Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

We studied how the early church handled a difficult problem of believing Jews from Jerusalem, who traveled to Antioch. They wrongly insisted that Gentile converts to Christ must be circumcised and obey the law.  This false teaching created instant division and shook the faith of new Gentile believers. The church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to bring this issue before the apostles, elders and the church at Jerusalem. The council reached a decision regarding the Gentiles and put it in writing. They sent Judas and Silas with Paul and Barnabas to share their decision with the believers at Antioch.  The whole process respected the disputing parties and honored God in reaching a Spirit guided decree. The news was well received at Antioch and Gentile believers were filled with joy and reassurance. Antioch nurtured by apostolic preaching. Acts 15:34-35  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.  35)  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, ...

Psalm 119:1-6  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  2)  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  3)  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  4)  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  5)  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  6)  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.  We are working our way through the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. This chapter is unique because all 176 verses focus upon the Word of God.  It is arranged in twenty two sections containing eight verses.  Each section begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Christians can learn much about the nature of God, the path to finding blessing and happiness and the principles for Godly living in a most depraved culture.  The secret to living a life that is undefiled before ...

Apostles, elders and brethren acted in unity to solve the issue. Acts 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:  Now we see the Spirit of God moving among the church of God. The final  judgment rendered by James "pleased" the apostles, elders and the whole church at Jerusalem. They recognized  the  inherent  goodness of James' declaration.  A serious issue was carefully and thoughtfully addressed by the apostles. Peter and James gave God centric advice and Godly counsel. The Devil's disruption was derailed and gospel ministry was poised to resume with vigor.  We see the wisdom of God in this decision by the Jerusalem council. P aul and Barnabas were to return to bear witness to the Church at Antioch the council's decision.  However, it was  possible that some of...

Psalm 119:1-5  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.  2)  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.  3)  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.  4)  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.  5)  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!  The first five verses of this eight verse section show us the path to true happiness and blessing from God lies in obeying His Word and seeking Him with all of our being.  The texts show us how our lives can be transformed as we learn God's law, judgments, statutes, precepts and testimonies.  The living truth of God's Word will help us avoid sinning. It will cause us to run to the Father to confess and forsake sin, when we do fail Him.  Respecting God's commandments Psalm 119:6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.  We learned ...

In our last post we noted that the blessing of God on His church was followed by Satan's opposition.  In that example, the Devil stirred up trouble in the church at Antioch by leading a sect of Jews to travel there and teach that circumcision was mandatory for salvation. We saw that Paul and Barnabas moved swiftly to counter this false teaching and the church determined to send Paul, Barnabas and others to Jerusalem to seek the counsel of the other apostles and elders. Joy over the Gentiles conversion to Christ. Acts 15:1-3  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.  2)  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.  3)  And being brought on their way by the church, they passe...