Author: ShapedByTruth

Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters

John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not

John8:8-9 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

• Idolatry is a work of the flesh
• They which do such things as idolatry shall not inherit the kingdom of God ( see also 1 Cor 6:9)

Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry

• Covetousness is a form of idolatry

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry

• Stubbornness is as idolatry

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry

• A city can be wholly given to idolatry

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

• Idolaters will have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death (See also Rev 22:15)
  

1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

• We should flee from idolatry (see also 1 Cor 10:7)

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat

• Do not fellowship with a pretend Christian who is an idolator

1 Corinthians 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols

• Avoid meats offered to idols for the sake of those who might interpret it as “being ok” to partake in offerings to idols

John 3:6-8 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

An example of the importance of examining the context is the various uses of the word “evil”. 

Moral evil is not an invention of God.  Perhaps it could be said He allowed for the capacity for moral evil (a capability for sin and rebellion) as part of giving mankind free will. Personal volition is a gift and the giver of the gift is not morally culpable if the gift is abused.  So it cannot be said that He “created” moral evil – particularly since moral evil is not a created thing but a attribute of sinful behavior.

Jeremiah 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

Jeremiah 32:35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

God is NOT inventor of moral evil, the context for the word “evil” in the following verses refers to calamity brought as judgement

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (Amos 3:6, KJV)

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? (Lamentations 3:38)

For those who try to carve up the bible and pick and choose for themselves what they think does or does not apply to them,  they should read the following…

John 5:46-47 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Grace from God toward us – unmerited favor, getting favor we do not deserve

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Grace from us toward God – To dignify or raise by act of favor; to honor

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

FORBEARING

1. Ceasing; pausing; withholding from action; exercising patience and indulgence.
2. adjective Patient; long suffering.

Proverbs 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Five Fools in the Eyes of Jesus Christ
1. The Careless Fool – Mt 7:24-27
2. The Hypocritical Fool – Mt 23:17-19
3. The Sleeping Fool – Mt 25:1-8
4. The Materialistic Fool – Luke 12:16-20
5. The Unbelieving Fool – Luke 24:25

Flee, Follow, and Fight I Tim. 6:1-12
1. Flee like a saint – 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22
2. Follow like a servant – 6:11; Luke 9:23
3. Fight like a soldier – 6:12; II Tim. 2:3-4

Why Christians Do Not Understand the Bible Hos. 4:6; Mat. 22:29
1. Some do not believe it – Luke 24:25-27; Heb. 3:18-19
2. Some lack a desire to learn – I Pet. 2:2
3. Some are too lazy to study – II Tim. 2:15

Are You Keeping God’s Words? II Chron. 34:21
1. Are you keeping them in your heart? Psalm 119:11
2. Are you keeping them in your mouth? Psalm 119:43
3. Are you keeping them in your ears? John 8:47
4. Are you keeping them in your hands? Psalm 149:6; Heb. 4:1:12

The Christian Life – 2 Corinthians 5:17
1. Living IN Christ is Salvation – Eph. 2:10; I Cor. 15:22
2. Living WITH Christ is Fellowship – I John 1:1-10
3. Living BY Christ is Fruit-bearing – John 15:5; I Cor. 3:6-7
4. Living FOR Christ is SERVICE – I Cor. 3:13

Our Command to Stand Eph. 6:10-19
1. A Test of Our Character – I Sam. 12:24 Gen. 18:17-19
2. A Test of Our Strength – Prov. 24:10
3. A Test of Our Courage – Josh. 1:8-9
4. A Test of Our Love – John 14:15

II Kings 8 Edom (Descendant of Esau) is picture of the flesh which is illustrated here. It has 4 qualities we should recognize:
1. Edom’s Revolt – 2 Kings 8:20-22
2. Edom’s King – 2 Kings 8:20
3. Edom’s Fight – 2 Kings 8:21
4. Edom’s Flight – 2 Kings 8:21

4 Kinds of Eyes to Watch Out For That is Found in Proverbs 30
1. Lofty Eyes – Proverbs 30:13
2. Lifted Up Eyes – Proverbs 30:13
3. Filthy Eyes – Proverbs 30:12
4. Mocking Eyes – Proverbs 30:17

2 Kings 6 Illustrates 5 Characteristics of The World
1. Are Besieged and Starving – 2 Kings 6:24-25
2. Are Without Hope/Help – 2 Kings 6:26-27
3. Are With Parents Without Affection – 2 Kings 6:28-29
4. Are Religious – 2 Kings 6:30-31
5. Are Hateful of God’s True Ministers – 2 Kings 6:31

There are 5 Crowns You can Earn in Heaven
1. Incorruptible Crown – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
2. Crown of Rejoicing – 1 Thessalonians 2:19
3. Crown of Righteousness- 2 Timothy 4:8
4. Crown of Glory – 1 Peter 5:4
5. Crown of Life – Revelation 2:10

Spiritual applications for Christians in Nehemiah 13
1. It’s good to have CLEANSING – Nehemiah 13:7-9
2. It’s good to have FAITHFULNESS – Nehemiah 13:10-14
3. It’s good to have CONTENTMENT – Nehemiah 13:15

I’m a fan of understanding scripture in context.  However, there seem to always be those who want to overdo context to the point that they carve up the bible into bits and call it rightly dividing.

These are the folks that say “this only pertains to the jews” or “that only applies to the disciples before the cross”.

This puts them as the authority over the word, to decide what does or doesn’t apply to them.

I recently heard someone talk about some things Jesus told the disciples as only applying to them at that time, and not to us now.

I would refer this person to these verses in Matthew…

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mt 28:18-20 KJB

So, as we see, even if Jesus’ immediate audience was, as in this case the 11 (see v. 16), the all and whatsoever that Jesus had commanded them was to be taught to others including the command to teach all and whatsoever was commanded by Jesus, and so forth…

 

I recently heard someone making the case that certain things Jesus said only pertained to the apostles that He was speaking to at the time.

To folks to hold this view, I would refer them to Mt 28:20

Mt 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We see that Jesus told the apostles to teach others to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”.

So even if Jesus was just speaking to the apostles at a particular time, the instructions for the apostles was to teach disciples to do the same thing Jesus had instructed them to do.   That includes disciples teaching other disciples to do all the things Jesus instructed.

All things the apostles were instructed in is also applicable to all believers today.