“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16)
As we see in our Scripture quoted above, all Scripture is for us and is profitable to us. As we study the Word, we must realize this and study all the Bible. However, we must also see that not all Scripture is directed to us, as far as practice for today. For instance, much of the Scriptures were written directly to the nation of Israel; most of Paul’s epistles are written directly to the Church, the Body of Christ. Also, for our study, we will see that some Scripture is directed to women, and some is directed to men. One caution here that we must recognize is that much of the time when “man” is used, it is speaking of the human race, including everyone—men and women. This is what we want to look at in this study. Before we can truly understand what the Lord wants us as women to do, we must first know some of the wonderful doctrine that He gives to everyone. For instance, what about,
God’s Plan for Our Salvation
Scripture Reading: Romans 3:22-23, 5:12, 6:23; 1 Peter 2:24; John 3:14-19; Ephesians 2:8-9
In Romans 3:22-23 we read, “… there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We can readily see that these verses are to everyone—men and women. We are all sinners, born in sin. Therefore we have a need for a Saviour. In John 3:16, we are told, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The world here is all the people of the world, which includes men and women. Before we can go forward in seeing what the Lord would have us as women to do, we must first come to Him for salvation. “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). In order to study His Word, in order to live for Him, we must first have Him as our Saviour. This is a free gift, we just must believe and receive the gift of eternal life, by accepting Him and what He did on the cross for each of us. When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our bodies (l Cor. 6:19-20). Then He will lead us through the Word how we can go forward in our,
Living for Him
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-17; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 4:1, 5:2, 8,15; Galatians 6:1; Romans 12:13
In Colossians 3, we find many wonderful truths teaching us how to live. In verse 1, we can see to whom the Lord is speaking. He is speaking to those that are “risen with Christ.” When we have accepted Him as Saviour, we have not only died with Him, but are risen with Him. This is to all saved people–men and women. To live for Him, we must seek those things which are above, and set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Too many times we have our minds (and hearts) on things of this life. We are told in Col. 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” If our thoughts and affection are on things above, we can do our daily living for Him and in His Name. Even some tasks that we might not like to do can become a blessing if we are doing them in His Name. In this chapter we are told many things that we walked in before we were saved. Now we should be dead to these things. We are told in verses 9 and 10 that we should put off the “old man: and put on the “new man.” In verses 12-14, we are told what we should “put on” after putting off the things of the flesh. Verse 15 tells us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts, and to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.
In the Scripture references above in Galatians and Ephesians, we are told how to walk. We are to walk in the Spirit, not thinking of the fleshly “wants” or “desires” so much, but let the Holy Spirit lead us in spiritual things. These Scriptures also tell us to walk in love, to walk in the light, to walk worthy and to walk circumspectly (watching, looking around, watching for Satan’s attempts to disrupt). In Romans 12:1-3, we are told to “present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We are told in verse 2, not to be conformed to this world “but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind; that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” I ask all who are studying with us, to reread all the above Scriptures prayerfully, and meditate on these things in order to live for Him.
One thing that can make it possible for us to live for the Lord and for our life to be a blessing is love.
Love
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 31:3; Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:7-19; 1 Corinthians 13
We find in Jeremiah 31:3, “… I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” This is the type of love the Lord has always had for mankind. This has been shown throughout all the Scriptures. When Christ died on the cross, we see the fulness of this love. To think that He loved us with an everlasting love! In the 1 John reference above, we are told, “… If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” With this kind of love from Him, it is no wonder that we are told to love Him with all our heart, soul, and might (Deut. 6:5). This is brought over and repeated in Luke 10:27. We can find a complete study of love in 1 John 4 and 1 Corinthians 13. In 1 Corinthians 13 we have a complete description of what love is and what love isn’t. In 1 John 4:7 we are told to love one another. When we love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, He can help us to love others. Verse 8 tells us that those who do not love, do not know God. Verse 9 tells us how much God loved us (read it). In this chapter, we also see that God is love. We are also told how our love is made perfect and the privileges we have because of it (verses 17-18). Read all of the verses from this chapter referenced above and see how we too can “speak the truth in love.” As women, we can easily carry out what our Lord has for us to do if we have this love in our hearts. Another way we can see His love to us is in the fact that we are accepted in Him.
Accepted in Him
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Eph. 1:6)
“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Cor. 5:9)
What a wonderful blessing to be accepted by Him; and to be accepted in Him. Our heavenly Fathers sees us in His Son, and accepts us because of what the Son did for us.
God sees my Saviour,
And then He sees me
In the Beloved
I am happy and free.
