More than A Collection of Books 8

Titus like 1^st and 2^nd Timothy is another pastoral epistle

This time highlighting godliness and good works,

Paul suggests there is a misapprehension of true grace

If the believer from godliness and good works would shirk.

Philemon is another book of just a single chapter

About the slave Onesimus who fled from his slave master,

Philemon was that master who was sought after by Paul

To receive Onesimus back since he was a brother after all.

Hebrews is an enthralling book about the faithful crew

But it starts out with Jesus the Son from the Father’s view,

Later on he’s shown to be a better priest that Aaron

And the initiator of a better covenant; not the old but the new.

James places great emphasis on the testing of one’s faith

Declaring a faith with out any works must be considered dead,

He talks about the tongue and wisdom: the true and the false

And gives an exhortation on patience as the way we should be led.

1^st Peter deals especially with suffering in the Christian’s life

Including slander, ridicule and the prospect of prison and death

Relationships between believers and others are highlighted

As well as the acceptance of the gospel by which we are blessed.

2^nd Peter raises the issue of the increasing false prophets

Already bringing in destructive heresies and licentiousness,

They mocked the idea of the coming judgment

And gave rise to immorality and gross wickedness.

1^st John is replete with incidences of extreme opposites

Like light and darkness, love and hate, the truth and the lie

The Gnostics erroneously professed to know the truth

But denied that Jesus is God and that Christ actually died.

 2^nd John admonishes to beware of those who spread error

Particularly the type regarding the Person of our Lord,

While the Apostle rejoiced that the children walked in truth

He implored that we compromised not but receive a full award.

3^rd John focuses on the behaviour of three characters:

The first was the godly Gaius whom John wished to prosper,

The second was the dictatorial Diotrephes who received him not,

And the third was faithful Demetrius to whom he gave honour.

Jude admonishes believers to contend earnestly for the faith

 The faith that was once delivered unto the saints,

Ungodly men had crept in denying the only Lord and Christ

And who were trying the grace of our God to taint

The Revelation of Jesus Christ by John to the seven churches

Encourages us wait with patience as we look for Christ’s return,

It teaches the folly of living for things that will soon pass away

And warns rejecters of the Saviour of their doom on judgment day.

Stewart Russell © March 2017

The Bible in Poetry: Hebrews to Jude

Extracted from the Bible In Poetry

From Genesis to Revelation

Hebrews to Jude

There is still much discussion concerning the writer of Hebrews,

Many argue it must be Paul but many commentators still refuse;

Whoever its writer may be none can deny its powerful truths,

Concerning the deity of the Christ there are many infallible proofs.

Jesus radiates of God’s glory; the exact representation of His nature,

Outside him there is no salvation and neither is there any Saviour;

Jesus, mediator of the new covenant, has everything under his feet;

Because God has given us a new covenant the first is now obsolete.

The chapter of the faithful in this book presents a lengthy list

Of them that gained God's approval but died short of the promise;

Disregard not the Lord’s correction for those He loves he disciplines,

God reproves His children for their good; of that they can be certain.

This epistle to the Hebrews speaks of better in so many ways

Of Jesus, better than the angels, a more excellent name than they;

The law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope

In Jesus, the surety of a better testament in which we now can cope.

For Jesus is our mediator in that he mediated a better covenant

Established on better promises for all the contrite and the penitent;

The faithful saints desired a better country, one that is an heavenly

Where God, pleased to be their God has prepared for them a city.

On that grand old list of the faithful some were delivered out of peril

Others saw a better resurrection as they were tortured by the devil;

That they without us would not be perfect God provided a better thing

In Jesus the mediator of the new covenant to the blood of sprinkling.

James the brother of Jesus has been credited with this book,

Now for a synopsis of its message we will take a brief look;

Consider it all joy he said when ever you fall into various trials,

Because trials develop and build patience; there’s no use in denial.

  

One of its abiding lessons is that a living faith produces works,

A dead faith is like an employee that does nothing but shirks;

Be careful with the tongue says he, it is a world of iniquity,

The tongue can no man tame; it’s unruly and its poison is deadly.

Be careful when you make your plans, be it tomorrow or today,

Your life is like a vapour that appears and quickly goes away;

Swear not by heaven or by the earth for this is not God’s way,

However convincing you want to be, yes is yes and nay is nay.

 

Peter’s first letter to Christians warns against the former lusts,

In the midst of persecution in Christ they should always trust;

Love always from the heart and feed on the milk of the word,

Be kind to one another; treat your brother as a good steward.

Peter’s second letter to Christians focuses on the end times,

Of mans’ many perplexities and divers wonders and signs;

God has freely given us everything pertaining to godly living,

We partake of the divine nature, compliments of His indwelling.

The last days mockers will increase heaping upon us much scorn,

Concerning the coming of Jesus and why he has not returned;

But the Lord is very patient not willing that any should perish,

And the signs of his coming are evident; soon we will get our wish.

First John highlights the fellowship we have with God and each other,

Some claim to have this fellowship yet walking in light is a bother;

What great love of the Father that we should be called His children!

Hatred fills the world around because the Son dwells not within them.

We must not love with empty words but love in deed and in truth,

When we help a brother in need our love is shown by such proof;

Do not believe every spirit John warns, each spirit ought to be tested,

If we ask anything in His will He will grant what we have requested.


2nd Letter of John

In the second letter of John he personifies the church like a lady,

He admonishes to be careful in dealing with the Gnostic heresy;

For those who did not believe that Jesus had come in the flesh

Abided not in the doctrine of Christ and they too had transgressed.


3rd Letter of John

 The third letter of John was written to a man whose name was Gaius,

The apostle was very assured he was walking in the truth of Jesus;

John chastised Diotrephes who had displayed unchristian behavior,

Never imitate that which is evil but always emulate the Saviour.

Jude was the brother of James and the Lord Jesus’ half-brother,

To take advantage of such relationship to him really did not matter;

He warns us to contend for the faith that once was delivered to us,

And keep ourselves in the love of God by His Son the Lord Jesus.

Stewart Russell © 2013

Contending for the Faith

Really what does it mean to contend?

Does it mean to push one’s view?

Does it mean to be argumentative?

Or does it mean to the Bible be true?

Some believers don’t understand,

What you really meant Bro Jude,

So some arguments get out of hand

And some can become rather rude.

As if contending were not enough,

You have asked us to be earnest,

So sometimes we get so frantic

In our attempt to show who’s best.

Sometimes we engage in competition

Out of which comes fierce discussion,

We raise our voices in contention

But conclude with no changed position.

So Bro Jude what do you really mean

When you say to earnestly contend?

It appears one must know the faith

From the point of creation to its end.

 

What is it that is mostly attacked?

I am sure it is the creation account,

Many scoff and label it a fairy tale,

Evolution’s become their holy Mount.

What we must defend is the faith,

The whole body of Christian truth,

Not somebody’s intellectual opinion,

But all that the Bible gives as proof.

 

So let us take this verse bit by bit,

It is Jude chapter one verse three,

“Beloved”, must mean the believer

So the context you can clearly see.

Jude had written with all diligence,

About the salvation shared together,

But felt it needful he should write

About the faith that was once delivered.

The saints having received that faith,

Were charged with the responsibility,

Of proclaiming without fear or favour

Creation one, creations two and three.

Creation one, in the beginning God,

He created the heaven and the earth,

Creation two Jesus died and rose again,

And now we can have the new birth.

 

Creation three is the promise to come,

Of a glorious new earth and heaven,

And forever will dwell God’s beloved,

Meaning those who have been forgiven.

We all share a common salvation,

This every believer should understand,

But the faith once delivered to the saints,

Should be shared by the Christian band.

The Lord entrusts us with His word

That is entire and whole and complete,

So we should deliver it with clarity,

And in tact, should Jude have to repeat?

This we must all do until Jesus returns,

Provoking one another to love and works,

And of course whenever it’s necessary,

Giving a poke to a brother who shirks.

Many today are too bright for the faith,

And have turned to other revelation,

They, listening to voices in and around

Have come to a different conclusion.

This faith once delivered so long ago

Needs no vindication from any man,

Anyone who tries to add to God’s word

Certainly has gone astray of His plan.

In such cases we do need to contend

Earnestly for the faith not with the man,

For we are not called to be contentious

But allow God to do only what God can.

Do note the safeguarding of the faith,

Was not merely given to the leaders,

But each and every saint was equipped

To assist the preachers and teachers.

Every Christian believer is mandated,

That he should earnestly contend,

For the faith that was once delivered,

This is the faith we must all defend.

God the Creator created the world,

This we are told in His inspired word,

From their estate our fore-parents fell,

Consigning all mankind to an eternal hell.

God the Word empathized with our loss

And came to this world to die on a cross,

Then rose from that grave triumphantly,

A sacrifice for sin offered for you and me.

God the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost,

Given by the Father,  promised by the Son,

He now indwells every Christian believer

Whom he has enabled this race to run.

Christ is coming again to judge the world,

I guess by now you have already heard,

“Heard it time and time again,” you say,

Harden your heart and it might go away.

You vigorously attack your only lifeline,

Yet cry out for help each and every time,

You feel your loss each time you lie down,

But on God’s word you continue to frown.

You attack creation’s story with delight,

Blast contenders of the faith out of sight,

Nothing the Bible says seems to you right,

Evolution’s the thing morning, noon and night.

But Christian believer let us not retreat,

We’re pressing on to victory not defeat,

Contend earnestly for the faith we repeat,

The victory is ours, so grand and so sweet.

Delight yourself in the apostle’s doctrine,

Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone,

The Living Word our example and object,

The Written Word as our direction alone.

 

Defending and contending for the faith

Must be spread with urgency and care,

Salvation’s message to the lost is vital

For it is much later than it does appear.

God our ever-conquering Vanquisher,

And Jesus Christ our eternal Saviour,

Help us to achieve via Thy Holy Spirit

All that you command as we endeavour.

Stewart Russell © 2014