2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005 Expounding the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:26 - with the Scriptures Rightly Divided - II Timothy 2:15 |
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Part II Defining CHARITY... ...by the KJB English Language, NOT going back to the Greek! |
IT IS ALL IN ENGLISH OF THE KING JAMES 1611 BIBLE!
The Lord has not left us to wade through a library of polluted lexicons so that we can engage our own private interpretation as we choose the words we would want.
The KJB retains the CHRISTIAN DEFINITIONS and avoids the secular or pagan ones in its use of words like charity, eyesalve, and eyeservice.
Everyone today wants to say the word 'love' instead of 'charity.'
Is there a difference...?
Romans 14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
The Oxford English Dictionary's first definition of 'charitable' defines it as a characteristic of one who is a Christian.
The Bible's definition concurs, using the word 'charitably' in context with 'brother.'
The OED defines 'charity' as 'belonging specially to New Testament and Christian use.
The OED's first definition of 'charity' is 'Christian love... Christian benignity of disposition expressing itself in Scriptural conduct... right feelings toward one's fellow Christians.' ('benignity' - The quality or condition of being kind and gentle. 2. A kindly or gracious act.)
From Tyndale to the KJB, the Greek word has been rendered 'love' about 86 times, while confining 'charity' to 26 passages in which the context addresses Christian behaviour toward other Christians!
Modern Christianity from their modern versions has humanized Christianity.
Romans 1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like
to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
II Corinthians 11:3 -
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is
in Christ.
II Corinthians 2:17 - For
we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ
Love can be anything your mind / image / hollywood has taught
it to be.
In fact, even charity has
been dummied-down to the second definition of the OED - feelings or
charity to the poor - and that comes without any special Christian association.
Is there much charity in your life towards the brethren?
Is there much charity in your HOME towards your wife / husband / children?
Let's take a look at the charity verses:
Don't become proud in your 'charity!' Christian
pride is not charity!
1Cor:8:1:
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we
all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Cor:13:1:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,
I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Cor:13:2: And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Cor:13:3: And
though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body
to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Cor:13:4: Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, (see I
Timothy 1:5 - charity out of a pure heart,
not a prideful show!
1Cor:13:13:
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity.
1Cor:14:1:
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
prophesy.
We still have charity today, but not 'above the
Book!' But what you 'say' should match your charity!
1Cor:16:14: Let all your things be done with charity.
It is the glue for the local assembly - it is
the GLUE within your own home! Husband and wife and from brother
to brother, etc. as well!
Col:3:14: And
above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
1Thes:3:6: But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
2Thes:1:3: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
1Tm:1:5: Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1Tm:4:12: Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
2Tm:2:22: Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Paul's example
2Tm:3:10:
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith,
longsuffering, charity, patience,
Ti:2:2: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
We can see 'FOR' application from Peter as he
is preaching to the saved Jews!
1Pt:4:8,9
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity
shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without
grudging. Obviously for today,
the sins being 'covered' won't be anything but 'sins' being done between
each other... we show charity by looking past what the other has done...
no judgment necessary, no harassment, etc. Let them grow in God's
timing. Balance! Remember - Peter, not Paul here.
1Pt:5:14: Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2Pt:1:7: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Good progress of growth in our walk as a Christian towards each other.
Sure - we can be charitable towards others, but the Scriptures specifically
refer charity as to be among the brethren!
See I Thessalonians 3:12 to see
that we are to increase and abound in love
toward ... all men.
We are to have grace AND truth in our testimony!
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.
John 1:14
For the law was given by Moses, but grace
and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
Romans 14:13
Let us not therefore judge one another
any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an
occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things
which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Romans 15:5-7
Now the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also
received us to the glory of God.
Romans 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you,
my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge,
able also to admonish one another.
I Corinthians 11:33
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together
to eat, tarry one for another.
I Corinthians 12:25,26
That there should be no schism in the body;
but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether
one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured,
all the members rejoice with it.
Ephesians 4:2,3
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every
man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye
angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither
give place to the devil.
Galatians 6:1,2
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,
ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
I Thessalonians 4:18
Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.
I Thessalonians 5:10-13
...whether we wake or sleep, we should
live together with him Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify
one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish
you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And
be at peace among yourselves.
And if they don't agree in doctrine, etc. then how do we handle it charitably? We are to admonish them and have no company with them, but they are still not our enemy! See II Thessalonians 3:14,15.
See, that is CHARITY and it is to be among ourselves!
That is the CHRISTIAN DEFINITION!