The 'New' Passover Lamb

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The 'New' Passover Lamb

OTS-8

May 24, 2022 • The Gospel of Christ

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In 1 Corinthians 5:7 the Bible says, "For Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us." As you think about the Old Testament Passover and the events of that day, and then as we look forward to Christ, there are so many powerful lessons that we can learn from Christ, the new Passover lamb.
Welcome to our study of Old Testament lessons that we're going to look at today especially revolving around the Passover of the Old Testament and how that looks forward to Christ. The events leading up to the Passover in Exodus chapter 12 are very pertinent to the context. In Exodus 1 through 11, we now have that a new Pharaoh arises. A new dynasty of Pharaoh arises that does not know Joseph or the people of God. As a result the Egyptians, the Egyptian people, are growing powerful. God's people are starting to grow in number, though. The Egyptians realize this won't work. They begin to put to death some of God's people. God raises up a deliverer by the name of Moses. Moses is now going to release God's people from Egyptian bondage and tyranny. God uses nine of the 10 plagues to help them see His power. The 10th plague, though, the final plague, is what will ultimately convince Pharaoh to let God's people go. The death of the first-born causes Pharaoh's son to die, and as a result, he finally lets God's people go.
How did Israel escape that plague? They escaped it through the Passover, the lamb of the Passover's blood being put on the doorpost. Then they would ultimately, once they depart, separate that Passover where God allowed them to come out of Egypt by the blood of the lamb being posted in each one of their houses.
As we think about the Old Testament, there are so many things in the Old Testament that were a type or a shadow of things in the New Testament. For example, you've got the congregation of Israel that followed Moses and then you've got the church, God's people today that follow Christ. You've got baptism into Moses, in the Red Sea, and then you've got baptism today. Then you have that original Passover lamb in Exodus 11 and 12, and you've got Christ, His death, who is our Passover lamb today.
Today we want to think about the similarities between the Passover lamb of Israel, and Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb of God. When we think about these things, let's realize this about Jesus our Passover lamb. Exodus 12:3-4 says this: Speaking to all the congregation of Israel, say, "On the 10th of this month, every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons according to each man's need, you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without spot and blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats." God's people, to remember what happened in Exodus 11, that final plague in Exodus 10 and 11, where they posted the blood of the lamb to their doorpost and the death angel passed over, as it were, they're reminded when they take the Passover Lamb of God passing over his people and passing over every family that did that.
The lamb played a significant part in the Passover. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is our Passover lamb today. Jesus, in fact, is identified as the true Lamb of God. 1 Corinthians 5:7 "For Christ, our Passover," the word 'paschal' there, "Our Passover lamb was sacrificed for us." 1 Peter 1:18-19 says, "Knowing that you were redeemed, not by corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct, handed down by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without spot and blemish." John 1:29 John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and he says this: "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." You see that great scene in Revelation 5:8-12, where there is a lamb that was slain from the foundations of the world. That lamb represents Jesus Christ.
Friend, it's also very interesting to notice that Jesus was taken by lawless men during the Passover to become the true Passover of God. It
was during the Old Testament Passover time that lawless men took Jesus, John 19:14 and He was made to be the true Passover Lamb of God.
Now, when you think about Jesus as the Passover lamb, let's also realize this: Just like the Old Testament Passover lamb had some conditions it had to meet; Christ is the perfect Lamb of God today. Listen again to Exodus 12:5. The Bible says, "Your lamb shall be without blemish. A male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.” Now, there were certain characteristics of the Passover lamb that it had to meet so that it would be proper to give during that time. It couldn't have spot or blemish-Had to be perfect and to be whole in that sense. A male of the first year, and it could be of the sheep or of the goats.
Now, Jesus perfectly fits the qualities and characteristics that were given for the Passover lamb. Jesus was of the right stock. That is, He was of the stock of Israel. Genesis 12:1-3, and Genesis 22:18 said that the one who would bless all nations would ultimately be of the seed of Abraham. Jesus is of the seed of Abraham. John 8, Jesus clearly identified, "Before Abraham was, I am." Not only that though, Jesus is of the lineage of David. 2 Samuel 7:12-14, "There would be one from the seed of David who would reign over the house of Israel forever." Jesus, according to Luke 1:32-33, is that one of the house of David, reigning forever. More importantly, Jesus is God in the flesh. ‘In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,’ John 1:14. He is of the right lineage and stock of Israel to be the proper Passover lamb.
Jesus also has the perfect qualities and characteristics to be the Passover lamb. Remember, that Old Testament lamb couldn't be a culled lamb. It couldn't be a hurt lamb. It couldn't' be a sick lamb. It was to be without spot and blemish. Spiritually speaking, that represents the Lord Jesus Christ, who committed no sin, nor was guile or deceit found in his mouth, 1 Peter 1:19-21. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15: "He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin." 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might be the righteousness of God in Him." "He's done all things well," Mark 7:37, "He was about the father's business," Luke, 2:49-52. As you think about the comparisons Jesus represents in such clear fashion, that perfect, sinless, harmless son of God, the Passover lamb for us today. As we think about comparisons with the Passover lamb, realize this also: The Passover lamb,
under the Old Testament, was slain by Israel, by the people, by the congregation. Look at Exodus 12:6. The Bible says this: "Now, you shall keep it," that is the Passover lamb, "Until the 14th day of the same month. Then, the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight." This Passover lamb, it was to be slain in front of, and at the hands of the whole congregation of Israel.
Friend, do we realize that Jesus typifies this? In that our Lord was put to death at the hands of the Jews? 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15. The Jews are clearly identified. The nation of Israel is clearly identified as playing a part in that. Acts 2:23 Peter said, ‘your lawless hands have taken him.’ Acts 5:30, He was taken by the hands of the Israelites. Then of course, John 19:6 we clearly see he was put up before all Israel, taken by the hands of the Jews who cried out as they were asked, "Do you want me to release Barabbas or Jesus?" They told him, "Release Barabbas." They wanted Jesus crucified. And so the Jewish nation, Jesus' blood is on their hands, but not only was Jesus crucified by the Jews, let's realize this as well, let's make it personal. It was my sins and it was your sins that put Jesus on the cross.
The Passover lamb, it was for the people of Israel. But as we think about how Jesus typifies that, how he was slain by Israel, friend I'm going to make it personal. Jesus was slain by my hands and by yours as well. It was done for the sins of the whole world. I am a part of that world and so are you. Isaiah 59:1-2 "Our sins separate us from God." Hebrews 10:26 and Hebrews 9:22, "Without the shedding of blood, there's no forgiveness of sins." In 2 Timothy 1:9-10 tells us Jesus, according to the plan of God, died for my sins and for yours. Yes, Israel, their hands are the ones who literally took him, but friend, my sin and your sin, put Jesus on the cross, the Passover lamb, just as much as the Israelites did.
Now as we think about typifying and the example of Jesus as the true Passover lamb, let's realize what that Passover lamb represented. The Passover lamb, its blood. It allowed them to escape the punishment that was coming upon Egypt. Listen to Exodus 12:12-13, God says, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the Lord." Now listen to this: "The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt." So this final plague, God is convincing Pharaoh,
He's destroying the heathen nations and their gods, and if there is no blood on the post of the door of that house, then they're going to lose the first born in that house. And yet God says to His people, listen these beautiful words, "When I see the blood, I will pass over your houses." When God saw the blood on the doorpost of the House of Israel, that house wouldn't suffer that final plague of the death of the firstborn that was coming.
Let's think about the practical application of that today. Today, people can escape the wrath of God, the plague that's coming spiritually by applying the blood of Christ to their spirits. Notice how powerful the blood of Jesus is for people today. Matthew 26:28, Jesus blood has the power to remit or remove all sin. As Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper with His disciples, He takes that fruit of the vine and He says this, "This is my blood of the new covenant shed for many for the remission of sins." The blood of Jesus remits or removes every sin a person's ever committed. The blood of Jesus is what bought the church or the saved in the first century and today. Acts 20:28 as Paul speaks to the elders in Ephesus, he encourages them to be shepherds. He says this in Acts 20:28, "To shepherd the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood." What does the blood of Jesus do? It remits all sin. It's that payment, that price that bought the saved and collects them into that place. That blood of Jesus is what justifies sinners. Romans 5:9, having been justified freely by his blood. The word justified is unique in that it means to ‘just as if I'd never sinned.’ What does it mean when you're justified by the blood of Jesus? Friend, you're going to second start, do over. ‘If anyone's in Christ, he's a new creation.’ There it is- the do over. ‘All things have passed away, behold all has become new.’ It's the blood of Christ that buys us back or redeems us to God. Ephesians 1:7, and Revelation 5:9, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." By selling ourselves to Satan, Satan now has me captive. What is it that's going to ransom us or buy us back from Satan? The blood of Jesus is what redeems or buys us back. It's that price that was paid for our sin.
The blood of Christ is what allows us to enter the most holy place. Hebrews 9:12, they couldn't enter the holy place except without blood. That blood that was sacrificed today, the Bible says in Hebrews 4:16, "Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we might find mercy and grace to help in time of need." We can enter the holy place of God today because of the great sacrifice that Jesus made. It is that blood that allows us to draw near to God. According to Ephesians 2:13, "By the blood of
Jesus Christ. It is that blood of Christ as we walk in the light that continually cleanses us. If we walk in the light, that means trying to live the Christian life every day. If we walk in the light, as he, Jesus is in the light. We have fellowship one with another and the blood of his son Jesus Christ cleanses, that's durative, ongoing idea, continually cleanses us of all sin.” Can you see the power? The power in that paschal Passover lamb? In the book of Exodus, you could clearly see that when that last plague passed over the house, you are thankful to God that the blood had been applied and you realized how powerful that blood was. Your first born didn't have to die. How much more so today when we think about the powerful benefits of our Lord and Savior's blood that is applied to every person's spirit?
As we think about the Passover lamb in the book of exodus, let's not miss the fact that then as are today, there was some things they had to do to escape the judgment of God and obey him. Listen to Exodus Chapter 12:21 following. In exodus chapter 12, here's what God commanded them. Verse number 21: "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, pick out and take lambs for yourself according to your families and kill the Passover lamb, and you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin and shall strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house into morning. For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you." Were there any acts of obedience? Were there commands they had to follow for the blood to work, for the blood to be applied to their houses? Well, sure there was. The Israelites could not escape the judgment of God unless they obeyed God and did certain things. First of all, they had to kill a lamb. You couldn't do it some other way. There was no other way. As bad as it may have hurt it, as much as you may not have wanted to, you had to kill a lamb. You had to gather some hyssop, something that would be sponge like as it were, a rag or something you might think of. A hyssop. You had to gather hyssop, you had to take that and actually dip it in blood. Then you had to take that with blood on it and put it on the lintel, the top part, and both of the posts. Then you could not go out of your house all night until the morning. Now would you say those are things they absolutely had to do to be saved from that last plague? Sure. Did these acts earn the Israelites their salvation? No. It was the blood being applied. It was God's grace, God's worry, and God's favor that passed over them.
If they didn't do what God say it, they don't obey him, they wouldn't have been saved. You see, you've got both grace and faith combined there. Listen to Ephesians 2:8-9. The Bible says, "By grace are you saved through faith. And that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast." They were saved by the grace of God, but does that mean they didn't have to do anything? God's grace and their faith both were essential in them being saved from the judgment that was coming. Friend, how appropriate that is and how true that is for the blood of Christ being applied to people's spirits today. There are certain things God says one must do to obey Him and to be saved and to have the blood of Christ applied to our lives spiritually.
The Bible teaches that you've got to hear the word of God. In Romans 10:17 the Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." I know I've got to have faith, for without faith it's impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6. How do I get faith? If faith is essential, whatever way I get faith is essential also, right? Faith comes by hearing, in hearing the word of God. Friend, if I'm going to be saved, I've got to study the word, 2 Timothy 2:15. I've got to read it. I've got to seek it; I've got to search it, Acts 17:11. I've got to prove all things to be true, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
In Acts 8 as they're traveling down the road, Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in the distance, he sees it. "Here's water. There's water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Here's the condition. "If you believe with all your heart, you may." Is belief a condition you have to meet to contact the blood of Jesus? Absolutely. Now friend, it's not the only one and it doesn't end there, but I've got to hear the message of Christ and I've got to believe in Jesus. To contact the blood of Jesus. Jesus says I must repent. Luke 13:3 Jesus said, "Unless you repent, you'll all likewise perish.” There's no other way around it. I've got to turn from sin and turn to God." Acts 3:19 Peter preached, "Repent, and turn again or be converted that your sins may be blotted out." Repentance is a change way of thinking that leads to a change way of acting. I'm no longer going to give myself to sin; I'm going to turn to God. Doesn't mean you're 100% perfect- none of us are. We're going to try every day to walk in the light. Then a person must be willing to confess Jesus as Lord in their life. Romans 10:10 says, "With the heart, one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." I've got to do what Jesus said. "If you won't confess me before men, neither will I confess you before the father who is in heaven.
But if you will confess me before men, I'll also confess you before the father who is in heaven." To contact the blood of Jesus that saves the death and the blood of Jesus, one must be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins. Revelation 1:5 says, "We're washed in his blood." Acts 22:16, Saul was told, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins." Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He that believes and is baptized will be saved."
Probably the clearest passage to help us see that I cannot contact the death and the blood of Jesus without being baptized is found in Romans 6:1. Paul says, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? Certainly not. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" And I noticed this, "Or do you not know that is many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death. That just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father even so we also should walk in newness of life." Without the death of Jesus, is there any salvation? Of course not. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:22, without the shedding of blood, there's no forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ death is absolutely essential to salvation.
When do I contact the death of Jesus? “As many of us as were baptized into His death had been buried with Him in baptism.” Friend, you cannot contact the death of Jesus without being baptized. The blood was essential under the Old Testament Passover. They didn't put it to the lentil, they didn't put it on the door post, someone in the house was going to die. The firstborn was going to die. If you don't apply the blood of Christ to yourself spiritually by obeying the Gospel and ultimately being baptized, you cannot be saved.
God wants you to be saved. He doesn't want men and women to be lost. The Bible says God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4. Christians everywhere want men and women to be saved, but you can't be saved without the blood of the Passover lamb being applied to you spiritually. To do that, you've got to hear the message. "You've got to believe in Jesus. You must repent of sin, confess His name before men." As Peter so clearly said in 1 Peter 3:21, “Baptism does now also save us.” It's where we contact the blood of Jesus in salvation.
Has the blood of the New Testament Passover lamb been applied to your spirit? If not, then on the Day of Judgment, you do have something to fear. But if you've obeyed the gospel, you're a Christian, you've been baptized for the omission of your sins, on that great and final day instead of hearing the words, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity", and you can hear these wonderful words: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of your Lord."
May God help each of us to live in view of that hope each and every day of our lives.
Study Questions for:
“Old Testament Studies Lesson 8- The Lamb”
1. According to 1 Corinthians 5:7, who is our Passover?
2. According to Romans 15:4, how does the Old Testament help us today?
3. According to Hebrews 8:13, what is now obsolete?
4. According to 1 Peter 1:18-19, what was Christ for us?
5. What does John call Jesus in John1:29?
6. What does Hebrews 4:15 say of Jesus and His temptation?
7. According to Isaiah 59:1-2, what separates us from God?
8. According to Hebrews 10:26, how does Christ feel when we sin?
9. According to Hebrews 9:22, what must there be for the forgiveness of sins?
10. According to Matthew 26:28, why was Jesus’ blood shed?

The Value of the Old Testament

May 24, 2022 • The Gospel of Christ

Nehemiah 8: Keys to Successful Restoration

May 24, 2022 • The Gospel of Christ

In the days of Israel, God had made a promise to His people that if they would not stop their idolatry; He was going to send them away into Babylonian captivity. In accordance with His promises, God did just that. He also promised to bring them out of that captivity into a wonderful restoration, based on the word of God. It's that restoration in Nehemiah chapter eight that we're going to be thinking about today that parallels what's necessary for a Christian and his life to be restored to almighty God. We want to encourage you to get your Bible, have it ready as we're going and open it to Nehemiah chapter eight as we're going to study this wonderful text, about the right heart that isn't necessary, for restoration with Almighty God. Let's turn our attention to the predicament that Israel finds itself in under the Old Testament. In Jeremiah Chapter 25 and in Jeremiah 29, God had made the promise to His people that if they did not amend their ways, if they did not stop their idolatry; God was going to send them into 70 years of harsh captivity under the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Israel didn't stop, and as a result they went into harsh captivity. Along with the promise of captivity, God also made the promise and Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45:1 that once that 70 years was up, God would bring His people out of that captivity. According to His promise, by the hand of Cyrus, in the year 536 God did just that. It is this process of coming back to God, began was Cyrus working through Ezra and Nehemiah. They restored worship; they restored the temple. They restore their hearts to a right place with God. In Nehemiah chapter eight, where we're going to be studying today, there are some ingredients or some steps that are necessary to getting our heart right and to be restored with God like we ought to. Think about your relationship, each of us to think about our relationship with God and let's make sure that we're in the right place and restored to where we need to be with Almighty God. If not, let's consider what this text teaches us is necessary. Look in your Bible in Nehemiah Chapter Eight. Nehemiah 8:1 says, ‘When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. Now all the people gathered together as one man, in the open square that was in front of the water gate and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Law of Moses which the Lord had commanded Israel.’ Here you've got such an important and necessary step. If we're going to have restoration, I've got to be united with God and His people. To have a restored heart to God, you've got to be one; you've got to be unified. You've got to want unity with God and His people. This is so practical and so fresh, on the mind of the Israelites because for years they had been divided, over spiritual matters. The kingdoms had been divided, the Northern Kingdom and its tribes and the Southern Kingdom and its tribes, and then you have a remnant that’s holding true to the scripture. You also have a whole bunch of adulterous people. They've been splintered and divided for a long time and yet the captivity helped them to realize, they needed to be one with each other and one with God. If restoration is really going to take place, God's people must have a heart for unity. We must want that oneness with others and that oneness that God can give us that unity that we can have with God. In the Bible God has always wanted His people to have unity. Listen to Psalm 133:1. The Psalmist says, ‘behold how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.’ Does God want His people divided? No, God wants His people united. Did you think about the two words there that are used? Unity is both good and pleasant. There are some things that are good but aren't pleasant and then there's some things that are pleasant, but aren't good. Let me illustrate. There are some things that are good, meaning that they're good for you. One the doctor is good, getting the flu shot might be good but would you say that's pleasant? No, not really. Then there are some things that are pleasant, enjoyable but not necessarily beneficial. Candy for every meal, a chocolate pie for every meal might be pretty pleasant but is it good for you? No, now think about unity. Unity is good, beneficial, helpful, and pleasant. It's enjoyable. It's something every person should strive for in this life. We're told in Ephesians 4:3, to keep the unity of the spirit, spiritual unity and the bond of peace. 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul came down hard on the church in Corinth because there were divisions among them. Paul said, ‘Let there be no divisions among you.’ What's so powerful about unity? Do we realize that there's great strength in unity? I want you to listen to a passage, in the book of Ecclesiastes that helps us to understand this idea. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 the Bible says, ‘Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor, for if they fall one will lift up his companion but woe to him who is alone when he falls. He has no one to help him up. Again if two lie down together, they will keep warm but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him and a threefold cord, is not quickly broken.’ I can understand the strength and unity based off these principles and these ideas. If you take just one pencil, it is pretty easy to break that one pencilbut if you take that pencil and you multiply it and let's say you had 10 pencils with a rubber band around it, it is very hard to break that. Why? There's strength and there's power in unity. There's strength in numbers and that unity creates strength. We can encourage, uplift, and help one another. Another powerful aspect of humanity is unity actually proves to the world that Jesus is the son of God. Jesus prayed for it in John 17:20-21. ‘I pray that they all may be one, as you Father are in Me and I you that they also may be one in us.’ Now listen to the reason: ‘that the world may believe that you sent me.’ What does unity express? Unity between believers in Christ, Christians, is a powerful exclamation point to Christianity itself, it proves to the world. We'll stand up and do what's right no matter what because Christ is truly our all in all. When we think about having biblical restoration and the idea there in of being restored to God correctly, we've got to be diligent to strive to possess spiritual unity. That comes from following the oneness that God has set in the scripture. There is one Lord, one faith, one body, one baptism, and one God and father above all. All the ones that are mentioned in Ephesians 4:4-6, are necessary if we're going to have unity. God wants us to in the scripture. I want to direct your attention to another ingredient that is necessary for biblical restoration found in Nehemiah 8:2-3.’ Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the 7th month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Watergate, from morning until midday before the men and the women and those who can understand,’ listen to this, ‘and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.’ Friend what ingredient is necessary, for biblical restoration to take place? There has to be a desire for unity-unity with God's creation and unity with God. There also has to be an attentive heart to the Law of God. They told Ezra, ‘go get the Book of the Law.’ Ezra went and got a Book of the Law. He stood and read from it nearly all day and the people stood there with an attentive heart, attentive ear, and listened to the word of God. They didn’t listen to what was public opinion, not what was popular, and not what would make people feel good. They didn't poll the audience and ask them what they wanted. They said, ‘Where's the Book of God? We want to hear the book of God.’ When they found the Book of the Law, their ears perked up and listened to what God had to say. They had an attentive heart to the word of God. The Israelites were so attentive to the word of God because they had lacked that for so long. In that captivity, 70 years of harsh Babylonian captivity, where were the Bibles then? Where was the scripture then? Where was their freedom to open the scripture and study it and expound upon it and read from it? Under captivity, that was a scarce thing because of the lack of their ability to have God's word in their life for so long. The only way today that we're going to have a real attitude of attentiveness to the word of God, is when we realize the great value of God's word. Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 15:16, ‘your words were found and I did eat them and they were to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.’ Part of the problem that we face today in our, industrialized world with printing presses and books everywhere is that there's mass availability to the Bible and yet, we take for granted how powerful it is and how attentive we need to be to it. It's readily available. I've got the freedom to read it anytime I want and yet so many times we just don't. Do we take it for granted? What a treasure and privilege it is. The word of God is so important because it's what saves our souls. The Bible says in James 1:21 that we're to ‘receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save our soul.’ What's going to save, men and women from being lost for eternity? The scripture is. Let's think about how powerful, important, and attentive we need to be to the word of God because of its great value. Do we realize and do we remember that the Bible contains the words of life? Not just words of lifethe words of life that which can help us to be saved and live the best life. Jesus had made some hard statements in John 6:63. Some decided they didn't want to follow Jesus anymore. Jesus turned to Peter and the rest of the disciples and he said, ‘Do you want to go away also here's your chance? Do you want to go away also?’ Peter turned to the Lord and said ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’ John 6:68, the Bible has everything, all things for life and godliness. The word of God is able to completely equip us, for every good work, 2 Timothy 3:17. If you want to live the best life, you want to make sure that you're living in such a way, you can go to heaven. You want to live the full, complete, abundant life? The Bible contains the words of life. The Bible has the ability to edify us to build us up and help us to be closer to God. To the elders in Ephesus, Paul on the beach of Miletus says, ‘So now brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance.’ Among all those who are sanctified, are you going to be built up spiritually? You want to make sure that inheritance is yours and that you can grab hold of it and maintain it. It's the Bible that has the power to do that. We need an attentive heart to the word of God because it's God's word that helps us be convicted. We have sin in our life. None of us probably like to admit that or come face to face with it, but it's true. From time to time we all sin and fall short. You know what great value of the Bible is? It helps us to realize that and to get that out of our live. Acts 2:36 the Bible says, Peter stood up and proclaimed, ‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, God's made this same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ The Bible says, ‘Those Jews who heard that and we're attentive to it, they were cut to the heart.’ What's that mean? The Bible pricked their heart. They cried out: ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?' Saul of Tarsus, who had gotten hardened by his zealous Jewish upbringing, is softened by the word of God. Acts 9 Saul is intent, on dragging men and women to prison persecuting them. Some of them might even die. He's presented with Jesus on the way to Damascus. When he realizes it's truth, his ears perk up. ‘Lord, what would you have me to do?’ God's word is able to help us overcome sin. ‘Your word,’ the Psalmist said, ‘I've hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you,’ Psalm 119:10-12. If I've got a good working knowledge of the word of God and my heart is attentive to that, when I find my ways aren't what they ought to be, it encourages me. I want to get back right with all mighty God. Then of course the Bible has the power to help us to help us realize why we are here, where are we going, and where we'll end up. We realize I'm here as a creation of God, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7. I'm not going to be here real long. Life is but a vapor, James 4:14. We have 70 maybe 80 years, Psalm 90:10-12. One day I will stand before Almighty God. Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, and I'll give an account of how I lived my life. ‘It's appointed to man once to die and then the judgment.’ If I've listened to the word of God and I've lived my life by that, on that great day, I'll hear those wonderful words: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ If I've turned a deaf ear to the word of God, then I'll hear the words: ‘Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you.’ I want to have a mindset that desires unity with God and others. I want to have an attentive heart to God and His word. A third ingredient that is necessary for biblical restoration is great respect, in my life, for the word and the authority of Almighty God. Look in Nehemiah 8:4-5. The Bible says, ‘So Ezra the scribe, stood on a platform of wood which they had made for that purpose and beside him at his right hand stood Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, Maaseih and at his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people.’ Now watch this, ‘And when he opened it all the people stood up.’ Why? After 70 years of harsh captivity, it finally dawned upon the Israelites how powerful and how much, they needed to respect the Bible. As that voice of God is opened before them, they stand up out of honor and respect for the word of God. We need today that same respect for God and His word. Do we realize that this book is the very voice of God speaking to us today? All scripture is breathed out by God, 2 Timothy 3:16. The pages in this book are not just ink and paper. It is God's message for me. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit and God tells me in this book how He wants me to live. This is how we please God. Out of respect for almighty God, I want to respect the scriptures. I want to realize this is God's word, and I've got to live in harmony in such a way with it that one day I can bring honor and glory to almighty God in every way and in every occasion. As we think about God and we think about God's message and how to please Him and give glory and honor to Him in each and every way, that's what this is all about in every avenue and in every way. As we think about this idea, Nehemiah 8:6, I want to give us then another principle that will help us. Ezra blessed the Lord, the Great God. ‘Then all the people answered Amen, while lifting up their hands, they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.’ What's necessary for biblical restoration, from Nehemiah 8:6? There has to be absolute worship for God with fear and reverence. Look at the people. They bowed down. The act of bowing one's face to the ground was a sign of reverence and fear and all of Almighty God. Exodus 3:5, as Moses is there with that burning bush, he bows down with his face toward the ground. Isaiah six, Isaiah feels humbled to be in the presence of God. Then of course, you have John in the book of Revelation. All of these exhibit this idea of one's face going down, representative of reverence or fear, for all mighty God in worship. If we're going to have biblical restoration, it's got to be based on respect for who God is and how God wants me to worship Him. There's a lot of seeming disrespect, for God in worship today. When you to look at some of the things that are done today, you've got so much that it makes light up what's going on. The people who are jumping around and hollering and jumping over pews and all this supposedly miraculous stuff that's going on that people are just trying to make a big show out of- it's almost like a carnival or a circus as it were today. We need to realize God wants us to worship Him in a way that brings glory and honor to His name and out of respect for Him not me. Out of respect for God, I want to worship Him the way He wants me to. God is a spirit. Here's what he says, “God is a spirit and those who worship Him, must worship in spirit and in truth.” Our attitude and the way we approach God, must give Him true honor and glory. Then a final ingredient that is necessary for biblical restoration is to come to the scripture and try to understand what God wants us to, based on His word, a proper understanding of God based on the Bible. Listen to Nehemiah 8:7-8. The Bible says also, ‘Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanah and Pelaiah and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law and the people stood in their place. They read distinctly from the book in the Law of God, and they gave the sense or the understanding and helped them to understand the reading.’ Here you've got people who studied the scripture a long time. Some of these people haven't for many years studying the Bible. What did they do to really understand the script? Did they get out and commentaries and give everybody's idea and taking an opinion poll? No- they read distinctly to them from the Bible. If we really want to have biblical restoration, let's turn people back to the word of God. Let's turn people towards the scriptures. Let's read God's word. Paul said in Ephesians 3:4, ‘you can understand the knowledge of Christ, when you've read these things, give attention to reading.’ We want to point people to the Bible to help understand it. If I want to understand the Bible, I want to let the Bible be its own best commentary. Then of course, I want to apply God's message to my life. ‘The things that you've heard and read and seen,’ Paul said, ‘these do and the God of peace will be with you.’ Too many times people are turned toward entertainment and what somebody somewhere who is a religious person says-let's turn people to the Bible. ‘Is there any word from the Lord?’ Jeremiah 37:17. That's how we're really going to be restored to all mighty God. Just like in the days of Nehemiah, how wonderful it was that they had the opportunity to get back right with God. Nehemiah 8 is such an encouraging scene because the people, regardless of persecution or what it takes, they're going to put God and His word above all else. We need that same attitude among the Lord's people today. May God help each of us to have the right heart for unity to look to the word of God and be attentive and respectful for what God wants, so that one day He'll call upon us as His children with words of encouragement and hope: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ May God help each of us to live in that way. Questions for: Old Testament Studies: Lesson 2 1. According to Psalm 133:1, what is good and pleasant? 2. According to Ephesians 4:3, we are to keep unity of what? 3. According to 1 Corinthians 1:10, there are to be no what? 4. How does Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 describe unity? 5. What did Jesus pray for in John 17:20-21? 6. In Nehemiah 8:2-3, what did the people have a desire to hear? 7. How is the word of God described in Jeremiah 15:16? 8. According to James 1:21, what can save our soul? 9. According to Psalm 119:10-12, what can help prevent sin? 10. According to 2 Timothy 3:16, where does all scripture come from?

Esau: Prince of Bad Bargains

May 24, 2022 • The Gospel of Christ

A philosophy that was popular in the days of Christ and is extremely popular today is: ‘Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.’ This has long been the motto and philosophy of the Epicureans, and so many people adopt this materialistic, worldly-minded idea. One of the men in the Bible who did that was named Esau. Today we're going to talk about Esau and the bad bargain that he made. Esau will always be remembered for his bad bargain, his desire for immediate, instant gratification, and for embodying the motto: ‘let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.’ I want you to read with me the story of Esau. Then we're going to notice some very powerful lessons that men and women can learn from that. Genesis 25:20 the scripture records these words: ‘Isaac was 40 years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. Now Isaac pleaded with the Lord for his wife, because she was barren, and the Lord granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her, and she said, ‘If all is well, why am I like this?’ So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, ‘Two nations are in your womb. Two peoples shall be separated from your body. One people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger.’ So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb, and the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over, so they called his name Esau. Afterward, his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was 60 years old when she bore them. So the boys grew, and Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Now Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came in from the field and was weary. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please feed me with the same red stew, for I am weary.’ Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau said, ‘Look, I'm about to die. What is this birthright to me?’ Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils, and then he ate and drank, and arose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.’ As we mentioned, nobody better exemplifies the instant gratification and the giving away of something important than Esau. The story of Jacob and Esau relates to us. The struggle of these two men, but some of it is a little maybe unique to us because of the idea of the birthright. The birthright, under the Old Testament, is something we're not as familiar with. It was a great blessing given to the firstborn to carry on the heritage of the father. The Old Testament birthright, which was only given to the firstborn male of the father, was a double portion of the father's inheritance that was promised to that child. According to Deuteronomy 21:15-17, the firstborn got 2/3. If there were three children, he'd get 2/3 of that, and so, or if there were two children, he'd get 2/3 and the other would get 1/3. It wasn't split 50/50; he got the majority of everything that belonged to the father. So if there were $100,000, he might get 75,000 of that. If there were 100 acres, he might get 75 acres. It was the benefit given to the firstborn. We also learn from the Old Testament scripture that it was the firstborn who had the privilege of serving as priest for the family. This is exemplified under the patriarchal law in the life of Abraham. Abraham served as one who went to God, one on behalf of his own family, and of course Job exemplifies this as well. He offered sacrifice for his children. God spoke directly to Job. There was that great blessing that came along with being the firstborn, as well. Then, of course, there was a great deal of respect. Respect, recognition, and honor was given to the firstborn, regardless of who the father may have been, that was always along with that right. There was almost a sense of awe and reverence that was paid to the firstborn that might not have been given to the other children. Then the spiritual blessing as well of the father was placed upon the firstborn. Genesis 27:27, we can see that happening with both Jacob and Isaac and the children there. In fact, this may have been what was sought after the most, passing on that spiritual blessing given by God. Then, of course, anything the Bible says, anything that was the firstborn, the first fruits of the harvest, the firstborn of the flock, that was specially dedicated to the service of God, Exodus 22:29-31, and so to be the firstborn under the Old Testament was a great privilege and honor. As you think about that New Testament law that we're under today, there's so many similarities that go along with that, and parallels that Christians have. All Christians today have the blessing and the benefit of being a child of God, and that wonderful birthright. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, I'll give you rest. My yoke is easy. My burden is light." Jesus said, “You'll find rest for your souls.” As children of God, we are God's firstborn. We are the first fruits of Christ, 1 Timothy 2:4-6. Just like under the Old Testament, there are some parallels to the wonderful blessings that Christians have today as part of their birthright. Christians are promised a full portion of what God has given' to His people. We, like Esau, have that full portion of heaven itself. Romans 8:16-17, the Bible clearly teaches that we are the beneficiaries of God's promises of heaven itself. We're living in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. This is the promise He's promised us, eternal life, 1 John 2:25. I'm not looking' for land. I'm not looking' for numbers or dollars in a bank account. As a child of God, part of the great blessing we have is one day we can be recipients of heaven and all the wonder and splendor of that. As we think about this idea in relation to the Old Testament birthright, aren't Christians today priests in a spiritual sense? Revelation 1:6, we are a kingdom of priests, or kings and priests, to God. 1 Peter 2:9, we offer up spiritual sacrifices to almighty God, and so when we think about this idea, the praise of our lips goes up as sacrifice, Hebrews 13:15. We have that honor today, along with our birthright, to give praise and honor to God and to serve in that capacity. Then just as the Old Testament birthright meant that you wore the name and the honor and recognition of being the firstborn of someone, we today have the privilege and honor of wearing the name Christian, the firstborn of God's creation under the New Testament. What a blessing that is! Acts 11:26 says, they were called Christians first in Antioch. 1 Peter 4:16, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. Like under the Old Testament, part of the spiritual birthright today is, we are promised every spiritual blessing from almighty God. The Old Testament birthright meant that there were a host of blessings given down by the father, and it was even tied in a spiritual sense-but how much more today? Every spiritual blessing is ours in Christ Jesus. I can be a child of God, 1 John 3:1. I can look up to heaven and pray, ‘Our Father who art in heaven,’ Matthew 6:9. We have the family of God to encourage and lift us up, 1 Corinthians 12:27. We've got forgiveness, grace, mercy, love, and every blessing you can imagine, the Christian has so richly received. Like under the Old Testament, as part of my birthright I am, and you are, if you're a Christian, you are specially reserved and dedicated in service to God. What's the greatest commandment of all? Jesus was asked that question. ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ That's what God wants us to do, and that's how He wants us to live our life in dedication to Him. In view of that, though, I want you to think about Esau and the great blessing of our birthright, today, as Christians. Think about what Esau sold out. Can you imagine, for a bowl of beans Esau sold his whole birthright? He sold 2/3 of the inheritance, the prestige, the honor, the spiritual blessing, and all of that, he sold out for a bowl of beans. Why did he do that? He may have been hungry. I'm sure he was. He'd been out hunting. He didn't have any luck. Maybe he was discouraged. You know what we learn about Esau most of all? Esau was shallow; he was very materialistic. He was worldly-focused. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:14-17 that Esau was profane, that is, he was worldly, selfishly, immorally focused. He sold out his whole birthright for a bowl of soup, or a bowl of beans. What a terrible waste, and what a terrible bargain that he gave into his brother to do that. This'd be like Bill Gates or Ross Perot giving everything he had for a Big Mac. Can you imagine selling out like that, just to satisfy instant gratification for your belly? Why did he do that? He wasn't thinking spiritually. He was thinking worldly. Let's take it a step further. Why do so many Christians and so many people who have all those spiritual birthrights and blessings that we talk about, why do so many Christians today sell their birthright for immediate gratification and lust of the flesh, which one day isn't going to amount to anything? How many people have given up Christ and been lost for eternity over some fleshly desire, instant gratification, whether it be of a fleshly, a sexual or immoral? How many people have given up something far greater than what Esau gave up on just to feel better for a little while? Are we really any different than Esau today? Why do sometimes people sell their soul to the devil for foolish things? I want you to think about some of the things that sometimes people make a bad bargain to the devil for their soul. Sometimes people sell out, and give up on all these spiritual blessings over worldliness, and materialism, and things of this life that one day aren't going to exist anyway. John said, ‘Do not love the world or the things in the world.’ Why not? ‘For all that is in the world, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, it's not of the Father, it's of the evil one, and the world and all that's in it is one day going to pass away.’ James 4:4, James said, ‘Adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore desires to be a friend of the world makes themselves God's enemy.’ God says, ‘Come out from among them and be ye separate,’ 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. How many people do we know that have sold out for things of this world? Let me give you a couple that really come to mind in the scripture. Do you remember a man who came to Jesus in Mark 10? This man probably had one of the greatest questions you could ever ask. ‘Good teacher, what do I need to do to go to heaven? What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?’ Great question. Wish there were more people asking that question. Jesus said, ‘Keep the commandments. Do not murder, do not steal, and do not commit adultery.’ ‘All these I've done from my childhood.’ ‘One thing ye lack. Sell what you have, give to the poor, come follow Me.’ You know what happened in that context? The Bible says ‘that man went away sorrowful.’ Why? ‘He had great possessions.’ He let his stuff and the things of this world keep him from inheriting that spiritual birthright. How many people are doing' that today? We've got to have the finer things in life, and we've got to keep up with the Jones's. We've got to have all this materialistic stuff, worldly stuff, that one day isn't going to matter at all. When the earth and all that's in it is one day burned up with a fervent heat, 2 Peter 3:9-12- then what will all that stuff have mattered? Don't do like Esau and sell out over materialism and worldliness. Then there are also people who spiritually sell out their birthright for desires of the flesh, specifically sometimes people do that for sexual desires. I've known Christians and people in the body of Christ, and you probably have as well, who got caught up in some immoral practice with some woman or some man, or pornography, or whatever it may be, and they sold out over those things. The Bible clearly warns us to watch out for those things. 1 Peter 2:11, Peter said, ‘I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lust which war against the soul.’ The Hebrew writer said in Hebrews 13:4, ‘marriage is honorable and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.’ ‘Flee from youthful lust,’ Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:15, following. I've got to have that same armor up, that same guard up. Don't give in like Esau to some instant, immediate gratification of the flesh and lose your birthright over that. Then sometimes people allow sins of the body, or sins against the body, to cause them to lose their birthright. Alcohol, and drugs, and drunkenness- how many people have given in to that and sold out spiritually? The Bible says, ‘do not be drunken with wine,’ Ephesians 5:18. ‘Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler,’ Proverbs 20:1. The picture is so clear in scripture of how harmful that is to the body. Drugs, methamphetamines, marijuana, crack cocaine, or whatever it may be- when people get caught up in that stuff, they're selling out. They're selling over their birthright, just as Esau did, for something that isn't really going to last anyway. We encourage folks today, as we think about these ideas and as we think about the spiritual nature of Esau, don't be like him. What if Esau had been different? What if he'd stood up to his brother? What if he had endured those temptations? The story would be a whole lot different. Here's the encouragement for every one of us today. Friend, you can stay faithful, you can endure those challenges, and you can be faithful until death. Don't let things in this life tempt you in such a way that it causes you to turn from almighty God. I've had some things in this life, some good things to eat. You think about what Esau was going through. He was hungry. He was facing a lot of challenges and difficulties, and probably things weren't going his way in life and that bowl of soup looked good in the moment. My grandmother on my dad's side probably made the best bowl of beans I've ever eaten. I'd sure like to have a bowl of beans and cornbread right now, and I imagine you'd probably think the same thing if you were really hungry. But the question you've got to ask yourself is: Is that worth what it'll really cost me in the end? I'm not talking about a bowl of beans. I'm talking about giving in to materialism, fleshly desires, giving in to drugs, or alcohol, or something like unto that and getting that immediate hit. Is that really worth what it's going to cost me in the end? I want you to think about this question Jesus asked. Mark 8:36:37. Jesus asked two rhetorical questions. ‘What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul, or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ If you bargain your soul over something like that, friend, you've made the worst bargain possible. On the Day of Judgment you're not going to trade something for your soul. If I've not lived right or done right, it won't matter how powerful, or wealthy, or how many pleasures I might have fulfilled. None of that matters. You know what matters? Did I love God? Did I put Him first? Did I endure suffering, and did I overcome? Those are the things that really matter. I want you to think about two men. One represents another bad bargain, and the other represents a man who suffered and did right. I want you to think about this first individual with me. We know him in the Bible as the rich fool. Luke 12:15-21. A lawyer comes to Jesus with a question. Jesus answers by giving an illustration of the foolishness of materialism. There was a man who had a great crop year, a man who, when he planted his seed, it just did so well and he excelled so much in his business that he didn't have anywhere to put the entire crop that produced. That's a pretty good problem, right? So he said, ‘Here's what I'll do. I've got so many crops, I'm going to have to tear down my old barns, build bigger barns so I can store it in.’ There is nothing wrong with business, having a good crop year, or preparing for the future. All that was good and well- until this happened: that night that man's soul was required of him. God said to him, ‘You fool. This night will your soul be required of you. Then whose things will those be whom you've acquired?’ And here's the point Jesus made: ‘So is he who is rich but not in godliness.’ What was the rich fool's problem? His problem was not that he was a good farmer. His problem was not that he was a good planner, a good manager, or a good business person. That man's problem was in all his planning and doing. In all his work, he forgot to take care of the most important thing- his soul. Then think about another man. Luke 16:19-31. You've got the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Rich man had it all. Lazarus is eating crumbs, the dogs are licking his sores, he doesn't have anything, and he's a poor beggar. Lazarus suffered; he had difficulty. He went through a lot of problems most likely in this life. He was hungry and hurting for a long time, maybe, even. What about on the other side? Lazarus turned out pretty good for him. He's in paradise; the rich man's in torment. He endured; he didn't let that cause him to sell out. He may have been poor physically, but he was rich spiritually. That's what we want to drive home. Don't be like Esau; don't sell out. Whatever we've got spiritually, what God has blessed us with- don't sell that out for some fleshly, immediate, instant gratification that could cost you your soul. Nothing is more important than your soul. Make sure that we're taking care of it above all else. If you're not a Christian, we especially want to encourage you to make sure to get right with God. Have you obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ? Do you believe He is the savior of the world? ‘Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except by Him.’ Do you believe that? John 14:6. Do you believe it so much so that you'd be willing to repent and turn from sin and turn to God? Acts 3:19, Peter preached, ‘Repent, and turn, that your sins may be blotted out.’ Would you confess the beautiful name of Jesus before men? Romans 10:10. Would you do what Jesus said to be saved? Jesus said in Mark 16:16, ‘He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that does not believe shall be condemned.’ If you've never obeyed the gospel, then friend we want to encourage you to make the spiritual birthright of Christ yours. As a Christian, if you're not living like you ought to, friend, don't sell out your soul. Make sure and get it right, and let's each one of us live in such a way that our lives bring honor and glory to God. Questions for: Old Testament Studies-Lesson 3 1. According to Genesis 25:20, what did Esau sell his birthright for? 2. According to Matthew 11:28-30, where can we find rest? 3. According to Romans 8:16-17, what are we beneficiaries to? 4. How are Christians described in Revelation 1:6? 5. What does 1 Peter 4:16 tell us about Christians and suffering? 6. What is the greatest command? 7. What does Hebrews 12:14-17 say of Esau? 8. What does James 4:4 say of being a friend of the world? 9. What does John 14:6 say of Jesus? 10. According to Mark 16:16, who will be saved?