Archives for December 2025

OVERVIEW:

Christ our LIFE (chapter 1); Christ our PATTERN (chapter 2); Christ our RIGHTEOUSNESS (chapter 3); Christ our SUFFICIENCY (chapter 4).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

As we get started in the book of Philippians, let’s take a few minutes to talk about the THEME of the book. What is this book about? What was God’s purpose in putting the book of Philippians into the canon of scripture? Just how are we to determine that?

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received in terms of Bible study is simply, “Learn to emphasize what God emphasizes.” God doesn’t have a volume control on His voice (i.e. His word) that He uses when He wants to accentuate a particular principle or concept. Nor does He provide a highlighter to accentuate His major themes or points of emphasis to the men He was inspiring who wrote His words down. What God uses, to emphasize His point, is REPETITION! I said, what God uses, to emphasize His point, is REPETITION! (I thought that if it works for God, maybe it would work for me!) It is amazing the things that can be gleaned in the word of God by simply observing the repeated words, phrases, ideas and/or concepts in a passage, a chapter, or an individual book of the Bible. A great case in point, is the book of Philippians.

In this short book, the word “rejoice” (or some form of the word: rejoice, rejoiced, rejoicing), is found 12 times, and the word “joy” is found six times. As we are reading it today, recognize that this is an incredibly positive book! It is obvious that Paul had an extremely positive attitude when he wrote this letter. In fact, so positive that we might get the idea that he’s in about the third month of a six-month sabbatical, and he’s just “chillin’ out” at some incredible five-star oceanfront condo in some resort city along the Mediterranean coastline, with the sun brightly beaming down upon the beautiful terrain, while he is leisurely sipping a Frappuccino and eating pistachio nuts out of a hammock!

But there’s also another word that keeps popping up in this book that lets us know that that isn’t the case. It’s the word “bonds”. Paul keeps referring to his “bonds”. In fact, he talks about them four times in chapter one alone! To what he is referring is the fact that far from being in some resort hotel on the beach in some Mediterranean city, he is in prison, in “bonds”, or in other words, chained to a Roman guard! What’s interesting about Paul’s “sunny disposition” that shines all the way through this book, is that he was not in prison for doing something wrong. If that would have been the case, at least Paul could just face the reality that there are always consequences for wrong behavior, and he would just have to make the best of his self-inflicted consequences. The fact is, Paul had not done anything wrong. He was in bonds because of a false charge!

It wasn’t that Paul had been able to keep this incredibly cheery and positive attitude because he had only been there a couple of days, and so he was still able to keep himself psyched up, not to mention the fact that this would be an incredibly cool story for his monthly missionary letter! No, check this out…by the time of the writing of this letter, Paul had been in bonds for five whole years!

We might also want to factor into Paul’s impeccable attitude, that it also wasn’t that Paul was over-the-hill, and had already passed his window of effectiveness anyway, so where he rode out his waning years was of no real consequence. No, when he was cast into this prison, his ministry was at its absolute pinnacle! These five years he had been in prison should have been the best and most productive years of his entire ministry! Yet, day after day, he’s in bonds, chained to a Roman guard.

Oh, and don’t miss this—it wasn’t that he was in prison because that dirty, nasty devil had caused lost people to lie about Paul, and orchestrate some devious plot to have him cast into prison. No, he’s there because of GOSSIP! That’s right, gossip. Gossip that began and spread amongst Christians, nonetheless! (You can read all about it in Acts 21.) He is in prison because of a rumor that was being spread by believing Jews, who were still hanging on to, and were zealous for, the law. Wow! Knowing he was there because of gossiping Christians would seem to make his situation even more difficult to come to grips with! But that is why he is there!

I am going through all these things to make sure we understand that there is absolutely no human explanation for Paul having the attitude of rejoicing that he has as he is writing this letter! He has every right, humanly, to be bitter, angry, disillusioned, frustrated, depressed, and worried. It’s important to note, because chances are good, that in some way, shape, or form, every one of us feels, at least to some degree, that we are in prison. Not necessarily a prison with bars, as in Paul’s case, but a “prison” nonetheless. Perhaps there are things that have taken place in your life that have left you feeling that you are “locked in”. They have “hindered” you, or “restricted” you in some way. They have “tied your hands”, so to speak. The bars are invisible; the chains cannot be seen with physical eyes; but they’re just as real as the ones that were restricting Paul! Perhaps you’re in a job you absolutely hate, but you see no other options, and it’s a ball and chain to you every weekday of your life. Or maybe you don’t have a job at all, and feel that you’re in a prison of a dull, unfulfilled life. Or maybe yours is a prison of loneliness. You feel imprisoned because you are single. Or maybe on the opposite extreme, you feel imprisoned because you’re married! Or maybe like Paul, you’ve been the victim of gossip, and the hurt you have inside has left you feeling that your freedom has been taken away, and you find yourself bound by your own emotions. Or perhaps you have been the victim of some injustice, and your mind keeps you behind bars because you cannot stop thinking about it.

I do not know what kind of prison you may be in with its invisible bars, but both the human writer and the divine Author of the book of Philippians want to let you know that it is possible to be in a prison, and yet find freedom and joy in life and ministry, regardless of your circumstances, no matter who was responsible for making them that way, and even if they never change! The key to living in that kind of victory is the other key point of emphasis God makes through repetition in this book: our ATTITUDE!

The word “mind” is found 10 times in this little book. The word “think” is found five times, and the word “remember” is found once. In all, 16 times God is trying to get us to see that JOY is a CHOICE we make because of right thinking, which is the theme of this book. Some of us have faced circumstances in our lives like those mentioned above. They have left us discouraged, depressed, and/or imprisoned. But watch how God ministers through the inspired words of this book:

In chapter 1, He tells us that we can find joy in our CIRCUMSTANCES because Christ is our LIFE. The key verse in the chapter is verse 21, where Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Some of us have had people who have injured us in some way, and we wrestle with bitterness and anger.

In chapter 2, God says that we can find joy in our RELATIONSHIPS because Christ is our PATTERN. The key verse in this chapter is verse 5, which says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Some of us wrestle with our flesh: worldliness on one hand, and good deeds on the other, but both driven by the same carnal source, the flesh!

And, in chapter 3, Paul says, we can find joy in our WALK because Christ is our RIGHTEOUSNESS. The key verse in this chapter is verse 9 where Paul says, “[That I may (verse 8)] be found in him, not having mine OWN righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Then, some of us are gripped by worry and fear. In chapter 4, Paul says that we can find joy in our ADVERSITIES because Christ is our SUFFICIENCY. The key verse in this chapter is verse 13, where Paul says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” As you can see, the book of Philippians is an extremely practical book that addresses real-life issues, and points us toward the joy that is found in and through Christ alone. Oh, may it be ours as God ministers to us through this powerful book today!

OVERVIEW:

The believer’s position in Christ (chapter 1); the believer’s salvation by grace through faith (chapter 2); the revelation of the mystery of the church (chapter 3); the believer’s walk in the world (chapters 4-6).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

There are so many things that could and should be said about the book of Ephesians, but again, this is simply not the venue for exhaustive commentary. We will only be able to establish the “big picture” of the book at best. Perhaps the best way to see the big picture of this book, is by applying it to one of the most controversial passages, not only in this book, but in the entire Bible. That passage is found in chapter 1, verses 4 and 5, where Paul says: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

Now, based on where you land on the interpretation of these verses (and verses such as these), you are labeled either a “Calvinist” or an “Arminian”. Several hundred years ago, one position was popularized by John Calvin, and the other, sometime later, by a man named Jacob Arminius. The basic Arminian position, when it is used today, is that in terms of salvation, “whosoever will may come.” (Revelation 22:17) The basic Calvinist position, as it is expressed today, is that only the quote-unquote “elect”, will be saved, meaning that the only ones who will come to Christ are those who, in eternity past, God chose, according to His sovereign grace, to be saved.

There are many others, however, who if were asked whether they were an Arminian or a Calvinist, would answer “yes”, meaning that they believe both. Their reasoning is that in their minds, there’s no doubt about it, the Bible teaches that “whosoever will may come.” Yet, they would also say that there’s no doubt about the fact that the Bible also teaches that believers were “chosen in him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4) When asked how they reconcile these two seemingly contradictory statements, they may answer, as did Charles Spurgeon, “Friends don’t need to be reconciled!” They believe God put both in the Bible, and conclude, therefore, that both must be equally true, and though they don’t come together in the human mind, they certainly must come together in the mind of God, so rather than force them to come together, let’s just allow God to be God, because after all, His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are far above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8–9), and the secret things belong to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29), so let’s just accept it, and go on! This reasoning is usually followed with the illustration that goes something like: as we approach the gates of heaven, there’s a sign over the gates that says, “Whosoever will my come.” As we walk through the gates on into heaven, and we look back above them, however, the sign says, “Chosen before the foundation of the world.” That “middle-of-the-road” approach is rather convincing, and sounds SPIRITUAL, and even humble, but none of those things are the real issue! The issue is always the same: Is it BIBLICAL?

So, we come to verse 4 of Ephesians 1, and what does it say? It says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” Now, there are many people who will say to us, “C’mon! I mean, how clear can it be? My goodness, just let the Bible be the Bible!” Okay! Well, let’s do that!

First of all, let’s be sure that we recognize that if this verse is teaching that sometime before the foundation of the world, God had already chosen each of us who would be saved, then what the verse is teaching is that we we’re actually “IN CHRIST” before the foundation of the world, because the verse says, “According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.” Now, if we were placed “IN HIM before the foundation of the world”, it obviously poses a huge problem! Because the Bible clearly states that prior to our salvation, we were:

• “IN Adam!” (1^st Corinthians 15:22)
• “IN trespasses and sins!” (Ephesians 2:1)
• “IN the lusts of our flesh!” (Ephesians 2:3)
• “IN the world!” (Ephesians 2:12)

Are we to believe, then, that in eternity past (“before the foundation of the world”), God placed us “IN Christ”, and then, somehow, we got OUT of Christ, and were found “IN Adam, IN trespasses and sins, IN the lusts of our flesh, and IN the world”, only so that sometime later He could put us back “IN CHRIST” again? Wow! I can’t find a way for that to make any biblical sense!

The fact is, Ephesians 1:4–5 must be understood within the very first principle of Bible study: CONTEXT!

I would submit that most pastors, teachers, and commentators come to these verses without putting them into the context of the book of Ephesians, or even the chapter in which the verses are found. So, leaving the context, they read, “He hath chosen US in him,” and assume that the “US” means “INDIVIDUALS” God chose to salvation.

In the CONTEXT of the book of Ephesians, and even more specifically in chapter 1, however, Paul is introducing to us something that no believer in Christ had understood prior to the writing of the book of Ephesians; “the mystery of the church”. Or, in other words, the fact that the church, spiritually, is as much the “body of Christ” as was the physical body that Christ lived in during His 33 years on this planet! Listen, that’s the “US” to whom Paul is referring in Ephesians 1:4! It is “the church”, in a collective sense, which chapter 1 and verse 23 goes on to reveal “is His BODY”! Again, that’s what the whole book of Ephesians is about and why God placed it in His Bible! To teach “US” (as in, all of “US” who have called upon His name!) that “WE”, collectively, are the body of Christ!

Notice, that Paul says in chapter 1 and verse 10: “That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things IN CHRIST.” To what time period is that referring? The “CHURCH” Age, right?

So, it goes like this…

Yes, Ephesians 1:4 clearly teaches that God made a very definite DECISION “before the foundation of the world”. But what was it that He was “CHOOSING”? Does the verse say that He was choosing INDIVIDUALS to salvation? Absolutely not! What the verse says is that before the foundation of the world, God chose that the “CHURCH”, the body of Christ (all of “US” who exercise our will, and by faith, call upon Him to save “US!”) would be different than any people who have ever lived! God CHOSE before the foundation of the world that our salvation would place us “IN CHRIST”! HOW did God make that CHOICE? The end of the very next verse (verse 5) says that the choice was made “according to the good pleasure of His will”! In other words, He did it because He is God, and that’s what He sovereignly chose to do! WHY did God the Father CHOOSE to give us that standing? Verse 4 goes on to tell us! It was so we could constantly, regardless of our attitude, our disposition, our sin, or anything we DO or DO NOT DO, “be holy and without blame before Him in love”! The only way that could ever possibly be a reality is for God to have chosen to place us “in Christ”, so that when He looks at us, He sees His Son, who has always, even before the foundation of the world, constantly been “holy and without blame before Him in love”! Do you realize that the only people who have ever possessed the spiritual position of being “IN CHRIST”, are the people who are saved in the Church Age?

Do you realize that as wonderful as God thought Noah, Daniel, and Job were (Ezekiel 14:20), they were never “IN CHRIST” a day in their lives?! That exclusive standing was something God decreed before the foundation of the world that would be totally unique to believers when God was carrying out His plan on the earth through this extraordinary thing called the “CHURCH”! Read carefully in Ephesians 3:1–12, and you will see that “the eternal purpose which he purposed IN CHRIST Jesus our Lord” (3:11), was that it would be the “CHURCH” that would know “the manifold wisdom of God”, having been placed “IN CHRIST”!

Again, make sure you understand that what God is communicating in and through the book of Ephesians is that those of “US” who are believers in the Church Age are the only ones who have ever had the distinct privilege of being “holy and without blame before him in love”! (1:4) Do we have that standing before Him because we’re just so much more “holy and blameless and lovable” than all the Old Testament saints? A thousand times, “No!” It’s simply because of this supremely wonderful CHOICE that God made in eternity past, to immediately place those of us who exercise our will in the Church Age by calling upon the name of His Son to save us “IN Christ”! Then, to secure that position, “SEAL US in Him, until the day of redemption”, or in other words, until the day we receive a glorified body that is incapable of sinning! (Ephesians 1:12–14; 4:30; Philippians 3:21) All I can say to that is, HALLELUJAH!”

Moving further into Ephesians 1:5, do you realize that the only ones who have been “predestinated unto the adoption of children” (1:5), are those of “US” who are believers in the Church Age? Again, notice that God wasn’t predestinating WHO WOULD BE SAVED, but rather, the fact that those of us who ARE SAVED in the Church Age, would have the glorious privilege as a benefit of our salvation, to be ADOPTED as God’s CHILDREN! Yeah, let’s just let the Bible be the Bible! Let’s hear what these verses are saying in their CONTEXT, without reading something into them that just isn’t there!

Do you now see why it is that believers in the Church Age are eternally secure, why that was not true for Old Testament saints, and will not be true for Tribulation saints? (Matthew 24:13) It’s because we are the only ones who have ever been or will ever be placed “IN Christ”! We are the only people who have ever or will ever have their righteousness and acceptance with God, not based on WHO WE ARE or WHAT WE DO, but based on WHO CHRIST IS, and WHAT HE HAS DONE! (2^nd Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:6)

This really isn’t hard; in fact, it’s really very simple when we simply place the verses in their context and stop reading into them things that are not there! Let’s agree with Paul, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ!” (Ephesians 1:3)

OVERVIEW:

The priority of grace in Paul’s message and life (chapter 1); the priority of grace in Paul’s ministry (chapter 2); the preeminence of grace over law (chapters 3 and 4); the priority of standing in liberty and walking in the Spirit in grace living (chapters 5 and 6).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Understanding the key issues facing the churches in Galatia causes the six chapters of this book to be some of the most practical in the entire New Testament. The fact is, the 1^st century “Galatian” problem is alive and well in Christianity in the 21^st century! Let us begin with a little background information.

Whereas the other letters written by Paul to local churches were addressed to one specific local church in one specific city (i.e. Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica), this letter was written to a group of local churches in a particular region. That region, known to us as modern-day Turkey, was known in the 1^st century as Galatia. It was this area that was settled by the Gauls of France, and thus, became known as Galatia, or “Gaulatia”, if you will. The local churches in this region were established by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. The specific churches were the churches in the cities of Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia. (See Acts 13:14–14:23)

Obviously, these churches were comprised of Gentile believers who had responded to Paul and Barnabas’ proclamation of the gospel which they received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. After receiving Christ, Acts 14:22–23 lets us know that Paul and Barnabas spent time “confirming the souls of the disciples” in each of these churches, making sure that “they had ordained them elders in every church.” Not long after Paul and Barnabas had grounded these churches in the truth, however, false teachers began infiltrating these churches with what Paul called “another gospel”. (1:6) Much to Paul’s utter shock and dismay, the “disciples” (Acts 14:22) and “elders” (Acts 14:23) in these churches dropped Paul and his gospel like a hot potato, for a false, powerless, and even damnable “gospel”. (1:6-9) Paul, literally, could not believe it! He writes to rebuke and to correct these churches using some of the strongest language found in any of his letters.

These false teachers are known historically as “Judaizers” or “legalists”. They were Jews, who like Paul before his conversion, were incredibly zealous for Judaism (the Jewish religion), and thus, the title, “Judaizers”. Their basic point of attack upon these Galatian believers was that if they, as Gentiles, really wanted to BE saved, and/or, if they really wanted to STAY saved, and/or, if they really wanted to “be SPIRITUAL”, they would have to “become like them”. In other words, they would first have to become Jewish proselytes, and live under the requirements and ramifications of the law, and thus, the title, “legalists” (the word “legal” being connected to “law”). Luke summarizes their basic false teaching in Acts 15:1: “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

Paul’s reaction to this false teaching is what actually prompted the writing of this scathing letter to the Galatian churches. Paul is absolutely livid with these false teachers, not to mention the Galatian believers themselves! In chapter 1, verses 8–9, he says that those who preach this false gospel give evidence that they are worthy of hell (1:8-9), and he goes on to say that those who are swayed by them give evidence that they have not only been misinformed or deceived, but actually, “BEWITCHED”! (3:1) Wow! What a strong word! Paul is letting them know that they were acting as if they were under some sort of a Satanic spell!

The content of this letter is of utmost importance because the Judaizers of the 1^st century were not the last preachers and teachers to infiltrate churches, and even lead churches, who propagate that there is something “MORE” that you need to “DO” in order to:

• BE saved. (i.e. “You must be baptized,” or “You must keep the sacraments,” etc.)
• STAY saved. (i.e. “You must hold out faithful to the end.”)
• Be SPIRITUAL. (i.e. “You must be like us. You must dress like this—not like that. You must wear your hair like this—not like that. You must listen to this kind of music—not that kind. You can go to these places—but not those. Etc., etc., etc.”)

Understanding Paul’s simple message through the book of Galatians is vital in keeping us off the endless treadmill of legalism. What the Galatians didn’t understand, as is the case with most believers today, is that they were already as SAVED as they would ever be, and already as SPIRITUAL as they would ever be! That incredible standing before God isn’t based on anything WE DO or DO NOT DO, it is based solely and wholly upon WHO CHRIST IS, and what He has DONE! Paul said in 2^nd Corinthians 5:21 that we were “MADE the righteousness of God in Him” the moment we were saved! It’s impossible to get more righteous than that! Quite simply, our righteous standing before God isn’t ACHIEVED, it is RECEIVED! Paul said in Ephesians 1:6 that we were “MADE accepted” with God the moment we were placed “in Christ”! That means that God accepts us in the very same way He accepts Christ, His beloved Son! It’s impossible to be more accepted than that! Again, don’t miss the fact that this is all totally apart from anything WE DO or DO NOT DO!!! That lesson is foreign to most believers, and typically comes long and hard! The difference, however, is the difference between legalism and a life of walking in the flesh; and true, genuine biblical Christianity and a life of walking in the Spirit! Quite honestly, it is the difference between a life of bondage and a life of freedom.

The message of the Holy Spirit through Paul to the Galatian believers, and to believers today, is simply this: Christ, through His death, set us free from the law! In chapter 3, verses 2–3, Paul asks, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” The obvious answer is that it was through faith and by His Spirit that we were saved, and were placed on the road to maturity. Based on that reality, Paul admonishes us, first, to learn to STAND: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (5:1) So that, secondly, we can learn to WALK: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (5:16)

Understanding the practical teaching and ramifications of the book of Galatians for new believers cannot be overemphasized. It will literally save 20 years (conservative estimate) of frustration, as the flesh tenaciously seeks and strives to produce what can only be produced by the Spirit (5:22-23) through the faith of Christ. (2:16, 20. See also Philippians 3:9; Romans 3:20-22.) Pray that God will open your eyes to the wondrous and freeing truths found in this incredible little book of Galatians.

OVERVIEW:

The grace of giving (chapters 8-9); Paul defends his ministry (chapter 10); the false religious system (chapter 11); Paul’s final defense to the Corinthians (chapter 12); Paul’s final appeal to the Corinthians (chapter 13).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Today’s reading provides the clearest and most complete principles on giving in the entire New Testament (chapters 8-9). The Corinthians had committed to supplying funds to help the church in Jerusalem, but at the time of the writing of this letter, had not yet followed through on their commitment. Paul writes to exhort them to fulfill their promise, and in the process, is used of God to lay out the New Testament pattern for giving. Note some of the principles gleaned from these two chapters:

• It is the grace of God that allows us to give sacrificially. (8:1-3)
• Giving should result from us having already first given ourselves to the Lord. (8:5)
• By God’s grace, we shouldn’t just give, but abound in giving! (8:7)
• Giving is the proof of the sincerity of our love. (8:8)
• Jesus Christ is the ultimate picture of giving. (8:9)
• We should be a generous giver. (9:6)
• We should purpose in our hearts to give the amount the Lord wants us to give. (9:7)
• We should give cheerfully. (9:7) (In other words, we should give, not because we have to, but because we want to!)

We also find one of the simplest biblical explanations of God’s grace in 8:9, that we could express in these terms:

• G—God’s
• R—Riches
• A—At
• C—Christ’s
• E—Expense

The ultimate gift is the grace that God has bestowed upon us. Perhaps grace is best understood by comparing it to justice and mercy.

• JUSTICE is God giving us WHAT we deserve.
• MERCY is God NOT giving us what we deserve.
• GRACE is God giving us what we DID NOT deserve.

As we move into the last section of the book (chapters 10-13), Paul begins to challenge the rebels in the church that were questioning his AUTHORITY, as well as the false teachers (“Judaizers”) that had infiltrated the church and were attacking Paul’s GOSPEL. In addressing these problems, Paul teaches us two significant lessons concerning the warfare we face as believers (10:3-5):

1. Our battle is not with PEOPLE, but with the spiritual POWERS that are often at work THROUGH people. (See also Ephesians 6:12)
2. We cannot win in this SPIRITUAL WARFARE using CARNAL WEAPONS. (10:4)

As we come into chapter 11, Paul talks further about the spiritual powers that were working through the human false teachers in the 1^st century in Corinth. Note that it is the same spiritual powers that are working through the human false teachers in the 21^st century! Paul tells us in 11:15 that they are actually “Satan’s ministers”! Don’t miss that! Satan has “ministers”! Contrary to how easily we might think it would be to recognize them, Paul tells us that in the same way that Satan transforms himself into an “angel of light”, his ministers likewise transform themselves as “ministers of righteousness”. (11:13-15) In other words, they live impeccable lives, present a good, godly demeanor, and even use “Christian” terminology as they present their message!

Back in verse 4 of this chapter, Paul says that they preach “Jesus”… they preach the “gospel”… and they preach about receiving the “spirit”. The only problem is, it’s not the Jesus of the Bible but “ANOTHER Jesus”! It isn’t the gospel that Paul preached but it’s “ANOTHER gospel”! It isn’t the “HOLY Spirit” but “ANOTHER Spirit”! (11:4) Just as Paul was admonishing the Corinthians, we must wise up! We must be discerning! As John urged us in 1^st John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because MANY false prophets are gone out into the world.”

As Paul comes to the end of this epistle, he makes his final defense of his apostleship in chapter 12, through the vision God gave to him of the third heaven. The experience was so unbelievably incredible, God not only forbade him to write about it but felt it necessary to give Paul “a thorn in the flesh” to keep him humble!

By the time Paul gets to his final appeal to the Corinthians in chapter 13, he has not only very calculatedly opened his very soul to them, but has provided a thorough explanation of his ministry, giving detailed answers to all of their accusations and objections, as well as confirming his deep affection and love for them. In this closing section, Paul pleads with the Corinthians to make sure that his third visit to them was not laden with drama (for him or for them!) like the previous visit had been.