2 Cor. 5
Paul talks of the limitations of our current existence, of our groaning in our “earthly tents”.
7 - “...for we walk by faith, not by sight...”
9 - “...Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him...” What is our ambition?
15 - “...and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf...”
17 - “...Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come...”
20 - “...Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God...”
Ambassador - Represent God’s kingdom to the world’s kingdom.
Spy - Pretend to represent one kingdom, but loyalties are to another.
Double Agent - Selfishly play one kingdom against the other.
2 Cor. 6
12 - “...You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections...” Is Christianity restraining? Is Godliness restraining? Which prevents fullness of life?
2 Cor. 7
1 - “...Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God...” Who is doing what here?
5-7 Typical humanity - conflicts without, fears within. Provision of God - comfort.
2 Cor. 8 - Chapter on Giving
7 - faith, knowledge, earnestness, love, but also generosity.
15 - “...as it is written, "He who gathered much did not have too much , and he who gathered little had no lack..." Would Paul be a Capitalist or Socialist? Republican or Democrat? He is not advocating government redistribution, but personal sacrificial caring for others.
2 Cor. 9
6 - “...Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully...”
8 - “...And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;...” How can this be perverted by selfish flesh?
2 Cor. 10
3-5 “...For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,...”
18 - “...For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends...”
2 Cor. 11
3-4 Simplicity and purity of Christ centered devotion. Danger of deception with different spirit or different gospel.
13 - False apostles, deceitful workers.
20 - Enslaved, devoured, taken advantage.
2 Cor. 12
1-6 Reference to a man who was caught up to the 3rd heaven - to Paradise.
9 - “...And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me...” God’s power perfected how? In weakness.
2 Cor. 13
4 - “...For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you...”
5 - “...Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?...”
11 - “...Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you...”
GALATIANS
Gal.1
3-5 Christ’s death and resurrection was to rescue us from this present age (not just end of age rescue).
6-9 Gospel of Christ can be distorted.
Gal.2
4 - false brethren bring religious bondage.
16 - “...nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified...”
19 - "...For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God...”
20 - "...I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me...”
Law ceases to be the focus, replaced by faith in Christ AND living “to God”. What does this look like?
Gal.3
3 - “...Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?...”
13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit.
23-25 The Law isn’t bad. It’s a tutor, or guardian, that leads us to Christ and justification by faith.
Gal.4
7 - “...Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God...”
19 - What do you think Paul meant when he talked of laboring “...until Christ is formed in you...”?
21-31 Compares Law/Christ issue to Ismael/Isaac. What are the differences between the flesh and the promise?
Gal.5
1 - “...It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery...”
13-16 - “...For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh...” How is the Law fulfilled? How do avoid the desire of the flesh?
19-23 Different lists for fruits of flesh and Spirit.
24 - “...Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires...”
Gal.6
4 - “...But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another...” Examine what? Personal fruit inspection?
8 - Flesh led life leads to corruption. Spirit led life leads to eternal life.
EPHESIANS
Eph.1
3 - Blessed.
4 - Chosen.
5 - Adopted.
7 - Redeemed, forgiven.
9,10 - The “...mystery of His will...” made known. What mystery? “...the summing up of all things in Christ...”
13,14 Sealed with the Holy Spirit, a pledge of our inheritance.
18 - “...the hope of His calling...” ? Inheritance.
19 - “...the surpassing greatness of His power...” All things subject.
Eph.2
1-3 Start dead, disobedient, following the spirit (Satan) that promotes fleshly lusts and desires.
5,6 Made alive in Christ, raised up with Him.
8 - Saved through faith.
10 - “...For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them...” Purpose of God from the start!
18,19 - Access to the Father, citizens of God’s household.
21,22 We are the holy temple, being built into a dwelling for God.
Eph.3
10 - “...so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places...” Made known to authorities in heavenly places?
11-13 Eternal purpose, so don’t lose heart, but be bold and confident.
16,17 - “...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,...”
18,19 - Comprehend the vast love of Christ, filled up to fullness.
Eph.4
1-3 “...Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...”
11,12 - Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers should be equipping the saints for work, building up the body.
15,16 - Grow up!! Into Him. Not as individuals, but as a body. We need all parts working properly.
17-19 - Not to walk in sensuality and greediness.
22-24 - Lay aside the old, corrupting self and put on the new godly self. Choice every day.
26-31 Get rid of anger, stealing, unwholesome words, bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander.
Eph.5
1 - “...Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;...”
4 - “...and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks...” Does sarcasm edify?
6 - Empty words lead to deception, leads to wrath.
9,10 - “...(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord...”
15,16 - Be careful, make the most of your time.
20 - Always give thanks for all things.
22-33 Love and respect in marriage.
Eph.6
1-3 Children to obey and honor parents.
4 - Fathers to discipline and instruct.
7 - Serve as unto the Lord.
12 - “...For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places...”
13-17 - Put on the full armor and stand firm: truth, righteousness, gospel, faith, salvation, word.
18 - Be on the alert.
PHILIPPIANS
Phil.1
6 - “...For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus...” Process is occurring until?
9 - “...And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,...”
17 - It is possible to proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition.
21 - “...For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain...”
27 - “...Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;...”
Phil.2
1-8 - Empty yourself for others
12 - Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
14 - “...Do all things without grumbling or disputing;...”
Phil.3
12 - “...Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus...” What is the THAT in your life?
14 - “...I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus...”
Phil.4
4 - “...Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!...”
6-7 “...Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus...”
8 - “...Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things...” What does human tendency dwell on?
13 - “...I can do all things through Him who strengthens me...” Context? Actually is saying you can live in both the good AND the bad, not that you’re superman and all is good.
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