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LWBC August 3, 2008

LWBC August 3, 2008.

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LWBC August 3, 2008

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  1. LWBC August 3, 2008 (1Ti 1:5-7)The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

  2. Hypocrites and Backsliders Lesson 056 The Results of GAP

  3. 1 Cor 2:13-14 • We speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. = GAP from the Pastor • The soulish man does not accept the things from the Holy Spiritfor to him they are foolishness and he is not able to even acquire academic understanding because they are spiritually discerned. = Need for GAP LWBC 07-27-08

  4. Human Life and the Soul, and the Spirit • Who is the Soul-only Man • 1 Cor. 15:45—“The first man Adam became a living soul. The last man Adam became a life-giving spirit.” • The Spirit Man • “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts” (Gal. 4:6). LWBC 07-27-08

  5. The Soulical Man Heart Epignosis Knowledge Choice HEART Kardia Mind Volition BODY Representation Gnosis Information Appraisal SOUL LWBC 07-27-08

  6. GAP for the New Creature Regenerated by the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit GAP Heart HEART Human Spirit Kardia Mind Volition BODY SOUL

  7. The Event Perception Appraisal The Representation I Agree The Volitional Interlude I Disagree Faith Unbelief S A M B A K OR H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 7

  8. Spiritual Life - Regeneration • Ezek. 36:26-27: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” • John 1:12–13: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” LWBC 07-27-08

  9. Regeneration: Union with Christ • “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts” (Gal. 4:6). • 2 Pet. 1:4—“that through these [promises] ye may become partakers of the divine nature” • Eph 4:23, 24—“that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth” LWBC 07-27-08

  10. GAP • The new nature has divine qualities and longs after the things of God. • Although in itself it does not have the power to fulfill its desires apart from the Holy Spirit, it gives a new direction to the life and a new aspiration to attain the will of God. • GAP is how we learn the things of God and how to attain the Will of God. • Let's look at GAP Success Story in Colossians 1. LWBC 07-27-08

  11. GAP in Action H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 11

  12. GAP in Action H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 12

  13. GAP in Action H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 13

  14. GAP in Action Colossians 1:9-20 is a 218-word sentence. Beginning at verse 15, however, and continuing through verse 20, Christ’s Pre-eminence is set forth. Hence, 1:9–14 can be considered a unit of thought all by itself, a revealing description of the prayer of Paul and his associates for the Colossians. In the original this part of the sentence — six verses in all — has 106 words. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 14

  15. GAP in Action It begins as follows: And for this reason, [that is, not only because of the love mentioned in the immediately preceding verse but on the basis of all the evidences of God’s grace in the lives of the Colossians as described in verses 3–8,] from the day we heard it we never stopped praying for you. On the basis of blessings already received the apostle asks for additional favors. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 15

  16. GAP in Action Encouraged by evidences of God’s grace already present he requests increasing proofs. That is the meaning of "and for this reason," etc. The Lord does not want his people to ask for too little. In the spiritual sphere he does not want them to live frugally, parsimoniously. Let them live richly and royally, in harmony with Psalm 81:1! H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 16

  17. GAP in Action Paul means that he and those associated with him (Timothy, see verse 1; Epaphras and others mentioned in 4:10–14) started to pray now "as they had never prayed before"; of course there had been prayer for this church before, the news which had reached the apostle upon the recent arrival of Epaphras had brought about a remarkable upsurge in prayer, in fervent intercession, and this with great regularity ("never stopped praying"). H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 17

  18. GAP in Action 擢or this cause� is dia touto (δια τουτο), 登n this account, because of this,� namely, the good report from Colossae as given in verses 4–8, the motive that prompted Paul to pray for these saints. 鄭lso� indicates that they had been praying for him. 撤ray� is proseuchomai (προσευχομαι), a general word for prayer, meaning 鍍o offer petitions.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 18

  19. GAP in Action Paul had just used the word praying. He now adds asking. Praying is the more general and comprehensive term. It indicates any form of reverent address directed to the Deity, whether we 鍍ake hold of God� by means of intercession, supplication, adoration, or thanksgiving. Asking is more specific. It refers to making definite, humble requests. See also Phil. 4:6; I Tim. 2:1 on various synonyms for prayer. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 19

  20. GAP in Action 泥esire� is aiteō (αἰτεω), a specific word for prayer which signifies to ask for something to be given, not done, giving prominence to the thing asked for rather than the person. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 20

  21. GAP in Action 適nowledge� is epignōsis (ἐπιγνωσις). The word is an advance upon gnōsis (γνωσις) (knowledge) in that it denotes a larger and more thorough knowledge. It is a knowledge which grasps and penetrates into an object. It was a favorite word of the Gnostics who used it to designate the superior knowledge which they claimed as their exclusive possession. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 21

  22. GAP in Action Paul prays that all the saints might become possessors of this knowledge, indicating that it was open for all to appropriate, not a secret mystery into which only a favored few could be initiated. If the Gnostics had their superior knowledge, so did the Christian Church. The former was speculative and false, the latter, positive and true. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 22

  23. GAP in Action Paul prays that they not only might have it but that they might be filled with it. His petition is that the Colossian saints might be filled with a thorough knowledge of God’s will. As to God’s will, Expositors says, 典his does not mean God’s counsel of redemption, nor ‘the whole counsel of God as made known to us in Christ’ (Findlay), but, as the context indicates (v. 10), the moral aspect of God’s will, ‘His will for the conduct of our lives’ ( Meyer).� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 23

  24. GAP in Action Now the knowledge here referred to is no abstract, theoretical learning. Such merely theoretical knowledge might be possessed by any nominal Christian, and in fact to a certain extent by a professed unbeliever and even by Satan himself. Neither does Paul have in mind a store of occult information, such as acquaintance with passwords. It is not the kind of mysterious gnosis which teachers of the gnostic type claimed for their 妬nitiates.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 24

  25. GAP in Action On the contrary, it is penetrating insight into God’s wonderful, redemptive revelation in Jesus Christ, a discernment with fruits for practical life, as the immediately following context (verse 10) also indicates. It results from fellowship with God and leads to deeper fellowship. Hence, this clear knowledge (ἐπίγνωσις) is heart-transforming and life-renewing. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 25

  26. GAP in Action All the instances of the use of this word in the New Testament point in this definite direction: Rom. 1:28; 10:2; Eph. 1:17; 4:13; Phil. 1:9, 10; Col. 1:9, 10; 2:3; 3:10; I Tim. 2:4; II Tim. 2:25; 3:7; Titus 1:1; Philem. 6; Heb. 10:26; II Peter 1:2, 3, 8; II Peter 2:20; H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 26

  27. GAP in Action This thorough, perfect knowledge of God’s will should be in the sphere of 殿ll wisdom and spiritual understanding.� Again, Paul uses two Gnostic words, sophia (σοφια) (wisdom) and sunesis (συνεσις) (understanding). Expositors in defining these words, says: "sophia (σοφια) is general, sunesis (συνεσις), special. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 27

  28. GAP in Action Sophia (Σοφια) embraces the whole range of mental faculties; sunesis (συνεσις) is the special faculty of intelligence or insight which discriminates between the false and the true, and grasps the relations in which things stand to each other. Συνεσις [Sunesis] is the faculty of deciding in particular cases while σοφια [sophia] gives the general principles (Abbott). H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 28

  29. GAP in Action The word 殿ll,� qualifying 徒nowledge� and 砥nderstanding,� is better, 兎very kind of.� The addition of pneumatikos (πνευματικος), (spiritual) shows that both are to proceed from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They thus stand in opposition to fleshly wisdom (II Cor. 1:12), and especially, it would seem, though Haupt denies this, to the false wisdom by which the Colossians were in danger of being ensnared.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 29

  30. GAP in Action Paul prays that the Colossian saints might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in the sphere of every kind of thorough wisdom and intelligence in order that they 杜ight walk worthy of the Lord.� 展alk� is peripateō (περιπατεω), 鍍o order one’s behavior, to conduct one’s self.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 30

  31. GAP in Action The practical purpose or contemplated result of this clear knowledge which is the starting-point in Paul’s prayer for the Colossians is now stated: so as to live lives worthy of the Lord (cf. Eph. 4:1; Phil. 1:27; I Thess. 2:12; III John 6). This aorist active infinitive may express purpose or result. Certainly this result is the aim of the right knowledge of God. 典he end of all knowledge is conduct� (Lightfoot). H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 31

  32. GAP in Action 展orthy� is axiōs (ἀξιως). When this word is used with the genitive case as it is here, it means, 塗aving the weight of (weighing as much as) another thing.� It means, 登f like value, worth as much.� The saints are to see to it that their manner of life, their conduct, weighs as much as the character of their Lord. That is, He is to be their example in life, and the copy must be like the example. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 32

  33. GAP in Action Peter says: 鼎hrist also suffered on your behalf, leaving behind for you a model to imitate, in order that by close application you might follow in His footprints� (I Pet. 2:21). Expositors says: 典his lofty wisdom and insight is not an end in itself. It must issue in right practice. Doctrines and ethics are for Paul inseparable. Right conduct must be founded on right thinking, but right thinking must also lead to right conduct.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 33

  34. GAP in Action That this God-glorifying conduct will actually be the result of being filled with clear knowledge of his will is easy to see, for the more God’s children know him, the more they will also love him; and the more they love him, the more they will also wish to obey him in thought, word, and deed. The words 砥nto all pleasing� are eis pasan areskian (εἰς πασαν ἀρεσκιαν), 努ith a view to every pleasing.� Lightfoot explains, 都o as to please God in all ways.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 34

  35. GAP in Action One of the activities of the saint in the sphere of a behavior which is worthy of the Lord, is fruitbearing. This fruitbearing and increasing is to be, not in the knowledge of God, since the latter is the motivating energy which produces the former, but by means of the knowledge of God. In the knowledge of God (τῃἐπιγνωσει του θεου [tēi epignōsei tou theou]). Instrumental case, 澱y means of the full knowledge of God.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 35

  36. GAP in Action This is the way for fruit-bearing and growth to come. It is the instrumental case here, not the locative. Lightfoot and Expositors concur in this. Vincent gives this as the reading of the best texts. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 36

  37. GAP in Action By means of four participles the apostle now describes this life of sanctification: (1) in every good work bearing fruit. Paul attaches high value to good works viewed as the fruit — not the root — of grace. Eph. 2:8–10 is his own commentary. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 37

  38. GAP in Action (2) and growing in the clear knowledge of God.39 Note that the apostle makes the clear knowledge of God both the starting-point (verse 9) and the resulting characteristic (verse 10) of the God-pleasing life. This is not strange: true, experiential knowledge of God brings about an ever-increasing measure of this very commodity. Thus, though at the very beginning of the story Job already knew God, at a much later time he was able to testify: 的 had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees thee; Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes� (Job 42:5, 6). H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 38

  39. GAP in Action Translation. Because of this, we also, from the day we heard, do not cease on behalf of you of Bring our petitions and presenting our definite requests, that you might be filled with the advanced and perfect knowledge of His will in the sphere of every kind of wisdom and intelligence which is spiritual, so that you may order your behavior worthily of the Lord with a view to pleasing Him in everything, in every work which is good, constantly bearing fruit and increasing by means of the thorough and perfect knowledge of God. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 39

  40. GAP in Action (1:11, 12) Strengthened (δυναμουμενοι [dunamoumenoi]). Present passive participle of late verb δυναμοω [dunamoō] (from δυναμις [dunamis]), to empower, 兎mpowered with all power.� In the expression 都trengthened with all might,� the verb is dunamoō (δυναμοω), the noun, dunamis (δυναμις). Observe that both words have the same stem, which means that intrinsically they have the same meaning. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 40

  41. GAP in Action Dunamis (Δυναμις), the noun, has the following meanings, 都trength, ability, power, inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, power which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.� The verb dunamai (δυναμαι) means 鍍o be able, to have power.� Thus, it is easy to see that these words speak of inherent power which gives one the ability to do something. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 41

  42. GAP in Action Dunamoō (Δυναμοω), which is used here, means 鍍o make strong, to strengthen.� One could translate, 澱y every enabling power being constantly strengthened.� The word 菟ower� is kratos (κρατος), 途elative and manifested power.� Κρατος [Kratos] is old word for perfect strength (cf. κρατεω, κρατιλος [krateō, kratilos]). In N.T. it is applied only to God. Here his might is accompanied by glory (Shekinah H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 42

  43. GAP in Action The Greek has it, 殿ccording to the manifested power of His glory.� Lightfoot says: 典he glory here, as frequently, stands for the majesty or the power or the goodness of God, as manifested to men. The doxa (δοξα) (glory), the bright light over the mercy-seat (Rom. 9:4) was a symbol of such manifestations. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 43

  44. GAP in Action God’s revelation of Himself to us, however this revelation may be made, is the one source of all our highest strength.� Commenting on the words 殿ccording to� (kata (κατα)), Expositors says: 典he equipment with power is proportioned not simply to the recipient’s need, but to the divine supply.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 44

  45. GAP in Action (3) being invigorated with all vigor. The maxim, 適nowledge is power� is true in spiritual life more than anywhere else. When a person grows in the clear knowledge of God, his strength and courage increase. The divine indwelling presence enables him to say, 的 can do all things in him who infuses strength into me� (Phil. 4:13). Paul adds, in accordance with his glorious might. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 45

  46. GAP in Action 的n accordance with� is stronger than 登f� or 澱y.� When the multimillionaire gives 登f� his wealth to some good cause he may be giving very little; but when he donates 妬n accordance with� his riches, the amount will be substantial. The Holy Spirit gives not only 登f� but 妬n accordance with.� Eph. 1:19–23 shows why God’s might is indeed 堵lorious.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 46

  47. GAP in Action This being strengthened by God results in 殿ll patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.� 撤atience� is hupomonē (ὑπομονη), 斗ongsuffering,� makrothumia (μακροθυμια). Trench’s note on these words is valuable: 溺akrothumia (Μακροθυμια) will be found to express patience in respect of persons, hupomonē (ὑπομονη), in respect of things. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 47

  48. GAP in Action The man makrothumei (μακροθυμει), who having to do with injurious persons, does not suffer himself easily to be provoked by them, or to blaze up in anger (II Tim. 4:2). The man hupomonē (ὑπομονη), who under a great siege of trials, bears up, and does not lose heart or courage (Rom. 5:3; II Cor. 1:6).� In another place, commenting on the word makrothumia (μακροθυμια), the same authority defines it as 殿 long holding out of the mind before it gives room to action or passion—generally to passion. H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 48

  49. GAP in Action ‘Forbearing one another in love’ (Eph. 4:2) beautifully expounds the meaning which attaches to the word. Anger usually, but not universally is the passion thus held aloof � Still, it is not necessarily anger which is excluded or set at a distance, for when the historian of the Maccabees describes how the Romans had won the world ‘by their policy and their patience,’ makrothumia (μακροθυμια) expresses there that Roman persistency which would never make peace under defeat.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 49

  50. GAP in Action Commenting upon hupomonē (ὑπομονη), Trench says; 的t does not mark merely endurance, or even patience, but the perseverance, the brave patience with which the Christian contends against the various hindrances, persecutions, and temptations that befall him in his conflict with the inward and outward world.� H&B-055 and 056 LWBC 07-27-08 50

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