1 Kings 6; 2 Chronicles 3; 1 Timothy 1
Solomon's construction of the temple was a significant undertaking. God commanded Solomon to design, build, and accomplish it. The temple was meant to play an essential role in Israel as the central place of worship and the sole location for serving God. Understanding this, Solomon built it meticulously and lavishly, overlaying its surfaces with gold. Even though tens of thousands of people worked on this project, construction took seven years.
However, despite all this, the temple was not an end. Its purpose was to facilitate the meeting and communion with God, helping the Israelites live in harmony with Him. Therefore, God warned Solomon: "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws, and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David, your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people, Israel." (1 Kings 6:12-13).
The relationship of the soul with God has always been and will always be the primary goal of religious activity.
1 Timothy 1
Leaving Timothy as the responsible servant in the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul focuses his attention on the main thing: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he urges him to ensure that the Gospel, and not something else, remains the center of preaching: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work—which is by faith." (1 Timothy 1:3-4).
In the second half of the chapter, the apostle discusses the effect of the Gospel on his life.
- He became a preacher of the Gospel not by his own merits but by God's mercy and grace (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
- He acknowledges his utter unworthiness without Jesus Christ: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).
- His salvation is an example of the salvation of all who will believe in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:16).
- The saving Gospel is designed so that only God is glorified as a result of its action, not the people who preach or experience it (1 Timothy 1:17).
However, despite all this, the temple was not an end. Its purpose was to facilitate the meeting and communion with God, helping the Israelites live in harmony with Him. Therefore, God warned Solomon: "As for this temple you are building, if you follow my decrees, observe my laws, and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David, your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people, Israel." (1 Kings 6:12-13).
The relationship of the soul with God has always been and will always be the primary goal of religious activity.
1 Timothy 1
Leaving Timothy as the responsible servant in the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul focuses his attention on the main thing: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he urges him to ensure that the Gospel, and not something else, remains the center of preaching: "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God's work—which is by faith." (1 Timothy 1:3-4).
In the second half of the chapter, the apostle discusses the effect of the Gospel on his life.
- He became a preacher of the Gospel not by his own merits but by God's mercy and grace (1 Timothy 1:12-13).
- He acknowledges his utter unworthiness without Jesus Christ: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst" (1 Timothy 1:15).
- His salvation is an example of the salvation of all who will believe in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:16).
- The saving Gospel is designed so that only God is glorified as a result of its action, not the people who preach or experience it (1 Timothy 1:17).
Posted in Reading Bible Together