Journaling: Luke 14-17

God’s law is what determines: 1) right and wrong (not miracles) (14:1-6; Deu 13:1-3; 2Th 2:9-12), 2) greatness (not self-promotion)(14:7-11; v11 – “humbles himself” = Submits to God’s law), 3) who your friends sb (14:12-24, v14 w/vv21-23 = The “poor and crippled and blind and lame” represent those whose only endearing quality is the fact that they will listen/submit to God’s law; Jam 2:5). B/C of the difficult challenges we will face, being a disciple of Jesus requires the complete and total renouncing of: 1) loyalty to anyone over Jesus (including self) (14:25-26), 2) our life being controlled by anyone other than Jesus (14:27-32 = Full commitment/surrender of our life to Jesus), 3) the lie that perseverance in goodness (or righteousness) is not necessary (14:33-35; v34 – “salt” = Persevering goodness; Lev 2:13; Num 18:19; 2Chr 13:5; Mat 5:13; Mar 9:49-50; Col 4:6). Restoring to faithfulness those in the covenant community who are stumbling in sin or have been excommunicated is the way to become a rock-star in heaven (15:1-31, most esp. vv7, 10, 22-24 w/32). To avoid being condemned to Hell for wasting the money God gives us requires spending it on those people who matter the most to God – not us (i.e. people in the church, people seeking righteousness – Act 10:34-35) (16:1-9). God will not give us the riches of heaven if we have been unfaithful with His riches on earth (16:10-12). You reveal yourself to be a servant of money when you don’t spend your money on those people who matter to God (16:13). Christian posers (or make-believers): 1) persecute real Christians (16:14), 2) are all about appearances (i.e. the superficial versus what really matters) (16:15a), 3) are people God hates more than others (16:15b), 4) jump on the bandwagon of salvation while losing the Law and looking for loopholes (16:16-18). People who go to Hades/Hell: 1) include Christians who loved their money and (as a result) ignored their responsibility to the covenant poor (16:19-25), 2) wb tortured every by flames of fire immediately after their death (16:22-24), 3) will be able to see those who reside in eternal comfort yet forever unable to reach them or get relief (16:23-26), 4) are all people who doubted the witness of God’s Word (16:27-31). We must be extra careful to fully forgive those who repent: 1) lest we become a stumbling block to others (17:1-2), 2) no matter how many times they commit the same sin (17:3-4), 3) realizing it is not an issue of faith but “death-to-self” obedience and our position before God (17:5-10). Lord.Before.Savior (or obedience is the key to receiving God’s mercy) (17:11-14). Entitlement is incongruent w/thankfulness and faith (17:15-19). The Kingdom of God is not a physical building or place, but the physical assembly of God’s people in a building or place (17:20-21 – “in the midst of you” = In the midst of your assembly together; The same is true in re: to God’s house – 1Ti 3:15 w/1Co 3:16-17; Eph 2:22; 1Pe 2:5). Jesus’ return: 1) wb witnessed by everyone (17:22-24), 2) wb an awful surprise to many – especially to the Jews who have rejected Him (17:25-30), 3) wb survived only by those who heed the warning now, flee this world and give their lives to Him (17:31-33), 4) will result in the division of many homes and churches where false Christians hide among those who are legitimate (17:34-37; Mat 13:36-43).