The Strand Study Bible

LUKE LUKE saint was saved by a different gospel. The problem with that kind of thinking is that Paul said in Galatians 1:6-7 that there is no other Gospel that saves and that the same Gospel that saved Abraham saves us (Gal 3:6-8). The question arises then: “How is it that someone can be saved without understanding the actual death, burial, and resurrection of CHRIST ? If the disciples admitted to Jesus that they understood none of these things , how is it they were saved?” The answer is found in Titus 1:2, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began ; Four thousand years before Jesus actually entered the world in human form to die for man’s sins, be buried, and rise again from the dead, God promised the human race redemption. Meaning: God offered mankind the ‘facts’ before the ‘act.’ Which means: Salvation deals with the ‘factual’ gospel, not the ‘actual’ gospel. As long as someone understands the ‘facts’ behind the actual death, burial and resurrection of Christ, he or she can be saved ( I Jn 5:1 ). According to I Peter 1:10-12, every OT prophet (from Abel to Malachi) was searching for the MESSIAH and longing to know exactly who that person would be and at what period of their history He would arise. They were not searching for salvation; they were searching for who the SAVIOR would be, and at what point He would come. Meaning: While it is true that the OT prophets and saints may not have fully known every detail concerning the Gospel of CHRIST , they certainly understood the ‘facts’ behind the actual death, burial and resurrection of CHRIST , and it is the ‘facts’ behind the Gospel that save a person. ( I Cor 15:1 ). 18:41 What blind Bartimaeus recognized was the fact that Christ was God, and thus able to fulfill Scripture (Isa 53:4 and Mt 8:14-17). 19:8 God never intended for people who commit crimes (that is, crimes not worthy of capital punishment – Rom 13: 1- 4 ) to do “jail” time ( Exo 22:1 , Lev 6: 1- 4-5 and Num 5: 6- 7 ). God expected people who committed crimes to “restore” the damage they did to others by working it off ( I restore him fourfold ). Only repeat offenders (people who commit crimes habitually) were put to death in order to rid society of their criminal ways (Exo 21:28-29 and Deut 17:12-13). 19:11 In spite of Jesus’s repeated predictions of the cross (Mt 16:21), the disciples were still expecting his triumph in the immediate restoration of the kingdom of David. Thus, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, He told a parable to show that the kingdom He had been announcing would not be established immediately, as His disciples had thought . Because our Lord knew that His disciples would “drag their feet spiritually” and procrastinate once they knew that He was not returning immediately, He reminded them of three essential truths: 1. Their abilities (pounds, spiritual gifts) were God-given ( delivered ), and thus an investment (vs 13 and I Cor 12:4-11) Whenever someone gives something to someone else, a simple “thank you” is in order. Christians who fail to “thank” God for their spiritual gift(s) are usually not grateful enough to recognize those gifts and/or to use them. Paul said in I Thessalonians 5:18, “ In everything give thanks …” (That includes God-given gifts). 2. Their God-given abilities must be used to serve others ( Occupy till I come ; work – vs 13 and Mt 24:45-51) 3. Their future joy ( Well, thou good servant – vs 17) depended upon their present use of their God-given abilities (vs 15-26 and Mt 25:14- 30 and Rev 2:25-29 & 3:11-13) Just as the ten servants were accountable to invest their master’s money wisely, so Christians are accountable to invest their God- given abilities and opportunities wisely. As believers, we must learn to be faithful with what our Lord has entrusted to us during His absence so that when He returns our reaction will be one of rejoicing and not of regret ( II Cor 5:10-11 and Mt 24:51 ). NOTE – Parable #33 is aimed at believers who “drag their feet spiritually” when it comes to serving God . The character 1687 flaw – assuming they have all the time in the world to serve God . They do not. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Procrastination is the hardening of the “ought-eries” 19:13 a Each servant here was given one pound , speaking of equal opportunity. 19:13 b Every believer has been given a dual assignment: to work ( occupy ), and to wait ( till I come ). 19:14 The reason Jesus added this seemingly insignificant statement ( and sent a message ) to his story was to remind the disciples that the “fear of men” ( But his citizens hated him ) plays a major role in removing oneself from one’s obligation to serve God (Prov 29:25). The world “sends a message” to Christians – We hate the ONE you serve, thus we hate you (Jn 15:18)! 19:17 The parceling out of governmental posts during the 1,000-year millennial reign of Christ will go to those believers who used their God-given spiritual gifts to serve others in one of three ways ( Eph 4:12 ): 1. To help the universal body of Christ to unify ( for the perfecting of the saints ) 2. To help the work of the local church to unify ( for the work of the ministry ) 3. To help the Kingdom of God to edify (win the lost for whom Christ died) ( for the edifying of the body of Christ )