Ephesians 6: 1-9 Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

S***es and Masters
5 S***es, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like s***es of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for wh**ever good he does, whether he is s***e or free. 9 And masters, treat your s***es in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

The first four verses of this chapter may be much harder to work with than the last five verses simply because of the age we are living in. “Children obey your parents in the Lord.” It is obvious that “this is right”, but how much family devastation have we seen over the years? I grew up with my grandparents, but I also had time with parents and an orphanage. With my grandparents, if I knew I had done something wrong, I went and got my own willow switch and told on myself. Heaven help me if my grandparents found out about it via the grapevine!

With my my father used a belt and he put us in an orphanage when he and my mother broke up and left all of us: my mother, sadly, there are no good words to describe living with my mother, although I did live about 4 yrs with her. If you're lucky, you have great parents and good memories, but that isn’t always how it happens today.

In fact, I think until the 1950’s when television started to get into full swing, we had a world that had greater stability than after the growth of TV took hold. But that is only my summation. It may have been different for many of you.
This is not to blame TV, but look at what the inventions of TV and now I-Phones have done. Children are completely wrapped up in them for hours in a day. We see violence real and imaginary from all over the world. Our cartoons also contain more violence now than they did then.

With the advent of TV, suddenly we were introduced into things we had never seen before. And in the beginning it was quite tame. We have Romper Room; Howdy Doody, Kookla, Fran and Ollie; Twilight Zone, Lassie, Mickey Mouse Club, The Lone Ranger, Space Patrol, You Asked for It, and on and on.

In fact, I tend to think until the 1950’s when television started to get into full swing, we had a world that had greater stability than after the growth of TV took hold.

Then, suddenly we were introduced to things we had never seen before. I remember one segment of Twilight Zone where it showed a woman staring at a blank screen - a screen that looked like our computer screens today. It seemed silly at the time, and yet today we have computers which show us a blank screen on which we can write, draw, post, communicate, send and see pictures and hear the news. The world is no longer thousands of miles away; it is in our living rooms and dens and even in our schools!

We see violence real and imaginary from all over the world. Our cartoons contain more violence now than was portrayed in the younger years of TV. It seemed silly at the time, and yet today we have computers which offer us a blank screen on which we can write, draw, post, communicate, send pictures and hear the news. The world is no longer thousands of miles away; it is in our living rooms and dens and even in our schools now!

Nor do the shows typically portray or promote solutions, much less making up, apologizing, or obeying one’s parents. A few might promote harmony, but overall, they pit one side against the other - and for what purpose? Peace? Harmony? Doesn't sound like it, does it? Rather it is for the excitement; the suspense; the surprise!

And in these verses it says “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with promise. Does anyone know what that promise is now? So we see this happening in our neighborhoods, our schools?

How about the next scripture: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children”? Do they even bother to be there, much less helping with the training and instruction of the Lord in their childrens' lives? Do they demonstrate solutions, making up, apologizing, or obeying one’s parents? What about “Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment with promise. (Does anyone know what that promise is?)

Was it ever the role of the mother to raise the children in instruction in the Lord? What does Psalm say about the role of the mother?

And next we have the commands regarding s***es and masters. In America we don’t deal with this as we did in years gone by, but what about hired help? What about migrant workers? Are they where s***ery is common? And what if one has a heavy-handed master? How does that apply today?

I remember when we were sent to Saudi we were instructed quite adamantly to make sure our children were always WITH somebody because it was quite common for a child to disappear as a result of being abducted and sold into s***ery. Our girls, in particular, were told to make sure they were never caught alone ‘anywhere’, because it was an open invitation to rape. You see, over there, a woman alone is specifically asking to be raped. And if I had been in a car with someone other than my husband we would both have been tried 'and beheaded' for adultery. It wouldn’t matter if the other person was best friend with the mate – we were not married, therefor; adultery had occurred whether the either person touched the other or not!

And are not those who employ us masters over us? How do we serve whole-heartedly? Ever had a bad day at work, or a conflict with the boss? How does one handle that situation in a godly manner?
Now we can't suddenly change the world, but isn't Ephesians all about the individual? And if we change ourselves according to God's word; what happens to the observers?

Eph 5: 16 - end
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Alright – this one is on all of you who are reading and following this study. How do we practice these things in this day and age?

It is utterly impossible to be Christian and American, or Christian and any other nationality. A Christian is a citizen of and an Ambassador to heaven: no earthly ties to kingdoms of the world. None! Dual citizenship is just a house divided. A Christian standing boldly in t***h may or may not conform to a political policy or agenda, but he or she is only aligned with the Gospel and not any party. To align with a worldly party to speak gospel-t***h is to compromise the message of Christ. Scripture is not liberal or conservative: it is Eternal T***h!

Robby - WE are the church! That is what the scripture says. But we also meet as a body, or as a whole, several individuals at a given place, at a given time. They did it then in peoples' houses; we do it now in people's houses if the congregation is small enough; if not at a given place - in some cases even in a shopping center cubicle they have rented. The whole body of Christ comes together to 'break bread' and 'pray' and be edified, etc. No one is taking that away from you. We have received the Holy Spirit as a 'stamp' so to speak that we are one of God's children. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Galations 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I think I said you should go back to the very beginning of this thread and read each of the sections starting with Eph. 1 and onward to get the whole context. No one is taking anything away from Christ, nor are we adding anything to what Christ has said or done for us.
The Scripture does not contradict itself!

You need to read all of that section of Galatians to get what is being said. You have taken a statement out of context. Here is what you should have been looking for: They were talking about how they were justified and whether a person because he was free from sin could now do anything he wanted to do because he was free to do so.

Galatians 2:15-21King James Version (KJV)
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a t***sgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Now let’s look at this same thing in Rom. 6
Galatians 2:15-21King James Version (KJV)
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a t***sgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
These are the exact same things; almost exactly the same statements, and nowhere does it say that Christ will determine all this after we and everybody else dies. Rather we determine that right now, in the here and now, in the flesh as did all the rest of the Christians who followed this same baptism example; how each and every conversion in the book of Acts describes: they ALL end with baptism except for King Agrippa, who believed, but would not commit himself to God!
So although we can believe in Christ – if we don’t obey his death, burial and resurrection – then we, like king Agrippa, are still lost in our sins! You sincerely need to understand with they are talking about. That one word “of” in the comment faith OF Christ, simply means Christ had faith his Father would save him. The physical Jesus Christ was going to die, and no one was able to k**l him. He gave his life up willingly for us. Satan was too stupid to realize that death could not hold him, nor could he or the crown k**l Him, no one could k**l him because he was God made flesh, and that is why Jesus said, Luke 23:46 King James Bible
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Did you note that? Jesus GAVE UP the ghost – it was not because human hands k**led him!
And it further says in 1 Peter 3:21 (KJ21) | In Context "The like figure to this, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
So your statement is summarily wrong and out of context with all the rest of the Bible scriptures.

Please give this some thought: A country that supports a corrupt government (including historical Israel), always loses God's blessings. IMO - It should be apparent that the USA is losing its blessings at an alarming rate.
I hope more people will be able to figure this out. Mohammed was not the "polar opposite" of Christ. The anti-Christ is the Polar opposite of Christ. That is his purpose and mission. Many will be deceived, because they have not figured who the great deceiver is, and who he uses. Atheist Luciferians / Illuminati plan on winning the war against God. They do not believe they will be answerable to God. They believe that their wickedness will go unpunished. This is the warning to God's servant people: Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 7:18
Ephesians Ch 6:10 to 6:18 > especially 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

I believe that we have the same sins now as then especially the sexual sins. I am sure that they had sodomy, lesbianism, p********a, and all other perversions then as we do now. I remember in one chapter of the Bible their was a son sleeping with his mother I believe that was the case so in that regards we are the same.

The technology of today versus back then magnifies the ease of at least viewing the various acts on TV they offer what they call adult channels, on the internet if you can type it you can view it. They have dating sites on the internet that I am sure cover the total spectrum of sexual deviancy. In the days of the Bible I don't know what they had but from what I've read the different gods that they worshiped had in a lot of cases d*****t sexual orgies and perversions.

I would say sin or crime would be as easy now if not easier than then. It depends on the civilization that they are living in. When America was young our laws were taken more seriously. As we as a nation progressed and we seem to have become more lax in our enforcing these laws especially under the present administration. If people want to sin they will find a way to do it no matter which generation that they live in. Today with technology the way it is and mans mind being evil we are only limited by our imagination.

Eph 5: 1 - 7
Ephesians 5 New International Version (NIV)
Chap 5: 1 thru 7
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
These words by Paul to the church at Ephesus are as straight forward as anything can be. They are simple to understand, but for some – perhaps even many – they are difficult to follow. “Foolish talk”, “Coarse joking”, “greed”, or any kind of “idolatry”. No immoral, impure, or greedy person is acceptable. They are counted as idolaters.
Are we not like this in many ways? I am sure I am, and many of the ‘church’ people I have seen and known are quite different on Sunday morning than they are on Fri. and Sat. night; or through the week for that matter.
Yet all of these are condemned according to Paul. And make no mistake, Paul is writing as an ambassador for God. Warning not to just the Ephesians, but to us also. Note what is said in Revelation regarding the church at Ephesus.
Rev. 2:2-7 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Now had that happened? Our clue comes from the next verse: (7) “But thou hast this, that thou h**est the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also h**e.”
And what was so h**eful about the Nicolaitans? They simply assumed and put forth the belief that man could freely partake in sin because the Law of God was no longer binding. We have been freed from sin! You can do anything you like now because there is no law to stop you! Seriously??? And God recognized that the Ephesian church knew this was a falsehood.
Still, they had left their first love: The love of God and his Word. God cannot be separated from the Word, because the Word was in the beginning, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! This is a very strong and heavy teaching here. The Word is our strongest and only tie to God the Father. 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.