Lessons

The lesson on February 20, 2022 was part 8 of “The Ends” study.  This week Wayne took time to emphasize that Acts has an “ends of the ages” context and NOT the beginning of an age.  We looked at several scriptures that proved this, especially in 1 Corinthians (1Thes. 5:4 (not in darkness … overtake you as a thief) Acts 17:31 (mellw); 1 Cor. 1:8 … To the end… 1 Cor. 7:29 …Time is short … 1 Cor. 10:11 … ends of the ages are come … 1 Cor. 15:51 … we shall not all sleep …  We were reminded that “mystery” in 1 Cor. 2:7 is not “The mystery” of Eph. 3:9.  This is a common mistake the Bereans or Mid-Acts groups think.  The mystery in 1 Cor. 2:7 is that God made Jesus Christ His hidden wisdom before the foundation of the world.  The remainder of the lesson looks at the word Earthly ἐπίγειος.  The context of its use include those that are negative, those that are neutral and those that provide comparison of Earthly vs. Heavenly truths which is what Christ did when speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:12 KJV.  The scripture reading was from John 3:1-12 KJV

“1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?”