paulcrf
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Posts posted by paulcrf
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Q2. (Galatians 1:13-16) What factors in Paul's background made him an ideal apostle to the Gentiles? How did God use his being different from others? To ponder: How has your unique background fitted you for ministry? What uniqueness has God given you? What will it take to see that uniqueness as a God-given strength rather than as an embarrassment?
What factors in Paul's background made him an ideal apostle to the Gentiles?
Ans. Paul was a persecutor to the Jews. He would not have been effective to preach the gospel to them.
How did God use his being different from others?
Ans.While Paul had limited personal encounter with Jesus compared to the other apostles, he was a bold as them. He was a strict observer of the Law of Moses and his personal encounter with Jesus confirmed that Jesus indeed is the son of God when Jesus spoke to him on his way to Damascus. His brilliance in the law and his renewed belief in Jesus were the vital requirements in reaching the Gentiles.
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Q1. (Galatians 1:11-12) What is the source of Paul's gospel? How do we know that it is a true revelation? How does it conform to our other foundational sources of Christian teaching? What is the danger of taking the teaching of contemporary leaders as our doctrinal basis without checking it with the Scripture?
Paul's gospel came from Christ Himself. Paul was so confident in his gospel because it was Christ Himself who revealed it to him and not any other man.
Other Christian teachings does not come from God but from either tradition or from their own vision. A teaching that is God inspired comes from the bible. Any interpretation away from the bible is not biblical. We let the scripture interpret itself to avoid twisting the word of God.
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Q2. Paul called the Judaizers' message as a "different gospel," a perversion of the true gospel. How is this dangerous to the Galatian believers? How do twisted gospels (or an unbalanced interpretation of the gospel) affect Christians in our day?
This is a dangerous preaching because a different gospel DOES NOT OFFER which is the main purpose of Christ's mission to earth.
Twisted gospel puts the death of Christ into no value. They made Christ's death meaningless. It is dangerous because those who believe will be eternally condemned because only the true gospel of Christ can offer us salvation. All we have to do is to accept Him as our Lord and Savior, Repent of our sins and received forgiveness and enjoy the abundant life He offers to those who believe in His name.
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Christ give Himself to rescue me from my sins. His death became the death of my sins through my faith in Him. He showed his love for me by dying on the cross in my behalf.
Jesus rescue people today by offering Himself to us. If we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we become among the people whom He rescued from their sins. We become freed from the bondage of sin and enjoy an everlasting and abundant life with Him.
Jesus encourages us to remain in Him and to let His words remain in us. If we are detached from Him, we will surely die and fall back to our old ways.
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Q3. (Matthew 3:11) What is the point of comparison between John’s action and the Messiah’s action? What is the point of difference? Do you really long to be overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit? What might prevent this in your life? What might encourage it?
John's action was to prepare the peoples heart for the coming of the messiah through repentance. The messiah's action was to fell them with the Holy Spirit. The water signifies cleansing while the Holy Spirit gives power.
It is useless to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit. We can do nothing that will please the Father without it.
The cares of this world, the pride of life and the **** for recognition are some of the obstructions which will prevent me from being filled with the Holy Spirit. Having the power of God through the Holy Spirit is more than enough the world can offer me. Its worth of an encouragement.
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Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John
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Q1. What happens when people adopt the Christian faith without repenting of their known sins? Why do people avoid repentance? What percentage of Christians today do you think are unrepentant, unprepared in heart?
People who adopt Christian faith without repenting in the known sins has pride lingering in their hearts. They are proud of their wealth, talent, power,etc and has not totally surrendered to God. Knowingly or unknowingly they don't need God. God resist them (James 4:6). Proud people cannot please God. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in the heart of a proud man. By their fruit we know unrepentant Christian.
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Q1. Why does the New Testament condemn Esau for selling his birthright? (Hebrews 12:16-17) What did selling the birthright represent? What does this transaction say about Esau's character and values? What does it reveal bout Jacob's character and values?
Our birthright is our eternal inheritance in heaven being co-heirs of Christ. Through faith in the Jesus Christ we are assured of our salvation. We should not exchange it for temporary things here on earth.
Selling of birthright means exchanging it for temporary things on earth which has no eternal value.
For example, you prefer to value your wealth than your relationship with God.
Esau is more concerned with temporary pleasures rather than pleasures which has eternal significance. He is only concerned with his cares for the present and not for eternity.
Jacob sees eternity and do everything to get there. He knows he has no birthright being not the firstborn but he did what he has to do to acquire it. Being born a sinner should not hinder us from gaining the inheritance of heaven. We should do what we have to do by getting away from traditions, idolatrous cultures and worships which brings us away to the promise of eternal life in heaven. We can do this only by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
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Q1. (1 John 1:3-4, 6-7) Why is our fellowship with fellow Christians so often just on a surface level? How can we have fellowship at a deeper level in Christ? What would it take in your Christian group or your relationships with other believers to deepen your level of fellowship so it is authentically Christian?
Our fellowship with fellow Christians is often just on the surface level because we are not making Christ the center of our relationship. Hence, our relationship is functional. It it not the agape type of love.
The only way to make our fellowship with fellow christian real is to live by grace. We have been saved by grace hence it is appropriate to love our neighbors back.
It would take us to be humble before our brothers in faith. We should not think of ourselves as "higher" than others. Instead we should serve one another with love and humility. Real Christian is a mirror of the image of Christ. Christ is seen in them wherever the may be.
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Q1. (1 John 1:3-4, 6-7) Why is our fellowship with fellow Christians so often just on a surface level? How can we have fellowship at a deeper level in Christ? What would it take in your Christian group or your relationships with other believers to deepen your level of fellowship so it is authentically Christian?
Our fellowship with fellow Christians is often just on the surface level because we are not making Christ the center of our relationship. Hence, our relationship is functional. It it not the agape type of love.
The only way to make our fellowship with fellow christian real is to live by grace. We have been saved by grace hence it is appropriate to love our neighbors back.
It would take us to be humble before our brothers in faith. We should not think of ourselves as "higher" than others. Instead we should serve one another with love and humility. Real Christian is a mirror of the image of Christ. Christ is seen in them wherever the may be.
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Q1. (1 John 1:3-4, 6-7) Why is our fellowship with fellow Christians so often just on a surface level? How can we have fellowship at a deeper level in Christ? What would it take in your Christian group or your relationships with other believers to deepen your level of fellowship so it is authentically Christian?
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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?
Ans: Matthew 20:28 = Mark 10:45-" For even the Son of Man did not come to be served by to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many".
This scripture from the new testament is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah 53. Jesus saw his destiny very clearly as prophesied by Isaiah that His mission to earth was to die for the sin of mankind and to bring them back to their creator in heaven.
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Q5. 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?
By allowing and accepting animal sacrifices to get rid of their sins, knowing that the fully adequate sacrifice for sins is coming.
Animal sacrifices were not adequate to take away the sins since a lesser animal cannot substitute a greater human being. Somebody much greater than humans can purge our sins, which is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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Q4. 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?
Confession of the sin, bringing an animal, lay his hands, slay the animal, blood is collected, remove the fat portions which are given to the pries and burned on the altar, and the meat is eaten by the priest in case of a sin offering.
Confession of sin is necessary followed by repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Confession alone is not enough. All the remaining elements are not necessary because Jesus Christ become a sin for us and He died on the cross for our sins. His death on the cross become our sin offering so that animal sacrifice is no longer necessary. He died for our sins once for all.
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Q4. (4:10-11) If people are always promoting themselves and pointing to how God is using them, what does that say about them? Their sense of self-worth? Their maturity? Their realism? Their humility? What spiritual gifts has God given you, and how are you using them to his glory?
If his intention is to gain recognition from others for his personal glory then that is self-righteousness which is like a filthy rag to God. If his intention is to give glory to God through his testimony, then I believe it will be pleasing to God. God will surely bless him.
God made us for a purpose. Whatever we do, it should give glory to God. We are worth the life of Christ. We don't need the recognition or appreciation of others for the work we do for God.
Immature believer usually seeks personal recognition for their efforts. But when we do something with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our heart, everything we do gives glory to God.
The Holy Spirit in us keeps us humble because it is God whom we want to please and not man.
I am still trying to discover my spiritual gift. I don't feel I excel in one area. But I always try to make myself available for any service which will glorify God. As of now, I handle cell group, my wife and me handles bible studies to two couples, I also conduct bible study during my lunch break to some of my students, and other church activities. I am happy doing this things for the glory of God. But above all, I always give glory to the Holy Spirit which gives me boldness and confidence in doing this things because with out the Holy Spirit, this task are quite difficult to handle.
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Q3. (4:5-7) Why don't non-Christians like the idea of giving an account of their actions? Why don't we Christians like it? What should the realization that we must give an account of our actions inspire in us? With what attitude should we live as a result?
Non-Christians don't like the idea of giving account of their actions because they don't know about the judgement which is to come. They are man pleasers rather than God pleasers. As long as they do not violate the rights of other people, they fell they are good and accepted by society. Their law is the law of the world, and their actions are made to comply with the norms of the world.
We Christians don't like it because we are aware of the terrible judgement when Christ returns. We Christians always check ourselves if our actions gave glory to God. We want to please God in everything we do being conscious of the hope that Christ will bring us to heaven to spend our eternity.
Our attitude should be to see to it that we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We should always be in tune with God through prayers and meditation of His words.
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Q3. Why is animal sacrifice repulsive to modern people? How much of this has to do with a city vs. a farming way of life?
Modern city people are not used of killing animals because they eat ready to cook meat usually in styrofoams tray. Unlike the Israelites who were herdsmen, killing animal for food was part of their routine. For city people, killing animal is something we have not been acquainted doing with.
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Q2. (4:3-4) Why do non-Christians try to get you to sin with them. Why are we tempted to do so? How can we resist this temptation?
Non-Christians try to get us to sin with them so they will feel convinced that being a Christian and non-Christian does not make any difference. They will fell they win when are able to convince us to do what they do (i mean to sin).
I fell tempted to do when my my spirit is not in tune with Christ. But when I am full of the Holy Spirit, nobody can tempt me. That is why I always see to it that I am in constant communication with God through prayers and meditation and through studying his words, such as this lesson.
I resist temptation by showing my friends my changed life, my new renewed faith, and my testimony. They avoid urging me to do what they know I will not do. But it doesn't mean I ran away from my friends to avoid temptations. I try to maintain my friendship with them. Who knows someday I will bring them to Christ. And that day is getting near.
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Q2. Why is anger an appropriate response to sin? What is the difference between capricious or uncontrolled anger and anger that brings about justice?
Anger is an appropriate response to sin so that we will hate sin. When we are angry at somebody we began to hate him/her. The more frequent we are angry at somebody the more we don't like him. We should have the same attitude to sin.
Uncontrolled anger usually cause us to commit sin which does not please God. Anger that brings about justice is anger to sin not to the sinner. While we are angry we should not forget the love of God in us. Righteousness should rule in our heart at any instance of our lives.
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Q1. (4:1-2) When the scripture says "arm yourselves with the same attitude" as Christ had, how should this attitude help keep you from sin? What attitude are we talking about?
This attitude should be our mindset. We should now consider ourselves dead to sin and alive with Christ. We should change our sinful attitude to Christ's attitude.
Our attitude should be to do the will of God. In order to do this, we need the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, because without the Holy Spirit, we are just simply self-righteous individuals. The Holy Spirit will teach us, remind us, equip us to do what is pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit will give us wisdom to understand the message of God, will enable us to heal the sick, to do miracles, and even to raise the dead.
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Q1. How do you know that John the Baptist's statement about the Lamb of God refers to sacrifice? (John 1:29). How was the comprehensiveness of "sins of the world" so radical a concept?
Lambs were commonly used by the Jews for sacrifices to obtain forgiveness. In this statement of John, the "lamb of God" was immediately followed by "who takes away the sins of the world. It made the purpose clear that the lamb was intended for sacrificial offering to wash away sins.
Animal offering was done annually by the Jews to wash away sins of a single person. This lamb was to be an offering to to wash away the "sins of the people of the world" not just a person. Therefore the sacrifice was to be done once for all sinners of the world.
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Q4. (3:20-21) Various Christian traditions have different practices of baptism -- the mode (sprinkling, pouring, immersion) and the age (infant vs. an age when a person can profess his or her own faith). Let's not argue about that in this forum. Let me ask you the crucial question for you -- Have you pledged your faith in Jesus Christ and promised to serve him as his disciple? How does this pledge relate to your own baptism? (Remember, no criticism of another's understanding of baptism in the forum. No fighting. No setting people straight -- seriously!)
I promised to served Christ as His disciple only after I have acquired enough knowledge of Him from my internet inductive bible studies, from the bunch of spiritual seminars attended both locally and nationally, more specially when I handled cell group which is part of our G12 discipleship system.
I was baptized 13 years ago but nothing much has changed. Only after 10 years that I realized when I allowed the Holy Spirit to work in me I experience the transformation that I longed for. Every morning when I pray, I always renew my commitment to God and ask him to fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can be more effective discipler.
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Q3. (3:18a) Meditate for a few minutes on this verse: "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." Now personalize it to imagine (1) your sins, (2) your unrighteousness, and (3) your reconciliation with God. Each of these ideas is awesome! Which of these three aspects of the verse has God impressed most strongly on you today? Select one of the three and share it.
My reconciliation with God has impressed me so much. I was not aware, while I was still a catholic, that I was away from t he love of God. I was following a wrong master- Satan. I did not know God then; how He love me and how He longed for me to come back to Him. Thanks for sister Ruth for bringing and sharing the gospel to me and my wife while we were lost. Although sin sometimes defeat me, I continue to ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit to give me the power to crush my enemy who is Satan. I am blessed to be a member of God's family. It is my burden to bring my relatives to God because I know how pleasant it is to live in the protection and love of the almighty.
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Q2. (3:15-16) Why is it so hard for us to be a witness when we're persecuted? Why is it easy in tough places to be the wrong kind of witness? Which one of Peter's four instructions do you find most needed in your particular situation?
Being focused on Christ and the hope I have in following Him will enable me to stand persecutions. To back this up I should have the words of God quoted from the bible ready to justify our answers. I should not forget that the Holy Spirit who is in me will help me know what to say in the midst of persecution.
When the Holy Spirit is not in me, Satan can easily manipulate me. So the tendency is to join the sinners and keep Christ away so that I will feel secure with my sinful self. If I have this kind of mindset, I have not totally surrendered my sinful life to Christ. My attitude should be that wherever I am and whatever situation I am in Christ should be seen in me.
I need to improve all the four instructions of apostle Peter. I am asking God to fill me with the Holy Spirit because I cannot "defeat" my sinful self. Thanks for these lessons. It has given me so much knowledge in the Lord. It has strengthen my faith all the more. Praise the Lord!
Q1. Culture Change
in 1. Four Hebrew Youths in Babylon (Daniel 1)
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yes. i was new in my faith. i went to india in 2001. i saw a small christian church near our training center in Chinnai, but i did not bother to join or visit them.i simply fade away from my faith. however on my way back i meet an indian pastor in the airport. i introduced myself as a Christian and we had a good chat. i was very sorry for the lost opportunity i had in meeting new Christian friends in that small Christian church.