ScriptureStream

God wants us to be good thinkers! (continued)

YouTube: “Why are some saved, and not others?”

Universal grace – II Peter 3:9

Grace alone – Ephesians 2:8-9

Hell – Matthew 8:12

Romans 9:20; 11:33

Is there really no answer? No, the answer is that man has a choice in the matter. Some act in such a way that they will not be saved.

Equivocation (“bait-and-switch”)

What is it?

“When someone shifts from one meaning of a word to another within an argument, he or she has committed the fallacy of equivocation.”

A person may change a word’s meaning on purpose to make a point or to be humorous.

II Corinthians 5:21

Spiritual importance

The word “evolution”

This is a common fallacy used to persuade people to believe in evolution. “Evolution can mean ‘change’ in a general sense, but it can also refer to the idea that organisms share a common ancestor…”

It helps to clarify our language. Micro-evolution (such as breeding dogs for certain traits) is true. Macro-evolution (the theory that all life evolved over millions of years from a common ancestor) has certainly not been proven true.

The word “baptism”

“I’ve been baptized, so I’m saved, because I Peter 3:21 says ‘baptism now saves you.’”

Which baptism are you talking about?

Matthew 3:11

Mark 10:38-39

Acts 1:5; 19:3

Romans 6:3; I Corinthians 10:2

Ephesians 4:4 – As far as salvation goes, there is only one baptism.

Greek Bible words

Romans 12:1 – “service of worship”

Some use this verse to show that all of life is worship.

Matthew 2:11; 14:33; 28:9, 17; John 9:38; 12:20; Acts 8:27; 24:11; Hebrews 11:21; Revelation 19:10 – uses of the word prokuneo (to make obeisance, do reverence)

Another example: various meanings of the word for church (ekklesia) – Acts 19:32; 7:38

John 3:31-36

When used figuratively, “filled with” speaks, not of quantity, but of motivation. It speaks of cause and effect.

Luke 4:28-29; 1:67

Acts 5:17-18

Acts 13:45

Acts 5:3

Acts 9:17-18 – Paul was filled with the Spirit (cause) and so was baptized (the effect).

Ephesians 5:18-20

Luke 1:15-17, 41-42, 67

Luke 6:11

Acts 13:9-10

I Corinthians 6:15-18

In the Old Testament

Jesus

Mark 16:6

Luke 24:5-6

John 20:25-28

Romans 1:4; 6:9, 4

I Corinthians 15:5-8, 20

Focus of the apostles’ teaching

Acts 2:23-24, 31

I Thessalonians 5:23

Acts 3:15, 26

Acts 4:1-2, 10, 33

Acts 13:29-37

Acts 17:2-3, 18, 31-32

Acts 24:14-15

Acts 26:22-23

I Corinthians 15:1-4

Mankind

John 5:28-29 – All mankind will be resurrected.

Matthew 25 – All nations will be judged.

John 6:40, 54

I Corinthians 6:14

I Corinthians 15:12-20

I John 3:2

Philippians 3:21 – We will have a glorious body in the resurrection.

II Corinthians 5:1

Introduction

Why read the Bible?

“that he may learn to fear the Lord his God” - We learn about God!

Revelation 4:8

II Thessalonians 1:7

“carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes” – We learn to obey!

II Timothy 3:14

James 1:21

“that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen” – We learn a proper view of self!

“that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left” – We learn to avoid sin!

“so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel” – We learn how to prepare for the future!

Could you read one chapter a week?

Bible reading resources

Plans:

5-Day Reading Plan (Mark Roberts): https://fivedaybiblereading.com/

“Top 11 Best Bible Reading Plans” (Create Disciples): https://bit.ly/2Riqf74

The One Year Bible (various formats available): https://amzn.to/2P8i5vs

The Story (abridged Bible):* https://bit.ly/2YeFFL9

Audio Bibles:

Word of Promise (NKJV, dramatized, can see text): https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/

Dwell (ESV, 4 voices, plans, customizable): https://dwellapp.io/

Apps:

OliveTree (works on all platforms, simple reading or in-depth study): https://www.olivetree.com/

YouVersion (tons of FREE Bibles, plans, audio; connect with friends): https://www.youversion.com/

Laridian Pocket Bible (works on all platforms, lots for FREE): https://www.laridian.com/

Stores for Bibles:

Christian Book Distributors: https://www.christianbook.com/page/bibles

Mardel: https://www.mardel.com/Bibles/c/Bibles

Lifeway: https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/bibles

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2YkdXg8

Miscellaneous links:

Chris Juby wrote a summary (tweet) of every chapter in the Bible: (Remember Acts 17:11. Any resource created by people may contain errors.) https://biblesummary.info/

Israelite Kings date chart (paste into front of Bible for reference): http://www.crivoice.org/israelitekings.html

“Infographic: You Have More Time for Bible Reading than You Think” (Crossway): https://bit.ly/2OJlq5a

Translation information:

https://www.christianbook.com/page/bibles/about-bibles/about-translations

https://www.mardel.com/bibletranslationguide

Other Bible websites:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.blueletterbible.org/

God wants us to be good thinkers! (continued)

Logic is not opposed to faith (continued)

Romans 1:21-22

II Corinthians 10:5 – God wants us to take our thoughts captive and think!

Ephesians 4:17-18 – We should not walk in ignorance because of the hardness of our hearts.

Paul’s use of reason: Acts 17:17; 18:4; 19:8 – Paul tried to reason with people to persuade them.

Biblical faith is preceded by knowledge. Romans 10:17; 4:20-21

Logic is not the same as science.

Psalms 19:1; Romans 1:20 – We can use our senses and explore the universe, which points toward God.

Religion is not against science. They should work together.

Logic is not the same as worldly wisdom.

James 3:13-18 – All wisdom is not the same.

Colossians 2:8 – This warning about philosophy is not a warning against thinking in general but against worldly thinking.

I Corinthians 1:18-ff

Consider the dangers of not using logic.

Acts 16

Acts 16:2 – Timothy had a good reputation. This is a very valuable attribute, even today!

Acts 16:3 – Paul was careful about circumcision because he did not want to inadvertently spread the idea that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Timothy’s circumcision was purely an expedient so that Timothy could enter temples without rebuke. Galatians 5:2-3; I Corinthians 9:19-21

Acts 16:10 – The language here begins to use the pronoun “we”, implying that Luke has joined in the journey.

Acts 16:11 – Samothrace was home to a winged statue of Nike, goddess of victory.

God wants us to be good thinkers!

Introduction

Isaiah 1:10-18 – God will not bear it when we sin and then try to worship Him. “I cannot endure sin and the solemn assembly.”

Psalms 32:8-9 – Don’t be like an unthinking animal!

Ephesians 4:11-13

What is logic?

A study of how to think correctly and reach true conclusions.

Romans 1:20

Logic is not a study of facts. It is a study of what we can correctly deduce from facts.

John 9:33

Logic comes from God

We are not perfect thinkers, but God is. All truth emanates from Him. Isaiah 55:7-9. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are perfectly united in truth.

Jesus left us with many examples of logical behavior and thinking.

Luke 2:47 – People were amazed at Jesus’ understanding and answers at age 12!

Matthew 4:1-11 – Jesus refuted Satan by appealing to scripture.

Matthew 22:41-46 – Jesus prompted others to think about His own Deity by what the Scriptural facts implied.

John 14:6

Luke 11:14-20 – Jesus used logic to refute the charge that He is casting out demons by Beelzebul (Luke 10:17).

His teaching was coherent and profound!

Jesus’ perfect knowledge allowed Him to identify their faulty logic so that they could no longer answer Him a word. Matthew 22:15-46

I Corinthians 2:11 – The Bible helps us become better thinkers as we develop and try to mimic the mind of God, and becoming better thinkers helps us to become better Bible students.

Christians will strive to be good thinkers.

Genesis 1:27

Ephesians 5:1

God has always prompted His people to use their minds to examine things critically and make good decisions.

Serving God involves using the mind He blessed us with.

Logic is not the absence of emotion.

Logic is not opposed to faith.

The very existence of logic points toward the existence of an immaterial Mind (God).

Law of non-contradiction

Law of the excluded middle

How would you explain the existence of such immaterial laws from an atheistic perspective?

“Secular thinkers cannot make sense of the laws of logic. …”

Courage

II Timothy 1:7 – We must use this “spirit of power” to spread God’s word.

Psalm 27

II Timothy 1:7 tells us not to fear. Compare Psalms 111:10; Acts 13:16, 26; Romans 3:18; II Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Hebrews 10:31. These are different types of fear. We should have a reverent fear of God.

Luke 12:23-31 – God is in control. This should give us great comfort!

Philippians 1:27-30

Matthew 10:28

I Corinthians 16:13-14 – We must stand firm like men, but in a loving way.

John 14:27 – Jesus gives us great peace, which should help us have courage.

Elders rule by:

Leading

Hebrews 13:17; I Timothy 5:17 – Elders are to lead in a way similar to how fathers lead in families.

I Peter 5:2 – Elders are shepherds of the flock.

Service

Luke 22:25-26 – Those that serve are the greatest.

Matthew 20:25-28

Warning and admonishing

Teaching

Example