From Gary... Starting the day off- right!!!

I awoke early this morning and after getting dressed and doing a few other necessary things, I went into the kitchen to make some coffee.  As I looked out the window- there were clouds!!!  Oh, not just ANY clouds, but many of them with every shade of red I could possibly imagine. I suppose this is no really big deal- except that they were beautiful. After I had my coffee I sat down to look at my e-mail and remembered this picture.  So here I am, 6+ hours and I am still thinking of the beauty of God's creation.  Somehow, this lone verse just kept coming to the forefront of my mind...

Genesis, Chapter 1

 31  God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

From the beauty found in the heavens, to this corporeal reality we call Earth, God does wonderful work. I don't know what you plan to do today, but as for me- I just want to think about it. What about you?

From Gary... Bible Reading February 19

Bible Reading 

February 19

The World English Bible

Feb. 19

Genesis 50

Gen 50:1 Joseph fell on his father's face, wept on him, and kissed him.

Gen 50:2 Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Gen 50:3 Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for him for seventy days.

Gen 50:4 When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

Gen 50:5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.' "

Gen 50:6 Pharaoh said, "Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear."

Gen 50:7 Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt,

Gen 50:8 all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

Gen 50:9 There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company.

Gen 50:10 They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.

Gen 50:11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians." Therefore, its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

Gen 50:12 His sons did to him just as he commanded them,

Gen 50:13 for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

Gen 50:14 Joseph returned into Egypt--he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

Gen 50:15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him."

Gen 50:16 They sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father commanded before he died, saying,

Gen 50:17 'You shall tell Joseph, "Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you." ' Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

Gen 50:18 His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Gen 50:21 Now therefore don't be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones." He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.

Gen 50:22 Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father's house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.

Gen 50:23 Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph's knees.

Gen 50:24 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."

Gen 50:25 Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."

Gen 50:26 So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

From Mark Copeland... The Power Of God's Kindness And Love (Titus 3:3-7)

                         "THE EPISTLE TO TITUS"

              The Power Of God's Kindness And Love (3:3-7)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous study we examined several "Graces Of The Heirs Of
   Grace"...
   a. Graceful conduct toward those in authority - Tit 3:1
   b. Gracious treatment of all men - Tit 3:2

2. In our text for this lesson (Tit 3:3-7) we are told why we should act
   with such grace...
   a. Because of our own condition before we experienced God's grace
   b. Because of what has happened since we became recipients of God's
      grace

[To appreciate why we should conduct ourselves in the manner prescribed
in verses 1-2, let's look in verse 3 at Paul's description of...]

I. OUR CONDITION BEFORE GOD'S KINDNESS AND LOVE

   A. FOOLISH, DISOBEDIENT, DECEIVED...
      1. Foolish (anoetos) - not understanding, unwise, foolish - Thayer
      2. Disobedient (apeithes) - Unwilling to be persuaded,
         unbelieving, disobedient - TCWD
      3. Deceived (planao) - those seduced, gone astray - TCWD
      -- A spiritual condition described elsewhere - cf. Ep 4:17-18

   B. SERVING VARIOUS LUSTS...
      1. "slaves to various passions and pleasures" (ESV)
      2. "enslaved to various lusts and pleasures" (NASB)
      3. Not served or gratified by our lusts and pleasures, but living,
         as their slaves, a life of misery and wretchedness - Clarke
      -- Given over to lewdness - cf. Ep 4:19

   C. LIVING IN MALICE AND ENVY...
      1. Malice (kakia) -  ill-will, desire to injure - Thayer
      2. Envy (phthonos) - envy, jealousy, pain felt and malignity
         conceived at the sight of excellence or happiness (of others)
         - TCWD
      -- Jealous of the success of others, seeking to do them harm

   D. HATEFUL AND HATING ONE ANOTHER...
      1. Hateful (stugetos) - hated, detestable - Thayer
      2. Our conduct was such as to be worthy of the hatred of others
         - Barnes
      3. Hating one another (miseo allenon) - implying active ill will
         in words and conduct, a persecuting spirit - TCWD
      -- The natural condition of those left to their own moral
         degradation - cf. Ro 1:28-32

[Living without God's kindness and love we were truly ungodly, sinners,
and enemies.  Yet His love was manifested even while we were in such a
condition (cf. Ro 5:6-11).  In our text we are told of...]

II. OUR CONDITION AFTER GOD'S KINDNESS AND LOVE

   A. SAVED BY HIS MERCY...
      1. "not by works of righteousness which we have done" - Tit 3:4-5
      2. It wasn't through works of merit, by which we earned salvation
      -- As Paul writes elsewhere, we were saved by grace! - Ep 2:8-9

   B. REGENERATED AND RENEWED BY THE SPIRIT...
      1. Saved "through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the
         Holy Spirit" - Tit 3:5-6
      2. "...distinctly refers to baptism, in connection with which and
         through which as a medium regeneration is conceived as taking
         place. Comp. Ro 6:3-5. It is true that nothing is said of
         faith; but baptism implies faith on the part of its recipient.
         It has no regenerating effect apart from faith; and the
         renewing of the Holy Spirit is not bestowed if faith be
         wanting." - Vincent's Word Studies
      3. "All commentators of reputation refer this to baptism, such as
         Meyer, Olshausen, Lange, Plumptree, Schaff, Canon Cook, Wesley,
         etc. Regeneration is due to the Holy Spirit, but baptism is an
         outward act that God requires to complete the fact." - B. W.
         Johnson
      -- By God's grace, in baptism we are born again of water and the
         Spirit! - cf. Jn 3:3-5

   C. JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE...
      1. Justified (dikaioo) - to render just or innocent - Strong
      2. Such justification comes through the blood of Christ - cf. Ro 5:9
      3. For we have forgiveness of sins through His blood - cf. Ep 1:7
      -- Such justification comes when we are baptized for the remission
         of sins, and have our sins washed away by blood of Jesus! - cf.
         Ac 2:38; 22:16

   D. HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE...
      1. We have the hope of receiving eternal life at the end - cf. Ro 6:22-23
      2. As promised by God before time began - cf. Tit 1:2
      3. As such we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ - cf.
         Ro 8:17
      -- This is contingent on our remaining faithful to the end - cf.
         Re 2:10; Mt 24:13

CONCLUSION

1. How powerful is the kindness and love of God...!
   a. Taking those who are ungodly, sinners, and enemies of God
   b. Turning them into people who are saved, regenerated, justified,
      and heirs according to the hope of eternal life!

2. This kindness and love of God is not available for only a select
   few...
   a. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
      - cf. Tit 2:11
   b. Indeed, God desires that all men be saved - cf. 1Ti 2:3-6
   c. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come
      to repentance - cf. 2Pe 3:9
   d. The invitation of salvation is given to "whoever desires" - cf. Re 22:17

Whether we experience the power of the kindness and love of God depends
on us, whether we are willing to obey the gospel of Christ (cf. He 5:9).
If not, then all we have to look forward to is the vengeance of fire and
everlasting destruction when the Lord returns...! - cf. 2Th 1:7-9

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Baptism and Grace

Baptism and Grace

I’ve made the point on a number of occasions that in the NT people were called to be baptized to take on them the name of Jesus and so be saved. That being the case that’s what we should be teaching and practicing. A reader wonders if Ephesians 2:8-9 doesn’t exclude baptism since baptism is a "work" and we aren’t saved by works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 was written by a man that the risen Christ had just confronted. That same man, now a penitent believer, was told to be baptized and have his sins washed away (yes!—Acts 22:16). That’s the man who wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 so how could Ephesians 2:8-9 exclude baptism on the grounds that it is some "work" that undermined grace? That makes no sense.

Ephesians 2:8-9 was written by the man that started the Ephesian church (Acts 19:1-5). He met Ephesian believers, learned that they knew nothing of the Holy Spirit that was given by the exalted Messiah and his question is: "What were you baptized unto?" Because their understanding of the gospel was profoundly lacking he re-baptized these people. That’s the man who later wrote Ephesians 2:8-9 to that very church. And would he write something that excludes baptism because it undermines grace? That makes no sense.

Not only was he baptized to have his sins washed away, he re-baptized people to bring them into Jesus Christ.

Believer baptism is the confession of trust in and commitment to Jesus Christ that in the NT brought a person into living and saving union with Jesus Christ. It is a believer’s declaration that Jesus Christ died, was raised again and has been glorified. It isn’t optional! It comes straight from God.

Some of us bend over backwards to avoid it. Why don’t we simply bend before God and obey it?

©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 Steve Singleton... How do Jesus and Paul validate the Old Testament?

How do Jesus and Paul validate 

the Old Testament?

 

The claims of Jesus and Paul

Just before ascending back to heaven, Jesus announces, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:19). We would do well, therefore, to listen to what Jesus has to say about the Old Testament. Paul, whom Jesus Christ called to be His apostle, writes, “If anyone considers himself to be a prophet, let him acknowledge that what I write to you is the command of the Lord.” The One with “all authority” inspires Paul to write what he does. Therefore, we should listen closely to what Paul says about the Old Testament as well.

Jesus’ use of the Old Testament

When Jesus disputed with the religious leaders of His day (specifically the Sadducees), He told them, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Again and again He declared, “It is written,” a phrase that does not mean the same as “Someone once wrote,” but “It stands written,” or more literally, “It continues in the state of having been written.” An accurate paraphrase of “It is written” would be “It remains valid.” (See Matthew 4:4,7,10; 11:10; 21:13; 26:31; etc.)

Jesus also talks about the meaning of Moses and all the prophets (see Luke 16:29, 31; 24:27), a reference to the entire Hebrew Bible, composed as it is of the Law of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and the Prophets (the rest of the Old Testament). In another passage, Luke 24:44, He refers to the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms, which corresponds to another way of dividing the Hebrew Bible into the Torah (Law of Moses), the Neviim (former and latter prophets), and the Kethuvim (the Writings, of which Psalms is the leading book).

In yet another passage, Matthew 23:35), Jesus also refers to the blood of all the righteous men that has been shed, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, and this A-to-Z range begins with Genesis (the murder of Abel is in Genesis 4:1-16), the first book in the Hebrew order of the Old Testament books. It ends with Chronicles (the murder of Zechariah is recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22), the last book in that order. This passage, therefore, brackets the entire Hebrew Bible, all 22 books, which correspond to the 39 books of the Protestant Old Testament.

Finally, on another occasion, recorded in John 10:35, Jesus says, “Scripture cannot be broken.” In this saying Jesus is confirming the ongoing truth and power of Scripture. The other verses have defined for us what Jesus means by the term “Scripture,” and this verse applies to it all.

Paul’s use of the Old Testament

Paul makes similar affirmations of the authority and inspiration of the Old Testament. He says, for example, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, reproving, and training in righteousness that God’s person may be complete, not lacking in anything” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). He also writes, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). No clearer validations of the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament could be composed.

Furthermore, Paul again and again says, “It is written,” with the same construction as those found in the sayings of Jesus (see, for example, Acts 13:33; 23:5; Romans 1:17; 2:24; 3:4, 10; 4:17; 8:36; etc.). Paul also uses another introductory formula to a verse he quotes from the Old Testament with a similar meaning: “The Holy Spirit spoke… through Isaiah the prophet” (Acts 28:25).

These examples are sufficient to indicate that both Jesus and Paul regarded the Old Testament as a revelation from God and inspired by His Spirit. You cannot accept the claims of Jesus and Paul without also accepting the inspiration and validity of the Old Testament.

Want to go deeper?

Here are recommended resources for exploring what Jesus and Paul teach about the Old Covenant:

Recommended for purchase: 

Craig A. Evans. From Prophecy to Testament: The Function of the Old Testament in the New.. (2004).

James D. G. Dunn, ed. Paul and the Mosaic Law. (2000).

Frank Thielman. Paul and the Law: A Contextual Approach. (1994).

John Wenham. Christ and the Bible (1984).

John Bright. Christ and the Bible (Reprint: 1976).

Online resources:

William Caven. The Testimony of Christ to the Old Testament”

Roger Nicole. New Testament Use of the Old Testament”

Roger Nicole. New Testament Use of the Old Testament”

Many thanks to brother Steve Singleton, for allowing me to post from his website, deeperstudy.com