Bible Study

1 Timothy 2:3-5

[3] This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, [4] who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Acts 5:31-32

[31] God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Titus 3:1-6

Be Ready for Every Good Work

[1] Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, [2] to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. [3] For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. [4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Galatians 6:1

Bear One Another’s Burdens

[1] Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Agree with Your Adversary

PRAY OVER THIS

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

 

PONDER THIS

David tried to cover up his sin by having Uriah killed. Today’s verse reminds us that those who cover their sin will never prosper. Oh, would to God that as soon as David committed that sin with Bathsheba, he had said, “Oh my God, what have I done? God, forgive me. God, have mercy. God, I'll bring a sacrifice and make restitution. God, have mercy.” God would have had mercy, God would have forgiven him, and God would have cleansed him. It still would have been a terrible sin, but the Bible says to “Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison” (Matthew 5:25). That means if you’ve done wrong, quickly confess it. As soon as you know, confess it, and don’t let that sin build up in your heart. But instead, David spent a year without confessing that sin.

When was a time you had an opportunity to confess sin but instead sought to hide it?

How can we learn from these times so that we respond differently in the future?

PRACTICE THIS

Confess before God any sin that is lingering in your life today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Payout for Patience

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50 is a great lesson in why we should have faith in the sovereign, future grace of God.

Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, which must have tested his patience tremendously. But he is given a good job in Potiphar’s house in Egypt. Then, when he is acting uprightly in the unplanned place of obedience, Potiphar’s wife lies about his integrity and has him thrown into prison — another great trial to his patience.

But again things turn for the better, and the prison keeper gives him responsibility and respect. But just when he thinks he is about to get a reprieve from Pharaoh’s cupbearer, whose dream he interpreted, the cupbearer forgets him for two more years. Another painful trial to his patience.

Finally, the meaning of all these detours and delays becomes clear. Joseph is raised up to be the leader of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He ends up saving from starvation the very brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph says to his long-estranged brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. . . . As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 45:7; 50:20).

What would have been the key to patience for Joseph during all those long years of exile and abuse? The answer is: faith in God’s sovereign, future grace — the sovereign grace of God to turn the unplanned place and the unplanned pace into the happiest ending imaginable.

That’s the key to our patience as well. Do we believe that God is working for us in the strangest and most painful turns of our lives?

John Piper 

Bible Study

Genesis 45:5

[5] And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:7

[7] And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

Psalm 105:16-17

    [16] When he summoned a famine on the land

        and broke all supply of bread, 

    [17] he had sent a man ahead of them,

        Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

Acts 7:9-10

[9] “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him [10] and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.

Do Not Put Off Jesus

PRAY OVER THIS

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

Proverbs 27:1

 

PONDER THIS

There is nobody so bad he or she cannot be saved. There is no one so good he or she need not be saved. There are many, however, who are going to be lost because of their self-righteous attitudes. They never repent of their sin. They never receive Christ as their Savior. But I’m going to tell you why I believe most people hear me or any other Gospel preacher, and then go out but are still lost. It’s not because they rebel against God or disbelieve, and it’s not because they’re self-righteous. I believe most of the people who hear the Gospel message and remain unsaved are lost because of procrastination. They know that they need to be saved, and they say, “One of these days I’m going to get saved.” But they keep putting it off. Why? Well, they got by yesterday without Jesus, they got by the day before without Jesus, and the day before that, and so on. So, they assume that tomorrow will be like yesterday. This is a dangerous assumption and one no one should make.

How have you been guilty of procrastinating in your faith?

What is God calling you to do today? How will you respond?

PRACTICE THIS

Take action to respond in obedience to God in an area in which you have procrastinated.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Authentic vs. Phony Faith

Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

The question before us all is: Are we included in the “many” whose sins Christ bore? And will we be saved at his second coming?

The answer of Hebrews 9:28 is, “Yes,” if we are “eagerly waiting for him.” We can know that our sins are taken away and that we will be safe in the judgment, if we trust Christ in such a way that it makes us eager for his coming.

There is a phony faith that claims to believe in Christ, but is only a fire insurance policy. Phony faith “believes” only to escape hell. It has no real desire for Christ. In fact, it would prefer if he did not come, so that we can have as much of this world’s pleasures as possible. This shows that a heart is not with Christ, but with the world.

So, the issue for us is: Do we eagerly long for the coming of Christ? Or do we want him to stay away, while our love affair with the world runs its course? That is the question that tests the authenticity of faith.

Let us be like the Corinthians as we “wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7), and like the Philippians whose “citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

That’s the issue for us. Do we love his appearing? Or do we love the world and hope that his appearing will not interrupt our plans? Eternity hangs on this question.

John Piper 

Bible Study

Romans 8:19

[19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Philippians 3:20

[20] But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 9:28

[28] so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

2 Peter 3:12-13

[12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! [13] But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.