be ye transformed!

www.thebereanapproach.comThe Berean Approach


Understanding Bible Basics

• The Bible is 66 different books• Written by 40 different people• Written over a period of about 2,000 years• Consist of 2 volumes called the Old Testament and

the New Testament• Although spread out in 66 different books, the Bible

is a single message• Written in 3 languages: Hebrew, Aramaic & Greek• You CANNOT truly learn the depths of the Bible

without accepting Jesus Christ and help from the Holy Spirit (John 14:25, 1 Corinthians 2:11-14)

www.thebereanapproach.comThe Berean ApproachThe Berean Approach

The Purpose of This Lesson

• So that we may understand and accomplish what is written in:

• Romans 12:2• “And do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

• 2 Corinthians 3:18• “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a

mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”


• The fulfillment of the Hebrew religion

• We examined Messianic Prophecies


• The response to the arrival of the Messiah

• The establishment of the ekklesia


The response to the arrival of…


1“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Written approx. 681 BC

Explained in Matthew 12:9-22


9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.


15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

18 “ Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”


5 Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: 6“ I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, 7to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.


The New Covenant


8 I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. 9Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”



FORMER AND NEW THINGS

• Hebrews 10:5-9• 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— in the volume of the book it is written of Me— to do Your will, O God.’”

• 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them ” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

What is “the first?” What is “the second?”


The Establishment of the Ekklesia

• John 8:31-32: 31Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Connection Between Repentance, Knowing Truth, and Love for Jesus Christ

• 2 Timothy 2:22-26: 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

To STAY!


The Establishment of the Ekklesia• John 14:15-24: 15 “If you love Me, keep My

commandments. 16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

• 19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”


The Establishment of the Ekklesia

• 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

• 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

The People of The Way! – The Way of Life!


The Ways of the Christian

• 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!


The Ways of the Christian

• 7 Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.


• False Christianity vs. True Christianity – Galatians 5:16-21

• 16I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

• 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

False Christianity vs. True Christianity



• Adultery: a married person who had sex with someone other than his/her spouse

• Fornication: sexual intercourse between two un-married partners

• Uncleanness: impurity, filthiness of mind and body.

• Lewdness: Lewdness



• Merriam-Webster Dictionary:– 1: obsolete : evil, wicked – 2a : sexually unchaste or licentious – b : obscene, vulgar

• The Bible Definition:– Greek Strong’s Reference Number #766 – aselegia – a disposition of

the soul not having or bearing a struggle with remorse– i.e., no conviction in the soul when confronted with sin or temptation;– No struggle to resist, little or no remorse when sin is committed, no

effort to reframe from committing sin.






• Lewdness:

• Idolatry: image worshiping, idol worshiping

• Sorcery:

not having or bearing a struggle with remorse

Sorcery



• Merriam-Webster Dictionary:– the use of power gained from the assistance or control of

evil spirits

• The Bible Definition:– Greek Strong’s Reference Number #5331 – pharmakeia –

the use of medicine, drugs, spells for poisoning self or others; associated with witchcraft/satanic practices






• Lewdness: not having or bearing a struggle with remorse

• Idolatry: image worshiping, idol worshiping

• Sorcery:

• Hatred: The opposite of agape love, strong hostility towards people and things

• Contentions: strife, argumentative, quarrelsome

• Jealousies: bothered by someone else’s good fortunes or blessings, to the point of looking for fault to criticize the person, minimize the value of their blessings, or discredit the person’s reputation.

the use of medicine, drugs for poison; witchcraft/satanic practices




• Outbursts of wrath - easily angered and react physically or verbally

• Selfish ambitions - always about self, rarely looking to help others

• Dissensions - standing apart, non-supportive, causing division

• Heresies - choosing an opinion or other nonfactual position over the word of God

• Envy - bothered by someone else’s good fortunes or blessings

• Murders - to slain or kill without divine rights

• Drunkenness – intoxication from alcohol consumption

• Revelries - Revelries



• Merriam-Webster Dictionary:– noisy partying or merrymaking

• The Bible Definition:– Greek Strong’s Reference Number #2970 – komos – unites the

concept of rioting and celebrating and the procession of drunken or half drunken people who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of some deity; may sing and play before houses of friends; or celebrate or party until late in the night


• Examples

the concept of rioting and celebrating and the procession of drunken or half drunken people who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of some deity; may sing and play before houses of friends; or celebrate or party until late in the night










• Revelries -the concept of rioting and drunken and/or ungodly celebrating











• Revelries - the concept of rioting and drunken and/or ungodly celebrating

The Berean Approach

“Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5,6



1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.


Warning from the Scriptures

• We can be deceived by Satan and his angels

• 2 Corinthians 11:14-15: …for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

• Revelation 12:9: So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.



• We can be deceived by people

• Matthew 24:5: For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

• Matthew 24:11: Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

• Matthew 24:24: For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

• Romans 16:17-18: 17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.




• 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: 1Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.




• Harold Camping

• Rapture of the Church: May 21, 2011

• Second Coming of Jesus: October 21, 2011



• We can deceived ourselves

• 1 Corinthians 3:18-20: 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20 and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

• Galatians 6:3: For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.



• We can deceived ourselves

• James 1:26: If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

• 1 John 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Proverbs 14:12: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.


Warning from the Scriptures• Matthew 7:21-27: 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’

shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

• 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

• 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”


Warning from the Scriptures• Luke 13:22-30: 22“And He went through the cities and villages,

teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”



• Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Prophesize in the name of ChristCast out demons in the name of ChristPerform many miracles in the name of ChristEat and drink in the presences of ChristHear the teachings of Christ

…and still not be sanctified by Christ!

It is possible to…


• The Characteristics of a true Christian – Galatians 5:22-26

• 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Fruit of the Spirit: True Christianity

Singular



• The fruit of the Spirit is love -

• The Spirit has but ONE fruit:


joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.



• Love – agape; to be totally given over to God – heart, mind, body, and soul.• Joy – to have joy in Christ even when suffering – because of your

confidence in the work He did and the reward that is waiting for you. What better joy is there than knowing that you have obtained everlasting life in total joy that is beyond words with God Almighty!

• Peace – peace from the security you have from obtaining everlasting life with Christ and the assurance knowing that all power has been given to Him. If you are in Christ, and all power has been given to Him, what is there to be afraid of?

• Longsuffering – patient in others, willfully suffer with them as Christ is patient with you and has suffered for you. Do not be hypercritical by longing for Christ to be patient with you, but you yourself are not willing to be patient with others.




• Kindness – demonstrate love and affection to all because you received love and affection from Christ.

• Goodness – look for ways everyday to be a blessing to someone for the glory of God

• Faithfulness – do not forget the ways of God. Remain true to Him. Meditate on your gifts and on the word of God daily.

• Gentleness – Do not get angry, but use wisdom as your guide. See every bad situation as an opportunity to shine the light of Christ.

• Self-control – do not be easily manipulate, but remain in control of yourself. Do not give power to the devil by relinquishing control of yourself. Once you lose control of all the above, you become fair game to evil spirit.



• Timothy 1:1-7

• 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

• Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

• 3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.


• Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith

To be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually cleansed.

Cleansed from sins: wrong doing, wrong thinking, missed opportunities, conduct shameful Christianity, shameful speech, polluting the mind and body, etc.


• Timothy 1:1-7

• 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2To Timothy, a true son in the faith:

• Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

• 3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

www.thebereanapproach.com


• Taught false doctrine• Taught fables and

endless genealogies• Having disputes rather

than godly edification• False teachers were

causing people to strayed from the truth

• Church members had turned aside to idle talk

• Had teachers who had no knowledge of what they are teaching

(located in modern day Turkey)


• Fruit of the Spirit• Kindness • Goodness• Faithfulness• Gentleness• Self-control• Love • Joy • Peace • Longsuffering

Fruit of the Spirit: True Christianity• Fruits of the Ephesus Church• Taught false doctrine• Taught fables and endless

genealogies• Having disputes rather than

godly edification• False teachers were causing

people to strayed from the truth

• Church members had turned aside to idle talk

• Had teachers who had no knowledge of what they are teaching


• Fruit of the Spirit• Kindness • Goodness• Faithfulness• Gentleness• Self-control• Love • Joy • Peace • Longsuffering


How do develop the Fruit of the Spirit?

Prerequisite?


And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28”19, 20

Fruit of the Spirit

Prerequisite


• 1 Timothy 4:12-16• 12Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to

the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Developing the Fruit of the SpiritThe New You

1) Read, study, and live the word of God






2) Meditate on the word of God, on your gifts from God, and how to use them.






2) Meditate on the word of God, on your gifts from God, and how to use them

3) Develop a habit of doing this every day! Practice.


Psalm 72:17-19 17 His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him; all nations shall call Him blessed. 18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! 19 And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.

be ye transformed!

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