January 4
________________________________________
PREDESTINED FOR ADOPTION
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and are 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 would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight – Ephesians 1:1-8
________________________________________
According to David Guzik’s commentary, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is different compared to many of the other New Testament letters he wrote. Like Romans, Ephesians was not written so much to address problems in a particular church; more so, it was written to explain some of the great themes and doctrines of Christianity. If the Letter to the Romans focuses more on God’s work in the individual Christian, Ephesians includes the great themes of God’s work in the church, the community of believers. Ephesians has many similarities with Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Since Paul wrote both of them from his Roman imprisonment, his mind may have worked on the same themes when he wrote each letter.
Paul’s letters always begin with bringing peace that comes from God and Jesus Christ. In verse 3, Paul worships and gives praise to the only source of every spiritual blessing we will ever have, God and given through Christ. In verse 4, we hear Paul repeating the words of Jeremiah 1:4 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” In verse 5, Paul explains the doctrine of spiritual adoption which we were predestined for according to God’s will through His Son, Jesus Christ. In verse 6, we are given the purpose of our lives, to bring God all the glory through His beloved Son. In other words, we can never give God worship if we don’t believe in Christ. Verse 7 explains the doctrine of salvation through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. All sins are forgiven through Him. Verse 8 gives us a vignette of God’s great lavishing of His love for us all though the wisdom and insight He gave us through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why are Christian doctrines important in the life of a believer?
Tag Archives: ILMA ARTS STUDIO
BOAST IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD ILMA’S VLOG
January 3
________________________________________
BOAST IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. -Galatians 6:11-18
________________________________________
According to sources, Paul’s custom, typical in the ancient world, was to dictate his letters to a secretary. But he would often personally write a short portion at the end, both to authenticate the letter and to add a personal touch. Paul points out that he wrote his postscript with large letters. Many speculate this was because he had poor eyesight and could not read or write small print. But it is more likely that he made the letters large simply for emphasis. Stott comments “Most commentators consider that he used large letters deliberately, either because he was treating his readers like children (rebuking their spiritual immaturity by using baby writing) or simply for emphasis… much as we would use capital letters or underline words today.” Paul here referred to the legalistic Christians among the Galatians and wrote frankly about their motive – to make a good showing in the flesh. They worked to bring the Galatian Christians from a Gentile background under circumcision because it would be a good showing for them – but a good showing in the flesh. In verse 14, Paul’s heart cared nothing for the glory that came from fame. He cared nothing for the glory that came from riches. He cared nothing for the glory that came from status and power among men. He only cared about the glory of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Paul was willing to pronounce a curse on those who taught false doctrines (Galatians 1:8-9), he was also willing to give a blessing to those who walk according to this rule. These are those who are the true Israel of God, the descendants of Abraham according to faith.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why should we only boast in the cross of Christ as believers?
WHAT ONE SOWS, ONE REAPS ALSO ILMA’S VLOG
January 2
________________________________________
WHAT ONE SOWS, ONE REAPS ALSO
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. -Galatians 6:6-10
________________________________________
Luther comments “If we carefully weigh the words of Paul, the apostle, we perceive that he does not speak of doctrinal faults and errors, but of much lesser faults by which a person is overtaken through the weakness of his flesh. This explains why the Apostle chooses the softer term ‘fault.’ To minimize the offense still more, as if he meant to excuse it altogether and to take the whole blame away from the person who has committed the fault, he speaks of him as having been ‘overtaken,’ seduced by the devil and of the flesh”
Another commentary says that this job of restoration is often neglected in the church. We have a tendency to either pretend the sin never happened, or we tend to react too harshly towards the one who has sinned. The balance between these two extremes can only be negotiated by the spiritual. It should be normal to do what God says here, but it isn’t. It is all too easy to respond to someone’s sin with gossip, harsh judgment, or undiscerning approval.
In verse 1, Paul stresses the importance of the accountability between disciples. In verse 2, Paul emphasizes the importance of the law of sowing and reaping told by Jesus in Mark 4:26-29. He cautions the Galatians to ensure that they shouldn’t expect anything that they haven’t sown. In verse 8, he explains that if one sows what the flesh wants, he will reap destruction but quite the opposite if a person sows to the Spirit. They will reap eternal life instead. Verse 9 is a warning to be persistent in doing good so that discouragement won’t take over and make one hopeless and frustrated. In verse 10, he also reminds us to care for others but most especially to those who belongs in faith.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do people have a discrepancy from what they expect and what they are actually sowing?
• What have you sown in the Spirit that you are now reaping in your life?
BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDEN & BEAR YOUR OWN LOAD ILMA’S VLOG
January 1
________________________________________
BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDEN & BEAR YOUR OWN LOAD
6 Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting, but to himself alone, and not to another. 5 For each one will bear his own load. – Galatians 6:1-5
________________________________________
In this letter to the Galatians, Paul emphasizes the responsibility of believers to others, whether they are new in the faith or have been spiritual for long. In verse 1, the act of confrontation with a spirit of gentleness is expected from every Christian. It is the responsibility of those who are more spiritually mature to correct and bring truth those who are in error. But it is important to do it in love and a spirit of kindness and calmness so that you may not be tempted to think highly of yourself.
In verse 2, we hear Paul state the second most important command that Christ summed up from the Law in Matthew 22:36-40 when his disciples asked Him which was the greatest commandments. Paul expounded the second command to take care of your neighbor as yourself. Here, he asks each believer to be present for each other helping each other carry one another’s burdens. It is a way to fulfill the law of Christ. It is a manifestation that you love one another just as Jesus commanded.
In verse 3, Paul cautions the importance of looking after each other so that we do not fall into the dangerous trap of thinking highly of ourselves which can make us proud or think we are better than others. In verse 4, he reminds us to closely examine what we do for each other so that we can be free from boasting to others. He says that we can only boast to ourselves quietly, but not to one another. I think, Paul is guarding our hearts from being haughty and full of ourselves that is why he admonished us to keep it to ourselves. Words are very powerful and if we say out loud our boastings, it may affect others differently and cause them to sin as well. Verse 5 reminds us to set boundaries to ourselves and others. We can share our burdens but not to a point of being irresponsible and not accountable for our own roles and responsibilities. If we cross this boundary, we are in violation of the laws of order that God has placed in all of His creation.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What results from bearing each other’s burdens and bearing our own as well?
THE SPIRIT’S FRUIT
December 31
________________________________________
THE SPIRIT’S FRUIT
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:22-26
________________________________________
Enduringword.com commentary says: The works of the flesh seem overwhelming – both in us and around us. God is good enough and big enough to change everything with the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit can always conquer the works of the flesh. Significantly, it is the fruit of the Spirit set across from the works of the flesh. Works are works, and fruit is fruit. Fruit has several important characteristics. Fruit isn’t achieved by working, but is birthed by abiding. Fruit is fragile. Fruit reproduces itself. Fruit is attractive. Fruit nourishes.
Paul used the plural in describing life after the flesh (works of the flesh), but he uses the singular (fruit, not fruits, of the Spirit). In the big picture, the Spirit has one work to do in all of us. These aren’t the gifts of the Spirit, which are distributed on an individual basis by the will of the Spirit; this is something for every Christian. Morris comments that “It may be significant that the word fruit is singular; Paul is not speaking of a series of fruits that would be shared around, so that one believer has one another. Rather he is referring to a cluster, such that all the qualities are to be manifested in each believer.”
Luther says that it is fitting that love be the first mentioned, because it encompasses all of the following. It may even be said that the following eight terms are just describing what love in action looks like. “It would have been enough to mention only the single fruit of love, for love embraces all the fruits of the Spirit.” This is above and beyond natural affection, or the loyalty to blood or family. This is loving people who aren’t easy to love; loving people you don’t like.
Paul concluded this section of walking in the Spirit with this warning, knowing that some will become conceited in their own walk in the Spirit. This can be a masterful stroke of Satan. We can think of a child of God finally walking in the Spirit – then Satan tempts him to be conceited about it. Soon, he is sure that he is almost always right and everyone else is wrong. It often happens gradually, so Paul warned, “Do not become conceited.”
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can a true believer guard his/her heart from becoming conceited?
DEEDS OF THE FLESH ILMA’S VLOG
December 30
________________________________________
DEEDS OF THE FLESH
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -Galatians 5:19-21
________________________________________
According to a commentary Paul apologizes for having to make this list, because the works of the flesh are evident. Yet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he knows it is important to be specific, because we must know specifically how we walk in the flesh. We can’t see the flesh, but we can see what it does. Some have sought to organize this list in four categories: sensual sins, religious sins, interpersonal sins, and social sins. We shouldn’t regard this as an exhaustive list, but it adequately gives the idea of what the person who walks in the flesh does.
Sexual immorality or adultery, impurity, indecent behavior are all sensual sins, relating to sex.
Idolatry and witchcraft are religious sins. They are sins of worship, and remind us that it isn’t only tragic to worship the wrong god, or seek the wrong spiritual power – it is sinful as well. Idolatry is the worship of any god except the LORD God revealed to us by the Bible and in the person of Jesus Christ.
Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envies… murders: These are each “people” sins. They are sins that primarily express themselves in how we treat others. God cares about our sexual and moral purity, and He cares about the purity of our religion and worship. But He also passionately cares about how we treat one another. The fact that Paul uses more words to describe these interpersonal sins shows how important our treatment of each other is to God.
Drunkenness… revelries: These can be thought of as social sins – sins that are often committed in the company of other people. The fact that Paul includes these two sins in his list shows that they were works of the flesh that the Galatian Christians had to be on guard against. Romans 13:12-13 lists drunkenness and revelries as part of the Christians’ past of darkness that now need to be cast off as we walk in the light.
The bible gives us a guide to watch over these sins that shows that we are in flesh.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What sins do you still struggle with from the list that Paul gave here?
WALK IN THE SPIRIT TO FIGHT THE FLESH ILMA’S VLOG
December 29
________________________________________
WALK IN THE SPIRIT TO FIGHT THE FLESH
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. -Galatians 5:16-18
________________________________________
According to a commentary, simply put, if we walk in the Spirit (instead of trying to live by the law), we naturally shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Again, the fear of the legalist – that walking in the Spirit gives license to sin, and that only legalism can keep us holy – is just plain wrong. To walk in the Spirit first means that the Holy Spirit lives in you. Second, it means to be open and sensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit. Third, it means to pattern your life after the influence of the Holy Spirit. We can tell if someone walks in the Spirit because they will look a lot like Jesus. Jesus told us that the mission of the Holy Spirit would be to promote and speak of Him (John 14:16-17, 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-15). When someone walks in the Spirit, they listen to what the Holy Spirit says as He guides us in the path and nature of Jesus. There is no way anyone can fulfill the lust of the flesh as they walk in the Spirit. The two simply don’t go together. The Holy Spirit doesn’t move in us to gratify our fallen desires and passions, but to teach us about Jesus and to guide us in the path of Jesus. This is the key to righteous living – walking in the Spirit, not living under the domination of the law. Walking in the Spirit is the key, but it doesn’t always come easily. Often, it is a battle. There is a battle going on inside the Christian, and the battle is between the flesh and the Spirit. As Paul writes, these are contrary to one another – they don’t get along at all. When the flesh is winning the inside battle, you do not do the things that you wish. You don’t live the way you want to; you live under the flesh instead of under the Spirit. When Paul uses the term flesh, he didn’t mean our flesh and blood bodies. Precisely speaking, our flesh isn’t even that fallen nature, the “old man” that we inherited from Adam, because the old man was crucified with Jesus, and is now dead and gone (Romans 6:6). Instead, as Paul uses it here, the flesh is the inner man that exists apart from the “old man” or the “new man,” and which is trained in rebellion by the old nature, the world, and the devil.
It is only by walking in the Spirit can we continue to live holy lives because by nature, we are sinful. Many Christians fail to see that this pure life comes only from the Holy Spirit.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What can hinder a believer from walking in the Spirit?
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ILMA’S VLOG
December 28
________________________________________
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. – Galatians 5:13-15
________________________________________
In this letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds them of the danger of losing the freedom that Christ has already granted those who believed in Him. He stresses the importance of not abusing or using the freedom we were given for our exclusive use. It is for selfish reasons that the world wants us to use it for; but that isn’t the purpose of the freedom that Christ gave us.
In Matthew 22:36-40 it says 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Paul echoes the same words said by Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40. The purpose of His death on the cross is for us to be able to get free from our selfish nature and love God first and foremost so we can love our neighbors in the same manner that we love ourselves. He cautions us in verse 15 in this letter that when you do things for purposes of devouring one another, we will be consumed by that conflict and desire to satisfy our own cravings.
In my experience, this command to love one another as ourselves is a very challenging command. It is hard to love others if we have no clue how to love ourselves, especially if we were never given true love. The world’s love is very different from God’s love. The world tells us to look after ourselves, but God’s love wants us to put Him above all things first and then love others as we love ourselves. If we have never received Christ, it is impossible to truly love ourselves just as God loves us. Our selfish nature will get in the way if we do not make God first. That is how God made the law. It is by loving Him first that we can only know how to love others and ourselves. So, if someone cannot love, that person probably do not know God because the bible says that God is love and it is only from Him that we can love ourselves and others as well, then we can have freedom.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How is the concept of freedom corrupted by the world system?
WHO HINDERED YOU FROM OBEYING THE TRUTH?
December 27
________________________________________
WHO HINDERED YOU FROM OBEYING THE TRUTH?
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. 11 But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even emasculate themselves. -Galatians 5:7-12
________________________________________
According to a commentary, Paul remembered their good start in the faith, but he also knows that it isn’t enough to start well. They were still in danger of falling from grace. Paul knew that the false teaching came from a person but it didn’t come from Jesus. At the root of it all, the Galatians were leaving Jesus to pursue the false and empty teachings of man, in this case legalism.
“Lightfoot on hindered” is a metaphor derived from military operations. The word signifies ‘to break up a road’… so as to render it impassable, and is therefore the opposite of… ‘to clear a way.’” The Galatians were doing well until someone broke up the road they ran on. Verse 9 is warning is driven home – the corrupting influence of legalism and other doctrines that diminish Jesus are like leaven in a lump of dough. A little bit will soon corrupt the whole lump. In the Jewish way of thinking, leaven almost always stood for evil influence. Paul is saying that the legalistic commitment they have right now may be small, but it is so dangerous that it can corrupt everything. In verse 10, Paul wanting to leave the confrontation on a positive note, Paul expressed his confidence in the Galatians (which was really a confidence in the Lord who is able to keep them). Yet, Paul was equally confident that judgment awaits those who lead them astray and away from Jesus (he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is). Someone might accuse Paul of preaching circumcision because he asked Timothy to be circumcised (Acts 16:1-3).
Finally, Paul wished that those who demanded circumcision among the Gentiles would go all the way themselves, and amputate their genitalia altogether and not merely their foreskins. Paul also wished that these legalists would be cut off from the congregation of the Lord as required by Deuteronomy 23:1: He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the assembly of the LORD.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What and who hindered you from knowing and obeying the truth?
HEIR OF THE FREE WOMAN ILMA’S VLOG
December 25
________________________________________
HEIR OF THE FREE WOMAN
27 For it is written:
“REJOICE, INFERTILE ONE, YOU WHO DO NOT GIVE BIRTH;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE ONE ARE MORE NUMEROUS
THAN THOSE OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”
28 And you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so it is even now. 30 But what does the Scripture say?
“DRIVE OUT THE SLAVE WOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE SLAVE WOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”
31 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman. -Galatians 4:27-31
________________________________________
According to a commentary, Paul wanted it understood that he used pictures from the Old Testament. His reference to Hagar and Ishmael were pictures, meant to illustrate his point. Now he would bring in another picture. In the Bible, a covenant is a “contract” that sets the rules for our relationship with God. Paul brought it right down to the issues confronting the Galatian Christians. The legalists wanted them to relate to God under one set of rules, and Paul wanted them to relate to God under the “rules” presented by the gospel. Since it is all about what we must do for God to be accepted by Him, it doesn’t set us free. It puts us on a perpetual treadmill of having to prove ourselves and earn our way before God. This covenant is associated with Hagar, the “surrogate mother” who gave birth to Ishmael. It is therefore (if used wrongly) a covenant according to the flesh (Galatians 4:23).
It is a valid point that Paul presents in this letter to the Galatians. Those who associate themselves with the slave woman Hagar are not free and those who associate themselves with Sara, are free. What a great analogy by the great apostle Paul! Those who live under the law will always be bound by religion and those who live free lives are under the grace that comes from the freedom that Christ has already given to those who will believe Him.
As believers, we ought to be mindful that we are not following religion but the gospel that Christ has already died for us and the work of the flesh is finished by his sacrifice.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How can we free ourselves from religion and its tendency to enslave us?