The Gospel Light

2 Timothy 3:1-9 (NKJV) “1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

Paul giving instruction to the young pastor, Timothy is trying to relate those things that were going on that needed to be considered and a close watch placed upon.  He is also giving to us the same warning so that we can resist the tendencies of the world around about us.  We see the things that were happening during that period of time that is so prevalent in today’s society.  If you take each one of these things that were going on back in the time that Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy we can see the very same things going on in our own era of time.  We all to often try to lay these problems off on the young people, but in all reality it is not just the young people which are guilty.  As you examine these problems in the life of the people we see very readily that older individuals are just as involved in these things as the young.

Lets examine some of these in the light of what is going on in the world today.  (I am not going to cover each one of these various problems due to lack of space.)
“Lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”
If you will only listen to people as they talk and listen to those that are on the TV and radio.  What is it that most people are most interested in?  There is one predominate statement that you hear over and over again,  “I have my rights” or any one of several different versions of the same statement.  Who is the one that is most important?  In considering this we see that  “self “ stands out in the mind of most today.  They are more concerned about what is best for me rather than looking around and seeing what is best for others.  When you consider the life of Christ His first concern was the needs of those that were round about Him.  We see in the word of God that in various scriptures we see where He looked at the multitude and had compassion on them because of their needs.  But, today if one were to walk into a crowd of people the concern would not be on those of need.  It would be on what is best for “me”.  Someone stepped on my toes or because of the crowd I will not be able to get or do what I want.   As would be reported “my rights have been violated.”  Where is the love of God in the hearts of men today?  What is the commandment that Jesus gave to us?  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind”, then the next is “love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Where has the love gone?

Next we see the problem of loving money.  The love of money is the root of all evil.  We in America are striving to have more and more all the time.  The importance of money in our lives has grown to the point of being out of proportion.  Money has become so important that men are willing to do just about anything to get it or more of it.  What all are men willing to do to get more of it?  Men will go out and rob and steal to have it and in doing so they are willing to kill just for a few dollars.  Many have found that there are easier ways of getting money than working for it, such as selling drugs.  In doing so they are not even conscionable enough to refrain from selling it to the very young.  Drugs are being sold on all of our school campuses, even down to the lower elementary schools.  They could care less what is happening to the ones they are selling these life devastating drugs to just to make money.  Ones are so much in love with money that it has completely taken control of their lives.  Money is a necessary part of our lives, but the way that we attain it is the difference in whether or not we have allowed it to become our driving force for life.  We allow the obsession for money to prevent us from attending church at the times of the services.  If Jesus were here today I wonder what He would do with the ones that are so obsessed with money?  He overthrew the tables of the money changers in the Temple and drove them out of the temple with a whip of sorts.  It would be interesting to know what would happen if He came upon one of the drug deals as the drugs and money were changing hands.

In the family home, who is it that is really in charge today?  We find that in most homes in America it is not the parents that are in charge.  But instead it is the unruly children.  Where there are rules for the children to obey, most of them do not obey the parents.  There are many reasons for this, such as there is no discipline by the parents.  Also, with the attitude of our government the parents are left very little room for discipline without being charged with child abuse.  Our schools have no discipline and they teach that the child has his rights, therefore they should not be disciplined at home.  The scripture says, “spare the rod and spoil the child”, there has to be discipline if the child is going to be obedient to the parent.  The Bible teaches that a child should respect their parents, but how can they respect a parent that has no control over that child?  How  can a child know how to be obedient without being trained?  The Bible says to “train up a child in the way he should go”, therefore we need to be training our children to be obedient, but in America we  are not.

Christianity in our society today does not want to tell anyone that anything is wrong, (a sin).  Many of what we think of as being mainline Christian churches are teaching that anything in moderation is not wrong.  Either this teaching or they teach you that you cannot live above sin and that once you are saved you are always saved.  Is it any wonder that people are living lives that are unholy?  God says, “be ye holy as I am holy.”  People have come to the point in this old world that they want to do their own thing and they don’t care what anyone or even God says otherwise.  “I am going to do what I want to do because I want to have a little fun.”  They are not going to go to church, because it may interfere with going to the lake, football game, playing golf, or any one of a thousand different things.  This covers two different statements that Paul made here. One is that of being “unholy” and that of “loving pleasure rather than lovers of God.”  We can look at the churches and see how empty they are and then look at an athletic stadium and see which one people are really lovers of.  Also, when you talk to people it doesn’t take you long to tell where their love really lies.  When people talk they generally talk about those things that mean the most to them.  As a rule, when  ones talk today it is on any subject other than God.  “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  As you look about you and consider Paul’s statement do you see unholiness?  Do you see the world chasing after the worldly pleasures?

The instructions that Paul is giving to Timothy are just as pertinent to us today as it was for the period of time in the first century.  We see the things that Paul was talking about all around us.  Also, if you will study through the Bible you will find other things that are given to us that are to happen in the last days and each one are prominent in our day and times.  Therefore, as we consider these things, should we not be also considering the fact that the prophecies of the Bible are being fulfilled?  The next event on the prophetic calendar would be the return of our blessed Lord and Savior to take His church home with Him.  He will be coming for His Bride, the church to take it to present it to the Father without spot or wrinkle.  In saying this then we should be looking for that day when He returns and we should be living a life prepared for that coming and for that great marriage supper of the Lamb.  Make yourself ready and be watching and waiting for that great day of the Lord.  May God bless you.

 There seems to be much debate today on God; whether He is just one person or three in one.  It ranges widely across the so called “christian” world.  The understanding of God is an understandably difficult concept for many, especially those who are new to the Bible.  I have seen a great misunderstanding of this even among pastors.  I remember sitting in a ministers’ meeting a couple years ago where one of the pastor stated that he was having trouble with the teachings on the Trinity for he didn’t believe in it.  I am in firm belief that a pastor should know what the Bible teaches, especially on a subject as important as God.  It not only is his responsibility to know but also to accept what the Bible has to say.  (Titus 1:9)  “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”  The above scripture is part of the requirements for a bishop listed in the scripture.  (The biblical office of a bishop is most commonly known as a pastor.)  So a pastor must know the doctrine and be able to convince the gainsayer.  There is only one way to do this and that is to know what the Bible actually says and to teach it accordingly.  The need to know what the Bible says is not limited to the pastor only but is needful for all the people of God.  Without this knowledge it would be impossible to know if we are being taught the truth or a lie.  This is one reason that Paul wrote: (2 Tim. 2:15) “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We must study the bible to know what it says and that it is being quoted correctly.  For if scripture is taken out of context it can be made to support just about any thing.  So while I may not quote entire chapters in this article due to space limitations I encourage the reader to go into the Bible and double check me.  For then you will have no doubt as to what the Bible truly teaches.  (2 Tim. 3:16 -17)  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  As you can see the Bible is to be where our doctrine comes from.  Let us now take the time to see what the Bible actually says about God.
 (James 2:19) “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”   Here James tells us that if we believe in one God that we do well.  We see that in Deuteronomy it says; (Deut. 6:4)  “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”  It is because of scriptures like these that the Jews claim that the Christians have three gods instead of one; while the Bible teaches only one God.  This has thrown many people and to deal with this accusation some professed Christians have taken on a claim against the Trinity in favor of a Jesus only view.  Stating that Jesus is the name of God in entirety.  While I will admit that there is but one God let us look at what the Bible says of God.  Is He one person or three?
 (Gen. 1:26) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen. 11:5-8)  “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.  And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.”  As the two above scriptures indicate there is a plural character to God.  Either God has more than one person or He is suffering from multiple personality syndrome.  Our faith is in vain if we have an insane God.  But God is by no means mentally ill for let us look more closely into God’s precious word.  (1 Chron. 29:10)  “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.”(Psa. 89:26) “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.”  (Rom. 15:6) “That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” These are just a few of the scriptures showing that our heavenly Father is God.  (Heb.1:8) “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”  (Isa. 9:6)  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  (Matt. 1:23)  “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (John 1:1-3) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:14) “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  Here we have scriptural proof that the Messiah Jesus Christ was also God.  (Gen. 1:1-2) “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (1 Cor. 3:16) “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” These are a few scriptures that describe the Holy Ghost as God. For when you analyze the word it is clear that the Holy Ghost is referred to as God such as in Acts 28:25  “And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers”.  Which in this quote it is stating the Holy Ghost as saying something that Isa 6:9 states was a saying from God.  It is clear to any who will read the Holy Scripture that the Holy Ghost is God.
 As we have observed, the Bible teaches that God is made up of three personalities.  But is still yet one God.  I explain it is like this (though I will admit that it falls far short).  Here in the United States we have one government, but that government is divided into three parts of equal power. The Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. There is but one government but three equal parts to that government.  Each has their own responsibilities and duties.  I grant you this is where the similarity ends.  For God, while having three parts and different duties for each, is also in perfect agreement with the same goals.  Some have tried to say oh those are just different positions God has placed Himself in at different times in history.  Much like I am a Son, a Dad, and I have a spirit.  But this is not truly fitting for God.  For instance they all have been evident at once.  (Luke 3:21-22) “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”  Here we see that all three parts of the Trinity where visibly present.  Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and God the Father spoke.  To claim that this was all done by Christ would have made him a flashy, showy individual instead of the humble person that He was and still is.   (Matt. 26:39-42) “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”  If Jesus was both God the Father and God the Son it would have made no since for Him to a pray to the Father especially being alone.  It would also have been impossible for Him to have had a different will from the Father. Yet He stated that there was a difference in wills though He was fully willing to subject Himself to the will of the Father.  The Scripture is plain concerning the fact that The Father and the Son are different persons but yet God.  This is apparent to any who will read the word with an open mind untainted by prejudice.
 (John 16:13-15) “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”  Now on the issue of the Holy Ghost and Jesus being the same person let us observe what the Word has to say here.  It states that He will not speak of Himself but of Christ.  Yet if they were the same then He would even then be speaking of Himself.  This is something the Holy Ghost doesn’t do.  Thus for them to be the same the scripture would have to lie.  But God cannot lie.  (Titus 1:2) “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” So either the Holy Spirit speaks of Christ and not Himself or God has done something that He can not do and that is lie.  Thus the Holy Ghost is different from Jesus.
 Since before time God has reigned and will continue until after time ends, forever unchanging.  (James 1:17) “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  (Psalms 103:17) “But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;” He doesn’t change.  Just as God judged the earth before at the time of the flood he shall judge the earth again.  For as God thundered from mount Horeb, He still is majestic and reigns.  Just as the Holy Ghost empowered the servants of God in the past, giving strength to some, giving the words of God to the prophets and the apostles, He still will give us the right words and give us strength if we will let Him.  Just as Jesus delivered the three Hebrew children from the fiery furnace; even now He stands ready to deliver from the fires of Hell.  God will be happy to reach down and change our lives from the path of sin and destruction and place on the way of light.  All we have to do is ask.  (John 1:9) “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
 God is great and wise let Him lead you through this life.  Let’s not make less of Him for each person in the Trinity is vitally important and worthy of praise.
 

God is Good to Me
by Matthew Farrar (age 6)

God gives me food.
God gives me flowers.
God gives me a Church.
God gives me a Bible.

 
 

 

The Greatest Love
by Dr. Art Smith

I was a Prodical covered
with shame,
Body all broken and legs
nearly lame.
God sent His Son to die in
my place,
And by His Grace we’ll meet
face to face.
How could God love me with
all of my sin?
Only His love could reach deep
within.
Thank God for Bethleham, the
Garden, the Cross,
Without it all I’d surely be
Lost.
Greatest love for all to me,
The love of beauty that man
can’t see.
Only God can have and give,
the love by which a man can live.ly to our souls.

 This publication is by the First Church of God, 2311 Dawson Cabin Rd., Jacksonville, NC 28540.  Chief Editor Pastor Stanley Farrar II, Editor Michelle Farrar. The Gospel Light is published to spread the true light of God's word to all men.  We are dedicated to the truths of the word of God.  Such as salvation, holiness, sanctification, the unity of all believers, etc...It is also online at:  http://geocities.datacellar.net/gospel_light.geo.

 We are not responsible for returning any articles submitted to The Gospel Light.  We reserve the right to hold the articles for future printing, and possible reprinting.  All articles submitted should be submitted to the First Church of God, 2311 Dawson Cabin Rd., Jacksonville, NC 28540.  We can also be faxed at (775)854-4092, or we can be e-mailed at srfarrar@earthlink.net.  I hope that the Gospel Light paper is a blessing to you, and may God bless those who read this paper.