Category: Paul’s writings

Greet one another with a holy kiss

Greet one another with a holy kiss: Romans 16v16

Today’s lesson: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (Rom. 16:16a; etc.)?

Do we obey this today?

1.  The “holy kiss” is a New Testament command

2.  New Testament commands are to be obeyed

3.  Obeying the command to greet with a holy kiss

Ephesians 3: Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles

  • How was Paul “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” (Eph. 3:1) according to the following Scripture?
  • What might the Ephesians (cf. Eph. 1:1) “have heard of” concerning Paul according to Ephesians 3:2?
  • How could the Ephesians (cf. Eph. 1:1) understand Paul’s “insight into the mystery of Christ” according to Ephesians 3:4?
  • When was “the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4) revealed according to Ephesians 3:5?
  • What does the following Scripture teach concerning “His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:5)?
  • What is “the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4) according to Ephesians 3:6?
  • In “Christ Jesus our Lord … we have” what according to Ephesians 3:12 Ephesians 3: Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles

The Blessings Chapter

Which new testament chapter of the Bible would you describe as “the Blessings Chapter”??

Ephesians chapter 1 is what I would describe as “the blessings chapter”!
• After the introduction to the letter to the Ephesians (1:1,2),
• Paul lists many of the blessings which (the Ephesian) Christians have in Christ (1:3-14),
• and then prays that they may be enlightened about all these blessings (1:15-23).

What is so great about Christianity? Let us examine ‘the blessings chapter’
    1. Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him
    2. verse 5,6 In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
    3. Eph. 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
    4. Verse 9-10 In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
    5. Eph. 1:11-12 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance [also we were made a heritage, ASV], having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
    6. v 13-14 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

A Good Soldier

The Christian walk isn’t always an easy one, the apostle Paul can testify to that, but it is a worthy one. In this sermon we will see that the hardships we encounter not only help strengthen us and build character, it can also help others. Paul compares the Christian with that of a soldier and how we should endure the hardships by putting on our armour in order to defeat the enemy.

The Last Words of Paul

Paul’s last written words that we have available to us are recorded in the letter of 2 Timothy. How do we know this was his last letter?

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Possibly there were other letters written after this one, but they give no indication of being dated later than this, and it is fairly safe to assume this is Paul’s last recorded writing.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, we find there to not be a lot of new teaching or complicated ideas. Because it is Paul’s last letter, it is more about final reminders and warnings rather than setting down fresh theology.

The main subjects that Paul goes through come under four main headings:

  1. Remembrance of the ultimate message of the gospel;
  2. Dedication to and suffering for the sake of the gospel;
  3. Warnings against false teachers;
  4. Paul’s personal circumstances; personal examples; and the comfort he took in God;

We Are More than Conquerors through Him who Loved Us!

  1. Victory in Christ

(i) Victory over sin

(ii) Victory over the evil one

(iii) Victory in temptation

(iv) Victory over error

(v) Victory in growth

(vi) Victory in suffering

(vii) Victory in all things

(viii) Victory even in death

  1. Our part in this victory

(i) Get into Christ

(ii) Stay in Christ

(iii) Encourage others to do (i) and (ii)

We do not Walk According to the Flesh, but walk According to the Spirit (Rom 8:12)

  1. Walking according to the Spirit – OT
  2. Walking according to the Spirit – NT

(a) Galatians

(b) Romans

(c) Ephesians

  1. Walking according to the flesh

(a) Don’t go back

(b) Don’t become choked