johnd
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Posts posted by johnd
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Hi,
My name is John and I'm from Lancashire in the UK.
I'm looking forward to the new study.
Best regards,
John.
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Q3. (Ephesians 2:17) What does it mean to have "access to the Father"? In what way does the Holy Spirit facilitate this access? In what way does Jesus enable this access?
Both Jews and Gentiles are now free to come to God through Christ.
We have been brought near to Him.
John.
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Q2. (Ephesians 2:14-15) In what sense did Jesus as Messiah "fulfill" the Mosaic Law? What is the significance of that for Jewish people? For us Gentiles?
Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic Law by dying on the cross for us.
Christ has destroyed the barriers people build between themselves. By his death, Jesus ended the angry resentment between Jews and Gentiles.
Best regards,
John.
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Q1. (Ephesians 2:11-12) Why does being out of touch with what it means to be "lost" impede our willingness to witness? In your own words, what is the spiritual condition of a friend or co-worker who doesn't know Christ?
Being out of touch with what it means to be 'lost' will make it difficult to witness to someone as we will not understand that person's position.
Someone who doesn't know Christ does not have a healthy spiritual condition.
John.
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Q4. What exactly is faith? Can we take credit for having it? Can we be condemned for lacking it? Define "faith" in terms a 10-year-old could understand.
Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance...
(from Eastons Bible dictionary).
I don't think we can take credit for having it or be condemned for lacking in it.
We have faith in gravity. We believe that we will be firmly rooted to the earth and not go shooting up out of the earth's atmosphere.
John.
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Q3. According to Ephesians 2:10, what were we created to do? Why? (Matthew 5:16) What is the difference between these works and the works Paul discredits in verse 9?
We were created to carry out good works which God planned for us a long time ago.
These good works must be carried out in conjunction with faith.
John.
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Q2. "Saved" has become Christian jargon. How can you "translate" this word into modern speech so people can understand what it really means and why they need it?
I feel I was saved when I gave my life to Christ and became a Christian. My salvation and faith
are a great gift from God.
Your brother in Christ,
John.
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Q1. Why is it so hard for us to understand grace? What commonly held life principle does it demolish? Translate the word "grace" into language a 10-year-old child would understand.
It is difficult for us to understand grace because we want to pay for it. Grace is truly a free gift.
Maybe I would try to explain to a ten year old that grace is a bit like the unconditional love the child receives from his/her parents.
Best regards,
John.
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Q4. (Ephesians 2:6) What does it mean that we are seated with Christ in "the heavenly realms"? What does this say about God's grace? What does this say about our spiritual authority? How should this knowledge affect our prayers and our boldness?
Because of Christ's resurrection, we know that our body will also be raised from the dead and that we have been given the power to live as Christians now. These ideas are combined in Paul's image of sitting with Christ in "the heavenly realms". Our eternal life with Christ is certain because we are united in his powerful victory.
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Q3. (Ephesians 1:4-5) In verses 4 and 5, which words describe God's motivation and character? Which verbs describe what has happened to us in Christ?
The words which describe God's motivation are "great love" and "rich in mercy".
We are "alive with Christ".
Through faith in Christ we are not guilty. The penalty of sin and it's power over us were destroyed by Jesus on the cross. Before we became Christians we were dead in sin and were slaves to our sinful nature. Now we are alive with Christ.
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Q2. (Ephesians 2:1-3) Few people would knowingly follow Satan. How can people unwittingly follow Satan? In what sense are we responsible for unwitting rebellion against God? How can God, in all fairness, blame us?
Satan is pictured as ruling an evil spiritual kingdom - the demons and those who are against Christ. In the resurrection Christ was victorious over the devil and his power. By letting our guard down Satan can eat away at us. We cannot fight the evil one alone - we need Jesus. If we reject Christ we will receive God's wrath.
Best regards,
John.
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Q1. (Ephesians 2:1-3) In what sense are our non-believing friends, neighbors, and relatives "dead"? What's the difference between us and them? If we really believed that they were "dead" and subject to God's "wrath," what would we do?
Non believers are "dead" because they have not accepted Jesus into their lives where as Christians we have accepted Christ as our saviour.
If we believe this we should spread the good news.
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Q5. (Ephesians 1:22-23) When we neglect to be an active part of a local congregation, what particular blessings do we miss out on according to Paul in this verse? How do we, by our absence, withhold this blessing from others?
Christ fills the church with gifts and blessings. Christ is the head and we are the body of the church. We should not attempt to worship on our own. We need the entire body.
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Q4. (Ephesians 1:20-22) Why do we so often take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare? Why is Christ's exaltation, demonstration of complete victory, and superior rank over all spiritual powers important enough for Paul to mention it to his readers? Why do we tend to feel powerless in the face of spiritual enemies? What was Paul assuring the Ephesians of? What does this encourage us to do?
I guess there are various reasons why we take a "pass" when it comes to spiritual warfare. Maybe we're unaware it's happening. Possibly we try to fight it ourselves without Christ and the Holy Spirit working within us.
As Christians we can be confident that Christ has won the final victory - we cannot lose. The contract has been signed, all we have to do is wait a short while for delivery.
Thank you Lord,
John.
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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?
I feel powerless when I don't have the Holy Spirit working within me.
This can be overcome with prayer.
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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?
If I knew that I was going to inherit that much money I would have to plan what to do with it.
Sometimes we get caught up in the day to day activities of our lives. I need a quiet time when I can soak in the presence of God.
Our family of fellow Christians and our fellowship with them should be an important part of our lives. They are, after all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Best regards,
John.
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Q1. (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 effect our decisions and our lifestyle? How does our great hope differ from the hope of the average non-believer?
We Christians can look forward to the hope of eternal life in Jesus.
We should follow Jesus and walk with him in our lives.
This great hope is not a belief that a non-believer has - we can spread the good news.
Your brother in Christ,
John.
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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?
I'm not sure when the end of term is. Could it be our physical death when we will meet Jesus. Is it the rapture of the church.
The Holy spirit guides us. He is God's guarantee that we belong to him. The Holy Spirit is like a downpayment - a validating signature on the contract.
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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?
God's purpose for our lives is to offer salvation to the world.
We are to bring praise and glory to God.
Mathew 5:13-16 We are to be the salt of the earth just as seasoning brings out the best flavour in food. If we live for Christ we will glow like lights. We should not be quiet when we should speak. We should not go along with the crowd. We should not deny the light. We should not let sin dim our light. We should explain our light to others and not ignore the needs of others.
Regards,
John.
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Q1. (Ephesians 1:7) In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? What do you think your life up to now would have been like if you hadn't been redeemed? What would your future be like without redemption, do you think?
Through Christ's blood we have been redeemed from slavery - we have gained freedom and we have been granted forgiveness of sin.
Without this redemption I would not be a Christian and I would revert back to my old secular ways as a slave to sin.
Regards,
John.
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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? Extra Credit: How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28?
God's purpose in sending Christ was to unite Jews and Gentiles in one body with Jesus as the head.
In 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Christ will conquer all evil including death. Everything will be under His authority.
To all my brothers and sisters in Christ,
John.
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Q4. (Ephesians 1:5-6) Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us?
In His infinite love God has adopted us as His own children.
This shows how strong our relationship with God is.
Best regards,
John.
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Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God?
God accepts us and because of Jesus we are holy and blameless in His sight. We belong to God through Christ and God looks at us as if we had never sinned.
All we can do is thank God for His wonderful love!
Best regards,
John.
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Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? What is comforting? Why does Paul bring up predestination? Why do you think he praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians?
Predestination can be scary because we know our lives have been mapped out before we were born.
God has adopted us and salvation is God's work and not our own doing.
Paul writes about predestination and our adoption to show how strong our relationship with God is.
Regards,
John.
Q1. Father, Forgive Them (Luke 23:34)
in Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross
Posted
Those who were responsible for killing Jesus include soldiers, Jewish leaders and Roman politicians.
As sinners we all have to take a 'corporate' responsibility for Jesus' death. The good news is that our Father of infinite love has forgiven us and through Jesus we have new life.
God bless,
John