Jesus told the Pharisees, “But give that which is within as charity and, behold, all things are clean for you” (Luke 11:41, NASB with note).
Tobit says something similar: “For almsgiving saves from death and purges away every sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life, but those who commit sin and do wrong are their own worst enemies” (12:9-10). (I know we Protestants don’t read the Deuterocanonicals–the Apocrypha, the 7 books in the Catholic Bibles that are not in Protestant Bibles, but Tobit’s statement about almsgiving was well-known to the church fathers and the Protestant Reformers.)
Peter converted “almsgiving” to “love” and wrote, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).
We might all want to consider how generous we are, not only with our money, but with “that which is within,” especially to the poor.
Jesus said, “When you give a [a]reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they are unable to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13-14).
Just WOW! Let me take this opportunity to recommend Matt Newman’s Good in the Hood, which talks about how to “give what is within” to the poor by drawing close to them like the Samaritan did to the bleeding man on the road to Jericho.
There are a lot of opinions and rumors about Constantine, the Council of Nicea, and the events of the fourth century that changed Christianity to Christendom. Not only will you get the incredible story, with all its twists, plots, and intrigues, but you will find out how history is done and never wonder what is true again.
The Rest of the Old, Old Story 