1 John 5:13-21

1. Confidence of Eternal Life in Christ (13)

2. Confidence of Answered Prayer in the Will of God (14-17)

3. Confidence in Victory over Sin (18)

4. Confidence in Belonging to God (19-20)

5. Confidence against Error (21)

“Keep yourselves from idols.”

The Seven Factors of Biblical Comfort

1. The BEGINNING of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3

2. The BASIS of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4

3. The BOUNDARIES of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:5

4. The BENEFIT of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:6-7

5. The BRAWN of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:8; 1 Corinthians 16:8-9; Romans 16:3-4; 2 Corinthians 1:8

5 Warning Signs of Depression:

• Sleep Problems

• Loss of appetite/eating issues

• Lack of energy

• Loss of concentration

• Problems with self-image/confidence

• Ongoing thoughts of death or suicide

2 Corinthians 1:9, 16:9, 1:10; Isaiah 52:10; Deuteronomy 33:27

6. The BOND of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:16-18; 2 Peter 2:9; Acts 26:22; 1 Samuel 17:37

7. The BENEVOLENCE of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:11; James 5:16; 1 Timothy 2:1; 2 Corinthians 1:11

The Seven Factors of Biblical Comfort

1. The BEGINNING of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3

2. The BASIS of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4

3. The BOUNDARIES of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:5; Acts 5:28-29, 40-41; Matthew 5:11-12; Philippians 3:8; Galatians 1:10; Matthew 10:33, 32

4. The BENEFIT of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:6-7; Psalm 50:15; John 9:1-3, 11:4; Philippians 1:29; 2 Corinthians 1:7

2 Corinthians 1:3-11; John 17:17

The Seven Factors of Biblical Comfort

1. The Beginning of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3; John 1:18, 14:7, 5:17; 2 Samuel 24:14; Micah 7:18; Psalm 119:56, 51:12-13; Isaiah 49:13; John 14:18; 2 Corinthians 1:4

2. The BASIS of Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4, 5:18; Luke 22:31-32

Three Biblical Reasons Why I am Encouraged Today

a. God is Still on the Throne

Psalm 47:8

b. God Said this is the Age of Apostasy

Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:1

c. God Wins

Matthew 24:14

Four Things You Become When You Have Faith in Christ

• A child of God (5:1)

• A lover of other children of God (5:1)

• Characterized by joyful obedience (5:2-3)

• A victorious overcomer (5:4-5)

Three Witnesses from God About Jesus (5:6-12)

• Spirit

• Water

• Blood

“He that hath the Son hath life” (5:12)

1 John 4:7-21

1. Source of Love (7-8)

2. Definition of Love (9-10)

3. Pattern of Love (11)

4. Perfection of Love (12-18)

5. Practice of Love (19-21)

Love is not an option, it is an obligation (4:21)

It is also a response based on the love God has shown us (4:19)

God is Wrathful

Two Facts about God’s Wrath That Might Surprise You

1. The Bible Says More About Wrath Than Love

2. Jesus Spoke More About Hell Than Heaven

Jesus’ Description of Hell

a. Luke 16:23 Eternal Torment

b. Mark 9:43 Unquenchable Fire

c. Matthew 13:42 A Gnashing of Teeth

d. Matthew 25:30 Outer Darkness

e. Matthew 10:28 Gehenna - A Trash Dump

The Meaning of God’s Wrath: God’s Wrath is His Settled Hostility Towards Sin and All its Various Manifestations

What God’s Wrath is Not:

● Uncontrollable Rage – Romans 1:18

● Vindictive Bitterness – Ephesians 4:31

● Explosive Temper – Psalm 103:8

Four Facts About God’s Wrath

1. It is Colossal

Nahum 1:2,3,6

7 Hebrew Words for Wrath:

● Jealousy

● Vengeance

● Wrath

● Anger

● Indignation

● Fierceness

● Fury

Deuteronomy 11:17

2. It is Personal

Nahum 1:11, 14; Hebrews 10:31

3. It is Methodical

Nahum 2:1,6; Revelation 6:16-17

4. It is Eventual

Nahum 3:1,11,5; Matthew 3:7; Nahum 1:7; John 5:24

Lesson eight: Growing in Grace

Text: 2 Peter 3:18

Intro: Our text commands us to grow in grace. Today’s lesson will prayerfully help us to see Biblical principles that instruct us how to grow in grace.

1. We grow in grace by knowing more about Jesus. = our Lord and Saviour!

• Note our text says grace and knowledge… go together.

• Because Jesus is grace and truth we must have His fullness. John 1:16; Jn. 14;17

• We grow in grace by knowing the power of Jesus. Phil. 3:10

• We grow in grace by following Jesus. Eph. 5:1-2; Matt. 4:19 = result of God’s grace.

2. We grow in grace by becoming more Christ like. This is God’s plan for each of us. Rom. 8:29

• Jesus’ love enabled Him to have grace. John 15:13

• His love causes us to have grace. 2 Cor. 5:14

• Jesus loved His enemies Luke 23:34; so must we. Luke 6:27

• Jesus forgave His enemies; so must we. Mark 11:25

• Jesus showed grace to sinners; Lk. 18:13, last week’s lesson; so must we. Luke 17:4

• Jesus showed grace to the lowly. Matt. 9:36; 11:29; so must we. Rom. 12:16

3. We grow in grace by living out our new life in Christ. = acting like a Christian!

• We are new creatures. 2 Cor. 5:17 = our lives should be characterized by grace!

• We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Eph. 4:23; ref. Rom. 12:1-2

• The result of this is a testimony of grace. Eph. 4:31-32; Col. 4:6

• Having the mind of Christ Jesus results in having grace on others. Phil. 2:4-5

Conclusion. Thank you for allowing me to teach this series on the wonderful grace of Jesus and for allowing me to share my testimony. I pray you have been encouraged and blessed. Love, Pastor Mike

Lesson Seven: New Testament examples of God’s Grace

Intro: Our subject is the wonderful grace of Jesus and the New Testament is the revelation of His amazing grace. Just as Jesus is full of grace and truth, John 1:14, so is the stories of the lives of those He touched. Because there are too many to mention we will discuss them in three following categories:

1. Jesus’ amazing grace to sinners.

A. Example of four wicked women now trophies of God’s grace.

 - The Samaritan woman with the shameful past. John 4:10,16-18,39

 - The woman “caught” in adultery. John 8:10-11

 - Mary Magdalene who was possessed by demons. Luke 8:2; Mark 16:9

 - The “prostitute” who kissed Jesus feet. Luke 7:37-39, 47

B. Example of four sinful men: undeserving of grace but met the One full of grace!

 - The thief on the cross. Luke 23:39-43

 - Saul who would become the Apostle Paul. Acts 26:13-16

 - The Philippian jailer. Acts 16:28-33

 - A man named Michael. - Blasphemed the Holy Spirit Matt.12:31; - lived for the devil Rom. 6:20-22; - found by Jesus Luke 19:10 Praise God!

2. Jesus’ amazing grace to His servants = the saints.

 - The example of the apostle Peter. Matt. 26:34-35; 73-75; John 21:14-15

 - The example of the other ten apostles. Matt. 26:56; Acts 4:33

 - The example of the Apostle Paul. Eph. 3:7

 - The example of the church = you and I 1 Tim 1:9; Titus 3;5-7

3. Jesus’ amazing grace to those who suffer.

 - Example of His compassion for the lost multitude. Matt. 9:36-38

 - Example of His healing the sick. Matt. 10:8; Matt.15:13; Matt. 20:34

 - Example of His sufficient grace to endure our suffering. 2 Cor. 12:8-10

Conclusion: Thank God for the New Testament examples of the wonderful grace of Jesus!

God is Wise

Jude 1:25; Matthew 5:48

God’s Uniqueness in Wisdom:

● It is Unrivaled – Jeremiah 10:7

● It is Uncommon – Job 36:5

● It is Universal – Acts 15:18

God’s Wisdom Appears in Two Things:

1. He is Wise in What He KNOWS

a. He Knows the Most Profound Information

Psalm 147:4-5

b. He Knows the Most Prophetic Information

Daniel 2:22

c. He Knows the Most Private Information

Jeremiah 17:10

2. He is Wise in What He DOES

a. In the Work of His Creation

Isaiah 45:7; Psalm 104:24

b. In the Work of His Redemption

Ezekiel 18:20

c. In the Work of His Intervention

Numbers 21:9; Acts 23:19; Philippians 1:12; Psalm 76:10, 2:6

Our Two-Fold Response

1. Rest in God’ Wisdom

a. The greater the humility the greater the spiritual comfort 2 Cor. 12:7

b. The weaker the body, the stronger the faith 2 Cor. 4:16

c. The deeper the loss, the greater the love

Jeremiah 32:18-19

2. Ask for God’s Wisdom

James 1:5