Homework Readings: Isaiah 40 & 53; John 15; Luke 19  (NIV)

In order to understand the “Holy Roman Empire”, Islam, Papacy, Crusades, Reformation, Wars of Religion, etc.

What is written and what is done are sometimes (or frequently) two different things.

Truth = best explains all the facts; not determined by belief; sincerity; majority; experience, nor even pragmatism; limits of reason.

I. OT Background: Satan rebels cx. Creator God (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:13-17); Power pleasure possessions in Eden; Job;

Abraham; Moses; David; Solomon; Isaiah; Captivity (North 10 to Assyria 722 BC; South 2 to Babylon 586 BC; Return 70 yrs; 400 silence

II. OT Messianic hope: 2Samuel 7 (Ps 89) Ps 110; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1-7; 11:1-10; 40; 49; 53; 61 (Luke 4:18-19); Daniel 9:25-26

Jesus: Matthew 1 (birth); John 10 (claim to divinity); Mark 8:29 (Messiah); Daniel 7:13-14; Mt 27:54; Mark 2:10;28 (Son of Man/God)

III. NT History-Gospels: Matthew (Jews), Mark (Romans), Luke (Greeks), John (Universal 10:10; 20:29-31); Acts (of the Apostles)

Epistles (Romans-Philemon {Pastoral: Timothy Titus} by Paul); General epistles: Hebrews, Peter, John, Jude); Prophecy: Revelation

IV. Kingdom: of = source (heavenS, God); ages vs eternal; life=dominion; in= midsts (Lk 21; Mt 23:26); Eph 1:10; Revelation 21

Repent = Change mind (re: this world is not all there is, promised kingdom coming in which God rewards righteousness Lk 3; Isa 40)

V. Mercy=umerited and underserved favor (Ephesians 2:4-10; James 2:13)

Grace= power, coin of the realm of heaven (saving Eph 2, enabling 2Cor 12, glorifying 1Pt 1);

Glory = rulership/dominion/light/energy/life Genesis 1:3; 1Peter 4:14; 2Cor 4:5-5:10; 1Cor 15

VI. Salvation reverses the effects of the Fall (innocence-right to live forever, holiness-relationship with God,  glory-right to rule)

1. Justification: (declared righteous on the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, dying so we didn’t have to, satisfying God’s justice Rom 3:19-31)

One believes that Christ’s death is a propitiating sacrifice, accepted by the Father as payment for our sins

Once for all Hebrews 9:22-28; by faith not works Ephesians 2:8-9; results in HS and power Eph 1:13; born again (John 3:3-21 16)

Faith is not a leap in the dark, but the most reasonable step into the light of truth Hebrews 11:6

2. Sanctification:  progressive holiness, transforming thinking,  values, feelings, and actions Romans 12:1-3; John 8:30-37

Following Christ John 15 (14:25-16:13)

Discipleship Luke 9:18-36; Fruit of the Flesh vs the Spirit Galatians 5:16-25

3. Glorification: restoration to preFall glory and rulership (Luke 19) Daniel 12:3; 1Corinthians 15; Mt 13:43; 2Timothy 4:7-8; Heb 11

Sermon on the Mount Mt 5-7 (Beatitudes et al) = how to get blessed in the kingdom

VII. Topics

Family: Ephesians 5-6:4; 1Timothy 5:4

Church (assembly): is not Israel (Romans 9-11; but a local unified organism, not political organization (Ephesians 4; 1Peter 2:1-5)

governed by elders (given task of overseeing/bishop and shepherding/pastor) Acts 20:17-38; 1Peter 5

Government: change if you can; submit and be prepared to suffer for doing what’s right; Romans 13:1-10; 1Cor 7:21-23; 1Peter 2

Future: consequential reward (glory) or loss in heaven for the forgiven; unforgiven pay their own penalty (1Corinthians 3:6-16; 2Cor 5)

Crusades: confusion with OT Theonomy and theology of place (John 4:21-26); John 18:36 not of this world; Galatians 6:7-10 do good to all; 1Peter 3:15-18; spiritual, reasonable weapons 2Corinthians 10:3-5; 1Peter 3:15; Acts 17:2,17; 18:4,19.  May the best reasons win.