Illness

Galatians 4:11-16 - I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

1 Thessalonians 3:5 - For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.

Conclusions:

• Paul fears he has wasted his efforts on the Galatians due to their return to the old covenant law
• Paul uses the Greek emphatic pronoun, I, to bring out his deep conviction
• Satan is spoken of in every major division of the New Testament
• Satan is supreme among evil spirits
• Satan's activities can affect the physical and the spiritual
• Satan tempted Jesus, and he continues to tempt Jesus servants
• Satan hinders missionary work
• But Satan has already been defeated and Christians need not be overwhelmed by him
• Satan's final overthrow is certain
• Some suggest Paul's illness was eye trouble
• Others have suggested Paul's illness was malaria or epilepsy
• Paul first preached to the Galatians on his first missionary journey
• Because of the restraints of legalistic Judaism, the Galatians had lost their blessing and joy
• "Torn out your eyes" is a hyperbole indicating the Galatians willingness, for Paul's benefit, to part with that which was most precious to them
• The same verb for "torn out" is used of digging through a roof in Mark
• Paul implies that under the influence of Judaizers, the Galatians have changed their attitude toward him
• Telling the truth sometimes results in loss of friends

Application:

• Are you overwhelmed by Satan?
• Have you lost your blessing and joy?
• Have you lost friends because of the truth?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV



Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Eternally Condemned

Galatians 1:3-8,11 - Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!... I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.

Romans 9:3-5 - For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Romans 16:25-27 - Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

Conclusions:

• The patriarchs are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his sons
• “Christ, who is God” is one of the clearest statements of the deity of Jesus Christ found in the entire New Testament
• “To…God be glory” is the ultimate purpose of all things
• “So quickly” means so soon after your conversion
• “One who called you” is God
• Having the grace of Christ is the test of a pure, unadulterated gospel
• The Greek word for eternally condemned originally referred to a pagan temple offering in payment for a vow
• Later, eternally condemned came to represent a curse
• Salvation is for all and is received by faith in Christ
• The Greek for cursed is anathema, and it means delivered over to the wrath of God for eternal destruction
• Paul’s great love for his fellow Jews is expressed by wishing he was cursed for their sake
• One who is regenerated by the Holy Spirit cannot pronounce a curse on Jesus; rather, he is the only one who from the heart can confess Jesus is Lord
• The Greek word for Lord in 1 Corinthians 12:3 is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament to translate the Hebrew name Yahweh

Application:

• Do you see Christ as God over you?
• Do you see glorifying God as your ultimate purpose?
• Do you have faith in Christ?
• Do you love your brothers so much that you wished you were cursed for the sake of their salvation?
• Can you confess that Jesus is Lord?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Until I Come

1 Timothy 4:11-14 - Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

1 Timothy 3:14-15 - Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Luke 4:16 - He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Acts 6:6 - They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

2 Timothy 1:6 - For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Conclusions:

• In brief, in 1 Timothy 3:14, Paul states the purpose for writing 1 Timothy—to give instructions concerning church conduct
• Jesus went to Nazareth, not at the start of His ministry but perhaps almost a year later
• Jesus custom of regular worship sets an example for all His followers
• Jesus probably read from Isaiah in Hebrew, and then He or someone else paraphrased it in Aramaic, one of the other common languages of the day
• Laying on of hands was used in the Old Testament period to confer blessing, to transfer guilt from sinner to sacrifice and to commission a person for a new responsibility
• In the New Testament period, laying on of hands was observed in healing, blessing, ordaining or commissioning and imparting of spiritual gifts
• The seven men of Acts 6 were appointed to responsibilities turned over to them by the Twelve
• The Greek word used to describe the Seven’s responsibility is the verb from which the noun deacon comes
• The Greek noun for deacon can also be translated minister or servant
• The men appointed in Acts 6 were simply called the Seven, just as the apostles were called the Twelve
• It is disputed whether the Seven were the first deacons or were later replaced by deacons
• Gifts are not given in full bloom; they need to be developed through use
• Paul was God’s instrument, through whom the gift came from the Holy Spirit to Timothy

Application:

• How are you doing in your conduct?
• Do you have a custom of regular worship?
• Do you pray for your church deacons?
• Are you developing your gifts through use?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Near To God

James 4:8 - Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Psalm 73:28 - But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Zechariah 1:3 - Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.

Malachi 3:7 - Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?'

Psalm 119:113 - I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.

Conclusions:

• “I will tell of all your deeds” is a concluding vow to praise God for all His mercies to him
• If the people of Zechariah’s day would change their course and go in the opposite direction from that of their forefathers, the Lord would return to them with blessing instead of with a curse
• If the Lord is to come for Israel’s redemption, she must repent
• A double-minded man is unstable in all he does

Application:

• Do you praise God for all His mercies to you?
• Have you returned to God?
• Have you repented?
• Are you unstable in all you do?

Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible