July 7, 2024 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Redeemed and Fruitful

Redeemed and Fruitful

Isaiah 59:15-60:2 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Truth is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.
¹⁶ He saw that there was no one,
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
    and his own righteousness sustained him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
    and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
    and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
¹⁸ According to what they have done,
    so will he repay
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands their due.
¹⁹ From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath of the Lord drives along.

²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.

²¹ “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

60 ¹ “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
² See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.

Why was the Lord displeased with what He looked at (verse 15)?

 

Who could intervene (verse 16)?

What did the Lord put on as His breastplate (verse 17)?

Who will receive the Lord’s wrath (verse 18)?

How will the Lord come (verse 19)?

Who will the Redeemer come to “in Jacob” (verse 20)?

How long will the words that God’s Spirit put in “your mouth” be on the lips of the descendants of “your children” (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the source of salvation?

John 15:1-8 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Who is “the gardener” (verse 1)?

What happens to branches that “bear fruit” (verse 2)?

Why are those listening to Jesus “clean” (verse 3)?

Where are the listeners to “remain” (verse 4)?

What is necessary to “bear fruit” (verse 4)?

How much can be accomplished “apart from” Jesus (verse 5)?

What are those who “do not remain in” like (verse 6)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “if you remain in me and my words remain in you” (verse 7)?

What is “to my Father’s glory” (verse 8)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the source of salvation?

In your opinion, what message does John 15:1-8 have for people like those in Isaiah 59:15-60:2 who see the Redemer and “repent of their sins”?

Romans 11:17-32 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, ¹⁸ do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ²⁰ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

²² Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³ And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, ²⁶ and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷ And this is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, ²⁹ for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

In your opinion, who is the “wild olive shoot” that has been grafted in and shares the “nourishing sap from the olive root” (verse 17)?

Who does the root support (verse 18)?

Why were branches “broken off” (verse 20)?

Who will God not spare (verse 21)?

Who is God kind to (verse 22)?

What will happen if the branches that were broken off “do not persist in unbelief” (verse 23)?

How long has Israel “experienced a hardening in part” (verse 25)?

In your opinion, who is “all Israel” that God will turn “godlessness away” from (verse 26)?

Who is “loved on account of the patriarchs” (verse 28)?

What is “irrevocable” (verse 29)?

How does verse 32 help us understand verses 30 and 31?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the source of salvation?

In your opinion, how is the message in Isaiah 59:15-60:2 to “Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins” expanded by Paul in Romans 11:17-32?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s discussion in Romans 11:17-32 about being “grafted in” build on Jesus’s instruction in John 15:1-8 to “remain in”? 

Galatians 5:16-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

When will people “not gratify the desires of the flesh” (verse 16)?

What does the flesh desire (verse 17)?

What does the Spirit desire (verse 17)?

What are Christians “not to do” (verse 17)?

When are people “not under the law” (verse 18)?

What are obvious (verse 19)?

Who “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 21)?

What is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (verses 22 and 23)?

Who has “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (verse 24)?

What should we do “since we live by the Spirit” (verse 25)?

Who should we not provoke and envy (verse 26)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach us about the source of salvation?

In your opinion, how does Isaiah 59:15-60:2 help us understand what has to happen for the person in Galatians 5:16-25 who walks in the flesh to be transformed into one who walks in the Spirit?

In your opinion, how does Galatians 5:16-25 take the conflict of Romans 11:17-32 between the elect and their enemies and show that it is a conflict within each individual?

In your opinion, how does Galatians 5:16-25 help us understand what Jesus means by “if you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” in John 15:1-8?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, John, Romans and Galatians teach us about what comes after repentance?

In your opinion, what fruit do we bear to bring glory to the Father today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 30, 2024 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Taking the Redemption Stand

Taking the Redemption Stand

Isaiah 59:15-21 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Truth is nowhere to be found,
    and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The Lord looked and was displeased
    that there was no justice.
¹⁶ He saw that there was no one,
    he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;
so his own arm achieved salvation for him,
    and his own righteousness sustained him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate,
    and the helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on the garments of vengeance
    and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
¹⁸ According to what they have done,
    so will he repay
wrath to his enemies
    and retribution to his foes;
    he will repay the islands their due.
¹⁹ From the west, people will fear the name of the Lord,
    and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory.
For he will come like a pent-up flood
    that the breath of the Lord drives along.

²⁰ “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
    to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,”
declares the Lord.

²¹ “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Who “becomes a prey” (verse 15)?

 

Why was the Lord appalled (verse 16)?

What “achieved salvation for him” (verse 16)?

What did He put on His head (verse 17)?

How will “he repay” (verse 18)?

Where will they “revere his glory” (verse 19)?

Who will come to Zion (verse 20)?

What is the Lord’s covenant with them (verse 21)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about redemption?

Luke 21:25-36 – New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

³² “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Where will there be signs (verse 25)?

Why will people “faint from terror” (verse 26)?

How will “the Son of Man” come (verse 27)?

What should believers do “when these things begin to take place” (verse 28)?

How could those listening to Jesus “know that summer is near” (verses 29 and 30)?

How will readers “know that the kingdom of God is near” (verse 31)?

What “will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (verse 32)?

What will last longer than “heaven and earth” (verse 33)?

Why should we be careful that our hearts aren’t “weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life” (verse 34)?

Who will “that day” come on (verses 34 and 35)?

What does Jesus instruct us to pray for (verse 36)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about redemption?

In your opinion, what does Isaiah 59:15-21 reveal about the two reasons for the Son of Man to come in Luke 21:25-36?

Ephesians 6:10-18 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

How should we “be strong” (verse 10)?

Why should we “put on the full armor of God” (verse 11)?

Who do we struggle against (verse 12)?

When do we need to have the “full armor of God” on (verse 13)?

What should be “buckled around your waist” (verse 14)?

How is the breastplate described (verse 14)?

What should be on our feet (verse 15)?

How does the “shield of faith” protect us (verse 16)?

How is the helmet described (verse 17)?

What is the “sword of the Spirit” (verse 17)?

When should we pray (verse 18)?

How should we be while we “always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about redemption?

In your opinion, why does the one who puts on the armor in Isaiah 59:15-21 bring wrath to enemies, but the one who puts on the armor of Ephesians 6:10-18 stands and prays?

In your opinion, how is the “stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” in Luke 21:27-36 related to the “put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” in Ephesians 6:10-18? 

Revelation 22:10-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. ¹¹ Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

¹² “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷ The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

Why was John not to “seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll” (verse 10)?

What is the “one who does wrong” to do (verse 11)?

Who is to “continue to be holy” (verse 11)?

What is with Jesus (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what does Jesus mean when He says “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (verse 13)?

How are “those who wash their robes” blessed (verse 14)?

Who is outside (verse 15)?

Who “sent my angel to give you this testimony” (verse 16)?

Who can “take the free gift of the water of life” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about redemption?

In your opinion, how does the statement in Isaiah 59:15-21 “so his own arm achieved salvation for him” find its completion in Revelation 22:10-17?

In your opinion, how does Revelation 22:10-17 help us understand what Jesus meant when He said “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” in Luke 21:27-36?

In your opinion, how does Revelation 22:10-17 show fulfillment of the instruction in Ephesians 6:10-17 to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power”?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Luke, Ephesians and Revelation teach us about when and how to “stand”?

In your opinion, how can we participate in the salvation that the Lord offers today?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

June 23, 2024 – Isaiah in the New Testament – Accepting Responsibility for the Blood

Accepting Responsibility for the Blood

Isaiah 59:1-9 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save,
    nor his ear too dull to hear.
² But your iniquities have separated
    you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
    so that he will not hear.
³ For your hands are stained with blood,
    your fingers with guilt.
Your lips have spoken falsely,
    and your tongue mutters wicked things.
⁴ No one calls for justice;
    no one pleads a case with integrity.
They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies;
    they conceive trouble and give birth to evil.
⁵ They hatch the eggs of vipers
    and spin a spider’s web.
Whoever eats their eggs will die,
    and when one is broken, an adder is hatched.
⁶ Their cobwebs are useless for clothing;
    they cannot cover themselves with what they make.
Their deeds are evil deeds,
    and acts of violence are in their hands.
⁷ Their feet rush into sin;
    they are swift to shed innocent blood.
They pursue evil schemes;
    acts of violence mark their ways.
⁸ The way of peace they do not know;
    there is no justice in their paths.
They have turned them into crooked roads;
    no one who walks along them will know peace.

⁹ So justice is far from us,
    and righteousness does not reach us.
We look for light, but all is darkness;
    for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.

 

What is the arm of the Lord “surely” not too short to do (verse 1)?

 

What has “separated you from your God” (verse 2)?

Where are the blood stains (verse 3)?

Who “calls for justice” (verse 4)?

What do they hatch (verse 5)?

Where are the “acts of violence” (verse 6)?

What are they swift to do (verse 7)?

Where is there “no justice” (verse 8)?

Why do “we” not find light (verse 9)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about being accountable to God?

Matthew 27:19-26 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”

²³ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

²⁵ All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

What message did Pilate’s wife send him (verse 19)?

What did the chief priests and elders persuade the crowd to do (verse 20)?

How did the crowd respond when Pilate ask “which of the two do you want me to release to you” (verse 21)?

What did the crowd want Pilate to do “with Jesus who is called the Messiah” (verse 22)?

How did the crowd respond when Pilate ask “what crime has he committed” (verse 23)?

In your opinion, did Pilate remove his responsibility for his actions when he washed his hands and declared “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (verse 24)?

In your opinion, does the people’s answer “His blood is on us and on our children” count as a confession (verse 25)?  Why or why not?

Who “had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified” (verse 26)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about being accountable to God?

In your opinion, how is the prophecy of Isaiah 59:1-9 that they are “swift to shed innocent blood” proven true in Matthew 27:19-26?

Romans 3:9.22 - New International Version (NIV)

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”
¹³ “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
¹⁴     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶     ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”
¹⁸     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

Who is “alike and all under the power of sin” (verse 9)?

How many righteous are there (verse 10)?

Who “seeks God” (verse 11)?

How many do good (verse 12)?

What are “their throats” (verse 13)?

What are “their mouths” full of (verse 14)?

What are “their feet” swift to do (verse 15)?

How are the ways marked (verse 16)?

What do they not know (verse 17)?

Where is there “no fear of God” (verse 18)?

Why does the law say what is says “to those who are under the law” (verse 19)?

How do we “become conscious of our sin” (verse 20)?

Who testifies to the “righteousness of God” that has been made known apart from the law (verse 21)?

How is “this righteousness” given (verse 22)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about being accountable to God?

In your opinion, how does the end of Romans 3:9-22 offer a light in the darkness of the rest of that passage and the darkness of Isaiah 59:1-9?

In your opinion, what does Romans 3:9-22 help us understand about the futility of Pilate’s washing his hands in Matthew 27:19-26?

1 John 1:5-10 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

What is God (verse 5)?

Where is there “no darkness at all” (verse 5)?

What are we doing “if we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness” (verse 6)?

When will we “have fellowship with one another” (verse 7)?

What does “the blood of Jesus, his Son” do (verse 7)?

When are we deceived (verse 8)?

What happens “if we confess our sins” (verse 9)?

When do we make God “out to be a liar” (verse 10)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does this passage teach about being accountable to God?

In your opinion, how do the people who “look for light” in Isaiah 59:1-9 find the light in 1 John 1:5-10?

In your opinion, how does 1 John 1:5-10 answer Pilate’s claim that he is “innocent of this man’s blood” in Matthew 27:19-26?

In your opinion, how does 1 John 1:5-10 help us understand how we are purified from sin so we can receive the righteousness that is “given through faith in Jesus Christ” in Romans 3:9-22?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Isaiah, Matthew, Romans and 1 John teach us about who Jesus’s blood is on?

In your opinion, how can denying responsibility for the blood of Jesus separate us from righteousness, but accepting our responsibility be vital to the process of becoming righteous?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)