Sunday School—Romans 9:15

Nevada Free Will Baptist Sunday School

1 November 2015

Romans 9:15

Interesting passage—For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." (Romans 9:15, EMTV)

A1 Start

B1 Prayer

B2 Context

B3 Historical setting

B4 Grammar

B5 Plain, normal sense

A2 Romans

B1 Theme

C1 The Gospel

C2 Most commentators see Galatians as the shorter summary and Romans as the long treatise.

C3 Theme verse: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, both to the Jew first and to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17, EMTV)

B2 Author

C1 The author is the Holy Spirit

C2 The writer is Paul, the Apostle

C3 The amanuensis, scrivener, the penman is Tertius. I, Tertius, the one writing this epistle, greet you in the Lord. (Romans 16:22, EMTV)

B3 Place written and to whom written.

C1 Written in Corinth (most likely though others have suggested Ephesus or some other place).

D1 Erastus is mentioned as most likely from Corinth. Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. (2 Timothy 4:20, EMTV),

D2 Maybe having resigned the position of city treasures to travel and minister with Paul. And having sent to Macedonia two of those who were ministering to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed on for a time in Asia. (Acts 19:22, EMTV)

D3 See. All of which suggest Corinth.

E1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, (Romans 16:1, EMTV). Cenchrea is near Corinth.

E2 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, the brother. (Romans 16:23, EMTV)

E3 I thank God that I baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius, (1 Corinthians 1:14, EMTV)

C2 Written to saints in Rome

D1 Many suggest the date of year 57

D2 Compare

E1 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years, night and day I did not cease, with tears, exhorting each one. (Acts 20:31, EMTV). Paul was in Ephesus for 3 years.

E2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:2-3, NKJV). Paul was in Greece for 3 months.

E3 For Macedonia and Achaia thought it good to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. For they thought it good, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles shared in spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, having finished and having sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. (Romans 15:26-28, EMTV). The offering for the poor in Jerusalem appears to be complete.

B4 Why written

C1 Judaizers were corrupting the Gospel.

C2 To clarify issues regarding Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians

B5 Outline

C1 Bridgeway Bible Commentary

D1 1:1-17—Paul introduces himself and his subject

D2 1:18-3:20—Humankind's sinful condition

D3 3:21-5:21—The way of salvation

D4 6:1-8:39—The way of holiness

D5 9:1-11:36—A problem concerning Israel

D6 12:1-15:13—Christian faith in practice

D7 15:14-16:27—Plans, greetings and farewell

C2 Utley The Divine Purpose for All Humanity (Romans 9:1-11:32)

D1 The election of Israel (Romans 9:1-33)

E1 Real heirs of faith (Romans 9:1-13)

E2 Sovereignty of God (Romans 9:14-26)

E3 God's universal plan includes the heathen (Romans 9:27-33)

D2 The salvation of Israel (Romans 10:1-21)

E1 God's righteousness vs. mankind's righteousness (Romans 10:1-13)

E2 God's mercy necessitates messengers, a call for world missions (Romans 10:14-18)

E3 Israel's continued disbelief in Christ (Romans 10:19-21)

D3 The failure of Israel (Romans 11:1-36)

E1 The Jewish remnant (Romans 11:1-10)

E2 Jewish jealousy (Romans 11:11-24)

E3 Israel's temporary blindness (Romans 11:25-32)

E4 Paul's outburst of praise (Romans 11:33-36)

C3 Constable's Commentary The vindication of God's righteousness chapters. 9-11

D1 Israel's past election chapter 9

E1 God's blessings on Israel 9:1-5

E2 God's election of Israel 9:6-13

E3 God's freedom to elect 9:14-18

E4 God's mercy toward Israel 9:19-29

E5 God's mercy toward the Gentiles 9:30-33

D2 Israel's present rejection chapter 10

E1 The reason God has set Israel aside 10:1-7

E2 The remedy for rejection 10:8-15

E3 The continuing unbelief of Israel 10:16-21

D3 Israel's future salvation chapter 11

E1 Israel's rejection not total 11:1-10

E2 Israel's rejection not final 11:11-24

E3 Israel's restoration assured 11:25-32

E4 Praise for God's wise plans 11:33-36

A2 Notes on Romans 9:11-23

B1 The first 10 verses deal with

C1 Paul's sorrow that most Jews have rejected their Messiah—Jesus.

C2 God has not failed, because most Jews have rejected their Messiah—Jesus.

B2 Views

C1 Calvinist view (mainly centered on Romans 9:10-24). This is done out of greater context, because it gives the appearance of double predestination without any human involvement.

D1 Of John Piper, R. C. Sproul, and many others

D2 Absolutely conclusive proof of double predestination (God chooses/predestines/elects some for heaven and some for hell).

D3 Canons of Dort First Article (Chapter), point 6

Article 6: God's Eternal Decree

The fact that some receive from God the gift of faith within time, and that others do not, stems from his eternal decree. For "all his works are known to God from eternity" (Acts 15:18; Ephesians 1:11). In accordance with this decree God graciously softens the hearts, however hard, of the elect and inclines them to believe, but by a just judgment God leaves in their wickedness and hardness of heart those who have not been chosen. And in this especially is disclosed to us God's act—unfathomable, and as merciful as it is just—of distinguishing between people equally lost. This is the well-known decree of election and reprobation revealed in God's Word. The wicked, impure, and unstable distort this decree to their own ruin, but it provides holy and godly souls with comfort beyond words.

D4 Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 3, Articles 1,3, & 7

Of God's Eternal Decree.

I. God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.

D5 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 3, Articles 1, 3, & 4

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Decree

1. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree. (Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15, 18; James 1:13; 1 John 1:5; Acts 4:27, 28; John 19:11; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3-5)

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.

(1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:5, 6; Romans 9:22, 23; Jude 4)

4. These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished. (2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18)

C2 Reformed Arminian

D1 Our passage—For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." (Romans 9:15, EMTV)

D2 Context

E1 Immediate context

And not only this, but also Rebecca, having conceived from the one man, our father Isaac; (for the children not yet being born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, "The older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? By no means! For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth." So then He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who can resist His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to be answering back against God? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Or does not the potter have the right over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and the other for dishonor? But what if God, wanting to show His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and so that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not only of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:10-24, EMTV)

E2 Greater context (Chapters 9, 10, and 11)

E3 Then the whole epistle to the Romans

E4 Then the whole New Testament

E5 Then the whole Bible

A3 Questions

B1 After reading our passage, the immediate contest (Romans 9:10-24), the greater (topic) context (Romans 9, 10, and 11) and all of Romans, then who is Paul writing about—individuals or nations/groups?

B2 In Romans 9:1-5 is Paul speaking of individuals or the nation of Israel? (particularly Romans 9:3-4)

B3 In Romans 9:30-32 is Paul speaking of individuals or the nation of Israel?

B4 Read these cross references.

C1 And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger." (Genesis 25:23, NKJV). Where is this quote in our passage? (It is quoted in Romans 9:11-12)

C2 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness." Even though Edom has said, "We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places," Thus says the LORD of hosts: "They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever. Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, 'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.' (Malachi 1:1-5, NKJV). Where is this quoted in our passage? (It is quoted in Romans 9:13).

C3 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, "if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. "And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, "if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. (Jeremiah 18:1-10, NKJV). Where is this quoted in our text? (It is quoted in Romans 9:21).

C4 Does God decree what these nations do or see what they do? (He sees what they do. It is from a corporate view of the nation, not individuals).

C5 In the potter passage in Jeremiah does God decree or give conditions about God's judgment?

C6 What happens if they don't repent?

C7 How does this passage help us define God's sovereignty?

C8 According to the context of Jeremiah 18:1-10, what decision did Israel make? ("Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." '" And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart." (Jeremiah 18:11-12, NKJV)

B5 What Romans 9:7 say about the DNA descendants of Abraham or someone else? Do all DNA Jews receive the promise? What is the promise? See

C1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3, NKJV)

D1 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' (Acts 3:25, EMTV)

D2 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying that, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." (Galatians 3:8, EMTV)

C2 Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. (Genesis 17:19, NKJV)

B6 In Romans 9:7-13 what do you see regarding selection?

B7 In Romans 9:11 does purpose refer to salvation or to something else? What is that something else? Is it Messiah's line of ancestry?

C1 We learn that God has a purpose. What was this purpose?

D1 Descendants for Abraham, as God promised.

D2 A chosen nation. God was choosing a particular nation for His reasons.

D3 The Messiah, the promised redeemer was to come through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

C2 This purpose was carried out by God choosing Jacob over Esau.

C3 It had nothing to do with what Esau and Jacob did or did not do.

C4 God had a plan. He had a purpose which was going to stand, remain, continue. That purpose was to choose a nation and further to have the Messiah be born from that nation. See Romans 9:7-8 for the part of the plan that is applied in this passage. See

"The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; "but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (Deuteronomy 7:7-9, NKJV)

C5 The Bible does not here refer to these individual's personal salvation. God is talking about nations and His purpose. God did not choose the nation of Edom for the Messiah or for the chosen nation (Israel); He chose the nation of Israel for this. Why did He choose Israel over Edom? (The Scriptures do not say).

C6 The Greek word for children is not in the text. It has been supplied. The word for born/procreate is in the text. Instead of children one could supply the word nations as in Romans 9:12.

B8 In Romans 9:12 did Esau the individual even serve Jacob? (No). The quote is from Genesis 25:23 (NKJV) And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger."

B9 Romans 9:13

C1 Where does this quote come from? ("I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved; (Malachi 1:2, NKJV).

C2 How are we to understand the words love and hate? (This is a Hebrew idiom. Compare

D1 If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved, and they have borne him children, both the loved and the unloved, and if the firstborn son is of her who is unloved Deuteronomy 21:15 (NKJV)

D2 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)

D3 He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life. John 12:25 (EMTV)

D4 YET But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness." Malachi 1:3 (NKJV). Here God is speaking of a nation not a person.

B10 In Romans 9:14 is God unrighteous because He chose Jacob instead of Esau? Defend your answer. Compare Obadiah 1:1-21.

B11 Romans 9:15

C1 Is there a plan or conditions for God's mercy or is God just choosing according to the mystery of His will (as a Calvinist would answer)?

C2 Where is this quoted from? The quote is taken from here: Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." Exodus 33:19 (NKJV)

C3 What is the condition? Behold, his soul which is proud is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4KJ2000). Compare: Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38.

C4 Whose standards does God use for choosing? (His standards). But the Scripture has confined all under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 3:22 (EMTV)

B12 Romans 9:16 Can we choose on our own to God's special person?

B13 Romans 9:17 Does this passage about Pharaoh refer to him alone or to all people? (It refers to Pharaoh but can be applied to others. Pharaoh met God's conditions for judgment. His judgment was to harden. Pharaoh chose to harden his heart before God hardened it (But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the LORD had said Exodus 8:15 (NKJV). God had backed off on many plagues after Pharaoh had pleaded with Moses to do so, but Pharaoh would then change his mind and rebel again, so God, in punishment, hardened Pharaoh's heart to destroy him, which happened in the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his army all died. More on Pharaoh's hardening here. Compare: Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her time to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:20-23KJ2000). John Wesley in his commentary on this passage writes, God was pleased to raise to the throne of an absolute monarchy, a man, not whom he had made wicked on purpose, but whom he found so, the proudest, the most daring and obstinate of all the Egyptian princes; and who, being incorrigible, well deserved to be set up in that situation, where the divine judgments fell the heaviest. Exodus 9:16.

B14 Romans 9:18-21. Here Paul deals with hardening again. God has a right based on His righteous conditions to bless or harden. If people meet God's conditions for mercy, God shows mercy. If people meet God's conditions for hardening, God will harden. Does God have this right? What about God's love? I have heard and read people who say, "God is love" and expect for Him to just overlook any sin.

B15 Romans 9:22-29.

C1 How do the Gentiles fit into God's plan? (If they meet His conditions, they can also be saved).

C2 Do those who DNA Jews have an automatic entrance into heaven, a forgiveness of sins, and God's blessings?

B16 Summary

C1 Paul is speaking of Israel, the nation.

C2 Paul is speaking of choosing a nation.

C3 Paul is speaking of salvation in the sense that there is no guarantee that one goes to heaven and has forgiveness of sins based on the heritage.

C4 Paul is speaking of God's sovereignty to implement his plan.

C5 Paul is speaking that God's plan is just and righteous.

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:6

He who claims to abide in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1 John 2:6, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Subject--he

C1 He

C2 Claim

B2 Verb

C1 Requirement

C2 Imitation

A2 Notes

B1 He= anyone who says that they are a Christian.

B2 Claims. True or not true. See James 2:14, Proverbs 20:6, Titus 1:16. Compare Matthew 24:5, Revelation 2:2

B3 Abide in Him. This is to claim to be a Christian. The idea of abiding is a Biblical thought dealing with our dependence on Jesus Christ. 1 John 3:24, John 15:10, John 14:23

B4 Walk = living our daily lives. It is to be as the New Testament teaches us. To know these things we must read and study the Bible. Matthew 11:29, Philippians 2:5, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Peter 1:15-16

B5 As He walked = the thoughts, desires, words, and deeds how Jesus lived. Obviously, we are not God, so we cannot do miracles as He did, but we can have the same attitude towards others, honor God, obey the Scriptures, and so on.

A3 Questions

B1 Do you know anyone who claims to be a Christian but does not live godly?

B2 What is the importance of living godly?

B3 Are we to live like Jesus did with no home, no money, just go around and teach, preach, and heal?

B4 Are we to live like Jesus with the same priorities, desires, and interaction that He had with people?

B5 Are others watching us?

Hard Questions—An Atheistic Worldview?

What are the practical implications of an atheistic worldview?




A1 What is a worldview?

C1 A comprehensive conception or image of the universe and of humanity's relation to it. Dictionary.com

C2 From Wiktionary--worldview

D1 One's personal view of the world and how one interprets it.

D2 The totality of one's beliefs about reality.

D3 A general philosophy or view of life.

C3 Thus you have a Christian worldview, Elizabethan worldview, German worldview, naturalistic worldview, etc.

C4 Basically it is how you or I interpret things that happen in our life. Two people will each have their opinion on a political happening or a personal tragedy.

A2 Some examples

B1 How your worldview affects everything in your life.

B2 How your worldview affects your prayer life

B3 What Is Your Worldview?

B4 One only needs to search the internet and find many different worldviews coming from theists to non-theists of all types.

A3 Atheist worldview

B1 Viewed from an atheist viewpoint.

C1 Atheism as a Positive Worldview

C2 I Believe: An Atheist's "World View"

B2 Viewed from a theist viewpoint.

C1 Is atheism a worldview?

C2 The Inevitable Consequence of An Atheistic Worldview

A4 Notes

B1 Our worldview not only affects our beliefs but also our actions.

C1 Is drinking alcohol wrong?

C2 Is homosexuality wrong?

C3 Is politics wrong?

C4 What about marijuana, cursing, living together before/without marriage, cheating, etc.?

B2 What is the standard for our worldview?

C1 Bible?

C2 Science?

C3 Famous leader?

C4 Friends?

C5 What makes me happy? (hedonism)

B3 If it is the Bible, then

C1 What is its authority? (Is a book of God's words or men's words)?

C2 How do you interpret it? (In its plain, normal sense or allegorical, symbolic, etc.)?

C3 Are the Old Testament laws binding on today's Christian?

B4 How can we decide which worldview is the one to follow/believe?

C1 How are we going to base our decision?

D1 Science?

D2 Bible?

D3 It comes down to myself. How do we choose?

C2 All people have a sense God exists sometime during their life. Romans 1:18-21 See here, here, and here

C3 Jesus is God. See here, here, and here See Resources to Help You Defend the Deity of Jesus

C4 Because Jesus is God, His message is the one message to believe.

D1 The written messages are reliable. Four Reasons the New Testament Gospels Are Reliable

D2 Christians are to reject blind faith and are to embrace a reasonable faith. Consider:
Is the Cold-Case Christianity Approach a Gimmick Or A Valuable Filter?

D3 Nor is there salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven which has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, EMTV)

D4 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; and he who does not believe the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36, EMTV)

C5 Proofs for Jesus's resurrection

D1 Proof of the Resurrection

D2 A debate between Dr. Bert Ehrman and William Lane Craig (This is the written, not audio).

D3 Video sources, books, articles

D4 Resurrection—No Doubt About It

D5 Many others

C6 The Christian faith is a reasonable faith. An atheistic worldview only leads to the wrong worldview.

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:5

But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. (1 John 2:5, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 Obedience due to love for God

B2 Obedience plus love equals a true Christian

A2 Notes

B1 Keeps = obedience

B2 We show that we love God by obeying Him.

C1 How does loving something show love?

D1 Examples

E1 If I love my dog, do I show this by obeying her?

E2 If I love my children, do I show this by obeying them?

D2 It depends on the authority.

E1 Yahweh is God. This means He has ultimate authority.

E2 He is the King of the Universe.

E3 Love for king and god would imply obedience.

E4 Obedience shows loyalty, too.

D3 A Scripture teaching.

E1 Motivation

F1 Fear. This really is an OK motive, because we are to fear God. Judgment day is coming.

F2 Love. This is better, because it is voluntary.

E2 Obedience and love--John 14:15, John 14:21, 1 John 5:3, Psalm 119:167, 2 John 1:6

E3 Obedience and faith--Matthew 7:21, James 2:14-26, James 1:22

E4 Obedience must be sincere--Psalm 51:6, 1 Timothy 1:5

E5 Obedience shows that there has been true conversion 2 Corinthians 5:17

B3 His Word = the Bible. Since we are Christians and not Jews, we obey the rules of the New Testament.

B4 Perfected has the idea of completeness. Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 9:9, James 2:22

B5 Obedience to the Scriptures is one of the signs that we are truly converted.

A3 Questions

B1 Why does obedience have to be sincere?

B2 Is the excuse "God looks at my heart" sufficient to allow many things that Scripture would forbid or show by example to be wrong?

B3 What is a better motivator--fear or love? Why?

B4 How does obedience to the Scriptures a sign of our rebirth?

B5 Why must we interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:4

He who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4, EMTV)




A1 Outline

B1 The talk

B2 The walk

B3 The truth

A2 Notes

B1 The talk: "I have come to know Him."

C1 The Greek word is in the present perfect.

C2 In this case it is hard to translate.

D1 Present perfect with the word see is "I have seen him."

D2 Present perfect with the word know is "I have known him."

D3 But in the second example it sounds like a past tense, that is, "I used to know him.'

D4 Perhaps we could translate this as "I know him now" using an added adverb "now" to convey the present sense.

D5 The various translations have both "I have come to know him" and "I know him."

D6 The idea is that a person claims to know God in the past and still now in the present.

C3 The bottom line of this phrase is, "I know God," that is, "I am a Christian."

B2 Well then, let us test this and see if you are.

B3 Do you obey His commandments? They are written in the New Testament. Jesus has spoken them. His Apostles have taught them.

B4 God does not lie, nor does He like liars.

C1 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time itself, (Titus 1:2, EMTV)

C2 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, (Proverbs 6:16-17, NKJV)

C3 But there shall by no means enter into it anything unclean, nor shall the abominable or liars enter, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27, EMTV)

B5 God is a God of truth

C1 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6, EMTV)

C2 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal truthfully are His delight. (Proverbs 12:22, NKJV)

A3 Questions

B1 Can we separate salvation from godly living?

B2 Can we separate doctrine from godly living?

B3 What is the purpose for godly living?

B4 Will living godly save us?

B5 How can obeying Jesus's commandments show we are true Christians?

B6 Does God approve of liars? How can He then approve of those living a lie?

B7 Are we living a lie?

Daily Bible Study—1 John 2:3

Keeping His commandments




Now by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (1 John 2:3, EMTV)


A1 Outline

B1 If clause

B2 Main clause

A2 Notes

B1 Him and His refer to Jesus Christ. See 1 John 2:1.

B2 Keep means to obey.

B3 Commandments refer to the rules that Jesus gave directly or through His Apostles. Here are a few.

C1 7 things we are to abstain from

D1 Idols (Acts 15:20

D2 Fornication (Acts 15:20, 29; 1 Thessalonians 4:2-3)

D3 Strangled meats (Acts 15:20)

D4 Eating blood (Acts 15:20)

D5 Meats offered to idols (Acts: 15:29)

D6 All appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

D7 Fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11)

C2 6 Things to lay aside

D1 Wickedness (James 1:21)

D2 All malice (1 Peter 2:1)

D3 All guile (1 Peter 2:1)

D4 All hypocrisies ((1 Peter 2:1)

D5 All envies (1 Peter 2:1)

D6 All evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1)

A3 Questions

B1 What is important about keeping His commandments?

B2 When we keep His commandments what does that prove?

B3 Why is it important to know Him?

B4 Is there a way to assure ourselves that we are Christians?

B5 Are these commandments to be obey today?

Hard Questions—God’s Existence

What key arguments are there for (and against) God's existence?




A1 Definitions

B1 God

C1 Standard--the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe (god. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/god)

C2 The one being who is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, personal, eternal, independent, sovereign over the universe and beyond. His name is best known as Yahweh and has all the character traits revealed in the Bible.

B2 Exist

C1 Standard--To be as a fact and not as a mode; to have an actual or real being, whether material or spiritual. 1913 Webster

C2 To be reality.

B3 Faith

C1 Standard--The standard definition of faith seems to be centered on believing something of which there is no proof to the senses. It would be a believe without the senses or natural law indicating reality.

C2 It is believing something or someone based on their character or actions. Sometimes it is a wanting to believe something to be true.

C3 The Bible has faith to be a reasonable belief. There is a reason based on past events, past actions, past experiences that confer that the present situation or statement is reasonably true.

C4 The Greek word for faith is πίστις pistis. It means "persuasion, confidence." It includes the idea of some type of proof. It is not blind faith. Faith is not the idea of someone coming and delivering a persuasive speech and people believe it. That type is believing a good sales pitch. When Abraham believed God, he had dealings with God that had come true previously, so based on Abraham's past dealings with God which proved true, he believes the present situation to be true also. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:3, EMTV). This is a quote from Genesis 15:6.

D1 Abraham had a vision Genesis 15:1. He had enough dealings with God to recognize who this was.

D2 With God in the situation of rescuing Lot.

D3 With God in the land of Egypt.

D4 With God traveling from his home land to the promised land.

A2 Notes

B1 God--main arguments for and against

C1 General rules/questions

D1 What is acceptable as evidence?

D2 Does personal experience evidence?

D3 Is natural law only acceptable?

D4 Is there supernaturalism?

C2 Against

D1 Natural law shows that there is no "god."

D2 The problem of pain.

E1 If God is good and all powerful, He would not have allowed pain. Pain exists, therefore God is not good and all powerful. Since the definition of God includes the idea of good and all powerful, God does not exist.

E2 In better form it would be

F1 God is good.

F2 God is all powerful

F3 A good and all powerful God would not allow evil, pain, and suffering.

F4 Evil, pain, and suffering exist.

F5 Therefore God does not exist.

E3 Weakness

F1 What are the definitions of good, pain, evil, and suffering?

F2 Is there any examples of pain, evil, and suffering that is beneficial?

F3 What standard does one use to determine what pain, evil, and suffering are?

F4 Is there any alternative explanation?

G1 God is good.

G2 God is all powerful.

G3 God created everything good, that is, without evil, pain, and suffering.

G4 God allowed a measured, libertarian free will for man to obey or not obey. He did this so that people would be a volunteer, not a robot to love and serve God. Love involves a choice to express this. A forced and merely mechanical "love" would be false. No human today likes that either.

G5 Adam chose to not obey and not love God.

G6 God punished all (as He said He would) with pain and suffering.

G7 God is both law giver and judge.

G8 God is justified.

D3 The problem of evil.

E1 There is a being that is "good" and knows how to, wants to, and is able to prevent suffering, evil, and pain.

E2 Suffering, evil, and pain are experience by all.

E3 So there is no god.

E4 Weakness: as above in the problem of pain.

E5 William Lane Craig:

I think that evil, paradoxically, actually proves the existence of God. My argument would go like this: If God does not exist then objective moral values do not exist. (2) Evil exists, (3) therefore objective moral values exist, that is to say, some things are really evil. Therefore, God exists. Thus, although evil and suffering at one level seem to call into question God's existence, on a deeper more fundamental level, they actually prove God's existence (n.d.). Referenced from here.

D4 The big stone.

E1 God is defined as being omnipotent.

E2 Can he create a stone that he cannot lift?

E3 There is no god.

E4 Weakness: a and not a cannot exist at the same time. It is not consistent with His character. God cannot do some things as lie. Titus 1:2.

D5 Probably the main argument for atheism relies on the evidence. The only evidence accepted by atheists is natural evidence and natural law. There is no supernatural. They merely refuse any supernatural.

D6 Resources

E1 The Problem of Evil

E2 William Lane Craig

E3 This article deals with the resurrection being a true, historical event. It does so much deal with the existence of God but shows the Bible is true historically.

C3 For

D1 Cosmological Argument

E1 The universe cannot exist on its own. It needs a cause or something to bring it into existence.

E2 The first cause is God.

E3 A type of argument for the existence of God, arguing that since everything and event has a cause, there must be an uncaused first cause. Wiktionary

E4 Weakness: who caused God?

D2 Teleological Argument

E1 There is order in the universe. This implies someone to have put order into what exists. This someone is God.

E2 A type of argument for the existence of God, that orderliness of nature is evidence of design, therefore also of a designer. Wiktionary

E3 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. (Hebrews 3:4, EMTV)

E4 Weakness: order exists but may have happened by random occurrence.

D3 Ontological Argument

E1 "God exists, provided that it is logically possible for him to exist."

E2 The highest possible, logical infinite being thought of. Compare

E3 A type of argument which maintains that the existence of God can be deduced from an analysis of the concept of God. Wiktionary

E4 An a priori argument for the existence of God that asserts that existence is a perfection and that God is the most perfect being, and therefore that God must exist. Wordsymth

E5 Consider this video The Information Enigma. This is from the Discovery Institute and deals with Intelligent Design. Yet, it is reasonable to conclude that the source of information would come from the greatest possible source--God. In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3, EMTV)

E6 Weakness in that to an atheist, the highest possible presently existing being is humans.

D4 Moral Law Argument

E1 Morality is observed.

E2 Belief in God is the best explanation for this common morality.

E3 Weakness: all humans are related, and it might just be a genetic expression.

D5 Physicotheology

E1 God exists as illustrated by physics and nature philosophy.

E2 The view that evidence and sound arguments
for God's existence can be derived from a study of the natural world; a study of the natural world intended to provide such evidence. Wiktionary

E3 Weakness: design is in the process of evolution and is not to be inferred that there is a designer. It appears to be designed but is not.

D6 Jesus exists argument

E1 Lived in the first century.

E2 Seen by many.

E3 Supernatural occurrences witnessed by many.

E4 Claimed to be God.

E5 The books of His life (the Gospels in the Bible) are reliable and were written in the first century.

E6 Weakness: The "witnesses" may have been collaborating in a lie. Jesus does not live on earth now to observe what He does.

D7 Evidence model

E1 This has lately been best developed by J. Warner Wallace.

E2 It revolves around the principles of detectives researching a cold case.

D8 Some sources of interest

E1 A YouTube list of animated explanations of God's existence by William Lane Craig.

E2 Many links to the topic Is the Bible Reliable?

B2 Exist

C1 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for it is necessary for the one approaching God to believe that He is, and that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6, EMTV)

C2 Because that which is known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (Romans 1:19, EMTV)

A3 Questions

B1 What is reasonable?

B2 Are we able to believe reasonable evidence?

B3 Why do people not believe?

B4 Why do people believe?

B5 Why do people believe the Bible to be only the work of humans?

B6 Why are witnesses' testimony discounted?

B7 What is the best line of evidence?

B8 Even though all "proofs" of God's existence have weaknesses, what one strikes you are most reasonable?