ScottClark

Q4. (1:13-14) These verses contain two analogies: (1) seal and (2) downpayment, with the balance to be paid in a lump sum at the end of the term. When does the "end of the term" occur? How do these analogies help explain how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives? These are wonderful verses as they expose the foundation of Christianity, which is Christ in us. The end of the term comes at the end of our lives here on earth when our whole being is transformed from the physical to the spiritual, the imperfect to the perfect. I find scripture much more personal when I replace the word "you" with "I". I know that God's Spirit lives in me and the Holy Spirit reveals its presence when I experience the fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, but it also convicts my heart when I am tempted or choose to sin.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:11-12) According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? Our purpose is to praise God. The bible speaks of the winged creatures who give praise to God "constantly" for eternity and in my spiritual infancy I couldn't appreciate this. Now I understand what God has done for me and I welcome the opportunity to praise God constantly. God gives me this opportunity to praise Him everyday I have on this earth, which is what Matthew 5 speaks about. God wants me to be His light to the lost sheep of this world.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:9-10) What is the significance that all things will be brought under one head -- Christ himself? How does this relate to the Creator? What does it say about unity? The significance, or importance that all things will be under Christ is about unity. The mystery is Christ in me, the hope of glory as Paul states in Colossians and the unity of all believers being of one mind which is Christ Jesus is wonderful.

I have been redeemed from slavery in at least two different aspects. First, my slave debt has been paid to the Master by the sacrafice of Christ and I am now free. Second, I have been redeemed from the slavery of sin which now holds no power over me other than what I chose to give it. I wish I truly could give up sin but then I wouldn't need Christ so it is a bitter-sweet balance. When I try to share Christ with people who do not believe I sense they simply do not realize they are missing anything and that their life would not be any different if they become "redeemed". What they miss is a sense of peace, love, joy, and the other six fruits of the spirit. I believe as a person matures they begin to question their spiritual life and often realize they have made a mistake in rejecting Christ.

Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? Adoptiion is a legal term for completely belonging with equal family rights as any biological child. Adoption is a perfect illistration because I can disregard any social economic situation in my life and be confident I belong to God's family in an equal measure as any other child of God, including Christ. To think that I will be equal to Christ in God's eyes is very difficult to grasp yet it is true.

To be holy means to be perfect in God's sight. In at least two different places in the bible God calls us to "be holy, as I am holy". Of course we can not be holy while living on earth but we can capture the attitude of being holy. We can stand blameless before God because our transgressions have been justified by the blood of Christ. The debt we owe has been paid and now a holy and righteous God can accept us in His presence.

Predestination is scary if you are new to the Christian walk because it can imply that if God didn't already choose you, you're not going to heaven. For those whose walk is more mature we understand that God wants no one to perish but that all have eternal life, and he freely gives each person that choice. Paul states we are predestined because God already knows how each of us will choose, even before we know how we will choose. The comforting part of predestination is the knowledge that I have been chosen and God has been directing my life from the start. I believe Paul brings up predestination to comfort the Ephesians who are not Jewish and that God intended on bringing them into his family from the beginning and not as an after-thought, or because the Jewish community rejected Him so now God will "settle" for the Gentiles.

I believe it means to have Christ as an active part of me. Allowing Him to manifest the fruits of his Spirit through me for the benefit of others. When I am told that people know I am a Christian because of my actions I feel it is Christ indeed in me.