BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday September 1, 2019

UNDERSTANDING WHO JESUS IS

   When JESUS came bringing healing to the human body, and salvation to the human soul, HE, in effect, had began the work of creation all over again. In beginning everything GOD made was good (Genesis 1:31), and complete and excellent in every way. However, over time, man and his desire to do things his way, sullied and cursed all of the blessings that GOD originally gave us, at one time or the other.

    Failure to give reverence to GOD will ultimately result in our failure to treat each other right as human beings made in “the spiritual image of GOD”. The reason why the gospel must be preached is because we, as human beings, continue to suppress the truth about GOD, and, the truth about ourselves. 

    In Romans 1:18-32, Paul shifts gears, from talking about the kind of relationship into which a person can enter into with GOD by faith, to the kind of wrath we can expect to incur if we are intentionally blind to GOD the CREATOR, and choose to worship our own ideas, and, those things which are created by GOD, instead of GOD the CREATOR, HIMSELF.

    To the biblical prophets, the wrath of GOD was a perpetual event that would only culminate, or peak, in terror and destruction in “The Last Day”, or coming “Day of the LORD”. Remember, in biblical times, whenever Israel strayed away from GOD too long, HIS wrath would eventually come against them and whip them back into line with HIS thinking. 

    And so, we must understand that GOD’s wrath will always, even today, visit us before too long. Our human sinfulness is seen quite vividly through our wicked acts, but it is also seen in the way we view and respond to GOD day by day. When we publicly and privately approve things that we know are contrary to GOD’s laws, we show HIM disrespect and rejection. We reject GOD morally through homosexual and adulterous behavior. We reject HIM in our character through greed and wickedness. And we also reject HIM in our relationships by way of envy, murder, deceit, and malice.

    GOD’s generous offer of salvation is sorely needed by each of us, and, we do, after all, stand, rightly deserving of HIS divine wrath and judgment instead.  Most of mankind has rejected GOD, because they simply reject the knowledge of HIM that is available to us through HIS Holy and divine Scriptures. It is very much incumbent upon each of us to pick up GOD’s Word daily, read it, and study it, so that we can come to understand plainly, GOD’s Will, and how that Will should play a role in our personal lives.

    We can all see, quite clearly, GOD’s invisible qualities of divine nature and eternal power, both through HIS creation, and, through HIS Holy Word. And GOD shared HIS “invisible qualities”, or, “divine nature” with us, when HE first created mankind, all those years ago (Genesis 1:27). Those invisible qualities, or, “Communicable Attributes”, that make up GOD’s divine nature are, Life, Personally, Truth, Wisdom, Love, Justice, and Holiness. Those attributes are what make it possible for man, out of all of GOD’s creation, to have a personal, experiential relationship with HIM. Thereby, we have no excuse for not knowing GOD (Rom. 1:20), or obeying GOD, even before we received the HOLY SPIRIT as Christians (see Rom. 2:14).

    Remember, Scripture tells us that the HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21-22, & John 1:32-34), did not come upon the MAN, JESUS,  until HE was around thirty years old, and HE had already perfectly obeyed GOD up to that point, as “a 100 percent human being”, the same way that we are born. JESUS came to show us first, how it is possible to obey GOD in our natural born state, if we choose to.

    GOD did not trick us by sending us a “supernatural being” to show us how to live as an ordinary “human being”, under HIM, here on earth. HE actually sent JESUS here to function first as a 100% human being in order to show us that we, as 100% humans, can choose to live a life of total obedience to GOD’s Commandments, simply because HE had already placed “HIS divine nature” in us from birth.

    Today, most humans have bought into the lie started by satan, that, “it is impossible to obey GOD”. JESUS, first and foremost, came to show us that we can, if we really desire to. That is why HE was able to instruct those who had a spiritual encounter with HIM, to “go and sin no more” (quit sinning, or, quit breaking GOD’s law)

    GOD is angry at our sin because HE knows that HE made us to do better, for HE made us in HIS OWN “spiritual” image. GOD wouldn’t have been angry at the people of the Old Testament for their sins, if they couldn’t do any better, or, couldn’t help but sin. GOD, from the beginning, made us to be like HIM, spiritually. We know this because JESUS says, “GOD is SPIRIT” (John 4:24) and therefore, this means that GOD doesn’t have a physical image.

    In Genesis 1:26, where GOD says “Let us make man in our Image” HE was not speaking of a “physical image”, but rather, a “spiritual image” consisting of those seven “Communicable Attributes” that I mentioned earlier. They are the “invisible qualities” that Paul speaks of in Romans 1:20 that, make us look like the GOD WHO created us, spiritually. HE supplied us with those attributes so that we would be able to worship HIM, have a personal, experiential, compatible relationship with HIM, and, in fact, could be like HIM.

    We’ve all lived a sinful life since Adam, but it was because we chose to, not because we couldn’t help it, as most of us want to believe. And we want to believe that because, in our sinful minds, it enables us to sleep at night, and it gives us a palatable excuse to continue to do wrong each day. However, if we continue to persist in doing wrong things, then, GOD will eventually turn us over to our own shameful desires (reprobate mind). And, at that time, our lives will become filled with all manner of wickedness, and we will even begin to invent new ways to sin, in order to enhance our pleasure (Romans 1:24-31). And, even though we are aware of GOD’s death penalty (permanent separation from HIM), because we have, by then, developed a reprobated mind, we will continue on in our sin, and even begin to encourage others to sin also (Romans 1:32).

    The sin, and sometimes amoral attitudes that permeates our society today, and makes our lives so painful to endure, is nothing more than divine judgment on us for rejecting GOD, and choosing immorality over GOD. Our iniquities vividly express our sinful nature, a nature that is adverse to the nature that GOD originally gave us. And it automatically, brings about GOD’s wrath, and subsequent, divine judgment, not just on “The Last Day”, but also, in this day that we currently live in.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

                                           LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

 

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 18, 2019

CARING FOR THE LORD’S WORKERS

(Co-workers in the truth)

3 John

   John’s third letter is actually a personal note to his friend and fellow Church worker, Gaius, who, according to Jewish tradition, served as the Bishop of Pergamum at the apostle’s request, in the latter half of the first century. In this letter John is encouraging and thanking Gaius for his faithful support of traveling Christian evangelists who preached and taught and spread the Good News about CHRIST JESUS, our LORD and savior.

    William Barclay once wrote, “When history judges us, will its verdict be that we were helpers, or hinderers in the work of GOD”. In the first century, even the pagan world faithfully accepted “the responsibility of hospitality”, and it was only right that the Christian Church should honor one of GOD’s greatest directives also by doing the same. In fact, to NOT do so, would actually dishonor GOD and hinder HIS work in the world. The Christian, above all others, needs to honor the concept of hospitality among believers, as it is expected of us by our CREATOR, GOD the FATHER.

    This third letter of the Apostle John, just like the previous two, places a strong emphasis on love, truth, and obedience to GOD. It also cites some of the challenges of the Christian Church in its infancy that really, still exists, in this day and age. In the first century, just like today, Church leaders tried to create their own denominations, and build their own personal kingdoms so that they themselves might rule over other men, under the guise of serving CHRIST, and promoting Christianity. They soon forget, however, about being a part of the larger picture that requires us to obey GOD completely, and allow CHRIST to serve in HIS role as head of the Church we say we pledge allegiance to.

    Also in the first century, innkeepers were not a beloved bunch, because they had long achieved the reputation of being rip-off artist, who thrived on those who sought shelter from the elements and criminal danger, while they traveled to and fro, throughout the Roman Empire. In those days, many people traveled by foot, to many locations, for the purpose of business, religion, and leisure. It became much less of a burden, if one had a friend that they could count on to show them hospitality along their travels.

    In the “House Church Era” of Christianity, those who were traveling for the LORD were trained to accept nothing from unbelievers, and all Christians were taught to provide hospitality to those who were partners with them in the truth (the work of CHRIST). They were not however, to entertain, or show hospitality to those who sought to infiltrate the Church with worldly ideas, antichrist teachings, and worldly behavior. People who decided to join the Church had to come with the attitude that they desired to “change their way of living”, and were willing to adhere to the teachings of CHRIST JESUS going forward. In fact, anyone who even denied the “deity” and “humanity” of JESUS CHRIST were not to be welcomed into the home, or the Church of Christian believers.

    In this passage the Greek expression “agapetos” is used by the Apostle John no less than ten times, and it means “one that is a beloved dear friend”. Gaius had developed a reputation for being a “beloved brother” and “reliable helper” in the work of GOD. He often provided a safe haven for those Christian travelers who were in need of food, clothing, and shelter while serving on their various Christian missions.

    In verse 9 of this short letter the Apostle John dishes out some strong criticism against a Church leader by the name of Diotrephes, who, did not acknowledge his authority. He promised to elaborate further on the evil works of Diotrephes, a man who strived diligently to hinder the advancement of the Gospel of CHRIST through both word and deed, when he came to visit them later.

    Diotrephes was not only one who refused to welcome the traveling Christian evangelists into the local church, but he also encouraged other members in the church body to do the same. And whenever he found out that someone in the church did help those workers of CHRIST, he would immediately oust them from the church. He steadfastly denied CHRIST, and continued to omit HIS teachings from Church doctrine.

    In verses 11-12 John urges believers to not let the bad examples of Diotrephes influence them in their thinking, but rather, they should courageously follow the examples of Demetrius, a reliable worker in CHRIST, who was spoken highly of by everyone in the church. He went on to encourage them to do only what is good in the eyes of GOD, by adhering to the Word, the Gospel of CHRIST. Those who do this, he says, prove that they are “children of GOD”, and those who seek to do otherwise, prove that they do not know GOD.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

    

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 11, 2019

LIVE IN THE TRUTH

(Watch out for deceivers)

2 John

   In the Apostle John’s second letter to the Christian Church he expresses the need for Christians to beware of false teachers and teachings that arise out of the antichrist influence that has long existed in the world. In fact the antichrist influence predates the creation of mankind, as satan himself, has inhabited the earth since being ejected from Heaven by GOD the FATHER, long before HE created any other living beings on this planet.

    The purpose of this letter is to encourage true Christians to continue in love, as well as to warn them against those whose job is to deceive believers in matters concerning their faith. Here John charges the believer not to participate in those evil things that deceivers bring into the Church from the world, under the guise of saying that “they are trying to attract people to CHRIST” by employing a “worldly familiarity”, or method.

    CHRIST does not have, recognize, or endorse any worldly way of doing things, HE only recommends those GODly strategies that are already laid out for the Church in biblical literature. There is no room for “human ingenuity” in the Church (John 6:63b). Things that contradict the SPIRIT of GOD should be left outside the Church when people join, and those who pledge themselves to CHRIST must also pledge themselves to living “a changed life” that coincides with the teachings of JESUS CHRIST, the LIVING WORD.

    Those who choose to come to CHRIST must do so by accepting the GODly idea of “katharisomen” into their spirit. Katharisomen is a Greek term that means, “separation from all people and things that defile”. It is a term that is discussed more in debt in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1. When we join the Church where Christ JESUS is the head, we make a vow to change and no longer live as partners with those people that are intent on doing and promoting the lifestyles that GOD deems as evil. We must come to the Church, through the bible, as CHRIST had HIS disciples do in the first century, and not, the other way around. HE taught them the true Word before HE ever sent them to work in the Church, or to evangelize the world.   

    In the first century and beyond, heavy persecution dictated the Churches use of “code words, or expressions” whenever they communicated to each other in the various towns and cities where they had established Christian congregations (mostly house churches in hidden locations). Here in this letter, in verse one, we find the code words “favorite mistress”, or “chosen lady”, in the Greek “eklektos kyria”, and her “children”, in the Greek “teknon”, being used to hide the identity or exact location of the church from those who sought to infiltrate it with worldly ideas and false teachings, to the ends that the Church might be destroyed before it could take roots. GOD does not wish for us to mix the “holy” with the “profane” (i.e. “miming” with “praise dancing” in today’s Church), and the early Church went to great lengths to keep that from happening.

    John begins the letter (v.4) by expressing his joy in how the newly founded church had been dedicating themselves to the righteous living and truth that they had been introduced to through the Word of GOD. Apparently John had recently met with some members of that particular church, and wanted to express how pleased he was with their Christian behavior in a public forum. He reminded the church to also stay in keeping with the commandment of CHRIST JESUS that we “love one another”.

    John also reminded the church of how some had gone out of the church, who, did not truly believe their reports about CHRIST, and were giving the world a bad impression of how true Christian really behaved. They did not believe the “human example of perfection” that was presented by CHRIST during HIS life here on earth, which was intended to show the world that “Christianity really does produce the best men and women”. In this letter, John urged the church to be diligent so that they might receive the full reward that they had worked so hard for (v.8). He tells them that they must never wander away from the teachings of CHRIST, and always keep their fellowship with GOD, and CHRIST, intact (v.9).

    In verse 10 John warns Christians that if anyone comes to their church and does not teach the truth about CHRIST, don’t even invite them into your house, or encourage them in any way. JESUS perfectly obeyed GOD as a 100% human being and HIS very life tells us that we should too. Anyone who encourages a deceiver, or false teacher, becomes a partner with them in all their evil work.

    All of the central teachings of Christianity hinges on the 100% humanity and 100% deity of JESUS, our LORD. HE is the one and only “Hypostatic Union”, and the only way to GOD. HE is the one and only truth, and the one and only source of “eternal life”. No one, who doesn’t teach the humanity and deity of JESUS CHRIST, can ever be held up as a teacher of the Christian Faith.

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website

Clinton Family Portrait - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

BIBLE STUDY LESSON

For the week beginning Sunday August 4, 2019

FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD

(Through faith we can overcome sinful influences)

1 John 5

   Faith in GOD’s SON, CHRIST JESUS is the secret to spiritual victory over the world system of satan, that can completely blind us to the Gospel. Those who believe in CHRIST are world conquerors, simply because of their faith. In the biblical Greek, the word used for “faith” is “pistis” and it means “to rely upon with an inward certainty”. In 1 John chapter 5, verses 1-12, the Apostle John concludes his first biblical epistle by writing about how “a real faith in JESUS” is best expressed by “the way we live out our lives under GOD”.

    We know we have been truly “born again” when we begin to love one another, and when we develop a desire to obey GOD’s Word completely. A person who obeys GOD’s commands is doing what is right towards GOD, and towards his fellowman. That person is by their obedience to GOD, loving GOD, and, his fellowman also. As we experience love for one another, and, for GOD, GOD’s laws will inevitably become paramount in our lives.

    The Christian Faith will always rest on the reality of an historic JESUS WHO was both, man and GOD. “The SPIRIT”, “the water”, and “the blood”, the three great witnesses, all testify and agree to that fact (Vs.6-7). There has been much debate between scholars over the years, as to the identity of these three witnesses, however, most agree with the assessment of the great second century Church historian, Tertullian, who writes that the “SPIRIT” is the HOLY SPIRIT, “the water” is the baptism of JESUS, where HE affirms HIS identity with man as a “100% human being”, and “the blood” of CHRIST, which was shed on the cross, accomplished our salvation. In fact, the blood of CHRIST is “the life”, and quite literally represents, “life eternal with GOD”.

    Our faith in CHRIST serves as its own “inner witness”, and in our hearts, we believe to a point of knowing that the Gospel of JESUS is truth. Our certainty is confirmed by the evidence of what GOD then does in our lives on a daily basis. Because of the victory we achieve through our faith in GOD, obeying HIS commands really should not be a burden for us (v.3). The “burden of sin” has been taken away, and we shouldn’t want to turn around and replace it with “a burden of unwillingness” to follow the ONE WHO freed us from the oppression, and depression, of a satanically influenced world system in the first place.

    As John wrote this wonderful letter, he probably wrote it with two primary things in mind. One would be that which is the basis for, probably, most of his thinking, and that is the fact that “the love of GOD” and “the love of man” are inseparable parts of a common experience. The other is that of “a family love”, or, in the Greek, “storge”, that sort of binds a child to his father or mother, and also, to his brothers and sisters that his parents have sired. Together, it is indeed the same love that Christian brothers and sisters must have for GOD, and, for each other.

    As we close out this study of this first epistle of the Apostle John, we can note that it contains absolutely no hint, as to the identity or location of its originally intended readers. The only thing we do know is that they were Christians, and that they had been confronted with teachings of false doctrine about CHRIST and the newly formed Christian Faith.

    By this time, Peter, and all the other original disciples, had already been martyred, and so had the Apostle Paul, who had, perhaps, worked harder to develop and establish “the Christian Way” than anyone, besides the SAVIOR HIMSELF. And despite the fact that he had already been preaching and teaching for several decades at this point in his life, John, being the only one left who had actually bore witness to the glory of CHRIST, still had the story of that glory embedded in his heart, and he still burned with passion to tell his story of love to anyone who would listen, no matter where in the world they may have ventured into town from.

    GOD does not wish for us to go through this life being afraid and insecure about our relationship with HIM. And so HE tells us plainly that, if we believe in CHRIST JESUS WHO existed before man in a physical body as the SON of GOD, we will have eternal life, despite the fact that we can’t see HIM (GOD the FATHER), WHO is spirit. GOD wants us to live in confidence because HIS promise is true to the message that CHRIST JESUS and all the other prophets delivered. And HE will always listen to us, and will grant us anything that we ask for within HIS will (Vs.14-15).

    Finally John urges us to pray for any Christian who may have slipped into sin, for, because of CHRIST JESUS’ sacrifice, that sin does not lead to spiritual death (permanent separation from GOD) any longer. The blood of CHRIST can re-connect anyone back into a personal relationship of friendship with GOD, through repentance. However, sin without repentance is spiritually fatal.

    Although the consequences to any sin can lead to “physical death”, and remember, all sin is wrong. However, all sin does not lead to “instant death”. Sometimes death may occur instantaneously, sometimes over a short span of time, and sometimes over a long period of time. Here John is saying that, on those occasions when a believer sins, and it “does not cause instant death” (me pros thanaton), we should pray for that individual’s repentance, and GOD will give that person new life. However, if a person dies in their sin, it won’t do any good to pray for the dead person (v.16).

    People who are true Christians, and really have a heart for GOD, are still capable of sinning, however, such a person “does not practice sin on a regular, perpetual basis”. True believers are the one’s whom CHRIST holds in HIS hand, and GOD, sees HIMSELF in each of their hearts. They will never, and can never be plucked from JESUS’ hands by satan (v.18).

    True believers know that we are children of GOD, and we also know that the world we live in now is predominantly under the power and control of satan. However, we also know that a “LIGHT”, namely CHRIST JESUS, has already come into this dark world. HE has given us understanding so that, through it all, we can know the true GOD, from “the prince of this world”, satan. We can now live in the true GOD, through CHRIST JESUS, WHO is the only way to eternal life in Heaven. But we have to keep away from anything that threatens to take GOD’s place in our hearts, and causes us to offend the sanctity of the Christian Faith, which HE has established (Vs.19-21). 

A Sunday school lesson by,

Larry D. Alexander

Larry Dell Alexander (1953–) - Encyclopedia of Arkansas

LARRY D. ALEXANDER'S BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY

larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com

            Larry D. Alexander's Books and Publications Spotlight

Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

                                 

LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website