If Children, Then Heirs1
Romans 8:1-18
The person who understands the struggle described in the seventh chapter of Romans is the person who can enjoy the blessed heights of the eighth. It is good to experience God’s truths in a certain order, indeed they cannot be correctly understood unless we can see how they relate to each other.
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)].2
Those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned and cannot be condemned. They struggle, they mourn, they weep, but they are not condemned. These happy people are known by their character. The old nature does not rule them; the Holy Spirit guides their lives, both in their secret walk with God and in their public lives.
2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (The law is good. It condemns sin, however it does not make us holy. But Jesus condemned sin and created a new life in our hearts. He has produced in our lives a desire to obey God in a way the terrors of the law never could.)
5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Their acts cannot please God, because they are opposed to him. Christians are at peace with God; he accepts them, and as a result they live to please him.)
9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Even though our inner nature is transformed, the body still suffers and tempts us to sin. But even our body is the Lord’s and will finally be changed.) 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (This is an honorable cry. It has far more true eloquence in it than all the speeches of Cicero and Demosthenes.)3
Our new nature claims a family tie with God, the Holy Spirit confirms the claim. This is from where our full assurance comes.
17And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (This is a chain made of diamond links. It leads us from the cradle of regeneration to our final perfection in glory. We rise step by step and each step is as strong as the throne of God. Are we children of God? Then we will be glorified with Christ.)
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
This is heavenly arithmetic at work. Our present griefs are hardly worth a thought when compared to the future eternal glory that so infinitely exceeds them. Blessed be the Lord God of our salvation forever and ever. Amen.
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1 Romans 8:17
2 The ESV has the last part of verse 1 as a footnote beginning, “Some manuscripts add.”
3 Marcus Tullius Cicero (107-44 BC): Roman politician, philosopher, lawyer, constitutionalist and orator. Demosthenes (382-322 BC): Greek statesman and considered by many to be the greatest orator of ancient Greece.
Year Two, October 2
The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness1
Romans 8:26-39
We will now read the last verses of that glorious eighth chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
26Likewise 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. (Ours prayers often demonstrate our lack of understanding. We do not even know what blessing we need the most. It is a great mercy that the Holy Spirit knows all things and influences us to ask for what is best. Before we pray, we should wait for the Spirit to guide us. That way we will go to the King with requests that are acceptable to him.) 27And 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. (The Holy Spirit moves our hearts to ask for the very blessings the Father has decided to give us. As a result our prayers agree with what God has already put in motion.)
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Like links in a golden chain, each of the blessings of grace pulls the next along. The links in the middle can be seen, and if we know these blessings are for us, we may be sure that the other blessings that belong to the past and the future are securely linked to them. The person who is called by God is most certainly predestinated and will, without question, be glorified in due time.)
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He 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?
This is prayer’s master argument. If we understand its power, we will never be afraid we are asking for too much.
33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword, (All these have been tried and failed.) 36As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But did any of these difficulties separate the suffering ones from Jesus?
37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Rather than being driven away from the love of Jesus, persecuted saints are driven closer to their Lord. Mistreated Christians enjoy even sweeter fellowship with Jesus. No earthly trial can make Jesus forget those for whom he died. His intentions for us and his love for us never change.
38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The apostle began this chapter with No Condemnation and ends it with No Separation. And he fills up the space in between with priceless covenant blessings. No chapter in the Bible is more crowded with wonderful and comforting teaching. Lord, cause us to know and enjoy all the countless benefits it reveals to us.
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1 Romans 8:26
Year Two, October 3
God Has Not Rejected His People Whom He Foreknew1
Romans 11:1-12; 25-36
1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (Personal evidence is best. Paul, as an undoubted Israelite, was living proof that the Lord had not entirely rejected the offspring of Abraham.) 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3“Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (The church of God is often much better off than wise and good people think it is. They are ready to give everything up for lost, when it is not. God still has those who believe in him.)
5So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. 6But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. (This is the gospel in a nutshell. The person who remembers this important truth is on the right road to solid theology.)
7What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, 8as it is written,
“God gave them a spirit of stupor
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”
“Some have acquired the terrible ability to have eyes and not see, and to have ears and not hear. Heaven and earth and hell have made their souls a battlefield and they are sound asleep.”2
9And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and bend their backs forever.”
11So I ask, did they stumble, in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
25Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Much of Israel is blind, but not all of Israel. The Lord knows those who are his and he will save them by his grace. However, better times are coming for the children of Israel, because in the last days they will be converted to the Savior.) 26And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
27 “and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”
28As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regard election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (God never regrets his decisions or changes the plans he made through love.) 30Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
He locks them out because they are condemned by the law. But only so he may show his concern for them through grace.
33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (All things are from God. He arranges everything according to his plan. He does not need anyone’s help. He is the ultimate reason everything happens as it does. And, everything will happen as he has already decided it will.)
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1 Romans 11:2
2 Source of quote is unknown.
Year Two, October 4
Be Transformed1
Romans 12
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Like the devout Jew who offered a bull or lamb on the altar, present your entire self to the Lord, to live and to die for him. This is what is due to him and what should be given to him.
2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Pay close attention here. The only way to escape being like the world is to be dramatically changed. The ways of society will lead us away from the Lord unless the grace of God rules in us with divine power. We are here to prove to the world that the ways of God are right, good and love. May we have grace to accomplish our mission.)
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (When it comes to doctrines, Paul writes fully and in great detail. When it comes to putting teaching into action, he is short and to the point. Instructions for our daily walk with God need to be brief and easy to remember. Let us learn each one of these important sentences by heart and put them all into practice.)
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Some people will quarrel and it is barely possible to stay on good terms with them. In their case we must do our best. And if, after all, we cannot live peaceably with them, it will be fortunate for us if we can move on and live without them.)
19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”2 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It is recorded of a Chinese emperor that, on being informed that his enemies had raised an insurrection in one of his distant provinces, he said to his officers, “Come, follow me; and we will quickly destroy them.” He marched forward, and the rebels submitted upon his approach. All now thought that he would take the most severe revenge, but were surprised to see the captives treated with mildness and humanity. “How!” cried the first minister, “is this the manner in which you fulfill your promise? Your royal word was given that your enemies would be destroyed; and behold! you have pardoned them all, and even caressed some of them.” “I promised,” replied the emperor, with a generous air, “to destroy my enemies. I have fulfilled my word; for see, they are enemies no longer. I have made friends of them.” This is a good example for the Christian.
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1 Romans 12:2
2 Paul is quoting from Proverbs 25:21-22. When someone’s cooking fire would go out, they would go to a neighbor and ask for burning coals to rekindle their fire. These coals would be placed in a container of ashes that was then placed on top of the head and carried home.
Year Two, October 5
Why Do You Pass Judgment on Your Brother?1
Romans 14
1As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Receive the weak but sincere believer into your fellowship. But do not start in discussing complex points of doctrine or arguing about things of no importance.
2One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. (Matters of food and drink are to be left to Christian liberty. No one has any right to dictate to someone else what they should do in such cases. However, a good rule is, “In all cases of doubt, be sure to take the least doubtful side.”)
5One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. (Some kept the Jewish festivals and some did not.) Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. (No true Christian lives to themselves, and therefore because they live to God we have no right to judge their course of action.)
8For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (The very goal of our Lord’s work is to make us live to him and not live as servants to others. Therefore we are very wrong when we attempt to make our brothers and sisters in Christ be servants of our opinions and ideas. Let us allow them to serve the Lord as their own consciences teach them.)
10Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
12So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. (We must not violate our conscience. We may not do anything we believe to be wrong just because we see others do it. We must not judge them nor use their actions as an excuse to do it ourselves.) 15For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.
You have liberty to do as you please, but do not use that liberty if it would cause trouble for your brother or sister in Christ. If your action, though right in itself, would have a tendency to destroy their soul, deny yourself for love’s sake.
16So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
20Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. (Do you feel quite sure about something? Keep it to yourself, so others do not begin worrying about whether it is right or wrong.) Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
If you are not sure that a thing is right, let it alone, because it will be sin to you.
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1 Romans 14:10
Year Two, October 6
Welcome One Another As Christ Has Welcomed You1
Romans 15:1-16
1We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (If any course of action that would be safe to us would be dangerous to weaker Christians, we must consider their limitations and deny ourselves for their sakes.) 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Jerome2 says, “Love the scriptures, and wisdom will love you.” Chrysostom3 says, “Is it not absurd, that in money matters people will not trust others, but insist on counting the money themselves; yet, where their souls are concerned, people are persuaded and drawn away by the opinions of others, and this when they have the clear and accurate declaration of God’s word? Therefore, I beg and plead with you all, that, instead of paying attention to what this or that person may say about these things, that you consult the Holy Scriptures about them.”)
5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (There must be unity among Christians, especially in Christian families. Otherwise, the power in praising God will be weakened. If we are jealous of each other, or use angry language and quarrelsome words, we cannot glorify God as we should.) 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (If the Lord Jesus has received us, and puts up with our weakness and foolishness, then it is not much to ask that we have patience with one another, and show pity for each other’s faults.)
8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
Our Lord Jesus became the servant of the Jews and fulfilled prophecy by preaching to them. Will we not follow his example and become the servants of others for their good? And his ministry did not stop with Israel. We who are Gentiles also share the blessing. Therefore, like our Lord, we should also seek the good of all mankind and live to bless them.
As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
14I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 15But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Paul’s ministry was mainly as the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he was all the more anxious that the gospel should produce the fruit of mutual love in them. Each person should give the most attention to the work the Lord has especially given them to do. The one pure motive should be that God will be glorified by it. Paul’s great desire was for God to be glorified and for the church to thrive. Let us be filled with the same zeal.)
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1 Romans 15:7
2 Jerome (347- 420 AD). Best known for his translation of most of the Bible into Latin.
3 John Chrysostom (349-407 AD). Early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople.
Year Two, October 7
Love One Another1
Paul concludes his Letter to the Romans with personal greetings, some last instructions, and a benediction.2
Romans 16
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. (This godly woman dedicated herself to being useful. Even the apostle Paul was indebted to her. Should not the sisters of this household imitate her?)
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5Greet also the church in their house. (Both husband and wife were saved and a house church sprang from this beginning.) Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. (This is the third woman whom Paul mentioned in this chapter as working for the Lord. Gender is no barrier to service.) 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
These relatives of Paul were converted before he became a Christian. Did their prayers lead up to his call by grace?
8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10Greet Apelles who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. (The family of Aristobulus, but not Aristobulus himself. It is sad to find the head of a gracious household unsaved.) 11Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. (Two sisters, and both believers. It is encouraging to see this.) Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother who has been a mother to me as well. (The mother of Rufus had no doubt been so kind to Paul that he calls her his mother. Love breeds love.)
14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
17I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
22I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. (Tertius, who wrote Paul’s words for him, could not help putting in his own greeting. Christianity is the mother of courtesy. Kind words cost little, but are of great value.)
23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. [24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]3 (Paul cannot bring himself to finish. He writes postscript after postscript.4 Letter writing was a serious business in his day, and because he might never be able to write to them again, he wishes to say all he can. The last postscript is a delightful doxology that we can all wholeheartedly agree on.)
25Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith-- 27to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
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1 John 13:34
2 benediction - a short prayer for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of a worship service.
3 The ESV includes verse 24 as a footnote beginning, “Some manuscripts insert verse 24.”
4 postscript - An additional remark at the end of a letter.
Year Two, October 8
Be United in the Same Mind and the Same Judgment1
Paul loved the church in Corinth, but it caused him much pain and trouble because of the evils that grew in it. The main problems were the inaccurate teaching of Jewish converts, the fact that the church had more talent than grace, and that no pastor had been raised up to oversee the concerns of the church. We will now read from the first chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
1Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,
2To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, (It is always good to acknowledge and comment on all the good that we see in our brothers and sisters in Christ, even though we may see much to be sad about. They will be all the more ready to accept our rebukes if we are fair enough to acknowledge and admire their good qualities.) 5that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- 6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.
If we bring an accusation, we should always be willing to give our reason for it and mention the name of the accuser. Those who speak against others, and yet will not allow their names to appear, are not worth listening to.
12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” (Many of the Gentiles stood up for the apostle Paul because he planted their church. On the other hand, the Jewish Christians praised Peter; while a third group was charmed by the eloquence of Apollos, and a fourth company separated from the other three asserting that they were the ones who truly followed Christ. The last group appears to be just as much to blame as the others. Divisions in the church of Christ are always evil.) 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
There are some professing Christians who make us feel glad that we had no part in their baptism. For instance: Those who look to their baptism for their salvation, those who live inconsistent lives, and those who sow “discord among brothers.”2
16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) (This is a very remarkable passage. The apostle was inspired, and yet he made a statement and then corrected himself, and then modified it again with a hint that there might still be some others who escaped his memory. This is intended by the Holy Spirit to teach us to use great care when we speak, because we should speak the truth with the utmost accuracy in even the small details.) 17For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (Elegant preaching feeds a person’s pride. Plain preaching brings glory to God and benefit to people.)
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1 1 Corinthians 1:10
2 Proverbs 6:19
Year Two, October 9
To Set the Mind on the Spirit Is Life and Peace1
1 Corinthians 2
1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (This is the one thing we really need to know. All of our reading and studies will not help if we are uneducated about Christ and his atoning blood. If Paul the preacher decided to know nothing except this, we may be certain that it is more important than anything else.) 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (If the reason people believe is because the preacher is such a great speaker, then their faith would be good for nothing. If one human being can convert you, then another can unconvert you. God’s power is necessary; not even a pastor can give us faith.)
6Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The gospel is easy to understand, but it is wisdom itself. The world’s greatest thinkers could not have dreamed up a better way to reach peace with God.
9But, as if is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (The Holy Spirit has revealed what hjman reason and imagination could not have come up with. But only those who have the Spirit dwelling in them have the inner eye and ear to understand it.) 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (Our religion is a spiritual one. It takes place through our new nature that comes to us from the Spirit of God. It does not take place in us because we participate in ceremonies that we see with our eyes, or because we are persuaded to accept it by the thoughtful speeches of others, but because we are taught it by the Holy Spirit himself.) 13And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (Spiritual people receive their faith in Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit. In the same way, they work to spread the gospel using only spiritual methods. They reject the pride of higher education and the display of brilliant speaking abilities, and depend on the Spirit and truth.2)
14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual person judges (or examines) all things, but is himself to be judged (or examined) by no one. 16“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (All of mankind may be correctly divided into two groups, natural and spiritual; and they are as different as the dead and the living. The natural person has no spirit and therefore they cannot understand spiritual things. In the new birth a spirit is planted in us and that is how we acquire spiritual abilities. We live in a spiritual atmosphere and are able to experience spiritual joys. Have we received this higher life? Do we have the mind of Christ? Lord, work it in us, for Jesus’ sake!)
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1 Romans 8:6
2 Editor’s note: Spurgeon definitely did not belittle a sound education or improving one’s ability to speak in public. His establishment of his Pastors’ College and his many comments of its importance clearly prove this. But he also understood that salvation comes completely from the sovereign God of the universe through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Year Two, October 10
Let No One Boast in Men1
1 Corinthians 3
1But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (They were so weak in grace that they were more worldly than spiritual.) 2I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3for you are still of the flesh. (The deeper doctrines cannot be received by those who are weak in the faith. It is wise to teach them only the simpler truths.) For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?
Everyone thinks their side has the kernel and others have only the shell. In reality, both sides are likely to forget about the kernel and argue about the shell, as if it were the kernel.
5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (We must not depend on the best of people or make idols of them. They are tools in God’s hand and nothing more. Let us look beyond the servants to their Master.) 8He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
10According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- 13each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (Whatever work we do will be tested. It will be tested by those who oppose the gospel, by the lapse of time, by better understanding as we grow in the Lord, and especially by the judgment of the last great day.)
14If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (They will be saved because they have been born again. But because they wasted their life doing work that was wrong, they will lose the reward of their labor. Their thoughtless actions injured others and they themselves will barely escape the wrath of God.)
16Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple. (The doctrine2 of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is very wonderful and also very serious. He lowered himself to live in us! We should show our guest the deepest respect!)
18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Realizing that the wisdom of this world is foolish is the doorway to true wisdom. We need to leave the wisdom of this age behind if we want to know the wisdom of God.
19For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, (True Christian teachers, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, Martin Luther or John Calvin, John Wesley or George Whitefield, belong to the whole church, and every member of the church gains help from their teachings. The mind is expanded beyond denominational beliefs into true unity in the church.) 23and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
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1 1 Corinthians 3:21
2 doctrine - the belief or teaching of a church or group
Year Two, October 11
Let Anyone Who Thinks That He Stands Take Heed Lest He Fall1
In the opening verses of chapter ten of First Corinthians, Paul mentions the sins and chastisement2 of ancient Israel. We begin today’s reading with verse twelve.
1 Corinthians 10:12-33
12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (If our temptations were unlike any that anyone else had ever had, and there was no way out of them, then we might have no hope of overcoming them. But that is not the case! The Lord will not try us too much, too long, or too often. Grace will carry us through our temptations.)
14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. (We are to avoid every kind of idolatry. This includes bowing before the cross or a wafer of bread. It is idolatrous worship and Christ’s faithful followers are commanded to flee from it.) 16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. (Whether Christian or Jew, participating in holy feasts involves fellowship. It is the same with idolaters. If we have fellowship with them, we are sharing in their sin.) 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (Friendship with the unholy is defiance to Christ. It is an open challenge of his kingship.)
23“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. (There could be no harm in the meat itself, and the believer was free to eat what was set before them so far as they themselves were concerned. But there were times when it would be better not to eat with the unbeliever. If others saw it as a Christian taking part in an idolatrous sacrifice, then it would be best to avoid eating the meal.)
28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience-- 29I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (This is the rule for all consumption. Let us always observe it. Much evil may come from eating and drinking. It was by eating that Adam first fell from innocence. “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”3) 32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (What we may do lawfully may frequently be better not to do to avoid injuring others. We must sometimes deny ourselves for their sakes. Selfishness in a Christian is a terrible sin.)
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1 1 Corinthians 10:12
2 chasten, chastening or chastisement - The act of discipline which may include scolding, criticizing or pain inflicted for the purpose of correction or moral improvement.
3 Matthew 26:41
Year Two, October 12
For in One Spirit We Were All Baptized Into One Body1
1 Corinthians 12
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2you know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
“‘What think you of Christ?’ is the test
To try both your state and your scheme;
You cannot be right in the rest
Unless you think rightly of him.”2
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (We are neither born nor born again to live for ourselves. Like bees, we must all bring honey to the common hive.)
8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (Paul is speaking here of the church, the body of Christ.) 13For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. (Therefore none of us may despise someone else because they do not happen to have the gifts we do. Variety is necessary for the body to be complete.) 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24which our more presentable parts do not require.
We take great care to cover those parts of the body that are either tender or unsightly. In the same way, we should give more kind care to those Christians who are weak in the faith and have their faults. Otherwise the whole body of Christ might be hurt because of them.
But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
What was it that was better than the higher gifts? It was, and still is, love to God and man. Love is a grace from God. It is better than any of the gifts the apostle mentions. A heart full of holy love is a far better quality than a head full of the clearest knowledge or a tongue overflowing with words. Whatever way we cannot run in, let us make sure we are walking in the “more excellent way” of love.3
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1 1 Corinthians 12:13
2 From What Think Ye of Christ, Is the Test, by John Newton (1725-1807)
3 See Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible Year One, June 27 for Spurgeon’s comments on 1 Corinthians 13
Year Two, October 13
Be Watchful, Stand Firm in the Faith1
We have already read 1 Corinthians 15, where the apostle Paul wrote those rich words about the resurrection.2 He did not consider it at all improper to close his letter with a few words about “the collection.” To give our money to the poor or to the cause of Jesus, is one of the highest acts of worship, if it is done in a proper spirit. It is a deed of love that angels might envy our ability to do. Is it not marvelous that God lowers himself to receive a gift from those he created?
1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 6-24
1Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. (Setting something aside every week is a most healthy Christian practice. If we were to put a portion of our income into the offering plate every Lord’s day, we would always have money in hand to give to deserving causes.)
6And perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Timothy was young and therefore some might not give him the respect they should. It is pleasing to see how the apostle protects him and asks the church to treat him properly. The older members of the church should be sensitive for their younger brothers and sisters in Christ.
12Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. (He does not blame Apollos for declining his request, but puts a kind interpretation on his decision. Paul is sure that Apollos will visit them when he can. Always think the best you can of others.)
13Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14Let all that you do be done in love.
15Now I urge you, brothers--you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints-- 16be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
This would be one of the best cures for the problems that had harmed their church. Those who attempt to set up assemblies where everyone rules and no one submits are wrong.
17I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.
19The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Not with a hollow kiss of hypocrisy or an unholy kiss of sensual pleasure. A shake of the hand is our western substitute for this kiss. A good hearty handshake is a warm sign of Christian fellowship.)
21I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. (To prevent forgers from pretending to be Paul, the apostle took the pen out of the writer’s hand, and wrote the last few lines himself.) 22If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! (or, Let him be accursed when the Lord comes.) 23The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. (A sweet conclusion. He felt compelled to write sharply, but it was all in love. May love rule in this dear home.)
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1 1 Corinthians 16:13
2 See Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible Year Two, August 5 and Year Two, August 6.
Year Two, October 14
We Are Afflicted in Every Way, but Not Crushed1
Paul wrote the Second Letter to the Corinthians from Macedonia. This was after Titus had returned from Corinth and informed him how the church in Corinth had responded to his first letter. The news was mixed and caused Paul both joy and sorrow. This seemed to have both troubled and perplexed the apostle. We will begin our reading with chapter four.
2 Corinthians 4
1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (Paul condemned trickery and all deceitful methods. He said what he meant and meant what he said. If we cannot spread the truth by honest speech, we cannot spread it at all.) 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (If people do not understand the gospel we must take care that the fault does not lie in our words but entirely with their blinded worldly hearts.)
5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (When God uses the weakness of the preacher to accomplish so great an end, it shows his power. Never refuse to do good because your abilities are poor and few. Instead, give your weakness to the Lord so that he may use it for his own glory.) 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. (Paul rejoiced that good came to them as a result of his sufferings. He loved them like a mother who takes off her own coat and exposes herself to the cold to keep her child warm.)
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (He was not afraid of death, because he expected to be resurrected.) 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. (God’s glory was his ruling desire. It kept him going through sickness, depression, and persecution.) 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (See how small Paul thinks his suffering is compared to the glory that awaits him. He calls it light and momentary. But when it comes to future glory, he cannot find words to express himself. The way to live above trouble is to look up. We will grow dizzy if we look down on earthly things, because they are tossed to and fro like the waves of an ocean.)
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1 2 Corinthians 4:8
Year Two, October 15
We Would Rather Be Away From the Body and at Home With the Lord1
2 Corinthians 5
1For we know (Not just think or hope, but “we know!”) that if the tent, that is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (Our mud cottage will be demolished, but our heavenly home is prepared for us.) 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (We cannot be satisfied here, because we are kept from the glory land and surrounded by sin. We wait excitedly for the voice of our beloved Lord to call, “Arise, my love, and come away.”2)
5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (God is preparing us for heaven and has already given us the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of his promise.)
6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (The exile longs to return to their own country. The child aches for their father’s house. And we pant for our own dear country beyond the river and sigh to be close to Jesus.) 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
With this in mind, we cannot afford to sin or treat our life as unimportant. We will live as we should if we live every day considering the last great day.
11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. (The apostle did everything for Jesus and his church. If anyone found fault with what he did, he reminded them that his only motive was love for them.) 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (The death of Jesus for us has made us think of ourselves as dead to everything and everyone except him, because we want to live for him alone.)
16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (Paul focused only on spiritual things. Even the fact that he had seen Jesus in person was no longer important, compared to seeing him by faith.) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (Have we been made righteous like this? These verses are both wonderful and extremely important. Do we understand them by personal experience? Are we new creatures in Christ? Have we been brought to peace with God through Jesus’ blood? Have we been blessed in Jesus and become one with him? These are questions that should be asked right now.)
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1 2 Corinthians 5:8
2 From Song of Solomon 2:13
Year Two, October 16
What Agreement Has the Temple of God With Idols?1
2 Corinthians 6
1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (The apostle wanted everyone who heard the gracious word of God to receive eternal life. He also had a strong desire for those who had truly been saved to be increasingly fruitful; so it would be obvious to others that God’s grace had changed their lives and moral values. No pastor can be satisfied unless grace is clearly producing appropriate changes in the lives of those who professed to have received it.)
3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
Dr. Hawker, himself a minister of the Church of England, has beautifully said: “What a lovely portrait the apostle has drawn of a minister of Jesus! How totally unlike in every way from the rich living off so many in the higher positions in the church. Who would have thought, when Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, that a time would come when pomp and grandeur would be considered acceptable additions to the lives of priests of God! A great part of what the apostle said about recommending ‘ourselves in every way,’ ‘as servants of God,’ is done away with. How is it possible in our day to know whose servants these men really are? Where are the beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, and hunger in their lives?
“But the apostle has sketched some of the traits of ministers that can still be found. ‘Through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise, as impostors, and yet true, as unknown, and yet well known.’ There are found throughout the world and in every age, those who treat the distinctive truths of the gospel with hatred and contempt. They will discredit the preachers of those truths with slander and disapproval. At the same time some will still honor God’s messengers. These are the highly taught few who God the Holy Spirit teaches.
“Reader, learn from this portrait of the apostle’s that was drawn under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Form your opinion of the Lord’s ministers, not by outward show, but by the inward enlightenment of the heart, and the blessing of God on their labors, both in word and doctrine.”2
11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. (Either in marriage or any other close partnership.) For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
The great duty of believers in all ages is to keep their reputation as a separate people, no longer “conformed to this world.”3 May this family never fall into worldly fads, amusements or activities, but be known for following the Lord in every way. This is how we will be especially dear to our heavenly Father.
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1 2 Corinthians 6:16
2 From Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary. Robert Hawker (1753-1827). A priest in the Church of England.
3 Romans 12:2
Year Two, October 17
Not To Us, O LORD…but to Your Name Give Glory1
2 Corinthians 11:1-9; 23-30
Paul did not like to talk about himself. He calls praising oneself foolishness, and it usually is. But he needed to justify his viewpoint and authority so that his letters to the Corinthian believers would influence them to their lasting benefit.
1I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (Paul was afraid their mixing human reasoning to the gospel would lead them away from the truth. There is much evidence to argue that the church today should have the same concern.) 4For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
If anyone could bring us a better gospel, a more certain gospel, a fuller gospel, a freer gospel, then we might listen to their different gospel. But as long as this is not attempted or claimed to be, we will stick with the old doctrine and those men of God who preach it.
5Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God’s gospel to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. (He received nothing from the Corinthians, but allowed other churches to pay his expenses so that he would be absolutely no burden to them. Yet they were not grateful, but were rude and showed a lack of respect. Gratitude is far too rare even among professing Christians.) 9And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
Then the apostle, to confirm his character and prove his apostleship, spoke of what he had done and suffered.
23Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—(His call to Christ was more remarkable than theirs. He had been more fully instructed than they. And, he had been authorized by the Lord to accomplish more than any of them.) I am talking like a madman--with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea, 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. (The churches were a heavy burden on Paul. There were so many things to think about that his mind was worn out.) 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? (He felt sympathy for everyone, he felt their sorrows.)
30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Surely after this listing of facts these Corinthians would value the apostle and no longer trouble him with their criticisms. It is far better for us to profit by good people than to find fault with them. Do not let the Pauls who are among us now have to suffer due to our unkindness.
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1 Psalm 115:1
Year Two, October 18
I Must Go on Boasting. Though There Is Nothing to Be Gained by It1
In today’s reading we will conclude Paul’s defense of his apostleship.
2 Corinthians 12:1-19
1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. (The most modest person may be driven to speak their own praises if their usefulness is threatened by the false accusations of enemies.) 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
Paul had kept this secret for fourteen years. He was clearly not inclined to boast.
6Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (There is only a step between boasting in the Lord and boasting about one’s self, and our nature is inclined to take that step. Pride is one of the worst tragedies. Therefore our Lord sends us sharp trials to keep us humble. A thorn pierces, cuts and becomes infected; and yet it is only a little thing. It is very small and yet very painful. Paul had a secret sorrow that tormented him like school principals who punish boys. Whatever it was, it must have been an embarrassment to him.)
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (One evening, John Bunyan was in a meeting of Christian people who were full of sadness and terror. Suddenly, there “broke in upon him with great power and three times together the words, ‘My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for you. My grace is sufficient for you.’ And ‘Oh! I thought,’ says he, ‘that every word was a mighty word unto me. “My,” and “grace,” and “sufficient,” and “for you,” were then and sometimes still are, far bigger words than others.’”2) Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
The Corinthians should not have required Paul to defend himself. They should have been among his warmest supporters.
12The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. 13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
14Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15I will most gladly spend and be spent for yours souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (What a Christian spirit! He will not stop seeking their good, no matter how badly they treat him.) 16But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. 17Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? (He accepted nothing for himself and did not expect them to pay his friends expenses either. He served them in the most selfless way.) 18I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?
19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. (It was shameful that a good man like Paul was troubled by such petty objections. May God grant that none of us will be remembered by our church as resentful members and opposers of faithful ministers.)
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1 2 Corinthians 12:1
2 The “sadness and terror” at that meeting were most likely due to the harsh treatment of Christians at that time. Bunyan wrote his Pilgrim’s Progress inside a jail where he had been imprisoned for preaching the gospel. Quote appears to be taken from The Pulpit Commentary.
Year Two, October 19
They Glorified God Because of Me1
We will now read parts of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where he opposed the Jewish professing Christians who denied his apostleship and tried hard to bring the church under the yoke of the law.
Galatians 1
1Paul, an apostle--not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- 2and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul is very fond of writing doxologies.2 His heart was full of praise and he could not help expressing it. Would it not be good if every now and then, even in the midst of other things, we paused to bless the Lord? Even while the apostle was answering his opponents, he sweetened the controversy with grateful praise for his Lord.
6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Paul makes short work of the latest “gospels.” He did not belong to that school of thought that teaches we should accept any and everyone into the church no matter how twisted their version of divine truth is. What a pastor believes and teaches does matter!)
10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Christ’s ministers do not serve to please. That would make them false to the position God gave them in his church. Their one business is to preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, whether that offends or pleases their hearers.)
11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Paul was no seller of other people’s products. He preached what the Holy Spirit had taught him. Lord, send us more ministries like Paul’s.) 13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
No one could accuse Paul of simply repeating what others taught. He lived a quiet life in Arabia and studied the Old Testament, and had special times with God, and received insight into the deep things of God. Therefore, his testimony was fresh from heaven. More focus on God and less on human views is what we all need.
18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” (His remarkable conversion and his instruction directly from God made Paul very determined in his teaching. The more certainly grace works in us, the more attached we will be to the gospel of grace, and the more opposed we will be to all those errors that rob God of his glory.) 24And they glorified God because of me. (May we live in a way that causes others to glorify God, because they see his grace in us.)
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1 Galatians 1:24
2 doxology - A short hymn or song of praise to God; often used in public worship and usually mentioning at least one of his attributes.
Year Two, October 20
A Person Is Not Justified by Works of the Law1
In our last reading we began Paul’s brief history of his early Christian life. We now continue his story.
Galatians 2
1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. (He went up to Jerusalem to assure the other apostles he was not teaching some new doctrine that disagreed with the rest of the church. We must be careful to not create misunderstandings by keeping our distance from other believers.) 3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.
4Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- 5to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (There were many who wanted Paul to exchange the liberty of the gospel for the yoke of the Jewish law. But he would not submit to them for a moment. There are still those who would have us exchange free grace for a salvation that includes good works to earn God’s love. We must be equally committed to “not yield in submission” to them.)
6And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Good people are sometimes afraid of a direct course of action because it may cause trouble or appear to be too bold. We must not be silent out of respect for them. In a case like this, we must openly oppose them. Peter is loved, but the truth must be loved more.)
15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (This is a bold statement, but true! Faith alone and not works justifies the soul before God. The person who does not believe this rejects the gospel.)
17But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! (Justification by faith does not make us take sin lightly. On the contrary, it creates such love to God in us that we abhor the very idea of offending him.) 18For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (We cannot be saved by our own good living. If we could, then Christ’s atoning sacrifice was unnecessary. This is a blasphemous idea that should not be tolerated for even a moment. Are we all believers in Jesus?)
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1 Galatians 2:16
Year Two, October 21
Christ Redeemed Us From the Curse of the Law1
Galatians 3:1-5; 19-29
1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
What strange, Satanic influence has come over you? What horrible trick has been played on you and holds you captive? You have heard and known the way of salvation by faith in the crucified Savior, how could you have been duped by those who teach that salvation comes by keeping the law?
2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Paul’s argument is this: Up to this point all the good they had received had come to them by grace and not by works, by the Spirit and not by the flesh, by faith and not by ceremonies. He scolds them for giving in even a little to these false teachers. We have the best reason for staying with the gospel, because no real good ever comes to people by following the opposite teaching. The following testimony is only one of many and makes the point:
”I preached up sanctification very earnestly for six years in a former church,” says Mr. Bennet, in a letter, “and never brought one soul to Christ. I did the same at this church for two years, without having any success at all. But as soon as ever I preached Jesus Christ, and faith in his blood, then believers were added to the Church, and the people flocked from all parts to hear the glorious sound of the gospel, some coming six, others eight, and others ten miles, and that constantly. The reason why my ministry was not blessed when I preached up salvation partly by faith and partly by works is because the doctrine is not of God; and he will prosper no ministers except those who preach salvation in his own appointed way, namely, by faith in Jesus Christ.”2
19Why then the law? (If the law cannot save, why was it given? It was given to point sin out to us and reveal it for what it really is. We must understand the misery of our condition before we can appreciate our need for mercy. The law sheds light. It shows us our need of a mediator.3) It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary (or, go between). 20Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. (Paul is explaining that this proves that God and the human race were enemies. Otherwise a mediator would not have been needed. The giving of the law showed the separation between God and humanity.)
21Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, (or, locked up everyone as prisoners of sin) so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (The law is not an enemy of the promise. God uses the law to make people feel their need of mercy, so they will accept his salvation by grace.)
23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
We are not baptized into Moses. We have taken off the robes of legalism and dressed in the garments of grace.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
We receive all the blessings of the law by faith, just as Abraham became the heir of all things by faith. Let our hearts always make a clear distinction between the law and the grace of God. Doing so will keep us sound in doctrine and protected from being slaves to the law.
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1 Galatians 3:13
2 I found this quote in several 19th century books, but was unable to determine the original source.
3 mediator - a person who attempts to help people who are involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between. As used in the Bible, Jesus Christ intercedes between God the Father and Christians; that is, he prays for them.
Year Two, October 22
Stand [Firm] Therefore in the Liberty by Which Christ Has Made Us Free1
Galatians 4:1-20
1I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (The Mosaic law of rituals and ceremonies was only a temporary arrangement for the childhood of the church. Having now reached adulthood, the church has been set free by the truth,2 and rejoices in the free grace of the gospel. It would be ridiculous for a full-grown heir to go to school again or to continue under the protection of a caregiver. That would be childish. In the same way, it would be absurd for those in Christ Jesus to return to the rituals and ceremonies of the law of Moses.)
6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (The Holy Spirit moves us to claim our true position as adopted children of God. We are no longer slaves to the law. Many Christians are afraid of being too sure of their position as a child of God. They think that would make them seem conceited and superior. But in reality, their attitude is very dishonoring to their heavenly Father.) 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (So live like a child and therefore an heir. By faith, have and enjoy the treasures of divine grace. Throw your doubts and fears to the wind. Why should heirs of God live like slaves?)
8Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
How can you go back to the things of your spiritual childhood? That would be like a full-grown person going back to their ABC’s and learning from baby picture books!
10You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Keeping the Jewish holy days that look forward to Jesus is contrary to the very spirit of Christianity. Those who practice such ceremonies lead us to suspect that they do not know the gospel at all.
12Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. (I am one with you in heart.) You did me no wrong. 13You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Bad teachers had led them away from the apostle and into legal slavery.
17They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out (from us), that you may make much of them (and join their side). 18It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
All his anxiety arose from their falling into ritualism and legalism. He wanted to see them living by faith in Jesus and worshiping God with free spiritual worship. The popular religion of the present day is made up of unneeded things and practices and the plain gospel of salvation by faith in Jesus is despised. In spite of that, let us hold tightly to the doctrine of grace, because it alone is truth, and it alone is salvation.
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1 Galatians 5:1 (New King James Version)
2 John 8:31-32, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
Year Two, October 23
If You Are Led by the Spirit, You Are Not Under the Law1
The apostle continues to explain to the Galatians why they were wrong to slip into keeping the law to win God’s favor. The true path of the believer is to “walk by the Spirit.” This is what produces holiness.
Galatians 5:7-26
7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
Your belief is not from God. If it were, then it would be compatible with what you have already been taught by the Holy Spirit.
9A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
One person’s influence may mislead thousands. One piece of false doctrine may contaminate everything else we believe.
10I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (Some had spread a rumor that Paul was now teaching that Gentile Christians must follow the customs of the law of Moses. He denies it and backs it up by saying if it was true, then the false teachers would no longer be persecuting him. They would have stopped criticizing Paul if he had watered down the gospel.) 12I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate (or remove) themselves! (It would be better that they were cut off from the church than remain to spread false doctrine. As lepers must be put out of the camp,2 so must evil teachers be put out of the church.)
13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is more important than all rituals and ceremonies. To destroy love to keep a ceremony would be like killing a child to keep its clothes.
15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Every new person in Christ is actually two people. There is war within.) 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (No matter what they say, or how much they may participate in worship services, those who live in these sins are not alive to God. What a list we have here! Sin is certainly the mother of many children.)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (For the works of the flesh there is no gospel and against the works of the Spirit there is no law. Both God and mankind applaud the behavior Paul here calls “the fruit of the Spirit.” Let us overflow with them.) 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Our evil desires are nailed to the cross, but they are not dead yet. That is why we need to constantly live under the influence of the ever blessed Holy Spirit. When we do this, we certainly realize we have no reason for bragging or for despising others. Our job is to live under the guidance of God, cultivate love and peace, and flee from all pride and envy.
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1 Galatians 5:18
2 Numbers 5:2a, “Command the people of Israel that they put out of the camp everyone who is leprous.”
Year Two, October 24
Bear One Another’s Burdens1
Galatians 6
1Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Sin is like a hoodlum. Because people travel so slowly, sin overtakes them, overthrows them, and breaks their bones. Believers who are in a better state must lovingly try to heal their brothers and sisters in Christ. They should also remind themselves, “They fell yesterday and we will fall today unless the Lord supports us.”) 2Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5For each will have to bear his own load. (Each of us has his own load of responsibility to deal with. Therefore we would do well to remember our own faults and sympathize with the faults of others. When we are tempted to condemn others, we should consider our own failings.)
6Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
The preacher who eagerly works for our spiritual good deserves to share in our material goods.
7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
The rule of reaping what we sow does not change under the gospel. In fact, the principle reaches even greater importance. The Christian sows better seed and through grace reaps a richer harvest. At the same time, those who hear the word but continue sowing to the flesh will reap even more misery, because by refusing the gospel light they greatly increase their sin.
10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Our kindness is to be general and yet specific. It is like the redemption of our Lord Jesus, “who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”2)
11See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. (Paul was determined to conclude his letter using his own handwriting to show his readers how serious he was about what he had written. But because his eyesight had probably become weak, he must write in large letters.) 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. (They wanted to brag about their many followers and win the approval of the Jews by showing that their converts to Jesus were also converts to Judaism. Paul was not impressed by their misguided boastings.)
14But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. (Paul did not care at all about the marks in his flesh that proved he was a Jew. But he did value those scars he had received while in the service of Jesus. He thought of them as being the Lord’s brand on him. They were like the ear mark given to a Hebrew slave who had decided to be his master’s slave forever.3 It
is useless to oppose a man like Paul. He is too single minded to be turned aside. It is wisest for his enemy to leave him alone.)
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
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1 Galatians 6:2
2 1 Timothy 4:10
3 This is a reference to Exodus 21:4-6
Year Two, October 25
He Has Blessed Us in the Beloved1
The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians is a complete book of theology. It covers both doctrines and how to live a godly life in a very full and instructive way. It is majestic and awe-inspiring. It needs to be read with a spiritual eye to be truly understood. Oh Lord, enlighten us.
Ephesians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace first, and peace as its result. The peace that does not come to us as the result of grace is false and dangerous. Notice how Paul links the Father and the Lord Jesus together. Neither grace nor peace can come to us, except through God in Christ Jesus.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (All spiritual blessings come to us as a result of God electing us. They flow to us through eternal love. But we are not chosen that we may live in sin. God has chosen us to be holy, to be separated to him.) In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose (or good pleasure) of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Adoption and acceptance in Christ follow God’s choosing us. Have we received these priceless blessings?
7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Jesus is the source of all blessings as well as the path to them. All the chosen in heaven and earth will be gathered together as one in him.)
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, (We have the certainty of our inheritance by God’s promise2 and the guarantee of it by the Holy Spirit living in us.3) having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Do we have the Holy Spirit? Then we already have a place in heaven. The Holy Spirit in us is the assurance that we will enjoy the infinite delights of heaven.)
15For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, (Where there was already much good, the apostle prayed for more. We all need to keep advancing in divine things. Standing still is impossible.) 18having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The apostle is excited beyond measure when he talks about the glories of Jesus. And we may be too, because it is a theme that outshines all others. Let us meditate4 on it until our hearts burn with love and our souls bow in adoration at his feet.
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1 Ephesians 1:6
2 1 Peter 1:4, “An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”
3 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”
4 meditate - Think deeply or focus one’s mind for a time, in silence. Contemplate, think, consider, ponder, reflect.
Year Two, October 26
By Grace You Have Been Saved1
We have already seen how Paul describes what God’s grace has done for us. We will now hear him explain what it has created in us if we are saved.
Ephesians 2
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins (We had no spiritual life until God made us alive. Regeneration is as great a miracle as if the corpses in the graveyard would break out of their coffins and begin life again. Grace is life, sin is death, conversion is a resurrection.) 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (What a humbling passage! The best of people were by nature no better than the worst. Satan found a willing servant in each one of us and we would still be his slaves if grace had not stepped in.)
4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
That little sentence, “By grace you have been saved,” is the key of true theology. Study it well, and believe it thoroughly, and you will escape a thousand doctrinal errors. Carry this text in your heart and you will be correct in your understanding of the faith.
6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
By nature, we care about the things of this world, but grace sets us up above all earthly things. What sort of people ought we to be who sit with Jesus in heaven!
7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (The love of God is seen more clearly in Christians than in all the rest of the universe. The new creation is the crowning achievement of all the works of God.) 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
11Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (The distance from God was once infinite and now the nearness is intimate. The blood of Jesus works wonders. It annihilates distance, it breaks down walls that separate, and transforms foreigners into sons and daughters.)
14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Here we have the Trinity in one verse, all uniting to help us pray. All three of the divine persons must help us before we can offer even one acceptable request.)
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The saints of God are not building blocks scattered about here and there. They are parts of a building and the building is the church. The Lord lives in his church as a king does in his palace. Each one of us fills a specific place in the church. We are there for the good of others and the glory of the Lord. Let us keep this in mind and make our top priority to seek to encourage the unity, instruction, and holiness of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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1 Ephesians 2:8
Year Two, October 27
Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly1
Even with a chain clanking on his wrist, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and is not sorry he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. He is happy in his position and considers it more honorable to be “a prisoner for Christ Jesus” than to be the favorite of Caesar.
Ephesians 3
1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles-- 2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (The greater the saint the less they think of themselves. We can get a good measurement of a person’s worth from their humility. Those who think they are superior seldom are. Those who are worth their weight in gold rarely see themselves that way.) 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Even the angels must learn about this mystery from us. Christians will be textbooks from which the cherubim and seraphim will read of the wisdom and love of God with astonishment. This was the eternal design of the great Lord of all. He will not allow anything to stop his plan from being completed.
13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
See how Paul forgets himself? His only concern is that they may not be distressed about him. This is the way we should bury our own worries and live for the good of others.
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, (It is delightful to think of Paul pausing in the middle of his letter to kneel down and pray for a blessing on his friends. Even in prison, he feels he is part of one undivided, exalted family with members living not on only earth but in heaven also. Let us carefully listen to the apostle’s prayer and pray the same for all believers.) 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Having prayed, Paul now turns to praising. These two holy practices are very closely related and one naturally leads to the other. We would sing more praises if we offered more prayers.)
20Now 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, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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1 Colossians 3:16
Year Two, October 28
Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Calling to Which You Have Been Called1
Paul was far from being ashamed of being locked up in a jail like a criminal. He again calls himself “a prisoner for the Lord,” using it like a first-class title of honor. To suffer for him who suffered to the death for us is a joy too strong for words.2 Paul uses the fact that he was imprisoned for the sake of the gospel as a reason why the Ephesians should listen to what he had to say.
Ephesians 4:1-8; 11-32
1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
True believers are one. Christ has established only one church. He brought it to life with only one Holy Spirit. He gave it only one person to hope in. The Lord is the only Head of the church; she does not have two Lords. Jesus has revealed only one faith and commanded only one baptism. Therefore, believers should be eager to maintain unity and work to promote the good of the whole church.
7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until 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, (All of the ascension gifts were given for the building up of the Lord’s one church, not for the establishing of many denominations. His best gifts are holy people, qualified for various gracious works. And these people are to work within the church to help each believer mature. When this takes place, the whole body of the faithful will experience spiritual improvement.) 14so 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. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from 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 so that it builds itself up in love.
17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (We are now part of a new body of which the Lord Jesus is the head. We can no longer act the way we used to, which would completely contradict our new profession of faith. Our old evil ways must now be hated and holiness aimed for. Is it that way with us?)
25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, (We may be angry at wrong, without sinning as a result. But if our anger includes selfish resentment, it is always sinful. And if it lives longer than a day, it cannot be justified. One of the hardest things in the world is to be angry and not to sin.) 27and give no opportunity to the devil.
28Let 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. (The cure for dishonesty is honest work and the remedy for a tendency to steal from others is to learn to share with them.) 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Do we always remember this? Are not some jokes that are commonly heard very far from building up?) 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Let this be written and posted in our bedrooms and practiced in every room in the house. Then our home will be like heaven.)
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1 Ephesians 4:1
2 Acts 5:41, The apostles “left the presence of the council [of the Pharisees], rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name [of Jesus].”
Year Two, October 29
Be Filled With the Spirit1
Ephesians 5:1-21
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Here is an example that is so appealing and perfect, that we may love it and follow it at the same time. We may not use the behavior of others as our pattern, and treat them as they treat us. The only standard for a Christian is Christ.
3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Sins of the tongue are terribly common. Cheerfulness is a virtue. Holy remarks are the flowers of conversation. But those unholy allusions and distasteful jokes, that are so often praised as being very clever, should never be acceptable among the followers of the holy Jesus.)
5For 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. (The covetous person is included in this very godless group. This proves that the Holy Spirit considers lust for wealth to be just as bad as any other lust. The curse of Cain for murdering his brother also rests on the greedy. We send missionaries overseas, and yet we do not grieve over idolaters here at home. If a person worships a god of gold, are they not just as without God as if their idol was made of wood?) 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7Therefore do not become partners with them; 8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Avoid bad company. Choose your friends only from those who are also friends of God. How can we rebuke sin if we accept as our closest friends those who openly practice it?
12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Death hides in darkness. Life loves light. Therefore, we who have spiritual life should never do anything that we would be ashamed to be made known to the whole world. Christ has given us light. Do not hide it, nor shut your eyes to it.)
15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, (Look around you and take care that what you do does not harm anyone in any way.) 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, (People who are excited by alcohol want to sing. Believers who are energized by the divine Spirit should also want to sing. But they must choose the songs of Zion, songs the Lord would approve.) 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Our job is to make God great and ourselves little. We are to give God the glory in everything we do. We are not to seek honor for ourselves, but willingly take the lowest place among our fellow Christians for the Lord’s sake.)
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1 Ephesians 5:18
Year Two, October 30
Put On the Whole Armor of God1
We are about to read an especially beautiful passage where the apostle describes the believer as a soldier. The Christian is urged to prepare for the battle by taking up the defensive and offensive armor of God.
Ephesians 6:11-24
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Satan will attack every part of us and therefore, like the knights of old, we need to be protected from head to foot.) 12For 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. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
If we fought with humans, we might not need as much protection, but because we wrestle with clever and spiritual enemies, whose weapons are as mysterious as they are deadly, we need to be twice as watchful. Otherwise we might receive wounds in some unguarded place that will bleed for years.
14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, (A belt of honesty keeps everything in place and the whole soldier ready for battle. A dishonest person is a loose person and a loose person is a lost person.) and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (This will guard the heart. The righteousness of God is a gift from God. It will protect the heart and blunt the edge of Satan’s temptations that he aims at the soul. Note that a breastplate is provided, but no backplate. We must never think of going back, we must face the enemy, no protection is provided for a retreat.) 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (We will march with a happy, calm confidence because the gospel has given us perfect peace. We will march over the rough places on the way without becoming resentful or depressed. No pilgrim is so well equipped as the one who is at peace with God, other people, and their own conscience.)
16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (Faith, like a shield, covers everything and is therefore the most important. Look well to your confidence in God, for if faith fails all fails.) 17and take the helmet of salvation (The person who is truly saved knows it will protect the mind. The seat of thought and decision will be safe.) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (The Bible is a bright, sharp, pointed, strong weapon for offense and defense. It cuts a way for us through all enemies, kills sin, and chases away even Satan himself. “It is written” is the terror of hell.) 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (This weapon of all-prayer will often serve us well when all others are out of our reach. As long as we can pray, we will not be defeated.) 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Paul concludes his letter with good wishes and prayers. Christians should be recognized even by their letters. Where others use empty compliments, we should abound in sincere prayers and holy wishes. Let us remember this the next time we write.
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1 Ephesians 6:11
Year Two, October 31
He Who Began a Good Work in You Will Bring It to Completion1
We have now reached the Letter of Paul to the Philippians. It has well earned the name, the Letter of Love and Joy. We see the apostle’s inner character in it. There was great mutual love between Paul and the church at Philippi.
Philippians 1:1-26
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
They were the most generous and faithful of the churches and gave the apostle great joy. Should we not all aim to cheer the hearts of our pastors by our enthusiasm and generosity?
6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
This delightful confidence is the crowning joy of the Christian life. If he who began the good work did not also carry it on we would be in a miserable predicament. But, blessed be God, the work of grace is in the hands of one who never leaves his work unfinished.
7It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
The one thing the Philippians failed in was love and unity among themselves. This was on the top of Paul’s prayer list for them.
12I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (As long as Christ is glorified, Paul is content to forget his own troubles. He does not care about himself or what unkind purpose motivates others to preach the gospel. This is real Christianity.)
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
He hoped that the spread of the gospel would call Nero’s attention to his case and end his imprisonment one way or another. He cared little whether he was set free by death or was released to resume his work.
21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (He was even willing to stay out of heaven for a while for their sakes. Oh, to live only to do good! This is to live indeed.)
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1 Philippians 1:6
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