Not Our Doing

Theme: Saved by grace

Objectives:

Know: Our salvation is a gift from God, not a reward we earn.

Think: View life as an opportunity to glorify the God who saved me.

Do: Point people to God by doing the good works He created me to do.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10

Notes and questions:

B1 Why does humanity exist?

• The LORD has made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4
• You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.  Revelation 4:11

B2 How does our salvation glorify God?

• In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10
• When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4
• Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall immediately glorify him. John 13:31-32

B3 Ephesians 2:1,

• Who is the you? See Ephesians 1:1-2. Specifically it is for the Ephesians Christians but applied to all believers who are like-minded in faith.
• What does dead mean in the Bible sense?
• Dead in a physical sense would be as in a funeral and buried in the cemetery.
• Dead in a spiritual sense would be anything towards God, as seeking God, or doing good. The Bible states that no one is good and no one seeks God. Romans 3:10-12

B4 What is evil?

• It is the absence of good.
• God is good (Mark 10:23). He is the absolute perfection of good.
• There is a sliding scale, so to speak, from perfect good to no (zero) good.
• All people are along this line.
• Some deviate from perfect goodness some and others more. Most people would say that Mother Teresa is good but Hitler bad. Mother Theresa in her life did not attain the same goodness as God. No human is good except God the Son, Jesus Christ.
• God demands perfect goodness, the same as He is good. See Mark 10:23-24, and 1 Peter 1:16.
• The punishment for a good that is less than God’s is death both physical and spiritual.
• Death is a punishment for non-perfection. Everyone is warned by the Scriptures. Adam was warned not to eat of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He did and died. It took over 900 years, but he did die. The punishment of death that is the worst is the eternal death that all would receive as a just punishment were it not for the love, grace, mercy of God as seen through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Someone said to a person dying; "Well, you are in the land of the living yet." "No," said he, "I am in the land of the dying yet, but I am going to the land of the living; they live there and never die." This is the land of sin and death and tears, but up yonder they never die. It is perpetual life; it is unceasing joy. (D L Moody in his great little book Heaven) (Source of quotes: http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_21-2)

B5 Ephesians 2:2,

• What does the term walk mean? It is our life from birth to death, a process from one point to another.
• What system do people live under unless they are Christians? The world’s system with its laws, motivations, and deeds.
• Who is the head of the world’s system? The Prince of the power of the air, which is satan.
• How does the devil work in the lives of the disobedient? Compare In whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of them who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  2 Corinthians 4:4

B6 Ephesians 2:3,

• What motivates and drives what we do?
• What are the two types of desires? Please name one example of each.
• What does the term children of wrath mean?
• All humans, the objects, who sin will experience the wrath of God.
• This does not refer to little children, but humans who have sinned.
• The word children ties all of us to birth. We have all been born.
• Since all people have sinned, all people will face God’s wrath. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  Romans 1:18
• Wilbur Pickering comments, “To be in rebellion against the Creator is to be under His wrath.”
• If we repent and believe in Jesus Christ as the Scripture says, then we will not face God’s wrath.

B7 Ephesians 2:4,

• This starts a new section. Verses 1-3 deal with what we were and what we faced, and verses 4-10 relate to what we are and will have.
• Does God only love the elect (us)?
• What hope does this verse give us?
• How much love does God have?

B8 Ephesians 2:5,

• Who is able to take something dead and make alive? See Genesis 1-3.
• According to this verse, when did we become alive? (When Christ did. See 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and Romans 6:4).
• The saved refers to deliverance from God’s wrath and from eternal death.
• Grace is receiving something that we do not deserve.

B9 Ephesians 2:6,

• How are we in Christ? We are the body of Christ.
• Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
• For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12)
• Where Christ is, we are, too.
• The body of Christ does not depend on our strength, it depends on God’s (John 15:4). Ray Stedman writes:
• That brings us to the next element, one Spirit. Here is the great, eternal, invisible Person who is the power behind the Christian church. The strength of the church never comes from its numbers. This is the mistaken concept that many Christians have today. They think we only influence society and bear impact upon the world as we can gather together enough Christians and thus swing enough votes to sway our legislatures. That is not where the power of the church lies, and it never has. The prophet Zechariah was once confronted with a great mountain which God said would become a plain. When Zechariah began to look around to see how this could happen, where the power would come from, what instruments would be provided to level that mountain and make it into a plain, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts," (Zechariah 4:6b RSV). It is the Spirit that is the true power of the church, and there is only one Spirit. He is the same everywhere no matter where the church exists -- in every place and in every age. That is why the truth remains unchangeable, the passing of time does not change it. That is why the church is not dependent on many or few, or on the wisdom of its membership. It depends on one thing, the one Spirit  Source: http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/ephesians/the-cry-for-unity

B10 Ephesians 2:7,

• What is the length of time that He will show us the riches of His grace?
• Note that ages and riches are plural.

B11 Ephesians 2:8-10,

• Wilbur Pickering translates this as: “For by grace you have been saved, through the faith—and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one may boast. You see, we are His 'poem', created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance in order that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. In the Greek it is “the faith” a particular faith, not just any faith. That faith has been taught by the Lord Jesus to the Apostles who taught it to others.
• Salvation is by God’s grace. This grace is initiated by God and finished by God. Everything in between is of God, too. We do not seek God (Romans 3:10-11).
• Is faith the gift or is salvation the gift?
• Both, yet...
• Adam Clarke: But whether are we to understand, faith or salvation as being the gift of God? This question is answered by the Greek text: τῃ γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια της πιστεως· και τουτο ουκ εξ ὑμων· Θεου το δωρον, ουκ εξ εργων· ἱνα μη τις καυχησηται· "By this grace ye are saved through faith; and This (τουτο, this salvation) not of you; it is the gift of God, not of works: so that no one can boast." "The relative τουτο, this, which is in the neuter gender, cannot stand for πιστις, faith, which is the feminine; but it has the whole sentence that goes before for its antecedent." But it may be asked: Is not faith the gift of God? Yes, as to the grace by which it is produced; but the grace or power to believe, and the act of believing, are two different things. Without the grace or power to believe no man ever did or can believe; but with that power the act of faith is a man's own. God never believes for any man, no more than he repents for him: the penitent, through this grace enabling him, believes for himself: nor does he believe necessarily, or impulsively when he has that power; the power to believe may be present long before it is exercised, else, why the solemn warnings with which we meet every where in the word of God, and threatenings against those who do not believe? Is not this a proof that such persons have the power but do not use it? They believe not, and therefore are not established. This, therefore, is the true state of the case: God gives the power, man uses the power thus given, and brings glory to God: without the power no man can believe; with it, any man may.
• The word gift is associated with salvation as in Romans 5:15-18, Romans 6:23, and Hebrews 6:4.
• Three main things taught here:
• Salvation is a gift; it is not earned, worked for, or deserved by any merit we have.
• We can not brag about us.
• God wants us to do good works, since we are saved. Good works is what is God defines, not defined by what we think. Consider the following verses: Matthew 5:16 and Galatians 5:22-23.

B12 Next week

• The weight off your shoulders
• Theme: Freedom from guilt
• Scriptures: Psalm 103:14

Swaying Beliefs

Much hate, fear, panic is afflicting the Usonian people. So much so that people are having a panic attacks and striking out in fear yelling, screaming insults, and even rioting. This is being encouraged and stimulated by politicians, evil capitalists, media, and others.

It’s at times like this I recall Edward Bernays. That name might not be familiar to you, but he is a, maybe the, most important person in the area of “public relations,” or as known by its more familiar name of “propaganda.”

Bernays was instrumental in studying and apply manipulative techniques used in sales, public opinion, and others. He sometimes called the Father of public relations.

He wrote many influential books and articles with his most famous book “Propaganda.” This book most clearly conveyed his views and techniques.

In an interview with his daughter, she mentioned that her father did not trust “popular democratic judgment believing it to be unreliable. This unreliability needed “guidance from above,” that is, “enlightened leaders.”

He is known for a number of efforts to sway Usonians and others. One of his famous efforts was to change the public opinion of women smoking in public. This view in the early 1900s and dealt with women caught smoking in public. If caught, there was a danger of being arrested and/or fined. Bernays changed this by having a parade in New York City in 1929 with models holding lit cigarettes. This event was staged to be “news” which was widely presented to the public.

Another famous manipulation was the promotion of bacon. Since bacon sales were dropping (is that possible?), he worked to increase them. He asked a physician if the typical breakfast of juice, coffee, and a donut was sufficient for humans. The physician replied that it was not. Bernays then encouraged the physician to write to other physicians. Bernays sent out 5,000 letters to physicians with ~4,500 responding that people needed a more substantial breakfast. This was then presented as news with the fact of “over 4,500 physicians believe people should eat a heavier diet” and mentioning that bacon and eggs would provide the nutrition needed. What happen? The sales of bacon and eggs increased.

In chapter 3 of his book “Propaganda,” he writes:

“WHO are the men who, without our realizing it, give us our ideas, tell us whom to admire and whom to despise, what to believe about the ownership of public utilities, about the tariff, about the price of rubber, about the Dawes Plan, about immigration; who tell us how our houses should be designed, what furniture we should put into them, what menus we should serve on our table, what kind of shirts we must wear, what sports we should indulge in, what plays we should see, what charities we should support, what pictures we should admire, what slang we should affect, what jokes we should laugh at?”

Later in the same chapter, he writes:

“In some departments of our daily life, in which we imagine ourselves free agents, we are ruled by dictators exercising great power. A man buying a suit of clothes imagines that he is choosing, according to his taste and his personality, the kind of garment which he prefers. In reality, he may be obeying the orders of an anonymous gentleman tailor in London. This personage is the silent partner in a modest tailoring establishment, which is patronized by gentlemen of fashion and princes of the blood. He suggests to British noblemen and others a blue cloth instead of gray, two buttons instead of three, or sleeves a quarter of an inch narrower than last season. The distinguished customer approves of the idea.

But how does this fact affect John Smith of Topeka?

The gentleman tailor is under contract with a certain large American firm, which manufactures men's suits, to send them instantly the designs of the suits chosen by the leaders of London fashion. Upon receiving the designs, with specifications as to color, weight and texture, the firm immediately places an order with the cloth makers for several hundred thousand dollars' worth of cloth. The suits made up according to the specifications are then advertised as the latest fashion. The fashionable men in New York, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia wear them. And the Topeka man, recognizing this leadership, does the same.”

This is pure manipulation.

We are being manipulated.

So when you see large amounts of social media, news sources, and “beautiful” people promoting something through fear, covetousness, “the latest thing,” realize that you are being manipulated. Fear is a great motivator. Fear of disease, meeting basic needs as food, clothes, and safety as easily influence by government leaders, news sources, and others. This fear and the news of “new research shows” manipulate many into the views and beliefs of those leaders.

People need to break free from this manipulation, recognize it, and search numerous sources of news, etc. to arrive at the truth.

Links:

https://web.archive.org/web/20120228182407/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjP2gHoBLvA&gl=US&hl=en

https://web.archive.org/web/20120226221548/http://subliminalmanipulation.blogspot.com/

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/bernprop.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bernays

A Clean Slate

Theme: A covering for sin

Objectives:

Know: God did not abandon His people. He gave them hope for the future and a covering for sin.

Think: Always be conscious for the cost of forgiveness of sin.

Do: Love and serve Jesus because He paid the enormous cost of our sin.

Scripture: Numbers 15:1-31

Notes and questions:

B1 Numbers overview (Link: http://www.preceptaustin.org/numbers_commentaries )

B2 Setting= the wilderness of Paran

B3 Outline

• The special offering. (This is when they first enter the land). Numbers 15:1-16
• The yearly harvest offering Numbers 15:17-21
• Sacrifices for sin Numbers 15:22-31
• Unintentional Numbers 15:22-29
• Intentional Numbers 15:30-31
• The wood gatherer Numbers 15:32-36
• The tassels on the robes Numbers 15:37-41

B4 The gist of this is for us to learn to be thankful.

• Our parents had to teach us to be thankful.
• We have to teach our children the same.
• God is no different. He needed to teach the children of Israel to be thankful.
• It is a demand, but it is to teach them.
• We all liked to have someone say, “Thank you.”

B5 Numbers 15:2, who was this law given to? In Numbers 15:15, to whom did the law apply.

B6 What is the significance of the words “when you come into the land?” (Numbers 15:2)

B7 Many consider the offering in Exodus 15:3 to be a peace offering. See Leviticus 17:5.

3) PEACE OFFERING https://biblethingsinbibleways.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/understanding-sacrifices-and-offerings-and-whether-they-are-done-away-in-christ/

Derived from the root word “Shalam” (H7999) meaning to be safe, it was an offering of giving thanks, and were divide into 3 types of peace offerings (Leviticus 7:11-16)

1. Thanksgiving for received salvation(Leviticus 7:12)
2. a fulfillment of a vow – when expected salvation is received(Leviticus 7:16)
3. voluntary offering of giving thanks(Leviticus 7:16) – as an expression of rejoicing with God, as in the case of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:63)

The peace offering consisted of a part of an animal sacrificed to God through fire, part given to the priest as food and the rest eaten as a festive meal in fellowship.

The offerer could bring an ox, sheep or goat from his flock(Leviticus 3:1,6,12) but it would need to be without blemish. There was more freedom of choice as a male or female could be offered up, but there was no provision for a pigeon or dove as the whole point of the offering was the sacrificial meal, and a chance to join with God in a time of fellowship and thanksgiving.

The peace offering was also accompanied by 4 varieties of cakes(Leviticus 7:11-14)

The process of sacrifice

Similar to the burnt offering, the offerer brought the animal to the door of the tabernacle, laid hands on it, identifying himself with it, and killed it. The priests sprinkled the blood, after which the offerer removed all the fat of the animal as part of God’s burnt offering(Leviticus 3:3-5,9) set forth as a sweet savour to Him. The fat was prescribed as the food of YHVH offered up by fire(Leviticus 3:16). The second portion was given to the sons of Aaron as per the instructions of God(Leviticus 7:34, 10:15) The remainder was used in a sacrificial meal eaten inside the temple court with all of the offerers family including his servants(Deuteronomy 12:11,18) with much rejoicing(Deuteronomy 12:7). This is what Paul alludes to in 1 Corinthians 10:18. They were having communion with God. The meal was to be partaken on the same day, but could be eaten the next day if it was for a vow or a voluntary offering. Whatever was left had to be burnt with fire on the third day, and nothing left or eaten(Leviticus 7:15-18).

If the sacrificed meat came in contact with something unclean, it could not be eaten but burnt. All who ate it had to be ceremonially clean as well. Any who broke these precepts were said to be cut off from His people by God Himself(Leviticus  7:19-21).

The fat was not to be eaten as it was God’s portion, and the blood was not to be eaten(Leviticus 7:22-27) as it was used for atonement and had life(Leviticus 17:11).

B8 The amounts (best estimates) in today’s English are:

• Grain offering
• One tenth ephah= ~2 quarts (2.2 liters) (2 pounds) flour
• One fourth hin= ~1 quart (1 liter) (2 pints) olive oil and wine
• Ram
• Two tenths ephah= ~4 quarts (4.4 liters) (4 pounds) flour
• One third hin= ~One third gallon (1.3 liters) (3 pints) olive oil and wine
• Bull
• 3 tenths ephah= ~6 quarts (6.6 liters) (6 pounds) flour
• One half hin= ~2 quarts (2 liters) (4 pints) olive oil and wine

B9 What insight does Acts 15:6-11 bring to our passage?

6 Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? 11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are. Acts 15:6-11

B10 Does this make us appreciate the work of Jesus Christ more? In what way?

18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless, 19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” – 22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever. Hebrews 7:18-33

B11 What does God want to show every human about God’s standards? ...about sin?

B12 After giving the warning passage to Israel, someone deliberately, willfully, broke God’s law.

B13 What is the purpose of the Law? 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:20-23, KJV)

B14 What contrast do you see between God’s and man’s efforts in chapters 14 and 15?

• God does not fail, man does.
• God is faithful, humanity is not.
• God keeps and guarantees His promises, humanity cannot.
• Humanity often forfeits everything, but God’s plan still will happen.

B15 Numbers 15:37-38, Do we have to wear special clothing today? (The Israelites were required to wear blue tassels on the edge of their clothing). This was to remind Israel that they were to keep God’s law and not follow sinful things. What can we do to remind ourselves to keep God’s ways?

B16 What starts the downfall of all humans? See: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21, KJV)

B17 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2Tim 3:2, KJV)

B18

1 A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalms 100:1-5, KJV)