#bibleverse #biblestudy #bible #jesus Erv Puckett and I had another bible study on Ephesians 1:5-9. We discussed many good topics but we are now IN CHRIST. The concept of IN CHRIST is a new way to look at our relationship and who we are and how God thinks of us. We are part of His family now if we believe that He is the son of God. Join us for this podcast or video here. Please share. https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/215 #bibleverse #biblestudy #bible #Jesus Erv Puckett and I had a bible study using the Biblestudycompany.com tools and methods. We are in Ephesians 1:5-9. We learn what it means to be in Christ, about predestination and about how to find the will of God for our lives. We talk about what Christ has done for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. So much hope!

Watching Dr.Baruch's lesson in Mathew 26 part 4. I think I noticed some spiritual issue I have with "doing" verses submitting. Listening to the lesson, I'm like, "yep, that's me". Very different day to day on watching and waiting and a lot like disciples not watching and waiting. Then I go immediately into an anxious sense of having to do. Then I catch myself and think "I can't do that." I know the problem, but over and over, I can't change it. Then I kind of hand it over to God, but quickly wonder if that's what I'm doing or just giving up so to speak. This is the kind of dynamic underneath a lot of my issues. Somehow needing to feel you're always ready, but immediately being drawn into anxiety over it that results in the need to do but in an almost spiritually distracting way. How do you know when you're submitting verses when you're just deluding yourself and giving up? There's a polar opposite way of looking at "I can't do this, You're going to have to." And often before I'm able to fully process my own heart in the matter, I'm confused in terms of is this me submitting to God or me just being apathetic and giving up? For example, I struggle with mood. The best I can often do when struggling with my mood is just not say what I'm thinking, but that leaves me feeling shut down and disconnected from people around me. I know it's about bringing the flesh into submission of the Spirit, but we connect with people through emotions. I feel like I have to become almost robotic sometimes not to give into my mood. Anyway, I know He's going to have to help me with that. I can't overcome this issue on my own, as it feels like I'm somehow getting hung up in what I have to do or should do to the point it stifles me. It's the knowing what you should do issue, but not doing it. My issue is knowing what I should do, and outwardly managing it but inwardly or spiritually stifled because I'm honestly annoyed by what seems really petty to me at that time. Hard to explain, but I think this is getting into what's behind some of the works based approaches to spirituality we've discussed in here. How do you know when you are submitting in sincerity verses just giving up in a very dismissive or hopeless way? Things can feel really out of control - there's something spiritually different though in trusting Gods in control to help you and just deciding you're too helpless to make a difference so He has to do it. There's some distinction in there about trusting God and almost giving up on Him.!I find myself doubting my heart when I'm trying to submit a lot. There's some line about giving up on yourself is giving up on God because He does want to use us to make a difference in the world around us. It's weird to know how to submit to Him that way, and that's where my issue with doing presents an obstacle for me. I think needing to do relates to an issue with waiting maybe. Maybe works are about lacking faith in terms of not knowing how to wait in faith. All sorts of verses come into my mind about doing, "being about your Father's business" for example. How do you know that's not coming from a place of anxiety though? You see how works can reflect faith or a lack of faith. That's the underlying issue I think. With Him we will just do well, but of our own, we just do to manage our own anxiety or something. I think it's about control, and I think that's a dynamic I'm trying to figure out with this question. We are expected to do our Fathers business but we can't make Him do a thing - it's really a scary issue I'm discussing because it's getting at sometging idolatrous in our hearts if we don't really know how to submit things to Him in the right heart. It's causing me anxiety so I know I'm having spiritual problems because of this.

A video I found particularly convicting on YouTube is called "Are progressive Christianity and conservative Christianity different faiths? Yes". It was pretty eye-opening in terms of statistics and understanding the purpose of the apostasy. Here's my conviction - a lot of people calling themselves Christians are just blasphemers. Biblical Christians who believe Jesus is the only way are being ostracized by those who call themselves Christians but don't believe in the word of God. They call themselves Christians but simply are not. What was eye opening for me is that I didn't realize that many of them are basically ashamed of us. That's how it came across to me. I think I'm right because is that not what denying Jesus as the only way is really about? They're ashamed of Him. They're ashamed of the Bible, so I think it makes sense to consider that they're ashamed of us. Just think we should be prepared and realize what we're dealing with. God help us, but love seeing how perfect His way is. It's all for the sake of salvation. Another point of conviction for me - point everyone to the Bible. Let fake Christians have to argue with God instead of me. I'm not going to focus on convincing other people in the church of what the Bible says. They can read it and what more can I offer them than what they've heard and read and already rejected? We're better off letting God deal with the blaspheming "Christians" because the level of rebellion is likely greater than many of those outside of the church I think. Kind of eye-opening for me to consider how great the divide within. Maybe I have more in common with some people lost in the world but sincerely seeking truth than with some who are calling themselves Christian...I found that thought pretty convicting and somehow hopeful. Glad God is going to deal with the church for the sake of the church. I'm glad for the sake of the church and those who will be brought in that false believers are forced to fall away. I understand why that has to happen.

Ric and Erv started bible study that we have been doing all year on various topics, but now we are starting in books of the Bible. Ephesians 1 is our first podcast. We decided to record them so people could enjoy the back and forth and use good bible study principles. Do you know what the Will of God is and how to acquire it? Stick with us and enjoy. https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/213

Looking for ways people understand Matthew 24:13. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." I have always believed in eternal salvation -once saved always saved, but this is an example of a verse that causes me pause on that topic. Then in trying to understand it based on this belief, I run into end times issues in terms of who is this verse talking to. If it's talking to Israel, then I can reconcile the issues I run into with salvation. If it's Israel, then the rememant is those who endure to the end during the tribulation. However, in that understanding, my previous understanding of the entire passage is called into question. I run into big issues with this passage depending on which way I go to reconcile it. Either way, a major part of my previous understanding is challenged.

Are Christians Required To Keep the Law? Summary and Conclusions Is the law abolished? Yes! As Christ fulfilled the Torah by coming prophetically and by paying our sin debt. We have the Holy Spirit in us now to be led by Him and His word to expose our hearts full of sin! Are our efforts to keep the law abolished? Yes, because no one could as humans. Remember His Body was broken for us. All of our efforts are "filthy rags." Our sin debt is paid. The Holy Spirit is now in us and teaching us "away" from ungodliness! Titus 2:11-12 https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/211

Dr . Baruch of Loveisrael.org and Ric Joyner of Biblestudycompany.com discuss the topic of law-keeping. Dr. Baruch brings a unique perspective to our discussion, which is the Jewish Context. A biblical study principle is to know who the text is writing to, and an attempt is made to determine how the audience would understand what was said. Dr. Baruch lives in Israel and has a Ph.D. in Jewish studies. He also has Orthodox Rabbinic training. Some gems Baruch lays out. 1. Judaism is not Torah Observant today. Those who claim to be Torah keeping need to be aware that over 250 "laws" or instructions are related to the Temple being in place. Thus, no one is a true Torah Keeper. 2. There are many versions of Judaism in the US. 3. The "Law" is a unit. If we cannot keep the "law" with no temple in place, the whole law is "broken." We can learn much about spiritual truth from the TORAH, and that should be our focus when studying the Torah. 4. We all must base our doctrine on the Word of God and our study with the Holy Spirit. We should not follow men. 5. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone as Abraham was. There is more at this link: https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/210

Should Christians Keep the Law? Part 1 Dr. Daniel Goepfrich: Theology is for everyone Our discussion today is with Dr. Daniel Goepfrich, a pastor, theologian, professor, author, and Greek scholar. He runs a website called: Theology is for everyone. Click the link below for more information and resources. His book on Discipleship should be in everyone's library. https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/209

Announcing a New Podcast/Video Series. Should Christians Keep the Law? Coming to a Church or Fellowship near you. "Christians must keep the law!" They say. Mary and I are introducing a new Podcast and Video series based on movements that seek to make Christians keep the Mosaic law called the: TORAH. Please read the blog before listening or watching. It will help clarify. If you have any questions let us know. https://biblestudycompany.com/blog/article/208

New blog article for learning to study the bible. Dr. Baruch and Ric and Mary Joyner resources combined into one area. https://biblestudycompany.com/blog?category=42