Blessed & Bearded's Biblical Blog

Paul's Background Is a Mercy to Us/ Galatians 1:1-2/ Pt 1. Paul's own introduction in Acts 22:3, Galatians 1:13-14. Acts 13:9 is a turning point in Saul's/Paul's name. Paul is his gentile name to reflect his focus on the gospel to the Gentiles. From henceforth he is referred to as Paul.  Look at pre-saved Paul and love the mercy of God towards sinners.  How Do We Know Paul's Words are God's Words?/ Pt 2. Paul saw the risen Christ and was a leader of it.  The word is self-authenticating for it is the highest authority/word there is.  Authorized by God, the Father, and Son /Pt 3. The Gospel and its authority come from Christ.  Paul was confirmed by men Acts 13, but it still came from God.  God raised His own son. The Son has always been the Son; and likewise with the Father.  Unusual First Words for Paul/ Pt 4.  No thanksgiving, "saints" and no other letter is "from all the brothers". "church" is the people; not the building. The Glor...

 Obedience Confirms Our Resurrection/ Colossians 3:1-4/ Pt 1. (Realities): We died, rose with Christ, and are alive in God, therefore (command) seek the things that are above and (promise) you will appear with Him.  Our reality is set by God and we live in accord with that reality/truth.  We are raised and life is a forgiven, resurrected life therefore the promise is ours. Christian, You Are Dead! /Pt 2. How we died in Col. 2:11-12. Through faith in Christ in our baptism.  Our "old self"/flesh died Rom. 6:6.  Our hostility to God died.  We are now alive in Christ Gal. 2:20. The old dead self must die for us to come alive in Christ.  We are no longer under the control/power of the flesh.  Seated at the Right Hand of God /Pt 4. "is" Christ, the God-man who died in His human nature/flesh, is alive. Who now has a glorious, heavenly body Phil. 3:20-21. "Right hand" is a place of great honor.  "seated" Ps 110:1 and Matt. 22:43-44 and Heb. 10:12. He...

 What Was Worth So Much Struggle?/ Colossians 2:1-3/ Pt 1.  The reward of Paul's struggle in 2:2 is full assurance in Christ.  He fought against false teaching and wanted them to rest fully in Christ.  Love, Unity, and Assurance in the Truth/ Pt 2. Hearts made strong, hopeful, and able to stand against threats of assurance. Paul hopes his struggle is encouraging to them.  Paul's struggle for them is a showing of Christ's work through him.  Love is the glue of relationships.  Love grows us in the knowledge of God as well. For in it we know Christ and are becoming richer in Him. Spiritual Antibodies Against Delusion/ Colossians 2:4-5/ Pt 1.  Spiritual antibody: the truth of Christ loved wholeheartedly. Paul supported and loved them from afar. "good order" love within the church. Rejoice in loving your brothers.  The Divine Tradition of Walking in Christ/ Colossians 2:6-10/ Pt 1. "As you received...walk in Him...walk rooted/built/established fir...

 A Persecutor of Christians Was Made An Apostle/ Colossians 1:1-2/ Pt 1. Paul (Acts 22:3, Phil 3:4-7) was a Jew of Jew.  Paul's conversation, the will of God in action, Acts 9:3-16. The will of God was planned, and active in Paul before his birth Gal. 1:14-16. Creation of the apostleship Mark 3:13-14. They extended the ministry of Jesus. Church is founded on them/their teachings Eph. 219-20. The Relational Authenticity and Wisdom of Paul/ Pt 2.  Timothy is listed with Paul as a sender of this letter. He is the only one in the NT to be a sender and a receiver of letters (Colossians, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Philemon).  Meet Timothy in Acts 16:1-3. See his character in Philippians 2:19-24.  Paul knew that his apostolic authority should not be the only thing driving the people to obedience; relational authority was also necessary (Philemon 8-10). Timothy is the kind of Christian he wants Christians to be; therefore he is included as a se...

 Who Was the Man Named Paul?/ Ephesians 1:1-2/ Pt 1.  Acts 13:9; he had 2 names.  Saul-Jewish name. Paul-Gentile name. Paul's autobiography: Phil. 3:4-6. Phariess, supernatural convert, an apostle of Christ.  What Does It Mean To Be an Apostle?/ Pt 2. Orgianl apostles in Mark 3:13-15. Disciple: one who humbly loves and submits to the teaching of Christ. Apostles: sent out ones who preach and teach with authority from God; one sent by Christ with His authority; one who saw the face of Christ Acts 1:21, 1 Cor. 14:37-38, 2 Peter 3:15. What Are the Two Wills of God?/ Pt 3. Will of Command or will of decree in 1:1? Will of Command: commanded of you; can be broken. Will of Decree: can not be successfully resisted. When your will is in line with God's will it is in line with the will of command. Because you can't do ALL that God does/is doing.  God sovereignty made Paul an apostle Gal. 1:15-16. This matters because Paul is writing/teaching us in Ephesians by the will o...

 The Messy Way To Know God's Will/ 1 Thess. 3:1-5/ Pt 1.  God plans our troubles (3:3b-4). This is the support for 1-3a, 5. Athens, alone - hardship in idolatry in the city.  "God's coworker" God ordains secondary means.  "Sent" not just prayer; exhort them; go to them.  "Bear it no longer" thought, assess, felt (pressured), action. Live in the messiness of God's will with heartful rest.  How to Become a Coworker of God/ Pt 2. God's coworker in the Gospel of Christ.  "established" not "shaken" in the exhortation. God gave His Son therefore He will give us all things. Gospel - Good works (Romans 8:32-37). Preach the Gospel and its implications for your life.  Believe His word/Him even in affliction and be stronger for it.  God Destined Your Affliction - Don't Be Shaken/ Pt 3. "Affliction" 1:6, 2:14, 3:3. Affliction is evidence of God's design to make us worthy of His kingdom.  All Christians are destined...

  1. Offense and Defense in Prayer for the Word/ 2 Thess. 3:1-5/Pt 1. Paul prayed for them; not he asks to be prayed for-"us".  2 requests; (offense) "that word of Lord run...", (defense) "delivered from wicked..." Paul wants the word to outrun/win against all opposition. Acts 13:47-48. Prayer + preaching. Because both are governed by God; both are commanded in word.  "For faith is not of all." IE not all are going to be given faith by God's grace.      2. God Is Decisive in Obedience-So Why Pray?/ Pt 2. "God is faithful" followed by an explanation.  Verse 4; therefore, the church will obey what God commands. Verse 5; Paul prays that God gives them all they need to be obedient.  Obedience is the goal of the Christian life; therefore Paul prays that we be overwhelmed by His love.  God uses us as a means to sanctify others.      3. What Is the Faithfulness of God?/Pt 3. "establish" 2:17, 3:3. Evil men attack you; God guards ...

 The Setting of 1 Thessalonians/ 1 Thessalonians 1:1/ Pt 1. 3 people, all present in the founding of the Church. All preached the gospel to them. But Paul bears maximum responsibility for them.  Paul most likely wrote this letter in Athens (1 Thess. 3:1-6) in the early '50s. Paul taught truth from/by/for Christ.  What Does It Mean To Be In God?/ Pt 2. "church" called out one, assembly of believers, can also be universal.  "God" being with 2 other beings within His being.  "Lord" is a divine word in reference to Christ.  "In" in eternal favor, protection, in His company/family forever. 

       1. Did 3 People Write This Letter? 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4/Pt 1 All 3 founded the church in Thess. "We" v. 20. "Us" v.7. "I" v.2 Paul wrote 2 Thess 3:17-18. He was a unique apostle 1 Cor. 15:4-9. He is the foundation of the church Eph. 2:19-20. "Silas" Acts 15:40="Siluus" 2 Thess. "Timothy" Acts 16:1-3. The 3 founded the church but Paul wrote the letter.      2. A Church Founded In Fire./ Pt 2 Thess origin Acts 17:1-5. Paul went to Thess because of the synagogue there.  Jews continued attacking them in Berea Acts 17:10-15. Acts 18:1-5, 11. Probably when first and second Thess was written. Paul loved and followed up with the churches he founded.     3. The Explosive Power of Translating "Chruch"/Pt 3 Church-Assembly. Kuriakos: Belonging to the Lord. Church: Lord's people/house.  "Called out" the people there of. Church: Local, Regional, Universal. In union with Christ as Lord.     4. Why God as Fath...

How to devotionally listen to a Sunday Sermon/How to worship on Sunday. What to do with a "dud" sermon. Best way to take notes on Sunday. The "Impossibles" of Hebrews. How to get theology from head to heart to body.  How to become Zealous; Matthew 24:12, 44-51, Rev. 2:5 Applications of Election: John 15:16, Gal. 1:15-16. What is encouragement? Why we don't listen to Impending Doom on Sundays? Trichotomy vs. Dicotomy.  Pedo vs Credo Baptism: 1689 vs. Westminster.  What is the difference between self-improvement and sanctification? What to do on the Sabbath? And what is the meaning thereof? When Job and Paul saw the sovereignty of God; Job 40:2, Romans 9:19-20. Marriage: Knowing, loving, and living the reality of the Gospel.  Biblical anatomy.  A Nature walk with God. The Trinity: What? So what? Alex and Rufus: Mark 15:21, 1 Tim. 1:20, 2 Tim. 4:14, A Romans 9 study/illustration.  "Work of the Lord" An exegesis of 1 Cor. 15:58 Why Northern and Southern Is...

  Psalm 34:4-5 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 119:80 May my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be put to shame. Isaiah 45:17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting. 1 Peter 2:6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Psalm 25:1-3 In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. 2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Romans 10:10-11 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture sa...

  Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long Psalm 25:8-10 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 he guides the humble in what is right & teaches them his way. 10 all the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those to keep the demands of his covenant. Exodus 15:13 In your unfailing love, you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength, he will guide them to the holy dwelling. Psalm 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 73...