by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD MANIFESTS HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IN PAYING THE PRICE TO JUSTIFY SINNERS BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH–THE GUTS OF THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: In 3:21–31 Paul returns to his definition of the gospel as the righteousness of God that powerfully saves...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CONCLUSION: UNIVERSAL CORRUPTION LEAVES ALL MEN WITHOUT EXCUSE BEFORE GOD’S CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTION: The situation is worse than you think so stop trying to earn your salvation because you will never be good enough. Frank Thielman: So far,...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S CONDEMNATION OF ALL MEN (EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS) DOES NOT CONTRADICT: – THE VALUE OF SPIRITUAL PRIVILEGES OR – THE CONSISTENCY OF GOD’S OWN CHARACTER (HIS FAITHFULNESS AND JUSTICE) INTRODUCTION: Michael Bird: Paul now tries to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: EVEN THE MOST RELIGIOUS PERSON (DEVOUT JEW) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT–TRUE SPIRITUALITY IS MUCH MORE THAN POSSESSING RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICING RELIGIOUS RITUALS INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Paul wants to demonstrate to his...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HYPOCRITICAL HUMANITY (RELIGIOUS MORALIZERS) CANNOT ESCAPE GOD’S IMPARTIAL RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: In Romans, Paul wants to show that the gospel is for everyone without exception. He is obligated to proclaim the gospel to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: A SOCIETY THAT ABANDONS TRUTH (THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD) IS IN DANGER OF BEING ABANDONED BY GOD TO GROSS SIN AND IMMORALITY INTRODUCTION: Examples of Sodom and Gomorrah; Roman Empire; etc. – Look at their manifestation of depravity and the disintegration of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REJECTING WHAT WE NATURALLY KNOW ABOUT GOD LEAVES US WITHOUT EXCUSE AND ALWAYS BRINGS GOD’S WRATH INTRODUCTION: Douglas Moo: Verse 18 comes to the reader as quite a surprise. Paul has just announced his theme for the letter: the gospel as God’s saving...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE EFFICACY OF THE GOSPEL INSPIRES BOLDNESS IN PROCLAMATION INTRODUCTION: Are you ashamed of the gospel or do you boast in the gospel? (overcomes our feelings of reluctance and inadequacy) James Boice: [These verses] are the most important in the letter and...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FULFILLING GOD’S CALLING COMPELS US TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS TO PRODUCE ABUNDANT GOSPEL FRUIT INTRODUCTION: Michael Gorman: Paul does three main things in this particular thanksgiving, all of which help to establish his relationship with the Roman...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S CALL PROMOTES GOSPEL MINISTRY — 7 ESSENTIALS OF GOD’S CALL FOR THE APOSTLE PAUL (AND FOR YOUR LIFE) INTRODUCTION: Douglas Moo: Ancient letters typically began with a simple identification of the sender, the recipients, and a greeting. New...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: CHURCH DISCIPLINE MAY BE NECESSARY TO REINFORCE THE NEED FOR A DISCIPLINED LIFE OF RESPONSIBLE WORK – TO SUPPORT YOUR OWN FAMILY – AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS INTRODUCTION: John MacArthur: Now I want to know if you have ever seen a...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: MISSIONARIES AND THEIR DISCIPLE CHURCHES (SUPPORTING CHURCHES) PURSUE A PATH OF STEADFASTNESS (DESPITE THE PERIL OF EVIL) WITH THE CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD THAT COMES FROM MUTUAL PRAYER INTRODUCTION: Michael Martin: “Finally [loipon], brothers,” which...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PERILOUS END TIMES CALL FOR STEADFASTNESS ON THE PART OF THE ELECT (WHOM GOD LOVES AND STRENGTHENS) INTRODUCTION: Ligon Duncan: In the Christian life, there are certain truths that we need to grasp firmly and hang on to in order to persevere as believers in...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOUR MODES OF OPERATION FOR THE ANTICHRIST INTRODUCTION: Michael Martin: Restraint is mentioned twice in these verses. The first time (v. 6) the NIV translates a neuter present participle (to katechon), “what is holding him back.” The translation, like the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVEN’T BEEN LEFT BEHIND? THE REVEALING OF THE ANTICHRIST MUST PRECEDE THE DAY OF THE LORD. INTRODUCTION: Have we missed the boat? Are we as believers somehow already in the Day of the Lord and experiencing that special time of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL FRUIT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD RIGHT NOW INTRODUCTION: Edmond Hiebert: “The eschatological picture just held before the readers to encourage them in their affliction now furnishes motivation to pray for them. It is characteristic of Paul thus to turn...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE SECOND COMING SPELLS RELIEF FOR THE AFFLICTED BUT RETRIBUTION FOR OUR ANTAGONISTS INTRODUCTION: Ligon Duncan: Note that persecuting the Thessalonian church is not the only—and not the worst—crime committed by these wrongdoers. Not only are they those who...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION MERITS A GOOD REPUTATION INTRODUCTION: Gordon Fee: In this remarkable thanksgiving—a single sentence embracing all of verses 3–10—Paul does two things. In the first part (vv. 3–4), and very typically, he thanks...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S MINISTERS DESIRE GOD’S RESOURCES FOR GOD’S PEOPLE INTRODUCTION: Gordon Fee: Paul’s second letter to the believers in Thessalonica appears to have followed hard on the heels of the first one, since each of the three issues addressed here is picked up in...
by Paul Apple | Apr 13, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: (:23-24) BENEDICTION — ANTICIPATE COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION AT THE LORD’S RETURN BECAUSE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN PRESERVING HIS SAINTSINTRODUCTION:Emphasis last week was on our responsibility to be discerning – in doctrinal areas and in moral areas so...
