Bible Studies
“Out of their weakness they were made strong.” (paraphrase) Hebrews 11:34 KJV
THE NATURAL LIFE VERSUS THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
I. The Natural Life Relies On Observed Truth, Lesser Truth
*We take in this truth from the time we draw our first breath and continue to do so throughout our 'natural' lives. It is truth that relies on the senses for gleaning – walks by sight and not by faith. A whole collection of varied facts too massive to detail will fall into this category.
*This could include truth we stumble across in life's personal experiences and experiences of others; truths that our parents teach us both by example and deliberate training; what our natural surroundings convey to us - in other words the material universe; and formal education and books. It could even be biblical truth with the veil still in place, employed (or not) apart from spiritual discernment.*
*Man’s bent is to rely on natural truth, what he can see with his eyes, hear with his ears, touch with his hands. This truth encourages reliance on facts, on oneself/other humans. It can’t impart true life, eternal life.*
a. The Lesser Truth -
(ICor. 1:20, 25) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(ICor. 3:19) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness.
b. Does Not Lead To A Relationship With God -
(ICor. 1:21, 2:11) For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
*This is not to say God won't use natural truth as a means to awaken man to spiritual truth He intends to reveal. The point is natural truth of itself cannot impart spiritual knowledge.*
c. Can Produce Pride -
(ICor. 8:1b) Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies.
d. Does Not Produce Life -
(Rom. 8:6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
e. Increases Through Knowledge and Reasoning -
f. Built On Facts -
(John 5: 39-40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
II. The Spiritual Life Relies On Revealed Truth, Greater Truth.
(Man can’t discover this kind of truth. He doesn’t have to.)
*It is God-imparted, God-directed, God-maintained, and God-perfected.*
a. The Greater Truth -
(I Cor. 1:25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
b. Revealed By The Holy Spirit -
(I Cor. 1:23) But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
c. Produces Life / Growth -
(Romans 8:6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
(John 14:15-17) You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another.
(I Thess. 2:13) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
(II Thess. 2:13) But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
d. Increases Through Obedience -
(I Pet. 1:22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
(Luke 11:28) But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
(John 3:21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
(John 14:15) *see above
(I John 2:5) But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
e. Built On A Relationship With God -
(John 14:23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(John 15:12-15) This is my commandment, That you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant know not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (Interactive between ourselves and God.
III. II Cor. 12:9-10
(“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong”)
tells us God's strength
a. Is given In Sufficient Measure -
(II Cor. 3: 5-6) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
b. Includes God’s Grace -
(Definition of grace: the free unmerited love and favor of God -
“God’s provision for our every need when we need it.” W. Wiersbe)
c. Is Designed To Work Together With/Through Our weakness
(unite His strength with our weakness - strength perfected in weakness)
d. God’s Grace Is Designed To Strengthen Us In Our Weakness - So Our Weakness Works For Us And Not Against Us
(Dunamis – power outside ourselves)
JESUS OUR PERFECT PICTURE OF (voluntary) WEAKNESS
(Hebrews 4:14-16); (II Cor. 13:3-4)& (II Cor. 13:4)
IV. Christ Demonstrated His Weakness Through -
*temporarily giving up His glory (though not His true identity as God) coming in the weakness of human flesh; coming in the form of a servant; experiencing every temptation we experience -yet without sin; suffering and death on the cross. (example - Jesus grieved/wept with Mary and Martha at Lazarus' tomb (Son of Man). *
IV. Christ Demonstrated His Strength In -
*always seeking/doing the Father’s will, speaking the Father's words; ability to heal sickness and raise the dead(raised Lazarus after 4 days in tomb); ability to see deep into the heart of a person; power to forgive sin; living a pure and perfect sinless life; the gospel imperatives: victory over and payment of sin-debt of humankind with defeat of the 'adversary' by his voluntary death on the cross, burial, and the resurrection from the dead (new life in Christ.*
Lesson Notes from "Condident Weakness" Bible Study by Belinda Dunn. Outline and Scripture references Belinda Dunn. Scriptures from KJV (I modified pronouns, i.e. you instead of ye and plurals - eth's endings of verbs omitted or changed.
* comments by Janice Cartwright
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
Shea – Apologies that this entry is so disconnected from the context of the other studies. I think that is what made it difficult. The reason is that it is the first time I included our lecture notes from class. Since editing capabilities are limited at our composing page, I couldn’t format it in a way that would have helped to clarify the notes. Also because I decided to type in the scriptures, rather than scripture references only (I thought this might be helpful for the reader), space and time became a factor. I didn’t really go into much explanation and how this all fits into the “Confident Weakness” theme of the study.
I love the topic you chose to write on. However in many areas it was difficult for me to follow and to understand.The flow of words was very jagged for a person like me. Not your fault but there are alot of people like me with a limited vocabulary and understanding of complex word usage.But as I said Awesome Topic.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1062 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Janice Cartwright or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1062 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.