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Fri 30 Jul 2010

A Foundation Built to Last

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 3:5-17
“A Foundation Built to Last”
Date: 1-Aug-10
Required Resources:
Introduction
Review:
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
A question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
2. The gospel contradicts human wisdom (v1:18-2:5)
Your understanding of “spirituality” is a contradiction to the gospel
3. God’s wisdom is through the Spirit (v2:6-16)
This gospel is revealed through the Spirit
4. You’re “baby” Christians (v3:1-4)
Your works reveal your childishness
Ü 5. About the men who are honored (v3:5-17)
It’s you who are sacred, not us apostles
a. What makes the workers special? (v5-9)
b. The judgment of a believers’ works (v10-15)
c. What is God’s belongs to God (v16-17)
¿: What is the difference between solid food and milk?

Baby vs. Mature Ü It’s not so important WHERE you are today but whether you’re moving.

Cf. Heb 5:14- Distinguishing good and evil can ONLY be done with constant use of solid food.

Spiritual maturity IS NOT more knowledge, it’s more understanding resulting from more action/experience just like an adolescent can know about the world and somewhere along the line in “adulthood”  the child now understands.

It’s about application.  Study w/o application shows lack of growth.  The fruit is not something you put on, it’s something that grows out of your roots.  Bickering is fruit.  Talking about another behind their back is a fruit.  Dishonestly in my dealings is a fruit.  Holding onto thoughts of myself has having better ideas is a fruit.

Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure…”

Christ crucified is a message concerned not only w/justification but also sanctification.(cf. Ro 8:9-14)

Homework review:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-17 and complete a page in your study booklet. Share some insight the Lord gave you about yourself this week.
  • In this passage Paul says that no one can lay a foundation other than what was already laid (1 Cor 3:11).  Name some examples of foundations that Christian churches can have which are not Jesus Christ. [NT ethics, Christian psychology, tradition (either church or denominational)]

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians
v5-9
God does the growing
Servants
5
Paul and Apollos were servants, yet divisions in the church were forming around them.  Imagine a household divided over servants. (ex: “I’ll do what the gardener says,” “the cook has it dialed”)

In status conscious Corinth, Paul uses the low status of a “servant” to describe he & Apollos.

¿: Who gave Paul/Apollos their ministries? (cf. Eph 4:11-13)
Farmers
6-7
¿: Who made it grow?
The planter and the waterer are not very important.  They have roles but all is pretty useless unless someone causes the growth.  Each does his work and the Lord blesses.

Apollos & Paul were not competing against each other but were complementing each other’s ministries.

¿: Who made it grow?
¿: If God grows it, why weren’t those in Corinth growing?  Did God neglect them? [Heb 5:14]
8-9
No jealousy.  The two have differing roles but the same aim.  One purpose.

¿: Who determines purpose?  Role?  Results?

“each will be rewarded” =  judgment seat of Christ, bema seat
Ü2 Cor 5:10 – we will ALL stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
ÜThis is not an isolated teaching in the New Testament. Jesus said in Matthew 16:27, “The Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and will then recompense every person according to his deeds.”
ÜAnd in the very last chapter of the Bible Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to render to every person according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).

¿: What is the reward? [1 Cor 4:5 is at least part of it]

In other words the way you live is not unimportant.  Also remember that it’s the Lord that looks on the heart.  The WHY of us.  What motivates you is your sign of maturity.

It’s not up to us to look on each other and dole out rewards (cf Ro 14:10-12)
We are to rebuke sin, for sure, but it is not our place, nor can we judge the motives of men.  We can’t even discern many of our own motives, how can we think we can determine the motives of others?

Note on rebuking sin: we often confuse sin with what “we think” is sin.  Scripture is the only standard, not my preferences.  Many have latched onto vague and non-specific passages to determine right & wrong.  Remember sin is the Lord’s to convict & judge.  We an hate the sin and love the person WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WISDOM of what that means

1 Corinthians
v10-15
Genuine character revealed
Builders
10
Paul acknowledges that anything he has done is by God’s grace.

“someone else is building on it” – Paul laid the foundation, now the teaching is relying on another minister.  Paul warns the church and this person.
11
Note the foundation is Jesus Christ alone.  Not New Testament ethics.  Not Christian psychology.  Not tradition (either church or denominational).
In a building only one foundation ever needs to be laid.

See 2 Cor 11:4 re: tolerance in preaching a different gospel.
¿: What is a “different Jesus”?
12
Materials show durable vs. temporary/worthless work

Wood, hay and straw CAN be used to successfully build with.  It’s not whether we can build, it’s whether it will stand the test.

This shows that worthless things can be used to build the church (i.e who’s teaching do we follow)

This passage in its immediate context is referring to pastors/teachers

¿: We are all builders, what are we building with?
Wood, hay, straw DO NOT represent spiritual gifts.  It represents the QUALITY of the work done.
13
“the Day” – judgment day when Christ judges the quality of His servants’ work.  It’s not the quantity but quality of work that will be judged.

Fire is often used in Scripture to represent the purification process.

¿: When you stand before Christ on that day, what will last?
v14-15
Before this purification process some of the building materials may not be so obvious.

Loss does not refer to taking something away.  It refers to not receiving what could have been received for a work.

It is NOT sin that will be judged
¿: Why not sin? [sin for a believer was handled at the cross once for all]
¿: So what is judged?

¿: Is it possible that these builders who used other than the right materials to build are saved?
¿: Is it possible they are not aware of what they are building with?
¿: How can they determine what is right and what is wrong?

These verses are often used by the Roman Catholics to justify purgatory.
¿: Do you see any meaning that fire purifies character of the man?

1 Corinthians
v16-17
God’s view of the body of Christ
16
“Don’t you know” – this is the first of 10 times Paul uses this clause in the letter (v5:6; 6:2-3, 9, 15-16, 19; 9:13, 24) it is introducing an indisputable statement.

While it is true that each believer is God’s temple, note the thought in this verse is that collectively the church in Corinth is God’s temple.  As a body God view’s them as personally His.

I’m sure we’d all agree that we would never do anything to damage the body of Christ – that’s an abstract concept.  What if I complain or gossip about the pastor or one of you in this class?  What if I show you anything but the grace and love that was showered on me – which I do not deserve?  Wouldn’t I be damaging the body of Christ?
17
¿: What importance does the fact that they are God’s temple have to do with this line of reasoning [the people are what’s important NOT the minister]

If any man destroys God’s temple (the body) and wrecks its testimony, God will not tolerate it.

Most believe this verse is talking to unbelievers because it says God will destroy him, but in the greater context what is Paul saying and who is he saying it to?
¿: Do you agree with this interpretation?
¿: How might that inform you about the passages that are not explicit regarding what is a sin, and how to deal with those issues (I’m not saying because it’s not spelled out it’s not a sin – I’m saying be careful and rely on HS to inform)

Conclusion
Personal Application:
If the Lord comes today we have no time to prepare good works to present at the bema seat.  If we go on to be with the Lord we have no time to prepare after we die. The time is now. Don’t build “something” build with all your heart using precious materials.

To do that takes constant use.  YOU MUST be in constant communion with God in prayer, Bible reading and Body fellowship in order for God to fully exercise your full growth potential.
The epistle of James speaks a lot about faith and deeds.  What we do does not save us, but what we do and why we do it shows us something about us.  Come to the evening service tonight hear straight from Scripture what lasts and is meaningful vs. wood, hay and straw.

Homework:
  • Study booklet for 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

 

Sun 25 Jul 2010

Grow Up! (rev A)

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 3:1-4
“Grow Up!”

Date: 25-Jul-10
Required Resources: Whiteboard
Introduction
Review:
¿: Give a brief outline of what this letter has covered to date.
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
A question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
2. The gospel contradicts human wisdom (v1:18-2:5)
Your understanding of “spirituality” is a contradiction to the gospel
3. God’s wisdom is through the Spirit (v2:6-16)
This gospel is revealed through the Spirit
Ü 4. You’re “baby” Christians (v3:1-4)
Your works reveal your childishness
a. You are not acting your age (v1-4)

Homework review:
  • Complete a page in inductive study booklet for 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.  Come to class with your most “creative” title for this section
  • Come to class ready to explain how you would measure if someone is growing spiritually

¿: If you were to call someone a baby, what does that mean?
Ü Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
Ü Is there anything wrong with being a “baby” Christian?

Up to this point Paul has discussed the wisdom of God and how His wisdom is revealed, now he reprimands the church in Corinth for HAVING NOT tapped that wisdom!

The Text
Scripture
Observation










ò
When Paul first visited Corinth, he had fed the believers with the elementary things (milk) of the word because they were weak and young in the faith.  The teaching which had been given to them was suitable to their condition.  They could not receive deeply spiritual instruction because they were new believers. (Believer’s Bible Commentary, MacDonald, 1995)

¿: What happens when you give a newborn solid food?

The draw of the world and the flesh
We often think of worldliness only in terms of dancing, alcoholic drinking, drugs and the like.  But worldliness is much deeper than bad habits; it is an orientation, a way of thinking and believing.  Basically buying the world’s philosophies, buying human wisdom.  It is looking to the world – to human leaders, to influential and popular people, to neighbors, associates, and fellow students – for our standards, attitudes, and meaning.  Worldliness is accepting the world’s definitions, the world’s measuring sticks, the world’s goals. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1 Corinthians, MacArthur, 1984, pg 68)

The flesh is in us until we receive our resurrected body.  It continually resists and opposes the new heart God places in us as believers.  With salvation God broke the bondage to sin – but the tendency to evil remains.  Our flesh is selfish.

Our ultimate triumph over the world and the flesh is certain – but so is our struggle with both in this life.
V1-4
You are babies!
¿: The Gospel is an elementary teaching.  Name a central part of the Gospel, which allowed the Corinthians to move from their sinful state to right standing before God.
[Christ crucified]

Christ crucified was a message concerned not only w/justification but also sanctification.
1
“I couldn’t” – Paul addresses his experience in Corinth, again (cf. 2:1 & 2:3)

¿: Why could Paul only address them as worldly?
¿: What should we expect of a new believer?

To be worldly means to be an infant in Christ.

Paul speaks to them as fellow believers – he loved them.  They were still saved – their inexcusable sin did not take that away.

Paul was their spiritual father.  He would expect growth, like any father.
2



















ò
Their condition was determined by their diet – their diet determined their condition.

Contrast this with 1 Peter 2:2 (“…newborn babies crave spiritual milk…”)

¿: What is solid food, spiritually vs. milk?
So what then is the solid food and what is the milk? Milk is teaching that is uniquely designed to get a proud sinner started on the path of humility and hope, mainly the word of the cross, the message of Christ crucified. There is something about the word of the cross that can get into the hard and narrow esophagus of self-reliance and bring life-giving hope and humility without choking a person to death. Not that the milk of the gospel saves everybody. “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing” (1:18). A person’s spiritual throat can be so swollen with pride and self-reliance that they even gag on milk.
What then is solid food? Notice that it is not something that takes more intellect to grasp. What it takes is less jealousy and strife, less pride and self-assertion. The solid food is not for smart people. It’s for humble people — people who have stopped pursuing the pleasures of self-confidence and self-exaltation and self-determination — people who now want only to boast in the Lord and give him all the glory for whatever good there is in the world and in their lives.

An example of solid food is Romans 9-11. These are the doctrines that go down hardest in a throat that’s accustomed to jealousy and strife. If you want to feed these to new Christians you have to grind them up and stir them into the milk (John Piper, 1997)
Read Hebrews 5:11-6:3
¿: What are the elementary truths?
¿: What good is solid food?
¿: How is it used?

Solid food: It’s not that we’re learning more doctrine but that we’re learning more about what we’ve known and as the Spirit opens our eyes we’re living it.

Distinguishing good and evil can ONLY be done with constant use of solid food (cf. Heb 5:14)

Maturity = Growth is work (neither just happens it takes work!)
¿: When a child grows up what effort must be put in for him/her to grow:
Ü Emotionally? [sharing, demanding own way, confessing wrongdoing]
Ü Physically? [strong muscles take exercise]
Ü Intellectually? [learning – tests, study]
Ü Spiritually?

Examples of areas of change: Work ethic, family and friends relationships, heart for all men, things of God, stewardship of spare time and money.
3-4
“worldly” = “fleshly” – Paul was not saying they were of the world, he says they are acting like the world.

They were guided by secular norms

Divisions/quarrelling is a sign of worldliness

¿: Tell me what divisions & quarrelling look like.

They were succumbing to the pressures and enticements of the flesh

*Jealousy and self-rightness are often considered petty as compared to sins like adultery, murder, etc.  But these “petty” sins are the ones that split Christs’ body faster than other types of sin.

¿: Why does Paul call them babies?

Paul was likely writing 1 Corinthians about 5 years after his 18 month stay in which he founded the church… You’d think there would be some sign of spiritual growth in 5 years.

¿: Do we expect maturity of a child?
Ü What do we expect?



Whiteboard

ò
Draw a spirituality scale
Baby ——————————————————————- Mature
worldly
living the basics
KNOWING
  • Knowledge
  • Wisdom


“spiritual”
living deeper truth
DOING
  • Love
  • Humility

¿: Where does EVERYONE start on this scale?
¿: How long should someone remain at the “baby” stage? [how long do infants remain at a “stage”? – CONSTANT GROWTH]
¿: How can I know if I am growing?
[doing things more out of love and humility vs. doing out of duty – motivation of heart.

Search my own heart for its “real” motivation AND since the flesh is wicked seek God’s revelation of my motivation.  “Lord, what do YOU see in my heart”]

Ü It’s not so important WHERE you are today but whether you’re moving.  Staying in one place = “being stuck”

Spiritual maturity IS NOT knowledge, it’s action.  It’s action not motivated by duty, but action that comes from the inside.

When you advance in spiritual maturity, it is impossible to think better of yourself than others.  It is impossible to be jealous and quarrel because humility is inherent in the maturity process.

*Divisiveness is a sure sign of immaturity while unity in diversity is a sign of maturity.

Conclusion
Personal Application:
It’s about application.  Study w/o application shows lack of growth.  The fruit is not something you put on, it’s something that grows out of your roots.

Bickering is fruit.  Talking about another behind their back is a fruit.  Dishonestly in my dealings is a fruit.  Holding onto thoughts of myself has having better ideas is a fruit.

Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure…”
¿: What is the cure for division? [rejecting selfishness and looking to God]

Homework:
  • Study booklet = 1 Corinthians 3:5-17
 

Fri 16 Jul 2010

The Source of Spiritual Wisdom

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 2:6-16
“The Source of Spiritual Wisdom”
Date: 18-Jul-10
Required Resources: Whiteboard, “The Romans Road” (handouts), NET version
Introduction
Review:
Book Outline (to date)
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
The question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
a. Quarrelling (v10-12)
b. Christ’s body divided (v13-17)
2. The gospel contradicts human wisdom (v1:18-2:5)
These contests of “super-spirituality” are a contradiction to the gospel
a. God’s wisdom (v18-25)
b. Who you were (v26-31)
c. Who I (Paul) was (v2:1-5)
Ü 3. God’s wisdom is through the spirit (v2:6-16)
This gospel is revealed through the Spirit
a. God’s “secret” wisdom (v6-8)
b. The Spirit expresses spiritual truths (v9-16)

Homework review:
  • Complete page 6 in your study booklets (read 1 Cor 2:6-16)
  • A few weeks ago we talked about the essentials of the Christian faith.  Write down the Gospel you would share with someone to lead them to Christ so we can discuss in class

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians
2:6-16
This passage deals with the fact that God is a “speaking” God (cf. Deut 4:33-36) who has chosen to disclose His heart & mind through His servants.
v6-8
God’s “secret” wisdom
6
Wisdom is not the perishable wisdom of man which exists for a day & is gone

Mature = Perfect(KJV) = complete = teleios(grk) = can refer to a person who has full membership in a group
¿: Is Paul saying only the mature can understand the message? [in this context he is referring to the saved – allowing for differences in Christian maturity.]

“Wisdom of this age” = not a particular time but all of human history
7

Read in NET
“mystery” (KJV/NASB/NET) = A mystery is a NT truth not previously revealed but now made known

The word translated mystery is derived from a word meaning “to shut the mouth”  (cf. Matt 11:25)

The mystery of the Gospel includes: 1) Jews & Gentiles made 1 in Christ 2) Jesus will come and take His people home to Himself 3) Not all believers will die, but ALL will be changed
8
“rulers of this age” may refer to earthly or spiritual => but definitely has earthly meaning since it was earthly powers who crucified the Lord.

The trinity represented (read in KJV):
Crucified the “Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:8)
“father of glory” (Eph 1:17)
“spirit of glory” (1 Pet 4:14
v9-16
The Spirit expresses spiritual truths

These verses deal with the process by which God makes Himself known. Revelation(v10-11), Inspiration(v12-13) and Illumination(v14-16) are described in v9-16
Revelation
9
Cf Isa 64:4 – No one has comprehension of the things of God except God.  If men do see these things it is divinely appointed.  These CANNOT be perceived via the senses except God made it known.

Note: Eye, Ear and MIND (or heart in other xlations), even combined, are not sufficient to recognize spiritual truths.

God “prepared [it] for those who love him.”
¿: In the context, what is Paul speaking of?  [The things awaiting for us in heaven or the truth of the Gospel?]

Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and, having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom therein. (Matthew Henry)
10
God reveals it via His Spirit

¿: Who is the “us”? [apostles] Remember context is “When I came to you brothers…(cf2:1)” and “We do…speak (cf 2:6)”

Ü ¿: What is Paul trying to say here? [God revealed to the apostles, who were then inspired (god-breathed) as they conveyed the message]

Whiteboard
¿: What is the message? [Gospel]
Ü ¿: Articulate the gospel?

Ü One way to share the Gospel? [Romans Road handout]
11
The Bible is not only God’s Word but God’s words
Inspiration
12
“We” again refers to the apostles

The Spirit gives understanding to what is revealed
13
Having described the process of revelation by which the writers and apostles received God’s truth, Paul goes on to describe the process of inspiration.

Paul makes a clear statement for verbal inspiration.  The VERY words of the Spirit. (cf 2 Tim 3:16)

¿: What do you think of this in view of the fact that the styles differ between Paul, Luke and Matthew?  Each reflects an individual style.
Illumination
14
We have learned that the Scriptures are divine in their writing, but now we see that they can only be understood with the assistance of the Spirit.

Often we are looking/seeking God’s will.
Should I share the gospel?  How much are they ready for?, etc.

¿: How can we know if God is working in someone’s life? [aware of spiritual truth – only God can reveal that]

Trying to teach an unregenerate heart things of God is like trying “to catch sunlight with a fishhook.”  We look for God’s working (as defined above) to know what to share.
15
Even the unlearned can study and understand the deep truths of God – when the PH. D. cannot comprehend the most simplistic spiritual truth!

“makes judgments” = scrutinize

It does not mean we can know or understand everything, that we don’t need teachers or that study is not hard work, it does mean, though, that without the Spirit there is no understanding.
16
Our eyes are open to God’s wisdom
Summary
v9-12 = revelation of previously unknown truths
v13 = inspiration in transmitting these truths to others
v14-16 = illumination of the truths by the Spirit

Conclusion
Personal Application:
Communicating the gospel means two things:
1) growing in our understanding of things of God
2) communicating the personal truths God has taught us as individuals


Homework:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
 
 

Fri 18 Jun 2010

Irrational Wisdom

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
“Irrational Wisdom”
Date: 20 Jul 10
Required Resources: Whiteboard, “MacArthur New Testament Commentary – 1 Corinthians”
Introduction

Review:
¿: What is the first problem Paul addresses in the book of 1 Corinthians?
Book Outline (to date)
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
The question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
a. Quarrelling (v10-12)
b. Christ’s body divided (v13-17)
Ü 2. The gospel contradicts human wisdom (v1:18-2:5)
These contests of “super-spirituality” are a contradiction to the gospel
a. God’s wisdom (v18-25)
b. Who you were (v26-31)
c. Who I (Paul) was (v2:1-5)

Homework review:
  • What title did you come up with for this section
  • List some spiritual things that you have seen or experienced in which you have clearly seen the work of God BUT God did His work in ways you would have never done.

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians
1:18-2:5
The Gospel contradicts human wisdom
The purpose in showing man’s wisdom vs. God’s wisdom was to show that man’s understanding of ‘the way things should work’ was nothing when compared to God’s ‘wisdom’ (the way God works).

READ: MacArthur, pg 39, ¶ 1  “… men scoff at the gospel.  It calls them to do nothing – It allows them to do nothing, but accept a simple faith in what God has done.”
1 Corinthians
1:18-25
God’s wisdom
18-19





ò
¿: What was the message of the cross? [that life must be laid down in order to have it]
Ü A message of self-renunciation, of complete obedience to God.
Cf. Mark 8:31-35
This is a life in which dying to self means to live, wholly and completely

Christ’s death on the cross was against the nature who men look to as a savior – typically a savior would be a strong man, a wealthy man or of nobility – associating power with a man crucified as a common criminal made no sense

Nothing in the Gospel appeals to the “pride of man’s knowledge” (wisdom)

Cf. Acts 17:32  “… some of them scoffed.”
Prior to coming to Corinth, Paul spent time in Athens.  When he preached there he received scorn because of his teaching.  Corinth was also in Greece, only about 50 miles away.  I expect the reaction would have been similar.

Even during Jesus life, Peter rejected the idea of the cross (cf. Matt 1:21-22)
Again in the garden Peter still “didn’t get it.” (cf. John 18:10-11)  Not until after the resurrection did Peter (and the disciples) understand (cf. 1 Peter 2:24)

v19 is a paraphrase of Isa 29:14 which refers to 2 Kings 17-19.
Judah was going to be attacked by the Assyrians and they (Judah) were relying on a pact with Egypt for deliverance.  Isaiah told King Hezekiah that to trust in this pact was an act of rebellion.  Judah needed to trust in God alone, not what they could do.  Judah was saved by God’s power alone.  An angel of God came to the Assyrians and slew 185,000 of them. (cf. 2 Kings 19:35)

The Gospel sets aside any efforts of man to save himself.
20
Paul is saying, “Where are the smart people?”

Philosophy = “beloved wisdom”

Paul shows that all humanly devised philosophical systems end in meaninglessness because they have a wrong concept of God and His revelation.  God did not consult with men – God’s methods are not mans.
21
In Greek comedy the hero would pretend to be stupid (until the end when he proved smart) and the fool would claim to be wise.

The brilliance of man cannot appreciate the plan of God.
Cf. Isa 55:8-9 ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s purpose [salvation] was accomplished through what was regarded as foolish [a criminals death of the one coming to save]

In God’s sovereignty it was established that human wisdom would not open someone’s spiritual eyes.
22-25
It is on God’s terms we find what we need

¿: Did Jews get a sign? (cf. Matt 12:38-40 – sign of Jonah).  Why didn’t they believe? [only interested in one who would establish earthly kingdom]
¿: Did the Greeks get wisdom? (cf. Acts 17:20-32).  Why didn’t they believe? [only interested in debating wisdom]
Ü In both cases they DID GET what they were seeking, but it was rejected because it was not REALLY what they wanted

No “sign” in Christ’s death (for the Jews)
No human wisdom in sending a savior to die

¿: Do you think Paul’s message changed based on his audience (Jew or Greek)?
1 Corinthians
1:26-31
Who you were
If they acknowledge that not many were wise, noble or influential – then they can more fully understand their selection by God was NOT BASED on their class or attributes but solely upon God’s wisdom.

The point is that they were acting as if somehow, now after their salvation, God works differently.
26
“not many” allows for some to be in this class – not the majority
27
examples:
taking Jericho w/marching and trumpets,
Gideon and 300 with trumpets defeated the Midianites,
feeding 5,000 with 5 loaves & 2 fish
28-29
All glory to God, none to man – salvation is God’s
30
Wisdom – Believers have become “wise” in Christ. (cf. Col 2:2-3)
Present – The cross is no longer the foolishness it once was
Future – A continual process of enlightenment by God as He takes our understanding deeper and deeper.
Righteousness – Believers are made right with God (cf. Rom 4:5)
Sanctification – Believers are made holy due to Christ’s nature now in us. (cf. John 17:18-19)
We can no longer be content to live in sin.  Although we may and do fall into sin, we now find habitual sin a struggle.  Progressively, God is using these struggles to cleanse sin from us and make us pure so that we can “become holy as He is holy.”
Redemption – Believers are bought back. (cf. Rom 3:22-24)
God by Christ has purchased us from sin and its penalty.
31
A quote from Jer 9:23-24 “This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. “

God’s selection is different
Christ alone personified the wisdom of God -> in Christ we have righteousness, holiness & redemption.  Outside of Christ we have none of this.
1 Corinthians
2:1-5
Who I (Paul) was [the methods Paul used as he entered the city]
Orators in the day followed certain well-established conventions when they entered a city.  They were expected to give flowery speeches in praise of the city and their own personal achievements.  They did this in order to establish their reputation and reap financial rewards as political orators and teachers of the rich.  Paul makes it clear that he rejected the entry conventions which proclaimed eloquence and wisdom. {New Bible Commentary, pg 1165, Inter-Varsity Press, 1994}
1
Paul recognized the difference between appealing to man’s emotions and a simple presentation of the Truth.

“testimony” – Paul spoke of what he had seen and heard.  He did not need to fabricate a message which was eloquent and persuasive.
2
ò
Paul resolved (decided) to be concerned about nothing other than Christ.  He wasn’t going to fall into the “systems” of the people.

¿: At what point in time do you think Paul made this decision/resolution?

¿: What would be the harm in do what the people expected in the way they expected? [it is possible they would have simply judged Paul based on their standard and not even listened to what he had to say]

¿: Do you think in 1½ years at Corinth Paul preached only “evangelistic” messages?
Ü What is the great commission? [cf. Matt 28:19-20]
3
¿: Was Paul shaken & unsure because he was out of his league with these well educated philosophers? [no, this reflects Paul’s dependence on and subjection to God]

“weakness and fear” – Paul took the message to have the utmost seriousness.
4
Faith was induced by a demonstration of the Spirit’s power and not a product of human ingenuity.

If Paul had persuaded them with words, then Paul’s converts could say they were converted to Paul.  They could have missed the point, which was entirely spiritual and not “rational” (in their thinking).

¿: What risks do we take today as we make the gospel ‘palatable’ to the lost?

¿: Should we ignore our giftedness in order to assure the message of the cross doesn’t get confused with “our skills or abilities?”
5
¿: What did Paul want the Corinthians faith to rest in?
Summary
¿: How does this passage on God’s wisdom vs. man’s wisdom fit into the greater passage of divisions in the church?

Paul did not adapt his message to fit the methods of the day.  Paul simply brought God’s message in ‘all it’s foolishness’ – this was the power of the cross mentioned in v1:17 – not emptied or drained of it’s power by man’s manipulations.

Conclusion
Personal Application:
  • If you’re reasoning with someone and they “pray the prayer” – should you tell them they are saved or leave that to the Holy Spirit?
  • What spiritual practices could you do more to obtain more of God’s wisdom?

Homework:
  • Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, complete page 6 in study booklets.


 

Fri 4 Jun 2010

“Every Man for Himself”

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
 
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
“Every Man for Himself”
Date: 6-Jun-10
Required Resources:
Introduction

Review:
In the previous verses Paul told the church in Corinth who they were and what they had.
He ended this section with “God has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ” as a reminder of God’s call to unity.  He says this as a transition to this next section (v1:10-4:21) where he spells out the problems with factions in the church.
Book Outline (to date)
A. Salutations & Reminders (v1:1-1:9)
1. Who Paul was (v1)
2. Who those in Corinth were (v2)
3. Salutations (v3)
4. What those in Corinth had (v4-9)
B. Divisions within the church (v1:10-4:21)
Ü 1. The manifestation of the problem (v1:10-17)
The question of: “Which group is most spiritual?” leads to emptying the cross of Christ of its power
a. Quarrelling (v10-12)
b. Christ’s body divided (v13-17)

Homework review:
  • Why do you think divisions may have formed around these men (1 Corinthians 1:12)?

In class..
  • Name somebody who has been significant in some way in your Christian walk?
Ü Is it natural to feel a kinship with those that helped us make changes in life?
  • Does anyone have anything they’d like to share from their devotional time in these verses this week?

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Corinthians

1:10-12








ò
Quarrels are a part of life.  Infants are quick to express their displeasure when they don’t get what they want.  Little children fight and cry when they don’t get their way.  They fight over the football, then they fight over getting on the team.  We fight in business & politics.  We fight with friends.  We fight with spouses.  Quarrelling happens.

Secular teachers of the day had the loyalty of their pupils.  Traditionally pupils engaged in quarrels over the merits of their mentors.
Paul declares such loyalty idolatrous; these men did not purchase the believers redemption.

Note that Paul does not use the secular term “leaders” to identify these men – thus implying superiority of status.

James 4:1-2 ¿: Why is there quarrelling?

¿: Of all the sins in the church, Paul chose to deal with quarrelling first.  Why?

In John 17:11, 21-23, Christ prayed for unity.

¿: Has anyone every been in a church where there has been quarrelling?

In matters on which Scripture is not explicit there is room for difference of opinion.  But in clear teachings of the Bible there is no room for difference, because to differ with Scripture is to differ with God.

Paul’s letters to the churches often touch this theme of unity:
    • Rom 15:5 – “May the God … give you a spirit of unity among yourselves”
    • Eph 4:3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit”
    • Php 4:2 – “…agree with each other in the Lord”
    • Col 3:14 – “over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”
10
¿: What is the common ground Paul is using the appeal to them? [Jesus Christ & brotherhood]

“agree with one another” lit. “that you say the say thing” GRK

“perfectly united” = “joined together”
– a medical term “to put together what was”, “to repair”

¿: What about unity in non-Scriptural issues – like a starting an Awana club, supporting a missionary or a building program?

¿: Is it possible – or desired – to have unanimity on all issues?
Unity must be genuine.  Unity does not mean “That’s the way I would do it” it means that we agree that “that’s the way WE’LL do it”

Very likely, during the first 3 centuries of the church met in homes.  Likely the larger homes of the well-to-do (maybe Chloe v11) – natural cause for divisions (Acts 18:7)
¿: If the church was split among different homes, how did they function?
11
This must have been distressing news for Paul

Chloe was likely a prominent woman in the Corinthian church

“quarrels” lit. “rivalries, disputes”

Paul mentions Chloe, this is an important concept in Christian conduct.  We should not pass on news about our fellow believers unless we are willing to be quoted on the matter.
12




ò
Exalting men can only lead to division

¿: Why would there be factions?
Paul – founded the church (Acts 18:4-11), not eloquent (v2:1-2)

Apollos – Gifted orator (Acts 18:24-28*), continued where Paul left off (v3:5-6), does v16:12 imply he possibly left and/or did not want to return due to divisions, or was Paul simply expressing his complete trust in Apollos?
*Note on John’s baptism: was based upon repentance followed by good works to prove the repentance (Luke 3:1-22) vs. baptism based upon the finished work of Christ on the cross.

Cephas (Peter) – no record of his visit to Corinth (maybe v9:5?), although Peter’s reputation must have been high throughout the church (Acts 3:12-26) and possibly some of his personal converts were in the congregation.

Christ – Those that belonged to Christ could have been saying “we alone belong to Christ – exclusively.  This was probably the group which considered themselves the most pious and self-righteous.


¿: Is it possible that they have felt they had no need to human instruction because “Christ was enough?”

*It is possible that these names were illustrative (cf. v4:6) in order to avoid worsening an already volatile situation.  v15 indicates divisions were not over baptisms done by Paul. ?: Could this mean divisions were over baptisms by “unnamed men” – to protect from further inflaming the situation?

The divisions were likely of a “spiritual nature” with each group thinking they were more spiritual than the other.
¿: Give examples in which this occurs today. [denominations – each thinks they hold the corner on the “entire” truth]
1 Corinthians
1:13-17
Paul rebukes the sectarianism

Aligning allegiance to anyone for anything but Christ is diminishing Christ
13
“Is Christ divided?” = “Has Christ been divided and different parts handed out to different people?”

Paul’s rhetorical example is given as an absurd conclusion.  One in which the hearer will clearly understand and answer to the contrary.
No man won salvation for the Corinthians, nor did any of them owe their allegiance to anybody except Christ

¿: Can the church be all that God designed and still be divided?
Ü What about those that say, “we follow the pope” vs. “we follow no one but Christ”?

Paul established his apostolic authority at the beginning of the letter but wanted no part of the faction that called his name in honor.
14
¿: Is it significant who baptizes whom?
¿: Do you think Paul thought baptism was not significant, so that’s why he didn’t do it? [cf Acts 18:8]

Crispus = synagogue ruler was converted under Paul’s teaching [cf Acts 18:8]

See John 4:2 – ¿: Why do you think Jesus did not baptize personally?
15
Paul was not trying to win converts to himself.  His sole aim was to point men and women to Christ
16
“beyond that I don’t remember”, an interesting side-note on the inspiration of scripture.  As an apostle writing the Word of God, Paul made no errors; but he was not omniscient.  God protected His Holy Word from error but Paul did not know everything about God or even himself.  He only knew what God revealed to him, what he could not know on his own, but even his own memory was fallible.

The key is that every word in scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit.  What is not there God did not put there and what is there God wanted recorded.

¿: What do you think about all those genealogies in Genesis, Chronicles or Matthew?
17
Paul’s God-given task was to preach.  I’m sure he was thankful to be able to baptize – but for HIS part no one should be following him.

“Emptied of it’s power” = void (NASB) = none effect (KJV)

¿: What would it mean to void the power of the cross?

Transitions to the message of the cross – “the gospel”

Conclusion
Personal Application:
¿: What is your responsibility if you see factions forming within your circle of acquaintances within the body?


Homework:
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18 – 2:5

 

Fri 21 May 2010

“Called Saints”

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Category: Studies
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
“Called Saints”
Date: 23May10
Required Resources: Whiteboard
Introduction

Review:
¿: Why did Paul write the letter?

Homework review:
  • What title did you come up with for this section?
  • The scriptures often talk about saints. What is a saint?
WHITEBOARD: define Saint [set apart one, most holy thing]

The Text
Scripture
Observation
1 Cor 1:1-3
SALUTATION FROM PAUL TO THE CHURCH IN CORINTH
¿: Describe how you would write a letter of reprimand

Paul’s salutation & thankfulness for the saints is foundational to this letter to a church in crisis.  “You are saints – live a life on par with who you are”
v1
























ò
Ü Ancient letter writing: customary to begin with writer’s name, then recipients
Ü Paul founded the church

¿: Why did Paul begin with “called… by will of God?”

WHITEBOARD: define Apostle [one sent forth as a messenger.  In its strictest sense one sent specifically by Jesus – in its broadest sense anyone sent by God]
Paul was sent by Jesus (not his choosing) = > the message was God’s message (sent one =>road to Damascus. Acts 9:1-21)
Ü References to apostles in NT
*there is some dogmatism that the office of apostle required a direct calling of Christ, this may be true BUT the NT usage does not always support this
  • Acts 14:14 – “a… Barnabas and Paul”
    [Barnabas not 1 of 12 cf. Acts 4:36]
  • Ro 16:7 – “Andronicus and Junias, […]. They are outstanding among the a..”
  • 2 Cor 12:12 – “signs that mark an a…”
  • Gal 1:19 – “other a…, only James”
    [James not 1 or 12; cf. 1 Cor 15:7 – “then he appeared to James]
  • Eph 4:11 – “gave some to be a…, some to be prophets”
  • 1 Thes 2:6 – “as a… of Christ” [reference 1 Thes 1:1 – Paul, Silas & Timothy]
  • Heb 3:1 – “Jesus, the a…”
  • Rev 2:2 – “tested those who claim to be a…”

¿: Why did Paul even mention he was an apostle?
1) His authority to write the letter
A) Some did not follow his teaching (divisions in church)
B) His special relationship to the church
2) Paul’s special relationship as God’s appointed messenger

Ü Not from or through men

Ü Sosthenes – letters usually not coauthored – possibly a scribe; or he concurred with what Paul had to say; or possibly from Acts 18:12-17.
Note: Sosthenes is NOT “his disciple” or “his follower” – He is a colleague, his brother, his equal.
v2
WHITEBOARD: define Sanctified [set apart for special use]

Ü “called to be holy” (NIV) [saints]  cf. KJV, NASB
lit. “called [to be] saints” = consecrated, saints
[hag’ ee os Grk] = “MOST HOLY THING”; xlated “saints” in other translations.
Rom 1:7 uses same Greek word and translates as “saint”(NIV)

Ü set apart ones –Holy(NIV); Holy and set apart for God => must therefore live for God not like those they were called from
the church belongs to God, not man

Ü Their class = “called [to be] saints” – in a class conscious society this identity was theirs – not because of good deeds but wholly because of the work of Christ

¿: What was the basis of their identity as a saint?

¿: Who is/are called [to be] saints?
¿: Do you feel like a saint?

EXPRESS: <each and everyone is a SAINT!>

Ü To understand this position should mean to live out of that identity.
In practice they were gross sinners, but positionally they were pure saints
Remembering our position can compel us to improve our practice.

¿: What did Paul have in common with the church? [both called]
CALLED = invited or more strongly appointed

“together with all those everywhere” = Unity of all believers

There is no place on Earth too immoral for an assembly to belong to God

Jesus Christ is Lord = all should be done as acknowledgement of this truth
v3
WHITEBOARD: define Grace [favor – no merit, hence no obligation]
define Peace [fruit of above favor]

Grace = standard greeting
Peace = Jewish greeting

Grace & Peace: only through the grace of God can we have peace
Jesus divinity is declared
1 Cor 1:4-9
PAUL’S JOY
Expressed in past, present & future benefits to the body
past = grace
present = giftedness
future = assurance of Christ in all His glory
“you” referenced in these verses applies to the church as a whole.  No one received ALL gifts but as a whole they received all gifts
v4
¿: What were Paul’s feelings toward the church at Corinth?
¿: How did the church wound Paul?

This must have been a tough letter for Paul, yet he finds promise

Thanksgiving – Paul could see God was at work.  We should remember – it’s not up to us to determine how God is working, the results are God’s
v5
“enriched” = made very wealthy GRK

¿: What did Paul mean by “rich in every way?”
¿: Do we have good health?  Do we earn enough money to meet our needs?  Are all our friendships as strong as they could be?  [2 Pet 1:3 “pertaining to life & godliness”]

Ü Speech & knowledge – hint at later themes
Isthmisian Games included speech contests.  Knowledge was associated w/philosophical wisdom and ability to speak extemporaneously on any subject
=> Corinthians had come to excel at these gifts because they mattered most.

Gifts of oratory – also was the cause of division
Apollos was a gifted orator (Acts 18:24-28)
Paul was not so smooth with words (1 Cor 2:1-2)

Now Paul expresses thanks for their gifts – later he will address abuses of the same gifts

¿: Can a gift be a weakness?
v6
¿: How was it confirmed? [Manifest gifts in the body were given as confirmation]
v7
¿: How could Paul say this to such an immature church?
They must have lacked something [refers to God’s provision, not their use of it]

The body does not lack => If God creates the local body will it be lacking?

¿: Referring to “eagerly wait,” what does eagerly imply? [action]
v8
“He will… had they arrived?
¿: If v3-7 says they have it all, how can they not have arrived?  Do they need more?

A church with all these problems would stand before God blameless
v9



ò
God called Paul (v1), God called the church to be Holy (v2) – separated, call into fellowship (v9)
God has called the church into fellowship with Jesus.  Can’t have fellowship w/Jesus if relationships w/men are struggling. – Sets stage for barriers to harmony
“God… faithful” (NIV) compare to other xlations [“faithful is God” Grk – greater emphasis]

Note: Jesus mentioned 9x (plus pronouns He/Him) in 9 verses.
¿: What is the significance of this emphasis?

Saints = identity of Jesus Christ.  Paul was telling them they are saints.
Paul was emphasizing Christ and His power.

Conclusion
Personal Application:
As a Christian one of our strongest rebukes we can have when we sin is to be reminded of WHO THE FATHER is.

¿: What specific thing can you do (or stop doing) this week to better demonstrate who you are – your sainthood?

Homework:
  • Workbook = 1 Cor 1:10-17

 

Fri 14 May 2010

“In the World and of the World”

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Category: Studies
An Introduction to 1 Corinthians.
 
In preparation for opening up a new book to study…
 

Fri 7 May 2010

Gleanings from the Book of Job 42:7-17

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Category: Studies
Job, A Man Blessed
Job’s intercession for his friends

Job 42
7 After the LORD had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.
8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.”
9 So they went, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and did just as the LORD had told them; and the LORD had respect for Job.
  • God told the three friends who were “defending God” that they were in the wrong.  They had spoken wrongly about God and the ways of God.
Q: Have you ever told someone “how it is” and what God wants of them?  Might you have been wrong? –or been guilty of putting words in God’s mouth?

v7 & 8 – “You have not spoken about me what is right…” (2x)
Q: Why do you think Elihu is not included?

Job’s friends are not recorded as having prayed (made intercession) for him – now Job must interceded for his “comforters”

*The difference between what they said and what Job said, therefore, has to do with truth. Job was honest, spoke the truth, poured out his complaints, but never blasphemed God. For his words God said he told the truth. He did so with incomplete understanding, and with all the impatience and frustration one might expect. Now the friends, however, did not tell what was right about God. They were not honest; rather, they were self-righteous and condescending. They were saying what they thought should be said, but it was wrong. (NET – study note)
Job, a man blessed


10 So the LORD restored what Job had lost after he prayed for his friends, and the LORD doubled all that had belonged to Job.
11 So they came to him, all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they dined with him in his house. They comforted him and consoled him for all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.
12 So the LORD blessed the second part of Job’s life more than the first. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.
13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-Happuch.
15 Nowhere in all the land could women be found who were as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance alongside their brothers.
16 After this Job lived 140 years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
17 And so Job died, old and full of days.

Q: What do you make of the fact that Job repented, then was blessed by God?  Doesn’t this say that Job’s friends were right all along?

v10 – lit. “he returned the captivity of Job” (See KJV

Daughters
    • Jemimah = “dove”
    • Keziah = “cinnamon perfume”
    • Keren-Happach = “horn of eye paint”

Jewish tradition says that Job was 70 years old when these trials began and that his life was also blessed double in that he lived 140 more years.
 
Q: Did Job curse God as satan said?
Q: Did God truly know Job’s character?  Did Job?
Q: What good came out of Job’s suffering?
 
Man’s relationship with God is not an arrangement in which God is obligated to reward man for every good act.  Instead man is to trust God, worship Him regardless of his circumstances, and rely on the perfection of His character even when God’s ways are not fully understood.
“Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”

Q: What things going on right now do you have a difficult time believing God can use for good?

Below is a screenplay which follows the flow of Job.  This is a fun activity for a group wanting to understand a summary of what transpired.

 

Fri 30 Apr 2010

Gleanings from the Book of Job 40:6-42:6

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Category: Studies
God’s second discourse to Job

God challenges Job to be His equal

Job 40
6 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
7 “Get ready for a difficult task like a man.
      I will question you and you will inform me!
8 Would you indeed annul my justice?
      Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?
9 Do you have an arm as powerful as God’s,
      and can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency,
      and clothe yourself with glory and honor!
11 Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger.
      Look at every proud man and bring him low;
12 Look at every proud man and abase him;
      crush the wicked on the spot!
13 Hide them in the dust together,
      imprison them in the grave.
14 Then I myself will acknowledge to you
      that your own right hand can save you.
Job been demanding God vindicate him.  Although Job acknowledges that only God can vindicate, he seemed to have forgotten his place in creation.  The right of the sovereign is to decide when.

Job was humbled by the first discourse but then silent (I put my hand over my mouth).  Was God’s second discourse to move Job to a point of repentance?

In His first discourse God plumbed the unsearchable depths of the inanimate creation (heavens and earth) as well as the animate in looking at the wonders and oddities of the animal kingdom.  Now, He displays two mighty beasts which no man can tame, one on land and the other in the sea.

Some think these creatures are purely mythical so that God can make His point.  By pointing out 12 members of the animal kingdom to make His point and now focusing in on two it does not seem to flow that these two would be mythical.
 
A land animal not to be tangled with…

 
15 “Look now at Behemoth, which I made as I made you;
      it eats grass like the ox.
16 Look at its strength in its loins,
      and its power in the muscles of its belly.
17 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar,
      the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
      its limbs like bars of iron.
19 It ranks first among the works of God,
      the One who made it
      has furnished it with a sword.
20 For the hills bring it food,
      where all the wild animals play.
21 Under the lotus trees it lies,
      in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus trees conceal it in their shadow;
      the poplars by the stream conceal it.
23 If the river rages, it is not disturbed,
      it is secure, though the Jordan
      should surge up to its mouth.
24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes,
      or pierce its nose with a snare?
“Behemoth” =  beast
Since the 17th century behemoth has been considered to be a hippopotamus, crocodile or the wild buffalo.  During the intertestamental period behemoth was considered to be either a supernatural or mythical creature.

Many modern scholars consider this best fits with a hippopotamus.

Hippos are not typically found in the region Job lived.
The description of a “tail stiff like cedar” seems to better fit an elephant’s trunk than a hippo’s tail.

Could this description also describe a beast we know of called the Brontosaurus?








A Hippo was considered difficult to capture

A furious creature of the sea…

Job 41
1 “Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook,
      and tie down its tongue with a rope?
2 Can you put a cord through its nose,
      or pierce its jaw with a hook?
3 Will it make numerous supplications to you,
      will it speak to you with tender words?
4 Will it make a pact with you,
      so you could take it as your slave for life?
5 Can you play with it, like a bird,
      or tie it on a leash for your girls?
6 Will partners bargain for it?
      Will they divide it up among the merchants?
7 Can you fill its hide with harpoons
      or its head with fishing spears?
8 If you lay your hand on it,
      you will remember the fight,
      and you will never do it again!
9 See, his expectation is wrong,
      he is laid low even at the sight of it.
10 Is it not fierce when it is awakened?
      Who is he, then, who can stand before it?
11 (Who has confronted me that I should repay?
      Everything under heaven belongs to me!)
12 I will not keep silent about its limbs,
      and the extent of its might,
      and the grace of its arrangement.
13 Who can uncover its outer covering?
      Who can penetrate to the inside of its armor?
14 Who can open the doors of its mouth?
      Its teeth all around are fearsome.
15 Its back has rows of shields,
      shut up closely together as with a seal;
16 each one is so close to the next
      that no air can come between them.
17 They lock tightly together, one to the next;
      they cling together and cannot be separated.
18 Its snorting throws out flashes of light;
      its eyes are like the red glow of dawn.
19 Out of its mouth go flames,
      sparks of fire shoot forth!
20 Smoke streams from its nostrils
      as from a boiling pot over burning rushes.
21 Its breath sets coals ablaze
      and a flame shoots from its mouth.
22 Strength lodges in its neck,
      and despair runs before it.
23 The folds of its flesh are tightly joined;
      they are firm on it, immovable.
24 Its heart is hard as rock,
      hard as a lower millstone.
25 When it rises up, the mighty are terrified,
      at its thrashing about they withdraw.
26 Whoever strikes it with a sword
      will have no effect,
      nor with the spear, arrow, or dart.
27 It regards iron as straw
      and bronze as rotten wood.
28 Arrows do not make it flee;
      slingstones become like chaff to it.
29 A club is counted as a piece of straw;
      it laughs at the rattling of the lance.
30 Its underparts are the sharp points of potsherds,
      it leaves its mark in the mud
      like a threshing sledge.
31 It makes the deep boil like a cauldron
      and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment,
32 It leaves a glistening wake behind it;
      one would think the deep had a head of white hair.
33 The likes of it is not on earth,
      a creature without fear.
34 It looks on every haughty being;
      it is king over all that are proud.”

Other portions of scripture and even Job 3:8 talk about Leviathan in a mythical sense. (Leviathan was believed to be so terrible as to have the ability to swallow the sun & moon – it could swallow the day never to be seen or heard of again!)
 
Leviathan has been identified as a dolphin or a whale and modern scholarship believes it to be an alligator.

Q: Although must of the physical description could be an alligator – is an alligator really all that fiercesome as compared to other animals?

Q: What about the extensive description of breathing fire (v18-21)?  Even in flowery poetic terms it seems as if there must be something to this.

Many cultures possess a fire-breathing dragon mythology.  Could there be a created beast behind these myths?

The context of God’s discourse has been in talking about His creation.  To write Leviathan off a “mythology” seems out of character for the context in which we are reading this.

Compare the context of Job 3:8’s Leviathan to this description of Leviathan – what are the differences?

Job’s new understanding of God…

Job 42
1 Then Job answered the LORD:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
      no purpose of yours can be thwarted;
3 you asked,
      ‘Who is this who darkens counsel
      without knowledge?’
      But I have declared without understanding
      things too wonderful for me to know.
4 You said,
      ‘Pay attention, and I will speak;
      I will question you, and you will answer me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
      but now my eye has seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself,
      and I repent in dust and ashes!

“You can do all things” – Job already knew God could do all things.  He held to that belief throughout the text.  By this statement I believe job was now acknowledging new insight – There is a purpose in all God does.

Job’s suffering takes on a whole new meaning even though God explains absolutely nothing.

We’ve seen where Job’s hope (trust) lies:
Job 1:20-21  
Job 13:15
Job 19:25

Job does not see the purpose but he sees God and understands that all God does is with purpose.  Trust was already in place, as Job came to this new understanding that nothing God does is without purpose Job’s trust became fuller.

His experience of God became even more intimate.

Q: What “storm” is the Lord taking you through right now, and how can we support you?
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET)
“Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”
 

Fri 23 Apr 2010

Gleanings from the Book of Job 38:39-40:5

Posted @ 6:00 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Studies
God Continues to Answer Job
 
Although man has subdued many kinds “of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea” man did not instill their peculiar behaviors, nor can he even tame many of them.
 
The mysteries of animal and bird life beyond Job’s understanding
 
Job 38:39-39:30
The 12 animals mentioned in this section exhibit the creative genius and providential care of God.  That God could create such a diversity and WHY he would even do it is beyond man’s understanding.
39 “Do you hunt prey for the lioness,
      and satisfy the appetite of the lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens,
      when they wait in ambush in the thicket?
41 Who prepares prey for the raven,
      when its young cry out to God
      and wander about for lack of food?
1 “Are you acquainted with the way
      the mountain goats give birth?
      Do you watch as the wild deer give birth to their young?
2 Do you count the months they must fulfill,
      and do you know the time they give birth?
3 They crouch, they bear their young,
      they bring forth the offspring they have carried.
4 Their young grow strong, and grow up in the open;
      they go off, and do not return to them.
5 Who let the wild donkey go free?
      Who released the bonds of the donkey,
6 to whom I appointed the steppe for its home,
      the salt wastes as its dwelling place?
7 It scorns the tumult in the town;
      it does not hear the shouts of a driver.
8 It ranges the hills as its pasture,
      and searches after every green plant.
9 Is the wild ox willing to be your servant?
      Will it spend the night at your feeding trough?
10 Can you bind the wild ox to a furrow with its rope,
      will it till the valleys, following after you?
11 Will you rely on it because its strength is great?
      Will you commit your labor to it?
12 Can you count on it to bring in your grain,
      and gather the grain to your threshing floor?
13 “The wings of the ostrich flap with joy,
      but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork?
14 For she leaves her eggs on the ground,
      and lets them be warmed on the soil.
15 She forgets that a foot might crush them,
      or that a wild animal might trample them.
16 She is harsh with her young,
      as if they were not hers;
      she is unconcerned
      about the uselessness of her labor.
17 For God deprived her of wisdom,
      and did not impart understanding to her.
18 But as soon as she springs up,
      she laughs at the horse and its rider.
19 “Do you give the horse its strength?
      Do you clothe its neck with a mane?
20 Do you make it leap like a locust?
      Its proud neighing is terrifying!
21 It paws the ground in the valley,
      exulting mightily,
      it goes out to meet the weapons.
22 It laughs at fear and is not dismayed;
      it does not shy away from the sword.
23 On it the quiver rattles;
      the lance and javelin flash.
24 In excitement and impatience it consumes the ground;
      it cannot stand still when the trumpet is blown.
25 At the sound of the trumpet, it says, ‘Aha!’
      And from a distance it catches the scent of battle,
      the thunderous shouting of commanders,
      and the battle cries.
26 “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars,
      and spreads its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle soars,
      and builds its nest on high?
28 It lives on a rock and spends the night there,
      on a rocky crag and a fortress.
29 From there it spots its prey,
      its eyes gaze intently from a distance.
30 And its young ones devour the blood,
      and where the dead carcasses are,
      there it is.”
the Lion



the Raven


the Mountain Goat

the Wild Deer






the Donkey







the Wild Ox







the Ostrich
the Stork












the Horse

the Locust














the Hawk

the Eagle

Job 40
1 Then the LORD answered Job:
2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
      Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy — how could I reply to you?
      I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.
5 I have spoken once, but I cannot answer;
      twice, but I will say no more.”


Job was left with a feeling of inadequacy as he had to admit there was no understanding of their ways or why some of them were create so “oddly”

Job acknowledges his insignificance and his inability to defend himself.  His former self-confidence in coming before his maker and demanding vindication is gone.  It is interesting to note that although Job’s heart changed he did not express repentance, yet.
All scripture quotations from the New English Translation (NET)
“Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.”
 
Q: Might there be times in our lives when we do finally come before our maker, acknowledging who He is, but not yet fully ready to yield?  Might there be times when God has more to say before we are ready to “really” hear Him?
 

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