2-1-10-Violence-Confession

Who is the source of all forgiveness?

(Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 2:24)  indicate that we receive forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus.  But in order for us to experience God's forgiveness we must confess our sin to Him.  (1 John 1:9)

Read Matthew 5:23-24.  In  these verses Jesus is teaching us that we ought to make things right (reconciled) with our brother: before we come to God.

There is something else we must do too if our attitude toward sin has really changed.  If we have done harm to another person we must not only confess to him, but we must also make restitution.  To make restitution is to put back something that was lost or taken so that things are the same as they were before it happened.  (Leviticus 6:4-5; Ezekiel 33:15-16; Luke 19:8-9; 1 Samuel 12:3).

Read Luke 19:8-9.

Who approved of what Zachaeus did with the money he had stolen?

Satan is a mighty spiritual enemy who is dedicated to turning men away from God.  In the temptation of the High Mountain, what does it mean to worship Satan"?  Seek the kingdom by human methods, without God.

Read Daniel 7:14.  What does this verse say about the rule of the Son of Man?

So then, the temptation did not consist of seeking the kingdom of righteousness, but rather in the method of seeking it.

"The end never justifies the means."  In other words, just because the things we wish to do is good, does not mean the that we can use wrong methods to do it.

Read John 6:66

What happened when Jesus rejected the revolutionary expectations of the Jews?

Read Hebrews 2:14-15

If Jesus had chosen to take power as the King of the most powerful empire in human history, could He have also saved sinful men from death?  Through His own death Jesus was able to render the Devil powerless. 

Read Matthew 26:51-52; Luke 9:51-56; John 6:15, 18:36.

Read Luke 22:36-38.  In the light of the firm stand Jesus took against violence as a means to establish His kingdom, doesn't it seem strange to you that Jesus would tell His disciples to "buy a sword"?

Read Luke 22:49-52

Now, think carefully about the observation you have just made in this passage of scripture.  If the apostles wouldn't have had a sword, would we really know for sure that Jesus purposely gave Himself up to the temple guards?  Would we be able to say that He refused to defend Himself by violence?

Christ wanted to show them that He would NOT use a sword.

Read Matthew 26:52 and Matthew 27:37.

What is the symbol of the kingdom of Heaven, a sword/cross?

Jesus chose to extend His kingdom by sacrifice-cross and the love of God.

Following the temptations in the wilderness, Jesus left the desert with a well thought plan.  He did not move from that original plan the slightest little bit during the three years of His public ministry.  His plan was to establish the Kingdom of God in the heart of every man, and to place his trust in the way of sacrifice, of love, of truth, and obedience to God.

Christ taught that every-time we allow ourselves to harbor hate in our hearts we are in fact, in the way of the sword.

Read Matthew 5:21-22.

According to Jesus, one can be morally guilty of murder if he holds anger in his heart against another person.

Neither is it necessary to actually die on a cross in order to be on the way of the cross.  Every time our heart is filled with the love of Christ toward our neighbor and we show that love by serving the sacrificially for our neighbor's good, we are on the way of the cross.  In Matthew 16:24,  Jesus says: "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."  According to this verse to take up his cross" means: to follow after Jesus by taking His example of love and sacrifice.  To follow after Jesus by denying myself and serving others. (1 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 2:16, 4:32)

Read Matthew 4:10

What was Jesus' reply to the temptation of Jesus on the high mountain?

Read Zechariah 4:6

How does God accomplish His will?  "Not by might nor by power, but by my

Confession of Sin

What do you thing it means when I say that keeping unconfessed sin is a lot like running up a charge account

Repentance means to show a change of attitude toward sin.  According to Matthew 3:6, this change of attitude is to be shown by the

Read 1 John 1:8-10.

John's letter was written to Christians.  Are Christians guilty of sin?

Stop here for just a few moments.  Do you need to make restitution to anyone you may have wronged?  It could be someone in your own home, the office, your neighbor, or your best friend.  Make a note of the kind of restitution you need to make.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas where restitution is needed.  Now make definite plans to make restitution under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  After you have done it, destroy the paper.  have you done this?

Exercise: Read Proverbs 28:13 and underline it in your Biible with green.

Let's practice the technique of observation.

Read Psalm 32:3-5.  Keep your Bible open to this Psalm.

The person who does not confess his sins is taking a great risk.  Which two verses of Psalm 32 tells us that David's body ached and had become weakened because of his sin?  Versesand.  Which verses tells us that David had confessed his sin and been forgiven?

David's body "wasted away" and his "strength was sapped".  While David hid his sin.  When David did not confess it he felt weak and sickly.  He was spiritually dry.  When he confessed his sin, he had a feeling of well-being.

Read Psalm 32:1-4, the person who has confessed his sins to God is forgiven by Him and feels better in his spirit, soul, and even his body.

Jealousy, envy, coveting, and resentment are only a few of the sins which can cause bodily illness when they remain un-confessed, deep within a person's mind.

Read Matthew 5:25; 5:1, teaches us to confess sin immediately.

Exercise: Underline Matthew 5:25 and Ephesians 4:26 in green.

Memorize 1 John 1:9.

The Body of Christ

Today we are going to learn more important things about the Body of Christ.

The Bible says: "Christ is the head of the church, his body." (Ephesians 5:23)  In the Bible, the word "Church" does not talk about a building where believers meet together.  It talks about believers themselves.  Therefore, from this Bible verse, we learn that believers are the of Christ here on earth.

Since Jesus ascended into heaven, we cannot see him here on earth.  But, we have become his body here on earth.  People should be able to see Jesus Christ living in us.

Each of the members of the body of Christ have different jobs to do.  They are responsible to do this in the service of God and of others in the church.  "In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."  (Romans 12:5, 6)  Each member or part of the body of Jesus Christ has received a different .

The gifts which are being talked about in this verse are Abilities which are given by God.  The Bible goes on to say: "If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  It it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach..." (Romans 12:6-8).  In other words, we are to:

Some believers have been given the ability to teach, others to give comfort, and still others to encourage those who are discouraged.

In other words, The Bible says: "But to Each One of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." (Ephesians 4:7)  Is there any believer in Christ who has not received an ability (a gift) from God?  (Answer "Yes" or "No")  Do you have an ability then, that you can use in the work of the Lord? (Answer "Yes" or "No")

Some believers make the mistake of thinking that they have nothing to offer in the work of the Lord.  However, this is NOT true.  Other believers make just the opposite mistake.  They are very proud of the abilities they have been given.  They think that they are very gifted and that they have many abilities.  This kind of pride causes them to look down on other members of the body.  How many church members have gifts or abilities?

Paul wrote about this: "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!'  And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' (1 Corinthians 12:21)  How many of the members of the local church are needed by all of the rest of the members?

You should use the abilities that God has given to you and thank him for them, and appreciate and thank God for the abilities that he has given to other members of the local church.

It is wrong for some believers to stay at home when the rest of the body of Christ is gathered together for worship and the services of the church.

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