A Change in Study Material

We're six chapters into Studies in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, and after this week, we will continue in our study in Christ's Person and Work, but we will be using different materials.

I find that I can no longer unreservedly recommend this book to you.  While I still find it theologically sound, the tone is polemic and harsh. 

Mr. Best wrote this book in the mid-70's, during a period of time in which the ideology of the 60's was coming home to roost within the church.  Jesus Christ Superstar was all the rage and the Person and Work of Christ was under attack in churches across America.  Mr. Best was fighting against the challenges of the time which may explain the aggressive tone.  I offer that as an explanation, not an excuse.

We will continue the study, using The Person of Christ, by David F. Wells and The Person and Work of Christ, by B.B. Warfield, and we may dip into Christ the Lord, by Michael Horton, along with selected articles from Monergism.com. 

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Six

The Virgin Birth Chapter Six

The incarnation (through the virgin birth) was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”  The Proto Evangel

The incarnation was a sign (Is 7:14) 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. (God with us)

Pg 38:  The virgin birth is so basic to the incarnation that it leaves no room for compromise.  True unity is not something that men can make or promote, but Christians are exhorted to keep.

The only basis for unity is the life of God which comes to the true believer through the incarnation:  9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-10)

Pg 39  re: Perfect Human nature
“His deity required the virgin birth because there is a difference between His humanity and ours.  The Incorruptible could not unite with the corruptible; the Holy Spirit could not unite with the unholy.”

Pg 39  Our Savior’s sinlessness required the virgin birth.  As God protected Christ’s human nature from the pollution of Joseph, He also protected it from the pollution of Mary by the Spirit in the miraculous conception.

This happened “in the fullness of time” and fulfilled all the OT types and prophesies that predicted a visitation of God to this world (ordained from the foundation of the world)

This happened “according to the scriptures”  The OT Messianic prophesies were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus.  

[Sproul:  history was as pregnant as Mary—as ready to be delivered]

Luke’s account:  Gabriel’s announcement is a summary of why and how it happened:

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”[c]
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
 
This is the same language as in Genesis 1:2 And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Both were creative acts; the same power that brought forth life in creation is the same power that brought forth life in Mary’s womb.

[Berkhof:  The most important element in connection with the birth of Jesus was the supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit; for it was only through this that the virgin birth became possible.

The work of the HS in the conception of Jesus was two fold:

1) He was the efficient cause of what was conceived in the womb of Mary, and thus excluded the activity of man as an efficient factor. This was entirely in harmony with the fact that the person who was born was not a human person, but the person of the Son of God, who as such was not included in the covenant of works and was in Himself free from sin
2) The Holy Spirit sanctified (set apart) the human nature of Christ and kept it free from the pollution of sin. The sanctifying work of the Spirit was not limited to the conception of Jesus, but continued throughout His life (Jn 3:34; Heb 9:14)

Doctrinal purpose
 
    Christ had to be constituted the Messiah and the Messianic Son of God.  Consequently, it was necessary that He should be born of a woman, but also that He should not be the fruit of the will of man, but should be born of God.  What is born of flesh is flesh.

If Christ had been generated by man, He would have been a human person, included in the covenant of works, and as such would have shared the common guilt of mankind.  But now that His subject, His ego, His person is not out of Adam, He is not in the covenant of works and is free from the guilt of sin.  And being free of sin, His human nature could also be kept free, both before and after His birth, from the pollution of sin.]


It is a true miracle.  The only way you can rule out miracles is to rule out God, but once you allow for the existence of a self-existent eternal Being, nothing is impossible for Him—no natural law is beyond His sovereign will.

Pg 39 re: no mention of the virgin birth by Mark and John, no explicit mention of the virgin birth by Paul or the apostles.

Read bottom of pg 39- top of page 40  go over the verses that support their knowing. . .

“We do not trace the truths of the resurrection/sinlessness and deity of Christ from the virgin birth, but to it.”

Immaculate Conception (Mary’s conception, not Jesus’)
We do not call it simply a supernatural conception because it is not the only supernatural conception (Isaac)
We do not call it a miraculous birth because His growth and development in Mary’s womb and His birth was normal.
We do not say “God became flesh, because it was only the Second Person of the Trinity, the Eternal Son, who took on flesh,” not the triune God.  We say, the Word became flesh.

[Berkhof:  Each of the divine persons was active in the incarnation ( Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:35; John 1:14; Acts 2:30; Romans 8:3; Gal. 4:4; Phil 2:7.

It was not merely something that happened to the Logos, but was an active accomplishment on His part.  In speaking of the incarnation in distinction from the birth of the Logos, His active participation is stressed; His pre-existence is assumed.  It is not possible to speak of the incarnation of one who had no previous existence.  The pre-existent Son of God assumed human nature and took to Himself human flesh and blood.]

To conceive is more than to receive—Mary gave and took something in the conception.  She gave of her substance for the making of the body, but the Holy Spirit was the power by which the body was made.

[Berkhof:  Mary was not merely a conduit or channel through which Jesus passed; the human nature of Christ was derived from flesh and blood, like us; if not, there exists not relation between us and Him as is necessary to render His mediation effectual for us.]

[Geerhardus Vos:  “neither sinful nor holy human parents could produce an offspring who is God.  It is beyond their humanity.  And neither could a virgin human mother do this.]

[John Calvin:  “We make Christ free of all stain not just because He was begotten of His mother without copulation with man, but because He was sanctified by the Spirit that the generation might be pure and undefiled as would have been true before Adam’s fall.”]

[Reymond:  The Bible is quite adamant that Jesus’ full and true humanity was in no way threatened or impaired by the miracle of His virginal conception, but just to the contrary, by being conceived by a human mother He ‘shared’ our humanity (Heb 2:14) and was ‘like’ us in every way (Heb 2:17).  The objection of some that the virginal conception precludes the possibility of our Lord being truly and fully man is hypothetical and unsupportable.]

Discuss the consequences to Mary and Joseph (Pg 41-top of pg 42)

Discuss the consequences of His incarnation as Son of God
    He died because of it.

Read and discuss last paragraph pg 42

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Five

The Incarnation Chapter Five

Pg 33  What religions believe, rather that God descending to become man but man ascending to become God?

The incarnation is the foundation truth upon which Christianity rests

[Berkhof:  The incarnation was necessitated by the fall of man. (Luke 19:10; John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; 1 John 3:8)  In the last analysis, the incarnation (as well as the entire work of redemption) was contingent upon not just sin, but on the good pleasure of God.]

    --Jesus is God manifest in the flesh
    --His Person was not deprived of absolute perfection
    --nor did He surrender His Oneness with the Father

[Berkhof:  When the Word became flesh, He did not cease to be what he was before; His essential nature was not altered rather He acquired an additional form, without in any way changing His original nature.  He remained the infinite, unchangeable Son of God.  He did not take on a human person, but rather a human body and soul.]

Read and Discuss 2nd paragraph
    Flesh (Jn 1:14; 1 Tim 3:16) signifies nature

Bottom pg 33 to top of pg 34
    Re: the Holy Spirits role in the incarnation

Role of the Trinity in the incarnation

Read and Discuss bottom paragraph, pg. 24 re: three great dispensations

--the dispensation of the Father began with creation and continued to the beginning of Christ’s public ministry

--the dispensation of the Son was the important period in which redemption was worked out objectively (Christ’s public ministry through Pentecost)

--the dispensation of the Spirit began with His descent on the day of Pentecost and continues to the end of the age
“It is the work of the Holy Spirit to subjectively apply the redemption which was objectively purchased by Jesus on the cross and electively purposed by the Father”
    
Pg 35 Jesus Christ did not cease to be God in the incarnation

Christ did not identify Himself with the fallen race, but with man viewed in Divine grace (by election)

He was like them in nature as viewed in Divine Grace, yet uncontaminated by the fall

Bottom pg 35 “no eyewitness to the conception”
    Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary
    Genesis 1 the Spirit “brooded over the waters”
    Both were creative acts/ both were hidden

Pg 36  “The Lord Jesus hid the glory of His eternal nativity under the veil of an earthly nativity.”

3 fold glories of Christ
    
    Personal (essence)
    Official (in His offices of Prophet, Priest, and King)
    Moral    (His obedient life) –imputed to us

Since He was free from sin, He was the efficient sacrifice for sin”

Pg 36  Union of 2 Natures in One Person
     Jesus was the God-man, not the Man-god
Discuss the form of God/ form of a servant

*a change of form—not of content.  He did not surrender His Divine nature, but took on a human nature.  Thus, we have an unfallen human nature united to the Divine nature in one indivisible  Person (hypostatic union)

Bottom Pg 37:  “His human nature did not act independently of the Divine, nor the Divine of the human; consequently, all His acts were the actions of on indivisible Person acting in the fullness of both natures.

x20 books

I made a fairly good start with my resolution to read each book of the Bible 20 times, but with all the other reading and studying I do (of the Bible and other resources) to prepare for a women's study that I lead, and my Sunday School class that I teach, along with the preparation I do for the Bible Study small group that I attend with my husband, I found it very hard to read a single book 20 times in the midst of all that.

Even so, I still thought that I would benefit greatly from the 20x method, so where there's a will, there's a way.

This morning I finished James, 1 and 2 Peter, First, Second and Third John, and Jude--all 20 times.  How did I do it?  By listening to the scriptures on tape in the kitchen.  All those books are on one single tape and over a period of about a week, I was able to listen to the scriptures being read aloud to me as I prepared meals and cleaned up the kitchen and loaded and unloaded the dishwasher and put away groceries. . .you get the idea.

In this way, I am both renewing my mind and redeeming the time.  

 I have the entire New Testament on tape, so I'll work through them all until I have listened to all the NT books 20x.  Then I'll have to invest in a set of OT tapes.

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Four

The Manifestation of Godliness Chapter Four

I Timothy 3:16  16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

      God was manifested in the flesh,
      Justified in the Spirit,
      Seen by angels,
      Preached among the Gentiles,
      Believed on in the world,
      Received up in glory.

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:  The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by his own Son taking the nature of man.
Though reproached as a sinner, and put to death as a malefactor, Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false charges with which he was loaded. Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels. The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected. Let us remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.

Only One in Trinity is manifested.  Why?
God’s character and perfections are revealed (apart from Christ’s incarnation) in the world, the church, providence, and the written Word.
Godliness was revealed in Christ (manifestation of God Himself)
Discuss hypostatic union pg. 28 paragraphs 2 and 3
Re: the image of God
1st Adam was created in the image (reflection/representation) of God (Let Us make man in Our image)
2nd Adam was not created, but manifested the image of God by possession.
1st Adam broken image, 2nd Adam restores image
Pg. 29
Jesus has power over all flesh “Every obstacle must be removed from the sinner for the entrance of the light of God’s glory to the heart (regeneration)

Heidleberg Question 1:  What is your only comfort in life and in death?
 Answer 1:  That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death,[1] am not my own,[2] but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ,[3] who with His precious blood [4] has fully satisfied for all my sins,[5] and redeemed me from all the power of the devil;[6] and so preserves me [7] that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head;[8] indeed, that all things must work together for my salvation.[9] Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life,[10] and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live unto Him.[11]
1.  Rom. 14:7-8
2.  I Cor. 6:19
3.  I Cor. 3:23
4.  I Peter 1:18-19
5.  I John 1:7; 2:2
6.  I John 3:8
7.  John 6:39
8.  Matt. 10:29-30; Luke 21:18
9.  Rom. 8:28
10. II Cor. 1:21-22; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:16
11. Rom. 8:1

•   God absolutely considered cannot be seen

WSC Q4:  What is God?
A4:  God is a Spirit,[1] infinite,[2] eternal,[3] and unchangeable,[4] in his being,[5] wisdom,[6] power,[7] holiness,[8] justice, goodness, and truth.[9]
1.  John 4:24
2.  Job 11:7
3.  Psa. 90:2
4.  James 1:17
5.  Exod. 3:14
6.  Psa. 147:5
7.  Rev. 4:8
8.  Rev. 15:4
9.  Exod. 34:6

In Christ, He has been made manifest through the incarnation.
·    God, absolutely considered cannot be approached (dwells in unapproachable light)
The light of Christ illumines (1 John 1)
Pg 30
·    God absolutely considered is a consuming fire.  Isaiah 6
Read first full paragraph then focus our conversation on bottom of pg 30 re: likeness of
He came truly in the flesh, but only in the likeness of sinful flesh.  This excludes sin entirely-He was truly human in everyway.  Adam and Eve were not created in sin.

WSC Q10: How did God create man?
 A10: God created man male and female, after his own image,[1] in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness,[2] with dominion over the creatures.[3]
1.  Gen. 1:27
2.  Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24
3.  Gen. 1:28

The purpose of His “suffering through temptation/trial?”

Hebrews 5:8   8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  For whom what He learning obedience?
Hebrews 4:15  15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Why is it important that he would be obedient in all points as we are?
Hebrews 2:18
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 10:7-10
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
      In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
      To do Your will, O God.’”

 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them ” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
He obeyed the Law perfectly.  He learned obedience and overcame the disobedience of Adam.
Romans 5:19 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Review imputation.
Pg. 31  1st paragraph re: Divine Order
2nd and 3rd paragraph  Read aloud and discuss

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Three

The Mystery of Godliness Chapter Three

“The manifestation of God is both a mystery and a revelation” Those two thing seem to be contradictory, don’t they?  But Timothy 3:16 tells us that both are true:  Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness:  God was made manifest in the flesh . . .”

What is the definition of godliness?

There is a general revelation in creation, but that proves only ungodliness, the inward disposition of the soul is away from God.

 Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse

Pg.22 “The natural man has no faculty by which he can comprehend or evaluate the things of the Spirit”  (1 Cor 2:14  4 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.)  Only in regeneration by the Spirit, can a person’s inward disposition be turned toward God.

Def:  Regeneration is the communication of the principle of life to man by the operation of the Spirit.

Bottom of pg. 22 re: Fall

Eve tried to get her wisdom through the creation rather than the Creator; Adam (our Federal Head) followed suite.

Pg 23, first full paragraph, re: mental assent.  

Godliness comes through regeneration and causes a change in the “recipient” (born again) is now able to discern spiritual truth.  There will be progressive change (not at the same rate or same areas in all Christians, but there will be a change because of the inward disposition of the soul is changed.  It continues through illumination of the Holy Spirit 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Pg.23 last paragraph:  Read and discuss sanctification—there will be a growth in grace and truth; no grow whatsoever, then mental assent only.

Pg 24 “Mystery of godliness is great because of the Persons involved in it”  Brings man and God together
    In One Person
    Also in our union with Christ John 17:11-12 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept
Pg.24:  to be and to be manifested are two different things.
    God has always been but He has not always been manifested.
Pg 24 bottom paragraph:  mystery is still a mystery.

We have to leave it there.  Deut 29:29  The secret things belong to God.  (decrees of God)

Pg 25:  Godliness is a mystery even to the elect. (clearer sight when we see the face of God)
2nd full paragraph re: paradoxical statements (a figure of speech, a form of statement that seems to unite two opposite ideas  Packer ESG)

Last paragraph pg. 25:  Christ was abased, we must work out our salvation with humility.

Pg: 26 top:  Discuss   “The glory of God in the church is brighter when the church is outwardly abased.”

Persecuted (outwardly abased) church vs. Laodicean (inwardly abased) church

4 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter Two

Chapter Two:  The Son Declares the Father

D1  The Attributes of God
    Communicable vs. Incommunicable

Christ came from the heart of God to the heart of man (Son declares the Father)

R1 &D2:  John 16:28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”  Forms an outline of the entire book of John and expresses the full circle of Christ in His Work:
1:1-18  Christ coming from His Father in His incarnation
1:19-11:57  Christ coming into the World for our salvation
12-17  Christ’s leaving the World for our sanctification
18-21  Christ’s going to the Father for our glorification
Aim of incarnation was to reveal the Father (pg 17)
    --how else could the Father be revealed (creation)
    --why, then, was the incarnation necessary?
Creation:  Wrath is revealed from heaven through creation (in the things that have been made  Romans 1:18-25
Incarnation:  Review bottom pg. 16  (R1 &D2 salvation, sanctification, glorification)    
Jesus is the Eternal Logos “distinguishable but inseparable”
    Same substance /different roles (go over error of modalism)
Roles:
Christ as Mediator (subject to the will of the Father/priority not superiority)
The Son of God is as eternal as the Father (pg. 18)
The Son is equal with the Father (pg.18)
The Son of God is the image of the Father’s Glory as the incarnate Son
Q1 Why is the clause “as the incarnate Son” important?
R & D3 “The Diety of Christ is invisible as the Father; but being clothed with flesh God’s works can be seen.  Christ presents the excellency of the Father in figure.” (see scripture support pg. 18)
R & D4 pg 19—4th paragraph (Indwelling is not the same as identity through the end of the paragraph. . .)
Q2  What are some of the truths this reveals?
(Man could never know the Father apart from Jesus Christ)
Top of page 20:  The relationship of Father is a revelation by Jesus Christ.
John 14—how many times is the word Father used?  What impact does the reading of that passage have after what we have been considering?
Who is our father before faith?  (Eph 2:2, Jn 8:44)
The Son of God came into the world to redeem sinners. (pg 20)  “to provide the means of salvation.:
    The Cross—His passive obedience
The son of God ascended to the Father to represent the saints in their sanctification (1 Cor 1:30)
    His obedient life fulfilled the Law—His active obedience
The Son of God returned to the Father for our glorification (2 Th 1:10, Romans 8:17)  Christ is the heir of all things—we are joint heirs with Him.
The Son declares the riches of the Father (Read Eph 1:3-23)

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Chapter One

Chapter One:  The Eternal Son of God

R1  The revelation . . . it is a (divine) revelation of Divine Sonship.

Eternal Fathership demands Eternal Sonship.

Q1      What groups deny the diety of Christ?
        Mormons, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnessess

Father is greater than Son.  
Q2     How does this square with the Son being co-equal with the Father?
        (priority not superiority)  
“Greater” has reference to authority and not character

Sonship implies equality and “identity of nature”

Correlative and simultaneous—one substance

R2 & D1    

Q3    Why is it important that the idea of “by birth is not associated with the Eternal Son?”  Consider these  Q and A’s from WSC
WSC
Q16:  Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?  
A16:  The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity;[1] all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.[2]  

1.  Gen. 1:28; 2:16-17
2.  Rom. 5:18

Q21:  Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
 A21:  The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ,[1] who, being the eternal Son of God, became man,[2] and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person,[3] for ever.[4]  

1.  I Tim. 2:5
2.  John 1:14
3.  Rom. 9:5
4.  Heb. 7:24
 
Q22: How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A22: Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body,[1] and a reasonable soul,[2] being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her,[3] yet without sin.[4]  

1.  Heb. 2:14
2.  Matt. 26:38
3.  Luke 1:31, 35
4.  Heb. 7:26

The Son of God is the First Born Son
    Before all creation
    Firstborn of Mary
    Firstborn of the Resurrection

The Son of God is both the Word and the Son

D2

Word Only
--to think of Christ merely as the Word might suggest an impersonal faculty in God.

Son Only
--to think of Him only as the Son might limit us to the conception of a created being

We must leave no room for either error.

John 1:1
    When:  in the beginning
    Where:  with God
    Who:  WAS God!

Summary Statement Chapter One:  bottom pg 14:  If in the Godhead there is no filiation, neither is there paternity; if there is not a Divine and Eternal Son, neither is there a Divine and Eternal Father.  

R3  All of pg 15.  (This is the impact of the Summary on us!)

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ: Intro

Introduction:

Impeccability vs. Peccability

IMPEC'CANCY, n. [See Impeccable.] The quality of not being liable to sin; exemption from sin, error or offense.
IMPEC'CABLE, a. [L. pecco, to err, to sin.] Not liable to sin; not subject to sin; exempt from the possibility of sinning. No mere man is impeccable.

PEC'CABLE, a. [from L. pecco.] Liable to sin; subject to transgress the divine law.PECCABIL'ITY, n. [from peccable.] State of being subject to sin; capacity of sinning.
Q1:  Why does Best begin this study with the impeccability of Christ?  Why is this important?  To what important attribute of God is it tied? (intro pg 3)
R & D1:  (Read and Discuss 1)
Athenasius Creed:
Whoever wills to be in a state of salvation, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic [apostolic/universal] faith, which except everyone shall have kept whole and undefiled without doubt he will perish eternally.
Now the catholic faith is that we worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons nor dividing the substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is One, the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit; the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated; the father infinite, the Son infinite, and the Holy Spirit infinite; the Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet not three eternals but one eternal, as also not three infinites, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one infinite. So, likewise, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty; and yet not three almighties but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son God, and the Holy Spirit God; and yet not three Gods but one God. So the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; and yet not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be both God and Lord; so are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, there be three Gods or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made nor created but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son, not made nor created nor begotten but proceeding. So there is one Father not three Fathers, one Son not three Sons, and one Holy Spirit not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less, but the whole three Persons are coeternal together and coequal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Trinity in Unity and the Unity in Trinity is to be worshipped. He therefore who wills to be in a state of salvation, let him think thus of the Trinity.
But it is necessary to eternal salvation that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The right faith therefore is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man. He is God of the substance of the Father begotten before the worlds, and He is man of the substance of His mother born in the world; perfect God, perfect man subsisting of a reasoning soul and human flesh; equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood. Who although He be God and Man yet He is not two but one Christ; one however not by conversion of the Godhead in the flesh, but by taking of the Manhood in God; one altogether not by confusion of substance but by unity of Person. For as the reasoning soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of the Father, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life eternal, and they who indeed have done evil into eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith, which except a man shall have believed faithfully and firmly he cannot be in a state of salvation.
WSC  Questions 4-6 re: God
Q4:  What is God? A4:  God is a Spirit,[1] infinite,[2] eternal,[3] and unchangeable,[4] in his being,[5] wisdom,[6] power,[7] holiness,[8] justice, goodness, and truth.[9]
1.  John 4:24
2.  Job 11:7
3.  Psa. 90:2
4.  James 1:17
5.  Exod. 3:14
6.  Psa. 147:5
7.  Rev. 4:8
8.  Rev. 15:4
9.  Exod. 34:6
 
Q5:  Are there more Gods than one? A5:  There is but one only,[1] the living and true God.[2]
1.  Deut. 6:4
2.  Jer. 10:10
 Q6:  How many persons are there in the Godhead? A6:  There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;[1] and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and  glory.[2]   
1.  Matt. 28:19
2.  I John 5:7
D2 (Discuss 2)  One Indivisible Person
“His Deity may be contemplated apart from His human nature because it existed from eternity.  But His Human nature is inseparable from His Deity and cannot be thus contemplated.
Q2:  Why can’t the Son of God be contemplated apart from His Deity?
The Two Natures of Christ are so united that if His human nature were able to sin, God could have sinned.

In His Divine Nature
Eternal
Infinite
Omniscient
Omnipresent

In His Human Nature
Not eternal (had a beginning; Jesus was born into time and space)
Finite
Impotent
Earth bound

Christ was both infinite and finite—unlimited and limited—but never impeccable and peccable.

R2  IF He had a nature that was capable of sinning:
1-10 (pg 6-7 intro)

R & D3 First full paragraph pg 7 intro.
Q3  How can Christ’s temptations be real if He couldn’t give in to them?

A3:      As a man He was tempted but temptability down not imply susceptibility.
    He did not have a fallen nature
    His will was always subordinate to the Father’s

R & D4  Discuss the terms infinite and finite

(Man is bounded, limited, measurable, and searchable because he is finite.  God is unbounded, unlimited, immeasurable, and unsearchable because He is infinite.

Summary Statement (introduction)

If one finite person sins against another finite person, the finite judge shall judge him; but if a finite person sins against the infinite God, who shall entreat for him?  Finite man cannot entreat for the sinner, but the infinite Savior can entreat for him.  The doctrine of peccability stabs the very heart of Christ and His redemptive work.

Introducing the Study

Are you ready to work out? Ready to flex your doctrinal and theological muscles? : D
This is going to be a challenging study! We’re all going to work hard, but through hard work, we are also going to be challenged and blessed as we meet together around this great topic of the Study of the Person and the Work of Jesus Christ. As was made so abundantly clear in our study of Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God, the gospel message IS the message of Christ in His Person and His Work. Nothing is more important to “get right.” Nothing is more devastating to “get wrong.”
I am going to be posting some notes from the material we are going to cover each week. Think of them as the map that we’ll use to navigate the material; after all, if we don’t have some idea of where we’re going, we won’t know if we got there! But like all maps, there may be things other travelers may notice along the way. If you have an interest in discussing something that you don’t see in the notes, make a note of it and we’ll be sure to stop and visit. Same thing with questions; feel free to bring up anything that you want to discuss. If the subject is one of those thorny theological questions or controversies, I’d sure appreciate a quick note by Tuesday or Wednesday so that I have some time to prepare.
You’ll notice some letters on the outline: R means read together, D means discuss, and Q, question.
You will gain the most from your personal study of the material. I recommend you read through your assignment quickly, in one sitting, to get the gist of it. By doing that, you’ll know where it’s going, you’ll know the scriptures that will be used as support, and you’ll have the “bones” of the section. Then go back and read through the material, slowly this time, taking time to put the flesh on the bones, so to speak. Look up the scriptures, see how it all fits together, write down your observations and your questions. The more you revisit the material, the more flesh you’ll put on the bones. It doesn’t take a long time to work through, especially once you’ve got the "lay of the land."
I tend to get ahead of myself when I a preparing to lead a section while I’m studying the next section, so I won’t start to prepare the next section’s notes until Thursdays after the study. It is my goal, God willing, to post the notes by Saturday or Sunday at the latest. This will also give you a chance to introduce yourself to the new section and form your own thoughts and questions.

Studies in the Person And Work of Jesus Christ

  Studies in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, by W. E. Best

This book is made available online by the W. E. Best Missionary Trust.

Summer Schedule:

Studies in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ , by W. E. Best

June 7
1 Introduction
2 The Eternal Son Of God
3 The Son Declares The Father
June 14
4 The Mystery Of Godliness
5 The Manifestation Of Godliness
June 21
6 The Incarnation
7 The Virgin Birth
July 5
8 Christ’s Human Nature
9 Christ’s Human Body
July 12
10 Christ’s Human Soul
11 Christ’s Human Growth
July 19
12 Christ’s Baptism
13 Christ’s Temptation
July 26
14 Christ’s Impeccable Life
15 The God Approved Man
August 3
16 Christ’s Prayer Life
17 The Drawing Power Of Christ
August 10
18 Christ’s Discriminating Message
19 Christ’s Miracles
August 17
20 Christ’s Death
21 Christ’s Headship
August 24
22 Christ’s Kingship
Wrap up and final discussion

Catching Up On Books Read

Books by J.R.R. Tolkien: 

Mr. Bliss (had to read it while waiting for:
The Children of Hurin
(which lead to. . .)
The Silmarillion
The Lord of the Rings

    The Fellowship of the Ring
    The Two Towers
    The Return of the King (The R0hirrim are just charging into the Pelennor as war rages before Minas Tirith)

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

The Well Educated Mind by Susan Wise Bauer

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray

Four books about tea lent to me by my friend, Dorothy.  Forgot to write down the titles, but didn't forget to write down the recipes!

The Epistles of John by James Montgomery Boice (lent to me by my friend, Carol)

Christ's Call to Discipleship also by James Montgomery Boice (also lent to me by my friend, Carol)

Prayer, by John Owen BUNYAN, not Owen!  (given to me by my friend, Carol)

That's all I can think of for now.  I know I'm missing some.  Maybe there will be a "Catching Up on Books Read II" 

Esther Lesson Six

Esther Study Week 6

Esther 9:16-10:3

Bible Verse to be recited for this week:

Esther 8:17

17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

Est 9:16

The remainder of the Jews in the king's provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

Est 9:17

This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Est 9:18

But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Why did they assemble for the extra day?

What day did the Jews gain victory over their enemies in the provinces?

Upon what day did the Jews in the provinces rest?

What day did the Jews gain victory over their enemies in the city of Sushan?

Upon what day did the Jews in the city rest?

Est 9:19

Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another.

Who are these Jews of the villages? Can you figure it out by the day that they rested upon? Why do you think they sent presents to one another?

Est 9:20

And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus,

Est 9:21

to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar,

Est 9:22

as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor.

Why did they send gifts to the poor? What kind of gifts do you think they probably sent?

Est 9:23

So the Jews accepted the custom which they had begun, as Mordecai had written to them,

Why do you think it is important that the writer of Esther mentions that the Jews accepted the custom?

Est 9:24

because Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to annihilate them, and had cast Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them and destroy them;

Est 9:25

but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letter that this wicked plot which Haman had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

Est 9:26

So they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them,

Est 9:27

the Jews established and imposed it upon themselves and their descendants and all who would join them, that without fail they should celebrate these two days every year, according to the written instructions and according to the prescribed time,

Est 9:28

that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, that these days of Purim should not fail to be observed among the Jews, and that the memory of them should not perish among their descendants.

Est 9:29

Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

These verses tell us why the book of Esther was written. Why do you think it is so important to the Jews that there is a written record of this observance? What makes it different from other Jewish religious days and holidays?

Est 9:30

And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews, to the one hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

Why is it important that it records that the letters Mordecai sent were words of “peace and truth?”

Est 9:31

to confirm these days of Purim at their appointed time, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had prescribed for them, and as they had decreed for themselves and their descendants concerning matters of their fasting and lamenting.

Est 9:32

So the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim, and it was written in the book.

Est 10:1

AND King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.

What does it mean to impose tribute? Why do you think this was mentioned here and why do you think he imposed this tribute?

Est 10:2

Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

Est 10:3

For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

What is pur? What is Purim? Who established it? Why was it made perpetual?

Why is Haman said to be the enemy of all the Jews? (3:10; 8:1; 9:10, 24-25)

Who delivered the people?

Can you think of any other Jewish men who, like Mordecai, gained authority, influence, and honor in the service of a foreign King?

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson Five

Esther Study Week 5
Esther 8:1-9:15

Bible Verse To Be Recited this week:
Proverbs 2:10-12
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,


Est 8:1  
On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.
Why do you think that the King gave Esther Haman’s property?
Est 8:2  
And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
Why do you think that the king gave Mordecai the ring?  Who has the power all of a sudden?
Est 8:3  
Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.
Why do you think that Esther waited until this point to finally talk to the king about averting Haman’s plan?
Est 8:4  
When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther,
Est 8:5  
Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.
Est 8:6  
“For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”
Why does Esther ask for another order to be written?  Why doesn’t she just ask the king to dismiss Haman’s decree?
Est 8:7  
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.
Est 8:8  
“But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”
Why do you think that the King doesn’t write his own decrees?
Est 8:9  
The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
Who actually wrote the new decree?  Why do you think it was Mordecai and not Esther?  Why was it important that the decree be written “to each province in tis own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language?  Look at Haman’s decree in Chapter 3, verse 12. What do you notice that is different?
Est 8:10  
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,
Again, what do you notice that is different from the last time a decree was sent out by Haman?  Why is that important?
Est 8:11  
saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,
Notice that the Jews are allowed to plunder.  What does it mean to plunder?
Est 8:12  
on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
See Haman’s decree Esther 4:12-15 What do you notice about this day?
Est 8:13  
A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.
Est 8:14  
So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
Why were they in a hurry?  Why was the decree issued in Susa, the citadel, too?  (Read verse 15 and compare to verse 3:15)
Est 8:15  
Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.
What is the significance of the royal robes?  Why do you think the people of Susa rejoiced?
Est 8:16  
The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.
Est 8:17  
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Now, think about this for a minute. Why are the people rejoicing already?
Chapter 9:1-15

Est 9:1  
Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
What are some of the ways God has totally reversed things in favor of the Jews?
Est 9:2  
The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.
Est 9:3  
All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.
Who is helping the Jews now?  Why?
Est 9:4  
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.
Where did Mordecai receive his power from?  What kind of power did Mordecai desire? Compare that to the desires of Haman.
Est 9:5  
The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.
Who did the Jews kill and destroy?  
Est 9:6  
In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men,
Est 9:7  
and also killed Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha
Est 9:8  
and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha
Est 9:9  
and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha,
Est 9:10  
the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder.
Why do you think they didn’t plunder their enemies?  They were given permission but verse 7 says they did as they pleased against their enemies. What does that say about their motivation?
Read 1 Samuel 15:17-19 and compare the differences, both in what happened and in the outcome.
Est 9:11  
That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king.
Est 9:12  
And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.”
Est 9:13  
And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”
Why do you think Esther asked for another day of killing? Why do you think she asks for the ten sons of Haman to be hanged when they are already dead?
Est 9:14  
So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.
Est 9:15  
The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.
They laid no hands on the plunder.  This is the third time this was stated.  Why do you think this is important?

    Bible Verse to be Memorized for next week:  Esther 8:17
17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson Four

Last Week’s Bible Verse to Recite:
    Bible Verse:  Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

Chapter Six

Est 6:1   
On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
Why do you think the king could not sleep?  Was this a mere coincidence?
Est 6:2   
And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
Read Esther 2:21-23
Est 6:3   
And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
Est 6:4   
And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

It was morning by this time.  What do you think about the timing of the discovery of the record of Mordecai’s having saved the king?  Was this “just a coincidence?”  How about the king asking who was in the court? Another coincidence?

Est 6:5   
And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”
Est 6:6   
So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”
(notice that the King has concealed the identity of the one who was to be honored.  Compare this to Esther 3:8—who was concealing then?)
Est 6:7   
And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor,
Est 6:8   
“let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set.
Est 6:9   
“And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”
Do you remember the story of David and Jonathan?  (1 Samuel 18:1-4)  (significance of clothing. . .)
What did Haman seek above all else?
Est 6:10   
Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”

Est 6:11   
So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”
The honor that Haman wanted for himself was given to the one he hated the most.
Est 6:12   
Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.
Est 6:13   
And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”
This is a strange thing for his wife to say to him.  Remember, Haman was an Amalekite.  Why do you think she said this to him about the Jewish people?  Can you think of any Bible stories that support the idea that the Jewish people cannot be overcome?  
Est 6:14   
While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Chapter Seven

Est 7:1   
So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.
Est 7:2   
And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”
Est 7:3   
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.
Est 7:4   
“For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.”
Esther tells the king that “we have been sold.”  Read 3:9 and 4:7.
She also uses the words, “destroyed, killed, annihilated” just like it the decree.  Why doesn’t the king remember that?
Then she mentions “the loss to the king.”  What did Esther know was the thing that the king most sought after?  To what interest of the King did she appeal?
Did it take faith for Esther to make her request to the King?  Why?
Est 7:5   
Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?”
Est 7:6   
And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
Should the king have been surprised?  (Read Esther 3:8-11)  
Est 7:7   
And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.
Why do you think the King left the banquet?  Why did Haman beg for his life from the Queen and not the King?
Est 7:8   
And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.
Look at verse 6:12—Haman covered his face in shame, now his face is covered in judgment.
Est 7:9   
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.”
Est 7:10   
And the king said, “Hang him on that.” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.
Did he think for himself?  Has he ever done anything at all without consulting other people?  Who did he listen to before?  Who is he listening to now?
Lets discuss the way God providentially acted to bring about His plan in this situation.

Next Week’s Bible Verse to Memorize:  
Bible Verse:  Proverbs 2:10-12
10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson Three

Chapter Five
We’ll briefly review the first four chapters, looking for God’s hand in what is happening so far.
Last Week’s Bible Verse to Recite:
Esther 4:14
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Est 5:1  
NOW it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
Q:  Do you remember what would happen if someone came into the King’s presence uninvited?

Why do you think Esther put on her royal robes?
Remember Queen Vashti?  What happened to her when she wouldn’t put on her crown and come to the King when he invited her?

Est 5:2  
So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter.
Q:  What does it mean to “find favor in the sight of the King?”
Est 5:3  
And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you--up to half the kingdom!"
Q:  Do you think he’d really give her anything “up to half the kingdom?”  What do you think he meant by that?
Est 5:4  
So Esther answered, "If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
Q:  Did you notice how she asked him?
Est 5:5  
Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.
Est 5:6  
At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, "What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!"
Est 5:7  
Then Esther answered and said, "My petition and request is this:
Est 5:8  
"If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."
Again he asks her what she requests of him but she doesn’t mention the decree against the Jews.  Why do you think she hasn’t asked yet?
Est 5:9  
So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.
Q:  Why was Haman “joyful, with a glad heart?”  What do you think Mordecai was doing by the king’s gate?  Why was Haman mad at Mordecai?
Est 5:10  
Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh.
Est 5:11  
Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king.
Est 5:12  
Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king.
Q:  Why did Haman gather his wife and his friends together?  

Est 5:13  
"Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
Q:  Do you think that Haman is acting reasonably?  Why or why not?

Est 5:14  
Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet." And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.
Q:  Why did this plan please Haman?  Why did he think he could get the King to hang Mordecai?  Did he have the authority to have the gallows built?

Review Chapter Five

Can you tell me what God's providence means?  Do you see signs of God’s providential care and His ruling over people and events?  Can you name some?

Next Week’s Bible Verse to Memorize:  

Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

ESG Chapter Three, Section III discussion notes

Chapter Three Section III.

What is the Motive for Evangelism

What are the 2 motives for evangelism?

    1. Love to God and concern for His glory
    2. Love to man and concern for his welfare

Contrast glory and welfare.  What does this tell us about God?  About man?

Discuss the nature of God’s glory in His attributes and contrast it with man’s creaturely status and his need of all things from the One Who needs nothing from His creation.)

1. First motive—love to God

How do we show love to God
    Keep His commandments (1 Jn 3:7 to end of chapter)
Pg 75—“If , therefore, we love God and are concerned to glorify Him, we must obey His command to evangelize.”
    
Not only out of obedience, but “also because in evangelism we tell the world what great things God has done for the salvation of sinners.”

Speaking to unbelievers about Christ and His salvation is in and of itself honoring and glorifying to God.

Discuss the importance of Biblical and doctrinal knowledge.

We must know before we can tell!  Review pages where Packer makes the point that the Gospel is to be taught and learned (Chapter 2, section 2 re: Paul’s primary task in evangelism was to teach the truth about Christ  *quotation bottom of pg 47 “It was a message of some complexity, needing to be learned before it could be lived by, and understood before it could be applied.  It needed, therefore, to be taught.”

2. 2nd motive—love to neighbor (pg 75)

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

Galatians 6:10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Who is my neighbor?  Discuss The Good Samaritan passage (Luke 10)  Discuss our realm of influence?  What (who) determines this realm?  How we answer this question reveals the depths of our understanding of who is our neighbor)

Pg 76:  convicting words to be contrasted:

    “Naturally and spontaneously and tragic and ugly”

Read last paragraph on page 76 that continues on top of pg 77.

Discuss sharing good news with friends and family—how natural and spontaneous it is to want to share our temporal good news with our friends and family; how much more so should our desire to share our eternal good news!

Beginning on the bottom of pg 77 “If we find ourselves shrinking forom this responsibility. . .Ought these things stop us from loving our neighbors?”

Discuss the admonition in the above paragraph (bridging 77-78) There is no wiggle room.  What is the root of this?  (Pride and unbelief)

What is the remedy?
Ask for grace to be ashamed and to repent! (remorse and regret is not the same as repentance!)

    Pray

There is one command to evangelise, but different “opportunities”
    “We are not all called to be preachers; we are not all given equal opportunities or comparable abilities for personal dealing with men and women who need Christ.  But we all have some evangelistic responsibility which we cannot shirk without failing in love both to God and to our neighbor.  NO EXCUSES, equal responsibility

What must we do to fulfill this command to evangelize? (pg 78)
    Pray four ourselves to overflow with love
    Pray for the unconverted
    Look for opportunities
    Be enterprising.  

    DO GOOD!!! (Galatians 6:10)

Caution:  (bottom pg 79)
    “It must never be forgotten that the enterprise required of us in evangelism is the enterprise of love:  and enterprise that springs from genuine interest in those whom we seek to win, and a genuine care for their well-being and expresses itself in a genuine friendliness toward them.”  (discuss genuineness. . .)

“If we truly care for them, and if our heart truly loves and fears God, then we shall seek to present Christ to them in a way that is both honoring to God and respectful to them.”

Discuss HC Trumbull quote: (implications of justified in choosing my subject)

“Whenever I am justified in choosing my subject of conversation with another, the theme of themes shall have prominence between us, so that I may learn of his need, and, if possible, meet it.”
    We must establish a relationship, show ourselves friendly, show interest, show respect before we can “choose or subject of conversation.”  (No drive by evangelism, or as Packer names it “impersonal evangelism.”)

ESG Chapter Three Update (?)

To Connie and anyone else who was following our study in Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God:

 My apologies!  I didn't realize how far behind I had got in posting our studies.  I will try to remember the basics of what we studied since I last updated and provide at least a truncated version of what we have done.  I will try to be more faithful in updating, both for anyone who is interested and for myself! 

First of all, even though I inaccurately titled my last post  "Chapter Three, Conclusion, it was only the conclusion of the first section of Chapter Three:  "What is Evangelism?".  The next two or three weeks we met together, we discussed two articles, Puritan Evangelism by J. I Packer and Evangelism in a Postmodern Age, by Don Matzat .

 After we finished with those, we picked back up with the chapter. 

The last few weeks we have completed the next section:

Section Two:  What is the Evangelistic Message?

The Evangelistic Message (aka as the Gospel!) is:

• about God

        emphasizes the need to go back to creation when teaching the gospel .  God is our Sovereign Creator.

• about sin 

        emphasizes the need to know our guilt before God.  Made the clear distinction between guilt and                 remorse--they are not the same.  We must see ourselves as God sees us and think of ourselves as God thinks of us.   Key point:  sin is not a social concept; it is a theological concept and we must treat it as such.  Also developed the necessity of conviction of sin, what is is and what it is not.

Conviction of sin is

• an awareness of a wrong relationship with God;  not just with one's neighbor or one's conscience

• includes a conviction of sins in particular

• includes a conviction of one's sinfulness (complete corruption in God's sight and need for a new heart)
  

• about Christ

    it is His message
        We must not present the Person of Christ apart from His saving work     
        We must not present the saving work of Christ apart from His Person 

Next, beginning on page 66, we discussed the fact that the extent of the atonement has no bearing on the content of the evangelistic message.  Whether you believe in a limited or unlimited atonement, it does not change the evangelistic message.  Our job is to proclaim Christ and call the hearer to come to Christ. 

This past Thursday we finished the last subsection in Section Two:  What is the Evangelistic Message?:

• about faith and repentance 

Briefly, faith and repentance are contrasted with credence and regret and the differences defined.  ". . .faith is not a mere optimistic feeling, any more than repentance  is a mere regretful or remorseful feeling."  Packer develops the twin truths that the demand is for faith as well as repentance and repentance as well as faith. In other words, it is not enough to feel guilty and make promises.  Our faith has an object--it is an objective faith.  Our faith is in Christ.  If we never put our faith in Christ alone, then our repentance is only as good as we are able to keep it up and then it becomes a matter of our subtle dependence upon our ability to repent rather than Christ that we have faith in.  By the same token, faith without repentence.  Repentance says that God has claim on our lives; there is a cost to our faith.
Next Thursday we will continue with Section Three:  What is the Motive of Evangelism?

I will try, God willing and time permitting, to be more faithful to post notes in the future. 

Esther Lesson Two

Esther Week Two Chapters 3-4

People to Know:
Haman
Hathach
Chapter Three
Est 3:1  
AFTER these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him.
Q:  After what things?
Est 3:2  
And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.
Q:  Why not?
Est 3:3  
Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"
Est 3:4  
Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.
(they knew that the Jews would not bow to anyone except the One True God)
Est 3:5  
When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
Q:  Why did that make Haman mad?
Est 3:6  
But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai.
Q:  Why wouldn’t Haman go after Mordecai on his own?  He had the power to do it! (3:1)
Q:  Haman decides not ONLY to destroy Mordecai, but all the Jews.  What does this remind you of from last week’s lesson?
Est 3:7  
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month,  which is the month of Adar.
Q:  What does it mean to “cast the lot?”  Who was casting the lots?  Has the King weighed in on this yet?  
Est 3:8  
Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
Q:  Do you remember why the Jews were dispersed into other lands in the first place?  Why don’t they keep the laws of the land?  How does this relate to what Mordecai did to make Haman mad in the first place?

Est 3:9  
"If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
Q:   What two things did Haman know about the King (from Chapters 1 and 2) and how he operates or what is important to him?  (hint:  why did Haman ask for a written decree and why does he promise silver for the king’s treasury?)
Est 3:10  
So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
Q:  What is the significance of a signet ring?  Did you notice how the writer of Esther is describing Haman now?  (listen to the Jews’ reaction to the name of Haman even today when the book is read aloud on Purim)
Est 3:11  
And the king said to Haman, "The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you."
Q:  When did we see the king asking a similar question?  What do you think that says about King Xerxes’ kingly rule?
Est 3:12  
Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded--to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring.
Q:  Do you remember why it was important for the decrees to be written in the writing and the language of every people?  Why is it important that the decree was sealed with the king’s signet ring?  Who sealed the decree?
Est 3:13  
And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions.
Q:  What did the decree say?  (about who was to be killed and about the timing).  What does this say about the planning of the attack against the Jews?  Did you notice that this is a command?  They HAD to do it, by law.
Est 3:14  
A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day.
Est 3:15  
The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.
Q:  Why do you think the writer of Esther tells us that the king and Haman sat down to drink?
Chapter 4
WHEN Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
Q:  Why did Mordecai tear his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes?  Why did he go into the midst of the city?  Why did he cry with a loud voice?
Est 4:2  
He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.
Q:  Why not?
Est 4:3  
And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
Est 4:4  
So Esther's maids and eunuchs came and told her, and the queen was deeply distressed. Then she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take his sackcloth away from him, but he would not accept them.
Q:    What did they tell her?  Do you think she knew about the Kings decree?  Why or why not?  Why wouldn’t Mordecai accept the clothes that Esther sent him?
Est 4:5  
Then Esther called Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs whom he had appointed to attend her, and she gave him a command concerning Mordecai, to learn what and why this was.
Q:  Do you remember what a eunuch is?  Who’s eunuch is he?  What does it say about Esther that she had the power to command the king’s eunuch?
Est 4:6  
So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square that was in front of the king's gate.
Est 4:7  
And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries to destroy the Jews.
Est 4:8  
He also gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction, which was given at Shushan, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and that he might command her to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people.
Q:  Why did Mordecai tell him all that had happened and give him a copy of the decree?  What did Mordecai command?  Based on what you know about Esther so far, do you think she will obey him?
Est 4:9  
So Hathach returned and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
Est 4:10  
Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai:
Est 4:11  
Est 4:12   "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days."  So they told Mordecai Esther's words.
Q:  What was Esther telling Mordecai?
Est 4:13  
And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews.
Est 4:14  
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Q:  What do you think about what Mordecai answers?  Does this surprise you?  Why does he think that deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place?  What does he mean when he says, “for such a time as this?”
Est 4:15  
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai:
Est 4:16  
"Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"
Q:  Why does she call for a fast?  Who is supposed to fast?  What made her change her mind?
Est 4:17  
So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him
Q:  Now, who’s obeying who?

Last week’s verse (memorized for today)
Bible Verse:  Esther 4:14
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Next week’s verse (memorize for next week)
Bible Verse:  Psalm 94:21-22
21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. 22 But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.

Esther Lesson One

Esther Week One Chapters 1-2

Introduction:  
Author: Unknown
Time:  400-500 B.C. In the third year of King Ahasuerus’ reign
Theme:  God’s Providential Plans for His People
    
People to Know:
    King Ahasuerus (Xerxes)
·    Known for his building projects and wars against the Greeks
·    Consolidated his father, Darius’, kingdom into 20 satrapies and 127 provinces.
·    Ruled Persia from India to Ethiopia (capital city, Sushan or Susa)

Queen Vashti
·    King Ahasuerus’ queen
·    Disobeyed a command
·    Was removed as Queen

7 eunaches (servants to the King)

7 Princes of Persia and Media (nobility—counselors to the King)
·    Memucan—the spokesman for the Princes

Mordecai
·    A Jew
·    Of the tribe of Benjamin, of the family of Kish (a descendent of King Saul)
·    Carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon)

    Esther
·    Orphaned
·    Raised by her uncle, Mordecai
·    She was beautiful
·    She was obedient
    
7 choice maidservants
·    Given to Esther by Hegai to help in her preparations to meet the King

Hegai
·    Custodian of the women

Shaahgaz
·    Custodian of the concubines

Places to Know:
    Persia (127 provinces, 20 satrapies)
    Sushan (Susa)
    Babylonia

Lesson:
1:1-9      
Introduce characters
    180 day feast for all of Persia
    7 day feast for all of Sushan
    King was generous
    King was showing off
    Description of wealth and riches

10-12  
King A commands his 7 servants to bring the Queen to show her off (he was                   saving the best for last)

13-15
    Queen Vashti refuses to come.  King is furious.
King calls in the 7 Princes of Persia and asks: “What shall we do to Queen Vashti according to the law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the 7 eunaches (servants to the king)

16-22
Mumucan “stirs the pot.” (vs. 16)  He expands the issue from the King’s personal dishonor and embarrassment to the whole country and from the King and Queen’s personal issue to that of all the husbands and wives in the land.

    See Mumucan’s answer (vs 19)

    Consequences to Vashti
    Consequences to women

Read vs 22 “each province in it’s own script, every people in it’s own language” Why is this important?  We will need to remember this!

2:1-4
    Choosing a new queen

5-7    
    Mordecai and Esther

8-14
    Making the Choice
    Vs 9 concerning Esther
    Vs 10 concerning Mordecai
15-18
    Esther becomes Queen

19-20    
    Esther’s obedience to Mordecai

THE PLOT

21-23
    The Plot of the Doorkeepers
    Mordecai hears—saves King through Esther

These lessons were written for elementary aged students.  You can find all of the Lessons in Esther here.