Sarah43

Q3. (Romans 8:9) Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit residing in us? What is the difference (if any) between the indwelling of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit? How do we remain "full" of the Spirit? Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit residing in us? No. If you are not of the Spirit, you are of the flesh. Christianity becomes a mental exercise, and we are carnally minded without the Spirit. What is the difference (if any) between the indwelling of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit? How do we remain "full" of the Spirit? We can turn from God and the Spirit because we are still incarnate. I think we remain full of Spirit by constant meditation with the Spirit within. It is a dialogue, a surrender to righteousness.

Q2. (Romans 8:5-6) Exactly what does it mean to set your mind on the things of the Spirit? How do you do this? How can you recognize when the things you're setting your mind on relate to your sinful nature? How much of this is deliberate? How much is habit? What part does the Holy Spirit have it this? Or is this primarily right living by force of will? Exactly what does it mean to set your mind on the things of the Spirit?How do you do this? Once you have the Spirit in you, it is possible to set your mind on the things of the Spirit. But you have to seek the Spirit in you, and as it is without you also. You have to ask the Spirit, to pray to Jesus to help you. Studying on the Spirit through fellowship and living according to the teachings of Christ help too. In that much, it becomes habit. The Spirit will direct your feet where they need to go, if you are still and listen, and if you are obedient to the directive of the Spirit. What part does the Holy Spirit have it this? Or is this primarily right living by force of will? The Spirit is responsible for the grace that we recieve through our faith. Right living through force of will has nothing to do with it. our own will won't get us anywhere but in trouble, lead us away from spirit into the mires of the flesh.

Q1. (Romans 8:3-4) Why can't obedience to the law save us? What is the weak link? What then does it take to save us? Why can't obedience to the law save us? Obedience to the law cannot save us because we are incarnate and have inherited a sinful nature from Adam. What is the weak link? Our flesh is the weak link What then does it take to save us? The Holy Spirit through Christ is what can save us from the law of sin.

Q5. (Romans 7:14-25) Christians disagree about who is the "I" in Romans 7. Is Paul referring to himself or others? What is your opinion? (We won't all agree here, but we'll learn what the issues are by taking and arguing for a position -- lovingly). Is Paul referring to himself or others? What is your opinion? I think Paul is referring to himself and to others. He describes every sinner before grace, including himself. He is not exempting himself. I think the emphasis on I here is telling, referring to the ego or Self, the will of the unsaved sinner.

Q4. (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:18-20; Romans 7:24) What is the doctrine of "total depravity"? Put it in your own words. Does it mean that none of God's original goodness shows through? Then what does it mean? Why does modern man tend to believe that man is basically good? How does this differ from what the Bible teaches? What is the doctrine of "total depravity"? The doctrine of total depravity asserts that humans are spiritually helpless against sin, because of Adam's fall into disobedience described in Genesis. Humans need salvation offered by God through Christ in order to find freedom from depravity. Salvation is a gift from God effected through Christ. Does it mean that none of God's original goodness shows through? Then what does it mean? No, total depravity does not mean that none of God's orignal goodness shows through. But it means that all goodness comes from God, including Salvation. Why does modern man tend to believe that man is basically good? Because our society is a secular one and sinful also. We are taught that free will and making of the self by the self is possible and good. How does this differ from what the Bible teaches? The Bible teaches that the self is depraved and a person needs grace, the Holy Spirit, to be transformed, resurrected, and made good.

Q3. (Romans 7:12; 8:3) What does the law do well? What does it do poorly? Why is the law (knowing right and wrong) powerless to save us? What is the problem here? What does the law do well? What does it do poorly? The law, given by God to Moses, defines right and wrong for humans, clearly. But the law does not intrinsically help sinners, all humans, obey the law. Perversely, in knowing the law, we break it because we are sinful. Why is the law (knowing right and wrong) powerless to save us? What is the problem here? We are sinners, needing Christ to help us to salvation. It is not in our nature to be obedient.

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more? Embodied, we are sinful whether we know what sin is or not. We would sin either way. The flesh responds to the law because of wilfulness, inherited through and from Adam. Only faith and grace show us the way out.

Q4. (Romans 6:17b) How does good doctrine affect the way we live? Why should we honor good doctrine? If we shouldn't look down on doctrine itself, what kind of teaching should we be avoiding? How does good doctrine affect the way we live? Good doctrine provides a way to understand the world and our place in it and the actions we take or avoid in that world. Why should we honor good doctrine? We should honor good doctrine for the knowledge it brings to us. If we shouldn't look down on doctrine itself, what kind of teaching should we be avoiding? We should be avoiding docrine devoid of God.

Q1. (Romans 7:5) Paul uses the word "flesh" (or NIV "sinful nature") many times in chapters 7 and 8. In your own words, what does Paul mean by "flesh" in these verses? In his use of the word flesh, Paul means the antithesis of Spirit. All humans, except for the Christ when he walked as a man, are embodied and therefore sinful. This is unavoidable.

Q3. (Romans 6:15-18). What does obedience have to do with slavery? In what 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? What does obedience have to do with slavery? If we are slaves to sin we are not obedient to God, but to Satan, and our own lusts and doubts. If we are obedient to God, we are free. In what way does doing acts of righteousness demonstrate your slavery to God? Acting on our obedience to God is evidence of our commitment to serve Him rather than the dark one. Such acts show our undestanding of and faith in and loyalty to Him. How is such a slavery or bondage broken? Bondage to sin is broken by saying No to it and choosing to walk in the way that the Lord has shown us through the Word and by the Holy Spirit within us. What part does obedience have in breaking this bondage? Giving your life, your heart, soul, mind, and body over to Christ will break the bondage sin has over you. In what areas is God speaking to you about a fresh obedience in your life? God has spoken to me recently about ****, pride, anger, and trust in Him. I am listening to Him.

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? In what ways do you "offer the members of your body" to either sin or God multiple times in a day? At first, I must offer my body, including my mind, consciously, to God, asking Christ to help me with temptation to sin. I just give it over, every time I am tempted. Why is it that we can sin unconsciously? Because without counsel of the Holy Spirit, our bodies are naturally sinful. Our bodies will sin wthout thinking. It is thinking on God, asking for awareness of God's presence, consciously, that helps us resist sin. How can we begin to offer our members deliberately to God? What changes will it take in our daily life to do this? Be mindful of God, all day long. Ask for help all day long. It isn't that difficult to do and becomes second nature after a time. Prayer and meditation, counsel with other Christians, and avoidance of sinful situations, are ways to change our daily sinful lives.

What does obedience have to do with the "reign" of sin? Paul means that the flesh is by nature sinful. Paraphrased, this verse reads, "Do not let yourselves be ruled by the sin of your mortal body, by the lusts that belong to it."

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? What does it mean to "reckon, consider, count" in verse 11? This word means to have faith that we are indead dead to sin through Christ's death. Does this actually mean that we are convincing ourselves of something that isn't really true? No. Faith is very real. 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? We will sin no more or at least are likely to sin less. The Holy Spirit within us will help us not to do so.

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? In what way has our "body of sin," our "flesh," our old nature been made powerless because of our crucifixion with Christ? On the one hand, Christ is saying, with His death, I take away the sins of the world. But He is also saying, Repent, and sin no more. In what way have we been freed from slavery? Through Christ's death, we gain inexplicably understanding of both Christ, His sacrifice, and ourselves and our own sinful natures. What difference does this understanding make in our struggles against temptation? Our renunciation of sin rests on our faith in Christ and the meaning of His death and His resurrection, and his gift of the Holy Spirit, the "other comforter" described by Christ in John 14. The faith and gift enable us to better resist sin when we are tempted.

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? 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? Paul is referring to both an historical, actual death (the Christ's) as well as a figurative death (ours, in that we have died and are born again in Christ). Paul is also pointing a finger beyond the temporal towards everlasting life. Christ is at once deity and everyman. I am inspired by these verses to turn to John 14:19, 20 wherein the Christ says of his impending death and its spiritual import to hose baptized," Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me, because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." Somehow, because of his incarnation and crucifixion, and our belief in Him and who He was/is, He assimilates believers into himself and into the Father. Thus His death is His own, but ours as well, in both a figurative and literal sense, re-enacting constantly on earth for us, for each of us as we are baptized, born again, and die. To what degree is this just theological mumbo-jumbo or does it have some basis in reality? If we have faith in Christ and in the Father, and believe in the Holy Spirit, this is about as real as it gets. To the non-believer, it is "theological mumbo-jumbo." See John 14:17 "Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him..."

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? In Paul's reference to baptism in 6:3-4, what does "buried" (6:4a) correspond to in the act of baptism? The term buried corresponds to immersion in the act of baptism, the symbolic death of the sinner undergoing baptism. What does "Christ was raised from the dead" (6:4b) correspond to in baptism? This corresponds to the transformation effected by the act of baptism, that the sinner is raised from the death of sin as a new creature, by accepting Christ and His Salvation, and renouncing sin.

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? In what sense does baptism bring about our union with Christ? Baptism brings about our union with Christ in that when we are baptized, we are accepting Christ and salvation. We are in a sense becoming Christ. In Mark 10:39 Jesus says to certain of the disciples, "Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized..." And more, as Paul indicates in Romans 6:3-5, we die with him in our baptism and become resurrected as new beings, spiritual and not carnal. Je In what sense does baptism symbolize our union with Christ? Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in that we are washed clean of our sins through baptism, as he washes us clean of our sins.

(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? According to this passage, at what point do we move from being under the headship of Adam to the headship of Christ? Because Christ is in us, we move from the moment of baptism under the headship of Christ, at the moment we believe and accept, and profess Him. Is there anything we must do to bring about this change in headship? We must be baptized, profess Christ and love Him. This is evidenced in the Christ's words to Nicodemus in John 3 (and elsewhere as, again, humans are slow learners), where He tells Nicodemus that all men must be born again, born of water and Spirit. In this way the old man (the Adamic man) dies, as all must, but the new man (the Christian man) is resurrected into eternal life. Also, the Christ says to those in the temple, in John 5:24, "...he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come unto condemnation, but is passed from death unto life." What are the implications of us having died with Christ? Having died with Christ, we are resurrected with Him, as new beings. But, we are still capable of sin and must resist it through Spirit, now within us. We have a responsibility to live according to the Spirit within us.

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? By what right does Adam represent all humankind? Adam represents all humankind because he was the first human to sin(and his wife, Eve, of course). He represents the human tendency to choose sin. By what right does Christ become head of all who become his disciples? Christ has offered us deliverance from sin. He dwells within us as spirit, which is directing, which at once illuminates sin and leads us away from it. If Christ is not our "representative" or "head," how can his death for sins be effective for us? Christ is our representative or head, as it is Him whom we follow.

(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? Paul is saying in these verses that Christ, the second Adam, frees humans of the sinful state brought about by Adam, chronicled in Genesis. Sin exists when people trespass against God's law, which exists because God does. Mosaic law just made sin more recognisable, as humans need the law spelled out where they can see it. Unfortunately, having the law in front of us did little to stop people from sinning. Knowing that something is sin, and doing it anyway, increases trespass.

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? A single person acts for an entire group in many instances. Politically, the head of state is supposed to act for the good of the entire group, as are representatives. A pastor is supposed to act for the good of his church members also. The parents in a family, also the elders, act in the good interests of the family group. The members of each group rely on the head of the group to effect good for them, to care about them and all their needs and wants.

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? What does "reconciliation" mean? Reconciliation is a return to God, after the Fall, when humans knew sin, grabbed ahold of it and ran with it. It seems to me that all scripture, both the OT and the NT, chronicles God the Father's repeated and patient attempts to reconcile us to Himself, to show us the inherent righteousness of casting our sins down on the roadside and returning to Him. It seems also that God's wrath at, disfavor with, and temporal punishment of humans are but quick fixes, bandaids, to the healing of reconciliation. We are, to say the least and to put it kindly, slow learners. True reconciliation occurred, and is occurring, and will occur, through the Gift, the Father's gift of the Christ, the Son who was sacrificed and who died so that we might know both salvation from our fallen state and reconciliation with the Father. I reflect now on John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I am also prompted here to reflect on the story of Abraham's temptation by God, in Gen 22, whereby Abraham would have sacrificed his only son to show his love, obedience and fear of God. Since God was willing to do the same for us, and did, we can look at Abraham and Isaac's story in a new way, that God not only wanted to see how much Abraham loved Him, but He also wanted to see how godly, alike to Him, Abraham was. Some interesting parallels exist here concerning filial and paternal love, and the nature of God and man, although doubtless they have been examined eschatologically and discussed in minutiae by those more intellectually equipped than am I. Why is reconciliation with God necessary? Reconciliation with God is necessary because God is by definition, a Good Father. Good Fathers, because they love their children, are unwilling to abandon their children to the pain and suffering of sin and to eternal perdition because the children stubornly refuse to behave as taught. Our Father never gave up on us, was constantly thinking of different ways to instruct us, to lead us to the light. Christ was his final and eternal teaching. If our Good Father were willing to abandon us to the devil's snares, to our own error and thus to eternal perdition, He would be his opposite, which is impossible, as He is, by definition, what He is. In what sense are we being saved (5:10b, present tense) by his life? What is Jesus doing for us in the present? Scripture is a living document, as the waters representing the Spirit of God are called living waters. When I study the life of Christ, open my Bible and begin to read, I experience baptism again and again. I become one of the multitude sitting down on the green grass, waiting for words and a smile from His mouth, waiting for His laughter and a meal of fish and bread. I become the dusty woman on the thoroughfare, a child hot with fever drooping on my hip, reaching my fingers towards Him to touch his robe. The words are alive and once I read them, they transform me, so that when I emerge from reading, I am able to walk in the Spirit. Everything is diffierent. I can praise Him, thank Him, Exalt Him, pray, and conduct myself, as He would have(what would/wouldn't Christ do?), to those close to me and those who are, as I am, just strangers and pilgrims. I think now of Luke 22:49-51, telling of those who came to lead the Christ from his prayer on the Mount of Olives to His death. One of Christ's followers sliced a priest's servant's ear from his head, and Jesus affixes the ear and heals the man. I always get tears in my eyes when I read this, for in it I see human nature (Slice the enemy's ear off!!! Yeah!!!) as well as Christ's nature and His beauty. Even at the hour of death, He is doing what He must do. What He does shows me how he feels about us. He is reconciling us through love. Do we deserve it? I don't think so, but He did. And who am I? I want to be as He was.

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? Paul states in Romans 3:23, " For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," thus we are in a sort of Everyman position as far as sin goes. Christ died for us at our worst, and for us that we might be washed clean of our sins through repentence, and acceptance of Christ's love and salvation. Satan plagues us all with fear about being too sinful to forgive. When I am visited by this devilish thought, I always pray aloud to Christ to remove my fear, and He does, even if I have to pray a dozen or more times a day. My Saviour is patient with me and never leaves me in fear (Thank You, Jesus for Your love). I also think of Mark 2, when Jesus is eating supper with the publicans and sinners, and when questioned about the company He keeps, He says, verse 17, "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentence." I also turn for comfort to Ezekial 18:16, "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, sayeth the Lord God;wherefore turn yourselves and live ye." I have found that sin is not, although we are all capable of sin throughout our lives, an enormous never ending nightmare. The more I pray, and meditate, and seek to walk in Spirit through this life, the less I am afraid that sin will constantly overtake me, as if I were every day born yesterday and perseverance and experience availed me nothing. But I do have the weapons of Jesus to combat sin. I cannot grow complacent as pride is one of the sins that has beset me, and it does, indeed, goeth before a fall. But blessed with knowledge of God and the Love of Christ, it does become easier to recognize and have the strength to turn away from sin. Thank you Jesus.

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? As Christians we should rejoice in our sufferings and tribulations as they make us stronger as Christians. Perseverence is testimony to faith. If we have faith in God through Christ, then our perseverence will reap reward in all things, but especially spiritual things. I think of Matthew 10, when Jesus assembles his twelve apostles and bestows on them power and instructions to spread the gospel. I was struck by Jesus' words of instruction to his followers about the trials and danger they might encounter among "wolves," and also His words instructing them not to be afraid, and to take no provision, neither food nor money, with them, nor even to think of what to say should they be delivered up to defend themselves and their actions against said wolves. All will be provided for them by the Father, as reward for their faith and perseverance. Fear not, Jesus repeatedly tells them, and in verse 28, "...and fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." We let fear and doubt (O ye of little faith, as Jesus constantly, sometimes irritated, tells his apostles, who are in a type of apostolic kindergarten with Him) keep us from perseverence in walking the path of Christ and spreading the Word through thought, word and deed. If we persevere, we gain in experience and we develop tried character as the apostles did, when they witnessed over and over again the reality and the truth of Christ. Since Christ walks within us now, as Spirit, we rely on Spirit within us, and outward manifestation of Spirit, to try our characters, believing as Jesus instructs us in Matthew 21:21, "If ye have faith, and doubt not...ye shall say unto this mountain Be thou removed, and be cast into the sea, it shall be done." Experience of the glory of God in times of tribulation, whereby He provides for us just as He did the apostles according to the Word of the Christ, will bring us hope, which is a deepening of faith. We learn to wait on the Lord with ultimate trust.

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? Abraham believed the word of God, and by his belief was justified(made righteous, became a man of God) in the eyes of God. We are different from Abraham in that we become righteous through our belief in Christ, the son of God, by whom and through whom God is accessible to us. We are justified, made right with God, through our belief in the Christ, the sacrifice of Christ and our resultant salvation. Jesus says, in John 10:7, "...I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep." He is how we know our Father.