The Way-An in-depth study of God's Word with Paul Orr

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It was time for Naomi to leave and return to Judah. Obviously, there was a tremendous amount of love between Naomi and her two daughters-in-law. Both Orpah and Ruth insisted on returning to Judah with Naomi. Although Naomi loved them both as if they were her own daughters, she discouraged them from returning with her. Naomi knew that if they returned with her to Judah, they would be subjected to the same inescapable life of poverty that she would have to endure for the remainder of her days. Staying in Moab would offer them the security of their mother’s house and possibly allow them an opportunity to start again. Naomi must return to Judah. She could not endorse either Orpah or Ruth going with her.

 What Naomi said apparently made sense to Orpah. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and remained in Moab. Ruth, on the other hand, clung to Naomi. Although Naomi had given Ruth a perfectly acceptable reason to stay in Moab, Ruth would not listen. Ruth was beyond reason. 

 Ruth somehow realized that a life of poverty in Judah was far better than a life of wealth in Moab.  Ruth knew nothing of comfort or convenience. Ruth was driven by a deep conviction.

Ruth than gives one of the great confessions of faith recorded in the scriptures. As great as this confession is, it should in fact be the confession of everyone who has chosen to become a follower of Jesus. The question we must ask ourselves is this, "Does the vow of Ruth reflect my level of commitment to Christ?

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Ruth is one of the greatest treasures within the entirety of the Old Testament. A small book, yes, but one that possesses an ever-revealing value. The more this little book is read, the more its inexhaustible worth and beauty is discovered. Ruth is a timeless, priceless treasure to hide deep within our hearts. 

There is so much to discover in Ruth. While we will do our best to discover all that Ruth has to offer, in all reality, it will simply arouse a deep interest to discover more of God's great truths buried throughout this beautiful love story.

Ruth encapsulates the entirety of God's word. It reveals to us the heart of God found in the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Ruth will bring great illumination to the truth of God found in Jesus Christ and His word.

Ruth begins at a dark time in the nation's history. Yet no matter how dark and desperate things seem, God is still at work accomplishing His Divine purposes through ordinary people in the common affairs to which we are all accustomed.

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Paul concludes this incredible masterpiece of an epistle. Clearly, the letter to the Romans was inspired and anointed by the Holy Spirit. The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its importance in the life of every believer cannot be overstated. For all who have been born into the body of Christ, familiarity with the book of Romans is essential.

As Paul closes this letter, he gives special commendation to Phoebe, a sister and servant in Christ. He sends the warmest heartfelt greetings to those now in Rome who he had met over the years. He also sends greetings from those who are joined with him in ministry to those who are in Rome. Sandwiched in all of this is one final warning to identify and avoid those stealthy, deceitful workers of evil.

What better way to close out this great letter than with one final prayer? Now to Him who is able to establish you. It is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone that we are able to receive spiritual life. It is according to the Gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ that God alone is able to establish us. Make Jesus the center of your life and you will stand. God will establish you in all of your ways.

The final words of Paul's prayer sum up this great epistle perfectly.  To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.  

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Paul now summarizes his discussion that began in chapter 14 verse 1. We who are strong have a continuing obligation to bear with the weaknesses of those in Christ who are not strong. For the strong in Christ, to bear with the weak is not a burden, rather a privilege. We are called to live a life seeking to please our brothers and sisters in Christ for their good and for building them up in the body of Christ. In summary, all Christians, both weak and strong, are to receive one another in the love according to the truth found in Christ Jesus.

Our ultimate example in true courageous living is Jesus. All Christian are called to follow Jesus. Jesus alone is the true measure of every Christian. The question a true believer must always ask themselves is, how much like Jesus am I?

Paul in his summary statement prays several times for those to whom he is writing. These are great examples of prayer and how we as believers should be praying for one another. 

Finally, Paul begins his concluding remarks to this church that he has never seen. In these remarks he will discuss his philosophy of ministry as well as his plans to visit them in the future. Paul's concluding remarks are rich with instruction and encouragement. There is much we will learn from Paul's closing remarks.

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Paul continues to give the church commands to obey in light of the great salvation we have through the finished work of Jesus. Paul presented to us the doctrine of salvation in the first 11 chapters. Now he is declaring to us our duty in light of this great doctrine.

In this study Paul speaks with us about relationships within the body of Christ. Specifically, he is speaking to mature Christians and how they should relate to the weaker Christians in the way of non-doctrinal, non-essential issues. Paul describes them as doubtful things.

In this study, Paul will establish two laws that we as believers are to live in obedience to if the body of Christ is to be healthy.  The first law is the law of liberty. Paul describes the great freedom that we have in Christ. Next, he presents to us the law of love.  Our freedom under the Lordship of Jesus is awesome yet dangerous if not balanced against the love we have under the Lordship of Jesus.

The liberty that we have in Christ must be lived in the love of Christ.

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In this study we are going to continue to look at Romans 13:11-14. It is such a great exhortation from Paul. He is commanding us on how we are to live in light of the great salvation that we have in Christ Jesus.  We want to make sure that none of these commands are missed.

However, prior to re-looking at these scriptures, we are beginning this study with a short prophesy update. I light of the passage we are looking at and the rapidity of events taking place all around us, it would seem a good moment to take a quick pause and look at current events through the lens of scripture.

There are five key take aways from this study. First, we must live in total obedience to Jeus Christ and His word, Next, we must know the times that we are living in. Then we must wake up. After that we are to cast off the works of darkness and make absolutely no provision for the flesh. Finally, we must put on the armor of light, we must put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

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We continue to look at the duty to practical Christian living that all true believers have been called to in light of the great doctrine of salvation. Paul spent 11 chapters declaring to us the doctrine of salvation. Now we are looking at the obedient, practical, godly Christian life to which we have all been called. Every aspect of the Christian life must be lived in total obedience to God's word regardless of cost or consequence.

We first look on how we as Christians are called to live under a secular government. Paul first explains that God has established human government and raises up those who rule in human government. He explains God's purpose for raising up authorities and rulers. Finally, he explains our role as believers within the human government that God has established and raised up.

Paul then moves from our obligation to government to our obligation to show the love of Christ in all our relationships. This includes all relationships, both within the church and without the church. As followers of Jesus Christ, love must be the ultimate expression of our lives.

Paul concludes this section with a charge for us to be obedient to everything he has written, beginning with Romans 12:1 up to Romans 13:10.  He challenges us to be aware that we are living in the last days leading up to the return of Christ. He exhorts us, the church, to wake up and remove the works of darkness from ourselves and dress fully in the armor of light.

We are living in a time that no one in the church should question, even in the slightest, that the return of Christ is at hand. Many do say they believe Jesus is coming yet how many are actually living like Jesus is coming. What we truly believe in our heart will impact the way we live our lives. Are we living as though Jesus could return at any moment? If not, why?

Start living in full obedience to Jesus Christ and His word. Know the time that you are living in. Wake up! Cast off the works of darkness and dress fully in the armor of light.

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Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.

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We continue to look at our duty to live the practical obedient Christian life in light of the great doctrine of salvation that Paul has presented to us. We do not live the obedient Christian life in order to receive God's love, we live the obedient Christian life in response to the love of God that we have already received in Christ Jesus.

Obedient Christian living involves how we are reacting to the actions and emotion of those around us, both the believer and the unbeliever. We are to be in the habit of speaking well of those who persecute us. We are to be mindful of the emotions of those around us. We must not repay anyone evil for evil. Our love must continue even when we have been wronged.  And we must be on guard against conceit and pride. These will destroy our ability to live the obedient Christian life that brings glory to God.

We will also begin to look at the way we as Christians are to live the obedient Christian life in response to the government we are living under. This is a crucial area in the life of a believer. Paul's instructions to us through the Holy Spirit have quite often been misinterpreted and in some cases abused. In this study we will begin to take a thorough look at this aspect of our Christianity. We will do so by applying the whole counsel of God.

As Christians we are to live in response to the great salvation we have in Christ Jesus, initiated by God the Father toward us. We are to follow Jesus with such love, devotion and obedience that we may become more and more like Him. Let us live lives of obedience that brings glory to God in all that we do. 

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Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.

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Paul has presented to us the great doctrine of salvation. Now we as believers have a duty to respond to this incredible biblical doctrine through obedient practical Christian living. 

In the first two verse of Romans 12, Paul laid out for us the foundation required for obedient Christian living. This foundation is established by the consecration of our lives upon the alter of God as a living sacrifice. In addition, we are not to be conformed to this evil world, rather we are to be transformed within our minds by the daily renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Paul opens up his exhortations and commands to us concerning practical Christian living with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He identifies and describes some of these gifts. He points out the parallelism between the church and the human body. The church like the human body is a living thing.  Also, in both, there must be unity, diversity, mutuality, respect, harmony and no rivalries. We as members of the church draw our life from the head, Christ. The gifts bestowed upon us by the grace of God alone, through the Holy Spirit are intended for the benefit of the entire body of Christ to the glory of God. 

Following his instructions on the gifts, Paul moves on to what our attitudes should be as we exercise these gifts within the body of Christ. He presents to us a series of firm commands. He begins with love. We must have a love that is sincere. A love that can only come through a mature and abiding relationship with Jesus. A love that bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The maturity displayed in the fruit of the Spirit is essential in order for us as believers to utilize the gifts of the Spirit fully for the benefit of the body and to the glory of Jesus.

Finally, this study will begin and end with a warning against pride. Pride has a destructive nature. Pride will wreak havoc within the body of Christ. Nowhere throughout all the scripture does the Bible commend pride. Pride is a great evil. It is the origin of evil. Pride has no place whatsoever in the church. Paul's warnings of pride must be heeded. May God give us the ability to see these warnings with great clarity. Furthermore, may we have the courage to obey these warnings with all soberness.

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The first 11 chapters of Romans has been an outstanding presentation of great theology. Paul has laid out before us the great doctrine of salvation. Where would we be without God's great doctrine of salvation. He concludes this great doctrine with a doxology. A hymn of praise that he simply could not contain. But Paul does not stop there, nor should we. Paul immediately moves into what should be our practical, reasonable response to the incredible mercies of God displayed in this great doctrine of His salvation.

A principal of scripture that is essential, if we truly desire to live a victorious Christian life; duty always follow doctrine. Great biblical doctrine should inspire us to practical Christian living displayed in total obedience to God's word regardless of cost of consequence.

In this study we will only look at the first two verses of Romans 12. These are familiar verses, yet they are verses that we must fully understand and embrace. The balance of Romans pivots on these two verses. It is these two verses that perfectly connect God's great doctrine of salvation with our response of practical, obedient duty.

Contact Paul at [email protected]
Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.