DKZander

Q2. (Romans 5:13, 20) What is Paul saying in these verses? Can there be sin without law? In what sense does the "trespass increase" (5:20) when the law is present? 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Awareness and a label - same things were occuring only now there was an awareness and a name attached = accountability. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. I like what the Bible says about Adam and Eve's awareness of being naked and their need to be covered.....once sin/law had been identified they became aware....yet they had always been naked! We also had to learn about God's grace and that comes through His love, forgiveness, mercy, etc....without it, how would we experience it? Can we have grace without sin?

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? While I agree with the previous posts I need to admit that the first thing that comes to my mind is a cult leader. The members are tied to their leader through various techniques, etc...and become active participants. If I am going off in the wrong direction I pray somebody actually reads this and will help me to better understand this. Again, I do agree with previous posts I have read stating politics, etc....but wanted to add this perspective

Q4. (Romans 5:9-11) What does "reconciliation" mean? Why is reconciliation with God necessary? 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? Reconcilliation is being resolved; to accept and understand. This is necessary because without it we would have the opposite relationship with God still. Nobody can get to God without believing in Jesus. Jesus intercedes for us in the present.

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)? According to 5:8, did Christ die for us at our best or at our worst? How does this give us assurance against the devil's lies about us being too bad to forgive? I believe it is important for us to embrace the truth that Christ died for the ungodly because if we believe that he died for us at our worst, just think of what He will do for us in a better state! This helps me to know that if I was good enough as a horrible sinner, I must be even better as a believer who accepts Him!!! This helps me battle the strongholds that the devil pushes on me....it helps me when I find myself coming under condemnation. Praise the Lord!

As we live with the hope and anticipation of a new life, we will be tested and will experience trials and tribulations. As we rejoice during these times, God will gift us with the fruit of patience. I have copied and pasted another member's post because it is exactly how I understand this and I could not have stated it better (I hope this is ok!): We should rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations because we are being taught patience, experience, and hope. Perseverance is important because we go through trials, and we need to learn how to keep fighting the good fight through Jesus. The trials are continuous-they almost never stop coming. Tried character is important because trials come to tear down our testimony, and our relationship with Jesus. So, we need to learn how to keep ourselves from doing or saying anything that will compromise our testimony, or bring a bad light to our Savior. Hope is important because we need the hope that we have a better life coming, to keep us from getting discouraged and turn away from Jesus.

My understanding is that by believing in God, Abraham was made right with HIM. Since FAITH was the key to salvation, his belief justified him. For me, this means that my belief in Jesus as the Son of God is my salvation and therefore, makes me "right" with God and this is a gift....it is nothing that I did or elected to do whatsoever. Justification is the result of faith.

Hello everyone, I'm not sure if I'm in the right place since the last post I see is from 2008, but I will go ahead and say thank you for this opportunity....it is divine indeed and I feel blessed to have been brought here! I am really looking forward to learning a lot from this study. Blessings, Dona