October 30, 2022 – John’s Writings – Reacting to God

 

Reacting to God

 Ezekiel 22:23-31 - New International Version (NIV)

²³ Again the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’ ²⁵ There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. ²⁶ Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. ²⁷ Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. ²⁸ Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner, denying them justice.

³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. ³¹ So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Whose word came to Ezekiel (verse 23)?

What had not happened to the land (verse 24)?

Who devours people and takes treasures and makes “many widows” (verse 25)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that the priests “do violence to my law” (verse 26)?

Who are “like wolves tearing their prey” (verse 27)?

How do the prophets “whitewash these deeds for them” (verse 28)?

Who practices extortion and commits robbery (verse 29)?

Who was the Lord looking for (verse 30)?

What will the Lord pour out (verse 31)?

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

In your opinion, what can we learn about how people react to God in this passage God?

John 6:43-51 - New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

What did Jesus tell the people to stop doing (verse 43)?

Who must draw people to Jesus (verse 44)?

When will Jesus raise the people up (verse 44)?

What is written in the Prophets (verse 45)?

Who has seen the Father (verse 46)?

Who has eternal life (verse 47)?

What is Jesus (verse 48)?

What happened to the ancestors who “ate the manna” (verse 49)?

Where does the bread come from that “anyone may eat and not die” (verse 50)?

What will Jesus give “for the life of the world” (verse 51)?

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

In your opinion, what can we learn about how people react to God in this passage God?

In your opinion, how are the priests that Ezekiel spoke of in Ezekiel 22:23-30 a contrast to Jesus in John 6:43-51? 

Do you think that Jesus could b the person that was to build up the wall and stand in the Gap in Ezekiel?  Why or why not?   

1 John 2:3-11 – New International Version (NIV)

³ We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

⁷ Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. ⁸ Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

⁹ Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. ¹¹ But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

How can we know that we have come to know Jesus (verse 3)?

Who is a liar (verse 4)?

What is made complete for those who obey the word of Jesus (verse 5)?

Who “must live as Jesus did” (verse 6)?

In your opinion, how can the command that John is writing about be old and new (verses 7 and 8)?

What is “already shining” (verse 8)?

Who is “still in the darkness” (verse 9)?

Who has “nothing in them to make them stumble” (verse 10)?

Why do those who hate “a brother or sister” not know where they are going (verse 11)?

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

In your opinion, what can we learn about how people react to God in this passage God?

In your opinion, what does John’s comments in 1 John 2:3-11 help us understand about the princes, priests, officials, prophets, and people of Ezekiel 22:23-30?   

In your opinion, what does 1 John 2:3-11 help us understand about how those that Jesus is talking about in John 6:43-51 who eat the living bread that comes from heaven are changed?

Revelation 7:9-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Who is standing before the throne wearing white robes and holding palm branches (verse 9)?

Who do they say “salvation” belongs to (verse 10)?

What do the angels do when they hear who “salvation” belongs to (verses 11 and 12)?

Who ask “these in the white robes-who are they, and where did they come from” (verse 13)?

Where did they come from (verse 14)?

How did their robes become white (verse 14)?

How will they be sheltered (verse 15)?

When will the thirst (verse 16)?

Who will be their shepherd (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, what can we learn about how people react to God in this passage?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the people of Israel in Ezekiel 22:23-30 and the great multitude in Revelation 7:9-17? 

In your opinion, why were those in front of Jesus in John 6:43-51 grumbling and those in front of Jesus in Revelation 7:9.17 worshipping and praising?

In your opinion, what does Revelation 7:9-17 reveal about the “true light” that 1 John 2:3-11 says is shining? 

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ezekiel, John, 1 John and Revelation teach us about why people react differently to God?

In your opinion, how can we be a part of the “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb”?

 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 1, 2017 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – Belief and Salvation

Belief and Salvation

Genesis 15:1-6 – New International Version (NIV)

¹ After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.
    I am your shield,
    your very great reward.”

² But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

⁴ Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” ⁵ He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

⁶ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

What came to Abram (verse 1)?

Who was a shield and very great reward to Abram (verse 1)?

In your opinion, why is Abram concerned about being childless (verse 2)?

Who is Eliezer of Damascus (verses 2 and 3)?

What does the Lord promise Abram (verse 4)?

Why is Abram to look at the stars and count them (verse 5)?

How did Abram respond to the Lord’s promise (verse 6)?

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

John 16:25-33 - New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. ²⁶ In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. ²⁷ No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

How has Jesus been speaking (verse 25)?

What will the disciples do “in that day” (verse 26)?

Why does the Father love them (verse 27)?

Where is Jesus going (verse 28)?

What did the disciples think about what Jesus was saying (verse 29)?

What did the disciples believe about Jesus (verse 30)?

In your opinion, why does Jesus ask “do you now believe” (verse 31)?

What is coming and “in fact has come” (verse 32)?

Why has Jesus told the disciples these things (verse 33)?

What will the disciples have in the world (verse 33)?

Why should the disciples “take heart” (verse 33)?

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

In your opinion, how is the belief of Abram that caused God to credit “it to him as righteousness” in Genesis 15:1-6 and the belief of the disciples in John 16:25-33 that they believe that Jesus came from God similar?

Romans 4:16-25 - New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. ²⁰ Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, ²¹ being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ²² This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” ²³ The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

How did the promise come (verse 16)?

In your opinion, who is Paul talking about when he says “those who have the faith of Abraham” (verse 16)?

Who was “I have made you a father of many nations” written about (verses 16 and 17)?

Who gives “life to the dead and calls into being things that were not” (verse 17)?

How did Abraham believe (verse 18)?

In your opinion, why is it important that Abraham faced the fact that “his body was as good as dead” and that “Sarah’s womb was also dead” (verse 19)?

What happened to Abraham’s faith when he faced the real facts of his situation (verse 20)?

What was Abraham “fully persuaded” of (verse 21)?

Who were the words “it was credited to him” written for (verses 23 and24)?

Why was Jesus “delivered over to death” (verse 25)?

Why was Jesus “raised to life” (verse 25)?

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

In your opinion, what does Paul in Romans 4:16-25 help us to understand about what Jesus did to “overcome the world” as He promised in John 16:25-33?

In your opinion, what does Paul saying that Abraham faced the facts of the realities of his situation in Romans 4:16-25 help us to understand about how amazing it was for him to believe the Lord in Genesis 15:1-6?

Revelation 7:9-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Who was standing before the throne and before the Lamb (verse 9)?

What belongs to God and to the Lamb (verse 10)?

What did the angels do (verse 11)?

Who is to have praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power and strength (verse 12)?

Who are the ones in the white robes (verses 13 and 14)?

How does God shelter those in the white robes (verse 15)?

Why will they never hunger, thirst or have the sun beat down on them (verses 16 and 17)?

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

In your opinion, how does John’s vision of the people in white who “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” in Revelation 7:9-17 help us to follow the example of Abraham that Paul gives in Romans 4:16-25 and be strengthened in our faith and give glory to God?

In your opinion, how is the salvation and the great tribulation that John talks about in Revelation 7:9-17 show the fulfillment of Jesus’ statement from John 16:25-33 that “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”?

In your opinion, how is the promise of God to Abram in Genesis 15:1-6 that he should try to count the stars in the sky to see how many offspring he would have shown to be filled in Revelation 7:9-17 by the people in white with the palm branches?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, John, Romans and Revelation help us understand about faith and salvation?

In your opinion, how do these passages help us to have peace in a world filled with tribulation?                 

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

January 31, 2015 – The Great Commission – A Study of Matthew – Tombs and Promised Lands

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.”

Tombs and Promised Lands

Matthew 27:57-61 – New International Version (NIV)

⁵⁷ “As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”

How is Joseph described (verse 57)?

What had Joseph become (verse 57)?

Who did Joseph ask “for Jesus’ body” (verse 58)?

What did Joseph wrap Jesus body in (verse 59)?

Where did Joseph place Jesus body (verse 60)?

In your opinion, why did Joseph roll “a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb” (verse 60)?

Where were “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” (verse 61)?

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

Genesis 50:22-26 - New International Version (NIV)

²² “Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years ²³ and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.

²⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” ²⁵ And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

²⁶ So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”

Where did Joseph stay (verse 22)?

Who stayed along with Joseph (verse 22)?

How long did Joseph live (verse 22)?

Who did Joseph see (verse 23)?

In your opinion, why would “the children of Makir son of Manasseh” been placed at birth on Joseph’s knees (verse 23)?

Where did Joseph say that God would “take you up out of this land” to (verse 24)?

What oath did Joseph make the Israelites swear (verse 25)?

Where was Joseph placed “after they embalmed him” (verse 26)?

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

In your opinion, what does Joseph being placed in a coffin after he was embalmed in Genesis 50:22-26 and Jesus placed in a tomb with a big stone rolled in front of it in Matthew 27:57-61 show about what was anticipated for the future by those who cared for them?

Romans 6:3-14 – New International Version (NIV)

³ “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰ The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

What are “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus” baptized into (verse 3)?

Why were “we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death” (verse 4)?

What will we certainly also be “if we have been united with him in a death like his” (verse 5)?

Why was our old self “crucified with him” (verse 6)?

In your opinion, why does Paul say “anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (verse 7)?

What do we believe if we believe “we died with Christ” (verse 8)?

Why does death have “no mastery over” Christ (verse 9)?

Who did Christ die the death He “died to sin once” for (verse 10)?

Who does Christ live the “life he lives” for (verse 11)?

What should we not let “reign in” our “mortal bodies” (verse 12)?

Who should we offer ourselves to “as those who have been brought from death to life” (verse 13)?

What part of ourselves should we offer “as an instrument of righteousness” (verse 13)?

Why is sin “no longer your master” (verse 14)?

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

In your opinion, how is Joseph not being willing for his bones to stay in Egypt after his death in Genesis 50:22-26 an example of what Paul is talking about in Romans 6:3-14 when he says that we are to “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus”?

In your opinion, how does Paul’s statement in Romans 6:3-14 that “all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death” change the way you look at the wrapping of the body of Jesus in a clean linen cloth, place in a tomb and having a big stone rolled in front of it in Matthew 27:57-61?

Revelation 7:9-17 – New International Version (NIV)

⁹ “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

¹⁴ I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶ ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

How many were before John (verse 9)?

Where were they from (verse 9)?

What were they wearing (verse 9)?

According to what was cried out, who does salvation belong to (verse 10)?

What did “all the angels” standing around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures do (verse 11)?

Who ask John “these in white robes-who are they, and where did they come from” (verse 13)?

In your opinion, who are the ones “who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb” (verse 14)?

Who will shelter those who “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (verses 14 and 15)?

What will the “Lamb at the center of the throne” be (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what does it mean that the Lamb will “lead them to springs of living water” (verse 17)?

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

In your opinion, how is the promise of Paul in Romans 6:3-14 that those who “have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” supported by the vision of John in Revelation 7:9-17 of the great multitude clothed in white robes?

In your opinion, how is the “land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” that Joseph looked forward to in Genesis 50:22-26 similar to area “before the throne and before the Lamb” that the great multitude clothed in white found themselves in Revelation 7:9-17?

In your opinion, do you think that Joseph of Arimathea in Matthew 27:57-61 had any idea that the tomb he placed Jesus in and rolled a big stone in front of would be temporary and that Jesus would be the Lamb that the great multitudes would worship and bow to in heaven in Revelation 7:9-17?

In your opinion, what do these passages, from Matthew, Genesis, Romans and Revelation show us about the Great Commission?

Next, back to Matthew 27:62 – (sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)