Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.
Friday, January 7, 2011
It is empty until it is filled and once Paul was filled with doctrine then he became the Lord’s representative in a very unique way.
In 2CO 4:7, vessels were used to provide an analogy between Bible doctrine resident in the soul and capacity for life among those who are mature believers. 2CO 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;
The earthen vessel contains something which is the greatest of all treasures which is doctrine resident in the soul and from this doctrine comes great capacity for life.
In 2TI 2:20-21, vessels are used to set up a contrast between the believer who is growing and going forward in the spiritual life and the one who declining and degenerating into some form of apostasy.
2TI 2:20-21, Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
In Proverbs 25:4 God is the smith and the believer is the one mentioned as the pure silver.
Vessels are also related to category #2 love, love between the right man for the eight woman, 1TH 4:4.
1TH 4:3-4, For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
The Bible is filled with a great field for learning how to possess a woman, how to be the leader, ruler, or the head over a woman and to do it in a way which is honorable;
1PE 3:7.
1PE 3:7, You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
“Weaker vessel” has to do with the function or the role of the soul, it has nothing to do with the strength of the soul.
When a person is designed by God to be a responder it means that in being a responder you are weaker and you depend upon someone else to whom you can respond.