To, For and About - a study guide

When studying the Bible, it's helpful to remember and know what parts of it are written directly to us. Although all of the Bible is for us, not all of it is to us.

2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

The following is a helpful guide when studying. It can also provide some great "Ah-ha" moments and some "I don't think so" moments when listening to teachers and pastors.

>Genesis thru Malachi - to, for and about Israel
>Matthew thru John - to, for and about Christ's relationship to Israel - past and future
>Romans thru Philemon - to, for and about the Church, the Body of Christ (us)
>Hebrews thru Revelation - to, for and about Israel's future

Study hard and study right!

www.LifeisGod.com

What's the difference between "of" and "in"?

So, is it the faith OF Jesus Christ, or the faith IN Jesus Christ that saves us?

We need to go back to earlier versions of the Bible to see the difference, and to see how the devil can use a small 2 letter word to really screw us up.

The KJV says in Galatians 2:16 a couple of times that it was the faith OF Jesus Christ. If you look in other versions they say faith IN Jesus Christ. It seems to me this little word changes the direction and meaning of the verse. In the newer versions it now puts the work or "doing part" onto us. In KJV it was Jesus that had the faith. His faith justified us. It was his faith because he loved us and gave himself for us (me).

If you look in Chapter 3, verse 22 it again has a different word, depending on the version of the Bible you are reading. Then in verse 26 it says - For ye are all the children of God by faith IN Christ Jesus. It's our faith in Christ that makes us his children, but it was His faith that saved us...not ours.

2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to study and rightly divide the word of truth. We live in a distorted world. Truth is hard to find. Pastors, authors, politicians, newspeople...the list is endless of those who try to control what we believe and think. The only thing that is solid and true is the Word of God...but we've got to let it say what it means and stop trying to make it say something else.

Keepin' it real and in the Word.

www.LifeisGod.com

John 18:15-18

We've all been there. Once those words slip off our tongue, we instantly get that cringe in our chest. We know we've just said something that rips to our core. We want so bad to get those words back. We wish for that invisible rewind button to suddenly be visible so we can push the button and get back on the right track.

I can imagine the pain that Peter just felt. He just let his best friend down. No, not just his best friend, but God. He probably thought, oh if I could just get past this one group of people then I would never deny Jesus again. Just let me warm myself a little bit by this fire and then I'll be gone from these people and no one will know the difference.

Peter was the "Rock". He was the strong one, the tough one of the group. He was first to pull the sword and jump in the middle of the battle. He was the one with the busted nose, the thick neck and the the scars to complete the package. What happened? How could this tough dude stumble. If he couldn't stand up for Jesus...how could I?

We are all human, and we all fail at times. Stop trusting in yourself to push forward. It's not by sheer will power that we do anything, because our willpower will eventually lose its power. No, trust in the one who gives eternal strength, eternal power. It is nothing we do or can ever do. No, it's what God can do thru us.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your strength.

www.LifeisGod.com

John 18:12-14

In these passages, there is a small line that Caiaphas uttered. He said to the Jewish leaders, "better that one should die for all." Although thinking he was saying this about the present day followers of Christ, it's amazing how appropriate that line is for me and you. Yes, it IS better for us that one man died, instead of all. Yes, that one man was Christ Jesus. And yes, he died for us.

Jesus was arrested and tied up. Now, just before they tied him up, Jesus spoke the words "I am he" and they all fell backwards. It was the power of God, spoken. Did they really think tying him up would work? Did they fully understand what just happened to them? Or, after they picked themselves up off the ground did they just chalk it up to a tremor, a dream, or something else. Here is the Lord in front of them, who just knocked them over with words, and they think they can tie him up.

Don't we do that everyday? Don't we think we can contain God. Keep him at church, inside that one building, until the next Sunday. His words are powerful enough to knock people off their feet. Yet, we hear it, think about them for a few minutes and then go on with life like a tremor just happened, it's now over, and it's now time to go on with whatever we were doing. Why can't we keep that power with us. Use it...not try to tie it up.

Yes, Jesus died for us. Yes, he paid the price...instead of us. But, we have to understand, we have to accept it. We have to untie Him, and let Him work in our lives. Do you really think you can bind God? Do you really think you have to untie Him? No, not really. But, if you want Jesus to work in your life you have to let him.

www.LifeisGod.com

John 18:1-11

A battalion of Roman Soldiers. At night with torches, lanterns and weapons. In a place that Jesus loved. Betrayed by one of his disciples.

Twice he asked who they were looking for, and twice he said "I am he". With that single statement, the power of those words knocked the Roman soldiers off their feet. Jesus could have wiped them out with a single word, or a simple jesture. The soldiers knew it because of what just happened to them. Jesus didn't have to go forward with any of this. He could have said "No", and forced them to bow down at his feet. But, as he told Peter to put his sword back in its sheath he said these words..."Shall I not drink from the cup the Father has given me?" Jesus took a burden upon himself for us.

We cannot imagine the pain or sacrifice that Jesus (God) suffured for us. Why would he go thru something horrific and demeaning such as being crucified on the cross? Crucifixition was only meant for the guilty, the worst of the worst. Do we really deserve this love that God has for us? What have we really done for God? Do we live our lives in total service to Him? Are our words always glorifying Him? There is nothing that we have done or could ever do to deserve the love God gives us...nothing.

Accept the Lord's gift. Thank the Lord always. Try to live your life like you are grateful for this gift.

John 17:20-26

John 17:20-26 (NLTse)
²⁰ “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
²² “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
²⁴ Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
²⁵ “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.
²⁶ I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Verse 23 is such a hard thing to accomplish, even for Christians. Do you think he was talking about his Church? I do. Too bad we can't all just be "Christians"...instead of "Baptists", "Methodists", "Lutherans", etc. I really don't think our Father meant for his children to be seperated like this. Do you think the devil has his hands in this? Do you think he wants us to be confused and seperated? Do you think he knows what kind of strength we would have if we all worshipped and acted like the "Christians" we we called to be? Someday, it will be like this. And the devil's time will end.

Jesus was praying for us. He talks about a glory he wants us to see. He also wants us to experience the same love he has from his Father in heaven. Jesus wants his Father to love us the same way. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to be one. He wants us to believe in who He is. Can you do it? Have you done it? Will you do it now? Believe in Jesus, and who He is. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and was sent for you. He died for you. He took your place on the cross and paid for your sins. That's how much God loves you. He wants you to be close to him, so he died, to make it happen.

What a gift.

www.LifeisGod.com

John 17:13-19

John 17:13-19 (NLTse)
¹³ “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.
¹⁴ I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
¹⁵ I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
¹⁶ They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
¹⁷ Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.
¹⁹ And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

These verses are just part of a prayer Jesus was saying. Jesus prayed this for you and for me...but only if we are believers. He understands that we will have problems in this world, because the world hates us, just like it hates Jesus. But, Jesus prayed for our safety. We need to understand this prayer and accept it.

Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for us. He payed for our sins, and he asked that we be protected in this world and taught the truth which makes us holy. We, as believers have an education to undertake and a responsibility to spread this education to others. We have a mission to spread the truth...any way possible.

Jesus said, we do not belong in this world any more than he does, but we are in the world and need to use this time wisely. One day we will be taken up to heaven, and those left behind will have to figure out what the truth is for themselves. If you know the truth, it is your duty to tell people. Some of those "people" could be your friends, neighbors or family. Make it easier for them...give them the answers to the test.

www.LifeisGod.com