Choosing To Repent

Monday, August 25, 2008: Matthew 3:1–2

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

What does ‘repent’ mean? It is you choosing to recognize your sin before God and realize of its cost to God- His own Son. This is the great turning point – of your own free will!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008: Mark 1:4

John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

What was the significance of baptism? It was a visible sign that, after you choose to repent, your life was begun anew.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008: Mark 1:14–15

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

What did Jesus Christ preach about repentance? The mind-changing choice of repentance was followed by believing the good news of God’s kingdom.

Thursday, August 28, 2008: Mark 6:7,12

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
So they went out and preached that people should repent.

What were the apostles (twelve) asked to do? They went out and preached repentance with power given by Jesus Christ Himself.

Friday, August 29, 2008: Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

What did the Lord Jesus Christ say about a repentant sinner? There is joy in the presence of the angels - not that the angels were joyful, but that God Himself was!

Peter's Second Letter

Monday, August 18, 2008: 2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Background: Peter is writing this last letter just before his execution in A. D. 65-68 because of error that is creeping into the churches in what is now Turkey.
Who does Peter say he is? Peter calls himself a slave and an eyewitness-messenger of Jesus Christ.
Who is he specifically writing to? He writes to other believers who acquire faith as a result of the perfect rightness of God and our savior Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008: 2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

Is this A x B where A = grace and B = peace? No, both grace and peace continue to increase in our lives proportionate to the increase of our knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008: 2 Peter 1:3

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

Are the faithful already given ALL things? Yes, but linked to a new life and living that is centered on God and His plan for your life.

Thursday, August 21, 2008: 2 Peter 1:4

by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What does our knowledge of Him give the faithful? It gives us promises which are so great and valuable that they make us take part of God’s own nature, escaping lust’s worldly corrosion.

Friday, August 22, 2008: 2 Peter 1:5

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

What are we to diligently add? Faith + virtue + knowledge.
But isn't this already there in the previous verses? Yes, but each quality or qualification has many levels to which the circumstances brought into your life by God allow you to grow in stature.

It Is A Must...

δει; dei: It is a Must.

Prelude: certain phrases in Greek loose some of their force in translation. One such example is ‘It is a MUST,’ an imperative statement.

Monday, August 11, 2008: Matthew 16:21

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

Background: This passage lies between Jesus Christ calling Peter blessed (because His Father had revealed to him that Jesus was the Son of God) and calling him (get behind me,) Satan!
Why was ‘must’ used about going to Jerusalem instead of ‘would?’ This was the main purpose of Jesus Christ’s coming into the world.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008: John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Background: Nicodemus came to meet Jesus Christ at night.
Did Nicodemus ask a question that Jesus answered thus? No. But the subject was in his heart, which Jesus Christ knew.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008: Acts 4:11–12

This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Background: After Pentecost, Peter healed the beggar born blind. He was brought before the Sanhedrin (Jewish leadership) who still rejected the Gospel. This was Peter’s uncompromising statement.
Does salvation depend on a verb like being good? No, being saved depends upon a Name: Jesus Christ, and on nothing else.

Thursday, August 14, 2008: John 4:23–24

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Background: This took place at a well in Samaria when the woman who was an adulteress sought to change the subject. She did so by invoking a controversy: where do people go to worship God?
Where do people go to worship God? In Spirit and in Truth. Jesus Christ called Himself: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A worshiper must exalt the Name Jesus Christ before God.

Friday, August 15, 2008: 2 Corinthians 5:9–10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Background: there is a judgment for all believers called the BEMA, or Judgment Seat of Christ. We all must stand before it.
Is the judgment going to be about good or bad? No, but about weather we were pleasing to Him or not. We, however will receive according to the good or bad we have done, that is reward or no reward (not punishment.)

Three Indespensables

Mark Hartley, S.C., spoke of three indispensables for those who simply read the Bible and take it for what it is. Here is my look at the three…

Monday, August 4, 2008: Exodus 24:8

And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”

Background: Israel is on their journey to the Promised Land. They have received the Ten Commandments and have built the Tabernacle (Tent) where God would meet Moses. This Holy place was consecrated by blood of sacrifice.
Did the blood forgive or clear sins? No. It was to separate the Tent for holy use. Sins were atoned for, or covered over, till the perfect sacrifice.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008: Luke 22:19–20

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Background: At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ tells His disciples to remember Him in taking bread and wine.
What were the similarity and difference between the old and the new covenant? Both required blood; the first of bulls and goats, the second of a sinless man.
Blood is the first indispensable.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008: Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Background: Hebrews 11 is the ‘Faith Hall of Fame’
What is pleasing to God? His son pleased Him. Our faith in His Son pleases Him.

Thursday, August 7, 2008: Galatians 2:16

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

What cannot please God? Our attempts at following the Law. Only our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, makes us just in His sight.
Faith is the second indispensable.

Friday, August 8, 2008: Hebrews 12:14

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

What is the third indispensable? Pursue holiness: the emulation of Jesus Christ.

Disciples and Apostles

Disciples and Apostles

I regret the delay: my DSL service was interrupted. Dan.

Monday, July 28, 2008: Matthew 4:17–20

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Background: this is the start of Jesus Christ’s ministry.
Did Peter and Andrew’s call make them Jesus Christ’s disciples? No. To become His disciples they had to first leave all and follow Him.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008: Matthew 10:1–2a

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these:

Background: this is the early part of Jesus Christ’s ministry.
Were the disciples of Jesus Christ also Apostles? No, but the 12 Apostles were all disciples.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008: Luke 6:12–16

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

How did the disciples of Jesus Christ become Apostles? Jesus Christ called His disciples to Him after a night of prayer, choose 12 and named them Apostles.

Thursday, July 31, 2008: Luke 24:46–48

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.

Background: this is Jesus Christ after resurrection but just before ascension.
What were the apostles to be (eye) witnesses to? Christ suffered and rose from the dead. A sinner’s repentance leads to remission of sins in the Name: Jesus Christ.

Friday, August 1, 2008: Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Were the original twelve the first Apostles? No, Jesus Christ was THE APOSTLE sent from and by God.

Good Samiratan, Ugly Lawyer?

Monday, July 21, 2008: Luke 10:25

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Background: the parable of the Good Samaritan (and the Jerusalem ministry of Jesus Christ) is only in Luke’s Gospel.
What was strange about the lawyer’s question? The lawyer had to be challenging what Jesus Christ had said. The lawyer’s error was in the expectation that he himself could do something to ‘earn’ eternal life.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008: Luke 10:26–28

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Can anyone obey the commandments? None but the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He had eternal life as a consequence.
Why, then, did Jesus Christ have to die? A man perfect in God’s sight was the only sacrifice to pay the penalty of sin for mankind.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008: Luke 10:29–32

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

Why did the priest and the Levite (the family from which priests were chosen) pass by?
If they touched blood, they would become unclean themselves. This parallels “I’m late for work!”

Thursday, July 24, 2008: Luke 10:33–35

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’

Who is a Samaritan? A person regarded as inferior to Jews and not to be associated with.

Friday, July 25, 2008: Luke 10:36–37

So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

What was the effect of the question at the end of the parable? Jesus Christ gently lead the lawyer to answer his own question.

A More Excellent Way to Love

Monday, July 14, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:1–3

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Background: Paul’s (AD 55) answer to the Corinthian Church about the most important spiritual gift ends with an intriguing ‘more excellent way.’
How does ‘have not love,’ render the use of your spiritual gift? Not having love makes you (or your gift) noise, nobody, and profitless.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:4–7

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

How does having love change your use of spiritual gifts? Your spiritual gifts become God’s Body-building way, molding you and your interaction with others into a reflection of Christ.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:8–10

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

How is love different from spiritual gifts? God is love: love is perfection. Spiritual gifts are limited and fleeting; they evaporate into our future perfection.

Thursday, July 17, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:11–12

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

How is the way of love analogous to growth? Putting on love is the evidence of God’s actions in your spiritual growth. This is growth of hope in the knowledge of eternity.

Friday, July 18, 2008: 1 Corinthians 12:31 & 13:13

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

How is love the greatest? Faith is based on Christ’s finished work of love; hope is built on His resurrection from the dead. Both are only needed till we see Him.
Love for us is why He did this: shouldn’t we love Him in return?