ephesians-1:9-10

The DOCTRINES OF GRACE These are frequently referred to as The Five Points of Calvinism, but this is a misnomer because Calvin had died before this statement was drawn up. They are simply five key teachings found in the Bible and formulated by the Synod of Dort in 1618-1619. This was done to counter... Read More

What a strange question! but it refers to the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and is a prophecy concerning His birth and death. The prophet Zechariah foretold His coming with this name and title, chapter 10 and verse 4 of his prophecy: "Out of him (the tribe of Judah) shall come forth . . . The N... Read More

Who is the Image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation: for in Him were all things created, in the heavens, and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; and He ... Read More

My dear John, How much I charge myself for want of joy in God; and I have just come from looking at a scripture that may be able to fix this charge still more home upon the spirit; I mean the opening of Luke. What joy among the angels there; what joy on earth in the vessels filled by the Spirit ther... Read More

The apostle addresses his brethren in Christ as "partakers of the heavenly calling" (Heb. 3: 1). This calling, in another scripture, is styled "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 14). And again, it is spoken of as the calling of the Father of glory (Eph. 1: 17, 18). In those who are ... Read More

The first thing noticeable here is the distinction between the Church and the profession of Christianity, as shewn in the address of the epistle; it is, "unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, . . . called . . . saints" (not, called to be saints), "with all that in every place call upon the na... Read More

Turning to 1 Corinthians 12 we have both the manifestation of the Spirit and miraculous gifts. The apostle was speaking in contrast with demons, etc., but it is a manifestation of the Spirit in power: so in chapter 14, if all prophesied, they were convinced of all, and judged of all, and thus the se... Read More

We have had the subject of ministry, and the vessel for it, and he has spoken of the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, and now we have the purpose of God as to the servant, the glory of God by us, and next the way that all this bears upon the responsible state; and then, lastly, we hav... Read More

You get that word "faithful" added in the first verse of Ephesians and Colossians. "Saints" means that God has sanctified them; but "faithful," that is what they were; they were in the exercise of faith towards God and our Lord Jesus Christ. It is having faith, but at the same time it practically co... Read More

Genesis does not begin with any counsels nor even with the existence of God, though both are given in the New Testament. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth": this is the opening of the creation. There is nothing of counsels, but you are before the world, and also get more in the... Read More