Essential Bible Studies

Overcoming Temptation

With all this talk about sin on the podcast lately, it’s about time we discuss some practical matters on how to overcome temptation. Stephen joins Tim to discuss the Biblical definition of temptation and provide examples and stories to help us in our fight against sin. Find out what it means to “not pack a snack for the flesh”.
Key Verse:
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” James 1:13-14
Show Notes:
Temptation Defined
Temptation a major topic of the Bible from Genesis
James 1:12-14 defines temptation and our need for God
Desires are not bad in themselves (Luke 22:15)
The worlds overwhelming temptations. Lusts that war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11)
Recognize Temptation
Where temptation originates (James 1:13)
The example of Samson (Judges 13&14)
The categories of lusts in the world (1 John 2:15-16)
Overcoming Temptation and Sin
Jesus’ instruction in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:13)
Taking God’s escape route, fleeing temptation (1 Corinthians 10:12-14)
Practical points: David (Proverbs 28:13), Paul (Romans 7:18-23)
Do not make provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14)
Practical Points for Discipleship
The need for prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
Guards - why you have them, how to implement
Jesus’ example in the wilderness temptation using the word of God (Matthew 4)

The Curse of the Serpent

After the fall of man, God pronounces a curse upon the serpent which includes an enigmatic statement concerning a future enmity. Jesse joins Tim for the first time to discuss this earliest of prophecies about the Lord Jesus Christ and how he would crush the head of the serpent. Listen in as we break down each of the characters and what the allegory all means.
Key Verse: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Gen 3:15
Show Notes:
Introduction
The Edenic covenant in Genesis 3:15 is the first prophecy and promise of the Bible. It is an allegory using events to represent another spiritual meaning.
Quick overview of what is represented by the serpent, woman and the two seeds.
The Serpent
More subtle than any beast of the field that God had made (3:1)
Spoke based on animal instincts to speak a lie therefore represents the mind of the flesh at enmity with God (Rom. 8:7)
The Woman
She proclaimed the truth of God’s revelation even though she was beguiled.
The woman represents the mind of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5)
The Seed of the Serpent
The wicked are described as a generation of vipers (Psalm 58:4; 140:3; Matt 23:33; John 8:44)
The seed of the Serpent are therefore those ruled by the mind of the flesh.
The Seed of the Woman
Represents those who have the mind of the Spirit.
First of all, this is Jesus (Gal. 3:16; 4:4)
Second, it is all those who seek to be like Jesus, transforming their minds (Rom 6:11-13; Gal 3:26-29; Eph 4:22-24)
The Defeat of Sin
“Bruise” = crush. The difference between a wound to the heel and head.
How that relates to Christ’s death and resurrection (Heb. 2:14)
Conclusion

Sin Entered the World

In this episode, Rob and Tim read through and discuss the Bible's record of the very first sin in Genesis 2 and 3. Why was there a tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Why did God command Adam not to eat of it? What is up with the serpent? What lessons can we learn about temptation and sin? It’s all here in this episode.
Key Verse: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" Romans 5:12
Show Notes:
Introduction
Sin is the cause of death (Rom. 6:23)
Sin and therefore death came by one man (Rom. 5:12)
The First Sin – Reading through Genesis 2 and 3
Genesis 2:16-17 – God’s law and its consequence
Genesis 3:1,4 – The serpent and the lie
Genesis 3:6-7 – Temptation (1 John 2:16; James 1:14) and the fall of man
Final conclusion
The seriousness of sin and its effects on the whole world
Hope and forgiveness in Jesus (1 John 3:5)

Sin in Five Verses

From Genesis to Revelation, sin is a major topic. One could even say it is a subject of life and death. Rob joins Tim to get a grasp on five verses that define sin. They are all very similar, yet each has its own nuance. The more we get into this study the more we get a sense of the seriousness of sin and letting God define it for us.
Key Verse:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23 
The Five Verses:
#1 – Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4)
#2 – All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17)
#3 – What is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23)
#4 – Failing to do right is sin (James 4:17)
#5 - Coming short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)

The Greatest of these is Love

Could there be any more beautifully expressed words then Paul's exposition on love in 1 Corinthians 13? Join Brian and Tim and as they talk about the Greek words for love to get a better understanding of how to love like Christ. They then go on to explore each phrase and consider what it means for us in our life of discipleship.
Key Verse:
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Handouts:
1 Corinthians 13 Version Comparison Spreadsheet
1 Corinthians 13 Comparison with Exodus 34
1 Corinthians 13 Comparison with Galatians 5
Show Notes:
Definitions of the Greek words for love
Agape (Strong G25, G25 and G27) - to love (in a social or moral sense)
Phileo (Strongs G5368) to be a friend to (fond of (an individual or an object)), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while agape is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as G2309 and G1014, or as G2372 and G3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head)
Root G5384 philos - properly dear, ie. a friend
Used as a root of several other words. G5386 philosophos - philosopher, fond of wise things
Quotes about love
Agape is “the love that flows from a person’s association with God’s purpose in Christ, a principled love that is not free from passion, but is not driven by passion.” - Michael Ashton, The Christadelphian Magazine, 2002.
“the Greek agape takes on a special meaning: it is used to designate a volitional (or relating to one’s will) love as opposed to the purely emotional kind. It is a self-sacrificial love, a kind naturally expressed by God.” – Stephen Whitehouse, The Christadelphian Magazine, 2009.
Special verse that define agape love as self sacrificing (John 15:13; Rom. 5:8; John 3:16).
The beautiful definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13
Appreciating the context and comparing different versions.
Similarities between 1 Cor. 13 and the character of God in Ex. 34:6-7 and the fruits of the spirit in Gal. 5:22-23.
Breaking down 1 Corinthians 13
“Love is patient and kind” compare Eph. 4:1-3. “Kindness is love communicating” Dennis Gillet, Genius of Discipleship
“love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant”. KJV “not puffed up”. This was a problem with the Corinthians (4:6, 18, 19; 5:2; 8:1)
“love is not rude”
“It does not insist on its own way”, not self-centered
“it is not irritable”, that is, not easily provoked to anger.
“or resentful” literally mean to not keep a record of wrongs. Doesn’t hold grudges.
“it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
Two ways of interpreting this – love does not gloat over the wickedness of others (Ezek. 33:11) and love does not overlook error but speaks the truth (2 Tim. 2:17; Eph. 4:15)
“Love bears all things”. Literally means to cover over like a roof. Compare Prov. 10:12; 17:9
“believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Love includes faith (belief) and hope
In the Kingdom there will be no need for faith (Heb. 11:1) or hope (Rom. 8:24) but love will endure.
J.B. Phillips translation of 1 Cor. 13:7-8 “Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. It is, in fact, the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.”

In the Image and Likeness of God (Part 2)

The discussion on man being in the image of God continues in this episode where it focuses on Jesus Christ. How is he described as being in God's image and what is the implication for us? The conclusion to this study is a beautiful realization that our hope is to made into the image of the heavenly after the pattern of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Key verse:
2 Cor. 3:18  "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Show notes:
Intro and Recap
Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3 NLT). The image is about having the characteristics of God.
When Paul quotes Gen. 1:26 he says “image and glory” (1 Cor. 11:7). How is glory related to likeness?
We are living a process of being made into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 4:4-6; Col. 3:9-10; Rom. 8:29)
We were born with the image and likeness of Adam (Gen. 5:1-3) the image of the earthly (1 Cor. 15:49) but being born again into Christ hope to in the image of the heavenly (1 Cor. 15:49)
Final conclusion

In the Image and Likeness of God (Part 1)

What does it mean for man to be created in the image and likeness of God? Is it a physical image or something else? Frank and Tim start a discussion on this topic taken from Genesis 1:26. It turns into a really interesting study taking the show to unexpected passages in Scripture looking for answers.
Key Verse:
Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”
Show Notes:
Introduction
Gen. 1:26 - Why does the grammar change to “us” at this point? Our hope is to be make like the angels (Luke 20:36) therefore the angels are involved at this point rather than begin directed as the case with the animals.
The image and likeness of God
What makes us like God compared to the beasts? “after his kind” (1:24-25) -> “after our likeness” (1:26-27), Psa. 49:20
Is there a difference between image and likeness?
God commands nothing to be made in his image (Deut. 4:12,15-19; Rom. 1:23 “corruptible man”)
The future aspect of being made into the God’s image (Psa. 17:15; 1 John 3:2; Phil. 3:21)

The Greatest Commandment

Jesus said the greatest commandment of all was “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." and that there was a second like it "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." This was so important that he said, "on these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40)
Tim and Aaron explore the importance of love as an essential of essential Bible studies. They go back to the Old Testament reference that Jesus draws upon as well as the context. Discover what love is really all about and how to know and show forth the love of God in your life.
For more shows or to get in contact with us go to www.essentialbiblestudies.org
Cover art from Unsplash

Season 4 Highlight Teaser

The next season of the Essential Bible Studies Podcasts starts on January 17th, 2022. Listen to some of the highlights coming up. It's going to be a great season of engaging Bible study and discovery. Don't miss it!
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Season 4 Trailer

Season 4 of the Essential Bible Studies Podcast drops on January 17th, 2022. Listen in to find out what is coming!

Testimony and Reflections Season 3 (Part 2)

This is the second part to our season three testimony. Stan Isbell continues the amazing story of how God has worked in his life. Stan recalls considering ending his life before one conversation would change everything. Along the way Stan relates lessons learned through the years and how we can more effectively preach the word of God to others.
The chart of God's 7000 Year Plan that changed Stan's life can be found here.
The cover photo is from the Texas Christadelphian Camp and Conference Center, a place dear to Stan, but that's another story.  Photo courtesy of @hannah.young104.

Testimony and Reflections Season 3 (Part 1)

For our season three testimony we welcome Stan Isbell to share his story of how God has worked in his life. Stan recalls his early life in Texas, the experiences that led him to drug addiction, and to thoughts of ending his life before God stepped in and brought him back from the abyss. The is the first of a two part series because it is so amazing.