cingraham

Q4. (2 Peter 2:20-22) If open sin is so spiritually dangerous, why have we churches stopped talking about it so much? The complacency of churches today reminds me of the Israelites in the book of Judges. The nation would fall into sin, God would provide salvation through a righteous Judge, he nation would be satisfied, then fall into sin once again. The cycle happened over and over again! The same thing happens in churches today. We ignore sin, churches/individuals fall into sin, they seek forgiveness, then fall into sin again. Churches ignore sin because it's easy! Talking about sin is not "politically correct" and we are often too worried about offending others.

Q3. (2 Peter 2:19) In what way can flagrant, defiant sin enslave a person? Is there any way out of these sins? If so, what is the path? How can we truly love the sinner and hate the sin? How can we steer clear of a quick judgmental attitude toward those who sin? Slavery is a defining characteristic of sin! Either we are slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness (Ro 6:15-23). Righteousness is the way to true freedom, "It is for freedom that Christ set us free" (Gal 5:1). Sin is always a labyrinth--one sin leads to another and soon the "sinner" will be lost and blinded because of the sin that separates him or her from the truth. This truth the sinner is separated from is the very thing that can lead him back toward righteousness. By clinging to any thread of truth, a way can be found to escape from even the deepest sin. We "can't" love the SINner and hate the sin. If God is in us--the only true source of love--we can't even be near sin. But, in a Christlike way, we can look past the sin and love the person who desperately needs the truth. This is what we will be drawn to! A Christlike Christian is a "truth-giver" and will share truth out of the abundance he or she has been given be God Himself. We can resist judging others by looking at ourselves truthfully! Apart from God, we are weak, frail and lost in sin. We must cultivate compassionate eyes rather than judging eyes.

Later in the same chapter, Paul states: "All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who wins sexually sins against his own body...your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...honor God with your body" (vv. 18-20). God and sin cannot dwell in the same place. Since sexual sin is sin "against your own body," and "your body is a temple of the HS" the two cannot coesixt! Why do people commit sexual sin? --Why does one commit ANY sin? It is because he or she seeks/desires to gratify himself or herself. Every sin can be boiled down to this one fact: all sin is a result of placing oneself above God. Every sin, not just sexual sin, is incompatible with salvation. But the truth is amazing: Christ lived a life "incompatible" with sin itself. By His righteousness we can attain righteousness to satisfy God's standard. Forgiveness and grace overcome any sin. The incredible truth that Christians have been forgiven should draw them toward God and away from sin. However, we are all forgetful. We fall into sin so easily when we take our eyes off Christ. Part of the reason sexual sin is so prevalent today is that our eyes are drawn so easily to the immorality all around us. Our culture has desensitized people of today to the evil of immorality.

HOW DOES A "BREATH" AFFECT YOU? I come close enough to my husband to feel His breath...I LOVE HIM INTIMATELY. I was near my Grandmother and "shared" in her dying breath...I WILL NEVER FORGET. If someday I am attacked by someone and feel his breath of my face as he threatens me...I WILL BE DEEPLY AFFECTED. **If I absorb myself in the very BREATH of God, I will LOVE HIM INTIMATELY... If I live and die by the very BREATH of God, I will NEVER FORGET... If I take the very "BREATH of God seriously, I will BE DEEPLY AFFECTED! What better way could God employ to bring His desired response of LOVE, REMEMBERANCE and AFFECT? Christina A. Ingraham

2 Pe 2:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God provides the energy to speak and the words to speak. A human breath is the grounding of action or speech. Our brains cannot survive without our breath--in the same way, God's "breath" is the grounding of life and is the origin of the Scripture and all the prophecy therein. Christina Ingraham

Q2. (2 Peter 1:19). In what ways do the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments act for you as "a light shining in a dark place"? What does the darkness represent? What does the light represent? 2 Pe 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. The Word of God is given to us to be in a tangible way a guide for us. Ps 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Light of spoken of in another instance in the New Testament: 1"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Nither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house" (Mt 5:14-15). The light of God is in believers in part by his Word dwelling in us (David says, "I have hidden your word in my heart..."). When we live by his word, others in this "dark world" will see and be drawn to Christ. Christina Ingraham

Q4. (2 Timothy 3:16) If Scripture is "breathed" by God, how can it help us draw close to God? Why do you think God's Spirit (pneuma, "breath, wind") so important in helping us understand Scripture? A breath indicates life. The Word of God is not only FULL of life but brings life to those who read and understand it. The Spirit is God's tool/gift for us to interpret the scripture and help us to understand what God ia trying to speak to us through his word. Christina Ingraham

Q1. (2 Peter 1:13-15) Why does our culture avoid talking about death? How is describing your earthly body as a "tent" freeing and motivating? What is the significance of Peter referring to his death as a "departure" or "exodus"? 2 PE 1:13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. Death, as a subject, is often avioded out of what we see as tact and differing opinions about "life after death." Too many of us walk of eggshells, trying to not offend anyone because of his or her beliefs. However, any word of truth that is spoken from the correct motivation and in humility, will only result in blessing. (Pr 24:26 "An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.") On the other side of "bluntness" is mercy, "blessed are those who are merciful for they shall see God," and "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted"- Matt 5; "Weep with those who weep")... One must assess the need in the situation and discern how God might have you react- with a word of truth, or in silence, mourning and comfort. A 'tent' of a body implies a temporary state. This is comforting as we look to the perfection promised in the future! An "exodus" implies an escape from an undesirable situation into a better one. Though God's place for us now is on earth--where He performs His works of refining and finishing--we look forward to dwelling in His glory in heaven. Christina Ingraham

Q4. (2 Peter 1:10) Why is Christian character an essential indicator of being saved or rescued by Christ? What Biblical assurance of salvation can you offer the fruitless, barren "believer"? 2 Pe 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, Christ himself answers this question in John 15... John 15 The Vine and the Branches 1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit [i.e. DISPLAYS NO "CHRISTIAN CHARACTER"], while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[1] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other. **My encouragement to a "dry" Christian is that life in found ONLY in Christ. Cling to Him! Pray, pray, then pray again.

Q3. (2 Peter 1:7) Why do we imagine that "agape love" is easier than loving church members? If we avoid church because of our hurts at the hands of church members, can we mature fully in Christ? Why or why not? Verses 5-7 build on one another, building up to LOVE as the pinacle trait. Truly loving in an "agape" manner is the most difficult trait to embody. The other traits listed flow out of love. Love is not easy, and when we set up expectations on others, it becomes even more difficult. Often we set up expectations for "church members" and contort true love into a conditional sort of love. Loving others is all or nothing. Love does not set up expectations. Love is a fruit that is produced by every Christian, because it is defining. -- John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch [CHRISTIAN] can bear fruit [LOVE] by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Even a basic maturity cannot be gained without Love. In John 15:2, Jesus says, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,"

Q2. (2 Peter 1:6) Why is a disciplined devotional life important to you? What happens when you forget or don't have time? What Christian disciplines do you employ to help you open your spirit to God's Spirit? 2 Pe 1:6 "...and to 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;..." A disciplined devotional life is COMPLETELY ESSENTIAL to cultivating a Christ-like life. An increase in "time with God" develops more intensity in all spritual disciplines. "goodness,knowledge, self-control; perseverance, godliness;..." as mentioned in 2 Peter will become defining characteristics of my life as I discipline myself to spend time with God. Opening up my spirit to God's Spirit requires a "holy atmosphere" in my life. God and the things of God cannot coexist with sin. Therefore, confession of my sin helps to open up my spirit and to "hear from God." (This with the understanding that ALL of my past present and future sin has been forgiven at the point of my salvation. ) "Active" sin in my life blocks me from hearing God, and confessing this sin clears mymind and opens my spirit to God's Spirit. Prayer is also essentail to maintaining and open relationship with God--constant communication in necessare in any close relationship! Cultivating a Christlike heart and life will keep me from sin and keep me opened to God's Spirit as well. After being married only 9 months, my priorities and schedule has been rearranged dramatically. If you read this, please pray for me that I can discipline myself and make my time with God a high priority again as it once was....Quality time AND Quantity time! Thank you, Christina Ingraham Christina

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; Q1. (2 Peter 1:5-6) Which of these virtues so far has been the easiest for you to move into. Which has been the hardest for you? Why? 1. FAITH-Faith is essential for the Christian life, without at least a "basic faith" I would not even be a Christian. Therefore, in one sense I live by faith every minute. In terms of faith as trust for the ongoing work of Gof in my life, I have great hope in a broad perspective. I sometimes lack faith in the small details, or the "nitty gritty" of life. 2. GOODNESS-As a newly married young woman, I am trying to learn more and more how to be good to Jeff, my husband. This takes constant thought and effort. 3. KNOWLEDGE-This probably comes easiest for me. I have a hunger to learn. 4. SELF-CONTROL--Is difficult in some areas of course, but in other areas, I do well. Time management is one area of self control I need to work on. 5. PERSEVERENCE-God has given me situations in my past that have taught me well to persevere. I try to have a long-term, heaver-bound vision and set my hopes on his promises. Phil 3:12-14, "12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, " 6. GODLINESS I will always strive for godliness, but will never fully attain it until heaven. Christina

A desire that leads to sin destroys faith and lives. These desires occur every day in little ways: I may have a good, godly desire to serve my husband. For instance, I may clean his car and make him happy and to please God by serving my husband, but if this is motivated by a selfish desire

A desire that leads to sin destroys faith and lives. These desires occur every day in little ways: I may have a good, godly desire to serve my husband. For instance, I may clean his car and make him happy, but if this is motivated by a selfish desire

In HIM is everything we are and everything we can attain to. His glory and goodness have "called us" because in our response to these we reflect glory and goodness to him. Paul writes, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18). His glory and goodness draws me to him. A natural response when we truly reflect on God's goodness and glory is expressed beautifully by David: Psalm 63 1-5 "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. (I have prayed this verse to God many times, sometimes in the midst of joy, sometimes in the misdt of sorrow. God has heard my prayers and drawn me closer in relationship to Him by it! I urge you to do the same!)