All men (people)? Here we’ll look at how even the biblical writers use universal terms like “all men” when they don’t mean “every single person.”

I do it all the time, doesn’t everyone? (Do I really do it all the time?, does everyone do it all the time?) (get it?)

Often Paul means all kinds of people (as in Romans as he tears down the walls between Jew and gentile). Titus 2 gives a great example.

ESV Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, …

4. This one appears to be every single person, yet Scripture clearly teaches not all people (every single) will be saved (most won’t). Read the context (specifically 2:1-10; 3:1). What does “all people” mean here?

ESV 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, …

5. Do you think Paul intends for Timothy to pray through the Ephesus “phone book” line-by-line?

Reconciliation

Many view salvation as an issue of “accepting Jesus” as personal savior (and then maybe later… as Lord). Let’s look at the nature of the break in the relationship.

ESV Genesis 3:23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

1. Did man just walk away on his own terms?



2. Upon whose terms do you think this relationship will be reconciled?



3. What we are really talking about is God “accepting you.” How could you ever be worthy of being reconciled to God?

Michael asks (paraphrase).

I need to write a paper on a false religion or cult and I need to use the gospel of John in the paper. Do you have any suggestions?

Here are two good articles on the texts that first came to mind when we spoke. Either one will probably give you plenty of material for a short paper: John 1:1, John 8:58.

More info:

I consider monergism.com to be the best site on the Internet (I know that is saying a lot, but go dig around ... you could literally spend a lifetime learning what is there). They have a collection on both the JWs and the Mormons (LDS). Those can be found here.

BibleWorks

We spoke briefly about the program BibleWorks. It is amazing and I highly recommend it (costly but worth every cent). If nothing else, they have free Greek and Hebrew fonts for download. They are good to have loaded if your favorite teachers/scholars use these fonts and you load their docs or pages.

Faith cannot be defined in subjective terms, as a feeling or optimistic decision. Neither is it a passive orthodoxy. Faith is a response, directed toward an object and defined by what is believed. [The Reformation Study Bible, “Faith and Works” article p. 1804

a. a feeling or optimistic decision
b. passive orthodoxy (mere intellectual assent to a set of beliefs)
c. response to [God and His revelation of Himself in Scripture]

3. If people were asked about their faith and they responded in the following ways—what do the answers appear to reveal? (pick a, b, or c above—it may be the case that they just don’t know how to give their answer…)
• I went to a [evangelist] crusade and “prayed the prayer” along with him at the end.
• I realized I was a sinner separated from God and cried out for His mercy. I’m trusting in His promises.
• I grew up in the church and have always believed what the Bible says [or Creed or Confession…]
• “one day I got Jesus’ phone number” (metaphorically—actual answer John MacArthur got once)
• I studied the teachings of Jesus and am convinced they are true.
• I was sitting by a stream in the woods and this incredible feeling came over me



4. If “Faith is a response, directed toward an object and defined by what is believed” how important is the object of your faith? (object = that which you are trusting in to save you) How important is your understanding of the object of your faith? What does this say about the importance of theology/doctrine?


5. HEALTHY CHRISTIAN SELF-EXAMINATION: Would you describe your own faith as a “feeling or optimistic decision,” or a “passive orthodoxy?”

Faith and works is a thorny area to understand, especially when the word “justified” is used in ways that appear to contradict each other. Discuss the use of “justified” by Paul and James.

1. Are they using the word “justified” in the same way? (if no, why should I believe you?) Learn to make the case in your own words; don’t just parrot back my notes.




2. How can you read (and claim to believe) James 2 and still claim justification is by faith alone (apart from works)? [very important question that deserves a good answer!]

4. To see if you understand the great (Legal) exchange, describe how the following are true.

Divine justice is served.
• How is the sin of the believer atoned for?
• How is the sin of the unbeliever atoned for?
• If Christ atoned for every single person, is justice served?

Amazing Grace
• What is the source of the believer’s righteousness?

3. Put the following in chronological order (what comes first, second). Which causes the other?

___we walk by faith
___we are justified/he bore our judgment

It is crucial that we are careful in what we do with these radical teachings. Usually the right answer is to just be in awe and be faithful. There is almost always a direct command elsewhere in Scripture that will protect you from messing this up.

“inference” – IF _________________ IS TRUE, THEN I SHOULD ________________.


2. Would you agree with these inferences? (substitute the words into the blanks above)

Easy (to answer) warm up
• God commands repentance; repent
• God commands us to preach the gospel; preach the gospel

Heavier (require more thought)
• Christ is faithful and able to save; put my complete trust in Him
• God chooses the elect and saves them without fail; not worry about evangelism (why bother?)
• God’s grace is magnified when I sin; keep sinning
• I’m a member of God’s elect and my salvation is secure; eat drink and be merry

ESV Romans 3:10 "None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God…”

ESV Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

1. People often advocate that a church be “seeker sensitive.” By that, they mean that we should appeal to people’s felt needs, entertain them, make them comfortable, etc. What would it mean to be really (Scripturally) seeker sensitive?

2. Now we are going to turn the previous question around. What would the absence of these traits reveal about the professing Christian?

Example from nature—a logic lesson: A --> B (if A is true, then B is necessarily true)
(another way to say it: B has to be true for A to be true)

If it is raining outside, we can safely say it is cloudy. “ --> ” means “implies”

raining -----> cloudy

Is this necessarily true?

cloudy -----> raining

Can we know anything here? (“!” means “not”)

! cloudy -----> ?

Yes, there was a point to this. Now go back and substitute “has works” for “cloudy” and “new birth” for “rainy.”


Does this help reveal the nature of the verses that speak of believers bearing fruit, being judged in accordance with their fruits, etc?

ESV Romans 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

1. At the end of the chapter Paul revealed the mark of a true “Jew” was inward rather than outward. A warning to the Jews not to depend on their status of descendants of Abraham and recipients of God’s Law. Do Christians have similar outward signs that we should be careful not to depend upon? Are any of these proofs of your salvation?

o Baptism?
o “Prayed the [sinner’s] prayer”?
o Church attendance?
o Participation in various ministries?
o Giving/service to the poor?
o Proclaiming/sharing the gospel?
o Teaching Sunday School or preaching?

ESV Matthew 7:22-23 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not ______ in your name, and __________ in your name, and do _________ in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'