Local churches are authorized to provide for needy Christians (continued)

Considering objections

• James 1:27 - “Can’t the church practice pure and undefiled religion?”
  • Yes, but that’s not what James 1:27 is talking about.
  • Can an individual practice pure and undefiled religion? Yes, and it is described in James 1:27.
  • Compare I Timothy 5:16. “Jesus tells us what should be done. Paul tells us who should do it.”
• Galatians 6:10 - “The church should ‘do good to all people,’ not just Christians.”
  • Is this talking about a church giving money to people, especially to Christians?
  • No. This passage is about individual Christians helping others overcome sin, not using the church treasury to give money to people.
  • A letter written to a church does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to church action (I Corinthians 7).
  • A letter written to an individual does not mean that everything in that letter pertains to individual action (I Timothy 3).
• II Corinthians 9:13 - “Paul said the money went to ‘them’ (needy saints) and to ‘all’ (non-saints).”
  • Context:
    • Proof of their love (II Corinthians 8:24)
    • Thanksgivings to God (II Corinthians 9:11-12)
    • Glorification of God for your obedience (II Corinthians 9:13)
    • Yearning for you (II Corinthians 9:14)
    • This money was sending a message!
  • Harmony
    • I Corinthians 16:1 - “for the saints”
    • II Corinthians 8:4 - “support of the saints”
    • II Corinthians 9:1 - “ministry to the saints”
    • II Corinthians 9:12 - “needs of the saints”
    • Romans 15:25 - “serving the saints”
    • Romans 15:26 - “poor among the saints in Jerusalem”
    • Romans 15:31 - “to the saints”
    • Consider the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
    • Acts 10:28, 34-35; 11:1-3; Galatians 2:11-13
    • Gentile brethren ➡️ Jewish brethren
    • There was something much bigger going on here than just the money paying the bills for needy saints. The relationship was affected! It was an act of good will, sincerity, love, and fellowship between Gentiles and Jews.
  • My conclusion: I believe Paul is referring to the money and the message it sent about the relationship between Gentile saints and Jewish saints.
  • “Because of the proof given by this ministry, [the proof of love from Gentiles] they [Jewish brethren] will glorify God for your [Gentiles’] obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution [the money and the message it sent] to them [needy Jewish saints] and to all [Jewish saints].”