Christian Foundational Truths PERCEIVE with DISCERNMENT Lesson 19

Christian Foundational Truths PERCEIVE with DISCERNMENT Lesson 19 1

Perception Every day we bypass wonderful things that God wants to give us for our pleasure and for our good. Every day we take hold of horrible things that Satan wants to give us for our pain and for our destruction. 2

Perception Romans 12: 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NAS) mh; nikw` (mee nikoo) to stop doing something that you are doing u. Jpov (hupo) “under the control of” 3

Perception Romans 12: 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NAS) Isaiah 5: 20 -21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; kakov" (kakos) who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet, and refers to something rotten to the core, sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and harmful, their own sight! clever in (NAS) malignant, but something which may look very, very good. 4

Perception • Evil is the policy of Satan. • Evil is anything that opposes God's creative intent. • The essence of evil is independence of God. • Anything that man does on his own is evil 5

Evil • Believers are expected to recognize evil and know how to deal with it. Romans 12: 21 Ephesians 6: 10 -18 • 1 Thessalonians 5: 15 Evil is the policy of Satan; it originated with him. Ezekiel 28: 11 -16 Isaiah 14: 12 -15 • While sins are generated from man’s sin nature, James 1: 14 -15 • evil is always from Satan. John 8: 44 1 John 3: 12 6

Evil • It is the policy of Satan as god of this world to capture, blind, and enslave the souls of men. 2 Corinthians 4: 4 1 Timothy 3: 7 2 Timothy 2: 26 • • • Satan’s primary strategy is deception. He is a liar who can disguise himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11: 14 He distorts the truth and promotes the idea that good can come from evil. Romans 3: 8 Romans 6: 15 Romans 13: 1 -4 7

Evil • • • This is what he did in the Garden when he deceived Eve into thinking that life could be made better by doing something that God prohibited. The fruit looked good to her; The promised result of eating it seemed good. Satan makes evil look just as beautiful and seem just as noble today. Satan uses human religion as a cloak for evil. 8

Evil • He has his own churches, his own communion table, his own pastors. 1 Timothy 4: 1 • 1 Corinthians 10: 14 -21 They all look so good, and yet are so evil because they are distorting truth and substituting human good for the righteousness of God. Isaiah 64: 6 2 Corinthians 11: 4 Galatians 3: 1 -7 2 Corinthians 11: 13 -15 Colossians 2: 21 -23 9

Evil • It is impossible to discern good from evil apart from the Word of God. Romans 16: 19 Hebrews 5: 14 • Sin was judged at the cross; 2 Corinthians 5: 14 -21 Hebrews 10: 10, 12, 14, 17 • Evil is yet to be judged. 10

Evil • The human good of believers will be judged at the Bema of Christ. 1 Corinthians 3: 11 -15 2 Corinthians 5: 9 -11 • Judgment of unbelievers and of Satan and his angels will be executed after the Second Advent of Christ. JUDE 14 -15 1 THESSALONIANS 5: 2 -3 2 THESSALONIANS 1: 6 -10 REVELATION 14: 17 -20 REVELATION 19: 11 -21 REVELATION 20: 11 -15 11

Matthew 25: 31 -46 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, Revelation 20: 11 -15 and the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right, Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for it, from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me you from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, somethingplace was found for them. And I saw drink; I was a and no to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to the dead, stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and the great and the small, standing before throne, you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me. ‘ "Then the righteous will and books were opened; and another feed You, or opened, answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and book wasthirsty, and give You something to drink? life; when did wedead were judged invite which is the book of 'And and the see You a stranger, and You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and from You? ‘ "The King will answer and say to them, the books, come tothe things which were written in 'Truly I say to you, to the extent thatto their deeds. And the sea gave up the least of according you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the dead them, you did it to Me. ‘ "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for which and his in them; and they were judged, nothing to eat; I the devil were angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Meevery one of was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second did not visit Me. ‘ "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we death, the lake of fire. And if or naked, or sick, or in prison, and see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, anyone's name was not did not take care of You? ‘ "Then He will life, he was thrown into found written in the book of answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it the lake of fire. to Me. ‘ "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into 12 eternal life. " judgments • • The judgment of the cross The judgment of self The judgment of believers The judgment of the believer’s works The judgment of Israel The judgment of the nations The judgment of angels The judgment of the great white throne

judgments WHO is being judged? WHAT is being judged? WHEN is this judgment taking place? 13

judgments The Judgment Of the Cross. • Sin was judged at the cross. • Every sin ever committed and every sin that will ever be committed by mankind was judged at the cross. • Jesus Christ became sin and was judged as Substitute for every member of the human race. • The believer has been in court, condemned, sentenced, and executed in the Person of his Substitute, Jesus Christ. John 5: 24 Romans 5: 9 Romans 8: 1 2 Corinthians 5: 21 Hebrews 9: 26 -28 Hebrews 10: 14 -17 Galatians 3: 13 Hebrews 10: 10 1 Peter 2: 24 1 John 2: 2 14

judgments The Judgment Of the Cross. • It may also be said that Satan has been judged at the cross. John 16: 11 Colossians 2: 14 -15 • This judgment took from Satan much of the authority he had over the unsaved in keeping them from knowing the gospel of grace Isaiah 14: 17 Isaiah 61: 1 • The cross completed this judgment upon sin. John 19: 30 15

judgments The Judgment Of Self. • The warning to judge self is addressed directly to those who are saved. 1 Corinthians 11: 31 -32 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be spoken But when we are • Here discipline isjudged. of as judgment from God, judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in which will not occur if the believer will be faithful in order himself before God judging that we may not be condemned along with the world. (NASB) 1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and • Forgiveness to forgive us our sins and to believer righteous and cleansing are assured once the has made confession to God, since that really means self cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NASB) -judgment. 16

judgments The Judgment Of Believers. (SIM/W/I/D) • Divine discipline, or chastisement, is one of the kinds of judgments experienced by believers. • Divine discipline is administered only when confession of sin, self-judgment, is lacking. • Divine discipline is a most real and practical thing in daily experience and underlies all Christian spirituality. • Right relations with God can be maintained only as one is attentive and faithful in the matter of confession to God covering all known sin. • The extreme form of divine discipline is removal of the believer from this life through death. John 15: 2 1 Corinthians 11: 30 -32 1 John 5: 16 17

judgments The Judgment Of the Believer’s Works. • All believers will one day come before the bh/ma, judgment seat, of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment • seat of Christ, that each one may be This will occur in spite of the assurance given by John recompensed forof God shallin the body, judgment. 5: 24 that the child his deeds not come into according to what John 5: 24 he has done, whether good or bad. truly, I say to you, he who hears My "Truly, (NASB) • word, and believes Him who sentinto judgment for John 5: 24 is speaking of not coming Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, sin, the penalty for which is death, because sin was judged at the cross. but has passed out of death into life. (NASB) 18

judgments The Judgment Of the Believer’s Works. • Sin is not the issue at the judgment seat of Christ. • The believer’s works or service will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. 19

1 CORINTHIANS 3: 9 -15 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. G G G H S S WW H H G G G WS H H G S S WW ST ST ST PS PS PS ST PS H W S W ST ST PS ST G H Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1 CORINTHIANS 3: 10 -15 Each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. G G G H S S WW H H G G G WS H H G S S WW ST ST ST PS PS PS ST PS H W S W ST ST PS ST G H

1 CORINTHIANS 3: 10 -15 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; Divine Good done in this life which is rewardable in eternity. PS PS PS PS S S S S G G G G

1 CORINTHIANS 3: 10 -15 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; WWW H H H WW W WH H H WW ST ST ST H W H W ST ST WH Human Good done in this life which is rejected by God in eternity resulting in loss of reward. but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

judgments The Judgment Of the Believer’s Works. • Sin is not the issue at the judgment seat of Christ. • The believer’s works or service will be judged at the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Timothy 4: 8 1 Corinthians 3: 9 -15 1 Corinthians 4: 5 Ephesians 6: 8 Romans 14: 10 Revelation 22: 12 24

judgments The Judgment Of Israel. • The fact that Israel must come into judgment is most clearly taught. • The judgment of Israel will occur before they enter the kingdom. • The judgment of Israel will occur at the end of the great tribulation when Christ returns to earth to establish His kingdom. • The central passage concerning the judgment of Israel is Ezekiel 20: 33 -44 ( the Jewish Baptism of Fire ): • The parables of the ten virgins, • A large part of the Olivet Discourse deals with the judgment of Israel during the great tribulation. Matthew 24: 9 -25: 30 25

judgments The Judgment Of Israel. • In connection with this judgment of Israel, there will also be a resurrection of Israel. • This resurrection will awaken Israel to its national importance and past greatness. • Those Jews who died prior to the Church age and during the great tribulation, believing in Christ and the coming of His kingdom, will rise and enter the earthly glory. Ezekiel 37: 1 -14 Daniel 12: 1 -3 26

The Doctrine of Resurrections Revelation 20: 6 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (NASB) 27

Gentiles Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles Holy Spirit Israel Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles Body of Christ Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Israel BJ UJ BG UG Christ Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles The First Fruits 28

THE FIRST RESURECTION Company A – Jesus Christ Spiritual Body of Christ 1 Corinthians 15: 20 1 Corinthians 15: 23 But now Christ has order: Christ the But each in his own been raised from the dead, the first that those who are first fruits, after fruits of those who are at His coming, (NAS Christ's asleep. (NAS) Gentiles Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles Israel Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles Holy Spirit Body of Christ Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Israel BJ UJ BG UG Christ Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles 29

THE FIRST RESURRECTION Company A – Jesus Christ Company B – Spiritual Body of Christ 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 -17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. (NAS) Holy Spirit Gentiles Israel Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Pre-Church Age and Tribulation Saints Israel BJ UJ BG UG Christ Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles 30

Millennial Saints THE FIRST RESURRECTION Company A – Jesus Christ Company B – Spiritual Body of Christ Company C – Pre-Church Age and Tribulation Saints Gentiles Israel Unbelieving Gentiles Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Holy Spirit Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Israel UJ UG Christ Believing Jews Unbelieving Jews Believing Gentiles Unbelieving Gentiles 31

THE FIRST RESURECTION Company A – Jesus Christ Company B –Spiritual Body of Christ Company C – Pre-Church Age and Tribulation Saints Company D – Millennial Saints Gentiles Israel Unbelieving Gentiles Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles Israel UJ UG All Unbelievers Christ Unbelieving Jews Unbelieving Gentiles 32 THE SECOND RESURECTION

2 nd er. ds. ov en is t, ry w i sto ETERNITY i H e kno an s w um , a Advent H ity n a. Christ Company A – Jesus m u. Spiritual Body of Christ Company B – H Company C – Pre -Church Age and Tribulation Saints Millennium Company D – Millennial Saints THE SECOND RESURECTION Great White Throne Judgment All Unbelievers to the Lake of Fire 33

judgments The Judgment Of the Nations. (The Gentile Baptism of Fire) Matthew 25: 31 -46 • The Greek word in Matthew 25: 32 that is translated "nations" is e[qno" (ethnos). • Ethnos does not mean "nations“ • Ethnos should properly be translated "race. “ • This passage is then teaching that "all the races will be gathered" • As we continue reading we discover that the races being gathered are all the non-Jewish races 34

judgments The Judgment Of the Nations. (The Gentile Baptism of Fire) Matthew 25: 31 -46 • Since anyone who is not of the Jewish race is called a Gentile, this passage then teaches of the gathering of all the "Gentiles" • The nation from which the Gentile is gathered is of no consequence, only that the one being gathered is a Gentile. • Every person is alone responsible for his or her attitude toward Jesus Christ, which of course determines whether or not they are saved. • This judgment is the Gentile Baptism of Fire. 35

judgments The Judgment Of the Angels. • Several passages speak of judgment of Angels 1 Corinthians 15: 24 -26 then {comes} the end, when He delivers up the • kingdom to the God and Father, when He has of This passage indicates that during the kingdom reign abolished allpowers must beauthority and power Christ angelic rule and all judged. [“rule”, “authority” and “power” are references to 1 Corinthians 6: 3 demonic rank in Satan’s army]. For He must reign Revelation 20: 10 until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (NASB) Jude 6 2 Peter 2: 4 36

judgments The Judgment Of the Great White Throne. • Jesus taught that there would be a time when all humanity must be raised to judgment. • John 5: 28 -29 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear Thevoice, and shallwhich forth; those who His major passage come deals with the Great did the good {deeds} to a is White Throne judgment resurrection of life, those who committed the 20: 11 -15 to a Revelation evil {deeds} resurrection of judgment. (NASB) • This passage tells of God’s final dealing with all 37 the wicked dead.

GOOD Romans 12: 21. . . but overcome evil with good. (NAS) BUT (alla) “Overcome” (nikao) “In total and complete contrast to your being conquered, you choose to stand up and keep on conquering evil. ” 38

GOOD Romans 12: 21. . . but overcome evil with good. (NAS) How are they going to do that? εν τω αγαθω (en to agatho) “in the good” “in the sphere of good” Paul is talking about DIVINE GOOD, that which can be produced through us as we choose to live in the sphere of the Spirit. 39

A Different Wisdom Paul says, Ifyour calling, brethren, wisdom in were not you 1 Corinthiansfor that there are looking 1: 26 -31 For consider many wise according to andflesh, not many mighty, not sophisticated speech the powerful rhetoric, of the many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things world to shame the wise, in the preaching ofthe weak • You will not find it and God has chosen the cross. things of the world to shame things which are strong, 1 Corinthians 1: 18 -25 andthe word of the cross is foolishness to those who are has the base things of the world and the despised God For chosen, the things that are not, so that the may nullify the perishing, but to us who are being saved it is He power of God. For things that "I WILL DESTROY man WISDOM OF before God. But it is written, are, so that no THE may boast THE WISE, AND THE by His doing you. THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE. “ Where usthe wise CLEVERNESS OF are in Christ Jesus, who became to is man? Where is the scribe? Corinthians 2: 1 -5 wisdom from God, and 1 Where is the debater of this age? Has not righteousness and sanctification, God made foolishto you, brethren, I world? comesince superiority and redemption, the wisdom of the did not For with in the wisdom And when I came so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO of God the or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. of speech world IN THE LORD. " (NASB) BOASTS, BOAST through its wisdom did not come to know God, God • You will not find it in my sermons was well-pleasedto know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, For I determined through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and in and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in a stumbling words and to Gentiles foolishness, but of the Spirit are persuasive block of wisdom, but in demonstration to those who the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power the. God and of power, so that your faith would not rest on of wisdom the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, but on the power of God. (NASB) 40 and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (NASB) • And you will not find it in many of yourselves.

A Different Wisdom • The gospel is wisdom for the mature, 1 Corinthians 2: 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; (NASB) • BUT it has nothing to do with the “wisdom” this world longs to see. • God’s wisdom is not of this age (v. 6 b). It doesn’t belong to this earthly realm or this “not yet” moment in redemptive history. • God’s wisdom is not of the rulers of this age who 41 are passing away. (v. 6 b).

A Different Wisdom • God’s wisdom has nothing in common with scheming powerbrokers or the cunning devices of the Evil One. 2 2 Corinthians 4: 4 Corinthians 10: 4 -6 for the weapons of our warfare not of the in whose case the god of this world has blinded flesh, but divinely powerful for the minds of the unbelieving so that they might destruction of fortresses. We are destroying not see the light of the gospel of the glory of • Christ, wisdom is unique. of God. (NASB) God’s who is the image It is not immediately speculations and every lofty thing raised up obvious to knowledge of God, and we by against theall or universally appreciatedareall. taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we. Corinthians 2: 7 1 are ready to punish all disobedience, God's wisdom in a mystery, is but we speak whenever your obedience the complete. (NASB) hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; (NASB) 42

Obtaining Wisdom Hebrews 5: 13 -14 For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (NAS) μετε χω (metecho) someone who is constantly feeding only on milk” of the Word, the basic doctrines. α πειρος (apeiros), not accustomed, unskillful “the 43

Obtaining Wisdom Hebrews 5: 13 -14 For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (NAS) νη πιος (nepios) childish, infantile, lacking in the perseverance τε λειος (teleios) the people who have arrived at the goal or objective, 44 in this case spiritual maturity.

Obtaining Wisdom Hebrews 5: 13 -14 For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (NAS) ε ξις (hexis) “a habit resulting from consistent, perpetual discipline” γυμνα ζω (gumnazo) “gymnasium. ” 45

Obtaining Wisdom Hebrews 5: 13 -14 For everyone who partakes {only} of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. (NAS) δια κρισις (diakrisis) Krisis means “to judge; ” dia means “between. ” They have the ability to judge between good and evil. 46

Divine Wisdom • • • Divine wisdom abides forever; 1 Peter 1: 25 Earthly wisdom is passing away. 1 Corinthians 2: 6 The world rejects divine wisdom by rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, the personification of wisdom. John 1: 14, 17 1 Corinthians 2: 8 Colossians 2: 3 • Divine wisdom could never have been found by man; it had to be revealed by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2: 7, 10 -11 2 Peter 1: 19 -21 • Divine wisdom cannot be perceived through human senses 1 Corinthians 2: 9 47

Divine Wisdom • Divine wisdom can only be perceived through divine revelation and spiritual perception. Ephesians 3: 18 -19 2 Timothy 3: 16 • Since divine wisdom is a gift of God, James 1: 5 James 3: 17 -18 • it can be received only by faith. 1 Corinthians 2: 12 Romans 10: 17 • The faith that can appropriate divine wisdom must come through instruction. Romans 10: 14 -17 48 1 Corinthians 2: 13 Ephesians 4: 11 -16

Divine Wisdom • It is impossible to be spiritual and at the same time be negative to spiritual truth or Bible study. Hebrews 5: 11 • Divine wisdom is a characteristic of spiritual maturity. 1 Corinthians 2: 1 Hebrews 5: 11 -6: 2 49

agape • Agape is 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -8 Christian's the foundation of the Galatians 5: 5 Philippians 1: 9 Romans 5: 22 But is fruitto love your is love, joy, peace, and hope. I does not disappoint, because the love And thepatient, reality. kind {and} is abound still Lovethis pray, that Spiritlove may not jealous; orientation of the is patience, not brag goodness, arrogant, of God has been poured is notfaithfulness, moredoeskindness, {and}out withinand alldoes love and more in real knowledge our hearts • discernment, Holy Spirit the way that God us. is If act orient (NAS) unbecomingly; it does not seek to own, through theto (NAS) to who was given its sees notwe want (NAS) in this world, we have to start withalove. not provoked, does not take into account things wrong {suffered}, does not rejoice in • unrighteousness, but we can take inthe truth; There are two paths rejoices with life: bears all things, believes all truth hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; . . light love (NASB) hate darkness deception 50

Divine Wisdom ai[sqhsi" (aistheesis) “insight” “perception” “skillful application” practical application of the Word to life the ability to make common-sense distinctions in life 51

Divine Wisdom eijlikrinhv" (eilikrines) Philippians 1: 10 -11 so that you“to be judgedthe things that are may approve by the sun” excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless “to Christ; to the been until the day of be open having light”filled with the fruit of righteousness which {comes} “to be unmingled with darkness” through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (NAS) ajprovskopo" (aproskopos) “approved, ” dokimazo, “without stumbling” to prove by putting to the test 52