Ephesians (Program #72) – Growth by Feeding for the Building

The book of Ephesians has two distinct sections. The first three chapters give us a clear account of all of Christ is accomplished to produce the Church as the One New Man. His work on the cross, in resurrection has brought forth this New Man, composed of His redeemed people, built together in Himself to become not just One New Man but even the New Man filled unto all the fullness of God.  Well, this seem to be a logical conclusion to the book, but Paul goes on to the last three chapters and points out how much God needs our human co-operation if the Church is to be built up as the habitation of God in Spirit.  We want to look today, just what kind of co-operation God is looking for.

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Ephesians (Program #38) – The Way to be Perfected

When Christ ascended to the heaven after His resurrection, He brought with Him a train of former captives and presented them to God the Father. Then receiving them back from the Father, He gives them again, this time to His Body, the Church as specific gifts for them to do a particular work.

Listen to Ephesians 4:8 “… Having ascended to the height, He led captive those taken captive and gave gifts to men.’  verse 11 “And He Himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as shepherds and teachers.”

As we look at the gifts given to men and their proper function according to Ephesians 4.

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Ephesians (Program #37) – The Gifts Perfecting the Saints

There is a wonderful passage in the 68th Psalms that says : when Christ ascended to the Father after His resurrection, He took with Him an offering of all the redeemed sinners, those that had previously been held captives to sins, Satan even death. These redeemed ones were His offering to the Father

Listen to Psalms 68:18 “You have ascended on high; You have led captive those taken captive; You have received gifts among men, Even the rebellious ones also, That Jehovah God may dwell among them.”

The apostle Paul quoted from this verse in Ephesians 4, but he adds to it, making clear that the Son has now given these ones back to the Body, the Church, even to mankind as gifts.  The gifts that Christ had given to His Body that is our topic today.

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Galatians (Program #5) – The Formation of Paul’s Apostleship

The New Testament contains many references to the Apostles. We know that Jesus selected 12 of them originally, and one ultimately betrayed Him and was replaced. After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, Saul of Tarsus was gained by the Lord and became an Apostle. Tradition teaches that the list stops there, but what does the Bible have to say on the subject? And more importantly, what is the pattern that we see in Paul’s life and his apostleship that is relevant to us? Don’t miss today’s life study of the Bible.

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2 Corinthians (Program #5) – The Ministry of the New Covenant (1)

When we consider what are the main qualifications to be an effective and useful minister of the gospel. We may list things like been an eloquent speaker or having a charismatic personality or been one in power with miraculous gifts that can perform mighty works of power in the name of Jesus.  But the New Testament itself when presenting to us what’s the genuine ministry of the New Testament doesn’t uplift any of these things. Rather what we see in the genuine ministry of the apostles was the growth and maturity in the divine life. Paul the apostle himself was such a minister not relying on either natural ability or super natural gifts. He was the one spent years experiencing, enjoying and been constituted inwardly with the life giving Spirit, the very Christ in resurrection.

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Romans (Program #54) – Designation by Resurrection

In Romans 1:9 Paul said he served God in the gospel of His Son.  We need to know that the gospel of the Son is the gospel that involves the designation of the many sons of God for the corporate expression of the Triune God in Christ.

Christ the eternal Son of God in the Godhead was designated the firstborn Son of God in His resurrection, paving the way for us to follow Him in this designation.  This is a mysterious but marvelous and very practical aspect of the gospel of God.

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Acts (Program #68) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (34)

For the third time during his two year imprisonment in Caesarea, the Apostle Paul is in a courtroom-like setting, making his defense before a magistrate of the Roman government. And on this occasion, he reveals that God has selected him to be both minister and witness of the very Christ in resurrection. These are not general words. The words given to Paul by inspiration that conveyed much rich spiritual meaning and content. We look closely at this marvelous expression on today’s life study of the Bible.

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Acts (Program #46) – The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (12)

Once the Gospel of Christ emerged from Judea, it quickly spread into the continent of Europe. The great cities of the day became the stage from which the Lord Jesus, through primarily the apostle Paul and his co-workers, presented the all-inclusive Christ in resurrection. But, at each new place, fierce opposition soon appear, the opposer’s keen ability to twist and distort the message of life in Christ was a continual frustration to the brothers. The stories are immensely interesting but the lessons for us are the real value. Stay with us for another revealing life study of the Bible.

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Acts (Program #5) – Introduction and the Preparation

The gospel of Luke ends with the marvelous scene of the ascension of Christ. Luke’s other contribute to the New Testament, the book of Acts, begins with the same scene. The book of Acts stands as an encouraging continuation of the ministry of Christ following His resurrection and ascension. Stay with us today for a tremendous life study of the Bible.

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John (Program #52) – Life in Resurrection (3)

The seeking ones among God’s people need to know the Lord as life, and they need to experience Christ as life, and they need to study the Bible in the way of life. It is for those seekers that we commend the life study of the Bible. Listen and enjoy Christ as life.

The Gospel of John is simply profound. It’s simple. The words, the vocabulary, the expressions appear so simple. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was God. The Word became flesh. But, it’s profound also. If you’ve had the opportunity to follow us through the heart of chapters 14 through 17, you perhaps have some sense of appreciation of the profound depths of the Gospel of John.

The Gospel of John is a Gospel of life and building. We need to really dwell on these two crucial words: life and building. Life is God Himself. Life is Christ. He said “I am the life”, “I came that you may have life”, and “life is the Spirit.” Eternal life is not merely an eternal state of existence in another realm. Eternal life is God dispensed into us. It cannot reasonably be denied that the Gospel of John is the Gospel of eternal life.

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