048. FORGIVENESS. Iniquity Forgiven, Sin Not Remembered. Jeremiah 31:34.

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

How releasing it would be to know that one’s iniquities had been forgiven and that God had promised not to remember one’s sins any more. That is precisely what God promised through Jeremiah in Jer 31:34, For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”  (Isaiah had previously written something similar when he wrote in Isa 43:25  “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”)  We note here that the same words are used in both passages for “not remembering” and for “sins”.

What then does Jeremiah mean by “For I will forgive their iniquity.” In the Hebrew Bible “forgive” is “salach” which we have looked at before in an earlier article. It has the meaning to forgive and pardon and is always used of God forgiving, pardoning or sparing. In the Greek LXX (Septuagint version) the word is from “híleōs”  and means to show mercy, to be propitious, to pardon. It is one of those verses in both Greek and Hebrew versions that the grace of God is seen in God’s willingness to forgive guilty people.

“Iniquity” in Hebrew is “avon” and is a word denoting conscious wrongdoing and the guilt deriving from that. It has the sense of deliberate intention to do evil. In the Greek version (LXX) the word is “adikia”  which can mean acting unjustly and perhaps bringing harm to another person through injustice. What a blessed truth that God can show mercy to those who have turned from His way and can forgive the sins they deliberately committed against Him or against their fellow humans.

The magnitude of God’s grace in forgiveness is in the final phrase of the verse,  “and I will remember their sin no more.” This implies on God’s part the intention to not bring that person’s sin back against them again. God as the Omniscient (all knowing) One cannot forget anything but He can choose not to recall things in order to use them against people again.

When God forgives He does so deliberately with no intention of later holding those sins against the people. The Hebrew word “zakar” and the  Greek word, “mimnēskō” both have that sense of remembering or recalling to memory. God will not recall those sins again.   What a contrast with the human tendency to keep on recalling to our minds the sins that others have committed against us, and even using those things against that person over and over again.  We will see in later articles that God can give us the grace to forgive in the same way He does, but we need His grace to do so.

Blog No.048.   Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Saturday 26th November 2011

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047. Outline of Ephesians 6:9-24. Spiritual Warfare

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Paul had just written of the mutual submission that the people of God ought to have for one another in the various groupings in the Christian family. Now he looks outside that family to the challenge of the world outside the Christian church. The believers needed to know the strength that only God could give them to live and minister in that world.

1).        THE COMMAND TO BE STRONG.  Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord (Greek word is endynamousthe from dunamis meaning power.) Paul was able to command his readers to be strengthened because he himself had looked to God for strength and had indeed been strengthened by Him.  He used the same word in these verses, Phil 4:13, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me;  1Tim 1:12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me; 2Tim 4:17  But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.

Verse 10 continues, …and in the strength (Gk. kratei) of his might (Gk. ischuos). These words are also found together in Eph 1:19. The first word is used only of God but the second can mean indwelling strength. God is the source of both. Paul wants his readers to look to God to receive His strength.

i).         How can they be strengthened? Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour (Gk. panoplía)  of God. (This is the armour that God supplies as we turn to Him for help).  …that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (We note that we are to “stand” not “charge”. The reason being that the battle has been won on the cross and believers are to stand in that victory, Col 2:15  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

ii).        Why do they need to be strengthened? To be able to take part in a spiritual battle against spiritual forces. Eph 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Whatever power might exist, Christ’s power is always supreme. They needed His power not their own in overcoming evil.

 2).        THE COMMAND TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

Eph 6:13  Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

i).         The pieces of armour

  • Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.  It involves knowing and living by the truth in true integrity.
  • Eph 6:15  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. Being at peace with God and being ready to share the gospel of peace equips believers for any sudden challenge that may emerge.
  • Eph 6:16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. Our faith shields us against all the accusations Satan as Diabolos (the Accuser) might hurl at us.
  • Eph 6:17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The assurance of our salvation enables us to stand confidently against that which would seek to destroy us. In addition, the word of God (the sword of the Spirit), as we live by it, enables us to defend our position. It also becomes our offensive weapon in breaking down the barriers of ignorance and deceit and falsehood.

Paul simplified the meaning of all this armour when he told the Roman believers, Rom13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. When we are clothed with Christ or have put on the armour of God we can stand firm in victory over the forces of evil.    

ii).        Prayer

  • How to pray. Eph 6:18  praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Praying “in the Spirit” is perhaps a wider term than praying in tongues. It means being led and guided by the Spirit of God as we pray. Paul elsewhere had shown the place of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to pray according to the will of God, Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
  • For whom to pray. Prayer is not for selfish purposes. It enables us to become involved in what God is doing or wants to do in particular situations. Thus we must be ready to pray at all times and to pray for all believers as He leads us by His Spirit. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
  • What to pray. Paul knew that his death could come at any time. He wanted to make the most of the time he had left. He didn’t want to miss out on any opportunity of sharing Christ with others. He asked that people might pray that he be given boldness to share the gospel message. Eph 6:19  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, Eph 6:20  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

 PERSONAL NEWS

i).         Why he wrote the letter. He wanted his readers in Ephesus to know his present situation.  Eph 6:21  So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing,

ii).        Why he sent Tychicus with the message. Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22  I have sent him to you for this very purpose,

iii).       For what purpose did Tychicus  come? To inform them in Ephesus and to encourage them. that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

 CLOSING GREETINGS

i).         Peace, love, faith. He wanted them to know God’s peace and love. Eph 6:23  Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

ii).        Grace. He and they had been the recipients of God’s amazing grace. He desired that they might continue to know His enduring grace and love as they in turn continued to love Jesus, Eph 6:24  Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Blog No.047. Jim Holbeck.  Posted on Wednesday 23rd November 2011

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046. Outline of Ephesians 6:1-9. Mutual Submission In The Body Of Christ. (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

This section of the epistle is based on the command in Ephesian 5:18, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. Paul writes that one of the four consequences of being filled with the Spirit is that believers submit to one another, Eph 5:21  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. It is part of the mutual submission seen in the major groupings in the Christian family. We have already seen that submission referred to in the previous article in the mutual submission between husbands and wives. Now comes the next set of relationships showing the obligations that members of the Christian family have to each other.

1).        Children Living in Submission to Parents. 6:1-3

i).         It is the right thing to do. Eph 6:1  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. (See Note 1).

ii).       Is a rewarding thing to do. Eph 6:2  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), Eph 6:3  “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” (See Note 2).

2).        Fathers’ Responsibilities Towards Their  Children. 6:4

i).      The wrong approach. Eph 6:4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (See Note 3).

ii).     The right approach. but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (See Note 4).

3).        Slaves’ Submission To Their Masters. 6:5-8

Why should they obey their masters? Eph 6:5  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (See Note 5).

How should they obey? Eph 6:6  not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (See Note 6).

Whom should they seek to please?  Eph 6:7  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (See Note 7).

What benefit is there in obeying? Eph 6:8  knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

4).        Masters’ Obligations To Their Slaves. 6:9

How to treat them. Eph 6:9  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening,

Why? knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (See note 8).

NOTES:

Note 1. “right” here is (dikaios), meaning here that it is right in the eyes of the Lord, or according to His will.

Note 2. This commandment was in the Decalogue or 10 Commandments given to Moses. (Exodus 20:12; Deut 5:16). Disobedience to parents was taken very seriously as we see in Deuteronomy 21:18-21.

Note 3. “provoke” (parorgízō) can mean to irritate or stir up to anger. Fathers had a duty not to “bait” their children or act towards them in such a way that they  responded in anger.

Note 4. “discipline” is (paideia) used mainly for the  training of a child and includes the concept of chastening or correction.  “Instruction” is ( nouthesia) which also includes the idea of correction.

Note 5. “Sincere” is (haplótēs).  This means being single-minded  or faithful.  Their single-mindedness in serving their masters  should be the single-mindedness they would show in serving Christ Himself.

Note 6.  The HCSB puts it, Eph 6:6  Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

Note 7. Believers should serve Christ in all they do, even when it is working for a secular boss.

Note 8. Paul saw Christian slaves and masters as brothers in Christ and both subject to their Heavenly Master. Submission to Him meant submission to each other in Him. Threatening was not appropriate for brothers in Christ.

 Blog No.046.  Jim Holbeck. Posted on Wednesday 23rd November 2011

 

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045. Outline of Ephesians 5:21-33. Mutual Submission In The Body Of Christ. (Part 1 of 2).

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

The man licked his lips and ran off to share with his wife the verse he had just found in the Bible, “Wives, be subject to your husbands.” Now to get his own way! In his mind, she was meant to meekly obey him. He soon discovered that it wasn’t that simple! The verse had a context. The context had other truths. Truths that meant he had very, very real demanding obligations towards his wife. His responsibilities were even more demanding than hers.

We have to read these verses from 5:22 onwards in their context. They follow from the command in verse 18, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit. We saw in the previous article that four things follow from this “filling. They are linked to the main verb “be filled” in verse 18 by a series of participles indicating the result of being filled with the Spirit.  i). Eph 5:19  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, ii). singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, iii). Eph 5:20  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, iv). Eph 5:21  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

It is at this point  from verse 21 onwards that Paul spells out in detail what that mutual submission to one another looks like in practice. He outlines the submission required in the major groupings in the body of Christ.  (5:22-24 Wives to husbands.) (5:25-33 Husbands to wives.) (6:1-3 Children to parents). (6:4 Fathers to children). (6:5-8 Slaves to masters.) (6:9 Masters to slaves.) We look here at those in Chapter 5.  (I will include most of the scripture verses to show how they fit into the over-all picture).

1).        The Submission Of Wives To Husbands.  (We note of course that Paul is not talking here about submission of women to men. Rather he is talking about the deep loving intimate relationship of Christian marriage). Eph 5:22  Wives, submit to your own husbands. But what does the verse really say? There is no “submit” between “wives” and “husbands”. The Lexham New Testament translates it correctly as Eph 5:21  being subject to one another [out of reverence for] Christ 22  –wives to their own husbands as to the Lord. It is not the stark “Wives be subject to your husbands” seen in many translations. Rather it is the softer translation seen in the Lexham version.

  • Why should they be submissive in this way? Paul explains, 23  because the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church (he himself being the Saviour of the body). There is both unity and order in their relationship. They belong to each other. They each have responsibilities towards the other in their mutual submission.
  • In what measure are they to be submissive? “as to the Lord”. (As though they were doing it to Christ Himself or for Him).
  • Why should she? Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife. What pattern of “headship” is she to submit to? Submission to headship such as that of the church (the body of Christ) to Christ (the head of the body), even as Christ is the head of the church, his body
  • What has the head (Christ) done for the body? and is himself its Saviour. His sacrificial death on the cross provided salvation and forgiveness for the people of God, the body of Christ.
  • Paul reaffirmed the principle of submission as he compared the submission of wives to husbands with the submission of the church to Christ, Eph 5:24,  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives (should submit) in everything to their husbands. But even here we note that there is no “be subject” or “should submit” in the original Greek. It is the softer “wives in everything to their husbands”. But it is still submission nevertheless as part of the mutual submission in the body of Christ.

 2).        The Submission Of Husbands To Wives. Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives. In what measure?  as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The husband has to love his wife with a sacrificial totally self-giving love, even being willing to die for her if necessary.   He has to have the same attitude of self-giving love seen in Jesus’ love for His people in Philippians 2:3-8,  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. As the husband looks to the best interests of his wife, he too may find such commitment very sacrificial on his part. But he does it in his love for her as part of his submission to the will of God for him as a Christian husband.

  • The purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice for the church? Eph 5:26  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
  • We see here Christ’s ultimate purpose as the head of the body. Eph 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. The husband’s protective self-giving love should provide the safe environment for his wife to grow more fully into the grace of God.
  • Christ as the head loved His body the church. Husbands need to love their wives in the same way. Eph 5:28  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
  • Husbands love their own bodies in nourishing them and protecting them.  Eph 5:29  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,
  • The pattern to follow?  Nourishing and cherishing his wife,  just as Christ does the church,
  • Why do husbands need to do this? Because husbands and wives are both members of the body He loves and cherishes. Eph 5:30  because we are members of his body.

The prime commitment of husbands is to their wives. She becomes his number 1 human. priority.  Eph 5:31  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” The magnitude of this commitment? The commitment of Christ to the church!  Eph 5:32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

3).        The Overall Principles To Be Acted On.

  • Husbands are to love their wives as themselves. Giving her (at the very least) the same detailed attention he gives to himself and to his own needs.  Eph 5:33  However, let each one of you love his wife as himself.  In meeting her needs as he should, he discovers his own needs can be met.  It is a more personal application of the general principle in the second Great Commandment, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Mat 22:39 
  • Wives are to respect their husbands. and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Respect” here is “phobos” which can be translated as “reverence” rather than “fear”. She can respect and even reverence him because he has a truly awesome responsibility before God. He has to be like Christ to his wife and to love her with Christ’s love.  He needs all the support he can get from his wife as he seeks to fulfil that great obligation and privilege to love her with the love of God.

Is it possible to love and submit in this way in practice?  One wife said, “I would be willing to submit myself completely to a husband who loves me as much as Christ loves the church”. What love that would be! Caring! Protective! Unselfish! Self-giving! How much easier it would be for any wife to submit to a husband with a truly genuine Christ-like love, life and behaviour.

It behoves every Christian husband and wife to pray that the truth of Romans 5:5 is fulfilled in them, And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. His love is poured into our hearts by His Holy Spirit, that it might flow out through us to touch the lives of our loved ones, especially our husbands or wives. We are to love them with the love of God as part of our mutual submission.

Blog No.045.        Jim Holbeck.      Posted on Tuesday 22nd November 2011

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044. Outline of Ephesians 5:1-21. “Walking in love”

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Paul opens the section with an admonition to “walk” in love. He uses “walk” 6 times in this epistle to denote the manner of life needed to be lived by the believer.  (See Note 1 below). A new spiritual birth necessitated a new walk or a whole new manner of life.

1).      WALKING IN LOVE AS AN IMITATION OF GOD’S LOVE. 5:1-2

What it involved.  Living in the family likeness of Father and Son.

  • As God’s children they were to imitate their Heavenly Father in His love. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children
  • They were to love in the same self-giving, sacrificial way that Christ loved.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 What it didn’t involve. No more living as they once did.

  • The Old Life.  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness  (5:3)
  • Contrast. The New Life.  (these sins) must not even be named among you,  as is proper among saints.
  • The Old Life. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, (5:4)
  • Contrast. The New Life.  (these sins) which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

2).       THE DANGER FOR THOSE LIVING THE OLD LIFE. 5:5

  • They miss out on God’s inheritance. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (5:5)
  • They will suffer the wrath of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

3).       THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THOSE LIVING THE NEW LIFE. 5:6-16

Walking in the light rather than in the former darkness. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Walking in the light to expose the darkness. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Walking carefully and wisely so as to not waste time.  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

 4).      LIVING BY GOD’S WILL. SUBMISSION TO GOD AND TO ONE ANOTHER IN HIM. 5:17-21

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Understanding the will of God involves:-

  • Not being under the influence of wine.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,
  • Being under the influence of the Holy Spirit.  but be filled with the Spirit (Note 2)
  • Four results of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  (Note 3)

i.   addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

ii.   singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart

iii.    giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

                 iv.   submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

(Note 1. In 2:10, it is to walk in the good works God has prepared for His people. In 4:1 the readers were encouraged to remember their calling and to walk worthily of that calling. In 4:17  it was a reminder that they should no longer walk in the way of the Gentiles.  In 5:2 it is to walk in love and also in 5:8 they were to walk as children of light. Finally in 5:15 they were to be careful to walk as wise rather than as unwise people.)

(Note 2.  The parsing of the verb “be filled” is present imperative passive. That means literally “keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit.”  It is not a once for all experience. We can’t fill ourselves. God Himself must keep on filling us with His Spirit. But it needs an openness on our part for Him to do so. Being under the influence of wine means we fail to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Submitting ourselves to God is a prerequisite for being filled with His Spirit.)

(Note 3. The ESV translation correctly translates these verses. There is one main verb in the section from verse 17 to 21 which is “be filled” in verse 18. What follows is a series of participles as we see in the translation above, that is, addressing … singing … giving thanks … submitting.   These give the sense of the results of being filled with the Spirit. Thus verse 21 does not begin another sentence as we see in many versions. Rather it has the fourth participle, “submitting to one another”.  In the next section we will see how Paul spells out what that mutual submission in the body of Christ should look like for all for the major relationships of that time.)

Blog No.044.  Jim Holbeck.   Posted on 12th November 2011.

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043. Outline of Ephesians 4:17-32

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Overall theme in Chapter 4. You ARE one in Christ. BECOME what you are!

Outline of Ephesians 4:17-32

1).           THE BANKRUPTCY OF RELIGION APART FROM CHRIST.  4:17-19

Paul contrasts the old life of those without Christ with the new life they now have through their faith in Him.

i).            They Are Accountable For Their Bankrupt Spiritual State. In verses 17 and 18 he describes them before they came to Christ as having futile minds, darkened understandings and as being alienated from the life of God. Eph 4:17  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God

How did that happen? He gives the reasons in verse 18. It came from their ignorance which in turn stemmed from their hardness of heart.

So the order is as follows:  Their hardness of heart led to their ignorance which resulted in their having futile minds, darkened understandings and being alienated from God. This hardness (porōsis used in osteoporosis etc) indicated their accountability before God.

ii).          They Are Accountable For Their On-going Sin. Their on-going hardness of heart led to a deepening involvement in sin.  Eph 4:19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

 2).           BECOMING WHAT THEY ARE IN THEIR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. 4:20-32

i).            Putting Off The Old Self. 4:20-22. Eph 4:20  But that is not the way you learned Christ!– 21  assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22  to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

ii).          Putting On The New Self. 4:23-25. Eph 4:23  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24  and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

iii).         Outward Expressions Of The New Life. To be seen in:-

  • Truthful speech. Eph 4:25  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
  • Controlled attitudes. Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27  and give no opportunity to the devil.
  • Becoming a giver not a taker in relationships. Eph 4:28  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
  • Appropriate speech in every situation. Eph 4:29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good (the three characteristics of appropriate speech)
    • a.  for building up, (Greek word oikodomeō means to edify or to strengthen)
    • b. as fits the occasion (It always has to be appropriate. For example, the right word to the right person at the right time in the right situation from the right motivation).
    • c.  that it may give grace to those who hear. (The person who hears it must be helped by the words said).

iv).         Overall Motivation For Living The New Life. Eph 4:30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. How does one prevent grieving the Spirit?

  • By getting rid of the negative. Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
  • By affirming the positive. Eph 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave (Note 1) you.

Note 1. The word for “forgave” here comes from “charizomai” meaning to impart grace. As God had “graced” them with forgiveness, so they were to “grace” others by forgiving them. The verb is from “charis” grace. They didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness, nor could they ever earn it. Likewise the readers were to forgive those who could never earn nor deserve their forgiveness.

Blog No.043.    Jim Holbeck.     Posted on Wednesday 2nd November 2011

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042. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS Chapter 4:1-16

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Blog 042. OUTLINE OF EPHESIANS Chapter 4:1-16

OVERALL THEME: You ARE one in Christ!  BECOME one in practice!

OUTLINE:

A).          THEIR UNITY IN CHRIST.  4:1-3

i).            Called to belong to Christ. Eph 4:1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

ii).           Called to belong to one another in Christ . Eph 4:2-3. with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 B).          THEIR UNITY BASED ON THE UNITY OF THE GODHEAD.  4:4-6

One Spirit. Eph 4:4.  There is one body and one Spirit–-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

One Lord (Jesus). 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One Father. 6  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

 

C).          THEIR UNITY COMING FROM GOD’S COMMON GRACE. 4:7-10

i).            Christ’s gift of grace to all. Eph 4:7  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

ii).          Christ’s gift of grace resulted from His death, resurrection and ascension.  Eph 4:8  Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9  (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10  He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

(Compare Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost,  Acts 2:33  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing).  

 D).          THEIR UNITY AND DIFFERENT GIFTINGS.  4:11-13

i).            The people of the gifting.  Eph 4:11  And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers

ii).          The purpose of the gifting.  Eph 4:12  to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

iii).         The purpose of the ministry.   for building up the body of Christ, Eph 4:13  until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

iv).         The expected results of the ministry.

a).           Spiritual maturity. Eph 4:14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

b).          Growth in Christ-likeness. Eph 4:15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

c).           Bodily growth. Eph 4:16  from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow

d).          Growth in love. so that it builds itself up in love.

 Blog No. 042   Jim Holbeck.   Posted on Monday 31st October 2011

 

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041. Healing of Lou Gehrig’s Disease; ALS; (Motor Neuron Disease)

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

One is able to learn of a remarkable healing by God of Donald Jaeger of Florida who was healed in 1992 of Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS (see Note 1 below).  You can read of his healing in an article to be found on Francis Macnutt’s website. Don’s testimony in written form is on the Glennon House at All Saints Episcopal church, Winter Park, Florida website.  For those who would like to hear Don’s oral testimony given during a Healing Service in audio MP3 form, you will find it on this website.

Instead of spelling out more fully in this article all the factors involved in Don’s healing, I will emphasise just one aspect of his healing that I personally found very helpful.  My ears pricked up when I heard him say that he had “delegated his healing to Jesus”. What was it that impressed me so much? I had discovered that Don was good at delegating responsibility.He is one of those rare individuals who is able to recognise a need and then work out an answer to meet that need (see Note 2 below). In business life he saw the need for good educational training, equipment and software and began a company in Florida to develop and market them. He would be the first to say that he is not the most savvy person in the universe about computers or software. Nor was he the most experienced person in the universe on educational matters. However he saw a gap in what was been offered. He then built up a team of those highly skilled in computers and software and others with expertise in education. Having found a solution which would fit the gap he then delegated those with expertise to pursue suitable suppliers, market, install and train the users.

When Don discovered that he had developed Lou Gehrig’s disease (seen by all in the medical field to be a fatal disease) he took seriously the medical findings and opinions of the medical experts. According to their opinions there was no hope offered to Don.  He had to look elsewhere. He heard the late Canon Jim Glennon speak in Orlando about God’s healing power and his faith was stimulated to believe that God could do something about his own situation. He knew he could not heal himself. If healing came it had to come from God Himself. So in his words, he “delegated his healing to Jesus.” He took every opportunity to have people pray for him, especially those who had faith to believe that God could do something about his illness. Many people prayed for him. When it seemed that things could not get worse for him, the Lord gave him faith to believe that he was healed.  Soon after many medical tests showed two things. One was that he had definitely been afflicted with the disease. The second was that he no longer had it, much to the amazement of medical specialists.  He had been healed!

In one sense I should not have been surprised to hear that Don’s healing came as he delegated his healing to Jesus. If Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of this universe, the Promised Messiah, the Saviour and Redeemer, then nothing can be beyond His love or His power.  Indeed even our salvation comes from trusting in what Jesus did for us on the cross.  We delegate our forgiveness and our salvation to Him for He is the only One who could achieve them for us. They are ours through our faith in Him.

But we have a part to play in the whole process of Christian living. We have to trust in what God has done for us in Christ. We have to appropriate for our own needs what God has given us in Him in the “all things” which are ours in Him, Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? What Don discovered as he reached out in faith to Christ and asked Him for healing (as he “delegated his healing to Jesus”) was that the miraculous healing he needed was part of the “all things” he was given in Christ.

(Don has been for many years the Director of the Healing Ministry at All Saints Episcopal church, Winter Park Florida. Glennon House is the Centre for that ministry.)

NOTES:  1).   A.L.S. stands for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

2).    Don Jaeger is a graduate of the internationally famous “The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania” at Philadelphia. He applied insights learned there in his business and marketing practices. 

Blog No.041.    Jim Holbeck.    Posted on Sunday 18th September 2011.

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040. A Prayer Based On John 15:5-7. Receiving Through Abiding In Christ

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

Recently I was preaching on John 15:5-7 and decided to finish the sermon with a prayer based on verse 7. In the sermon I mentioned that Christian living and Christian ministry are both based on relationship.  Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  In John 15 Jesus told His disciples that they needed to abide in Him as the vine to become fruitful branches. Otherwise they would not bear much fruit. Then He added those chilling words, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”  He meant that if they did anything without being in a close relationship with Him it would be of no eternal value.

However Jesus went on to give them the wonderful promise in verse 7,” If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  What a concept! All we need to do is to ask for whatever we want and we will be sure to get it. Really? It just doesn’t seem to work out like that in our everyday experience!  Most of us do a lot of praying but we don’t always seem to get what we asked for.  Why? Was there something wrong with Jesus’ promise? Certainly not! He is the eternal Son of God.  He is THE TRUTH.  He did not and could not lie. So what’s the answer?

Look at the 2 conditions Jesus placed on the promise. The first condition was that people needed to abide in Him in order to receive such answers to prayer. Abiding means being focussed on Him, loving Him, adoring Him, praising Him for who He is and for all He has done for humankind (and especially for us personally).  It means practising His presence amongst His people. He promised, Mat 18:19  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Jesus is always near to His people whether corporately as they meet together or personally with individuals who remain focussed on Him.

The second condition was that His words needed to abide in His people. His teaching is recorded in the Bible for us to read (AND to act on). He said that His words were from the Father,  John 14:10  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. His words and His works originated from God the Father. His words have divine authority. They must be obeyed.  We must base our lives on them. We express our love for Him by obeying what He said. We allow His words to “abide” in us as we focus on them and allow them to shape and transform our lives.  We need to absorb them into our being. In the words of the late John Stott (about whom I wrote in a previous article) when he spoke many years ago to a group of Christian nurses in Australia, we need to have “bibline” blood.  We need to absorb His word, and let it become part of us. It must influence every part of our lives, especially our thinking and our behaviour. The more we abide in Him and the more we abide in His word, the more we come to know Him and to know His will. The more we know Him and His will, the more likely it is that the promise of Jesus in verse 7 will be fulfilled in us, “… ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”.  

Now the prayer based on those words.  “Lord I give you all I am and all I have.  I want to learn to abide in You for every moment of my life. I want to abide in Your word so that it becomes part of me. As  I abide in You and as I abide in Your word, enable me by Your Spirit to pray in such a way that Your promise in John 15:7 is fulfilled in me, ‘Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.’  I ask this so that You may be glorified in my life and through my life,  in Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN. ” 

Blog No.040.  Posted by Jim Holbeck.   Wednesday 30th August 2011

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039. Outline of Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul’s Prayer For The Ephesians

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jim Holbeck

We summarise the remainder of Ephesians chapter 3 in the following way. There  are Notes on individual verses below the Outline and a set of Questions for when the material is used in groups.

A).       HOW PAUL PRAYED. Verses 14-15.

1).        Earnestly. Eph 3:14  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, (See Note 1 below).

2).        To The Heavenly Father. 15  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. (Note 2)

B).       WHAT PAUL PRAYED. Verses 16-19a.  

1).        That they might know inwardly the Spirit’s power.   3:16  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (Notes 3 and 4)

2).        That Christ might be “at home” in their hearts.  3:17  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (Note 5).  

3).        That they might have power to comprehend the love of Christ. 3:18  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (Note 6)

4).        That they might be able to know Christ’s love.  3:19  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, (Note 7).

C).       THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF THE PRAYER .Verse 3:19b.

That they might be filled with God’s presence.   3:19 …. that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Note 8).

D).       Eph 3:20-21.PRAYER THAT LEADS TO THE DOXOLOGY. Verses 20-21.   20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Notes 9 and 10)

NOTES:

  1. ‘Bow my knees”. (“kamptō” for “bow” is only used 4 times in the New Testament.  It is used to represent total submission and is used in Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10 to indicate the total submission of people to God when Christ returns. In the other verse Romans 11:4 God told Elijah that He still had seven thousand men who had not “bowed” the knee to Baal.
  2. “Every family”. Paul had spoken of God as Father in verse 14 where the word is “patēr”. In verse 14 he uses a cognate of the word in using  “patria” for “family”. Paul is inferring that all fatherhood derives its origin from God as Father. Fatherhood, indeed parenthood was His idea.
  3. “According to the riches…”.  Not “out of” so that there is a diminishing supply of riches. Rather according to the measure of His riches, which we saw in Ephesians 3:8, are “unsearchable”.
  4. “Strengthened with power..” . Paul often combines different words for power in the same verse. Here he uses “krataioō” from “kratos” dominion.  Here it is coupled with “dunamis” which was often used of the mighty works or miracles of Jesus.  He has in mind the power of God being imparted to their inner beings by the Holy Spirit. Power indeed!  
  5. “May dwell”.  If believers are already indwelt by Christ why does Paul pray for Christ to indwell them?  The answer is in the word he uses for “dwell”. The usual word for “dwell” is “oikeō”.  Here the word is an intensified form of that word.  It is “katoikeō” which means to abide, settle down, make one’s permanent home in. He prays that Christ might take up full residence in human hearts as they are opened wide to Him.
  6. “with all the saints”. No one can grasp the immensity of the love of God. But in fellowship with other saints we can be enriched by hearing of their grasp and experience of God’s love.   
  7. Knowing the unknowable. Paul wants his readers to know more and more about the love of God whilst realising that they cannot fully comprehend or appropriate such love.
  8. “Filled with all the fulness of God”. King Solomon said in 1Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! If it is true that the heavens cannot contain God, how can believers be filled with the fulness of God? Some indication is given in Colossians 2:9-10 where Paul writes,  For in him the whole fulness ( noun “plērōma”) of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled (verb “plēroō” )  in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. We need to see that the fulness of God is associated with Christ and that our being filled is dependent on our relationship with Him. The more He is allowed to occupy His home in our hearts, the more of the fulness of God we will receive.       
  9. “Abundantly more”. (“huperekperissou”). The word is found only here and in 1 Thessalonians 3:10 where it is used for “earnest” prayer.  It has the sense of “infinitely more”. Paul is affirming that God can do infinitely more than believers can ask or ever imagine.
  10. “His power at work within us”.  How does God do more than believers ask or imagine? Paul tells us that it is by His power working within us.  Again we have a combination of power words with “power” being “dunamis” and “work” being “energeō”.  It is by God’s power operating within us in answer to believing prayer. Even then God’s power will always be beyond the capacity of humans to harness or receive.   

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:

  1. Some people have a problem with the description of God as “Father”. Why do you think that is so? Do we need to try to help them understand the concept? If so, how would the truths in verses 14 and 15 be a help?
  2. If we prayed for others what Paul prayed for the Ephesians in verse 16, what difference would we hope to see in the lives of those for whom we prayed?
  3. In verse 17 Paul writes, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith”. Jesus does dwell in the hearts of all His followers. What deeper truth does this verse imply and how can we explain the difference to other people?
  4. In verse 19 Paul prays that they might be “filled with all the fullness of God”. Does this mean the same as being “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:18? Give some reasons for your answer.
  5. In verse 20 Paul affirms that God can do “far more abundantly than all we ask or think according to the power at work within us”.  What encouragement is that for our own prayer-lives?
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