[Q1. Responsibilities]

Q1. (1 Timothy 5:1-16) What responsibilities do we have to help aging family members?

ANSWER: Remember, although Paul is speaking directly to Timothy regarding the church in Ephesus, these principles are applicable to us as well. The first responsibility is, the Elders should be shown honor. Elders are deserving of financial remuneration for their work. That's the meaning of "worthy of double honor" (1 Timothy 5:17): (1) respect for their work as well as (2) the honor conferred through compensation (recompense ) and honorarium (fee).

Paul is very clear that children and grandchildren have an obligation to care for their own elderly parents. This is essentially the point of the fifth commandment, to honor one’s own father and mother. Since the fifth commandment is to "honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12), to fail to do so is to deny the very faith you claim to believe. Paul argues, that even unbelievers care for their aged relatives. Not to take on this responsibility makes one worse than an "unbeliever" or "infidel."

According to Paul, in what way is this our Christian responsibility?

ANSWER: The ancient world had great respect for those who had risen to old age.It is well documented that the elderly population is growing rapidly. Those who were called "baby boomers" (1946-1964) are all reaching the age of retirement. We see something else happening, older people are increasingly being seen as marginal. The high value placed on youth has resulted in some seeing the older population as out-of-date and irrelevant.

Paul points out that the church should be there to take care of those widows who are genuinely in need. After all, the church is a family. Families should provide for their widowed relatives – See verses 4 and 8. The first criteria Paul gives is that if the widows have surviving relatives (specifically descendants), these should provide for them. The church was not to step in and take care of widows who could and should be supported by their own families.

In what way is this a “repayment” of a debt?

ANSWER: Caring for one's parents and grandparents is God's way of "repaying"  or "requiting" them for In Paul’s way of thinking, children accumulate a kind of debt before their parents. First, and most obviously, your parents gave you the gift of life. If you were raised in a Christian home you have even more to be grateful for since your parents introduced you to the Bible, took you to church, and told you the gospel. They spent endless hours in prayer, seeking God’s favor on your behalf.

Taking care of your parents is an expression of love and devotion for them before anyone else. It's a way of giving them back all the love and effort they showered us with while raising us. Caring for the elderly important because it enables them to live a higher quality of life until the end.

To what does Paul compare those who refuse this responsibility?

ANSWER: In 1 Timothy 5:4, 8,16 Paul makes it very clear that families should care for their own. Paul makes it absolutely clear that believers are expected to provide for aged family members. He gives strong language claiming that those who do not take care of their own families are worse than unbelievers. Even unbelievers care for their aged relatives, Paul argues. Not to take on this responsibility makes one worse than an "unbeliever" or an "infidel.” Caring for one's parents and grandparents is God's way of "repaying" or "requiting.”

[Q5. King of Glory]

Q5. (Revelation 11:15; Psalm 24:7) When people think of spending an eternity in heaven, who do they most look forward to being with?

ANSWER: Our relationships in heaven, according to Scripture, tells us we will all be living with the same person (Jesus), in the same place (heaven), with God’s people (the church). Christ said that there won’t be human marriage in heaven (Matthew 22:30). Yet there will be marriage in heaven, one marriage, between Christ and his bride, and his people will all be part of it (Ephesians 5:31-32). Our source of comfort isn’t only that we’ll be with the Lord in heaven but also that we’ll be with each other.

Relatives? When people think of spending an eternity in heaven, who do they most look forward to being with?

ANSWER: Many people say that the first thing they want to do when they arrive in heaven is see all their friends and loved ones who have passed on before them. That will indeed be a blessed time as believers reunite to fellowship, worship God, and enjoy the glorious wonders of heaven. One of the blessings is that we will know our friends and family members in heaven, and we will be known. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of heaven. What a pleasure it will be to reunite with our loved ones and worship God with them in His presence for all eternity!

In fact, the Bible indicates we will know each other more fully than we do now. The Apostle Paul declared, "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). It's true that our appearance will change, because God will give us new bodies, similar to Jesus' resurrection body. Those bodies will never grow old or tired, nor will they ever experience pain or suffering or death. Thank God for my hope of eternal life, a hope I have only because Jesus Christ died and rose again to take away our sins. This is my hope, and it can be the hope of every person, as they turn to Christ and trust Him alone for their salvation...

Jesus? When people think of spending an eternity in heaven, who do they most look forward to being with?

ANSWER: The obtaining of eternal life is simple: we put our trust in Christ and in Christ alone for our salvation. Everyone who puts their trust in Christ alone, as the Bible promises, as Jesus promises, has life eternal (John 3:16). There’s no other way to get it except by faith alone. It’s not by our works. We can’t merit it. We can’t earn it. We can’t deserve it. We put our trust in Christ, who alone is worthy of the gift of eternal life.

As others will welcome us to heaven’s party, so we’ll one day welcome those who arrive later. What God made us to desire is exactly what he promises to those who follow Jesus Christ: a resurrected life in a resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected earth. Our desires correspond precisely to God’s plans. It’s not that we want something, so we engage in wishful thinking. It’s the opposite, we want real human lives as real embodied people because God has wired us that way, and has always planned for it.

Scripture tells us we will all be living with the same person (Jesus), in the same place (heaven), with God’s people (the church). There there will be marriage in heaven, one marriage, between Christ and his bride, and His people will all be part of it We’ll have true freedom in heaven, a righteous freedom that never sins.

What does it mean that He will reign forever and ever?

ANSWER: No matter how evil and chaotic the world looks, God’s kingdom rules the universe. HE is the One who will reign forever and ever. It is assured! What He has promised He will most certainly accomplish. He is omnipotent. Your free will means nothing in this equation whatsoever. He is the Lord God Almighty. He is not governed by a law of love, He IS love! He loves from perfect freedom, and from joy over it He sold all He had for the love of us. This means that our salvation 

is even bigger than we imagined. God wasn’t compelled by some law of love to save us. He needs no such compulsion. He actually freely loves us and redeemed us because that is what He truly desires! He asks no one for counsel in the matter. He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. Others may say that you and I do not deserve these great blessings, but their voice has no place in His decisions. He is a rebel in love and we are the object of His affections. He has decided to redeem you and so you shall be redeemed. What joy is this, that HE WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER?!!!! It is absolute and there is only One who has any say in the decision. What He promises He always delivers. No one can remove you from His hand. Not even YOU.

In what way is He the King of Glory in your life?

ANSWER: I begin making Jesus King of my life by firstly making Jesus King of  my mind and then King of my actions. To make Jesus King of my mind, by bringing every thought that is not Christian into captivity and obedience to Christ,  blocking out voices that are contrary to Jesus and listening to His voice of truth. Once I make Jesus King of my mind it is much easier to also make Jesus King of my actions. I make Jesus King of my actions when I have to make a decision and I choose to do what would be pleasing to Jesus. And when Jesus really comes first in my life He comes first in every part of my life, and comes first in the way I vote on issues of morality. Jesus is close to me, He walks by my side, He lifts me up when I need help, He gave His life for me.

[Q7. Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit (Luke 23:46)]

Q7. (Luke 23:46) What does Jesus mean when he says, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit"?

ANSWER: At the very end of Jesus’ life, as He was hanging on the cross, the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Then “Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).

When Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” this shows his allegiance and willingness to follow God's plan. The commitment by Jesus encourages followers to do the same, pledge their spirits to God. The phrase also highlights the importance of using Scripture and God's word.

Jesus’ words from the cross expressed the true feeling of His heart. Jesus feel an acute and pressing need for help, and He turns to the “faithful God,” the only true source of aid. In the midst of all His trouble, Jesus’ spirit reaches upward for relief, with a strong confidence in the One who alone is a worthy refuge. From the cross, Jesus shows us that our most valuable of treasures, our spirits, should be committed for safekeeping into the Father’s hands.

Why does this saying comfort us so much?

ANSWER: Into thy hands we commend our spirits. Jesus is letting it all go, and entrusting it to God, because He believes that even in death, His life, will be in the best hands of all when they are in the hands of God. Jesus has come to that point. Death is inevitable.

We are to do what Jesus did and Jesus practiced. From the beginning of His ministry to the terrible moment of His death, we see a man (Jesus) dedicated, first of all, to seeking the will of God, and second of all, to doing it to the best of His ability. It always involved risk, sacrifice, prayer, and service to others. Those are good clues that you’re entrusting your day-to-day life to God, when you do things that take risks and make sacrifices for the sake of others and for the sake of God.

Consistent actions that force us to surrender our control and to trust that God will make things right begin to add up, and increase our willingness, and our ability, to trust God and seek God’s will when times are hard and difficult. The point is this: Jesus didn’t only place His life and being in the hands of God at death. He did it in His life. Let’s do the same thing. Let’s affirm not only at death, but in our lives, that we belong to God. Into God’s hands let us entrust our spirits.!

The moment we are saved, we commit our spirits into the Father’s hands; we trust Him for our salvation. From then on, life is lived in a day-to-day commitment of our spirits into the Father’s hands. We commit our spirits to Him in our service to Him, in our daily decisions, and in all our joys and sorrows. And, when the time of our death comes, we follow Jesus’ example and say yet again, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

[Q4. Refiner and Purifier]

Q4. (Malachi 3:2-3; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15). How does Jesus purify and refine his church?

ANSWER: The concept of being refined is seen in several places in the Bible. The imagery within Scripture ought to encourage us and remind us of God’s deep love for humanity which is shown through His desire that we have pure and transformed hearts. Righteousness is vital in the life of believers, and it is not something we can achieve on our own because we are sinful and broken. But by God’s transforming love working in us, righteousness is possible. God wants to spiritually purify us with the result that our hearts and actions reflect the character of Jesus Christ to others.

The trials we face in this life have been given to us to test us and purify our faith. When the fire is turned up, we may become very uncomfortable. We may want to rush the process or try to avoid it altogether, but this will only prolong it. Instead, we must keep our eyes fixed on God's sovereignty, knowing He's an excellent Father who wants what's best for us and not what's only good.

Being a Christian does not spare us from experiencing conflict and trouble. Where there have been trials, persecution, and hardship, we will know the strength and power of God like never before. Forged by fire, we emerge with greater depths of intimacy with the Lord, keys of wisdom and revelation for what God is doing and is going to do, and with a foundation deeply rooted in Him so when He places the weight of our calling on us, we will be able to sustain it. In order to live a fulfilled Christian life, we need to be able to present ourselves as a righteous offering, which can only be achieved through spiritual refinement. We can only do that if we cling to Him and abide by His plans for our life.

How does He purify and refine us?

ANSWER: The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin, we must confess our sins. As humans, we are prey to our own frailty and sinful nature. Despite our flawed and fallen ways, God loves us, so much so, that He sent His only Son to pay the bond price for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. God refines us through two different ways: through opposition and through discipline. Despite His deep and abiding love for us, God is a holy divine being, who cannot stand to be in the presence of sin. Therefore, just as gold and other precious metals are refined through fire, so too does God cleanse us from our spiritual impurities with spiritual fire. This fire comes in the forms of tests, challenges, and adversity: By enduring the heightened temperatures we undergo a process of purification that reveals our true spiritual identity in Christ.

As a result, we mature in faith, grow righteous in spirit, and develop a heart that is desirous to serve as a living sacrifice for the glory of God. God turns up the temperature in our life at times by exposing us to situations that challenge our faith, teach us perseverance, and test our faith. These trials all have the purpose of separating us from qualities that do not serve us and by extension, the Kingdom of God. The Purpose of the refiner’s fire for Christians through spiritual fire:

to purify. Though we were created in the image of God, our sinful nature as well as the impact of living in a broken world fills us with thought patterns, spiritual strongholds, and behaviors that keep us falling short of God’s glory.

We are to be a righteous offering. God desires to use us as a living sacrifice to share the gospel with the nations. In order to do that, we need to be able to present ourselves as a righteous offering, which can only be achieved through spiritual refinement.

To reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The refining process is a repetitive process. After the initial dross is skimmed off the top of the refining pot, the refiner continues to increase the heat and skim the surface.

To live a fulfilled Christian life. God wants us to live a victorious, faith-purposed life; however, we can only do that if we cling to Him and abide by His plans for our life. The process of refinement can be an unpleasant one, but ultimately, it is one that God allows us to endure for our own good. Therefore, ask God to refine you, in order that you can be the best version of yourself that you can be, for His glory

On the Day that fire will test your deeds, will you have anything that remains, besides your salvation?

ANSWER: On the Day that fire will test your deeds, will you have anything that remains, besides your salvation? What Paul meant when he said our works will be tested by fire is that our works will be judged to determine if they were done for the glory of God or for our own gain. Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has ...

The quality of our work will be obvious to everyone, including us. Somehow the Lord will make it very plain what we did, whether good or bad. All the games we played and lies we told ourselves will end and in their place will be truth. The purpose of every test ultimately is to reveal truth. Paul compares this test to a fire that burns away the worthless things and leaves behind only the sturdy, valuable things. Fire is commonly used to test the quality of metals as impurities are burned away leaving only the pure elements. In this same way our work will be evaluated on the day of judgment. 

If our work stands up to Christʼs scrutiny, we will receive a reward. The Lord is a righteous judge and He is also a good Father Who knows how to give good gifts. We can expect that our reward will exceed anything we might have gained for ourselves here on earth. If a man comes into that moment without a proper legacy of service to Christ, then all that he brings will be burned up. We should all be working today for a better outcome on that future day as we want to receive a good result. This test comes but once, and we have only one lifetime to prepare and those results last 1,000 years.

[Q3. Godliness vs. Morality]

Q3. (Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 3:22) In what sense is Jesus "Heir of All Things”?

ANSWER: Jesus is the heir of all things, and that all things includes you, but to get you he had to pay for your sins. And on the cross he did. As the Son of God, (the King of kings and Lord of lords), Jesus is the heir of all that God possesses. Everything that exists will find its true meaning only when it comes under the final control of Christ.

What does it imply that we are co-heirs with Him?

ANSWER: According to Peter, Jesus inheritance “can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for us.” What this means for us, as followers of Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as His children, and we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). As co-heirs with Christ, we are set to inherit all that Christ inherits, namely, salvation from sin and eternal life with Him.

3 Reasons Why We Are an Heir of God.

1. We Are an Heir of God Because We Are a Child of God.
2. We Are an Heir Because We Are Redeemed From the Curse.
3. We Are an Heir Because We Are a Joint Heir With Jesus.

When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we joined God’s family. We  became one of His children, and we received the same rights and privileges that Jesus has. Romans 8:17 refers to us as a joint heir with Jesus.

In what sense do we possess all things?

ANSWER: The sense in which we posses all things is, all things belong to those who belong to Christ. And our inheritance is: The world. The earth and all that is in it. The nations. Everything is yours because you are Christ’s:

1. Christ’s body,
2. Christ’s bride,
3. Christ’s subject,
4. Christ’s sibling, and
5. Christ’s fellow-heir.

And why does belonging to Christ make all things yours?

1. Because Christ is God’s. “You are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” Christ is God’s Son. Christ is God’s Word (John 1:1).
2. Christ is God’s image (2 Corinthians 4:4).
3. Christ is God’s Beloved (Matthew 17:5).
4. Christ is God’s radiance (Hebrews 1:3).
5. Christ is God’s essence (Hebrews 1:3).
6. Christ is God’s heir (Hebrews 1:2).

All the Father is, or can be, or can do for a creature, He is and does for you because you are Christ’s.

[Q4. Refiner and Purifier]

Q4. (Malachi 3:2-3; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15). How does Jesus purify and refine his church?

ANSWER: The concept of being refined is seen in several places in the Bible. The imagery within Scripture ought to encourage us and remind us of God’s deep love for humanity which is shown through His desire that we have pure and transformed hearts. Righteousness is vital in the life of believers, and it is not something we can achieve on our own because we are sinful and broken. But by God’s transforming love working in us, righteousness is possible. God wants to spiritually purify us with the result that our hearts and actions reflect the character of Jesus Christ to others.

The trials we face in this life have been given to us to test us and purify our faith. When the fire is turned up, we may become very uncomfortable. We may want to rush the process or try to avoid it altogether, but this will only prolong it. Instead, we must keep our eyes fixed on God's sovereignty, knowing He's an excellent Father who wants what's best for us and not what's only good.

Being a Christian does not spare us from experiencing conflict and trouble. Where there have been trials, persecution, and hardship, we will know the strength and power of God like never before. Forged by fire, we emerge with greater depths of intimacy with the Lord, keys of wisdom and revelation for what God is doing and is going to do, and with a foundation deeply rooted in Him so when He places the weight of our calling on us, we will be able to sustain it. In order to live a fulfilled Christian life, we need to be able to present ourselves as a righteous offering, which can only be achieved through spiritual refinement. We can only do that if we cling to Him and abide by His plans for our life.

How does He purify and refine us?

ANSWER: The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin, we must confess our sins. As humans, we are prey to our own frailty and sinful nature. Despite our flawed and fallen ways, God loves us, so much so, that He sent His only Son to pay the bond price for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. God refines us through two different ways: through opposition and through discipline. Despite His deep and abiding love for us, God is a holy divine being, who cannot stand to be in the presence of sin. Therefore, just as gold and other precious metals are refined through fire, so too does God cleanse us from our spiritual impurities with spiritual fire. This fire comes in the forms of tests, challenges, and adversity: By enduring the heightened temperatures we undergo a process of purification that reveals our true spiritual identity in Christ.

As a result, we mature in faith, grow righteous in spirit, and develop a heart that is desirous to serve as a living sacrifice for the glory of God. God turns up the temperature in our life at times by exposing us to situations that challenge our faith, teach us perseverance, and test our faith. These trials all have the purpose of separating us from qualities that do not serve us and by extension, the Kingdom of God. The Purpose of the refiner’s fire for Christians through spiritual fire:

to purify. Though we were created in the image of God, our sinful nature as well as the impact of living in a broken world fills us with thought patterns, spiritual strongholds, and behaviors that keep us falling short of God’s glory.

We are to be a righteous offering. God desires to use us as a living sacrifice to share the gospel with the nations. In order to do that, we need to be able to present ourselves as a righteous offering, which can only be achieved through spiritual refinement.

To reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The refining process is a repetitive process. After the initial dross is skimmed off the top of the refining pot, the refiner continues to increase the heat and skim the surface.

To live a fulfilled Christian life. God wants us to live a victorious, faith-purposed life; however, we can only do that if we cling to Him and abide by His plans for our life. The process of refinement can be an unpleasant one, but ultimately, it is one that God allows us to endure for our own good. Therefore, ask God to refine you, in order that you can be the best version of yourself that you can be, for His glory

On the Day that fire will test your deeds, will you have anything that remains, besides your salvation?

ANSWER: On the Day that fire will test your deeds, will you have anything that remains, besides your salvation? What Paul meant when he said our works will be tested by fire is that our works will be judged to determine if they were done for the glory of God or for our own gain. Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has ...

The quality of our work will be obvious to everyone, including us. Somehow the Lord will make it very plain what we did, whether good or bad. All the games we played and lies we told ourselves will end and in their place will be truth. The purpose of every test ultimately is to reveal truth. Paul compares this test to a fire that burns away the worthless things and leaves behind only the sturdy, valuable things. Fire is commonly used to test the quality of metals as impurities are burned away leaving only the pure elements. In this same way our work will be evaluated on the day of judgment. 

If our work stands up to Christʼs scrutiny, we will receive a reward. The Lord is a righteous judge and He is also a good Father Who knows how to give good gifts. We can expect that our reward will exceed anything we might have gained for ourselves here on earth. If a man comes into that moment without a proper legacy of service to Christ, then all that he brings will be burned up. We should all be working today for a better outcome on that future day as we want to receive a good result. This test comes but once, and we have only one lifetime to prepare and those results last 1,000 years.

[Q5. I Thirst (John 19:28)]

Q5. (John 19:28) What do you learn from Jesus' Fifth Word: "I thirst"?

ANSWER: The words, “I THIRST.” This phrase actually reveals a great deal about Jesus and the nature of His work on our behalf. Word: "I THIRST"? The phrase reminds us again of the incredible physical suffering that Jesus suffered on our behalf. There are three things the phrase, “I THIRST” reveals to us about Jesus.

1. Jesus suffered Physically: First, that Jesus suffered physically. thirst was a picture of judgment. It was a sign of our broken relationship with God. Of our sin. It was a physical representation of our spiritual dehydration. And our need for salvation. Our need for someone to bear our thirst - curse and give us living water.
2. Jesus fulfills Scripture: Jesus provides for our thirst. The fact that Jesus fulfills Scripture in His last words should be great encouragement to us. Because, in a sense, Jesus is saying “everything is going to plan.” As as He hangs in agony on the cross, Jesus declares His thirst in the fulfillment of Scripture, reminding us that He is the suffering servant, He is the Lamb of God, He is the One who takes away the sin of the world, and that God’s plan of our salvation is being fulfilled as it was written.
3. Provision for our Thirst. This is the third thing of Jesus’ statement, “I THIRST,” reveals to us: He is providing what the curse of physical thirst points to: our spiritual thirst! Our broken relationship with God. He does so by becoming thirsty Himself, in our place, even though He perfectly obeyed God’s commands, so that He could give us a “spring of water welling up to eternal life.” In His physical thirst, He is bearing our curse of spiritual thirst by receiving the wrath of God against our sins.

In summary, God’s Word is incredible!! The record of Jesus’ thirst actually reveals a great deal about the One who uttered, “I THIRST.” We’ve seen that it reveals that Jesus Suffered Physically. We’ve seen that it reveals that Jesus Fulfilled Scripture, and we’ve seen that it reveals that Jesus Provided for our Thirst.

What does this tell us about Jesus?

ANSWER: The fifth word, “I THIRST,” is the only time that Jesus speaks of His physical suffering and pain. His thirst is a burning desire to give! His thirst is a desire to pour out love and mercy. A love that is literally dying to pour out upon us from His pierced side. His thirst will not be quenched until we stop rejecting His love and make an act of surrender and trust to receive His love. Christ's thirst was not only physical. It is the agonizing cry of one who is surrounded by blindness, hardness of heart, cruelty. This fifth word is the most human sentiment uttered by Jesus.

Toward the end of His hours on the cross, when the Lord Jesus realized that everything was finished, He said, “I THIRST” (John 19:28). This word indicates that while the Lord Jesus was dying on the cross, He was working. In this regard His death was different from that of any other person. Through His death the Lord did a great work. While this work was taking place, He did not drink anything. The Lord Jesus indicated His thirst and need of a drink because He knew that “all things had now been accomplished.”

Jesus said, “I THIRST,” from the cross because He wanted His lips and throat moistened to utter one final victorious shout before He died. When Jesus then had taken the vinegar, He said, It is finished! And He bowed His head and gave up the spirit.” The death of Jesus Christ finished His work of redemption, atonement, and reconciliation. Our ransom complete, Jesus, with a resounding voice, wanted all people to hear these words, words that still ring strong today: “It is finished!”

What does this tell us about His experience on the cross?

ANSWER: It is a reminder that the Passion is not only a spiritual reality, a cosmic happening. It is a bodily act, the crucifixion of a man's body.

1. The Nature of Thirst - In His final moments on the Cross, we see Jesus submitting himself to very human, vulnerable feelings of emptiness and need both in body and spirit. He allows Himself to be brought to the pit of all thirst. He feels bodily thirst as He’s pushed to His limits near death. He suffers, He falls, He bleeds, He thirsts.
2. His Thirst Meets Our Thirst: Even now, Jesus still thirsts for us. He experienced the thirst of all mankind on the Cross—the unique thirst of every human heart who longs to be satisfied and fully known. And in that thirst, he wants to give us living water; the living water of his divine mercy and love.
3. He Stands at the Door: We must be ready to meet Jesus in His thirst and extend to Him our trust. And we should allow Him to meet us in our thirst with a drink of living water. May we remember the thirst of our Savior for our hearts. In spirit, He is telling us, “No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake, Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock. Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…”

[Q6. It Is Finished (John 19:30)]

Q6. (John 19:30) What had Jesus "finished"?

ANSWER: Jesus had finished:

1. The long night of His suffering. He was plunged into indescribable suffering, but He was not overcome by it. He came through it and he triumphed in it.
2. The full course of His obedience. Jesus’ perfect life of obedience was now complete and He was about to lay it down, so He said, “It is finished.” 
3. The decisive battle with His enemy. God’s promise in Eden is precisely what happened at the cross. In Christ’s death, He breaks the devil’s power.
4. The complete work of His atonement. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to give His life as a ransom for many, and on the cross He says, “It is finished.” He has borne the guilt of our sins.

What can we learn for our own lives from this Sixth Word: "It is finished"?

ANSWER: On the cross, Jesus took upon himself the thirst of alienation from God and the poison of death. He drank the bitter cup of the Father’s wrath against sin so that we might be spared it.

[Q3. Woman, Behold Your Son (John 19:26-27)]

Q2. (Revelation 1:17-18; Hebrews 12:2) What do the titles First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End teach us about Jesus' nature?

ANSWER: What it is the titles “First and Last” teach us about Jesus' nature is,

1. Jesus is claiming to be the Great Jehovah of the OT;
2. Jesus is claiming pre-existence as Jehovah of the OT;
3. Jesus, by using this title is claiming that this was also thus, He is eternally Jehovah from the first to last.

The titles “Alpha and Omega” teach us about Jesus’ nature is Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means that Jesus was here before time began, and He’ll be here after time ends. Jesus is eternal and Jesus is all we need.

Jesus is the first cause of our faith. He blazed the trail of faith, showing us what it means to trust our heavenly Father with our whole lives. Christ is the originator of our faith in that He begins it, as well as the captain and prince or our faith. This indicates that Jesus controls our faith, steers it as a captain steers a ship, and presides over it and cares for it as a monarch presides over and cares for his people.

It is important for us to understand that God in Christ is not only the creator and sustainer of our saving faith, but He is also the sustainer of our daily walk and the finisher of our spiritual journey. For if God in Christ is not the author of our new life, and if Christ is not the finisher and perfecter of our faith through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power, then we are neither born again nor are we a true follower of Christ. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

How does knowing that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith help build our trust in Him?

ANSWER: He has many names, but Author and Perfecter are distinctly related to a life of faith. Jesus is the “founder” (or “author,” or “pioneer”) of our faith in at least three senses. First, He is the only one who has finished the race in its fullest sense. Jesus, however, has entered God’s rest in heaven and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We, together with these others, will reign with Jesus in heaven (Revelation 20:4). Secondly, it was actually Jesus’ perfect life that has made it possible for these others to run their race (Hebrews 10:5-14). If Jesus had not come, the race of everyone else would have been futile. Finally, Jesus is the reason we have faith. As one with God, He expressed the faithfulness of God toward us. God never gave up in His efforts to save us, and that is why we will reach the reward in the end if we don’t give up. Jesus ran with patience and remained faithful, even when we were faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Our faith is only a response to His faithfulness.

In the end, Jesus is the “perfecter” of faith because He perfectly exemplifies how the race of faith is run. He laid aside every weight by giving up everything for us. Though we can never achieve what Jesus did in our own strength, we have His perfect example before us, and so by faith in Him, and keeping our eyes on Him (as have the others before us), we press on ahead in faith, trusting in His promises of a great reward. Just as the men and women of faith did in Hebrews 11, we have a task to do with the materials at hand. Jesus provides the defined standard.

[Q2. This Day You Will Be with Me in Paradise (Luke 23:43)]

Q2. (Revelation 1:17-18; Hebrews 12:2) What do the titles First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End teach us about Jesus' nature?

ANSWER: What it is the titles “First and Last” teach us about Jesus' nature is,

1. Jesus is claiming to be the Great Jehovah of the OT;
2. Jesus is claiming pre-existence as Jehovah of the OT;
3. Jesus, by using this title is claiming that this was also thus, He is eternally Jehovah from the first to last.

The titles “Alpha and Omega” teach us about Jesus’ nature is Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means that Jesus was here before time began, and He’ll be here after time ends. Jesus is eternal and Jesus is all we need.

Jesus is the first cause of our faith. He blazed the trail of faith, showing us what it means to trust our heavenly Father with our whole lives. Christ is the originator of our faith in that He begins it, as well as the captain and prince or our faith. This indicates that Jesus controls our faith, steers it as a captain steers a ship, and presides over it and cares for it as a monarch presides over and cares for his people.

It is important for us to understand that God in Christ is not only the creator and sustainer of our saving faith, but He is also the sustainer of our daily walk and the finisher of our spiritual journey. For if God in Christ is not the author of our new life, and if Christ is not the finisher and perfecter of our faith through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power, then we are neither born again nor are we a true follower of Christ. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

How does knowing that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith help build our trust in Him?

ANSWER: He has many names, but Author and Perfecter are distinctly related to a life of faith. Jesus is the “founder” (or “author,” or “pioneer”) of our faith in at least three senses. First, He is the only one who has finished the race in its fullest sense. Jesus, however, has entered God’s rest in heaven and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We, together with these others, will reign with Jesus in heaven (Revelation 20:4). Secondly, it was actually Jesus’ perfect life that has made it possible for these others to run their race (Hebrews 10:5-14). If Jesus had not come, the race of everyone else would have been futile. Finally, Jesus is the reason we have faith. As one with God, He expressed the faithfulness of God toward us. God never gave up in His efforts to save us, and that is why we will reach the reward in the end if we don’t give up. Jesus ran with patience and remained faithful, even when we were faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Our faith is only a response to His faithfulness.

In the end, Jesus is the “perfecter” of faith because He perfectly exemplifies how the race of faith is run. He laid aside every weight by giving up everything for us. Though we can never achieve what Jesus did in our own strength, we have His perfect example before us, and so by faith in Him, and keeping our eyes on Him (as have the others before us), we press on ahead in faith, trusting in His promises of a great reward. Just as the men and women of faith did in Hebrews 11, we have a task to do with the materials at hand. Jesus provides the defined standard.

[Q1. Father, Forgive Them (Luke 23:34)]

Q1. (Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 17:1-2) In what ways did Jesus show the Father's glory in His ministry?

ANSWER: Jesus brought glory to His Father, His message was Jesus modeled glorifying God not only in His obedience to the commandments but also with the truth of His message. He invited others to enter the blessings of His Kingdom and taught the narrow way for all would-be disciples. His message proclaimed the grace and mercy of God while also boldly praising the righteous way of life and expressing displeasure toward what is evil.

We glorify God in imitation of Christ as ambassadors of His message by, first, proclaiming the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as Savior and Lord. We also speak up to honor what is righteous and good and to warn against what is false and evil, not in arrogant judgment, but in the hope that all people will find peace with God and reconciliation with others through obedience to the truth.

Why do you think Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John to see His Transfiguration?

ANSWER: The Holy Scripture of the New Testament states that only three disciples participated in the event of the Transfiguration. They were the most prominent figures and participants in the most important works of Jesus Christ: Peter, James, and John. Christ took only these disciples because they stood out among all the others: Peter because He loved Jesus, John because Jesus loved Him, and James because of the answer which He gave together with His brother: we are able to drink Your cup with You (Matthew 20:22).

Also, the three disciples were taken as witnesses according to Jewish tradition. Jesus could not take all the disciples because not everyone was worthy, and not everyone could accommodate the event and pass it on. Nevertheless, each of the apostles had certain qualities: Peter loved Christ and was firm in his confession, after which he was able to receive a confirmation from Christ himself that He was God; John was Jesus’s own beloved disciple; James was a zealous disciple, according to Jewish law, who preached Christ ardently with his life.

How do you think Jesus will appear in heaven?

ANSWER: When Jesus returns, His appearance will not be as a human being who claims to be Christ or who seems to have special powers. Instead, Christ’s return will be so supernatural that there will be no doubt that it is He.

Both returns of Christ will be so supernatural, there will be no question who the true Jesus is. We should not have a problem being misled by false Christs. We can be prepared for the returns by making certain that we belong to Jesus.

[Q3. Heir of All Things]

Q3. (Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 3:22) In what sense is Jesus "Heir of All Things”?

ANSWER: Jesus is the heir of all things, and that all things includes you, but to get you he had to pay for your sins. And on the cross he did. As the Son of God, (the King of kings and Lord of lords), Jesus is the heir of all that God possesses. Everything that exists will find its true meaning only when it comes under the final control of Christ.

What does it imply that we are co-heirs with Him?

ANSWER: According to Peter, Jesus inheritance “can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for us.” What this means for us, as followers of Christ, we are adopted into God’s family as His children, and we are “co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). As co-heirs with Christ, we are set to inherit all that Christ inherits, namely, salvation from sin and eternal life with Him.

3 Reasons Why We Are an Heir of God.

1. We Are an Heir of God Because We Are a Child of God.
2. We Are an Heir Because We Are Redeemed From the Curse.
3. We Are an Heir Because We Are a Joint Heir With Jesus.

When we accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we joined God’s family. We  became one of His children, and we received the same rights and privileges that Jesus has. Romans 8:17 refers to us as a joint heir with Jesus.

In what sense do we possess all things?

ANSWER: The sense in which we posses all things is, all things belong to those who belong to Christ. And our inheritance is: The world. The earth and all that is in it. The nations. Everything is yours because you are Christ’s:

1. Christ’s body,
2. Christ’s bride,
3. Christ’s subject,
4. Christ’s sibling, and
5. Christ’s fellow-heir.

And why does belonging to Christ make all things yours?

1. Because Christ is God’s. “You are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” Christ is God’s Son. Christ is God’s Word (John 1:1).
2. Christ is God’s image (2 Corinthians 4:4).
3. Christ is God’s Beloved (Matthew 17:5).
4. Christ is God’s radiance (Hebrews 1:3).
5. Christ is God’s essence (Hebrews 1:3).
6. Christ is God’s heir (Hebrews 1:2).

All the Father is, or can be, or can do for a creature, He is and does for you because you are Christ’s.

[Q2. Alpha and Omega]

Q2. (Revelation 1:17-18; Hebrews 12:2) What do the titles First and Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End teach us about Jesus' nature?

ANSWER: What it is the titles “First and Last” teach us about Jesus' nature is,

1. Jesus is claiming to be the Great Jehovah of the OT;
2. Jesus is claiming pre-existence as Jehovah of the OT;
3. Jesus, by using this title is claiming that this was also thus, He is eternally Jehovah from the first to last.

The titles “Alpha and Omega” teach us about Jesus’ nature is Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means that Jesus was here before time began, and He’ll be here after time ends. Jesus is eternal and Jesus is all we need. Jesus is the first cause of our faith. He blazed the trail of faith, showing us what it means to trust our heavenly Father with our whole lives. Christ is the originator of our faith in that He begins it, as well as the captain and prince or our faith. This indicates that Jesus controls our faith, steers it as a captain steers a ship, and presides over it and cares for it as a monarch presides over and cares for his people.

It is important for us to understand that God in Christ is not only the creator and sustainer of our saving faith, but He is also the sustainer of our daily walk and the finisher of our spiritual journey. For if God in Christ is not the author of our new life, and if Christ is not the finisher and perfecter of our faith through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling power, then we are neither born again nor are we a true follower of Christ. “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” “In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

How does knowing that Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith help build our trust in Him?

ANSWER: He has many names, but Author and Perfecter are distinctly related to a life of faith. Jesus is the “founder” (or “author,” or “pioneer”) of our faith in at least three senses. First, He is the only one who has finished the race in its fullest sense. Jesus, however, has entered God’s rest in heaven and is seated at the Father’s right hand. We, together with these others, will reign with Jesus in heaven (Revelation 20:4). Secondly, it was actually Jesus’ perfect life that has made it possible for these others to run their race (Hebrews 10:5-14). If Jesus had not come, the race of everyone else would have been futile. Finally, Jesus is the reason we have faith. As one with God, He expressed the faithfulness of God toward us. God never gave up in His efforts to save us, and that is why we will reach the reward in the end if we don’t give up. Jesus ran with patience and remained faithful, even when we were faithless (2 Timothy 2:13). Our faith is only a response to His faithfulness.

In the end, Jesus is the “perfecter” of faith because He perfectly exemplifies how the race of faith is run. He laid aside every weight by giving up everything for us. Though we can never achieve what Jesus did in our own strength, we have His perfect example before us, and so by faith in Him, and keeping our eyes on Him (as have the others before us), we press on ahead in faith, trusting in His promises of a great reward. Just as the men and women of faith did in Hebrews 11, we have a task to do with the materials at hand. Jesus provides the defined standard.

[Q1. Glory]

Q1. (Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 17:1-2) In what ways did Jesus show the Father's glory in His ministry?

ANSWER: Jesus brought glory to His Father, His message was Jesus modeled glorifying God not only in His obedience to the commandments but also with the truth of His message. He invited others to enter the blessings of His Kingdom and taught the narrow way for all would-be disciples. His message proclaimed the grace and mercy of God while also boldly praising the righteous way of life and expressing displeasure toward what is evil.

We glorify God in imitation of Christ as ambassadors of His message by, first, proclaiming the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as Savior and Lord. We also speak up to honor what is righteous and good and to warn against what is false and evil, not in arrogant judgment, but in the hope that all people will find peace with God and reconciliation with others through obedience to the truth.

Why do you think Jesus allowed Peter, James, and John to see His Transfiguration?

ANSWER: The Holy Scripture of the New Testament states that only three disciples participated in the event of the Transfiguration. They were the most prominent figures and participants in the most important works of Jesus Christ: Peter, James, and John. Christ took only these disciples because they stood out among all the others: Peter because He loved Jesus, John because Jesus loved Him, and James because of the answer which He gave together with His brother: we are able to drink Your cup with You (Matthew 20:22).

Also, the three disciples were taken as witnesses according to Jewish tradition. Jesus could not take all the disciples because not everyone was worthy, and not everyone could accommodate the event and pass it on. Nevertheless, each of the apostles had certain qualities: Peter loved Christ and was firm in his confession, after which he was able to receive a confirmation from Christ himself that He was God; John was Jesus’s own beloved disciple; James was a zealous disciple, according to Jewish law, who preached Christ ardently with his life.

How do you think Jesus will appear in heaven?

ANSWER: When Jesus returns, His appearance will not be as a human being who claims to be Christ or who seems to have special powers. Instead, Christ’s return will be so supernatural that there will be no doubt that it is He. Both returns of Christ will be so supernatural, there will be no question who the true Jesus is. We should not have a problem being misled by false Christs. We can be prepared for the returns by making certain that we belong to Jesus.

 

[Q2. Legalism vs. Gospel]

Q2. (1 Timothy 4:3-5) Why is performance of legalistic requirements so attractive to people?

ANSWER: Legalism seems attractive, since it appeals to a sense of self-righteousness, but it is unable to restrain the inner corrupt person. Only the Holy Spirit can create a truly godly person. Now Paul turns to the matter of true godliness. Legalism feeds our fleshly bent toward self-righteousness. The problem is that we can’t see it. What makes our own legalism hard to see is that on the surface we can be doing a lot of things right. Legalism preys on people who want to live for God with all their hearts. In other words, it plays into their zeal for God and their desire to be used of Him. The same error that plagued the Jews, and early church, is alive today; in all of our churches. Only grace through faith produces what is holy. The people gets attracted to legalism because:

• It is something they can do. Quick and easy.
• It is an image they can adopt and manage. It is a “look” they can quickly establish.
• It allows them to write more rules that protect from sin and make them even “better Christians.”
• It provides a checklist that helps them feel good about themselves when they check it off.
• It provides a checklist for them to measure how other people are doing.
• It brings clarity with new rules that show how to separate from others when they are “disobedient.”

What fruit does it produce in a person’s life?

ANSWER: Legalism IS NOT fruits. Legalism kills the Fruits of the Spirit. Legalism is a hideous beast! Legalism breeds a self-righteousness that promotes prideful comparison and smug judgemental-ism. Legalism has always been a major threat to genuine Christianity. Legalism has three aspects:

1. law,
2. 2) technique,
3. 3) trend.

What exactly is legalism? It’s an obsession with moral or religious laws and therefore legalists primarily judge others based on strict adherence to the rules they deem important, many of them being unbiblical. It could be said that legalism is the mentality that godliness is an outward job. As such, legalists focus on the outer at the expense of the inner. A person’s outward façade is more important than the inward reality. Simply put, legalism is religious hypocrisy. It’s putting on an act. It’s fake Christianity. The problem is the attitude of legalism, the mindset that faith is a mere garnishment when nothing could be further from the truth. Such an attitude is not only unbiblical, it’s corrupting, and it’ll slowly corrupt anyone who succumbs to it. Legalism takes on many forms, but each form grows from the same root: religion without relationship and rules above the Savior.

In what ways is this emphasis so different from the true?

ANSWER: The all-encompassing teaching of these false teachers, “lying hypocrites”, Paul talks about was legalism, dependence on personal moral behavior rather than on a relationship with Jesus. At its best, legalism is an act of pride, a person’s assumption that they can earn their salvation, or perhaps do some earthly good deed in order to keep it, rather than a true desire to honor God. At its worst, legalism is used in an attempt to gain superiority over others. Legalism can also be our way of trying to manipulate God, to make Him act in response to our good earthly deeds. We make sense of it in our minds, believing that if we sacrifice something for God, He owes us something or is indebted to us.

Furthermore, legal-ism emphasizes the letter of the law, rather than its spirit. It’s important for us to stick of to the truth, especially if falsities are going to be the vehicle by which the enemy would lead so many people astray. When we are unsure of where to go or what to do, we can turn to the one beside us who has all-encompassing wisdom and understanding. He will be faithful to show us which is the right path.

[Q1. Apostasy]

Q1. (1 Timothy 4:1-2) Why does Paul remind Timothy (and the church) of predictions concerning widespread apostasy?

ANSWER: Apostasy is the rejection of Christ by one who has been a Christian. It is describing those who have voluntarily and consciously abandoned their faith in the God of the covenant. Jesus himself had foretold this falling away in the Last Days: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:10-13).

Paul reminds Timothy of this prediction so that he will not be surprised or overwhelmed by the chaos he sees in the church at Ephesus. He attributes this false teaching to satan himself. The false teachers, he says, "... follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" (1 Timothy 4:1b). Then he condemns the character of the false teachers: "Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:2).

Consequently, in 2 Timothy 4:4, the apostle Paul asserts that apostate Christians living during the church age will be turned away from the truth, the gospel because of these Jewish myths. Paul’s statements in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus all make clear that this was taking place when Paul wrote 2 Timothy.

NOTE: what causes apostasy is: …

1. persecution (Matthew 24:9-10);
2. false teachers (Matthew 24:11);
3. temptation (Luke 8:13);
4. worldliness (2 Timothy 4:4);
5. defective knowledge of Christ (1 John 2:19);
6. moral lapse (Hebrews 6:4-6);
7. forsaking worship and spiritual living (Hebrews 10:25-31);
8. unbelief (Hebrews 3:12).

What effect should this knowledge have on his (Timothy) ministry and the church’s perception of the situation?

ANSWER: Apostasy means the abandonment of a previous loyalty; it is a conscious defection, in biblical terms it is an act of refusing to continue to obey God’s Word. Perhaps Paul is suggesting that their consciences carry satan's brand, now unable to discern truth from falsehood. Many other professing Christians, churches, denominations, and seminaries, who once upheld the truth and authority of God’s Word, have drifted into apostasy. One of the interesting characteristics of apostasy is that it does not happen overnight and actually develops over a period of time. It has however steadily increased at an alarming pace. The apostasy of the church is, the total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith, publicly rejects it. It is distinguished from heresy, which is limited to the rejection of one or more Christian doctrines by one who maintains an overall adherence to Jesus Christ.

Apostasy is all around us in varying degrees. As Christians, we need to be very sure that we are clinging to the truth of God’s word. We need to stand firm on the word of God and never be ashamed of the truth of the Gospel. We need to warn people against apostasy and the need to go forward in the faith, bearing fruit as branches attached to the vine. Some biblical signs that clearly show that apostasy is taking place. 

First – God’s word is neglected as the supreme authority of our faith. People start following “Christian” personalities instead of the Word of God. Leaders are more concerned with growing a church and gaining a larger following than preaching the truth.

Second – Scripture is twisted and distorted for self-serving agendas. Truth becomes subjective and relative. Doctrinal error and sin are tolerated by religious leaders who neglect their responsibility to protect the sheep.

Third – Religious leaders are more interested in entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep. Ear-tickling messages give people what they want instead of what they need. Sin and immoral lifestyles are tolerated.

Fourth – Teaching is heavily influenced by doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). Jesus has been removed from the church. There is no longer any evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.

The best way to avoid apostasy and reject the teachings of apostates is to be reading the Word of God and studying it, because, the best way to identify the counterfeit is to know the genuine truth of the Scripture. Apostasy is defiance against God because it is a rebellion against truth. We are to defend the glory and honor of our great God and Savior and protect the purity of His Gospel.

[Q4. Bridegroom and Husband]

Q4. (2 Corinthians 11:2) What does it take for us to be presented to Christ as a pure virgin bride?

ANSWER: One word: Pure Brides to Christ! … In 2 Corinthians 11:2 it shows that Paul loved the Corinthian believers very much. His love was not based on self-centered or worldly way, but on God’s love and godly jealousy. For this reason, he wanted them to be united to their true Husband, Jesus Christ. He wanted them to be like pure virgins who were fully devoted to Christ and Christ alone. Paul did not lead them to himself, but to Christ. May the Lord have mercy on us so that we may share such hearts over many weak and vulnerable believers today!

Also, in this passage, we learn that our enemy Satan is working diligently behind the scenes to make us go astray from Jesus. We must hold on to the gospel and the Jesus by asking the Spirit of the truth. When the gospel truth rules our hearts, we can grow like a mature servant, apostle Paul whose heart was led by the godly jealousy to rescue the gullible believers from the hands of Satan. Hopefully, we have God’s love and passion in this confusing generation so that we may present our children and young students as pure virgins to Christ only.

We need to keep in mind the eight aspects we have covered of a person who is living in the spirit, in the Holy of Holies: a captive, a letter, a mirror, a vessel, an ambassador, a co-worker, a temple, and a virgin.

1. As a captive you need to be captured,
2. As a letter you need to be written,
3. As a mirror you need to be unveiled,
4. As a vessel you need to be broken,
5. As an ambassador you need to be wholly for His interest and under His authority,
6. As a co-worker you need to be bound,
7. As a temple you need to be separated to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and
8. As a virgin you need to be so simple. Learn to be simple; then you will be kept in the spirit.

How faithful are we to Christ?

ANSWER: The Bible is full of accounts of God’s faithfulness to His people.

1. He saved the Israelites from the Egyptians.
2. He opened Sarah’s womb in her old age.
3. He delivered David in battle.
4. He delivered us from the very grips of sin and gave us a way to join Him in Heaven (God’s faithfulness was never more astounding than this).

We don’t have to produce this faithfulness alone! God promises to give us strength when we need it. God’s faithfulness to us gives us the strength to be faithful people. The Bible further states that we’re also supposed to be faithful to God. So what does it mean to be faithful to God. Faithfulness means steadfast loyalty that isn’t easily swayed.

Our faithfulness to God means trusting in Him and loving Him through all circumstances. It means following His commandments even when we’d rather choose a different path. When we’re faithful to God it means that we trust that He will care for us, we follow where He leads, and we love Him in return. Being faithful also means that there will be some evidence of our faith in God. A faithful Christian will often produce fruit. Faithfulness does not mean that we will be perfect. It does not mean that we won’t struggle or that we won’t make poor decisions. It does mean that we will continue to trust in Gods and try to follow His commandments even when life is difficult.

To what degree do we partake with the adulterous and sinful generation that Jesus decried (denounced)?

ANSWER: What Jesus meant by a wicked and adulterous generation  [spiritual unfaithfulness to God], is that in Jesus' day, the Jewish people, were generally moral and conservative people, but Jesus referred to many of them as "evil and adulterous" because despite outward behavior they were not faithful to God from the heart but demanded a sign from Jesus even though he had already performed many.

Today, in this age given to wickedness, particularly to adultery, some Christians do not have a problem accepting Jesus or going to church. However, they feel that the Bible and the teachings thereof are out of date and have no place in this scientific age. An example is that some professing Christians are ashamed to believe and or speak of the biblical creation story because evolution science makes a mockery of it as a myth.

What does the marriage relationship say about love, communication, and intimacy with Christ?

ANSWER: What the marriage relationship say about love, communication, and intimacy with Christ to me, is as follows:

1. We must learn His love language; those things He likes and those He doesn’t, and we choose to love Him His way while avoiding those things we know He hates.
2. We are to  trust Him and bring things to Him in faith, asking for His help and obeying Him with what He tells us to do.
3. We are to be spending time with Him daily, talking to Him like we would a trusted spouse, openly and vulnerably sharing our feelings and struggles. When we mess up and disappoint Christ, we are to be quick to apologize, repent, and change our ways. These kinds of things, when practiced daily, feed and foster intimacy, and draw us closer and closer to our Savior. 

Intimacy and relationship with our Lord and King is a sweet love affair, moving and dancing together through the seasons of life on this earth, and continuing forever in eternity. He doesn’t want to be far off from us, He wants to walk and talk with us daily. The same attitudes and behaviors that build a deep, intimate, and loving relationship with your earthly spouse can lead you into a closer, more fulfilling and vibrant love relationship with your Abba Father. We are the Bride of Christ, and we can have a great marriage! 

[Q4. Elders vs. Deacons]

Q4. (1 Timothy 3) According to our text, do you see differences in qualifications between overseers/elders and deacons?

ANSWER:[Deacons] “must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.” (1 Timothy 3:9). The deacon is kind of an official administrator caring for the business of the church. [An elder] “must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught....” (Titus 1:9a) The offices of elder and deacon are important in the church. Ministering to God’s people in word and deed is a serious responsibility for a man to take on, and it should never be done lightly. A biblically unqualified individual should not occupy either the office of elder or deacon; the church deserves better.

What are they (the differences in qualifications between overseers/elders and deacons?)

ANSWER: What are some of the implications of this on our lives as individuals and corporately as elders and deacons.

1. Elders and deacons are not two independent offices with each doing its own thing. Both are to be supportive of one another, working together to accomplish God’s purposes for the church. The elders are to support the deacons through encouragement, instruction, leadership, guidance, and proper delegation according to gifts, burden, and interests. The deacons support the elders by relieving them to carry on their primary ministry and by cooperation. Both should give input to one another concerning problems, needs, and ideas for accomplishing the goals of the church.
2. Communication of ideas, problems, needs, concerns, etc., along with a commitment to work together is very important to the overall ministry of both offices.
3. Ultimately, God holds the elders responsible for the ministry of the church and this includes the deacons and the work they are asked to do. Deacons are under the leadership of the elders and the elders are responsible to see that things are done according to the principles of Scripture. If the elders make suggestions or ask for things to be done a certain way, they are not trying to interfere, they are simply doing the job God has called them to do. The elders are not to be dictators, however, and deacons have the right and responsibility to evaluate the suggestions of the elders and give input. And the elders need to give serious consideration to their input.
4. We must all evaluate our ministries, our character, our attitudes, our motives, our agendas, and our involvement in the work of the church. Are we doing all things decently and in order? Are we following through with the our responsibilities?

[Q3. Christ Who Is Your Life]

Q3. (Colossians 3:2-4) To what degree is Christ the center, the focus of your life?

ANSWER: Jesus achieved perfect unity with the Father by submitting Himself, both body and spirit, to the will of the Father. His focus on the Father is one of the principal reasons Jesus’s ministry had such clarity and power. There was no distracting double-mindedness in Him. In the same way, you and I can put Christ at the center of our lives and become one with Him as He is one with the Father (see John 17:20-23). We could begin by stripping everything out of our lives and then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center. We would first put in place the things that make it possible always to remember Him, frequent prayer, studying and pondering the scriptures, thoughtful study of apostolic teachings, weekly preparation to partake of the sacrament worthily, Sunday worship, recording and remembering what the Spirit and experience teach us about discipleship.

There may be other things that will come to your mind particularly suited to you at this point in your life. Once adequate time and means for these matters, for centering our lives in Christ, have been put in place, we can begin to add other responsibilities and things of value insofar as time and resources will permit, such as education, family responsibilities, and personal avocations. In this way the essential will not be crowded out of our lives by the merely good, and things of lesser value will take a lower priority or fall away altogether. Though it may not be easy, we can consistently press forward with faith in the Lord. I can attest that over time one’s desire and capacity to always remember and follow the Savior will grow. We should patiently work toward that end and pray always for the discernment and divine help we need (see 2 Nephi 32:9).

If you had to prove to another person that Christ is the center of your life, what evidence would you muster?

ANSWER: To make Jesus the center of my life?” It means to acknowledge Jesus as the ultimate authority in my life and voluntarily yield the control of my life to Him. For Jesus to be the center of my life, it means He is in control. I no longer desire to independently run my own life, but surrender my whole self to Jesus and to following His lead. You were designed for the purpose of knowing Jesus Christ and making Him the center of your life. First, Jesus created me and ultimately all things are under His rule, including me. Second, Jesus controls everything. Third, Jesus is faithful. Jesus can do a better job of running your life than you can, so let Him lead you each day.

In order to prove to another individual that Christ is the center of my life, I would make sure my Words would match my actions and attitudes making sure they are not hollow and meaningless. I would speak about my own experiences with the Lord, then I am a reliable source - a witness. I must strive to be an effective witness for Christ.

Below are four words that might help one mold their understanding of what a Christ-centered life looks like.

1. SOURCE: A Christ-centered life begins with realizing that the source of everything we are is the Lord. He created us, he owns us, he gifted us with talents, he authors our story, and every blessing that we receive comes from him (Genesis 1, Acts 17:26, James 1:17). Additionally, Christ is the source for our daily righteousness. We have no internal desire or moral ability to live up to biblical standards on our own, but in Christ, we have everything we need for godly living (2 Peter 1:3).
2. MOTIVE: A Christ-centered life means that a Person is the motivation for everything we think, say and do. Many of us leave little room for Christ in our Christianity. By that, I mean that our ability to "keep the law" or our pride in historic tradition is what defines our faith, not the person of Jesus. A Christ-centered life is deeply intimate and motivated by relationship.
3. 3. GOAL: A Christ-centered life has one ultimate goal: that Jesus gets the glory. It's not wrong to pursue personal goals, but the glory of Christ is the orienting compass that gives direction to all others. Because we want Christ to be known, honored, worshipped and obeyed, we submit every other attainable goal to him. Our decisions are no longer controlled by selfish desires, but by new desires we get from his love (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
4. 4. HOPE: A Christ-centered life finally puts all our eggs in the basket of the Lord. We know that this life is not all there is, and that an eternity is coming (1 Corinthians 15:19, Revelations 21:4). But a Christ-centered life is more than just a ticket out of hell. We have hope in the here and now, because Christ has promised his presence and grace until we go home.

What evidence would contradict this?

ANSWER: If we are not Christ-centered, we will be centered on something else.  Our lives would strive for supremacy, attention, and glory based upon performance. It keeps score and judges itself and others by self-made standards. Those who deeply desire a Christ-centered life will stumble, fall, sin, and make fleshly decisions in moments of weakness. But the real reason can be summarized in one word: pride. They want to run their own lives, and they don’t want anyone, especially God, to interfere with the way they’re living. They want to be in control of everything they do, and they know that if they were to believe in God, they’d have to change their lifestyle. Instead of living by their own list of what’s right and wrong, they’d have to take seriously God’s moral standards. It is all summed up the individual ends up living without any ultimate meaning in life.

What kind of repentance is necessary to reprioritize your life?

ANSWER: If we walk in the light, confessing our sins, we take possession of the most precious promises of the Gospel: that the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, will cleanse us from all sin. True repentance does not only acknowledge the sin that others bring into the light. Instead, it goes much further, dragging out into the light what no one else knows about. True repentance eagerly exposes all kinds of secrets from the depths of their souls and skeletons from the suppressed parts of their stories.

True Repentance:

1. Fears God’s Judgment;
2. Seeks to Gain God’s Pleasure; and
3. Seeks the Light More than Darkness

Truly repentant people confess sins that no one else could ever discover simply because they have a keen awareness that God already knows. Ultimately, true repentance is the only right response to the perfect knowledge of a holy God.

[Q3. Anger, Gentleness, Pride]

Q3. (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1:6-9) Why are tendencies to anger, intimidation, force, and pride so important to consider in selecting church officers?

ANSWER: A church is only as healthy as its eldership. The role of an elder can be summed-up in three overlapping functions: Doctrine, Direction (i.e., vision), and Discipline. In addition we will want our elders to have some significant leadership skills.  “Rancher” instead of “Shepherd.”

Church leaders must meet the Biblical qualifications for ultimately the only human protection a church has from straying into aberration, heresy and apostasy is such qualified church leaders. The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. You simply cannot be an elder, pastor, church leader, or even a ministry leader if you have an anger problem or angry disposition; it is a ministry-disqualified. “No Striker” is where we get our modern day word “pugnacious” which means, “giver of blows.” An overseer/deacon is not quick-tempered and must be able to handle things with a cool mind and a gentle spirit.

What happens when you don’t consider these factors?

ANSWER: To put an angry man or woman in charge of anything inside the church would be disastrous. Argumentative people with angry dispositions are ineligible for ministry because they injure and are harmful to God’s family. 

• Anger stirs up strife and causes one to abound in transgressions according to Proverbs 15:18 and 29:22.
• Wrath, a form of anger, is contained in the list of “works of the flesh” found in Galatians 5:19-21, and keeps people out of the kingdom of God.
• God’s servants must not be quarrelsome (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
• Anger is self-destructive. Job 5:2 says, Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple (NIV)

It is impossible for an angry leader to continue in ministry. Here's why:

1. God will remove him/her;
2. They will be removed by godly overseers in the church;
3. They will have an unfruitful ministry and will simply quit; OR
4. They will self-destruct.

One way or another, there is simply no long-term future for such person. Barren branches is what they become. I’ve seen more than one ministry go down in a spectacle of flames because of anger. Let’s consider what Solomon said in Proverbs 22:24-25 (NIV) “24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.”

[Q1. True Light]

Q1. (John 1:9; 8:12) In what sense is Jesus the True Light?

ANSWER: Jesus is the real thing, the authentic Light from God (the genuine article, God in the flesh). He alone reveals God’s glory in the world because He is God incarnate who “became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Jesus gave spiritual illumination that dispels sinful darkness and unbelief. Jesus is the true light of God for those who partake of His salvation. When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, He makes God’s “light shine in our hearts” so we can “know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Several elements are necessary to sustain human life: light, air, water, and food are among the most critical. Jesus is the true light means He is our essential source of life . Without light, it is impossible to sustain life of any kind on earth. If the sun ceases to shine, everything will die. Not only is Jesus our light, but He is also the spiritual air we breathe. By His Holy Spirit, He breathes on us the “breath of life”. Jesus is also the “living water” who, by His Holy Spirit, becomes in us “a spring of water welling up to eternal life”. Jesus Christ is the true light of God sent into the world to pierce through the darkness. Through His life, ministry, and message, Jesus brought the light and life of God to bear on everyone He encountered. That light continues to shine on earth through His Church.

In what sense is He the Light of the World?

ANSWER: Jesus is the Light of the world, our world, and in the world. Like God is omnipresent, so Jesus is Light. Through Him and His sacrificial death on the cross, we are exposed to the light and of our sins. “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12) is the second of seven “I AM” declarations of Jesus, recorded only in John’s gospel, that point to His unique divine identity and purpose. In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus was claiming that He is the exclusive source of spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.” The metaphor used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Those who perceive the true Light will never walk in spiritual darkness. “I am the light of the world,” is rooted in Jesus’ relationship with His Father.

In what sense are you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)?

ANSWER: Being the "light of the world" goes beyond being morally upright. It entails actively shining in a way that dispels darkness and illuminates the path to God. It means living out the teachings of Jesus with integrity and authenticity. Therefore by being a Christ-follower, I am to give light to those around me by doing and saying what Jesus did. Also by growing in relationship with Jesus every day, following Him step by step, I partner with Him in spreading the truth. Christ is the Light; therefore, I must reflect the light He gives me. My circumstances are an opportunity to shine brightly for the Lord and to share God's overcoming truth with those around me. My family, friends and community can tell what I believe by how I live. Being a light in the world I am to draw those I encounter to God by my words and actions. The functions of my light as a believer and follower of Christ are as follows.

AS LIGHT …

1. I am to expose darkness - (expose darkness indirectly simply by living a moral life, but I also expose it directly by calling sin as it is).
2. I should give off light - (due to my light illumination people should transforms (convert and change) thereby as sin is exposed and righteousness replaces it, individuals should repent and give their lives to Christ, in which their lives are changed).
3. I am to help others grow - (because my light shines it should cause, friends, family, and others to grow by getting to know God more, changing their language, attitudes, and actions).
4. I must strive to wake people out of slumber - (stir spiritual zeal in those who are spiritually lazy and help awaken those who are spiritually dead).
5. I should warm those who are cold - (warm people’s hearts, provoking them to love God and others).

Why do you think people resist Jesus' light, His truth, His view of the Father, our world, and eternal life?

ANSWER: The four reasons below are perhaps the most prominent of reasons why people fail to begin a relationship with Jesus.

1. Some people do not think they need a savior.
2. The fear of social rejection or persecution deters some people from receiving Christ as Savior.
3. For some people, the things that the present world has to offer are more appealing than eternal things.
4. Many people are simply resisting the Holy Spirit’s attempts to draw them to faith in Christ.

Whatever the reasons why people reject Jesus Christ, their rejection of Him, for whatever reason, face an eternity in the “outer darkness” of hell where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).

How does the world's so-called "light" differ from Jesus' light?

ANSWER: 1. Believers are light because they know God, and the world is dark because they reject the true God. 2. Believers are light because they know the gospel and Scripture in general, and the world is darkness because they reject revelation. 3. Believers are light because they practice righteousness, and the world is darkness because it doesn’t.

Believers are called to put aside the deeds of darkness and to clothe themselves with Christ.

Essentially, to be in darkness is to be ignorant of God and his Word and to rebel against both. The world is darkness, but believers are light. They know the truth about creation, the gospel, and God, and they live in view of these realities. But the world rejects these things.

What can obstruct Jesus' light in this world?

ANSWER: There are five things that can obstruct Jesus’ light in the world.

1. Secret sin hinders His presence. When there’s no communion with God, our lives are spent in the darkness. We see nothing. We hear nothing. Hidden sin deeply affects and quenches our relationship with our Savior.
2. The fullness of the flesh hinders His presence. It’s impossible to be full of the world and full of Christ. We can’t be consumed with worldly pursuits as our main focus and be consumed with pursuing Christ, one or the other will prevail. 
3. A lack of desperation hinders His presence. When we lack desperation about pursuing God, we are demonstrating that the pursuit is not important enough to make it a priority. 
4. A lack of fervency hinders His presence. The spiritual battle in which the Christian is engaged is fierce.
5. Being too busy hinders His presence. If you’re too busy to wait, too preoccupied to pursue God, and too wrapped up to worship Him, your relationship with Him will definitely be hindered. Once God lights the fire of the Spirit in our hearts, we must do our part to keep Him burning through fervent prayer: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” James 5:16.

What can obstruct our light (in this world)?

ANSWER: When we let the world get between us and God, our light diminishes and can go out. We can be so obsessed with things of this world: money, entertainment, sports, pleasure, work, etc. that we have little time to be enlightened by God’s word or shine that light for others. Sometimes we will not give up habits, attitudes, or thoughts that are ungodly and diminish the light that does shine from our lives. Pure lives reflect the most light. We need to remove anything from our lives that inhibits the full glory of God from being reflected onto the dark world and let God illuminate us on the inside and before others.

Let God illuminate your life and transform it into glory through Jesus. If we want to grow closer to Christ we need to let go of our own will and hold on to God's will. You were made to reflect His light. So, in a strange way you were made to be transparent, a transporter of God’s glory, shining his light through you as his child. Any place the light within you is darkness, it blocks Jesus from shining through. It casts a shadow. That’s where the darkness lies.

Where there is light darkness cannot comprehend it, then why is that some persons light still do not shine? Here are five basic reasons that hinders your light from shining. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14).

1. IGNORANCE: Many people are ignorant of the fact that they are the light of the word, not to talk of the fact that they are the light of the world. people are ignorant mostly because they refuse to search to know who they are. Ignorant is a shrewdly disease.

2. FEAR: Never be afraid of your light. Never think less of yourself and never be afraid of what you carry. You are a powerful light!

3. DISCOURAGE: Discouragement of a thing is one of the basic strategy devil uses to kill people’s light. We must be focused. Discouragement also comes when you tend not to see the active and instant result of what you are doing. Be wise!

4. LACK: Don’t lack any thing. Lack is recorded as poverty. When you lack the relevant things needed to make your light shine, then you are poor and it will surely hinders your light from shining. Go for knowledge. Learn thing that will bring out your light. Don’t lack any thing especially knowledge.

5. ACTION: All things boil down to action. Action as often quoted speaks louder than voice. If you know you have a light, you show never refuse to take action in bring it into a shining state for the world to see. You are the light of the world. You can’t be hidden when your light is shining. Work on yourself.

[Q2. Observed and Tested]

Q2. (1 Timothy 3:6, 10; Titus 1:6-9) Why should leaders be observed carefully and tested before placing them in office?

ANSWER: The first quality that Paul gives for a leader is to be "above reproach"/ "blameless" (1 Timothy 3:2). Character in a leader is primary, since everything flows from that. Too often when we select leaders in the church, we' re looking for warm bodies that are willing. We don't really examine character. Too often, church leaders are chosen in a popularity contest, rather than by weighing who will best represent the church in the community. If you are not careful, you can elect a church leader: (a). who is so bizarre in character that he is a laughing stock in the community; (b). or even worse: someone who has a reputation for greed, cheating in business; (c). or someone who is a womanizer. This only brings disrepute on Christ and His church.

What should you be looking for during this period?

ANSWER: Oftentimes, we make the mistake of looking at someone who has been a successful professional in business and think that he or she is therefore qualified to exercise spiritual leadership in the church. But we must not appoint people simply based on their appearance or social status. I believe that many congregations make this mistake.

Ultimately, the choice of a leader in the church should be based on a combination of factors including their character, spiritual maturity, leadership abilities, alignment with the church's values, and their ability to serve and guide the congregation effectively. The major criteria for selecting leaders in the church are moral and spiritual credibility which are necessary for church leaders.

Leaders also need to cultivate a good reputation in the society in which they live. They need to be men and women of prayer who have intimacy with the Word of God and reflect His will before the congregation. When leaders are elected whose hearts beat in accordance with God's will, your church will be filled with new vitality and experience more blessings than you ever thought possible.

[Q1. Husband of One Wife]

Q1. (1 Timothy 3:2-12; Titus 1:6) What kind of leader do you believe Paul is indicating for us with the phrase “husband of one wife”?

ANSWER: The topic, “husband of one wife” is important because the leadership of the church will determine the character of the church. A godly church is impossible without godly leadership. Paul’s warning stands clear; a godly church needs godly leaders. We must be very careful who we entrust with this responsibility. According to 1 Timothy 3:2-12 and Titus 1:6, the kind of leader that Paul is indicating with the phrase “husband of one wife”, expresses requirements for two different levels of church leadership. The first are ''elders'' or ''overseers.'' These men are to be experienced Christians, respectable, capable teachers, with a good reputation and a well-ordered family life. The second group are ''servants,'' or ''deacons,'' who share many of the same expectations. Unlike elders, however, deacons are not necessarily called on to teach. And, they are expected to be ''tested'' prior to taking on their role.

Why is a leader’s family an important indicator of leadership potential or problems?

ANSWER: A leader’s family an important indicator of leadership potential or problems because it is believed that church leaders must be able to manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church. there is a direct relationship between the ability to provide effective leadership to one's family household and the ability to manage God's household, the church.

Finally, If the church leader is acting effectively, his children should (1) obey him, (2) respect him, and (3) be believers themselves. Of course, children will increasingly exhibit their own personalities and character. But observing them will tell you something about the candidate for church leadership. Of course, our cultures are different than the strong patriarchal family structure of the first century, so that must be taken into account, also. Leadership must  not to be autocratic or domineering. Rather the church leaders role is to "care for, take care of" the church (1 Timothy 3:5), as would a servant or steward of someone else's property.

[Q5. Women in Ministry]

Q5. (1 Timothy 2:11-15) How should Paul’s instructions about women teaching and leading in the church be applied in the twenty-first century?

ANSWER: Certain people from within the church have departed from the true teaching of the gospel, have become quarrelsome and argumentative, and are propagating doctrines that are erroneous. Paul was addressing a particular problem specific to the church at Ephesus in which false teaching was resulting in inappropriate behavior. Paul was not giving a universal order to all women of all time not to teach nor have authority over a man, but was ordering that women do not assume superiority over men or promote false teachings. Women should learn first, being educated in the faith before they teach.

It is clear from Paul’s other letters that Paul supported women teachers and leaders. Surely, 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is not prescriptive to women for all time if Paul also commends women leaders and teachers. 1 Timothy 2 does not at all teach subordination of women. And neither does the rest of the Bible. Women were created by God as co-heirs, equals to one another, and image bearers, just as men were. Women are welcomed and encouraged to learn theology just as men are. Women are allowed to teach right and proper theology to their brothers and sisters-in-Christ just as men are. And women are dearly loved and cared for by God just as men are.

How do you support your view?

ANSWER: What this text means to me is: …  There are some women who feel that they were called to teach and preach and lead. And I know many who are absolutely able to do it. But our obedience is to God, not to a sense of calling or ability. That is a hard teaching. But when we go back to God and harmonious creation He formed, I recall that it is we humans who broke it, not Him. And we now live with the brokenness as best we can until He comes again. Overall this passage is a pastoral outworking of a created functionality that was illustrated to us by Jesus. Within Jesus’ outworking though, He did not exclude or silence women. He welcomed them and gave them a voice and a place in His gospel message. There’s a call for both men and women to fulfill their God-given roles and submit to HIM. There is either submission to Christ or there is rebellion against Him. There is no middle ground.

[Q4. Fancy Clothing]

Q4. (1 Timothy 2:9-10) How did women dressing in fancy clothes threaten to compromise the church’s witness in Ephesus?

ANSWER: Paul tells the women in Ephesus that in the area of clothing and personal appearance, they were not to simply continue on in the style and manner of the culture around them. Rather than simply imitating the extravagance of the rich or the immodesty of the temple prostitutes, the women of Ephesus were to exercise restraint and moderation, to dress with decency and propriety.

They were to remember that they were ones who professed belief in God and who worshiped God, therefore, their manner of dress and concerns about personal appearance ought to be a reflection of that, rather than simply a reflection of the people around them. The beauty Paul is concerned with is an internal beauty, a beauty that radiates from a certain kind of heart and attitude and works its way out into "good deeds."

How do we apply the principle of Paul’s directive in twenty-first century churches without instituting a new legalism?

ANSWER: There are two principles Paul is giving in 1 Timothy 2:9-10 that we can apply to our lives and culture today without instituting a new legalism.

1. We should all live according to our faith and consciences, honoring the Lord in all we go do.
2. Paul indicates that those living like this are accountable to God, not to other believers, regarding matters of opinion. Their master is God and should work to please Him in their lives.