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Dec 19 06 7:18 PM
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Quote:By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. The only information we have about Zephaniah is in the beginning of his book. 2. He was probably not the son of Hezekiah who reigned as king of Judah at about this time. a. The prophet was from a respected family, as is indicated by the genealogy given in the opening verse of the book. b. If Zephaniah's family had not been distinguished, the list of ancestors would probably not have been given. 3. The name Zephaniah means either "The Lord hath hid," or "The Lord's watchtower." B. The Background. 1. Zephaniah prophesied during the days of Josiah, king of Judah. 2. The prophet must have delivered his message early in the reign of Josiah and may have been part of the influence that caused the king to institute reforms. 3. Zephaniah came just before Jeremiah and just after Isaiah.II. The book. A. Judgment upon all nations, especially upon Judah (1:1-1 . 1. The word of the Lord came to the prophet (1:1). 2. The whole world to be punished for ignoring the moral law of the universe (1:2-3). 3. The judgment will fall especially upon Jerusalem and Judah (1:4-6). a. The greater the privilege, the heavier the judgment (1:4). b. Jerusalem and Judah guilty of Idolatry (1:4). c. The Jews had also become star-gazers (1:5). 4. The judgment is described (1:7-13). a. Princes, traders, and the immoral to be objects of God's wrath (1:8-9). b. The destruction to be total (1:10-13). 5. The day of judgment is near and its devastation will be great (1:14-1 . a. The time of accounting is at hand (1:14). b. It will be a bitter day of wrath, distress , anguish, darkness, and doom (1:15-17). c. Wealth and power will not protect against an angry God (1:1 . B. A plea for repentance (2:1 to 3: . 1. All the people of earth are to consider their ways (2:1-3). a. Seek Jehovah while there is time -- the hour comes when it will be too late to seek him (2:2). b. The meek and the righteous are urged to repair their way before the Lord (2:3). 2. Punishment on many nations, beginning with the Philistines (2:4-7). 3. Moab and Ammon also to be punished (2:8-10). 4. Jehovah will demonstrate once again his power over idols (2:11). 5. Ethiopians and Assyrians to be destroyed (2:12-15). 6. If God punishes heathens for their immorality (idolatry), his covenant people will surely not escape (3:1-5). 7. God's righteous judgments on heathen nations should cause Judah to reconsider and repent (3:6- . C. Promise of future blessings for Israel and the whole world (3:9-20). 1. Israel to be restored (3:9-10). a. God seeks people of "pure language" to serve him (3:9). b. The redeemed shall bring gifts to Jehovah (3:10). 2. Israel to be purified (3:11-13). a. The proud shall be cast down (3:11); The meek and humble shall remain (3:12). b. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and speak no lies, but will have peace (3:13). 3. Israel to be comforted and blessed (3:14-20). a. The joy of Jerusalem will be great for there is no joy like the joy of salvation (3:14). b. When God is in the midst of a people, fear and distress cease (3:15-16). c. If God is for us, who can be against us (3:17). d. Israel and Judah to be restored and worship Jehovah in purity and with joy (3:18-20).
Dec 19 06 9:19 PM
Quote:A. The writing gives a brief history of the first century church. 1. Though called Acts of the Apostles, the only original apostles mentioned after the first chapter are Peter, James, and John. 2. The emphasis is upon the preaching of the gospel throughout the world and the subsequent existence and fortunes of the church of Christ. B. Luke was the author of the book (he also wrote the gospel of Luke). 1. He was a physician (Col. 4:14). 2. He was of the uncircumcision (Col. 4:10-14). 3. He was an educated man. 4. He was an occasional companion of Paul. C. The book concludes with Paul in prison at Rome and must therefore have been written early in 63 A.D.II. Jerusalem church. A. Introduction to the contents of the book 1. Appearances of the resurrected Jesus (1:2- . 2. Ascension of Jesus (1:9-11) 3. Waiting for the promised power from on high (1:12-14) 4. Matthias selected to take the place of Judas (1:15-26) B. Establishment of the church 1. Words "church" and "kingdom" used interchangeably (Matt.16:18,19); Kingdom to come with power (Mark 9:1); The power came when the Holy Spirit came (Acts 1: 2. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles bringing the church into existence (2:1-4) 3. The Holy Spirit came with the sound of the rushing of a mighty wind, tongues like fire upon the apostles, speaking in foreign languages (2:14) 4. Thousands brought together by the noise of the great wind (2:5,6) 5. Astonishment of the multitude (2:7-13) 6. Peter's sermon (2:14-36) 7. Many in the crowd asked what they were to do to be saved (2:37) 8. Told what to do to receive remission of sins (2:3 9. Three Thousand obeyed and continued in worship and godly living (2:39-47) C. Expansion of the church (3:1 thru 8:3) 1. Lame man healed by Peter and John (3:1-10) 2. Peter's second sermon (3:11-26) 3. Peter and John arrested (4:1-4) 4. Preaching to the Jewish High Council (4:5-12) 5. Peter and John told not to preach in the name of Jesus (4:13-22) 6. Prayer for courage and strength (4:23-31) 7. Unity and love of early church (4:32-37) 8. Ananias and Sapphira lie and are punished (5:1-11) 9. Teaching confirmed by miracles and growth of the church (5:12-16) 10. Apostles arrested and persecuted (5:17-33) 11. Saved by Gamaliel's advice to the Sanhedrin (5:34-39) 12. Apostles, beaten and released, joyfully continue to preach (5:40-42) 13. Men appointed to serve tables (6:1-7) 14. Stephen defends preaching about Jesus and is killed (6:8 thru 7:60) 15. Saul from Tarsus leads in persecuting the church (8:1-3) III. Preaching in all Judea and in Samaria (8:4 thru 12:25) A. Preaching in Samaria (8:4-40) 1. Philip preaching in the city of Samaria (8:4-13) 2. Apostles Peter and John sent to Samaria to confirm the new converts and bestow spiritual gifts my the laying on of hands (8:14-17) 3. Simon the sorcerer sins and is rebuked (8:18-25) 4. Philip sent by an angel to preach to the Treasurer of Ethiopia (8:26-35) 5. Philip baptizes the Ethiopian (8:36-40) B. Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (9:1-31) 1. Saul secures letters of authority to persecute Jewish converts to Jesus living in Damascus (9:1,2) 2. Jesus appears to Saul on the road near Damascus (9:3-7) 3. Saul was blinded and his friends took him into Damascus (9:8,9) 4. Ananias of Damascus sent to tell Saul what to do to be saved (9:10-17) 5. Saul recovers sight and is baptized to wash away his sins (9:18-19, See also Acts 22:16) 6. Saul immediately preaches in the synagogues the way he had come to Damascus to persecute and is himself persecuted (9:20-25) Note: Saul, now called Paul, preached three years in Damascus and Arabia before going to Jerusalem (See Gal. 1:15-1 7. Saul preaches in Jerusalem before being threatened and retiring to Tarsus, his hometown (9:26-30) C. The acts of Peter (9:32 thru 11:1 1. The church in Judea, Samaria, and Galilee had peace and prospered (9:31) 2. Peter heals Aeneas at Lydda (9:32-35) 3. Peter raises Dorcus from the dead at Joppa (9:36-43) 4. Peter called to Caesarea where he preaches to Cornelius, his family, and friends (10:1-46) 5. Peter commands Cornelius and those with him to be baptized (10:44-4 6. Peter defends his acts to the brethren at Jerusalem (11:1-1 D. Further teaching, growth, and experiences of the church (11:19 thru 12:24) 1. Church expands into Phonicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria (11:19) 2. Church prospers in Antioch of Syria (11:20,21) 3. Barnabas sent to help the new converts in Antioch (11 :22-24) 4. Barnabas calls for Paul to come from Tarsus to help (11:25-30) 5. Herod the king executed James the apostle (12:1-2) 6. Herod persecutes the church (12:3) 7. Peter imprisoned and released (12:4-11) 8. Peter received at the house of Mary, John Mark's mother (12:5-19) 9. Herod's arrogance and death (12:20-23) 10. Church continued to grow and prosper (12:24-25)IV.        Preaching throughout the world (12:25 thru 28:31) A. Paul's first missionary journey (12:25 thru 14:2 1. Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark sent from Antioch of Syria (13:1-3) 2. Preaching on the island of Cyprus (13:4-12) 3. Crossing over to the mainland; departure of John Mark; preaching in Antioch of Pisida (13:13-42) 4. Success and persecution in Antioch of Pisida (13:43-50) 5. Paul and Barnabas travel to Iconium (13:51,52) 6. Preaching and persecution in Iconium (14:1-5) 7. Paul and Barnabas go to Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and environs (14:6) 8. Preaching in the region, and healing of a lame man (14:7-10) 9. The miracle caused the people to attempt to worship Paul and Barnabas and were restrained (14:11-1 10. Paul is stoned and left for dead (14:19-20) 11. Paul and Barnabas revisit Lystra, Iconium, Antioch of Pisidia confirming the saints and appointing elders in every church (14:21-23) 12. Paul and Barnabas return to Antioch of Syria by way of Pamphylia and Attalia (14:24-2 B. Jerusalem visit and discussion (15:1-35) 1. Debate over whether circumcision is a condition of salvation (15:1-5) 2. Visit to Jerusalem to discuss the matter (15:6-21) 3. Letter of instruction sent to the believers at Antioch of Syria (15:22-29) 4. Report given to the church in Antioch of Syria (15:30-35) C. Paul's second missionary journey (15:36 thru 18:22) 1. Paul and Barnabas disagree over John Mark and part company (15:36-41) 2. Paul and Silas journey to Lystra, where Timothy is circumcised and joins the missionary group (16:1-5) 3. The Macedonian call (16:6-10) 4. Preaching in Philippi; Lydia and her household taught and baptized; evil spirit cast out of a maiden; Paul and Silas accused, beaten and imprisoned (16:11-24) 5. A midnight earthquake got the attention of Paul's jailer and he and his family were taught and baptized the same hour of the night, and rejoiced greatly (16:25-34) 6. Paul, Silas and Timothy depart from Philippi (16:35-40) 7. Preaching and persecution in Thessalonica (17:1-9) 8. Paul and Silas go to Borea (17:10,11) 9. Leaving Silas and Timothy in the region of Thessalonica and Berea, Paul journeys to Athens, where he preaches (Acts 17:12-34) 10. Paul travels to Corinth, where he teaches and preaches and meets Priscilla and Acquila, and where a great church is established (18:1-17) 11. Paul, Acquila and Priscilla go to Ephesus (18:18-20) 12. Paul leaves Ephesus, intending to return at a later time, and goes to Antioch of Syria to report and preach (18:21-22) D. Paul's third missionary journey (18:23 thru 21:14) 1. Paul goes to Phrygia and Galatia strengthening the disciples (18:23) 2. Apollos comes to Ephesus and is further taught by Acquila and Priscilla and sent to Corinth (18:24-2 3. Paul returns to Ephesus where he teaches and baptizes twelve men (19:1-7) 4. Paul spends three years preaching in Ephesus, and where a riot drives him from the city (19:8-41) 5. Paul returns to Macedonia (20:1-4) 6. Paul and his companions travel to Troas, where they wait seven days until the first day of the week when the disciples gathered to break bread (eat the Lord's Supper), and where Paul preached, and raised a young man from the dead (20:5-12) 7. At Miletus Paul bids farewell to the Ephesian elders (20:13-3 8. In Tyre Paul is warned not to go to Jerusalem (21:1-14) 9. Paul goes to Jerusalem, in the face of grave dangers; Paul is discovered worshipping in the Jewish Temple, and a riot occurs, but Paul is rescued by Roman soldiers (21:15-40) 10. Paul defends himself and his actions to his fellow countrymen (22:1-22) 11. Paul is imprisoned in the Roman Fort at Jerusalem (22:23-30) 12. Paul's life is threatened and he is sent to Caesarea (23:1-30) 13. Paul defends himself before Felix (24:1-27) 14. Paul defends himself before Festus, and appeals to Rome (25:1-12) 15. Paul defends himself before Herod Agrippa, Bernice, and Festus (25:13 thru 26:32)V. Paul's Trip to Rome A. They sail for Rome, and touched at Sidon, sailed under the lee of Cyprus, they came to Myra, where Paul was transferred to another ship (27:1-6) B. The ship is wrecked off the coast of the island of Melita (27:7-44) C. After preaching with good success at Melita, and confirming his message with miracles, Paul was put on another ship bound for Rome (28:1-11) D. Paul arrives at Rome, is received by the brethren, and explains his situation to the Jews (28:12-2 . E. The apostle is two years a prisoner in his own hired house, where he preaches the kingdom and the things concerning Jesus with all boldness, none forbidding him (28:29-31)
Dec 21 06 8:53 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. The only information we have about Zephaniah is in the beginning of his book. 2. He was probably not the son of Hezekiah who reigned as king of Judah at about this time. a. The prophet was from a respected family, as is indicated by the genealogy given in the opening verse of the book. b. If Zephaniah's family had not been distinguished, the list of ancestors would probably not have been given. 3. The name Zephaniah means either "The Lord hath hid," or "The Lord's watchtower." B. The Background. 1. Zephaniah prophesied during the days of Josiah, king of Judah. 2. The prophet must have delivered his message early in the reign of Josiah and may have been part of the influence that caused the king to institute reforms. 3. Zephaniah came just before Jeremiah and just after Isaiah.II. The book. A. Judgment upon all nations, especially upon Judah (1:1-1 . 1. The word of the Lord came to the prophet (1:1). 2. The whole world to be punished for ignoring the moral law of the universe (1:2-3). 3. The judgment will fall especially upon Jerusalem and Judah (1:4-6). a. The greater the privilege, the heavier the judgment (1:4). b. Jerusalem and Judah guilty of Idolatry (1:4). c. The Jews had also become star-gazers (1:5). 4. The judgment is described (1:7-13). a. Princes, traders, and the immoral to be objects of God's wrath (1:8-9). b. The destruction to be total (1:10-13). 5. The day of judgment is near and its devastation will be great (1:14-1 . a. The time of accounting is at hand (1:14). b. It will be a bitter day of wrath, distress , anguish, darkness, and doom (1:15-17). c. Wealth and power will not protect against an angry God (1:1 . B. A plea for repentance (2:1 to 3: . 1. All the people of earth are to consider their ways (2:1-3). a. Seek Jehovah while there is time -- the hour comes when it will be too late to seek him (2:2). b. The meek and the righteous are urged to repair their way before the Lord (2:3). 2. Punishment on many nations, beginning with the Philistines (2:4-7). 3. Moab and Ammon also to be punished (2:8-10). 4. Jehovah will demonstrate once again his power over idols (2:11). 5. Ethiopians and Assyrians to be destroyed (2:12-15). 6. If God punishes heathens for their immorality (idolatry), his covenant people will surely not escape (3:1-5). 7. God's righteous judgments on heathen nations should cause Judah to reconsider and repent (3:6- . C. Promise of future blessings for Israel and the whole world (3:9-20). 1. Israel to be restored (3:9-10). a. God seeks people of "pure language" to serve him (3:9). b. The redeemed shall bring gifts to Jehovah (3:10). 2. Israel to be purified (3:11-13). a. The proud shall be cast down (3:11); The meek and humble shall remain (3:12). b. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong and speak no lies, but will have peace (3:13). 3. Israel to be comforted and blessed (3:14-20). a. The joy of Jerusalem will be great for there is no joy like the joy of salvation (3:14). b. When God is in the midst of a people, fear and distress cease (3:15-16). c. If God is for us, who can be against us (3:17). d. Israel and Judah to be restored and worship Jehovah in purity and with joy (3:18-20).
Dec 21 06 8:55 PM
Quote:By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs I. Introduction. A. The author. 1. The human agent by whom this book came is not known with certainty. a. Most of the book was written at a time of calamity for Jerusalem. b. It fits with the destruction of Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah. c. The references to Egypt and the personal distress and persecution of the writer all point to Jeremiah as the writer of at least a major portion of the book. d. For more information on the life of Jeremiah, see the outline on the written prophecy of Jeremiah. 2. The Jews credit the book of Lamentations, at least a major portion of it, to Jeremiah. 3. It is possible the book was written by more than one human author and therefore it is not credited to anyone. a. The book bears the marks of inspiration and that points to a superhuman source. b. Though the information came from God the Spirit by revelation, the literary style, vocabulary, and education of the human agent is preserved. B. The background (a brief history of the city of Jerusalem from the time of the conquest of Canaan to the time of Jesus). 1. When the Jews took Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, a part of the city was occupied. The Jebusites were not forced out of Jerusalem (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:21). 2. David defeated the Jebusites and made Jerusalem the capital (2 Sam. 2:6; 1 Chron. 11:4). 3. In the reign of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, Shishak of Egypt defeated Jerusalem and took away "the treasures of the house of the Lord" (1 Kings 14:25; 2 Chron. 12:2-9). 4. During the reign of Amaziah in Jerusalem, Joash of Israel invaded Jerusalem, broke down 600 feet of the wall of the city, and took away "all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God" (2 Chron. 25:20-24). 5. When Zedekiah ruled in Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded the land and destroyed the city, its wall, and its temple, taking away "all the vessels of the house of God, great and small" (2 Chron. 36:17-22). 6. Under Zerubbabel and Ezra the city temple rebuilt and the city restored (Ezra 3:1 to 6:22). 7. Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria invaded Jerusalem, destroyed the walls, sacked the city, and desecrated the temple. 8. Pompey, a Roman general, in 63 B.C., defeated Jerusalem, tore down the walls and put the Jews under Roman control. 9. Under Herod the Great, a vassal of Rome, the city was restored and the temple rebuilt in splendor. This was the temple of Jesus' day. 10. Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple and the city by the Romans (Matt. 24:4-31). To this day the temple and its wall have not been rebuilt.II. The Book. A. Introduction. 1. The book of Lamentations is five chapters long and expresses sorrow over the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, and other misfortunes of the Jews. 2. The book is a poem in alphabetical style (like the 119th Psalm). Each chapter begins with a different letter of the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet, except the third chapter where the first three verses begin with the first letter, the second three with the second letter, and so on through the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet. Each chapter has 22 verses, except the third chapter which, of course, has 66 verses. B. Solitary and ruined (1:1 to 2:22). 1. Prophecy fulfilled (1:1-22). a. The city is deserted (1:1-11). b. The people suffer (1:12-17). c. Jehovah is vindicated (1:18-22). 2. Jeremiah grieves over the condition of Jerusalem (2:1-22). a. Jehovah, not Nebuchadnezzar, is the cause of Jerusalem's grief (2:1-19). b. God's fierce anger is awful (2:20-22). C. The suffering of Jeremiah (3:1-66). 1. The faithful mourn their hardship (3:1-21). 2. In hope they wait for the salvation of the Lord (3:22-36). a. The unceasing mercies of God. b. Jehovah is the secret of hope. c. Suffering is only for a season. 3. God is just and his ways are right (3:37-54). 4. A prayer for deliverance (3:55-66). D. The people suffer (4:1-22). 1. The gold is dimmed (4:1-12). a. The innocent suffer. b. The rich are impoverished. c. Worse than Sodom. d. Features are black as coal. e. To die by the sword is better than to die from hunger. f. Women boil and eat their own children. g. The suffering is unbelievable. E. A pitiful complaint (5:1-22). 1. Insult and abuse have been piled on Jerusalem (5:1-1 . 2. Final appeal to God for the reversal of the judgment (5:19-22). 3. After punishment comes restoration.
Dec 21 06 8:57 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. Little is known of Daniel. a. He was of royal descent, according to Josephus. b. His birth place was probably Jerusalem. 2. Nothing is recorded of his early years. 3. At about the age of 12 to 15 (in chapter 1:4 he and his friends are called "children" he is found among the first captives Nebuchadnezzar took to Babylon. a. He is mentioned in connection with three other youths. b. He and his companions are selected to be trained in the language, history and customs of the Chaldeans. c. The fortunes and misfortunes of Daniel are recorded in his book of prophecy. 4. How long he lived and when and where he died cannot be determined with certainty. a. Epiphanius says he died in Babylon. b. Some say he died in Shushan in Persia. B. Background. 1. Egypt was the first world empire. 2. Assyria succeeded Egypt as dominant in the world and was the first kingdom to attempt a one world government. 3. Assyria gave way to Babylon. a. When the king of Assyria was weakened through rebellion and sickness, Nabopolassar revolted and declared himself the king of Babylon. b. He then attempted to make himself emperor of the world. c. The war between Assyria and Babylon caused Pharaoh Necho of Egypt to intercede in an attempt to participate in the plunder. d. Josiah, king of Judah, tried to form an alliance with Babylon and was killed in a battle with Egypt at Megiddo. e. Shallum (Jehoahaz) ruled for three months, but was carried by Necho to Egypt. f. Eliakim (Jehoiakim) became king and ruled for 11 years. He was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the son of Nabopolassar, who carried some of the ruling class of Judah and some of the wealth of the Jerusalem temple to Babylon. Daniel was among this number. 4. The Babylonian empire was defeated by the Medes and Persians. 5. Philip of Macedon had for a long time desired revenge on Assyria for having invaded Greece. a. Philip died without having achieved his ambition of crossing the Mediterranean Sea and punishing Assyria. b. Alexander, the son of Philip, set out to fulfill his father's desire and developed the Greek empire. He ruled the world for a short time. c. Alexander built roads throughout his empire and required all the people to speak the Greek language. 6. Greece gave way to Rome. a. Upon the death of Alexander, his world empire was divided between his four generals. b. Slowly the Roman empire began to develop. Julius laid the military foundation upon which the kingdom was built. c. His adopted son, Octavian (later Augustus), opened the imperial period of Rome (30 B.C.). II. The Book. A. Introduction. 1. The book was written in two languages. Chapters 2:4 to 7:28 are written in Aramaic, and the balance of the book in Hebrew. 2. The predictive nature of the book declares its inspiration. 3. Modern discoveries support the facts in the book of Daniel. B. Historical portion of the book of Daniel (1:1 to 6:2 . 1. Prologue of the book (1:1 to 1:21). a. The Babylonian captivity occurred in three stages. This was the first carrying away into Babylon in the reign of Jehoiakim (1-3). b. Children of the nobility chosen to go to Babylon. They were made eunuchs (2 Kings 20:17-1 and trained in the language and culture of the Babylonians (4-7). c. The diet test and its outcome (8-21). 2. The famous dream of Nebuchadnezzar (2:1-49). a. The wise men of Babylon unable to describe and interpret the kings' dream (1-14). b. Daniel offers to recite the dream and give its meaning (15-16). c. Jehovah reveals the matter to Daniel and his companions (17-24). d. Daniel describes the strange image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream and tells the meaning, prophesying four world empires and Messiah's kingdom (25-45). e. Nebuchadnezzar's reaction (46-49). 3. The fiery furnace (3:1-30). a. Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image and required all people to worship the image when they heard the sound of music (1- . b. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (three Jews) were accused of not worshipping the image (8-12). c. The king inquires if they will worship his golden image and they refuse (13-1 . d. The three Jewish men are cast into the fiery furnace (19- 23). e. The victims are delivered by the power of God (24-27). f. Nebuchadnezzar praises Jehovah and promotes Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (28-30). 4. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a tree and Daniel's interpretation (4:1-37). a. Nebuchadnezzar's pronouncement (1-3). b. The Babylonian king reports having had a dream, his wise men had not been able to make its meaning known to him (4-7). c. Nebuchadnezzar recounts his dream to Daniel (8-1 . d. Daniel is stricken speechless (19). e. Daniel gives the meaning of the dream (20-27). f. One year later the prophecy of Daniel was fulfilled (28- 33). g. Nebuchadnezzar's recovery (34-36). h. Nebuchadnezzar fully converted to the worship of the one God (37). 5. Writing on a wall (5:1-30). a. Belshazzar, grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, gave a feast for 1,000 of his lords (1). b. Vessels from the Jerusalem temple defiled and Jehovah insulted (2-4). c. Writing on the wall (5-6). d. The king's wise men could not read the writing (7-9). e. The queen-mother's recommendation (10-12). f. Daniel, 78, called to read the writing (13-29). g. End of the mighty Babylonian empire (30-31). 6. The den of lions (6:1-2 . a. Darius of Persia sets up his government (1-2). b. Daniel promoted (3). c. Occasion sought against Daniel (4). d. The law against praying to any god except Darius (5-9). e. Daniel defied the king and disobeyed the law (10). f. Daniel accused and thrown to the lions (11-17). g. The king's lament (18-22). h. Daniel delivered (23). i. Daniel's accusers punished (24). j. Darius' proclamation concerning "the God of Daniel" (25- 2 . C. Visions and Dreams (7:1 to 12:13). 1. Four beasts (7:1-2 . a. Belshazzar is co-regent with his father, Nabonidus (1a). b. Dreams and visions (1b). c. Four beasts coming out of the sea (2-3). (1) Lion with eagle's wings (4). (2) Bear with 3 ribs in his mouth (5). (3) Leopard with wings and 4 heads (6). (4) Terrible beast with iron teeth and 10 horns (7). d. The little horn with a big mouth ( . e. A scene in heaven -- the Ancient of Days -- a coronation in heaven (9-14). f. An explanation to the grieving Daniel (15-27). g. Daniel, though troubled, hid the matter in his heart (2 . 2. Vision of a ram, a he-goat, and a horn (8:1-27). a. A ram with two horns representing the Medo-Persian Empire (1-4). b. The he-goat with a horn between his eyes (5-6). c. The he-goat overcomes the ram; the he-goat's horn is broken and 4 notable horns appear (7- . d. A little horn comes from one of the 4 horns and desecrates the temple in Jerusalem (9-14). e. Gabriel's explanation of the vision (15-26). f. Daniel fainted and was sick (27). 3. Daniel's prayer for himself and the people (9:1-27). a. The prayer (1-19). b. The sending of Gabriel to Daniel (20-23). c. Gabriel's explanation of conditions -- the 70 weeks of years (24-27). 4. Vision of a man (10-1-21). a. Daniel is afraid because of the vision (1-9). b. Daniel is comforted by an angel (10-17). c. Persia and Greece in conflict (18-21). 5. The rise and fall of the Grecian empire (11-1-45). a. Alexander of Macedon (1-4). b. An alliance, through marriage, between the king of Egypt and the king of Syria (5-6). c. Wars between Egypt and Syria (7-10). d. Continued struggles and intrigues between Syria and Egypt (11-19). e. Antiochus IV Epiphanes' brutality foretold (20-24). f. Antiochus IV Epiphanes invades Egypt, but is driven back and again distresses the Jews in Jerusalem (25-39). g. Summary of Antiochus IV Epiphanes (40-45). 6. The time of the end (12:1-13). a. The archangel shall stand up (12:1-4). b. The great deliverance (12:5-10). c. Waiting for the end (12:11-13).
Dec 21 06 8:58 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. Ezekiel was the son of Buzi, or whom nothing is known. 2. Ezekiel was a priest. a. It is implied that he was a descendent of Zadok (40:46; 43:19; 44:15-16; 48:11). b. Zadok was of the line of Aaron and therefore of the elite among priests. c. This may explain why Ezekiel was carried to Babylonian captivity during the reign of Jehoiachin (early phase of the captivity). 3. The word of Jehovah came expressly to Ezekiel the priest. a. He did not depend for his knowledge upon the writings of others. b. God often makes his will known through persons of whom we know little. c. This helps to put emphasis upon the message and not upon the messenger. B. The background. 1. The northern kingdom fell about 100 years before the birth of Ezekiel. 2. Ezekiel was born in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah (B.C.625). 3. Josiah died in a battle with Egypt at Megiddo. 4. His second son, Shallum, became king using the name Jehoahaz. His reign lasted only three months. He was deposed by Pharoah Necho of Egypt. 5. His brother Eliakim was placed on the throne as a vassal to the King of Egypt. He ruled under the name of Jehoiakim. a. Jehoiakim, an evil king, ruled 11 years. b. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Jerusalem and took Jehoiakim captive and robbed the temple of its gold and silver. c. Daniel may have been among the captives. 6. Upon the death of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoichin, his son, ruler in Jerusalem. a. After only 3 months and 10 days Nebuchadnezzar carried Jehoichin to Babylon. b. Nebuchadnezzar also took "the goodly vessels of the house of Jehovah." c. The Babylonian king also took the leading people of the land to Babylon. Ezekiel was among the captives. 7. The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle (brother of Jehoiakim and son of Josiah) king. His throne name was Zedekiah. a. After eleven years, Nebuchadnezzar returned to utterly destroy Jerusalem. b. The remainder of the people were either carried captive to Babylon or scattered. 8. Ezekiel began to prophecy in the fifth year of his exile, while the temple was still standing in Jerusalem.II. The Book. A. The call of Ezekiel (1:1 to 3:15). 1. Introduction (1:1-3). a. Ezekiel saw visions of God (1:1). b. The word of Jehovah came expressly to Ezekiel (1:3). c. The hand of Jehovah was upon him (1:3). 2. Vision of the four living creatures (1:4-21). 3. Vision of the throne of God (1:22-2 . 4. The prophet's call (2:1-10). 5. The prophet's commission (3:1-15). a. Eating of the roll (2:8 to 3:3). b. Difficult work (3:4-11). c. The vision of divine glory departs in a flourish (3:12-15). B. Coming destruction and privation (3:16 to 7:27). 1. Ezekiel the watchman (3:16-21). 2. The prophet not to speak his own words but the words of God (3:22-27). 3. The siege of Jerusalem pictured (4:1- . 4. The terrible suffering of the besieged city (4:9-17). 5. Ezekiel to shave the hair of his head (5:1-4). a. A third of the hair to be burned (5:2). b. A third of the hair to be cut with a sword (5:2). c. A third of the hair to be scattered to the wind (5:2). d. A few hairs to be kept in Ezekiel's garment, but some of these to be burned (5:3). 6. Destruction of Jerusalem and punishment of the people symbolized by Ezekiel's shorn hair and its treatment (5:5-12). 7. The wrath of God will be accomplished and his justice satisfied (5:13-17). 8. Destruction of Jerusalem is sure because of idolatry (6:1-7). 9. A remnant to be preserved (6:8-10). 10. Jehovah to be vindicated by the punishment of idolatrous worship (6:11-14). 11. Reiteration of the coming destruction, punishment and suffering (7:1-27). C. The sixth year of Ezekiel's captivity (8:1 to 19:14). 1. Heathen obscenities in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem (8:1-1 . 2. A vision of the destruction of many and the preservation of a few (9:1-11). 3. A vision of the glory of God over the cherubim (10:1-22 to 11:25). a. Evil rulers rebuked (11:1-13). b. Restoration promised (11:14-21). c. The vision ends (11:22-25). 4. A prophecy of captivity (12:1-1 . a. Ezekiel digs under the wall and carries his belongings out by night (12:1-7). b. This became a prophecy of what would happen to Jerusalem (12:8-20). c. The end to come soon (12:21-2 . 5. False prophets and prophetesses condemned (13:1-23). 6. No hope for Jerusalem to be delivered (14:1-23). a. The elders of Israel inquire of Ezekiel, but Jehovah will not deal with them because they are idolaters (14:1-5). b. Idolaters commanded to repent (14:6-11). c. The righteousness of the righteous cannot save the wicked (14:12-21). d. A remnant shall be left (14:22-23). 7. Jerusalem to be destroyed like a useless vine (15:1- . 8. Jerusalem's beginning; Jehovah's kindness to her; her unfaithfulness (16:1-63). a. Jerusalem rejected by savage parents, but redeemed and enriched by Jehovah (16:1-14). b. Jerusalem became vain and turned first to prostitution and then to promiscuity (16:15-34). c. Unfaithfulness deserves punishment (16:33-43). d. Jerusalem worse than Sodom and Samaria (16:44-52). e. Still, after punishment, there will be restoration (16:53- 5 . f. A new covenant for all nations (16:59-63). 9. The parable of two eagles and a vine (17:1-24). a. The first eagle represents Nebuchadnezzar and the first carrying away into Babylon of the nobles of the land. b. The second eagle represents Egypt to whom the unfaithful Zedekiah turned. c. Another prophecy of a coming universal kingdom (17:22- 24). 10. The soul that sinneth it shall die; repent and live; O why will ye die? (18:1-32). 11. Two lamentations (19:1-14). a. A lamentation for the strong lions of Judah carried in cages to Babylon (19:1-9). b. A lamentation over a ruined vine (19:10-14). D. Seventh year of Ezekiel's captivity (20:1 to 23:4 . 1. The history of Israel reviewed (20:1-29). 2. Judgment and restoration (20:30-44). 3. Prophecy against the south (20:44-49). 4. The unsheathed sword of the Lord to destroy Jerusalem (21:1-5). 5. The groaning of Ezekiel because of what is soon to happen in Jerusalem (21:6-7). 6. Babylon is God's sword of destruction against Jerusalem and Ammon (21:8-32). 7. The sins of Jerusalem described (22:1-12). 8. Punishment is inescapable (22:13-31). 9. The parable of Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-4 . E. Ninth year of Ezekiel's captivity (24:1-27). 1. The siege of Jerusalem -- a burning pot (24:1-14). 2. Ezekiel's wife dies, but Ezekiel not allowed to mourn (24:15-1 . 3. The death of the prophet's wife symbolizes the death of Jerusalem which the exiles were not to mourn (24:19-27). F. Heathen nations to be judged (25:1 to 32:32). 1. Prophecy against Ammon (25:1-7). a. Ammon rejoiced at the destruction of Israel and Judah (25:3). b. Therefore, Ammon would be destroyed (25:7). 2. Prophecy against Moab (25:8-11). 3. Prophecy against Edom (25:12-14). 4. Prophecy against Philistia (25:15-17). 5. Prophecy against Tyre (26:1 to 28:19). a. Tyre an invincible island. b. Tyre destroyed and fishermen spread their nets on the bare rocks. 6. Prophecy against Sidon (28:20-24). 7. Restoration to the land foretold (28:25-26). 8. Prophecy against Egypt (29:1-16). 9. Babylon to defeat Egypt (29:17 to 32:32) G. Watchmen and shepherds (33:1 to 34:31). 1. Duty of the watchman (33:1-20). a. News of the destruction of Jerusalem (33:21-22). b. Justification for the desolation of Jerusalem (33:23-33). 2. The shepherds of Israel (34:1-31). a. The good shepherd (34:20-25). b. Ye are the sheep of my pasture (34:26-31). 3. Edom condemned (35:1-15). H. Vision of dry bones (36:1 to 37:2 . 1. Israel to be restored (36:1-7). 2. Israel punished for her sins (36:8-21). 3. A cleansing to take place (36:22-31). 4. The coming restoration does not stop the present punishment (36:22-31). 5. The restoration to be beautiful (36:32-3 . 6. The dry bones revived (37:1-14). a. The two sticks (Israel and Judah) (37:15-23). b. Messiah's everlasting kingdom (37:24-2 . I. Judgment against Gog (38:1 to 39:29). 1. Gog is unknown and may represent all the nations that set themselves in array against the God of heaven, both in Ezekiel's day and in all coming generations, including the final judgment (Rev. 20: . a. Magog is the land of Gog. b. All lands that oppose Jehovah in all generations, even to the end of the world, shall be destroyed (38:1-23). 2. Overthrow of Gog (39:1-24). a. Restoration of Israel (39:25-27). b. Jehovah to be exalted (39:28-29). J. Vision of the temple (40:1 to 48:35). 1. Vision of the house of worship (40:1 to 43:27) a. The man with the measuring rod (40:1-4). b. The outer court, its gates and chambers (40:1-49). c. The wall of the temple (40:5). d. The east gate (40:6-16). e. The outer court (40:17-19). f. The north gate (40:20-23). g. The south gate (40:24-27). h. The south gate of the inner court (40:28-31). i. The east gate of the inner court (40:32-34). j. The north gate of the inner court (40:35-37). k. The tables for sacrifices (40:38-43). l. The rooms for the priests (40:44-49). m. Measurement of the temple (41:1-26). (1) The priest's chambers and the outer chambers (42:1- 20). (2) The priest's chambers (42:1-14). (3) The outer court (42:15-20). n. The glory of Jehovah fills the house (43:1-12). o. The altar described (43:13-27). 2. Rituals of worship to be performed in the temple (44:1 to 46:24). a. Relation of the prince to the temple (44:1-3). b. Relation of the people, Levites, and priests to the temple (44:4-16). c. Duties and rewards of the priests (44:17-31). d. Priests, princes and people (45:1-17). e. The maintenance of the priests (45:1- . f. Offerings of the people to the prince for the temple (45:9- 17). g. Holy days and feasts (45:18 to h. The first feast described (45:18-20). i. The passover (45:21-25). j. Worship offered by the prince (46:1- . k. Worship offered by the people (46:9-15). l. Instruction for the prince (46:16-1 . m. The boiling-places for sacrifices (46:19-24). 3. The land or inheritance (47:1 to 48:35). a. Healing waters from the temple (47:1-12). b. The borders of the land and manner of division (47:13- 23). c. Distribution of the land among the tribes (48:1-29). d. The gates, size, and name of the city (48:30-35).
Dec 21 06 9:00 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. This son of Amoz was born in Jerusalem about 760 B.C. 2. Ministry began about 740 B.C. a. Preached 40 years in his native city. b. He was a young noble who had access to the court. c. He was married about 734 B.C. d. He had two sons. 3. He had the finest education available. B. The background. 1. Jeroboam II was king in Israel. 2. Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings in Judah. a. Assyria defeated Syria and Israel and become a world power. b. Judah was invaded by the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, but was saved by divine intervention -- 185,000 Assyrians died in one night. c. Babylon was beginning to develop. d. Romulus and Remus were alive in Rome, which was founded in 753 B.C. 3. Baal and Moloch were worshipped in Jerusalem. a. There was no religious depth. b. The moral fiber was gone.II. The Book. A. Rebukes, promises, and prophecies of judgment on Judah, Israel and some foreign nations (1:1 to 39: . 1. Spiritual condition of Judah (1:1-31). a. Sin-sickness and rejection of nation (1:2-17). b. An appeal to reconsider (1:18-20). c. Evil conditions again stated (1:21-23). d. Offer of grace or condemnation (1:24-31). 2. Messiah promised and Judah further rebuked (2:1-22). a. A brief prophecy of a King Redeemer (2:1-4). b. A plea to abandon idolatry (2:5-11). c. A coming judgment of destruction because of the glory of Jehovah's majesty (2:12-22). 3. Oppression of rulers and wickedness of women (3:1-26). a. Elders have allowed the evil (3:1-15). b. The perverse women of Judah (3:16-4:1). 4. A coming day of restoration (4:2-6). 5. Corrupt conditions in Judah in Isaiah's time (5:1-30). a. Parable of Jehovah's vineyard (5:1-7). b. Woes pronounced (5:8-30). 6. The commission of Isaiah (6:1-13). 7. Rezin, Pekah and Immanuel (7:1-25). a. Alliance of Syria and Israel (7:1-2). b. Ahaz not to fear Syria and Israel (7:3-9). c. The sign and the virgin born Immanuel (7:10-17). d. Coming destruction of Judah (7:18-25). 8. Assyria to afflict Judah (8:1-22). a. The sign of Isaiah's son (8:1-4). b. Assyria will distress Judah (8:4- . c. Isaiah's confidence (8:9-17). d. Assyria will not utterly destroy Judah (8:18-25). 9. The coming Prince of Peace (9:1-7). 10. Judgment on Israel for her hypocrisy (9:8-21). 11. Assyria's victories and defeat (10:1-34). a. Assyria will humiliate Israel (10:1-4). b. Assyria will be punished in her turn (10:5-19). c. A remnant of Israel will return (10:20-34). 12. Messiah's kingdom will bring peace to all nations (11:1 to 12:6). 13. The burden (prophecy of destruction) upon the nations (13:1 to 23:1 . a. The burden of Babylon (13:1-22). (1) The return of God's people (14:1-3). (2) The doom of Babylon (14:4-2 . b. The burden of Philistia (14:29-43). c. The burden of Moab (15:1-16:14). d. The burden of Damascus (Syria) (17:1-14). e. The homage of Ethiopia (18:1-7). f. The burden of Egypt (19:1-20:6). g. The burden of the wilderness of the sea (Babylon) (21:1-10). h. The burden of Dumah (Edom) (21:11-12). i. The burden of Arabia (21:13-17). j. The burden of Jerusalem (22:1-25). k. The burden of Tyre (23:1-1 . 14. God's judgments on the world (24:1-23). 15. Praise for Jehovah's kingdom and favor (25:1-12). a. Thanksgiving for deliverance (25:1-5). b. Blessings granted (25:6- . c. Rejoicing in salvation (25:8-12). 16. A song of thanksgiving for the goodness of Jehovah (26:1-21). a. Jehovah will protect and watch over his people (16:1-10). b. The people shall be restored to divine favor (26:16 to 27:13). 17. Renewed denouncement of Israel and Judah (28:1-29). a. A warning to Samaria (Ephraim) (28:1-4). b. An offer of mercy to Judah (28:5-6). c. The sinfulness of Judah (28:7-13). d. Leaders and priests condemned (28:14-22). e. A parable of planting and reaping (28:23-29). 18. Warnings and promises to Jerusalem (29:1-24). 19. Folly of reliance on Egypt; a renewal of promises; destruction of Assyria (30:1-33). 20. Not Egypt, but Jehovah can help; Jehovah, not Egypt, will discomfit Assyria (31:1-9). 21. The righteous King (32:1- . 22. Denunciations of Israel joined with promises (32:9-20). 23. God's judgments against Assyria; the privileges of the godly (33:1-24). 24. Vengeance against the enemies of Jehovah (34:1-17). 25. The flourishing state of those who fear and obey Jehovah (35:1-10). B. Events in the reign of Hezekiah (36:1 - 39: . 1. Assyria, under Sennacherib, invades Judah; Jehovah delivers Judah and destroys 185,000 Assyrian soldiers (36:1 - 37:3 . 2. The sickness and recovery of Hezekiah (38:1- . 3. Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving (38:9-22). 4. Hezekiah shows all his treasure to visitors from Babylon (39:1-2). 5. Isaiah prophesied Babylonian captivity (39:3- . C. Judah and Israel consoled by promises of restoration (40:1 - 66:24). 1. Tender words of consolation to people under affliction (40:1-11). 2. The grandeur and goodness of Jehovah (40:12-30). 3. The contest between Jehovah and Idols (41:1 - 48:22). a. The nations are addressed (41:1-7). b. Israel is addressed (41:8-20). c. The Idols are challenged to show what they can do (41:21-29). d. Jehovah's ideal servant (42:1-9). e. A song of praise to Jehovah (42:10-17). f. Israel is blind and deaf and destined to be punished (42:18-25). g. Israel is promised deliverance and protection (43:1-7). h. Israel and the nations challenged (43:8-13). i. Jehovah will redeem his people (43:14-21). j. Israel rejects God's offer of mercy (43:22-1 . k. The shame and folly of idolatry (44:1-20). l. Jehovah forgives and redeems his people -- Cyrus is named as the deliverer (44:21 to 45:7). m. Jehovah's purpose in creation -- unto me every knee shall bow (45:8-25). n. The gods of Babylon versus Israel's God (46:1-13). o. Jehovah will punish Babylon (47:1-15). p. Assurance of deliverance (48:1-22) 4. The suffering Servant and the glory of Zion (49:1 - 57:21). a. The Servant of Jehovah and Israel (49:1-26). b. The suffering Servant as a prophet of God (50:1-11). c. Words of cheer to prostrate Zion (51:1-23). d. Encouragement for prostrate Zion (52:1-12). e. Victory through the Servant's suffering (52:13 - 53:12). f. The future splendor of Zion (54:1-17). g. Jehovah's gracious invitation of free mercy (55:13). h. The rejected consoled -- the watchmen blind (56:1 - 57:2). i. A rebuke of the people's idolatry (57:3-21). 5. Sins of Israel and Judah (58:1 - 59:21). a. Good and evil observance of fasts and sabbaths (58:1-14). b. National confession of wickedness (59:1-21). 6. Redemption and restoration (60:1 - 66:24). a. Glorified Zion (60:1-22). b. Rapture of the distressed (61:1-11). c. Zion's glory and her new name (62:1-12). d. Jehovah's vengeance and a prayer for mercy (63:1-19). e. A prayer for present mercy and help (64:1-12). f. God's answer to the prayer (65:1-25). g. Jehovah's judgments and Zion's happiness (66:1-24).
Dec 21 06 9:01 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The man. 1. A priest of the tribe of Levi. 2. Grew up in the priestly village of Anathoth, a short distance from Jerusalem. 3. He was a man of education and a child of destiny. 4. He appears suddenly on the scene. 5. He was not a weak sentimentalist. B. The background. 1. Began his work in the thirteenth year of Josiah, king of Judah (627 B.C.) a. Following Hezekiah's reformation, Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, introduced idolatry. He reigned for 55 years. b. Amon (an evil king), son of Manasseh, reigned for 2 years. c. Josiah, a grandson of Manasseh, instituted another reform. 2. During the reign of Josiah, Nineveh fell to Babylon. 3. Pharaoh-necoh of Egypt killed Josiah and controlled Judah for a short time. 4. Jehoahaz, son of Josiah, became king (3 months) but was removed by Pharaoh-necoh. 5. Johoiakim (Eliakim), another son of Josiah, became king and ruled 11 years. 6. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon vanquished the Egyptian army and took all that "which pertained to Pharaoh-necoh." 7. Babylon was now supreme. Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar's vassal. 8. After three years, Jehoiakim rebelled and "slept with his fathers.". 9. Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, reigned in his place. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jerusalem and carried Jehoiachin and the notables of the land into captivity. 10. Nebuchadnezzar made Jehoiachin's uncle, Mattaniah, king and changed his name to Zedekiah. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years, but rebelled against Babylon and provoked a second invasion and the rest of the people were carried captive and scattered from Judah. 11. During the reign of Josiah and the turmoil that followed, Jeremiah prophesied.II. The Book. A. The call of Jeremiah (1:1-19). 1. Appointed to his work before his birth (1:5). 2. Two visions (1:11-16). a. Jeremiah saw the rod of an almond tree (1:11-12). b. He then saw a boiling caldron (1:13-16). 3. God's promise to be with and empower Jeremiah (1:17-19). B. Prophecies and judgments (2:1 to 24:10). 1. Idolatry denounced (2:1-2 . 2. The nation rebuked because of ingratitude (2:29-37). a. They killed the prophets. b. They were guilty of adultery. c. They robbed the poor, especially orphans. d. Captivity was soon to come. 3. The abomination of idolatry (3:1 to 4:2). a. The faithlessness of Judah. b. The treachery of Israel. c. Jehovah promises Israel acceptance if she will repent. 4. A warning and a lamentation (4:3 to 5:3). 5. The overthrow of Jerusalem and Judah is inescapable (5:4-31). a. Judah's great guilt. b. Invasion and defeat foretold. c. What will ye do in the end thereof? 6. The fall and ruin of Jerusalem (6:1-30). a. They have healed the hurt of my people slightly (6:14). b. Ask for the old paths (6:16). c. Judah had not heard the word of Jehovah nor kept his law (6:19). d. Destruction from the north (6:22-26). e. Jeremiah's hard task of rebuking the nation (6:27-30). 7. Jeremiah preaching in the temple (7:1 to 10:24). 8. Sign of a marred girdle (11:1 to 13:27). a. A broken covenant (11:1-13). b. No prayers for Judah; she is past redeeming (11:14-17). c. People of Anathoth conspire to kill Jeremiah (11:18-23). d. Jeremiah complains about the misery of the land (12:1-4). e. God's replies that things will get worse (12:5-6). f. Sentence against Judah and her neighbors; possibility of restoration (12:7-17). g. The worthless girdle and jars of wine (13:1-27). 9. Condemnation and ruin (14:1 to 17:27). a. A drought and prayer for mercy (14:1-9). b. Jehovah declares that prayer is now useless (14:10-1 . c. Jehovah unyielding (14:19 to 15:9). d. Jeremiah's complain and Jehovah's answer (15:10-1). e. Great misery foretold (16:1-13). f. A coming restoration (16:14-21). g. Judah's sin; Jehovah to be trusted; a plea for protection; the Sabbath to be hallowed (17:1-27). 10. The potter's vessel (18:1 to 20:1 . a. The vessel marred in the hand of the potter (18:1-17). b. The plot against Jeremiah (18:1 . c. Jeremiah calls on Jehovah to punish Israel (18:19-23). d. A potter's earthen bottle (19:1-15). e. Pashhur, a priest, imprisoned Jeremiah because of Jeremiah's warnings (20:1-6). f. Jeremiah's helpless determination to rebuke Israel (20:7-13). g. Jeremiah's rues his birth (20:14-1 . 11. Kings, rulers, and false prophets (21:1 to 24:10). a. King Zedekiah's question (21:1-2). b. Jeremiah's menacing answer (21:3-14). c. Jeremiah warns Judah against injustice (22:1-9). d. Shallum (Jehoahaz) to be punished with death (22:10-12). e. Jehoiakim and Coniah to die miserably (22:13-30). f. Wicked shepherds of the people (23:1-4). g. Prophecy of a coming messiah (23:5- . h. Concerning the prophets (23:9-40). i. Two baskets of figs (24:1-10). C. Historical section (25:1 to 29:32). 1. Judgment of God against Jerusalem and the nations (25:1-31). a. Jews' disobedience (25:1-7). b. Seventy years of captivity foretold (25:8-11). c. Destruction of the nations by Babylon foretold (25:12-33). d. Howling of the shepherds (25:34-3 . 2. A call to repentance (26:1-24). a. Men of Judah would not listen to the word of God (26:1-7). b. Jeremiah arrested and threatened (26:7-11). c. Jeremiah's defense (26:12-15). d. Jeremiah delivered (26:16-24). 3. Jeremiah counsels the nations to submit to Babylon (27:1-22). 4. Jeremiah and Hananiah -- yokes of wood and yokes of iron (28:1-17). 5. Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon (29:1-32). a. Jeremiah's letter counsels the people to be quite and accept their condition in Babylon (29:1-14). b. They were not to listen to the false prophets who were giving bad advise to the people (29:15-23). c. Shemaiah wrote back asking the authorities in Jerusalem to put Jeremiah in prison (29:24-32). D. Restoration promised (30:1 to 35:10). 1. Israel and Judah to be brought again to the land (30:1-24). 2. The restoration assured (31:1-40). a. The restoration to be a time of joy (31:1-14). b. Rachael's tears to be dried by the return of the people to Jerusalem (31:15-17). c. Even Ephraim to be restored; the nation to be redeemed, after a period of punishment and correction (31:18-30). d. A new covenant to be given (31:31-34). e. Restoration assured (31:35-40). 3. Captivity and restoration (32:1-44). a. Babylon besieges Jerusalem and Jeremiah is "shut up in the court of the prison" (32:1-5). b. Jeremiah purchases a field from his cousin in token of a coming restoration (32:625). c. Captivity confirmed (32:26-35). d. Restoration again promised (32:36-44). 4. God promises a joyful return to Jerusalem one day (33:1-26). a. A glad return and prosperous times (33:1-14). b. The Branch of righteousness to appear (33:15-26). 5. Treatment of slaves contrary to God's law; Zedekiah and the people to go into captivity (34:1-22). 6. The example of the Rechabites (35:1-19). E. The captivity (36:1 to 45:5). 1. The burning and restoration of the roll (36:1-32). 2. Babylon, Egypt and Jerusalem (37:1-21). a. Babylonian siege lifted because of the coming of the Egyptian army (37:1-5). b. Jeremiah prophecies the return of the Babylonians (37:6-10). c. Jeremiah arrested as he is leaving the city to inspect his property in Benjamin and put in a dungeon (37:11-15). d. Zedekiah inquires of Jeremiah about a word from Jehovah (37:16-21). 3. Jeremiah advises the people to surrender to the Babylonians and is put in a prison where he sinks down in the mire; Jeremiah is delivered by an Ethiopian; he privately counsels the king to surrender (38:1-2 . 4. Jerusalem falls and Zedekiah is blinded and carried to Babylon (39:1-1 . 5. Jeremiah is released and goes to Gedaliah, who was appointed by the Babylonians to be governor over the land; Ishmael conspires to kill Gedaliah (40:1-16). 6. Ishmael kills Gedaliah and attempts to defect to the Ammonites; he is killed by Johanan (41:1-1 . 7. Johanan begs Jeremiah to bring him word from Jehovah; after ten days, Jeremiah reports that Jehovah will bless and protect Johanan and those with him if they remain in Judah, but warns them not to go into Egypt (42:1-22). 8. Johanan and the people go into Egypt, forcing Jeremiah and others to go with them; Jeremiah prophecies the defeat of Egypt by Babylon (43:1-13). 9. The people of Judah continued to practice idolatry in Egypt; Jeremiah prophecies the destruction of Egypt as punishment (44:1-30). 10. Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch, is filled with sorrow and grief, and is comforted (45:15). F. Review of the nations (46:1 to 49:39). 1. The doom of Egypt foretold and described (46:1-2 . 2. The destruction of the Philistines (47:1-7). 3. Judgment against Moab (48:1-47). 4. Judgment of Ammonites, Edom, Damascus, and Elam (49:1-39). G. Fall of Babylon; the stone thrown into the Euphrates river (50:1 to 51:64). H. Jeremiah in Egypt (52:1-34). 1. An appendix (52:1-34). a. Zedekiah rebels against Babylon (52:1-3). b. Jerusalem falls to the Babylonian army (52:4-7). c. Zedekiah's sons and the princes are killed before him; his eyes are put out; he is bound in chains and carried to Babylon and put in prison (52:8-11). d. Anything of value was stripped from the temple and from Jerusalem and carried to Babylon (52:12-23). e. The principal men killed, and the rest carried into captivity (52:24-30). f. Jehoiachin treated kindly in Babylon (52:31-34).
Dec 24 06 4:38 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The greeting (1:1). 1. Written by James (1:1). a. James the apostle was killed early in the history of the church and is not the author of this letter. b. James the fleshly brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:5) was the probable author of this book. c. He calls himself "the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1). 2. He wrote to Jews scattered throughout the world (1:1). B. The purpose of the writing is to encourage those suffering persecution to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord."II. Temptation or Trial (1:2-15). A. They were to regard and value trial and affliction as "all joy" (1:2-3). 1. Jesus anticipated joy and endured the cross (Heb. 12:2). 2. Paul says we rejoice in tribulation (Rom. 5:3). a. Noble suffering for a righteous cause produces steadfastness, approvedness and hope (Rom. 5:4). b. Hope does not put to shame (Rom. 5:5). 3. Temptation proves faith and produces patience (1:3). B. Patience brings a complete life that lacks nothing (1:4-15). 1. A person who does not understand this, and who is therefore lacking in wisdom, may ask God for wisdom (1:5- . a. The advise to ask God for wisdom does not say that the wisdom will come in some unknown and remarkable way. b. We ask God for daily bread (Matt. 6:11). The bread comes from our toil or, if we are unable to provide bread, from a kind and benevolent person who supplies it. It does not come to us like manna from heaven. c. We ask God for wisdom (1:5). The wisdom comes from our study of the Bible, our experience and observation. It does not come without effort on our part, like manna from heaven. 2. He is to seek wisdom from God in undoubting faith (1:6- . a. Our lives as children of God must be confident (1:6). b. If we doubt we have no stability and are like "the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed" (1:6). c. Unstable persons receive nothing from the Lord (1:7). d. The wavering and inconsistent person is irresolute and undetermined in everything (1: . He is miserable. 3. The deceitfulness of riches (1:9-11). a. Material wealth can come suddenly and make us vain or it can be lost quickly and make us bitter (1:9-10). b. There is no stability in money (1:10). c. "Give me neither poverty nor riches" (Prov. 30: . d. Death is sure and final and will strip us of all material things (1:10-11). 4. The blessing of temptation endured (1:12-15). a. "Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin; each victory will help you some other to win." b. Temptation (suffering and affliction) is a blessing only when we overcome it and do not let it overcome us-- James calls this "enduring temptation" (1:12). c. Temptation to do evil or to forsake righteousness does not come from God. It is contrary to the nature of God to entice people to sin (1:13). d. Temptation comes from within. We submit to temptation when our carnal desires cause us to fall (1:14). e. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23). f. The end result of giving in to temptation is spiritual death and eternal loss (1:15).III. The Nature of True Religion (1:16 to 5:20). A. True religion has its origin in God (1:16-1 . 1. Do not be self deceived, and sell out (1:16). 2. God is the source of all our good (1:17). a. The father of lights--knowledge, purity, happiness (1:17). b. God does not change nor betray us--no humbug in God (1:17). 3. God is the source of salvation (1:1 . a. Because God willed it men have the glorious possibility of being born again (1:1 . b. This new birth comes from the word of truth (1:1 . B. The requirements of true religion (1:19-21). 1. Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (1:19). a. "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (1:20). b. The negative of that statement is also true: man free from wrath can work the righteousness of God. 2. Put out of your life corrupt and filthy things (1:21). 3. Meekly receive the implanted word (1:21). a. "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves" (1:22). b. Look in the mirror of God's word and see what kind of person you are 1:23-25). C. True religion demands controlling the tongue (1:26) D. True religion means staying away from wrong and doing right, including visiting the widows and orphans (1:27). E. True religion means not having respect of persons (2:1-9). 1. We do not hold the faith in respect of person because the gospel is for all (2:1). a. You must not prefer and cater to the rich, simply because they are rich, and look down on and mistreat the poor, simply because they are poor (2:2-3). b. The converse is also true: the rich must not be despised because of their riches, nor the poor preferred because of their poverty. c. Do not be judges with evil thoughts (2:4). 2. Many--perhaps most--members of the church are those of modest means and humble position in society (2:5; 1 Cor 1:26-27). a. Do not dishonor those whom God approves (2:6). b. The rich often mistreat the poor and blaspheme the name of Christ (2:6-7). c. The royal law is to love neighbor as self (2: . d. Prejudice against persons is sin (2:9). F. True religion means keeping the whole law (2:10-13). 1. To break one law is to show an attitude of rebellion toward God and his word and equals breaking ever law (2:10). 2. The authority behind every command in the law is God, therefore every command is holy and must be obeyed (2:11). 3. What you do and what you say show you understand that you will be judged by God's law of liberty (2:12). 4. The value and necessity of mercy (2:13). a. The merciless shall receive no mercy (2:13). b. Mercy tempers judgment (2:13). G. True religion includes works of obedience, which are necessary to acceptable faith and justification (2:14-26). 1. Faith without works is worthless (2:14-17). a. Words of encouragement to the hungry are nothing if we do not give him food (2:15-16). b. Faith without works is of no value (2:17). 2. Faith cannot be shown apart from works (2:1 . 3. The demons believe but do nothing; their dead faith will not save them (2:19). 4. Faith apart from works is barren (2:20). 5. Abraham was justified by a faith that obeyed the commands of God. His faith produced works. His works perfected his faith (2:21-23). 6. Justification comes from obedient faith (works), and not by faith alone (2:24). 7. The faith-works of Rahab justified her (2:25). 8. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). H. The danger of being a public teacher (3:1). I. True religion requires watchful avoidance of sins of the tongue (3:2-12). 1. It is hard to control the tongue (3:2). 2. Small things can have big results like the horses' bridle, or the ship's rudder, or the human tongue (3:3-5). 3. The devilish tongue is set on fire by hell (3:6). 4. The tongue cannot be tamed and must therefore be constantly watched (3:7- . 5. The duplicity of the tongue is astonishing (3:9-12). J. True religion demands true wisdom (3:13 to 4:10). 1. Wisdom is shown by a good life in works of wisdom (3:13). 2. Sensual and wrongheaded wisdom produces bitter jealousy, faction of the heart, resenting and lying against the truth (3:14-15). 3. Every kind of evil is produced by faction and jealousy (3:16). 4. The wisdom God gives through his word and by demonstration in our lives and the lives of others is valuable (3:17). a. It is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to listen, merciful and has good fruits (3:1 . b. It does not change and is without false pretense (3:1 . 5. Earthly wisdom produces wars, coveting, unanswered prayers (4:1-6). a. If you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God (4:4). b. The Bible does not speak to us in vain (4:5). c. God does not give us through his word an attitude of envy (4:5). d. Through his word, which is his saving gospel, God gives us grace (4:6). e. God's words says that he resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (4:6). 6. True wisdom produces subjection to God, resistance to the devil, cleanness of life, mourning over sin, and a humble spirit (4:7-10). a. Be subject to God and resist the devil (4:7). b. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (4: . c. Sinners must cleanse their hands; hypocrites must purify their hearts (4: . d. Grieve over and repent of your sins (4:9). e. God exalts the humble (4:10). 7. True religion does not speak evil against a brother (4:11-12). a. If you condemn a person who is keeping the law, you condemn the law (4:11). b. A judge of the law is not a keeper of the law, therefore the person who condemns the righteous is not a keeper of the law (4:11). c. God is the final judge...do not condemn someone who is doing righteousness according the law (4:12). 8. True religion understand the brevity and uncertainty of human life (4:13-16). a. People who plan for long term should remember that life is short and death is certain (4:13). b. You do not absolutely know if you will be alive on earth tomorrow (4:14). c. Human life on earth is like a vapor--it appears for a short time and is gone (4:14). d. The Lord may come at any time (4:14). e. Therefore you should say that all your plans are contingent on whether you live and whether Jesus comes again before the plans can be finished (4:15). f. You are too dependent on the arm of flesh and disinclined to take God into account. Such glorying is evil (4:16). 9. True religion avoids knowing and not doing good (4:17). 10. A warning to the rich and self-indulgent (5:1-6). a. If rich people knew the eternal punishment coming upon them because of their worldliness, they would howl and weep (5:1). b. Riches wont last (5:2-3). c. Ill-gotten gain will be judged in the last great day of final accounting (5:4). d. Living too well and not caring for the sick and hungry will bring slaughter on your head (5:5-6). 11. True religion will be patient (5:7-11). a. Do not give up...the Lord is coming (5:7). b. Be like the farmer and wait for the harvest (5:7). c. Establish your hearts, the coming of the Lord is at hand (5: . d. Do not mistreat each other--murmuring against one another--judging each other's motives. The real judge is standing at the door (5:9). e. Be patient like the prophets of old (5:10). f. Those who endured received a reward (5:11). 12. True religion avoids oaths (5:12). a. So live that others will accept your word (5:12). b. This has reference to frivolous swearing that has as its purpose to deceive, and not judicial oaths. 13. True religion makes room for prayer and praise (5:13-20). a. If you are happy, sing; if you suffer, pray (5:13). b. The sin-sick should call for the elders of the church, be anointed by the oil of God's word, repent of evil and pray with the elders for forgiveness (5:14). c. Confess to those you have sinned against and pray to the Lord for mercy and pardon (5:16). d. Elijah is an example of believing prayer (5:17-1 . e. Converting one who strays from truth, saves a soul from death and covers a multitude of sins (5:19-20).
Dec 24 06 4:40 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The object of this letter is to present the gospel as the power of God to save sinful man. B. Salutation (1:1-7). 1. Paul, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ is the writer (1 . 2. The gospel (good news of salvation) promised through the prophets and realized in Jesus (1:2-3). 3. His resurrection proves Jesus to be the Son of God (1:4). 4. Paul received grace and apostleship through the obedience of faith (1:5). 5. The Roman saints received their calling and election by the obedience of faith (1:6). 6. Paul prays from them to have grace and peace from God (1:7). C. Paul's personal feelings toward the church in Rome (1:8-13).II. The gospel and its value. A. The powerful gospel of salvation (1:14-17). 1. Paul considered himself to be a debtor to all men (1:14). 2. Paul was ready to preach the gospel in Rome (1:15). 3. For--here's why--Paul was not ashamed of the gospel (1:16-17). a. It is God's power to save (1:16). b. In the gospel is revealed the right doing that comes from God because the just live by faith (1:17). B. All sin and are liable to the wrath of God (1:18-3:19). 1. God hates ungodliness and unrighteousness (1:1 . 2. Evidence of the existence of God is everywhere (1:19-20). a. Still, men often choose to be ignorant of God (1:21). b. People turn from a living God to serve dumb idols (1:23). 3. Many people reject God, and God rejects them (1:24-32). a. Sins are listed: homosexuality leads the list (1:26-27). b. Many other sins are listed (1:28-32). 4. Sinful people are inexcusable (2:1-16). a. People do the very things they condemn (2:1-5). b. Every man will be judged by his works (2:6). c. The good will be saved, the wicked will be rejected (2:7- . d. He who works evil shall receive tribulation and anguish (2:9); he who works good receives glory and honor (2:10). 5. The Jew was condemned a sinner because he violated the law of Moses (2:17-3: . a. There is an advantage in being a Jew--given the law of Moses and through Israel the gospel came (3:1-5). b. If it is wrong for God to judge Israel, it is wrong for God to judge the world (3:6). c. If good (the gospel of salvation) came to the world because Israel sinned and was rejected, is this saying, Let us do evil that good may come? (3:7- . 6. Paul reaffirms that all sin and fall short of God's glory (3:9-1 . C. The place of law (3:19-31). 1. Not justified by works of law (3:19-20). a. All the world is under the judgment of God (3:19). b. Through law comes the knowledge of sin (3:20). c. Therefore all the world is under law. 2. Apart from the law of Moses, the righteousness which is from God is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets (3:21-22). a. The righteousness which is from God and revealed in the gospel is for both Jew and Gentile (3:22). b. This is the righteousness which comes through faith in Jesus Christ (3:22). 3. All sinners--both Jews and Gentiles--can be freely justified by the God's gift of redemption through Jesus (3:24-30). a. Jesus' sacrifice causes God to be kindly disposed toward all sinners...God passed over sins done before Jesus came (3:25). b. Now the passed over sins--and all sins--can be forgiven because God justifies those who have faith in Jesus (3:26). c. Human glorying is excluded...all sin and fall short of God's grace, and all need his forgiveness and therefore have nothing to brag about (3:27). d. All men sin and therefore none can be saved by law...violation of law condemns. If a person could never sin and keep the law perfectly, he would be saved by works. This is impossible, and it is therefore necessary for sinful man to look in faith to God for justification (3:2 . e. Jehovah is everybody's God (3:29-30). 4. We do not make law of none effect through faith, but to the profound reverse we establish the law principle (3:31). D. Examples of Abraham and David (4:1-25). 1. Abraham did not keep law perfectly--he sinned and therefore had nothing to brag about (4:1-2). 2. Abraham was saved by faith, but faith to save must obey God (James 2:26). 3. Abraham obeyed God, going into a land appointed and offering Isaac his son upon the altar (James 2:21-24; Rom 4:3). a. If Abraham had never sinned, he would have been saved by his own merit--as of debt (4:4) b. All who do not keep law perfectly (all sin, so this includes all) must rely on obedience of faith to be righteous. 4. David was not sinless (4:6- and therefore could not be saved by works of law, but leaned upon the mercy of God. 5. The blessing of righteousness through faith came before circumcision was commanded--the covenant of promise was made and then circumcision was commanded as a sign of that agreement (Gen. 17:12; Rom. 4:9-12). 6. The Jewish law cannot save. Abraham was not promised a blessing on the basis of keeping law, but through obedient faith (Rom. 1:17; 4:13-14). a. The law works wrath (4:15). b. Where there is no law, there is no transgression (4:15). 7. Therefore the promised gift (grace) comes not through keeping any law perfectly, but through submissive belief. 8. God fulfilled the promise to Abraham and made him a father of many nations--Jewish nation, Arab nations, and all peoples that walk in his footsteps of faith (4:16-25). a. Abraham's obedient faith was put down to his credit-- reckoned unto him for righteousness (4:22). b. Not to Abraham alone, but to all who through faith obey God and receive this rich gift of salvation (grace) 4:23- 25). E. The blessedness of the saved (5:1-11). 1. Sinful man is justified by faith and has peace with God (5:1). a. Paul was justified by faith and had peace with God. b. When did Paul have peace? (Acts 9:1-19). c. Paul's peace with God came when he by faith obeyed the command to be baptized to wash his sins away (Acts 22:16). 2. The blessing of peace with God comes when we, by faith, obey the law of God to repent and be baptized to receive remission of sins. 3. Forgiveness of sin brings the gift (grace) of the hope of eternal life with God (Rom. 5:2). 4. The saved person also rejoices in affliction and tribulation (Rom. 5:3-5). a. We have peace within, but without we have fears and fighting (2 Cor. 7:5). b. Even in persecution and affliction we have internal calm "because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given to us." 5. Salvation has been brought down...while we were yet sinners Christ died for us and we rejoice in our salvation (5:6-11). F. Adam and Christ contrasted (5:12-21). 1. Through Adam sin and death entered the world (5:12). a. Death passed on all men, not by reason of Adam's sin but because all sin (5:12). b. Sin was in the world before the law of Moses was given. When there is no law there is no sin. Therefore law was in the world before the law of Moses was given (5:13). c. Death, which is the wages of sin, was in the world from Adam to Moses though there was no written law (5:14). 2. Sin and separation (death) made it obvious that man must have the free gift (grace) of salvation (5:15-19). a. The gift is greater than the penalty. Adam's sin brought physical death upon all men. The obedience of Jesus (righteousness--seeing that righteousness is obedience to the law of God) covered not one, but many transgressions (5:16). b. The gift was greater than the penalty (5:17-19). 3. The law of Moses came in besides, and that increased law and therefore increased sin (5:20). 4. Sin reigned in death, but the free gift of God reigns through the keeping of the commands of God (righteousness) to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (5:21). a. Sin abounded. b. Grace super-abounded. G. The powerful gospel of God brings salvation (6:1-23). 1. Salvation comes to the penitent believer at the point of baptism (6:1-11). a. The saved are not to continue in sin to get more grace (6:1). b. The saved are dead to sin and must not continue in sin (6:2). c. The saved have been baptized into the death of Christ (6:3). d. The saved were buried by baptism into Jesus' death (6:4). e. The saved were resurrected from the burial of baptism to walk in a new, victorious life (6:4-5). f. In the act of baptism our old man was crucified with Christ (6:6); the body of sin was done away (6:6); we are no longer in bondage to sin (6:6); having died to sin and our old man of sin buried in the water of baptism, we are justified from sin (6:7). g. If we died and were buried with Christ in baptism, we shall also live the resurrected life with him (6: ; When Jesus rose from the dead, death had no more power over him (6:9); He died once to sin but now lives forever to God (6:10); the saved person is to consider himself to be dead to sin and alive to God (6:11). 2. Victory over sin (6:12-15). 3. Let not sin rule over you...if sin does rule over you it is because you let it rule over you (6:12). 4. Do not present your body-parts as tools of sin, but present them as tools of righteousness. You have the control (6:13). 5. If you allow the law of sin to rule over you, you are lost; do not be under the law of sin, but under the rule of grace (God's gift of salvation). a. The saved person is under a principle of moral obligation- -"as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ" (1 Cor. 9:20-21). b. The saved person is not under the law as a curse, for "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). We are not under law but under grace, that is, we are dead to sin and alive to God. (6:14). 6. Shall saved people yield to the law of sin because they have God's grace (gift) to save them? (6:15). 7. Of course not. Because if we give ourselves to sin, we are the slaves of sin, and if we give ourselves to righteousness, we are the slaves of righteousness (6:16-23) a. The saved were once under the law of sin, but now are under the rule (law) of righteousness by obeying-- obedience suggests law--the form (pattern, blueprint, rule) of teaching to which they were delivered (6:17). b. You either serve sin or righteousness--having been made free from sin by obedience to the form of teaching to which you were delivered, you must not live in sin (Rom. 6:1 . c. Weakness of the flesh causes people to serve sin instead of serving righteousness (6:19). d. When you serve sin, you are not righteous (6:20). e. When you were servants of sin, you did things that now cause you shame and the result is spiritual death (6:21). f. Having obeyed the law of God (the form of doctrine to which you were delivered), you are now free from sin and serving righteousness and the result is eternal life. g. Sin brings death but God's free gift (grace) brings eternal life (6:23). H. The law of sin and death (7:1-25). 1. When law is binding (7:1-6). a. Law binds for all of life (7:1). b. Example from the law of the husband: the wife is bound by the law of the husband while the husband lives, when the husband dies, the wife is free from that law (7:2-3). c. In Christ you were made dead to the law of the flesh (7:4). d. When sin ruled over you, you were dead to God (7:5). e. Saved people are free from the law of sin, having died to it, but they are alive to God and serve not the oldness of the letter of the law of sin, but in the newness of the spirit of the law of life in Christ (7:6). f. Law binds while there is life--being dead to the law of sin it is no longer binding on the saved person, but the saved is alive to God and therefore bound by his law. 2. The relation of the law to sin (7:7-12). a. Law instructs the conscience and give an awareness of sin and death. Still, the law is not sin, but it does give a knowledge of sin (7:7). b. Paul did not know coveting is sinful until the law told him (7:1). The command not to covet caused him to covet: without law there is no sin (7: . c. The law made Paul aware of his sinfulness (7:9). d. The purpose of the command was to keep one sinless and alive in the spirit, but instead produced sin (7:10-11). e. Law is necessary and good, but brings a knowledge of sin and death (7:12). 3. Conflict between flesh and spirit (7:13-25). a. Man is a dual being, having both body (outward being) and spirit (inward being). The moral law conflicts with the desires of the outward man, but is approved by the desires of the inward man. The law is good, but when violated brings death (separation from God). Does that which is good produce death? Of course not. It is sin, which is a violation of law (good), that brings death and that proves how very sinful is sin (7:13). b. The moral law appeals to the holy desires of the spirit but men are fleshly and sinful (7:14). c. My inward man desires to do right things, my outward man longs for sinful things. I want to do right, but the flesh overpowers me and I often do wrong things (7:15). d. When I do things I know to be wrong, I confirm the rightness of the moral law (7:16). e. My inward man (spirit) is not doing the sin, but my outward man is causing me to sin (7:17). f. It is not good to follow the leading of the flesh (7:1 . g. The good my spirit wants to do my flesh prevents and causes me to do evil instead (7:19). h. It is not my spirit but my flesh that leads to sin (7:20). i. The law of sin and death in my flesh causes me to do bad things when my spirit within me longs to do right things (7:21). j. My spirit takes pleasure in the moral law of God (7:22). k. There is a different law in my flesh that fights against the law of my mind (spirit) and brings me under bondage to sin and sin brings separation (death) (7:23). l. How can a sinful man be made free from the law of the flesh that brings sin and death? (7:24). m. Thank God! Jesus can free me from the law of sin and death. My mind (spirit) serves the law of God and my flesh (body) wants to serve the law of sin (7:24). I. Blessings to those who, in Christ, are made free from sin and death (8:1-17). 1. There is no condemnation to those in Christ (8:1). 2. The Law of the Spirit of Live makes us free from the law of sin and death, which is the law of the flesh (8:2) 3. What the law of Moses could not do, Jesus accomplished by overcoming sin in the flesh (8:3). 4. The ordinance of the law of Moses, which is righteousness, is realized in all who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit (8:4-9). a. Those who follow flesh are controlled by the flesh, but those follow the inward man are controlled by the spirit (8:5). b. The outward man brings death and the inward man brings life (8:6). c. There is strife between flesh and spirit (8:7). d. Following the outward man does not please God (8: . e. Following the longing of the inward man proves you are being guided by the Holy Spirit through the revealed word (8:9). 5. If Christ lives in you by faith (Eph. 3:17), the outward man is dead and the inward man is alive (8:10). 6. If the Holy Spirit lives in you through the gospel, the triumphant God gives you life (8:11). 7. In view of this, do not follow the flesh (outward man) but follow the spirit (inward man) and you shall live (8:12-13). 8. To follow the leading of the Spirit is to be a child of God (8:14-17). a. Saved people are free from the bondage of fear and look to Jehovah as their heavenly father (8:14-15). b. The Holy Spirit, through the revealed word, bears witness with our human spirit that we are children of God (8:16). c. If we live for Christ in this life, we shall reign with him eternally (8:17). J. The hope of eternally glory supports the saved through all earthly trials (8:18-30). 1. The coming glory makes present suffering bearable (8:1 . 2. We await the final redemption of God's children (8:19). 3. The created world is groaning and in birth pangs over its increasing evil and expected destruction (8:20-22). 4. Children of God also groan within themselves as they look on the world's decadence and coming devastation (8:23). 5. In the midst of all this misery we look up to God and live in hope of eternal glory (8:24-25). 6. Man is distressed and his inward man (spirit) makes intercession for the outward man with groaning that cannot be put into language (8:26). 7. Jesus, as intercessor and mediator, knows the meaning of the groaning of the human spirit and intercedes between the saved and Jehovah (1 John 2:1-2; Rom. 8:27; 8:34). a. Therefore everything will work out right for the child of God (8:2 . b. God has called us by the gospel to salvation and will save us because of his son if we follow the instructions of the Holy Spirit given in the New Covenant (8:29-30). M. The victory of the obedient believer (8:31-39). 1. No power outside ourselves can defeat our holy ambitions (8:31-39). The only thing that can defeat us is our own fear and unbelief. N. The condition of the Jewish nation (9:1-11:36). 1. Paul's sympathy with the Jews (9:1-5). 2. Israel's lost condition is not inconsistent with God's promises (9:6-13), justice (9:14-24), or prophecy (9:25-29). 3. The cause is the fault of the Jews themselves (9:30-10:21). a. Salvation offered to all on feasible terms--same conditions apply to all (10:1-13). b. The disobedient, whether Jew or Gentile, was left without excuse (10:14-21). 4. They are not all rejected--some of them were saved and rest were rejected because of their blindness (11:1-10). a. Salvation is by the grace of God and therefore not from keeping the law without fail (11:6). b. Israel's rejection of the gospel caused them to be hard of heart in rejecting the commands of God (11:7-10). 5. Israel was rejected that the Gentiles might be saved (11:11-26). a. If Gentiles are not faithful to God, they will be rejected just as were the Jews (11:20-24). b. Israel fell and the Gentiles were saved by the revealed mystery of the gospel--God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (11:25). c. Israel, like all people, are to be saved by the gospel, seeing there is no other saving power (11:26). 6. God still loves Israel--and all the world--and whosoever will has the power to believe, obey and be saved (11:27-32). a. God's wisdom transcends all human understanding (11:33-36).III. Exhortations and Conclusion (12:1-16:27). A. Various practical duties (12:1-13:14). 1. In view of all this, consecrate yourself to God (12:1-2). 2. The saved are the body of Christ and each member must function in his assigned place to fulfill the will of God (12:3- . 3. Treat all the saints with preference and love (12:9-16). 4. Be honorable in your treatment of all men (12:17-21). 5. Need for government among men and duty of obedience to civil authorities (13:1-7). 6. Keep the moral law (13:8-10). 7. Every passing day brings us closer to the final judgment therefore we must be holy (13:11-14). B. Mutual toleration (14:1-15:14). 1. In matters of opinion, where no divine law is involved, treat each other with respect and forbearance (14:1-12). 2. Do not judge each other in matters of indifference, but help and encourage one another (14:13-23). 3. Treat each other as brothers who have the same heavenly father and who ought to love each other because God loves all (15:1-13). C. Paul's account of his work among the Gentiles and his plans (15:14-33). 1. Greetings to Christians at Rome and warning (16:1-20 a. Greetings from Corinth (16-21-24). b. Conclusion (16:25-27).
Dec 24 06 10:22 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The object of the letter was to confirm the Ephesian disciples in the one faith by affirming the universal nature of the one church. 1. The book has two parts: a. The doctrinal part (1:1 to 3:21). b. The practical part (4:1 to 6:24). B. Salutation and greeting (1:1-2). 1. Written by Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ to the saints at Ephesus and the faithful in Jesus (1:1). 2. Paul wishes for them grace and peace (1:2).II. Doctrinal Part of the Letter. A. The blessings of salvation--every spiritual blessing is in Christ (1:3-14). 1. Holiness, signifying a separation to God (1:4). 2. Adoption as sons to the praise of God's gift (1:5-6). a. Paul says the saved are foreordained to adoption as sons. b. If this means individuals are predetermined to be sons by an arbitrary appointment, it would amount to divine prejudice and contradict Acts 10:34-35. c. The only other possibility is that God predestined the conditions upon which sinners could be born of water and spirit into the spiritual family of God, making them adopted sons "according to the good pleasure of his will." d. This sonship comes by birth, but not natural birth. It is adoption and, in this case, God has a choice and so does the sinner. In courts of law a mature child gives his consent to be adopted, but the adoptive father must also be willing to accept the child. e. We praise God for the radiant show of his goodness, by which he has favored us, because of his Son. 3. Redemption through the blood of Jesus (1:7). a. The slave of sin is redeemed (bought back). b. The cost of redemption is the blood of the Son of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). 4. Forgiveness of trespasses--every false step and blunder is dismissed, released, and remitted, according to the fullness of his favor or boundless gift (1:7). 5. The sum of God's blessings (1:8-12). a. God's great gift of salvation overflows in keeping with his practical understanding and knowledge in the management of affairs (1: . b. The purpose of God in Christ is to completely forgive all sin, according to his good pleasure--this was concealed (a mystery) in the Old Testament but is now revealed (the terms and conditions of such forgiveness are disclosed) in the New Testament (1:9). c. The plan of God for accomplishing the salvation of all obedient believers, both Jews and Gentiles, by bringing them into one body, church, or society under the rule of Jesus is now unveiled (1:10). d. We have received the blessing promised to Abraham that in him and his seed all the nations of the earth may be sanctified--the offer of salvation to every creature in all the earth was the predetermined purpose of God (1:11). e. The Jews hoped in the Christ because they were given the promise of his coming, and should praise God for boasting of his intention to bless all the nations of the earth (1:12). 6. Gentiles received the hope of salvation through Jews (1:13- 14). a. The gospel of salvation sounded forth from Jerusalem (1:13). b. The Gentiles heard the word of the gospel and believed it (1:13). c. Gentiles were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise as a result of believing the gospel (1:13). The seal was hearing and believing the word of the gospel. "The firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness" (2 Tim. 2:19). The seal is accepting the authority of the living God by conforming to the requirements of his revealed will--the gospel is God's power to save (Rom. 1:16); it makes us complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17); it is able to save our souls (James 1:21); and it is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all the sanctified (Acts 20:32) (1:13). d. The seal of the Holy Spirit of promise is the earnest of our inheritance (1:14). The seal is hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel. This makes us a new creature in Christ Jesus and gives us peace, joy, and hope. The contentment of discipleship is a foretaste of future bliss--the seal of the Spirit and the earnest of our inheritance (1:14). B. Paul's prayer for the saints (1:15-23) 1. The apostle, having heard of their faith and love, gave thanks and prayed for them (1:15-16). 2. Paul prayed they might have a full understanding of the plan of salvation and have the wisdom to know something of what is in store for the Christian (1:17-1 . 3. He also prayed the saints would understand the power of God as he works in the believer through his saving word (1:19). a. It is the same power that brought Jesus out of the tomb in a mighty resurrection and glorious ascension (1:20). 4. Jehovah gave Jesus rule and dominion (1:21). 5. Jehovah put all things in subjection under the feet of Jesus, and gave him to be head over all things to the church (1:22). 6. The church is the body of Jesus and the fullness of him who fills all his members with spiritual favors, according to the position in his body (the church) assigned to them (1:23). C. Paul reviews blessings already received (2:1-10). 1. They were dead in sin and servants of Satan. Walking in the lusts of the flesh, they were rebellious children, deserving wrath and punishment (2:1-3). 2. God, in his goodness and rich mercy, made them alive together with Christ (2:4). a. In the water of baptism the contrite believer dies with Christ and is raised to live with Christ (2:5, Rom. 6: . b. The resurrected believer is to walk in newness of life, accounting himself to be dead to sin and alive to God in Christ (2:6-7, Rom. 6:4,11). c. All future generations may have forgiveness and the hope of eternal life (2: . 3. Salvation is by grace through faith (2:8-9). a. Grace is the favor of God. It is God's unspeakable gift of his own Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). b. Faith is man's acceptance of God's free gift and includes obedience to God's commands. Faith is a work of God that man must do (John 6:28-29). c. Salvation is not of works. Man cannot keep the moral law of God perfectly. All sin and fall short of God's glory. No mortal can live in sinless perfection, and therefore, has nothing to boast about. He sins and must receive pardon by God's mercy, love, and grace (2:9). 4. As new creatures in Christ, the saved are to display good works, according to the appointment of God (2:10). a. In Christ, we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). b. Men are to see the goods works of the saved and glorify God (Matt. 5:16). D. The law of Moses is taken away so Jew and Gentile could be one new man in Christ (2:11-22). 1. The Gentiles, in times past, were without God, strangers from the covenants of the promise, and without hope (2:11-12). 2. In Christ, Gentiles are made close by the blood of Christ (2:13). 3. Christ is our peace and has removed the partition (2:14). 4. Jesus abolished the partition--law of Moses--so he might bring both Jew and Gentile together, making peace (2:15). 5. Jesus' cross removed the enmity--the law of Moses that had been a barrier between Jew and Gentile--and reconciled both Jew and Gentile in the one body unto God (2:16). 6. Jesus preached peace to Jew and Gentile (2:17). 7. Through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles have access to God through the Spirit (2:1 . a. Rapprochement to God is by the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-19). The word of reconciliation is revealed, confirmed, and protected by the Spirit (1 Cor. 2:13). Therefore, we have access to God through the Spirit, or through the word revealed by the Spirit. 8. Gentiles may now be reconciled to God and members of his household (2:20-22). a. They are built upon the foundation of the teaching of apostles and prophets about Christ, who is the chief corner stone (2:20). b. In Christ each saved person grows into a holy temple in the Lord (2:21). c. The holy temple made of living stones is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit, or by means of the teaching of the Spirit (2:22). E. Gentiles are partakers of the gospel (3:1-13). 1. Paul was given the work of teaching Gentiles (3:1-2). 2. It was revealed to Paul that God's offer of forgiveness is for all nations (3:3-4). a. He has previously mentioned that which was once concealed, but is now revealed--the mystery of the Old Testament (3:3). b. By reading Paul's words, they could know his understanding in the mystery of Christ (3:4). 3. Previously this was not made known, but is now revealed to the apostles of Jesus and the prophets by the Spirit (3:5). 4. The New Covenant is for all nations, and believing Gentiles are acceptable to God (3:6). 5. Paul was appointed to preach to the Gentiles the gospel of salvation--the unsearchable riches of Christ (3:7- . 6. Paul was given the task of making all men see what had been previously concealed (3:9). 7. Through the church--the one body--angels are taught the multiplied and diverse wisdom of God in reconciling men to himself by the blood of his Son (3:10). 8. It has always been the intention of God to make salvation worldwide (3:11). 9. Confidence of acceptance is the effect of faith, and all believers can boldly approach God in prayer (3:12-13). a. Paul suffered because he taught that Gentiles had a right to salvation in Christ, but he did not want them to be dejected. His affliction was for their triumph (3:13). F. Paul's earnest wish and prayer is that they might understand the glory of the plan of salvation and be partakers in the divine nature (3:14-19). G. Praise to God for his goodness (3:20-21).III. The Practical Part of the Letter. A. An exhortation to unity (4:1-16). 1. Believers are to walk worthily of their high calling (4:1). 2. They are to be lowly, meek, longsuffering, bearing with each other in love (4:2). They are to be indulgent of each other. 3. They are to maintain unity and peace (4:3). 4. There is to be a oneness of body (church), hope, faith, and baptism, because there is one Spirit, one Lord, and one God (Eph. 4:4-6). 5. Jesus, who came from heaven to earth and has now returned to an exalted station in heaven, has given gifts to men (4:7-10). 6. Jesus put various offices in the church (4:11). 7. The purpose of evangelists, apostles, prophets, elders, and teachers (4:12-16). a. Perfect and edify the saints (4:12). b. Attain to unity of faith in the knowledge of the son of God (4:13). c. Believers may grow up into the fullness of Christ (4:13). d. May be stable and deeply rooted in the truth and not be mislead and deceived by cunning and smooth talking false teachers (4:14). e. Speak the truth in love (4:15). f. Every member of the church works in close harmony and accord with every other member to build up and strengthen the body, which is the church (4:16). B. The saved are to be holy and not ungodly (4:17-31). 1. They must not live as do Gentiles (heathens) in foolishness of mind, darkened in understanding, unable to tell truth from error, strangers to the life commanded by God, without restraint, indecent, wanton, in all uncleanness and greed (4:17-24). a. They had not so learned Christ (4:20). b. They were to put on the new man in righteous and holiness of truth (4:23-24). 2. They are to put away lying, anger, theft, corrupt conversation, grieving the Holy Spirit, bitterness, evil- speakings, and malice (4:25-32). a. They were to be kind and tenderhearted (4:32). b. Having received mercy, they were to be merciful (4:32). C. Various admonitions (5:1-21). 1. Imitate the heavenly fathers as beloved children; walk in love in gratitude for the sweet-smelling sacrifice Jesus made for us (5:1-2). a. Avoid fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, jesting that is not befitting, and idolatry (5:3-5). b. Watch for and do not be deceived by false prophets (5:6- 7). 2. Walk as children of light (5:8-14). a. Follow after goodness and righteousness and truth (5: . b. Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness (5:11). c. Reprove evil and every false teaching (5:12). 3. Be careful, walk as wise and not unwise, buy back the opportunities, because the days are evil. Understand the will of the Lord (5:15-17). 4. Stay away from strong drink and riot (wastefulness) (5:1 . 5. Be filled with the Spirit by letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (5:19; Col. 3:16-17). 6. Delight yourself in worship of God, singing to each other spiritual songs (5:19). 7. Be thankful to God and respectful of each other (5:21). D. Domestic duties (5:22-6:9) 1. Relationship between husbands and wives (5:22-33). a. Wives must be in subjection to their own husbands (5:22- 23). b. Husbands must love their own wives, seeking for the wife's happiness and being considerate of her (5:24-33). 2. Parents and children (6:1-4). 3. Servants and masters (6:5-9). E. Final exhortations (6:10-20). 1. Be strong in the Lord and put on the whole armor of God (6:10-20). F. Conclusion and blessing (6:21-23).
Dec 24 06 10:23 PM
Quote:I. Introduction (1:1-4). A. Letter written by Jude, brother of James (1:1). 1. In addition to Judas Iscariot there is another Judas among the 12 apostles. He is also called Thaddeaus (Luke 6:16, Matt. 10:3, Mark 3:1 . a. The writer of this letter does not call himself an apostle. b. He refers to the apostles in a way that indicates he was not one of them (1:17). 2. Jesus' brothers are "James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas" (Matt. 13:55). a. The apostle James was killed early in New Testament history (Acts 12:2). b. James, the brother of Jesus, became a believer after the resurrection, was prominent in the Jerusalem church, and the writer of the book of James. c. Jude or Judas, who was a brother of James, is the probable writer of this letter. 3. He calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ (1:1). a. He was also the half-brother of Jesus, if he is Judas, the brother of James. b. His recognition of Jesus as the son of Jehovah causes him to call himself the slave of Jesus (1:1). B. The letter is written to "them that are called" (1:1). 1. The called are loved of Jehovah and kept for Jesus (1:1) a. We are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14). b. When we obey the commands of the gospel, we are beloved of Jehovah and kept for Jesus. c. The called (saved) are kept by Jesus according as they obey the terms of the new covenant. C. Jude prays mercy, peace and multiplied love for the called (1:2). D. Warning against false teachers (1:3-4). 1. Jude wrote of our common salvation (1:3). a. He connected salvation with "contending earnestly for the faith" (1:3). b. Contend as a combatant in a contest. Earnestly is added to show the intensive force of the contending (1:3). c. Contending earnestly indicates the importance of defending the faith and dangers to it (1:3). d. Jude says the faith "was once for all delivered to the saints" (1:3). A once for all delivered faith means no additional revelation after the 1st century. 2. Behavior of false teachers (1:4). a. They creep in (1:4). They "enter by the side," which means to insinuate oneself into, by stealth, to creep in stealthily. b. They creep in privily (1:4). Privily means secretly, covertly, as spies or traitors to accomplish the overthrow of faith (1:4) c. They were previously written of and will suffer the punishment Jude is about to describe (1:4). d. They are ungodly--without reverence for God--not merely irreligious, but acting in opposition to God's demands (1:4). e. They pretend that God is so good he will not punish sinners and "turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness." Lasciviousness means excess, absence of restraint, indecencies, wantonness, filthy like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. The prominent idea is shameless conduct (1:4). f. They deny Jesus to avoid persecution (1:4). Moderns do this by refusing to speak up for Christ and the gospel when the truth is under attack.II. False Teachers and False Doctrine (1:5-23). A. Those who teach and follow error will be punished (1:5-7). 1. Jude reminds us that God destroyed the people he brought out of Egypt because they did not obey him (1:5). 2. Angels who rebelled are in confinement waiting the final judgment (1:6). a. We know little about this though it is also mentioned by Peter (2 Pet. 2:4). b. Speculation is useless. 3. Sodom and Gomorrah are an example of how God punishes the sinful (1:7). a. They gave themselves to fornication (1:7). b. They went after strange flesh (homosexuals) (1:7). c. They will suffer the punishment of eternal fire (1:7). B. The character of some false teachers (1:8-23). 1. They are in a deep spiritual sleep because of the intoxication of sin (1: . 2. They claim superior knowledge but defile their bodies like the people of Sodom (1: . 3. They reject authority (1: . 4. The conduct of Michael the archangel (1:9). a. Michael argued with the devil about the body of Moses (1:9). b. Michael would not continue to a meaningless argument, but deferred to the last judgment (1:9). 5. False teachers, unlike Michael, revile what they do not understand (1:10). a. What they do understand in their lusts (1:10). b. They are like animals, void of reason, and give themselves to unrestricted passion (1:10). c. In this they bring about their destruction (1:10). 6. They can be bought--woe unto them (1:11). a. They act like Cain who murdered his brother (1:11). b. They behave like Balaam who could be hired to try to circumvent the will of God (1:11). c. They are like Korah who loved wedges of gold more than God (1:11). 7. They are deceptive and insincere (1:12-13). a. They hypocritically participate in your love feasts (1:12). b. Instead of taking care of the sheep they feed themselves (1:12). c. Clouds that do not produce rain are a disappointment and belie their purpose (1:12). d. Trees that produce leaves but no fruit are worthless (1:12). e. These hypocrites are doubly dead and will be torn out by the roots (1:12). f. They are like waves of the sea that are lost in their own foam (1:13). g. They are wandering stars swallowed forever by black holes (1:13). 8. Enoch condemned such people (1:14-15). a. Enoch was the great-grandfather of Noah (Gen. 5:24-29). b. Enoch saw the gathering cloud and warned the people that if they did not repent they would be destroyed (1:14). c. He warned that Jehovah would come against the wicked with a powerful, heavenly army (1:14). d. The ungodly who spoke against God would be punished (1:15). 9. False teachers murmur, complain and follow their lust (1:16). a. Their mouths speak great swelling words--they are glib and convincing (1:16). b. They show respect of persons for the sake of gain (1:16). 10. Remember our words (1:17-19). a. The apostles warned of these things (1:17). b. Mockers will come with mocking, and following after their own ungodly lusts (1:18, 2 Pet. 2:3). c. They divide, are like animals, and do not follow the leading of the Spirit through the gospel (1:19). 11. You must be different (1:20-23). a. Build yourself up by study and prayer (1:20). b. Keep yourself in the love of God (1:21). c. Look forward to the eternal reward (1:21). d. Have compassion on those who have sinned because of ignorance (1:22). e. Save others by snatching them out of the fire (1:23).III. Conclusion (1:24-25). A. Be faithful to God because he is able to save you and present you in joyful blamelessness before his glory (1:24). B. "To the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen" (1:25).
Dec 24 06 10:25 PM
Quote:I. Introduction (1:1-4). A. Statement about Jesus (1:1). 1. Jesus was from the beginning (1:1-2; John 1:1-2). a. Jesus existed before the beginning, but he was present at the beginning. b. Jesus created all things (John 1:3). 2. John says he and others saw, heard, and touched Jesus (1:1). a. Jesus appeared in a body of flesh (1:1). b. Jesus is the word of Life (1:1). B. John wrote this letter that the reader might have fellowship with Jesus and therefore have fullness of joy (1:2-4). 1. The eternal life which was with the Father came to earth (1:2). 2. John wrote a declaration about Jesus so the reader could have fellowship with John and the other apostles (1:3). a. The apostles were special witnesses of the resurrection (Acts 10:39-41). b. The resurrection proved Jesus to be the Son of God (Rom. 1:4). c. We cannot witness the resurrection of Jesus, but we can know he is risen on the testimony of the apostles and have fellowship with the apostles (1:3). d. The apostles have fellowship with Jesus and the Father (1:3). e. If we have fellowship with the apostles, we also have fellowship with Jesus and the Father (1:3). 3. John also wrote so that all who are in fellowship with the apostles, Jesus, and the Father, may have a fullness of joy (1:4). a. Obeying the teaching of the Bible brings fellowship with God (1:2-4). b. Communion with God--sharing with him--brings joy to all who understand the good news of salvation (1:4). c. The complete life, the abundant life, provides all our psychological and spiritual needs.II. God is Light (1:5 to 2:2 . A. What walking in the light involves (1:5 to 2:2 . 1. Fellowship with God and the brethren (1:5-7). a. God is light and there is no darkness in him, which is to say God is pure and in him there is no sin (1:5). b. Those who walk in darkness (sin) have no fellowship with God (1:6). God cannot be associated with evil because his purity would be defiled. c. If we sin, we have no fellowship with God (1:6). d. Walking in light (purity) brings fellowship with all others who walk in the light (1:7). e. The blood of Jesus keeps us clean, but the blood must be applied. This is true of the outsider and of the child of God (1:7). The alien reaches the saving blood in baptism and the saint receives its benefits in confession and prayer. 2. Consciousness and confession of sins (1:8-10). a. If we deny sin in our lives we are deceived, the truth is not in us, we make God a liar, God's word is not in us (1:8,10). b. If we confess our sins God will forgive us (1:9). Confession implies repentance. Confession is to be made first to God and then to those we have sinned against. Confession to God is made through prayer (1:9). 3. Imitating the obedience of Christ (2:1-6). a. God does not want us to sin (2:1). b. If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (2:1). The "if we sin" does not imply that we may not sin--John has already observed that we all sin--but means when we sin. c. Jesus made provision to forgive the sins of the whole world on the cross (2:2). d. The saving blood must be made actual through trust and obedience (2:3). e. The disobedient person does not know Jesus (2:4). f. We know we are in God when we keep his word (2:5). g. If we are in God we will follow the example of Jesus in giving complete obedience to God (2:6). B. What walking in the light excludes (2:7-29). 1. Hatred of the brethren is inconsistent with walking in the light (2:7-11). a. An old, new commandment (2:7- . b. He who hates his brother walks in sin (2:9). c. He who loves is brother walks in purity (2:10). d. He who hates his brother is blind (2:11). 2. Worldliness is inconsistent with walking in the light (2:12-17). a. John wrote to little children because their sins were forgiven and they knew the Father (2:11,13). b. He wrote to the fathers because of their knowledge (2:12). c. He wrote to young men because they had overcome the evil one and were strong and the word of God lived in them (2:12,14). d. Warning not to love the world nor the things that are in the world (2:15). e. Those who love the world do not love God (2:15). f. The world consists of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the vain glory of life (2:16). g. The world is perishing (2:17). h. He who does the will of God abides for ever (2:17). 3. The teaching of antichrist is inconsistent with walking in the light (2:18-29). a. We live in the last dispensation of the world. We know this because the antichrist has come (2:1 . b. The antichrist went out from the saints because they were not of the saints (2:19). c. True disciples of Jesus have an anointing and know all things (2:20). Saints know all things that pertain to life and godliness because they have the word of God. If the anointing is the means by which the followers of Jesus know all things, then the anointing must be the revealed word (2:20). d. They knew the truth - we can know the truth (2:21). e. The antichrist denied that Jesus has come in the flesh (2:23). f. The gospel does not change and they were told to abide in what they were first taught (2:24). It is a mistake to run after some novelty. Innovations cannot be truth because the apostles were guided into all truth (John 16:13). g. God gives eternal life (2:25). h. Do not be led astray because that means losing eternal life (2:26). i. You have an anointing--the revealed gospel--and do not need to be taught something different; God's anointing-- the gospel--is teaching you, and it is no lie (2:27). j. Abide in God by abiding in the truth of the gospel (2:2 . k. Doing righteousness (works of righteousness) means we are living in the Father and the Son (2:29).III. God is love (3:1 to 5:12). A. Righteousness is the evidence of sonship (3:1-24). 1. The children of God (3:1-9). a. Those who are obedient to the heavenly Father are children of God (3:1). b. Children of God will share in Jesus' glory when he comes (3:2). c. Children of God are to be pure because of this hope (3:3). d. Sin is a rejection of the law or will of God and the substitution of the will of self (3:4). e. In Christ there is no sin, therefore, being in Christ involves keeping the law or will of God (3:5). f. If you abide in Christ, you do not sin. If you sin, you do not abide in Christ (3:6). g. Do not be deceived. If you do righteousness, you are righteous (3:7). h. Sin is of the devil. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (3: . i. The child of God does not sin (3:9). 2. The children of the devil (3:10-12). a. Children of the devil do not righteousness (righteousness is something done). He that does not love his brother in the Lord is a child of the devil (3:10). b. Children of God love one another (3:11). c. Children of God are not like Cain who killed his brother (3:12). d. Cain killed his brother because his works were evil and his brother's works were righteous (3:12). 3. Righteousness means love and not hate; life and not death (3:13-24). a. Those who love the world will hate the child of God (3:13). b. Loving the brethren is an indication that we have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life (3:14). c. He who hates his brother murders his brother (3:15). d. No murderer has eternal life (3:15). e. We know Jesus loved us because he died for us. We must be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren (3:16). f. If we are able to help a needy brother and refuse to do so the love of God is not in us (3:17). g. Love is not in saying but in doing (3:1 . h. If we know and obey the truth, we are sure of our relationship with God (3:19). i. You know what is in your heart (mind), but God is greater than your heart and he, too, knows all things (3:20). k. If we know ourselves to be obedient to the Father's will, we have boldness toward God (3:21). l. He gives us what we ask because we keep his commandments and do the things that please him (3:22). m. God wants us to believe in the power and authority of Jesus and love one another (3:23). n. We know we are in God if we keep his commandments (3:24). B. Possession of the Spirit is the source of sonship (4:1 to 5:12). 1. The spirit of truth and the spirit of error (4:1-6). a. We prove the spirits because many false teachers are in the world (4:1). We prove the spirits by testing the teaching with the gospel. b. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. Confession of Jesus as the Son of God implies keeping his commandments (4:2). c. Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is antichrist and not of God (4:3). d. Those who trust Jesus and obey him will overcome because God guarantees his victory (4:4). God is on our side! e. The world hears those who are of the world (4:5). f. We are of God because we keep his commandments. This is how we know the spirit of error and the spirit of truth (4:6). 2. The duty and power of love (4:7 to 5:3). a. To know God is to love, for God is love (4:7- . b. God loved us and give his son for us (4:9). c. God loved us before we loved him (4:10). d. If God loved us this much, we ought to love each other (4:11). e. We cannot become acquainted with God by sight, but we can know him by the power of love (4:12). f. We know we are right with God because he has given us of his Spirit (4:13). The Spirit reveals the word of truth to us through apostles and prophets (John 16:13). It is by this word that we can know we are the children of God (Rom. 8:14-16). g. The gospel is: God sent his son to save the world (4:14). h. If we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God is in us and we are in God (4:15). i. If we abide in God, we abide in love and have boldness in the day of judgment (4:16-17). k. We have no fear of the last judgment because we love God (4:18-19). l. Loving God means also loving the brethren (4:20-21). m. Faith makes us children of God. If we love God we must also love all those who are begotten of God (5:1). n. The key is loving God and doing his commandments (5:2-3). 2. Overcoming the world is proof of sonship (5:4-5). a. Lovers of God overcome the world by faith (5:4-5). 3. Evidence that Jesus is the son of God (5:6-12). a. Jesus came by water and the blood (5:6; John 19:34). b. The Spirit is the truth (5:7). c. The three who bear witness are the Spirit (truth), the water, and the blood (5: . d. We believe credible testimony from men, but the witness of God is greater and he bore witness of his Son (5:9; Matt. 3:17; 17:5). e. To reject this witness is to reject God (5:10). f. God gave us life in his Son. If we do not have the Son, we do not have the life (5:11-12).IV. Conclusion (5:13-21). A. How we may know that we are of God (5:13). 1. We may know we are right with God on the basis of what is written (5:13; John 20:31). 2. We know we are of God because of the power of prayer (5:14-17). a. If we ask according to his will, he hears us and we know that we are of God (5:14-15). b. We must not pray for those who sin unto death (those who will not confess their sin) (5:16). c. Unrighteousness is sin. Not all unrighteousness is sin unto death, but some unrighteousness is sin unto death (5:17). 3. Children guard themselves from sin (5:1 . B. We know we are of God (5:19-20). 1. The whole world belongs to the devil (5:19). 2. We know that we are of God because he has given us understanding trough his revealed word (5:20). a. Through the things that are written in his revealed word we know that Jesus came in the flesh for our salvation (5:20). C. Guard yourselves from idols (5:21).
Dec 24 06 10:28 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The object of the letter was to cure the divisions in the Corinthian church by confronting problems among the disciples and correcting them, and by answering questions that troubled these believers. B. Greetings (1:1-9). 1. Paul, in association with Sosthenes, is the writer (1:1). 2. Written to the church of God at Corinth and to all who call on the name of the Lord (1:2-3). 3. Paul is thankful for the saints at Corinth and remembers their acceptance of the gospel and growth in character. (1:4-9) C. Paul touches the central theme of the letter when he begs and commands the brethren to be free of divisions and be perfected in the same mind and judgment (1:10). D. Paul had been informed by some in the family of Chloe that the Corinthians were separating themselves into factions and giving allegiance to men (1:11-17). 1. Division is sinful because it rends Christ (1:13). a. Paul is thankful he baptized only a few of them for fear that some might think Paul baptized in his own name (1:14-15). b. Paul was not sent to personally baptize, though he taught that baptism is necessary to salvation. The person who does the baptizing is not important (1:17). E. The nature of the revealed word (1:18-31). 1. The haughty reject the humbling influence of the gospel, but the poor in spirit gladly receive it as the wisdom and power of God, the preaching of which brings salvation (1:18-25). 2. The wise accept the salvation the gospel produces and glory in the Lord (1:26-31).II. Problems and Questions. A. Paul first lays a foundation by affirming the authority of the revealed word, rebuking the fleshly attitude of many of the Corinthians, pointing to Jesus as the solution of every human problem, and asserting the authoritative position of the apostles in the scheme of redemption (2:1-4:21). 1. Paul did not preach the arrogance of human philosophy (2:1-5). 2. Paul preached a heavenly wisdom revealed to him (2:6- 16). a. Paul's information came from the Holy Spirit (2:13). b. Those who took pride in earthly wisdom rejected the gospel and did not understand it; those who accepted the superior wisdom from above lived by eternal truth (2:14-16). 3. Many of the Corinthians were carnal and therefore could not be instructed in right things (3:1- . a. They followed human philosophy instead of divine revelation. b. Their allegiance to men instead of to Jesus demonstrated and proved Paul's point (3:4-5). c. Men are nothing. Christ is all (3:6- . 4. Paul laid a foundation of truth and built upon it by converting sinner to Christ (3:10-23). a. Other teachers (Apollos, Cephas, and others) came later and built on Paul's foundation (3:10). b. Christ is the only right foundation (3:11). c. The final test of a teacher's fruit is how it stands the last judgment (3:13). d. If a teacher's converts are burned (lost), the teacher will feel a sense of regret, but will not necessarily be lost himself (3:15). If a teacher's converts remain faithful, it will please and honor the teacher (3:14). 5. The place of the apostles (4:1-13). a. The apostles were revealers, teachers and keepers of saving truth (4:1-2). b. Some in Corinth condemned Paul, but the apostle was unmoved by their judgment of him (4:3). c. They were attempting to judge things about which they had no knowledge--hidden and secret things-- and Paul observes that all such matters will come to light when Jesus returns and judges the world (4:4- 5). d. Some Corinthian saints were acting as if they were in heaven (4:6- . e. Paul calls attention to the suffering of the apostles (4:9-13). 6. Paul makes a passionate plea (4:14-20). a. Paul reminds them they had first heard the gospel from him (4:14-15). b. Paul sent Timothy to teach them (4:17). c. He informs them of his intent to come to Corinth and says he will use whatever power is necessary when he arrives to correct and instruct them (4:17- 21). B. The incestuous offender (5:1-13). 1. Fornication among the Corinthians (5:1-2). 2. Discipline of the offender (5:3-5). 3. Tolerating ungodliness brings total corruption and final destruction (5:6- . 4. The saved are in the world but not of the world (5:7- 12). C. The sin of brothers in the church going to law over matters of religious doctrine and morals (6:1-20). 1. Saints are to judge the world and angels (6:1-3). a. The judgment of the saints is in the area of Bible teaching. Saints do not judge contracts, and other questions of civil dispute. They are not qualified to do so. On the other hand, the civil magistrate is not competent to judge the teaching and morals of the church because he has no knowledge of Bible teaching. b. Saints judge the world and angels by their agreement with what God has revealed in his word and his eventual enforcement of his rules and regulations for spiritual conduct. 2. Wise men of spiritual maturity should decide matters of right conduct, worship and teaching within the church (6:5-6). 3. The decision of spiritual leaders must be accepted (6:7- . 4. Paul gives a list of what he has in mind when he speaks of brother going to law with brother (6:9-12). 5. The human body must be controlled and used to glorify God (6:12-20). a. Fornication dishonors God and defames the sinner. b. The physical body of the saint is a temple of the Spirit. c. The spirit lives in the body of the saint by means of the word of truth, which is to control the conduct of the saved person (6:19-20). D. Paul answers questions about marriage (7:1-40). 1. The right and advantage of marriage and the advisability of choosing to remain unmarried (7:1-9). 2. The marriage agreement is to be honored (7:10-11). a. The wife is not to leave her husband. b. Should her situation become intolerable and she must leave to protect herself and her children, she is not to remarry. c. She may be reconciled to her husband. d. The husband is not to leave his wife. 3. Treatment of unbelieving husband or wife (7:12-20). a. The marriage rule of God applies to both believer and unbeliever (7:14). b. The saved person is not to change lawful relationships that existed before salvation (7:18-24). 4. Concerning virgins and the question of marriage versus not being married (7:25-39) a. It is better in view of persecution not to marry. b. If a person who has a right to marry decides to get married, it is not sin. c. If a person who has a right to marry decides not to marry, it is better. 5. Concerning widows (7:39-40). a. Christian widows have the right to marry provided they marry "only in the Lord,". E. Concerning things sacrificed to idols (8:1-13). 1. Some Corinthian disciples were saying that since the idols was not being worshipped it is proper to go into the idol temple and enjoy the food (8:1-6). 2. All disciples do not make this distinction and the innocent may misunderstand and think you are worshipping the idol (8:7). 3. Do not destroy for the sake of a good meal a brother for whom Jesus died (8:8-13). a. When Paul says "if eating meat is causing my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat while the world stands," he is not talking about meat on the dinner table, but meat served in idol temples. F. Paul's apostleship (9:1-27). 1. Paul's right to receive support from the church (9:1-14). 2. Paul's right to refuse support from the church (9:15-17). a. It is God's appointment that "they that proclaim the gospel shall live of the gospel" (9:14). b. Using or not using this right is the teacher's choice. 3. Paul's reward for all his labor in the church was the knowledge of the good being done (9:18-27). a. He elected to sacrifice certain things to which he had a right in order to help others (9:20-23). b. He did not do unlawful things in order to please men, nor did he make pleasing men his principle aim (Gal. 1:10). c. Paul did control his body and carefully live according to the right principles of the gospel (9:27). G. Warnings against idolatry (10:1-33). 1. Example of Israel crossing the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and entering Canaan (10:1-13). a. Yielding to temptation is wrong (10:10-12). b. God will not allow you to be tempted supernaturally, and you therefore by your natural powers can reject all temptations that come to you (10:13). 2. Idolatry and the table of the Lord (10:14-33). a. Participation in an activity can mean acceptance and approval (10:14-22). b. The saint must be careful not to approve evil either directly or indirectly. 3. The difference between eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol in the idol's temple and in eating the same meat in a private home (10:23-33). a. Even if it is granted that eating meat in an idol's temple is not wrong within itself, it still may be wrong because it is not expedient (10:23). b. Give no occasion of stumbling (10:32). H. Rules and advice concerning public worship (11:1-14:40). 1. Relationship between Jehovah, Jesus, men and women (11:1-14). a. Jehovah is the head of Jesus (11:3). b. Man is the head of the woman (11:3). 2. It is wrong to bring shame and dishonor to your head (11:3-6). a. A woman unveiled in public brings shame upon her husband. b. Her immodesty is so bad that as punishment she should be treated like a harlot and have the hair of her head shorn or shaved (11:6). 3. Abuses and misuses of the Lord Supper (11:17-34). a. Some Corinthian sisters were disrobing, the communion service was turned into a common meal and made a festival instead of a time of solemn celebration and self examination. b. They were spiritually sick and dead (11:30). 4. Instructions about spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40). a. Spiritual gifts can be understood (12:1). b. False spiritual gifts and idolatry (12:2). c. We can know the deity of Jesus on the basis of what the Spirit of God reveals to us (12:3). d. Nine spiritual gifts named (12:4-11). e. The church compared to a body that has many parts, but is one body (12:12-26). f. Those possessing spiritual gifts must work together for the purpose of the gifts to be realized. All do not have spiritual gifts (12:27-31). g. All may show love, which is defined (13:1- . h. Spiritual gifts will cease when the perfect (complete) will of God is revealed (13:9-13). i. Instructions concerning the use and abuse of spiritual gifts (14:1-40). The purpose of the gifts was to edify the church (14:1-19). Rules for using the spiritual gifts (14:20-33). In the public teaching program of the church women are to be silent (14:34-36). All things in public worship are to be done decently and in order (14:37-40). 5. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead (15:1-5 . a. Jesus' resurrection proves he is the son of God, and is himself God (15:1-11). b. Testimony concerning the resurrection by the apostles of Jesus and other first century saints (15:12-19). c. The need for resurrection and how it is connected with final salvation and the Lordship of Jesus (15:20-29). d. Urgent appeal to accept the revelation made through apostles and prophets (15:30-34). e. A discussion of how the dead are raised (15:35-5 .III. Messages, greetings and final blessing (16:1-24). A. Exhortation to give money to the church upon the first day of every week (16:1-2). 1. In the case of Corinth, some of the money would be carried to Judea to relieve the poor (16:3- . B. Instructions and advise (16:4-14). C. Greetings and salutation (16:15-24).
Dec 24 06 10:30 PM
Quote:I. Introduction (1:1-10). A. The object of the letter is to encourage loyalty to Christ because he will come again to reward the faithful and pure. B. Paul's thankfulness for the faith of the Thessalonians (1:1). 1. The letter was written by Paul in company with Timothy and Silvanus (1:1). a. Paul wishes for them grace and peace (1:1). b. Spiritual blessings are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:1). C. Paul remembers their past association (1:2- . 1. Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonian saints and prayed for them (1:2). 2. Paul calls to mind their service to Christ (1:3). a. Faith works (1:3). b. Love labors (1:3). c. Patience endures (1:3). 3. They were the beloved and chosen of God (1:4-5). a. God loves the world (John 3:16). b. The saved are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14; Rom. 1:16). Those who obey the gospel are the elect of God. c. The saved at Thessalonica were cleansed by the washing of water with the word (1:5). The revealed word was confirmed by signs and miracles (Mark 16:20). d. Paul set for them a pattern for Christian conduct (1:5). 4. The Thessalonian saints imitated Paul and the Lord (1:6). a. They endured affliction (1:6). b. Tribulation produces patience, which produces proof, which produces hope, which produces joy (Rom. 5:3-5). 5. They became a worthy example to all who lived in their part of the world (1:6-7). a. From, and because of them, the gospel was preached in Borea, Athens, Corinth and the whole world (1: . b. Their manner of life and loyal support of the truth was a declaration of their deep faith and it therefore was not necessary for Paul to praise them to others (1: . D. The Thessalonian Christians established and confirmed Paul's apostleship (1:9-10). 1. The preaching of Paul had turned the saved in Thessalonica around (1:9-10). a. Turned from idolatry to serving Christ (1:9). b. Waited for the coming of the Lord and their final deliverance (1:10).II. Historical Part of the Letter (2:1 to 3:13). A. Paul's experience and conduct at Thessalonica (2:1-12). 1. Paul insulted at Philippi (2:1-2). a. Resistance increased Paul's boldness (2:2). b. Paul preached in Thessalonica in the midst of turmoil. The Jews who rejected the apostle's teaching put the city in an uproar (2:2; Acts 17:5) B. Paul's attitude while under harsh vexation (2:3-12). 1. He had not used deceit, corruption, or guile (2:3-4). 2. He had not used flattery (2:5). 3. He had not been covetous (2:5). 4. He had not sought the praise of men (2:6). 5. He had not misused his apostolic power (2:6). 6. He had been gentle, kind and loving (2:7- . 7. He had arranged for his own financial support (2:9). 8. The Christians at Thessalonica were witnesses of Paul's manner of life among them (2:10-12). a. He was holy, principled, and blameless (2:10). b. He taught them with a father's love (2:11). c. He instructed them to walk in a manner that was worthy of God, who calls the saved through the gospel into his kingdom and brightness of triumph (2:12). C. The gospel is for all (2:13-16). 1. The gospel Paul preached is not the word of man but the word of God (2:13). a. The gospel works in the believer (2:13). b. The implanted word of God saves the soul (James 1:21). c. God gives power to the believer by the word that lives in him. 2. The Thessalonian Christians followed the same course as the saved among the Jews in Judea (2:14-16). a. The exciting news of salvation had come to them out of Jerusalem (2:14). b. Those Jews who first accepted it were persecuted by their fellow Jews (2:14). c. Unbelieving Jews killed the Lord Jesus (2:15). d. Unbelieving Jews had killed the prophets and drove Paul out of Jerusalem (2:15). e. Unbelieving Jews demanded that Paul not preach the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles (2:15). f. Sin filled the unbelieving Jews and uttermost wrath awaited them (2:15). D. Paul wanted to visit the Thessalonians (2:17-20). 1. Paul was intense in his desire to see them and felt a sense of emptiness and loss in being away from them (2:1 . 2. Paul mentions again the coming of the Lord (2:19-20). a. Jesus' coming a second time is noticeable in the teaching of the New Testament. b. Paul says when he comes the saved will be gathered and you will be my glory and joy (2:20). E. Paul's concern for the Thessalonians (3:1-13). 1. Paul sent Timothy to them so he know their faith (3:1-5). a. Paul stayed in Athens alone (3:1). b. Timothy was God's servant and a fellow-worker with God (3:2). c. Paul foretold his suffering for preaching the gospel (3:3-4). d. Paul could not wait to hear of how the saved at Thessalonica were getting along, so he sent Timothy to them (3:5) 2. Timothy came with a good report concerning the Thessalonians (3:6- . a. Paul went from Athens to Corinth, where Timothy found him (3:6). b. Timothy told Paul about the faith and love of the believers in Thessalonica, and of how they longed to see Paul (3:6). c. Their care and concern was a comfort to the apostle in his work and suffering (3:7). d. Their loyalty and interest in Paul's welfare gave the apostle a new lease on life (3: . 3. Paul tells again of his great desire to see them (3:9-10). 4. Paul's prayer for them (3:11-13). a. He prays they might abound in love and that God would establish their hearts unblamable (3:12-13). b. Paul again mentions the coming of the Lord (3:13).III. Practical Part of the Letter (4:1 to 5:2 . A. Practical exhortations (4:1-12). 1. To walk in a way that is pleasing to God (4:1). 2. To live the kind of life fit for those who are separated to the service of God (4:3-5). a. They are to abstain from all sexual impurity (4:3). b. Each one was to control himself and be honorable (4:4). c. They were to avoid Gentile-type passion and lust (4:5). 3. Each one of them was to be careful not to swindle his brother (4:6). a. God will take note of and punish evil (4:6). b. Paul had often reminded them of the vengeance of the Almighty (4:6). 4. God called us through his gospel, not to wickedness, but to holiness and purity (4:7- . a. Those who reject this teaching and are uncaring of the coming of the Lord unto judgment reject not man but God (4: . b. They also reject the Holy Spirit by refusing the teaching of the new covenant revealed by the Spirit (4:8; Acts 7:51-52). 5. An exhortation to brotherly love (4:9-10). 6. An exhortation to industry and honesty (4:11-12). B. Comfort for the bereaved (4:13-1 . 1. The Thessalonian brethren may have ignorantly mourned those who died before the coming of Christ, thinking they either lost or lessened their reward (4:13). 2. Paul reminds them Jesus died and lived again (4:14). a. Those who die in Jesus have nothing to fear (4:14). b. When Jesus comes, God will bring them with him (4:14). 3. When the Lord comes, the living will have no advantage over the dead in Christ (4:15). 4. Events of the second coming (4:16-17). a. When Christ comes, the dead shall rise first (4:16). b. The living saved will join the sainted dead (4:17). c. Together they will meet the Lord in the air (4:17). d. So (in this manner--in the air) shall the saved ever be with the Lord (4:17). 5. Cheer each other with his teaching (4:1 .C. Concerning the second coming of Christ (5:1-11). 1. The coming of the Lord will be sudden (5:1-2). 2. The wicked shall be overwhelmed and ruined (5:3). 3. Salvation is for the righteous (5:4-11). a. Keep you eyes open (5:4). b. You are sons of light--not darkness (5:5). c. Be awake and of sound mind (5:6). d. The careless and wicked love darkness (5:7). e. Christians love light and common sense (5: . f. God appoints us to receive an eternal reward (5:9). g. The risen Christ is our savior (5:10). h. Build each other up with this teaching (5:11).D. Various exhortations (5:12-22). 1. Know and love your leaders and be at peace (5:12-13). 2. Correct the insubordinate who do not keep ranks, but do not be harsh (5:14). 3. Do not try to get even, but love and encourage each other (5:15). 4. Live rejoicing every day (5:16). 5. Do not fail to have God and eternity in mind (5:17). 6. Remember the source of all your good and be thankful (5:1 . 7. Suppress not the Spirit (5:19). a. Have a good, happy attitude as you think of heaven (5:19). b. The Holy Spirit teaches you through the revealed word to be quiet and hopeful--do not destroy the Spirit's work (5:19). 8. Never tire of good preaching (5:20-21). a. Study the book of God and know what it teaches (5:20). b. Approve what is right and refuse what is wrong (5:21). 9. Stay away from everything that is wicked (5:22). E. An earnest prayer for their ultimate salvation (5:23-24). F. The benediction (5:25-2 . 1. Pray for us (5:25). 2. Encourage and hail one another (5:26). 3. Study this letter (5:27). 4. May the good gifts of God ever be with you (5:2 .
Dec 24 06 10:32 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. Greeting (1:1). 1. Written by Paul (1:1). a. Paul an apostle--one sent--of Jesus (1:1). b. God commanded Paul's apostleship (1:1). c. Jesus, our hope, also appointed Paul's apostleship (1:1). 2. Written to Timothy (1:2). a. Paul's child in the faith (1:2). b. Paul wishes favor, calm, and forgiveness from Jehovah and Jesus for Timothy (1:2). B. Paul's purpose in leaving Timothy at Ephesus (1:3-4). 1. To charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine (1:3). 2. Not to listen to fables and extended pedigrees (1:4). a. False teaching, fictions, and genealogies cause confusion (1:4). b. Follow God's administration of affairs (dispensation) in faith (1:4). C. The true design of the law (1:5-11). 1. The end of the command - the purpose of all God has commanded - his whole law - is: a. Love out of a pure heart (1:5). b. A good conscience (1:5). c. Sincere faith (1:5). 2. Some have turned away from the law and its purpose (1:6-7). a. They talk foolishness instead of teaching the law (1:6). b. They set themselves up as teachers of the law, but do not understand the meaning of what they say (1:7). 3. Lawful use of the law is good (1:8-9-10). a. Law used lawfully (and it may be used unlawfully--for some purpose other than the reason for which it is given) is good. Law is good, even necessary (1: . b. People who want to do right do not resent law (1:9). c. Law is made for the lawless and unruly, the ungodly, sinners, the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound (whole, healthy) doctrine (1:9-10). 4. To correct the ungodly and bring glory to God is the purpose of the gospel (law) put in Paul's trust (1:11). D. Paul's thanksgiving (1:12-17). 1. Paul was glad Jesus counted him trustworthy and had committed to his keeping the revelations of the New Testament (1:12). a. He was glad to serve Christ (1:12). b. In his early life he had opposed Christ (1:13). c. God's good gift of salvation abounded to Paul (1:14). 2. Jesus came into the world to save sinners (1:15-17). a. Paul considered himself to have been the chief of sinners (1:15). b. The unbounded nature of God's mercy was demonstrated in forgiving this "chief" of sinners (1:16). c. Paul's argument is: If he could be forgiven, then any sinner can be pardoned in the obedience of faith (1:17). 3. Paul praises God (Jehovah, Jesus, and the Comforter) as King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God (1:17). E. Paul's charge to Timothy (1:18-20). 1. Timothy was Paul's child in the gospel (1:1 . 2. Prophecies led Paul to Timothy (1:1 . a. The brethren at Lystra and Iconium had recommended Timothy to Paul as a man of talent who would make a good preacher (Acts 16:1-2). b. Paul, therefore, took Timothy with him (Acts 16:3). 3. Paul now urges Timothy to fulfill the prophecies of his potential by warring the good warfare (1:1 . a. Holding to the faith (1:19). b. Having a good conscience (1:19). c. Some made shipwreck the faith--Timothy must avoid such people (1:19). d. Two examples of such false teachers were Hymenaeus and Alexander (1:19). e. Paul turned them over to the devil that they might be taught not to speak against God and the gospel (1:19).II. Doctrinal Matters (2:1-3:16). A. Concerning public worship (2:1-15). 1. Prayers to be made for all men (2:1-4). a. This includes prayers for rulers (2:2). b. It is proper to pray that Christians "may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity" (2:2-3). c. God desires the salvation of all people through a knowledge of the truth (there is no other way to be saved, except by the truth) (John 8:32; 2:4). 2. There is one God and one mediator (2:5-6). a. Jesus gave himself a ransom for all--Jews and Gentiles (2:6). b. It is now the proper season (right time) to preach God's offer of universal salvation--the gospel (2:6). c. Since Jesus died for all, we should pray for all - we are to pray to the Father through the Son (2:6). 3. Paul was appointed to preach the gospel to all, but especially to the Gentiles (2:7- . a. Paul desired that men everywhere pray, and be holy (2: . b. All men should be free from unjust anger and unnecessary disputing (2: . 4. Duties of women (2:9-15). a. Women are to dress in a way that is harmonious with their Christian conduct--orderly, of good behavior (2:9). b. Godly women are given to good works (2:10). c. Women must not be domineering and bossy, but live in quiet subjection--causing no disturbance (2:11). d. A woman is forbidden to teach in a position of authority over a man (2:12). e. One reason women are to hold themselves in an attitude of respectful submission toward men is the order of creation--the man first and then the woman (2:12). f. A second reason for woman's cautious bearing is because Eve was beguiled and fell into transgression --Adam was not beguiled (2:13). g. The penalty imposed for Eve's disobedience was bearing children in pain, and her husband would rule over her (Gen. 3:16). B. Qualifications and duties of church officers (3:1-16). 1. Qualifications of a bishop (elder) (3:1-7). a. It is good for a man to desire and prepare himself to serve as an elder (3:1). b. Elders must be without reproach (3:2). c. The husband of one wife (3:2). d. Temperate (3:2). e. Sober-minded (level headed) (3:2). f. Orderly--knows how to behave in society (3:2). g. Given to hospitality (3:2). h. Apt to teach--able and inclined to teach (3:2). g. No brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious (3:3). h. No lover of money--not greedy or covetous (3:3). i. Ruling well his own house, having his children in subjection (3:4-5). j. Not a beginner in Christian service (3:6). k. Must be respected in his home community (3:7). 2. Qualifications of a deacon--one who serves under an elder (3:8-10). a. Deacons must be grave (3: b. Not given to much wine (3: c. Not greedy for money (3: d. Must hold to the truth of the gospel (3:9). e. Must prove themselves in service to Jesus (3:10). f. Must not deserve blame (3:10). 3. Qualifications of an officer's wife (3:11). a. Must be grave (3:11). b. Not slanderers--control the tongue (3:11). c. Temperate (3:11). d. Faithful in all things (3:11). 4. More on qualifications of deacons (3:12-13) a. Deacons are to be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well (3:12). b. Deacons hold an honorable and important position in the church (3:13). C. The importance of the gospel and religion (3:14-16). 1. Paul reminded Timothy of the greatness of the gospel (3:14-15). a. Men in the church, which is the body of Jesus, must behave--guard your manner of life and character (3:15). b. The church is to maintain teaching and practice; the church is the firm, steadfast support, bulwark, stay of the truth (3:15). 2. The church is to behave itself properly, teaching and defending the gospel, because Jesus died to save sinners (3:16). 3. Jesus was: a. Manifested in the flesh (3:16). b. Justified in the spirit (3:16). c. Seen of angels--after his resurrection was seen by his apostles who were his messengers, or angels (3:16). d. Preached among the nations (3:16). e. Believed on in the world (3:16). f. Received into glory (3:16).III. Closing Admonitions and Commands (4:1 to 6:19). A. The great apostasy (4:1-6). 1. The Holy Spirit said plainly that a falling away would come (4:1). a. Those leading the apostasy would listen to seducing spirits (4:1). b. They would follow the doctrines of demons (4:2). 2. Hypocrites with seared consciences would direct the departure (4:2). a. They would command not to marry (4:3). b. They would demand to abstain from meats (4:3). 3. The Christian system has no dietary laws (4:4-5). B. Timothy was to warn the church about these things (4:6-7) 1. Warnings about apostasy and false teachers would make Timothy a faithful preacher (4:6). a. He would be continuing in the healthful teaching-- sound doctrine (4:6). b. Timothy was to reject story-telling and profane (unhallowed) things (4:7). c. Timothy was to train himself in the love of God (4:7). d. Physical exercise helps a little, but loving God-- which includes doing his will absolutely--profits in all things, in this life and forever (4: e. This is true and worthy (4:9). f. Because godliness exceeds physical exercise, we set our hope on God (4:10). g. Command and teach the brothers these things (4:11). C. Commands about Timothy's personal conduct (4:12-16 to 5:2). 1. Let no man despise his youth (4:12). a. Be an example to all (4:12). b. Pay attention to what you say and do (4:12). 2. Study, learn, exhort and teach (4:13). 3. Do not ignore your appointment (4:14-15). a. The elders appointed you to preach at Ephesus (4:14). b. Your preaching appointment fulfilled what your fellow citizens said about you (Acts 16:2). c. Give yourself entirely to right doing (4:15). 4. Your teaching of the truth will save you and others (4:16). 5. Proper method and attitude in warning (5:1-2). D. About widows (5:3- . 1. Value and respect widows who are without family (5:3). 2. The family is to take care of their own widows (5:4). 3. The widow who has no family and is in poverty, and looks to God and prays always, is to be supported by the church (5:5). a. The widow who seeks earthly pleasure is dead even though she is alive (5:6). b. Require this of the saints--it is right (5:7). 4. The believer who does not take care of his own family is worse than an infidel (5: . 5. Enrollment as a widow (5:9-10). a. The widow who is put on the payroll must be 60 years old and was the wife of one man (5:9). b. If she is well reported of for good works (5:10). c. If she hath brought up children (5:10). d. If she hath used hospitality to strangers (5:10). e. If she hath washed the saints' feet (5:10). f. If she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work (5:10). 6. Younger widows (5:11-13). a. Are to be fed and housed and cared for, but not put on the payroll of the church (5:11). b. Younger widows may marry again, and be idle, and gossip (5:12-13). c. Younger widows are to marry, bear children, rule their household, give no reason for criticism (5:14). d. Some have already turned to Satan (5:15). 7. Those who can should take care of their own widows that the church not be imposed upon; the church needs to relieve widows who have no other means of support (5:16). E. Supporting officers in the church (5:17-1 . 1. Elders are to be honored, and those who also preach should have double honor--be paid; the laborer is worthy of his hire (5:17-1 . 2. Do not receive an accusation against an elder (5:19). a. Except at the word of two or three witnesses (5:19; Matt. 18:15-20). b. Elders who sin are to be publicly rebuked (5:19-20). F Look to your personal conduct (5:21). 1. Do not be prejudiced or partial (5:21). 2. Do not appoint men to office quickly, but look to their qualifications (5:22). a. Do not become involved in other men's sins (5:22). b. Be pure (5:22). 3. Timothy to guard his health (5:23). 4. Concerning sin (5:24-25). a. Some sins are open and evident and other sins are hidden and secret (5:24). b. Some good works are advertised and other good works are concealed (5:25). G. Instructions to servants (slaves) (6:1-2). 1. Servants must behave in a way that does not cause the truth to be spoken against (6:1). 2. Believing masters must be honored (6:2). H. Sundry admonitions. 1. False teachers are to be condemned (6:3-19). 2. The advantages of piety and a contented mind (6:6- . 3. The danger of a desire to be rich--the love of money is the root of kinds of evil (6:9-10). 4. The man of God will run away from these things (6:11-12). a. He will follow after "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (6:11). b. He will fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life (6:12). c. Remember the good confession made in the sight of many witnesses (6:12). 5. Timothy to be faithful and true to God and his word (6:13-14). 6. The greatness and majesty of God (6:15-16). 7. Duty of those who are rich (6:17-19). I. Paul's closing charge to Timothy (6:20-21). 1. Guard the gospel which is committed to your care and keeping (6:20). a. Do not listen to profane babbling (6:20). b. False knowledge is dangerous and destructive (6:20). 2. Some have erred concerning the faith (6:21). a. Do not make the same mistake (6:21). b. The favor of God be with you (6:21).
Dec 24 06 10:34 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. Letter was written by the apostle Peter (1:1). B. Letter was written to the Jewish and Gentile believers who are sojourners dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1:1). 1. They were sojourners on earth expecting an enduring home in a better world (1:1). 2. They were of the elect, having been selected through their obedience to the plan of salvation (1:2). a. God knew from the beginning the scheme of salvation (1:3). b. They were made separate from sin and the world, and set apart to the service of God by agency of the Spirit, who works by the power of the gospel (1:2; Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 1:22-23). c. By their obedience they were emblematically sprinkled with the blood of Jesus (1:3). d. Having been selected, separated and sprinkled, they have multiplied grace and peace (1:3)II. Inheritance and hope of believers (1:3-25). A. Praised be Jehovah God who has given us a second birth and a living hope (1:3). 1. Salvation shows the infinite mercy of God (1:3). 2. Our hope of eternal life is based on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1:3). B. Our living hope is centered on the incorruptible and enduring heavenly home (1:4). 1. By the power of God the saved are guarded against Satan and assured of future salvation in heaven (1:5). a. God's power to save is the gospel (Rom. 1:16). b. The gospel gives us control of the devil (Matt. 4:1-11). 2. The anticipation of heaven gives us great joy (1:6-9). a. The elect are glad because of the promise of heaven, but also sorrow because of multiplied trials of affliction (1:6). b. Faith is purified by persecution and affliction (1:7). c. Indescribable joy is in the hearts of those who believe on Jesus, though they never saw him (1: . d. The reward of faith is heaven (1:9). C. Old Testament prophets pointed to the salvation that would come through the suffering of Jesus (1:10-12). 1. The prophets tried to discover more about the promised salvation (1:10). a. The prophets studied their writings in an attempt to understand the time of the sufferings of Jesus and the glories that should follow his sufferings (1:11). b. As a result of their study, they learned that much of their prophecy pointed to a future day and would not be fulfilled in their time (1:12). c. Old Testament prophets served the interest of people of Peter's day and following (1:12). d. The good things foretold by prophets of old were being announced to the people of Peter's day (1:12). e. The announcement was being made by the preaching of the gospel, which was revealed by the Holy Spirit (1:12). D. The inheritance and hope of salvation should cause the saved to live holy lives (1:13-25). 1. The saved should concentrate on the glorious gifts that will be theirs when Jesus comes again (1:13). 2. Children of God obey their heavenly Father, and do not live as they did before they knew God (1:14-16). 3. Jehovah is not only a heavenly Father but he is also a universal judge, therefore revere and obey him (1:17-25). a. You were purchased from the slave pits of sin, not with perishing things, like silver and gold (1:1 . b. You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1:19). c. The sacrifice of Christ, the lamb of God, was foreknown before the world was founded, but was not revealed until the days of Jesus and the apostles (1:20). d. Through Jesus you believe in Jehovah, who raised Jesus from the dead, so that your faith and hope is in God (1:21). e. Your careful obedience to the truth purified your souls (1:22). f. You should love fervently and without pretense all who obey the gospel (1:22). g. You have been born again by the gospel (1:23). h. All flesh much die (1:24). i. God's word never dies, but lives for ever (1:25).III. Patient Endurance (2:1-25). A. Submit to God while suffering persecution and affliction (2:1- 12). 1. Put away everything that is evil (wickedness, guile, hypocrisies, and evil speaking) (2:1). 2. Crave the spiritual milk of God's eternal word so you may grow into a future, eternal salvation (2:2-10). a. Your regeneration and joy show that God is good (2:3). b. You have come to Jesus who was rejected by men, but chosen of God to be the foundation and chief corner stone (2:4). c. On the foundation of Jesus the saved are built into a spiritual house (2:5). d. The saved are a holy priesthood (2:5). e. The saved offer spiritual sacrifices to God (2:5). f. This was prophesied (2:6). 3. Jesus brings either a blessing or a plague depending on whether he is accepted or rejected (2:7- . 4. Exalted position of the saved (2:9-12). a. An elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession (2:9). b. Show the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (2:9). c. Nobodies turned into somebodies--from nothing to notables (2:10). d. You are on earth for a short time, so deny the lust of the flesh which is a deadly enemy to the soul (2:11). e. So live that men may see your good works and glorify your heavenly Father (2:12). B. Attitude toward civil government (2:13-17). 1. Obey civil law (2:13). 2. The civil ruler punishes the criminal and protects the righteous (2:14; Rom. 13:1-7). 3. Be law abiding and stop the mouths of those who claim Christians are disloyal to government (2:15). a. Your freedom in Christ must not be used as an excuse to break civil law, though you are free from sinful laws (2:16). b. "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king" (2:17). C. Household servants must cheerfully obey their masters regardless of the master's attitude (2:18-25). 1. Christ suffered wrongfully and we should follow his example of patiently enduring mistreatment (2:19-25) 2. It is acceptable for a servant of God to suffer unjustly (2:19). a. There is no honor in being punished for breaking the law (2:20). b. God rewards those who suffer for doing right (2:20). 2. Jesus is an example of unjust suffering (2:21-23). 3. Jesus saves us by his unfair suffering (2:24-25).IV. Christian Character (3:1 to 4:19). A. Household duties (3:1-7). 1. Obligation of wives (3:1-6). a. Wives to be in subjection to their husbands (3:1). b. A dutiful wife may convert her unbelieving husband by her good example (3:1-2). c. A meek and quiet spirit is more appealing than external ornaments and decorations (3:3-4). d. Godly women in the past were in subjection to their husbands (3:5). e. Sarah displayed an attitude of respectful obedience to her husband Abraham, and you should imitate her (3:6). 2. Obligation of husbands (3:7). a. Use good judgment in dwelling with your wife (3:7). b. Honor your wife, treating her as valuable and precious (3:7). c. The wife is not as physically strong as the husband and deserves to be protected (3:7). d. She, too, has a right to live and be happy (3:7). e. Do not quarrel and be disagreeable because such bad conduct will hinder your prayers (3:7). B. Christian fellowship (3:8-22). 1. Christians are to get along together (3:8-9). a. They are to be like-minded--if they have the mind of Christ they will be of the same mind (3: . b. They must be compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded (3: . c. They do not "get even" (3:9). d. Christians return good for evil (3:9). e. Having received mercy, they are merciful (3:9). 2. Principles that produce long life and good days (3:10-11). a. Watch your words and do not indulge in gossip (3:10). b. Refuse evil and do right (3:11). c. Live at peace with all men, if possible (3:11; Rom. 12:1 . 3. God listens to the righteous, but turns away from the wicked (3:12). 4. Who will harm you if you are eager to do good? (3:13). 5. If you suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed (3:14- 17). a. Set Christ apart in your heart (3:15). b. Be ready to give an answer to any person who questions your faith and commitment to Christ (3:15). c. Never deny your religion (3:16). d. Show by your life the error of those who speak evil of you (3:16). e. It is better to suffer for doing right than it is to suffer for doing wrong (3:17). 6. Christ shows us the right way (3:18-21). a. Christ did good, but was hung on a tree (3:1 . b. Christ died for our sins, the righteous dying for the unrighteous (3:1 . c. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit (3:1 . d. In the spirit Christ preached to spirits in prison (3:19). e. Christ preached in the spirit to those who were disobedient when Noah was alive (3:20). f. This preaching was done while the ark was in preparation, and must have been done by Noah as the spirit guided him--in this way Jesus preached to the disobedient in Noah's day who were shut up to the condemnation of the flood (3:20). g. The flood separated between the wicked world and the pure world. It was the line of demarcation between sinner and saint (3:20). h. After a true likeness of this, baptism now saves us (3:21). i. Baptism in not washing the outward man, but is the answer of a right attitude toward God (3:21). j. The confirmation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus (3:21). k. Jesus is now at the right hand of God controlling the universe (3:22). 7. Christ suffered in the flesh, but is now risen to suffer and die no more (4:1). a. We, too, must cease from sin--from lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries (4:2-3). b. Our former companions think it is odd that we are no longer willing to run with them to excessive sin. They consider you to be unsocial and despise you (4:4). c. They will one day give an accounting to God (4:5). d. The gospel is preached to those who are dead in sin, assuring them that when they die in the flesh, they will still live to God in the spirit (4:6). 8. All earthly things will soon end, therefore be level-headed and prayerful (4:7-11). a. Above all else, love one another from the heart (4: . b. Love covers a multitude of sins (4: . c. Provide for each other without complaint (4:9). d. Use your talents for the good of the church (4:10). e. Those who have the ability should preach and teach the revealed word. Those who can serve should do so with strength (4:11). f. The purpose of all we say and do is to bring honor to God through Jesus (4:11). C. Trials, persecution, and affliction can serve a useful purpose (4:12-19). 1. It is not unusual or remarkable that good people must suffer opposition and fiery trial (4:12). 2. Christ was good, but was beaten and crucified (4:13). a. If you participate in his suffering you will also share in his reward (4:13). b. Men may ridicule and punish you for being a follower of Christ, but God will honor and reward you (4:14). c. Let none suffer for criminal behavior (4:15). d. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed but give praise to God (4:16). 3. Now is the time for judgment to begin at the house of God (4:17). a. If it begins first with saints, what shall the punishment of the unsaved who have rejected the gospel be? (4:17) b. If the righteous is saved with difficulty, what chance does the ungodly person have? (4:1 . 4. If you must suffer and die for Christ, then commit your soul to God (4:19).V. Closing Counsel (5:1-14). A. The duty and authority of elders (5:1-4). 1. Peter instructs elders in the church as one who witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and who is also a partaker of coming reward (5:1). 2. Elders are to take the oversight of the church (5:2). a. They do not supervise the church for pay nor from a sense of unwanted duty (5:2). b. Elders must not lord it over the charge given to them by requiring of others what they are unwilling to do (5:3). 3. When Christ, the chief Shepherd, comes again he will reward the under-shepherds with a crown of glory that never fades (5:4). B. The duty of the younger members of the church and of everyone (5:5-9). 1. The younger must be in subjection to the elders (5:5). 2. Christians are to serve one another (5:5-6). a. Christians minister to each other in humility (5:5). b. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (5:5). c. Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand and he will reward you (5:6). 3. Knowing that God cares for you, cast your anxiety on him (5:7). 4. Be serious, be alert; the devil is seeking to destroy you (5: . 5. Withstand Satan, knowing your brothers in the world are courageously suffering (5:9). C. Closing remarks (5:10-13). 1. The God of all grace will reward you after you have suffered for a little while (5:10). 2. "To him be the dominion for ever and ever" (5:11). 3. Silas, the faithful brother, delivered the letter from Peter (5:12). a. The letter urged and testified that this is the true gospel of God (5:12). b. In that gospel they must stand unmoved (5:12). 4. The members of the church in Babylon, elect together with you, and Mark my son, greet you (5:13). 5. "Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ" (5:14).
Dec 24 06 10:36 PM
Dec 24 06 10:37 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. The object of this letter is to recall the Galatians to the gospel which they had received from the apostle Paul, and from which they had drifted. B. Greetings. 1. Paul, an inspired apostle of Jesus, is the writer (1:1). 2. To the several congregations of the church in Galatia (1:2). 3. Paul prays grace and peace for the saints of Galatia (1:3). 4. Jesus died for our sins and deliverance (1:4). 5. The brightness belongs to Jesus eternally (1:5).II. The Gospel. A. The good news is unchangeable (1:6-24). 1. Paul is surprised at their removal from the gospel (1:6-7). 2. Those who pervert the gospel are condemned (1:8-9). 3. Paul received the gospel from God, not men (1:10-12). a. It was no part of his early education (1:13-14). b. Paul was specially called to be an apostle (1:15). B. Paul did not learn the gospel from men (1:16-24). 1. Jesus was "revealed" to Paul (1:16). 2. Immediately upon his baptism Paul preached the gospel (Acts 9:20; Gal. 1:17). a. Three years after his conversion he went to Jerusalem (1:1 . b. He went from Jerusalem to Cilicia (Acts 9:30). At this time he was still unknown by face to the churches of Judea (1:22). C. Paul's preaching was approved by the brethren in Judea (2:1- 10). 1. Fourteen years later Paul went to Jerusalem (2:1-2). 2. He went up by revelation (2:2). 3. Titus was not circumcised (2:3) 4. False brethren were trying to bring the saved into bondage (2:4). a. Into bondage to what? b. Into bondage to the law of Moses (Acts 15:1). c. This is why the case of Titus is cited. 5. The brethren did not condemn Paul, but approved him (2:3- 5). a. Paul did not go to Jerusalem to get the endorsement of the other apostles or the elders (2:6). b. Paul worked mainly among the Gentiles (2:9). 6. Paul withstood Peter to the face (2:11-21). a. Peter was not superior to Paul. b. Paul condemned Peter for attempting to compel the Gentiles to live as do the Jews--to keep the law of Moses (2:14). 7. We are not justified by the law of Moses (2:16-21). a. The law to which Paul refers is the Old Covenant, because we are justified by the New Covenant--by law (Rom. 8:2; 3:31). b. The law of Moses could not justify sinners or there would have been no need for the cross or a New Testament law (Heb. 8:8-13). D. The Galatians were justified by obedient faith--keeping the law of the spirit of life in Christ--but were in danger of falling (Chapters 3 through 5). 1. The Galatians were saved (3:1). 2. They were saved through faith in Jesus (3:2). 3. Some of them desired to go back under the law of Moses (3:3-6). 4. The law of Moses embraced Jews only, but the law of Jesus is for every creature in all the world (3:7-14). 5. The promise of God to Abraham was to bless all nations; and the law of Moses, which came 430 years after God made the covenant promise to Abraham, could not void that promise. 6. The law of Moses had a purpose, but it could not save (3:19-22). 7. The purpose of the law of Moses was to bring men to Christ (3:23-24). 8. Now that Christ had come they no longer needed the law of Moses (3:25). 9. Now both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the one body (3:26-29). E. All spiritual blessings are located in Christ (4:1-20). 1. They were in danger of returning to idolatry (4:8-11). 2. Paul wanted Christ to be formed in them (4:12-20). F. The two covenants (4:21-31). 1. An allegory of two women (4:21-29). 2. Not under the law of Moses but are under the law of Jesus (4:30-31). G. Do not allow those who would bind the Mosaic law on you to trouble you (5:5-12). H. Do not abuse your freedom, but honor one another (5:13-15).III. Exhortations (5:16-6:1 . A. Spirit and flesh contrary one to the other (5:16-25). B. Exhortations to mutual helpfulness (6:1-10). C. Right and wrong glorying (6:11-1 .
Dec 24 06 10:38 PM
Quote:I. Introduction. A. This book, unlike most New Testament epistles, does not identify the writer (1 John, Revelation and the Gospels have a similar introduction). 1. The letter was originally written to Jewish converts to Jesus who were in danger of leaving Christ and his church to go back to their original religious orientation, or to the world. 2. Those originally addressed are not named and this information is implied in the text of the letter. 3. Any disciple of Jesus who is tempted to depart from the faith will benefit from the writing, and every follower of Jesus will gain a greater appreciation for the Son of God by studying this book. B. Hebrews begins almost abruptly with a statement about the Godhead.II. Nature, Glory and Dignity of Christ (1:1 to 10:1 . A. Christ superior to prophets and angels (1:1 to 2:1 . 1. God formerly spoke to Jewish fathers through the prophets with many ways and means of giving the revelation (1:1). 2. Now he speaks through his Son, Jesus (1:2-3). a. Jesus is heir of all things (1:2; Matt. 28:1 . b. Jesus made the worlds and all that is in them (1:2). c. Jesus is the brightness of the Father's glory (1:3). d. Jesus and Jehovah are of the same substance (1:3). e. Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power (1:3). f. Jesus is made purification of sins (1:3). g. Jesus sits at the right hand of Jehovah (1:3). 3. Jesus is better than the angels (1:4- . a. Jehovah never called an angel his Son (1:5). b. Angels are to worship Jesus (1:6). c. Angels are servants and messengers of God (1:7). d. Jesus is God's Son; his throne is eternal (1: . 4. Jesus obeyed God's commands and therefore is sinless and exalted (1:9-12). a. Jesus made the universe (1:10). b. The universe will perish, but Jesus continues (1:11-12). c. Jesus does not change and will never fail (1:12). 5. Angels, great in power, are inferior to Jesus (1:13-14). a. Angels were not promised pre-eminence (1:13). b. Angels are ministering spirits serving the saved (1:14). 6. In view of Jesus' triumph and glory, we must listen to him with deliberate attention (2:1-4). a. Danger of drifting away from the words of Jesus (2:1). b. The Old Law was spoken through angels, but every failure to keep its requirements was punished (2:2). c. We cannot escape if we neglect the words of Jesus (2:3). d. Jesus' teaching was confirmed by those who heard him (2:3). e. Jehovah confirmed the message of Jesus by signs, wonders, manifold powers, and gifts of the Holy Spirit (2:4). 7. More evidence that Jesus is above angels (2:5-16). a. Jehovah did not subject the world to angels, but he did subject it to His Son (2:5). Jesus rules the universe. b. God visits unworthy man (2:6). c. God made man and gave him a place above animals but below angels (2:7). d. Also, Jehovah put all things in subjection to Jesus with the exception of death, the last enemy (2: . e. Jesus took on the form of a man, suffered death, and is crowned with honor and glory (2:9). f. Jesus tasted death for every man (2:9). g. To save sinful man, Jesus had to be made perfect through sufferings (2:10). h. Jesus, in saving sinners, participated in human flesh (2:11). i. Jesus therefore calls the saved brothers (2:11-12). j. Jehovah gave Jesus children (previously Jesus is called a brother but now a father) (1:13; Isa. 9:6). k. Jesus took the power of death away from the devil and delivered us from the fear of death (2:14-15). l. Jesus did not intend to save angels and therefore did not become an angel; he intends to save man and therefore became a man--the seed of Abraham (2:16). 8. The human nature of Jesus gives us the assurance he understands us and can identify with our sorrows, being a merciful and faithful high priest for us (2:17-1 . B. The superiority of Jesus over Moses (3:1 to 4:13). 1. Consider our apostle and high priest, even Jesus (3:1-6). a. Jesus like Moses was faithful to Jehovah (3:2). b. Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses because the builder has more glory than the house (3:3). c. Every house has a builder; God built everything (3:4). d. Moses was over God's house as a servant of God (3:5) e. Jesus is a son over God's house, whose family we are (3:6). 2. Wilderness wanderings and results of unbelief (3:7-19). a. Since Jesus is greater than Moses, it is urgent for us to listen to his teaching and obey him (3:7). b. Do not harden you hearts as the Jewish fathers did in the wilderness (3:8-9). c. Jehovah was displeased with their disobedience (3:10). d. Jehovah refused them the promised land (3:11). e. The followers of Jesus are warned against an evil heart of unbelief in falling away from God (3:12). f. Urge one another to be faithful to Jesus (3:13). g. The faithful will be rewarded with Christ (3:14). h. Unfaithful and disobedient Jews were kept out of the promised land of rest (3:15-19). 3. The rest that remains for the people of God (4:1-13). a. Let us fear to come short of eternal rest (4:1). b. We, like the Jews in the wilderness hear good news, but the Jews did not benefit from the promise of reward and rest because they heard but did not believe (4:2). c. Obedient believers will enter the heavenly rest (4:3). d. The Jews in the wilderness failed to enter their promised rest (4:3). e. It follows that others who displease God will not enter in to God's rest (having finished his work of creation and laying the foundations of the world, God rested) (4:3-5). f. Disobedience kept some Jews out of Canaan, but the faithful Jews received the promised land (4:6). g. David spoke of a promised rest 500 years after Joshua led the Jews into the land of Canaan (4:7). h. If Joshua had given to the people the final rest, David would not have spoken of it as yet future (4: . i. A sabbath day of rest remains for the faithful (4:9). k. The dead in Christ are now enjoying that rest (4:10). 4. Exhortations to strive earnestly to enter that rest (4:11-13). a. Disobedience will keep one out of the heavenly rest (4:11). b. God's word knows the thoughts and intents of the human heart (4:12). b. God sees and knows everything about us (4:13). 5. The priesthood of Jesus (4:14 to 5:10). a. Since Jesus is our high priest, be faithful (4:14). b. Our high priest can be touched by our infirmities (4:15). c. We can boldly approach God because Jesus represents us in the heavenly court and secures for us mercy and grace (4:16). d. Human high priests represent the people to God (5:1). e. Human high priests have infirmities and are gentle in dealing with the ignorant and erring (5:2). f. Human high priests therefore make sacrifices for both themselves and the people (5:3). g. No one has the right to become a high priest unless God approves (5:4). h. Jesus was called and appointed by Jehovah (5:5). i. Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (5:6). j. Jesus prayed in tears to him who could save him from death and was heard for his godly fear (5:7). k. Jesus learned obedience by his suffering (5: . l. Jesus saves all that obey him (5:9). m. Jesus is appointed high priest after the order of Melchizedek (5:10). 6. Warnings against apostasy (5:11 to 6:20). a. A stern rebuke for failure to study and grow (5:11-14). b. Advice to go on to perfection in understanding (6:1-3). c. Danger and consequences of falling away (6:4- . d. The writer expected his readers to live in a way consistent with salvation (6:9). e. God remembers their contributions to the poor (6:10). f. Encouragement to greater zeal (6:11-12). g. To enforce his promise to Abraham God swore by himself, since he could swear by none greater (6:13-14). h. Abraham believed, endured and received the promise (6:15). i. God strengthens his promise of a heavenly rest with an oath (6:16-17). j. We have two immutable things--God's word and God's oath (6:1 . k. God cannot lie and therefore we hold firmly to our hope of heaven (6:1 . l. Our certain hope anchors our soul and we can be sure of going to heaven if we are faithful (6:19). m. Jesus, a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, entered heaven as our forerunner assuring our entrance into heaven if we are obedient (6:20). 7. More thoughts on the priesthood of Christ (7:1 to 8:5). a. Melchizedek blessed Abraham (7:1). b. Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek (7:2). c. Nothing is known of Melchizedek's birth or death, and his priesthood is perpetual (7:3). d. Therefore, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham (7:4). e. The Levitical priests where in the loins of Abraham when he paid tithes to Melchizedek. The lesser pay tithes to the greater. The Levitical priests symbolically paid tithes to Melchizedek who is therefore greater than the sons of Levi (7:5-10). f. Under the Levitical priesthood there was no complete forgiveness of all sin, therefore there was a need for a priesthood after the order of Melchizedek (7:11). g. A changed priesthood meant a change of the law (7:12). h. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah and not the priestly tribe of Levi (7:13-14). i. Moses said nothing about priests from the tribe of Judah. For Jesus to be a priest, the law had to change (7:14). j. A Melchizedek priesthood appears (7:15). k. The new priesthood is not by flesh but by the power of an endless life (7:16). l. David said Jesus would be a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (7:17). m. The Law of Moses was annulled because it could not grant the absolute forgiveness of all sin (7:1 . n. The Old Law made nothing perfect; we need a better hope to draw near to God (7:19). o. Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek by solemn oath of God (7:20-21). p. Jesus is the assurance of a better covenant (7:22). q. The Levitical high priest had to change because the high priest died (7:23). r. Jesus lives for ever, therefore his high priesthood continues (7:24). s. Jesus offers complete forgiveness because he lives for ever to make intercession for the saved (7:25). t. We need a sinless and exalted high priest (7:26). u. Christ made one offering for sin for ever (7:27-2 . v. Christ's ministry, sacrifice and high priesthood is in heaven and therefore superior to any earthly priesthood (8:1-5). 8. The superiority of the new covenant (8:6-13). a. Jesus has a more excellent ministry, being the mediator of a better covenant with better promises (8:6). b. If the first covenant had been able to grant complete forgiveness of all sin, there would have been no need for a new covenant (8:7). c. God found fault with the people, not the covenant (8: . d. God made a new covenant with all the people of earth (8: . e. The new covenant is unlike the old covenant (8:9). f. The laws of the new covenant would be in the minds and hearts of the people (8:10-11). g. The laws of the new covenant would bring total forgiveness of iniquities and sin (8:12). h. A new covenant makes the first old and vanishing (8:13). 9. The superiority of Christ's ministry and sacrifice (9:1 to 10:1 . a. Arrangement and furniture of the first tabernacle (9:1-5). b. Symbolic services of the Jewish tabernacle (9:6-10). c. The perfect services of Christ (9:11-14). d. The work of Jesus is heavenly and not earthly (9:11). e. Not through the blood of animals, but by divine blood, Jesus obtained eternal redemption for man (9:12). f. The blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer bring incomplete, ceremonial cleansing (9:13). g. How much more shall the blood of God cleanse you from dead works (9:14). h. Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant (9:15). i. Jesus died to forgive the transgressions of those who were under the first covenant and all the saved may have an eternal inheritance (9:15). j. A last will and testament requires a death (9:16). k. A will becomes effective when the testator dies (9:17). l. The first covenant was dedicated with blood (9:1 . m. Moses sprinkled the book and the people with blood (9:19-20). n. The tabernacle and its furniture were sprinkled with blood (9:21). o. There is no forgiveness without shedding of blood (9:22). p. The covenant of Christ required better blood (9:24). q. Christ made one sacrifice for ever (9:25-26). r. Men die once and then comes the judgment (9:27). s. Christ died once and shall appear a second time apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation (9:2 . t. The inadequacies of the Levitical offerings demonstrated by their repetition (10:1-4). u. The sufficiency of the offering of Christ demonstrated is a once for all sacrifice (10:5-14). v. When sins are remitted and not atoned, there is no need for continuous sacrifices (10:15-1 . 10. A plea for faithfulness in worship and service (10:19-25). a. We have an adequate sacrifice and a heavenly high priest over the house of God (10:19-21). b. Let us come close to God because we are made pure in the blood of Jesus (10:22). c. Let us hold to an unwavering faith (10:23). d. Let us provoke each other to love and good works (10:24). e. Be faithful in attending the worship services of the church (10:25). 11. A warning against apostasy (10:26-31). a. Since we have one sacrifice for sins for ever, departure from Christ leaves us without remedy (10:26). b. Apart from Christ we are left with the expectation of judgment and fire (10:27). c. Violators of Moses law were put to death (10:2 . d. Those who spurn the sacrifice of Jesus will receive more severe punishment (10:29). e. God will punish unforgiven sinners (10:30-31). 12. Remember previous suffering and steadfastness (10:32-34). a. After your salvation, you were persecuted (10:32-33). b. You pitied other disciples who were tortured and accepted your affliction because you looked forward to a better world (10:34). 13. Be faithful (10:35-39). 14. The nature of faith demonstrated by examples from history (11:1-40). a. Faith is based on fact and evidence and is therefore assurance and conviction (11:1-3). b. The faithful in ages past, from Abel to Samuel and the prophets, all testify that faith made alive by obedience and service never disappoints (11:4-32). c. Faith produces works of obedience as demonstrated by the heroes of faith in ages past--Abel offered (11:4); Enoch walked with God (11:4; Gen. 5:22-24); Noah prepared an ark (11:7); Abraham obeyed (11: ; Sarah conceived (11:11); Abraham offered (11:17); Isaac blessed (11:20); Jacob worshipped and blessed (11:21); Joseph made mention (11:22); Moses parents hid him (11:23); Moses refused to be Pharoah's grandson (11:24); Moses forsook Egypt (11:25); Moses kept the first passover (11:2 ; Moses and the people passed through the Red Sea (11:29); The walls of Jericho fell after they were compassed about seven days (11:30); Rahab received the spies (11:31); Other examples are Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets (11:32). d. These great men and women of faith suffered because of their fidelity to God (11:33-40). 15. A final, solemn appeal to persist (12:1 to 13:19). a. We have the example of noble people of faith in ages past who witness to us by the testimony of history that no one was ever disappointed who believed and obeyed God (12:1). b. We have the example of Jesus that enduring shame and suffering in the name of God brings joy and rest (12:2-3). c. You have not resisted unto blood (12:4). d. If you would live godly you will suffer (12:5- . e. Earthly fathers corrected us and we still respected them, is it not more important to be loyal to the heavenly father and live for ever? (12:9-10). f. No correction seems pleasant while it is being given but later we see its benefits (12:11). g. Do not be discouraged but press on (12:12-13). h. Live at peace with all men by treating everyone right (12:14). i. Look at your feet and do not stumble (12:15). k. Do not sell out for temporary pleasure and make the mistake of Esau (12:16-17). l. Earthly things can be shaken, even as Mount Sinai quaked when the old law was given, but heavenly things remain and cannot be shaken (12:18-2 . m. Things that are shaken (Mount Sinai and the Old Law will be removed) and unshaken things (Christ and his covenant) remain (12:27). n. The eternal kingdom of Christ cannot be shaken, therefore let us offer service that pleases God; for our God is a consuming fire (12:28-29). 16. Fidelity in personal duties (13:1-7). a. Love the brethren (13:1). b. Show hospitality to strangers (13:2). c. Remember those who are in jail because of their service to Jesus (13:3). d. Marriage is honorable and there is to be no fornication (13:4). e. Do not love money--God will take care of you (13:5-6). f. Remember those who rule over you and teach you the word of God--imitate their faith (13:7). 17. Be stable in doctrine and practice (13:8-16). a. Jesus is ever the same (13: . b. Therefore, do not be misled by strange teaching; be established by the practice of pure religion and not by carnal considerations and Jewish ordinances (13:9). c. Christians have an altar that Jews still living under the rules of Moses cannot access (13:10). d. Jewish sacrifices were made outside the camp (13:11) e. Jesus also was sacrificed outside the city (13:12). f. Therefore we go outside the camp (outside of Moses) bearing the reproach of Christ (13:13). g. Our true home is not in this world but in a world to come (13:14). h. Let us be faithful in serving and worshipping God (13:15). i. Take care of the needy and it will please God (13:16). 18. Duties to overseers (13:17-19). a. Obey the elders and do not disappoint them (13:17). b. Pray for us (13:1 .III. Conclusion (13:20-25). A. Prayer on behalf of the Hebrews (13:20-21). B. Closing remarks (13:22-25).
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