Annelle

What assurance do you have that you will be physically resurrected rather than experience disembodied immortality? What does it mean that Jesus is the "firstfruits" (1 Corinthians 15:20) and "firstborn" (Revelation 1:5) from the dead? The assurances in the Bible, God's word. Jesus went first, to prepare the way. He was the firstfruits as He was first.

How does Christ's death and resurrection provide an analogy for baptism according to Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:12? According to Ephesians 2:4-6, while being "raised with Christ" is still spiritual, not physical, in what way does this union impart real spiritual power? When you are immersed in the water it is compared to when Jesus died and entered death. When you rise out of the water it signifies Jesus' resurrection. It is all spiritual, the bible is full of references telling us that the fight is spiritual therefore being raised is spiritual. This shows us that we have spiritual power through Christ Jesus.

In what way does Christ's resurrection somehow validate that we are saved and forgiven by God? If we didn't believe Christ had been actually raised from the dead, how might we have doubts about our salvation? It is because Christ has been raised from the dead that we have assurance or proof that God has completed our salvation. Because God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead, we know that his promises of forgiveness of sins are true, that we have been saved, rescued, delivered.

In what way does each celebration of the Lord's Supper anticipate a future Passover meal? The Bible shows of a great banquet. I can honestly not say in what way we anticipate a meal when we celebrate a sacrifice. It does not compute for me.

Why is it so important to forgive those who have offended us before partaking of the Lord's Supper? In what sense are the Lord's Supper and unforgiveness incompatible? We cannot approach God with unforgiveness in our heart. We have to forgive so that we can be forgiven. The Lord's supper is all about forgiveness and sacrifice. It would not be compatible for you to celebrate forgiveness and then not to forgive yourself.

Why should the words, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" fill us with sorrow? Why should they fill us with joy? An innocent Man took on the sins of the world, and we all know the terrible things the world did and is still doing. It must have caused Him immeasurable pain and torment. It seperated Him from God. Lots and lots of pain - all for love. Because we have to prospect of heaven to look forward to. The prospect of being with our heavenly Father who loves us. The prospect of no more pain.

Compare the annual Jewish Passover celebration meal in Jesus' day with the Christian's celebration of the Lord's Supper. Where are the similarities? Where are the differences? The Jews had a lot of ceremony attached to the passover celebration but in essence it is the same as the Christians except for one very important difference. When we do the passover we celebrate Jesus' sacrifice at the cross and not the excodus out of Egypt.

In what way did the lambs on the first Passover protect the families of God's people? (Exodus 12) What is the primary point of comparison between the first Passover lambs and what Christ did for us as our Passover Lamb? The first passover lambs saved the firstborn of the people of God from dying. In the same way Jesus saves us from God's wrath by dying just like those little lambs.

Compare the annual Jewish Passover celebration meal in Jesus' day with the Christian's celebration of the Lord's Supper. Where are the similarities? Where are the differences? The Jewish Passover was to commemorate the Exodus out of Egypt whereas the Christian's Lord's Supper is to commemorate the sacrifice on the cross. We still do the wine and bread but we focus on Jesus in obedience to what He said at the meal that fatefull night.

In what way did the lambs on the first Passover protect the families of God's people? (Exodus 12) What is the primary point of comparison between the first Passover lambs and what Christ did for us as our Passover Lamb? The blood of the innocent lambs protected Gods people from His wrath. The destroyer passed over their homes and they were safe. I would say the primary point of comparison is that due to Jesus' sacrifice (the innocent lamb), we who accept Him as our God and Saviour would be saved from the final judgement. Gods' wrath will pass over us and we will be safe.

What kind of credibility would Jesus' ministry have had if he were not raised from the dead, especially when he predicted it ahead of time? In what way is the resurrection God's seal of approval on him? I do not think His ministry would have had any credibility. Everything He said would have been questioned and the religion would have died slowly. I have been taught that the miracle was not the cross but the resurrection. When He came back God signed His signature of approval on His Sons earthly ministry, we have a place in heaven now.

The Servant also bears the punishment deserved by sinners. In what sense, if any, did Jesus bear the punishment due you when he died on the cross? My punishment as sinner would have been to go to hell. Jesus bore my sins and paid the price so that I now am able to go to heaven.

What are the characteristics of the “Good Shepherd”? How do these contrast with the “hired hand.” God calls us to shepherd others as pastors, small group leaders, teachers, mentors, etc. How can we demonstrate that we are “good shepherds” rather than “hired hands”? The hired hand works for his own agenda ie to eat, clothe and sleep under a roof. The shepherd has a personal relationship with his charge. He can call them by name and they know His voice. We can do that by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us. By being personal with those in our care.

How does Jesus serve (like Boaz) as a Kinsman-Redeemer to us? Well Jesus became our kinsman when He took the form of a human, also he redeemed us by dying on the cross for our sins. What does the idea of needing a ransom imply about our condition? We are in a sorry state indeed. In need of a Saviour. What was the redemption-price that the Father paid for us? He died for our sins. Was tortured, beaten, spat on, humiliated just because He loves us.

Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words Sin came in through Adam and it went out with the Son of God. We were all destined for hell as we could not pay for our own sins so the Servant (Jesus), who was sinless, was our substitute ie. paying for our sins by dying on the cross. He carried ALL the sin of the world, freeing us so we can go to heaven.

Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convinces you that Jesus Himself saw His own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? If you aren�t convinced, what stands in your way? Luke 18 and John 12 and Matthew 8 Jesus willingly and knowingly walked into the pain and desolation the cross promised to be. There is no greater Love than this.

Jesus came to remove sin from all nations ie people. His is a universal sacrifice as absolutely nobody is excluded from it. I would not say that He wasted His sacrifice on some people because He loves us all. Unfortunately due to the power of choice people do condemn themselves by not accepting the greatest love sacrifice of all time.

How are we disciples to assist in Jesus’ mission to seek and to save the lost? What is the love-balance between seeking to save our friends and having to back off because they feel we are trying to pressure them? We are to be tools and instruments in His Holy hand. We are to follow His promptings and be obedient to His guidance. I have tried so many times to do this on my own power and have fallen way short everytime. Now I wait on Him. Once again the holy Spirit should be our guide. We cannot save anyone with our words. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. You can but plant a seed. I your friends or family ask you to please tone it down or to stop talking to them, then respect their wishes and leave them in Gods' hands.

(Luke 19:10; Matthew 11:19) Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is the Friend of Sinners? How should it affect your relationships with people who are deep in sin? Personally it means the world to me as I am still but a sinner. I sin everyday and am nothing without God and His abounding Grace. And the little word friend is very important to me as the God and Creator of the whole universe is saying in His holy book that He is my Friend. That is amazing. You should treat other sinners with mercy and grace as Jesus is not only your Friend but theirs too.

Q5. What is the difference between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension? How do the two fit together? In what sense is the ascension the completion of the resurrection? Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He then ascended to heaven. Jesus was raised from the dead and then raised to the Father. The ascension is the completion of the resurrection because if Jesus did not go back to Heaven to prepare our place for us we would have nowhere to go after we died.

What do we know from the Gospels about the properties of Jesus' resurrection body? What was he capable of in this new body? We know that He was fully back from the dead. He could be touched, He ate, He spoke, but He was also spirit as He could move around in ways we cannnot.

The fact that they were there firstly and then that they were folded. I think care was taken and a message sent.

The similarities is : the stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, Jesus' absense was pronounced by an angel, disbelief and despair on the part of the disciples, appearances of Jesus that the disciples knew to be Him.

All the differences mentioned I have noticed before but did not think about their significance. I have been in the Police force for 13 years and know that eye witness statements always differ from each other. It all depends on where you were positioned during the incident, your state of mind and what your senses told you. I do believe though that it is not necessary to sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day all three gospels tells us that Jesus was resurrected, He returned to the Father and He will come again. The Holy Spirit supervised the compilation of the bible and therefore all is good with it. Praise the Lord.

What do you think God intended animal sacrifice teach us about sin? I would guess that God wanted us to know that sin is a very serious business indeed for Him. About holiness? That only God is holy and no-one else. About God's nature? God is abound in grace, He loves us with an unending love and because of that He went to extremes so we can be reconciled with Him.