Topical: Bible Question Box (March, 2001)

BIBLE QUESTION BOX

March, 2001

Intro.
1. Wisdom is the proper, discerning use of knowledge.
2. Knowledge without love is prideful & arrogant - 1 Cor. 8:1.
3. By asking & answering Bible questions, our goal is to apply knowledge so as to gain wisdom - Jas. 3:13.

Question #1: "How did Paul get in jail?"

-Here is the paradox & irony: Paul imprisoned many for their faith. In turn, he was often imprisoned for his! Acts 22:19-20; 2 Cor. 11:23; Acts 9:16

A. Not Because He Was A Criminal - Acts 28:16-20.
B. Because Of The Gospel He Preached - Acts 28:20; Eph. 4:1.
    1. In Philippi:
      a. Charges - Acts 16:20-24.
      b. The truth - He healed a slave-girl & deprived greedy men of their deceptive profit - Acts 16:16-19.
    2. In Jerusalem…Rome:
      a. Charges - Acts 24:5-9.
      b. The truth - None of the charges were true…because he preached Jesus is the Messiah - Acts 24:10-21.
C. The Effect Of Paul's Imprisonments - Phil. 1:12-14.
    1. Conversion of the lost - 1:13 (4:22).
    2. Saints strengthened to continue to boldly speak the truth - 1:14.
    3. Paul eventually lost his life in prison…won his soul - 2 Tim. 4:6-8.
D. Lessons For Us:
    1. We will be mistreated when we obey Christ.
    2. We had rather be right with God than with any man - Matt. 10:28.
    3. Current trials are not comparable to eternal glory - Rom. 8:18.
    4. Blessed when we endure wrongs for Christ's sake - Matt. 5:8-10.

Question #2: "A statement we hear is: 'We sin because we are human…or, to err is human!" Does this accurately reflect the relationship between being human and sin?"

{No, it does not accurately reflect man's relationship to sin.}

A. The Presence Of Sin Does Not Prove Our Humanity, It Proves That Human Beings Violate The Word & Will Of God.
    1. Neither does the presence of humanity mean sin must be present - cf. Jesus (Jno. 1:14; 1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15).
    2. Angels have sinned - 2 Pet. 2:4. The fact that we sin is no more based upon the fact that we are humans than it is that we are angels!
    3. If we can say, "We sin because we are humans" why not also say, "We sin because we are angels!"??
    4. Why not say Jesus sinned (he was human, too!)
B. Sin Is The Violation Of God's Will By Morally Responsible Individuals - 1 Jno. 3:4.
    1. Sin is the result of choices, not chromosomes!
      a. All have sinned - Rom. 3:23.
      b. Each person's sin is the result of a choice they have made, not what they have inherited because they are human - Ezek. 18:20.
      c. Spiritual death passes to everyone who chooses sin - Rom. 5:12.
    2. Sin does not spring from humanity - Rom. 7:7-9.
      a. 7:7 - Knowledge of sin comes through law (3:20).
      b. 7:8 - Sin finds its opportunity in our lives, not because of our humanity, but because of the commandment. There is no sin without law, 4:15).
      c. 7:9 - Prior to moral accountability, Paul was without sin (alive). When he chose to violate the law, he sinned & died (spiritually).
      d. If we sin because we are human there would have been no time that Paul was spiritually alive prior to obeying the gospel! But, in his infancy & childhood, he was!
      e. Therefore, sin does not spring from our humanity, but from our choices which violate the will of God.
C. Man And Sin - Jas. 1:12-16.
    1. 1:12 - Sin can be resisted by enduring temptations.
    2. 1:13 - If temptation & sin was due to our humanity, God is to blame!
    3. 1:14 - Temptation:
      a. Drawn away by "his own desires (lust)", and
      b. Enticed (lured to sin).
    4. 1:15 - Unlawful fulfilling of strong desire causes sin…produces death.
    5. 1:16 - Don't be deceived about sin, it's presence or its power.
      -Don't try to get as close to the edge of sin as you can (1 Cor. 10:12).
D. So, What About These Passages?
    1. Psa. 51:5: "I was brought forth in iniquity."
      a. David was born into a world full of sin. He was continually confronted with sin & the temptation to sin.
      b. cf. Eccl. 7:29 - God created man upright….man chose sin.
    2. Eph. 2:1-3: "By nature children of wrath…"
      a. PHUSIS - "Habit, course of conduct"; "a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature" (THAYER, ONLINE BIBLE).
      b. "…walked…disobedience…conducted ourselves…fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…" - cf. 1 Jno. 3:4-10

-Man has a habit (nature) of practicing (walking in) sin….we must be different… we must have a habit (nature) of practicing (walking in) righteousness.

Conclusion
"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (Jno. 13:17)