Lets talk about Paul

[Rainrider]

Ephesians chapter one.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Once more we find a passage used by some to teach that we can't get into heaven unless we are among the hand full that HaShem picked before the heaven, and earth were created. Yet as the following verse shows, it was that individuals are chosen, rather that HaShem had full intention of showing true justice by making sure that His Word reached everyone. His Word makes it clear He doesn't want a following of robots, with no will of their own, He wants us to come to Him out of love, faith, and trust. If not why hand us freewill?

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

The idea that one can only teach if they have years upon years of stury, a degree of some kind, or have been ordained by man is shown to be wrong in this passage. When one gives their life to Yeshua fully, we are given a teacher, (John 14:26) If when we study, we will but open our hearts and minds to the Spirit, he will show us all things. If we find something a bit hard to understand, ask and the Spirit will show the truth.

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
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.
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:
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,

Though Paul makes a distinction between HaShem and Yeshua, he does with out need to retract his teaching that in Yeshua lives the fullness of HaShem.

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.
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.

Personal note. Having heard many teachers from many walks of life , and faiths. I have found it sad that not many will say HaShem is the reason for our salvation, by Him we are given grace. Don't get me wrong, I understand, (at lest to a point) that it is the blood of Yeshua we must except as our sacrifice, and that we must trust Yeshua was raised from the dead, and with out that trusting faithfulness, we are lost. Yet how many never hear the truth, that it was HaShem's will worked in Yeshua, or that Yeshua and HaShem are one? If we trust in Yeshua, and not HaShem, have we miss the point?

 

[MarcR]

Ephesians chapter one.
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Once more we find a passage used by some to teach that we can't get into heaven unless we are among the hand full that HaShem picked before the heaven, and earth were created. Yet as the following verse shows, it was that individuals are chosen, rather that HaShem had full intention of showing true justice by making sure that His Word reached everyone. His Word makes it clear He doesn't want a following of robots, with no will of their own, He wants us to come to Him out of love, faith, and trust. If not why hand us freewill?

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

The idea that one can only teach if they have years upon years of stury, a degree of some kind, or have been ordained by man is shown to be wrong in this passage. When one gives their life to Yeshua fully, we are given a teacher, (John 14:26) If when we study, we will but open our hearts and minds to the Spirit, he will show us all things. If we find something a bit hard to understand, ask and the Spirit will show the truth.

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
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.
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:
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,

Though Paul makes a distinction between HaShem and Yeshua, he does with out need to retract his teaching that in Yeshua lives the fullness of HaShem.

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.
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.

Personal note. Having heard many teachers from many walks of life , and faiths. I have found it sad that not many will say HaShem is the reason for our salvation, by Him we are given grace. Don't get me wrong, I understand, (at lest to a point) that it is the blood of Yeshua we must except as our sacrifice, and that we must trust Yeshua was raised from the dead, and with out that trusting faithfulness, we are lost. Yet how many never hear the truth, that it was HaShem's will worked in Yeshua, or that Yeshua and HaShem are one? If we trust in Yeshua, and not HaShem, have we miss the point?

It is undeniable truth that there is to way to the Father except by Jesus; but does not deny the father's involvement in the process.

 

[Adstar]

Have you ever wanted to know the man Paul, who he was, what he did, and most of all how he thought? I understand that yes the Word is all we have to work off with him. There are some other books and writers that fill us in on parts we may not know. I have even been told, though never found or read them, that the RCC has records no other church has on Paul.
From some of my studies, I do know that the RCC does have an extensive archive, some writings that date back to around 50 AD if I remember it right.
I am hoping this will stay on the topic of getting to know Paul, and stay clear of any use of Paul to make points that may or may not be true. If I learned anything from my time in Biblical study, both in and out of the class room, it is that if one truly wants to make a point of almost any kind, turn to Paul. His writings can be read to mean almost anything a person wishes to find. Peter tells us this about Paul,
2Pe 3:15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
2Pe 3:16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

This can be seen as a warning to us, that we should know the person, how Paul sees scripture, and just what parts of the Word Paul is calling scripture. It is only with this understanding that one can truly find the truth of his words. So lets get started.

It is a clear fact that Paul only had what many today call the Old Testament. It is from this book that Paul based his teaching. In his writings Paul quotes from or makes clear allusions to the Tanach 111 times. He references the Torah 46 times, the Prophets 42 times, and the Writings 23 times.
In relation the dead sea scroll's represent the following, Deut. 27 times, Isaiah 21 times, and Psalms 39 times. Indicating that Pauls use of the Tanach fits with the general perspective of 1st century Judaisms. (FN) from page 153of the letter Writer, by Tim Hegg.

Right at the foundation of this post is the belief that Pauls teachings where Pauls teachings..

"""This can be seen as a warning to us, that we should know the person, how Paul sees scripture, and just what parts of the Word Paul is calling scripture. It is only with this understanding that one can truly find the truth of his words. """

No they are not his words.. They are the inspired words given to him by the Holy Spirit. Anything built upon the belief that the letters of Paul where his words will only lead to the denial of the Word of God. Once people say they are Pauls words then they are denying that they are Gods words.

 

[Rainrider]

Right at the foundation of this post is the belief that Pauls teachings where Pauls teachings..

"""This can be seen as a warning to us, that we should know the person, how Paul sees scripture, and just what parts of the Word Paul is calling scripture. It is only with this understanding that one can truly find the truth of his words. """

No they are not his words.. They are the inspired words given to him by the Holy Spirit. Anything built upon the belief that the letters of Paul where his words will only lead to the denial of the Word of God. Once people say they are Pauls words then they are denying that they are Gods words.

I debated if I should ever respond to this. It has been placed on my heart to make one point on this however. For one to try and make a point like yours, it must be asked, are they the Laws of Moses, do we say the prophesy of Isaiah, Eze, and so on, what about Daniel, and the list can go on. To say that They are not Pauls words when every letter starts with I PAUL is a bit like saying I JOHN isn't me. As everyone in the world knows if you say PAUL SAID will under stand that you are now speaking of Paul's letters, (and there is no way of saying they aren't) Then to use a commonly understood phrase is, well common.
So you see, your argument on that seems to be nothing more than a failure not on the part of everyone that understands commonly used phrases, rather on your part to to understand the use of them.

 

[Rainrider]

It is undeniable truth that there is to way to the Father except by Jesus; but does not deny the father's involvement in the process.

You get no argument from me on that. Yet do we dismiss the fact that HaShem sent Yeshua? After reading the way I worded that, I can see how one may think I have in some way dismissed the work Yeshua had done. Though it is oly to a point that I can understand the way many teach on this. You see, it is my understanding that we must worship HaShem, and though we must exsept the fact that without Yeshua we would be still be lost, with no way of coming to HaShem in a sinless form. Yet to worship Yeshua, and omit HaShem, as many do today, or if we go to the other extreme, and worship strictly by way of OT teaching, and omit Yeshua, do we not fail to give the full meaning of the Word?

 

[Rainrider]

Ephesians chapter 2
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.

One teaching I can almost go with 100% is that Paul is speaking of the work the Holy Spirit does in us. I say almost, as it is understood that we must turn to Yeshua first, then He sends the spirit to live in, and guide us. Paul makes it clear that He is speaking of Yeshua as we read on. However, so as not to remove the fact that Spirit works many great things in our hearts and minds, I do wish to give the words of one other teacher. (Once more I do agree with most of this, not all. As it doe remove some truth, yet shines a light on other truths.) " It is the Spirit that gives us new life, yet if we turn only to the Spirit He has no power to do anything in us. We must follow the truth of Yeshua." This teaching may sound good, until one stops to really look. Follow the truth of Yeshua? Should this not read, TURN TO YESHUA in loving faithfulness. If at any point we over look, or try to side step Yeshua, and His sacrifice for us, we totally missed the point.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

As noted above, Paul makes it clear that he is speaking of Yeshua, Though as I made note in my closing on chapter one of this book, Many of the teaching I have heard don't include HaShem in Salvation. Paul here makes it clear that it was HaShem's love for man kind that lead Him to give His own son as our sacrifice. So like it or not, HaShem is the reason we are given salvation, and this fact should never be over looked.

7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Paul makes it clear that we can in way earn salvation on our own. Something that none of use can disagree with, and hope to be given the gifts that come with walking in faith. Before anyone tries to tell me I am a Hypocrite keep in mind that I don't follow the laws to be saved, I follow them because I am saved. As I have always said, faith followed by obedience. After alll even knows the truth of the Word.

10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

As noted in Romans 11 when we turn our self over to Yeshua we are grafted in, or adopted as some say. Paul here is telling us much the same thing, only in a different way. What we must keep in mind is that we are now a part of Israel, though we have no need of circumcision in a physical way, we should have a heart that has been.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Though I have seen this passage used to say that the "church" has replaced Israel, this could be no further from the truth. once more I point to Rom. 11 to make this clear. It tells us in verse 18, "do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you."
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

 

[Rainrider]

Ephesians chapter3
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles--
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

One teaching wishes t use this passge to say that the Holy Spirit was working in man kind in the Tanakh, though it is my understanding this teaching comes only from one church, (that I know of) it still should be addressed. The Spirit of HaShem is named some 60 times in the Tanakh, and the Holy Spirit some 10 times. What we should keep in mind is that though 2 titles are used, they are the same person, for lack of phrase.

6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

This chapter is cut and dry in my mind. I chould go into the deeper meanings, and all that. Yet for some reason I am lead to go down that road. It isn't that I am unable, it is that I follow my heart in all matters when it comes to teaching the Word.

 

[Rainrider]

Ephesians chapter 4
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Had a teacher from a non-denominational back ground, open a debate on the what one church follows all truths in the Bible. We all asked the week before to write at lest 5 pages on what our denominational doctrine was. This was to keep us all honest, any one that strayed from what they had written failed the class the following week. Oddly many did try to change what they had written as their doctrine, just enough as to not look bad when it became oral debate. Our task was simply to see how well the many denominations fit into the 3 verses given here. Of the 8 doctrines represented, only 2 found any unity at all. Keep in mind the task had to do with doctrine, not theology. I truly feel that number could well have gone up to 100%, had every done as the other 2. Seek it out, rather than work to show theirs was the best, as has been seen in many threads on here.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Oddly the 2 that found unity, found it not in the first 3 verses, they looked past that and found it in the work of Yeshua. In the way He lived, and the example He set in His life, and teachings. You see, no matter what anyone may think of Paul, John, or other writer in the whole of the Word, all doctrine should start with what HaShem told us in Torah, was backed, and given fuller meaning by Yeshua. If we in our lack of true understanding ever pit the writings of any part of the word, against another, then we show our lack of understanding, or unwillingness to seek the unadulterated truth. As Paul makes clear many times, we have one Scripture, one LORD, and one body.

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."
9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

In every church it is hoped that the pastor finds tall the gifts that are listed in the people that add him. I see little hope of finding them all in just one person, though I am sure that has been done.
I am sure that we all know that even on here, you may find one person that has a better understanding of Biblical Law than others, the same for prophecy, teaching, and so on, this is no mistake. HaShem has placed the different disciplines here for a reason, that reason is as it Paul states, to bring about growth.

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

At the end of the task named above, this same teacher gave a rather unsettling commentary on 17&18. Though some in class gave a written argument on it, in the end everyone could see his point. Don't get upset over this, just keep in mind the task and you may well see how it fit. This is not an exact quote sorry it has been some years. The point however remains the same.
"We as follows of a religion, and not seekers of truth, become blinded by what we hope is true. Unwilling to hear others out, and seek the Word for any truth it holds. Most follow the teaching they grow up with, and never question it, be it out of fear, or simply being to lazy. We will stand on what we say, think, or hope at any cost. Some to the point of showing them self as hypocrites. Be it by stating one thing, then answering a direct question that shows they truly follow what they say, then changing their answer later to fit what they wish to teach. Others by teaching something they have heard, then once hearing the truth still fight to back a lie."

19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ,
21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.
26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.




For one to learn a way of speaking is never an easy thing. Learning to hear is not the same as learning to listen. Just as learning to lift a person up, is not the same learning to lift them to higher form glory. To say we love others, is a lot easier than showing that love to others. Though we may not see it or even understand it, our words, be they written or spoken, can turn a person toward or away from Yeshua. I can say with 100% certainty, that at lest one person was turned away from Yeshua by what they seen here on CCF. Yet when it was made known on here, not one person steeped up with even a hint of remorse for the action that lead to that. In face it sadden my heart that only person to comment on it at all, did so as if it was no big thing to them at all. So how does that fit the passages above? It simply goes to show the dysfunction of what we think is the body of Yeshua. The in fighting, name calling, and unwillingness to hear others point of view before we jump up and think we know what they are going to say. Hear them out first, then if you feel you must, be orderly in your rebuttal. Acting like a gang of unruly thugs, helps no one. In fact, more often than not, it turns them away.

 

[Rainrider]

Ephesians chapter 5
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

I once heard a lecture on this that kind of blow me away, as it was the first time I had ever heard any one teach from both sides of this debate. Though it has been some 15 years, I can't give it word for word, or even hope to say it is close. I can how ever tell you that what you read is the fundamental teaching.
the opening for this chapter leads some to teach that it speaks against following any form of Law. As we should all know the law as it stands in Torah is seen by Paul as a form of bondage. In that it binds man kind to a set of sacrifices that remind them of their sins day after day. The sacrifices as is made clear in Torah can never wash away ones sins. If anyone turns back to that form of worship, then they have lost the true intent of the Word. This is what Paul speaks of here. Turning to a system that has been removed, in hopes of salvation. Simply being circumcised doesn't place a person under the bondage of this system, it is rather, being circumcised with the hope of finding favor in the sight of HaShem.
This has been confused by many to speak to the whole of the Torah, yet even as some wish to say they have no law to follow, they follow many aspects of Torah in their lives. As they say the law has been removed, yet teach that sin real. They will teach that homosexuality is wrong, yet we have no laws to follow.
This confusion as to what is Law and what isn't, steams for the most part from a lack of knowledge, and the miss use of a phrase that is never made clear. That phrase is, "THE LAWS OF MOSES" How is it miss used? Simply by not explaining that they are HaShem laws, given through Moses. Just as there has been little or no discussion on the differences between being justified and sanctification. ( More on that in a bit.)

4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

As Paul makes clear here, it is not the simple act that separates us, rather the motivation of the action. Justification comes from faith not works. It is given freely when a person turns their life over to Yeshua. Sanctification on the other hand is on going. Though it is named in the Word as applying to both people and things, us must keep in mind that it is the same. As with both it is a consecration, or separation into the service of HaShem. So does this mean we are resposable for this work in our lives? Though it is the work the Holy Spirit that leads us to sanctification, we must follow His lead on it. By doing so we grow in the degree of sanctification. Our communication with HaShem aids us in this growth, along with our willingness to follow His Laws, Will, and Love.
Sanctification can't justify anyone, yet it is a result of justification. One need simply look at the actions of what some call saints. Even their most holy actions are more or less full of defects. Some are wrong in their motive, or defective in their performance. In themselves the actions are no better than splendid sins. For one to see them as a way to atone for sin is no better than seeking it through keeping the full law.

7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

For one to turn to this passage and say that this all we need do, with no further explanation, is misleading at best. As will be seen as one reads on. Though it should be made clear that sanctification is seen outwardly, and is most apparent in the way that we show love for others, This is not end all for other means of sanctification. As one reads on, they find a list of things that can lead us down the road to losing any sanctification we have have in our lives.

15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

As one looks on this list, if they have had any from of training in Torah at all, they see the Torah in this list. As it is all covered in the DON"T be like this list. For any that haven't had any training in Torah, and hold little or understanding of it's truths, they still see the same list in the same way. The only thing that marks the difference, is how one relates to Torah. The same can be said of the following list.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

To them with some training in Torah they see the BE LIKE THIS list from Torah.

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

When one becomes justified, the lost of the flesh remains. Yet if one walks after the Spirit, following in the ways of Yeshua, they also walk in the ways of HaShem. The wants of ones heart changes, as they change a little more sanctification grows. The miss understanding comes not from the words of Paul, rather from our poor understanding. Though we may read not under the Law, we should see, not under conviction by the law.
We should all know at lest to some extent that we will all face judgment. Sanctification will be our greatest witness on that day. for one to try and plead that they believed in Yeshua without, yet have no sanctifying effect being seen in their lives will not help their case. As in any form of trial, evidence, evidence, evidence will be the only thing wanted. Not words of intent, seen action and change.
What is that change we must show? It is the changes in our hearts, and mind. Our own willingness to follow the lead of the Spirit. How does one know that lead? By the Torah. If we think the Spirit is leading us away from HaShem Law, we may wish to look at what spirit we are following. After HaShem and His Spirit are one, They follow the same laws, and build only on the foundation given by HaShem. It does little good to lay ones foundation at 618 west ave E, then build your home at 701 north 3th street. You are left with no foundation, and your house will fall much sooner than later. Keep your house on the foundation, lay a strong foundation, not on sand on rock.

 

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Ephesians chapter 6
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise:
3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Though we may not hear it much, there is a doctrine that teaches ones relation in the family should reflect their relation with HaShem. Parents should show the love of HaShem to their kids, in doing so the kids will return the same form of love. Does this mean that a swat on the dipper as they grow up is wrong? No. It gets their attention in a way they helps them know right from wrong.

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

As an employ we should do all we can to show HaShem in our life, and work. In doing so, there will something that seen in us that may be lacking in others. Oddly a good friend of mine lead his boss to Yeshua without any more than a simple answer to a question. His boss asked him, why is that you can be counted on no matter what is asked of you? His reply, I follow HaShem, and do everything in my life to please only Him. Well his boss never asked about HaShem, nor did he ask how a life in Yeshua could make any change in his own life. Then after about a year, his boss started to ask questions about the Bible. So you see, that one little thing, (at lest it seem little to some people) showed the light and love of HaShem to a person that never had read the Bible in his life. The only reason I know about any of it is that his boss started showing up at a Bible study I held. Before anyone ask, yes it a study of Torah.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

This may seem an odd thing to be asking, yet it must be asked. What is the Word of HaShem? has any one part of it ever removed any other part? That is has it done so with out HaShem speaking it? One thing I know, is that HaShem wishes any part of Torah be removed, He tells us, He doesn't hint about it, or leave it to our whims of fancy. He makes it clear, and leaves no room for misunderstanding.

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--

Now I know that I have at times said that speaking in tongues should be seen with a bit of skepticism. As in some cases, it is more about putting on a show than follow the true Word. However, if a person has never had their prayers taken over by the Spirit, they have no clue what they are missing. It can't be forced, nor should one try to stop it. Just let it flow. You may have no idea what you are praying, nor what to expect from it. Ask any one that has ever had it happen, things will change in your life, i the life of others, or even in world events.

19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;
22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.
23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

 

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Philippians chapter 1
1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:
16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Through The introduction of this letter, we learn that even when Paul was locked up, he lived with joy in his heart. His thoughts and prayers were not for himself, rather he held others as being more impotent than him self. As with most of the open passage of Pauls letters, I see no need to explain them, as they are for the most part, self explanatory.

 

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Philippians chapter 2
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

When talking to my doctor, this came to mind. He must have seen the light come on, just as I was getting feed up with how they work. Many people don't like to any kind of doctor, yet when their is something wrong, we go. That can lead to going to see more than one doctor, and less information that your PC doctor has on you. We are asked here to be of one mind. This doesn't mean everyone has to think or act like Billy The Kid. It should tell us that we should all know and agree on the big things however. The fragmentation, and in fighting is not what we should show the world.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This hymm if I may so call it this. Tells us of Yeshua, his life, and the ways we should strive to follow it. They are not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of will power, and a lot of surrender. A good way to get that across, is to look at the old share croppers. Many of whom held onto faithfulness, not as a barge of honor, Everything from tids shoes to the house they live in gave testament to that faithfulness. Yet one look tells a story of a poor man, a closer look tells of faith, walked in Love and obedience.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

When one turns their life over holding nothing back. HaShem moves in their life. He can use us in ways we may have never seen coming. At times in ways we never dreamed of. Yet we must ask, is what we are doing, being done in a way that gives full glory to HaShem, and not to ones self? I once seen a post on here that hurt in a spiritual way. It words were a lot different I am sure. Still it left the following on my heart.
If where we stand in the world is based on the ideas of others, we are in a world of hurt. The post pointed out the writers idea of being popular, ignored, or being pushed into obscurity. Placing a decrees in value as it went a long. My self, even if not one person reads any thing I post, or has a word to say about any of it, I am ok with this. You see, this is my way of giveing back to HaShem.


17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.

There is one teaching that tells us Paul at this point already know he was going to be killed for his faith. Yet trather than look back and think, I should have done that different, Paul wants every one to know he is looking forword. Still hoping and praying for the best out come. Not for the church folks, Paul was praying that every one who turns their life to Yeshua, would have the best of all they need in life.

20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

When a person sends this form of introduction, It leaves a lot to live up to. This introduction speaks to the nature of Yeshua.

 

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Philippians chapter 3
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Though many rightfully use this to teach agents circumcision, if that is all they gain from this they are missing so much. You see, circumcision isn't a bad thing unless one looks to that alone as a way to gain favor with HaShem. As one commentator may say that circumcision was a means to identify a true man of HaShem, only to show they have idea what it is, or shows. Circumcision was, is, and will remain a sign of the covenant HaShem made with His people Israel.
Another commutator may say that it holds no value for anyone today. Once more showing their lake of understanding.
Though it is true that many in the world have turned to circumcision for it's practical application, i.e. health benefits. We do well to keep in mind that it holds no power over us, or our salvation.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul is not telling us that his faith, or his obedience to the Law were loss, or set a side. Though some commentators say this. He is however, if left in context with the rest of the chapter, making it clear his pride, and faith in his own work have been lost. That does make a world of difference in how sees this.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Though some have said that Paul is calling us to follow his lead, and not that of Yeshua, they sadly wish to discredit the Word as a whole in so doing. Though they may not know they are doing so. You see if we follow one solid truth, we will understand, and always keep in mind, Paul followed the example of Yeshua. So if we do as he did, then we to would follow in all things commanded by Yeshua.
Your idea and mine may differ as to, ( I hate the phrase yet will use it) what a Judaizer is. If we follow my idea of it, then we will all agree that if we turn from faith in Yeshua, and follow an understanding that we must keep all 316 laws given in Torah for salvation we are lost. The law holds no power for salvation, or righteousness. Never has, never will. Faith and obedience are the key. The law leads us away from sin true. Yet without trusting faithfulness, we remain lost. Just as if we hold faith as the only thing one must have, we also miss the mark. You see even Satan has faith that HaShem is real, and knows that Yeshua is the only means of true salvation. Yet Satan doesn't follow the Laws of HaShem, and he does everything he can to turn us from obedience. Satan knows, and understands the World much better than we do. He has laid a foundation of misguided teaching, in a way that has lead to deviation in the church, and built walls that some seem unwilling to breach.

 

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Philippians chapter 4
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

One of the hardest things for a lot of people to do is to happy with what they have. It seems that for to long success has been seen only what one can see. Big house, new car, lots of money, and so on. It is hard to see happiness on the face of most people anymore. Yet as a wise man once said, (I can't remember who sorry) the true measure of success is happiness.

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.
15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Though we can go on and on about how sacrifices are longer needed, we see here that they still pleasing to HaShem. Though it can be shown that He no longer wants the blood of bulls and lambs, there are other forms of sacrifice that He loves. Like giving to the poor, feeding the hungry, and many other forms of sacrifice. Strangely many who say they are christain don't give anything at all, they follow the old look out for self adage.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.
22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

[oldethennew]

after Jesus, Paul is our hero...

 

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Colossians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf,
8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

One teaching on this that I personally don't follow, yet in the interest of full disclosure feel should be posted. In it we find that man kind holds the right to make saints of anyone it thinks worthy, and to condemn to hell anyone they wish. The thing about that is, we are not the final judge.
In contrast, the idea that Paul is calling all truth believers saints is a bit more understandable. Also in this teaching is the idea that we as true followers of Yeshua have, (like Israel) been set apart from the rest of the world. Like HaShem's Holy people we become partakers in the Abrahamic covenant. Yet we should keep in mind, this doesn't place us in higher standings, nor does it mean we have replaced Israel in anyway. It also doesn't mean that we have any need of physical circumcision, as ours is a spiritual form of the same.

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Why would Paul say that Yeshua created everything, then include Satan and his followers? One answer is that by giving man free will, man had to have a choice. With out any choice to make, freewill is nothing more than a phrase. If we have no choice to follow HaShem, or Satan, then we are nothing more than robots. Slaves to a system with no way out. True it is a great system, one that brings joy, love, and would do away with war. Yet as can be seen world wide, not every one wants to be a part of it.

17 And He is before all things, and in 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 may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight--
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Though in today's world we are faced with more than one gospel, only one can be true. It is our job to find the truth, and to follow that truth, even unto death. One teacher had this to say on that topic. If the truth we follow leads us away from Biblical truth we are lost. Just as Israel was given the law, revised by HaShem in some regards, A law that that was lived out in the life of Yeshua, we to should do our best to live it out in our lives.
In regards to the other side of that coin. We find that a claim of the law being removed comes up short. Not by any idea of our own, rather with the teachings of anti-law doctrine it's self. Using just one example, though there are many, sexual immorality is still said by them to be wrong, and sinful. Yet by Biblical definition, sin is a transmigration of the law, 1John3:4. By that definition, if there is no law there is no sin, so no one iborn after the Resurrection is guilty of sin.

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

 

[Rainrider]

Colossians 2
1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Many times in life we face a decision, that being is what we are being told the doctrine of man, of the Word. If what is being said claims a change in the Word from the OT into the NT, has that change been placed in clear and plain language? If not, then one would be wish to follow the Word and the teachings of man. Yeshua in
Mat 15:7 “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
Mat 15:8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me
Mat 15:9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men
Sadly, when we teach a thing that can't be shown from the Word, this passage can be applied to use. This is why we should always pray with open heart and mind when we are faced with any teaching that stands in direct conflict with our own. It easy to stand up for what we think, using the same twisted teachings used to teach us. It is however hard to face that what we teach, doesn't line up with other parts of out teaching. Funny how once this was made clear to me, it took another 3-4 years befoer I exsept it, and forced my-self to forget the old teaching, and embrace the truth as the Word teaches.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your by HaShem.
18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and
flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,
17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Sabbaths? Many that hold little or no understanding of the Torah wish to pass this off as Paul telling us any day we want to be Sabbath is fine. Sadly it was this way of thinking that has changed the face of the church. Everyday is a good day to worship, praise HaShem, and teach the truth of the word. Yet only one day has ever been set a side by HaShem, blessed, and made Holy. That day has never been changed in the Word. I once had an open challenge that was this. If anyone can show me that from the Word, that the Sabbath has been changed, I will change what I teach, and give them $100. If they try, and faul to show their point, then they much change what they teach, and give me $10. I have never had any show me in the word that it has changed, they have also never followed through on any part of the challenge.
So what does Paul fur to? LEv. 23 tells us that every feast holds in it a Sabbath. They are not the 7th day of the week, yet are to be keep just as the weekly Sabbath. I my self love the feast, and though I may not follow them as many orthidoxe Jewsih families, I do keep them in my own little way. At one time I didn't, as many in the world today, I seen them as a thing of the past. Then when reading Zachariah 14, verse 16-19 I found how wrong I was. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--
21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,"
22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Paul turns to speak of Rabbinic law at the close of this chapter. To any that have never looked at rabbinic law, it can be a somewhat scary thing. With it's regulations, and prohibitions on every aspect of human life. Yet with all good intention, and logical though, they can not change the hearts of man. Having entered into a campaign to change some of the Laws in the USA, I have found it disheartening. You see, before seeking to change any law, one must first understand what law, or laws play a part in what they seek to do. It is when they are placed before you, that a pattern shows up. One that makes it clear than the USA has been working for year to legislate common seances. Much like Rabbinic law has done. Only for all piratical reasoning, this simply can't be done. Man kind has always, and will always follow their hearts. Some to their own distrution, and others to the point of becoming so passive, they become willing victims. I could go so much much further on this, yet will not place it here. As it does get some what off topic.

 

[HeRoseFromTheDead]

Looks like you're another copy/paste king who throws up big walls of text that don't get read. scroll, scroll, scroll...

 

[FlyingDove]

Ephesians chapter one.

Personal note. Having heard many teachers from many walks of life , and faiths. I have found it sad that not many will say HaShem is the reason for our salvation, by Him we are given grace. Don't get me wrong, I understand, (at lest to a point) that it is the blood of Yeshua we must except as our sacrifice, and that we must trust Yeshua was raised from the dead, and with out that trusting faithfulness, we are lost. Yet how many never hear the truth, that it was HaShem's will worked in Yeshua, or that Yeshua and HaShem are one? If we trust in Yeshua, and not HaShem, have we miss the point?

1 John 2:23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

 

[garee]

Many times in life we face a decision, that being is what we are being told the doctrine of man, of the Word. If what is being said claims a change in the Word from the OT into the NT, has that change been placed in clear and plain language? If not, then one would be wish to follow the Word and the teachings of man. Yeshua in

Lets talk about the reformation..Paul was part of it.

The change is clear and plain language .The time of refomation has come . The flesh of one nation was used temporarily as a parable using shadows of Christ in respect to the suffering of Christ beforehand, coming in the flesh as the temporal representative glory is over. The veil is rent.

The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:Which was a figure (Parable) for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.Heb 9:10

The reformation has come .Why listen for the bleating of sheep?

A person could never come to His rest by worshipping shadows of the substance not seen ...we walk by faith ,the unseen, eternal not by sight after that which is seen, the temporal.

No judging shadows as idols .

What would you say resulted because of the time of reformation?