Sasquatch

Q3. (Ephesians 1:18d) Why are we powerless sometimes? Is it an inadequacy with the source or with our faith? Why do some congregations and movements produce disciples with miracle-believing faith and others produce disciples with wimpy faith? How can this be changed? We are powerless perhaps because we have chosen to live below our hope which is a function of our faith. Some congregations believe the same power that raised Lazarus from the tomb, healed blind eyes, and that broke the bread and fish to feed 5,000 is at their disposal and in them. Perhaps we must lay hold of this power through faith by realizing "God has revealed it to us byhis Spirit."

Q2. (Ephesians 1:18c) If you knew that in a few years you would inherit $10 million, would it affect your life now? How should our expectation of an inheritance in God's presence temper our present-day concerns? Since this inheritance will be shared with "the saints" -- our Christian family -- how should that affect our fellowship with them? Certainly, a windfall like $10,000,000 would make my life much easier on earth from a financial security standpoint. "The riches of his glorious inheritance" does not compare in the sense that eternal life is overwhelmingly greater in value. The riches of the inheritance promised by God is like infinity.........it is without bound. We should let down our worldly defenses with our Christian brothers and sisters and love each other. Certainly, you don't have to be a wimp to be a Christian. That is not important. Praising God and letting God's light shine through us is our reason for being here.

Ephesians 1:18b) What do we Christians have to look forward to? How should this hope be a major motivation in our present-day lives? How should this hope affect our decisions and our lifestyle? How does our great hope differ from the hope of the average non-believer? Christians have the "hope of glory" to look forward to or the firm expectation of Christ's return. The hope that the future will be better with Him. Christ paid the ransom for our freedom with his blood; we have redemption through Christ's blood--we are blood bought We have been chosen by God and predestined for his purpose. God chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight. We are adopted as God's sons and daughters. We are brothers and sisters with Christ. We are God's possession. We will share in the inheritance of the saints. We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. God made known to us the mystery of His will which is the fulfillment in the end times of God's plan for salvation in Christ. Christ's return givs us hope as Christ is to be the all in all; Christ is to be the head; all things will be put under his feet. In this difficult and sometimes grotesque and incomprehensible world, the one constant in my life is Christ. It is the greatest gift. It is reasonable to presume the hope of the non-believer simply cannot measure the hope of the Christian. The hope in Christ is without bound.

Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship with us? Through the blood of Christ we be freed from the lowest depth of sin. Like a slave, we have been freed from the lowest class and moved to the highest class as a son of God and a brother of Christ with full right and privileges. Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? We are blessed by being adopted into God

What does it mean to be "holy"? It means we are consecrated to God, separated to him as his possession. We are dedicated to God. In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? God has forgiven our sins through Jesus Christ and He sees us as

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? Christ is in me and I am in him. Christ is a part of my whole life. I am a son of God and Christ is my brother. Your brother will always protect and love you.

Q4. (Romans 8:35-36) What kinds of perils were the early Roman Christians likely exposed to? What kinds of perils are Christians exposed to today? How does this passage reassure us? In what sense do we Christians "overwhelmingly conquer" (NASB) despite the obstacles we face? Early Roman Christians faced all kinds of tribulation, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, violent death, beating, imprisonment, being burned alive, thrown to the lions, etc. Christians today continue to be exposed to similar persecutions. Nothing else in all creation can separate us from the love of God. Despite the obstacles we face, Christians experience victory or conquer by the blood of the Lamb and testimony of Word. Satan's servants may kill us, but they cannot keep us from loving Jesus.

Q3. (Romans 8:31-32) What is the significance of the statement: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Who might our enemies be? What is the evidence presented that God is for us? How does this statement make you feel? How does it affect hope? How does it allow you to act? What might: "...graciously give us all things" refer to? God is for us as he did not spare his Son Jesus in order to secure eternal salvation for us. He has taken our side against the world, the flesh and the devil. No enemy has the power of God. Romans 8:32 indicates He will graciously give us all things. "This is love: not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins".(1 John 4:10). This makes me feel good and gives me hope...."And Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (5:5). The statement allows me to act like a son of God. God has raised me up on this earth for his purpose and by his grace, to be a brother to Christ. Hopefully, one day all of us will share "the incomparable riches of his grace".

Q2. (Romans 8:29) What does it mean to "be conformed to the likeness of his Son"? In practical terms, what does that involve in our lives? Why does Paul support this statement with ideas of our destiny? Why does he support this with ideas of brotherhood with Jesus? God's purpose is to save us and to shape us into Christ's very image. In practical terms, that involves struggle, conflict, pain, joy, and tribulation. Like a blacksmith who hammers out the shape of a horseshoe, we are forged and hammered into shape. God is the potter and we are the clay to be shaped into the sons and daughters of God. Our destiny is to become like Jesus, to be shaped or changed in the character of Jesus. We are to take on the family resemblance as we are the sons and daughters of God and the brothers and sisters of Jesus. I agree with Pastor Ralph "Wow, what an honor!"

Q1. (Romans 8:28) What is the actual promise contained in verse 28? What does this promise mean? Put it in your own words. What are the two qualifications to the recipients of this promise? How does verse 28 give you hope? The promise is ".....God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The promise means God is able to turn evil into good, initiate events, respond creatively to evil attacks, turn evil back upon itself and bring ultimate victory. The two qualifications are 1. The promise is for those who love God. 2. The promise is for those who are called according to his purpose. The promise is for those who love him and who have responded to his call. Verse 28 gives me hope simply because I love God and I am responding to his call to fulfill my role or purpose in this life....... all for his glory.

Q3. (Romans 8:26-27) How does the Holy Spirit act as a Helper or Mediator or Intercessor in verses 26-27? The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us in prayer with groans words cannot express all in acordance with God's will. What similarities do you see between the Holy Spirit's ministry here with Jesus' teaching of the Spirit's ministry as Counselor/Comforter/Paraclete in John 14:16 and 15:26)? Jesus asked the Father to give us another Counselor or Spirit of Truth. The Spirit lives in us and is with us. Jesus's ministry culminated in salvation or breaking the bondage of sin over man. The Holy Spirit is in us to guide us and help us overcome sin which is in us. Why do you think we tend to take the Holy Spirit for granted or fail to understand His ministry to and through us? The Holy Spirit is unseen and intangible. Our human nature for independence inferferes with allowing us to be led by the Spirit.

Q2. (Romans 8:17-22) In what ways was suffering Jesus' lot in life? Why do we suffer? Why does all creation seem to be suffering? What will signal the end of that downward cycle of suffering, decay, and death? Is there anything good to look forward to in this present life? Jesus' lot was suffering in the sense He died on the cross to break the bondage of sin over us. All creation and human suffering is consistent with the story of the fall of man. The earth has been mortally wounded due to Adam's sin. Because of Adam's sin, all creation has been locked into a condition of suffering, death, and decay to the extent of groaning and pangs of childbirth. The Messiah's death broke the bondage of sin over us; however, it will take the Messiah's return to break the earth's bondage to decay and decline. Yes, hope springs eternal and we have great causes for rejoicing! The tribulation of this troubled world is ephemeral. That is why we should worry about nothing and pray about everything. The glory of God that we will share some day gives us hope... "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:2-4).

Q1. In Romans 8:14-21, 28, how many times is the idea of being sons and daughters of God alluded to? What are the promises made to these sons and daughters? What do we learn about our future and our role in the future of all creation? The idea of being the sons and daughters is alluded to many times. The promise is that we have been adopted as full sons and daughters of God. We are full heirs; we have full status in the family; we are seated in the heavenly realm. What Christ who is our brother inherits, we inherit as well. "If indeed, we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." This comes at the resurrection of our bodies when Christ returns.

Q6. (Romans 8:15-16) How does the Holy Spirit inspire us to pray "Abba, Father"? What is the significance of us referring to God as our Dad? What happens in our lives if we don't have some kind of personal assurance of our salvation? How do we receive this kind of personal assurance? "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (8:16)..........the Spirit acts upon our spirit to cause it to cryout as a child. The personal assurance of salvation is part of the essence of faith and an essential of salvation. Seek God earnestly to find the place of rst which is in God.

Q5. (Romans 8:13-14) What does it mean to "mortify" or "put to death" the deeds of the body by the Spirit? What would it look like to watch a person do this? What does it mean to be "led" by the Spirit? What does this look like in actual practice? How do "putting to death" and being "led" by the Spirit fit together? How much of this is the Spirit and how much is us? Rededication of my life to Christ at times seems a daily, weekly or monthly act. Accepting Christ was the "taking off" of the old self to end or put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Dr. Wilson expressed it aptly when he said Walking with, following, being led, submitting and obeying all involve the absence of resistence to Christ. We can strike out for new ground, but only with the Spirit as our guide. We cannot strike out on our own. Allowing leads to trust.

Q4. (Romans 8:12) Do we have to sin? Are we compelled to sin? Is it possible to live for two hours of wakefulness without sinning? Four hours? One day? Two days? Where do we Christians get such a defeatist attitude towards sin? From Scripture? No, we do not have to sin. No we are not compelled or addicted to sin. There is no designated time frame for sin. "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation---but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it." We no longer have to sin; we have been set free by Christ from slavery to sin. The cry of the "wretched man" is usurped by the rescuer or the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Q3. (Romans 8:9) Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit residing in us? What is the difference (if any) between the indwelling of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit? How do we remain "full" of the Spirit? The presence of the Spirit living in us is the essential mark of a Christian. The Spirit indwells in us. The fullness of the Spirt shines in certain people. In my church, one can see in several people the fullness of the Spirit. We remain "full" in the Spirit by staying in the Spirit or "setting our mind on the things of the Spirit".

Q2. (Romans 8:5-6) Exactly what does it mean to set your mind on the things of the Spirit? How do you do this? How can you recognize when the things you're setting your mind on relate to your sinful nature? How much of this is deliberate? How much is habit? What part does the Holy Spirit have it this? Or is this primarily right living by force of will? Setting our mind on things is to give careful consideration to or be intent on living according to the Spirit. Dr. Wilson mentioned the trappings of the media and the flesh (worldly things) whose message is biased against Christ as examples. The worldly message or sinful nature can move on us insidiously sometimes disguised so cleverly that we do not see it. I think we all recognize at times the sinful nature in us both in habit and when deliberate. Sometimes our friends and spouses point it out. It is not easy to live in the Spirit because Satan is always there working against us. For me, I need to stay in the Word daily to steel "the armor of God". Prayer, church, Sunday School, and the fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters all help as well. Allowing the Spirit to guide and asking for the Spirit to guide helps strengthen me.

Q1. (Romans 8:3-4) Why can't obedience to the law save us? "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son...." (8:3) The law is a set of moral guidelines which is good and holy and righteous. The law is weakened by the sinful nature or inherent rebellious nature of man against God. Obedience to the law places the merit on us meaning we are saved by our own works or merit. What is the weak link? The problem is with us, with the "sinful nature" or "flesh". The weak link is man. The weak link is the sin that abides in me; it is "the unregenerate and sinful nature," in opposition to the Spirit of God. The problem is our rebellious human nature and human value systems that stand in opposition to God's value system. What then does it take to save us?[/b] "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit." (8:3-4) Jesus came in the in the likeness of sinful man, rather than as sinful man himself. Jesus took on our sin on the cross. God made his own Son a sin offering or atonement for our sin. What does it take to save us..............it is God's unmerited gift or favor that saves us. By grace through faith we are saved. All we have to do is accept God's gift to us and live in Christ.

Q5. (Romans 7:14-25) Christians disagree about who is the "I" in Romans 7. Is Paul referring to himself or others? What is your opinion? (We won't all agree here, but we'll learn what the issues are by taking and arguing for a position -- lovingly). The "wretched man" is typical of anyone who is regenerated but not liberated; that is, someone who has been born again but has not found the path to walk in the power of the Spirit. Anyone who loves the law and has been born again or brought to faith by the Spirit, but not indwelt by the Spirit.

Q4. (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:18-20; Romans 7:24) What is the doctrine of "total depravity"? Put it in your own words. Man is flawed. Does it mean that none of God's original goodness shows through? No, there is good in man which is the remnant of God in which he was formed. Then what does it mean? Why does modern man tend to believe that man is basically good? Many self-help books and modern American individuality point to the "self" as the source of the solution. Man is basically good here, he just needs to find that inner self and goodness by himself. How does this differ from what the Bible teaches? Those who believe that obedience to the Law can save them from eternal punishment underestimate the inherent rebellious nature of man against God or underestimate the "flesh". The Law cannot save you.

Q3. (Romans 7:12; 8:3) What does the law do well? What does it do poorly? Why is the law (knowing right and wrong) powerless to save us? What is the problem here? The Law is holy, righteous and good. The Law names what is wrong. The Law does not provide the solution to the "flesh" or our inherent rebelliousness against God. The Law is powerless to save us. Doing or complying with the Law is doing it "ourselves" or on our own merit. We do not achieve salvation by our own works but by grace through faith.

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more? The Law reveals sin, provokes sin and yet condemns sin. Ignorance is not bliss, because sin is still wrong in that it is rebellion against God and God's holiness. Man's fallen nature is inherently rebellious against God. Being told "do not covet" puts a spotlight on the sin or reveals it. The sin is named and therefore, it is noticed.

Q1. (Romans 7:5) Paul uses the word "flesh" (or NIV "sinful nature") many times in chapters 7 and 8. In your own words, what does Paul mean by "flesh" in these verses? I think the lesson describes the flesh as phsical matter, the human body, the human being or simply the rebellious human nature. The last description is most appropriate as the rebellious human nature is against God perhaps is always with us. Fortunately, we have the Spirit within us who helps the keep the "flesh" or our rebellion against God from winning.

Q5. (Romans 6:18-22) In Paul's analogy in these verses, is there a place of independent freedom apart from "slavery" to sin or to Christ? Why do we long for this kind of independent freedom? Why do we hesitate to firmly take sides and make our allegiance clear to all? There is no independent middle ground; we cannot serve both God and mammon. Our master is God or Satan, you are on one side of the net or the other. We long for independent freedom because we are human and want to control our lives. Taking a stand for God and the gospel means alienation from many in the world. It means we may not be liked or looked upon as a pariah by non-believers. Nevertheless, we do. Every verse of scripture we read, every church service we attend, including participation in this study affirms our beliefs. It is hard at times to stand up; but we must.