From Mark Copeland... Love Not The World! (1 John 2:15-17)

                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"

                     Love Not The World! (2:15-17)

INTRODUCTION

1. We have seen that fellowship with God requires that there is no room
   for hatred in our heart toward our brother:

   "He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in
   darkness until now."  (1Jn 2:9)

2. But there is one sense in which we are not to have love at all!

   "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves
   the world, the love of the Father is not in him."  (1Jn 2:15)

3. A very simple imperative is therefore given to us:  "Love not the 
   world..."
   a. But do we understand the meaning of this command?
   b. Do we appreciate the importance of this command?

4. In this study, I hope to...
   a. Shed some LIGHT on what John is saying
   b. Provide some MOTIVATION to seriously heed what he commands in 
      this passage

[Let's begin by answering the question "Why should Christians not love 
the world?"]

I. BECAUSE OF WHAT THE WORLD IS (15a,16)

   A. THE "WORLD" IN THIS PASSAGE...
      1. It is NOT the "physical world"
         a. I.e., God's creation - Gen 1:1
         b. For it is "very good" - Gen 1:31
      2. It is NOT the "human world"
         a. I.e., mankind
         b. Indeed, God Himself loves the world of men - Jn 3:16
      3. RATHER, it is the world of "sin", the world of "evil"!
         a. I.e., the "sphere" in which sin, evil, and Satan dominates
         b. Just as the phrase "the world of sports" describes the 
            domain in which sports dominates, so this "world" is one in
            which sin dominates

   B. THREE THINGS IN PARTICULAR MAKE UP THIS "WORLD"...
      1. "The lust of the flesh"
         a. This phrase refers to unbridled desires of the flesh - cf. 
            Ga 5:19-21
         b. Note that these desire can be expressed both:
            1) Sexually (fornication, adultery, licentiousness)
            2) Socially (hatred, contentions, jealousies)
      2. "The lust of the eyes"
         a. This refers to the unlawful longing for things which we can
            see
         b. It can be summed up in one word:  "covetousness"
         c. A modern day expression could be "materialism"
         d. How serious is this?  Consider Ep 5:5-7; Col 3:5-7
      3. "The pride of life"
         a. This would include pride based upon such things as:
            1) Age
            2) Experience
            3) Ancestry
            4) Past accomplishments
            5) Money, position, power
         b. The folly of trusting in such things is seen in 1Co 1:
            26-31

   C. A FEW PASSING OBSERVATIONS...
      1. Each of these three things often strike harder at different 
         times in our life:
         a. The YOUNG are most often affected by the "lust of the 
            flesh"
         b. The MIDDLE-AGED are usually afflicted by the "lust of the 
            eyes"
         c. The AGED are likely to be plagued with the "pride of life"
      2. There seems to be a tendency to consider one more serious than
         the others
         a. We seem more concerned about sins involving the "lust of 
            the flesh" than sins in the other categories
            1) E.g., which is worse, fornication or covetousness?
            2) E.g., which do we consider more serious, adultery or 
               jealousy?
         b. If we are not careful...
            1) While fighting strong against immorality...
            2) ...materialism and pride may "sneak in" the back door!

[Whether it be immorality, materialism or pride, it is still part of 
the "world" we are not to love!

But why?  We have noticed other passages which say why we shouldn't 
(cf. Ga 5:19-21), but in our text John gives another reason...]

II. BECAUSE OF WHAT LOVING THE "WORLD" DOES (15b)

   A. IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE THE FATHER...
      1. "If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in 
         him."
         a. I understand "the love of the Father" means "love for the 
            Father"
         b. Instead of "the Father's love for us", for He loves us even
            as sinners - Ro 5:8
      2. John is not the only person to say that if we love the world,
         we cannot love God:
         a. James taught that "friendship with the world is enmity with
            God" - Jm 4:4
         b. Jesus said that we cannot serve two masters - Mt 6:24
      3. Our sinful pride may rebel against this thought, but we simply
         are not able to love the world and God at the same time!

   B. TO SEE WHY, LET'S DEFINE "THE LOVE OF THE FATHER"...
      1. What does it really mean for me to love the Father?
      2. According to John, it means that I keep His commandments - cf.
         1Jn 5:3
      3. To this Jesus agrees - Jn 14:15,21; 15:10

   C. IF WE LOVE THE WORLD, WE CAN'T KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS!
      1. E.g., if you are driven by "the lust of the flesh"...
         a. To commit fornication, adultery, etc.
         b. Then you can't keep God's command not to defraud your 
            brother - cf. 1Th 4:3-6
      2. E.g., if you are overcome by "lust of the eyes"...
         a. So that you always want more, and to hold on to what you 
            have
         b. Then you won't keep God's command to help the needy - cf. 
            1Jn 3:16-17
      3. E.g., if you are filled with "the pride of life"...
         a. So that you consider yourself more important than others
         b. You will not be able to keep the command to imitate Christ
            - cf. Php 2:3-5

[So it is impossible to faithfully serve God and Jesus, thereby showing
our love for them, if we allow ourselves to "love the world"!  But John
gives us another reason why we should not "love the world"...]

III. BECAUSE OF WHERE THE "WORLD" IS GOING (17)
             
   A. "THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY"
      1. This is true in regards to our individual lives - cf. 1Pe 1:
         24; Jm 4:13-14
      2. It is also true concerning everything that we leave behind - 
         cf. 2Pe 3:10

   B. IN CONTRAST, "HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER"
      1. This is because he will be blessed to enter the heavenly 
         kingdom - Mt 7:21
      2. Even his "works" will follow with him - Re 14:13

CONCLUSION

1. Isn't this what we all want?  To one day hear these wonderful 
   words...

   "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over 
   a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter 
   into the joy of your lord."  (Mt 25:21)

2. Even if we could gain the whole world in this lifetime...
   a. Is it worth it? - cf. Mt 16:26
   b. Yet most people are selling their soul to the devil and this 
      world for a whole lot less!

3. Let's give serious heed to John's admonition, and make sure that our
   affection is in the right place:  loving the Father by keeping His 
   commandments!

Are you keeping the commandments of God? - cf. Mt 28:18-20

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell by Kyle Butt, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=4200 

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell

by	Kyle Butt, M.A.

Cartoons have done much to influence the idea that many people have of Satan. The picture of a red, demon-like character with small horns protruding from his head, an arrow-head pointed tail, and a pitchfork in his hand comes to the minds of many when they hear the words devil, Satan, or hell. In fact, many of the cartoons that depict Satan with such images also show him sitting as a king in hell, determining where each person will go and the punishments meted out to those who are lost eternally. This picture could not be further from the truth. And it is because of this errant view that many—maybe even a majority—of those who read Matthew 10:28 misunderstand what Jesus meant.
In the context of Matthew 10, Jesus warned His followers that wicked men would persecute them unjustly. As He sent them out to preach, He admonished them to boldly speak the truth without fearing the repercussions. In the course of His forewarning, He said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28; cf. Luke 12:4-5). Many Bible students who have read this verse have incorrectly assumed that Jesus was saying that Satan has the power to destroy the soul and body in hell. They have mistakenly attributed to Satan power that he never has had.
Satan is not the ruler of hell, and he does not have the power or ability to cast or drag anyone into hell. In fact, when we read about Satan’s ultimate end, we see that God is the Being who will cast Satan, also called the devil, into the “lake of fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:2,10). Furthermore, the apostle Paul explained to the Christians in Rome that no “angels nor principalities nor powers” could separate them from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38-39). Those in Rome could choose to reject God of their own free will, but no power in existence, including Satan, could pluck them from God’s hand and cast them into hell.
In truth, God will cast Satan into hell at the end of time in the same way that He will cast all those who have lived unrighteously and rejected Him (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15). There is no indication in the Bible that suggests that Satan will be “in charge” of hell anymore than any other unfaithful creature of God. He will find no delight in his eternal second death, and he will not enjoy any type of authority or special privileges there. Jesus’ admonition to fear the one who can cast both the soul and the body into hell was designed to encourage His followers to rely on God, be strong in the face of persecution, and trust that as long as they are right with God, no force in the spiritual world has the power to harm them.

From Jim McGuiggan... MORE MUSING ON INTERPRETATION

MORE MUSING ON INTERPRETATION

Lexical work is indispensable if we’re trying to get at a text but we can learn what every word means and grasp clearly how a sentence is structured and how the parts relate to each other and remain ignorant of what the writer is saying. Why is he saying what he is saying? What has led him to say what he is saying? Who does he have in mind when he is saying what he is saying? What texts or truths is he leaning on and/or assuming to give substance to his statements? How does what he is saying connect with what he wants to accomplish?

Let me shelve any critical questions about the historical truth the writer is offering and simply take it that what a Bible writer says is true to fact. Let me take it for granted that what they say happened did happen essentially as they tell it.

That’s only the beginning of the job of understanding what the Bible writer means to say. Mark, for example, is recording actual events in the life of Jesus but what’s his point in doing that? He’s not writing his record for Jesus to read or the apostles; who is he writing it for? Does he have a particular group in mind or is he just writing something down in the hope that somebody somewhere will read about Jesus? He doesn’t tell us everything Jesus did (see John 21:25) so why did he choose the incidents he chose; why tell of them rather than others?

You know very well, of course, that the people we’re writing to/for affect the kind of material we choose and how we tell it. To a beloved family member we choose to speak with affection of our parents, perhaps; of the happy memories and their wisdom and such. To a family member who is embittered with us we might choose the same materials but we’ll make different use of them. “You remember, John, how patient our father was with us; didn’t he put up with a lot of provocation!” On the other hand, “You remember, Harry, how patient our father was with us so why aren’t you willing to be patient with the rest of us?” Same truth but different use made of it; one is an affectionate reminder and the other is something of a rebuke and exhortation. Same truth but because the intention is different the way the truth is told is different.

When a speaker is invited to speak to a gathering of convinced and committed Christians on the resurrection of Jesus you don’t expect him to work up a lather proving one. more. time. the fact of the matter. Everyone in the building has believed that since childhood. If the speaker is bent on proving the fact of Jesus’ resurrection the assembly might wonder who he’s talking to. If that speaker is invited to speak to a gathering of convicted atheists and skeptics on the resurrection he won’t speak to them as believers so he won’t develop the theological richness of the resurrection of Jesus as it relates to believers.

To say, “Jesus is Lord!” means the same thing when you say it to a non-believer or a believer.
But then again, “Jesus is Lord!” spoken to a believer doesn’t mean quite the same thing as when it is said to a non-believer.

You know very well that Paul spoke to the Corinthians in one way and the Thessalonians in another. There were basic truths he leaned on, of course, but he spoke about different issues and spoke about some of the same issues in different ways. The people he addressed determined his choice of materials and how he expressed those materials. In 1 Corinthians 15 he speaks of Christ’s resurrection to support the truth that Christians will be raised bodily and in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 he speaks of Jesus’ resurrection to comfort bereaved worriers. These purposes intersect, of course, but they're distinct purposes.

All that to say this: to really understand what a writer is saying we need to understand why he is saying what he is saying and why he says it in quite the way he does.

This introduces us to a piece of circular work. If we don’t know who a book is written to or the time in which it was written we use the material written to try to figure out who the reader is that the choice of material implies. Then in turn we use the identity of the implied reader to understand better what is being said to him. It's a process to be followed with great care but it is a perfectly sensible procedure and we have much internal help from the text itself.

Mark 5:41 and John 5:2 and other places offer an explanation or interpretation of words and phrases which implies that at least some of their readers weren’t familiar with Aramaic or Hebrew. This suggests that some of their intended readership is non-Jewish and that affects how we think of their setting and that in turn affects how we hear what the writers are saying.

Take the case of the book of Genesis. We’re not told who produced the book but the name Moses wasn’t associated with it for nothing and since Jesus and Paul alluded to that section of the OT (the Pentateuch) and named Moses in connection with it “Moses” will do! It’s clear however that sections of the Pentateuch weren’t written by Moses (his own past death and successors, for example—See Deuteronomy 34:5-6, 10). Taking the materials to be essentially and substantially Mosaic I’m moving on.

Moses doesn’t tell us why he produced the Genesis material and that means we can’t fully understand him. If some later Spirit-moved editor put the materials together we have to assume the Spirit and the writer had a purpose that determined which materials were used and how they were used. To figure out how the materials hang together helps us to understand the purpose and a sense of the purpose helps us to understand how the materials hang together.
When going through the book it’s not horrendously difficult to spot major truths that are stressed and underlying motifs. In Genesis think of human fragmentation and reconciliation, the importance of brother/sister harmony, the helplessness and vulnerability of leading characters, the solidarity of humanity in wickedness and God’s earnest intention to rescue and redeem humans from sin.

But was Moses just producing a handbook of events without any thought of the needs of those whom he would like to read them? Was he do you think, writing Genesis 1 for 21^st century atheists like poor Richard Dawkins and sad little E.O Wilson? I’m not suggesting Genesis 1 has nothing to teach these gentlemen but I am saying that if we think it’s written for Darwinians we read it one way and if we think it’s written for an Israel which just left the god-soaked Egypt and were heading to Canaan, another idolatrous area (see Leviticus 18:1-3) we'll read it differently. If we read the texts as if they were written to expose uniformitarian geology we get one message and if we read them as telling Israel there is one God and the natural forces and realities are his creation and servants rather than gods to be feared and worshiped we get another message.

If preachers get up week after week and preach on “timeless” truths divorced from all historical/cultural considerations whatever else they are doing, they aren’t expositing the biblical text. Might as well have Plato in the pulpit lecturing. [But even some of his best writing was historically conditioned. He talked about life after death and immortality in connection with the coming execution of his hero Socrates.]

Presuming that Moses didn’t write that “timeless” way, we list the obvious emphases in the book of Genesis and wonder why he chose those truths and events. He obviously had a purpose and a readership in mind. For example, he stresses the creaturely weakness of humans (Abraham, Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel all have their troubles). Why would he do that? There must have been a need to stress such a truth and getting at that need via the Genesis (or any other) materials enriches our understanding and helps us to better think God’s thoughts after him and that in turn shapes our lives and purposes.

What is true of entire books is true of sections and specific verses.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Gary... Thinking about color and black and white

Thanks for the jpeg, Bruce!!!  While I don't think God would ever say "naaah!", still, the thought is an entertaining one!!!  God's creation is amazing!!!  Why? Well, because of its profound beauty and exquisite inter-relatedness. And his handiwork has a purpose which some will see....

Romans 1:14-20 NASB
(14)  I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
(15)  So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
(16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(17)  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
(18)  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
(19)  because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
(20)  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The beauty that you see all around you reveals its creator, and if you understand this, you have really gotten something!!!  Even more, if you begin to understand even the remotest bit of what HE is like, then the magnificence of his attainable righteousness through Jesus is mind-boggling!!!  And who wouldn't want to see the "righteousness of God"???  While this wonderful world IS IN COLOR, the GOSPEL IS SHARPLY DEFINED IN BLACK AND WHITE!!! Humm, I think I will re-read Acts, chapter 2 today!!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading October 11

Bible Reading 

October 11

The World English Bible

Oct. 11

Proverbs 5-8

Pro 5:1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:

Pro 5:2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

Pro 5:3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

Pro 5:4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

Pro 5:5 Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

Pro 5:6 She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

Pro 5:7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.

Pro 5:8 Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,

Pro 5:9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

Pro 5:10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.

Pro 5:11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

Pro 5:12 and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

Pro 5:13 neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

Pro 5:14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."

Pro 5:15 Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

Pro 5:16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

Pro 5:17 Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

Pro 5:18 Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Pro 5:19 A loving doe and a graceful deer-- let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

Pro 5:20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths.

Pro 5:22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

Pro 5:23 He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

Pro 6:1 My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;

Pro 6:2 You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth.

Pro 6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, seeing you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.

Pro 6:4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

Pro 6:5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

Pro 6:7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

Pro 6:8 provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

Pro 6:9 How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

Pro 6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Pro 6:11 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

Pro 6:12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth;

Pro 6:13 who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers;

Pro 6:14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.

Pro 6:15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

Pro 6:16 There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

Pro 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;

Pro 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

Pro 6:20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and don't forsake your mother's teaching.

Pro 6:21 Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.

Pro 6:22 When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.

Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

Pro 6:24 to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.

Pro 6:25 Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.

Pro 6:26 For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.

Pro 6:27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?

Pro 6:28 Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?

Pro 6:29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.

Pro 6:30 Men don't despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:

Pro 6:31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

Pro 6:32 He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

Pro 6:33 He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.

Pro 6:34 For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.

Pro 6:35 He won't regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

Pro 7:1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

Pro 7:2 Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Pro 7:3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Pro 7:4 Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,

Pro 7:5 that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

Pro 7:6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

Pro 7:7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

Pro 7:8 passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,

Pro 7:9 in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

Pro 7:10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.

Pro 7:11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.

Pro 7:12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

Pro 7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

Pro 7:14 "Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.

Pro 7:15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

Pro 7:16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

Pro 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Pro 7:18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.

Pro 7:19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.

Pro 7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."

Pro 7:21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

Pro 7:22 He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

Pro 7:23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn't know that it will cost his life.

Pro 7:24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Pro 7:25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,

Pro 7:26 for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

Pro 7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

Pro 8:1 Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?

Pro 8:2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

Pro 8:3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

Pro 8:4 "To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.

Pro 8:5 You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

Pro 8:6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

Pro 8:7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Pro 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

Pro 8:9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

Pro 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

Pro 8:12 "I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

Pro 8:13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

Pro 8:14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

Pro 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

Pro 8:16 By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

Pro 8:17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

Pro 8:18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

Pro 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

Pro 8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;

Pro 8:21 That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

Pro 8:22 "Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.

Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

Pro 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth;

Pro 8:26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

Pro 8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

Pro 8:28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

Pro 8:29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Pro 8:30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

Pro 8:32 "Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don't refuse it.

Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

Pro 8:35 For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.

Pro 8:36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."

 

Oct. 11

Ephesians 2

Eph 2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins,

Eph 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience;

Eph 2:3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

Eph 2:5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Eph 2:7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;

Eph 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Eph 2:9 not of works, that no one would boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.

Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by that which is called "circumcision," (in the flesh, made by hands);

Eph 2:12 that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,

Eph 2:15 having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace;

Eph 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby.

Eph 2:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Eph 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

Eph 2:20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

Eph 2:22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

From Mark Copeland... Peter's Exhortation To Elders (1 Peter 5:1-4)

                      "THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"

                 Peter's Exhortation To Elders (5:1-4)

INTRODUCTION

1. At all times, but especially during persecution, the people of God 
   need good leadership

2. In His Divine wisdom, the Lord saw fit to organize His church in 
   such a way that the condition He witnessed during His earthly 
   ministry ("like sheep having no shepherd" - Mt 9:36) should not 
   last for long

3. His plan calls for local congregations to be overseen by qualified 
   men, known as "elders", and whose responsibilities were to "shepherd
   the flock of God"

4. In our text (1Pe 5:1-4), we read of such men, and Peter's 
   exhortation to them.  In this lesson, we shall...
   a. Briefly summarize what is said about elders in the Lord's church 
      throughout the Scriptures
   b. Consider the exhortation given by Peter to the elders in 1Pe 5:
      1-4

[We begin, therefore, with...]

I. A BRIEF SUMMARY CONCERNING ELDERS

   A. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH...
      1. Local congregations as soon as possible were organized under 
         the leadership of elders - cf. Ac 14:23
      2. In every example we have, there was a "plurality" of elders in
         each church, never just one elder - e.g., Ac 20:17; 21:17-18

   B. THE WORK OF ELDERS...
      1. Can be seen by the use of terms that are used interchangeably
         in the Scriptures
         a. Such terms as "elder, pastor, bishop, shepherd, overseer"
         b. That they refer to the same position is evident by their 
            use in:
            1) Ac 20:17,28 -- where elders are called "overseers"
               (bishops), and charged to "shepherd" (pastor) the church
            2) Tit 1:5-7 -- where "elder" and "bishop" (overseer) are
               used together
            3) 1Pe 5:1-2 -- where "elders" are told to "shepherd"
               (pastor) the flock of God, serving as "overseers" 
               (bishops)
      2. As "older men", therefore, they are to watch over (bishop, 
         overseer) the flock, and to tend (shepherd, pastor) the sheep

   C. THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELDERS...
      1. With such an awesome responsibility to watch over and tend the
         flock of God, one can understand that it takes men with who
         are truly qualified
      2. Two lists of qualifications for elders are found in 1Ti 3:
         1-7; Tit 1:5-9

   D. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ELDERS...
      1. Is to recognize and respect them - 1Th 5:12-13; 1Ti 5:17-20
      2. To obey and be submissive when they lead scripturally - He 13:
         17; 1Pe 5:5

[Think of elders, then, as your "spiritual advisors", as "shepherds"; 
who are to be mature, experienced Christian men charged by God to 
"watch out for your souls"!

With this brief summary fresh in our minds, let's now consider...]

II. PETER'S EXHORTATION TO ELDERS

   A. THE BASIS FOR THIS EXHORTATION...
      1. As coming from one who is a fellow elder
         a. Peter could have "commanded" them, using his apostolic 
            authority
         b. But practicing what he will preach in verse 3, Peter chose
            to "exhort" them as a "fellow elder"
      2. As coming from one who is a witness of the sufferings of 
         Christ, and a partaker of the glory that will be revealed
         a. He has certainly been an eyewitness of Christ's suffering
         b. But he has also been a personal partaker of the suffering 
            of Christ as described earlier in 1Pe 4:13; cf. Ac 5:
            40-41
         c. And so will be a partaker of the same glory referred to 
            later in verse 4

   B. THE EXHORTATION ITSELF...
      1. "Shepherd the flock of God"
         a. To tend (pastor) to the people of God; for this reason,
            elders must be...
            1) "able to teach" - 1Ti 3:2
            2) "able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict
               those who contradict" - Tit 1:9
         b. As Paul told the elders of the church in Ephesus, this
            involves "taking heed" to themselves as well - cf. Ac 20:
            28-30
      2. "which is among you"
         a. Their responsibility is for the sheep in the congregation
            where they serve
         b. Even as Paul told the Ephesian elders:  "the flock, among
            which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers" - Ac 20:28
         c. The concept of one or more elders (bishops, pastors) over a
            plurality of churches is foreign to the New Testament
      3. "serving as overseers"
         a. Here the work of elders is summarized:  to oversee the
            flock of God
         b. But notice that Peter calls such oversight as "serving"
         c. In keeping with what is said later, the role of elder is 
            one of a servant, not a lord
      4. "not by constraint but willingly"
         a. A man cannot be appointed to serve against his will
         b. Indeed, there is nothing wrong with "desiring the position"
             - cf. 1Ti 3:1
         c. But the moment he loses the desire to serve willingly, he 
            should step down, for he will not be able to serve as he 
            ought
      5. "not for dishonest gain but eagerly"
         a. An elder may be financially supported for his work - cf.
            1Ti 5:17-18
         b. But the motive for service is not to be money, but an
            eagerness to save souls!
      6. "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you"
         a. As implied before, the oversight is a position of service,
            not to be abused by assuming a dictatorial role
         b. A sobering thought is that elders are "entrusted" with the
            souls under their care, and they will be called to give an
            account! - He 13:17
      7. "but being examples to the flock"
         a. Just as sheep are best led, and not driven, so it is with
            the people of God
         b. Qualified elders will have less problem getting people to
            follow them and submitting to their care
         c. When elders do not provide examples of spirituality, the
            flock is more likely to rebel against their leadership

   C. MOTIVATION TO HEED THIS EXHORTATION...
      1. First, perhaps a subtle reminder that "elders" are also under
         authority...
         a. There is one who is "the Chief Shepherd" (Jesus) who will 
            one day appear
         b. One to whom they will have to give an account - He 13:17
      2. But more positively, a promise of recognition for faithful 
         service...
         a. "you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade 
            away"
         b. Like the "inheritance" reserved in heaven that "does not 
            fade away" - cf. 1Pe 1:4

CONCLUSION

1. Those who serve well as elders are certainly worthy of "the crown of
   glory" that awaits them

2. Hopefully, as we better understand the exhortation given by Peter,
   we will appreciate the work they do in the kingdom of God...
   a. We will "esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake"
      (1Th 5:13)
   b. We will "obey", and "be submissive", so they can watch out for
      our souls "with joy and not with grief" (He 13:17)

In our next lesson, we shall consider Peter's exhortations to those who
are younger (1Pe 5:5-9)...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011