head, and will at times.  However when a man has the newly created nature deep inside the core of their being, that means that by dying to self, the power to change convictions and habits is well within reach.  

3. Re-created manhood is united to the One who enables persistent change. 3:10-17
When my wife and I were getting ready to get married, we had to go to the courthouse to obtain a marriage license. Do you remember what it was like when you went from the single life to married life? What changed? Your union with your spouse undoubtedly affected everything about you: finances, relationships, eating, sleeping, thinking - everything! As Christians we are united to Christ at salvation. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Though that union is instant, the remainder of the Christian life is figuring out what happened!  

Think of the scriptures as the believer's marriage certificate that announces to Whom they are espoused. In the marriages of Paul's day, the couple to be married went through two stages: espousal or being regarded as legally bound to one another but not yet living under the same roof and then the actual marriage ceremony that would then be sealed by physical consummation and a lifetime of living under the same roof. As Christians, we are united to the Lord Jesus as His espoused bride and await for His return to take us to Himself to be with Him wherever He is in Heaven and then on earth. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:10ff) Included in this powerful truth is the literally transformation of our inward nature that takes place whereby we are made new creations in Jesus. (2 Cor 5:17)

The foundation to Christ's re-creation of a man's manhood involves the certificate of a new-birth (power for living) as well as a death certificate (putting the past behind). However unless we as men (and of course those who are women of God) are united to Christ at salvation, and understand in a growing way who we are in union with Him, we will never be convinced that change has happened, is occurring or must take place. 

The marriage certificate of the believer are the scriptures that declare the reality of a transformed life received by faith. Colossians 3:10 states - "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him". What does this all mean? Through our union with Christ (like in a marriage), everything is made new: from attitudes (Colossians 3:12), to actions (3:13-15) to how I regard the scriptures (3:16-17). 

Closing thoughts:
As we saw already, the birth-certificate granted at salvation means new priorities and power for living. Furthermore, the death certificate means I can forsake the "old me" and live out who I really am in Christ as a re-created man. Then we saw that in our marriage certificate of the scriptures, all of those united to Christ by faith are espoused and thus have received a transformed nature that sets them on course to living for Christ until He returns. These are the foundations for re-created manhood in Christ. 

The kind of men God wants in families, churches and communities

1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension."

Introduction:

In Paul's first letter to Timothy, the main purpose was to instruct both Timothy and the church on how to conduct themselves in the church of the living God. (1 Timothy 3:15) To expand out further for a moment, the three letters of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are deemed "The Pastoral Epistles". They function as inspired manuals on how to have a Christ-centered church and leaders who can lead those churches. The vision for Godly leadership and churches in 1 Timothy, as well as 2 Timothy and Titus, is  to address families, pastors, deacons, men, women and children. 

To now zero in the focus today's post, 1 Timothy 2:8 expresses God's desire for godly men in the church. Such a need in our families, churches and communities cannot be over-emphasized. Without a doubt Paul is concerned about addressing the male church membership at the church of Ephesus in 1 Timothy, as seen in his specific use of the word translated "men". 

Why the men? Certainly Paul is not excluding women from his instructions on godly living in the church. The remaining seven verses of 1 Timothy 2 aim at demonstrating God's inclusion of women in his redemptive purposes. Rather Paul is underscoring the need for godly men. Ephesus was a center of culture and learning in Asia Minor and was known for its devotion to the false Greek female deity known as Artemis. This cult flourished in Ephesus and epitomized broken male culture, as seen in the crass forms of prostitution practiced by both men and women at the temple shrine. As the church at Ephesus began in Acts 18 and 19, the immediate need was evident - the need for godly men. The need was for men who could lead, be spiritual leaders in their homes and living examples of men who are transformed by Jesus Christ. Today we want to consider 1 Timothy 2:8 and simply note the kind of men God wants.

1. God wants Godly men. 

When Paul wrote: "I desire for men in every place..." at the beginning of 1 Timothy 2:8, he was not only expressing his thoughts and desires, but also the desires of the Holy Spirit inspiring His words. God so wills and desires for there to be Godly men in every generation and in every church. We see as early as Genesis 3 God's desire to redeem Adam. Adam had failed as the man and as a man to protect his wife, rebuke the Devil and heed the voice of God. Nonetheless God sought after the man and the woman both. The first five chapters of Genesis record over 1600 years of time and ten generations of human beings, with ten men carrying forth the Gospel like torch lights on an unlit runway. Afterward God raised up men like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Hezekiah and others throughout the Old Testament. Certainly God utilized women in furthering the Kingdom like Deborah in Judges and Ruth and Mary, yet God's express desire more often than not was to call forth men. 

Why men? It's not because men are smarter, or better or more consistent. if anything, men oftentimes fail, are hard to find when it comes to the need for leadership and frankly, would rather let someone else do it. God's ultimate purpose in all things is His glory. (Romans 11:36) Any spiritual benefit flows from my life as a man cannot be credited to me, but God alone. 

The greatest evidence we have in scripture of God's desire for Godly men is in what His Son became when He came into this world. Jesus Christ, the Second, Co-Eternal, Co-Equal Sharer of Deity with the Father and the Spirit, assumed humanity in the virgin birth. To be more specific, Jesus Christ chose to become a man in the fulness of time. (Galatians 4:4) So clearly the first reason we need godly men is due to the fact that it is God's will for there to be godly men.

2. God wants Godly men that are spiritual leaders

So we have established that God desires godly men, and now we can build on that thought by including how God desires godly men who are spiritual leaders. However notice what Paul writes again in 1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands....". Why the  public display of prayer and worship? It is quite simple really....God desires men to be spiritual leaders in their homes, churches and communities. Paul does not restrict male spiritual leadership in one location. He could very well had limited his instructions to "wanting all men in the churches to pray and lift up holy hands" or "wanting all men to pray" and thus put the period on the end of his sentence. However, that is not what the Holy Ghost intended. Rather, the instruction is very public and purposefully meant to convey the need everywhere and everyplace for men to be spiritual examples. 

3. God wants Godly men to be spiritual leaders who are unhindered in their walk with Him

Again notice what Paul writes in - 1 Timothy 2:8 "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." So many men either hold onto anger from the past or pride and thus dissension. Pride and anger lie at the root of Adam's fall into sin. These two traits are persistently used by Satan to sabatoge men who are redeemed by Christ in faith from enjoying their walks with God. 

God desires godly men, and godly men who will be spiritual leaders. However to add onto these last two thoughts, He desires men who won't hesitate in their walk with Him. It is clear that broken male culture is the outcome of men hesitating or not following through in their relationships - whether they be marriages, parenting or with their walk with God. We as men need to quit hesitating and throw our all into others and moreso into the Lord Himself. 

Why Biblical Inerrancy is the basis for effective preaching - Consistent Effective Preaching of an Inerrant Bible is what people need to hear.

2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."

Introduction:

The past couple of days have been devoted to understanding why Biblical inerrancy and effective preaching go hand-in-hand. The sermons proclaimed from any pulpit are only effective insofar as they are grounded in and leading out the meaning of those words. The above opening texts are gold standards when it comes to expressing two core truths of the Christian faith: the inspiration of the Bible and the priority of preaching. We have seen thus far that an inerrant Bible must be the basis for effective preaching because the cost of effective preaching is worth it because the Bible is inspired and thus inerrant; as well as recognizing that God revealed His word to be preached. Today I want to draw this short series to a close by asking once more: why is Biblical Inerrancy the basis for effective preaching? As we shall see, an inerrant Bible being preached is what people need to hear.

Consistent Effective Preaching of an Inerrant Bible is what people need to hear.2 Timothy 4:1-5

To insure that this post is not just for preachers by a preacher, we must also realize that preachers are first hearers of the Spirit illuminating the inerrant text to them in the process of preparation. Moreover, the person in the pew or in the classroom or in the public square is considered a hearer and thus stands as the intended recipient of such effective preaching. Hearers are going to have different viewpoints on what the Bible is, however the preacher, if he is to be consistently effective and to stand up under the strain of a long-tenured pulpit ministry, must see the Bible for what it really is.

Think about this: if a man believes that the Bible is not inspired, or even if he believes the Bible to be inspired but not fully inerrant, then how can he be a consistent hearer? Such a man to one degree or another will sit as judge over the Bible, rather than sitting in judgment by the Bible. Dr. Steven Lawson in his book: "Famine in the Land, the Priority of Biblical Preaching", page 26, quotes theologian Michael Horton who states regarding the need for sound, expository, effective preaching and belief in Biblical inerrancy: "The regular proclamation of Christ through the close exposition of Scripture is more relevant in creating a worshipping and servicing community than political causes, moral crusades and entertaining services." 

Whether one be a preacher behind a pulpit or a person in the pew, everyone needs to hear God speak through His words. A book that is anything less than inspired, inerrant and infallible is not the kind of book that can demand change nor bring it. Preachers need changed by the Word of God. As Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13-16   "Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by thepresbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." 

No wonder Paul warns Timothy of the dangers yet again that he and subsequent generations of Christians will face by opponents of the Bible. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) Such preaching is worth it and the Bible as God's inspired and inerrant book is worth what Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:5 - "But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Closing thoughts:

Today we aimed to answer the question: why Biblical inerrancy is the basis for effective preaching? In answering this question from 2 Timothy 3:10-4:5 we noted the following:

1. Cost of effective preaching demands inerrant scripture. 2 Timothy 3:10-14 

2. Contents of inerrant scripture were revealed for effective preaching. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

3. Consistent Effective Preaching of an Inerrant Bible is what people need to hear.2 Timothy 4:1-5