#Galatians 5:16-18

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"PASS THE PLATE PLEASE!"

2 Kings 7:9, “Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news AND WE ARE KEEPING IT TO OURSELVES…” (NIV) So, Thanksgiving is almost here and it immediately makes me think about sitting at the family table. You see, somewhere in the ‘Fathers Handbook’, I’m convinced it says that the father automatically gets to carve the turkey, or the ham, or the roast.…

[trueconservativepundit]

Are You Walking in God’s Spirit?

By Adrian Rogers “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”  Galatians 5:16-18 To “walk in the Spirit” means the Spirit is to be the…

[aressida]

Feminists, I want to express how I feel when I see all of you (as someone who once held feminist views and disliked men a decade ago, but now that I have gained understanding): Enough with the sabotage!

Be the duty of a woman. -> Genesis 2:18

-> Galatians 3:28 -> 1 Timothy 2:9-15 -> 1 Corinthians 11:3 -> Titus 2:3-5 -> 1 Timothy 2:11-12 -> Ephesians 5:22-24 -> Proverbs 31:11–12 -> Genesis 3:16

[holyspiritgirl]

What is Spiritual Warfare and how to overcome it with the help of God?

• Spiritual warfare is the idea that there's a battle going on between good and evil forces. In Christianity, this means a fight between God and His angels against the devil and his demons. It mainly happens in our minds, hearts, and spirits. It’s about resisting bad thoughts, temptations, and influences that go against what God wants for us. Though we believe that Jesus has indeed already defeated Satan by dying on the cross and coming back to life, the enemy still tries to lead us to sin in order to push us away from God, thus spiritual warfare.

• “Symptoms” vary since the devil attacks you where it hurts the most, to make you as vulnerable as possible; but here are some of the most common ones:

- believing that your not worthy of having a relationship with God or talking to God therefore feeling the need to distance yourself from him

-self destructive / sabotage / harm temptations

-paranoia / overthinking

-strong headaches / body aches

-temptations towards sin such as lust, gluttony, laziness, anger.. etc, depends on your weaknesses

-self hatred & self doubt / doubt in faithfulness

-hopelessness, fear, anxiety

-random depressive moods & replaying bad memories … the list goes on!

• Living a life more aligned with God’s will is seen as a threat to Satan and his purposes, leading to increased attempts to discourage or derail one’s faith journey. With a deeper relationship with God often comes a greater sense of purpose and mission, attracting more challenges and obstacles from evil forces trying to prevent one from fulfilling God’s plans. Our Father allows these intensified battles to refine and strengthen our faith, helping us rely more on Him and grow spiritually.

• Here are some bible verses that may help you during those tough times battling spiritual warfare :

-Corinthians 10:13

- Psalm 91

-Ephesians 6:11-18

-Isaiah 54:17

-Galatians 5:17-26

- Peter 5:8-9

-Romans 8:37-39

-Luke 10:19

-James 4:7

-John 16:33

-Deuteronomy 3:22

-Matthew 4:10-11

• Let me know if you’d be interested in me posting those verses and talking about some of them with you guys, sort of like a bible study kind of thing. It’d be a pleasure ;)

Have a blessed day 💞💓👼🏻

[dmckinney79]

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

[bibleversegarden]

God's Word Sown on the Soil of Fertile Hearts, Brings Forth Much Fruit

Jesus explains the parable of the sower and his seed:

Luke 8:11-18 "The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they shall believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

Related Bible Readings: Luke 8:4-10; John 15:1-16; Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 3:17-21; Philippians 1:9-11; Psalm 119:11

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

[blushcoloreddreams]

Verse recs for combating lust?

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

1 Corinthians 6:18 in the Bible says, "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body

1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Romans 13:14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."

Romans 8:6 "For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace

Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart

1 Peter 5:7-8 "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour"

Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral

Proverbs 6: 25-26 “Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a piece of bread, and the adulteress will prey upon his precious life”

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Being More Tenderhearted 

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

=======================

+ Galatians 5:23 Gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law

=======================

VERSE OF THE DAY 

======================

+ 1 John 2:6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

=======================

** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM TENDERHEARTED

I AM LOVING 

I AM KIND 

I AM BLESSED 

======================

READ TIME: 6 Minutes & 47 Seconds

======================

THOUGHTS:

======================

    If you're wondering how Jesus lived his life, it was with love, respect, honor, and authority.  Many of us wonder who we are in Christ and how to learn to have Christ's mindset. We do this by listening to him when he speaks and reading our word in the word. It will tell us how to live like him; we miss the big picture when we don’t read our word. How can we say we are his if we aren’t going to read our word? The Bible tells us exactly how God wants us to live our lives and how to please him, and some of us still don’t do it. We know the word says it’s a sin to know the truth and not to walk in or live in it. 

  1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow his steps.

  Christ gave us an example of how to live our lives and how to respond to others. He had so many people call him by his name, so many people mistreated him and tried to harm him, but he still treated them with love. That’s one example. Another example is that he showed us how to love people regardless of what they have or don’t have. He healed the sick and fed the needy with what he had because he wanted to show us how to care for others.

*   Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

* Matthew 14:19, and he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

* Luke 11:15-16 but some said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” 16 Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

 Verse 17-18 he knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 18 You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? 

  See, Jesus showed compassion towards people of all walks of life. He healed whoever needed healing, and most of all, when someone tried to test him, he didn’t get angry. He spoke back with style and authority. When we get angry, we often start speaking in anger, and we get into the flesh. Jesus never stopped being in the spirit; he walked continually in the spirit. 

  We must remain in the spirit at all times and not allow what we feel to take over or take control over us; that’s what he wants us to know: walk and live as I did; I lived in peace with every person and how many of us can say we get along with everyone how many of us can say we don’t fuss and argue with everyone, some of us are argumentative, and all we want to do is fuss, but we must ask God to take away this type of spirit, this Spirit is not good to have in our life we can say we love God but to carry this type of spirit that wants to fuss and argue all the time isn’t the best spirit to carry. 

   Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

  The Bible says to be tenderhearted; what is tenderhearted? Webster's dictionary says, “easily moved to love. Loving. Feeling or showing love and affection.”

   When someone is tenderhearted, they want to love more before anything; they are willing to show affection, and a lot of people in today's society are not willing to show love because if they aren’t shown it, they don’t want to do it and that's not the way to be, we spend half our life-giving people what they give us but what about us, do we show love to everyone regardless.

  I went to Verizon  the other day, and every time I asked for someone to help me, they would take in a deep breathe They weren’t kind, and I overlooked them and didn’t give them back what they gave me because I knew if I did that I am not showing the love of God, I kept being tenderhearted, and the more I did this they soften up some people are use to people being one way, and they give that type of spirit immediately back to anyone but doesn’t mean we have to do this, but we must be people that show love regardless and be tenderhearted at every given opportunity 

  ***Today, we learned that being tendered hearted is being loving , and a lot of times, a lot of people don’t know what love is or how to express it; Christ gives us the perfect example of how to show it and we learn from his example, we don’t allow this world to taint our ways and life.

   1 John 3:17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him

   It tells us here we can't let our hearts close against other people because if we do, we are not allowing God's love to abide in us; how do we show that his love abides in us by loving one another. We must also pray for one another, as the Bible tells us to do this. If you don’t show any love, ask God to soften your heart so you can love one another. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

======================

PRAYER

=====================

Heavenly Father, we thank you for today. We ask you to forgive us of the sins we have done, lord help us to hear your voice when you speak, lord we love you, and we ask you to be with us; lord, cover us with your blood, lord, today if we have a hardened uncompassionate  heart, please show us so that we may change, lord, please show us where we have gone wrong, lord soften our heart, help us to love as freely as you do in Jesus Name Amen 

======================

REFERENCES 

======================

+ 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace:

 

+ Matthew 5:19: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

 

+ Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

======================

FURTHER READINGS 

======================

 Proverbs 2

2 Kings 14

Job 31

Psalm 91

Ecclesiastes 7

======================

[lilgreeneyes71]

Vain Worship

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Lukewarm Christians

Revelation 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Characteristics

1 : They have no desire to depart from sin the want to try to get by on grace alone.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2 : All of their conversations are about worldly things and the cares of this world

1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

3 : Their actions ( No Change in them ).

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

4 : They spend no time praying or alone with God they might show up for church once a week but God is always on the Blackburner .

Psalm 145:18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

5 : The conversations they have never involve God but rather business or financial or plans they have made. Or what new item they intend on purchasing.

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

6 : No conviction of sin they feel no grief or guilt for sinning.The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (see John 16:8-9)

Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

7 : They could care a less about the unsaved or reaching out to them. They outright try to stop us from preaching to the unsaved

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Proverbs 29:10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

8 : They care more about pleasing people rather than pleasing God

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

9 : They fear man but have no fear of God

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

[drshermaines-wisdomnuggets]

"CONFRONTING THE ENEMY'S TACTICS!"

Psalm 144:1, “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight” (AMPC) The main tactic of the enemy is deception. “Deception” is defined as, “the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid; to trick; to cheat; to defraud; to be dishonest.” And that’s exactly who the enemy is, a deceiver, liar and the…

[neogathering]

You're a forgiven, redeemed, and empowered child of God.

Satan's grip on your life is broken.  God, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, has set you free to work from salvation (Ephesians 2:10), not for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

God has given you the ability to walk in Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and not in the flesh.  You will walk on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27) and not in the sand.  You will be planted by the stream of water (Psalm 1:1-3) and not in the dry desert.

God has come to you, God has saved you, and now God wants you to work (Matthew 25:14-30) and live a life that calls all people into the Kingdom of God (Matthew 28:18-20).

God empower you and bless you, always.

[christianotome]

When to be happy?

We often think ‘I will finally be happy when I get married/get a job/have children’, however solving a problem only brings a new set of problems. Jesus warned us about the problems we would face in the world, but He assured us there is no need to be afraid. (John 16:33).

In the midst of several prosecutions and tribulations Apostle Paul said “[…] I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11), while Habakkuk stated that everything might be going wrong in his life “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).

Peace and joy are part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and that comes from the knowledge of God’s goodness and sovereignty. For a Christian the time to be happy is always as Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”.

[orthodoxadventure]

The άνάλαβος (analavos) is the distinctive garment of a monk or a nun tonsured into the highest grade of Orthodox monasticism, the Great Schema, and is adorned with the instruments of the Passion of Christ. It takes its name from the Greek αναλαμβάνω (“to take up”), serving as a constant reminder to the one who wears it that he or she must “take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). The ornately-plaited Crosses that cover the analavos, the polystavrion (πολυσταύριον, from πολύς, “many,�� and σταυρός, “Cross”) — a name often, though less accurately, also applied to the analavos — reminds the monastic that he or she is “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).

With regard to each image on the analavos, the rooster represents “the cock [that] crowed” (Matthew 26:74; Mark 14:68 Luke 22:60; John 18:27) after Saint Peter had “denied thrice” His Master and Lord (John 13:38).

The pillar represents the column to which Pilate bound Christ “when he scourged Him” (Mark 15:15) “by Whose stripes we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24).

The wreath garlanding the Cross represents the “crown of thorns” (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2) that “the soldiers platted” (John 19:2) and “put upon the head” (Matthew 27:29) of “God our King of old” (Psalm 73:13), Who freed man from having to contend against “thorns and thistles in the sweat of his brow” (Genesis 3:18-19).

The upright post and the traverse beam represent the stipes and the patibulum that formed “the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14), upon which “all day long He stretched forth His hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Isaiah 65:2; Romans 10:21).

The four spikes at the center of the Cross and the hammer beneath its base represent the “nails” (John 20:25) and hammer with which “they pierced” (Psalm 21:16; John 19:37) “His hands and His feet” (Luke 24:40). when they “lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32) Him Who “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us by nailing it to His Cross” (Colossians 2:14).

The base upon which the Cross stands represents “the place, which is called 'Calvary' (Luke 23:33), or 'Golgotha', that is to say, the Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33), “where they crucified Him” (John 19:18) Who “wrought salvation in the midst of the earth” (Psalm 73:13).

The skull and crossbones represent “the first man Adam” (I Corinthians 15:45), who by tradition “returned unto the ground” (Genesis 3:19) at this very spot, the reason that this place of execution, “full of dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27) became the place where “the last Adam was made a quickening spirit” (I Corinthians 15:45).

The plaque on top of the Cross represents the titulus, the “title” (John 19:19-20), with “the superscription of His accusation” (Mark 15:26), which “Pilate wrote” (John 19:19) “and set up over His head” (Matthew 27:37); however, instead of “Jesus of Nazareth the king of the Jews” (John 19:19), which “was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew” (Luke 23:38), the three languages being an allusion to the Three Hypostases “of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), this titulus reads, “The King of Glory” (Psalm 23:7-10), “for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (I Corinthians 2:8).

The reed represents the “hyssop” (John 19:29) upon which was put “a sponge full of vinegar” (Mark 15:36), which was then “put to His mouth” (John 19:29) when in His “thirst they gave Him vinegar to drink” (Psalm 68:21), Him of Whom it was said that “all wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22).

The lance represents the “spear [that] pierced His side”; “and forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34) from Him Who “took one of Adam's ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof" (Genesis 2:21) and Who “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).

The plaque at the bottom of the Cross represents the suppedaneum of Christ, “His footstool” (Psalm 98:5), “the place where His feet have stood” (Psalm 131:7). It is slanted because, according to one tradition, at the moment when “Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit” (Mark 15:37), He allowed a violent death spasm to convulse His legs, dislodging His footrest in such a manner that one end pointed upwards, indicating that the soul of the penitent thief, Saint Dismas, “the one on His right hand” (Mark 15:27) would be “carried up into Heaven” (Luke 24:51), while the other end, pointed downwards, indicated that the soul of the impenitent thief, Gestas, “the other on His left” (Mark 15:27), would “be thrust down to Hell” (Luke 10:15), showing that all of us, “the evil and the good, the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), “are weighed in the balance” (Ecclesiasticus 21:25) of the Cross of Christ.

The ladder and the pincers beneath the base of the Cross represent the means of deposition by which Saint Joseph of Arimathea, “a rich man” (Matthew 27:57) who “begged for the body of Jesus” (Matthew 27:58; Luke 23:52), “took it down” (Luke 23:53), so that as in body He descended from the Cross, so in soul “He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9), “by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (I Peter 3:19).

Through these instruments, “the Cross of Christ” (I Corinthians 1:17: Galatians 6:12; Philippians 3:18) became the “Tree of Life” (Genesis 2:9; 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18, 11:30; 13:12; 15:4; Revelation 2:7; 22:2,14), by which the Lord Jesus reified His words that, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

[source]

[coolksaposts]

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— (6:1b–2) 2Corinthians

2 Corinthians 6

Code: QA0297

The following is an excerpt from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6.

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— (6:1b–2)

Paul’s use of the verb parakaloumen (urge; “plead”; “beg”) in the present tense reflects his constant, passionate concern for the Corinthians (cf. 2:8; 10:1; 1 Cor. 16:15–16). God’s ambassadors are privileged pleaders, begging their hearers to respond to the truth.

Specifically, Paul was urging the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain; not to turn away from the gracious opportunity to hear the gospel of forgiveness he had so faithfully preached to them. He had poured his life into the Corinthians during his long stay in their city (Acts 18:11), pleading with them for the gospel and teaching the new converts how to grow in grace. But events in Corinth caused the apostle to fear that his intense labor had been for nothing. The church was riddled with sin, as Paul’s first inspired epistle to them reveals. False teachers, those wolves in sheep’s clothing both Jesus (Matt. 7:15) and Paul warned of (Acts 20:29), were luring many in the assembly away from the truth. This passionate concern for the Corinthians was behind what he wrote later:

But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (2 Cor. 11:3–4)

Paul could not stand idly by and allow his diligent efforts to be undone. He could not permit his spiritual children (1 Cor. 4:15) to be deceived by a false gospel or led astray from the true path of sanctification. His duty before God, like that of all faithful ministers, was to exhort people not to receive the grace of God in vain. The apostle had given them the grace of God, as embodied in the truth of the gospel of grace, for their eternal benefit.

Paul was concerned first that the Corinthians not receive God’s grace in regard to salvation in vain. As in any church, not everyone in the Corinthian assembly was redeemed. Some had intellectual knowledge of the gospel but did not have saving faith. That is why Paul challenged them, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Those in the congregation who were not regenerate were in grave danger of being deceived by the false teachers. To follow those preaching another Jesus, another Spirit, and another gospel would lead to a waste of their privilege and to spiritual ruin. Paul was similarly concerned about the Galatians.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Gal. 1:6–9)

The Corinthians were also in danger of receiving God’s grace in vain with regard to sanctification. The legalists sought to turn them away from living in the power of the Spirit to living in the strength of the flesh. Paul chided the Galatians, also under assault by legalism, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:3). Sanctification, like justification, is a work of God. It does not come from legalistically conforming to an external set of rules but from a Spirit-generated, heartfelt love for and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Some of the unsaved Corinthians were being led astray by a false gospel of salvation by works. Others were saved, but legalistic false teaching was stunting their spiritual growth. In either case, the grace of God to them that sent Paul with the gospel was in danger of being nullified.

The corrupting influence of the false teachers hindered evangelism. That made the Corinthians’ defection all the more galling to Paul, for it was (and still is) the time for the ministry of reconciliation. To stress the urgency of this time, Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8, where God declared, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

There is a time in God’s grace when He may be sought by sinners. The Lord warned the pre-Flood world, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years” (Gen. 6:3). Isaiah 55:6 commands, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” Hosea warned that apostate Israel “will go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them” (Hos. 5:6).

Repeating behold and now to emphasize his point, Paul declared that now is “the acceptable time,” “the day of salvation”   when God will listen to repentant sinners. Now, when the fields are ripe for the harvest (John 4:35), is not the time to waste gospel opportunity, or to be feeble, vacillating, or deceived by false teachers. It is the time to hold fast to the truth and faithfully proclaim it. “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day,” Jesus admonished. “Night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4).

Knowing the urgency of the times Paul, true to the urgency of his calling, passionately pleaded with the Corinthians not to let God’s grace in their lives be in vain.

[steveezekiel]

BASICS—THE FUNDAMENTALS

"WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN TO THE SONS OF MEN, AS IT HAS NOW BEEN REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT TO HIS HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS."

Ephesians 3:5 (NKJV)

Comment: The old testament saints and the early Jewish believers did not fully understand the redemption plan of God in which He intended to incorporate the gentiles, bring them into His family (Acts 15:15-18; Ephesians 2:12,13,19). They had the thought that salvation through Christ Jesus would be exclusive for the Jews (Acts 10:45; 11:1-3). And If at all any other nations of the world wanted to come in, It has to be through the procedure of proselytization or conversion, in which the person would be circumcised and be introduced to the practicing of the old testament rituals or pattern of worship: "AND CERTAIN MEN CAME DOWN FROM JUDEA AND TAUGHT THE BRETHREN, “UNLESS YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM OF MOSES, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED" (Acts 15:1 NKJV).

They wanted whoever is saved to be observing days, practicing the dos and don'ts in the old testament which cannot bring a change or transformation (Colossians 2:21-23; Hebrews 10:1).

Whatever was given to them in the old testament to be practicing was a shadow of things to come: "THE OLD SYSTEM UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES WAS ONLY A SHADOW, A DIM PREVIEW OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME, NOT THE GOOD THINGS THEMSELVES. THE SACRIFICES UNDER THAT SYSTEM WERE REPEATED AGAIN AND AGAIN, YEAR AFTER YEAR, BUT THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO PROVIDE PERFECT CLEANSING FOR THOSE WHO CAME TO WORSHIP" (Hebrews 10:1 NLT).

READ Colossians 2:17

They were to be doing those things, works of the law, to keep them in check and prepare them for the coming of the Messiah—faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:23,24).

Now that Christ has come, whoever places his or her faith in Him is accepted by God, thus, there is no more need for the law and its works or rituals (Acts 10:34,35; Galatians 3:25).

Even the early believers, including the Apostles, did not fully understand this mystery, the infinite wisdom of God—His variegated wisdom (Ephesians 3:10). This mystery was revealed by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus did promise before ascension (John 16:12-15). It was revealed by the Holy Spirit to His Apostles and prophets (Ephesians 3:5). This mystery is being contested today by those who are ignorant and lack the understanding of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15,16).

Note:

a. Faith in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ Jesus is enough for the salvation of whoever wants to access or reach God (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-13).

b. You would not need any additional works or rituals to do for you to be reconciled to God (Galatians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18).

These basic tenets of faith had to be understood by every believer in Christ Jesus so that you would not be misguided or misled to some cults that asserted or claimed to be Christians.

Peace.