Godswriter

Q4. (John 9:39-41) Were the Pharisees responsible for their hard hearts and spiritual blindness? According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, what causes spiritual blindness? Was Pharaoh responsible for his hardness of heart? (see Exodus 8:15, 32; 9:34; 10:3; 13:15; 1 Samuel 6:6). Yes because they refused to see that Jesus was the Messiah and that He was the Son of God. What causes it a refusal to believe in what is revealed to you in the Scriptures. Yes because he refused to believe as well.

Q3. (John 9:35-38) Why did Jesus go looking for the man he had healed? What was the healed man’s level of openness? His level of faith? His knowledge? What did he need at this point? What people do you know who are so ready that they just need some guidance in how to believe in Jesus? He did because He knew that the man was seeking answers for who healed him. It was completely open since he was kicked out of the synagogue by the Pharisees. He had some faith but not a lot. He had prior knowledge of the Scriptures but not much else. Verification of who Jesus was. They ask me who Jesus is and how to believe in Him.

Q2. (John 9:6). Why do you think Jesus healed in different ways? Laying on of hands, command, mud on eyes, fingers in ears, etc.? How much do you think was at his Father’s direction (5:19, 30; 12:49). Why is it important to seek God’s guidance in how we should minister to a person? I believe He healed in different ways because His father told Him how to heal people and which ones would accept His healing. Yes, that way we honor God and do what God wants.

Q1. (John 9:1-3) Is sin always the cause of sickness or affliction? What are some of the good results that come out of the sicknesses and afflictions of godly people? I don't believe like the apostolics that sin always causes of sin or affliction however in certain cases it is. God is glorified in it, People can pray for others in it and it causes us to show compassion as well.

Q6. (John 8:58) What does Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I am,” tell us about Jesus? How does this statement relate to John 1:1-5? This statement states that before Abraham was even created Jesus was already there. It states that Jesus is God incarnate and is equal with God. Also, it states that He was with God when the earth was formed.

Q5. (John 8:44) What does this verse teach us about the devil’s character? What does this tell us about people who don’t always tell the truth? If Jesus is “the Truth” (14:6), what is a habitual liar? This verse teaches us that the devil is nothing more than a liar and the father of them. It also teaches us that he is the ultimate deceiver and liar. That they don't know what the truth is and how to tell the truth. They are also from the devil. A habitual liar is someone who is of the devil and doesn't know the truth.

Q4. (John 8:34-36) How does sinning enslave a person? What is necessary to set a person free from bondage to sin? What part does Jesus’ “truth” (8:32) have in this? How does the “Son” set people free? If you find yourself trapped by habitual sin, how can you get free? It enslaves us because we are not serving the Lord but the devil by sinning and doing what he wants. The Matthew Henry Commentary states that Jesus states even though the Pharisees had civil liberties and their church membership; it was still possible to be in bondage. Especially when he states that whosoever commits sin is in bondage to sin. That should have told them that they were in bondage to sin. However, they were blinded by Satan himself to think that they were justified by the commandments. The only way to truly set free from the bondage of sin is through admitting you can do nothing and that you are a sinner and you need Jesus to redeem from your sins. It is through knowing the Bible that you learn what you must do. The Son meaning Jesus sets people free through his death on the cross. The only way to get out of habitual sin is turning to Jesus.

Q3. (John 8:31-32) What is the mark of a “real” disciple? What does it mean to “continue” in Jesus’ word? What truth sets us free? When this is quoted in a secular content, how does its meaning differ from its context here in John’s Gospel? According to Matthew Henry's Commentary, it states that the character of the true disciple of Christ. If you continue in My word, then are you, My disciples, indeed. They must be willing to continue to believe in His word and do what it says. What does it look like to continue in His word? It means to abide by it and adhere to it on every occasion without being partial and choose to not to forsake it to the end. The secular version is they choose what scriptures apply to them and nothing more. While in the Biblical sense people choose everything to read and absorb to apply to their lives.

Q2. (John 8:21-24) What does it mean to “die in your sins”? What is the consequence of this? How is it possible for Jesus’ enemies to be speaking with the Savior from sin without receiving forgiveness from him? They are so close, but so far! Do you know anyone like this? It means to be walking in complete darkness and not knowing Christ at all and not knowing what sins you have committed. The consequences of this are eternal separation from God forever. They didn't want to recognize their sins; they thought the law justified them. When in truth if you broke one of them you broke them all. Yes, quite a few people. People who are Catholics who say they keep the commandments but don't realize that is not how they get to heaven.

Q1. (John 8:12) In what sense is Jesus the Light of the World? What is Jesus’ promise concerning light for his followers? Exactly what does that mean for the way you live? Jesus enlightens us to what we have done that is sin and shows us in His Word how to repent of it and become one of His. He shows us the way to the Father and also the way to Heaven. Jesus promised He will be our light. That means we need to follow Him but it also means we need to submit ourselves to Him and do His will.

Q4. (John 8:10-11) Why didn’t Jesus condemn the lady? Was she guilty, do you think? Instead of condemnation, what did Jesus tell her to do? Why is repentance necessary for salvation? What happens to the gospel when we don’t emphasize repentance? He didn't condemn her because there was a lack of witnesses and so even though she was guilty the case collapsed with that lack of witnesses. I do not condemn you either. Go. From now on sin no more. Repentance is necessary for salvation because without it no one can be saved and be brought to a saving knowledge of who Jesus is. It becomes watered down.

Q3. (John 8:3-8) Why do you think Jesus wrote on the ground? Was the content of his writing important to the story? What effect did this have on the situation? I believe He wrote on the ground in order to make them wait for His response to questions they were asking Him. He already knew it was a trap or a setup. He intentionally was making them wait by writing on the ground. I don't believe the content was important. The effect was to slow down what was going down and caused the accusers to think over their actions when they were told that he who was without sin had to throw the 1st stone.

Q2. (John 8:3-8) Why did Jesus insist on unbiased, righteous witnesses casting the first stone? Why is verse 7 so often misused? Does Jesus require sinlessness of those called on to judge? What does he require? How does this compare with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1-5? The reason He said that is because the law stated that two witnesses had to be there for any stoning to stand and to be officially done. I believe it is misused because they misunderstand the true meaning of the verse and don't realize that there is more behind it than meets the eye. I believe he is saying those who are witnesses, not judges must be sinless. This lines up well with Matthew because we are not to judge or condemn the other person for their actions or morals for that is not our job.

Q1. (John 8:3-6) What was the trap Jesus’ enemies tried to spring on him with the woman taken in adultery? What might be the consequence if he upheld stoning her? What might be the consequence if he said not to stone her? They were trying to trap him into telling Him to stone her for adultery. They wanted Him to say something against the law of Moses with the woman who was caught in it. However, He knew it was a trap to began with since only the woman was brought before Him and not the man and the woman both. If he upholds it he would not be showing compassion to her at all and he would not be God's Son. If He didn't uphold it He would be breaking the law of the land.

Q4. (John 7:37-39) In Jesus' teaching on streams of living water from within, whom does he invite to drink? What does he promise to believers? How is this fulfilled at Pentecost rather than immediately after Jesus spoke it? To what degree has this been fulfilled in your life? In the teaching, He invites anyone to come and drink of the water. He promises that once they drink the water that they will no longer thirst and have eternal life. It is fulfilled at Pentecost because Jesus returns to His Father. Through that, He is able to let the Holy Spirit come down and indwell the believers at Pentecost. It was fulfilled in my life by my baptism and rededication of my life to Jesus and the Holy Spirit working in and through me to this day.

Q3. (John 7:17) Can we truly know God’s will if we’re not really willing to obey the truth we know? Why not? I don't believe we can know God's will without being willing to obey the truth of God's Word. We would be only doing only our will and not His. We won't be able to hear His voice and know what He wants for us to do at all.

2. (John 7:15-17) How were rabbis trained in Jesus' day? How was Jesus trained? How were his disciples trained? What is the value of formal theological training? What is the value of learning to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit? The rabbis were trained in the Torah and the tradition of their elders. Jesus was taught in the same manner. Jesus taught the disciples. I believe that it is invaluable. It is something no one should go without. However, the value of learning to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit is the same as well.

Q1. (John 7:1-5) Why did Jesus stay in Galilee and avoid Jerusalem? What is the balance between taking precautions to protect yourself and trusting yourself into God's care? The Jews were plotting to kill Him and wanted him dead. He knew that His time on earth was not up yet. We need to put up guard rails or areas of protections in certain areas to keep from sinning that way we know when we are in trouble and are going to fall. God said that in this world we will have trouble and trials. He will give us the wisdom to help us through those trials and temptations as well. However, we need to be willing to trust Him and love Him unconditionally.

Q6. (John 6:61-66) What was the difference between the Twelve and the crowd of “disciples” that turned away from Jesus? What is the mark of true disciples according to John 8:31-32? The crowd did not follow Him out of genuine love for Him or appreciation for who He was. While the disciples knew who He was and truly loved Him. A disciple is committed to the Lord and the Word of the Lord and they abide in it. They know the truth and it sets them free.

Q5. (John 6:53-59) What is “eating the Bread of Life” a metaphor of? What is “eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood” a metaphor of? How are these metaphors similar to each other? Why do you think Jesus used such a vivid and repugnant metaphor? Both of these are a metaphor of believing in Jesus Himself and having eternal life afterward. This means that anyone who believes must be willing to do what the will of the Lord no matter what the Lord asks of them. I believe He used it to weed out the true believers from the false ones who were just looking for miracles and nothing more.

Q4. (John 6:35-51) What does the metaphor of “eating the Bread of Life” mean in practical terms? To extend the same metaphor, what do you think might be the difference between nibbling the Bread of Life rather than actually making a meal of it? These verses speak of the spiritual hunger that all of us feel when we first meet the Lord and realize we need Him. The hunger can only be filled by the Lord's word daily. Without eating and feasting on the Bread of Life Itself we are unable to fill the hole inside of ourselves at all. The Lord is the Living Bread of Life and that means He gives us eternal life through his death. The ones who choose to eat of the bread of Christ will live eternally. Nibbling would be you just read a verse in the Bible and read your devotions and go your way and do nothing more. While making a feast of it would be reading Scripture, and memorizing it and thinking upon it and praying it and changed from inside out.

Q3. (John 6:37, 44, 65) What is the significance of Jesus’ teaching that only the ones the Father “draws” to him can come to him? In what way does this sound like predestination? How does the Holy Spirit prepare people to put their faith in Christ? The significance of His teaching in this passage is that the Lord chooses certain ones to be saved however it is our choice to be saved and accept that salvation from Christ. We have been given free will at this point to either reject or accept Christ. The Lord only saves those who are willing to be saved not those who are not willing to be saved. We are utterly hopeless and helpless in ourselves. We don't even have any strength to come to the Lord on our own. The Father does the work first in the heart and life of the believer to bring them to Christ. The power to come to Jesus can only be given through the Father Himself. It sounds like predestination because we are chosen from the beginning to be saved and how we are to be saved. The Holy Spirit works through the conviction of sin and need of Savior.

Q2. (John 6:28-29) What kind of “works” do people sometimes pursue to please God? According to Jesus, what is the most important “work” that God requires of us? I believe they pursue works of legalism, false works or good works just to look good in front of others. The most important work we can do is receive Jesus into our lives and believe He is our Savior and Lord.

Q1. (John 6:26-27) Why were some of these “believers” following Jesus? What were their selfish motives? For what motives do true disciples seek Jesus? These believers were following Jesus to be filled with physical food and so they could stop working for that physical food and Jesus tells them working for it isn't what matters; working for the spiritual food is. Where Jesus gives eternal life and you have a seal of approval. Their selfish motives were wanting only their physical needs met not their spiritual ones met. True believers will hear and do the work of God and but also obey God.

Q5. (John 6:14) How does the people’s desire to make him king relate to the third temptation Jesus met in the wilderness (Luke 4:9)? What would have happened to God’s plan of redemption if Jesus hadn’t retreated to the hills on this occasion? Why must we resist giving in to people’s plans for our lives? The people's desire to make him king related to His third temptation because Satan had him on the pinnacle and told him jump off if he was the Son of God. Only difference is they wanted Him to take care of the cares of the world. It wasn't in God's plans for Him to do it and be king of the world at that time. It would have stopped his ministry prematurely had he not retreated to the hills. Because people can pull us into different directions than the ones God wants us in.