Romans 1 Those who are truly “set apart for the gospel of God” as imitators of “Paul” the “apostle” possess a message that teaches both Jew and Gentiles receive salvation: 1) through belief/faith (14-17 “from faith [for the “Jew”] to [εἰς = An indication of scope, 1Th 2:16] faith [for the “Greek” or “barbarian]) = […]
Journaling: Job 25-28
God’s exhaustive sovereignty (rule/control) and supreme power is experienced by all creatures in heaven and on earth (25:1-3). God’s transcendence has caused some to believe that God’s view of things is different (qualitatively) to ours (even Scripture presents a condescension of what is actually true or accurate) (25:4-6; “One of the fundamental postulates of […]
Journaling: Job 21-24
Righteous arguments allow all parties involved to respond/be heard (21:1-3 = Allow for my response, then you can continue with your mocking of me; Consider this applies even to God – 38:1-2, 40:1-2, 6-8). It is “empty nothings” (“delusion” = A belief that contradicts reality; Jer 10:3 [NAS]) or “falsehood” to counsel or “comfort” […]
Bible Journaling: Job 17-20
Slander (Def. = false accusations that damage another’s reputation): 1) can cause its victim to lose hope for living (if he “dwells” on it) (17:1-2, 11-16), 2) can retard/inhibit justice (17:3-4), 3) will bring a curse on the children of those who do it (17:5), 4) can make other people despise us (17:6), 5) can […]
Journaling: Job 13-16
If we want to “speak” as God’s “physicians” or counselors to others then we need: 1) to understand more of God’s truth than them (13:1-3), 2) a right application of God’s truth and a right diagnosis of the person we are dealing w/ (13:4), 3) to realize the wisdom of silence (or saying nothing when […]
Journaling: Job 9-12
Though we may be confused as to the reason why we are suffering, we must always remember that God will never reject us if we are “blameless” (i.e. practicing righteousness) (9:1-2a “truly I know that it is so” w/8:20-21). Questioning God (contending w/Him) when suffering: 1) will expose us as absolute fools given His […]
Journaling: Job 5-8
(Added to Job 1-4): 1. Righteous parents are daily doing those things that prove their children’s spiritual state is a priority (1:5). Job 5-8 Those who choose to be foolish (“stupid” as in refusing to be teachable or gain understanding; Jer 4:22) and simple (naïve or lacking sense as to how things really work; Hos […]
Journaling: Job 1-4
Even the best among the righteous and blessed by God (1:1-5) can experience: 1) persecution (or testing) at the hands of Satan (1:6-19, 2:1-8; Luk 22:31-32; 1Pe 5:8-10; Rev 2:10), 2) condemnation at the hands of stupid men (2:11 w/4:1-5:27, 8:1-22, 11:1-20, 15:1-35, 22:1-30 w/42:7-9). Assumptions can cause you to: 1) condemn the wrong […]
Journaling: 1 Peter 5; 2 Peter 1-3
1 Peter 5 Those functioning as anointed/teaching elders in the church possess authority that must be listened to by those under their care – including the ruling/subordinate elders (5:1; “fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ [an apostle]” = Peter’s apostleship meant that he was an anointed/teaching elder; See also 5:5a – “Likewise […]
Journaling: 1 Peter 1-4
Because of man’s free-will, God knew before He created there was a chance mankind could rebel and so (“according to His foreknowledge”) put in place a plan to graciously give those who were repentant and seeking Him: 1) a new identity – i.e. to choose (“elect”) them to become “exiles” on earth and have heaven […]
Journaling: Judges 18-21
Right interpretation requires recognizing ellipsis (“shorthand” understood by prior context) (18:1a and 19:1a w/17:6 and 21:25). Other ways people prove they do not have God as their king (besides 17:6-13 = starting your own church) is they: 1) refuse to do the hard work necessary to be successful (18:1b w/1:34-35), 2) look to leach […]
Journaling: Judges 14-17
God uses even the compromise/sin of people to accomplish His plans (14:1-4; “His father and mother did not know it [Literally, “she”] was from the Lord” = They did not know God was intending to use Samson’s sin w/this Philistine woman to strike them down; Pro 16:4; e.g. Eze 21:21-23). Parental complicity in relation […]
Journaling: Judges 10-13
Future blessings are not determined by long periods of peace and prosperity in the past – or a stockpile of potential leaders in the present, but whether we will continue to be obedient to God (10:1-7, 12:7-13:1). Not being severe in our treatment of those who blaspheme God will mean severe treatment from God […]
Journaling: Judges 6-9
Being God’s people guarantees that we wb punished if we live in disobedience to His commands (6:1; Heb 12:5-6; 1Pe 4:12-18; Pro 11:31; Lam 3:39; Deu 28:15-68). Living in a cave, never being able to get ahead in life or possess enough sustenance, always being taken advantage of by others, having all your effort […]
Journaling: Judges 2-5
The consequence of claiming life is too difficult God’s way is that God makes things more difficult in an effort to wake us up (2:1-5 w/11-15, 20-23; Pro 11:31, 13:15, 15:10; What it means if life gets easier = Heb 12:5-8). The prior generations’ faithfulness to God does not guarantee the faithfulness of the […]
Journaling – Joshua 22-24; Judges 1
Joshua 22-24 Receiving God’s blessing and an inheritance of great wealth and real estate (22:6-9) is the result of: 1) not forsaking the covenant community (22:1-3a), 2) obeying God’s commands (22:3b). Continuing to be faithful in the present and future is necessary to keeping the promises and blessings afforded through our faithfulness in the past […]
Journaling: Joshua 18-21
To be united w/God and receive His forgiveness (justification/salvation) we must go to His house (18:1 “tent of meeting” = Literally, “tent of reunion” Deu 12:11; Jer 7:12; Joh 4:21 = God’s house of salvation/reunion wb all over the Gentile world). “Let no man deceive himself. Outside of this house, that is, outside of the […]
Journaling: Joshua 14-17
Though everyone in the covenant community receives a divine inheritance, the quality of our allotment wb determined by several factors: 1) the testimony/witness of our priests and our Joshua (commander-in-chief) (14:1; Heb 13:17; Joh 8:26), 2) God’s larger plan/purpose (14:2-5; Pro 16:33), 3) the faithfulness of our tribal chief (14:6-15:62 [Caleb was the tribal chief […]
Journaling: Joshua 10-13
Ganging up and going to war can be a sign that your enemies greatly fear you and the God your serve (10:1-5). We have an obligation to protect the welfare of those who represent our personal property (10:6-7; slaves [the Hivites/Gibeonites – 9:23, 27], wives and children; Eph 5:25-29, 6:4 = Welfare includes their […]
Journaling: Joshua 6-9
God-ordained and effective strategies for defeating our enemies include: 1) psychological warfare (6:1-16 w/20; 4-5 -“march around the city…blow the trumpets” = Sign that battle is beginning; 10-11 – “you shall not shout or make your voice heard…spent the night in the camp” = Sign that they are withdrawing from battle; 14-16, 20 – “marched […]