RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL AT BETHEL

RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL AT BETHEL: Old and New Testament Perspectives

Main Texts: 

Old Testament: Genesis 35:1-15 — Jacob moves to Bethel

New Testament: Mark 1; Luke 3:1-23; John 3-4 — Prepare your heart’s altar in Bethel

SECTION A

FIRST RESPONSE: 'You must be Born Again'

1.       Repent and be baptized (MK.1:4-5,8; LK.3:3,7-18)

2.       Jesus was baptized by water and Spirit (MK.1:9; LK.3:21)

3.       Baptism preceded public ministry (MK.1:12-45; LK.3:23)

4.       Baptism offers initiates (followers of Christ) empowerment and fortification against  temptation (LK.4:1-15)

5.       Baptism and New Birth are necessary for Kingdom citizenship (JN.3-4:1-2)

6.       The early Church was commanded to be baptized (Acts 1-2)

7.       Saul of Tarsus (later apostle Paul) was baptized (Acts 9:1-22)

8.       Other first responders to the Good News were baptized (Acts 8—an ongoing revival in Samaria; 10:9-48; 16:13-15,25-34; 18:5-11; 19:1-10

SECTION B

GOOD AND BAD RESPONSES IN BETHEL

PART ONE: The woman of Samaria: a case study

1.       The woman of Samaria in the right place at the right time (JN.4:1-45). Compared with Rebekah, a chosen wife for Isaac (Gen.24:1-27)

2.       Destination: the city’s water well (JN.4:4-6; Gen.24:11). Time of day — Samarian at noon; Rebekah at evening time.

3.       Point of contact (JN.4:7; Gen.24:14)

4.       Natural drink versus spiritual drink (JN.4:7-9; Gen.24:17-19)

5.       Spiritual connection/revelation (JN.4:10; Gen.24:21-27)

6.       Different drinks (JN.4:13-14)

7.       Spiritual insight (JN.4:16-18)

8.       Theological change (JN.4:19-21)

9.       Lineage of salvation (JN.4:22)

10.   True worship by divine order (JN.4:23-24)

11.   Divine confession/revelation (JN.4:25-26)

12.   Purpose (JN.4:31-32)

13.   Christ’s mission statement (JN.4:34)

14.   Natural discernment (JN.4:35)

15.   Spiritual discernment (JN.4:35-36):

a)      Fields — people/nations

b)      Harvest — gathering and conversion of souls

c)       Reapers and sowers — missionary partnerships

16.   Kingdom reality (JN.4:37)

17.   Kingdom responsibility (JN.4:38)

18.   Mass conversion — city by city (JN.4:39-45)

PART TWO: The rich young ruler: a case study

1.       From one ruler to another (MAT.19:16-22; MK.10:17-31)

2.       Qualities of the ruler (MK.10:17-21):

a)      He was humble and polite (MK.10:17)

b)      He was engaged on a noble quest — seeking eternal life

c)       He obeyed the written commandments (MK.10:20)

NB:  These however, done separately or collectively, are not good substitutes for the gift of eternal life (salvation): repentance→conversion→application (Ephesians 2:8-9; James 2:5,17-26).

For your consideration:

3.       Who is the 'One' whom Christ says is the only good person? (MK.10:18). GOOD: absolutely pure; without fault or blemish: describing a sinless person.

4.       Did Jesus plan or set up this meeting with the man? (MK.10:17)

5.       What did the man want to know? (MK.10:17)

6.       How many questions did the young man ask Jesus? (MAT.19:16,18,20)

7.       In Matthew 19:18-19 Jesus mentions six commandments out of the Ten Commandments given (Exodus 20:3-17). These are considered relational — people-to-people commandments.

8.       The full Decalogue (10 Commandments): Exo.20:3-17:

I.        No other gods but God alone

II.      No idols

III.    Honour God’s name

IV.    Honour the Sabbath — day of worship(ful) rest (Colossians 2; Hebrews 4; Romans 14)

V.      Honour parents

VI.    No murder

VII.  No adultery

VIII.  No stealing

IX.    No lying

X.      No coveting — greed/jealousy

NB: The first four commandments deal with the God↔man relationship whereas the final six commandments deal with man↔man relations.

9.       Consider the "if" clauses in this passage — "if you" — Mat.19:17,21

10.   The rich young ruler was loved by God (MK.10:21)

11.   The rich young ruler broke the first commandment: possessions/wealth/riches was his god (Mat.6:24; MK.10:22)

12.   Jesus highlighted the man’s covetousness — 10^th commandment

13.   Jesus was calling for repentance which leads to conversion and fruits (acts of righteousness) meek for the Kingdom of God (MK.10:21-31)

14.   Jesus allowed the man to make his own choice (MK.10:22)

15.   The young man was already standing before the door to the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat.10:38; 19:29; JN.14:6)

16.   The rules cannot be bent to accommodate anyone. God does not break His own rules or make compromises to win souls. We must choose to obey God’s commandments (rules). God’s terms are non-negotiable (no adjustments whatsoever can be made).

17.   Jesus did not pursue the rich young ruler; the young ruler made his choice.

A FINAL NOTE ON BAPTISM:

1.       The resurrected Christ Jesus breathed on His disciples as a type of spiritual baptism (JN.20:19-23)

2.       Apostle Paul exhorted the church at Corinth to accept the unifying power of Christ’s baptism (1Corinthians 1:10-17)

3.       The Spirit, water, blood and Word (divine agents of baptism) testify that Jesus is the Son of God (JN.15:3; JN.17:17; Titus 3:5; Heb.1:2-4; 1 JN.5:5-8)

4.       Baptism is a divine ordinance of a spiritual and coming physical resurrection (Rom.6:1- 13; 1Cor.15:20-58)

5.       Moses sprinkled the congregation of Israel with blood as a sign of their covenant baptism (Exo.24:8)

6.       The baptism of Christ is greater than the baptism of Moses, for Christ was baptized in His own blood, that we might be partakers of His Baptism (Isa.53; 1Cor.10:1-22; Heb.9:13-14; Rev.19:13)

7.       Apostle Peter encouraged believers to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, in keeping with the sanctifying work of the Spirit (1Pet.1:2)

8.       Baptism is confirmed by Christ as an act of righteousness (Mat.3:13-17)

OOW
2013