Pacers... finallyThe Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Old Testament and serves as a historical account of Israel's conquest and settlement in the Promised Land, Canaan.

• It follows the leadership transition from Moses to Joshua and highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the Israelites.
• Joshua – Yahweh saves (Hebrew) – Jesus (Aramaic)
• The date of the Exodus was probably about 1446 B.C. (cf. 1 Kings 6:1).
• Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness (Exod. 16:35; Num. 14:33-34).
• Thus, Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the land about 1406 B.C.
• The Book of Joshua begins with events in or very close to the year 1406 B.C.
• Chapters 1-12 – The conquest of the land
• Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 13:8; 1 Chron. 7:27)

ENCOURAGEMENT OF JOSHUA
JOSHUA 1
1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant,

• For Joshua, this didn’t occur until 24:29.

the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s assistant: 2 “Moses my servant is dead.

• They mourned Moses for 30 days.

Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea. 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.

• Map

6 “Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance.

• By Yahweh's appointment, Joshua is probably to wear two hats—that of military commander and that of estate administrator.

7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.

• Knowing the Law was only the first step.
• Practicing it was what would make Joshua effective.

8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.

• Talk about it; think about it; do it!

9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
A       I will be with you (v. 5).
   B       Be strong and courageous (vv. 6, 7).
      C       That you may have success (v. 7).
         D       This Book of the Law (v. 8).
      C'      Then you will have success (v. 8).
   B'      Be strong and courageous (v. 9).
A'      The LORD your God is with you (v. 9).
 
JOSHUA PREPARES THE PEOPLE
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit.’”

• The Jordan River wanders about two hundred miles to cover the sixty-five mile distance from the Lake of Galilee to the Dead Sea, dropping an additional six hundred feet below sea level as it goes.

12 Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh,  13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.

• It was not rest in the sense of freedom from conflict, but rather, resting in contrast to journeying.
• Even after the seven-year conquest of the land, there was still much land that the Israelites had to take from the Canaanites and possess (13:1; 23:1-13; cf. 24:1-28; Judg. 1:1).
• Therefore, this rest was the entrance into, and initial participation in, the inheritance the LORD had promised His people.

14 Your wives, dependents, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your best soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on the east side of the Jordan.”

• They are getting ready to cross over into the land and battle their enemies.
• They have to do this in their own physical strength.

16 They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. Certainly the Lord your God will be with you, as he was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!” [1]

• The Israelites were praying for Joshua!
• They were going to obey or be put to death.
• Four sources of Joshua's strength: (1) a faithful past, (2) a distinct call, (3) the sense of the presence of God, and (4) the indwelling of the Word of God.

 
SPIES SENT TO JERICHO
JOSHUA 2
1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.”

• Earlier they had sent the spies to see if they could take the land.
• Now they are being sent, not to see if they can take the land, but to find the best way to enter the land.
• Two young men, according to 6:23.
• Jericho is possibly the lowest city on earth, lying about 750 feet below sea level.
• The spies' object was to determine where to attack, not whether or not to attack.

So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.

• Less conspicuous because men were always visiting.
• The writer recorded Rahab's name because she became an important person in Israel's history.
• She became an ancestor of David and Jesus Christ, as well as Israel's helper on this occasion (cf. Matt. 1:5 -Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab)
• Hebrews 11:31 - By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.[2]

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!” 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof.

• Rahab lied (sin), but she was also a prostitute.
• Lying in such a case would save a life, whereas not lying might result in an innocent person's death, which would be worse.
• However, God can and has sometimes intervened when people commit to doing the right thing.
• Some have justified Rahab's lying on the basis of holy war: Since the Israelites were commanded to kill the Canaanites, it was legitimate for her to mislead Israel's enemy by telling a lie.

7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.

• Assuming that the spies had fled back to the Israelite camp, the men of Jericho pursued and searched all along the road from their city to the place where travelers forded the Jordan River —about five miles.

 
THE PROMISE TO RAHAB
8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.

• The Israelites had not even begun to enter the land but everyone in Canaan knew what was about to happen to them.

10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

• The melting of the Canaanites' hearts pictures utter despair.

12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”

• If Rahab talked too much, her life was in danger; but if we don't talk enough, the lives of lost people around us are in danger.

14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”
17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”

• The spies gave their solemn promise to spare Rahab and her household, but specified three conditions that Rahab had to meet:
• 1. She had to make her home known to the Israelites when they attacked (v. 18).
• 2. She had to assemble her family into her home before the battle (v. 18).
• 3. She had to keep the mission of the spies a secret (vv. 20, 14).

21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

• The color had symbolic significance, too, since red recalls blood and vigorous life.
• Rahab's cord answered, therefore, the same purpose with the blood sprinkled upon the door-posts in Egypt, which secured the first-born from the destroying angel.

22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. 23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them.

• Joshua had learned by experience that spy reports should be brought to the leaders only, for the people did not have sufficient orientation or experience to evaluate such a report correctly.

24 They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”[3]

• "The spies violated God's explicit command that none of the people living in the land were to be spared (Deut 7:1-6; 20:16-18).
• Rahab, however, turned to God and sought deliverance.
• Her experience is proof of the gracious saving purpose of God.
• His overarching decree is that 'everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved' (Joel 2:32).
• This is one of the most dramatic examples of grace in the OT and is set in bold relief by the questionable aspects of Rahab's profession and conversion.
• "The salvation of Rahab is an example of what God would have done for others.
• The king and the other citizens of Jericho knew all she knew, but they did not turn to Israel's God for mercy.

The fear that drove her to beg for mercy drove them in their stubborn rebellion.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jos.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Heb 11:31.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jos 2:1–24

The false prophet teachers were teaching:

• The material world of matter is evil.
• Christ could not come to the earth in human flesh.
• He came in Spirit and only seemed touchable in human flesh.
• Jesus was not the Son of God.
• Since salvation means deliverance from the physical world, including the physical body, it does not matter how a person behaves in their body.
• Since sin is part of the material world, sin does not exist for the Christian.We (false  prophets) are sinless.
• We (false prophets) have special insight from God’s Spirit to see these deeper truths.

 
GREETING
2 JOHN
1 The elder:

• John is believed to be the author who writes all 3 letters from Ephesus.
• This could have been written to a specific church in the Roman Province since that was John’s main area of ministry.

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not only I, but also all who know the truth--

• John is likely referring to an entire congregation.
• These children believe in Jesus within a specific local church though it is certainly applicable to all believers.
• All who believe in Jesus have an inborn love for all who love the truth of God’s grace.
• John is writing from this indwelling love for other Christians.
• Unbelievers do not have the same natural agape love for truth because they are incompatible with truth until they have received the Gospel.

2 because of the truth that remains in us and will be with us forever.

• Contrary to the message John speaks to unbelievers (1 John 1:9) John does not hesitate to remind believers that they are in the truth and that the truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, lives in them forever.
• They have believed the Gospel and have been perfectly forgiven and cleansed from all sin.
• Because they have believed in the Gospel, they will forever be one with the grace, mercy, and peace offered by God the Father and Jesus Christ.

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

• Grace is not a buzzword for popular teaching movements.
• Grace is the entire framework of God.
• Because of God’s grace, there is mercy from God.
• God decides to not condemn us even though we deserve it.
• This grace and mercy lead to a peaceful relationship with the Trinity.
• There is no longer enmity between believers and God.
• God is not ticked off.
• This is a reality regardless of our feelings and emotional experiences.

 
TRUTH AND DECEPTION
4 I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, in keeping with a command we have received from the Father.

• Some of the members of the church were having trouble maturing in God’s grace.
• This is what John means by walking in the truth.
• Notice that these people have already received the command from the Father to believe in the Son.
• This commandment is not new.
• It is God’s pleading for us to believe in His goodness and love and transmit this love to others.
• Love is the defining characteristic of Christians.

5 So now I ask you, dear lady—not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. 6 This is love: that we walk according to his commands.

• John is not referring to the Old Covenant law but rather the command to believe in Jesus and love one another (1 John 3:23).
• These are the New Covenant laws: Believe and love.
• We receive God’s love for us in Christ and transmit it to others.

This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: that you walk in love.
7 Many deceivers have gone out into the world; they do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh.

• As with 1 John and the Gospel of John, the apostle is combatting the Gnostic heresy that Christ did not come in the flesh.
• This matters because God’s love was manifested in the flesh in Christ.
• If Jesus was merely an illusion, then God’s love was not truly manifested.
• Jesus Christ died physically and truly in a human sense so that He could defeat the very death that plagues us.
• If we remove that from the Gospel, then we have no Gospel at all.

This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

• The antichrist is evidently not a singular figure according to John.
• The antichrist is a group of people who are rejecting Christ’s humanity.
• We see this also in 1 John (see 1 John 2:18).

8 Watch yourselves so that you don’t lose what we have worked for, but that you may receive a full reward.

• John is talking about the benefit of knowing God’s love in this life.
• He does not want anyone to fall short of understanding God’s love.

9 Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching but goes beyond it does not have God.

• There is a difference between being confused about God’s love and being so far from understanding it that one is not truly saved.
• However, John does leave room for people to be so far from the Gospel that they are not saved.
• In the context, this is referring to Gnostics, but John did not want anyone on the fence about Jesus to be deceived into their heresy.

The one who remains in that teaching, this one has both the Father and the Son.

• True Christians will have an abiding faith in Jesus and consequently will forever be in relationship with the Father and the Son.
• Jesus died and rose again because He wanted us to forever know that He loves us and likes us.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your home, and do not greet him; 11 for the one who greets him shares in his evil works.

• John wanted believers to keep a large relational distance from the false teachers.
• This would ensure that they were not deceived by the false teachings.
• John is not talking about distancing ourselves from friends or family members who have rejected Christ.
• He is specifically addressing a group of people who were trying to deceive this church by coming directly to their homes.
• Apparently, there was enough temptation being faced by Christians to warrant this command.[1]
  
  

FAREWELL
12 Though I have many things to write to you, I don’t want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come to you and talk face to face so that our joy may be complete.
13 The children of your elect sister send you greetings.[2]

GREETING
3 JOHN
1 The elder:
To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
2 Dear friend, I pray that you are prospering in every way and are in good health, just as your whole life is going well.

• Could imply that he had been previously ill.

3 For I was very glad when fellow believers came and testified to your fidelity to the truth—how you are walking in truth.

• It is clear that Gaius’ entire life was wrapped up in the truth.
• True living comes from the living truth.

4 I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.

• It is possible that John is the one who shared initial Truth with Gaius and pointed him to salvation in Jesus.
  
  

GAIUS COMMENDED
5 Dear friend, you are acting faithfully in whatever you do for the brothers and sisters, especially when they are strangers. 6 They have testified to your love before the church.

• In practical ways, he assisted those who were ministering the Word.
• We have no indication that Gaius himself was a preacher or teacher, but he opened his heart and home to those who were.[3]

You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God, 7 since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such people so that we can be coworkers with the truth.

• Carmel House Man - Ralph Burke – Hockey game
• Ketchup Man – Kevin Andrews
• Panera Guy - William Joyner
• Scott Long – Ravenswood minister
  
  

DIOTREPHES AND DEMETRIUS
9 I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have first place among them, does not receive our authority. 10 This is why, if I come, I will remind him of the works he is doing, slandering us with malicious words.

• Accusing John of false and empty charges.

And he is not satisfied with that! He not only refuses to welcome fellow believers, but he even stops those who want to do so and expels them from the church.

• The church members who received John’s associates were dismissed from the church!
• Again, it was guilt by association.
• Diotrephes had neither the authority nor the biblical basis for throwing these people out of the church, but he did it.
• Whenever a church has a resident dictator in its membership, there are bound to be problems because people who are spiritually minded will not tolerate that kind of leadership.
• The Holy Spirit is grieved when the members of the body are not permitted to exercise their gifts because one member must have his own way.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God. 12 Everyone speaks well of Demetrius—even the truth itself. And we also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

• Demetrius was a man worth imitating because he had a “good report” (witness) from the church fellowship.
• All the members knew him, loved him, and thanked God for his consistent life and ministry.
  
  

FAREWELL
13 I have many things to write you, but I don’t want to write to you with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

• John had warned that he was going to visit the church and confront Diotrephes, and no doubt both Gaius and Demetrius would stand with John in opposing the “dictator.”
• They were the kind of men who would support the truth and submit themselves to authentic spiritual authority.
• Because they followed the truth, they could safely be imitated by other believers.[4]

15 Peace to you. The friends send you greetings. Greet the friends by name.[5]

[1] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. 2 John.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. 2020. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

• Paul is responding to Titus based upon the word he had received while in Macedonia.

SOUND TEACHING AND CHRISTIAN LIVING
TITUS 2
1 But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching.

• The sound doctrine of which Paul was a minister is the Gospel of grace.
• The New Covenant is our foundation (2 Corinthians 3:6-7).
• Anything that violates this is not sound doctrine no matter how popular the teaching.

2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance.

• Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. [1]Paul seems to be equating older age with Christian maturity assuming that sound doctrine is held as one ages.
• Older men - In Paul’s first-century ad context, this refers to men over age 50.[2]
• This is why he encourages older men to behave in a loving manner.
• NASB – “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.” [3]
• Sober, sober-minded.
• Old men with time on their hands could linger too long over the cup.
• The older men should know what they believe, and their doctrinal convictions should accord with God’s Word.[4]
• Titus was young and Paul was encouraging Titus to not overlook the older men and women in discipling the younger generation.
• Youth Ministers come to a point where they realize the impact of parents is greater than their own ministry.

3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.

• The Christian home was a totally new thing, and young women saved out of paganism would have to get accustomed to a whole new set of priorities and privileges.
• Those who had unsaved husbands would need special encouragement.[5]
• Similarly, older women are to be examples for younger women of how to love their husbands and children.
• Christ breeds love in His children.
• The greatest priority in a home should be love.
• If a wife loved her husband and her children, she was well on the way to making the marriage and the home a success.
• In our Western society, a man and a woman fall in love and then get married; but in the East, marriages were less romantic.
• Often the two got married and then had to learn to love each other.[6]
• The more we know sound doctrine, the more we will see this love come forth.
• Also, important to note: According to this verse women were teaching in the early church.
• They are teaching younger women about godliness.
• So, evidently, Paul assumed that women were fully capable of teaching in the ministry context.
• Paul consistently encourages husbands and wives to submit to one another (See also Ephesians 5:21).
• Here the wife is in focus.
• The wife shows love to her husband by submitting to his needs and desires.
• This prevents the dishonoring of the word of God, or the Gospel, in a public atmosphere.
• People can see Christians living in unity with one another and consequently being attracted to the Gospel.
• So, the marriage is not to be a place of oppression for women or men. Rather, a place of submissive love and servitude.

6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7 in everything.

• Just as older men and women are to be of sound doctrine and love, so also are young men and women.
• Paul does not allow age to discount someone’s value and effectiveness in God’s kingdom.
• He is more concerned with spiritual maturity than age.

Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.

• Good deeds are not synonymous with legalistic practices.
• Good deeds, or good works, always arise out of our new identity in Christ.
• Good deeds are Christ’s work within His children.
• As we allow Him to express fruit through us, we produce good works in the world.
• This is Paul’s consistent message to his readers.

8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.

• Paul encourages Titus to instruct people to live at peace with one another while maintaining pure doctrine.
• This puts to shame those who are antagonistic to Christians and the Gospel message.  

9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10 or stealing,

• Paul likely has the employee in mind.
• In Greek culture slaves referred to those who were manual laborers, tutors, and other jobs often held for a family or individual.
• Paul does not have in mind an oppressive system of slavery.

but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.

• The good works being encouraged by Paul are decorating sound doctrine.
• As we express Christ to people light is shined on the sound doctrine of the Gospel.
• People will see the fragrant aroma of Christ amongst Christians and inquire about the source of their joy.
• Christ’s life within us is attractive to the world.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

• God, through Jesus, did not die for some people or a select group.
• Jesus died for the whole world because He wants all people to believe.

12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,

• God’s grace teaches people to live godly lives.
• This, in contrast, to the Old Covenant law which is a ministry of condemnation and death.
• So, Paul’s point is that grace saves us and teaches us.
• As we rest in grace, we will see Christ’s life shine through our own lives in beautiful ways.

13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

• Paul has an incredible optimistic view of Christ’s Second Coming.
• There is no room in Paul’s theology for the believer’s fear at Christ’s return.
• There is no movie of our bad works to be played. Instead, we will step into the full reality of our salvation.

14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

• “redeem” - The Greek word used here, lytroō, (lay-troe-o) means “to release” or “set free,” especially from slavery.[7]
• “lawlessness” - In our unsaved condition, we were rebels against God’s law; but now all of that has been changed.[8]
• Because Christians have a new heart, they are eager for good deeds.
• These good deeds are the fruit of the Spirit produced within us and through us.
• Christians are eager and zealous to live righteously.
• This is reality regardless of what we feel or experience.

15 Proclaim these things; encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.[9]

• Paul is not speaking of being combative with people but rather standing confidently in the Gospel of grace.
• He wanted Titus to bolster the church in their identity so that they would be confident during persecution and rejection.[10]

Be confident in who you are what you know… you have been entrusted with the Gospel… the Good News!

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Tt 2:2). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Tt 2:2). Lexham Press.
[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update (Tt 2:2). (1995). The Lockman Foundation.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 264). Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 265). Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 265). Victor Books.
[7] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Tt 2:14). Lexham Press.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 266). Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Tt 2:1–15). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[10]  Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. Titus 2.

• We spent 11 chapters talking about the supremacy of Jesus. Greater than…
• In Chapter 12 we were encouraged to walk in obedience to Jesus.
• Chapter 13 is stating the obvious and discussing behavior as result of what they already know and are.
• Sometimes you just have to state the obvious.
• Remember the circumstances here: This group of believers was separated from the Jews.
• They were entering a period of isolation.

FINAL EXHORTATIONS
HEBREWS 13
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.

• As Christians, these Hebrew people no doubt had been rejected by their friends and families.
• The deepest kind of fellowship is not based on race or family relationship; it is based on the spiritual life we have in Christ.[1]
• A church fellowship based on anything other than love for Christ and for one another simply will not last.[2]
• Where there is true Christian love, there will also be hospitality.
• This was an important ministry in the early church because persecution drove many believers away from their homes.[3]
• Angels is in reference to Genesis 18 where Abraham hosted 3 angels.

3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.

• The imprisoned typically needed someone to provide them with food, water, and clothing.
• Paul relied upon his congregations to care for him while he was in prison [4]
• Our greatest need in the church is for each individual to be capable of identifying with the pain of the other individuals.
• This is how we minister.

4 Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

• The Greek adjective translated “pure” conveys the meaning “undefiled,” “unpolluted,” “untainted.”[5]
• State the obvious…
• This will be in contrast to what we watch on TV, movies or media in general.
• Sex outside of marriage is sinful and destructive.
• Sex within the protective bonds of marriage can be enriching and glorifying to God.[6]
• Notice the identity of those who will be judged.
• Identity of habitual sinners.
• But beyond the obvious… the marriage bed mirrors God’s relationship with His people.

5 Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. 6 Therefore, we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

• Deuteronomy 31:6
• Psalm 118:6
• Paul considered himself to be a wealthy man since true wealth was being content with what you have.
• When we have God, we have all that we need.
• In the midst of this economy… we have to trust that God will provide as He already has.

7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

• He already listed heroes of the faith in Chapter 11.
• The leaders of the church are described here less by their office and more by their function of preaching and teaching the Word of God.[7]
• When you recall that few Christians then had copies of the Scriptures, you can see the importance of this personal ministry of the Word.[8]
• I am OK with being gone. Then the sooner I leave, the sooner you can start depending on the Lord.
• Never build your life on any servant of God.
• Build your life on Jesus Christ. He never changes.[9]

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• In reference to Jesus’ divine nature.
• In reference to earthly leaders who come and go.

9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.

• He is being very protective here because most of their lives they were under a different system that had many food regulations (the Law).
• I am very protective about what I want you to hear… and not just from this platform.

10 We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the most holy place by the high priest as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.

• The Levite Priests were forbidden to eat from the animals sacrificed on the Day of Atonement so they took the remains outside of the Tabernacle and burned them.

12 Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, so that he might sanctify the people by his own blood.

• Jesus died outside the gates of Jerusalem, confirming that Law must be abandoned to partake of Christ.
• Isn’t it amazing that so many churches teach us to remain under the Law but it clearly shows us here that is not true?

13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing his disgrace.

• Just as Jesus dies outside the camp, he is encouraging the Hebrew Christians to do the same.

14 For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.

• The current Jerusalem at that time was only temporary.
• They knew there was a New Jerusalem to come.

15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

• They were used to offering up animals and now he is telling them their sacrifice is to be praise.

16 Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

• The actions, as a result from knowing who we are, are a sacrifice to God.
• Your obedience is a sacrifice enough.

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

• What an awesome responsibility.
• How do I that? Trust.
• James 3:1 – Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.[10]
• Judgment comes from those who sit under our leadership… Not from God. (Rom 8:1)
• What brings joy to godly leaders? Watching you mature spiritually.
• How do you measure maturity?
• It sure looks different than numerical growth.

18 Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything.

• We need prayer.
• Believers who have a guilty conscience lack the ability to tap into the power and authority they have been given.

 
19 And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.

• He was writing to them because he was physically away from them but desired to be with them.

 
BENEDICTION AND FAREWELL
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

• “everlasting” – confirming our eternal security in God’s family.
• God is the One who equips me… not myself.

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

• It’s brief… it only took me 5 months to get through it with you. Ha!

23 Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you.

• Timothy is released from prison. Not sure where.

24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings.

• The writer is in Italy or all the people working with the writer are from Italy.

25 Grace be with you all. [11]

• Grace – the desire and power to do God’s will… walk by His Spirit.
• Mediocrity will never allow us to experience life abundantly.
• It never has and never will.

May we walk on in faith and grow in our maturity!

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Heb 10:34). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[5] Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews. The New American Commentary (p. 609). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Allen, D. L. (2010). Hebrews. The New American Commentary (p. 611). Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:7). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 13:7). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Jas 3:1). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 13:1–25). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

WARNING AGAINST REJECTING GOD’S GRACE
HEBREWS 12
14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

• This verse is not about identity but about behavior.
• This is how we respond out of knowing our own identity.
• We already have peace (Gal 2:20). We just need to choose it in our relationships.
• If you try to make peace and holiness with everyone without knowing who you are… you will labor and fail.
• Otherwise, it comes very naturally, and it will be obvious to others that you are a believer.
• God’s grace does not fail, but we can fail to take advantage of His grace.[1]

15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.

• We are not talking about salvation grace… but daily grace… what we live by each day.
• If you live in the room of good intentions rather than the room of grace… you will fall into bitterness.
• I’d rather be freer with God’s grace than freer with God’s wrath.
• If you reject grace (that comes every moment) you will eventually blame God for your circumstances.
• When you accept grace… your view of circumstances and God changes.
• I might get labeled as “soft on sin” but the door to sharing with more people about their sin issue is much larger!
• Grace allows me to see God’s discipline in my life as a good thing… rather than a bad and causing bitterness to grow.

16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. 17 For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.

• The author is reminding the Hebrew Christians that their choice of returning to Judaism could cost them much… their lives!
• Esau sold his birthright thinking he could eventually get it back.
• He was sorry for his physical loss rather than the spiritual loss of the blessing therefore wasn’t repentant.
• Esau didn’t lose his salvation, just the physical and spiritual blessings that were rightfully his.
• Esau became bitter because he realized all that he lost.
• Author is warning the Hebrew Christians of this same loss and bitterness.
• Wes Cate: I was always curious why Esau was so despised, and Jacob was loved by God. Jacob is the conniving one, and Esau was just hungry. But looking at the inheritance of the Patriarch's: that inheritance wasn't the wealth of life; it was the Lord who blesses. I think Esau and Jacob both knew that; so, Esau was willing to give up the Lord for a meal and Jacob was willing to lie, cheat and steal to get to God. That would be an interesting lesson on faith vs law in itself!
  
  

It's my opinion that Jacob had watched his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac walk before God, he knew their relationship and wanted it bad. That's why at the end of his life he could pray a beautiful prayer to a life-long friend; to someone he had grown up in--a matured, well-aged relationship: "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil . . . bless the lads."
18 For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19 to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20 for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. 21 The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.

• In reference to Mt. Sinai that they could physically touch.
• They so feared God they asked Him to stop talking.
• Referring to returning to the Law.
• If they return to what was, the Law, they will experience terror and fear and miss out on the spiritual blessings.
• We sometimes feel comfortable in returning to what we already know.
• Stepping out in faith, allows you to experience additional blessings.

22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

• Mount Zion (New Jerusalem) – walk by grace.
• Mount Sinai – life of bondage and Law.
• Author refers to OT believers who were perfected at the cross.
• At this new Mount… they are made righteous rather credited with righteousness at the old Mount.
• The blood of Abel only covered sin (atonement).
• Jesus’ blood was poured out on earth and offered in heaven.
• Abel’s blood only offered on earth.

25 See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.

• It is Jesus’ sacrifice of blood that speaks to the Hebrew Christians.
• Moses warned them at Mount Sinai not to turn from God.
• A whole generation died in the wilderness because they refused to listen.
• Jesus is warning them now (from heaven) not to turn from His message.
• If they don’t return to the message, they will die in the destruction of 70 AD.

26 His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.

• Haggai 2:6

27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.

• Tribulation & Second Coming of Christ.
• Believers will remain.
• Those who trust in daily grace… rather than the Law.

 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.[2]

• Our reverence and awe play out how?
• Attitude of devotion
• Worship
• Praise
• Ever been around a bitter Christian?
• Don’t miss out on what Jesus has already provided.
• It is a great life full of Spiritual blessings!

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Heb 12:14). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 12:1–29). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Jesus being the perfect sacrifice and making a way to God was the previous 18 verses… Therefore…

EXHORTATIONS TO GODLINESS
HEBREWS 10
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters (Jewish believers), since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus--20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)--

• Think about the history of the Jew & Old Covenant.
• We have a hard time letting go of the Old Covenant today.
• They memorized and lived it out every day.
• Now it is all changed!
• Where only one man could go… now they all can.
• Jesus’ body is the veil torn open so we could have access to God.
• Jesus’ body was the barrier between God & man.
• Jesus’ blood forgave our sin.
• Jesus’ death allowed our own death (Gal 2:20 & Romans 6:6-7 - For we know that our old self, was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.[1]
• Our old self, sinful nature, Adamic nature has been eradicated.
• Now they (and we) are capable of speaking to God whenever we like. 24/7

21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,

• Emphasis on “great”

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

• Moses was required to do two things for his sons to act as high priests.
• 1) sprinkle them with the blood of an animal (Lev 8:30)
• Their sins and their bodies had to be purified.
• The difference for the NC believer vs Aaron & Co. was the freeing of the conscious of sins.
• Aaron’s sins were not forgiven… just covered.
• Our sins are completely forgiven and eradicated.
• 2) and wash them in water (Lev 8:6).
• Aaron’s cleansing was on the outward body.
• Our cleansing was on the inside.
• New heart, new spirit, new creation, new man.
• Only mention of “pure” water in the Bible.
• Some interpret that “our bodies washed in pure water” means water baptism is necessary for salvation.
• Nothing pure about the water in the Jordan River… trust me.

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

• Hold fast to their salvation. It is secure.
• He is responsible for keeping us saved.

24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works,

• Love is mentioned before good works.
• Know the Father intimately first.
• Good works for others will follow.

25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

• They had been gathering but were now afraid to due to persecution.
• The day of destruction that was coming in 70 AD.
• Jesus spoke about this day in Matthew 24:2 & Luke 21:6, 20-24.

 
WARNING AGAINST DELIBERATE SIN
26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth,

• They willfully continued to make animal sacrifices knowing that Christ’s offering was all that was needed.
• This is different than sins committed in ignorance.

there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

• Old Covenant sacrifices of animals was no longer necessary.
• Jesus’ sacrificed voided all remaining sacrifices.

27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.

• If this one verse meant we would lose our salvation then it would contradict everything we have studied so far.
• This is not about eternal judgment.
• If they remained in Jerusalem and sacrificing animals at the Temple, they would lose their life as it was destroyed in 70 AD.
• They all fled before the Romans arrived.

28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

• In Heb 3:1-6, the author compared Moses to Jesus with Jesus being greater. Why wouldn’t the punishment be even greater?

29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

• 1) “Trampled on the Son of God” – dishonor
• 2) “Regarded as profane the blood of the covenant” – Christ’s blood was no different than any other man… possibly unholy blood?
• 3) “Insulted the Spirit of grace.” – identifying himself (not making) with the generation of Jews who blasphemed the Spirit in Jesus and would perish in 70 AD.
• Under the Old Covenant, God responded to disobedience by bringing on physical death.
• These Hebrew Christians would experience the same if they refused to abandon the idea of returning to temple sacrifices.
• Is there removal from their flesh a sign of grace from God?
• Corinthians man… Ananias & Sapphira?

30 For we know the one who has said,
Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, and again,
The Lord will judge his people.
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

• The consequences of our sin can be terrifying.
• We are talking about earthly natural consequences not eternal judgment or it would wipe out the results of the cross.
• Remember… Losing our salvation is impossible.

32 Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions (in the public theater), and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. (because you chose to hang out with other believers) 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.

• These verses confirm this letter was written to believers in Jesus.
• He is reaffirming them in all the things they have already endured.
• Our inheritance is reserved in heaven.
• Greater things are to come.

35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.

• Sometimes we just cruise along in our faith and we become independent.
• No need for God.
• It is when we go through crisis that we seek out God.
• In crisis… we either give up on God or cling to Him.
• “Throw away our confidence” does not mean “throw away our salvation”. This is impossible.
• The quality of the believer’s works in the journey will be rewarded… not the quantity.
• What works are rewarded? Those done in faith… in His strength.
• Why would one want to toss away this confidence?
• They can lose their physical lives.
• They can lose their rewards.
• They can’t lose their salvation.
• We need to accept God’s grace into every moment of our lives.
• We can receive what has already been promised and provided.

37 For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 But my righteous one will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure in him.

• Habakkuk 2:3-4
• The same promise He made to Habakkuk He is also making to these Hebrew Christians.
• He wants us to have pleasure that comes from obedience in Jesus.

39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.[2]

• This confirms once again their salvation is not in question.
• “destroyed” – perdition means more than the loss of a physical life. It is utter destruction… complete ruin.
• “Faith” comes from God… we just have to claim it.
• “Help me with my unbelief”.
• It is something we already have… open the gift… use it.
• You have enough faith to finish the race.
• It is through our daily faith and grace that we can obtain an incredible life of adventure here on earth… today!

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 6:6–7). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 10:19–39). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

PHILIPPIANS 1
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. [1]
 

• Philippians: Theme is joy
• Paul is experience loneliness while sitting in jail and writing his friends.
• He is broke… hungry… and by himself.

 

• In a recent national survey of American adults, 36% of respondents reported serious loneliness—feeling lonely “frequently” or “almost all the time or all the time” in the four weeks prior to the survey.
• This included 61% of young people aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children.

 

• 43% of young adults reported increases in loneliness since the outbreak of the pandemic.
• About half of lonely young adults in our survey reported that no one in the past few weeks had “taken more than just a few minutes” to ask how they are doing in a way that made them feel like the person “genuinely cared.”
• Young adults suffer high rates of both loneliness and anxiety and depression.
• According to a recent CDC survey, 63% of this age group are suffering significant symptoms of anxiety or depression.[2]

 

• Young adults are twice as likely to be lonely than seniors.
• 79% of adults aged 18 to 24 report feeling lonely compared to 41% of seniors aged 66 and older. This is consistent with earlier research.
• More than twice as many younger adults as older adults experience feeling left out.
• More than two in five adults (42%) aged 18 to 34 report “always” feeling “left out,” compared to just 16% of people aged 55 or older who say the same.
• Men and women have roughly the same likelihood of loneliness.
• 57% of men and 59% of women reported being lonely.
• Loneliness levels were close to equal in 2018 as well, with 53% of men and 54% of women reporting feelings of loneliness.
• In 2019, data showed a spike in loneliness among men, with 63% experiencing loneliness compared to 58% of women.[3]

 
Epidemic in our culture (Bowling Alone… Robert Putnam)

• Joining and participating in one group cuts in half your odds of dying next year.
• More Americans are bowling more than ever before but they are not bowling in leagues.
• Playing cards with friends is down 25% (in last 25 years)
• Evening with neighbors is down 33% (how many homes have you been in?)
• Family dinners are down 33% (fast food)
• Having friends over is down 45%
• Readiness to make new friends is down 33%

 

• American Social Review: Social Isolation in America Average American only has 2 close friends (down from 3 in 1985)
• 25% of Americans have no one to confide in 80% of Americans only confide in family (they drive you nuts the most)

 

• Socially isolated needy people gather together to ignore one another
• Lonely people go to the coffee shop and drink their burnt coffee with their headphones in their ears and ignore other people “in community”
• Dog Lovers – Move on from people to pets – “my baby”
• Fighting to let their “best friend” dine with them
• “Your friend licks himself!!”
• Church/Religion

 

• People are disconnected and lonely – It is epidemic

 

• “Did God create us because He was lonely?” – Trinity
• Created everything good… it is not good for man to be alone.
• Genesis 3 – “sin” separates us from God and one another
• Loneliness is one of the effects of sin.

 

• Our culture and the church tells you that the answer to loneliness is a “friend” (accountability partners)
• Facebook – we had things in common in high school but I don’t know who they are now.

 

• What is the answer: Paul said it is that we become partners for the Gospel.
• It is centered on our relationship with Jesus.

 

• Marriage counseling: Focus is on the relationship with Jesus, then choose to be partners.
• Gospel Partnership – is like friendship but is much deeper… you know what to do with
• sin which typically is what destroys the relationship.

 
Verse 2 - Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Grace… understanding grace –
• When you receive grace you want to give grace
• Grace is given along with repentance
• Grace leads to peace (we were objects of wrath… now there is no condemnation)
• Peace allows you to be “OK” with others sin and “gooberishness”
• Michelle and I experience sin, repentance, grace & peace

 
Verse 3 - I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, (memories)

• Leads to memories… great memories vs very bitter memories
• With God… he can help us create new memories (especially inside marriage).

 
Verse 4 - always praying with joy (14x’s) for all of you in my every prayer,

• Joy or derivative is used 14 times in Philippians (how can he?... he knew something)
• Joy is a lifestyle… happiness is an emotion
• If joy were an emotion, then it would not be present in all circumstances
• Joy celebrates the forward Gospel of Jesus Christ despite all the junk that is happening around me.

 
Verse 5 - because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

• Gospel Partnership – spiritual perseverance
• We are moving forward in the Gospel of Jesus
• We have endured rough times… memories
• God is going to replace those memories
• God is not going to give up on you!
• He will bring it to completion.

 
Verse 7 - Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. (partakers of grace) 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

• It changes our heart for people and causes us to pray for others
• Paul is compelled to be a compassionate man
• Paul was a KILLER
• Now he is an encourager
• He realizes his life is not about himself but it is about others
• Prayer overcomes proximity and affinity
• He writes to encourage them (letters are important)

 
Verse - 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior (excellent) and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ,

• I have failed the mercy portion of a Spiritual Gifts analysis.
• It is the understanding of the Gospel that allows me to love others.
• This based upon discernment and trust of other people.

 
Verse 11 - filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

• Righteousness –
• 2 Corinthians 5:21- He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.[4]
• If you don’t comprehend this… you get trapped in religion
• You give Jesus your sin and He gives you righteousness
• Your legal standing before God but also your lifestyle!
• You are a new creation… you have a new heart.

 

• It is all about Jesus… (mentioned 7 times in the first 11 verses)
• This community is only together because of our relationship with Jesus Christ and the moving forward of the Good News of what He has done for us and through us.
• Is loneliness a bad thing? No… sometimes God uses lonely times for you us to draw near to Him… Jesus is found many times to be experiencing loneliness
• He voluntarily withdrew… in the garden… on the way to the cross (denial).
• He was utterly alone on the cross.
• He can sympathize with us!

 
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [5]

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Philippians 1:2–11). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/reports/loneliness-in-america
[3] https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-persists-post-pandemic-look
[4] Christian Standard Bible (2 Corinthians 5:21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Hebrews 12:1–2). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

I hope you get this right:
 - In the Gospels, what did Jesus teach?
 - Did Jesus obey God’s Law?
 - How many times did Jesus die on the cross?
 - What did His blood do?

• Hebrews 10:14 – For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. [1].
• Hebrews 10:4 – For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. [2]
   - What were Jesus’ last words?
   - As believers, what do you have to do now?
   - Are you now a “child of God”?

JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH
Galatians 3
 - (1) Paul’s Personal argument (v 1-5)
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
- It would be like asking our country, “Have you gone mad?”
 - Is it mental incompetence or just lack of wisdom?
 - “Foolish” here means “spiritually dull” whereas being called actual fools in the Gospel meant “godless person”.
 - But I focus on the part of the question, “Who has hypnotized you?”
 - “Who told you that you were naked?” – Genesis 3:11
 - The scheme of the evil one is to confuse the truth. To make it seem like something it is not.
- Paul did not say that the Galatians had had less than a fully genuine experience of the Holy Spirit.
- Indeed, he argued from precisely the opposite premise: since they had certainly received the Holy Spirit and witnessed his mighty works, why were they now retrogressing back from the Spirit to the flesh, that is, from faith back to works and from grace back to law?
- The answer is implied in Paul’s critical word of address: somehow the balance between sound doctrine and Spirit-filled living had gotten out of kilter among the churches of Galatia.[3]
2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?
- Did we not teach you that as Jews, you are no longer subject to circumcision, food restrictions and calendar observances? As a Gentile, you never were?
 - Gentiles didn’t even start with the Law. Why would you bring that into your beliefs?
 - What saved you? Your works or your faith?
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing?
- Did you not learn your lesson enough in the flesh that you want to give up on the Spirit already?
 - “flesh” being things done in your own strength… whether bad or good.
5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard--
- This is what the Spirit does:
 - John 16:8-11 – The Spirit convicts the world of its unbelief.
 - Acts 7:51 - “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did, you do also.[4]
- Ephesians 1:13-14 - 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. [5]
 - (2) Paul’s Scriptural argument (v 6-14)
 - In verses 1-5 Paul asked 6 questions
 - In verses 6-14 Paul uses 6 OT quotes
6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?

• Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.[6]
• Genesis 17:9-12 - God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant. 10 This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised. 11 You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 Throughout your generations, every male among you is to be circumcised at eight days old—every male born in your household or purchased from any foreigner and not your offspring.[7]
• Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments.

7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.
- Genesis 18:18 - Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.[8].
9 Consequently those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.
- The logic here is evident: if God promised to save the Gentiles by faith, then the Judaizers are wrong in wanting to take the Gentile believers back into Law.
 - The true “children of Abraham” are not the Jews by physical descent, but Jews and Gentiles who have believed in Jesus Christ. All those who are “of faith” (believers) are blessed with “believing Abraham.”[9]
- Serve carrots… then a donut… back to carrots!
LAW AND PROMISE
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.
- Paul uses contrasts/antithesis:
        - Crucified with Christ - Alive to God
        - The hearing of faith - The doing of works
        - Beginning in the Spirit - Ending in the flesh
        - Promise – Fulfillment
        - Blessed - Cursed[10]
        - Vs. 9 – Blessed – Vs. 10 – Cursed
- Deuteronomy 27:26 -  ‘Anyone who does not put the words of this law into practice is cursed.’
And all the people will say, ‘Amen!’ [11]

 -Deuteronomy 28:58 - “If you are not careful to obey all the words of this law, which are written in this scroll, by fearing this glorious and awe-inspiring name—the Lord, your God[12]
 - James 2:10 -  For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.[13]
11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.
- It is obvious…
 - Habakkuk 2:4 -
        - The Righteous – Romans 1:17
        - Will live – Galatians 3:11
        - By faith - Hebrews 10:37
 - It doesn’t say “those who live by faith are righteous.”
 - Nor is it a command.
 - It is a simple statement of fact.
 - Those who have been made righteous will naturally live by faith.
 - If these are words by Habakkuk… they were still under the law… This was about the future.
 - If Daniel was here today… could he see the righteous.
 - Paul saw and experienced living under the Law vs living by faith because of his righteousness.
12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.
- Leviticus 18:5 - Keep my statutes and ordinances; a person will live if he does them. I am the Lord. [14]
 - The Law is based on doing… not trusting!
 - God never intended the Law to make people righteous.
 - God intended to send a Savior to save us from our own works.
 - God intended to send a Helper to live our life for us.
 - “How in the world am I going to get through this?”
 - You’re not in your own strength.
 - You will by trusting Him to do it in your own life!

 - Eating carrots vs eating a donut
 - Why go back to carrots!?!
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
  - Deuteronomy 21:22 -  “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23 you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.[15]
 - Jews were stoned first and then hung on a tree for display.
 - They are not talking about crucifixion here.
 - This was major since the Jews were careful with treatment of a dead body.
 - The word redeemed means to purchase a slave for the purpose of setting him free.
 - It is possible to purchase a slave and keep him as a slave, but this is not what Christ did.
 - By shedding His blood on the cross, He purchased us that we might be set free.
 - The Judaizers wanted to lead the Christians into slavery, but Christ died to set them free.
 - Salvation is not exchanging one form of bondage for another.
 - Salvation is being set free from the bondage of sin and the Law into the liberty of God’s grace through Christ.[16]
 - God’s provision through Christ’s death on the cross enables believers to no longer live under the threat of condemnation.[17]
 - You… my friend… have been released from the curse.
 - There is no one who can condemn you for what you have done or going to do.
 - There will be logical negative consequences.
 - But you can never be condemned.
 - Judgment Day will be a good day.
 - To the Jew – “Do you want the blessing of Abraham? It comes through Jesus.”
 - To the Gentile – “Do you want to be included in the blessing?” It comes through Jesus.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 10:14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Heb 10:4). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 206). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 7:51). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Eph 1:13–14). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 15:6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 17:9–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ge 18:18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 699). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 229). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[11] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 27:26). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 28:58). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Jas 2:10). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Le 18:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Dt 21:22–23). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 700). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[17] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 3:13). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Galatians 2
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. 12 For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party. 13 Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.[1]
------
14 But when I saw that they were deviating from the truth of the gospel, I told Cephas in front of everyone, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel Gentiles to live like Jews?”

• 1) Circumcision 2) Food laws & 3) Calendar observances
• Paul is separating Peter’s personal convictions vs Truth of the Word.
• Suppose Peter and Barnabas had won the day and led the church into legalism? What might the results have been?
• Would Antioch have continued to be the great missionary church that sent out Paul and Barnabas? (Acts 13)
• Would they, instead, have sent out the “missionaries” of the circumcision party and either captured or divided the churches Paul had already founded?
• You can see that this problem was not a matter of personality or party; it was a question of “the truth of the Gospel.”
• And Paul was prepared to fight for it.[2]

 

• What was the purpose of Paul confronting Peter in front of everyone?
• Was there emotion involved?
• What is the difference in communicating truth with anger vs no emotion?
• The same message is communicated.
• It never says what Paul’s emotions are… we just assume.
• You realize your reaction to news/information or the correction given will impact future exchanges of a relationship.
• Between a husband and a wife
• Between a parent and a child
• Between a boss and an employer
• Between friends or even siblings.
  ​
  

15 We are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,”

• They were “Gentile sinners” from birth because they were not given the Law like the Jews were.

16 and yet because we know that a person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we ourselves have believed in Christ Jesus. This was so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

• “How should [a] man be just with God?” (Job 9:2) was a vital question, because the answer determined eternal consequences.
• “The just shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4) is God’s answer.
• Justification is not simply “forgiveness,” because a person could be forgiven and then go out and sin and become guilty.
• Once you have been “justified by faith” you can never be held guilty before God.
• Justification is also different from “pardon,” because a pardoned criminal still has a record.
• When the sinner is justified by faith, his past sins are remembered against him no more, and God no longer puts his sins on record.

 

• So important is this concept that three New Testament books explain it to us: Romans (see 1:17), Galatians (see 3:11), and Hebrews (see 10:38).
• Romans explains the meaning of “the just”;
• Galatians explains “shall live”;
• Hebrews explains “by faith.”[3]
• Christ died one time and based upon our belief in the Son of God, we were justified one time.
• Proven “not guilty”
• Double Jeopardy – Cannot be tried twice for the same crime.

17 But if we ourselves are also found to be “sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God.

• If a man is justified by the works of the Law, then why did Jesus Christ die?
• What died?
• The Law demanded death for those who broke it, but Christ paid that death penalty for all sinners. [4]
• To go back to Moses is to return to the graveyard!
• We have been “raised to walk in newness of life”[5]

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

• Paul does not refer here to physical death, but to the death of his former self (see Eph 4:22).
• The self-righteous, self-centered Saul died.
• Paul’s understanding of union with Christ begins with the cross of Christ.
• This enables Paul to endure shame, contempt, and false accusations like Jesus, God’s Suffering Servant (Col 1:24; Phil 1:29).
• Christ lives in me Refers to new life in Christ as well as the presence of God’s Spirit, which empowers obedience to the gospel (Gal 3:2; 4:6; 5:16–18, 22–25).
• the Son of God Faith in the Son of God transforms a person from a slave to a child of God.

who loved me and gave himself for me.

• Paul describes the sacrificial love of Christ in personal terms.
• Christ’s willingness to die on behalf of sinners brings deliverance from the power of sin for those believe in Him (1:4).
• Grace says, “There is no difference! All are sinners, and all can be saved through faith in Christ!”
• But Peter’s actions had said, “There is a difference! The grace of God is not sufficient; we also need the Law.”
• Returning to the Law nullifies the Cross: “If righteousness came by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:21).
• Law says DO! Grace says DONE! “It is finished!” was Christ’s victory cry (John 19:30). “For by grace are ye saved through faith”[6]
• In essence Paul affirmed, “If He loved me enough to give Himself for me, then He loves me enough to live out His life in me.”[7]

21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.[8]

• Faith in the Son of God transforms a person from a slave of the Law to a child of God.
• Paul’s opponents had accused him of using God’s grace to justify unrighteous living.[9]
• We have no record of Peter’s reply to Paul’s rebuke, but Scripture would indicate that he admitted his sin and was restored to the fellowship once again.
• Certainly when you read his two letters (1 and 2 Peter) you detect no deviation from the Gospel of the grace of God.
• In fact, the theme of 1 Peter is “the true grace of God” (1 Peter 5:12); and the word grace is used in every chapter of the letter.
• Peter is careful to point out that he and Paul were in complete agreement, lest anyone try to “rob Peter to pay Paul”
  
  
• Ask yourself:
  1) Have I been saved by the grace of God?
  2) Am I trying to mix Law and grace?
  3) Am I rejoicing in the fact that I have been justified by faith in Christ Jesus?
  4) Am I walking in the freedom of grace?
  5) Am I walking by the Spirit (that aligns with the Truth of the Gospel)?
  6) Am I willing to walk by the Spirit in defense of the Gospel?

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 2:11–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 694). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 695). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 596). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 695). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 696). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 596). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 2:1–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 2:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

GALATIANS 1
NO OTHER GOSPEL
Galatians 1:1-5 – Paul explains his authority
Paul expresses his anxiety:
An example of what the Church in Galatia might have heard:
Dear brothers of Galatia, we greet you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We have heard how through the ministry of Brother Paul you have been converted from the worship of dumb idols to serve the true and living God of Israel. We are glad you have made such a good beginning, but we are afraid that there are some very important things about the gospel Paul has omitted to tell you. We ourselves come from the church at Jerusalem which is directed by the very apostles Jesus called and ordained. Paul though is an upstart. Why, he never even knew Jesus while he was on earth and was certainly never commissioned by him as an apostle. True, Paul did visit Jerusalem just after he stopped persecuting us, and there he learned the ABCs of the Christian faith from the true apostles. But the message he now preaches bears no resemblance to theirs. I don’t imagine he even told you about circumcision! Why, this is the very way God has made it possible for you Gentiles to become a part of the New Israel. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. Circumcision is just as important as baptism—nay, more important, for it will introduce you to a higher plane of Christian living. If you will observe this holy ordinance of the law, God will be pleased with you. We are just now forming a new association of law-observant churches, and we would love for Galatia to be represented! We are the true Christians. Jesus, our great example, pleased the Father by fulfilling the law and so can you![1]
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--

• Astonished, surprised, marveled
• The Galatian believers were not simply “changing religions” or “changing churches” but were actually abandoning the very grace of God!
• To make matters worse, they were deserting the very God of grace!
• God had called them and saved them; now they were deserting Him for human leaders who would bring them into bondage.
• We must never forget that the Christian life is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
• A man does not become a Christian merely by agreeing to a set of doctrines;
• He becomes a Christian by submitting to Christ and trusting Him (Rom. 11:6).
• You cannot mix grace and works, because the one excludes the other.
• Salvation is the gift of God’s grace, purchased for us by Jesus Christ on the cross.
• To turn from grace to Law is to desert the God who saved us.[2]
• What about James 2? – Faith without works is dead.

7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort (pervert – to reverse) the gospel of Christ.

• The term Judaizer refers to people who zealously promote a Jewish lifestyle according to the law and Jewish tradition.
• Paul insisted that a gospel of legalism which adds work to faith is not the same kind of gospel that he preached and by which they were saved.[3]
• In this case, they were persuading the Galatians to practice circumcision (6:12), as well as observe food laws (2:12) and certain calendar cycles (4:10).[4]
• We not only are saved by grace, but we are to live by grace (1 Cor. 15:10).
• We stand in grace; it is the foundation for the Christian life (Rom. 5:1–2).
• Grace gives us the strength we need to be victorious soldiers (2 Tim. 2:1–4).

 

• Baptism – Say an oath or sign a commitment to church membership.
• Why wouldn’t the evil one use something that seems good and right to defeat the Church.
• Why isn’t this “grace message” proclaimed more widely?
• Nothing delights the devil more than to disrupt and destroy, insofar as he can, a true work of God.
• Whenever there is a genuine moving of God’s Spirit or a major advance in missionary outreach, we can be sure that Satan and his minions will have a vested interest in casting doubts, sowing discord, and wreaking havoc. [5]

Paul exposes his adversaries:
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

• To be anathematized then means far more than to be excommunicated.
• It means nothing less than to suffer the eternal retribution and judgment of God.
• The GNB comes close to capturing the essence of Paul’s tone in this passage, “Let him be condemned to hell!”[6]
• How do you know if you are hearing a different Gospel?
• Grace always leads to peace, but the believers had deserted grace and therefore had no peace in their hearts.
• Grace enables us to suffer without complaining, and even to use that suffering for God’s glory (2 Cor. 12:1–10).
• When a Christian turns away from living by God’s grace, he must depend on his own power.
• This leads to failure and disappointment.[7]

10 For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

• Paul was being accused of easing the requirements of obedience to the law for Gentile believers (non-Jewish people who believed in Jesus).
• For example, while circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen 17), Paul did not require that Gentile believers be circumcised.
• This made his message more appealing to Gentiles while opening him to the charge of seeking to appease people.[8]
• if the apostle had wanted to please men, he would have remained a zealous Pharisee and promoter of the Law rather than becoming a servant of Christ.[9]
• The test of a man’s ministry is not popularity (Matt. 24:11), or miraculous signs and wonders (Matt. 24:23–24), but his faithfulness to the Word of God.[10]
• “Become all things to all people” - He was willing, if not always happy, to make such adjustments and concessions whenever the missionary situation required that kind of flexibility so long as the foundational principles of the gospel were not being compromised.[11]
  
  
• I make decisions every day about this ministry. That is what a leader does.
• I am not really concerned about what people are thinking or saying about me.
• It’s not that I don’t hear it. I just don’t give it any attention.
• But I will not be distracted by nay-sayers and negative people.
• This is only a distraction by the evil one.
• Churches today market specific groups
• Marketing

I have one thing to promote… Jesus is enough.
 

1. Paul’s early Christian experience and his first encounter with church leaders in Jerusalem (1:11–24)
2. The summit meeting between Paul and the Jerusalem leaders over the scope and sphere of his missionary work (2:1–10)
3. The confrontation with Peter at Antioch leading to the central pronouncement of justification by faith (2:11–21).[12]

PAUL DEFENDS HIS APOSTLESHIP
11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin.

• “I want to make this perfectly clear”

12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

• Paul’s enemies pointed to his nonconformity as proof that his message and ministry were not really of God.[13]
• Paul did not write the Gospel
• Nor did Paul receive the Gospel from men.

13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

• Acts 22 1 “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.” 2 When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter. 3 He continued, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way to the death, arresting and putting both men and women in jail, 5 as both the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. After I received letters from them to the brothers, I traveled to Damascus to arrest those who were there and bring them to Jerusalem to be punished.

PAUL’S TESTIMONY

• “As I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon an intense light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
• “I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
• “I said, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything that you have been assigned to do.’
• “Since I couldn’t see because of the brightness of the light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and went into Damascus. 12 Someone named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, who had a good reputation with all the Jews living there, 13 came and stood by me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And in that very hour I looked up and saw him. 14 And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the words from his mouth, 15 since you will be a witness for him to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
• “After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw him telling me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
• “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’
• “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’ ”[14]

• Paul was like a modern day hip hop artist who radically came to understand the saving grace of Jesus.
• Everyone was skeptical!
• But the believers were pretty excited!

 
15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace,

• The OT prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah described their callings in similar ways (Jeremiah 1:5 - I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.; Isaiah 49:1 - The Lord called me before I was born. He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.[15]).

was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

• What I have preached, I have experienced myself.
• This is the true Gospel and any other is counterfeit.
• God did it.
• God did it by grace. (not man’s effort or character)
• God did it through His Son.
• God did it for the sake of others.

17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

• Paul is offering support for his claim that the apostles did not teach him the gospel in Jerusalem; rather, his revelation of the gospel came directly from Jesus Christ.[16]

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.

• James became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem.
• The point of Paul’s declaration is clear.
• He formed his theology not by consulting with others, but independently as he sought God’s guidance.[17]

20 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

• Acts 9
• When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. 27 Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.[18]

 
21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.

• Syria lies directly north of Galilee and includes the cities of Antioch (Acts 11:19–30), Damascus (Acts 9:1–19), and Caesarea Maritima.
• Cilicia is the region west of Syria, and includes Paul’s home city of Tarsus.[19]
• Acts 9
• Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.[20]
• Historians have concluded that he remained there perhaps seven years, until Barnabas recruited him for the work in Antioch (Acts 11:19–26).

22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.”

• Modern-day “Judaizers,” like their ancient counterparts, reject the authority of Paul and try to undermine the Gospel which he preached.
• In Paul’s day, their message was “the Gospel plus Moses.”
• In our day it is “the Gospel plus” any number of religious leaders, religious books, or religious organizations.
• “You cannot be saved unless …” is their message (Acts 15:1); and that “unless” usually includes joining their group and obeying their rules.
• If you dare to mention the Gospel of grace as preached by Jesus, Paul, and the other Apostles, they reply, “But God has given us a new revelation!”[21]

24 And they glorified God because of me.[22]
This was a telling blow to the false teachers. The Jewish Christians in Judea rejoiced in the same gospel the Judaizers sought to undermine.[23]

[1] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 95–96). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 683–684). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 590). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 1:7). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 90). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 98–99). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 684). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 1:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 591). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 684). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 101). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, pp. 105–106). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[13] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 686). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[14] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 22:1–21). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[15] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Is 49:1). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[16] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 1:18). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[17] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 592). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 9:26–27). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[19] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 1:21). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[20] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ac 9:28–30). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[21] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 689). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[22] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ga 1:1–24). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[23] Campbell, D. K. (1985). Galatians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 592). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books