DebChats

(Ephesians 2:19b) What does the phrase "members of God's household" tell us about the nature of the Church and about the nature of God? That the nature of the church is like a large family and the nature of God is as a Father with many children we are those sons and daughters. We are brethen with Jesus. What does it tell us about the kind of fellowship that is appropriate in the local congregation? The fellowship should be as a large loving family. Able to get along with one another. While at the same time, to love one another enough to correct and admonish in case of sin and neglect. What are the implications for those Christians who aren't faithful to gather with the local congregation? The 'body of Christ' is incomplete.

(Ephesians 2:19a) If we are fellow-citizens with the Jewish believers, what are we citizens of? We are fellow citizens with the Jews in the household of God .. the Kingdom of God, in other words. In what sense are we "holy" or "saints"? We are holy in the sense that we can 'reside' with God. No sin can reside or abide with God .. therefore we are made holy and 'saints' (through Jesus) in that we can abide or reside with God our Father.

Why is "access to the Father" important? It's important because we can come to know God more intimately and on a personal level. It is our deepest desire to know Him. In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? We learn how to communicate with God. We come to know the sound of His voice and we can make our requests known. How did we obtain this access? We obtained this access through Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are granted access to the 'inner court' which is the 'throne' of God. Extra credit: How does this access fulfill the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) and God's purpose for us? This access fulfills the two commandments by helping us to know God personally, therefore .. To know Him is to love Him .. We are also able to learn what people mean to God, thereby helping us fulfill the 2nd commmandment. It also fulfills God's purpose for us because we are able to communicate with God one on one. This eliminates any and all dictatorship.

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) It tells me that Jesus in indeed God Himself. Since no one is to be worshipped BUT God (first commandment) then Jesus would have to be God or else the first commandment becomes void.) So, His status is that of God. (Though shalt have no God's before Jesus.) There is a verse in Revelation where Jesus warns the church that they have forgotten their first love .. this first love being Jesus.

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)? Christians who reign on the earth, stop the enemy and his advances. (Just imagine the earth with no Christians whatsoever. Pretty scary.) We are all priests in the fact that now all can come to the throne of God and make requests. Jesus (who is considered after the order of Melchizedek) has washed us clean of sin so that we can now approach God personally and individually. I believe it is obvious in the bible that we are to reign now and later.

What has the Lamb done to "triumph" (5:5) and so become worthy to take the scroll and open its seals? (Hint: See the "for" or "because" clause in 5:9 for the answer.) The lamb triumphed because He was slain and this reconciled us to God and made us kings and priests to reign on the earth. (Before this .. the reigning and ruling was done by satan.)

Decode (identify) each of the following symbols that relate to the Lamb (5:6): 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 lamb represents Jesus. Standing after being slain represents the resurrection. Horns represent power. Eyes represent the ability to see clearly. The number seven carries the idea of perfection. The lamb has the qualities of being omnipotent and omniscient.

Why is the Lamb called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah" and "the Root of David"? What do these titles signify about him? It is passing on of authority. The sceptre (the law) belongs to Judah (whom is depicted as a lion) and eventually, the sceptre will be passed on down to Jesus. The lamb is also called the 'root of David' as a sign of the coming Messiah. These titles signify that all authority and all salvation rests in the hands of Jesus.

Where does God's power work according to verse 20? How much power is at work there quantitatively? Why isn't it more evident? How does exercising Christ's power on earth bring glory to God? It works above anything we can ask for or think of to ask for .. It works in us. More than we can imagine. Because of our unbelief. It shows that God is good and able to do that which is good.

What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? What does this say about the Church's power? It means that we as Christians have a duty to Christ. We are to continue in His work on this earth .. preaching the gospel and healing the sick. This says the church has the power of Jesus and is capable of showing others the kingdom of God here on earth.

From the standpoint of power, what is the significance of Paul's statement that "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus...."? The significance lies in our ability to control our lives. We decide, in the end, what our lives will be about. This ability is a gift of Christ and works through Him. Therefore, we have all power and authority over darkness.

The Ephesian Gentile Christians believed in various spirit beings that exercised power over them. What is the significance to them of Paul saying that Christ is seated at God's right hand in the heavenly realms? In what sense are these spirit beings and powers "under his feet"? Saying that Christ is seated at the right hand of God in the heavenly realms, gives a mental image to the Ephesians of someone with absolute power and authority over all. They are under His feet, as they are under complete control and authority of Christ.

Why does Paul pray that God would open the Ephesians' eyes to discern "his incomparably great power"? What is wrong with their eyes? Where does this power operate according to 1:19? Which miraculous event does Paul use as an example of this level and type of power? According to Eph. 4:11-15 Paul wants the Ephesians to come into the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God and that they become mature Christians working in full power. Their eyes seemed to be closed to the truth and power of Jesus. To those that believe. The resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In what way does each celebration of the Lord's Supper anticipate a future Passover meal? (Matthew 26:29; Luke 13:28-29; 14:15; 22:30; Revelation 19:9; 1 Corinthians 11:26) When we eat of the Lord's Supper we are honoring both the past and the future. The past being what the Lord has done for us .. the future is where it will take us .. To the meal that we will share with Jesus.

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? It fills me with sorrow because it means that not all will be forgiven of their sins which results in death and hell. It fills me with joy because I am of the 'many' that will receive forgiveness of my sins which will result in life eternal .. and joy and peace, etc.

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? (Consider Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 6:14-15; 5:23-24; James 5:16.) I suppose that taking of the Lord's supper and being in unforgiveness would be taking the Lord's Supper unworthily. The Lord's Supper is taking in Jesus and unforgiveness is taking in sin.

What is the significance to us of drinking Jesus' blood and eating his flesh (John 6:53-56). Let's not argue whether this is meant literally or figuratively. Whichever it is, 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 is stated in John 6:54 .. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up the last day. The act signifies for us that we become one with Jesus. It was radical because of the OT. In the OT (Lev.17:10-14) warns the Israelites not to drink blood. It is radical for us because of the statement in Lev. 17:11 .. For the life of the flesh is in the blood: .. And the bible also states that the wages of sin is death. (Just goes to show that one must know the entire bible as opposed to a few scriptures.)

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? The only 'celebration of the Lord's Supper' I am familiar with (besides the one in the bible) is communion. I am not sure of either the similiarities or the differences. The only similiarities I see are in the unleavened bread .. which is what the wafer represents in communion. The differences would be the meal itself. Meat and herbs are not present in communion.

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 lambs were slain and the blood used to mark the doorposts of the Israelites. This enabled God's 'judgement' to pass over the homes of those marked with the blood of the lamb. When we ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior of our lives, we are marked (as those doorposts of the houses) and therefore God's 'judgement' will pass over us as well. Nobody wants to be without the blood of Jesus come 'judgement' day. When God sees sin He must either punish or destroy the sin.

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? Let's pretend that when we are born into this world, we are on a journey, and this world is full of dirt and soot. This dirt and soot is all over .. flying through the air as well as on the ground and all around us. There is no way to escape getting 'dirty'. When we stop to touch this dirt or soot we get 'filthy'. We also cannot find true direction .. due to everything looks like dirt or soot and we get lost on our journey. Then came along a wonderful 'suit' or 'robe' that we can put on and it keeps us from getting dirty and even if we touch the dirt or soot we stay clean. At the end of this journey, someone will be picking us up to take us back to a 'clean and healthy' place to live. If we are covered with dirt and soot or if we are not in the appointed place we are to be, this 'someone' will not be able to recognize us or will pass us by and we will miss going to the clean place. The Holy Spirit works as our director. He guides us to keep us in the 'appointed' place and the 'robe' is like Jesus who has taken our sins away. There is so much deception and so much we can miss in this lifetime if we do not find this 'robe' or the 'director'.

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? Me, people, and the church. Enslaved by sin. Jesus, God, and the Lamb. Because Satan does not own anyone nor does he have illegal possesion of anyone. Because it gets too complicated to explain God paid a ransom to God, but this is just what happened.

How should we disciples apply the principles: "You are not your own, you were bought with a price"? How should this affect our living? We should apply these principles to everything we do in life. We are not our own anymore, but owned by God and He should be consulted in every aspect of our lives. This would affect our living by helping us to be better people and to adopt the charasteristics of Christ. We would see (as well as others) that we are changing .. our tastes are changing .. our priorities are changing .. our outlook on life is changing .. our attitudes are changing. Change is what lets us know we are evolving Christians.

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? All classes of people were freed by payment of the blood of Jesus. Jesus and his disciples preached the 'gospel' to everyone. I believe they used this analogy because it best describes the situation. Until someone hears the 'gospel' they are subject to Satan and man and their beliefs. It helps explain how much we need 'salvation'. No one wants to be a slave.

Which single New Testament passage best sums up for you the lessons of Isaiah 53? Why did you chose this passage? The passage that sums it up the best for me is Romans 5:19 .. 'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.' I chose this passage because it makes it all so simple to me. I was born and made a sinner through no fault of my own (due to the fall of Adam) and all I have to do is call on the name of Jesus and I am made righteous through none of my own doing. I have told others, 'I am made the righteousness of God' .. and some will say that I am still a sinner and that I am not perfect. What they fail to understand is that 'righteousness' does not mean 'perfect'. Righteousness simply means I am in right standing with God. To be in right standing with God, He must see them as "sinless". When God sees me He now sees no sin in me. I still sin but am no longer considered by God to be a sinner. I hear so many people say " I am a sinner saved by grace". This is not true according to the Word of God. Through Adam, I was destined for hell, but through Jesus I am destined for heaven. It is so simple .. isnt it?

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? By the world's standards, I am not such a bad person. However, after getting to know God I can see my sin. God sees me and without Jesus He sees no good thing in me. I have to agree with God, because I see no good thing in me either. I was lazy, selfish, embittered, envious, complaining, gossiping, etc. I did not like what I saw in me. Jesus gives me hope for me. He can make me someone that I like and respect. He can change all of me and my habits into someone God sees as good and deserving. My first step was realizing who I was without Jesus, and my second step was asking Jesus to change me. Now, I take it one day at a time .. Prayer and bible reading and fasting are truly helping me to be the person God meant me to be. Jesus bore my punishment by giving me a second chance, so to speak. My punishment was to remain forever the person I was without Jesus.