Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: Paul started this letter to the Ephesians reminding them about what Jesus had done for them. The encouraging reminder of the goodness of God through His Son included: That from the beginning, God had pre-planned to allow those that trusted Christ as Saviour to become children of God (Ephesians 1:5). That by accepting Christ’s finished work on the cross, we are accepted by God (Ephesians 1:6). That our sins are forgiven and paid for (Ephesians 1:7). That He has given the saved godly wisdom (Ephesians 1:8). That God has let His will be known to believers (Ephesians 1:9). That one day, all the saved will be together with Him (Ephesians 1:10). That one day, we will receive a godly inheritance (Ephesians 1:11). That we should be something that God is proud of (Ephesians 1:12). In a world that loads us down with trials and tribulations, it is a blessing to be reminded of how good God is to those born into the family of God. Be encouraged; we are on the winning side. ...

This week's Bible View (#795) is available.  Its theme is "Jesus."  Read it at  https://www.thebibleview.com/2021/the-bible-view-795-jesus/ . Printable versions (including Large Print) can be found at  https://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html .

Daily Nugget: Paul’s concluding remarks to the Galatians (Galatians 6) left them with some good advice. His godly wisdom is good for all to keep in mind and practice.  Paul’s counsel includes: If someone has a weakness, and if you are a spiritual person, help him with his problem. That advice is contrary to what so many do when one is having difficulties (Galatians 6:1).  Too many talk about the dilemma of those that are hurting, ridicule them, blame them for their failures, and “kick them” when they are down instead of helping them up. Much of the time, those judging others do not know both sides of the story and are wrong in assessing the situation. Take other's hardships to your own heart. Bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2) as if they were your very own. There will be a time you will have difficulties, and you will wish others would call out to the throne room of God on your behalf. No matter how successful you think you are, do not fool yourself into think...

Daily Nugget: A Christian may be saved on the inside, but he will still fight the temptations of the flesh until the day he dies. Paul gives the only solution for keeping the sin-seeking human nature, that we were born with, at bay. That temptation-resisting advice is “… Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). To avoid life-controlling temptations, and often the life-ruining consequences they bring, be wary of where suggestions to do something arise. Recognize if the enticement comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit or what feels good to the flesh. Paul explained some “works of the flesh” so one can avoid them. They are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (“lustfulness and indulgences of animal desires” 1), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (“disputing that causes disagreement, discord, and dissensions” 1), emulations (“contentions” 1), wrath, strife, seditions (“causing commotion”), heresies, envyings, murders...

Daily Nugget: Again, in this chapter, Paul discusses more about the law. He clarifies that under the law, the Jews were “children” and under bondage to its statutes (Galatians 4:3). Those under the law were commanded to serve, and if they did not, there were threats of penalty. Then something marvelous changed. All the Old Testament promises and pictures of future prophesied occurrences were fulfilled. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth (Galatians 4:4) and redeemed those under the law (Galatians 4:5). “Redeemed” is to “purchase or to obtain.” Jesus purchased us and paid for all our sins — every single one of them: past, present, and future! When we accept Jesus’ payment for our sins, we become adopted sons (Galatians 4:5). We are adopted into God’s family. No longer are we subject to the laws that helped us grow up and know right from wrong. They were only shadows to show us the Saviour (John 8:12). No longer are we servants to the schoolmaster’s laws (Galatians 3:...

Daily Nugget: To the early believers in Galatia, obeying the Old Testament laws was part of their life and upbringing. If they were Jews, the commandments were drilled into them much of their life. Those laws were even a part of the gentile’s upbringing. The morality of those laws had done what God introduced them for, to teach many what was right and wrong (Galatians 3:24).  Even today, with few even attending church or reading their Bible, the law has still done its work in many hearts. It still convicts many to know what is right and what is not. When Christianity started spreading, its message was different. Instead of the strict enforcement of the law, its message had much to do with “faith.” They had to believe something that was not written down at the time, was talked negatively about in their temples, and could not be seen or proven. It was an “invisible” trust on their part. Faith was an old concept, but many never realized it was part of the O...

Daily Nugget: The Old Testament laws are more than the commonly known Ten Commandments. There are hundreds of them covering morality, proper worship, social behavior, punishments for violations, and dietary restrictions. No one could ever go to Heaven by obeying the laws. Most do not even know them all, let alone keep them all. The purpose of the law was to: show man what sin is, to help man see he is guilty of sin, and that because of his sin, man cannot justify himself. God’s law is our teacher (Galatians 3:24) to show us we are not only sinners but because we cannot completely stop sinning, we cannot please God by our “perfection.” When Jesus came, He was the onetime sacrifice that paid for all man’s iniquities. Trusting Christ’s payment for all our sins, by faith (Galatians 2:16), is the only way anyone can be pardoned from sin (vs. 16). “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24 No one can...

Daily Nugget: In writing to churches (Galatians 1:2) in Galatia, Paul saw something in the churches that did not please him. He was concerned that they took what he taught them and changed it.  What Paul had taught them was given to the apostle as a revelation from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). The Gospel was not open to discussion or change, yet that is what they were doing. They were preaching and teaching another “gospel” (Galatians 1:6) other than what they had first learned. Since there is only one Gospel, what they were teaching was false. It was a perversion of the truth (Galatians 1:7). Today, similar perversions are occurring. Many churches and denominations teach doctrines contrary to what is taught in the preserved King James Bible.  Even the perversions of the foundation of the truth, the Bible, are rampant everywhere. Over 300 different perversions of God’s Word in English further add to other teachings. The result is more confusion, f...