No Greater Love Than His
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  • In The Son of His Love--a blog
  • Relational Theology 101
  • Mystery of Godliness I Tim. 3:16
  • Galatians- Learning to Rest
  • The Body of Christ
  • Romans 1:16-17 The Gospel
  • Ephesians, the Father's adopted family
  • Prevailing Intercession-Henry Law
    • Psalm 2 Henry Law
  • A Practical Study of Hebrews
  • Satan's Hatred of Women
  • Quotes from old authors
  • John Welch on Romans 8:1
  • Topical Analysis of the Bible
  • LEARNING TO LIVE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
  • The Kingdom of God in Christ
    • The Kingdom Foretold
    • The King and His Kingdom Come
    • The Kingdom in its Biblical Context
    • The Kings introduction-the wild man and the real man
    • The Ultimate Test of the Father's Word-The Temptation
    • The Goal of the Kingdom Conquest
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom
    • Blessed are they that mourn
    • Blessed are the meek
    • Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness
    • Blessed are the Merciful
    • Blessed are the Pure in Heart
    • The Blessed of the Kingdom are the Salt & Light of the World
    • Kingdom Righteousness
    • Sermon on the mount-Getting the Law Right
    • Restoring God's Most Reflective Relationship
    • Being Sons and Daughters of the Heavenly Father
    • Understanding our Lord's Father Context
    • Breathing Pure Air in a Polluted World
    • Living in the Presence of the Secret Benefactor
    • What Serving God Looks Like
    • Self Righteous need not apply, but beggars can't be losers
    • Final Warnings From Our King
  • Audio Studies
    • Audio & Outline--On Spiritual Gifts
    • From the Futility of the Human Mind-to the Mind of Christ
    • Audio Study: I Corinthians 6:1-11
    • AUDIO-Waiting On God
    • Audio-Gospel of John
    • AUDIO-A Relational Discussion of the Holy Spirit
    • Audio-Studies on the Sermon on the mount
  • From Death to Life
  • All Creation Groans
  • Traveling down the ladder of self knowledge
  • Zions' hymn
  • Power in Weakness
  • What's In A Name?
  • The Heavenly Father's Pity/Spurgeon
  • On Affliction
  • Christ Our Intercessor
  • Spurgeon's Dream
  • Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
  • Stomping Among Lillies
  • The More Excellent Way
  • All Creation Sings Praise to the God of Heaven and Earth
  • The Lord of Heaven and Earth, the Ruler of the Nations
  • From Captivity to God's plan for peace, a future, and an eternal hope
  • Man Looks on the Outward Appearance, but the Lord of Hosts Looks upon the Heart
  • The Earth is the Lord's
  • The earth is the Lords
  • A Wedding Meditation-The Gospel Mystery
  • Be Strong in the Lord
  • The Girdle of Truth
  • Having feet shod with Gospel of Peace
  • Shield of Faith
  • Helmet of Salvation
  • Praying with all prayer & supplication
  • Sword of the Spirit
  • A Wedding Meditation
  • The Power of the Gospel is the Resurrection
  • What is this Mystery
  • A letter of encouragement to faith
  • Great is Mystery Part 3
  • The Mystery of Godliness part 4
  • Mystery of Godliness part 5
  • Seen of angels part 2
  • Preached among the nations
  • Great is Mystery of Godliness Part 8
  • Mystery of Godliness part 9
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 10
  • A Father's Hand--on Affliction
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 11
  • Mystery of Godliness part 12
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 13
  • Great is mystery of Godliness part 14
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 1
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 2
  • It is the Power of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 4
  • Christ, the Glorious Hybrid of God
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 5
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 6
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 7
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 8
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part
  • Romans 1:16-17 Part 9
  • Romans 1:16-17 Pt 11
  • The Necessity of the Body of Christ
  • The Perfection of the Body of Chhrist
  • The Role of the Holy Spirit
  • The Application of Body II Pet 1:1-4
  • application of body of Christ #3
  • Practical application body #4
  • Part 5 The application of the body
  • Application of body of Christ #6
  • The Application of the Body #7
  • application of body of christ #8
  • Application of body of Christ #9
  • application of body of Christ #10
  • The Kingdom of God
  • Galatians 1:1-6
  • Galatians 1:6-9
  • Abraham's Gospel-Melchizedek
  • cutting the covenant
  • The Mark of the Covenant
  • Gospel to Abraham-resurrection
  • Galatians 1:10-17
  • Galatians 1:18-2:10
  • Galatians 2:11-21
  • Galatians 3:1-9
  • Beholding the Glory of God
  • Intro to Gospel of Abraham
  • Melchizedek Gen. 14:18-20
  • Melchizedek #2
  • God's cutting the Covenant
  • Mark of the Covenant
                                                        The Futility of the Mind-God's View of Human Thinking
                                                                                                        Ephesians 4:17-19

Futile:  Having no useful (in our context-eternal) result. 

Remember:  Because of the fall of man, all human thinking, apart from Jesus Christ, is rooted in the lie.

Genesis 1:26-2:25  Man was created to live in totally dependence on the Abundance of the Good God.  His very life was to be the outflow of the Goodness of God in every area.

Genesis 2:17, 3:1-24 
The death that God had warned our first parents of was the death of that Relationship with the God of Ultimate Provision and Safety.
        That death is manifested in two ways:
                1.      God is not to be trusted!  Gen 3:1 & 4-5   Next step-There is no God.
                2.      Man must become his own God, or make one, or find one.  Man was not created to go it alone!!!  He continually is seeking that which he has lost, but as the old saying goes, he looks for love, security, and supply in all the wrong places.

Hebrews 2:14-15 
In the context of this text, that being Christ becoming Man, we find that He came to deliver his people from the fear of death, a fear that has held them in bondage all their “lifetime”.  Even the word “lifetime” is a concession to this bondage.  Eternal life doesn’t have a time!!!  Death reveals the ultimate futility of threescore and ten!!!

Ephesians 4:17-19 
This portion is the Apostle Paul’s Inspired description of the control center of fallen man-the mind.  In the context, the Apostle has given us a most glorious description of what God has done for us In Christ Jesus.  He is proceeding to show us the practical change in behavior that faith in the Riches in Christ Jesus, our Inheritance, should bring about.

But first, the contrast.  Here is who we once were.


Romans 1:21-22  This is why the Wrath of God is revealed against ungodly man:
            1.      Man does not Glorify God as God, that is, acknowledge God for Who He Is, living in willing dependence                 upon  Him.
            2.      Man is unthankful!!!
            3.      This ignoring of God’s eternal power & glory led all men into futility in their thinking and foolishness in             all  their behavior.  Any “God empty” thought or behavior is that of a fool!!!

Back to Ephesians 4, Paul’s expanded explanation of this utter futility. 
Here’s what a futile mind looks like in God’s eyes.  Remember, we aren’t just talking about the brain.  This is heart stuff, the control center of man.
            1.      ”Their understanding is darkened”-no Divine/eternal light in their environment. No God Resource and             Supply.  The “why/fair” question hovers over all their days.
            2.      “Because of the ignorance that is in them, they are alienated from the Life of God”.  It’s not that man                 needs more information about or evidence of God.  It is that man doesn’t have the understanding nor                           intelligence to see the Life of God that is in front of his very nose.
            3.      “Because of the hardening of their heart.”  This speaks of the deadness of the heart of fallen man toward             God.  Instead of dependence upon the Good God, man craves independence.  Therefore, human history is                     strewn with destroyed relationships.
            4.      “Who being past feeling.”  Not only is humanity largely incapable of feeling/understanding the hearts of             others, they also foundationally don’t know and understand their own feelings.  And most of all, there is no                 feeling/groping after God even though He is not far from any of us. (Acts 17:24-29)

Here is the behavioral result of such a futile mind/control center:

            1.      Licentiousness/Lawlessness-Man is a law unto his own self, governed by his own passions.  God’s law is             for the purpose of Relationship—first with Him and then with each other.  Man is the determination of law, in             society first, but ultimately for himself.  Speed limits are made to be broken, you know!
            2.      All uncleanness—Matthew 23:27  Don’t just think of the “bad guys” of Romans 1:24.  The Pharisaical                 heart is unclean!  We inherently condemn vigorously what is most assuredly lurking in our own hearts.
            3.      With greediness—It’s all about me.  We live in the age of the idolatry of self.  We are our own god.                          Everything should serve us, our comfort and welfare.  Romans 12:1 is an earth shattering concept.

Colossians 3:1-7 
This passage sets the stage for the next portion of our study, and the encouraging part of our study.  It teaches us two things:
            1.      When we come to Christ, God doesn’t give us an immediate lobotomy!!!  It’s not that we immediately
            think right thoughts all of the time and never are lawless or unclean or greedy any more.  But a process                         begins.  Our location changes—we no longer live in that futile environment. (vs 7)
            2.      We are to be involved in putting to death “our members” which are on the earth.  (vs 5)  Members                         speaks of every part of us that was in the world and went after the world and its pleasures—in a word, our                     flesh.
            3.      And here is how we put those members to death:  “Set your mind on things above…..for your life is                     hidden with Christ in God.” For our Christ is sitting at the right hand of God and all power has been given                     unto Him!  (Vs 2-3)  Or as Ephesians 4:20 so simply says “But you have not so learned Christ”

  Next time:  Learning Christ, the mind renewal process!