A Few Lessons from the First Book of the Bible

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Short Summary

The discourse explores the Book of Job as potentially the first divinely inspired book of the Bible, emphasizing Job’s unwavering righteousness, endurance, and faith despite immense trials. It highlights the significance of patient endurance (hypomone) as a virtue exemplified by Job and modeled by Jesus, encouraging believers to embrace suffering as a means for spiritual growth and deeper fellowship with God. The talk also contrasts Job’s steadfastness with the criticisms of his friends, underscoring themes of divine authority, redemption, and the importance of loving and trusting God amid adversity.

Long Summary

Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Lessons from the First Book of the Bible (Job)

Introduction and Topic Clarification
– The discourse begins by clarifying the title’s tricky nature: “Lessons from the First Book of the Bible.”
– While many think this refers to Genesis, the speaker suggests considering the Book of Job as the first inspired book by God, noting the lack of direct prophecy in Genesis compared to Job’s unique content.
– The Book of Enoch and Jude’s mention of Enoch’s prophecy are acknowledged but excluded from this study due to questions about authenticity.

Historical and Authorship Context
– Traditionally, the first five books (Pentateuch) are attributed to Moses, with some contribution by Joshua.
– Job is believed by many researchers, including Brother Russell, to have lived during the patriarchal era, possibly living about 140 years, placing him roughly between Abraham and Moses.
– Job is considered one of the earliest righteous men, living before the Mosaic Law, with righteousness based on conscience and faith in God.

Significance of Job as the First Inspired Book
– Job focuses on an individual’s righteousness and relationship with God rather than cosmic creation.
– Job represents what God delights in: a man who is blameless, upright, fears God, and departs from evil (Job 1:1).
– This personal focus offers deep lessons about suffering, endurance, faith, and God’s grace in the imperfect world.

Themes in Job: Suffering, Endurance, and Righteousness
– Job’s name means “the one who suffers,” and his story explores the permission of evil and human suffering.
– His three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) represent various worldviews or philosophies regarding evil and suffering; Elihu’s speeches are distinct but not fully addressed here.
– The Book of Job is about ransom and redemption, with Job explicitly expressing faith in a living Redeemer (Job 19:25-27):
– “For I know that my redeemer lives, and he shall stand at last on the earth… after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.”
– Job’s righteousness is shown by his godly conduct, mediation for his children (offering sacrifices on their behalf), and maintaining purity of heart.

Biblical Evidence for Job’s Historical Existence
– James 5:11 confirms Job’s existence and highlights his endurance:
>-“You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings…”
– Ezekiel 14:14, 20 mentions Job alongside Noah and Daniel as righteous men who could only save themselves by their righteousness.
– Job’s righteousness was not based on law but on faith, conscience, and active obedience, similar to Noah and Abraham.

Job’s Trials and Satan’s Testing
– The discourse highlights the progression of Job’s trials:

1.  Loss of possessions.
2. Loss of children.
3. Physical suffering (painful boils)
4. Emotional and spiritual trial (including discouragement from his wife).

– Satan’s strategy parallels the temptation of Jesus—starting with material loss and escalating, hoping Job would renounce God.
– Despite intense suffering, Job does not curse God, demonstrating steadfast faith and endurance.

Key Virtue: Patient Endurance (Hypomonē)
– The Greek word for endurance/hypomonē is explained as patient, hopeful, and constant perseverance.
– Jesus exemplifies this endurance, enduring hostility and suffering unto the cross (Hebrews 12:3).
– Endurance is essential for believers:
– Luke 8:15 associates it with fruitful Christian living.
– Romans 2:7 links perseverance with eternal life.
– Hebrews 10:36 encourages endurance to receive God’s promises.
– James 1:3-4 teaches trials produce perseverance, leading to maturity.
– Endurance sustains faith, hope, and love (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
– Early Christians and martyrs saw Job as a model for enduring suffering with hope and faith.

Applications for Modern Believers
1. Cultivate Endurance through Scripture (Romans 15:4):
> “For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
2. Prayer for Divine Guidance (2 Thessalonians 3:5):
> “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the endurance of Christ.”
3. Embrace Trials as Training:
– Suffering is purposeful, shaping believers to be Christlike.
4. Encourage One Another:
– Mutual exhortation and brotherly service sustain endurance (Luke 8:15).
5. Bear Fruit by God’s Choice (John 15:16):
> “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you… that your fruit should remain.”

Job’s Relationship with His Friends
– His friends initially come and silently mourn with him for seven days—a rare example of true friendship.
– However, they later criticize him harshly, representing different philosophies or religious views.
– Despite their accusations, God affirms Job’s righteousness and requires Job to pray for them (Job 42:7-9).
– The discourse notes parallels with how religious critics challenged Jesus and how believers may face criticism from even close associates.

Parallels with Jesus and Apostle Paul
– Jesus, like Job, was deserted by friends and endured suffering without retaliation (John 16:32).
– Apostle Paul experienced desertion but maintained forgiveness and faith (2 Timothy 4:16).
– Job’s understanding that Satan has no power except what God allows is a model for Christian trust in God’s sovereignty.

Conclusion and Spiritual Encouragement
– The ultimate lesson is that God values those who endure faithfully.
– God desires for believers to be more Christlike daily by the Holy Spirit’s help.
– The hope is that God will say about each believer, “Have you seen my servant? There is none like him/her.”
– The discourse closes with a prayer for forgiveness for any errors and a call to trust and perseverance.

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Key Bible Verses Referenced:

– Job 1:1 — Description of Job’s character: blameless, upright, fears God, departs from evil.
– Job 19:25-27 — Job’s declaration of faith in his Redeemer.
– Job 17:3 — God as Job’s guarantor.
– James 5:11 — Endurance of Job as example.
– Ezekiel 14:14, 20 — Job listed among righteous men.
– Hebrews 12:3 — Consider Jesus who endured hostility.
– Luke 8:15 — Patient endurance bearing fruit.
– Romans 2:7 — Eternal life linked to perseverance.
– Hebrews 10:36 — Need endurance to receive promise.
– James 1:3-4 — Trials produce perseverance and maturity.
– 1 Thessalonians 1:3 — Work of faith, labor of love, endurance of hope.
– Romans 15:4 — Scripture written for instruction and endurance.
– 2 Thessalonians 3:5 — Prayer for love and endurance.
– John 15:16 — God chooses believers to bear lasting fruit.
– Job 42:7-9 — God requires Job to pray for his friends.
– Matthew 10:22 — Endure to the end to be saved.
– John 16:32 — Jesus deserted by friends but not alone.
– 2 Timothy 4:16 — Paul deserted but forgives.
– Revelation 13:10; 14:12 — Endurance of the saints called for in last days.
– Colossians 1:19 — Fullness of God dwells in Christ.

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Summary Keywords: 
Job, first inspired book, righteousness, endurance, suffering, patient endurance (hypomonē), faith, redemption, ransom, God’s sovereignty, trials, perseverance, biblical example, faithfulness, friends’ criticism, Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul, Scripture, hope, love, sanctification, divine guidance, brotherly encouragement, perseverance in faith, God’s grace, Christian walk.

Transcript

The title, it’s a little bit tricky because I said lessons from the first book of the Bible. I think most of you, if not all of you, might be thinking of Genesis. Correct? I think so. It was a tricky question because it came upon a study that I’ve been doing for quite a few years now.

So the thoughts will be somewhat scattered. But hopefully, hopefully we will get at least excited to look in more depth into what we know and to pray for what we don’t know. So if we’ll be the first book of the Bible, I think we agree or at least the prophecy that was inspired is one that we do not have and is mentioned in the book of Jude, in the Epistle of Jude, the prophecy of Enoch. We will not look into that though. We had just couple scriptures about what Enoch said.

It was a book. There are at least three versions. Very debatable, very hard to pinpoint that they are accurate. Therefore it’s not going to be the Book of Enoch. What do you think might be another book that’s the first book that is inspired by our God.

I see there Job in the back hands, I believe so now do we have a proof? We don’t really have a proof. We know the book of Genesis at least the first book. First five books of what we call the Bible are written by Moses and that’s most likely in his time and certainly a little bit maybe after by Joshua. Looking at the book of Job through the fact that he lives about after his sufferings.

Most researchers believe that he lived double. So double of 70 will be maybe 140 years. Plus the 70 years to 110 years places him somewhat in the time of the patriarchs. Brother Russell seems to agree on that in a few articles he has on Job. Now why do I think that it’s such important to look as being the first book inspired by God?

I think it is because the book starts with there was a godly man that was godly or righteous and departed from evil. It starts what God is looking with on this imperfect earth and what can be accomplished by his grace, by human beings. Also what with something that what God delights into. So rather than let’s say starting with the whole creation, John 1:1. In the beginning, the very beginning, there was God and there was the Word and the Word was with God, which is, if we can call it an ultimate beginning, gives us an idea of the immensity and infinity of our God and the love that is in his Son.

Then in Genesis we find the history of Earth and Heavens, mostly earth and the creation. So that deals with a lot of multiple facets here. In the first inspired book by God, he deals with an individual. Therefore, we can look for many, many lessons that we might learn from the life of Job. So rather than looking into aspects that are very exciting to look.

What do the three friends represent? Job means the one who suffers or suffering. Some say that it might represent three different philosophies of the world explaining the permission of evil or theories. Brother Carl has an excellent talk on that. Some are saying that might represent three different views of Judaism in regards Sadducees, Pharisees and Essenians in regards to the evil and permission of evil.

Some are saying there are three different views of Christianity. They might all apply in a certain sense, the Catholic Protestants or any Protestants. It’s a big debate with Elihu. Where is the only one that Job does not answer to his remarks. We will look maybe a little bit, but very shortly, to some of the possible aspects, if time will allow.

But we will try to look a little bit more in details. What does it mean for us, the life of Job and why we consider that it’s important. Now, there are types and antitypes, and we study the parables as well. The most secure types that we find are the ones that are declared by God as being a type. When God declares that something is an example or a type, that is certainly so there are types and antitypes that we draw that fit with God’s plan.

We have to look for thus says the Lord. But if we don’t find it, it’s the confirmation of a faith. It’s the confirmation of points of the present truth. It’s not a basis of the truth. But when we find, for example, that Jesus was the Lamb, that takes away the sin of the world.

We can clearly say that the Passover lamb was a type, and we have a scriptural proof that no Christian will deny. If we have the sayings of Apostle Paul saying that the two wives of Abraham do represent two covenants, it’s a clear fact that the wives were a type of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. If we have the fact that Moses and the greater than Moses will be lifted from among you, we have a clear type that Moses, at least in some of the aspects of his life, does represent Jesus, our Lord Jesus. So it’s set in stones, even though in some aspects, as we have at the tabernacle study, right, Moses might represent God in other aspects, Jesus in other aspects, the household of faith, more or less.

So we have to tread carefully there because we have to have a scripture to prove, especially from the book of Hebrews, that what we are saying is based on the word of God. Now, in regards to Job, some are saying that he did not exist. Some are suggesting that what happens, especially in chapter one, might be allegorical. Just to understand what’s going on. It’s not possible that Satan will go at the counsel of God.

In front of God. We will look at these aspects. We will start with a scripture and I’ll share the screen that I think clearly proves that the existence of Job when was not allegorical, it was not just a story or a parable, and I think we have two very strong scriptures for that. The book of James 5:1 we count those blessed who endured.

You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

The word endurance comes from a Greek word and it means endured, cheerful or hopeful, endurance, constancy, and we see this in the life of Job through and through and through.

The fact that the apostle James his quoting this proves to us that he existed, that Job existed, and in the endurance of Job was something real and the outcome of Lord’s dealings with him.

The context that it is in James shows us how much wider the importance of the endurance of Job or the sufferings cheerful suffering is in regards to the brothers and sisters and in regards to the household. We count those blessed who endure it. The conclusion of this is so well put by James at the end that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful, and that’s what we see at the end of Job’s life that happens at the end of his experiences, not his life, and we will look why this mercy was bestowed upon him.

Now in Ezekiel 14, 14 and 20 here are two scriptures the Lord repeats himself in a chapter that deals with punishment. Actually and again we are looking at this from the aspect of the fact that Job did exist. Even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save themselves, declares the lord God.

Verse 20 adds, they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness. Quite interesting because we will not go in Ezekiel 14 and look at the sins and why. The Lord God says that the punishment is coming. But we know that Noah saved his family.

So Noah saved his sons and daughters or daughters in law. Here the Lord says that even if these three will be among them, they will not Save but themselves through their righteousness. Now, how was Noah righteous?

Both Noah and Job live. We believe before the law. We know for sure that Noah did. How were they counted righteous before God? I think it’s on the same principle as Abraham is counted righteous.

Abraham believed God and it was counted to him righteousness. He did not believe in God, only he believed God. What he said will happen is going to come true, and we see that Noah believed this, that what he says about the flood is going to happen, and he became righteous through building the ark according to the instruction, exact instructions of God.

So that’s one way to prove one’s righteousness. Believing God and working at what God gave him as a clear mission, and he saved himself and his family. How was Daniel proving his righteousness? He did not build anything.

He did not even do aliyah. He lived separately from the very empire, corrupted empire where he was put in. He lived so faithfully that regardless of what the punishment was, his life was so separate in regards to eating, in regards to praying, in regards to meditation and daily activities that it didn’t matter which king or empire he was under, he kept himself undefiled. So his righteousness was proven as such. He had the law to be guided through.

Now, Job, how did he prove his righteousness? This is a big question. If he lives before the law, if he lives. Most likely. I think it’s a speculation before Abraham.

And why do I say that?

Maybe because maybe it’s a big maybe. Abraham heard about Job, and when we have said by Apostle Paul in Galatians that Abraham believed that God could have raised Isaac even from the dead, he might have heard of the book of Job where Job speaks and we will look later on. I know that my Redeemer lives and I will see him on earth, and he heard about how God gave Job the same amount of sons and daughters.

So maybe, maybe that triggered a little bit of Abraham and his trust in God. We don’t know. Maybe it was the other way around. Maybe. I don’t know where we will place Job, if he will leave after Abraham, because God says that he was the only one on earth that was righteous at that time.

So maybe anywhere between after Joseph and before Moses comes, if that will be the case.

But Job lives in righteousness because he has in his conscience, without the law, he knows what is right in the eyes of God, and that’s such a wonderful example for us because maybe many, many times he’s reaching a level where only Jesus comes and the Sermon on the Mount and he says well, truly I say unto you, if you look upon a woman desireful, remember what Job says in one of his statements. I have made a covenant with mine eyes. The law never said anything about that even later on. So Job holds himself at a standard that’s unprecedented.

When we are looking through his words, he’s helping the orphans and the widows. He’s going out of his way when his sons are celebrating what Brother Asel says, maybe birthdays, because they are celebrating at each other’s house, taking turns. He brings sacrifices for their sins before there was any indication about a sacrifice for the sins of others. So he lives to such a standard that he makes mediation right between his sons and God. So he becomes a peacemaker, so to speak.

How does he have these standards? Most likely through the conscience that God gave him. Most likely through the purity of his heart, and most likely he knew God.

So.

Before we are looking in more details, I would like to state the following. I think that in its entirety, the first book inspired by God that we have, it’s about ransom and redemption.

Job 19:25, 27. For I know that my redeemer lives, and he shall stand at last on the earth, and after my skin is destroyed, this I know that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another. How my heart yearns within me. So Job knows that his Redeemer lives.

In 3000, 324.

Then he is gracious to him and says, deliver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom. Again we see that Job is looking through the spirit of God. We think to the fact that a ransom will be found for the man, for the sinful man.

Here it’s a very interesting scripture and I put, I think, seven different translations. Seven. It’s quite difficult to look which one is a clear one, but here I found this. Such a bless to be such a Blessing. In Job 17:3.

God Himself guarantees for Job. He guarantees himself for Job. He guarantees divine grace.

You can see on the screen. I would read maybe the fifth one. I am being honest. God accept my word. There is no one else to support what I say.

Who will be my guarantor?

New King James, the first one. Now put down a pledge for me with yourself. Who is he who will shake hands with me? Here God himself becomes the guarantor for Job. If Job represents mankind that fall into the sin, God himself puts himself as a guarantor.

What does it mean when somebody puts himself as a guarantor or a Sponsor or the last one. I like it from contemporary English version. If you, Lord, don’t help, who will pay the price for my release?

So it means God knows what he’s doing absolutely is worth it of what he’s doing, and he’s doing this for the benefit of whose guarantee this is placed upon. I think it shows so much the love of God and his grace towards mankind and his desire to help us.

Now this word, the patience of Job or endurance, comes from 5281. Hypomonem, patient, endurance, cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy.

Our Lord Jesus Christ embodies this patient endurance of constancy. Hebrews 12:3 calls believers to consider him who endureth such hostility from sinner so we will not grow weary and lose heart. His earthly life illustrates obedience maintained through suffering, climaxing at the cross where he remained under until redemption was secured. Now before we go more into this and we’re going to look how it applies now, we will switch if Jonathan can help us going in the book and if you have the Bibles we can open in the book of Job, we are going to look hopefully very quickly at seven points that might be interesting and helpful for us as new creatures as well. Chapter one.

Yes.

Okay, I’ll stop sharing.

So we are very familiar with the scripture and if we can. Yeah, if you can scroll a little bit so we can have it as we are talking.

The first thing, if God inspires the book, there are two things that appear here. Job was a man that was blameless and upright or righteous, and one who feared God and shunned evil or departed from evil. There are two characteristics of a man that is pleasing to God. One is, that’s righteous, it’s upright, and the second one is not enough to be righteous.

It’s to fear God and depart from evil. The fear of the God is the beginning of wisdom, and we know that wisdom is also declared as being departing from evil. So he’s righteous. The second thing that happens and we talk a little bit, Job makes mediation.

When we look further down in the verses, he’s bringing sacrifices after the feasting of his son’s burnt offering early in the morning. Now it’s very interesting here if you look in verse five that Job sends for his sons and daughters to come to him. Most likely they are of age. They’re old enough to have their own houses. So he holds the ones that are in his family, even though they are of age, to this responsibility of seeing your father on your behalf.

Bring sacrifices in case that you Might have sinned without knowing they are not most likely living at the same standard as his living. But that does not stop him to bring the attention that his standard will not be changed by anything. On the contrary, he will mediate for them because he loves them and he wants their well being and blessing. I think this really shows his heart, and it seems that Job did this regularly early in the morning.

That’s also a lesson for us that it can happen.

What happens after this? We know the adversary goes and God says, where you’re coming from? Oh, I’m coming from going around the earth. Have you seen my servant Job? Yes.

What is he saying? There’s no one like him. Now this is where I’m trying to shift our minds. Can God say the same thing about us? Have you seen my servant John in Chicago?

Or have you seen my servant Bill? There’s no one like him.

The lesson that what happens afterwards is the lesson that if somebody lives godly, God, not only that values him, will allow persecution, testing, trials to come upon him. Because the adversary wants to destroy. That not his primary target is not necessarily the humans. He wants to destroy because the Lord says that he’s a thief and he knows only to steal, destroy and cause death. But he wants to hurt God.

He wants to show God that no one will serve him. So it’s the same here where we have this conversation. He says, well, he’s like that because you have blessed the work of his hands.

So what is he asking to do first? This was an interesting aspect that I was looking at. He’s asking, well, if you take some of his possessions away, he’ll give up on you.

Why is not Satan trying to crush Job with the strongest blow? Like they say in the world, when you strike someone, strike them with your strongest blow so you can destroy them quick and fast. All right, why do you think Satan goes only, okay, let’s take his possessions away. Have you ever thought. I never thought till I was looking into a, into a study, not only of this.

What was the first temptation that Satan went to Jesus? He tempted him with a bread. If for a bread you deny God, how much more God will suffer? Well, then he offered him the whole world, and still Jesus stays strong.

So I think with Job, he tries the same thing. Yeah, he’s righteous because you give him material things, take these little things from him, little material things he’ll deny you. Of course we know Job does not deny him. Satan is causing everything to disappear in one single day. Satan goes back, says, well, yeah, right, but look he’s got his children.

Take his children away. He’ll deny it. He’ll deny you. He’ll not stay uprighteous. So he gets to harder difficulties, right?

Do we see a parallel here? The Lord says, whoever shall follow me shall deny himself, and that denial means give up everything. Apostle Paul says, I have considered everything but trash or garbage for the honor to know him. But then Jesus says, whoever has given father, mother, sisters.

I think it’s Mark 10:32. If I’m not right, wrong for me will receive hundredfold and everlasting life. So it goes deeper. It means of prioritization of who we serve and why we serve. Then later on he says, well, now maybe his skin.

Let’s see the health God. It’s very interesting that the adversary doesn’t understand. I don’t think there is a parent, or maybe there is, but I don’t think there is a parent that will rather have his children suffer and die before he will give their lives for their children. That if any of us will be put to chosen will we sacrifice for our children. I think most parents would die before they will let their children die, if there is a choice.

But Satan comes and he takes his children away. Of course he is not allowed to touch his flesh, but it’s quite interesting that only after that he’s going to his health.

So now, because he’s so godly, he’s touching with boys, most likely leprosy, Job. That’s quite something. Because this whole aspect of Job’s life and the fact that he’s an example to the believer, throws out the window the prosperity gospel, wealth and health, prosperity gospel. It really throws it down the window. We will not dwell on that.

But just think about it. So godlier he becomes and more stubborn to say in his righteousness of not giving up God more he suffers. Now the Satan comes then through a very delicate at the end when he sees that he does not deny this.

If we keep looking, have you consider my servant Job, Skin for skin. If we can go further down, we see that he does not, and then painful boils. Yes, we can go further, and then we know right here.

How is Satan trying to really throw him off? He really tries to throw him off through his wife. The closest aid that God gave to man is his wife. He says that God saw that it was not good for men to be alone. How is it possible that God is creating something that is not good?

It’s not good, not in the sense that it’s sinful, but it’s very good to Have a support. So Satan is using his ultimate weapon, so to speak, through the help that God gave him. Quite interesting that the same thing happened with Mother Eve. Later on we see Lot’s wife and we see examples that the ones that are very godly sometimes are misunderstood by the closest to them, including wives, husbands or friends, as we will see in the next chapters. So unless someone is a new creation, things are changing.

That’s why there is no man or woman in the new creation. Because the new creation understand each other’s spirit, they reward each other’s spirit, and that’s what sometimes the hardest trials are coming within a family. If the family are not both into Christ or dedicated to the Lord. That’s where sometimes the most difficult experiences are coming.

Now, very interesting that Job says to her, you speak as one of the foolish women speaks. He doesn’t call her a foolish woman, since the words that you are saying are the worst. The words that are not wise. Very interesting because he stays with her and God blesses them. But the basis of his faith, and I think the basis of Christian faith, is that God has given and God has taken away.

Praised be his name. So in all the book of Job, Job is never addressing the adversary.

He has no time for him, because why? He knows that God allows good and evil. His business is not with the adversary. His business is accepting God’s providences, and that’s when, only when he accepts that God’s wisdom is so much higher than that, what he considers righteous, self righteousness.

He sees God eventually, as we know when God speaks later on from chapter 38 through 42, and he accepts the fact that God’s plans are so much higher than his plans. He did not understand why God allows something to happen, and he recognizes that the redemption and the fact that salvation can come only from God through him.

Let’s look a little bit into Job’s three friends.

And now we might go a little bit faster. First time this word perseverance, and we’re going to look as an example for us in our Christian walk and what lessons we can learn comes in Luke 8, 15. So the same word that is quoted in James as an example.

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. So we are going to look at this ingredient of patient endurance or consistency, how important it is for us. Last time is used in the New testament. It’s in second Peter 1, 5, 8, which we know very well, and we see that this perseverance precedes Godliness.

One cannot be godly without persevering in doing good while suffering or persecuting. It’s a very interesting thing, and all these things bring together fruitfulness in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This word hypomone, or patient endurance, does not earn salvation, yet it inseparably accompanies saving faith. Romans 2:7 links Eternal life with those who, by perseverance in doing good, seek glory, honor and immortality. Likewise, in Hebrews 10:36, we are urged, you need endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Genuine faith perseveres. Counterfeit faith collapses under testing.

Luke 8:13 15.

Progressive sanctification also requires hypomone or patient endurance. In James 1:3:4 explains that trials produce perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work, so the believer becomes mature and complete. The virtue therefore shapes Christlikeness through every hardship. So see that Job is never debating the fact at the end that God has such a purpose to learn, to teach him the lesson forged through suffering. So it’s interesting.

It’s the same very word that’s used to look at Job, right for his endurance. Trials and afflictions are the divinely appointed furnace in which endurance is tempered. We also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Far from hindering spiritual growth, adversity is the means by which character is refined and hope deepened. How many of us, we went through a suffering and we felt God closer than ever before, and every suffering, every experience, it might be a joyful experience, will bring us closer to God.

It’s interwoven with faith, hope and love. Faith trusts God’s word, hope anticipates its fulfillment, and love serves others, even when costly Hippomones sustain all three. First, Thessalonians 1:3 commends the work of faith, labor of love and endurance of hope. Without perseverance, faith would wither, hope would fade and love would falter.

Before we go into historical witness and time is fleeing, I will bring to your attention and meditation that Job really loves God, and he doesn’t give up because he loves God.

Now would be a lot to say and read, but I think through everything, and God loves him because of that, because of his purity and sincerity and conscience.

The only thing is being said for a long time and in many different civilization, that the only characteristic that makes from the biggest coward, the most courageous warrior is love. I think it’s so true when you love something or someone, you’re ready to suffer everything for that, and I present to your thinking the fact that Job loved God more than anything else, and he proved this through all the suffering that he went through. But he understands after God speaks to him that God loves him. Before he loved God, and so is with the Christians.

We love him because he loved us first.

Historical witness in regards to this early Christian literature echoes the New Testament emphasis on this word hippomone on this virtue. 2nd century martyrdom accounts praise hippomone as believers faced arena and flames. They were thinking a job, and they faced arena and flames, and this patient’s cheerful endurance help them endure the flames and the martyrdom. This virtue distinguished Christians from pagan fatalism.

It testified to resurrection, hope and the indwelling spirit. Eschatological significance so when we look in apocalyptic passages, portrays the patient in duress as indispensable in the last days, especially Revelation 13:10. This is a different translation, and 14:12 declare here is a call for the endurance of the saints or this is the determination or the point for the endurance of the saints. Revelation 3:10 promises preservation for those who have kept Christ’s command to persevere.

Endurance equips the church to withstand persecution and deception until Christ’s kingdom is fully established. Now we will look at a few personal applications. 1. Cultivate endurance through the Scripture. For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:4 2. Pray for divine guidance. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the endurance of Christ. 2nd Thessalonians 3:5 embrace trials as training. Suffering is not accidental but purposeful.

Conforming believers to Christ. 4. Encourage one another. Brotherly service and worship, mutual exhortation and discipleship. Sustain perseverance through the perseverance of our gathering, through the constancy of our dedication to serve each other in love brings fruit.

We have Luke 8:15. But the one we read in Scripture, the one that fell on the good ground, are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

In John 15:16, the Lord says something so wonderful, you did not choose me God chose Job. God says here through his Son, you did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask, the Father in my name he may give you.

We see at the end, and we will not read the Scriptures because of Time. But we all remember that God is telling all his three friends, Job’s three friends, well, he has to pray for you to be forgiven. So here the Lord says that if we go and bring fruit, whatever we ask in the Father’s name, he will give us. So these five aspects, they are all to the glory of God. Now going back to our friends, before we conclude Job’s friends, we all know that they come most likely from far away and they stay with him first time for seven days.

How many of us, without saying nothing, how many of us have friends that will come and stay with us in our sufferings, hospitals or home or anywhere for seven days?

Most likely they had business, they were well off. People see how the society is changing. Maybe we don’t have friends that will stay with us without saying nothing, just to observe and intake the suffering for seven hours or seven minutes. When is the last time you stayed next to someone, a close friend, for seven minutes without saying nothing? I mean, we’re not talking about sleeping or driving in the car, right?

But conscientiously looking because they come, they see him in his suffering. I think that shows the fact that, that he’s appreciated for what he does. But then their attitudes and we’ll go really fast through these mild, short suggestions of what it might represent.

Well, we will not go into representation. Let’s just look at what they are doing. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, two of them come to attack Job three times, harder and harder each time. One of them comes twice. That’s in chapter three through 31.

Eliphaz is the one that comes and he’s really coming, and he says, well, God spoke to me in secret. He revealed to me how you know evil you are. He is righteous and you should listen to me, and surely you have seen.

Bildad comes maybe a little bit softer to Job in a way, but he still is accusing him gently, just very subtle saying, well, we have the traditions of the fathers. Since the world has started, this is what happened. We should not disturb the order of things. But surely you have made some mistakes here in the traditions of, you know, what happened and what we know to be truth. So far the third one, he’s his hardest critic.

He’s a self appointed critic. He seems like a very angry man. He’s accusing him quite strongly and it’s very interesting to see his answers. We are not going to look at that because of the time, maybe at a different time or through a study.

But all these are criticizing him. Why are they mistaking what is the Spirit they criticize Job from? Even if they are right. Let’s say, even if they are right, why do they criticize him? Who criticized Jesus the most?

The closest friends, in a way, and sometimes, well, the ones that they were religious. Maybe not the closest friends, but the religious, the scribes and the Pharisees, more than the Greeks or the Romans. Right? So the Christians might criticize us the most when they really look.

And if we live godly, they might really, really criticize us in the harshest way. Even if they are right. God says, well, Job did not have any mistakes. He did not disobey me, and we have that statement that God speaks in chapter 42.

We will go towards a conclusion right now.

We should never forget that Jesus Christ embodies all the virtues. Colossians 1:19. For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell. So he is our utmost model, and you will be hated by all for my namesake.

But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22 Just like.

Job was left alone, we see that our Lord Jesus was left alone. In John 16:32, he said, you shall all desert me. You shall all run to your own. But I will not be alone. He says, that’s so comforting, because the Father is with me.

We see that Job is deserted by everyone.

He is advised to even curse God and die, and he stands so strong, and he gets through the answer from God, to a closeness and fellowship with God, that God says, well, you can even pray for your friends, and I’ll forgive them.

And if this will be unique, I want to bring you the last scripture before we conclude, to show that the followers of Christ, we have a scripture that speaks. It’s not only Jesus that was left alone. 2nd Timothy 4:16. Apostle Paul says, 2nd Timothy 4:16. At my first defense, no one supported me, but all deserted me, may not be counted against them.

You see this wonderful spirit, the same Spirit that it’s in Job. Job doesn’t hate his friends. He mediates for them, he prays for them. He sees that God allowed that to happen to him for his development at the end, he goes through this. He’s not vengeful.

The same thing Apostle Paul here, the same thing with our Lord, and what really the lesson is in here is the lesson of authority. Jesus tells Pilate, you will have no power over me if it will not have been given to you from above. Job seems to know this adversary has no power unless God allows him to do something. We should trust with all our being the same thing, that anything that happens in our life is for us to be in the school of Christ, to learn to become more Christlike, to trust in God, and that through his grace we shall overcome.

May we strive through the Holy Spirit by that we might each day be more Christlike. So God can look down and say, have you seen my servant? There is none like him or her. May God forgive anything said or presented amiss.

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