InHisCare Bible Study Community Group
I love to study God Word, so I create bible studies for personal study and for other to join me, if they like. My way of staying focus is to study Gods Word daily. I desire this group to become a place of haven for me to meet other Christian who like to pray and study Gods Word. I will share bible studies, prayers, and devotions I love. Please join me if you wish. Thank...
Bible Study “Passion Week” Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross
Date: (4/10/15)
(Week # 2)
Beginning Prayer:
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Title: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reading: Gospel of Luke 23:39-43 King James Version (KJV)
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Cross References:
2 Corinthians 12:4; Romans 2:7; Genesis 28:15; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 20:1; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20
Theme: (The Passion of Christ)
Warm-up Question: "What does it mean to be in the presence of God?"
Goal: To hear the voice of Jesus
Our Study……..
As Jesus hung on the cross, he was mocked by the leaders and the soldiers. One of the criminals being crucified with him added his own measure of scorn. But the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).
Jesus responded to this criminal, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). The word paradise, from the Greek word paradeisos, which meant “garden,” was used in the Greek Old Testament as a word for the Garden of Eden. In Judaism of the time of Jesus it was associated with heaven, and also with the future when God would restore all things to the perfection of the Garden. Paradise was sometimes thought to be the place where righteous people went after death. This seems to be the way Jesus uses paradise in this passage.
Thus we have encountered one of the most astounding and encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Jesus promised that the criminal would be with him in paradise. Yet the text of Luke gives us no reason to believe this man had been a follower of Jesus, or even a believer in him in any well-developed sense. He might have felt sorry for his sins, but he did not obviously repent. Rather, the criminal’s cry to be remembered seems more like a desperate, last-gasp effort.
Though we should make every effort to have right theology, and though we should live our lives each day as disciples of Jesus, in the end, our relationship with him comes down to simple trust. “Jesus, remember me,” we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to us, “You will be with me in paradise.” We are welcome there not only because we have right theology, and not only because we are living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus.
What wonderful faith this repentant sinner has in Jesus - far more than the doubting Thomas, one of his own Apostles. Ignoring his own suffering, Jesus responds with love and mercy in His second word.
The second word again is about forgiveness, this time directed to a sinner. Just as the first word, this Biblical expression is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus shows his Divinity by opening heaven for a repentant sinner - such generosity to a man that only asked to be remembered!
This expression offers us hope for salvation, for if we turn our hearts and prayers to Him, we will also be with Jesus Christ at the end of our lives. Thank You, Lord for dying on that cross for me and the whole world. Now, let’s look at God’s presence.
Reading Scripture in another version: Luke 23:39-43 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into[a] your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In God’s Presence:
We are aware of the reality of this presence from our obedience to His Word. “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Note that Peter says that “we are chosen people . . . belonging to God.” If we belong to Him, will He not be present among us? We never lose the reality of God’s presence, no matter how badly we fail; we never sin so much as to lose our salvation; we never sink so far as to banish the Holy Spirit forever. We can anger God because of our sin, but true believers never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we will never lose the reality of God’s presence, we might well lose the “sense” of His presence.
Every child of God invariably goes through this feeling of losing God’s presence from time to time, like a landlord who has left his house and gone away on business for a while. He has not left the house completely empty, for, if he had, he would have taken all his belongings with him. But because he has left all his furniture and belongings in that house, does it not mean that he will return once again? Any believer knows that there are times of spiritual leanness where perhaps the Lord determines to test our faith. Does He not sift us; does He not push us through the winnowing flames of affliction that we might be all the more pure? (Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:7)
But the practical upshot of being in God’s presence is joy! Many Christians go around gloomy and dejected because they lack this sense of God’s presence. The hymn “Trust and Obey” tells us there is “fellowship sweet” for those who walk with the Lord in obedience and faith. But the sweet fellowship that comes from obedience and trust in the Lord is not a mere fancy or passing whim. It sustains us, especially during trials, for “the joy of the Lord shall be your strength” . (Nehemiah 8:10). James, the Lord’s brother, writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds” (James 1:2) because trials produce faith and develop perseverance. When we persevere through trials, proving to ourselves and to others that our faith is real, our sense of God’s presence increases, as does our joy in it.
Today You'll Be with Me in Paradise (23:43)
"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.' (23:43)
What a wonderful promise Jesus gives the believing thief: presence with Christ in paradise! Our English word "paradise" is a transliteration of the Greek word paradeisos, and that comes from an Old Persian word pairidaeza, "enclosure." In the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament the word is used especially for the Garden of God in the creation story (Genesis 2:8-10, 16, etc.), and this translation moves the word from secular parks to the sacred Garden of God. Judaism of Jesus' day equated Paradise with the New Jerusalem, and saw it as the present abode of the souls of the departed patriarchs, the elect, and the righteous.[5] In the New Testament the word paradise is used three times:
"Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
"And I know that this man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows -- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell." (2 Corinthians 12:3-4)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)
In 2 Corinthians 12:3-4 Paul seems to equate the "third heaven" with paradise. I think we can identify paradise with heaven and be pretty safe. Jesus is promising the believing thief that he will be with Jesus in heaven "today."
Reading Scripture in another version: Luke 23:39-43 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
David speaks of a joy that only the righteous can know (Psalm 16:11)-a joy that is but a foretaste of a far greater and everlasting joy when we see the Lord’s face in the glory to come. The hymn writer John Newton spoke of these “solid joys and lasting treasures that only Zion’s children know.”
Point of Interest: Reconciliation
Questions:
1). Who was Jesus speaking to in this verse? ( Luke 23:39-43 )
2). What was in the heart of the malefactor who railed on Jesus?
3). If we don’t accept Jesus we fall under what?
4). The Bible says, “confession is good for the…..?”
5). What do Roman 10:9 says?
6). What must we confess?
7). Have you staked your life on Jesus?
8). Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
9). Do you know that when your time comes you will be with him in paradise?
10). Read Philippians 2:11, and explain it.
Ending Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, how I wonder at your grace and mercy! When we cry out to you, you hear us. When we ask you to remember us when you come into your kingdom, you offer the promise of paradise. Your mercy, dear Lord, exceeds anything we might imagine. It embraces us, encourages us, heals us. O Lord, though my situation is so different from the criminal who cried out to you, I am nevertheless quite like him. Today I live, trusting you and you alone. My life, but now and in the world to come, is in your hands. And so I pray: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom! Jesus, remember me today as I seek to live within your kingdom! Amen.
Reading: Week # 2 (John 4-6)
Date: (4/10/15)
(Week # 2)
Beginning Prayer:
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Title: "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Reading: Gospel of Luke 23:39-43 King James Version (KJV)
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Cross References:
2 Corinthians 12:4; Romans 2:7; Genesis 28:15; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 20:1; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20
Theme: (The Passion of Christ)
Warm-up Question: "What does it mean to be in the presence of God?"
Goal: To hear the voice of Jesus
Our Study……..
As Jesus hung on the cross, he was mocked by the leaders and the soldiers. One of the criminals being crucified with him added his own measure of scorn. But the other crucified criminal sensed that Jesus was being treated unjustly. After speaking up for Jesus, he cried out, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (v. 42).
Jesus responded to this criminal, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). The word paradise, from the Greek word paradeisos, which meant “garden,” was used in the Greek Old Testament as a word for the Garden of Eden. In Judaism of the time of Jesus it was associated with heaven, and also with the future when God would restore all things to the perfection of the Garden. Paradise was sometimes thought to be the place where righteous people went after death. This seems to be the way Jesus uses paradise in this passage.
Thus we have encountered one of the most astounding and encouraging verses in all of Scripture. Jesus promised that the criminal would be with him in paradise. Yet the text of Luke gives us no reason to believe this man had been a follower of Jesus, or even a believer in him in any well-developed sense. He might have felt sorry for his sins, but he did not obviously repent. Rather, the criminal’s cry to be remembered seems more like a desperate, last-gasp effort.
Though we should make every effort to have right theology, and though we should live our lives each day as disciples of Jesus, in the end, our relationship with him comes down to simple trust. “Jesus, remember me,” we cry. And Jesus, embodying the mercy of God, says to us, “You will be with me in paradise.” We are welcome there not only because we have right theology, and not only because we are living rightly, but because God is merciful and we have put our trust in Jesus.
What wonderful faith this repentant sinner has in Jesus - far more than the doubting Thomas, one of his own Apostles. Ignoring his own suffering, Jesus responds with love and mercy in His second word.
The second word again is about forgiveness, this time directed to a sinner. Just as the first word, this Biblical expression is found only in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus shows his Divinity by opening heaven for a repentant sinner - such generosity to a man that only asked to be remembered!
This expression offers us hope for salvation, for if we turn our hearts and prayers to Him, we will also be with Jesus Christ at the end of our lives. Thank You, Lord for dying on that cross for me and the whole world. Now, let’s look at God’s presence.
Reading Scripture in another version: Luke 23:39-43 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into[a] your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In God’s Presence:
We are aware of the reality of this presence from our obedience to His Word. “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Note that Peter says that “we are chosen people . . . belonging to God.” If we belong to Him, will He not be present among us? We never lose the reality of God’s presence, no matter how badly we fail; we never sin so much as to lose our salvation; we never sink so far as to banish the Holy Spirit forever. We can anger God because of our sin, but true believers never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we will never lose the reality of God’s presence, we might well lose the “sense” of His presence.
Every child of God invariably goes through this feeling of losing God’s presence from time to time, like a landlord who has left his house and gone away on business for a while. He has not left the house completely empty, for, if he had, he would have taken all his belongings with him. But because he has left all his furniture and belongings in that house, does it not mean that he will return once again? Any believer knows that there are times of spiritual leanness where perhaps the Lord determines to test our faith. Does He not sift us; does He not push us through the winnowing flames of affliction that we might be all the more pure? (Job 23:10; 1 Peter 1:7)
But the practical upshot of being in God’s presence is joy! Many Christians go around gloomy and dejected because they lack this sense of God’s presence. The hymn “Trust and Obey” tells us there is “fellowship sweet” for those who walk with the Lord in obedience and faith. But the sweet fellowship that comes from obedience and trust in the Lord is not a mere fancy or passing whim. It sustains us, especially during trials, for “the joy of the Lord shall be your strength” . (Nehemiah 8:10). James, the Lord’s brother, writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trails of many kinds” (James 1:2) because trials produce faith and develop perseverance. When we persevere through trials, proving to ourselves and to others that our faith is real, our sense of God’s presence increases, as does our joy in it.
Today You'll Be with Me in Paradise (23:43)
"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.' (23:43)
What a wonderful promise Jesus gives the believing thief: presence with Christ in paradise! Our English word "paradise" is a transliteration of the Greek word paradeisos, and that comes from an Old Persian word pairidaeza, "enclosure." In the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament the word is used especially for the Garden of God in the creation story (Genesis 2:8-10, 16, etc.), and this translation moves the word from secular parks to the sacred Garden of God. Judaism of Jesus' day equated Paradise with the New Jerusalem, and saw it as the present abode of the souls of the departed patriarchs, the elect, and the righteous.[5] In the New Testament the word paradise is used three times:
"Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
"And I know that this man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows -- was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell." (2 Corinthians 12:3-4)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7)
In 2 Corinthians 12:3-4 Paul seems to equate the "third heaven" with paradise. I think we can identify paradise with heaven and be pretty safe. Jesus is promising the believing thief that he will be with Jesus in heaven "today."
Reading Scripture in another version: Luke 23:39-43 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
David speaks of a joy that only the righteous can know (Psalm 16:11)-a joy that is but a foretaste of a far greater and everlasting joy when we see the Lord’s face in the glory to come. The hymn writer John Newton spoke of these “solid joys and lasting treasures that only Zion’s children know.”
Point of Interest: Reconciliation
Questions:
1). Who was Jesus speaking to in this verse? ( Luke 23:39-43 )
2). What was in the heart of the malefactor who railed on Jesus?
3). If we don’t accept Jesus we fall under what?
4). The Bible says, “confession is good for the…..?”
5). What do Roman 10:9 says?
6). What must we confess?
7). Have you staked your life on Jesus?
8). Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
9). Do you know that when your time comes you will be with him in paradise?
10). Read Philippians 2:11, and explain it.
Ending Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, how I wonder at your grace and mercy! When we cry out to you, you hear us. When we ask you to remember us when you come into your kingdom, you offer the promise of paradise. Your mercy, dear Lord, exceeds anything we might imagine. It embraces us, encourages us, heals us. O Lord, though my situation is so different from the criminal who cried out to you, I am nevertheless quite like him. Today I live, trusting you and you alone. My life, but now and in the world to come, is in your hands. And so I pray: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom! Jesus, remember me today as I seek to live within your kingdom! Amen.
Reading: Week # 2 (John 4-6)
Father God, as this Word goes forth, please send it straight to our hearts, so we will never forget what You did by sending Your Son Jesus to die for our sin. Bless these Words to fall on good grounds, so that all would bring forth good fruit in their season. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your Word about our Savior Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
2 Corinthians 12:4; Romans 2:7; Genesis 28:15; Exodus 33:14; Deuteronomy 20:1; Isaiah 43:2; Matthew 18:20; Matthew 28:20
2 Corinthians 12:4 New International Version (NIV)
4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
Romans 2:7New International Version (NIV)
7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Genesis 28:15New International Version (NIV)
15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Exodus 33:14New International Version (NIV)
14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Deuteronomy 20:1New International Version (NIV)
Going to War
20 When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.
Isaiah 43:2New International Version (NIV)
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Matthew 18:20 New International Version (NIV)
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 28:20 New International Version (NIV)
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We are in His presence always, amen.
"What does it mean to be in the presence of God?"
Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship in the presence of God before the fall (Genesis 3:8). Since that time, sin has prevented our ability to be in the physical presence of God (Exodus 33:20). Now only the holy, sinless angels are in the physical presence of God (Luke 1:19). But Christians have the presence of God within us by virtue of His indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:23; 15:4), and that indwelling presence comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are aware of the reality of this presence from our obedience to His Word. “We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Note that Peter says that “we are chosen people . . . belonging to God.” If we belong to Him, will He not be present among us? We never lose the reality of God’s presence, no matter how badly we fail; we never sink so far as to banish the Holy Spirit forever. We can anger God because of our sin, but true believers never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we will never lose the reality of God’s presence, we might well lose the “sense” of His presence. I don’t want to lose the sense of God’s presence in my life. I want to know He is with me, and not just know it, but sense His presence too.
As for me, I want to hear the Lord’s voice always. I want to know its Him and not the enemy. When He spoke to the malefactors on the cross one of them heard His voice, and responded with faith that it caused him to asked Jesus that question, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” It’s a blessing to hear our Lord’s voice every day of our lives, whether it’s His voice through the Word or in our spirit through the Holy Spirit. Remember when Elijah was seeking God, and He came in a small still voice, (I Kings 19:9-12).
Confess, Believe, Receive
If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. —Romans 10:9
It’s so easy to receive from God. God made it easy. He purchased everything we could ever need and then told us, “Just take it.” Someone may say, “But believing God for healing is so hard.” Wait! Do you know you’re saved? Doesn’t that mean you’ve already believed for the biggest miracle there is? One day you said, “Lord, I believe in my heart Jesus was raised from the dead for me. I receive Him as my Savior, and I’m a new creature in Christ!” You didn’t labor and strain and stand on the Word of God for years to get saved. Neither do you get up every morning to see if you still feel saved. You know you’re saved, because the Bible tells you so! Well, if getting saved is the biggest miracle, would a lesser miracle such as healing be more difficult to receive? No! We receive salvation and healing exactly the same way; they’re both part of redemption. You’ll be amazed at your results if you simply receive healing by faith the same way you once received salvation. Just say, “Lord, I believe by Jesus’ stripes I’m healed, and I receive You as my Healer now. I count it done in Jesus’ name!” Don’t check to see if you feel healed—you aren’t healed because you feel better. You’re healed because the Bible says so. And if you hold fast to your faith, your healing will come to pass.
Confession: I confess from a believing heart that Jesus is my Savior— and my Healer. I receive healing now by the stripes of Jesus.
I posted the devotion here too, because when I read it this morning, it reminded me of my confession of Jesus as my Lord and Savior, also that the malefactor confessed when he was dying, but we should not wait until then. God's mercy was on that person that day. Thank You for Your mercy today, Lord, that people will not wait, but will acknowledge and confess You as Savior of their life. You died for the world, and I am so grateful.
To reconcile is to make right or to harmonize. Reconciliation involves different parties coming to the same position, and it always involves change. Obviously, if enemies are to be reconciled, there must be some kind of change, or friendship will be impossible.
Christian reconciliation is the idea of being made right with God. Before we go any further, we should clarify that our relationship with God was broken through no fault of God's. It was we who ran away from God, not vice versa (Genesis 3:8). God is perfect and we are not (Romans 3:23). He does not need to change, make concessions, or find some middle ground of cooperation with us. We are the ones that need changing.
Because of our sin, we were actually the enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Amazingly, Christ took the first step to reconcile us to Himself. "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:19). God wanted us to be reconciled. He knew we could not solve our sin problem ourselves. So He provided a way for us to be made right with Him through Christ.
1). Who was Jesus speaking to in this verse? (Luke 23:39-43)
Jesus was talking with the malefactor who believe He was who He said He was, if he didn’t, he would not have said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Amen.
2). What was in the heart of the malefactor who railed on Jesus?
He didn’t believe, he was a scornful person as said in Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” He scorned Jesus, he railed on Jesus. Evilness was in his heart.
3). If we don’t accept Jesus we fall under what?
We fall under condemnation if we don’t accept Jesus as the Son of God. Our heart is not right and we need to be reconciled to our God through forgiveness. But, once we are saved through grace, then we do not have to walk in condemnation, amen (Romans 8:1), because we are in Christ Jesus. We have been forgiven as the malefactor was forgiven on the cross. Thank You, Jesus.
4). The Bible says, “confession is good for the…..?”
There is no scripture that says, “Confession is good for the soul,” but we know that the Word of God says, “For with the heart, man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, which is good for the soul.” (Romans 10:10). Amen.
5). What do Roman 10:9 says?
“That if thou shalt confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
6). What must we confess?
We must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that God sent Jesus to die for our sins.
7). Have you staked your life on Jesus?
Yes, I have. I am so glad I did. My life belong to God because I truly believe that God sent Jesus to die for the world, and that Jesus was resurrected and now seated at the right hand of God, and shall return one day soon for His people.
8). Have you put your ultimate trust in him?
Yes!
9). Do you know that when your time comes you will be with him in paradise?
I truly believe that because the Word say I will if I confess my sin, live holy, and live according to the Bible. I believe that!
10). Read Philippians 2:11, and explain it.
To me, it is saying we will confess one way or the other. We will confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, either now willingly or later on our knees before Him at His Throne; Believers with joy and unbelievers in sorrow and remorse, (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Revelations 5:13).
Jerusalem was the central of the Jewish world. Male Jews were supposed to make a pilgrimage to the Jerusalem temple for the three major Jewish feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. However, since Nazareth was a three or four day journey from Jerusalem (about a hundred miles), it is unlikely that Jesus made the trip often. The Gospels tell us that he went with his family at the age of twelve. He also visited Jerusalem during his public life (once or three times depending on the Gospel). On one visit to the temple, Jesus is recorded as reacting violently to those who were using the temple for commercial purposes. It is highly probable that this action of Jesus is related to his trial and eventual execution. Of further historical interest is the fact that the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE.
Life in Galilee
Jesus was a Nazarene. He lived most of his life in the town of Nazareth within the province of Galilee. Although a small village, Nazareth was close to the metropolitan centres of Tiberias and Sepphoris. Unlike those predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) cities, Nazareth was a Jewish enclave. It was also relatively poor and overpopulated; there was a scarcity of natural resources such as water and fertile soil. In such a situation, there tended to be a fair amount of sickness and disease. Nonetheless, Nazareth could not be called destitute. Jesus came from a family of craftsmen or carpenters which suggests a reasonable socio-economic standard of living.
Education was a priority for Jewish people. Jesus would have learnt the Bible at the village school (until the age of twelve) and at the local synagogue. This accounts for Jesus' knowledge of Hebrew (the language of the Bible) and Aramaic (the language in which religious discussion was held). It was also the custom of the time for young adults to attach themselves to a local teacher or sage. Although we know little of Jesus' young adult life, we do know that he eventually chose to be a disciple of John the Baptist. Certainly, by the time of his 'public ministry', Jesus was well versed in the Scriptures and the Jewish tradition. This suggests that he spent many years learning and discussing his Jewish faith and heritage.
Ending Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, how I wonder at your grace and mercy! When we cry out to you, you hear us. When we ask you to remember us when you come into your kingdom, you offer the promise of paradise. Your mercy, dear Lord, exceeds anything we might imagine. It embraces us, encourages us, and heals us. O Lord, though my situation is so different from the criminal who cried out to you, I am nevertheless quite like him. Today I live, trusting you and you alone. My life, but now and in the world to come, is in your hands. And so I pray: Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom! Jesus, remember me today as I seek to live within your kingdom! Amen.