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Life Application Study Bible Notes on Next Sunday's Lessons; Eleventh of May 2008 - Trinity Sunday |
2 Now the
earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God
said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4
God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he
called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the
first day.
6 And God
said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from
water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the
water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was
evening, and there was morning—the second day.
9 And God
said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry
ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the
dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called
"seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God
said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on
the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various
kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced
vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing
fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
14 And God
said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day
from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,
15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to
give light on the earth." And it was so.16 God made
two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to
govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set
them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18
to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God
saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and
there was morning—the fourth day.
20 And God
said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above
the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God
created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with
which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22
God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill
the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
24 And God
said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds:
livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each
according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made
the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their
kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their
kinds. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God
said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule
over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all
the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God
created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God
blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill
the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air
and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God
said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth
and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the
air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the
breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw
all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there
was morning—the sixth day.
1 Thus the
heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the
seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day
he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the
seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of
creating that he had done.
Life Application Study
Bible notes on Genesis 1--2:4
1:2 The statement "the earth was
formless and empty" provides the setting for the creation narrative that
follows. During the second and third days of creation, God gave form to
the universe; during the next three days, God filled the earth with
living beings. The "darkness. . . over the surface of the deep" was
dispelled on the first day, when God created light.
1:2 The image of the Spirit of God
hovering over the waters is similar to a mother bird caring for and protecting
its young (see Deut. 32:11-12; Isaiah 31:5). God’s Spirit was actively
involved in the creation of the world (see Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30). God’s care and protection
are still active.
1:3-2:7 How long did it take God to
create the world? There are two basic views about the days of creation: (1)
each day was a literal 24-hour period; (2) each day represents an indefinite
period of time (even millions of years).
The Bible does not say
how long these time periods were. The real question, however, is not how long
God took, but how he did it. God created the earth in an orderly fashion (he
did not make plants before light), and he created men and women as unique
beings capable of communication with him. No other part of creation can claim
that remarkable privilege. It is not important how long it took God to create
the world, whether a few days or a few billion years, but that he created it
just the way he wanted it.
1:6 The "expanse between the
waters" was a separation between the sea and the mists of the skies.
1:25 God saw that his work was good. People sometimes feel
guilty for having a good time or for feeling good about an accomplishment. This
need not be so. Just as God felt good about his work, we can be pleased with
ours. However, we should not feel good about our work if God would not be
pleased with it. What are you doing that pleases both you and God?
1:26 Why does God use the plural form,
"Let us make man in our image"? One view says this is a
reference to the Trinity—God the Father, Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy
Spirit—all of whom are God. Another view is that the plural wording is used to
denote majesty. Kings traditionally use the plural form in speaking of themselves.
From Job 33:4 and Psalm 104:30, we do know that God’s Spirit was present in the
creation. From Col. 1:16 we know that Christ, God’s Son, was at work in the
creation.
1:26 In what ways are we made in God’s
image? God obviously did not create us exactly like himself because God
has no physical body. Instead, we are reflections of God’s glory. Some feel
that our reason, creativity, speech, or self-determination is the image of God.
More likely, it is our entire self that reflects the image of God. We will never
be totally like God because he is our supreme Creator. But we do have the
ability to reflect his character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness,
and faithfulness.
Knowing that we are made in God’s image
and thus share many of his characteristics provides a solid basis for
self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical
attractiveness, or public acclaim. Instead it is based on being made in God’s
image. Because we bear God’s image, we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing
or downgrading ourselves is criticizing what God has made and the abilities he
has given us. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps you love God, know
him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those around you.
1:27 God made both man and woman in his
image. Neither man nor woman is made more in the image of God than the other. From the beginning the
Bible places both man and woman at the pinnacle of God’s creation. Neither sex
is exalted, and neither is depreciated.
1:28 To "rule over" something
is to have absolute authority and control over it. God has ultimate rule over
the earth, and he exercises his authority with loving care. When God delegated some
of his authority to the human race, he expected us to take responsibility for the
environment and the other creatures that share our planet. We must not be
careless and wasteful as we fulfill this charge. God was careful how he made
this earth. We must not be careless about how we take care of it.
Index 1:31 God saw that all he had created was very
good. You are part of God’s creation, and he is pleased with how he made
you. If at times you feel worthless or of little value, remember that God made
you for a good reason. You are valuable to him.
2-3 We live in an action-oriented world! There
always seems to be something to do and no time to rest. Yet God demonstrated
that rest is appropriate and right. If God himself rested from his work, then
it should not amaze us that we also need rest. Jesus demonstrated this
principle when he and his disciples left in a boat to get away from the crowds (see Mark 6:31-32). Our times of rest
refresh us for times of service.
2:3 That God blessed the seventh
day means that he set it apart for holy use. This act is picked up in the Ten
Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) where God commanded the observance of the
Sabbath.
B. THE STORY OF ADAM (2:4-5:32)
Learning about our ancestors often helps
us understand ourselves. Adam and Eve, our first ancestors, were the highlight
of God’s creation—the very reason God made the world. But they didn’t always
live the way God intended. Through their mistakes, we can learn important
lessons on how to live rightly. Adam and Eve teach us much about the nature of
sin and its consequences.
2 From the
lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I
consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is
man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made
him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honour.
6 You made
him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks
and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds
of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD,
our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the
earth!
Life Application Study
Bible notes on Psalm 8:
8:1ff Portions of this psalm are quoted
in the New Testament and applied to Christ (1 Cor. 15:27; Hebrews 2:6-8). Jesus
became human, just a little lower than the heavenly beings (Psalm 8:5), and he will raise all who
belong to him above the heavenly beings when he comes to reign over the new
heaven and new earth. Jesus is the only person who perfectly reflects God’s
image (Galatians 2:20; Col. 1:15).
8:2 Children are able to trust and praise
God without doubts or reservations. As we get older, many of us find this more
and more difficult to do. Ask God to give you childlike faith, removing any
barriers to having a closer walk with him. Get in touch with this childlike
quality in yourself so that you can be more expressive.
8:3-4 To respect God’s majesty, we must
compare ourselves to his greatness. When we look at creation, we often feel
small by comparison. To feel small is a healthy way to get back to
reality, but God does not want us to dwell on our smallness. Humility means
proper respect for God, not self-depreciation.
8:3-5 When we look at the vast expanse of
creation, we wonder how God could be concerned for people who constantly
disappoint him. Yet God created us only a little lower than himself or the
angels! The next time you question your worth as a person, remember that
God considers you highly valuable. We have great worth because we bear the
stamp of the Creator. (See Genesis 1:26-27 for the extent of worth God
places on all people.) Because God has already declared how valuable we
are to him, we can be set free from feelings of worthlessness.
8:6 God gave human beings tremendous
authority—to be in charge of the whole earth. But with great authority
comes great responsibility. If we own a pet, we have the legal authority to do
with it as we wish, but we also have the responsibility to feed and care for
it. How do you treat God’s creation? Use your resources wisely because God
holds you accountable for your stewardship.
12 Greet one
another with a holy kiss.13All the saints send their
greetings
Life Application Study
Bible notes on 2 Cor. 13:11
13:11 Paul’s closing words—what he wanted
the Corinthians to remember about the needs facing their church—are still
fitting for the church today. When these qualities are not present, there are
problems that must be dealt with. These traits do not come to a church by
glossing over problems, conflicts, and difficulties. They are not produced by
neglect, denial, withdrawal, or bitterness. They are the by-products of the
extremely hard work of solving problems. Just as Paul and the Corinthians had
to hammer out difficulties to bring peace, so we must apply the principles of
God’s Word and not just hear them.
Life Application Study
Bible notes on Matthew 28:18-20
28:18 God gave Jesus authority over heaven
and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make
more disciples as they preached, baptized, and taught. With this same authority,
Jesus still commands us to tell others the Good News and make them disciples
for the kingdom.
28:18-20 When someone is dying or leaving
us, his or her last words are very important. Jesus left the disciples with
these last words of instruction: they were under his authority; they were to
make more disciples; they were to baptize and teach these new disciples to obey
Christ; Christ would be with them always. Whereas in previous
missions Jesus had sent his disciples only to the Jews (Matthew 10:5-6), their mission from now
on would be worldwide. Jesus is Lord of the earth, and he died for the sins of
people from all nations.
We are to go—whether it
is next door or to another country—and make disciples. It is not an option, but
a command to all who call Jesus "Lord." We are not all evangelists in
the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help
fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that
Jesus is always with us.
28:19 Jesus’ words affirm the reality of
the Trinity. Some people accuse theologians of making up the concept of the
Trinity and reading it into Scripture. As we see here, the
concept comes directly from Jesus himself. He did not say baptize them into the
names, but into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The word Trinity
does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
28:19 The disciples were to baptize
people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her
death to sin and resurrection to new life.
28:20 How is Jesus with us? Jesus
was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, and then
spiritually through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). The Holy Spirit would be
Jesus’ presence that would never leave them (John 14:26). Jesus continues to be
with us today through his Spirit.
28:20 The Old Testament prophecies and
genealogies in the book of Matthew present Jesus’ credentials for being King of
the world—not a military or political leader, as the disciples had originally
hoped, but a spiritual King who can overcome all evil and rule in the heart of
every person. If we refuse to serve the King faithfully, we are disloyal
subjects, fit only to be banished from the kingdom. We must make Jesus King of
our lives and worship him as our Savoir, King, and Lord.
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Do You know the joy of a personal relationship
with our Lord Jesus Christ?
If not, you can begin
that relationship right now. Just call out to God:
" O God, I am a
sinner. I am sorry for my sin. I am ready to turn from my sin.
I receive Jesus Christ as
my Savoir; I confess Him as my Lord.
From now on I want to
follow him in the fellowship of His Church.
In the Name of Jesus
Christ, the Son of the living God." Amen!!
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