The One Year Bible- October 7th
A
few years ago I was teaching a class here at Bethany called “The Divine Drama”
which studies the overarching themes found in scripture and how the Bible tells
one story of salvation. One of the lessons in the study is about the prophets
of the Old Testament. In the text book
the author, Rev. Dr. Harry Wendt, gives some good info that we can use as we
study the prophets.
The prophetic books constitute one-third of the Old Testament, or
one-quarter of the Bible. They empower
people today to hear, in astonishing ways, the passionate proclamations of
those to whom the LORD revealed his truth and will. To understand the message and mission of Jesus
the Messiah, we must understand the ministry of Israel’s ancient prophets. After all, Jesus was that expected Final
Prophet (see Deuteronomy 18:15, Mark 9:7)
To
really understand Jesus we need to understand the prophets, and when we
understand the prophets we will fully understand the mission and ministry of
Jesus Christ. On to the study...
Seth’s Thoughts
The Old Testament
This week I have been searching for the nuggets of grace in Jeremiah. All too often we get bogged down with the repeated message of the coming doom and destruction. I hope you can start seeing the nuggets of grace as well.
This week I have been searching for the nuggets of grace in Jeremiah. All too often we get bogged down with the repeated message of the coming doom and destruction. I hope you can start seeing the nuggets of grace as well.
“’But even in those days, declares the LORD, I will not make
a full end of you..”—Jeremiah 5:18 ESV
Here
Yahweh gives some hope to his continued message of exile and punishment. This
faithful remnant would return to the Promised Land and set the stage for the
coming of the Messiah.
“‘But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows
me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness
in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD..’”—Jeremiah 9:24 ESV
Yahweh
describes his true character in this verse. Even though punishment is coming
(and it is deserved) he still is full of love. The exile showed his justice. It
was not a good time for the people but it was to benefit them as a whole and
again make way for the Messiah.
“‘Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the
LORD. He is like a tree planted by
water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat
comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit..’”—Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV
God
is the one who has planted us; his living streams water us. When we stay
connected to this living water we continue to grow and we have nothing to worry
about. When we think we can go on our own, we start having problems.
I
have said it before and I will say it again now, don’t get discouraged by
hearing all the gloom and doom news from Jeremiah. Try to mine the gems of good
news.
The New Testament
In my studies this week I found some great information in “The Peoples Commentary Bible” by Harlyn J. Kuschel. The following paragraphs are from that book:
In my studies this week I found some great information in “The Peoples Commentary Bible” by Harlyn J. Kuschel. The following paragraphs are from that book:
Only two of the thirteen letters of the New
Testament authored by Paul we addressed to congregations he had not founded and
most of whose members he had never met. One was Romans the other was
Colossians. About four or five years after the founding of the church in Colosse,
its pastor Epaphras came to Rome to visit Paul. Why would he make the 1300 mile
journey just to see Paul? There were some problems with the church in Colosse.
They were being influenced by some ideas that mixed Judaism, Pagan religions,
and Christianity. Thier message included a belief in self-salvation. This was a
danger to the true teaching of Jesus. Epaphras wanted to discuss this with Paul
personally. In the letter Paul does not directly address those who are teaching
falsely in the church. He simply overwhelms their errors by confronting the
Colossians with the full riches of the Gospel of Christ. Throughout the letter
there is constant emphasis on the greatness of Christ. Paul knew that the more
thoroughly the Colossian believers understand the person and work of Christ,
the better equipped they will be to recognize and reject errors like the one
seeking to win its way into their congregation.
From the time that this epistle was written to our
own day the clear message of the gospel and salvation by grace through faith in
Christ has been obscured by many false teachers. In Colossians Paul cuts
through all the confusion of human laws and ideas and simply and directly
points us to Christ. Christ is sufficient for our eternal salvation, and he is
sufficient for our day-to-day living as his children.
One
of the things that struck me this week as I was reading through Colossians is
the wonderfully clear view of Christ it presents. We see that Jesus was fully
God and fully man. He was the Messiah and salvation comes only through him. His
ministry was one of love and caring so that “Christ is all, and
in all.” (ESV) or as the New Living Translation says, “Christ is all
that matters, and he lives in all of us” (Colossians 3:11b NLT).
Chapter
4 has one of the best messages of evangelism in the entire New Testament. “Be wise in
the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your
conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know
how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4: 5-6 NIV). We all should
live our lives in such a way.
I
know we got into 1 Thessalonians a bit this week too but I will hold my
comments on it until next week.
Bits and Pieces
We
will finish 1st as well as 2nd Thessalonians this week.
We will also start on 1 Timothy. Here are the vital stats on 2 Thessalonians:
PURPOSE:
To clear up the confusion about the second coming of Christ
AUTHOR:
Paul
TO
WHOM WRITTEN: The church at Thessalonica, and all believers everywhere
DATE
WRITTEN: About A.D. 51 or 52, a few months after 1 Thessalonians from Corinth
SETTING:
Many in the church were confused about the timing of Christ’s return. Because
of mounting persecution, they though the day of the Lord must be imminent, and
they interpreted Paul’s first letter to say that the second coming would be at
any moment. In light of this misunderstanding, many persisted in being idle and
disorderly, with the excuse of waiting for Christ’s return.
KEY
VERSE: “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s
perseverance” (3:5)
LAW
THEMES: Steadfastness; affliction; eternal destruction; man of lawlessness;
idleness.
GOSPEL
THEMES: The Gospel message; God’s righteousness; Jesus gathers us; the Spirit
sanctifies us.
KEY
PEOPLE: Paul, Silas, Timothy
KEY
PLACE: Thessalonica
SPECIAL
FEATURES: This is a follow-up letter to 1 Thessalonians. In this letter, Paul
indicates various events that must precede the second coming of Christ.
Here are the vital stats for 1 Timothy:
PURPOSE:
To give encouragement and instruction to Timothy, a young leader.
AUTHOR:
Paul
TO
WHOM WRITTEN: Timothy, young church leaders, and all believers everywhere
DATE
WRITTEN: About A.D. 64, from Rome or Macedonia (possibly Philippi), probably
just prior to Paul’s final imprisonment in Rome
SETTING:
Timothy was one of Paul’s closest companions. Paul had sent Timothy to the
church at Ephesus to counter the false teaching that had arisen there. Timothy
probably served for a time as a leader in the church at Ephesus. Paul hoped to
visit Timothy, but in the meantime, he wrote this letter to give Timothy
practical advice about the ministry.
KEY
VERSE: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
(4:12)
LAW
THEMES: Charged/Appointed with service; thread of false teachers; management.
GOSPEL
THEMES: The glorious Gospel; salvation through Christ, our Mediator; hallowed
by God’s Word/grace.
KEY
PEOPLE: Paul, Timothy
KEY
PLACE: Ephesus
SPECIAL
FEATURES: First Timothy is a personal letter and handbook of church
administration and discipline.
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