A Few Thoughts on the Epistle of Titus Titus 1:1-4

Outline

B1 Chapter 1

C1 Titus 1:1-4 Salutation

C2 Titus 1:5-9 Church leaders

C3 Titus 1:10-16 Rebuke

B2 Chapter 2

C1 Titus 2:1-2 Older Men

C2 Titus 2:3-5 Older Women

C3 Titus 2:6-8 Young Men

C4 Titus 2:9-10 Slaves and Masters

C5 Titus 2:11 God Wants All to Be Saved

C6 Titus 2:12-15 Preach Godliness

B3 Chapter 3

C1 Titus 3:1-2 Dealing with non-Christians

C2 Titus 3:3-8 What We Were, and How God Changed Us

C3 Titus 3:9-11 Avoid

C4 Titus 3:12-15 Final Greetings

Chapter 1

Titus 1:1-4 Salutation

1 Paul a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God’s chosen and full knowledge of that truth, which is according to godliness,

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began.

3 At the right time, he made his word unmistakably clear through preaching which was entrusted to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.

4 To Titus, my true son in the common faith, may grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Notes

B1 Verse 1

C1 Servant and apostle

D1 Paul is a voluntary servant. He is not the slave of a harsh owner.

D2 God’s style of leadership (He is King of the Universe) is that He prefers voluntary service and obedience rather than coerced service.

D3 Paul’s commission from God is apostleship. God delegates. God is not a micromanager decreeing everything exhaustively and rendering it certain.

D4 God’s offices that He commissions: 1 Corinthians 12:28 NLT Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.

D5 The purpose of these offices is to assist and increase the church in knowledge (includes apologetics), faith, living the Christian life, teaching the Christian worldview, answering questions, healing the hurts (as much as possible) of the believers, etc. Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

D6 Every believer has a spiritual gift from God to serve each other. Hopefully we are exercising that gift, and not claiming, “It’s the pastor’s job.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 WEL Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are different results, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 This observable ministry of the Spirit is given to everyone for the benefit [of all].

D5 An apostle

E1 Qualifications: Acts 1:21-22 CSB Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.

E2 Paul had not accompanied Jesus but has seen the resurrected Christ on the Damascus road.

F1 1 Corinthians 9:1 NKJV Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

F2 1 Corinthians 15:8 NKJV Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

F3 Acts 9:3, 5 NKJV As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ... And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."

C2 Faith of God’s chosen

D1 Faith refers to the body of Christian belief (Gospel, doctrine, and life).

D2 God’s chosen may refer to either Jesus Christ or all believers. Jesus is the teacher of the faith continued on through the work of the Holy Spirit.

E1 Refers to Jesus as in 1 Peter 2:6 NIV For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

E2 Refers to all believers as in Colossians 3:12-13 WEL Therefore put on—as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved—a heart of compassion, kindness, a humble attitude, caring gentleness, longsuffering, 13 Putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone has a quarrel against any other, then even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

C3 Full knowledge would be complete knowledge. It is the responsibility of the leaders to teach the people the complete faith. It is the responsibility of the believers to read and study their New Testament to learn the faith. Biblical illiteracy is much too high.

C4 Godliness, that is, God’s standard.

B2 Verse 2

C1 Hope. Faith is believing God. Hope is the expectant waiting for what is promised.

D1 Paul had faith, that is, he believed God’s promise of eternal life.

D2 Paul had hope, that is, he has not yet experienced it but is confident it will happen.

D3 Faith is believing God: Hebrews 11:1 CSB Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

D4 Hope is the confidence of what we believe: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

C2 God cannot lie.

D1 Truth is the core character trait of God. Because of this we know God’s love is true love, God’s compassion is true compassion, God’s warning are true warnings, God’s offer of salvation is a true offer, God’s promises are true promises, and what God says (Scripture) is truth. It is not flattery, manipulation, deceiving, etc. God’s being, God’s thoughts, God’s words, God’s rules, God’s kingship, God’s character traits, God’s lifestyle, God’s decisions are all truth done in wisdom, love, and holiness.

D2 Psalm 12:6 NET The LORD's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

D3 James 1:17 GW Every good present and every perfect gift comes from above, from the Father who made the sun, moon, and stars. The Father doesn't change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon.

D4 Compare those who did not (refuse to believe). They understood but did not believe.

E1 Psalm 106:24 NET They rejected the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise.

E2 Matthew 21:32 NET For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

E3 Jude 1:5 NET Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.

C1 Promised before world began

D1 All was planned by God’s before creating.

D2 1 Corinthians 2:7 NLT No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

B2 Verse 3

D1 Messiah dying for our sins. Salvation as a gift in meeting God’s conditions. Faith, not works, for salvation. All was hidden and mysterious until Jesus came and preached.

E1 Romans 16:25 NASB Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,

E2 Ephesians 6:19 CSB Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

B3 Verse 4

C1 Grace is God’s gift of strength to do His will.

C2 Mercy is God’s gift of not giving us what we really deserve, because of the ministry of His Son, the Lord Jesus.

C3 Faith is believing God.

A Few Thoughts on Discouragement

We get discouraged. We face spiritual, physical, financial, emotional disappoints and discouragement. Hope seems to fade. We face family issues, church issues, issues at work, with friends, etc. You know what I mean. There are wars, terrorism, societal ills, evil Christian pastors, good pastors who become discouraged, etc. On and on it goes.

What do we do?

Jeremiah, the prophet, faced this very thing, too.

Background: The Septuagint has this introduction to Lamentations: And it came to pass, after Israel was taken captive, and Jerusalem made desolate, that Jeremias sat weeping, and lamented with this lamentation over Jerusalem, and said,

Jeremiah is so discouraged, along with all Jerusalem: Lamentations 1:1-7 GNB How lonely lies Jerusalem, once so full of people! Once honored by the world, she is now like a widow; The noblest of cities has fallen into slavery. 2 All night long she cries; tears run down her cheeks. Of all her former friends, not one is left to comfort her. Her allies have betrayed her and are all against her now. 3 Judah's people are helpless slaves, forced away from home. They live in other lands, with no place to call their own—Surrounded by enemies, with no way to escape. 4 No one comes to the Temple now to worship on the holy days. The young women who sang there suffer, and the priests can only groan. The city gates stand empty, and Zion is in agony. 5 Her enemies succeeded; they hold her in their power. The LORD has made her suffer for all her many sins; Her children have been captured and taken away. 6 The splendor of Jerusalem is a thing of the past. Her leaders are like deer that are weak from hunger, Whose strength is almost gone as they flee from the hunters. 7 A lonely ruin now, Jerusalem recalls her ancient splendor. When she fell to the enemy, there was no one to help her; Her conquerors laughed at her downfall.

Jeremiah later states this: Lamentations 1:20-21 GNB Look, O LORD, at my agony, at the anguish of my soul! My heart is broken in sorrow for my sins. There is murder in the streets; even indoors there is death. 21 "Listen to my groans; there is no one to comfort me. My enemies are glad that you brought disaster on me. Bring the day you promised; make my enemies suffer as I do.

The suffering is horrible: Lamentations 2:11-12 GNB My eyes are worn out with weeping; my soul is in anguish. I am exhausted with grief at the destruction of my people. Children and babies are fainting in the streets of the city. 12 Hungry and thirsty, they cry to their mothers; They fall in the streets as though they were wounded, And slowly die in their mothers' arms.

Jeremiah cries to God: Lamentations 3:1-8 GNB I am one who knows what it is to be punished by God. 2 He drove me deeper and deeper into darkness 3 And beat me again and again with merciless blows. 4 He has left my flesh open and raw, and has broken my bones. 5 He has shut me in a prison of misery and anguish. 6 He has forced me to live in the stagnant darkness of death. 7 He has bound me in chains; I am a prisoner with no hope of escape. 8 I cry aloud for help, but God refuses to listen;

He was being tortured: Lamentations 3:52-57 GNB I was trapped like a bird by enemies who had no cause to hate me. 53 They threw me alive into a pit and closed the opening with a stone. 54 Water began to close over me, and I thought death was near. 55 "From the bottom of the pit, O LORD, I cried out to you, 56 And when I begged you to listen to my cry, you heard. 57 You answered me and told me not to be afraid.

He complains about his enemies: Lamentations 3:60-66 GNB You know how my enemies hate me and how they plot against me. 61 "You have heard them insult me, O LORD; you know all their plots. 62 All day long they talk about me and make their plans. 63 From morning till night they make fun of me. 64 "Punish them for what they have done, O LORD; 65 Curse them and fill them with despair! 66 Hunt them down and wipe them off the earth!"

Society suffers: Lamentations 5:9-12 GNB Murderers roam through the countryside; we risk our lives when we look for food. 10 Hunger has made us burn with fever until our skin is as hot as an oven. 11 Our wives have been raped on Mount Zion itself; in every Judean village our daughters have been forced to submit. 12 Our leaders have been taken and hanged; our elders are shown no respect.

His heart speaks to the pain he feels. He shouts to God: Lamentations 5:21-22 GNB Bring us back to you, LORD! Bring us back! Restore our ancient glory. 22 Or have you rejected us forever? Is there no limit to your anger?

The Psalmist, too, complains: Psalms 13:1-6 GNB How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever? How much longer will you hide yourself from me? 2 How long must I endure trouble? How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night? How long will my enemies triumph over me? 3 Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die. 4 Don't let my enemies say, "We have defeated him." Don't let them gloat over my downfall. 5 I rely on your constant love; I will be glad, because you will rescue me. 6 I will sing to you, O LORD, because you have been good to me.

In the middle of Jeremiah’s complaints, he remembers something: Lamentations 3:21-25 GNB Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: 22 The LORD's unfailing love and mercy still continue, 23 Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. 24 The LORD is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. 25 The LORD is good to everyone who trusts in him,

Habakkuk feels much the same: Habakkuk 3:17-19 GNB Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, 18 I will still be joyful and glad, because the LORD God is my savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains.

We can speak in this same way to our counselor: Isaiah 9:6 GNB A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Eternal Father," "Prince of Peace." [Emphasis is mine]

The Psalmist praises God for hope: Psalms 16:1-11 GNB Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety. 2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; all the good things I have come from you." 3 How excellent are the LORD's faithful people! My greatest pleasure is to be with them. 4 Those who rush to other gods bring many troubles on themselves. I will not take part in their sacrifices; I will not worship their gods. 5 You, LORD, are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands. 6 How wonderful are your gifts to me; how good they are! 7 I praise the LORD, because he guides me, and in the night my conscience warns me. 8 I am always aware of the LORD's presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me. 9 And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, 10 because you protect me from the power of death. I have served you faithfully, and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead. 11 You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.

Of Messiah, it is prophesied: Psalms 22:1-2 GNB My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I have cried desperately for help, but still it does not come. 2 During the day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer; I call at night, but get no rest.

In the midst His pain, Messiah remembers: Psalms 22:22-23 GNB I will tell my people what you have done; I will praise you in their assembly: 23 "Praise him, you servants of the LORD! Honor him, you descendants of Jacob! Worship him, you people of Israel!

If you are suffering discouragement, you are normal. God has not forsaken you.

He will listen.

He will deliver when the time is right.

So we must pray, “God deliver me.”

We must also pray, “Teach me something from this.”

Then we wait.

We can complain as often as we need to, because

He listens.

Don’t give up hope.

Our souls are safe.

Even if we think we cannot tolerate any more, remember:

He suffered and knows our suffering: 1 Thessalonians 3:3 LEB so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed for this,

We do not know when deliverance comes, but it will happen: Psalms 34:19 NRSV Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.

We can help others: 2 Corinthians 1:4 NRSV who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.

God’s love for us is enduring: Romans 8:38-39 NRSV For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 GNB For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being is renewed day after day. 17 And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble. 18 For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.

God bless you.

We Christians are in this life together.

Storms and Hope

Storms

The Bible has many verses about storms.

I want to look at a few verses about the storms of life. The difficulties, hurts, fears, memories, pain, sufferings of the present and past.

Job was well acquainted with grief from the storms of life.

B1 This is how Job felt: Job 9:17 GNB He sends storms to batter and bruise me without any reason at all.

B2 Job 27:20-23 GNB Terror will strike like a sudden flood; a wind in the night will blow them away; 21 the east wind will sweep them from their homes; 22 it will blow down on them without pity while they try their best to escape. 23 The wind howls at them as they run, frightening them with destructive power.

B3 Job 30:20-22 GNB I call to you, O God, but you never answer; and when I pray, you pay no attention. 21 You are treating me cruelly; you persecute me with all your power. 22 You let the wind blow me away; you toss me about in a raging storm.

Why Lord?

Psalms 13:1-6 GNB How much longer will you forget me, LORD? Forever? How much longer will you hide yourself from me? 2 How long must I endure trouble? How long will sorrow fill my heart day and night? How long will my enemies triumph over me? 3 Look at me, O LORD my God, and answer me. Restore my strength; don't let me die. 4 Don't let my enemies say, "We have defeated him." Don't let them gloat over my downfall. 5 I rely on your constant love; I will be glad, because you will rescue me. 6 I will sing to you, O LORD, because you have been good to me.

Comfort from the Psalms

Psalms 55:8 GNB I would hurry and find myself a shelter from the raging wind and the storm.

Lyrics: Praise You in This Storm

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say, Amen and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls I raise my hands

And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands

For You are who You are no matter where I am

And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand

You never left my side and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry, You raised me up again

But my strength is almost gone

How can I carry on if I can't find You

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"

And as You mercy falls I raise my hands

And praise the God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands

For You are who You are no matter where I am

And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand

You never left my side and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

And I'll praise You in this storm and I will lift my hands

For You are who You are no matter where I am

And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand

You never left my side and though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

Hope

Difference between faith and hope

Faith is believing God. The words He has spoken and the words we read in the Bible are true.

A Story of Faith

Pete had become lost in the desert and had been chasing mirages He thought to himself, I'll follow this last one. It was a deserted town with a well in the very center His mouth parched from the intense heat, he ran to the well with his last ounce of energy.

He vigorously pumped the handle only to find that no water came forth Then, he looked up to a note nailed to the post It instructed its readers to "look behind the rock where a five-gallon container of water will be found" and warned against drinking or using it for anything besides priming the pump Every ounce was needed, and not even a drop could be spared, the note emphasized.

"After pouring the water down the pump, pump the handle vigorously and all the water you desire will come forth," the note said One last instruction was to please fill the water can and place it behind the rock for the next weary soul who might happen to come along.

How hard it is for people to give up a "sure thing" for something they cannot see at the time Pete had a sure thing in the bucket of water and yet was instructed to pour it "all" down the pump.

Hope is looking to a promise. We don’t know when it will be fulfilled, but it will be.

Faith, Hope, Love

One of the most memorable sermons was preached by the late Emil Brunner at the Fraumunster Kirche in Zurich, Switzerland. It was based on the phrase, "faith, hope, and love." The points were these: Every man has a past, a present, and a future. Every man has a problem in his past, a problem in his present, and a problem in his future. The problem in our past is sin, but God has an answer to that problem. The answer is faith-faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem in our future is death, but God has an answer to that problem also. The answer to that problem is hope-hope in Christ's return based on the fact of His historical resurrection and His promises. The problem in our present is hate, and God's answer to that problem is love. It is the love of Christ lived out in the lives of those who trust Him.

Bible words

B1 Hebrew

C1 מִקְוֶה miqveh. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has expectation, hope, and confidence. This would be the confidence that the answer, the deliverance, and the deliverer is just around the corner.

D1 Ezra 10:2 NIV Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, "We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.

D2 Jeremiah 14:8 NIV You who are the hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only a night?

C2 תִּקְוָה tiqvâh. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has a rope, expectation, and hope. This would be an attachment, a safety.

D1 Job 6:8 NIV Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for.

D2 Psalm 62:5 NIV Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

C3 יָחַל yâchal. Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon has expectation, waiting, and hope. This would be patience, for example waiting for a cab, bus, or a friend who is coming. Lamentations 3:21, 24 NIV Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: ... I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

B2 Greek (similar ideas as in Hebrew). ἐλπίζω elpízō. Strong’s (G1680) has (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence.

C1 Luke 23:8 NIV When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort.

C2 Romans 8:25 NIV But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

C3 2 John 1:12 NIV I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

In the midst of the storms of life, why should we hope in God.

B1 He is faithful. He keeps His word. His promises will happen. He does not always tell us when or why, but we know from experience that He is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

B2 He is safe and secure. Psalm 25:3 NIV No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

B3 God cannot lie. Titus 1:1-2 CSB Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

B4 God is good. It is a character trait. Psalm 27:13-14 CSB I am certain that I will see the LORD's goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the LORD.

B5 He is a deliverer. Psalm 69:13-14 NLT But I keep praying to you, LORD, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mud; don't let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters.

We can be secure in our hope in God.

Ephesians 4:1-6

A1 Scripture—I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:1-6, NKJV)

A2 Outline

B1 Beseech

C1 Walk

D1 Walk has the idea of living our daily life. Walking in Scripture is to live the Christian life as outlined in the New Testament. We live a Christian life because we love God, not to earn our salvation.

E1 Old Testament example

F1 Version 1 using the word walk: Leviticus 18:3-5 KJV After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

F2 Version 2 using other words: Leviticus 18:3-5 GW You used to live in Egypt. Don't live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don't live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards. 4 Follow my rules, and live by my standards. I am the LORD your God. 5 Live by my standards, and obey my rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD.

E2 New Testament example

F1 Version 1 using the word walk: Ephesians 4:17 KJV This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.

F2 Version 2 using other words: Ephesians 4:17 GNB In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless.

D2 Some characteristics of walk in our passage:

E1 Walk worthily of the calling with which you are called. We are Christians and are expected to talk and live like Christians. Truly, the Christian life must be in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

E2 Walk in all lowliness (humility, not arrogantly)

E3 Walk in all gentleness

E4 Walk with longsuffering (patience)

E5 Walk forbearing one another in love (showing some tolerance)

E6 Walk to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

C2 One (a description of that unity spoken of here)

D1 Body

E1 The church

E2 This is not an organization. This is all the believers from Pentecost to the Rapture.

E3 It has members who are Jews or Gentiles, but they all are believers.

E4 Being in the body does not mean:

F1 Church membership

F2 Holding to a particular theology.

F3 Growing up in a so-called Christian country.

F4 Just identifying as a Christian.

D2 Spirit

E1 This is the Holy Spirit.

E2 All believers have the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion.

F1 Romans 5:5 GW We're not ashamed to have this confidence, because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

F2 1 John 4:12-13 GW No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 We know that we live in him and he lives in us because he has given us his Spirit.

F3 Romans 8:9 NRSV But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

E3 He enters the “heart” of a person at conversion. There is no ceremony or act that accomplishes this.

F1 2 Corinthians 5:5 NRSV He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

F2 1 Thessalonians 4:8 NRSV Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

F3 Galatians 4:6 NRSV And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

F4 Ephesians 1:13-14 GW You heard and believed the message of truth, the Good News that he has saved you. In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised. 14 This Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance. We have this guarantee until we are set free to belong to him. God receives praise and glory for this.

D3 Hope

E1 Hope is confident expectation.

E2 It is a one hope for the future promises to believers of a new heavens and new earth,

F1 2 Peter 3:13 KJV Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

F2 Revelation 21:1-8 WEB I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.” 5 He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” 6 He said to me, “I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son. 8 But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

G1 A place to live.

G2 A fellowship to enjoy (God with us)

G3 A place of comfort (God will wipe away)

G4 A place of life, not death.

G5 A place where the King of the universe lives.

G6 A source of life (the Lord Jesus and His salvation).

G7 A promise of grace to overcome.

G8 A promise to have no evil people.

D4 Lord

E1 Lord as in boss, king.

E2 Jesus is Lord of lords and Kings of kings.

F1 Deuteronomy 10:17 NRSV For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

F2 Psalms 136:3 NRSV O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. (All of Psalm 136 is great to read).

F3 1 Timothy 6:14-15 NRSV To keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

F4 Revelation 17:13-14 NRSV These are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast; 14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

F5 Revelation 19:16 NRSV On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords.

D5 Faith

E1 Believing God.

E2 Believing the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

E3 Believing God’s evaluation of sin.

E4 Believing God’s Gospel.

E5 Believing His promises.

D6 Baptism

E1 This mainly refers to Holy Spirit baptism.

E2 This baptism is right after conversion. There are no lights, lightnings, or experiences.

E3 There are 8 baptisms in the New Testament. This is but one, but the most important.

E4 1 Corinthians 12:13 NRSV For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

E5 John 1:33 NKJV I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

D7 God

E1 There is only one God―Yahweh.

E2 Deuteronomy 6:4 WEB Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one.

D8 Father

E1 Above all (in authority, in everything, in authority and care of believers)

E2 Through all (sovereign, assigns gifts)

E3 In you all (dwells in believers: 2 Corinthians 6:16 WPNT Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because you are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God and they will by my people.)

A3 Notes

B1 Definitions

C1 Walk =

D1 Conduct, that is, following, obeying God's laws. There are over 1,000 laws in the New Testament.

D2 Spiritual life, that is, with a worldview of pleasing God, who is Spirit, and not the fleshly desires.

C2 Lowliness = not being proud. Pride manifests itself often as "I'm right; you're wrong."

C3 Meekness = not being pushy, bullying over others to get "my" way.

C4 Longsuffering = patience towards others, not expressing anger too soon, too long, too violent

C5 Bearing = putting up with one, enduring, another, overlooking mistakes and faults that are not Scriptural.

D1 For example, driving a Ford instead of a Chevy, using the NASB instead of the KJV.

D2 Chrysostom defined longsuffering as the spirit that has the power to take revenge, but never does. It is characteristic of a forgiving, generous heart.

C6 Endeavoring = working hard to

C7 Unity of the Spirit = the opposite would be to have splits in the church.

D1 Sometimes there must be a split as for wrong doctrine or plain disobedience to New Testament laws. To be one in unity just for the sake of being one leads to corruption—eventually one corporation under one boss.

D2 God makes the unity, not us. The unity is because of those who having been convicted of their sins have repented and placed their trust in Jesus Christ alone.

D3 We keep the unity with the help of God.

D4 It is not that we are one because of a common interest; we are one family.

C8 Body = the group of Christians, that is, all true believers of all ages of the New Testament period.

C9 Spirit = the Holy Spirit. Maintaining not experiences but truth to the plain, normal understanding of the Scriptures.

C10 Hope of your calling = forgiveness of sins and the resurrection to heaven. A happy contentment.

C11 Lord = Jesus Christ who is head of the church

C12 Faith = body of doctrine

C13 Baptism = into the body, church, of God. A testimony of a clear conscious and its guilt by the grace and mercy of God.

C14 God = the one and only ultimate authority

C15 Father of all = especially those who are adopted into the family of God. In a very general sense it would include the idea that God creates all people.

C16 Above all = highest authority that exists

C17 Through all = giver of life

C18 In all = Christians

B2 Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is

C1 Giving instructions of how we should

D1 Act as Christians

D2 Believe as Christians

C2 These are

D1 Practical doctrine

D2 Theological doctrine

D3 Not optional

D4 Not just for the early Ephesian church

D5 Not a nice standard, but the required standard

D6 Not for salvation but because of salvation

Glory Awaits

Theme: The Promise of Resurrection

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:20-58

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Christ was raised from the dead, and we too will be raised up when He returns.

Think: Let the assurance of my coming resurrection motivate me to live for Christ.

Do: Always live for the Lord, doing His will, knowing we will be raised to be with Him in Heaven.

Notes and questions:

B1 Basic

C1 Defined: Resurrection is not resuscitation. One is cold dead; the other is temporarily dead.

C2 The Lord Jesus really died.

D1 John 19:32-35

D2 Mark 15:44

C3 The Lord Jesus really rose from the dead—witnesses.

D1 Angels and the women: Mark 16:6-8

D2 The Roman guard: Matthew 28:11-15

D3 The eleven Apostles: Matthew 28:16-18

D4 The men on the Emmaus Road: Luke 24:13-35.

D5 His disciples: Luke 24:36-49.

D6 Mary Magdalene: John 20:11-18.

D7 To the disciples with Thomas: John 20:19-29.

D8 500 brothers and sisters; it is also a list of others including Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

C4 The Lord Jesus really rose from the dead—other proofs.

D1 Empty tomb

E1 His body into the tomb:

E2 His body not there: Matthew 27:64

E3 The Romans and Jews knew where the tomb was located. If Jesus body was still there (meaning Jesus was still dead), they could have refuted the Apostles preaching Jesus’s resurrection.

D2 The linen body wrapping especially the folding of the face wrapping: John 20:6-8

D3 The change in the Apostles and disciples attitude and actions: Acts 2. Compare John 20:19.

D4 The early church meeting on Sunday for worship in honor of the Lord Jesus who had risen from the dead.

E1 John 20:1

E2 John 20:19

E3 Acts 20:7

E4 1 Corinthians 16:2

E5 Revelation 1:10

C5 The importance of the resurrection.

D1 To fulfill Scripture: Luke 24:45-47

D2 Without the resurrection, there is no forgiveness of sins: 1 Corinthians 15:17

D3 For justification: Romans 4:25

D4 So Jesus could pray for us: Romans 8:34

D5 For hope of salvation and eternity in heaven: 1 Corinthians 15:19

D6 Gives evidence of Jesus’s divinity

E1 Acts 13:32-37

E2 Romans 1:4

D7 Proves that Jesus’s death was accepted by God. Jesus’s death provides for the forgiveness of sins.

C6 Old Testament prophecies about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

D1 Acts 17:2-3

D2 Where are these Old Testament Scriptures?

E1 There are prophecies of the suffering and dying Messiah (Isaiah 53 and Daniel 9:25-26). There are also prophecies of the King Messiah who reigns forever (Revelation 11:15). If Messiah died, then reigns forever, it must mean He was resurrected.

E2 Jonah and the whale theory; Some hold that this refers to it, but Jesus uses this an illustration but does not say that the passage itself predicts His resurrection.

E3 Hosea 6:2 NKJV  After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. This is mentioned by some, since the words third day and raised are in the passage. It appears that the passage is more of a summons from the prophet to meet and have a revival.

E4 Compare Psalm 16, Isaiah 53:10-12, and Isaiah 42:1-4.

B2 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 WEL For the first thing I passed on to you was what I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, 4 And that he was buried, then rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

C1 What did Paul teach?

C2 Did the Corinthian believers accept it?

C3 What 3 things did the Lord Jesus do that is mentioned in this passage?

C4 What significance does according to the Scriptures have?

C5 Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ so important? (1 Corinthians 15:12 WEL Now if Christ is preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection from the dead?).

C6 How does these verses apply to the previous question? 1 Corinthians 15:13-20 WEL Now if there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching [is] futile and your faith [is] also futile. 15 Yes and we are found [to be] false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised Christ whom he didn't raise, if it is so that the dead don't rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ isn't risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If [it is] only in this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people the most pitiful. 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of those who slept.

D1 Preaching the Gospel is useless.

D2 Faith is Jesus Christ for salvation is useless.

D3 Apostles and other early Christian evangelists will go to hell for lying.

D4 Sins are not forgiven, so they will go to hell without forgiveness.

D5 Believers who have died have no hope of eternal life.

D6 We are the saddest, most miserable people in existence.

D7 BUT all the above points are false, because Jesus Christ did truly, bodily rise from the dead as proven by the empty tomb, the over 500 witnesses, and even those who were His enemies.

B3 A thought: The first creation fails and will be destroyed. Adam willfully sinned which brought God’s curse of death. The rest of the first creation is the Sabbath. The second creation starts on the eighth day (the first day), the day of Jesus’s resurrection and will be complete when the new heavens and earth will be created. The curse is destroyed when death is destroyed in the Lake of Fire. We recognize this in part by worshipping on Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of our resurrection and the new creation. 1 Corinthians 15:26 NKJV The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

B4 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

C1 Many interpretations

C2 Perhaps

D1 Some people became Christians.

D2 They wanted to be baptized.

D3 They died before they could be baptized.

D4 The Corinthians, even though baptized themselves, were baptized vicariously, in place of, on behalf of, those who had died.

C3 The point is, “If there is no resurrection, why be baptized?”

B5 1 Corinthians 15:30-32. Why be baptized, if we are going to die in persecution tomorrow. If there is no resurrection, what’s the point?

B6 1 Corinthians 15:35-49,

C1 What are some differences between our present body and the resurrection body?

C2 What are some differences between the first Adam and the second Adam?

B7 1 Corinthians 15:50-58,

C1 Can our present body inherit heaven?

C2 How fast will the resurrection be? How can it happen that fast?

C3 What trumpet is this? It is God’s trumpet to the church to come to Him. Trumpets are often used for notifying and gathering people as in Exodus 19:13, Judges 6:34, and Jeremiah 4:5.

C4 This trumpet is probably the one mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 NKJV  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

C5 What has happened to death?

C6 What is the victory of 1 Corinthians 15:57?

C7 How did we become victorious?

B8 Is the resurrection an important doctrine? Why?

B9 How will knowing about the resurrection change our way of thinking and living?

B10 Next week:

C1 Bad Decisions and Consequences

C2 Theme: The Importance of Obedience

C3 Scriptures: 1 Samuel 13:1-23