Great Expectations

Theme: The Believer’s Identity

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

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

Know: Christ has given us the privilege of representing Him and sharing the message of reconciliation, even as we long for our home in Heaven.

Think: I allow the fact that I represent Christ to guide all I do.

Do: Live as Christ’s representative to the world, sharing the message of reconciliation.

B1 2 Corinthians 5:1-10,

C1 How does this verse give us comfort: 2 Corinthians 5:1 GNB92 For we know that when this tent we live in—our body here on earth—is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.

C2 What wonderful hope is for Christians who die?

C3 Are we going to be a disembodied soul floating around in the sky?

C4 What are some differences between our current body and the new one?

D1

Our body
Old	New
Made with hands	Not made with hands
From earth (dirt)	From God
Not eternal	Eternal
On earth	In heaven
Physical	Spirit

D2 What is the difference between the Christian’s new body and the nonbeliever?

E1 Philippians 3:21 GNB He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

E2 This verse speaks of the resurrection body but somethings are similar: 1 Corinthians 15:42 GW That is how it will be when the dead come back to life. When the body is planted, it decays. When it comes back to life, it cannot decay.

E3 What else can you think of?

C5 What is our guarantee for the new life, body, home, and fellowship to come?

C6 We have never seen heaven, so how do we know there is one?

D1 It is most reasonable.

D2 Jesus existed in history.

D3 The Gospels record eyewitness testimony of Jesus’s ministry.

D4 It is most reasonable that Jesus is who He says He is—God.

D5 He states there is a heaven, so it is most reasonable that heaven exists.

F1 Matthew 5:34 GNB But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne.

F2 John 6:33 GNB For the bread that God gives is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.

F3 John 17:1 GNB After Jesus finished saying this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you.

C7 What hope does this verse give you? 2 Corinthians 5:8 GNB We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.

C8 2 Corinthians 5:9 NKJV Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. Why should we try to please God?

C9 The Bema Seat in 2 Corinthians 5:10 refers to the judgement of Christians what we have done or not done. This is right after the Rapture. For more information, see here. Compare: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NKJV For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

B2 2 Corinthians 5:11-18,

C1 What does terror of the Lord refer to? Why would that motivate Paul? Why should that motivate you and me?

C2 2 Corinthians 5:12, why would character (heart) be of greater importance than appearance? Why do many people judge character by appearance?

C3 2 Corinthians 5:13, why do many people think the Christian’s lifestyle is insane? Name some of the rules in these verses.

D1 Ephesians 4:14-15 WEB that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ.

D2 Ephesians 4:26-28 WEB ”Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

D3 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 WEL 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what does righteousness have in common with unrighteousness. What fellowship is there between light and darkness? 15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What does the Temple of God have in agreement with idols? For you are the Temple of the Living God, just as God has said, "I will live in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 "So then come out from among them. Be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch [what is] unclean, then I will accept you, 18 “And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.

C4 2 Corinthians 5:14, for how many people did Jesus die for? Remember, the Bible must be understood and interpreted in its plain, normal sense. Compare: Romans 6:1-8 HCSB What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.

C5 2 Corinthians 5:15, how many might live? Is it all or some? What would make the difference?

C6 2 Corinthians 5:16, should we treat some people better than others? A comment from J. C. Ryle on Luke 11:27-32 is worth reading: We are all naturally inclined to attach great importance to a religion of sight, and sense, and touch, and eye, and ear. We love a sensuous, tangible, material Christianity, far better than one of faith. And we need reminding that seeing is not always believing. Thousands saw Christ continually, while He was on earth, and yet clung to their sins. Even His brethren at one time "did not believe in him." (Joh 7:5.) A mere fleshly knowledge of Christ saves no one. The words of Paul are very instructive: "Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more." (2Co 5:16.) We are to worship Christ in spirit and truth, not flesh and experience (John 4:23 NKJV But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him).

C7 2 Corinthians 5:17,

D1 How perfect was God’s first creation (as in Genesis 1-2)? (Everything was pronounced good. God, so to speak, took His books of standards out and checked everything, and everything was perfect).

D2 How about God’s new creation in a believer?

D3 If all is new, what should our attitude be about God’s ways?

D4 How do we know if all things are new?

E1 For ourselves, we can read and study 1 John.

E2 For others it is more difficult, because their thoughts, desires, words, and deeds must be the same in private as they are in public. This is one reason that if a spouse (usually wife) reports abuse or children report molestation, it must be believed and acted on. Most of these are crimes against society and MUST be reported to law enforcement. This would also be true for pastoral abuse as: 3 John 1:9-11 GW I wrote a letter to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge, won't accept us. 10 For this reason, when I come I will bring up what he's doing. He's not satisfied with saying malicious things about us. He also refuses to accept the believers we send as guests. He even tries to stop others who want to accept them and attempts to throw those people out of the congregation. 11 Dear friend, never imitate evil, but imitate good. The person who does good is from God. The person who does evil has never seen God.

E3 We need integrity, not transparency, for integrity refers to the incorruptibility and honesty of a person’s character, while transparency can be lied about and turned against another person so as to abuse them.

E4 Also these differences in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds: Galatians 5:19-26 WEL Now the works of the flesh are obvious; they are adultery, sexual sin, moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be longing for empty praise, irritating one another, and envying one another.

C8 2 Corinthians 5:18-20,

D1 Who has done all the steps leading to salvation and creating the new person?

D2 Do we deserve any credit? (NO!)

D3 Through whom did God restore fellowship of sinners after they believed the Gospel?

C9 2 Corinthians 5:21,

D1 When the Lord Jesus died, because of sin, whose sins were they?

E1 Isaiah 53:6 NLT - All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.

E2 1 Peter 2:24 NLT - He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

E3 John 1:29 WEB The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

E4 1 John 2:2 NKJV And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

E5 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NKJV Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

D2 How does God consider believers righteous?

E1 We sinned, and God must punish us for sin.

E2 God wants all to be saved, forgiven, and new creations.

E3 Either we can be punished or someone else.

E4 The Lord Jesus took the punishment for us.

E5 Since all our sin has been punished, we now are righteous.

E6 It is all of God!

E7 Rejoice!

B3 Next week:

C1 Growing in holiness

C2 Theme: The Believer’s Testimony

C3 Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:1

Answering Critics Series: The Bible & Women

The Bible and Women

Answering Critics Series

A1 The problem

B1 Some quotes from “Christians”

C1 Even as the church must fear Christ Jesus, so must the wives also fear their husbands. And this inward fear must be shewed by an outward meekness and lowliness in her speeches and carriage to her husband. . . . For if there be not fear and reverence in the inferior, there can be no sound nor constant honor yielded to the superior. –John Dod: A Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandements, Puritan guidebook first published in 1603 (Source)

C2 The second duty of the wife is constant obedience and subjection. –John Dod: A Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandements, Puritan guidebook first published in 1603 (Source)

C3 Tertullian: Rather to affect meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that by every garb of penitence she might the more fully expiate that which she derives from Eve, - the ignominy, I mean, of the first sin, and the odium (attaching to her as the cause) of human perdition. “In pains and in anxieties dost thou bear (children), woman; and toward thine husband (is) thy inclination, and he lords It over thee.” And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil’s gateway: you are the unsealer of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of your desert - that is, death - even the Son of God had to die. And do you think about adorning yourself over and above your tunics of skins?" (Source: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 4, Tertullian, Apparel of Women, Part 4 Apparel of Women.)

B2 Some quotes from non-Christians

C1 Charles Darwin wrote on the subject female inferiority through the lens of human evolution. He noted in his book The Descent of Men: "young of both sexes resembled the adult female in most species" which he extrapolated and further reasoned "males were more evolutionarily advanced than females". Darwin believed all savages, children and women had smaller brains and therefore led more by instinct and less by reason. Such ideas quickly spread to other scientists such as Professor Carl Vogt of natural sciences at the University of Geneva who argued "the child, the female, and the senile white" had the mental traits of a "grown up Negro", that the female is similar in intellectual capacity and personality traits to both infants and the "lower races" such as blacks while drawing conclusion that women are closely related to lower animals than men and "hence we should discover a greater apelike resemblance if we were to take a female as our standard." (Source)

C2 Aristotle: Another example is Cynthia's catalog where Cynthia states "Aristotle says that the courage of a man lies in commanding, a woman's lies in obeying; that 'matter yearns for form, as the female for the male and the ugly for the beautiful'; that women have fewer teeth than men; that a female is an incomplete male or 'as it were, a deformity.' (Source)

A2 The solution

B1 Bible

C1 The Bible is the only source of 100% truth.

D1 When it quotes someone, it is not necessarily inspired but is 100% accurate truth. The Bible has quotes from the devil, who obviously has “...no truth in him…” (John 8:44).

D2 2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB - All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Inspiration is God overseeing the writer is such a way that every word and thought is approved by God.

C2 The Bible must be interpreted in the plain, normal sense.

D1 God is perfectly and completely wise. He knows how to communicate perfectly. We do not need to redefine words or give a certain interpretation to help God explain. A good example is 1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV - who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Calvinists interpret this to mean not all people but only all kinds of people. The passage, however, states all people; there is no word in Greek for kinds. God is perfectly wise and knows how to communicate clearly.

D2 There is no excuse to state we can safely reject this because it was only written to that generation.

C3 Do not interpret the Bible through the filter of theology or a system of interpretation, for example, Covenant Theology or Dispensationalism.

B2 Women

C1 Created in God’s image.

D1 Genesis 1:27 CSB - So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. The word man is אָדָם 'adam.

D2 Genesis 5:2 CSB - he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and called them mankind. The word mankind (human) is אָדָם 'adam.

C2 The word help meet (KJV) is עֵזֶר`ezer which means a helper. This word is used most often referring to God.

D1 Psalm 33:20 CSB - We wait for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

D2 Psalm 70:5 CSB - I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

D3 עֵזֶר`ezer is not a word describing a lesser or lower caste. It is an equal or even greater.

C3 Of Adam it is said: Genesis 2:18 NLT - Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." [Emphasis mine]. All of creation was judged good by God except for Adam.

C4 Adam had abilities, gifts, and insights, but not everything he needed. He is not God who is perfect in every way. Eve had abilities, gifts, and insights, too. Together they have a more complete understanding.

C5 So today my wife has abilities, gifts, and insights that I do NOT have. WE can make a better decision and understand situations better because of the greater insights both have. Two are better than one. She is very valuable and precious.

C6 Loved equally by the Heavenly Father: 2 Corinthians 6:18 NLT - And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.

B3 Some important women in the Bible

C1 Eve

D1 The mother of all living: Genesis 3:20 CSB - The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.

D2 Sinned, but was deceived (Adam deliberately, premeditatively sinned): Genesis 3:13, 20 CSB - So the LORD God asked the woman, "What is this you have done? " And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." ... The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. AND 1 Timothy 2:14 CSB - And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.

E1 Some creepy commentators believe Eve deceived Adam. That is a LIE.

E2 Adam sinned willfully. He knew was he was doing. He did not believe God (lack of faith). He failed the test—a very easy test. All of creation was cursed by God because of Adam’s sin. Romans 5:12 CSB - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. [Emphasis mine]

E3 Eve told the truth: “I was deceived.” Adam blamed the woman, God, and everything else: Genesis 3:12 CSB - The man replied, "The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate." Adam was the first human liar.

D3 When Eve figured out everything that happened, she probably wanted to punch Adam out and leave. God reminded her that she was still to desire Adam.

E1 Really evil commentators believe that Eve wanted to rule the world and boss Adam around. They are very, very wrong.

F1 Desire is used 3 times in the Bible:

G1 Translations

H1 First a correct translation: Genesis 3:16 CSB - He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.

H2 Here is an example of a very evil translation: Genesis 3:16 NET - To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you."

G2 The word desire:

H1 It is the Hebrew word תְּשׁוּקָה tesh-oo-kaw' (Strongs H8669).

H2 It means desire, a longing for (towards). It does NOT mean to rule, conquer, boss around, control, etc.

H3 It’s root is שׁוּק, shook (Strongs H7783), which means to run after, desire, to long for. It has NOT mean rule, conquer, boss around, control, etc.

F2 Genesis 4:7 CSB - "If you do what is right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Sin desires, longs for. James 1:14-15 GW Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

F3 Song of Solomon 7:10

G1 Song of Solomon 7:10 NKJV I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward me.

G2 Song of Solomon 7:10 GW I am my beloved's, and he longs for me.

G3 Song of Songs 7:10 CSB - I am my love's, and his desire is for me.

E2 It would be better to understand and interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

D4 Eve did receive punishment: pain in childbirth.

D5 Eve received the promise of the coming redeemer. Adam received nothing except punishment. Genesis 3:15 CSB - I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

C2 Deborah

D1 She was a prophetess and judge in Israel. Gideon was only the general in the army.

E1 Judges 4:4-5 CSB - Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to settle disputes.

E2 Deborah being judge and prophetess is NOT because there were no qualified men. God chose HER.

D2 She was also a songwriter and mother. Judges 5:1, 7, 12 CSB - On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang: ... Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. ... "Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take your prisoners, son of Abinoam!

D3 She gave the command to Barak to start the battle. Judges 4:14 CSB - Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has handed Sisera over to you. Hasn't the LORD gone before you? " So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

D4 Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, finished off the battle by punishing Sisera with a hammer and tent peg. Judges 4: 17-21

C3 Mary, the virgin mother of our Lord Jesus

D1 Had a love for God that was rare in her day. Jesus said that if we love Him (God), we will obey Him. Luke 1:38 CSB - "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

D2 Believed God: Luke 1:45 CSB - Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!

D3 Was one of the few who was loyal even to his death: John 19:25 CSB - Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

D4 Was found in prayer and meeting with the other believers: Acts 1:14 CSB - They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

C4 Mary Magdalene

D1 Was the first at the tomb of Jesus: Matthew 28:1 CSB - After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.

D2 Was the first to see Jesus Christ risen from the dead: Mark 16:9 CSB - Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.

D3 Testified to the Apostles that she had seen the Lord Jesus alive (resurrected). She was not believed, possibly because she was a woman. Luke 24:10-11 CSB - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

C5 Philip the Evangelist and deacon had 4 daughters who were prophetesses: Acts 21:8-9 CSB - The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

C6 Phoebe, the deaconess: Romans 16:1 RSV - I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea.

B4 How men especially husbands are to treat their wives

C1 Love is a choice, not necessarily an emotion. Ephesians 5:25 CSB - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. How many husbands love their wives that much? Love described in the next point.

C2 Love expresses itself in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, but it is noted by all people with theses characteristics: 1 Corinthians 13:5-8a WEL Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty, Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

C3 Husband and wife are partners in life facing joys and difficulties as one. Each supplies their gifts and abilities equally.

C4 Love shows its fruit as this: Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

B5 If the husband does not treat his wife such, he does not love her.

B6 If the husband abuses his wife in any way, she must leave, divorce, and have no contact. If no contact is impossible (children), then low contact. Divorce already has been addressed in another message.

A3 Applications

B1 God said it was NOT good for Adam to be alone.

B2 Women, in particular wives, are a special creation.

B3 How we treat our wives is noticed by God. He will judge if that treatment is not up to His standards.

B4 Abuse is always wrong and proves the husband does not love his wife.

B5 If there is abuse, the wife must leave.

B6 So how are you and I going to treat our wives?

B7 Love for our wives must be the same in public or in private. Our treatment of them the same in public or private.

B8 Women are to be respected, their opinions sought, and treated as an equal human being.

B9 Confess any sin that you have done wrong towards them. Ask God for forgiveness.

B10 Now go and love your wife, your daughters, your granddaughters, mother, grandmother, etc.

A5 Finishing verses which are good to memorize:

B1 Ephesians 5:28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

B2 Ephesians 5:33 But every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.

B3 Colossians 3:18 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. This is appropriate behavior for the Lord's people.

B4 Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be harsh with them.

Copyright © 2018 by Len Gane All rights reserved.