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“ Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes. 12:13). Life Under The Sun/Son!. Introduction:
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“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes. 12:13). Life Under The Sun/Son!
Introduction: 1. The name of this book, Ecclesiastes, signifies “The Preacher.” The wisdom of God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who it is evident was the author. At the close of his life, being made sensible of his sin and folly, he recorded here his experience for the benefit of others, as the book of his repentance; and he pronounced all earthly good to be “vanity and vexation of spirit.”
2. It convinces us of the vanity of the world, and that it cannot make us happy; of the vileness of sin, and its certain tendency to make us miserable. It shows that no created good can satisfy the soul, and that happiness is to be found in God alone; and this doctrine must, under the blessed Spirit's teaching, lead the heart to Christ Jesus.
3. At the end of the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher looks at life through “binoculars.” On the other hand, from the perspective of the natural man who only sees life “under the sun,” the conclusion is, “all is vanity.” Life’s every activity, even though pleasant for the moment, becomes purposeless and futile when viewed as an end in itself. Chapter 12 resolves the book’s extensive inquiry into the meaning of life with the single conclusion, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13)
4. The Preacher carefully documents that view with a long list of his own personal pursuits in life. No amount of activities or possessions has satisfied the craving of his heart. Every earthly prescription for happiness has left the same bitter aftertaste. Only when the Preacher views his life from God’s perspective “above the sun”(under the Son!), does it take on meaning as a precious gift “from the hand of God” (2:24).
Life Under the Sun • 1:3 What advantage is work under the sun • Mat 16:26 - For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul — or forfeit his own soul? Life Under the Son He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6)
Life Under the Sun1:9 Nothing new under the sun9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Life Under the SonTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature…all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17)
Life Under the Sun1:14 All deeds are vanity under the sun14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Life Under the SonBe steadfast, immovable…knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)
Life Under the Sun 2:18 The fruit of labor is hated under the sun 18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. Life Under the SonBeing fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10)
Life Under the Sun6:12 Man is mortal under the sun 12 For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun? Life Under the SonWhoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
Life Under the Sun8:15 Pleasure is temporary under the sun (Eccl 8:15 NKJV) So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun. Life Under the SonFor it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13)
Life Under the Sun8:17 Man cannot discover God’s work under the sunEcc 8:17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun... Life Under the SonNow I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known (1 Cor. 13:12) I Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Life Under the Sun9:3 All men die under the sunEcc 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all... Life Under the SonGod has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11) (John 10:10 NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Life Under the Sun9:11 Strength and speed under the sun Ecc 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. Life Under the SonGod has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Cor. 1:27)
Life Under the Sun12:2 Life under the sun will cease 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." Life Under the SonThat you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13)
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes. 12:13). Life Under The Sun/Son!
What are His Commandments? 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Introduction:If the conclusion of the matter is that we “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man”(Ecclesiastes. 12:13), then it would be logical we ask the question - “what are His commandments?”When you hear of God's commandments, you automatically think of the Ten Commands. The truth is, that there are hundreds of commandments in the Scriptures. Which ones? The “ten” or the “hundreds”?Our Scripture reading said, “1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous”
What does grievous mean?GRIE'VOUS, a. [from grieve, or grief.] Heavy; oppressive; burdensome; as a grievous load of taxes.The commandments of the Lord are not to be greivous! Jesus said to the Pharisees:Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, {2} saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. {3} "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. {4} "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. (Mat 23:1-4 NKJV)
I. The First Command...And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen 1:28)
A. In The BeginningAnd the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; {17} "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."(Gen 2:16-17 NKJV) B. One law – and man did not obey and became a sinner (... Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (1John 3:4)
II. The Law (The Ten Commanments +)Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Ex 20:3 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image Ex 20:4Thou shalt nottake the name of the LORD thy God in vainEx 20:5Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Ex 20:8Honour thy father and thy mother Ex 20:12Thou shalt not kill. Ex 20:13Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex 20:14Thou shalt not steal. Ex 20:15Thou shalt not bear false witness Ex 20:16Thou shalt not covet Exo 20:17
A. God has not changed his mind. These are repeated in the New Testament (except for the sabbath)B. We are not to ignore God's moral law – it is still validC. We are not saved by keeping these laws, but we honor them as God's laws to live by. D. The New Testament gives new instruction on the dietary laws and any “new commandments”.
III. New Testatment – Jesus Says...“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”John 14:15In answer to the question about the greatest commandment...1. “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” - Mk 12:29-30 (OT Ref = Deut. 6:4 & 11:13 Keriath Shema)2. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. -Mar 12:31
Remember... His commandments are not grievous:Repent - And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mar 1:15Believe - And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. Mar 1:15Love one another - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Joh 13:34-35)
Love is a priorty... And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1Jo 2:3-6) Love is the “better way”...And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1Co 13:13)Some other commands...
Abstain from all appearances of evilBe thankfulBe on one mindBe steadfastBe vigilantCast your care upon HimDo not be unequally yoked with unbelieversDon't anxiousGiveGrow in graceHonor widowsHonor rulers
Let your light shineHusbands love your wivesWives reverence your husbandsPray without ceasingRejoice alwaysBe baptizedForsake not assemblyingTake the Lord's SupperWalk in the SpiritPut on the whole Armor of GodForgive one anotherSubmit to GodResist the devil Redeem the time
Conclusion?"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; {3} "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. {4} "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. {5} "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent. (Rev 2:2-5 NKJV)Therfore...
Love the Lord with all your heart... Love your neighbor as yourself... • Love one another...as I've love you ...Jesus