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E-pistle

FreeWay Foundation           June 27, 2014

 

Paraded before the king of terrors

(Job 18:1-21)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Bildad, Job's second friend, makes another speech in which he sharply

                 rebukes Job as a raving maniac, vv. 1-4.

            2.  Bildad predicts that Job, an unrepentant sinner, will be snuffed out like

                 a candle and trapped and snared in a net and a noose, vv. 5-10.

            3.  Bildad describes how terrifying is the fate that awaits Job, whose

                 strength is starved and whose limbs will be devoured just like the boils

                 now are destroying patches of his skin, vv. 11-13.

.           4.  Bildad states that Job's family line will be wiped out and that his name

                 and memory will be forgotten as he is driven from light into darkness

                 . . . chased out of the world of the living, as a horrible example of what

                 happens to the wicked who do not know or obey God, vv. 14-21.

II.  Meditation:  on Bildad's vivid pictures of hell

            1.  Hell, the place prepared for the devil and his angels . . . and those

                 persons who reject God and follow Satan ("king of terrors," v. 14) . . .

                 is the place of outer darkness, vv. 5-6; Matthew 25:41.

            2.  It is a place from which there is no escape, vv. 8-10; Luke 16:26.

            3.  It is a place of terror and torment, vv. 11-14; Matthew 25:30; Luke 16:24.

            4.  It is a place of remembrance and regrets, vv. 15-19; Luke 16:25-31.

III.  Revelation:  on heaven, the other eternal dwelling place prepared by God

            1.  Heaven, the place prepared for those who have received Jesus Christ

                 as Savior and Lord, is a place of light . . . "The city had no need of

     the sun or moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. 

     The Lamb is its light," Revelation 21:23.

            2.  It is a place of freedom to worship, praise, and glorify God forever and

                 ever, Revelation 4:8-11; 5:8-14; 7:9-12.

            3.  It is a place of eternal joy and peace . . . "God will wipe away every tear

                 from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

                 There shall be no more pain," Revelation 21:4.

            4.  It is a place of fellowship and celebration . . . "Alleluia!  For the Lord God

                 Omnipotent reigns!  Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory,

                 for the marriage of the Lamb has come . . . Blessed are those who are

                 called to the marriage supper of the Lamb," Revelation 19:6-9.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Realize that there is a terrible place of punishment for those who reject God,

                 but that the Lord does not want anyone to go there, II Peter 3:9.

            2.  Recognize the extent of God's great love which He demonstrated by giving

                 His Son to die for sinful mankind, John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8.

            3.  Witness to the lost about God's amazing grace, Matthew 29:18-20; Acts 1:8.

            4.  Thank the Lord that He is preparing a place for me in heaven, where I shall

                 dwell eternally with Him, John 14:1-3.

 

 

 

 

Faith and/or works

(James 2:14-26)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on faith without works

            1.  Mere profession of faith (saying you have it) is not profitable, vv. 14, 16.

            2.  Mere confession that one has faith cannot save that person, vv. 14, 24.

            3.  Mere mouthing of pious platitudes and good wishes does not benefit either

                 the speaker or the one in need, vv. 15, 16.

            4.  Mere profession (or confession) of faith, by itself (without an inward change

                 which produces an outward expression of good works), is dead, just as the

                 body without the spirit is dead, vv. 17, 20, 26.

II.  Meditation:  on identifying "true" faith

            1.  True faith results in good works, v. 18.

            2.  True faith is proven by good works, v. 18.

            3.  True faith involves more than mere intellectual assent . . . the demons believe

                 in God and tremble, v. 19.

            4.  True faith always operates in conjunction with good works, and good works

                 reveal that the faith is perfect . . . spiritually alive and growing.

                 NOTE:  James' illustration of true faith:  Abraham and Rahab, vv. 21-15.

III.  Revelation:  on the principles of faith and works

            1.  It is impossible to show (verify; prove) one's faith without some sort of visible

                 activity (works), v. 18.

            2.  Good works done to honor and glorify the Lord, therefore, are visible evidence

                 of one's inner genuine faith, v. 18.

            3.  Abraham's faith was proven when he obeyed God and started to sacrifice Isaac;

                 Abraham believed God could resurrect Isaac (Hebrews 11:17-19); this faith was

                 accounted to Abraham for righteousness.  True saving faith believes in God's

                 resurrection power, His ability to bring dead persons, dreams, hopes, and

                 aspirations back to life, Romans 10:9.

            4.  Persons who have true faith, resulting in obedient good works, are called

                 "friends of God," v. 23.  See John 15:14.

IV.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Make sure that my confession of faith is more than mere lip-service . . . that it

                 produces God-honoring good works.

            2.  Grow daily in faith . . . which itself is one of God's gifts, Ephesians 2:8.

            3.  Serve God faithfully by obeying His word . . . thereby demonstrating the sincerity

                 and genuineness of my faith.

            4.  Rejoice in my special relationship as a "friend of God."

 

"Faith without works if hypocrisy; works without faith also is hypocrisy!"

--unknown

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day!

Remember to pray for our country and all

of those fighting to keep us free.

Celebrate freedom – but remember how we got it!

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