iam4-1god

Q3. (Romans 6:15-18). What does obedience have to do with slavery? In way does doing acts of righteousness demonstrate your slavery to God? In what ways does doing bad things demonstrate a slavery to sin? How is such a slavery or bondage broken? What part does obedience have in breaking this bondage? In what areas is God speaking to you about a fresh obedience in your life? It involves training ourselves do be obedient-obey God. It's that simple. Determine in your heart that you will do what is good and right, in God's eyes. Slavery to sin is just refusing to obey God. Slavery to God is refusing to obey the flesh (satan). We need to determine in our hearts and minds that our members will not let sin rule. There are so many areas of my life that need to be worked on. I struggle daily with my attitude toward other people. I want and need to be a servant towards others, but sometimes, I have problems with this. I lost a job last week because of my failure to get along with some people that I worked with. It was hard for me because of the bad language and the music listened to on the radio. I just couldn't handle the music. It had an adverse effect on me. So, because I couldn't "fit in", I was let go. But, I am not angry. I do not wish these people ill will. They don't understand how God works in my life, and I pray that God will move and minister to them, and show them the truth that they couldn't receive from me. I truly want them to have Who I have, and thus be saved! May it be so Lord!

Q2. (Romans 6:13) In what ways do you "offer the members of your body" to either sin or God multiple times in a day? Why is it that we can sin unconsciously? How can we begin to offer our members deliberately to God? What changes will it take in our daily life to do this? What we look at, what we desire in our hearts, what we hear-all of these things and more, determine who we serve. For instance, if we watch a movie that has sexual overtones or suggestions, then we are offering our members to sin. At times, we speak or see or hear something and we will react to it without even thinking, and be offering our members to sin. We won't realize it until after the fact, and then we ask for forgivness. In order to correct this, we will have to be more concious of what is going on around us, and be able to act accordingly. Even if it takes a little thought, or just walking away, this is what we must do. But it will involve training our thoughts and habits to get this done. Hard work maybe, but worth it, in the end!

Q1. (Romans 6:12) What does obedience have to do with the "reign" of sin? It comes down to, who do you serve? If we willingly serve our flesh, then sin lords it over us. Sin is our master. If, on the other hand, we serve righteousness, then righteousness lords it over us. I want to serve righteousness!

Q5. (Romans 6:11) What does it mean to "reckon, consider, count" in verse 11? Does this actually mean that we are convincing ourselves of something that isn't really true? What will be the effect in our lives if we actually do consider it to be true that we died with Christ's death with regard to sin? I see myself as having the same resurrection power and life-sustaining power as Christ. I can now life the Christ-centered life that was provided for me when Jesus died! Only through His death and resurrection, do I have this. It is nothing that I did. And, because I believe in His death and resurrection, I truly want to live this Christ-centered life. My relationship with Christ is the only thing that makes me happy. It sustains me, when everything else around me is crumbling. I know that my Redeemer lives and that He loves me! This causes me to want to live for His glory!

Q4. (Romans 6:6-7) In what way has our "body of sin," our "flesh," our old nature been made powerless because of our crucifixion with Christ? In what way have we been freed from slavery? What difference does this understanding make in our struggles against temptation? We need to understand that, since we have been buried with Christ, then we have help whenever we are tempted. We no longer are left to fend for ourselves, which was always what got us in trouble, in the first place. That is the difference-separation from God=self+destruction. Life in Jesus=help+comfort. We are no longer on our own! And this is wonderful! I can lean on the Everlasting Arm! Gloray To God in the highest!!!!!! WHOOOOOO!

Q4. (Romans 6:6-7) In what way has our "body of sin," our "flesh," our old nature been made powerless because of our crucifixion with Christ? In what way have we been freed from slavery? What difference does this understanding make in our struggles against temptation? If we have been freed from sin, then we are no longer a slave to it. Because we have been given new lives, we are no longer under bondage to sin. Then, knowing this, when we are tempted to do something sinful, we can remember who we are in Christ, and call upon The Spirit to help us overcome these temptations. Also, if we fall into sin, then we can confess to The Father in Jesus' Name and be forgiven. There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!

Q3. (Romans 6:1-7) Is Paul referring to a figurative "death" to sin, or to a kind of historical, actual death? Whose death is he talking about? How does this death become our own? To what degree is this just theological mumbo-jumbo or does it have some basis in reality? What is being said here, I think, is that we must have faith to believe that we are free from sin and death. When we are baptized, we are taking on Jesus as our life leader. He is now our Head. He is our Shepherd. We want Him to lead us to the promised land. We are saying, "I have died with Christ-soon, I'll be raised with Him." It is hard for me to say right, but I believe that I am one with Christ, and He is my Boss, if that makes sense. He leads me. What I do now I do to make Him look good. I want my life to glorify Him and His Name.

Q2. (Romans 6:3-4) In Paul's reference to baptism in 6:3-4, what does "buried" (6:4a) correspond to in the act of baptism? What does "Christ was raised from the dead" (6:4b) correspond to in baptism? As we are immersed in water, we are buried with Christ. When we come up out of the water, we are resurrected like Christ was, and we are changed-given a fresh start. A new life is ours in our baptism. The former things are no more-all things are new! Gloray!

Q1. (Romans 6:3-5) In what sense does baptism bring about our union with Christ? In what sense does baptism symbolize our union with Christ? If we are buried like Him, we will be raised like Him. For His death and resurrection are symbolized in baptism. So, when we become baptized, we are joined with Christ, and sin no longer has a hold on us! We are free from sin and death! Now, this doesn't mean that we won't die: it just means that we don't have to be afraid of the consequences of death anymore-we know where we are going, and this causes us to rejoice! It also doesn't mean that we can keep on sinning:we are now joined with Christ, and we are free from sin's hold on us! We have a new life! I love this!

Q9. (3:21) How can God receive more glory in your local congregation? How can you help this happen? We need to come together and praise Him and thank Him for blessing us and giving us what He has! We are nothing without Him, and He deserves all the praise, honor, glory and blessing that we can give Him! To God be the glory!!!!!

Q8. (3:20) How should verse 3:20 of the doxology energize your prayers? What happens when we limit God by our own ability to comprehend? How can we get past this failing? When I recognize that God is bigger and more powerful than I can even imagine, then when I pray, I believe that He is able and that is what I tell others. Our prayers are not answered a lot of times because we do not believe that He can or will help us. I am guilty of this myself, to my shame. But, if I study the verses that pertain to His power and His love for us, and how He wants to bless us, then I can get excited to know that He is Who He says, and that I can rely on Him to keep His Word! Gottsa go shout! bye!!!

Q7. (3:19) Have you ever prayed for a fellow believer that he or she might be "filled with all the fullness of God"? What would you be praying for with that kind of prayer? How does this prayer relate to Ephesians 5:27 and Colossians 1:28? I have asked God to guide and direct fellow believers. I don't think that is the same thing. Paul wants the believers to be able to experience God's Glory and Presence-much like in Old Testament days. That is what is meant by the fullness of God. Every bit of Him that our bodies and hearts can stand! I think that Paul wants the believers to have this so that they can pass it to others. That we all have this experience so that we can be rooted and grounded in the Word. That is how it relates to the other two verses. We need to be firmly rooted and grounded, and the only way this can happen is to know the full extent of God's presence and power. As the days get shorter, and His coming gets closer, the evil will be all around us, and we will need every bit of God's presence and strength to get through. If you stop and think about it, we are experiencing some of the things that the churches back then were experiencing. We aren't so different. So, if we are full of God, then there is no way we can be full of anything else! God leaves no room for evil, or stench of sin! Gloray!!

Q6. (3:17-19) Why does Paul pray that the believers grasp the fullest extent of Christ's love for them? How does comprehending this love change a person's spiritual life? Is there any end to Christ's love for a person? Paul wanted believers to know the same God that he knew. He wanted them to experience God's love without limitation-without boundaries. Because God's love has no boudaries. That is something else that our minds cannot comprehend, unless The Holy Spirit empowers us to. Once we get a hold of this love, and realize the extent of it, we will truly understand the why of Jesus' sacrifice. I don't think I fully understand the ramifications of The Cross sometimes. I don't fully appreciate all that The Cross entails. This is something that I need to study and work out within myself. There is no end of Christ's love for us. We can't divide it, we can't multiply it, we can't do all the things that geometry or trig would do to it, and be able to figure it out. We just need to accept it and pass it around!

Q5 (3:16-17) Why does Paul pray for strengthening of the inner man? How would we pray this prayer today? Why does he pray that Christ dwell in the believers' hearts? Isn't this already an established fact? Strengthening of the inner man, to me, is an everyday thing. It is something that I feel I need to do daily. If I don't, then when the devil comes at me, I won't be able to stop him from putting bad thoughts in my head. I need a daily dose of The Holy Ghost to get me through! I don't know about other people, but for me, I need to get on my knees daily and ask God to send The Holy Spirit to strengthen me and guide me through the day, and let His wisdom and knowledge guide me. As for it being an established fact-I forget sometimes that I belong to the most powerful being in the universe! I think we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day, that we forget who we are and Who we belong to. We belong to God through Jesus our Lord! No matter what is going on, we need to remember that fact!

Q4. (1:18) Why is a revelation of "his incomparably great power for us who believe" essential to a vital faith? How do you develop this faith in yourself? How do you pray for it for others? We have to believe that we have it, in order for us to be able to "use" it. Faith is just what it says-the power to believe that we have what we need. We ask for ourselves, and for others to have this revelation, or knowledge of power. Please Lord, give us all this knowledge so that we can impart it to others, as well as for ourselves. We can do nothing, in and of ourselves. Everything we are and do is because we belong to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! It is hard for us to wrap our minds around this concept. We can't comprehend how this is possible. But, because we are believers, all things are possible for us because we believe in The One who gave Himself a ransome for us! Just read the words, and let them envelope your being. Get them deep in your spirit-soak it up! Study, study, study! And ask The Spirit of Truth to enlighten you, and give you this wisdom. This is what we can do for ourselves, and each other!

Q3. (1:18) What is the result in prayer and faith if believers think that God is poverty-stricken? How does knowledge of a "glorious inheritance" motivate our lives? Our prayers? How can you pray for others to glimpse this inheritance? We know that God owns everything. He made everything. He gave men the vision and know-how to make things and to make things happen. Everything comes from Him. So, if I told you that God has nothing, would you worship Him? No. Because we want God to possess all and we know that it is for us that He does what He does. I know that there is a mansion in Heaven waiting for me. Now I don't know if this is a literal house, or if the Bible is speaking of my glorified body-it doesn't really matter to me! It will be wonderful, excellent, and marvelous, because I will be in God's presence! For me, it just doesn't get any better than that! If we really care about others, we can ask God to empart wisdom and knowledge to others so that they, too, can believe and receive this inheritance. How bad do we want to share? That is what it boils down to-how bad do we want to share? Or are we so greedy that we think that God only has so much and we don't want to give anyone what might be our share? Think about it for a minute!

Q2. (1:18) How has your Christian "hope" changed your way of living? What is the result of Christians with only a meager or minute hope? How would you pray for hope to be borne in others? Change is always happening for me. I get spanked, I get hugged, I get taught-all kinds of things. And I am grateful for it all! I know that God loves me-I know that He is with me. I want this for other peole-saved or unsaved. There is joy unspeakable and full of glory, and I want that for everyone! So I ask God to give to others what I have and more. I ask Him to deal with their hearts and give them a revelation of His love and grace.

Q1. (1:17-18). What do you learn from Paul's manner of prayer for the Ephesian believers? If Christians stopped praying for people to receive a revelation of God, would people come to know God on their own? Would God work in them at all? How important is this kind of prayer? I think this manner of prayer is important because it is about brothers and sisters in Christ, and helping them receive what God has for them. We can receive on our own, but on the other hand, how much better it is when we pray for others in the faith? We affirm to God that we are concerned for others, and we want them to have the same knowledge and strength that we have, and even more! It is about family, and the love that the members of this family have for each other. It's a love thang!

Q4. (Romans 6:2-5) According to this passage, at what point do we move from being under the headship of Adam to the headship of Christ? Is there anything we must do to bring about this change in headship? What are the implications of us having died with Christ? When we are baptized, we are buried with Christ. We die to sin. Now, we are under the headship of Christ. Now we are joined with Christ, and can enjoy the same benefits as Christ. Plus-and this is exciting-we are all brothers and sisters in and through Christ! We are family!!!!! Gloray!

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 was flesh, just like us. He had the same right to chose as we do. Because Jesus gave His life-shed His blood-sacrificed His life for us-He became the once-and-for-all sacrifice for mankind. He gave it all up for us, so that we could be redeemed. We didn't do anything to deserve this. God wanted us to be redeemed, and this was the only way it could be done. Jesus' obedience to God The Father paved the way for us to be one with The Father. If we refuse to accept the grace and salvation that only Christ can give and has provided for, then Jesus' death for sins cannot be effective for us. There is only one way to The Father, and that is through Jesus-accepting what He did for us, and believing that He did it for us.

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? Since Jesus' death on the cross, the law became a tool by which sins are revealed in us. In other words, to convict us of sin. The tresspass increase comes when we realize that we are sinners and we need Jesus to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

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? Dads act for the family, teachers act and lead children in school, and pastors lead congregations in that they lead us to Christ and then they teach us how to maintain a relationship with Jesus and each other.

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? Reconciliation is a change of relationship between two people. A rejoining after separation. We need to be rejoined with God Almighty so that He can teach us and take care of us. He loves us and wants to do this. We are being saved from God's wrath. And Jesus is talking for us to The Father for our needs. He is our Advocate!

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? We must believe that God loves us, even though we are detestable sinners. He proved His love for us by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for us! And we were still in sin! Now how can we doubt His love for us? The devil is the father of lies, and he wants us to believe that there is no hope when we sin. We have really done it this time! We will never be forgiven. What rubbish! This is not a license to sin, but because we won't be perfect in this life, we are covered by Jesus' shed blood, and we can confess and be forgiven!!!! How marvelous, excellent, and wonderful!!! Gloray!

Q2. (Romans 5:2-5) According to this passage why should we rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations? One by one, what is the importance to our lives of: perseverance, tried character, and hope? We must have difficulties, for these shape our ability to stand and be firm in our belief. You have to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. The trials and tribulations of this earthly life will prepareus and strengthen us for the life to come.