"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER" Commendable Conduct Before God (2:18-25) by Mark Copeland

"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"

Commendable Conduct Before God (2:18-25)

INTRODUCTION

1. Our last study introduced the importance of submission to human 
   institutions that rule over us - 1Pe 2:13-17

2. Now in verses 18-25, Peter addresses those who were servants, 
   emphasizing again the principle of submission (READ)

3. In the course of his instructions, Peter mentions conduct that is 
   considered "commendable" before God...
   a. In the NKJV, the word "commendable" is used twice - 1Pe 2:19,20
   b. The NASV translates it as "finds favor" 

4. In this study, we shall consider...
   a. What is commendable conduct before God
   b. Why it is considered commendable
   c. How we can be sure to have this commendable conduct before God

[First of all, then...]

I. WHAT IS COMMENDABLE CONDUCT BEFORE GOD?

   A. TO SUFFER PATIENTLY WHEN MISTREATED FOR DOING GOOD...
      1. Consider the example given by Peter...
         a. A servant is trying to serve his master well
         b. For some reason, however, his master mistreats him
         c. The servant "finds favor" in God's sight if he patiently 
            and submissively endures the mistreatment!
      2. To put it in other words:
         a. When you are doing that which is good...
         b. And despite it you are being mistreated...
         c. But you endure the unjust treatment patiently...
         d. Your patient forbearance is commendable in the sight of God!
      3. Note carefully:
         a. It is not simply suffering patiently that is commendable
         b. But suffering patiently when you did good, and yet are 
            abused for it - 1Pe 2:20

   B. IS THIS APPLICABLE ONLY IN A MASTER-SLAVE RELATIONSHIP?
      1. No! Consider 1Pe 3:13-14,17, where Peter speaks to brethren
         in general
      2. In writing to servants, then, Peter is applying a general 
         truth to a specific application
      3. It is therefore applicable to any situation where we are told 
         to submit...
         a. E.g., in our relationship to government - 1Pe 2:13
         b. E.g., in a wife's relationship to her husband - 1Pe 3:1
         c. E.g., in our relationship to one another - cf. Ep 5:21

[So whenever we do good and suffer for it, to endure that suffering 
patiently is "commendable conduct before God."

But that is hard!  It is our natural inclination to resist and defend 
ourselves when we are "in the right" and being mistreated.  Indeed, we 
want to "stand up for our rights."

To appreciate why patiently enduring suffering while doing good is 
commendable before God, let's address the question...]

II. WHY IS THIS CONDUCT COMMENDABLE BEFORE GOD?

   A. WE WERE CALLED FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE!
      1. Consider 1Pe 2:21-23
         a. Christians are called to follow the example of Jesus
         b. Just as He suffered patiently when mistreated without 
            cause, so should we!
      2. We have therefore been called to respond to ill treatment with
         good treatment - cf. 1Pe 3:9; Lk 6:27-36

   B. IN VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL GOOD THAT CAN RESULT!
      1. See what Jesus accomplished by His patient forbearance to 
         mistreatment done to Him! - cf. 1Pe 2:24-25
         a. The forgiveness of our sins!
         b. The restoration of straying sheep back to their Shepherd!
      2. By following the example of Jesus, we can have an effect for 
         good also
         a. Returning good for evil, we are more likely to overcome 
            evil - Ro 12:19-21
         b. In this way we are more likely to change those who 
            persecute us
         c. For they are often ashamed when they see how we patiently 
            endure their mistreatment by doing good

[Just as we were moved by the sacrificial death of Jesus for our sins, 
so we might best move others to change their evil ways by patiently 
doing good even when they mistreat us.  That is why we have been called
to follow the example of Jesus!

Finally, here are some suggestions to the question...]

III. HOW WE CAN BE SURE TO HAVE THIS COMMENDABLE CONDUCT?

   A. "REJOICE" THAT YOU ARE COUNTED WORTHY TO SUFFER...
      1. So Peter commanded later in this epistle - 1Pe 4:12-14; cf.
         also Ac 5:41
      2. Just as Christ did in His sermon on the mount - Mt 5:10-12
      3. Knowing that we are blessed in the sight of God, and have 
         joined a great group of prophets, apostles, and disciples in 
         suffering for Christ, can help us to have the proper attitude
         (one of joy, not vengeance)
      4. Even if those mistreating us do not know that we are 
         Christians, if our response is governed by Christ's teachings,
         we can still have satisfaction in knowing that God is pleased!

   B. "RESIST" THE TEMPTATION TO RETALIATE...
      1. When we suffer mistreatment by others, Satan is behind it all
         - cf. 1Pe 5:8-9
      2. He would love to hinder the cause of Christ by having us 
         retaliate just as people in the world would, proving that 
         Christians are no different than sinners of the world
      3. Don't let him win!

   C. "RESPOND" TO MISTREATMENT BY DOING MORE GOOD...
      1. When mistreated for doing good, just do more good! 

         - cf. 1 Pe 3:9; Ro 12:20-21
      2. For "endure" (1Pe 2:19) means "to bear from underneath, i.e.
         (fig.) to undergo hardship", thus to bear up under pressure
      3. There is nothing noble (commendable) about stopping when "the 
         going gets tough"; but when "the tough get going", and going 
         about doing good, now THAT is commendable!

   D. "RELY" ON GOD...
      1. Suffering patiently when mistreated for doing good does not 
         always bring immediate satisfaction
      2. We must therefore trust in God, believing that His will is best
      3. So just as Jesus "committed Himself to Him judges righteously"
         (1Pe 2:23), so should we - 1Pe 4:19
      4. And if our Christ-like behavior does not change the behavior 
         of those who mistreat us, God will one day do what is right 
         - cf. Ro 12:19; 2Th 1:6

CONCLUSION

1. Hopefully by following the "four R's" (rejoice, resist, respond, 
   rely) we can follow in the steps of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

2. If so, then we can be sure to have "commendable conduct before God"!

We have made reference to what Jesus accomplished by suffering for us, 
how He bore our sins on the tree (1Pe 2:24).  Peter also says Jesus
did this "that we, having died to sins might live for righteousness".

Have you "died to sins"?  Do you even know how that it is accomplished?
The answer is found in Romans 6:1-8...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

Recent Turing Award Implies Creation by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3739

Recent Turing Award Implies Creation

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The A.M. Turing Award is one of, if not the, highest awards that can be given to those in the computing field. It was named after British mathematician Alan M. Turing, and awarded to those who are believed to have made breakthrough advancements in computing technology (Robertson, 2011). The most recent recipient of the Turing award was Harvard University professor Leslie Valiant. He received the award based on his contributions to the field of “computer learning.” Jordan Robertson, APTechnology Writer, noted that Valiant’s efforts “paved the way for computers that more closely mimic how humans think” (2011). Robertson quoted ACM President Alain Chesnais as saying that Valiant’s work, “has produced modeling that offers computationally inspired answers on fundamental questions like how the brain ‘computes’” (2011).

Valiant’s work is truly amazing. He has spent 30 years of his life trying to help synthetic machinery “compute” more like the human brain. In many ways, however, the computers are still vastly inferior to the human brain. Reasoning through this situation leads to a very important conclusion. If Valiant is a brilliant computational scientist, and he has spent three decades trying to mimic the computational abilities of the brain, what does that imply about the brain? It means it was designed by an Intelligent Designer even more brilliant than Valiant. That is the only conclusion that adequately evaluates the evidence. Yet sadly, many in the scientific community will pat Valiant on the back for the efforts he has made to understand the brain’s computational abilities, while they will completely ignore the implication of design that is inherent in his work. In reality, God’s design of the human brain has paved the way for scientists like Valiant to mimic His work and build better computers.

REFERENCE

Robertson, Jordan (2011), "Turing Award Goes to ‘Machine Learning’ Expert", http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110309/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_technology_prize/print.

Quantum Mechanics: "No Universal Cause Necessary"? by Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=5422

Quantum Mechanics: "No Universal Cause Necessary"?

by	Jeff Miller, Ph.D.

Q:

If causality fails in quantum mechanics, doesn’t that prove that a Universal Cause isn’t necessary?

A:

Writing in Nature, Howard Wiseman, Professor of Physics at Griffith University, explained that, “In 1964, Northern Irish physicist John Bell proved mathematically that certain quantum correlations, unlike all other correlations in the Universe, cannot arise from any local cause.”¹ Does that mean that a cause for the Universe is unnecessary? If a “quantum fluctuation” does not necessarily require a local cause, doesn’t that mean that a Universe-generating quantum fluctuation would not necessarily require a cause?

The key word that must not be overlooked in a proper understanding of Bell’s Theorem is the word “local.” In order to answer the above questions, that term must be defined and understood. Consider a simplified example: it takes about eight minutes for light from the Sun to reach Earth. But let’s say you were standing on the Sun by yourself, without any interaction with me, but every time I clicked my computer mouse on Earth, you immediately and uncontrollably hopped. There was not a delay of eight minutes. The effect was immediate. The effect of you hopping would be the result of a “non-local” cause. In his article, “Spooky Action at a Distance,” Dr. Gary Felder, Professor of Physics at Smith College, explains locality as “the principle that an event which happens at one place can’t instantaneously affect an event someplace else. For example: if a distant star were to suddenly blow up tomorrow, the principle of locality says that there is no way we could know about this event or be affected by it until something, e.g. a light beam, had time to travel from that star to Earth.”² The question is, does that principle always hold true? According to what’s known as Bell’s Theorem, at the quantum level, the principle of locality does not hold true. Jacob Aron, writing in New Scientist, explained that in quantum theory, “particles could become entangled, so that measuring one would instantly influence the measurement of the other, even if they were far apart.”³ Felder explained: “Bell proved that the results predicted by quantum mechanics could not be explained by any theory which preserved locality. In other words, if you set up an experiment like that described by Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen, and you get the results predicted by quantum mechanics, then there is no way that locality could be true…. In short, locality is dead.”⁴

Now what does this mean for using the Law of Causality to prove the Universe could not create itself?⁵ Three quick points to consider in response to that question:

• Most important: even if Bell’s Theorem holds true, and it very well may, it does not disprove the Law of Causality—i.e., the need of a cause for every effect in the Universe. Bell’s Theorem argues that there is not a need for a local cause at the quantum level (i.e., locality), but it does not claim that there is not still a necessary relationship between cause and effect—i.e., that causality still holds. While Bell experiments seem to show that there is not always a direct correlation between a cause and effect at the local level, scientists see that there does still seem to be a correlation between the causes and effects in Bell’s Theorem experiments, even if the correlation is not local. According to Bell’s Theorem, a cause can create a distant effect instantly without apparent (or, at least, understandable) interaction (e.g., separated electrons can “affect each other instantly”⁶), but there is still an acknowledged relationship between the cause and effect even if it is distant and immediate. My clicks are undeniably causing you to jump, even if we do not understand why. In the words of Wiseman, concerning the non-local reality interpretation of Bell’s Theorem, it is possible that “the setting of one measuring device can influence the reading of another instrument, however remote”⁷—i.e., the cause and effect are still apparently correlated. So, Bell’s Theorem may highlight another type of cause and effect relationship, but it does not negate the need for a cause in the first place.
• Scientists recognize that they do not completely understand why Bell’s Theorem seems to hold true. They acknowledge that there may be things we have not discovered about reality which could affect our understanding of what is happening at the quantum level and which could prove that the cause is ultimately still “local.”⁸ In other words, compared to what we know about the macroscopic realm from centuries of study, we are relative novices when it comes to the study of the quantum world. We simply do not have all the answers as to what is happening in that realm, but, on the other hand, the evidence for the Law of Causality is abundant and undeniable.
• Scientists even acknowledge that Bell’s Theorem may be false and that further investigation and accumulation of knowledge may reveal that fact. According to Felder, hidden assumptions (e.g., the assumption that “no signal can propagate faster than the speed of light,” which is a fundamental element of Einstein’s theory of relativity) could be corrupting the Bell experiment results.⁹ Wiseman conceded that “[b]efore investing too much angst or money, one wants to be sure that Bell correlations really exist. As of now, there are no loophole-free Bell experiments.”¹⁰

Bottom line: all observed evidence in the Universe, whether at the quantum or super-quantum level, indicates that in the realm in which we live, an effect must have a cause. The Universe is an effect, and if one is to be rational (i.e., follow the evidence we have at our disposal), he must acknowledge that there must be an ultimate cause for the Universe, whether it be local or non-local. According to the evidence, that Cause is none other than the God of the Bible.¹¹

ENDNOTES

¹ Howard Wiseman (2014), “Bell’s Theorem Still Reverberates,” Nature, 510[7506]:467-469, p. 467.

² Gary Felder (1999), “Spooky Action at a Distance,” Math and Physics Help, http://www.felderbooks.com/papers/bell.html, italics in orig.

³ Jacob Aron (2015), “Quantum Weirdness is Reality,” New Scientist, 227[3037]:8-9, September 5, p. 8.

⁴ Felder.

⁵ Jeff Miller (2011), “God and the Laws of Science: The Law of Causality,” Apologetics Press, http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=3716&topic=90.

⁶ Felder.

⁷ Wiseman, p. 468.

⁸ Felder.

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ Wiseman, p. 468.

¹¹ Jeff Miller (2015), “How Can a Person Know Which God Exists?” Reason & Revelation, 35[5]:52-53, May, http://apologeticspress.org/pub_rar/35_5/1505.pdf.

Proving Your Faith by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1361

Proving Your Faith

by	Wayne Jackson, M.A.

How do we know that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God? Is our faith based merely upon tradition? Is faith the result of religious fanaticism? No, genuine faith stands firmly upon evidence.

After the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the newly appointed apostle entered the Jewish synagogues and “proclaimed Jesus, that he is the son of God” (Acts 9:20). His message continually amazed those who heard it. It seemed incredible that one who had so opposed the Christian Way could now be one of its most zealous advocates. The historian Luke informed his readers that Saul increased in strength, and he “confounded the Jews that lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ” (Acts 9:22).

Of interest in this passage is the term “proving.” It is a translation of the Greek word sumbibazon. It is a present tense participle form, which suggests that Paul's preaching was characterized consistently by a demonstrative line of argumentation. The original term, from an etymological viewpoint means “to bring together,” as when, for example, parts of the body are brought together (i.e., tied together) by sinew, ligament, etc. (see Ephesians 4:16).

In the context of Acts 9:22, the word connotes bringing together pieces of information from which a logical conclusion is drawn. In “proving” to the Jews that Jesus is the “Christ” (i.e., the promised Old Testament Messiah), Paul would have: (1) introduced specific Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah; (2) compared those predictions with factual data that pertained to Jesus of Nazareth; and, (3) from the preceding, he would have drawn irresistible conclusions that no rational and honest person could deny.

The critic who alleges that Christianity is merely emotional, and not intellectual, simply does not know the facts.

Attributes of God (Part 8) He is a Nurturing God by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1722

Attributes of God (Part 8) He is a Nurturing God

Can you ever think of a time when God was trying to teach you a lesson?       I read story this past week were someone believes that’s exactly what God was trying to do. I found it on the internet and it goes as follows:

“God taught me a lesson today, using of all things , my puppy and a ordinary trip to the vet’s office. It is amazing what the Father will use to get His point across to us. I sometimes stupidly tune out The Lord when He is trying to speak to me, or I just wave off what I am hearing as coming from my own mind and not from Him. Today, I had to take my puppy in for a visit. As we approached the door, he was extremely hesitant and I asked The Lord, if I should even take him in, or reschedule the appointment. I clearly heard a voice in my mind say “Pick him up and carry him in, be cautious and careful”. I thought, This can’t be God, why would he care about how I bring him into the vet’s office? I thought I was letting my imagination run away with me. Despite this thought, I decide to exercise some caution, by tightening up on his leash, but I did not pick him up. As I opened the door, a huge pit bull jumped out at us, snarling and growling. I immediately, pulled my puppy away, and ran for the other door, leading to the other side of the office. This dog was huge and had massive jaws, it could have easily killed my baby and seriously injured me. Thankfully her owner reacted quickly and was able to pull her back. Lesson learned, once again: Always, always listen to God, even when I doubt it is Him talking. He is omniscient. He knows all things, especially those dangers that are hidden from us; He knows what threats lie waiting for us behind closed doors. He wants to protect us, but we must be willing to listen and do what He tells us to do.”

I’m sure some of you have your own stories that you could share about how God taught you a lesson at one time or another.

In this series of lessons on God’s attributes, so far I’ve talked about Him being omnipotent, or the all powerful One, the eternal Creator, and sustainer. He is also Holy and Righteous, Merciful, Just, and fair, and as we talked about last time, thankfully He is patient with us as well. But there is also something else about God that I never heard anyone talk about before, and that is the fact that He is a Nurturing God.

One thing that Jesus taught us to do that no others taught before Him was; Jesus taught us to call our God our Father, ‘our Father who art in Heaven.’

Even though He is the Almighty One, the God of all heaven and earth, Jesus wanted us to see what kind of relationship our Lord and God wants to have with us. He wanted us to understand how much Love our Heavenly Father has for us, and that can be seen in how He nurture and cares for us.

If you look up the word NURTURE, it means to care for, feed and protect, it means to bring up, train, educate, to support and encourage. It even involves discipline when needed to get one back on the right track

It is what a good parent will do for their child. And throughout scripture I see God doing this in a greater sense… caring for and nurturing us as His children through the ages.

As I prepared this lesson, one portion of scripture came to mind more than any other (even thought there are many) that speaks of how God nurture and cares for us. In Psalm 23 David talks about how he saw Father God took care of and nurturing Him. If you have your Bibles look at this Psalm with me. (It Reads)

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, 3 He refreshes my soul.”

As a shepherd David himself saw how God provided him with spiritual rest and nourishment. As one who raised and tended sheep himself, David knew the best place to gather his sheep so that they would be well watered and fed. He did not leave his own sheep in dry, hard, rocky waste lands, but rather he knew that they would flourish on green pastures, and by calm and quite waters. David also felt nourished and refreshed by Father God who guided him and brought him into save places to refresh his soul. Likewise those of us who really trust in Him and follow His lead will be more aware of what He provides. This can be both refreshing and nourishing to our spirit and give us peace of mind. He may even make you lie down and find rest in a good place whether you want it or not. Sometimes like sheep we just want to go off and do our own thing, but the Good Shepherd actually knows what’s best for us.

David continued on and wrote…

“He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

In his commentary Dr. Constable wrote, ‘God also gives His sheep guidance in the proper path of life so we do not wander aimlessly. He does so in part

for the sake of His own reputation, as One who has promised to direct His people. Protection is the fourth blessing for which David gave God praise. The promises of the Lord’s presence assure us of His protection in times of danger when we fear (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). The shepherd’s rod (a

cudgel(or club) worn at the belt) beat off attacking animals, and his staff (walking stick) kept the sheep away from physical dangers such as precipices. Likewise, God comes to the defense of His people when our spiritual enemies attack us. He also prevents us from getting into spiritually dangerous situations that would result in our destruction (cf. Matt. 6:13).’

How many of you ever said, I must have had a guardian angel watching over me when this or that happened.’ He does care for us and protect us in ways that are probably beyond our sight.

In Verse 5 David also wrote,

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Over and over David recognized and praised God for His provision and care; even when he was in danger or in the midst of a trial..

In the ancient East, a thoughtful host would welcome an honored guest into the protection of his home by pouring some oil on his head (cf. 45:7; 92:10; 133:2; Amos 6:6; Luke 7:46). This would soothed a weary traveler and was very refreshing. The “cup” here which David mentions symbolized his lot in life that overflowed with abundant blessings from our Father God.

How blessed are you by God? I would dare say that we are all extremely blessed by Father God even though some of us are going through different kinds of trials. Compared to what others have in this world, our cups are definitely running over!

He finishes the Psalm by stating, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

It even seems as though David was even reassured by the hope of heaven.

Haddon Robinson’s, who wrote a book on the Twenty Third Psalm wrote, “The Lord’s goodness to His people, as seen in His leading and providing for us, should motivate us to appreciate our security in Him and to abide in fellowship with Him.”

For 40 years while the Israelites were in the wilderness after leaving Egypt we see the Lord, leading them, feeding them, providing them with water, their cloths did not even wear out. We also see Him teaching them not only spiritual lessons, but also what to eat, how to take care of themselves, He provided them with sensible laws and regulations, and even disciplined them.

Our Father God is a nurturing and caring God who has our best interest in mind. He provided for us, shelters us, guides us, protect us and more.

He gave us life. He provides us with good instruction, and shows us how to be saved from the consequences of our own sin. His own Spirit even enters His children to guide and teach us and even prompts us to do what is right in His sight.      We are never alone.   He is always with us and in us.

He gives us direction. He gives us hope. He gives us vision of an amazing future, and hope, and so much more.

But how do we respond?

– Some doubt.  – Too many worry and fret. – Some are full of fear and feel alone.  – Some simply refuse to acknowledge that Father God provides us with everything we need. – Some just want more.

How should we respond?

– Like any child, you can either rebel, or you can submit.

-You can act like a know it all, or be one that seeks out His wisdom in all things.

-We can ignore Him or take time to listen to His promptings.

-We can either trust in His advice and timing, or go our own way.

-You can either appreciate His care and blessing He has provided you with or complain about what you have or don’t have like a spoiled little child.

-We can be upset at His rebukes and discipline or learn from it.

I say we need to trust in the Lord and lean less on our own wits and understanding.

I’d like to close by reading the wise words of Proverb 3:1-12

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.  Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com

Worship God! by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/whatiswo.html

Worship God!

Man is obligated to worship his Creator. “Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7). “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11). “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10).

What is the difference between worshiping God and serving God?

The Greek word for ‘serve’ in Matthew 4:10 (LATREUO) means to serve religiously. For serving in general, DOULEUO is used.

The word here for ‘worship’ (PROSKUNEO) means to express, by words or by bowing down, profound and submissive respect and adoration for God.

The two activities, worshiping God and serving God, are complementary because worship is vain unless it is supported by a life of dedicated service to God.

Paul writes: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (LATREIA)” (Romans 12:1).¹

Also under the Old Covenant, worship was to be verified by a life of daily service to God: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The word here for ‘serve’ in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament is LATREUO.²

Serving God involves all that we do, walking in all His ways, both in the prescribed religious exercises and in a godly life, whereas worship (PROSKUNEO) is an expression of submissive adoration on specific occasions.³

PROSKUNEO in the New Testament can also refer to Old Testament worship⁴ and to false forms of worship.⁵

Only God may be worshiped.

When the devil tempted Jesus to bow down and worship him⁶ Christ told him to go away, “For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matthew 4:10 // Luke 4:8).

Neither men,⁷ nor angels,⁸ nor anything created⁹ may be worshiped. Angels, however, are commanded to worship Christ¹⁰ which proves His deity. In the Gospels various people fell down at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him.¹¹

True worship is in spirit and truth.

Jesus defined genuine worship when He spoke with the Samaritan woman: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23, 24).¹²

A common error is to suppose that rituals have value, regardless of the attitude of the heart. Jesus teaches that worship is genuine only if it is in spirit and in truth.¹³ Both the inner and the outer aspects must be correct.

What is worship?

Worship (PROSKUNEO) is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty.

This glorification can be expressed by bowing down and by words. Since God can hear the thoughts of the heart, the words do not have to be audible.

The gospel commands all people on earth to worship God: ‘Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth - to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people - saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6, 7).¹⁴

Majestic examples of worship are found in Revelation.

We can learn how to worship from the heavenly host!

“And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created’” (Revelation 4:8- 11).

By falling down and casting their crowns before the throne, the elders show their submission. They “worship ... saying,” and then follows a beautiful and majestic verbal expression of adoration. By definition, worship is directed to God, yet the glorification of God is magnified when words of adoration are heard by others.

Next we hear the saints worshiping Christ in song: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God’” (Revelation 5:9, 10).

Then expressions of adoration follow in the third person, proclamations intended for others to hear. “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever” (Revelation 5:11-14).

The praise of the saints is confirmed by the amen of the heavenly host! “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen’” (Revelation 7:9-12).

Worship includes thanksgiving: “And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned’” (Revelation 11:16, 17).

They who overcome the beast, sing the song of Moses and the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for your judgments have been manifested” (Revelation 15:3b, 4).

These thrilling examples in Revelation demonstrate that worship is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty.

Let us worship the Lord! Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.

Endnotes:

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¹ Not “worship” as in some translations. Our whole life is service to God but not worship.

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² See also Deuteronomy 11:13 “serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

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³ This article includes references to all New Testament occurrences of PROSKUNEO.

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⁴ John 12:20; Acts 8:27; 24:11; Hebrews 11:21.

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⁵ Acts 7:43; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4.

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⁶ Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:7.

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⁷ Acts 10:25.

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⁸ Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9.

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⁹ Romans 1:25.

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¹⁰ Hebrews 1:5, 6.

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¹¹ Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38. Because PROSKUNEO, in a purely human context, can also be used for showing great respect (Matthew 18:26; Mark 15:19; Revelation 3:9), the depth of meaning intended in a few passages is not clear, such as when the wise men worshiped the Christ child (Matthew 2:2, 8, 11).

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¹² The center of worship under the New Covenant, is God’s temple in heaven (Revelation 11:1, 19).

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¹³ He does not state, however, as some claim, that worship is exclusively spiritual, without any outward expression whatever.

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¹⁴ The gift of prophecy in the early church could convict an unbeliever, and cause him to worship God (1 Corinthians 14:24, 25).

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Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com

Bible Reading May 29, 30 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading  May 29, 30

World  English  Bible

May 29

Judges 15, 16

Jdg 15:1 But it happened after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father wouldn't allow him to go in.

Jdg 15:2 Her father said, I most certainly thought that you had utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to your companion: isn't her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her, instead.

Jdg 15:3 Samson said to them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.

Jdg 15:4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.

Jdg 15:5 When he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the olive groves.

Jdg 15:6 Then the Philistines said, Who has done this? They said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife, and given her to his companion. The Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.

Jdg 15:7 Samson said to them, If you behave like this, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.

Jdg 15:8 He struck them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and lived in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

Jdg 15:9 Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.

Jdg 15:10 The men of Judah said, Why have you come up against us? They said, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he has done to us.

Jdg 15:11 Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, "Don't you know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?" He said to them, As they did to me, so have I done to them.

Jdg 15:12 They said to him, We have come down to bind you, that we may deliver you into the hand of the Philistines. Samson said to them, Swear to me that you will not fall on me yourselves.

Jdg 15:13 They spoke to him, saying, No; but we will bind you fast, and deliver you into their hand: but surely we will not kill you. They bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.

Jdg 15:14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.

Jdg 15:15 He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put forth his hand, and took it, and struck a thousand men therewith.

Jdg 15:16 Samson said, With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps on heaps, With the jawbone of a donkey I have struck a thousand men.

Jdg 15:17 It happened, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath Lehi.

Jdg 15:18 He was very thirsty, and called on Yahweh, and said, You have given this great deliverance by the hand of your servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.

Jdg 15:19 But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi, and water came out of it. When he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: therefore its name was called En Hakkore, which is in Lehi, to this day.

Jdg 15:20 He judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Jdg 16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a prostitute, and went in to her.

Jdg 16:2 It was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come here. They surrounded him, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, Let be until morning light, then we will kill him.

Jdg 16:3 Samson lay until midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.

Jdg 16:4 It came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

Jdg 16:5 The lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Entice him, and see in which his great strength lies, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will each give you of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

Jdg 16:6 Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, Please, in which your great strength lies, and with which you might be bound to afflict you.

Jdg 16:7 Samson said to her, If they bind me with seven green cords that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

Jdg 16:8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

Jdg 16:9 Now she had an ambush waiting in the inner chamber. She said to him, "The Philistines are on you, Samson!" He broke the cords, as a string of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So his strength was not known.

Jdg 16:10 Delilah said to Samson, Behold, you have mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, Please, with which you might be bound.

Jdg 16:11 He said to her, If they only bind me with new ropes with which no work has been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.

Jdg 16:12 So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. The ambush was waiting in the inner chamber. He broke them off his arms like a thread.

Jdg 16:13 Delilah said to Samson, Until now, you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me with what you might be bound. He said to her, If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web.

Jdg 16:14 She fastened it with the pin, and said to him, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He awakened out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.

Jdg 16:15 She said to him, How can you say, I love you, when your heart is not with me? you have mocked me these three times, and have not told me in which your great strength lies.

Jdg 16:16 It happened, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was troubled to death.

Jdg 16:17 He told her all his heart, and said to her, "No razor has ever come on my head; for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will become weak, and be like any other man."

Jdg 16:18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he has told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hand.

Jdg 16:19 She made him sleep on her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.

Jdg 16:20 She said, The Philistines are on you, Samson. He awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he didn't know that Yahweh had departed from him.

Jdg 16:21 The Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he ground at the mill in the prison.

Jdg 16:22 However the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaved.

Jdg 16:23 The lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

Jdg 16:24 When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god has delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who has slain many of us.

Jdg 16:25 It happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. They called for Samson out of the prison; and he made sport before them. They set him between the pillars:

Jdg 16:26 and Samson said to the boy who held him by the hand, Allow me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house rests, that I may lean on them.

Jdg 16:27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who saw while Samson made sport.

Jdg 16:28 Samson called to Yahweh, and said, Lord Yahweh, remember me, Please, and strengthen me, Please, only this once, God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Jdg 16:29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and leaned on them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.

Jdg 16:30 Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. He bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell on the lords, and on all the people who were therein. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than those who he killed in his life.

Jdg 16:31 Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial site of Manoah his father. He judged Israel twenty years.

May 30

Judges 17, 18

Jdg 17:1 There was a man of the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

Jdg 17:2 He said to his mother, The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you did utter a curse, and did also speak it in my ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. His mother said, Blessed be my son of Yahweh.

Jdg 17:3 He restored the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I most certainly dedicate the silver to Yahweh from my hand for my son, to make an engraved image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it to you.

Jdg 17:4 When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made of it an engraved image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.

Jdg 17:5 The man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

Jdg 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Jdg 17:7 There was a young man out of Bethlehem Judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.

Jdg 17:8 The man departed out of the city, out of Bethlehem Judah, to sojourn where he could find a place, and he came to the hill country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he traveled.

Jdg 17:9 Micah said to him, Where did you come from? He said to him, I am a Levite of Bethlehem Judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

Jdg 17:10 Micah said to him, Dwell with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver by the year, and a suit of clothing, and your food. So the Levite went in.

Jdg 17:11 The Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was to him as one of his sons.

Jdg 17:12 Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.

Jdg 17:13 Then said Micah, Now know I that Yahweh will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.

Jdg 18:1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.

Jdg 18:2 The children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said to them, Go, search the land. They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

Jdg 18:3 When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside there, and said to him, Who brought you here? and what do you in this place? and what do you have here?

Jdg 18:4 He said to them, Thus and thus has Micah dealt with me, and he has hired me, and I am become his priest.

Jdg 18:5 They said to him, Ask counsel, please, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

Jdg 18:6 The priest said to them, Go in peace: before Yahweh is your way wherein you go.

Jdg 18:7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people who were therein, how they lived in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put them to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.

Jdg 18:8 They came to their brothers to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brothers said to them, What do you say?

Jdg 18:9 They said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good: and are you still? don't be slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.

Jdg 18:10 When you go, you shall come to a people secure, and the land is large; for God has given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.

Jdg 18:11 There set forth from there of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

Jdg 18:12 They went up, and encamped in Kiriath Jearim, in Judah: therefore they called that place Mahaneh Dan, to this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim.

Jdg 18:13 They passed there to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.

Jdg 18:14 Then the five men who went to spy out the country of Laish answered, and said to their brothers, Do you know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and an engraved image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what you have to do.

Jdg 18:15 They turned aside there, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even to the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.

Jdg 18:16 The six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.

Jdg 18:17 The five men who went to spy out the land went up, and came in there, and took the engraved image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.

Jdg 18:18 When these went into Micah's house, and fetched the engraved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said to them, What do you?

Jdg 18:19 They said to him, Hold your peace, put your hand on your mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for you to be priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?

Jdg 18:20 The priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the engraved image, and went in the midst of the people.

Jdg 18:21 So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the livestock and the goods before them.

Jdg 18:22 When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.

Jdg 18:23 They cried to the children of Dan. They turned their faces, and said to Micah, What ails you, that you come with such a company?

Jdg 18:24 He said, you have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and have gone away, and what have I more? and how then do you say to me, What ails you?

Jdg 18:25 The children of Dan said to him, "Don't let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall on you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household."

Jdg 18:26 The children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

Jdg 18:27 They took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.

Jdg 18:28 There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lies by Beth Rehob. They built the city, and lived therein.

Jdg 18:29 They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel: however the name of the city was Laish at the first.

Jdg 18:30 The children of Dan set up for themselves the engraved image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.

Jdg 18:31 So they set them up Micah's engraved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

May 29

John 7

Joh 7:1 After these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee, for he wouldn't walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill him.

Joh 7:2 Now the feast of the Jews, the Feast of Booths, was at hand.

Joh 7:3 His brothers therefore said to him, "Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see your works which you do.

Joh 7:4 For no one does anything in secret, and himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, reveal yourself to the world."

Joh 7:5 For even his brothers didn't believe in him.

Joh 7:6 Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.

Joh 7:7 The world can't hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil.

Joh 7:8 You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fulfilled."

Joh 7:9 Having said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.

Joh 7:10 But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.

Joh 7:11 The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, "Where is he?"

Joh 7:12 There was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "Not so, but he leads the multitude astray."

Joh 7:13 Yet no one spoke openly of him for fear of the Jews.

Joh 7:14 But when it was now the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

Joh 7:15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How does this man know letters, having never been educated?"

Joh 7:16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.

Joh 7:17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.

Joh 7:18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Joh 7:19 Didn't Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill me?"

Joh 7:20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you?"

Joh 7:21 Jesus answered them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.

Joh 7:22 Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.

Joh 7:23 If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?

Joh 7:24 Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Joh 7:25 Therefore some of them of Jerusalem said, "Isn't this he whom they seek to kill?

Joh 7:26 Behold, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is truly the Christ?

Joh 7:27 However we know where this man comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from."

Joh 7:28 Jesus therefore cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me, and know where I am from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, whom you don't know.

Joh 7:29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."

Joh 7:30 They sought therefore to take him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.

Joh 7:31 But of the multitude, many believed in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, he won't do more signs than those which this man has done, will he?"

Joh 7:32 The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.

Joh 7:33 Then Jesus said, "I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.

Joh 7:34 You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come."

Joh 7:35 The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we won't find him? Will he go to the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

Joh 7:36 What is this word that he said, 'You will seek me, and won't find me; and where I am, you can't come'? "

Joh 7:37 Now on the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!

Joh 7:38 He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, from within him will flow rivers of living water."

Joh 7:39 But he said this about the Spirit, which those believing in him were to receive. For the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus wasn't yet glorified.

Joh 7:40 Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, "This is truly the prophet."

Joh 7:41 Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "What, does the Christ come out of Galilee?

Joh 7:42 Hasn't the Scripture said that the Christ comes of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

Joh 7:43 So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.

Joh 7:44 Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.

Joh 7:45 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, "Why didn't you bring him?"

Joh 7:46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this man!"

Joh 7:47 The Pharisees therefore answered them, "You aren't also led astray, are you?

Joh 7:48 Have any of the rulers believed in him, or of the Pharisees?

Joh 7:49 But this multitude that doesn't know the law is accursed."

Joh 7:50 Nicodemus (he who came to him by night, being one of them) said to them,

Joh 7:51 "Does our law judge a man, unless it first hears from him personally and knows what he does?"

Joh 7:52 They answered him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet has arisen out of Galilee."

Joh 7:53 Everyone went to his own house,

May 30

John 8

Joh 8:1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

Joh 8:2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.

Joh 8:3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,

Joh 8:4 they told him, "Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.

Joh 8:5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such. What then do you say about her?"

Joh 8:6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.

Joh 8:7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her."

Joh 8:8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

Joh 8:9 They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.

Joh 8:10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?"

Joh 8:11 She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more."

Joh 8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

Joh 8:13 The Pharisees therefore said to him, "You testify about yourself. Your testimony is not valid."

Joh 8:14 Jesus answered them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you don't know where I came from, or where I am going.

Joh 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

Joh 8:16 Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

Joh 8:17 It's also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid.

Joh 8:18 I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."

Joh 8:19 They said therefore to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me, nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

Joh 8:20 Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Joh 8:21 Jesus said therefore again to them, "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, you can't come."

Joh 8:22 The Jews therefore said, "Will he kill himself, that he says, 'Where I am going, you can't come?' "

Joh 8:23 He said to them, "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins."

Joh 8:25 They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.

Joh 8:26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. However he who sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these I say to the world."

Joh 8:27 They didn't understand that he spoke to them about the Father.

Joh 8:28 Jesus therefore said to them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.

Joh 8:29 He who sent me is with me. The Father hasn't left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."

Joh 8:30 As he spoke these things, many believed in him.

Joh 8:31 Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

Joh 8:32 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Joh 8:33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, 'You will be made free?' "

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

Joh 8:35 A bondservant doesn't live in the house forever. A son remains forever.

Joh 8:36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Joh 8:37 I know that you are Abraham's seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

Joh 8:38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father."

Joh 8:39 They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

Joh 8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham didn't do this.

Joh 8:41 You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God."

Joh 8:42 Therefore Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven't come of myself, but he sent me.

Joh 8:43 Why don't you understand my speech? Because you can't hear my word.

Joh 8:44 You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn't stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father.

Joh 8:45 But because I tell the truth, you don't believe me.

Joh 8:46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Joh 8:47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don't hear, because you are not of God."

Joh 8:48 Then the Jews answered him, "Don't we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?"

Joh 8:49 Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

Joh 8:50 But I don't seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

Joh 8:51 Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death."

Joh 8:52 Then the Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and you say, 'If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.'

Joh 8:53 Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"

Joh 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.

Joh 8:55 You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, 'I don't know him,' I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.

Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad."

Joh 8:57 The Jews therefore said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"

Joh 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."

Joh 8:59 Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by.