[Q5. The Christian Hope of Resurrection]

Q5. Why should Christians look forward to the events surrounding our resurrection? Why do you think Christians have largely lost this as their active expectation and hope? What should be done to reclaim these truths?

I used to attend a church where the rapture of (for) the saints was taught as a different event to the Lord returning with His saints to the earth. In this church the emphasis was to look for the return of Christ at any moment. 'Perhaps today'. I now attend a church which holds to an amillenniumist (sp?) view and the emphasis is on death. We shall all die they preach. Even though, as with all Christians, we all believe in the return of Christ. One church looks to heaven at any moment. The other church looks to death with heaven afterwards. That seems to be one huge reason why this active expectation is lost. Others still are looking for the antichrist rather than the Christ.

I also think the 'live for today and the pleasures around us' as the world does has filtered through to the Christian's lifestyle. It is so easy to put our physical and material needs before our spiritual needs. We need to be always looking unto Jesus and putting Him first in our lives. In that way we will be spending more time with Him and longing to see Him.

Maranatha!

[Q1. Harmony in the Church]

It is wonderful that most people here speak well of their churches.

8] Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. [9] Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

The leaders/elders of my church make up a dictatorship and lord it over the flock. They live out the opposite to verses 8 and 9.

Which of the qualities Peter mentions in 3:8-9 are most evident in your congregation? Which are most needed? What can you and your friends do to change the relational climate at your Church so it is more Christ-like?

I stay there because I feel God has a work for me to do there, even though at the moment I am not allowed to do so because the elders refuse to 'change' and reach out into the community.

My friends and I need to pray, and pray and continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will work in the face of opposition from these elders.

[Q3. Jesus the Human Being]

Was Jesus really a human being or only pretending to be one?

Of course He was a human being. I don't know how anyone who has read the bible could deny this. I do not see how any Christian could go down the road of saying He could pretend. He did no sin, in Him was no sin, He knew no sin, He was undefiled, He could not sin because He was still God.

What do these verses teach?

I am amazed at His humility and His great love for me. Whenever I read them I love Him even more.

What difference does it really make whether or not Jesus was human?

Jesus had to become a Man in order to be our Substitute and bear our punishment. There was none other good enough. Also He showed us how to model our lives, and He shows us He understands, and I think that when we reach heaven we will not see God the Father but we will see God the Son because He put upon Himself humanity.

[Q2. Equality with God]

Christ was and is and always will be equal with God because He is God. He never ceased to be God, even though He humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant. All the time He walked this earth He was still equal with God the Father.