YouTube is a good source of finding praise and worship songs to listen to. As part of the music team at Walk of Grace, music is pretty important to me, so every few days I’m going to share a random praise and worship video with you.

I hope you enjoy it!

Praise & Worship music video for the song ‘AWESOME GOD’ performed by Hillsong UNITED. Words on the video so it can be used for Praise and Worship. See more at: www.ILLFIGHT.com

YouTube is a good source of finding praise and worship songs to listen to. As part of the music team at Walk of Grace, music is pretty important to me, so every few days I’m going to share a random praise and worship video with you.

I hope you enjoy it!

One of my fave songs, I’ve inserted my picture when i was baptized..=)..thank you Lord, I only belong to you Lord God, I am always reaching for you..Please leave a comment..thanks guyz!..:)

ROMANS, CHAPTER 3

[Verses 20-31]

(5-18-11)

Review:

Romans 3:19) [NIV] Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

QUESTION: What’s the conclusion the Apostle comes to here?

ANSWER: The Law of Moses condemns the Jews as sinners.

NOTE: The Jews knew that the Gentiles were sinners; now Paul tells them that they are sinners as well. He uses their Law to prove it. He tells them, what they already knew, that the Law was speaking to Jews. The Jews needed to listen to it. It told them they were sinners, just as much as the non-Jews were. The real purpose of the Law was not to bring justification to the Jews, but to bring condemnation to them so that “every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.”

More Review, This Time From Chapter 2:

Romans 2:12-13, 26) [NIV] All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13) [NIV] For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

26) [NIV] If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

QUESTION: What did I tell you when we were going through Chapter 2?

ANSWER: Don’t develop doctrine from Chapter 2 until you’ve read Chapter 3.

QUESTION: What was Paul doing in Chapter 2 in verses 12-13, and verse 26?

ANSWER: He was establishing what a good Jew thought, that if they kept the Law they were righteous before God.

On To This Week’s Lesson:

Romans 3:20-31) [NIV] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

QUESTION: What is the Apostle doing here?

ANSWER: After spending much time in the “where they were,” he is now taking them to the “where he wants them to be.”

QUESTION: What is Paul’s bold statement here?

ANSWER: The Law has never made anyone righteous.

QUESTION: Why?

ANSWER: It can’t make anyone righteous because no one can keep it.

QUESTION: What about Jesus?

ANSWER: The Law didn’t make Jesus righteous. He was already righteous. He had never sinned. He subjected Himself to the Law that was given to the Jews for our sake. The Law declared the Righteous One righteous! The Law couldn’t make Him what He already was; but it declare the Righteous One righteous. The Jewish Law, in the court of Heaven, declared the Righteous One righteous! Therefore, the One Who is the very embodiment of righteousness, having been declared righteous by the very Law that Jehovah God gave to the Jews, was, by virtue of being found righteous, declared worthy to be the sacrificial Lamb to which all legitimate Old Testament sacrifices pointed.

21) [NIV] But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22) [NIV] This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

QUESTION: What’s Paul doing here?

ANSWER: He’s arriving at his intended destination. Here it is:

1.        The Law can’t make anyone righteous; it can simply declare one to be righteous who is already free of sin. Apart from Jesus, no one has ever been declared righteous by the Law because no one has been free from sin. THE LAW MAKES NO ONE RIGHTEOUS! IT SIMPLY DECLARES ONE TO BE RIGHTEOUS WHO IS ALREADY RIGHTEOUS BY VIRTUE OF HIS BEING SINLESS!

2.        Here’s the roadmap to righteousness; i.e., being in a right relationship with God: we must put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

23) [NIV] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

QUESTION: What’s the point here?

ANSWER: We are all in need of this righteous/right relationship with God because we have all sinned.

24) [NIV] and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

QUESTION: What does Paul show us in verses 23-24?

ANSWER: We are all sinners, but have been declared right with God as a result of Jesus having paid our penalty for sin. This declaration by God Himself in the courtroom of Heaven is made to all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior.

NOTE: Justification means “just-as-if-I-had-never-sinned” in the sense that my relationship with a Holy God, Who hates sin, is absolutely solidified by the sacrifice of His Son, and my placing my faith in Him. GOD HAS NOTHING RECORDED AGAINST ME IN THE RECORD BOOKS IN HEAVEN.

25) [NIV] God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished-

26) [NIV] he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

QUESTION: What’s Paul saying here?

ANSWER: God’s wonderful plan of salvation for all who believe is one that is consistent with the justice of Almighty God. God didn’t overlook sin; rather, He judged our sin at Calvary. He, in the person of His Son, faced the wrath of God befitting our sin.

NOTE: Not only is God just, but He is the One Who justifies, in accordance with His justice, all who “have faith in Jesus.”

27) [NIV] Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith.

28) [NIV] For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

QUESTION: What point is the above passage making?

ANSWER: Since we are justified as a result of what Jesus did, and not as a result of anything we have done, we have absolutely no right to boast.

29) [NIV] Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

30) [NIV] since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

QUESTION: What is the point here?

ANSWER: All Jews, who have the Law, and all non-Jews, who don’t have the Law, are sinners. Consequently, there’s only one way of salvation for all mankind. That way is through faith in Christ.

31) [NIV] Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Romans 3:20) [NIV] Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

QUESTION: How does the plan of salvation “uphold the law”?

ANSWER: The purpose of the Law was for us to “become conscious of sin.” When we go to Jesus for salvation it’s because we are “conscious” of our need for a Savior because we are aware that we are sinners. The Law brought that awareness.

ROMANS, CHAPTER 12

[Verses 1-2]

(2-8-12)

Review:

Romans 11:30-32) [NIV] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

31) [NIV] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

32) [NIV] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

QUESTION: What event caused us Gentiles to receive the mercy of God?

ANSWER It was the disobedience of the Jews when they rejected Christ.

QUESTION: Why will the Jews receive mercy again?

ANSWER God showed mercy to us disobedient Gentiles on this side of the cross, as a result of our trusting Jesus, and so He will now show mercy to the disobedient Jews as a result of their trusting Jesus.

QUESTION: What’s verse 32 reminding us of?

ANSWER Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20 taught us that the Law of Moses brought condemnation to the Jews because they didn’t keep the commandments; consequently, since the Gentiles were already sinners, and the Jews were now found to be sinners, all have sinned and need a Savior!

On To This Week’s Lesson:

Romans 12:1-2) [NIV] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship.

(MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

QUESTION: What’s one way to worship God according to verse 1?

ANSWER When we “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord we are worshipping Him.

QUESTION: Why should we “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER We should do it in response to the mercy He has shown us, that mercy being the grace of God by which He has saved us.

QUESTION: What does it mean to “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER Note the next verse:

2) [NIV] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

QUESTION: Again, what does it mean to “offer” our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord?

ANSWER When we quit living like “this world,” and walk in the transforming power of God we are offering our “bodies as living sacrifices” to the Lord.

QUESTION: How do walk in the transforming power of God?

ANSWER: We do it “by the renewing of” our “mind.” We must wrap our minds around the liberating truths of the Gospel. We are new creations! Old things have passed away! All things have become new! We have been created to do good works! We are more than conquerors through Christ! Ect.

 (BBE) And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

(GW) Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

QUESTION: What’s the second half of this verse mean?

ANSWER When we live according to the teachings of the New Testament we experience doing what’s pleasing to God. As we continue to do so we develop a sense of what’s right. 

YouTube is a good source of finding praise and worship songs to listen to. As part of the music team at Walk of Grace, music is pretty important to me, so every few days I’m going to share a random praise and worship video with you.

I hope you enjoy it!

A new Christian Praise & Worship Song Artists: Christopher Lane Jackson of “A Lion Named Roar” & Mandy Mann Lyrics by: Chip Connor Music by: Chip Connor, Christopher Lane Jackson, & Jeremy Casella

1 JOHN

Chapter 4, Verses 7-8

[2-5-12]

Review:

1 John 4:2-3; 6-7) [KJV] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3) [KJV] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

QUESTION: What two things must a teacher confess about Jesus to show himself legitimate?

ANSWER: He must confess that Jesus is the Christ, and that He came to this earth in human flesh.

QUESTION: What were some of the false teachers of John’s day teaching?

ANSWER: They were teaching that Jesus came as a Spirit, and appeared as a man, but was not flesh and blood.

6) [KJV] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

QUESTION: Why do many believe doctrines that aren’t based in Scripture?

ANSWER: The unsaved sometimes gravitate to the doctrines of devils because they are “of the world” just as the one we have overcome is “of the world.”

QUESTION: Who is the “we are of God” people verse 6 is referring to?

ANSWER: It is John and the others he refers to in Chapter One:

7) [KJV] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

QUESTION: What is he doing here?

ANSWER: He is taking us back to the emphasis of his letter; we must love one another.

On To This Week’s Lesson:

1 John 4:7-8) [KJV] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

[KJV] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

QUESTION: Is the man who loves his child a Christian?

ANSWER: Not every man who loves his child is a Christian.

QUESTION: Then what is this verse telling us?

ANSWER: Note the following verse:

John 13:34-35) [KJV] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35) [KJV] By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

QUESTION: What’s the key to understanding what John is teaching us?

ANSWER: John is talking about loving God’s children. Jesus gave us the command to love other Christians the way Jesus loves us. Now, in his epistle, John is telling us that true Christians love other Christians. 

NOTE: We should love all people, but only true Christians love all of God’s children.

QUESTION: Does this mean that if I don’t love some Christian then I’m not saved?

ANSWER: Please note the following comment:

COMMENT: We must learn to read the Scriptures by faith. This verse tells me that Christians love other Christians. I am a Christian. Therefore I love other Christians.

NOTE: It’s all about bringing our minds into obedience to the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5) [KJV] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4) [KJV] (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5) [KJV] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

QUESTION: What’s the above passage have to do with what John is saying to us?

ANSWER: I’m a Christian; therefore I love other Christians, even if it means “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

YouTube is a good source of finding praise and worship songs to listen to. As part of the music team at Walk of Grace, music is pretty important to me, so every few days I’m going to share a random praise and worship video with you.

I hope you enjoy it!

“You Hold Me Now” worship and praise song from Hillsong featuring Jad Gillies, worship leader. This song is featured on “Faith Hope Love” DVD/CD 2009 release. Hillsong Church (formerly Hills Christian Life Centre) is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God denomination. The church is located in Sydney, Australia, headquartered at its “Hills” campus in Baulkham Hills’ Norwest Business Park in the Hills District. It also has a congregation designated the “City” campus which is located in Waterloo, near Sydney’s central business district. The church’s senior pastors are Brian and Bobbie Houston, who started the church in Baulkham Hills in 1983, later to merge with a church in the city to form Hillsong Church. Apart from the two main campuses, Hillsong Church currently has 14 extension services across Sydney. These extension services are based on either location or culture and rely on Hillsong Church for support and leadership. Hillsong Church’s international offshoots include Hillsong Church London, in the United Kingdom, Hillsong Church Kiev in Ukraine, Hillsong Church Cape Town in South Africa. These churches also have services in Paris, Berlin and Moscow. Hillsong Music has topped Australian charts, with albums achieving gold and platinum sales status. Hillsong has made its mark internationally with many travelling to Sydney for the annual Hillsong Conference, which attracts over 26000 …

ROMANS, CHAPTER 11

[Verses 28-36]

(2-1-12)

Review:

Romans 11:26) [NIV] And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27) [NIV] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”  

QUESTION: What will God do for any Jew who gets saved?

ANSWER: He will graft them back into the tree they were cut off from. They will then partake of the New Covenant.

QUESTION: How long will this temporary “hardening in part” of Israel last?

ANSWER: It will last until every Gentile who God has “foreknown” comes into the fold of believers.

QUESTION: What will happen then?

ANSWER: Every living Jew will then be saved!

Closing Question:

QUESTION: What does Abraham being the “root” have to do with this discussion?

ANSWER: Abraham is the father of the circumcised/Jews and the father of those who have been saved by faith  [Romans 4:9-12]; i.e., the believing Jews and Gentiles. His natural descendents, the Jews, represent the natural branches of this discussion. Of his spiritual descendents, the believing Jews and Gentiles, the believing Gentiles represent the wild branches that were grafted into the olive tree to partake of the nourishment of the root/Abraham.

Genesis 22:17A) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore;

Genesis 15:5-6) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Romans: 4:23-24) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

On To This Week’s Lesson:

Romans 11:28-36) [NIV] As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,

QUESTION: What does “they are enemies on your account” mean?

ANSWER: God turned the Jews’ rejection of Christ into an opportunity for the Gentiles. When they rejected Christ salvation was offered to the Gentiles.

QUESTION: What does “they are loved on account of the patriarchs” mean?

ANSWER: God entered into covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to bless their descendents. Because of that covenant God will always love the people of Israel.

29) [NIV] for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

QUESTION: What does Paul conclude from what he wrote in verse 28?

ANSWER: God never changes His mind! He entered into covenant with Abraham and his children; consequently, God is still in covenant with Israel today.

QUESTION: What does the fact of an unchanging God mean to us?

ANSWER God saved us because He wanted to! He’s not going to change His mind tomorrow!

God Never Changes:

Malachi 3:6) [NIV] I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

James 1:17) [NLT] Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven’s lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows.

Hebrews 13:8) [KJV] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.

What Does That Mean To Us?

Numbers 23:19) [KJV] God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Hebrews 6:18) [KJV] That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

(GNB) There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us.

QUESTION: Again, what does the fact of an unchanging God mean to us?

ANSWER God has never changed His mind about anything, and He never lies! That means we can count on everything He tells us in His Word.

Philippians 1:6) [NIV] being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 Hebrew 12:2) [KJV] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 8:29-30) [KJV] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30) [KJV] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

QUESTION: What are the above verses telling us?

ANSWER God saved you; God will therefore complete/finish what He started; He will carry on the process He began until you are glorified in Heaven!

30) [NIV] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,

31) [NIV] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you.

32) [NIV] For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

QUESTION: What event caused us Gentiles to receive the mercy of God?

ANSWER It was the disobedience of the Jews when they rejected Christ.

QUESTION: Why will the Jews receive mercy again?

ANSWER God showed mercy to us disobedient Gentiles on this side of the cross, as a result of our trusting Jesus, and so He will now show mercy to the disobedient Jews as a result of their trusting Jesus.

QUESTION: What’s verse 32 reminding us of?

ANSWER Romans 1:18 through Romans 3:20 taught us that the Law of Moses brought condemnation to the Jews because they didn’t keep the commandments; consequently, since the Gentiles were already sinners, and the Jews were now found to be sinners, all have sinned and need a Savior!

33) [NIV] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

34) [NIV] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”  

35) [NIV] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”  

36) [NIV] For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

QUESTION: Why is Paul so excited at the end of this chapter?

ANSWER He is amazed at the wisdom of God displayed in the plan of salvation.

1 JOHN

Chapter 4, Verses 1-7

[1-29-12]

Review:

1 John 3:22-24) [KJV] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23) [KJV] And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24) [KJV] And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Besides Loving God and People What Other Conditions Apply To Answered Prayer?

Mark 11:24-25A) [KJV] Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

25A) [KJV] And when ye stand praying, forgive, 

1 John 5:14-15) [KJV] And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

15) [KJV] And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

QUESTION: What are some conditions in the above verses?

ANSWER: Faith, forgiving those who wrong us, and asking for things that are God’s will are conditions in the above verses.

QUESTION: What does it mean to ask for things that are “according to his will”?

ANSWER: We need to ask God with the right attitude [2 Chronicles 7:14], in the right part of the prayer [Matthew 6:9-11], and for the right thing [1 John 5:14].   

NOTE: Asking God with the right attitude helps our heart not to condemn us; asking God after a time of worship helps us pray with more confidence; and asking for something we know He wants to do, because it’s revealed in His Word to be His will, gives us an air of expectancy!

CLOSING NOTE: It all goes back to faith; we need to believe God will answer our prayers.

James 5:16) [KJV] The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

On To This Week’s Lesson:

1John 4:1-7) [KJV] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

(MSG) My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.

QUESTION: Who are we to question, a spirit or a man?

ANSWER: We are to examine the doctrines of preachers, to see if they are teaching the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, or the doctrines of devils.

2) [KJV] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3) [KJV] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

QUESTION: What two things must a teacher confess about Jesus to show himself legitimate?

ANSWER: He must confess that Jesus is the Christ, and that He came to this earth in human flesh.

QUESTION: What were some of the false teachers of John’s day teaching?

ANSWER: They were teaching that Jesus came as a Spirit, and appeared as a man, but was not flesh and blood.

QUESTION: Is a man who believes that Jesus is the Christ and that He came in the flesh a Christian?

ANSWER: This passage is examining the “spirit” that inspires various teachings. The Holy Spirit inspires the doctrine of the incarnation of the Christ; false spirits inspire the doctrines that are contrary to sound teaching regarding Jesus being fully God and fully human.

4) [KJV] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

QUESTION: In what way have we “overcome them”?

ANSWER: We have not believed the false doctrines of devils.

QUESTION: How did we overcome them?

ANSWER: We overcame those lying spirits by the power of the One living in us Who is greater than the one that is in the world.

John 12:31) [KJV] Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

2 Corinthians 4:4) [KJV] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ephesians 2:1-2) [KJV] And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2) [KJV] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

QUESTION: Who is the one “that is in the world”?

ANSWER: The devil is “the prince of this world,” the “god of this world,” and the “prince of the power of the air” in this world. He blinds “the minds of them which believe not,” and he works “in the children of disobedience.”

NOTE: The God Who live in us through the person of Jesus Christ has protected us from the error of false teachers through the person of the Holy Spirit. GOD IS GREATER THAN THE DEVIL!

Regarding this discussion of the humanity of the Lord Jesus,

“Rome, by the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, denies Christ’s proper humanity” [JFB].

QUESTION: Is the teaching about the Godhead important?

ANSWER: I believe it is. The Mormons teach that God is an exalted man rather than an eternal being.

QUESTION: Is that an acceptable doctrine? After all, they do teach that Jesus has come in the flesh.

ANSWER: If God is an exalted man from a previous world, a man many Mormons hope to follow the example of and become gods of future worlds, then does that doctrine teach that God Himself is an exalted, forgiven sinful man? If God is a forgiven sinner, then was the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, truly sinless?

5) [KJV] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6) [KJV] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

QUESTION: Why do many believe doctrines that aren’t based in Scripture?

ANSWER: The unsaved sometimes gravitate to the doctrines of devils because they are “of the world” just as the one we have overcome is “of the world.”

QUESTION: Who is the “we are of God” people verse 6 is referring to?

ANSWER: It is John and the others he refers to in Chapter One:

1 John 1:1) [KJV] That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,

2) [KJV] (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it],

3) [KJV] That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,

4) [KJV] And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

QUESTION: Why is this so important?

ANSWER: John, and those he was referring to, were writing the very Word of God for us. The Holy Spirit inspired his words. Believers listen to what the Scripture says. This is the test for “truth” and “error.” People must believe the Scripture to be the Word of God. They don’t always have to agree with my understanding of it in order to be saved.

NOTE: John understood his place in the church. He was one of those chosen to give us, through his writings, the very Word of God. Because he understood this he could say, “he that knoweth God heareth us.”

7) [KJV] Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

QUESTION: What is he doing here?

ANSWER: He is taking us back to the emphasis of his letter; we must love one another.

YouTube is a good source of finding praise and worship songs to listen to. As part of the music team at Walk of Grace, music is pretty important to me, so every few days I’m going to share a random praise and worship video with you.

I hope you enjoy it!

Heart after you – Praise and worship song sung by IHOP international house of prayer group