Daily Archives: May 16, 2023

Five Judges

Posted on May 16, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

As we studied last week, Jephthah was the son of a prostitute, and a man who would not be defeated. Jephthah, though thrown out of his home by jealous brothers, would follow faith in God and become a “mighty man of valor”. Jephthah would be approached by the elders of Gilead – the same ones who cast him out of his family home – and by faith become the eighth legitimate Judge of Israel.

Jephthah would lead the armies of Israel to fight against and defeat the Ammonites. Jephthah would allow faithlessness and doubt to cause him to approach God with a foolish vow. This is what unbelievers do with God. “God, if you’ll give me this, or do that, I’ll do this or that”.

God does not expect us to bargain with Him, but to walk with Him. We are to fear our God, not the world!

Jephthah promised to offer up a “burnt sacrifice” of the first thing that greeted him if God gave him success in defeating the Ammonites. God never responded to the vow – but Jephthah decided he would keep his word. When he returned from battle, his only daughter greeted him. Following a two month sabbatical Jephthah offered up his only daughter to God as a spiritual burnt offering. She died childless, and Jephthah would die, closing out his line. Such are the rewards of stepping outside of God’s will. The Bible says:… Continue reading →

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The Elect Lady And Her Children

Posted on May 16, 2023 by bibleteacherorg

2 John 1:1-3 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; 2 For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever. 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Who Are The Elect Lady And Her Children?

Who is “The Elect Lady” John is addressing? Some suggest that it is a woman that the Apostle John knew. I don’t think so. The Holman Concise Bible Commentary (pg 652) notes

“[eklektos kyria] is more likely a reference to some local church over which the elder had authority”.

This makes sense from several viewpoints. First, the Bible refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ:

Ephesians 5:25-30 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Word Study: The Church is the “Elect Lady”. The word “Elect” is the Greek (eklektos), which means “Chosen”. Jesus chose the Church. Jesus method in transforming the world – in saving the world – is the Church, the Elect Lady. God does not directly save anyone, but moves through the means of His… Continue reading →

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