Paul G

Q4. (Romans 6:2-5) According to this passage, at what point do we move from being under the headship of Adam to the headship of Christ? ANS - If we were to use ONLY this passage it would appear that baptism is the point that we move under the headship of Christ. But, in perspective of all scripture, it must start first with salvation, followed by baptism. Is there anything we must do to bring about this change in headship? ANS - Yes, as per the first answer, we must give our lives to Christ, through the act of repentance, and give our lives to Him. What are the implications of us having died with Christ? ANS - We become one, or united with Him. Our sins are buried, gone forever. The old life is gone, and we start a new life, a "resurrected life" with Him.

Q3. (Romans 5:15-19) By what right does Adam represent all humankind? ANS - He was the first, the original man, or footprint, as it were the original manuscript, from which all the rest of mankind descended. He is the head of line. By what right does Christ become head of all who become his disciples? ANS - Christ is our redeemer, our savior, and master. Because of his work on the cross, we are set free from sin. He became our second Adam, and thus in a spiritual sense, we are descended from Him and have become His bondservants. If Christ is not our "representative" or "head," how can his death for sins be effective for us? ANS - If we do not make Him master of our life and receive his salvation, his death for our sins will have no affect, other than to allow us to continue down the road to eternal damnation.

Q2. (Romans 5:13, 20) What is Paul saying in these verses? In what sense does the "trespass increase" (5:20) when the law is present? ANS - There was sin before the law, but the law put definition to what sin was, and made it more pronounced. Once the law came we knew what God meant by sin. It became very real to us. Can there be sin without law? ANS - Yes. Sin became reality when Adam and Eve first sinned.

Q1. What kinds of circumstances in modern life can you think of where a single person acts for an entire group? In what ways are members of the group tied to this person? ANS - Our elected leaders represent us in councils, legislatures, and in Congress. They vote and make decisions on issues representing their constituents, at least we hope they do. Our president represents our country and our citizens when attending international meetings and summits. We trust in his judgement that he will represent us well and make wise decisions. A quarterback leads his team on the football field. The team oftentimes wins or loses because of the decisions, leadership, and skills of the quarterback. In these cases the citizenry lives, and the football team are affected by the decisions of its representatives, and quarterback.

Q4. (Romans 5:9-11) What does "reconciliation" mean? ANS - The hostility between God and man has been changed to harmony and friendship, because of the redemptive work of Christ when He died on the cross. Why is reconciliation with God necessary? ANS - If there was no reconciliation, then we would be doomed to hell forever. We could never enter a relationship of love with Him. Therefore, in order for this happen the plan of redemption had to take place. We understand our having been saved by Jesus' death (5:10a, past tense). In what sense are we being saved (5:10b, present tense) by his life? What is Jesus doing for us in the present? ANS - We are being made more like him, being made holy, being sanctified, and purified daily by his redemptive work, by His blood, and by His Spirit.

Q3. (Romans 5:6, 8) Why is it so important to embrace the truth that "Christ died for the ungodly" (5:6), that "Christ died for sinners" (5:8)? ANS - Because without His love and His ultimate sacrifice we would be lost and doomed to a sinner's death. We are unable to save ourselves. Thank the Lord for His mercies, love and grace. According to 5:8, did Christ die for us at our best or at our worst? ANS - At our worst ("While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" How does this give us assurance against the devil's lies about us being too bad to forgive? ANS - That Christ had me in mind even because I was born (Ps 139), and even when I was in sin, that he would give His everything for me - I can be totally confident in His eternal love for me. Nothing can separate me from His love. Thank you Jesus!

Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage <i>why</i> should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? ANS - Because there is a Godly benefit in experiencing suffering if we receive it in the right spirit - the 3 attributes or blessings are listed - perseverance (or patience), character, and hope One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope? ANS. - Perseverance produces the fruit of patience, one of the fruits of the spirit; Tried character is what a true disciple really has; Hope - we know where we are going, and is the fulfillment of His promises

Q1 (Romans 5:1-2) According to verses 1-2, faith is a key to salvation. For Abraham (4:3), what was the relationship between faith and justification? ANS - Because Abraham had complete faith in God, and believed God would do what He had promised, God credited it to him for righteousness For us (5:1-2), what is the relationship between faith and justification? ANS - Faith is the means, or the gateway and path, to our justification with God. We receive the gift of salvation, and are declared righteous. Just what does it mean to be justified? In my own words - I am set free and no longer in bondage! My sins are gone, and no longer remembered! Thank you Jesus! I praise you forever!

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms Exercise - I will continually learn and discipline myself to praise Him daily, as the Lord brings life's circumstances and situations into my path. Also, I just taught this Study 12 in my adult SS class, singing many hymns, songs, and choruses, as we worked our way through this study. It was a real joy to teach this study.

Q4. (Psalm 34:18-22) What encouragement does David give to the brokenhearted? ANS - He assures us that he is close to us, and that he saves us, that he delivers us from all circumstances of life; he redeems us, and we can take refuge in Him. Praise the Lord. What does it mean that God "redeems" you? He ANS - He has already paid the full price of our release from our sin, and our circumstances, so that we do not have to stand condemned. He paid the full price of our sin, through the sacrifice of His son Jesus. How can we avoid condemnation according to Psalm 34:22? ANS - We must completely trust Him, and give our life to Him, in other words "take refuge in Him."

Q3. (Psalm 34:1-3) Why should we praise God continually? ANS - For all He has done for us; for being our savior, for delivering us as He did David; for all His benefits; and that is love endures forever. Praise the Lord. The list goes on why we should continually praise Him. What are barriers to continual praise? ANS - Discouragement, worry, fretting, bitterness, anger, getting our eyes off of Jesus and instead upon life's circumstances, which weigh us down. What does continual praise do to our spirit? ANS - It puts our eyes on Jesus, and lifts us up away from the discouragement, etc which would enslave us. How are you training yourself to praise continually? ANS - Disciplining myself in all circumstances to praise Him. To have a quiet time with Him daily, to be in His Word, and in prayer, by myself with the door closed, and fellowship with Him.

Q2. (Psalm 118) What does "the stone the builders rejected" (verses 22-23) have to do with the Messiah? ANS - He is the cornerstone, spoken of in Isaiah 28:16, of whom the leaders of Israel rejected. I like how the on-line study describes him - the Capstone, the Keystone, the Cornerstone - it is the stone that crowns the building, the most prominent and important stone of the entire structure. Thank the Lord, that is my Jesus! What do verses 25-27 have to do with the Messiah? ANS - This passage is a prophetic description of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem sitting on a donkey, as the people shouted "Hosanna". But yet the leaders of Israel rejected him.

Q1. (Psalm 100) What is the predominant emotion in Psalm 100? ANS. - Joyfulness, praise, and thanksgiving! How does this psalm make you feel emotionally about God? ANS. - I'm very thankful, and filled with praise, that he is my God, my heavenly father, that I am his, and that I am sheep of his pasture. What are the reasons for praise given in verses 3 and 5? ANS - He created us, he made us, I am one of His, and I am the sheep of His pasture. What are the commands in this psalm? ANS. - To enter his presence with thanksgiving. To shout for joy and to make a joyful noise. To serve Him with gladness.

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms. Exercise - I will teach these two Psalms, 32 and 51, in an adult Sunday School Class this Sunday.

Q4. (Psalm 51:17) How does one achieve a "broken and contrite heart"? What are the earmarks of this condition? ANS - Submitting to Him with a humble, repentant, and broken heart. How does this differ from "being sorry" for a sin? How does humility relate to this condition? ANS - Repentance means a complete commitment to turning your life around and walking away from the past. Humility is having a submissive attitude to the Lord, and goes hand in hand with having a repentant heart.

Q3. (Psalm 51:10-12) How is it possible to have a "pure heart" after great sin? What does a "pure heart" consist of? ANS - It is only possible through God's forgiveness and the washing and cleansing of our heart by His blood, which he shed on the cross for us. What is the relationship between a "pure heart" (Psalm 51:10) and a "united" or "undivided heart" (Psalm 86:11)? ANS - When we have a pure heart we are brought into a right relationship, or unity, with God. Who purifies the heart? What is the process? ANS - The Lord Jesus purifies our heart. We must ask forgiveness of our sin, yield to Him, and make Him Lord of our life.

Q2. (Psalm 51:3-6) When David says, "Against you only I have sinned" (4a) is he minimizing his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah? What does he mean by this? ANS - David acknowledges that these actions against his fellow man constitute sin, which is transgression against God and His laws. When he mentions his sinfulness from before birth is he excusing himself or blaming Original Sin? What does he mean by this? ANS - He means that he is sinful through and through, from the very core of his being, and has been since his life began.

Q1. (Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? ANS - We rationalize it away, convincing ourselves it is not as bad as it could, or there is a justifiable reason for our "misbehavior", and that it is no big deal. How does confession enable us to get free from sin? ANS - We get our sin out in the open, to the light of God's mercies and forgiveness. Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes? ANS - Due to our pride and unwillingness to be open, honest, and transparent. Sometimes God has to put a situation or significant jolt into our path to get our attention, and force us to face up to our sinfulness, and repent of our wicked ways. This is what happened to me, after years of being bound by *********** and sexual addiction.

Exercise. For one of the psalms in this lesson -- or another psalm with a similar theme -- do one of the suggested exercises to help you experience the Psalms These include such things as praying a psalm, meditating, reading to a shut-in, paraphrasing, writing your own psalm, singing, preparing a liturgy, and memorizing. Then report to the forum what the exercise meant to you personally or share what you've written with others. Exercise - I think of the song, "The Old Rugged Cross", and meditate on it - On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross The emblem of suff'ring and shame And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world Has a wondrous attraction for me For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above To bear it to dark Calvary So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown In the old rugged Cross, stain'd with blood so divine A wondrous beauty I see For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above To pardon and sanctify me So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true Its shame and reproach gladly bear Then He'll call me some day to my home far away Where his glory forever I'll share So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged Cross And exchange it some day for a crown

Q4. (Psalm 22) What similarities do you see between the words of Psalm 22 and the events of Jesus' crucifixion? ANS - The on-line study did an outstanding pointing out the amazing exact similarities in all respects. Do you think Jesus understood Psalm 22 as referring to himself? ANS - Absolutely! Why do you think the Spirit inspired David to pen these words? ANS - To speak prophetically for generations to come, so that people for centuries to come, would understand that the scriptures spoke of Christ, and that He was in fact the Son of God, to bring salvation to mankind.

Q3. (Psalm 22:1) Why do you think Jesus spoke the words of Psalm 22:1? ANS - To fulfill scripture. What was he seeking to express? ANS - He was expressing the agony of separation from God, because of the sins of the world, including mine, that was laid upon Him. What was he feeling? ANS - In addition to the above, he was feeling God's wrath and punishment upon sin. He took our punishment and our shame upon Himself. I think of the song "The Old Rugged Cross". How did God answer his plea? God, the Heavenly Father, did not leave His son on the cross, or in the grave, but raised Him from the dead, and gave Him total victory over satan, the grave, death, and sin. Praise the Lord!!

Q2. (Psalm 110) Why do you think that Jesus asked the Pharisees about verse 1, "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" What point was Jesus making? To get them to think about him, Jesus, as someone much greater, and outside the "paradigm" of time and dimension of what the the Jews thought of Jesus, and believed about Him. How does Jesus combine the roles of Warrior-King and Priest in his ministry to us and to this world? ANS - He will rule and reign over us and we are to make Him Lord of our lives. But He is also our savior and high priest, cleansing us from all sin. How do you reconcile the violence suggested in verses 5-6 with Jesus as "Prince of Peace"? ANS - He must first bring judgement, in order to bring ultimate peace upon this earth.

Q1. (Psalm 2) What does Psalm 2 teach us about Yahweh's "anointed" king? ANS - He speaks of a close relationship between the Father and Son and that Jesus, the son, will firmly rule over the earth some day. Why do you think the apostles saw this passage as referring to Jesus the Messiah? ANS - Because it reached beyond just David's time period. Jesus himself spoke of His Heavenly Father in this kind of relationship, and used the Psalms himself in His ministry on earth. What does the passage teach about the importance of submission to Jesus the Christ before it is too late? ANS - We need to submit to Him now, before He begins to rule and earth and bring judgement upon the wicked and unbelievers.