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.

Putting to death the deeds of the flesh

Anything wrong with these?

• “I have been praying that the Lord will motivate me to stop …”
• “Lord please remove this temptation from me.”
• Key passage: Romans 8:12-14

We must cultivate a conviction to do so.

• Conviction is: the state of being convicted: belief
• Conviction that living a holy life is God’s will for my life.
  • I Peter 1:14-16
  • Romans 6:1-2
  • I Thessalonians 4:7
  • II Corinthians 6:17
• Conviction that without holiness no one shall see God
  • Hebrews 12:14
• Conviction that the efforts and pain required to “kill” the misdeeds of the body is with the reward*.*
  • James 1:12
    • … endures temptation …
    • … crown of life …

We must be committed to our convictions.

• Daniel 1:8 - … purposed in his heart …
• James 1:21-22