Titus

Titus

Background:

Titus was a Gentile (Gal. 2:3), apparently led to Christ
through Paul's evangelism (Tit. 1:4). As a delegate, he
helped resolve problems in the church at Corinth during Paul's
third gospel tour (2 Cor. 7:6-7; 8:6, 16). Paul left Titus in
Crete to finish setting in order the work begun there (Titus
1:5).

Contents:

Titus explains how to set new local churches in order. Chapter
one calls for Titus to appoint godly elders and reprove false
teachers. Chapters two through three explain how believers
should engage in good works. The basis for church order is
the sound doctrine that God's grace should result in good
deeds (1:1; 2:11-13; 3:4-8, 14).

Theme: Promote Church Order

Outline:

1) By appointing godly leaders (1:1-8)
2) By teaching sound doctrine (1:9)
3) By reproving false teachers (1:10-16)
4) By maintaining good works (2:1 - 3:15)

Titus 1

Theme: Promote Church Order

1) By appointing godly leaders (1-8)

"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in
order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I
directed you..." (5 NAS).

Verse 1 indicates the knowledge of the truth is "according to
godliness". If a person understands and believes the truth,
they will conduct themselves in a godly manner. This standard
especially applies to those who would be leaders.

The main church leader was called a bishop, pastor, or elder,
interchangeably (Acts 20:17,28; 1 Tim. 3:1-2; Tit. 1:5,7; 1
Peter 5:1-2). This office involves teaching and overseeing
the functions of the local church.

An elder must be "above reproach". This is slightly different
from the word used in 1 Tim. 3, and means "not accused" or
called in question. It seems difficult to understand this as
teaching that merely raising an accusation keeps a man from
service. If this were the case, how would Paul, or Christ
Himself qualify (Matt. 26:57-68; 2 Tim. 4:16)? Further, what
would prevent any opponent of God from disqualifying every
potential leader, simply by hurling an accusation at him?

1 Tim. 3 uses the same word ("above reproach") for deacons:
"And let these first be tested; then let them serve as deacons
if they are _beyond reproach_." (10 NAS; emphasis mine) This
seems to indicate that a time of _testing_ should precede any
determination of whether or not a person is "above reproach".
The specific areas of testing follow. First, the overseer
must be "the husband of one wife". There are several ideas as
to what this might mean, but the most likely seems to be that
the man may never have been divorced. The same expression is
used of widows in 1 Tim. 5, and almost certainly means "never
divorced", rather than "one husband at a time" there. This
understanding seems supported by the prohibition of divorce
and remarriage of those who have been divorced, but the
permission of widows to remarry (1 Cor. 7).

Next, a would-be overseer should "have children who believe".
If a man cannot manage his own house, how will he take care of
the church of God (1 Tim. 3:5)? A man's children must not
accurately be accused of wild, riotous, rebellious, or unruly
behavior.

Negatively, the "overseer" must _not_ be self willed (lit.
"self pleasing"), "quick tempered" ("soon angry"), "addicted
to wine" (one who lingers beside wine), "pugnacious"
["contentious", one who strikes out with the fists], or
"greedy".

Positively, the overseer should be "hospitable" ("friendly to
strangers"), "loving what is good" (lit. "friend" of or
"friendly" toward good people and things), "sensible" (from
"sozo" ["safe, "reigned in", or "salvation"], and ""phren"
["the middle" or "mind"], meaning "to reign in the middle or
mind", or "salvation minded"), "just" (can mean to be or show
oneself to be right), "devout" (consecrated to God, separated
from sin), and "self-controlled" (lit. "in" "power", or
control of one's self).

It is also important that the overseer hold fast to sound
doctrine (9). The reason is because Scripture is the agent
both for exhorting believers in the way they should walk, and
for refuting (convincing of sin or error) those who
contradict. This is important, because there is a temptation,
today, when guarding the faith, to study error.

Reasonable and popular as this idea is becoming, it goes
contrary to numerous specific instructions in the pastoral
epistles. It is the study and preaching of the truth, and not
of error, which enables one to refute false doctrine.

Titus 1B

Theme: Promote Church Order

3) By gagging false teachers (1:10-12)

"For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and
deceivers...who must be silenced..." (10-11 NAS)

1 Tim. 1:3-4 instructs Timothy to directly instruct false
teachers not to teach strange doctrines. This passage gives
several reasons Titus, too, should "silence", or gag false
teachers.

1) Because they are rebellious men (10a). 2 Timothy describes
false teachers as those who enter households and captivate
gilt stricken women with their doctrine (3:1-9). The
illustration that passage gives is apparently of two magicians
in Pharaoh's court who imitated, but actually opposed the work
of God through Moses (cf. Ex. 7:8-13).

2) Because their talk is empty and deceitful (10b). Colossians
2 describes "empty deception" as a gospel which teaches
salvation through "shadow" observance of the OT Law, rather
than through faith in Christ, who is the "substance".

3) Because they upset whole families (11a). Apparently they
worked their way into peoples houses, or house churches. 2
Timothy 3 warns of the same approach by men who profess
religion, but lead ungodly lives.

4) Because they teach things they should not teach (11b). The
following verses describe this doctrine as "Jewish myths and
commandments of men who turn away from the truth" (14 NAS).
This seems similar to the doctrines of merit-based salvation
warned against in Colossians 2. Apparently, the primary fruit
of such teaching is ungodly conduct (15-16). The remainder of
Titus, and the primary thrust of the book emphasize that sound
doctrine results in godly behavior.

5) Because they are motivated by dishonest profit (11c). 1
Timothy 6:5ff. and Jude 4-16 offer similar descriptions of
false teachers. In each case, they are motivated by the
desire for personal gain.

6) Because they are evil, lazy liars (12-13a). This
summarizes both their doctrine (which is false), and their
conduct (which is ungodly). On the one hand, believers cannot
be saved by their good works. On the other, the grace of God
is not a license to sin, but should result in good works.

4) By reproving their audience (13b-14). The word "reprove"
means to convict someone of their error (cf. notes on 2 Tim.
4:2). Verse 14 seems to explain it is those who pay attention
to false teachers who should be reproved.. Convincing
believers that paying attention to false teachers is wrong,
will help make them "sound in the faith".

Titus 2

Theme: Promote Church Order

5) By maintaining good works (2 - 3)

"But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound
doctrine...For the grace of God has appeared, bringing
salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and
worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in
the present age..." (2:1, 11-12 NAS)

False doctrine teaches salvation by merit and results in evil
deeds. By contrast, sound doctrine proclaims salvation by
grace alone, but calls for godly living (1). Verses 2-10
explain several ways to maintain good works:

Older men: by being "temperate" (alert, not intoxicated,
calm), "dignified" (of honorable or respectable character),
"sensible" (salvation minded, self controlled, in one's
senses, accurate in self evaluation), and "sound (healthy,
safe, wholesome) in faith", "love", and "perseverance" [to
"remain under", e.g. trials, etc.] (2 NAS)

Older women: by being "reverent" (fitting holiness), not
"malicious gossips" (lit. "devil", to throw accusations [esp.
false] at), not "enslaved to much wine", and by "teaching what
is good". This last instruction refers to encouraging younger
women to live godly (3-4a)

Younger women: by loving their husbands and children, by being
"sensible" (same as above), "pure" (holy, chaste), "workers at
home" (lit. "house guards" or caretakers), "kind" (good,
useful, upright), and by being "subject ("rank one's self
under", "obey") to their own husbands" (4-5 NAS).

Younger men: by being "sensible" (same as above) (6).

Timothy: by showing himself an example (pattern) of good
deeds, "with purity in doctrine" (lit. "not corrupt", i.e. not
throwing over or destroying), "dignified" (heavy, honest,
respectable), "sound in speech" (whole, healthy, from a base
meaning "to cause to grow"). Such godly living gives opponents
"nothing bad to say" about christians who profess faith (7-8
NAS).

Servants: by being "subject to their own masters" (same word
as for wives), "well-pleasing", "not argumentative" (to speak
against, or contradict), , "not pilfering" (keeping or
separating for one's self) and by "showing all good faith".
Such conduct "adorns [puts in order, ornaments, garnishes,
embellishes] the doctrine of God our Savior" (9-10 NAS)

Titus 2B

Theme: Promote Church Order

5) By maintaining good works (2 - 3)

Negatively, the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness.
Positively, it instructs us to live godly lives. Verses 11-15
show why salvation by grace should result in good deeds.

1) Because Christ redeemed us "from" sin (14). Christ's death
frees the believer not only from sin's penalty, but also from
it's power in daily life, and ultimately, from its very
presence.

First, Christ's death frees the believer from the penalty of
sin. The death of Christ paid the debt of our sin, satisfying
God's righteous demands against it (Rom. 3:21ff.; 1 Joh. 2:2).
When a person trusts Christ, the value of this payment is
applied to his account (2 Cor. 5:21), and God declares him
"righteous". This is called "justification", and frees
believers "from" the penalty of sin--eternal hell (2 Thess.
1:7-10).

Second, Christ's death and resurrection frees the believer
from the power of sin in his daily life (Romans 6 - 8a). The
fallen human nature ("flesh") is hostile towards God, and is
not capable of subjecting itself to God's will (Rom. 8:6-8).
As such, the Law (God's declared will), actually compels our
sin nature (which every believer retains until glory in
heaven) to rebel (Rom. 7:7-25). This proves we are unable to
please God in the strength of our flesh, deserve the death
penalty, and constitutes "slavery" to sin.

Christ, however, died to sin, and rose to newness of life
(Rom. 6:1-23). Since the Holy Spirit places the believer into
this work of Christ, he too has died with Christ, to sin, and
been raised with Him to newness of life. This frees the
believer from obligation to his sin nature and the Law, and
empowers him to serve God. As the believer knows his position
in Christ, and counts it to be true, he may yield (by the
power of the indwelling Spirit) his members as instruments of
righteousness to God, rather than sin (Rom. 6:1-23).

In our position before God, sanctification occurs the moment
we believe, since we are placed "in Christ", cleansed of all
sin, and imputed with His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; cf. Eph.
1). In our daily practice, however, we become more and more
devoted to God, as we yield to Him by the power of the Holy
Spirit. This position and practice is called "sanctification"
(consecration to God, separation from sin).

2) Because Christ owns us. The word "redeem" implies that
Christ has bought us not only "from" the slave market of sin,
but also "for Himself" (Tit. 2:14). We are now "His own
possession", being bought with the blood of Christ (Acts
20:28; 1 Cor. 6:18-20; Heb. 9:12 1 Pet. 1:18-19). As such, He
desires His people to be holy, as He himself is, and as a
husband desires his wife to be pure (Eph. 5:25-27).

3) Because Christ will return for us (13). Currently, the
believer retains his fallen nature, and groans in the
expectation that Christ will deliver him from it (Rom. 8).
When Christ raptures the church, both dead and living
believers will receive a new, immortal, glorious, sin-free
body and spend eternity with Christ (1 Cor. 15). The hope of
Christ's appearing should motivate believers to "purify
themselves" (Tit. 1:1-2; cf. 1 Pet. 1; 1John 3:3).

Romans 8:30 indicates that God's scope of salvation, for every
believer, will include deliverance not only from the penalty
of his sin (Justification), but also from the power of sin in
his daily life (sanctification), and ultimately from the very
presence of his sin nature in glory (glorification). This is
all accomplished by grace, through faith in the death and
resurrection of Christ, as the believer yields himself to
God's will. Thus, a true knowledge of the grace of God (cf.
Tit. 1:1-2) teaches us to deny worldly lusts, and maintain
good works.

Titus 3

Theme: Promote Church Order

5. By maintaining good works (2 - 3)

Chapter three explains several more ways and reasons to
maintain good works.

1) By submitting to authority (1). "Remind them to be subject
to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for
every good deed" (NAS). Also see Romans 13 and 1 Pet. 2:13 -
3:7.

2) Another way to practice your faith, is by showing
consideration (2) "Remind them to ...malign no one, to be
uncontentious, gentle, showing every consideration for all
men."

"Malign" ("blaspheme"), is a compound word which comes from
the roots "blapto" (meaning "hurt", or "injure"), and "pheme"
("fame", "report"). It means to speak in such a way as to
injure someone's reputation. "Uncontentious" means "not a
fighter", and may refer to physical or verbal contention.

"Gentle" seems to carry the idea of being "like", or
agreeable. In the context of another reference, this word
stands in contrast to being greedy (1 Tim. 3:3), a brawler (1
Tim. 3:3b), or covetous (1 Tim. 3:3c). On the other hand,
being "gentle" is associated with such virtues as "meekness"
(Tit. 3:2 ["consideration"]), being peaceful or easy to
entreat, mercy, fairness and justice (James 3:17).

"Consideration" stands in contrast to disciplining someone
with a rod of iron (1 Cor. 4:21). This word is closely
related to "gentleness" (2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 6:1; Eph. 4:2),
"self control" (Gal. 5:23), "lowliness", "patience" (Eph. 4:2;
1 Tim. 6:11), "love" (Eph. 4:2), mercy, kindness, and
"humbleness of mind" (Col. 3:12). All of these positive
virtues are fruit born by the power of the indwelling Holy
Spirit, as believers yield to God (Gal. 5:16ff.; cf. Rom.
6:1-14).

3) By "avoiding foolish controversies" (9). The word
"foolish" is "moros", and literally means "moronic". The
scope of speech to avoid would include questions,
speculations, debates, or other talk, about ideas which do not
come from the Bible, but which may be mixed with it
(see 1 Tim. 1:3-11). Such "speculation" is "fruitless",
"unprofitable and worthless" (Tit. 3:9), as it fails to
further "the administration of God which is by faith" (1 Tim.
1:3 NAS).

4) By rejecting factious men (10-11). The word "factious"
("hairetikos"), comes from a root meaning "to choose". 1
Corinthians 11 uses a similar word to describe those who took
food for themselves, with the result that those who were
hungry had nothing to eat, thus creating divisions. In this
context, a heretic is apparently one who takes and holds for
himself, ideas or opinions which are not taught in the Bible.
This kind of behavior also generates contention and divisions
in the church. Thus, you promote order by rejecting a
factious man after giving him two warnings.

The word "reject", literally means to "beg off". It comes
from two roots meaning "away", and "to incline". It is in the
present, active, indicative, which means it is an ongoing
action. The idea seems to be that you plead to be spared from
something. In Luke 14, those invited to the wedding feast
tried to "excuse" (same word) themselves from attending. In
Acts 25:11, Paul used the same word for reject, to show that
he refused to die for the false accusations that were being
brought against him. Rather, he rejected such arguments by
appealing to Caesar, and arguing strongly against the false
accusers in court! Heb. 12:19 uses this word to describe
Israel's reaction to God's voice, when they found it too
terrible to hear, and plead for it to stop. Rejecting cab
carry the idea of avoiding, inclining away from, or even
arguing strongly against (Acts 25:11; 2 Tim. 2:23; Heb.
12:25).

The word "warning" is a compound word coming from roots
meaning "to lay down" or "set forth", and "understanding" or
"mind". It apparently means to set forth an understanding in
such a way as to warn someone. 1 Cor. 10:11 uses this word to
set forth the account of OT saints who "craved evil things",
grumbled against God, and were destroyed, as an "example" to
warn believers against such behavior.

Chapter 3 also gives several reasons to maintain good works
(3-8).

1) Because we used to be foolish (3). This and the following
reason relates to maintaining good works toward lost people.
We have just been told to "malign no one", "to be
uncontentious, gentle", and to show "every consideration for
all men" (2). This could prove difficult towards the unsaved,
because we see the evil in their behavior. Remembering we
were saved from the same sinful, hateful condition should make
it easier to show consideration to all men.

2) Because we were saved by grace (4-5). Negatively, pride
can make a person indignant or harsh toward those who do not
enjoy the same benefits. Remembering we did not earn
salvation with our righteous deeds should keep us meek toward
all men. Positively, thinking about the grace God has "poured
out upon us richly through Jesus Christ", should also persuade
us to maintain good works toward the lost. God has washed us
of sins, indwelled us, given us a new nature, justified us,
and made us heirs of eternal life in Christ. Such unmerited
favor from God should persuade us "engage in good deeds" (14).

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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Hebrews

Hebrews

Background:

The book was apparently written to Jewish believers (3:1, 12,
14; 6:9) who were tempted to drop faith in (the invisible)
Christ and return to the (visible) OT system of worship.

Contents:

The entire book labors to prove Christ better than the OT
system of worship. To this end, Hebrews presents Him as a
superior prophet (1:1 - 14), priest (4:14 - 10:22), and prize
(10:23 - 13:25). Since He is a better prophet, we should heed
His word. Since He is a better priest, we should approach God
through Him alone. Since He is a better prize, we should
prefer Him to those things which can be shaken, and endure for
Him. The strong emphasis on holding "fast our confession of
faith" (3:6, 14; 4:14; 10:23) exhorts any believer who becomes
tempted to place their faith in that which can be seen or
"shaken" (11:26-29), rather than Christ.

Theme: Hold Faith In Christ

Outline:

1) Reasons
A) Because He's the best Prophet (1:1 - 4:13)
B) Because He's the best Priest (4:14 - 10:22)
C) Because He's the best Prize (10:23 - 13:25)

2) Ways
A) By heeding His word (1:1 - 4:13)
B) By approaching God (4:14 - 10:22)
C) By enduring discipline (10:23-29)
D) By loving the brethren (13:1-25)

Hebrews 1

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

1) Reasons
A) Because He is a better Person (1:1 - 4:13)
1) Than OT prophets (1:1-2)
2) Than Angels (1:3 - 2:18)

Christ is a better spokesman for God than OT prophets (1:1-2)
because He is God's Son (2a), "heir of all things" (2b),
creator [by the power of His word] (2c), "the radiance of His
[God's] glory" (3a), "the exact representation of His [God's]
nature" (3b), sustainer of all things (3c), purifier of sins
(3c), and seated "at the right hand of the Majesty on high".
The parable in Mark 12:1-11 shows how a steward should show
more regard for the words of a landlord's son (Christ), than
his servants (OT prophets).

Christ is a better messenger than Angels (1:3 - 14) because He
is God's Son (5), God in the flesh (6a), God (8a), the
righteous ruler (8b-9), eternal creator (10-12), seated at
God's right hand (13a), and ultimate victor (13b), whereas the
angels worship Christ (6b), and serve both Him and those who
will become saved (14). Galatians 3:19 indicates angels were
instrumental in revealing the OT Law to Moses. If those words
were to be respected, how much more revelation which comes
from the Son of God Himself?

The superiority of Christ to OT prophets and angels should
persuade us to heed His words and warnings.

Hebrews 2

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
B) Than angels (1:3 - 2:18)

The OT Law was given to Moses through angels (Gal. 3:19), and
those who did not obey were disciplined severely (2; cf.,
e.g., Numbers 15:32-36). Since Christ is better than angels,
and His teaching was confirmed by signs, wonders, various
miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit (4), believers today,
should "pay much closer attention to what [they] have heard"
from Him (1). Failure to heed Christ's words (regarding
salvation through Him) may result in spiritual drifting (1),
and severe discipline as children (3a; cf. 12:4-13; Acts
5:1-11).

Chapter one, and 2:6-8 say Christ is better than angels
because He is the ultimate victor over the world to come. This
may raise the objection that we do not now see Him in this
role. Verses 9 - 18 explain why Christ became "a little lower
than the angels" when He took the form of a man.

1) Because He had to pay for man's sin (9). The entire OT
sacrificial system typifies the fact that sin calls for the
death penalty, and that only a spotless substitute can take
man's place. Christ's death fulfilled this type by paying the
penalty for "every man" (9, 17b).

Philippians 2 explains that for such humility and obedience,
God crowned Christ with surpassing glory, and that every knee
will, therefore, ultimately bow to Christ. Christ had to
become man to pay for man's sin.

2) Because His death rendered the devil powerless (14-15). The
devil uses fear of death to enslave people to his will. Since
Christ rose from the dead, there is no sting in physical death
for the believer, as they too will be raised (1 Cor. 15).
Christ's death also frees the believer from obligation to the
death penalty of the Law and the compulsory sin it provokes in
his fallen nature (Rom. 6 - 8). The Holy Spirit's baptism of
the believer into Christ's resurrection empowers christians to
yield their members to God rather than sin.
Thus, Christ's death nullifies the devil's power over the
believer.

3) Because suffering made Him a merciful and faithful high
priest (17-18). Having been tested with the lust of the eyes,
flesh, and pride of life (cf. Mat. 4), Christ has the ability
"to come to the aid of those who are tempted" (18). Such
experience perfects Christ as our Captain, or Pioneer of
salvation.

Hebrews 3

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
C) Than Moses (3)

Though both were faithful, Christ is worthy of more glory than
Moses (1-5) 1) because He is the builder of the house, whereas
Moses was part of the house (2-4); and 2) because He is a Son,
whereas Moses was a servant (5-6). Christ, as God and
creator, is the builder of "all things" ["house"] (4; cf. Col.
1:16-17), but specifically His assembly of believers (6; cf.
Matt. 16:18; Eph. 4:10-15).

Since Christ is better than Moses, we should remain confident
in Him (6, 14) . The account of Israel failing to enter the
promised "rest" under Moses' leadership illustrates the
importance of believers entering it under Christ's. But what
is this "rest"?

For national Israel, "rest" was the promised land. Though God
delivered Israel from Egypt, most feared He would not save
them from the giants in Canaan when Moses led them to
Kadesh-Barnea. Some even wanted to go back into Egypt. As a
result, they did not enter the promised "rest" of the land,
and God chastened them with 40 years of wandering in the
wilderness.

For believers today, "rest" may refer to your gaining victory
over daily evil, trials, and sin because you remain confident
in Christ. Moses himself did not enter the promised land
described as "rest" (Deut. 34:4), yet Heb. 11:23-25 indicates
he was a believer and Matt. 17:1-4 shows he went to heaven
when he died.

Further, the promised land was a place where an ongoing battle
occurred with the enemies of God's people, even though it was
described as their inheritance "rest". Joshua and Caleb
entered the rest, by faith in God's ability to deliver them
from the giants in the land, and spent the rest of their life
fighting and gaining victory over them.

By contrast, the believer's eternal inheritance in heaven will
be without such conflict (Rom. 8; Rev. 21 - 22). Israel
entering the promised land or "rest", then, does not seem to
correspond to believers entering heaven, but to their being
delivered from daily evil, trials, and sin through faith in
Christ.

Since believers have been baptized into Christ's death to sin
and resurrection to newness of life, they are empowered, by
the indwelling Holy spirit, to gain victory over sin in their
daily life (Rom. 6:1-14). Although permanent peace _with_ God
comes at the moment one trusts Christ as Savior (Romans 5),
Philippians 4 describes an inner peace _of_ God which you only
experiences as you believe in and obey God.

Ephesians 6 also explains how to gain victory, by faith, over
spiritual attacks you face. It seems, then, that as you
remain confident in the power of Christ to deliver you from
evil and sin in your daily life, you experience the "rest" God
has promised.

B) Ways
2) "By encouraging one another day after day" (13).

The "deceitfulness of sin" can cause your heart to grow hard,
lead you to disobey, and make you doubt Christ. As believers,
you remain confident in Christ by daily encouraging other
believers endure trials and avoid sin through faith in Christ.
Hebrews 4

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
1) Because He is a better person (1:1 - 4:13)
4) Than Joshua (4:1-13)

Christ is better than Joshua, because He gives complete
inheritance "rest", whereas Joshua did not (8). Unbelief,
robbed many redeemed people of profiting from their promised
rest under Joshua. As a result, they wandered in sin as God
severely chastened them. God restated the promise of rest in
the time of David (Psalm 95:6-11), however, and no one should
suppose he has missed the possibility of entering it (1).

B) Ways

3) By resting from your works (10)

Relying on Christ for victory over sin and evil in your daily
life is directly contrasted with yielding your members to sin
(cf. Gal. 5:16-26), or attempting to achieve victory in the
strength of your flesh--something which is impossible, and
only results in more sin and frustration (Roman 7).

As a believer, you experience Christ's rest here on earth, as
you know you have died with Him to sin, been raised with Him
to newness of life, and as you yield your members as
instruments of righteousness to God through the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 6:1-14).

Hope of glorious deliverance from the very presence of sin,
evil, and trials at the appearing of Christ motivates this
kind of living, and enables us to experience it's benefits
here on earth (Rom. 8; 1 Peter 1:3-25).

4) By seeing yourself through Scripture (13-14).

The word of God is able to discern between fleshly and
spiritual motives, and exposes our condition before God.
Viewing yourself through Scripture should enable you to rely
on Christ rather than your own works, and discourage sin and
unbelief.

Hebrews 5

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)

a) He is a heavenly priest (14). Earthly priests minister on
earth, but Christ ministers in heaven as the Son of God.
Following chapters explain this facet of Christ's priesthood.

b) He is a sympathetic priest (15a). Since Christ was tested
in all areas we are (with the lust of the eyes, lust of the
flesh, and boastful pride of life (Mt. 4; cf. 1 John 2:16), He
is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

He is a sinless priest (15b). It has been observed that only
a person who endures the complete scope of testing without sin
knows the full extent of its power. Since Christ bore the
full duration of testing without sinning, He understands more
than anyone else, the temptation we face. Being sinless also
qualified Christ to offer Himself as our substitute offering
for sin--something discussed in more detail later.

He is an appointed priest (5:1-6). Christ was appointed by
God Himself, and designated a priest forever "according to the
order of Melchizedek). Melchizedek was the king priest of
Salem in Genesis 14:17-24). How He typifies the nature of
Christ's priesthood is explained in following chapters of
Hebrews.

He is a perfect priest (7-9). Christ gained experiential
knowledge of the sufferings we face when He Himself suffered.
This included death and separation from God, and makes Him
complete as the source of our eternal salvation.

He is an eternal priest (10). Earthly priests die, but Christ
is an eternal priest, as typified by Melchizedek, whose
beginning or ending genealogies are unknown.

B) Ways
4) By drawing near to God (16)

Since we have a heavenly High Priest who can sympathize with
our weaknesses, we should draw near to God's throne of grace
with confidence, for mercy and "grace to help in time of need"
(4:15, 16).

5) By pressing on to maturity (5:11 - 6:8)

Maturity requires a deeper knowledge of Christ. In this case,
the readers needed to understand Christ's superiority as a
priest, so they would remain confident in Him. With practice,
a mature believer is able to use this wisdom to discern
between good and evil.

Hebrews 6

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
5) By pressing on to maturity (con't)

Chapter 6 gives a solemn warning of the believer's need to
press on to a mature understanding of Christ, so they may
remain confident in His promise of rest (i.e. deliverance from
the power of sin in daily life, and presence of sin in glory).
There seem to be several reasons to press on to maturity.

1) Because God chastens fruitless believers (1-8). "For in
the case of those who have once been enlightened...and have
fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to
repentance...ground that drinks the rain...but..yields thorns
and thistles...ends up being burned...(4-8 NAS). This passage
has at least four possible interpretations, most of which can
be eliminated by the context or clear references in other
passages of Scripture:

1) A believer will loose his salvation if He falls away from
His profession of faith. This view is impossible, because
Romans 8:30ff. indicates everyone who ever becomes saved in
the first place (justified), will also be glorified (future),
and that nothing in time or space is able to separate the
believer from this love of God.

2) This refers to people who made professions, but were never
actually saved. Although possible, much of the context of
Hebrews seems to indicate that believers are in view. The
description of those who have "once been enlightened and have
tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of
the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the
powers of the age to come" (4-5), seems to best fit a
believer.

3) This describes a hypothetical situation which could never
really happen. Support for this view comes from the KJV
translation _"If"_ they shall fall away". It is argued that
it is only impossible to renew someone to repentance "if" they
fall away, and that it is impossible for a true believer to
fall away, therefore the warning is only hypothetical.
However, the word "if" ("kai") almost always means
"and". Thus, the text more accurately describes "those who
have once been enlightened...and have fallen away" (NAS), as
if such cases could occur.

4) This describes people who are truly saved, but who deviate
from the truth to the extent that they become fruitless and
severely chastened by God. This view seems to best fit the
context and language.

Those "who have once been enlightened" elsewhere seems to
refer to those who are truly saved (cf. 10:32; 2 Cor. 4:3-6).
Those "who have tasted the heavenly gift", also uses language
similar to that of believers when they first trust Christ
(John 4:10; Rom. 6:23; James 1:17-18). These were people who
"have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit". Hebrews 1:9
uses this word ("partaker") to refer to companions of Christ,
and "holy brethren" in 3:1 and 14.

Also, national Israel has been used as the example of people
who are truly redeemed (from Egypt, which typifies the
believer being redeemed from the slave market of sin), but
who fail to enter the rest of the promised inheritance (land)
because they don't believe God will also deliver them from its
giants. God chastened them to the point of physical death as
they wandered aimlessly in the wilderness of sin for 40 years.
Even Moses, whom we know was saved (cf. Heb. 11; Mt. 17:3),
did not enter the promised inheritance "rest" during life on
earth, being chastened by God because of disobedience (Num.
27:12-14; Deut. 3:21-29; 34:4).

Also, the illustration of people as land which drinks up rain,
but bears only thorns and thistles and ends up burned (7-8),
evokes ideas of hell, but may actually picture a common
farming practice. If land became useless because of weeds,
the field was burned, the growth consumed, and the land became
useful again.

1 Tim. 1:19-20 apparently describes a situation where those
who had suffered "shipwreck" with regard to their faith, would
benefit from chastening. Hebrews 12:4-13 calls on the
believer to endure the chastening process of God, noting it is
first sorrowful, then yields the peaceful fruit of
righteousness. 1 Peter 1:7 explains that full enjoyment of
our inheritance "rest" waits us in heaven, that the various
trials we experience now test and prove our faith like "fire"
purifies gold, and that we actually experience the joy of the
future aspects of our salvation while still here on earth as
we hope for it's completion at the appearing of Christ (cf.
Rom. 6-8).

This passage seems best understood as a warning believers to
remain confident in Christ so you don't become fruitless, and
severely chastened by God.

2) Because God remembers your good works (9-12). Sin and
unbelief do not accompany salvation in the sense that they are
fruit of God's saving work, yet they are present in the life
of every true believer till glory (Rom. 6-8; cf. 1 John
1:5-10). As an encouragement, this passage reminds the
readers that God is just, and remembers their love and
ministry to the saints--fruit which does accompany God's
saving work.

3) Because God's keeps His promises (13-20). First, God is
truth, and does not lie, therefore His promise of deliverance
from the power and presence of sin should assure us it will
come to pass on our behalf (Rom. 6 - 8). Second, the fact God
swore to fulfill this promise to Abraham, should assure us
that He who has begun a good work in us will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ (Gen. 22:17ff.; Philipp. 1:6). God's
promise to Abraham's seed is fulfilled in the person of
Christ, and therefore extended to every child of God through
faith in Him (see Gal. 3:7-29). Since there is no one greater
than God, this oath to Himself should assure us.

4) Because Christ has entered the Holy of Holies. Since
Christ is our High Priest and has entered the presence of God
in the heavenly holy of holies on our behalf, and since God
promised to deliver believers from the power and presence of
sin through faith in Christ, our hope of such salvation is
anchored securely in the presence of God. Therefore, we should
remain confident in Christ by pressing on to maturity, in the
hope of deliverance from the power and presence of sin by our
Great High Priest.

Hebrews 7

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
A) Priest of a better order [Melchizedekian] (7)

The Hebrew believers to whom this letter was apparently
written, were in danger of dropping faith in Christ, and again
putting their faith in the Aaronic priesthood of the OT. To
keep them confident in Christ's priesthood, chapter seven
presses on to deeper spiritual truths, showing why Christ is
priest of a better order (Melchizedekian) than Aaron.

Jesus preached from "all" the OT Scriptures the things
regarding Himself (Lk. 24:27). He warned the Scribes and
Pharisees that the OT Bible they searched in hope of eternal
life pointed to Him (Jn. 5:39). Paul also used the OT to
convince Jewish people that Jesus is the Christ (Ac. 17:1-4).
As such, the account of Melchizedek (Gen. 14:17-24), although
historical, is also a picture which reveals spiritual truths
about Christ. There are several reasons why Christ, after the
order of Melchizedek, is a superior priest.

1) Because Abraham paid tithes to him (2-10). Since Levi was
in his loins at the time, the Levitical and Aaronic priesthood
demonstrated Melchizedek was a superior order of priest by
paying tithes to him through Abraham.

2) Because He is a King priest (2b). Melchizedek's name means
king of righteousness and king of peace. Christ fulfills this
type as He is a priest who is also king of righteousness and
peace (Ps. 45:6-7; 72:1-7; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6Jer. 33:16;
Rom. 3:26; Eph. 2:14-18).

3) Because He is an eternal priest (3, 23-25). The Levitical,
Aaronic priesthood was weak in that it consisted of men who
died. By contrast, there is no record of Melchizedek's
genealogy. As such, we are not able to trace his beginning or
ending, and he pictures an eternal priest. This type is
realized in Christ who holds His priesthood permanently, by
the "power of an indestructible life". He is therefore able
"to save forever those who draw near to God through Him" (25).

4) Because He is priest of a new covenant (11-22). In Psalm
110:4, God indicates He will institute a king priest forever,
"according to the order of Melchizedek". The kingly line came
through Judah, rather than Levi, and thus God introduces a
new order of priesthood to that of the OT system.

5) Because He was sworn in by God (20-22). Levitical priests
were not sworn into office by an oath of God. In Psalm 110:4,
however, God takes an oath that He will install Messiah as an
eternal king-priest. This makes Christ the "guarantee of a
better covenant" (NAS) to that of the OT priesthood.

6) Because He is a sinless priest (26-28). OT priests were
sinners, had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, and had
to repeatedly offer sacrifices for the sins of the people they
represented before God. Christ, on the other hand, was
sinless. This qualified Him to make a single sacrifice of
Himself as a once for all atonement for the sins of His
people. More is said about this later.

Hebrews 8

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better priest (4:14 - 10:39)
B) Priest of a better Covenant (8:1-13)

Verses 1-5 conclude Christ is a better priest because His work
is a finished work, and because He ministers in the heavenly
tabernacle rather than the one on earth (2-5). More will be
said about these facets of Christ's priesthood in the
following chapters. Verse 6 introduces the subject of chapter
8, i.e. Christ is priest of a better covenant.

In Genesis 12:1-3, God made a covenant with Abraham which
included the promise of land, seed, and blessing. Later,
these covenants were expanded in the Palestinian (Deut.
30:1-10), Davidic (2 Sam. 7:12-16), and New Covenants (Jer.
31:31-34). These covenants contain the framework for God's
dealing with literal, national Israel in the past and future,
but the New Covenant also explains spiritual promises which
extend to church age Gentiles through faith in Christ, the
seed of Abraham (Gal. 3). There are several reasons the
promise of this New Covenant is better than the old.

1) Because it changes your heart (8-11). Romans 7 indicates
the OT Law cannot incline you to obey God. When you hear
God's will in the Law, it compels your fallen nature to rebel.
This shows your inability to meet God's standard in the
strength of your flesh, and that you deserve condemnation. As
such, Galatians 3 says this Law was a tutor to lead us to
Christ so we could be justified by faith rather than personal
merit. Under the New Covenant, God imparts a new regenerate
nature (2 Cor. 5:17). When you trust Christ, the Holy Spirit
indwells you, and faith in Christ's death and resurrection
empowers you to yield your members as instruments of
righteousness to God (Rom. 6:1ff.)

2) Because it gives you understanding (11). 1 Cor. 2:6-16
says the Holy Spirit takes spiritual truths from the word of
God and reveals them to the understanding of those who trust
Christ. As such, every believer, under the New Covenant, has
"the mind of Christ" (16 NAS). This is better than the Old
Covenant, which required the people to "teach everyone his
fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'know the
Lord' (Heb. 8:11).

3) Because it removes guilt (12). The Law reminded people of
sin as the offerings had to be repeated day by day. As such,
you could not serve God with a conscience clear from guilt. By
contrast, the New Covenant includes a provision whereby God
"will remember their sins no more" (12 NAS). Christ's once
for all atonement satisfies all God's righteous demands
against all sin of all time (1 John 2:2), giving God a
righteous ground for forgetting one's sin altogether. To
forget sins does not mean that God has no recollection of
them, but that He no longer holds them against us, because
Christ's death satisfies all His righteous demands against
them. As such, the New Covenant enables you to serve God with
a clear conscience.

God has declared the Old Covenant obsolete by introducing the
New Covenant, which changes the heart, imparts understanding,
and removes guilt. Christ is a better priest because He is
priest of this better covenant.

Hebrews 9

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
C) Priest of a better Sanctuary (9)

We should remain confident in Christ, because He is the priest
of a better sanctuary. His blood brings us into the presence
of God with confidence, having cleansed our conscience from
guilt once for all, and insures us of an eternal hope of
inheritance.

1-10: The OT sanctuary excluded men from the Holy presence of
God. Priests of the earthly sanctuary could only enter this
Holy of Holies once a year. Their animal blood only made
people ceremonially clean, but could not cleanse the
conscience.

11-28: Christ entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, offering
His own blood once for all, removing all guilt, obtaining an
eternal redemption. Therefore His blood cleanses our
conscience, brings us into the presence of God, inaugurates
the New Covenant, and assures His return for our salvation
rather than judgment for sin.

We should remain confident in Christ, because He is the priest
of a better sanctuary.

Hebrews 10

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
2) Because He is a better Priest (4:14 - 10:39)
d) Priest of a better sacrifice (10:1-39)

This passage shows several reasons Christ's sacrifice is
better than that of the Levitical priests, and several ways to
apply this truth.

1) Because it is the form (1a). Animal sacrifices were only
a shadow, or type of Christ. They pictured a sinless
substitute bearing man's guilt for sin. Christ, however, is
the form. He is the substance which casts the shadow. The
sacrifice of His own body for man's sin is the substantive
payment which the OT sacrifices pointed to.

2) Because it removes guilt (1-4). That animal sacrifices were
unable to cleanse a believers' conscience is evident from the
fact that they had to be offered repeatedly (2). Rather than
remove sin, they only reminded the believer of it (3). In
fact, "It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to
take away sins." (4 NAS). Since Christ's sacrifice removes
sin once for all, it cleanses the believer's conscience.

3) Because it pleases God (5-9). God said He was not pleased
with the animal sacrifices and offerings (5-6; cf. Ps.
40:6ff.). God was, however, pleased with the human body
Christ took on and offered as a sacrifice for man's sin (7-9).
1 John 2:2 and Romans 3:25 say Christ's death satisfied all
God's righteous demands against sin.

4) Because it sanctifies forever (10-18). The animal
sacrifices had to be offered again and again, but Christ's
death removes sin once and for all. This is evident from the
fact that after He rose, He ascended into heaven and sat down
at the right hand of God. Christ's sacrifice of His own body
for our sin, permanently cleanses believers of sin with regard
to their positional standing before God.

5) Because there is no other sacrifice (26-31)

The statement in verse 26 that "if we go on sinning willfully"
seems to refer to those who "throw away" their confidence in
Christ. For these, "there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment". This
seems to mean there is no other sacrifice, than that which
Christ has already made, which can pay for sin. To reject
this sacrifice would expose the believer to the fury of God.

As stated in previous chapters, though, this letter is written
to believers, and believers cannot loose their salvation. The
only interpretation which seems to survive cross examination
from other passages of Scripture and the context of Hebrews is
that this apostasy refers to those who were saved but departed
from their confidence in Christ to the extent that God
severely chastened them.

B) Ways
6) By drawing near to God (19-22)

Guilt made Adam shrink away from God and hide (Gen. 3:8-11)
Knowing Christ has effectively cleansed you from guilt once
for all, should give you confidence to enter God's presence
and wait for Christ's appearing.

7) By holding fast our confession (23)

God is faithful. After He saves you from the penalty of sin,
He also saves from the power of sin (including guilt) in your
daily life, and then from the very presence of sin in glory.
The believer should remain confident in Christ the High Priest
for deliverance from daily sin, in hope of final deliverance
from the presence of sin in his inheritance rest in glory (cf.
Rom. 8).

8) By provoking love in others (24-25)

The word "stimulate" (24), comes from roots which mean to be
sharp, irritate, or provoke. This word is used to describe
the "sharp" contention between Paul and Apollos (Acts 15:39).
Believers should consider how to provoke one another to love
and good deeds.

9) By assembling with other believers (25)

Simply showing up at worship meetings is a way to be
encouraged and encourage others in the faith.

10) By exhorting one another (25b)

This word means to "call to one's side". It involves speaking
to them in such a way as to comfort, instruct, and encourage
them.

11) By remembering former good works (32-34)

Hebrews 6:10 says God remembers the past good works He has
wrought in us (cf. Eph. 2:8-10). Verse 32 refers to the
Hebrews' "former days", when they endured great conflicts,
sufferings, reproaches, and tribulations for their faith in
Christ, as well as their sympathy for those who endured the
same. Remembering God's past fruit and deliverance in our
lives should also encourage us to endure in hope of Christ's
appearing (37-39).

Hebrews 11

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

A) Reasons
3) Because He is a Better Prize (11-13)

Faith is an assurance of things we hope for, and a conviction
about things we have not seen (1). For example, by faith we
understand that God made the world out of nothing. Hebrews 11
shows our need to remain confident in Christ as our hope of
future inheritance, rather than those things we can see and
handle. The reason for this is because He is a better
prize...

Than worldly praise (11:1-6)

Faith in Christ is Better than worldly praise, because God
commends those who believe in Him. God commended Abel for
offering a better sacrifice, by faith, than his brother Cain
(4). This may picture that faith in Christ's sacrifice
results in God's testimony that we are righteous
(justification), while faith in the fruit of our own labors
(such as offered by Cain), do not merit God's approval.

Enoch also pictures someone God approves of. Because he lived
by faith in God's promises, he "obtained the witness that...he
was pleasing to God." God took Enoch into heaven alive, and
this pictures the believer's hope that he will be taken to
heaven by Christ, to receive the fulfillment of the promised
inheritance of eternal life with God.

Than worldly possessions (11:8-22)

Faith in Christ is better than worldly possessions, because He
promises eternal life in a heavenly city for those who wait
for Him (Rev. 21-22). Faith in God's promises motivated
humble and obedient living in Abraham and Sarah.

For example, Abraham believed God's promise of a seed, and was
therefore willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, because he
believed God would have to raise him from the dead to keep his
word. Belief in the resurrection of Christ and God's promise
to raise all believers with a glorious body (1 Cor. 15),
enables us to obey Christ even in the face of death, in the
hope of resurrection.

Even though Jacob was in the most prosperous nation on earth,
he blessed his children in hope of God's promises instead, and
Joseph, requested his bones to be buried in the promised land.

Than worldly pleasures (11:23-29)

Christ is better than worldly pleasures, because worldly
pleasures are only "passing", but Christ is a permanent
reward. Moses could have had all the pleasures of Egypt, but
endured ill treatment with his people instead. He also did
not fear what Pharaoh would do to him because of faith in
Christ. This should motivate believers to choose the
permanent possession of Christ over the passing pleasures of
sin, and to endure ill treatment for their faith in Christ.

Than worldly power (11:30-35)

Christ is better than worldly power, because He gives present
and future victory over sin, evil, and death. Many who
believed God's promise to give them the land of Canaan fought
bravely and gained victory over the enemies of God. Those who
did not believe in God's promise to give them victory and an
inheritance, wandered in the wilderness of sin and died.
Christ corresponds to the believers promised inheritance land,
and by faith in His death and resurrection we gain victory
over guilt, sin and evil in this present life, and receive an
eternal inheritance in glory (cf. Rom. 6 - 8).

Than worldly peace (11:36 - 12:3)

Christ is better than worldly peace, because He alone provides
resurrection from the dead (cf. 1 Cor. 15). Such hope
motivated people of God to endure reproach, torture, and
poverty for their faith.

Hebrews 12

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
11) By enduring trials

Chapter 12 gives several reasons to endure trials for our
faith in Christ.

Because witnesses surround us (1).

All the examples of faith in chapter 11 refer to believers who
endured trials in hope of a better inheritance than the world
has to offer. Such faith motivated them to brave obedience,
and resulted in a better reward.

Because Jesus endured the cross (2-3).

By focusing on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith,
we may remain confident of our inheritance. Jesus endured
great hostility, shame, and death to secure the benefits of
our salvation, and this should motivate us to endure trials
for hope in Him.

Because chastening proves sonship (4-8).

One of the reasons we face hardships and testing is because we
are children of God. God disciplines believers like a father
corrects his children. The fact that we can't get away with
sin proves we are children of God, and this should encourage
us to endure His painful corrections.

Because discipline yields fruit (9-17).

Like the discipline a child receives from his father, God's
chastening is first sorrowful to us, but then bears the fruit
of righteous living in our lives. Knowing this should make
hardship easier to endure. Although in our standing, we are
separated from sin and consecrated to God once for all in
Christ, God continues to conform us more and more to the image
of His son in our daily experience. This grace calls for holy
living. Esau rejected the hope of his inheritance to escape
the pressure of daily trials, and was then unable to
experience the benefits of his inheritance during life on
earth.

Because inheritance awaits us (18-24).

A heavenly city and the fellowship of believers and God await
those who remain confident in Christ as their inheritance (cf.
Rev. 21-22). These benefits are better than anything which
can be gained on earth, because material things have been
shaken in the past and will be shaken in the future, so that
only God's eternal inheritance will remain.

Because God is consuming fire (25-29).

Those who refused God's promised inheritance under the OT
covenant did not escape the severe discipline of God. Since
God will shake away all those material things in which we
might be tempted to place our hope, and since God now warns us
from heaven instead of earth, we should be grateful for His
promised inheritance, and stand in awe of God.

Hebrews 13

Theme: Remain Confident in Christ

B) Ways
12) By offering grateful service

Chapter 12 closed with the instruction to "show gratitude, by
which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence
and awe..." (28 NAS). Chapter 13 seems to immediately follow
with several ways to offer grateful service.

1) By loving the brethren (1); 2) by showing hospitality to
strangers (2); 3) by sympathizing with christian prisoners
(3); 4) by keeping marriage pure (from fornication and
adultery); 5) by staying content (because God is present); 6)
by imitating faithful leaders (7); 7) by standing firm in
doctrine (8-10); 8) by separating from false teachers
(11-14); 9) by giving thanks to God (15); 10) by sharing with
others (16); 11) by obeying your leaders (17); 12) by praying
for missionaries (18-19); 13) by relying on God's grace
(20-21).

Verses 20-21 again seem to confirm that these instructions
explain how to serve God acceptably. We have already been
told that without faith it is impossible to serve God, and
here we are told that God is the one who equips and works in
us to serve Him in a pleasing way (cf. Eph. 2:8-10; Php.
2:13). Romans 6 explains it is faith in the death and
resurrection of Christ, and the fact the indwelling Holy
Spirit has placed us into this work which empowers us to yield
our members as instruments of righteousness to God.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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1 Corinthians

Book: 1 Corinthians

Purpose:

* To correct moral problems reported to Paul (1:10-11; cf.
chapters
1-6)
* To answer questions they asked in a previous letter (7:1;
cf.
chapters 7-15)
* To announce Paul's plan to visit Corinth (16:5-18)

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1:10-4:21)
B. Immorality (5:1-13; 6:9-20)
C. Lawsuits (6:1-8)

2. For answering questions (7-16)
A. About marriage (7:1-40)
B. About the exercise of liberty (8 - 11:1)
C. About worship (11:2-34)
D. About spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40)
E. About the resurrection (15:1-58)
F. About a collection for the saints (16:1-9)

Text: 1 Corinthians 1

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1:10-4:21)

To correct divisions which occurred over boasting about human
leaders 12-13), ceremonies (14-17), wisdom and power (18-31),
Paul preached Christ, the only wisdom and power which results
in personal salvation (1-9; 18-31).

Text: 1 Corinthians 2

Theme: Christ is the wisdom of God...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1:10-4:21)

Having shown that boasting about the leadership, ceremonies,
or "wisdom" of men creates divisions, chapter one presented
Christ as the only wisdom which results in salvation from the
penalty, power, or presence of sin. With this in mind,
chapter two continues to direct believer's focus to the wisdom
of God in Christ (1-5). Unsaved people are not able to
understand this wisdom (indeed, it seems "foolish" to them),
since God only reveals it to believer's minds through the
indwelling Holy Spirit (6-16).

Text: 1 Corinthians 3

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1:10-4:21)

Chapter three continues the theme that believers should boast
of Christ, not human leaders or wisdom (1-4; 18; 23).

This is because boasting of human leaders causes jealousy and
strife (3-4), because christian leaders are only servants of
Christ (5), because God is the one who causes spiritual birth
and growth (6-7), because God is the one who will reward his
servants (8-15), because the Holy Spirit indwells believers
(16-17), because the wisdom of the world is foolishness before
God (8-20), and because god, not human leaders or wisdom, is
the source of every blessing to the believer (22-23).

Text: 1 Corinthians 4

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
A. Divisions (1:10-4:21)

Chapter four corrects the root problem of the Corinthian
divisions (pride: 6-7), by instructing them to regard (1-7)
and imitate (8-21) christian leaders as servants of Christ.

Because christians leaders are "servants of Christ" (lit.
"subordinates"), Christ--not believers--will be the One to
judge their motives and issue their praise (1-5). This proper
evaluation of status should keep believers from the
"arrogance" of either exalting or passing judgment on human
leaders (6). Believers should regard christian leaders as
servants of Christ.

Since all blessings come from God, believers should imitate
the humility of Christ's servants rather than boast as if they
were "superior", or self made kings (7-8). In contrast to the
celebrity ("prudent", "strong", "distinguished") attitude the
Corinthians displayed, servants of Christ are "fools", "weak",
"without honor", "hungry and thirsty", "poorly clothed",
"roughly treated", "homeless", and hard workers (11-12). They
try to "conciliate" when they are slandered, and "have become
as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until
now" (13). This does not mean christians should afflict or
"lower" themselves, but that they should credit God for any
benefit they enjoy, and imitate the humble example of Christ's
servants.

Chapter four corrects the root problem of the Corinthian
divisions (pride), by instructing them to regard and imitate
christian leaders as servants of Christ.

Text: 1 Corinthians 5

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
B. Immorality (5:1-13; 6:9-20)

Chapter five instructs christians not to associate with
immoral "so-called" believers.

Apparently someone in the congregation was having an affair
with his unsaved mother-in-law (1). Paul called the
Corinthian's "arrogant for putting up with this (2), and
determined to deliver the man to Satan for chastisement (3-5).
Although believers are not supposed to judge other christian's
motives (4:1-5), they should judge the acts of "believers" who
blatantly sin (12-13).

Leaven, in the Bible, pictures the permeating, corrupting
influence of sin (Ex. 12:15; Lev. 2:11; Matt. 16:6; Gal. 5:9).
Since believers are purified by Christ's atonement (typified
in the sacrifice of the passover lamb: Exodus 12:1-20), they
are like the unleavened bread of the OT passover and NT
communion feast. Paul uses believer's "unleavened" (cleansed)
position in Christ, to illustrate the importance of purging
any "leaven" (permeating influence of sin) from among them
(6-8). This does not mean they must avoid associating with
immoral people of the world--for this would be impossible
(9-10). Rather, he insisted they remove any immoral "so-called
brother" from among them (11-13).

Text: 1 Corinthians 6

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

1. For correcting moral problems (1-6)
B. Immorality (5:1-13; 6:9-20)
C. Lawsuits (6:1-8)

Chapter 6 warns christians to let the church settle their
disputes (1-8), and flee immorality (9-20).

Since christians are competent to judge disputes (2-5), and
suing another christian in secular court injures the testimony
of Christ (6-8), believers should let the church decide their
case.

Because those who continue to practice immorality will not
enter heaven (9-10), because believers were "washed",
"sanctified", and "justified" in Christ (11), because
immorality is not profitable (12), because God will raise our
bodies and has joined them to Christ (13-17), because
immorality is a sin against one's own body (18), because
believer's bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (19), and
because believers have been "bought with a price" (20), they
should glorify God in their body, by fleeing immorality.

Chapter 6 warns christians to let the church settle their
disputes, and flee immorality.

Text: 1 Corinthians 7

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
A. About marriage (7:1-40)

Having corrected problems reported by the household of Chloe
in chapters 1-6 (cf. 1:11; 5:1), chapters 7-16 now turn to
answering questions the Corinthians asked in a letter to Paul
(7:1). Chapter seven answers questions about the relation of
marriage to celibacy (1-9), divorce (10-16), vocation (17-24),
and virgins (25-38).

The relation of marriage to celibacy (1-9). For those who are
unmarried, and widows, it is good to remain single (1), but
only if they have the gift of self control--that is, they do
not burn--in which case they should marry (9b).

By contrast, those who are married should maintain physical
relations because of immoralities (2), Satan's tempting, and
lack of self control (5). Both husband and wife have
authority over each other's body (3-4), and should only
suspend physical relations 1) if they both agree to, 2) only
for an agreed upon length of time, and 3) for the purpose of
devotion to prayer (5). This temporary suspension of physical
relations for prayer is only a concession for those who sought
it, and not a command for all married couples to follow (6).

The relation of marriage to divorce (10-16). A married couple
should not get divorced (10-11), and should either be
reconciled to one another or remain single if they do (11). In
the case where a saved person is married to an unsaved person,
they too should stay married, because this renders a gospel
influence on the unsaved person and children (12-14).

Nevertheless, if an unbelieving partner wants to divorce a
believer, the believer should let them go (15-16). There is
some debate about whether the believer is free to remarry.
Some see the phrase, "the brother or sister is not under
bondage in such cases" as meaning the believer is free to
remarry, noting there is no command to "remain unmarried" as
there was for two believers who get a divorce (cf. 11).
Others believe it simply means the believer is not obligated
to prevent a divorce, and in no way authorizes remarriage,
referring also to such passages as Mark 10:11, which says it
is adultery for someone to marry a person who has been
divorced.

The instructions about divorce were "I say, not the Lord".
This does not mean the instructions are not authoritative,
because Paul spoke by inspiration of the Spirit (cf. 40).
Rather, it probably means Paul was addressing a subject which
the Lord had not.

The relation of marriage to vocation (17-24). Generally,
christians should not worry about changing their vocation, but
are free to improve their status (e.g., a slave becoming
free).

The relation of marriage to virgins (25-38). There is some
difference of view as to whether this instruction is
authoritative, since it comes as Paul's "opinion", and not as
a "command of the Lord". Some see this as merely advice from
Paul, which is not binding. Others point that the word
"opinion" means "judgment", and, as stated above, the fact
that the instruction was not a "command of the Lord" may only
mean that the Lord didn't address the subject, not necessarily
that the instruction is not from God. This view may be
supported by the statement, in vs. 40, that Paul was speaking
by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Certainly "all
Scripture is God breathed", and "profitable for doctrine",
etc. (2 Tim. 3:16).

Basically, the instruction to virgins is that it is better to
remain single, but not a sin to marry (38). The reasons Paul
judged it better for virgins to remain single are: 1) because
a time of distress was either upon or soon coming upon
christians (26-28), 2) because the world was passing away, and
those who are married are more concerned about things of the
world (29-32), and 3) because remaining single promotes
undistracted service to Christ, whereas marriage tends to
divide one's interests (32-35). It is good to marry, but
better to remain single (providing one has the gift (cf. 8-9).

Verses 39-40 add that widows are free to remarry as long as
they marry a believer, but that they would probably be happier
if they remain single (provided they have the gift of self
control--cf. 8-9).

Chapter seven answers questions about the relation of marriage
to celibacy, divorce, vocation, and virgins.

Text: 1 Corinthians 8

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
B. About the exercise of liberty (8 - 11:1)

Chapter 8 tells strong believers (those who know they are
free, in Christ, to do that which the Bible does not forbid)
to let love, rather than knowledge, govern the exercise of
their liberty.

A strong believer knows, for example, that an idol and meat
offered to an idol is nothing, and that he is free to eat such
meat. A weak believer, if he came from a background of idol
worship, may not have this knowledge. Their conscience would
be defiled if they ate this meat. In such cases, a strong
believer should avoid using his knowledge (of liberty)
in such a way as might encourage a weak believer to do
something his conscience tells him is wrong. Rather, the
strong believer should let love for the weak brother govern
his exercise of liberty.

Text: 1 Corinthians 9

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
B. About the exercise of liberty (8 - 11:1)

Having stated, in chapter 8, that strong believers should let
love govern the exercise of their liberty, chapter 9 shows
examples of this in the ministry of Paul.

Although, as an apostle, Paul had the authority to make a
living off the gospel ministry (1-18), he supported himself,
to remain credible to those he preached to in Corinth. Even
though he was free, in Christ, to do those things the Bible
does not forbid, he curbed the exercise of this liberty to
avoid offending people he ministered to (19-23), adapting
himself to them, yet remaining obedient to christ (21).
Yielding one's rights in this manner requires personal
discipline like that of an athlete (24-27).

The statement in verse 27, "...I keep under my body, and bring
it into subjection lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" does not
mean someone can loose their salvation if they don't play by
the rules. What it means is that a person can be disqualified
for personal rewards. The picture is of the Greek games,
where someone who steps out of bounds is disqualified
from the event. This did result in the loss of their Greek
citizenship, only their chance for reward. In the same way,
being "unapproved", or "cast away" means a believer can loose
rewards, not their heavenly citizenship or salvation.

Chapter 9 shows, from the ministry of Paul, how strong
believers (when necessary to promote the gospel or avoid
offending weaker christians) should yield their liberty.

Text: 1 Corinthians 10

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
B. About the exercise of liberty (8 - 11:1)

Apparently, some Corinthian believers thought their liberty in
Christ permitted them not only to eat meat offered to idols,
but also to participate in pagan feasts (20-21). Chapter 10
warns believers to flee immoral extremes in the exercise of
liberty.

God liberated Israel from bondage in Egypt, but severely
chastened most of them for using their liberty to engage in
immorality and idolatry (1-10). Since God chastens such
believers, provides a way of escape from such temptation
(11-13), and unites believers in one body of Christ (15-22),
He urges them to flee immoral use of liberty (11-14), give no
offense to other's conscience, and glorify God in all they do
(23-33).

Chapter 10 warns believers to flee immoral extremes in the
exercise of liberty.

Text: 1 Corinthians 11

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
C. About worship (11:2-34)

While verse 1 seems to belong at the end of chapter 10, verses
2-16 deal with the place of women in worship, and 17-34 with a
proper conduct at the Lord's Supper.

The place of women in worship (2-16). God's order of
authority is "that Christ is the head of every man, and the
man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ"
(3). The reason for woman being under the authority of man is
because "the woman is the glory of man" (7b), "man does not
originate from woman, but woman from man" (8), and because
"indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman
for the man's sake" (9).

Although woman is subordinate to man in her role in life, she
is equal to man in her position in Christ (11-12; Galatians
3:28). This type of relationship is illustrated in the person
of Christ. Although Christ is equal to God in position
(Philippians 2:6ff.), He always submits to the will of the
Father in His role and practice (cf. Hebrews 10:7-9).

As a result of God's order of authority, women should cover
their heads when praying or prophesying. There is some
difference of interpretation as to whether women should pray
or prophesy in church, whether she must wear a covering (other
than that of long hair) when praying and prophesying, and
whether this practice of head covering is merely a local
custom of Paul's day, or a principle of submission throughout
the ages.

With regard to whether women should pray and prophesy in
church, some think this passage indicates they may, since it
seems to refer to this practice in the Corinthian church, and
since the instruction seems aimed mainly at a proper show of
submission in the exercise of these functions. Further, verse
16 seems to refer to the instructions about women praying and
prophesying as a practice of "the churches of God".

Others think women are not permitted to pray, prophesy, or
speak in church, citing the reference in 1 Corinthians 14,
where women are to remain "silent", and wait till they get
home to ask questions of their husband. Also cited is 1
Timothy 2:11-12, "Let a woman quietly receive instruction with
entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or
exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet."

Those who hold this view say either that praying or
prophesying in 1 Corinthians 11 refers to that which would
occur outside the public worship service, or that the
reference to women praying and prophesying no more endorses
that practice than the following mention of gluttony and
divisions in the church endorses those practices. They say
the emphasis is only on the fact that it's insubordinate for
a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered.

With regard to whether a woman must wear a head covering, or
her long hair constitutes a covering, some believe the long
hair is given, lit. "instead" of a covering, while others
point that verse 15 uses a different word for covering than do
verses 5-6. Under the latter view, the point is that as hair
represents a proper covering in the natural realm, so a veil
represents a proper covering in the religious.

Finally, there is difference of interpretation as to whether
this passage is merely a local custom in the time of Paul, or
a principle of submission for all ages. Some say this
instruction concerned only the local situation in Corinth,
that it is entirely a cultural issue, and is not binding on
people today. Others point that the entire Bible was written
in the context of local, cultural situations, and that to
dismiss this passage on that principle renders the entire
Bible irrelevant. Those who hold this latter view also refer
to the fact that Paul's reasons were based on God's chain of
authority (3), His design in creation (7-9), and the presence
of angels in the meeting (10), none of which are based on
contemporary social customs.

It is clear, from this passage, that, women are equal to men
in their position in christ, but should voluntarily show
submission in their role and function, just as Christ is equal
but submissive to God the Father.

Proper conduct at the Lord's Supper (17-34). Apparently,
there were divisions and gluttony at the Corinthian's
gathering for the Lord's Supper. Some were eating all the food
and getting drunk, while others were coming to the feast and
leaving hungry. Paul reminded them that the Lord's Supper was
for the purpose of remembering Christ's person, saving work,
and future return (23-26).

Since partaking of this meal in an unworthy manner could
result in God's discipline (including sickness or physical
death--30-32) he warned them to examine themselves before
eating it. Much has been made of examining one's self prior
to the Lord's Supper, and what this may involve. The context
of the chapter, however, clearly is referring to the attitude
of those who had been divisive, or gluttons toward those who
had left the supper hungry. This is supported by the summary
instruction (33-34), "So then, my brethren, when you come
together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry,
let him eat at home, so that you may not come to gather for
judgment."

The purpose of the Lord's supper is to remember Christ's
redemptive work on our behalf, and His future return.
Examining ourselves before partaking of this meal is not a
time when we are supposed to afflict ourselves with guilt over
our sins, but when we are supposed to make sure we have the
right attitude and conduct towards our christian brother.

Chapter 11 answers questions about the proper order in
christian worship.

Text: 1 Corinthians 12

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
D. About spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40)

Chapter 12 shows the nature (1-11) and purpose of spiritual
gifts (12-24).

The nature of the gifts (1-11). Verses 1-3 may indicate that
one reason for the misunderstanding of spiritual gifts was
because of false teachers among the Corinthians. A true
teacher acknowledges that Christ is both man and Lord (cf. 1
Jn. 4:1-3), and this standard would help to discern false
teachers from true. The truth then, about spiritual gifts,
was that one Lord, God, and Spirit gives a variety of
gifts to the body of Christ (4-11).

The purpose of the gifts (12-31). The Spirit gave a variety
of gifts to different members, to prevent divisions, and
promote the health an growth of the body (25). Like a human
body, different parts must work together to function as a
unit. This means one member cannot claim no need for another,
that all members cannot perform the same function,
and that all members should exercise their specific function
for the good of the body.

Text: 1 Corinthians 13

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
D. About spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40)

Chapter 13 shows why love is a more excellent work of the
Spirit in a believer's life than spiritual gifts.

First, love is more profitable than other gifts (1-3). All
the gifts mentioned, here (speaking in tongues, prophecy,
knowledge, and faith to move mountains) are not necessarily
evidence of God's saving work on behalf of an individual (cf.
Matthew 6:2; Luke 18:11-12; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14;
Matt. 7:22-23; Luke 10:17; etc.), nor do they necessarily
result in the growth and well-being of the church.

Love, however, is profitable, in that it is the supreme fruit
and evidence of God's saving work on a believer's behalf (cf.
Galatians 5:22-23), and results in the well-being and growth
of the church (cf. Eph. 4:16-17).

Next, love is more perfect than other gifts (4-7). As
evidenced in the Corinthian church, an abundance of spiritual
gifts did not necessarily result in the growth or well being
of the church body. These other gifts can be used in a proud
and selfish way which actually creates divisions (cf. chapter
12).

By contrast, love is patient (lit. long in spirit; suffers
wrong without quickly becoming vengeful), kind (tendency to do
good to others), not jealous (not envious of others), does not
brag and is not arrogant (is humble, does not boast of self,
does not inflate their self estimate), does not act
unbecomingly (rude; cf. chapter 11, how the people ate the
Lord's supper while others went hungry), does not seek its own
(seeks the interests and well being of others rather than
self), is not provoked (easily angered), does not take into
account a wrong suffered (doesn't keep a record of offenses
others have committed against them--cf. chapter 6:1-8), does
not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth
(cf. incident with immorality--chapter 5), bears all things
(puts up with wrongs suffered), believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things (probably with Christ as the object
of saving faith--cf. Hebrews 12:1ff). These are the
perfections, or completeness of love.

Finally, love is more permanent than the other gifts (8-13).
It is a fruit of the Spirit, which not only withstands present
opposition, but also which will abide in believers throughout
eternity. All the other gifts will cease prior to the time
when that which is "perfect" comes. There is some debate as
to what this means. Some think it refers to the time when the
Bible is complete. Others believe the more natural
understanding is that it speaks of the future return of
Christ, when we will see Him "face to face". In either case,
all the other gifts will cease prior to the end of the church
age, and none are as excellent as love. Even in later
epistles, there is no mention of these other temporary gifts.
For example, Paul, who had previously been given the sign gift
of ability to heal people who so much as touched a
handkerchief from him, later had to tell Timothy to "take a
little wine for his stomach's sake" (1 Timothy 5:23).

Love is "a more excellent way", because it is more profitable
than other spiritual gifts, is more perfect in its quality,
and more permanent in its duration.

Text: 1 Corinthians 14

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
D. About spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40)

Chapter 14 continues the thought that love is the most
important work of the Spirit in a believer's life. As such,
believers should desire to minister in a way which will build
up the whole church and glorify God, rather than edify or
exalt one's self. This involves preferring prophecy over
tongues (1-26), order in the worship service (26-33),
and personal submission (34-40).

To edify the body, one must prefer prophecy over tongues
(1-26). Prophecy, in Bible times, included the ministry of
foretelling events, and forthtelling God's message to men.
Before the Bible was completed, prophets received direct,
revelation from God. Since the Bible has been completed,
there is a sense in which this gift is no longer in effect.
The book of Revelation says not to add or subtract from the
words of that book. Since Revelation is complete in its scope
(giving details of events which will consummate God's program
with man), was the last book written or endorsed by an apostle
of Christ, and since all Scripture is equally inspired, our
Bible is the final and complete Word of God to man. In the
sense of receiving new revelation from God, then, the gift of
prophecy has ceased.

But if one understands prophecy in the sense described in
verse 3, "one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and
exhortation and consolation", the gift may still be in effect.
When someone preaches or teaches from the Bible, they are
speaking to the edification, exhortation, and consolation of
believers. While they do not receive any additional
revelation from God, they do prophecy in the sense of
forthtelling God's message to men, when they teach what the
Bible says.

Prophecy is more edifying to the body than the gift of tongues
because "One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one
who prophesies edifies the church" (4; cf. 1-19); i.e. many
would not even be able to understand what a person who is
speaking in tongues is saying.

Further, tongues were intended as a sign for unbelieving Jews,
whereas prophesy is for believers (20-22). Also, if an
unsaved person came into an assembly and heard people speaking
in tongues, he would conclude they were mad, whereas if he
heard them prophesying, "he is convicted by all, he is called
to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and
so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that
God is certainly among you" (24-25). To edify the body, one
must prefer prophecy over tongues.

Next, to edify the body, one must conduct themselves in an
orderly fashion (26-33). When the believers in Corinth
prophesied, they were all speaking at the same time. Believers
were supposed to wait their turn, because this would enable
others to understand what was being said, and because, "God is
not a God of confusion but of peace, as in
all the churches of the saints." To edify the body, one must
conduct themselves in an orderly fashion.

Finally, to edify the body, one must submit themselves to
God's authority (34-40). This passage instructs women to
"keep silent in the churches", and wait till they get home to
ask questions of their husbands (34-35). The reasons given
are because, "they are not permitted to speak", but are
supposed to "subject themselves, just as the Law also says"
(34), because "it is improper for a woman to speak in church"
(35), because it is part of the "Lord's commandment" (37),
and because it is in keeping with God's order (40, cf. 33,
34).

There are variant interpretations of how this passage applies
today. Some think the instructions fit only the specific
cultural situation of Paul's time, and are null today.
However, the entire Bible was written in the context of local,
cultural situations, and to dismiss a passage on this
principle alone renders the entire Bible irrelevant.

Others understand it to mean women are only instructed to
avoid disrupting prophecy with questions. However, if this
were the case, why does it instruct women "not to speak", and
to wait till they get home (rather than just until no one is
prophesying) to ask questions? To edify the body, one must
submit themselves to God's authority and
order.

Believers should seek to minister to the body in a way that
will edify the body, by preferring prophecy to tongues,
conducting themselves in an orderly fashion, and submitting to
God's authority.

Text: 1 Corinthians 15

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
E. About the resurrection (15:1-58)

Chapter 15 gives reasons to believe in resurrection (1-34) and
explains the nature of resurrection (35-58).

Reasons to believe in resurrection (1-34).

Because Scripture foretold it (1-4). The gospel message was
that Christ died for our sins and rose the third day
"according to the Scriptures". OT passages predicted Christ's
death (Isaiah 53:5-12), and resurrection (Psalm 16:8ff; cf.
Acts 2:24-32). Luke 16:31 says that if someone doesn't
believe the testimony of Scripture about the fact of hell,
they would not be persuaded even if someone from hell
rose and warned them. Thus, Scripture is a chief reason to
believe in resurrection from the dead.

Because salvation depends on it (12-19). If there is no
resurrection, then Christ did not rise from the dead. If
Christ did not rise from the dead, then His payment for sin
was ineffective. If His payment for sin was ineffective, then
believers are still in their sins, their dead loved ones are
gone forever, and their faith and preaching is vain. Salvation
depends on Christ's resurrection from the dead.

Because God's glory requires it (20-28). One of God's grand
purposes is to put all things in subjection to Christ, who
will then will then subject Himself to God, and thus, God will
be seen as the supreme victor and object of glory. The last
enemy to be put in subjection to Christ is death itself. If
there is no resurrection, then Christ will not have shown
Himself the victor over death, and God will not be "all
in all". God's glory requires resurrection.

Because resurrection hope motivates godly living (29-34). If
one did not have the hope of rising from the dead, they would
live by the principle, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we
die." Those who do not believe in resurrection will only look
for ways to enjoy life while they can. The hope of
resurrection, on the other hand, gives believers courage to
endure hardships and danger for God. This is what gave Paul
courage when forced to fight wild beasts at Ephesus
(32).

There are many proposals as to what verse 29 means. One view
is that "those...who are baptized for the dead" refers to a
heretical teaching which influenced the Corinthians, and
taught you could insure the dead of heaven by being baptized
for them. Another is that it refers to people who became
believers and were baptized because of the testimony
of christians who had since died.

The most likely meaning seems to be that it refers to new
believers, who, by being baptized, publicly testify to their
faith, thus taking the place of believers who have died. In
that sense, they are baptized "in the place of" (another
literal meaning of the grammar) dead believers. The passage
certainly does not teach that one can insure a dead person of
heaven by being baptized for them. This idea is taught
nowhere in the Bible, contradicts Paul's statement that
Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (1
Cor. 1:17), and teaches a gospel other than salvation by
grace, apart from works (cf. Galatians 1:9).

The nature of resurrection (35-58). As a seed is dead when it
is put in the ground, but grows into a new form of living
plant, so believers, though they are placed in the ground
dead, will be raised with a new body (cf. Romans 8:18-25).
Resurrection bodies will be glorious (39-41,43), imperishable
(42), immortal (53), powerful (43), spiritual (44-48), and
will bear the image of Christ's body (49). Believers will
receive resurrection bodies instantly (51-52), whether
they are dead or alive (51), at the time when Christ returns
to rapture the church (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Chapter 15 gives reasons to believe in resurrection and
explains the nature of resurrection.

Text: 1 Corinthians 16

Theme: Christ is God's wisdom...

2. For answering questions (7-16)
F. About a collection for the saints (16:1-9)
G. About relating to God's servants (16:10-24)

The hope of resurrection motivates believers to "be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" (15:58).
In light of this hope, chapter 16 gives instructions about
giving to those in need (16:1-9), and regarding God's servants
(10-24).

Giving to those in need (1-9). Paul sought to collect an
offering to help Jewish believers who were in need (cf. 3). So
he wouldn't have to make collections upon arrival, he asked
each one to 1) on Sunday, 2) set aside a donation, 3)
according as God prospered them. He would send the offering
by delegates from the Corinthians church (3-4), hoped to
arrive after his trip through Macedonia (5) to spend some
time with them (7), but would remain in Ephesus till
Pentecost, because a door for ministry had been opened to him
there (8-9).

Regarding God's servants (10-24). Paul instructed them not to
despise Timothy (10-11), that Apollos would come to them when
he could (12), to subject themselves to the household of
Stephanas ("and everyone who helps in the work and labors"),
and "acknowledge such men" (17-18). Other brief instructions
include, "be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like
men, be strong", and "Let all that you do be done in love"
(13-14). He closed with greetings from the churches of Asia,
other brethren who were with him, his own hand (10-21), and
blessings in Christ (22-24).

In light of hope in resurrection, chapter 16 instructs
believers to give to those in need and regard God's servants.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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1 Peter

1 Peter

Background:

Apparently, Peter wrote to believers who were suffering for
their faith (some form of the word "suffer" appears 16 times
in the book). Part of the reason for their suffering may have
been because unsaved Gentiles slandered them (2:12; 3:16),
perhaps for refusing to engage in a sinful lifestyle (4:4).
The situation of these believers is described as a "fiery
trial" (1:7; 4:12), so the letter comforts and instructs them
on how to deal with it.

Contents:

Peter seems to summarize the letter in 5:12: "I have written
to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true
grace of God. Stand firm in it!" (NAS). Chapter one begins
by explaining how God's grace offers the believer an eternal
inheritance and glory which will be revealed at the appearing
of Christ. Fixing his hope on this grace should motivate the
believer to endure trials (1:3-13), lead a holy life
(1:14-21), show love for the brethren (1:22 - 2:11), get under
authority (2:12 - 3:7), pursue peace (3:9-12), prepare for
suffering (3:13 - 4:19), humble himself (5:1-7), and watch out
for the devil (5:8-11). This kind of conduct also serves as a
testimony of God's grace to the unsaved, and helps silences
their slander.

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ (1:1-13)

1) By staying pure (1:14-21)
2) By loving the brethren (1:22 - 2:11)
3) By getting under authority (2:12 - 3:7)
4) By pursuing peace (3:8-12)
5) By preparing to suffer (3:13-4:19)
6) By making yourself low (5:1-7)
7) By watching for the devil (5:8-11)

1 Peter 1

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ (1:13)

1) By rejoicing in trials

There seem to be several reasons to rejoice in trials:

A) Because inheritance awaits us (3-4)

By grace, God saves you from the penalty, power, and presence
of your sin (1-2). Delivering you from the power of sin
involves suffering. But by raising Christ from the dead, God
assures you that you too will rise with a glorious body like
His (1 Cor. 15). Eternal life in a glorified body and the
presence of God awaits those who now suffer for their faith,
and this should motivate you to fix your hope on God (cf. Rev.
21-22).

B) Because God secures your salvation (5)

God's power protects believers, so that none whom He saves
from the penalty of sin (justifies at the moment they believe)
will fail to also be saved from the presence of their sin in
glory (Rom. 8:30). Nothing is able to separate you from this
love of God (8:31ff.), and this should motivate you to fix
your hope on the glory Christ will bring you.

C) Because testing results in praise (6-7)

In your position before God, you are set apart from sin and
consecrated to God once for all by faith in Christ (Heb. 10; 2
Cor. 5:21). In your daily experience, though, God conforms
you more and more to the image of Christ (Rom. 12). This
process involves testing to purify your faith, but will result
in praise, glory, and honor at the appearing of Christ. Such
praise should motivate you to fix your hope on the grace
Christ will bring.

D) Because rejoicing taps future blessings (8-12)

By faith, you may tap the enjoyment of your future blessings
in Christ, while going through trials on earth. Such faith
results in great rejoicing and "joy inexpressible and full of
glory".

2) By staying pure (13-21)

Since the grace of glory awaits you at His appearing, you
should fix your hope on Christ. This letter explains a number
of ways to do this, and the first is by staying pure. These
verses seem to offer several reasons:

A) Because God is Holy (14-16)

Since you are children of God through faith in Christ (cf.
Gal. 3), and God is Holy, you too should "be holy", allowing
yourself to be conformed to Christ, rather than the sinful
lusts God has saved, and is saving you from (cf. Rom. 12).

B) Because God judges your works (17)

Christ bore the judgment for your sins once for all (Rom.
3:25ff.), so you will never be judged in the sense of having
to pay for your sin. God, however, does judge believers in
the sense of disciplining them as His children, up to and
including physical death (1 Cor. 11:30ff.; Heb. 12; 1 John
5:16). 1 Cor. 3 also seems to say He judges your works,
burning away anything which is not in conformity with the
standard of Christ.

C) Because Christ's blood redeemed us (18-21)

Christ's sinless blood not only satisfied all God's righteous
demands against your sin (Rom. 3:25; 1 John 2:2), but also, it
purchased you out of the slave market of sin. The Holy Spirit
so unites believers to the person and work of Christ, that, in
our position before God, we have actually died with Him to
sin, and been raised with Him to newness of life. This frees
you not only from obligation to the death penalty of the Law,
but also from obligation to yield to your sinful nature (Rom.
6:1-14). Since Christ purchased you with His "precious"
blood, He owns you (1 Cor. 6:12-20), and you should now yield
your members as slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:1-14), in hope
of future glory (Rom. 8).

1 Peter 2

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

2) By staying pure (cont') (1:22 - 2:12)
D) Because sin injures your brother (1:22 - 2:3)

Verse 22 tells us to "fervently love one another from the
heart". Christ commanded us to love one another (John 13:34;
15:12), and love means sacrificial concern (John 15:13).
Holiness puts away sin which could injure your brother. God's
word shows us how.

2:1 says "Therefore", that is, since believers were born of
the word of God, and since this word is living and abiding,
believers should put away "all malice [ill will] and guile
[craftiness or deceit] and hypocrisy [fake living] and envy [a
corrupting desire for what others have] and all slander [lit.
"to speak down", "to defame", "speak evil of"]" (NAS).

God uses faith in His word not only to impart spiritual life
in the first place, but also to deliver us from the power of
sin in our daily walk (Rom. 10:17; 6:1-14; Heb. 5:11 -
6:20ff.) You should long for the spiritual food in God's
word, so you may grow in the likeness of Christ, which is
holiness (cf. Heb. 5:11ff.). Holiness shows love for the
brethren.

E) Because holiness convicts the lost (2:4-12)

Verses 4-10 explain how God uses individual believers, as
"living stones", to build a spiritual body known as the
church. This body is also referred to as "a chosen race",
"royal Priesthood", "Holy nation", and a "People for God's Own
Possession" (9 NAS).

One of God's purposes in making you part of a holy people, is
to "proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light" (9 NAS). Leading a holy
life silences the slander of the lost (15), wins them to our
gospel (3:1), and brings glory to God (2:12). Holiness
convicts the lost.

1 Peter 2B

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

3) By getting under authority (2:12 - 3:7)

Suffering makes it difficult to fix your hope on Christ.
Several reasons christians suffer are because the lost slander
them, because they do wrong, or because they are treated
unjustly. Because it helps silence slander (15), prevents
suffering for wrong doing (19-20), follows the example of
Christ (21-25), and wins the lost (3:1-2), getting under
authority helps you fix your hope on Christ when suffering.
This passage shows several ways to get under authority.

A) By keeping the law (13-17)

To submit means to "rank yourself under", and "obey". These
verses tell us to obey secular law. God has established the
governing authorities with the right to avenge His wrath on
evil-doers, and praise those who do right (cf. Rom. 13:1ff.).
When you keep the law, you are getting under God's authority.
Keeping the law would include avoiding crime (cf. Rom.
13:1-5), and paying your taxes (cf. Rom. 13:6-7). When you
obey the law, you don't have to worry about being punished, or
violating your conscience (Rom. 13:5). Keeping the law also
serves as a witness to the lost, and helps you silence slander
from unbelievers (1 Pet. 2:15). You get under authority by
keeping the law.

B) By complying with your boss (18-20)

This passage was written to "oiketai" ("household or domestic
servants"), rather than "douloi" (the word usually used for
"slaves"). The principle of getting under authority may also
apply to your boss at work. According to these words, you
should submit to them with all respect, even if they are
"harsh" or "unreasonable" (from "skolios": meaning "bent" or
"not straight", and from which we get the word "scoliosis").

It is of no benefit to suffer for wrong doing, but if you
endure or bear up under unjust suffering, this is "acceptable
with God. The word "acceptable", literally means "grace", or
"favor". The word "with", also means "from". We might
understand this to mean enduring unjust suffering is "grace
from God". It is when you endure unjust suffering, that God
demonstrates His grace though you.

C) By following Christ's example (21-25)

Christ endured unjust suffering to the point of death to pay
for and heal us of our sins. In the process, the lost heaped
abuse on Him, and He felt it. Still, He didn't sin or return
their reproach. When He suffered unjustly, He kept on (tense
of verb notes repeated or continual action) putting Himself in
the hands of God, the righteous Judge.

D) By obeying your husband (3:1-6)

These verses seem to describe a situation where a saved wife
is married to an unsaved husband, although the principle of
submission also applies when both are saved (cf. v 5-6). Even
if an unsaved husband does not himself believe or obey the
word of God, the saved woman should voluntarily rank herself
under him, and obey. This kind of "chaste" and "respectful
behavior" will do more to win the unsaved husband than
words.

For women, submitting to authority seems to also include
dressing modestly, taking more care to show the inner beauty
of a quiet spirit "which is precious in the sight of God."
This is how "holy women" in the OT days "obeyed" their
husbands, like Sarah, who called Abraham "lord".

E) By respecting your wife (3:7)

If you're a husband, the Bible seems to give you three main
responsibilities toward your wife. Ephesians 5 says you
should "love" your wife. This includes giving yourself up for
her well-being, washing her with the word of God, feeding her
spiritual food, and keeping her warm. This verse adds two
more duties: understand and honor your wife.

The word "understand", refers to a type of knowledge you gain
with experience. It comes from a word "ginosko", which means
"to learn", or "come to know". This would apparently include
coming to know how to treat her as a "weaker vessel"
physically.

As a husband, you should also honor your wife as a "co-heir"
of the grace of life, spiritually. Galatians 3:28 says that
both male and female are equal in their spiritual standing as
children of God and heirs of Christ. Ephesians 1 says that
God has blessed all believers with "every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus". This inheritance
awaits husband and wife alike, and therefore husbands should
treat their wives with honor as "co-heirs" of the grace of
God.

How should you understand the instruction for women to submit
to their husbands, since they're equal as heirs of Christ? The
harmony of these two ideas may be seen in the difference
between your spiritual standing before God, and your role in
daily life. For example, Christ told Peter he was an heir of
the King, yet instructed him to pay taxes to secular
government (Mt. 17:25-27).

Or again, Christ is 100% God, yet always submits to the will
of the Father in His role and function (Heb. 10; John 17). In
the same way, women, although equal to their husbands in
their spiritual standing before God, should submit to them in
their role and function. As a husband, you may get under
authority by understanding and honoring your wife.

1 Peter 3B

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

5) By preparing to suffer (13 - 4:19)

All those who live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer
persecution (1 Tim. 3:12). Jesus did, and 1 Pet. 4:1, in
summary of what has been said in 3:13-22, says, "Therefore,
since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also
with the same purpose..." (NAS). There are several ways you
may prepare for suffering:

By making Christ your Lord (13-15a)

Mt. 10:28 says do not fear those who can kill your body, but
are unable to kill your soul, but "rather fear Him who is able
to destroy both soul and body in Hell" (NAS). Romans 8 says
no one can separate you from the love of God, and Hebrews says
that hope of resurrection in Christ can free you from the fear
of physical death.

When you do good works, this helps keep you from suffering for
wrong doing or a guilty conscience, and will "put to shame"
"those who revile your good behavior". By setting Christ
apart from others as the Lord of your heart, you prepare for
suffering in a way which results in good works and helps you
silence your enemies.

By knowing why you hope (15b):

This verse says you should be ready to "make a defense to
everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is
in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (NAS). The hope to
which Peter refers in this letter, is your hope of grace
Christ will bring you at His appearing. Chapter one explains
you will receive an eternal inheritance.

Your basis for this hope is "the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead" (1:3). Since Christ died for your sins,
raising Him from the dead confirmed a sufficient payment, and
that you too will rise from physical death (1 Cor. 15). You
fix your hope on Christ by knowing why you hope, and this
prepares you to suffer and witness to the lost.

C) By keeping your conscience clear (17-22)

It's important, when you're suffering, to know you are not
guilty. Guilt makes you ashamed of the appearing of Christ
(Heb. 10:37-39), and gives the lost a grounds for slandering
you. Romans 2 says your conscience is that internal witness
which either convicts you of your sin, or justifies your
conduct when it is right. If you thrust away the testimony of
your conscience, it can become defiled or seared, so that you
are no longer convicted of error, begin to drift from sound
doctrine, to practice sin, and to embrace lies (Rom. 14 - 15;
2 Cor. 8 - 9; 1 Tim. 1:3ff.; 1:19-20; 6:3-5).

When you "prove zealous for what is good" (13 NAS), though,
your conscience will not convict you, and the lost will be the
ones who are ashamed for slandering you. Your basis for
knowing that you are not guilty, is the death of Christ for
your sins (18). As your High Priest, Christ has, "once for
all", satisfied all God's righteous demands against all sin of
all time (Rom. 3:25-26; Heb. 10). Christ's priesthood
prevails in the heavenly holy of holies, and gives you grounds
for confident access into the very presence of God (Heb.
4:14-16; 6:19-20; 10:10-22).

Christ's death and resurrection not only free you from the
guilt of your sin, they also free you from it's power in your
daily walk with God (Rom. 6:1-14). The Holy Spirit so
baptizes, or places you into the person and work of Christ,
that you have actually died with Him to sin, and been raised
with Him to newness of life. As you know your position in
Christ and count it to be true, you may, by the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit, yield your members as instruments of
righteousness to God, rather than sin. This enables you to
maintain good works and a clear conscience.

Verses 19-22, about Christ preaching to the spirits in prison,
and you being saved by baptism, has yielded much discussion
and various interpretations. The one which seems simplest and
clearest, is that Christ preached "in spirit", through Noah's
testimony during the 120 years he built the ark. Just as
getting into the ark brought Noah safely through the waters of
judgment, delivering Him from the mocking of the lost, so now,
your baptism into the person and work of Christ saves you from
a guilty conscience and the slander of the lost.

Verse 18 is talking about preaching which Christ did "in
spirit". The souls to whom Christ preached, are those in
prison, but which were disobedient during the time when Noah
was preparing the ark. We may understand that these souls are
"now" in prison, but this does not necessarily mean that they
were in prison at the time Christ preached to them.

In Genesis 6, God says His Spirit will not always strive with
man, "nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty
years." 2 Peter 2:5 says that Noah was a "preacher of
righteousness", and that holy men of God spoke as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit (1:21). 1 Peter 1:11 says the
"Spirit of Christ" was in the OT prophets, indicating
spiritual truths through them. Thus, the Spirit of Christ was
in Noah, preaching to the disobedient souls for 120 years
before the flood came.

In the NT, "baptism" (a placing under, or into), can refer to
ritual water baptism, or to the baptism of the Holy Spirit,
which places you into the person and work of Christ. Water
baptism is a picture of spiritual baptism, and serves as a
testimony, but is of no saving value. Verse 21 says that the
type of salvation it is referring to is "not the removal of
dirt from the flesh", as baptism in water would accomplish,
but "an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God.
As entering the ark brought Noah safely through the waters at
the time of the flood, delivering Him not only from judgment,
but also the slander of the lost, so being placed (or
baptized) into the work of Christ saves you from guilt of your
sin, and the slander of the lost. You prepare for suffering by
keeping a clear conscience, through faith in Christ.

1 Peter 4

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

5) By arming yourself against suffering [Con't] (3:13 - 4:19)

Chapter four shows several more reasons and ways to arm
yourself against suffering.

A) Reasons to arm yourself against suffering

Because Christ died to sin (1-3)

Sin causes suffering, but living according to God's will helps
reduce it. Christ died for the kind of suffering which sin
causes, and now lives for God's service. Since you were
baptized into this death and resurrection by the Holy Spirit,
you too, should arm yourself against the kind of suffering
which comes as a result of sin (cf. Rom. 6:1-14), because
Christ died to sin and lives for God.

Because Christ will judge the lost (4-7; 17-19)

Those who run after their sinful lusts will give an account
for their conduct. Christ is ready to judge the living and
the dead (cf. James 5). The end of all things is at hand (cf.
Rev. 20). Even the righteous are chastened for sin during
their life on earth (Heb. 12; 1 Cor. 11:30), and the lost will
suffer much worse (2 Thess. 1:8ff.). You should arm yourself
against suffering with the knowledge that Christ will judge
those who cause you misery.

Because suffering purifies your faith (12-13)

Both chapter one and this passage says that one purpose for
suffering is to "test" (purify?) your faith. James said God
tempts no man, and only sends us things which are good and
perfect. Testing is not to make you sin, but to refine your
faith. Testing will also result in glory at the appearing of
Jesus Christ, and with this reason you should arm yourself
against suffering.

Because suffering glorifies God (14-16)

When you suffer for doing wrong, it is of no value. But 1
Peter 2:20 said that when you suffer for doing what is right,
this is favor from God. It is when you endure suffering for
doing what is right, that God is showing His grace and power
in your life. Knowing this should arm you against suffering.

Because God does what is right (19)

Christ kept on putting His case into the hands of God (2:23),
rather than return abuse, when He suffered unjustly. God is a
"faithful Creator in doing what is right" (cf. Rom. 8:28ff.),
and with this fact, you should arm yourself against suffering.

B) Ways to arm yourself for suffering

By yielding to God's will (4:1-6)

Christ died to sin and lives to newness of life. You were
baptized or placed into this work, so you too should consider
yourself dead to sin and alive to God. By the power of the
indwelling Spirit, you may now yield your members as
instruments of righteousness to God, rather than sin (cf. Rom.
6:1-11).

These verses say you have already spent enough time living for
your lusts before you were saved, and should therefore no
longer pursue the course of the Gentiles. Sin invites
suffering, but yielding to God avoids unnecessary misery. You
should arm yourself against suffering by yielding to God's
will.

By staying sober (7a)

"Sober" comes from roots meaning "salvation", or "to reign
in", and "mind, or midriff". Being sober is like holding the
reigns in on your mind, or midriff, and generally seems to
mean that you think in a way which will result in salvation,
rather than loss or destruction.

The reason to stay sober is because "the end of all things is
at hand". Christ will severely judge the inhabitants of the
earth during the Tribulation (Rev. 4 - 19), and then send the
unsaved, spiritually dead people of all ages to an eternal
destruction away from the presence of God (Rev. 20; cf. 2
Thess. 1:8ff.). Even God's own people are disciplined up to
the point of physical death during their life on earth (1 Pet.
4:18-19; cf. 1 Cor. 11:30; Heb. 12; James 5; 1 John 5).
You should arm yourself against suffering by staying sober.

By loving the brethren (7b-11)

This includes hospitality, avoiding complaints, and applying
your spiritual gift to the needs of the body. When you show
love for the brethren, this helps ease their suffering, and
any suffering you might otherwise endure due to a conscience
which convicts you of failing to love your brother (cf. 1 John
3:16-20). You should arm yourself against suffering by loving
the brethren.

By rejoicing in trials (12-16)

Trials should not surprise you, they are designed to purify
your faith (cf. chapter 1). The degree of suffering you
endure should be the degree to which you continue to rejoice,
since Christ will bring saving grace at His appearing. God's
Spirit of glory rests upon those who are reviled for the name
of Christ. You should arm yourself against suffering by
rejoicing in trials.

By entrusting your soul to God (17-19)

Judgment day is coming. Even the righteous are chastened by
God for disobedience. God is the righteous Judge, so you
should arm yourself against suffering by continuously putting
your case into God's hands, as Christ did when suffering
unjustly (cf. 1 Peter 2:21-25).

1 Peter 5

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

6) By making yourself low (5:1-7)

Verse 6, with its "humble yourselves therefore", seems to
summarize 1-5. The word "humble" ("tapeino") means "to
abase", or "make low". It comes from a word meaning "not
rising far above the ground", "lowly", or "of low degree".
This passage seems to explain why and how you should humble
yourself.

A) Reasons:

Because God opposes the proud (5)

In Acts 5, God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead for secretly
holding back money other believers needed, then lying to God
about it. In 1 Corinthians 11, some made gluttons of
themselves, while other believers went hungry at the Lord's
supper. For this attitude, verse 30 says many among them were
weak, sick, and dead. James 5 and 1 John 5 refer to sin that
results in physical death. Hebrews 6 and 12 warn that God
discipline's His children. Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 say God
established secular authorities to avenge His wrath on those
who do evil. You should humble yourself, because God opposes
the proud.

Because God exalts the humble (6)

The example of Christ illustrates how God exalts the humble.
Christ showed humility by yielding His rights as God, taking
the form of a servant, and obeying God to the point of death
(Phil. 2:6ff.). For this reason, God highly exalted Him, gave
Him a name above all names, and will cause every knee to bow
to Him.

The exaltation which 1 Peter says awaits you, is the grace of
glory Christ will bring you at His appearing (cf. chapter 1).
Romans 8 and 1 Cor. 15 explain God will give you a new,
glorious body which is incorruptible, free from the sin
nature, eternal, and like Christ's. Rev. 21 - 22 promises
you a glorious city in a new heavens and earth.
John 14 promises you a mansion in that city. You may never be
exalted here on earth, but Christ will bring you glory at His
appearing. You should humble yourself, because God exalts the
humble.

Because God cares for you (7)

"Humble yourselves...under...God...casting all your anxiety
upon Him because He cares for you (NAS). The word "care"
comes from a word which means "a part", meaning to divide into
pieces. When you are anxious, your mind is divided into
pieces, or distracted.

Matthew 6:25-34 explains that God knows what you have need of,
that He provides for the birds, arrays the flowers and grass
with glory, and that He takes even more care for you. Pride
can make you think it is your job to run the universe, and
this will divide your mind in worry. When you cast your cares
on God, you admit He controls things, and will take care of
you. You should humble yourself, because God cares for you.

B) Ways

By setting an example (1-4)

If you're a pastor, it is your job to "shepherd". This would
mean you both feed and oversee the flock. Since the pastor of
a local church is under the authority of the "Chief Shepherd",
he should serve of his own free will, and not out of greed for
money, or as lord of the flock.

Humbling yourself under the Chief Shepherd means you lead by
example of your conduct, rather than as a lord. "Example"
means "a figure formed by an impression or blow", thus "to
print". It also refers to a "pattern" or "form" used to make
things after their likeness. The word "lord", here, was used
in Matthew 25, when some of the disciples fought over who
would be the greatest. It also appears in Acts 19:16, to
describe how a demon possessed man leaped upon, overcame, and
prevailed against the seven sons of Sceva.

Humility does not limit pastors to leading only by doing good
works, though. Acts 6 shows deacons serve to relieve pastors
from waiting on tables, so they may devote themselves to the
word of God and prayer. 2 Timothy 4 seems to say pastors
should reprove, rebuke, and exhort believers from the word of
God. Titus 1 seems to instruct pastors to silence (lit.
"gag") false teachers. It's just that if you're a pastor, you
should model the way you lead people, rather than trying
to overpower them by virtue of your office.

By submitting to elders (5a)

"You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders..."
(NAS). The word "subject' comes from two roots, "under", and
"to rank", or "arrange" yourself. Hebrews 13:7 says "Remember
those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and
considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith."
(NAS). 13:17 says, "Obey [lit. be persuaded by] your leaders,
and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as
those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and
not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you."
(NAS).

Acts 17 says the Bereans were "more noble", because they
searched the Scriptures daily, to see whether the things they
were being taught were so. In Acts 5, Peter said we ought to
obey God rather than men. You do not have to blindly obey
everything a pastor tells you to do, but insofar as they model
and teach God's word, you should imitate their faith and
submit to their instruction.

By respecting the brethren (5b)

"...all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another" (NAS). The word "clothe" ("enkombosasthe"), seems to
come from "enkomboma", which was the white apron, or towel
worn by slaves. Christ girded himself with a towel, and set
an example for the disciples to follow, by serving them (John
13:4, 14-15). You should humble yourself by respecting the
brethren.

By casting your care on God (7)

Mary and Martha illustrate anxiety. Worry over preparing a
meal divided Martha's mind into pieces. Marry, by contrast,
sat at the feet of Christ, choosing the one thing she needed
most (Lk. 10:38-42).

Nebuchadnezzar thought he controlled things, and had gotten
himself all the glory he observed in the kingdom. As a
result, God took away his understanding, so that he became
like a beast, but later restored him to a right mind with the
knowledge that He alone is sovereign (Dan 4).

Romans 8 says God works all things together for good to those
who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose. Every believer God saves will be brought safely to
glory, and nothing is able to separate you from this love of
God. Job said, "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job
13:15a). Even though you suffer, God still cares for you. He
takes care of all things, and provides for all creation (Mt.
6:25-34). Pride will make you think this is your job, and
divide your mind into pieces. When you admit God controls all
things, and cares for you, you may unload your worries on Him.

1 Peter 5B

Theme: Fix your hope on Christ

7) By guarding against the devil (5:8-11)

A) Reasons:

Because He preys on you (8)

The devil's name means "slanderer", a word coming from two
roots, "over", and "to throw". Revelation 12:10 describes
him as the "accuser of our brethren", and Job 2:4-6 shows a
case where this occurred.

This passage also calls the devil "your adversary". In
Mt.5:25 and other verses describe "adversary" as someone who
opposes you in court. 1 Peter 3:16 indicates one reason the
readers of this letter suffered for their faith was because
some men falsely accused them of wrong-doing. You should
guard against the devil, because, like a roaring lion, he
seeks to devour you.

Because other brethren resist him (9)

Luke 4 shows that Christ was taken out into the wilderness,
where Satan tested Him with the lust of the eyes, flesh, and
pride of life, and He resisted. Luke 22:32 shows Satan sifted
Peter like wheat, but because of Christ's prayer, Peter
afterward strengthened the brethren.

Knowing other believers stand against the kind of suffering
you do, can motivate you to resist the devil's attacks.

Because God will establish you (10)

After your times of suffering on earth, Christ will bring you
the glory of your eternal inheritance. This will include your
glorified body, freedom from your sin nature (Rom. 8; 1 Cor.
15), and your mansion (John 14) in the city and presence of
God (Rev. 21-22).

This passage also seems to promise God "will Himself perfect,
confirm, strengthen and establish you." This could refer to
your glorified state--certainly all these things will be true
of you then--but some of these benefits may come to you
progressively during life, and even as a result of your
suffering.

Only in glory will you live in a sinless way, yet other
passages refer to becoming "perfect" in the sense you are made
complete or mature in one area or another (1 Cor. 2:6; 2 Cor.
7:1; 12:9; 13:11; Eph. 4:12-13Php. 3:15; etc.). Romans 5:3-5
says, "And not only this, but we also exult in our
tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about
perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven
character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the
love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the
Holy Spirit who was given to us." (NAS). You should guard
against the devil, because God can make you more like Christ
through his attacks, and will bring you final glory.

B) Ways

By staying sober (8a)

In various verses, this word for "sober", appears with
watching, hoping (1 Th. 5:6), and girding up the loins of your
mind for action (1 Pet. 1:13). You guard against the devil by
staying sober.

By keeping watch (8b)

"Vigilant", in the KJV, comes from a word meaning "to rise
again". It means you stay alert and watch for the devil's
attacks (cf. Mt. 26:40ff.).

By standing firm in faith (9b)

The word "firm", in the sentence, "But resist him, firm in
your faith" (NAS), means "steadfast", "strong", "sure", or
"immovable". Christ quoted Scripture to fend off attacks by
Satan (Lk. 4). Ephesians 4 says God gave the church pastors,
teachers, and other gifted people, to build you up in your
knowledge of Christ. This ministry makes you mature, so you
are not "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by
every wind of doctrine...but speaking the truth in love, we
are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even
Christ." (4:14-15). You guard against the devil by standing
firm in your faith.

--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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