Week 7

Let’s start this lesson by backing up to read verse 18: Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. NJK

Remember back to last week what conception meant?

Vs 15 Conception – the joining or union of two

And what is the conception of sin? Sin – the desire of your old nature + temptation. Temptation alone is not sin.

Opposite of sin is: Sinless…doing the Father’s will

Conception of will – The Father wills that all will be saved ..that no one should perish

Mathew 18:14 It is not the will of your Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

HIS WILL + YOUR WILL = a new birth

We are responsible for our choices, not God, not the enemy, not other people. We are.

Believing the Word … and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

When you are willing to come (your will) when you believe the Word of God and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior…that’s your new birth.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22, 23

God chose to give you birth, but you had to choose God.

There must be that union. You + God = New Creation

Or

Your sin nature + temptation = sin

Your choice!

Verses 19-27 gives us practical (“possible” to practice) instructions as to how we can be firstfruits of His Creation, choosing God’s way and not sin. Our character should reflect God’s character because we are born again by the Word of Truth.

Who is the Word of Truth? And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 1 John 1:1

Let’s discuss these practical instructions that God’s Word teaches us. Want to be more Christ-like? Build Godly character? Follow along! But always remember to study God’s word in anticipation of what He is about to change in your life. READY?

19 So then my beloved brethren, (those of you who believe in Jesus as the Messiah)

let every man be swift (tachus) – speedy, quickness, to respond

to hear (to listen to, to be alert)

Hear what? The Word. You see, the Creator of the Universe wants to talk to you through the Holy Spirit that is in you. Did you know that you can read the Bible without every letting it speak to you? Hmmmm

Be ready to hear the Word of God. We have to be teachable by the Holy Spirit.

1 Kings 19:11, 12 …in a still, small voice. He is not going to yell to get our attention. We need to be alert and quiet. When you are talking all the time, you can’t hear. When you are being bombarded by the world’s loud voice, you cannot hear the still, small voice.

Be swift to hear. We are not listening. Why? Because we are listening to the world.

slow to speak (pseudologos) *Is being too talkative a sin? Perhaps if you talked less, we would listen more!

"slow" means cautious – take care what you say. Less talk, more listening. Guard your conversations.

Ref: Prov 10:19

"speak" – to utter words. Believers are to eagerly pursue every opportunity to know God’s word before you speak/teach/preach.

Psalm 119:11 – Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

It is you that must make it your own personal relationship.

Remember, it is not my responsibility to make you holy or happy. Only you can do that. It is crucial for you to study the Word for yourself and not just take everything I say as the inerrant Word. I error, not intentionally, and I commit to teaching what I feel God has taught me. But I am human and I will not always be “right on” target. I am learning too.

You might have heard this as a joke, but God gave you two ears and one mouth so that you would listen to Him twice as much as you talk to Him! (asking for things)!

slow to wrath - greek meaning (deep internal resentment and rejection of God’s word.

That’s interesting.

So what is wrong with anger? Refer to these verses: Matt 5:21-24, 38-48, 6:14-15, 7:1-5

20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God

Wrath – anger never produces righteousness. There is no place in righteous (a godly character) living for an angry spirit.

Righteousness – faithfulness – believers are brought into a right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, any merit by man…only faith in Christ. The man who trusts in Christ becomes “the righteousness” of God in Him.

What kinds of things make God angry? Proverbs 6:16-19, Exo 4:1-17, 32:7-14 Deut 1:26-36, Zech 1:2-4, Mark 3:1-6

Our anger should be the same as God’s anger.

2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

21 Therefore, lay aside – apotithemi – to put off from oneself – every weight

all filthiness – rhuparia – dirt, filth – moral defilement (impure – to render unholy, unclean) , filthiness of the flesh, wrong behavior – spiritual, mental, and physical

and overflow of wickedness – evil, morally bad, naughtiness, malice

original meaning – ear wax – anything that impedes the believer’s spiritual hearing!

Overflow means – too much, surplus, abundance

and receive with meekness – condition of the mind and heart, humble

You must have a meek, humble, teachable spirit

Titus 3:2 Christians are charged to show “all meekness” toward all men for meekness becomes God’s elect – Col 3:2

Meekness: inwrought (embroidered in the soul) grace of the soul. Gentle, submissive, enduring injury with patience and without resentment – mild.

3rd beatitude – Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness is the opposite of being out of control. It is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit.

Psalm 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

the implanted (emphutos) word which is able to save your soul. – rooted – the word of God is the rooted word – it should root itself in our hearts.

The implanted Word is able to save your soul. It saves you from eternity in hell and hell on earth.

{Hi this is Kelly. We stopped the study here because it was late, we will continue with James 1:22-27 this week. Stay tuned!}