All posts by Jerald Finney

Jerald Finney was the lead counsel for the Biblical Law Center ("BLC") from May, 2005 until 2011. The BLC helps churches who desire to organize according to New Testament principles. In 2016, he again worked with the BLC and still does, but he now heads up the Churches under Christ Ministry which is under the authority of Charity Baptist Tabernacle of Amarillo TX. Finney is a licensed attorney who can be reached at 512-785-8445 jerald.finney@sbcglobal.net. Over the last few years he has lectured and preached on the issues concerning government, church, and separation of church and state. God called Finney, a Christian and fundamental Baptist since his salvation, to enter the University of Texas School of Law in 1990 at the age of 43 to stand in the gap concerning legal issues facing Christians. Since being saved, he has been a faithful and active member of a local fundamental, Bible-believing Baptist church. He received his JD degree in 1993 and has followed the Lord in the practice of law since that time. Finney received his law license in November 1993 and began practicing law in January, 1994. All along he was seeking the Lord’s direction. The Lord initially led Finney to practice criminal law. He knew that not many, if any, of the Christian law firms dealt with or specialized in criminal law, and that some Christians were being charged with crimes for their Christian behavior and for taking a stand for God’s principles. The Lord confirmed Finney's choice. Very soon after he started practicing, he helped an Eastern Orthodox priest with a criminal charge. He was charged under a criminal statute for trying to expose the promotion of sodomy and other sins within a Catholic Church. God gave the victory in that case. Then Steve, a Christian who counseled outside abortion clinics, called Finney. He was charged with a crime under the Austin, Texas Sign Ordinance for his activities outside an abortion clinic. Being a new lawyer, Finney called the Rutherford Institute. They asked him to send them a summary of the facts and a copy of the Sign Ordinance. Then they told him that the case could not be won and that they would not help. Steve lost at trial, but God gave the victory on appeal. The Austin Police Department immediately cited Steve for violation of the state sign ordinance. The Lord gave the victory at trial. Finney's first felony trial came about a year and six months after he started practicing law. A single Christian mother was charged with third degree felony injury to a child for spanking her six year old son. She left some prominent stripes across his rear end and also a stripe across his face when he turned suddenly during the spanking. The Lord gave the victory at trial. At the same time, Finney was also representing another Christian married lady who was charged with the same crime for spanking her little girl with a switch. On the date the trial in that case was to begin, the prosecutor, with prompting by the judge, lowered the offer to deferred adjudication probation of short duration on a misdemeanor charge with very few conditions on the probation. In a deferred adjudication in Texas, there is never a judgment of guilt if the probationer successfully completes the term of the probation, (and, with successful completion of the probation, the probationer can now file a Motion for Nondisclosure which, if granted, requires the file to be sealed so that the general public has no access to it). The mother decided to take the offer. The Lord has also allowed Finney to help Christian parents in numerous situations involving Child Protective Services (“CPS”) infringement into parental rights. God has given the victory in all those situations. The Lord has also used Finney to intervene in numerous situations where government officials or private companies tried to deny certain Christians their rights to do door-to-door evangelization, preach on the street, hand out gospel literature in the public forum, and pass out gospel tracts and communicate the gospel at their place of employment. Finney has also fought other legal spiritual battles including a criminal case in San Antonio. A peaceful pro-life advocate was arrested and charged with criminal trespass for handing pro-life literature giving information about the development of the unborn baby, places to go for help, and other information to women entering an abortion clinic. All the above-mentioned cases as well as others not mentioned were handled free of charge (except the last spanking case for which Finney received $750). In 2005 Finney became lead counsel for the Biblical Law Center. Since his early Christian life, he has considered the issue of separation of church and state as taught in the Bible to be one of the primary issues facing New Testament churches today. He believes, based upon what the Bible teaches, that operating as a corporation (sole or aggregate), unincorporated association, or any other type of legal entity and/or getting a tax exempt status from the federal government at the very least puts the church under the headship of both the Lord and the state, and may even take the church from under the headship of Christ and put the church under the headship of the state. He believes that taking scriptures out of context and applying human reasoning contrary to biblical teaching (such as “Obey every ordinance of man,” or “We should be good stewards and incorporation is good stewardship”) in order to justify unbiblical marriage with the state causes our Lord much grief. Once he took on the position as counsel for the BLC, it was necessary to do an in-depth study of the issue of separation of church and state. He began with the Bible. He initially read through the Bible at least five times (and many more times since then) primarily seeking the answer to the question, “Does the Bible have anything to say about this issue?” He was amazed at what He learned. The Bible gives God’s principles concerning separation of church and state, the purpose of a church, the purpose of the civil government, the headship of church, the headship of civil government, the principles by which each is to be guided, and much more concerning these two God ordained institutions. He continued to read the Bible daily seeking insights into these and other issues. He also began to read other books. he had already read starting shortly after being saved, books and other information by Christian authors. For example, he had read, among other works, A Christian Manifesto[1], The Light and the Glory,[2] From Sea to Shining Sea,[3] The Myth of Separation and some other works by David Barton, [4]Rewriting America’s History,[5] and America’s God and Country.[6] These resources inspired, influenced and guided him and millions of other Christians, gave them philosophical and historical underpinning, and led them into battlefields such as politics, law, and education armed with what they learned from those resources. Sometime in 2006 he began to realize that some of the books by Christian authors which he had come to depend upon were misleading, at the very least. Other books revealed to him that some of the above mentioned books had misinformed and misled sincere Christians by revising and/or misrepresenting the true history of separation of church and state in America. In 2006, he read One Nation Under Law[7] which cites a wealth of resources for one seeking to understand the history of separation of church and state in the United States and of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.[8] Reading One Nation Under Law, some of the books it cited, and some other books was a launching pad into the universe of historical information which he never dreamed existed. He had expected to be misled in the secular law school he attended. He was amazed that he had been misled by Christian brothers. I asked myself, “How could Peter Marshall and others have missed this vital information?” At an Unregistered Baptist Fellowship conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, James R. Beller, a Baptist historian, gave a PowerPoint presentation which gave him the answer to this question. Finney bought two of Beller's books and read them. Those books filled in the details not mentioned in Pastor Beller’s concise PowerPoint presentation. Since that time, God has led Finney into an in depth study of the issues of government, church, and separation of church and state. God Betrayed/Separation of Church and State: The Biblical Principles and the American Application and the other books he has written and listed on this website were written as a result of those studies. God Betrayed is not a rehash of the same information that has been circulated in the Fundamental Baptist and Christian community through sermons, books, seminars, etc. since at least 1982, the year Finney was saved. God Betrayed and Finney's other books reveal facts and information that must be understood in order for a pastor and other Christians to begin to successfully (in God's eyes) fight the spiritual warfare we are engaged in according to knowledge. Finney believes that the lack of attention to the biblical doctrines concerning government, church (which is likened to the wife and bride of Christ), and separation of church and state, has had dire consequences for individuals, families, churches, and America. Unless pastors educate themselves on these doctrines and their application in America, the rapid downhill slide will continue at an accelerating pace. [1] Francis A. Schaeffer, A Christian Manifesto, (Westchester, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1981). [2] Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory, (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1977). [3] Peter Marshall and David Manuel, From Sea to Shining Sea (Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1986). [4] David Barton, The Myth of Separation, What is the Correct relationship between Church and State? (Aledo, Texas: Wallbuilder Press, 1992). [5] Catherine Millard, Rewriting America’s History (Camp Hill, Pennsylvania: Horizon House Publishers, 1991). [6] William J. Federer, America’s God and Country, Encyclopedia of Quotations (Coppell, Texas: FAME Publishing, Inc., 1994). [7] Mark Douglas McGarvie, One Nation Under Law: America’s Early National Struggles to Separate Church and State (DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, 2005). [8] The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The religion clause, properly interpreted, as is shown in God Betrayed, is a correct application of the biblical principle of separation of church and state.
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Lesson 2 on Colossians: Christ the Head of the Local Church

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Person of Christ and Objective Work of Christ for Sinners – Colossians 1.15-23
(10 questions with answers following)
Added on  April 29, 2017

Click here to go to the “Bible Studies on the Doctrine of the Church” (Has links to all lessons)
Click here to go to Lesson 3

Answers at the end, following the questions. Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

This is an open book quiz meant to challenge the Bible believer – the saved person who believes the Word of God rather than the person who tries to fit particular Scriptures into a system of interpretation meant to validate one’s desired view of how things should be by philosophizing, allegorizing, or spiritualizing chosen Scriptures. The literal meaning, taken in its immediate context and within the context of all related Scripture is the basis for these studies. It is presented for the glory of God.

Colossians directs our attention to the head of the body who is Christ. The body itself is secondary. Christ is the theme. He is the center of the circle around which all Christian living revolves. Christ is the fullness of God. The dominating thought is that Christ is all I need; He is everything. He is the primary object, and the thought passes downward to the church as the body of Christ.

Colossians was written to the local church at Colosee (with the principles to be applied by all local churches and believers) to counteract the heresy of Gnosticism, the first heresy in the church. There were many forms of Gnosticism, and in Colossee there were the Essenes. There are three points of identification for this group: (1) They had an exclusive spirit. They felt that they were the people—they had knowledge in the jug and held the stopper in their hands. Thus, they felt that they were super-duper in knowledge and knew more than anyone else, including the Apostles. (2) They held speculative tenets on creation. They taught that God did not create the universe directly, but created a creature who in turn created another creature, until one finally created the physical universe. Christ was considered a creature in this long series of creations.  Paul refutes this in Colossians 1:15-19. (3) They practiced asceticism and unrestrained licentiousness. They got the asceticism from the influence of Greek Stoicism and the unrestrained licentiousness from the influence of Greek Epicureanism. Paul refutes this in Colosians 2.16, 23 and 3.5-9.

See, J. Vernon McGee, Colossians for more on this.

Colossians 1:15-19 [PERSON OF CHRIST] “15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by 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 might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;”

Colossians 1.20-23 [OBJECTIVE WORK OF CHRIST FOR SINNERS] “20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

Questions:

PERSON OF CHRIST : COLOSSIANS 1.15-19:

  1. Paul is specifically attempting to answer one of the oldest heresies of the church, ____________. Other heresies included Arianism. Arius of Alexandria said that the Lord Jesus Christ was a creature, a __________ being. Socinus later propagated the heresy that Jesus was not God and that mankind did not need a Saviour from _____, that man is not totally ___________. This is the basis of Unitarianism and some of the ________, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  2. There are here ______ marks of identification given here which make Him different from and superior to any other person who has ever lived:
    –
    (1) He is “the ________ of the invisible _____.” He (God) was born flesh. (See Jn. 1.1, 14). If He were not _____, He could not have been the image of the invisible _____.
    (2) “He is the ____________ of every __________.” This reveals His relationship to the Father and His position in the Trinity. His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Mic. 5.2). The child (Jesus) was born, but the son is given (Is. 9.6). Paul is destroying one of the ______________ of that day—that God created a creature, then that creature created a creature, etc.; until finally a creature created this universe. Paul is answering that and saying that Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all ____________; He is back of all ___________. The Greek word is prōtotokos meaning before all creation (See Jn. 1.1-3). God the Father is the ______________ God the son is the _____________ son. The Lord Jesus is called the ____________ from the dead (Col. 1.18). This is what the psalmist spoke of in Psalm 2.7 and explained by Paul in his sermon at Antioch of Pisidia (See Ac. 13.32, 33). Christ ___________ all things. Other verses that make clear that Christ was not a mere creature include Hebrews 1.3 (the second person of the Godhead); Hebrews 1.7, 8 (Speaking of Jesus: “Thy throne, O _____ is for ever and ever….”); Matthew 16.16 and Luke 1.35 (He is the _________, the Son of the living God).
    (3) “By him were all things __________” (verse 16). Thus, he was the one who did the ___________. There are two kinds of creation, the __________ and the ____________. Paul mentions different graduations of rank in spiritual intelligences: __________, ____________, _________________, ________. Our spiritual enemies, Satan and his followers, have different gradations of rank.
    (4) All things were created “for _____.” This all shows that this is _____’s universe. And we are _______–_______ with the Lord Jesus Christ!
    (5) “He is before all things.” All _________ dwells in the preincarnate and the incarnate _________ (Col.2.9).
    (6) “By him all things consist.” He holds everything together. He maintains and directs __________. He is the Elmer’s Glue of the ___________. See also, He. 1.3.
    (7) “He is the head of the body, the church.” In Ephesians, the emphasis was on the fact that a church is a _______________ _______. In Colossians, the emphasis is on the _______ of the body, the person of the _______ _________ ____. In Philippians we see a church with feet, walking through the world—we see the experience of a church, of a believer. “The firstborn of from the dead.” When a saved loved one dies, the _______ is put to sleep, but the _______________ has gone to be with the Lord. The body, sown in _______________, will be raised in __________________ (1 Co. 15.42) on the basis of His _______________. We shall be as He is (1 Jn. 3.2).
    (8) “That is all things He might have the preeminence.” God is moving toward one goal—to put _________ on the throne of this world which is today in rebellion against _____. He will achieve that goal (See, e.g., Ps. 2.6).
    (9) “It pleased the Father that in him should all the fullness dwell.” In Philippians, Christ __________ Himself of His glory, not his ________, and became a __________. Here, we see that Jesus was _____% God.
  3. Another way to outline Colossians 1.14 -20 would be:
    –
    (1) Christ’s relationship to the __________—verse 15
    (2) Christ’s relationship to __________—verses 16, 17
    (3) Christ’s relationship to the __________—verses 18, 19
    (4) Christ’s relationship to ________—verse 20
    –
    OBJECTIVE WORK OF CHRIST FOR SINNERS: COLOSSIANS 1.20-23:
    –
  4. “Having made peace through the blood of his cross” means that by His paying the penalty on the cross for your _____ and my _____, peace has been made between God and the __________. “Therefore being justified by ________, we have ________ with God through our _______ __________ __________” (Ro.5.1).
  5. “By him to reconcile all things unto himself.” Reconciliation is toward _____; redemption is toward _____. 2 Co. 5.28-20: “18 And all things are of God, who hath _______________ us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of _________________; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, _______________ the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of ____________________. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye _______________ to God.” God is _______________. He is asking man to be _______________ to Him.
    –
    “Reconcile all things.” The “all things” is limited to all things that are to be _______________, those which are appointed to __________________.
    –
  6. “Whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Notice that Paul does not mention things _________ the earth as he did in Phil. 2.10. The things _________ the earth are not reconciled to Him at all. Notice that __________ must also be reconciled.
  7. (See v. 21) God reconciled us to Himself when
    –
    a. our good works outweighed our bad works
    b. we were in rebellion against God
    c. we were baptized and started going to church
    d. we were doing wicked works
    e. a and c
    f. b and d
    –
  8. “”The body of his flesh.” Christ suffered in a real ______.
  9. “To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” _______________ means without blemish. _______________ means unaccusable or unchargeable. He is able to present us unblameable because:
    –
    a. we are righteous.
    b. He took our place.
    c. we do good works.
    d. we have good character.
    –
    Explain your answer. Sample explanation given in answer below.
    –
  10. If you are a _______ of God today, you will ___________ in the faith grounded and settled. The “if” in verse 23 is the “if” of argument. It means that something was if something else is true. Paul’s point is that we have been ______________—it is an accomplished ______.

Answers

PERSON OF CHRIST: COLOSSIANS 1.15-19:

  1. Paul is specifically attempting to answer one of the oldest heresies of the church, Gnosticism. Other heresies included Arianism. Arius of Alexandria said that the Lord Jesus Christ was a creature, a created being. Socinus later propagated the heresy that Jesus was not God and that mankind did not need a Saviour from sin, that man is not totally depraved. This is the basis of Unitarianism and some of the cults, including Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  2. There are here nine marks of identification given here which make Him different from and superior to any other person who has ever lived:
    –
    (1) He is “the image of the invisible God.” He (God) was born flesh. (See Jn. 1.1, 14). If He were not God, He could not have been the image of the invisible God.
    (2) “He is the firstborn of every creature.” This reveals His relationship to the Father and His position in the Trinity. His “goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5.2). The child (Jesus) was born, but the son is given (Isaiah 9.6). Paul is destroying one of the philosophies of that day—that God created a creature, then that creature created a creature, etc.; until finally a creature created this universe. Paul is answering that and saying that Jesus Christ is the firstborn of all creation; He is back of all creation. The Greek word is prōtotokos meaning before all creation. See John 1.1-3. God the Father is the everlasting God the son is the everlasting son. The Lord Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead (Col. 1.18). This is what the psalmist spoke of in Psalm 2.7 and explained by Paul in his sermon at Antioch of Pisidia (See Ac. 13.32, 33). Christ created all things. Other verses that make clear that Christ was not a mere creature include Hebrews 1.3 (the second person of the Godhead); Hebrews 1.7, 8 (Speaking of Jesus: “Thy throne, O God is for ever and ever….”); Matthew 16.16 and Luke 1.35 (He is the Christ, the Son of the living God).
    (3) “By him were all things created” (verse 16). Thus, he was the one who did the creating. There are two kinds of creation, the visible and the invisible. Paul mentions different graduations of rank in spiritual intelligences: thrones, dominions, principalities, powers. Our spiritual enemies, Satan and his followers, have different gradations of rank.
    (4) All things were created “for Him.” This all shows that this is God’s universe. And we are joint–heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ!
    (5) “He is before all things.” All fullness dwells in the preincarnate and the incarnate Christ (Col.2.9).
    (6) “By him all things consist.” He holds everything together. He maintains and directs creation. He is the Elmer’s Glue of the universe. See also, He. 1.3.
    (7) “He is the head of the body, the church.” In Ephesians, the emphasis was on the fact that a church is a spiritual body. In Colossians, the emphasis is on the head of the body, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Philippians we see a church with feet, walking through the world—we see the experience of a church, of a believer. “The firstborn of from the dead.” When a saved loved one dies, the body is put to sleep, but the individual has gone to be with the Lord. The body, sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption (1 Co. 15.42) on the basis of His resurrection. We shall be as He is (1 Jn. 3.2).
    (8) “That is all things He might have the preeminence.” God is moving toward one goal—to put Jesus on the throne of this world which is today in rebellion against God. He will achieve that goal (See, e.g., Ps. 2.6).
    (9) “It pleased the Father that in him should all the fullness dwell.” In Philippians, Christ emptied Himself of His glory, not his diety, and became a servant. Here, we see that Jesus was 100% God.
  3. Another way to outline Colossians 1.14 -20 would be:
    –
    (1) Christ’s relationship to the Father—verse 15
    (2) Christ’s relationship to creation—verses 16, 17
    (3) Christ’s relationship to the church—verses 18, 19
    (4) Christ’s relationship to the cross—verse 20
    –

OBJECTIVE WORK OF CHRIST FOR SINNERS: COLOSSIANS 1.20-23:

  1. “Having made peace through the blood of his cross” means that by His paying the penalty on the cross for your sin and my sin, peace has been made between God and the sinner. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ro.5.1).
  2. “By him to reconcile all things unto himself.” Reconciliation is toward man; redemption is toward God. 2 Co. 5.28-20: “18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” God is reconciled. He is asking man to be reconciled to Him.
    –
    “Reconcile all things.” The “all things” is limited to all things that are to be reconciled, those which are appointed to reconciliation.
    –
  3. “Whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Notice that Paul does not mention things under the earth as he did in Phil. 2.10. The things under the earth are not reconciled to Him at all. Notice that heaven must also be reconciled.
  4. (See v. 21) God reconciled us to Himself when
    –
    b (we were in rebellion against God) and d (we were doing wicked works)
    –
  5. “”The body of his flesh.” Christ suffered in a real body.
  6. “To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.” Unblameable means without blemish. Unreproveable means unaccusable or unchargeable. He is able to present us unblameable because:
    –
    He took our place.
    –
    Sample explanation: 2 Co. 5.21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
    –
  7. If you are a child of God today, you will continue in the faith grounded and settled. The “if” in verse 23 is the “if” of argument. It means that something was if something else is true. Paul’s point is that we have been reconciled—it is an accomplished fact.

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 1 on Colossians: Christ, the Head of the Local Church

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Introduction and Paul’s Prayer – Colossians 1.1-14
(14 questions with answers following)
Added on  April 28, 2017

Click here to go to the “Bible Studies on the Doctrine of the Church” (Has links to all lessons)
Click here to go to Lesson 2 on Colossians

Answers at the end, following the questions. Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

This is an open book quiz meant to challenge the Bible believer – the saved person who believes the Word of God rather than the person who tries to fit particular Scriptures into a system of interpretation meant to validate one’s desired view of how things should be by philosophizing, allegorizing, or spiritualizing chosen Scriptures. The literal meaning, taken in its immediate context and within the context of all related Scripture is the basis for these studies. It is presented for the glory of God.

Colossians directs our attention to the head of the body who is Christ. The body itself is secondary. Christ is the theme. He is the center of the circle around which all Christian living revolves. Christ is the fullness of God. The dominating thought is that Christ is all I need; He is everything. He is the primary object, and the thought passes downward to the church as the body of Christ.

Colossians was written to the local church at Colosee (with the principles to be applied by all local churches and believers) to counteract the heresy of Gnosticism, the first heresy in the church. There were many forms of Gnosticism, and in Colossee there were the Essenes. There are three points of identification for this group: (1) They had an exclusive spirit. They felt that they were the people—they had knowledge in the jug and held the stopper in their hands. Thus, they felt that they were super-duper in knowledge and knew more than anyone else, including the Apostles. (2) They held speculative tenets on creation. They taught that God did not create the universe directly, but created a creature who in turn created another creature, until one finally created the physical universe. Christ was considered a creature in this long series of creations.  Paul refutes this in Colossians 1:15-19. (3) They practiced asceticism and unrestrained licentiousness. They got the asceticism from the influence of Greek Stoicism and the unrestrained licentiousness from the influence of Greek Epicureanism. Paul refutes this in Colosians 2.16, 23 and 3.5-9.

See, J. Vernon McGee, Colossians for more on this.

Colossians 1:1-8 [Introduction] “1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: 7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ; 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;”

Colossians 1.9-14 [Paul’s Prayer] “9 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 10 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Questions:

INTRODUCTION: COLOSSIANS 1.1-8:

  1. Paul
    –
    a. was an apostle of Jesus Christ
    b. was in his position by the will of God
    c. had decided to go to work for the Lord Jesus Christ in order to be saved
    d. both a and b
    –
  2. ____ made Paul an apostle. He was therefore in the ______ of God when he was an apostle. It is important for a believer to function in a local New Testament church ______ of believers in the _______ way. Our gifts are ___________. Therefore, and we are each going to function ____________. Make the application as to a local church body and the treatment of a brother in the church you are a member of. A sample application is included in the answer below.
  3. Paul is talking to one group of people.
    –
    a. to the saints at Colosee
    b. to the faithful brethren at Colosee
    c. both a and b
    d.  neither a nor b
    –
    Explain your answer.
    –
  4. Those to whom Paul is speaking are “___ ________” and “___ _________.” They had an address in ________ and on the _______.
  5. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” [Co. 1.2b]. We must know the _______ of God in order to experience the _______ of God.
  6. “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” [ 1.3]. We can go directly to ____ through our ______ _______ _______.
  7. In Colossians 1.4, 5, Paul links the trinity of graces for believers: (1) _______—past, (2) ______—present, and (3) ______—future. Paul lists these three graces in 1 Corinthians 13.13 where he puts ______ first because ______ is then only thing that is to abide. ______ is for the present, but it will make it to eternity. _______ rests upon historical fact—the truth of the Gospel. Too many saints, no matter their God-given role, look down on their fellow believers for one reason or another. If we have disagreements with our brethren, we are to bear with them, ______ for them, to honor them, and to ______. The “hope that is laid up in heaven” is the blessed hope.
  8. Paul, in Colossians 1.6, says that the gospel has come to the Colossians as it has come to “_____ _____ _______.”
  9. Paul, in Colossians 1.7, calls Epaphras our “______ _____________.” Apparently, Epaphras was the leader or the _________ of the church in Colosee.
  10. Paul, in Colossians 1.8, emphasizes the ______ ________. He makes clear that the Colossian believers would not have been able to exhibit this love unless it were by the ______ _________.
    –
    PAUL’S PRAYER: COLOSSIANS 1.9-14:
    –
  11. The first thing (verse 9) Paul prayed was that they might be filled with ____________. The Gnostics, the heretics there at Colosse, boasted that they had a super knowledge. But Paul confines this knowledge to knowledge of the will of _____ “in all ________ and spiritual ____________.”
  12. The second petition (verse 10) is that they might be ___________ to God. His third request is that they might be “___________ in every good ______.” His fourth request is that they be “increasing in the ____________ of God” (growing in the ______ of God).
  13. The fifth request (verse 11) is that they be “____________ with all might, according to his glorious _______, unto all __________ and ________________ with _____________.”
  14. In verses 12, 13, and 14, Paul gives a list of things for which Paul is thankful: (1) for God’s grace which has given us an “_____________ of the saints in light,” (2) that we have been delivered from the “_______ of darkness,” (3) that we have been translated into the ____________ of his dear Son,” and (4) that we have been redeemed “through his _______, even the forgiveness of _____.”

Answers

INTRODUCTION: COLOSSIANS 1.1-8:

  1. Paul: d. both a and b (was an apostle of Jesus Christ and was in his position by the will of God
  2. God made Paul an apostle. He was therefore in the will of God when he was an apostle. It is important for a believer to function in a local New Testament church body of believers in the right way. Our gifts are different. Therefore, and we are each going to function differently. If you have a brother who has a gift, do not belittle or marginalize him because you do not like his style, because you do not like the way he does things, or because you are jealous. If he speaks the truth from the Word of God according to knowledge, love him and give him the freedom and encouragement to exercise his gift.
  3. Paul is talking to one group of people: c. both a and b (to the saints and the faithful brethren at Colosee).
    –
    Explanation: to the saints and the faithful brethren at Colosee, who are the same group of people.
    –
  4. Those to whom Paul is speaking are “in Christ” and “at Colosee.” They had an address in heaven and on the earth.
  5. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” [Co. 1.2b]. We must know the grace of God in order to experience the peace of God.
  6. “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” [ 1.3]. We can go directly to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  7. In Colossians 1.4, 5, Paul links the trinity of graces for believers: (1) faith—past, (2) love—present, and (3) hope—future. Paul lists these three graces in 1 Corinthians 13.13 where he puts love first because love is then only thing that is to abide. Love is for the present, but it will make it to eternity. Faith rests upon historical fact—the truth of the Gospel. Too many saints, no matter their God-given role, look down on their fellow believers for one reason or another. If we have disagreements with our brethren, we are to bear with them, pray for them, to honor them, and to love them. The “hope that is laid up in heaven” is the blessed hope.
  8. Paul, in Colossians 1.6, says that the gospel has come to the Colossians as it has come to “all the _________.”
  9. Paul, in Colossians 1.7, calls Epaphras our “dear fellowservant.” Apparently, Epaphras was the leader or the pastor of the church in Colosee.
  10. Paul, in Colossians 1.8, emphasizes the Holy Spirit. He makes clear that the Colossian believers would not have been able to exhibit this love unless it were by the Holy Spirit.
    –
    PAUL’S PRAYER: COLOSSIANS 1.9-14:
    –
  11. The first thing (verse 9) Paul prayed was that they might be filled with knowledge. The Gnostics, the heretics there at Colosse, boasted that they had a super knowledge. But Paul confines this knowledge to knowledge of the will of God “in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
  12. The second petition (verse 10) is that they might be pleasing to God. His third request is that they might be “fruitful in every good work.” His fourth request is that they be “increasing in the knowledge of God” (growing in the Word of God).
  13. The fifth request (verse 11) is that they be “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
  14. In verses 12, 13, and 14, Paul gives a list of things for which Paul is thankful: (1) for God’s grace which has given us an “inheritance of the saints in light,” (2) that we have been delivered from the “power of darkness,” (3) that we have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son,” and (4) that we have been redeemed “through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 14: A Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Protection and Example

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A Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Protection and Example – Ephesians 6.10-24
(15 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on April 14, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

Ephesians 6:13-24: [THE SOLDIER’S PROTECTION]: 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

[THE SOLDIER’S EXAMPLE]: “19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” <>

  1. The key to this section – Ephesians 6.13-18, are the words ___ s________. When the Bible speaks of believers as fighters, it says we are to s_________.
  2. The enemy (Satan and his demons) is working where
    –
    a. people are drinking and partying.
    b. the Gospel is given out.
    c. Word of God is preached.
    d. b and c.
    –
  3. “_______ therefore, having your loins girt about with the _______, and having on the breastplate of _________________” Ep. 6.14. This is the _________ time he gives this exhortation (“________”) to believers. The _________, in that day, held in place every other part of the uniform of the soldier. The girdle here is ________ which is the ______ of _____.
  4. The ________, in that day, held in place every other part of the uniform of the soldier. The girdle here is _______ which is the ______ of _____.
  5. “Having on the breastplate of righteousness.” Here, the righteousness spoken of is
    –
    a. the self-righteousness of the believer.
    b. Christ.
    c. the practical righteousness of the believer.
    d. b and c
    –
  6. “Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” We need a good, solid foundation. In hand to hand combat, the army teaches soldiers to have their feet anchored. The feet of the believer are to be anchored in:
    –
    a. the Rock.
    b. Christ.
    c. the church.
    d. a and b.
    –
  7. “Above all, taking the ________ of _______, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery _______ of the _________.” The _________ covered all the armor. Faith enables a believer to stand behind that shield (C_______) which will quench all the fiery darts of the w_________ When someone asks a question about the Bible, or you have such a question, which you cannot answer at the time, put on the ________ of _______. You can rest assured that the question has an ________ which will verify the Bible.
  8. “And take the helmet of salvation.” The helmet protects the ______. God appeals not only to the heart, but also to the ____________. Throughout the Scriptures, God uses ________ with man. Is. 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us _________ together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as ________ as ______; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as ______.” Paul reasoned with Felix. He appealed to the mind of this man as well as the heart. “And as he ____________ of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” Ac. 24:25. “So then faith cometh by __________, and hearing by the ______ of ____.” Romans 10:17.
  9. The salvation of the sinner is:
    –
    a. good works.
    b. baptism and the sacraments administered by a priest.
    c. Christ.
    d. a and c.
    –
  10. All parts of the armor mentioned in these verses are for d_________. Everything is in ________ of the individual. There is no protection for his ______. Nothing is provided for __________. A retreating believer is open season for the __________.
  11. The weapons of the believer for offense are:
    –
    a. the Word of God.
    b. prayer.
    c. church attendance.
    d. a and b
    –
  12. “__________ always with all ________ and supplication in the _________.”
  13. In verses 19-22 ______ was a good soldier of _______ ________.
  14. Paul entrusted __________ to carry the epistle to the ___________, to give a personal account of his conditions and the prospects, and to __________ their hearts.
  15. In verses 23 and 24 are most of the great words of the Gospel: _______, ______, _______, and _______. One must know the grace of God before he can know the _______ of God. The love spoken of in verse 23 is love for other _____________. The love spoken of in verse 24 is for the _____ _______ ________. “Faith” means faith in _________ which produces love. “_______” is the key word of the epistle. It opened the epistle (1.2) and now it concludes the epistle.

Answers

  1. The key to this section – Ephesians 6.13-18, are the words to stand. When the Bible speaks of believers as fighters, it says we are to stand.
  2. d
  3. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with the truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” Ep. 6.14. This is the fourth time he gives this exhortation (“stand”) to believers.
  4. The girdle, in that day, held in place every other part of the uniform of the soldier. The girdle here is truth which is the Word of God.
  5. d
  6. d (the Rock being Christ)
  7. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” The shield covered all the armor. Faith enables a believer to stand behind that shield (Christ) which will quench all the fiery darts of the wicked When someone asks a question about the Bible, or you have such a question, which you cannot answer at the time, put on the shield of faith. You can rest assured that the question has an answer which will verify the Bible.
  8. “And take the helmet of salvation.” The helmet protects the head. God appeals not only to the heart, but also to the intellect. Throughout the Scriptures, God uses reason with man. Is. 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Paul reasoned with Felix. He appealed to the mind of this man as well as the heart. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” Ac. 24:25. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
  9. c
  10. All parts of the armor mentioned in these verses are for defense. Everything is in front of the individual. There is no protection for his back. Nothing is provided for retreat. A retreating believer is open season for the enemy.
  11. d (See, e.g., as to the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit, Hebrews 4.12; Re. 1,16, 19.21 (Christ uses the Word of God to meet Satan.)).
  12. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.”
  13. In verses 19-22 Paul was a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
  14. Paul entrusted Tychicus to carry the epistle to the Ephesians, to give a personal account of his conditions and the prospects, and to comfort their hearts.
  15. In verses 23 and 24 are most of the great words of the Gospel: peace, love, faith, and grace. One must know the grace of God before he can know the peace of God. The love spoken of in verse 23 is love for other believers. The love spoken of in verse 24 is for the Lord Jesus Christ. “Faith” means faith in Christ which produces love. “Grace” is the key word of the epistle. It opened the epistle (1.2) and now it concludes the epistle.

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 13: The Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Enemy (Ephesians)

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A Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Enemy – Ephesians 6.10-12
(16 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 14

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on April 13, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

Ephesians 6:10-12: “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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.

  1. To this point in Ephesians 6, we have seen the soldier’s basic training which takes place in the _______. We have seen that God also had something to say to him when he goes into the ________ either as employee or employer. Of course, we are looking at the believer who is to fight for the h_____, for s_________, and for the c_______ as a soldier for Christ. Now, in verses 10-12, we learn of the soldier’s _________.
  2. The believer is in a battle which is fought along s_________ lines using s_________ weapons. Remember, we are seated in the h___________ but we are living in the w________. If a believer is not living a life that pleases Christ, he is wasting his time studying his B______ and going to c________. In fact, he is doing the cause of Christ more _______ than _______ if his teaching is exalted but his l_______ is low.
  3. The devil wants to destroy the witness of
    _
    a. skid row, the nightclub, the underworld and the mafia
    b. the believer
    c. the church
    d both b and c
    –
  4. The spiritual soldier for Christ, to please God, must
    –
    a. obey God as to method
    b. obey God as to weaponry
    c. walk in the spirit
    d. all of the above
    e. none of the above
    –
  5. Sometimes, the most dangerous place to be is (explain your answer)
    –
    a. in church
    b. in the nightclub
    c. in a casino
    d. none of the above
    –
  6. The believer is instructed: “[B]e strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the _________ armour of _____, that ye may be able to stand against the ________ of the _________. For we wrestle not against ________ and ________, but against ____________________, against __________, against the rulers of _______________ in this world, against _____________ ______________ in _______ places (Ep. 6.10-12).”
  7. The believer needs spiritual power because the enemy is s_____________ and the warfare is s_____________.
  8. The flesh of the believer is not the ________ to be fought. The way of __________ over the flesh is outlined in Romans 6.
  9. Only God’s armor can withstand the strategy and onslaught of S________ who has all kinds of w________, spiritual missiles. The believer’s enemy is not f_________ and ________ and he is not to fight other m______. The ________ is the enemy of every man. The way to victory over the devil is:
    _
    a. to obey the commands
    b. to “put on the whole armour of God”
    c. “to stand”
    d. none of the above
    e. all of the above
    –
  10. We now live in a demonic world. Demonism is a popular ____________. There are many churches of S________. Strange things are happening in many of these weird, way-out groups. People are being ensnared and led into all kinds of d________. Evil s______________ forces are working against b____________, G____, C_______, and ch________ who seek to honor God. _________, as recorded in the book of Daniel, had been praying and did not get an answer. __________ had been in conflict with a demon and had to go back for reinforcement. There was a _____________ battle going on, and we have one today. See Daniel 10.2-13.
  11. Principalities are:
    –
    a. demons who seek to mislead silly women
    b. demons with oversight of nations
    c. both of the above
    d. neither of the above
    –
  12. Powers are
    –
    a. demons who want to possess human beings
    b. demons who want to lead the church of Satan
    c. both of the above
    d. neither of the above
    –
  13. The rulers of the darkness of this world are:
    –
    a. demons who have charge of cities
    b. demons who have charge of nations
    c. demons who have charge of Satan’s worldly business
    d. all of the above
    –
  14. Spiritual wickedness in high places are
    –
    a. the demons who reign in the celestial kingdom
    b. the demons in the heavenlies who have charge of religion
    c. both of the above
    d. neither of the above
    –
  15. The heartbreak, the heartache, the suffering, and the tragedies of life are the other problems that are in the world today are the cause of ________. ________ heads up the demonic forces.
  16. As to the spiritual warfare that God calls churches and believers to fight, many have lost sight of
    –
    a. the fact that they are to build bigger buildings.
    b. the fact that they are to build up people in the Word of God.
    c. the fact that they are called to fight a spiritual battle.
    d. the principle that they are to cooperate in a spirit of love and get rid of the spirit of criticism, bitterness, and hatred so that the Spirit can work.
    e. a-c
    f. b-d

Answers

  1. To this point in Ephesians 6, we have seen the soldier’s basis training which takes place in the home. The God had something to say to him when he goes into the world either as employee or employer. Of course, we are looking at the believer who is to fight for the home, for society, and for the church as a soldier for Christ. Now, in verses 10-12, we learn of the soldier’s enemy.
  2. The believer is in a battle which is fought along spiritual lines using spiritual weapons. Remember, we are seated in the heavenlies but we are living in the world. If a believer is not living a life that pleases Christ, he is wasting his time studying his Bible and going to church. In fact, he may be doing the cause of Christ more harm than good if his teaching is exalted but his living is low.
  3. d
  4. d
  5. The devil is in the church. The devil was in the upper room with Jesus. The devil entered into Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. The devil is a deceiver who comes to us as an angel of light. 2 Co. 11:14-15 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” The devil does not say, “I’m the devil. I’m here to take you in and fool you.” He will use every possible way to deceive you. If you are in an apostate church, the devil will say, “Remember, grandpa had a pew in the church and that window over there is named for grandma. You can’t afford to leave this church because you have so much invested here.” The word of God says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Co. 6:17)”
  6. The believer is instructed: “[B]e strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devi For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ep. 6.10-12).”
  7. The believer needs spiritual power because the enemy is spiritual and the warfare is spiritual.
  8. The flesh of the believer is not the enemy to be fought. The way of victory over the flesh is outlined in Romans 6.
  9. Only God’s armor can withstand the strategy and onslaught of Satan who has all kinds of weapons, spiritual missiles. The believer’s enemy is not flesh and blood and he is not to fight other men. The devil is the enemy of every man. The way to victory over the devil is
    _
    e (See Ep. 6.11, 13, 14)
    –
  10. We now live in a demonic world. Demonism is a popular subject (other correct answers such as “pastime, religion, etc. are also correct). There are many churches of Satan. Strange things are happening in many of these weird, way-out groups. People are being ensnared and led into all kinds of demonism. Evil spiritual forces are working against believers, God, Christ, and churches who seek to honor God. Daniel, as recorded in the book of Daniel, had been praying and did not get an answer. Daniel had been in conflict with a demon and had to go back for reinforcement. There was a spiritual battle going on, and we have one today. See Daniel 10.2-13.
  11. b
  12. a
  13. d
  14. b
  15. The heartbreak, the heartache, the suffering, and the tragedies of life are the other problems that are in the world today are the cause of Satan. Satan heads up the demonic forces.
  16. f

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 12: The Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Relationships(Ephesians)

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The Church Is To Be a Good Soldier of Jesus Christ: The Soldier’s Relationships – Ephesians 6.1-9
(14 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson  13

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on April 10, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

Ephesians 6:1-9 “1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.”

  1. The preparation of a soldier for Christ must begin:
    –
    a. in church.
    b. in Sunday school.
    c. in the home.
    d. none of the above.
  1. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother” (E. 6.1). The first lesson a soldier must learn is:
    –
    a. how to follow orders.
    b. obedience to those in authority.
    c. how to find his own truth so that he can help run his and his family’s life.
    d. a and b.
  1. This _______ training is learned in the _______. After a soldier has learned to ______, then he is in a position to be promoted to the rank of an officer where he gives ___________ to others.
  2. 2 Ti. 3:1-2 says, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.” As we see from this verse, disobedience to parents is:
    –
    a. the last form of lawlessness to occur on this earth.
    b. the lowest form of lawlessness to occur on this earth.
    c. neither a nor b.
    d. both a and b.
    –
  3. The first commandment with promise is:
    –
    a. thou shalt not kill.
    b. thou shalt not steal.
    c. thou shalt not commit adultery.
    d. honor thy father and mother.
    –
  4. The promise given those who honor their father and mother is:
    _
    a. long life.
    b. financial success.
    c. happiness.
    d. prestige in one’s chosen work or profession.
    –
  5. Ephesians 6:4 says “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Nurture means ______________ and admonition means _______________. No such command was given parents under the _______. Under _______ there is always mutual responsibilities and interactive duties.
  6. It is the parent’s duty to
    –
    a. teach the child the truths of the Scriptures
    b.to live those truths before the child.
    c. to make sure that the home is democratic with everyone in the family, including the child, having an equal voice.
    d. both a and b.
    –
  7. Parents are not to provoke their children to ________. The board of ____________ is to be applied to the ______ of learning whenever needed. See Pr. 13.24; 19.18; 22.15; 23.13, 14; 29.15, 17. Thus, a parent should never spank a child when the parent is _______. This provokes our children to _______ since the child sees that the parent was venting a _______ disposition on them.
  8. Servants are to be ___________ to their masters, with ______ and ____________ in singleness of ________, as unto _________, doing the will of God from the ________. This responsibility is put upon a believer who is a ___________.
  9. “In singleness of heart: means that:
    _
    a. there should be no duplicity.
    b. there should be no two-facedness.
    c. One should not lick the boots of the employer while he is around and stab him in the back when he is away.
    d. all of the above.
    –
  10. The motive of the believer, therefore, is:
    _
    a. to do a good job.
    b. to earn big money.
    c. to be happy.
    d. to please Christ.
    –
  11. Only _________ can break a man’s shackles and set him _______.
  12. Masters, bosses, employers are to
    –
    a. threaten their employees.
    b. take advantage of their position as master.
    c. do the same things to their employees as employees are instructed to do to their masters.
    d. lord over their employees.

Answers

  1. c
  2. d
  3. This basic training is learned in the home. After a soldier has learned to obey, then he is in a position to be promoted to the rank of an officer where he gives commands to others.
  4. d
  5. d
  6. a
  7. Nurture means discipline and admonition means instruction. No such command was given parents under the law. Under grace there is always mutual responsibilities and interactive duties.
  8. d
  9. Parents are not to provoke their children to anger. The board of education is to be applied to the seat of learning whenever needed. See Pr. 13.24; 19.18; 22.15; 23.13, 14; 29.15, 17. Thus, a parent should never spank a child when the parent is angry. This provokes our children to wrath since the child sees that the parent was venting a mean disposition on them.
  10. Servants are to be obedient to their masters, with fear and trembling in singleness of heart, as unto Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. This responsibility is put upon a believer who is a laborer.
  11. d
  12. d
  13. Only Christ can break a man’s shackles and set him free. See Jn. 8.36.
  14. c

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 11: The Church Will Be a Bride: The Expectation of the Church

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The Church Will Be a Bride: The Expectation of the Church – Ephesians 5.25-33
(16 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 12

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on April 8, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

Ephesians 5:25-33: “ 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

  1. Only the Christian can know what is real love in __________, because it is carried to the high plane of the relationship between ________ and the ________.
  2. Christ loved the ________ and gave Himself for ___ – that is in the ______.
  3. In the __________ He is sanctifying the church with the ________ of the ______ of God.
  4. The cleanser, the ________, is better than any _________ advertised on radio or television.
  5. In the ________, he will present it to Himself a ____________ church, without ______ or wrinkle but holy and without __________.
  6. A church is not an _____________ with a steeple, a pulpit, and an organ. A church is a spiritual ______ (a living ____________) made up of true believers. Ephesians 5.27 means he is washing each __________, preparing ______ _____ for the marriage of the ______.
  7. In Ephesians 5.28-32, Paul draws on _____ themes and goes ______ and forth, _________ and ______, ________ and his ________.
  8. What a couple needs for their wedding ceremony is
    –
    a. a champagne supper
    b. lots of useful gifts
    c. to be filled with the Holy Spirit
    d. a high priced reception
  1. Marriage makes a wife a part of the ______ of her __________.
  2. It is unnatural for a man to hate his own _______, so the _________ is to love his wife because she is his own _______.
  3. Christ, knowing the weakness of a church, ____________ and ____________ it.  __________ are to do the same.
  4. Verse 31 is a quotation from
    –
    a. Exodus 10.6
    b. Genesis 2.24
    c. Song of Solomon 4.3
    d. Psalm 5.7
  1. Paul refers, in verse 31, back to a relationship that existed in the Garden of ______ between ______ and _____. That first couple is a figure of the future union of ________ and the ________ as ______________ and bride.
  2. God meant for Christians to have this relationship on a much _________ plane than the new morality and sexual freedom, which put young people in __________.
  3. I say to you young Christian ladies today: Don’t marry a ______ man. Don’t take anything but the ______ that _____ has to offer you.
  4. Ephesians 5.33 is the practical part about marriage down here. The _________ and ______ in the home are to set forth in simplicity the __________ of the coming glory. Here, Paul brings the romantic into the realm of _________.

Answers

  1. Only the Christian can know what is real love in marriage, because it is carried to the high plane of the relationship between Christ and the church.
  2. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it – that is in the past.
  3. In the present He is sanctifying the church with the water of the Word of God.
  4. The cleanser, the Bible, is better than any cleanser advertised on radio or television.
  5. In the future, he will present it to Himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle but holy and without blemish.
  6. A church is not an organization with a steeple, a pulpit, and an organ. A church is a spiritual body (a living organism) made up of true believers. Ephesians 5.27 means he is washing each believer, preparing each one for the marriage of the Lamb.
  7. In Ephesians 5.28-32, Paul draws on two themes and goes back and forth, husband and wife, Christ and his church.
  8. c. to be filled with the Holy Spirit
  9. Marriage makes a wife a part of the body of her husband.
  10. It is unnatural for a man to hate his own flesh, so the husband is to love his wife because she is his own flesh.
  11. Christ, knowing the weakness of a church, nourishes and cherishes it. Husbands are to do the same.
  12. b. Genesis 2.24
  13. Paul refers, in verse 31, back to a relationship that existed in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve. That first couple is a figure of the future union of Christ and the church as bridegroom and bride.
  14. God meant for Christians to have this relationship on a much higher plane than the new morality and sexual freedom, which put young people in slavery.
  15. I say to you young Christian ladies today: Don’t marry a lost man. Don’t take anything but the best that God has to offer you.
  16. Ephesians 5.33 is the practical part about marriage down here. The husband and wife in the home are to set forth in simplicity the mystery of the coming glory. Here, Paul brings the romantic into the realm of reality.

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 10: The Church Will Be a Bride

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The Church Will Be a Bride:The Experience of the Church (Ephesians 5.18-24)
(15 questions with Answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 11

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on April 4, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

Ephesians 5:18-24: “18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

For a great audio teaching from Ephesians 2.21-31 on the submission of church members one to another, submission of the wife to the husband, the love between husband and wife, the love of Christ for his church, etc., click here.

Questions

  1. The child of God is not only to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but also to be
    –
    a. drunk with wine
    b. filled with the Holy Spirit
    c. neither a nor b
    d. both a and b
    –
  2. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, it means
    –
    a. we are open to suggestions from the Holy Spirit
    b. we are given the assurance that we can never sin
    c. we are controlled by the Holy Spirit
    d. we are in control of the Holy Spirit
    –
  3. The Bible says that a believer is commanded to be baptized in the Holy Spirit in
    –
    a. John 1.33
    b. John 7.39
    c. both the above
    d. nowhere in the Bible
    –
  4. The experience of each believer in the church and the church is found in Ephesians 5.18-24. We read in Ephesians 5.18-19: “And be not _______ with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the _______; speaking to yourselves in ________ and _______ and ____________ _______, __________ and making _________ in your ________ to the Lord.” Ep. 5.19. Believers need an attitude adjustment, but they don’t need the spirits that come from a _________. They need to be filled with the Holy ________ so that they might radiate the joy of the _______. The fullness of joy is to be through our fellowship with the ________ and with _______ ________. 1 John.1.3-4.
  5. Thus, the ______ of the believer and being filled with the _________ are closely related. Paul says a believer is to ______ “circumspectly” and “be filled with the ________.”
  6. The believer needs the filling of the ________ to serve Christ. When you are filled with the ________, you will do something for God; you will be walking in the ________.
  7. Another evidence of being filled with the Spirit is an attitude of ____________. “Giving ________ always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ep. 5.20).
  8. Don’t run around telling everyone you ______ them; show them that you ______ We need to go to Him and tell Him we are empty and that we need the ___________ of the Holy Spirit so we can live for _____. We need to see that it is ____________ by ourselves but that ____ can do it through us.
  9. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the __________, if so be that the __________ of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the __________ of Christ, he is none of his” Ro. 8.9.
  10. Every believer is regenerated by the ______ _________. “Therefore if any man be in ________, he is a new ____________: _____ things are passed away; behold, all things are become _____” 2 Co. 5:17.
  11. The believer is sealed by the ______ _________. “in whom also after that ye believed, ye were ________ with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ep. 1.13).
  12. God commands believers to be _________ with the Holy Spirit (Ep. 5.18).
  13. Church members are to ________ themselves one to another in the fear of _____ 5.21. How? Christ said, “If you ______ me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14.15). “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye ______ one another; as I have ________ you, that ye also ______ one another” (Jn. 13.34).
  14. If we submit ourselves one to another, we will not try to run the ________. Submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God is another mark of being _______
  15. Wives are to submit to their ___________. The _________ is the head of the wife, even as ________ is the head of the church. Wives are to be subject to their ___________ as the church is subject to ________. (Ephesians 5.22-24). Submission is a ________ It means to respond to your own ______________  as unto the Lord. The way we respond to the Lord is that we ______ Him because He first ________ us.

For a great audio teaching from Ephesians 2.21-31 on the submission of church members one to another, submission of the wife to the husband, the love between husband and wife, the love of Christ for his church, etc., click here.

Answers

  1. b. filled with the Holy Spirit
  2. c. we are controlled by the Holy Spirit
  3. d. nowhere in the Bible
  4. The experience of each believer in the church and the church is found in Ephesians 5.18-24. We read in Ephesians 5.18-19: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ep. 5.19. Believers need an attitude adjustment, but they don’t need the spirits that come from a bottle. They need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that they might radiate the joy of the Lord. The fullness of joy is to be through our fellowship with the Father and with Jesus Christ. 1 John.1.3-4.
  5. Thus, the walk of the believer and being filled with the spirit are closely related. Paul says a believer is to walk “circumspectly” and “be filled with the spirit.”
  6. The believer needs the filling of the Spirit to serve Christ. When you are filled with the Spirit, you will do something for God; you will be walking in the Spirit.
  7. Another evidence of being filled with the Spirit is an attitude of thankfulness. “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ep. 5.20).
  8. Don’t run around telling everyone you love them; show them that you love We need to go to Him and tell Him we are empty and that we need the filling of the Holy Spirit so we can live for Him. We need to see that it is impossible by ourselves but that He can do it through us.
  9. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Ro. 8.9).
  10. Every believer is regenerated by the Holy Spirit. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Co. 5:17).
  11. The believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit. “in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” (Ep. 1.13).
  12. God commands believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ep. 5.18).
  13. Church members are to submit themselves one to another in the fear of God 5.21. How? Christ said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14.15). “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (Jn. 13.34).
  14. If we submit ourselves one to another, we will not try to run the Church. Submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God is another mark of being Spirit
  15. Wives are to submit to their husbands. The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. Wives are to be subject to their husbands as the church is subject to Christ. (Ephesians 5.22-24). Submission is a loving It means to respond to your own husband as unto the Lord. The way we respond to the Lord is that we love Him because He first loved us. For a great audio teaching on this, go to Submission

For a great audio teaching from Ephesians 2.21-31 on the submission of church members one to another, submission of the wife to the husband, the love between husband and wife, the love of Christ for his church, etc., click here.

Believers are to love one another as they seek truth. Should you, if you are a born again believer, disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 9: The Church Will Be a Bride: The Engagement of the Church

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The Church Will Be a Bride: The Engagement of the Church – Ephesians 5.1-17
(13 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 10

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on  March 28, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

  1. The emphasis on this chapter is the __________. The church will be a ________.
  2. Today the church is not a bride. The church is a _____ ______ walking in the world; and the church is espoused (engaged) to _________, but is not wedded to ______. On earth, we are to _______ as a future ________.
    –
    Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Revelation 21: “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
    –
  3. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous over you with godly __________: for I have __________ you to one ________, that I may present you as a chaste ________ to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the ____________ that is in Christ.”
    –
    In 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Paul is speaking to the church at ________. The only representation of the institution of the church until the marriage of the lamb is the local, autonomous, New Testament _________.
    –
  4. According to Ephesians 5.1-18, the future bride espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ is to _______ in a prescribed manner. This manner of walk parallels the proper walk of a woman who is espoused to a _________. This manner of walk is an __________ of _______. Before becoming a believer, the children of God walked on a very ________ worldly plane. After salvation they are called “________ children” and are lifted to the plane of the __________ which Christ exhibited when He loved us enough to give Himself as an offering and a _________ for our sin.
    –
    Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a ________ to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
    –
  5. Ephesians 5.3-5 describes sins prevalent among _____________. Paul is saying that the child of God cannot ____________ engage in these. Even a slight indulgence brings about a revulsion and agony of ______. If you can get into_____ and not be troubled or bothered by it, you are not a child of God.
  6. List the sins pointed out in Ephesians 5.3-4.
  7. Rather than partaking in those sins, the believer is to give _________.
  8. The _____________ man who practices these sins has no portion in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. God will pour out his ________ upon the children of ____________. If you are a child of God and do these things, God will __________ you.
  9. In Ephesians 5.8-10, Paul reminds believers of their former state: they “were sometimes ____________,” but now are “_________ in the Lord.” They are to “walk as children of  _________.” For the fruit of the spirit is all ____________ and _______________ and _________. They are “proving what is ____________ to the Lord.”
  10. In Ephesians 5.11-13, Paul speaks of the “unfruitful works of __________.” The believer is to have “no ______________ with them,” but “rather to reprove” “It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in __________.” The ________, by __________, makes those things manifest.
  11. In Ephesians 5.14-17, Paul tells believers to ________ and _________ from the dead. Only ______ can _________ us from our spiritual stupor. He again instructs us to walk circumspectly, “not as _________, but as _______. We are to _________ the time, because the days are _______. He again, in verse 17, urges us to be ______, knowing the ______ of the Lord.
  12. Thus, we are instructed, to ______ a certain way during our engagement leading up to our marriage to the Lamb of God.
  13. These verses, in the context of this chapter and Ephesians as a whole, is speaking to the members of body of the church at __________ and to the members and bodies of all New Testament ___________.

Answers

  1. The emphasis on this chapter is the future. The church will be a bride.
  2. Today the church is not a bride. The church is a new man walking in the world; and the church is espoused (engaged) to Christ, but is not wedded to him. On earth, we are to walk as a future bride.
    –
    Revelation 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Revelation 21: “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
    –
  3. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
    –
    In 2 Corinthians 11:2-3, Paul is speaking to the church at Corinth. The only representation of the institution of the church until the marriage of the lamb is the local, autonomous, New Testament church.
    –
  4. According to Ephesians 5.1-18, the future bride espoused to the Lord Jesus Christ is to walk in a prescribed manner. This manner of walk parallels the proper walk of a woman who is espoused to a man. This manner of walk is an imitation of God. Before becoming a believer, the children of God walked on a very low worldly plane. After salvation they are called “dear children” and are lifted to the plane of the love which Christ exhibited when He loved us enough to give Himself as an offering and a sacrifice for our sin.
    –
    Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
    –
  5. Ephesians 5.3-5 describes sins prevalent among unbelievers. Paul is saying that the child of God cannot habitually engage in these. Even a slight indulgence brings about a revulsion and agony of soul. If you can get into sin and not be troubled or bothered by it, you are not a child of God.
  6. The sins pointed out in Ephsians 5.3-4 are: fornication (both earthly and spiritual—a church can commit fornication by, for example, having a relationship with the civil government); all uncleanness (all forms of immorality); covetousness ( a grasping and desire and not just for material wealth; a church, for example is covetousness when it desires big buildings, wealthy members regardless of their spiritual condition, position, power beyond that provided by God, etc. ); this is a rotten sin “not to be once named among you.”); filthiness (the utmost in depravity); foolish talking (to gloat or brag about sinning); jesting (this does not include good, clean, humor).
  7. Rather than partaking in those sins, the believer is to give thanks.
  8. The unregenerate man who practices these sins has no portion in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. God will pour out his wrath upon the children of disobedience (Ep. 5.5-7). If you are a child of God and do these things, God will chasten
  9. In Ephesians 5.8-10, Paul reminds believers of their former state: they “were sometimes darkness,” but now are “light in the Lord.” They are to “walk as children of light.” For the fruit of the spirit is all goodness and righteousness and truth. They are “proving what is acceptable to the Lord.”
  10. In Ephesians 5.11-13, Paul speaks of the “unfruitful works of darkness.” The believer is to have “no fellowship with them,” but “rather to reprove” “It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” The light, by reproof, makes those things manifest.
  11. In Ephesians 5.14-17, Paul tells believers to awake and arise from the dead. Only God can awaken us from our spiritual stupor. He again instructs us to walk circumspectly, “not as fools, but as wise. We are to redeem the time, because the days are evil. He again, in verse 17, urges us to be wise, knowing the will of the Lord.
  12. Thus, we are instructed, to walk a certain way during our engagement leading up to our marriage to the Lamb of God.
  13. These verses, in the context of this chapter and Ephesians as a whole, is speaking to the members of body of the church at Ephesus and to the members and bodies of all New Testament churches.

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 8: The Prohibition of the New Man

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The Prohibition of the New Man (Ephesians 4.17-22)
(20 questions with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 9

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on  March 27, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

These are open book quizzes. Refer to your Bible for answers.

  1. As we have seen in lesson 7, Ephesians 4.1-6 deals with the ____________ of the new man.
  2. As we have seen in lesson 7, Ephesians 4.7-16 deals with the ____________ of the new man.
  3. Now, in Ephesians 4.17-32, we look at the ____________ of the new man. Prohibition means, “the act of ____________”
  4. There is a ____________ side to a Christian’s life which is set out by ___________. God’s prohibitions for the new man are the ___________ of His Word. For example, the primary command in the Garden of Eden was __________: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt _____ eat of it. for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Ge. 2.17).
  5. Paul instructs Gentile believers to “_______ not as other Gentiles _______, in the __________ of their mind. Having the understanding __________, being ___________ from the life of God through the __________ that is in them, because of the ____________ of their heart: Who being past __________ have given themselves over unto ______________, to work all uncleanness with _____________” (Ep. 4.17-19).
  6. Paul, in Ep. 4.17-19, gives four aspects of the walk of the Gentiles which illustrate the absolute futility and insane purpose of the life of the lost man. What are they? Give a brief explanation of each.
  7. Who are the saved Gentiles now to listen to and be taught by?
  8. Where is the truth?
  9. The believer in Christ is to “put off the _____ _____, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ep. 4.22).
  10. Paul tells the believer in Christ is to “be _________ in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the _____ _____, which after God is _________ in righteousness and true holiness (Ep. 4.23-24).
  11. This putting on of the new man:
    –
    a. is done by self-effort.
    b. is done by striving to imitate Christ’s conduct.
    c. has already been done for us when the old man was crucified with Christ.
    d. none of the above.
    –
  12. We are to put off the old man by the power of:
    –
    a. positive thinking
    b. the human will
    c. the Holy Spirit
    d. help from others
    –
  13. Believers, in putting on the new man, are to live in their new nature, as a new man, as a result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This is a repetition of the great message in the book of:
    –
    a. Revelation
    b. Psalms
    c. Romans
    d. Jude
    –
  14. Since we are declared __________ and we are in ________ seated in the ____________, our ______ should be commensurate with our position. “”Which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
  15. List the prohibitions given the believer in Ephesians 4.25-29.
  16. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ep. 4.30). What grieves the Holy Spirit of God?
  17. True or false: A believer can grieve away the Holy Spirit of God. Give the reason for y0ur answer.

The answers to the questions below are based upon Ephesians 4.30-32:

Ephesians 4:31-32: “31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

  1. The sins listed in Ephesians 4.31 are sins of an emotional nature which are to “be put away from you.”
  2. In verse 32 we see:
    –
    a. a radical change in the believer
    b. a marked contrast from the previous verse
    c. both a and b
    d. neither a nor b
    –
  3. “Even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ep. 4.30c). All this is to be done on the basis:
    –
    a. that his conduct will not grieve the Holy Spirit
    b. of command under the law of the grace of God
    c. of the grace of God. The basis of forgiveness is gracious. We are to forgive because we have been forgiven..
    d. both a and c.

Answers

  1. As we have seen in lesson 7, Ephesians 4.1-6 deals with the exhibition of the new man.
  2. As we have seen in lesson 7, Ephesians 4.7-16 deals with the inhibition of the new man.
  3. Now, in Ephesians 4.17-32, we look at the prohibition of the new man. Prohibition means, “the act of forbidding”
  4. There is a negative side to a Christian’s life which is set out by Scripture. God’s prohibitions for the new man are the negatives of His Word. For example, the primary command in the Garden of Eden was negative: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Ge. 2.17).
  5. Paul instructs Gentile believers to “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 unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ep. 4.17-19).
  6. The four aspects of the walk of the Gentiles, with brief sample brief explanations of each, which Paul gives in Ep. 4.17-19 which illustrate the absolute futility and insane purpose of the life of the lost man are:
    (1) “In the vanity of their mind” means the empty illusion of the life that thinks there is satisfaction in sin.
    (2) “having the understanding darkened” means that the lost man has lost his perception of moral values.
    (3) “Being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them” is a picture of all mankind without Christ.
    (4) “Who being past feelings have given themselves over unto lasciviousness [which is uncleanness] to work all uncleanness with greediness.” Their continuance in this state of moral ineptitude brings them down to the level where they have no feeling of wrongdoing.
  1. Jesus. See Ep. 4.20-21.
  2. In Jesus. Ep. 4.21.
  3. The believer in Christ is to “put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (Ep. 4.22).
  4. Paul tells the believer in Christ is to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ep. 4.23-24).
  5. This putting on of the new man: c. has already been done for us when the old man was crucified with Christ. See, e.g., Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
  6. We are to put off the old man by the power of: c. the Holy Spirit
  7. Believers, in putting on the new man, are to live in their new nature, as a new man, as a result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit. This is a repetition of the great message in the book of: c. Romans
  8. Since we are declared righteous and we are in Christ seated in the heavenlies, our walk should be commensurate with our position. “”Which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
  9. The prohibitions given the believer in Ephesians 4.25-29 are: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  10. The offenses that have been listed grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
  11. False. Because the believer is “sealed unto the day of redemption.”
  12. The sins listed in Ephesians 4.31 are sins of an emotional nature which are to “be put away from you.”
  13. In verse 32 we see: c. both a (a radical change in the believer) and b (a marked contrast from the previous verse)
  14. “Even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ep. 4.30c). All this is to be done on the basis: d. both a (that his conduct will not grieve the Holy Spirit) and c (of the grace of God. The basis of forgiveness is gracious. We are to forgive because we have been forgiven)[Note on this answer: It is not to forgive that we get forgiveness. Note the contrast: Christ was stating the legal grounds for forgiveness in the Sermon on the Mount when He said, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (mt. 6.14, 15). Here we are told to forgive on the basis of the grace of God which He exhibited in our forgiveness for Christi’s sake, because Christ died for us.]

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.

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Lesson 7: The Church Is a New Man: The Exhibition and Inhibition of the New Man

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The Church Is a New Man: The Exhibition and Inhibition of the New Man – Ephesians 4.1-16
(17 questions from with answers following)

For help in answering the questions, you may refer to Outline and Teaching on Ephesians.

Click here to go to Lesson 8

Click here to go to the links to 14 lessons on Ephesians – a Local Church is a Body (Questions and Answers)

Click here to go to Bible Studies: The Doctrine of the Church

Added on March 25, 2017

Answers at the end, following the questions
Those who disagree with anything please see the note at the end. Reasoned dialogue is encouraged and any Bible or fact based comments, if made in a Christian manner in an attempt to get to the truth will be considered.

  1. Ephesians 4.1-6 consider the _______________ of the new man. The only way people can tell if you are a real child of God through faith in Christ is by your _______.
    –
    “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye _______ __________ of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ep. 4.1)
    –
  2. Paul begs believers to walk “With all ____________ and ____________, with __________________, forbearing one another in _______: Endeavoring to keep the _________ of the Spirit in the bond of __________” (Ep. 4.2-3).
    –
    Lowliness is the flagship of all Christian virtues and is the opposite of _________. (See also, Philippians 2.3).
    –
    Meekness means mildness but it does not mean ____________. Meekness is __________ yourself to the will of God. (McGee, Ephesians, p. 111).
    –
    Longsuffering, a ________ of the Spirit, means that we don’t have a ________
    –
    “Forbearing one another in love” means to hold one’s self _______ in the spirit of _______. (See also, Col. 3.13)
    –
  3. “Endeavoring to keep the ________ of the Spirit” (See also, Jn. 17.21). There are seven unities to be kept: one _______, one __________, one _______ of your calling, one _______, one ________, one baptism, one _____ and Father of all, who is above _____, and through _____, and in you _____. (Ep. 4.3-6). God is not the _________ of unbelievers.
  4. In Ephesians 4.1-6, Paul started with the individual _____________. Then he widens out to the entire __________ which is one _______ and one __________. Then, he brings this passage to a great crescendo, which pictures the imminence and transcendence of _____.
    –

Questions 5 through 17 are based on Ephesians 4.7-16
–

  1. In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the ____________ of the new man. (Inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
  2. God has given ________ to every believer, not that he may develop him spiritually, but in order that each believer may function in the ______ of believers to ____________ and bless the __________. (See Ro. 12, 1 Co. 12.7, 1 Co. 12, 13, and 14). Every member of my body needs to work __________. My eyes, brain, legs, etc. need to work __________. When one member of a body is not exercising his gift, he throws the whole body out of tune.
  3. God “led captivity _____________, and gave ________ to men” “when he __________ up on high.” (Ep. 4.8). He first received those ________ for men (Ps. 68.18). Then He came to earth and went back to the Father and is now distributing the ________ among men. “When he ascended up on high” (the ascension) he did two things: (1) He “led captivity ____________” (referring to the redeemed of the ______ _______________ who went to _____________ when they died). (2) When He ascended, He conferred ________ on living believers in the church so that they might __________ to the world. At the day of __________, the Holy Spirit endowed ___________ with certain ________, enabling them to function as members of the _________ (the church at Jerusalem). The Holy Spirit put each of them in a certain place in the _______, and He has been doing that ever since.
  4. Christ takes certain men who have been given certain ________ and gives them to the ________:
    –
    “And he [ __________ ] gave some, apostles; and some, ____________; and some, evangelists; and some, ___________ and teachers” (Ep. 4.11)
    –
  5. An apostle had seen the Lord Jesus Christ but had also been directly and personally commissioned by Him to be an __________. He enjoyed special ______________. (See Ga. 1.1, 2).
  6. “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the ____________ of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
  7. “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went ________ into new territory with the __________ of ______ who went before them.
  8. He also gave “pastors” who were _____________ of the flock.
  9. He gave some “teachers” who were to ____________ the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
  10. He gave these men to the church for specified purposes:
    –
    “For the ______________ of the saints, for the ______ of the ministry, for the ____________ of the body of Christ: (Ep. 4.12).
    –
  11. A church has a purpose which is to complete itself that it might grow up:
    –
    “Till we all come in the unity of the ________, and of the __________ of the Son of God, unto a __________ man, unto the __________ of the stature of the __________ of Christ: That we ______________ be no more ____________, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of ____________, by the sleight of _____, and cunning __________, whereby they lie in wait to __________;” (Ep. 4.13-14).
    –
  12. A church is not to make a “nut” of herself before the ________; she is not to appear ignorant before the ________. All these men are to prepare the _________ so that the believers might do the work of _____________ and ____________ up the body of Christ. The pastor has a special ______, a ______ of teaching the Word of God so that his __________, those who are under him, might do the work of the ____________. A __________ or other member of a church cannot be all things. No man has ______ the gifts. The business of the pastor is to ________ the members of the church for the ______ of the ministry. All believers need to be ___________ in the Word of God so they can do the ______ of the ministry. Christ’s purpose in giving men with different ______ to a __________ is to __________ believers from babyhood to full maturity. (See McGee, Ephesians, p. 119-122).
  13. The final goal:“But speaking the truth in ______, may ______ up into him in all things, which is the ______, even Christ: From whom the whole ______ fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint ___________, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, _________ increase of the ______ unto the edifying of itself in ______.” (Ep. 4.15-16)

Answers

  1. Ephesians 4.1-6 consider the exhibition of the new man. The only way people can tell if you are a real child of God through faith in Christ is by your walk.
    –
    “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ep. 4.1)
    –
  2. Paul begs believers to walk “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ep. 4.2-3).
    –
    Lowliness is the flagship of all Christian virtues and is the opposite of pride. (See also, Philippians 2.3).
    –
    Meekness means mildness but it does not mean weakness. Meekness is bowing yourself to the will of God. (McGee, Ephesians, p. 111).
    –
    Longsuffering, a fruit of the Spirit, means that we don’t have a short
    –
    “Forbearing one another in love” means to hold one’s self back in the spirit of love. (See also, Col. 3.13)
    –
  3. “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit” (See also, Jn. 17.21). There are seven unities to be kept: one body, one Spirit, one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ep. 4.3-6). God is not the father of unbelievers.
    –
  4. In Ephesians 4.1-6, Paul started with the individual believer. Then he widens out to the entire church which is one body and one Spirit. Then, he brings this passage to a great crescendo, which pictures the imminence and transcendence of God.

Questions  through  are based on Ephesians 4.7-16

  1. In Ephesians 4.7-16, we learn of the inhibition of the new man. (inhibition = Something that restrains, blocks, or suppresses).
  2. God has given gifts to every believer, not that he may develop him spiritually, but in order that each believer may function in the body of believers to benefit and bless the church. (See Ro. 12, 1 Co. 12.7, 1 Co. 12, 13, and 14). Every member of my body needs to work together. My eyes, brain, legs, etc. need to work together. When one member of a body is not exercising his gift, he throws the whole body out of tune.
  3. God “led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” “when he ascended up on high.” (Ep. 4.8). He first received those gifts for men (Ps. 68.18). Then He came to earth and went back to the Father and is now distributing the gifts among men. “When he ascended up on high” (the ascension) he did two things: (1) He “led captivity captive” (referring to the redeemed of the Old Testament who went to Paradise when they died). (2) When He ascended, He conferred gifts on living believers in the church so that they might witness to the world. At the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit endowed believers with certain gifts, enabling them to function as members of the body (the church at Jerusalem). The Holy Spirit put each of them in a certain place in the body, and He has been doing that ever since.
  4. Christ takes certain men who have been given certain gifts and gives them to the church:
    –
    “And he [Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ep. 4.11)
    –
  5. An apostle had seen the Lord Jesus Christ but had also been directly and personally commissioned by Him to be an apostle. He enjoyed special inspiration. (See Ga. 1.1, 2).
  6. “Prophets” refers to New Testament prophets, men with particular insight into the doctrines of faith. (cf. Ep. 3.5).
  7. “Evangelists” were traveling missionaries. Paul was an example. They went alone into new territory with the Spirit of God who went before them.
  8. He also gave “pastors” who were shepherds of the flock.
  9. He gave some “teachers” who were to instruct the flock. (See also, 1 Co. 12.28, 29, and 1 Ti. 3.2).
  10. He gave these men to the church for specified purposes:
    –
    “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ep. 4.12).
    –
  11. A church has a purpose which is to complete itself that it might grow up:
    –
    “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 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;” (Ep. 4.13-14).
    –
  12. A church is not to make a “nut” of herself before the world; she is not to appear ignorant before the world. All these men are to prepare the church so that the believers might do the work of ministering and building up the body of Christ. The pastor has a special gift, a gift of teaching the Word of God so that his members, those who are under him, might do the work of the ministry. A pastor or other member of a church cannot be all things. No man has all the gifts. The business of the pastor is to build the members of the church for the work of the ministry. All believers need to be trained in the Word of God so they can do the work of the ministry. Christ’s purpose in giving men with different gifts to a church is to develop believers from babyhood to full maturity. (See McGee, Ephesians, p. 119-122).
  13. The final desired result for a church:“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Ep. 4.15-16)

Should you disagree with an answer given, please explain why you disagree in the comment section below the article. All reasoned comments will be published, perhaps with reply. The purpose of this website is the Glory of God. God cannot be glorified by shutting out honest disagreement in the search for truth. The author would be interested in your explanation. The comments are required by the website to be approved or disapproved. The author is very busy with many matters and may or may not immediately notice your comment. He will address it as soon as he notices it. He almost always approves comments presented with a godly spirit. He never alters comments. Sometimes, he replies to comments.