1 Timothy 2:1-7

B1 Encourage prayer

C1 Verse 1 Prayer for everyone

D1 Petitions

E1 A petition, supplication, is a request to an authority.

E2 Proverbs 30:7-8 NIV Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

D2 Prayers

E1 Prayers is a more formal, respectful talking with God.

E2 Luke 6:12 NIV One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

E3 1 Timothy 5:5 NIV The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

D3 Requests

E1 The word has the idea of coming together to converse.

E2 It is used in our passage and also 1 Timothy 4:5 NIV because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

D4 Thanksgivings

E1 According to the old Webster’s Dictionary, it means an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received;

E2 1 Timothy 4:4 NIV For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

D5 We ARE to pray. Prayer is not hard. It is talking with God. It is worship and fellowship.

C2 Verse 2 Prayer for leaders

D1 One of the many reasons we pray to God concerning our political leaders is so we (all) can live in peace and safety.

D2 For Christians must live a Christian life. This is sometimes hard, because the government is against Christians.

D3 Regardless, we must always pray for our leaders whether we like them or not.

D4 Jeremiah 29:7 MKJV And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.

D5 2 Kings 8:3 NIV At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land.

C3 Verses 3-4 Prayers for everyone to be saved

D1 The text clearly says all. Don’t let anyone fool you out of the plain, normal sense. Compare:

E1 2 Peter 3:9 NIV The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

E2 Isaiah 53:6 MKJV All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

E3 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

D2 All whether poor, rich, or in between. All whether employed in medical, legal, government, agriculture, retired, unemployed, education, etc. All means all.

D3 Either people are saved by Jesus Christ and Him alone or they are not.

D4 He is the only mediator.

D5 Works are worthless. Philippians 3:7-8 NIV But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

C4 Verse 4

D1 Note the word truth.

E1 Truth is reality.

F1 Wisdom (God’s way of thinking): Proverbs 8:7 NLT for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception.

F2 Proverbs 12:17 NLT An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.

F3 We must read and study the Bible with the understanding that God is telling the truth in its plain, normal sense.

E2 Truth is important to God.

F1 God is the God of truth and faithfulness:

G1 Isaiah 65:16 WEB so that he who blesses himself in the earth will bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.

G2 2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.

F2 Exodus 34:6 NKJV And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.

F3 Revelation 15:3 WPNT They sing the song of Moses, the slave of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations!

E3 God speaks in truth. John 7:16-18 NLT So Jesus told them, "My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.

D2 Jesus came speaking and teaching truth. His motive was for people to be saved and to understand the ways of His kingdom.

C5 Verse 5

D1 God and humanity are at odds. God is holy; humans are sinful. God is wise; humans are stupid. God is truthful; humans are liars. We are enemies of each other.

D2 Jesus is the reconciler, the mediator. Romans 5:10 NIV For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

D3 Acts 4:12 NIV Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

C6 Verse 6

D1 ...ransom for all…

E1 This states clearly “ransom for all.”

E2 Many interpret this to mean only some. They reason that if all meant all, then all are saved, that is, universalism. Thus, they, in actuality, call the Holy Spirit a liar. If God wanted to say some or many, the Scriptures would say so. John Gill (essentially a fatalist) writes on this verse: ...[Jesus Christ] shows his great love to his people; and also as a "ransom", or a ransom price for them, αντιλυτρον, in their room and stead; to ransom them from the slavery of sin, and damnation by it, from the captivity of Satan, and the bondage of the law, and from the grave, death, hell, ruin, and destruction: and this ransom was given for "all"; not for every individual of mankind, for then all would be delivered, freed, and saved, whereas they are not; or else the ransom price is paid in vain, or God is unjust to receive a sufficient ransom price from Christ, and yet not free the captive, but punish the person for whom he has received satisfaction; neither of which can be said. But the meaning is, either that he gave himself a ransom for many, as in Mat 20:28 for the Hebrew word כל, to which this answers, signifies sometimes many, a multitude, and sometimes only a part of a multitude…

E3 God wants all to be saved. God provided a mediator for humanity. God provided salvation for all, if they meet His conditions. His condition is to believe after the Holy Spirit has opened a person’s heart.

F1 Acts 16:14 NIV One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

F2 John 16:8 NLT And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

F3 John 1:12 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

F4 John 3:15-16, 36 NLT so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ... 36 And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment."

F5 John 6:47 NLT I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.

F6 Romans 10:9 NLT If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

D2 This life and message came at the perfect, proper time. It is the life of Jesus and His message.

C7 Verse 7

D1 Paul is a messenger and Apostle of Jesus Christ to preach Jesus’s life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus’s message came at the right time, and so did the preaching of the Gospel.

D2 Paul states that he is telling the truth. The truth is the message of Jesus and Paul’s appointment to preach it.

C8 This section of 1 Timothy is given mainly to preachers, deacons, deaconesses, and other church leaders, but it is to be applied to every Christian.

C9 Questions:

D1 Why is Jesus so important regarding salvation?

D2 Why is the Gospel for all people?

D3 Why did God choose people to preach the Gospel?

1 Timothy 1:18-20

Stand true

B1 Paul reminds Timothy of the prophecies given when he was ordained.

C1 Timothy had a good reputation: Acts 16:2 NIV The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.

C2 The prophecies made by the prophets/prophetesses are a source of motivation for Timothy to persevere.

C3 Spiritual warfare to continue in the faith. The prophecies we have are motives to practice the faith and to witness.

B2 One of Timothy’s ministries is to wage warfare. This

C1 Is not physical as in using the sword.

C2 Is spiritual by thinking, living, preaching as a Christian

C3 There are two paths.

D1 One leads to life. One leads to destruction (not annihilation). Matthew 7:13-14 NIV Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

D2 One is based on God’s ways namely truth, wisdom, love, and holiness. This way does not lead to destruction.

D3 The other is based on any other way, namely truth or lies (depending on the circumstances), foolishness, selfishness, and disregard for God’s rules.

B3 Keeping faith is being faithful to what he has been taught by Paul and others.

C1 This is based on reading and studying the Bible in its plain, normal sense. Otherwise it is one person’s opinion or other’s.

C2 We have been taught by Jesus and those who Jesus trained. These ways and teachings are already known. They have been sometimes written in a condensed form as a confession or creed.

B4 A blunted conscious is possible by ignoring or diminishing these teachings.

B5 Paul mentions 2 teachers who have sinned against God—Hymenaeus and Alexander. These 2

C1 Blasphemed God

D1 Taking His name in vain

D2 Lying about His character and His character traits

D3 Teaching lies, which are things not found in the teaching of Jesus Christ or His apostles.

C2 Disregarded the faith. They had THE faith but changed it into some other faith.

C3 Did not maintain a good conscience.

B6 Three things we all must do: fight spiritual warfare, hold tightly to the teaching of the New Testament, and keep a good conscience (the opposite of guilt).

C1 Truth

D1 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

D2 Adam Clarke writes: Reasonings or opinions. The Greek philosophers valued themselves especially on their ethic systems, in which their reasonings appeared to be very profound and conclusive; but they were obliged to assume principles which were either such as did not exist, or were false in themselves, as the whole of their mythologic system most evidently was: truly, from what remains of them we see that their metaphysics were generally bombast; and as to their philosophy, it was in general good for nothing.

C2 Life. How we live consistently with the rules of the New Testament (the rules of Jesus).

Applications

B1 Teach our children

B2 Remember what we are taught

B3 Be aware that there are false teachers. Some may not reveal themselves until after they have taught truth and have the trust of the congregation.

B4 We need to study the truth first then do apologetics.

B5 God will hold teachers responsible if they teach error.

B6 God wants people saved. So, we need to preach and live the Gospel.

B7 Be thankful for God’s love and mercy. We are not to take those things for granted.

B8 It is OK to name names.

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Paul’s Testimony and Thankfulness

B1 Now, Paul rehearses his conversion. Paul considered himself to be blameless according to the Law’s standards (at least outwardly). See Philippians 3:6 NRSV as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

B2 Paul mentions some of his sins

C1 Blasphemer

C2 Persecutor

C3 Insolent

B3 Despite his sins, Paul thanks God for His great mercy in giving him understanding of the Gospel and the Gospel itself, which is of Jesus Christ.

C1 The Gospel is first the life and ministry of Jesus Christ including His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

C2 Secondly, it is the message that Jesus taught while on earth, which is primarily recorded by our 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

B4 Notice that the Gospel starts with mercy. Mercy is receiving what we do not deserve. It is the initiation of God to free our sin addicted nature. Once our will has been freed, then we can resist or not resist.

B5 After mercy, God shows grace, then faith and love. Not only does the faith and love of God affect us, but we also show faith and love towards God. Repentance leads to faith, faith leads to love, and love leads to obey the rules of the Lord Jesus.

B6 He feels that he is one of the worst of sinners and God’s love showed its greatness towards him.

B7 We notice the greatness of God’s patience. God deals with each person individually.

B8 Paul, then, praises God for

C1 Being King (King of the universe for sure)

C2 Being eternal, immortal, invisible, God who alone is wise

B8 This is the opposite of Romans 1:21 WEB Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.

C1 The sinner does not give God credit for all that God has done and is doing.

C2 The believers does, which Paul is our example.

B9 Because of all these things, God is worthy of the highest honors and praise.

A Few Thoughts on Micah 7:1-6

Micah 7:1-6 NLT How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. 2 The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers. 3 Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. 4 Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion. 5 Don't trust anyone—not your best friend or even your wife! 6 For the son despises his father. The daughter defies her mother. The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law. Your enemies are right in your own household!

The background

B1 Micah prophesied to Israel (the northern kingdom) and to Judah (the southern kingdom).

B2 Both are corrupt and evil. So evil that Samaria, the capital of Israel, is captured and destroyed. Later, Jerusalem, the capital of Judah will also be captured.

Micah is concerned with the amount and type of evil.

B1 The religious leaders are corrupt and evil.

B2 The political leaders are corrupt and evil.

B3 Just about everyone else is also corrupt and evil.

God warns people of their evil to convict people of their sins which will lead to repentance, and trusting in God for salvation. It is the same today.

In our passage above, the prophet laments the evil.

B1 Evil is stressful.

B2 Evil is overwhelming.

B3 Evil brings disorder.

B4 Evil brings panic which leads to loss of freedom and increasingly stupid decisions.

B5 Evil brings judgment.

The specific evils that Micah notes are

B1 Dishonesty

B2 Murder

B3 Bribery

B4 Injustice (described as twisting justice)

B5 Distrust

B6 Truth has all but disappeared

Passage

B1 Verse 1, the prophet describes his misery at the evil he sees.

C1 He is miserable, depressed, and experiencing loss of joy.

C2 He describes it as being hungry but harvest has finished. He cannot find any fruit to eat that he so enjoys.

C3 Hunger especially for one’s favorite foods is difficult.

B2 Verse 2, note how godly and honest are joined.

C1 The Hebrew word for godly is חָסִיד châçîyd. It means

D1 Referring to God as merciful and gracious.

D2 Referring to those who believe and trust in God as worshipers sharing those character traits with God.

D3 Referring to people: Psalm 12:1 NLT For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument. Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!

D4 Referring to God: Psalm 145:17 NLT The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.

D5 We are to have these character traits, too.

C2 The Hebrew word for honest is יָשָׁר yâshâr. It means something straight. In this case straight as on the narrow road that God himself travels. We are to be in the image of God as converted people. Romans 8:29 NIV For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

C3 Note that all are described as murderers. Pride leads to jealousy which leads to hate which leads to murder.

B3 Verse 3:

C1 Note how their evil is described as skilled. They have spent much time perfecting and practicing evil. God has a low opinion of these people: Deuteronomy 29:19-20 NLT Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, 'I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.' This would lead to utter ruin! 20 The LORD will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the LORD will erase their names from under heaven.

C2 These evil people, who have influence (politics, money, lust for control) make sure they have control by abuse and power.

C3 Justice gets twisted.

D1 Truth becomes whatever those in power claim it to be.

D2 Truth as reality is discarded.

D3 Truth is suppressed. Lying is exalted.

E1 2 Peter 3:16 NLT speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

E2 Colossians 3:9-11 NLT Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

B4 Verse 4:

C1 These people hurt others just like briers and thorns.

C2 Their actions will be punished. God sees and God revenges.

C3 Compare this prophecy about the anti-Christ: Daniel 7:25 NLT He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.

B5 Verse 5-6

C1 Be skeptical of everyone, even your family.

C2 Be careful. Be wary.

C3 Contrast that with God who is trustworthy and the Counselor of all counselors.

D1 God hears. God listens. When He answers is future. We don’t know when. Psalm 116:1-2 NIV I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

D2 1 Peter 3:12 NIV For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

D3 Proverbs 15:29 NIV The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

We learn about character traits

B1 God’s

C1 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

C2 2 Peter 1:3-8

C3 Galatians 5:22-23

B2 Devil’s

C1 Galatians 5:19-21

C2 Proverbs 6:16-19

C3 John 10:10

C4 John 8:44

Questions

B1 Why is society experiencing so many troubles?

B2 Why does racism exist?

B3 What is the cause/motive for these issues?

B4 What rules would make a safer society?

B5 Whose character traits should we emulate?

B6 Why is society falling apart?

1 Timothy 1:3-11

Oppose false teachers

B1 There are always false teachers.

B2 We must always be aware of the fact that there are false teachers. 2 Peter 2:1 NRSV But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

B3 Often false teachers appear to be the holiest people in the congregation.

C1 They have a fake holiness.

C2 They have a fake love.

C3 They have charisma in their presence, teaching, and leading.

C4 They have and love control over people.

C5 They can bully and shame people.

C6 They usually have secret lives.

C7 A few Bible examples

D1 2 Corinthians 11:3 CSB But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

D2 2 Timothy 2:16-18 CSB Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. 18 They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.

D3 Revelation 2:20 NRSV But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

B4 If we have studied, know, and believe the truth, we will spot them much more quickly.

C1 John 8:32 CSB "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

C2 It is part of God’s armor: Ephesians 6:14 CSB Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest.

C3 1 Thessalonians 5:21 CSB but test all things. Hold on to what is good.

B4 It is important and a responsibility of the pastor to know what other ,people believe and are teaching, so to warn the brothers and sisters.

B5 False teachers will

C1 Teach something false. Sometimes it is very subtle, so we must clarify at times. They may even change the common definition to what they want it to mean.

C2 Teach things that are speculation to be an important doctrine/s.

C3 Teach the Law (Torah) without even understanding what it really means and/or how it applies to the Christian. Compare the controversy in Acts 15:1-35.

C4 Use every method of Bible interpretation except the plain, normal sense consistently.

B6 This false teaching has an effect on the people leading to discussions, debates, disagreements, etc. so in effect diverting the people from what is important to what is not important.

B7 Paul teaches that the Law is useful for convicting a person of their sins by showing God’s holy standard of thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

1 Timothy 1:1-2

Chapter 1

1 Timothy 1:1-2

Greetings

B1 Paul identifies himself as Apostle writing to Timothy.

C1 Note that Paul’s call and commission came from God the Father and God the Son.

C2 The Father ordered it, and the Son called and commissioned Paul. Acts 22:7-10 EMTV And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 "So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' 9 "And those who were with me observed the light and became terrified, but they did not hear the voice of the *One* speaking to me. 10 So I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus, and it will be told to you about all the things which it has been appointed for you to do.'

C3 Jesus Christ is our hope.

D1 Hope is confidence.

D2 Confidence in salvation, forgiveness of sins, heaven after death, fellowship with God, holy angels, and believers.

D3 We can die in peace and rest in suffering.

B2 Timothy is identified as my true son in the faith.

C1 Son/child carries the idea of a young convert.

C2 We preach. God convicts. The individual responds.

C3 True son refers to the confidence Paul has in Timothy’s conversion and calling.

C4 The faith refers to the faith that Jesus taught. Jesus taught the Gospel, a belief system (doctrine), and a lifestyle (worldview). His way is always best.

D1 His wisdom is superior.

D2 His decisions are perfect and fair.

D3 His motives are pure, in truth, and with love.

B3 Grace, mercy, and peace.

C1 Grace is receiving what we do not deserve.

C2 Mercy is a grace of God that we do not deserve.

C3 Peace is another grace that flows out of God’s mercy.

C4 Grace leads to mercy which results in peace.

B4 Paul had preached the Gospel to Timothy.

B4 Timothy had been prepared from birth by his grandmother and mother.

B5 We can learn that grandparents and parents can have a great influence in the spiritual life of a child by reading and teaching the Scriptures.

B6 We can learn, too, that by memorizing Scripture as a child will be used later by the Holy Spirit to open their mind and heart to the Gospel.

A Few Thoughts About Racism

Defined

B1 the theory or opinion that a certain race or races of people, usu. one's own, are superior to others because of certain inborn characteristics. (Source)

B2 Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. (Source)

What the Bible teaches

B1 One race

C1 Acts 17:26 WPNT And from one blood He made every ethnic nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.

D1 Wilbur Pickering adds: Modern medicine has discovered this to be true; blood transfusions across racial boundaries are perfectly possible. Some 4.5% of the Greek manuscripts omit ‘blood’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). (Source See note 3 on Acts 17:26. This is a pdf download).

D2 Jamieson, Faussett, Brown notes: Holding with the Old Testament teaching, that in the blood is the life (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23), the apostle sees this life stream of the whole human race to be one, flowing from one source [Baumgarten]. (Source. Scroll down).

C2 Genesis 10:32 GNB All these peoples are the descendants of Noah, nation by nation, according to their different lines of descent. After the flood all the nations of the earth were descended from the sons of Noah.

C3 ISBE: The solidarity of the race may be said to be as distinctly a doctrine of science as it is of Scripture. It is implied in the account of the Creation and of the Deluge. It is strongly affirmed by Paul in his address to the Athenians (Acts 17:26), and is the foundation of the Biblical scheme of redemption (John 3:16). The human race in the Old Testament is described as "sons of Adam" (Deut 32:8 the King James Version), as derived from one pair (Genesis 1:27; 3:20), as having its origin in one individual (2:18; cf, 1 Corinthians 11:8, where woman is described as derived 'from man'). Hence the term "Adam" is applied to the race as well as to the individual (Genesis 1:26; 2:5, 7; 3:22, 24; 5:2); while in the New Testament this doctrine is applied to the history of redemption - Christ as the "second Adam" restoring what was lost in the "first Adam" (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 47-49).

B2 One attitude

C1 God wants all saved:

D1 John 3:16 WPNT Because God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes into Him should not be wasted but should have eternal life.

D2 Acts 10:34-35 NRSV Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

C2 God wants all. Compare the Christian family. Acts 2:43-47 NLT A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

B3 One Law

C1 Love neighbor as one’s self

D1 Leviticus 19:18 NRSV You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

D2 Matthew 5:43-45 NRSV You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

D3 Romans 13:10 NRSV Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

D4 How? Jesus answers with the illustration of the Good Samaritan.

E1 We learn that those who know the Mosaic Law best, frequently practice it the least.

E2 Those who are very religious are often only religious in words only, not in what they do.

E3 Those who are despised for their origins or family history by governments and society usually do help those in need.

E4 These are examples/principles for us to follow.

E5 Jesus lived the same as He taught. Compare Syrophoenician Woman (Mark 7:24ff), Roman officer (Luke 7:1ff), Gentile region of the Gadarenes (Mark 5:1ff), and a Samaritan city Sychar (John 4:1ff).

C2 Fair

D1 Treating all equally.

D2 Leviticus 19:15 NLT Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

D3 Deuteronomy 24:17 NLT True justice must be given to foreigners living among you and to orphans, and you must never accept a widow's garment as security for her debt.

D4 Deuteronomy 27:19 NLT Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.' And all the people will reply, 'Amen.'

D5 Proverbs 18:5 NLT It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.

D6 Isaiah 61:11 NLT The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world. Everyone will praise him! His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.

D7 James 2:1-4 NRSV My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

D8 God does treat those who love God and keep His rules more than those who hate God and rebel against His rules.

C3 Treat all well

D1 Luke 6:31 NRSV Do to others as you would have them do to you.

D2 Proverbs 16:11 GNB The LORD wants weights and measures to be honest and every sale to be fair.

The heart is what is important not the characteristics of one’s body.

B1 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.

B2 Proverbs 21:2 NLT People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.

B3 1 Chronicles 28:9 NLT And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Jeremiah 17:10 NLT But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.

There is only one race.

Outward character traits mean nothing.

We are to show love and kindness to all.

We are to think and live God’s ways.