Adam Osborne dot net My Bible Studies

April 3, 2016

Luke = start date 4.3.2016

Filed under: Old and New Testament — Adam Osborne @ 9:59 am
Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |

The Value of Life

Chapter Twelve

Luke 12:4-7

Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 17 January 2016.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We should be discussing this topic every week, not just on “Sanctity of Life Sunday”.
All life is valuable to God

Jesus is teaching His disciples to be faithful, even in difficult times. They (we) should not out fear persecutors, they (we) should fear God!

Truths:

1) God values all life. Luke 4:4-7 clearly shows that God values all life. Even sparrows, 5 sold for 2 cents, are all important to God (every one of them).
What might be considered insignificant by the world is not insignificant to God. All of creation is important to God, because God owns creation!

2) God especially values human life. In this scripture, the value of human life is noted to be more important to God than the value of sparrows… noting that God cares for each sparrow!

Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

God formed us! God was intricately involved in our creation.

So, why are we more important than other life on this earth? Because we were made in His image!

Genesis 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We have a spiritual aspect of our lives, we have discernment, we have moral awareness.

God is indeed involved in our creation …but He is also involved in our conformance to His Son throughout our lives.

The issue of abortion continues to be a struggle. 53 million abortions since 1963.
73% of those state to have religious associations.

When we abort a child, we are not protecting the right of the woman, we are challenging the sovereignty of God.

If you are struggling with abortion, reach out to Christ! He loves you!

We must extend this to all aspects of human life. Those with physical and mental challenges, those caught in human trafficking, those who are homeless… He cares about each and every life!

3) God values even the details of our lives. He cares about every hair on our head! God’s care for us doesn’t end when we are born… He is so aware of us, He knows more about us than we know ourselves! God has given us breath, God numbers each of our days. If He is so involved in our lives, we can trust Him in every aspect of our lives. He knows everything we are going through.

So, what can we?

1) Find our value and identity in the Lord. We are valuable because we bear the image of God. We seek to find value in our relationships, in our success, in our appearance. These things are not what defines us. God defines us! We are valuable to the Lord because He created us!

2) Engage in matters of social justice seeking to defend the vulnerable.

Proverbs 31:8-9
8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

We should actively engage on issues relating to the sanctity of human life… All issues relating to the sanctity of human life. Shine the light of Jesus Christ in your life! Life needs a Gospel voice… It doesn’t need a Republican voice… It doesn’t need a Democrat voice… It needs a Christian voice.

3) Fight for “life”. Get informed and get involved!

You
-Psalm 139 Project
-serve in crisis pregnancy centers
-consider adoption

4) Pray for life! Pray for ways that will help life, not hinder it.

Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 17 January 2016.

Jesus on Trial

Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 26 September 2021.
 
Luke 23:1–25 (ESV): Jesus Before Pilate
 
23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” 
Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. 
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 I will therefore punish and release him.” 
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? What evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. 
 
Rejection comes in various ways to all of us, but Jesus endured much as He was rejected.  He endured rejection so that we could be accepted.
 
1) An affirmation of innocence.
It becomes apparent that Jesus was innocent of the Chief Priests’ accusations.  Their agenda was to falsely accuse Jesus so that they could put Him to death.  They sought false testimony against Him.  Pilate focuses on the third accusation – that Jesus is the King of the Jews.  After questioning Jesus, Pilate sees no guilt and sends him on to Herod.  
Luke wants us to see the innocence of Jesus.  Why is it such a big deal that Jesus was innocent?  Because it is foundational to the Gospel!  
 
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV): 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 
 
If Jesus wasn’t without blemish, He would not have been an adequate sacrifice for us!  We are dependent on His innocence.  Jesus was absolutely perfect in every way.
 
2) A spectacle of injustice.
 
It is important to see the human element going on behind the scenes.  The trial and crucifixion of Jesus was an incredible injustice!  Pilate and Herod both found Jesus innocent.  However, the Chief Priests continued their protest.  They pressured the Government leaders to crucify Him, even after His innocence was declared three times.
(A) This was an injustice fueled by moral blindness.
Everything about Jesus arrest, prosecution, and crucifixion was being driven by the religious leaders!  It was not the Government…. The religious leaders would have done anything to have Jesus crucified!  Sin HAS NO LIMITS!  We cannot externally work our way out of sin – it must start with our heart! 
(B) This was an injustice fueled by indifference.
Herod and Pilate allow the crucifixion to continue… even when they found Jesus innocent!  Luke is showing us the folly of indifference.  When reading this Scripture, we can find ourselves feeling a bit sorry for Pilate…. “He tried” we can say – but due to his indifference, Jesus was crucified.  We don’t need a hardened heart to reject Jesus… we only need to show indifference.  It’s easy to see those who actively reject the Gospel.  The danger is being more like a Pilate or Herod – being indifferent to the truth of Jesus.  The road to Hell is paved with indifference.
(C) This was an injustice fueled by compromise.  V22 – I found no guilt; V24 – their demand should be granted. Pilate was more concerned with the voices of the crowd than with the innocence of Jesus.
If we absorb more from social media and the news than we do from the Word of God, we are on the cusp of falling off the ledge.  Don’t compromise yourself!
 
3) A moment of irony.
 
Acts 4:23–31 (ESV): The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, 
  “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, 
and the peoples plot in vain? 
 26  The kings of the earth set themselves, 
and the rulers were gathered together, 
against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 
 
Although the religious leaders were scheming to crucify Jesus, they ultimately contributed to fulfilling God’s great plan!
 
Barabbas story could be seen as our story – a guilty man, rightly condemned, being set free through Jesus crucifixion!  
 
1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV): 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 
 
We are the unrighteous!  Jesus stood in our place to accept the guilt and judgment of God!  We have been set free from the curse of sin!  We have been set free from the guilt of our sin!  Shouldn’t our life demonstrate the glory of our salvation?  There is nothing we can do to repay God – the gift of our salvation was free to us!  It was costly for Christ, but not for us.  
 
Isaiah 53:4–12 (ESV): 4  Surely he has borne our griefs 
and carried our sorrows; 
  yet we esteemed him stricken, 
smitten by God, and afflicted. 
 5  But he was pierced for our transgressions; 
he was crushed for our iniquities; 
  upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, 
and with his wounds we are healed. 
 6  All we like sheep have gone astray; 
we have turned—every one—to his own way; 
  and the Lord has laid on him 
the iniquity of us all. 
 7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, 
yet he opened not his mouth; 
  like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, 
so he opened not his mouth. 
 8  By oppression and judgment he was taken away; 
and as for his generation, who considered 
  that he was cut off out of the land of the living, 
stricken for the transgression of my people? 
 9  And they made his grave with the wicked 
and with a rich man in his death, 
  although he had done no violence, 
and there was no deceit in his mouth. 
 10  Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; 
he has put him to grief; 
  when his soul makes an offering for guilt, 
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; 
  the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 
 11  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; 
  by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, 
make many to be accounted righteous, 
and he shall bear their iniquities. 
 
Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 26 September 2021.

———————————————————————————————

He Is Risen
Luke 24:1-12

Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 27 March 2016

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a foundational truth of Christianity. Without it, Christianity fails. As a result, there have been many skeptics attempting to disprove it.
There were skeptics among the religious leaders, the government officials, and the people. However, some of the first skeptics were Jesus’ disciples!

Note that the disciples’ skepticism was captured in the Book of Luke. It would have been easy to “clean up” that part, but Luke captured the truth. The disciples were men growing in their faith and their understanding of Christ Jesus. As we consider the truth of the resurrection and how it impacted the Disciples, we can learn some things.

How does the resurrection impact our walk in faith?

1) The source of faith.
It helps to confirm the source of our faith. Consider walking with Jesus for a few years, watching His incredible miracles, and learning from His teachings.
After Jesus died, the disciples were scattered, confused, and afraid.
When the women went to tend to the body of Jesus, there was no anticipation of Jesus’ rising. They were expecting to tend to a dead body. Many times before Jesus’ crucifixion, He told them that He would rise from the dead… But they were not waiting in excitement.
When the women reach the tomb, they meet two “men…in dazzling apparel”. The women then went to the disciples to tell them about what they saw. However, the disciples did not believe them. They did not believe what Jesus had previously said. We must be careful not to criticize the disciples, because we so often don’t take Jesus at His word. Faith is a continuous battle. Our minds will often reject the truth, even when it is staring us in our face. This should be a reminder to take God at His word, and a rebuke for all those times when we don’t.
Too often we allow the experiences of this life to lead us, instead of trusting in Him. Fear and doubt will fester in our lives if we rely on the world, instead of believing Him.
We have a choice to make each and every day. Will we remember and trust in God’s word, or will we trust in the things of this world?

2) The development of faith.
It reminds us that God is faithful to keep His promises. The resurrection has a big stamp that says, “I am faithful to keep my Word!” It should not shock us when God does what He says He is going to do.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

God has proven himself time and time again… But we still struggle with trusting Him.

1 Corinthians 15:12-23
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

If you have not yielded to God, call to Him! God has every right to condemn us, but He gave us His Son to die on the cross for our sins. He willingly took the punishment that we deserved. If you believe in Him, your sins will be forgiven! Believe in Him!

3) The obedience of faith.
Peter ran to the tomb. Although the disciples were slow to understand, they started to “get it.”

Luke 24:36-43
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

Luke 24:50-53
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

We watch the disciples going from skeptics to martyrdom. Are we on this path? Is your faith waivering? If so, you are in good company. The disciples of Jesus Christ did the same!

Based on the sermon of Pastor Adam Polk on 27 March 2016

__________________________________

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT
Luke 24:45-49
Rev Mark Dooley
10.19.2014

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

1. Forgiveness is ARRANGED and Publicized by God (V. 45). Isaiah 53:3-6
2. Forgiveness is Accomplished and PERFORMED by Christ. (V46)
3. Forgiveness is ANNOUNCED and Powered by the Spirit. (V 47-49)

Powered by WordPress