Donna K

No, knowing that I might inheret money in the near future would not affect my life. Money has no great value for me. Having nearly died twice, I know that life is short and I may not be alive several years from now. I have learned to say as Paul said that I have learned to be content with or without it. My greatest treasure, is the pearl of great price, my savior Christ Jesus. No amount of money could ever compete or win and replace what I have in Christ. However, should God decide that I live and inheret the money, I would ask him what he wants me to do with it. We should be able to share all things with each other. After all, thats the way its going to be later so we might as well start to practice this concept now. I would really like to see more of this with other believers.

We Christians have to joy of looking forward one day being with Christ and seeing him face to face. We also have hope that we will see so many other believers in heaven with Christ. Imagine for a moment, all of us being there singing praises to God in one massive choir, along with all the angels. An incredible thought! We have the hope of eternal life, of death having been destroyed and of no more sorrow or pain. These hopes should help us to grow in the likeness of Christ, and to work inside and outside of the church while there is still time in our lives to do so. We will choose to emmulate Christ, to carefully decide what do to with each moment of each day, just for him. For the non-believer, there is no hope except in this world. Its temporary, unpredictable. Grab what you can now, because soon it won't exist any more. LIve while you're young, because soon you will be old and die. But we have eternity with Christ.

Q1. In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? A. I have been redeemed in the sense that God has taken all my sins and has blotted them out so he does not remember them anymore. I no longer have to worry about the things I did in my past that were wrong. In addition, every time I do something wrong I simply can go to God and ask him to forgive me for them. He then erases them so the board is wiped clean every time. 2. What do you think your life up to now would have been like, if you hadn't been redeemed? I know that my life would still be in bondage to the guilt of past and present sins. I would not have a life that has eternal purpose, and direction. Before I became a Christian I believed that there was no meaning or purpose; that everything that happens is random. In addition to this, I would not have been able to quite smoking nor would I have been able to face my own mortality, putting my trust and confidence in God, especially since I have asthma and have nearly died twice from asthma attacks. But when I was in critical condition twice, not knowing if I would live or die, I was able to accept the situation and put my complete trust in God. "If you want me to live God, then let me live, but if you want to die to be with you, then let me die" Amen! 3. What would your future be like without redemption? I would have no future. I would be eternally separated from God.

To me to be holy means to be separated from the world and to live a life of complete dedication to God. To be blameless means that God imputes his righteousness upon me, and sees me as an individual who has never sinned.

Q2. I don't think predestination is scary. It brings me confort to know that God knows everything and has the ability to work within such a framework. I believe Paul addressed the subject of predestination in Ephesians to help them and to help us today to understand that we are not an accident, but part of God's plan which was determined before the world was formed.

Q1. What does it mean to you to be "in Christ". What are the implications of this for your life? A: For me, to be "in Christ" is be have a new eternal union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a union that began when I accepted Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Prior to His crucifixion Jesus prayed to His Father and in His prayer gave an illustration of this special union. Jesus said in John 17:19-26: "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that you sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." This union that I have with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit comprises of: 1) God's truth, 2) A family of believers eternally joined together with each other and God (eternal life), 3) Imputed glory, 4) Imputed perfection, 5) Knowledge of the true eternal God 6) Eternal love for God and each other.

Q1. What does it mean to you to be "in Christ". What are the implications of this for your life? A: For me, to be "in Christ" is be have a new eternal union with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is a union that began when I accepted Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Prior to His crucifixion Jesus prayed to His Father and in His prayer gave an illustration of this special union. Jesus said in John 17:19-26: "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that you sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." This union that I have with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit comprises of: 1) God's truth, 2) A family of believers eternally joined together with each other and God, 3) Imputed glory, 4) Imputed perfection, 5) Knowledge of the true eternal God 6) Eternal love for God and each other. The implications of this for my life are: 1) God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will always be with me, and I with them. 2) I have a new family which is comprised of many people. 3) I am in this lifetime being made more into the likeness of God, 4) I have been given the ability to continue to learn and understand more about God and to talk to Him, 5) I am developing the kind of love that is like God's love: unconditional, sacrificial, eternal etc.

Hi! My name is Donna and I currently live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am a new Christian and I decided to enroll in this free online bible study so that I can learn more about Christ. I am hoping that all of you will be able to help me with this goal. I am looking forward to some terrific discussions. Thanks, Donna.