God’s instructions to Gideon and the choosing of three hundred valiant men. The glory of the victory must be given to God and it was not the work of Men.
Courage and Caliber
Bravery in Baptism
The rite of water baptism differs from our communion table in that the bread and the cup are typically taken as an assembly, in the privacy of the church. The water baptism, while sometimes out of view of witnesses, is typically in public; ever since the days of John the Baptizer. It is a public statement and depending on where one lives, it may require a significant amount of courage to make this open declaration. It takes bravery to stand up to an antichrist culture, and by this action of baptism declare that “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.”
The Flesh
Paul realized that Christians do not always understand how we can instantly slide from being obedient in the spirit, to sinning against the Holy Spirit; how our spiritual nature is duped and or overpowered by our fallen nature – that sinful nature – the old nature also known as “the flesh.” To help them understand, he makes it painfully clear that this nature is completely corrupt, beyond reconciliation, and without exception it is contrary to God and my quest for Christlikeness; my flesh is my enemy that wars against God and me. But Paul’s lesson does not stop there. He clearly teaches that the solution is found only in Christ and saves the sinner from all condemnation; all who pursue the life in the Spirit
Guilty of Christianity
In an attempt to lessen tensions in the Jerusalem Church, Paul followed the appeasement plan of James, the half-brother of the Lord. This plan failed. While Paul was on the temple grounds he was recognized and grabbed. The crowd was stirred to wrath against Paul on charges that he spoke against Judaism and the temple. These charges were not entirely true, but what was true was that Paul was guilty of Christianity: preaching that a soul is saved by the finished work of Christ on the Cross and not by any work of man, including circumcision, diet, or Sabbath keeping.
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