jaunita

What does it tell us about the status of the Lamb that he is worshipped alongside "him who sits on the throne"? (5:13-14) This tells us that Jesus, is God...second member of the Trinity. He is "one" with the Father. 1Tim.3:16 "And without controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into Glory" amen. Jesus desires our praise, & love; How can we not love, so great a Saviour? I want to thank all, who have encouraged me during this Bible study.....your letters have meant so much to me. I don't believe I have ever enjoyed a study, as much as I have this one....Learning more about our Lord, & making new friends! I too, have signed up for the new study, beginning in May, & am looking forward to "seeing" you again!...I love you all.

What's the significance of Christians "reigning on the earth"? Of being "priests"? Do you think we are to "reign" now or later (or both)? A deep question, indeed! Do I believe we, as Christians will rule & reign on the earth later? Yes! In all aspects. Do I believe we rule & reign now? Yes! But not as some believe. Jesus came two thousand years ago, to "set-up" His kingdom ("The kingdom is within you") This was a spiritual kingdom. Jesus said "All power, & authority, has been given unto you" What is this authority? Its the name of Jesus, used by believers, in the spiritual relm. To many, today, are teaching that if you're not prospering, in the natural, that you're not living in the kingdom. That you are "missing it". What does this say, for all those believers, whom have given up everything...even their lives, in some cases? Yes! We rule today, Yes! We reign today; in the spiritual relm. The demons tremble, the spiritual world quakes, at a believer who knows who he is, in Christ. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a "spiritual" house, an Holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifice's, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" 1Peter-2:5.....

What has the Lamb done to "triumph" (5:5) and so become worthy to take the scroll and open its seals? Jesus, the perfect, sinless sacrifice, was slain for our sins, & redeemed us by His precious Blood! John say's "And I wept much, because NO MAN was found worthy to open & to read the book, neither to look thereon" Only Jesus, the son of God, who no sin could be found in, was worthy to open the book. Not only did He die for our sins, He also conquered Death, hell, & the Grave! He triumphed over all! This is why we can now say "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us"(Romans 8:37) Because He triumphed, we do also! Praise the Lord!

The lamb itself represents .... Standing after being slain indicates ... Horns represent .... Eyes represent ... The number seven carries the idea of ... To summarize, then, the Lamb has the qualities of being of; "The only perfect sacrifice!" "And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look therein"....."Weep not; behold!, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book...." 1-The Lamb; Jesus, Himself!..Perfection. 2-Standing after being slain; Resurrection Power! 3-Horns; All Powerful (Jesus said "All power, has been given unto me, by my Father) 4-Eyes; All knowing, & seeing. The number "7" is God's number....perfection! The "7" Spirits, also represent God's Perfect wisdom. "The four beasts, & twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb....& sang a new song; Thou art worthy to take the book, & to open the seals....for thou wast slain, & hast redeemed us to God.....". PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS, Our Lamb, who redeemed us!

Why is the Lamb called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" and "the Root of David"? What do these titles signify about him?...............................................Jesus, the Lamb, is called the "Lion of Judah"& the "Root of David because it was for-told that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, & the house of David. One of many scriptures, in the old testament, & there are many, that I love is Micah 5:2..."But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, "yet" out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth "Have been from of old," from everlasting!" The Jews were looking for the Messiah; yes,....but a "king" that would rule now, in the natural, were their eyes seeking for. We, in hind-sight, reading the prophecies for-telling His coming, see, that it was a Spiritual kingdom that He came to set up first. Tracing back, the house of David, we see that even through his, David's lineage. we come across Rahab, the harlot! (Joshua 2:1) This, for the Jew's, would have been un-thinkable, that the Coming Messiah, the King, & deliverer, would come as a sacrifice, for all! Jesus is "The Lion" He did come "From the Root of David"! This I always found interesting..That as Jesus rode in to Jerusalem, to the cries of "Hosanna"; the priest's were in the temple, praying for the Messiah to come! Never realizing that He was there, riding pass the temple! ...My prayer, is that the children of Israel, will "see"....will realize, "He was, & is, here!"......

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29) This day, should be something every believer should be looking forward to! To know, without a doubt, that this awaits us...to celebrate with our Lord. What a sight we will behold,...the saints of old, those who have gone on before us, & those here now! Every time we partake of communion, we are one day closer to the "Great Banquet" with our Lord. I think of all those, I've known...fathers & mothers, in the Lord, who will be there, & it fills me with joy un-speakable. My own natural father, sister's & child, will be there....I can't wait! I believe the table has been set, the place-cards have been readied....we only wait for the Father to tell His Son, to go get your Bride! I'm looking forward to "seeing" & meeting all of you there!

Why should the words, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28) fill us with sorrow? Why should they fill us with joy? The fact that someone else had to pay the price for my sin's, is shamful & fills my heart with sorrow. The further fact, that it was God's only son that took my sin's, both fills me with sorrow & joy! Joy in knowing His love for me is so great, that even in the garden of Eden, He already had a plan worked out for you & I. At the word's of Jesus "This is the Blood of my covenent..." no longer did we have to go to the priests with a living lamb, now we had the "Living Lamb" of God, Himself, willing to die for us.....to take our sin's upon Himself. The day I was saved, I was watching a Christian TV program, where someone (I believe a doctor) was discribing the death of Jesus on the cross, this was 23 year's ago, I will never forget how he explained the torture of the cross; I found myself on my knee's crying out to God, in sorrow.....realizing what He had done for me! No one, in my 32 years of living, had ever loved me that much....& no one has sense then! For this, truely loving sacrifice, I am joyful!

Why is it so important to forgive those who have offended us before partaking of the Lord's Supper? In what sense are the Lord's Supper and unforgiveness incompatible? As I set here thinking over the question for today, I am remembering all those I've known, & or worked with while being a member of a deliverance team. The word tells us, "To give no place to the devil" When we harbor resentment & un-forgiveness, against another, we are opening the door to the enemy. God has set certain law's, into effect...."You reap what you sow"..."If you sow to the wind, you'll reap the whirl-wind" etc, I believe these "Spiritual laws" are for everyone, Saint & sinner alike. When we choose (and it is a choice!) to hold un-forgiveness in our hearts, toward anyone, it is sin. I have been witness, to many Christians, whom have been taken "prisoner" by satan, because of this. It stops your spiritual growth, & progress, to be sure! You are in bondage. While working with people, in this type of bondage, I remind them of the great price Jesus paid for them, & of how He cried out, on the Cross "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" How can we...who have been forgiven so much, not forgive others? "Forgive", Jesus said, so that you may be forgiven! You don't have to feel it, just say it! I myself, try to remember that "Hurting people, hurt others", & ask for discernment for the one lashing out. Its not always easy.

What is the significance to us of drinking Jesus' blood and eating his flesh (John 6:53-56)...What does that act signify for us? Why was this such a radical idea for Jesus' disciples? (John 6:60, 66) In what way should it be a radical idea for us? The significance of the blood & the flesh is to me, a rememberance of all that Jesus did, for all man-kind. As we have been learning, the sacrifice demanded by God for sin, was the spilling of blood. Under the old covenant this was done by the slaying of a spotless lamb, offered up upon the alter. Blood, as many have already brought out, was forbidden to be consumed; For blood, once spilled, was considered to be corrupt..."The life is in the blood" It was dead, un-clean. This would have caused many to re-act in horror at the words of Jesus, & in fact did, as many turned back from following him. When he asked Peter & the rest "Would you too, leave me?"Peter responded with"Where would we go Lord for you have the word's of eternal life"! To partake of the Blood & Flesh of Jesus today, is to enter into death, with him, so that we may enter into eternal life!We remember what he did.....& we remember we are dead to this world & our old selves. Is this radical? Yes! For to die, is life! This is radical, to the worlds way of thinking. "For unless a seed, falls unto the ground, & dies, it cannot bring forth life" His Body, broken for us.......His Blood, shed for us!

Compare the annual Jewish Passover celebration meal in Jesus' day with the Christian's celebration of the Lord's Supper. Where are the similarities? Where are the differences? As I read of the Passover being celebrated, in Jesus's day, what strikes me is the fact it was only celebrated in Jerusalam, once a year. It was done, in remembrance of the night the death Angel passed over the homes of God's people in Egypt. It was also a reminder of the covenant God had with His people. The lamb, eaten, being a "for-shadow" of Jesus, the Perfect, un-spotted Lamb, who was to come. The people would travel for day's...even week's, to make this pilgrimage. The last supper, was the beginning of the new covenant, when Jesus said "Eat of my body.....Drink of my blood..." Today, we can have "communian" with Jesus spiritually, everytime we partake of the bread & wine. Yes, as someone prior said, it is a time of fellowship with other believers, but I also believe we can have this experience even alone! Some of the richest times, in taking communian for me, have been when its just been myself & the Lord. This time of year, for me, always signifies "New life...a New beginning" It's my favorite time of year....Winter is over, the tree's & flowers are budding, & my heart rejoice's, in remembrance of the New life Jesus gave to me!

Q1. In what way did the lambs on the first Passover protect the families of God's people? (Exodus 12) What is the primary point of comparison between the first Passover lambs and what Christ did for us as our Passover Lamb? The lamb's Blood, at the first Passover, being placed on the door-posts caused the Angel of death to spare ("passover") them. Just as the Blood of these Lambs offered protection then; The Precious Blood of our Lord & Saviour, wash's away our sin's, & protects us today. "The life is in the Blood!" I believe this Blood, not seen in the natural, is seen in the spiritual realm. When the spiritual enemy's of our God, look upon us, they see the Blood of the "LAMB"!; And know, by this that we are protected. The Blood of our Lord & Saviour was spilled for all who would believe on Him, & the work done on the Cross. I would like to hear from anyone whom might have a "deeper" understanding of blood....I feel there is much more here, that we could grasp!

In what sense have we been set free or relased from slavery to sin? Why do we need the Holy Spirit to help us keep this freedom? Jesus, as an army of one, won our freedom on the cross! We as Christians, are no longer slaves to sin, & when we do stumble & fall, we now have a advocate, with the Father, Christ Jesus. We are also, no longer under the law, but in the state of Grace. This is "Freedom", indeed! The Holy Spirit, is God's gift to us....a comforter, a teacher...He is the Spirit of truth! He convict's us of sin, when needed, He lead's us into ALL truth, and keeps us on the true path. The Holy Spirit is my friend.

Q3. According to the slave-ransom analogy, who is the slave? What is he enslaved by? Who offers the ransom? If Satan is involved in the enslaving process, why isn't the ransom paid to him? Why isn't the slave-ransom analogy spelled out completely in the New Testament? Who is the slave? Mankind! We became slaves to sin, at the fall of mankind, in the garden. We are God's creation, made in His image, created for His pleasure, & fellowship. Jesus offered Himself, as a ransom...to make a way, for man to re-establish that fellowship with God, the Father, & Himself. Jesus said "No man take's my life, I lay it down, willingly!" As far as paying the ransom to satan....no way! He is a userper! A thief! Mankind never belonged to him in the first place! I'm not going to pay you, for something that already belongs to me, & neither did God! Satan was defeated, at calvery. As I said, in yesterday's question, & answer, Christian's can fall back into bondage, & thus, become in-slaved in some area of their lives, again, but this doesn't change the fact, that the price was paid...in full. Satan,& his hoard, love to fill us with condemnation, & guilt, causing ( Christians) to feel defeated. We are not defeated! Jesus paid the price, we just have to believe it.

How should we disciples apply the principles: "You are not your own, you were bought with a price"? How should this affect our living? Just as a "natural" slave didn't belong to himself but to the one, whom had paid the price for him, so do we, as disciple's of Christ, belong to Him. We are slaves to whatever or whomever we serve! While still in sin, we serve sin, thus we were slaves to sin. .......Any body out there ever heard the old song "You're gonna serve somebody"? A old Bob Dylan song, from back in the 80's. A true word, if I ever heard one! We can become in-slaved to many things,,,,drugs, drinking, any number of things. When we accept Jesus, as saviour, & believe, that what He did on the cross, broke that curss, & paid the price for our freedom, we are no longer a "servent to sin" but a servent to Christ! .....An after thought; I do believe we can allow ourselves to become in-slaved again, after accepting Jesus as our Lord. If we allow anything else, to sit upon the throne, of our hearts, other than the Lord, we can fall back into "bondage" to sin. "Been there, done that"! I dare to say, we all have at times. But I am so very glad, Jesus never gives up on us! Thank you Lord, for second (& even third) chance's!!!

In the New Testament world, what class of humans were freed by payment of a redemption price or a ransom? Why do you think that Jesus, Peter, and Paul used this analogy in this week's theme verses. What about the Christian life does it help explain? The New Testament speaks freely about something, we, living in a free country, have not witnessed, for a long time...This being slavery. People could be sold into slavery, or even born into slavery because of family debt. These would stay in slavery, either all their lives or until the debt was paid in full. The book of Hosea in the old testament, has always been a favorite for me, God tell's Hosea to take a wife, from among "The children of whoredoms", her name being Gomer. She, Gomer, proved to be an adulterous wife, which caused grief for Hosea because of his great love for her. Gomer ends up a slave, on the auction block in heart-felt misery. God sends Hosea to purchace her back. God used this example, of slavery, in speaking of Israel's back slidding & their playing the harlot. Just as God had Hosea purchace his wife, back from slavery, Jesus, because of His great love for us, has "Purchased us!", by His shed blood upon the Cross! We, who were once, slaves to sin, now can say we are free! We who once lived in darkness, are now called the children of light!...Praise His Wonderful Name!...

Dear Wayne I.; I thought your answer, concerning anger, was very good! You said this was your first posting....I pray we see many more of your "thoughts" put to words! An on-line Bible study, I'm sure, is new to alot of us....A hint; Pretend we're all setting together, just discussing the Word! It worked for me. love, jaunita

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: 'He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.' The eunuch asked Philip, 'Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?' Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." (Acts 8:32-35; quotes Is 53:7-8) To me this portain of scripture sum's up Isaiah 53. It speaks of sin, & the price, by us, that should have been paid ( "He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due!") I choose this scripture, because I love the story of Phillip & the eunuch. "Then Phillip opened his mouth, & beginning with this portion of scripture, announced to him the Good News" PRAISE GOD, FOR THE GOOD NEWS! Afterwards, the eunuch, spotting water, wanted to be Baptized. What a wonderful conversion!.....love, jaunita

The Servant also bears the punishment deserved by sinners. In what sense, if any, did Jesus bear the punishment due you when he died on the cross? The ultimate punishment for sin is death, in allowing Himself to die in my place, I now have life! Abundent life, at that! Sin, as we all know, keeps us from having fellowship with the Father. In the Death of Jesus, on the cross, we can now, through Him, have open fellowship with God, the Father. Jesus was also called a man of sorrow's...I believe He also carried our sorrows, as He hung upon the cross, so that we can experiance "Joy un-speakable"...through our relationship with Him! I thank & praise Him for this new life. He also "took stripes" upon His body for my healing....Spiritual, emotional, & physical. Thank you Lord!! Love you all!..jaunita

Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words. While reading this question, I was reminded of the fact, that Jesus was both "Shepherd & Sheep" I think I understand what the Pastor is asking...How was the act of the cross, a substitute, for the sacrifice's offered in the past. I remember a study we did in my Sunday school class years ago on sheep, how they are so timid, so easily led....how even when the shepherds led them to water, they would not drink from a bubbling brook. In fact they would die first. The shepherd would have to "scoop" the water out, into a container of some sort first, before they would drink. Our precious Saviour became like one of these little sheep for you & I. "Like a lamb, being led to the slaughter, He opened not His mouth" He, the creator of all things, allowed Himself to be reviled, & hated, by those He came to lay down His life for...He allowed the sin's of all man-kind, to be transferred, unto Himself. I've heard preachers talk of how, when He hung upon the cross, that all the sin's, of every man, woman, & child, to ever live, pressed upon Him! I know how I feel, when the Holy Spirit convicts me of a sin I've commited.....Its horrible! The thought of Jesus, feeling my sin's...of a life time ( and yours!) is more than I can comprehend! What a wonderful Saviour! I've wondered just how this was done....Did He actually "see" you & I?.... These are my thoughts on this subject...I may have strayed from the topic, if so, forgive me. love, jaunita

"Isaiah 53: 4..Surely He has borne our griefs, & carried our sorrows, & pain, yet we considered Him stricken, smitten, & afflicted by God" "Matt. 8:16,17.."When evening came, they brought to Him many who were under the power of demons, & He drove out the spirits with a word & restored to health all who were sick"..."And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet, Isaiah..He, Himself took our weaknesses & infirmities & bore our diseases" I don't know when Jesus realized His mission...maybe He always knew! But I have no doubt, that by this time He knew! One of the mose powerful words, to me, where given by Jesus after returning from His time in the wilderness. After entering the Synagogue, & standing up to read from Isaiah 61.."The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to announce release, to the captives, & recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth, as delivered those who are oppressed...To proclaim the accepted year of the Lord"....then He sat down! PRAISE THE LORD! ...Can you imagine the looks on their face's?!!!! And then He said.."TODAY, THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED"!!! I'm sorry to just go on, but these words excite me! I would have loved to have been setting there, wouldn't you? I guess my answer, to todays question, is ALL! Every word, in the Bible, points to Jesus. love jaunita

Isaiah 52:-15 " So shall He startle & sprinkle many nations...." Isaiah 53: 12 " ....."He bore the sin's of many" Jesus came for all, whom would believe. I sat this am. reading the new lesson, & studying the scriptures thinking " Jaunita, you're not articulate, how can you answer these questions?" So I will just say this.....I am so glad, that Jesus came. I am so thankful I don't have to go to the temple with a sacrifice, of a little lamb, everytime I sin. I thought about all the animal's slain, because of sin, & how under the old covenant, this took place, & how Jesus said "I come not, to do away with the law, but to show you a better way" He is that way! If the blood of innocent "natural" lambs covered our sins in the past....How much greater is the spilling of blood, of our Lord on the cross, in doing away with sin! The creator sacfificing Himself for the creation. ......"This is love, that a man lay down his life for others" I pondered on the third part of the question, " In what sense is Jesus's sacrifice wasted on some people"? What came to me was, how salvation is a gift.." By faith are you saved, not by works, least any man boast" If we do not believe, by faith, that Jesus died for our sins, then that is a waste! Someone could give me a million dollars, place it in the bank for my use, but if I never take it out, & spend it, of what use is it to me? Its there, but I could still die in poverty. In this, I see that the sacrifice made by our Lord, could be a waste. .... Love you all!...

God created man-kind, for fellowship, with Himself; But because our God is a Holy God, He cannot look upon sin, so He had a way....& this was through sacrifice. Just as in the Garden of Eden, with Adam & Eve, God killed the first animal, & in doing so, performed the first sacrifice, to cover the nakedness ( sin ) of His creation. There is always a price to pay for sin.....The price is costly....The price is personal. The sacrifice's, performed during the day's of the OT. , were never adequate, for they had to be repeated again & again; But God had a plan, Praise the Lord!, & this was to send Jesus, His son, who was perfect & blamless, to take on our sins, once & for all. To become the Supreme sacrifice for all man-kind. Our God is a Holy God; & He demands Holiness from us, but through His great mercy, & even pity on us, knowing we are flesh, He made a way, through Jesus, for us to become Holy.....That being, that when He "looks" on us, He see's the Blood of His only begotten Son! I have loved this first week of study! Jaunita

1- Bringing a "perfect", unblimished, animal 2- The laying on of hands (transferring the sin to the animal) 3- The cutting of the animal's throat ( The spilling of blood ) 4- The placing of the spilled blood, by the Priest, onto the horn's of the Alter, & the base. 5- Burning of the fat...& eating of the meat by the Priest or the offender. Another thing that had to take place, & this is my own thoughts, is that the sinner, had to believe, that by doing this, in obediance, his sin was forgiven!! Today, we have no need of a sacrifice, it was provided for us, by God Himself! We do though, need to confess, repent, & "lay" our sins at the feet of Jesus. And we must BELIEVE, that we are forgiven.... Jesus is our atonement! AT-ONE-MENT! PRAISE HIS NAME! LOVE, JAUNITA

Hello again! After reading all the respones's, I agree with all that has been said...Yes, killing of animals is repulsive to most people. We don't like to think about the fact that before eating it, it had to die! Those raised on farms, seem to grasp the fact that killing animals for food, is necessary. The one thing I would like to add, is that most of the people, whom yell the loudest, about animal crulity, think nothing of the many babies who are killed daily. I pray this statement offends no one, but society, today, has such a strange way of thinking about death. To watch TV, & see people murdered, many times, over, in one program ( yes!, I know its not real! ) is ok, in most minds. After reading our first lesson, Saturday, I found myself in tears, thinking about the people who were required to pick a lamb, a perfect, spotless, lamb, ( one that I'm sure was special to them ) & offer it up, as an offering for their sin! To have to be the one whom actually cut the throat of this little, crying lamb....it broke my heart. I am sure God chose this way, to make the sin more real, to those doing the offering....to show the "price of sin" in all its horriblness.! It also made me think of the price, payed for mine & yours. Love, jaunita

Hello! Again, after reading the response's, already posted, I agree with most. "Why is anger an appropriate response to sin?" This is actually a subject, I believe is very important today......God's word say's "Judge not, that ye be not judged"....But it also say's "To judge righteous judgement!" I believe, for too long, Christians have forgotten that our God, is not only a God of love, but also a God, whom hate's sin! There is such a thing as "Holy anger" just as there is "Holy hatred" We, as God's people, are to be angry at the thing's God is angry at, & in the same sinse, hate the thing's that God hates! Just as Jesus went into the temple, & over-turned the table's of the money changers, exclaimimg "My Father's house, is a house of prayer...." When we see unrighteous behaviour, esp. in God's house, we should feel the same. But, in doing so, we need to be careful, that it is the sin, & not the sinner, we are angry at! My thoughts, on this!.........love, jaunita