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Lección 10: Siendo Conocida por Tus Acciones

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Tito 1:1-16

Perspectiva Histórica: ¿Quién fue Tito?

Durante el primer viaje misionero de Pablo, Tito le escuchó predicar sobre Jesús. Tito era griego, el hijo de padres gentiles. Mientras él escuchaba a Pablo, el corazón de Tito respondió al mensaje, y él creyó en Jesús. Pablo le trajo a Jerusalén (Gálatas 2:1-4) para mostrarle a los apóstoles y a otros creyentes judíos cómo un griego, no judío, podía amar a Dios tanto como ellos lo amaban. Contrario a Timoteo, Tito no estaba circuncidado (Gálatas 2:3). Tito representaba a toda la gente no judía quienes se hicieron cristianos y eran completamente aceptados por Dios a través de su fe en Jesucristo - ¡como la mayoría de nosotras!

Como Timoteo, Tito fue enviado por Pablo a ministrar a iglesias específicas. Él viajó con Pablo en viajes misioneros, ayudando en la obra de compartir el evangelio. Durante los 3 años que Pablo estuvo enseñando en Éfeso, Tito estuvo allí. Entonces, Pablo lo envió a Corintios para aliviar la tensión en esa iglesia (2 Corintios 7:6-16) y para recolectar dinero para los pobres (2 Corintios 8:6-23). Pablo pensó de Tito no solo como un amigo fiel, sino también como su hijo spiritual ya que él le había llevado a confiar en Cristo.

Después que Pablo fue librado de la prisión romana donde había estado por dos años, él y Tito viajaron a la isla de Creta. Pablo y Tito enseñaron a los cretenses sobre su necesidad de Dios y las buenas nuevas sobre Jesús (Tito 1:4-5). Pronto hubo suficientes creyentes para comenzar iglesias en algunos pueblos. Pablo quería visitar a la iglesia en Corintios así que dejó a Tito para continuar enseñando a los nuevos cristianos, y para designar líderes para cada una de las iglesias nuevas. Alguien vino a reemplazarle en Creta y así Tito se reunió con Pablo en Macedonia occidental y continuaron su trabajo misionero en el norte, hacia Dalmacia (Albania hoy día), la cual era otra área difícil (2 Timoteo 4:10).

Finalmente, Tito fue pastor de la iglesia en Creta. Tito era un hombre ocupado en cuidar a todos los creyentes nuevos cretenses, especialmente porque la gente no sabía cómo hacer aquello que es bueno a los ojos de Dios. Pablo sabía que Tito necesitaba algo de ánimo y recordatorios de lo que era importante enseñar a las personas. Pablo escribió Tito después de escribir 1 de Timoteo, probablemente mientras estaba en Macedonia, camino a Nicópolis (Tito 3:12). Pablo esperaba encontrarse con Tito nuevamente, pero no hay forma de saber si esa reunion ocurrió. De acuerdo a la tradición antigua, Tito regresó a Creta en su vejez, y murió y fue enterrado allí a la edad de 94 años.

Estudio – Primer Día

Para refrescar su memoria, lee la carta a Tito. (Para tu conveniencia, una copia de esta carta se incluyó al final de esta guía de estudio).

Ya que algunas porciones de Tito han sido cubiertas en lecciones previas, esta lección será más corta de lo usual.

1. Lee Tito 1:1-9. Pablo a menudo introduces una carta con comentarios relevantes al mensaje de la carta. ¿Cuáles palabras o ideas se incluyen en esta introducción, que se hayan mencionado en toda la carta a Tito? En otras palabras, ¿Por qué crees que Pablo está escribiendo esta carta?

2. El versículo habla sobre la verdad que lleva a piedad. Lee los siguientes pasajes y resume lo que Jesús dice que es la “verdad.”

  • Juan 8:31-32 —
  • Juan 14:6 —
  • Juan 17:1-8 —
  • Juan 17:17 —

Resumen:

3. De acuerdo a Juan 14:16-18 y Juan 16:13-14, ¿Cómo el creyente continúa discerniendo la verdad?

4. Lee Tito 1:5. ¿Con qué propósito Pablo envió Tito a Creta?

5. Revisa las calificaciones de los ancianos en Tito 1:6-9. En los versículos 6 & 7, ¿Qué característica menciona Pablo dos veces? ¿Por qué crees que él enfatizó este punto?

Referencia Histórica:  El carácter cretense era proverbial en el mundo antiguo. En griego, “cretanizar” significaba “mentir”. El profeta que Pablo mencionó en el versículo 12 era Epiménides, un filósofo cretense del sexto siglo AC. Los hombres más educados en los días de Pablo tenían que estudiar a Epiménides. (Titus Lifechange Series Bible Study- Serie de Estudios Bíblicos el Cambio de Vida de Tito)

6. Lee Tito 1:10-16 y 3:9-11. En contraste a las características de un anciano (dadas en los versículos 6-9), ¿cómo describe Pablo a los falsos maestros en Creta?

7. ¿Qué tipo de influencia tienen los maestros falsos?

8. ¿Cómo Pablo quería que Tito lidiara con estos falsos maestros? Asegúrese de mirar ambos pasajes de la pregunta 6. ¿Cuál es el objetivo de tratarlos de esta forma?

9. ¡Adórnate! ¿Qué puedes hacer para evitar discusiones sin provecho, vacías, y asegurarte de tener discusiones saludables?

Estudio – Segundo Día

10. Lee Tito 1:10-16. “Todas las cosas son puras para el puro” (versículo 15) es una declaración que pudiese ser abusada fácilmente… bien sea para excusar el pecado, o para juzgar/condenar a otros. Resume estas instrucciones similares dadas por Pablo:

  • Romanos 6:15 —
  • Romanos 14:1-3, 22 —
  • 1 Corintios 6:12-13 —
  • 1 Corintios 10:23-24 —

11. A la luz de los pasajes previos, ¿Qué crees Pablo quiso decir con “todas las cosas son puras para el puro”?

12. Compara lo que Pablo dice sobre falsos maestros y lo que Jesús dice sobre fariseos en Marcos 7:5-13 y Lucas 11:42-44. ¿Cómo se parecen los falsos maestros a los fariseos? ¿En qué forma son diferentes?

13. De acuerdo a Tito 1:16, ¿cómo puede una persona que dice conocer a Dios estar actualmente negándolo?

14. ¡Adórnate!: Medite en el versículo 16 durante esta semana. ¿Tus acciones diarias reflejan o niegan una relación con Dios? Pídale a Dios que le muestre cómo puedes vivir una vida que refleje mejor tu fe.

¡Piénselo!: Tito es una carta corta, pero contiene tal quintaesencia de doctrina cristiana, y está compuesta de una forma tan maestral, que contiene todo lo que es necesario para el conocimiento y vida cristiana. (Martín Lutero)

© Copyright, 2018.

Lección 11: Adórnate con Buenas Obras

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Tito 2:1-10

Referencia Bíblica: Nosotros los seres humanos parecemos ser imitadores por naturaleza. Necesitamos modelos; ellos nos dan dirección, desafío e inspiración. Pablo no dudó en ofrecerse a sí mismo, como un apóstol, para que las iglesias imitasen. “Sed imitadores de mí”, escribió, “así como yo de Cristo” (1 Corintios 11:1). Y Pablo esperaba que tanto Timoteo como Tito provean un modelo, el cual pudieran seguir las iglesias. (John Stott)

Estudio – Primer Día

Algo de esta sección sobre Tito ha sido cubierto en otras lecciones. Esta lección cubrirá información nueva.

1. Lee Tito 2:1-8. En la última lección, nosotras estudiamos Tito 1:10-16, donde Tito recibía instrucción para confrontar maestros falsos. Ahora Pablo usa un enfático “tú” en Tito 2:1.

  • ¿Hacia quién Pablo ahora trata de dirigir la atención de Tito?
  • ¿Por qué es importante esto? (Véase también Tito 1:9.)

2. Los versículos 2 al 8, describen las cualidades que cada miembro de la casa de Dios debería tener. Lista las cualidades que cada grupo debe poseer y explique la importancia de cada uno.

Ancianos (versículo 2)

  • Cualidades de carácter/ Comportamiento—
  • Importancia—

Ancianas (versículo 3)—

  • Cualidad de carácter/ comportamiento—
  • Importancia—

Mujeres Jóvenes (versículos 4-5)—

  • Cualidad de carácter / comportamiento—
  • Importancia—

Hombres Jóvenes (versículo 6)—

  • Cualidad de carácter/ comportamiento—
  • Importancia—

3. Obviamente, Dios ha diseñado un plan específico para las mujeres ancianas para motivar y discipular a mujeres jóvenes en la iglesia. ¿Cuál sería la ventaja de esta clase de relación?

4. ¿Por qué las mujeres jóvenes necesitan ser animadas en las especificaciones mencionadas en Tito 2:4-5?

5. La palabra “prudente” se menciona 3 veces en Tito 2:2-6, y nuevamente en el versículo 12. La palabra griega original significa primariamente “de una mente sana, sana, en sentidos cabales”. Su significado secundario es “curvear los deseos e impulsos de una persona, autocontrol, temperante.” En otras palabras, la palabra se refiere en primer lugar al pensamiento correcto y luego al comportamiento resultante del pensamiento correcto. Lee Romanos 12:2-3. En el anhelo de la piedad, ¿por qué el pensamiento correcto es tan importante?

6. ¿Qué ocurre usualmente cuando tratas de comportarte de forma correcta o tratas de forzar un comportamiento correcto sin “renovar la mente” con verdad que lleva a la forma correcta de pensamiento? Véase Tito 1:15-16 y 2 Timoteo 3:6-7.

7. ¡Adórnate! En Tito 2:4, se les da a las mujeres ancianas la responsabilidad de guiar a mujeres jóvenes para ser sensibles, sanas y de una mente sobria. Esto incluye la motivación de un juicio correcto y prudencia.

  • Si eres una mujer mayor, ¿cómo estás practicando esto en tu vida ahora mismo? ¿qué puedes aportar a una relación con damas más jóvenes?
  • Si eres una mujer joven, ¿en qué áreas necesitas esta forma de entrenamiento? ¿qué puedes ofrecer en una relación con una dama anciana?

Estudio – Segundo Día

8. En Tito 2:7-8, Pablo le dice a Tito que sea un buen ejemplo y haga el bien. ¿Por qué el ejemplo de un líder o maestro es tan importante para la iglesia local y la comunidad?

9. Lee lo que la Biblia dice sobre dar un buen ejemplo en los siguientes versículos.

  • 2 Tesalonicenses 3:7-9—
  • 1 Timoteo 4:12—
  • Santiago 5:10—
  • 1 Pedro 2:21—

Resumen:

10. ¡Adórnate!: Piensa en personas que han tenido el impacto más grande en tu vida. ¿De qué forma ellas te influyeron hacia el bien?

11. ¡Adórnate!: “Porque yo te lo digo” era un incentive que funcionaba cuando éramos niños pequeños, ya que aceptábamos todo lo que nuestros padres nos dijesen. Pero al crecer a la ésta no era razón suficiente para cambiar nuestras acciones. Queríamos saber el por qué y necesitábamos un incentive más grande.

  • ¿Qué te motiva a cambiar tu comportamiento y por qué?
  • Lee Colosenses 3:22-24. ¿Cuál debería ser nuestra motivación para dar lo mejor?

¡Piénselo!: Tres veces en estos versículos sobre el comportamiento cristiano de grupos diferentes, Pablo subraya su preocupación sobre el efecto del testimonio cristiano en mundo no cristiano. En dos de estas veces, él hace referencia a la doctrina cristiana, la cual es doctrina salvífica. Así que, o bien no damos evidencia de salvación, en cuyo caso el evangelio es atropellado, o damos buena evidencia de salvación al vivir una vida manifiestamente salva, en la cual el evangelio brilla. Nuestras vidas pueden ser de ornamento o descrédito para el evangelio. (John Stott)

Lee “Mujeres Mentoras de Mujeres” para aplicación adicional para esta lección.

© Copyright, 2018.

Mujeres Mentoras de Mujeres

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Por Melanie Newton

En cuatro años de matrimonio, tenía dos hijos menores de tres años. Mi esposo estaba en el seminario y trabajaba tiempo completo para sostenernos. No tenía auto. Mi madre vivía a 8 horas de distancia. Cuando mi hija era una bebé, pasé varias horas investigando pasajes relacionados a mujeres en la Biblia. Leí Tito 2:3-5, el pasaje para hoy. ¡Yo lo deseaba! ¿Dónde estaban? ¿Quién estaría interesada en mí? Me sentía sola. Me sentí sola hasta el año próximo cuando fui a una iglesia nueva y encontré a alguien que se preocupaba por mí – mi mentora, Juanita Baker.

Por fuera, yo parecía ser una mujer autosuficiente y valiente. Pero, por dentro, necesitaba el tipo de ayuda y motivación que solo otra dama podía dar – alguien que ya había andado el camino antes que yo y que podía ayudarme a encontrar el camino. Nosotras las llamamos modelos o roles o mentores. Pablo hace referencia a ellos en Tito 2.

Tito estaba ministrando en Creta, una sociedad muy corrupta. Había aparentemente pocos modelos de los que las personas piadosas debían ser. ¿Qué hay sobre tus modelos? Algunas de ustedes fueron criadas por madres quienes amaban y servían a Jesús; alabado sea Dios por eso. Pero muchas de ustedes no lo fueron. La falta de modelos piadosos deja a muchas mujeres confundidas, engañadas, e insatisfechas – viviendo vidas inconsistentes. Y después vamos de un lugar a otro y nuestras raíces están siempre en choque. Es difícil desarrollar relaciones profundas y duraderas. ¿Cuál es el remedio bíblico? Una enseñanza sólida seguida de comportamiento adecuado, enseñado a través de relaciones piadosas. La lección de hoy es sobre estas relaciones.

¿Cuál es el Plan de Dios?

“Las ancianas asimismo sean reverentes en su porte; no calumniadoras, no esclavas del vino, maestras del bien; que enseñen a las mujeres jóvenes a amar a sus maridos y a sus hijos, a ser prudentes, castas, cuidadosas de su casa, buenas, sujetas a sus maridos, para que la palabra de Dios no sea blasfemada.” (Tito 2:3-5)

El pastor/líder de la iglesia debe enseñar a todos, por supuesto. Pero, Tito 2, claramente enseña que el liderazgo de la iglesia debe delegar a mujeres mayores, espiritualmente maduras la tarea de discipular a mujeres jóvenes en algunas áreas específicas.

¿Quién es una anciana? Una mujer con edad, experiencia de vida, y madurez spiritual. ¿Cuál es la responsabilidad de la mujer anciana? Básicamente, pastorear a las mujeres jóvenes. No asumir el oficio de pastor, sino la tarea. Después de todo, ¿qué es pastorear? Es alimentar, cuidar, y nutrir el rebaño, y curar sus heridas. ¿A qué suena esto? ¡A ser una madre!

En nuestras iglesias hoy día, tenemos una gran variedad de ministerios que no están mandados bíblicamente. Pero hay un mandato claro en la Biblia para un ministerio de mujeres para mujeres y específicamente en las áreas de discipulado y consejería. Esta relación de mentores trata de resolver los problemas de soledad y la debilidad de la soledad. La vida parece aún más difícil cuando se siente sola. Necesitamos entrar en relaciones que trabajan para el apoyo de unas a otras.

“Mejores son dos que uno; porque tienen mejor paga de su trabajo. Porque si cayeron, el uno levantará a su compañero; pero ¡ay del solo! Que cuando cayere, no habrá Segundo que lo levanter. También si dos durmieren juntos, se calentarán mutuamente; mas ¿cómo se calentará uno solo? Y si alguno prevaleciere contra uno, dos le resistirán; y cordón de tres dobleces no se rompe pronto.” (Eclesiastés 4:9-12)

Pero, las mujeres mayores (y ustedes saben quiénes son), son las mujeres que se supone deben hacer esto y a menudo no se sientes confidentes. Sin embargo, las mujeres mayores tienen habilidades preciadas en la economía de Dios debido a las experiencias de vida por las cuales Dios las ha llevado. ¿Por qué creen que Dios dio la responsabilidad de discipular y aconsejar a mujeres jóvenes a las mujeres mayores? ¡Ella pueden hacerlo mejor! ¿Quién más puede entender la mente y cuerpo de una mujer que otra mujer?

¿Qué Quiere Dios de las Mujeres Ancianas?

El ser reverente en la forma de vivir.

¡Esto no significa el ser aburrida! Esto significa un comportamiento adecuado de aquél en quien Jesús vive. La palabra se refiere a una ministra sirviendo en el templo de su Dios. Nuestros cuerpos sin el templo de Dios quien habita en nosotras. Todo lo que hacemos en la vida es en servicio a Él. No hay división entre sacro/secular entre nuestras tareas. Tu vida fuera del contexto de la iglesia (el trabajo en casa o fuera del hogar) es tan importante como tu vida dentro de la iglesia (enseñando en la escuela dominical o como ujier). Toda la vida debe estar llena con obediencia y agradecimiento a Él.

Que su hablar sea digno de confianza.

No ser mentirosas, chismosas. ¿Dónde hemos visto esto antes? A través de 1 de Timoteo sobre las cualificaciones de los líderes. ¿Correcto? Las mujeres ancianas deben aceptar a otros. Tratar de no sorprenderse fácilmente. Ser gentiles en lidiar con el pecado habitual. Ser confidente.

No ser adicta al vino o cualquier otra cosa que la haga ineficiente.

La palabra griega para “adicta” significa el hacerse esclavo de, o estar reducida a la esclavitud. El vino era una bebida común para las comidas. Esto hace referencia a excesos. Puede ser aplicado a cualquier cosa que usamos habitualmente para hacer frente a la vida.

El alcoholismo es alarmante en mujeres de edad media. Adicción a cualquier cosa es una esclavitud terrible. Pero Dios, que puede librarnos de las cadenas del pecado y la muerte, puede librarnos de esto también. ¿Cierto? Debemos enfrentar la realidad de la vida. Si esta situación te ha afectado, descansa en el hecho que Él te ama, Él conoce por lo que estás pasando, y Él puede hacer algo al respecto. Pero, Él puede decider no cambiar las circunstancias. Tu elección debe ser una de fe en Él.

Ser capaz de enseñar lo que es bueno.

¿Qué significa esto? “Lo que es bueno” significa discernir lo bueno de lo malo, la verdad sobre Dios y sobre lo que Dios desea. Las experiencias de la vida nos enseñan, si estamos escuchando, el ser sólidas en fe, confiar en Cristo. Las mujeres mayores deben tener un buen conocimiento de las Escrituras para poder enseñar lo que es bueno. Usted gana mucho a través de estudios bíblicos activos – personales y grupales, no sólo de su propio aprendizaje, sino también de otros para usar lo que usted pueda en motivar a otras mujeres.

¿Saben qué me desanima? ¿Qué me entristece? La respuesta de algunas de nuestras damas cristianas a quienes no les gusta lo que estamos estudiando, o piensan que no es lo suficientemente desafiante. A algunas no les gusta su grupo. El propósito del estudio bíblico no es ganar conocimiento bíblico. Es conocer mejor al autor, para conocer a Jesús. Usted no puede tener como meta el conocer mejor a Jesús sin querer que otros crezcan también en la fe. ¿Por qué somos tan egoístas en nuestros pensamientos? La tendencia de centrase en uno mismo en vez de en otros está siempre presente mientras tengamos una naturaleza de pecado en este mundo. La buena noticia es que, en la próxima vida, ¡el centrarse en uno mismo se irá para siempre! Pero, no debemos rendirnos aquí. La marca del cristiano es amor genuino, una respuesta a vivir una vida de fe, y buscar formas de demostrarlo

¿Cómo puede una mujer enseñar lo que es bueno? Por lo que ella es y por lo que hace, sus palabras y su ejemplo. Uno es formal y deliberado; el otro es más sutil y relajado. Esto toma tiempo. Una mujer mayor tiene generalmente más tiempo para esto. Dios, en su infinita sabiduría, conoce que una mujer nunca debe “jubilarse” en su compromiso al desarrollo de cualidades de vida en otros. Una mujer debe sentir necesitada y apreciada. Dios nos diseñó de esta manera.

¿Qué debe enseñar a las mujeres más jóvenes?

Restaurar a la cordura

Una traducción dice “motivarlas”; otra traducción dice “que enseñen”. ¿Saben cuál es el significado del vocablo griego? Significa el restaurar a una persona a la cordura; discipular; el mantener fijo en sus deberes; reprobar firmemente, pero con amabilidad; recordar o advertir sobre algo que se ha olvidado o pasado por alto. Esto cubre bastante situaciones ¿cierto?

Para poder ser capaz de hacer algunas de estas cosas, las mujeres mayores deben tener sus cabezas bien puestas. Entonces, su deber como mujeres mayores es primeramente ayudar a las mujeres jóvenes a llegar a la cordura – pensar correctamente. Luego aprender a comportarse correctamente y a dar contabilidad por sus responsabilidades. Y, cuando sea necesario, el corregir y advertir de peligro. Ser consejeras y motivadoras. Es tomar a una mujer joven que es histérica y sacudirla por sus hombros para calmarla y llevarla de vuelta a la razón. La palabra griega es sofronizina. Podemos reducirlo a sofi y llamar a un grupo de mujeres mayores mentores SOFÍAS.

¿Dónde deben ser restauradas las jóvenes en cuanto a su cordura? Pablo menciona habilidades que benefician a toda la familia – habilidades necesarias para mantener un hogar piadoso, para criar hijos piadosos y ser un buen ejemplo a otros en todo sobre la vida.

Amar a sus Esposos.

Este amor no es eros (amor romántico) o agape (amor incondicional), sino phileo (amor fraternal). Esto significa el ser cariñosa con él, el gustarle, disfrutar su compañía, apreciarlo y ser su amiga. ¿Cómo puede una mujer motivar a otra a ser cariñosa con su esposo? Al comportarse ella misma de esta forma. ¿Cómo puede una mujer mayor desmotivar esta conducta? A través de criticism frecuente y al mostrar desinterés en su esposo.

Ahora, ¿cómo puede una hermana mayor modelar esto a menos que ella misma haya aprendido a gustarle realmente su esposo? ¿Qué significa el gustarte tu esposo? Nosotras podríamos pasar toda una semana en este punto, ¿cierto? Tú lo aceptas y no estás siempre tratando de cambiarlo para que sea otro tú. Le permites el espacio de tener una pila de ropas en la habitación y le dejas que lo ordene en su tiempo. Con el tiempo, tu príncipe guapo puede volverse calvo y barrigón. Él necesita que tu ames su rostro y cuerpo que va envejeciendo asi como amaste el cuerpo joven. Él puede perder su trabajo por lo menos una vez, si no más, y desanimarse. Él puede que sea muy emotivo. Él puede que no sea emotivo para nada. Nosotras siempre queremos algo diferente, ¿no es así? ¿Por qué no podemos estar satisfechas con lo que Dios ha provisto para nosotras?

La influencia poderosa de una esposa amorosa y animante sobre un hombre es enorme. Cuando una esposa se une al equipo de su marido y le muestra que a ella le gusta estar allí, las cosas suelen andar mejor para ambos.

Amar a sus hijos

Este es el mismo tipo de amor—phileo—el estar unida a sus hijos, apreciarlos y disfrutar de la compañía de sus hijos. Así que, ¿cómo puede una mujer motivar a otra a estar unida a sus hijos? La madrastra de Ron solía recordarme todo el tiempo, cuán preciosos son los hijos, y ella nos trataba de esa forma. ¿Cómo puede una mujer mayor desmotivar esa unión?

Una de las maneras de amar a nuestros hijos es respetar sus características individuales. Algunas veces tenemos hijos que son una pequeña replica de nosotras. Podemos entenderlos. Algunas veces ellos son una réplica de nuestros esposos. Al menos podemos tener una idea. Algunas veces ellos son como nadie a quien conozcamos. ¡No tenemos idea! Esto presenta un desafío, ¿cierto? Ellos salen de nuestro vientre con gustos y disgustos predeterminados.

Tuvimos hace unas semanas atrás una lección sobre favoritismo. Es aquí donde el favoritismo puede entrometerse. Algunos niños caen mejor que otros, sólo por sus tendencias de comportamiento. Una madre sabia aprende a preciar a todos los hijos por igual y busca formas de hacerlo. Algunas veces una mujer mayor puede ayudarla.

A ser prudente.

Esta palabra se relaciona con el vocablo traducido motivar o entrenar. Es también la misma palabra que se traduce como sensible o templante para cada uno de estos grupos de edades. Definición #1 = tener una mente sana, sana; Definición #2 = curvear los deseos e impulsos personales, tener autocontrol. La NVI traduce esta palabra usando la segunda definición—autocontrol. Como en cualquier trabajo de traducción, se hacen elecciones. Yo creo que la elección aquí es confusa. Sin embargo, los traductores quizá pensaron que los lectores de hoy día pudieran entender la palabra “prudente.”

Prudente tiene la idea de sentido común, el cual algunas veces puede ser equivocado. Actualmente, la primera definición lleva a la segunda. ¿Cómo puedes restaurar o sanar a alguien en sus cabales? Enséñales a pensar correctamente, ser prácticos, el estar despiertos, y no ser manejados por emociones. Entonces, el comportamiento correcto seguirá. El Espíritu le da control en la medida que está sometida a Él, sabiendo que algo no es bueno para ti y ni siquiera quererlo.

Digamos que usted tiene un par de niños que están tirando de sus ropas y molestando todo el día. ¿No necesitaría del consejo de una mujer mayor que le ayudara a simplificar su vida? ¿Para ayudarle a relajarse? ¿Para ayudarle a disfrutar ahora y ver más allá al futuro cuando sus hijos sean grandes?

¿Qué tal si su esposo está desempleado? ¿O está batallando en su trabajo? ¿No necesitaría una mujer que ha pasado por eso y le pueda ayudar a pasar por esta situación con una actitud correcta? Las probabilidades son que alguna persona que usted conoce ha estado en esa situación. He visto la fidelidad de Dios en tiempos buenos y en los malos también. Sé que es digno de confianza.

Todos quieren escapar del matrimonio de vez en cuando. Ese caballero de allá se ve mucho mejor que el que tú tienes a tu lado. Entonces, sueles buscar amistades que justificarán tus pensamientos e intenciones. Muy pronto serás parte del equipo que destruirá a una familia, si no se destruyen dos. ¿Cuántas de ustedes han visto Los Mejores Años de Nuestras Vidas con Frederic March y Myrna Loy? La hija acusa a sus padres por no entenderla cuando ella quiere una relación con un hombre felizmente casado. Ella dice que ellos no podrían entenderla porque todo ha sido perfecto con ellos. La madre cuenta que la hija no sabe cuántas veces ella ha odiado al hombre con el cual está casada y cómo han tenido que juntar las piezas y comenzar de enamorarse nuevamente porque habían hecho un compromiso mutuo. Una mujer mayor puede compartir este tipo de experiencia, explicando cómo hacer funcionar la relación a pesar de todos los obstáculos.

Ser pura.

La castidad sexual antes y durante el matrimonio. El ser la mujer de un solo hombre. No desear a otro hombre o al hombre de otra mujer. No dejar que uno caiga en el adulterio emocional. La pureza de mente y corazón en toda tu conducta.

¿Eres una madre con 2 ó 3 niños tirando de tu falda todo el día, y un esposo muy ocupado construyendo su Carrera? Puede que dejes a tus ojos vagar. Cualquier cosa que se vea más excitante. Necesitarías de alguien que de ayude a mantener tu enfoque en la realidad en ese momento. Si no estás satisfecha las novelas románticas no son un buen consejo.

Cuidadosas de su casa.

El cuidar de la casa, trabajar en la casa, como aquella quién vigila su hogar, cuidando de los asuntos del hogar. Una ama de casa es aquella que observa, guarda, o preserva algo de valor. Abel era un cuidador de ovejas. Así también lo fue David. Una mujer debe estar en control de su casa, con la responsabilidad y autoridad de manejar su hogar dentro de los lineamientos de su esposo de gustos y disgustos, si ella está casada.

¿Recuerda 1 Timoteo 5:14? Las viudas jóvenes debían casarse y estar ocupadas en casa. Esta frase, en casa, significa ser la gerente del hogar. Es un término fuerte que indica que la mujer debe manejar el hogar. Esto no significa que es lo único que ella puede hacer, pero su principal enfoque debe ser su hogar y su familia.

Buenas.

Palabras buenas, especialmente expresadas en acciones buenas.

Ser sujetas a sus esposos.

La sumisión voluntaria porque somos obediente y confiamos en Jesucristo como Señor de nuestras vidas. El comportamiento opuesto se describe en Ezequiel:

"Cual madre, tal la hija. Hija eres tú de tu madre, que desechó a su marido y a sus hijos; y hermana eres tú de tus hermanas, que desecharon a sus maridos y a sus hijos." (Ezequiel 16:44-45)

La sumisión a la autoridad de Dios se aprende primariamente por ejemplo y experiencia. Como madre, yo soy responsable a Dios primeramente por mí misma y luego por mis hijas y por otros sobre los cuales haya tenido influencia. Podemos ayudar a las mujeres jóvenes a entender cómo aplicar la sumisión bíblica en el hogar. ¿Por qué seguir la guía de Dios? Porque es un gran testimonio del poder del evangelio a todo el que cree.

Conclusión

Para las mujeres mayores:

  • Póngase a disposición de Dios para ser usada en la forma que Él escoja.
  • Póngase a disposición de mujeres jóvenes, especialmente a aquellas que no tengan familiares cercanos.
  • Escuche. Estamos tan ocupadas. Sé que lo estamos. Veo a alguien que necesita una amiga. Entonces voy a casa y no sigo mi inclinación y me lleno de ocupaciones.
  • Estudie la Palabra para que pueda aplicarla en su propia vida y dar consejo a otros.
  • Vea a su alrededor. Decida el querer a una joven. Llámela. Invítela a almorzar. Visítela y léale algo a sus niños.

Para las mujeres jóvenes:

  • Haga conocer a Dios su deseo de tener una mentora.
  • Interactúe con mujeres mayores; téngalas como amigas; escúchelas. Muchas mujeres mayores necesitan “hijas” como amigas cuando sus propias hijas no están cerca.
  • Reconozca que usted no es auto-suficiente y desee el aprender. Usted puede aprender de una mujer mayor piadosa en vez de lo que el mundo pueda ofrecerle.
  • Cultive esto al enseñarle a sus hijos gratitud hacia sus abuelos y otros ancianos.

Antes que usted acuda a un caballero consejero, dé a una mujer mayor la oportunidad de restaurarla en sus sentidos, discipularla y entrenarla.

© Copyright, 2018.

Recursos

Related Media

1. Estudio B´´iblico para Grupos Pequeños de Crown Ministries

2. Irving L. Jensen, 1 y 2 Timoteo y Tito, Una Guía de Estudio

3. J. Vernon McGee, Serie de Comentarios “A Través de la Biblia”

4. John Foxe, El Libro de Mártires de Fox

5. John Stott, Peleando la Buena Batalla

6. Guía de Estudio de Aplicación Bíblica, 1 y 2 Timoteo y Tito

7. Citas de Martín Lutero, Chuck Swindoll, John Flavell, Tim Stevenson, y C. S. Lewis

8. Ray Stedman, Notas de Sermones, Peninsula Bible Church

9. El Comentario de Conocimiento Bíblico (Nuevo Testamento), Walvoord and Zuck

10.The Quest Study Bible

11.Serie de Estudios de Tito

12. Diccionario Completo Expositivo de Palabras del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamentos de Vines

© Copyright, 2018.

Lección 12: Viviendo en Respuesta a la Gracia de Dios

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Tito 2:11-3:15

Estudio – Primer Día

¡La gracia de Dios nos redime!

Mucha de esta sección de Tito ya ha sido cubierta en otras lecciones. Esta lección cubrirá solo el material Nuevo. Pablo afirma repetidamente la importancia de la gracia de Dios. En Tito 2:11-14, él discute los tres ministerios de gracia. Veremos a cada uno de ellos en profundidad con las siguientes preguntas.

1. Lee Tito 2:11- 3:15. Esto es lo que ha hecho la gracia por nosotras en el pasado. (Tito 2:11 y 14a) ¿Cuál es la definición de redimido/redención?

  • Redimido —
  • Redención —

2. Lee los siguientes pasajes para ver lo que la Biblia dice sobre la redención:

  • Romanos 3:24 —
  • Efesios 1:7 —
  • Colosenses 1:13-14 —

3. ¿Cuál es nuestra condición (Tito 3:3) aparte de Dios?

4. De acuerdo a Efesios 2:1-9, ¿Qué hace Dios por nosotros?

Referencia Bíblica: En Efesios 2, Pablo da una definición condesada, pero comprensiva, de la salvación. Los versículos 4 -7 son una larga oración, la cual él pudo haber tomado de un credo cristiano antiguo. Toda esta declaración llega al verbo principal, “él nos salvó” (Versículo 5). Este es, quizás, la declaración más complete de salvación en el Nuevo Testamento. (John Stott)

Estudio – Segundo Día

¡La gracia de Dios nos transforma!

5. Lee Tito 2:11-3:15. Esto es lo que la gracia de Dios hace por nosotros en el presente. ¿Cómo la gracia de Dios nos reforma de acuerdo a Tito 2 2:12 y14b?

6. Tito 3:1-2 ilustra comportamientos generalmente exhibidos por alguien que entiende la gracia. ¿Cuáles son las siete cualidades que Pablo describe aquí?

7. Lee Efesios 4:23 y Gálatas 5:22-23, 25. De acuerdo a estos versículos, ¿Qué rol juega el Espíritu Santo en renovar y equipar a los creyentes?

8. Lee los siguientes versículos para ver de qué otras maneras podemos vivir en respuesta a la gracia de Dios obrando en nosotros.

  • Efesios 2: 10 —
  • Efesios 4:1-3; 5:1-2 —
  • Colosenses 3:1-4 —

9. En 3:14, Pablo dice que nosotros somos pueblo devote a hacer aquello que es bueno. Busca la definición de devote y escribe lo que significa.

10. Lee Tito 2:14; 3:1, 8, 14. Pablo dice que hemos renacido y renovados por el Espíritu Santo (Tito 3:5). ¿Por qué esta declaración debe motivarnos a ocuparnos en buenas obras (3:8)?

Observa el Significado: “La regeneración es la obra del Espíritu Santo en la salvación, en la cual da una nueva vida y naturaleza al creyente pecador en el momento de la salvación. El nuevo nacimiento (Juan 3:1-16) es el conocimiento de esta nueva naturaleza que se hace parte del pecador creyente en el momento que él o ella recibe a Cristo.” (Charles Swindoll)

11. ¡Adórnate!: Si la salvación está basada en nuestra fe y la gracia de Dios y misericordia, ¿Por qué Pablo nos exhortaría a ser devotas o el participar en buenas obras?”

12. ¡Adórnate!: Piensa en una persona que conoces que vive una vida reformada por la gracia de Dios. ¿Qué evidencia del poder transformador de Dios obrando a través de su Espíritu ves en la vida de esa persona?

Estudio – Tercer Día

¡La Gracia de Dios nos recompensa!

13. Lee Tito 2:11- 3:15. ¿Cuál es la “esperanza bienaventurada” (Tito 2:13) de la cual deben fluir todos los objetivos y prioridades? (Revise 1 Timoteo 1:1, y vea también 1 Juan 3:1-3.)

14. ¿Qué significa para ti lo que dice Pablo en Tito 3:7, que somos herederos? ¿Te da esto esperanza? ¿Por qué?

¡Piénselo!: En un context humano, los herederos no heredan hasta que el dueño de la propiedad muera (a pesar que ellos pueden disfrutar de muchos beneficios mientras tanto). Pero el en área espiritual, ocurre lo contrario: Nosotros no heredamos completamente hasta que muramos; sin embargo, en esta vida podemos experimentar de muchos gozos y beneficios de ser herederos de Dios. Nuestra experiencia ahora es solo un preámbulo de los que Dios nos ha garantizado en el futuro. (Life Application Bible Commentary- Comentario Bíblico de Aplicación en la Vida Diaria)

Adórnate con Piedad

Al inicio de este estudio, se presentó el siguiente reto:

¡Qué podría ser más hermoso, una meta digna de ser alcanzada, que aspirar a adornarte con piedad…el arreglarse con el carácter mismo de Dios… el arreglar o vivir tu vida mostrando las creencias que profesas creer… vestirte, actuar y ser como Él y para Él!

Este fue nuestro deseo para ti, que aprendas a través de la Palabra de Dios estas dos epístolas. Esperamos que hayas podido verte a ti misma y luego “vestirte” de tal manera que otros puedan ver a Jesús en ti. En otras palabras, aprendan a “usar a Jesús de forma cómodamente”.”

16. ¿De qué formas has elegido adornarte con piedad a través de este estudio?

© Copyright, 2018.

Piano di Dio per la salvezza

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1 Giovanni 5:11-12 E la testimonianza è questa: Iddio ci ha data la vita eterna, e questa vita è nel suo Figliuolo. Chi ha il Figliuolo ha la vita; chi non ha il Figliuolo di Dio, non ha la vita.

Questo passo ci dice che Dio ci ha dato la vita eterna e questa vita è nel suo Figlio, Gesù Cristo. In altre parole, il modo di possedere la vita eterna è possedendo il Figlio di Dio. La domanda è: come può una persona avere il Figlio di Dio?

Il Problema dell’uomo

Separazione da Dio

Isaia 59:2 Ma son le vostre iniquità quelle che han posto una barriera fra voi e il vostro Dio; sono i vostri peccati quelli che han fatto sì ch'egli nasconda la sua faccia da voi, per non darvi più ascolto.

Romani 5:8 Ma Iddio mostra la grandezza del proprio amore per noi, in quanto che, mentre eravamo ancora peccatori, Cristo è morto per noi.

Secondo Romani 5:8, Dio ha dimostrato il suo amore per noi attraverso la morte del suo Figlio. Perché Cristo ha dovuto morire per noi? Perché la Scrittura dichiara che tutti gli uomini sono peccatori. “Peccato” significa “mancare il bersaglio”. La Bibbia dichiara che “tutti hanno peccato e sono privi della gloria (la santità perfetta) di Dio” (Rm 3,23). In altre parole, il nostro peccato ci separa da Dio che è perfetta santità (rettitudine e giustizia) e Dio deve quindi giudicare l'uomo peccatore.

Abacuc uno 01:13 Tu, che hai gli occhi troppo puri per sopportar la vista del male, e che non puoi tollerar lo spettacolo dell'iniquità, perché guardi i perfidi, e taci quando il malvagio divora l'uomo ch'è più giusto di lui?

L'inutilità delle nostre opere

La Scrittura insegna che nessuna quantità di bontà umana, di opere umane, di moralità umana, o di attività religiosa può rendere qualcuno accetto dinanzi a Dio o portare qualcuno in cielo. L'uomo morale, l'uomo religioso, e l'immorale e il non-religioso sono tutti nella stessa barca. Tutti venuti meno della perfetta giustizia divina. Dopo aver discusso l'uomo immorale, l'uomo morale, e l'uomo religioso in Romani 1:18-3:08, l'apostolo Paolo dichiara che sia Giudei che Greci sono sotto il peccato, che "non c'è nessun giusto, neppure uno" (Rm . 3,9-10). A queste vanno aggiunte le dichiarazioni dei seguenti versi della Scrittura:

Efesini 2:8-9 Poiché gli è per grazia che voi siete stati salvati, mediante la fede; e ciò non vien da voi; è il dono di Dio. Non è in virtù d'opere, affinché niuno si glorî; 

Tito 3:5-7 Egli ci ha salvati non per opere giuste che noi avessimo fatte, ma secondo la sua misericordia, mediante il lavacro della rigenerazione e il rinnovamento dello Spirito Santo, ch'Egli ha copiosamente sparso su noi per mezzo di Gesù Cristo, nostro Salvatore, affinché, giustificati per la sua grazia, noi fossimo fatti eredi secondo la speranza della vita eterna. 

Romani 4:1-5 Che diremo dunque che l'antenato nostro Abramo abbia ottenuto secondo la carne? Poiché se Abramo è stato giustificato per le opere, egli avrebbe di che gloriarsi; ma dinanzi a Dio egli non ha di che gloriarsi; infatti, che dice la Scrittura? Or Abramo credette a Dio, e ciò gli fu messo in conto di giustizia. Or a chi opera, la mercede non è messa in conto di grazia, ma di debito; mentre a chi non opera ma crede in colui che giustifica l'empio, la sua fede gli è messa in conto di giustizia. 

Nessuna quantità di bontà umana è buona come Dio. Dio è giustizia perfetta. Per questo motivo, Abacuc 1:13 ci dice che Dio non può avere comunione con nessuno che non abbia la giustizia perfetta. Per essere accettati da Dio, dobbiamo essere buoni tanto quanto Dio. Davanti a Dio, siamo tutti nudi, indifesi, e senza speranza in noi stessi. Nessuna quantità di buon vivere ci porterà in cielo o ci darà la vita eterna. Qual è allora la soluzione?

La soluzione di Dio

Dio non è soltanto santità perfetta (il cui carattere sacro non possiamo mai raggiungere la da soli o tramite le nostre opere giuste), ma Egli è anche amore perfetto e pieno di grazia e di misericordia. A causa del suo amore e della sua grazia, egli non ci ha lasciati senza speranza e senza una soluzione.

Romani 5:8 Ma Dio dimostra il suo amore verso di noi perché, mentre eravamo ancora peccatori, Cristo è morto per noi.

Questa è la buona notizia della Bibbia, il messaggio del Vangelo. È il messaggio del dono del Figlio di Dio fatto uomo (l'uomo-Dio), il quale visse una vita senza peccato, morì sulla croce per i nostri peccati ed è risorto dalla tomba provare sia il fatto che Egli è il Figlio di Dio sia il valore della sua morte per noi come nostro sostituto.

Romani 1:4 nato dal seme di Davide secondo la carne, dichiarato Figliuol di Dio con potenza secondo lo spirito di santità mediante la sua risurrezione dai morti; cioè Gesù Cristo nostro Signore, 

Romani 4:25 il quale è stato dato a cagione delle nostre offese, ed è risuscitato a cagione della nostra giustificazione. 

2 Corinzi 5:21 Colui che non ha conosciuto peccato, Egli l'ha fatto esser peccato per noi, affinché noi diventassimo giustizia di Dio in lui.

1 Pietro 3:18 Poiché anche Cristo ha sofferto una volta per i peccati, egli giusto per gl'ingiusti, per condurci a Dio; essendo stato messo a morte, quanto alla carne, ma vivificato quanto allo spirito;

Come Riceviamo Il Figlio Di Dio?

A causa di ciò che Gesù Cristo ha compiuto per noi sulla croce, la Bibbia afferma: "Chi ha il Figlio ha la vita." Siamo in grado di ricevere il Figlio, Gesù Cristo, come nostro Salvatore per fede personale, attraverso la fiducia nella persona di Cristo e della sua morte per i nostri peccati.

Giovanni 1:12 ma a tutti quelli che l'hanno ricevuto egli ha dato il diritto di diventar figliuoli di Dio; a quelli, cioè, che credono nel suo nome;

Giovanni 3:16-18 Poiché Iddio ha tanto amato il mondo, che ha dato il suo unigenito Figliuolo, affinché chiunque crede in lui non perisca, ma abbia vita eterna. Infatti Iddio non ha mandato il suo Figliuolo nel mondo per giudicare il mondo, ma perché il mondo sia salvato per mezzo di lui. Chi crede in lui non è giudicato; chi non crede è già giudicato, perché non ha creduto nel nome dell'unigenito Figliuol di Dio. 

Questo significa che ognuno di noi deve venire a Dio nello stesso modo: (1) come un peccatore che riconosce il suo peccato, (2) che realizza che nessuna opera umana può portare a salvezza, e (3) che si affida totalmente a Cristo solo per per la sua salvezza.

Se desideri ricevere e la fiducia Cristo come tuo personale Salvatore, puoi esprimere la tua fede in Cristo con una preghiera semplice, riconoscendo il tuo peccato, accettando il Suo perdono e mettendo la tua fede in Cristo per la tua salvezza.

Se hai appena confidato in Cristo, hai bisogno di imparare sulla tua nuova vita e come camminare con il Signore. Possiamo suggerire di iniziare con lo studio attraverso ABC for the Christian Growth (in inglese). Questa serie ti porterà mano a mano attraverso alcune verità fondamentali della Parola di Dio e ti aiuterà a costruire una solida base per la tua fede in Cristo.

Related Topics: Soteriology (Salvation)

Q. Reading Deuteronomy 23:2, Is There Hope For An Illegitimate Child To Become A Christian? Are There Some People, Ethnicity's, Or Situations Beyond Hope?

Answer

1. The first thing that must be pointed out is that the words of Deuteronomy 23:2 are a part of the Old Covenant, which has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ and replaced by the New Covenant.

31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NASB)

5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NASB)

8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 “FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 “AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Hebrews 8:8-13 (NASB)

19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:19-20 (NASB)

The restrictions found in Deuteronomy 23 are no longer in effect. The restrictions we see there (and elsewhere in the Old Testament) were to assure that the line from which Messiah would come (Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 49:8-10; 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2) would remain pure. Now that Christ, our Messiah, has come, this is no longer necessary.

10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say,And to seeds, as referring to many, but rather to one,And to your seed, that is, Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. Galatians 3:10-17 (NASB)

2. The sin was not committed by the illegitimate child, but by the parent.

29 “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 30 “But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge. 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: Jeremiah 31:29-35 (NASB)

3. Every child (legitimate or not) has been created and fashioned by God in the womb:

14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; 16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:14-18 (NASB)

4. Jephthah was the son of a prostitute (Judges 11:1), and he is listed in the “hall of faith” (true believers) in Hebrews 11:32.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, Hebrews 11:32 (NASB)

5. In the Old Testament those who were Canaanites were to be annihilated, totally wiped out (Exodus 23:23; Deuteronomy 7:1-6; Joshua 11:7-11). And yet in the New Testament we find an account of a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:22-28 who asked God to deliver her daughter from a demon, and our Lord commended her for her great faith and also granted her request.

6. Ammonites and Moabites were prohibited from entering into the Tabernacle and Temple (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). Indeed, it was Ruth, a Moabite, who becomes a woman in the Messianic Line (Ruth 4:13-22).

Notice that under the New Covenant those once excluded are now included in the blessings of God for those who trust Him:

1 Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come And My righteousness to be revealed. 2 “How blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who takes hold of it; Who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil.” 3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say,The LORD will surely separate me from His people. Nor let the eunuch say,Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus says the LORD,To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, 5 To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, And a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. 6Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant; 7 Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” 8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, “Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered.” Isaiah 56:1-8 (NASB)

7. Jesus makes it clear that Gentiles are going to be blessed. It is the Jews who strongly resist this in Luke 4:16ff.

8. In the New Testament we find numerous indications that God delights to save sinners, even – perhaps especially – the worst of sinners:

9 As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector’s booth; and He *said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him. 10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:9-13 (NASB)

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NASB)

9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)

20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 (NASB)

37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:37-50 (NASB); See also John 8:3-11

Here’s the good news. No one is ever too far gone, too sinful, for God to save through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary, where He took the punishment we deserve for our sins and gives us His righteousness in its place. And the greater our sins that are forgiven, the greater the glory He gets.

While one can never be too sinful to save, one can be too good (in their own eyes) to be saved. That’s what Jesus meant when He said He came to save sinners, and not the righteous (in their own eyes). The gospel is good news because it brings hope to lost sinners. And in truth, that’s everyone, whether they know it or not:

9 What then? Are we [Jews] better than they [Gentiles]? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,” “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”; 14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”; 15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” 18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:9-26 (NASB)

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 (NASB)

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7 (NASB)

There is no better news for unworthy sinners (that’s all of us) than the good news of the gospel.

Blessings,

Bob Deffinbaugh

Related Topics: Soteriology (Salvation)

Growth: Lessons From Life

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All of us realize that as we grow older our bodies tend to grow weaker. Thus the psalmist David complains that, “My soul is in anguish…My eyes grow weak with sorrow” (Ps. 6:3, 7).1 Elsewhere he cries out,

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress,
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
My strength fails because of my affliction
and my bones grow weak. (Ps. 31:9-10).

Later a psalmist speaks of his heart growing weak (Ps. 61:2) or his spirit growing faint (Pss. 142: 3: cf. 143:4). The Lord Jesus warned that the time was coming when: “Many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matt. 24:10-12). Thus the future holds troublesome times ahead. Nevertheless, Paul points out that all things are overseen by God, especially in the ministry of the Gospel (1 Cor. 3:5-9). Human efforts may grow dim, but it is “God who makes things grow” (vv. 7-9).

Peter urges his readers, “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (I Peter 2:1-2) Yes, the Lord is “good” and by following his example and commands we may steadily mature in our Christian lives. So it is that Peter concludes his writings by saying, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (II Peter 3:18). As we live a life surrendered to the Lord, many blessings take place. As Schuyler English said, “O, how we need to live close to the Lord in these days! We need, day and night, to meditate on His Word.”2 May it be said of us as it was to the church at Ephesus “You have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Rev. 2:3). This becomes all the more possible as we follow the Lord’s guidance, even as Paul told the Ephesians that by “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ” (Eph. 4:15).

Rather than living a selfish life that follows purely human instincts, we need to realize that in Christ we will greatly desire to follow his divine example, for it is through Christ we grow (cf. Eph. 4:16). Indeed, with such a commitment we will have not only a concern for God’s will for us, but the needs of our family and for our fellow human beings.

A good scriptural example of this may be found in Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).3 The setting of this parable is Jesus’ discussion with one who is considered an expert in Jewish law (vv. 25-26). Jesus’ answer to the man was that you must love God with all you have and are and then, “love your neighbor as yourself” (v.27). If we do so we will enjoy a full life. Therefore, “Do this and you will live” (vs.28). When the man asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered him by means of the parable of the Good Samaritan (vs. 30-37). In this parable a Jewish man who was travelling was accosted by robbers and left half dead. A priest goes by and ignores the injured man as does also a Levite. A Samaritan, however, stops, attends to the man’s needs, and then takes him to an inn – at the Samaritan’s own expense. The Lord’s point in this is that believers should have concern and show mercy to others. As the law prescribed, he acted like a good neighbor.

Therefore, may we also be alert to help others as though they were our neighbor with this scriptural teaching in mind. May we genuinely have a concern and care for others, never harbor a grudge toward others, and pursue the goal of helping others. As Trites remarks, “Jesus insisted that the love we have for God must be practically reflected in the way we reach out to care for others, even when this involves a cost to ourselves…Our faith in God, to be authentic, must be one that expresses itself in loving concern and helpfulness to our fellows (cf. Gal 5:6)”.4

As the hymn writer of old states:

Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay
And guide them in the homeward way.5

© Copyright 2018.


1 All Scriptural references are from the NIV Bible.

2 E. Schuyler English, The Life and Letters of Saint Peter, (New York: Arno C. Gaebelein, Inc., 1941), 271.

3 For further instruction as to understanding Jesus’ parables, see Andreas J. Kostenberger and Richard D. Patterson, Invitation to Biblical Interpretation, (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2011), 426-44.

4 Allison A. Trites, “The Gospel of Luke,” in Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, Il: Tyndale House, 2006), 12, 171.

5 Washington Gladden, “O Master Let Me Walk With Thee”.

Related Topics: Christian Life, Devotionals

8. Exalt the Lord God! (Exodus 8-10)

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March 25, 2018

Life of Moses (8)

“Frank and Ernest” (cartoon by Bob Thaves, 10/4/95) are standing before a scowling St. Peter at the gate into heaven. Clueless Ernie has on a T-shirt that reads, “Question Authority.” Frank whispers to him, “If I were you, I’d change my shirt, Ernie.”

Good advice! At times we may challenge some human authority, but when it comes to the Almighty Lord God, who spoke the universe into existence by His word alone, who will judge the thoughts and intentions of all the living and dead, it’s not wise to oppose Him! There is no one anywhere like the Lord God (Exod. 8:10; 9:14). The whole earth belongs to Him (Exod. 9:29). He is able to command everything from the smallest bacteria to powerful hailstorms to blacking out the sun. The plagues that God brought on Egypt because of Pharaoh’s hard heart teach us:

Because the sovereign Lord God will be exalted over all, it is foolish to harden your heart against Him.

The Lord tells Moses to tell Pharaoh why He is inflicting these plagues on Egypt (Exod. 9:16-17), “But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth. Still you exalt yourself against My people by not letting them go.” There are two main lessons:

1. The Lord God will be exalted over all because He is sovereign over all.

The plagues reveal God’s sovereignty in three broad areas:

A. The Lord God is sovereign over His creation.

The Egyptians, like all idolaters, worshiped the creation but not the Creator. They had gods that supposedly had influence over different aspects of life. So in the plagues, God challenged Egypt’s gods, showing His absolute superiority and sovereignty over them. Last week we looked at the first plague, turning the Nile into blood, which confronted the Egyptian god of the Nile. God is the sovereign over the Nile.

The Egyptians had a goddess of birth that had a frog head. So in the second plague, God brought frogs to the land. From a distance, this plague is humorous, but it wouldn’t have been funny to be invaded by swarms of frogs. There were frogs in all the houses (including Pharaoh’s palace), frogs in bedrooms and on beds, and frogs in kitchens. As a woman went to make bread, frogs were hopping into the dough! When she went to put the dough in the oven, frogs were in the oven! Wherever you walked, you stepped on frogs. You couldn’t get away from the slimy, croaking creatures! And the Egyptians couldn’t kill them because they were gods! But the point is, God is sovereign over frogs. Pharaoh’s demonically-powered magicians could bring forth frogs, but they couldn’t get rid of them. Only God could do that. But then there were stinking dead frogs everywhere!

The third plague of gnats (or mosquitoes or lice) came without warning. Whatever they were, they were all over people and animals (Exod. 8:17). They were in people’s eyes, noses, and ears. The closest Marla and I have come to anything like this was hiking in Alaska. We had nets over our faces and our entire bodies covered, but the mosquito swarms were so thick that you couldn’t think about anything else. This plague may have been an assault on Pharaoh, whom Egyptians believed had the power to maintain the cosmic order (Philip Ryken, Exodus [Crossway], p. 241). Or, it may have been directed against the Egyptian priests, who prided themselves on purity with frequent washings, shavings, and linen robes (John Hannah, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, ed. by John F. Walvoord & Roy Zuck [Victor Books], 2:123). Here, Pharaoh’s magicians were stymied. They had to acknowledge (Exod. 8:19), “This is the finger of God.” He is sovereign over tiny insects.

The fourth plague was flies (Exod. 8:21). The Hebrew term could refer to several different kinds of flying insects. They may have been blood-sucking flies, like the black flies that we have encountered on backpacking trips. But whatever they were, they were all over Egypt. But in this plague, God protected the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived (Exod. 8:22-23). This plague may have shown God’s superiority over the Egyptian god Baalzebub, which means, “lord of the flies” (Ryken, pp. 249-250). He was supposed to protect the land from such infestations. But God is sovereign over such false gods.

The fifth plague killed the Egyptian livestock, striking a blow at many Egyptian gods and goddesses, depicted as cows. The bull was worshiped as a fertility god. Isis, the queen of the gods, was depicted with horns on her head (Ryken, pp. 262-263). But God created all livestock and is sovereign over them. Some ask how, if God killed all the livestock in this plague, there were still livestock to protect from the hail (Exod. 9:19). Either the word “all” (Exod. 9:6) means, “a great number,” or the plague killed all the animals in the fields (Exod. 9:3), but not those who were in shelters.

The sixth plague reveals God’s sovereignty over bacteria and disease: He struck the Egyptians and their surviving animals with painful boils (Exod. 9:8-12). The symbolic action of Moses and Aaron throwing soot from a kiln into the air may have pictured Israel’s bondage as brick-makers as the reason for Egypt’s plagues (Walter Kaiser, Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervan], ed. by Frank Gaebelein, 2:359). The boils may have been skin anthrax (Ryken, p. 270), but whatever it was, it involved painful skin sores. This plague demonstrated God’s superiority over several Egyptian gods of healing. Pharaoh’s magicians were incapable of overcoming this plague because they themselves were infected with boils.

The seventh plague consisted of the worst hailstorm in Egyptian history (Exod. 9:18-26). Again, the area where the Israelites dwelled was spared. Some of Pharaoh’s servants were getting the message! They feared the Lord and brought their people and animals inside (Exod. 9:20). But along with many human and animal deaths, most of Egypt’s crops were destroyed. God demonstrated His sovereignty over the Egyptian storm gods.

The eighth plague brought locusts so thick that no one could see the land (Exod. 10:5). They ate everything that the hail hadn’t destroyed. This humiliated Egypt’s god of the crops and the fields, as well as the god of the sky. Years ago, a locust swarm 1,200 miles wide was seen over the ocean flying from West Africa to Great Britain. In one photo taken from the air, you couldn’t see any piece of open ground in an area 2,000 miles square (Charles Swindoll, Moses [Thomas Nelson], p. 186). A recent locust infestation in Dagestan, Russia, covered 270,000 square miles. God is sovereign over all of His creation!

The ninth plague consisted of dense darkness over the land, described as “darkness which may be felt” (Exod. 10:21). This plague showed God’s sovereignty over the Egyptian sun god. Many ancient Egyptian texts identified Pharaoh with the sun god (Ryken, p. 304). Some commentators think that the darkness was caused by a severe dust storm, but the description seems to go beyond this. The Egyptians couldn’t see one another or go outside, but the Israelites had light (Exod. 10:23). This plague had obvious spiritual significance: darkness represents the sin and spiritual blindness of those in Satan’s domain, whereas light represents God’s holiness and the spiritual sight granted to those who know Him (John 3:19-21; 8:12; Eph. 4:18; 5:8-13; Col. 1:13; 1 John 1:5-7).

So the main point of all the plagues is that God is sovereign over His creation. He controls everything from the tiniest germs and bugs to thunderstorm and the sun. He rules His creation!

B. The Lord God is sovereign over people.

God hardens whom He desires and shows mercy to whom He desires (Rom. 9:18). But we need to understand that He wasn’t hardening the heart of someone who otherwise would have believed. Even John Calvin, noted for his emphasis on God’s sovereign election, states that God didn’t harden a heart otherwise given to obedience; rather, He hardened a reprobate who was willfully devoted to his own destruction (Calvin’s Commentaries [Baker], p. 210). This is a mystery that no one can understand completely, but we must hold two truths in tension: God is sovereign over all; and, people are responsible for their sin. If you let go of either truth, you’re out of balance.

This tension is clearly seen in the death of Jesus Christ. God predestined Christ to die for our sins before the foundation of the world. This means that God ordained that Judas would betray Jesus, the sinful Jewish leaders would arrest and abuse Him, and Pilate would give Him over to be crucified. But even though these things were foreordained, the wicked people who killed Jesus were responsible for their horrible crimes. As Peter preached (Acts 2:23), “this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” Or, as the early church prayed (Acts 4:27-28), “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” Jesus was predestined to die, but those who did it were evil men, responsible for their sin.

In the plagues on Egypt, God sovereignly determined to spare Israel at least in the plagues of flies (Exod. 8:22-23), the death of livestock (Exod. 9:4-6), the hail (Exod. 9:26), the darkness (Exod. 10:23), and finally in the death of the firstborn (Exod. 11:7). Why did He do this? Clearly, it wasn’t because Israel deserved His favor, while Egypt deserved His judgment. Everyone deserves God’s judgment for their sins! God isn’t obligated to spare anyone. But, in mercy, He chooses to save some. If He has saved you, be thankful, be in awe, and worship Him!

C. The Lord God will be exalted both in judging the wicked and in saving His people.

These ten plagues on Egypt are a merciful warning to everyone who hears about them that God is holy and He will bring terrifying, final judgment on all who harden their hearts in rebellion against Him. In Revelation 6:12-14, John describes the cataclysmic destruction when the sixth seal was broken: a great earthquake, the sun became black, the moon became like blood, the stars fell to the earth, the sky was split apart, and mountains and islands were moved out of their places. Then everyone from great kings to lowly slaves cried out to the mountains and to the rocks (Rev. 6:16-17), “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The Book of Revelation reveals that many of these same plagues that were inflicted on Egypt will be poured out on the earth during the great tribulation: Water will be turned to blood (Rev. 8:8; 16:4-5). There will be frogs (Rev. 16:13); locusts (Rev. 9:3); boils (Rev. 16:2); hail (Rev. 8:7); and darkness (Rev. 9:2; 16:10). God’s righteousness will be glorified by His judging the wicked and His grace by saving His people. Thus,

2. It is foolish to harden your heart against the sovereign, exalted Lord God.

There are four truths to consider here:

A. The sovereign, exalted Lord God will answer the prayers of those who sincerely call upon Him.

If you wonder, “How can I be saved?” the Bible promises (Rom. 10:13), “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” It promises (John 3:16), “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Don’t trust in yourself or your good deeds. Trust in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as the sufficient and final payment for your sins. As Paul states (Rom. 4:5), “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.”

In these plagues, Pharaoh’s hardened heart caused him repeatedly to promise to let Israel go, only to go back on his word. But in spite of this, Moses repeatedly asked God to lift the plagues and He mercifully did each time, except for the final plague of the death of the firstborn. That is a picture of God’s mercy to rebellious sinners. Perhaps they promise Him, “Get me out of this problem and I’ll serve You,” only to renege on their pledge. Again and again He spares them from judgment. But, someday the final plague of death will come. Hebrews 9:27 warns, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” Since you don’t know when you’ll die, it’s not wise to delay. “Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Cor. 6:2).

B. The sovereign, exalted Lord God knows your heart, so beware of superficial repentance.

At first, the arrogant Pharaoh said to Moses (Exod. 5:2), “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord ….” But through the plagues, he was getting to know something about the Lord, even though he never came to know Him personally. Pharaoh was still a polytheist, but as God dominated and humiliated Egypt’s various gods through the plagues, at least Pharaoh knew that the Lord is more powerful than all of his gods. By God’s relieving each of the first nine plagues in response to his pleas, Pharaoh knew that God is both powerful and merciful to those who call out to Him.

So Pharaoh knew about God and he even professed repentance more than once. After the plague of hail, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron and said (Exod. 9:27), “I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.” But after the plague was lifted, we read (Exod. 9:34), “But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.” After the plague of locusts, Pharaoh again professed repentance (Exod. 10:16-17), “I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you. Now therefore, please forgive my sin only this once, and make supplication to the Lord your God, that He would only remove this death from me.” But his heart was still hardened so that he didn’t let Israel go (Exod. 10:20, 27).

One clue that Pharaoh’s repentance was superficial is that he wanted to work out a deal with God’s demand to let Israel go. First, he told Moses (Exod. 8:25), “Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.” “Don’t go far away” (Exod. 8:28). In other words, “You can worship your God; just remain my slaves!” Then, after the locust plague, Pharaoh told Moses that the men could go if they left their wives and children in Egypt (Exod. 10:10-11). That way, he knew that the men would come back under his rule. After the plague of darkness, Pharaoh agreed to let Israel go, even with their children, but only if they left their flocks and herds behind (Exod. 10:24). He acknowledged that he had sinned, but he was bargaining with God. He wanted relief from the consequences of his sin, but when he got relief, he went back to his sin. That’s superficial repentance.

Moses nailed Pharaoh’s problem when he said (Exod. 9:30), “But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.” Genuine repentance stems from fearing God. It’s a matter of the heart, not of outward profession when you’re just trying to get out of a jam. Since God knows every thought and intention of your heart, you can’t fake repentance. It can’t be partial or for selfish purposes. It has to be total surrender to the Lord, where you turn from your sin and seek to obey Him from the heart. Pharaoh’s superficial repentance also shows that …

C. If you fight against the sovereign, exalted Lord God, you will lose.

Pharaoh was the most powerful monarch on earth and Egypt was a prosperous nation, but they weren’t a match for the Lord God. The Lord told Moses (Exod. 10:1-2) that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart and his servants’ hearts to make a mockery of him. That reminds me of Psalm 2, where the kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord and His Messiah. But God’s response is (Ps. 2:4), “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.”

The Bible is replete with stories of those who proudly tried to win against the sovereign, exalted Lord God, but who lost in the end. Read the Book of Revelation. Just before judgment falls, the world’s rulers and business leaders are living in luxury, seemingly prospering without God. But then in one hour their great wealth is laid waste (Rev. 18:16-19). God always wins big time in the end. If you fight against Him, you may do well for a while, but in the end, you will lose everything forever!

Thus, the sovereign, exalted Lord God will answer the prayers of those who sincerely call upon Him. He knows your heart, so beware of superficial repentance. If you fight against Him, you will lose every time. So the best plan is to submit your heart to Him.

D. The goal of submitting to the sovereign, exalted Lord God is that you and your children might worship and serve Him.

Moses repeatedly tells Pharaoh that he should let Israel go so that they could serve the Lord (Exod. 8:1, 20; 9:1, 13; 10:3, 24-26). The Lord told Moses that one reason for these plagues was (Exod. 10:2), “that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.”

To lead God’s people out of Egypt so that they could serve and worship the Lord, Moses had to resist Pharaoh’s repeated attempts to get him to compromise. Pharaoh wanted Israel to sacrifice in the land, which would not have allowed them to be separate from Egypt (Exod. 8:25). Satan is all for religion as long as it accepts other religions and doesn’t insist that Jesus is the only way to God. Pharaoh would allow Israel to go, but not far away (Exod. 8:28). In other words, Satan says, “You can go worship your God, but you’re still my slave. You can be a Christian, but don’t be too different from the world!” Moses also had to resist Pharaoh’s proposal that the men go, but leave their wives and children behind (Exod. 10:8-11). The enemy loves to divide families.

Finally, Moses had to resist Pharaoh’s ploy to let Israel go, but not take their animals for sacrifice (Exod. 10:24). The enemy if okay if we “worship God,” but just without that blood sacrifice stuff: “You don’t need the blood of Jesus. Just follow His moral teaching and example of love.” But without the cross of Christ and His resurrection from the dead, there is no salvation. Thankfully, Moses was uncompromising with Pharaoh (Exod. 10:26): “not a hoof shall be left behind.” The goal of submitting to the sovereign, exalted Lord God is that you and your children and your grandchildren might worship and serve Him. To do that, you can’t compromise with the world. You must follow the Lord totally.

Conclusion

Hopefully, God has not inflicted anything comparable to these horrible plagues on you, but everyone goes through trials. Some face severe trials. How should you respond? First, don’t respond as Pharaoh did when he brazenly said (Exod. 5:2, paraphrased), “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice? I don’t know the Lord, and I’m not going to obey!” And, don’t imitate Pharaoh with superficial “repentance” just to get out of the trial, but then go back to your old ways. Fighting against God is foolish, because He is going to win big time in the end! God brings trials into our lives so that we will grow in faith and holiness as we submit to His mighty hand (Heb. 12:9-11; 1 Pet. 5:6-11).

Just as God sent Moses to deliver Israel from physical slavery, He sent Jesus to deliver us from slavery to sin. Jesus said (John 8:34), “Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” He invites everyone enslaved to sin (Matt. 11:28), “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” He can set us free from sin (John 8:36). Don’t ignore or reject His loving, gracious offer!

Application Questions

  1. A skeptic says, “If God is sovereign over natural disasters, then He is unloving for killing innocent people.” Your reply?
  2. How would you answer a critic who said, “If God ordained Jesus’ death on the cross, then He is responsible for sin”?
  3. One well-known Christian writer argued that if God is able to save everyone, but only saves some, He is immoral and unjust. How would you rebut this?
  4. How can a person know whether his repentance is genuine or superficial? What are the marks of true repentance?

Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2018, All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

Related Topics: Character of God

9. God’s Means of Salvation (Exodus 11:1-12:36)

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Life of Moses (9)

April 15, 2018

I think that sometimes we toss around biblical terms without thinking carefully about what they mean. Take the word, “salvation.” It’s a good biblical word, but we say it so often that maybe we’re glossing over what it really means.

For example, let me ask: Does God’s killing all of the firstborn in the land of Egypt strike you as overly harsh, extreme, or unfair of God? Killing Pharaoh’s firstborn might have been appropriate, since he had oppressed Israel and refused to let them go. But if you think that to kill all the firstborn seems harsh, then maybe you need to think more deeply about salvation.

To understand salvation, we need to back up and understand who God is and who we are. God is the infinitely holy sovereign of the universe. He spoke the universe into existence for His glory. He made man as male and female in His image to reflect His glory. But that first couple listened to Satan and disobeyed God’s direct command. Because of their disobedience, God imposed His threatened penalty (Gen. 2:17): “In the day that you eat from [the tree of the knowledge of good and evil] you will surely die.”

While God graciously didn’t strike Adam and Eve dead on the spot, the instant they ate they experienced spiritual death (separation from God) and the process of physical death set in. As a result of their sin, everyone since then is born separated from God and under His just curse of death. And in addition to being born in sin, we’ve all piled up plenty of our own sins against the Holy One.

God is not obligated to save any sinner from His just penalty of eternal separation from Him. We all deserve His judgment. But because of His sovereign love and mercy, He has graciously provided a way of salvation. He sent His own eternal Son, the second member of the trinity, to bear the penalty we all deserve. Because the sinless Son of God paid that price, God now can (Rom. 3:26), “be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” That’s the meaning of salvation.

God’s final plague on Egypt and His providing a way for Israel to be saved from that plague and delivered from slavery in Egypt is a picture of how He saves sinners spiritually. Just as Moses warned Pharaoh that the penalty if he refused to let Israel go would be the death of his firstborn, so God has warned all (Rom. 6:23), “the wages of sin is death.” Just as God gave Pharaoh nine plagues to warn him of His power and that He would do just as He had warned, so God has warned sinners of the impending consequences if they refuse to obey Him. We see that all people die. We see how frail we are. Even when we’re young and healthy, death is a daily possibility. We need a Savior from eternal death! Just as God provided the Passover Lamb, so He sent His Son to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of everyone who believes in Him (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7). Thus …

God’s means of saving His people is the blood of an acceptable sacrifice, applied by obedient faith.

We see in this inspired story the people who need salvation, the penalty for ignoring God’s means of salvation, the provision for God’s salvation, and the application of God’s salvation.

1. The people who need salvation are slaves.

The Israelites were literal slaves under a cruel tyrant. Their parents and grandparents had been slaves for as far back as anyone knew. During the time of Moses’ birth, Pharaoh had given orders to kill all Israelite baby boys. Years later, when Moses went to Pharaoh to demand that he let Israel go, Israel’s misery as slaves got worse. Pharaoh commanded that they had to gather their own straw to make bricks, while keeping their quotas the same. So the Israelites knew their miserable condition as slaves. They knew that they needed deliverance from their bondage.

Israel’s literal condition as slaves was a picture of the universal human condition: We all are born in slavery to sin, captives in Satan’s domain of darkness (Col. 1:13; 2 Tim. 2:26). Jesus said (John 8:34), “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” Paul also describes our condition outside of Christ as being “slaves of sin” (Rom. 6:17).

But the problem is, many who are captives of Satan, enslaved to sin, don’t realize their true condition. They’re not walking around in chains, listening to a brutal slave-driver yell at them to get their quotas of bricks made. They don’t feel his lash on their backs. Rather, they’re doing rather well. Life is good. They have comfortable homes, two or more cars, plenty to eat, paid vacations, and good retirement plans. They don’t look like slaves or feel like slaves.

And so they don’t see their need for salvation. Salvation may be nice for religious types, but they want the freedom to run their own lives. They like to have their weekends free, rather than feeling obligated to go to church. They like to keep their money for personal pleasure, not feel like they need to give to the church. In their minds, if anyone is enslaved, it’s the religious crowd. Who needs that?

So, how do we tell people the good news about salvation when they think that they’re doing just fine as they are, thank you? That’s like trying to sell an ice-maker to an Eskimo! What is needed is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, concerning whom Jesus said (John 16:8-11), “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”

“Convict” means “to convince,” as in a court of law. The Holy Spirit has to convince those in slavery to sin about their true condition. He has to convince them of their sin of unbelief. He must convince them that they fall short of God’s perfect standard of righteousness, as seen in Jesus Christ. He has to convince them about the coming judgment. So we need to pray that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of those we know who are slaves of sin to their true condition. But be careful! He might use you to be the one to tell them!

One effective way to help people see that they are slaves to sin who need the Savior is Ray Comfort’s method (“The Way of the Master”) of going over the law before you tell people about God’s love and grace. He walks people through the Ten Commandments to show that they’ve broken every single one. They’re guilty before the Holy God! If you can’t remember all ten, you can say, “Jesus summed up God’s commandments by saying that we are to love God with our entire being and to love others as much as we love ourselves. Have you done that?” Or, you can go to Matthew 5, where Jesus says that if you’ve ever been angry with someone, you’ve committed murder in God’s sight. If you’ve ever lusted, you’ve committed adultery. It’s only when the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to see their condition as slaves of sin that they might be open to their need for salvation.

2. The penalty for rejecting God’s means of salvation is death.

Exodus 11:1 should probably be translated, “Now the Lord had said to Moses ….” (Walter Kaiser, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervan], ed. by Frank Gaebelein, 2:369). So verse 4 continues Moses’ remarks that he began in Exodus 10:29. He warns Pharaoh of God’s threat of the death of all Egypt’s firstborn, both of people and of cattle. But because of Pharaoh’s hard heart and the awful consequences that Moses could see coming, Moses “went out from Pharaoh in hot anger” (Exod. 11:8).

You may think, however, that it was unfair of God to harden Pharaoh’s heart (Exod. 11:10) or to take the firstborn of “the slave girl … behind the millstones” (Exod. 11:5), who probably hadn’t even heard about the encounters between Moses and Pharaoh and who wouldn’t have known about the requirement to put the blood of a sacrificial lamb on her doorposts.

Regarding Pharaoh, there is a mystery that we cannot fully fathom, but we must accept if we believe in the Bible as God’s Word (Rom. 9:18): “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.” At the same time, people are responsible for their sins. And, we aren’t free to challenge God on this. When Paul raises this issue, he anticipates our objection (Rom. 9:19), “You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?’” Paul’s answer is (Rom. 9:20): “On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God?” In other words, “Sit down and shut up! God is God and you’re not God!”

Regarding the slave girl who had no knowledge of God’s impending judgment and yet suffered the loss of her firstborn, I admit that this is difficult to understand. I realize that like all of us, she was a sinner who deserved God’s judgment. But she didn’t seem to have a chance to hear about and apply God’s remedy. True, she had the witness of creation, as all people have (Rom. 1:18-21). But that’s only enough to condemn, not enough to save. The only verse I know of that addresses this is when Paul tells the people of Lystra (Acts 14:16), “In the generations gone by He [God] permitted all the nations to go their own ways.” God has permitted many to live and die without hearing the gospel. I know that God is perfectly just and fair. He knows every thought and deed of every person. No one will be judged unfairly. So I have to leave that difficult question there.

But we need to see clearly that the issue in salvation is life or death. In the exodus, God made a distinction between Egypt and Israel (Exod. 11:5-7). His salvation of Israel meant life for them. His judgment on Egypt meant death for them. C. H. Mackintosh observed (Notes on the Pentateuch [Loizeaux Brothers], p. 185), “How little do men think of this! They imagine that ‘real life’ ends when a man becomes a Christian … whereas God’s Word teaches us that it is only then we can see life and taste true happiness.” He cites 1 John 5:12, “He who has the Son has the life.” Also, John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Thus, the people who need salvation are slaves. The penalty for rejecting God’s means of salvation is death.

3. The provision for God’s means of salvation is the blood of an acceptable sacrifice.

In Exodus 12, God gives Moses specific directions for Israel regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed. There is far more than I can cover thoroughly here, but note the following:

First, the lamb (or goat) needed to be sufficient for each person in each family (Exod. 12:4). This pictures that salvation must be applied by each individual. Being a member of a Christian family or a Christian church is not enough. You must personally apply God’s means of salvation.

Also, the lamb was to be “an unblemished male a year old” (Exod. 12:5). This pictures Christ, our Passover Lamb (John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7), who was without sin (John 8:46; 1 Pet. 2:22). If Jesus had been a sinner, He would have had to offer sacrifices for Himself, as the Jewish priests had to do. But as Hebrews 7:26-27 explains, “For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.”

Further, the lamb was to be selected on the tenth of the month, but not sacrificed until the fourteenth (Exod. 12:2, 6). This pictures that Christ was marked out for death before He was actually slain. As 1 Peter 1:19-21 states, we were redeemed “with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

John Sailhamer (The Pentateuch as Narrative [Zondervan], p. 260) makes the interesting suggestion that in Peter’s reckoning, a day with the Lord is as a thousand years (2 Pet. 3:8). He adds, “If Peter worked within the traditional chronology of the Bible, which reckons the coming of Christ at four thousand years after Creation, then his concept of Christ, the Passover lamb ‘chosen before the creation of the world,’ would fit the requirement of the lamb chosen four days before the Passover.”

Scholars debate the exact time that the lamb was to be slain, (Exod. 12:6) but some believe that Jesus died on the cross at the same time that the Passover lambs were being killed at the temple. Then the Israelites were to put some of the blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of their houses. They were to roast the lamb with fire and eat it that night along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exod. 12:8). The fire may represent the fact that God’s true Passover Lamb had to endure the fire of God’s wrath on the cross (Mackintosh, p. 192). The bitter herbs were a reminder of the bitterness of Israel’s centuries of slavery in Egypt. The unleavened bread reminded them of the purity required of those whom God delivered from slavery. And eating bread in the Bible also points to fellowship. Thus we partake of the communion bread as a symbol of fellowship with the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.

The Passover was to mark the beginning of the New Year for Israel (Exod. 12:2). This is a reminder that God’s salvation by the application of Christ’s blood marks the beginning of new life for the believer. God promised that when He saw the blood on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite homes, He would pass over them and not strike down their firstborn. All who were under the blood would be safe. This leads to the truth that …

4. The application of God’s means of salvation is obedient faith.

Paul uses the phrase, “the obedience of faith,” in Romans 1:5 & 16:26. Obedient faith is opposed to the dead faith that James 2:17 warns against. Note five things:

A. Obedient faith takes God at His word and acts on it.

To kill the lamb, eat it in the prescribed manner, and put the blood on the doorposts and lintel, required taking God at His word. Their obedience was evidence of their underlying faith. As Hebrews 11:28 says, “By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.” Exodus 12:28 underscores the point: “Then the sons of Israel went and did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”

If an Israelite questioned or doubted God’s word to Moses by saying, “This doesn’t make sense,” or, “Why do I need blood? That’s gross!” his firstborn would have died. If he said, “I’m vegan and believe in animal rights; I’m not going to kill and eat a lamb!” his firstborn would have died. Obedient faith takes God at His word and acts on it.

B. Obedient faith is the only genuine faith.

To say, “I really respect Moses and Aaron and I believe what they say,” but not to have applied the blood would have meant that your firstborn died. James and Paul were not at odds. Both believed that genuine saving faith obeys God’s word. Paul wrote the familiar Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” But don’t forget verse 10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Genuine saving faith necessarily results in the obedience of good works. This is what James meant when he wrote that faith without works cannot save, because it is dead (James 2:14-17). Obedient faith is the only genuine faith.

C. Obedient faith is seen in the ongoing holiness of God’s people.

This is pictured in the unleavened bread. C. H. Mackintosh (p. 192) observed, “The Israelite did not put away leaven in order to be saved, but because he was saved.” He then points out that the penalty for eating leavened bread was to be cut off from the congregation of Israel (Exod. 12:19), which answers to the church putting out of their fellowship those who persist in known sin. The Passover with its application of the blood of the lamb pictured our salvation, when by faith we apply Christ’s shed blood to our hearts. But the Passover was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread, picturing the fact that those who are saved must clean out the leaven of sin and be set apart unto God, who is holy (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

D. Obedient faith passes the faith down to your children.

The Lord instructs Israel (Exod. 12:24-27) that in later generations when they lived in the land which the Lord would give them and their children asked the meaning of the Passover, the fathers were to say, “Go ask your mother!” No! They were to explain the meaning of God’s salvation to their children. In the same way, Christian parents should explain to their children the message of salvation as pictured in water baptism and communion. To be baptized and partake of the Lord’s Supper, children should be old enough to understand the gospel clearly and give some evidence that they have personally believed in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. They should be able to grasp the basic meaning of both ordinances, which picture the reality of saving faith.

E. Obedient faith results in God’s people possessing the wealth of the nations.

It is mentioned and repeated (Exod. 11:2-3; 12:35-36) that the Israelites asked the Egyptians for articles of silver, gold, and clothing, and that God granted them favor so that the Egyptians complied. I don’t know whether the Egyptians were thinking, “Take this and get out of here before another disaster strikes!” or that they gave because they highly esteemed Moses (Exod. 11:3). But it was God’s way of providing Israel with necessary provisions for their time in the wilderness, and also the materials that they later needed to build the tabernacle.

The application for the church today is that when we obey the Great Commission, God blesses us with the wealth of the nations—not material wealth, but rather people from every tongue, tribe, and nation worshiping around God’s throne.

Conclusion

A prominent soap manufacturer and a Christian were once walking along a city street as the Christian was explaining the gospel to the businessman. But the businessman objected: “If what you say is true, why is there so much evil in the world?” The Christian was struggling with how to answer when he saw a little boy sitting on the curb. His face, hands, and clothes were filthy. The Christian asked, “I thought that you manufactured soap.” “I do,” said the man. “If that is so, why is this boy so dirty?” The businessman replied, “The soap must be applied.” “Exactly,” said the Christian. “The work of Christ on the cross must be applied.”

The crucial question is, “Have you applied the sacrificial blood of Jesus to your heart?” Believing in general that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins is not enough. You must recognize your desperate condition as a slave to sin, under God’s just condemnation. But then you must exercise obedient faith by putting your trust in Christ as your substitutionary Lamb. And if your faith is genuine, you will then seek to grow in holiness.

Application Questions

  1. Must a person be convicted of sin before he comes to faith in Christ? If so, are we wrong to encourage those who are not convicted to receive Christ?
  2. How would you answer the skeptic who said, “God is unfair to condemn those who have never heard the gospel”?
  3. Why is trying to follow Jesus’ teachings and example not enough to get a person into heaven? Why do we need to trust in His shed blood?
  4. Is praying to receive Jesus into your heart the same as the obedient faith of salvation? Why/why not?

Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2018, All Rights Reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation

Related Topics: Sacrifice, Soteriology (Salvation)

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