GALATIANS 6

Galatians 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Galatians 6 Videos-

https://youtu.be/sBr1XDStkOo
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/1-31-17-galatians-6-conc.zip
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg2TDrX9DmEHrpUM8
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8p7q3cc47gtv6gb/1-31-17%20Galatians%206%20%5BConc.%5D.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.Abe from North Bergen
.Paul says ‘good bye’
.Steve Miller band
.Stevie Nicks [landslide]
.Legal and experiential justification
.Grace is not a license to sin
.Holocaust
.Not an anti-Jewish letter
.We are ALL one in Christ
.It’s an inclusive message
.Some North Bergen stories
.Comments on media
.Malachi Martin
.St. Augustine
.Pelagius
.The Catholic Church does not teach salvation by the law
.Have grace with one another

TEACHING- [past posts- verses below]
During this study I have been adding an old commentary I wrote years ago- the videos are new.
I’ll just add a note here at the end.
This letter is a ‘theological’ one- meaning- the purpose is to show how God- in Christ- has fulfilled the law.
And we become justified- not by the law- but by faith in Christ.
Pretty simple.
When Paul speaks ‘harsh’ about the ‘circumcision’- meaning his Jewish brothers who were trying to institute circumcision as a rite for the gentile believers-
He is not in any way making anti-Semitic statements- or ‘bad’ statements against any ethnic/religious group.
He is fighting for the gospel of grace.
Over the history of the church- some Christians did indeed espouse anti- Jewish beliefs- based on these portions of scripture.
Yes- Paul was hard on the ‘circumcision’- the Jews under the law- but it had nothing to do with ethnicity.
It was theological-
In this last chapter he even says to restore those who are wrong- in the spirit [attitude] of meekness.
In the world we live in today- it’s important for Christians- in my mind- to stand for the truth- but to do it in a way that does not demean other people.
Whether that be Jewish- Muslim- or any other group.
Yes- as Christians we fight against false doctrine- and at times- these are tough fights.
Thus the strong language we see at times in the New Testament.
But even Paul himself spoke about God reconciling all people- whether they be Jew- gentile- male- female- in Christ.
He fought hard against the Judiazers- because in reality they were indeed preaching an ‘exclusive’ message.
Saying the only ones who God accepts- are those who get circumcised- and join ‘their group’.
But the message of grace leaves the door open for all who believe.
Jew- non Jew- male- female- all are accepted equally thru the message of the Cross.
So I just wanted to end this brief study with this point.
Yes- read these bible books for yourselves.
Go thru the bible- the Letters I have been covering.
Whatever background you come from- it makes no difference.
You are here now- reading this stuff- or maybe watching some of the videos.
The purpose is for you yourself to engage in the grand debate- that has been going on for 2 thousand years now [since the time of Christ that is].
Yes- the debate about life itself- what’s man’s purpose in it?
What does the bible actually teach about all these subjects?
The bible was written for the common man to read- and understand.
I’ll admit there is some stuff that is hard to understand at times.
But when you engage in the text- read the background of the times- see what the teachers over the years have said as well-
In the end- the main message of grace is clear- it is easy to understand.
The free gift of God by grace is for all of us.
And remember- it is a gift for all. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/10/galatians-6-text.html ]

SUNDAY SERMON

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Sunday sermon videos-
https://youtu.be/zLGkZUApk-0
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhSzqt0xFNQCKJwUn
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l3ikxy1no8sdzu4/3-18-18%20Sunday%20sermon%20CCCF-%20Mass.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO
.In the Bluff we call it ‘Bran New’- Huh?
.The canyon is closed today
.The moral law and the ceremonial law- its all ‘the law’
.3-18? 318
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
.The Melchizedek priesthood
The Greeks seek Jesus [John 12]
.How did Jesus respond?
.The cross
.Jesus prayed to God to ‘save him from death’ [Heb. 5]Hebrews 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
.How did the Father answer this prayer?
.He raised him from the dead

NOTE-
This day I talked from the verses that Pastor Don preached on [CCCF] as well as the verses from the Sunday mass.
They did fit together- and I will add my past teaching below.
I won’t try and write on the subjects I talked about- because I have taught them in depth in the past and it would be better for me just to post that below.
John

PAST POSTS [My past teaching that relates in some way to this post- Sunday sermon- Verses below]
https://ccoutreach87.com/hebrews-updated-2015/
https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-corinthians/
https://ccoutreach87.com/acts-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/romans-updated-2015/
https://ccoutreach87.com/galatians-links/
CHAPTER 5:
NEW NOTES BELOW-
HIGH PRIEST.
TIME TO MOVE ON.

‘For every high priest taken from among men…who can have compassion on the ignorant and on them that are OUT OF THE WAY , for that he himself is compassed about with infirmity’ God once again emphasizes the reality of calling men with faults and weaknesses into leadership. Why? Because according to the law men who themselves have weaknesses could then have compassion and not judge others who are ‘out of the way’. I spent the day yesterday with some homeless friends, a lot of them are ‘out of the way’. They never seemed to transition into the normal routines of life. Many of them will eventually share their experiences of being rejected as kids by their parents. Others have had an abusive childhood. For different reasons they are ‘out of the way’. They also are used to being treated badly by society. One of the guys is a true believer. He is even ordained as a deacon for a homeless church, he reads and teaches the word. Really stands out as a follower of Christ. He is homeless. He told me how sometimes he will go and just sit on church property so he can sense God and spend time praying apart from the other hangouts where guys are drinking and doing drugs. Sometimes the church will call the cops and tell him to move. Now I know the church doesn’t realize he is truly a believer, but it shows you how society treats those who are ‘out of the way’.

God chose you, fully knowing your weaknesses and faults, you might think that your faults disqualify you for service, God says they are part of the requirement to be a priest! ‘Christ glorified not himself to be made a priest… thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec’ once again Paul will use his great knowledge of the Old Testament to teach something new. He goes to the story of Melchisedec in the Old Testament. This person was a real priest who Abraham paid tithes to. Later we will read that this means the priesthood of Jesus is superior to that of the law. Many use this verse to justify tithing for gentiles, but it really is showing the superiority of grace over law. Now Paul also finds a prophetic Old Testament verse that says Jesus is a priest from this order. What order? Well there have only ever been 2 priests in this ‘class’ and that was Melchisedec and Jesus. In essence Melchisedec was simply a real person who functioned as a priest before the Levitical priesthood was established. The fact that Paul finds this obscure verse showing that Jesus came from this ‘line’ of priests as opposed to Levi shows that Christ’s priesthood is outside of the law. This is the main reason for Melchisedec’s historical existence. Some teach that he was a preincarnate appearance of Christ because we will read he had no beginning of days or end of life. I kind of lean towards this meaning there is no record in scripture of him having a birth or death. I don’t see Melchisedec as a preincarnate appearance of Christ. I do find it interesting how God raised up a man, before Christ, for the sole purpose of later saying of Jesus ‘you are a priest forever after this order’. In my mind God did it for this sole reason.

We know Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world. So basically God raised this priest up just so Jesus could be traced thru his lineage as opposed to Levi. The significance is great in the mind of Paul, because once again this makes the case for Israel to come out of the old system of law [Levi] and come to a priesthood that cannot trace its roots back to the law. This is solely a grace argument; it is not some strange teaching that shows a preincarnate Christ who walked the earth forever. ‘Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec, of whom we have many things to say [I just said some of them!] and hard to be uttered, seeing ye [1st century Israel, NOT CHRISTIANS!] are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers [God raised Israel up to be a ‘teaching nation’ in the midst of a pagan world. The purpose of God for them as a nation was to influence all the nations around them with the true God. This is why God ordained ways for ‘proselytes’ to come and become partakers of Gods blessings on Israel. This is very important to see here, because as we go into chapter 6 this will be the context to clear up many wrong views of this letter] you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God’.

As we go into chapter six I will show you how ‘the first principles of the Word of God’ are all the elementary teachings of the law, not the message of the Cross! Paul is rebuking Israel because they had a long time to fully get grounded in the law, it was now time for them to move on from these ‘basic teachings’ and into Christ. Paul says they need to be ‘re taught’ the basics again because they are unable to see the pictures that Paul has been painting for them thru this ‘old testament canvas’. So in context, Paul is not telling Christians to ‘move on from the Cross’ as many teach. But he is telling Israel ‘move on from the elementary principles of the law’ unto Christ. This is why it is so important to read this letter in context.
NEW NOTES [4-2015]
HIGH PRIEST.
TIME TO MOVE ON.

‘High priest- after the order of Melchizedek’-
Once again we see the writer quoting from Psalms [2, 110].
The point the writer is making- about Melchizedek- is that Jesus comes in a symbolic way- not thru Levi- the priestly tribe of the law.
But thru another line [Judah too].
Melchizedek was indeed a real person- a priest talked about in the bible- and we will read later that he had no ‘father or mother’- but a type of Christ- without beginning or end.
Most see this as meaning there is no record of a father or mother- so he fits the type.
Others think this man was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ-
Either way- the point is Jesus is not a ‘law’ priest- but outside the law.
Showing the readers [Jews] that they too need to move on from the base principles of the old covenant- and receive Jesus as the final high priest.
Now- context- he says ‘the time has come that you should be teachers- but have need to be taught again’.
Ok- I don’t see this as speaking to Christians- but talking to the 1st century Jewish people- the ‘time has come’-
We read in Galatians ‘in the Fullness of time’.
Israel was supposed to move on in the reality of Jesus as the Messiah- and enter the fullness of the Kingdom.
Then as Gods completed people- they would ‘teach the nations’ of the glory of God [in Christ].
Much like what the early disciples did-
But- if Israel rejects Christ- as a nation- then they will forfeit this special calling they had.
We will read later that they needed to ‘move on from the elementary principles’-
Once again- not telling Christians to ‘move on’ [which makes no sense].
But all the elements of the ‘doctrine of Christ’ were indeed contained in the law.
These ‘base elements’ are now fulfilled in Christ.
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Psalm 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalm 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psalm 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Some sites see here https://johnchiarello.medium.com/sunday-sermon-f5b8e9981c73

KINGS 12 [Sunday sermon- Church unlimited too]

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Gal.3:13

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Kings 12 videos-

https://youtu.be/UWD62pvnvaI
https://ccoutreach87.com/9-10-17-kings-12-sunday-sermon/
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/9-10-17-kings-12-sunday-sermon.zip

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhz30ATF40mHS1xBv

https://www.dropbox.com/s/szd8syk7xsjfmku/9-10-17%20Kings%2012-%20Sunday%20Sermon.mp4?dl=0

No Bull [I made this video the other day- and commented on this chapter] https://youtu.be/g6RkAI5zuWk

Isaiah 19:23 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

Isaiah 19:18 In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.

ON VIDEO-
.Types of Christ in Kings 12
.Review of upcoming Acts 22
.Paul’s visions
.Rehoboam- Jeroboam- kingdom divided
.Solomon- Too much ‘purpose driven’
.Jeroboam and Israels request
.Rehoboam takes bad advice
.Why 3 days?
.Jesus sits on the throne of David- today
.Listen to the elders
.Tax man cometh
.Prophet speaks ‘Don’t fight’
.This thing is from God
.Jeroboam acts out of fear- and makes a bull
.Does this sound familiar? [see Exodus 32]
.He says ‘these be thy gods’!
.Who is he quoting?
.Aaron- and God [Ex. 32:4,7-8]
.When you use the words of the bible- out of context- you make idols
.The New Testament says covetousness is idolatry
Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
.Apis- the Egyptian bull god
.Nicodemus and Jesus too
.The snake on a pole
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

TEACHING [Past posts below]

Rehoboam ascends to the throne- yet God fulfills the prophecy of Ahijah- given to Jeroboam in the last chapter-
1Kings 11:31 And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

The kingdom is rent [10 tribes] and given to Jeroboam.
Yet- Jeroboam and Israel did try to make amends- they made a request of the new king-
1Kings 12:3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
1Kings 12:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
They asked for a lighter yoke- which is a type of the true Son of David who was yet to come-

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matt. 11

The king tells them to depart- for 3 days- and then come again-
1Kings 12:5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.
Jesus as the true Son of David departed for 3 days- in the tomb-
New International Version
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matt. 12:40

And his men did come meet him at the appointed time-

New Living Translation
And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” Matt. 28:7

Rehoboam consults with 2 groups of men- the elders who ruled with his father [Solomon] and the younger generation he himself grew up with.

He rejects the advice of the older generation- and takes the bad advice of his contemporaries-
1Kings 12:6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
1Kings 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
1Kings 12:8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:
But this was from the Lord-
1Kings 12:24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Jeroboam takes rule of the 10 tribes- and out of fear- institutes idolatry into the kingdom-
1Kings 12:27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
1Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king [Jeroboam] took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

It is interesting that he actually quotes Aaron- and God- in this sin-
Yes- in exodus 32 we read-
Exodus 32:4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Exodus 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:
Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Yet- it was a distortion of the will of God- even though the words themselves were contained in the scripture.

I taught more on the video- but wanted to simply comment on the types and shadows that speak to the true rule of God- and how Jesus will be the king who will lighten the yoke.

He left- for 3 days [in the grave] and when he met us again- he came with a lighter yoke [than the law] and he was among us as one who served- the advice the older man gave to Rehoboam- lighten the yoke- and serve.

Thru his own bearing of the Cross for the sins of men he fulfilled the types-

The advice of the older men was-
1Kings 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
Rehoboam rejected it-
Yet Jesus himself will fulfill it down the road-

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Lk. 22

Rehoboam’s father was driven- he had goals for the kingdom- and did accomplish them.
Yet- he was hard on the people of God- he ruled over them with a iron hand- so to speak-
1Kings 12:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous:
1Kings 12:10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.
1Kings 12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
The thing that Solomon forgot- was the advice that the elders gave to his son- to be a servant of the people-
1Kings 12:7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.
Shepherding the sheep does entail being tough at times- but the end goal is to lead them into the fullness of what God has for them-
1Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
The younger men felt the answer was to go even harder on the people-
1Kings 12:11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
In the end- the people walked away- and the prophecy of Ahijah was fulfilled-
1Kings 11:35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/kings-12-text.html ]

SUNDAY SERMON

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Sunday sermon videos
https://youtu.be/YOC4SkjwvqI
https://www.dropbox.com/s/usompsuhz74dtbk/3-11-18%20Sunday%20sermon.mp4?dl=0
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhSRGu1dng_0D5DEX

ON VIDEO
.Pseudepigraphy
.Renaissance
.Elijah and Enoch
.John 3- Ephesians 2
.Galileo- Copernicus- Kepler
.Medici family
.Florence Italy [center of the Renaissance]
.Savonarola
.Erasmus
.Scientific revolution
.Was the controversy over a flat earth?
.No
.Heliocentric versus Geocentric
.Ptolemy’s cosmos- not that bad after all
.Alexander the great
.The philosophers
.The bible and science
.What about ‘Sun rise- Sun set?’
.Phenomenological language in scripture https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phenomenological 
.The higher critics- 1800’s- Germany
.Jude and Peter
.The development of the canon and church councils
.The rounding of numbers in scripture- fine
.The debate between Luther and the Catholic church in the 16th century- did Luther call James epistle a straw epistle [letter]?
.Yes- but why?
.Why did the original Protestant reformers settle on ‘a fallible collection of infallible books’?
.Final word- the bible is reliable- it is the Word of God

NOTE-
This Sunday I spoke too long- and talked on too much. So- instead of trying to write it all- I’ll add my past teachings below.
I did talk about the Mass verses- the ones I heard on the radio this Sunday. And I mentioned a few verses that pastor Bil spoke on [Church Unlimited].
Many of the subjects I talked about today I have talked about before. I guess that’s OK- recurring themes [repeating stuff] is actually a biblical principle.
So for those who never heard some of this before- I hope it benefits you. And for those who have heard this before- maybe it will rekindle your own desire to teach- speak- and ‘argue’ for the faith.
God bless all- John

PAST POSTS [My past teachings that relate- Other videos below]
https://ccoutreach87.com/overview-of-philosophy/
https://ccoutreach87.com/protestant-reformation-luther/
https://ccoutreach87.com/ephesians-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/
https://ccoutreach87.com/galatians-links/ 
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/

[1770] TREASURY OF MERIT

Let’s pick up where we left off 2 posts back. We were talking about Martin Luther and the events that led up to the Protestant Reformation.

In order to understand the key act that caused the protest- we will have to teach some Catholic history/doctrine.

In the 16th century Pope Julius began the effort to build St. Peters basilica in Rome. He got as far as laying the foundation and died. Pope Leo the 10th would pick up after him.

The church needed to raise money for the project- and the German prince- Albert- would play a major role.

It should be noted that both Catholic and Protestant scholars agree that the Popes of the day were pretty corrupt. They came from what we call the Medici line of Popes.

If you remember last month I wrote a post on the Renaissance- I talked about the Medici family and how they played a major role in supporting the Renaissance that took place in the 13th century in Florence Italy that would spread to the region.

Well this very influential family also played a big role in who would get top positions in the church.

At the time of Luther and prince Albert- if you had the right connections and the money- you could literally buy a position in the church.

Albert already held 2 Bishop seats- and there was an opening for an Archbishops seat in Mainz [Germany] and he wanted that one too.

It should be noted that official Canon law [church law] said you could only hold one seat at a time- Albert was bidding on his 3rd one! And he was too young for all of them.

So even the Pope and the officials held little respect for what the church actually taught at the time.

So Albert opens up negotiations with Leo- and the bidding starts AT 12,000 Duckets [money] Albert counters with 7,000- and they agree on 10,000. How did they justify the numbers? 12- The number of Apostles. 7- The 7 deadly sins. 10- The 10 commandments.

Yes- the church was pretty corrupt at the time.

So Albert works out a plan with Leo- he will borrow the money from the German banks- and pay the banks off by the Pope giving Albert the right to sell Indulgences.

What’s an Indulgence?

Okay- this is where it gets tricky.

The ancient church taught a system called The Treasury of Merit. This was a sort of spiritual bank account that ‘stored up’ the good deeds of others over the years.

You had the good deeds of Jesus at the top- but you also had Mary and Joseph- the 12 Apostles- and other various saints thru out time.

The way the ‘bank’ worked was you could tap into the account by getting a Papal indulgence- a sort of I.O.U. that had the Popes guarantee that it would get so much time out of Purgatory for a loved one.

The actual sacrament that accesses the account is called Penance [confession].

When a penitent does penance- he confesses his sin to the priest- and he is absolved by the authority of the church that the priest has. The priest usually tells the person ‘say so many Hail Mary’s- Our Father’s’ and that’s a form of penance.

One of the other things the church practiced was called Alms Deeds. This term is found in the bible and it means giving your money to the poor- it is a noble act that Jesus himself taught.

In theory- part of the sacrament of penance was tied into Alms Deeds- you can access the account thru the practice of giving to the poor- which also meant giving to the church that helps the poor- and in the hands of the Medici line of Popes- meant outright giving money to the Pope.

So now you see how the abuse worked its way into the pockets of the faithful.

Albert now had the permission from Leo to sell these indulgences in Germany- and he would pick a certain corrupt priest to sell them in a place called Saxony- the region where Luther operated out of.

It should be noted that the Catholic Church never taught the crass act of ‘buying your way out of Purgatory’. The practice of including giving money as a part of the sacrament of penance was tied into the biblical principle of giving to the poor- a good thing.

But Tetzel and others abused the official meaning of the indulgence- and did make it sound like you could by your way out of Purgatory [in theory- a loved one might be in Purgatory for so many years- and through the indulgence you are actually getting time off for them- because the good deeds of others are now applied to the account].

The money Albert would raise- half would go to Rome for the building of St. peters- and half would go to pay off the banks in Germany- it was a sad system- and a sad time for the church as a whole.

It would be wrong to judge the entire church at the time as being corrupt- you did have many sincere Priests and Catholic men and women who saw the abuses and did not take part in them.

But there was corruption at the top- and this would eventually lead to the breakup of the church- and the launching of what we now call the Protestant Movement.

As a side note- it should be said that many Catholics and Protestants are not aware of the whole treasury of merit system- and the church never officially changed her position on the doctrine.

There were 3 Church councils since the time [Trent- 1500’s, Vatican 1- 1800’s and Vatican 2- 1962-65]. The Treasury of Merit never came up for change.

Obviously Protestants don’t believe in Purgatory- and it’s not my purpose in these posts to change Catholics into Protestants or vice versa- but to give all sides a clear view of the issues that divided us- and to try and be honest- and respectful during the process.

Does the bible teach anything like a Treasury of Merit? Well actually it does. The bible teaches that the righteousness of Christ is the treasury that people can access- by faith- and become righteous in the sight if God.

The idea- applied to Christ- is good.

But in the hands of the Medici Popes- and the ambitious prince of Germany- it would lead to disaster.

[parts]
Alexander sought to implement the ideals of his teacher- he wanted to unify the known world under one people/culture- a belief that Aristotle held- a sort of ‘unified theory’ [Einstein] that would seek to bring all learning/knowledge together under one supreme [Divine] principle.

Alexander’s experiment was called Hellenization- which was the Greek worlds attempt to impose Greek culture/language on all their conquered enemies- and at the same time allow them to hold on to the their own culture too. Alexander did amazingly well at this experiment- at the young age of around 24 he had accomplished most of his mission. The cities were a sort of composite of Greek culture mixed in with their own culture- this is where we get the modern term Cosmopolitan.

Alexander died young and his kingdom was divided between 4 generals- one of them- Ptolemy- would himself make it into the history books because of his keen intellect.

The system of cosmology developed under him would last [and work!] until some 17-18 hundred years later when it was overthrown by the Copernican revolution during the time of Copernicus and Galileo.

Alexander’s generals would do their best to carry on the system of Hellenization- and other nation’s generals would keep the system going even after Greece fell. One of them- Octavian [Roman general] makes it into the history books by another famous name- Julius Caesar.

Alexander established a great library in the Egyptian city of Alexandria [named after him] and many of the great writings were preserved during this time.

The writings of Aristotle would be discovered again during the time of Thomas Aquinas [13th century Catholic genius/scholar] and this would lead to Scholasticism [a peculiar school of thought developed/revived under Aquinas] and give rise to the Renaissance.

Okay- before the birth of Christ- the Jewish people resisted the imposing of Greek culture upon them- you had the very famous resistance under the Jewish Maccabean revolt- where the Jews rose up and fought the wicked ruler Antiochus Epiphanies- and till this day the Jewish people celebrate this victory at Hanukah.

Eventually Rome would conquer the Greek kingdom and the Jewish people were allowed to keep their culture and temple- yet they were still a people oppressed. Hassidism [getting back to the beginning] developed during this attempt to not lose their Jewish roots- the Pharisees of Jesus day came from this movement.

Alexander was pretty successful in his attempt to unify language- even though the bible [New Testament] was written by Jewish writers- living under Roman rule- yet the original bible is written in the Greek language.

Bible scholars till this day study the Greek language to find the truest meaning of the actual words in the bible [I have a Greek Lexicon sitting right in front of me].

It would take a few centuries before a Latin version appeared on the scene [the great church father- Jerome- would produce the Latin Vulgate].

Yet it would be the re- discovery and learning of the Greek texts [under men like Erasmus- and the Protestant Reformers] that would lead to the Reformation [16th century] and other movements in church history.

The Jews had various responses to the empires that ruled over them during various times.
Alexander the Great instituted Hellenization- a sort of cultural compromise over the people he conquered.
They could keep their religious/cultural roots- but would be subservient to Alexander and Greek rule.
Some Jewish people rejected any compromise- we call them the Essenes- they moved out of town- so to speak, and lived in what we refer to as the Qumran community.
This was a few centuries before the time of Christ- and this was where the Dead Seas Scrolls were found in the 20th century.
A Bedouin boy was looking for his goats- threw a rock in a cave right off the Dead Sea- and that’s how we found the scrolls.
The scrolls might have been hidden there by the Essenes-
Now- when my friends asked me about them- I told them that it’s been a while since I read up on any of this- but to the best of my memory the thing that made them significant was the fact that they were very old manuscripts- from the bible- and they backed up what we had had all along. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/sunday-sermon-text_25.html ]
[parts]

GALATIANS 5

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

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Galatians 5 videos-
https://www.dropbox.com/s/43vihaof8iq287c/1-17-17%20Galatians%205.mp4?dl=0 https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg08R75QPEHmGLZxm

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg08R75QPEHmGLZxm

https://youtu.be/u3Sne2TFlmw

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/1-17-17-galatians-5.zip

ON VIDEO
.Not under law
.Walk in the Spirit
.Law fulfilled by love
.Against such there is no law
.Fruit of the Spirit
.We wait for the hope of righteousness
.Calvinism- Arminianism
.We are all in process
.Self-control is a fruit
.To be effective in the kingdom you need discipline
.Protestant Reformation- Trent responds
.Legal fiction?
.Backsliding?
.Evangelical reductionism
.You are all 1 in Christ
.MLK Jr.

PAST POSTS [Past teaching I did that relates to today’s video- Galatians 5- verses below]

(1335) GALATIANS 5- Paul’s main theme is if we possess the Spirit as believers [being indwelt by God’s Spirit] then let us also walk in/by the Spirit, as opposed to trying to please God by the law and being circumcised. Paul will use the somewhat controversial term ‘ye are fallen from grace’ which simply means that these Gentile believers started by faith and went back to the old Jewish system, much like the themes in the book of Hebrews. Paul says when you go back to the law you have left grace. Christ has ‘become of no effect to you, you who are justified by the law’. This is a good example of how words and certain phrases can develop over the centuries of church history and develop a different meaning over time. In essence the bible does teach that a person can ‘fall from grace’ but this does not describe what the modern reader might think. The first church father who attempted to formulate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity was a man named Tertullian, he lived in the second century and was what theologians refer to as one of the Latin fathers [as opposed to the Greek ones- Origen, etc.] Tertullian was famous for the sayings ‘what does Jerusalem have to do with Athens’ and ‘I believe because it is absurd’ he was resisting the influence of Greek philosophy on the church, he felt that Greek wisdom was influencing the church too much. He was trained in law before becoming a theologian [like Luther and Calvin of 16th century Reformation fame] and he used the words ‘God is one substance/essence and also three persons’ later church councils would agree with this language. But the word ‘person’ at Tertullian’s time was the Latin word ‘personi’ which was taken from the theater and meant a person/actor who would put on different masks during the play; the word had a little different meaning then what we think of today as ‘person’. Later centuries would come to condemn certain Christian groups who seem to have formulated language on the Trinity that expresses the same thing as what the original developer of the doctrine meant to say, but because words and their meanings change over time we get ourselves into disputes that might be getting us off track. Paul also tells the Galatians that if they become circumcised that they are obligating themselves to keep all the law. Of course the medical procedure that many have done in our day is not what he is speaking about, but in Paul’s day getting circumcised was the religious rite that placed you into the religion of Judaism, and this is what Paul is refuting among the Galatians, he tells them not to go down that road. This chapter has lots of good ‘memory verses’, the famous lists of the works of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit are found here, and it seems pretty clear to me that Paul identified circumcision with the moral law of the 10 commandments, that is he saw being circumcised as an act that obligated you to ‘keep all the law’ some theologians are discussing whether or not Paul meant the law of Moses when speaking about going ‘back under the law’ some think Paul was speaking only of the ceremonial law and the system of animal sacrifices when he was telling the gentiles that they should not go under the law, I believe if you read Paul in context both in this letter and the book of Romans, that he is speaking of the moral law too, not just the ceremonial law. All in all Paul exhorts these believers to fight for their right to be free from the past restraints of religion and bondage, he tells them to not desire to go back under a system of bondage, that Christ has made us free from that legalistic way of life and he has liberated us by giving us the Holy Spirit- if we ‘walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, and these two are contrary one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would’ amen to that.
[parts] [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/galatians-5-text.html ]

KINGS 11

Revelation 22:16
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

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Kings 11 videos-

https://youtu.be/GtTRfebK1wI
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https://ccoutreach87.com/8-18-17-kings-11/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vr2lf6kconza7n4/8-18-17%20Kings%2011.mp4?dl=0

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhx3YUrPUTgx8cMwl

ON VIDEO-
.Solomon judged
.1000 wives
.Idolatry
.Adversaries come
.Hadad- Rezon
.Jeroboam
.Hadad- the lone survivor of the slaughter of the Edomites
.The prophet Ahijah
.History of the church seen in the history of the division of the tribes
.The magisterial reformers
.Reformation
.Been to lake Geneva
.Justification by faith
.Protestants- like Judah [southern tribe] were indeed more doctrinally pure
.Yet over time- like Judah- God rebuked them and said they were worse!
.Why?- It was a matter of the heart
.Solomon dies
.Rehoboam ascends to the throne
.Leadership principles
.What was Solomon’s main problem- his adversaries?
.No- his heart

TEACHING-
I’ll add my past commentary on this chapter below- and hit on a few points here.
I said in the beginning of this study that Solomon’s rule is covered more than any other King in this book.
And in this chapter- his rule comes to an end- actually a sad end.

He is judged by God because of allowing idolatry to enter into the kingdom.
He ‘loved’ many women- about 1000- and as he grew in years- they turned his heart after their god’s.

God pronounces judgment- and we see 3 particular people he uses to be a thorn in the side of Solomon.
Hadad was the lone survivor of an earlier attempt by King David [under Joab] to wipe out the Edomites.
I find the story of Hadad interesting.

It sort of goes along the line of Moses.
He escapes as a young child- and is brought up in the house of Pharaoh himself.
Over time he returns to the land of Israel- and fights against Solomon.

Another man by the name of Rezon is also ordained of God- to be part of the opposition.
Yet it’s a man from the nation of Israel- Jeroboam [from Ephraim] that is chosen to become the king of the 10 northern tribes.

Yes- God takes the kingdom from Solomon- and gives 10 tribes to Jeroboam.
But he permits Solomon’s son- Rehoboam- to rule over the Southern tribe- Judah.

God does this to keep his promise to king David- that he will always have a son on the throne-
1Kings 11:36 And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.
The theological significance to all of this- is the promise of a coming Messiah [Jesus] is tied into the promises God made to David.
Eventually Jesus himself comes as the ultimate fulfillment of the promise- and as I taught before- he comes from the tribe of Judah- the Son of David.

I talked about more on the video- but wanted to add this- to keep us on track of the meaning of all of these Old testament books-
The Prophets the Psalms the law-

All of this history finds it’s ultimate meaning in the person of Jesus Christ-

New Living Translation
Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Lk. 24:27

We should not read the history of conflict found in the bible- and relate it to actual wars that take place in our day.
We should not use this history as a modern day plan of action between Arabs and Jews.

Or the book of Revelation as a road map to a coming nuclear event.
No- the books of the bible have an intent- they show us of the promise of reconciliation of all people groups thru Christ.
The intent- spirit- of prophecy is to testify of Christ-

Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

The Son of David has indeed come- and thru that coming-

All people- Jews- Arabs- all nations can become one.

As they embrace the promised Son-

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph. 2

NOTES- Ashtoreth was the Phoenician goddess of love and fertility- the Greek equivalent was called Astarte.
Molech was the national god of the Amorites.
Chemosh the god of Moab. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/kings-11-text.html ]

PAST POSTS- [My past teachings that relate in some way to this post- KINGS 11- verses below]

SUNDAY SERMON

Psalm 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

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9-16-22 Puffballs [Made 2 days ago] https://youtu.be/1Bonnuysnbk

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https://fb.watch/fAjp7h0V0d/

Sunday Sermon Video’s-

https://studio.youtube.com/video/9mb2HulQ1mw/edit
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tir8x5s87gvu38p/Sunday%20Sermon%203-4-18.mp4?dl=0
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMh3Uz8BorraZOy6uu

ON VIDEO
.Sally the cat
.The discipline of routine
.The mystery of Hudson County Park [North Bergen]
.Who is the real Cinderella man?
.Catholic lectionary- year A or B?
.Bishop Mulvey
.The 2 divisions of the 10 commandments
.How we relate to God- and our fellow man
.The purpose of the law
.The Sabbath- a history
.Its not about ‘Church day’
.Church history
.God’s rest
.Philosophy
.The money changers and zeal of the Lord
.Jesus ‘rested’ [was dead] in the grave on the Sabbath- and rose on Sunday
.Thus removing the accusation that he did miracles- on the Sabbath- see?
.Holy week
.The mystery of Hudson county park- the real name is James J Braddock park- the one and only Cinderella man from North Bergen New Jersey

Teaching- [Past posts below]

Today I covered a lot on the video- and will simply try and give a brief overview.
The verses from the Mass were on the 10 commandments- and the account from John 2 where Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers-
John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
From Exodus 20 [the 10 commandments] I taught on the Sabbath day command and covered the history of how different churches have disagreed on how we ‘keep’ this command today-
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

In short- it really is not a ‘command’ about what day Christians should ‘attend church’- but the Sabbath was a ‘place of rest’-

Both in the Psalms and the letter to the Hebrews we are taught the ‘Rest’ spoken about was fulfilled in the New Covenant of Grace- a place of rest in Christ.

Hebrews 4:10
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

The passage from John 2 also spoke about the Jews asking Jesus for a sign-
John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

The sign that Jesus would give to them was his resurrection from the dead- that would be the ‘sign’ that all men must believe on in order to be justified in the sight of God-
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
John 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
Jesus fulfilled all the law- he even stayed in the grave on the Sabbath day- and rose on Sunday as proof that he fulfilled all the law- paid the price for sin [death] and rose again.

The offer of rest in Christ is still available today- to all who will believe-
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb. 4

It is not about what day ‘church’ is- but it is about us entering into the rest spoken about after God created all things in 6 days- and rested on the 7th-

4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb. 4

This rest- the grace of God- is still a ‘place’ where people enter in- they cease from their own works [the efforts of trying to be saved by the law] and believe on Christ- and freely receive the gift of grace.

I also spoke on the verses pastor Bil preached on and will add my past commentaries below.

The passage from Corinthians [Mass] sums it up-
1Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
It’s not about human wisdom [how smart we are] or about signs- but the answer is in Christ crucified- to the natural mind it seems foolish- to the unbelieving intellectual it simply does not make sense.

But to all who believe- it is in him where we find the wisdom of God- he gave the Jews the sign they asked for-

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

And in so doing- we now have access to the true wisdom of God-
Which is found in the one who died- and rose again-
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1 Cor. 1:24 b [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/sunday-sermon-text_18.html ]

PAST POSTS [My past teachings that relate to today’s post- Sunday sermon- Verses and other videos

KINGS 10

Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

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Kings 10 videos-
https://youtu.be/jlMRq0fW1XY
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/7-25-17-kings-10.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/7-25-17-kings-10/

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9oeoglgtl60gkwp/7-25-17%20Kings%2010.mp4?dl=0

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhnatSK52CWTvKZbp

ON VIDEO-
.View of C.C. bay
.The queen
.Word of mouth
.Greater than Solomon
.Sheba- S.W. Arabia- maybe Yemen?
.Renaissance men
.6 steps- and lions
.Be open to unique insights [first things]
.God’s wisdom revealed thru the church
.She saw the ascent
.Vatican 2
.Church history
.See the 6 steps at the end

Teaching-

I’ll add my past commentary below- and just touch on a few points here-
The queen of Sheba hears of the fame of Solomon- and decides to check it out for herself-
1Kings 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
Others already knew- and accessed the wisdom of Solomon- yet it took time before the Queen herself would come to benefit as well.

Often times leaders do not partake of the actual wisdom available thru other channels- because they are consumed with the job of leadership itself.

Many in modern ministry are focused on many things- finances- where will we get the resources to complete the mission.
While those things do play a roll- yet the most important thing is walking in the wisdom of God- and being willing to sit at the table and partake from the wisdom of God- deposited in others-

Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Prvb. 11:14

So when the queen herself sees all that Solomon had built- and how Solomon answered all the questions she had-
She replies-
1Kings 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.1Kings 10:7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.
Yes- because she too was a leader- and held a position of authority, she was able to see more- to learn more- than the others who had simply told her about Solomon.

We as the people of God have Christ in us- this wisdom residing in the church is known to others around us- they have heard about Christ and have a witness of God that is undeniable-

but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1st Cor. 1:24
Romans 1:20 [Full Chapter]
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

People of other faiths hear about God- they realize Christianity plays a unique role in the affairs of men.
Yes- they have heard of the wisdom of God in the church.

But until they come for themselves- until they too believe and receive the Spirit of God- they are simply looking in from the outside-
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

But if- and when they come- like the queen- they will realize they only heard a small part of the story-

Jesus himself talked about the queen
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
He actually commended her- because she was willing to make the trip to hear the wisdom of Solomon.
Yet in Jesus day- there were many who claimed religion- and the worship of God- as their main goal.

Yet- these same people bypassed Jesus-
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? John 10

They judged him as a false teacher- who did miracles by satan himself-
Matthew 12:24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Right in their midst- was one who had greater wisdom than Solomon- yet they simply did not access what was right in their midst.

There were some who began to question- to look at Jesus- and what he was doing- and realize the prejudices they had against him were wrong-
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
But for the most part- the religious leaders rejected him outright.

In our lives- we need to take time to listen to the stories of others- what they have to share.
The past few weeks I have had some good talks with some friends on the street.

As I simply listen- to their experiences with God- I often see how God has revealed himself to them- worked in their lives-
Yes- the wisdom of God often comes from vessels that we would never think to find it-
1 Corinthians 1:27
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

It takes humility to find out for yourself- to actually go and hear from the person who you might have only heard stories about.
The Queen heard of the fame of Solomon- many in society have heard of the fame of Jesus.

But until you come for yourself- you only have half of the story-
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matt. 11

PAST POSTS [ Past teaching I did that relates to today’s post- KINGS 10- verses below] Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/09/ccoutreach87-kings-10-text.html?m=0
http://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/p/protestant-reformation-luther-1766-lil_25.html

GALATIANS 4

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Gal. 4:26

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Galatians 4 videos-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HyckXRkq0I&t=28s https://www.dropbox.com/s/mg7o8084eja3f6n/1-10-17%20Galatians%204.mp4?dl=0
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg0WKeVvxnpZsToSd
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/1-10-17-galatians-4.zip

ON VIDEO-
.Huey and the shrimp
.The set time has come
.Probation over
.Sons- not servants
.Abba- Father
.Abraham’s 2 sons
.Cast out the bond woman
.This is an allegory
.Is Paul talking about the ceremonial law only?
.He says ‘Sinai’- where the law was given
.Children of the promise
.It’s not about Jew versus Muslim
.It’s about law versus grace
.Who is ‘our mother’ ?
.We are community
.A product of intimacy between a bridegroom and his bride [Christ and the church- the ‘mother of us all’- see?]

TEACHING- [Past posts below]

I just want to hit on a new theme Paul introduces in this chapter.
He uses the story of Abraham’s 2 sons- from 2 women- and says ‘this is an allegory’-
Galatians 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman
Galatians 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory:
Of what?
Paul sees the message of grace versus law- contained in the 2 kids- and their mothers.
As I have been teaching in this series- God promised a son to Abraham- and over time Abraham and Sarah agreed that he would have a child with the ‘slave’ woman- Hagar.
Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
Sarah and Abraham were getting old- the promise seemed to be taking too much time- so- Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar.
Genesis 16:15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
But- about 12 years later- God told Abraham that Sarah would have a son- the promised one-
Genesis 17:15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
Genesis 17:16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
She indeed gets pregnant- and has Isaac.
Ok- in Genesis 21 we read how Ishmael made fun of Isaac- and Isaac’s mom told Abraham to ‘cast out the bondwoman and her child’-
Genesis 21:8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
Genesis 21:9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
Genesis 21:10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
So Abraham sends Ishmael away with his mother Hagar.
Now Paul says this is a symbol of the sons born after the promise- Spirit-
And the sons who are ‘sons of the law’.
Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Galatians 4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Galatians 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Those under the law- the circumcision- they will always persecute the sons of the promise-
Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Galatians 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
That was what was indeed happening with the Galatians-
The Judiazers [those who kept the circumcision] – and ‘tried’ to keep the law- they were persecuting the Gentile believers- who were born of God.
Justified by faith.
And they were like Ishmael was- mocking the simple message of grace.
Paul says these 2 sons- and their moms- represent the 2 covenants- one from Sinai [law] and the covenant of grace- the ‘New Jerusalem’.
The community of God [the church].
I always found this example interesting- because Paul sees so much in this simple story.
Yet- these were things God showed him.
Paul urges the Galatians to separate from the influence of the Judiazers-
He says we are ‘sons of the free woman’ and they are children of the ‘bondwoman’-
Galatians 4:30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
If they go back under the law-
That will indeed lead to bondage- and we are not children of the ‘bondwoman’ but of ‘the free’-
Galatians 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

PAST POSTS [Past teaching I did that relates to today’s video ‘Gal. 4’- Verses below]

Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/galatians-4-text.html ]

GALATIANS [Links]

SUNDAY SERMON

Psalm 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

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Sunday Sermon Video’s-

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ON VIDEO- [Mass verses- Rock City Church]
.Abraham’s story
.The famous test
.Soren Kierkegaard https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard
.Offer your son
.The altar
.Issac a type of the Son
.Abraham- a type of God
.The mount of transfiguration
.Moses and Elijah- the law and the prophets
.How did Peter recognize them?
.Tabernacle of David

Psalm 116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

TEACHING-

I made the video on the way into Rock City Church- and only spoke on the verses from this Sunday’s mass.
I talked about most of the verses from the Mass [added below] but will only focus on one part now-
It was the story of Abraham and when he was tested by God to offer up Issac-
Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Genesis 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Most of us are familiar with the story- God made promises to Abraham that one day he would have a son- and thru that son the world would be blessed.

The apostle Paul teaches this in his letters- that the ultimate fulfillment would come thru Jesus.
After many years of waiting- the promised son Issac was born-
And then the test- God tells him to offer this son on the altar.

Why?

In Hebrews we read-
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Hebrews 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham was a type of God the father- Issac a type of Jesus the son.
We often see the symbol of the son in this story- that’s not hard.
But what about the father?

For Abraham to have fulfilled the symbol of God the Father- he had to come to a point in the journey where he would actually believe that if he offered Issac- that God would raise him from the dead-

Hebrews 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up,

And after many years- Abraham did indeed get to the point in his life where he trusted God- that in his mind he simply figured God would raise the boy from the dead, look what he said on the day of the test-
Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
He believed he would come back- after the offering- with the same boy that he offered.

The theme from the other verses spoke about Jesus the Son who died for us all.
Yet in the story of Abraham- we also see a Father- a Father who would seem to be wiling to do the unthinkable-

A father who loved his son- and yet- because of the greater purpose of God- would be willing to offer his son in obedience.
In the story of Abraham it was only a test- he passed the test.

In the story of God and his Son- it was real.
The Son did indeed die- and was raised back from the dead- so the initial promise made to Abraham would some day be fulfilled- all the nations of the earth are now blessed thru the seed of Abraham-

Jesus- the Christ

Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

PAST POSTS [These are my past teachings that relate- Verses below] [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/sunday-sermon-text_11.html ]

KINGS 9

1Kings 9:1 And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,1Kings 9:2 That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.

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Kings 9 videos-

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/7-11-17-kings-9.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/7-11-17-kings-9/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhlb6lkPtS3dHJRwH

https://www.dropbox.com/s/q7ifqhrk1ungpka/7-11-17%20Kings%209.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.God came again
.Your father was a good man
.Troy [the puppy]
.Don’t worship false gods
.Joseph and Pharaoh
.20 cities
.Solomon’s navy
.Sons- not slaves
.The 3 feasts
.Apostles- colony starters
.Britannia ruled the seas

TEACHING-
I’ll add my past teaching on this chapter below.
In this chapter God tells Solomon he heard his request [chapter 8] and God will establish Solomon’s throne- if he walks in integrity and uprightness- like his father David did.
1Kings 9:3 And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.1Kings 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:1Kings 9:5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
Huh?
Integrity of heart- uprightness?
King David?

Yes- the same king that I have taught on the past few months.
The king who had the famous adulterous affair with Bathsheba-
The king who then had her husband killed-
The king whose own son mounted a rebellion against him-
Yes- that king.

How could God himself call David a man of integrity?
In one of the Psalms David says- Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
The apostle will use this verse in his letter on Justification by faith-

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Romans
David- speaking by the Spirit- tapped into the understanding that in Christ- we are made righteous in the sight of God- by faith-

New International Version
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, Rom. 3:22

God makes promises that a son of David will sit on the throne- forever-

…10For the sake of David Your servant, Do not turn away the face of Your anointed. 11The LORD has sworn to David A truth from which He will not turnback: “Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne. 12″If your sons will keep My covenant And My testimony which I will teach them, Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”…
New American Standard Bible
Ps. 131

In Kings 9- God warns Solomon that if the king strays- and goes after other gods- then the throne will fail-
1Kings 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:1Kings 9:7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:

How many kings down the line will it take before they go after other gods?
Not many-

Because this will be the downfall of Solomon himself-
New International Version
As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. Kings 11:4

Yet the ultimate promise of a son never failing- would be fulfilled thru Jesus.
Yes- Jesus came from the lineage of King David- and the scripture teaches us that he is the Son who sits on the throne forever
Romans 1:3
Verse Concepts
concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
2 Timothy 2:8
Verse Concepts
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
Yes- the true fulfillment of a Son on the throne- comes thru Jesus Christ.
Solomon’s father was a man after God’s own heart-

1 Samuel 13:14King James Version (KJV)14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
Acts 13:22King James Version (KJV)22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

David was a king whom God would not count his sins against him.
A king who understood what it meant to be blessed- with the blessing of forgiveness- by God himself.

A King- who would some day have a Son-
One who came from his tribe- Judah-

New International Version
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Who would die on a cross- be buried in a tomb- and rise again the 3rd day.
Then- he would ascend into heaven- and be seated at the right hand of God.

So all people- regardless of their nationality-
Men and women boys and girls-
Could also experience the same blessedness that David spoke about in Psalm 32.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only…
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Rom. 4
The Son who would die for the sins of the world-
Yes- Jesus is the one- who kept the requirements laid down by God himself- for one who would reign forever-
Jesus was the son who never sinned-
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

And because he Took all of fallen humanities sins upon him-
We too can be blessed-
Just like David was-
Psalm 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Amen [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/kings-9-text.html ]

PAST POSTS- [Here are my past teachings that relate in some way to today’s post- KINGS 9- below

KINGS 8

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

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Kings 8 videos-
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https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/6-27-17-kings-8.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/6-27-17-kings-8/

ON VIDEO
.Solomon’s temple
.Henry’s testimony
.Seaside Heights- N.J.
.Boardwalk
.Snow- wind and fire
.White Castle
.See model of ark of covenant
.City of David
.Tabernacle of David and Moses reunited at temple [sign of what? See notes below]
.Hear the immigrants prayer too!
.One new man

Teaching- [Past posts below]

Solomon dedicates the temple- and brings the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle [of Moses] together.
This is the first time the ark of the covenant and the Tabernacle of Moses were reunited since the days of David.
When David retrieved the ark that was stolen many years before- he set it up at Zion- a hill in Jerusalem.
The ark being open under the tent of David was a type of grace- because the tabernacle of Moses- which represented law/Jew- was still standing in a place called Gibeon.
But David had the ark set up in an open tent- which was a violation of the law concerning the ark [The ark was a box that held the 10 commandments- not talking about Noah’s ark].
But David was a type of Christ- like Solomon.
So God permitted the ark to be open- because it was a symbol of the future coming of Jesus- who thru the Cross would give access to God apart from the law.
When Solomon brings the ark and the tabernacle of Moses together for the first time in many years-
It also pictures the new covenant- because the bible tells us that in Jesus there is one new man- both Jew and Gentile are reconciled thru the Cross-
Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
And that’s what Solomon pictured here- by bringing the ark and the tabernacle of Moses together again- showing that both Jew [represented by the tabernacle of Moses] and Gentile [represented by the tabernacle of David] are now reconciled in the temple- which is a picture of the Body of Christ- Jew and Gentile.

PAST POSTS- [Past teaching I did that relates to today’s post- KINGS 8- Verses below]
KINGS-
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/29/kings-2/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/12/kings-3/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/27/kings-4/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/04/kings-5/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/25/kings-6/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/06/17/kings-7/
I wrote this little book years ago- I talked about the tabernacle of David- which I taught on today’s post- https://ccoutreach87.com/the-great-building-of-god/

Here’s my entire study on 1st and 2nd Samuel-
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-samuel/
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-samuel-links-updated-3-17/
Here’s my study on Kings- https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/

1ST KINGS 8- This chapter shows the coming together of the Ark and Temple at Jerusalem. Solomon makes a great dedication to the Lord. He acknowledges the reality that God does not ‘dwell in temples made with hands’ but he asks the Lord to show preference to the temple and the prayers of the people. We really have a tremendous picture of Gods kingdom and rule thru these images. The temple centers the people on the reality of God dwelling in their midst. They worship him from Jerusalem and their king honors the father and leads the people in community wide intercession. There are even provisions made for ‘strangers’ who will become influenced by God’s reality, they will hear about Gods great story with his people [narrative!]. They will then come and also make intercession to him. I find it interesting that in the book of Acts [and 1st century church history] we read about the pagan converts to Judaism, the ‘God fearers’. Israel always maintained this aspect of their culture with God, they left the door open for converts. I also find it interesting that converts came! After all, the Jews did not practice a type of ‘soul winning’ that actively sought proselytes. It was simply the reality of God working with his people that drew others in. These last few years much has been said/written on the church and her mission. Is the gospel too small or too big? Sometimes in our efforts to ‘go deep’ we make it difficult for new converts to come into the church. In all of our efforts to present a gospel that affects society as a whole, the social aspects of our calling. The greater kingdom vision of Jesus as seen in ‘the gospels’ we also want to make sure that the simple initiation of new converts is made plain and easy to understand [in essence we need the Gospels AND the epistles both. A kingdom message is not complete without the reality of Atonement!] Solomon makes a great speech/prayer in this chapter, he worships God for standing true to his promise that he made to David his father. The people hold a seven day city wide celebration and go back to their homes. Even though the temple and it’s structure were not in Gods original plan [go read about David and Nathan] yet God will honor and use this limited system for a season. In the present day reformation of the church and her structures, we always need to keep in mind that we are still dealing with the people of God. Many of them worship God in ‘limited structures’ but yet they still worship God! So as we reform and grow in the coming decades, we also want to leave room for the prayer of Solomon ‘I know you cant be limited to a structure like a temple, but please honor the prayers and simple sacrifices of your people. They are doing it out of dedication to you’ [my paraphrase]. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/kings-8-text.html ]

Here are my past teachings about the ark which I taught on today’s post-
SAMUEL 6- The Philistines are reeling under the judgment of God. They call a meeting of their priests

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Sunday sermon

SUNDAY SERMON

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

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Sunday sermon videos

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ON VIDEO-

.The flood and baptism

.The boat

.Marriage and sex

.Self control in all things

.You can abuse a God ordained appetite [Food- gluttony]

.Biblical teaching on being single

.Just because the bible talks about sex- and condones it in marriage- does that mean it can never be overdone- even in marriage?

.Are there verses that say if you remain celibate- it shows greater dedication to God?

Revelation 14:4

These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb.

TEACHING- [Past posts below]

Today I talked about a few different verses from the churches- but the theme I wanted to focus on was the mystery of Christ and the church as seen as Christ and his bride.

There are many bible verses that talk about marriage- and yes- sex.

This was part of the theme from the Sunday services I spoke on.

Most of us know that marriage is a God ordained covenant- and that sex within the marriage covenant is pure-

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

We also read passages from the bible that teach us that some are called to be single- to abstain from marriage as a calling from God-

1Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

1Corinthians 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

1Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

So there is a balance-

We also know that there are God ordained desires- like eating food- that if taken to an extreme- become sinful desire’s- though they are God ordained-

Proverbs 23:21

For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

I tried to give this as an example about sex as well.

We live in a society that sees sex as a recreational event-

And as the church- we speak against sex outside of marriage.

But what about those that are married? Because sex is good and right and pure- should we‘abuse’ this right?

Can it be abused or overdone? Like eating food- it is a God given desire- yet- just because it is God given- too much of it[food] is considered sinful and a lack of self control.

I talked about this on the video- and tried to give the right balance.

Ok- the main point for today was the mystery of Christ and his bride- the church.

I used a favorite passage of mine on this-

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Christ has died for us- freeing us from the condemnation of the law- so we could be married to another- even to him who died for us- and rose again.

Our union with Christ frees us from the judgment of the law- but does not in any way mean we violate the law of God.

The law was simply a glimpse of the Holy character of God- and no man could become righteous by the law.

Yet- when Christ died for us- he freed us from it- and enabled us to be united with him in a true spiritual union- greater than that of natural marriage.

In this union- we are one with Jesus our bridegroom- and as one- we share in his divine nature-

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

This is why we do not break the Holy law of God- because we have become united to the Holy Son of God-

And now that the external law is written upon our hearts- we serve in newness of the Spirit- and this mystery is what natural marriage symbolizes-

Romans 7:6

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

But the heavenly reality is much greater than the earthly one- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/sunday-sermon-text.html ]

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,

GALATIANS 3

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1

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Galatians 3 videos-

https://www.dropbox.com/s/evk7t0ex9oc3rpw/1-3-17%20Galatians%203.mp4?dl=0
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhA-O_mb3Y8&t=20s
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/1-3-17-galatians-3.zip

ON VIDEO
.Abrahamic covenant
.Fulfilled thru Christ
.Law [covenant] came later
.1st promise stands
.Law revealed sin
.Faith in Christ justifies
.Began in Spirit [faith] don’t go back to law [works]
.Christ took the curse of the law on the Cross [tree]
.Law was tutor- to bring us to truth
.Jesus is the Truth
.No more need for the tutor
.Father of many nations
.Legal and actual justification
.Luther- Trent [16th century]
.Legal fiction?
.Mercy seat

TEACHING [Past posts below]

Paul makes the argument that God promised Abraham that he would bless [save- justify] the whole world thru one of his sons.

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Ultimately that Son was Jesus- who came down the line- from the offspring of Abraham-
Galatians 3:16
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Then Paul says –
The law [10 commandments and entire Old Covenant system] came 430 years after God gave Abraham this promise-
Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Paul says ‘the scripture foresaw that God would justify the heathen thru faith- preaching the gospel beforehand’-
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Meaning- if the Galatians were going to revert to the law [get circumcised and put themselves under the Old Covenant] thinking that would make them pleasing to God.
Then the first promise [to Abraham] wasn’t true-
Galatians 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
It’s a simple argument- saying God already promised that he would save the world someday- thru Jesus.
And if the law- which was given later- could also justify man- then basically God would have lied.
God is not a man that he should lie-
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Then the question is ‘why did God then give the law’?
Good question- and I taught it when we covered the book of Romans- and in this chapter Paul teaches it again.
The law was given till the seed [Son] would come to whom the promise was made-
Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
But after that Son [seed] has come- there is no longer any need for the law [covenant- which includes circumcision]-
Paul teaches that the law was our tutor- to bring us to the time of Christ- but after the true teacher has come- there is no more need for a tutor-
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law simply revealed to man his sin until the time of Christ-
Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law is holy- just and good-
But men are sinful.
Therefore the law could never justify us.
Its purpose has been fulfilled- to reveal to man that he is a sinner- unable to keep it-
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Then- when this purpose is fulfilled- we see the need for Christ- and the true purpose of the law is now accomplished-
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Simple.
The law cannot save us- was never intended to save us-
Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
And now that Jesus has come-
The only one who ever fulfilled all the law-
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
He himself saves us because he took all the transgressions that were held against man- and nailed them to his Cross-
Jesus took away the ‘handwriting of ordinances’ that was against us- and nailed them to his Cross-
Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Paul concludes that we are justified by faith- that Jesus ‘hung on a tree’ [the Cross] and became a curse for us-
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
He quotes Habakkuk showing that the just shall live by faith-
Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Galatians 3:11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
And the law is not faith- but the ‘man that does them- lives under them’-
Galatians 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
The quotes Paul uses in this chapter are from Deuteronomy- the ‘law’ and they show us the gospel itself-
Deuteronomy 21:22
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
Deuteronomy 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
He warns the gentile believers- if you go back to that system- you are ‘falling from grace’-
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
We are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ-
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Amen. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/09/galatians-3-text.html ]

PAST TEACHING I DID THAT RELATES [Verses below]

KINGS 7

Hebrews 8:5
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.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Kings 7 videos-

https://youtu.be/vV3VwRrY_0M
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/6-6-17-kings-7.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/6-6-17-kings-7/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhkyxtcAl4FEsk7Wv

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gqw5vqaa8wsicd8/6-6-17%20Kings%207.mp4?dl=0

Gary update- https://youtu.be/cKQlYzQFUfQ
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-C1

ON VIDEOS-
.Gary update
.Why am I still teaching Kings?
.Discipline to finish the job
.Many houses [Mansions]
.Solomon stuck with the pattern and built more than one
.Another Hiram
.More than enough
.Wisdom to build
.Don’t cut corners
.Free cigarettes!
.What day are the prophets speaking about?
.Wisdom from my homeless friend Albert

Zechariah 11:8
Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

PAST POSTS [These are my past teachings that relate in some way to this post KINGS 7-verses below]

KINGS-
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/29/kings-2/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/12/kings-3/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/27/kings-4/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/04/kings-5/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/25/kings-6/
Bible books I quoted from on today’s video- here are my complete studies on those books-
https://ccoutreach87.com/john-complete-links-added/
https://ccoutreach87.com/hebrews-updated-2015/
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/

(1055) 1ST KINGS 7- We have more details of what went into the building of the temple. The ‘foundation stones’ were large and costly. Remember, Solomon was said to have ‘largeness of heart’. In the New Testament the Apostles are called the foundation stones of Gods spiritual temple. Peter calls us living stones. Let’s do a little house cleaning; in all areas of church renewal/reformation, we need to be careful when handling the foundation stones. In some efforts to reform [Emergent] there is an attempt to return to the teachings of Jesus, as opposed to Paul. The problem with this effort is the historic church [and scripture!] teach us that Jesus appeared to Paul [Acts 9] and told him he would be a witness of the things that Jesus would reveal to him. So if the revelation/teaching from Paul on the atonement and the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, if these teachings are things that were shown to Paul from Jesus himself [which I believe they were] then to ignore them would be like removing the ‘foundation stones’ of the temple. These are ‘large stones’ [doctrines accepted across the broad stream of Christian churches; Catholic, Orthodox, Reformed, Radical Reformers, etc…] large stones that form the foundation of all Christian truth, C.S. Lewis’s ‘common hall’ if you will [though Lewis himself said some shaky stuff on the atonement]. I want to restate that we sometimes confuse the foundational doctrines of Christianity with the limited practices of Christianity that have developed over the centuries. We need to understand/embrace the ‘faith once delivered to the saints’ while at the same time being flexible in the various structures that Christians have developed over the centuries to express their faith. As we challenge ‘high church’ [liturgical] structures, we need to be careful that we are not also challenging the heart of the gospel as well. I have heard/read too many statements from certain reformers that are way too pluralistic in their expression of the gospel. Denials of the Cross being the key mechanism that God chose to use to redeem man [foundation stones!] Or the mistake of thinking that the Cross was simply a display of the injustices of man, a challenge to unjust governments oppressing men. While the apostle Peter does teach us that the Cross was a display/example left to us on how we should react to suffering and oppression, yet it wasn’t ONLY that. It was also a redemptive sacrifice made on the behalf of sinful men; ‘Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures’ [Corinthians]. Well, lets just keep in mind that as God’s ‘living temple’ we are being built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets [Ephesians] Jesus himself being the ‘chief corner stone’, be careful when messing with the stones! [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/kings-7-text.html ]

Sunday sermon

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Made these the other day-

8-25-22 Teaching https://youtu.be/u9f78VVLt1Y

https://business.facebook.com/ccoutreach1/videos/432388838853805/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMkUri387agWelSJ4m

8-24-22 Teaching- Homeless https://youtu.be/B8XYEKqkeJg

https://fb.watch/f6me-aLHSR/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMkUnBAWiHFssXWMK6

Sunday sermon videos-
https://youtu.be/YNoFLi7YlBA
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMjAtKyGqvd_cwMjNn
https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10205991887154471/

ON VIDEO
.Taught from the Mass verses for this date- and Ezra 6
.God’s purpose for discipline [Hebrews]
.Hebrews in context
.Kingsville Fire Department- a good Department
.Messianic prophecies
.Why was Hebrews not signed? [My view]
.Jesus the final sacrifice
.All things new
.Who was the 1st Gentile convert recorded in scripture?
.He was in Acts 8- not 10
.How does Psalm 40 and Hebrews 10 fit?
.Another car story- it’s not the ‘bad’ side of town by the way
.The dynamics of hearing God- just a few examples
.Review of Ezra
.God’s favor in the midst of opposition
.Some history-
A-Alexander the Great
B-Hellenization
C-Septuagint
.Why was the New Testament written in Greek?
.Don’t just start the mission Gad has given you- but finish the job
.What does it mean when the bible says ‘God rested- and was refreshed’?
.The work of God- when finished- will be self sustaining [I’m not espousing Deism by the way]

Exodus 31:17
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

NOTE- Sometimes I attend a local church and after make the video- often times the theme fits in. On this Sunday I made the video first- and then attended Rock City Church. They had a guest speaker- the first/main verse he spoke on was-

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Which fit into one of my main themes on the video- chastisement- God’s discipline.
If I don’t get a chance to write a new section for this post- I at least wanted to mention this.

PAST POSTS [These are links and parts of my past teachings that relate in some way to today’s post- verses and other videos at the bottom of this post]

https://ccoutreach87.com/acts-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/romans-links-1-2019/
https://ccoutreach87.com/galatians-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/hebrews-links-updated-10-2018/

ACTS 8 [News links at bottom]
https://youtu.be/LNUN77mE05M Acts 8
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/4-6-17-acts-8.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/4-6-17-acts-8/
Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
ON VIDEO-
.Local- federal court
.What was the persecution?
.Saul makes arrests
.Philip works miracles
.Showdown with a witch
.Simony [And Simony]
.Santeria
.Occult arts
.Don’t put God in a box
.1 God- 3 Persons
.Spellbound
.Did Simon levitate?
. Did peter end the flight?
.Magic?
.Transported by the Spirit
.Brother Roloff roloff.org/

Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/sunday-sermon-text_28.html

KINGS 6 [Zech 9-10]

1Kings 6:12 Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Recent sites-

Group https://ccoutreach87.locals.com/

Unifyd https://unifyd.com/profile/ccoutreach87/

Luup- ccoutreach87 https://www.luuponline.com/Ccoutreach87

NBOM https://www.facebook.com/groups/619075529520842

Ccoutreach87- blogger https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/

Pepul- ccoutreach87 https://www.pepul.com/app/invite [India]

Kings 6 videos-
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/5-16-17-kings-6-zech-9-10.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/5-16-17-kings-6-zech-9-10/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhX4iL2CMKnOF2on1

https://www.dropbox.com/s/syprcvcwi99kzya/5-16-17%20Kings%206%20%5BZech.9-10%5D.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.Ryan’s hope
.Temple built
.Stones prepared away from the temple site
.Why?
.A type of grace- no sound of mans works [hammer- stone prep.]an the temple site
.It had a stairway- and 3 levels
.Why? [sorry- have to watch video]
.No stone seen either- covered with cedar on inside
.Why?
.To God be all the glory [You don’t exalt the stones- ministers- they are simply stones that represent Christ]
.Song of Moses
.Lives of quiet desperation?
.Homer- Troy- Achilles

PAST POSTS- [ My past teachings that relate to this post-Verses below]

https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/19/thursday-5-18-17/
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-corinthians/
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/
KINGS-
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/29/kings-2/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/12/kings-3/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/27/kings-4/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/05/04/kings-5/

(1054) 1st KINGS 6 ‘CONCERNING THIS HOUSE WHICH THOU ART IN BUILDING, IF THOU WILT WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND EXECUTE MY JUDGMENTS, AND KEEP ALL MY COMMANDMENTS TO WALK IN THEM; THEN WILL I PERORM MY WORD WITH THEE, WHICH I SPAKE UNTO DAVID THY FATHER’ [verse 12] Part of the promise of God to David was he would set up a son, from his natural heritage, that would take an everlasting throne. God would be faithful to his part of the bargain as long as his son walked in obedience, ultimately these promises would be fulfilled thru Christ. We can also apply them to our lives as well, we are all ‘building a house’ in a sense. Jesus said those who heard his words and did them were like those building on a sure foundation, those who ‘heard only’ were building on sand. I find it interesting that many of us seem to think that gathering one day a week to ‘hear words’ is what God requires, in a sense we have become professional hearers! [and speakers] As you relate to the house you are building, seek the Lord for wisdom and insight into how you should build. God gave Moses specific directions in the building of the tabernacle; these are the same blueprints Solomon used, only on a larger scale. Solomon did not have to get ‘another blueprint’ he simply needed to be faithful to what the Lord already revealed. Recently in the ‘church world’ we had the passing of two good men; Avery Dulles and John Neuhouse [spelling?] If I remember right, Avery Dulles said that he was no innovator, he would not be known for his new ideas, but he was just a faithful servant in Christ’s church. I liked that, we too often want to find ‘new blueprints’ sometimes the Lord is simply looking for those who will hear and obey. [Both Avery and John were Catholic’s involved in the evangelical/catholic alliance]
[parts]
Been doing some reading on church history/philosophy, it’s interesting to see the role that theology/Christianity played in the universities. Theology is referred to as ‘the queen of the sciences’ and philosophy was her ‘handmaid’. They saw the root of all learning as originating with the study ‘of God’. Many modern universities have dropped the term ‘theology’ and call it ‘the study of religion’. The study of religion is really the study of how man relates to God, his view of God; this would fit under anthropology/sociology, not under theology. Modern learning has lost the importance of the study of God and the role it plays in all the other sciences. The classic work of Homer [8th century BC] called the Iliad, has Achilles debating whether or not he should ‘stay and fight along the city of the Trojans’ and attain the legacy of a warrior; or to go ‘back to my homeland and live a long life’. He chooses to fight and lay his life on the line. The themes of the classics [courage, heroism, etc.] are biblical themes, even if God is not directly mentioned. The point being to try and exclude God from learning is silly, you can’t do it. Around the 17-18th century you had the philosophy of Existentialism rise up, as an ‘ism’ it really is a misnomer; ‘ism’ is a suffix that you add to the end of a word that makes it a system- ‘humanism’ ‘secularism’ etc. but existentialism is a word that means ‘anti-system’. Nevertheless the person who popularized this belief was a Christian, Soren Kierkegaard. The system he was rebelling against was the dead institutionalism of the Danish church, he felt that Christianity devolved into dead orthodoxy and lost all of its passion for true living and experiencing God. Nietzsche would pick up on this philosophy and apply it to atheism, and in the 20th century men like Albert Camou and John Paul Sartre would also embrace it from an atheistic worldview. They would say things like ‘man is a useless passion’ or write books titled ‘Nausea’ summing up the human condition. Though the 19th century atheistic humanists tried to give value and exalt the state of man, in their rejection of God and Christianity they were taking away the foundation for mans value. If you tell society that they arrived on the scene by some cosmic accident of evolution, and when you die you dissipate into nothingness, then how do you at the same time glory in his natural abilities to reach some point of Utopia? As the late Frances Schaeffer said ‘they were philosophers who had both feet planted firmly in mid air’. The point being when you neglect the reality and role that God and Christianity play in every sphere of life, you are then removing the foundation that these spheres were built on, true science and learning derive their basis from God. The greatest scientific minds of the past were either Christians or Deists, they were too smart to try and reject the reality of an eternal being.
[parts]
AX HEADS THAT FLOAT!- 2ND KINGS 6:1-7 The prophets tell Elisha that their current ‘dwelling place’ is too small, they request permission to go to the Jordan and build a new dwelling. Jordan in scripture represents more than just a river that John baptized people in. In the history of Israel Jordan has been a type of crossing over from a previous identity and becoming mature and responsible as Gods people. It was a cutting off from the old land and economy and things they trusted, and coming into a new kingdom, one ruled by God. This also played a role in Johns baptism, Israel knew what Jordan meant; John was telling them to leave their old world mindsets and step into a new kingdom. So the prophets go and build a new place by the Jordan. One of the brothers dropped an ax head into the water and panics ‘Oh no, I lost the ax head, it was borrowed’. Elisha brakes off a stick and throws it into the water and the head floats, King James say ‘it swam’. So the brother got the ax head back. How do we relate stories like this and make them applicable to our day? I know, let’s say you were working at a building site and dropped the power saw in the water, and… Well not really. The bible has lots of ‘unorthodox’ stuff in it. I mean Paul sent handkerchiefs to sick people and they were healed. Jesus turns water into wine. Ax heads float. Our Christian experience very much entails supernatural stuff. The other side of the coin is ‘the fake stuff’. Recently the author Dan Brown released another book on supernatural stuff, he wrote the previous best seller ‘The DaVinci code’. These books appeal to mans natural desire for supernatural stuff. The problem with Dan brown is he mixes all types of fairy tale stories in with some valid points. The average reader can’t really tell the difference. I have a book here in my study titled ‘the lost books of the bible’. I bought it years ago for a few dollars at half price books. It really is a treasure; I mean it does have great books from antiquity in it, to get it for a few dollars was a great deal. Now, some of the books were legitimate contenders to have possibly made it into the bible. The epistle of Barnabus, the Didache, possibly the Shepherd of Hermes. There were a few books that the early church debated about including in the canon. But you also had a plethora of obviously fake stuff. The Gnostic writings were well known as cheap imitations of the real thing. These writings are from the late 2nd, 3rd centuries. No legitimate argument was ever made about these writings; all Christians rejected them as being authoritative. But the Dan Brown stories have people thinking that these writings were at one time up for possible inclusion into the canon, that’s just not so. How do we tell the difference between stuff that’s historically reliable and stuff that isn’t? In the field of historiography [looking at ancient writings and weighing their legitimacy] you have scholars who have spent years doing this sort of thing. You look at the actual recording of the events, were they written down fairly closely to the event? Did the authors know the people they were writing about, were they eyewitnesses? How many manuscripts are left? Were they widely accepted? There are real ways to determine stuff like this, the bible stands head and shoulders above all other ancient writings. The Greek New Testament has over 5 thousand original manuscripts. The only other work that comes close is Homer’s Iliad, it has a little over 6oo. Most others have around 10-20. If you include the Latin versions [and other languages besides Greek] you have around 25 thousand copies. The evidence is overwhelming. Now this does not speak to the inspiration of scripture, but it shows us that the bible itself is a highly reliable document when measured by historical standards. What about the Gnostic wrings? They do not stand the test of time in this way. The point being Dan Brown might have piqued the interest of many novice readers of history, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just Christians should be able to give a defense of their faith and appeal to a broad range of actual proofs that defend their position. Hey, if you want interesting stories, come ‘back to the bible’ it has ax heads that can swim for heaven’s sake! [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/kings-6-text.html ]

[parts]

GALATIANS 2

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Galatians 2 videos-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld07s54F3M4&t=1s
https://www.dropbox.com/s/51oq3yxf26meyi3/12-27-16%20Galatians%202.mp4?dl=0
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhGBeGlLV_fJjxjdV
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/12-27-16-galatians-2.zip

ON VIDEO-
.What Jerusalem visit was it?
.Did Peter quote Paul in Acts 15?
.Hearing and believing justifies
.Paul rebukes Peter
.God chose us
.The faith itself is a gift
.Justin Martyr
.Legalism
.Law versus grace
.God rested the 7th day
.The ‘Way’
.Catholics and Protestants
.Great Schism- 1054 ad
.Reformation- 16th century
.We all have ‘traditions’

TEACHING [Past posts below]
As Paul makes the argument that ‘his gospel’ is the true message of grace-
He recounts a story about Peter.
One time Peter visited the gentile Christians of Antioch [the region] and when Peter was with them he ate and fellowshipped with them-
Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Galatians 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Galatians 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Then Paul says when some from ‘James’ came down- he separated himself from the gentiles- and started going back to the old ways of the law [The Jews saw the gentiles as unclean].
Paul says he withstood Peter- to his face- and said this-
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Ok- it looks like Peter learned a lesson this day.
The same lesson God himself showed him in Acts chapter 10-
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
Now- we read about a visit Paul made to Jerusalem- ’14 years’ after the encounter he mentioned in chapter 1 [of Galatians]-
Galatians 2:1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.
Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
I don’t want to get too much into the weeds here- but bible scholars have different views on the visit to Jerusalem mentioned in this chapter.
Some think this is talking about a visit we read about in Acts 11- others think he is speaking about the acts 15 council.
On the video I talk about the different reasons why this is so- but it really makes no difference-
The main point Paul is making is the fact that the leadership of the Jerusalem church knew he was preaching grace to the gentiles- and they were ok with that.
He spends a lot of time in chapters 1 and 2 defending himself- and talking about his interaction with the leaders of the church at Jerusalem.
The reason he is doing this is because the Judiazers [the believing Pharisees out of Jerusalem] were going around behind Paul’s back and telling his converts that Paul was teaching in rebellion of the ‘main church’ at Jerusalem.
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
He in fact was not.
At the end of the chapter we have another clear argument for why people are indeed justified by faith in Jesus- and not by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Galatians 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I mention- quote a lot on today’s video [Galatians 2]-
I’ll try and add some of my past teaching on the key chapters [Acts 10- etc.]
Because they fit In with the whole story of what’s going on-
The New Testament is to be read in context.
When we read thru the whole bible- it helps us see the bigger picture.
One note on why I think it might be possible that the visit talked about in this chapter might not be the Acts 15 council-
When Paul recounts his rebuke to Peter – these are the same words Peter uses when defending Paul at the Jerusalem council-
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Sort of like Peter remembered the earlier rebuke by Paul- and it stuck with him.
Another reason it might be the earlier meeting- is Paul says the only ordinance James gave them- was to remember the poor-
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Yet- in the famous Acts 15 meeting- there were actually 4 things James and the leaders told them- and in the Acts 15 meeting- it leaves out the part about taking care of the poor-
Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Either way- the main message is the same.
That the gentile believers did not have to get circumcised and come under the law in order to be saved-
In the words of Paul himself- this would make the death of Christ ‘vain’-
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

8-21-22 Who is the Jester? [This happened the other day- posted few videos but today it went on all posts]

https://fb.watch/f2CKrMeVm4/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMkUiGIWay2EpjpANq

Note- Why did Counter Social start up now? Why would a hacker start a so called ‘right wing’ site at this time? More than likely the Jester is well known by the U.S. govt.- he has targeted countries that the U.S. govt. wants to target. He more than likely works with the FBI and CIA [though they don’t want you to know]. Counter Social might simply be a project to entrap people who speak out against the U.S. govt- as they have been monitoring many so called freedom of speech sites the last few years. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/galatians-2-text.html ]

SUNDAY SERMON

Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

8-18-22 Homeless friends https://youtu.be/y4VaB1LgB0E

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMkUelBrDBz4hNibxj [Made Thursday]

Sunday sermon videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMgRDXJSgwCV4uxqDs

https://www.dropbox.com/s/60tylhegp7occcu/2-4-18%20Sunday%20sermon.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-

.The verses from CCCF- Church Unlimited- Mass

.Jesus’ prayer for us

.John and Jesus in the prophecy of Malachi

.The forerunner and the messenger- of the covenant

.He will cleanse the sons of Levi [a type of the law]

.And Judah will give praise [Jesus the priest from Judah- a type of the New covenant]

.He became man

.So he might die

.The mouth of 2 witnesses in Luke 2

.A prophecy for Mary as well

Teaching- [Past posts below]

Today was a little different- I was helping my daughter run an errand- and we stopped in the middle and made the teaching video.

It was a good view- right off C.C. bay.

I did manage to review the Catholic verses for this Sunday- and also shared some from Church Unlimited as well as cccf [Pastor Don].

If we were to take all the verses from these 3 services and tied them in to a common theme-

I guess it would be about Jesus- and the messenger of the covenant.-

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Both Church Unlimited and CCCF spoke on the prayer of Jesus in John 17-

That we would be one- a unified people- a unified church-

John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that� they may be one, even as we are one:

From the Mass we see the prophecy of Malachi-

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Malachi 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

It speaks of both John the Baptist- and Jesus.

Malachi tells us that Jesus will purge the sons of Levi so they will be able to bring a true offering to God.

Levi represents the priests of the law- which could never bring in true righteousness.

Jesus- the messenger of the covenant- will bring it in thru his death on the cross.

The passage from Hebrews [Mass verse] shows us how this will be done-

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Hebrews 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Hebrews 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus took upon himself human flesh- he did not come as a angel- a spirit- but as a man.

He did this so he could die and pay the penalty for our sins.

He can also identify with us- because he too suffered the temptations that we experience- yet he never sinned-

Hebrews 4:15

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Making him the sinless one who died for us.

The passage from Luke’s gospel spoke of 2 witnesses of Jesus when his mother brought him to the temple to dedicate him to God-

Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

Luke 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Luke 2:33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Luke 2:35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

Luke 2:37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Luke 2:38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

We see both a man [Simeon]- and a woman [Anna]- prophesy that Jesus is the salvation to come.

The bible tells us in the mouth of 2 or more witnesses every word shall be established- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/sunday-sermon-text_21.html ]

KINGS 4 [Zech.3-4]

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Kings 4 videos-
https://youtu.be/OLW-5PVlzV8
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/4-18-17-kings-4-zech3-4.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/4-18-17-kings-4-zech3-4/

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMghFG0UA3cWjxO2gE

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rk6n2skefuy3ea3/4-18-17%20Kings%204%20%5BZech3-4%5D.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO- [Good view of Lexington and bay front]
.Kansas coming
.12 officers [12 apostles]
.Priests united
.Why minor prophets?
.Change of raiment
.Clean turban [priests hat]
.Kingdom and church
.Pattern of restoration
.Bowl of oil- 2 olive trees
.2 witnesses
.Foundation and Head stone
. ‘Grace- Grace’
.Passion of the Christ
.Leadership stuff
.You can believe- today

This day I spoke on Kings 4 and Zech 3-4.
I’ll add my past teaching on Kings below and make a few comments on Zechariah.
In chapters 3-4 we see a vision- Joshua the priest is standing before God and is dirty- satan is there to resist him-
Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
God rebukes satan and puts a clean turban [Priestly hat] on the priests head- and a change of raiment-
Zechariah 3:2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zechariah 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
Zechariah 3:5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre [Turban] upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
God is preparing Joshua by cleansing him- so he can fulfill his priestly duty and the rebuilding of the temple can take place.
Zerubbabel the governor is also called for this work.
In chapter 4 Zechariah sees another vision-
Zechariah 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
Zechariah 4:2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
Zechariah 4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
The vision is somewhat complicated-
I mean you have a candlestick- a bowl -these 2 trees.
Whats it all about?
Then the angel tells Zechariah this is a word for Zerubbabel-
Zechariah 4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
Zechariah 4:5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Huh?
All of that- for this?
In essence God is telling him the entire work of the rebuilding of the temple- depends upon the Holy Spirit [The bowl contains the oil- for everything else- the function of the lamps- the oil for the olive trees- it’s a vision about the Spirit covering the entire work].
He is also told that he will face opposition [mountain] but before him it will become flat ground-
Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Zerubbabel’s hands have ‘laid the foundation and his hands will finish it’-
Zechariah 4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
The work God called him to- will indeed get finished.
The foundation- and the headstone [capstone] represent Jesus and his spiritual temple- the church-
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
Jesus is the foundation and he is also the head of the church-
Ephesians 1:22 [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/kings-4-text.html ]

SUNDAY SERMON

John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Sunday Sermon videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg1_6ulPeVEYNLbAy

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ok99cciktacbccq/1-28-18%20Sunday%20sermon-%20it%20is%20finished.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO [filmed walking out of the Corpus Christi Cathedral- good view of downtown C.C.]
.Lord’s Supper [Eucharist means thanksgiving]
.Church history
.Ordinances/Sacraments
.Council of Trent
.The Cross- The Crucifix
.Iconoclast controversy
.The memorial of his death
.The gospel
.It is finished
.Apocrypha
.Origen [church father]
.Septuagint
.Jerome
.Latin Vulgate

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

TEACHING [Past posts below]
This Sunday I did not plan to teach- my daughter had the flu and I was just going to go to church and take a rest.
I didn’t get a chance to review any verses- but had the thought of speaking about communion.

I wound up going to the Catholic Mass and of course received communion [I never rejected my Catholic upbringing- so I am able to partake].

The Mass I attended was the Spanish Mass- so I really have no idea what the verses would be for this Sunday.
I spoke briefly on the ordinance/sacrament of Communion [Eucharist] and how Jesus gave us this ordinance- for us to remember his death-

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Why?
The bible speaks of the love of God shown toward us- because Christ died for us-
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Christians have debated over the remembrance of the death of Jesus- about how the various Crosses/Crucifixes should depict Christ-
I talked about this on the video.

Some say we should focus on the Resurrection of Christ- which of course is true.
But Jesus never gave us a specific ordinance to remember the Resurrection.
We of course do celebrate it once a year as Christians- but there is no specific ordinance like the Communion table-
1 Corinthians 11:24
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: THIS DO in remembrance of me.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

The death of Jesus shows the Love that God has towards us- there are many verses that connect the fact that Christ died for us- proving he loved us-

The most famous verse of all- which just happened to be one of the chapters I spoke about today- is-
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The love of God is displayed because he gave his son.

I also talked about the history of this sacrament- and will try and add the past teachings I did on this below.
But for this day- we remember that Christ died for us-
And in so doing- he showed us how much he loved us-

John 15:13 [Full Chapter]
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/08/sunday-sermon-text_14.html ]

PAST POSTS [Past teaching that relates to this post- Verses below]

GALATIANS 1

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

NBOM https://www.facebook.com/groups/619075529520842 [All invited to join and post]

Galatians 1 videos-

https://www.dropbox.com/s/840brei12jiowq2/12-20-16%20Galatians%201.mp4?dl=0

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhE_9lOKof6BzaK_A

https://youtu.be/Bk04o7nBlsE

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/12-20-16-galatians-1.zip

ON VIDEO-
.Justification by faith
.Luther
.Paul’s controversy
.Damascus road
.Abraham’s faith
.The Jerusalem council
.Judiazers
.The church at Antioch
.Legalism
.God raised Jesus from the dead
.Grace and Peace
.There is no other gospel
.It’s not about the preacher
.The law cannot justify you
.Father to all who believe
.The dead don’t sin
.Antinomianism
.The message of the Cross

TEACHING- [Past links- verses below]
I wrote a brief commentary on this book years ago [pasted below] and will do a little background before we get to the chapter.
Paul the apostle was the missionary to the gentiles- we see his ministry told in the book of Acts.
Paul was converted to Christ on the famous Damascus road- spoken about in Acts 9.
His background was a religious teacher of the Old Testament [Pharisee] and excelled above many in this field.
After his conversion he ‘saw’ all the great truths of grace- that were contained in the Old Testament- and was able to unfold them in his letters [most of the New Testament] in a way that the other apostles did not seem to do.
As he preached to the gentiles- he showed them how being justified [saved] was not by the works of the law- but by faith in Jesus.
Some Pharisees who also believed- they came to Paul’s churches and told them that Paul was wrong- that they need to get circumcised- and come under the law- in order to be saved.
Paul disagreed with them- and in Acts chapter 15 we read about the debate.
The leaders at the Jerusalem church held a council- and agreed- that the gentile believers did not have to get circumcised and come under the law- but having faith in Jesus was enough.
Over time- some of the Pharisees who believed- still went behind Paul’s back- and taught the gentile believers that they should get circumcised- and come under the law.
They were called the Judiazers.
This letter [Galatians] was written to these believers- to warn them- that the true gospel was what he had previously taught them- and what they believed at first.
Paul refutes the false teaching that they need to become circumcised- and teaches them if they do go back under the law- they have ‘fallen from grace’.
Ok- chapter 1
Paul reasserts that his calling came from God- and God alone.
That the things that were shown to him about grace- came as a direct revelation from Jesus himself.
That he did not ‘get permission’ from the Jerusalem leaders- or anyone else- but God himself called him for this mission.
He tells the believers that the power is in the gospel message itself.
And if anyone- man- or angel- or even himself- preaches something else [another gospel] that he should be ‘accursed’.
The simple reality that Jesus died- and rose again- is where our justification comes from- it does not come from the law.
Paul recounts his early experience after being converted- and tells them that his message came directly from Christ.
God had opened up to him the knowledge he had as a Pharisees who studied the Old testament- and began to reveal to Paul how the message of grace was there all along.
He just didn’t ‘see it’ until he too believed in Christ.
The message of grace- to Paul- is not simply one truth among many.
But it is the heart of the gospel- we will read later on ‘if there was a law given- that could have given life- then Christ died in vain’.
Strong words indeed- and as we ‘open’ the letter over the next few weeks- we will see why he was so tough on ‘his’ churches. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.blogspot.com/2022/08/galatians-1-text.html ]

KINGS 3 [Wisdom]

13 For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14 He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
Ps. 147

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Kings 3 video-

https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/4-4-17-kings-3-wisdom.zip
https://ccoutreach87.com/4-4-17-kings-3-wisdom/
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhWzgB6yUPGO_Nx9C

https://www.dropbox.com/s/57mr64k2d77ug0r/4-4-17%20Kings%203%20%5BWisdom%5D.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.Take a walk on the ‘wild’ side
.Mary- Agnes- Laredo streets
.Car at the shop
.Rhema word
.True legacy
.Imprecatory Psalms
.Wisdom works well
.Mother Theresa
.Apostles

1Kings 3:28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

Just A few notes- I’ll add my past commentary on this chapter below.
The scenery for this video is not as ‘nice’ as some of the others.
I’m trying to do my ‘series’ teaching by the waterfront.
But this day I had to drop the car off at my mechanic on Agnes [brakes- rotors were bad].
And I have been having problems with my laptops-
So- I thought I would take a day off from teaching- but wasn’t sure.
So I taught walking down Agnes/Laredo streets.
The West side of Corpus.
I even mentioned how I like these walks because I run into my friends.
Sure enough- if you watch the video- that happened.
One more note.
Sunday I taught the verses from Church Unlimited- Pastor Bil spoke on Jehoshaphat the king from Chronicles.
The next day my friend Charlie also brought up Joel chapter 3- which speaks of the valley of Jehoshaphat.
There was sort of a theme- both from the Churches [Mass- C.U.] as well as my friends on the street.
I find it interesting how the ‘un-planned’ teachings seem to ‘allow’ the Spirit of the Lord to connect things.
Ok- thats it for now-
God bless.

ONE MORE NOTE-
In the past I used to do my own brakes- but Oscar the mechanic always gives me a great deal.
I had the rotors and front brake pads changed on both sides [front]- the parts were 80.
It’s about a 3-4 hour job- The labor was also 80- a regular shop would have charged around 350- 500 for this job.
That’s why I take the car to Oscar.
For my local friends- his shop is on the corner of Port and Ayers streets.

PAST POSTS [These are my past teachings that relate with this post- Kings 3]

https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/08/battle-is-the-lords/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/10/the-fellowship/
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/

KINGS-
https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-kings/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/03/29/kings-2/

(1050)1st KINGS 3:1-15 this is a prophetic chapter, Solomon goes to Gibeon to offer on ‘the great altar’. What is the great altar? There is a remote verse [somewhere in the Old Testament- I didn’t look it up] that says Moses tabernacle is located at Gibeon. How it got there we don’t know, but the picture is important. The tabernacle of Moses represents the Old Covenant [law], during David’s rule the Ark of the covenant that was stolen, David retrieves it and places it at Jerusalem [the tent that he puts it under is called the Tabernacle of David- a type of the new covenant people who have free access to God, no more veil!] So Solomon more than likely sacrificed at Gibeon [picturing the Old Covenant] and then has the famous dream where God appears to him and he asks for wisdom. This ‘dream’ can be a type of death. Jesus referred to death as ‘sleeping’ Paul too. So after ‘the dream’ [death] he goes to Jerusalem and is at the place of the Ark [a type of Gods presence, it was not in Moses tabernacle, but under the tent that David set up] and eventually the remnants of Moses tabernacle [at Gibeon] will be joined to the Ark [at Jerusalem] and there will be ‘one new temple’ [Ephesians speaks of the 2 becoming one in Christ, both Jew and Gentile]. So under Solomon’s rule [a type of Christ] we have the joining of the Old Covenant people of God along with the Gentile church. Jesus did not forsake his ‘people that he foreknew’ [Romans] but thru his death he took away the ‘law of commandments contained in ordinances and nailed them to his Cross’ [Colossians, Ephesians] thus removing the enmity and making in himself ‘one new man’. Solomon was definitely prophetic! [see 2nd Samuel study, chapter 7- entry 923] [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/08/ccoutreach87-kings-3-text.html ]

(1051) 1st KINGS 3: 16-28 Now to the famous story. Two women [harlots] come to Solomon with a problem. They both had children within a few days of each other, and one night one of the babies died.

SUNDAY SERMON

Jeremiah 17:12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

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ON VIDEO- [Taught on the verses from Church Unlimited and the Mass]

.The image/thought before the message

.The temptation

.The resistance

.Seated WITH Him

.Jesus teaching on leadership

.True kingdom building

.Jesus and Nicodemus have a talk

.Born from above

.John’s gospel unique- more 1 on 1 dialogue than the synoptic gospels

.James advice to teachers

.Paul- the time is short

.Why did Judas betray Jesus?

.MLK Jr.- John and Bobby too

.The cost of discipleship

.Troy

Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

Psalm 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. Daniel 3

Teaching-

This Sunday I went to Church Unlimited and also reviewed the verses from this day’s Mass.

From the Mass we read-

Psalm 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

Psalm 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

This came from the Psalm for this Sunday.

From the gospel we read-

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Mark 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Mark 1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

The calling of 4 of the apostles- they left their business [Fishermen]- which in the region of Galilee was one of the best jobs you could have.

Yet- they had to leave their worldly pursuits behind- if they wanted to follow Jesus.

From Church Unlimited we read of the temptation of Jesus by satan-

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Part of the temptation was to gain notoriety and success- by being disobedient to the plan of God.

I also quoted a verse on video- which my daughter found while we were talking-

Jeremiah 17:12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

This scripture speaks of a ‘place’- or position that was destined for us- from the start.

But it does seem strange in a way ‘a glorious high throne’? [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/08/sunday-sermon.html ]

KINGS 2

Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

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1Kings 2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;
1Kings 2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

ON VIDEO-
.Ferris Wheel
.Wait- = Love
.Mysterious ways?
.Ruthless
.Solomon paranoid?
.Joab in terror!
.He runs to the altar
.Death penalty or life without parole- your choice
.The day you leave the city- you die
.He left- and died
.See the Lexington

I’ll comment briefly on the chapter- and add my past teaching below.
Solomon ascends to the throne of his father David- and is ‘ruthless’ in his purging of those who wronged his father.
David himself gave him the orders-
1Kings 2:5 Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
1Kings 2:6 Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.
1Kings 2:8 And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.
1Kings 2:9 Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.
Solomon banishes Abiathar- the priest who joined in the rebellion with Adonijah-
1Kings 2:26 And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
1Kings 2:27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
He tells Shimei [the man who also wronged David] ‘go- live in Jerusalem- and never leave’.
He lives 3 years in Jerusalem- and one day wanders out to get his slaves that ran away.
Solomon puts him to death for breaking the vow-
1Kings 2:42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
1Kings 2:43 Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?
1Kings 2:44 The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
1Kings 2:45 And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.
1Kings 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
Joab [who also was unfaithful to King David at times] hears of the brutal purging of the new King-
The King that Joab himself tried to prevent from taking the throne of his father.
And Joab runs to the Tent of meeting [the holy place- a type of sanctuary]-
And grabs hold of the horns of the altar-
1Kings 2:29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
This was indeed an act that you would do- if you feared for your life.
In the Old Testament you had cities of refuge- places you could flee to- if you were guilty of manslaughter [meaning you accidentally killed someone].
But Joab killed 2 men previously- and it was not accidental-
1Kings 2:32 And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

Nevertheless he thinks this act of pleading for his life- might spare him anyway.
No such luck.
Solomon sends the man who replaces Joab- and tells him to go execute Joab-
1Kings 2:29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
1Kings 2:30 And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.
Joab says ‘I’ll will not come out [of the Tent of meeting] and if you have to do it- then kill me here’.
Now- Benaiah is hesitant- after all- it is in the sanctuary of God.
He goes and tells Solomon what Joab said- maybe Solomon will banish him too- like Abiathar?
Solomon replies ‘go ahead- let the words Joab spoke come to pass’-
1Kings 2:31 And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.
And Benaiah executes Joab.
Yes- pretty rough ‘1st day on the job’ so to speak.
I also mentioned a verse from Isaiah the prophet- and Corinthians-
Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
As I read it the other day- I saw it a bit differently this time.
Paul the apostle quotes this verse to the church at Corinth-
1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
And we see how Isaiah used the word ‘wait’ while Paul uses the word ‘Love’.
Paul also expounds and says ‘But God has revealed these hidden things to is by the Spirit’.
True.
But sometimes we teach ‘see- Isaiah didn’t have the revelation like we do today’.
True in a sense.
But Isaiah learned to wait on God- he was a prophet who gave many Messianic prophecies.
The revelation of Jesus is indeed the hidden mysteries that the apostle Paul was speaking about.
But I realized that Isaiah too was entering into this Divine revelation- he was waiting on God- and the Spirit of God did indeed reveal the mystery of Christ to Isaiah.
If I remember right- I believe Isaiah gave more prophecies about Christ than any other Old Testament prophet. [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/08/kings-2-text.html ]
I just mentioned this on today’s video because it ‘struck’ me the other day.
If we- preachers- teachers- and just ‘plain old Christians’- if we wait on the Lord- and walk in love- he will

Kings Intro- chapter 1

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(1047)KINGS; INTRODUCTION- There is no greater Old Testament king and dynasty than that of David. While there are many other types and symbols that point to Jesus [Moses, Joseph, etc.] yet the rule of David and the promises of God to him [raising up a son from his lineage with an endless life who will sit on the throne forever!] are directly related to the purposes of God for his church and the messianic fulfillment of Jesus and his kingdom. Kings was originally one book [1st and 2nd kings]. It was divided when the Septuagint was written [the Greek version of the Old Testament] and stayed divided in Jerome’s Latin vulgate. We will see the division of Israel as a nation [northern tribes-10, southern tribes-2] take place in this book. More time will be spent on the history of the northern tribes, possibly because they needed more prophetic correction, so the recorded words of the prophets are more prevalent in Israel’s history than Judah’s [Paul said to the Corinthians that it was needful for heresies to rise up among them, this gave opportunity to deal with problems that would be beneficial centuries later to all who would read the story!] We also see some practical stuff that applies to the present moment [2009]. The division of the kingdom will be spurred on by the immature decisions of Rehoboam to listen to the bad advice of inexperienced advisers, should I say more? I can’t stress enough the role that David’s dynasty played in the national psyche of Israel and her future hopes of a restored theocracy. In essence their entire national hope was based upon a restored Davidic kingdom that would usher in the Messiah and bring deliverance to the nation from her oppressors [Rome]. Herod the great, Rome’s political leader who oversaw Israel and her land under Roman rule, built the restored temple in hopes of being seen as the leader who would fill the shoes of the promised Davidic restorer. Though Herod was not Jewish, yet he adopted Jewish custom and law in an effort to be seen as the legitimate savior of Israel. Saint Augustine [the bishop of Hippo, North Africa] would later say ‘I would rather have been Herod’s pig than his sons’. He would not eat his swine, but yet he would murder his own sons! Herod was a madman at heart. Well let’s cut this intro short and keep our eyes open as we see Jesus and his messianic kingdom in this story. The church herself will become the fulfillment of this future kingdom under the reign of Jesus as king over all the earth. The New Testament writers will eventually portray Jesus as being the present fulfillment of the promises of God made to David centuries ago, they saw the promises of God as being a presently fulfilled reality thru the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Son of God. And his being seated at God’s right hand as the ultimate fulfillment of ascending to the throne.

(1048) 1st KINGS 1- David’s son, Adonijah, plots to take the kingdom and become king in his fathers place [after he would die]. He chooses a team of talented men to become his inner circle, he prepares chariots and gets a force together. David does not discourage him, he seems to be willing to let it slide. One problem, David’s son Solomon was chosen by God himself to be the next king. David’s key men, who were left out of the celebration ceremony that Adonijah threw for himself, realized that if they didn’t act quickly they would be left out in the cold. So Nathan tells Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, to go in to the king and tell him about the problem. Nathan then will go in after her and also confirm the bad news. Note, Nathan was a powerful prophet, he was the one who faced David head on about the sin he committed when sleeping with Bathsheba and killing her husband. But David is old and sick, even if Nathan took the risk to confront him again in a ‘thus saith the lord’ type thing, there was no assurance that David would listen. Or worse, tell him he has had enough of his ‘prophetic ministry’ and take his head off! Nathan chose influence and common sense to get his point across, he was even a little deceptive in the way he planned it out. David then tells his men ‘go, anoint Solomon as king’ David’s men prevail and they quickly form a new team around Solomon. Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah will be the Prophet, Priest and military commander. Now word gets back to Adonijah that Solomon has been anointed by David, their party ends abruptly and Adonijah flees for his life. These men [Adonijah and his team] had real hopes and dreams for their new administration, but God had other plans. A few things; was Adonijah in total rebellion in doing what he did? Not really, he was fourth in line to the throne, above Solomon. Remember, the Old Testament puts special weight on this seniority thing! And David never discouraged the boy. It’s very possible that Adonijah thought he had the green light in this thing. Solomon will take the throne and though he will become famous for his wisdom, he will also be pretty brutal in his first days as king. He quickly warns Adonijah and in the next chapter we will see him take swift and decisive action to route out his adversaries. I see a little too much personal ambition in Adonijah and his men. One of them was Joab, a great military leader with much experience. If you remember when we studied Samuel he also had his run ins with David. These men were playing party politics and positioning themselves for a ‘wonderful future’. The only problem was God wasn’t in it! I remember many years ago when a friend of mine ‘started a church’. He was quite a few years older than me, but still new ‘to the game’. He made the statement ‘God has now made all my dreams come true’. He innocently fell into the trap of seeing ministry and ‘church’ as some type of structure/business that God allows people to engage in, in order for them to ‘fulfill their dreams’. Adonijah and his men were excited about the launching of their new ‘career’s’ the wind went out of their sails when Gods ordained plan took precedence over their dreams. [some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/08/kings-1-text.html?m=0 ]

VERSES-

SUNDAY SERMON

Isaiah 43:9
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

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7-29-22 Homeless story [Made Friday]

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ON VIDEO [Sunday sermon-Verses from Church Unlimited- Mass]

.Catholic Lectionary
.One meal only
.Is psalms 2 a Messianic prophecy?
.’Heathen for your inheritance’
.The tattoo
.Times of reformation [in the 1st century]
.New Wine into New Wine-skins
.A story about prison wine
.Word made flesh
.When Jesus became God? [my critique of the higher critics]
.Church history
.Song from the Mass
.Apologetics
.The magisterial reformers
.R.C. Sproul

1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

TEACHING [Past posts below]
Today I spoke on the verses from the Mass and Church Unlimited- the theme was the deity of Christ and the New Covenant [as well as church history and a few other subjects].
The reading from the Mass [John 1] showed us the deity of Christ [meaning Christ being God in the flesh] and the calling of John the Baptist-
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John was the last and greatest Prophet- in the line of Old Testament prophets [I know the debate- but won’t do it now].
In John 1 we see him introducing Jesus- bringing in the Messiah, as the forerunner John was simply a messenger-
John 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
And we see the reality of the New Birth- not a natural birth- but a spiritual one- Born of God-
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
I also refuted the teaching [from the higher critics] that the doctrine of Jesus being God was a later development in the history of the church.
The writings from the New testament state the early belief among Christians that Jesus was indeed God in the flesh-
Here is another verse that shows us this- [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/07/sunday-sermon-text_31.html?m=0 ]
1Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of

COLOSSIANS 4

Psalm 60:4
Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

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ON VIDEO
.The runaway slave and his master
.The door to speak
.Demonstration of the Kingdom in power
.The Barnabus- Paul and John Mark controversy
.Paul claimed no ‘ownership’ [Copyright] for his letters- therefore the Word of the Lord went forth freely [He urged his letters be distributed and read in the early Christian communities- which functioned as an oral culture at first- then his letters would be re- copied and make up 13 books of the New Testament- almost half of the 27 books- if you count Hebrews- more than half- Pastors- Churches- stop copyrighting and selling the Word of God]
.Finish the work God has called you to
.Final thoughts

Isaiah 48:16
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

Amos 5:9
That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.

TEACHING-
As we end our study on Colossians- we see some key figures who were helpers of Paul- carrying his letters to the various churches-
Colossians 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord
Colossians 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
We read about Tychicus in Acts 20:4
Acts 20:4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/08/20/acts-20/
The was another carrier of this letter-
Colossians 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
More than likely they were also carrying Paul’s letter to Philemon on this journey.
Philemon was a slaveholder- who had a former slave run away.
That slave was Onesimus- and in the letter to Philemon being carried by the slave himself Paul makes a strong argument for Philemon to forgive him and receive him as a brother-
Philemon 1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
Philemon 1:9 Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Philemon 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
Philemon 1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Philemon 1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
It’s important to see the history behind the letters- and the carriers-
Because in the beginning of this chapter Paul himself talks about slaves and their masters-
Colossians 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Some believe Paul was justifying slavery- but the other letter his team was carrying on this journey shows us another view.
Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments if he come unto you, receive him;)
We read of this helper in 3 passages of Acts- 19:29, 20:4 and 27:2-
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/08/09/acts-19/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/08/20/acts-20/
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/11/06/acts-27/
Yes- he stuck with the apostle all the way to Rome.
And one more note before we end-
Paul speaks well of someone here-
and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments if he come unto you, receive him;)
In my study on Acts we saw him- and a split that took place because of him [Acts 15] https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/07/03/acts-15/
Acts 15:36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
Acts 15:37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
Acts 15:39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Acts 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
This letter to the Colossians was penned about 12 years after this incident and it seems as if the rift was healed.
Even Paul and his men had times of division- where some went one way- and Paul went another.
Yet in time God would restore those divisions.
Of course Paul does give a few practical teachings too-
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds
Colossians 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
On the video I gave some examples of what the door of ‘utterance’ means-
It is an opportunity to proclaim truth- to speak it- not just to know it.
I gave a few examples of how this works- even when speaking Truth to Power.
I’ll add my various links and past teachings that relate to this post and end this study with the last 2 verses of the letter-
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Colossians 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.
As Paul penned this letter sitting in a jail in Rome- he admonishes all of us to finish the ministry we have received from the Lord.
Ministry is not some occupation you feel called to- and than choose to make that a career.
No- it is receiving the purpose that God had pre- planned for you from the start- sitting in a Roman prison and being faithful to the call. [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/07/colossians-4-text.html?m=0 ]
It’s a Prophet by the name of John who had his head taken off

COLOSSIANS 3

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Colossians 3 videos-
https://youtu.be/PExhHaqbc6U
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhUq9GulQw8TElbK_
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l5uniom6iw4j1tm/4-12-18%20Colossians%203.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO
.Raised now too
.Who were the Scythians?
.Russia- Syria and the West
.No divisions in Christ
.Josephus
.Brief history of the Russian Orthodox church
.The Church is a global community [Heaven and earth]
.The secret place
.Oral tradition in the 1st century
.Full time ministry?
.What was the leaven?
.Forgiveness- on a global scale too

TEACHING- [Past posts below]
I talked some news issues on this video- because it actually fit one of the verses in this chapter-
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free but Christ is all, and in all.
Lets start with the first few verses-
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
I talked about the identification we have in Christ- even to the point of being ‘seated with him in heavenly places’.
We as believers identify with Jesus in death- burial- resurrection and ascension.
I quoted a verse on the video-
Jeremiah 17:12
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
It speaks of God’s predestined plan for us from the start- a theme Paul focuses on in his letters quite often.
Yet- because of our election in Christ- this never negates the doctrine of being obedient now- in this life-
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry
Colossians 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience
Colossians 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him
Because we are in Christ- even seated with him spiritually in heaven right now- we are commanded to put off the old ways.
Ok- here’s the portion I felt fit with the news of our day-
Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free but Christ is all, and in all.
The last few years I have talked about the demonization of various people groups- I have spoken about the real danger to demonize the Russian people as well as their nation.
It just so happens that one of the groups in this passage- were people from a region that today is found in the southern part of Russia- the Scythians-
https://www.cbeinternational.org/resources/article/priscilla-papers/scythians%E2%80%94who-were-they-and-why-did-paul-include-them-colossians
These were tribal people around the Black sea in the first century- at the time of Paul’s letter.
These were looked upon as a ‘little better than wild beasts’-
This is what the famous historian Josephus actually wrote about them.
These were people who were mocked in the Greek plays of their day [a form of media].
Yes- Paul penned this 2 thousand years ago- and I thought it fit.
I covered some of the history of the Russian orthodox church and challenged our present mindset about the Russian people.
For various reasons the ‘Greek play’s’ of our day- the forms of media- have also created a negative attitude towards Russians in general.
Yet- many Russians are indeed brothers and sisters in Christ.
And Paul teaches us that it is wrong to exalt national loyalty- or ethic Loyalty above our union in Christ.
We are to ‘put up’ with the other- even if we have what we think is a legitimate quarrel against them- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/colossians-3-9 ]
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you,

SUNDAY SERMON

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1:29

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

7-22-22 The Palace shall remain https://youtu.be/2lCT4JgrZlM

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMkUWv6hai_MUL_V_R

Sunday sermon videos-

https://studio.youtube.com/video/puChbW_VdQo/edit
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMeMlCArzzEG7ZgL0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2vztrkq0tjzsyz4/1-14-18%20Sunday%20sermon.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-

.The story of Samuel
.Tabernacle
.System of law and sacrifice
.Type of Christ
.Gods talks to Samuel
.Samuel spills the beans
.Eli accepts the word of the Lord
.Review of Corinth
.Lamb of God
.John knew Jesus- by the Spirit

[2 Corinthians 5:16
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more]

.The baptism of Jesus
.Peter- the stone
.The volume of the book
.Agnus dei
.John Locke
.Rene Descartes
.Gnostics
.If Jesus did not die for us- the bible words alone could not save us

[Teaching below]

John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
MY NOTE- The proclamation of John ‘Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’- In Latin the term is Agnus Dei- as a boy we sung this hymn in Catholic church ‘Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world- have mercy on us’.
[Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.- this is the full phrase in the Latin – taken from John’s declaration- where the Christian song/chant comes from]
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!”
Ps. 40

TEACHING

This day I spoke on the verses from the Mass and Church Unlimited- and will try and make a theme out of them.

From the story of Samuel [I’ll add my past teaching below on the first 3 chapters] we see Samuel hearing a voice-
1Samuel 3:4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
1Samuel 3:5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
He thinks it’s Eli the priest- but finds out it is really God beginning to speak to him at this early age-
1Samuel 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
1Samuel 3:8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
1Samuel 3:10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Samuel will grow into a great prophet of the Lord- and this is a gift [hearing God] that he is not yet accustomed to.

Eli- though a non spiritual man at this time in his life- does give good advice to Samuel-
1Samuel 3:9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
And Samuel hears the voice of God- and tells Eli what God told him-
1Samuel 3:16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
1Samuel 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
1Samuel 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

Yes- the calling of the prophet is to speak the word of God- even if it feels uncomfortable.
To the credit of Eli- he receives this word from God.

Then the next reading from the Mass was from Corinthians-
1Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
1Corinthians 6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
1Corinthians 6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
1Corinthians 6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
1Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
It might seem out of place- because the Samuel passage dealt with God judging spiritual leaders because they defiled the house [tabernacle] of God- the place where God dwelt [in the Old Testament economy].

But in the new Testament- we are indeed the temple of God.
And Paul warns the Corinthian church- that if they willingly defile God’s temple- they too will face strict judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:17
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

In the reading from the gospel- we see the last part of John chapter 1 and I’ll only hit on one insight I had-
We see the famous statement of John about Jesus-
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Then John baptizes Jesus-
After the baptism he still proclaims Jesus as the Lamb- but leaves out the last part-
John 1:35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Why?
John proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb- who is coming to take away sin.
In the baptism of Jesus- it was a symbol of Jesus dying- going down into the waters ‘of death’ and coming back up.

It symbolized Jesus taking our sins- and dying with them.
After this event- John simply declares him as the Lamb.
Because he has now come up out from death [baptism] and has taken care of the sin debt-
See?

I did teach from the passage mentioned in psalms 40-
Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
And tried to tie all of this together.

I’ll try and find my past teaching on the chapter of Hebrews where it fits with this verse from the Psalms and paste that below in the PAST POSTS section-

Here’s the verse from Hebrews-

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.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

It was an important part of the entire teaching- if you watch the video- you will see why.

But for this short intro- which I have now finished in about 35 minutes [I’m a terrible typer!] this will have to do-
And now I’m off to ‘clean up the mess’ [yes- you’ll have to watch the video- JUST A TALK- to get it]

John [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/07/sunday-sermon-text_16.html?m=0 ]

NOTE- It’s still Sunday- about 5pm.

COLOSSIANS 2

Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

https://ccoutreach87.com/stats-4-21/

Colossians 2 videos
https://youtu.be/UufAFvDuN5E
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMgX5I8fGfOn55PP68
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0pd5q1g903rsdtw/3-29-18%20Colossians%202.mp4?dl=0


ON VIDEO [Note- as I was making the video I accidentally turned the camera off about 31 minutes in- I covered most of what I wanted already- so I’ll simply post it as is]

.Father God
.The great mystery
.Death row case
.The offering went up!
.The great conflict
.Philosophy- Science- etc.- OK to learn-
.But the answer is in Christ
.How was Paul with them ‘in the spirit’ ?
.Christian unity
.Protestant Reformation
.Luther- Calvin- Zwingli
.Christ cast the shadow
.The sin debt paid
.Manichaeism http://www-personal.umich.edu/~rdwallin/syl/GreatBooks/202.W99/Augustine/AugManich.htm

TEACHING
Paul speaks about his ‘great conflict’ for the believers-
What was this struggle he was speaking of?
Colossians 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
He wanted unity among the believers- being ‘knit together in love’.
I find it interesting the way we- as the people of God- down thru the ages- have been a divided people.
Yes- there have been many good christian movements- and indeed good christian churches that have sprung out of these movements.
But over time- many of these believers began to see the ‘other’ churches thru the lens of ‘what is wrong’.
And often view the other churches as either a cult- or as demon possessed!
Paul dealt with many heresies in his letters to the churches- yet- he viewed them as believers- who were going off track.
In his Corinthian letter https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-corinthians/ he begins by addressing them as believers- and saints- then goes on to reprove gross sin- heretical teaching that Jesus was not actually risen from the dead.
He rebukes them on their abuse of the gifts of the Spirit- [Tongues]- but yet- in the end- he speaks to them as the church- the people of God.
So Paul talks about his struggle- that God’s people would be unified as much as possible- because it is in this unity that we all can comprehend the mystery of Christ.
Now- Paul mentioned another mystery here-
the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Some bible commentators simply pass over these verses.
Why?
Recently I have talked about the mysteries we read about in the New Testament, in our Ephesians study https://ccoutreach87.com/ephesians-links/ it was both Jew and Gentile being joined together in One Body.
We have also seen the mystery of ‘Christ in you’.
But what about the mystery spoken about here?
It is the mystery of God- as Father- being revealed to us thru Christ.
A few years back I read a book from Pope Benedict- and it talked about this revealing of God as Father- as a new thing that Jesus himself introduced to us.
Yes- in the Lord’s prayer he teaches us this- all thru the New Testament we see ourselves as Sons and Daughters of God- the Father.
So yes- this is an important Mystery- something we did not fully comprehend before Christ.
Now Paul begins to correct the church-
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
There were various heresies that began to spring forth in the 1st century church.
Early Gnosticism was a mix of human philosophy- along with the teachings of the church.
I have written on philosophy before- and have taught how the early philosophers were seeking the the answer to things https://ccoutreach87.com/overview-of-philosophy/
Aristotle even spoke about God.
Yet at the time of the 1st century- there was a dangerous mix of Gnostic philosophy with the teachings of Christ.
The word philosophy in itself- is fine- it means to be a ‘lover of wisdom’-
The book of proverbs speaks about the benefit of loving wisdom.
But if you think human wisdom is the answer- then you have gone astray-
Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Our completeness is found in a Person- the person of Christ.
The hidden wisdom of God is in Christ.
The works of the flesh can never produce this type of wisdom.
James- the brother of Jesus himself will speak about 2 types of wisdom-
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy- James 3 https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/
Godly wisdom comes when we are grounded in Christ- and walk in the fear of the Lord.
Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
In Christ- there is no natural rite- or legalistic system that changes us- but their is a ‘circumcision of the heart’.
The work of the New Birth is a spiritual reality- we have been joined with Christ in death- and have been raised again.
The ‘blotting out of ordinances’ speaks of a debt ledger- a creditor would keep an account of the debt the borrower owes.
The ledger in this case is the law itself.
All people have sinned- and the law was simply a ledger of the debt that no man could pay.
The debt was death- both spiritual and physical.
Jesus- as the sinless sacrifice- died for the sins of man.
And in so doing- he took that debt ledger- and nailed it to his Cross.
We are now free from the condemnation of the law- and walk in newness of the Spirit- not the oldness of the letter- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/colossians-2-7 ]
Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

COLOSSIANS [Intro- Chapter 1]

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Stats

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: Col. 1

Colossians 1 videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhSmqhD0320axIBaD

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lx4vvkmsayx1qwt/3-15-18%20Colossians%201.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO
.Introduction to Colossians
.Brief history of Colosse
.Jesus- the Firstborn- what does this mean?
.A radio message on cassette ‘Legalism spoils rotten’- probably the first message I preached at the Old Hospital in Kingsville
.Time
.The prison epistles
.The Logos and the act of creation
.Christology in the first 3 centuries of Christianity https://www.gotquestions.org/Christology.html
.Arius- Athanasius https://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/ARIANISM.TXT
http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/athanasius.html
.Constantine in the 4th century
.The official split between east and west [Catholic and eastern orthodox] was in 1054 ad- but the division started long before
.Trinity- eternal fellowship in the God head itself [Himself]
.What is the renewing of the mind- how is this accomplished?

TEACHING
Intro- This letter is one of the prison Epistles of Paul [the other 3 are Ephesians- Philippians- Philemon].
He probably wrote it while in prison at Rome- between ad 60-62. I covered this in my Acts study [Chapter 28- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/11/22/acts-28/ ].

Its too easy to label what exact heresy Paul was fighting in his various letters.
We do know that the rise of Gnosticism was a real threat to the early church [1st John] as well as Legalism [Galatians]- so I think its better to say that Paul was basically doing the same thing in all of his letters.

Exalting Christ- showing how our relationship with Christ by faith unites us with him.
Teaching that the law [and ceremony] were only shadows of the real thing to come- which is Christ.
Yes- he follows this basic theme in most of his letters.

But we usually say that the apostle was fighting asceticism in this letter [true as far as it goes].
Asceticism was the belief that extreme self denial produces holiness.
In my view this is simply another form of legalism- attempting to make ourselves right in the sight of God thru self effort.

Whether that be thru the works of the law- or any other religious practice.
Paul also warns against the worship of angels and teaches the preeminence of Christ.

Colossae [or Colosse] Like some of the other cities I covered in my Acts study https://ccoutreach87.com/acts-links/ – was an area not at its ‘best’ at the time Paul wrote to the church there.
A few hundred years before Paul the city was a leading city in Asia Minor [Turkey] but in the 1st century it was more of a market town and other regions had greater influence- economically speaking.

In Acts 19 https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/08/09/acts-19/ we read that during Paul’s stay at Ephesus- the converts to Christ spread the word of the Lord to Asia-
Acts 19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
In this letter Paul seems to identify the person who brought the gospel to Colosse- Epaphras-
Colossians 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Ok- that’s a brief introduction before we get into the letter itself.

Chapter 1-

Paul first of all thanks God for those who believed the message of Christ-
Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Leaders- ‘apostles’- those who are striving to do the work of God- we often read the bible looking for keys to effective ministry-
We just saw one of them.
praying always for you,
Prayer- pray for the people you preach to- pray for the work of God- the work of grace- to continue in the churches you hope to build- pray.

Pray this-
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
It is thru the people that the work of the ministry is carried out-
Leaders- preach- teach- and when the word is planted in the people- you will have times to keep silent-

1 Thessalonians 1:8
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

It is by the power of the gospel- yes- the death of Jesus- bodily- and his Blood being shed- that brings us into the kingdom now-
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Now- we see exactly who this Jesus is- for the first 3 centuries of the church- the debates were primarily about ‘Christology’- trying to define the person of Christ-
This passage below has been seen by some to say that Jesus had a beginning point-
Lets look it at-
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
How is Jesus the firstborn?
I have taught on the relationship of the Logos [Word] and God [The Father]-
When God created all things- He Spoke.
The Word of God brought all things into existence.
This Word- the Logos- was always with the Father- yet we did not see the activity of creation until God chose to speak it into existence.
The early church settled this question of the deity of Christ- and one of the key passages they used was from John’s gospel-
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Jesus is the firstborn- has the preeminence because everything else came forth from Him-
He is not the ‘firstborn’ meaning he too was born- or created- but the first in God’s creative act.
Truly this Logos became flesh- and that’s why we identify him as the only begotten Son of God.
When the word was made flesh- the Logos [Word] took on a human Body.
But he was with the Father from all eternity- as the passage from John states.
The New Testament also states that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead- to die no more-
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
All the fullness of God dwelt [dwells] in him-
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And because of this- his death for us brings peace-

The process of all things being brought back to God has now begun. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/colossians-1-8 ]

Ok- look at the next verse-

SUNDAY SERMON

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Psalm 87:2

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Ecclesiastes 1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

ON VIDEO-

.Dietrich Bonhoeffer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer

.Wealth building?

.Monopoly money

.Practical advice for living

.One Body

.He spoke in tongues

.King James bible and Billy Graham story

.Prophecies of Christ in Matthew 2

.Quick Understanding

.What is the local church [according to the bible]

.The globe’s

.Let your life count

Isaiah 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Teaching [Past posts below]

This Sunday I went to Real Life Corpus- and talked about some of the verses that Pastor Micah spoke on as well as the verses from the Sunday Mass.

I noticed the readings from the priest [on the radio] were a little different from what I read-

but I taught from both either way.

Pastor Micah spoke from James-

The brevity of our lives

James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Do we really live with this mindset?

The only lasting thing is the Word of the Lord- and the people who believe in the Word- the gospel- will live forever.

Yes- most of us ‘realize’ this- but do we live our lives with the conscious thought that the stuff around us doesn’t really count for much?

I had an ‘impression’ the other day- I thought what would happen if we died- and then ‘woke up’ and saw all the things we did in this life- the buying and selling and getting gain- what if our eyes were opened and in a moment of time we realized it was all Monopoly money.

Yes- the time spent in making it- teaching others how to make it- maybe an entire life focused around it- and then at the end- it was actually just Monopoly money.

In reality that’s really about as lasting as the real stuff- those who plan their lives around living in this life only-

That’s the context of the verses above-

A few verses down James says it like this-

James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

James 5:3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

That’s the context.

One of the verses from the mass was found in the writings of Paul-

Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

I actually tried to teach the entire chapter- the verses from the Mass focused more on the end of the chapter-

But the portion above fits in with today’s theme-

Our life here is a vapor- but our life with God- that’s the one that counts.

And if we believe- then we are indeed joined to him now- we are ‘risen with him’ and united with him now.

If so- then we set our affection- our purpose- our mindset on things above, on things that have eternal value.

Paul goes on to contrast the works of the the flesh with the life of the Spirit- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/sunday-sermon-225

Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger,

EPHESIANS 6

Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

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ON VIDEO
.The commandment with promise
.Thoughts from a child
.Overview of Ephesians
.The sovereignty of God
.Slavery
.Abolitionists
.Spiritual armor- warfare
.Reductionism- Soteriology https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soteriology
.What are those lights in the sky over Texas and New Jersey?
.The Reformation and church history
.Did Jesus teach the doctrine of justification by faith?
.Yes
.Balanced spiritual warfare
.How do we love Jesus?
.I spoke on Melanchthon- Cardinal Cajetan and Eck- and the debates Luther had during the Reformation- I added my past teachings on them below

Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

TEACHING [Past posts- Verses below]

As we end the Ephesians study- Paul gives more practical instruction- some of it will become controversial some 1800 years after he penned it-

Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Ephesians 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
There it is- from the bible itself- instruction for slaves to obey their masters.

Why is this in the New Testament?
There are other bible passages- both in the Old and New Testaments, that speak about slavery- rules given to how it should be applied-

And teaching that says slaves should obey their masters.
In the 19th century- both in Britain and the states you had an uprising- primarily from White Christian men- against the institution of slavery- we call these men the abolitionists.

In the United States- you had a debate- and then a war- over the issue [as well as states rights]-
There were good sincere men- Christian men- and yes- some Black men- who simply saw these verses as the bible teaching us that slavery is permitted- and as Christians- you should not seek to rebel against it.

Now- I do not agree with their position- but an honest reading of this passage can lead dedicated bible students to take it this way.
Overall- God’s will for man was to free him for bondage- all types.

And it’s possible that the apostle Paul simply did not want the New Christian movement to be associated with the zealot mindset-
People who advocated a violent rising up against their oppressors.

So- he- by the anointing of God- wrote what was intended for God’s people to hear.
Today there is still application to these verses- employers and employees- yet at the time- it was speaking about slavery.

There’s much more to teach on the subject- how the enslaving of Africans by the West was not the same type of slavery spoken about in the bible-
But for us today- with a clear conscience we can reject all forms of it- no matter where we find it.

Now- the famous armor of God passage-
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Just a few points- the only offensive piece of armor is the word of God.
Jesus wielded it in his Temptation in the wilderness-

Matthew 4 King James Version (KJV)
4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

He quoted scripture 3 times- and dispatched the adversary for a season.

Paul also talks about the shield of faith quenching [putting out] the flaming arrows of the enemy.
In the first century the Roman shields were covered with leather and dipped in water prior to the battle.

If a flaming arrow struck one of the shields- the shield would be able to extinguish it.
So our faith can also stop the flaming arrows of the enemy- when he shoots accusations against the children of God.

On the video I mentioned these last few verses- which are often not seen as part of the spiritual armor-
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Yet Paul asked the church to pray for him- that he would be bold in speaking the truth- that he would not step back from the task at hand.
I applied this [on the video] to the life of the reformer Martin Luther- and spoke about his own battles while standing firm for truth.

Paul the apostle was making known the mysteries of the gospel in the first century- and at the time- the message was radical and revolutionary.
Now- it was the unfolding of the mysteries of God which had been hidden for ages-

But he was a revolutionary in the proclamation of it.
And there were times where he stood alone- where others questioned his motives- and where other believers disagreed with him strongly [the Judaizers].
2Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
2Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
Yet he realized to truly fulfil the mission- he needed to be bold in the proclamation of the truth.
Today we are able to read his letters- which are indeed received as the Canon- we regularly teach them in our church meetings-

We make copies of them and send them out to the world-
Yes- we are beneficiaries of the apostle’s early ministry work. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/ephesians-6-9 ]

And as we saw his story this last year as I covered the book of Acts- as we went thru some of his other

EPHESIANS 5

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

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ON VIDEO-
.The glove test
.Partake of the table too- like David
.A type of the priest from Judah- the Lord of the Sabbath
.Walk in love
.1 Spirit in a corporate community
.The same Spirit of Christ
1 Corinthians 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
.Not just a symbol
.Gnostic/Docetist heresy refuted http://www.dictionary.com/browse/docetism
.We are vitally connected to him
.What is the great mystery?
.The Body of Christ

Mark 2:28
Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

TEACHING- [Past posts below]

The apostle now gives practical living truth-
As believers- we do not walk after the flesh- we are instead to be filled with the Spirit- and walk as new creatures in Christ-
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Once again- a theme I have hit on the past 2 weeks- we see the death of Christ for us as an example of the love of God-
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
Then Paul talks about the marriage union- the same instructions he gave in his other letters-
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Most of us are familiar with it-
Husbands love your wives- wives- submit- not in a negative way- but as examples of Christ and the church.

The church is lead by Christ- the head- so the family unit- when functioning properly- is lead by the husband- if he is loving his wife properly.

Now- the verse I wanted to emphasize the most-
Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
When I read it the other day- it seemed to ‘say more’ than what we usually ‘see’.
The church as the Body of Christ is an ‘image’ that most of us are familiar with.
But here it seems to go further.

The apostle says we are bone of his bone- flesh of his flesh- and he says this is a great mystery-
Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
We as humans were made alive when God gave us life- spirit- identity-

Genesis 2:7
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit

Human beings live- because we have spirits- souls- life given to us as a gift from the creator.
This is not a symbol- this is reality.

Now- when we as believers are born again- our spirits come back to life- we were dead in sin- and have now been made alive again.
We also have the Holy Spirit indwelling us-

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [Full Chapter]
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

This is not simply a symbol- but a reality.
Jesus actually rose- physically from the dead- and ascended bodily into heaven-

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

He lives today in a resurrected body- and is seated in a position of authority [right hand of God]
So he too- physically has the Spirit of God in him.

We- as people still on the earth- have that same Spirit residing in us-

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

God has done a new thing in the redemption of man- God has created a community of people- in whom the same Spirit- One Spirit- now actually resides in all of us.

When I saw it this way- I didn’t take the verse as being only a symbol- but a reality.
Yes- we do retain our individuality as believers- we still have our own regenerated spirits in us-
But we also have intimacy with the resurrected Christ- and one another- because the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is now living in us too.

See?

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/ephesians-5-9 ]

SUNDAY SERMON

For as by one man‘s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Rom. 5:19

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.Another gas station story

.Einstein’s phone number

.U2

.Logos

.2 creations

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.2 trees in the garden

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.The candle story [Church Unlimited]

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Today I talked about the 2 creations- how in Genesis we see God made all things ‘in the beginning’ –

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the things he has planned for us- were also ‘from the beginning’ –

66 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: Isaiah

At this Christmas season we sing about the Word made flesh-

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

And it is thru this Word- Jesus- that God has also created a ‘new Creation’ –

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.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

In the garden man ate from the forbidden tree-

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The tree of the knowledge of good and evil-

And because of this sin- he no longer had access to the Tree of Life.

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

It would take the incarnate word to bring man back to the garden- back to the presence of God.

We read a sort of strange verse in the writings of Paul-

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1st Tim. 2

To some- it seems anti woman.

But what Paul is telling us is when Adam ate- he knew what he was doing.

He knowingly walked away for the presence of God- so he could be with his Bride.

Eve already ate- and Adam saw the writing on the wall.

He had a choice- and he chose to be with the bride.

Jesus went to the Cross- knowing that he would be separated from the presence of God- he did this in obedience-

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Why?

He did if for the Bride- us-

Jesus hung on ‘the tree’ for us-

Galatians 3:13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

He delivered man from the law- the tree of the knowledge of good and evil- which could never redeem man.

Romans 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

And he brought us back to the garden- he allowed us to be new creations in him. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/sunday-sermon-224 ]

Yes- the Word became flesh and dwelt among us- and it

EPHESIANS 4

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

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ON VIDEO

.Austin [Texas] The Ark
.5 [4] fold ministry
.Lectio Devina http://ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/what-lectio-divina
.Didache http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/didache.html
.That bird has my wings’- prison poem
.Unity among reconciled people groups
.Gifts for the sinner too [rebellious also]
.Restoration churches
.Church history
.The purpose of the gifts- to build you up- for the work of ministry
.What does the N.T. teach about giving?
.The nature of local church
.The intent of seeing ‘new truth’
.What is ‘apostolic’ doctrine?
.Jesus- the Christ of God

Psalm 90:9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.
Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.
Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

TEACHING [Past posts below]

Paul teaches us about the primary purpose of the gifts that God has deposited in the church-
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Some refer to these gifts [Apostles- prophets- etc.] as the 5 fold ministry- others see the last 2 offices as one calling [the pastor/teacher]
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Meaning it would be the ‘4-fold’ ministry gifts.
Much has been written the last few years about these various gifted ones- and in some movements of the church they believed that the restoration of these gifts were the answer to the problems in the church.
When we read about apostles in the New Testament- and how they functioned [Like my recent study on the book of Acts]-
We do not see the emphasis on the people themselves- meaning the apostles in the bible [or prophets] did not focus on their callings-
Or view their callings as the primary thing.
But the purpose of their callings was to bring the people of God to maturity- and the people of God would do the actual ‘work of the ministry’-
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
If the teachings on the gifts- or any other subject we find in the bible- is used to divide Christians-
Then the main purpose of the gifts themselves has been subverted.
If the focus on the gifts exalts the personalities of people-
Then it is the wrong focus.
In the last few chapters I have already taught- we saw the reconciliation of man- with each other- as well as being reconciled [brought back] to God thru Christ.
When we read about the unity of the people of God- in this context it is a broader concept than simply the people ‘in my church’- or the people of God in your particular denomination.
But the unity we strive for is a unity among all the people that God has redeemed.
God’s ultimate Salvation looks forward to the redeeming of all things- in heaven and upon earth.
As the apostle stated in this chapter- we are one body- with one God ruling over us- as well as being in us-
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The development of the church over the centuries has expressed itself in many different church expressions.
Some see this as ok- others see it as being divided.
Many of these good expressions of the church do see themselves as the only true church.
The apostle does speak to this issue here-
Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to KEEP the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
All the people of God already are united in unity- the outward expression of it is not always seen.
But truly there is one God- and one Spirit that unites as the church.
God has placed gifted leaders in the church- and when the gifts function properly- they bring the people to maturity in Christ-
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
They do not draw people after their particular gift- no matter how noble the gift might be.
It is important that we see that these gifts [5- 4 fold] do indeed exist in the church today.
Paul teaches us that these ministers were made after the ascension of Jesus-
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Meaning these were not Old testament prophets he was speaking about-
Or even the 12 apostles of the Lamb-
But these apostles and prophets and pastors were ‘made’ after Jesus ascended to the right hand of God.
So yes- these gifts still function in our day.
And when they function the right way- the people of God become mature functioning members of the Body of Christ.
That was [is] the purpose of these gifts.

PAST POSTS [ My past teaching that relates to this post- Ephesians 4- Verses below]

[Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/ephesians-4-9 ]

https://ccoutreach87.com/1st-2nd-corinthians/
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/
I mentioned the Didache on the video- I talked about it in this book I wrote years ago-

EPHESIANS 3

Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

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Ephesians 3 videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMbmJ7N-LFNKVN2n0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iv9uxkj7s25q1sb/1-2-18%20Ephesians%203.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.One star only
.Paul the prisoner
.What mystery?
.Abraham and the stars
.Did the prophets know [fully] what they were saying?
.What does all this mean for our day?
.Not an ethnic gospel
.Apostles and Prophets
.The gift of prophecy
.Silence- the movie
.Nagasaki
.Syncretism
.Church history
.Franciscans and Dominicans
.The Logos
.Redemption history
.Higher critics got it wrong
.Mysteries still revealed thru the body of Christ- Incarnation principle
.God has done this
.The Divine romance

TEACHING- [Past posts below]

Paul speaks about the gift of grace given to him- how God revealed the ‘mystery’ to him about both Jews and Gentiles being part of one Body [community] in Christ-
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

How how it is thru this body- the church- that God’s wisdom is being revealed- even to the angels and powers in the heavens-

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The principle is the incarnation- how we as living members of the Church are continuing to walk on the earth- as redeemed humans- and because the Spirit of revelation- the Spirit of God chose to reside in us- then we are the instrument where God’s wisdom and truth are being revealed.

Even the prophets of old see in into this church- they are indeed ‘living’ with God right now- they await the day when we will all be physically raised from the dead-
But as of now- they too look into the wisdom of God being revealed thru the church-

Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [note- on the video I explained how here Paul is talking about New testament Apostles and Prophets- but I also spoke on how even the Old Testament prophets have now seen the unfolding of the mystery- thru the church]
The great mystery of both Jew and Gentile being brought together in Christ might not seem as ‘big of a deal’ to us living in the 21st century-
But to the first century mind- it was a big deal.

For us today- we see how in order for God to truly reveal himself to others- it requires a community of people joined together in Christ- who have broken down the racial and ethnic barriers that we see in the world.

The fact that God joined groups who were opposed to one another [Jew and Gentile] and thru this reconciling of man he than revealed his wisdom to others- was an offence to the natural mind.
Remember- the mysteries Paul is speaking about were indeed contained in the writings of the prophets.

Yet the religious mind of the 1st century simply could not see them.

The truths contained in scripture are only revealed thru a unified community of people.
Paul himself was a trained teacher of the law- yet it took a Divine intervention to reveal the mystery of Christ to him [Acts 9].

And as he embarked on his great purpose- to reveal the love of God to those who felt rejected- he too began to experience the same rejection from his former community.
Yet it was the calling of God upon him- God’s grace that was doing it thru him-

Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

He learned how to embrace the calling- and all that went along with it.
Though an educated man- he would come to see that the love of Christ went beyond an intellectual pursuit of truth-
Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

It is in the Divine romance of Christ and the bride that enables the unfolding of the mysteries of God.
The wisdom of God is a product of God being with man- God living and communing inside of this people- the church.

We live in a day where many well meaning teachers- who have the skills to communicate truth- often do not see the need for the truth of God to come from a Body of people who display what reconciliation actually is.

The 1st century church consisted of people who were once divided- people who held strong religious convictions.
Their beliefs came from the sincere study of the Old Testament scriptures-

It was from their dedication to these Scriptures that they felt it their duty to oppress the ‘other’-
Paul’s own experience shows us this.
But after his experience with Jesus himself on the road to Damascus- he began to see how it was thru these Old Testament Scriptures that God had already spoken about the redemption of all people-

Paul himself began to see that what he thought was right [the persecuting of the church] was actually opposed to the pre planned purpose of God from the start.

And this indeed was a great mystery- something hidden from the beginning of time-

1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

We as the people of God- who come from all different backgrounds and ethnicities, we reveal the manifold wisdom of God to others- because we show how people who were separated from one another have not come together to form a unified community.

The walls have not only been broken down between us and God- but between us and our fellow man.
Yes- Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law- he took away the barrier that separated man from his brother-
Ephesians 2:14
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

And he brought peace on earth- good will to men-

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Yes- the powers in the heavens- the angels themselves began seeing it at the time of the incarnation-

And it is in this Divine romance between unified men- and God himself- that the angels still desire to learn from-

New International Version
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Peter 1:12 [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/ephesians-3-9 ]

Sunday sermon

Hebrews 7:16

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

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ON VIDEO

.Feast of corpus Christi

.Abraham and Melchizedek- whats the significance?

.Communion

.The story of Abraham

.The New Priest [hood]

.The importance of Psalm 110

.How did Paul know about the Eucharist instructions in Corinthians?

.Judaism in the first century context

.Hebrews was written to ‘that mindset’

.Times of Reformation [1st century- from law to grace]

.The story of a billboard I saw ‘Move on from the shadows into the real’

.A lesson from Rich Mullins life- and death

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

[Note- the verses you see scattered thru out the post are the ones I quoted on the video- all verses at the bottom of this post]

John 8:56

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

PAST POSTS [These are links and parts of my past teachings that relate in some way to today’s post- Verses below]

Hebrews 4-6

POSTED BY CCOUTREACH87 ⋅ NOVEMBER 1, 2018 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT

HEBREWS 4-6

CHAPTER 4:
NEW NOTES BELOW-
.SABBATH REST
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[Links to all my sites at the bottom of this post]
NOTE- Every so often some of my sites think I am Spam- or a Bot- I am not. My name is John Chiarello and I post original content [all videos and text are by me]. I do share my past posts from my other sites- but it is not spam- Thank you- John.

‘Let us therefore fear [Jews in the first century, not Christians in the 21st century! At least in this context] lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest [now defined as the New Covenant rest. Paul is telling Israel God has left you a promise of rest in Messiah, where you will cease from your own works [law], beware Israel, our forefathers missed out on the promise because of unbelief, don’t do the same!] any of you should come short of it, for unto us was the gospel preached [1st century Israel] as well as unto them [Israel at the edge of entering the promised land had the gospel [good news] preached to them by Joshua and Caleb, they gave the ‘good report’ that the land was great and it was there for the taking, of course they didn’t believe and therefore couldn’t take it] but the word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For WE WHICH HAVE BELEIVED [the remnant of Jews who were believing in the first century were entering into the rest of the New Covenant of grace, they left off trying to be made righteous by the law, they ceased from their own works] do enter into rest…for he spake in a certain place of the 7th day on this wise, and God did rest the 7th day from all his works, and again, if they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it still remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again he limits a certain day in David [Psalms] today if you will HEAR HIS VOICE [as opposed to the voice of the law/Moses] harden not your hearts. For if Joshua [my king James says ‘Jesus’ this is because the translation is the same] had given them rest then he would not have spoken of another day, there remaineth therefore a rest TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD! [Jewish people ‘of God’ not gentile converts!]. Well, we covered a lot here. Paul takes the creation account, the verses that will later speak of a future rest for Gods people, and then a verse from Psalms where David prophesies that there still remains a future rest. He puts them all together to show Israel that God has ordained a future ‘7th day’ for his people to enter into. He uses the 7th day as a symbol of Gods ‘day of Grace and rest’.

He then shows Israel that it really wasn’t speaking of the rest of the Promised Land after all, because eventually Israel did inherit it, but yet David still spoke of it in the future tense. So Paul concludes that the future rest of the 7th day that ‘Gods people’ [Jews] still must enter is the offer of grace to the 1st century Jew. Wow! This is why some theologians feel Paul was a little too loose with the scriptures. I think this stuff is great! Paul basically was using all of his understanding as a first century theologian [Pharisee] and was absolutely proving Christ to Israel in a way that none of the other Apostles could do. He was the only Pharisee out of all the Apostles, one born out of due time. This is obviously why Jesus chose him. It is so important to see the connections that Paul is making here. If Israel were following the timeline that Paul is giving, they will see that their own Old Testament scriptures testify that there was a future ‘place of rest’ that would be offered to them as a nation.

And Paul also shows that in history, Israel had a pattern of not entering into ‘this rest’ because of unbelief. And then he says ‘but the rest that Joshua finally did give them [the promised land] wasn’t really the true rest after all, because David still spoke of it in a future tense’ then he says ‘see, there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God’. Seeing this in context clears up many wrong interpretations of these passages. You can still read Hebrews as a Christian and get wonderful principles, but you must see it in context to truly understand what its saying. ‘For he that hath entered into rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his’ amazing, Paul says just like God ceased from creative activity on the ‘7th day’ so likewise when we enter into the covenant of grace, we too will cease from the works of the law. This is so significant to the Jewish community whom Paul is addressing. He is showing them, in their language [Old Testament] the same things he writes to the gentiles in Galatians and Romans.

He is using the story of Genesis to show the truth of grace. Out of all the Apostles, Paul is unique in his ability to see Jesus in all of these Old Testament stories. No one could have made a better apologetic for the Christian faith than Paul. ‘Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief’ Now, I have heard it taught that this is telling Christians to ‘work for your rest’. This would be a complete contradiction to this entire letter. But if you see this in context, that the recipients of this letter are 1st century Jews who are already under the bondage of the law, then you read this as ‘those of you Jews who are always working to try and make yourselves righteous, you need to stop working for this, but instead let all your labors and struggles end up at the Cross’ in essence ‘labor [struggle] to see these things I am showing you, and if you do you will find rest’ in the New Covenant of grace! ‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession, for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ This of course applies to all of us. Paul and other New Testament writers saw redemption in a way that naturally included everybody. It was only those who rejected it thru unbelief that were missing out. This is why you will see statements made like ‘Jesus is the savior of all men, specially of those that believe’ there was a real sense in the early church that Jesus really redeemed everybody.

They were not preaching universal salvation in the sense that everybody will be saved. But the gospel was presented in a way that simply included everybody. So here Paul says ‘we have a high priest’ he is including Israel in the ‘we’. I also like to apply these verses to all of us. How many times do we feel intimidated to come before Gods throne? We feel unworthy and God seems unapproachable. Sort of like Saint John of the Cross who experienced the ‘dark night of the soul’ as well as Mother Theresa. There are times where believers feel separated from God’s real presence. It is during these times when God says ‘come boldly, I too have experienced weakness and separation thru the incarnation. I know what it is like. Come to me, I can see what you feel like, I can feel your feelings of weakness and inadequacy, come to me for help my child’. In the next chapter we will read this in depth. Jesus and all the high priests of the law were able to identify with man because they were at one time in mans shoes. This is one of the great realities of the incarnation.
NEW NOTES-
.SABBATH REST

Remember context- in this chapter the writer is appealing to his Jewish brothers.
And he reminds them of their own history- he says ‘just like our forefathers died in the wilderness- because they did not BELIEVE’-
So beware- if you now reject this new offer of REST- it will be because of UNBELIEF.
The writer is making an argument for Justification by Faith here.
He spiritualizes the promise of the Promised Land- and the story of Creation and Sabbath Day.
He says ‘ok- God RESTED himself on the 7th Day of Creation’.
This REST [a type of rest found in Christ and the New Covenant- based on Faith/Grace- NOT WORKS -The law].
Was not the Rest promised to Israel when they entered the Promised Land.
Why?
Because King David says many years later- in Psalms 95- that a Rest is still in the future.
What Rest?
The 1st century offer of Grace- thru Faith- not works.
See how important context is?
So- when he says ‘there still remains a REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD’- He is not talking to Christians- as this verse is often seen.
No- in the letter of Hebrews- the People of God are the Jewish nation- who now must ‘labor- work- strive’ to believe the Promise of Messiah- and enter into rest.
These verses only make sense in this context.
Preachers often teach the verse ‘strive to enter into rest- people of God’.
And apply that to Christians- who are already ‘in rest’.
No- that’s the wrong setting for these verses.
But- to the 1st century Jew- under the law- then it makes sense.
They were at a transition stage- they were still under the law [works] and they had to beware- because this present promise of grace- just like the Old Testament Promise of entering into the Promised Land- is based on faith.
So- when the writer says ‘if you strive- and hear this Gospel of Grace- you can enter into the Sabbath Day Rest’ [a symbol of the covenant of Grace].
And have Rest.
See?
NOTE- It’s not an ‘accident’ that the writer quotes from Psalms 95- written by Kind David.
Jesus is identified as ‘The Son of David’ so it’s thru the Davidic line that the promise of Rest would ultimately be fulfilled. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/sunday-sermon-223 ]
In a sense the writer is saying ‘The Joshua that lead our Fathers into the Promised Land was not the Real One- but the Joshua of the New Testament [Jesus and Joshua are the

EPHESIANS 2

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

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Ephesians 2 videos-

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dcterll6r8stc28/12-9-17%20Ephesians%202.mp4?dl=0

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhHRdUCZmDZ6EekUL

Friends- https://youtu.be/yn-q0HwTPhM
Andy- GPL- https://youtu.be/9NqGwEClF3g

I made these videos and needed a post to tag them to-
I felt this day was meant to hang out with some of the guys- to be honest- I was cold but it was meant to be.

You only catch a small glimpse of the day- I have known these guys for many years.
Many of the friends I have met the last few years are really new friends- not part of the community that have been around for years.

When I spent about 4 hours with Andy and Art- we did talk about the old days- but to be honest- Art shared in a way I have never heard him open up before- you don’t catch this on video- but after knowing him for around 20 years- it was one of the first times we had some real honest discussion.

The whole day was indeed ministry- honest evaluation of our lives- some of the guys told me they never thought they would wind up where they ‘wound up’.
Many of the guys have skills- education- and are very talented- and they have had to deal with the reality of the choices they have made- they were telling me this during our talks-

And how they took responsibility for being where they are.
To be honest- they were the ones actually ‘doing ministry’ this day- I was just there as a friend.

Zechariah 8:6
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.

ON VIDEO- [Ephesians 2]
.Phone school
.The course
.True spiritual warfare
.Our time
.The snow came- 12-8-17
.We are his work
.Created for good works
.Troy barks
.Men reconciled to one another
.Seated with him
.Not a culture- But God’s promise
.There is one God
.Objective truth
.My talk with a Muslim at the Kingsville Fire Department
.Texas A and I [now A and M] university
.God will bless all the children of Abraham

TEACHING [Past posts below] –

The ultimate victory over satan- is seen in the first few verses-
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
God made us alive- we have been raised with Christ- and it is in this act of redemption that delivers us from the ‘course of this world’- the course that unbelievers walk- and give expression to the ‘prince of the air’-

Satan deceives lost man- and when man walks in the flesh- this is the primary way satan manifests himself in the world-

Later in this study we will look at spiritual warfare- but for now- we see it is thru the Resurrection that satan has been dealt a death blow.

Now the ‘famous’ passage-
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Yes- we are indeed saved by faith- not by works-

We were dead in sin- unable to save ourselves- but because of God’s choice- his mercy and love- he raised us up from the dead and we are now positionally seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Yet- there are works that are involved here- works that God himself predestined for us-
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
That’s the new course- we have left the old one and the Spirit of God himself lives in us-
and these good works of the Spirit were the plan of God for us before time- ahead of time- pre-planned if you will- our purpose and destiny in God.

The work of Christ not only reconciles us to God- but also to each other
Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Yes- the law in the first century [10 commandments and the law and the prophets] also played a role in division between Jew and Gentile-

The law is good- yet in the hands of the first century religious leadership- it devolved into a sort of barrier-
We see this in the interaction of Jesus and the religious leaders in the gospels.

It created a class of people- who looked down on ‘the other’-

Yet now in Christ- he took this out of the way by nailing it to his Cross-

Colossians 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

And not only brought man back to God-
But man back to a right relationship with his fellow man.

We are now ONE NEW MAN and the middle wall of partition is broken down-
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
The separation is gone-
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And it is this redeemed community that God dwells- we are the people of God-
The Church of God- a temple of people that God dwells in-
It is no longer about natural land and temple- or holy sites in the middle east-
No- it’s about us- you and me- all who have embraced the love that God has shown to us-
Yes- we are that spiritual community representing God to our fellow man-
And this reconciliation to each other thru Christ- has enabled a people to become the actual dwelling of the living God-
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Ephesians 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Ephesians 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The answers to the problems we see in the world today will never be found in any political leader- in any human agenda- though well meaning- these do not have the ability to truly reconcile man with his neighbor.
But God has accomplished this thru his Son- as we have been redeemed thru the Cross-
We are now the Holy dwelling place where God dwells-
This spiritual temple has no earthly boundaries- it is found all over the earth right now-
Africans sing the praises of our God- Europeans are worshiping the king as I type-
Asians are meeting as brothers in Christ at this moment-
Some in Muslim lands are embracing this great God and fully comprehending Jesus as the Prophet sent from God-
As the Son of God-
Yes- all nations are being brought together because this was the plan of God from the start-
And this is the only plan that will ever work. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/ephesians-2-9 ]

PAST POSTS- [My past teaching that relates to this post- Ephesians 2- Verses below]
https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/11/30/ephesians-1/

EPHESIANS- INTRO- CHAPTER 1

Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

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Ephesians 1 Videos-
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ON VIDEO-
.Butterfly
.Background on the city of Ephesus
.Sovereignty
.Paul’s prayer
.Plymouth Rock
.Mayflower
.Jamestown
.Puritans
.Reformation
.Church of England
.Some history of the Puritans and their rejection of the Church of England [Anglican] keeping some of the High Church practices of the Catholic Church

TEACHING- [Past posts- corrections? Below]
Intro- Ephesus was the capitol city of the Roman province of Asia- it was one of the top cities of the day [Like Rome- Corinth- Alexandria- etc].
It was a major commercial center because of a port to the Aegean sea- [Now silted up]
And if you remember my Acts study- the famous temple of Diana was located there- which was considered to be one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/08/09/acts-19/
Paul spent more than 2 years there and he probably penned this letter while sitting in jail at Rome [House arrest]
I actually just covered the history of this in my study on the book of Acts- so I thought it fitting to now start a new study on the letter the apostle wrote to this Christian community.
Chapter 1-
Paul begins the letter acknowledging God’s sovereignty in his own calling-
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
His own conversion was an example of God’s choice- God converted Paul that day on the Damascus road- when Paul was on the way to persecute Christians- https://ccoutreach87.com/2017/04/18/acts-9/
So his own experience is seeing God picking him- not based on his [Paul’s] own choice-
And Paul reminds the believers that is the same choice of God that picked them as well-
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
The doctrine of predestination is clearly taught in this passage-
It has been a hotly debated doctrine thru out the history of the church-
But it is simply stated in the above passage- God chose us to become his children- before the world was made.
Yet- the purpose of God is greater than us- people in time- who have believed-
God’s greater purpose is reconciling all creation to himself thru Christ- who was/is the eternal Logos who himself made all things-
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one ALL THINGS in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Paul also speaks of this redemption of creation in his letter to the Romans- https://ccoutreach87.com/romans-updated-2015/ %5Bsee chapter 8]
The scope of what God has done in Christ is difficult to grasp at the start- and the apostle prays that their spiritual eyes might be able to see the bigger picture-
Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Ephesians 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
The raising of Jesus from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of the throne of God shows us that ultimate rule and authority are now exercised in the kingdom of God-
A kingdom that is above all others-
Ephesians 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
This authority given to Jesus Christ has also been delegated to us- the body of Christ-
We are the community of people where the Spirit of God resides- Jesus being the head of the church- we being the Body- and all things having been put under his feet- speaks of all authorities being subjected to the Body as well- who we are-
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
All of these great mysteries have come to pass- because these things are planned by the counsel of God himself-
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
The power given to the church is an enormous responsibility- the gift of the wisdom of God to enter into these realities also comes with a balance- a discretion-
Ephesians 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
All of these things were made possible only thru the obedient act of the Son who went to the Cross to redeem us-
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phil 2-
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; [Some sites see here https://johnchiarello.medium.com/ephesians-1-a84e5cb8d874 ]
The death of Christ for the sins of man positions those who believe to stand blameless before the throne-

Sunday sermon

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

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Sunday Sermon Videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhEnvSSqZtPzXYFDU

https://www.dropbox.com/s/r7rubte771w2eq7/12-17-17%20Sunday%20sermon.mp4?dl=0

Isaiah 55:10

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

ON VIDEO- [Went to Rock City church this Sunday and spoke on the verses that Pastor David preached on]

.Frankie and the cigarette

.Tina’s Cross- the story

.She came back from the dead

.Gave me the Cross

.And went back

.Just Bee

.Jesus at 12

.The scholars were amazed at his questions

.They saw him again one day- when he flipped the tables of the money changers at the temple

.Did they remember it was the same boy about 18 years earlier?

.The Purse story- where did it come from?

.NYC Port Authority

.You cannot serve God and Money- Jesus Christ said this

Note-

This day I attended Rock City Church- and spoke on some of the verses Pastor David taught on-

I also shared some recent experiences that I wanted to talk about.

The verse that came to my mind earlier in the day was from Isaiah

Isaiah 52:14

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

As we celebrate the birth of Christ during this season- I simply meditated on the price that Jesus paid-

I thought of his miraculous birth- the signs surrounding his life- how his mother ‘pondered’ these strange events as he grew to adulthood-

And then the 3 years of ministry that he embarked upon after his baptism by John.

How he truly fulfilled the prophecies about him- even the ones that spoke of his rejection from others-

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Some in his day even thought he was mentally unstable-

20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21When his familyb heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3

And even his closets friends doubted him at times-

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

Then came the day he was born for- the day that had to be- in order for the promise to come to pass-

This promise- [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/sunday-sermon-222 ]

ACTS 28- [Conclusion of the Act’s study]

Isaiah 25:7
And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

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Acts 28 videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhB9084ZOgh9SujL0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fko3v9h49u9gnm3/11-14-17%20Acts%2028%20%5BConcl.%5D.mp4?dl=0

https://mega.nz/file/SOABDACS#q-y4A7-v4Zo_b8CJjv0nvpup9naz96Q2-aDh2O2Rkec

https://ccoutreach87.com/11-14-17-acts-28-concl/
https://ccoutreach87.com/11-14-17-acts-28-concl-2/

ON VIDEO-
.Stranded on the island
.Melita [Malta] founded by the Phoenicians around 1000 BC
.Paul gets bitten by a snake
.The ‘natives’ think he is being judged
.Then when he doesn’t fall down sick and die-
.They think he is a ‘god’ [Fickle]
.Where did these ‘natives’ get the concept of justice? [natural law theory is true]
.Paul functions in the gift of healing
.The ship he takes to Rome has the names ‘Castor and Pollux’- who were they?
.The mythical sons of Zeus
.Paul at Rome
.He makes his case to the Jews
.Some believe- some don’t
Note- when we study church history we realize there was already a church [believers] at Rome before Paul got there
.So we often teach that Paul was not responsible for the church at Rome
.Yet here we see he did introduce some Roman Jews to Jesus- so he certainly played a role
.Paul quotes from Isaiah 6- which in a way sums up the last half of the book of Acts [see my teaching below]
.Nero
After thoughts-
.Would you go to hell to save the world?
.A talk I had with a homeless friend
.Do we live with a self preservation mentality?
.Are our churches centered around this mentality?
.Your purpose is to fulfil the mission- even if it does not ‘save’ you [The Cross]
.A polarized nation- our times
.Yet- their is a redeemer- Jesus God’s own Son

TEACHING- As we end the Acts study- I’ll add my past teaching below- and just mention a few things.
The last few chapters was the lead up to the climax- Paul was going to Rome to appeal his case to Nero-

His accusers have been on his trail the whole time-
And as he arrives in Rome- he calls together the Jews to present his case first to them.
He figured they heard all the rumors about him- and wanted to make a defense.

As it turned out- they were not aware of all the stuff he was going thru.
So he presents the gospel to them- some believe- others do not-
Then he quotes one passage out of Isaiah 6-
Acts 28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
Acts 28:26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
It’s interesting- because the whole chapter of Isaiah 6 [posted below in the verses section] sort of sums up Paul’s whole experience in the last half of the book of Acts.

He has been going from city to city- desperately trying to persuade his fellow Jews that Jesus is indeed the Christ- the anointed one- the promise that they have been waiting for.
And in this excitement of the reality that they were living in the time when the promise made to their father’s thru the prophets- has now been fulfilled-

Yet- he is dumbfounded that his fellow Jewish brothers refuse to believe it!
And that sums up the chapter of Isaiah 6-
God called the prophet to go and preach to his fellow Jews-

Yet it was thru this preaching of Isaiah that their hearts would be hardened- and they would not believe-
Isaiah even asks God how long will this go on- God says until he makes a full end.
Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
Isaiah 6:11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
Yet- there is still the promise of the remnant- which Paul himself speaks about in his letter to the Romans-
Romans 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Paul even quotes out of Isaiah again-
Romans 9:27
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

And God also speaks about the remnant to Isaiah- [some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/acts-28-5 ]
Isaiah 6:13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
Meaning there would be a period of time in the history of God’s dealings with the Jewish people- and

GALATIANS 6

Galatians 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
Galatians 6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

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6-19-22 Sunday sermon [made this past Sunday at the old church building in Kingsville]

https://ok.ru/video/3699056380471

Galatians 6 Videos-

https://youtu.be/sBr1XDStkOo
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/1-31-17-galatians-6-conc.zip
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMg2TDrX9DmEHrpUM8
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8p7q3cc47gtv6gb/1-31-17%20Galatians%206%20%5BConc.%5D.mp4?dl=0

ON VIDEO-
.Abe from North Bergen
.Paul says ‘good bye’
.Steve Miller band
.Stevie Nicks [landslide]
.Legal and experiential justification
.Grace is not a license to sin
.Holocaust
.Not an anti-Jewish letter
.We are ALL one in Christ
.It’s an inclusive message
.Some North Bergen stories
.Comments on media
.Malachi Martin
.St. Augustine
.Pelagius
.The Catholic Church does not teach salvation by the law
.Have grace with one another

TEACHING- [past posts- verses below]
During this study I have been adding an old commentary I wrote years ago- the videos are new.
I’ll just add a note here at the end.
This letter is a ‘theological’ one- meaning- the purpose is to show how God- in Christ- has fulfilled the law.
And we become justified- not by the law- but by faith in Christ.
Pretty simple.
When Paul speaks ‘harsh’ about the ‘circumcision’- meaning his Jewish brothers who were trying to institute circumcision as a rite for the gentile believers-
He is not in any way making anti-Semitic statements- or ‘bad’ statements against any ethnic/religious group.
He is fighting for the gospel of grace.
Over the history of the church- some Christians did indeed espouse anti- Jewish beliefs- based on these portions of scripture.
Yes- Paul was hard on the ‘circumcision’- the Jews under the law- but it had nothing to do with ethnicity.
It was theological-
In this last chapter he even says to restore those who are wrong- in the spirit [attitude] of meekness.
In the world we live in today- it’s important for Christians- in my mind- to stand for the truth- but to do it in a way that does not demean other people.
Whether that be Jewish- Muslim- or any other group.
Yes- as Christians we fight against false doctrine- and at times- these are tough fights.
Thus the strong language we see at times in the New Testament.
But even Paul himself spoke about God reconciling all people- whether they be Jew- gentile- male- female- in Christ.
He fought hard against the Judiazers- because in reality they were indeed preaching an ‘exclusive’ message.
Saying the only ones who God accepts- are those who get circumcised- and join ‘their group’.
But the message of grace leaves the door open for all who believe.
Jew- non Jew- male- female- all are accepted equally thru the message of the Cross.
So I just wanted to end this brief study with this point.
Yes- read these bible books for yourselves.
Go thru the bible- the Letters I have been covering.
Whatever background you come from- it makes no difference.
You are here now- reading this stuff- or maybe watching some of the videos.
The purpose is for you yourself to engage in the grand debate- that has been going on for 2 thousand years now [since the time of Christ that is].
Yes- the debate about life itself- what’s man’s purpose in it?
What does the bible actually teach about all these subjects?
The bible was written for the common man to read- and understand.
I’ll admit there is some stuff that is hard to understand at times.
But when you engage in the text- read the background of the times- see what the teachers over the years have said as well-
In the end- the main message of grace is clear- it is easy to understand.
The free gift of God by grace is for all of us.
And remember- it is a gift for all. [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/galatians-6-7 ]

PAST LINKS [ Teaching I did before that relates to today’s post- ‘Galatians 6’- Verses below]

Galatians 1

https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2020/12/galatians-1-text.html?m=0

SUNDAY SERMON

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. Luke 19:40

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Sunday sermon videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhDLI-9ypw3p0uIxP

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8m69fth2b59e5b/11-26-17%20Sunday%20Sermon.mp4?dl=0

http://ccoutreach87.com/11-26-17-sunday-sermon/

http://ccoutreach87.com/11-26-17-sunday-sermon-2/

ON VIDEO-

.Web sites

.Rocks cry out- who are the rocks?

.Occupy till he comes

.1st and last Adam

.Resurrection

.Trinity

.Orthodoxy

.Logos

.Passover Lamb

.Money changers [here’s my book- https://ccoutreach87.com/house-of-prayer-or-den-of-thieves/ I mentioned it on the video]

.Descartes- Leibniz- Pascal

.Renaissance

.Theology- Philosophy- Science

.Pascal’s wager

.Freud

.Who is considered the 1st scientist?

.Aristotle

.Jansenism- I talked about this movement on the video-http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08285a.htm

.

Teaching- [Past teaching below]

I covered the verses from the Sunday Mass and a few notes from Church Unlimited-

I’ll add my past teaching below that relates.

I did teach some on Philosophy- Descartes- Leibniz and Pascal.

Descartes was born in 1596- died in 1650-

The most famous saying from Descartes is Cogito Ergo Sum- loosely meaning ‘I think- therefore I am’.

Pascal is also famous for his writings called the Penseeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pens%C3%A9es these were various thoughts he had written down which became famous after his death.

They were not intended to be a complete teaching on the existence of God- but simply insights he jotted down during his life.

He was a Catholic Christian [like the others I mentioned above] and did associate himself with the Jansenist’s- a catholic movement that was a sort of Reform movement in itself- but they remained within the Church- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jansenism

They revived the teachings of Saint Augustine- and challenged the institutional church of their day.

I actually mentioned Augustine while I talked philosophy- his famous bent oar example- when you see an oar in the water- the senses [sight] seem to show it as being bent-http://lonergan.org/online_books/Liddy/chapter_four_augustine.htm

Though it just ‘seems’ that way to the eye- yet in reality it is not bent.

This example came up while I talked about the whole subject of how we know what we know- a field all the thinkers I mentioned in this post dealt with- called epistemology.

The history of Theology- Science- Philosophy- were all intertwined when you sought a higher education in the classical sense-

As we got into Aristotle and Plato- I could not think of the school Plato started-

After I shut the vidoe off- I remembered- I believe it was the Academy [Honest- haven’t checked it yet- but taught all this before so if I’m right I’ll leave this note- I have since checked- here’s the link- http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0009%3Achapter%3D15%3Asection%3D2 ].

There were a few ‘coincidences’ that fit in with this weeks teaching- I share them on the video.

Leibniz shares the distinction as one of the inventors of Calculus [along with Newton]-https://www.thegreatcoursesdaily.com/invented-calculus-newton-leibniz/

And at the end of the video I mentioned Pascal’s Wager-https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/ my daughter mentioned how it was funny- because she just moved her own copy of the book the day or so before-

So these are just a few notes- I’ll add the rest below-

John [Some sites see here https://johnchiarello.medium.com/sunday-sermon-db136d3ed447 ]

ACTS 27

Acts 27:22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

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6-15-22 Homeless murder questions https://youtu.be/B77eMpPXCPE

Acts27 videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhA64Y7bm7McaV39S

https://www.dropbox.com/s/10wlzhq0r34fl06/10-31-17%20Acts%2027.mp4?dl=0

https://mega.nz/file/jOwkHIqb#D8RDxqd5iR-DCVHppZPvKXaiDw5ZklMnwqvTfmVjN0E

https://ccoutreach87.com/10-31-17-acts-27/
https://ccoutreach87.com/10-31-17-acts-27-2/

ON VIDEO-
.Shipwreck on the way to Rome
.Launched from Sidon [modern day Lebanon]
.Made it to the island of Crete
.Paul says for them not to set sail again- because this time of the year the winds get bad
.The commander rejects Paul’s advice
.They sail and the ‘North east front ‘ gets them
.Then the shipwreck- stuck at Malta- a known island just south of Sicily
.Why all the history- geography here?
.Luke is writing a 1st century history of the events surrounding Jesus and his early followers
.How the movement spread- where they went- and all of this history is indeed true
.Lot’s of the historical evidence in Act’s does confirm the bible- that’s in not just a bunch of made up fables
.Yes- the critics challenge the faith- and have tried to discredit Christianity
.But the faith of the church is not founded on fairy tales- but historical truth
.And even the ship wrecks and the islands they landed on in the 1st century- show the bible to be true after all

PAST POSTS- [Parts of my past teaching that relates- Verses below]

ACTS 27- Paul heads to Rome! He sets sail under guard and has a few harrowing experiences. He warns the ships captain not to sail at one stop, the time of severe weather is at hand. They refuse to listen, they set sail and wind up almost dying. Paul gives them a classic ‘I told you so!’ and says ‘don’t worry, an angel from God appeared to me and told me your lives will be spared’ [poor Paul, when is he going to see that these prophetic experiences are ruining his ministry!] they all swim to shore after the ship gets stuck off shore. At one point while still stuck in the water Paul tells them ‘you guys have not eaten in 14 days, have some food’ he breaks bread, thanks God and invites them to eat. I really see this as a type of ‘Lords supper’ thing. I have showed you guys in the past that the early church practiced a type of ‘common meal’. They seemed to take Jesus words in John 6 [Paul in Corinthians too] to teach that ‘as oft as you do this’ [do what? As oft as you get together and eat a meal from this time forth, you will remember that your actual spiritual life is pictured by you eating and drinking for physical life. I am your daily bread of life. You live because I live!]The early believers seemed to take it in this ‘buffet style’ way. So Paul seems to be holding some type of ‘invitation Lords meal’ and saying come and dine! At the end of this chapter Paul’s life is spared by the favor he had with the centurion Julius. God gave him protection to complete the mission. Paul has been witnessing of Jesus to all these gentile [Roman] authorities and he will take it to Rome. Ultimately it will take 3 centuries before the whole kingdom [Roman Empire] will bow the knee, but Paul was the firebrand who set the match.

Acts 1 [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/acts-27-4 ]

https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2020/07/acts-1-text.html?m=0

ACTS 26

Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

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Acts 26 Videos-

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMhANHyf1eoDE942_f

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zulzxbly4ksbeif/10-24-17%20Acts%2026.mp4?dl=0

https://mega.nz/file/7egTRAKS#o-pMhZRQzfw_ES-03OK9k-HB_fPPJSNl9zEmR51VJEk

https://ccoutreach87.com/10-24-17-acts-26/
https://ccoutreach87.com/10-24-17-acts-26-2/

ON VIDEOS- [Past teaching- verses below]
JFK and Descartes video-
.The paragraph from the new document release said he was shot- from the front
.A brief review of Descartes
.The Jesuits
.Protestant Reformation
.Edgar Hoover said ‘ ít’s important that the public believes there was only one shooter’- huh?
.Epistemology
.Dewboy Lister update
https://ccoutreach87.com/overview-of-philosophy/
https://ccoutreach87.com/protestant-reformation-luther/

Acts 26 video-
.Paul makes his case- again
. ‘’I was just like them’’
.Then came the Damascus road
.He became a witness of the resurrection
.He was being persecuted- for the same hope they were all waiting for!
.They just didn’t see it yet
.Justified by faith
.Alice recall

TEACHING- [Past stuff]

PAST POSTS- [Past teaching I did that relates to this post- ACTS 26- Verses below]
https://ccoutreach87.com/romans-updated-2015/
https://ccoutreach87.com/galatians-links/

(766)ACTS 26- Paul makes his case before Agrippa. Paul says that he is being accused of the hope that all the Jews are waiting for and serving God day and night to receive! It’s funny how all the religious requirements of the law and temple, the whole culture of Judaism. All the symbols that made up their heritage. All the times they would quote Moses or Abraham ‘we have Abraham as our father’ ‘we know God spoke to Moses’ all of these things were for THE SOLE PURPOSE of coming to a point in Jewish history where the Jews would receive their Messiah. Paul states ‘this actual hope and reason for our existence as a Jewish nation is the cause of contention that the Jewish leaders have against me’. What an amazing thing! Now once again Paul will state the basic Christian doctrine of Jesus and his resurrection ‘king Agrippa, why would it be so hard to believe that God can raise the dead’? Did you ever ponder this question? A few years ago you didn’t exist [30-50-70?] since you were born you have been taught that you exist because of certain natural means. You learned the process of birth, and some of you have actually had kids yourselves. During you life you have heard and learned about the universe, planets, the history of man. We have lived thru an industrial and technological revolution. We put men on the moon, we splice genes, we take men’s hearts out of their bodies and put pumps in there place! Plus all these things came from a point in time where there was no thing! Hebrews says God made every thing from nothing! Science actually does agree with this [read my section on Evolution] and after all this experience and knowledge you have attained in your very short life, yet if God were to say ‘I will raise the dead’ people say ‘now, how can you expect me to believe that?’ We do have pea brains at times! Paul also retells his conversion and says how Jesus told him he would be a witness of the historical events of Christ and his resurrection, but Jesus also said ‘and you will testify of the things I will reveal to you in the future’. Now we have to do some stuff. What were the things that Jesus was going to reveal to Paul in the future? We read these things in Paul’s letters. Basically the great reality of our sharing in the divine nature [actually this is Peter] our sonship. The great mystery of God making one new man out of Jew and Gentile. Truths concerning the ascension and the heavenly realities of redemption [Hebrews]. The point is the ‘future revelation’ of Jesus to Paul was not some knowledge outside of the boundaries already laid down in the gospels. The doctrine of the Apostles was already being taught thru out the book of Acts. God simply gave Paul greater insight and revelation into the truths that already existed. The Gnostics [early second century cult of Christianity- the word comes from the Greek term ‘Gnosis’- knowledge]. They taught a type of special knowledge that said the basic Christian who only has the historical truths of Jesus are at a lower level. Once you become a Gnostic, you then have special revelation that can’t be learned thru normal means. A popular Christian teaching comes close to this ‘revelation knowledge’. Many years ago I was a student of E.W. Kenyon and the word of faith movement. Brother Kenyon taught a type of mystical teaching that said God can reveal things to people outside of the 5 senses, and this is ‘revelation knowledge’. Can God do this? To a degree, yes. We actually read how Agabus gave Paul a prophecy about being bound at Jerusalem. Or Paul dreaming about a man in Macedonia asking for help. I see the reality of God being able to reveal things to us supernaturally as a gift of the prophetic. We are born of Gods Spirit and we do receive understanding from God as his Spiritual children. But yet Paul will write ‘study to show yourself approved’. So Jesus told Paul he was going to show him stuff in the future. Paul based his apostolic authority on this fact [Galatians 1-2]. He would say ‘the gospel I preach was not given to me by men, but God revealed it to me’ what gospel is Paul talking about? The gospel [good news] of the grace of God. Jesus revealed the more important stuff to Paul as time went on, Paul was seeing more and more grace! [Some sites see here https://ccoutreach87.webstarts.com/blog/post/acts-26-4 ]

Sunday sermon

Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Links to my sites here and the bottom of every post- Most updated at bottom.

Stats

Sunday sermon video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjJRRUsa09w&t=8s
https://www.facebook.com/john.chiarello.5/videos/10205714658543929/
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Aocp2PkNEAGMi0oTQlcxLhm8L-Wc

ON VIDEO
.The longer reading
.Luke/Acts
.Who wrote the most chapters in the New Testament?
.Who wrote the largest part of the New Testament? – Good Question [Word for word- Luke. Most letters- Paul]
.The promise of the Spirit
.The importance of the ascension
.The Kingdom question in Acts 1?
.The unfolding of the plan/mystery of God
.The present ministry of Jesus
.Continual intercession
.He showed himself alive- after his passion
.How about us?
.Passover- Pentecost
.Jesus and his church are the fulfillment of these great feasts
.The good argument Justin Martyr made
.Tabula Rasa
.The 2nd coming of Christ

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

TEACHING [Past posts below]

Today I have no plan on making a video- so this will be it until Monday night.
I just finished a study for the weekly text posts- and I’ll start a new one Tuesday, God willing. I want to wish all of you a great Lord’s day- hopefully most will attend a church service in the city you live in.
I realize some are not able to attend for various reasons- but would encourage you to fellowship with other believers- even if it’s in a home setting- it’s important for believers to meet together- it builds each other up when we do this.
Ok, that’s it for this brief note-
God bless all
John

James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

[These verses thru out the post are some I quoted on the video- all the verses I quoted or taught from are at the bottom of this post]

PAST POSTS [These are links and parts of my past teachings that relate in some way to today’s post- Verses below]
https://ccoutreach87.com/acts-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/ephesians-links/
https://ccoutreach87.com/hebrews-links-updated-10-2018/
https://ccoutreach87.com/house-of-prayer-or-den-of-thieves/
https://ccoutreach87.com/james-2015/
https://ccoutreach87.com/corinthians-links-4-2019/

Acts 1
POSTED BY CCOUTREACH87 ⋅ JANUARY 18, 2017 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT
ACTS 1
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
https://youtu.be/7UqPubfdyTM Acts 1
https://ccoutreach87.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/1-12-17-acts-1.zip

ON VIDEO-
.The Jesus movement
.Is it just a ‘story’?
.Act’s proven to be historically accurate
.How?
.Industrial revolution leads to field of archeology
.We found stuff
.field of documentary evidence arose-
.That proved it too
.Sir Ramsey changed his mind
.Church in world history
.Descartes- Copernicus- etc.
.Acts-
.Jesus ascends
.Wait for the promise of the Father
.Judas replaced
.Power is on the way
.History-
.early 20th century- Spirit comes to Azusa
.Then at Duquesne University
.Catholics get it too
.Charismatic movement [Some sites see here https://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/2022/06/sunday-sermon-text_12.html?m=0 ]
PAST TEACHING [below are my past links/teaching I did that relate to today’s video- ACTS 1]