Bible in Life

Living As Saints What comes to mind when you hear the word "saint"? Two thousand years of church history has changed the original meaning of the word. Today, the word "saint" refers to a man or a woman who has been canonized by the Church. At a popular level they are the extra holy people, super deluxe Christians who get statues made of them. But when the authors of the New Testament used the word "saints," it refers to all Christians--you and me and every other follower of Jesus. And it refers to the status we have as God's holy people. The word "saint" is from the same word as "holy." Saints are all of God's people who have be set apart for God and His purposes. We have been consecrated and designated as holy, and this brings responsibilities for how we live. Ephesians 5:3-6   3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

Becoming Imitators of God   Living the Christian life in not merely stopping doing "bad" things. It's not merely "thou shalt nots." It's setting aside such behaviors (because are contrary to who God is and who we are as His image bearers, and thus destructive) and replacing them with new behaviors and ways of operating. And there is so much more power in pursuing a positive than just getting rid of a negative. So in this episode of the Bible in Life podcast we reflect on Ephesians 4:25-5:2 about what it means to put on Christ and what the ultimate goal of putting on Christ is.  Ephesians 4:25-5:2   25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. 26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

The Basic Process for Living as a Christian   What is the basic process for spiritual growth? The apostle Paul has a consistent way of describing it and in Ephesians 4:22-24 he lays it out very clearly for us: lay aside the old man, be renewed in our thoughts and beliefs, and put on the new man.  Ephesians 4:21-24   But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.    

Why Should We Live Differently? Why should we as Christians change the way we used to live? Why should we live differently than the culture around us?  Related to that... -Why does the world around us seem so confused about life?  -Why can’t they see the falsehood of their ideas when it seems obvious?  -Why do people do such rotten things to each other?  -Why should we who know Christ reject the beliefs and behaviors of the world around us? And "why" is the key word here. We're not ask "what," as in what should we do differently, but why should we do differently.  Ephesians 4:17-21   17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

Equipping the Saints   Ephesians 4:7-16 reminds us that church is a people, not an event and not a religious organization. As such, our time, money, energy, and planning should be aimed towards growing people not growing an organization so more people come to events.  Paul describes it as equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). What does that entail? Listen to this episode of the Bible in Life podcast for a few of my thoughts on this subject.  Ephesians 4:7-16   7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive the captives, And He gave gifts to people.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email. 

Beautiful Oneness   Ephesians 4:4-6 lists all the ways God has made Christians one. It is a oneness Christians enter into and experience in God who experience perfect oneness between Father, Spirit, and Son. It is a oneness that transcends differences of culture, class, ethnicity, and more.  Ephesians 4:4-6   4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

Walking Worthy   Ephesians 4 begins a new section in the book of Ephesians. In Ephesians 1-3, Paul describes who God has called Christians to be. In Ephesians 4-6, Paul calls Christians to live a life worthy of that calling. This is the consistent way the Bible describes Christian living. It is a response to what God has done for us in grace by which we live out who we are. We walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called.   Ephesians 4:1-3   Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.  

A People Filled with God   Ephesians 3:14-21 records Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. This prayer reminds us that the church is not first and foremost a place, event, or religious organization. It is a people... a people in whom Christ dwells and who are growing deep in the love of God. The culmination of all of this is Paul's request that they be filled with all the fulness of God.  Ephesians 3:14-21   14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

The Church - the Showcase of God's Wisdom The church is full of shortcomings and faults. Anyone who has been part of a church knows this. The apostle Paul knew this. So it's become commonplace for people to run down the church.  But, even though the apostle Paul knew how flawed the churches he planted were, he still paints a breathtaking panorama of what the church with all its shortcomings is. In fact, in Ephesians 3:10 he describes the church as the showcase of God's wisdom to the spiritual powers in the heavenly places! Ephesians 3:1-13   3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

God's Family and God's Home Ephesians 2:19-22 paints a beautiful picture of who we are in Christ. Now that we have been brought near to God through Christ, we are part of God's family and we are the very dwelling place of God. This is true for any and all that come to God through Christ.  Ephesians 2:19-22   19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.   Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible:  https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - [email protected] If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.