WeAreIBC

First of All
1 Timothy 2:1-7

1. Prayer is our priority.

“And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” Mark 11:17

“Prayer is our most formidable weapon, but the one in which we are the least skilled, the most averse to its use.” E. M. Bounds

“When prayer fails, the world prevails.” E. M. Bounds

“He who is too busy to pray will be too busy to live a holy life.” E. M. Bounds

2. Pray for those in authority over you.

Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

3. Prayer pleases God.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

4. Prayer opens the door for evangelism.

“Prayer is crucial in evangelism: Only God can change the heart. … No matter how logical our arguments or how fervent our appeals, our words will accomplish nothing unless God’s Spirit prepares the way.” – Billy Graham

“At the end of the day, the biggest obstacle to evangelism is Christians who don’t share the gospel. - Al Mohler

Truth in Love
1 Timothy 2:18-20

Remember what God says about you.

1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

2 Timothy 1:6 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Keep the faith and do what is right.

2 Timothy 2:17-18
17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

2 Timothy 4:14-15 “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.”

Hebrews 12:8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.


Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17

Steps in Church Discipline:
Have a private conversation.
Take 1 or 2 devoted believers with you.
Bring a formal accusation.
Bring them before the church.
Remove them from the church roll.

WHY?
For the good of the individual.
Protect the name of Jesus.
Protect the power of the church’s witness in the community.
To spur others on to faith and good works.
For the health of the church.

Psalm 85:10 Graciousness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

House Rules
1 Timothy 1:12-17

12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,
13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

God cares less about where you have been, and more about where you are going.

Acts 8:3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Acts 9:1-2 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Mercy is judgment waived, grace is blessing received.

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11


If God saved me, God can save you.

But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

The closer you get to Jesus, the more you realize your need for Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:9 - For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.


Ephesians 3:8 - To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

1 Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

Don’t judge people for where they are without Jesus, but see them for where they could be with Jesus

THE GOSPEL THAT MUST BE GUARDED FROM COUNTERFEITS
1 Timothy 1:1-11

Believers must guard the Gospel from counterfeits with confidence (v.1-2)

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.


Believers must guard the Gospel from counterfeits with courage (v.3-7)

3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4 neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6 from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7 desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.


Believers must guard the Gospel from counterfeits through correct instruction (v.8-11)

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.


Application:
Know the authentic Gospel
Protect the authentic Gospel
Preach the authentic Gospel

Who is Jesus?

Who would you say Jesus is? _____________________

People are known by what they say, what they do, and what others say about them.

What people say…

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” — Luke 23:34 Forgiveness

“Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
— Luke 23:43 Assurance

““Woman, behold, your son!”  Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” — John 19:26 Compassion

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?” — Mark 15:34 Loneliness

“I thirst.” — John 19:28 Humanity

“It is finished.” — John 19:30 Victory

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He died.
Luke 23:44-46

“That was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God” John 5:18

Psalm 31:4-5 (NASB), “You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I entrust my spirit; You have redeemed me, Lord, God of truth.”

What people do…

Matthew 27:50-53, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split.  Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 

Veil Torn
Earth Shook
Rocks Split
Tombs Opened

Hebrews 9:2-3, 6-7, “There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.”

Jesus is the final High Priest.
The cross is the New Testament Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 9:22, “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”

What is said about them…

“Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

Who do you say Jesus is?

It is Finished
John 19:28-37

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Tetelestai = it is finished

1. The task assigned by the Father is finished.

John 17:4 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

Psalm 22:31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

2. Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, was offered for sins.
Hebrews 9:12 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[a] eternal redemption.

3. Your debt was paid.

4. You are new in Christ.
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:23–24)

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (from epi and teleo) at the day of Jesus Christ.”


1 Corinthians 15, 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.…

The Suffering Son of Man
John 19:28-29

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”


Jesus physically suffered, atonement

Psalm 22:15, “My mouth is dried up like a potsherd and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.”

Jesus was 100% man, the incarnation

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14

“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8

kenosis = emptied

Nicene Creed puts it, “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human.”

Jesus took our punishment, substitution.

“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 NASB

"Take a branch of the hyssop plant, dip it into the bowl filled with blood, and then wipe the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes." Exodus 12:22

John 4:11 “Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

Cross = Love - Week 4 - My God, My God

Matt. 27:37-45 (NASB)
37 And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 38 At that time two rebels *were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. 39 And those passing by were speaking abusively to Him, shaking their heads, 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the
cross.” 41 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, 42 “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. 43 HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESUCE HIM now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” 44 And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way. 45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabaktanei?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”


Psalms 22:7-8
7 All who see me deride me; They sneer, they shake their heads, saying, 8 “Turn him over to the Lord; let Him save him; Let Him rescue him, because delights in him.”

Psalm 22:1 - My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?


Psalm 22:22-24
22 I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. 24 For He has not despised nor scorned the suffering of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.


Psalm 22:30-31
30 A posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 31 They will come and will declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

Care Given at the Cross
John 19:17-27

Love Our family

Luke 2:34-35 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Ex. 20:12 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Tim. 5:3-4 3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

1 Tim. 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Love Believers as Family

1 Tim. 5:1-2 5 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Romans 12:10 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Gal. 6:2 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Gal. 6:10 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.


John 13…34A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Timothy 5:Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. ESV

Warren Wiesbe, “One of the weaknesses in the church is Christians don’t get close enough to the cross to feel their responsibility.”

How Sure is Your Salvation
Luke 23:43

1. I will meet God after I die.

Luke 23:40 - But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die?

Hebrews 9:27 - And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment

2. I have sinned against God.

Luke 23:41 - We deserve to die for our crimes...”

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. Jesus is more than a man.

Luke 23:41 - "...but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - "There is not a single person in all the earth who is always good and never sins."

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
4. Only God's grace can save me.

Luke 23:42 - Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.

Ephesians 2:8-9 - 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.
5. Jesus will save me if I ask Him

Luke 23:42 - Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Acts 16:31 - They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
HOW CAN I BE SURE I AM SAVED?

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

It is IMMEDIATE - "Today"

It is CERTAIN - "you will"

It is RELATIONSHIP - "be with me"

It is FOREVER - "in paradise"

14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15

WHEN CAN I BE SAVED?

2 Corinthians 6:2 - For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Romans 10:13 - "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."