Bible version: NRSVUE (New Revised Standard Version Updated) The common view is that God is three persons in one being or substance. Each of the persons is fully God, but the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father. Problem 1: Believing that God is three persons contradicts scriptures that speak of God as a singular individual—as a one, not a plurality (Deut. 4:35, 39; 6:4-9; Isa. 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:5-6; 1 Kgs. 8:60; Mal. 2:10; Mark 12:28-34; John 17:3; Rom 3:30; Eph 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Jas. 2:19). Just imagine how well-known scriptures would change if God were three persons (John 3:16; Jer. 29:11). Problem 2: If God were three persons we find serious logical difficulties. Questions multiply. Why doesn’t the Bible say God is three persons or explain the idea? Why wasn’t it included in the preaching in the book of Acts? How is belief in three persons not tritheism? If the spirit is a person, what’s his name? Why doesn’t anyone pray to the spirit? Why doesn’t the spirit receive worship or give greetings? Problem 3: The tri-personal idea slowly evolved over time. Tertullian first used the word trinitas, but didn’t recognize the Father, Son, and Spirit as coequal. Origen of Alexandria developed the concept of eternal generation, but he too believed the Father was greater than the Son. It’s not until Gregory of Nazianzus in the mid to late fourth century that we get a clear statement of God as three persons in one being (Fifth Theological Oration 31). Solution: The Bible teaches that the Father is the only true God (John 17:3), Jesus is his Son, the Messiah, and the spirit is their presence in the world.The post Who Told You That? God Is Three Persons first appeared on Living Hope.

The devil disguises evil in sweetness and fun during Halloween, using candy and costumes to draw children toward practices that Yahweh calls detestable. There is nothing sweet or fun about the darkness of the occult or the celebration of death. Witches and sorcerers are evil and are destined for the lake of fire. Revelation 12:9; 20:2-3; Ephesians 2:1-3 Prince of the power of the air – invisible, pervasive, and surrounding human life like the air we breathe. Demons and unclean spirits are recorded in the Gospels over 80 times. Ephesians 6:12; John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 11 One of the greatest tools of the adversary is secrecy. He wants everyone to think he is not real. Deuteronomy 18:9-22 Divination is seeking knowledge or guidance through the occult or magical methods, such as interpreting signs, consulting spirits, or using objects (like lots, stars, or entrails). His son or his daughter pass through the fire – 2 Kings 17:7-18 Divination – 2 Kings 21:1-9 Practices witchcraft Interprets omens Sorcerer – Exodus 22:18 “you shall not allow sorcerers to live” Cast spells Medium – Levities 19:31; 20:6, 27 Spiritist One who calls upon the dead – Isaiah 8:19 1 Samuel 28:3-25; 1 Chronicles 10:13–14 Saul did many evil things all worthy of death, however, consulting the medium sealed his demise. Exodus 8:18-19 The magicians and sorcerers duplicate the first two plagues then they told Pharaoh this was way over our heads “this is the finger of God.” Acts 8:5-13 Phillip overpowered Simon. Acts 16:16-19 Paul cast the spirit of divination out of the slave girl. Acts 19:14-20 The power of God destroyed the power of the spiritist. 1 John 4:4 Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the worldThe post Who Told You That? There Is No Spiritual Warfare first appeared on Living Hope.

True faith is a matter of the heart and is “trust” and “allegiance” to Jesus, which fundamentally changes how a person lives. This is contrary to the popular idea that “faith alone is all you need.” While salvation is granted solely by grace through faith, and not by works, the Bible teaches that genuine faith is never alone and must be evidenced by obedience and loving action. Faith is not something we merely do in our mind; rather, it is something that happens in our heart that then changes how we live. Popular Christian culture promotes the idea that “As long as I believe in Jesus, how I live doesn’t really matter that much.” This is not what the Bible says. Faith is “trust,” “allegiance,” and “dependence.” Faith is not mental assent or agreement with an idea. It is a disposition of the heart that results in outward action in one’s life. But Jesus said, “Only believe!” Mark 5:35-42 (cf. Luke 8:49-56) Some take Jesus’ words out of context and make it seem like he was saying that is all a person needs—period. Faith is required for God’s power to operate effectively in a person’s life. But “faith” is never truly alone. It is always accompanied by obedience. Galatians 2:16 We are declared righteous by trust, not by our works. The basis for salvation is trust (i.e., faith). Our works do not contribute to the gift of salvation that we have received. Titus 3:5-7 God saved us, but not because of our works. Acts 16:31 (cf. Romans 10:9-13; John 3:16-18) “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” James 2:14-26 True faith is a faith that works! When you trust God, there will be a change in your life according to that trust. Galatians 5:13 Freedom is not being “free from all things.” It is freedom with purpose—to love one another as Jesus loved us. That means serving one another and not doing whatever we want.The post Who Told You That? Faith Is All You Need first appeared on Living Hope.

The common view is that the saved go to heaven at death to be with Jesus and their loved ones. Although it’s not clear what we’ll do there, we know that we will enjoy eternal bliss. Problem 1: Going to heaven contradicts scriptures that speak of the righteous living on earth, including the land promise God made to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 12:7; 13:14-15; 15:18-21; 17:7-8; 22:17-18; 24:7; 26:4; 28:13; 35:12; Ex 3:17; 6:8; Lev 25:38; Deut 1:8; Josh 21:43; Ps 105:11; Jer 7:7; 11:5; 32:22; Ezek 20:6, 42; Acts 7:3-5; Rom 4:13; Gal 3:29; Eph 2:12-13, 19) as well as many other texts (Ps 2:7-8; 37:9-11, 21-22, 27-29, 34; Pr 2:21; Is 11:6-9; 60:20-21; Ezek 36:26-28; Dan 2:44; 7:27; Zech 14:9; Mat 5:5; 6:10; Luke 13:28-29; Rev 2:26-27; 5:9-10; 11:15; 21:2-4). Problem 2: Going to heaven undermines God’s original intention for creation. God made the kind of world (Gen 1:31) and people (Gen 2:7) he wanted in the beginning. His plan is to fix what went wrong, not give up on it (Rom 8:19-23; Is 45:18). Problem 3: Going to heaven devalues resurrection. Assuming the dead are living in heaven, what’s the point of the resurrection of the dead? Why would people want their bodies back after living in disembodied bliss in heaven for centuries? The Bible teaches that when people die, they are “asleep” until Christ returns to “awaken” them (Dan 12:2; John 5:28-29; 6:39-40; 1 Cor 15:21-23). Life will be much like it is now, but with the elimination of everything wrong with the world— including violence, sickness, and death. It will be paradise.The post Who Told You That? The Saved Go To Heaven first appeared on Living Hope.

The common view of hell is that it is a place of separation from God where the unrighteous suffer eternal conscious torment (ECT) in a fire with no relief and no hope of escape. Problem 1: ECT contradicts scriptures that speak of the destruction of the wicked, including Gen 3:19-23; Ps 1:6; 37:9-11, 20-22, 28-29, 34, 37-38; 92:7; 145:20; Prov 2:21-22; 12:7; 24:10-20; Is 66:15-16, 23-24; Mal 4:1-3; Mat 3:11-12; 7:13-14; 10:28; Jn 3:16; 5:28-29; Rom 6:23; 2 Thes 1:6-9; Heb 10:26-27; 2 Pet 2:6, 12-13; 3:7. Problem 2: ECT violates the ethic of proportional justice. Torturing the wicked forever is out of proportion to their crimes. Since we know that Yahweh judges with righteousness and equity (Ps 9:7-8), he cannot also be excessive in his punishment. Problem 3: ECT implies that God is cruel. If you had a friend who was so sensitive and offendable that he wished to punish his enemies by tormenting them forever, what would that tell you about his character? God is not sadistic; he is loving, gracious, merciful, and just (Ex 34:6-7; Deut 32:4; Jer 9:24). When the day of judgement comes, the dead will rise and stand before the judge (Rev 20:11-15). Those not in the book of life will be annihilated. In Rev 20:10 (and 14:9-11) John saw a vision of people getting eternally tormented in a lake of fire. In Rev 21:7-8, we learn that the symbol of people getting tormented in a lake of fire actually refers to “the second death.”The post Who Told You That? Hell Is a Place of Eternal Torture first appeared on Living Hope.

We can evaluate God and His actions rightly based upon the parameters He has given in the Scriptures about Himself. When someone says “God did this” or “God did that” we must see if it fits with what we know about God. Romans 11:33-36; Genesis 1:1-5 God is much bigger than we can know, a thimble compared to an ocean. However, there is much about Him that we can know by His creation and His Word. Ignorance and wrong teaching has muddled our thimble. GOD HAS INTEGRITY – HE CANNOT LIE Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2 GOD IS LOVE – 1 John 4:16 GOD IS ALWAYS JUST – Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Psalm 89:14 GOD IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL James 1:17; Lamentations 3:22-23; GOD IS LIGHT WITHOUT ANY DARKNESS 1 John 1:5 God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. GOD KNOWS THE HEART OF MAN Jeremiah 17:10; Psalm 139:1-4 GOD KNOWS THE END FROM THE BEGINNING – Isaiah 46:9-10 Humans have free will – Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Isaiah 1:19-20; 2 Chronicles 15:2, 4, and 15; Matthew 23:37 Adam, Eve and Cain had self-determination – Genesis 4:7 Cherubim and angels have free will – Ezekiel 28:12-19; Isai-ah 14:13-14 The devil is the cause of evil, not God -2 Corinthians 4:4, 11:3; Revelation 12:9 What is the cause of war? – James 4:1-3 Who is the cause of death? – Hebrews 2:14; John 10:10The post Who Told You That? God Is Responsible for Everything That Happens first appeared on Living Hope.

Like the ancient texts in The Mummy, God’s “backwards” truths become the key to real victory and transformation. 1. The Bible is not Boring — It’s a Living Adventure The Bible is alive and powerful: “For the word of God is living and active…” (Hebrews 4:12). Features real stories of adventure and faith, such as David vs. Goliath, Paul’s shipwreck, and the Resurrection. These are eyewitness accounts, not legends (2 Peter 1:16). 2. The Bible is not Bigoted — It’s Radically Inclusive God’s love is extended to every nation and people group. Women are empowered: Deborah, Mary Magdalene, Priscilla. Outsiders are welcomed: The Ethiopian eunuch receives the gospel (Acts 8). Scriptures: Galatians 3:28, John 3:16, Revelation 7:9 highlight inclusivity. 3. The Bible is not Backwards — But it is Backwards to the World God’s wisdom often challenges worldly values. True success means honoring God above all else, as modeled by Jesus. “Backwards” actions: forgiving enemies, generosity, sacrificial living. Scriptures: Matthew 6:33, 1 Corinthians 1:18 demonstrate the power and purpose in “backwards” living. Psalm 1:1–3: Those who delight in God’s law are deeply rooted and blessed. The post Who Told You That? The Bible is Boring, Bigoted, & Backwards first appeared on Living Hope.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; Happy are those who take refuge in him. The lost are those who have yet to take refuge in God. They haven’t tasted and seen that Yahweh is good. These are the people we are called to reach. Luke 19:1-2 Zaccheus was a bad man, engaged in a despicable profession that betrayed and exploited his own people. Luke 19:3-6 Jesus noticed Zaccheus. He wasn’t so busy or task-oriented that he missed the wealthy man who had climbed the tree. As a high-status rabbi, inviting himself over to Zaccheus’s house was a huge honor to Zaccheus. Luke 19:7 There will always be critics when you spend time with the lost. Even so, we want to be like Jesus and seek out those who are spiritually hungry. Luke 19:8-9 Zaccheus repented on the spot. He’s ready to change his life. Love calls for a response. Martin Luther King used to say that love had within it a redemptive power. Luke 19:10 Jesus came to seek out and to save the lost. If you want to be like Jesus, you, too, should seek out the lost. Those who are lost really need help (Eph 2:12).The post Reaching the Lost first appeared on Living Hope.

Phase 1: The Garden of Eden ( Gen 1:26; 2:17 ) God’s policies were minimal and simple: ( 1 ) have children, ( 2 ) rule the world, and ( 3 ) don’t eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Phase 2: The Old World ( Gen 4:26; 5:22 ) People invoked the name of God. Enoch walked with God, but over time, wickedness and violence spread like a plague resulting in the great reset of Noah’s flood. Phase 3: The New World ( Gen 9:1-11; 11:6-9 ) God initiated three changes in policy: ( 1 ) humans could now eat meat, ( 2 ) no more global floods, and ( 3 ) capital punishment for murderers. Sadly, humanity rebelled with the result that God confused the languages. Phase 4: Covenant with Abraham ( Gen 12:1-3 ) After Abraham trusted God, God committed to him and his descendants to be their God, bless them, and give them a land. Phase 5: Covenant with Israel ( Exod 20:1-17 ) After rescuing Israel from Egypt, God gave Moses laws to write down. In the 40th year, God provided updates and new laws ( Exod 21:2 vs. Deut 15:12-14, 17 ). Phase 6: New Covenant ( Luke 22:19-20; Jer 31:31-32; Psalm 110:4; Heb 8:13; 7:11- 12, 22; Gal 3:23-26 ) Jesus brought new instruction. His death ratified a new covenant, that opened up a new relationship on the basis of faith not ancestry. Phase 7: The Kingdom of God ( Dan 7; Rev 21-22 ) When Christ returns, he will resurrect the faithful, establish God’s kingdom on earth, and usher in an age of enduring peace, justice, and loveThe post Progressive Revelation first appeared on Living Hope.

Fail forward and don’t expect things to work out the first or 20th time. Find your superpower and put it to work in the church. We need your light and the gifts that God placed in you! 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 A Family Forged in Crisis Romans 12:4-5 You have to be ready for crisis by belonging and participating in the community of God. Isaiah 41:10 Revelation 21:3-4 Facing Cosmic Fear Together Staying in the fold of God keeps us safer together in numbers. Psalm 78:4-7 Acts 2:39 2 Timothy 1:5 Plant Hope in the Next Generation Ephesians 2:19 Galatians 3:28-29 A Chosen Family by Grace not by Genes Acts 4:32-35 Hebrews 10:24-25 Guarding our words in order to build others up and not tear them down Ephesians 4:29-32 Galatians 5:13-15 Colossians 3:12-14The post Fantastic 4 and Belonging in Christ first appeared on Living Hope.

The works that the man Jesus did, we can do also—because like him, we have been given the spirit and the Word to empower us. Anything God asks of us, He makes possible. His power works in us to carry it out. John 14:12. Truly, truly – “Pay close attention—what I’m about to say is absolutely certain.” Jesus wants us to be convinced, without doubt, that his works could be continued and even expanded through his followers Luke 4:18–19. The Gospels confirm that Jesus fulfilled everything Isaiah foretold. Acts 10:38. What he did was God’s will and God’s work, not his own. Acts 2:22. God performed through him Acts 2:22; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 5:15. It is essential to affirm Jesus’ humanity if we are to believe his words in John 14:12. Each Gospel records that the holy spirit descended upon Jesus at his baptism (Matt. 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–23; John 1:29–34). God wanted it to be unmistakable that Jesus was empowered by the spirit to carry out his mission. Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17. The spirit God gave Jesus enabled him to perform miracles, wonders, and signs. And in the same way, God has given us His spirit so that He may work through us to accomplish His purposes. Isaiah 61:1-3; 42:1-7. Jesus also had faith in the Scriptures. John 14:12. We too have God’s spirit, and we too have His Word. As Jesus trusted God to work through him, we can believe that God will work through us.The post Superman and the Real Superpower first appeared on Living Hope.

Love Isn’t Always Easy. Love Costs Something. Love Sees Beyond the External. Love Isn’t Always Easy Loving someone can be risky and difficult. It takes vulnerability and can be hard. 1 Cor 13:4-7. Loving someone is easy when people are nice but can be quite a challenge when there is tension, disagreement, or pride involved. Luke 19:1-10. Jesus’ was judged for his association with people that others viewed as “sinners” and “unclean”. Love Costs Something Loving someone often requires sacrifice and giving of yourself in ways that are not preferred (or undesirable). John 15:9-13, 17. Jesus commanded his followers to love each other as he loved them and to be willing to sacrifice everything. John 13:1-15, 34-35. The example Jesus left his disciples is to be willing to do the lowest task in serving each other. By loving each other in this way, you will make known to other people that you are Christ’s disciples. Love Sees Beyond the External Appearances can be deceiving. What is on the outside is not what is important, but what is on the inside is what matters. 1 Samuel 16:1-12. As humans, we can get caught up with thinking about how things look and miss the more important traits of who a person is. Romans 2:11. God does not show favoritism but welcomes everyone to come to Him through His Son, Jesus. John 4:1-30. Jesus’ disciples only saw a Samaritan woman and missed the whole point of what was happening.The post Film Series 2: How to Train Your Dragon and Christian Love first appeared on Living Hope.

The Karate Kid movies and shows have resonated with people for more than four decades. One aspect that draws us to watching them is the desire we all have for a mentor or a student. Jesus was the ultimate Myagi, teaching and training his disciples throughout his ministry. Before departing, he told us that we too should make disciples of all nations. Mark 6:7-13. After Jesus had spent a little time with his disciples, he instructed them and sent them out. They were to do the same sorts of things that Jesus himself was doing. Mark 6:30-44. Upon returning from their missionary trip, the twelve reported back to Jesus what happened with great excitement. Jesus continued to challenge and train them. When a crowd of 5,000 men were hungry, he told them, “You give them something to eat.” Mark 9:33-37. Jesus taught them about humility. Rather than seeking to be the greatest, he told them to look to the example of a child. Luke 14:25-32. Jesus set the bar high for becoming a disciple. Although the call is open to anyone, only those who put him first can be true disciples. People should count the cost prior to following Jesus. Luke 6:40. The goal of Christian discipleship is to become like Christ. We aim to both follow his words and imitate his example. Matthew 10:24-25. As they ridiculed and called Jesus names, so they will do to you if you genuinely follow him. John 8:31-32. Disciples don’t just believe in Jesus, they also continue in his words, living out his teachings. John 13:35. The most important indicator of authentic discipleship is if we love each other. See also John 15:8-10.The post Film Series 1: Karate Kid and Christian Discipleship first appeared on Living Hope.

His name is far more than a label—it represents the power, presence, and authority of Jesus Himself. When Peter explained the healing of the lame man, he was essentially saying, ‘It was the very person and power of Jesus, alive and active, that made this man whole.’ John 16:23-27. We pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 3:1ff. In the name of Jesus Christ, the lame man walked. Acts 3:16. “Name” means much more than a label. It implies Jesus’ power, presence, and authority. Peter is saying: “It is the very person and power of Jesus, active and present, that healed this man.” Acts 4:1-12. There is no other name by which we can be saved. Acts 4:17-20. Do not speak in this name. Acts 16:16-18. Demon was cast out by his name. Philippians 2:5-11. In the end, everyone will bow to that name.The post Power in His Name first appeared on Living Hope.

What is the “good news of the kingdom of God” that Jesus preached? Put simply, it’s everything wrong with the world made right. The perfect world God originally intended has been damaged by humanity’s sinful actions, but God hasn’t given up on the earth. His plan of redemption has already been set in motion. We have a real hope that solves real problems in the real world. Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2. The “gospel of the kingdom of God” is the message Jesus preached. Genesis 1:1-31. God created the world to be good. Genesis 2:7-25. God has always desired a love relationship with humanity. 1 Corinthians 13:5. Love does not demand its own way. God gave humanity freedom to choose Him or not. Genesis 3:1-24. Adam and Eve chose to trust the serpent (Satan) rather than God. Humanity’s sin gave Satan influence over the earth, resulting in pain (v.16), natural disasters (v. 17-18), relationship conflicts (v. 16), and death (v. 19). Worst of all, sin separated humanity from God. Genesis 3:15. God promises hope. Revelation 21:1-3. God will once again dwell on the earth with humanity. Revelation 21:4-7. God will destroy death forever. No more crying or pain. Revelation 22:1-2. God will bring back the tree of life. Eternal life will be freely available. Revelation 22:3. There will no longer be any curse. All the curses that resulted from sin (Gen. 3:1-24) will be undone. Revelation 22:4-5. Man’s dominion over the earth will be restored. Under God, and in right relationship with him, humans “will reign forever and ever.” What God wanted in the beginning, He gets in the end. The good news of the Kingdom of God is: everything wrong with the world made right. Hebrews 6:19. Hope is “the anchor of our souls.” To survive the storms of life, we must know what our hope is! Our hope isn’t ethereal, wishy-washy, boring, or irrelevant. We have a real hope that solves real problems in the real world.The post God’s Dream first appeared on Living Hope.

The conclusion of the Ephesians’ series focuses on spiritual warfare and how to combat the evil we are faced with. As we put on the whole armor of God, we can stand against the wiles of the devil. 2 Corinthians 4:4   Spiritual warfare Matthew 13:19 – The wicked one; Mark 4:15 – Satan; Luke 8:12 – The devil 1 Peter 5:8 – Adversary; 1 Thessalonians 3:4 – Tempter; Revelation 12:10 – Accuser Ephesians 2:1-3   Three fronts 1. The world, 2. Demons, 3. Lust of our flesh   Air is unseen by influential Ephesians 6:11-13   Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. He functions undercover, cleverly camouflaged in secrecy. People end up as puppets Ephesians 1:18-23   Jesus already won the battle. 14 – 4:17-23   This is now your lie; 1:1-14 your truth now 14 – 4:21-24   Righteousness is the new you. Live right, 15 – Peace 1:2; 6:23; 2:14-17; 4:3 16 – Faith 2:8-9; 3:12, 17 – Faith is a full realization of your own inability and absolute confidence in God’s ability. 17 – Helmet of salvation – 1:13 -14, 2:7, 3: 9-11 17 – The sword of the spirit; the Word of God 18 – Pray – Matthew 6:9-13: 1:15-23; 3:14-21The post Ephesians Part 12: Dress for Battle first appeared on Living Hope.

How should you carry yourself at home and at work? In Ephesians 6:1-9, we learn that parents should actively teach their children obedience and honor, guiding them with love and fairness rather than harshness, to foster healthy development. We also learn that we should work heartily unto the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:1 Parents must teach their children to obey. Left to their own devices, kids will assert their own little wills over everyone else, resulting in chaos and dysfunction. They will not learn obedience or boundaries unless loving adults help them and hold them accountable. Ephesians 6:2-3 Honoring your parents is also important to teach to children, though this command continues through adulthood. Although it’s common today to “go no-contact” with one’s parents, such dishonoring behavior is out of place for Christians except for extreme cases. Ephesians 6:4 It’s important that parents (especially fathers) don’t hold children to an impossible standard, discipline in an excessively harsh manner, or frustrate children in other ways. Rather, parents should help children to develop resilience, control their emotions, and avoid prideful tribalism as they train them and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. Ephesians 6:5-8 Slavery was regrettable, though an accepted reality for most of human history. Christianity spread like wildfire among slaves in the Roman Empire. Paul explains how Christian slaves should handle themselves at work. Ephesians 6:9 Although we wish Paul had told masters to free their slaves, instead he told them to give up threatening them. In other places we know that Paul was in favor of liberation (1 Cor 7:21-23; Gal 3:27-28; Phlm 15-17). The seeds of abolitionism were present in the Bible, but it took time for them to grow into maturity.The post Ephesians Part 11: Serving the Lord at Home and at Work first appeared on Living Hope.

Ephesians 5:22-24 Not everyone should get married. If you prize your freedom and want independence, stay single for Christ (1 Cor 7:32-35). However, if a woman wants to have a biblical marriage, she should recognize her husband’s headship (Col 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-2). She should model the Church in relation to Christ. Of course, a wife can and should break submission if her husband asks her to sin, is mentally unwell (including substance addiction), or is physically abusive. Each situation warrants its own wisdom. The pastors and elders are here to help you through such hard situations (email: elders@lhim.org). Ephesians 5:25-27 As the wives are to submit, the husbands are to love self-sacrificially. He should model Christ in relation to the Church. When Paul wrote Ephesians, such a standard would have sounded radical. Other authors from the period like Josephus, Philo, and Plutarch mention the wife’s submission, but never the husband’s requirement to love, much less love like Christ! Ephesians 5:28-30 Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. Cherish her, protect her, provide for her, and attend to her needs. Ephesians 5:31 The standard for marriage goes back to the Garden of Eden before sin ever entered the picture. The beautiful complementarity and mutuality God designed finds its fullest expression in the physical intimacy enjoyed by a husband and wife in a committed marriage (1 Cor 7:1-5). Ephesians 5:32-33 Christian marriage is a symbol, pointing to Christ’s relationship with the Church. Christian marriages have an incredible opportunity to testify before a watching world.The post Ephesians Part 10: Loving Husbands, Respectful Wives first appeared on Living Hope.

Ephesians 5:3-21 Paul warns Christians of behaviors. Not a hint of sexual immorality Matthew 5:32 1 Corinthians 5:1 Evil behaviors have bad consequences. God’s way is better. Living together/playing house Marriage is God’s perfect answer to sexual sin. The good news about marriage is God calls us to cleanness. Romans 1:24; Matthew 23:27-28 Greed isn’t the way. Jeremiah 22:17 Vulgar speech is prohibited. Divisive and foolish talk should be removed. Titus 3:8- 11 Coarse jesting is wrong. Awake, Oh Sleeper! What will you choose? You can be wise and ready or foolish and unprepared.The post Ephesians Part 9: Walk in the Light first appeared on Living Hope.

Put Off the Old Self (Eph 4:17-19) Paul warns believers not to live like the Gentiles, whose thinking is futile and whose hearts are hardened. Their lifestyle is marked by having a darkened understanding, ignorance, insensitivity, and moral corruption that is driven by selfish desires. Be Renewed and Put on the New Self (Eph 4:20-24) Paul claims that the old way of life is not how believers have learned Christ. Rather believers are to: Put off the old self (i.e. the former way of life). Be renewed in the spirit of their minds. Put on the new self (i.e. new way of life in righteousness and holiness). Practical Instructions for New Life (Eph 4:25-32) Paul lists specific ways to live out this new self: Speak truthfully instead of lying. Control your anger and deal with it promptly. Do honest work so you can help others. Speak words that build up, not corrupt speech. Avoid bitterness, rage, slander, and malice. Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, just as God forgave you in Christ. Imitate God and Walk in Love (Eph 5:1-2) Believers are called to be imitators of God as His children. We should walk in love, following the example of Christ, who gave himself as a sacrificial offering for us.The post Ephesians Part 8: The New You first appeared on Living Hope.