We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
Venice church of Christ
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Christians seeking to glorify God in Christ in Los Angeles
How can #Christians well and effectively be concerned about what is right before people?
Paul often encouraged Christians to give regard to what was deemed right by people according to their #customs.
We should never compromise God's purposes in Christ in order to conform to social customs, but we should also not disregard or prove flippant regarding social customs when they are not inconsistent with God's purposes in Christ.
As part of his commendation of #Titus and his associates, #Paul defended the reason why he was sending them.
He wanted to be seen as #blameless in regard to the #collection for the poor Christians of Judea.
Therefore he provided Christians with every opportunity to be part of the process to maintain #accountability regarding the funds from where they were given until the point at which they were received by their intended recipients.
To what end should #Christians prove #obedient?
Jesus was foreknown before the foundation of the world but manifest at the end of times for their sake.
Through Jesus they are believers in God who raised Jesus from the dead so they would maintain faith and hope in God.
They had purified their souls in obedience to the truth to love their fellow Christians sincerely, so they ought to thus love one another.
They had been born again from the imperishable seed of the Word of God; Peter referred to Isaiah 40:6-8.
Having established their need for holiness (1 Peter 1:13-16), Peter exhorted them to pass their time of their sojourn in reverence of the Father who will judge all without respect of persons according to their work.
They should know they are redeemed not with corruptible things like precious metals or their manner of life in paganism but with the blood of Christ, as a lamb without spot.
New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-25
#Peter reminded the #Christians of Asia Minor of the power of their #redemption.
#Peter reminded the #Christians of Asia Minor of the power of their #redemption.
Why do Christians need to commend faithful Christians to one another at times?
#Paul and the Macedonian Christians had sent them to encourage the preparation of the Corinthian Christians' #gift for the poor Christians in Judea. They should have no reason for concern regarding those three men.
We likewise will find times and opportunities in which we will commend Christians to other Christians and be commended in turn, and this is appropriate and right.