Why even bother about our "faith"?

Jude, the half brother of Jesus Christ tells us why in this short but powerful letter.
See 1:1-4 and then my comments below.

1:1  Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

1:2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

1:4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

  

Jude identifies himself in two ways.

1. A bondservant of Jesus Chirst.
2. And, secondly, the brother of James.


He tells us who he was writing to. It was to those who had been sanctified by God, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Both of these are true of every Christian.

1. They are sanctified, and are being sanctified. ( Or set apart. It happens at the moment of salvation, and then continues as we abide in the Word of God)

2 They are preserved, or being preserved. Or attended to carefully by God. He is keeping an eye on His children. He is holding fast to them. He is keeping them in Christ.


He then greets his readers with a familiar prayer. Praying for three things to happen in their lives.

Grace, peace and love be multiplied to you. These only come from God. But are then expressed through the lives of the recipients. His favor to us, His peace and His love. They are as Jude says, and prays for to be multiplied, or increased. What a wonderful truth for us, that in Christ, God will give us more and more of these things. Peter tells us, they are multiplied in our growing knowledge of Jesus Christ. That is, as we abide in Him, and walk with Him, and order our lives according to His Word, we mature, we grow, and so do His these blessings.


Now, onto the issue of our faith and why it's important to have it, and to hold on to it. ( faith here is  a ref to the body of Gods' truth that makes up what we believe in, in the Holy Bible. It's often referred to as "the faith" Or the content of the truth that God has given us. So, now he begins his message in earnest.

He calls his readers, "beloved" my how these Biblical writers used and loved this word.
He explains that while he was penning his letter to them, ( it was going to be about "our common salvation" he found, or was moved by God to switch gears as it were, and to share an exhortation with them......and, that was that they should "earnestly contend for the faith etc, " Or be very diligent to hang onto, to keep the faith, not let it go etc.

He tells us that the faith was once for all delivered to the saints. In other words, when God gave us what we call the Scriptures, the Holy Bible, He gave us what He wanted to, and did not leave anything out that He intended to give, and gave it in such a way, that there would never be a need to modify it, to remove it, or to try and explain it in some way that is different then from what it clearly means. God meant what He said, and He said what He meant. And, thus we are encouraged to keep it simple, and to keep it, to hang on to it, and not let anyone, or anything try to take it away from us, those who have been set apart to God.

Here's a problem, and it's been a problem, and is now a problem, and will be a problem right till the end of time as we know it. 

It's the problem of men creeping into the church, without anyone noticing them, and ( while not news to God, or unnoticed by God ) they none the less, are those who take God's wonderful grace, and try to turn into something that is both lewd, and denies the Lord God, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

They want to change what God has said. They want to replace God's Word with their own. They want to transfer out, and transfer in. Remove and replace is their agenda. Into what? 

Into a lewdness and a denial. Lewdness, means, immorality, and deny, means to disown.

We will look at all of this in greater detail over the next few days. 

But, for now, to remember, You are set apart to God if you have come to faith in Christ. And, in this letter God is explaining how important His Word is, and what Christians ought to do with His Word in their lives, on an on-going basis, and why.

Blessings of grace to you.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Fear not, and several reasons or explanation why not to fear.

Much of Isaiah's ministry was to Judah, God's people in the south of the land. And, much of it had to do with how God wanted to help them when they were in trouble. And, much of what God said through Isa is like what you see here below. In fact, God often, over, and over again presented Himself to His people as their deliverer. And, when you read the history of His actions with His people, that is exactly what He did do. He delivered them. Because He if faithful.

Please read these few short verses, and then see my comments below them.

Isa 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

41:11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish.

41:12 You shall seek them and not find them-- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing.

41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

41:14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help

So, first of all, "Fear not" Here is something not to do says God. Do not fear. Do not dread, do not be terrified. ( In context for a moment. Judah was so plagued with threats and trouble from the Assyrians ) But, do not fear. This is a call for them as mentioned to not do something. It means it's possible from within themselves to avoid this, to decide against it, to simply get ahold of themselves and not be terrified by what they saw, heard, or even knew to be true in terms of the enemies strength. 

Secondly, the reasons and explanations start to be listed. They are as listed below.

1. I am with you. 

2. Be not dismayed, or distressed, "for I am your God"

3. I will strengthen you. 

4. Yes, I will help you.

5. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. ( A ref to Jesus Christ )

6. Their enemies would come to nothing 

( this is the fate of those who come against God's people....Notice how the Lord describes this. He says, they shall be ashamed, and disgraced, they shall be as nothing, they shall perish. You will not be able to find them, they will be as a non-existent thing )

7. I will hold your right hand. 

8. I will speak to you again, saying "fear not, I will help you" 

9. I will help. 

So, for all these reasons and many, many more, we can "fear not" Our enemies may be different then what Judah faced. But, God has not changed, and our tendency to fear has not. Faith is the same now as then, and God's promises are just as sure today as they ever were. And today's enemies, the enemies of God's people will be dealt with just like He dealt with them all through the Biblical record. It's a fact that can bring great comfort. 

Blessings of grace to you. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Gleanings from 3rd John. And personal insights.

Please see 3rd John 1:1-14......it's a one chapter letter.


Gaius, is believed to have been either a pastor, or a significant leader in a church body.
He was loved by John, for John tells him 4 times in this letter that he is "beloved"

I can think of no one that is more needy of encouragement and love then pastors. As you read this letter, it can give you a small hint of what a pastor may go through in his ministry. In this case, he was trying to do the work of ministry that was pleasing to God, and yet, he had this person Ditrophes, who was doing evil, and it no doubt made the work very, very difficult.

People generally see a pastor at his best as it were, there in the pulpit, teaching or preaching the Word of God. They have no idea of what he may have gone through that week, just trying to get to the pulpit. So, the next chance you get, give a word of encouragement to your pastor, it might just help lift a heavy load, you never know.

John was praying for Gaius to prosper and be in health. These are two matters, both on the physical plain.  Material prosperity and physical health. ( this verse is not as some "Word of faith " teachers have made it, the basis for a Biblical doctrine, that guarantees you will be healthy and wealthy. It was simply a prayer. But, it's a legitimate prayer, in that material prosperity is something one can pray for, and for health also. God is not against you prospering, it's just that He does not make it so that just because you are a christian that you will be what we would call wealthy. ( He may ) but, it's not a built in reality just because you are a believer. But, on the other hand, He is not against you prospering, and your praying for it is a very normal and acceptable prayer, one that is not out of God's will in a general sense.

Gaius was commended for a number of things by John.

1. The truth was in him.
2. He was walking in truth.
3. He brought joy to John's heart.
4. He was faithful to minister to the brethren and to strangers.
5. His love and ministry were spoken of by others where John was in a church.
6. He was involved in helping ministers and missionaries in their work.


The main thing that is brought out about Gaius is his financial suport, and  material provision for those who were going out for the gospel, i.e missionaries, and then his hospitality to complete strangers who were also missionaries. He was very, very involved in supporting them in their work, because they had no other means of support. God had called them to go out for His names sake and preach the gospel.

John affirms that we, ( that would include himself, and others who were with him, and then us today in our contemporary society and life ) ought to follow the example set forth by Gaius.
That is to provide the financial support that is needed for those who are called by God to go into what we call full time ministry.

The exact of opposite of Gaius is now mentioned. A man who was characterized by pride, and an unwillingness to accept John's authority and leadership. He was spewing out nonsense, and saying hateful things about and against John. He may have been a pastor himself, or a leader in a different church then the one Gaius was in.

Ditotrophes was not content with just some of the terrible things he was doing, but then would not welcome into the church the very people whom Gaius was welcoming and supporting.
Along with that rejection, he was also forbidding people in the church from supporting these ministers and missionaries. And, not only forbidding them, but then removing them from the church if they went against his wishes and orders.

It was his way or the highway as they say. He was evil, and not to be imitated. He was not doing good, and had not seen God. What a sad case it is, when you have people with a Diotrophes like spirit in the church. They disrupt the normal flow of ministry through their selfishness, and their unwillingness to humble themselves and receive from those appointed by God. These Diotrophe like people, actually hinder the work of God. They are going against what God wants, and they are preventing others from helping. These types of people do exist in the church today.

Ditrophes was being warned here by John, that if he came to that church, he would call to mind his deeds and his hatefulness. We do not know whatever happened to him. But, most pastors would probably tell you they have run into some of Diotrophe's long lost relatives in their own church's. People who make the work of ministry so difficult. These people have nothing to blame but their own selfishness and pride. It's incredible that someone would try to stop the work of God in any church.

On a better note, there was and are today, plenty  of Demtrius'es. In fact, they far outnumber, and outshine the Ditotrophe like persons.
He had a good testimony. Everyone spoke so well of him, and John says from the truth itself. In other words, he was living out what the Bible says. He was the Bible in action.
John and his associates were also bearing witness to the goodness of this man Demetrius.

John ends his letter with a prayer for peace. How that is needed in so many lives and churches.
Diotrophe like people rob churches of peace, and Demetrius and Gaius types, bring peace.
Pretty clear to see who knew the Lord and who did not.

Lord, may we be those who please You, and do things in a manner worthy of You.
Help us to be fellow workers in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

Having a good testimony.

See 3rd John 1:12-14

1:12 Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.

1:13 I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink;

1:14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

Having spoken of Diotrophes the man who was hindering the work of God, John now speaks of Demetrius, a man who was just the opposite. 

His name has no significant meaning, but his life did. We don't even have the details of what made up his good testimony. But, it's stated right here in the Holy Bible that he had one. 

What is a good testimony? Good means, better, honest, goodly, excellent, choice, surpassing, useful, suitable, commendable, and admirable. And, to have a good testimony, means, that a person has a good report, that they bear witness to the truth, they are affirming what they have seen or heard, and in this context, it has to do with Jesus Christ. It's a life lived following Christ, serving Christ, and a life that speaks for itself if you will. Demetrius was such a man. 

We are also told her, that his good testimony was from all, and that it was from the truth, and that John and his associates agreed with this. And, that Gaius knew that Demetrius's testimony was true. In other words, it was clear to everyone who knew him, what he was, and how he lived. 

In closing out this letter, John once again, just as he did in 2nd John, says, I have so much I want to write to you about. His heart and mind were full of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and he wanted to share it with Gaius. But, he also did not really want to write about it, but, was going to reserve it, hoping to come and see Gaius face to face. 

He ended his letter by saying "Peace to you" What a beautiful true thought for Gauis, from John, from the Father, from the Son Jesus Christ. The wonderful peace of God, the peace that comes from God, being given to Gaius. 

Peace means, to be undisturbed, to have quietness, to be exempt from rage and havoc. It speaks of harmony, unity, security, prosperity, that tranquil state of the soul. 

It's when the soul is assured of it's salvation by it's faith in Jesus Christ. And, thus fearing nothing of retribution from God, and is absolutely content with it's earthly state, regardless of whatever it might be. 

It's that blessed state of living and of devotion of upright men with God, and then of course after death when we leave these bodies and go to heaven with God, and with others who are already there, and with the holy angels, and with the Holy Spirit, the Son, the Father. And, where there will be no hatred and no sin, and no sickness, and no evil of any sort. 

John's friends also sent their greetings to Diotrophes, and John asked him if he would in turn greet all of John and Diotrophes friends by name. Go to each one of them, and share with them our greeting as it were. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia 

Do not be like Diotrophes. Do not imitate what is evil.

See 3rd John 1:9-11

1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.

1:10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.

1:11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

John had written a previous letter to the church ( we don't know where this church was exactly ) but, he had written and this man Diotrophes was not receptive of John and some unamed other persons.

Much is said of this man.

1. He loved to have the preeminence among the others in the church.
2. He was not receptive to John and other servants of God.
3. His deeds were going to be called to mind.
4. He was prating against John and others.
5. He said malicious words.
6. He was not content with just his prating and maliciousness.
7. He was forbidding others to receive the ministers.
8. He was removing people from the church who should not have been removed.
9. He was evil.
10. He was not to be imitated.
11. He was doing evil.
12. He had not seen God.

What a description. Let's just take a close look at some of these things.

He loved to have the preeminence among others. That is, he loved to be first. He aspired to be first.

He was not receptive of John's apostolic authority, and of others as well. He would not come under the authority of those he should have come under. He was a proud and arrogant man.

He was prating. Not a word we hear or use very often. That is, he uttered nonsense. He would falsely accuse people. He made empty charges.

He accused people with malicious words. Maliciousness, means to intend to do harm to others. It's when you are out to destroy others. It means to be wicked. It means to have ill will towards others.

He was not content with prating and being malicious. He went on, and on, and on in his evil deeds.

He would forbid others from receiving these traveling ministers and missionaries.

He was evil, or destructive. That's what evil means. It means to hurt other people.

And, lastly, he had not seen God. In other words, if he had had contact with God, he would have acted differently. His actions revealed that he had not come into fellowship with God.


The last thing that John in this regard, is not to imitate evil. But, to imitate what is good. And, the person who does good is of God, and the person who does evil has not seen God. That's the second time John used this statement.

God wants to be seen as it were. He wants to be known, and to be received. That's His nature, to  give His goodness and grace, and mercy away to others.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

The faithful financial support of those in ministry

See 3rd John 1:5-8

1:5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,

1:6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well,

1:7because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.

1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

John had already called Gaius beloved once, in verse 2 of this letter, and he calls him beloved one more time in verse 11. There is no mistaking that John had a clear understanding of God's love for people, and this is why He sent Christ into the world. It's because He loves people. 

John went on in the passage we are looking at to commend Gaius for his faithful support of brethren, and for strangers. Gaius had provided aid to both of these groups. The strangers would be literally those people whom Gaius did not know. 

These traveling ministers, and missionaries had borne witness, or told of Gaius's love before the church where John was. 

Gaius was also encouraged by John to continue his financial support for those in ministry. John called it sending them forth on their journey in a manner worthy of God, and that he would be doing well if he did. 

So, what is the manner worthy of God? It would be to provide what is needed. That's what Paul said in Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" 

So, what Gauis was doing was to provide "all that was needed" 

The reason for this support is because "they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles" It was Paul's practice also to never ask for money from the unsaved to whom he was speaking to. But rather, he would be supported by those whom he had ministered to. The reason he would not take anything from them, is that he did not want to hinder the gospel of Christ, by being seen as doing what he did just for the money, ( as apparently many false prophets and charlatans were doing ) See 1st Cor 9, and 1st Thess 2:9 

Finally, in the passage before us, John says that "we ought to receive such" referencing the traveling ministers and missionaries. And, adds that "we may become fellow workers for the truth"

John was putting his stamp of approval upon these ministers, and encouraging others to share in the work of getting the truth out.  

It's helpful to realize that in the next section of this letter, that John brings up a person who would not receive these ministers. This man, Diotrophes,  was said to be "prating against us with malicious words" This means that he was a man boiling over if you will, and saying hateful things about John and others who were of John's mind, and insinuating many things about them. 

We will look more in detail at him tomorrow. But, what sad person he was. John has much to say about him. 

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

The greatest joy.

See 3rd John 1-4

1:1 THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

1:3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

John was an elderly man at this point, not to far from being in heaven with the Lord. What a blessing that is. 

John was also as an older man, a much wiser man then he had been when he was younger. That is what happens to men or women, who continue to walk with Christ, they become more blessed, more wise, more loving, etc, and John would be a classic example of that for all of us who may be headed towards older age. 

John was writing this brief letter to an individual named Gaius, which means Lord, is someone John knew personally, and that'a about all we know of him. Except that his soul was prospering. Which means, that his journey to heaven, was going along well. He was being led by the Lord, and was going along in the easiest way possible, that is, as compared to how hard we can make it. In other words, he was simply following the Lord, and was a blessed man. 

John now talks about joy once again, as he did in his 2nd epistle also. He says several things about it. 

1. He rejoiced greatly. Alot. Not just a little rejoicing, but much rejoicing. It came about when some other christians met up with him, and told him about the truth that was in Gauis, and John notes here in verse 3, that Gaius was also walking in the truth. That means, he was ordering his life according to the Word of God. These facts brought great joy to John. 

2. John had no greater joy. There was nothing else in his life that brought about the same greatness of joy, as this matter did. 

3. The joy is again explained and related to the fact, that "than to hear that my children walk in truth" In other words, those believers whom John calls his children, or those perhaps converted under his ministry, or those whom he had pastored in the past. Knowing how they were living brought him tremendous and great joy. 

John knew that these folks were on target with God's plan for their lives. They were following Jesus, and abiding in Him, and thus the great joy. What more can a person hope for then to know that someone is following the Lord? 

We love you Lord. 

In Jesus name..

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia