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Q3. (Hebrews 2:1) In what ways are we not immune to drifting away from the gospel? We are humans and the flesh is weak, Satan is ruler of this world we are living in and he is out to kill and destroy and take our joy in the Lord away. Drifting is the key word, for it is easy to drift slowly, without seeing how far away from God we have strayed. According to the author, how can we successfully resist the tendency to drift? This is why we must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip, drift away; that is, we must pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to God's word. If we treasure the gift of salvation than we have our part of the covenant to do and that is heed the instructions God has given to us to live by, for He has called us to live righteous lives and has given us the Holy Spirit, the power to live by and have fellowship with God. Take Heed! so you do not drift away. How did Jesus describe this phenomenon of "drift" in the Parable of the Sower? Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Do Not let the world be number one in our life, it is easy to drift into the thinking of the world and to seek after the pleasures of the world, take heed, let the Word, the Seed, fall on our hearts, let it change our heart of stone, for we have come to the understanding of the "Word" for it is truth, it is life changing, if we heed it and obey the instructions God has given us to live by, plant it deep into our heart.

Q2. (Hebrews 1:2-3) What about the author's description of the Son makes you think that the Son described is himself divine? Jesus is the BRIGHTNESS of God's glory, God's presence. is Jesus. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. What role does the Son have in doing the Father's will according to these verses? Jesus came to do the will of the Father, in these verses we see and know Jesus fulfilled all He came to do and that is why He is seated in the seat of honor and authority, at the right hand of the Father.

Q1. (Hebrews 1:2) In what way do you think the author of Hebrews is using the word "Son"? As a metaphor? As a biological relationship? Son is used to denote Jesus relationship to God. Sonship also denotes equality, equal to the Father as seen in - John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. How would a Son's words have more weight than a prophet's? Jesus is the exact image, character and representation of God, because Jesus is God.

Q4. What will our resurrection bodies be like? They will be a real body, redeemed, made new, a spiritual body. The body was sown a natural body but raised a spiritual body, we will bear the likeness of Christ. Phil.3:20-21--JESUS WILL TRANSFORM OUR BODIES SO THEY WILL BE LIKE HIS BODY. We know when He appears we will be like Him. 1John 3:2 Why do you think we will be given resurrection bodies? What is the point? Blood and flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God, does the perishable inherit the imperishable, we will be changed, we must be changed! We must be clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, that is when "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1Cor. 15:49-55)

Q2. (Philippians 1:23-24; 2 Corinthians 5:8) According to these verses, where will Christians be immediately after death? We will be with the Lord, this is the first resurrection, it began with Jesus the firstfruits, and continues with all those who died in the covenant with Jesus. (Rev. 20:4-8)

Q1. What is the word used in the Bible instead of "rapture"? 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The English word rapture comes from the Latin verb meaning "caught up". When will the resurrection take place in relation to Christ's return? The Thessalonians thought that only those who were alive at the time of the coming of Christ would witness and share in the glory of it. All God's people who have died will be raised first and so go before the living to the gathering in the sky. In relation to judgment? The great white throne is not for the believer, not for those raised incorruptible, it is for the dead. We are no longer dead but alive in the Lord. In relation to glory? The believer will be at the marriage supper of the Lord. We will be judged according our works, our obedience to God, therefore, we will be rewarded accordingly. The best reward I could receive is to be forever with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (This is NOT the place to debate various theories of the rapture and the millennium.)

Q5. (1 Corinthians 15:58) What does being steadfast and immovable have to do with the hope of the resurrection? Remain steadfast in the truth of the doctrine of the resurrection, and every thing that pertains to it. Nothing will shake my faith; I am immovable, nothing will move me from the hope I have in the Gospel which is given, I received it from God. Why is our labor not in vain in the Lord? The work of the Lord is obedience to His word. Every believer in Christ is a workman of God. Our works should bring glory to the work done on the cross and to the love we have for God and each other. We are to labor in the Lord, we get out strength from Him, without Him we can do nothing. This is a process being done in me, so I die daily to self -knowing no matter how small or unimportant my work may seem, it is done unto the Lord and is not done for not.

Q4. What assurance do you have that you will be physically resurrected rather than experience disembodied immortality? Jesus was physically resurrected and so will those who put their trust in Him also will be resurrected. What does it mean that Jesus is the "firstfruits" (1 Corinthians 15:20) and "firstborn" (Revelation 1:5) from the dead? The day after Passover was the Feast of Firstfruits. The Jews waved wheat from their crops toward heaven, showing their gratitude to the Lord for His provision and the promise of more to come. Jesus was the first One resurrected never to die again, but we who believe in Him will also be resurrected. There are two resurrections, (Rev. 20) talks about a second resurrection that takes place at the end of the Millennium when all of the unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne. The first resurrection is the resurrection unto life because it is made up of those who are saved. The second resurrection is the resurrection unto death because it is made up only of unbelievers.

Q3. How does Christ's death and resurrection provide an analogy for baptism according to Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:12? Salvation is our "faith" alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus, baptism is our outward expression of our commitment to Jesus, I was once dead and now I am alive, and now that I am dead to sin I will not let sin reign in me. According to Ephesians 2:4-6, while being "raised with Christ" is still spiritual, not physical, in what way does this union impart real spiritual power? Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: We are now dead to sin, with Christ living in me God ordained that I should also walk in righteousness, His righteousness. Salvation is not a religion, it is a relationship with Father God, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We have the power to overcome. Greater is He who is in me!

Q2. In what way does Christ's resurrection somehow validate that we are saved and forgiven by God? It proves that Jesus is the truth and the way for us to have fellowship with Father God. He came to do the will of the Father. The measure of faith that God has given to all to believe - I believe. Jesus is the "light" He is the "truth" He is the "way" If we didn't believe Christ had been actually raised from the dead, how might we have doubts about our salvation? I would have doubts because I did not use the "faith" given to me to believe. I would be void of Christ living in me, of God's love felt in my heart. I would be a person most miserable. I do believe and I am a person most happy, happy in the Lord. I see "Salvation" not just setting me free, but most important, having a relationship with the Almighty God. To think He loves us so much and He wants to have a relationship with each of us. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, to go to the cross, God raised Him the Firstfruits, just as the scriptures tells us. I am thankful the covenant is not just with the Jewish people, but He included the Gentiles. I thank Jesus for coming and for being that light to the Gentiles. (Isa 42:6)

Q1. What kind of credibility would Jesus' ministry have had if he were not raised from the dead, especially when he predicted it ahead of time? In what way is the resurrection God's seal of approval on him? Christ's death on the cross in itself would not bring salvation, it must be completed with the seal of the Father upon Him. God raised Jesus from death, the blood of Jesus was applied to the doorpost of the Temple in heaven; Jesus sits in the seat of royalty, the right hand of God. For us to come boldly into the Holy of Holies, Christ Jesus had to become man, He had to be crucified, and God sealed it by resurrecting our Saviour, and seating Him at His right hand. If we do not believe in Jesus death, and His resurrection, we will not be able to come boldly to the throne-room. There is only one way and that is through God's seal, His way, Jesus!!!

Q4. Why did Jesus' enemies heed his prediction of being raised on the third day even more than his disciples? The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and reminded him what Jesus the deceiver said, He would rise again after three days. They wanted to make sure the disciples would not come and steal Him away saying, "He has risen from the dead". Pilate more or less said, go you can have as many soldiers at your command to make sure this does not happen. Did his enemies expect him to rise? No, not really, they were going to do whatever humanlly possible to make sure Christ did not rise from the dead, or seem to have been risen. Did his followers? I believe his followers were confused about it all, they were looking for a King to rule. Oppressed by Rome, the Jews were looking for the reigning Messiah. The crucified Christ did not fit their idea of a ruling Messiah, God sent blindness to the true identity of the Messiah, and for this I am thankful. If they had understood, we Gentile people would have been forever lost. (Rom. 11:11) Through their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus had not rejected Jesus as Messiah, their hopes were dashed. (Luke 24:19-21) "We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel". It was not until Jesus entered their house for fellowship that they recognized Him, saw the nail scarred hands and He disappeared. Jesus refused to be at that time their reighning Messiah, choosing to be the Lamb slain, the blood that washes white as snow - for all that will believe in His death and His resurrection.

Q2. (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) According to scripture, both the righteous and unrighteous will experience resurrection. What will be the result of resurrection for the righteous? Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. How does the bride make herself ready to come before God? She makes herself ready by putting on the righteous garments Christ gave her to put on - the day she was written in the "Book of Life" ------ she also makes herself ready with (Mat 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. If we love God, we desire to keep His commandments, love is the key to doing that, and with the power of the Holy Spirit - we can make ourselves ready to live eternally with the Lord, our God, and with the saints washed by the blood of the Lamb.

Q1. How does Job's vision of resurrection (Job 19:25-27) differ from the Jews' former understanding of death as Sheol? What is progressive revelation? It was Israel's firm belief in the goodness of God that led the Jewish people to believe that the righteous dead would yet see God. God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham based only on what God would do. Abram's response was found in his "Faith" believing in the Lord, and God accounted it to him for righteousness. Abraham's Bosom, a synonym for the life hereafter. When a person died he went to "be with his fathers" (Gen. 15:15) The patriarch Abraham was regarded as the "father" of the Jews. At death, the Jew went to his forefathers or more specifically, to join "father Abraham". We see Abraham's bosom in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, (Luke 16:19-31) there is a chasm separating Abraham's bosom from the flames of Hades, (Sheol). They believed that in death God's people remain under His care. (Psa 16:7) I will bless Jehovah, who hath given me counsel; Yea, my heart instructeth me in the night seasons. Psa 16:8 I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Psa 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Job was a man of great "faith" in the God of Abraham, he feared God and shunned evil. It is through our trust and faith in the God of Abraham, through the Lamb of God, that we too can have God's word revealed to us, reaching not to our intellect, not to a heart of stone, but to a heart that truly loves God, believing in (Psa 16) Jesus fulfilled this promise.

Q5. What is the difference between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension? The resurrection of Jesus overcame the powers of evil and death. He is the "firstborn from the dead" and through this triunphant victory He is seated at the right hand of the Father. How do the two fit together? In what sense is the ascension the completion of the resurrection? They come together as one, making complete the work of the cross, bringing salvation to mankind, to those who believe in the death and resurrection of our Lord.

Q4. What do we know from the Gospels about the properties of Jesus' resurrection body? The doors were shut yet Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and spoke to them. He showed them His hands and His side with the scars still evident, but it does not speak about the disfigurement of His face, nor of the other physical scars that Jesus did receive. What was he capable of in this new body? Jesus' body was of flesh and bone, it was not a disembodied spirit. He ate with them, and vanished from their sight. Jesus flesh took on immortality and incorruptibility, thanks to the cross.

Q3. (Luke 24:12; John 20:6-8) What about the grave clothes brought Peter and John to faith? Faith came to them by what they saw. What was so peculiar about them? The grave clothes were lying there, with the hankerchief that was around Jesus's head folded neatly in a place by itself.