Saturday, January 23, 2016
Paul's Letter to the Romans Ch.5 Session 10
We are dead in sin Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Father God , we ask for Your guidance as we gather here tonight to study Your plan for our salvation as given to us in Paul’s letter to the Romans, We pray that you will help us to focus on those things that you would have us learn from these verses. We also ask your blessing on those of our group who cannot be here tonight, we pray that you will share our blessing with them, and bring them back into our midst soon. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
In this session Paul returns to the doctrine of justification by faith alone and focuses on two main issues that he has not yet explored in great detail. First, given that justification by faith alone is necessary to remedy the problem of our enmity with God, and why are all people apart from Christ, rebels against the Lord to begin with. Second, given that justification by faith alone puts people into a new legal status of righteousness, how does God constitute that righteousness? Please read 1Corinthians 1: 30… pg.3
Scripture study
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 15 but the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Discussion
Our scripture study tonight addresses the matter of sin, which is a reality in our world today because of the act of one man, Adam. And through sin, death is then also a part of the inheritance. And the death that was brought into the world by this sin did not affect Adam and Eve alone, it spread to all mankind. Since death is the punishment for all sin, then it (death) is a part of the human condition. Even Jesus Christ ( he who was without sin) had to die, because the one sin of the first man had condemned all men. Please read 2 Corinthians 5:21…pg.3
The fact that death entered the world at a point in history shows that death was not then, nor is it now, part of the natural order of things as God originally made them. We were not created to die, rather, we were created to Glorify God in all that we do. Death is an invader, a consequence of poor judgment, a mistake made because of mans desire to be equal with God. or as some would say, “in control”. As we study God’s word through the gospel, we come to an understanding that things are not as they should be in our relationship with God, nor in our relationship with each other, We are a world of lost sinners without hope except for the Grace of God. Please read Ephesians 1:7 & 2:8…pg3
Q.1 What message do these verses say about how sin came into the world?
Q.2 What is the meaning conveyed to us in vs.13?
Q.3 Why does verse 14 refer to the period of time from Adam to Moses?
Q.4 In these verses what do you see (besides death) as the consequence of Adam’s sin?
Q.5 To the believer, what is the Gift to which these verses refer?
Pg.2
Scripture study
Rom 5:16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Discussion
Because of the one single sin of one man the curse of death was made to fall on us all. This was simply an act of one man disobeying God, and the condemnation of all followed as an act of God. Death was not in the original plan of creation but was brought about by this one man Adam.
This all happened before the law was given. Before the law there was no definition of the sin of man. Before the law death was rampant not affecting one only, but affecting all of mankind, and there was no good in man whatsoever, and no hope of good to come.( here we have a long interim of about 2600 years in which God destroys mankind except for Noah and his family)Then God gave his law to Moses and after the law, sin was made to increase.
For by the introduction of the law man was made acutely aware of his many sins, and his conscience was awakened. Since our sin was so rampant and became even more so after the law, God made a plan for our salvation. And because God gave His Son as the sacrifice for our sins, the gift of righteousness will reign throughout mankind in a greater increase, for those who will receive him into their hearts.
So if sin increased under the law, then grace increased much more under Jesus. The reign of grace is marked by righteousness and eternal life through Jesus. Grace reigns through righteousness. Paul wrote in another letter what grace teaches us. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Please read Titus 2:11-12… pg.3. Grace reigns through righteousness, and grace teaches righteousness.
So as believers, through the knowledge given to us in the Gospel, we can claim our justification because of the act of the one man Jesus. Please read John 11:25….pg3
Q.1 If death was not in God’s original plan of creation, why did sin occur?
Q.2 What is the difference in sin after God gave the law to Moses?
Q.3 What made it necessary for God to give us his Son for our salvation?
Q.4 What meaning can we derive from vs 20 and 21?
Pg.3
Scripture reference
1Corinthians 1: 30, It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace and 2:8, "By grace are ye saved, through faith and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
Titus 2:11-12, For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Our salvation is a FREE GIFT
A closing thought:
Grace is the way of Christian salvation. It is so because man stands before God dead in sin and under judgment in himself. Only God's grace and mercy can and does save us. In His grace God sends Jesus Christ to save his people from their sins. By the power of His grace, God in Christ works through His Holy Spirit in our hearts the way of salvation in us, by repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation, eternal life and eternal joy is from beginning to end God's great wonder of Grace. Our sins forgiven, our debts paid, our inheritance assured. And that, not of our own doing, for God destined it such that it is the finished work of Christ that eternal life belongs to the believer. It is God’s Gift, that our sins do not own us, and through Christ’s finished work that we are justified. Praise God for his Merciful Grace.
Closing Prayer
God of our salvation we are so thankful for Your Gift to us of Your Son Jesus. Your Gift of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of this world. And we do accept and claim Your Gift as our justification before You. Bless us now as we go our separate ways and bring us back together next week. We pray now for our brothers and sisters in Christ who need your healing touch____________ Bring to these we have named, and to those who are in our thoughts and prayers, Your strength and comfort to sustain them in their time of need. Amen
Pg.4
Meditation
By Adams one sin, God condemned all mankind forever to be guilty of sin, and deserving of death because of the act of one man. You may say then that you had nothing to do with the sin of Adam, and you prefer to stand on your own, and be judged on your own actions. And logically that seems right to many in our world today. “I am a good person, I do not blaspheme nor do I steal, I help others and I clothe and feed the destitute, and I give to charity, and to my church, and those in need. Besides that, which offenses of mine am I to be judged on. I should be fairly judged on my own life’s worth, my goodness far outweighs my sin. I do not want to be judged on someone else’s acts, I stand or fall based on my own worth”.
If then you stand on your own, does that imply also that your salvation is to be passed to you based on your own goodness. Are you sure that your goodness outweighs your sin? Do you want to make that choice, your righteousness or Jesus’ righteousness? We are all subject to God’s law, and that is condemnation for our sins, and not one of us can justify self. The one Gift from God justifies the many, which also includes you. But God allows that you are the one who makes the decision to accept that Gift. It is your choice to accept or reject Christ’s sacrifice for your salvation. Eternal life is in the balance.
It is absolutely true that we were born into our identification with Adam, but we also choose it with our individual acts of sin. The sin we commit results in condemnation. And the free gift of God results in justification: The outcome of this choice, self or Jesus - means everything. If we choose self we receive judgment and condemnation. If we choose Jesus we receive a free gift of God's grace and justification.
The free gift came to all men. Does this mean that all men are justified by the free gift without making a personal choice? Every person has received the curse of Adam's offense. Is it therefore true that every person, even apart from their own personal choice, will receive the benefits of Jesus' obedience? Not at all. First, Paul makes it clear that the free gift is not like the offense - they are not identical in their application or in their result. Second, Paul calls the work of Jesus a free gift, and the sin of Adam is simply an imputation, we are all guilty because of Adam’s sin, It is not a gift, it is a curse, the curse of sin, Sin affected everybody for all time, the moment Adam did it.
This is the only way for the work of Jesus to benefit us in any way. If every man must stand for himself, without the representation of Jesus, then we will all perish. None would be saved, because each of us sins and falls short of the glory of God. Only a sinless person, (The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world), acting on our behalf can save us, and it is God’s will that He act on our behalf.
The person who says, "I don't want to be represented by Jesus; I want to represent myself" doesn't understand two things. First, they don't understand that it really isn't up to the individual. We didn't make the rules, God did. We simply have to deal with it. Secondly, they don't understand that our personal righteousness before God is of no more account than if it were filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). To God, our personal righteousness is an offensive counterfeit. So standing for yourself only guarantees your condemnation to continue with you into hell.
Praise the Lord for giving us the free Gift of His Son Jesus and praise God for the Gospel that teaches us to accept that Gift, and by so doing our salvation is assured and our righteousness shall abound, because of Jesus. Amen
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Pauls letter to the Romans, Ch 5, Session 9
Pg1
While we were yet sinners
Opening Prayer
Father God, we come here tonight to Study the words of Paul as given to us in his letter to the church in Rome. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight that is not in accordance with your will and that you will impart to us those matters You would have us learn from this study. We pray that your peace and comfort be with those of us who are sick or disabled and cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. Lead us now and give us understanding as we study the teachings of Paul, The word of God.. In Jesus Name we pray Amen
Because , while we were yet still captive in our sins, the wrath that God has against our sins has been satiated because Jesus Christ died as retribution for our sins. And for those of a repentant heart and a true belief, Jesus has provided a way for our salvation. There is a peace for our souls promised by God who has redeemed us. Isaiah 44:22
Scripture reading
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Discussion
Being forgiven and set free from bondage to sin are not the only benefits we receive from being justified in the sight of God; we also receive peace with Him. If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, the Lord will discipline you as His child (Heb. 12:5–6), but His wrath has been turned away from you.
God’s justification of sinners through His Son, brings to our relationship with God a peace that surpasses all understanding. The promises of God to His people have been brought about because of Jesus’ sacrifice. His shed blood has made our peace with God possible.
This peace that Jesus Christ gives to us leads us to partake fully of spiritual blessings “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3–4). But it is not a merely spiritual peace. There is rest and a physical peace, and the absence of anxiety about our sins which, try as we might, cannot be atoned without we accept the shed blood of Christ as our only path to salvation. And yet we still suffer this world.
But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance is needed for our battles against the evil one who exists for the time we spend here on this earth. We Christians are not so great as to be whisked into Heaven the moment we believe, We are still here to continue in fighting the battle, to save the souls of our lost brothers and sisters. To bring those souls back from the abyss.
Q.1 Have you ever done anything that you just knew God would get you for? Were you afraid ?
Q.2 What is your concept of being at peace with God? Do you have peace with God?
Q.3 What is meant by boasting in the hope of the glory of God?
Q.4 In our world today, is there much reason to boast in the hope of the glory of God?
Q.5 Many have preached about sufferings and troubles, and our perseverance, How do you feel about that?
Pg.2
Scripture reading
Romans 5:6-11 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation
There is no hope for the lost soul, although we may desire to be just and good, we are still lost, we cannot save ourselves from our sins, except we become Christ’s child, we must become “converted”, become “saved” God brought this into our lives and makes it known to us.
It is his plan for our eternal life in His Kingdom. (John 3:16-18) He truly wants us to be there with him.
God loves us, and does not want us to perish because of our ungodliness. So what did he do to ensure that? He sacrificed the life of His Son. Who do we know that would do that for us? There are heroes indeed, someone who has died for another out of love for their fellow man. We know of many instances where that has happened. But who would sacrifice the life of their Son for our sake? We know the story of Abraham and Isaac, but Abraham was just obeying what God had directed him to do, and he did not have to sacrifice Isaac because God worked a miracle and gave Abraham a sacrificial lamb. Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.
Of course there is that reference in time when we remember giving our life over to Christ, but that is just a moment in time, just a memory, What is it about that time that is so important to the Christian now, in this present moment? What has it changed about us? (James 2:1-26).
Just like the thief on the cross. You recall that there were two of them, two thieves being crucified with Jesus. They were there, representing us, one an indignant non believer with an attitude, representing many in our world today, and another who asked only that Jesus remember him at that last moment. Both were sinners, deserving of their punishment. Jesus died with, and for both of them (us) but only one of them Joined Christ for eternity in paradise. And he now is spending eternity with Christ. And When you accepted Christ as your Savior you were saved at that moment. Being saved is not a one time event. It is a forever event. It started the moment You asked Jesus into your life.
Q.1 How do you feel verses 6-8 reveal how much God values us?
Q.2 Does Jesus Christ giving his life for the ungodly have negative connotations?
Q.3 Some people have always been good, are they included in Jesus Dying for the ungodly?
Q.4 Why is there evil in our world today?
Q.5 Did God start creation with the intent of having sin enter the world?
Q.6 What attitudes prevent one from accepting what God has done through Christ, for us?
Q.7 What is meant by the phrase” we exult in our tribulations”?
Q.8 What does God develop in our lives during difficult times?
Pg.3
Scripture references
Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
Hebrews 12:5-8 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined--and everyone undergoes discipline--then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
James 2:1-26 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ...
Pg.4
Meditation
Peace with God speaks of our need, which in our natural born state we lack. This presupposes the fact that, as we are naturally born into this world, God is not reconciled with us. All other ills in life stem from the fact that we do not naturally acquire this Peace with God. Further our temporal life though seeming to be long, especially when we are young, is only a speck in eternity, and we need to be safe for eternity. So Peace with God is our deepest human need, and should be every hearts desire.
The need for Peace with God is a paramount because without it we are under the wrath of God and condemnation of God, and this means that eternity will be spent separated from God and all that is good, and under the eternal just punishment of God for sin. Lacking Peace with God also means that we are without God and his love, care and protection throughout our lives, but we are yet under the care of the Devil
Furthermore, peace with God means that we are reconciled to God. Our enmity with God is removed and God becomes our friend. Peace with God means that we are saved from the wrath of God, and all that follows from that wrath. We are saved from death and eternal hell, and we possess eternal life. Peace with God means that God says he will be our God forever and he will bless us forever. From this follows every other blessing because now God is for us and not against us. And this means that The Almighty Creator has our best interests at heart.
How do we satisfy our need for peace with God? The great blessing of the Gospel is that humanity does have the message of peace with God, that being the Gospel message. Through the Gospel message the cause of conflict with God can be dealt with. God has given to us His Son Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This then is the place in our lives when we must make the choice. We must choose Jesus to have Peace with God. It means the forgiveness of all our sins, and that they are blotted out of the sight of God forever. This means not only the sins we have committed in the past, but also all sins which we will ever commit throughout our lives. God’s forgiveness is all encompassing and eternal because of Christ, and that forgiveness, and peace with God is ours the moment we choose to let Jesus come into our heart and rule in our lives.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us take hold of this blessing and live in the light of it. We have now and forever in completeness - Peace with God. We now are friends with God. We are now, through faith, reconciled to God. Where does this Peace with God come from and what is its assurance? Our peace with God is because we have been justified by our faith. This is something that has occurred in our lives when we believed in Jesus. It is a legal and just declaration by God that we are just We are justified in God’s eyes as he can no longer look on us as sinners. He sees us only as the redeemed of Christ. He sees us only as the righteousness of His Son Jesus. No devil, nor sin, can ever take this blessing away, because it is a blessing that has been won by Christ alone, and on account of his perfect finished work for us. It is assured for eternity. All that is necessary is that we ask for and receive the promise of Peace with God by believing God’s word and promise that he gives it to all who place their hope and need of salvation in the hands of Jesus. We have peace with God through faith in the sacrificial life death and resurrection of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN
Closing Prayer:
Father God, be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. ____________Give those mentioned here tonight the strength and comfort to endure, and continue to watch over each of us as we strive to live a just and righteous life.. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN
While we were yet sinners
Opening Prayer
Father God, we come here tonight to Study the words of Paul as given to us in his letter to the church in Rome. We pray that no word be spoken here tonight that is not in accordance with your will and that you will impart to us those matters You would have us learn from this study. We pray that your peace and comfort be with those of us who are sick or disabled and cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. Lead us now and give us understanding as we study the teachings of Paul, The word of God.. In Jesus Name we pray Amen
Scripture reading
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Discussion
Being forgiven and set free from bondage to sin are not the only benefits we receive from being justified in the sight of God; we also receive peace with Him. If you have trusted in Christ alone for salvation, the Lord will discipline you as His child (Heb. 12:5–6), but His wrath has been turned away from you.
God’s justification of sinners through His Son, brings to our relationship with God a peace that surpasses all understanding. The promises of God to His people have been brought about because of Jesus’ sacrifice. His shed blood has made our peace with God possible.
This peace that Jesus Christ gives to us leads us to partake fully of spiritual blessings “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3–4). But it is not a merely spiritual peace. There is rest and a physical peace, and the absence of anxiety about our sins which, try as we might, cannot be atoned without we accept the shed blood of Christ as our only path to salvation. And yet we still suffer this world.
But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance is needed for our battles against the evil one who exists for the time we spend here on this earth. We Christians are not so great as to be whisked into Heaven the moment we believe, We are still here to continue in fighting the battle, to save the souls of our lost brothers and sisters. To bring those souls back from the abyss.
Q.1 Have you ever done anything that you just knew God would get you for? Were you afraid ?
Q.2 What is your concept of being at peace with God? Do you have peace with God?
Q.3 What is meant by boasting in the hope of the glory of God?
Q.4 In our world today, is there much reason to boast in the hope of the glory of God?
Q.5 Many have preached about sufferings and troubles, and our perseverance, How do you feel about that?
Pg.2
Scripture reading
Romans 5:6-11 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation
There is no hope for the lost soul, although we may desire to be just and good, we are still lost, we cannot save ourselves from our sins, except we become Christ’s child, we must become “converted”, become “saved” God brought this into our lives and makes it known to us.
It is his plan for our eternal life in His Kingdom. (John 3:16-18) He truly wants us to be there with him.
God loves us, and does not want us to perish because of our ungodliness. So what did he do to ensure that? He sacrificed the life of His Son. Who do we know that would do that for us? There are heroes indeed, someone who has died for another out of love for their fellow man. We know of many instances where that has happened. But who would sacrifice the life of their Son for our sake? We know the story of Abraham and Isaac, but Abraham was just obeying what God had directed him to do, and he did not have to sacrifice Isaac because God worked a miracle and gave Abraham a sacrificial lamb. Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.
Of course there is that reference in time when we remember giving our life over to Christ, but that is just a moment in time, just a memory, What is it about that time that is so important to the Christian now, in this present moment? What has it changed about us? (James 2:1-26).
Just like the thief on the cross. You recall that there were two of them, two thieves being crucified with Jesus. They were there, representing us, one an indignant non believer with an attitude, representing many in our world today, and another who asked only that Jesus remember him at that last moment. Both were sinners, deserving of their punishment. Jesus died with, and for both of them (us) but only one of them Joined Christ for eternity in paradise. And he now is spending eternity with Christ. And When you accepted Christ as your Savior you were saved at that moment. Being saved is not a one time event. It is a forever event. It started the moment You asked Jesus into your life.
Q.1 How do you feel verses 6-8 reveal how much God values us?
Q.2 Does Jesus Christ giving his life for the ungodly have negative connotations?
Q.3 Some people have always been good, are they included in Jesus Dying for the ungodly?
Q.4 Why is there evil in our world today?
Q.5 Did God start creation with the intent of having sin enter the world?
Q.6 What attitudes prevent one from accepting what God has done through Christ, for us?
Q.7 What is meant by the phrase” we exult in our tribulations”?
Q.8 What does God develop in our lives during difficult times?
Pg.3
Scripture references
Isaiah 44:22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
Hebrews 12:5-8 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined--and everyone undergoes discipline--then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
James 2:1-26 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ...
Pg.4
Meditation
Peace with God speaks of our need, which in our natural born state we lack. This presupposes the fact that, as we are naturally born into this world, God is not reconciled with us. All other ills in life stem from the fact that we do not naturally acquire this Peace with God. Further our temporal life though seeming to be long, especially when we are young, is only a speck in eternity, and we need to be safe for eternity. So Peace with God is our deepest human need, and should be every hearts desire.
The need for Peace with God is a paramount because without it we are under the wrath of God and condemnation of God, and this means that eternity will be spent separated from God and all that is good, and under the eternal just punishment of God for sin. Lacking Peace with God also means that we are without God and his love, care and protection throughout our lives, but we are yet under the care of the Devil
Furthermore, peace with God means that we are reconciled to God. Our enmity with God is removed and God becomes our friend. Peace with God means that we are saved from the wrath of God, and all that follows from that wrath. We are saved from death and eternal hell, and we possess eternal life. Peace with God means that God says he will be our God forever and he will bless us forever. From this follows every other blessing because now God is for us and not against us. And this means that The Almighty Creator has our best interests at heart.
How do we satisfy our need for peace with God? The great blessing of the Gospel is that humanity does have the message of peace with God, that being the Gospel message. Through the Gospel message the cause of conflict with God can be dealt with. God has given to us His Son Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This then is the place in our lives when we must make the choice. We must choose Jesus to have Peace with God. It means the forgiveness of all our sins, and that they are blotted out of the sight of God forever. This means not only the sins we have committed in the past, but also all sins which we will ever commit throughout our lives. God’s forgiveness is all encompassing and eternal because of Christ, and that forgiveness, and peace with God is ours the moment we choose to let Jesus come into our heart and rule in our lives.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let us take hold of this blessing and live in the light of it. We have now and forever in completeness - Peace with God. We now are friends with God. We are now, through faith, reconciled to God. Where does this Peace with God come from and what is its assurance? Our peace with God is because we have been justified by our faith. This is something that has occurred in our lives when we believed in Jesus. It is a legal and just declaration by God that we are just We are justified in God’s eyes as he can no longer look on us as sinners. He sees us only as the redeemed of Christ. He sees us only as the righteousness of His Son Jesus. No devil, nor sin, can ever take this blessing away, because it is a blessing that has been won by Christ alone, and on account of his perfect finished work for us. It is assured for eternity. All that is necessary is that we ask for and receive the promise of Peace with God by believing God’s word and promise that he gives it to all who place their hope and need of salvation in the hands of Jesus. We have peace with God through faith in the sacrificial life death and resurrection of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN
Closing Prayer:
Father God, be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We pray for your continued watch over our loved ones and those among us who need your healing hand to touch them in their time of distress. ____________Give those mentioned here tonight the strength and comfort to endure, and continue to watch over each of us as we strive to live a just and righteous life.. It is in Jesus name we pray, AMEN
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Paul's Letter to the Romans Ch.4 Session 8
Pg.1
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, We ask that you will bless this study tonight and use it to enlighten our understanding of our faith, and help us to put into action the faith that we profess. Let us become living examples of the faith that your word conveys to our world. We are truly thankful for the gift of Your Son Jesus who made a way for our salvation, for there is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous in your sight. We pray also for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, and that you will share our blessing with them. Bless us now, we pray as we study your word as given to us by Your servant Paul. AMEN
Opening Words
Faith is something we exercise, but Paul does not consider it a work in the same way that obedience to the law is. Works involve the bringing of what we do to God and saying that we deserve justification. Faith involves the admission that nothing we can do makes us deserving of salvation. It is all on Jesus, and he only is the linchpin of our salvation, without him even our own efforts at righteousness fail us, and we are lost sinners seeking help for our souls.
Scripture Reading
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-17b-the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Discussion
Abraham’s faith led to his being justified before God. God’s promise of Justification comes from God’s grace. The promise of salvation for the true believer is not ordered by God’s law, God does not promise one justification if they comply with his laws, as if following the rules of righteousness would earn our justification. It is by the faith one exhibits in the life one lives that God recognizes as true faith and with the living of the faithful life God sees only the righteousness of Jesus in us. If salvation was simply obeying the law, one might even fool oneself into thinking they were justified by righteously obeying the law. That is how putting our faith in our works can deceive us so easily Justification by faith is a choice one makes that changes ones life path. That is a choice one is free to accept or reject.
Q.1 Why is justification achieved by faith instead of by the Law?
Q.2 In what way has this caused me to rely on faith in Christ alone?
Q.3 What is the first characteristic of faith that Paul alludes to in Romans 4:17b?
Q.4 How does a proper understanding of the Creator and creation affect one’s daily life?
Q.5 What is the concept that the Jews were practicing in those days?
Pg.2
In this next scripture, Paul tells us what faith is. Paul says Abraham believed God. God is the object of our faith. The quality of our faith depends upon the object in which that faith has placed its trust. The amount of faith you have has nothing to do with it. That is why Jesus told us that even if we have faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed, it will produce results. The object of your faith is the important thing. It is not a question of how little or how big our faith is; it is a question of how gracious our God is! God has set no measure of faith as a goal to be reached. But he has precisely stated what even a very small faith can do.
18. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
There are times when one must realize that whenever we are called to exercise our faith, (which for some can be minute by minute) there will be obstacles to that faith. Abraham teaches us this. First, there were the circumstances of He and his wife and family and all their kin, slaves, and livestock, just picking up their entire life’s work, even at an old age, and moving. God had not even told them where their new home would be. Then there is their age, both were past the age of having children. And then there’s the problem of the promise from God, to make a great nation of Abraham and his descendents . It was a promise for them that seemed too good to be true. Hard to believe if we examine the circumstances. They had been trying to have a child for years with no success It is also interesting that Abraham and Sarah tried to take the situation into their own hands by Abraham having a child with Hagar, Sarah’s slave. This did not fare well, as God’s Angel said in Gen 16:12
Q.1 Are there situations in life that seem outside the realm of possibility?
Q.2 Do you think there may have been times when Abraham struggled with doubt ?
Q.3 Are there times in every day life when doubts are more reasonable than faith?
Q.4 Abraham must have felt, that the promise from God was too good to be true, yes or no?
Q.5 Have you ever gone through a “Too good to be true experience”?
Q.6 How does the resurrection serve as the bedrock for the Christian faith?
Q.7 In your opinion, is there a measure of faith one must maintain?
Who Are The Justified ? Pg.3
A. THE JUSTIFIED ARE SINNERS
We must be repentant true believers. That makes us recipients of God’s free grace, because we rely on the finished work of Jesus to provide for our justification. Otherwise, our sin would prevent our salvation. Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…… Q. Who are the true believers?
B. THE JUSTIFIED SHARE CHRISTS BLOOD AS SALVATION .
Faith means that “while we were yet sinners, at the right time Christ died for us. Then it is our faith in what Christ’s shedding his blood has done for us, that saves us. Gal 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…… Q. What meaning does sharing communion have for you?
C. THE JUSTIFIED ARE JUDGED BY GOD THROUGH CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We need Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to our account. That transaction takes place the instant that we become a true believer in Jesus’ finished work of our salvation. John 3:18
If justification were based on how righteous we actually are, measured by our own set of laws, we might well be righteous by earthly standards. We might have a spectacular record of accomplishments denoting our righteous service to God. But does that make us righteous in God’s eyes? The answer is found in Isaiah 64:6. We need our sin put on Christ’s account.
2 Corinthians 5:21 …... Q. What has Jesus done for us lately?
Scripture references
Gen 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
John 3:18, Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the faith that Paul so avidly professes. We thank You that you so loved us that You gave your Son Jesus to be sin for us so that none should perish, We thank You that Your Grace is such that You have chosen to let Your Son’s righteousness be credited to our account. And we thank You as so great a God as to be sensitive to our needs and to offer your healing touch to those who suffer in this life__________ Bless those mentioned here tonight and offer to them Your healing touch. In Jesus name we pray AMEN
Pg.4
Meditation
Q. What has the finished work of Jesus done for you ?
Psalm 119:66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psa 119:77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
Psa 119:79 May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.
Psa 119:80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
Dear Lord, May the faith of our fathers be made manifest in us throughout this year, and may we indeed practice what we believe to such and extent that it becomes a way of life for each of us. And may we become living examples of the Justified True Believer that Christ’s life was sacrificed to save. Amen
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, We ask that you will bless this study tonight and use it to enlighten our understanding of our faith, and help us to put into action the faith that we profess. Let us become living examples of the faith that your word conveys to our world. We are truly thankful for the gift of Your Son Jesus who made a way for our salvation, for there is nothing we can do to make ourselves righteous in your sight. We pray also for those of our group who cannot be here tonight, and that you will share our blessing with them. Bless us now, we pray as we study your word as given to us by Your servant Paul. AMEN
Opening Words
Faith is something we exercise, but Paul does not consider it a work in the same way that obedience to the law is. Works involve the bringing of what we do to God and saying that we deserve justification. Faith involves the admission that nothing we can do makes us deserving of salvation. It is all on Jesus, and he only is the linchpin of our salvation, without him even our own efforts at righteousness fail us, and we are lost sinners seeking help for our souls.
Scripture Reading
13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed-17b-the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Discussion
Abraham’s faith led to his being justified before God. God’s promise of Justification comes from God’s grace. The promise of salvation for the true believer is not ordered by God’s law, God does not promise one justification if they comply with his laws, as if following the rules of righteousness would earn our justification. It is by the faith one exhibits in the life one lives that God recognizes as true faith and with the living of the faithful life God sees only the righteousness of Jesus in us. If salvation was simply obeying the law, one might even fool oneself into thinking they were justified by righteously obeying the law. That is how putting our faith in our works can deceive us so easily Justification by faith is a choice one makes that changes ones life path. That is a choice one is free to accept or reject.
Q.1 Why is justification achieved by faith instead of by the Law?
Q.2 In what way has this caused me to rely on faith in Christ alone?
Q.3 What is the first characteristic of faith that Paul alludes to in Romans 4:17b?
Q.4 How does a proper understanding of the Creator and creation affect one’s daily life?
Q.5 What is the concept that the Jews were practicing in those days?
Pg.2
In this next scripture, Paul tells us what faith is. Paul says Abraham believed God. God is the object of our faith. The quality of our faith depends upon the object in which that faith has placed its trust. The amount of faith you have has nothing to do with it. That is why Jesus told us that even if we have faith, as small as a grain of mustard seed, it will produce results. The object of your faith is the important thing. It is not a question of how little or how big our faith is; it is a question of how gracious our God is! God has set no measure of faith as a goal to be reached. But he has precisely stated what even a very small faith can do.
18. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
There are times when one must realize that whenever we are called to exercise our faith, (which for some can be minute by minute) there will be obstacles to that faith. Abraham teaches us this. First, there were the circumstances of He and his wife and family and all their kin, slaves, and livestock, just picking up their entire life’s work, even at an old age, and moving. God had not even told them where their new home would be. Then there is their age, both were past the age of having children. And then there’s the problem of the promise from God, to make a great nation of Abraham and his descendents . It was a promise for them that seemed too good to be true. Hard to believe if we examine the circumstances. They had been trying to have a child for years with no success It is also interesting that Abraham and Sarah tried to take the situation into their own hands by Abraham having a child with Hagar, Sarah’s slave. This did not fare well, as God’s Angel said in Gen 16:12
Q.1 Are there situations in life that seem outside the realm of possibility?
Q.2 Do you think there may have been times when Abraham struggled with doubt ?
Q.3 Are there times in every day life when doubts are more reasonable than faith?
Q.4 Abraham must have felt, that the promise from God was too good to be true, yes or no?
Q.5 Have you ever gone through a “Too good to be true experience”?
Q.6 How does the resurrection serve as the bedrock for the Christian faith?
Q.7 In your opinion, is there a measure of faith one must maintain?
Who Are The Justified ? Pg.3
A. THE JUSTIFIED ARE SINNERS
We must be repentant true believers. That makes us recipients of God’s free grace, because we rely on the finished work of Jesus to provide for our justification. Otherwise, our sin would prevent our salvation. Romans 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved…… Q. Who are the true believers?
B. THE JUSTIFIED SHARE CHRISTS BLOOD AS SALVATION .
Faith means that “while we were yet sinners, at the right time Christ died for us. Then it is our faith in what Christ’s shedding his blood has done for us, that saves us. Gal 3:26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, Gal 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ…… Q. What meaning does sharing communion have for you?
C. THE JUSTIFIED ARE JUDGED BY GOD THROUGH CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
We need Christ’s perfect righteousness credited to our account. That transaction takes place the instant that we become a true believer in Jesus’ finished work of our salvation. John 3:18
If justification were based on how righteous we actually are, measured by our own set of laws, we might well be righteous by earthly standards. We might have a spectacular record of accomplishments denoting our righteous service to God. But does that make us righteous in God’s eyes? The answer is found in Isaiah 64:6. We need our sin put on Christ’s account.
2 Corinthians 5:21 …... Q. What has Jesus done for us lately?
Scripture references
Gen 16:12 He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers."
John 3:18, Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the faith that Paul so avidly professes. We thank You that you so loved us that You gave your Son Jesus to be sin for us so that none should perish, We thank You that Your Grace is such that You have chosen to let Your Son’s righteousness be credited to our account. And we thank You as so great a God as to be sensitive to our needs and to offer your healing touch to those who suffer in this life__________ Bless those mentioned here tonight and offer to them Your healing touch. In Jesus name we pray AMEN
Pg.4
Meditation
Q. What has the finished work of Jesus done for you ?
Psalm 119:66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
73 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.
74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
Psa 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
Psa 119:77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.
Psa 119:78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause; but I will meditate on your precepts.
Psa 119:79 May those who fear you turn to me, those who understand your statutes.
Psa 119:80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees, that I may not be put to shame.
Dear Lord, May the faith of our fathers be made manifest in us throughout this year, and may we indeed practice what we believe to such and extent that it becomes a way of life for each of us. And may we become living examples of the Justified True Believer that Christ’s life was sacrificed to save. Amen
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