Category Archives: Church Study

Authority Eph 1:1-2

Authority

A while ago when I was a little less wise. I was to make my way to a place to prepare for being a missionary to unreached peoples. Being from the Bahamas I didn’t have many contacts in the USA, nor did I have a home base to set our from.

I had one contact in upstate NY, so I reached out to him, and he helped me to find a vehicle. I needed a vehicle because this training institute was in a rural part of the United States, then once I was done there I needed to move myself to another part of the USA to continue on with training.

He helped me find a vehicle that would get the job done, I purchased it and got on my way. Things would happen that I was not prepared for.

This car had New York plates, and had been used as a winter commuter vehicle for some years, so it was not in the best of condition. I got in this car, and made my way to Pennsylvania, got settled into the training institute, and began to get on with life.

Several months later I was pulled over by a policeman. He was a bit curious I suppose. This was a kind of beat up vehicle and I’d bet he’d seen it before. In the course of this encounter he discovered that I was living in PA studying and my vehicle was registered in NY with NY plates. It ended up in a fine, but I was left perplexed. As far as I was concerned the vehicle was legal because it was a licensed and insured vehicle. I knew nothing of “Separation of States.” NY plates meant nothing in PA.

Each state sets its own laws concerning the use and operation of vehicles on the roads of that state. I was in violation of the laws of PA, but totally unaware of that fact.

We as people fall under the laws or authority of what ever municipality we reside in. Not knowing those laws cannot excuse violation of those laws. Many times we live under the authority of law that we have no understanding of. Or sometimes we may travel to a place that has different laws in place, but while we are there, we too fall under the authority of those laws. Not knowing the law will not save you from an infraction of any of the laws of that place.

A few years ago there was a high profile cace involving a WNBA athlete Britney Griner. She was allegedly in possession of CBD oil in a vape canister. That was a major drug offense in Russia, even though it may not have been where she had left from. She had fallen under the authority of a different land. Ignorance of their law cannot excuse us from the law.

How does this relate to Ephesians?

Vs 1 NLT

This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.

  • This letter is from Paul,
    • Who is Paul?
    • He will now set his authority to write this letter.
  • chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
    • Chosen by the will of God.
      • Paul is chosen by the ultimate authority
      • This means that what he is about to say is a message from God Himself
      • You must listen.
    • to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
      • An apostle is a messenger. One sent with a message.
      • So Paul is establishing that he is Christ’s messenger, chosen by God for this job.
      • His authority is established to delver the message.
      • His purpose is given.
  • Writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus,
    • The recipients of the message
      • They belong to God.
      • They are under the authority of God.
      • They are set apart for God(holy).
    • who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
      • Pauls message is for those who are FAITHFULLY following Jesus.

So Paul in verse 1, Introduces himself, states the authority under which he will give the coming message, and alerts those for whom the message is meant.

Without belonging to God, the words of these messages are not possible to keep. They are not just wise words to live by, but they are words, instruction to a group of people set apart for God, dedicated to God, Faithful in their lives for God.

Vs 2 NLT

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

  • our Father here is interesting. It would seem to indicate that God is the father of all mankind.
    • This is all people, those who believe Him, and those who don’t trust Him.
    • God is the God of all mankind, regardless of our belief.
    • Since God is the God of all, He is the final authority over all.
    • He is the one who decides right from wrong, just from unjust.
    • This is like going into a country and without knowing it being subject to law that you don’t know.
      • Ignorance of that law will not excuse you from that law.
  • Christ’s grace and peace is also available to all mankind.
  • To receive this grace and peace, one has to follow God’s way to receive that grace and peace.
  • It cannot be won by ignorance, or the rejection of God’s way cannot be excused by ignorance.

God is the God of all mankind, His being God is not dependent on our belief of that fact or not. We all fall under His Devine authority, if we believe we do or not.

He is a gracious God, who has provided for any who believe to be forgiven of all sin, and for those who believe to be adopted by Him as His own children.

His authority stands! There is no way out from under that authority. The question is, what do you do with it?

Marriage?

What is it?

Oxford:

The legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship (historically and in some jurisdictions specifically a union between a man and a woman). A combination or mixture of two or more elements.

Most of our focus now-a-days is on the big event. I was stunned to find that the average wedding in the United States costs $30,000.00. Everything must be just right and all things must be perfect. In 2022 the marriage industry brought in $70.5 billion. I was shocked to see this number!

In the United States if you decide after getting “married,” you’ve made a mistake and need to get out of it… Don’t worry, we have that covered too. The average divorce costs for a couple without children is $14,000.00, $21,000.00 if children are involved.

After getting divorced you can then try the whole process again. Both those doing the marrying, and those doing the divorcing welcome your attempts at this institution.

How Does God Define Marriage?

Gen 2:22–25 NLT

Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

  • God made a woman for Adam, who was a man.
    • God’s first intention for marriage is between an man and a woman.
  • This union is autonomous from all family
    • A man leaves his father and mother
    • And is joined to his wife
    • and the two are united (married) into one.

Mat 10:6–9 NLT

But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of creation. ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

  • In the words of Jesus
  • God made them male and female from the beginning. (There are no other genders, no other God sanctioned marriages.)
  • Again an autonomous relationship
    • This explains why a man leaves his father and mother
    • and is joined to his wife
    • and the two are united into one
  • Since they are no longer two but one
    • Let no on split apart what God has joined together.

So now we can say that according to the book of Genesis, and to the words of Jesus, that a marriage is between a man and a woman, and that it is permanent because God has put it together.

How does God put the marriage together?

The pastor, the priest, the JP?

In our western culture we mostly look to the church for guidance in theses affairs. There are however many “professionals” piling in. Like I mentioned before this is a $big industry.

For the west, most if not all of the traditions we associate with a christian wedding are in fact not christian at all. It is all Celtic tradition, the idea of an authority giving a blessing to marry, the white dress, the rings. All of it is Celtic! You can find no part of it in the scriptures.

Since we go to an authority for a blessing to be married. Whether the pastor, or a councilor, or a priest, they now become the authority for the idea of marriage. We make our vows before witnesses, human witnesses, all the while forgetting that God misses nothing. We are pushing Him out of the way, and out of consideration.

God puts it together!

The question then is how.

Gen 24:67 NLT

And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

  • Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother’s tent
  • and she became his wife

Where was the ceremony? Where was the priest?

Ex 2:21 NLT

Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife.

  • Reuel gave Moses his daughter

No ceremony? No priest?

1 Cor 6:15–16 NLT

Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.”

  • A man who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her.
    • God sees them as married.
  • So God sees sex as marriage!
    • When an man and woman join in sex they are one body.
    • This is a permanent thing.
    • It has spiritual implications.
    • It has physical implications.
    • It has phycological implications.

The cheapening of sex

The cheapening of sex is a plan of Satan, who is seeking the destruction of us all. He has done an excellent job of making sex a trite affair. A little escapade.

1 Cor 6:18–20

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

  • Run from sexual sin!
  • Sexual sin clearly affects the body
  • The body of believers is the temple of the Holy Spirit
  • As believers we don’t belong to ourselves
  • We must live for Christ
    • Jesus said “whoever loves me will keep my commandments.”

Since God sees marriage as sex, there is no such thing as pre-marital sex. There is no such thing as sowing your wild oats! There is no such thing as trying it out to see if you like it.

Yes there is forgiveness, we must repent of our casual indifferent attitude toward sex. We must be pure.

Eph 5:15–20 NLT

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The times are short. We must return to the simple truths of scripture. We must put aside traditions that cheapen and even ignored God’s will for our lives.

Grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1

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Chapter 1

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. (NLT)

  • Of note:
    • This is the revelation from/of Jesus Christ
    • Soon take place – suddenly take place.
      • Mt 24:34 This generation is not speaking of that literal generation, but of an age. The transfiguration is not the culmination of this prophecy. It is yet to come. The age I believe is referring to the age of the church. The new covenant that Christ put into effect with His own blood to purchase man back to Himself.
  • Mt 24 Jesus speaks of the things that must happen before the end of the world
    • Jesus warns us to be careful Many will come in His name.
      • What does it mean to come in the name of Jesus?
        • To declare thus sayeth or thus teacheth Jesus.
        • Doesn’t necessarily mean that someone would call themselves Jesus, though that can be so.
        • This means that these deceptions can and probably come from inside the Church. (We must test the spirits)
      • They will deceive many
    • Don’t panic, these things must take place
      • Famines
      • Earthquakes
      • Wars
      • In many parts of the world
      • This is the first of many birth pains to come There will be much more…
    • Some will claim that Jesus has come.
    • We can not be asleep. We each have to be students of the word of God, to know Him for our selves.
    • Mt 24:32 These signs will be recognizable to those who are paying attention. Signs that these things are about to happen. But not the exact time of Jesus return. The quest of so many to discern the time of Jesus return is a futile one.
      • Zch 12:10
      • Jn 19:37
      • Mt 24:36–42 anyone claiming to know when this will happen is one of those of whom we must be weary! They will come in the name of Jesus.
      • We must be watching for His return however, waiting in anticipation, Without knowing the exact time in advance
      • I suppose there will be some semblance of peace in the midst of all the end time upheaval when He returns. He says it will be like in the days of Noah, they will be partying as the rains began to fall.
    • 1 Cor 1:6–9 God will keep His people strong through all of this. We will know the peace of God that passes all understanding.
    • It will be a time of terror for the world, but not for God’s people, He will strengthen us.
  • Dan 9:27 7:13 11:31 12:11 Is 13:10 34:4 Joel 2:10

Delusion and Confusion

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Why is there so much confusion?

Why are people confused about who they are?

Why are people confused about what they are?

Why are there so many who have come the point of thinking it is best to end their own lives? Why do so many think they are not loved? “No one understands me…” is something I hear so often. Our emergency rooms are filled with children who have tried to commit suicide, or have plans to do so. I can’t comprehend how as a culture we have come so far, that our children want to die! They should be concerned about what they will do after school. Who they will be playing with. Will they be riding their bicycles, or playing on the swing, or playing hop scotch with the neighborhood kids. Instead they are heavy with the worries of this life. They are pondering things like, am I a boy or a girl? Am I a cat or a person? Am I popular on tictok?

Our kids are being taught to define themselves by their imaginations. They are being taught all kinds of evils on tv and the internet. These evils are deluding their young minds, they are confused because there are no hard fast definitions being given to them. They are left to themselves to define life. This is foolishness! Since they are the ones who have to define life, it is distorted, and grotesque.

Romans 1:21 Teaches that if we don’t worship God as God, or be thankful to Him, we have the tendency to think up foolish ideas of what God is like. The result of this is the mind becomes dark and confused.

Romans 1:22-32 Lists what comes out of this dark confused mind. It is a list that we see lived out in our world today. This is why our children are so confused, why they would prefer to end their own lives. My friend this is not all that difficult. The human mind separated from God is a dark confusing thing. If life seems to out of control, it seems like there is no hope. I want you to know that there is hope.

God created us to worship Him. He gives us reason to live, gives us love for one another, defines who we are, and gives us clear purpose. This is all the opposite of confusion. It is hope!

Romans Study Outline

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The following is a rough outline meant to help with study of Romans. My challenge to you as you set out to study the book of Romans, is that you put aside all the study aids, get a good modern translation, and let the Holy Spirit (who is promised to all believers) to teach you what God wants to teach.

We rely too much on the opinions of others, and as a result we get into useless debates and distractions that are not intended by our Lord.

We also get lazy relying on someone else to teach us what God’s will is. In the end God holds each of us personally responsible for our understanding and actions.

Chapter 1

Intro and Sin

  • Paul introduces himself
  • vs 17 All of God’s work in our lives is accomplished through faith.
  • From Start to finish….
  • Vs 18-32 The result of people who reject God (Vs 28)

Chapter 2

The law can’t save

  • Those who don’t reject God but try to keep the law.
  • Think they can judge others, but also fail to please God.
  • Vs. 29 Only those who’s heart is changed by the Spirit can be right before God

Chapter 3

God is faithful, He provides salvation

  • Vs. 9 All people are under sin
  • Vs. 19 The law is given so we can have no excuses.
  • Vs. 22-26 We are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ
  • Vs. 29 God makes people right with Him only by faith.

Chapter 4

Abraham’s Faith

  • Vs .3 Abraham believed God and God counted Him as righteous
  • Vs 13-15 God’s promise was not based on obedience of the law.
  • Vs. 16 The promise is received by faith.
  • Vs. 25 Jesus died because of our sins
  • And he was raised to make us right with God.

Chapter 5

Friends with God

  • Vs. 1 We have peace with God.
  • Vs. 5 We have been given the Holy Spirit.
  • Vs. 9 We are made right with God by the blood of Christ.
  • Vs. 11 We are now friends with God, we were enemies before.
  • Vs. 20 The law exposes sin.
  • Vs. 21 Christ gives us right standing with God.

Chapter 6

Sin’s power is broken

  • Vs. 2 Sin’s power is broken
  • Vs. 6 Our old sinful self was crucified with Christ.
  • Vs. 18 We are now slaves of righteous living.

Chapter 7

We are dead to the law

  • Vs 1 We are dead to the law.
  • Vs. 6 We have been released from the law.
  • Vs. 12 The law is holy
  • Vs. 25 Christ is the answer to all our struggles with sin.

Chapter 8

Life in the Spirit

  • Vs. 1-2 The Spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death.
  • Vs. 17 We are Heirs with Christ.
  • Vs. 19 We look forward to a glorious future.
  • Vs. 30 We have right standing with God and He gave us His glory.

Chapter 9

Is God done with Israel

  • Vs. 6 Has God failed Israel?
  • Vs. 16 We can neither choose or work for God’s mercy.
  • Vs. 20 We are not in a position to question God, or to speak for Him.
  • Vs. 33 Anyone who trusts in Christ will never be disgraced.

Chapter 10

Salvation is for Everyone

  • Vs. 4 Christ has accomplished the purpose of the law.
  • Vs 9-11 Salvation is believing that we are made right with God throughout Christ’s work
  • And declaring our faith that we are saved.
  • What about those who have not heard?

Chapter 11

Is God done with the nation of Israel?

  • Vs. 2 No!
  • Vs. 11 God wants Israel to come to Him like Abraham… In faith.
  • Vs. 25 How do we fit in as Gentiles?
  • Vs. 36 Everything comes from God  and exists by His power, and is intended for His Glory.

Chapter 12

Living Sacrifices

  • Vs. 1-2 We owe it all to God because of what He has done.
  • Vs. 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, conquer evil by doing good.

Chapter 13

Respect Authority

  • Vs. 1 Respect governing authorities
  • Vs. 8-11 Our obligation is to love one-another.
  • Vs. 14 Put on Christ, don’t let yourself think about ways to do evil.

Chapter 14

Relating to other believers

  • Vs. 1 Accept other believers.
  • They are growing in understanding, give grace.
  • Vs. 7 We don’t live for ourselves. ( It’s not about me…)
  • Vs. 17 Live a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 15

Relating to other believers

  • Vs. 2 Help others, build them up in the Lord.
  • Vs. 7 Accept others as Christ has accepted you.
  • Vs 13 Let God fill us with all hope, completely with joy and peace.
  • Because we trust Him.
  • Last half of 15
  • Who Paul is and why He is writing.

Chapter 16

Greetings and good wishes.