1. We Are to Represent Christ to the World.
2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's _ambassadors_, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be _reconciled_ to God.
2. Lift up a Standard for the People.
Isaiah 62:10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the _highway_! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the _nations_.
3. Love Not the World for It Will Pass Away.
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or _anything_ in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For _everything_ in the world--the _cravings_ of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the _boasting_ of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
4. Do Not Be Conformed to the World. Instead, Be Made New by Jesus.
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living _sacrifices_, holy and pleasing to God--this is your _spiritual_ act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be _transformed_ by the _renewing_ of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
5. What Should Be Upper Most in Our Minds?
Philippians 4:7-8 And the peace of God, which _transcends_ all _understanding_, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is _excellent_ or praiseworthy--think about such things.
6. How Can We Change?
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being _transformed_ into his _likeness_ with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
7. God Is Not Pleased When We Love Violence.
Psalms 11:5 The LORD examines the _righteous_, but the wicked and those who love _violence_ his soul hates.
8. Turn Away From Vanity.
Psalms 119:37 Turn my eyes away from _worthless_ things; preserve my life _according_ to your word.
9. Seek to Have the Same Way of Thinking You See in Jesus.
Philippians 2:5 Your _attitude_ should be the same as that of _Christ_ Jesus:
10. We Should Dress Modestly and Refrain From Ornamentation and Excessive Cost and Display in the Things We Wear.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or _expensive_ clothes, [10] but with good deeds, _appropriate_ for women who profess to worship God.
11. True Beauty Is Inside Our Hearts.
1 Peter 3:2-5 When they see the purity and _reverence_ of your lives. [3] Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. [4] Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. [5] For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make _themselves_ _beautiful_. They were _submissive_ to their own _husbands_,
12. Jacob Leads a Revival and Commands His Household to Get Rid of Their Idols and Jewelry.
Genesis 35:2-4 So Jacob said to his _household_ and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. [3] Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who _answered_ me in the day of my _distress_ and who has been with me _wherever_ I have gone." [4] So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at _Shechem_.
13. As the Children of Israel Enter the Promise Land They Remove Their Jewelry.
Exodus 33:3-6 Go up to the land _flowing_ with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way." [4] When the people heard these _distressing_ words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. [5] For the LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a _moment_, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will _decide_ what to do with you.' " [6] So the Israelites _stripped_ off their ornaments at Mount _Horeb_.
14. God Reveals His Displeasure When People Artificially Adorn Themselves and Lack Character.
Isaiah 3:16-24 The LORD says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with _outstretched_ necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with _ornaments_ jingling on their ankles. [17] Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the LORD will make their scalps bald." [18] In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and _headbands_ and crescent _necklaces_, [19] the earrings and _bracelets_ and veils, [20] the _headdresses_ and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, [21] the signet rings and nose rings, [22] the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses [23] and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. [24] Instead of _fragrance_ there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-dressed hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, _sackcloth_; instead of beauty, _branding_.
15. Jewelry Is Associated with Idolatry and Forgetting God.
Hosea 2:13 I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals; she decked herself with rings and _jewelry_, and went after her lovers, but me she forgot," _declares_ the LORD.
16. The False Church Is Pictured by God As Being Decked Out with Jewels. She Has Left Her True Lover, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 17:1-5 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the _punishment_ of the great _prostitute_, who sits on many waters. [2] With her the kings of the earth _committed_ adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." [3] Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with _blasphemous_ names and had seven heads and ten horns. [4] The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was _glittering_ with gold, _precious_ stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. [5] This title was written on her _forehead_: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF _PROSTITUTES_ AND OF THE _ABOMINATIONS_ OF THE EARTH.
17. Jesus Gives Us True Beauty When We Wear His Robe of Righteousness. What Is More Beautiful Than Happiness Within?
Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with _garments_ of _salvation_ and arrayed me in a robe of _righteousness_, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
18. Jesus Said, "I Do Always Those Things Which Please Him." by God's Grace, We Should Seek to Be Like Jesus.
John 8:29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I _always_ do what _pleases_ him."
19. Happiness Comes From Knowing and Doing God's Will.
John 13:17 Now that you know these _things_, you will be _blessed_ if you do them.
20. I Delight to Do Thy Will, My God.
Psalms 40:8 I desire to do your _will_, O my God; your law is within my _heart_."
Next Bible Study: 39-The Holy Spirit
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