RodR

No one took Jesus' life. He gave it up willingly - committing His spirit to the Father. We are comforted because of Jesus' demonstration of complete trust in the Father's will and His submission to God. His example helps us overcome our fear of death, knowing that it's all in God's hands.

Jesus had completed the task that God had sent Him to accomplish. He had willingly and obediently paid the price for our sin and restored our relationship with the Father. Jesus' life is an example of submission to the Father's will. By living purposeful lives, seeking and submitting to God's will, and striving to be Christlike in our behavior toward others, we may also hear His words, "Well done!" - Then, we too will be able to say, "It is finished."

I like this. I think you may have discovered another aspect to Jesus' fifth word from the cross. Thanks!

When Jesus said, "I thirst," He demonstrated both His humanity and His divinity. Being fully human, the suffering of the cross led to physical thirst. Being fully God, the purpose of the cross required fulfillment of prophecy. His experience on the cross was both real and purposeful. It was all a necessary part of God's plan to redeem mankind.

Even though Jesus knew about the resurrection (faith), He still suffered through the crucifixion (commitment). In order for God to forgive sin and redeem mankind (love), He had to forsake His Son, Jesus on the cross. (4th word) The extent to which God went to redeem (me) should have a profound effect on (my) life. How can I repay His love, commitment, and faith? Only by my own faithfulness, commitment, and love toward Him and toward others. "He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sin away And now I sing that brand new song: Amazing Grace For Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay"

This might be a good time to give kudos to those nursing home "saints" who take on the role of caregivers to "abandoned" parents. I've seen some who become substitute relatives for those in their care. God bless them and may their "tribe" increase! If readers of this forum don't have a living parent, I'd suggest adopting one who is in a situation like you describe.

As the eldest son, Jesus has a responsibility to his widowed mother. John is the only one there who could (or possibility who would) take on that responsibility. I read that John is the only one of Jesus' disciples who died a natural death. (Knowing this, perhaps Jesus wanted to spare his mother from any more grief on His account.) Even though Jesus knows that His primary purpose is the salvation of mankind and He is suffering on the cross, He still responds to His mother's needs and His earthly obligation to her. His love for all of us still meets the need of each of us. Although my parents are both gone, I have the opportunity to honor my godly mother-in-law who lives near us. Helping to meet her needs is a priority that I cherish. In part, it was her example of a dedicated Christian life that helped lead me to faith in Christ. How can I give her any less?

The thief's faith is astounding because the object of his faith is dying along with him. Somehow, he knew that Jesus' death was part of God's plan for the salvation of mankind and he believed. The thief received mercy and pardon directly from Jesus Himself. (lesson learned: "As long as there is life, there is hope." or "It ain't over till it's over.") I had never thought of what it must have meant to Jesus before this lesson. I think Jesus may have been relieved that the agony He was experiencing was worth it. The faith shown by the thief was evidence that He was fulfilling His Father's will.

In a sense, God is responsible for the death of His son. Only God could have allowed it, only He could have stopped it. It was His love for you and me that made Jesus' death necessary. We can never fully understand His love from a human perspective. Jesus was born crucified. His purpose from birth was to die for the sins of mankind. "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me."

Q2. (Matthew 6:33) What does it mean in verse 33 to "seek first his Kingdom"? What does it mean to "seek first

Q1. (Matthew 6:24) Jesus seems to make it sound like you can't seek wealth and God simultaneously. Does he really mean this? Is this hyperbole? Figurative? Literal? Can wealthy people serve God in actual fact? There's a difference between being wealthy and serving wealth. I don't think this verse says you cannot be wealthy and serve God. It says you cannot serve wealth and serve God. If all your effort is focused on making and keeping money, there is no effort, time, energy left to serve God. I think it is possible to serve God with your wealth no matter how much wealth you have. When Jesus was asked about the most important commandment, His answer clarified what it means to serve God and not wealth. Mar 12:29-31 NIV "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (31) The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Q4. What did Jesus intend the Parable of the Soils to teach us about the "message of the kingdom"? Why are these truths so important for keeping disciples from becoming disillusioned? Jesus wanted to emphasize that the seed (Word of God) is good and will grow when sown faithfully. He also wanted to let the disciples know that not all would receive the seed with the same enthusiasm. As a farmer deals with different soils and conditions, so the disciple will face different attitudes and receptiveness. Both farmer and disciple will cultivate and nourish where the conditions are the best and God will provide the harvest for His Kingdom.

Q3. (Matthew 13:23) Even good soil can have factors that hinder growth in various parts of the field, or make some areas grow taller and fuller wheat. What factors make a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom? What might be the reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth? I once read that a disciple should be FAT (Faithful, Available, and Teachable). These traits would improve the quality of the soil. When we are faithful to what we already know, God rewards that faithfulness (Matt 25:23). When we make ourselves available, God gives us more opportunities to serve. When we are teachable, God's Word can be more fruitful for positive change in our lives.

Q2. (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14) Which of the thorns that Jesus mentions do you think is the most dangerous: Riches, worries/cares, or pleasures? Why do you think so? Satan uses different "thorns" for different people. What is dangerous for one may not be as dangerous for another. Satan's goal is to make the Word unfruitful. He will use whatever "thorn" effects you the most to choke out the Word in your life.

Q1. (Matthew 13:20-21) Why, according to Jesus' teaching here, do some people fall away so quickly? What is their problem? Like seed on rocky soil, some people are quick to respond to the Word and begin to grow but their lack of a root system that goes deep into the Word results in a lack of nourishment that leads to their soul's drying out quickly. Perhaps the problem with rocky soil is that it needs to be broken. Repentance breaks up the rocky soul and makes it more receptive to the Word.

Q4. Why is repentance so central to the Kingdom of God? Why is baptism important to converts to the King? Can Christ reign in an unrepentant heart? Repentance marks a turning point. It's a conscious decision to stop going one way and start going another. Submission to God and life in His Kingdom necessitates a rejection of the world's kingdom. We are "in the world" but not to be "of the world" according to Jesus' prayer in John 17. Baptism is our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Our sins are washed away in the blood of Christ and we are raised to a new life "in Christ."

Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John's action and the Messiah's action? What is the point of difference? Do you really long to be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit? What might prevent this in your life? What might encourage it? The comparison is in the "overwhelming", the difference is in the "agent" of overwhelming. John's baptism was in water, Jesus' is in the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt 3:11). Being "overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit" would result in following His lead in everything. Unrepented sin and the natural man make this difficult. Growing through the Word and becoming more and more like Jesus would encourage it. The good news is, according to Philippians 2:13, God works in us to will and to act according to His good purposes. We can have both the desire and the ability to live for Him because of the indwelling Spirit. As we submit to the Spirit's leading, we become more and more like Christ.

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? Who welcomed John's baptism? Who resisted it? Why? According to Mark 1:4, John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The Pharisees and experts in the Law of Moses knew they were God's people and thought that was enough. Tax collectors, publicans, common people welcomed a way to "make themselves right with God." Pharisees, religious leaders, and experts in the Law rejected John's call to repentance as unnecessary and beneath them. They believed that keeping the commands of the Law was enough.

Great point. You are correct. "His mercies are renewed every morning." Rod

Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repenting of their known sins? Why do people avoid repentance? What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart? True repentance is an essential part of adopting the Christian faith. In Acts, Peter's sermon "cut his hearers to the heart." When they asked him what they should do, he tells them to "repent and be baptized." (Acts 2:38). In other words, feeling sorry wasn't enough. The Greek term means a change of mind or heart. It is the change of determination or will, the resolve to turn away from sin toward God. Paul describes the process in 2 Cor 7:9-11. He says that "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret." True repentance means the change of mind and heart brought about by godly sorrow for sin. Repentance always leads to a change of life. Turning to Christ without first turning away from sin gives a false sense of security. No doubt Satan rejoices when we think we can be Christians without turning away from sin and changing our lifestyle. We avoid repentance because sin is a hard habit to break. To some extent, almost all Christians have unrepented sin. The good news is that it's never too late. We have the power of the Holy Spirit working through His Word to help "root" out our hidden sin. When He does, we only need to confess it to God and determine to rely fully on His strength to be overcomers.

Hi All, I'm looking forward to sharing in this study. I especially like to dialog with other members through the forum and/or private messages. I'm not satisfied to just answer study questions. Please join in the conversation between members. I travel extensively as the field representative for a non-profit Christian children's home and school in northeastern Oklahoma. God bless! Rod

Q3. What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty? The "perfect law" is God's Will as revealed in the Scriptures. In 2:8, James is referring to a specific, universal law found in Scripture and given to everyone by Christ, Himself; "Love your neighbor as yourself." It is a law of liberty because obeying it brings freedom from the effects of sin and a closer relationship with God.

Q2. (1:22) Why are we so easily fooled into thinking that listening to Bible teaching means that we are living out righteous lives? What is the nature of the self-deception? Satan is a master of half-truths. I remember a sign in the library of a college I once attended that read... "Blessed is the one who reads..." While it was intended to encourage reading it illustrates how satan lures us into half-truths. Some Christians read a little further and finish the phrase, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy..." However those who intend to follow Christ and grow in Him, finish the entire thought: "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near." (Rev 1:3 NIV)

Q1. (1:18) In what sense are we given spiritual birth by the "word of truth"? What does spiritual life have to do with the Word? In John 15:3, Jesus tells His disciples, "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." I think He was reminding them that the words He had spoken and the example He (the living Word) had given them was growing them up spiritually. In a sense, we are birthed and we grow by His Word in the Scriptures. Without the Word actively living in our lives we will not remain connected to the Vine and will die.