Jesus’ birth was one very pivotal event in God’s gospel story that reaches back to the very beginning of time itself and even further. God gave John, the beloved disciple, the job of helping us understand more fully the significance of Jesus’ birth and who Jesus was and is. John begins his Gospel by declaring that Jesus is God, rather than beginning with an account of His birth. But one must ask, “Why is this so important?” This is the question this session of Explore the Bible: In The Beginning, will answer as we begin a study of the Gospel of John.

Sometime between A.D. 85-95, God directed John to write the Gospel of John.  John was one of Jesus' most beloved apostles. He wrote the gospel while living in Ephesus, a Greek city and culture, but he grew up in a Jewish background and culture in the areas of Galilee and Judea. It is through this gospel that God reveals Himself to us through His Son. He teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Word of God, is God, and is the One who reveals God. 

John begins the gospel by giving a very unique name to Jesus: "Word" or logos. But being the “Word” means so much more than we can ever imagine. Listen to how John describes the “Word.”

Jesus (The Word) is God because He is eternal – John 1:1-2

John refers to Jesus as the "Word" (Greek "Logos") four times in the Prologue, three of them in reference to His preincarnate state (all in v. 1) and the fourth in reference to the incarnation (v. 14). One must ask why John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, chose "Word" (Greek "Logos") as a designation for God’s Son? 

In the Old Testament, God often revealed Himself and His personality through His word. The Old Testament contains hundreds of references to God’s word (“the word of the LORD”) and God speaking (“this is what the LORD says”). 

The word was also personified in many Old Testament passages such as:

• Isaiah 7:3, “The Lord said to Isaiah.”
• Psalm 107:20, “He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from their traps.”
• Isaiah 55:11, “So my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

John took this idea one step further—from logos personified to logos as a Person indicating that the Word is God’s final Spokesman. Notice also that John refers to the beginning in verse 1 and ends with the beginning in verses 1-2.

Imagine this as a loop. John begins with the beginning and ends with the beginning as he describes Jesus as the Word. 

What does this communicate to you regarding Jesus? What do you think of when you think of the word “beginning”? 

Genesis 1:1 tells us that, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Is this the beginning John is referring to when describing Jesus as the Word?

The Word Was in The Beginning

Genesis 1:1 refers to the starting point for time, space, and matter whereas John 1:1 refers to the Word’s existence before time, space, and matter existed. This becomes clear when, in Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” The word “us” points, not only to the Word, but to the entire Trinity being in existence before time began as we understand it. 

The imperfect tense of John’s use of the word “beginning” indicates that the Word always existed. It’s evident by this passage that the beginning transcends what we can understand as a beginning. Jesus Christ is the only human who existed prior to conception and birth. There has never been a moment when the Word was not. 

The Word was with God. 

The Greek preposition translated “with” denotes an intimate relationship. This second statement reveals that the Word existed in an intimate relationship with God the Father, indicating He was not the Father but was eternally with Him.

The Word was God. 

The absence here of the Greek definite article before God indicates that the Word has the essence, nature, and attributes of God. Everything true about God—omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, love, grace, and so on—is also true about the Word. The Word is God—co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father. Both are deity: God (the Father) and the Word. 

Many people want to relegate Jesus to the status of a great teacher, a great prophet, or that He somehow became God’s Son through His actions, but these views are woefully inadequate and are nothing short of blasphemy.

Jesus (The Word) is God because He is Creator – John 1:3-5

Jesus (the Word) was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him. Apart from Him, not one thing was created. The ETB Leader guide emphatically states it this way, “The phrase all things leaves nothing out. Every aspect of existence came into being as a result of Christ’s deliberate action.”

Since God created everything, yet "apart from Him (the Word) not one thing was created," what does this mean about God and Jesus? 

One must go back again to the word “Us” in Genesis 1:26. Jesus and God are one. They were both present at creation. Jesus didn't show up later after God created everything, nor was He one of God’s created beings. He was and is the Creator.

Jesus (The Word) is God because He IS life – John 1:4-5

John used a Greek term for life (zoe, pronounced: ZOH ee) to refer to both physical and spiritual life. John took advantage of both usages throughout his Gospel. The theme of eternal life is one of the most important themes in John, paralleling the significance in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke on the theme of the Kingdom of God (Heaven). The term life occurs twice in this verse and more than 40 times throughout John’s Gospel. The reader is alerted to keep both the physical and the spiritual usages of the term "life" in mind when reading John’s Gospel. 

When John wrote in 1:4 that life was in Jesus, he meant physical life, tying the statement to the previous verse on creation. He also meant spiritual life, as the rest of John’s Gospel will spell out for us. The spiritual sense of life seems to be in view in the statement that life was the light of all humanity. Notice that John tells us that darkness can’t overcome the light.

How would you explain this to someone today using what we understand about the science behind light and darkness. Why can't darkness overcome light?

When John spoke of the light shining in the darkness, he used the present tense, meaning the light “continually shines.” Jesus the Light is shining continuously and is as bright today as He was when John wrote in the first century. The term darkness portrays that, in His incarnation, Jesus came into a sin-cursed world where the darkness, symbolizing moral evil, opposes the light, God’s righteousness. When Jesus came into this world He fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah who said those living in darkness would see a great light in the Messiah (Isaiah 9:1-2).

When the Light appears, darkness must vanish, much like a light in a completely dark cave disperses the darkness. Spiritually speaking, darkness can never overcome the light of Christ. While evil may appear to be making advancements or overcoming the light, Christ will always prevail.

Jesus is God and not just a messenger – John 1:6-8

John briefly interrupted his presentation of Jesus to introduce John the Baptist. All the New Testament Gospels introduce Jesus’ ministry with a reference to the work and ministry of John the Baptist. By referring to John the Baptist as a man sent from God, the Gospel writer sought to show him due respect and to clarify his role.

John the Baptist was a witness to Jesus the Light. He was not God, nor was he a god. He was a messenger. If Jesus was just a man who became God, then John the Baptist could have become God, too. John uses this contrast to emphasize that Jesus was fully divine --Deity wasn't something He became; He came because He was Deity.

Believers are also messengers sent to tell others about the Light. This is our mission as believers and we should realize that the message of John the Baptist is one we should be boldly proclaiming today. Like John the Baptist, we might encounter times when we feel unworthy to be proclaiming the message as John did when Jesus asked to be baptized. Or we might assume that rejection is an indication of failure. However, we must remember that we AREN’T the light but only reflectors of THE LIGHT. Therefore, when we have doubts, failures, or are persecuted for our faith, we must remember that Jesus is still the Light that will overcome the darkness.

Jesus (The Word) is God because He Alone Offers Salvation – John 1:9-14

What was the purpose of this true light coming to everyone? How do these verses refute any notion that all will go to Heaven – the doctrine of universal salvation? 

The reference to everyone indicates the scope of God’s love, but sadly, not to the scope of people’s acceptance of Jesus. God loves all people and sends Jesus to enlighten everyone, but not everyone believes in Jesus. The true light, Jesus, provides light to everyone (see John 1:4). In this context, to give light refers to giving spiritual enlightenment. Jesus is uniquely qualified to open our eyes to the reality of God and our need for a Savior. Our minds are empowered through Him to see spiritual things, notably our sin and God’s love. Many people reject Him. For this reason, no doctrine of universal salvation can be found here. Not everyone will go to Heaven just because Jesus came.

Based on these verses, how would you describe what believing in Jesus’ name means?

John explains that, to believe in Jesus’ name means to totally “buy into” what Jesus revealed in His ministry. True believers make a lifelong surrender to live according to God’s Word and under the direction of His Spirit. Such a relationship results in Jesus giving us the authority, or power, to be children of God. Only God can give us the right to be His children.

How does verse 13 refute the idea that there are many roads to God?

John emphasized that salvation is not a result of biological action. Being born as a child of Christian parents doesn’t automatically make the child a believer. Nor is salvation a matter of fulfilling natural human desires. Finally, salvation is not a matter of the human will. Only God can give salvation.

The Word for You

John ends this passage with an incredible description of the Word, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John penned these words 60-70 years after Jesus' resurrection. He was one of three apostles in Jesus' inner circle.

Imagine being John as he penned verse 14 to conclude all he had previously said about Jesus. What images and feelings might have surfaced as you wrote these words?

Have you ever considered why God would/should reveal Himself to you? What are your thoughts on this, based on John’s description of Jesus?

In what ways might this passage help you explain who Jesus is to someone else?

The impact of John’s statement in verse 14 in common language might be something like this: “the Word became a living, breathing Person, and He moved in next door to us.” The Living Word came near enough to view so that you and I would have the opportunity to draw near to Him. He became what He had never been. God became Jesus of Nazareth! He is fully human, yet fully divine. He reconciles humanity and God in His Person, providing redemption for a lost world.

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. 

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Have you ever spent time waiting for an upcoming surgery, medical test results, in a traffic jam, or in an amusement park line? I'm sure your emotional responses to waiting in each of these situations were different. Waiting during these situations pales in comparison to the emotions we might experience as we wait for God to work. Lifeway's Explore the Bible Study: Hope Found (Personal Title: Waiting on God), will help you understand that waiting on God is only possible when we understand God’s plan.

Imagine you were Micah, and you were waiting for God to work once again with the people of God. Micah had observed the reality of their sins repeatedly. They had followed the cultural patterns of their society instead of God’s patterns for living as His covenant people. Their sins were so numerous and glaring they had no defense.  It’s during this period of waiting that Micah expresses his struggle with all he has observed and his reliance on God’s promises and redemptive actions. Micah 7:1-6 begins with the reality once again regarding all Micah had observed and how this made waiting on God so difficult.

Waiting on God is difficult when things appear hopeless – Micah 7:1-6

Micah begins with the phrase, “How sad for me!” He is expressing despair and hopelessness. He grieved about what he was observing taking place in society. Here are the actions that grieved him so much:

• Micah 7:2 – Faithful and upright people had vanished from the land.
• Micah 7:2 – The only people who remained in the land were those who were looking for the opportunity to shed blood. If no one came along to attack, then they went out hunting for their prey with a net. 
• Micah 7:3 – They were very proficient or ambidextrous in their ability to do what was evil. They were “all in” when it came to doing evil.
• Micah 7:3 – Officials and judges demanded bribes. It was a well-oiled machine of political and judicial corruption.
• Micah 7:3 – The powerful banded together to plot evil.
• Micah 7:4 – Even the best of them were like briers. They were worse than a hedge of thorns.
• Micah 7:5 – Can’t trust or rely on anyone including friends and family.
• Micah 7:6 – Children and the children’s spouses turn against the parents. Households became enemies to one another.

Consider how these actions might be expressed today in our society. How does experiencing this make waiting on God more difficult?

Micah had remained faithful to God, but as he witnessed the depravity of the people of God, he felt alienated, isolated, and discouraged. He compared his feelings to the farmer who gathers the summer fruit and grapes, only to discover he has nothing to show for it. 

As we wait for God, it can become discouraging when it seems that people are continually moving far from God. One must ask, “How can we demonstrate our commitment to love God and others, even if it doesn’t seem to be making a difference?” Micah gives us the answer to this question in the next passages.

Waiting is sustained by God’s promises - Micah 7:7-10

Micah looked to the promises of God and how He had worked in the past to help him overcome the brutal reality of what he was observing. He knew God would deal with sin, and he knew God would keep His covenant with those who loved Him and remained faithful to Him. Micah emphatically stated that he would look to the Lord and wait for the God of [his] salvation. 

As you consider everything Micah said in this passage about looking to the Lord and waiting for God, how might you apply this to your life as you strive to remain faithful to Him in an ever-increasing evil world?

Looking to the Lord and waiting on His salvation means that, even in the most desperate of situations, we will not only hold on to our belief that God CAN deliver us, but we will also believe that He WILL deliver us. Micah was confident that God would bring about His perfect redemptive plans in the right way, at the right time, and measured with the right amount of judgment and grace. He trusted God even though his personal observations and experiences challenged his patience and faith.

Micah’s patience was not only sustained by the hope he had in God’s redemptive plans but in what he personally knew about God. 

Experiencing God’s love and forgiveness makes waiting worth it! – Micah 7:18-20

After all Micah had proclaimed about the rebellion of the people and God’s judgment, Micah concludes by remembering the wonderful works of the Lord that he and the Israelites had experienced. Micah reminds us that God is:

• Forgiving.
• He doesn’t destroy all people because there is a remnant that will follow God.
• He doesn’t hold on to his anger because He delights in faithful love.
• He has compassion - suggesting a tender, maternal love that a mother would have for her child.
• He vanquishes our iniquity. He liberates us from our enemy which is sin.

As We Wait

While Micah was speaking to the Israelites, this promise was ultimately accomplished through the person and work of Jesus. If we have truly experienced the love and forgiveness of Christ that only comes through confessing our sins and turning to Him to receive His salvation, then we know that waiting is something we can do. While we wait, we can live faithfully knowing that God, through Jesus Christ, will ultimately complete His plan of redemption.

How can you demonstrate an attitude of faith as you wait for God to continue to work to bring about His redemptive plans?

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. Be sure to use this as a supplement to your study of the Explore the Bible Study resources provided by LifeWay.

There are times when we give up on a team, someone, or a situation when it appears all is lost, only to discover later that we were wrong, and we missed out on something that could have been very special to us. Lifeway's Explore the Bible Study: Humble Beginnings (Personal Title Change: Don't Give Up!) focuses on a victory no one expected would take place. It follows what Micah describes in chapter 4. 

Micah 4 describes a period of distress where all appears to be lost. While the people might have given up all hope of a victory, God reminds them through His prophet, that the game isn’t over yet! 

With both kingdoms of Israel destroyed, including the Jerusalem temple, and with the people dispersed throughout the conquering lands, God will be the Victor. The victory that will come will be a testimony to all the nations that God is the one true King. He will reign eternally over His people and all nations from Mount Zion.  Israel’s wicked kings will be replaced with His own King, who will shepherd them with strength that only comes from the Lord. True peace will be experienced on earth, and those who walk with the Lord will do so for eternity. 

Imagine, as you examine this passage, that there is a ballgame where all the fans are leaving the stands and heading for home because it appears the game is lost. Suddenly, everyone hears the announcement that their team is making a comeback. When we think all is lost today, if we know Jesus Christ, then we know the game isn’t over. Yet, sometimes, we are tempted to give up and quit because things seem hopeless.

God’s words to Israel through His prophet Micah should remind us that God is still at work and His plans for victory are still in play. We should not lose hope and give up.

Don’t Give Up: The Lord will gather and restore—Micah 4:6-8

By "on that day," Micah is referring to what he previously stated about the future when the temple would be restored, and the nations of the world would come to it to hear from the Lord. Micah reveals that what happens “on that day” is planned by God Himself; therefore, these plans cannot be thwarted. It also reveals the grace and love of God for His people.

God would gather those who had sinned and were currently experiencing the consequences of their sin that God had pronounced on all who sin against Him. Yet, there would come a time when God would gather them.

The gathering of those who were lame and scattered included much more than just bringing them back to a location. How does verse 7 describe a transformation in the lives of those who God will gather? How does this compare to what we know and understand regarding how God transforms one who receives Christ?

According the Explore the Bible Leader Commentary, the Hebrew phrase, “I will make” means “I will transform.” God will not only gather, but He will also transform them into a people that will be His light to the nations. This is equally true for those who receive Christ. The following passages should remind us of this promise to those who receive Christ (scroll over each passage to read): 2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Peter 2:9-10.

This Old Testament promise to Israel also pointed to God’s future plans of salvation and restoration that would be available to all who were “far removed” or “far from God” and who would respond to God’s offer of salvation as did this “remnant” of Israel. It points to the birth of a future ruler born in Bethlehem after the remnant returns from exile. He would be the humble ruler who would give His life for His sheep and would ultimately bring peace to the hearts of those who would follow Him and eventually bring peace throughout all the earth.

Don’t Give Up: The Lord will rescue and bring peace—Micah 5:1-6

This passage begins with Micah speaking of a distressing time for Jerusalem, yet he offers hope in spite of what they are about to face.

According to GotQuestions.org, Jesus is this “new David” as confirmed by this passage. It specifically states that the birthplace of this future “ruler of Israel” would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. Since there were two locations known as Bethlehem at the time of Micah’s writing, the addition of Ephrathah is significant. It specifies the Bethlehem in Judah, the portion of Israel in which the capital, Jerusalem, was located. Bethlehem was considered “little,” or insignificant, among the cities of Judah, yet it would serve as the birthplace of this future ruler.  Only Jesus Christ fits the Messianic claims of this passage. In Matthew 2, wise men from the East visited King Herod in Jerusalem and asked where the king of the Jews had been born. Herod assembled all the chief priests and scribes, and “he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’” basing their answer on Micah 5:2.

Micah also describes how this “ruler of Israel” would rule, which also points to Jesus:

• He tells us that He has always existed—"His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.” Jesus is not only the promised Ruler, but He is God incarnate; thus He has existed and will exist for eternity.
• He would stand as one who is in charge but would rule as a shepherd who would care for the needs of His people. He would rule “in the strength of the Lord,” indicating that He would be all-powerful. He would also rule “in the majestic name of the Lord His God,” meaning He would be ruling on the Lord’s behalf as His representative.
• Finally, He “will be their peace.” Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace also includes the external existence of peace and the internal experience of peace. Neither of these are possible without Jesus Christ.

How would you describe to someone that Jesus Christ is your peace?

Don’t Give Up:  God gives purpose to those who follow Him—Micah 5:7-9

The Explore the Bible leader commentary tells us that Micah began with a statement that is both sad and joyous at the same time. Some exiles would not survive the captivity. However, there would be a “remnant” who would, and they would have a tremendous impact on the nations.  God would use the remnant of Israel to bless other nations like the dew and rain brings relief to a dry land. They would thus fulfill their purpose as described by God to Abraham—“All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (see Genesis 12:3). 

Micah reminds us that this purpose is not without conflict, which is obvious by the fact that they will be a source of judgment. 

This remnant would be an instrument of God’s judgment on those who reject Him as well.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 2:16 that believers will also be both a source of blessing and an instrument of God’s judgment to all nations when they faithfully share and show the good news of Jesus—"To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life.”

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 23:31-34; 41 that the purpose we are to fulfill as believers will ultimately be completed by Him: “31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world . . . 41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!” 

A Missed Win

It was reported in 2013 that the Miami Heat fans had developed a reputation of not being the most faithful to their team. In waning moments of Game 6 in the 2013 Finals, Ray Allen connected on a monstrous 3-pointer leading to a Miami Heat win. Yet their fans had given up any hope of a win, resulting in a mass exodus of Heat fans down the stretch.  When fans heard the Heat were mounting a furious comeback, they reportedly begged to be let back into the arena but weren't allowed. One reporter put it this way, “Well, perhaps the guilty will learn their lesson: never lose hope in your team.”

As we once again move toward December and the celebration of Christ’s birth in that little town called Bethlehem, let’s encourage one another to never lose hope in God and His work. God is still at work, even in a world where it seems we are becoming more and more of a “remnant” of His people. Let’s never lose hope in our God and Savior!

If you are a believer, what might cause you to lose hope today?

How can remembering that God will gather and restore those who follow Him, keep you from giving up?

How can remembering that God rescues and gives peace, keep you from giving up?

How can understanding God’s purpose for us, keep you from giving up?

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. Be sure to use this as a supplement to your study of the Explore the Bible Study resources provided by LifeWay.

A secular business survey developed by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, co-authors of The Leadership Challenge, asked this question, “What do you most admire and look for in a leader?” The results consistently indicated there were 5 top qualities a leader should possess: honest, competent, inspiring, forward looking, and courageous. The prophet Micah spoke to a time when neither the civic nor the spiritual leaders of Israel were godly leaders. Their motives and actions were ungodly, and what’s even more alarming is that the people chose to follow and embrace the leadership of these ungodly leaders. Explore the Bible Study: Leaders Needed will focus on the qualities these ungodly leaders possessed and the results of ungodly leadership.

Micah was active as a prophet during the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria in 722 BC. He was a prophet, primarily, but not exclusively, to the Southern Kingdom of Judah during the time when Hosea, Isaiah, and possibly Amos were active as prophets.

During his ministry, God directed him to deliver a message concerning the capitals of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria), and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Jerusalem). That message focused on the judgment that was coming because of ungodly leadership and because people willingly followed those leaders.

After laying out his case like a prosecuting attorney in a courtroom, in chapters 1-2, God leads Micah, in chapter 3, to describe the results of ungodly leadership. Micah will describe three things that we should consider today as we lead and follow civil and church leaders.

1. Ungodly Civil Leadership Exposed
2. Ungodly Church Leadership Exposed
3. The Results of Ungodly Leadership

First, Micah exposes ungodly civil leadership– Micah 3:1-4

Micah indicates in verse 1 that he is specifically addressing the civil leaders of the Northern and Southern Kingdom. These were leaders who were supposed to uphold justice and defend the cause of the weak and oppressed. He lays out specific charges that revealed their ungodliness.

Micah describes how these ungodly civil leaders perverted the basic principles God expected from His covenant people. Instead of loving good and hating evil, they were doing just the opposite and leading the entire nation to do just the opposite. 

Micah graphically describes these leaders by comparing them to bloodthirsty cannibals who meticulously devoured their victims. Notice the descriptions he uses to describe their ungodliness:

1. They skinned them.
2. They stripped their flesh from their bones.
3. They broke their bones.
4. They chopped them up like meat from a cooking pot.
5. They ate their flesh.

This description paints a repulsive picture of how these ungodly leaders treated people. These leaders totally consumed the weak and defenseless of their society for their own personal satisfaction. Notice also that these leaders didn’t act independently of one another. These ungodly leaders worked together for their own common good as they devoured helpless people. 

How can civic leaders today avoid becoming like these leaders?

How might ungodly civic leaders mistreat people today? 

Many try to compartmentalize their Christian faith from what is taking place in civil government. While we know Micah is addressing a nation that was a theocracy and not a democracy, are the issues Micah lays out still relevant?

Notice how these ungodly leaders responded to God when there was a catastrophe or crisis in Micah 3:4. In their case it might have been the coming invasions by the Assyrian armies. Verse 4 tells us that they “cry out to the Lord.”

Based on God’s response to their cries for help, it’s evident they weren’t repenting but were only desiring God to bail them out.

What can we learn regarding what we desire God to do in our own nation? How should this change the way we “cry out” to God?

Next Micah exposes ungodly church (spiritual) leadership – Micah 3:5-8

The spiritual leaders in Micah’s time were the prophets. These prophets were supposed to be proclaiming God’s message. They were authorized to speak on His behalf. Because of their ungodliness, they used their office for a different motive. Micah uses some interesting contrasts to describe their ungodliness:

• They were delivering false messages and claiming they came from God.
• They were misleading the people of God with the false messages.
• They intentionally led the people to turn away from God’s instruction.
• “The false prophets prostituted their office by giving a favorable or unfavorable message based on how much people could pay them.” (Source: ETB Leader Commentary)
• If someone paid well, they would turn a blind eye to their wicked ways.
• If someone couldn’t pay them, they would “declare war” against them, most likely meaning they would pronounce curses on them. 

God’s judgment would include:

• Micah 3:6—Darkness and silence. They would be unable to receive any answers from God when they sought Him.
• Micah 3:6—God would cause the “daylight to turn black over them.” This indicates that these false prophets were at one time walking with God. However, these false prophets allowed ungodliness and greed to grip their hearts. Their choices would ultimately blind them so that they could no longer receive visions from God.
• Micah 3:7—These ungodly spiritual leaders would be humiliated and shamed because they could no longer speak on behalf of holy God. “Their shame is emphasized by the statement they will cover their mouths. The covering of one’s mouth (literally “mustache” in Hebrew) was associated with the actions of an outcast from society (see Leviticus 13:45; Ezekiel 24:17,22). Therefore, not only would these prophets be cast out of God’s service, but they also would mourn over the loss of their status in the eyes of the people.” (Source: ETB Leader Commentary)

However, Micah reveals in Micah 3:8, the one thing that indicates someone is a godly spiritual leader. He uses his own life as the example. Notice what Micah says indicates that someone is a godly leader--They are filled with “power by the Spirit of the Lord.”

What are some indicators that would reveal a church leader today is striving to be filled with the Spirit? 

How can you, as the spiritual leader in your home and work, make sure you aren’t drifting toward the compromise that overcame the spiritual leaders described in these passages?

When ungodliness is declared there is no avoiding the demand to take responsibility for the choices made. If civic leaders or spiritual leaders choose the path of ungodliness, the results will be devastating for them and those who follow them.

The results of ungodly leadership—Micah 3:9-12

All the leaders of the nation—civic and spiritual—abhorred justice and perverted “everything that is right.” They twisted, perverted, and polluted everything God established to be right. They turned what was wrong into what was right and what was right into what was wrong.

The Explore the Bible Leader Commentary tells us that “these leaders celebrated and magnified themselves with magnificent building projects at the expense of others. They oppressed the weak by robbing them of their homes, their properties, and their lives. The civil leaders and magistrates, along with the religious leaders, were more concerned about getting rich than about rightly carrying out their responsibilities under God. In the courtrooms, judges were willing to help a person; if there was a religious issue, the priests were ready to take care of it; and if a person needed personal guidance, the prophets were more than willing to give a desired answer—as long as the money was right.”

Yet, they lived in this delusional state of mind, thinking that God was good with how they were acting and would not punish them. Micah’s message from God presented the reality that their assumptions were all wrong; disaster was coming upon them (See Micah 2:3).

Disaster would come upon both kingdoms because of them. They were the leaders who could have led differently, but they didn’t. They were the leaders who could have honored God, but they didn’t. Nothing would be spared. The farms, the cities, and the temple would be totally destroyed or laid to waste. The people would suffer at the hands of other nations. 

In 722 BC, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and its capital, Samaria, would be laid to waste by the Assyrians. In 586 BC, the Southern Kingdom of Judah and it’s capital, Jerusalem, would be laid to waste by the Babylonians, including the temple.

What About Today?

What if Micah were alive today and was speaking to our leadership? How would leaders respond? How would people respond? How would you respond? 

If believers consider pursuing public servant positions, these passages should remind them to protect themselves from following the path that leads to ungodliness. This is equally true for anyone who believes God is calling them to lead a local church. Additionally, all Christians are spiritual leaders to someone, and these passages should remind us all that we must protect ourselves from following the path that leads to ungodliness.

In what ways can you encourage those in office to pursue the path of godliness? In what ways can you encourage your church leaders to pursue the path of godliness? How can you encourage others to pursue the path of godliness?

As we conclude this session, we should remind ourselves of one more thing. It’s been said that you know you are a leader if you look behind you and people are following you. However, if the leaders we are following aren’t setting examples of godliness, then we are following leaders that will take us down the path toward destruction and disaster. If we follow ungodly leaders, we can’t just blame the leaders when things go wrong.

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. Be sure to use this as a supplement to your study of the Explore the Bible Study resources provided by LifeWay.

Do you find it difficult to understand that God completely forgives those who ask for forgiveness? “You are forgiven” is one of the greatest promises in Scripture. It’s the reason we can say that the gospel is good news. The Explore the Bible Study: The Restoration Promised helps us understand that, for us to experience the forgiveness of Christ, we must realize we need forgiveness because of the eternal, debilitating, and devastating results of sin.

Forgiveness isn’t something that is automatic but requires a response from those who realize they need forgiveness. Without someone coming to the realization of how they have dishonored God by the way in which they have abused the life He has given them, can one really seek forgiveness that is only available because of Christ.

The gospel of Christ is a call to all sinners to turn from their sin and be forgiven. Because God is holy and just, He must judge and punish sin. Yet, at the same time, He lovingly offers forgiveness to those who repent. The Explore the Bible study for this week reminds us that, “given that sin leads to death and turning to Christ in repentance and faith gives life, the wise thing to do is to respond in faith to Him.”

This is the message Hosea delivers in Hosea chapter 14. Hosea 11-13 continues to describe God’s judgment that is coming to Israel because of their blatant and continued sins against God and each other. God’s judgment was described as a loving Father’s discipline on His rebellious children that He takes no pleasure in enforcing, but He must. 

Then, in Hosea 14, God reveals through Hosea, the forgiveness that He offers to those who repent and turn to Him.  Hosea begins in 14:1-3 by describing what true repentance will look like.

A Picture of True Repentance – Hosea 14:1-3

Hosea tells them to “return to the Lord your God” because they had sinned. Hosea then tells them to “take words of repentance” with them when they return. But what were those words of repentance?

Their words of repentance express things that we too should express to the Lord when we are truly repentant:

• “Forgive all our iniquity” – They didn’t say “some” but “all” of their iniquities. It was to be complete, honest, and without any excuses or exceptions. It was admitting the sins that broke fellowship with Him. 
• “Accept what is good” – the good is what is acceptable to God. Accept the perfect will of God by being transformed through repentance and the forgiving power of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit – see Romans 12:2.
• “We may repay you with praise from our lips” – This is the idea that we have been completely forgiven and we acknowledge complete dependance and surrender to Christ by worshipping Him and Him alone. If we aren’t repentant, we won’t repay God with authentic praise from our lips.

Have you ever tried to praise God when you knowingly had unconfessed sin in your life? Do you find it difficult to worship Him? Do you feel free to worship the Lord when you have blatantly sinned? Imagine how much stronger your worship would be if you knew you had been forgiven for your sins!

The last phrase in this passage focuses on renouncing everything else in which we have placed our faith, other than God. For Israel it included: 

• “Assyria will not save us” – No longer depending on a foreign pagan country to save them.
• “We will not ride on horses” – No longer depending on their own resources like horses.
• “We will no longer proclaim, ‘Our gods!’” – No longer depending on the idols they created as crutches to their faith.

What outside forces do people hope will save them? What resources do people depend on more than God? What idols, superstitions, or other ideologies do people depend on to save them? Why is it difficult for people to come completely clean from these, repent, and turn to Christ for their salvation?

Finally, Hosea uses this phrase, “For the fatherless receives compassion in you.” God the Father is the only one who would truly show them compassion and help them in times of distress.

Sin separates us from holy God, leaving us feeling abandoned and alone as if we have no father. When we truly repent to God by confessing our sins, then God will come to us and show compassion to us as the fatherless would receive compassion.

We see in this passage what one must do to demonstrate a true repentance. Why do people find it so hard to come to Christ for forgiveness?

These admissions were essential to God’s people expressing true repentance. Now Hosea tells us about the true forgiveness that God will demonstrate to those who repent in Hosea 14:4-7.

A Picture of True Forgiveness – Hosea 14:4-7

Apostasy, is from the Greek word apostasia, meaning “a defiance of an established system or authority; a rebellion; an abandonment or breach of faith.” (Source: What is Apostasy and How Can I Recognize it, https://www.gotquestions.org/apostasy.html)

While we hear about apostasy in the New Testament, Hosea specifically states here that God will heal their apostasy, literally meaning He will “heal its turning.” The people of God had defied God, rebelled, abandoned their faith by turning to Assyria for protection, depended on their own resources for strength, and created their own gods to worship. This apostasy would be not just be forgiven, but it would be “healed”!

Why is healing a vital part of forgiveness? How does God heal us from sin when we are forgiven

Notice what else Hosea said God would do in verse 4 and the first phrase of verse 5: God would freely love them; His anger would be turned away; He would be like dew to Israel.

When you consider these elements of forgiveness, do you find it difficult to comprehend the completeness of God’s forgiveness? If so, why?

Notice what this complete forgiveness would do for Israel – They would blossom and take root again. This new life brought about through true repentance and God’s complete forgiveness would enable Israel to once again be a blessing and a witness to all people of God’s goodness.

How can embracing the completeness of God’s forgiveness described in these passages change the way you live, think, and treat others? 

Now Hosea provides a challenge one must consider. It is only those who are truly wise that will respond with true repentance.

Only the Truly Wise will Repent – Hosea 14:8-9

God concluded His message with a rhetorical question suggesting He had said all He wanted to say. Then the Lord revealed a final element regarding those who repent. It is only the wise who recognize that the ways of the Lord are right. They are the only ones who will respond with complete and true repentance and experience true and complete forgiveness. 

Those who are wise are those who walk in the ways of the Lord, meaning they submit to Him as Lord. In contrast, one who continues to rebel, who rejects the notion of complete repentance and utter dependance on God for forgiveness, is not wise. This person will stumble and be consumed by rebellious ways.

What About You?

We began by considering how hard it is for us to understand God’s forgiveness. Perhaps we still struggle with forgiveness because we haven’t completely turned to God. Perhaps we are acting as the unwise instead of the wise when it comes to faith in Christ. If so, consider what you must do to come to the point to which the Israelites had to come in order to experience God’s true forgiveness and experience the beauty that comes through that forgiveness. Consider what is keeping you from expressing complete and true repentance?

Consider repentance and forgiveness as expressed through the words of a song by David Crowder entitled Forgiven. May you live as one who is completely forgiven by Christ this week.

The downloadable teaching helps provide more details for this study, along with some tools you can use in guiding a group Bible study. Be sure to use this as a supplement to your study of the Explore the Bible Study resources provided by LifeWay.