The Unsearchable Riches of Christ: Commentary Series

We examine this chapter once more, along with other cross reference passages in God’s word, to establish the truth that God deals with men on two different levels.  One regards the nations of the earth, and the other regards the individuals of the earth within those nations.  The Bible is very careful and clear to distinguish between these two truths so we too must be very careful and clear in our handling of it.  Let’s study the word of God.

Why does life sometimes seem to just go crazy? Why would Paul have Timothy circumcised when the previous chapter just clarified it to be unnecessary?  Why would the Holy Ghost forbid Paul from going into Asia Minor on this journey?  Open your Bibles and let’s find out.

James picks up the salvation argument where Peter left off and address two things:  1. The church age truths have been known unto God since before the world began and was scattered throughout the Old Testament prophetical writings, and 2. Since salvation is a matter of grace through faith in Jesus Christ, how must the church behave morally around Gentiles?  We have much to discuss so, open your Bibles and let’s study God’s word.

How many different types of baptisms are in the Bible?  In fact, there are 7.  Let’s study the word of God together.

The scripture in Romans 9-11 shifts gears to discuss the nation of Israel, and choices that both God and men make become the focus.  God makes choices and thanks be to God that He’s given us the freedom and liberty to make choices too.  So, let’s examine Romans 9 to see just what choices God and men make.

Are we saved by grace through faith alone or are work(s) required by the believer?  This is a 2,000-year-old argument that was settled within the early church in Acts 15.  So, let’s examine the Bible and allow God and His word to settle this argument.

We’ve learned a grand truth from Romans that the gospel is available to both Jew and Gentile (Romans 1:16 & 2:5-11).  The close of Acts 13 fully develops this truth.  Why is it that the Gentiles have become the predominate recipients around the world?  The answer is a four-letter word … envy.   Open your Bibles and let’s read how the Jews “judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life.”

This Gospel jumps right into the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and there is so much contained in these verses … the gospel, repentance, baptisms, the trinity, temptations and trials, etc.  We have much to discuss so open your Bibles and let’s study God’s word.

We are beginning a new study … the book of Mark.  It’s arguably the oldest New Testament book, so just who is Mark?  Why did God have him write the gospel account?  I believe all those answers are contained in God’s word.  Open your Bibles and let’s study it together.

What does it mean to be elect, and who are the elect?  Many religious sects teach various things associated with this topic, and as always, the Bible rests in the middle ground of those religious teachings.  So, let’s once again study the word of God to see just what the Bible says.

So just what does it mean to be predestinated?  The definition of that word simply means that a destination has been predetermined.  The common religious teaching is that God predestinated us (those that first believe and receive the truth of the gospel concerning Jesus Christ) to go to heaven.  But is that the destination taught in scripture?  Well, open your Bibles and let’s study the word of God.

These verses summarize our Blessed Hope guaranteed to come in future days.  Arno Gaebelein said, “the hope of the ruined creation is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who is both the creator of all things and the redeemer … and when He comes groaning creation will be delivered … and His rest shall be glorious!”  You don’t want to miss our study of this truth from God’s word! 

Previously, we quickly slowed down in our study of Acts 13 to draw your attention to the phrase “raised AGAIN.”  Just what does God mean by this?  If you read the Bible fast, this is a grand truth that gets missed.  So, open your Bibles and let’s study the word of God.

We cover quite a bit of ground through this chapter which speaks of Paul’s 1^st missionary journey.  There are several spiritual truths we can glean from this portion of scripture concerning Israel and the Gentiles.  What are those truths?  Open your Bibles and let’s find out.

The Bible declares that we are the spiritual people of God, and that the moment we received God’s glorious salvation offered us through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have received an inheritance.  We have it right now.  So, what is this inheritance?  Open your Bibles and let’s study the word of God.

BEHOLD!  That word is perfect to draw our attention to what these verses proclaim.  Oh, what grand truths are contained in these 4 verses!  Open your Bibles and let’s behold Jesus Christ for what He’s done for us.

Several things are discussed here.  1. How does God view the saved man and woman?  Answer … He sees him as if He’s looking at His Son Jesus Christ.  When the Father looks at us, He sees His Son.  2. The Bible is very clear that every person is either Natural, Carnal, or Spiritual.  The Natural man is one who is lost and unsaved by the grace of God.  The saved man however, either lives like a lost man (carnal) or lives as Christ enables him to live (spiritual).  Which one are you?  Open your Bibles and let’s discuss these truths from God’s word.

James is killed by Herod.  Then Peter is placed in prison only to be released by an angel of the Lord.  Each guard is then killed in consequence of losing Peter, and then the chapter concludes with the miraculous death of Herod.  A lot of death and imprisonment.  This chapter has much to teach us so open your Bibles and let’s study the word of God.

Probably the most criticized word in the KJV is the word Easter, found in Acts 12:4.  Why is the Greek word pascha (which means both Passover and Easter) translated this way in Acts when the 28 other times it’s found in the New Testament it’s translated Passover?  Did the translators get it correct back in 1611?  Well, let’s study the word of God to find out.

Peter rehashes to the believer Jews in Judea what just happened to the Gentiles.  At first, the Jews contend the matter but eventually the truth of God prevails.  Then we see a major shift in the church’s history where God moves the focus of the church from Jerusalem to Antioch.  Open your Bibles and let’s study the word of God.