A Few Thoughts About Hell

A Few Thoughts About Hell 

Modern views 

B1 Restored Church of God:  

C1 The most common image of people “roasting in hell” pictures a God willing to burn people for all eternity without ever totally burning them up. Apart from what the scriptures teach, ask yourself, what kind of God is capable of this? Modern “human rights activists” recognize the terrible evil of torture—even in its temporary forms. Would the loving God of the Bible design an everlasting torture chamber? If so, He would have to witness—for the rest of eternity—the suffering of those that He had condemned to such a “hell.” 

C2 We might also ask: How enjoyable could salvation be for the saved if they were forced to watch their children or parents—and other loved ones—screaming in pain and agony for the rest of time? Do you see the absurdity of this idea? Yet millions upon millions come to this conclusion when they accept the beliefs surrounding the popular concept of hell. (Source) 

B2 The Seventh Day Adventist believes in conditional mortality, but they are not very specific about it on their official web site. 

B3 Then there is the Evangelical Conditionalists:  

C1 Statement on Evangelical Conditionalism 

D1 Conditionalism is the view that life is the Creator’s provisional gift to all, which will ultimately be granted forever to the saved and revoked forever from the unsaved. 

D2 Evangelical conditionalists believe that the saved in Christ will receive glory, honor and immortality, being raised with an incorruptible body to inherit eternal life (Romans 2:7). 

D3 The unsaved will be raised in shame and dishonor, to face God and receive the just condemnation for their sins. When the penalty is carried out, they will be permanently excluded from eternal life by means of a final death, implicating the whole person in a destruction of human life and being (Matthew 10:28). 

C2 Ideas Rob Bell and other modern books and authors. 

Confessions 

B1 Athanasian Creed: 

39.He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty; 

40.From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

41.At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; 

42.and shall give account of their own works. 

43.And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. 

44.This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved. 

B2 Arminian Confession of 1621: 

"And finally, punishment, especially eternal, is unjustly and cruelly inflicted on him as disobedient by whom this obedience was not performed solely through the absence of that irresistible and truly necessary grace, who really is not disobedient. "We cannot here state how everywhere in the Scriptures it is affirmed of some, that they resisted the Holy Spirit, that they judged, or rather made themselves unworthy of eternal life(h), that they made void the counsel of God concerning themselves; that they would not hear, come, obey, that they closed their ears and hardened their hearts, etc. 

B3 Belgic Confession: 

The evil ones will be convicted by the witness of their own consciences, and shall be made immortal—but only to be tormented in the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 

B4 Westminster Confession of Faith: 

Q. 29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to come? A. The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell-fire forever. 

B5 Wesleyan Core Beliefs: 

22. Destiny 250. We believe that the Scriptures clearly teach that there is a conscious personal existence after death. The final destiny of each person is determined by God's grace and that person's response, evidenced inevitably by a moral character which results from that individual's personal and volitional choices and not from any arbitrary decree of God. Heaven with its eternal glory and the blessedness of Christ's presence is the final abode of those who choose the salvation which God provides through Jesus Christ, but hell with its everlasting misery and separation from God is the final abode of those who neglect this great salvation. 

Scripture 

B1 Old Testament 

C1 God is eternal and so is His rule: 

D1 Isaiah 40:28 NRSV Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 

D2 Psalms 10:16 NRSV The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land. 

C2 Life and contempt are eternal states: Daniel 12:2 NRSV Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

B2 New Testament 

C1 Doing good is defined by God. It is only believing and trusting in Jesus Christ. No human is good except God the Son. John 5:28-29 NRSV Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

C2 Jude 1:7 NRSV Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 

C3 Revelation 20:10 & 15 NRSV And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever... 15  ...and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. 

C4 Matthew 25:41 NRSV Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 

B3 The Scriptures are clear to anyone who can read. 

A Few Thoughts About Hell 

Hell, torment, everlasting 

A Few Thoughts About Exposing Sin

1 Corinthians 5:1-7 WEL It is commonly reported that there is sexual sin among you, and such sexual sin as is not even mentioned among the Gentiles that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud of this? You should have mourned instead, so that he who has done this deed might be removed from you. 3 For truly I—while absent in the body but present in spirit—have already judged, as if I were present, he who has been committing this. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together along with my spirit and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ 5 To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your rejoicing [in this] is not right. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 7 Therefore, cleanse out this old leaven that you may be a fresh lump of dough, since you are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us.

Sometimes named and sometimes not named

B1 Named

C1 Achan (See Joshua 7:10-26).

C2 King David (See 2 Samuel 12:1-14).

C3 Ananias and Sapphira (See Acts 5:1-11)

C4 Hymenaeus and Philetus (See 2 Timothy 2:16-18).

B2 Unnamed (These are people whom the writer knew. There were some that the writer probably did not know as in Proverbs 7:6-23, which I interpret as Solomon did see a young man, etc.).

C1 The prophet who confronted Jeroboam about his sin (See 1 Kings 13:11-34).

C2 The man who married his step-mother (See 1 Corinthians 5:1-7).

God knows our sin: Psalm 90:8 NLT You spread out our sins before you—our secret sins—and you see them all.

God wants people to repent, so He exposes their sins and convicts/convinces them.

B1 All to repent: 2 Peter 3:9 EMTV The Lord does not delay concerning His promise, as some reckon slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

B2 Convicts of sin: John 16:8-9 EMTV And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me.

B3 The light exposes: John 3:19-21 EMTV And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light, because their works were evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.

It’s important to know that are not to use exposure of sin

B1 Unless it is for the well being of the person (so privately or 2 witnesses).

B2 Unless it is to protect the innocent, maligned, or abused, etc.

B3 Unless it is to preach the Gospel.

Exposure needs to be

B1 Done in truth

B2 Done with good motives

B3 Done with the thought that we might be guilty of the same sin

B4 Done according to God’s standard, not a church standard or a personal standard.

B5 Done in wisdom, love, and holiness.

B6 Done after prayer.

B7 Done in gentleness.

B8 Done with an approach of humility.

Some verses

B1 Ecclesiastes 12:14 NRSV For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

B2 Luke 12:2-3 NRSV Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.

B3 Jeremiah 2:22 NRSV Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.

B4 Hosea 7:2 NRSV But they do not consider that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround them, they are before my face.

B5 Romans 8:3-4 AMPC For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], [Leviticus 7:37] 4 So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

B6 Jesus exposes sin

C1 John 15:22 NRSV If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

C2 To Nicodemus: John 3:10-12 NRSV Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

C3 Samaritan women: John 4:16-17 NRSV Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband';

C4 Woman caught in adultery: John 8:10-11 NRSV Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.

C5 Invalid man: John 5:14 NRSV Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you."

B7 Jesus’s motive: John 3:17-18 NRSV Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Some articles

B1 Sin of Abuse Exposed by the Light of Christ — Sermon by Ps Crippen

B2 5 Ways Christians Should Judge

B3 Jesus’ Sayings on Sin

B4 The Importance of Truth

A Few Thoughts About Bible Principles

And from examples of success and failure.

From 1 Samuel 1-2:11

The people

B1 Eli

B2 Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas

B3 Elkanah, husband to Hannah and Peninnah

B4 Hannah

B5 Peninnah

B6 God

The setting

B1 Shiloh, the first center of Israelite worship in the Promised Land. A comment from the ATS Bible Dictionary on Shiloh (the place):

A famous city of Ephraim, about ten miles south of Shechem, and twenty-four north of Jerusalem. Here Joshua assembled the people to make the second distribution of the Land of Promise; and her the tabernacle of the Lord was set up, when they were settled in the country, Joshua 18:1; 19:51. The ark and the tabernacle continued at Shiloh, from B. C. 1444 to B. C. 1116, when it was taken by the Philistines, under the administration of the high priest Eli. In honor of the presence of the ark, there was "a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly;" and at one of these festivals the daughters of Shiloh were seized by a remnant of the Benjamites, Judges 21:19-23. At Shiloh Samuel began to prophesy, 1 Samuel 4:1, and here the prophet Ahijah dwelt, 1 Kings 14:2.

B2 Sacrifices probably referring to one of the 3 major feasts that all Israelite men must attend. Those are Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

B3 Eli is high priest. His sons Hophni and Phinehas are assistant priests. The two sons are controlling, brutal, lustful, seek only for themselves resulting in Israel hating them and even turning against God. We too often these days see controlling people/pastors in the church and ruining it. They died in war, because God hated them.

God’s rules in the Bible include:

B1 Things we must do and things we must not do.

B2 Principles we must do and principles we must not do.

B3 Example of people with godly success, which we must imitate, and examples of ungodly failure, which we must avoid.

The principles learned

B1 Don’t be evil like Hophni and Phinehas. It is an attitude that God hates. This attitude leads to action/deeds. What we really believe, we do. God punishes this severely. We do not know when, but it will happen. First death, then punishment. 1 Samuel 3:13-14 NRSV For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever."

B2 Elkanah shares his food with his family. Good. We shouldn’t hoard or keep from our family. We are to take care of our family, not cause suffering. 1 Timothy 5:8 NIV Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

B3 Elkanah shares his food unevenly in giving Hannah twice as much. Bad. We should give to each equally as much as possible.

C1 James 2:8-9 NRSV You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

C2 Romans 2:11 NRSV For God shows no partiality.

B4 Peninnah verbally abused her co-wife. Bad. We need to treat others as we treat ourselves. Romans 13:9-10 GNB The commandments, "Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not desire what belongs to someone else"—all these, and any others besides, are summed up in the one command, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." 10 If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.

B5 Elkanah should have just listened, which Hannah wanted, but instead gave some unwise statements. Bad.

C1 Unwise statements:

D1 “Hannah, why are you crying?” He surely knew about the verbal abuse. He seems to be sympathetic, but still should have been quiet and listen. God listens to us. We should should listen, too. Psalms 102:2 GNB When I am in trouble, don't turn away from me! Listen to me, and answer me quickly when I call!

D2 “Why are you so sad?” I think he knew but maybe didn’t recognize.

E1 He just should have been there for her. Just been. He doesn’t even have to say anything. Just be there.

E2 Jesus is there with you. Romans 8:38-39 GNB For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

E3 Why doesn’t Jesus stop the evil? He gives people the opportunity to help each other and to do what is right, but that/those person/s choose to do evil.

D3 “Am I not better to you than ten sons?”

E1 She is not asking for advice. This statement does not help at all. It doesn’t relieve her pain.

E2 Proverbs 15:13 ESV2011 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

E3 Psalms 34:18 NRSV The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.

E4 Once when all hope was gone; I mean all hope. I received some wise counsel from a sister in Christ, “Len, trust God. Wait one year, and see how God will help you. You must wait.” Well, I lived through it, and at one year I looked back and saw how God helped me. Problems and troubles see were there, but God was there, too. Praise God!

B6 Hannah wept before the Lord. Good. We can be man enough to cry at times. Jesus wept. It will do you good to read Psalm 42.

B7 She prayed. This is where we must start. Psalms 102:1 NRSV A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you. The whole of Psalm 102.

B8 Hannah does make a vow. Possibly good. When making a vow it must be for a specific thing, a specific time, and a specific offering. Did Hannah do this? Yes. We are not to vow to satisfy our lusts; compare Psalm 106:15 NKJV And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

Lest I get too long of post, I will stop.

Study the Scriptures.

Praise God!

Psalms 31:24 NKJV Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.

A Few Thoughts About the Crosses

of Golgotha

John 19:16-18 NRSV Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

From what we read in Scriptures:

B1 Three men were crucified that day.

B2 Three men were crucified at The Place of the Skull (Golgotha).

B3 Two were sinners. One was sinless.

B4 Two deserved to die.

B5 One was declared by a governor, a king, and others as not worthy of death.

B6 Two men, who deserved death, mocked the middle man who did not deserve death.

B7 Two men, who deserved death, with one man who repented and called on the name of the Lord and one who rejected.

B8 One man died by giving up His life. Two men died after the Romans smashed their feet with a hammer.

B9 Two men are in heaven.

B10 One man is in Hades awaiting final judgment (Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15).

The non-repentant criminal/bandit

B1 He was a sinner.

B2 We sin by thoughts, desires, words, and deeds

C1 Thoughts and desires: Genesis 27:41 NRSV Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob."

C2 Words: Psalms 78:36 NRSV But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.

C3 Deeds: Jeremiah 22:17 NRSV But your eyes and heart are only on your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.

B3 Opportunity to repent but refused: Revelation 9:20-21 NRSV The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts.

B4 Why don’t people repent and call on the name of the Lord?

C1 Pride: 2 Timothy 3:4 NLT They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

C2 Love of sin: Psalm 52:3 NLT You love evil more than good and lies more than truth.

The repentant criminal/bandit

B1 Same as above but did repent and call of the name of the Lord.

C1 His attitude at first: Matthew 27:44 NRSV The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.

C2 His attitude at salvation: Luke 23:39-41 NRSV One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."

C3 Calling on the name of the Lord: Luke 23:42 NRSV Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.

C4 Salvation promised: Luke 23:43 NRSV He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

B2 Why did he believe and the other didn’t? Why didn’t is answered above.

C1 Humbled himself: James 4:6 NRSV But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

C2 Wanted salvation, thus a desire to have forgiveness and fellowship with God: Psalms 42:2 NRSV My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?

The sinless one

B1 Without sin: Hebrews 4:15 NRSV For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

B2 Voluntary substitute: Romans 5:6 NRSV For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

B3 Suffered for our sins: Hebrews 13:12 NRSV Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.

B4 Paid penalty for our sins: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 NRSV For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.

B5 Laid down His life (the crucifixion did not kill Him, He willed death after finishing His ministry): 1 John 3:16 NRSV We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

B6 Buried: 1 Corinthians 15:4 NRSV and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,

B7 Rose for our justification: 1 Thessalonians 4:14 NRSV For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

B8 Ascended into heaven for His heavenly ministry for the believers:

C1 Ephesians 4:8 NRSV Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.

C2 Hebrews 7:25 NRSV Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

B9 Will return: Acts 1:10-11 NRSV While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

B10 Will set up His kingdom: Daniel 2:44 NRSV And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

B11 Will reign in Jerusalem, then forever:

C1 Psalms 146:10 NRSV The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!

C2 Revelation 11:15 NRSV Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.

All humans (except Messiah)

B1 Deserve death

B2 Deserve Hades

B3 Deserve the Lake of Fire

B4 Deserve eternal torment

B5 Deserve this judgment, sentencing, and punishment because we have sinned in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

We can follow the actions of two men

B1 One in acceptance

B2 One in rejection

Which will we be the one who believes or the one who does not believe?

2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

Devotional Notes Psalm 133+John 21

MORNING

Psalm 133

B1 What does this mean?

C1 The beauty of Christian unity.

D1 John 10:16 GNB There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

D2 John 17:11 GNB And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one.

C2 A unity with God Himself regarding God, God’s kingdom, God’s doctrine, God’s character, God’s lifestyle, God’s worldview, and God’s rules for believers.

C3 It is compared to

D1 The oil of anointing on Aaron, the High Priest:

E1 The oil itself: Exodus 30:23-24 BSB Take the finest spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 24 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil.

E2 This is the special oil of consecration.

D2 The dew upon Mt Zion:

E1 Constable mentions: Mt. Hermon to the north of Israel was the highest mountain in the land. As such it enjoyed unusually heavy dew. Dew was a great blessing in the parched land of Israel. As the dew freshened and invigorated Mt. Hermon, so the blessing of unity among believing Israelites would refresh and invigorate Mt. Zion as they gathered for worship there.

E2 Zion was the earthly dwelling of Yahweh. Psalms 2:6-7 GNB "On Zion, my sacred hill," he says, "I have installed my king." 7 "I will announce," says the king, "what the LORD has declared. He said to me: 'You are my son; today I have become your father.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Romans 12:1-2 WEL I implore you, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves as a holy, living sacrifice [which is] acceptable to God [and] your rational service [to Him]. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may discern what [is] the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

EVENING

John 21

B1 What does this mean?

C1 Jesus At the Sea of Galilee

D1 A principle: God delegates the mission, we do the mission, and God blesses the mission.

D2 Verse 14, John states that this is the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples.

C2 Jesus Encourages Peter

D1 Peter probably was despondent, because he spoke of great dedication but failed. The Lord Jesus wanted to be clear that Peter is restored. So too for us. What Peter did was not a reason to never be an Apostle and pastor. Sexual abuse, abuses of power by pastors, etc. do disqualify them forever.

D2 Feed my sheep refers to Jesus’s calling and commission for Peter to teach. Peter did teach. He taught the Gospel, the Resurrection, the Christian life, etc.

C3 Many Things Jesus That Did Not Get Recorded

D1 The Scriptures are the truth: Psalms 119:160 WEB All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

D2 We have a reasonable faith. John states: 1 John 1:1-4 WEB That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life 2 (and the life was revealed, and we have seen, and testify, and declare to you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was revealed to us); 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.

D3 We have more than one witness: Acts 1:1-2 GNB Dear Theophilus: In my first book I wrote about all the things that Jesus did and taught from the time he began his work 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before he was taken up, he gave instructions by the power of the Holy Spirit to the men he had chosen as his apostles.

D4 Let us be committed as the Apostle Paul: 2 Timothy 1:12 AMPC And this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am [positively] persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed [to Him] until that day.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? We have a most reasonable faith.

I hope to have a devotional every day on John’s Gospel starting with the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel. This is the way I do my devotions. You may notice grammatical and spelling errors. It is my hope you will also start or continue in your daily reading and thinking about the Scriptures. I do this Monday through Friday. It is a 3 year plan of reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the Old Testament, which takes 3 years, and reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the New Testament once a year for a total of 3 times. So, I read through the Old Testament 1 time and the New Testament 3 times over a period of 3 years. I do this Monday through Friday and use Saturday and Sunday for other devotions.

Devotional Notes Psalm 132+John 20

MORNING

Psalm 132

B1 What does this mean?

C1 David’s care of the Ark

D1 Hardships Compare 1 Samuel 17-30.

E1 Promises in hardship See 2 Samuel 7.

E2 Desire for proper worship

F1 In the days prior to Messiah coming, proper worship was in Jerusalem.

F2 When Messiah came even now, worship is not at a physical place but with the heart.

F3 John 4:20-24 NRSV Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

D2 Dedication

E1 Proverbs 16:3 NRSV Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

E2 Psalms 119:38 NRSV Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.

D3 A desire for doing God’s will is nice, but our actions express our true beliefs. God’s promises are not just words but will be fulfilled.

C2 God’s promises

D1 At the present day, it seems if these promises have been unfulfilled. The time is coming when all will be fulfilled. Jesus will reign in Jerusalem, Jerusalem will be safe, and worshipers will worship in peace.

D2 2 Peter 1:3-4 EMTV As His divine power has granted to us all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 through which have been given to us precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through these we may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Realize hardship will come but hope in God. Dedicate ourselves to God and His ways.

EVENING

John 20

B1 What does this mean?

C1 Witnesses Come to Jesus’s Empty Tomb

D1 A number of witnesses testify that the tomb was empty even though it was guarded by the Roman soldiers.

D2 Verse 2, they might refer to the Jewish authorities or the Romans. John and Peter were suspicious of the women’s testimony or so it appears.

D3 One thing we can learn is that the tomb was empty. For a more detailed offering of proof, see Gary Habermas site.

C2 Mary Magdalene Is Witness to Jesus Alive

D1 Jesus didn’t reveal Himself at first as a teaching point. He knew what Mary believed but wanted her to know and to reinforce the information of everything to her.

D2 Some see an error in verse 12 because Matthew and Mark state only one angel. It is suggested that only one is mentioned because he was the one who spoke.

D3 Some see an error in verse 14, too. If she knew what Jesus looked like, why didn’t she recognize Him now? Most likely she was in grief and thought He was dead. She simply was not expecting a live Jesus there talking to her.

D4 Verse 17 is another puzzling event. Why couldn’t she touch Him? The Greek word for touch is ἅπτομαι háptomai and doesn’t mean to just lightly touch but to firmly touch as grasp, hold, cling, etc. John 20:17 GW Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me. I have not yet gone to the Father. But go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.

C3 The Disciples Are Witness to Jesus Alive

D1 Note Jesus says, “Peace to you,” two times. Jesus is not coming to frighten them, judge them, scold them, but brings peace to them. Peace with God.

E1 John 16:33 GW I've told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you'll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world."

E2 It is available for all if one repents and believes: Matthew 11:28-29 EMTV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

D2 Jesus remains the God/man (God the Son and the Son of Man) eternally.

D3 Verse 23 also causes false ideas that people can forgive sins in God’s name or authority. Steven J. Cole says: “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” The gospel that we proclaim is not so much about Jesus helping people with their personal problems but rather about God forgiving their sin through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. G. Campbell Morgan (The Gospel According to John Revell], p. 321) wrote, “The ultimate reason of the mission of the Church in the world, is to deal with sin.” Romans 3:23 declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jesus didn’t die to save us from personal failure or shortcomings, but from the just wrath of God against our rebellion and sin. [It is worth reading the whole comment].

C4 Thomas Is Witness to Jesus Alive

D1 Thomas did not believe all the witnesses had seen and heard about the Lord Jesus (verse 25). He declares the conditions for his belief (verse 26). He is shocked but now believes (verse 27). All of which leads the Lord Jesus to declare: 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, you have believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.”

D2 We have a reasonable faith, not a blind faith. The Scriptures wrote about the resurrection, the faithful men and women who had seen and heard declared the resurrection, and Jesus had prophesied His resurrection. It would be most reasonable to believe that Jesus was alive.

C5 The Goal of John’s Gospel

D1 Regarding verses 30-31: J. C. Ryle in his expository thoughts mentions 2 possible interpretation. The first would be that John refers to all that Jesus did in His ministry, while the second would be all the miracles after His resurrection proving that He was alive.

D2 Regarding the importance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ one can begin by reading 1 Corinthians 15.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Christian belief is most reasonable.

I hope to have a devotional every day on John’s Gospel starting with the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel. This is the way I do my devotions. You may notice grammatical and spelling errors. It is my hope you will also start or continue in your daily reading and thinking about the Scriptures. I do this Monday through Friday. It is a 3 year plan of reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the Old Testament, which takes 3 years, and reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the New Testament once a year for a total of 3 times. So, I read through the Old Testament 1 time and the New Testament 3 times over a period of 3 years. I do this Monday through Friday and use Saturday and Sunday for other devotions.

Devotional Notes Psalm 131+John 19

MORNING

Psalm 131

B1 What does this mean?

C1 This is a Psalm of honesty.

C2 He is not bragging about doing or being right. He is just telling the truth. People can use the same words but have a different attitude and motive for those words. Telling the truth with a humble attitude is important.

C3 He has quieted himself. This is because of his hope in God to help him. Psalms 42:5 NRSV Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help

C4 Because God has helped him, the Psalmist (David) urges others to do the same.

C5 Matthew 11:29-30 NRSV Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Be honest. Have the right attitude and motives. Give God the credit for His help. Tell others how God has helped us.

EVENING

John 19

B1 What does this mean?

C1 Jesus and Pilate

D1 Note how Jesus does not retaliate.

D2 Note how Pilate mistakenly thought that if Jesus was abused, beat, whipped, mocked, etc., the Jews would think that would be enough.

D3 Note how the Jewish leaders, etc. only wanted to kill God.

D4 Note how Pilate declared Jesus not having committed any crime that would justify being whipped or killed.

D5 Note how the Jewish leaders and their followers lust for blood.

D6 Note the absence of truth and justice.

D7 Note how the government, religion, and society was corrupt. They were not following God’s ways.

D8 Verse 11, Jesus teaches that some sins are more evil than others and that God considers the motives as well.

D9 Verse 14, the Preparation Day before the Passover was Friday. The sixth hour was approximately 0600.

D10 Note how these Jew gave their final rejection of Messiah. They hated God, God’s ways, God’s beliefs, God’s laws, God’s worldview, God’s lifestyle, God’s plans, God’s promises, etc.

C2 Jesus Is Crucified

D1 Verse 20, note near the city, not in the city.

D2 Note how they still hated Jesus in their complaining about the sign over Jesus’s head.

D3 After Jesus was dead, I wonder if the people rejoiced as will happen in the future when the 2 witnesses were dead? Revelation 11:7-10 LEB And when they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war with them and will conquer them and will kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which is called symbolically Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And those from peoples and tribes and languages and nations will see their dead bodies three and a half days, and they will not allow their dead bodies to be placed in a tomb. 10 And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them, and will celebrate and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who live on the earth.

D4 I wonder too if the Jewish leaders and their followers had great fear after the report came that Jesus was gone from the tomb just as He prophesied. He is risen. Revelation 11:11 LEB And after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

D5 Verse 25, note who are the witnesses.

C3 Jesus Dies

D1 Verse 28, all things have been completed. Jesus in the midst of suffering for our sins still keeps His composure to know the Scriptures and fulfill them.

D2 Verse 29, vinegar without myrrh or gall which had been refused already.

D3 Verse 30, a shout of victory. Compare: Matthew 27:50 HCSB Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. His victory is our victory, too. Thank you, Lord Jesus for being our Passover Lamb.

D4 Jesus had to yield His spirit to die, because He is sinless and not deserving. Clarke adds:

Every man, since the fall, has not only been liable to death, but has deserved it; as all have forfeited their lives because of sin. Jesus Christ, as born immaculate, and having never sinned, had not forfeited his life, and therefore may be considered as naturally and properly immortal. No man, says he, taketh it, my life, from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again, John 10:17-18,. Hence we rightly translate Matthew 27:50, αφηκε το πνευμα, he gave up the ghost; i.e. he dismissed his spirit, that he might die for the sin of the world.

D5 Verse 31, Barnes writes: Was an high day. It was,

1st. The Sabbath.

2nd. It was the day on which the paschal feast properly commenced. It was called a high day because that year the feast of the Passover commenced on the Sabbath. Greek, "Great day."

D6 Note that John is an eye witness

C4 Jesus Is Buried

C5 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NRSV For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

C6 Colossians 2:12-14 GNB For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ through your faith in the active power of God, who raised him from death. 13 You were at one time spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were Gentiles without the Law. But God has now brought you to life with Christ. God forgave us all our sins; 14 he canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross.

B2 How do I apply this to my life? Let us be careful not to reject God’s ways today.

I hope to have a devotional every day on John’s Gospel starting with the last chapter of Luke’s Gospel. This is the way I do my devotions. You may notice grammatical and spelling errors. It is my hope you will also start or continue in your daily reading and thinking about the Scriptures. I do this Monday through Friday. It is a 3 year plan of reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the Old Testament, which takes 3 years, and reading and thinking on 1 chapter in the New Testament once a year for a total of 3 times. So, I read through the Old Testament 1 time and the New Testament 3 times over a period of 3 years. I do this Monday through Friday and use Saturday and Sunday for other devotions.