3. That there is no way of receiving Christ into the heart, and of having him formed there, but by receiving the light of his spirit, in which light he is and dwells. Keep out the light of his spirit, keep out Christ: let in the light of his spirit, let in Christ: for the Father and the Son are light, and are alone known and received in the light; but never out of it.
4. That the way of receiving the light of the Spirit into the heart (and thereby uniting with the Father, and the Son) is by hearkening to, and receiving its convictions of sin there. The first operation of the Spirit towards man lying in the sin, is to convince him of the sin; and he that receives not the convincing light of the Spirit, the work is stopped in him at the very first; and Christ can never come to be formed in him, because that light whereby he should be formed is kept out. And then he may talk of Christ, and practise duties (pray, read, and meditate much), and gather comforts from promises, and run into ordinances, and be exceeding zealous and affectionate in all these, and yet perish in the end. Yea, the devil will let him alone (if not help him) in all this, knowing that he hath him the surer thereby, he being (by the strict observation of these) kept out of the fear of the danger of his condition, which otherwise perhaps he might be made sensible of.
See,what matters and prevails is the Word of GOD.The Word is GOD,self-executing,understand?
1 Thess.4:16KJV reveals:The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:The archangel has a name:Michael.The Lord Himself shall descend with the voice of archangel.There will be a WAR against the Devil's world in this current time of Apocalypse
Dan.12:1-3:-1 And at that time shall Michael stand up,the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:and there shall be a time of trouble(Matt.24:15-25),such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:and at that time thy people shall be delivered,every one that shall be found written in the book
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,some to everlasting life,and some to shame and everlasting contempt
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever
Rev.11:15-18KJV
15 And the seventh angel(actually an archangel)sounded;and there were(will be)great voices in heaven,saying,The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord,and of his Christ;and he shall reign for ever and ever
18 And the nations were(will be) angry,and thy wrath(GOD'S WRATH)is come,and the time of the dead,that they should be judged( Daniel 12:3),and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear thy name,small and great;and should DESTROY them which destroy the earth
Dan.12:10-Many shall be purified,and made white,and tried;but the wicked shall do wickedly:and none of the wicked shall understand;but the wise shall understand.11-From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away,and the abomination(of desolation)set up,there shall be 1290 days.12-Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to 1335 days.
Paul and Timothy. Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters.
II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:
It was written to the Colossians. Colossians was written for the Christians in the city of Colossae. Colossians was also supposed to be read in the church of Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16). Colossians was written at the same time as Philemon. Both were written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. ( Colossians 4:3, 10, 18 and Philemon 9, 10, 13, 23)
Timothy, Aristarchus, Archippus, Mark, Ephaphras, Luke, Onesimus, and Demas all appear in both letters demonstrating Colossians and Philemon were written by the same author at the same time.
III. THE HISTORY OF COLOSSAE:
Colossae was a city of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia About 90 miles east of Ephesus. Colossae was in the Lycus Valley along with Laodicea and Hierapolis. The population of Colossae was mostly Gentile but had a large number of Jewish population.
The church at Colossae began during Paul's three-year ministry at Ephesus (Acts Chapter 19). During this three-year period, Epaphras was saved while visiting Ephesus. The Church at Colossae was established by Epaphras, not Paul ( Colossians 1:5-7).
Several years after the Colossians church was founded, dangerous heresies began to circulate in it. Epaphras was so concerned about these heresies that he made the long journey from Colossae to Rome were Paul was a prisoner ( Colossians 4:12-13).
It was written around 63 A.D. while Paul was under house arrest in Rome for two years, as recorded in Acts 28:16-31. This is his first imprisonment. His second imprisonment was of course in the dungeon, and he was killed right after that time.
Philippians is one of four prison epistles or letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon were written by Paul during this time that he was under house arrest in Rome.
We went over Ephesians and now we are in Philippians. All of the books have the same outline. Paul always presented doctrine first, and what we would call application. But I don't like to use the word application because people say that you need to apply the scriptures to your life.
In other words, do them. That's not what the bible means. By application, it is God's Spirit, in light of what Christ has done. It's what God's Spirit wants to do in us. So, I would call them the doctrine and the details because it's the doctrine being presented in the everyday function of life.
VI. DELIVERED BY:
Epaphroditus on his return trip.
VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS:
CHAPTERS 1-2: The Doctrine of Christian Fellowship.
Of course, our Christian fellowship has a lot of problems with it. That's because we have not looked to the book of Philippians that gives us the doctrine of fellowship and how to solve some of the problems.
CHAPTERS 3-4: The Details of Christian Fellowship.
That is how the doctrine is worked out and lived amongst the believers. Philippians is a fascinating study.
The church in Philippi sent Paul two love offerings for his missionary endeavors in Thessalonica, found in Philippians 4:15-16. Two offerings! In fact, he said nobody else sent for support except for the Christians in Philippi, not once he said, but twice to support the missionary effort.
In 62 A.D., Paul finds himself as a prisoner in Rome. That is in Acts 28:30-31. When the church heard of Paul's imprisonment in Rome, they again sent a love offering to him by way of Epaphroditus. Paul describes him as the pastor (or messenger), the one that gives the messages in Philippi.
So, this is their pastor. And you remember I told you about the mileage? They didn't have airplanes or cars. So Epaphroditus is sent 700 miles with this love offering to help Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome, and to minister to Paul there.
Of course, Epaphroditus, we'll find out later that something happened to him in Rome where he was near death. But God spared him, and Paul sent Epaphroditus back. And when he sent him back to Philippi, he sent the book of Philippians with him.
While in Rome, Epaphroditus became very sick and nearly died. At this time, some 10 years after his original visit to Philippi, Paul wrote the epistle of Philippians. Paul writes to the Philippians both to thank them for their gift and also to report the good news of Epaphroditus' recovery.
IV. THE THEME OF PHILIPPIANS:
Now you will find this to be different than what you will find in most commentaries about the book of Philippians. Most people say that the theme of Philippians is joy. But in reality, the theme of Philippians is fellowship. We saw that Ephesians was our position in Christ. Philippians is our participation in Christ. The focus is on the unity of fellowship.
The church at Philippi was founded during Paul's second missionary journey, recorded in Acts 16:8-12. Paul received a Macedonian Vision while in Troas and crossed the Aegean Sea to preach the gospel first in Philippi. That's found in Acts 16:8-10.
What happened was that on Paul's second missionary journey, he went by land and visited some of the cities that he had established during his first missionary journey. But what he wanted to do was pass those cities, and he wanted to go north and preach the gospel. But he said that Satan hindered him. That's all he said!
So, he decided that it must be a closed door, so I'll go south and preach the gospel, and he said the Holy Spirit hindered him. So, he went straight across and came all the way all the way to the coast of Troas, and he just sat there. I mean how much farther can you go? He's in Troas. He doesn't know what God wants him to do.
And so, while they were in Troas, that's when Paul received what is called the Macedonian vision. That is, a man from Macedonia appeared to him and said come over and preach the gospel to us. At which time Paul went. And as he went over, the first place where he landed, because all the vision said was come over to Macedonia, and so he landed first in Philippi and that's where he preached the gospel first.
In 57 AD, some five years after his first visit, and after his third missionary journey, Paul seems to have visited the church in Philippi twice. That is found in II Corinthians 1:16; Acts 19:21; Acts 20:1-3.
Paul and Timothy. It is written by Paul mainly. But he also signs Timothy on. He has Timothy with him. He has Luke with him. But he says Paul and Timothy are the authors of the letter. Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters.
II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:
To the church in Philippi. Philippi became the first European city to receive the gospel.
III. THE HISTORY OF PHILLIPI:
The city of Philippi was founded in 357 BC by Philip II of Macedon who established and founded Philippi. And he is the father of Alexander the Great. Of course, his name being Philip, he named it after himself. Philippi was a city of Macedonia in Northern Greece. It was some 700 miles from Rome and enjoyed full Roman citizenship privileges.
Philippi cooperated so much with the Romans coming in and capturing the land, that Rome turned around and rewarded them by giving them full Roman citizenship and privileges, just like the city of Rome itself.
This is why some of the military from the Roman armies settled in Philippi, because full Roman citizenship and privileges was given to them. It was called "Little Rome" to the people of the day because Philippi was a small version of Rome itself. 700 miles, remember that figure because I'll share something else here in a minute.
Elliux2 Thank you for your comment, sadly many people in this group do not see this as clearly as you and I do. If one does not see this, it makes it truly impossible to see the True timeline in the Lastdays prophecies. It would be like trying to put a puzzle together with pieces that just don't fit, it cannot be done! And it would seem that the pre-tribulation rapture theory is the first piece of that puzzle that does not fit, which causes confusion in other parts of the prophecies. A perfect example of this is all believers in the pre-trib rapture will see ( Mt 24:29-31) as the return of Jesus on a white horse because v29 clearly says "Immediately after the tribulation". They say it has to be the return on a horse because it says ((after the tribulation))
Thats also why pre-trib believers say Mt Ch. 24 is only for the Jews, but ( Mark 13:24-27) tells us the same thing. And the last verse in that chapter is ( Mark 13:37) which says "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch". This is prophecy for us for the time we are living right now just like ( Mt 24:29-31) is prophecy for us today!
It is very clear that the tribulation is a different and separate event than the wrath of God. Also there are many Bible verses that claim the elect WILL suffer tribulation, but not Gods wrath.
"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10 KJV
Lord Jesus you know the cries of our hearts and the petitions we have made even here. I continue to ask. Please grant soon breakthrough. I ask for strong protection, deliverance, healing, salvation (those not saved), guidance and all the specific situations and circumstances previously mentioned. Please grant help to all in need on here and everywhere, esp. salvation. Please confront A about her behavior and comfort K. Please heal M. Please also intervene concerning the App Thank you. In your holy name I pray. Amen.
I have said several times if we do not see the tribulation period and the wrath of God as being completely different time periods, that it will cause confusion in our understanding of prophecy in the Lastdays. If we get one thing wrong such as this, it will cause other parts of our interpretation of prophecy to not be correct. When this happens we have to twist Scripture to fit our understanding, or as I have said before we would have to read things into Scripture that's not there.
In ( Joel 2:31) We are told "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, ((BEFORE)) the great and the terrible day of the LORD come". The sun turns dark and the moon to blood ((before)) the day of the LORD comes.
When does this happen in the book of Revelation?
( Rev 6:12-13) v12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal. and, lo, there was a great earthquake; ((and the sun became black)) as sackcloth of hair, and ((the moon became as blood)). v13 "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind". The sun is dark, the moon to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, all this happens at the 6th seal. Then if we look at ( Rev 6:14-17) we see the wrath of the Lamb is come in verse 17.
Do we see this any other place in the Bible? Yes we do in ( Mt 24:29-31) "Immediately ((after the tribulation)) of those days shall ((the sun be darkened)), and ((the moon shall not give her light)), and ((the stars shall fall from heaven)) and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken". v30 "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory". v31 "And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect".
After the tribulation the sun is darkened, moon shall not give her light, the stars fall from heaven, THEN the Son of man comes in the clouds to gather together His elect. THEN the wrath of God.
This is a classic example of why we must read the Whole Bible interpreting scripture with scripture to come to Truth. And how the Bible is its own interpreter.
When we fail to do this we are almost certain to come to wrong understanding. Christ spoke in parables and without a parable spoke he not. The Old Testament Ceremonial Laws were a "historical parable". A shadow pointing to the substance.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Can you explain why Christ chose simple uneducated fishermen to become disciples? What is the difference between a head knowledge of Christ and a heart knowledge? Where does the law meet the gospel in a person of faith. Can the law justify us with only a head knowledge? How does faith intercede for us and can it ,without head knowledge?
This doctrine concerning the law and the Gospel is a common thread throughout scripture!
We must learn when and how to apply the needs of both.
While we may experience temptation, the spirit will be held fast , a promise already given through the sanctifying power of the Blood of Christ.
This promise is an inheritance from Heaven, that strengthens and preserves at any given moment, while we walk the corridors of life.
Uneducated and simple, yet a heart that is ready, will see things while experiencing the glory that is ours. A constant conditioning a purifying being born again! He will give you the desires of your heart, as you move along as a child develops coming forth from the womb! With the heart man believeth unto salvation, a salvation that you can see, as you wait for the next birth pain! Repent and be Baptized
Thank you Chris! I hope you are well your way. Amen. The perfect ransom was for all! Christ was not freed from death on the Cross, he exchanged His Life freely for the life of men by His Blood, if we believe. We are washed in regeneration by this Blood in faith.
No. The sacrifices of the Old Testament ceremonial law did not forgive their sins.
Hebrews 8:3-6 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Genesis 13:14,15 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
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, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
So what did Jesus' Blood do that no other sacrifice could?
A. it was the only RANSOM price for sin (all sin, for all people): Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5,6.
B. it was the only way to bring RECONCILIATION (no longer enemies, but now accepted & in peace) with God ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
C. it was the only way to PROPITIATE (to appease & turn away God's Anger) knowing that His Son's Blood fully met His Holy Demands to save those who would believe in Him ( 1 John 2:1,2).
D. it was the only acceptable SUBSTITUTE that it would be Jesus that received man's condemnation, that no animal's blood could ever accomplish ( 2 Corinthians 5:21).
E. and all this gave irrefutable proof that God's LOVE for sinners was genuine & lasting, that His Own Life, of His only Begotten Son, should be evident to all.
True love can be seen when "a man lays down HIS life for his friends" ( John 15:13), & not just delegating the task to another. The Blood of Jesus, God's Son, shows us clearly, & should also do to the world, that God is indeed a God of Love, giving His best, His all to secure our salvation: given to all those who will respond to Him in faith in this great Work.
Hello Kstott. When the Bible speaks of blood, whether of animals or man, it denotes the miracle of life given us by God; "for the life of the flesh is in the blood" ( Leviticus 17:11). As all mankind are born with sinful flesh, with a propensity to sin & violate the holy requirements of God ( Romans 3:23), God being both loving & just, is compelled to either condemn us or forgive us. To condemn would be simple, as we fully deserve the penalty of our sins ( Romans 6:23), but God reached out to us in our miserable hopeless state & provided a way of hope, healing & restoration.
To His people Israel of old, God instituted the sacrificial system where the high priest would offer the blood of animals to atone for their sins & reconcile them to God ( Leviticus 8:15; Exodus 30:10). It was a case of the people either dying in their sins or that a substitute was provided on their behalf so their lives were spared. At this time, animals were sacrificed & their blood shed (i.e. their life given), & this was accepted by God to forgive them. But this was done yearly, because the blood offering of animals could never be permanent as this was man's offering to God, to stay God's Hand from them. But God had planned a future day, when He Himself would offer His Sacrifice to fully atone & redeem His people - & this Sacrifice would be made available to both Jew & Gentile. And this Sacrifice was God Himself, in sending His Word to become man ( John 1:1-14) & giving His Life as the only Pure & Perfect Sacrifice that would be fully acceptable to Him.
I do believe that Scripture does reveal that the Bride will see "that man of sin" before the Lord meets us in the air and calls up up with a shout...
1 Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
1 Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
Revelation 4:1
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
It was written around 63 A.D. while Paul was in prison in Rome ( Acts 28:16-31). Paul was in house arrest for two years. This was his first imprisonment. His second imprisonment is when he was in the Mamertine prison. But this first time, he was under house arrest for about two years.
Ephesians is one of the prison letters. That is, one of the four written by Paul while he was imprisoned at this time. The others were Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. So, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon are known as the prison epistles or prison letters because they were written by Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome.
VI. DELIVERED BY:
It was delivered by Tychicus. Ephesians 6:21-22 and Colossians 4:7-8 tell us that Tychicus brought both letters. So, it is believed that Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, because Philemon is a man that lived in Colosse, so his letter accompanied the letter to Colosse, and Tychicus took all three and delivered them.
VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS:
CHAPTERS 1-3 - The Doctrine of the New Life in Christ.
CHAPTERS 4-6 - The Details of the New Life in Christ.
In other words, he takes the doctrine of the first three chapters, and he goes into detail and in depth of those doctrines, the function and performance of the church. He's going to present to us the armor of God all in those last three chapters.
That covers the introduction to Ephesians. Lord willing, I will share my introduction to Philippians soon.
So, John pastored there. And like I said, Paul was there for about three years. Timothy took over after him for a year and a half, and the letters and the missionary efforts coming out from here went all the way through and the seven churches in Revelation had actually started from out of Ephesus, one of the capitals and the main encampment of Christianity.
Right outside of Ephesus is where the tomb of Mary is supposed to be, as history tells us that Mary actually wound up in Ephesus and spent her last days there. Ephesus was the Roman capital of Asia. Ephesus was known for having one of the seven wonders of the world - the temple of Artemis (or Diana).
Ephesus is believed to be evangelized by Priscilla and Aquila. ( Acts 18:18-19). The church in Ephesus was later established by Paul during his third missionary journey. ( Acts 19). Paul ministered there for three years. After Paul left, Timothy pastored the church for about 1 1/2 years.
Paul wrote to Timothy in Ephesus to counter false teaching by two leaders in the church in Ephesus - Hymenaeus and Alexander ( I Timothy 1:3 and I Timothy 1:20).
Thirty years later, Christ gave the message to Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. So, thirty years later, the Lord said that you have left your first love. And that was Christ's message to them!
IV. THE THEME OF EPHESIANS:
It presents the believer's position in Christ. The term "in Christ" is the key phrase in the letter to the Ephesians.
3. That there is no way of receiving Christ into the heart, and of having him formed there, but by receiving the light of his spirit, in which light he is and dwells. Keep out the light of his spirit, keep out Christ: let in the light of his spirit, let in Christ: for the Father and the Son are light, and are alone known and received in the light; but never out of it.
4. That the way of receiving the light of the Spirit into the heart (and thereby uniting with the Father, and the Son) is by hearkening to, and receiving its convictions of sin there. The first operation of the Spirit towards man lying in the sin, is to convince him of the sin; and he that receives not the convincing light of the Spirit, the work is stopped in him at the very first; and Christ can never come to be formed in him, because that light whereby he should be formed is kept out. And then he may talk of Christ, and practise duties (pray, read, and meditate much), and gather comforts from promises, and run into ordinances, and be exceeding zealous and affectionate in all these, and yet perish in the end. Yea, the devil will let him alone (if not help him) in all this, knowing that he hath him the surer thereby, he being (by the strict observation of these) kept out of the fear of the danger of his condition, which otherwise perhaps he might be made sensible of.
God bless you.
Greetings in Christ JESUS
See,what matters and prevails is the Word of GOD.The Word is GOD,self-executing,understand?
1 Thess.4:16KJV reveals:The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:The archangel has a name:Michael.The Lord Himself shall descend with the voice of archangel.There will be a WAR against the Devil's world in this current time of Apocalypse
Dan.12:1-3:-1 And at that time shall Michael stand up,the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:and there shall be a time of trouble(Matt.24:15-25),such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:and at that time thy people shall be delivered,every one that shall be found written in the book
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,some to everlasting life,and some to shame and everlasting contempt
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever
Rev.11:15-18KJV
15 And the seventh angel(actually an archangel)sounded;and there were(will be)great voices in heaven,saying,The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the kingdoms of our Lord,and of his Christ;and he shall reign for ever and ever
18 And the nations were(will be) angry,and thy wrath(GOD'S WRATH)is come,and the time of the dead,that they should be judged( Daniel 12:3),and that thou should give reward unto thy servants the prophets,and to the saints,and them that fear thy name,small and great;and should DESTROY them which destroy the earth
Dan.12:10-Many shall be purified,and made white,and tried;but the wicked shall do wickedly:and none of the wicked shall understand;but the wise shall understand.11-From the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away,and the abomination(of desolation)set up,there shall be 1290 days.12-Blessed is he that waiteth, and comes to 1335 days.
IV. THE THEME OF COLOSSIANS:
The Believer's Perfection in Christ. The focus of the book is the completeness of a person who is in Christ.
Colossians was written to combat the many heresies of Jewish Gnosticism.
GNOSTICISM BELIEVED:
God is good.
Physical matter is evil.
Jesus Christ is less than God because He was one of many emanations coming out from God.
A certain secret knowledge beyond Scripture was necessary for enlightenment and salvation.
In the worship of angels.
THE JEWISH LEGALISTS BELIEVED:
The necessity of circumcision for salvation.
Jews and Gentiles must observe the dietary laws of the Old Testament as well as festivals and the Sabbath.
V. DATE/BACKGROUND:
Written around 63 A.D. while Paul was under house arrest in Rome for two years ( Acts 28:16-31).
One of four prison epistles or letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
VI. DELIVERED BY:
Colossians was delivered with Ephesians and Philemon by Tychicus who was accompanied by Onesimus ( Ephesians 6:21-22; Colossians 4:7-8).
Epaphras remained behind in Rome ( Philemon 23).
VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS:
CHAPTERS 1-2: The Doctrine of Completeness in Christ
CHAPTERS 3-4: The Duty of Those Complete in Christ
I will share my introduction to 1 Thessalonians soon.
God Bless!!!
I. ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Paul and Timothy. Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters.
II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:
It was written to the Colossians. Colossians was written for the Christians in the city of Colossae. Colossians was also supposed to be read in the church of Laodicea ( Colossians 4:16). Colossians was written at the same time as Philemon. Both were written while Paul was a prisoner in Rome. ( Colossians 4:3, 10, 18 and Philemon 9, 10, 13, 23)
Timothy, Aristarchus, Archippus, Mark, Ephaphras, Luke, Onesimus, and Demas all appear in both letters demonstrating Colossians and Philemon were written by the same author at the same time.
III. THE HISTORY OF COLOSSAE:
Colossae was a city of Phrygia, in the Roman province of Asia About 90 miles east of Ephesus. Colossae was in the Lycus Valley along with Laodicea and Hierapolis. The population of Colossae was mostly Gentile but had a large number of Jewish population.
The church at Colossae began during Paul's three-year ministry at Ephesus (Acts Chapter 19). During this three-year period, Epaphras was saved while visiting Ephesus. The Church at Colossae was established by Epaphras, not Paul ( Colossians 1:5-7).
Several years after the Colossians church was founded, dangerous heresies began to circulate in it. Epaphras was so concerned about these heresies that he made the long journey from Colossae to Rome were Paul was a prisoner ( Colossians 4:12-13).
V. DATE/BACKGROUND:
It was written around 63 A.D. while Paul was under house arrest in Rome for two years, as recorded in Acts 28:16-31. This is his first imprisonment. His second imprisonment was of course in the dungeon, and he was killed right after that time.
Philippians is one of four prison epistles or letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon were written by Paul during this time that he was under house arrest in Rome.
We went over Ephesians and now we are in Philippians. All of the books have the same outline. Paul always presented doctrine first, and what we would call application. But I don't like to use the word application because people say that you need to apply the scriptures to your life.
In other words, do them. That's not what the bible means. By application, it is God's Spirit, in light of what Christ has done. It's what God's Spirit wants to do in us. So, I would call them the doctrine and the details because it's the doctrine being presented in the everyday function of life.
VI. DELIVERED BY:
Epaphroditus on his return trip.
VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS:
CHAPTERS 1-2: The Doctrine of Christian Fellowship.
Of course, our Christian fellowship has a lot of problems with it. That's because we have not looked to the book of Philippians that gives us the doctrine of fellowship and how to solve some of the problems.
CHAPTERS 3-4: The Details of Christian Fellowship.
That is how the doctrine is worked out and lived amongst the believers. Philippians is a fascinating study.
I will share the introduction to Colossians next.
The church in Philippi sent Paul two love offerings for his missionary endeavors in Thessalonica, found in Philippians 4:15-16. Two offerings! In fact, he said nobody else sent for support except for the Christians in Philippi, not once he said, but twice to support the missionary effort.
In 62 A.D., Paul finds himself as a prisoner in Rome. That is in Acts 28:30-31. When the church heard of Paul's imprisonment in Rome, they again sent a love offering to him by way of Epaphroditus. Paul describes him as the pastor (or messenger), the one that gives the messages in Philippi.
So, this is their pastor. And you remember I told you about the mileage? They didn't have airplanes or cars. So Epaphroditus is sent 700 miles with this love offering to help Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome, and to minister to Paul there.
Of course, Epaphroditus, we'll find out later that something happened to him in Rome where he was near death. But God spared him, and Paul sent Epaphroditus back. And when he sent him back to Philippi, he sent the book of Philippians with him.
While in Rome, Epaphroditus became very sick and nearly died. At this time, some 10 years after his original visit to Philippi, Paul wrote the epistle of Philippians. Paul writes to the Philippians both to thank them for their gift and also to report the good news of Epaphroditus' recovery.
IV. THE THEME OF PHILIPPIANS:
Now you will find this to be different than what you will find in most commentaries about the book of Philippians. Most people say that the theme of Philippians is joy. But in reality, the theme of Philippians is fellowship. We saw that Ephesians was our position in Christ. Philippians is our participation in Christ. The focus is on the unity of fellowship.
The church at Philippi was founded during Paul's second missionary journey, recorded in Acts 16:8-12. Paul received a Macedonian Vision while in Troas and crossed the Aegean Sea to preach the gospel first in Philippi. That's found in Acts 16:8-10.
What happened was that on Paul's second missionary journey, he went by land and visited some of the cities that he had established during his first missionary journey. But what he wanted to do was pass those cities, and he wanted to go north and preach the gospel. But he said that Satan hindered him. That's all he said!
So, he decided that it must be a closed door, so I'll go south and preach the gospel, and he said the Holy Spirit hindered him. So, he went straight across and came all the way all the way to the coast of Troas, and he just sat there. I mean how much farther can you go? He's in Troas. He doesn't know what God wants him to do.
And so, while they were in Troas, that's when Paul received what is called the Macedonian vision. That is, a man from Macedonia appeared to him and said come over and preach the gospel to us. At which time Paul went. And as he went over, the first place where he landed, because all the vision said was come over to Macedonia, and so he landed first in Philippi and that's where he preached the gospel first.
In 57 AD, some five years after his first visit, and after his third missionary journey, Paul seems to have visited the church in Philippi twice. That is found in II Corinthians 1:16; Acts 19:21; Acts 20:1-3.
I. ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Paul and Timothy. It is written by Paul mainly. But he also signs Timothy on. He has Timothy with him. He has Luke with him. But he says Paul and Timothy are the authors of the letter. Paul's inscription is on all thirteen of his letters.
II. TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN:
To the church in Philippi. Philippi became the first European city to receive the gospel.
III. THE HISTORY OF PHILLIPI:
The city of Philippi was founded in 357 BC by Philip II of Macedon who established and founded Philippi. And he is the father of Alexander the Great. Of course, his name being Philip, he named it after himself. Philippi was a city of Macedonia in Northern Greece. It was some 700 miles from Rome and enjoyed full Roman citizenship privileges.
Philippi cooperated so much with the Romans coming in and capturing the land, that Rome turned around and rewarded them by giving them full Roman citizenship and privileges, just like the city of Rome itself.
This is why some of the military from the Roman armies settled in Philippi, because full Roman citizenship and privileges was given to them. It was called "Little Rome" to the people of the day because Philippi was a small version of Rome itself. 700 miles, remember that figure because I'll share something else here in a minute.
Thats also why pre-trib believers say Mt Ch. 24 is only for the Jews, but ( Mark 13:24-27) tells us the same thing. And the last verse in that chapter is ( Mark 13:37) which says "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch". This is prophecy for us for the time we are living right now just like ( Mt 24:29-31) is prophecy for us today!
Again thank you Elliux2 for your comment.
Blessings to you and all who seek His Truth.
Thank you for the verses and comment!
A beautiful scripture!
Thank you, I read the comments every day.
God bless,
RLW
I have said several times if we do not see the tribulation period and the wrath of God as being completely different time periods, that it will cause confusion in our understanding of prophecy in the Lastdays. If we get one thing wrong such as this, it will cause other parts of our interpretation of prophecy to not be correct. When this happens we have to twist Scripture to fit our understanding, or as I have said before we would have to read things into Scripture that's not there.
In ( Joel 2:31) We are told "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, ((BEFORE)) the great and the terrible day of the LORD come". The sun turns dark and the moon to blood ((before)) the day of the LORD comes.
When does this happen in the book of Revelation?
( Rev 6:12-13) v12 "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal. and, lo, there was a great earthquake; ((and the sun became black)) as sackcloth of hair, and ((the moon became as blood)). v13 "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind". The sun is dark, the moon to blood, and the stars fall from heaven, all this happens at the 6th seal. Then if we look at ( Rev 6:14-17) we see the wrath of the Lamb is come in verse 17.
Do we see this any other place in the Bible? Yes we do in ( Mt 24:29-31) "Immediately ((after the tribulation)) of those days shall ((the sun be darkened)), and ((the moon shall not give her light)), and ((the stars shall fall from heaven)) and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken". v30 "and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory". v31 "And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect".
After the tribulation the sun is darkened, moon shall not give her light, the stars fall from heaven, THEN the Son of man comes in the clouds to gather together His elect. THEN the wrath of God.
This is a classic example of why we must read the Whole Bible interpreting scripture with scripture to come to Truth. And how the Bible is its own interpreter.
When we fail to do this we are almost certain to come to wrong understanding. Christ spoke in parables and without a parable spoke he not. The Old Testament Ceremonial Laws were a "historical parable". A shadow pointing to the substance.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
This doctrine concerning the law and the Gospel is a common thread throughout scripture!
We must learn when and how to apply the needs of both.
While we may experience temptation, the spirit will be held fast , a promise already given through the sanctifying power of the Blood of Christ.
This promise is an inheritance from Heaven, that strengthens and preserves at any given moment, while we walk the corridors of life.
Uneducated and simple, yet a heart that is ready, will see things while experiencing the glory that is ours. A constant conditioning a purifying being born again! He will give you the desires of your heart, as you move along as a child develops coming forth from the womb! With the heart man believeth unto salvation, a salvation that you can see, as you wait for the next birth pain! Repent and be Baptized
my wrong Scripture reference,
not 2 Corinthians 2:15, but 2 Corinthians 5:15
No. The sacrifices of the Old Testament ceremonial law did not forgive their sins.
Hebrews 8:3-6 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Genesis 13:14,15 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
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, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
So what did Jesus' Blood do that no other sacrifice could?
A. it was the only RANSOM price for sin (all sin, for all people): Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5,6.
B. it was the only way to bring RECONCILIATION (no longer enemies, but now accepted & in peace) with God ( 2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
C. it was the only way to PROPITIATE (to appease & turn away God's Anger) knowing that His Son's Blood fully met His Holy Demands to save those who would believe in Him ( 1 John 2:1,2).
D. it was the only acceptable SUBSTITUTE that it would be Jesus that received man's condemnation, that no animal's blood could ever accomplish ( 2 Corinthians 5:21).
E. and all this gave irrefutable proof that God's LOVE for sinners was genuine & lasting, that His Own Life, of His only Begotten Son, should be evident to all.
True love can be seen when "a man lays down HIS life for his friends" ( John 15:13), & not just delegating the task to another. The Blood of Jesus, God's Son, shows us clearly, & should also do to the world, that God is indeed a God of Love, giving His best, His all to secure our salvation: given to all those who will respond to Him in faith in this great Work.
Hello Kstott. When the Bible speaks of blood, whether of animals or man, it denotes the miracle of life given us by God; "for the life of the flesh is in the blood" ( Leviticus 17:11). As all mankind are born with sinful flesh, with a propensity to sin & violate the holy requirements of God ( Romans 3:23), God being both loving & just, is compelled to either condemn us or forgive us. To condemn would be simple, as we fully deserve the penalty of our sins ( Romans 6:23), but God reached out to us in our miserable hopeless state & provided a way of hope, healing & restoration.
To His people Israel of old, God instituted the sacrificial system where the high priest would offer the blood of animals to atone for their sins & reconcile them to God ( Leviticus 8:15; Exodus 30:10). It was a case of the people either dying in their sins or that a substitute was provided on their behalf so their lives were spared. At this time, animals were sacrificed & their blood shed (i.e. their life given), & this was accepted by God to forgive them. But this was done yearly, because the blood offering of animals could never be permanent as this was man's offering to God, to stay God's Hand from them. But God had planned a future day, when He Himself would offer His Sacrifice to fully atone & redeem His people - & this Sacrifice would be made available to both Jew & Gentile. And this Sacrifice was God Himself, in sending His Word to become man ( John 1:1-14) & giving His Life as the only Pure & Perfect Sacrifice that would be fully acceptable to Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"
1 Thessalonians 4:17
"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
2 Thessalonians 2:3
"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
Revelation 4:1
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter."
Goodnight and God bless.
When I said "God set aside his intellect and spoke plainly so it wouldn't affect the work of God.
I meant Paul set aside his intellect and spoke plainly so it wouldn't affect the work of God.
This is why I participate much when I am working.
Goodnight and God bless.
V. DATE / BACKGROUND:
It was written around 63 A.D. while Paul was in prison in Rome ( Acts 28:16-31). Paul was in house arrest for two years. This was his first imprisonment. His second imprisonment is when he was in the Mamertine prison. But this first time, he was under house arrest for about two years.
Ephesians is one of the prison letters. That is, one of the four written by Paul while he was imprisoned at this time. The others were Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. So, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon are known as the prison epistles or prison letters because they were written by Paul while he was under house arrest in Rome.
VI. DELIVERED BY:
It was delivered by Tychicus. Ephesians 6:21-22 and Colossians 4:7-8 tell us that Tychicus brought both letters. So, it is believed that Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, because Philemon is a man that lived in Colosse, so his letter accompanied the letter to Colosse, and Tychicus took all three and delivered them.
VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS:
CHAPTERS 1-3 - The Doctrine of the New Life in Christ.
CHAPTERS 4-6 - The Details of the New Life in Christ.
In other words, he takes the doctrine of the first three chapters, and he goes into detail and in depth of those doctrines, the function and performance of the church. He's going to present to us the armor of God all in those last three chapters.
That covers the introduction to Ephesians. Lord willing, I will share my introduction to Philippians soon.
God Bless!!!
So, John pastored there. And like I said, Paul was there for about three years. Timothy took over after him for a year and a half, and the letters and the missionary efforts coming out from here went all the way through and the seven churches in Revelation had actually started from out of Ephesus, one of the capitals and the main encampment of Christianity.
Right outside of Ephesus is where the tomb of Mary is supposed to be, as history tells us that Mary actually wound up in Ephesus and spent her last days there. Ephesus was the Roman capital of Asia. Ephesus was known for having one of the seven wonders of the world - the temple of Artemis (or Diana).
Ephesus is believed to be evangelized by Priscilla and Aquila. ( Acts 18:18-19). The church in Ephesus was later established by Paul during his third missionary journey. ( Acts 19). Paul ministered there for three years. After Paul left, Timothy pastored the church for about 1 1/2 years.
Paul wrote to Timothy in Ephesus to counter false teaching by two leaders in the church in Ephesus - Hymenaeus and Alexander ( I Timothy 1:3 and I Timothy 1:20).
Thirty years later, Christ gave the message to Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. So, thirty years later, the Lord said that you have left your first love. And that was Christ's message to them!
IV. THE THEME OF EPHESIANS:
It presents the believer's position in Christ. The term "in Christ" is the key phrase in the letter to the Ephesians.