| Phil. 4:20-23 |
|
Lesson # Phil. 4:20-23 Study Material - Phil. 4:20-23 You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth. Phil. 4:20-23 20 Now [de] unto God [theos] and [kai] our [hemon] Father [pater] be glory [doxa] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever [aion]. Amen [amen]. 21 Salute [aspazomai] every [pas] saint [hagios] in [en] Christ [Christos] Jesus [Iesous]. The brethren [adelphos] which are with [sun] me [emoi] greet [aspazomai] you [humas]. 22 All [pas] the saints [hagios] salute [aspazomai] you [humas], [de] chiefly [malista] they that are of [ek] Caesar's [Kaisar] household [oikia]. 23 The grace [charis] of our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos] be with [meta] you [humon] all [pas]. Amen [amen]. To [pros] the Philippians [Philippesios] written [grapho] from [apo] Rome [Rhome], by [dia] Epaphroditus [Epaphroditos]. KJV-Interlinear 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. NASB God the Father is the ultimate authority. It is to Him that belong glory and honor, for it is from His plan which He authored that we have an opportunity for life not only now but in eternity. It is through Jesus Christ to whom we have directed our faith and through whom we gain access to the Father who hears all our prayers, and to whom all prayers are directed - no exceptions. God the Father is no better nor lessor than the other two members of the Trinity. He is co-equal and co-eternal with the other two, having the same identical characteristics as the Son and the Spirit, but is a separate and distinct entity. The Father represents authority. He is the head of the family 1 Cor. 11:3. The Son submitted to the Father's authority and complied with the Father's plan when He voluntarily went to the Cross. The Father set out the boundaries for the seas, Job 38:11, set out the foundations of the earth, Prov. 8:29, planned the elements, Job 28:25-27. He laid out the design for all that exists in including the pattern of mankind. Jesus Christ of course executed the plan and brought everything into being as well as maintaining it while history unfolds. It is the right hand of the Father where Jesus Christ currently sits. And the Father from whom all inheritance is delivered to Christ and to us through Christ. No one can approach the Father except through Christ. Gods glory and honor has always existed and will exist forever. Nothing in history, no man, no angel nor demon, no power, no authority, no invention of any kind, nothing can or ever will change the character of God or His plan for your life, or for the history of the human race, or the angelic conflict. Paul is in prison here on earth. But in Christ he is free just as you and I are. Even in Caesar's house there are believers. So, authorities in government or any military or political power are in effect powerless when facing Bible doctrine. Those who fancy themselves as liberals in government, or even conservatives, those who use government as their 'god' and politics as their religion and a tool to gain their own humanly defines objectives no matter what the cost to others, all these are powerless before Bible doctrine. Their plans are futile and will come to nothing. They seek honor for themselves and worship at the idol of mankind motivated to advance man and man's nobility. But there is no noble man, no honor in man, no glory in man. Glory belongs to God alone. Man can never create nor perpetuate that which he never had. Therefore, concludes Paul, greet everyone, every believer, 'in Christ'. First by being a believer yourself, and second by maintaining yourself inside that fellowship status, and third, ultimately by advancing to spiritual maturity, and then one day, via your very own resurrection body. And that greeting will be the climax far beyond anything imaginable. And the word 'party' will take on a whole new meaning. Grace is the policy of God. The attributes of righteousness and justice demand no sin and judgment for sin. These tow accomplished create holiness and a state of perfection. Love from God, when added into the mix produces grace. For we can neither earn nor deserve anything in life. Everything we are, everything we have, comes to us as a gift from God through His grace policy. The human race has dreams and they are mere fantasy - unreachable wishes. In God and Bible doctrine, we advance beyond our dreams and bring them into reality. In the world mans plans will never be attained, but with God all things are possible. Philippians is a book of inspiration. It is a road map for keeping us clear of the pitfalls of the world and guiding us forward to our goal of 'perfection'. Read it. Study it. Learn it. Apply it. Possess it This is the pattern of spiritual growth.
End Of Lesson Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth. 
|
