Introduction

• Psalms 119:129-136

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

• Romans 7:14-25

“… grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ”

• Ephesians 4:15-24 – Growing is a process over time. We must put on the new self. We can change! We can get out of old habits and change the way we live.
• Hebrews 5:12-14
• Over time, we can become stronger spiritually.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

• Proverbs 13:20
• II Chronicles 24:1-2, 15-19 – The influences in Joash’s life changed and he also changed, turning away from God.
• It’s hard to have mature, spiritual conversations with worldly people.
• Psalms 119:9-16
• Philippians 4:8
• James Clear, Atomic Habits – example of heroine addiction and change of environment
• Can you change your environment to make things easier for yourself?
• Proverbs 5:8; 7:7, 25 – Get out of bad situations!
• What can I do to get away from temptation?
• James 4:7
• Luke 15:18-24 – God and the angels rejoice when we forsake sin!

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it.”

– C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, 1945

Discerning between good and evil

Sins that Christians “used to do”

• I Peter 4:1-4 – lewdness (indecent behavior), lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, idolatry

What happens when we aren’t sure?

• I Thessalonians 5:21-23
  • Test everything
  • Hold fast to what is good
  • Abstain from every form of evil
  • May God sanctify you

Questions that help us test

Is the action like something the Bible condemns?

• Galatians 5:19-21
  • Sexual immorality, impurity, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft (sorcery), hatred, jealousy, outburst of anger, selfish ambition, division, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries

Introduction

• I Corinthians 15:10

When we recognize the ugliness of sin, we appreciate grace even more.

• Ezekiel 16:15-17, 32-37
• Micah 3:1-4
• Malachi 2:1-3
• II Peter 2:20-22
• The ugliness of sin is totally contrary to the beauty and purity of God. Yet God is willing to forgive!

Grace is forgiveness, not a repayment plan.

• Isaiah 1:18
• Romans 4:1-5, 23 – No one earns their way into heaven. God deeds cannot wipe away sins.
• Romans 6:3-4

Grace should motivate righteousness, not sin.

• Acts 2:37-38 – See Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 53:11; Joel 2:32. The gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation.
• Acts 2:42-47
• Ephesians 2:8-10 – They were not working off the sin, but they were living righteously.
• Titus 2:11-14
• Grace is not a license to sin.
• Our response to grace should be gratitude and motivation to live righteously.
• I Corinthians 15:10

Jude 1

• Jude 1:1
  • Jude is the same word as Judas, but it is traditionally translated as Jude. He is the brother of James and Jesus.
  • See Matthew 13:55
  • It’s interesting that Jude introduces himself as the servant of Jesus, not the brother (see John 7:5).
  • Acts 1:14
  • This letter was probably written between 60-80 A.D. The letter is written to Christians.
• Jude 1:3
  • The word translated “contend” is a very strong word. The English translation is not strong enough. The Greek word behind it carries the idea of a vigorous fight.
  • Galatians 1:6-9 – The faith was once delivered – there are no upcoming revelations.
• Jude 1:4 – They were twisting God’s grace into a license for sin. See Romans 5:20-21; Galatians 5:13.
• Jude 1:5-7 – God punished His own special nation (Israel) repeatedly for disobedience. We cannot think that we will not be punished.
  • Jude 1:6 – See II Peter 2:4. Even angels were punished when they sinned.
  • Jude 1:7 – See Genesis 19:4-5, 24-28; Romans 1:26-27 – Some take this verse to imply that punishment in hell is not actually eternal. See Mark 9:47. It could mean that Sodom and Gomorrah were just a taste of the punishment to come. Note that the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah was a one-time event, but the people were condemned to eternal destruction, which could be the point of the verse.

Introduction

• Nehemiah 9 summarizes the Old Testament timeline.

The prayer of the Levites

• Nehemiah 9:1-3 – This was a special event.
• Nehemiah 9:6-8 – They are remembering their roots, so to speak.
• Nehemiah 9:16-21 – Our of God’s compassion, He preserved them despite their rebellion.
• Nehemiah 9:22-25 – Thought they didn’t deserve any of it, God blessed them to live in the land of Canaan, where much of the work of setting up cities and farms was already done.
• Nehemiah 9:26-31 – For centuries, God was patient with them despite their rebellion.

The goodness of God

• James 1:17 – The blessings come from God When we rebel against God, we bring problems upon ourselves.
• At every turn, God was good to the Israelites.
• Do we appreciate the goodness of God like we should?
• I Peter 1:3-5 – Has anyone been blessed more than us?
• Hebrews 11:39-40 – We are privileged to live at this time in history.

The disobedience of the people

• Romans 2:2-11 – If we are punished, that is on us.
• The Exodus generation saw so many miracles and yet were unfaithful.
• Romans 6:16, 20-23
• Why would we be disobedient, given all our blessings?

The need to walk in God’s law

• Nehemiah 10:28-31 – They rededicated themselves to serve God.
• Romans 12:1-2
• I need to repent.