OUR FATHER WHO OPENS DOORS FOR US TO CARRY HIS WORD

Colossians chapter 4 verses 1 - 18 concludes the Apostle Paulˋs letter to the believers in Colossae with the first verse seeming to have been erroneously separated from the last portion of chapter 3.  

In that portion, Paul is giving a prescription for the relationships that the believers had with one another for example the relationship between husbands and wives, children and parents, bondservants and masters and finally, believers and Christ.

In this case, the first verse in Chapter 4 concludes a theme on the requirement of the relationship between a master and his bondservant to be just and fair because the master must remember that he too has a master in heaven.

The final passages of the letter contains a request for prayer that he and his companions would have doors opened to speak the mystery of Christ. Paul also offers guidance to walk in wisdom towards unbelievers and to be ready to give answers to questions posed to them. 

He then commends fellow servants to the Colossians and passes messages to them from other saints like Luke the beloved physician. He also passes an important massage to  a believer called Archipus that urges him to take the ministry he received from the Lord seriously so that he could fulfil it.

Paul then signs off with a blessing of grace.

1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

7 Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. 15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.

16 Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

18 This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO ELECTS THOSE WHO BELIEVE

After instructing the Colossians to eschew the works of the old man, the Apostle Paul, in Colossians chapter 3 verses 12 - 25, prescribes the conduct that is in keeping with the new man.

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The list of marks of the life of the new man

• Tender mercies (Compassionate)
• Kindness
• Humility
• Meekness (Gentleness)
• Longsuffering (Patience with others)
• Forgiving others
• Lovinod g one another
• Internal peace of God
• Grateful
• Indwelled by the word of Christ
• Wise
• Sharing  Psalms and kymns and spiritual songs singing with grace
• Doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus 
• Grateful to God (Through Jesus Christ)

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for[a] you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE SON JESUS SITS ENTHRONED AT HIS RIGHT HAND

Continuing with the explanation of what Christ has gained for us, the Apostle Paul, in Colossians chapter 3 verse 1 - 11, encourages believers to mentally inhabit the realm above to which we were raised when we were born again. The apostle names the types or attitudes and behaviours that keep us glued to the earth and divert us from the things above where we are hidden in Christ and from where we shall appear with Him in glory.

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Paul lists the things identified with the works of the old man that we are no longer part of:

• Fornication (Sexual immorality)
• Uncleaness (Impurity)
• Passion (Lust)
• Evil desires
• Covetousness (Greed) which is idolatry

As well, Paul separately lists dispositional stances to be avoided  that are part of what the old man exhibits:

• Anger
• Wrath (Rage)
• Malice
• Blasphemy (Slander)
• Filthy language
• Lies

Amen.

4

OUR FATHER BRINGS INCREASE WHEN WE CLING TO CHRIST

In Colossians chapter 2 verses 11 - 23, the apostle Paul summarises the absolute reversal that Christ achieved for us believers through His death on the cross and his burial and ressurection.

Whereas we were once dead in our tresspasses with an inssurmountable list of charges against us, Christ, in His victory over death, cleared off the charges against us and revivified us when our trespasses were taken away and nailed to the cross and, in a cosmological triumph over the heirarchy of the kingdom of darkness that enforced the legal claims against us, defanged and humiliated them such that they were rendered impotent regarding their rule over us. 

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Paul, having established that believers have been extricated from under the dominion of the kingdom of darkness and freed from the regulations of the law and traditions of men, adjures us not to be subjected to rules related to food, drink, festivals and sabbaths which were merely shadows that pointed to the ultimate ministry of Christ. 

Paul cautions us against heeding those who claim to have seen visions and then, in their inflated sense of themselves,  teach others to practice false humility and to worship of angels. In doing so, they lead people away from cleaving to the head of the body who is Christ and from whom only can a healthy life of the body of believers be gained.

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

Believers who have died with Christ and are thus free from the governing principles of the world, should therefore not be ruled by the regulations and doctrines of men for even though some of these artificial strictures appear rooted in wisdom , they have no ability to free us from the proclivities of the fallen nature.

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER IN WHOM IS HIDDEN ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE

The Apostle Paul, continuing with his letter to the Colossians in chapter 2 verses 1 - 10, lets them know that he had been struggling mightily for them and those in Laodicea and for the many whom he had not physically met so that they would be strongly united and embedded together in love for one another so that they would be encouraged and gain the incredible benefits that come from understanding and having access to the wisdom and knowledge concealed in God.

Paul also revealed to the Colossians (so that they are not ignorant of this reality) that even though he is not physically with them, his spirit is able to travel into the midst of them and he told them that he was gratified to see that they conducted themselves in orderly ways and that they were staunch in their faith.

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The apostle cautions the Colossians to gratefully walk out their faith in the Lord Christ Jesus as was presented to them and that they willingly accepted and that they should be aware of contrary philosophies that were not sourced in the Lord Jesus but rather were deceptions sourced from menˋs traditions or from wordly ideas and methods.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO WILLED TO MAKE MAKE KNOWN THE RICHES OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST TO THE GENTILES

Colossians chapter 1 verses 19 - 29;

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO QUALIFIED US TO BE PARTAKERS IN THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS 

Colossians chapter 1 verses 1 - 18;

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO IS ABLE TO DO E EXEEDINGLY ABUNDANDANTLY BEYOND WE CAN ASK OR THINK

Ephesians chapter 3 verses 14 - 21;

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO MADE GENTILES  AND JEWS INTO FELLOW HEIRS

Ephesians 3 verses 1 - 13:

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER DWELLS IN HIS PEOPLE AS HIS TEMPLE

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 -  22

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Amen

1

OUR FATHER WHOSE GREAT MERCY AND LOVE FOR US FOR BROUGHT US FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Continuing with his exposition of how great a salvation we have been given, the Apostle Paul, in  Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 - 10, discusses the mercy and love that God had for us by which He took us from being innate sinners to being indemnified saints sitting in  heavenly places with Christ.

 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The undertaking of our salvation,  as costly as it was, will showcase the extremely incredible depth and magnificence of God's grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.

In this context, Paul made clear that our salvation is provided by the grace of God only and in no way is it attained by any work or effort done by us. The credit for our salvation will only ever be attributable to God and no human being will ever be able to claim any part of the credit for their salvation.

The apostle then explained that we were individually crafted by God for His  purposes which, far in advance, He designed for us to do and designed us to do and the salvation provided makes a way for us to step up to our purpose and calling in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO SEATED CHRIST AT HIS RIGHT HAND ABOVE ALL THINGS

In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 14 - 23, the Apostle Paul reports that he had heard of the Ephesian's faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints and this inspired him to continually give thanks for them and to mention them in his personal prayers so that God would give them wisdom and revelation of Himself so that they would be able to realise how consequential their eternal calling was and how rich in glory of the inheritance that was allotted to them actually was.

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

The Apostle Paul continued to tell the Ephesians that he prayed that they would grasp how exceedingly great His power was towards those who believed and in fact, this power was the same power that God used to raise the Lord Jesus from the dead and enthrone Him in heavenly places far above the entire hierarchy of spiritual entities and this order of Christ's supremacy not only applied to our current dispensation but also to the dispensation to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The Lord Jesus was put over all things and the church, which is His body, is completely filled by Him and has been imbued with His authority.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER WHO BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

Ephesians chapter 1 verses 1 - 14 begins our look at Apostle Paulˋs letter to the believers in the town of Ephesus. 

Paul introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ as appointed by God and decribes the ones he is writing to as ˋsaintsˋand ˋfaithfulˋ in Christ Jesus. Paul also blesses them with a pronouncement of grace and peace upon them as an expression of his love for them.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace to you and peace fromen God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul then declares that the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is blessed and that we, through Christ,  have been blessed by God with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.  

Paul then reveals that in the same way that we have been blessed by God, from before the foundation of the world, He has also chosen us to be in Him as ones who should be holy and blameless in love. 

This attainment of holiness and blamelessness, Paul explains, is made possible when we are adopted as sons unto God through the Lord Jesus Christ according to Godˋs own pleasure. This provision that God made for us showcases the glory of His grace which brings Him praise and this same grace made us accepted into the family of God.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Paul, in this densely-packed passage, summarized the composite gift of Christ that escalates us up from the depths of enslavement in sin ( through His shed blood and His grace), to being among those being gathered together in Christ and then we find that above all that, we have obtained an inheritance as part of what was predestined for each of us by Godˋs personal intention. 

Those who first trusted in Christ and expended themselves for the dispensation of His gospel are then able to be for the praise of Godˋs glory because of how lavish and valuable the gift of salvation actually is and anyone receiving it would praise the Lord forever.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Apostle Paul goes on to explain a mysterious principle where he tells the Ephesians that they who trusted the word of truth and believed in the gospel of salvation that was given to them, they were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Here, the word 'seal', carries the meaning of 'protected from tampering or contamination like preserving food in a sealer jar'. This keeps our new born-again spirits from being contaminated by living in the world and it is also a deposit or downpayment made on each of us until the day that we are redeemed by God as a precious possession and all this to the praise and honor of His glory.

Amen.

1

OUR FATHER FOR WHOM ALL THINGS MUST BE DONE IN LOV

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 1 - 24, concludes his monumental letter to the Corinthians with some logistics and housekeeping .

He describes his own movements around Asia Minor where some effective doors were opening for the work of the ministry but as well, harboured many enemies.

He lists a number of places and people in commendation and in greeting;

Places:

• Galatia - To whom he wrote the letter ˋGalatiansˋ
• Jerusalem - Showing that it was still integrated with the expanding network
• Macedonia - Passing through on the way north but perhaps wintering there
• Ephesus - To whom he wrote the letter of towering revelation: Ephesians
• Achaia - Mentioned as the home town of the household of Stephanas
• Asia -  Mentioned as a regionally unified administrative area

Individuals:

• Timothy- Commended as a fellow worker in the Lord
• Apollos - Described as a brother in Christ who was unwilling to visit 
• Stephanas - His household is named the first in Christ in the area and faithful 
• Fortunatus - Faithful helper, encourager and supporter of the ministry
• Achaicus  Faithful helper, encourager and supporter of the ministry
• Aquila - Passed hearty greetings from the churches in Asia
• Priscilla - Passed hearty greetings from the churches in Asia

Paul encourages the Corinthians to be watchful, steadfast in faith, brave, strong and loving.

1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.

13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.

15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.

22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Amen.

6

 OUR FATHER TO WHOM OUR LABOUR IS NOT IN VAIN

1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 29 - 58 continues with the Apostle Paulˋs contention that there would indeed be a ressurection of the dead.

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

The ˋbaptism of the deadˋ mentioned here (and nowhere else in sccripture) has be used to institute a religious practice among some groups where a living person is physically baptised as a proxy for a person who is dead so that the dead person can benefit from the mandatory rite even if they had not had a chance to experience it in life.

This interpretation is clearly a misreading of the text. The baptism of the dead is the same baptism mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the book of Mark 10 verse 38:

“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

The baptism mentioned here is the baptism of death that Jesus would endure for the sake of all men. The baptism mentioned by Paul, in the context, is the baptism unto death that believers suffered for the sake of the gospel and for righteousness. The question paul is asking is why would there be any need for someone to die for the sake of the gospel if there was no ressurection of the dead. He asks why they, as servants of the gospel, suffered jeopardy and struggled against wid beasts and other hazzards if this life was all there was? Why wouldnˋt they just âdopt the precept that went, ˋEat drink and be merry for tomorrow we dieˋ.

33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Here, Paul cautions the believers against associating with those who held that belief because they would be wrongly guided away from righteousness and towards sin based on the false doctrine that there was no ressurection.

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

To answer the question of how the dead were raised, Paul uses an anology of a seed that falls to the ground and dies and then becomes alive in a new plant. For a human being who has been given eternal life becuase of their faith in Christ, they die and are then made alive again in a spiritual body in the image of the heavenly man Jesus. 

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

In this passage, the Apostle Paul reveals a mystery of the ages; In an instance, all who will inherit the kingdom of God will be raised up in a new incorruptible and immortal body. At that moment, those who are dead in Christ will be raised from the dead in immortal bodies while those who are alive and in Christ, will be caught up with Him and transformed in a twinkling of an eye when the last trumpet blows to mark then of the dispensation we are in.

At that moment, death will be defeated and rendered non-functional because sin is the sting that causes death and the law, in its judgement of sin, is what gives sin its strength but the Lord Jesus Christ, having lived a perfectly sinless life even to the point of submitting to an agonizing death in mental and physical anguish, was victorious over sin and death and we are each given this victory through Him.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER PUT ALL THINGS UNDER THE FEET OF HIS SON

1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 12 - 28.

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The apostle Paul, having established that the gospelˋs foundation was the death, burial and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ, points out that some of the Corithians were claiming that there is no such thing as the ressurection of the dead.

Paul counters the claim by saying that if there is no ressurection of the dead, that meant that Christ himself had not risen and if Christ had not risen, what Paul had been preaching was pointless and their faith was in vain.

Paul proclaimed that the entirety of Christianity pivots on one point; Jesus Christ rose from the dead. If Christ did not rise from the dead, faith in Him is fultile and we are all still in our sins and we will perish along with everyone else and believers would be the most pitiable for having placed our faith what was not going to save us.

However, with all the witnesses who were still alive at that time to attest to the factuality of Christˋs ressurection, Paul asserted that the ressurection from the dead for believers was going to happen because death came to mankind through one man named Adam and likewise, life would come to mankind through the one man Jesus Christ.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Paul, looking far into the distant future, builds on the assertion that there will indeed be a ressurection and that this ressurection represents the  last enemy that Christ will destroy which is death.  When Christ is revealed at the time of the end, He will have dissolved the heirachies the kingdom of darkness made of rulers and authorities and powers and all things will have been put under Christˋs feet and as Paul indicates, the ˋall thingsˋ excludes the One who put all things under His feet. 

At this time, Christ will then hand the victorious kingdom to His Father and will Himself be subject to the one who put all things under Him and this final state unifies everything in God.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE GRACE MAKES ROOM FOR US TO LABOUR IN HIS KINGDOM

The Aposte Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1 -  11, urges the Corinthian believers to hold fast to the gospel that he had brought to them because if they fell way it, their original belief would have all been in vain.

Paul summarized the sequence of events that form the tenets of the gospel and these important tenets were attested to by many people.

1. Christ dies for our sins according to the scripture
2. Christ was buried
3. Christ rose again on the third day
4. The risen Christ was seen by 
1. Cephas (The Apostle Peter)
2. All the twelve apostles together
3. Five hundred at once (most were still alive as the time of Paulˋs writing)
4. James the Apostle
5. The twelve apostles again
6. Seen by Paul

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul, acknowledging that he started off as an enemy of the church of God, writes that he was given grace to believe and that he, by that same grace laboured abundantly for te sake of the gospel.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO ADOPTED US AS HIS SONS

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 26 - 40, writes to establish decency and orderliness in church meetings by prescribing in what way  spiritual gifts should be expressed.

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The chart below lays out how the various gifts should be operated during meetings;

• Edification - A Psalm, a teaching, a revelation or an interpretation can be brought by anyone
• Tongues - Two or three can speak  (with one interpreting if available)
• Interpreter - If none, tongue speakers should speak only to themselves or to God
• Prophecy - Two or three can speak and the other propets can judge the prophecies. Prophets should also prophecy one by one as their spirits are under their control.

34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Paul then prescribes that women should not speak in churches but are to be submissive. Here, Paul is reiterating the discussion in an earlier passage related to women covering their heads in church. In that context, Paul was alluding to the grand stage upon which all people perform the parables of the temporal that reveal the eternal. Men play the part of Jesus the groom and the women play the part of the bride. In the same way that women cover their heads to illustrate that the church is to cover her glory and point all glory to Christ, men play the part of Christ who is the head of the church and has the sole directive voice on matters of the kingdom of God and women play the part of the church who is to heed the voice of her groom and submit herself completely to Christ.

Controvercy has surrounded this question. Some point to the emergence of female leaders of Israel like Deborah and in the new testament church like Phoebe and Junia to show that women were not relegated to the sidelines in church life but were integrated key players.

With one passage saying that women should not speak in church and yet bible-certified women leaders clearly existed, what could be made of this controvercy.

The key is to understand the progression of the Christian from infancy to maturity.

Ephesians chapter 1 verses 4b - 5,  Paul writes that all believers are chosen from before the creation of the world and they are then matriculated for adoption into sonship through Jesus Christ.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

This  adoption into sonship is indistinguishably applied to men and women and so in the spirit, men and women are equally required to pursue spiritual growth and maturity. Once a woman is adopted as a son and matured, she is qualified to be a leader in the church as a mature son would be in his father's household. If she is not mature in faith, she is to remain silent as any immature man would be required to be.

36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Paul advises the Corinthians to submit to the scripture (including his letters)  because they did not originate it and it a universal word that applies to all believers and not just to the Corinthians. 

Therefore, if anyone believed they were a prophet or a spiritual person, they could only be considered to be so if they submitted to the words Paul wrote concerning their practice and conduct.

The apostle again encourages the believers at Corinth to desire the gift of prophecy but on this occasion, he also instructs church leaders not to forbid the speaking of tongues. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS TO UNBELIEVERS USING MEN WHO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES

1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 20 - 25 continues with the Apostle Paulˋs advice to the Corinthian church were he adjures them to be mature in understanding of spiritual things and yet to be like children in things like malice and vengeance. Paul then points to an old testament scripture that references the speaking of other tongues and with foreign lips that would be used to speak to the children of Israel and yet they would not hear the Lord.

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips to

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the gift of tongues is not a sign to believers but to unbelievers while prophecy is a not a sign to unbelievers but to believers. He envisions a scenario where a believer who does not know of tongues or an unbeliever enters a building where all members are speaking in tongues,  would they not say that the people are out of their minds and reject them?  This is what the scripture why the scripture was saying that those who heard the speaking of tongues would not listen to the voice of the LORD.

On the other hand, Paul says that if they all prophecied instead of speaking in tongues, the unbelievers and skeptical people might hear the prophetic excavation of their lives and fall down and worship God which would contradict the scripture.

Thus Paul says that speaking in tongues is the proper prescription for public spiritual expression if unbelievers and skeptics are present. Prophecy is for the edification and guidance of believers and not unbelievers or skeptics.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO PRIORITIZES LOVE OVER FUNCTION 

In 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 1 - 19, the Apostle Paul embarks on establishing the best practices related to the use of spiritual gifts. He begins by setting the order of operations as  1)  - ˋPursue Loveˋ and  2) -  ˋDesire spiritual giftsˋ.

This could be understood to mean that we are to pursue love and then desire spiritual gifts to help facilitate the exercise of that love.

Paul identifies prophesy as the ideal gift to desire because doing so edifies the body of believers while speaking in tongues ( which is the spirit of a man praying) does not edify the body of believers because no one can understand the words being spoken unless there is a person around who has the gift of the interpretation of tongues who can render the mysteries being spoken in an unknown tongue into a comprehensible language.

Paul thus counsels the Corinthian believers, who were zealously seeking spiritual gifts, to make the edification of the church their prime directive when it came to developing their giftings. If some only spoke in tongues, Paul advised them to pray for an interpreter so that the words of direction, confirmation or encouragement could be understood and acted upon.

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul thus concluded that individuals should engage in prayer in the spirit and also in prayer in their understanding and they should also sing in the spirit and sing in their understanding and also bless with the spirit and bless with understanding if their efforst were going to have any benefit for the listeners.

The apostle clarified that even though he spoke in tongues more than all the Corinthian believers, he nevertheless would rather have only spoken a few words in the common language than do so voluminously in an unknown tongue.

Amen.

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