Week
of 2 Lent Even
This Bible Study was originally published at:
http://shepherdboy.journalspace.com/, (now defunct).
It is based on the Lutheran
Book of Worship two-year Daily Lectionary for personal
devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978.
The daily readings are according to a Calendar based on the
Church Year, which begins on the first Sunday of Advent, usually
sometime at the end of November in the year preceding the secular
calendar year.
Available at:
http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/
(Please bookmark this link).
This 'blog is mirrored at:
http://shepherdboy-mydailywalk.blogspot.com/
Shepherdboysmydailywalk’s Blog
.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival
text-to-speech and Panopreter
Basic text-to-speech are available at:
http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible/evenyear/wklx_even.html
http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/dw_bible/oddyear/Wklx_odd.html
Please Note:
This ‘blog is now available in mobile-optimized format:
http://winksite.mobi/shepherdboy/MyDailyWalk
Free to distribute; for personal use, Bible Study Groups, and Adult
Christian Education. Disk Image and/or .zip file to burn the complete
Bible Study to
CD are available at:
http://shepherdboy.byethost12.com/#Burn_Site_to_CD
To get the most from these studies, it is suggested that you first
read the scripture texts for the entry, and then the paraphrase and
commentary. It is also recommended that you look up the scripture
references, unless you recognize and recall them from memory.
I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time
(UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday.
Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your
desktop/hard drive.
Podcast Download: Week of 2 Lent Even
Sunday 2 Lent Even
First posted
03/06/04;
Podcast: Sunday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 41:14-45 -- Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream;
Romans 6:3-14 -- Dying and rising with Christ;
John 5:19-24 -- Jesus does the will of his Father;
Genesis Summary:
When Pharaoh was troubled by dreams, his chief butler remembered Joseph
from his time in prison, and told Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability to
interpret dreams. Pharaoh sent for Joseph and had him brought from the
dungeon, and when he had been cleaned up they brought him to Pharaoh.
Pharaoh told Joseph that he had heard that Joseph could interpret
dreams. Joseph replied that it was not any ability of his own, but God,
working through him.
Pharaoh told him his dreams of the seven gaunt cows consuming seven fat
cows, and seven lean ears of grain consuming seven fat ears, and Joseph
told him that the dreams foretold seven years of famine. Joseph told
Pharaoh to appoint someone wise to prepare reserves of food during the
years of plenty for the years of famine, and Pharaoh appointed Joseph,
since Joseph was obviously the wisest of the wise men of the land.
Pharaoh made Joseph second only to him, and gave him authority over all
the land and its people. Pharaoh clothed Joseph in fine clothes, let him
ride in the second chariot in state ceremonies, put a ring of authority
upon his finger, and gave him in marriage, Asenath, the daughter of
Potiphera, priest of On.
Romans Summary:
Believers are not to abuse God’s grace (unmerited favor) by continuing
to sin. We have died to sin, so we should not continue to live in it.
Christians have been baptized into Christ’s death so that we may be
raised to new life through Christ’s resurrection, by the power of God.
If we share in Christ’s death, we will surely share in his resurrection.
Our old sinful self was crucified so that our sinful body might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved by sin. One who has died
is freed from sin.
But if we have died with Christ we will also live with him. Having been
raised from death, Christ will never die again; death no longer has any
power over him. His death was death to sin; the risen life he lives to
God. So we must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus
Christ. We must not let sin control us. We’re not to yield to sin and
become tools of wickedness, but instead we are to yield ourselves to
God, like people who have been raised from the dead, and become
instruments of God’s righteousness. Sin has no power over Christians,
since they are no longer under the old covenant of Law, but under the
new covenant of grace.
John Summary:
The Son of God does the will of his Father, and the Father reveals his
will to the Son. As the Father raises the dead and gives life to them,
so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father has given all
authority to judge to the Son, so that all may honor the Son as they
honor the Father. Those who do not honor the Son do not honor the Father
who sent him. Those who hear Jesus’ words and believe that God sent him
have eternal life; they will not come into condemnation, but have
passed from death to life.
Commentary:
Joseph is, in one sense, a portrait of a “believer” (a Christian). God
had promised him in a dream that Joseph would be in a position of
authority and honor. Joseph had to go through a lot of trials on the
way. He was sold into slavery in Egypt, falsely accused and imprisoned.
After he interpreted the Chief Butler’s dream, he languished in a
dungeon for two more years while the butler went back to his career and
forgot all about Joseph. But through it all Joseph trusted in God, and
God was working out his plan for Joseph. God caused the butler to
remember Joseph. God’s plan to bless and honor Joseph began to be
fulfilled, and Joseph gave God the credit (Genesis 41:16).
We are all like Joseph in the sense that we are all in the “prison” of
sin and death. All have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness
(Romans 3:23; 6:23) and the penalty of sin is eternal death. Through
Jesus Christ, we are freed from that prison. Through Jesus, we are
brought out of the dungeon of sin and death, we’re cleaned up, given
royal garments of righteousness, given authority to accomplish God’s
will in all the earth and share in God’s glory, and brought into close
personal fellowship with the Lord.
Jesus taught by word and example what it means to be a son (or daughter)
of God. He is the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14 KJV), the
first-born of all creation (Colossians 1:15), but he is the pattern, and
the means, by which we become “adopted” sons and daughters of God. (We
will not become “gods,” and we are saved by grace through faith in
Jesus; not by any “good deeds” we do.) Jesus came to do God’s will. As
we learn to be obedient to God’s will, God will reveal his will to us,
and he will fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish his
will.
When Joseph was released from the dungeon and made Pharaoh’s second in
command, Pharaoh’s “right-hand man,” Joseph served Pharaoh as serving
God. He could have used his great power and position to indulge his own
selfish interests, but instead he was obedient to God’s will and worked
to carry out God’s plan to save many people from famine and death.
Christians have been released from prison, cleaned up, and made God’s
right-hand men and women. God has a plan to save many people from
eternal famine and death, and it’s God’s will for his “adopted” sons and
daughters to work to accomplish that plan. Have you allowed Jesus to
release you from your prison and restore you to life? Are you faithfully
serving him and helping accomplish God’s plan of salvation?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you
first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus
Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1
John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Monday 2 Lent Even
First
posted 03/06/04;
Podcast: Monday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 41:46-57 -- The coming of the famine;
1 Corinthians 4:8-20 (21) -- The coming of the Kingdom;
Mark 3:7-19a -- Jesus appoints his disciples;
Genesis Summary:
Joseph was thirty years old when he entered Pharaoh’s service (his
slavery and imprisonment had lasted 13 years; Genesis 37:2-3). During
the seven years of abundance, Joseph stored up in every city, from the
surrounding areas, surpluses so vast that they could not be measured.
Before the famine came, Joseph had two sons by his wife Asenath, the
daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. He named the first-born
Manasseh (which means “making to forget”) saying that God had caused
Joseph to forget all the hardship and his separation from his Father and
his kin. He named his second son Ephraim, (“Fruitful”) because Joseph
realized that God had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his
affliction.
Then the seven years of plenty ended, and the seven years of famine
began. There was famine throughout the world, but in Egypt there was
“bread” (Genesis 41:54). “When all the land of Egypt was famished, they
cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians,
‘Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do. Joseph opened the storehouses
and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in Egypt. Moreover
all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine
was severe over all the earth” (Genesis 41:56-57).
1 Corinthians Summary:
The Corinthian Christians were acting like they were royalty. Paul uses
irony to convict his hearers. He says that he wishes he had the kind of
wealth and privilege the Corinthians seem to think they’re entitled to.
They seem to think they don’t have to suffer the trials and tribulations
that disciples of Christ are subjected to in this world; that they are
exempt from the obligation to work for the kingdom, to forgive their
enemies, endure persecution and deprivation, to be rejected and
mistreated by the world.
Paul is admonishing them in love as a father disciplines his children.
Paul is more than a guide [a “custodian” (Galatians 3:24 RSV); a slave
charged with the responsibility of raising the child of his master; like
a “nanny” or a tutor]. Paul urges his hearers to follow his example.
For that reason Paul sent Timothy to them to remind the Corinthians of
Paul’s teaching. Paul is planning to visit the Corinthians, and then the
Corinthians will be held to account to Paul for their behavior. Paul’s
authority is not mere words, but the power of God. So his hearers’
response to Paul’s words will determine whether they will experience, as
a consequence, harsh discipline or gentleness and love, when he comes.
Mark Summary:
Jesus’ reputation as a healer grew, so that he was forced to withdraw
from cities to more open areas like the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:45). Even
there, it was necessary to tell his disciples to have a boat standing
by, to prevent him from being crushed by the crowds (Mark 3:9-10).
Demons recognized and acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God (Mark
3:11; see 1:23-24; James 2:19. Jesus told those he healed not to
publicize it. [Crowds seeking only what Jesus could give them physically
(healing, bread, etc.) were making it difficult for Jesus to accomplish
his mission of bringing spiritual healing and spiritual sustenance].
Jesus called his disciples, invited them into intimate fellowship with
Jesus, and appointed them to go out to preach and heal people
spiritually (Mark 3:14). One of the Twelve eventually betrayed Jesus.
Commentary:
God had a plan for Joseph, to raise him up to a position of power and
authority, so that Joseph could carry out God’s plan to save the world
from famine and death. Joseph trusted and obeyed the Lord through many
years of suffering before God’s plan began to be revealed. Joseph
acknowledged that God is able to reward our suffering with blessings
that will so far out-weigh the trials that the trials will be forgotten.
Joseph also realized that God is abundantly able to make us fruitful in
the midst of adversity.
The Corinthians wanted the glory of being the favored ones of the King
of the Universe, Jesus Christ, but they didn’t want the suffering, work,
and responsibility that go with it. Jesus demonstrated that if we want
to wear the crown of eternal life, we have to bear the cross; we have to
surrender our will, and become obedient to God’s will. We have to do
things Jesus asks us to do which will make us unpopular with those who
are worldly.
Jesus called his disciples to live in close personal fellowship with
him, and to go out and preach and provide spiritual healing.
Discipleship isn’t just one big feast with the Master, and all the free
bread you can eat.
Jesus, in one sense, is the “Joseph” to whom the world must come and do
what he says, who supplies the bread that the world must have, to
survive the famine. In another sense, Christian believers are the
“Joseph” who has been freed from the prison of sin and death, appointed
to a position of great honor and authority as representatives of the
Lord, and charged with the administration of God’s plan to save the
world from spiritual famine and eternal death.
Christian believers are called to be Jesus’ disciples; to have intimate
fellowship with Jesus, and to go out to preach and to work for spiritual
healing. Christian believers are “Timothy.” We have been sent by Jesus
to remind the world of Jesus’ teaching, as Paul sent Timothy, and as
Jesus sent the Twelve.
Jesus is coming in power and authority to deal with the wicked and
disobedient, and to reveal his love to those who are trusting and
obeying his teachings. How we respond to Jesus’ message, proclaimed by
scripture and by Jesus’ disciples, the “Timothys,” will determine
whether we will experience Jesus’ condemnation and punishment or his
love and salvation. If we have been freed from our prison of sin and
death by Jesus, are we willing to take up the call and responsibility to
administer God’s plan of salvation to a famished and dying world? Or do
we expect to sit around in luxury and comfort and expect God to serve
and please us? Are we preparing for the day of famine?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you
first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus
Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew
28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1
John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Tuesday 2 Lent Even
First posted
03/08/04;
Podcast: Tuesday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 42:1-17 --
Joseph’s brothers come to buy food;
Mark 3:19b-35 -- A house divided;
The Corinthians were arguing among themselves over which members were the most righteous, based on which pastor had performed their rite of baptism. They were boasting of their spiritual maturity while they were tolerating flagrant immorality within the congregation. Their behavior demonstrated that they were neither righteous nor spiritually mature. Paul warns that the Church cannot and should not tolerate willful sinfulness within its membership. (The whole Passover tradition is full of symbolism and Christian significance and is worth your further study.)
Jesus is not “schizophrenic.” His undivided commitment is to do God’s will. Jesus said that one cannot serve both God and Satan (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Jesus, and only Jesus, can set us free from slavery to sin. Church members who willfully sin are choosing not to obey God’s will.
Joseph is an illustration of the return of Jesus, in authority and power, on the Day of Judgment. On that Day, all the earth will have to come and bow before Jesus. Jesus will be the only source of the “bread” of eternal life (John 14:6, Acts 4:12). We are all guilty of participating in the plot to kill Jesus by crucifying him. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Wednesday 2 Lent Even
First posted 03/09/04;
Podcast: Wednesday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 42:18-28 -- Joseph’s brothers tested;
1 Corinthians 5:9-6:11 -- Church discipline;
Mark 4:1-20 -- The parable of the soils;
Genesis Summary:
Joseph’s brothers had been forced by world-wide famine to come to Egypt and bow down to their brother, whom they didn’t recognize, in order to buy bread. Joseph had pretended not to know them, had accused them of spying, and had placed them in prison for three days. On the third day he brought them before him. He had told them he would send one back to fetch the youngest brother, Benjamin, as proof that they were honest men, while he held the other nine in prison, but now he relented, saying that he feared God (that he tried to serve and please God).
Instead he allowed the nine to return with food for their families, while he held one brother, Simeon, in prison as surety. Joseph secretly instructed his servants to give each of the brothers a sack of grain, and to hide the money each had given for the grain in the mouth of the sack. When the brothers had gone a day’s journey, one of them found his money in the mouth of his sack, and they were filled with fear, asking, “What is this that God has done to us?” (Genesis 42:28).
1 Corinthians Summary:
Paul told believers not to associate with immoral men, not meaning the worldly, because that would be impossible, but referring to immoral people who claimed to be Christians. Anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ who is guilty of immorality or greed, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness or robbery should not be allowed fellowship in the church. God judges those outside the church.
The Church is charged with the responsibility of judging those within the Church. If there is a grievance between Christians, the matter should be adjudicated by the Church, rather than going before a secular court. The world will be judged by the saints, so why should the righteous seek judgment by the unrighteous. The fact that there are lawsuits among believers is defeat for Christians. It would be better to suffer wrong than to bring suit against a fellow Christian.
The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Neither those who practice immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, nor thieves and robbers, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers will inherit the kingdom of God. Some believers have been guilty of such things in the past, but they have been “washed…sanctified (made ritually clean, dedicated to God’s service) …justified (absolved of guilt) in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Mark Summary:
Jesus sat in a boat close to shore and taught the crowds on the shore. Jesus’ fame had become so great that he had to adopt this method to keep from being trampled by the crowds (Mark 3:9). He taught them many things in parables, of which the parable of the sower is one example.
A sower sowed seed, and some fell on the path, and birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where there was no depth of soil. It sprouted quickly, but when the sun rose it withered, since it had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew and choked it, so that the seed produced no harvest. Other seed fell in good soil, and it produced a harvest of thirty, sixty or even a hundred times the original sowing. Jesus said that if we have ears, we should use them to listen to what he is saying.
When Jesus was alone with the larger group of followers beyond the inner circle of the Twelve, he explained the meaning of the parables. Those who believe in Jesus and do what he teaches are given understanding, but to the undecided and unbelievers, Jesus’ teachings are parables, since they must decide for themselves whether to believe in Jesus and follow him or not.
Jesus explained that the “seed” in the parable is the Word (the Gospel). The soils represent the hearers. Those along the path have grown hard by their experience in the world. When they hear, Satan comes along immediately and takes away the Word which they heard. Those represented by the rocky soil are those who receive the Word enthusiastically but who have no depth of soil. The seed sprouts, but as soon as conditions get demanding, the seedling withers and dies. The thorny soil represents those who hear the Word but allow the cares and pleasures of the world to crowd in and choke out the Word so that it proves unfruitful in their lives. The good soil represents those who receive the Word and allow it to take root and produce a harvest.
Commentary:
Joseph recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph knew how his brothers had treated him before, when they had plotted to kill him and had sold him into slavery. Joseph challenged their sincerity, and created a test of their honesty. Would they abandon Simeon, the brother being held as surety, to save their own lives? Would they keep the money that had been returned to them, and hope Joseph hadn’t noticed?
Some of the Corinthian Christians had been immoral, idolaters, adulterers, homosexual*, thieves, robbers, greedy, drunkards or revilers in the past (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Paul’s point is that when we accept Jesus as our Lord, we must acknowledge our sins and change our ways. Our subsequent behavior reveals whether we have truly believed and been converted. Paul tells believers not to tolerate willful sinners among the fellowship of believers.
According to Jesus’ parable of the sower, one can tell what kind of “soil” people are by the fruit that they yield from the sowing of the Gospel. Good soil does not produce the thorns of sin and disobedience. We are responsible for the kind of soil we prove to be. If we allow thorns of sin and disobedience to grow, that is what we will harvest.
Joseph is, in one sense, a parable of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph is a "preview" of Jesus. Jesus is God’s “governor” who controls access to the only supply of the “bread” of eternal life. The whole world must come to him in order to survive spiritual famine and eternal death. In the past we have all participated in the plot to kill Jesus –we have all participated in Jesus’ crucifixion- because we have all been guilty of sin (Romans 3:23), and the penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). We all made it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross so that we might be forgiven and saved from eternal death. In that sense, we are all Joseph’s brothers.
When we come to the Lord seeking relief from spiritual starvation and seeking the “bread” of eternal life, he knows us! He knows what we’ve done in the past. He’s willing to give us a chance to prove that we’re sincere, but he’s not going to be trampled on by a mob seeking "free bread" (Mark 3:9). Our subsequent behavior will reveal what kind of “soil’ we prove to be.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
* Because of the current controversy over same-sex marriage and the appointment of openly “gay” bishops (and clergy), I think it’s important to note that the word which is translated “homosexual” in the text (RSV, footnote “j”) is translated from two Greek words which mean “effeminate sodomite.” I think it’s pretty hard to deny that “homosexual” is an accurate translation.
Thursday 2 Lent Even
First posted 03/10/04;
Podcast: Thursday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 42:29-38 -- Joseph’s brothers return home;
Mark 4:21-34 -- Parables of the Kingdom;
God’s intentions are not a secret, and our deeds are all known to God. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is death (Romans 6:23). God doesn’t want us to perish eternally, but rather to have eternal life with him in his eternal kingdom. (John 3:16). Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12, John 14:6). God promises that he has already given the life of his only begotten Son to save us and bring us home to Heaven.
Friday 2 Lent Even
First posted 03/11/04;
Podcast: Friday 2 Lent Even
1 Corinthians 7:1-9 -- Directions concerning marriage;
Mark 4:35-41 -- Jesus calms the sea;
That’s essentially what the Corinthian Christians needed to do. They were surrounded by a licentious secular culture, with many sexual temptations. Corinthian believers did not need to be swamped and shipwrecked by the secular storm of temptation around them. They simply needed to do what was right in the eyes of God and trust the Lord to bring them through. The standard of behavior is God’s Word, the Holy Bible, not what’s acceptable in secular culture.
The disciples were frightened by the raging storm around them; they couldn’t understand how Jesus could be peacefully sleeping through it. Didn’t he care what was happening to them? Jesus had completely committed himself to God’s will, and he trusted completely in God. No matter how bad things might seem, nothing can prevent God’s will from being accomplished.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Saturday 2 Lent Even
First posted 03/12/04;
Podcast: Saturday 2 Lent Even
Genesis 43:16-34 -- The brothers return to Joseph;
Mark 5:1-20 -- The Gerasene demoniac;
The brothers had sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt because they were offended by the dreams Joseph had that his family would bow down to him. It had been God’s will and plan for Joseph to rise to the position of authority through suffering, so that Jacob’s (Israel’s) household (and the nation of Israel) might be saved from famine.
Paul’s teaching about personal relationships was based on the principle that believers are not to willingly allow anything to interfere with our obligation to serve the Lord. Marriage is a legitimate relief from bondage to sexual temptation (1 Corinthians 7:8-9), but marriage brings worldly obligations (1 Corinthians 7:28).
The Gerasene demoniac had been dominated by a legion of demons. The demoniac came to Jesus and worshiped him, acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus freed him from his slavery to the demons and restored him to a useful life of testifying about what Jesus had done for him.
In one sense, the story of Joseph is a parable of the Day of Judgment. We have all sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23), just like Joseph’s brothers had sinned against him. There is a day coming when we are going to be held accountable to Jesus (John 5:28-29; Matthew 25:31-46). He knows everything about us, even if we haven’t yet realized who he is. In that Day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10), whether we like the idea now or not. In that day he will have the power of eternal life or eternal death over us. In that Day we will hope that he will forgive our sins, but it will be too late for us to do anything to change our fate.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
