Scriptural Job Descriptions

Office of Deacons

It is assumed, that the initial New Testament appointment of deacons is found in Acts 6:1-6. This passage points to the nature and duties of the men serving within the church for a specific purpose.  However, the requirements for their selection differ greatly from those found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 concerning the office of Deacon.  Furthermore, the Bible never refers to the men selected in Acts as deacons.

There are absolutely no clear, opinion free, job descriptions within the New Testament for the office of Deacon:  Just a description of qualification.

Office of Elders

According to the New Testament, elders are responsible for the primary leadership and oversight of a church.  Elders lead the church, 1 Timothy 5:17, Titus 1;7, 1 Peter 5:1-2.  Elders teach and preach the Word, 1 Timothy 3:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 1:9.  Elders protect the church from false teachers, Acts 20:17, 28-31.  Elders exhort and admonish the saints in sound doctrine, 1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:13-17, Titus 1:9.  Elders visit the sick and pray, James 5:14, Acts 20:35.  Elders judge doctrinal issues, Acts 15:16.  In biblical terminology, elders shepherd, oversee, lead, and care for the local church.  The qualification guidelines for the office of Elder is clearly describe in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.  Elders are men not women, 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6.

Office of Evangelist/Preacher

The title Evangelist is descriptive of the work. The word from the New Testament translated as evangelist means “preacher of the good news.”  1. Ordained by elders (this implies accountability) 1 Timothy 4:14.  2. Obey the eldership (obviously not to the point of disobeying God) Hebrews 13:17.  3. Periodically report what you have done to elders.  Acts 15:4 and Acts 21:18-19.  4. Seek the Elders input, guidance and intervention.  Acts 15:2 and Acts 15:6.  5. Study the Word Diligently to prepare to teach.  2 Timothy 2:15 and 2 Timothy 4:2.  6. Preach the Word.  2 Timothy 4:2.  7.  Teach Sound doctrine. Titus 2:1.  8.  Rebuke with full authority. Titus 2:15, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:13.  9.  Encourage with full authority. Titus 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:1, Titus 2:6.  10.  Decide who teaches.  1 Timothy 1:3.  Each person is an evangelist and preacher whenever they proclaim the gospel to their friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc…  However, the biblical office of Evangelist or Preacher is continually referenced to belonging to men who choose to preach the gospel as their profession and live by it.

Office of Teacher

Each person is a teacher whenever they proclaim the gospel to their friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc… 

Office of Song Leader

There is absolutely no reference to, opinion off, job descriptions concerning this function within the New Testament for the position of Song Leader.  It is completely man made and was never intended by God or ordained by scripture as part of the Lord’s church.

I Was Rebuffed For My P.T.S.D.

I was “Christian” rebuffed in a couple of messages, because I am not seeing things as ‘black and white” or as “narrow” as this other person thinks I should. It was done sort of kind but rebuffed all the same. This was similar to the attitudes I remember from superiors in the Navy when I questioned them concerning two sided rules, unwritten policies, etc… Frustrated me then and does still. One of the skills I was taught and had to use was the art of seeing what is really being said. It was part of my training as a criminal investigator while in the Navy.

No I did not read things they wrote wrong. It might not have been meant to have been said the way it was but it was said the way it was.

Yes, there is 17 years of abusive hurts that haunt me daily as I walk my path in life.

However, respect, honor and love just because of a position is not a requirement when the person who should be responsible and respectable gives that right up by their own actions, attitudes and words.

So anyhow, I know people want to help and they want me to “pray” or “will” this memory of my past away: “just get over it”. Few people have a clue or know what it takes to live with memories like mine. It is extremely: mentally, emotionally and physically exhausting. What I am going through is not something that can just be “prayed” or “force of will” away. There are many times in my life when the memories of my past are just really bad. The memories of my past are bad just because that is life is for me. This time of my life is one of those times.

I fight the demons in my head all the time. I know the real war in this life is being fought in the mind. Yet at times, with no warning, I hear sounds, smell smells, or see events happen; that trigger the flashbacks, daymares and nightmares. I never know what will trigger them in my memory or life. I do take medication to help prevent the major effects of the flashbacks, daymares and/or nightmares on the public and myself.

Yes, I would fix this if I could. I would give me back a life free from all this if it were in my power. Most of my friends and acquaintance would also if it were in their power.

My Childhood Memories

My Childhood Memories

These are three collages concerning my childhood, I made to help me realize and somehow deal with what my mind fights to make since of during my nightmares, daymares and flashbacks daily.  This is the root of my P.T.S.D.

I thought maybe they would be helpful to others.

My Nightmares

My Nightmares

My Flashbacks

My Flashbacks

My Daymares

My Daymares

How do you respect

How do you respect a person who, in your first 17 years of life, did things like:

 

1. Back hands you to the floor for salting your food when the salt shaker is passed by?
2. Whips you because the newspaper is not immaculate when they arrive home from work?
3. Makes you and your siblings push your cousin back and forth until the cousin dislocates a hip or breaks the hip and the leg never grows as fast as the other anymore?
4. Allows your cousin to enter scalding hot bath water so that it burns them over two thirds of their body?
5. Forces you to watch them masturbate while they tell you that you will never be able to please a woman?
6. Beats you from your calf to mid back until you are purple with welts for playing Cowboys and Indians and building a camp fire in the back yard?
7. Takes you into the bathroom and compares their manhood to yours and laughs and makes fun at the difference in size while your still a pre-teen?
8. Preaches love, respect and honor of family from a pulpit on Sundays and then cusses, screams and yells and demeans their family at home during the weak?
9. Go’s into their study and dresses like a woman, taking pictures, then shows the pictures to their children, saying that the person is a distant relative?
10. Would take photographs of your only sister in various stages of dress and undress when she was a young teenager.
11. Points a luger handgun at you and says they wish you were never born?
12. Would laugh and encourage your sister to laugh and make fun of you publicly when you were going through the embarrassing years of puberty?
13. Tied you to your brother naked, in the living room, where anyone could see, with sowing thread and told that he would beat you if the thread was broken and then leaving you that way for what seemed like hours.
14. Not doing anything to stop the one parent from hurting her children?

Maybe this is a sign as to why only two of the six children of my parents attend church today on any regular attendance.  Maybe this is a sign as to why know one in my family is very close to any other person in my, childhood family, in a healthy way today.  Maybe this is why drugs and alcohol use has run its course within my siblings today.  Maybe this is why divorce is out of control in my birth family.  Maybe all of my siblings and I have carried unhealthy examples into our adult lives that were unknowingly passed to us by our “loving” parents.

People who did not have the childhood I had seem to have a hard time understanding why it is so hard to give blanket honor; respect and love to parents like mine were when I was younger.  They think you “just do it” and that is that.  Well it is not that easy to “just do it” and be done with it.  That list of 14 above could be so much longer.  I stopped at 14 because I felt that it gets the overall message of what a typical life in the Lewis family household was like in the 1950’s, 1960’s and early 1970’s.

I have tried to be nice to my parents in the last 19 years.  I have tried to be kind to them in public and when amongst their friends.  When my mom asked to come see me I brought them out to Arizona for ten days and showed them a little of where I live and my life in sobriety.  However, never once in all these 36 years have they ever asked for forgiveness or acknowledged guilt over the way they treated my siblings or me when I was a child.  For all practical purposes, they seem to have swept that part of their lives under the rug when they left California for Indiana.

When the question of honoring parents by children is being discussed, these two verses need to also should be considered:

Eph 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Col 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

It is not enough to only consider nor is it correct interpretation to use 1 Peter to say that children are to respect their parents.

1Pe 2:13-20 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.  Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”

Parent – child relationships are not even the subject under discussion by Peter in the text.  To add them is to include relationships that the author of the text did not infer at the time he wrote the letter and was not the subject to which the author was addressing.  Peter was talking about legislative authority or governing bodies not birth relationships.

There are biblical text that do tell children to honor their parents but these text also warn the parents not to wrong the children:  Not to mistreat the child.  The text that tells the child to honor the parent also implies that the parent can cause the child to lose that honor for them by the way they themselves treat the child.  (see the text of Eph and Col.)

Before a person requires a child to honor parents like mine were, ask them if Jesus would honor them if He walked by and saw what they were doing at that time?

I Do Not Believe That ALL Dishonoring Is A Sin.

This post has been removed for now.  I posted it while angry.  If in a few days i still feel the same way I will repost it.

Until then, Please pray for me if you have the time.  I am having a very hard time right now.  My PTSD is very active and so is my depression.  The lesson for Wed. Bible study did not set well with me and has pulled open old painful scars from my early days in the church growing up a PK.  The scars run very deep and it took me over 32 years to come back and give the church a second chance.  Right now I feel as if I made a mistake by returning because much of the attitudes and self-justification from the 60’s and early 70’s are still alive and well today.

Thanks, Guy

I will never Be Normal

I will never Be Normal

It has become painfully clear that I live in a world that normal people do not understand and can not relate my world to them.  I live in a world that if left untreated becomes a danger to society like the man on the beach with the evil spirit who lived in caves told about in the Bible.

When my medications work, I am relatively sane and safe to be in the world.  When they do not work who knows what will happen.  During this passed week, I have tried to explain what is going on with me as best I know how.  The message did not make it to the destination.  It fell far short of the intended goal. 

I do not like to hurt people in any way, shape or form.  My past is full of pain and sorrow.  Some I caused and some I did not cause; but way too much for any life time.

Every five years of my life, as far back as I can remember, I go through a “major” manic/depressive episode.  Why I do not know.  I just know it happens no matter how much I prepare against it or to control it.  2009 to 2010 is the five year mark of these episodes and my medication does not seem to be controlling the effects very well.

What I am going through right now.

Mixed Manic/Depressive Episode

Bipolar Disorder may experience an elevated (extremely happy/depressed) mood, often described as a ‘mixed” feeling.  This mixed feeling is a combination of symptoms from the manic and depressed sides of the disorder being experienced at the same time.   These feelings are often frightening for the individual experiencing them and for others who witness them.  People who live with these episodes also experience consequences that result in conditions that must be dealt with after the symptoms fade.

A mixed episode which I seem to be experiencing at this time includes elevated racing thoughts which cause lack of sleep that lead to frustrated moods and quick irritable reactions that last at for extended periods of time; (Weeks to months) following the onset of the first symptoms.

Some of my identified symptoms are as follows;

                     Excessive spending on home repairs and remodel I could not afford

                     Tormented sleep

                     Restless sleep

                     Extreme nightmares

                     Not sleeping

                     Easily distracted

                     Racing thoughts

       Feeling restless at times

       Loss of motivation or being sluggish

       Fatigue and loss of energy

       Strong feelings of worthlessness and failure

       Excessive feelings of being misunderstood

       Strong guilt for letting other’s down

       Hard to really think and concentrate

       Fear of making a mistake causing indecisiveness

       Recurring thoughts of isolation

       Recurring thoughts of giving up

       Strong feelings of loneliness

 Guy Lewis; July 16, 2009

Why We Gather at the Table: A Lord’s Supper Devotion

At least on two different occasions we are told in scripture to obey and be subject to our rulers and authorities.  The implication of the command to obey those of authority over us:  our government, the police officer, bosses, parents, Elders is to obey their directions.  The scriptures do not give us a choice in this matter.  We are simply told to obey.

Our responsibility in obedience is not based upon how many or how few of man made rules and laws there are by the people in authority over us.  Our responsibility to God is to always obey.

Because you and I became a Christian, we agreed to follow the standard the Lord established in our lives and to stop following the standard upon which we once lived our lives.

The apostle Paul lived by quite a different set of rules before he met Jesus and he wrote about this in his letter to Titus.

Tit 3:3-7 “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

When we entered into God’s grace within our lives and more so when we enter the assembly to gather around the Lord’s Table:  To what authority do you submit?

Certainly we come around the Communion Table to remember Jesus in our lives, but there is much more to it then that. 

We come to this table to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ in our lives.

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.“

It is also stated this way; “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.“

This is a command.  These words of Jesus, read in Luke 22:19 and from Paul in 1 Cor. 11:25 are a command we are directed to follow. 

You see it was first Jesus who commanded us to be here.  It was Jesus who commanded us to take of the bread and drink from the cup.  When we concentrate of Jesus at this time and not our worldly lives; we are recognizing that it is only by the Lord’s authority and power that we are saved.  Why?  Because;

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

How self-centered and selfish of us to neglect being around the Table our Jesus prepared.  If we can not be here because of our love for Jesus and what He does for us, then at least we can be here out of obedience to Him as Lord of All.

You see it is His love that compels us as Christians, but it is His command that demands our presence.

Let us all in quite meditation, follow the command of Jesus; blocking out of our minds what happen yesterday, what is going to happen for lunch, what songs we have song or will sing, the person sitting near you, and focus on the mercy, the grace, the great love, the needed death, the cross of Jesus and his resurrection over deaths power as we remember that we do this solely for Jesus.

Are We Really Following the 1st Century Pattern?

Some facts to think about concerning the Church Assembly of the First Century.

Dress: (Not fancy attire of suits, ties and high class dresses)

Males = A cloth head cover which extended to the shoulders, a tunic undergarment covered by a loose fitting mantle outer garment with a four inch leather belt or cloth girdle and sandals.

Females = A cloth head cover which extended to the shoulders, a tunic undergarment covered by a loose fitting mantle outer garment and sandals.

Place: (Not carpeted buildings with comfortable padded pews and air conditioning)

Synagogue court yard, Caves, Catacombs, Private homes, River banks, and Schools

Reason: (Not five acts)

Praise God (Psalm 148:5)

Supportive concern for each other (Heb10:24)

Communion (1 Cor. 11;26)

Time: (No set weekly time given or implied by scripture)

Assembly was logically held in the early morning or late evening because most Christians were peasants, slaves, servants or haired workers during the day.

Teachers: (Not just males)

All who had a lesson; Male or female.  (1 Cor 14:26)

Song Leaders: (Not just males)

No God designed or authorized position of worship authority.  All who had a song lead their song; Male or female. (1 Cor. 14:26)

Communion Servers: (Not just males)

God, according to scriptures, has not designed or authorized any all male communion service.  All who attend the assembly took part in the communion be they males or females.

If salvation is based on a “restitution” system then none could be saved – My study of MDR.

If salvation is based on a “restitution” system then none could be saved – My study of MDR = Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: By Guy Lewis

My premise concerning my study of this topic is that all of the scripture covering divorce and remarriage in the New Testament must agree with each other and that if any passage of scripture does not seem to agree with another then it is mankind’s opinion that is wrong and not scripture.  I will take a simple look at each of the passages of scripture that is concerned with the issue of divorce in the New Testament and look at the simple language of what it has to say and see if we can not see the simple message offered and if it in fact agrees with all other passages of New Testament scripture.  Therefore, I hope to show that there is no prohibition on remarriage of divorced person and that Paul was not contradicting Jesus in 1 Cor. 7 when he said that divorced person’s do not sin if they marry.

De 24:1-4 “1 When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” (ASV)

First off we must understand what the Law of Moses had to say about divorce and see if we can understand why this Law was given. 

In verse 1 the Hebrew word for “unseemly thing” is “ervah” which means indecency or nakedness or shame, that the husband shall give her (the wife) a bill or certificate of divorcement or divorce and send her out of the house.  This verse implies that there was a need of the Hebrew nation to protect the wives from just being sent out or being put out of a house by the husband and being discarded and destitute with no way to provide for themselves.

Verse 2 provides the remedy of the destitution indicated in verse 1.  That she may be the “wife” of another man.  This is a legal wife before God and before man.

Verses 3 and 4 says that if the second husband finds some “ervah” with her and divorces her or he dies, the first husband is bared from taking her as his wife again.   This is said to be an abomination before God and therefore a sin.  This may have been done to protect the woman from a wicked ex husband as or an effort to keep the nation pour in their bloodlines, but I am not sure but might be indicated by the use of the term “cause the land to sin” in verse 4.

Now this was the Law of God handed down through Moses to the people of Israel, concerning divorce and remarriage. 

Mt 5:17-20 “17 “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.  18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.  19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (ASV)

Jesus did not come to destroy the Law of Moses.  Jesus did not come to change the Law of Moses.  Jesus says in verses 17 to 19 that He did not come to do away with the Law of Moses and that whoever keeps and teaches the Law will be great in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus did not come to change but to keep the Law.  In verse 20 Jesus says that keeping the commandments is not an outward show it is a matter of ones heart that matters most.

Mt 5:31-32 “31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:  32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

 

These two verses must be read in the same context as the rest of the verses in this section of the Sermon on the Mount such as Matt. 5: 17-20, Matt. 5:21-22 and Matt 5:27-28.  Verse 31 says simply that the Law of Moses says to give a certificate of divorce (i.e. divorce your wife not just send her out or put her away).  Jesus was saying in verse 32 that to (apoluo) send her away or put her out would make her an adulteress because to survive she would have to join with another man who could support her or become a prostitute.  The only way she could be an adulteress was if she was still married.  So the word (apoluo) in this text can not mean divorce or she would not be an adulteress.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and she would have been free to remarry whom ever she desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  Therefore the correct translation of (apoluo) in verse 32 is send out or put away and not to divorce.  This translation is in keeping with and fits with all other passages in the New Testament concerning MDR.

Mt 19:9 “9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

 Once again in verse 9 Jesus was saying that to (apoluo) send away a wife or put a wife out and marry another would cause adultery because of being still married.  So the word (apoluo) in this text can not mean divorce or there would be no adultery.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  Therefore the correct translation of (apoluo) in verse 9 is send out or put away and not to divorce.  This translation is in keeping with and fits with all other passages in the New Testament concerning MDR.

 Mr 10:11 “11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:”  (ASV)

Again the word (apoluo) in verse 11 does not mean divorce in this passage either but to put away without divorce thus causing the adultery because the two are still married.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  It is interesting to note that here Mark also tell us to whom any adultery is committed against and that is the wife who is put away and not the new person married.  This is the only passage that specifically tells us this information.

Lu 16:18 “18 Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

Once again the word (apoluo) used in verse 18 does not mean divorce in this passage either but to put away without divorce thus causing the adultery because the two are still married.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.

Mt 16:18-19 ”18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (ASV)

What does Jesus mean when He tells the apostles that what they “DO” require on earth will be required in heaven and what they ‘do not” require will not be required in heaven?  Jesus is speaking directly to Peter in this passage but He was also talking to the other eleven by the context.  See the context of the nature of the conversation in:

Mt 16:13-16 “13 “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (ASV)

Jesus started the conversation out by addressing all the disciples not just Peter.  Peter just happens to be the one who answered for the group. (Also see John 20:23 where Jesus tells the disciples that whom ever they forgive on earth will also be forgiven in heaven.)

Jesus was talking about the new kingdom or church once it was established in Act’s chapter two.  Jesus was not addressing the apostles concerning events prior to the establishment of the church in this conversation because they were still under the Law of Moses.

Now the question is “Which of the apostles”, if any, established rules concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage after the church was established in Acts chapter two.

Ro 7:2-3 “2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.  3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.”  (ASV)

This passage is talking about a MARRIED couple not a DIVORCED couple.  So if she is still a married wife to the husband and she joins with another man then yes she become an adulteress because she was never given a divorce according to the Law because to divorce according to (Deuteronomy 24 which Jesus did not change) would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever she desired.

1Cor 6:9-11 “9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (ASV)

This passage is important because it says that no matter what your sin, verses 9 and 10 the blood of Jesus and the Spirit of God washes you clean; sanctifying you and justifying you.  This means you are made new again.  Made whole again.  Your prior sins are washed away as if they never happened.  In the book of Hebrew it says that God remembers your sins no more.  This is what verse 11 is also saying.  What ever the sin, including adultery according to verse 9, it is wiped away and remembered no more by the blood of Jesus.

1Cor 7:27-28 “27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. 28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.” (ASV)

Paul in verses 27 and 28 is clearly saying that if you are divorced and you remarry you have not sinned.  In verse 27 the word loosed (which is released in the NASB) indicates that one was married or attached to another (wife by the passage) so that they could not be released from her.  In the Greek it is number 3080 is translated “seek release or to be loosed.”  Whereas in the Greek number 3089 is also translated “Are you released or loosed?” within the same verse.  Two different Greek words have been translated into the same English word release in the NASB or loosed in the ASV in verse 27.  Also in the KJV and the NKJV this word is “loosed”.  In the NIV this word is “divorced” and “unmarried” respectfully.  In the RSV and NRSV the word is “free.”

The Greek word with the number 3080 = lusis meaning a loosing (by divorce) or released.

The Greek word with the number 3089 = luo meaning to loose, to release, to dissolve: – annuls, break, breaking, broke down, broken, destroy, destroyed, loose, loosed, putting an end to, released, removed, take off, unbind, untie, untied, untying.

Therefore, with this in mind, Paul, the inspired writer, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, said in verse 28 that divorce person’s, who choice to, have not sinned if they remarry. 

This does not violate Matt. 19:9 because Jesus never changed or altered the Law of Moses.  Divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law

1Tim 4:1-5 “1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.”  (ASV)

In this passage, Paul tells Timothy that a time will come where people, false teachers, will tell other people they can not marry.  In verses 1 through 3 we see this clearly.  And as we have seen, if we apply usage of “put away” for the Greek word (apoluo) and not divorce, then all of the passages commonly referred to marriage and divorce fit together without any problem.  Also when we use “put away” for the word (apoluo) we have not reason to refuse anyone the right to remarry provided they were legally divorced from their prior spouse.  We will not be one of the people Paul warns Timothy about in verse 3 when we use the proper meaning for the Greek work (apoluo) in our translations.

Summary:  The Bible does not prohibit remarriage, but wants people to remain as they are or marry. 

The over all context of 1 Corinthians 7 is to remain in what ever state you are in but that you have not sinned if you can not stay unmarried or if you decide to seek marriage.  Jesus did not change or alter the Law of His time; he explained it in simple understanding to get it back to its simple meaning.  No where in the Old Testament Law or the New Testament is the Bible saying an unmarried person (never married, widowed, or divorced) can’t marry. 

By the direct authority of Jesus to the apostles:  Jesus leaves it up to them to set policy on this matter.

Yes God’s plan from the beginning was that it was “not good for man to be alone.”  Yes God hate’s divorce but that does not negate the fact that God Himself said that it was not good for man to be alone. 

As I have shown, all the New Testament passages agree and none are in conflict with each other with this translation.  The apostle Paul established the rules of the new church or kingdom concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage by the authority of Jesus Himself and Paul said that “if you are divorced and remarry you have not sinned.”

Who are we to continue to rule where God has already ruled in this matter?

Original study was completed on 5/26/2007 and the Updated to this study was completed on 6/27/09

Divorced Without the Truth

Divorced Without the Truth

My only son turned against me

Divorced me without the truth

He doesn’t know me and doesn’t care

Even though I was not allowed to be there -

To know him because of her

I can’t forget the way I feel

The way I felt that day -

But I’m still waiting – all these years -

Waiting for him to know me
Waiting for me to know him

I wonder what he is doing -
In or out of Army service.

The only question left – is why -
Why can’t we know each other?

Why divorce without the truth?

Son

No matter what or how

You have always been –

In my heart, prayers and dreams –

Still.

 By Guy Lewis

Saturday, June 27, 2009