Elie

Q1. (Romans 6:12) What does obedience have to do with the "reign" of sin? We are born with a sinful nature, When we accept the Lord Jesus as our redeemer, we become righteousness of God. But Satan is still reclaiming us。 We need to cooperate with the Holy spirit, so He can help us to surrender ourselves to God. By resisting (James4.7), or even "having done everything...(Ephesians 6.13, a passage I love so much)", we are telling God that we accept Him to free us, and He loves that so much... so much, I m experiencing that : "God loves obedience so much..." Obeying God is the result of our separation from the reign of sin and joining(being under) the God' s reign.

Q3. (Romans 5:15-19) By what right does Adam represent all humankind? By what right does Christ become head of all who become his disciples? If Christ is not our "representative" or "head," how can his death for sins be effective for us? Adam is the first human, made at the image of God. He is the elder human. As the first (seniority) he becomes worthy to represent us... Christ is the only One who, being a human, did not sin, He didn't inherit Adam's original sin; more than that He has been made "sin" by the Father, for those who believe in his sacrifice(his disciples), so that in Him(under his headship, and solidly united in Him), we (his disciples) might become the righteousness of God(see 2Co5:21). That's goes over the qualification to be our Head, we his disciples. Christ being our head, means we are united with Him. Ch6 verse 5 say it well and it's simple: If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:5). The effectiveness of Christ's death for sin is the resurrection for eternal life... The verse say "if", so understand, otherwise...

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? Remember that when we sin we disobey God, The law was not there when Adam sinned, so canceling the law does not mean we are free from sin... (13 "For before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.) When the law comes, you become conscious of your sin. Sometimes you cannot immediately stop during it, maybe other people are also involved, every time you miss the occasion to figure it out once for all is one more sin, and as long as you cannot get out of it,you keep feeling more and more guilty... Sin is so dangerous! With the law not only the trespasses of the one who sins increase but also that easily causes others to sin(some are always looking forward to judging or despising those who make bigger sin than they do... )

In a soccer game, after about 4 periods of game, if the 2 teams are still keeping equality, the two goalkeepers will do a face to face. One will decide for all (That often happens in final, when each team is strongly determine to win the Cup...). The all team trusts in the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper (more than to satisfy himself)concentrates his whole energy for giving his best to satisfy the whole team, the fans, sometimes even nations...

Peter thought he loved Jesus enough to not deny him. In reality, he did love him but was not strong enough(at that time) to face the Jesus' executioners... The Lord know where we'll fail, He also always give us enough grace not to fail. He let us face trials not to let us fail, but to gradually and steadfastly built our characters. So every trial is an opportunity to get equipped by the Father. (ex: it becomes difficult to forget a formula you knew but fail to apply it well in a exam, next time you find it, perhaps in a more import exam or just giving an explanation to some friends, you'll boldly figure it out). We always need to feel the comforter hands of our God, not only for ourselves but also for our fellows. And Paul also explain pretty well one aspect it in 2Co1:3-4 Actually I don't really know how to explain it, but I personally understand that trials, in my Christian race, reveal me somewhere the divine nature of my Lord Jesus Christ. Perseverance make us discover the secret of all victory. Tried characters are often the strongest, they become like part of our nature and are contagious(attractive). Hope strengthen us for the next step when we have no more reason to keep going on.

Q1. (Romans 5:1-2) According to verses 1-2, faith is a key to salvation. For Abraham (4:3), what was the relationship between faith and justification? For us (5:1-2), what is the relationship between faith and justification? In your own words, just what does it mean to be justified? Paul keep saying in 4:5: ...to the man that does not work and put faith in Him who declares the ungodly one righteous, his faith is counted as righteousness. It is to express how our justification does not have connection with our deeds... And it is only by faith we can receive justification. It is not by a result of our work that we please God but by faith(Heb:6). Abraham has been justified because he believe, by faith, in the promise of God. We are justified because we believe in Jesus-Christ who lay down is life unto death to pay for all of our sins, and the third day has been raised by is Father, the almighty God, our father. Been justified is to get free from an accusation. have not to pay anymore for something you should pay for, not because the one who own don't need it any more, but because he's satisfied by something worthier. (an example: a student has never handed his homework which count for 20% of the full mark, the teacher doesn't consider that anymore after the final exam, because he is satisfied by the fact that this student got 90/100 at the final exam. In our case Christians, the Father is satisfied by Jesus 'death, and is pleased by our faith in his Son's sacrifice for us. )

Hi dear saints, I m living in Beijing but i m not Chinese. For me this lesson is like a rain of grace coming at the right time... i m sure it will be very helpful and useful...

Q1. (Ephesians 4:7) In what way does verse 7 teach that all Christians have received spiritual gifts? (See also Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:11; 1 Peter 4:10). If all have received spiritual gifts, what is the implication of this in light of the clause in Ephesians 4:16 that mentions "each/every part"? The grace is given to every one as Chrit apportioned it, not in regard to what we ve done... So often, some Christians only go to church every sunday, Though others are deeply involved in different ministries... Can we say that theses two categories have different degrees of believing...? we are all given the grace, some nullify it. It is the task of those who don t receive it in vain, to help them to become effective like they are, because it is question of one body. That will also give us the opportunity to experience what " good stewards of the manifold grace of God" means.

Q1. (Ephesians 4:1) What does "living a life worthy of your calling" in 4:1 have to do with maintaining unity in the Church in verses 2-6? What is "worthy" about unity? What is "worthy" about separation from fellow Christians? What is our "calling"? The calling is to be Christ disciple. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."(Jn 13:35) The New Command that Jesus Himself give us. So if are divided, how can love each other. How good a pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity(Ps 133:1). It s hard to tolerate others' misunderstandings and they multitude of differences cause usually we are not different, but others do... We are not called to facility, by following Jesus; We are called to do what He appeared for: destroy the Devil's work.(1Jn 3:8) And the separation from our fellows clearly means that The Devil is still rejoicing cause we disciples, who suppose to destroy his work, are building for him in a certain way, because of our ignorance.

q1. (Ephesians 2:16-18) Why is "access to the Father" important? In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? How did we obtain this access? Extra credit: How does this access fulfill the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) and God's purpose for us? If Esther didn t get acces to the king, the jewish people should perish. Without acces to our King of kings, we would be shrunk to solve our probleme reling on our sinful nature...(Ga 5:19...) and we would not inherit the Kingdom of God. When two countries have diplomatic relations, normally their respectively have, what we call embassies. The embassy, in a certain way, a small country in the big friendly country, so that the two countries can always keep in touch. In the case of our relation with our God, we are given His Holy Spirit FOREVER (Jn 14:16). We are not just in touch, He dwell in us by His Spirit. His only begotten son Jesus, has bought us by His Godly Blood, and grant this acces to us He loves.

(Ephesians 1:19) Why does Paul pray that God would open the Ephesians' eyes to discern "his incomparably great power...? What is wrong with their eyes? Before they have been called, the Ephesians believers might used to serve different deities... That also might be very difficlt for them to understand that one god can by himself provide everything. That also happens with us, we are struggling with some courses at one faculty... it is good for us believers to stop sometime and thing about our Omniscient God(in a pratical daily view of the life). I personally used to be amazed about nonchristians'skills , and forget what incomparable power is reserved for me... We should ask in our Prayer (as Paul did for the Ephesians ) for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we may know our God better. Where does this power operate according to 1:19? The incomparably great power is operating within us believers, every single one of us who are cells of Christ's body, and all together we are the CHURCH. Which miraculous event does Paul use as an example of this level and type of power? Paul use the ressurection of Christ as an exemple, where God exerted in Christ his mighty strength when he raised him from the dead." (1:19b-20a)

Q2. Decode (identify) each of the following symbols that relate to the Lamb (5:6): The lamb itself represents the one whose blood wash away the sin of the world : Jesus Christ Standing after being slain indicates that He raised up from death after being crucified, He is ALIVE! Horns represent power and authority. Eyes represent science, light, integrity The number seven carries the idea of perfection, completeness To summarize, then, the Lamb has the qualities of being the one who has perfect and complete power an authority above all creatures, The one who can justify, the who knows, sees all things, The Light.

Q4. 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.) We cannot rob God, He doesn't want us to be hypocrites, it would be nonsense to say each time in our prayers:" forgive us our depths as we have also forgiven our debtors", are we lying God...? . to go to the great party of forgiveness with our fellow's offenses, right upon our heart, not forgiven. As the light is incompatible to the darkness, so it is for the party where we share the joy of our justification and the stone heart showing against our fellows.

Q3. 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? "my blood of the covenant, which is poured out", it wasn't poured out at once, but it was from dawn starting by the flogging, the crown twisting with thorns ... keeping on even after the death by the side pieced at about 3h in the afternoon, when water also came out, sign that there's no more sufficient blood. All this mixed with the treason (from his own apostle), denied by the some others specially Peter, disappointed by his disciples, rejected by his people(the Jewish), counted among the wicked...He was (also) full man with all human emotions (i cannot imagine Him looking at her mother experiencing all this )... who can drink such a cup... ? I'm so regretful, my sins cause all this! But when i understand how He prayed three times in the the Mount of Olives, He knew it should that horrible, but wanted first the Father's will:my(our) salvation!... OH OH dear Jesus! i cry and will always cry: "sweet redeeming crucifixion! which gives me joy for the everlasting life! "

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 was slaughtered, and its blood was put on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where it was eaten,. This was a sign, for their protection from the plague. The blood of the yearling lamb, was used when God wanted to finish with the rebellion of pharaoh who refused to leave His people; the freedom was in perspective to Canaan. And Jesus give His blood to wash away our sins, to justify us for the eternal life.

Q4. 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? Exposition We are all sinners, slaves to sin, as long as we are not redeemed by The one who can made us become righteousness of God, His father. This Jesus, our sweet, lovely and almighty savior, did it by offering His life, His pure divine blood as ransom for us , for whoever believe. We are God's children, He's our father, He want us not to miss a thing, (Since the beginning, with Adam)Satan lied us , take us away from God, he keep lying us when we think that because we've sinned, it becomes impossible to reestablish our Father-child relationship with God. God send us Jesus The truth to show us how to be God's child again. When we refuse to be lied by Satan, We ask the Father His Holly Spirit, we let Him lead us, we become the Glory of God and we make Jesus' sacrifice not in vain...

Q3. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) How should we disciples apply the principles: "You are not your own, you were bought with a price"? How should this affect our living? i m living in an international city, I use to meet people from very different cultures. I know young ladies and gentlemen who argue when they are told about Jesus; They say that if they become Christians, they will loose their freedom in the sens that they won't be allowed to have sexual fun, and all the other good things of their youth and of the life... That made me think a lot, specially i thought of the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian... When Jesus bought us, He made our body become the Holy Spirit's temple. So our body become the house of God's spirit, it is not a instrument to have pleasure, or to have fun with others until it becomes unworthy... Our body, by its sexual nature, give us the opportunity to praise the lord each time we let the Spirit overcome any occasion of sexual thoughts, behaviours or acts... It is not to go without enjoying ours, but to delight ourselves in the Lord...And because of this, the Lord will give us grace to experience His great Love, we will surely be more capable of loving and respecting the other (our future spouse, our fellows...).

Q2. What comparisons do you see between Jesus and the role of the Old Testament type of the Kinsman-Redeemer? In the Old Testament the role of the kinsman-redeemer was to look out their close relatives, it's question of one family , but Jesus gave His own blood for the humanity, the wold.

Q1. 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? In the New Testament World, slaves were freed by a payment of a redemption price or a ransom , they were also used to be sold and have new master or owner. Jesus used it to let those who accept Him as Savior know that they are redeemed to sin, and have no more darkness as owner but His father to whom He dedicates us. Paul an Peter used it to remind us, Christians, that we belong to Jesus who bought us by His divine blood; an imperishable price has been paid, this is the reason why, we have to keep Jesus' commandments, we have to glorify The Father by bearing fruits in abundance, fruits that will last, and being Jesus' disciples... Many Christian think that bring lost to the Jesus' family is Reverend, missionaries, priest , full time ministry Christians' business; but it is not . Every single Christian from the day he\she receives Christ, has to become disciple at least by his\her new style of life...

Q3. 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. Jesus, not only take up my sin (our sin) by giving his Life for me (us) , but also gives me his righteousness instead, How great is my(our) God, He provides us such a lovely Jesus.

Q2. Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convince you that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? If you aren't convinced, what stands in your way? In Luke 24:44 Jesus speaking with the apostles , after the resurrection, declares : "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Laws of Moses, the prophets and the pslams." Everything was well-planned still the beginning, ans He knew before his Death. It s too clear. In parallel to Isaiah 53, the Dr Ralph 's topic :...Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28=Mark 10:45), help me a lot to understand, and as I read and understand the definition of "ransom", I realize that is the New Testament passage which convince me the most that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53. Thank you Jesus for giving your life as a ransom for me, and for being my shepherd, Please use me to help you made your voice heard by the other sheep that you must bring to you. Amen

. From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? In what sense is Jesus' sacrifice wasted on some people? For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors(Isaiah 53:12), here the word "transgressors" has no attributive adjective referring one or some nations, no restriction , whatever the background of the transgressor, He made intercession for him/ her. Some people please in thinking they have a merciful God, and keep on doing the same sin several times. they don t realize that every sin can only be atoned by the blood of Jesus, Then been recidivist sinner is like wasting the blood of the Lord Jesus.

In what sense is God's provision of animal sacrifice for forgiveness of sins an expression of his mercy? Were animal sacrifices actually adequate to atone for human sin? In the lesson, I've learned: it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4), for the "lesser" animal cannot really substitute for the "greater" human being. So God takes our case into consideration, because He wouldn't like to see us separated to Him cause of our sin. He has pity on us and accepted the animal lesser than us,to substitute for us... Man needs someone greater than himself to actually atone for and do away with sin, as resolution God gives us His unique Son as lamb to atone for our sin. Now a blood much greater than our life has been shed to atone for, it would be nonsense to keep on offering a blood lesser than our life... This shows us how God desire us to be his friends...

What are the basic elements involved in a sacrifice for sin? (Leviticus 4:32-35; 5:5-6) Which of these are still necessary for forgiveness of sins today? Which are no longer necessary? Why? The basic elements involved in a sacrifice for sin are confession of the sin , Bringing an animal that has no defect ,Lay his hands on its head , Slay the animal by cutting its throat , a priest who leads the offering. Only confession(with a broken and contrite heart ) is still necessary, any other is not. Because the blood of the Lamb of God has been shed once for all for the atonement of whoever believes.

Q2. Why is anger an appropriate response to sin? What is the difference between capricious or uncontrolled anger and anger that brings about justice? When we sin we oppose to God; ~ I can be unaware of my sin if i don't know what is God's willing about a situation, it is still sin because my ignorance does not justify me. so the anger of God can let me understand that i did something wrong, something that doesn't please Him. (Like,when i have an internal pain, i can't see any wound but i can understand some thing's wrong ) ~I can be aware of my sin, here it is like i show contempt for the riches of kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads me toward repentance. And His anger can remind me that He wants me to care about our relationship and my sin is harmful to a closer relationship with Him. I think we should consider this as an emergency, because if the God who create all things, the the great King above all gods, is anger against someone, to whom this person should refuge, where should he/she find rest, except that he /she offers the sacrifice required which is a broken and contrite heart and He will not despise. I thing the anger that brings justice want us to be conscious of our fault, to be aware that our God is disappointed, and here is a call to become maturer... But the uncontrolled anger may not pay attention if the person who offends has any regret, it doesn't give any opportunity for repentance...