The Bible in 12 Key Chapters

The Salvation of man through Christ

The Creation and the Fall – Genesis 1-3 (Beginnings)

In all 12 of these sections, we will continue to emphasize how they fit into the thematic statement of the Bible. We will not be studying these sections exegetically, that is taking various points and examining every word. We will be looking at these from the standpoint of ‘how this fits into the theme of the Bible’.

Our aim is to see Christ in every chapter of the Bible. He was in the beginning according to John 1:1, 2. A closer examination of the text reveals He was in the text of Genesis 1:1 and He is in the last verse of Revelation 22:21. Indeed, the Bible is Christ-centered and Christ-focused.

The Book of Genesis
The Bible begins with the book of Genesis. The book is written by Moses (circa 1,500 BC) and of course was written after the fact. In a very general sense, note the timeline for creation (4,000 BC), flood (2,500 BC), Abraham (2,000 BC), Moses (1,500 BC), David (1,000 BC), and the post exile period and return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple around 500 BC.
Our 1st 2 stops in our study will be from this 1st book of the Bible.
The name Genesis comes from Greek word meaning “beginning”. The word was used in the Septuagint (LXX, 70, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures – though technically it was 72 scholars that made the translation in the 3rd century BC).

In the beginning…Gen 1-3
In our 1st stop we will focus on the generation and degeneration of man and introduce the regeneration idea. The rest of the Bible develops the idea of the regeneration of man, that is, the coming Messiah and His message. Some have noted the best division of the Bible is not the OT and NT but rather Gen 3:6. The pre-fall of man and the post-fall of man is a good division.

In our English translation, Gen 1:1 begins with 10 words. Just consider how much information is conveyed in those 10 words.
It has been said in fewer words than a sportswriter would use to describe a ballgame, Moses by Inspiration details:
The existence of GOD
Creation of matter and the formation of that matter into heaven and earth
Creation of sun, moon, and stars
Creation of plant life
Creation of animal life
Creation of human life

Let me emphasize we are not studying this verse by verse. It is not a study of the entire creation process. Now that is a wonderful study indeed. We could spend much time in the 1st verse alone. For example, Herbert Spencer’s 5 Scientific Principles found in the 1st verse – Time, Force, Energy, Space, and Matter.
Rather, we are looking at the Key Chapters that will corroborate our Thematic Statement “The salvation of man through Christ to the glory of GOD as revealed by the Spirit.” So our approach will be – to see man in his created existence and to note his fall and thus the need for salvation.

I want you to remember 2 statements of 10 words.
It has been said that the 10 most important words man can ever speak are those spoken of by the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 – “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of GOD.”
And all we know about the creation of the Universe begins with 10 words in Genesis 1:1. The account of the creation unfolds in Gen 1. As noted earlier, we will be looking at this from our Bible Theme standpoint. To that end, let’s pick up in v26.

Our textual study…
Before we go to v26, I want to point out a phrase important to our study. Verses 11, 12, 21, 24 and 25 – after its kind. This is the replication of life. Like begets like.
V26 gives us the record of the Godhead. “Let us make man” implies the plurality of Divinity. GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Spirit were involved.
Some have said maybe the “us” refers to GOD and the angels. No, Psalm 148:2, 5 makes clear – the angels were included in that being created.
It is no small coincidence that John 1:1ff begins with the same 3 words as Gen 1:1. Jesus was part of the process. V3 – All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
The word for GOD in v1, Elohym, is the plural form of Eloha.

As part of the creation process, we see the ultimate creation, that is, a being created in the image of the Creator.

Let’s look at this word image. The word comes from a Hebrew word whose root means “to shade”. It is literally phantom or shadow. To consider shadow, think about the shadow cast by different trees. One can tell the difference in a pine tree and an oak tree by the shadow. Many things can be determined by the shadow but think of the full richness of the real thing. Imagine if all we had ever seen relative to trees was the shadow.
Man is created in the image of GOD the Creator. There is much to consider in this statement.
In a sense, the OT was a shadow of things to come, the NT. That is precisely what Heb 10:1 tells us…For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things…
The law leads you to what is causing the shadow but it is not the source itself. You can’t pick apples from the shadow of an apple tree.
But the idea that man is the shadow, the image, of His Creator provides rich ideas for consideration. We are but a shadow of the Real Thing!

In Col 3:10 we have a reference made to this passage – and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…
The word image in this passage comes from the Greek word eikon (pronounced icon). Now think about the word icon as it relates to your computer. The icon on your desktop is not the document. It points to the document. It leads you to the original. As Christians, that is what we should be. When others see us, they should be led to the Original.

May 1, 2022
Theme of the Bible – The salvation of man that comes through Christ to the glory of GOD as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
So our current study is a look at the key chapters of the Bible that will corroborate this theme. This is not to say other chapters are less important but in keeping with our goal of taking an overall look at the Bible, this book of 1,189 chapters, over 31,000 verses; we are pulling out 12 chapters that are key to understanding this common thread or theme of the Scriptures.
We began last week, “In the beginning…” with Genesis 1. It is not an exhaustive study of the creation but rather a look at what happened on day 6, the creation of man. Our main focus will be on Gen 1:26 through 3:15. Here we find the creation of man and his fall thus illustrating the need for “The salvation of man…”
In v26, we have observed
the pronouns Us and Our are references to the Godhead involved in the creation process. C/f Gen 1:1 and John 1:1
the word image in the Hebrew connotes the idea of a shadow. Think of all that implies. In Col 3:10, Paul refers to the “Image of Him who created him.” The Greek word here is eikon (icon) that makes for interesting implications as well.
Lastly, let us observe the phrase, “according to Our likeness” in comparison to the earlier references to “according to its kind.”

So because of being created in the image of GOD, of all the animal kingdom, man is different. Whereas all the creation of plant life and animal life had the “according to its kind” now we have something different. Man was created “according to the likeness” of the Creator.
Make a marginal note by V27 noting it “refutes evolution.” Beginning with v11, 12, et al, we have this phrase, “according to its kind” => like begets like. 1 Cor 15:39 – All flesh is not same flesh. Men, beasts, fishes, and birds are not same.
Then in v26, we have “according to Our likeness”

Point #1 – man did not evolve rather he, unlike all other creation, was made in the image of the Creator.

Secondly, let us note – Chapters 1 and 2 are not chronological events. As Chp 2 begins, the creation is finished. Man was created on day 6. We read about the details of the creation of woman in 2:18ff and we sometimes think that occurred later. No, that is not the case.
1:27-28 notes man and woman has been created on day 6. Man was created first but woman was created on day 6 as well.
Chp 2 continues with more details about the creation especially that of man. We’ll pick up in v7.

Man and Animal – the unique difference
As noted, man is the only creation that is created in the image of GOD. That alone, is the difference between man and animal.
We see this explained in 2:7 – man is a living soul – Hebrew word translated “being” in NKJ refers to the inner breathing living being. Most of the time throughout the OT, it is translated “soul”.

I’ll note something in passing and will come back to it shortly – we have an important change in the reference to GOD that begins in v4. For the 1st time, GOD is referred to as the LORD GOD. This will be an important point as we develop our study in Gen 1-3. For now, just note the word LORD appears in all capital letters.

Just 3 quick references to this section:
“And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground …” This truth is perpetually attested in the fact that man’s body returns to dust upon his death. “Earth to earth, dust to dust” from Gen 3:19
At most funeral services we hear this idea expressed – and we examined this in our recent study “After death – what then?”
Eccl 12:7 – Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to GOD who gave it.

I had a call from a member recently that had heard a preacher on TV say that we will have a spiritual body and a physical body in heaven. She was asking if that is a Biblically sound statement. It absolutely is! When we die our spirits return to GOD and our physical bodies return to the dust (Eccl 12:7). But when Jesus comes there will be a resurrection and our spirits will be reunited with our resurrected bodies (1 Cor 15), changed no doubt, but some kind of body will be raised from the grave.

"the LORD GOD formed..." 

Focus on the “formed” – word means to squeeze something into shape – meaning to “mold”, or “to form.” Thus, it is GOD the Molder, or the Former.

We sing – “Thou art the potter, I am the clay” – coming from…
Isa 64:8 We are the clay, and You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.

Rom 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against GOD? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
Philip’s Translation – Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.

"And breathed into his nostrils ..." This is what differentiates us from the animals, because none of the animals were thus personally animated by the Almighty. See 1:26 

Here is the impassable gulf that separates the animal kingdom from that of man. A special endowment was given to men. He became a living soul.

Man and Woman – again a unique difference
Again, remember that much of Ch2 is a review of what happened on the 6th day when GOD created man and woman. At the end of all creation, 1:31, it was said that it was very good.
But note 2:18 – not good
Everything made was good – in fact, at the end of all creation, including man and woman, HE said it was very good (1:31)

But, during the creation process, on the 6th day, here for the 1st time, we have “not good”

What was “not good”? That man was alone – Man needs woman

Helper comparable to him – KJV “a help” used as a noun – KJV actually says “a help meet” the word meet acting as an adjective for the noun help. NASV says suitable for him.
Having said that, the word “help meet” is one word in the Hebrew meaning “one who helps” – Psa 121:1 – I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help?
NKJ renders v18 as “Helper Comparable”
Fit, suitable, corresponding, comparable…

Berkeley’s translation “…a suitable helper completing him.”  Some have a problem with that translation – completing him – man/woman can live a full life alone – it that sense one is not incomplete – in fact, during a time of persecution, Paul said it was better to be alone, 1 Cor 7.

But the Bible does say it was not good that man was alone – procreation was not possible – Prov 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds a good thing…”

I rather say “to complement” him – That is how the Holman Christian Standard Bible renders the verse…

I will make a helper as his complement.

So whether it is comparable to him, completing him, complementing him, a help meet…the Scriptures say it was not good before (2:18) and it was very good (1:31) afterwards…
So GOD created Adam and Eve – NOT Adam and Steve!

May 8, 2022

Authority carries with it Responsibility
V20 – So Adam gave names
To name something signifies authority AND responsibility
Think about naming our children – even naming a pet
I believe the details of day 6 in ch2 are given in sequential order. We note v20 is prior to woman being created but still on day 6. See v15-17 and note prior to Adam having a wife, he had a job and a home – good advice for any young man. Note also, the instructions given to Adam (vv 16, 17) were prior to Eve being created.
All of this is important in the discussion of the fall.

Note – v23 – She shall be called woman –
Naming the woman gives us insight from the beginning about GOD’S plan.
1 Cor 11:3 (head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is GOD)

Man is charged with Responsibility of the woman – Men like to emphasize the Authority and neglect the Responsibility; but with Authority comes Responsibility. The head of a company rightly states “the buck stops here”. This should be a man’s attitude toward his home and family.
I think there is a powerful lesson right off the bat in Chp 3 when Adam lets Eve down in this department.
Yes, Eve is the one who first ate of the fruit BUT who did GOD approach about it? Adam! That confirms GOD held Adam responsible!

V22 – He made into a woman
Our English word “woman” is derived from an Anglo-Saxon term, “womb-man,” meaning the man with the womb.
Fascinating that of all creation woman is unique – she is the only one made from another creature.
V21 – ribs – not head (superior) not feet (inferior)
She came from man! And yet every man after Adam, came from a woman.

1 Cor 11:3 gives us the Divine organizational chart. The head of the woman is man. And the head of man is Christ. If only men and women behaved as intended. I am convinced a great source of the familial breakdown in this country lies at the feet of man. Man in shirking his responsible place of leadership in the home has in many cases forced the woman to assume that position. That might be too much of a generalization but it is true nonetheless. GOD designed the home with the man as the head.
This is not to say there is not equality in the home. On the contrary, there is great equality. 1 Cor 11:12 is one of the most incredible equality designs I know.
For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman;
Woman came from man in the original design but man comes through woman in the birth process. The equality of the sexes is found throughout Scripture. Being equal does not negate different responsibilities.
It is the purpose of these thoughts to examine the role of man particularly as it relates to the home.
The high jacking of this Divine design began very early in creation and led to the fall of man.
See 1 Cor 11:12. What an incredible design of equality!

I think there is a chronology of events on the 6th day in vv 15-25. Namely
The LORD GOD put man in the Garden to tend it
GOD gave Adam the command not to eat of the tree of good and evil
GOD recognized Adam needed a companion
Adam named the animals
Adam was put to sleep and Eve was created (imagine his surprise when he awakened)

And then we have the home instituted…
GOD has ordained 3 institutions – The home, the church, and civil government.
In each, man is expected to exist, to head, to lead, to govern, according to the standard of truth GOD put in place. This assumes GOD as the ruler, the ONE who has all authority. Remember our discussion of the inclusion of LORD in the way GOD is addressed beginning in 2:4.

Satan in a very subtle move acted to diminish the authority of GOD early in the garden. We’ll go back to the point made earlier in 2:7 and the inclusion of the LORD in reference to GOD.

Our 1st introduction to GOD in Gen 1:1 is as Elohym. GOD 1st appears as the Creator. This all-powerful Being created everything just by speaking the word. In the beginning Elohym created… He is the GOD of creation.
HE is referred to as Elohym throughout Ch1. Beginning with Gen 2:4, we note a change in the way GOD is addressed. This coincides with GOD’S interaction with Adam as HE is now referred to as LORD GOD. The word LORD is where we get the name Jehovah and among other meanings carries the idea of master or ruler.
Thus, with this designation we have GOD the Creator further identified as the GOD of Authority.

(At the risk of losing our focus on the point under consideration we will mention but not expound on the word LORD, written in all caps, and the Tetragrammaton – the four Hebrew letters YWHW that with the insertion of the vowels becomes Yahweh, Jehovah.)

LORD GOD – Jehovah GOD – the master, the ruler, the one Source of Authority.
Satan’s deceitful move comes in 3:1 as he removed the authoritarian part of GOD’S reference. Satan simply refers to Him as GOD, referring to Him as GOD (the Creator) but questioning His divine authority. The same holds true today. Satan cares not for a semblance of religion so long as one doesn’t subscribe to the absolute authority of GOD, especially through His inspired word.
Note that Eve followed suit – 3:3 – she did not say the LORD GOD. She took her lead from Satan.
It is interesting that Adam had obviously taught her because she wasn’t there looking back at 2:16ff.

In GOD’S original design, man was intended to be the head of the home. He was created first and given the responsibility of leading the home. We see this beginning in 2:20 as Adam names all the animals, culminating in the naming of the woman (v23). Chapter 2 ends with a reference to the man and his wife denoting ownership.
With this ownership comes responsibility and accountability. Adam may have shirked his responsibility but he was not able to avoid the accountability.

We have a verse in 1 Tim 2 – v14 – And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
It is interesting to consider, did Satan approach Adam 1st and being unsuccessful turn to Eve? The Scripture doesn’t tell us, it just says Adam was not deceived. But Adam followed Eve’s lead in partaking of the forbidden fruit. Adam following Eve’s lead was not GOD’S design from the start. Adam was designed to lead.
We don’t know if Satan tried to approach Adam 1st but what we do know is that Satan did not deceive Adam. He went to Eve communicating with her instead of Adam. And he did it while utilizing his arsenal of weapons. (2 Cor 2:11) So not only did Satan usurp the authority of GOD but he also by passed the Divine plan for Adam to be the leader. Note how Satan’s plan unfolded.
He questions – 3:1
He contradicts – 3:4
He offers alternatives – 3:5

The insertion of one word, “not” in v4 makes all the difference. I am reminded of the Bible known as the “Wicked Bible.” It is a translation with an error omitting the word “not” in the command “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” One word indeed makes a lot of difference.

So Satan deceived Eve. (2 Cor 11:3; 1 Tim 2:14) Where was Adam when all this happened? One of the primary responsibilities of a man is protection.
I have a series of lessons for men only in which we examine the 3 areas of responsibilities of men: to provide, to protect, and to procreate. For our purposes today, let’s focus on protect.
Provide – 2 Thes 3:10, 1 Tim 5:8
Protect – 1 Peter 3:7
Procreate – Gen 1:28
2:6 tells us Adam was with her when she ate. Why didn’t he intervene? Was Adam with her when Satan approached? Why did he not step in? I submit that Adam failed in his capacity as her protector and in his role of leader with these questions. Adam let Eve down by being passive during this conversation with Satan.
If you have a problem with my wife, don’t expect to deal exclusively with her. She will not stand alone.

So, back to our story. There may have been some false teaching here as well. See 2:16, 17 and compare with 3:3. Did Adam add the “nor shall you touch it?”
It is important to note what happens next. GOD did not call for Eve. HE did not call for them both. HE called for Adam, 2:9. The subsequent verses make clear who GOD held responsible for the fall.
GOD eventually questioned Eve (v13). She then answered GOD partially in truth. She said the serpent deceived me. As part of her punishment, GOD placed the man in an authoritarian position over her (2:16).

May 15, 2022
There will be very little review today. Basically, our study thus far has been a look at the fall of man. We’ve taken a closer look at the creation of man and woman – in that order – on day 6.
In order, the events of day 6 seem to be…
Adam is created.
He is put in the Garden to tend it.
Instruction was given to Adam regarding the forbidden fruit prior to the creation of Eve.
Eve is created.
Adam shared those instructions with Eve, although we noted he may have added something to it – see 2:16, 17 and 3:3. Bobby noted last week the importance of not adding or taking away from GOD’S word.
Ch3 begins with Satan’s approach to Eve. Did he try Adam first and fail? We don’t know, the Bible simply tells us Adam was not deceived. Did he approach Eve while she was alone or was Adam with her when the temptation occurred? Again, we don’t know. What we do know is what is found in 1 Tim 2:14…
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
And Gen 3:6 indicates Adam WAS WITH HER when she ate and gave to him and he ate.

Let’s talk about the deception
Satan’s nature is to deceive. John 8:44, Jesus called him the father of lies. Satan is the source of all lies and deception. The NT warns many times, “be not deceived…” This is the strategy used by Satan when he questioned Eve. It worked on Eve. It works today on us.
Satan’s question to Eve was designed to cause her to question GOD’S character. It worked…she ate.
His main objective was not the woman but the man. He knew if he could get to the woman, he would defeat the man. He was right.
Adam could well have been with her during the deceptive conversation but I know he was with her when she ate of the forbidden fruit, see v6.
His eating was not a result of deception – Gen 3:13; 1 Tim 2:14.
He simply allowed Eve to lead. He followed her lead. He knew what he was doing. GOD held him responsible – 1 Cor 15:22.
Surely Adam did not fully understand the consequences. From that point on, every living thing died.

To conclude our thoughts on this 1st stop in the Scriptures, let’s visit 3:14ff.
Verses 14-19 reveal the curse GOD placed on the serpent as well as mankind. Let us note v15 in particular.
The seed of woman implies the virgin birth. And see Gal 4:4.
It is noteworthy to see v16 – as part of her punishment – your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you. Thus we have the order of 1 Cor 11:3 (GOD, Christ, man, woman) established here in the Garden. From the text in 1 Cor, we observe: GOD and Christ are equal; man and woman are equal. The woman is no less important than the man; they have different roles.
From this point throughout the Scriptures we have the “re-generation” plan. That is, “the salvation of man through Christ” is the common thread throughout.

II. The Promise to Abram – Gen 12, 15, 22 (Hebrews)
No overview of the Bible would be complete without a study of Abraham. Genesis 10 gives us the genealogy of Noah. Gen 10:21 makes a note about Shem. Normally the elder son would be listed first but in the case of Noah’s sons it is Shem, Ham, and Japheth. So what is special about Shem? Verse 21 notes a great, great grandson of Noah, Eber. Eber was the 4th generation from Noah. Something must be noteworthy of Eber. Shem and Eber are special in that they are forming the Messianic bloodline. The name Eber is almost certainly where we get the name Hebrews. See Gen 14:13 for the first use of the word Hebrew and it applies to Abraham.

With each of the 12 key chapters, remember the overall theme of the Bible and emphasize how this chapter fits into that theme. So we fast forward about 2,000 years to Genesis 12.
Note that about 1/3 of human history, roughly 2000 yrs, is found in chapters 1 – 11. Abraham lived circa 2,000 BC – this would be about half way between Adam and Christ. He was about the same distance from Christ on one side as we are on the other side.
Interesting to think that Genesis 1-11 covered about the same amount of time as the rest of the OT, and the same amount of time as has passed since Christ ascended back to heaven.
There is a natural divide in the book of Genesis in chapter 11. For chapters 1-11, there are 4 great events – Creation, Fall, Flood, Tower of Babel.
The rest of Genesis (12-50) follows 4 great men – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. Remember that all of those prior to the Mosaical Covenant, circa 1500 BC, lived under the patriarchal law where GOD communicated to man through the patriarch of the family.

After the flood, we have the incident at the Tower of Babel. The word babel is the same Hebrew word for Babylon and each time it is used it represents rebellion against GOD. It is found throughout Scripture, for example consider the Babylonian captivity. And the usage culminates in Rev 17 with the city of Rome being referred to as Babylon.
This rebellion at the Tower of Babel in Gen 11, sets the stage for Gen 12 and the first reveal of the Promised Land and the formation of GOD’S Nation. Even though the first Messianic prophecy was in Gen 3:15, with this call of Abraham, “The salvation of man” truly begins to unfold. Recall our key chapters in the OT will follow 4 men – Abraham, Moses, Joshua and David.

It is impossible to view the Key Chapters of the Bible without the inclusion of Abraham. Gal 3:29 reads…
And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Gal 3:16 reads – Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
There is the unmistakable link between Abraham and Christ.

We could say something similar about David since 2 Tim 2:8 refers to Jesus as, Jesus Christ, of the seed of David.
We see the “seed” idea, introduced in Gen 3:15, in play with Abraham and also with David.

May 22, 2022
We began our discussion of our 2nd stop in Genesis 12 last week. We’ll spend a couple of weeks here.
We noted Genesis 1 – 11 covers about 1/3 of human history. The rest of the OT will be another 1/3.
In Genesis 12 we begin our study of Abraham. He is the descendant of Noah, through Shem. He is also a descendant of Noah’s great, great grandson, Eber, which is likely where the word Hebrew comes from. Gen 14:13 is the first usage of the word Hebrew in Scripture.
Before we actually begin Ch12, let’s note some preliminary ideas.

Abraham
Our 1st introduction to Abram is in Gen 11:26. He is the 1st to be referred to as a Hebrew in Gen 14:13. Recall we noted this is likely linked to Eber in Gen 10:21. Abram is the son of Terah.
GOD changed his name to Abraham in Genesis 17:5ff. The meaning of the new name is “a father of many nations.” Abraham is 99 years old at this point and his wife, Sarah, is still childless. The sign of the covenant is circumcision in v10.
Abraham is the common ancestor of Jews, Arabs, and Christians – the Jewish religion, the Muslims (through Ishmael), and Christians – all claim “Father Abraham”.

For a brief comment about Islam see vv 16:12, 16; 17:18-21a. Note the 1st prayer in Scripture is a father praying for his children.
Gen 25:12-18 provides a genealogy of Ishmael. These are the Arabs. Secular sources (Islamic sources) say that Hagar and Ishmael settled near Mecca when they were banished. The Muslims trace their lineage to Abraham through Ishmael.
As a side note, the Messianic lineage continues to take shape in 25:23 as Rebekah and Isaac have 2 sons. Both produce nations, Esau was the father of the Edomites; Jacob, the children of Israel.

The Call of Abraham
It is interesting to note there were actually 2 calls of Abraham. What we read in Gen 12 is actually the 2nd call coming after the death of Terah at the end of Ch 11.
Not to spend too much time here but it is interesting that GOD called him 2 times.
(Have the class turn to Acts 7.) In Acts 7:2-4, at the beginning of the sermon by Stephen, he noted, that GOD appeared to Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran. (Refer to the map below)
V3 notes he was to leave his relatives. Josh 24:2 identifies his father Terah as an idolator. It appears Terah was not to be included. In v4 it is noted GOD did not move him to the Promised Land until his father, Terah was dead. Thus we note the 1st call came when he lived in the city of Ur of the Chaldees. It should be noted that Chaldeans and Babylonians are the same group and recall the word for Babylonians always represents a rebellion against GOD. Ur was located in present day southern Iraq.
The text in Genesis 12 comes when Abram is in Haran. See 11:31, 32. On their way to Canaan they stopped off in Haran. Gen 11:27, 28 notes one of Abraham’s sons was named Haran and died before the journey. Was this where the name of the place they stopped came from?
V31 and Acts 7:4 notes Terah died in Haran. Was Terah’s death before getting to the Promised Land important? He was part of the group headed to the Promised Land of Canaan. Was it GOD’S plan that he not be part of that group? Was that why they stopped in Haran and he died there? Was that why Gen 12 begins with the 2nd call? I think the evidence is strong that GOD did not intend on Terah being part of the move. Again note the fact, Terah was an idolater.

Don’t think it strange that GOD called him 2 times. The same thing happened to Jonah.
Note Gen 11:31. Terah as patriarch of the family moved them from Ur of the Chaldees in Mesopotamia. The ESV and the CSB have the word “but” instead of “and” they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Interesting to note that Gen 12:4 indicates Lot went with Abraham when he departed from Haran. He still was not following GOD’S instruction completely since GOD instructed him to get away from his family in v1. Lot was family. There were issues with Lot going forward. Could it be because of this lack of complete obedience?

As we begin Ch12, the Key Chapter, I want to begin by noting, Abram didn’t ask questions, he just went. Heb 11:8-10. Go/Went.
Later in ch22, GOD said “Take your son, Isaac, and go to Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering.” The next verse says Abraham rose early in the morning. The next day! Go/Went. No questions.
Other examples of “go and went” Ananias – Acts 9:15, 17; Joseph – arise take, he arose and took, Matt 1:13, 14.

V1 – Get out; v4 – so he departed.
Hebrews notes “not knowing where he went.” This is why the passage begins “By faith Abraham…”
The text continues, “By faith Abraham obeyed…” And thus we see faith and obedience, i.e. action, are inseparably linked.

Abraham didn’t know where he was going. GOD led him to Haran until he was ready to proceed to the Promised Land after the death of his father.

Promises made
V2 – I will make you a great nation
V7 – To your descendants I will give this land c/f 15:18
V3 – in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. c/f 22:18

So we have promises relative to a great nation, land promised, with the Seed promise implied.

May 29, 2022
So what is the purpose or the overall intent of our study? To choose the chapters that will reinforce the Bible’s theme – “The salvation of man through Christ.” We need to be able to see Christ in every book of the Bible. To see that our salvation through Him is a gift of grace. That the only way we have to heaven is through Him. Thus our only objective in life should be to Seek Him, to draw closer to Him, to want to become more like Him.
We begin with a look at the map and what appears to be 2 calls of Abraham. One came when he was in Ur of the Chaldees (Acts 7:2-4) and the 2nd call, as noted in Gen 12, came when Abraham was in Haran after the death of his father, Terah.
Though there are other elements of GOD’S promise or covenant with Abraham, we will note 3.
Promises made

1. V2 – I will make you a great nation
2. V7 – To your descendants I will give this land c/f 15:18 (called Covenant 1st time)
3. V3 – in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. c/f 22:18
   So we have promises relative to a great nation, land promised, with the Seed promise implied.

As we begin Gen 12, he is still known as Abram.
GOD changed his name to Abraham in Gen 17. In v10 of that chapter we note that the sign of the Covenant with Abraham is circumcision. Recall the sign of the covenant made with Noah is the rainbow, a sign that GOD will not destroy the earth again with water. Genesis 9:13

Nation – 12:2 – There are 3 things needed to make a nation – a people, laws, and land.
The people – Gen ends with 70 members of Jacob’s family – Exo 1:5
About 430 years later we have 1 million + (Exo 12:37)
Thus the Nation of Israel is being formed.
But the people idea contains more than that. We are part of that people as well.
Seed promise or people promise – v3b and Gen 22:18; Gal 3:16

Law – would come from Mt Sinai and the Covenant given to Moses.  We sometimes refer to the 1st 5 books of the Bible as books of the Law.  Technically, it would not include Genesis.  The books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers contain the Law.  The book of Deuteronomy is a retelling of the Law to a new generation of people.


Land promise – v1, 7
    We should note there were actually 2 land promises
Canaan proper – v7 
Extended land promise – Gen 15:18
        2nd of 2 land promises
        Here GOD made a promise that his seed would possess the land between                the River of Egypt and the Euphrates River.  Has that promise been              fulfilled?  

Let’s pause here and address an issue that is very much with us today. Many sincere people interpret this to mean GOD’S land promise is yet to be fulfilled and in fact will be complete with an earthly return of Jesus and the Jews returning to the Promised Land around Jerusalem. Premillennialist teach this will be the beginning of a 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ.

This idea that the land around Palestine still belongs to the Jews is what led to the creation of the nation of Israel on May 14, 1948. The United Nations approved a plan to divide Palestine into a Jewish State and an Arab State. The US recognized the new nation. The Jews and the Arabs have been fighting ever since. It is no small detail to remember the ancestry of the two groups. Jews from Isaac and the Arabs from Ishmael.

You’re going to want to make some marginal notes here. This is very important.
These land promises have been fulfilled – Josh 21:43-45.

Go to Joshua 23 and note the following.
V6 – be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written
V8 – hold fast to the LORD
V12 – Or else…
V13 – until you perish from this good land
V15, 16 – ends with “you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”

Cross reference and go to Deut 4: 25-27, 29.
Israel lost the land just as the Amorites in Genesis 15 did.

Other passages you’ll want to mark:
1 Kings 4:21, 9:7; 2 Chron 9:26; Neh 9:7-8

There are NO promises yet to be fulfilled to the Jews or to us as Christians to occupy the Holy Land around Jerusalem as is taught by the Premillennialist doctrine. These land promises were conditional. As long as the descendants of Abraham were faithful, the land was theirs. The land was lost in stages. Remember the Northern Kingdom of Israel went into Assyrian captivity never to return. That left Judah with the land in the South around the city of Jerusalem. The final rejection came when the Jews rebelled against Jesus ushering in the New Covenant.

June 5, 2022
My intent today is to finish our discussion of Abraham and next week move on to our 3rd stop.
Last week we looked at the Promises made to Abraham, particularly the land promise.
See Genesis 13:15 – forever.
We saw from our study last week that this promise was conditional in nature.
Josh 23 – keep and do all that is written; hold fast; OR ELSE you will perish from this land
Our next stop will be Moses. Moses in the giving of the Law to a 2nd generation had something to say about this also. Let’s turn to Deut 4 and make a brief reference to vv 9, 25-27.
Deut 28 should also be visited noting vv 1, 8, 9, 15, 36, 37, 63-64.
A misunderstanding of this and an expectation that this land promise is yet to be fulfilled has led to much confusion in the religious world today. A look at the map of modern day Israel and the Middle East is the result of the action taken in 1948 to create the nation of Israel.

The question was posed last week regarding what seems to be a discrepancy in Exo 1:5 and Acts 7:14.
Was it 70 persons or 75? We must first commit to there being an explanation as there is certainly no error. There appears to be 2 possible reasons both involving the Septuagint Version.
My NKJ has a marginal rendering at Exo 1:5 of – LXX seventy five. This line of thought is the Greek translation of the Septuagint translated the number as 75. This would have been the translation Stephen was using in Acts 7.
This one depends on who is counted in each list. Gen 46: gives the list of those ending in v27 with 70 who went to Egypt. The LXX of Gen 46:20 lists sons born to Manasseh and Ephraim – one son of Manasseh, two of Ephraim, and one grandson of each. This would total the 75.
As we continue our study let me emphasize what was said last week. It is all about Jesus Christ. It is Him we SEEK. It is our desire to see Him in every book of the Bible. The Bible is after all a book about the salvation of man that comes through Christ! Aren’t we thankful for that!!

Now let’s return to Gen 12. Vv 10-20 is a lesson in itself
Read Gen 12: 7-9. Of special note, he built an altar near Bethel and Ai. But then he journeyed South.

Abraham is still not following GOD’S plan. It appears Abraham’s lack of trust is on display. Where is GOD is all this? GOD sent him to Canaan; there was a famine there; Abraham leaves and goes to Egypt; he lies about Sarai being his sister; note v17 – the LORD is still working His plan.
13: 3, 4 – He finally returns to GOD. Note Abraham returned to where he last was with GOD.
Lesson for me – When we are separated from GOD, HE didn’t move!

Before we leave Genesis and the story of Abraham as it relates to the Messianic prophecies, let us note very briefly…
Lessons from Abraham
Rom 4 speaks of his faith – Heb 11:8 affirms it includes action.

Faith requires us to get out of our comfort zones. Heb 11:8, “not knowing where he went.” Leave your comfort zone.  Recall the Go/Went discussion.  No questions.  Only faith.  Active faith.  Obedient faith.

What is my comfort zone? The same circle of friends I’ve had for many years? The things I’ve done successfully for many years? Things I am confident I can do? Responsibilities that will make me look good and hold little room for controversy? The traditional way we have always arranged our worship? Living in the comfort box.

The Messianic bloodline
Father of a multitude, “friend of God” – almost 300X Bible
9X in Romans, last time in 11:1
Romans 11:1  I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an  Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

Some basic life lessons from Abraham, especially for men
The decisions you make can last for generations.
Sometimes your family needs a clean break from your extended family.
The most important thing you can do is prepare your kids and grandkids to serve the LORD.
Leadership starts at home – Gen 18:19

III. Exodus 12 and 20

June 12, 2022
Our 3rd stop in the series. Where have we been? See the intro to Part III below.
Objective: To see Christ in every book; to have a greater understanding of the theme of the Bible and thus to have a greater appreciation for the grace of GOD offering us salvation.

If you remember the 12 words we developed as an outline of the Bible, we have thus far looked at the words Beginning and Hebrew. The next 2 words are combined in our next stop.

                (Bondage and Wanderings)

Moses and the Law – Exodus 12 and 20    

Our 1st 2 stops have been in the book of Genesis looking at
the fall of man and thus the need for salvation and then
a study of the covenant made with Abraham and the promise of a great nation and all that implies. Specifically, this new nation would be the conduit by which the Messiah would come and fulfill the prophecy first noted in Genesis 3:15.

Still we remember our overall objective is to follow the theme of the Bible – “The salvation of man that comes through Christ…” By remembering this theme, we can easily see the continuity of this thread throughout the Bible. We should strive to see Christ on every page of the OT.

As the book of Exodus opens, we have 70 (or 75?) members of Abraham’s descendants in Egypt. The family grew exceedingly and in time their descendants found themselves in slavery that would last about 400 years. Exo 12:37 gives us the number of people likely in excess of 1 Million. And thus we have our people element to form the great nation promised to Abraham.

The land element has been promised to Abraham’s descendants. It will be the 3rd component with which we will deal in our 4th stop. Our 3rd stop here in Exodus will address the law element.

So from Exodus chapter 1, we fast forward to about 1500 BC to chapter 12, where we find Moses leading the children of Israel out of Bondage. During this time of wandering the Mosaic Covenant is given. Recall that to have a nation, we need a set of laws to go along with the people.

In chapter 20, the Decalogue, the 10 Commandments, is delivered on Mount Sinai and GOD enters into covenant with the nation He promised to Abraham. This nation, referred to as the nation of Israel, was named after Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, when GOD changed his name to Israel. Jacob’s 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel.
It is in the book of Exodus that the term covenant comes to refer to the Lord’s arrangement with the Israelites on Mount Sinai. Going forward this will come to be known as the Mosaic Covenant, the Levitical Covenant, and as stated previously the First Covenant. Prior to this, covenant is known as the covenant with Abraham and his seed (Exo 2:24). GOD also made a covenant with Noah after the flood.

Review some of the covenants GOD made with man.
Noahic covenant – GOD will not destroy earth by water – sign: rainbow (Gen 9:12)
Abrahamic covenant – Land and Seed promises to the Jews – sign: circumcision (Gen 17:11)
Mosaic covenant – children of Israel, the Messianic bloodline. So this new covenant is not the 1st covenant between GOD and man.

Thus we observe GOD made other covenants with man but generally the first covenant refers to the Levitical Law or the Mosaical Covenant. It is even referred to as the First Covenant, Heb 8:7; 9:1.

The book of Hebrews refers to covenant more than any other NT book. Reference is made to a better covenant, the 1st covenant, a new covenant, etc. It is important for us to remember we don’t live under this Mosaical Covenant. It may surprise you, because of the emphasis placed on “covenant” in Hebrews, when we come to the Key Chapters of the NT, we will not begin with MMLJ.

Let us remember the Patriarchal, Mosaical, and Christian Dispensations and the general timelines for each. We have a change that occurs with each. The change between the Patriarchal and Mosaical times is significant and certainly one of the Key Chapters of the Bible.

The 2 most significant events in establishing the Law of Moses, aka the Levitical Covenant, occur in Chapters 12 and 20.

Before we look at these 2 chapters, let us note a passage that summarizes the entire book of Exodus. See Exo 19:4-6. This is the instruction given Moses on Mount Sinai. Especially note v6 and the reference made to a holy nation. Just as He had promised Abraham that of his descendants He would make a great nation, the promise continues. Throughout our study we will note this idea of a great nation. C/f this with 1 Peter 2:9. The Christian is part of this holy nation even today.

Go down to verse 12 and note GOD commanded Moses to set bounds for the people. One of those bounds was that none could come near the mountain. Refer to Hebrews 4:16 and 10:22; Isa 2:2 – the mountain.

So we begin to see an element of the Levitical Covenant: the common people could not approach GOD directly. The Law will lay out a plan by which the common person will approach GOD through a mediator, a priest acting as a go-between.

This is the beginnings of the Old Law of worship in which the priests offered sacrifices with the high priest going into the Holy of Holies once each year to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people as well as himself.

Note the foreshadowing of the New Covenant that develops throughout the Old Testament. This helps our understanding of the New Covenant under which we live and serve. We no longer have priests acting on our behalf. Jesus Christ is our High Priest and made the ultimate sacrifice on my behalf one time. One would not have to know the OT in order to know Jesus and receive salvation but an understanding of these stops in the OT gives us a great appreciation for the Covenant under which we live.

So with these introductory thoughts, let’s visit our 3rd stop.

June 19, 2022
Message for the Board: Objective – To see Christ in Exodus 12 and 20.
A very brief review of our introduction to this our 3rd stop:
We noted several things last week related to the important change occurring here
Moving from the Patriarchal Age to the Levitical Age
Mosaical Law will introduce the Levitical Priesthood
(Priests must come from tribe of Levi)
The establishment of the Law will be the 2nd component necessary for the “great nation”
I want you to hang on to the concept of a great nation; the idea of a nation will resurface later…
There are many laws and regulations included in the Law – a total of 613 do’s and don’t’s
But IMO the 2 main events leading to the giving of the Law is found in Exo 12 and 20
Ch12 contains instructions relative to the Passover being their means of avoiding the death plague (see vv 3-7, 8, 10, 13), the actual account of the plague, the exodus, the Passover regulations.

Exodus 12 – The Passover is instituted

The Passover was instituted as part of the 10th and final plague against Pharaoh, that of the death of the firstborn of every man and animal. The Passover was a means of protecting GOD’S own people.

The blood of a lamb was to be put on the 2 doorposts and on the lintel of the house. There were strict requirements given – note vv 3-7.

V13 should be noted especially as it relates to obedience. There was no connection between the blood on the door and sparing the firstborn. GOD knew where they lived. Why did HE have them do this? He expected obedience. And He still does today. GOD’S grace provided a way. Man’s obedience demonstrated his faith.

It was GOD’S plan. Some today reject baptism because they see no connection. But just as GOD’S plan included blood then, it, the blood, plays a part in our salvation, c/f 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9-10; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:2. The blood on the door posts and all the blood from those sacrifices throughout the OT all symbolically led to the Ultimate Blood Sacrifice at Calvary.

So v13 could be spoken to us today. Our salvation hinges on the blood of Christ, without which we have no hope.

The salvation of man through Christ continues to take shape here in our 3rd stop.

The Passover regulations are given in 12:43ff as the children of Israel were leaving Egypt. The 10th and final plague, the death of the first born, secured the release of the Children of Israel from Egyptian Bondage. V37 places the number of men at about 600,000. C/f this back to Exo 1:5 and note the estimated number leaving Egypt was about 1.5 Million when the women and children are included.

V43 is the beginning of many laws given that will be part of the Old Law, aka the Mosaical or Levitical Covenant.

The Passover
This memorial reminded them of GOD’S deliverance from slavery in Egypt and is a sign pointing to the coming of the Messiah. Think about these as types with Jesus as the antitype.

The Passover lamb – recall John 1:29 – the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world
1 Cor 5:7 – Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us
1 Peter 1:19 – lamb without blemish and without spot

without blemish
male
young 
examined for 4 days
slain in public
none of its bones were to be broken
its blood was a sign that GOD would pass over and not destroy the family’s firstborn

Now note Jesus as the antitype
He was sinless and perfect
He was male
He was young (remember the Hebrews considered one a youth less than 40)
His life was examined
He died in public
Even with a brutal death that often included broken bones, He died without a broken bone
Jesus’ blood is the sign of His death and is the redeeming element for us – Eph 1:7, et al.

Ch 13 includes the observance of the 1st Feast, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, to be a reminder of what GOD did for His people, see vv 8, 9.

In time the Jew took this passage literally and made phylacteries to be worn on the arm and between the eyes. Inside these little boxes were passages written on little pieces of parchment and rolled up. This verse along with verses from Deut 6 usually were in the boxes. I don’t think it was meant to be taken literally because of the phrase “the LORD’S law may be in your mouth”

I think a better interpretation is that this memorial shall govern what you do (on your hands) and what you think (between your eyes) and what you say (in your mouth). Of course we remember the problem Jesus condemned in Matt 23 when He encountered those Jews who were displaying their phylacteries to be seen of men.

June 26, 2022
Message for the Board: Objective – To see Christ in Exodus 12 and 20.

A very brief review:
Our series is to select the chapters in the Bible that will corroborate the theme.
The salvation of man through Christ (that brings glory to GOD as revealed by the Spirit).
It is our desire to see Christ in every book of the Bible – certainly every Key Chapter.

So this is where we have been:
The salvation of man => man is lost. We studied that in Gen 1, 2, and 3.
In particular we noted Gen 3:15. After the fall of man, GOD promised a Redeemer.
Do you see Christ in Gen 3:15?

2,000 years later in Gen 12 – this Messianic promise began to take shape as GOD promised Abraham that through his descendants would come a great nation in which all the people of the earth would be blessed. Do you see Christ in Gen 22:18? In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. Gal 3:16 confirms this is referring to Jesus Christ.

Another thing I have asked you to make a mental note of is this idea of a nation.
To have a great nation requires 3 things (people, law, and land). Our next stops will provide this.

So we fast forward about 500 years later (circa 1500 BC) to find ourselves in Exo 12 and 20.

The giving of the Mosaical Law signaled a big change. Prior to this time we see GOD dealing with man through the Patriarchs of the family. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses are examples of this. But with the giving of the Law, GOD will now deal with man through a priesthood. We refer to this as the Levitical Priesthood.

Now this people, about 1.5 million in number, coming out of Egyptian bondage and 400 years of wandering the wilderness, will have the 2nd component needed, that is, the Law.

In my opinion, the 2 high water marks in the giving of the Old Law is found in Exodus 12 and 20. We discussed the Passover in Exodus 12 last week. ee Exo 12:5, 13. Do you see Christ in the Passover Lamb?

On our way to Chapter 20, let us make a few remarks about Ch19.
See 19:1, 4-6 (note the holy nation, c/f 1 Pet 2:9), 12, 18a, 20b, 21ff.
V21ff – v23 Moses tried to note that they had already been warned but GOD knew more about the people’s curiosity than did Moses. This led to v24 – basically GOD saying “Just do what I told you!”

We usually associate Exo 20 as the foundation of the Old Law. It is the beginning of the giving of many laws in the following chapters.

Exo 20 – The Decalogue

GOD divided the Decalogue into 2 tables of stone. Is there significance in the division of 2? Christ essentially did the same thing in Mark 12:28-31. Here He summed up the 10 as, Love GOD and Love your neighbor.

Interesting to note how some have divided the 10
The Jews for example place 1-5 on Table 1 and 6-10 on Table 2
The usual Protestant division places 5th on Table 2 among duties to men
The Catholics omit the second – split the 10th into 2 – 1, 3, 4, and 5 on Table 1
(Their 9 and 10 are – Not to covet your neighbor’s wife; Not to covet your neighbor’s goods)

The 10 Commandments
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall make no idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.

A Brief Look at the 10 in Exo 20
Note GOD first established His authority in v 1-2. As we begin a look at the 10, be reminded we are looking at this as it fits into our overall focus. It is the foundation of the Old Law. It is not our desire to delve deeply into each one but rather make a cursory comment about each as we go.

I do want to emphasize this is the foundation of the Old Law. We do not serve under the Old Law. Just as there was a change from the Patriarchal Age to the Mosaical Age, that changed everything, there will be another change down the annals of time, which will change everything again. We read about this in places like Jeremiah 31:31ff in reference to this New Covenant.

Matt 5:17 – Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

But for now, let us make very brief comments about each of these 10 commands.

V3 – no other gods before Me.  We usually think of all the false gods in the Old Testament.  But we are very prone to worship false gods as well.  You may say, “I don’t have any idols in my house!”

What about the god of humanism?
The god of materialism?
The god of science?
The god of hedonism, pleasure, recreation, self, etc?
Anything in our lives that we put before GOD is a god!

V4 – Graven (NKJ carved) image – you shall not make them, bow down to them, or serve them.  Clearly referring to the worship of the image itself.  Some religious people will contend the image represents GOD and they are thus worshipping GOD.  The language is clearly condemning here.  Note: this is the commandment that is omitted by our Catholic friends.


V7 – LORD’S name in vain

Word vain means emptiness or worthlessness
Profane vulgar swearing
Hypocrisy or slang – “Lord have mercy; OMG”
Disrespectful

The Sabbath Day – I want to come back to this one shortly but in keeping with our brief remark about each, just let me observe the Sabbath remembrance is part of the Law given on Mt. Sinai.  

At this point, one may observe Jesus’ statement in Matt 22:38. When asked to identify the greatest command, He responded to love GOD. The 1st 4 commands focus on this idea. The last 6 are grounded on one’s love for his neighbor.

Honor father and mother – one sorely lacking in our time.  This commandment protects the home.  The older generation is to be revered and cared for.  Many cultures are to be admired.  Japan is one such place.  One recent statistic showed that in the US, 16% of those 65 or older lived with family; Japan it was 55%.  Now a disclaimer – I DO NOT want to live with my children!!

July 3, 2022
We are now streaming our class so just a few comments in review is in order.
Key Chapters – Gen 3; Gen 12; Exo 12, 20
Exo 12 – The Passover is instituted following the 10th plague; Blood becomes critical part of salvation.
Exo 20 – The foundation of the Mosaical Law is given from Mt Sinai.
The 1st 4 of the 10 Commandments relate to one’s behavior toward GOD
The last 6 governs one’s behavior toward his fellow man.
We made brief mention of the 1st 5 last week and continue today with brief comments.

Shall not murder.  Many of the older translations have “thou shalt not kill.”  At issue here is a place like Dt 13:9 that gives punishment for certain actions as “you shall kill him”.  There is no problem because 2 different Hebrew words are used.  The correct translation is the NKJ – you shall not murder.  The ESV has a footnote that this also includes causing human death by carelessness or neglect.


Shall not commit adultery – this is a sin against ˡGOD, against ²the body of the sinner, against ³the family and home, and even against ⁴the whole of society.  Today’s lax and immoral attitude does not condone this breakdown of the home.  It is, in fact, the only cause GOD gave for the dissolution of the marriage, other than death.


Shall not steal – the Bible supports ownership of private property.  

Peter told Ananias and Sapphira “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?” Acts 5

Then Paul says, “Let him who stole, steal no more, labor, working with his hands what is good…” Eph 4

Shall not bear false witness - Each command guards something precious: 

V guards father and mother;
VI guards life;
VII guards marriage and the home;
VIII guards property rights;
IX guards truth and the reputations of men.

Shall not covet – the word covet means to desire or take pleasure in.  Note in particular what is being coveted.  This aligns with the private property of VIII.  It doesn’t belong to me – it is my neighbor’s!

This one along with the 1st one is more spiritual in nature in that it has to do with the inner being. You see, I can covet your possession and you might never know.

We are not under the Old Law
Now what I would like to do first is to establish the fact that we no longer serve under this Mosaical Law. Chapters 20ff contain various laws. All of the OT worship – the sacrifices, the burning of incense, the priesthood, the various feasts, the days, etc. – no longer dictates how we are to worship GOD. How can we say that? Observe the following.

Let us go to Exo 24:12; then go to Exo 31:18; note the tablets were written with the finger of GOD. Next, we have the incident of the golden calf, Moses breaks the 1st tablets, and GOD reissues them. Note 32:16 and 34:1.

At some of these references, make a marginal note to see Col 2:13-14. See also Eph 2:14-16; Heb 8:7-10.

All of this is to emphasize that we are no longer under the Levitical Law with all of its ordinances. It is important to note, this Law ended when Christ was crucified, as it was nailed to the cross.

Jesus and the Decalogue
The Law ended when Jesus was crucified thus Jesus lived under the Old Law. However, He was the change Agent. So it is interesting to note His handling of the Old Law. Let’s make a brief survey from Matthew’s account.

Matt 5:17 – came not to destroy but to fulfill the law – Col 2:14 – He took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross

Matt 5:21ff – He specifically mentioned 6, 7, and 9 – but made His own words superior – “But I say unto you…”

Matt 15:4 – GOD is the Author; He then deals with #5

Matt 19:16ff – He mentions 5, 6, 7, and 9

Matt 22:34ff – He taught duties to GOD are higher than duties and obligations to people

How does it apply to us today? We have had many battles in Alabama about the 10 Commandments. At the end of the day, I don’t live under the OT law. So I’ll leave the politics out of our discussion today.

Even though we are not under the Old Law, 9 of the 10 Commandments find their way into the New Covenant. For example, Matt 5:21 Jesus expands the command relative to murder.

The only one we do not observe today is the observance of the Sabbath. I promised a more detailed discussion regarding this and will do so at this time.

A full discussion regarding the Sabbath

The actual term ‘Sabbath’ does not appear in the first 65 chapters of the bible, a period of about 2500 years. In Genesis 2, the term Sabbath is not used. However, to be fair, the Hebrew verb translated ‘rested’ in verse 2 is the origin of the noun Sabbath. It is important to note, however, that the Genesis account is telling what GOD did, not what man is to do. The creation account does not ordain Sabbath worship. Sabbath observance/worship was ordained by the Law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and thus does not govern us today. This Law was given only to the children of Israel.

Exodus 31:16, 17 – The Old Law is no longer binding on the Christian today. 9 of the 10 commandments were brought over as part of the New Covenant, the Sabbath observance being the only one not a part of our worship. We are commanded to assemble not on the Sabbath but on the first day of the week.

The word forever comes from the word olam. One of the usage of this word – a long duration, perpetual within a time frame.

So what about the Sabbath? You’re going to want to mark these verses.

Let’s go first to Deut 5 and the second sharing of the Law to a new generation of children. Chapter 5 is a reviewing of the 10 Commandments. Very important to note vv 2, 3. These commandments were given from Mt Sinai in Horeb. They were NOT given to earlier Jews, all the way back through Abraham and extending to Adam and creation. These commandments in Exo 20 and Deut 5, were given around 1500 BC.

A part of this law included the observance of the Sabbath (v12ff). A part of the observance was tied to memorial of the deliverance from Egyptian slavery. See v15 and note in your margin.

Now let’s go to Nehemiah 9. Remember that Nehemiah was one of the last books of the OT to be written. Verses 12-14 makes clear when the Sabbath worship began. It was made known to man at Mt. Sinai.

So we have Sabbath worship is part of the Mosaic Law, the Old Law. Are we bound by this Law? No, we have established that fact earlier.

We are no longer to observe the Sabbath as a holy day. We read in Colossians 2 that the old law was nailed to the cross and we are now a part of the body of Christ. It is important to note the blotting out of ordinances in verse 14 leads to the ‘therefore’ statement in verse 16. Holy days (yearly), moons (monthly) and Sabbath days (weekly) are no longer observed under the new law of Christ. Under this new law, the new day for worship is Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20: 7, 1 Cor 16: 2).

Recall the signs of the previous covenants, Noah and the rainbow; Abraham and circumcision; The sign of the Mosaic Covenant – Sabbath (Ex 31:16-17). What was the Sabbath meant to represent? See Exo 24:8. The blood of the covenant correlated with the blood on the door posts which is why we have to study Exo 12 along with ch 20. Incidentally you may want to mark Exo 16:23 as the beginning of the Sabbath for man. This is the 1st time the word Sabbath is found in the Scriptures.

July 17, 2022
We continue a discussion began on July 3 and will finish our key stop in the book of Exodus. (This discussion relative to the Sabbath was delayed until today by a request from class member that was not present on July 10. Write the bold questions from the lesson on the board prior to class.)

How do we know we are no longer under the Mosaical Law?
We last noted the 10 Commandments (the very foundation of the ML) were written by the finger of GOD. Exodus 31:18
Let’s go to the text in Col 2 and make a new observation.
Col 2:14 Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements
Col 2:14-15 – In this passage there are three statements of abrogation:
having wiped out (Gk word literally means to erase)
taken it out of the way
nailing it to the cross
Col 2:15-16
v. 16 –So or therefore – “there for” (about to give reason for what he just said)
v. 16 – Let no man judge you…
mark “so or therefore” v. 16 – in your margin note because of vv13-15
food or drink – Note the Old Law with its requirements; remember Peter in Acts 10
Holyday (KJV), festival (NKJ) – yearly
New Moon – monthly
Sabbath – weekly
v17 – all those things are but a shadow of the things to come. Heb 10:1 literally says the law is a shadow of the good things to come.

Let’s go to another text – 2 Cor 3
In this text it is clear there are two covenants.
Note how they are contrasted and make appropriate marginal notes.
V3 – the epistle of Christ written not with ink vs. that one written on tablets of stone
V6 – ministers of the new covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit. Circle word new.
V7 – ministry of death written and engraved on stones was glorious; was passing away.
The reference to face of Moses – c/f Exo 34:29-35.
V 8, 9 – ministry of the Spirit vs. the ministry of condemnation
V11 – it is passing away (that’s the Old Covenant) while the new remains

Therefore – nothing in the OT is binding on us. We are under a new covenant. That is why one can’t use the OT to justify instruments of music, etc.
That’s what Rom 7 is really discussing. It is not about marriage but rather it is describing us not being under the Old Law. Of course, the marriage discussion is true – one is released from the marriage vows at the death of a spouse – but the discussion is about no longer being under the Old Law since we are dead to the law (Rom 7:4).
So why do we study the OT? Rom 15:4
The things written before were written for our learning. The OT gives us a more complete understanding and appreciation of the New Covenant.

So do we worship on Saturday or Sunday?
The Scriptures in Col, Eph, 2 Cor, and Heb make clear we are no longer under the Law of Moses. Sabbatarians use Gen 2 as a proof text saying the Sabbath was a commandment given from beginning and thus not part of that Law being abrogated.
See Gen 2:2-3 and note
three references to 7th – not one to the Sabbath
three references to God – not one to man
This tells us what God did – not what man is to do
Sabbath not mentioned first 65 chapters of bible (25 centuries)
If the commandment is from beginning, isn’t it strange that we have 2500 years before we have one reference?

We noted earlier the passage from Deut 5. This is the second giving of the Law to a new generation of people. Note the 10 Commandments beginning in v6. However, for our purposes today, note vv 2-3. This covenant was not made with our fathers.
Note vv 12-15 and cross reference Neh 9:12-14.
Remember that Nehemiah was one of the last books of the OT to be written. Verses 12-14 make clear when the Sabbath worship began. It was made known to man at Mt. Sinai.

So we have Sabbath worship is part of the Mosaic Law, the Old Law. Are we bound by this Law? No, we have established that fact earlier.

But some will say it was a forever ordinance
Exo 31:12-17 – the word olam is used (perpetual within its appointed time frame)
Also found in 12:14 – referring to the Passover – forever
Also in Lev 23:41 – feast of tabernacles to be kept forever

Thus we worship not according to the Levitical Law. We are under a new covenant.

How about the 1st Century Christians specifically the apostles AFTER Jesus’ crucifixion?
It appears the apostles went to the synagogues on the Sabbath to present the gospel. (Acts 13:14; 17:1-2) But this is because that is where they found many Jews together.
Did the church gather to worship on the Sabbath?? No
The first meeting of the church, the first preaching/worship, was done on Pentecost (Acts 2:1). What day of the week was Pentecost?
A look at Lev 23 notes many of these feasts being described. Some of these are always on the Sabbath or Saturday. Some could be any day of the week. But it is interesting that one of these feasts always fell on Sunday. The Feast of Weeks aka Pentecost.
According to Lev 23: 15-16, this was 50 days after a certain Sabbath, thus it would always fall on Sunday. It was not apparent to the Jew of the OT how important this day would play in the Messianic development of the church.
Thus this beginning of the church was on the first day of the week (Acts 2:42).
Acts 20:7 – and note v6 – Paul was anxious to get to Jerusalem but waited a full 7 days to assemble with the church.
1 Cor 16:2 – NASB every first day of the week
Rev 1:10 – not conclusive by itself but the very mention draws attention to the LORD’S day.

See the book, “A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs”
Pages 571ff – read several quotes from the Christian fathers of the 1st 3 Centuries. For the first three centuries of Christian history, the testimony is uniform that the original disciples of Jesus Christ worshiped on Sunday — not on the Sabbath.

July 24, 2022
We will be stop #4 of 6, what we are calling our Key Chapters in the OT – Joshua 24.

Let us remember our objective – To see Christ in every chapter and book of the Bible.
Thus we affirm our thematic statement – The salvation of man that comes through Christ.
Prior to beginning our study, we noted the 12 words that could sum up the Bible. The entire study of the 12 Key Chapters will not continue to follow these 12 words but it has thus far. So where have we been?

The salvation of man => man is lost. We noted that fact in our 1st stop, when we studied Gen 1-3; Our key word: Beginning.
We see Christ from the beginning; Gen 1:26 – Let Us make man in Our image;
And we have the first Messianic promise in Gen 3:15 – GOD said to Satan, “I will put enmity between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

2nd Stop – The word was Hebrew and the text Gen 12, 15, 22 – The promise of a great nation; the Seed promise found in 22:18, In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…
Gal 3:15 – Now to Abraham and His Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds” as many, but as of one, “And to your Seed” who is Christ.

3rd stop – Exodus 12, 20 – Bondage/Wandering – The Passover and the giving of the 10 Commandments; the Mosaical Covenant is established. Moses becomes the 2nd character of our OT Key Chapters. Christ is easily seen here as the Passover Lamb.

IV. Joshua 24 (Conquest)

Let us recall our goal is to observe how the Bible’s theme is the salvation of man through Christ to the glory of GOD as revealed by the Spirit. We noted our overall view would follow 4 men through the OT. Abraham and Moses have found their place in the Messianic lineage. Moses’ replacement was Joshua. Our goal is to see the Messianic thread through the OT and be drawn closer to our Savior. To seek Him…

Joshua 24 will be our 4th stop in the OT. As has been the case with all of our previous stops, it is not one single chapter (so the idea of Key Chapters is really a misnomer). We have to visit the surrounding chapters to get the context.

This first book following the Pentateuch details Joshua leading the children on their conquest of the Promised Land. The book ends with a farewell address beginning in Joshua 23. This farewell address is a “line in the sand” – “Choose you this day”.

Before we get to Joshua 24 – Joshua’s Farewell Address – we should note some very important details. This all has to do with something we see in the religious world today.

I am referring to the theory of Premillennialism that is widely accepted in the world of Christendom. This is the teachings that Christ will return to earth one day, set up His earthly kingdom, and reign from David’s throne in Jerusalem for 1,000 years. Associated with this we have the rapture. But it is all based on the teaching that Jesus’ first trip was unsuccessful – that the land promise given to Abraham in Gen 12 has yet to be fulfilled – and thus a back-up plan was put in place. That’s the importance of the passage we see in Josh 21 and 1 Kings 4.

Let us begin with Josh 21:43-45. I have included this stop because the period of the conquest is very important in our understanding that GOD fulfilled His land/nation promise to Abraham. Josh 21:43-45 should be marked in your Bible.

This passage should be used in concert with 1 Kings 4:21.
Both, along with many others given earlier in the series, show the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. The LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers. There is no remaining unfulfilled promise to the Nation of Israel and the land in the Middle East.

Circle the word all in the passage (there are 4 of them)
Note on the last one – it has already happened!
C/f Neh 9:7, 8 (turn and read this together)

Let us note 2 passages from the book of Deuteronomy:
Land was to be conquered in stages – Deut 7:22. Recall the military strategy of divide and conquer.
To maintain possession of the land would require their fidelity. Not a word failed, all came to pass BUT it was conditional. C/f Deut 28 with special emphasis on verses 1 and 15 (If you obey; But if you do not obey…) See all the statements “The LORD will…”

The Jews are said to be one of the great proofs of the Bible.  See Deut 28:37, 63-64.
Verses 52-57 detail the 18 month siege of Jerusalem in 587 BC.

Joshua 22
V4 – “as he promised them” – the theme of Joshua

V5 – Circle the word “But” and c/f Deut 28.
Then note…

Joshua’s 6-fold charge – the conditions to be met
Take careful heed to do
To love the LORD
To walk in all his ways
To keep his commandments
To hold fast to Him
To serve Him with all your heart

July 31, 2022
With a very quick review of Joshua 21:43-45 and 22:5-6 (with a c/f to Deut 28, put the 6 fold charge on PowerPoint), we continue into ch23. This beginning of Joshua’s Farewell Address appears to be very near the end of his life, 24:29.

Joshua 23 – Joshua’s Farewell Address – see v1, 2

V5c and v6a
V8 – hold fast to the LORD
V11 – that you love the LORD your GOD
(note the comparison with the 6-fold charge from 22:6)

Then
V12 – Circle “or else” underline if indeed you do go back – mark this as the theme of Hebrews
Book of Hebrews was written to Christians who had come out of Judaism and under extreme persecution were being persuaded to return to the Old Law.

V13 – until you perish from this good land

C/f Dt 28:15ff

See 23:15, 16.

Israel lost the land just as the Amorites did in Gen 15.
Underline the last phrase in v16 and c/f Deut 4:25-27.

Jews lost their deed to the land when they rebelled and killed the Christ.

This sets the stage for Ch 24. Prior to his death, Joshua gives them one last charge. Verse 15 is one of the more familiar passages of the OT. The entire charge can be viewed as:

Remember – v 2-13
Recommit – v 14-24
Reminder – v 25-33 – the covenant and a reminder

Remember V2-13

The original KJV – v2 – the other side of the flood is better translated the other side of the river.
Abraham lived on the same side of the flood as Joshua. He did live on the other side of the River Euphrates. In Shechem, they were west of the Jordan River but the reference is likely the Euphrates River.

And thus beginning with v2, a history lesson. This just reiterates the importance of our study of history. They were being reminded of the past. Many of the great sermons or discourses in the Scriptures begin similarly. Read Acts 7 and Stephen’s address.

V12 – hornets c/f Exo 23:28 – Likely a reference to Egypt; they used the hornet as a national symbol – Archaeology pictures hornets in Egyptian hieroglyphics
Egypt made numerous raids into Canaan prior to Israel’s conquest.

V13 – I have given => it has already happened

Note the narrative, “Then I took, then I brought, then you dwelt, etc.” And these “then’s” lead us up to v14, “Now therefore…”

Because of all this history that culminates in v13 – I have given you a land – Now therefore…

Recommit V14-24

14 – Now therefore – because of vv 1-13…recommit. This is one of the more familiar passages in the OT.

c/f Eccl 12:13 – fear (yare) and serve (ahad); sincerity and truth – c/f John 2:24

V15
Choose – Josh 5:13 makes clear there are only 2 choices – either with Me or against Me.

Only 2 choices
Either the gods of your fathers OR the true GOD
Josh 5:13
Dt 30:19-21; Matt 6:24; 1 Kings 18:21
Reminded of such with the old bluegrass song of the 2 thieves on the cross. The songs notes we will be one of the 2. We will reject Jesus and be lost OR we will submit to Him, confess Him, and serve Him and be saved. Which one will you be?

Realize there will be consequences – Gal 6:7; Gen 13

As for me – personal – Dt 6:1
And my house – family – Gen 18:19
We will serve the LORD - commit

V18-19
Nah 1:2 – GOD is jealous…
They could not serve both
V21 – they chose GOD
V22 – they chose wisely

Reminder – v 25-33
V31 note the influence of a single man, Joshua

August 14, 2022
Appreciate Greg for filling in for me last week as I quarantined with COVID.
It gave me a new perspective being in the class online
I missed being with you in person though

See the 12 Key Words on the Board and review where we have been

Beginning – Gen 3:15
Hebrew – Abraham and the Seed Promise; Gal 3:16
Bondage
Wandering – Moses; the Law; the Passover; 1 Cor 5:7
Conquest – Joshua – the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek name Jesus

Note how the book of Joshua ends – Josh 24:31

Note the cycle of rebellion, foreign oppression, a judge is raised, the people repent and return to GOD. The judge dies, the cycle starts over.
Note how the book of Judges ends in 21:25. Judges ends with no king.

This didn’t last because in 1 Sam 8:5ff the people demanded a king like those nations surrounding them. We noted earlier in the series, Deut 28:36, Moses many years earlier aluded to this fact. It appears this was not GOD’S original plan. But this led to the United Kingdom with Saul, David, and Solomon serving as Kings.

Throughout the OT, this coming Messiah is referred to in 2 very different ways.  He will be a glorious King who will reign over this never-ending kingdom.  Yet other passages paint this coming Messiah as a Suffering Servant.  These 2 aspects seem to be contradictory.  How could we have a Reigning King and a Suffering Servant in one Person?  Some have even suggested it would require 2 Messiah appearances.  One as a Suffering Servant on Calvary; the 2nd as a Reigning King to rule 1,000 years from Jerusalem.  We have spent ample time recently refuting the doctrine of Premillennialism, so we will not go back into that at this time.  But in fact, what we will see is that both aspects are fulfilled simultaneously in our suffering Servant and a majestic King.


David – Matt 1:1

Our next Key Chp will be Psa 51
Before we go there it will behove us to visit 2 Sam 11

If you will recall, we said our study of the OT will center largely around Abraham, Moses, Joshua and David. Our study will take us to look at the second King of the nation, David. This is in keeping with our focus on the Christ who, according to Psalms 132:11 and repeated in Acts 2:30, will be raised to sit on David’s throne. Again, this is not some future event, it happened in Acts 2.

This is not a comprehensive look at the life of David, though that would be a profitable study. Let us make a few remarks about David’s life including the following.
Maybe our first thought of a young David is his battle and victory over Goliath.
David replaces Saul and becomes the 2nd King over the United Kingdom.
Acts 13:22 identifies him as a man after GOD’S own heart .

There is no doubt David occupied a special place in the lineage of the Messiah. Matt 1:1 begins the NT with these words – The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. This is the Messianic lineage preserved.

Of the 150 Psalms, David wrote about half of them. He is explicitly identified as the penman of 73 of the Psalms and probably 2 more ascribed to him in the NT. (An example of this is found in Hebrews 4:7 that refers to Psa 95; this Psalm is not specifically linked to David in the OT but is in the NT.)
In the life of David, let’s look at his sin committed with the wife of Uriah (as Matthew makes reference to Bathsheba). A very brief study of this episode found in 2 Sam 11, will be in order.

Mark these 4 points – note the progression – recall James 1:15
When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Normal for Kings to be in battle.  David’s first mistake.
He saw; looked (NKJ to behold)  1 John 1:1  - seen and looked upon
He sent and inquired.
He sent and took her.

The Bible has something to say about idleness…
Prov 19:15 – an idle person will suffer hunger
Prov 31:27 – of the worthy woman it is said she does not eat the bread of idleness
1 Tim 5:13 – warning against being idle, gossips, and busybodies

The danger of idleness – David was tempted during this time – desire, sin, death.

We remember the rest of the story and his attempt to cover it up. Why did David go to great lengths to cover it up? Adultery was punishable by death – Lev 20:10.

See v27 – The thing David had done displeased the LORD

Beginning with ch12 – Facts of David’s sin are neither hidden nor justified – an evidence of Inspiration. A book written by man would not disclose such a weakness in one of the heroes.

Nathan comes to David and shares a parable about 2 men, one rich and one poor. The rich man took the one lamb from the poor man. This infuriates David, see v5ff.

12:6 – He shall restore the lamb 4-fold. Exo 22:1-4
David’s penalty was paid 4 times
Bathsheba’s son
Amnon
Absalom
Adonijah

12:7 – You are the man
12:10 – Note she is not named but referred to as Uriah’s wife – see Matt 1
12:11 – take your wives before your eyes – 16:21, Absalom did just that
12:13 – David’s penitent confession – 1 Sam 15:24; Psa 32:1-6, 51
12:14 – Note the first word, However – the lesson is great – Even though one is forgiven there are still consequences to be paid for sin. Gal 6:7

For our intents in keeping with our thematic study and key chapters, we’ll look at the one Psalm most identified with his sin with Bathsheba.

August 21 2023

Our focus during this current series of lessons is to see Christ in every stop in the OT.
Our last 2 stops in the OT will be Psa 51 and Isaiah 53.
These were chosen to emphasize the 2 primary ways we see Jesus depicted in the OT.
He is prophesied to be a Glorious King and a Suffering Servant. Although these are seemingly traits that cannot be both true at the same time, such is not the case. He is Both!!
Our lesson today involves the idea of Kingship, as He currently occupies the throne of David.

V. Psalm 51

Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance.
We discussed last week a dark episode in the life of King David, that being the incident with Bathsheba – 2 Sam 11-12.

Psalm 51

David’s humble prayer for forgiveness.
This is one of 7 penitential Psalms. Others – 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. A study of all would be a profitable study.
Most of our comments will pertain to verses 1 – 14.

An introduction in vv 1-2 (David’s prayer for himself) is balanced with his prayer for Zion as a conclusion in the last 2 verses.

As we read the Bible we note various character traits of GOD. GOD is a GOD of love.
But we also read passages like GOD is a GOD of goodness and severity. Rom 11:22
GOD is a GOD of justice. Isa 30:18
Vengeance is mine, I will repay – Rom 12:19
These certainly make us think. And it makes us appreciate the 2 traits we find in v1.

Mercy and Lovingkindness
Have mercy upon me – Mercy is not getting what I deserve. David knows he deserves death.
Such a sin will ruin one’s life. It will be a guilt to live with the rest of his days. See v 3.
But see v14 – With GOD’S help, one can overcome his guilt.
So David prays for mercy.
See Luke 18:13. The publican prays, “GOD be merciful to me a sinner.” With these 7 words GOD says he is acceptable.

According to Your lovingkindness…But he knows GOD is a GOD of mercy and lovingkindness.
Yes He is a GOD of justice but aren’t we thankful He is the GOD of mercy, grace, and lovingkindness.

Psalm 51:1-9
Let’s make 3 observations
David accepted personal responsibility for what he had done.
2 Sam 12:13 – David acknowledged his sin – “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Go through and note the personal pronouns – my transgressions, my iniquity, my sin, my sins (v9) – a total of 7 references.

He did not shift the blame – by saying such things as, Adam’s original sin caused it, it is the nature of a man, she had no business undressing in full view of the palace, other kings claim this privilege, etc. No, David clearly places the responsibility where it has to be – on self. Adam gave us an example of one not initially willing to accept the responsibility. He blamed his wife and indirectly blamed GOD Himself!

At least David was willing to own the problem.

Until one is willing to own their sins, there will be no repentance.

Let us note the 4 different words for sin

Transgressions
Iniquity
Sin – appears 5 times in these 9 verses
Evil (v4)

Without getting into the minutia of what each word means we’ll just say that sin is anything that violates the will of GOD and thus separates us from GOD (Isa 59:1, 2)

Note the interesting reference in v9.
V9 – Hide Your face from my sins.
Psa 27:9; 143:7 – Do not hide Your face from me
Psa 69:17 – Do not hide Your face from Your servant

What would cause a loving merciful GOD to hide His face from me?  Sin
Isa 59:1, 2
Hab 1:13 - GOD is so pure, HE cannot look on wickedness.


With forgiveness, my GOD’S face is turned from the sin to me!  With sin, His face is    turned from me.  Thus, when there is sin in our lives, it separates us from GOD.  It is as  though, His face is turned from us.  With forgiveness, GOD removes the sin.


Let us note the references made to his forgiveness.  Circle the following phrases, then go back and make brief comments about each one.

Blot out – v1 – literally to be wiped out as one would wipe a word from the white board
Wash me – v2 – as we would wash the soil from our clothing
Cleanse me – v2 – to restore to a state of purity
Purge me – v7. Literally means “un-sin me”. Hyssop was used in ritual cleaning. See Exo 12:22.
Wash me – v7
Make me – v8. c/f Luke 15 with a “Give me vs. Make me” discussion.
Blot out – v9
Restore to me – v12. Remember the joy of your conversion.
Deliver me – v14 – to be rescued

Psa 32 is a parallel to Psa 51. Most think Psa 32 was written soon after David received forgiveness for his sin with Bathsheba. May be good to visit and note vv 1-2; v5. Note the repetition – forgiven, covered, not imputed (not credited to).

There is an issue at play here that will be discussed fully in our first stop of the NT, that is, the statement Nathan made to David in 2 Sam 12:13. “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

For now, let us observe, forgiveness in the complete and total sense of the word was NOT available to David or anyone else under the Old Law. We’ll discuss more in a few weeks.

Let us address the idea of forgiveness. Though it is spoken of throughout the OT, we must note there was no complete forgiveness under the Old Law. We will discuss further a few lessons from now, but forgiveness in the true and total sense only came through the blood of the Messiah – 2 Cor 5:21. This is why GOD’S character traits of His justice and mercy can co-exist. Jesus’ blood extended back in the annals of time as well as forward to me 2,000 years later. (Heb 9:15)
The salvation of man that comes through Christ…

V8 – David was a shepherd boy. Perhaps he remembered that a shepherd would break the leg of a wandering sheep. While healing the sheep would come to trust and follow him.
I recently read that Margaret Mead was once asked her opinion on the first sign of civilization found in archaeology. She answered a broken and healed femur bone, thigh bone. In the animal kingdom, a broken femur would render one incapacitated and would result in being eaten by animals. A healed bone would indicate help from fellowman, to protect and allow for healing.

V11b – c/f 1 Sam 16:14
The 2 requests here in v11 are really one. See Psa 139:7; Ezek 39:29.
Holy Spirit is found only one other place in the OT – Isa 63:10-11 – though we know HE was part of the creation (104:30), instrumental in the inspiration of the prophets (2 Sam 23:2), and much more. Recall Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit when He ascended back to heaven.

V12, 13. Number v12a as #1 and 13a as #2. Restore my joy; then I will teach. The reason we don’t evangelize? We have forgotten the joy of our own salvation!

V16-17 C/f Isa 1
See Heb 10:5-7
Matt 5:3
Broken spirit, broken and contrite heart – more than sacrifices, what pleases GOD is a humble heart that looks to Him when sin occurs, and pleads for mercy.
A key word in the verse is desire. It means to find pleasure in. GOD finds no pleasure in the sacrificed animal, but in the penitent person.

V5 would be a discussion separate from the rest of the Psalm. We will observe only at this time that this does NOT support the idea that a baby is born guilty of sin.

A concluding point is – With all of the search for forgiveness in the OT, complete and total forgiveness is unattainable until the Messiah comes. Heb 10:4 bears this out.

August 28
By request we are going to look at Psa 51 for one additional observation.
Though not part of the original part of our series, the question was raised relative to vv 5-6.

Original Sin
Initially in our study of Psalm 51, we passed over verses 5-6. Indeed, it appears on first reading they are out of place. Upon closer examination, they fit perfectly into this Psalm that is often referred to as the zenith of penitential Psalms.
David in this beautiful prayer seeks to be right with GOD after his adulterous union with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. In the midst of his numerous references to his sin and subsequent pleas for forgiveness, we find verse 5 and 6.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
From this and other related passages comes a doctrine we sometimes call Original Sin.
The false doctrine teaches that all men, born according to nature, are born with sin, and that this original sin brings condemnation to those who are not reborn through baptism and the Holy Spirit. This of course, led to the practice of infant baptism.
In the Calvinistic doctrine this is the T of TULIP, that is, Total Depravity. Incidentally, it is said that the NIV version of the Bible supports all 5 tenets of Calvinism. This is but one reason it is not one of my recommended versions to use as my regular study Bible. To be sure, I have several versions that I will refer to on occasion that I would not use as my main study source.
We will take a look at verses 5-6 but to do a full study of Calvinism should be a series we address in the future.
Let us 1st note
The book of Psalms is a book of poetry. Hebrew poetry frequently contains figurative speech. This language is also found in many of the prophetic books. We might be more familiar with the use of symbolism from our study of Revelation. Matthew 24 offers a good example.
Matt 24:29-31 – note the section is difficult for us to understand and properly interpret.
But note the 1st Century Jew would have been very familiar with its application to the fall of a nation. See…
Isa 13 – v1 fall of Babylon – see vv 6, 10, 13
Isa 19 – v1 fall of Egypt – see v1
Isa 34 – fall of Edom – see vv 4-5
Eze 32 – fall of Egypt – see vv 7,8; 12

So as it applies to Psa 51:5 –
2 examples of this – Job 31:18 – From my mother’s womb I guided the widow.
NLT – cared for widows – certainly not to be taken literally.

    Psa 58:3 – They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
    Clearly not literal since a newborn can’t speak, describes how evil the wicked are
It is a mistake to take statements from poetic, figurative literature and use them as a foundation for doctrine.

One must never interpret a passage in such a way that it conflicts with other Scriptures.  That is, to take a passage meant figuratively and interpret it in such a way that it conflicts with other clearly literal passages.  Such is the case with Psa 51:5.

What does Scripture say about children?
Scripture plainly teaches that sin is not inherited. “[T]he son shall not bear the iniquity of the father” (Ezekiel 18:20); every person is responsible for his own conduct (Romans 14:12).
Human sinfulness commences in that period of one’s life that is characterized as youth (Genesis 8:21; Jeremiah 3:25).
A child must reach a certain level of maturity before he is able to choose between evil and good (Isaiah 7:15, 16).
The qualities of little children are set forth as models for those who would aspire to enter the kingdom (Matthew 18:3; 19:14) and for those already in the church (1 Corinthians 14:20). Surely the Lord was not suggesting that we emulate little, totally corrupt sinners!

Clearly, babies are not born in sin.

What is the meaning?
Psalm 51:5 likely refers to the fact that David was born into a sinful environment. We all are conceived in and brought forth into a sinful world. But we do not actually sin until we arrive at a stage of spiritual responsibility.

I think perhaps the best explanation of vv 5, 6 is this.

T. W. Brents commented:
Whatever may be the meaning of this passage, it cannot be the imputation of sin to the child. ‘In sin my mother conceived me:’ that is, she was under sin when I was conceived.
Were the wife to say, ‘In drunkenness my husband beat me,’or the child that ‘in anger my father whipped me,’ surely no one would attribute drunkenness to the wife or anger to the child; neither can they impute the sin of the mother to the child (1957, 133, 134).

Of course, as a result of our being human beings, we are naturally prone to sin. The Bible states that God made man in “His own image” (Genesis 1:26); but of Adam, it is stated that, “He begot a son in his own likeness, after his image” (Genesis 5:3)! See any difference? It is that difference which David mentioned here, and it pertains to all the human race who were ever born.

Sept 4, 2023 – in auditorium
If you are a NT Christian – I ask this question. Why were you baptized?
Was it to “join” the church? Was it to be identified with a particular group of people?
Closer to the truth but still missing the point – was it to receive forgiveness of your sins?
The truth of the matter – one is baptized in order to be “in Christ” Gal 3:27; Rom 6:3, 4
And yes – being in Christ accomplishes the aforementioned questions. GOD adds one to the church – Acts 2:47; one is then identified as a NT Christian – Acts 11:26; and certainly one receives forgiveness of sins – Acts 2:38. But being in Christ is the location of salvation.
John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Me.
Jesus Christ – the long awaited Messiah – is the central figure in the Bible; found not only in the NT but throughout the Bible. See Gen 1:26 (refer to v1) and see Rev 22; and all in between.
Our objective has been to see Christ in every one of our stops as we have identified what could be viewed as the major key stops in the OT.
We have come to our final stop in the OT – Isa 53.
We discussed Gen 3 – the fall of man and thus a need for a Savior – that Savior is promised in v15.
Gen 12 – Promises made to Abraham – a great nation and a Seed Promise
Exo 12, 20 – the Passover is instituted; the Passover lamb is discussed; the 10 commandments are given, the basis for the Mosaical Law.
Joshua 24 – the fulfillment of the land promise – there is no further land promises awaiting fulfillment to the modern day Jew or Christian.
We looked at Psa 51. This great penitential Psalm is where we see David seeking the forgiveness for his adulterous sin with the wife of Uriah.
GOD is a merciful GOD. He is a forgiving GOD. But that forgiveness in the complete sense did not exist under the Old Law. It was not until the blood of Christ was shed on the cross that forgiveness was found.
That brings us to the great prophecy found in Isa 53.

VI. Isaiah 53

We will spend 2 weeks on Isa 53 and then be ready for a transition to the New Testament.
We began the OT study with Gen 3:15 and we conclude with Isa 53. Both cases are very easy to see the Christ. But our objective has been to see Him in every stop and indeed throughout the OT. Indeed, the entire theme of the Bible is the salvation of man that comes through Christ.
After much thought I have decided to forego a lot of the introductory things I had planned to say about Isaiah in general. I will make a brief reference and then we will get into the final stop of our OT study.

Isaiah 53

Complete and total forgiveness was not available under the Old Law. The forgiveness that David sought in Psalm 51 did not come until Jesus shed His blood on Calvary. This is why we close our OT study with a look at Isaiah 53 and the coming Messiah.
The coming Messiah will be both a King and a Suffering Servant. The reference made to David and the passages referring the Christ ascending to David’s throne portray the coming Messiah as a King. Let us now observe the Suffering Servant aspect. Our final stop in the OT will be to set the stage for the coming of the Messiah. The salvation of man that comes through Christ…

It is very fitting we include a stop in Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is mentioned around 60 times in the NT. This is more than all other prophets together.

Let us note the connection to our thematic statement. The name Isaiah literally means Jehovah is Salvation or Jehovah has saved.

The word salvation is a key word in the book – found 26 times – surpassed only by the book of Psalms, the song book. The same is true about the Messianic prophecies, more are found in Isaiah than any other book other than the Psalms.

Isaiah 53 would be on anyone’s list of Great Chapters of the Bible and certainly belongs on our list of Key Chapters of the Bible. Written around 700 BC, there are at least 28 prophecies in 12 verses.

Isaiah 53 has been called the Mt Everest of OT prophecy.
It is from this section the Ethiopian Eunuch was reading in Acts 8 (Isa 53: 7, 8) and from which Philip preached Jesus! It is our desire to see Christ in every stop.

Observe these general comments regarding the book of Isaiah.
Apologetics – that which strengthens our faith.
Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947 near north end of Dead Sea.
The complete manuscript of Isaiah was found written in Hebrew dated about 100 BC.
Nearly 1000 years older than the previous versions of Isaiah
Remarkably accurate
But is it really remarkable???
GOD’S Providence and Preservation! Matt 24:35 – My words shall not pass away

Isaiah is like a miniature Bible
66 chapters with a clear division
39 chapters similar to OT dealing with GOD’S judgment on idolatrous man
27 chapters like the NT with a message of hope, Grace of GOD, promise of a Redeemer (ch 53)
Sometimes called the Gospel of Isaiah – the core of that Gospel is Isa 53.

Isaiah began to prophesy in 759 BC – about midway between Moses and Christ
Isaiah lived during the time of the divided kingdom and saw the Northern Kingdom go into Assyrian captivity in 721 BC
759 BC means he began to prophesy 38 years before the fall of the Northern Kingdom in 721 BC
759 – 698 total prophecy years, thus he continued to prophesy 23 years after the captivity
During these years, Isaiah continued to prophesy to Judah after Israel fell

So many prophecies – I want to visit just one for a tremendous faith building lesson
Isa 44:24 – Isa 45:14
Isaiah named Cyrus the King who would authorize the return of the remnant after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. Now remember, they had not yet gone into captivity. All of this is 160 years before it happened. Long before Cyrus the King was even born!

I want to emphasize – Isaiah noted the providential hand of GOD through the actions of Cyrus, the Persian ruler! GOD can and does use evil men to accomplish His will. It is acceptable to pray that the leaders of the world would turn to GOD and seek His direction. However, it is more likely the answer to our prayers might come through Him using those rulers to accomplish His will even though they are not aware. Isn’t that what happened with Pharaoh?

Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews – Book II. Chp 1.1ff – says that this prophecy was given to Cyrus and when he read it, he was so impressed by Isaiah’s prediction that it influenced him to issue the proclamation recorded by Ezra (Ezra 1). Again the year was 536 BC about 160 years later.

Sept 11, 2022
A simple statement of this being our 6th and final stop in the OT.
Note the first 39 chapters in Isaiah; and the last 27. So many prophecies concerning the Messiah.

With chp 40 being a turning point in the book, let’s look at these passages leading us to chp 53.
Isa 39:6 – Remember Isaiah is writing around 700 BC. The Babylonian captivity began around 600 BC – a full 100 years after Isaiah’s prophecy and nearing the end of the OT. Then we note Isa 40:3 referring to John the Baptist.

42:1-4  He will not fail.  Those who claim the 1st Advent was a failure and the church was a backup plan are mistaken.  He will establish justice for all.  Verses 1, 6 note the Gentiles will be included.  How could the Jew miss this??

49:6-7  He will not only restore Israel but also bring deliverance to the Gentiles.  But the nation of Israel will reject Him.

52:6-7  Similar to Jer 31, Isaiah is referring to that day under the New Covenant, GOD’S people will know Him.  V7 references the good news, peace, and salvation.  Paul references this passage in Rom 10:15.

This brings us to our lesson text.
52:13 – 53:12

Chapter 53 is about this true Seed promised to Abraham 1300 years earlier in Gen 12; Who alone would bring the promise of redemption to fallen man. Christ alone would provide the way for the renewal of fellowship, i.e. reconciliation, with GOD. See John 14:6.

The whole section relative to the Christ includes the last 3 vv of Isa 52 and the 12 vv of Isa 53.
This section in my Bible is entitled, “The Sin-Bearing Servant”.

It is symmetrical
5 paragraphs of 3 verses each.
Begins and ends with the Messiah’s exaltation – 1st and 5th paragraphs – v10b-11
Christ’s rejection is in section 2 and 4
The centerpiece of the chapter is vv 4-6, section 3, where the atoning significance is noted. GOD and man is reconciled.

Isaiah 53 refutes the doctrine of Premillennialism. GOD was not surprised when the Jews rejected Jesus (42:4) and thus instituted Plan B. No, no. The whole chapter of Isa 53 makes clear this rejection was GOD’S plan all along.

Isaiah 53 refutes the doctrine of Calvinism. A child is not born carrying the guilt of the original sin. Jesus did not die for a predetermined select few. His blood was not limited to a predetermined group. He died for ALL. See v6.

In the last few hundred years, some writers of Jewish persuasion have tried to apply this chapter to someone other than Jesus but that is not the case as we shall see. Actually there are 2 Critical attacks against this chapter.
Alleged by some writers that Isaiah did not write
Some contend there is no primary reference to Jesus Christ but as we look at this chapter one will clearly see otherwise.

The 1st is easy to disprove. For the whole book of Isaiah, there are almost 60 references in NT.
If you have marginal references note
V4 – quoted in Matt 8:17
V1 – in John 12:38 and Rom 10:16

Isaiah 53

Outline of the chp
52:13-15; 53:10-12 Christ exalted and triumphant
53:1-3; 7-9 Christ despised and rejected
53:4-6 Christ our substitute

Do the sections 3 verses at a time. Read each 3 verses prior to discussing.
Verses 1 – 3

53:1 –
Ch 53 begins with a couple of questions.
Our report – prophecies about good news of salvation – 52:7, 10
The question implies only a few would recognize Him when He came.
Jn 1:9-11 declares the world did not know Him or receive Him. This declaration of unbelief would be characteristic of the Jewish nation in general. A negative answer was anticipated.
To reject this report is to reject salvation

Note: “our” => Father and Son together; to refuse the Son was to refuse the Father (Lk 10:16)

V2, 3
– tender plant in dry ground. How unlikely is this scenario? But what a great description of Jesus and the Jewish Nation. The Jewish nation was once a proud powerful nation – think of David and Solomon as Kings. But they had been laid low by all those periods of captivity (Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and now Roman). By the time of Christ – they were indeed a dry ground.

Jesus arrived in the most vulnerable form imaginable – a newborn infant.

He was reared in a despised community (John 1:46).

He had no formal education (John 7:15)

He had no financial base, He was poor. (Matt 8:20)

His band of disciples were mostly unprofessional men.

His influence was not in physical attractiveness – Isa 53:2; Rather in Divine nature – 1 Sam 16:7.

He was put to death after only 3 years of public ministry, at the age of 33 (according to Hebrew still a youth). All of this would generally signal a rapid evaporation of influence.

And because of all this…
We hid, we did not esteem, etc – by using the plural pronoun, Isaiah spoke for his nation. The Jewish nation will reject the Savior.

Verses 4-6 The center piece of the chapter
Note the substitutionary nature of His death

4 – our griefs/our sorrows – Him stricken
5 – our transgressions/our iniquities – He wounded/He bruised
By His stripes we are healed
6 – laid on Him my iniquity – Just as priest laid his hands on the scapegoat (Lev 16:21) – symbolically put my sins on Him

6 – Universal sinfulness is affirmed
6 – All we, us all. The verse begins with “All we”, and ends with “us all.”
Without Jesus all humanity is lost

– This verse refutes 2 of the tenets of Calvinism, the T and the L.

This awful condition is our own fault/responsibility
We were not born astray – we have gone astray
The “T” in Tulip – Total Depravity – Born totally depraved of good? No

The remedy?
V6c – Jesus’ death is available to all

Laid on Him the iniquity of us all
Vs.
Calvin’s Limited Atonement (Christ died only for the elect)

Verses 7 – 9
Prior to reading v7 go to Matt 27:12-14

He remained silent before the chief priests, Pilate, Herod
Cross reference also Mark 14:60-61, 15:4-5; John 19:8-9; Luke 23:8—9 (Herod)

Go back to Isa 53:7 and note the 3 references to His silence
Lamb to the slaughter – Part of the preparation for the Passover – Exo 12:3, 6
Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:18, 19; Rev 5:6

Acts 8:27-35 the Ethiopian Eunuch read from Isa 53: 7, 8

8 cut off
Note the difference drawn between individual (He) and My people (the nation)

Substitutionary idea continues
He becomes the object of wrath in place of people who can then receive salvation/righteousness of GOD imputed to them

Who shall declare?
Literally – of His generation, who considered it?
Goes back to the idea of Him being rejected.
For the most part, people did not understand the sacrificial nature of His death.

9
Grave with wicked – died b/w thieves

Rich in His death => Joseph of Arimathea – Matt 27:57ff
Very interesting b/c normally a crucified criminal not even given a burial under Roman custom

Throughout – reference is made to His innocence, His purity

Sept 18, 2022
Finish the chapter with remarks about vv 10-12

Give the handout of the 28 Messianic Prophecies
Make brief remarks about each

Be prepared to move on to comments linking the OT and the NT lessons.

Verses 10-12
10 – Begin by reading vv 10-11a and note especially the following 3 ideas.
Pleased the LORD
Pleasure of the LORD
Shall be satisfied

But first note – to bruise Him. This appeared first in v5

10b – reminds me of Gen 3:15 – not same word but exact same meaning – crushed, bruised. From that 1st Messianic prophecy we now have much more understanding. With all of the 300+ prophecies, the picture of the coming Messiah is much clearer. Yet, He will still be rejected.

Go back to the 3 ideas – the question is – Why did it please GOD to bruise Him?
This will introduce the topic of appeasement or propitiation. Included in this will be the fact that GOD’S justice had to be satisfied. Death was promised to those who sin. Man cannot on his own do anything to pay that debt. It took a Perfect sacrifice; One who was sinless to pay the debt of Glenn who was not. That is what vv 4-6 is all about.

That is what v10b is all about.
Offering for sin – Lev 5:16; 6:5
This offering is where restitution was usually required and the offender offered a ram
Continues the substitution idea – in order for Divine justice to be satisfied – v11a

Briefly note the reference to seed (spiritual descendants)
And prolong His days (Resurrected to die no more)

“justify many” from 11b
It pleased the LORD in that it appeased His wrath and satisfied His judgement
This is the NT word propitiation – an appeasement.
This is that which restores us to GOD; Something we can’t do on our own.

See Rom 5:19
V12
Poured out His soul – as a sacrifice v10
Unto death – Phil 2:8 – even the death of the cross

Intercession – the role of the High Priest
This began on the cross – Luke 23:34
It continues in heaven –

Heb 9:24 – For Christ has not entered the holy place made with hands…but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of GOD for us.

7:25 – He always lives to make intercession for them

Rom 8:34 – even at the right hand of GOD who also makes intercession for us

1 John 2:1 – He is called our Advocate

It could be noted that critics (Jews/Modernists) say it is not about Jesus but rather the Jewish Nation.
Let’s observe the following:
52:13 – identifies Him as Jehovah’s “servant”
In ch 53 note the singular, masculine pronouns
He – 18 times
His – 13 times
Him – 10 times
For a total of 41 pronouns in 12 verses
Note the contrast in v8 and the reference to “My people”
Jews were expecting the Messiah to establish an earthly kingdom – to restore them politically. The concept of a crucified Savior was wholly foreign to their expectations.
1 Cor 1:23 – But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block…
This must have required overwhelming evidence to convince Peter with his resistant personality – he was to the point of death (Lk 22:33; Jn 21:18-19)
The “lamb” suffered passively in vv 7-8. The Hebrews fought their enemies.
Victim here through His own death brought about justification. See v 4-6 (vicarious sacrifice). The meaning of the word, vicarious. From Latin vicarius meaning agent, serving instead of someone else. The Pope is called the vicar of Christ by the world. Was this the Jewish Nation? NO
Jesus Himself addressed the matter in Lk 22:37 (referring to v12)
End of discussion!

The Messianic Prophecies of Isaiah 53
There are at least 28 Messianic prophecies in the 12 verses of Isaiah 53. This is but a small part of the 333 total prophecies concerning the Christ found in the OT. Provide this in a handout for the class.

V1 Jewish unbelief John 1:9-11; 12:37-38; Rom 10:16
V1 Jesus’ Divine nature/signs John 12:38-41

V2 Jesus’ human development Luke 2:52
V2 Comes from dry ground John 1:46; Matt 2:23

V3 His rejection by evil generation Matt 21:42; 27:22
V3 LORD as man of sorrows Luke 19:41; John 11:35
V3 We esteemed Him not John 1:11

V4 He bears man’s infirmities Matt 8:17
V4 He was smitten of GOD Matt 27:46; Gal 3:13

V5 In death He is wounded Matt 27:35
V5 Beaten and bruised Matt 27: 26, 30
V5 Stripes we are healed 1 Peter 2:24

V6 Death is vicarious 1 Pet 2:21-25

V7 He did not resist Matt 27: 12, 31
V7 Opened not His mouth Matt 27: 12-14; Mk 14:60-61, 15:4-5; Jn 19:8ff; Lk 23:8ff
V7 Lamb led to slaughter Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:18-19; Rev 5:6

V9 Death assoc with wicked John 19:41
V9 Buried with rich Matt 27:57-60
V9 Not violent or deceitful 1 Pet 2:20-22

V10 Put to grief Lk 19:41
V10 Soul (life) function as offering Matt 20:28
V10 Days would be prolonged Rom 6:9; Rev 1:18
V10 Would see His seed Rom 7:4

V11 With sacrifice GOD satisfied Rom 3:24-26
V11 His sacrifice would justify many Rom 5:19

V12 Soul (life, blood) to be poured out Matt 26:28
V12 Numbered with transgressors Luke 22:37
V12 Make intercession Lk 23:34; Heb 7:25, 9:24; 1 John 2:1; Rom 8:34
Sept 25, 2022
We’ll make a little transition in our study today as we move from the OT to the NT.

The New Testament Chapters

The entire series has been about Jesus Christ. We have attempted to see Him in every stop of the Bible. He is found in Gen chp 1 (Let Us make man…); Gen 3:15 (Between your seed and her Seed…) all the way to the very last verses of Revelation (22: 20-21, Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.)
The Bible is about the salvation of man that comes through Christ. And it is saturated with Him.
Since our last stop in the OT was Isaiah 53, note what we find in Acts 8. The Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah 53 and asked the meaning of the Scripture. V35 says Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
Listen to Paul in 1 Cor 2:2 – For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1 Tim 1:15…Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners…
Listen to Jesus Himself as He says – I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
And so we have seen Jesus Christ throughout the OT.

The OT was largely a look at the 1st Covenant and the regulations included. The objective was always to seek a restoration of man and GOD through forgiveness.

Because we place so much emphasis on the NT (I have a little Bible I carry with me that is only the NT), we are sometimes accused of not believing the Old Testament. That is not true. To better understand the New Covenant and to fully appreciate the Old Testament, we must understand the link between the 2. That link is Jesus Christ!

I’d like to begin our NT study with a question. Was there forgiveness under the Old Law? (The short answer is no there was not. If forgiveness under the Old Law was possible, why did the Savior have to die on the cross?)
But what is the meaning of Nathan’s response to David in 2 Sam 12:13?
There are other places in the OT that make the same claim. We’ll visit the passages from Lev to make the point.
Lev 4:26, 31, 35; 5:10, 13, 16; Psa 103:3, 10, 12; 130:3, 4
It shall be forgiven him. In time, after Calvary, the sins would be forgiven. But were they forgiven at that point?

Let us remember we must interpret every passage so that we have harmony of the Scriptures.
If Lev 4 and 5, etc. was talking about complete forgiveness then we would have the blood of bulls and goats taking away sin. That is in contrast to Heb 10:4.
2 Sam 12:13 – has put away your sin…
That is past tense so whatever was done had already been done, but was it forgiveness? No

Rom 3:25 – describes this as “GOD had passed over the sins…”
Not complete forgiveness – HE passed over them – Their sins were paused until Jesus’ death.
2 Sam 12:13 – the continuance of the verse sheds light on what exactly was meant by “put away your sin”. “You shall not die” => GOD took away the penalty for David’s sin (death) and allowed him to continue his role in the Messianic line.
To think of the forgiveness of sins under the Old Law in any other way presents a problem. If complete forgiveness was available then why did Jesus have to die on the cross?

It has been said there are 333 Messianic prophecies in the OT. We saw the 1st one in Gen 3:15. We looked at the Seed promise given to Abraham in Gen 22:18 (In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…)
We have seen the Messianic bloodline preserved through Joshua, David, and the tribe of Judah thus fulfilling the Seed Promise given to Abraham as is confirmed in Gal 3:16-18. Let us visit that passage. With v18 see illustration below. Hold your place here and we’ll be back to this shortly.

   Gen 22            Exo 20                           NT         

|_______________|____________________|_
Seed Promise Law Christ
Christ Moses
V16

The Old Law was a mechanism to bring us to Christ. It merely fits into the plan that was first introduced in Gen 3:15. We could extend the timeline back to Gen 3 and the Garden.

See Jeremiah 31:31ff. Jeremiah lived about 100 years after Isaiah. He lived during the time prior to and during the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon.
Jer 31:34 – states that under the New Covenant GOD would forgive their sins and remember them no more. Heb 10:3 states that under the Old Covenant GOD in fact did remember the sins each year.

Why was a new covenant needed? Go back to Gal 3:19-24 and note – forgiveness under the Old Law was not possible. Verse 21 is clear that if the law could have given life, then righteousness (rightness with GOD) would have come through the law. But that was not possible.
Every sin committed by those under the Mosaical Law was still charged to their account (Heb 10:3). They were living under a covenant that could not provide forgiveness. They were living by the only standard they had, that is, the First Covenant. But complete forgiveness would come only through the Promised Messiah.
The salvation of man that comes through Christ…

Oct 2, 2022
We are going to get right into the NT Key Chapters today.

VII. Hebrews 9-10

The seque (seg.way) to our NT chapters shouldn’t come as a surprise you as we have mentioned it several times already.
Our first stop in the NT comes from the book of Hebrews and will substantiate the fact that the forgiveness of sins came only after Calvary. A note about the book of Hebrews is in order. It was written to Christians who had come out of Judaism and were suffering persecution for their newfound faith. It appears many of their Jewish friends were encouraging them to renounce this new faith and return to Judaism, avoiding this persecution. The theme of the book of Hebrews is “Do Not Go Back.”
The key word in the book of Hebrews is better. We discussed last week the Old Law and its inability to forgive sins. See 7:19 and 7:22.
This is what we see in Heb 10:26. If we sin willfully… The word ‘sin’ is in the present tense, meaning we go on living in sin. This would indicate one has chosen to refuse to accept Christ, after they have received the knowledge of the truth. Then in that case, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Refer back to v18. For one to reject Jesus and look for another sacrifice for sins would result in being lost.
If anyone does go back, if anyone turns their back on Christianity, there remains no more sacrifice. Christ is the only sacrifice, see 10:10.
That is why He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
It is in the context, we find our first stop in the NT.

Use PowerPoint slides to quickly review our series in the OT.
Please remember we are studying these key chapters only as they relate to our overall theme of the Bible, the salvation of man that comes through Christ. We are not making a comprehensive study of each verse as you may recall our study of Genesis 1-3. So we will visit Hebrews to better understand the link between the OT and the NT. My hope is our study will cause us to have a greater appreciation for the Old Law while helping us realize our salvation lies in the New Covenant.

With reference to the law, let’s note a few interesting terms.
Heb 10:1 – A shadow of the good things to come; 9:9 – It was symbolic; 9:23-24 – called the copies, 8:5 – the copy and shadow; the pattern.
Twice the word shadow is used in reference to the law. The law was a shadow. Think of this analogy. The shadow of a large tree tells you a few things but it is not the real thing. One can’t pick fruit from the shadow of an apple tree. But if you follow the shadow it will lead you to the real thing. Recall our discussion of Gal 3:24 and word tutor, the idea of a bus driver that brings one to school. The law, if followed like a shadow, will bring one to Christ and the New Covenant.
Here is another interesting observation relative to the idea of shadow. For a shadow to be created requires a source of light behind the object. The analogy is obvious. GOD is the Source of Light behind the New Covenant producing this shadow we know as the Old Law.
Finally, with respect to shadow, you may recall from Gen 1:26, Let us make man in our image…
The word image comes from a Hebrew word whose root means “to shade”. It is literally phantom or shadow. Man is created in the image of GOD the Creator.

Discuss symbolic from 9:9. The word symbolic comes from the Greek word parabole (roll the r and the e is pronounced long a). This word is used only 2 times outside the gospels, here and Heb 11:19, used many times in the gospels, what is the word? Parable; placing one thing beside another for illustration’s sake
All the ritual sacrifices of the Old Law – all just a parabole, just a parable, just an illustration.

Look at 8:5 and note the word copy, found also in 9:24. The copy is not the real thing. The law is just a copy of what was to come. See 10:1b – not the very image of the things, not the real thing, just the copy.

So all of this to say – the OT was a figure of things to come, the better Covenant.
Read on through verse 4. There was no forgiveness under the Old Law.

Note on verse 3 – this is the Day of Atonement known to the modern Jew as Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for the Jews. It is observed this week – Oct 4 and 5 (from sundown Tuesday through the day on Wednesday). Recall the Jewish students from my Principal days.
It is also known as the Sabbath of Sabbaths. You may recall our discussion about some Sabbaths can be on any day of the week. Thus a Friday Sabbath might account for Jesus’ crucifixion being on Thursday.

Oct 9, 2022
Maybe a brief review of the terms shadow, copy, and symbolic. With shadow include a couple of ideas we were reminded of after class last week:
the idea of the Light behind the object that produces the shadow
the word image from Gen 1:26 means shadow – we are a mere shadow of our Creator.

9:1-10 – just hit the highlights and all through emphasize Jesus Christ.
Old Law was symbolic

All of vv 1-10, all of the sacrifices and rituals, all were temporal, never meant to be permanent – until the time of reformation – v10.

V11 – But Christ came…This sums up our focus of the entire study!
…as High Priest… compare to 8:1
…of the good things to come – compare to 10:1

9:11-15 (with emphasis on vv 12, 13, 15)

Verse 12 – reference to Christ entering the Most Holy Place once for all is a reference to Him going back to Heaven. The Holiest of All (v3) in the tabernacle or temple was symbolically representative of Heaven. Think of the OT High Priest entering once each year to perform a service that had to be repeated each year. Now compare THE High Priest, Jesus Christ, entering Heaven once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. See v24 and note especially “for us”.

At this point let us observe a most interesting fact. There are only 2 perfect cubes in the Bible. See the following blog from taylorstudies.com
The Perfect Cube
Posted on March 10, 2022 by glenn
In the field of mathematics, I especially enjoy solid geometry. There is just something fascinating about all the various shapes. For a moment, I’d like you to consider the cube.
A cube is a 6-sided object with all measurements equal. Think of a box with the length, width, and height all being the same. A child’s building blocks would be a good example.
There are only 2 perfect cubes found in the Bible. One is introduced in the Old Testament and the other near the end of the New Testament. A look at the 2 makes for a thrilling study.
In the book of 1 Kings, we have the account of Solomon building the temple. After years of wandering and worshipping in the temporary structure known as the tabernacle, it was time for a more permanent structure to be built in the city of Jerusalem. David’s son, Solomon, was charged with the task that took seven years to complete.
Solomon built the temple according to the specifications given by the LORD. In 1 Kings 6:20, the inner sanctuary’s measurements are given as 20 cubits long, 20 cubits wide, and 20 cubits high. It was a perfect cube!
This inner sanctuary was a very special place. Hebrews 9 tells us it was separated from the first part of the temple by a veil. The inner sanctuary was called the Holiest of All or the Most Holy Place. It contained specified items. The only man allowed in this place was the high priest, as he went into this part alone once a year to offer sacrifices.
The only other perfect cube is found in Revelation 21:16-17, with the description of the Heavenly City. The city is laid out with the following measurements: 12,000 furlongs of equal length, breadth, and height.
Is there a connection between the two cubes? Absolutely! The symbolism between the 2 perfect cubes is clear from a further reading of Hebrews 9. According to verse 9, it was all symbolic and beginning in verse 11, the comparison is made between the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary. Under the Old Law, the high priest went into the earthly sanctuary to make sacrifices for the people. Jesus, after His death on the cross, went back to the heavenly sanctuary having provided the ultimate sacrifice giving us a means for our forgiveness.
The earthly sanctuary, the inner sanctuary of the temple, was simply a symbol or copy for the heavenly sanctuary to come. And both appeared in the Scriptures as perfect cubes.
Hebrews 9:11 begins, But Christ came as High Priest… And everything changed after that!
The veil that separated the Most Holy Place and kept the common man from entering, was torn in two when Christ was crucified. Because of His death and subsequent return to heaven, all of mankind now has the chance to enter the heavenly sanctuary.
And Hebrews 9:24 is a thrilling truth to consider.
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD for us.
Did you catch the last two words? He has entered heaven and appears before GOD the Father for us. FOR ME! A thrilling truth indeed!
1 John 2:1 tells me Christ is my Advocate and as such stands before GOD as my representative.
This is my only hope for entering heaven! My hope is Christ Jesus appearing before GOD, on my behalf, acting as my Advocate.
On my own, I have no hope. But with His representation, I have no doubts.
So which will it be for you, No hope or No doubt?

Heb 9:13 – idea of sprinkling. The sprinkling of the blood on the door post of Exo 12 and the sprinkling of the blood of animal sacrifices on the people (Exo 24:8), is a common thread throughout the Old Law as the priests would sprinkle the blood on the people. It now comes to full fruition with the final sacrifice and the blood of the Savior. See also 1 Pet 1:2.

The 6 NT stops, just as the OT stops, are based on the emphasis of the Christ as our means of salvation.

V15 – Christ is the Mediator not only for me in 2022, but also for those under the 1st Covenant. In your margin draw a cross with arrows pointing in both directions.

8:1-13
The Main Point!
Chp 8 begins with a thesis statement that summarizes the entire book.
Indeed this chapter brings to focus the entire book – better High Priest, better Mediator, better Minister, better tabernacle, better covenant, better promises, better Sacrifice!

Vv 1-2 – We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty!
Now! We have => Present tense
Cross Reference and read Acts 2:29-36 Not some future millennial reign – Now!

There is a word of special interest here – seated
The idea of His being seated is important – there was no seat for the high priest in the holy of holies to sit down on the Day of Atonement – why? He was not permitted to remain in there and because his sacrificial work was never completed under that order. The seating of Christ suggests that He is there to remain and His work is finished – it would never need repeating.
V3 – this High Priest did have something to offer – Himself! To offer is in aorist tense. One time => once for all discussion from chapter 7.

Christ is our High Priest
The key word in the book of Hebrews is the word better.
V6 – Jesus is the High Priest of a better covenant, enacted on better promises;

See vv 7-10. This new covenant spoken of by Jeremiah is the better covenant in that complete forgiveness is available now!

V9 – “I disregarded them (the Jews)” – not simply because the OT Jew sinned, we all do that – the Jews rejected the Messiah – Peter says it like this, with lawless hands, you crucified Him and put Him to death (Acts 2)
We too sin – but as long as we don’t reject the Christ and look for another Messiah per warning in Hebrews – we can be forgiven. Forgiveness was not available for the OT Jew – at least not until Christ died on the cross. But 1 John 1:7 and Rom 4:8 says it is possible for us to live so that sin will not be charged to us.

V13 – the old covenant is obsolete – c/f Col 2:13-14

A Lesson for Us

As we finish our Hebrews visit I’d like to visit 8:5 for one more point. It is really an application point that should not be overlooked. We discussed the idea of copy and shadow along with 9:9, 23-24, and 10:1. There is another word with a similar thrust in verse 5.

V5 – According to the pattern – one of the most significant statements in the entire book – I’d say even the entire Bible!
Statement is found 4 times in NKJ – Exo 25:40, Num 8:4, Acts 7:44, and here. Each time it is referring to the tabernacle and the contents and even the specific arrangements of the items.
The instructions of God to Moses to which reference is here made are found in Exodus 25:40; and this reiteration of them in the New Testament is of the utmost consequence. If God required Moses to proceed exactly according to the pattern God showed him, it is also required of worshipers today that they do all things according to the pattern God has revealed.

One of the great delusions of modern worshipers is the fallacy that there is no pattern. That it makes no difference what people do religiously, just as long as they are sincere in it; but this text reveals God as a pattern-minded God. How could God be supposed to be otherwise?
Think of His entire creation – everything is according to a pattern.

Precision in science (Dihydrogen Monoxide – what is that? Water! 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 atom of oxygen; If you add 1 atom of oxygen, H2 O2, you don’t have water anymore, you have hydrogen peroxide!),

Precision in mathematics (Pythagorean Theorem) – the sides of a right triangle always have the same proportion, that is 3, 4, 5 a^2+b^2=c^2

Precision in the human body (number of chromosomes for example – we have 23 pairs, in each pair we have one from the mother and one from the father)
So why should we be surprised to find this exactness in religion?

The Pattern of Salvation, the Pattern of Worship, the Pattern of Christian Living
The Plan of Salvation – there is the pattern…why is this such a problem to understand?
Heb 11:6, John 3:16 Belief is necessary – where does this belief come from?
Rom 10:17
Matt 10:32 – whoever confesses Me before men, him will I confess before My Father.
Acts 8:37 – the eunuch did just that when he stated the 10 most important words ever spoken.
Acts 2:38 – Repentance and Baptism

There is a pattern of scriptural worship – note the reference to vain worship (Mt 15:9) as opposed to Jn 4:24 – the items of worship

There are various items of acceptable worship and each is carried out according to the pattern
New Testament worship is participatory – ALL participate – we can’t worship by proxy!
Singing for example – Col 3:16, et al
Communion – the emblems are not many choices – just 2 – bread and wine.
The primitive church observed it not every day, but upon a fixed day. Pliny the Younger (A.D. 63-112), in his letter to the Emperor Trajan stated that the only thing Christians were guilty of…had amounted only to this, “that on an appointed day … they had been accustomed to meet before daybreak, and to recite a hymn to Christ as God, etc.” Thus from the shadow of the first century comes the certain word that the Christians met on a fixed or “appointed day,” just like they still do; and the New Testament reveals that day to have been on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Pliny’s letter goes on to say that the Christians, at those appointed meetings, partook of food “of an ordinary and harmless kind”; and thus it may be concluded that from apostolic times, the Lord’s Supper was observed weekly by Christians on the first day of every week.
There is a pattern of Christian living
Rom 12:2 – Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.

VIII. Matthew 5 – 7

October 16, 2022
Our 2nd stop in the NT.

Matthew 5 – 7 and the Sermon on the Mount

Sermon on the Mount from 2011 Class
(Interesting to note – attendance sheet from the 2011 class only showed 4 of the 36 present that day are still members of the class. I should be more careful when referring to things we have taught through the years.)

As our series has been to focus on the Christ in the key chapters of the Bible, it is fitting we include this section of Scripture. If you have a red letter edition of the Bible you will note this along with John 14 -17 is the longest discourse of Jesus. We have studied the Sermon on the Mount in the past but our approach to Matt 5-7 is going to be a different study this time. In keeping with the overall theme of our series, we will keep the focus on Jesus and keep the study of the SOTM to an approach centered on Jesus and His mission. Note how this early teaching of Jesus was crucial in making the transition from the Old Law to the New Covenant.

The Sermon begins with 5:2 and note the word taught at the end; c/f 7:28-29. See also v24, 26.
Sayings, teaching, and taught – as one having authority – Jesus began His ministry by making the changes prophesied throughout the OT. He is bringing the New Covenant. He has the sole authority to do so. He is raising the standard from the Old Law. Over and over, He will say, “You have heard it said…but I say unto you…”
A new way, the New Covenant. As we read in Heb 9, the time of reformation is at hand.

Some general observations about the SOM
Formal sermons were rare in the Savior’s repertoire of teaching
Matthew records 6 discourses – the SOM is the longest
Some have said the SOM is to the NT what the 10 Commandments are to OT
Once said if the NT teaching on Christianity was summarized it would be the SOM
Dr. James T. Fisher, 1951, said, “If you were to take the sum total of all the authoritative articles ever written by the most qualified of psychologists and psychiatrists on the subject of mental hygiene, if you were to combine them and refine them and cleave out the excess verbiage, you would have a summation of the SOM.

And so we will see that the Sermon on the Mount will begin to usher in the New Covenant. We will first observe a couple of the key passages.

See 5:17 and discuss. We have spent considerable time discussing the Law and its purpose. It was never intended to be permanent. It was to bring us to Christ.
Cross reference Rom 10:4. Christ is the end of the law and the beginning of justification.
But consider how difficult this was to the devote Jew who held the Law of Moses in the highest esteem. It seems Christ knew this and addressed it right off the bat. He wasn’t about destroying the old law. He was the integral part of GOD’S plan to redeem man. The salvation of man that comes through Christ…
It all fit together perfectly. This is why we spent time in Hebrews, discussing how the Old and the New fit together.

Let’s consider a couple of ideas relative to His fulfilling the law.
Prophecies – see Luke 24:44
All of those 333 Messianic prophecies were pointing to the coming Jesus.

Another way He fulfilled the law was by means of living it perfectly. He was the only One to ever be able to do that.
Demands or works – See Gal 3:10-14
Note v14 – the YLT has “the faith”. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the old law in that He was the only One to be able to live it perfectly. He then brought us the new system, a system of faith. He makes it possible for us to be justified before GOD.

We’ll come back to it later but note v20 in the context of His being my justification. This is a key verse in the STOM.

A 2nd key passage is 7:12. See 7:12 and discuss. This summary statement begins with “therefore”. It is the Golden Rule for the follower of Christ. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Imagine yourself on the receiving end of the action; trade places with the other person. It is interesting that this is referred to as the summation for the Law and the Prophets.
Matt 22:37-40 has a statement similar to this. Jesus is summarizing the Old Law as He readies to put in place this higher standard, the New Covenant, prophesied by Jeremiah.

Let us look at 7:12.
The Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
Treat others as you would want to be treated. It is normally said to be the Golden Rule.

The golden rule says people should treat others with the kindness, respect and consideration most individuals tend to expect for themselves. Think of how different our world would be if we just subscribed to this one principle.

How can we do this? See Matt 22:37-40
Note how this ends the same way Matt 7:12 ends. Altogether appropriate we look at the 2 passages together.

To return to the Golden Rule in Matt 7:12, let us consider this.
Expressed as a negative, we would call it the Silver Rule.
Don’t do to others as you would not have them do to you.
Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, expressed as his central principle, the silver rule – Do not impose on others that which you yourself do not desire
Do not do unto others as you would have them not do unto you – Silver Rule – just don’t harm another. The Hippocratic Oath at one time had something akin to “First, do no harm.”

The silver rule is the inversion of the golden rule. The silver rule states “Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.” The silver rule has its deficiencies though, as it only requires an individual not harm others, and does not ask that person to engage in positive behavior. “Don’t do…”

Ideally, the golden and silver rules should work in tandem, although the golden rule is the higher standard. The golden rule is said to emphasize the positive duties of the individual, while the silver rule regulates negative behaviors.

There is a 3rd idea to consider.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – Golden Rule
Do not do unto others as you would have them not do unto you – Silver Rule
Do unto others as you would have them not do unto you – Iron Rule

The story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 is a good example of all three.
Iron Rule – What is thine is mine, I’ll take it
Silver Rule – What is mine is mine, I’ll keep it
Golden Rule – What is mine is thine, I’ll share it

Common criminals, cutthroat businessmen and corrupt dictators live by the Iron Rule, which says, “Might makes right.” The robbers in the parable lived by this rule. They felt no remorse for their actions. They saw weakness and vulnerability and took advantage of their victim. They showed no emotion as they trampled the lone man underfoot for their gain.
While better than the Iron Rule, the Silver Rule is still not our aim. The Silver Rule states, “It’s not my problem; therefore, it’s not my responsibility.” We sometimes say, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” The priest and the Levite lived by this rule. They didn’t do the wounded man any harm, but neither did they do him any good. They were neutral. His plight wasn’t their problem, and so, in their minds, it wasn’t their responsibility.
Matthew 7:12 was taught by Jesus and was the rule that the Samaritan’s actions illustrate. When he saw the victimized man, he pictured himself in that man’s shoes. He knew what had to be done and he did it immediately. He gave aid, put him on his own animal and provided him safety. He watched over him through the night. The next morning, when he had to go on his way, he made sure that the man would be provided for and personally gave two days’ wages for his care.
Jesus’ teaching, even as a summary of the Law, directed men to adhere to the Golden Rule.

October 23, 2022

I’ll begin today’s class by addressing what I’ll call the Facebook Syndrome. This is the great fallacy with Facebook. I see all these pictures of people having fun, great family times, exciting places, smiling faces. And I begin to compare these images with the reality of my life.
This will lead one to unhappiness and discontentment. No matter what you may think of others, no one’s life is perfect. Everyone has their valleys and struggles. Don’t get caught up in comparing your internal with someone’s external. Be very careful when comparing your insides with someone’s outside.

What is on the inside versus what’s on the outside, appearances are 2 different things. I call it the Facebook syndrome.
No matter if I call you my friend on Facebook, if I look at those pictures and think that is who you are, if I don’t know you well enough to know your struggles, then are you really my “friend”? That is a problem in the church. We need to be in one another’s lives enough to know the real person. To know the real you. To know the inner or internal brother/sister.

It is internal vs external.
I was reminded of this truth recently in a reading of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. This is our 2nd stop or key chapter in the NT. The entire Sermon is a contrast of the External versus the Internal. Jesus notes the great emphasis on the external under the Old Law. He notes the higher standard of the New Covenant emphasizing the internal.

When Jesus began to talk about this New Covenant, He began right off the bat to discuss this Internal vs External issue. He said happiness is not about the external. Contentment, fulfillment, is not about the external. Service to GOD is not about the external. It is all about the Internal.
Jesus begins the lengthy discourse with what we normally call the Beatitudes.
Blessed are…
Poor in spirit – not poor in material things – poor in spirit – to realize what you are before GOD. To realize how utterly bankrupt of good I am before GOD. This describes the publican of Luke 18:13. GOD be merciful to me a sinner. 7 words. I can find no better example of one poor in spirit. Poor is spirit is in contrast to proud and self-sufficient.
Mourn – those who are compassionate, have a caring heart. Rom 12:15 – weep with those who weep.
Meek – the word is NOT a synonym for weak. The word has to do with submission – it literally means strength brought under control; think of a big horse and bridle – certainly nothing to do with weak – it is to be submissive to GOD.
Hunger and thirst – the thing about hunger and thirst, it is daily desires – when I hunger and thirst after what is right – Psa 42:1 notes it is like the deer longing for the water in the creek.
Merciful – forgive others. Do you want mercy from GOD? Then do we show mercy to others? To not treat others as they deserve. Mercy.
Pure in heart – love without conditions. The heart is the center of one’s being. Is mine pure? Not talking about sinless, is it pure? What are my thoughts? What is really important to me? Prov 23:7 – For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
Peacemakers – initiate good in my relationships – I want to promote peace as far as it depends on me. With this attitude, the world will see me as a child of GOD

All of this is making a point – External vs Internal. Do you want to be happy? Look at this list.
It’s been said if you are unhappy – change your circumstances or change your attitude. The Beatitudes are about changing your attitude, your inner being. At the end of the day, that’s all you really have control over anyway.

So look at the list again.
But wait, there is another one. When I do these things I’ll be blessed, but not from the world.
Persecuted – realize I’ll be persecuted because this will make me different from the world – 2 Tim 3:12. But also realize the promise is “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” – this is a present reality and a future promise.

This is such a difference when compared with the old law. Paul when writing to the Galatians – Gal 5, discusses the works of the flesh as opposed to the fruits of the Spirit.
Flesh – Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.
Though not all, most of these are external acts.

Spirit – love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control.
These are internal qualities.

Jesus is introducing a new way to live. And remember, He taught them as one having authority.
They had lived all these generations with all of these external guidelines.
We had hints in the OT such as Hosea 6:6 – For I desire mercy and not sacrifice.
But for the most part the old law was about all these external things.
But Christ came…

Verses 13-16
Then He says – If you live like this you’ll be persecuted BUT you’ll become salt and light.
Influence
Salt is a preservative (recall salting meat to prevent spoilage) – Preserve the truth, preserve what is right.

Light is a reflection – not the source – we are a reflection of our GOD
Light shine – How? Through good works
Why? To glorify GOD

Vv 17-20
I heard Lonnie Jones say it like this – “now don’t get mad when I tell you this.” If someone starts off with this expression what is likely to follow? Mad! I’m about to offend you.
Jesus is about to go into something that will look like He is destroying the law. But that’s not the case. He is the end of the law – Rom 10:4.
Remember we said He fulfilled the law by fulfilling all the prophecies, every one of those 333 Messianic prophecies. Every. Single. One. He also fulfilled the law by keeping it perfectly. To what extent? Read v18. One jot – the smallest letter; one tittle – the smallest stroke. Like the letter i – the tittle is the dot on top of the i.
V20 – spoken of the religious elite, He says, you must exceed their righteousness. Their rightness before GOD was incomplete. There was no justification under their law. No righteousness under the law. There had to be more. And there was…
Heb 9:10 – until the time of reformation; v11 – But Christ came…
That is why our righteousness can exceed their righteousness. Not because I am better at keeping the law or obeying the rules. No. It is because “But Christ came.” And when He did everything changed. If I am in Christ, there is no more condemnation (Rom 8:1).
Do you see why our study has been “Christ centered”?

Nov 6, 2022
Our study has been to see the common thread found throughout the Bible, from Gen to Revelation 22. Christ is our only means of salvation.
HE came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. We visited Hebrews to emphasize that point. For 1500 years this law had governed GOD’S children. It was time to replace it. Jeremiah said, “Behold the days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” So that time has come.
We now look at the SOTM – delivered to the Jews to emphasize Matt 5:17.
We noted the beginning of this discourse is what we usually call the Beatitudes. Our attitudes if we wish to be blessed. If we live like this, we will be persecuted (v11) but we will be an influence for good (vv 13-16).

As we consider the Internal vs External, the rest of the SOTM is divided into 4 areas.
This could be considered the heart of the Sermon, 5:21 – 7:12.

Beginning with 5:21 we have the New Covenant being introduced. This is where we have a series of Jesus’ “you have heard it said…but I say unto you” statements. Briefly call attention to v21, 27, 31, 33, 38, and 43.
The “you have heard it said” addresses the legalism of the Law. Jesus is raising the standard.

The heart of the sermon can be broken into 4 parts – note the internal vs external in all 4 parts.

This is the 4 sections – 4 “isms”
Legalism discussed
Egotism addressed
Materialism defined
Criticism warned

Read vv 21-24
Jesus begins the “You have heard it said…But I say to you…”
He wasn’t addressing murder as an issue that was the problem. Murder was not rampant among the Jews just as it is not today. It happens but it is not the norm. That is not what Jesus is teaching. He is teaching the internal/external lessons.
Be careful when you are angry with your brother! Have you ever hated someone in your heart? Ever call someone a fool? With my heart’s condition coming out, I say, you fool, you idiot, you lowlife, you scum, you thug…
What about coming to church, seeing a brother, shaking his hand, saying “hey, it’s good to see you” but in my heart I despise him. That doesn’t hurt him. He may not even know it. That hurts me. That is my sin.

It’s not enough not to put my hands on you and murder you. That’s the Silver Rule we discussed. Not enough that I do no harm. I am dealing with someone who is created in the image of GOD. I am to love you. I am to do good unto you (Gal 6:10). What is in my heart???
GOD is concerned not just with my actions, but also with my heart.

Murder is external. Hate is internal. The New Covenant concerns both.
So how serious did Jesus say this heart problem was?
V23, 24 – If you have a heart problem, this is how serious it is. It precludes worship!
Matt 18 tells me what to do when my brother “sins” against me. If he has sinned, his soul is at stake. I am my brother’s keeper. I am to go to him. James 5:19, 20 – If anyone among you wanders from the truth…
I think it is significant, this doesn’t say sin is involved. If your brother has something against you…
V23 is about worship and note it follows the anger issue. It just says my brother has something against me. What have I done to this brother? It might not be sin. But whatever it is, I may have caused it or at the least I am aware of it. My objective is to pursue peace in the church.
The emphasis is we are to be peacemakers in our relationships. I will take the initiative. He may be right or wrong. Doesn’t matter. I want peace.

Now I might add, if you are on the other end. If you are the one offended, I would say, “Grow up. Get over it. Be the mature one. Extend a little grace and mercy yourself!”

Read v 27 – 30
The difference between adultery and lust – external vs internal.
Purity is not a matter of external. Purity is a matter of the internal. See 5:8, the pure in heart.
The internal. That which no one else knows. It is just me. And yes, it is also GOD.
This brings to mind one of the great problems/sins of today.
Pornography is said to be one of the great “secret” sins of the church. The reason is because we let ourselves think “as long as it is not physical”.
My intent is not to address this issue here but just let me say, it is a widespread problem within the church. I’ll share just one statistic from the Barna Group and Covenant Eyes – 68% of church-going men and over 50% of preachers view porn on a regular basis.

Jesus is making clear it is not about the physical. It is the internal!
Pornography can be like a drug in that it may begin “innocently” enough but it becomes more and more of an addiction. Sexual addiction is a problem. It will destroy marriages. It is reality vs fantasy. It places an impossible expectation on the spouse and it will destroy your marriage.

What is being addressed here is legalism. The law says this. I can get close to the line but as long as it is not physical – murder, adultery, etc. – then I am ok. Jesus says that is not the way of the New Covenant.

V38ff – There was no grace under the law. You got what you deserved.
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth – Exo 21:24 – the Old Law literally stated this.
Compels – The Greek word means “press into service”
The Jew was required to carry the Roman soldiers gear 1 mile. Most had the distance staked off.
The 1st mile = the law mile; the 2nd mile = the love mile.
Today – always do more than what is expected.

Vv43 – 45a
Easy to love friends. I can do that.
Love your enemies. Hard to do.

But v45a is who I am as a Christian. Your behavior doesn’t determine who I am, how I treat you, how I feel about you in my heart. You lie to me, I’ll lie to you. You’re rude to me, I’ll be rude to you. No, No, No.
My behavior is determined by who I am. I am a son of GOD. And as such, my behavior is not like the world. I am to be different. Remember Whose you are.

Note all the expressions, “But I say unto you.” Every time this is addressed it focuses on the heart issues. It is the internal that is being stressed.

In Ch6 we shift gears a little but still dealing with the External/Internal issue.
Egotism – Ch 6
Ch 6 is said to be the prohibition chapter. 14 times we have “do not”.
But what really is addressed is the idea of egotism. We can’t discuss this external vs. internal idea with addressing the ego. If it’s all about me, there is a problem.

Read vv 1-4; note v6, 17-18
These 3 areas – giving, praying, fasting – all involve religious acts that should be b/t GOD and me. It is not done to impress man. It is internal. It is spiritual.
Note the motive with all 3. The phrase “to be seen” or something very similar appears in v1, v5, and v16. What is your motive? One can do the right thing for the wrong reason.
Note also the phrases found in all 3. GOD sees, HE rewards openly. If I do it openly who is getting the credit? But our desire should be the GOD gets the glory.
Leading public prayers, teaching Bible classes, leading a devotional, going on a mission trip, serving our fellowman in a myriad of ways – usually leads to a pat on the back. Oh, be careful! If that is my motivation, then that is my only reward.
The phrase “to be seen of men” is a theatrical term. The Greek term is theaomai (theh-ah’-om-ahee). The meaning is to be looked upon with admiration.
I am not acting. I am not putting on a show. I am not interested in your admiration. IF I am – that is my only reward.

As stated earlier, Ch 6 is the prohibition chapter. 14 times we see “do not”
The key verse is 6:8.
Do not be like them. This is the key to the Sermon. It is a New Covenant. It is Internal, it is Spiritual, it is a matter of the Heart.

Nov 13, 2023
The SOTM is the longest discourse or single teaching of Jesus found in the Scriptures.
Jesus emphasizes the External vs the Internal as He addresses:
The attitudes (internal) for which the child of GOD should develop – The Beatitudes
The legalism of the Old Law and the higher standard of the New Covenant
Egotism or Narcissism – Can do the right thing for the wrong reason – why you do what you do – not to be seen of men – the external
Materialism – Don’t worship at the feet of this god – the essence of the external
Criticism – Is it wrong to judge?
Concludes with some examples

Materialism – 6:19ff
The prohibitions continue – Do not give, pray, fast like the hypocrites do; now do not lay up…
Read 19-21
The Biblical definition of materialism – underline – treasures upon earth
Talking about who you are, your real identity, your heart. Earlier we noted purity is a matter of the heart. Note v21. Do you value the things of the world – external things? Or do you place your greater value on the spiritual things – the internal?
Rom 8:1 – flesh vs. the Spirit

Throughout the discussion on materialism, please note there are only 2 choices.
One is something that will not last, it is worthless and I can’t keep it. The other is priceless and I can’t lose it. Why is that such a hard choice to make?

Look at verse 24.
The key word is serve. One can have things and serve GOD. You cannot serve things and have GOD.
V25 Therefore…don’t worry about these external things. Just take care of v33.

Criticism – 7:1ff
Read vv 1-5
Judging
Much is made of this in the religious world. In our society, people claim “who are you to judge me?”
First let’s clarify what it means to judge. Judging is ruling according to a standard. The judge in a courtroom applies the law when judging. He or she is using a standard.
If I look at something and compare it to a given standard, I am not judging. State trooper pulls you over and says you are speeding. You say you are judging me. He says, no, this radar says you were going 65 and that sign says 55. That’s not judging.
Jesus is saying your righteousness before GOD is not about comparing yourself to other people.
If you look at people and evaluate them according to your standards – you have these big things in your life and you say that’s no big deal – and then condemn someone for the small things – comparing them to yourself to make yourself feel good – now you are judging.

Criticism is about cutting someone else down. That doesn’t bring me one step closer to GOD. It is an effort to make me feel better about myself but it is not addressing me.
It is about me saying who you are not rather than who I am not.
That’s judging and that is wrong.

Jesus was giving a warning to hypocites, v5.
Hypocrite – hupokrites (hoop.o.krrre.tace) – another term from the theatre, wearing a mask.
Interesting the word is found 15 times in Matthew (to the Jews) and only 1 time in Mark.

Look at the context of ch7. It is a continuation of the discussion from chp 6.
Do not give alms – as the hypocrites do – 6:2
Do not pray – as the hypocrites do – 6:5
Do not fast – as the hypocrites do – 6:16
Do not judge – as the hypocrites do – 7:1-5

Jesus was not forbidding judging any more than He was forbidding us to pray.
He actually commanded us to judge. Read v6.

Let us continue by looking at the rest of chapter 7 – again note there are only 2 choices!
7:13ff – we have 2 comparisons/contrasts; 2 descriptions; 2 declarations; 2 illustrations
Do not linger on each one, make the observations noted and move on.

2 Comparisons/Contrasts – vv 13-14
Narrow gate – wide gate
Many – few
Destruction – Life

Relatively speaking – although salvation is available to all – the number of saved people pales in comparison to those who will be lost.
The term narrow is important. We discussed earlier how GOD is a GOD of precision, exactness; a GOD of pattern. If the chemical makeup of water is precise, or the value of pi so precise man cannot write it out, etc. – why would we expect the road leading to salvation be anything other than narrow?
Share the Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

2 Descriptions – vv 15-20
Naturally following vv 13-14, the description here is of the false prophets.
Ravenous wolves – Acts 20:29, elders warned about savage wolves…from among yourselves
Good trees and Bad trees – Known by their fruits
2 Declarations – vv 21-23
V21 contains the 2 statements
“Does” in v21 does not negate the concept of grace. When we have done all we are still unworthy…Luke 17:10

Many in v22 – see v13
I never knew you – one of the most serious statements in the Bible. Even though these appear to be genuinely religious, they are indicted. Not at any time were you acceptable.

2 Illustrations – vv 24-27
These sayings
They both heard the same thing – His Word
Both faced same thing – description is 4 same things in vv 25, 27
Ja 1:22

IX. 1 Cor 15

Nov 20, 2023

Our 3rd stop in the NT
Paul said in 1 Cor 2:2 – For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Let me emphasize that this has been our focus for the entire series: To see Jesus in every book of the Bible; to see how it all fits together with one theme.

So, with that in mind, one of the key chapters of the Bible has to be a discussion of His death, burial, and resurrection. Of course, we are referring to 1 Cor 15.

The book of 1st Corinthians contains 16 chapters. In every chapter a problem is addressed. Chapter 15 addresses the resurrection. We may have problems in the church today but not one to the extent of not believing in the resurrection.
Paul was actually addressing a Grecian error. The Greeks thought the body was evil and death separated the body and spirit (which is true). But as for the thinking of the Greeks, to resurrect the body and rejoin it with the spirit would be calamity. So we have a full discussion of the resurrection.

Chapter 15 can be divided at least 2 different ways:
There are 58 verses but really only 2 sections both dealing with the resurrection.
vv 1-34 Resurrection of the LORD
vv 35-58 Our resurrection

Another way of dividing the chapter is:
57 verses – Doctrinal
1 verse (58) – Practical
Doctrinal – vv 1-57 deal with the Resurrection; v58 leads with “therefore”

The question of the resurrection is as old as mankind. In perhaps the earliest writing in the Bible we have Job asking the question:

“If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 14:14, NKJ)

We will all die someday. Is there life after death? Everyone wonders about this question at some point. Incidentally, Job knew the answer to his question. See Job 14:15; 19:25-27. What do you suppose Job knew about his phrase “in my flesh I will see GOD”?

The Great Resurrection chapter, 1 Cor 15.
I made this observation recently. While reviewing the notes from “The Greatest Chapters of the Bible” that “we” did in 2009, I noticed we had 49 people in attendance that day. Of the 49, only 3 are still members of the class. I need to be reminded of that when referring to studies of the past.

In keeping with our series of lessons on Christ, the central focus of the Bible, “the salvation of man that comes through Christ” as the theme of the Bible, we will include what is central to Christianity, that is, the resurrection. Not the death, not the burial – Muhammed died and was buried – but the resurrection.
The Resurrection sets Christianity apart! Our study of the Bible and its focus on Jesus Christ would not be complete without a look at the Resurrection.

We begin with a study of vv 1-4. Here we have what I consider to be the most concise definition of the gospel. Paul says, “I declare to you the gospel…” He then in just a few words tells us what the gospel is and what it does. It is the death, burial, and resurrection of the LORD. And it saves! That’s the good news!
Let’s explore these 4 verses because of our focus on Jesus Christ in our study. The entire study has been about what we read in these 4 verses.

Vv 1-2 I want to look at 5 words in the text.
Preached – received – stand – saved – if

Preached – not a new message; they had heard of the resurrection before. Acts 18 gives us the account of Paul planting the church at Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey. He stayed in Corinth 18 months preaching the word. The 1 Cor letter was written later when news came to Paul about problems in the church at Corinth. One of those problems involved the resurrection.
Received – implies human responsibility. Acts 2:41 – then those that gladly received his word. How about those who did not?

I started to look at the Greek for each of these last 3 verbs, particularly the tenses, but I think we can see it and make the point even by looking at the English.
Preached and received are past tense.
Stand, are saved, and ‘if you hold fast’ are all verbs in the present tense.
(ESV – are being saved – as long as we live we are continuing to secure our reward)
If you hold fast => Apostasy is possible. Paul is addressing brethren (v1) and encouraging them to hold fast to that word preached to them. The question is, what if they don’t?
In my reading this week – Revelation 2 – church at Ephesus, a congregation Paul dearly loved (Acts 20) and to whom he wrote the book of Ephesians from prison in 62 or 63 AD. Then here in Revelation about 30 years later, John says all these good things they have done – vv 2, 3 – but note vv 4, 5 with emphasis on v5b.
See Heb 2:1, the idea of drift (Marshall Keeble – not usually a blowout but a leaky valve); Acts 20:28ff, the warning to the elders. What meaning is this if there is no danger of falling away?
V 3-4
I delivered to you first of all that which I also received – the “that” equates to “the gospel” in v1. So here is the simple definition following the next word “that” and the colon. Read on emphasizing the “that’s” all the way through v8.

So the gospel is defined with the following 3 ideas:

Christ died for our sins – Central theme of the Bible and thus our series – The salvation of man that comes through Christ…
He was buried 
He rose

According to the Scriptures – twice in vv 3, 4
Scripture is filled with prophecies – Just note these in passing…
Luke 24: 25-27, 44 Jesus told them all the things written must be fulfilled
Isa 53:7 The description of the Suffering Servant
Psa 22 The description of the crucifixion 1,000 years before
Acts 2:25ff A quotation from David in the Psalms – not leave My soul…
Matt 12:40 For as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly…

The fulfillment of all these prove the integrity of Scripture and also proves Jesus is Son of God.

We speak often of the present tense of the verbs in Greek. There are 2 other tenses in this passage that I think helps us make an important point.
The 2 tenses are aorist and the perfect tense.
The aorist tense in Greek represents a single and complete action in the past. The perfect tense represents a past action which still affects the present – the aorist has no effect on the present.

Died and was buried – aorist tense – events that occurred in the past; not continuous.

But when Paul uses the term “rose” he changes grammatical tenses.
Rose is perfect tense – an act in the past that has ongoing or abiding consequences.
Literal meaning => Christ was raised and He remains so!!!
Similar to Rev 1:18 – I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Underline rose or has been raised => tense suggests a permanent resurrection

Verses 5-11
Paul reviews the evidences for Jesus’ resurrection.
1 Cor written around AD 57 so remember this is less than 30 years after the resurrection. We can illustrate this by talking about something that happened in 1990 versus something that happened in 1720. What is the difference? Many eye witnesses!

What are the evidences?
1st we’ve already discussed – according to the Scriptures and all the prophecies
Now Paul lists all the witnesses

Let’s note Paul’s list
Was seen by Peter
By the 12
By 500+
By James
By the Apostles
Last of all Paul – If someone says I saw the LORD – not so, Paul said last of all

Eyewitnesses – what is so important about eyewitnesses?
In any courtroom the credibility of the witnesses will be established.
Honest
Competent – Acts 1:3 – infallible proofs, indubitable evidence => impossible to doubt
A sufficient number of witnesses
The Bible has references to two or three witnesses – Deut 17:1; 2 Cor 13:1
Why do you suppose it requires more than one witness?

What about #1 – Honest?
What motives could have prompted their testimony?
Money?
Fear? Would this keep them quiet? It did with Peter on the night of betrayal but what about Pentecost, 40 days later?
With the exception of John, they all died for their faith.

Nov 27, 2023
We are looking at the one aspect that sets Christianity apart from all other religions.
The resurrection of Christ is the Pillar of Christianity.
The resurrection – Heb 6:2 calls it one of the elementary principles of Christ, a foundation.
Maybe begin with a reading of selected portions of Heb 6:1-2.
Our present focus is a study of this elementary principle – the resurrection – 1 Cor 15.
Do a very brief review of vv 1-10.
Gospel is defined; the resurrection is verified; the purpose is stated in v11.

Verse 11 – The desire is stated. The process is simple. Preach and believe. The gospel saves.
Rom 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the gospel, it is the power of GOD unto salvation…

Verse 12 states that some doubted the resurrection
The Sadducees – Acts 23:6-8 – Paul before the Sanhedrin divided the Pharisees and Sadducees by referring to the resurrection of the dead.

(turn to Acts 17, note ch18 is the planting of the church at Corinth)

Ancient Greeks – Acts 17:31b-32 – The belief that rejoining the body and spirit was a problem. This was addressed to the Athenians just prior to going to Corinth.

V12 of our text – some among you, i.e. the Corinthians – because of the Greek influence – this is very likely a similar audience that he left in Athens.

Verse 13ff – Consequences if there is no resurrection
6 Consequences – if there is no resurrection…v13
Preaching Christ is useless
Faith in Christ is senseless
All the witnesses are liars
No one is redeemed from sin
All the former believers have perished
Christians are the most pitiable people on earth; we of all people should be pitied

The Conclusion? V20 Christ is Risen!
Matt 28:6 – 8 words that changed the world! He is not here; for He is risen…
The beginning of Verse 20 reminds me of Heb 9:11 – But Christ came…
1st Fruits – Lev 23:10
The 1st fuits => others to follow
This is the guarantee – If Christ arose, so will I!
1 Thes 4:15, 16
John 5:25, 29

V20 – those who have fallen asleep. Several times Paul speaks of death using the metaphor of sleep. The Greek word for cemetery actually means sleeping place.
See vv 6, 18, 20, 51
Why would the Spirit have Paul compare death to sleep?
sleep/death have similarities
sleep/rest – Rev 14:13, Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord…that they may rest…
we do not lose our identity – Mt 17, the transfiguration Moses and Elijah dead for years
we do not lose our consciousness – Lk 16: 19-31, conversation with the rich man
we sleep fully expecting to rise in the morning

One other stop that is optional is v29. Some contend this is a difficult passage and thus we will not skip it. The explanation is very simple. It seems there was false doctrine already at work concerning baptism – that is some were baptizing for the dead. Note this is NOT condoning this doctrine. The “they” is referring to those practicing this error. Nowhere else do we read of this practice. When looking at baptism it is always “we and you;” the 3rd person pronoun is important in this passage.

Verses 1 – 34 deal with the Resurrection of Christ.

Dec 4, 2022
The resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity.
Indeed, it is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion in the world.
V20 – 8 words – But now Christ is risen from the dead. – c/f Matt 28:6
and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep
We too will be resurrected – v23

Verses 35ff refer to our resurrection.
2 Questions in v35
How are the dead raised up?
With what body do they come?

It appears some objected to the resurrection on the grounds it is too hard to understand.
I can appreciate “How” questions but sometimes I need to realize that I walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7

What did Paul call them in v36? Foolish one
Difficulty understanding the resurrection and not having a clear answer to the “How” should not cause doubt any more than my understanding how a kernel of corn becomes a stalk of corn.

To these questions Paul gives 4 responses
Illustration from nature – vv 36-38. Answer to 1st question is really v38.
Description of the various bodies – vv 39-42a
Contrast of earthly and resurrected body – vv 42b-44
A reminder of the prototype – Jesus Christ vv 45 -49; 51 – 54

Don’t miss this point – vv 42-44 – there is continuity between what is planted and what is resurrected.
The “it” sown is the “it” raised – vv 43, 44
V42 – Our dead physical body will be resurrected. “It” is raised.

Phil 3:20, 21 – who will transform our lowly bodies. The word transform (metaschematizo) – like the caterpillar to the butterfly.
The word resurrection means stand up. It won’t be a created body but a resurrected one.
Our vile (lowly) bodies will change
LORD will transform our bodies – not create a new one
A bodily resurrection – just like the empty tomb
Conformed to His glorious body – note the “it” as in 1 Cor 15
no more will we be subject to death, disease, decay
c/f this to 1 Cor 15:49

(Consider putting the following on PowerPoint for clarity)
Resurrection – Greek anastasis – a standing on the feet again
Root word – anistemi
Ana – again histemi – to stand

Our word resurrection – Latin
Re – again surgere – to rise

Thus it is “to rise again”

IF the body that comes forth is not related in some way to the body that was planted – it will not be a re/surrection but rather a re/creation

vv 45-49
So what do we assume from Jesus serving as a prototype?
Recognition even to the nail prints
No longer subject to death
No longer subject to natural laws
Our dead physical bodies will be resurrected

Conclude this study with a look at v58. We said earlier a possible division of the chapter would be doctrinal/practical. V58 is the practical verse. Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD. Our next stop will be to focus on this practical application.

X. Romans 12

Key Chapter Number 4

Thus far in the NT, we have seen that Christ put to death the Old Law and introduced a New Covenant. We visited the Sermon on the Mount to see Him introduce this New Law that was to be more spiritual in nature. We visited the great resurrection chapter to see the pillar of Christianity. Christ is the first fruits. We too will be resurrected.

What I’d like to do in stop 4 is to discuss how to live this Christian life in this present world.
There are many places we could use here to discuss the Christian life in terms of practicality.

Romans 8 is called by many the high water mark of the NT – very practical.
Wendell Winkler called the book of Philippians a great study in practical living.
The book of James certainly could be considered – Kerry is teaching this on Wed night.

My choice for our 4th stop in the NT is Romans 12. The first part of Romans is doctrinal but in chapter 12 turns very practical. In fact, the rest of Romans is a study in practical application.

Some consider Romans to be Paul’s greatest work. Indeed this book explores the significance of
Our 4th stop in the NT will be in chapter 12. This chapter begins with I beseech you therefore brethren. The word “therefore” appears in the book of Romans 27 times. It is a book of logical conclusions. For this reason I’d like to do a quick overview of what has led up to this point.

Chapter 1 includes Paul’s address to an evil world. See v18, then note the 3 times in vv 23-28, he uses the idea of truth being changed. Of course, go back to each occurrence and note GOD’S response to this. GOD gave them up.

Dec 11, 2022
18 members of our class are on track for an attendance award for 4th quarter!!
We will not meet for our class on Christmas Day so today and next week will finish the year.
We’re going to take a little side trip to begin class next week – don’t miss it!!

For today…We got started last week on our 4th stop in the NT.
Rom 12 is our key chapter that gives us a good view of how to live the Christian life.
As we noted last week, the chapter begins with a “therefore” statement.
I beseech you therefore brethren…
To that end, I told you the book of Romans can be summed up by visiting 6 verses.
Romans 1:16 – Paul says I am not ashamed of the gospel.
Pick up here…

The book of Romans can be summed up in 6 passages. In all of these passages let us remember the theme of the Bible. The salvation of man through Christ is found throughout Romans.

In the midst of this address in ch1 we find the first one:
1:16-17 Salvation comes through the Gospel.
In chapter 2, Paul notes the Jew is just as guilty as the Gentile (2:17ff) which brings us to
3:21-26 The righteousness of GOD is found “in Christ” – Note the 3 times “in Christ”
5:8-10 Fallen man needs to be reconciled – that comes through Christ
6:3-4 The death, burial, and resurrection is the Gospel.
10:16-17 Go back to v13 and discuss the meaning of calling on the name of the LORD. I know what it doesn’t mean by looking at Matt 7:21. Go down to v16. Obedience to the gospel.

But we have said the gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection. How does one obey these facts?
The gospel contains facts – the death burial and resurrection.
The gospel contains commands – see Rom 6:17.

All this leads to ch12 and the discussion of how to live after we become Christians.
12:1-2

Rom 12:1-2
Throughout this chapter as we emphasize “how the Christian is to live in this present world” continue to refer back to the idea of “internal vs external” from the Sermon on the Mount discussion.
Paul draws on the truths set forth in chps 1-11 – I beg you “therefore”

Brethren – Romans is written to Christians at Rome (and us as well!)
Mercies of GOD – (plural) illustrated & demonstrated throughout the 1st 11 chapters – 5:8, et al

Now because of the “therefore” here is the conclusion – 3 things for which he is pleading
That you present your bodies a living sacrifice
Do not be conformed to the world
Be transformed – and tells them how…

Bodies – Greek word means the physical body – the mind will be addressed in v2
Living sacrifice – as opposed to death, Rom 6:8 “for if we died with Christ.”
Think of the OT sacrifices, discuss the sacrificial lamb, all of those blood soaked sacrifices.
But here, our pre converted lives are to be sacrificed. No longer a physical death of the body but now putting to death the old man. Do you see the external and internal contrast being made?

Holy – Lev 19 – we are to be different
Acceptable to GOD – To please HIM is our highest aim – Rev 4:11
Reasonable service – word service in Greek is often translated worship which is why many translations (ESV) “which is your spiritual worship” – see Rev 22:3 (same root word)
Root word literally means a hired servant. To serve. To worship. That describes the goal of the Christian on earth. It also describes the actions of the child of GOD in heaven. Worship; service.

Verse 2 – standing in contrast, in opposition to v1…
V1 says this is what I want you to do; v2 begins with a contrast, “do not do this…”
Philips translation – “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold”
Think of the issues of our culture – same sex relationships (our Senate this week approved “The respect for marriage” act; don’t be fooled it is anything but that), sensuality in media, materialism,
The church must function “in the world” without being “of the world”
There is a big difference in the boat being in the water and the water being in the boat!
Brainstorm – How are some ways the world tries to “squeeze us into its mold”?
How does the world try to “squeeze us into its mold”?
Ephesians 4:17-32 gives us the answer

v. 17 No longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles (the world) walk

v. 22 Put off the old man – the description of the old man defined by deceitful lusts

And following is the description of the new man set in opposition to the old man (the world)
May want to number in your texts
put away lying
be angry BUT do not sin – control your emotions
steal no more – honesty
labor – that he may give to others
no corrupt word… speech
edification – speech should build up not tear down
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking
be kind
tenderhearted
forgive one another
This is the description of the world – Don’t be conformed, don’t be squeezed into that mold!

We are to be conformed to something – but not the world – see Rom 8:29!
But be transformed…

Dec 18, 2022
Intro class today with a discussion of Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Diwali, etc.
Briefly review vv 1, 2a of Rom 12.

Transformed from Greek word – metamorphoo
Meta – change morphoo – to form
Thus the meaning is to change form
Where we get word metamorphosis – think caterpillar to butterfly
Same word used in describing the Transfiguration – Here dealing with inward change
2 Cor 3:18 – But we all…are being transformed (same word)…into the image of Christ
Are being => this doesn’t happen overnight – regeneration is instantaneous; transformation is continuous
Our inward self is gradually and continuously changed to be Christlike
Discuss how this happens over years of maturing in the faith.

Transformed? How? By the renewing of your mind…
Spiritual transformation begins in the mind and heart!

Present Imperative Active (Passive)
Tense Present = it is a process
Mood Imperative = it is a command
Voice Active = something accomplished by the speaker (me) (The Word Study NT)
Passive = something done to me – Blue Letter Bible
This could lead to a discussion as to how it could be both active and passive.

A mind dedicated to the world will produce a life tossed back and forth by currents of culture
A mind dedicated to GOD’S truth will produce a life of peace, hope, strength…
External vs Internal continues

Leading us to the spiritual growth we seek –
Acceptable (used twice in the 2 verses) – to GOD not necessarily to us and perfect will of GOD

Jan 1, 2023
It has been said the 3 most profound books of the NT are Hebrews, Revelation and Romans. It should come as no surprise then that 3 of the 6 key chapters are found in these 3 book. We began our NT look in Hebrews 9. Our next stop will be in the book of Revelation. For now…
Our current Key Chapter of the Bible is Romans 12. Here we find a good practical approach to how we are to live a Christian life. In reality chapter 12 of Romans is a dividing point of the book. Ch 12 and the rest of the book is a study in practical Christian living. As an example, just note the 1st verse of the remaining chapters, 16:7 being the exception on the last chapter.

Our focus will be chapter 12. This includes our attitude toward self, our treatment of our church family and our treatment of the world in general. We might divide our thoughts into 3 categories: self, brethren, and the world. So, let’s continue our thoughts on self.

As we continue this key chapter discussing how to live the Christian life, what better way to introduce it than the previous 2 vv.
We discussed the idea of “being transformed” when we were together last. This transformation is not a single event. We noted the companion verse in 2 Cor 3:18 by observing “are being transformed” is present tense. We have the same idea in Rom 12:2. Be transformed is in fact also present tense. That means it is an on-going idea. The following blog is worth mentioning here.
How will time change you? | What does the Bible say about it? (taylorstudies.com)
Col and Philemon – Demus – around 63 AD; 2 Tim around 67 AD => change
Now here is the point – one will change! At the end of this year, you will have changed. The question is, will it be for the better or worse? Will you be stronger spiritually or will you faith be weaker? You will either conform or transform. Which will it be?

Verses 3-8
This renewed mind – this section of practicality in one’s view of self, begins with a proper view of self.
The Bible cautions us repeatedly about pride and encourages humility and yet here we read…
Christian is to think of themselves highly – we talk often about humility but…
Mt 22:39 (Love neighbor as yourself)
Eph 5:28-29 (Husbands love your wives as you do your own body)
Gen 1:27 (We are after all made in the image of GOD)

BUT not “more highly” than they ought (implication here is that there is a healthy/righteous level of self-respect)

Think soberly – remembering whatever we have comes from GOD
Think sensibly, with sound judgment – have an honest evaluation of self

There is a phrase found in v5 that is common in Romans. It is the phrase one-another. Not surprisingly, all but one of the times is found in chapters 12 – 16. The idea of reciprocity is important in the life of a Christian.

Rest of the chapter is our focus for practical living – Maxims for Christian Living
Here we examine our actions toward our church family and our actions toward the all. These lists are not mutually exclusive. There is overlap. All together it is a practical list of behaviors for the Christian.
Behavior toward the brethren – vv 9-13
Behavior toward the all – vv 14-21

General comments about the section
Paul continues the contrast to the “conformed to the world” idea
Early in our series, we discussed if the Bible were reduced to one word, we could make a good case for the word love.
Notice how Paul uses this one word in a contrast of the people of the world and those who love GOD.
According to 2 Tim 3:1-4, people of the world are
Lovers of themselves; lovers of money; lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD

In our text from Romans 12, Note the 4 words used to describe the Christian’s love for each other in 9, 10, 13
For Jan 8 review
I am more convinced that we have chosen wisely to include Rom 12 in our key chapters.
As we noted earlier, ch12 begins a division in the book.
Very common in Paul’s letters for the 1st half to be doctrinal, then the latter half application. (Ephesians for example, ch 1-3 doctrinal, ch4-6 application)
Rom ch11 ends the doctrinal section, see 11:36, and note the emphasis on Jesus Christ.
The rest of the book is a lesson in application.
Ch12 – moral obligations; 13 – political obligations; 14, 15 – unity and liberties
In looking at the rest of Romans – ch 14 addressing unity and guarding against trivial matters disrupting fellowship, please note 14:15. The idea of love is a strong thread running throughout the Scriptures.
I might add, trivial matters refer to those matters on indifference to GOD not man.

Chapter 12 – I have read where especially in years past, smaller congregations without a preacher, would sometimes have someone just get up and read the Scriptures. Ch12 was a most common text.

Today we look at Rom 12:9-21 – a section of Scripture that deals with our behavior
Remember our series is to see Christ in every chapter – this section is titled behave like a Christian
As we consider the 1st section (vv9-13) in Romans 12, we have 4 different Greek words that describes our behavior toward brethren.

V9 – agape – love that desires what is best for the other – found many times in Scripture. Agape is the noun; agapao is the verb form (Matt 22:37, You shall love the Lord your GOD…)
We sometimes note this is the highest form of love. It is the love of GOD in John 3:16, Rom 5:8, 1 John 4:8, etc. It is also the love GOD requires of us in John 14:15 (If you love Me, keep My commandments).

Before we visit the others – let us note the Greek word philos which means dear or friend. We find this a part of 3 words in the text.

V10 – philostorgos – (phil lah star gahs) (philo – friend; storge – the love a parent has for a child and vice versa) This is the only place in Scripture it is used – (translated kindly affectionate).

V10 – philadelphia – (phil lah del fee ah) love shared among siblings or in a broader sense brethren, thus used to describe the love for the family of GOD in the church as brotherly love.
We are to see each other as siblings and love each other as we do our own family!

V13 – the word hospitality is interesting – philoxenia (phil.lox.ah.knee.ah) – philo – friend, xenia – foreign or guest thus friend of all, or hospitality is shown to all.
Heb 13:2 is the only other place it is found where it is translated “to entertain strangers.”
As we note the Christian’s behavior, it all begins with love in v9.

As brothers – here are the 12 maxims for our behavior toward brethren i.e. each other
I want to go through them rather quickly because I want to paint the overall picture of what Paul says it is like to “Behave like a Christian”.
Here we have very Practical matters to discuss – read and mark 1st

Let love (agape) be without hypocrisy   Hypocrisy is one of the worst vices the Christian can have – see Matt 23.  So if it is without hypocrisy, how would you describe it?

Note this is the lead statement for behavior toward both my brethren and the world.

Abhor what is evil – abhor is to have a horror of something (think horror for ab.horror) - literally “hate away”    Note the strong words Abhor and Cling.

Cling to what is good – literally Christians are to “glue” themselves together (cleave, cement) wanting that which is best for each other.  This is agape.

Be kindly affectionate to one another (mutually reciprocal) with brotherly love     

In honor giving preference to one another – another one of those words found only here – to go before and show the way

Not lagging in diligence - The terms Christian and lazy are contradiction in terms

Fervent in spirit serving the LORD – fervent is zeo from Gk zein (to boil) - the Christian is to literally “boil” over, be hot with a desire to help; serving connotes the idea of a slave

Rejoicing in hope – cheerful over the happiness of each other

Patient in tribulation – to bear up under the pressures of life for each other

Continuing steadfastly in prayer – for each other!! Let us not grow weary

Distributing to the needs of the saints – share what we have; back to idea of stewardship

Given to hospitality – literally Christians “run after” opportunities to be with each other.  Hospitality translated from philoxenos (lover of strangers – translated as such in Heb 13:2).  Thus, we technically begin our transition to our treatment of the world here in #12.

Go back through the text just emphasizing the verbs to describe the Christian. Seeing that we are at the beginning of the New Year, let me suggest incorporating these into our daily living. Perhaps take one of these each day for 12 days and dwell on it, looking for ways to put it into practice.
Now just as we had the 12 maxims for Behavior toward Brethren

We now have 12 maxims for behavior toward All – Note LOVE is key to all
Note the change in v14 – those who persecute you. And it seems this applies to v 14-21 (see 17, 20, 21)
Of course, all of these admonitions still apply to our church brethren.

Let us read and mark them 1st

Bless those who persecute you – bless and do not curse.  People of the world live by “eye for an eye” mentality.  Paul says when we are wronged we are to bless (literally speak well of them).

Rejoice with those who rejoice.  Easy for us to rejoice with each other but not so easy to rejoice with our persecutors.

Weep with those who weep.  The Christian does not exist in isolation.  Whether it is rejoicing or in this case weeping, whether it is a brother or stranger, Christ-like behavior involves compassion.  We are to have the heart to care for and share in the feelings of others.

Be of the same mind toward one another – contextually be empathetic toward all.

Do not set your mind on high things – refuse to think like those who are self-focused.

Associate with the humble – associate literally means to be “carried away with.” 

Do not be wise in your own opinion – don’t have an elevated opinion of self.

Repay no one evil for evil – the Christian refuses to return pain for pain – on the contrary the Christian will return good for evil, pray for those who spitefully use them.

Have regard for good things in the sight of all men – c/f Gal 6:10 – again the “all men” are those persecutors.  Have regard carries with it the idea of thinking about something beforehand.

Live peaceably with all men – the Christian is to “make peace.”  Recall Matt 5:9.

Do not avenge yourselves – vengeance, revenge, etc. root word to retaliate, punish, vindicate.  This is followed by Proverbs 25:21, 22 (in the context of love, probably referring to – fire used for warmth and cooking, if yours went out you would go to neighbor, carrying coals on head).

Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.  Nikao – something is going to triumph here.  Be sure we don’t allow evil to “win.” 

A challenge here might be to take one of these a day for 24 days and look for opportunities to exemplify the maxim.

Jan 15, 2023

The focus of our study has been to see the salvation of man that comes through Christ throughout the Scriptures.
We’ll make one more observation relative to Romans 12 – see Rom 11:36.
…of Him and through Him and to Him are all things to whom be glory forever. Amen.
He is the focus of our study.

XI. Revelation 22

Key Chapter Number 5

As we have noted before, it has been said the three most profound books of the NT are Romans, Hebrews, and Revelation. This trilogy has been the focus of in-depth study in this class in the past. It is altogether fitting that 3 of our Key Chapters in the NT come from these 3 books.

As we prepare to look at Revelation 22, let me make a few brief observations.

Recall the book of Revelation, the only book of prophecy in the NT, is filled with figurative language. That doesn’t mean everything in the book is figurative but we have to read Revelation much differently than we do Romans.

The book of Revelation is the last of the NT books, written by John around AD 96. John is the only apostle to die a natural death BUT that doesn’t mean his golden years were golden. He is in exile on the island of Patmos when he receives this vision that turns out to be the last words of Inspiration given to us.

In looking back in my notes – I find it has been 10 years since we did the book of Revelation. We finished our study at the end of 2012. With sufficient interest, we will do it again. As a reminder, all 43 classes are found online in audio form.

For the purposes of our study, our thematic statement is a strong theme of the Revelation.

The thematic statement – The salvation of man that comes through Christ, to the glory of GOD.

The salvation of man – Revelation begins and ends with this – see 2:10; 22:14 – throughout victory is promised; in chp22 victory is delivered.

To the glory of GOD – what was the vision in chp4?

That comes through Christ – Revelation is saturated with Christ! You will see this in chp22.

The Bible concludes with Rev 22. The emphasis is on “Paradise restored” and goes full circle back to Genesis 3. Note “The connection between Genesis 3 and Revelation 22.”

For our purposes and in keeping with our look at the 12 key chapters of the Bible, I want to look at this last chapter of the Bible. I have named the chapter:

Revelation 22 Paradise Restored
First let us make a few observations in the way of an overview of the chapter.

Make a marginal note of the connection to Genesis 3 – Paradise is Restored 

There are 7 Beatitudes in the Revelation.  1:3 is the first.  The last 2 are found in Rev   22:7, 14.
Emphasis on Obedience – he who keeps, those who keep, those who do (v7, 9, 14)

The following is but a survey of verses from Scripture:
1 Sam 15:22; Matt 7:21; Luke 6:46; Rom 6: 16-18; 2 Thes 1:7-9;
Heb 5:8-9; James 1:22-25; 1 Pet 1:22-23;

Note the various references to Christ 
Lamb                v1, 3       Jn 1:29, 36; 1 Cor 5:7 
                                   Alpha and Omega (A to Z)        v13      1:11; 21:6 
Jesus               v16     Matt 1:21 
    Root & Offspring of David   v16     Matt 1:1 
  Bright and Morning Star   v16       Num 24:17; Jn 8:12 
Lord Jesus Christ       v21          Acts 11:17 

Additional observations to the above would be beneficial

Lamb – John the Baptizer said “Behold the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world.”
1 Cor 5:7 – “For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.”
Type and antetype is an important discussion in the Bible.

The Alpha and the Omega – Rev 1:8, 11, 17
Rev 1:8 – some versions say “the Lord GOD” – GOD the Father and GOD the Son – both Deity
Rev 1:17 – note the context. John is an old man but he remembers hearing the words of Jesus found in v17.

Rev 21:6 refers this to GOD the Father. Rev 22:13 it is Christ. The Father and the Son are One.

Jesus – The name means salvation, Matt 1:21.

Root and Offspring of David – This is a reference to His lineage of David, Matt 1:1.

Bright and Morning Star – Numbers 24:17 – there shall come a star out of Jacob and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. As the morning star ushers in a new day, Jesus is the source of light. John 8:12 affirms such.

The Lord Jesus Christ – Additional observations for the reference to the Lord Jesus Christ are in order. 81 times in NKJ.
Lord – means Master – He to whom a person belongs
Jesus – name meaning “the Lord saves”
Christ – title; same as Hebrew “Messiah” – the anointed One
Interesting this reference is first found in Acts 11:17 when Peter is called to Jerusalem to defend the inclusion of the Gentiles. In v26 we have the 1st use of the word Christian.
Some of the texts end with “be with all the saints”.

The Pen of Inspiration ceases
Vv18-19 Note how this is found throughout the Scriptures; See Beginning Dt 4:2; Middle  Prov 30:6; End Rev 22

NT ends with a blessing while the OT closes with a curse. 

Grace – Grace and obedience are not mutually exclusive – Both in last chapter

And finally, we note our emphasis throughout our study has been to see Christ in every  book.  Let us observe, He is found in the 1st verse of the Bible as well as the last verse;     and all in between.

January 22, 2023

The key verse in the book of Revelation is 1:1.
But the key word in the book is found in 17:14; it is nikao (victory, overcome).
Throughout the book, victory is promised; in ch22 victory is achieved.
It is like watching a movie for the 2nd time – you know how it ends. (FB game as well)
Make a marginal note at the end of ch22 – “We Won” – 2 Kings 6:16

We noted last week the correlation between ch1 and ch22. Let’s explore that a little further.
Open your Bibles to Rev 1 and hold your place; open also to ch22.
We will note the Book ends as it began.

1:1 GOD – Jesus – angel – John – us 22:6 GOD – angel – servant
1:2 John, who bore witness 22:8 Now, I, John…
1:3 1st Beatitude – Those who keep 22:7 6th Beatitude – Keeps the words
1:1, 3 Time is near 22:6, 10 must shortly take place
1:5b washed from our sins 22:14 wash their robes (most versions)
1:4, 12 addresses the 7 churches 22:16 the churches
1:8, 11 Alpha and Omega 22:13 Alpha and Omega
1:6, 7, 18 Amen x3 22:20, 21 Amen x2
1:4 Grace be unto you 22:21 grace be with you all

Wonderful climax to the Revelation as well as the Scriptures as a whole

Chapter 22 in more detail

As noted there is a strong connection between Revelation and Genesis
Many things that go wrong in the beginning are rectified in the end

As we have noted throughout our study, the emphasis is on Jesus Christ as our Savior. The salvation of man through Christ is on display. We want you to see Jesus in every key chapter, indeed throughout the Bible.

Verses 1-5 are a continuation of ch21 – Paradise is restored
This description begins back in 21:9. Make a reference to 21:16 and the discussion of the 2 cubes in the Bible. Are these measurements to be taken literally? If so, it would comprise an area about the size of Australia. I’m not sure it is to be taken literally, but it is interesting the measurements are given.

Ch 22 begins with…
John sees a garden – fruit bearing tree
From throne a river – water of life
Christ is on the throne
All the Saints’ needs are supplied – water, food, health
No more curse – no more death
We shall serve Him – note we will serve – do we here??
Mark on their foreheads – a figurative expression implying they gave their mental assent to teaching – 13:17; We bear a spiritual likeness to our Creator just as those who have the mark of the beast – figuratively identify with Satan.

6-7
Faithful and true
See 1:1
Shortly – en tachos – with quickness, in haste, speedily
Time is symbolic

Beatitude #6 of 7
Keep the words – note emphasis on obedience – v14 is the 7th and last beatitude – do; 9-keep
Bible is full of texts on obedience – noted earlier

8-9
Look back to 19:10
Here in vv 8, 9, John again is overcome and falls to worship
Angel says don’t do that, worship GOD

A couple of observations…
When the devil tempted Jesus – Luke 4:8 – You shall worship the LORD your GOD and Him only you shall serve.
Matt 14:33 – Jesus accepted worship => He was not an angel as the Jehovah’s Witnesses say

John’s blunder is recorded => his impartiality thus the inspiration of the Scriptures

V10
Time is at hand – this prophecy will soon begin to unfold (the time is near)
In keeping with v6, the prophecy will soon begin doesn’t mean all will be completed shortly.
It’s been 2,000 years and the final judgment has not yet occurred.
Time is relative.

V11 probably means if the unrighteous will not be warned by the prophecy of this book there is nothing more to be done. Similar to the idea found in Heb 10:26-29

V12 – work – salvation is not unconditional
It is based on man’s obedience v 7, 9, 14

V14 – do his commandments is translated as “wash their robes” in most translations

Mode of washing or cleansing – by Lamb’s blood 7:14;  Acts 22:16
Present tense – literally keep on washing – 1 John 1:7

That => conditional
The right – only b/c of His sacrifice

V16 – root and offspring of David
How can one be both a root and offspring?
Root – as Divinity, Christ was David’s Source
Offspring – as a Man He was in lineage of David

17-19
The operation of the Spirit is not direct, it is through the bride (the church)

Note the personality of the Spirit – He speaks – 1 Cor 2:10ff 
Spirit and bride (church)
Note the 4 invitations in v17; yet all are one and the same
Man’s free will is stressed – him, whoever, freely
One will never come until he is thirsty spiritually
Though water is freely given one must take of it => obedience
Note cf for v18 – to emphasize the importance of this concept note it is found…
Beginning of Bible – Deut 4:2; 12:32 
Middle – Prov 30:6; Eccl 3:14 (known as the wisdom literature)
End – here in the closing verses of Inspiration

XII. Acts 2

January 29, 2023
Put the theme and aim on the board prior to class.
The salvation of man that comes through Christ to the glory of GOD as revealed by the Spirit.
Aim: To see Christ in every chapter

Our 6th and final Key Chapter of the NT – Acts 2
Acts 2 has been called the hub of the Bible. It has been called the “greasy” chapter of the Bible because Bibles belonging to members of the church have been turned to that chapter so many times, it has the greasy oil from one’s fingers. A little humorous but some truth therein.
So as you might expect, it has to be included in our Key Chapters and in fact will be our final stop, the culmination of our year-long study. What we have endeavored to do is take a look at the 12 key chapters of the Bible and to see Christ in every chapter. We recognize the Bible can be summarized in one thematic statement. These 12 chapters fall under this theme and give support for a “Cliff’s Notes” version of the Bible.
Being “in Christ” summarizes that thematic statement. The salvation of man (that comes through Christ) can only be accessed if one is in Christ. We can substitute “in Christ” for “through Christ” while quoting John 14:6.
The phrase “in Christ” is found 85 times in the NKJ NT. All but 3 are found in Paul’s epistles. These 85 references do not include almost that many more times we have phrases like “in Him.”
So we have passages like Eph 1:7 – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Again, we could substitute “in Him” for the phrase above.
Thus it is important we recognize how one gets into Christ. Romans 6:3, 4 and Gal 3:27 both make clear one is baptized into Christ. A full study reveals a candidate for baptism must be a penitent believer in Christ as the Son of GOD.
Acts 2, as our final stop, is the record of the first time this is done through the preaching of the gospel on the day of Pentecost. Those obeying the gospel on that day and days going forward were added to the church.
It is important one realize that our salvation is through Christ not through the church. GOD adds us to the church when we are converted. The body of Christ is a critical component of the Christian. It is my church family. One is baptized into Christ; baptized in order to get into Christ. This is where we reach the blood of Christ as we are buried with Him in baptism. One is not baptized in order to get into the church. This implies the church is the saving mechanism. It is Christ Who saves. GOD adds us to the church as we are being saved (Acts 2:47).
Viewing baptism as my entrance requirement to get into the church views the church as a sect or denomination.
Now please understand, this is not to diminish the church. No, No, No.
The church is the Ecclesia, the called out, the saved. It is the body of believers. 1 Timothy 3:15 refers to it as the pillar and ground of the truth.
Eph 5:25 – Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.
I just want to be sure we understand our baptism is into Christ. GOD then adds us to the church.

And now watch how it all ties together.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…
We began our study some time ago with a discussion about the promise of a great nation made to Abraham. (Gen 12:2 – I will make you a great nation…) Well, here we are, 4,000 years later, a part of that great nation.

You’re going to want to mark your Bibles here…
His own special people refers to the church. You may want to c/f this phrase to 2 Chron 7:14. My name…
In the OT, this name was Israel – IsraEL. EL is the Hebrew name for GOD introduced in the 1st verse of the Bible. Recall we noted the Biblical names containing EL – Michael, Gabriel, Daniel, Ezekiel, etc. In Gen 32, GOD changed the name of Jacob to Israel (struggle or strive with GOD) and from that point onward, His children were referred to as the children of Israel. This is the My name in the OT.
Recall the book of Isaiah has been called the little Bible because the first 39 chapters can be thought of as corresponding to the OT and its 39 chapters. Beginning in Isa 40, and the last 27 chapters we have many prophecies relating to the New Testament. Do a survey of 42:1-4; 47:4; 48:16; 49:7; 53; 59:20…
Then we come to Isaiah 62:2. A new name is referenced, a name that the mouth of the LORD will name. It is also noteworthy it is to have something to do with the Gentiles and after they see your righteousness.
Turn to Acts 11:26. This is a thrilling fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 62. And not to be missed is the fact it occurs after Acts 10, the conversion of Cornelius and his household. It is also of note, the phrase “were called” in Greek (chrematizo) means divinely called. Make a notation back to “the mouth of the LORD” in Isa 62.
In the NT it is Christian – CHRISTian.
The book of Isaiah has so many prophecies that are fulfilled in the NT (think Isa 53) that critics often say it was written after the fact. There are many points that refute this but none more so than the Dead Sea Scrolls found in the 1940’s and 50’s. One of those manuscripts is the book of Isaiah in its entirety. Those scrolls have been dated 100 to 200 years before Christ.

Feb 5, 2023
Our study has been to see Jesus Christ throughout the Bible, from Gen to Rev.
We conclude our key chapters by visiting what many call the hub of the Bible.
Indeed, the church, the body of Christ is a good conclusion to our series.

In the way of introductory thoughts concerning the church, I wish to visit one more passage.
Let’s look at 1 Cor 1:1-3
All of Paul’s epistles all begin the same way. He identifies himself as the writer and the recipients. Then he adds a greeting “grace and peace” to you.
Today we commonly put the author and wishes at the end of the letter. 1st Century writing included it at the beginning.
All of Paul’s 13 letters begin the same way, grace and peace to you. The preacher letters (Timothy and Titus) include the word mercy, “grace, mercy, and peace”.
This is the reason I don’t think Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.
If you have a KJV, look at the book of Hebrews. It is titled – The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews. The arrangement of the Pauline epistles is, congregational letters by size followed by the personal letters by size. So the KJV doesn’t follow this even though it gives the penmanship to Paul. I do not believe Paul is the author of Hebrews. Who was? If the Holy Spirit had wanted us to know, He would have included the information.
Interesting but not our focus today. Our focus today will be on verse 2.

The church – Use 1 Cor 1:2 to make the following notations.

church of GOD – Not the church of Corinth; no it is who we belong to; a serious charge to elders – Acts 20:28, shepherd the church of GOD, it belongs to HIM.
at Corinth – the physical location, the church which is at Northport
in Christ Jesus – the spiritual location; We have emphasized this throughout, in Christ.
Called to be saints – not the “to be” is in italics indicating it is not part of the Greek text nor should it be. Those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus are called saints, now not something to be.
Note the small letter c in church in the text. Some may consider this a petty observation but it really is not petty at all. It is the reason we refer to our congregation as the church of Christ at Northport rather than the Northport Church of Christ. The latter refers to a name. The church is not named in Scripture. It is described but it is not named. The description here is the church that belongs to GOD.

Let us continue to emphasize it is Christ who saves; not the church. I am baptized into Christ. GOD adds me to the church. But let us never diminish the importance of this blood bought institution (Acts 20:28).

The Abrahamic Promise was to build a great nation. This nation for a time was the nation of Israel. But that was physical; it was temporary. It was part of the larger picture. The nation of Israel would produce the Messiah, Who then would build the permanent nation of which we identify as the church. See Matt 16:18; 1 Pet 2:9.

In our next series of lessons, we will explore the church in more detail but for now I wish to point out a few notes about Acts 2.

Now with these introductory remarks, let us visit our 12th and final stop by looking at Acts 2.

Verses 1-4
They – and the other pronouns in the passage, refer to the apostles not the 120 gathered. This is important because it was the apostles only on which the Spirit fell. They were the ones who spoke in unlearned languages and later had the ability to bestow miraculous powers on others. The antecedent for “they” is the apostles in 1:26.

Pentecost – from Lev 23:15-16, we know this to be Sunday. So we have a big change taking place. No longer are we to worship on the Sabbath. The first gospel sermon is delivered on Sunday. This is honoring the day the LORD was resurrected and becomes the accepted day of worship under the New Covenant.

Verses 5-13
So we have all these devout men dwelling in Jerusalem. It is noteworthy these were good men being referred to as devout men. Men who had traveled 100’s of miles to worship. And yet they were not able to “fix” their problem of sin. Humanism elevates the human to the highest level with no need of any supernatural authority. The humanist would say they didn’t need anything else. Moral relativism says there is no absolute truth. YET look at v38, 40.

V11 – in our own tongues.
This passage has created much unnecessary confusion. Verse 6 makes clear the meaning.

V6 – in his own language
Every translation for which I am aware has either language or dialect.
This created much amazement and in fact a false accusation is made in v13.

Feb 12, 2023
Acts 2 is indeed the hub of the Bible. It is the account of the earthly establishment of the kingdom that had long been prophesied. Prior to Acts 2 it is spoken of in future tense as in Matt 16:18. Afterwards it is now in existence, see Acts 2:47; Col 1:13.

It is also noteworthy, this is the only account of the events of this day. We find the record nowhere else in the NT.

I’ll make a comment about the question raised at the end of class last week. Was the miracle in the speaking or in the hearing? Further reading revealed there are those on both sides of this.

I believe the miracle was in the speaking and will give 2 reasons for my belief.

Joel made a very important comment noting the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles only, thus implying the miraculous gift was on the speaker.
The phrase “heard them speak” is found in v6 and v11.  We conclude all of the apostles were speaking.  If the miracle was in the hearing, it would have only been necessary for one to speak.

Likely, the 12 began to speak and the huge crowd naturally divided into groups according to language.
At the conclusion of this we have Peter beginning in v14 addressing only those men of Judea and Jerusalem. They are the intended objects of the sermon since they were the ones guilty of crucifying Christ. This preserves the promise that Peter would be given the keys to the kingdom in Matt 16:19. (The Jews here; the Gentiles in Acts 10; the erring Christian in Acts 8:22) This is thus the 1st gospel sermon opening the doors for membership into the kingdom or church.
Verses 14ff – Our focus now will turn to Peter’s sermon.

Pentecost Preaching
Set the record straight – Peter refuted error
Scripture was used – my version has the Scripture quotations offset so it is easy to see
Christ-centered – the heart of the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection – v22-24
Definite conclusion – v36
Convicted the sinner – see v37
It changed people

Let us make a few observations beginning in v16 with the quote from Joel 2 (about 800 BC).
The last days began on Pentecost.

Sons and daughters did prophesy in the days of miraculous gifts.  See Acts 21:9.  Reading on through v18, note the prophecy from Joel is describing what was happening that day on Pentecost.  Don’t confuse this with signs of the end times.  Sons and daughters did prophesy, etc during those days when GOD poured out His Spirit.  We have noted these miraculous signs were intended to confirm the word (Mark 16:20) and ended when it was established, see 1 Cor 13:8-10.

Vv 19-20 is language used to represent a judgment against nations!  The Jew would have been very familiar with this.  Visit and mark the following passages:
Isaiah 13:1, 9-10   Against Babylon 
Isaiah 19:1     Against Egypt.  Also in Ezekiel 32:7-8
Isaiah 34:4-5       Against Edom
Matt 24:29-31       Against Jewish nation, the fall of Jerusalem 

Whoever calls on the name of the LORD – not just words, see Matt 7:21; Same thing is found in Rom 10:13.  See Peter’s response in v38.

Acts 22:16 further defines the phrase “to call on the LORD”. Calling… modifies the verbs arise and be baptized.

It is noteworthy that the passage from Joel 2:32 has a “b” part to the verse quoted in v21.  Turn and note this in Joel 2:32 – deliverance will come and it will happen in Mount Zion and Jerusalem.  Mount Zion is the highest point in ancient Jerusalem.  Joel’s prophecy will come to pass in Jerusalem!  

Feb 19, 2023
We continue to address Acts 2…
We noted last week there are 3 sections in the sermon that are direct quotes from the OT prophets. We looked at the quote from Joel 2; Psa 16 and Psa 110 are also quoted.
I have been asked the general question “What was the purpose of including the Joel 2 link?” We will discuss more in detail in our next study but generally, Eph 3 discusses the church which was in the eternal plan of GOD. Throughout the OT, prophecies were made as to the coming Messiah and His plan for providing salvation. We know that includes the church. So we see the church in prophecy throughout the OT. Specifically Joel addresses the event that would occur 8 centuries in the future. Look back at the Joel 2:28-32 text and emphasize the “b” part of v32. So Peter begins by referring to the text and clears up any confusion as to the happenings of that day.
It is very important we note vv 19-20. If you missed this please consult the YouTube video of last week’s lesson. Suffice it to say, Joel’s prophecy was referring to that which happened on Pentecost, it is not referring to the end of time. This is general language used for the judgment on nations as we noted in references of passages in Isaiah and even Matthew 24.
Now let’s continue to mine the wonderful truths remaining in Acts 2.

Verses 22-24
Peter addresses the crowd with one simple point, the gospel. The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the LORD, cf 1 Cor 15:1-4. Over and over this is emphasized in Peter’s sermon, see vv 31, 36 in addition to vv 22-24.
Peter continues to address those guilty of killing Jesus directly. “Men of Israel!” He is not addressing those from Asia, Egypt, etc BUT they and we are all guilty of crucifying the LORD. My sin put HIM there. I am guilty!

Verses 25-28
He returns to Scripture. This time the quotation is from the Psa 16:8-11.
(Might consider putting this text on PowerPoint)
Of note – David is not talking about himself. He is talking about the LORD.
Minor point – the my in v27 should be capitalized to be consistent – My is referring to the LORD not David (I agree David will not be left in Hades forever, but he is still there today; read v27c)
“Nor” notes that Hades and the grave are 2 different places – see v31

Verses 29-35
Along with the prophecy of Joel, David is a key figure in the Messianic line of Christ, recall Matt 1:1. The discussion of David is the reason we included David and Psa 51 in our series of Key Chapters. David, his throne and kingship, was a key part of the Messianic lineage.
Reference is made in v30 to a text in 2 Sam 7:12. It is not a direct quote and thus not indented like earlier passages. It would behoove us to look at the text in 2 Samuel.

V30 – Therefore…
He would raise up the Christ – 2 Sam 7:12; Psa 132:11 it is still future; Zech 6:12-13
V31 – might note the 2 parts of man – Soul and flesh – cf James 2:26
V32 – GOD has raised up – Now past tense
Verses 30, 32, 33 – Christ is reigning NOW – there is no future millennial reign on earth

Feb 26, 2023
A review of the previous thoughts on Acts 2.
The sermon on Pentecost was filled with Scripture
Joel 2 – last days, signs, the predictive fall of a nation
We made one point that is very important concerning the last days. Peter says plainly that what they saw that day was the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. This is not referring to some events still future to us ushering in the final judgement or even things that would be happening 2,000 years later in our time. It was what was happening that day and for some period of time to come in order to confirm the word, as spoken in Mark 16:20.
Let me discuss how pertinent this section is. Just this week, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to oust its 2nd largest congregation, the Saddleback Church in southern Calif. This is the congregation where Rick Warren (the Purpose Driven Life) preached. Average weekly attendance is 30,000. So why did the SBC disassociate with Saddleback? Over the issue of women being able to preach.
The current preacher (they call him the lead pastor) and his wife are both preaching. Now listen to his comment, “the Bible ‘teaches that men and women were given spiritual gifts by God’.”
Indeed they were – see v17 – but those days of miraculous signs ended at the close of the 1st century. The purpose of those miraculous gifts was to confirm the word. (Mark 16:20)
Make no mistake, this is an issue that will challenge Biblical authority in the coming days.
The senior pastor (sp) of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, said on Twitter. “It’s driven by power, male supremacy; and it stinks in the nostrils of God.”

Psa 16 – by David but referring to the LORD
2 Sam 7:12 – though not a direct quote, v30 is noteworthy
Psa 110:1 – David is discussing the LORD

A review of vv 30-32 leads to the comment made in v34 and the quote from Psa 110:1.
Recall the LORD used this quote in Matt 22:44 while questioning the Pharisees. The Pharisees called Jesus the Son of David to which the LORD asked them how then is He both his Son and his LORD.
The explanation is very simple – remember the passage from the Rev 22 study in which Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Root and Offspring of David.”
Leading to a conclusion in v36. This is the 2nd conclusion drawn by Peter (see v30).

Verse 36 – Therefore – a powerful conclusion – addressed to those guilty of crucifying Him.
Peter’s conclusion follows these 4 points
V22 – Jesus was approved of GOD
Proof – miracles – John 3:2
Those present knew

V23 – crucified by men

Proof – foreknowledge of GOD – John 3:14, 12:32, 21:18
Those guilty were present

V24 – Resurrected by GOD

Proof – apostles and others witnessed the resurrection; all those listed in 1 Cor 15
V 25-28 comes from Psa 16:8-11
Not David, his tomb was still there – v29
David prophet – Christ’s coming revealed – v30-31

V33-34 – Ascended to heaven

Proof – They were astonished by the tongue speaking – v33
Psa 110 – Ascension referred not to David but Christ

Therefore in v36…

V37 – when they heard this – not felt something – Rom 10:17, our faith begins with hearing…

2 Questions for our consideration
What was it that cut them to the heart?
What did they do in response?

What was it that cut them to the heart?
They realized they had been wrong about Christ. Some thought He was a prophet, some wanted Him to be a political Messiah delivering them from Roman oppression, others accused Him of being a fraud and calling Him blasphemous when He healed – But Jesus said NO I AM the Son of GOD – I AM GOD
And what did they do? They killed Him –
This is less than 2 months after the crucifixion in the same city it happened. Those 3,000 people could have said “No, no, no, I can lead you to His tomb. I can show you where His body is.” But no one did because no one could!
They realized they had been wrong. Not only this but…

They realized they were responsible for the death of Jesus.  At least 2 times (v23, 36) Peter says you killed Him.

But you know it was not just them – not just those “Jews”
In reality Peter was speaking to us as well. All our sins put Jesus on the cross. (Isa 53)

And he was speaking personally – it was Peter’s sin as well. Do you think Peter was still mindful of his own betrayal on that night less than 2 months earlier? Do you think he still remembered that look?

You see, we all should be cut to the heart when we realize it was “US” who put the Savior to death.

What did they do in response to being cut to the heart? Unlike those in Acts 7:54…
They sought forgiveness. Now they see the LORD for Who He is. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the access the Father. The Only Access.
They asked “…what shall we do?”

And let us note carefully verse 38…Peter’s response…and the fact they followed his directive in v41.
Answer – Repent – their contrition was not enough. Their realizing their mistake and their being cut to the heart was not enough. Their feelings were not enough. They were to convert their contrite feelings into reformation – i.e. Act on your faith! Repent – change your ways.

AND Be Baptized for the remission of sins.  And is a coordinating conjunction joining 2 equal ideas here.  No one disputes the necessity of repentance yet many reject the necessity of baptism.

eis – preposition found almost 2,000 times in Scripture – not once translated “because of”
Jesus in Matt 26:28 – This is My blood which is shed for many for (eis) the remission of sins
His blood was not shed because the sins were already remitted – it was in order to remit them.

And so we have v47 concluding the chapter.

March 5, 2023
Acts 2 was an appropriate final chapter of the key chapters of the Bible ending with v47.
Our focus throughout the entire series has been to see Christ in every chapter.

See how the book of Acts ends leaving Paul in Roman confinement. Note what is said in 28:31.

Preaching the kingdom – the church
Teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ

Thus our series appropriately ends with Christ and His church.

Let us make a review of our series.

What began in March of 2022:
The Bible and words – The Bible is made up of almost 750,000 words; we did an overview by looking at 12 words.
The Bible in one word – this choice is subjective but we made the case for the word love.
Love is found in every NT book except Acts. Every NT writer addresses love.

A strong case could be made for Jesus. The Bible begins and ends with a reference to Him. Gen 1:1, John 1:1, Rev 22:21.

The Bible in one statement – the theme of the Bible – the salvation of man that comes through Christ that brings glory to GOD that was revealed by the Spirit.
Eventually led us to the series “The 12 Key Chapters of the Bible”

Conclusion and Review of the Series

A brief review is in order especially for those who may have joined our series along the way. What we have endeavored to do is take a look at the 12 key chapters of the Bible that will substantiate the theme of the Bible.

The salvation of man through Christ to the glory of GOD as revealed by the Spirit

My aim has been to see Christ in all the OT chapters. In every stop, in every book, we must see Jesus. It is all about Him and the salvation that is made available through him. Heb 8:1 in the context of discussing the OT system is a perfect summation. The main point of the entire Bible indeed is the fact that we have a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of GOD and acts as our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1).

A Summary of the Bible

A summary of the entire Bible can be made by looking at 12 key chapters. These chapters range from the beginning of time stretching 4,000 years to Calvary and continuing today 2,000 years removed.

Our aim has been to see Christ in every chapter of the Bible. He is found in the beginning according to John 1:1-2 and Gen 1:1. He is found in the last verse of the Bible, Rev 22:21. The Bible is Christ centered all in between.

A wonderful text to illustrate this is found in Col 1:19ff. We must understand it is – in Him, by Him, and through Him. In Him, in Christ (see also 2:9), is our salvation. By Him, we are reconciled or redeemed; this necessary because of the fall in the Garden, and something we could not do on our own. And how was this possible? Through the blood of His cross.

And now to bring the series full circle, let’s go down to v24. The church is described as His body. So our focus throughout the 12 chapters was Christ and we ended in Acts 2 with a look at His body.

With these thoughts in mind, we can see the common theme of the Bible that we followed throughout. The Bible can be summed up with this one thematic statement. The salvation of man that comes through Christ that brings glory to GOD that was revealed by the Spirit.

We find this throughout the Bible. For example, see Heb 9:14; John 12:27-28;
See Eph 1 and make a chart on PowerPoint.

So this was the objective for the series over the last 11 months. I hope the following summation will illustrate that.

As we make a review of our study, we will take a look at each of the stops. Prior to beginning with Gen 3, a brief comment relative to the 1st 2 chapters of Genesis is needed. Chapters 1 and 2 are not chronological. Gen 1 is the overview of creation; ch2 is a more detailed look at the creation of man and woman on day 6. See 1:27-28 and then note the ending in v31 was very good. Ch2 gives us details about the creation of man and woman and ends with a perfect setting in paradise. This would soon change with the events of our 1st key chapter.

Genesis 3 –The fall of man – thus the need for salvation. Isa 59:1-2 tells us that sin separates us from GOD. The rest of the Bible lays out the Reconciliation to GOD – beginning with the first Messianic Promise found in Gen 3:15.

There are 2 ideas related to the seed principle. The “seed” is usually associated with man and thus reference to her Seed might relate to the virgin birth. A more scientific thought might relate to the fact that woman is also part of the seed principle. This from the study of modern genetics that largely began in the 19th century with Gregor Mendel, the Father of Modern Genetics. It is now known each of the sexes makes a contribution to the genetic makeup of the child. So it took almost 6,000 years for us to realize that indeed the woman has a seed as well. Either way, this idea of “seed” would play an important role in the development of our salvation.

Genesis 12 – Moves the timeline about 2,000 years forward. Of the promises made to Abraham, we looked at 3 promises: a nation promise, a land promise and seed promise. The land promise is fulfilled in Joshua 23-24; the seed promise (Gen 12:3c; 22:18) is fulfilled in Christ (Gal 3:16); the promise of a great nation (Law, Land, and People) was fulfilled in the short term with fleshly Israel but fully recognized in the church (1 Pet 2:9), aka spiritual Israel. Rom 9:6, 11:7, 25-26

Exodus 12, 20 – The Passover and the giving of the 10 Commandments – about 1,500 BC. Of what significance was the blood on the doorpost? A tremendous thread that would eventually lead us to our eternal Hope – Jesus is our Passover Lamb, 1 Cor 5:7.

The 10 Commandments were the foundation of the Mosaical Covenant usually referred to simply as the Law. When Jesus came, He came not to destroy the Law but to fulfill it, Matt 5:17.

Joshua 24 – the land promises were fulfilled with no further land promises to be fulfilled. Their continued possession of the land would require faithfulness to GOD. (Josh 23:15, 16)

Psalm 51 – David’s penitential Psalm, David’s role in the bloodline (2 Sam 7:12), David’s throne and his kingship and the important role it plays as revealed in Acts 2. Note David lived around 1,000 BC.

Isaiah 53 – one of the greatest collection of Messianic prophecies in the Scriptures; definitely one of the great chapters of the Bible. Of the 300+ Messianic prophecies found in the OT, 28 are found in the 13 verses of Isa 53.

Hebrews 9 – the Mosaical Law contrasted with the “Better” Covenant. Jeremiah’s new covenant (Jer 31:33); See Heb 7:18, 19; 8:7-9 to emphasize this point. Our objective with starting in Hebrews was to show the Old Law had been done away with and was replaced with the New Covenant.

Matthew 5-7 – The SOTM is a study on how the New Covenant will be different. It is the external emphasis of the Old Law versus the internal nature of the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:33 contains the LORD’S words, “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts.” The New Covenant is more spiritual in nature.

As a means of distinguishing this New Covenant from the Old, Jesus discussed the following topics within the SOTM: Legalism, Egotism, Materialism, and Criticism.

1 Corinthians 15 – the resurrection of Christ sets Christianity apart from all others. The Gospel is defined by three words. The death, burial, and resurrection is examined. The chapter includes a look at His resurrection as well as ours. Heb 6:2 calls the resurrection an elementary principle of Christ and a foundation of our belief.

Romans 12 – a closer look at how we are to live this Christian life with a look at self, our behavior toward brethren, and our behavior toward all mankind summed up with our 24 maxims.

Revelation 22 – We come full circle as the Bible opens with Paradise removed and we close the Scriptures with Paradise restored.

Acts 2 – the last visit was to take a look at this nation promised to Abraham that fully finds its fulfillment in the church, 1 Peter 2:9. While the physical land promise was fulfilled, the promise of a great nation was fulfilled only with the coming of the Messiah and the New Covenant, and the establishment of the church, the kingdom, or the body of Christ. Daniel 2 notes it is in the days of these kings (the Roman Empire) that the GOD of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. This is a reference to the church which began on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

The book of Acts ends with this statement concerning Paul
Preaching the kingdom of GOD and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ
Indeed, that has been the focus of our series. Closing with Col 1:19-24 as we began.

This will lead to a new series “The Church of the New Testament; Can it be found today?”