colossians-1:20

A divine arrangement is a certain method or rule by which God works. Never ask Him to change to accommodate your mind; adapt yourself to His method. 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Sound mind is a bad translation; a bette... Read More

In verse 18 of this chapter we find the word "abuse" again; but the Greek means that I use outright for myself. It would not have been abusing his power in the gospel, but he did not use that power as something to which he had title of possession; he only thought about it as a thing he could use for... Read More

The epistle to the Colossians was written more expressly to Gentiles; that to the Ephesians was, too, but Colossians exclusively so. The saint is here viewed as risen, but still on earth, and his hope is laid up for him in heaven; that gives a character to the epistle. And inasmuch as he is on earth... Read More

I should like to go a little into the question, How are we saved? In the first eight chapters of Romans we get the gospel fully brought out. It is just the answer to the question, How can a man be just with God? This is the great question of the whole epistle. We do not get resurrection with Christ ... Read More

A wonderful inquiry is this which is quoted from Psalm 8, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" - an inquiry founded on the nothingness of man in himself, but bringing out, as God's answer to it, all His counsels in Christ. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" Such is his littleness. ... Read More

The first four verses refer to the previous chapter. Christ's divine nature is looked at in Hebrews 1, then in Hebrews 2 He is looked at as Man. In chapter 1 it is the divinity of His Person, in chapter 2 His humanity. In these first four verses the apostle warns us not only not to disobey, but not ... Read More

The sacrifices are connected with, and open out to us especially, the ground of our access and the means of our approach to God. The beginning of this book goes through the different sorts of offerings by virtue of which we have access to God, and then takes up the priesthood, which sustains the sou... Read More

*These are verbatim notes of Readings in Belfast some years ago. Condensations of these have already appeared, but hitherto the full report has never been printed. It is hoped to give others as opportunity offers. — ED. A Reading on 1 Corinthians 2. Well now, we get the apostle's use of all this, an... Read More

There is a difference between Numbers and Joshua. Numbers is, in its principle, the testing of man down here in the wilderness; we are viewed typically as redeemed Christians, but still in the wilderness, and tested. Joshua is, in figure, divine energy getting rid of Satan; while at the same time ev... Read More

Acts 1 We shall find that "The Acts" follows Luke's Gospel: it speaks of a "former treatise," which is the Gospel, but it follows it in its tone and character. Is the style of the Greek the same? Yes, there is no question with anyone that it came from Luke's pen. The only thing, and an astonishing t... Read More