Historical Posts
Romans 10:01-10 – Is Your Zeal of God According to Knowledge? audio
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Scripture Reading: Numbers 25:1-13 KJV
Lesson Text: Romans 10:1-10
Introduction
A. If you are a Christian, you are happy, upbeat, enthusiastic, and excited because God has smiled on you and freed you from the bondage and penalty of sin through the blood of Jesus – John 8:31-32.
(1) It does not make a difference what predicament you find yourself in, you always need to rejoice in the Lord – Philippians 4:4.
B. For this reason Christians are enthusiastic about all the cause and initiatives of God and His statutes and commandments.
(1) We are most willing to defend the gospel and warn sinners about the destruction that will come to the children of disobedience.
(2) We need men and women to be zealous for God like John the baptizer, when he told King Herod it is not lawful for you to have your brother wife – Mark 6:18.
C. Zeal is defined as: Enthusiastic, diligent devotion in pursuit of a cause, ideal, or goal.
Body
I. Your Zeal for God Must Be According to Knowledge – Romans 10:1-3.
A. Before Paul became a Christian he was zealous of the traditions of the fathers – Galatians 1:14.
(1) This is why he persecuted the church – Acts 8:3.
(2) But his zeal was not according to knowledge, until he was taught correctly and baptized – Acts 22:16.
B. Your zeal for God must be motivated by the purity of the Word – Psalm 119:140.
(1) There is a great importance in valuing what God has said because without His Words we would not exist – Acts 17:28.
(2) The Word of God is more valuable than anything you can imagine.
(3) You need to be receptive and ready obey God – Psalm 19:7-11.
C. Anything in your life, in your household, and even in the church that is not in compliance with God should be removed as Jesus Christ was zealous and drove out those that were defiling the temple – John 2:13-17.
D. Your zeal for God and His Word should motivate and strengthen you to stand up for God and His ways – Jeremiah 6:16.
(1) Once you know God’s Word you must stand on it and defend it.
a. Daniel purpose in his heart not to defile himself with the kings meat – Daniel 1:8.
b. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took a stand and would not bow down to the kings image that he had made – Daniel 3:16-18.
c. We too must stand on the Word of God – Ephesians 6:10-11.
II. They Have a Zeal for God, But Not According to Knowledge.
A. There are people in the world and in the church that appear on the surface of having a zeal of God – 1 John 4:1.
(1) But if you look closer, examine, test, and prove many – 1 Thessalonians 5:21. You will discover their zeal of God is not according to the Word of God. From these people we need to warn, rebuke, and turn away from.
B. Those who have a zeal for God, not according to knowledge, may do an excellent job of deceiving and making you think they’re holy and righteous on the outside, but on the inside they are full of evil – Matthew 15:7-9; Matthew 23:25-28.
Conclusion
A. Jesus Christ warns us to be aware of false prophets that come to us with sheep’s clothing on the outside, but wolves on the inside.
B. Jesus tells us we will know them by their fruits – Matthew 7:15-23.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.
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Acts 02:26-35 – The Ethiopian Eunuch – audio
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Text: Acts 2:26-35
Introduction
An Ethiopian eunuch was returning from Jerusalem, where he had gone to worship. On his way he had begun to read from Isaiah.
Whether he was reviewing what he heard in Jerusalem, picked up a scroll there, or for some other reason, we do not know. What we do know is that he had an opportunity to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18)” and he did.
Body
I. The eunuch was increasing his faith (Acts 8:27-28).
As he was traveling, he was reading from Isaiah. Interestingly, the prophet Isaiah says to “search from the book of the LORD, and read (Isaiah 34:16)…” He was indeed searching something, and by the providence of God would later find it.
One thing he would find by searching the Scriptures is faith. After all, faith comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Without it, one cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Our faith must grow, and one thing we add to our faith is knowledge (2 Peter 1:5-7). The eunuch obviously wanted to know more about what he was reading (as we’ll see shortly). As those were in Berea, so was the eunuch. He “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).”
II. The eunuch sought to understand the Scriptures (Acts 8:30-34).
It is not enough o only hear the Word of God; one must do it (James 1:22). In order to do what God commands, we must understand what He says!
Jesus commands us to understand (Matthew 15:10), as Matthew encourages his readers to understand his gospel (Matthew 24:15). On one occasion, Jesus opened the understanding of some to help them comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). This would be done to the eunuch through Philip.
It is God’s plan that everyone will understand His will (Romans 15:20-21)! Our understanding is only beneficial when we receive it with love (1 Corinthians 13:1-2), as the eunuch did.
A. Not understanding God’s Word will have its consequences. When Jesus taught the parable of the sower, He explained that those that do not understand the word had it snatched away by the wicked one (Matthew 13:19).
B. Understanding God’s Word will have its benefits.
1) Understanding God’s Word will bear much fruit (Matthew 13:23).
2) We may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18).
3) This gives us wisdom (Ephesians 5:17).
4) We can walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him (Colossians 1:9-10).
5) Our hearts are encouraged and we have full assurance of God’s promises (Colossians 2:2).
6) It is a blessing to understand all things, and others are praying for us as Paul did for Timothy(2 Timothy 2:7).
7) We can come to know God and Jesus, and be in Him. This gives us eternal life (1 John 5:20; Ephesians 1:3).
III. Philip preached Christ to Him (Acts 8:35).
Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel to everyone (Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-16), as Philip was doing.
Even Paul said he determined not to know anything but “Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).”
IV. The eunuch understood what Isaiah meant (Acts 8:36-39).
Isaiah prophesied about Jesus and His crucifixion (Isaiah 53:7-8). He was silent as He appeared before His accusers (Matthew 26:61-63; 27:12-14; John 19:9). He endured the suffering because of our transgressions. The eunuch realized Christ died for him, and readily obeyed the gospel.
Conclusion
Just as the eunuch understood he needed to become a Christian, so do we! Like the eunuch, we need to:
A. Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6) to get faith.
B. Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Acts 16:30-34; Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10; John 8:24).
C. Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3-5; Acts 2:38).
D. Confess your faith in Christ (Romans 10:9-10).
E. Be baptized for remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
Content by Richard Dillon
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I Don’t Understand
It is not unusual for a person to begin a conversation with someone who does not understand what they are saying. “We’re on two completely different pages!” is a common response.
This could be for many reasons, such as having less education, different cultural backgrounds, or even different personalities.
One thing we all need to understand is the Word of God. Can we? Of course we can!
“And we know that the Son of God has come and given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20).”
When God speaks to us through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17), we can understand it! We have an example after Jesus was resurrected. He appeared to His disciples and “opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).”
God means what He says, and says what He means. It’s not that hard to understand! “May the Lord give you understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:7).”
Content by Richard Dillon
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Bible Understanding
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(Can We Trust our Bible Understanding and Trust the Bible Regarding it’s Ability to be Understood?)
Introduction
1. Some will acknowledge that the Bible
a. Has been faithfully preserved and translated
b. Contains the books that serve as our authority (canon) in religion
c. Is inspired by God
d. Yet they contend that Bible understanding cannot be achieved and the Bible cannot be understood
2. Or at the very least they will argue
a. That we need a guide to help us in Bible understanding (such as some church authority)
b. Or that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to achieve Bible understanding
3. Can the Bible be understood…?
a. Is it so difficult that the common man cannot understand it?
b. Is it so mysterious that only ‘Spirit-led’ people can comprehend it?
Body
I. THE BIBLE WAS WRITTEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD
A. REGARDING THE OLD TESTAMENT
1. Bible understanding is expected. It was written for our learning – cf. Romans 15:4
a. Jesus expected people to understand it (“Have you not read…?”) – Matthew 12:3-5; 19:4
b. Paul expected unbelieving Jews to understand it – Acts 17:2-3
c. The Berean Jews were commended for searching the Scriptures – Acts 17:11
d. Timothy understood much of it as a child – 2 Timothy 3:14-15
2. Didn’t some people need help to understand it?
a. Such as the disciples? – Luke 24:25-27,44-47
b. Such as the Ethiopian eunuch? – Acts 8:30-35
3. Yes, because it contained a mystery yet to be revealed
a. A mystery kept secret since the world began – Romans 16:25
b. A mystery now made manifest to all nations – Romans 16:26
c. A mystery now revealed by the Spirit to the apostles and prophets – Ephesians 3:3-5
4. With the aid of the New Testament, what was a mystery in the Old Testament can now be understood!
B. REGARDING THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. The writers expected their readers to understand
a. Luke wrote his gospel that one might know – Luke 1:1-4
b. John wrote his gospel that one might believe – John 20:30-31
c. Paul wrote for people to understand, to have his knowledge – 2 Corinthians 1:13; Ephesians 3:3-5
d. John wrote his epistle that one might know – 1 John 5:13
2. Aren’t some things in the Bible hard to understand?
a. Like some of the things Paul wrote? – 2 Peter 3:15-16
b. Like the book of Revelation?
3. Yes, but that does not mean they cannot be understood
a. It is the “untaught and unstable” that have problems – 2 Peter 3:16
b. We are expected to grow in knowledge – 2 Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:10
c. As we mature, we are able to handle the “meat” – Hebrews 5:11-14
4. The New Testament was written to be understood, though in progressive stages
II. GOD EXPECTS US TO GAIN BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
A. HE EXPECTS US TO UNDERSTAND HIS WILL
1. He desires all men to have Bible understanding and come to a knowledge of the truth – 1 Timothy 2:3-4
2. He commands it of His children – Ephesians 5:17
3. Would God desire and command Bible understanding if it is impossible?
B. HE EXPECTS US TO HAVE A COMMON BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
1. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers – John 17:20
2. Paul commanded Christians to have the same mind – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; Philippians 2:2
3. There are essentials on which we must be united – e.g., Ephesians 4:3-6
C. Did Jesus and Paul demand that which is unattainable?
III. WHY SOME DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE
A. REASONS OFTEN GIVEN FOR LACK OF BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
1. “It can’t be understood”
a. We have seen that it was written to be understood
b. To say that man cannot understand is to impugn God’s ability to provide a revelation
2. “Only ‘Spirit-filled’ people can understand it”
a. This belief actually contributes to much misunderstanding and division over the Bible
1) Everyone claims the Spirit is leading them to their own understanding
2) Others are wrong because they don’t have the Spirit’s leading
b. It is based upon a misreading and misapplication of 1 Corinthians 2:14
1) That one cannot understand spiritual things without the help of the Spirit
2) Including understanding the Bible, that it requires the Spirit’s aid
c. But note the context – 1 Corinthians 2:6-13
1) Paul is contrasting God’s wisdom with the wisdom of this world
2) The world with its wisdom cannot know what God has prepared
3) What is known in the mind of God comes only through divine revelation
d. Note carefully the process:
1) God has prepared things which man cannot perceive on his own – 1 Corinthians 2:9
2) God has revealed them to the apostles through His Spirit who alone knows the mind of God – 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
3) The apostles received that which the Spirit revealed, that we might know the things given to us by God – 1 Corinthians 2:12
4) The apostles speak that which they received, using words of the Spirit, not words of human wisdom – 1 Corinthians 2:13
e. Here, then, is the proper meaning of 1 Corinthians 2:14-16
1) The ‘natural man’ is one who depends upon human wisdom (such as the ‘rulers of the age’)
a) Without the benefit of divine revelation
b) Who therefore is unable to receive the things of the Spirit of God
c) Who depending only on human wisdom considers the things of God foolishness
2) The ‘spiritual man’ is one who has the Spirit (such as the apostles)
a) Who has been given divine revelation of God’s will
b) Who is therefore able to judge all things, and is judged by no one
c) For such has been given the mind of the Lord3) Paul is therefore contrasting himself (and the apostles) with uninspired men
f. Remember now what Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:3-5
1) God has revealed what was unknown (the mystery) to the apostles and prophets by His Spirit
2) Who in turn have written what they received
3) Whereby when we read, we can now understand their knowledge!
3. We don’t need some special guidance of the Spirit to understand the Word; the Word of God itself is the Spirit’s own revelation of God’s will!
B. THE REAL REASONS PREVENTING BIBLE UNDERSTANDING
1. Many make little or no effort
a. They rarely read and study the Bible
b. They therefore remain ignorant
c. They remain babes in their knowledge and understanding
2. Many study for the wrong reasons
a. They may spend a lot of time studying, but with improper motives
b. To prove themselves right (reading only to justify their conduct or beliefs)
c. To prove others wrong (reading only to find arguments to support their position)
3. Many fail to apply their God-given common sense
a. Such as looking up words they don’t understand
b. Such as defining words in their context
c. Such as taking into consideration all that God’s word says on a subject
d. Such as studying the Bible the way it was written
1) Book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse
2) Starting at the beginning, reading through to the end
4. The problem preventing Bible understanding is not with God’s Word; the problem is slothful, sloppy handling of God’s word – cf. 2 Timothy 2:15
Conclusion
1. Bible understanding can be gained
a. By children
b. By truth seekers
c. By babes in Christ
d. Though parts of it will always challenge even the mature Christian
2. God desires that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth – 1 Timothy 2:4
a. He gave His Son as a ransom – 1 Timothy 2:5-6
b. He sent His Spirit to guide us into all the truth – John 16:13
3. Through His apostles and prophets His truth and salvation can be known!
4. The question is not whether God’s word can be understood, but whether we will make an honest and sincere effort to understand and obey it!
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Jesus Frustrated? Mark 8:14-21
Text: Mark 8:14-21
I know God doesn’t have human emotions, but Jesus sometimes experienced something very close to exasperation – part of His humanity, perhaps?
I wonder if we ever make Him want to throw up His hands in frustration?
Here’s one time it happened:
Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.
And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”
They said to him, “Twelve.”
“And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”
And they said to him, “Seven.”
And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:14-21)
It’s almost funny how off the mark the disciples were. Jesus mentioned the “leaven” of the Pharisees and of Herod, and they really thought He was talking about bread.
How could they be so obtuse?
They were hung up on the physical instead of the spiritual.
They were in so many ways spiritually shallow and short-sighted, and Jesus struggled to get them to think more deeply.
As easy as it is to point fingers at the disciples, perhaps we’re all guilty of it.
Sometimes we get caught up in the day’s minutiae:
- What we’re going to eat, wear, and do
- 401(k)s and stock portfolios
- Getting the leaves raked
- Taking the trash to the road
After all, life’s ridiculously busy.
There’s nothing wrong with that kind of “leaven,” of course. Chores have to be finished, and to-do lists need to be conquered (or at least started).
Are we caught in the minutiae?
I think what frustrates Jesus is when we stay at this superficial level. When that’s our life’s focus. When we obsess over things that ultimately don’t really matter.
“Do you not yet understand?” He asked the disciples.
That’s probably a question we all need to consider.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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