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Philippians 3 - Running the Race to Win!

Philippians 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Paul has quite a religious pedigree, but when he compares it to knowing Jesus, he considers it a " bunch of garbage ". In Galatians 2 he says, "If righteousness could be gotten from the works of the law, then Christ died for nothing!" Paul was dealing with those who were ...
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Philippians 2 - The Blueprint for True Humility!

Philippians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Imitating Christ’s Humility 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in very nature God,  did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  7 rather, he made himself nothing  by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness.  8 And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death—  even death on ...
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Philippians 1 - God Completes What He Starts!

Philippians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Introduction to Paul's letter to the Philippians (Google AI) Author: The Apostle Paul. Location: Written while Paul was in prison (likely in Rome around A.D. 62). The City: Philippi was a prominent Roman colony in Macedonia (modern-day Greece) known for patriotic pride and retired soldiers. The Church: Founded by Paul during his second missionary journey (recorded in Acts 16), starting with believers like Lydia. It was the first Jesus community established in Europe . Purpose of the Letter Thank You: P aul wrote to thank the church for sending a financial gift to support him in prison through Epaphroditus.Joy in Suffering: He aimed to encourage the believers to maintain their joy and stand firm despite facing outside opposition and internal friction. Unity and Humility: Paul urged the congregation to put aside selfish ambition and embrace the humble "mind of Christ". Key Themes  Rejoice in the Lord: Words related to joy and re...
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Ephesians 6 - "Armed and Dangerous"

Ephesians 6 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  In chapters 1-5 Paul taught the Ephesians about their identity in Christ and gave them practical instructions on how to live out the Christian faith.  In this last chapter Paul finishes with a call to put on the full armor of God, so we can take a stand against the devil's schemes.  First, we cannot fight the devil in our power power. Paul clearly says, " Be strong in the Lord and his mighty powers".   We k...
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Ephesians 5 - What Is the Best Way to Make Your Marriage Work!

Ephesians 5 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father...
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Ephesians 4 - What Does Hasan Piker's Mocking Charlie Kirk's Death Have To Do With Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." If there is one chapter in the bible a church should study, it is Ephesians 4. Chapter 4 moves from who we are in Christ. to how we " live a life worthy of that calling ".  Some people might misunderstand the idea of " living a life worthy of our calling " as earning one's salvation. I.e. I need to try to be worthy enough for God to love me. This would be to grossly misunderstand what Paul is saying here.    " When we really understand how much God did for us, we will naturally want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude ." (Guzik) This should be the singular goal of every Christian to lead a life worthy of our calling. We have been called by God before the beginning of Creation to share the grace He has given us through His Son, Jesus. So what does it mean to live a life worthy of our calling? 1. P...
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Ephesians 3 - The Audience of Angels in the Theater of the Church!

Ephesians 3 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." As I mentioned before, Ephesians focuses more than other New Testament on the Church. Paul describes how a healthy church functions to make known the mystery of Christ. The Church is the vehicle by which God's eternal salvation is made known to the world in the power of the Spirit. Paul's letter to the Ephesians will also say, " The Church is the bride of Christ!"   In today's passage Paul says something that I had not picked up on before. One of the advantages of reading the bible many times is that each time you pick up new things. In this case Paul says, " Through church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms....
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