Historical Posts
1 Corinthians 02:01-05
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
1 Corinthians 2:1
Paul used what he was given in spreading the gospel. He reveals the testimony, or mystery, of God (Ephesians 3).
He has personal experience (Acts 9:1-20, 22:16) with Christ, as others do such as Peter and John (Acts 4:20).
Even if he does not have the gift of speaking (as Moses claimed in Exodus 3), he does what God called him to do.
1 Corinthians 2:2
The only thing that matters in this life is being obedient to the gospel.
Earlier Paul mentioned his preaching of the gospel to both Jews and Greeks (1 Corinthians 1:23), and both had to overcome obstacles.
Just as Paul was dead to the world and alive to God (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20), he glories in the cross alone (Galatians 6:14).
1 Corinthians 2:3
Paul shared with the Corinthians their weakness, fear, and trembling.
He had a thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and knew what it was like to suffer. This reminds Paul that power is in God, and not man (2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 4:13).
After all, Christians will suffer persecution for the cause of Christ (2 Peter 3:12).
1 Corinthians 2:4
Paul does not use persuasive words of wisdom to share the truth.
Many New Testament writers warn us that people will be led astray by this (Romans 16:17-18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5; Jude 16).
Peter taught the truth, being an eyewitness of Christ (2 Peter 1:16), as was Paul (Romans 15:18-19).
1 Corinthians 2:5
Many preceding verses have referenced the Spirit, power, and the gospel. Here Paul reminds us that we should put our faith in the power of God, and not in man (Romans 10:17).
The gospel is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16).
Paul ties this together in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, saying that the gospel came in word, power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance.
This reminds us what kind of man he was, and what kind of people we ought to be in the eyes of God.
Content by Richard Dillon
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2 Timothy 01:03-07 Faith of Our Fathers
Text: 2 Timothy 1:3-7
2 Timothy 1:3
Paul emphasized serving God with a pure conscience, just as his forefathers did.
In Acts 23:1, he admitted to serving God with a pure conscience until that day. Even when he was persecuting Christians he did it with a good conscience.
When he later learned what the Lord wanted him to do, he turned his life around (Acts 7-9).
He then began to worship the one true God that existed in the beginning, as God required of Him (Acts 24:14-16).
2 Timothy 1:4
Paul had a great relationship with Timothy (see verse 2), and longed to see him again. No doubt Timothy was weeping, longing to see Paul.
2 Timothy 1:5
Paul recalls the faith that Timothy’s mother and grandmother had.
They passed it on to Timothy, and Paul is convinced that his faith is genuine also.
Paul already reminded him that the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5); thus, he encouraged Timothy to instruct others in it as he followed it himself (1 Timothy 4:6-7).
2 Timothy 1:6
Paul encouraged him to use the gift he has received to glorify God and edify others.
In his earlier letter, he said, “do not neglect the gift that is in you (1 Timothy 4:14)…” If one doesn’t use what God has given him, he’ll lose it (Matthew 25:14ff.)!
2 Timothy 1:7
Perhaps the most popular reason that a person does not use his gift is because of fear.
Paul reminds Timothy that God does not give us a spirit of fear, but rather of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Paul also reminds the Romans that they did not receive the spirit of fear, but of adoption (Romans 8:15).
If we love God, love the truth, love His Son, and others, we will become His son by obedience to the gospel (Galatians 3:26-27), thus clearing our conscience and allowing our faith to work.
When we become a Christian, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit even as those on Pentecost did (Acts 2:38). Jesus told His apostles that the Holy Spirit would come upon them with power, and He did on that day (Acts 1:8; 2:1ff.).
Content by Richard Dillon
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The Thief on the Cross – Luke 23:39-46
Text: Luke 23:39-46
Where do we read about the thief on the cross?
Mark 15:32 says that those who were crucified with Jesus reviled Him, but the only passage to tell us all the details is Luke 23:39-46.
What law did the thief live under?
Since Jesus was still alive, he could only be under the old law, or Law of Moses (Hebrews 9:15-17). He could not have been a Christian.
Had the kingdom of God come yet?
The Thief asked Jesus to remember him when He would come in the kingdom (Luke 23:42). Thus, speaking in a future tense, the kingdom had not yet come. Jesus promised He would build His church and give Peter the keys to that kingdom (Matthew 16:13-19), and after Christ ascended into Heaven Peter unlocked that kingdom on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1-2).
Did the thief on the cross repent?
According to Luke 23:41-42, he certainly did! We all must repent if we want to be saved (Luke 13:3-5).
Did Jesus have the power to save him?
Remember that Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18-20), and thus He may save whomever He wishes as He wishes. He proved this when He saved the paralytic. Not only did He show his power to heal him physically, but could forgive his sins (Luke 5:18-26).
It must be noted, however, that Jesus gave them different instructions than He does with us today. These individuals all lived under the Old Law, and Jesus gave the Great Commission (commanding us to believe and obey the gospel) after His resurrection (see also Matthew 27, Matthew 28, as well as Mark 15 and Mark 16).
Editor’s Note: There is not much discussion about the other thief. Let us repent and recognize Christ like the one discussed above.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Galatians 05:01-06
Text: Galatians 5:1-6
Bible Class Discussion Notes
- Galatians 5:1 – Christians are to stand fast in the liberty in Christ.
We have been made free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2), and therefore stand fast in the Lord (Philippians 4:1). Once loosed, we should not be bound by the yoke of bondage. Some of Jesus’ disciples had a yoke put on them, but by God’s grace they believed all could be saved (Acts 15:10-11; Ephesians 2:5,8). - Galatians 5:2 – If one is uncircumcised, becoming circumcised will do no good.
This turned out to be a huge salvation issue, as many were divided over whether or not the Gentiles could be saved (Acts 15:1ff.). Paul explained that the gospel has the power to save both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 1:16), and that there is neither Jew nor Greek in Christ (Galatians 3:28-29) but are all heirs of God. - Galatians 5:3 – If one becomes circumcised, however, he must keep the law of Moses.
That law is very difficult (impossible) to keep, and if (when) one breaks the law it does no good (Romans 2:25-29); instead, it matters what one does on the inside. We must strive to please God and not man (Acts 5:29). According to the law of Christ, if one stumbles in one point he is guilty of all (James 2:10). - Galatians 5:4 – If we are justified by law, we have become fallen from grace.
Paul said we are no longer under the law, but grace (Romans 6:14). The law was a schoolmaster bringing us to Christ (Galatians 3:24); however, the law could not save us. That is only possible by the grace of God. Some were warned of falling short of the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15). - Galatians 5:5 – We await the hope of righteousness by faith.
Israel followed after the law of righteousness, but did not attain it because they did not seek it by faith (Romans 9:30-33). The only way we get to God is by faith in Christ (Hebrews 11:6; John 14:6). - Galatians 5:6 – It does not matter if one is circumcised or circumcised; what matters is whether he or she shows faith working by love and being a new creature (Galatians 6:15).
Paul taught Timothy that the grace of God is exceeding abundant with faith and love. Perhaps the best example is the Thessalonians because their “faith grows exceedingly and their love of every one abounds toward each other” (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Acts 10:01-48 Cornelius, the First Gentile Christian
Text: Acts 10:1-48
Bible Class Discussion Notes
- Acts 10:1-2 – Little is known of Cornelius. Although he was a centurion of the Italian regiment, very devout, feared God, gave generously, and prayed to God always. When one fears God, he commits himself to loving Him and doing what He says (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Deuteronomy 10:12-13). Since Cornelius was a good man, God remembered his prayer and helped him learn what to do to be saved.
- Acts 10:3-8 – In a vision, an angel told Cornelius to send for Simon Peter in Joppa; he would tell him what he needed to do.
- Acts 10:9-16 – As Cornelius sends men to find Peter, Peter is on a roof praying. He falls into a trance and sees a vision of a sheet that descends from heaven full of unclean animals. Each time this happens, a voice says “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Peter would not do so, for he was a Jew and knew that he could not eat unclean animals according to the old law. Yet, a voice from heaven told him “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
- Acts 10:17-23 – The men arrive at Peter’s house, as Peter wonders what this vision means. Peter was told to go with them and do not doubt! Ironically, Peter had a past of doubting. Jesus told him “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31) when Peter walked on the water to Jesus. Christians are told a few times in Scripture to do things without doubting (1 Timothy 2:8; James 1:5-6). Thus, Peter goes the following day to meet Cornelius.
- Acts 10:24-33 – Peter arrives in Caesarea to find Cornelius waiting with many friends and family to hear what God has to say through Peter. Peter confesses that he learns that God showed him not to call any man common or unclean; the gospel is for all (Romans 1:16), Jew and Gentile alike!
- Acts 10:34-43 – Peter preaches the gospel to Cornelius and his household. Thus they learn that remission of sins is gained through obedience to Christ.
- Acts 10:44-48 – Cornelius and his household receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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1 John 05:20
Text: 1 John 5:20
John knows that God’s Son came in the flesh
He knows because he personally saw, heard, and touched Him (1 John 1:1-3; John 1:1-2, 14-15). Other gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) also wrote what they saw and heard.
God’s only begotten Son has given us an understanding
When Jesus was with his disciples after His resurrection, He explained to them that all things would be fulfilled. Thus, he “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).
Later, when the Ethiopian eunuch was reading from Isaiah, he could not understand it until Philip preached unto him Jesus, beginning at the same Scripture (Acts 8:26-40). He understood what he needed to do, for he was baptized soon after. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come and guide us into all truth, and He did (John 16:13).
We may know Him who is true
Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), His Father is the only true God (Ephesians 4:6; John 17:3), and His Word is true (John 17:17). As long as we do what God says and do not do what He does not say, we are of the truth; otherwise, we are lying and not of the truth (Romans 3:4; 1 John 1:6-10; 5:10).
We are in Him who is true
According to God’s Word, only one thing puts us into Christ: baptism (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-6).
Only in Christ do we receive all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), including fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:20-26).
Another thing that is found in Christ Jesus is eternal life. Just as John tells us what it is, he explains that if we are in Christ, we have eternal life; if we do not have the Son of God, we do not have life (1 John 5:11-12). As long as we live, we must do so faithfully that we might receive everlasting life (Revelation 2:10).
Content by Richard Dillon
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John 10:24-30 Jesus, The Good Shepherd (Part 3)
Text: John 10:24-30
Bible Class Discussion Notes
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3- John 10:24 – Many of the Jews still doubted that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
- John 10:25 – Jesus already proved who He was by His words, miracles, and sinless life. Even if they still didn’t believe Him, they could not deny the works He did.
Jesus knew that according to Jewish law, there had to be 2 or 3 witnesses before a testimony could be considered. Therefore, Jesus claimed Himself, His works, His Heavenly Father, and John as witnesses to His identity (John 5:31-38; 1 John 5:7-11). - John 10:26-27 – Jesus knew that they didn’t believe Him because they were not of His sheep. Jesus knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him and His voice (John 8:47; previous lesson).
- John 10:28 – Christ gives eternal life to His sheep. No one can remove them from His protection (John 3:15-16).
- John 10:29 – Christ reminds us that His Heavenly Father is greater than all (John 14:28), even Himself. Thus, He gave Christ all authority (Ephesians 4:6; Matthew 28:18), who will eventually return it to Him (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
- John 10:30 – Jesus equates Himself with His Father, which caused the Jews to believe He was blaspheming God. However, Jesus prayed that we would all be one with Him, as He is one with the Father (John 17:6-10).
Content by Richard Dillon
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John 10:07-18 Jesus, The Good Shepherd (Part 2)
Text: John 10:7-18
Bible Class Discussion Notes
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3- John 10:7 – Jesus states plainly that He is the door of the sheep (see John 10:1). There is no other way to His Father but through Him (John 14:6).
- John 10:8 – All those coming before or after Christ are NOT Him; instead, they are the thieves and robbers (verses 1-5). Therefore, we should not believe the many false Christs that exist today that Jesus warned us about (Matthew 24:23-25).
- John 10:9 – Again Jesus emphasizes He is the door of the sheep. If we go through Him, we can be saved (Acts 4:12); we can be saved through no other! Only through Christ, the door, do we have access to God by one Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
- John 10:10-11 – As thieves and robbers come to kill and destroy, the Good Shepherd (Jesus Himself) comes to give life abundantly. He gave His life for us (John 3:16), and often says He is the bread of life (John 6:48) or can give living water (John 4:10, 14).
- John 10:12-13 – A hireling is a temporary shepherd. He does not care for the sheep but is only interested in receiving his wages. When danger approaches, he forsakes the sheep. Zechariah prophesied about a false shepherd who would be greatly punished (Zechariah 11:16-17).
- John 10:14-15 – As Christ is the Good Shepherd, He knows every one of His sheep, and we should all know Him.
Paul said, “The Lord knows those whose are His (2 Timothy 2:19ff”. Jesus knows His Father well, and His Father knows Him. He laid down His life for His friends, His sheep; we are His friends if we do what He commands us (John 15:13-14). - John 10:16 – There are other sheep not in this fold. Jesus commanded His apostles to preach the gospel throughout the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Thus there are many folds, but all have the same Shepherd—Christ! (See previous lessons on the kingdom of God as Christ is the head of the church.) We are all baptized into one body, the church of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 4:4-6; Ephesians 5:23; Romans 16:16).
- John 10:17-18 – God loved His only begotten Son because Jesus did His Father’s will. Thus, the world knows Jesus loved Him because He kept His commandment of laying down His life for us (John 14:31; 17:4). He has the power to lay it down and take it again (see Matthew 28:18).Jesus knows we love Him when we do His commandments (John 14:15).
Content by Richard Dillon
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John 10:01-06 Jesus, The Good Shepherd (Part 1)
Text: John 10:1-6
Bible Class Discussion Notes
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3- John 10:1 – If anyone tries to enter the sheepfold by any way other than the door, he is a thief and a robber. In the religious world, people try to get to Heaven by other ways than through the right one.Solomon wrote, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).” Thus there is only ONE way to Heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).Sadly, there are many that go down the wrong road that leads to destruction, but we can take the narrow gate and difficult way to life (Matthew 7:13-14).
- John 10:2 – The one that goes in and out of the door is the shepherd. He has access to do the door, and we have access to Christ by faith into God’s grace (Ephesians 5:1-2), and access to God through Christ (Hebrews 11:6).
- John 10:3 – The doorkeeper opens the door for the shepherd, and the sheep follow him in and out. The shepherd knows all the sheep by name, and they should all know him.Jesus knows us all by name, and even when Mary did not recognize Him after His resurrection, He called her “Mary!” and she knew Him (John 20:16).
- John 10:4-5 – The shepherd is the leader of the sheep, and the sheep follow only him. Strangers may try to lead the sheep, but a sheep should only follow the voice that is familiar.Likewise, there are many “wolves in sheep’s clothing” in the religious world. Sadly, many are misled by those wolves. The apostle Paul warns us about them (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).We should know God’s voice by constant study of His word (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17). God’s word was first spoken directly, then through the law of Moses, then by the prophets, then by His own Son, and now in the Bible (Hebrews 1:1-3). We must not follow those that teach contrary to God’s Word!
- John 10:6 – Some were not able to understand Jesus’ illustration.He often spoke in parables because some could not see nor understand (Luke 8:9-10). There was even a time when the disciples could not understand about Jesus being delivered into the hands of men because it was hidden from them until the Day of Pentecost (Luke 9:43-45; Acts 2:1-40).
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