1.14 The Role of Women in the Church (& Other Passages Describing the Attitude of Women)

Most of the teaching in the New Testament applies to men and women, with a few exceptions.
All of the verses on this page are passages that apply to women specifically. Several have corresponding passages that apply to men specifically. In the first section, there are three passages that show commands from God for all women in the church. In the second section, the passages describe wives specifically. I suspect that is why the two sections are separated here.. the top verses would have been things for me to apply and follow at the time, and the bottom would have been for the future. However, I appear to have realized that many of the attitudes that God commands for wives also apply to all women in the church.

• 1 Corinthians 14:34-35
• 34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.
• 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
• 1 Timothy 2:9-12
• 9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
• 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
• 11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
• 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
• Titus 2:3-5
• 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,
• 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
• 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

During worship (context of 1 Corinthians 14), the women are not to speak. This follows a section on preventing confusion in the assemblies - it seems the assembly at Corinth was allowing multiple people to talk, teach, and prophesy at once, often in multiple languages! God is not a God of confusion, and several rules for an orderly assembly were laid out, including these roles - men as worship leaders and women as followers and participants. 1 Timothy also addresses this - men are the leaders of spiritual instruction.

Women are also given special directions by God to focus on the appearance of their heart rather than their outward self. Our outward selves are to clothed properly, modestly, and discreetly, rather than improper or seductive clothing. I'm reminded of the daughters of Zion from Isaiah 3&4 - no amount of outward garments can create true beauty, but God can give true, spiritual beauty to those who follow Him with purified hearts.

• 1 Peter 3:1-6
• 1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,
• 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
• 3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
• 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
• 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;
• 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
• Ephesians 5:22-24
• 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
• 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
• 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
• Proverbs 14:1
• 1 The wise woman builds her house,
• But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

The role of women in the church is a reflection of the role of women in the home. Women submit joyfully to husbands, who are to love, lead, and care for them. This is a reflection of the church's subjection to Christ -the church submits joyfully to Christ, who loves, leads, and cares for it. If women pridefully distort this order, then the picture of submission to Christ is distorted. The church is not oppressed by choosing to be led by Jesus, and neither is a wife oppressed by choosing to be led by her husband. 

I did not (and still do not) have the role of a wife, so my understanding of submission comes from this image of Christ and the church, and from the examples of many Christian families that I know. I have also been taught about a woman's role in a Christian home by many faithful older women, so that my heart may be prepared to follow God's instructions if I do take on that role. Even without the jobs of wife and mother, I still train my heart to submit to God, Jesus, and the men who He has given authority to lead me. I am training myself to build up, rather than tear down. I am adorning my heart and spirit, rather than my outward self. I am seeking to humble my pride and independence into quietness and gentleness, so that others may see Christ living in me.

1.13 Bible Authority

As talks with friends continued, and differences between churches were noted, I clearly found a need to have scriptures to back up the idea that the church should follow only the commands of the Bible. This list grows quite a bit in the next book, with many studies touching on this point, but here I like that it is pared down to three references from John and one from 2 Timothy.

• John 12:49-50
• 49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.
• 50 “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
• 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
• John 8:38
• 38 “I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”
• John 14:10
• 10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

As Christians, we follow Jesus Christ. He is the founder and head of His church. However, He did not establish the church according to His ideas alone - the church is the result of God's great plan. Jesus said nothing on earth that did not come from the Father. Jesus's words are the words of God. God's words are complete and perfect! Jesus did not add to them, and neither should we. Our role is to do the things we have heard from our Father.  The scriptures are His inspired words, and they equip us with everything we need. If we need to teach someone about God, we should use His word. We should use it to correct ourselves and others, and to train children and new Christians to love and obey God. His commands bring eternal life. When we want to know how we should go about serving and worshiping God, how dare we go anywhere else than His word? Even Jesus, who had God abiding in Him, would not go beyond God's great plan.

1.12 No Homosexuality

Just one verse here. Don't worry, this list will be longer in the next notebook. Although it is an unpopular truth, the Bible is not silent or apologetic about the topic of homosexuality.

• 1 Corinthians 6:9[-11]
• 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
• 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
• 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

I added verses 10 and 11 for context. What do we demand of God to know His will? How many times does He have to say something for it to be true? Although this is not the only place the Bible speaks about sexual sin and homosexuality, should it take more than one time for us to know God's will? From this one passage, we see that the effeminate & homosexuals are counted among the unrighteous who will not inherit God's kingdom. Some of the Corinthians practiced these things (and other sins) before they came to Christ. Their sins, including the sin of homosexual practices, were washed away in the name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They were sanctified and justified. They were practitioners of sin, but now they practice holiness - they have left behind these acts of unrighteousness.

God considers homosexuality to be unrighteous. He hates unrighteousness, and cannot be a part of it. If we practice unrighteousness, we separate ourselves from Him. God loves us, even when we practice sin - we know this because of His mercy and sacrifice, which He gave to sinners! He offers a way for us to put this sin away from us so that we can be holy, as He is holy, and be with Him.  We can then walk in His paths and live a life transformed for His glory.

1.11 Bridle the Tongue

Are you wondering why I keep pointing out the spelling errors in this notebook?  It's a dose of humility; I've prided myself on "intelligence" and precise grammar skills, but my ability did not merit that boasting. So even though "tounge" is a tricky word, it's not surprising that I kept my version of the spelling rather than checking the spelling in the very verses listed on the page. While we're on the grammar & style digression, it's also interesting to note that I stopped skipping lines on the middle of this page - not sure why, but it is after the original three verses that started the page.

Back to business.

The middle school context for "taming the tongue" is foul language & gossip. Curse words were no longer whispered at recess, but began to be vogue among the "cool kids" and even my own friends. Cursing showed that you were grown, that you didn't have to do everything you were told, that you knew about mature things and weren't afraid to show it. Gossip was a less obvious, but equally prevalent, vice - social information was a currency that could be traded for trust and social standing. "She's "going out" with him? They said what? I thought they were best friends... "

• James 1:26
• 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
• James 3:4-12
• 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
• 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
• 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell
• 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
• 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
• 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
• 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
• 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
• 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
• Ephesians 4:29
• 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
• Colossians 3:8
• 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
• James 5:12
• 12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
• Titus 3:2
• 2 [Remind them]to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
• 2 Timothy 2:16
• 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
• Ephesians 5:4
• 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
• Matthew 12:37
• 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
• Matthew 15:11
• 11 “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
• Proverbs 14:3
• 3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,
• But the lips of the wise will protect them.

Gossip, lying, dirty jokes, and cursing have no place in the mouth of a follower of God. We should speak in a way that builds others up. We should speak with thanksgiving. We should speak according to the need of the moment. We should speak gently and peaceably, considering others. We should speak honestly, with no deceit. Our words will either justify and protect us, or defile and condemn us. 

Our words come from our heart. If our heart is focused on God and what is right, then our words will follow. A heart that dwells on filth will yield it. When we think highly of ourselves, it will show in our communication, and our communication will reveal how much we consider others. A heart that is always amazed by God will express itself with joy and thanksgiving! 

1.10 Sobriety

Being sober means being awake and alert, on watch, and in control. If you are sober, you are clear-headed. It also means "not drunk." As a middle school student, I heard many lessons on the dangers of alcohol and mind-altering substances. Based on this list, I very well may have thought that every time the word "sober" appears in the Bible, it was in the context of a warning against drunkenness. That context doesn't apply specifically to every one of these passages, but it could be inferred - you can't be awake, alert, or clear-headed if you are drunk!

• 1 Thessalonians 5:8
• 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
• The context here is a contrast to both sleeping and drinking.
• Ephesians 5:18
• 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
• This passage does not use the word "sober," but is about avoiding drunkenness. 
• 1 Peter 5:8
• 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• This is after instructions to older and younger men. This passage does not seem to be referring to alcohol, just to an alert outlook.
• Notice the similarity of the numbers in these first three passages - chapter 5  of each book, verse 8 or 18. That could be a helpful mnemonic.
• Romans 13:13
• 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
• This is explicitly about drinking (& partying), exhorting us to use self-control
• Notice the connection with 1 Thessalonians that drunkenness belongs to the night - we are of the day!
• 1 Corinthians 6:10
• 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
• Although false teachers at Corinth were teaching that sins outside the body would not mar the spirit, Paul clarifies that fleshly acts do not lead to a Christian's inheritance, but rather their disinheritance.
• 1 Peter 1:13
• 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• This is similar to the other verse from 1 Peter, which is encouraging a watchful spirit... here we add the idea of a prepared mind, ready to combat false teaching (1 Peter 3:15)

There are two general groups of context here. In First Peter, the idea is a watchful spirit, alert for the schemes of the devil. The other passages are all more explicitly connected to the meaning of sobriety as not being influenced by strong drink. The two are not unlinked, though - we are much more susceptible to a loss of self control, to the influence of Satan, if we are under the influence of alcohol! One of the main reasons for drinking is to be more comfortable in social situations, because alcohol loosens your inhibitions and allows you to do and say things that you would normally hold back. Allowing ourselves to let down our guard makes us an easy target for temptation. 

From these verses, we can see what God tells us about alcohol and drunkenness: 

1. It is associated with darkness and secrecy
2. It is improper behavior
3. It can cause us to lose our inheritance
4. It causes us to be unprepared to fight Satan
5. It is dissipation - a waste of our life, energy, resources, and opportunities

Satan wants us to think that alcohol:

1. Is associated with social status, popularity, and wealth
2. Is something that adults, celebrities, and politicians find normal & admirable
3. Is not that big of a deal
4. Is something we can "handle" or tolerate 
5. Is worth the time, money, and investment 

I've been blessed to have few first-hand encounters with alcohol. I can remember seeing it in fridges at friends' houses in middle school, though, so the opportunity was there. This teaching served me well. I remember hearing friends discuss it a little bit in high school, and explaining many times why I felt strongly about not drinking. As I sat in the lobbies of my college dorms, walked around campus during game day, and rode the night shuttle, I was exposed to much more of the effects of alcohol and carousing. I explained even more and more often why I did not want to drink. The sobriety mindset became a minority, and people thought my choice was bizarre. (1 Peter 4:4!)

 Now, as a young professional, I have actually been tempted to try a drink - the idealized glass of wine to relax after a long day. However, I know what God would want me to do, because He has made it clear - He wants me to be alert and sober-minded. He wants us to avoid the physical and spiritual consequences of not only being "wasted," but also being dulled in mind and weakened against Satan. If we think that we can allow ourselves to slip a little, we are underestimating Satan, and ignoring God's warning. Even though I am old enough to legally drink, I am not to use my earthly freedoms as a covering for sin. (1 Peter 2:16) I am not to cast my anxieties into a wineglass, but up in prayer to God, who alone can carry that burden. (1 Peter 5:7)  Rather than wander away into worldly wisdom and sins of the flesh, I am to draw near to the Good Shepherd, who alone can give me the care and comfort that I seek. (1 Peter 2:25) If I want to be near God, to be like Him, I must be holy, for He is Holy. (1 Peter 1:14-16)

1.9 Old Testament Obsolete

If you want to discuss instrumental music with your middle school friends, your case will seem much more convincing if you first learn to spell "obselete" correctly. Or so they tell me. There's not much on this page, but I remember starting it to try to explain to a friend why instruments were appropriate in Psalms but not in New Testament worship.

• Hebrews 8: 7, 13
• 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.
• 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
• Galatians 3:24-25
• 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
• 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

A useful illustration to understand the passage in Hebrews is that of going car shopping. If you have a car that you use, that is your car. Once you begin discussing buying a new car, though, that first car begins to become the "old car". In Jeremiah, the new covenant is prophesied. As soon as a new covenant is mentioned, the first one becomes the "old covenant". The new covenant that was coming would be better - God's laws would be written on the hearts and minds of His people, rather than tablets of stone. God's people would know Him directly, and would come to His covenant of their own accord, rather than being born into it. The best part of the new covenant is that sins would no longer be remembered... true forgiveness would be possible. 

The old covenant teaches us about God. It teaches us about His power, His love, His mercy, His justice, His holiness, and His plan. His plan in the old covenant is a shadow - the new covenant reveals it fully. Now that faith (Christ) has come, we are no longer under the old covenant.

This means that we no longer offer sacrifices for our sins - Christ has been sacrificed for us. We no longer follow the purification rituals of the old covenant - we live a life that is purified by Christ's sacrifice and that is transformed as He fills our lives. We do not follow the justice rules of the old covenant - we imitate Christ as we seek peace with our brethren and the world, and leave justice to the Judgement.  

This also means that our worship practices have changed. We no longer go to the temple to pray - God lives in us, and Christ is the mediator. We are priests under the Great High Priest. We follow the examples and commands for worship in the New Testament. God did not have to go back and strike every command of the old law one by one - "thou shalt no longer burn incense, thou shalt no longer blow the trumpet at the feast of the new moon" - The whole old covenant was nailed to the cross and a new one begun. So how do we know how to worship God? We look at what was revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles. There are commands for worship of God to include assembly, breaking bread, singing, praying, and teaching, and examples for these as well. 

It's amazing how Christ changed everything. The old covenant has many shadows of the new that we understand only in retrospect. We are blessed with knowledge of God's revealed will. It's also amazing to think that this life is also a shadow- Heaven will be an even fuller revelation. God's plan, and God Himself, are truly worthy of praise!!

1.8 Sexual Immorality

I just realized how odd it is that I'm skipping lines on these pages. Perhaps I meant to come back and write in details about each verse? It seems that I actually filled this list past the bottom and added the first Peter reference last, in a line I typically skipped over. It makes sense that this is a full page... I started in the teenage group Bible class just before turning 13 when my friend who was a year older stopped attending with us. We had been a two-person "middle school" class, and the upcoming middle school class was large, so I was slipped up into the big class full of high school students. Of course, where high school students are gathered, lessons about sexual purity will be taught (for good reason!!) I was blessed to hear lessons on God's plan for purity at the same time (and even before) I learned about and discovered the desires He has given us.

• 1 Corinthians 10:8
• 8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
• Hebrews 13:4
• 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge
• Galatians 4:19 **Galatians 5:19**
• 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
• Ephesians 5:3-5
• 3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
• 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
• 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
• 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
• 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
• 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
• 12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.
• 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body.
• 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
• 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
• 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “The two shall become one flesh.”
• 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
• 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
• 19 Or ado you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
• 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
• Colossians 3:5
• 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
• Ephesians 2:3
• 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
• 2 Timothy 3:3-4, 6
• [For men will be:]
• 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
• 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
• 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22
• 22 abstain from every form of evil.
• Romans 13:9
• 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• 2 Timothy 2:22
• 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
• 1 Peter 1:13-14
• 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

There are several clear messages here. Sexual immorality has no place among Christians, even if it was part of life before knowing Christ. God has always despised sexual immorality, and still does. His plan is for sex to be a pure act within the boundary of marriage. Sexual immorality includes not only adultery - sex with someone other than your spouse - but also impurity, evil desire, passion, coarse jesting, and sensuality. It's not about the act, but the attitude - putting the desires of your flesh above your desire for God and respect for His will. In 1 Corinthians, the Christians at Corinth were making excuses for sexual immorality, saying that it was a physical need, and that sating it did not affect their souls. However, God says that our bodies were not created for sexual immorality, but for Him. We are to join our spirits to God, and Him alone. 

God has given us physical desires, but we are to master and control them, rather than letting them control us. We do this by seeking God! We flee lust and pursue righteousness. We prepare our minds for action! Christ lives in us - we are His vessels. We have to keep our vessel in sanctification and honor. We should give our hearts to love and desire for Him, and leave no place for a love of pleasure or evil desires. God says that we should abstain from every form (appearance) of evil, and that sexual immorality should not even be named among His people. We should live lives that are beyond reproach, so that others will glorify God when they see our lives, not question or mock Him. We have been bought with a price - Christ's sacrifice - therefore we should use our bodies and our lives to glorify Him.

1.7 Transgression

What is transgression? It means to go beyond. To pass over the limits God has set for us. Transgression is sin. It was around this time, as a middle school student, that I first heard this clear definition of the word "transgression," and the idea stuck with me. I was learning that God's laws protect and shelter us, and I was learning and seeing that I had a choice to stay in them or go beyond. No one could make me do what was right, and no one could force me to do what was wrong, either. I witnessed several of my friends going beyond God's limits and dealing with the consequences. At this time, I also began considering what to do when others did transgress against God, and what to say to them (and myself) about the importance of staying, not straying.

• 2 John 9
• 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son
• Hebrews 10:26-27
• 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
• 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.
• Galatians 6:1-2
• 1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
• 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

In the NKJV, the 2 John passage uses the word "transgresseth." The NASB gives the literal meaning - going too far. When we are tempted by our desires (James 1:14-15), we have two options. We can flee and escape, staying in God's paths, (1 Corinthians 10:13-14) or we can wander - away from God, and soon past the boundaries of His law. God's laws are a wall around us - going past them often brings devastating physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. When we transgress those boundaries, we become trespassers - God's people walking in the world, where we should not be. If we love God and are focused on Him, if He lives in us and we are dedicated to choosing Him, we will stay within the boundaries He sets for us. We will be transformed to be like Him, not be drawn away to the world.

If we learn of Jesus's sacrifice and continue to transgress, there is nowhere we can turn other than to Jesus to cleanse us of our sins. The old testament does not hold the answer. Other religions do not hold the answer. A life of good deeds does not hold the answer. Jesus is the only sacrifice for our sins. If we don't turn to Him, we can expect nothing except judgement, because we become an ungrateful, rebellious enemy of God. God has given us everything we need. He has given us mercy beyond comprehension. He has given us the greatest Gift ever known. If we choose the world, rather than God's ways, we have snubbed His mercy and gift. No wonder the language of Hebrews 10 is so strong!

Finally, we must be on guard against sin even after we have turned to Christ. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to help restore those who do stumble into sin, bringing them back to God's way. We are told to go to them with a gentle spirit, not approaching them with pride or disdain. But as we do so, we have to watch that we are influencing them towards Christ, and not allowing them to pull us away. We want to stay in God's paths! By walking in them, we train our hearts to know and love him, and we learn to live a righteous life. If we leave His paths to chase anything else, we have gone too far, and need to return to Him.

1.6 Doers, Not Hearers Only

As I began to study and listen carefully, I noticed a theme, and so I made a list for that theme. We cannot simply hear God's word - we must obey and allow ourselves to be transformed by it.

• James 1:22
• 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
• Romans 2:13
• 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
• 2 John 6
•   6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

I want to go ahead and include the context for the first verse - James 1:22-27

 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.

27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

I have linked verse 27 to a blog post I recently read that discusses this same theme. Bible study is not simply to fill our heads with knowledge or to check off a list that we have heard God's word, but is for us to act upon. If the Bible isn't changing us, we need to change how we study.

Think about the illustration given here in James. If I look in a mirror and see that I have hairs out of place or dirt on my face, then the mirror has shown me something about myself that I need to change. If I walk away without fixing those things and think that I still look fine, I'm deluding myself. If I read the Bible and see what Jesus's life is like, and see that my life is not yet like His, then God's word has shown me something about myself that I need to change. If I walk away from His word without changing my heart and my life, then I am forgetful - I am deceiving myself into feeling righteous when I am not.

When we look at God's word, we have to then decide to abide by it. We have to decide to change our lives to look more like Jesus's, and to change ourselves to look more like God - to live holy, righteous, pure, and godly lives. Those words are all defined by God. God's word perfects us when we are transformed into His image.

1.5 Baptism

Another frequent topic of conversation, and thus Bible research, was that of baptism. Many of my friends did not think that baptism was essential to salvation, but that baptism followed salvation. It is a common teaching in many denominations, so revisiting this list is needful and beneficial.

• Acts 2:38
• 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Matthew 28:19
• 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
• Mark 16:15-16
• 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
• 16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
• Galatians 3:27-28
• 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

There is so much more to be said on this topic, but this is a good beginning. Baptism follows repentance, and it follows belief. We are to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, and are baptized for forgiveness of sins. When the apostles made disciples of the nations, they preached to them, and the believers were baptized. In baptism, we put on Christ and become one in Him.

We will come back to this topic soon with the next notebook, but for now I would like to add just a couple of notes to this list.

First, when we think about salvation, it is important to note that salvation is the gift of God, through Christ. Christ's sacrifice paid the price for our salvation. His resurrection is God's power. The gospel is the news that Christ is God, became man, sacrificed His perfect life for our sins, and was raised by the power of God on the third day. Because of His sacrifice, we can access that salvation. Jesus told his apostles to spread this gospel after His resurrection, and it is recorded in all four gospels. By putting together those accounts, we know how to access the greatest gift man has ever known: forgiveness of sins.

The Great Commission
Reference	Matthew 28:18-20	Mark 16:15-16	Luke 24: 46-47
Preach	vs 19: Teach all nations vs 20: teaching them to observe all things	vs 15: preach the gospel to every creature	vs 47: should be preached in [Jesus's] name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem
Believe		vs 16: he that believeth vs 16: no belief- condemnation
Repent			vs 46: repentance
Baptize	vs 19: Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost	vs 16: and is baptized
Obey	vs 20: observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you
Salvation		vs 16: shall be saved	vs 47: remission of sins

We can see the fulfillment of these commands in Acts. The same year as I created this notebook, I was given a chart of the conversions of Acts:

Here we can see that the apostles and early church followed Jesus's commands as they taught the gospel. The gospel is a message of salvation, and we access that salvation through belief, repentance, confession, and baptism. Gospel means "good news," and the news of forgiveness of sins is the best news man could ever hope to hear. 

1.4 Lord's Supper

One of the most common spiritual/religious discussions I would have with kids at school was about the Lord's supper. Many of my classmates came from Baptist or Methodist backgrounds, and we would end up discussing how often the Lord's Supper was to be observed. I added the first two passages to begin the list, a simple defense that the Lord's Supper is an act of remembrance and worship that takes place on the first day of the week, which occurs every week. First Corinthians may be included here because we would often segue into or out of this discussion from the topic of fellowship halls. It also, though, implies that they should be assembling for the purpose of eating the Lord's supper. The other three passages show the institution of the Lord's supper by Jesus with His apostles - He commanded them to "do this in remembrance of me." In Acts 2:46, we see that the early church was "continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

• 1 Corinthians 11:20-29
• 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper,
• 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
• 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

• 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
• 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
• 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
• 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
• 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
• 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
• 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
• Acts 20:7
• 7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
• Luke 22:17-20
• 17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
• 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
• 19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
• 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
• Matthew 26:26-29
• 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
• 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;
• 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
• 29 “But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
• Mark 14:22-25
• 22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.”
• 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
• 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
• 25 “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

The Lord's Day, or the first day of the week, is mentioned several times in the New Testament. Jesus rose from the grave on the first day of the week (Luke 24:1). In Acts 20, we see that the church had assembled to break bread on the first day of the week. Paul commanded the churches in Corinth and Galatia to set aside money for the collection on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). In Revelation, John saw a vision of Jesus on the first day of the week (Rev. 1:10-17).

The Lord's Supper is something done collectively, as a group - we must assemble to partake. It helps us remember Christ's death and resurrection. It was the reason for the early church's assemblies- they gathered to break bread. We know this is not a common meal, because Paul makes a distinction between coming together for the Lord's supper and "eating your own supper". Paul's commandment to the Corinthians (and the Galatians) to set aside money for the collection on each Lord's Day shows that the assembly was a regular occurrence, instead of an infrequent one. If we are to follow the pattern of the New Testament, then we will also have regular gatherings on the first day of the week, where we observe the Lord's Supper and set aside money to be used for the Lord's work.

In thinking about this, we also need to examine our hearts. Jesus's death is the greatest gift man has ever received. His resurrection shows God's ultimate power. Through Christ's sacrifice, we have access to God's grace and forgiveness. If we have an example of remembering that sacrifice regularly, why not regularly glorify God for His wonderful gift? If we have hearts that get bored of the gospel, then we need to check our hearts. If we are taking the Lord's supper without thinking about the gospel, then we need to check our hearts. The gospel is good news - it is amazing news - it is humbling and challenging and wonderful. When we properly observe the Lord's supper, we proclaim that news, and God is glorified.

1.3 Be Apart from the World

Being apart from the world is a topic that is taught often to groups of preteens and teenagers, and so I heard many discussions on it as I was working on this notebook at age 13. There are several changes in pens here, showing that I came back to this list again and again as I listened to the lessons being taught. I may have considered it overtaught or cliche at times, but learning about being separate from the world was valuable and necessary. In a public middle school, there was a dramatically widening gap between me and my worldly friends as we discussed cursing, music, dancing, boys, and the Bible. I was learning that it takes effort to stand out from what the world approves, and that I would have to explain my choices to do so. It wouldn't just be one decision, but small, daily things. In some areas I was consistent in my actions and discussions, in some areas it took practice to understand and act on seeking spiritual things rather than fleshly things. These general verses simply outline that there is a difference between God and the world, and exhort us to choose Him.

• 1 John 2:15-17
• 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
• 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
• James 4:4
• 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
• Romans 12:2
• 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect
• Colossians 3:2,5
• 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
• 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
• Titus 2:12
• [encourage the young women ...] 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
• 2 Corinthians 6:17
• 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean, And I will welcome you."
• 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
• 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
• 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
• 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
• Romans 8:5-8
• 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
• 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
• 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
• 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
• Colossians 3:1-2
• 1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
• 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
• 1 Peter 1:14
• 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
• 1 John 4:4-6
• 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
• 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
• 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
• 1 John 5:4-5
• 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
• 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The world is associated with the ideas of fleshly and carnal things - sinful things. God gives us desires and needs, but also gives us boundaries for those desires. Satan tempts us to go beyond God's boundaries. He tempts us to put the thoughts and desires of our physical bodies and daily lives above seeking God. If we do this, if we live in the flesh, we cannot please God. The people of the world live thinking about their fleshly bodies... they do what makes them happy, what feels good, what they want to do. If we do this, we are living without God! We cannot be one with Him if our hearts are set on this earthly life and meeting our earthly desires.

When we change our hearts to seek God and to seek spiritual things, we are transformed. We leave behind our former life and subject ourselves to the laws of God. We bury our old man of sin and are raised up to walk a new life. As we walk, we focus our hearts and minds on "things above" - on love, peace, truth, Jesus, heaven, and most of all on God. As we change ourselves to be more like Christ, to be more like God, our lives change so that we bring Them glory. This change and this separation from the mainstream school of thought stands out. That can bring persecution and stigma - which is why this is so often taught to those young Christians dealing with the contexts of school and peer pressure. Through faith and focus, even those times be times of transformation rather than conformation, and times of growth that glorify God.

1.2 Anger and Love

With eleven references, the second page in this notebook is nearly twice as long as the first page was. There are some charming spelling errors, including "Pether" and "Philipians". The first seven verses appear to be written with the same pen (so perhaps added at the same time). The last four were added later.

• Matthew 5:38-40, 44
• 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 
• 39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
• 40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
• 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

• Romans 12:14, 17-21
• 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
•  17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
  18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
  19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
  20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Romans 13:8, 13
• 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
• 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.
• Luke 6:27-29, 32, 35
• 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
  28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
  29 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
• 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
•  35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
• 2 Peter 1:5-8
• 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
  6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
  7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
  8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Colossians 3:8, 13-14
• 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
• 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
  14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
• Philippians 2:4
•  4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Galatians 5:20, 22
• [Now the deeds of the flesh are...] 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
• 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• 2 John 5
•  5 Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3
• 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
• 1 John 4:7-8, 11
• 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
  8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
• 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
• 1 John 4:20-21
•  20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
  21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also

One of the first things I'm noticing as I expand this list is that I often unnecessarily cut out context. It may be because I didn't understand the verses I skipped over, such as the verses about going the second mile in Matthew 5, and some of the verses from 1 John 4.  More likely, I was really trying to "narrow down" and focus on words and synonyms of anger and love. 

Secondly, I'm noticing three different contexts for love instead of anger

• To enemies - Matthew, Romans 12, Luke
• Between brethren - 2 Peter, Colossians, 2 John, 1 Corinthians, & 1 John
• As a part of our transformed self - Romans 13, 2 Peter, Colossians

Philippians 2 does not fit neatly into any of these categories. I think it may have been added because I took Matthew 5 literally, not understanding the context. It was years later when I was taught about the "rights" of the Roman soldiers to demand housing, clothing, and foot service from the Jews in their region. 

Moving from that thought into the first context, I now appreciate even more Jesus's command here in the sermon on the mount. He was commanding them to show love for the people who abused and oppressed them, by bearing the abuse and showing generosity in the face of insistence. This love reflects the love of God, who sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). We are to do good to all men, including those outside of the faith. (Galatians 6:10). Romans 12 tells us to seek peace with all men, and to leave vengeance to God. He is the One with the knowledge and wisdom to serve the penalty for sins and wrongs, and has decided to save that penalty for judgment day. When someone speaks angrily to me, abuses me, spreads rumors about me, or persecutes me in any way, I am to show love, opening a door by reflecting God's glory and grace.

God says so much about loving our brethren in the Bible. 1 John 4 shows us that our love for our brethren reflects and glorifies God. The church at Corinth received rebuke because the church was divided and full of pride and jealousy, rather than brotherly love. In 2 Peter, brotherly love is listed among the qualities of a fruitful Christian. We must have diligence to show love to our brethren, and our love is based on our faith in God - it is through Him that we see each other as equal and precious. Love for our brethren requires virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness. If we lack brotherly love, and show jealousy or hatred, we have forgotten God's forgiveness! As Colossians 3 shows, just as God has forgiven us, we should forgive our brethren. (This always reminds me of the parable in Luke 16). God bears with us when we struggle, and we are to bear with our brethren. He always believes in our ability to seek Him, grow in Him, and grow in godliness.. we should have the same optimism towards our brethren.

If the Christian life is about being transformed into a reflection of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18), then we must be loving, just as He was and just as God is. We can experience righteous anger when we see God being blasphemed, but must handle that anger rightly, and seek peace. From 2 Peter, we are not only to put on love & the other qualities, but they must also be increasing within us. Every day, we need to look at God and at Jesus to see what love looks like, and then change our lives so that their light shines within us.