816 - Les Feldick Bible Study - Lesson 3 Part 4 Book 68 - But Now - You are Made Nigh - Part 4

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 3 * PART 4 * BOOK 68 BUT NOW - YOU ARE MADE NIGH – PART 4 Eph. 2:13; Eph. 4:20; Phil. 2:27 Okay, it is good to see everybody in. Once again, we’re on program number four. We’ll keep right on going, and then we can all head out to our various places. But, before we go any further, I want to again remind folks of all the books available. We’re finishing up book number 68 and then take note of our webpage - www.lesfeldick.org. It is really easy to find. For the Canadian folks out there, call our regular phone number if you can’t get through with the “800” number, 918-768-3218. Again, we want to make mention of how we appreciate your prayers and your letters and your financial help. All right, this is a Bible study. Our primary concern is to help you study on your own. I don’t want anyone to just sit back and hear what Les has got to say about it. I want people to study. And we’re getting response aren’t we, Honey? Jim, you probably even saw a few letters that said the same thing, how that they are getting into the Word and studying it on their own. Okay, we’re going to move on to a different “But Now” or “But...whatever.” We’re going to move on, still in Ephesians, to chapter 4, verse 20. And again, not so much because it says “But Now” or “But God,” but it is a great turning point from what went before to what comes after. That’s what we’re trying to stress on all these series of lessons. All right, Ephesians 4 we’ll read verse 20. Then we’ll go back and see what went before. Ephesians 4:20 “But ye have not so learned Christ;” Now, what’s he talking about? Go back up to verse 17. What were we before we became a believer? What were these Ephesians before they became believers? Ephesians 4:17a “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth…” Paul uses that word over and over to mark a time of something stopping and something beginning. And over and over he’ll use that. We used it, I think, a few programs back. Keep your hand here in Ephesians. We’ve got to go to I Timothy chapter 1, where Paul identifies himself as the beginning of the Body of Christ. There couldn’t have been anybody before Paul, because he was the first one who was a result of the Gospel of Grace. He makes it so plain here. I Timothy chapter 1 dropping down to verse 15, where before we even read the verse, I’ve got to define the word chief found in this verse. It never means the worst, like most preachers make it. It always means the head man, or the first man, or the leader, or the primary reason. Now, I’ll give you one verse for example. Romans 3 verses 1 and 2, where Paul asks the question: Romans 3:1-2 “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there in circumcision? (He answers in the next verse.) 2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them (the Nation of Israel) were committed the oracles (Word) of God.” Now, what does that mean? Well, the main number one reason that they were set apart, was that unto them were revealed this Book. So, the word “chiefly” means first or primarily or whatever. With that in mind, now look at verse 15 in I Timothy chapter 1. I Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” He was the first, the leader, the uppermost. Not worst. And we’ve done this before; wherever the word “chief” is used, it never refers to someone sinful or wicked. It always refers to someone who was number one. He gives an example back there in Acts when he was shipwrecked on Malta. The “chief man” of the island took them in and was good to them. Well, I asked the question then, and I’ll say it again, was he the worst on the island? No! He was probably the governor. He was the head man. So, all the way through the Scriptures that word “chief” never means worst. It means the first, the leader, the best, and so forth. All right, now the next verse and this is why I came here, the “hereafter.” I Timothy 1:16a “Howbeit for this cause (because he’s the first sinner saved by grace) I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, (or patience) for a pattern (That’s what he is. Paul is the pattern.) to them which should (Now here’s the word.) hereafter…” Okay, we’ve got a point in time before which people were saved by something other than the Gospel of Grace and after when they are saved by this Gospel of Grace. Plain as English can make it. All right, back to Ephesians then. So, verse 17, now, from our salvation point forward. Ephesians 4:17b “…that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,” #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible