3 Responses to Foolish vs Wise

1. Travis Lee Roark says:

   December 18, 2024 at 6:30 pm

   I took your blog and edited it to fit my group, Group God’s Love page’s and my blog posts. I hope you don’t mind?

   Travisroark96@gmail.com

   Groupgodslove@gmail.com

   https://travisleeroarklink.wordpress.com/

   http://bibleteacher.org

   Group God’s love

   Editing By Travis Lee Roark
   This was a blog post I found on WordPress.com

   I will be using (The Pastor’s Study Bible App) For educational purposes. If your wanting to learn more about the context Download: “The Pastor’s Study Bible App” from the Google play store.

   Truth about being in a relationship with God. The next five paragraphs were taken from my “World Bible School Bible”.

   “Knowledge is power.” You have probably heard this before. There is truth in it. The more you know, the more you can possibly do. But information itself needs something else very important. It needs wisdom. Knowledge is a combination of facts and experience, but wisdom tells you how to use that knowledge. There are many educated and intelligent people in our world, but there are not so many who we would call “wise.” Why is that?

   Wisdom taught by Jesus is different from what is taught in our world. It comes from two things. First, He was God in the flesh. He was called “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” He had in Him all the divine Knowledge of creation, history, and human nature of God Himself. He lived and set examples to show us exactly what God knows and what He is like. Second, He shared our common experiences as human beings (even more than we can realize).

   Listening to Jesus and following His teachings is surely the wisest thing we can do. His words come from total Knowledge of who we are individually, and total Knowledge of what the world is like, both good and evil. Then is it not reasonable to trust the teaching of the One who knows us, and the world, best?

   Now here is a challenge: choose to obey Jesus in specific ways in your life and see how things go. Forgive someone who has hurt you. Tell the truth when you are tempted to lie. Be kind to someone you dislike. Go out of your way to be helpful to the people you live with. Choose to do good, especially when it is easy to do bad. This is called “loving your neighbor,” and it will change you and the people around you.

   Will these choices be easy? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But these are steps in the path that Jesus Himself took and taught. You can trust that He will guide you deeper into the kind of healthy and joyful life you are meant to live. He died to prove this to you. You know that Jesus calls you to love people because you study the Bible. Now experience that love by following Him in loving others as He guides you in His Word. This is the path to truly knowing Jesus through the wisdom and power of His love.

   Proverbs 14:1 (KJV) Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

   Every wise woman builds her house,
   but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
   Proverbs 14:1 (TPSBA)

   14:1 “Wise”– Prov 24:3; 31:10-31. Her work edifies the family, builds character in her children, and stability in the home.

   “Foolish”– the foolish woman is one who does not know the Lord and has no fear of God. She will contribute to the destruction of the character of her family, though she may vainly imagine she is doing good to it.

   Near And Far Application Of Scripture
   Why did Solomon start out this chapter with the “wise woman” versus the “FOOLISH”. Though Proverbs was written by God through Solomon to give the child of God guidance, it was also written by the father Solomon to his son:

   Proverbs 1:8 (KJV) My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

   My son, hear the instruction
   of your father,
   and do not forsake the law
   of your mother;
   1:8 It is the duty of parents to properly teach their children how to live in this world (Gen 18:19; Deut 6:7; Prov 13:24; 22:6; Eph 6:4). If they do not, they should not be surprised if their children turn out badly.⚜
   Proverbs 1:8 (TPSBA)

   As with most Scripture, the Book of Proverbs has a near application as well as a far application. In the near application, Solomon – who had 700 wives and three hundred concubines (1 Kings 11:3) – wanted his son to avoid the errors he made in his life. Though with this many wives and concubines (1000), we are certain that Solomon had many children, but only one son mentioned in the Scripture – Rehoboam. Rehoboam would assume the Throne of David on Solomon’s death, and Solomon knew that if he married the wrong woman, he would suffer the consequences. The Bible says of Solomon:

   And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.
   11:3 Of what value is the greatest wisdom if we are unable to govern our own desires?⚜
   1 Kings 11:3 (TPSBA)

   “Turned away his heart”– Deut 17:17; Neh 13:26; Prov 31:3.

   1 Kings 11:1-2, 4 (ESV) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. … 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

   But King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites,
   1 Kings 11:1 (TPSBA)

   11:1 “Women”– now begins the sad story of Solomon’s decline and terrible sin. His wisdom was no safeguard against the sins of the flesh. The wise also may be carried away by lust, and human wisdom out of touch with God may fall into incredible folly. (Walking in the Spirit of God is the only way to holiness of life. Compare Ps 51:10-12; Gal 5:16.) Taking many wives was forbidden to kings in Deut 17:17. And God warned His people repeatedly not to marry those who practiced idolatry. See Ex 34:16; Deut 7:1-4; Josh 23:12-13.

   of the nations concerning which the LORD said to the children of Israel, “You must not go in to them and they must not come in to you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods”. Solomon held fast to them in love.
   1 Kings 11:2

   Solomon married outside of the faith of our Lord Jesus. When a man marries a woman who does not love the Lord Jesus, in time that woman will draw the man away from God. The wise woman buildeth her house She cherishes the Lord. She teaches her children about the Lord, and encourages her husband to cling to the articles of faith that the Father has given us.
   The Wise Woman builds her house by encouraging, supporting, and helping her husband to be the best Christ follower he can be. God often speaks to men through their wives. The Bible tells us that before Pilate unjustly condemned Jesus to a criminal’s death on the Cross that his wife reached out to him:

   Matthew 27:19 (ESV) … while {Pilate} was sitting on the judgment seat {judging Jesus}, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”

   While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I have suffered greatly in a dream because of him”.
   27:19 Once again the innocence of Jesus is stated – this time from an unexpected source. But it did not prevent Pilate from having Jesus crucified.⚜
   Matthew 27:19 (TPSBA)

   Pilate ignored his wife, and submitted to the “chief priests and elders of the Sanhedrin” (Matthew 27:20) to release the murderer Barabbas and crucify the innocent Jesus (Matthew 27:23). What happened to the House of Pilate? Appointed as the sixth governor or procurator of Judea by Sejanus, a favorite of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, Pilate promoted Emperor Worship throughout Jerusalem. He was on a fast track to political power in Rome. Yet after crucifying Jesus, his mentor Sejanus was murdered. There was an uprising against Rome in Samaria, and Pilate had it suppressed, killing many. According to Roman-Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus:

   But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
   27:20 Crowds are often easily swayed by strong and unscrupulous leaders. God warns us about being swept along in a crowd to do evil (Ex 23:2). When the crowd is bent on doing wrong, it requires great strength of character to stand against it and do what is right.⚜
   Matthew 27:20 (TPSBA)

   And the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
   Matthew 27:23 (TPSBA)

   “the Samaritan senate sent an embassy to {previous Roman Emperor} Vitellius, a man that had been consul {the highest elected official in the Roman Republic, Head of State}, and who was now president of Syria, and accused Pilate of the murder of those that were killed … Vitellius sent Marcellus, a friend of his, to take care of the affairs of Judea, and ordered Pilate to go to Rome, to answer before the emperor to the accusation of the Jews.”

   Church Historian Eusebius Pamphilius of Caesarea (he was Greek Syro-Palestinian) reported:

   “It is worthy of note that Pilate himself, who was governor in the time of our Savior, is reported to have fallen into such misfortunes under Caius, whose times we are recording, that he was forced to become his own murderer and executioner; and thus divine vengeance, as it seems, was not long in overtaking him. This is stated by those Greek historians who have recorded the Olympiads…”

   Had Pilate listened to the wisdom of his wife, he may well have avoided this fate. He didn’t listen to her, and in time suffered the consequences of divine justice.

   The foolish {woman} plucketh it down with her hands

   King Solomon heeded the bad advise of his 700 wives and 300 concubines. He bound his life together with the lost and undone. The Bible tells us:

   2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NKJV) Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

   Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?
   2 Corinthians 6:14 (TPSBA)

   6:14 “Light”– believers are in the light, love the light, and are children of the light (Matt 5:14; John 3:21; 8:12; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5). The situation of unbelievers is just the opposite of all this (John 3:19; Eph 6:12; 1 John 2:9, 11). Then should they willingly engage in joint ventures?

   And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has the one who believes with an unbeliever?
   2 Corinthians 6:15 (TPSBA)

   6:15 “Belial”– this name comes from a Hebrew word meaning worthless and wicked. Paul uses it here as a name for Satan. Believers are joined to Christ, unbelievers are joined to Satan (Eph 2:2; John 8:44). How then can believers even dream of joining themselves to unbelievers?

   And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said,
   I will dwell in them, and walk
   in them, and I will be their God,
   and they will be my people.
   6:16 Believers are the temple of God (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; Eph 2:21-22). Unbelievers are either worshipers of literal idols or idols in the mind (Eph 5:5), or make themselves like idols. So what agreement can there be between these two vastly different sorts of people? Paul refers to some Old Testament verses to show something of the meaning of being the temple of God – Lev 26:11-12; Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27.⚜
   2 Corinthians 6:16 (TPSBA)

   Choose wisely the wife you will spend your life with.

   Your Walk Proves Your Talk: Walk In God’s Light
   Proverbs 14:2 (KJV) He that WALKETH IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth Him.

   He who walks in his uprightness
   fears the LORD,
   but he who is perverse
   in his ways despises him.
   Proverbs 14:2 (TPSBA)

   14:2 “Fears”– Prov 1:7; Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10.

   “Despises”– devious and deceitful people may not be conscious of this, but it is still a fact (Rom 8:7).

   When the Bible describes the life of the believer and the life of the unbeliever, it always speaks to the “WALK”. The Christian WALKS in the light with God, but the non-Christian WALKS with the darkness. The Psalmist said:

   Psalm 56:13 (KJV) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

   For you have delivered my soul
   from death.
   Will you not deliver
   my feet from falling,
   that I may walk before God
   in the light of the living?
   Psalms 56:13 (TPSBA)

   56:13 “Death”– Ps 30:3; 86:13; 116:8; Eph 2:4-5.

   “Falling”– John 11:9-10; Jude 24.

   The Bible tells us that “God is LIGHT, and in Him is NO DARKNESS AT ALL” (1 John 1:5). If you are walking WITH God, you must be walking in the Light, not in the darkness. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance” (Psalm 89:15).

   This then is the message we have heard from him, and declare to you: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
   1 John 1:5 (TPSBA)

   1:5 “God is light”– not physical light, of course, but spiritual light. In the New Testament darkness signifies sin and ignorance of spiritual things; light signifies holiness and truth – Matt 4:16; Luke 2:32; John 1:4-5; 3:19-20; 8:12; 11:10; 12:36, 46; Acts 26:18; Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 4:4, 6; Eph 5:8-9, 13, 14; 1 Tim 6:16.

   “No darkness at all”– there is much evil in the world, but there is none whatever in God. He did not create it and He does not approve of it in any form. He is absolutely holy and gloriously pure (Lev 20:7; Isa 6:3).

   Blessed are the people
   who know the joyful sound.
   They will walk, O LORD, in the light
   of your countenance.
   Psalms 89:15 (TPSBA)

   Just as we walk one step at a time, stepping out in faith, the Christian walks one step at a time, one day at a time, following Jesus.
   The unbeliever has no use for God, unless as a parachute or a spare tire or even an ambulance. Their thoughts are not with God, but with SELF, with what they want and believer. The Apostle Paul described the Christian “Walk” in:

   Romans 14:6-9 (NKJV) He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

   He who regards a day as special, regards it so to the Lord, and he who does not regard a day as special, does not regard it so to the Lord. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, does not eat to the Lord, and gives God thanks.
   14:5-6 Some Jewish believers thought they should continue to keep the Sabbaths and other special days God appointed in the Old Testament for the nation of Israel. Other believers realized that such rules were not binding on Christians. The principle of vs 3,4 applies to this also.⚜
   Romans 14:6 (TPSBA)

   14:6 “Thanks”– see Matt 14:19.

   For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
   For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and the living.
   14:9 See Rom 10:9; Acts 2:32-36; Phil 2:8-11. Notes on “Lord” at Rom 10:9-10,13; Matt 22:41-45; Luke 2:11.⚜
   Romans 14:7-9 (TPSBA)

   Three Spheres Of The Christian Walk
   The Christian is defined in this life as he or she walks. We follow three Scriptural directives as we “walk” daily with the Lord:

   1. We walk according to God’s Word, the Scripture.

   Truth is not just IN us, but we WALK IN THE TRUTH. The Apostle rejoiced when he heard the report of the Church:

   3 John 3 (NKJV) … I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.

   For I greatly rejoiced when the brethren came and testified about the truth that is in you, just as you are walking in the truth.
   3 John 1:3 (TPSBA)

   1:3 “Greatly rejoiced”– 2 John 4.

   “The brethren”– spiritual brothers, believers in Christ.

   “Walking in the truth”– Gaius was sincere and loyal to God’s revelation. He accepted the truth and lived according to it.

   “In the truth”– 2 John 4.

   God promises us success in our endeavors if we walk in God’s Truth, in His Word (John 17:17). King David told his son Solomon before he went to glory:

   Sanctify them through your truth. Your word is truth.
   John 17:17 (TPSBA)

   1 Kings 2:2-4 (ESV) I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4 that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

   I am going the way of all the earth, therefore be strong, and show yourself a man,
   1 Kings 2:2 (TPSBA)

   2:2 “Be strong”– Deut 31:6, 23; Josh 1:6-7; 23:4.

   and keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes and his commandments and his judgments and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
   1 Kings 2:3 (TPSBA)

   2:3 “His ways”– Deut 4:5-6; 10:12-13; 17:18-20; Josh 1:7.

   so that the LORD may fulfil his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful about their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you will not lack (he said) a man on the throne of Israel.’
   1 Kings 2:4 (TPSBA)

   2:4 “His word”– see 2 Sam 7:11-16.

   “With all their heart”– Deut 4:29; 6:5; 10:12; 30:6. Both Solomon and most of his successors on the throne failed to do this, and eventually disaster overtook the people of Israel. But the promise to David was not canceled. Christ, the Son of David, will fulfil it.

   Herod ended up on the Throne of David because Israel failed to walk in obedience to the Word of God. God’s Word is not difficult to understand, but very clear. God will not walk with us when we depart from His Word. Again the Apostle said:

   1 John 1:6 (KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

   Fellowship with God and fellow believers

   If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.
   1 John 1:6 (TPSBA)

   1:6 “If we say”– it is impossible to have fellowship with holiness and truth while living in sin and error. Choosing sin is the same as rejecting God, and if we reject Him how can we share with Him in anything? See 2 Cor 6:14. The sad fact is that there are many who claim to know God who do not know Him, and they prove they do not know Him by their manner of life (Titus 1:16).

   “Lying”– such people are either deceived or trying to deceive others. In either case their claim is utterly false.

   “Not practicing the truth”– simply hearing the truth or studying the truth is not enough. We must put the truth into practice in our lives.

   2. We walk according to God’s Holy Spirit, while following Scripture.

   The Apostle tells us in:

   Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

   The struggle between God’s Spirit and the sinful nature in believers

   So I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfil the desires of the flesh.
   Galatians 5:16 (TPSBA)

   5:16 “Walk”– or “behave” or “live” or “go forward”. This is Paul’s theme from here up to Gal 6:10. By “Spirit” he means God’s Spirit. He is the one who gives believers the power to live a spiritual life in Christ. Compare Rom 8:4-14. Paul does not deny that the sinful nature (the “flesh” – v 13) and its desires are in believers. He very plainly indicates that they are. This is even clearer in the next verse. See also Rom 7:14-25; 13:14; 1 John 1:8. The flesh and its desires are in us all, but we can subdue and conquer them by God’s Spirit.

   For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are opposed to one another, so that you cannot do what you want.
   5:17 God’s Spirit and the flesh (man’s fallen, sinful nature) have absolutely nothing in common. They have different desires, different thoughts, different aims (Rom 8:5-8). They will be at war with one another until the end of our earthly lives. The flesh – what we are by the nature we received from our parents – will never give up, will never stop desiring the wrong things, will never become good and holy. In fact, with the passing of time it gets worse (Eph 4:22). And God’s Spirit will resist the flesh every step of the way, and will never give in to a single one of its demands.
   What does Paul mean by “you cannot do what you want”? It may mean that believers do not do all the good they want to do because their sinful natures hinder them (see Rom 7:15,18,20). Or it may possibly mean they do not fulfill the desires of their sinful nature because the Holy Spirit in them opposes those desires. To some extent both of these things are true, and both show that the sinful nature is still in believers.
   And observe carefully that Paul is not teaching the Galatians that the way of victory is to have their sinful nature eradicated here on earth. He does not hold out this hope in any of his letters (and it is not found anywhere else in the Bible). In fact, he teaches something else altogether. The way to victory, Paul says, is living by God’s Spirit (v 16).⚜
   Galatians 5:17 (TPSBA)

   But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
   Galatians 5:18 (TPSBA)

   5:18 “Led by the Spirit”– see Rom 8:14. God’s Spirit has led believers out of religious bondage, away from the principle of self-effort for salvation. He does not lead them back into such things.

   “Not under the law”– Rom 6:14. People generally think that the only way to subdue the desires and works of the flesh is by laws and regulations. Paul knew that such things can actually promote sinful desires and sin (see Rom 7:5, 7-13). He knew that living by God’s Spirit is the only possible way for us to conquer the flesh.
   The Holy Spirit of God will never lead you in a pathway that the Scripture has not already shined on.

   The early Church, though heavily persecuted, walked according to God’s Word and His Spirit. We who “walk not according to the FLESH, but according to the SPIRIT” (Romans 8:4, ESV) will find growth, just as the early Church did:

   so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not behave according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
   8:4 God’s grand purpose in all this was to free people from the guilt, condemnation and power of sin, and make them a holy people for Himself, a people able to be spiritual and fulfill the righteousness in the law which is holy and spiritual (Rom 7:12,14). See also Heb 8:10. Believers are not under the law (Rom 6:14; 7:4). They need not observe its days, ceremonies, instructions about foods, etc. But God wants the moral and ethical requirement of the law to be fulfilled in them. This requirement is summed up in two commandments – see Rom 13:8-10; Matt 22:37-40. To fulfill these, one thing is of the utmost importance – behaving “according to the Spirit”. Here, and throughout this chapter, the Spirit means God’s Spirit. See also Gal 5:16-18.
   Living “according to the Spirit” means this:
   To recognize that He lives in us (vs 9,15)
   To offer ourselves to Him (Rom 6:13)
   To obey Him (v 14; Gal 5:25)
   To trust Him for His strength and power and use them (v 13)⚜
   Romans 8:4 (TPSBA)

   Acts 9:31 (ESV) … the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

   Then the churches throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit increased in number.
   9:31 The Jewish leaders had discovered that persecution would not destroy the church or stop its witness, and they must have been astonished when the chief persecutor himself became a disciple of Jesus. Notes on the fear of the Lord at Gen 20:11; Job 28:28; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Prov 1:7.⚜
   Acts 9:31 (TPSBA)

   3. We also walk BY FAITH, not by sight.

   Just as when you step out to travel, you have no guarantee that the ground will hold you, you nonetheless step out by faith. The unbeliever places faith in one of the gods of this world, be it money, fame, or power. But we who believe in Jesus:

   2 Corinthians 5:7 … we walk by faith, not by sight.

   For we walk by faith, not by sight.
   2 Corinthians 5:7 (TPSBA)

   Proverbs 14:2 (KJV) He that walketh in His uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth Him.

   He who walks in his uprightness
   fears the LORD,
   but he who is perverse
   in his ways despises him.
   Proverbs 14:2 (TPSBA)

   14:2 “Fears”– Prov 1:7; Gen 20:11; Ps 34:11-14; 111:10.

   “Despises”– devious and deceitful people may not be conscious of this, but it is still a fact (Rom 8:7).

   Those who are “perverse in his ways” show that they despise God rather than glorify Him. Jesus said:

   John 14:15 (ESV) If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.

   If you love me, keep my commandments.
   14:15 This is three times repeated – vs 21,23. This verse is surely closely connected with the promise given above. If we ignore or disobey His commandments how can we pray in His name? And how can we say we love Him? Deeds, not words, are the proofs of love. Obedience is the evidence, not tears, fine feelings, or knowledge of love. The way to find out if we really love Christ is to go through His commandments and see whether we are actually obeying them – commands such as John 13:13-17,34; Matt 5:16,23,24,34,39-42,44; 6:1-6,19,20,25; 7:1; 9:38; 16:24; 18:15,21,22; 19:4-6; 20:25-27; 24:42,44; 28:19. To “keep” them means to put them into practice. Let us examine our lives to see whether we really love Christ. Love must be at the heart of the believer’s relationship with Him.⚜
   John 14:15 (TPSBA)

   And again, John 14:21 (ESV) Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.

   “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him”.
   14:21 Verse 15. The Lord Jesus is emphasizing the relationship between His believers and Himself and God the Father. It is a relationship of love expressed on their part by obedience, and on His part by some clear revelation of Himself. Only those who experience it will know what it is. God has a special love for His obedient loving children. He loves them infinitely, completely, totally, eternally. All His thoughts toward us are thoughts of love. All His actions toward us are done in perfect love. This is a family relationship of love, a delight in loving. God so loved the world that He sent His Son, and He has great compassion and pity on those lost in sin, but He cannot give full expression of His love to those who remain in rebellion against Him as He does toward His believing obedient people.⚜
   John 14:21 (TPSBA)

   Those who say they love Jesus but hate what He has said prove their lostness by the fruit of their lives. “The good tree will bear good fruit, the corrupt tree corrupt fruit” (Luke 6:43-44). If you are saved, you will love to obey Jesus. If not, you will follow PERVERSE WAYS. By the fruit of your life you prove that you despise God.

   For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from a briar.
   Luke 6:43-44 (TPSBA)

   The Christian is encouraged to “look carefully how you walk, not as unwise or foolish, but as wise believers. Make the best use of your life, for evil is all around you. Do not be foolish, but understand the will of the Lord” (Ephesians 5:15-17, AP).

   See then that you behave carefully, not as fools, but as wise,
   Ephesians 5:15 (TPSBA)

   5:15 “Behave”– or “walk” – note at 2:10. Believers are to live in such a way that God’s light shines through them into the darkness where men sleep in sin and are dead.

   “Wise”– Col 4:5; Matt 10:16. Believers need wisdom to know how to live in a fallen world like this. We can have this wisdom (Jam 1:5-6).

   redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
   5:16 He means we should make the most of our opportunities to let our light shine in the world.⚜
   Ephesians 5:16 (TPSBA)

   “The days are evil”– Gal 1:4; Phil 2:15; 2 Tim 3:1.

   Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
   Ephesians 5:17 (TPSBA)

   5:17 “Understand”– Eph 1:18; 4:18; Col 1:9; 2:2; Rom 12:1-2.

   As Christians we do not walk as unbelievers do, but as believers do.

   We “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4)
   “walk in a manner worthy of your calling”
   (Ephesians 4:1)
   “walk properly, as in the daytime” (Romans 13:13)
   “walk in good works, as God created us to do”
   (Ephesians 2:10)

   Therefore we are buried with him through baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also might walk in newness of life.
   6:3-4 Of what “baptism” is Paul speaking here? “Baptism” is a word taken from Greek. If we translate the Greek word here instead of using the words “baptized” and “baptism” these verses could read – “all of us who were immersed (or submerged or brought) into Christ Jesus were immersed (or submerged or brought) into His death. We were therefore buried with Him through this immersion into death”. “Immersion” would thus mean immersion into Christ, not in water. It would indicate union with Christ, entering into a special relationship with Him, being made members of His body by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:12-13; John 17:21,23).
   The Greek words for baptized and baptism are used in a figurative sense in other places in the New Testament. See Luke 12:50; 1 Cor 10:2. Water baptism can be only a symbol of the spiritual realities of which Paul speaks here. Going into the water speaks of death and burial with Christ. Coming out of the water speaks of resurrection with Christ. See notes on water baptism at Matt 3:6; 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; on Spirit baptism see notes at Acts 1:5. The purpose of all God did for us in Christ is that we “might walk in newness of life”, resurrection life, a life freed from the bondage of sin and death. See 2 Cor 5:17; Titus 2:11-14.⚜
   Romans 6:4 (TPSBA)

   I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, appeal to you to walk worthy of the calling which you received,
   4:1 In the previous chapters Paul revealed what God has called us to be in Christ – God’s children, God’s inheritance, Christ’s body, God’s temple, Christ’s home. Now Paul exhorts us to live worthy of this calling. We must constantly behave as God’s own special children should behave. We should always keep in view the glorious truth of what we are in Christ and live in the light of it.⚜
   Ephesians 4:1 (TPSBA)

   “Walk worthy of”– live and behave in a manner worthy of – Col 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12. Note on “walk” at Eph 2:10. A worthy manner is a life lived in love for God and men. A loveless life, no matter how correct and moral and self-sacrificing and faithful, can never be a life worthy of our calling.

   Let us walk decently, as in the daylight, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and unbridled lust, not in strife and envy.
   Romans 13:13 (TPSBA)

   For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God ordained beforehand that we should be active in them.
   2:1-10 In these verses Paul continues the theme he introduced in Eph 1:19 – “the exceeding greatness of his power toward us”. He showed in Eph 1:20-23 how this power was at work in Christ. Now he shows how it has been at work in and for believers. God raised Christ from death and exalted Him to heaven (Eph 1:20). He has raised believers from spiritual death and has exalted them also (vs 5,6). God’s great power made Christ the Head of the Church (Eph 1:22). That same power made believers a new creation united with Christ (v 10).⚜
   2:10 The new spiritual birth of believers is not something they achieve, any more than their physical birth into the world was something they achieved. It is something God does in them. It is a work of creation – 2 Cor 5:17; Jam 1:18; John 1:13. Observe here one reason why God creates new life in us. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved so we will do good works – Titus 2:14; Matt 5:16. God has prepared us for good works and created good works for us. He places the opportunities to do good works before us all. Good works are a fruit of salvation. If we do not do good works we show that we are not God’s workmanship (Matt 7:16-20). The new life in us will bear good fruit as surely as a good tree will bear good fruit.
   Since believers are God’s workmanship we should think that He will finish this work and not abandon it somewhere along the line – Phil 1:6.⚜
   Ephesians 2:10 (TPSBA)

   “Be active”– the Greek word may also be translated “walk”, “go forward”, “live”, “behave”, “conduct oneself”, “be occupied with”, etc, depending on the context. In the letters of Paul (and of John) it is never used of literal walking.

   Sent by Copilot:

   These verses offer beautiful guidance on how to live a life that reflects faith and purpose:

   Romans 6:4: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life”1. This emphasizes living a renewed life through faith.

   Ephesians 4:1: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received”2. This encourages living a life that honors the calling and purpose given by God.

   Romans 13:13: “Let us walk properly, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy”3. This verse advises living decently and avoiding behaviors that lead to moral downfall.

   Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”4. This highlights that we are created for good works, which God has planned for us.

   These passages collectively inspire a life of integrity, purpose, and faithfulness. Do any of these resonate with you in a particular way?

   1biblehub.com2biblehub.com3biblehub.com4biblehub.com5biblegateway.com6dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com7westpalmbeachchurchofchrist.com8bing.com9bibleref.com10biblegateway.com11bibleref.com12rethinknow.org13christianity.com— See Less

   https://biblehub.com/romans/6-4.htm

   https://biblehub.com/ephesians/4-1.htm

   https://biblehub.com/romans/13-13.htm

   https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-10.htm

   https://www.bing.com/search?q=walk+in+newness+of+life%E2%80%9D+%28Romans+6%3A4%29%E2%80%9Cwalk+in+a+manner+worthy+of+your+calling%E2%80%9D%28Ephesians+4%3A1%29%E2%80%9Cwalk+properly%2C+as+in+the+daytime%E2%80%9D+%28Romans+13%3A13%29%E2%80%9Cwalk+in+good+works%2C+as+God+created+us+to+do%E2%80%9D%28Ephesians+2%3A10%29&setmkt=en-US&PC=EMMX01&form=EPIT2E&scope=web&darkschemeovr=1

   May God guide us as His Church and as His Children to walk in the light, ever pleasing to Him. Amen!

   Reply
2. yourabducteddaughter says:

   December 19, 2024 at 11:44 pm

   I agree. One thing though, even though Solomon was teaching his son about choosing a Godly wife so she didn’t turn his heart away from THE Lord, this also applies, to women choosing a Godly man so he doesn’t turn her heart away from THE Lord. I have heard many “men of God” claim the Bible does not apply to women. That is not true because God does not want any of HIS daughters to be trashed by some ungodly man.

   Reply
   • bibleteacherorg says:

     December 20, 2024 at 8:14 am

     absolutely true! I have seen many women of faith who were deceived by wicked men, telling them “I’ll follow Jesus when we get together”. Never get into an unequal yoke, for light and darkness cannot coexist

     Reply

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