Dove81

Q4. (Hebrews 11:11). Which part of faith is related to (1) the depth of Abraham's confidence in God? Abrahams trust in God though he never saw him. Which part of faith is related to (2) the real existence and power of such a God? Abraham having never seen all that God promised him believed that he would be the father of many nations. How would you describe a faith that lacks either element? Faith without believing that God is real and will reward those who diligently seek after him is not faith. It’s fake. You can’t just believe in one element and not both. Based on verse 11 (not on verses 1-2), formulate in your own words a definition of faith. Believing and trusting in God’s word no matter what the circumstances look like. Knowing that he’s able to keep me from falling and that he can handle anything that comes into my life, it never takes him by surprise and he has a plan for it all. Though he suffered on the cross he loves me with an ever lasting love that he also while i suffer will never leave me but go through it with me and bless me with his grace and mercy during the trials and tribulations.

Q3. Every religion has its own kind of faith. What is the content of the Judeo-Christian type of faith that sets it apart from any other? Judeo-Christian faith believes that God came to earth in the form of man Jesus. He was perfect and without sin, he died on the cross taking on all of mankind’s sins, was resurrected in 3 days and is seated at the right hand of God in heaven. Jesus fulfilled the law, something we could do. We trust in God and not the works of our own hands. What is the basis of Noah's faith (11:7)? Noah was moved with fear, he trusted God though he hadn’t seen or heard of what was coming to the earth. What is the basis of our faith? Trusting what God has said will come to pass in our life while we are in the land of the living. Reading how through out the bible God never lied he did all he said he would do. How does faith grow (see Romans 10:17)? Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God.

Q2. (Hebrews 11:6) The first element of faith is belief in God's existence. Why is the second element just as essential to true faith? The second element is just as essential because with true faith you’ll have a desire to have intimacy with God. To know him for yourself which will cause you to seek him and what to know more of his character traits. What does it mean to "seek" God? To yearn to know more of him about him. To study his word to have an intimate relationship with him. What difference does it make whether or not you believe God will reward seekers? If you don't believe then how do you believe he will give you eternal life? How can you believe he is real if you cant believe he will reward those who diligently seek him.

Using Hebrews 11:1-3 as your source, how would you put in your own words what faith is and does? For me faith is believing, what is unknown or seen about God and what he has said in his word. Believing the Holy Spirit will draw us closer as we grow in Gods word and our relationship with him. I don’t believe one can have more faith than the other, I believe as it’s said in Romans 12:3 that God has given every man the measure of faith. We all have the same measure it’s our choice how and when we use it. I can have faith in healing and someone else might not believe in that same healing. I don’t think they don’t have faith I think they just haven’t grown in their relationship with God that they can believe he will heal them. Faith keeps us going, knowing that God is faithful and fulfills his plans and promises.

Hebrews 10:35-36) Why is perseverance in faith hard sometimes? I believe perseverance in faith is hard because of the trials and tribulations we go through in life. The bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. I believe we start off strong in our faith and then when we don’t see things we’ve been believing for come to pass or our trials don’t end the way we had planned, that can cause some to loose faith or to think God has forgotten them. It can be hard for our human minds to continue to keep pushing forward in faith when you’re constantly hit with one thing after another. Why is perseverance so important? It’s important because Jesus has already won the battle for us when he died on the cross. We must remember that we win! Romans 5:3-4 says that we can count it all joy when we face trials and tribulations because we develop endurance and endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. How is Christian fellowship important in perseverance? (3:12-14) When we surround ourselves amongst other believers they can pray for us as well as encourage us which will strengthen us to get through what we are facing. What can we do to encourage other Christians in this sometimes difficult journey? Pray with them and for them, be there for them when they need us.

(Hebrews 10:26-31). (In your discussion, please resist the temptation to slam another Christian who might understand the security of the believer differently from you!)What kind of sin is expressed by the phrase, "deliberately keep on sinning" (10:26)? This is a hard one for me. I have been taught that sin is sin, if you know the truth and decide to continue sinning (deliberately) knowing that it is wrong is worse than the person who has never learned of God and sins. At some point God will turn you over to your own desires, you’ll have a reprobate mindset (Romans 1:28-29). Yet I do realize that our flesh is sin and we all make mistakes (sin), thanks to God’s grace and forgiveness we have the opportunity to forgiveness with a repentant heart. That person has a feeling of conviction because they know what they did was wrong and they feel bad about it. That is the holy spirit in them thats grieving and this feeling will cause a person to think twice before they do this sin again, I believe eventually God changes our hearts to no longer desire the things that aren’t of him. Thats when are minds are renewed and that new creature has taken over and the old man has died. Yes I know we will slip up from time to time because none of us are perfect . Is this talking about sins related to the weakness of our flesh or apostasy? Apostasy is to know of God and to turn completely away from him. Yet I don’t see how one can remain weak in the flesh all the time, because God is the one who gives us strength and gives us a way out of temptation. At what point do we trust in God and call on him to help us fight whatever weaknesses we have? What elements in 10:29 contribute to your understanding that this is indeed flagrant apostasy, not garden-variety sin? I gather that it is about apostasy and not garden variety sins.

Q2. According to Hebrews 3:13 and 10:24-25, what should be a prime motive for meeting together with other Christians? For us to draw near to God, to fellowship with like minded people and to grow in our faith. What is our usual motivation? To motivate other believers, to encourage and strengthen one another. Why do Christians so often get out of the habit of attending church or a small group? Selfishness and to meet our own needs and desires. Some stop because they feel they have been hurt by someone in the church. How can we help these individuals? Pray for them and reach out to them tomsee if they are ok and why they haven’t attended service.

Q1. (Hebrews 10:19-21) How did the veil of the Tabernacle function in Old Testament worship? The vail was to separate us from God’s holiest place, it separated us from God and only the priest could enter once a year. What is the significance of the veil being ripped in two at Jesus' crucifixion? To show that no longer will there be a separation between man and God. Now we can freely come to him on our on for repentance. Why is our access to God called a "new and living way"? In the past we had to go through the priest to get to God. Now that our high priest Jesus came and made atonement for our sins, we can now approach the throne of God with boldness and confidence. In what sense is it new? All before it was never an option, if one went behind the vail that wasn't chosen to be priest they would die. Now we can go before God whenever and wherever we are and with confidence knowing that he will hear our prayers. In what sense is it living? Id say because there is no more condemnation, we are free to worship God and ask for forgiveness and anyhing we need without having to go to the priest and have him sacrifice an animal for us.

Q4. (Hebrews 10:4) Why can't the blood of bulls and goats actually take away sin? The sacrificing of animals could never take away our sins which is why it had to be done every year. Where as Jesus came and took on all our sins, past, present and future once and for all. With his sacrifice we have been given a clean heart and renewed mind so we no longer desire the things we used to do. What happened then to the sins the Old Testament saints thought were atoned for under the Old Covenant? God accepted their sacrifices and made atonement for their sins. In Romans 3:25-26 it talks about how God through his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished, because he knew Christ as a sacrifice would atone by the shedding of his blood all sins.

Q2. (Hebrews 9:15). Read also 1 Timothy 2:5. In what sense does Jesus serve as a mediator? Before Jesus sacrificed his life for our sins we couldn’t come in the presence of God. Only the priest could go into the Holy of Holies or into the tabernacle to sacrifice animals for our sins. When Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins once and for all he made it so that we could come into the presence of God. He brought us and God together and he now dwells in us, someone when God see’s us he see’s his son Jesus in us. In what sense is Jesus a ransom from sin? Jesus giving his life on the cross was a ransom for our lives. In 1 Corinthians 6:20 it says- For God bought you with a high price. That price was Jesus life that he played down for us.

Q1. (Hebrews 9:14) In what way does Christ's sacrifice of himself cleanse the conscience in a way that the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant could not? Christ’s sacrifice of himself was able to cleanse our conscience because he offered himself unblemished to God to cleanse our conscious of death. He didn’t need to atone for his own sin every year like the priest did under the old covenant. The shedding of his blood sanctified us because he is ceremonially clean forever. The animals sacrificed under the Old Covenant couldn’t stand before God because they where ceremonially unclean.

Q5. (Hebrews 9:11-12) What does "redemption" mean? Redemption means the act of saving, Jesus saved us all when he died in the cross for our sins. We were bought with a price, the blood that Jesus shed for us. Which is why God is so invested in us having a personal relationship with him. What were we redeemed from? Jesus laying his life down on the cross redeemed us of our sins and defeated death. What was the price of our redemption? Jesus life, him shedding his blood. How long does our redemption last? Our redemption last forever!

Q4. (Hebrews 9:9) Why were external sacrificial regulations unable to cleanse or perfect the conscience? External sacrificial regulations didn’t have the ability to cleanse our conscience. It would only help with the outer man, the cleansing, ceremonial washing and eating a drinking didn’t change anything on the inside. The guilt that often comes along with sin. How does a guilty conscience keep us from intimacy with God? A guilty conscience will have you thinking you’re not good enough or worthy enough for God to forgive you. Which will cause you to be further away from your relationship with God and which can lead to more sin. What is necessary for us to be able to come "boldly" (4:16)? We must come boldly before the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Q3. (Hebrews 9:7) Did the Old Covenant provide forgiveness for intentional, active, maintained rebellion against God? No the old covenant only provided forgiveness for unintentional sins. Does the New Covenant provide this forgiveness? Yes, when Jesus died on the cross we were forgiven for all our ins. Intentional and unintentional sins, his sacrifice has provided us with forgive forgiveness. What is required for forgiveness to be granted? By faith and repentance we are granted forgiveness from God.

Q2. (Hebrews 8:7-13) Why did the Old Covenant fail? The old covenant failed because of our sinful nature it was impossible for us to keep it. What are the primary promises of the New Covenant as prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34? The primary promises of the New Covenant are per Jeremiah 31:31-34 are as follows- God will put his law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor or say know the LORD because we will all know him. From the least to the greatest God will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more.