More Blessed To Give Than Receive

Acts 20:33-35“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. 34“You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.35“In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Worldly minded people seldom understand the spiritual words of the Savior, and none are more misunderstood or maligned than the word’s that Paul reminds us of here. 

We don’t know when Jesus spoke these words since they are not recorded or referenced in the gospels. We only know that His inspired apostle attests to these words, and used them to teach the church the proper view of material things: Sharing, not coveting and hoarding.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because Christians view life and possessions are as things to do good with, not to seek for the accumulation or use of them for our own pleasures.

It is more blessed to give than receive because the spiritual is more important than the material. 

It is more blessed to give than to receive because the ability to give means that we have been first blessed to have enough of something to share.

It is more blessed to give than to receive because we follow the example and pattern of the Father. 

Let us seek every opportunity to give important things, both physical and spiritualIt is the blessed way.

Lost But Saved

This past week [Nov. 2013], many in the brotherhood have followed the travails of the Smelser family as one of their sons, Adam aged 25, was lost by accidental drowning while swimming in a river in Kentucky. He drowned on Sunday and his body was found by local authorities Thursday after days of diligent search. Some observations:

The good in social media. The prayers and concern that brethren were able to show and share in with a family in Pennsylvania concerning a son in Kentucky were greatly helped by the connections that we are able to maintain electronically. The smart phones, tablets and computers that instantly present to us all the information in the world are great and powerful tools for either good or evil. Let us use them for good, prayers and brotherly love as they were used this week. 

The dependability of a truly faithful persons habits. Within hours of Adam’s disappearance, days before the authorities found and identified his body, his family and friends the knew in their hearts that it was him. They knew by the location of his truck and his personal effects and by the fact that he was not a church that Sunday evening. He simply didn’t miss any church services. When he missed an evening assembly without cause, the best explanation for it was that he was dead. 

The difference in heavenly and earthly perspective. For the four days Adam was missing to us, Jesus had him all along. We searched for him diligently since he was lost, but in reality he was already fully saved.

If we had such concern for the spiritually lost as the physically lost. The authorities searched for Adam so long and hard that his father told them to go home and rest the day before he was found. Those who recognize the values of lost souls should seek the lost with such devotion.

Consider Jesus: I Am

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

What a person says about themselves is of great importance. To get to know about a person that you have never met you can use two sources to find out about him.  You examine what he says and/or what others say about him. But only in what they themselves say are you assured that you can know their inner thoughts and views. 

Jesus, especially in the gospel of John, said many things about Himself.  Some of those things are:

I am the resurrection and the life   Jn. 11:1-4

I am the Son of GodJn. 5

I am the bread of lifeJn. 6

I am from HimJn. 7:14-30  

I am the light of the world   Jn. 9:1-5; 8:12

I am the Door of the Sheep   Jn. 10:1-10

I am the good shepherdJn. 10:17,18

I am the way, the truth, and the life   Jn. 14:6

I am in the FatherJn. 14:6-11

I am the vine Jn 15

I am king Jn. 18:37

As important to us as all great truths that things are, we should also consider one great “I am” statement in Matthew. Jesus assures us that “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst.” (Matt. 18:20)

Consider Jesus: Horn of Salvation

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

At the birth of John the Baptist, his father, the priest Zacharias, prophesied about what was coming and what his son, the prophet was preparing for. Jesus is called to the “horn of salvation” in the house of David.

Luke 1:68“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,  69  And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant—  70As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—  71Salvation from our enemies. And from the hand of all who hate us;  72  To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant,  73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father”

This the third time in scriptures that the phrase “horn of salvation” occurs. The other two times it occurs are actually the same song of David, the great song of deliverance recorded in the opening of 2 Sam. 22 and Ps. 18.  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  

The salvation that Jehovah God was to David, Zacharias foresees coming as coming again in the work that Christ would do. For both David and Zacharias the deliverance that they sought was the work of God, and it was ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

Consider Jesus: Our Hope

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

People viscerally know that earthly existence is ultimately unsatisfying and that true contentment and fulfillment escape us even when worldly circumstances are favorable. Those without faith, and a worldview diminished by selfishness, look to a change of fortune or circumstances to find fulfillment. Others have a spiritual hope, but false spiritual hopes, such as reincarnation or universalism, are weak and unsatisfactory. 

Compared to this is the great bright hope of Christianity believing in “God our Savior, and…Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” (1 Tim. 1:1)

Such hope was present in the Old Testament, “For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, Thou art my confidence from my youth.” (Ps. 71:5) And “I have hope in Him.” (Lam. 3:24) Now this “hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” (Tit. 1:2) is realized in Jesus. 

Jesus, the embodiment of our hope, is the one who came from Heaven to show us the way back there by reconciled us to God and our brothers along the way. This is much better than hoping in riches (1 Tim. 6:17) or any of the vain things of this world.

This hope enlivens everything we do 1 Tim. 4:10 “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”, knowing that it will all go well for us if we do. “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Tit. 2:13) 

So “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:13)

Consider Jesus: The Holy One

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

From the beginning to end, Jesus was the holy one of God.  Before His birth, He was “the holy Child [that] shall be called the Son of God.”  (Luke 1:35) and so at his birth, he was the “holy child” conceived by the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 1:18-20) 

In the beginning of his ministry, he was acknowledged by the frightened demons as “Jesus of Nazareth…I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24 and Luke 4:34) 

His truest friends acknowledged the same thing. “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”” (Jn. 6:68,69)

Peter would later pray to God, twice acknowledging Jesus as “Your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:27,30) He was preached as the God’s “HOLY ONE” who would not “UNDERGO DECAY” (Acts 2:26,17; 13:35)   

In the epistle who are taught to the priesthood and blessings of Him as the holy one. “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26) “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.” (1 Jn. 2:20)

And finally, He gave this testimony of Himself in His message to the church in Philadelphia: “He who is holy, who is true…” (Rev. 3:7)

Consider Jesus: High Priest

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb. 4:14-16“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

The promise of the Psalm (110:4) was that the Messiah would be a priest forever, not of the linage of Levi, but of Melchizedek. In Him, and not the Levitical priesthood of the was, is the hope of one who would bring salvation. (Heb. 5:9) 

Jesus did met all the priestly qualification. He was called by God to His post. (Heb. 5:4-6) He offered acceptable sacrifice, in His case, He was both sacrifice and the officiant. (Heb. 7:27; Jn. 10:17,18) And then he interceded with God for man. (1 Tim. 3:15).

Also, being a High Priest, it is clear that He is a head of a class of priests. He has made His followers to be priests (Rev. 1:6) and to service in His temple, the church. (1 Pet. 2:9)

So Jesus is our head priest (and the sacrifice also) who stands near to God for for us and “He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

Consider Jesus: Heir Of All Things

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb. 2:1“in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

Since He is the true son of theFather, He is the natural and rightful heir. Please note, as Paul did, that “all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1: 16). 

The scriptures often affirm His rightful ownership. “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father” (Matt. 11:27)  “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.”  (Jn. 3:35) “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands…” (Jn. 13:3)

Jesus Himself also affirmed the same things. “All things that the Father has are Mine” (Jn. 16:16) and “...All things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine” (Jn. 17:10)

It is all His be right of creation and inheritance, from the farthest star to the darkest corner, it all belongs to Him. Satan has taken adverse possession of it as a squatter and a thief and as a leader of others who are with him in staking their illegitimate claim. But the legal and rightful heir will one day take possession back. 

The glorious thing for us it that He has made us to be heirs with Him. (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29, 4:7) He who has all things, including eternal life, has and will fully share them with us.

Consider Jesus: The Head

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Cor. 11:3“But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.”

The New Testament repeatedly affirms the headship, the authority and position, of Jesus. He is often styled as the “head of the church” or “head of the body.” (Eph. 1:22, 4:15, 5:23, Col. 1:18, 2:19). He leads, directs, guides, provisions and ultimately saves His church. 

Jesus’ headship over the church is also seen in the fulfillment of the oft-repeated prophecy that He would be made the “chief corner stone” (From Ps. 118:22, said to fulfilled by Christ in Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11 and 1 Pet. 2:7). Some modern translations render this as simply “corner stone” since buildings tend to have but one, and more literal translations give it as “chief corner stone,” but quite literally, if somewhat ineloquently in modern English, “head of the corner.” He is the standard of all that is built in the church. 

But He is not just the head (has the position of authority over) over those who submit to Him, but He is the head of “all rule and authority.” (Col. 2:10) There is not authority that is not under Him. There are some in rebellion to Him, not acknowledging that “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18)

The headship (authority) of Jesus is such that He is the rightful head of all, even those who don’t acknowledge it.  “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man” (1 Cor. 11:3)

Consider Jesus: Governor, Ruler

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Matt. 2:6 “AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER [Governor - KJV], WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.”

The promise is the He will “rule” or “shepherd” God’s people (literally, “oversee and feed”). The great promised the Messiah coming to Israel was to be born in the somewhat obscure town of Bethlehem. The Jewish authorities were easily able to point the magi to the right place when they came looking for the newborn king. 

They all knew that the ruler to come was from Bethlehem, but the rulers of the Jews mistook the type of ruler He would be. Isaiah prophesied that He would have the government on his shoulders, and He would be a great rulers: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6) 

Prophecies of the great ruler to come often spoke of His caring nature as well as His great authority.  The prophecy of Micah 5:2 speaks of Him as ruler while just two verses later, vs. 4, speaks of Him as shepherd. He is a ruler, but one who very much has these best interest of those He rules in mind. 

He is a ruler, a governor, but one with authority and concern like no other.

Consider Jesus: God, The True God

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Jn. 5:19,20 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know shim who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” ESV

The last statement of 1 Jn. 5 :20 is a summary and restatement of the truth John had explained at longer length above. Some translations give the restatement as “He is the true God…” and others, “This is the true God…” Some think summary states that the God with us the true one and Jesus His son is the way of eternal life. This is true. Others think this summary states that Jesus Himself is the true God and is the way of eternal life. This is true as well. Which of these senses John means here, you may decide for yourself. 

When John uses the phrase, “The true God” it is to tie belief in Jesus with Jehovah, the living God of in the Old Testament (Ref. 2 Chron. 15:3; Jer. 10:10) as is also done by Jesus Himself and Paul. (Jn. 17:3; 1 Thess. 1:9)  

This great continuity of truth embodied in Jesus is the source of our salvation. He is the true God.

Consider Jesus: God With Us

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Matt. 1:22-25  “Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23  “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24  And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, 25  and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

In this familiar passage, Matthew opens the record of the birth of Jesus with the story of Jesus’ history and a quote from Isaiah 7. The quote from Isaiah sets the life of Jesus from the very start as central to the prophesied plan of God, it explains the highly unusual circumstances of His birth, and establishes Jesus as divine, “God with us.”

Jesus is “God with us,” sharing with us, being us. He was not just “God to us,” showing us God, which He did.  And He was not “God similar to us,” being like us in appearance only.  

Instead, there is a great comfort in the reciprocal nature of God’s appearance among man “with us”. He came as man, and in every relevant way like us, while also being divine in nature and expressing deity here. And “with” us, “for” us, coming to help us.

Consider Jesus: God Manifest In The Flesh

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

1 Tim. 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” KJV

Here is the great mystery of God, that God would come in the flesh. He came as a man to redeem man. He came as God to reveal God to us. 

The scriptures as equally and readily affirm Jesus as God in one passage and man in the next. He’s the son of God and the son of man.  

Jn. 1:14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Rom. 1:3,4  “His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord”

This is a fact hard to explain. The scriptures simply tell us that Mary was overshadowed by the Spirit and through this she conceived. (Ref. Luke 1:35-38) The faith of many has floundered and many heresies have sprung up in trying to explain more than the scriptures affirm and the faithful have always believed: That God was with us in the person of Jesus.

Considering Jesus: God Blessed Forever

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Rom. 9:4,5 “Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.”

This proclamation is parallel to the one that Paul opened the books of Romans with. 

Romans 1:3,4  “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord”

In both of these passages, the line of reasoning is the same. Jesus, who is from the Jews, the descendant of David, according to his fleshly body, is also Divine. And not just slightly elevated, a demi-god, a noble personage, but truly the God, our Lord. He is the one blessed forever. The Jews had already been worshipping Him as God when they worshipped Jehovah in truth, and now we have His person fully known to us and still blessed forever. 

This is the same conclusion that Peter preached and taught as he told people about the work of God that was accomplished in Jesus: “preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)” (Acts 10:36)

Considering Jesus: Jesus is God

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

John begins his gospel by stating “the Word (Jesus) was with God and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). This is a fact that scripture affirms in a variety of interesting claims. 

Early on in his gospel, Matthew tells us of His coming and its meaning. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” (1:23)

Peter tells us that He is our “God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:1). This agrees with the prophecy of Isaiah that “your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.” (Isa 54:5)

The apostle Paul declared him to be, “the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” in Romans 9:5. and the we should all be,  “looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” in Titus 2:13.

Paul records for us a little poem, likely an early hymn, that tells the whole story of Jesus in a few words. “By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He [God] who was revealed in the flesh,/Was vindicated in the Spirit,/Seen by angels,/Proclaimed among the nations,/Believed on in the world,/Taken up in glory.” (1 Tim. 3:16)

As John summarizes for us as revelation was coming to come to a close: “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (1 Jn. 5:20)

Considering Jesus: The Glory Of Israel

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Luke 2:29-32 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

In Luke 2:25ff we are told the story of when elderly, devout Simeon saw the infant Jesus being brought to the temple. He was told that he would live long enough to see the Messiah, and so when he saw Jesus, he praised God and quoted Isaiah 42:6 about Jesus being a light to the nations and paraphrased Micah 2:32 about Him as the glory of Israel.

To the Gentiles He was a light like they had never known or even conceived, since they were without hope and without God in the world, and strangers to His promises. (Eph. 2:12) But for Israel, Jesus was the glory that they should have been expecting. He was God with them, the perfect example of man in the flesh, the fulfillment of the prophecies and all their sound hopes. 

John said that he saw his glory, (Jn. 1:14) but that did not understand, appreciate or receive Him.(Jn. 1:12) He was the glory of the nation, one of the main reasons for the nation to continue to exist as a people, and still they missed it.Their glory came, and to their shame, they did not see Him.

Considering Jesus: The Radiance Of God’s Glory

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb. 1:3 “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high”

Our God is the “God of glory.” From the beginning of the Bible (“Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness” Duet. 5:24) to the end (“And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Rev. 21:23) the great glory of God is made manifest so that man may worship and honor Him.

This relates to Jesus because in Heb. 1:3, the Hebrew writer tells us that Jesus is the bright radiance of the that glory. Jesus is the very brightest part of the glory of God. 

Jesus is the glory of the God of glory. He is the glory of God personified. This is why He and the father are one, and to see Jesus is to see the Father. A glimpse of the glory was seen on the mount of transfiguration, and it awaits to be fully revealed to us at the end. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.” (1 Jn. 3:2)

A Case For Traditional Marriage

Consider this:  

...Besides children, women who carry the burden of pregnancy are obviously at greater risk than men in the childbearing process. Historically, gendered marriage has tied men to their children and to the mothers who sacrifice to create them. This arrangement not only overcomes but also compliments the biological differences of men and women.

Finally, gendered marriage addresses the rights of fathers. Fatherhood is the most fragile biological relationship in the father-mother-child triangle. The bond between mother and child is obvious. The father less so. Marriage closes this gap by legally binding a father to a mother and child, giving him both rights and responsibilities in a relationship that, by the way, dramatically affects the successful socialization of children.

This observation is from is a Mormon magazine, but this argument is based in biology, not theology. The problem is that for the past half century our culture and law have made a priority of minimizing the differences between the sexes. If one accepts contemporary feminism's premise that men and women are essentially interchangeable, it is very difficult to formulate a coherent reason why, for the purposes of marriage, one of each should be treated any differently from two of one or the other..

Consider Jesus: The Gift of God

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Jn. 4:10 “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’”

Jesus asked the woman at the well for a simple and easy to accomplish favor, He asked for a drink of water. She was drawing water anyway, a little bit for him wouldn’t have even been as much as got sloshed out getting the water home. But she gave him an off-putting answer. Doing it would have been simpler than conversing about it, but how often do we talk much instead of do even a little? 

Jesus didn’t reproach her severely, but told her that if she really knew what God had given and what God was doing how differently she would act. She thought of what she was asked to give (not much) and was missing what could be given to her (eternal life). So many things in this life is lost for lack of asking, how much more the things of eternal life and blessings. 

This opportunity was not lost for her only because Jesus kept insisting on giving her what she almost seemed to be trying to miss. And so it is for the greatest gift that was ever given. God gave His son (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son…”) and many people miss that gift repeatedly. The gift is presented to us in so many way and so many times but we often keep missing it. 

Still the Father keeps presenting us His gift, just like a patient father knowing what is best for his children even thought they are all to often oblivious to the value and need of the gift. Jesus once asked if any father would give his son a stone when he asked for bread, or a snake for a fish. If, He said, you give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give good gifts to His? (Matt. 7:9-11). Thanks be to Him that He gave and wants us to take His gift.

Consider Jesus: The Friend of Sinners

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Matt. 11:19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Luke 7:34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’”

The charge that Jesus was a friend of sinners is at once a false and slanderous charge and the most true and wonderful affirmation ever. 

The Jewish enemies of Jesus thought that He was too close to those who they felt were entirely given over to sin. They did not recognize that Jesus was with those in sin to teach them, to restore them, to heal them. “And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 2:17) 

So Jesus was in fact the greatest friend to sinners that there ever was. He loved, helped, taught, encouraged, uplifted and saved sinners like no one ever did, but did so truly without ever approving or partaking in their sins. 

So a friend to, a participant in, sin: No, never. It’s a scurrilous charge. A friend, a true helper, to sinners: Marvelously, Yes.