9-1 John 5:1-21 (a)

 1 John 5:1-5, Paul

1 John 5:6-12, Jeff

1 John 5:13-17, Mike

1 John 5:18-21, Shane

We got together and finished 1 John letter.

Next week moving to intro in Hebrews

I will try to add notes and share audio in the week to come for this meeting.

1 John 5:1-21 Audio

1 John 5:1-5, Paul

• Love Other Christians
• His Commandment are not burdensome
• Overcoming the World by our Faith

1 John 5:6-12, Jeff

• 3 Witnesses Agree-Water, Blood, & Spirit
• Testimony of God is greater than Testimony of Men
• The Testimony in Himself
• The Life is in the Son

1 John 5:13-17, Mike

• That you may know that you have eternal life
• If we ask anything according to His will
• A sin that leads to death

1 John 5:18-21, Shane

• We know everyone who is born of God does not keep sinning
• God protects those who know Him
• The Son of God has come and has given understanding 
• Little Children, Keep yourselves from idols

8-1 John 4:17-21

 1 John 4:17-19

• Confidence in Day of Judgement
• Boldness in Day of Judgement
• No fear in perfect love
• We love because He first loved us
• John 2:28, we may have confidence and not shrink back in shame of His coming
• Hebrews, further explanation on veil being torn top to bottom
• Shane fireman holy of holiness have to have suit on
• veil removed from our eyes so we can see meaning of God's words
• What is perfect love? Sanctification or Salvation terms? Christ's love or our love towards Him?
• What Judgement? (perfected in love, the work of Christ)
• 1 Cor. building on foundation, (sanctification, stewardship, fire insurance)
• Great white throne and beam seat
• No one can snatch you out of hand and servants
• I don't fear my salvation, but I still have hesitancy is God going to be disappointed with me
• uncomfortableness with how you live
• make much of Christ rather than much of us
• God has done all the work and inviting us in it
• Matt 25:31-46 (The final judgement) separating Goats and sheep, When did we do this.
• 15:45

1 John 4:20-21

• 15:45
• Brother
• mankind, family, other Christians
• good samara tin 
• same denomination 
• different camps
• Voodie Bauchum "thou shall be nice" We think love is being nice. Just to address it offends people

27:50

• have real conversation
• stand on God's word, His word not our opinions. God's word will keep us united
• Salvation and Sanctification
• Christian family for neighbor
• snipets bomb shells
• original hears probably had a oral frame work we don't have for interpretation
• taking scripture out of context, I always look at what concept is God trying to teach us here, to instill in our heart
• Other better grammar interpreters, 
• give grace to one another at in each other opinions
• work out salvation in fear and trembling, it is God doing the work in us (temple fear, holiness fear)
• pray we grow as a group take on tough and technical issues. Be brave to share, and to sharpening one another with text
• Chapter on bible on forgiveness. Possible all 66 books. 25 key concepts you only know 15. they may some of the ones you don't know

33.32

• Replacement theology, Jeff if I called Jim. A mischaracterization of some good people
• let people explain how they feel. If I hear you correctly you are saying this?
• Jesus taking on our sins, one person said no way that could happen, When she seen it in scripture, she yielded to it
• What scripture helps you conclude that
• If that is true how does Christ deal with your sin
• Some text no wiggle room, but some text is not super clear, because of lack of words and clarification

37:00

• Ps 139:21, Lord I hate those who hate you. If they have rejected you I can hate them but if not I can't 

38.36

• How to handle 1 John 5
• Covenant Theology (Puzzle Box is NT and OT is the pieces)

7-1 John 4:7-16

 1 John 4:7-12

1 John 4:13-16

6-1 John 4:1-6

 1 John 4:1-6

5-1 John 3:14-24

4-1 John 2:28-3:13

1) 2:28-29 

• Dont Shrink Back (Gen 3:7-11)
• If you are saved, practice righteousness (Gen. 4:1-7)

2) 3:1-3

• We are children of God
• The world doesn't know us because it didn't know Him (John 14:15-23)

3) 3:4-8

• Practice & Keep
• Sin is Lawlessness
• Abide=well done good and faithful servant
• Righteousness
• Reason Jesus Came
• Born of God
• Abide=Stewarding well
• The Beginning

(Matt. 5:21-24)

• Anger, Murder, Brother, You Fool
• Liable of Judgement and Hell Fire
• Offering a gift at the altar

4) 3:9-10

• By This
• Children of God
• Brother

(Gen. 4:8-10)

• Cain killed Abel because anger rose up in his heart
• Where is Abel your Brother?
• Am I my brothers keeper?

5) 3:11-13

• The Beginning (the message you have heard)
• Don't be like Cain
• Brother (Murder and evil deeds)
• The world will hate you (John 7:1-7)

(Gen. 4:11-16)

• Cursed
• Out of God's presence
• Shrink Back

3-1 John 2:18-27

 1)1 John 2:18-19, 

The Great Falling Away

(What do you think when professing Christians turn from what they once seemed to believe and hold on to?)

2)1 John 2:20-21,

You are anointed. Sealed by the Spirit

(What does it mean to be anointed? Can you lose the anointing? Is the anointing something you need to work up or rest in?

3)1 John 2:22-23,

Defining the Antichrist 

(How does the Bible define the Anti Christ?)

4)1 John 2:24-25,

Hold on to what you received from the beginning 

(Why is it important to know what God has given you and to hold onto it?)

5)1 John 2:26-27

The anointing teaches you

Nothing will convict and guide you personally like God’s word. 

1) 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV): Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction

2)John 4:10–14 (ESV): Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

2)Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV): In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 

3)1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV): Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 

3)Matthew 16:16–17 (ESV): Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

4) Ephesians 6:13 (ESV): Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

4) Galatians 3:1–5 (ESV): O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

5) John 14:25–26 (ESV): These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

5) John 16:13–14 (ESV): When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Audio 1 John 2:18-27 (2-7-21)

Dennis, Paul, Shane, Jeff, Keith (Paul had to jump of at 8:00)

1-1 John 2:18-19 (0:00)

• Jeff read text
• Highlighted  some of the key terms, anitchrist, last hour, therefore we know, went out, open thoughts
• 1:40, Keith, Sheeps clothing and inward ravenous wolves. Matt. 7:15
• 2:10, many antichrist has come. Christ return and 70 ad. Temple has not been rebuilt. No more sacrifice.
• Temple tent, building now no temple.
• Went out from us, the great falling away is happening and the temple destroyed.
• Just because a person professes to be a Christian or goes to church doesn't mean they are.
• 1 Cor. 12:3, no one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit. John 6:66, disciples falling away. Teaching get to hard and a thinning of the herd can happen.
• 6:48, Paul, the last hour, they though then, why should we think it is the last hour now? Disciples thought it would be in their lifetime. 
• 7:50, Jeff, they thought they were in the last day. 70 ad so significant. Not just one person, but many antichrist. Trying in infiltrate the church.
• 9:15, They deny key gospel concepts. Nothing but love or nothing but wrath. Knowing all of God. If someone harms you child out of foolishness wrath is coming out of you. Christ Return, last day of last days. America in last days, in reformation the Catholic Church in last days. Christopher Columbus Europe last day. When tested shown who people are at the core.
• 12:22, Body of Armor, we just studied. 
• 13:22, Shane, he who deny the Father and the Son
• 13:40, Paul, 2nd term antichrist, false teachers, and person who bring upheaval 
• 2 Thes.  Man of lawlessness (eat of flesh and drink of my blood) (Man of lawlessness) (Rebellion and lawlessness) Lying

2-1 John 2:20-21(16:05)

• Shane Read
• 16:35,
• 17:36, Jeff, Aaron was anointed. Set apart for something important. Luke 4, home town of Nazareth, spirit has anointed me.
• 19:13, anointed by the Holy one.
• 19:38, Paul, didn't do first miracle till was baptized. OT, Spirit goes where it wants. Spirit came upon them. After resurrection that it dwelled in believers.
• 21:10, Could anointed mean filled by the Holy Spirit
• 22:05, When we baptized some one, buried with Christ in Baptism and raised out of the water into new life (Col. 2:12)
• Jesus dies on the Cross and raised from the dead, negative to pay debt and positive to new life. 
• Imagery or fore shadow of what is going to happen to us. Unless we die, pickup our cross.  If you try to hold on to your life you will loose it and if you give your life you will find it.
• Eph. 1:13-14, seal of guarantee I know what it is to have the spirit in me and not. God's mark is the Holy Spirit on you and in you.

3-1 John 2:22-23 (27:30)

• Keith, read
• 27:58, define the antichrist, a spirit against God, Peter in Matthew 16, Jesus get behind me Satan. Confess Christ or Deny Christ is Spiritual.
• 29:25, Shane, acknowledges Him and denies Him. What went wrong there? Peter stumbling dramatically changed in Acts 2, but, then Gal. 2, Peter ruff around  the edges. Taught us with Peter through his blooper and Paul with excellent . 
• 31:45, Paul, Rm. 7, what a wretched man, I am, Paul and Barnabas division. A battle starts. Not save living in the world 100%. We have a helper or comforter. As soon as we make a victory for the Lord we can be attacked by Spirit of the Anti-Christ.
• 33:50, Peter was a fishermen or a simpleton, and Paul was educated and the Holy Spirit amplified what you have. What they were faithful to . A drug dealer saved or a pretty nice person. Everyone still has a sin problem. BC vs AD.

4-1 John 2:24-25 (35:50)

• Shane, Read
• 36:40, Paul, Col. 3, I am dead to the flesh, but I am alive hidden in Christ. Abiding. Win your saved the sin desire doesn't completely go away, but you now have a choice.
• 38:10, add, medicine, changes their state. One state and the other state. Walking in your salvation or not. Family members who are not morning people. If you based your relationship or that morning person. Some people do not wake up recognizing who they are in Christ. We have to wake up and realize we are a child of the King. 
• Leading our spouse and children in leading them to Christ
• 43:27, Paul, The church of Ephesis, You have forsaken your first love. 
• 45:00, Jeff, John 15, connected to the vine. Resting in that.
• 45:55, Paul, jump off
• 45:25,Keith, 

5-1 John 2:26-27 (47:11)

• writing because some are trying to deceive us
• we know the truth. Wolves in sheep's clothing is going to come.
• The anointing will teach you.
• 50:15, Jeff, You don't need anything new.
• 50:45, John 14, The helper will come and teach you of all things.
• John 16, The helper will guide you.
• 52:50, Don't prep to much, Jesus with make a way
• teaching 3 times you don't need anyone to teach you
• My philosophy , abide in your word, tools to look closely at scripture. 
• Teacher is not me but the Holy Spirit
• 55:00, in March 22 years of marriage. Met her crazy in love for scripture. 
• My passion changed, for a love or ministry or people.
• I got of the path of reading scripture for reading scripture. Scripture was the key source I had available to me.
• All the answer I really need is in their I just have to mine
• When you get away from your word, you get away from the greatest tool you have to shed light on that situation
• If our churches are going to be strong, It is based on men and women getting serious on scripture
• a church can only be as 
• 58:28, Jeff abide in truth and remember what we heard from the beginning
• 58:50, Keith, stay in the word. John 12
• 59:55, Shane, reading ahead not to shrink from Him. Stay in the word and be prepared.
• 1:00:50, Mike jumped in good study.

6-Closing (1:01:16)

• Mike closing prayer

2-1 John 2:3-17

 2:3-6, Know of 39 times

By This of 11 times

2:7-11, Light and Darkness of 13 times

Commandment of 18 times

2:12-14, Perspective Groups based on age

2:15-17, The World of 24 times

Top 5 words used by John (3109)

1. Love 52 times
2. Know 39 times
3. Sin 27 times
4. Abides 26 times
5. World 25 times

Audio-Jeff, Shane, Dennis, Keith, Paul, Mike audio only.

1-Asked about Bible reading

Jeff in Job, Elihu new character (possible foreshadow of Christ)(no written word) What if you didn't have scripture or a church in a hard time

Shane Exodus 26, hard reading. 

Dennis, trying to keep up with politics, started 15-30 mins of Bible before other interest. Put your hope in Christ before you worry about woes of the world. Wake up in middle of night and listen to scripture when can't sleep. Try to get a least 15mins of written word. A good gravy can make any food taste good. Find a text you like.

Keith in Genesis. Almost to Exodus. Exodus great redemptive event. Door what saved them was the blood. Joseph led brothers to repentance.

Paul-finished Romans and Spurgon study, and at church married class. 1 John.

Mike-trying take 2, fell behind last year. 

2-1 John 2:3-6 (10:00)

• Mike's father in law would always point 1 John to how we can know we are saved
• By This, notice these statements, here vs.3 and vs. 5
• Know, 4 times in text. Love-52, Know-39, Abide-26 times
• Adam Knew His wife, a form of intimacy 
• 3 types of Know, 
• 1-What is the weather outside
• 2-Work profession skill, color code for phone man, 2nd degree of knowledge 
• 3-How you know your wife or your children
• I little bit of knowledge will make you a atheist at lot of knowledge will make you a Christian
• Shift from absolute truth to relative truth
• 18:00, Jeff 3 levels of knowing distinction, trying to keep commandment, application. Seeking after the desires of God's heart, a way of being intimate with Him
• it is not a check list, if you are in Him your attitude is changed and it is not so hard to obey
• If someone asked you what book to read about forgiveness? Forgiveness is throughout the whole Bible. A traditional book you would buy of the shelf, but the Bible is written in a different way. The idea of theology is developed about forgiveness. 25 concepts, person A have 15 and another has 10 and they interact together and collaborate, about what the Bible most clearly says about Forgiveness. That should encourage them to do that for more Biblical themes.
• 4 point thing systematic theology, push back because they think we are trying to force a system on scripture. the Bible tends to go from topic to topic. It is a system of thought on forgiveness, but not forced on
• Philosophy is were we can bring our bias to Scripture. Love and Wrath. If I am pro Love, I will ignore wrath text.
• Action-Social Justice, What every action we do should come from scripture, right theology, right philosophy then action. Submitting their thinking to the word of God
• People take the wrong path on knowledge
• 26:55, Shane, (Keep His commandments is legalistic, some would say) Because I am not in the word as much, I don't hunger to keep the commandment sometime. 
• It can almost be like a gauge if you don't desire to keep commands. (license to sin)
• Deceive ourselves 1 John 1:8, 1 John 2:4 By This, He is giving you a gas gauge
• something wrong under the hood
• Matt. 16, Peter confess Christ, This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood
• 31:14, Keith, "The have too's become the want too's (Rich young Ruler)(Works and the Faith_
• 32:35, encouraging us to go through the word.
• 33:10, about knowing, disciples in the boat vs. the centurion on authority. little faith vs much faith. not trying to mustard it up, but come to know Him. Delivered out of Exodus without lifting a weapon. Knowing is important, a lot of people can't persevere in loving Christ because they don't really know Him. Worshiping in Leviticus, some flesh has to burn and blood has to be shed, this is the cost of sin. They need to know the cost for sin. Not one sin that was not covered by blood and fat.
• 36:54, Paul (Love God and others, Love in deeds not just in words)(John 17)(It is time for you to walk with me)(Surrender your life to me)(Abiding in Him and the Holy Spirit help you)
• 39:20, Keith, on obedience "Our Action should confirm our salvation not secure it"

3-1 John 2:7-11 (41:26)

• 41:26, read text, Light and Darkness of 13 times
• 42:30, Paul Darkness Sin and Light walking with Christ and in the Spirit, not a new thing.
• Gen 4, Cain madd because God didn't receive offering
• 45:30, Jeff, concept of darkness and light, JOY, Jesus, Others, Yourself last. 
• 46:45, Shane, when I got saved my friend relationships changed, but cared for them more now.
• 46:15, Keith, Darkness is passing away
• 48:10, The darkness blinded their eyes.

4-1John 2:12-14 (48:40)

• Little Children, first saved, Father's long time believer, Young men in the prime of their life.
• 52:42, Keith, Fathers
• 52:30, Paul,
• 54:26, memory, eyes, getting old. pray for the youth. Fighting age. Men who can go to battle.

5-1 John 2:15-17 (57:00)

• World used 6 time here. Rich Young Ruler, sell what you have and you will have treasures in heaven. Store up your treasures where moth and rust will not destroy. Peter said "we have given up so much" and Jesus said none of what you have given up will be rewarded.
• Pilgrims progress, sin, judgement and heaven and hell a real place. The struggle to get to heaven and glory. If we don't talk about the consequences of sin and judgement is coming
• Passion and Patience, waited 1 year but last forever. This life is temporary 
• 1:04:20, Keith, moon reflects the light of the sun, the earth gets in the way on light reflection
• 1:05:05, Shane, get wrapped up in world making money. vacations
• 105:48, Jeff, what world. How to define it? Kevin Deyoung. Not people of the world, but this corrupt system of the world.
• 106:40, Keith
• 107:04, Paul, what is Hebrew word there?
• 107:55, Shane, study Bible says
• 1:08:15, consider doctrine of original sin next week? Historical Christianity would say we were born with a sin nature. Progressive Christianity we are born good and we sin and act up because someone teaches us to sin or hate. 
• If you do not have a sin nature that cripples you there is no need for a savior.

 6-Pray (1:11:50)

• Dennis
• Shane
• Keith
• Paul

1-1 John 1-2:2

This morning, we started the letters of John. The hope and idea is to prepare our hearts for the Gospel book of John. 

As we spend the next 5 weeks or so in the letters of John, we hope to unpack to some degree or another some solid foundational doctrines. Three doctrines that stood out for me were, 1-The sufficiency of Scripture, 2-Penal Substitutionary Atonement, and 3-Assurance of Salvation. The book is not limited to just these 3 though because it speaks to much more than just these.

From the Beginning

John 1:1-4, The first idea we see here is based on "from the beginning". John starts his letters just like he does his gospel. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning", for those who abide in scripture this is a natural appeal to Gen. 1:1"In the beginning".

So as we survey the Bible, the very first 5 verses speaks about the first day of creation where God said "let there be light" and we have light and darkness. Then in the NT, John in his gospel starts with tying in two important moments of time, the creation of our world and the incarnation which is the start of redeeming our world. After the Church has begun its journey in the great commission, we see John writing a letter to shepherd the flock of God he has been entrusted too and again here we see him starting with reminding the sheep of who to look to, the one who all creation finds its being (Acts 17:24-31). We will look at this a little more in next section when we look at "light and darkness". 

Manifest

For me a key word here in this text was also "Manifest". In John 14, you can unpack 3 questions the disciples make. 

1-Thomas, "Lord we do not know where your are going, how can we know the way? (vs 5). 

2-Philip, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us"(vs 8). 

3-Judas not Iscariot, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world (vs 22)? 

3 key things here is knowing, seeing and understanding "The Way". 

The definition of manifest as an adjective is "clear or obvious to the eye or mind" and as a verb it is "display or show something by demonstration." 

In context this was the last conversation the disciples would have with Jesus before the Cross, so you can see the hunger to get their last instructions.

What Jesus promised them in the John 14 text and following they are confirming here. They are acknowledging that this idea of that, they were equipped to know the way, to know the Father, and to see how they should conduct themselves even though they didn't have God in the flesh anymore was true and they are furthermore communicating to their audience the same message of truth is for them, that they were able to come to know. This promise is in vs. 3&4 surrounded around the key word "fellowship and joy". 

Light and Darkness

John 1:5-7, Here with pick back up on the idea of "light and darkness". As a group it was pointed out that God created light on the first day and that was before He created the sun on the fourth day. Also in  Revelation 21:23 & 22:5, we see "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and it's lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk" and "They will need no light of lamp or sun for the Lord God will be their light. We spoke about how dark it can get. If you neighborhood loses power at night and you walk outside it is scary dark. It has a thick feel to it. God has been good to us to give us the reflections of light from the Sun and the moon. They are not sources of light but reflections of it. We spoke of 

John 1:8-10, 

John 2:1-2, 

Audio-Dennis, Jeff, Mike, Paul, and Keith. (Shane helping with another study)

• Intro to 1 John with comments from Paul and Jeff and opening prayer. 

Part 1

• 6:20, 1 John 1-4, reading of the text
• Manifest, John 14, How will you make yourself know to us but not to the world?
• Absolute truths and infallibility of scripture, If the word of God a firm foundation or not?
• Outside of reading scripture, your eyes ears and heart will just not be open to digest truth.
• Without scripture is like knowing your blind and refusing to put on your glasses.
• 11:15 Jeff, "In the beginning" Gen. 1 and John 1.
• 12:30, response on Jesus incarnation and the importance of the information of what they did have.
• 15:00, Paul, Ch. 4:2, testing the spirits, follows up on false teaching that He was not God in the flesh. "Do not believe every spirit, test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have already gone into the world, by this you know the spirit of God.
• 19:00, Keith being invited into a group to study
• 20:25, The physical, what we have seen, heard and touch. With many infallible proofs. 
• 21:50, We didn't write everything, but we wrote enough for you to know. We will not know it all, but we can know enough. We can give good answers, but will not be able to answer all. At some point they will have to go to Jesus personally.
• Put it in you knower. As time goes on God will make is makes sense or come alive.
• Without God's word understanding Him is a fools errand.
• 25:10, Mike on his friend Benny. Deut. 29:29. The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us forever, so that we may do all the words of this law.

Part 2

• 27:33, 1 John 1:5-7, Walking in the Light
• 29:30, Paul, Deep darkness is not desirable, but the reduction of light allows us to appreciate the lesser lights, but we are still enjoying the light.
• 31:15, Fellowship, unity, in order to have good fellowship with man we have to first have it with God. Sin creates division. Our unity with men is limited by our fellowship with God. Lured by the sin nature to do something in darkness because you wouldn't do it in the light. We do not pursue our actions in darkness.
• 34:20, Jeff, attributes of God, God is light. Walking in darkness
• 36:25, Paul, 7 days of creation, light before sun, where did that light come from? Rev. not sun?
• 37:10, Mike day 4 before sun was created
• 37:40, Jeff, the sun makes think grow and Jesus is going to do that for us in eternity
• 38:10, Paul, pitch darkness, terrifying feeling. Do we want it to be all the time. At night it is a different light
• 39:00 Keith, see moon because of reflection of the light. 
• 39:26, We are to be image bearers
• 39:40, Telescope, trying to explain about the sun and who it revolves around
• 40:30, Mike, the moonshiners bible study

Part 3

• 41:00, 1 John 1:8-10,
•  Unpack sin in about 3 ways. 
• If we say 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 our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• Sometimes we don't share the Gospel in a good news way.
• If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and his word is not in us.
• 43:30, Mike, The word "sin" can be used as a noun and a verb.
• If you remember in English class, a noun is a person, place or thing. Where a verb is something you do. State of Sin, Jesus rescues us from that and rescues us from that and redefines us. Other times you sin but that is not what defines you. If you get this wrong you can see "losing salvation".
• Jesus took away the sin of the world as a noun not as a verb. 
• 46:35, Infallibility of scripture, PSA, and losing salvation.
• 47:20, Paul, confessing Weirsby
• 47:45, Jeff, How important is it to confess your sins? If you don't confess it, you are saying you have no need for it.
• 48:50, Mike, It restores the relationship. Bench seat. She moves over. We don't move. Relationship is settled at the cross, but lack of confession kills fellowship and intimacy. 
• 50:20, Keith, 
• 51:05, the refusal to confess, does that link to the idea of you walking in darkness, prepare you for deception. 
• 52:00, Paul, Ps. 51, I am in agreement with the Lord on how He sees his sin
• 53:40, Mike, restore the joy of my salvation. Be restorative.

Part 4

• 54:10, 1 John 2:1-2
• 1 John 1:7, The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
• 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• 1 John 2:1-2, But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins.
• Clear about the hope of Christ, a tool to realize it.
• The gospel is still light that penetrates to darkness of our day.
• Gen. 3 Adam sinned and blaming others. When we fall, repent and trust in God
• 57:45, Jeff, Advocate. We need and advocate between us and our Father. Satan the accuser
• 58:40, Mike, Hebrews 4, Jesus a high priest that understands us.
• 59:15, Jeff raising kids, does it get easier. Praying for you.
• 1:00:35, Keith, follow my command if you love me.

Prayer 

• 1:01:40
• You don't call us to be perfect, but you call us to come into the light.
• You know our heart and you can guide us through our struggles.

Q&A Luke 12 week series Review

12 "The Parable of the Prodigal Son" (Luke 15:11-32)

11 "The Parable of the Rich Fool" (Luke 12:13-21)

1)13-14, (The Situation)

In the middle of a teaching Jesus is interrupted by a brother that is not content with his share of the family inheritance.

He appeals to a custom where Rabbi’s would take on the role of settling civil disputes among the people.

Jesus responds with a question to him about who He is? 

Jesus responded this way in Luke 18:18-19 with the Rich Ruler. He approached Jesus as a “Good Teacher” and Jesus asked Why do you call me good?

I believe both of the responses with a question is similar to what we see in Matt. 16:13-16. 

First Jesus ask His disciples who do others say that I am and then He makes it personal, who do you say that I am. 

We have all had someone deal with us in a way that you realize they know nothing about you. 

With the magnitude of the work that Jesus came to accomplish, He often dealt with people that had a very small view of what He was all about. 

When you consider the words of Jesus in Luke 12:8-12, He is not talking about a trivial matter, He is talking about some of the most weighty topics for men to consider. 

This line of questioning that the man proposes shows he is fairly oblivious to the grown up conversation that is going on and Who he is talking too.

Who is Jesus? Do you really know Him?

Remember how in Luke 5:21-26, we see the Pharisees struggle with the truth that only God can forgive sins. This was a 100% accurate theological statement.

The problem was not that they were theological wrong, but that they failed to realize Who it was that they were talking with. Jesus vaguely gives them a hint in vs 24, by saying “so that you know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” He is identifying Himself as the Messiah at this point and they fail to recognize that the miracle He performed before their eyes was evidence that He is the one the scriptures pointed to as rescuing them.

2)15, (The Command)

10th Commandment, Do not Covet. Exodus 20:17

In John 14:15, Jesus says, If you love me you will keep my commandments. 

In Matt. 28:20 Jesus  says make disciples by teaching them to observe all that He has commanded.

Here we see, Him making a commandment base on the 10th commandment handed to Moses by God. 

Be on guard against all tendencies of a covetousness nature.

He teaches to this commandment here saying that one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.

As people seek to find value in their life, some inventory their worth by the abundance of possession they acquire in this life.

Jesus will use a parable here to teach to the perspective and importance of seeing the value of treasures in Heaven.

3)16-17, (When a Blessing comes your way!!!)

What do you do when a door is open before you? 

When you have a great opportunity? 

Do you consider how God wants you to handle or manage the opportunity? 

The man in our parable has only thoughts of his own well being. He doesn’t think of anyone else.

He isn’t described as a person who would be mindful of others needs.

In comparison we can look to Gen. 41, where we see Joseph in a place to steward an unusual blessing of the Lord. 

He is guided to lead the greatest nation of his day in the Lord’s direction so that many nations can be cared for. 

It is revealed to him that there will be 7 years of prosperity and 7 years of famine. 

He puts together a plan of stewardship that makes a way for others to be cared for throughout this time of famine.

4)18-19, (Do you inquire of the Lord???)

In 2 Chronicles 18, Two Kings. One like the rich fool is only mindful of his own prosperity. The other like Joseph considers what is God’s will in this matter?

The Rich Fool worries about where to store his stuff. He never considers sharing with others. He never considers he was blessed to be a blessing. He never comes to know there is treasure in helping others meet their needs and being a conduit for the Lord that feeds a soul greater than the meager rations of the physical life. There is a food that the eyes of the earthly body can’t perceive. But in obedience to the commands of Christ our eyes can be opened to some degree to a food and a treasure that can not be compared to the things of this life.

5)20-21, (Do your treasures join you to God or separate you from Him?)

Treasures in heaven are not a consolation prize. Denying things of this life in order to know more about the life to come is not a foolish choice. 

Mark 8:36-37, says “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

We may can buy temporary comforts in this life, but we can not buy our salvation. This is a much weightier topic for consideration than how we will retire in this life.

Jesus showed us how He handled this situation in Matthew 4:8-10 when tempted the 3rd time. The devil offers all the kingdoms to Jesus if He would bow down and worship Him.

Jesus could not be bought or bribed to misplace His worship.

John 1:3, Everything that exist was spoke into existence and has derived it’s being from God. All that we can perceive is from Him. 

It is foolish for any of us to worship the creation over the creator Romans 1:25. The only practical way we fall in this trap is by being ignorant to Who God is Mark 4:41.

Our ability to walk in the light is foundationally established by knowing who He is John 3:18-21. All too many people try to earn their salvation by mustering up a measure of faith as a means to a desirable end, but faith is not something we muster up, but it is a result of truly knowing who God is. It is impossible to give all that we have away without knowing the God of the Bible Luke 18:24-27. But in knowing Him like we seen with Matthew Luke 5:28 or Zaccheus Luke 19:8 the tax collectors forsaking all is the wisest thing we could ever do.

We can try to acquire things, so that we don’t need God or we can learn to trust in the Lord to provide our needs.

Like the Rich Fool, we can comfort ourselves with our ability to acquire stuff in this life or we can inquire of the Lord to direct our steps.

In the book of Exodus, we do not see the people of God needs being overlooked. He meets all their needs. He protects and provides for them. 

He gives them sunblock in the day by a cloud. He gives them warmth at night by a pillar of fire. He leads their steps in the moving of the cloud or pillar of fire Exodus 13:17.

He gives them food either by manna or doves Exodus 16. He gives them water from a rock Exodus 17. And even when the Egyptian army comes after them again, He defends them by fighting for them Exodus 14.

Some that were part of the Exodus journey was ready to go anywhere with God and others still longed to go back to Egypt.

So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God

In closing, take time to consider where you are at in regard to coveting? That is the key teaching here. That is what Jesus told the Parable for. Is your security found in your stuff or the creator of your stuff. Does your stuff have a hold on you? Are you willing to surrender your stuff for His will in and through you? 

Overcoming a covetous desire puts you in a position to be a blessing to others. Joseph in Gen. 41, was not a slave to a covetous heart and because of that he was found to be the only one wise enough to manage God’s provisions for the people. In this his eyes were opened to a foretaste of the goodness of God to use him as a vessel of grace to meet the needs of others. Jesus said it best in John 4:32, “I have a food to eat that you do not know about.”

Philippians 4:11-13 “I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content.”

10 "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector" (Luke 18:9-14)

 Matt. 6:1-6

9 "A Sinful Woman Forgiven" (Luke 7:36-50)

1) Vs. 36-38, "Two Hosts" Who are the two different hosts in this home that Jesus gets to know better?

In verse 36, we see a Pharisee asked Jesus to eat with him. This is the 3rd story in a row where we have found Jesus eating in peoples' home. 

In verses 37-38, we see another host invade the gathering. She is described as a woman of the city, who was a sinner. It was not her home, nor was she the one who invited Jesus to eat with her, but nevertheless she engaged the meal as a host. She brought a story of hospitality to the dinner that turns out to be in direct contrast with that of the home owner.

2) Vs. 39-43, "Two Kinds of Wisdom" How are two different view points of wisdom communicated here?

In verse 39, we see the home owner's perspective from a physical or human wisdom, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." The homeowner knew the people of the town. He knew who had a checkered past or not. In his reasoning, he doubts the validity of Jesus being from God because He doesn't resist this woman's hospitality towards Him. He feels like Jesus should call her out and deal harshly and directly with her sins. If He is actually from God and here to do God's work, the home owner see no other possible right response than this one.

In verse 40, Jesus invites the homeowner into a dialogue concerning this issue. "Simon, I have something to say to you." What would you do if Jesus said this to you? We see that when Jesus engages people some respond in humble brokenness and others respond with a more confident posture sometimes because of self righteousness points of view and other times out of just not realizing Who He is. Simon then said "Say it Teacher."

In verses 41-43, we see the first part of the second kind of wisdom communicated from the perspective of Jesus which is described better as from a spiritual or Godly wisdom. Jesus starts with laying the foundation of the teaching with something His student can understand with common sense and or with human reasoning. "As certain money lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which one of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "the one I suppose, for who he cancelled the larger debt." And He said to him "You have judged rightly." 

Now Jesus will continue in His own way to point this student to applying this physical story that he can understand, to spiritual matters like forgiveness and a heart of hospitality. He will direct Simon to think about how everyone needs forgiveness, no one is immune to the need for a forgiveness that reconciles their account of sins with God. Self righteousness blinds us to our need for forgiveness and make us unnecessarily harsh in our dealing with people that are worse off than us. We all need Jesus. If we saw someone physically starving to death, the natural response should be to get them something to eat, or if they were thirsty or cold, we would try to meet that practical physical need. In the same way, we need to have an eye to see spiritual starvation, spiritual dehydration and spiritual coldness. We need to understand and rightly steward a desire to respond to sinners with spiritual food, water and clothes. Don't let your logical thinking from human wisdom cause you to neglect real practical needs right in front of you.

3) Vs. 44-47, Two Styles of Hospitality" How does Jesus explain the two different styles of hospitality, He has been shown in this home?

In a practical way, when a person would have invited a guest to dinner in this culture, it would have been the custom to give a bowl of water and a towel to the guest upon entering the home to wash His feet from the journey of walking on dusty trails. It would be a refreshing gesture that would allow the guest to feel a sense of relaxation before dinner. It would have communicated a homey and friendly environment. Also, much like we hug or shake hands with guests we invite to our homes, their custom was to give a kiss. The oil could have been offered as a hospitable gift of refreshment for the guest's forehead, if he had been in the hot sun on his journey and his skin had began to get very dry. It also could have been offered to show spiritual respect.

With this idea of hospitality considered by the basic standard of the culture in this day, Jesus compares the actions of the two hosts. The homeowner that invited Jesus and the uninvited host. 

vs 44, I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair

vs 45, You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

vs 46, You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

As you walk through this list, be sure to go deeper than who was the best host. Ask why one was better than the other? Ask yourself how his or her perspective on who Jesus was changed the way they acted towards Him? When you see a person you really like or love, how does it change the way you act? You put on your best behavior, you are not casual and sloppy in your hospitality because you want the relationship to be rich. And why this description gets up close and personal, the teaching point is about how those who know they need forgiveness and cleansing act differently than those who don't realize the weight of the need for forgiveness of sin. Also, those who realize that Jesus is the only way to obtain this forgiveness also changes the way one responds to Him.

So picture this sinner seeking forgiveness and recognizing Jesus is the only way. She first invades a home she is not wanted in and ushers in the hospitality that Jesus deserved in a place where He was not being properly respected and tended to. 

vs 44, I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair

She meets the needs of His feet by first falling at them and pouring out her great grief and sorrow over her sins that have bound her up for way too long. She, at His feet, lays down her burdens and leaves nothing held back. Whatever she is regretful for, she pours them out through tears that physically meet the need of wetting His dry, dusty feet. She then used something that is much more honorable and valuable than a common towel and with her precious well groomed hair, used it to clean His feet. She did it with something of value and honor to her. She demonstrated a surrendered life towards Him. She made all that she was available to serve at His pleasure. 

vs 45, You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.

She then starts to kiss His feet to show her gratitude for Him. We may kiss someone's cheek or hand if we are semi fond of them and if we really like them our kiss may go to their lips. But anything other than that, it is usually not something we do with anyone other than a spouse. When we use a term like kissing someone's butt, that is figurative, but not something normally anyone does. It is a humiliating act that would devalue the person doing the kissing. But to kiss a persons dirty, stinky feet, that is a very humble and desperate posture and action. But here she is not actually kissing dirty, stinky feet because she has cleansed them with her tears and her precious hair. If you have ever had a foot massage, you know how comforting that can be. Here she massages and honors Him with something very few people will ever  enjoy: the kissing of feet.

vs 46, You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

If His feet were dry or stinky, she addressed that by applying ointment. If it would have been left up to the homeowner that invited Jesus to this dinner, He would have been mistreated, but because of this woman seeking to find forgiveness for her sins, Jesus was deeply cared for and made welcome. He physically had the cleanest, most cared for feet in the room. But more than that He was greatly honored and acknowledged as the only One worthy of worship.

In this woman's worship, she laid down her burden and confessed her sins with all her heart, surrendered her life, giving her very best to serve the Lord. She demonstrated an amazing amount of gratitude for His redemption and she gave of her wealth to add to His glory in this life.

4) Vs. 48-50, "Two Views on Forgiveness" How do these two hosts demonstrate the value of forgiveness?

So the uninvited guest believed that Jesus could forgive sins, while those who asked Him to come and have dinner, had not yet come to a place where they saw Him as the answer to their sin problem. Who is this who even forgives sins? Like we saw in story 4, here again we see an audience that is offended by a man talking about the forgiveness of sin because they rightly believe only God can do such a thing. Why do you think they do not realize who Jesus is? Why do you think the sinful woman believes Jesus can forgive her?

5) Who is Jesus? Can He forgive sins? Why do some people recognize He alone is the only hope for forgiveness, while others do not see this? Is there a form of self righteousness described and displayed in this story?

8 "Jesus and Zacchaeus" (Luke 19:1-10)

1) Vs. 1-2, "The Man" Who is Zaccheus? 

The first 2 verses describes him as a chief tax collector and a rich man. This points out the obvious outward perspectives a person could derive about Zaccheus. He would of not had the approval of the Jewish people by being a tax collector and he would not of had lack of worldly things because we know that he was rich. 

But what kind of person was he on the inside?

2) Vs. 3-4, "Seeking Jesus" What would this rich chief tax collector do when Jesus came across his pathway? Would he run and hide, would he be coy with Him. What would he do? 

In verse 3-4, we see that he wanted to see Jesus, but "because of the crowd" he found difficulty accessing him. Much like in story 4, where the friends made a way for the paralyzed man through the roof "because of the crowd", here Zacchaeus had to be creative to find a way to see Jesus. We get another description about the outward person of Zacchaeus that he was "small in stature". So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus.

3) Vs. 5-6, "The Intersection" What will happen? Will Zaccheus see Jesus? Will he overcome the obstacles in front of him? He is so short and the crowd is blocking his way? Will Jesus just walk by? 

In verses 5-6, we see that Jesus noticed this little man that climbed a tree in order to see above the crowd. What happened next? What did Jesus do? Did He acknowledge Zaccheus? Yes, He not only noticed him, but He asked him to make dinner for Him at his home. Zaccheus, was over joyed with the opportunity to host Jesus at his home.

4) Vs. 7, "The Crowds Response" What did the crowd think about this intersection between Jesus and Zaccheus? 

In verse 7, we see that they all grumbled. He has gone in to be a guest of a man who is a sinner. This is much like our story 7 last week when Jesus had dinner in Matthew's home. I have always thought that in this home there would have been a bunch of Zaccheus friends, but unlike with the dinner at Matthew's home the text doesn't specifically say that, so it is possible that this dinner was a quite dinner with just Zaccheus and Jesus or a very small crowd. It could have been a small intimate setting just like when Nicodemus came to Jesus in John 3.

5) Vs. 8, "The Response of the Chief Tax Collector" How will this dinner impact the life of this chief tax collector? Will he like the Rich young ruler turn away from the call to "Follow Me". Will he deny his sins? Does he care about righteousness? Does he want to be reconciled to God?

In verse 8, we see 2 specific things that come from this dinner. 

The first thing, we see is that he offers half of his goods as and offering to give to the poor. I don't know how Zaccheus felt about the poor before meeting Jesus. I would assume being a chief tax collector, he was not overly concerned about them. But after having dinner with the Lord something changed. From his own mouth and by his own accord, Zaccheus offered to help the poor. He may have always know that what he was doing was wrong. He may have come to the conclusion that all his power and money was not what he really wanted. He may of clearly seen that it was not right to live over comfortable while his kinfolks where struggle to make ends meet. But whatever the reason, being with Jesus changed his life and how he would manage his money going forward.

The second thing, we see is that he says if I have defrauded anyone of anything I will restore it fourfold. He was not just thinking about meeting the needs of the poor, he wanted to make right those matters where he gained wealth dishonestly. 

6) Vs. 9-10, "The Response of Jesus" What did Jesus conclude here?

"Salvation has come to this house" I can't think of a more comforting thing than to have Jesus come to your home and based on your interaction with Him, He makes a statement like this. What we seen 2 weeks ago in story 6 in the Rich ruler, we see Zaccheus doing. Investing in the poor and surrendering all to Jesus.

"You are a son of Abraham" I think what is being communicated here is that Jesus sees the Romans 4:16-25 description of faith here. The Gen. 15:6 faith Abraham demonstrated in the promise God made to him to give him not only an offspring, but as many offspring as the stars in the sky.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" Like we covered last week in story 7, the mission of Jesus is to build His Kingdom by changing the sinners heart that drives them to be blind and a slave to the darkness and death of sin. He brings light and life to what man's wisdom deems unredeemable. 

7 "Jesus Calls Levi" (Luke 5:27-32)

 1) vs. 27, "After this", What is the after this? 

On our timeline this week is story 7 that we are looking at. 

In week 4, we looked at the story in vs. 17-26. Where we saw that "because of the crowd" the friends of a paralyzed man had to lower him down in front of Jesus from the roof of the building He was in. In this, Jesus shocked the Pharisees with a statement in vs. 20, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." The Pharisees immediately had logical thoughts that He was blaspheming. Their reason was based on their belief that only God can forgive sins, which is 100% right. As the dialogue continued, Jesus asked them what is easier to say "your sins are forgiven or rise and walk? He then tells them so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins, he said to the man "rise, pick up your bed and go home."

"After this" we see that Jesus went out of that building and went to a tax collector's booth.  All we are told by Luke here is that Jesus said to him "Follow ME". A very simple two word statement. There was no sales pitch of any kind. We have no details about his thought process. It is just short and sweet. "Follow Me."

2) In vs. 28, we see the Tax Collector's response. "Leaving everything, he rose and followed him." 

Last week in our story 6, we looked at Luke 18:18-30, The Rich Ruler. in vs 22 of that story Jesus tells him, "One thing you lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven; and come and follow me."

This week in the first two verses we see Jesus give the same call that he gave to the rich ruler to a tax collector. The Rich ruler's response is recorded in Luke 18:23, But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 

What made these two people different? Why did one respond with joy and one with sadness? Scripture does not go on and on with childhood stories or endless background details. It is to the point, short and sweet. "Follow ME" That is it. Nothing seeker friendly. No great campaign speech. Not even really an evaluation about how important this decision is, Just "Follow Me". One did and another did not.

3) In vs. 29, we see the natural response of the tax collectors experience with the call of Jesus. The call of Jesus to follow Him is not a cheap prize. It is not a gift that gets you really excited. Once you unwrap the pretty wrapping you find the real content of it is not truly satisfying. For the rich ruler, he didn't see the wrapping of "follow me" as appealing enough to open the present. But for some reason, the tax collector did open the present. He did respond to the gift and it radically changed his perspective. It was so valuable to him that his first response was to tell everyone he knew. He had a party at his house and invited everyone he knew to come and meet Jesus.

4) In vs. 30. We see the Pharisees bothered by this gathering. They complained and grumbled because they could not understand why a man pursing holiness like Jesus and calling others to the way of righteousness would be associating with people that walked down dark paths and rejected the cultural ways of righteousness.

5) In vs. 31&32, We see Jesus's response to the Pharisees struggle to understand and accept His actions. He gives physical and practical pictures of something they can process with common sense and understand. Then He stretches their minds to think beyond the physical realm and into the spiritual realm. This idea is further explained in John 3, when Jesus is teaching Nicodemus. If you look at vs. 9-13, He unpacks this speaking in the physical realm to help understand the things of the spiritual realm. In vs. 12, He says "If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?"

In these verses, 31 gives us the physical and 32 gives us the spiritual.

vs 31, Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick.

vs 32, I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

In these two statements, we have a land mine of gems to find out the high value of a sinners heart. A sinner's heart needs the treasure of Jesus. If the treasure of Jesus is placed in the sinner's heart, everything changes. Just as when we are sick we need a physician to determine what we need to be made well, the only solution for a sinner's heart is Jesus. Only He can restore the soul. 

As you read and ponder this story, realized that the wrapping of the present of Jesus is simple. It is not flashy. It is "Follow ME." If you are too busy in life, are too engaged in the comforts of this life, you will struggle to open the gift of Jesus. You will have many reasons not to follow Him. But if you do open the gift of Jesus, unlike so many other gifts you have opened in this earthly realm, you will find that He is from above. He is not limited by physical things and He can heal an area of our lives that no physician can. He can do exceeding above and beyond anything we can ask or think of.

We tied in two stories this week from our journey together. Story 4, points out a truth that "only God can forgive sins". Story 6, points out why some can not follow Jesus's call to Follow Me. We see that in story 4 and story 7 where the Pharisees struggle with understanding the actions of Jesus. They think He is blaspheming in story 4 and they can't understand why He would take the time to teach people that, in their opinion, are not interested in what is best for those people who are looking to God for guidance.

Jesus was very clear on the needs of people. He understood the impact of spiritual blindness on a person's life. And He taught everyone on the cure to it. For the sinner, they needed information on God's love for them and that there is a way for reconciliation. There is a way for forgiveness of sins. For the Pharisees, they needed to know how to put the pieces they knew in the right perspective. It was true that only God could forgive sins, but they need to realize who Jesus was. It was true that we should walk in righteousness, but we can't do that apart from Jesus. It is the gift of Jesus that causes both sinners and Pharisees to walk in righteousness. No one is able to do it with out Him. The command is "Follow Me," not figure it out on your own.

6 "The Rich Ruler" (Luke 18:18-30)

 Luke 18:18-30

1. Vs. 18, 

What shall I do to to inherit eternal life?

This is the most import question anyone can ask and Jesus is fixing to answer it. What will He say?

Why do you call me good? Is that the evangelistic approach you thought Jesus would take to this seemingly amazing opportunity?

In answering the question Jesus first challenges the man's view of God and what is goodness.

2. Vs. 20,

Here He unpacks what Biblical goodness looks like and challenges the man to honestly evaluate himself in order to have the right perspective on eternal life. The man's answer showed in his perspective he felt like he had accomplished all these things.

3. Vs. 22,

Here Jesus gives 4 things.

1-You still lack one thing

2-Sell all that you have and give to the poor

3-You will have treasures in heaven if you do this

4-Come and follow me

4. Vs. 23,

He became very sorrowful.

When he became very sorrowful we do not see Jesus chasing him down trying to convince him to respond correctly

5. Vs. 26,

At this point all that had seen how Jesus handled this evangelistic opportunity was discouraged wondering who could even be saved.

Things to Consider,

The means you use to evangelize is also the tool you use to disciple. 

What you save some one with is the same thing you keep them with.

In seeker friendly gimmicks of conversion the evangelist tries to sale the convert on his product.

It has been said that if you can convert a person in 15 mins. someone else can unconvert them in 15 mins.

The Bible does not direct us to sale and manipulate people into salvation, it directs us to share with them what the scriptures say and trust in the fact that the scriptures are actually able to save the convert. 

If you notice in Matt. 28, when the great commission is giving Jesus does not give specific instruction for evangelism but for discipleship. "Teach them to obey My commands" If the disciples are converted by the commands of Jesus they will be able to submit to them also. If they are converted by unbiblical concepts they will be unfamiliar with submitting to discipleship concepts. We disciple converted people not unconverted. The acceptance of the authority of scripture is an evidence of conversion and until that is present their is no assurance that the heart is in Christ.

5 "The Rich man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-31)

1)Luke 16:19-21, Two Men

Here we see two types of men described. In our time together we considered what their life on earth was like. One was a life of comfort and the other lived a life of suffering.

2)Luke 16:22-23, Heaven and Hell 

Here we see a picture of two different destinations after death. 

3)Luke 16:24-25, Torment OR Comfort

Here we see a description of what the quality of life is in these different destination. In this story the one who suffered in the physical life was comforted in the eternal life and the one who was comforted in the physical life was tormented in the eternal life.

4)Luke 16:26, The Great Chasm

Here we are told that no can cross the great chasm that separated the two eternal destinations.

5)Luke 16:27-31, A False Gospel or A True Gospel

Vs. 27-28, The eternally doomed man that lived a comforted life pleads for a evangelistic message to be presented to those he loves.

Vs. 29, Abraham reminds the doomed man of what evangelistic message has been made available to them.

Vs. 30, The doomed man that rejected the evangelistic message available to him, still sees fault in its ability to save and recommends another message to convince them.

Vs. 31, Abraham says if they can’t hear Moses and the Prophets nor will they be convinced if someone rises from the dead. 

Seeker Friendly Evangelism

Rich Man Reading (Luke Series)

 

• Luke 12:13-21 

“The Parable of the Rich Fool”

• Luke 14:7-11

“The Parable of the Wedding Feast”

• Luke 14:12-24

“The Parable of the Great Banquet”

• Luke 16:1-13

“The Parable of the Dishonest Manager”

• Luke 16:19-31

“The Rich man and Lazarus”

• Luke 18:18-30

“The Rich Ruler”

• Luke 19:11-27

“The Parable of the Ten Minas”

• Luke 21:1-2

"The Widow's Offering"

4 The Pharisees Perspective (Luke 5:17-26)

 Luke 5:17-26 

3 The Unclean Spirits Perspective (Luke 4:31-41)

 Luke 4:31-41

2 The Centurion's Perspective (Luke 7:1-10)

 Luke 7:1-10

1 The Disciples Perspective (Mark 4:35-41)

 Mark 4:35-41

The Proper Distribution of the Word (Mark 4:26-29)

 Mark 4:26-29

The Key to the Parables (Mark 4:13-14)

 Mark 4:13-14

The Hidden Nature of the Word (Mark 4:10-12, Mark 4:33-34)

 Mark 4:10-12

Mark 4:33-34

The Armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20)

 Eph. 6:10-20

I laid these out for us to think 🤔 about some what systematically over next few days. 

Brain storm on above pictures and let the Lord guide you to fill in the blanks. Think through your knowledge of God and scripture and color in the picture to some degree as you ready your heart for this Sunday morning. 

Notice the framework of how one is the means to a gift. The Gospel brings about our salvation. The truth brings about our righteousness. And the word gives life to our faith. 

As we fail to share the gospel less people come to know salvation. As we fail to share truth less people know how to walk in righteousness. As we fail to interact with the word less people have faith. 

Just as a seed planted doesn’t grow overnight neither do we fully grasp the word of God. Start thinking 🤔 through these ideas 💡 today. Pray over them. Go find those scriptures that come to mind and have them ready for Sunday morning to share.

The Gospel and Our Salvation 

Remember how the gospel message broke through in your life? How did that simple illogical Bible message that you once either mocked or didn’t understand change everything for you?

Notice the gift of Our salvation. We once where tossed to and fro with no real hope or security in this world. But that all change when we became a child of God. Our salvation is a gift that hold us grounded and anchored to the creator of all things. No matter how crazy our lives get we are held by the keeper of all things. 

Jot dow some notes about how you came to salvation by the gospel and maybe a experience where you realized the way Our salvation keeps us. 

Romans 8:(ESV): 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Hey sorry late on this. We have been running hard to try and get away to the Lake House this weekend. 

So thoughts for days 2, to consider is the pair “The Truth” and “Our Righteous”

When I consider the role of the “Breast Plate of Righteousness” I can’t help but to think of being conformed into the image of Christ. That He is our righteousness. And just as the armor of the breast plate protects our heart and soul in the same way the righteousness acquired at the Cross from the perfect “Lamb of God” makes us righteous. It is not our own acquired righteousness by our works, obedience or stewardship, but a gift from the Lord that we find refuge in. His righteousness is a hiding place for our weary broken hearts and protection for our souls. 

When I consider “The Belt of Truth” I think of “speak the truth in love”. It is through the gospel that God has spoken the truth about our condition. It is not positive to look in the mirror and see ourselves in sin. It is a shameful and hurtful thing to bear. But it is by that truth that we see our need for the righteousness of Christ to protect, cover, save and redeem us. 

Think about what the righteousness of Christ means to you?

Think about how you are yielding to the work of and His means to conforming you into His image?

Think about how He conformed and radically changed Paul, Peter, Stephen and Apollo’s. They were never the same. 

Think about how your have to submit to certain truths to find the love of God. To find His directions. We can’t do it our way. We wrestle in the flesh and in the spirit to surrender to His truth. Where are you struggling to submit to God? Where is He knocking at the door calling for you to come? What is stopping you? What do you have to lose? 

Pen some things down. Where do you need to change? What do you need to release? 

Here is some scripture 

Romans 3:21–26 (ESV): 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 

Romans 6:15–19 (ESV): 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 

So hope you guys have had a great week and have taken a few moments to ponder the armor of God these last few days. 

On day one we took a head to toe look with the roles of the gospel and our salvation. How the gospel brings us into salvation and how salvation protects us from being tossed to and fro mentally. How it calms the raging storms in our minds. 

On day two we took a look at the truth and our righteousness and how that plays a role in conforming us into what God designed us to be and how is protect the core of who we are. 

Today on day 3 we come to the pair “The word and Our Faith”. A sword and a shield. As on day one the armor was shoes and a helmet and day 2 essentially pants and a shirt covering the core of the body, today the armor is at the hands to be yielded. In the right hand a sword and in the left a shield. One to block the attacks and another the destroy strongholds and to loosen bondage.  

The word is consider to be our sword. And our faith is considered to be our shield   Consider these things today and jot down some notes. What role does the word play in your life? What victory does it bring about? What about faith, how do you actively use it to defend the attacks you face daily?

Hope you guys have a great day. We are traveling this morning to Houston, but I look forward to joining you in the morning by Lake Livingston to visit one another and unpack this picture Paul has penned down for us so that we can find an anchor to hold on to in the attacks we come into in this Christian life.