May 30, 2013

The Application of Wisdom: Teachings About God (Part 1)

Notes on Proverbs

The final point of application in our study of Proverbs has to do with God and our relationship to Him. The entire book of Proverbs has been a discussion of the wisdom that comes from above. Of course, the source of this wisdom is God Himself. But without understanding God and our place before Him, it would be difficult for us to find sufficient reason to trust that His way is best and live our lives according to it. Therefore, we must understand God to fully understand the importance of the wisdom contained in this book.
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April 15, 2013

The Application of Wisdom: Justice

Notes on Proverbs

Wisdom says, “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice” (8:20). Therefore, those who follow after wisdom will learn to appreciate and practice justice. In contrast, Solomon says, “Evil men do not understand justice…” (28:5). If we wish to be wise, then unlike the evil men, we must “understand justice.”
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February 4, 2013

The Appreciation of Wisdom: Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked — Spiritual Consequences

Notes on Proverbs

While much of Proverbs deals with matters that pertain to activities of this life and our physical well-being, there are also instructions and principles that extend to our spiritual activities and well-being. We will consider these passages here.
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January 28, 2013

The Appreciation of Wisdom: The Perils of Wickedness

Notes on Proverbs

After considering the value of wisdom, the rewards of wisdom, and the deliverance from evil that wisdom provides, we will next consider the perils of wickedness to further reinforce what we have already learned: embracing and following the wisdom that comes from above is for our good.

The perils of wickedness can be divided into three categories: hardship in life, lack of hope for the future, and the inevitability of judgment.
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December 26, 2012

We May Have Confidence at His Coming (12/26)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 John 1-5.

Can a Christian be confident of his salvation? Or should we live in constant fear of missing out on salvation when the Lord returns?

John wrote about how we can have confidence at the Lord’s return. As the apostle explained, this confidence was not just based upon our assurance of God’s promises, but also upon some action on our part.

“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:28-29).

Our confidence is not based upon the false notion that a child of God can never lose his salvation. Many in the religious world believe the “once saved, always saved” doctrine. But this does not harmonize with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 9:27; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12). Though many believe that salvation is either unconditional or by faith alone, John made it clear that we must do something in order to be assured of salvation.
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December 18, 2012

A Message of Life or Death

2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Often when people want to emphasize the serious nature of a matter, they describe it as “a matter of life or death.” The gospel is certainly a serious matter as it pertains to our eternal life or death (Romans 6:23). But in another sense, the gospel is a message of either life or death depending on how it is received by the one who hears it. Notice what Paul wrote to the brethren in Corinth:

“For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).

For some, the gospel is a message “from life to life.” For others, it is a message “from death to death.” Which one depends on how the hearer perceives it. Let us notice the difference in perspectives.
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November 8, 2012

“Each According to His Own Ability” (11/8)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 25.

In the parable of the talents, Jesus’ teaching reminds us of the need for each one of us to do what we are capable of doing.

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called how own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his ability; and he went on his journey” (Matthew 25:14-15).

The “talents” were amounts of money that the master entrusted to his three slaves to manage while he was away. They were not each given the same amount. Each received what the master expected him to be able to manage. When he returned later, they were held accountable for how they managed what they received.
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