Christlife Ministries Bible Study Notes- 2/19/17

Bible Study Notes- 2/19/17

We’ve made the Word of God so ineffective that we don’t believe God can do anything until another day or place.

Redeem – buy back (from slavery), calling back, the only reality. Our idea of redemption gives us our end-time doctrine. If we believe that something else needs to happen (catastrophe, second coming, rapture), we will never be what we are supposed to be here and now. We need to put our traditions in the proper place.

Do we read scripture from a mindset of redemption or from a mindset that something else needs to happen? When you read scripture, do you see yourself as one with the ONE who wrote the scripture?

The names of Jesus – Jesus (savior), Christ (anointed one), Emmanuel (God with us),

Matt. 7:1-2 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. ² For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

What is the standard? Jesus is the only standard by which we can judge. If we do not judge somehow, anything and everything goes. That’s the way society is right now. We haven’t given them a standard by which to judge.

There must be an absolute standard. There must be an absolute truth. Everyone can not pick their own standard and their own truth. Even the Koran says that if you are looking for the truth, go to the Bible. We water down the standard to make it achievable. But the Bible wants to make sure you know it is NOT achievable on your own merit. The standard is Jesus. The very essence and nature of the creator of the universe is in us – when we are ONE with Him, keeping the 10 commandment doesn’t phase us.

The Rich Young Ruler:

Matt. 19:16-22 ¹⁶ Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ²¹ Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ²² But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. (See also: Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-23)

Luke 2:52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

There is a growth that has been missing in our culture. We haven’t even been required to think about it. Jesus said, “Come follow me.” Come and learn from Jesus. Then he will give rest for the soul. The gospel message is supposed to cure our consciousness. We are so in tune to mistakes, we only see the bad. By what standard you use, you will be judged. Jesus was measured by the Father’s standard. We are measured by Jesus’ standard – the nature that is already in us – the nature of God. We are supposed to reflect God but we suppress it. We measure ourselves by ourselves – that is not wise. How do you sever a truth that is not the truth? Traditions are not necessarily wrong but they are not THE truth.

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  Wisdom – understanding and application of the knowledge you are given. More and more of God himself.
  
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    Prov. 3:13-26 Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding.
    ¹⁴ For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. ¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. ¹⁷ She will guide you down delightful paths;
    all her ways are satisfying. ¹⁸ Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. ¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky. ²¹ My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, ²² for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. ²³ They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. ²⁴ You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. ²⁵ You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, ²⁶ for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
    
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    Our eternal identity is identical to the Creator Himself. If your identity is God, you have the wisdom of the Creator in you.
    
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    I Cor. 1:30 ³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.
    
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    You won’t be able to grasp your future until you understand the eternal which is NOW. God is never outside of eternity. Redemption makes eternity make sense NOW. His presence is heaven to me. The wisdom of God is Jesus Christ. The rescuer (savior) brings you back your “stuff” (oneness with God.) There is not enough money on the earth to buy it. Yet, we won’t accept it for free. You have the mind of Christ – the anointing – the essence and nature of God.
    
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  Stature – physical maturity - the body is the temple of God – the dwelling place of God. Standing or position in society – integrity. Leadership ability – stature. You are elevated to a position of authority without even knowing why you got there. You have a dominion mandate – anything that is trying to dominate you, must be mastered by you. Sin is crouching at the door – YOU MUST MASTER IT.
  
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    I Tim. 4:8 ⁸ “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”
    
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    Rom. 12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
    
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    Rom. 6:12-13 ¹² Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. ¹³ Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
    
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    I Cor. 6:18-20 ¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
    
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  Favor with God and man – preferential treatment because of your right-standing with God (Charis – grace). Grace is the favor of God. It is not unmerited favor – Jesus worked to get it for us – HE merited it.
  
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    Eph. 2:8-9 ⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
    
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    Grace is the divine enablement (empowerment) to become and do everything God has called me to become and do.
    
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    Do you see yourself as someone who has favor? People will bless you with things you didn’t ask for.