Part 3: The Depths of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24), continued

Moral outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:22-30), continued

• See Leviticus 18:22. This was, of course, specifically forbidden by the Law of Moses.
• This is similar behavior to what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).
• This is the kind of behavior that eventually results when everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
• Judges 19:27 – The Levites’ behavior toward her was extremely callous.
• Judges 19:29 – Compare I Samuel 11 when Saul dismembered an ox and sent it throughout the land to bring urgent attention to a matter.
• Judges 19:30 – This low point in Israel’s history is referenced in Hosea 9:9; 10:9.

Civil war (Judges 20:1-48)

• Judges 20:1 – Mizpah is in Benjamin, so Israelites were assembling at Benjamin’ doorstep.
• Judges 20:15 – The 26,000 Benjamites were up against 400,000 Israelites – about a 15:1 ratio.
• Judges 20:18 – Compare Judges 1 when Judah was also called on to go first.
• Judges 20:26 – This was not something often seen from Israel in the book of Judges. They were tearfully seeking God and His guidance.
• See Mark 3:24. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
• Judges 20:12-13 – The Benjamites were offered a way out, but would not take it. How often do we make the same mistake out of pride?

Class 13 Takeaway

• The Israelite civil war began because of the wicked actions of a few men in one town and was exacerbated by their brothers’ unwillingness to stand up against their evil deeds.
• To avoid a similar firestorm in our lives, let’s ensure we are always pursuing what makes for peace and promotes unity in our relationships, but also that we have the courage to take a stand against evil – even when it hits close to home (Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:3, 13; 5:11).

Scope

“church”

• This refers to ALL the saved (Ephesians 5:23).

“churches”

• This refers to a limited group of (presumably) saved people in a certain location (Philippians 1:1).

Entrance and removal

“church”

• God decides
• Acts 2:47 – The Textus Receptus manuscript (used as the basis for the KJV and NKJV) includes ekklesia here. Other manuscripts do not.
• John 15:6

“churches”

• People decide (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:2, 7, 13; III John 1:9-10)
• Acts 18:27
• In I Corinthians 5, they were told to control their membership.
• Diotrephes was attempting to keep people out of a local church in III John 1.
• Church directories are not the same as God’s book of life! II Timothy 2:19

Remember

• The universal church is NOT composed of local churches. It’s composed of individual Christians.

Beginning and ending

“church”

• The church began when people were first saved (~ 33 A.D., Acts 2:36-47) and will never come to an end (Matthew 16:18; I Thessalonians 4:17).
• Hebre3ws 9:15 – Jews under the Law of Moses were also redeemed by the blood of Christ. See also Galatians 4:5
• Hebrews 9:11-12 – When were these Old Testament people saved? When Jesus entered the most holy place and gave Himself as a sacrifice.
• The church will never end. Satan can do nothing to stop it.

“churches”

• They begin and end any time since Acts 2 (Acts 11:21-26; 15:41; 16:5; Revelation 2:5).
• The church at Benchley began on October 23, 1994.

Conclusion

• Are you a member of THE church described in the Bible?

Titus 1

Introduction

• Titus was likely written while Paul was free, between his two imprisonments.
• II Corinthians 7-8 – Titus was a good man and instrumental iin some work in Corinth.

Titus 1:1-4 – Salutation

• Titus 1:2 – What God promises will happen.

Titus 1:5-9 – Elder qualifications

• Titus 1:5 – This implies that a church without elders is not yet fully formed. See Acts 6:3.
• Elders oversee the work of the church. This includes monetary decisions, but decisions about money are not their primary responsibility.

Titus 1:10-16 – The opposition – why there is a need for truth!

• Titus 1:12 – This quote is probably from Epimenides from Crete. In those days, Cretans had a terrible reputation, even to the point that highway robbery was considered honorable.
• The plan and need was for Titus to simply teach the whole gospel. Titus was not told to water down the message because of the environment in which he was preaching.
• How much must Titus has cherished this letter!

Titus 2

Titus 2:1-10 – Instructions for various categories

• Titus 2:4 – In the current environment, it can be tricky to give advice in a way where it will be accepted, but it should still be given. Young ladies, see out advice from wise older women!

The Greek word “ekklesia” in the New Testament

• Israel in the wilderness (Acts 7:38)
• Riotous mob (Acts 19:32, 40-41)
• Legal court (Acts 19:38-39)
• Here’s the first place we find it in the New Testament: Matthew 16:18
  • “I will build my church” (singular)
  • Matthew 4:4; Ephesians 1:22-23
• Here’s the last place we find it: Revelation 22:16
  • “the churches” (plural)
  • Acts 15:41
  • Romans 16:16

Salvation

“church”

• Membership is equivalent to salvation
• Ephesians 5:23-29
• Hebrews 12:22-24
• Matthew 16:13-20

“churches”

• Members are not necessarily saved (I Corinthians 5), and the saved are not necessarily members.
• Acts 8:38-39 – The eunuch was not a member of any local church (yet), but he was in a saved relationship with God.
• Revelation 1:9

Important note

• The universal church is not composed of local churches. It’s composed of individual Christians.

Part 3: The depth of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Religious corruption (Judges 17:1-18:31), continued

Religious corruption of a tribe (Judges 17:1-18:31)

• Judges 18:6 – Notice that this is a very ambiguous response. There is no indication that the priest actually inquired of God.
• Judges 18:20 – The Levite’s allegiance was not to God or even to Micah, but to his own ego.
• Judges 18:25 – See Judges 17:13. This did not turn out well for Micah.

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24)

Moral outrage at Gibeah (Judges 19:1-21)

• Judges 19:12 – Gibeah was associated with several faithful priests who took a stand against sin in the Old Testament. Eleazer was buried there (Joshua 24:33) and it was the town of his son Phinehas (see Numbers 25:1-13). The contrast here seems to be the declining values of the city since the days of Phinehas. Gibeah was also the hometown of Saul.

Class 12 takeaway

• Idolatry was so endemic to Israelite life that they were unable or unwilling to recognize it and root it out of their culture, ultimately leading to their captivity. This is clearly seen in the Micah-Levite-Danite affair.
• We can be similarly entrenched in idolatry and self-made religion. When we fail to carefully and thoughtfully study the Bible – and respectfully question long held conclusions in light of God’s truth – we risk stumbling into the same trap these Israelites (and later Jews who killed the Messiah) fell into.