Musing – How important is the “Bond of Peace”?

 Hebraic Musing – How important is the “Bond of Peace”?

 All of Paul’s letters to the Church start with essentially the same greeting, wishing “grace and peace” of the Lord to all.  While he could have started with any wording, it is noteworthy that his constant and consistent use of “grace” and “peace” was the most important things he could wish for us.  What is the “The Bond of Peace”?

 In Ephesians 4:3 says “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’ NIV   What’s meant by “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Peace is a paramount goal; it is how we should be bonding with other Christians.  But peace isn’t always obtainable when dealing with other people, including other Believers.  Paul saw this was starting to happen with the church at Ephesus.  And today unfortunately, denominations have fractured much of what the early Church cherished and protected.  Paul needed to warn them about it.  It was originally supposed to be always about Jesus, and just Jesus; but departures from this purity were starting to occur with interpretations of His words, opinions taught as truth, and legalism creeping into doctrine. 

And as centuries go by, the enemy’s desire has been to weaken Christ’s Church  with disputes and arguments. (BTW - There is only ONE Church and it’s His)  Scripture and its application to our lives has produced a quagmire of confusing teachings and has broken the “bond of peace” that all Believers were instructed to adhere to in dealing with one another. 

We find denominations that conflict with each other in their doctrines and compete with one another for baptisms, salvations and service attendance numbers. (“Nickles & noses”)  Unbelievers see this and shy away from a “religion” that cannot agree among itself about what it believes.  And who can blame them?!?!

Paul was very specific in how to deal with and solve this problem.  “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19   Paul spends a great amount of time telling us not to let minor differences in our Christian walk get in the way and erode the “bond of peace” that we should be working toward constantly in dealing with others.   BTW – “Peace” appears almost 400 times in Scripture!!! 

Paul points out that it doesn’t matter how a person dresses, or what he eats or drinks or what day he celebrates a holiday as long as Jesus is the center of all of it and the Father is glorified by their practices.  Yet we find denominations squabbling over how much water should be used in baptisms, whether speaking in tongues is good or bad, and rules and regulations in a church body comparable to the legalisms in Judaism in Jesus’ day.

 So, how do we get back to the relationship between Believers that Paul is calling for?  It starts with each one of us and our attitude toward fellow believers whose church has a different sign out front than the one we attend. Again, the answer lies in Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  It doesn’t matter what other Believers do or say in minor matters that Scripture isn’t specific about.  If God wanted something done a certain way on a certain day, He would have said so.  So let them do it.   If it is not specified in Scripture, then it doesn’t matter to God, and therefore should not matter to us.  Letting differences split and divide the “bond of peace” that holds us in the “unity of the Spirit” is contrary to what Christ desires for us to practice.  The Lord loves all of us, no matter what we wear to church, what music we use in a service, or how we baptize.  The only thing that is required and paramount in our walk with Christ is making Him the reason for any and all of what we do.  Just Him.  Always Him.  He is LORD!

The sign in a city near me reads “The Churches of Bella Vista welcome you.” 
I wish that sign could simply say “The Church of Bella Vista welcomes you.”

Points to Ponder

What keeps the churches in a city from worshipping together?

How many churches are in the community? 

♫  In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song;
      this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           November 18, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by John Drexler’s “The Bond of Peace”

Musing – Are the O T pagan gods still with us today?

 Hebraic Musing – Are the O T pagan gods still with us today?

The Old Testament is replete with admonitions against the influence of ungodly nations and individuals.  For good reason, God commands the Israelites not to intermarry with the pagan nations surrounding them.  “Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.  For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the LORD will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.” Deuteronomy 7:3-4 NKJV

The New Testament also addresses the danger of false teachers within the church who can lead believers astray with deceptive doctrines.  We are warned in 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”  Is this occurring in today’s churches?

1 John 4:1-6 tells us how to test the spirits; here’s the first 3 verses – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”  Yes, even today?!?!

Similarly, Paul expresses concern over the influence of those who distort the gospel stating, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,” Galatians 1:6 NKJV  These warnings serve as a reminder to remain vigilant and discerning in matters of faith and doctrine.   “And there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9    Thus the Bible says that what has happened in the past will happen again.  Is it already happening again?!?!

What does the world worship today?  What is distracting Christians today?  Who are these gods?  What kind of thinking is creeping into “Christian” churches today?  Are they doctrines of demons?!?!  “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,” 1 Tim.4:1   What are the names of today’s demons?  

Are these the new gods?  “Progressivism” “Tolerance” “Social Justice” “Inclusivity” “Critical Race Theory” “Gender Identity” “LGBTQ+” just to name a few!?!?   Have we begun to accept pseudo-Christian Pagan ideologies which are counter to the foundations of Christianity?  …like “New Age” “Universalism” “Cleansing rituals” “Financial wealth” etc.?      How can one determine which of the world’s messages are harmful?  What is “Paganism”? A – Ultimate de-constructive practice of personal self expressions that are not Christ-like.

What do we encounter when we try to speak the truth?  A - Forced spiritual conversions acting as modern day inquisitions; or a cancel culture; or a public shaming; or a societal ostracization; or a deplatforming; or a loss of employment?  Christians must brace themselves for escalating tension and opposition, both politically and spiritually!!!  We need to commit to biblical truth while engaging the culture with grace and conviction.

The true version of Christianity is not always polite, nor is it always “nice”, but it is always on fire for the Lord and His truth(s).  Are you equipped, emboldened, seeing clearly, seeking truthfully and standing firmly in the face of these “modern day gods”?  If we don’t speak up, is the foundation of our Christian nation at stake?  Will we stand up with courage to confront errors like the early church had to amidst persecution? 

So, “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:11

Points to Ponder

Do we want to serve the world, or serve our Lord Jesus”

Is there a difference between “WOKE” ideology and Paganism?

Will you be listening more carefully to underlying messages from the news media?

“…and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:27

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           November 11, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Charlie Kirk’s “Forward” to the book “Pagan Threat” by Lucas Miles.
          (BTW – “Pagan Threat” is a book with more than you’ll ever want to know about paganism!)

Musing – Are we successful at Repenting?

 Hebraic Musing – Are we successful at Repenting?

Do most of us believers have a day during the year when the focus is on repenting for sin.  On October 1^st this year, the Jews had a day called Yom Kippur, the most solemn and holiest of Jewish holidays when Jews seek to expiate their sins and achieve reconciliation with God.  Why should we do that?  Because the Lord told us to.  The Lord told Moses “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.  And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. …  31 You shall do no manner of work; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” Leviticus 23:26-31 NKJV

Thus, we have been called to be humble and to acknowledge and repent of our sins.  The Israelites did it via an animal sacrifice, while today they usually fast and repent.  If we are trying to observe the Biblical Calendar, can we admit that all too often nothing significant happens during this day of repentance?  I have yet to hear of any one actually repenting for their sins on Yom Kippur or any other time.  

Have you ever “woke up and realized” that you were holding a grudge?  And the Holy Spirit would not let it go!

What’s going on?!!?!  When we are wounded we are so hurt we just retreat and try to ignore the rejection.  We ignore the person and deal with offenses by trying to forget them.  Yet we all remember the message in the popular Lord’s prayer.  “And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors”…. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:12, 14-15 NKJV  This passage should remind us that we will not be forgiven unless we forgive others. 

We are warned in 1 John 2:9 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.”   Yet we’ve been clearly told what needs to be done. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV

Peter came to Jesus and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22   And Jesus had a further warning in v 35.  “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”  That’s a pretty serious warning!

Jesus had a solution.  “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:25-26   Is this also the way to get prayers answered?

Is “holding grudges” like “Judging” others?  What did Jesus say?  “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

Forgiving others appears to be the foundation of our faith.  Joseph was so hated by his brothers that they sold him into slavery.  Yet Joseph was able to forgive his bothers and reconcile with them.  The consequences for lack of forgiveness are for eternity.   Yes, we are to Repent for our Sins and Forgive! 

Points to Ponder

Might we need an annual day of Repentance? 
                      Or a week, or a daily habit,  or a Spirit of Repentance?

How long are the rewards for forgiveness?  And for non-forgiveness?

How does the command to “love your neighbor” apply here?

♫  Create in me a clean heart, oh God, And renew a right spirit within me.  Create in me a clean heart, oh God, And renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence, oh Lord, And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation. And renew a right spirit within me. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                           November 4, 2025            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by Johanna Hocker’s “Repenting for Sin!”