regeneration

UPDATED ON ROJBC

Last October 2021 the building was sold. We were unable to maintain the building. Due to people coming, little income so we sold the building.

We moves the ministry to Charles’ home. We have a Bible Study at this time. The ministry of ROJBC does exist but we move the ministry.

we do not know what the Lord has for us in the future.

2020

John 6:44. God has to draw you first. It isn’t a decision you make until God draws you. The human has no way of choosing Christ unless the Holy Spirit draws him through the word of God. Also Romans 3:11

Justification and sanctification are inseparably linked. All the elect are given a new heart/will through regeneration, justified by faith alone, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit until we are raised with Christ in glory on the last day.

John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 6:44‭
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

John 6:37
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

John 6:44‭
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:65
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

Election is such a wonderful truth of scripture when you realize the same eternal love that God has for His Son is the same love that He has for His people! Many hate this truth of scripture, but you either believe in these wonderful doctrines of grace or you believe something in YOU is what moved God saved you!
The same love that the Father has for His Son. The same perfect right standing that He has with His Father. Is what we receive when we are born again into His kingdom! God loves you and accepts you as He loves and accepts His Son, this applies to all true believers!

Through faith in Christs death and resurrection, we receive His righteousness in full. Your own works won’t save or justify you. Only Christs finished work will.
The only reason why anyone is saved is because we are a love gift from the Father to the Son. God chose a people before creation to give to the Son to save. Jesus atoned fully for our sins on the cross and reconciled us to God. The Holy Spirit then regenerates, seals, and sanctifies the elect through the gospel being preached, and applies Christs finished work to us as the sole means of justification.

Even after repenting of your past sinful lifestyle you will still have lingering sin in your life. No one repents fully from all sin or is perfect. This is why the perfect righteousness of Christ counted as ours is our only hope of justification.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and all of the elect will endure until the end because Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith.

 

 

John 6:65
And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

Election is such a wonderful truth of scripture when you realize the same eternal love that God has for His Son is the same love that He has for His people! Many hate this truth of scripture, but you either believe in these wonderful doctrines of grace or you believe something in YOU is what moved God saved you!
The same love that the Father has for His Son. The same perfect right standing that He has with His Father. Is what we receive when we are born again into His kingdom! God loves you and accepts you as He loves and accepts His Son, this applies to all true believers!

Through faith in Christs death and resurrection, we receive His righteousness in full. Your own works won’t save or justify you. Only Christs finished work will.
The only reason why anyone is saved is because we are a love gift from the Father to the Son. God chose a people before creation to give to the Son to save. Jesus atoned fully for our sins on the cross and reconciled us to God. The Holy Spirit then regenerates, seals, and sanctifies the elect through the gospel being preached, and applies Christs finished work to us as the sole means of justification.

Even after repenting of your past sinful lifestyle you will still have lingering sin in your life. No one repents fully from all sin or is perfect. This is why the perfect righteousness of Christ counted as ours is our only hope of justification.

Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and all of the elect will endure until the end because Jesus is both the author and finisher of our faith.

Reproof by the Lord

HE RECEIVED A REBUKE FOR HIS OWN TRANSGRESSION

Second Peter 2:16

1. God gives reproof to His Own

• 2 Samuel 7:14 I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men
• Job 5:17 “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
• Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, And whom You teach out of Your law;
• Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,But now I keep Your word.
• Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
• Psalm 119:75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous,And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
• Hebrews 12:6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
• Hebrews 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

2. God gives to the wicked:

• Psalm 50:21 “These things you have done and I kept silence;You thought that I was just like you;
  I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
• Isaiah 51:20 Your sons have fainted, They lie helpless at the head of every street, Like an antelope in a net, Full of the wrath of the Lord, The rebuke of your God.

3. Christ sent to give

• Isaiah 2:4 And He will judge between the nation And will render decisions for many peoples;
  And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
  Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.
• Isaiah 11:3 And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
  Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

4. The Holy Spirit gives

• John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
• John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;

Reproof on Account

1. Impenitence

• Matthew 11:20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His]miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

2. Not understanding

• Matthew 16:9 Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up?
• Matthew 16:11 11 How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
• Mark 7:18 And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
• Luke 24:25 25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
• John 8:43 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
• John 13:7-8 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8 Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

3. Hardness of heart

• Mark 8:17 And Jesus, aware of this, *said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?
• Mark 16:14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

4. Fearfulness

• Mark 4:40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
• Luke 24:37-38 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

5. Unbelief

• Matthew 17:17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.”
• Matthew 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
• Mark 16:14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

6. Vain Boasting

• Luke 22:34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me

7. Hypocrisy

• Matthew 15:7 You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
• Matthew 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

8. Criticing Christ

• Luke 23:40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Unruly conduct

• 1 Thessalonians 5:14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

10. Oppressing out brethren

• Nehemiah 5:7 I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, “You are exacting usury, each from his brother!” Therefore, I held a great assembly against them.

11. Sinful practices

• Matthew 21:13 And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’den.”
• Luke 3:19 But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done,
• John 2:16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”

 

　

 

 

 

Character of a True or False Person

2 Peter 2:15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor , who loved the wages of unrighteousness (_{NASB: Lockman})

NKSV They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Boer, who loved the wages of unrighteousness

Amplified: Forsaking the straight road they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam [the son] of Beor, who loved the reward of wickedness.

Barclay: They have left the straight road and have gone awandering, and have followed the road of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the profit which unrighteousness brings and who was convicted of his lawlessness. A dumb ass spoke with a man’s voice and checked the prophet’s folly

NET: By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

New Jerusalem Bible: They have left the right path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam son of Bosor, who set his heart on a dishonest reward,

NLT: They have wandered off the right road and followed the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.

Phillips: for they have abandoned the right road and wandered off to follow the old trail of Balaam, son of Peor, the man who had no objection to wickedness as long as he was paid for it.

Wuest: Abandoning the straight road, they went astray, having followed assiduously the road of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who set a high value upon and thus came to love the hire of unrighteousness,

Young’s Literal: having forsaken a right way, they did go astray, having followed in the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who a reward of unrighteousness did love

FORSAKING THE RIGHT WAY: _{kataleipontes}

_{1Sa 12:23; 1Ki 18:18; 19:10; Eze 9:10; Pr 28:4; Ho 14:8; Acts 13:10}

Forsaking (2641) (kataleipo } literally means to leave behind and figuratively means to abandon or depart from.

• The present tense indicates that the false teachers (active voice = their willful choice) are continually abandoning the “right way” which is God’s way, synonymous with “the way of truth” Peter mentioned in (2Peter 2:2
• These men are continually making a conscious, volitional, willful choice to abandon the right way, the straight path. Departing from the straight path, they choose the crooked path. To depart from the path implies they saw it or knew about it, but simply choose to depart from it.

Right is also used as adverb to mean immediately, right away, at once

• Right (2117) (euthus) when used as an adjective literally means straight or a straight line and figuratively to what is proper or right.
• And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them. 16 And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away. (Mark 4:15-17)
• Upright conduct in the Bible is pictured as a straight path. John the Baptizer uses the adjective euthus in the synoptic gospels to call upon the Jewish people to “make His paths straight!'” speaking of moral and spiritual preparation of their hearts (i.e. changing behavior) in anticipation of the appearing of their promised Messiah

For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’ (Mt 3:3)

After Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, Luke records the Lord’s words to Ananias declaring…Arise and go to the street called Straight ( – presumably this was a literal use and the street was straight and not crooked), and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying (Acts 9:11)

Peter addressed Simon who tried to purchase the gift of God declaring…You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right  before God. (Acts 8:21)

Paul fixed his gaze on Elymas the magician and declared…You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ( ways of the Lord? (Acts13:10)

(observe who and what is right conduct and the effect of not walking in a right way, etc)…

My shield is with God, Who saves the upright _{( (Ps 7:10)}

For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, To shoot in darkness at the upright  straight; pleasing; upright; righteous;_{) in heart. (Ps 11:2)}

The precepts of the LORD are right rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (_{Ps 19:8)}

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for Thee. (_{Psalm 25:21)}

Teach me Thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a level path, Because of my foes. (_{Psalm 27:11)}

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones, and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. (_{Psalm 32:11)\\\}

Way (3598) (hodos) literally means a way for traveling or moving from one place to another and figuratively (which is how Peter uses it in the present context) refers to the course of behavior or to one’s way of life.

In Acts the Way was a common early name for the Christian faith. Luke first alludes to the Way in Acts 9…Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1, 2 cp the Way in Acts 19:9, 23, 24:14, 22)

These false teachers have abandoned true and righteous belief (“the Way”) resulting in unrighteous behavior. What you believe (and obey) is important, for your beliefs will direct your behavior.

Jude pronounces a woe on the false brethren who have gone the WAY of Cain (Jude 1:11), a clear parallel to the behavior of the false teachers here in 2 Peter.

Character of False Teachers in Peter’s Day

Second Peter 2:14

Amplified: They have eyes full of harlotry, insatiable for sin. They beguile and bait and lure away unstable souls. Their hearts are trained in covetousness (lust, greed), [they are] children of a curse [exposed to cursing]!

NET: Their eyes are full of adultery that do not stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!

New Jerusalem Bible: with their eyes always looking for adultery, people with an insatiable capacity for sinning, they will seduce any but the most stable soul. Where greed is concerned they are at their peak of fitness. They are under a curse.

NLT: They commit adultery with their eyes, and their lust is never satisfied. They make a game of luring unstable people into sin. They train themselves to be greedy; they are doomed and cursed.

Phillips: Their eyes cannot look at a woman without lust, they captivate the unstable ones, and their techniques of getting what they want is, through long practice, highly developed. They are born under a curse

Wuest: having eyes full of an adulteress and which are unable to cease from sin, catching unstable souls with bait, having

The Character of those that have not been born again.

1. Hateful to God Proverbs 6:16,18 ; 11:20
2. Full of evil Ecclesiastes 9:3
3. Full of evil imaginations Genesis 6:5 ; 8:21 ; Proverbs 6:18
4. Full of vain thoughts Jeremiah 4:14
5. Fully set to do evil Ecclesiastes 8:11
6. Desperately wicked Jeremiah 17:9
7. Far from God Isaiah 29:13 ; Matthew 15:8
8. Not perfect with God 1 Kings 15:3 ; Acts 8:21 ; Proverbs 6:18
9. Not prepared to seek God 2 Chronicles 12:14
10. A treasury of evil Matthew 12:35 ; Mark 7:21
11. Darkened Romans 1:21
12. Prone to error Psalm 95:10
13. Prone to depart from God Deuteronomy 29:18 ; Jeremiah 17:5
14. Impenitent Romans 2:5
15. Unbelieving Hebrews 3:12
16. Blind Ephesians 4:18
17. Uncircumcised Leviticus 26:41 ; Acts 7:51
18. Of little worth Proverbs 10:20
19. Deceitful Jeremiah 17:9
20. Deceived Isaiah 44:20 ; James 1:26
21. Divided Hosea 10:2
22. Double 1 Chronicles 12:33 ; Psalm 12:2
23. Hard Ezekiel 3:7 ; Mark 10:5 ; Romans 2:5
24. Haughty Proverbs 18:12 ; Jeremiah 48:29
25. Influenced by the devil John 13:2
26. Carnal Romans 8:7
27. Covetous Jeremiah 22:17 ; 2 Peter 2:14
28. Despiteful Ezekiel 25:15
29. Ensnaring Ecclesiastes 7:26
30. Foolish Proverbs 12:23 ; 22:15
31. Froward Psalm 101:4 ; Proverbs 6:14 ; 17:20
32. Fretful against the Lord Proverbs 19:3
33. Idolatrous Ezekiel 14:3,4
34. Mad Ecclesiastes 9:3
35. Mischievous Psalm 28:3 ; 140:2
36. Proud Psalm 101:5 ; Jeremiah 49:16
37. Rebellious Jeremiah 5:23
38. Perverse Proverbs 12:8
39. Stiff Ezekiel 2:4
40. Stony Ezekiel 11:19 ; 36:26
41. Stout Isaiah 10:12 ; 46:12
42. Elated by sensual indulgence Hosea 13:3
43. Elated by prosperity 2 Chronicles 26:16 ; Daniel 5:20
44. Studies destruction Proverbs 24:2
45. Often judicially stupefied Isaiah 6:10 ; Acts 28:26,27
46. Often judicially hardened Exodus 4:21 ; Joshua 11:20
    their techniques of getting what they want is, through long practice, highly developed (Phillips)

\

How Does The Gospel Believers?

We have had Dwight and Ann with us a number of times.  They are Evangelist of the best kind.

1A. How Does the Gospel Save Believers?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “but the righteous man shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness

1. Our Ultimate Problem: The Wrath of God

Why we need salvation. Salvation from what? What’s the problem? Romans 1:18, 2:5, 8

2. Gospel: God Has Rescued Us from the Wrath of God

Much more now been justified by His [that is, Jesus’] blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Himen, having .” In the end, it’s all about escaping the wrath of God, or, having the wrath of God turned away Romans 5:9

3. How Does the Gospel Save Believers? vs. 17

The love of God could not just sweep the unrighteousness of man and the wrath of God under the rug and pretend all is well. The love of God had to deal with man’s unrighteousness and had to deal with God’s wrath. The love of God is not a sentimental thing that can just say, “I feel nice to you, and so I will now be nice to you.”

4. Strong Understanding of the Gospel

It is simply unbiblical that so many Christians today have such a weak grasp — a weak understanding — of what our human condition is without grace,

how God planned our redemption, what God did in Christ to save us,

how the Holy Spirit worked in us to convert us, and

how God goes on working (by the gospel!) to keep us and purify us and fit us for heaven.

Instead of saying, “God saved us by his love and that’s all you need to know,” Paul begins to explain for us how the gospel saves believers. He does not just say, “It shows the love of God.” Paul gets inside the love of God and shows how God deals with the real problems of the universe.

There is an enmity against God and a suppression of truth and a deep unrighteousness of soul and the almighty wrath of God behind such things that only one power in the universe can overcome — the gospel of Jesus Christ

5. The Comfort and Privilege of Understanding How God Works

Colosians 1:10 growing in the knowledge of God. Do not be passive, don’t coast. Make the thought of this letter the thought of your mind. Build your whole way of thinking and feeling out of the building blocks in this great letter

6. God to Us What He Demands from Us

So how can this be good news? So how is this good news — that the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel? Here’s the answer: God demands righteousness and we don’t have it, so the only hope for us is that God himself would give the righteousness that he demands. That would be good news. That would be gospel.

And that is what he does. What is revealed in the gospel is the righteousness of God for us that he demands from us.

The reason the gospel is the power of God for salvation — the way that the gospel saves believers — is that in it God reveals a righteousness for us that God demands from us.

What we had to have, but could not create or supply or perform, God gives us freely, namely, his own righteousness, the righteousness of God.

“The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” because in it God offers to us what he demands from us, namely, his own righteousness. He reveals as a gift in Christ Jesus what was once only a demand. This is how he saves: in the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection God gives to us the righteousness that he demands from us.

2A How Does the Gospel Save Believers Part 2

Sure miss these ladies in our church.  Peggy and Dorothy passed away.  Charity is still with us of course.  Jeanie and Cindy are in Florida and Janet is still with us too.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

1. The Gospel Saves Believers

Believers need to be saved. The gospel is the instrument of God’s power to save us. And we need to know how the gospel saves us believers so that we make proper use of it.

2. Believers Are Dependent on the Gospel Every Day

That when believers know and love and live on the meat of the gospel, we will be so gospel-filled, and gospel-shaped and gospel-dependent and gospel-driven and gospel-hoping and gospel-joyful that no one will need to tell us why we need to share the gospel or how to share the gospel.

– if the gospel becomes a day-by-day, hour-by-hour instrument of God’s power in our lives to save us – then our witness to family and friends and strangers will not be an artificial scheme but the very heartbeat of the way we think and feel and fight the fight for faith and love every day. Romans 14:17 Righteousness, peace, joy, and converts who hear and see the gospel from the people of God.

3. How Does the Gospel Save Believers

How does the gospel saves believers? If we believers are going to live on the gospel, this is how we do it.

We learn from God’s word how the gospel is going to save us,

and then we believe it,

and yield to it,

and cherish it,

and follow God’s design day by day for how he plans to save us from everything that would destroy us, especially the “righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5) and the wrath to come (Romans 5:9).

That’s what “salvation” refers to mainly in verse 16: “The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Those who go on believing, year after year, will be saved from wrath by the power of God in the gospel (see Mark 13:13).

How? How does the gospel save believers from the wrath to come, and bring us safely into the joy of our God (Matthew 25:21,23)?

4. What does “The Righteousness of God” Mean?

Does the righteousness of God mean:

1) the vindication or demonstration of his own righteousness in forgiving sin because he punishes that sin in our substitute, Jesus?

2) Or does he mean our right standing with God as forgiven and acquitted sinners without guilt in his presence?

3) Or does he mean the moral change in us that actually makes us obedient, righteous children of God?

5. Our Right Standing Before God

1. God credits his righteousness to man. Habakkuk 2:4

Do you see what has happened to the word “righteousness” (or “just,” which is the same in Greek)? In the first half of the verse, the righteousness is God’s (“the righteousness of God is revealed”), but in the second half of the verse the righteousness is man’s (“the righteous man shall live by faith”).

The gospel revealing “the righteousness of God” is not mainly that God himself is righteous, but that he imputes or credits his righteousness to man so that man can be called “just” or “righteous.” “The righteous man,” he says, – the one who is now righteous because of the gift of God’s righteousness – “shall live by faith.”

So what verse 17 means is that, in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed in the sense that we see it being given to sinners so that we are justified – have a right standing with God. What we can’t provide on our own, God imputes to us so that we are forgiven and acquitted and justified before him. Now, there is another reason to see verse 17 this way.

2. God’s righteousness is manifested through faith Romans 3:20

By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” The issue here is how sinners are “justified.” That is, how do we get a right standing with God when we have no righteousness of our own? How do we get acquitted in the courtroom when we are guilty sinners?

3:21 with words that are very close to Romans 1:17, “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God [same phrase as in 1:17] has been manifested [very close to the word “revealed” in 1:17], being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets.”

So he explains “justification” (verse 20) as a “manifestation (evident, transparent, display or show) of the righteousness of God” (verse 21).

And he continues to do so in verses 22-24, which shed bright light on the “revealing of the righteousness of God” in 1:17.

He says “that this righteousness that is now manifested is “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.”

In the flow of Paul’s thought, the phrase “being justified as a gift by God’s grace” in verse 24 is a restatement and explanation of what he meant in verse 22 by “the righteousness of God through faith.”

So we have God’s act of justifying sinners in verse 20 and again in verse 24 and in between we have two references to God’s manifesting his righteousness through faith (verses 20, 22).

Paul to be saying this: In the death of Jesus (verses 24-25), God has manifested his own righteousness by imputing or crediting that righteousness to sinners and pronouncing them righteous or just with his own righteousness.

This is called justification. This idea of manifesting his righteousness now apart from the law (verses 21-22) is so close to the revealing of the righteousness of God in 1:17, that I think they are the same.

6. Not Pressing Artificial Separations

The gospel does reveal that God demonstrates his attribute of righteousness in justifying sinners who trust Jesus (Romans 3:25-26); that’s why Jesus had to die – to show that sin was dealt with righteously, to show that God was “both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (3:26).

And power and freedom to make real progress in fulfilling the moral law of God by the power of his Spirit.

The gospel does reveal that the death of Jesus purchased not only

a declaration of our right standing before God, but also a development of our right living before God.

Romans 8:3-4 says, “Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh” [that’s what happened at the cross: sin was punished, executed. Now here is the purpose that the cross enables:] (4) so that the [just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Because our sins have once for all been condemned in the death of Christ, we now have new

7. The Gospel Reveals to Us God’s Work for Us

How does the gospel save believers? How does it save you?

The gospel is the power of God to save everyone who believes (Romans 1:16), because in it is being revealed for our encouragement and for our endurance in faith the precious truth that God gives to us what he demands from us, namely, his own righteousness.

And he does this mainly in the sense that he declares believers to be righteous with his own righteousness. He counts us as righteous with a perfect righteousness, namely, his own. He forgives us, acquits us, justifies us by our faith.

8. Feed on the Gospel Daily

Look to it daily in the gospel. Be relieved by it daily from the gospel. Be encouraged by it daily from the gospel. Be emboldened by it daily. Be empowered daily.

You live by an alien righteousness. Not by your performances, but by God’s. This is the gospel we live by and this is the gospel we will share this week with family and friends. And this is the gospel that will save us and bring us safely home to God.

　

　

　

 

 

 

 

The Issue of the Heart

the heart: issues of life are out of the heart

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Pastor/Teacher Charles e Whisnant

GOD

1. Tries

• 1 Chronicles 29:17 ; 17 I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness.
• As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
• Psalm 7:9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
  But establish the just;
  For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
• Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
  But the Lord tests the hearts.
• Jeremiah 11:20 But, O Lord of hosts,
  You who judge righteously,
  Testing the mind and the heart,
  Let me see Your vengeance on them,
  For to You I have revealed my cause.
• Revelation 2:23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
• Jeremiah 12:3

2. Knows

• Psalm 44:21 ; Would not God search this out?
  For He knows the secrets of the heart.
• Jeremiah 20:12 But, O Lord of hosts,k
  You who test the righteous,
  And see the mind and heart,
  Let me see Your vengeance on them;
  For I have pleaded my cause before You.

3. Searched

• 1 Chronicles 28:9 ; As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.
• Jeremiah 17:10 I, the Lord, search the heart,
  I test the mind,
  Even to give every man according to his ways,
  According to the fruit of his doings.

4. Understands the thoughts of

• 1 Chronicles 28:9 ; Above verse
• Psalm 139:2 I, the Lord, search the heart,
  I test the mind,
  Even to give every man according to his ways,
  According to the fruit of his doings.

5. Ponders

• Proverbs 21:2 ;Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
  But the Lord weighs the hearts
• 24:12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,”
  Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
  He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?
  And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?\\

6. Influences

• 1 Samuel 10:26 ; And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.
• Ezra 6:22 ; And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
• Ezra 7:27 ; Blessedbe the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem,
• Proverbs 21:1 ; The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
  Like the rivers of water;
  He turns it wherever He wishes.
• Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him,
  Nor speak anymore in His name.”
  But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
  Shut up in my bones;
  I was weary of holding it back,
  And I could not.

7. Creates a new

• Psalm 51:10 ; Create in me a clean heart, O God,
  And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
• Ezekiel 36:26 will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

8. Prepares

• 1 Chronicles 29:18 ; O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.
• Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
  But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

 

9. Opens

• Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

10. Enlightens

• 2 Corinthians 4:6 ; For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
• Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

 

11. Strengthens

• Psalm 27:14 Wait] on the Lord;
  Be of good courage,
  And He shall strengthen your heart;
  Wait, I say, on the Lord

12. Establishes

• Psalm 112:8 ; His heart is established;
  He will not be afraid,
  Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints

James 1:18

James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. niv

18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be [a]a kind of first fruits among His creatures. NASV

New International Version
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

2. New Living Translation
He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

English Standard Version
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Berean Study Bible
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.

Berean Literal Bible
Having willed it, He brought us forth by the word of truth, for us to be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

New American Standard Bible
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

King James Bible
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Christian Standard Bible
By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Contemporary English Version
He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.

Good News Translation
By his own will he brought us into being through the word of truth, so that we should have first place among all his creatures.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the firstfruits of His creatures.

International Standard Version
In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.

NET Bible
By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

New Heart English Bible
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He was pleased and gave birth to us by the word of the truth, that we would be the first fruits of his creation.

GOD’S WORD® Translation
God decided to give us life through the word of truth to make us his most important creatures.

New American Standard 1977
In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.

Jubilee Bible 2000
He, of his own will, has begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be the firstfruits of his creatures.

King James 2000 Bible
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

American King James Version
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

American Standard Version
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of his creatures.

Darby Bible Translation
According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of his creatures.

English Revised Version
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Webster’s Bible Translation
Of his own will he hath begotten us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.

Weymouth New Testament
In accordance with His will He made us His children through the Message of the truth, so that we might, in a sense, be the Firstfruits of the things which He has created.

World English Bible
Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Young’s Literal Translation
having counselled, He did beget us with a word of truth, for our being a certain first-fruit of His creatures.

Study BibleGood and Perfect Gifts
…17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation. 19My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,…

Cross References

Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them, declares the LORD.”

John 1:13 children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

2 Corinthians 6:7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

Ephesians 1:13 And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth–the gospel of your salvation–you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

2 Timothy 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.

James 1:15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.

James 3:14 But if you harbor in your hearts bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Revelation 14:4 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Treasury of Scripture

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

his own.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor …

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except …

Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before …

Romans 8:29-31 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed …

Romans 9:15-18 For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, …

Ephesians 2:4,5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us…

Colossians 1:20,21 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to …

2 Thessalonians 2:13,14 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brothers beloved …

1 Peter 1:3,23 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…

with.

James 1:21 Why lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and …

1 Corinthians 4:15 For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have …

Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, …

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains …

kind.

Leviticus 23:10 Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, When you be come …

Jeremiah 2:3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, and the first fruits of his increase: …

Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of …

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written …

Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. …

The Transfigurations of Jesus

Luke 9:28 Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

KJV And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

about Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13

sayings or, things. he. Lk 8:51; Matthew 26:37-39; Mark 14:33-36; 2 Corinthians 13:1

up on Lk 9:18; 6:12; Ps 109:4; Mark 1:35; 6:46; Hebrews 5:7

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
Luke 9:28-36

Parallel Passages in the Synoptic Gospels – Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8

Matthew 17:1-8 Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

Mark 9:2-8 Six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified. 7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” 8 All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.

The Transfiguration was “”the most significant event between [Christ’s] birth and passion.” _{(Expositor’s Bible Commentary)}

The Transfiguration (He Was God Incognito) – Things are not always as they seem.” “Looks can be deceiving.” Never was this more true than when the Son of God left heaven and came to earth, when “the Word became flesh and took up residence among us” (_{John 1:14), when the fullness of deity came and dwelt in a body (Col 2:9), when the essence of God “did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men” (Phil 2:6-7). The transfiguration of Jesus confirms that, despite having the outward appearance of a mere mortal man, Jesus of Nazareth is in His nature and essence God—deity dressed in a body. Although He is not the kind of Messiah Savior the nation of Israel was expecting, He is exactly the Messiah Savior they needed. He looks defeated, but He is actually victorious. He dies and is buried by men, but He will be raised and exalted by God. He looks like a regular dude, but in actuality He is deity! The transfiguration is something of “a preview of coming attractions.” (Christ-Centered Exposition – Exalting Jesus in Mark)}

John MacArthur on eight days – Matthew (_{Mt 17:1) and Mark (Mk 9:2) place the transfiguration six days after the Lord spoke these words. There is no contradiction between their accounts and Luke’s; the latter merely bookended the six days by adding the day Jesus made this statement and the actual day of the transfiguration. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Luke 6-10)}

After these sayings – This would serve to tie the transfiguration closely with Jesus prediction of His coming death in _{Lk 9:27.}

Warren Wiersbe on Peter and John and James – Peter, James, and John had accompanied Jesus when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead (_{Luke 8:51ff), and they would accompany Him when He prayed in the Garden (Matt. 26:36-46). These three occasions remind me of Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him [the Transfiguration], and the power of His resurrection [raising the girl], and the fellowship of His sufferings [in the Garden].” (Bible Exposition Commentary)}

MacArthur adds that “those three men, along with Andrew, made up the innermost circle of the apostles (cf. _{Lk 8:51; Mark 14:33). Jesus’ choice of three men reflects the law’s requirement that “on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed” (Deut. 19:15; cf. Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19; Heb. 10:28).” (Ibid)}

Transfiguration – This event is the climax of the “identity of Jesus” motif in all the Synoptics. Here the disciples saw and heard who Jesus really was. Luke’s particular emphasis was the sufferings of Jesus that were coming. This comes through in his description of Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah (_{Lk 9:30-31) and his interpretation of what the heavenly voice said (Lk 9:35). The whole scene recalls God’s appearance to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exod. 24), and it anticipates the second coming of Christ. There is a recurrence of the three themes of Jesus’ identity (Lk 9:20), His passion (Lk 9:22), and glory (Lk 9:26) from the previous pericope but in reverse order (Lk 9:29, 30, 35). These are the main points the reader should identify as significant in Luke’s narrative.}

The mountain – Definitive article suggests a specific mountain, but it is not designated.

To pray (see Greek word _{proseuchomai below) – This fact is not mentioned in either Matthew 17:1-2 or Mark 9:2. Note that the purpose for Jesus going to the mountain is stated “to pray.”}

The context for the Transfiguration – We’ve all heard the expression that someone is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good. I suppose that there are people whose heads are so much in the clouds that they don’t accomplish much in practical terms. But the truth of the matter is, most of us are so earthly minded that we are of no earthly or heavenly good. The Bible is clear that if we want to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord, we must set our minds on the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (_{Col 3:1-2). There is nothing quite so practical as gaining a clearer vision of the glory of Christ. Like Peter, John, and James, we must come down off the mountain to deal with difficult situations, but we will deal with them more effectively if we have seen the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.}

To understand the transfiguration, we must see it in its context. Luke has been gradually revealing to us the identity of Jesus Christ. People had different views—He is John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets come back (_{Lu 9:19). But by divine revelation, Peter acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ of God (Lu 9:20; see Mt 16:17). But immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus told the disciples of His impending death and resurrection. This jarred them and they did not understand what He was talking about, in spite of His repeated references to it (Lu 9:44-45; Lu 18:31-34). They understood Christ as King, but they did not yet understand that He first must suffer and then enter into His glory (Lu 24:26).}

Jesus also has made it plain that those who follow Him must follow in the way of the cross (_{Lu 9:23-26). Jesus did not come to please Himself, but to do the will of the Father, which supremely included the cross. Those who are His disciples must also deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him, even if it means persecution or martyrdom. Jesus concluded that discourse with a difficult verse: “But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God” (Lu 9:27).}

There are various interpretations of what Jesus meant by this. Some liberals say that it was a mistaken prediction that Jesus would come back before some of the apostles died. We can dismiss this as the stupid ramblings of irreverent men. Others relate it to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, but it is difficult to see why that event represented the coming of God’s kingdom. Others interpret it as a reference to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the rule of Christ through His church. But it seems to me that Jesus is referring to something more spectacular than that. I agree with many of the early church fathers who believed that Jesus was referring to the event that immediately follows, namely, His transfiguration. Three of the disciples there got a glimpse of what Jesus will be like in that coming kingdom, when He comes in the glory of the Father and His holy angels (_{Lu 9:26).}

Jesus’ comment about not tasting death refers back to verse _{Lu 9:24. He is saying that although some of those who follow Him will lose their lives for His sake, some of them would see a manifestation of the coming kingdom before they faced martyrdom, because to see Jesus in His glory is to see a preview of that day when He will return to reign.}

Thus in the context, the transfiguration served to encourage the three disciples by showing them that even though their Master would suffer and die and though they, too, must follow Him in the path of the cross, the future glory of Jesus and of all who follow Him is certain. The disciples’ understanding, like their sleepiness and the cloud on the mountain, was foggy at first. But later this unforgettable experience came back to them with clarity and insight. (Sermon _{Luke 9:27-36)}