Living by FaithMemory TextProverbs 29:25 (NKJV) 25The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.Q1: How would you analyze this verse in terms of Hebrew poetry?1. What do we look for in Hebrew poetry?2. Recall that we studied that Hebrew poetry is written in the form of parallelisms.3. Line A is: The fear of man brings a snare.4. Line B is Whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.5. These lines can be synonymous, that is, they say the same thing in different words.6. They can be contrasting or antithetical, that is, they contrast with each other.7. Or they can be synthetic, that is, the second line may build on the first by adding new information.8. What kind of parallelism do we have in our memory text? (Contrasting or antithetical)9. We have noted before that the conjunction but usually denotes a contrasting parallelism while and usually denotes a synonymous parallelism.10. We can use this contrasting parallelism to help us understand what the writer is saying.11. We have two shots rather than one at getting his meaning.12. Which of these two lines do you understand the best? (For me, the second. Line B)13. What dont we understand about Line A? 14. Whats not clear about Line A for me is that I dont understand what it means to fear man and how that catches me in a trap.15. Does it mean to be afraid of other people, to become paranoid of what they might be doing and somehow be ensnared by trying to avoid them?16. If we look at Lines A and B, we see that the fear of man is parallel to trusting in the Lord.17. The contrast is the result of these two parallel actions: In the first case we are caught in a trap and in the second we are safe.18. So from the poetic structure we can conclude that the fear of man does not mean to be afraid of other people.19. Rather it means to trust in mankind rather than God.20. It is like the fear in the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 21. The fear of man is putting man in Gods place and having awe, respect, reverence, and trust in man rather than God.

Q2: How does trusting mankind bring a snare while trusting the Lord bring safety?

1. We can look at this principle being true both in a temporal and in an eternal sense.2. The eternal principle is easy to see:3. We are saved by grace through faith. 4. If we trust in mankind, we will be ensnared by Satan and perish with him in the lake of fire.5. If we trust in the Lord, we shall be saved in His eternal kingdom and be safe forever.6. This proverb also gives us a principle for living here and now.7. One who trusts in the Lord will keep His commandments.8. His commandments are a hedge about us to protect us from the consequences of wrong choices.9. Obedience brings blessings and disobedience brings curses, difficulties, and maybe even jail time.10. There is safety in trusting the Lord and obeying His commandments.11. There is danger in trusting the arm of flesh and disobeying Gods commandments.Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)12There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Faith and Works

Q1: What does Proverbs have to say about keeping the Law in our study this week? (Prov 28 & 29)Prov 28:4,7,9; 29:18 (NKJV)4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them. 7Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, But a companion of gluttons shames his father.9One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

Q2: How is keeping the Law related to our memory text of trusting the Lord and finding safety in Him?1. Those who are really trusting the Lord will be obedient to His commandments.2. Those who love the Lord will love His Law.3. Those who have been redeemed by the Lord will want to express their appreciation by obedience to the Lord.4. Trust in God results in keeping the Law, but the reverse is not necessarily true.

Q3: Of what did the Lord remind Israel before He gave them the moral law at Mt. Sinai? (Ex 20:1-3)[See notes on linked slide] 1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3You shall have no other gods before Me. [R] Here we have the preamble to the 10 commandments.Before God gives them His moral law, He reminds them that He has redeemed them from slavery.What is the analogy to this for us as individuals?God has delivered us from slavery to sin.He has delivered us from death, the wages of sin.

Deliverance from Egypt is symbolic of delivery from sin.Grace comes before Law.Justification comes before sanctification.Were born again before were expected to obey.Obedience is the result of deliverance, not the cause of it.

Justification in ProverbsRead Prov 28:13 13He who covers his sins will not prosper,But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Q1: What text in the NT does this remind you?

1 John 1:9 (NKJV) 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The good news of justification is even better than what Solomon gives us here.When we confess our sins and repent and ask forgiveness through the blood of Jesus, we get more than mercy.Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting punished in the lake of fire for our sins.We not only get mercy, we get grace: the gift of God [grace] is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.We get the righteousness of Christ imputed to us.

Paul writes:Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV) 5Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Justification places us in Christ, and in Him we stand in grace and become heirs to all the promises of God.

Justice is getting what you deserve.Mercy is not getting what you deserve.Grace is getting what you dont deserve.In Christ, we stand in grace.

Q1: Having been justified by faith, how should our relationship to the Law change?1. When we are justified, we are forgiven and cleansed of our sins.2. We are no longer under the condemnation of the law.3. The law cannot enforce its penalty of death on us.4. But we are still under the jurisdiction of the law.5. If we break the law after we are justified it is sin and we need to be forgiven of that sin too.6. Sin breaks our fellowship with God but not our relationship with Him.7. Sin generally does not un-justify us unless it is the sin of rebellion where we turn our back on Jesus and deny Him as our Lord.

Q2: What verses do some Christians use to teach that we are no longer under the law, and how can we provide a better explanation of these verses?

(Rom 6:14, Gal 3:24-25) 14For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 24Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Q1: Looking at Rom 6:14, in what sense are we no longer under the law?

It is helpful to look at the very next verse.In Rom 6:15, Paul writes: Rom 6:15 (NKJV) 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! What is sin? (It is the transgression of the law.)So how can the law be done away with if we can still sin under grace?So Paul is not doing away with the law.

He is telling us why sin will not have dominion over us.The reason is that our sins can be forgiven by the grace of God.God gave us His Son to die for them. Thats grace!Therefore we are no longer under the condemnation of the law.Those who are attempting to keep the law to gain merit with God, do not have the forgiveness that grace brings.Therefore, their sin remains and has dominion over them by separating them from God.

Q2: Looking at Gal 3:24-25, what does Paul mean by a tutor and how is the law like a tutor?1. In Greek society, the tutor was a servant that was responsible for disciplining the son when he disobeyed or stepped out of line.2. The tutor gives you a beating each time you break the rules.3. The tutor represents punishment for disobedience.4. So the tutor inflicts punishment for breaking the law.5. When we come to Christ, He has taken the punishment for all of our sins on the cross.6. Therefore, we are no longer under the threat of punishment for our sins. Romans 8:1 (NKJV) 8There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.7. In Christ, we are no longer under the condemnation of the law with its threat of punishment.8. So, in the analogy, we are no longer under the tutor which is the agent that condemns and punishes for disobedience. So in both of these texts, we see that we are still under the jurisdiction of the law, but not under its condemnation or threat of punishment. We obey the law, not out of fear but out of love for our Savior who took the condemnation in our place

Jesus and the Law What did Jesus have to say about the importance of the Law and obedience to His commandments? Matt 5:17-18 John 14:15 John 14:21 John 14:23-24 John 15:14

Proverbs for Rich and Poor What do the rich and poor have in common? 13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives light to the eyes of both. (Ch 29) Whats more important, wealth or character? 6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich. (28) How can a person have plenty to eat? 19He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! How do the righteous and the wicked differ in their attitude to the poor? 7The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Child Discipline Read Prov 29:15,17 + 15The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (29) 17Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. (29) 24He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (13) 13Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.14You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.

Q1: What modern proverbs go along with Solomons approval of the rod?

Modern Proverbs on Discipline spare the rod and spoil the child. This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. No pain no gain. Reading, writing, and rithmetic, taught to the tune of a hickory stick. [R]

Q2: How many can remember being on the receiving end of corporeal punishment as a kid? What kind and for what?1. Absolutely. 2. As a kid I got plenty of beatings with the belt applied to my posterior.3. One of my dads favorite expressions was: If I take this belt off, Im going to use it.4. When Dad pulled off his belt, you could hear it snapping through the belt loops on his pants.5. I still remember the shot of adrenalin that I would get when I heard that sound.6. One of the worst beatings I got was for smoking with Robbie Hicks at the old haunted (abandoned) house.7. I was only 6 and he was 9. It was totally his idea. He swiped a carton of cigarettes from his dads closet.8. My sister came looking for me, we came to the attic window when she called, she saw the smoke, and told mom.9. Youre going to get it when you dad gets home. And I got it. Q3: Where does our society seem to be heading on the use of corporeal punishment?1. Was t it Dr. Benjamin Spock that started this trend of no physical punishment back in the 60s?2. It seems to have really taken hold in our society.3. Some people think any physical punishment is physical abuse.4. So what are parents left with? Put the kid in time out?5. It is getting to the point where you cant spank your kid in public with out fear of someone reporting you to the police

James Dobson (Dare to Discipline) When you are defiantly challenged, win decisively. When the child asks, Whos in charge? tell him. When he mutters, Who loves me? take him in your arms and surround him with affection. Treat him with respect and dignity and expect the same from him.

1. Dobson points out that the wise parent will try to get inside the childs mind to see where the bad behavior is coming from. 2. Is the defiant child challenging authority, or is he feeling unloved?

Defiant behavior: Example from one of my vacations on the farm as a kid. Aunt Gertrude told me to stay in the front yard and play with Lawrence. I defied her and started walking with Dale and his friend toward the barn. She took ahold of my arm and shook me until my head nearly snapped off. Both boys looked at me with fear in their eyes. Dale said. Youd better stay up here. I never questioned her authority again.

Child Discipline

Q1: What should be the objectives of discipline?1. Our objective should be to change the behavior of a child, train the child, teach the child, not merely punish the child.2. Discipline should be directed at the behavior, not at the person, and it should always be done in love.

Q2: What kind of behavior may require the rod?

1. If a kid is clumsy and spills his milk, should he get the rod for that? (No)2. If a kid refuses to listen or defies you to your face, should he get the rod for that? (Yes)3. Defiant behavior needs to be met with decisive force. But it always needs to be administered in love.

Q3: What other tools besides the rod are available to parents? 1. There is reinforcement of good behavior. This should make up the vast majority of our discipline.2. Rewards reinforce good behavior.3. Martin Luther: Spare the rod and spoil the child true. But beside the rod keep an apple and give it to him when he does well.Q4: What are some of the positive things we can do to bring up our children to know the Lord?1. Love our children. 2. Set an example of Godliness for them. (Actions speak louder than words.)3. Properly train and discipline them.4. Provide Christian education for them.5. Have family worship with them. 6. Pray with them, and pray for them.7. Bring them to church and SS.8. Send them to Christian camp and go as a family.9. Bring them with you to camp meeting.

10. Provide godly influences in the home (music, videos, monitor TV and music)11. Talk to them about making godly choices in life.12. Make sure they learn the 10 commandments.13. Live as though your relationship with Jesus is the most important thing to you.

Q5: What can we do if they choose to reject the Lord we love?

1. Heres a modern proverb: God has children but no grandchildren. 2. In the end, all we can do is set a godly example and pray for them.

Summary While Proverbs is mostly wise advice for successful living here and now, there are occasional gems which show us that true success in life is found in knowing, trusting, and obeying the Lord. Obedience to Gods moral law is our response of love to His amazing grace. The preamble to the 10 commandments reminds us that grace comes before the law. Justification comes by grace through faith and brings not only mercy and pardon, but the gracious gift of eternal life with our Lord and Savior. Jesus taught the permanence of the moral law, and promised that those who love Him will keep His commandments. His moral law still stands in spite of those who try to claim that Christians are no longer under the Law. We are not under its condemnation, but we are under its jurisdiction. Rich and poor both belong to God who is more interested in their character than their credit rating. Discipline is essential to good character development. As parents and mentors we are to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Knowing that love is the key to obeying the Lord, will you spend time this week getting to know Him better and loving Him more?