1 John 1:1 to 2:6

John assures his readers that he is an eye witness of Jesus, that he knew Him personally. He states that while all sin, that a wonderful promise exists encapsulated in verse 9. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." In chapter 2:1 we learn that Jesus is like a defense attorney. He paid for our sins and thus can be our advocate before the Father. Verse 5 gives this condition and assurance. "But whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we know we are in Him."

10 pm.

About 10pm last night another milestone was reached. I continue to be amazed at what God is doing with this blog. April 4,700 page views May about 13,000 June. about 25,000 July 41,920 August over 77,000 with several days remaining First 100,000 page views took about 15 years. Second 100,000 needed 1 year. Third 100,000 only 36 days. For many years US page views were only 3 or 4 percent. Very recently about one third are from this country. I thank God for the readers He has provided. I pray they are edified and encouraged in their faith and walk with Christ. The milestone was 300,000 lifetime page views reached last night about 10pm.

Ephesians 6:10-24

Wednesday evening studied the famous armor of God passage. Several themes stand out. In contrast to Old Covenant practice where God's people fought and were sometimes commanded to exterminate physical foes, the teaching in the New Testament is to love one's physical enemies and pray for them. Our true enemies now are spiritual and demonic. To protect us in this warfare God has given six specific protections. As is common in Biblical writing physical things are used to illustrate spiritual realities. The key is all six point to Jesus. The helmet of salvation comes through our Savior Jesus Christ. The breastplate of righteousness is His righteousness. The belt of truth represents the One who said He is the truth. The feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace is His gospel, the Prince of Peace. The shield of faith is faith in Him. The sword of the Spirit, the Word of God is Jesus, the Ond who is the Word. Finally Paul commends Tychicus to his readers whom I believe is the brother who brought this prison letter to Ephesus, after whom I have named this blog.

Ephesians 6:1-9

Wednesday evening our Bible study group studied the God ordained relationships between parents and children, and then slaves and masters While common in Roman times and much of humanity history the modern Western interpretation of the second passage regarding slavery is understood as employers and employees. The key to both passages and the preceding one about husband and wife's is obedience. Wife's are to submit to husband, children to parents, and employees to employers. Is this because husband, parents and employers are wonderful? They probably aren't and certainly not perfect. We obey for the Lord Jesus sabe. Here is where the greatest commandment comes into play to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind,soul and strength.How do we express that love? Through obedience. "If you love me, obey my commandments." John 14:15 cf John 14:21,26, 1 John 2:5 etc Note: the algorithm keeps changing what I write and I weary of correcting it.

Ephesians 5:22-33

Last night we tackled one of the most controvérsias passages in the Bible because of the many verses that apply to marriage these are probably the most important. The passage as a whole shows the parallel between Christ's relationship with the Church, His bride, and the relationship between husband and wife. The wife is to submit to her husband as to the Lord which means the depth and sincerity of her submission is,a reflection of the depth and sincerity of her relationship with Jesus. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church which seems an impossible goal when we contrast the holiness and perfection of Christ with our own relative lack. Yet this is the standard. Verse 32 refers to a profund mystery, the only time this word is used of any of the 12 different mysteries that the NT tells us. I believe the importance here is God's plan that a believing husband and wife are intended to be a divinely ordained illustration of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Verse 33 is the key to a healthy God honoring marriage. The primary need of the man is respect. The primary need of the woman is love. We tend to give what we are comfortable with rather than what the other person needs.

Seychelles!

I wonder how many north Americans know about the,Seychelles? They are a group of island between África and Índia a country with a population of just over one hundred thousand. They apeak English, French or Creole and have just done an amazing thing. After not appearing on the list of the top 19 countries for most blog page views ever, in the last week they set a record of over six thousand pages views more than the US or any other countries try has,atrained. In the process they helped to set a new monthly page views record with more than 42,000 in only 9 days. May God bless the people of the Seychelles with his grace and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. In other news the kids camp season is over for the year although we wilm have weekend retreats into November. Now we try to get everything done that we couldn't do while the kids were here. ot to mention a little recuperation.

Ephesians 5:1-21

Last night the Bible study group began Ephesians chapter 5. Several of,Paul's themes appeared. The first was imitating God or godly people also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and Philippians 3:17. The rest of verse 1 speaks of our identity in Christ as dearly loved children. Paul then shows the contrast in verses 3 and 4 of what we should put off. He explains covetousness as idolatry, a rarely explored topic in the Church in America. He goes on to write of the contrast between spiritual light and darkness. Verse 16 explicitly says the days are evitar. We live in a fallen world drenched in sin. We are to be filled (ongoing) with the Spirit, giving thanks "always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."!