What does 2 Corinthians 3:17 mean when it says: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”? ANSWER:This verse, written by the Apostle Paul, reveals a profound truth: True spiritual freedom is found only in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The “Lord” in context refers to Jesus Christ, and Paul equates the Lord with the Spirit to affirm the unity of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working as One. So, what kind of freedom is being talked about here? Biblically, the Holy Spirit brings two major forms of freedom: 1. Freedom from the Bondage of Sin and Suffering This is a foundational promise in the Gospel. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He quoted Isaiah and declared: Luke 4:18-19 (ESV)“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” This shows that the presence of the Holy Spirit liberates people—not only spiritually, but also emotionally and physically. He sets people free from demonic oppression (Mark 1:34), brings healing (Acts 10:38), and replaces despair with hope. The Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 61:1-3, which Jesus quoted, goes on to say: “…to comfort all who mourn; to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit…”(Isaiah 61:2-3 ESV) This is not just metaphorical—it speaks of transformational freedom, restoring lives, identities, and destinies. 2. Freedom from the Bondage of the Law The second form of freedom is theological and spiritual: freedom from trying to earn salvation through the Law of Moses. Before Christ, people attempted to gain righteousness by strict obedience to the Law. But the Law—though holy—could not save due to human weakness (Romans 8:3). That’s why Christ came. Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Through Jesus, we are justified by faith, not by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This freedom does not mean lawlessness—it means we are no longer condemned by the law because Christ fulfilled it on our behalf (Romans 10:4). Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” Does This Freedom Give Us a License to Sin? Not at all. Romans 6:1-2 (ESV)“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Freedom in Christ is not an excuse to live carelessly. Instead, it compels us to walk in holiness, gratitude, and purpose. Sin is like a deadly snake—just because you have the antidote doesn’t mean you go playing with snakes. You avoid them altogether. Galatians 5:13 (ESV)“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,but through love serve one another.” True believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, strive to live lives pleasing to God—not to earn salvation, but as a fruit of it. John 15:8 (ESV)“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” Conclusion: The Greatest Freedom The Holy Spirit brings the greatest freedom humanity could ever experience—freedom from sin, guilt, legalism, fear, and spiritual death. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is healing, joy, boldness, power, and righteousness. John 8:36 (ESV)“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” What About You? Have you received the Holy Spirit?If not, the Bible gives a clear path: Acts 2:38 (ESV)“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Steps to receiving the Holy Spirit: Repent — Turn away from sin with a sincere heart. Believe in Jesus Christ — Trust in His finished work on the cross. Be baptized — In water, by full immersion, in the name of Jesus Christ. Receive the Holy Spirit — A promise for all believers. May the Lord bless you and fill you with His Spirit.
Blessed be the glorious name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Welcome as we study the Bible, the Word of God, which is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path (Psalm 119:105). The book of Philemon is a letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison, addressed to a believer named Philemon. (A letter, or “epistle,” is simply a written message.) Paul wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it was included in the New Testament canon because of its profound spiritual lessons and instructions for Christians. It is also one of the shortest books in the New Testament. Who was Philemon? Philemon was a man who came to know Jesus Christ through the preaching of Paul and his companions in the city of Ephesus. He believed in the gospel, became a faithful servant of Christ, and eventually served as a leader of the church that met in his own house in Colossae (Philemon 1:2). Philemon was a man of means and owned slaves, as was common in that culture. One of his slaves, named Onesimus, stole some of Philemon’s property and ran away to Rome. Along the way, he encountered Paul, who was preaching the gospel. The message of Christ deeply touched Onesimus, leading him to genuine repentance. He became a true believer, transformed by the power of God (2 Corinthians 5:17), and even desired to serve alongside Paul in the ministry, even during Paul’s imprisonment. However, Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit and guided by wisdom, decided not to keep Onesimus with him. Instead, he sent Onesimus back to his master, Philemon, with a letter of commendation—this very epistle—testifying to his genuine conversion and transformed life. Paul interceded on his behalf, urging Philemon to receive Onesimus not as a mere slave but as a beloved brother in Christ. This was crucial because, under Roman law, runaway slaves could be punished by death. Paul therefore sent Onesimus back with this letter, appealing to Philemon’s love and Christian character. Paul’s Key Appeals in the Letter Receive Onesimus back because he has truly repented and been transformed.Philemon 1:9–12: “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.” No longer treat Onesimus as a slave, but as a beloved brother in Christ.Philemon 1:16: “…no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.” If Onesimus owes you anything, Paul himself will repay it.Philemon 1:17–19: “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will pay it back.” Paul closes the letter expressing confidence that Philemon will do even more than requested (Philemon 1:21). Lessons for Us Today 1. How to treat those who serve us The gospel changes how we relate to others, including those under our authority. If you employ someone—a house helper, a security guard, or office staff—remember that if they come to faith in Christ, they become your brother or sister in the Lord. Treat them with dignity, fairness, and love (Colossians 4:1). Their wages should be fair and their humanity respected, so they feel valued and not like mere tools for labor. 2. How to serve when under authority On the other hand, if you are an employee or in a position of serving someone, Scripture commands respect and sincerity of heart:Colossians 3:22: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.” Being in Christ does not eliminate respect for authority; rather, it deepens our sense of responsibility to serve faithfully. 3. The ministry of reconciliation Paul models for us the work of every servant of God—to be peacemakers and reconcilers (Matthew 5:9; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Onesimus, though genuinely converted, had wronged his master. Before fully engaging in ministry, it was right for him to reconcile with Philemon. Likewise, today’s church must help believers make amends with those they have wronged. True repentance includes restitution where possible (Luke 19:8–9). 4. Restoring relationships before ministry Some believers want to serve in the church but have unresolved conflicts—abandoned families, unpaid debts, or broken trust. Before granting ministry positions, church leaders should ensure that such issues are addressed, as Paul did for Onesimus, to protect the witness of the gospel (1 Timothy 3:7). Conclusion The book of Philemon teaches us about forgiveness, reconciliation, and the transforming power of the gospel. Just as Paul interceded for Onesimus, Christ intercedes for us before the Father (Hebrews 7:25). May we learn to love, forgive, and see each other not by worldly status but as one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Question: What is the meaning of the verse Ecclesiastes 5:1? Ecclesiastes 5:1 – “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.” (NIV) Answer: Amen, may the great name of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised forever. In this passage, the Preacher (the writer of Ecclesiastes, often attributed to Solomon) offers wisdom on how we are to approach God’s presence, particularly in the context of worship and service. The phrase “guard your steps” carries the idea of approaching God with great reverence and awareness, understanding the seriousness of coming into His presence. The Bible frequently stresses the holiness and majesty of God (Psalm 29:2; Isaiah 6:3), and this passage is a reminder that our approach to God should reflect this truth. The first part of the verse emphasizes the importance of listening over offering. “Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools” means that God values our attentiveness more than our hasty actions. Sacrifices in the Old Testament were meant to demonstrate devotion and repentance (Leviticus 1-7), but the Bible also warns that not all sacrifices are acceptable to God. As we see in Isaiah 1:11 (NIV), God says, “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” This suggests that not all religious actions are pleasing to God if they are done without sincerity or true devotion. The “sacrifice of fools” refers to ritual acts that are done thoughtlessly or without understanding. A fool, according to Scripture, is someone who lacks wisdom and discernment (Psalm 14:1, Proverbs 1:7). A “sacrifice of fools” could refer to someone who rushes to perform religious duties without first examining their heart and life. This is why Ecclesiastes calls us to listen—to receive God’s Word, reflect on it, and apply it in obedience, rather than mindlessly offering empty rituals. The New Testament further reinforces this idea of careful, thoughtful worship. In Matthew 15:8-9 Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, saying, Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV), “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” This points to the danger of external acts of worship without a corresponding change in heart. Moreover, when we offer worship or service to God, it must be done in accordance with His will. As Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) teaches, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” True worship involves our whole being, not just outward acts. Moving on to Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NIV), i”Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few.” This is a direct warning against speaking hastily or flippantly before God. It emphasizes the need for reverence when addressing God, acknowledging His supreme authority and holiness. This ties in with Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:7, Matthew 6:7 (NIV), “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” God does not require long, drawn-out prayers for the sake of quantity, but sincere, thoughtful communication with Him. Theological Context of Vows and Offerings The second part of the passage in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 warns about making vows to God and failing to keep them. Ecclesiastes 5:4 (NIV) says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.” In the Old Testament, making vows to God was a serious commitment (Numbers 30:2, Deuteronomy 23:21-23). Failing to keep a vow was considered sinful, as it indicated a lack of integrity and dishonor to God. The New Testament also addresses the importance of keeping one’s word. In James 5:12 (NIV), we are reminded: “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; otherwise, you will be condemned.” This reflects the idea that God desires sincerity over empty promises. The Importance of Holiness in Offerings Another point the passage makes is about the source of the offerings. Ecclesiastes 5 warns against bringing offerings to God that come from sinful or immoral sources. Deuteronomy 23:18 (NIV) clearly states: “You must not bring the earnings of a female prostitute or of a male prostitute into the house of the Lord your God to pay any vow, because the Lord your God detests them both.” This teaches that God does not accept offerings that are tainted by sin or unclean practices. Such acts dishonor Him, and they are an abomination in His sight. Final Thoughts In conclusion, Ecclesiastes 5 teaches us to approach God’s presence with great reverence and discernment. If we are unsure of God’s will for our lives, it’s better to do nothing than to offer mindless acts of worship. We must first seek to know His heart and understand His desires, and only then offer ourselves in service. God values holiness and obedience above all else, as we see in 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV): “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” When we approach God, it should be with a heart full of reverence, a life in alignment with His will, and a sincere desire to honor Him in all that we do. Our worship, prayers, and offerings should reflect our obedience and holiness, not just external acts of service. Shalom.
The Question:In Mark 4:12, Jesus says: “…so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’” (ESV) This verse seems puzzling. Didn’t Jesus come so that people would repent and be forgiven? Why would He speak in a way that might prevent that? The Context: To understand this, we need to look at the context. Earlier in Mark 4, Jesus had just told the Parable of the Sower to a large crowd. However, He didn’t immediately explain its meaning to them. He simply told the story and left it at that. Later, when He was alone, His disciples and a few others came to Him and asked for the meaning of the parable (Mark 4:10). Jesus then responded: “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,so that ‘they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.’” (Mark 4:11–12, ESV) Jesus was quoting Isaiah 6:9–10, where God tells Isaiah that the people’s hearts are hardened, and though they hear, they won’t understand. Why Did Jesus Speak in Parables? At first glance, it seems like Jesus was trying to hide the truth. But His intention wasn’t to deliberately withhold salvation. Rather, He used parables as a filter — to separate those truly seeking God from those who were just curious or entertained by miracles. The crowds followed Jesus for different reasons. Many were fascinated by His miracles (John 6:2), but few were genuinely seeking the truth. Parables required listeners to reflect, to hunger for deeper understanding, and to approach Jesus privately for clarification — just as the disciples did. God Reveals Truth to the Hungry God never forces truth on anyone. He reveals more of Himself to those who genuinely desire Him: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, ESV) “For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Luke 19:26, ESV) The people who didn’t pursue Jesus after hearing the parables essentially demonstrated that they weren’t interested in the truth. As a result, their spiritual blindness remained — not because Jesus wanted them blind, but because they had already chosen to shut their eyes. Self-Hardened Hearts The deeper issue lies in the condition of the heart. Consider what Paul says when quoting the same passage from Isaiah: “…‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”(Acts 28:26–27, ESV) Notice the phrase: “they have closed” their eyes. Their spiritual blindness is not imposed upon them by God arbitrarily — it is self-inflicted. When people consistently reject truth, God may eventually give them over to their own delusions: “…because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false…”(2 Thessalonians 2:10–11, ESV) A Warning to Us Today This is a sobering warning to all of us: Grace is not to be taken lightly. The opportunity to repent and believe is a gift, not a guarantee. The right time to respond to the gospel is now: “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV) To delay, to reject, or to treat God’s Word with casualness is spiritually dangerous. There may come a time when the heart becomes too hard to respond. Conclusion Jesus didn’t use parables to keep people from salvation — rather, He used them to reveal who truly had ears to hear. Those who humbled themselves and sought Him were given understanding. Those who closed their hearts received no more light, just as they had chosen. Let us therefore respond to the voice of God with humility, seeking His truth while it may still be found. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” (Hebrews 3:15, ESV) Would you like this in a printable format (like PDF or Word), or would you like it adapted for teaching/preaching notes?
Answer: When God created humanity, He made us in His perfect image, without any flaws, both physically and spiritually. This truth is clearly stated in Genesis 1:27 (NIV): “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” In this state of perfection, Adam and Eve were created to live in harmony with God, experiencing His love, peace, and the joy of His creation. They were endowed with knowledge, the ability to choose, and the fear of God, which would allow them to live in accordance with His will. However, Genesis 3:6 (NIV) records the turning point: Genesis 3:6 (NIV) “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.” In this moment, Adam and Eve decided to abandon their trust in God and chose to follow their own desires. Rather than continuing in the perfect state in which God had created them, they sought something else—an independence from God, thinking they could gain wisdom and power like Him. This disobedience resulted in the fall of humanity, and sin entered the world, bringing with it pain, suffering, and separation from God (see Romans 5:12). The theological lesson here is profound: humanity was created to live in perfect relationship with God, but in seeking their own way, they sought to make their own rules, and that pursuit of independence from God’s design led to spiritual death. Romans 3:23 (NIV) affirms this, stating, Romans 3:23 (NIV), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Even today, we continue to see this behavior reflected in human culture. People often try to alter their appearances or even their essence, believing they can improve themselves or achieve perfection outside of God’s original design. For instance, many alter their skin tone, use makeup to change their features, or undergo surgeries to reshape their bodies. These are modern versions of the “many schemes” or “inventions” mentioned in Ecclesiastes 7:29, as people seek ways to redefine their identity according to their own desires rather than accepting the way God created them. This desire to change oneself is a form of rejecting God’s perfect creation. In Psalm 139:14 (NIV), the psalmist declares, Psalm 139:14 (NIV), “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” To reject how God made us is, in a sense, to reject God’s work and wisdom in creating us. The ultimate theological truth is that God’s plan for humanity is for us to embrace who we are as His image-bearers, and to live in a relationship with Him. The more we seek to change ourselves based on worldly standards, the more we deviate from God’s perfect design. In Romans 12:2 (NIV), we are instructed: Romans 12:2 (NIV),“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This transformation happens when we align our lives with God’s will, accepting ourselves as He created us, and living in accordance with His purpose for us. Rather than searching for solutions in “many schemes” or inventions, we are called to trust in God’s original design and find contentment in living according to His will. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) reminds us, Ephesians 2:10 (NIV),“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Shalom.