Call to Commitment

  

38. Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

39. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

40. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 

41. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

43. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 

44. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 

45. and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 

46. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 

47. praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

 I believe that it is necessary to repeat and reemphasize, the fact that Peter declared that the promise of God was universal, concerning the Holy Spirit. What had happened on the day of Pentecost was not only for Peter’s audience of Jews and proselytes from many different areas of the known world. When he said that it was for their children, he must have been referring to the following generation, many of whom stayed behind and did not make the long journey from their homes in different lands to Jerusalem. 

The astounding part, that the reader of Acts must consider, is that the latter part of the statement, is God’s promise to “all who are afar off.” His promise crosses every border and stretches across the globe, restricting no area nor any people. It is a universal call. The first apostles were commissioned to go into all the world, preach and open the door of the gospel to the world’s population. This was the call to all people, “as many as the Lord our God will call." The apostle John continues with the call at the end of the New Testament canon: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Rv.22:17). 

14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of
Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

  

The ascension and promise of His return

6.  Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 

7.     And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 

8.     But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 

9.     Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 

10.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 

11.  who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." 

 The disciples were preoccupied with the question posed in verse 6 the entire time that they followed Christ..."Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" For that reason, James and John asked to sit on His right and left hand in His glory (Mr.10:37). It expressed the same concept, which the Jews, in general, had concerning the coming of the Messiah. They thought that He should be a great Prince of Peace, who would deliver Israel from the oppression of their enemies, especially the Romans, who ruled over them, during His time on earth. After He fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, there was a strong contingent among the people, who wanted to make Him king: “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone” (Jn.6:15). He refused to walk the road that led to popularity and for that reason, He commanded those, who had experienced His miraculous power, that they should restrain from publicizing the good that had been done to them.  

 Why then have these good deeds been publicized in our Bibles and commonly proclaimed among the nations? The reason is clearly understood by the command given to Peter, James and John, as they descended from the Mount of Transfiguration: "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead" (Mt.17:19). The admonition not to declare His supernatural works was a matter of timing, not principle. His immediate mission was a cross, not a throne. His physical reign would come in the Millenium; at the time of the book of Acts, He was beginning to develop a spiritual kingdom. One composer wrote, “He surveyed His kingdom from a cross.”

 

KJV    1611

Infallible proofs of the resurrection

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2. until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 

3. to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

4. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 

5. for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  

Luke wrote both of his books to an acquaintance, whom he addressed, in his introduction to the Gospel of Luke, as the most excellent or most noble Theophilus.  Because the name means, Friend of God, some think that Luke used the name symbolically to address the reader of his books. However, the common believer is never given such a highly dignified title as most excellent, so I am sure that Theophilus was a member of the nobility, a high Roman or Greek official. Both Felix and Festus were addressed identically. Theophilus had been converted and Luke wrote his accounts to him, personally, to establish him in the faith.

 

Today, we begin a study, which is of utmost importance to every true Christian in the 21^st Century. It is an expositive consideration of the book of Acts. I say it is of supreme importance, especially in these days, because the church is living in an age, prophesied by the apostle Paul, when he wrote the second letter to his son, in the faith, Timothy: “Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves… having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 T. 3:1, 2, 5).  

First of all, I want to point to the word power, reading from the Amplified New Testament: “For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it.” The word power, of course, is the same word we read in Acts 1:8… “You shall receive power…” The Greek dictionary, Strong’s, defines it: Dunamis… gr. Force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): ability, abundance, meaning, might… and Strong’s continues with a full page of definitions, due to the common usage of the word.

 At the time, when humanity comes to the end of its history, there will be a period that is especially dangerous. Now, let’s look at the word perilous in 2 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV). Curiously, this word is only used here and one other time, in Matthew 8:28, in the New Testament. Strong’s defines the Greek word, chalepos, difficult, that is dangerous, or (by implication) furious: - fierce, perilous, and Matthew uses this word to describe the Gadarene demoniacs.  

 One of the reasons that this time will be dangerous or fierce is because “men will be lovers of themselves… having a form of godliness but denying its power.” It is typical that in the formality of his religion, an individual will not abandon it, but in a practical sense, what he or she believers, becomes inert and dead. However, the faithful members will continue to defend it, violently and fanatically, as the prophets of Baal before Elijah on Mount Carmel (1 K.18:25-29).

 There is a good deal of teaching these days, which could easily bring believers to that state, by assuming that miraculous power ended with the apostles and today, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit have been annulled. They teach the book of Acts, as purely historical. And precisely for that reason, I want to begin a study of this book, to see it as something more than history, as it relates to the works of the apostles, but as a model to show, what the church should be anywhere, at any time.

  

 

Shelley and Dan

Here are a few thoughts, before we get into Dan’s message. I am thinking of a song in Spanish about the lost sheep. The last verse states, “The same story is repeated today. There are still sheep, who go astray, but there are still shepherds, who search for them in the wilderness. They find them bleating, trembling from the cold, carry them on their shoulders and take them to the fold.”

 You will read about a drunk in Dan’s story, who interrupted a Christmas program, and how a little boy found Christ, resulting from that interruption. Here’s good news that Dan could not tell at the time he gave his message. At 80 years old, that man, who came to church drunk, found Jesus, was transformed, and is a vibrant witness for Christ.  

 On the site, where I listened to Dan’s message and wrote it for all of you, I discovered in the comments, one from the lady, of whom Dan speaks, at the end of his message, Deb Reynolds. She writes: “I came upon this video just as Dan was speaking about my life. I know that I am here today because of my church family and my belief in God. I am truly blessed.” In his first chapter, Mark tells us that many were healed in Capernaum. Dan mentions that the son of a nobleman in the town was also healed. There is a story in the Gospels about a Roman centurion in Capernaum, who believed. Now, we will follow in Mark, verse by verse, as Dan relates another story of what surely can be called, a revival in Capernaum… 

 

The Capernaum Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12)

 Dan Brueckner during the first days of Covid

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.  

Jesus has moved from Nazareth to Capernaum and after being there a short time, it was reported that He was at home. Many people gathered and in Luke’s account in chapter 5, verse 17, you find that the scribes are coming from every village in Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. Quite a crowd gathered and there was no room, even at the door to get in. 

 

Rachel and Mike

I have promised earlier that I would try to write and publish some sermons by our two sons, who are pastors. Dan is pastor of Swanton Christian Church, in Swanton, Vermont and Mike is pastor of Church of Hope in Elk River, Minnesota. I need to print a sermon by Dan, actually preached to Mike´s church from Mike and Rachel´s home during the first days of Covid. Dan talks about Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum, Galilee, especially of the salvation and healing of a paralytic, who was let down through the roof in his bed. 

Today, I am posting an outstanding message by Mike, given in 2021, about the four women in the genealogy of Christ. It was of great encouragement to me, and I think you will also find it to be something, which will feed your soul.

 

Jesus´ Family Tree (Matthew 1:3, 5-6)

 

Mike Brueckner, Christmas 2021 

The prophet Isaiah said that God´s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. In fact, he says, Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, that’s how much higher His ways and His thoughts are beyond us. In 1 Corinthians 1, it teaches that God uses the things that the world would consider foolish, or not usable, and uses those things, so that He may be glorified.

 

2 Peter 3

 

Ungodly human shortsightedness

       1.      Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 

             2.      that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 

            3.      knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 

4.      and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 

5.      For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 

6.      by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 

7.      But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 

8.      But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 

9.      The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

It seems proper that Peter should terminate his final contribution to the canon of Scripture by writing about the things of eternity. It is consistent with the Lord’s plan that the very last chapters in the Bible should take us into the new heavens and the new earth. The inspired word gives the account of this planet and the universe around it, from its creation to its destruction. After it tells human history, up to the time that the final despot and all God’s enemies have been judged, eternity is ushered in.

 In this chapter, Peter also will write about the final destruction of the universe, before he opens a door to a new one, which reigns in righteousness. He begins in the first verse with the theme of remembrance, which, he states, has been his purpose in both, but he particularly emphasizes it throughout this second letter. He uses the reader’s memory, in order to “stir up” their “pure minds”. Warren Wiesbe makes a statement, “It is possible to have a pure and sincere mind and yet have a bad memory!”

God saved righteous Lot

  

False Prophets and Teachers

       1.      But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers            among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who                      bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 

      2.      And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 

      3.      By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 

 Peter continues to prod the believers’ memory, reminding them of Old Testament stories, which were familiar to them. He warns them that there will be false teachers among them, as there were false prophets throughout the Jews’ history. Paul also warned the Ephesian elders, who met with him in Meletus, before he sailed on towards Jerusalem. I will first point out that Paul recognized the three-fold ministry of the elders, which we studied in 1 Peter, chapter 5. They are elders, but also, bishops and shepherds or pastors: “The Holy Spirit has made you overseers (bishops), to shepherd the church of God” (Ac.20:28).

 He went on to caution them: “From among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Ac.20:30). As long as we are in this deceitful world, we must beware of false people with wrong motives and their false doctrines. Jesus spoke of them in the parables of Matthew 13, telling of tares among wheat, a mustard seed which grew into a tree, leaven mixed into a loaf of meal, and bad fish netted along with good fish. In Matthew 25, He began, “The kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins… five of them were wise, and five were foolish.” To the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus exposed the false doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, a false prophetess and her disciples. Can we expect less in these days of deep deception?

  

Destroying demonic literature in Ephesus

Verses 12-21 

 Spiritual benefits from memories

12.   For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 

13.  Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 

14.  knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.

15.  Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease. 

In verse 12, Peter begins to show the importance of remembrance in spiritual life. David put himself in a compromising, hypocritical position, when he allied himself with one of Israel´s enemies. This was Achish of Gath, one of the five kings of the Philistines. His fault was in putting his trust in this man, instead of looking to the Lord for protection. Living a lie, finally caught up with him. He found himself with Achish, about to begin a major battle against his own people, Israel, as the Philistines mounted a major offensive against them. King Saul and David’s friend, Jonathan, died in this battle. God freed him from this dangerous situation, but things soon went from bad to worse.

 After a two-day’s journey, his army of 600 soldiers arrived at the city of Ziklag, which Achish had given to them. They discovered that the Amalekites had ransacked and burned the city, while they were absent, stealing the wives and children. David’s men were at the point of stoning him and he had absolutely no one to turn to. David was greatly distressed, the biblical account relates, and it is at this point, when David’s memory began to function. He remembered the hand of the Lord so heavily upon his past life, all the way back to his youth and “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He went on to recover every one of the wives and children, but David won a greater battle in his soul, recognizing the grace of God in the victory. Grace became a ruling principle in his future kingdom. Read this valuable account in 1 Samuel 30. Memory strengthened and restored David with His Lord.

  Peter sees the need, on his part as a teacher of the gospel, to be faithful to remind the churches of things they already know. It is a great lesson for all Bible teachers that they should not be concerned about being repetitious. We have seen Peter, in the first part of this chapter, preoccupied with the possibility of stunted growth, short vision and stumbling in their walk of faith. Here, however, he sees people with experiential knowledge, presently living and established in the truth that has come into their lives.

  

Warren Wiersbe, pastor of Moody Church

 Verses 1-11 

A powerful introduction

           1.     Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of                 Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained                      like precious faith with us by the                                   righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus                                                                                                                Christ: 

2.      Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 

There are times, when we have to hold a verse of Scripture under a Spirit-inspired microscope to be able to bring out every small detail of significance. Other times, we do better to see the overall picture that the verse intends to convey. There is a detail, concerning Peter’s presentation in the first verse of each of his two epistles. I am not sure why the apostle uses his original name in his second epistle, while he does not in the first. We do learn one fact, however, concerning this difference, which perhaps is small, but it certainly shows us that, when Jesus gave Peter a second name, which signified a stone, he did not wish to eliminate his given name, Simon. It can be safely said that, as we begin a new Christian life, the Lord has no intention of erasing all natural biography from our past, nor removing our unique personality, which He created from conception.

 Not only does Peter add his given name in his second epistle, but also adds servant to his title of apostle. Translators may have good reason for changing the literal Greek word to servant, which simply and quite definitely means slave. Slave accurately describes our relationship to Christ, Whom we have received as absolute Lord. Paul teaches that “you are not your own… you are bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Co.6:20). It is hard for me to understand that people, who have been bought and are not their own, can be anything, but slaves. The very same word is translated slave in the next chapter, 1 Corinthians 7:22: “Likewise he who is called being free is Christ’s slave.”

 In calling himself a bondservant, the apostle is referring to a situation in the Old Testament in the law of Moses in Exodus 21:2-6 and in the second recitation of the law in Deuteronomy 15:12-18, when a Hebrew, due to duress, sells himself as a slave. He was to serve for six years and then, by law, in the seventh year, he must be released. Not only is he to go free, but his master must liberally grant him sheep, grain and grapes, and other supplies, to help him to get a new start in life. There was a clause in the law, that the slave, because of love for his master, could choose to stay under his mastery. His new position was marked by piercing an ear with an awl, and it meant that he would be a voluntary slave for the duration of his life. It was a wonderful picture of New Testament voluntary surrender to Christ, motivated by love. Not only Peter, but Paul, James and Jude, considered themselves bondslaves. 

 

Your adversary, the devil

 

Shepherd the Flock of God

 1.      The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:    

       2.      Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 

3.      nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 

4.   and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 

 The words that Peter heard directly from the mouth of Jesús form the background for his message to the elders of the churches, to whom he is writing. Jesus taught, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you… do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven... whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Mt. 20:25, 26; 23:8, 9, 12).

 I have heard a few leaders say that the charges that are under their care are rowdy and rebellious and, therefore, require a firmer grip and demand more authority, than that to which Jesus limited his disciples. I would suggest then, that they would start over and build something Christian. There are no rules in Christianity, besides those which Jesus laid down, and there are no exceptions to those rules.

 There is no wiser advice in Scripture than that which Peter gives in this letter. This rough fisherman has been broken and gentled. He writes to the elders in the churches and equalizes himself to them. He places himself among them and not over them in the least. 

 

Christian discipline in Acts

     

1 Peter 4

 The end of all things is at hand 

      1.   Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in         the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 

2.      that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 

3.      For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 

4.      In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 

5.      They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 

6.      For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 

7.      But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

 According to 1 Peter 3:8, there is to be a unity of mind among the brethren, but that unity is based on oneness with the mind of Christ. The divine principle is found in the prayer of Christ to the Father: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (Jn.17:23). Unity among human beings outside of Christ is beyond useless; it is dangerous. It is the basis of ecumenicalism that is a religious unity, which rebels against godly principle. It will ultimately exist as Babylon, exposed and defined in the book of Revelation, as a harlot that has been unfaithful to her Husband…. Her Husband being her Creator, whom she has forgotten. It adulterates along with the world’s system, exalts itself and is empowered by the spirit of the devil.

 The mind of Christ is centered on God-ordained suffering. As He walked on earth, Jesus never diverted once from this purpose. A messianic phrase in Isaiah 50:7 states, “I have set My face like a flint.” and the account in Luke’s Gospel, 9:51, records the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “When the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.

 

Wesley:“Not the outward sign, but the inward grace.

 

Matrimonial responsibilities

      1.   Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 

   2. when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 

3.      Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 

4.      rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 

5.   For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 

6.     as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 

      7.  Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the                         weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be                         hindered.

Warren Wiersbe commented that God has established three institutions on earth… the government, the church, and the home. The latter is formed first by a husband and his wife, and so, both Peter and Paul give inspired counsel to the married couple. I emphasize that, because as is true in all the Scripture, this counsel is also divinely inspired. It qualified Paul, who was not married, along with Peter, who was married, to give expert advice. Christian couples need counsel from heaven that goes beyond earthly experience. This world’s wisdom is not sufficient for any area of Christian living, and the believers’ home is a heavenly, supernatural institution. All counsel to believers must be based on biblical, Holy-Spirit directed wisdom.

 Peter begins with the wives and, because he is writing to first generational converts, he assumes that not all have believing spouses. Those, who are married in Christ, should have no need for advice concerning unconverted husbands or wives. Paul gave clear command: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial (the word Belial from Hebrew… worthlessness, unprofitableness, wickedness)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” (2 Co.6:14-15). 

 

1 Peter 2

 

A Cornerstone with accompanying Living Stones  

1.     Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 

      2.      as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 

      3.       if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

4.      Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 

5.      you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 

6.    Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." 

7.      Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE," 

8.      and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 

9.      But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

10.  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

 The New Testament does not teach that Christianity is something to be added to a person’s natural, sinful existence. As in our chapter, verse 1, there must first be a laying aside, before any Christian ingredient can be added. This principle is confirmed by Paul in Ephesians 4:22 and 24: “Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man… put on the new man…”  He teaches it again to the Colossians: “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man…” (Col.3:9, 10).