Some of you who read this are local while some are not. Regardless, you may or not be aware that yesterday morning at South Knoxville I responded to the invitation. Below is the statement I wrote that was read to the congregation. I'm posting it hear for several reasons.
For starters if you're reading this and we know each other I'm sure we care for each other. I think then that it's right for you to know what's going on in my life. It's also my hope that you might pray for me. I was surprised, amazed and humbled yesterday at how many people came up to Lisa and I, hugged us and said they looked up to me. I want and need to keep that in mind. Though I'm more ashamed of my recent behavior than anything I've previously done, I've already found the healing from it to truly be cleansing. Also, I hope it may serve as an inspiration to others who are struggling with sin. If after reading what was read yesterday you have questions, feel free to contact me. I'll be glad to answer your questions.
Here is the statement:
I have sinned. Over the past couple of weeks I've been engaging in behavior that is wrong and repulsive. I hurt and embarrassed myself, my Savior, you, those that look up to me and my family; particularly my wife. I'm sorry I let you down. Doing wrong is bad enough. Knowing it's wrong when you do it just adds to your shame and guilt. I've learned "I'm sorry" and "thank you" can be wholly inadequate but I say them to you. Knowing as fact that Jesus' blood continues to cleanse us is important but realizing how deeply you yourself need that cleansing is sometimes an overwhelming thought - as I feel now.
Please pray for me. Please pray for my wife. Please pray for my family. Please forgive me. As Lisa reminded me this morning, we can't let the sins of our past define who we are (and I won't) and when we are at our lowest, that's when His strength shines through (and it is). I have been reminded over the past few days how richly I have been blessed, far beyond what I deserve. I plan to acknowledge those blessings every day I have to live.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
First John...Who, Why, Where, When
Who wrote it: There is more evidence that the Apostle John wrote First John than there is for authenticating the authorship of any other Biblical book. Polycarp and Papias were two first century church leaders. Both men quote from the book. Polycarp was a student of John's. In those days, being a student meant much more than it does today. A student in the first century would live with his teacher. They had a very close relationship on a continual basis. Iraenaeus was a student of Polycarp. He also quoted from this book and attributed it to John.
A comparison of the Gospel of John and First John show that the same person wrote both books. Key words, phrases and themes are the same from one book to the other. The first three gospel accounts tell us what Jesus did while on Earth. John's gospel tells us why He did those things and most of the time he comes back to love. That of course is one of the overriding themes of this first epistle. The two books begin with the same thought and close with the same thought.
When was it written: There was a great outburst of persecution against the Christians that began in 94 A.D. under the Roman Emperor Domitian. The epistles of John don't deal with instructions on how to stand firm under trials as some of Peter's letters did. It appears then that John wrote these letters before the persecution began. They appear to have been written around 90 A.D. That makes sense also due to the fact that some of the phrases used make it appear that the writer (John) was an older man.
Why it was written: Gnosticism had been influencing the church. That title comes from the Greek word gnosis which means knowledge. Gnostics claimed to have superior knowledge; knowledge that the common Christian didn't and couldn't possess according to Gnostics. Entire books have been written about these people. Gnostics as a whole believed that all matter was evil including people.
There were two camps under the umbrella of Gnosticism. Docetic Gnostics believed that Christ's physical body was an illusion as was his crucifixtion. They believed it only appeared that He seemed to look like a human and die a physical death. They believed He was really a pure spirit. Docetism is from the Greek word dokeo which means "to seem". Cerinthian Gnostics thought Christ was an excellent person but that God's spirit left Him before the crucifixtion. It was impossible to them that God could die. The got their name from their leader Cerinthus.
The result of this belief system was that Gnostics taught that people could do anything they wanted without punishment or consequence. After all, all matter is evil they thought so since I'm evil I'm going to sin. Since the spirit (our soul) is pure, it can't sin so it won't be affected by what our physical bodies do. Since these Gnostics believed they had this gnosis (knowledge) they were free to indulge themselves.
This letter was written to Christians to strengthen them against this kind of thinking, so their "joy may be full". (1:4) You'll notice as we look at the verses later, John wastes no time in going after these false teachers and stays after them throughout the book.
Here's a great example of how adamant John was against false teachers. Remember Irenaeus? He was the student of Polycarp who of course was a student of John. In his book "Against Heresies" (the apple didn't fall far from that tree!) he wrote about John and Cerinthus, "the disciple of the Lord going to bathe at Ephesus and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bathhouse without bathing, exclaiming 'Let us fly lest even the bathhouse fall down because Cerinthus the enemy of the truth is within.'" A man that stands that firm in the truth is a man I want to listen to. Fortunatey he gave us plenty to listen to in his epistles.
A comparison of the Gospel of John and First John show that the same person wrote both books. Key words, phrases and themes are the same from one book to the other. The first three gospel accounts tell us what Jesus did while on Earth. John's gospel tells us why He did those things and most of the time he comes back to love. That of course is one of the overriding themes of this first epistle. The two books begin with the same thought and close with the same thought.
When was it written: There was a great outburst of persecution against the Christians that began in 94 A.D. under the Roman Emperor Domitian. The epistles of John don't deal with instructions on how to stand firm under trials as some of Peter's letters did. It appears then that John wrote these letters before the persecution began. They appear to have been written around 90 A.D. That makes sense also due to the fact that some of the phrases used make it appear that the writer (John) was an older man.
Why it was written: Gnosticism had been influencing the church. That title comes from the Greek word gnosis which means knowledge. Gnostics claimed to have superior knowledge; knowledge that the common Christian didn't and couldn't possess according to Gnostics. Entire books have been written about these people. Gnostics as a whole believed that all matter was evil including people.
There were two camps under the umbrella of Gnosticism. Docetic Gnostics believed that Christ's physical body was an illusion as was his crucifixtion. They believed it only appeared that He seemed to look like a human and die a physical death. They believed He was really a pure spirit. Docetism is from the Greek word dokeo which means "to seem". Cerinthian Gnostics thought Christ was an excellent person but that God's spirit left Him before the crucifixtion. It was impossible to them that God could die. The got their name from their leader Cerinthus.
The result of this belief system was that Gnostics taught that people could do anything they wanted without punishment or consequence. After all, all matter is evil they thought so since I'm evil I'm going to sin. Since the spirit (our soul) is pure, it can't sin so it won't be affected by what our physical bodies do. Since these Gnostics believed they had this gnosis (knowledge) they were free to indulge themselves.
This letter was written to Christians to strengthen them against this kind of thinking, so their "joy may be full". (1:4) You'll notice as we look at the verses later, John wastes no time in going after these false teachers and stays after them throughout the book.
Here's a great example of how adamant John was against false teachers. Remember Irenaeus? He was the student of Polycarp who of course was a student of John. In his book "Against Heresies" (the apple didn't fall far from that tree!) he wrote about John and Cerinthus, "the disciple of the Lord going to bathe at Ephesus and perceiving Cerinthus within, rushed out of the bathhouse without bathing, exclaiming 'Let us fly lest even the bathhouse fall down because Cerinthus the enemy of the truth is within.'" A man that stands that firm in the truth is a man I want to listen to. Fortunatey he gave us plenty to listen to in his epistles.
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