Episodes
Saturday Feb 27, 2016
The Command to Love God
Saturday Feb 27, 2016
Saturday Feb 27, 2016
Sermon Notes Concerning the Command to Love God
Loving God
[Deu 6:4 ESV] "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
[Deu 6:5 ESV] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Jesus points out the highest Command in Matt, Mark and Luke.
[Mat 22:37 ESV] And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
[Mat 22:38 ESV] This is the great and first commandment.
[Mat 22:39 ESV] And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
[Mat 22:40 ESV] On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Joshua exhorts the people.
[Jos 23:11 ESV] Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.
The Ten Commandments
First 4 is your relationship towards God
Six towards fellow mankind.
1. The 5 books of the OT
2. The Jewish Oral Law
Jesus Concerning the Law of God. (Why, Law; Justice is Good)
[Mat 5:17 ESV] "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
[Mat 5:18 ESV] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
[Mat 5:19 ESV] Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[Mat 5:20 ESV] For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
The OT Law.
Civil: Contextual to the Jewish Nation.
Ceremonial: Fulfilled in Christ.
Moral: The response of the Saved towards God and Mankind
This Question is illustrated and answered in Acts and Galatians.
Should Christians follow all the OT Civil Laws or Ceremonial Laws?
[Act 15:10 ESV] Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
[Act 15:11 ESV] But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
[Act 15:15 ESV] And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,
[Act 15:16 ESV] "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it,
[Act 15:17 ESV] that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things
[Act 15:18 ESV] known from of old.'
[Act 15:19 ESV] Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
[Act 15:20 ESV] but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
Ceremonial Law: Hebrews 7-9. (There is no ceremony left that can reconcile man to God)
[Heb 9:24 ESV] For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
The Book of Galatians Paul confronts Peter about Gentiles Believers, not being burdened with the Jewish Laws.
Back to Jesus.
Jesus now mentions
“It was Said”
It is Written, the OT.
It is Said, Oral tradition. Sometimes they agree, sometimes they don’t.
Jesus goes straight for highest expression of the Moral Commandments.
Murder:
[Mat 5:21 ESV] "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
[Mat 5:22 ESV] But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
Adultery and Fornication:
[Mat 5:27 ESV] "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
[Mat 5:28 ESV] But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
[Mat 5:31 ESV] "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
[Mat 5:32 ESV] But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Not Telling the Truth
[Mat 5:33 ESV] "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
[Mat 5:34 ESV] But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
[Mat 5:37 ESV] Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
Justice VS Revenge, to the highest form – LOVE. Love and Justice are not in conflict.
[Mat 5:38 ESV] "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
1. The Law: Justice; That is Good.
2. “It was said”. Twisted for the sake of Revenge, it is bad.
3. Love the evil person, a. no room for revenge and God will see that Justice is met.
[Mat 5:39 ESV] But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
[Mat 5:40 ESV] And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
[Mat 5:41 ESV] And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
[Mat 5:42 ESV] Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
[Mat 5:43 ESV] "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
1. The Law / OT: doesn’t say anywhere to hate your enemy.
2. “It is Said”; twisted from it’s original intent.
[Mat 5:44 ESV] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
[Mat 5:45 ESV] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
[Mat 5:46 ESV] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
[Mat 5:47 ESV] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
[Mat 5:48 ESV] You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Now what does that look like concerning Self-defense or fulfilling the Command to provide for your family?
Your Command; Love God: to provide for your family; wife, children, parents.
Highest Form of Love Obey God
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Saturday Feb 13, 2016
Retaliation VS Confrontation
Saturday Feb 13, 2016
Saturday Feb 13, 2016
http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/think-it-not-strange-fiery-trials-and-the-testimony-of-christ
John Piper’s Punch Line
If there is someone in your church clamoring for you to show them from the Bible how they have a right to carry a gun to save themselves and their family from suffering and death, by all means spend ten cents of your labor on that. And then spend a million dollars on this. You don’t need the Bible or the Holy Spirit to persuade human beings to protect themselves. But to bring into being a church of people who rejoice when they are treated unjustly — that is a miracle that you should give your whole life to. Nothing is harder. Nothing more amazing. Nothing more beautiful. Our Savior was beautified at that horrible mount!
John Piper is making the case that Christians, just like Jesus did not resist evil, neither should we. He used 1 Peter 4:12-19
I am concerned because it is not a full message.
It is encouraging Christian men to continue to be lazy, not push into greater levels of responsibility.
Which includes providing for your family, your church.
Your ministry and evangelism.
The outcome of this message is disarming Christians in every sense of the word from Doing Good.
Lazy & Irresponsible, calling it “Do not worry”.
Not protecting our family and neighbors and calling it “Love”.
Not loving our enemies with Wisdom and Discernment and calling it “Love”.
We remember Justice is Good.
But what does it look like for a Christian to live Justly?
Justice VS Revenge
Justice VS Love
In Christ you are standing on the moral high ground. Use your moral high ground to pull people up and encourage them.
[Rom 12:17 ESV] Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
[Rom 12:18 ESV] If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
[Rom 12:19 ESV] Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
[Rom 12:20 ESV] To the contrary, "if your enemy is ahungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."
[Rom 12:21 ESV] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Vengeance is bad, don’t do it.
What about Defense?
But Confrontation is Good.
Before Jesus went to the Cross, there was Passion Week.
Did Jesus ever confront people? Enemies and Friends? YES!
Jesus confronts His Friends
[Mat 16:22 ESV] And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
[Mat 16:23 ESV] But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
[Mat 16:24 ESV] Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
[Mat 16:25 ESV] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
[Mat 16:26 ESV] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
[Mat 16:27 ESV] For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Jesus Confronted His Enemies: 7 Woes, 6 hypocrites, 5 blind guides
[Mat 23:13 ESV] "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
[Mat 23:15 ESV] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
[Mat 23:23 ESV] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
[Mat 23:24 ESV] You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
[Mat 23:25 ESV] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
[Mat 23:27 ESV] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.
[Mat 23:28 ESV] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
[Mat 23:33 ESV] You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
[Jhn 8:44 ESV] You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Jesus was doing Good by Proclaiming Truth.
Are you suffering because you are doing Christian things?
[1Pe 4:12 ESV] Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
[1Pe 4:13 ESV] But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
[1Pe 4:14 ESV] If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
[1Pe 4:15 ESV] But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.
[1Pe 4:16 ESV] Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
[1Pe 4:17 ESV] For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
[1Pe 4:18 ESV] And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
[1Pe 4:19 ESV] Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
Different Kinds of Suffering.
Ever heard the saying “That’s their cross to carry. “
Sin and Suffering because of the curse.
The Curse; creation is going to fight you. Toil in work.
Your Sin; laziness, Fool (opposite of wisdom),
Others Sin; all of the above, inter-relational,
Suffering because of the Curse.
[Gen 3:17 ESV] And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
[Gen 3:18 ESV] thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
[Gen 3:19 ESV] By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Our Sinful nature. Paul details the Christian struggle with the sinful flesh.
[Rom 7:24 ESV] Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
[Rom 7:25 ESV] Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Other people’s Sin.
The Blessing of Fellowship: “God uses the sinful nature of other Christians to expose your sinful nature so you can repent.”
But in your job, they may not be Christian. This just got more challenging.
Suffering for Christ.
[Luk 9:23 ESV] And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
[Luk 9:24 ESV] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
[Luk 9:25 ESV] For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
[Luk 9:26 ESV] For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
When the last time your scheduled was even challenged doing the one of the following?
Evangelizing
Ministry
Fellowship
Discipleship
Think back to the last time you suffered persecution, from work or school or friends?
We need to know the difference between suffering for Jesus and suffering for being foolish and lazy and sinful.
After Passion week; a week of complete and utter Confrontation with the religion leaders.
Wrecking the money tables, calling the religious leaders, sons of the devil and white washed graves.
The Only Time Jesus did not resist evil was to go die on the cross. To be our sacrifice for sin.
[Mat 26:52 ESV] Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
[Mat 26:53 ESV] Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?
[Mat 26:54 ESV] But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"
Jesus’ path to the Cross was the most powerful aggressive move of Justice against the enemy. It was the killing stroke to evil.
[1Co 15:55 ESV] "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
[1Co 15:56 ESV] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
[1Co 15:57 ESV] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[1Co 15:58 ESV] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Justice Vs Revenge
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Saturday Feb 06, 2016
Justice is Good
Saturday Feb 06, 2016
Saturday Feb 06, 2016
Justice is Good
Pseudo dichotomy
Equal Opportunity VS Equal Results
Christian Martyrdom VS Irresponsible Victim
Lethal Self-Defense VS Pacifism
Justice VS Revenge
Justice VS Love
Christian Liberty VS Ministry / Fellowship = Christian Love
Justice; It’s Good
Just this Week. An example of injustice and evil.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-david-daleiden-faces-20-years-in-prison-for-offering-to-purchase-h
HOUSTON, January 25, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – The lead investigator behind the undercover Planned Parenthood videos faces up to 20 years in prison after a Houston grand jury decided on Monday not to charge Planned Parenthood with any wrongdoing – and instead indicted him for offering to purchase human organs from the abortion provider.
Proverbs 28:5
Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things.
Justice is Good.
[Psa 106:3 ESV] Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
[Lev 19:15 ESV] "You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
[Lev 19:17 ESV] "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.
[Isa 61:8 ESV] For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Isn’t God mean in the OT and Jesus nice in the NT?
Suffering for being a Christian
[2Th 1:3 ESV] We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
[2Th 1:4 ESV] Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
[2Th 1:5 ESV] This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--
[2Th 1:6 ESV] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
[2Th 1:7 ESV] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
[2Th 1:8 ESV] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
[2Th 1:9 ESV] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Why Justice?
[2Th 1:10 ESV] when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
[2Th 1:11 ESV] To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
No Justice, No Gospel!
[Rom 3:20 ESV] For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
[Rom 3:21 ESV] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
[Rom 3:22 ESV] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
[Rom 3:23 ESV] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
[Rom 3:24 ESV] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
[Rom 3:25 ESV] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
[Rom 3:26 ESV] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Be Responsible Psuedo Dichoto...
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