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 14, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – The Gold and the Sacred

Matthew 28:18-20 – New International Version (NIV) – The Great Commission

¹⁸ “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Gold and the Sacred

Matthew 23:16-22 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.” 

What does Jesus call the teachers of the law and Pharisees (verse 16)?

In your opinion, why would the teachers of the law and the Pharisees say that it means nothing to swear by the temple but that swearing by the gold of the temple mean you are bound by the oath (verse 16)?

How does Jesus show them that they were wrong (verse 17)?

How does the next statement that Jesus speaks about the teachers of the law and the Pharisees resemble the first statement (verses 16 and 18)?

In your opinion, what is the difference in the basic understanding of what is valuable by Jesus and the teachers of the law and the Pharisees that is revealed in this passage?

What is someone swearing by if they swear by the alter (verse 20)?

What is someone swearing by if they swear by the temple (verse 21)?

What is someone swearing by if they swear by heaven (verse 22)?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Matthew 23:16-22 show us about the Great Commission?

1 Samuel 5:1-12 - New International Version (NIV)

¹ “After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² Then they carried the ark into Dagon’s temple and set it beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. ⁴ But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. ⁵ That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon’s temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

⁶ The Lord’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors. ⁷ When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, “The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy on us and on Dagon our god.” ⁸ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, “What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?”

They answered, “Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath.” So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.

⁹ But after they had moved it, the Lord’s hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. ¹⁰ So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.

As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, “They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people.” ¹¹ So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people.” For death had filled the city with panic; God’s hand was very heavy on it. ¹² Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.”

Who captured the ark of God (verse 1)?

Where did they set the ark (verse 2)?

In your opinion, what did it mean that Dagon was face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord (verse 3)?

How was Dagon different the “following morning” (verse 4)?

Where will the priests of Dagon not step (verse 5)?

What did the Lord bring to the people of Ashdod and its vicinity (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why did the people of Ashdod say “the ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us” (verse 7)?

How did the rulers of the Philistines respond (verse 8)?

What happened to the people of Gath (verse 9)?

Where did the ark go next (verse 10)?

How did the people there respond (verse 11)?

What filled the city (verse 11)?

Where did the “outcry of the city” go (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what could the people of the Philistine cities of 1 Samuel 5:1-12 have taught the teachers of the law and Pharisees of Matthew 23:16-22?

In your opinion, what does this passage from 1 Samuel 5 show us about the Great Commission?

Romans 2:17-29 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; ¹⁸ if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶ So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”

What are the components that Paul asks the readers about themselves:

In verse 17: If you call yourself - _______________, If you rely on - ______________, If you boast in - _____________________

In verse 18: If you know his - _______________, If you approve of what is superior because you are ___________________________________

In verse 19: If you are convinced you are - ______________________________, A ________________ for those who are in the dark

In verse 20: An ____________ of the foolish, An ______________ of little children

In your opinion, why does Paul indicate that the readers have all of the above “because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth” (verse 20)?

Who does Paul ask “do you not teach yourself” (verse 21)?

Who does Paul ask “do you commit adultery” (verse 22)?

Who does Paul ask “do you dishonor God by breaking the law” (verse 23)?

In your opinion, what is Paul saying when he says to the readers “As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you’” (verse 24)?

When does circumcision have value (verse 25)?

How does it change someone who is circumcised if they break the law (verse 25)?

How will those who are not circumcised, but keep the law’s requirements, be regarded (verse 26)?

Who will condemn the one with the “written code and circumcision” but are lawbreakers (verse 27)?

What is not “merely outward and physical” (verse 28)?

What is circumcision (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what are the similarities between the Philistines of 1 Samuel 5:1-12 and the circumcised lawbreaking Jews of Romans 2:17-29?

In your opinion, what can we learn from the fact that the Jews of Romans 2:17-29 got distracted from the “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit” to the outward and physical circumcision and the teachers of the law and the Pharisees of Matthew 23:16-22 missed the importance of the scared because the saw the value of the gold or the gift?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Romans 2 show us about the Great Commission?

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

In your opinion, why is the “one who does wrong” to continue to do wrong, the vile to continue to be vile, the one who does right to continue to do right, and the holy person to continue to be holy (verse 11)?

What is Jesus, who is coming soon, going to give to each person (verse 12)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus three times with different words say that He is the “Beginning and the End” (verse 13)?

Who does Jesus bless and what do they have a right to (verse 14)?

Who are the “dogs” who stay outside (verse 15)?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the “blessed” in verse 14 and the “dogs” in verse 15?

What does the “Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” send by the angel to the churches (verse 16)?

Who says “come” (verse 17)?

What is the “one who wishes” to take (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what can we learn about the “circumcision of the heart” that Paul talks about in Romans 2:17-29 from the teaching of Jesus through John in Revelation 22:10-17 about those who “wash their robes” and those who are thirsty coming and taking “the free gift of the water of life”?

In your opinion, what does the discussion about the Philistines and their willingness to recognize that the God of Israel was greater than Dagon, but unwillingness to worship the God of Israel in 1 Samuel 5:1-12 help us to understand the “dogs” who are outside when all who are thirsty can “take the free gift of the water of life” in Revelation 22:10-17?

In your opinion, how does the inability of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees to see the value of the sacred in Matthew 23:16-22 because they were distracted by the value of the gold or the gift help us to understand why “those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” in Revelation 22:10-17 might be unwilling to “wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city”?

In your opinion, what does this passage from Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 23:23 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)