Bible Studies for Life | Life Lessons Personal Study Guide | Winter ...
Minor Prophets: Major Messages What’s in a Name? What Matters Most
Born Again
Have you ever wondered what the phrase “born again” means? The Bible records that Jesus used the phrase in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night. He was curious about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus told him: “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus responded, “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” (John 3:4).
Nicodemus was a highly moral man who obeyed God’s law. He was a respected leader of the Jewish community. No doubt he was a fine man. Yet something was lacking. Like Nicodemus, many people today confuse religion with new birth in Christ. Phrases like “I pray regularly” or “I believe there is a God” often are confused with a real new-birth experience. New birth begins with the Holy Spirit convicting a person that the person is a sinner. Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth,
as Jesus described it, is necessary. God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it. The Bible says all persons are sinners (Romans 3:23). Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners. To be born again means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Christ, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone who believes in (places faith in) Christ would not perish (John 3:16). Jesus is the only One who can save us (John 14:6). To believe in Jesus is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person, and following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6).
Winter 2012-13 Volume 7, Number 2 6—
Godliness: A First-Century Understanding
9—
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®
115 —
A nnie Armstrong Easter Offering®
What’s in a Name?
Minor Prophets: What Matters Major Messages Most
10 — December 2
50 — January 6
82 — February 3
Yahweh—Our God Nahum: A Message The Truth of Exodus 6:2-8; 15:1-3,11-13 of God’s Judgment the Gospel N ahum 1:7-9,12-13; [Evangelism Lesson] 18 — December 9 2:8-13; 3:18-19 1 Timothy 1:3-7,12-20 Yahweh— Our Father 58 — January 13 90 — February 10 Psalm 103:2-6,8-13,17-18 Habakkuk: A The Character Message of Faith of Leadership 26 — December 16 H abakkuk 1:1-3,5-6,13; 1 Timothy 3:1-15 Yahweh—Our 2:1,4-6; 3:1-2,17-19 Righteousness 98 — February 17 Jeremiah 23:5-6; Romans 66 — January 20 The Practice 3:21-26; 10:1-4,9-10 Obadiah: A Message of Godliness of Action 1 Timothy 4:7-10; 34 — December 23
Jesus— Our Immanuel Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25
42 — December 30
Jesus— Our Shepherd John 10:7-16
Titus 3:1-9 [Sanctity of Human Life Lesson] Obadiah 1-4,10-15,17-18,21 106 — February 24
74 — January 27
Haggai: A Message About Priorities Haggai 1:2-9; 2:4-5,9, 18-19,23
The Reward of Endurance 2 Timothy 2:1-13
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Send questions/ comments to: Content Editor, Life Lessons Learner Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175; or make comments on the Web at: www.lifeway.com
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MEET YOUR WRITERS Jere Phillips wrote the commentary and questions for the December lessons. Dr. Phillips serves as the professor of practical theology at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, Tennessee. Jere and his wife, Glenda, have two married daughters and six grandchildren, and are members of Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, Tennessee.
• Jerry Price wrote the commentary and questions for the January lessons. Bro. Jerry, now retired, has served as pastor, interim pastor, and minister of education for churches in Tennessee and Illinois. Jerry and his wife, Trish, have one adult son and one granddaughter. Jerry is an experienced writer for LifeWay and a member of First Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
• Darryl Wood wrote the commentary and questions for the February lessons. Dr. Wood is the pastor of First Baptist Church Vincent, Alabama. Darryl and his wife, Marcie, have two sons and two grandsons.
David Francis, Director
Sunday School
Life Lessons Learner Guide (ISSN 2167-8901; Item 005074969) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. This periodical is designed for adult classes without segmented age groups. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names by W. Murray Severance. Copyright © 1997 by Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used by permission. Printed in the United States of America.
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BIBLE STUDIES December:
What’s in a Name? The Bible reveals nearly 500 different names and titles given to God and Jesus. The names and titles of God revealed in these five Bible studies help us understand His character and relationship with us. Our study theme looks at five of these names, moving from those names that portray His power and transcendence to those that show His love and intimacy with us.
January:
Minor Prophets: Major Messages Through this series of four Bible studies, God addresses several different issues through the Minor Prophets: rebellion, doubt, indifference, and wrong priorities. Christians will not only learn of the holiness, righteousness, justice, and mercy of God, but also about mistakes from the past to avoid.
February:
What Matters Most This four-week study is based on the five “trustworthy sayings” in the Pastoral Letters. Nowhere else does Paul use the term “trustworthy saying.” In the Pastorals he used it five times. These sayings likely were articles of belief deeply cherished and used as confessions in public worship in the early church. They provide clues to what matters most for churches and believers today. This study is important because believers and churches often lose sight of what matters most.
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Godliness: A First-Century Understanding By Shawn L. Buice What do you say to the young pastor who is having church difficulties? He desires to lead the church but is uncertain about how quickly to make changes or address issues. He does not want to offend or ostracize anyone; yet, the difficulties he faces need resolving. What counsel do you give? Paul wrote to a young pastor in a difficult spot—Timothy, who was serving in Ephesus. The church had some serious issues, and Paul wanted to help Timothy deal with them. Paul first visited Ephesus on his third missionary journey. He stayed in Ephesus between 2.5–3 years.1 In his farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus, Paul warned them that “savage wolves [would] come in among” them and would “rise up … with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples” away (Acts 20:29,30).2 Paul’s words came true. False teachers emerged and taught “deviant doctrines.” Thus, Paul wrote Timothy, urging him to stay in Ephesus to “instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3). In order to counter the false 6
teaching, Paul commanded Timothy to “point these things out to the brothers” and to “train [himself] in godliness” (4:6,7). We can easily understand Paul instructing Timothy about not allowing people to teach a different doctrine. Maybe less obvious, though, is his instruction that Timothy needed to train himself in godliness. Why would that matter? Paul knew that living a godly life would set Timothy apart from the false teachers and lend credibility to his teaching. To emphasize his point, Paul used an athletic metaphor. The Greek word translated “train” commonly described gymnastic exercises.3 The implication was that this
activity would require effort on Timothy’s part. To further impress Timothy about attaining godliness, Paul spoke of physical training. According to Paul, the benefits of physical training are limited to this life (v. 8). The benefits of training for godliness, on the other hand, surpass the benefits of bodily exercise. Godliness is valuable because “it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (v. 8). What did Paul mean, though, when he spoke of godliness? The Greek word translated “godliness” has a rich history. The ancient Greeks used it to describe “piety, reverence, loyalty” that could be demonstrated to “parents or deities.”4 Not only the Greeks, Roman culture also challenged people to demonstrate this same reverence to their parents and gods.
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (the Septuagint) reflects a slight shift in meaning of “godliness.” The Books of Proverbs and Isaiah use “godliness” to describe a type of loyalty and reverence—but one that is based on a covenant and is demonstrated by one’s behavior or their response to the law. This concept forms the backdrop for Paul’s usage of “godliness.” How did this apply to Timothy? To combat what was happening in Ephesus, Paul encouraged Timothy first to teach the correct doctrine. Paul knew from experience that an effective way to counter false doctrine was to teach sound doctrine. A second, and equally important component that Paul highlighted was Timothy’s need to live correctly. Timothy had to make sure his life mirrored what he taught. In 1 Timothy 4:6-10, both of these concepts, 7
teaching and living, are present and are uniquely intertwined. Paul was telling Timothy that to combat strange or unorthodox beliefs, his teaching and his lifestyle had to be aligned. That alignment of teaching and lifestyle would serve as the evidence of godly living. We live in a day when people lack character and integrity. In many circles, believers believe the right things. Unfortunately, though, their lives do not mirror their beliefs. Paul’s words to Timothy are relevant for us today. Character still counts! We need to train ourselves for godliness. Our lives, in other words, need to reflect our loyalty to God and His Word. i 1. John B. Polhill, Paul and His Letters (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1999) 80. 2. All Scripture quotations come from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). 3. “gumna z/ w“ (gumnazo, train) in Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG), rev. and ed. Frederick William Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 208.
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4. “eusj e b/ eia, aß, h “J (eusebeia, godliness) in BDAG, 412.
This article is based on a fulllength article by Shawn L. Buice in the Winter 2012–2013 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator, by using your church’s quarterly literature order form, or by calling 1-800-458-2772.
Start New Groups Through the Missionary Movement of Sunday School A missionary is not just someone who reaches out to a people group over a border or across an ocean. If you’re in Sunday School today, you are part of a time-tested missionary strategy that reaches out to people who don’t have a relationship with God. You can be the next generation of missionaries of this significant strategy. Sunday School was born over 300 years ago in order to reach children who were not attending any church. As you and your class identify people who are not being reached by your church’s Sunday School and take steps to provide a class for them, you are being missional, carrying on the tradition of missionaries like Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong.
attend an adult class if someone began a class for their children? Start one. Become a “Sunday School missionary” who carries on a 300year legacy of reaching people for Christ. Talk with your pastor, teacher, or staff leader about practical steps you and your class can take to start a new group that reaches out to others as you seek to fulfill Christ’s command to “go and make disciples.” Dwayne McCrary teaches a Sunday School class at Northside Baptist in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is also a team leader for adult curriculum at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and a student of learning.
Are there people in your worship service who don’t attend Sunday School because there isn’t a class for them? Start one! Are there students who struggle to fit into the student ministry because classes are too large or too broad? Start a new one. Are there young parents who would 9
December 2, 2012
Yahweh — Our God Focal Verses
Exodus 6:2-8, 15:1-3,11-13
How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life
This lesson can help you trust God as the one faithful God who is able.
What This Lesson Is About
The study theme begins with the name by which God reveals Himself— Yahweh—a name that shows His sovereign and powerful character.
Why This Lesson Is Important
Our culture embraces the notion that there are many gods or that there are many expressions of God. This idea is diametrically opposed to what the Bible teaches about the nature and character of the one true God. Even with the name by which God makes Himself known—Yahweh—we discover a personal God who stands alone, has always existed, and does not change. This personal name of God appears over 6,000 times in Scripture. It’s important for adults to discover the significance of God’s name because this truth can help them trust Him and walk confidently in a religiously diverse culture.
Life Question
How does Yahweh our God show us He is the one faithful God? 10
December 2, 2012
D
ave stared ahead, his eyes moist with emotion. His wife had cancer. After many treatments, her condition was not improving. Yet their faith in God comforted them as they clung to His promises. Dave said, “I’ve come to realize an important truth—you never really know God until you really need God.” Dave’s experience through his family’s crisis taught him God is both knowable and trustworthy.
Q
How does God express Himself to you so that you might know and trust Him every day?
Israel discovered God’s faithful ness when He delivered them from peril. God revealed His name and nature through His interactions with His people. Like the Israelites, we can learn to know God and trust His promises.
Yahweh Our God Makes Promises (Ex. 6:2-8) Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am Yahweh. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I did not reveal My name Yahweh to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as foreigners. 5 Furthermore, I 2
have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am Yahweh, and I will deliver you from the forced labor of the Egyptians and free you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who delivered you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am Yahweh.” Moses’ people had suffered long years of servitude. What began as a blessing of rescue from famine (Gen. 46–47) had degenerated into a life of slavery, forced labor, and oppression (Ex. 1:8-11). God chose Moses not only to be His instrument of deliverance, but also the channel through whom God’s people might know Him. One way we get to know people is by learning their names. In calling Moses to this challenging work, God reminded him of His name— Yahweh [YAH wey]. In the desert, 11
Yahweh At the burning bush, God revealed his personal name for the first time. God told Moses His name is, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex. 3:14). This translation of the Hebrew word Yahweh is sometimes rendered Jehovah (based on the consonants YHWH and the vowels from the Hebrew word translated Lord). This is usually printed in English as Lord. In Hebrew thought, a name revealed something of the inner person. In the Hebrew language, the letters YHWH (based on the verb “to be”) was written without vowels (until the 6-7 century A.D.). One translation of Yahweh is “I will be (or continue to be) who I always have been” and stresses God’s eternal nature and consistency. The Jews considered the name Yahweh so sacred they substituted the word Adonai (Lord) for it. God introduced Himself through a bush that burned and was not consumed. There God revealed His name to Moses. (Ex. 3:14) Many people are familiar with the name Jehovah—which is simply another rendering of Yahweh. In some Bible translations, the word LORD (or Lord) portrays this special covenant name of God. This also refers to the idea of “I AM WHO I AM.” How does God’s name reflect His promise to be with us always?
Q
God’s name represented His promise to be present with His people. In restating His name, God reaffirmed His covenant with His people. He promised to deliver them from bondage and return them to Canaan, the land of their fathers— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 12
December 2, 2012
When God told Moses that He remembered His covenant, He did not mean that He had forgotten, since God cannot forget anything. Rather, the word means “to bring to mind again.” In verse 6, God affirmed to Moses that He would take action because of His name. God placed His reputation on the line with this promise. God would take several related actions for the people: (1) He would deliver them, bringing them out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and leading them to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (2) He would free them, aiding their escape from their tormenters. (3) He would redeem them from slavery in Egypt. In what ways has God revealed His reputation by fulfilling His promises?
Q
Believers can rely on the nature and promises of God. He loves us and promises to be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). We can trust God, because His promises show that He desires to be involved in our lives. One of the best ways we can understand God’s nature and His promises is to study His Word daily.
Q
How has God revealed Himself to you through situations from which you needed rescue?
Yahweh Our God Keeps His Promises (Ex. 15:1-3) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: 1
I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.
God’s power and trustworthiness burst forth between Exodus 6 and Exodus 15. Amazing plagues fell on the unbelieving Egyptians as God demonstrated that He alone is God. Time after time Pharaoh’s heart hardened until it broke under the weight of grief as the firstborn of each household of Egypt died. Even as the Hebrews fled eastward, the Egyptian monarch rose with fury, sending his army to destroy the Israelites. Caught between the waters of the Red Sea on one side and Pharaoh’s avenging army on the other, Moses’ people panicked. Only under the solid hand of God’s chosen leader did the people finally obey God and experience His salvation. After they miraculously escaped through walls of water and witnessed the destruction of their enemies beneath the crashing waves, Israel understood the faithfulness of their God. Exulting over God’s mighty acts, Moses and the people sang praises to Yahweh because He fulfilled His promise to save them. They glorified God as highly exalted. The song they sang referred to God’s triumph over their enemies. What would we require for God to prove Himself a keeper of promises and a true deliverer? Should we ask for more than what He has given—salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son?
Q
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Biblical Names for God the Father •1 6 Single names (Almighty, God, Lord, Yahweh, …) •2 4 Compound names (God Almighty, Sovereign Lord, Mighty One, Lord God Almighty, Lord God Most High, Lord God, …) •1 19 Descriptive names (Ancient of Days, Blessed God, God of Glory, Wise God, Eternal God, God of the Living, Holy One of Israel …) •1 52 Descriptive titles (Abba, Alpha and Omega, Father, Hope, Master, Faithful Creator, Defender, Deliverer, Bridegroom, Eagle …) What is your favorite name or title for God? Why? (Source: Walter Elwell, ed., Topical Analysis of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991).
Detailing God’s glory in verse 2, Moses personalized this new under standing of God. Because He had kept His promises by delivering them, God’s people better under stood His relationship with them. Before this experience, He was a distant God—Someone their fathers had known, but who had been forgotten by many as they focused on their calamities. Now, He was their strength, their song, and their salvation. The Israelites recognized their helplessness before the might of Pharaoh, but God’s strength was more than sufficient for them. They could not deliver themselves, but God interceded and saved them. Consequently, God became the joy of their heart—the source and object of their song. 14
December 2, 2012
Q
In what ways has God demon strated His nature by keeping His promises in your life?
The word rendered salvation is yeshua; the name Jesus is based on this word. About 14 centuries later Matthew would report that an angel told Joseph to name a son “Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise for deliverance, redemption, and salvation. Because God kept this most important pledge, we can trust Him in all matters. The stanza ends by declaring God was their warrior. In Exodus 14:14, Moses told the people to “be quiet” and await the salvation of the Lord, for He would fight for them.
The song of Moses rises in a crescendo as he proclaims, “Yahweh is His name.” Moses wanted the people to recognize that the source of their deliverance was the great I AM who would always be with them in every situation. We should not forget in our fears what God has declared in our victories. He is the same God. We, too, can observe God’s hand of deliverance in our lives, not only in temporal circumstances but also in eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son. In the middle of this stanza lies a commitment. Moses declared that Yahweh was not merely his father’s God, but He was “my God”; therefore, he would exalt Him. How are you exalting the name of the Lord?
Q
Yahweh Our God Stands Alone (Ex. 15:11-13) Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth 11
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swallowed them. ou will lead the people Y You have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength.
Unique in all existence, God alone deserves our praise. The Hebrews sang of God’s matchlessness. The song uses repetition as a poetical device (“who is like you?”) to emphasize God’s exclusivity. The phrase does not give credence to the existence of other gods, but highlights several qualities belonging to Yahweh alone: God is glorious in holiness. The word translated glorious carries the idea of majesty. Earthly ideas of majesty conjure images of wealth and power. God’s glory lies in His holiness, righteousness, and purity. God is revered with praises. Unlike false gods whose images provoked terror from their deluded worshipers, Yahweh invokes reverent adoration. God is alone in the wonders He performs. Being delivered in such a wondrous way, the Hebrews recognized that only God could achieve such amazing feats. Watching their enemies fall beneath the waves, the Israelites thought it was as if God had reached out with His right hand and caused the earth to swallow their foes. While God, being Spirit, does not have a body and limbs like humans, the 15
God wants us to be with Him. Ultimately the day will come when God’s promise is fulfilled. symbolism represented God’s power and strength. What aspects of God provoke you to praise Him?
Q
God stands alone, not only because of His unique qualities, but also because of the special acts He performs on behalf of His people. Moses’ psalm praised Yahweh for His intervention for Israel. Verse 13 emphasizes the special relationship God had with the Israelites. God redeemed the people from the slavery of Egypt. Because Yahweh had initiated this unparalleled rescue, the Hebrews could depend on Him to continue to direct their paths. This stanza uses a couplet— matching sentences—to portray reasons the people could trust God. The phrase rendered with Your faithful love describes both the way God redeemed the people and the manner in which He would lead them. Similar to the idea of leading, the word translated guide focuses on God’s care, as if He would take the people by the hand and show them the way. While the first half of the 16
December 2, 2012
couplet connected God’s redemptive leadership with His “faithful love,” the second emphasized His strength. Not only could the Israelites trust that God would lead them, they could also have confidence wherever He would lead. In what ways has God demonstrated His faithful love to you?
Q
God’s ultimate goal for us is for us to live with Him. But no one can dwell with God through personal abilities, but only through God’s gift of mercy, grace, and strength. God wants us to be with Him. Ultimately the day will come when God’s promise is fulfilled: “Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).
Q
How are you helping other people to know our faithful God so they, too, might live with Him forever?
THE LIFE LESSON
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od is faithful. His name and nature reflect His consistent presence and care. Moses understood Yahweh’s identity as the Ever Present One to mean that God would be with His people through every circumstance. The Hebrews constantly witnessed God in action. God revealed Himself through His faithfulness—making and keeping promises. God not only demonstrated His uniqueness through His powerful actions to save His people, but also by His holy character. His righteousness is His glory; He alone deserves our trust and praise. Our Bible study teaches us that God’s covenant name reveals His nature: • God keeps His Word. Think about how God has shown His love— providing for your family, being present in your difficulties, and most of all, sending Jesus to die for our sins. This truth gives us the basis for trusting Him. • We can respond to Him in faith and love because of His proven character of righteousness. • God’s holiness is not merely a theological doctrine, but a key aspect of His relationship with people. He keeps His promises for His name’s sake. Consequently, God requires holiness of His people (1 Pet. 1:16). Since human beings can neither generate nor obtain holiness on our own, we must rely on God’s promise to forgive our sins and impart His holiness to us through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
Q
In what ways has God demonstrated His trustworthy nature to you? How does His righteous character prompt you to respond to His grace in Christ? What difference does this make in how you live your life?
Remember Dave (from our introduction on p. 11)? He came to know and trust God in all areas of his life. Trained as a law enforcement officer, he daily placed his life into Christ’s hands. Dave eventually felt God calling him to share the good news of Jesus in other ways. Because he had experienced God’s proven nature through illness, danger, tragedy, and success, Dave was able to follow Christ in this new endeavor. How has God been working in your life to call you into new vistas of faith? As you reflect on God’s past faithfulness, are you ready to trust and follow Him?
Q
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Born Again
Have you ever wondered what the phrase “born again” means? The Bible records that Jesus used the phrase in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night. He was curious about Jesus and the kingdom of God. Jesus told him: “Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Nicodemus responded, “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” (John 3:4).
Nicodemus was a highly moral man who obeyed God’s law. He was a respected leader of the Jewish community. No doubt he was a fine man. Yet something was lacking. Like Nicodemus, many people today confuse religion with new birth in Christ. Phrases like “I pray regularly” or “I believe there is a God” often are confused with a real new-birth experience. New birth begins with the Holy Spirit convicting a person that the person is a sinner. Because of sin, we are spiritually dead. For this reason, spiritual birth,
as Jesus described it, is necessary. God loves us and gives us spiritual birth when we ask Him for it. The Bible says all persons are sinners (Romans 3:23). Jesus died on a cross and was raised from the dead to save sinners. To be born again means that a person admits to God that he or she is a sinner, repents of sin, believes in or trusts Christ, and confesses faith in Christ as Savior and Lord. Jesus told Nicodemus that everyone who believes in (places faith in) Christ would not perish (John 3:16). Jesus is the only One who can save us (John 14:6). To believe in Jesus is to be born again. Confess your sins and ask Jesus right now to save you. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, share your decision with another person, and following Christ’s example, ask for baptism by immersion in your local church as a public expression of your faith (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:6).
Winter 2012-13 Volume 7, Number 2 6—
Godliness: A First-Century Understanding
9—
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering®
115 —
A nnie Armstrong Easter Offering®
What’s in a Name?
Minor Prophets: What Matters Major Messages Most
10 — December 2
50 — January 6
82 — February 3
Yahweh—Our God Nahum: A Message The Truth of Exodus 6:2-8; 15:1-3,11-13 of God’s Judgment the Gospel N ahum 1:7-9,12-13; [Evangelism Lesson] 18 — December 9 2:8-13; 3:18-19 1 Timothy 1:3-7,12-20 Yahweh— Our Father 58 — January 13 90 — February 10 Psalm 103:2-6,8-13,17-18 Habakkuk: A The Character Message of Faith of Leadership 26 — December 16 H abakkuk 1:1-3,5-6,13; 1 Timothy 3:1-15 Yahweh—Our 2:1,4-6; 3:1-2,17-19 Righteousness 98 — February 17 Jeremiah 23:5-6; Romans 66 — January 20 The Practice 3:21-26; 10:1-4,9-10 Obadiah: A Message of Godliness of Action 1 Timothy 4:7-10; 34 — December 23
Jesus— Our Immanuel Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25
42 — December 30
Jesus— Our Shepherd John 10:7-16
Titus 3:1-9 [Sanctity of Human Life Lesson] Obadiah 1-4,10-15,17-18,21 106 — February 24
74 — January 27
Haggai: A Message About Priorities Haggai 1:2-9; 2:4-5,9, 18-19,23
The Reward of Endurance 2 Timothy 2:1-13
Production and Ministry Team
John E. Dent, Jr. Content Editor
E. Lee Bailey
Production Editor
Darin Clark
Graphic Design Specialist
David Apple Alan Raughton
Adult Ministry Specialists
Dwayne McCrary Team Leader Ongoing Bible Studies
Send questions/ comments to: Content Editor, Life Lessons Learner Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175; or make comments on the Web at: www.lifeway.com
Management Personnel
Ken Braddy Debbie Johnson
Managers Adult Ministry Publishing
Bill Craig, Director
Adult Ministry Publishing
Faith Whatley, Director Adult Ministry
MEET YOUR WRITERS Jere Phillips wrote the commentary and questions for the December lessons. Dr. Phillips serves as the professor of practical theology at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, Tennessee. Jere and his wife, Glenda, have two married daughters and six grandchildren, and are members of Germantown Baptist Church, Germantown, Tennessee.
• Jerry Price wrote the commentary and questions for the January lessons. Bro. Jerry, now retired, has served as pastor, interim pastor, and minister of education for churches in Tennessee and Illinois. Jerry and his wife, Trish, have one adult son and one granddaughter. Jerry is an experienced writer for LifeWay and a member of First Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
• Darryl Wood wrote the commentary and questions for the February lessons. Dr. Wood is the pastor of First Baptist Church Vincent, Alabama. Darryl and his wife, Marcie, have two sons and two grandsons.
David Francis, Director
Sunday School
Life Lessons Learner Guide (ISSN 2167-8901; Item 005074969) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail [email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. This periodical is designed for adult classes without segmented age groups. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names by W. Murray Severance. Copyright © 1997 by Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used by permission. Printed in the United States of America.
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BIBLE STUDIES December:
What’s in a Name? The Bible reveals nearly 500 different names and titles given to God and Jesus. The names and titles of God revealed in these five Bible studies help us understand His character and relationship with us. Our study theme looks at five of these names, moving from those names that portray His power and transcendence to those that show His love and intimacy with us.
January:
Minor Prophets: Major Messages Through this series of four Bible studies, God addresses several different issues through the Minor Prophets: rebellion, doubt, indifference, and wrong priorities. Christians will not only learn of the holiness, righteousness, justice, and mercy of God, but also about mistakes from the past to avoid.
February:
What Matters Most This four-week study is based on the five “trustworthy sayings” in the Pastoral Letters. Nowhere else does Paul use the term “trustworthy saying.” In the Pastorals he used it five times. These sayings likely were articles of belief deeply cherished and used as confessions in public worship in the early church. They provide clues to what matters most for churches and believers today. This study is important because believers and churches often lose sight of what matters most.
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Godliness: A First-Century Understanding By Shawn L. Buice What do you say to the young pastor who is having church difficulties? He desires to lead the church but is uncertain about how quickly to make changes or address issues. He does not want to offend or ostracize anyone; yet, the difficulties he faces need resolving. What counsel do you give? Paul wrote to a young pastor in a difficult spot—Timothy, who was serving in Ephesus. The church had some serious issues, and Paul wanted to help Timothy deal with them. Paul first visited Ephesus on his third missionary journey. He stayed in Ephesus between 2.5–3 years.1 In his farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus, Paul warned them that “savage wolves [would] come in among” them and would “rise up … with deviant doctrines to lure the disciples” away (Acts 20:29,30).2 Paul’s words came true. False teachers emerged and taught “deviant doctrines.” Thus, Paul wrote Timothy, urging him to stay in Ephesus to “instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:3). In order to counter the false 6
teaching, Paul commanded Timothy to “point these things out to the brothers” and to “train [himself] in godliness” (4:6,7). We can easily understand Paul instructing Timothy about not allowing people to teach a different doctrine. Maybe less obvious, though, is his instruction that Timothy needed to train himself in godliness. Why would that matter? Paul knew that living a godly life would set Timothy apart from the false teachers and lend credibility to his teaching. To emphasize his point, Paul used an athletic metaphor. The Greek word translated “train” commonly described gymnastic exercises.3 The implication was that this
activity would require effort on Timothy’s part. To further impress Timothy about attaining godliness, Paul spoke of physical training. According to Paul, the benefits of physical training are limited to this life (v. 8). The benefits of training for godliness, on the other hand, surpass the benefits of bodily exercise. Godliness is valuable because “it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (v. 8). What did Paul mean, though, when he spoke of godliness? The Greek word translated “godliness” has a rich history. The ancient Greeks used it to describe “piety, reverence, loyalty” that could be demonstrated to “parents or deities.”4 Not only the Greeks, Roman culture also challenged people to demonstrate this same reverence to their parents and gods.
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament (the Septuagint) reflects a slight shift in meaning of “godliness.” The Books of Proverbs and Isaiah use “godliness” to describe a type of loyalty and reverence—but one that is based on a covenant and is demonstrated by one’s behavior or their response to the law. This concept forms the backdrop for Paul’s usage of “godliness.” How did this apply to Timothy? To combat what was happening in Ephesus, Paul encouraged Timothy first to teach the correct doctrine. Paul knew from experience that an effective way to counter false doctrine was to teach sound doctrine. A second, and equally important component that Paul highlighted was Timothy’s need to live correctly. Timothy had to make sure his life mirrored what he taught. In 1 Timothy 4:6-10, both of these concepts, 7
teaching and living, are present and are uniquely intertwined. Paul was telling Timothy that to combat strange or unorthodox beliefs, his teaching and his lifestyle had to be aligned. That alignment of teaching and lifestyle would serve as the evidence of godly living. We live in a day when people lack character and integrity. In many circles, believers believe the right things. Unfortunately, though, their lives do not mirror their beliefs. Paul’s words to Timothy are relevant for us today. Character still counts! We need to train ourselves for godliness. Our lives, in other words, need to reflect our loyalty to God and His Word. i 1. John B. Polhill, Paul and His Letters (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1999) 80. 2. All Scripture quotations come from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). 3. “gumna z/ w“ (gumnazo, train) in Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (BDAG), rev. and ed. Frederick William Danker, 3rd ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 208.
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4. “eusj e b/ eia, aß, h “J (eusebeia, godliness) in BDAG, 412.
This article is based on a fulllength article by Shawn L. Buice in the Winter 2012–2013 issue of Biblical Illustrator magazine. Each quarter Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth articles and information that support our weekly Bible study lessons. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to www.lifeway.com/ biblicalillustrator, by using your church’s quarterly literature order form, or by calling 1-800-458-2772.
Start New Groups Through the Missionary Movement of Sunday School A missionary is not just someone who reaches out to a people group over a border or across an ocean. If you’re in Sunday School today, you are part of a time-tested missionary strategy that reaches out to people who don’t have a relationship with God. You can be the next generation of missionaries of this significant strategy. Sunday School was born over 300 years ago in order to reach children who were not attending any church. As you and your class identify people who are not being reached by your church’s Sunday School and take steps to provide a class for them, you are being missional, carrying on the tradition of missionaries like Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong.
attend an adult class if someone began a class for their children? Start one. Become a “Sunday School missionary” who carries on a 300year legacy of reaching people for Christ. Talk with your pastor, teacher, or staff leader about practical steps you and your class can take to start a new group that reaches out to others as you seek to fulfill Christ’s command to “go and make disciples.” Dwayne McCrary teaches a Sunday School class at Northside Baptist in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is also a team leader for adult curriculum at LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and a student of learning.
Are there people in your worship service who don’t attend Sunday School because there isn’t a class for them? Start one! Are there students who struggle to fit into the student ministry because classes are too large or too broad? Start a new one. Are there young parents who would 9
December 2, 2012
Yahweh — Our God Focal Verses
Exodus 6:2-8, 15:1-3,11-13
How This Lesson Can Impact Your Life
This lesson can help you trust God as the one faithful God who is able.
What This Lesson Is About
The study theme begins with the name by which God reveals Himself— Yahweh—a name that shows His sovereign and powerful character.
Why This Lesson Is Important
Our culture embraces the notion that there are many gods or that there are many expressions of God. This idea is diametrically opposed to what the Bible teaches about the nature and character of the one true God. Even with the name by which God makes Himself known—Yahweh—we discover a personal God who stands alone, has always existed, and does not change. This personal name of God appears over 6,000 times in Scripture. It’s important for adults to discover the significance of God’s name because this truth can help them trust Him and walk confidently in a religiously diverse culture.
Life Question
How does Yahweh our God show us He is the one faithful God? 10
December 2, 2012
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ave stared ahead, his eyes moist with emotion. His wife had cancer. After many treatments, her condition was not improving. Yet their faith in God comforted them as they clung to His promises. Dave said, “I’ve come to realize an important truth—you never really know God until you really need God.” Dave’s experience through his family’s crisis taught him God is both knowable and trustworthy.
Q
How does God express Himself to you so that you might know and trust Him every day?
Israel discovered God’s faithful ness when He delivered them from peril. God revealed His name and nature through His interactions with His people. Like the Israelites, we can learn to know God and trust His promises.
Yahweh Our God Makes Promises (Ex. 6:2-8) Then God spoke to Moses, telling him, “I am Yahweh. 3 I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but I did not reveal My name Yahweh to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land they lived in as foreigners. 5 Furthermore, I 2
have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are forcing to work as slaves, and I have remembered My covenant. 6 “Therefore tell the Israelites: I am Yahweh, and I will deliver you from the forced labor of the Egyptians and free you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who delivered you from the forced labor of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am Yahweh.” Moses’ people had suffered long years of servitude. What began as a blessing of rescue from famine (Gen. 46–47) had degenerated into a life of slavery, forced labor, and oppression (Ex. 1:8-11). God chose Moses not only to be His instrument of deliverance, but also the channel through whom God’s people might know Him. One way we get to know people is by learning their names. In calling Moses to this challenging work, God reminded him of His name— Yahweh [YAH wey]. In the desert, 11
Yahweh At the burning bush, God revealed his personal name for the first time. God told Moses His name is, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex. 3:14). This translation of the Hebrew word Yahweh is sometimes rendered Jehovah (based on the consonants YHWH and the vowels from the Hebrew word translated Lord). This is usually printed in English as Lord. In Hebrew thought, a name revealed something of the inner person. In the Hebrew language, the letters YHWH (based on the verb “to be”) was written without vowels (until the 6-7 century A.D.). One translation of Yahweh is “I will be (or continue to be) who I always have been” and stresses God’s eternal nature and consistency. The Jews considered the name Yahweh so sacred they substituted the word Adonai (Lord) for it. God introduced Himself through a bush that burned and was not consumed. There God revealed His name to Moses. (Ex. 3:14) Many people are familiar with the name Jehovah—which is simply another rendering of Yahweh. In some Bible translations, the word LORD (or Lord) portrays this special covenant name of God. This also refers to the idea of “I AM WHO I AM.” How does God’s name reflect His promise to be with us always?
Q
God’s name represented His promise to be present with His people. In restating His name, God reaffirmed His covenant with His people. He promised to deliver them from bondage and return them to Canaan, the land of their fathers— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 12
December 2, 2012
When God told Moses that He remembered His covenant, He did not mean that He had forgotten, since God cannot forget anything. Rather, the word means “to bring to mind again.” In verse 6, God affirmed to Moses that He would take action because of His name. God placed His reputation on the line with this promise. God would take several related actions for the people: (1) He would deliver them, bringing them out from the forced labor of the Egyptians and leading them to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (2) He would free them, aiding their escape from their tormenters. (3) He would redeem them from slavery in Egypt. In what ways has God revealed His reputation by fulfilling His promises?
Q
Believers can rely on the nature and promises of God. He loves us and promises to be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20). We can trust God, because His promises show that He desires to be involved in our lives. One of the best ways we can understand God’s nature and His promises is to study His Word daily.
Q
How has God revealed Himself to you through situations from which you needed rescue?
Yahweh Our God Keeps His Promises (Ex. 15:1-3) Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said: 1
I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; He has thrown the horse and its rider into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name.
God’s power and trustworthiness burst forth between Exodus 6 and Exodus 15. Amazing plagues fell on the unbelieving Egyptians as God demonstrated that He alone is God. Time after time Pharaoh’s heart hardened until it broke under the weight of grief as the firstborn of each household of Egypt died. Even as the Hebrews fled eastward, the Egyptian monarch rose with fury, sending his army to destroy the Israelites. Caught between the waters of the Red Sea on one side and Pharaoh’s avenging army on the other, Moses’ people panicked. Only under the solid hand of God’s chosen leader did the people finally obey God and experience His salvation. After they miraculously escaped through walls of water and witnessed the destruction of their enemies beneath the crashing waves, Israel understood the faithfulness of their God. Exulting over God’s mighty acts, Moses and the people sang praises to Yahweh because He fulfilled His promise to save them. They glorified God as highly exalted. The song they sang referred to God’s triumph over their enemies. What would we require for God to prove Himself a keeper of promises and a true deliverer? Should we ask for more than what He has given—salvation through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son?
Q
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Biblical Names for God the Father •1 6 Single names (Almighty, God, Lord, Yahweh, …) •2 4 Compound names (God Almighty, Sovereign Lord, Mighty One, Lord God Almighty, Lord God Most High, Lord God, …) •1 19 Descriptive names (Ancient of Days, Blessed God, God of Glory, Wise God, Eternal God, God of the Living, Holy One of Israel …) •1 52 Descriptive titles (Abba, Alpha and Omega, Father, Hope, Master, Faithful Creator, Defender, Deliverer, Bridegroom, Eagle …) What is your favorite name or title for God? Why? (Source: Walter Elwell, ed., Topical Analysis of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991).
Detailing God’s glory in verse 2, Moses personalized this new under standing of God. Because He had kept His promises by delivering them, God’s people better under stood His relationship with them. Before this experience, He was a distant God—Someone their fathers had known, but who had been forgotten by many as they focused on their calamities. Now, He was their strength, their song, and their salvation. The Israelites recognized their helplessness before the might of Pharaoh, but God’s strength was more than sufficient for them. They could not deliver themselves, but God interceded and saved them. Consequently, God became the joy of their heart—the source and object of their song. 14
December 2, 2012
Q
In what ways has God demon strated His nature by keeping His promises in your life?
The word rendered salvation is yeshua; the name Jesus is based on this word. About 14 centuries later Matthew would report that an angel told Joseph to name a son “Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise for deliverance, redemption, and salvation. Because God kept this most important pledge, we can trust Him in all matters. The stanza ends by declaring God was their warrior. In Exodus 14:14, Moses told the people to “be quiet” and await the salvation of the Lord, for He would fight for them.
The song of Moses rises in a crescendo as he proclaims, “Yahweh is His name.” Moses wanted the people to recognize that the source of their deliverance was the great I AM who would always be with them in every situation. We should not forget in our fears what God has declared in our victories. He is the same God. We, too, can observe God’s hand of deliverance in our lives, not only in temporal circumstances but also in eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, His Son. In the middle of this stanza lies a commitment. Moses declared that Yahweh was not merely his father’s God, but He was “my God”; therefore, he would exalt Him. How are you exalting the name of the Lord?
Q
Yahweh Our God Stands Alone (Ex. 15:11-13) Lord, who is like You among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth 11
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swallowed them. ou will lead the people Y You have redeemed with Your faithful love; You will guide them to Your holy dwelling with Your strength.
Unique in all existence, God alone deserves our praise. The Hebrews sang of God’s matchlessness. The song uses repetition as a poetical device (“who is like you?”) to emphasize God’s exclusivity. The phrase does not give credence to the existence of other gods, but highlights several qualities belonging to Yahweh alone: God is glorious in holiness. The word translated glorious carries the idea of majesty. Earthly ideas of majesty conjure images of wealth and power. God’s glory lies in His holiness, righteousness, and purity. God is revered with praises. Unlike false gods whose images provoked terror from their deluded worshipers, Yahweh invokes reverent adoration. God is alone in the wonders He performs. Being delivered in such a wondrous way, the Hebrews recognized that only God could achieve such amazing feats. Watching their enemies fall beneath the waves, the Israelites thought it was as if God had reached out with His right hand and caused the earth to swallow their foes. While God, being Spirit, does not have a body and limbs like humans, the 15
God wants us to be with Him. Ultimately the day will come when God’s promise is fulfilled. symbolism represented God’s power and strength. What aspects of God provoke you to praise Him?
Q
God stands alone, not only because of His unique qualities, but also because of the special acts He performs on behalf of His people. Moses’ psalm praised Yahweh for His intervention for Israel. Verse 13 emphasizes the special relationship God had with the Israelites. God redeemed the people from the slavery of Egypt. Because Yahweh had initiated this unparalleled rescue, the Hebrews could depend on Him to continue to direct their paths. This stanza uses a couplet— matching sentences—to portray reasons the people could trust God. The phrase rendered with Your faithful love describes both the way God redeemed the people and the manner in which He would lead them. Similar to the idea of leading, the word translated guide focuses on God’s care, as if He would take the people by the hand and show them the way. While the first half of the 16
December 2, 2012
couplet connected God’s redemptive leadership with His “faithful love,” the second emphasized His strength. Not only could the Israelites trust that God would lead them, they could also have confidence wherever He would lead. In what ways has God demonstrated His faithful love to you?
Q
God’s ultimate goal for us is for us to live with Him. But no one can dwell with God through personal abilities, but only through God’s gift of mercy, grace, and strength. God wants us to be with Him. Ultimately the day will come when God’s promise is fulfilled: “Look! God’s dwelling is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).
Q
How are you helping other people to know our faithful God so they, too, might live with Him forever?
THE LIFE LESSON
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od is faithful. His name and nature reflect His consistent presence and care. Moses understood Yahweh’s identity as the Ever Present One to mean that God would be with His people through every circumstance. The Hebrews constantly witnessed God in action. God revealed Himself through His faithfulness—making and keeping promises. God not only demonstrated His uniqueness through His powerful actions to save His people, but also by His holy character. His righteousness is His glory; He alone deserves our trust and praise. Our Bible study teaches us that God’s covenant name reveals His nature: • God keeps His Word. Think about how God has shown His love— providing for your family, being present in your difficulties, and most of all, sending Jesus to die for our sins. This truth gives us the basis for trusting Him. • We can respond to Him in faith and love because of His proven character of righteousness. • God’s holiness is not merely a theological doctrine, but a key aspect of His relationship with people. He keeps His promises for His name’s sake. Consequently, God requires holiness of His people (1 Pet. 1:16). Since human beings can neither generate nor obtain holiness on our own, we must rely on God’s promise to forgive our sins and impart His holiness to us through Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
Q
In what ways has God demonstrated His trustworthy nature to you? How does His righteous character prompt you to respond to His grace in Christ? What difference does this make in how you live your life?
Remember Dave (from our introduction on p. 11)? He came to know and trust God in all areas of his life. Trained as a law enforcement officer, he daily placed his life into Christ’s hands. Dave eventually felt God calling him to share the good news of Jesus in other ways. Because he had experienced God’s proven nature through illness, danger, tragedy, and success, Dave was able to follow Christ in this new endeavor. How has God been working in your life to call you into new vistas of faith? As you reflect on God’s past faithfulness, are you ready to trust and follow Him?
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