The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Galatians 3:28 reads as follows:

"28 It makes no difference whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a freeman, a man or a woman, because in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, you are all one."

The word "status" is defined as follows:

". . . n.   1  State, condition, or relation.  2  Relative position or rank. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 942.  ]

     Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 5:2; 6:11, for example ), here, that the Liberating King makes no distinction with regard to race, social status, or gender, concerning all who are Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ).  The phrase "you are all one" indicates that all the parts ( see Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ); 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example ), Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 12:1-5 ( especially verses 4 and 5, for example ), and Colossians 1:19, 20, for example ) of the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 1:16 ( RSV, for example ); 16:17, 18, and Romans 16:3, 16, for example ), His body ( see Ephesians 1:3, 15-23 ( especially verse 23, for example ), for example ), are one in relation to each other, with a view towards unity.  Moreover, in relation to Him ( the head of the church - see Colossians 1:9-18 ( especially verses 13-18, for example ), for example ), we are His slaves, we are His property ( see Leviticus 25:44, 45, Acts 20:28, Romans 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 7:22, 23; 9:21, and Philemon, verse 16, for example ).

     Jesus is the Liberating King in the sense that He "loves us and liberated us from the grip of our evil deeds through His very own blood" ( see Revelation 1:5 ).  How do we come in contact with His blood?  Through baptism.

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE: Please read the previous posting to this weblog to find additional facts regarding this subject.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Galatians 3:28 reads as follows:

"28 It makes no difference whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a freeman, a man or a woman, because in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, you are all one."

Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 5:2; 6:11, for example ), here, that the Liberating King makes no distinction with regard to race, social status, or gender, concerning all who are in Him ( Christians - see verses twenty-six and twenty-seven, for example ).  See also Acts 11:26, for example.

     The apostle Paul is simply calling for unity in the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 1:16 ( RSV, for example ); 16:17, 18, and Romans 16:3, 16, for example ), which is His body ( see Ephesians 1:3, 15-23 ( especially verse 23, for example ), for example ).  Additionally, jealous women have misinterpreted ( see 2 Peter 3:16, for example ) this passage from the Holy Bible, so as to attempt to obtain sinful license to stand behind the pulpit, or otherwise lead the worship service ( see 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 John 3:4, for example ).  Based on this error, which wrongly asserts that there is literally neither male nor female, we arrive at the absurd conclusion that no one can lead a local congregation of the church ( there being no Christian males in this instance - see Acts 9:1-22 ( especially verse 20, for example ), for example ).

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Ephesians 5:25-32 read as follows:

"25-26 Husbands, you must love your wives so deeply, purely, and sacrificially that we can understand it only when we compare it to the love the Anointed One has for His bride, the church.  We know He gave Himself up completely to make her His own, washing her clean of all her impurity with water and the powerful presence of His word.  27 He has given Himself so that He can present the church as His radiant bride, unstained, unwrinkled, and unblemished-completely free from all impurity-holy and innocent before Him.  28 So husbands should care for their wives as if their lives depended on it, the same way they care for their own bodies.  As you love her, you ultimately are loving part of yourself (remember, you are one flesh).  29 No one really hates his own body; he takes care to feed and love it, just as the Anointed takes care of His church, 30 because we are living members of His body.  31 'And this is the reason a man leaves his father and his mother and is united with his wife; the two come together as one flesh.'  32 There is a great mystery reflected in this Scripture, and I say that it has to do with the marriage of the Anointed One and the church."

The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 3:1-4, for example ), here, a comparison between the relationship of the Lord Jesus ( see verse twenty ) to His church ( see verse twenty-nine, above ), the church of Christ ( see Matthew 16:17, 18 and Romans 16:16, for example ), and that of the husband to his wife.

     Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the wife, and the marriage relationship:

<http://1drv.ms/1OzEtJj>.

Also, please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE: You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Ephesians 1:15-23 read as follows:

"15 This is why, when I heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is present in your community and of your great love for all God's people, 16 I haven't stopped thanking Him for you.  I am continually speaking to Him on your behalf in my prayers.  Here's what I say: 17 God of our Lord Jesus the Anointed, Father of Glory: I call out to You on behalf of Your people.  Give them minds ready to receive wisdom and revelation so they will truly know You.  18 Open the eyes of their hearts, and let the light of Your truth flood in.  Shine Your light on the hope You are calling them to embrace.  Reveal to them the glorious riches You are preparing as their inheritance.  19 Let them see the full extent of Your power that is at work in those of us who believe, and may it be done according to Your might and power.  Friends, it is this same might and resurrection power that 20 He used in the Anointed One to raise Him from the dead and to position Him at His right hand in heaven.  There is nothing over Him.  21 He's above all rule, authority, power, and dominion; over every name invoked, over every title bestowed in this age and the next.  22 God has placed all things beneath His feet and anointed Him as the head over all things for His church.  23 This church is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all."

The church is the body of Jesus ( see verses fifteen, seventeen, twenty, and twenty-three, above ): nowhere, in this passage from the Holy Bible, has the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, and 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, for example ) made a racial distinction concerning it.

     Specifically, there is no black or white church, for example.  There is simply the church.  There is no Asian or Russian way, for example, to worship God, for Jesus ( see John 4:21 ), God, the Son ( see 1:1, 2, and 14; 10:30; 17:21, Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example, to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ),  Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) said the following in ( 4:23 ): "The Father is spirit, and He is seeking followers whose worship is sourced in truth and deeply spiritual as well."  False teachers have applied a racial distinction, for example, to the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18 and Romans 16:16 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) and the worship of God.

     Please read the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Luke 8:19-21; 11:14-28 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-8 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ( ESV ).  Philemon, verses eight through sixteen, read as follows:

"8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you-I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus- 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.  11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)  12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.  13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.  15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother-especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord."

The phrase "no longer as a slave," in verse sixteen ( above ), has a cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 7:22: verses twenty-two and twenty-three read as follows: "22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord.  Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.  23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men."  The phrase "You were bought with a price," in this latter verse in the Holy Bible, is a reference to baptism into Christ.  Specifically, in the Old Testament, we see a foreshadowing of this in Leviticus 25:44, 45, which read as follows: "44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.  45 You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property."

     In the New Testament, Acts 20:28 reads as follows: "28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."  Note that the phrase "which he hath purchased with his own blood" appears in this same passage in the King James Version ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, for example.  One comes in contact with the blood that Christ ( see Matthew 1:16, for example; KJV, for example ) shed on the cross of Calvary when he or she is baptized, by immersion in water, in His name, for the remission of his or her past sins ( see Mark 16:16, Luke 23:26-49 ( especially verse 33, for example; KJV, for example ), Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39, for example; KJV, for example ), Romans 3:21-26 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Colossians 1:15-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ) and, having been baptized, he or she is added to the church ( see Acts 2:41, 47, for example ).

     Jesus, God the Son ( see Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 5:7, for example; KJV, for example ), obtained or purchased the New Testament church ( the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:18, Romans 16:16, and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ) and thus, Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), were "bought with a price" ( as we read in the first verse twenty-three, above ).  Slaves were bought under the law of Moses, and Christians were bought with the blood of Christ: we are His property, we are His slaves.

     The phrase "both in the flesh and in the Lord" ( again, in verse sixteen, above ) has cross-references to Colossians 3:22, 23 and Ephesians 6:5.  Colossians 3:22, 23 read as follows: "22 Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.  23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."  Additionally, Ephesians 6:5 reads as follows: "5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ."  In the context of these two passages from the Holy Bible, the phrase near the beginning of this paragraph must be understood to mean that Onesimus was a slave both in the flesh and in the Lord, for verse sixteen, in Today's English Version ( TEV ) of the Holy Bible; being entitled: GOOD NEWS BIBLE, reads as follows: "16 And now he is not just a slave, but much more than a slave: he is a dear brother in Christ."

     Since the work relationship is described in the Holy Bible as one involving masters and slaves ( see Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22-4:1, for example ), slavery to men is still valid today: the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16: 6:9, 14, for example ) has commanded ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example ) us to work ( see 2 Thessalonians 3:10, for example ).  The phrase "a slave of Christ," in the first verse twenty-two ( above ), has a cross-reference to chapter nine, verse twenty-one, which reads as follows: "21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law."  To be sure, a Christian, or slave of Christ, is under the law of Christ: we are bound by His teachings.  When one becomes a Christian, that one is no longer bound by the teachings of men and, hence, it is in this sense that one is not a slave to men.

     In conclusion, the phrase "You are not your own," in 1 Corinthians 6:19 ( please read verses eighteen through twenty to get the immediate context ), agrees nicely with the fact that Christians are the property of Jesus.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Matthew 10:40-42 read as follows:

"Jesus: 40 Anyone who welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.  41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet and surrenders to his prophecy will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who welcomes a righteous person and conforms to the righteousness that surrounds him and proceeds from him will receive a righteous man's reward.  42 And anyone who has given so much as a cup of cold water to one of the little ones, because he is My disciple, I tell you, that person will be well rewarded."

Additionally, Matthew 18:1-5 read as follows:

"Around that same time, the disciples came to Jesus and questioned Him about the kingdom of heaven.

A Disciple: In the kingdom of heaven, who is the greatest?

2 Jesus called over a little child.  He put His hand on the top of the child's head.

Jesus: 3 This is the truth: unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  4 In that kingdom, the most humble who are most like this child are the greatest.  5 And whoever welcomes a child, welcomes her in My name, welcomes Me."

     As we read in verse forty-two ( above ), Jesus ( see verse forty, above ) likens Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) to little ones: He teaches that anyone who gives a cup of cold water to a Christian welcomes him or her in His name and, through such act, welcomes Him ( see verse five, above ).  He is teaching, here, that anyone who is not willing to possess the humility of a little child is not fit for the kingdom of heaven ( see verse three, above ).  It is through such humility that one offers a cup of cold water to a child of God ( see Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ), welcoming that one and conforming to his or her righteousness ( as we read in verse forty-one, above ).

     Jesus uses the phrase "cold water," here, to indicate the refreshing nature of one, who has the humility of a child, and is willing to surrender to the prophecy of God ( see Luke 8:19-21; 11:14-28 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-8 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ), namely, to obey "the good news of our Lord Jesus" ( cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8, and please read verses six through ten to get the immediate context ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Colossians 1:9-20 read as follows:

"9 Since the day we got this good news about you, we have not stopped praying for you.  We ask:

[ This is a prayer for knowledge and insight that only can come from God.

Father, may they clearly know Your will and achieve the height and depth of spiritual wisdom and understanding.  10 May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what's more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You.  11 Strengthen them with Your infinite power, according to Your glorious might, so that they will have everything they need to hold on and endure hardship patiently and joyfully.  12 Thank You, Father, as You have made us eligible to receive our portion of the inheritance given to all those set apart by the light.  13 You have rescued us from dark powers and brought us safely into the kingdom of Your Son, whom You love 14 and in whom we are redeemed and forgiven of our sins [through His blood].  15 He is the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of creation, the eternal.  16 It was by Him that everything was created: the heavens, the earth, all things within and upon them, all things seen and unseen, thrones and dominions, spiritual powers and authorities.  Every detail was crafted through His design, by His own hands, and for His purposes.  17 He has always been!  It is His hand that holds everything together.  18 He is the head of this body, the church.  He is the beginning, the first of those to be reborn from the dead, so that in every aspect, at every view, in everything-He is first.  19 God was pleased that all His fullness should forever dwell in the Son 20 who, as predetermined by God, bled peace into the world by His death on the cross as God's means of reconciling to Himself the whole creation-all things in heaven and all things on earth."

When comparing verse three ( "our Lord Jesus the Anointed" ) with verse eighteen, above, it is clear that Jesus is the head of the church ( please read all of chapter one to get the immediate context ).

     It is not possible to be saved outside this body ( see Matthew 16:17, 18, Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ), and Ephesians 2:11-22 ( especially verses 19-22, for example ), for example ).  Also, please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the New Testament church and Scriptural baptism:

<http://1drv.ms/1NrxWQE>.

Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE: You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  Matthew 27:1-6 read as follows:

"Eventually the chief priests and the elders looked around and saw that it was morning.  They convened a council meeting whose sole purpose was to hand down Jesus' death sentence.  2 They tied Jesus up, took Him away, and handed Him over to the governor of Judea, a man called Pilate.  3 Judas-the one who had betrayed Him with a kiss for 30 pieces of silver-saw that Jesus had been condemned, and suddenly Judas regretted what he had done.  He took the silver back to the chief priests and elders and tried to return it to them.

Judas Iscariot: 4 I can't keep this money!  I've sinned!  I've betrayed an innocent man!  His blood will be on my hands.

The priests and elders want nothing to do with Judas, and they refuse to take his money. ]

Chief Priests and Elders: We're through with you, friend.  The state of your soul is really none of our affair.

5 Judas threw down the money in the temple, went off, and hanged himself.  6 The chief priests looked at the silver coins and picked them up.

Chief Priests and Elders: You know, according to the law, we can't put blood money in the temple treasury."

Moreover, Matthew 6:24 reads as follows: "Jesus: 24 No one can serve two masters.  If you try, you will wind up loving the first master and hating the second, or vice versa.  People try to serve both God and money-but you can't.  You must choose one or the other."

     Judas Iscariot chose to serve money and, in doing so, he also chose to betray Jesus.  As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) today, if we choose to serve money, we will likewise betray Jesus and, as a result, we commit spiritual suicide ( we stop serving the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 4:10; 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, John 4:24, and Hebrews 6:4-8, for example ), for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, and 151, John 17:1, 3, and 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the voice; being entitled: COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:

"About 40 different authors are believed to have been inspired by God to write the Scriptures.  Most English translations attempt to even out the literary styles of the different authors in sentence structure and vocabulary.  Instead, The Voice distinguishes the unique perspective of each author.  The heart of the project is retelling the story of the Bible in a form as fluid as modern literary works while remaining painstakingly true to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts.  Accomplished writers and biblical scholars have been teamed up to create an English rendering that, while of great artistic value, is carefully aligned with the meaning inherent in the original language.  Attention is paid to the use of idioms, artistic elements, confusion of pronouns, repetition of conjunctions, modern sentence structure, and the public reading of the passage."  [  See the voice, COMPASS: THE STUDY BIBLE FOR NAVIGATING YOUR LIFE, THOMAS NELSON, NASHVILLE, DALLAS, MEXICO CITY, RIO DE JANEIRO, Compass Bible Copyright 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc., The Voice translation 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society, p. vi.  ]

Jesus ( see Luke 6:20 ) said the following in verses twenty-two and twenty-three: "22 When people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and write you off as evil on account of the Son of Man, you are blessed.  23 When these things happen, rejoice!  Jump for joy!  Then you have a great reward in heaven for at that moment, you are experiencing what the ancient prophets did when they were similarly treated by the ancestors of your detractors."

     He teaches, here, that when we, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), suffer persecution, we are to rejoice and jump for joy.  Do we do that?  Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the subject of steadfastness and happiness:

<http://1drv.ms/1Xu4gWj>.

     Also, please read the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Luke 8:19-21; 11:14-28 ( especially verse 28, for example ) and Revelation 1:1-8 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE: You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.