Isaiah 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Looking at the usage of casting here in the Hebrew I discovered some interesting entries in the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon. One usage is casting anything behind ones back i.e to neglect or despise. This matches this passage from Isiah perfectly, having cast all are sins behind His back, to discard as waste, useless, of no value. They are no longer in front of Him, not within His light of sight.

Even more telling is a usage in Ezekiel 18:31 in which it means “to exposes one’s life to the greatest danger”. Whose life was in danger at that moment? Those were our sins that were cast away. It was our lives that were in the greatest danger, eternal damnation. Now that our sins are no longer in His line of sight, where is the danger of losing our eternal salvation? It has shifted, cast behind His back.

This is a clear indication that eternal damnation has shifted from the guilt of sin to the sacrifice for sin. Our status before our righteous God is no longer a matter of our sinfulness but rather our acceptance by faith of the free will sacrifice offered by Christ at the cross. No one is condemned to hell for their sins. Now everything hangs on the cross, literally, in Christ.

Hebrews 10:11-12 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for (all) sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

You are either covered by the blood or guilty of the blood. Which is it?

1 Corinthians 1:1b and Sosthenes our brother

2 Corinthians 1:1b and Timothy our brother

Galatians 2:2b with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

Ephesians 6:21b Tychicus, a beloved brother

Philippians 4:18b having received of Epaphroditus

Colossians 1:1b and Timotheus our brother

1 and 2 Thessalonians 1:1a Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus

Paul never failed to mention men who were with him in service to God. Some are better known to us, having some historical content to indicate their involvement in spreading the gospel in those early years. Others are less known to us but not unknown to the people of the times. Paul’s use of these names gave credence to their reputation for a time and a place. Beyond that we know little.

Not long ago I asked an open ended question. Have you let yourself be known to others? This issue of this being an open ended question lays in how you feel about yourself. Some of us have a past filled with shame. Others might swell with pride. Perhaps you are humble and care not to talk about yourselves.

Here is Paul’s point in calling out these men. You cannot be of use to God without being known. Jonah hid in the bottom of a boat. Elijah hid from Ahab. Both were called out to do the will of God. Sometimes I feel like a Jonah. Sometimes I wish I could be an Elijah. My story is my own but it is not unlike that of many others who seek God for a changed life.

2 Thessalonians 1:10-11 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: