personal

This blog page is very personal. If you read my commentary on Paul’s Letters on my Web Site, (http://darroll.tripod.com/), you will find no footnotes because It is very seldom that I quote other writers. The Late Dr. Manford George Gutzke and one instance of a quote from the Liberty Commentary are the exceptions. Dr Gutzke was an extraordinary writer and speaker, and I use his definition of “love.”

 I must sdmit that my commentaries are a result of inspiration and not perspiration.  At times you will find me at odds with the translators. On more than one occasion while I was actively writing the commentaries, I would be awakened in the middle of the night with the statement, “Go to your computer, and I will show you the proper translation.”

 When I began translating the Bible my knowledge of Greek would not fill a thimble. 

 I began in 1990 with Philippians, because it was only 4 chapters in Greek, so how difficult could that be?

 The translation was completed in 1999, just prior to the crash of my computer. And so, all that work was lost. But, the Internet had not become so powerful back in those days. In fact, my first three commentaries on Philippians, Colossians, and Galatians were so new that at the time they were the only commentaries on those letters at that time on the Internet, and if you wanted to read a commentary on any one of those three the only Internet source at that time was my writing. God has indeed blessed me!

I started blogging using the Ephesians text as the base, but I will be changing that to certain verses from both the Old and New Testaments.

 Thank you for reading this blog, and may God bless you.

 If you have any comments or questions please contact me at studycomments@yahoo.com and I will responds as quickly as possible.

Talking Points 19

Eph 2:1-3
¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (NKJV)

Before the Holy Spirit opened our ears to hear Christ Jesus and our eyes to see the Truth we were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. We walked, talked and acted as dead men do. Our goal was just to get through the day.

I am not condemning anyone in this. We were born with brown, or back, or blonde hair, and a certain color to our eyes. All of that is neither good nor bad. Instead it simply is!

However, we were also born with a penchant to sin! Until God the Father chooses us to come out of the sin that seems engulf our lives we will live according to the leading of Satan. We who have been called to follow Christ Jesus are the chosen of God. During this age, we are led by the Holy Spirit (Roman 8:14)! In Christ we have been changed from the sons of “disobedience” to the sons of the Father.

In the past we were dominated by Satan and led by our sin-nature. We had no choice as to the direction we walked. But, when we were called out, we learned to walk in the ways of righteousness, the ways of Christ Jesus.

Those who live in Satan’s unrighteousness also live in the sin-nature, with which they were physically born.

Even if you are forgiven, you must still contend with the sin-nature. You Spirit is saved, not your body. Barring the second coming during your lifetime, it shall return to the dust.

Talking points 18

Talking points 18 Eph 1:22-23
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJV)

The time when Christ puts all things under His feet may have already happened or may be a long way off (in human terms). That depends on what we mean by “all things under His feet.”

God being “all in all” is also a phrase that needs explaining!

According to the Old Testament the cattle on a thousand hills are already God’s (Psalm 50:10), which picturesque language for “He owns it all.” And, according to Ezekiel 18:4 all souls already belong to God.

Many people attempt to divide the Trinity in order to explain it. But we should always understand that the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are echad (Heb. ‏אֶחָד‎) and as such are inseparable.

In accordance with the plan of God for the ages, each fulfills a designated task at various times within that plan, but all are in complete unity as to the plan, the moment of its fulfillment and the events within that plan. When I refer to “God’s plan for the ages,” God is God in totality and not God the Father as opposed to God the Son or God the Holy Spirit.

As to God being “all in all” that too may be translated with a slight difference. In fact, there may be no “becoming” to it. That section may also be translated, “all in all is being filled by Him.” All of creation is now following God’s program for their participation in His plan.

All plans are determined by the goal of the one doing the planning. And so, “filling all in all” is the goal of God’s plan for the ages.

We are now living out the greatest object lesson ever devised.

Talking Points 17

Eph 1:17-21
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.(NKJV)

The above is one of four wonderful prayers written by Paul for the “body of Christ.”

Paul’s four prayers may be spoken for each member of our families, and our friends…those for whom we normally offer prayers each day.

However, they are not to be recited as if they are something magical. They must be prayed from the heart.

Here is an example of how to use them by inserting the name of each of our loved ones at the appropriate time.

Eph 1:17-21
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to (name) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of (name) understanding being enlightened; that (name) may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (NKJV)

This and other prayers from the Bible are unique in their application to our daily lives. One of the areas of this prayer is contained in verse 20.

God raised Christ Jesus from the dead “and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” That is a wonderful statement, because we have been baptized into Christ Jesus. And that means that spiritually we, as saints, are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Did you know that as a saint (Gr. hagios-ἅγιος) you are pure, holy, and blameless before God?

Talking Points 16

Eph 1:15-16
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (NKJV)

Many Christians consider these verses as lead ups to the prayer that starts in verse 17. However, they are much more than that.

When we pray for others of the faith, we should name them. Our prayers should be pointed.

In prayers for the nation, although those prayers may appear to be general in nature, those prayers are actually very pointed.

At the time of this writing, Christians around the world are facing great persecution from those who are led by Satan. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Christians are being murdered. In addition, the church in America is being led by the unconverted.

Once great Churches are now led by ordained heathen!

Pray for those of the Body of Christ!

Talking Points 15

Eph 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

We trust, focus faith on Christ Jesus when we actually hear “the word of Truth.” Until that moment we have not heard the Truth!

There is a great difference between physically hearing and spiritually perceiving.

Repeatedly in the book of Revelation, we find, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:11/NKJV)

Those who do not hear with spiritual ears cannot hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Have you heard the voice of god?

Those who have been chosen to be a part of the body of Christ have heard the voice of God the Holy Spirit as He opens the door of salvation to the chosen. When we hear the Truth we respond in the affirmative!

From the moment on Christ Jesus is our Lord (Gr. kurios-κύριος), our owner and proprietor. We are His lump of clay and He is the Master Potter molding us into that which is useful in the plan for the ages.

Rejoice that He has called and appointed you to life forevermore in Himself!

Talking Points 14

Eph 1:12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

As a Christian, you are special!

You are among the first to be called to trust in Christ Jesus. You are among the elect!

In some respects, Christianity is inclusive, but in this age, at this time, Christianity is exclusive!

Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (NKJV)

You have been called and justified according to His purpose!

You shall fulfill the mission that He has given you!