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Q4. (1:13-14) These verses contain two analogies: (1) seal and (2) downpayment, with the balance to be paid in a lump sum at the end of the term. When does the "end of the term" occur? It occurs when Jesus returns to this earth and we are taken back with him. We are to let this seal be in us and keep us and help us until we are with him and we will steal be his forever more. Thank you Jesus. How do these analogies help explain how the Holy Spirit functions in our lives? He seals us and he helps us to hear the things of the Lord for our lives. He is more than an friend he is our keeper our ever help in times of trouble. The Holy Spirit has a language that will let us talk with the Lord and let the Holy Spirit say what is needed in us and for us. He is the one that leads us to Jesus and he is the one that will help us to hold fast to our faith in the Lord.

Q3. (Ephesians 1:11-12) According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? To bring praise to him in all we are and all we do. That we may glorify the Father which is in heaven and his son who died for us. What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? To be the light that he has set for me to be so that others may see him in me and want to know him and praise him. Show love one to another. How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? It is not enough to just say we are Christian we must be what we say we are at all times. We are the light of the world and it is through us that others will see Christ and his love. We can't expect to be part of the world and part of Christ we have to let our light shine at all times so that the Father will be glorify and others will want to serve him.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:9-10) What is the significance that all things will be brought under one head -- Christ himself? Jesus is no respecter of persons and he will be the head of those that serve him and he will return to get all of us and we will be one with him. Religion is not what he is about he is love and he chose each of us to be his and to love one another. How does this relate to the Creator? He is the Creator of all things and they are all his and he will rule them all. He is no respecter of persons so all things he has created will be one with each other in love. What does it say about unity? All things work together and it gets things done faster and without all the troubles. We are all of the same body and we need each other. Extra Credit: How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28? God will and is in control and all things will be under his rule and that is why he put Jesus as the head and us as the body. We all shall be able to rule and reign with him and all will be under those that serve the Lord. God is in control at all times and will be in the end.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:7) In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? I was a slave to sin and to all the things of this world and could not get myself free from them. So the blood of Jesus is what it took to set me free and let me change to become a better person. What do you think your life up to now would have been like if you hadn't been redeemed? There is only one way I could have ended on the road I had chosen to travel. I would have been dead by now or in some mental farcicality. What would your future be like without redemption, do you think? I do not think I would have had a future.

Q4. (Ephesians 1:5-6) Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? We have a relationship with God our creator and the one that made all things. He loves us so much he wants us to be his children and he wants to bless and take care of us as we would our own children. God is our Father and he is the one that will never leave us or forsake us. He has made us heirs with Jesus his only begotten son. What more could one ask for in a relationship with the Almighty. To be adopted is to be one that is chosen. The parents of an adopted put forth the effort to select that child. To be born into a family we get what ever is there we did not chose that child. God has chose us we are blessed to be adopted by the Lord. Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? We are not outside looking in we are part of the family. God is the Father and we are the brothers and sisters with Jesus. When they said to him your mother and brothers want to talk to you he looked around and said these are my mothers and my brothers. Jesus excepts us and we are his adopted brothers and sister. What a blessing and what a privilege to be one with him. Our Big Brother. Hallelujah

Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? The word says that none are holy or perfect no not one. But while we live our lives the best we can we strive to be holy as he is Holy. Paul said he died daily and we too must repent and ask God to forgive us our short coming. We are not going to be perfect while here on this earth but we are to strive to do our best to live Holy, and God is our Holiness and our Righteousness. Washed in the blood of Jesus, God is able to look upon us and see us as holy not because of what we do our have done but because we are under the blood covering. In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? We have all sinned and fallen short with God the word tells us that clearly. When we repent and ask forgiveness of our sin God no longer remembers those sins or holds them against us. We are blameless because we excepted Jesus into our hearts and live our best for him daily. God is faithful and just to forgive us when we ask. He loves us and will forgive as long as we forgive others.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? We are not in control of all that is going on around us and then so many times others make us feel we have no way of knowing what to do because we are not in control. What is comforting? The comforting part comes when we know whom we belong too and that is more than able to take care of us his children. When we are in a relationship with our Lord and Savior we find comfort in the fact that he watch's out for us. Why does Paul bring up predestination? Because it makes us think as I am sure it did them also as they read the words and applied them to their lives as we must do ourselves today. He wanted them to know they did not choose God but that he choose them. When we look at things in the big picture of life we are not the ones that are in control but we serve a God that is in control at all times and knows what is going on and when it will happen. He knows all things he is the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the End. He is The Great I AM. Why do you think he praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians? He is praising God because he is glad that they know that God is in control and that they are in a relationship with God the Father because of the Son. He knows that the secret is out and that the gentiles will now believes and understand that the salvation plan is for all not just for a few. God loves us all and we all need to keep praising him because he is the Lord of our lives and we should be thanking and praising him every day for the many blessings he has given us. I know I thank him for choosing me and helping me to understand and hold to him so that I will one day be with him forever. Praise the Lord.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? As it was said already it is to be one in Christ Jesus to be able to be a part of the relationship with God the Father by the way of the Son. He in us lets us reach to the throne room to talk to the Father our Father. My life no longer belongs to me alone it is to be lived for Jesus and for his good will in all that I do. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain as Paul so sweetly said it. I want to be one with Jesus and do his will his way at all times.

Q5. What do we miss in our understanding of God if we remove the metaphor of Father and Son from our church vocabulary? When you remove the metaphor Father and Son you remove part of the word of God it should not be done. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost is the head over all. They are our protectors and our providers just as a husband is to a wife and unto his children. It is wrong to try to change this for anyone. Or for any reason it is wrong. We are not to play around with the word of God and change the things he has given to us, and we should know he is a male the Son is male and the Holy Ghost is male not an it as so many refer to him as. This scripture some's it up for me totally and we need to be very careful what we do with the word of God. Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book. Which feminine metaphors of God especially help you understand God's nature? I never think of God as a female. I know he is male and yes men do love and help and do for the female that is out of love and they should love their children. This to me is not a female thing it is love and is shared by both man and woman. I do not see why we need to think of these as female traits they are good traits for man and woman.

Q4. In what sense was God the Husband of Israel? We see that the husband was the provider and the protector of the wife and this is how God is to Israel and he knows she will be able and willing to depend on him for all things. Even though Israel strays and is unfaithful his love is still set upon her. He declares for her to return unto him he is the one that will love her always. God is a jealous god he will not set her free to take other lovers and he will not let her worship and consider spiritual adultery. He is there for her and she needs to be his holy wife. What is the New Testament extension of this metaphor? God shows the same love and willingness to protect and provide for us as he has for Israel in the old testament. He delights in our worship and our praise of him and he rejoices over any that come to him and become part of the bride of Christ. He calls the church the bride and Jesus the husband and one day as in Rev. 19:9 there will be a wedding and the Bride of Christ will be forever more. What causes God to be jealous? Worship of other gods, she belongs to him, he loves her. False gods are considered spiritual adultery and our God is jealous when we do not hold only to him. The True and living God. He has commanded us to do so in his word. Why would we ever want another God when he is the only true living God. His love and his Spirit is more than enough for anyone to desire to hold too. Thank you Lord.

Q3. In what sense are Jesus and the Father one? They are the same as for the way they act they think and they do things. They are in unity always and even though they are not just one they are three they have different personalities, yet they are still indivuals and that means they do different jobs at different times. Even though they know what the others are doing. In what way was Jesus distinct from the Father? He obeys the Father to the point of death and that will show that he is the son and obedient son that loves the Father and that the Father loves. Jesus became flesh so he could die on the cross for our sins so we can one day be with him and the Father forever more. Is Jesus God in the sense that the Father is God? Jesus is God the Son he has the same power because it is given him over heaven and earth. He is the one that God sent to this earth and gave all power too. They think and act as one or to put it better the word is what was spoken of the Father and that is Jesus. 1 Cor 8:6 "For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we live: and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through who we live."

Q2. How was the intimate way that Jesus taught his disciples about God as "Abba" and "Father" different from the Jews' understanding of God as Father? The Jews of the old testament saw God as one that was strict and stern, formal God they did not see him as a loving Father but as a God that they did not even write his whole name and many feels that way today still. He was the one that punishes the one that they dare not cross in any way. We few the Father our Father as love and kindness and his mercy is everlasting and that he is the one that made us and loves us. We need to work more on the love relationship with out Father and know who he is too us and in us. How does God as Abba influence your relationship with him? He lets me know that he loves me. He sent his only son to die so that I might have a relationship with him. He cares for me helps me and shows me his love daily. I thank you Father God for the love and the mercy and all that you do to show you love and keep me in your hands of mercy and that you will never leave me or forsake me. What a Mighty God we serve he is our Abba Father.

Q1. What does the concept of "father" teach us about God, especially the formal way which the word is used in the Old Testament? He is the creator the Great I Am and he makes the rules and we obey them he is the one that has the authority over all that goes on and the final say on all that is happening in our lives and will happen in our lives. According to the quote from Otfried Hofius above, which two aspects of a father underlie our understanding of Father in the Old Testament? He rules as the head of the household and he is the person to whom most respect is due. He has absolute authority over his family. God is the one in charge we are his children we should respect and obey his words. Those in the old testament that did not obey where put to death and we die out to God if we do not obey his word. How should they affect our behavior? It should cause us to want to obey and respect the word of God. He is our creator our leader our hope of tomorrow. This should make us with joy serve and respect him. He is OUR FATHER.

Q2. What are the personal implications of Yahweh being your King and of Jesus being the Messiah sent from God? He is our Redeemer and Lord our Savior and the ultimate sacrifice for my sins. We are to submit ourselves to him and let him have his way in our lives. Which is easy if you love Jesus the way he loves us. He is my everything and to learn more of him read his word. What are the advantages of being the subject of Yahweh as King? NO matter what we face he will never leave us or forsake us he will walk through the valley of death with us we will never have to be alone again. He is our protector our provider he is our King. Thank you Jesus. What does it mean for you to submit to the King on an everyday basis? Read and do what we read in the word of God then we will live our lives for him on a daily basis. He has to be first he will not take any other place in our lives. Live what we know to strive to learn more and live that also. Daily we repent and walk close to him. How does a person reject Yahweh from being King over him or her? When we refuse to submit to his will and his way in our lives and read his word and pray to talk to him is an important thing that many do not seem to understand. He is our friend we need to be able to tell him everything before we take it to other friends we talk it over with Jesus. If we don't then we are rejecting him and his will for our lives. We tend to hold to the human desires more than to those that he has set for us and it must break his heart to see anyone that has excepted him into their life turn to others before they turn to their King. Obedience is better than sacrifice.

Q4. What is the significance of the confession "Jesus is Lord"? Why is this necessary for salvation, according to Romans 10:9? If there is not a confession that Jesus is Lord then there is no salvation. Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This is how we tell the world that we belong to Jesus and he is our GOD MOST HIGH. Our Redeemer our hope our help and all that he is unto us and all that he can be unto us. When we are saved we want to tell the world how wonderful and glorious our King of king and Lord of lords is to us. He says plain in his word if you are ashamed of me I will be ashamed of you before the Father. Lord let us never be ashamed or deni you for you are life and we do not desire death. Heaven or hell the call is yours to make. Trust in the Lord he will keep me until the day he returns for me. Phl 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

Q3. What are the implications for governments that Yahweh is the King of kings and Lord of lords? Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is King of kings and Lord of lords. There will be no one in authority except our King God Jehovah. All will answer to him for what has been done in their life. There is not any big I's and little U's with God. What are the implications of removing God" from a nation's currency and pledges, and ardently secularizing national life? Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! Leaving God out of our nation opens us up to no protection for our country. Today it seems they want him off the currency out of our school and to be forgotten. If this happens we will have removed our protector our provider and all that God has promised in his word to do for those that love and call upon him. Where does that put a nation with regard to God the King? Look upon the wrath of God that has been poured out on our country so far with The hurricanes and the floods. God will always hear the cry of his people and when sin is so strong around them he will remove that sin just as he did with Sodom and Gomorrah. The nations that does not regard God our King will end the same way. Lord help us to turn from our wicked ways and run back to you is what we pray but the end times are here and we need to be ready to meet him in the air. At the end time no nation will stand for God they will be in one accord with the anti-christ and that is how the word reads. Psalms 125:3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Q1. (Genesis 22:1-14) Do you think Abraham was really expecting God to provide a sacrifice, or that was just what he told Isaac? Abraham had seen the hand of God at work and he knew God would not lie. Even if he had sacrificed his son the God he serves would be able to raise him up again. What support do you have for your position? He had promised Abraham that his seed should be as the sands of the sea and like unto the stars in the sky. As we read this today we see he was saying to Abraham your only son several times. God would not kill of the way of keeping his word to him. Did you ever receive a last-minute provision from God? Yes In what circumstances can we expect God to supply our needs? He will supply all our needs as we know by the words of the scripture. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) Any conditions? There are always conditions. God says to us in the word at all times I will do this IF you do that. God promises come with conditions. One of them being that we know what the promises are and follow his ways for our lives. His ways are higher than our ways his thoughts higher than our though's. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33, KJV) The condition here is that we seek first the kingdom of God. That is how he works and always has worked.

Q4. (Psalm 121). What does it mean that God is our Keeper. In what ways does he "keep" or "guard" us? He is our help in times of trouble. He is our guard in time of attack. He will never leave us or forsake us he will be with us unto the end. He is more than enough for every trial and he will never let us down. He is our God our hope our help. He is the GREAT I AM. The Sure Foundation our Rock. He is my everything at all times and he loves with a never ending love. Oh how Sweet to know our God and to be able to go unto him through the blood of his Son Jesus. I love you Father and thank you for my brother Jesus who died for me and for your protection which I am under at all times. Praise your Holy name.

Q3. In what ways is God a Rock in the above verses. He is the rock of our salvation our refuge and fortress and our hiding place in times of trouble. The Rock of our salvation being the only way to salvation is through Jesus who said on this rock I will build my church and he was not talking about Peter but the understanding that Peters had that he is the Son of God Most High. What functions does a rock perform in Palestine? Having only seen pictures of Palestine it is hard for me to know much about this. But it is a place of almost all rock and sand. Could be used for protection and would be a hard place to travels if you where in pursuit of anyone. It is not a place I would want to live but still yet it is the place that Abraham and the rest of Israel was for many years and that they used it for a protection with the help of God.

Q2. (Psalm 3:3) In what ways is God a shield? We know that our enemy is out to steal kill and destroy and to send our souls to hell any way he can. He is out to take as many with him as he can deceive into following him. God's word give us the truth to know how to fight back against him, We ourselves are no match for Satan without God as your shield. We can run to him no matter what trial or physical disease that may come our way and he will protect us and heal us. We are under his word for it is the truth and he is our shield when we use the word Satan has to flee from us. In what ways is he our glory? He is our glory because he said we do not have to fear day or night what will come at us because God is faithful and will protect us at all times we do not have to fear because he is our glory our honor and our hope. He has unmatched power and Satan can never send anything at us that God can't shield us from and keep us safe in his hands from danger. In what ways is he "the lifter up of my head"? We have no strength of our own to stand against the wiles of the devil we have only the faith we put in God to keep us lifted and safe from all harm. He is more than enough to hold us and keep us as long as we stand in the shadow of his wings he will hold us up. What does this teach us about God? God is Faithful and True as his words say and he loves us with an undying love that will never end as long as we hold to him, be faithful to him he will be there for us and keep us forever even throughout eternity. About ourselves? The song I am weak but thou art strong says it all to me. Jesus keep me from all wrong. We can do nothing in ourselves with him nothing and I do mean nothing is impossible. The truth is God never leaves us if anyone moves it is us and we need to hold fast to the word the truth of God for we are not able to protect ourselves.

(Psalm 91) What is the protected one required to do in times of danger (verses 1-2, 9). Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psa 91:2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psa 91:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; To stay close and abide in the shadow of the Almighty to be near to the Lord at all times for he is our shield our help in times of trouble. If we do this he will be there for us always for he is our home our habitation. There is no greater protection than under the wing of the Most High God. What metaphors are used of God's protection in this psalm? Strong Shield, Hiding Place, Refuge, Keeper , Shade, Fortress our Buckler our Dwelling place, we are to stay under his wings as a chick to the hen for he is there and will protect us no matter what we face. Thank you Jesus.

1Sa 8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. Q1. Read 1 Samuel 8:15 and Malachi 3:8-10. How did tithing relate to a person's acceptance of God being their King in the Old Testament? When Saul was king of Israel it was said then that obedience is better than sacrifice. God told them to give him the tithe and that he will bless them. This was paid to all the kings in the countries around about Israel and they paid if for protect by the king that was over them. It did not mean money it was from the animals and thing that they had. One tenth the first part of things belonged to God as he offering. How about for those of us who live under the New Covenant? We know that Jesus said when ask about taxes to give unto Creaser that which is Creasers and unto God that which is God's. One tenth still is what we are to give. God is the same yesterday today and forever more he does not change we change and if we want the best we still give the first of all good to the Lord. Jesus did not do away with the old covenant but he fulfilled it. We are still to obey the laws. What place does tithing have for us? It is still the same as it was when Jesus came to this earth the tithe was never done away with and it is still to be the first part of all our increase and we are to give it because it is not ours to start with it belongs to God. So we should give it without thinking when you keep what belongs to God you cut off your own blessing. Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Q4. Define "justice," "vengeance," and "mercy." Can a Holy and Righteous God justly forgive sins without punishing them? Justice = assigning punishment for an offence. Vengeance = harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done. Mercy = showing compassion as in the way Christ does for us. Yes God can and does forgive sin without punishing those that have asked for forgiveness and he always forgets them so that they are no longer there for him. It is us that do not forgive ourselves but we have to remember also that we do reap what we sow and that is we do pay in some way for the bad we do. Our bodies pay for the abuse we put them through. Our minds pay because we are not able to forget the way God does. We pay for the things we do in one way or another. Hsa 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. What is the significance of the cross in God's righteousness? Had Jesus not went to the cross we would still be facing God for justice and we would be out for vengeance and we would not have any mercy. He sits at the right hand of the Father to speak in our behalf this day to ask for mercy for us still. I thank you Jesus for mercy even though I know I should have Justice through the cross there is mercy and grace. Hallelujah.

Q3. (Psalm 68:5) Since our God is the Helper of the Fatherless and the Protector of Widows -- that is, the poorest and weakest of society -- what does this say about a Christian's commitment to social justice in our communities? With all we have seen since 9-11 we know that our country is going to step up and take care of those that are hurting. Maybe not to the way we would want them too but they do step in and this is much more than most of the other country's even try to do. When the tornados hit in our country they tried to get them help fast and get them out of their to where they would be safe. When other country's have things happen it seems the red cross is always there on the job ready to help and give aid to all that are in need. We are a blessed country because of what we do for others. I am glad to say that I am proud to be a Christian that is living in America. Thank you Jesus. How should it affect our actions? We too as individuals have to step up to the plate and do our part give and do what so ever we can to help those that go out to help others. We much support our churches in all the efforts that they do to send help and we are responsible for those in our neighborhoods also we need to make sure they are taken care of. Like giving out food for those that need it and helping them to make the electric and gas payments I am glad to say that lot of churches do this already and the one where I attend is one of them. Thank you Jesus we are our brothers keepers.

Q2. If we believe that truth and morality are all relative to one's culture, how can we know and understand the Righteous and Upright God? In this country there are not many morals left that anyone holds too except for the Christians who live for Jesus. This however does not have anything to do with the Righteous and Upright God that we serve. What our country does or don't do has no effect on the facts that he is righteous and holy. He takes care of those that love him and live for him. He is our sure foundation our solid rock on which we stand. It seems those that do not serve God still notice that there are some around them that do live moral and upright to the best of their ability and they do trust us more and count on Christians to do what is right even if they don't. Extra credit for present-day evangelists: How can we declare God and his Son Jesus Christ in a relativistic world? Live what the word of God teaches us and then they will see that God is real and that he sent his son Jesus because they will see a difference in our lives. They will be able to see Jesus not us thank you Lord for making us to be like unto you. What is an effective approach? (There is no simple answer here. What is an effective communication strategy in your community?) I just simply tell them about all the good things that have happened in my life because I serve the Lord. They seem to ask me where the peace I seem to have comes from I tell them Jesus. They are always eager to learn about the things Jesus does for us and in us and they can see we are different than the world. I give Jesus all honor and glory for without him I can do nothing.