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Adam, Seth, Enosh; 1 Chronicles 1:1 (ESV)

Modern scholars in a cowardly attempt to shoe horn the scriptures to fit into the story presented by the unproven naturalistic theory of evolution, have discounted Adam and Eve as either mythical figures or as the first ape-men that God specially selected from all the other Neanderthals… seriously… I know it just sounds crazy but that is what some are teaching in order to find acceptance in the worlds academies.

The bible actually teaches that Adam and Eve were the first ever created humans and that we are all descended from them, they were actual historical people as demonstrated by this and other biblical genealogies.

The historical person of Adam is so vital to the gospel message in terms of our bondage under sin and salvation in Jesus that Paul refers to Adam often, see Romans 5:14-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 for example.

Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. 1 Chronicles 1:13–16 (ESV)

It is of note that the descendants of Canaan did not populate Africa as many are led to believe. They in fact populated the land of Canaan in the middle east.

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

God wants us to pray for all people, not just an elect few who meet a certain criteria. Specifically we should pray for leaders so that the church and the gospel can flourish in freedom and peace. The reason for this is that the message can spread to all peoples because God desires all types of people to be saved so we need to have the freedom to preach the message everywhere to all people

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

God doesn’t just want to save the Jews or those with the “secret knowledge” as the false teachers were proposing (see previous chapter), no, God wants salvation to be made available to all peoples for all nations, tribes and tongues.

This does not discount the fact that God chooses those that are saved as taught elsewhere. God’s desired will as displayed here and God’s decreed will as seen in election are two different things. God’s desired will is not enforced whereas God’s decreed will is.

 there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 (ESV)

Jesus, not Mary is our mediator. Universalist take this scripture and twist it to say all have been ransomed. As mentioned before, the all can not be interpreted as everyone who ever lived but all in terms of type, Christ died for people form every nation and station in life

For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 1 Timothy 2:13–14 (ESV)

More evidence of the historical Adam as we mentioned in our note on the OT reading today. Also Paul’s rationale for male eldership and leadership in the church. It is getting harder to affirm the truth that leadership is male in today’s society but we must hold firm to the truthful teaching of the bible in spite of cultural moods

Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Psalm 74:12 (ESV)

Our God is the true King, Jesus is the king of our salvation

Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? Ruth 3:1 (ESV)

Naomi makes a plan, a great and ingenious plan to provide a future for her faithful daughter Ruth, in this we see one way in which God’s actions and ours work together. God acts in or through Naomi’s acts. In other words what she does executes God’s plan.

We should not sit passively saying “I’m just waiting for God’s will to be done”, no, we should seize every God given opportunity, God opens doors and we need to walk through them.

So we need to open our eyes, see the open doors, make a plan and walk through the door, God works through us and in us. See Philippians 2:12

And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” Ruth 3:5 (ESV)

Ruth’s obedience to Naomi is inspiring, she does not question Naomi but has faith in her wisdom and command. Ruth is not skeptical but moves in faith to fulfill the plan set out by Naomi and God rewards her with success.

In contradiction to our culture which seems to be perpetually poised in opposition to God and his law, our lives should be marked by unquestioning obedience to God and his word.

Jesus calls us to obedience in John 14:15 and 15:10. Paul mentions obedience in the saints throughout the world as one of the reasons for his ministry in Romans 1:5 and 6:17. The writer of Hebrews also reminds us that our eternal security is connected to our obedience in Hebrews 5:9

He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” Ruth 3:9 (ESV)

Ruth takes a bold step of faith in asking Boaz to become her covering as a husband and redeemer. The lesson for us is simple, without faith it is impossible for us to please God, we must put our faith in our redeemer Jesus. See Hebrews 11:6

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. Ruth 4:13 (ESV)

God’s providence was at work in all of this. God’s great plan of redemption for all peoples was unfolding, through this son would come David and through him Christ would come.

When we speak of God’s providence we are referring to God’s support, care, and supervision of all creation, from its beginning to all eternity. Jesus Christ said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17).

We are also speaking of God’s activity through his unlimited power and knowledge to fulfill his purpose for the whole creation, including human beings.

The Westminster Confession of Faith states “God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness and mercy”

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)

Jesus great mission in coming to this word was to save sinners, not one particular type of sinner but all types of sinner no matter how bad we have been or what sin we have committed we can be saved by Jesus our kinsman redeemer

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17 (ESV)

God is our great king, he is sovereign and worthy of all our praise, mediate on the fact that he is king today, if he is king, what does that mean for your life?

holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 1 Timothy 1:19 (ESV)

Holding to the faith, the truth of the gospel but having a bad conscience because of sin and compromise will lead to our faith being shipwrecked and us undergoing discipline from the Lord like Hymenaeus and Alexander. We need to keep our conscience clear by living in honesty and repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 73:16–17 (ESV)

it is only through God that we can understand the world around us. Our worldview should be informed by him

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. Psalm 73:25 (ESV)

God should be our greatest treasure. Ask yourself this question, if heaven with all its splendour, pleasure and beauty did not have God, if God was not there… would you still want to go?

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth 1:16–17 (ESV)

We can all learn so much from Ruth’s devotion, commitment and selfless faithfulness. Ruth is determined to stay with Naomi and will not abandon her, in doing so she goes as far as to change her nationality and faith for which God will greatly reward her.

Jesus calls us to show this sort of resolve and covenantal loyalty in following him, our spiritual nationality changes too as we become Gods people. We must be resolute, we must not turn back and must continue to press forward. If we settle our hearts on single-minded commitment to the Lord and persevere we will be rewarded. See Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:62

This attitude should affect other areas of our lives too like our marriage etc

She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” Ruth 2:7 (ESV)

Ruth shows us another great example, she is a hard worker. We are called to honest, hard, relentless work in the New Testament both spiritually and physically.

Paul echoes this call in his own account in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” Ruth 2:10 (ESV)

Ruth knows where she is coming from and that she does not deserve and is not entitled to the grace Boaz is showing to her.

Ruth shows us the kind of humble, grateful and gracious attitude we should have. We too were once in darkness and we’re not part of Gods people but by Gods unmerited love he elected and saved us by his grace.

We should remember where we are coming from, how God saved us and not become proud. We should be grateful.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:12-13 “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.” Ruth 2:20 (ESV)

Jesus like Boaz became our kingsman redeemer, he became a relative of ours by becoming human to redeem us from the curse of sin and death. Here are just two verses that point to this as we praise his name for his grace to us:

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:6, 7 ESV)

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3–4 (ESV)

Teaching and theology matter. It matters what we believe. We can not be certain what the bad teaching was but it was likely some form of Gnosticism.

Each of us is called to know the truth, hold to the truth in faith and defend the truth. We should not give way to relativism, naturalism or any other ism that contradicts or opposes the truth of Gods word and message.

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. Psalm 73:1 (ESV)

We must have the vital combination of pure teaching and pure hearts one is not valid without the other