WE CONTINUE WITH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LETTERS OF PAUL THE APOSTLE THIS TIME AROUND TO THE GALATIANS AND THE EPHESIANS. THIS IS MERELY A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PINNACLE POINTS IN A SYNOPTIC VIEW.
GALATIANS
PAUL WROTE THIS LETTER UPON HEARING THERE HAD BEEN A LARGE DEFECTION FROM THE TRUTH OF THE HIGHER LAWS AND SPIRITUAL EFFICACY OF THE GOSPEL BACK TO THE LIMITS OF JEWISH LAW (OR THE LAW OF MOSES).
GALATIANS CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TELLS THEM —
“I MARVEL THAT YOU ARE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL. WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER; BUT THERE BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU, AND WOULD PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST . . . SO I NOW SAY AGAIN, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL TO YOU THAN THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.”
GALATIANS CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL CITES HOW HE WENT TO JERUSALEM TO SETTLE THE CONTENTION OF CIRCUMCISION OF THE GENTILES WITH PETER AND BARNABAS.
GALATIANS CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL TELLS THEM IN THE BEGINNING THAT THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO ABRAHAM BY GOD. MOSAIC LAW WAS ADDED TO THE ISRAELITES BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS.
THE LAW WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A TEACHING TOOL TO BRING ISRAEL TO CHRIST, BUT “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH. CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM MIGHT COME TO THE GENTILES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH.”
HE FURTHER TELLS THE GALATIANS —
“THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER BOND NOR FREE, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE: FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS. AND IF YOU ARE CHRIST’S, THEN YOU ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED, AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE.”
GALATIANS CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
THE SAINTS ARE CHILDREN OF GOD BY ADOPTION.
PAUL CALLS THE GALATIANS BACK TO CHRIST.
GALATIANS CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
PAULS TELLS THE GALATIANS —
“STAND FAST IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE, AND BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE (THE LAW OF MOSES).”
PAUL LISTS THE WORKS (LUSTS) OF THE FLESH —
“ADULTERY, FORNICATION, IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELING.”
PAUL LISTS THE FRUIT (WORKS) OF THE SPIRIT —
“LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONG-SUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE, FAITH.”
“THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUSTS. IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.”
GALATIANS CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
“BEAR YOU ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, AND SO FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.” (HELP OTHERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE YET STILL NEED HELP).
“FOR EVERY MAN SHALL BEAR HIS OWN BURDEN.” (PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY).
“AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT. AS WE HAVE THEREFORE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY UNTO THEM WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.”
THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE EPHESIANS
THIS CONTAINS PAUL’S VALUABLE TEACHINGS ON THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL OPENS WITH AN INTERESTING TRUTH ABOUT GOD —
“ACCORDING AS HE HAS CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE: HAVING PREDESTINED US TO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL.”
“THAT IN THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES HE MIGHT GATHER TOGETHER IN ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, AND WHICH ARE ON EARTH; EVEN IN HIM. IN WHOM WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE, BEING PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM . . .”
(COMMENTARY: THIS IS A REFERENCE TO THE SECOND COMING/”THE DISPENSATION OF THE FULLNESS OF TIMES.”)
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL REFERS TO SATAN AS “THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR,” WHO WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE.
PAUL TELLS THE SAINTS AT EPHESUS ON SALVATION–
“FOR BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH: AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.”
PAUL REMINDS THE GENTILE CONVERTS IN EPHESUS —
“THAT AT THE TIME YOU WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, AND STRANGERS FROM THE COVENANTS OF PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD.
NOW THEREFORE YOU ARE NO MORE STRANGERS AND FOREIGNERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS, AND OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD: AND ARE BUILT UPON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.”
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL SAYS, “I SHOULD PREACH AMONG THE GENTILES THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST; AND TO MAKE ALL MEN SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY, WHICH FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD HAS BEEN HID IN GOD, WHO CREATED ALL THINGS BY JESUS CHRIST.” (COMMENTARY: GOD CREATED ALL THINGS BY CHRIST.)
PAUL MAKES REFERENCE TO A “WORLD WITHOUT END.”
(COMMENTARY: YES, THE SECULAR WORLD WILL END, BUT THE EARTH ITSELF SHALL NOT PASS AWAY.)
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
PAUL STATES, “THERE IS ONE BODY (ONE CHURCH/ONE PEOPLE IN CHRIST), AND ONE SPIRIT . . .”
“ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM. ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN YOU ALL.”
(COMMENTARY: CHRISTIAN CHURCHES ALL SHOULD BELIEVE AND TEACH THE ENTIRE BIBLE. HOWEVER, MANY OF THEM DON’T, AND EVEN WORSE THEY DIVIDE THEMSELVES UP AS BAPTISTS, METHODISTS, ETC. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THERE IS ONLY ONE CHRISTIAN FAITH. THE PEOPLE OF GOD THEMSELVES ARE THE CHURCH WITHOUT TITLES OR SEPARATIONS.)
PAUL SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH IS SO “THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, TOSSED TO AND FRO, AND CARRIED ABOUT WITH EVERY WIND OF DOCTRINE, BY THE SLEIGHT OF MEN, AND CUNNING CRAFTINESS, WHEREBY THEY LIE IN WAIT TO DECEIVE.”
“THIS I SAY THEREFORE, AND TESTIFY IN THE LORD, THAT YOU HENCEFORTH WALK NOT AS OTHER GENTILES WALK, IN THE VANITY OF THEIR MIND, HAVING THE UNDERSTANDING DARKENED, BEING ALIENATED FROM THE LIFE OF GOD THROUGH THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, BECAUSE OF THE BLINDNESS OF THEIR HEART: WHO BEING PAST FEELING HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES OVER TO LASCIVIOUSNESS, TO WORK ALL UNCLEANNESS WITH GREEDINESS.”
PAUL ALSO INSTRUCTS THEM —
“LET NOT THE SUN GO DOWN UPON YOUR WRATH. NEITHER GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL”
“LET NO CORRUPT COMMUNICATION PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT THAT WHICH IS GOOD TO THE USE OF EDIFYING, THAT IT MAY MINISTER GRACE TO THE HEARERS.”
“LET ALL BITTERNESS, AND WRATH, AND ANGER, AND CLAMOR, AND EVIL SPEAKING, BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU, WITH ALL MALICE. AND BE YOU KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HAS FORGIVEN YOU.”
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
SAINTS ARE TOLD TO AVOID UNCLEANNESS AND WALK IN CHRIST.
“AND HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT RATHER REPROVE THEM.”
HUSBANDS AND WIVES ARE TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
CHILDREN ARE TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS.
“AND YOU FATHERS, PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH, BUT BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.”
“PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.
FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND.”
“PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT . . .”
(COMMENTARY: PAUL MAKES IT PLAIN THAT AS A CHRISTIAN ONE HAS THE ONLY POWER ON EARTH ABLE TO RESIST AND STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL. OUR CONFLICTS WITH MORTALS ARE NOT REALLY ABOUT THEM BUT THE SPIRITS THAT OPERATE THROUGH THEM WHICH THEY HAVE MADE THEMSELVES SUBJECT TO. THESE PEOPLE ARE USUALLY FOUND IN HIGH PLACES OF ROYALTY, POLITICS AND WEALTH WHICH OFTEN PROVES TO BE THE GREAT TEMPTATION OF “HIGH PLACES”. HOWEVER, MAKE NO MISTAKE THAT IN THESE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE RAPTURE AND THE TRIBULATION PERIOD, A PROFOUND NUMBER OF THE 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE EITHER DEMONICALLY OPPRESSED OR THE SMALLER YET STILL TERRIFYING NUMBERS OF THOSE ALREADY IN POSSESSION BY EVIL FORCES. THIS IS WHY EACH ONE OF US NEED BE CHRISTIAN —FOR TRUE SECURITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
NEXT . . . THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS AND THE COLOSSIANS