DIVINE PRINCEPLES

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions!” (Heb. 1:9 NKJV).

Although speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ, this verse gives some divine principles that are applicable to all people. These principles involve purity, pleasure and promotion.

Purity – “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.” It all starts with holiness; the pleasure and promotion comes afterward. All blessings are dependent on holiness, and here the holiness is twofold - there is first a love for righteousness, then there is the hatred of evil. People do not have any problem understanding the idea of loving that which is good. The problem lies with the hatred for evil. Few want to take such a strong stand against evil. But if we truly love righteousness, we will hate evil. If we do not hate evil, we are deficient in our love for righteousness.

Pleasure – “Therefore God, Your God has anointed You with the oil of gladness.” We all want to be happy, but we often forget that happiness depends on holiness. The “therefore” emphasizes the fact of holiness before happiness. When we love righteousness and hate evil, we will know something about true happiness. The world is trying to gain happiness through evil conduct. Evil, however, is the way to heartache not happiness. In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).

Promotion – “More than Your companions.” Purity promotes. It may not promote in this world, but it promotes in divine matters. And here the promotion is from God and not from man. Yet not many folks are interested in being promoted by God. The only promotions they seem to be interested in are those from the world, even though divine promotions are the lasting, and best promotions. The promotions of the world are not important with God. The Lord Jesus turned down the world’s promotions offered to Him by devil (cf. Matt. 4:9); He was interested in purity and the promotions of God.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“In holiness God is more clearly seen than in anything else, save in the Person of Christ Jesus the Lord, of whose life such holiness is but a repetition!”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

English Particular Baptist Preacher

Word Study

Following

In Phil. 3:17 we read, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (NKJV).

“Following” is the Greek word symmimētḗs (συμμιμητής = soom-mim-ay-tace'). It is made up of two words: “sun” which means together with, and “mimētḗs” which means an imitator of or follower with others, a joint follower, a joint imitator. This Greek word reminds us of our English mimic or mime. Just as the apostle Paul mimics (mimes) the Lord Jesus Christ, so the Philippians should mimic or imitate him. Here, the apostle Paul is making his own example a standard of the new life in the Lord Jesus Christ because at this time in the history of Christianity there is not yet any tradition of the Christian life. It is also interesting to note that the art of miming emphasizes the actions (the mime does not use words) so one application is to let our actions speak louder than our words!

Did You Know…

The twelve apostles included two sets of two brother: “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother” (Matt. 10:2).

Bible Quiz

Why did the Queen of Sheba come to visit with King Solomon?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

What were the Ephesians urged to do in order "to stand against the wiles of the devil?" “Put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

Owning the Title - God / Elohim (Psalm 45:6; cf. Heb. 1:8)

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom” (Psalm 45:6 NJKV).

In context, the Psalmist is exalting the king for being a righteous and just ruler. But he did so in a startling way, addressing the king as God. However, the Holy Spirit inspired the Psalmist to address the king as God and, through the author of Hebrews explained that he was speaking of Israel’s coming King, God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The psalmist wrote prophetically of the righteous and just reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, who will rule eternally with His beloved bride, the church, at His right hand.

Did You Know – Christian History

World’ Smallest Sovereign State Born - February 11, 1928

Vatican City’s independence was formally established on 11 February 1929, when the Lateran Treaty was signed between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. The agreement created Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, a landlocked sovereign country, city-state, microstate, and enclave surrounded by Rome, Italy. The city, which is historically a part of Rome, is the world’s smallest independent country and one of the most sacred places in Christendom.

The treaty was signed by Cardinal Pietro Gasparri on behalf of Pope Pius XI and by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini for King Victor Emmanuel III. The agreement resolved the so-called “Roman Question”, a dispute that had persisted since 1870, when Italian forces captured Rome and incorporated the Papal States into the Kingdom of Italy. For nearly six decades, popes had considered themselves “prisoners in the Vatican,” refusing to recognize the authority of the Italian state over former papal territories.

The Lateran Treaty recognized the sovereignty of Vatican City and defined its territory, financial arrangements and the relationship between church and state. Covering 0.49 square kilometers, about 0.19 square miles, Vatican City became and remains the smallest country in the world by both area and population (882). Despite its size, it holds significant global influence as the spiritual and administrative Centre of the Roman Catholic Church. Today, Vatican City has its own governance system, postal service, currency arrangements, and diplomatic relations with countries around the world. The signing of the treaty marked a historic turning point in European political and religious history, cementing Vatican City independence and shaping relations between Italy and the Holy See for generations to come. Today, it remains a symbol of religious and political independence, with a global diplomatic network and a unique citizenship system tied to service to the Holy See.

A Little Humor

At the pearly gates, Peter asked, “Why are you late?” The man said, “Traffic.” Peter laughed, “You should’ve taken the prayer lane!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Weather Forecast – GOD reigns – SON shines!”