Introduction

• Acts 2:38
  • “baptize”: immerse, submerge for a religious purpose
• Matthew 5:3
  • “blessed”: divine favor
  • Use a Greek dictionary to find out the original meaning of a word.
• Ephesians 5:27
  • “church”
  • Bible study tools can show you were a Greek or Hebrew word is used in the Old Testament.

How to look up a Greek word

• Galatians 5:20 – What does “jealousy” mean?
• We can use a Greek interlinear to find the exact word that was used.
• In 1890, Dr. Strong setup a numbering system for all Greek and Hebrew words in the Bible. Most Bible study tools today are keyed to these numbers.
• In the 1970s, Zondervan updated this system with new numbers for words found in additional manuscripts that had been found since Dr. Strong created his system. This system uses numbers starting with “GK” and is also used in Bible study tools. However, Strong’s numbers are still more widely used.

Be careful – you are not a Greek expert!

• In this case, the same Greek word can mean either zeal or jealousy.
• There is more to the meaning of a word than just the definition. Context matters!
• All words have a semantic range (more than one meaning).
• WARNING: Don’t randomly plug in definitions for a word.
• Be hesitant to think you know more than the translators!

Refuting bad arguments

• Acts 2:38 – “for” the forgiveness of sins.
• The Greek word is eis, which means “forward” or “into.”
• Compare Matthew 26:28. The same word is used here.
• The people needed forgiveness of their sins. They had not been forgiven yet.

Practical advice

• Compare English translations.
• From time to time, look up a Greek word.
• Find other places the same Greek word is used.

Introduction

• Exodus 12:2 – Their calendar started with the Exodus. This event formed the national identify of Israel.

The exodus

• Exodus 3:7-10 – God heard their cries and was acting on His promises.
• The ten plagues (Exodus 3:19):

• God designed the plagues to specifically show that the many false gods of Egypt were powerless against Him.
• Exodus 7:5; 8:19
• God continually reminded the Israelites of what He did
  • Exodus 12:12
  • Joshua 24:5
  • Judges 6:8
  • I Samuel 10:18
  • II Samuel 7:6
• II Chronicles 7:19-22
• Acts 13:16-17, 23, 26, 29
• Hebrews 10:28-31 – Let us appreciate what God has done for us!

The law

• Exodus 19:4-6
• The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5)
  • The covenant included many additional laws – over 600 in al.
• God entered into a covenant with the people. This covenant was good for the people. The laws God set forth were not arbitrary.
• Deuteronomy 6:5-7 – They were to learn and obey these laws.
• Deuteronomy 6:18-25 – These laws were good for them.
• Jeremiah 11:1-8 – Israel broke the covenant with God.
• Any time people stray from God’s law, bad things will happen!
• Jeremiah 31:31
• Romans 6:20

The leader

Timeline of Moses’ life:

• First 40 years:
  • Raised as an Egyptian
  • Exodus 2:11; Acts 7:23
• Second 40 years:
  • Shepherd in Midian
  • Exodus 2:15; 7:7; Acts 7:29-30
• Third 40 years:
  • Leaders of Israel
  • Deuteronomy 34:7

We can grow into greatness!

• Exodus 3
• Exodus 2:11-15
• The reluctance of Moses (Exodus 3:11-4:17)
  • Exodus 5:22-23
  • Exodus 11:3
  • Exodus 12:1, 32
  • Exodus 14:13-14 – This is a Moses with faith!
  • Hebrews 11:24-29
• The way to grow into greatness is to live by faith.

Apparent age

• God created things in a mature, functional state.
• Apparent Age
• Romans 1:18-25

Difficulties with radiometric dating techniques

• More Conflicting Evidence from Evolutionary Dating Techniques
• New Findings Show Flags in Old-Earth Dating Methods
• Radioactive decay rates are not as constant as once thought. Solar weather seems to change the decay rate.
• How do we know the decay rates we have computed are accurate?

Soft tissues in dinosaur fossils

• Dinosaur Soft Tissue is Here to Stay
• Soft tissue has been found in dinosaur fossils, which should not be possible if the fossils are millions of years old.

Limitations in archaeology

• Dating in Archaeology: Challenges to Biblical Credibility

Obligatory mutualism

• Many plants and animals have symbiotic relationships such that they cannot survive without the other.
• This means that they must be created very close together or neither would survive. This causes problems for the idea of creation happening over millions of years.

ntroduction

• Matthew 5:20
• Acts 26:5
• Jesus is not saying, “do more of what they are doing.” He is saying, “do things differently than them.”
• We need to be on a different track than what the Pharisees were on.

Love the lost.

• Luke 18:9
• Luke 7:36-37 – Simon viewed the woman with contempt.

Love the truth.

• Matthew 12:1-8
• Matthew 12:9 – They were not for truth – they were simply against Jesus.
• Matthew 16:1
• Matthew 19:3; 22:15, 35, 41 – Their attitude was wrong!
• We must do something different than this and love truth.
• Luke 16:14-15
• John 11:48

Develop humility.

• Luke 14:7-11
• John 4:1-3 – Jesus left, possibly to avoid conflict with the Pharisees.
• John 7:31
• Am I humble enough to learn from whoever might be able to teach me?
• John 9:34

Be willing to change my mind.

• Luke 6:10
• John 9:16, 24; 10:20 – They didn’t know what they thought they knew!
• Christians should be open-minded and learn.
• My willingness to change my mind must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees.

Study God’s word instead of blindly keeping tradition.

• Mark 7:1-9
• John 9:22
• John 12:42
• John 3:1-2; 7:50-52 – Nicodemus was willing to be open-minded.
• We need to be honest and realize we might need to change.

Introduction

• The context of stop signs.
• Genesis 3
• 11 Things the Bible Bans, But You Do Anyway

God’s laws through the ages

• Genesis 1: Laws for patriarchs
  • Genesis 3:3; 6:14; 12
  • Genesis 18:19 – This was intended for Abraham and his family.
• Exodus 20: Law of Moses for Israel (Old Covenant)
  • Exodus 19:3-6
  • Exodus 20:3-17
  • Deuteronomy 5:3 – This covenant was between God and Israel.
  • This law was limited in applicability and in duration (Jeremiah 31:31).
• Prophets: Laws for Gentiles
  • Isaiah 13:1; 14:29; 15:1; 18:1; 19:1; 21:11, 13 – Messages for various particular nations.
• Period of transition: Jesus lived under the Old Covenant, taught the New Covenant
  • Matthew 5:17-18
  • Matthew 4:23
• Acts 2: Law of CHRIST for ALL (New Covenant)
  • Hebrews 1:1
  • Acts 2:36, 39
• Acts 10
  • Acts 10:34 – New Covenant opened up to all Gentiles. All nations are now under the same law.
  • John 12:48
  • Romans 1:16

Study each passage in its context to determine its relevance.

• Generally the New Testament is for us, the Old Testament is not.
  • But even that is an oversimplification.
• Not everything in the Old Testament is irrelevant.
• Not everything in the New Testament is an instruction for us.

Examples

• Are we commanded to be vegetarians?
  • Genesis 1:29
  • Genesis 9:3