Paul H

Q3. (Ephesians 1:11-12) According to verses 11 and 12, what is God's purpose for our lives? What do we need to do to fulfill this purpose? The purpose of our lives is to praise God, and therefore everything that we do and the way that we are should be to that end so that the World can see God reflected in us. How does this purpose relate to Matthew 5:13-16? We have a purpose, (to praise God) as salt has a purpose (to season food) and light has a purpose (to provide light in darkness). We are His salt, His light. However, salt is no use if it has lost its taste and light is no use if it is hidden.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:9-10) What is the significance that all things will be brought under one head -- Christ himself? How does this relate to the Creator? What does it say about unity? To me, this is about God bringing everything back to where it belongs and where it began, under God, through Christ. It si about everything in heaven and on Earth being united under one god, one rule, who is the creator. Extra Credit: How does this verse relate to 1 Corinthians 15:24-28? This passage talks more about how Christ will first destroy all other dominion and authority and will defeat all of His enemies, the last being death, and will conclude with all of His enemies at His feet. The power over all creation will then be united under one God who is God the Father, with Christ at its head but under God the Father. I have no idea what this will actually look like in practice, but it is where the whole of creation has been destined by God to go from before the beginning of time. Essentially therefore, this passage is saying the same as the passage we are studying in Ephesians but with more detail.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:7) In what sense have you been "redeemed" from slavery? I have been bought out of my slavery to sin. I was on a sort of treadmill of sin. I knew it was bad, I knew it was unfulfilling, but I couldn't get off that treadmill on my own. Someone had to intervene and pay to release me. That is what Christ did. What do you think your life up to now would have been like if you hadn't been redeemed? Not what it would have been like, what was it like, and I can remember it oh too well. It was unfulfilling, meaningless and hopeless. I was forever striving to reach new goals acquire new things and new experiences only to find each as unsatisfying as everything which had gone before. It was a hopeless and deeply dissatisfying existence.... What would your future be like without redemption, do you think? ....and it would have continued as such until death which would have been the "icing on the cake" of this life were it not for Christ coming in and revolutionising everything!!!

Q4. (Ephesians 1:5-6) Why is adoption a particularly apt illustration of God's relationship to us? Why is the concept of adoption encouraging to us? In adoption, the adopting parent chooses the child out of their love for that child rather than the child, as a particular individual, coming into being through an accident of birth and not as a result of any choice on the part of anyone. So, God chose me from the beginning of time to adopt me as a co-heir with His own Son Jesus. That is a pretty encouraging thought!

Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? It means to belong to God In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? Our sins have been completely forgiven as though they had never happened and therefore we can stand blameless before God as a result of the sacrifice of Christ.

Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? What is comforting? It is only "scary" if it is thought of in human terms. It is only scary if we think that it means that we have no choice and that God has marked us out for damnation. In fact, this view is wrong. We do have a choice, the choice is entirely ours. It is just that God, who is eternal, already knows what our choice will be. He does not make that choice, we do, but He knew from before the beginning of time what that choice would be. I know what my choice is and with the help of the Holy Spirit that choice will never change. So yes, God also knows what my choice is, and knew it before I even existed, but His knowledge is not the cause of my choice and my choice is salvation through Jesus Christ. Therein lies the comfort! Why does Paul bring up predestination? Because Paul sees it as a comfort and a strength for the reasons set out above. Interestingly, it is clear from what Paul says here and elsewhere that Paul considers this concept the most natural thing in the world. Of course God knows what our choice will be, but that is not a problem, in fact quite the reverse. It is something from which we should take strength Why do you think he praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians? Because the Epheseans were largely made up of Gentiles, and Paul wanted to strengthen them in their faith and to emphasise that God knew them and knew that they as Gentiles would be saved even before Christ, in fact from the beginning of tme.

Q1. (Ephesians 1:3) What does it mean to you to be "in Christ" -- incorporated into Christ? What are the implications of this for your life? I have to say that my view on a reading of the first half of this chapter, albeit in the English NRSV and not having any knowledge of Greek, is that almost all of the references to "in Christ" with the exception of verse 10 make more sense if they are read as instrumental rather than local. It seems to be talking about things being achieved through Christ rather than talking about an incorporation into Christ. Now that it is not to say that we are not being incorporated into Christ, and He into us as we become more like Christ. However, my take on these verses in the first chapter of Ephesians is that Paul is talking about what God has done and is doing through Christ.

Q4. (Romans 8:35-36) What kinds of perils were the early Roman Christians likely exposed to? The early Roman christians were, to different degrees of intensity at different times, persecuted mercilessly. They were discriminated against, tortured and executed on a regular basis solely on account of their faith. What kinds of perils are Christians exposed to today? Christians today in some places face the same dangers as those faced by the early Roman Christians. Here in the UK, we do not face these dangers and generally the worst that we face is people sneering at us for what we believe and to an extent discrimination because we don't fit in the the crowd. How does this passage reassure us? In what sense do we Christians "overwhelmingly conquer" (NASB) despite the obstacles we face? No matter what persecutions we face, God's love for us is unwavering. Ultimately, we will be victors just as Polycarp of Smyrna was the victor in 155AD. Certainly Polycarp's persecutors ended his life here on earth, but what a hollow victory that was for them against the announcement "Polycarp has confessed he is a christian" and what a victory for Polycarp in the presence of God.

Q3. (Romans 8:31-32) What is the significance of the statement: "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Nothing and no one, not even Satan, can stand against God. If God is on our side, nothing and no one can prevail against us. Who might our enemies be? The World, Satan, our old selves. there are many, but God will defeat them all if we allow Him. What is the evidence presented that God is for us? He was prepared to sacrifice His own son, to give Him up to pain, suffering and torture which He suffered because He is for us. How does this statement make you feel? How does it affect hope?Amazed and humble. It fills me with hope for my future in God and confident that God will never let me down as one of His chosen sons. How does it allow you to act? What might: "...graciously give us all things" refer to? He has given us the ultimate gift of eternal salvation, not because we deserve it or as a result of anything we have done, but out of His own grace.

Q2. (Romans 8:29) What does it mean to "be conformed to the likeness of his Son"? It means to become like Jesus in the way that close brothers and sisters can be seen to be alike. In practical terms, what does that involve in our lives? It involves us becoming more like Christ as we progress through our lives. In practical terms, this means spending more time with Christ in prayer, worship and study of the Bible in the same way as family members become more alike the more time they spend together. Why does Paul support this statement with ideas of our destiny? Because it is where we are heading. Ultimately we will be conformed to the image of Christ, which was always God's intention for us. Why does he support this with ideas of brotherhood with Jesus? As I mention in my answer to the 1st and 2nd questions, our relationship with Christ should be one of a close brother or sister growing closer the more time we spend together.

Q1. (Romans 8:28) What is the actual promise contained in verse 28? What does this promise mean? Put it in your own words. God sees the big picture in our lives, and whatever else is happening at a particular point in time, God has a plan. Within that plan God will ensure that everything will come together for good for those who love Him and who are responsive to His will. What are the two qualifications to the recipients of this promise? The 2 qualifications are that the recipients of this promise must love God and

Q5. (Romans 8:18-25) In what sense do we expect to experience God's glory when Christ comes? How will the suffering creation experience God's glory? We, and with us creation will experience God's glory in a very real way. The way of things now will cease to exist and we, and with us the whole of creation will be restored to how God originally created us in His own image. How will our mortal bodies experience God's glory? In what way will our spirits experience God's glory? We will be changed. Our bodies will no longer be mortal and we will be transformed into the image in which God originally created us. Frankly, I don't know what that will look or feel like, but we will be filled with God's glory, and become a part of God's glory. If that is pie in the sky, then fine, please reserve a slice of that pie for me!!

Q4. (Romans 8:24-25) What are the characteristics of a person who has lost hope? How does this person typically conduct his life? A person who has lost hope has no real joy in or meaning to their life. Typically such a person will oscillate between the pits of despair and the seeking out of pleasure after pleasure to try to mask the real emptiness which is their life. I know that this is true, because I have been there but thank God have been rescued from this pit. How does this differ from a person who holds an eager expectation of a better future? What is the "Christian hope"? How should it motivate us and affect our lives now? Christians have more than just hope, we have a certain knowledge that we will see and experience perfection in the presence of God. We have this knowledge because we believe in the Word of God and having believed, we see ourselves progressing towards it during our time here on Earth being led by the Holy Spirit. That knowledge is so profound that it has to be the motivating force behind everything we do and are.

Q3. (Romans 8:26-27) How does the Holy Spirit act as a Helper or Mediator or Intercessor in verses 26-27? By praying with us and through us to God and in so doing expressing for us what we cannot understand, see or articulate. What similarities do you see between the Holy Spirit's ministry here with Jesus' teaching of the Spirit's ministry as Counselor/Comforter/Paraclete in John 14:16 and 15:26)? Jesus describes the Spirit as a counselor or helper/ mediator. This is exactly the role which Paul describes the spirit as fulfilling in Romans 8. Why do you think we tend to take the Holy Spirit for granted or fail to understand His ministry to and through us? The Spirit is in us and with us always. Every minute of every day. He is guiding us constantly. This makes it very easy for us to imagine that we are doing things ourselves. In fact it is the Spirit at work within us, but because He is always at work, we take it for granted.

Q2. (Romans 8:17-22) In what ways was suffering Jesus' lot in life? Jesus suffered in many ways. First, He suffered by giving up what He was and becoming a man. Then as a man he continued to suffer, and ultimately suffered the ultimate pain and humiliation of death by crucifixion. Why do we suffer? We share in Christ

Q1. In Romans 8:14-21, 28, how many times is the idea of being sons and daughters of God alluded to? I counted 6 What are the promises made to these sons and daughters? What do we learn about our future and our role in the future of all creation? That we are heirs of God and therefore co-heirs with Christ. And that as such we will be liberated from our existing decayed condition and restored to our intended glory in Gods image, along with all creation. This is our future.

Q5. (Romans 8:13-14) What does it mean to "mortify" or "put to death" the deeds of the body by the Spirit? It means to bring a total cessation to sin, which we are only able to do with the guidance and leadership of the Spirit. What would it look like to watch a person do this? It is a combination of our own self discipline and the guidance of the Spirit. Of course, to defeat sin involves an element of determination to defeat it on our own part. This is where the self discipline comes in. However, it would be impossible for us to achieve on our own, and that is where the Spirit comes in. What does it mean to be "led" by the Spirit? What does this look like in actual practice? How do "putting to death" and being "led" by the Spirit fit together? How much of this is the Spirit and how much is us It involves giving ourselves over completely to Christ and allowing Him to take control. As we develop as Christians, this becomes easier as we learn, through experience, to hear what God is saying to us, and to trust in what He is telling us. As to how much is the Spirit and how much is us in this process, without the Spirit, it would be impossible for us to achieve. However, we have to be willing to be led.

Q4. (Romans 8:12) Do we have to sin? Are we compelled to sin? Is it possible to live for two hours of wakefulness without sinning? Four hours? One day? Two days? Where do we Christians get such a defeatist attitude towards sin? From Scripture? Wow, this study is turning into a real revelation for me. This is amazing stuff (and I have to say, when I first read this whole passage, I thought what on earth does that mean!!) The short answer to this question is an emphatic NO. We are not compelled to sin. Our flesh has a habit of sinning, but with the spirit dwelling in us, we do not have to sin. Where do we get our defeatist attitude from? Satan, but Christ has already won the victory over Satan and sharing in that victory is ours for the taking!

Q3. (Romans 8:9) Is it possible to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit residing in us? No! The Spirit dwells within us from the moment that we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our Lord. There are no half measures with this in-dwelling. He is there or He is not, and what Paul tells us is that if we are in Christ, then the Spirit is within us. What is the difference (if any) between the indwelling of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit? How do we remain "full" of the Spirit? When the Spirit comes to dwell within us when we become Christians, that isn't the end of the matter. A battle still goes on within us between the old us in the flesh and the new us in the Spirit. This battle is never completely won, as Paul makes clear, but the key is to keep the Spirit dominant or in overall control. I liked the analogy given by Elwood on the first page of postings of it being the difference between inviting someone into your house as a guest and handing over ownership to them. We need to hand over ownership. How to achieve this comes back to what so many questions like this come back to. Making Jesus Christ the centre of our lives, of our whole being and staying close to Him through regular communication (prayer), studying the Bible and worship.

Q2. (Romans 8:5-6) Exactly what does it mean to set your mind on the things of the Spirit? How do you do this? It means to focus my life entirely on the things which are pleasing to God and which glorify God. We know what is pleasing to God partly by reading the Bible, which is why it is critical to read it carefully and often, and partly by the guidance of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us whose influence should grow within us as we grow as Christians. How can you recognize when the things you're setting your mind on relate to your sinful nature? God is with me always. He is constantly walking right next to me. If the answer to the question would I be happy doing or saying something with God standing right next to me whilst I do it is no, then that is a sure fire sign that my mind is set on the flesh. I was really struck by the sentence in Pastor Ralph's paper that "We must be authentic Christians in their presence, rather than chameleons who blend into the prevailing environment and its values." How easy it is to be a chameleon, but we cannot do it and walk in the Spirit. How much of this is deliberate? How much is habit? What part does the Holy Spirit have it this? Or is this primarily right living by force of will? I think that it is something deliberate which becomes a habit with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. For sure, it is not something which we can do on our own. Just one follow on thought having read other contributions. I think that habit is not a very good word to describe how this should work. It is perhaps better described, as other contributors have described it, as a lifestyle or a mindset.

Q1. (Romans 8:3-4) Why can't obedience to the law save us? What is the weak link? What then does it take to save us? The law cannot save us because of our own weakness. We might want to follow the law but in the flesh, we are simply incapable of doing so and therefore without Jesus would be doomed. What it took to save us was the sacrifice made by Jesus and our believing and putting all our trust in Him, and by so doing being united with or included in Christ. It is this which saves us and this alone.

Q5. (Romans 7:14-25) Christians disagree about who is the "I" in Romans 7. Is Paul referring to himself or others? What is your opinion? (We won't all agree here, but we'll learn what the issues are by taking and arguing for a position -- lovingly). I think that Paul is talking here as a work in progress, like all Christians. Throughout our lives, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are striving to be more like Christ and less like ourselves, that is less like our old sinful man. We aspire to be more like Christ as we follow the Christian path, but we cannot do this ourselves because of the inherent weakness of our flesh and to that extent are constantly a work in progress. We frequently fail and fall back into the trap of our old sinful selves. Paul was no different, and his frustration at this comes out very clearly in this passage which I can really relate to. I therefore think that he is talking about himself, but is making the point to serve as a lesson for the Romans to whom the letter is addressed and to all of us reading the letter now.

Q4. (Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 15:18-20; Romans 7:24) What is the doctrine of "total depravity"? Put it in your own words. Does it mean that none of God's original goodness shows through? Then what does it mean? It means that man is now by nature and by habit corrupted and that although there remains a vestige of goodness of itself that is not sufficient for the corruption to be overcome. The corruption can only be overcome through Christ working in us. Its a bit like a rotten fruit. There might be a few good bits left in it, but you wouldn't want to take a bite out of it and barring a miracle, the fruit is going to rot. Why does modern man tend to believe that man is basically good? How does this differ from what the Bible teaches? I am not sure that this is confined to modern man, but you do hear it a lot now. "I'm good, I've never done anyone any harm or done anything really bad. I'm OK, I don't need God to help me." In my experience, this is very common, but is very deluded. Man naturally likes to think of himself as being self reliant and to be told that we simply cannot save ourselves is not what we want to hear. The Bible teaches us that we are corrupt and that the only way to stem that tide of corruption which ultimately, like the rotting fruit will lead to death, is through Christ.

Q3. (Romans 7:12; 8:3) What does the law do well? What does it do poorly? Why is the law (knowing right and wrong) powerless to save us? What is the problem here? The law shows up the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of man, but of itself is powerless to do anything about that sin either by ensuring that man does not sin (in fact Paul says that it has the opposite effect) or by saving man from the consequences of that sin. Only through Christ are we able to conquer sin and therefore be saved from its ultimate consequences.

Q2. (Romans 7:7-8) The law reveals sin for what it is. Why wouldn't we be better off just not knowing that we should not covet, for example? Because sin is separate from the law. Sin still exists outside of the law and if we sin, we cannot be righteous and reconciled to God. Why does the flesh respond to being told "Do not covet" by coveting all the more? I think that this comes back to man's seemingly natural propensity to sin. It is our default setting, and only through Jesus can we begin, through God's grace, to overcome that default setting to a setting of righteousness.