Introduction

• Romans 15:20 – What did Paul preach when He went to a new place? He probably started with the basics.

God created us in love.

• Genesis 1:1
• Acts 17:22-28 – God doesn’t need us, but He designed us to seek Him.
• Psalms 115:1-9
• God created us, so He is in charge!

The Bible is His word.

• John 1:1-10 – The word of God came to Jeremiah.
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Psalms 119:17-24

Judgment Day is coming.

• Acts 17:29-31
• Romans 3:8-12, 23
• Romans 2:16
• We’re all guilty of sin. What are we going to do about it?
• Am I ready?

Christ died for our sins and then resurrected!

• Romans 3:21-24 – God intervened and made a way for us to be saved.
• Romans 5:6-9

• II Peter 1:16-18 – Peter was an eye witness of Jesus. These aren’t just fables. See Matthew 17:1-5.
• II Peter 1:19-21 – The words of the prophets give us even more surety of these events. Verses 20-21 are often misused, but this passage is simply saying that prophecy comes from God. It is not invented by man.
• II Peter 2:1 – It’s possible to be wrong on a point of doctrine, but that’s not necessarily the same as being a false teacher. If you are knowingly teaching error, that is a character flaw and that makes you a false teacher. See I Corinthians 15:15; I John 4:1-3.
• II Peter 2:4-6 – Peter uses three illustrations of God’s judgment. Note that context must indicate what kind of messenger is under consideration.
  • Uses of the word translated “angels”:
    • Matthew 1:24 – celestial angel
    • Matthew 25:41 – the devil’s angels
    • II Corinthians 12:7 – angels of Satan
    • Luke 7:24, 27 – messengers of John the Baptist
    • Luke 9:52 – Jesus’ messengers
    • James 2:25 – the two spies

Job 1:6-12; 2:3-6; Luke 22:31-34

• Job had faith in God, but God also had enough faith in Job to bring up his name with Satan.
• Jesus also showed faith in Peter that he could defeat Satan.
• Even after being tempted, we have the power to come back to God.

Temptation to sin (I Corinthians 9-10; James 4)

• I Corinthians 10:13 – God promises that we can endure any temptation!
• James 4:7 – God has made it so we can beat the devil every time if we choose to do so.

Persecution (James 1; II Timothy 3)

• God allows trials because He has faith that we can handle it!
• II Timothy 3:14-15 – Timothy, you have what you need!

Terrible circumstances (Job 17; Romans 8)

• Job 17:1 – We may have felt like Job at some point.
• Romans 8:18
• When terrible circumstances come, it is a compliment from God because He knows we can handle it.

Job 1:11; 2:5

• The devil is rooting for us to fail!

Crestotes – Kindness, Agathosune – Goodness

• “A mellowing of character; gracious”
• Acts 24:4; 27:3; 28:2 – Examples of kindness
• Luke 6:31-35 – Kindness is about not expecting anything in return. Treat others how you want to be treated! God did not wait for us to be worthy of this love. Neither should we wait for others to “deserve” our kindness.
• Ephesians 5:5-12 – Kindness may require us to rebuke another for their sin. It should be done out of love and to help save their soul.
• Romans 11:22; 15:14
• Acts 9:36-39 – Tabitha was full of good works (kindness). She continually did these things – it wasn’t a one-time thing!
• Ephesians 2:4-7 – God showed us great kindness in providing salvation while we were still in our sin.
• Titus 3:4-7
• I Peter 2:1-3 – “tasting the kindness of the Lord”
• Even though God offers kindness to all, not everyone will receive it. That does not change God, though. He still offers kindness. We may find ourselves in a similar situation in being kind to others who refuse to accept it. Like God shows us, we should still be kind, regardless of the behavior of others.

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Introduction

• Psalm 139:13-14

Demonstrate the love of Jesus

• Matthew 22:39 – Love your neighbor!
• Mark 8:2-3 – Jesus had compassion for the people.
• Mark 6:34
• John 8:31-36 – Jesus came to set us free from sin.

Stand on God’s word

• Luke 1:39-44 – The baby leaped in her womb for joy!
• Luke 2:12, 16 – The word for “baby” here is the same as for the unborn baby in Luke 1:39-44.
• Luke 1:57, 36 – The same word for “son” is used before and after birth. The same language goes all the way back to conception.
• Exodus 21:22-25 – The Old Covenant law for injury to a pregnant woman on her unborn child. This is Old Covenant law, but the truth and God’s thinking behind it still stands.
• Genesis 25:26; 38:27-30
• Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:13-14
• Genesis 9:6 – Murder is sin, but capital punishment is permitted.
• Abortion is murder of an innocent life and therefore sin.

“You shouldn’t tell others what they ought to not do.”

• Why not?
• Matthew 28:18-20 – It was not wrong for the apostles to go out teaching God’s message.
• Acts 8:3-4
• II Timothy 4:1-5; 2:2
• This is logically inconsistent! You can’t tell people they shouldn’t tell others what not to do, because you are doing that same thing yourself!

“My body, my choice.”

• Our bodies belong to God! We can make choices, but ultimately we are accountable to God.
• Romans 6:11-13
• Romans 12:1-2 – We are to be living sacrifices to God.