Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Pretentious Boasters Romans 1:30-32  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  We continue to work through this extraordinary description of a Romans 1 world. It is quite apparent that America is rightfully called a "post Christian" nation today. The amount of depravity and sin that has taken over most of our culture is closely aligned with how Paul described it.  In our last post we covered the despiteful and proud elements of a culture wallowing in moral decay. Today we look at boasters, inventers of evil things and those who disobey their parents. "Boasters."  This word literally means an empty pretender. This word is only used two time...

A despiteful man is filled with hubris.  Romans 1:30-32  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  Despiteful. The next item on a lengthy list of attributes describing people who God gave over to reprobate minds is the word "despiteful." This word refers to a man who is lifted up in pride. Haughty words and insulting, insolent language  pours out of his mouth as he verbally attacks other people. He treats others with shameful disrespect . Sounds like many politicians ! We see the Greek word translated "despiteful" in the word "hubris." Ancient Greeks viewed "hubris" as a fatal character flaw in a person. "Hubris" cause...

Good evening to all of you on this Lord's Day. Pastor Alvis preached from John 13 and helped us see Jesus Christ our example in action, serving His disciples and teaching them how to live. This was a powerful and needed sermon that I hope you will have time to watch. Bob  

Whispering secret slanders "Vecteezy" Pop Art of man sharing gossip or secrets with a friend.  Romans 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  The word translated "whisperers" means to secretly slander someone behind their back. It is a person with a poisonous tongue who secretly attacks another persons character in a malignant manner. Psalm 41:5-7  Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?  6) And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.  7) All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.  Psalm 31:13  For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.  King David suffered many attacks upon ...

Good afternoon  Below is the link to Pastor Alvis' mid week sermon titled "Pressures Against Faithfulness?" It was a very good sermon with texts from Romans and Hebrews to help us see how the world is constantly exerting pressure in our lives that moves us away from being like Christ. I know it will be a blessing to you if you watch it. Bob

Debate is incendiary speech that stirs up anger and hatred. Debate.  The word  "debate"  in this text (Romans 1:29) is not like the way we normally  understand it today. Instead, it means speaking with the intent to contentiously quarrel and create verbal strife until that person prevailed. This word connects to Saul "breathing out threatenings" that we noted above.  It means hyper charged, emotional speech that results in civil disorder or inciting an unruly mob.  Debate is evidence of carnality 1 Corinthians 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and  strife , and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  Paul had to give many correctives to the church at Corinth. Among them was the issue of carnality and divisions. Our word  "debate"  is translated  "strife"  in this text and the verse gives us the idea of what kind of speech this is. It is divisive, foolish and con...

Murder in the World Romans 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Murder. "Murder"  is from a Greek word that implies use of force or violence when a murder is committed. Sometimes it is translated "slaughter" which shows the violent aspect of this word. Murder is on the list of terrible sins that come out of a reprobate heart (Matthew 15:19).  God's holy law is very clear on the matter of murder. "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). Acts 8:3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church , entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison .  Acts 9:1-2  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or...

More sins of reprobate minds Romans 1:29-31  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  We will continue working our way through the long list of behaviors that characterize those who have reprobate minds. Each characteristic Paul describes is that of a person "filled with all unrighteousness" because they rebelled against God and He gave them up to a reprobate mind. Covetousness. The word "covetousness" refers to a person who is greedy, driven by avarice to gain more wealth, possessions, power and control. Coveting is a sin of wanting something that belongs to someone else.  Thus, we see that this unrighteous impulse is behind crimes l...