WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 19, 2010
____________________________________________
NO OTHER GODS
(Our GOD is a jealous GOD)
(Exodus 32)
The rebellious incident by Israeli idolaters, that is depicted in Exodus 32 at the foot of Mount Sinai, shows quite clearly, man’s desperate need for a priesthood and tabernacle system that helps him to keep a persistent relationship of friendship and fellowship with GOD the CREATOR.
The reason that the Gospel must be preached continually, is because man continuously suppresses the truth. After being out of church and worship services for only a short while (since they left Goshen in Egypt), the Israelites were already clearly out of spiritual touch with GOD, WHO had just recently freed them from slavery in Egypt by way of HIS many miraculous deeds.
In the very shadows of a rumbling Mount Sinai the people urge, and ultimately persuade Aaron, to built them an idol of gold, so that they could worship it, instead of GOD. Here in this passage we see that, being without good spiritual leadership, for only a few days, proved fatal to about 3000 people in the short term (vs. 27-28), and many, many more in the long run (v. 35).
While Moses was experiencing a spiritual triumph of sorts in his own rights, the people of Israel had plummeted to one of their all-time lows in their spiritual behavior. Like many Christians today, we often accuse GOD of moving too slowly to please us, and we either try to help GOD out, or, we simply change gods all together, as is the case in this passage of scripture.
Throughout the book of Exodus we see the ungrateful people of Israel reacting to GOD with unprecedented insensitive, rebellious behavior. And whenever Moses would encounter such rebellion among his flock, he would immediately intercede in prayer to GOD to have mercy upon his wayward members. In Exodus 32:11-14 and 30-32, Moses rightly did not base his prayer for the people on their own human merit. He, instead, asked GOD to do it for HIS OWN glorification. He asked GOD to consider HIS OWN faithfulness, and, HIS OWN commitment to HIS people, which flowed from HIS OWN good character.
And while Moses’ prayer did not really change GOD’s mind, for GOD’s anger against the Israelites was truly legit, however, his prayer shows GOD his genuine concern, both, for his people, and, above all, for his concern for GOD’s honor and glorification in the world’s sight (vs. 11-13). Moses’ prayer was effective because his motives were righteous. When we pray with righteous and unselfish motives, GOD is just to answer them quickly and positively.
And finally (vs. 30-35), to act wickedly is to do harm to ones self, and, to others. Evil violates GOD’s unchanging standards, which HE long ago set for HIS human creation. Evil causes “wicked acts”, and, evil is a consequential result of “wicked acts”. Idolatry is just one of the many “wicked acts” that man performs against GOD on a daily, minute-by-minute basis. Making wrong moral choices is what men without GOD do best, and we’ve already proven long ago, that, without GOD, we can’t do anything right, for too long.
As our moral ruler, GOD does not do evil, but rather, HE brings disaster upon evil-doers. And ultimately, when and if we repent, GOD is just and faithful to forgive us. GOD gave Moses a new stone tablet containing the Ten Commandments, after Moses had destroyed the first one in anger. And GOD re-affirmed HIS covenant relationship with HIS chosen people. GOD also re-emphasized HIS laws, which calls for us to worship only HIM. And while Oprah Winfrey and other prominent people try to tell us that there are many ways to get to Heaven, GOD’s word tells us quite clearly, that, the only way to come to HIM is through our belief in, and, our acceptance of, HIS only begotten SON, our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, September 17, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 12, 2010
____________________________________________
MAKING A COVENANT
(Living in covenant with GOD)
(Exodus 20:1-21)
In Exodus 20, verses 1-17, GOD instructed the newly freed Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, as to how HE wanted them to live their lives from that point forward. This critical list of spiritual and moral instructions came to be known as “The Law”, “the Decalogue”, or more commonly, “The Ten Commandments”. It was a covenant by which the Israelites were to govern their lives in the land which GOD was about to give them.
In Exodus 24, verses 1-8, we see them accepting GOD’s new covenant as it had been given to them, through Moses. However, man could not then, and quite frankly, cannot now, abide by such a covenant, because our sin continuously interrupts our relationship with GOD on a daily basis. That is why, ultimately, it took the life of CHRIST to restore our lost relationship of friendship with GOD. GOD sent HIS SON JESUS to usher in to us, a new covenant. This covenant is far superior to the old covenant that was carved in stone some 1500 years earlier, and given to Moses. This covenant ushered in by CHRIST, is to be engraved on the hearts and minds of mankind forever, and is intended to make it possible for us to restore a right relationship of friendship with GOD.
The old covenant laws were given to us to reveal our sins and to show us just how far we really are from GOD’s excellent standards. In that respect, the old covenant could only condemn us for our lifestyles. The New Covenant, by contrast, brings forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS, and thereby, can only save us in spite of our lifestyles. It is, quite literally, a covenant of “salvation” that can only be given to those who voluntarily accept GOD, in all HIS fullness.
In the Greek, the word used for “covenant”, in all normal secular applications, is “suntheke” (soon-tha-kay), and it is “an agreement between two equal parties or entities, on equal terms”, i.e. a marriage, or a business deal or partnership. However, in New Testament Scriptures, the Greek word that is always used for “covenant” is “diatheke” (dee-ath-ay-kay), and it is “an agreement that is actually along the terms of a “devised will”. In other words, only one party draws up the terms, and the other party can either accept or reject the terms, or inheritance, that is offered. They cannot change or alter any of the contents within that will.
The choice of this word, (diatheke), is understandable, because we, as human beings, cannot enter into an equal partnership with GOD, and cannot be on equal terms with GOD for obvious reasons. We are only able to make a voluntary decision to accept, or reject HIS covenant offer, and cannot alter, or change HIS terms in any way.
Even in the secular world, we know that a will does not go into effect until the person who wrote it has been proven dead. JESUS, WHO is our HIGH PRIEST, first died on the cross for our sins, then, re-entered into Heaven itself, bearing HIS OWN blood to present to our FATHER GOD, as a sacrificial atonement for all those sins, past, present, and future. And with HIS sacrifice, HE purchased eternal salvation for all mankind in general, and all Christians in particular, once, and for all time. In short, JESUS is the mediator of the New Covenant that was activated by HIS OWN death.
In CHRIST, we are freed from the futile search for salvation by works, or by obeying “The Law”. We are now free to express the reality of a salvation that one can receive only “for free”. GOD is too rich to sell it, and all men, no matter how endowed with earthly riches they are, is still, too poor to purchase it.
The Ten Commandments paint a lovely vision of a just and moral society that man can never realize without spiritual intervention from GOD. In those commandments, and, in CHRIST, we see exactly what GOD is like. By obeying them, our lives here on earth, becomes undeniably better with each passing day. However, it is only through our acceptance of CHRIST JESUS, while we are yet living here on earth, will we be able to obtain eternal life in Heaven, with the GOD WHO sees us, and desires exceedingly, to save us, from ourselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 12, 2010
____________________________________________
MAKING A COVENANT
(Living in covenant with GOD)
(Exodus 20:1-21)
In Exodus 20, verses 1-17, GOD instructed the newly freed Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai, as to how HE wanted them to live their lives from that point forward. This critical list of spiritual and moral instructions came to be known as “The Law”, “the Decalogue”, or more commonly, “The Ten Commandments”. It was a covenant by which the Israelites were to govern their lives in the land which GOD was about to give them.
In Exodus 24, verses 1-8, we see them accepting GOD’s new covenant as it had been given to them, through Moses. However, man could not then, and quite frankly, cannot now, abide by such a covenant, because our sin continuously interrupts our relationship with GOD on a daily basis. That is why, ultimately, it took the life of CHRIST to restore our lost relationship of friendship with GOD. GOD sent HIS SON JESUS to usher in to us, a new covenant. This covenant is far superior to the old covenant that was carved in stone some 1500 years earlier, and given to Moses. This covenant ushered in by CHRIST, is to be engraved on the hearts and minds of mankind forever, and is intended to make it possible for us to restore a right relationship of friendship with GOD.
The old covenant laws were given to us to reveal our sins and to show us just how far we really are from GOD’s excellent standards. In that respect, the old covenant could only condemn us for our lifestyles. The New Covenant, by contrast, brings forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS, and thereby, can only save us in spite of our lifestyles. It is, quite literally, a covenant of “salvation” that can only be given to those who voluntarily accept GOD, in all HIS fullness.
In the Greek, the word used for “covenant”, in all normal secular applications, is “suntheke” (soon-tha-kay), and it is “an agreement between two equal parties or entities, on equal terms”, i.e. a marriage, or a business deal or partnership. However, in New Testament Scriptures, the Greek word that is always used for “covenant” is “diatheke” (dee-ath-ay-kay), and it is “an agreement that is actually along the terms of a “devised will”. In other words, only one party draws up the terms, and the other party can either accept or reject the terms, or inheritance, that is offered. They cannot change or alter any of the contents within that will.
The choice of this word, (diatheke), is understandable, because we, as human beings, cannot enter into an equal partnership with GOD, and cannot be on equal terms with GOD for obvious reasons. We are only able to make a voluntary decision to accept, or reject HIS covenant offer, and cannot alter, or change HIS terms in any way.
Even in the secular world, we know that a will does not go into effect until the person who wrote it has been proven dead. JESUS, WHO is our HIGH PRIEST, first died on the cross for our sins, then, re-entered into Heaven itself, bearing HIS OWN blood to present to our FATHER GOD, as a sacrificial atonement for all those sins, past, present, and future. And with HIS sacrifice, HE purchased eternal salvation for all mankind in general, and all Christians in particular, once, and for all time. In short, JESUS is the mediator of the New Covenant that was activated by HIS OWN death.
In CHRIST, we are freed from the futile search for salvation by works, or by obeying “The Law”. We are now free to express the reality of a salvation that one can receive only “for free”. GOD is too rich to sell it, and all men, no matter how endowed with earthly riches they are, is still, too poor to purchase it.
The Ten Commandments paint a lovely vision of a just and moral society that man can never realize without spiritual intervention from GOD. In those commandments, and, in CHRIST, we see exactly what GOD is like. By obeying them, our lives here on earth, becomes undeniably better with each passing day. However, it is only through our acceptance of CHRIST JESUS, while we are yet living here on earth, will we be able to obtain eternal life in Heaven, with the GOD WHO sees us, and desires exceedingly, to save us, from ourselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, September 3, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 5, 2010
____________________________________________
GOD’S REVELATION TO MOSES
(The eternal GOD continues to reveal HIMSELF)
(Exodus 3)
Exodus chapter three tells of the confrontation of GOD with Moses, by way of the biblical Theophany, or manifestation of CHRIST, now known as “The burning bush”. Here GOD commissions Moses to deliver HIS Israelite people from out of the chains of slavery in Egypt. Verses 1-3 present the circumstances of Moses’ calling after he had spent some forty years in the wilderness of Midian tending sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro, near Mount Sinai.
During his first forty years of existence, Moses lived as a prince in Egypt, where he developed his leadership skills, and now his second forty years of existence has been spent as a lowly shepherd, where he was forced to learn about humility. However, the greatest and most memorable segment of his life, his final forty years, is still yet to come, because he is now ready to be used by GOD as the human instrument which GOD would use to set HIS chosen people free, and lead them in their exodus from Egypt. They had suffered greatly in the 450 years or so, since the death of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had gained great favor with the Egyptian people during his lifetime.
Here in this passage, we see that, one day, as Moses was attending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro, in the wilderness near the Sinai Mountain, an angel of the LORD appeared to him, in the form of a “burning bush”. Moses was amazed, because the bush was engulfed in flames, and yet, did not burn up. The angel instructs Moses, as to what GOD wanted him to do, regarding leading HIS people out of slavery in Egypt. He also instructs Moses to bring the people back to Mount Sinai, to worship GOD afterwards.
After much protesting, Moses reluctantly accepted the task that was presented to him from GOD that day. When he was a prince in Egypt, he was confident and sure of his abilities to lead any group of people. However, here we see an almost unbelievably humble man, greatly doubting he could tackle such a huge undertaking as the one that GOD was now assigning to him.
And so we see GOD’s plan of humbling Moses has worked. And now, Moses is about to learn something that men continue to learn today, and that is the fact that, it is by GOD’s strength, not ours, that we are successful in our struggles through the storms of life. Here we see that GOD has stripped Moses of an attitude of “self confidence”, and is now about to replace it, with an attitude of “faith and confidence in HIM”.
Through divine intervention, our struggles are made easy when we rely on, and believe in, the power of the only wise GOD. This book of Exodus, besides being one of the greatest adventure stories of all times, is particularly foundational in developing the Christian view of who GOD is, and also, in understanding morality and the nature of worship.
Moses must have deeply felt the stress of leading such a large group of unruly people out of the clutches of slavery. But his firm commitment to his calling, his steady reliance on prayer, and his eventual, total trust in GOD, lives on as an example for every spiritual leader to follow.
Remember, GOD does not forget HIS commitment to us, and we should not neglect our commitment to HIS covenant, that was ushered in by CHRIST JESUS. JESUS set the greatest example of suffering the world has ever seen, and we, in return, should set the greatest example of worship, service, and obedience to GOD, that the world has ever seen.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday September 5, 2010
____________________________________________
GOD’S REVELATION TO MOSES
(The eternal GOD continues to reveal HIMSELF)
(Exodus 3)
Exodus chapter three tells of the confrontation of GOD with Moses, by way of the biblical Theophany, or manifestation of CHRIST, now known as “The burning bush”. Here GOD commissions Moses to deliver HIS Israelite people from out of the chains of slavery in Egypt. Verses 1-3 present the circumstances of Moses’ calling after he had spent some forty years in the wilderness of Midian tending sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro, near Mount Sinai.
During his first forty years of existence, Moses lived as a prince in Egypt, where he developed his leadership skills, and now his second forty years of existence has been spent as a lowly shepherd, where he was forced to learn about humility. However, the greatest and most memorable segment of his life, his final forty years, is still yet to come, because he is now ready to be used by GOD as the human instrument which GOD would use to set HIS chosen people free, and lead them in their exodus from Egypt. They had suffered greatly in the 450 years or so, since the death of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who had gained great favor with the Egyptian people during his lifetime.
Here in this passage, we see that, one day, as Moses was attending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro, in the wilderness near the Sinai Mountain, an angel of the LORD appeared to him, in the form of a “burning bush”. Moses was amazed, because the bush was engulfed in flames, and yet, did not burn up. The angel instructs Moses, as to what GOD wanted him to do, regarding leading HIS people out of slavery in Egypt. He also instructs Moses to bring the people back to Mount Sinai, to worship GOD afterwards.
After much protesting, Moses reluctantly accepted the task that was presented to him from GOD that day. When he was a prince in Egypt, he was confident and sure of his abilities to lead any group of people. However, here we see an almost unbelievably humble man, greatly doubting he could tackle such a huge undertaking as the one that GOD was now assigning to him.
And so we see GOD’s plan of humbling Moses has worked. And now, Moses is about to learn something that men continue to learn today, and that is the fact that, it is by GOD’s strength, not ours, that we are successful in our struggles through the storms of life. Here we see that GOD has stripped Moses of an attitude of “self confidence”, and is now about to replace it, with an attitude of “faith and confidence in HIM”.
Through divine intervention, our struggles are made easy when we rely on, and believe in, the power of the only wise GOD. This book of Exodus, besides being one of the greatest adventure stories of all times, is particularly foundational in developing the Christian view of who GOD is, and also, in understanding morality and the nature of worship.
Moses must have deeply felt the stress of leading such a large group of unruly people out of the clutches of slavery. But his firm commitment to his calling, his steady reliance on prayer, and his eventual, total trust in GOD, lives on as an example for every spiritual leader to follow.
Remember, GOD does not forget HIS commitment to us, and we should not neglect our commitment to HIS covenant, that was ushered in by CHRIST JESUS. JESUS set the greatest example of suffering the world has ever seen, and we, in return, should set the greatest example of worship, service, and obedience to GOD, that the world has ever seen.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, August 27, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 29, 2010
____________________________________________
A BOLD WITNESS
(Be bold in your witness regardless of the outcome)
(Acts 28:16-31)
There is a great purpose for everything that is written in the Holy Scriptures, and the hand of the unseen, only wise GOD, is at the helm of it all. The door that was closed to CHRIST by the Jews is now the door that was opened to salvation for the Gentiles. Here in chapter 28, the book of Acts draws to a close with a loud shout of triumph as the gospel has now reached the center of the world of the first century, and is being freely proclaimed in the midst of the Roman Empire.
Three months after the shipwreck in which Paul and Luke had been involved in while they were prisoners traveling from Jerusalem to Rome on the Mediterranean Sea, they set sail on yet another ship that had wintered at the small, nearby island of Malta. It was a ship that had originated in Alexandria, Egypt, in northern Africa. The ship was said to have had “the twin gods” as its figurehead. They sailed from Malta to Syracuse, a city on the east coast of Sicily and there they docked for three days before moving on to Rhegium (now called Reggio) in southern Italy.
After spending the day in Rheguim, they hitched a ride on a south wind which carried them to a place called Puteoli, a seaport located on the northern shore of the bay of Naples. It is also the place where the city of Pozzuoli stands today. There they ran across a group of fellow believers who invited them to stay for seven days.
Puteoli was the final stop before arriving in Rome, and by then, all of the believers in Rome were aware of their coming. Upon arrival, many Christian brothers and sisters came to meet them at The Three Taverns, a well-known place that was located about 33 miles from the city, along the famous Roman road called the Appian Way. When they arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to reside in his own private lodging, but he was still being guarded by a Roman soldier.
Three days after his arrival, Paul called an impromptu meeting with the local Jewish leaders. He informed them of his arrest in Jerusalem, where he was handed over to the Roman government, even though he had done nothing wrong against his fellow Jews, nor had he violated any of their customs. The Romans had tried him and found no cause for the death penalty, and thus, had to release him. However, the Jewish hierarchy protested the decision bitterly, and so Paul felt he had no choice but to appeal to Caesar, as he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:24-29).
And so, apparently, no accusations about Paul had been forwarded to the Jewish community in Rome from Jerusalem regarding Paul’s trial. Here in Acts 28:17-31, we see that Paul actually wants to meet with his people in Rome, not to complain about how he was treated in Jerusalem, but rather, he wanted to boldly preach the gospel of CHRIST to them, right in the heart of Rome, which at that time, was an extremely dangerous undertaking, and, he was also willing to do it while still a prisoner, bound in the chains of Christian persecution.
Paul wanted to express his deep concerns for his own people, and to also, share the same conviction that CHRIST had, to preach the gospel first, to the Jews. And like in JESUS’ effort, Paul’s presentation won very little positive response, and as a result, he felt released by the HOLY SPIRIT to concentrate on ministering boldly to the Gentiles in Rome.
Church history tells us that the Apostle Paul was eventually acquitted of these charges, on this occasion, and he went on to continue his ministry for a short time in other places. However, ultimately (approximately two years later) he returned to Rome, and at that time, he was re-arrested, convicted, and executed in close proximity to the Apostle’s Peter’s execution there in Rome, near the end of the reign of the Emperor Nero circa A.D. 68.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 29, 2010
____________________________________________
A BOLD WITNESS
(Be bold in your witness regardless of the outcome)
(Acts 28:16-31)
There is a great purpose for everything that is written in the Holy Scriptures, and the hand of the unseen, only wise GOD, is at the helm of it all. The door that was closed to CHRIST by the Jews is now the door that was opened to salvation for the Gentiles. Here in chapter 28, the book of Acts draws to a close with a loud shout of triumph as the gospel has now reached the center of the world of the first century, and is being freely proclaimed in the midst of the Roman Empire.
Three months after the shipwreck in which Paul and Luke had been involved in while they were prisoners traveling from Jerusalem to Rome on the Mediterranean Sea, they set sail on yet another ship that had wintered at the small, nearby island of Malta. It was a ship that had originated in Alexandria, Egypt, in northern Africa. The ship was said to have had “the twin gods” as its figurehead. They sailed from Malta to Syracuse, a city on the east coast of Sicily and there they docked for three days before moving on to Rhegium (now called Reggio) in southern Italy.
After spending the day in Rheguim, they hitched a ride on a south wind which carried them to a place called Puteoli, a seaport located on the northern shore of the bay of Naples. It is also the place where the city of Pozzuoli stands today. There they ran across a group of fellow believers who invited them to stay for seven days.
Puteoli was the final stop before arriving in Rome, and by then, all of the believers in Rome were aware of their coming. Upon arrival, many Christian brothers and sisters came to meet them at The Three Taverns, a well-known place that was located about 33 miles from the city, along the famous Roman road called the Appian Way. When they arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to reside in his own private lodging, but he was still being guarded by a Roman soldier.
Three days after his arrival, Paul called an impromptu meeting with the local Jewish leaders. He informed them of his arrest in Jerusalem, where he was handed over to the Roman government, even though he had done nothing wrong against his fellow Jews, nor had he violated any of their customs. The Romans had tried him and found no cause for the death penalty, and thus, had to release him. However, the Jewish hierarchy protested the decision bitterly, and so Paul felt he had no choice but to appeal to Caesar, as he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 22:24-29).
And so, apparently, no accusations about Paul had been forwarded to the Jewish community in Rome from Jerusalem regarding Paul’s trial. Here in Acts 28:17-31, we see that Paul actually wants to meet with his people in Rome, not to complain about how he was treated in Jerusalem, but rather, he wanted to boldly preach the gospel of CHRIST to them, right in the heart of Rome, which at that time, was an extremely dangerous undertaking, and, he was also willing to do it while still a prisoner, bound in the chains of Christian persecution.
Paul wanted to express his deep concerns for his own people, and to also, share the same conviction that CHRIST had, to preach the gospel first, to the Jews. And like in JESUS’ effort, Paul’s presentation won very little positive response, and as a result, he felt released by the HOLY SPIRIT to concentrate on ministering boldly to the Gentiles in Rome.
Church history tells us that the Apostle Paul was eventually acquitted of these charges, on this occasion, and he went on to continue his ministry for a short time in other places. However, ultimately (approximately two years later) he returned to Rome, and at that time, he was re-arrested, convicted, and executed in close proximity to the Apostle’s Peter’s execution there in Rome, near the end of the reign of the Emperor Nero circa A.D. 68.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, August 20, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 22, 2010
_____________________________________________
GROWING IN JOY AND PEACE
(Put into practice, what you know about GOD)
(Philippians 4)
Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is a very warm and very personal one. He was beholden to the Philippians because they had been the only church to offer up financial help to him, showing concern that he might be in need. They had sent an emissary named Epaphroditus to Paul while he was incarcerated in Rome. It was an offering that came at a time when Paul was not even sure that he would live or die as a result of this act of Roman persecution.
Epaphroditus became ill and nearly died during this benevolent mission, in fact, his illness is one of the overriding reasons why Paul was writing this letter. He was sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi to continue in the work of the church there (Philippians 2:25-30), and wanted also to introduce his young protégé and co-worker, Timothy, who would be visiting for a while there at the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:19-24). Thirdly, he wanted to encourage those who were upset about his imprisonment and remind them of the active promotion of the Gospel that his imprisonment was causing among others. Paul felt that for that reason alone, they should all rejoice.
Throughout this touching letter we see the theme of “rejoicing” being resonated. For the Christian, to live is cause to rejoice, because GOD loves us enough to allow it, despite our continued disobedience to HIS word. To die in CHRIST, is also reason to rejoice, because, as believers, ultimately, we will be with HIM forever, sharing in HIS wonderful kingdom, because of GOD’s grace.
However, this by no means says that we won’t have problems and difficulties from time to time, for that comes with being a part of the human experience. And remember, even JESUS, WHO had no sin, had to suffer when HE made HIMSELF a part of humanity, as part of GOD’s plan to save us from ourselves. And so, even in our obedience to GOD, we will inevitably be involved with a certain degree of suffering.
In Philippians 4, Paul urges those who live in CHRIST to stand firm in that power. He pleads for harmony between two faithful Christian women, as they struggle with a mere difference of opinion, seeking to encourage them not to jeopardize all the good work they had done, by behaving in an ungodly way (V.1).
As Christians, we are not to render worthless, the value of a life that has been dedicated to the work of GOD, by turning on one another for reasons that are petty, and do not involve the violation of the doctrine of CHRIST JESUS. We are to fix our minds and thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, thinking only of those things that are pure and lovely and admirable in the eyes of the LORD. We must put into practice, those things that we have learned concerning GOD’s perfect will for us, and then, the GOD of peace, will be with us, because we are walking in HIS light (v. 9).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for truth is “aletheia” (al-ay-thi-a), and it is “that which is in harmony with reality”. GOD’s truth is to be communicated as concepts that are heard, learned, and received. However, it must be received as “reality”, rather than as “philosophy”, and most of all, “truth” must be seen in the teacher.
When “truth” is communicated to others, by those who exemplify the life that they teach about, then, is it likely to be put into practice by those who hear it. Then to, those who hear it, will be able to grow in joy and peace, because they then sense and discover, the joy and peace of GOD, that had been previously suppressed, within themselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 22, 2010
_____________________________________________
GROWING IN JOY AND PEACE
(Put into practice, what you know about GOD)
(Philippians 4)
Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi is a very warm and very personal one. He was beholden to the Philippians because they had been the only church to offer up financial help to him, showing concern that he might be in need. They had sent an emissary named Epaphroditus to Paul while he was incarcerated in Rome. It was an offering that came at a time when Paul was not even sure that he would live or die as a result of this act of Roman persecution.
Epaphroditus became ill and nearly died during this benevolent mission, in fact, his illness is one of the overriding reasons why Paul was writing this letter. He was sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi to continue in the work of the church there (Philippians 2:25-30), and wanted also to introduce his young protégé and co-worker, Timothy, who would be visiting for a while there at the church in Philippi (Philippians 2:19-24). Thirdly, he wanted to encourage those who were upset about his imprisonment and remind them of the active promotion of the Gospel that his imprisonment was causing among others. Paul felt that for that reason alone, they should all rejoice.
Throughout this touching letter we see the theme of “rejoicing” being resonated. For the Christian, to live is cause to rejoice, because GOD loves us enough to allow it, despite our continued disobedience to HIS word. To die in CHRIST, is also reason to rejoice, because, as believers, ultimately, we will be with HIM forever, sharing in HIS wonderful kingdom, because of GOD’s grace.
However, this by no means says that we won’t have problems and difficulties from time to time, for that comes with being a part of the human experience. And remember, even JESUS, WHO had no sin, had to suffer when HE made HIMSELF a part of humanity, as part of GOD’s plan to save us from ourselves. And so, even in our obedience to GOD, we will inevitably be involved with a certain degree of suffering.
In Philippians 4, Paul urges those who live in CHRIST to stand firm in that power. He pleads for harmony between two faithful Christian women, as they struggle with a mere difference of opinion, seeking to encourage them not to jeopardize all the good work they had done, by behaving in an ungodly way (V.1).
As Christians, we are not to render worthless, the value of a life that has been dedicated to the work of GOD, by turning on one another for reasons that are petty, and do not involve the violation of the doctrine of CHRIST JESUS. We are to fix our minds and thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, thinking only of those things that are pure and lovely and admirable in the eyes of the LORD. We must put into practice, those things that we have learned concerning GOD’s perfect will for us, and then, the GOD of peace, will be with us, because we are walking in HIS light (v. 9).
In the biblical Greek, the word used for truth is “aletheia” (al-ay-thi-a), and it is “that which is in harmony with reality”. GOD’s truth is to be communicated as concepts that are heard, learned, and received. However, it must be received as “reality”, rather than as “philosophy”, and most of all, “truth” must be seen in the teacher.
When “truth” is communicated to others, by those who exemplify the life that they teach about, then, is it likely to be put into practice by those who hear it. Then to, those who hear it, will be able to grow in joy and peace, because they then sense and discover, the joy and peace of GOD, that had been previously suppressed, within themselves.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Friday, August 13, 2010
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 15, 2010
_____________________________________________
LIVING INTO THE FUTURE
(Live for your future in CHRIST, not in your past)
(Philippians 3)
The Apostle Paul was the first great Christian missionary and theologian, after the example of JESUS CHRIST of course. He was born and raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, as Gaius Julius Paulus, the son of a Roman citizen, under the strictest of Jewish tradition and Judaism. He went on to become the first man to clearly show the distinction between Judaism and the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS. He presented Christianity as the universal religion for all mankind, and clearly showed that it was not just a tiny little spin-off of Judaism, that had been formed expressly, for the benefit of Jews.
In his lifetime, Paul became widely known as the apostle of the Gentiles. He solved, once and for all time, the issues that arose concerning the problems people had with Christianity, and the biblical and non-biblical traditions of the Jewish law. While the other apostles, with maybe the exception of Peter, continued on with a practical attitude toward the law and Judaism, oftentimes not seeing far into principle, Paul, on the other hand, preached that the issue was very much different than Judaism. He insisted that the doctrine he preached concerning CHRIST was defined by the cross. In other words, Paul keenly felt that one either had to choose “Pharisaism”, or JESUS, or, quite literally, “Law” or “Love, as the ultimate revelation of GOD.
All of Paul’s known letters bear traces of the Hellenistic background from whence he came, and he most certainly obtained many of his Greek ideas through the medium of Judaeo-Greek, or, Hellenistic literature. In fact, a careful study of his letters gives us some idea of this societal element in his early life, due to his Jewish birth. They suggest Paul’s own youthful attitude toward the importance and responsibility of being born Jewish.
In Philippians 3, Paul sought to exhort, or urge with a strong appeal, that the church at Philippi would continue to rejoice in the LORD. He also warned of the work of the Judaizers, calling them “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh” (a reference to circumcision) who continued to preach that one must become a Jew, through circumcision, before they could be saved.
Paul, however, had spent a lot of time preaching to the infant church that they should place no confidence in the flesh. In fact, Christians should place no confidence in their own effort at all, but instead, must only boast of their faith in what JESUS has done for them. The Christian must worship GOD in the SPIRIT, and thereby, experience a spiritual “circumcision of the heart” that can only come by knowing GOD.
Paul said that if anyone could have confidence in their own background and training, he could. He once held in high regard, his boyhood studies under the great first-century scholar, Gamaliel, at the famous “School of Hillel” in Rome. He himself, as a pure-breed Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, had been circumcised when he was eight days old. He had also been a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest adherence to Jewish tradition and the Mosaic Law. But now he had experienced the priceless gain of knowing JESUS CHRIST, and everything else suddenly seems worthless by comparison. Before getting to know CHRIST, Paul placed all of his value on the things that he had achieved in the past, but now, he understood clearly that his future of eternal life with GOD can only be realized through he belief and confidence in what JESUS has achieved.
And so, like Paul, all Christians must press ahead toward the highest goal that a man can ever achieve in this life. It is a goal that can never be achieved through human effort, but instead, has already been achieved through the vicarious sacrifice of CHRIST. However, a man will never accept the free gift of salvation in his heart, unless he first, become willing to remove his love for the things of this world from his heart.
From the original Greek, the phrase translated “becoming like HIM”, that is used in verse 21 of this passage, is “symmorphizomenos” (sim-morph-i-zo-me-nos) and it means “being conformed inwardly through one’s experience of something”. The Christians must continue to work toward the day when they can be all that CHRIST died for us to be, and all that GOD wants us to be, and that is, more like HIM, and, with HIM. And it is a change that can only occur, first, inwardly, so that it can then be manifested outwardly, so as to have a positive, GODly effect on the lives of those whom we will be coming in contact with in the future.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 15, 2010
_____________________________________________
LIVING INTO THE FUTURE
(Live for your future in CHRIST, not in your past)
(Philippians 3)
The Apostle Paul was the first great Christian missionary and theologian, after the example of JESUS CHRIST of course. He was born and raised in Tarsus of Cilicia, as Gaius Julius Paulus, the son of a Roman citizen, under the strictest of Jewish tradition and Judaism. He went on to become the first man to clearly show the distinction between Judaism and the Gospel of CHRIST JESUS. He presented Christianity as the universal religion for all mankind, and clearly showed that it was not just a tiny little spin-off of Judaism, that had been formed expressly, for the benefit of Jews.
In his lifetime, Paul became widely known as the apostle of the Gentiles. He solved, once and for all time, the issues that arose concerning the problems people had with Christianity, and the biblical and non-biblical traditions of the Jewish law. While the other apostles, with maybe the exception of Peter, continued on with a practical attitude toward the law and Judaism, oftentimes not seeing far into principle, Paul, on the other hand, preached that the issue was very much different than Judaism. He insisted that the doctrine he preached concerning CHRIST was defined by the cross. In other words, Paul keenly felt that one either had to choose “Pharisaism”, or JESUS, or, quite literally, “Law” or “Love, as the ultimate revelation of GOD.
All of Paul’s known letters bear traces of the Hellenistic background from whence he came, and he most certainly obtained many of his Greek ideas through the medium of Judaeo-Greek, or, Hellenistic literature. In fact, a careful study of his letters gives us some idea of this societal element in his early life, due to his Jewish birth. They suggest Paul’s own youthful attitude toward the importance and responsibility of being born Jewish.
In Philippians 3, Paul sought to exhort, or urge with a strong appeal, that the church at Philippi would continue to rejoice in the LORD. He also warned of the work of the Judaizers, calling them “dogs” and “mutilators of the flesh” (a reference to circumcision) who continued to preach that one must become a Jew, through circumcision, before they could be saved.
Paul, however, had spent a lot of time preaching to the infant church that they should place no confidence in the flesh. In fact, Christians should place no confidence in their own effort at all, but instead, must only boast of their faith in what JESUS has done for them. The Christian must worship GOD in the SPIRIT, and thereby, experience a spiritual “circumcision of the heart” that can only come by knowing GOD.
Paul said that if anyone could have confidence in their own background and training, he could. He once held in high regard, his boyhood studies under the great first-century scholar, Gamaliel, at the famous “School of Hillel” in Rome. He himself, as a pure-breed Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, had been circumcised when he was eight days old. He had also been a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest adherence to Jewish tradition and the Mosaic Law. But now he had experienced the priceless gain of knowing JESUS CHRIST, and everything else suddenly seems worthless by comparison. Before getting to know CHRIST, Paul placed all of his value on the things that he had achieved in the past, but now, he understood clearly that his future of eternal life with GOD can only be realized through he belief and confidence in what JESUS has achieved.
And so, like Paul, all Christians must press ahead toward the highest goal that a man can ever achieve in this life. It is a goal that can never be achieved through human effort, but instead, has already been achieved through the vicarious sacrifice of CHRIST. However, a man will never accept the free gift of salvation in his heart, unless he first, become willing to remove his love for the things of this world from his heart.
From the original Greek, the phrase translated “becoming like HIM”, that is used in verse 21 of this passage, is “symmorphizomenos” (sim-morph-i-zo-me-nos) and it means “being conformed inwardly through one’s experience of something”. The Christians must continue to work toward the day when they can be all that CHRIST died for us to be, and all that GOD wants us to be, and that is, more like HIM, and, with HIM. And it is a change that can only occur, first, inwardly, so that it can then be manifested outwardly, so as to have a positive, GODly effect on the lives of those whom we will be coming in contact with in the future.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 8, 2010
_____________________________________________
BEING IN CHRIST
(To be in CHRIST is to be saved)
(Philippians 2:1-18)
In Philippians chapter 2, verses 1-11, perhaps two Greek words sum up the gist of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi, “tapeinophrosune” (tap-i-nof-ras-oo-nay) which means “unity through humility”, and “sumpsuchos” (soom-psoo-khos), which means “together in spirit, or like-minded”.
Here, Paul writes of how his joy in his fellowship with the Philippians would be even greater, if they would began to exhibit more unity, by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. This is perhaps Scripture’s clearest portrait of the humility that is called for by CHRIST JESUS.
Humility, in the biblical sense, is not a weak man’s surrender, but rather, it is a strong man’s rejection of all things selfish, and it is a desire to be actively and genuinely concerned with the needs of others (verses 2-4).
In verses 5-11, Paul uses JESUS as the great example, or standard, of what true humility in a Christian should look like. Here Paul tells us that our attitudes should be the same as CHRIST exemplified, during HIS three-year mission on earth. During that time, even though HE was GOD, HE did not demand, or cling to HIS to rights as GOD. HE took the humble position of a slave and appeared to us in human form. HE obediently humbled HIMSELF even further, by dying a criminal’s death on the cross, by Roman method.
In this supreme illustration of humility, JESUS willingly surrendered the prerogatives of deity, in order that HE may die for the sins of all humanity. It is because of JESUS’ great sacrifice, that GOD raised HIM up to the heights of Heaven and gave HIM the name that is above all others. And it is at the very mention of HIS name that, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. And it will all be to the glory of GOD the FATHER in Heaven. These statements by Paul (vs. 6-11) constitute a grand expression of Christology. In fact, it is said by some scholars that these verses are taken from one of the popular hymns of the early Christian Church.
Through our struggles here on earth, the Christian must be able to tap into GOD’s will for us, and thereby, shine brightly for CHRIST. Paul reminded the Philippians of how careful they were to follow his instructions while he was with them. And now, he was urging them to put what they had learned from him into action, and show the world, through their behavior, how GOD’s saving work is having a positive affect on their lives, and the lives of others. It is the brightness of our Christian light that sheds light and life on the Gospel message that we hold out for others to see.
We must set as our goal, a desire to gain certain qualities in life, among them being, a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a genuine concern for those interests that are CHRIST’, and a record of faithful service that we can point to as our witness before those whom we aspire to convert. And by following the examples of JESUS, or, by “being in CHRIST”, the Christian Church, by working together, will be able to work out GODly solutions to its own problems, and, they will be able to do so, without murmuring and complaining.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday August 8, 2010
_____________________________________________
BEING IN CHRIST
(To be in CHRIST is to be saved)
(Philippians 2:1-18)
In Philippians chapter 2, verses 1-11, perhaps two Greek words sum up the gist of the Apostle Paul’s message to the Church at Philippi, “tapeinophrosune” (tap-i-nof-ras-oo-nay) which means “unity through humility”, and “sumpsuchos” (soom-psoo-khos), which means “together in spirit, or like-minded”.
Here, Paul writes of how his joy in his fellowship with the Philippians would be even greater, if they would began to exhibit more unity, by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. This is perhaps Scripture’s clearest portrait of the humility that is called for by CHRIST JESUS.
Humility, in the biblical sense, is not a weak man’s surrender, but rather, it is a strong man’s rejection of all things selfish, and it is a desire to be actively and genuinely concerned with the needs of others (verses 2-4).
In verses 5-11, Paul uses JESUS as the great example, or standard, of what true humility in a Christian should look like. Here Paul tells us that our attitudes should be the same as CHRIST exemplified, during HIS three-year mission on earth. During that time, even though HE was GOD, HE did not demand, or cling to HIS to rights as GOD. HE took the humble position of a slave and appeared to us in human form. HE obediently humbled HIMSELF even further, by dying a criminal’s death on the cross, by Roman method.
In this supreme illustration of humility, JESUS willingly surrendered the prerogatives of deity, in order that HE may die for the sins of all humanity. It is because of JESUS’ great sacrifice, that GOD raised HIM up to the heights of Heaven and gave HIM the name that is above all others. And it is at the very mention of HIS name that, one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. And it will all be to the glory of GOD the FATHER in Heaven. These statements by Paul (vs. 6-11) constitute a grand expression of Christology. In fact, it is said by some scholars that these verses are taken from one of the popular hymns of the early Christian Church.
Through our struggles here on earth, the Christian must be able to tap into GOD’s will for us, and thereby, shine brightly for CHRIST. Paul reminded the Philippians of how careful they were to follow his instructions while he was with them. And now, he was urging them to put what they had learned from him into action, and show the world, through their behavior, how GOD’s saving work is having a positive affect on their lives, and the lives of others. It is the brightness of our Christian light that sheds light and life on the Gospel message that we hold out for others to see.
We must set as our goal, a desire to gain certain qualities in life, among them being, a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a genuine concern for those interests that are CHRIST’, and a record of faithful service that we can point to as our witness before those whom we aspire to convert. And by following the examples of JESUS, or, by “being in CHRIST”, the Christian Church, by working together, will be able to work out GODly solutions to its own problems, and, they will be able to do so, without murmuring and complaining.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
Larry D. Alexander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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