OUR FATHER WHO IS ETERNAL AND WISE

In 1 Timothy chapter 1 verses 12 - 20, the Apostle Paul recounts his former deeds as an insolent  blashemer and persecuter of the people of God and he thanks the Lord Jesus for for the mercy and abundant grace he was shown. The Lord Jesus counted Paul as faithful and entrusted  a ministry into his hands even though he was initially a violent and vociferous  sinner to  demonstrate Christ's longsuffering to believers.

 Paul emotionally declares that the eternal, immortal and invisible king and the only wise God was due honor and glory forever.

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, 20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul solemnly confers the authority of the ministry upon Timothy (the one he is addressing in his letter), in keeping with the prophecies that were made about him so that he (Timothy) would be able to fight the good fight of faith and with a good conscience and against the blasphemers and those who rejected the tenets of the faith and consequently suffered shipwreck of their faith. 

Paul revealed that there were some over whom he had removed the spiritual covering of the church so that they would be exposed unshielded to the kingdom of darkness so that they would cease taking for granted the immeasurable value of their place in the family of God.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER IN WHOM WE ARE HOME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

WE ARE HOME IN GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD

OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES GRACE MERCY AND PEACE

1 Timothy chapter 1 is a personal letter which begins with a greeting from the Apostle Paul to his protege, Timothy, who was in the town of Ephesus. Paul starts with a formal introduction of himself and his role as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and a blessing of grace mercy and peace from God. 

He also calls Timothy a ˋtrue son of the faithˋ  who he had appointed to be an overseer of the doctrines being prescibed among the Ephesians because Paul had learned that false doctrine were infiltrating the body of believers and wanted a strong believer to steer the doctrinal beliefs of the Ephesians in the right direction which was where conduct was governed by love rather than governed by the law and its enforcement.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,

2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

The apostle instructed Timothy to help the Ephesians understand that their fellow believers were not to be subjected to the law but rather the people in the world needed the law to instruct them of their need for Christ.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CANNOT BE MOCKED

Galatians chapter 6 concludes the apostle Paulˋs letter to the Galatians. Having explained to them that they must avoid walking in the flesh and instead, walk in the spirit, Paul then explains how to deal with someone in the midst who trips up and walks in the flesh.

He prescribes that those who are in the Spirit should gently restore the one who has walked in the flesh but cautions the spirit lead people that proximity to activities of the flesh can tempt them to step down into fleshly living.

Paul then establishes a principle to be followed by those who walk in the Spirit and that is that they must be self-sufficient and self-regulating but must also keep watch over their brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul also established that even as they walked in the Spirit, if they benefitted from any of their brothers or sisters, they should should freely recompense them with good things to register appreciation and acknowledgement of the value they have received. This principle is an extention of the principle of sowing and reaping where believers who sow into the lives of others would reap their appreciation and get the credit that God issues to those who sow as they play out the life of the Spirit.

1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

As his letter ends, Paul comments on the oversize font he was using to write to them likely as a revelation of his failing eyesight and he recapitulates his opposition to the false doctrine that they had entertained from people who had gained accolades from their pursuit of the law (as well as avoided persecution) and thus these people were trying to induce the Galations to follow their example.

Paul intructs them not to capitulate to the false doctrine but to do as he did and boasted only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ because they were new creations in Christ.

12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Paul, now weary of the struggle, requests that he not be troubled with problems having himself already absorbed a large amount of physical punishment for the gospel but he finalizes his letter by blessing the Galatians as his brothers and sisters with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SPIRIT IN US BRINGS FORTH FRUIT OF LOVE, JOY AND PEACE

In Galatians chapter 5 verses 16 - 26, the apostle Paul gives a presccription to believers walk in the Spirit as the way to bypass the lusts of the flesh. Believers have two modes; Walking in the flesh or Walking in the Spirit.  

To walk in the flesh is our default mode and even when we are born-again, we can persist in the life of the flesh where our identity remains centered around our fallen nature. This mode yields adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery. hatred, contentions, jealousies, wrath, selfish desires, ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkeness, revelries and other forms of short-sighted and selfish behaviour.

Believers, however, can practice living in the spirit where the center of their identity is their born-again spirit and in that mode, they walk according to the promptings and guidance of the Spirit of God. 

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are  evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Paul, having urged the believers in Galatia to center their identities on their new spirit, gives a warning about living in the Spirit because life in the Spirit can cause us to become conceited as we find ourselves becoming more bouyant in life due to the blessings of walking in the Spirit and Paul encourages us not to compare ourselves with one another in our spiritual growh which can lead us to showboating in order to prompt each other to envy us and we ourselves can be led into envying others.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER IN WHOM THERE IS LIBERTY

Galatians chapter 5 verses 1 - 15 carries the apostle Paulˋs urging to the believers in Galatia not to fall for the trap of trying to add to their salvation by following the strictures of the law for he said that following any part of the law in order to obtain righteousness would obligate them to follow the whole of the law and would thus be in a state where they have fallen from grace. 

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Paul asks the Galatians who in particular brought them them false doctrine for he certainly did not bring to them anything like what they were cultivating in their midst.

Paul prescribes for them a way to think about the new culture of love that they had been initiated into through faith in christ that had set the baseline of conduct around the principle of loving their neighbours as themselves. 

In the absence of this loving culture, the apostle warns the Galatians that they would end up turning on  one another and they would bite and devour one another until they were ultimately consumed. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE PROMISE IS FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE

The Apostle Paul, in Galatians chapter 4 verses 21 - 31, continuing with his teaching about the insuficiency of the law to bring about righteousness,  uses for a sublime metaphor from the story of the two sons of Abraham one of whom was born to a  bondwoman (Hagar) and the other to a freewoman (Sarah).

Ishmael was born to the bondwoman by an action of the flesh while Isaac was born to the freewoman through the promise God gave him.  The bondwoman represented the route of trying to gain righteousness via the Law of Mount Sinai while the freewoman represented the route of gaining righteousness by believing the promise of God.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

We, who came to believe in Christ, are represented by Isaac who was born of the freewoman and was thus himself free from the bonds of the law but also an heir  to the promise. In fact, the son of the bondwoman was to be cast out so that he would not in anyway have a share of the inheritance that was coming to the son of the freewoman.

Paulˋs summation to the Galatians was that they were children of the freewoman having believed in the pomise of salvation through Christ and therefore were heirs and as such, needed to avoid the retrogression to the obligations of the bondage of the law.

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OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

In Galatians chapter 4 verses 1 - 20, the Apostle Paul continued expositing to the believers in Galatia the privileged position that  their faith in Christ had made availabel to them. 

He is alarmed about their vulnerability to false doctrine which was leading them to veer away from the riches to which they were heirsthrough faith in Christ and to veer towards legal frameworks to obtain righteousness.

1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

Paul explained that as sons of God, they were no longer slaves to the law such as the fulfilling of calendar dates and seasons. Paul expresses his concern because the Galatians, of all people, had been so hospitable to him when he came to them with challenges with his eyesight and they adored him so much that they would have, if possible, donated their own eyes so that he could see.

It is in this context that Paul reprimands them for heeding contrary voices and forsaking the true gospel that they had first believed. They were watering it down with elements of the law as though the law could suppliment what Christ had given them.

17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Amen.

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