The Knew Kingdom: April 2009

Our Prayer (6:5-15)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 19: Our Prayer)

Myths about Prayer
1. Prayer is an option (5)
2. Public prayer is plenty (6)
3. The longer the better (7)
4. Prayer should be hard (8)

Our Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, (abba, not 'daddy')
Hallowed be thy Name. (may we hallow your name)
Thy kingdom come. (praying for the end of the known world)
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven. (implies God's will is not currently being done here)
Give us this day our daily bread. (the prayer of a day laborer)
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, (should be, 'do not put us to the test'... they were really immature, not ready)
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Parts of Prayer

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

Pauline Overview

Acts serves as a book that connects the Gospels to Paul’s writings. Acts was originally the second half of Luke’s 2 volume work, but its placement in the NT Canon has caused most people to think of it as the historical backdrop to Paul’s writings.

The Writings of Paul
Our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15b-16)

1. Peter considered Paul a dear brother
2. Peter considered Paul to be inspired by God
3. Peter was aware of a number of Paul’s letters
4. Peter was aware of the depth of Paul’s letters
5. Peter was aware that some distorted Paul’s letters
6. Peter considered Paul’s letters to be Scripture

Paul was on his way to persecute Christ’s followers when Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). He was baptized into Christ (10-19) and began serving the Lord (20-22). Despite persecution and confusion, Paul was able to meet with the Apostles in Jerusalem before moving back to Tarsus (23-31). Later, Paul was brought by Barnabas to minister at Antioch (11:19-30). The Church in Antioch sent Paul & Barnabas out as missionaries (13:1-4). During Paul’s missionary journeys and subsequent imprisonment, Paul wrote epistles to churches and letters to individual Christians. The surviving documents are part of our NT Canon.
In our Bibles Paul’s epistles/letters are arranged by length, not chronology. A precise dating for each epistle/letter is unknown (all between AD 49 & 67):

Galatians (AD49): Paul expresses the relationship of believers to the OT Law prior to the Jerusalem Council.

1 Thessalonians (AD51): This baby church was confused about the Lord’s promised return.

2 Thessalonians (AD52): They were still very confused about the Lord’s promised return.

1 Corinthians (AD55): Paul responds to a host of problems and questions from the Corinthian Christians.

2 Corinthians (AD56): Paul responds to those who rejected the authority of his previous epistles.

Romans (AD57): Paul discusses the content of the Gospel in this epistle to the Roman Christians before his planned visit.

Colossians (AD60): From a Roman prison, Paul addresses some false teachings that limited the sufficiency of Christ.

Philemon (AD60): From a Roman prison, Paul writes to a wealthy friend from the Colossian church.

Ephesians (AD60): From a Roman prison, Paul sends an encouraging Epistle to his close Christian friends in the area.

Philippians (AD61): From a Roman prison, Paul expresses his thanks to the first established church in Europe.

Titus (AD64): Paul had sent Titus to oversee the church on the island of Crete. This letter is a guide for the task.

1 Timothy (AD64): Paul had sent Timothy to oversee the church in Ephesus. This letter is a guide for the task.

2 Timothy (AD66): Paul is aware of his coming death and passes the torch of true servant-hood on to Timothy.

But whatever the dates of the original compositions, “What is important is this: from the early 2nd century onward Paul’s letters circulated not singly, but as a collection” (F.F. Bruce). The oldest surviving copy of this collection dates to about AD 200 (excluding the pastoral epistles, but including Hebrews).

The Sin that Leads to Death Error (5:16-21)

16 If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. 19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.

1. This passage suggests that we should pray for our fellow Christians when we see them commit a sin. How often do you pray for your fellow Christians?

2. What is the distinction John is making between sin that does not lead to death and sin that does lead to death? Aren’t all sins equal?

Various opinion about the sin that leads to death…
1. People who have sinned sins punishable by death (1 Cor. 5:5)
2. People who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12)
3. People who have committed total apostasy (Heb. 6:4-6, 10:26-31)
4. People who have sinned and are unrepentant
5. People who have died (Steve Gregg, don't pray for the dead)

3. What does 18b mean? (notice difference b/w NIV & KJV)

4. Why does the Epistle end like this (21)

3 John

Like 2nd John, this letter is extremely short. Below you will find a summary of its contents and some application points (the application points are a collection from both 2nd and 3rd John).

This letter was written by ‘the elder’ (also thought to be the Apostle John) to his ‘dear friend Gaius.’ Gaius was a great example of one marked by both truth (obedience to the commands) and love (specifically, to traveling ministers). In contrast to Gaius was a man named Diotrephes. Seemingly due to love for power, this man rejected the elder, the traveling ministers, and any who supported them. It was probably his inhospitable attitude that necessitated this personal letter to Gaius so that he could receive Demetrius (a traveling minister) warmly.

1. It is utterly important that a local church (let alone the individuals within it) be marked by both truth and love. Unhealthy churches value one or the other.

2. Both faith and love are commanded in 2^nd John. Some object that you can’t command someone to believe something or to love someone, but this fails to understand the biblical meanings of these words. Faith is active obedience and love is active care. Actions may be commanded.

3. There is at tendency to emphasize the universality of the Father at the expense of the particularity of the Son. This move is considered to be religious progress, but is actually spiritual suicide.

4. The church must guard against teaching and teachers who deny the full reality of Jesus Christ. Showing hospitality to such people is sharing in their wicked work.

5. The church has an obligation to show hospitality to traveling ministers. By showing hospitality, they share in their righteous work.

6. False teaching is not the only threat to the church. Power seekers wreak havoc in the church and should be exposed.

7. We need not create an attitude of suspicion toward traveling ministers if they come with references from those we trust.

2 John

2nd John is very short (only 13 verses). Below you will find a summary of its content followed by some application points (though the applications come from both 2nd and 3rd John):

This letter was written by ‘the elder’ (traditionally thought to be the Apostle John) to ‘the chosen lady and her children’ (most likely a church in Asia and its members). Members of this local church were walking in the truth of Christ (believing it and obeying it). John encouraged them to continue actively loving each other. But they were to also be on the lookout for deceivers who denied aspects of Jesus’ identity. For the church to show hospitality to such a teacher would be an endorsement of his wickedness.

1. It is utterly important that a local church (let alone the individuals within it) be marked by both truth and love. Unhealthy churches value one or the other.

4. The church must guard against teaching and teachers who deny the full reality of Jesus Christ. Showing hospitality to such people is sharing in their wicked work.

5. The church has an obligation to show hospitality to traveling ministers. By showing hospitality, they share in their righteous work.

6. False teaching is not the only threat to the church. Power seekers wreak havoc in the church and should be exposed.

7. We need not create an attitude of suspicion toward traveling ministers if they come with references from those we trust.

Introduction

1. Background on Corinth
Rebuilt in 44 b.c.
Inhabited by Greeks, Romans, Jews
Home to Temple of Aphrodite
2. Paul’s visit to Corinth
Paul stayed there for a 18 months in AD 51-52
Account told in Acts 18 (Apollos visited too)
3. Paul’s epistle to Corinth
This was not his 1st epistle to Corinth (5:9-11)
This epistle was written during 3rd journey, around AD 55

5 Problems Paul had heard about...
1. Divisions
2. Sexual Sin
3. Lawsuits b/w Believers
4. Misuse of Liberty
5. Order in Worship

5 Questions they had for Paul…
1. Marriage/Singleness
2. Meat Sacrificed to Idols
3. The Role of Women
4. Spiritual Gifts
5. The Nature of the Resurrection

The Intro (4-9) prepares us to address these key issues
v. 5 introduces 1:18-4:21 (speech & knowledge)
v. 8 introduces 5:1-11:33 (the end of being irreproachable)
v. 7a introduces 12-14 (spiritual gifts)
v. 7b introduces 15 (resurrection)
v. 9 introduces 16 (sharing the Son)
* From Ben Witherington III

1 Corinthians

Below are some notes from a Wednesday night study of 1st Corinthians

Introduction (1:1-9)
Call for Unity (1:10-17)
Fellowship of Fools (1:18-2:5)
God's Wisdom (2:6-3:4)
God's Project (3:5-4:1)

God's Apostles (4:1-21)
Church Discipline (5:1-13)
Settling Disputes (6:1-20)
The Question of Marriage (7:1-40)

The Question of Food (8:1-13, 10:15-11:1)
The Right to Remain Sacrificial (9:1-27)
Learning Lessons from History (10:1-14)

Gender Roles in Worship (11:2-16)
The Lord's Supper (11:17-34)

Spiritual Gifts (12:1-11, 14:1-40)
The Body of Christ (12:12-31)
Love (13:1-13)
Prophecy & Tongues (14:1-40)

The Historical Resurrection (15:1-34)
The Nature of Resurrection (15:35-58)

Closing Thoughts (16:1-24)

Loving Enemies (5:38-48)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 16: Loving Enemies)

38 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

1. Where had they heard this said? (Ex. 21:24, etc)
2. Who does Jesus’ think he is? (The Authority)
3. Isn’t this really bad advice!?!?
The goal here is to WIN the enemy by heaping coals on their conscience. It's important, it seems to me, to note what Jesus is probably NOT saying by His statement. The original 'eye for an eye' law was made for judges and rulers to bring about justice. It may be that the verse was being applied to personal situations. Jesus is, thus, saying that we should not personally retaliate against our oppressors. He is also, I think, not applying this principle to situations when others are involved (like if our family is in danger, for example).

What he is saying is that when we are personally offended, we may choose to absorb the offense. The goal is to bring about a sense of guilt on the offender as opposed to escalating the issue by returning evil for evil. If the offender persists, however, it seems to me that it is quite necessary to turn them over to the authorities (who can, indeed, practice the eye for an eye approach, and should).

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1. Where had they heard this said? (Lev. 19:18)
2. Who does Jesus’ think he is? (The Authority)
3. Why should we love our enemies?
a. Because that’s what Jesus commands (44)
b. Because that’s what our Father does (45)
c. Because it yields better rewards (46-47)
d. Because it makes us more mature (48)

The Secret Service (Matthew 6:1-4)

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 17: Secret Service)

Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:4, 6 & 18

This phrase reinforces 2 key attributes of God
God is All-Knowing (even knows our secrets)
God is Just (sees that righteousness is rewarded)
And 2 key questions emerge...

What Kinds of Secrets do you Have?

Secret Sinner: Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16, Luke 11:39-43
Many professing Christians compensate for their internal sinfulness with external ‘acts’ of righteousness.
- ACT of righteousness
- Public Prayer
- Public Fasting
* God sees the secret

Secret Servant: Matthew 6:3-4, 6, 17-18
Other professing Christians have discovered that the best way to do acts of ‘righteousness’ is to do them secretly.
- It's a question of motivation, not publicity alone (compare with 5:14-16)
- We have to be careful b/c the heart is tricky
- The best way to be careful is to aim for secrecy

What Kinds of Rewards do you Want?

Treasures on Earth: Matthew 6:19, Luke 14:12
When we do good works in order to be seen by men, we get rewarded (they see us AND often return the favor).
* this is the classic 'I scratch your back, you scratch mine' mentality

Treasures in Heaven: Matthew 6:20, Luke 14:13-14
Secret works are rewarded too, but since they aren’t rewarded here, they are rewarded in the hereafter.
- Luke 14:12-14 is not a blanket condemnation of having dinner with friends
- The above is fine, but its reward is earthly
- When we give to those who can't repay, we will get repaid (James 1:27)

"There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known” Matthew 10:26 & Luke 12:2

How to apply this principle this week
1. Help someone anonymously
2. Compliment someone behind their back
3. Don't report back to me!

The Failing Prayer Error (1 John 5:14-15)

Early Errors
A Study of 1st John

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
~ 1 John 5:14-15

1. Who is the ‘we’ in this passage? Can just anyone pray with such confidence?

2. Are there any conditions attached to this promise?

3. How do we know if something is God’s will?

4. Why does it say we ‘have’ in the present tense instead of we ‘will get’ in the future tense?

5. What are the ‘conditions’ necessary to build a powerful prayer life?

A. Pray with Others!
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)

B. Pray with Faith!
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

C. Ask in Jesus’ Name!
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14)

D. Remain in Christ!
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:7)

E. Bear Fruit!
I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:16)

F. Obey God!
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:21-22)

G. Have Right Motives!
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives (James 4:3)

Gospels Overview

NT Overview: The Gospels

WHO?
The Gospel According to Matthew
“Matthew put together the oracles in the Hebrew Language, and each one interpreted them as best he could” (Papias, 120) “Matthew also issued a written Gospel among the Hebrews in their own dialect, while Peter and Paul were preaching at Rome” (Irenaeus, 180) “We will begin with Matthew, who is reported by tradition to have published his Gospel before the others. He wrote it to the Hebrews, namely, those of the circumcision who believed”
(Origen, 228)

The Gospel According to Mark
“Having become the interpreter of Peter, Mark wrote down accurately whatever he remembered. However, he did not relate the sayings or deeds of Christ in exact order. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwords, as I said, he accompanied Peter.” (Papias, 120) “After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, also handed down to ous in writing what had been preached by Peter” (Irenaeus, 180) “In order that thereby they might be able to commit to memory what was spoken by Peter, Mark wrote entirely what is called the Gospel according to Mark” (Clement, 195)

The Gospel According to Luke
“Luke also, the companion of Paul, recorded the Gospel in a book” (Irenaeus, 180) “By the style of writing, Luke may be recognized both to have composed the Acts of the Apostles and to have translated Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrews” (Clement, 195) “The third book of the Gospel is that according to Luke” (Muratorian Fragment, 200)

The Gospel According to John
“The fourth Gospel is that of John… it was revealed to Andrew that John should narrate all things in his own name, as they called them to mind” (Muratorian Fragment, 200) “What a mind, then, we must have to enable us to interpret this work in a worthy manner. This is so even though it has been committed to the earthly treasure house of common speech” (Origen, 228)

The Fourfold Gospel
“The Ebionites, who use only Matthew’s Gospel, are refuted out of this very same work…But Marcion, mutilating the Gospel according to Luke, is still proved to be blasphemous…from those passages which he still retains. Those, again, who separate Jesus from Christ…prefer the Gospel of Mark. However, if they read it with a love of truth, they would have their errors rectified. Those persons, moreover, who follow Valentinus, make copious use of the Gospel according to John to illustrate their conjuctions. However, they, too, will be proved to be totally in error…It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in number that they are. For, there are four zones of the world in which we live, and four principal winds…it is fitting that she should have four pillars” (Irenaeus, 180) “The Gospel of Luke that we are defending with all our might has stood its ground…the same authority of the apostolic churches will afford defense of the other Gospels also…I mean the Gospels of John and Matthew—while that which Mark published may be affirmed to be Peter’s, who interpreter Mark was. For men usually ascribe Luke’s form of the Gospel to Paul” (Tertullian, 207) “Concerning the four Gospels which alone are uncontroverted in the church of God under heaven… Matthew was written first. The second one written was that according to Mark, who wrote it according to the instruction of Peter… Third was the one according to Luke…This is the Gospel commended by Paul. Last of all, there is the one according to John” (Origen, 245)
WHAT?__________________________________________________________

What is a Gospel?

What type of literature are they?

WHERE?_________________________________________________________

Where were they written?

Where were they read?

WHEN?__________________________________________________________

When were they written?

When were they recognized as Scripture?

WHY?___________________________________________________________

Why were they written?

Why are they different?

HOW?___________________________________________________________

How were they written?

How are they to be interpreted?

SO WHAT?_______________________________________________________

1. Since the Gospels are based on eye-witness sources, we should trust them

2. Since the Gospels are records of Jesus, we should be passionate about them

3. Since the Gospels are removed from us in place & time, we should study them

4. Since the Gospels are literature, we should read them vertically

5. Since the Gospels are different, we should read them horizontally

Resurrection Responses

Resurrection Theories

Theory #1
Mythical – Jesus isn’t a historical figure
BUT Roman History Confirms the history
BUT Jewish History Confirms the history

Theory #2
Near Death – Jesus only fainted on the cross
BUT Roman Soldiers knew how to kill people
BUT that wouldn’t have inspired a movement

Theory #3
Wrong Tomb – The Women went to the wrong one
BUT that mistake would have been quickly fixed
BUT that doesn’t account for the appearances

Theory #4
Stolen Body – The Disciples Stole the Body
BUT the tomb was guarded
BUT why would they die for a lie?

Theory #5
Switcharoo – It wasn’t Jesus who died
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT that tomb wouldn’t have been empty

Theory #6
Twin Brother – They actually saw someone else
BUT this theory is ridiculous
BUT this doesn’t account for the empty tomb

Theory #7
Mass Hallucination – They didn’t really see Him
BUT the disciples were skeptics
BUT this doesn’t account for the empty tomb

Theory #8
Spiritual Resurrection – Jesus didn’t raise bodily
BUT this theory is based on a false worldview
BUT this doesn’t fit with the nature of the accounts

Theory #9
Mass Conspiracy – They made the whole thing up
BUT how much did they have to gain?
BUT how did they involve so many unlikely people?

Theory #10
Genuine Resurrection- Gospels are Reliable
BUT resurrection doesn’t happen!

Resurrection Responses

The claims of Christ became meaningful
~ He claimed to be the Judge
~ He claimed to be equal with God
~ He claimed to offer eternal life

The cross of Christ became meaningful
~ Some came to see it as a ransom to Satan
~ Some came to see it as a substitute to God
~ Some came to see it as an example to man

The call of Christ became meaningful
~ The call to pledge a new allegiance
~ The call to obey a new constitution
~ The call to work on a new mission

OT Canon

The Bible in Jesus’ Day

Jewish people often refer to their Bible as the Tanakh. This is an acrostic for the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) which we have summarized the past 3 weeks. This Tanakh was the Bible in Jesus’ day. Two questions emerge: Why only these books? How were the books utilized?

Identifying the Canon in Jesus’ Day

Were there other “Jewish” books?
1. There are over 20 other books mentioned in the OT
~ The Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13, 2 Samuel 1:18)
~ The Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14)
~ Kingly Annals (ie: 1 Chron. 29:29, 2 Chron. 9:29)
2. There were numerous other books quoted in the NT
~ Book of Enoch (quoted in Jude 1:14-15)
~ Assumption of Moses (quoted in Rom. 1:25, 9:16)
~ Sirach (quoted James 1:19, Luke 1:52, etc)
3. There were other books found at Qumran
~ 1 Enoch, Jubilees, Tobit, etc.
4. There were books written Post-Prophetic Succession
“From Artaxerxes (465-423) to our own time a detailed record as been made, but this has not been thought worthy of equal credit with the earlier records because there has not been since then the exact succession of prophets” (Josephus, 1st Century Jewish Historian)

Why weren’t these books considered canonical?

Were any canonical books still being disputed?

Interpreting the Canon in Jesus’ Day
“The church’s use of those writings was based on Jesus’ use of them: as his followers searched them further, they discovered increasingly ‘in all the scriptures the things concerning himself’ (Luke 24:27). The Old Testament, as Christians in due course came to call these writings, was a book about Jesus. Here was the church’s Bible. Here was the Bible of the Jewish people also; but so differently did the two communities read the same writings that, for practical purposes, they might have been using two different Bible instead of sharing one.”
~ F.F. Bruce

How could the Old Testament be about Jesus when He is never even mentioned in the Old Testament?

1. He fulfilled the Law as a perfect man and as the anti-type to the many types/shadows in the ceremonial system.

2. He fulfilled the Prophets as the presence of the long awaited Messiah figure

3. He fulfilled the Writings as the divine Logos and as the Wisdom from God (John 1:1, 1 Cor. 1:30)

Telling the Truth

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 16: Telling the Truth)

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

When NOT to Tell the Truth
When delaying the truth, SERVES the truth (2 Sam. 12:1-7)
When your listeners aren’t READY for it (Heb. 1:1-2)
When your listeners aren’t WORTHY of it (Matthew 7:6)
When you can’t say it in LOVE (Ephesians 4:15)

The Language of Lies (John 8:44)
There are MANY dialects (Jeremiah 8:8)
It includes worship without HEART (1 John 1:6)
It includes hate, even without WORDS (Prov. 10:18)
God HATES lying (Proverbs 12:22)

The Defeat of Deceit (John 1:14)
Jesus came full of grace and TRUTH (John 1:14+17)
Jesus came saying ‘I tell you the TRUTH’ (79 times)
Jesus believes the God’s Word is TRUTH (John 17:17)
Jesus said He is TRUTH (John 14:6)

The Victory of Honesty (John 16:13)
The truth paints a brighter FUTURE (Proverbs 12:19)
The truth FREES us from fear (John 8:32)
The truth maximizes JOY (3 John 1:4)
The truth holds everything TOGETHER (Ephesians 4:15)

Will You Be a Pillar of Truth? (1 Timothy 3:15)

Marriage & Divorce

The Gospel According to Matthew
Jesus for President (Part 15: A Stand for Marriage)

The Definition The Result
1 Man + 1 Woman = 4 Life

3 Principles Regarding Marriage

Marriage isn’t for ___________
Matthew 19:10-12, 1 Corinthians 7:7-9

Marriage is defined by _______
Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:3-9

God hates _____________
Malachi 2:13-16, Matthew 19:8-9

3 Valid Endings to a Christian Marriage

D_____ of a spouse
Romans 7:1-3

D_____________ of an unbeliever
1 Corinthians 7:12-16, Matthew 18:15-17

D_________ due to unfaithfulness
Matthew 19:9

The 4 Tests (5:1-13)

1. John, here, seems to be summarizing his main reason for writing the letter. He wants the readers & hearers of the letter to ‘know’ that they had eternal life (v. 13). Let’s take another look at the tests John presented in this letter, as summarized here:

Type-----------Test----------Examples
Moral----------Obedience-----5:2b-4
Social----------Love----------- 5:1b-2a
Doctrinal-------Jesus is Christ--5:1a, 5
Spiritual-------Spirit’s Presence--5:6-10

2. There are some major translation issues in this section. What is the explanation for these differences?

NKJV
7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

NIV
7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

* The extended verse 7 is most likely a later addition.

3. Is it possible to have eternal life by accepting God while rejecting the Son?

* No, as clearly stated in verse 12

Lacking Love (4:7-21)

Early Errors
A Study of 1st John

1. Has everyone who loves REALLY been born of God? Do they REALLY all know God? Aren’t non-Christians capable of love? Doesn’t verse 8 make a lot more sense than verse 7b?

I can think of 4 possible explanations for 7b:

a. It's talking about the source of love directionally. All true love comes from God, so even non-Christians, when they practice love, are acting 'as if' they are born again. The problem with this explanation is that the phrase 'born again' and 'knows God' refers, surely, to Christians only.

b. It could be a translation issue. If you put the word 'love' at the end of the sentence, it makes simple sense (everyone who has been born again and knows God, loves). But why did all the translators translate it the way it is?

c. It could be referring to a special kind of love (agape) that is only experienced in proper relationship to Jesus Christ.

d. It could be another example of John speaking in a very black/white manner whereas the statement must be read in context of the whole letter. John here, is simply giving another 'test' for how to know you are a Christian. It should not be read as a blanket statement.

* I think c & d, together, make up the best options.

2. Verses 9-10 speak of love as sacrifice. How sacrificial is your love toward family and friends? What acts of love have you most appreciated from others?

3. John mentions the present presence of the Spirit (v. 13) and the past presence of the Son (v. 14) as confirmation of the unseen God. Why are both of these confirmations important?

* we have, here, the objective (historical Jesus) and subjective (inner presence of Spirit). These must be balanced in the life of the church.

4. Verse 16 is the second time that John has said “God is love.” What exactly does that mean? Would it be true to say that “Love is God”?

* I do not believe 'love is God' would be accurate b/c the first word pours the proper meaning into the second word. In the phrase 'God is love' the biblical message about God (grace, mercy, sacrifice) is poured into the word love (And, thus, rightly defining it). But if we say 'love is God' we allow worldly definitions of love (lust, emotion, etc) to define God.

5. How does living a loving life make us confident in the day of Judgment (v. 17-19)? How does this connect to Romans 5:3-8? Why does John keep emphasizing loving our brothers in Christ?

* As we grow in character (more mature love), we know that God is doing a work in us. If God is doing a work in us, we know He will complete it. Therefore, we have no fear of judgment day b/c the evidence indicates that we are His.