Discipleship Lesson 2: Everlasting Security
October 29, 2010 at 9:25 am | Posted in Discipleship Lessons, Eternity, John | 26 CommentsTags: 1 John 2, 1 John 3, 1 John 5, 2 Timothy 1, Ephesians 1, Ephesians 2, Ephesians 4, Galatians 2, Galatians 3, Hebrews 6, James 2, John 1, John 10, John 6, Numbers 23, once saved always saved, Romans 8, Titus 1
I. Will God or someone else take away the salvation He has given me?
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
We must never base our beliefs on this subject on our experience or the experience of another person. We must let the Bible speak for itself. Consider the testimony of Jesus Himself:
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:37 (Emphasis added.)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:27-29 (Emphasis added.)
II. Can I lose it on my own?
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
If we had to do anything to keep it, we would lose it easily.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Galatians 3:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:10
But we do not “keep” the salvation that God gives us. Christ keeps it.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
II Timothy 1:12 (Emphasis added.)
If we could get it – or keep it – ourselves, then Christ died in vain.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Galatians 2:21
III. Can some other power or condition take away from me the salvation given by the Lord?
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
According to John 1:12-13, when God saved you, He became your Father, and you became His child. Your biological father can never not be your biological father. Likewise, once you are made a child of God, your Heavenly Father can never not be your Father.
There is almost always a record made of physical birth, but there is always a record made of Spiritual birth.
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I John 5:11-13 (Emphasis added.)
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:13 (Emphasis added.)
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 (Emphasis added.)
Ephesians 4:30 would have been a perfect place to say that if you grieve the Holy Spirit, He will leave you, but instead it says right there that He seals you unto the day of redemption.
We are not saved by feelings, and feelings do not affect the objective truth of the Word of God.
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
I John 3:20
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 1:2
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
I John 2:25
IV. Questions
A. Does I John 5:13 teach us that God wants us to be secure or insecure about salvation? Secure.
B. Does I John 3:20 teach that we can trust our own hearts and feelings about whether we are saved? No.
C. Find three Bible Verses that promise that God cannot lie.
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 1:2
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Hebrews 6:18
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19
V. Memory Verses
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
I John 2:25
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
I John 5:13
Next time: Discipleship Lesson Three – Baptism
Setting Up Your Own Place
October 27, 2010 at 1:16 pm | Posted in Bible Studies, I Samuel | 16 CommentsTags: 1 Samuel 15, 1 Samuel 7, Amalekites, erectile dysfunction, Hebrews 4, idolatry, King Agag, little sins, rebellion, Samuel, Samuel and Saul, witchcraft
Saul was the first earthly king of Israel. Samuel was the prophet told by God to anoint him.
Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
I Samuel 15:1-2
The Amalekites were enemies of God. They had picked off the stragglers when the Israelites were in the wilderness.
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
I Samuel 15:3
God sees what people are not able to see, and He always does what is right and best. In His providence, His command was to kill them all.
And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley. And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
I Samuel 15:4-9
Saul decided to keep, and not to kill, the “best” and the “good” and the “king.” He may have tried to rationalize this decision, but it is clear that his motives were not right, and, regardless, it was an act of disobedience.
Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
I Samuel 15:10-11
Samuel stayed up all night praying for Saul and the people, just as he had promised he would.
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
I Samuel 15:12, emphasis added
Saul “erected” a monument to himself. (Pardon me for being crude, but, despite those inappropriate pharmaceutical commercials that come on during sports programs, this episode of Saul’s is what I think of when I hear the term “erectile dysfunction.”) God gave him the victory. Saul killed everything small and worthless, but he kept the biggest, best, and most important. This is a picture of how we too often deal with sin. We’re tough on the “little things.” We don’t get drunk. We don’t use curse words. We try to be nice to our wives. But we spare the “king” of sin from our wrath: for some of us it might be pride, or some form of idolatry, or simple disobedience. We take control of our own lives, forget that anything good we’ve been able to do is because of God, and we erect a monument to ourselves.
Saul lied to Samuel:
And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
I Samuel 15:13-17
Samuel accuses Saul, and it’s as if he’s saying, “God made you the king of God’s people, and you erected a monument to yourself?”
And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?
I Samuel 15:18-19, emphasis added
You may see yourself as doing something for God, when in His eyes you are just being greedy and lustful.
And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
I Samuel 15:20-23
Rebellion is like witchcraft. It is misplaced fear. It is misplaced consultation. It is self-worship. Stubbornness is like idolatry because it’s disobedience. It’s placing our own desire over what God desires.
Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
I Samuel 15:32-33
Sin can’t be handled by just poking around at it. Like cancer, it should be exposed to the scalpel and cut out completely, or it might spread.
The Devil’s Math
October 25, 2010 at 9:00 am | Posted in Bible Studies | 27 CommentsTags: Deuteronomy 12, Deuteronomy 4, fuzzy math, Genesis 2, Genesis 3, inerrancy of the Bible, Proverbs 29, Proverbs 30, Psalm 119, Satan's lies, The Bible
Christians believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is grievous when Christians who are not always overly-emotional in their outward appearance during congregational worship are accused of replacing the Holy Spirit with the holy Bible. True Christians do not worship a book, but we must not minimize the importance of the Book. After all, the Holy Ghost wrote the Holy Bible!
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18
There are different kinds of “vision.” In one sense a “vision” is a goal or projected outcome that cannot yet be seen with physical eyes. But most of the time “vision” refers exactly to what is seen.
The “vision” spoken of in Proverbs 29:18 is determined by comparing what is sensed to what is revealed. Those with no vision perish; those who keep the law are happy. Therefore, we’re talking about revealed vision: that which can be seen in God’s law – His written Word.
“Perish” usually means to die, but here it has a connotation of people being cut loose from that which held them back. I know it is common in church services today for people to be told to “get free” in worship, but we must never try to free ourselves from God’s Word. When people run unrestrained, they run to their doom.
God’s math is simple:
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:2
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 12:32
God says don’t add to His Word and don’t subtract from His Word. God’s Word is perfect and complete.
The devil’s math is a little more fuzzy.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Genesis 3:1
First the devil says, “Hey, let’s discuss God’s Word – did He really say that?” When the devil questioned God’s Word he tricked Eve into following his example.
Here is what God had really said:
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 2:16-17
Here is Eve’s subtle alteration:
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Genesis 3:2-3
She subtracted from God’s Word. She added to God’s Word. Finally, she changed God’s Word. That’s what will happen every time we begin to question the wisdom or the veracity of what God says in the Bible.
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:4, emphasis added
The change will become a direct contradiction. No one who understands even the most basic concepts about the attributes of God would deny that the Bible is inerrant – that it is perfect and infallible. So, let’s not wait until we’re in trouble to find out what it says – or to do what it says.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11
Principle: the right thing (“Thy word”)
Position: in the right place (“in mine heart”)
Purpose: for the right reason (“that I might not sin against thee”)
The principle is what you live by. The position tells us that it’s good to have a Bible in our hands, and better to have its Words in our heads, but best to have them in our hearts. What’s in your heart is not just what you know – it’s what you know and love. The purpose reminds us that sin can hurt others, sin can hurt me, but the worst thing about sin is what it says about God. Every time we sin, we say, “Thank you, Lord, for inviting me to Your banquet, for killing the Lamb, for my wonderful robe of righteousness, for letting me sit right at Your throne and enjoy all Your riches, but, now that I’m here, I think I’ll spit in Your face, break Your cups and dishes, and defile Your temple.”
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Proverbs 30:5-6
Don’t add to, subtract from, or change God’s Word. It’s perfect. A shield protects you from danger before the danger hits you. A shield works better before a wound than after.
Working Like a Slave
October 22, 2010 at 8:54 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 CommentsTags: Christian employees, Ephesians 6, hard work, integrity, masters and servants, servants of Christ, slavery in the Bible, slaves, slaves and masters in the Bible, will of God
The early Christian church developed in a culture of Greek and Roman influences. Among the ideals of this culture, hard work was thought to be the bane of servants, not a sign of nobility.
One of the greatest marks of affluence among Roman citizens was the ownership of slaves. Therefore, among the first Christians, many of whom were far from wealthy, there were a large number who were slaves.
When a legal slave received the spiritual freedom of Christianity, how was he to relate to his earthly master? The answer, which came from the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, to the church at Ephesus, was:
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Ephesians 6:5-7
Slaves were to relate to their earthly masters in much the same way they were to relate to their Heavenly Master. This principle applies to Christians today who work for an earthly employer. When Christians do the work of the Lord they must have the right attitude and motivation in their heart, for the Lord can read our minds. When a Christian works hard for an earthly employer, with a humble heart, even when no one else is watching, he or she has this promise from the Lord:
Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
Ephesians 6:8
Beware of Fabrics, Frolicking, and Friends
October 18, 2010 at 9:36 am | Posted in A Little Alliteration, Biblical friendship, Genesis | 9 CommentsTags: 2 Samuel 13, Biblical friendship, Biblical garments, clothes in the Bible, commentary on Genesis, Genesis, Genesis 38, getting fleeced, Judah, levirate marriage, Onan, Proverbs 13, Sunday School lessons on Genesis
Joseph was sold into slavery at about age 17. He reached the throne of Egypt at around 30. The narrative account of Joseph is put on hold for a little while in Genesis Chapter 38.
Garments or raiment or clothes or coats are a big deal in Genesis. Judah was deceived by his daughter-in-law Tamar while he was at Timnath for sheep-shearing. Getting fleece for garments, he was deceived by a garment. Isaac had been deceived by a garment when Jacob dressed up like Esau. Jacob was deceived by a garment at least once (Joseph’s torn coat), and maybe twice (his first wedding night). There is often a discernible symmetry when God applies his principle of reaping and sowing. God Law says that our coverings should be distinct, and He is the only One Who is never truly fooled by outward garments, which He establishes early on in the account of Adam and Eve (fig leaves versus animal skins).
Genesis 38 also gives us the account of the infamous “sin of Onan.”
And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar. And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
Genesis 38:6-7
This brought into play what is called the “levirate” (Latin for brother-in-law) marriage. The sin of Onan is difficult to discuss in mixed company, although the text makes it plain enough. When people who are supposed to be spiritual and faithful to God get involved with the world, the result is often some kind of sexual sin.
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
Genesis 38:1
“Turned in to” is a helpful play on words. The Hebrew word for “turned” is natah. It means more than just to change directions; it means “to incline to;” “to bend to the will;” “to pervert.” Judah “turned in to (into) a certain Adullamite.”
“Hirah” meant “a nobleman” of the Canannites.
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
Genesis 38:2
“Shuah” meant “wealth.”
And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
Genesis 38:3
“Er” meant “awake.”
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.
Genesis 38:4
“Onan” meant “strong.”
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah [a petition]: and he was at Chezib [false], when she bare him.
Genesis 38:5, bracketed descriptions added
Judah’s family was getting more and more worldly as he looked for wealth and strength and influence and deception.
God killed Er because He did evil in the sight of the Lord. He was “awake” – aware of what he was doing and he did it openly. All evil is done in the sight of the Lord. He sees everything, but some people take special pleasure in wickedly defying Him.
Judah ended up being deceived by his daughter-in-law, Tamar, thinking she was a harlot – a prostitute. He tried to buy his way out of it when she got pregnant, and his sin was ultimately exposed.
Tamar delivered twins, and they struggled in their birth the way Jacob and Esau did. The baby with the scarlet thread came out second.
I just want to make one other point before we move on to Genesis Chapter 39 next time.
And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Genesis 38:12, emphasis added
And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
Genesis 38:20, emphasis added
And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man. And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king’s son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.
II Samuel 13:2-4, emphasis added
Choose your friends carefully.
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20
Discipleship Lesson 1: Salvation
October 15, 2010 at 10:38 am | Posted in Discipleship Lessons, John, Salvation | 52 CommentsTags: 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 John 1, 1 John 2, 1 John 5, 1 Peter 5, 2 Corinthians 4, 2 Corinthians 5, 2 Corinthians 6, Colossians 3, discipleship lessons, discipleship training, family of God, Genesis 5, Hebrews 12, Jesus Christ, John 1, John 14, John 3, John 6, John 8, love of God, Matthew 6, Matthew 7, Philippians 4, Proverbs 28, Psalm 46, Romans 5, Romans 6, Romans 7, Salvation
Discipleship Lesson 1 is on salvation.
SALVATION
I. The two spiritual families
A. The devil’s family
The way to get into the devil’s family is simply by being physically born. Every human being comes into the world as a member of the devil’s family, since we have been conceived in sin and born in corruption. Not everyone likes to use the terminology of being a “child of the devil.” I am not implying that the devil creates human beings. He is a created being himself and lacks the power to create a living soul. It is also correct to say that we are born into this world as sons of Adam, and to say that we are born as children of wrath and children of disobedience. But all unsaved people are slaves to sin, and therefore slaves to Satan.
In one sense, the “children of the devil” are those who believe they are religious, but base their attempts at righteousness on a lie.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
John 8:44
You enter the devil’s family by birth through your physical forefather, Adam.
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:
Genesis 5:3
Adam’s image and likeness after the commission of sin and the “fall” in the Garden of Eden, is that of a fallen sinner.
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:12
We inherited our sin nature from our “father,” Adam. Therefore, we are sentenced to die. We have to be “born again” because, up until then, we’ve only been born once – physically. We are dead spiritually before salvation.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:22
B. God’s family
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3
As a result of your new birth, you have inherited eternal life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 6:47
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
I John 5:12
II. There should be a “family resemblance.”
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
I Corinthians 6:19
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
II Corinthians 6:14-18
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
II Corinthians 5:17-18
III. There is a “Father – son” relationship.
A. Fathers discipline and forgive their children; children love their fathers and desire to be forgiven when they have offended them.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
I John 2:1
B. Fathers protect their children spiritually.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 6:18
C. Fathers provide for their children.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
D. Fathers protect their children physically.
[To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
E. Fathers teach their children.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26
F. Fathers care about their children.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
I Peter 5:7
G. Fathers love to give gifts to their children.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 7:11
IV. A saved person will still sin.
A. God commands His children not to sin.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Colossians 3:5-10
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
II Corinthians 4:14-18
B. God has broken sin’s power over His children.
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:25
C. God chastens His children in love.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Hebrews 12:5-11
D. God forgives His children when they confess their sins to Him.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
I John 1:6-10
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Proverbs 28:13
V. Questions
A. How does someone enter God’s family?
By receiving Jesus as his Savior and being born again.
B. Find three verses that promise you eternal life.
John 6:47; John 3:36; I John 5:12
C. After salvation, God deals with you as:
a. a sinner
b. a son
c. a partner
Answer: a son
D. True or false?
1. Everyone must earn his or her way to Heaven. (F)
2. Sin must be confessed to a Christian leader in order to be forgiven. (F)
3. Each person can choose his or her own path to Heaven. (F)
VI. Memory verses
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 5:12
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:3
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I John 1:9
Next time: Discipleship Lesson 2: Everlasting Security
My Blog Gets a Shout-Out from Todd Friel
October 13, 2010 at 10:20 am | Posted in Quotes | 3 CommentsTags: Biblical Parenting, deep end quotes, Gospel-centered parenting, Todd Friel, Todd Friel quotes, what to buy for kids, Wretched, Wretched TV
… teach those little monsters [referring to children] about… intimacy – that’s right, we’re going to dive into the deep end!
Todd Friel, on the TV program, “Wretched”
To be honest, though, I don’t remember ever doing a post on teaching children about intimacy – although I do have some posts on Biblical parenting here, and some posts on what to be, do, and buy for your kids here, here, and here. Todd’s point was that all teaching in the family household concerning intimacy should be Gospel-centered, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with that.
The Husband of One Wife – Part 2
October 11, 2010 at 10:45 am | Posted in Bible Studies, Biblical Marriage | 12 CommentsTags: 1 Kings 11, 1 Timothy 3, Bathsheba, David, Ecclesiastes 7, Malachi 2, polygamy, polygamy in the Bible, Solomon
We have seen:
I. What God Authorized
Now we are looking at
II. What God Allows
The practice of multiplying wives grew in the Old Testament, and considering the number of wives he had as king, it seemed to reach its zenith during the reign of Solomon. King David’s most well-known sin was his affair with Bathsheba and its murderous consequences, but what is often overlooked is that after David was given Saul’s daughter, Michal, as his prize-bride, he had an additional six or seven wives besides Bathsheba.
The following colloquy between David and his son, Solomon, takes place when Solomon is a boy, around the time when he first begins to take a serious interest in girls. It is purely imagined. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that such a conversation actually took place. However, it is certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Solomon “learned” from the example of his earthly father. I am using it strictly for illustration purposes.
Solomon: Dad, how did you meet Mom?
David: Well, the kings were going out to battle one time, and I didn’t go, and I happened to see her.
Solomon: Where?
David: Well… she was up on a roof, and I was on my roof – a little higher up – and I saw her over there.
Solomon: What was she doing – hanging her laundry out there? Come on, Dad – I really want to know.
David: … She was taking a bath.
Solomon: Okay – did you run downstairs, and then wait until she was decent, and then go over there to meet her?
David: No, I kept looking…
Solomon: Okay, well, I’m sure she covered herself up when she saw you, but you remembered her and ran into her later?
David: No, actually, I had her brought to me.
Solomon: Well, you were the king – and she was a single lady –
David: No – no… she wasn’t single.
Solomon: I never realized Mom had been married before – I guess her first husband must have died?
David: No, I had her husband killed.
Solomon: Wow! He must have been evil and abusive!
David: Actually, no, what happened is – he was away at battle – and I brought him back home… to try to cover up the fact that I had got his wife pregnant with your older brother.
Solomon: I have a brother?
David: Well, actually, no, he died under the judgment of God. But when I brought this man home, he was so honorable that he wouldn’t go inside his home because he was an honorable man, and loyal to his fellow soldiers… So, I had… well… I had him killed.
Now, when we read in the Bible that Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, does it surprise you that the richest, wisest man in all the world found life to be vain and empty?
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Ecclesiastes 7:26
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
I Kings 11:3-6
At the end of the Old Testament, God makes it very clear how He feels about more than one wife:
For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away…
Malachi 2:16
So then, you see by the time of Christ that the practice of polygamy is only common among Gentiles and pagans.
III. What God Accepts
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
I Timothy 3:1-2
These verses are not saying that a bishop must be a “super-Christian” – really exceptional and special. They are not saying that only church officers should be all these things. They are saying that a church officer must be a blameless Christian – just as all Christians should be striving to be blameless. The phrase, “husband of one wife” can be debated as to whether it means “never having been divorced,” but any serious Bible student, teacher, commentator, or scholar will have to admit that, whatever else it means, it definitely excludes polygamy. Monogamous marriage is the only acceptable type of marriage to God.
Silence Bites the Dust
October 6, 2010 at 8:53 am | Posted in Uncategorized | 3 CommentsTags: Charles H. Spurgeon, Charles Spurgeon quotes, confession of sin, forgiveness of sins, intrusive comments, Jesus Christ, Lamentations 3, silence, size of the Earth, solitude
God created for men a huge planet on which to live. It is estimated that the surface area of Earth is approximately 196,935,000 square miles. Even though about 70% of this is ocean, that still leaves approximately 57,500,000 square miles of dry land. However, from man’s perspective, the available space can seem like it is filling up rapidly.
Have you ever been in a public place, and suddenly felt as if you needed a few minutes alone? Nice try. It won’t be long before some do-gooder spots you in quiet contemplation, and seizes the opportunity to swoop down upon your solitude. “What’s wrong?” “Why so quiet?” “What are you thinking about?” “You look like you aren’t feeling good.” These are likely to be some of the well-meaning, albeit intrusive, comments you’ll get.
The famous British preacher, Charles H. Spurgeon, once said, “We all live too much in company; and in a great city like this, we are busy from morning to night, and we do not get the opportunities for quiet reflection which our forefathers were wont to take. I am afraid, therefore, that our religion is likely to become very superficial and flimsy for the want of solitary, earnest thought.”
When a person realizes – even in a public place – that he is bearing sin which is keeping him from a right relationship with God, it is good for him to sit and be silent.
He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.
Lamentations 3:28
When a person is silent and solitary, he will begin to look outside of himself and outside of others for hope.
He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.
Lamentations 3:29
And then and there he may find the blessed Hope, Christ Jesus (I Timothy 1:1), Who is more sure and more secure than the platitudes of men.
(photo courtesy of https://www.challies.com/a-la-carte/a-la-carte-november-15-2/)
The Deep End 
The True Jewish Justification
October 20, 2010 at 11:30 am | Posted in Romans | 7 CommentsTags: 2 Peter 3, Abraham, circumcision, Psalm 14, Psalm 32, Romans 3, Romans 4, Romans 6, Romans commentary, Sunday School lessons on Romans
Some people were already arguing against the doctrine that Jesus had given to Paul. They were saying, “Look, if he’s teaching that God’s Law was given to point out that it could not be kept, then why should we even do good? Let us do more evil to bring about more good.” But the Holy Spirit through Paul says that God is righteous. He is not slack concerning His promise. He requires faithfulness, because He is faithful. He can judge our unrighteousness, because He is righteous. How do the just live? Or by what do they live? Faith.
The Holy Spirit sums up this part of the argument by declaring everyone guilty.
Romans 3:10
He is quoting, opening, and alleging Psalm 14:1-3: “[To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
They were not “seeking” God. By saying, “No God,” they were also saying no “to” God.
The way people try to justify sin would make you think sin was actually good for you.
typical church-goer
Satan wants you to believe that the best law to follow is: “Do what feels right – that’s the best thing for you.” But even if we did have some excuse to sin, the sin still wouldn’t be good for us.
Romans 3:16
That’s not only the misery and destruction of the people I sin against, the people I hurt with my sin. No, that’s my own misery and destruction, too. By way of illustration, every time a doctor tells a smoker that he’s dying of lung cancer, he must be secretly thinking, “Does that surprise you?” People who smoke cigarettes may honestly enjoy it, but they can’t honestly say that they thought it was going to be good for their health. If I know the first thing about the Bible, why would I be surprised when sin causes me to get hurt, to get sick, to cause division among my friends and neighbors?
Romans 3:23
Romans 6:23
These are easy-to-understand verses that can be used to show an unbeliever the way to salvation.
Romans Chapters 3-6 are also key to understanding the doctrine of justification.
When you read the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in understanding the Scriptures. If I had a book about electrical wiring, and I wanted to know what something in the book meant, I would like to be able to call and ask the electrician/author what he meant. The Holy Ghost is the Author of the Bible. He explains how we can be “justified” before God – how we can be counted as “righteous” before God, beginning in Romans 3:23 and on into Romans Chapter 4.
What does “righteousness” mean? It means being “right” with God.
Romans 3:26
Because everyone has sinned, no one can be right with God because of what he or she does. How, then, can we be right with God? We can be right with God if He forgives us. The Bible says He forgives us if we believe and trust in Jesus. Then He views us as being right with Him.
Romans 3:24
Then, what does God expect from us when He sees us as justified or “right” with Him? He expects us to do good things.
Romans 3:31
Romans Chapter 4 addresses the misconception the Jews had about their ancestral father, Abraham.
Romans 4:1-3
Abraham was “counted as righteous.” We might say he was “saved” by his “belief” – by “faith.” Not only Abraham in Genesis, but David, in the Psalms, knew that their works couldn’t outweigh their sin.
Romans 4:6-7
Psalm 32:1-2
It is not the man who hasn’t transgressed or the man who hasn’t sinned who is right with God. It is the man to whom the Lord has not imputed iniquity. David understood that the truly blessed man of God had his sins covered, and his transgressions forgiven, and his iniquity was not imputed to him or counted against him.
Psalm 32:6
Psalm 32:11
The Holy Spirit knew that the Jews would point to Abraham’s circumcision and say, “Wait a minute, Paul, you told us that outward circumcision didn’t count as righteousness. Abraham is the one who received the sign of circumcision.”
So the Holy Spirit has Paul say, “Yes, but look at when he was circumcised.”
Romans 4:9-12
Abraham was counted as righteous first because of faith, then the circumcision was received as a sign and an outward seal. That’s how the ordinance of baptism is supposed to work for New Testament Christians. It does not save us, but it is a sign that marks us as believers.
What is the specific example of Abraham’s faith? When did he believe God, and not hold to belief in the natural?
Romans 4:19-22
We have a common expression whereby we say someone is “as good as dead.” That’s how Abraham was when Sara got pregnant.
Who are you going to believe? The television anchorman on the evening news or God? The “scientist” who tells you the earth is billions of years old or God? We all have faith in something. And we really don’t struggle with faith in the natural. Most people will plop down in a chair they’ve never sat in before without a second thought.
Romans 4:21 says Abraham was fully persuaded. Are you fully persuaded? Or are you like King Agrippa: “almost persuaded?” 90% persuaded is not really persuaded at all.