“Because You Asked”

Introduction

Last week at the end of our study on Jesus’ parables we concluded with the study of the rich man and Lazarus. We learned about Hades, Hell, Paradise and the death of believers and non-believers. At the end I was asked various questions about the rapture, our bodies being changed for eternity and similar questions.

Before Gerri Helton left for Zambia we discussed how I could help her as she disciples three pastors. We realize that one day Gerri will not return to Zambia and those she leaves behind must be trained to carry on the work (II Tim.2:2). The last Thursday of each month she will meet with these pastors. In addition Gerri and Melissa have helped develop a Bible School to train local Zambian pastors.

Recently it has been reported that 75% of all children who grow up going to an evangelical church, like ours, leave the faith after graduating high school. The number jumps to 85% after the first year of college. This is why “Bible Basics” has been included in our Children’s Church.

Those three factors have led me to change my Wednesday night plan from “biographies” to short studies on questions of morality and prophecy. These Bible studies will be online so that you, Gerri, Dr. Tom & Jolene and others can have a quick reference. The Bible says “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15).

I.              The Truth [John 18:37]

A.    Pilate said to Jesus “Are you a king then?” Jesus responded by stating, “You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth…” (John 18:37)

B.    Jesus declares that there is “truth”. He even boldly asserts that He is “the truth” (John 14:6).

A.    God’s desire is that all will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (I Tim.2:4). Unfortunately we know that will not be the case (II Tim.3:7).

II.            The Deception

A.    The Bible states in Gen.3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made…”

1.    The serpent is the devil (II Cor.11:3; Rev.12:3, 4, 20:1-3).

2.    “Did God really say, ‘…you must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ (3:1)

3.    “You shall not surely die” (3:4). This is a direct contradiction to Gen.2:17 “…for when you eat of it you will surely die”.

B.    The word subtil in Gen.3:1 is arum [strong # 6175]. It is an adjective meaning “prudent, crafty, subtil”.

C.   “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Eph.4:14).

1.    Teaching is the KJV “doctrine”. It is the noun didaskalia. It comes from didaskalos meaning “doctor, master, teacher”.

2.    Craftiness is panourgia, a noun meaning “craftiness, subtlety, cunning craftiness”.

3.    Deceive is plane, a noun meaning “error, deceive, deceit, delusion”.

4.    Scheming is the KJV “they lie in wait”. This is the Greek noun methodeia. It is found twice in the NT. Once translated “wiles” (Eph.6:11), the other “lie in wait” (Eph.4:14). The idea is this: meta = after + hodos = a way.

5.    Cunning is kybeia; the KJV has “sleight”. This noun comes from kubos, that is a “die” for playing.