rosegarden

Q1. What do you think motivates liberal Christian scholars to explain away the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why would they claim that it is unhistorical more than some other event in the first century? 1. a. I think what motivates Liberal Christian scholars is the worldly view and unbelief and that that they are not using the measure of faith given to them and if they are true believers and have the Spirit of God in them that gives them witness. b. The fact that it cannot be proved and they were not an eyewitness, they don't believe it. The just shall live by faith.

Q5. What is the difference between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension? How do the two fit together? In what sense is the ascension the completion of the resurrection? 5.a. Jesus resurrection is when he rose from the dead after being in the tomb 3 days and he appeared to the disciples and others never to die again. The ascension occurred 40 days after his resurrectrion outside of Jerusalem when He was taken up into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. b. Jesus resurrection refers to his victory over death and his ascension to the right hand of the Father refers to his exaltation by his Father the highest place. c. Jesus ascension is the final aspect of his resurrection from the dead. His ascension to his original and rightful place in God's presence.

Q4. What do we know from the Gospels about the properties of Jesus' resurrection body? What was he capable of in this new body? 4.a. He has flesh and bones, He could eat, He could be touched, He could walk and talk, He still had visable wounds, He could be recognized by others only when he wanted to be, His voice was the same, He could enter locked doors, appear and disappear at will. b. He body was the same but with this body He had new powers and abilities, appear, disappear, go through locked doors, do miracles, never to die again, but He lives forevermore.

Q3. (Luke 24:12; John 20:6-8) What about the grave clothes brought Peter and John to faith? What was so peculiar about them? 3.a. That the grave clothes were still there folded neatly and were a testimony that Jesus body had slipped free from the grave clothes without disturbing them whatsoever. b. That the grave clothes did not need to be unwrapped to let Jesus out. He passed from the grave clothes while they were still wrapped around his body.

Q2. What similarities do you find in the resurrection accounts? Based on the agreements between the accounts, what seems to have happened? 2. a. Jesus was dead and buried, the Apostles were not ready for Him to die, the tomb was empty, they saw Him after He was resurrected, His resurrection was proclaimed in Jerusalem. b. Christ died for our sins according to scripture, He was buried and raised on the third day according to the scriptures, he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve and after that to 500 of the brothers at one time, then to James, then to all the apostles and lastly to Paul of Tarsus.

Q1. What differences do you find between the various resurrection accounts? How do you account for differences in eyewitness testimony? How might these differences add to the credibility of the witnesses? 1.a. Differences in the number of women who went to the tomb, why they went, the number of angels who were there, the type of grave clothes, exactly the place where Jesus appeared after His resurrection. b. People see things from a different point of view. Where some things are more important to remember than others. c. They all were witnesses with only small differences.

Q4. Why did Jesus' enemies heed his prediction of being raised on the third day even more than his disciples? Did his enemies expect him to rise? Did his followers? 4.a. They heeded his prediction of being raised on the third day even more than his disciples because the remembered the story Jesus told them of Jonah being in the belly of the big fish as a sign of His own resurrection. b. His enemies did expect Him to rise, so, they took precautions to have the tomb sealed, as if they could stop it. c. His disciples didn't believe until it dawned on them after he arose from the dead and then they remembered what he said.

Q3. (John 11:23-25) What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "I am the resurrection and the life"? What role will Jesus play in the resurrection of the dead? 3.a. I believe that Jesus is The resurrection and the Life and if we believe on Jesus as the only way of salvation, we will have this eternal life. b. Jesus is the first fruits of the Resurrection of the dead. For those of us who look to the Son, He will raise us up on the last day.

Q2. (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) According to scripture, both the righteous and unrighteous will experience resurrection. What will be the result of resurrection for the righteous? 2. The righteous will experience resurrection, receive a new spiritual body, will see God and be in His presence throughout eternity. To live in peace, love and harmony and experience more life than we have every had before.

Q1. How does Job's vision of resurrection (Job 19:25-27) differ from the Jews' former understanding of death as Sheol? What is progressive revelation? 1.a. Job's vision of Resurrection is one of hope and yearning that in his flesh he shall one day see God. The Jews understand of death as Sheol is one of doom, darkness and despair a presence where one can no longer enjoy life. b. Progressive revelation is the revealing of more truth as time goes on.

Q7. (Luke 23:46) What does Jesus mean when he says, �Father, into your hands I commit my spirit�? Why does this saying comfort us so much? 7. a. Jesus knows that God is present with him, he willingly surrenders his spirit to God. Knowing and trusting the Father with his eternal destiny. b. It comforts us so much because there is no better place to be but in the safety and presence of our Father's arms who loves us and wants to spend eternity with us. We will see Jesus !!

Q6. (John 19:30) What had Jesus �finished�? What can we learn for our own lives from this Sixth Word: �It is finished�? 6.a. Jesus had finished his purpose here on the earth. He came to fulfill the will of the Father. He came to die on the cross and shed his blood for our sins. He was obedient, even unto death. "It is finished". b. We can learn from this Sixth Word for our own lives. We should live purposeful lives for God, using the gifts He has given us, with focus (not scatterbrained), with obedience and then we can say with a victory shout...."It is finished", following Jesus, our example. Even be willing to suffer for the sake of Christ.

Q5. (John 19:28) What do you learn from Jesus� Fifth Word: �I thirst�? What does this tell us about Jesus? What does this tell us about his experience on the cross? 5.a.& b. The Fifth Word "I thirst" we learn that Jesus came in the flesh and had the same feelings as we do - he ate, drank, wept, slept. He was human. He was God/Man. He had to come in the flesh to represent us and pay the price for our sins, because we couldn't pay. He was the only One that could pay, for His blood was holy, the only sacrifice that could take away our sin. It was also a fullfilment of the scripture in John 19:28 c. His experience on the cross showed how much He loved us and was willing to suffer till the end being obedient unto death to pay the price for our sin. He perservered and did not give up till it was finished. He was comitted to doing the will of the Father.

Q4. (Mark 15:34) What does Jesus� Fourth Word from the cross teach us about faith? About commitment? About love? What effect should this understanding have on our lives? 4.a. The Fourth word from the cross "My God, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" teaches us about faith in that the worse thing that can happen to anyone, even death, is the excrutiating feeling of being forsaken by God, but Jesus had faith and knew that His heavenly Father loved Him so much and He trusted Him to make a way out, so submitted Himself to the will of God. b. About commitment - in that being committed to God and trusting Him through our trials and tribulations, He too will make a way out where there could possibly be no way out. c. About love - In that God loves us and He will never leave us or forsake us. d. We should be at peace in knowing that our Heavely Father cares for us, loves us and will be there for us.

Q3. (John 19:26-27) Why does Jesus make St. John responsible for his mother Mary? What does this tell us about Jesus? How should we apply this in our own lives? 3.a. Jesus loved his mother very much and with his leaving he wanted to make sure she was taken care of properly and he appointed John because he knew him and trusted him. John was a believer and the beloved disciple. Apparently, Jesuis knew that John would be more responsible than his own brothers. b. This tells us of Jesus' love and care for his Mother and how responsible he was in making sure she was taken care of properly. c. Jesus set the example of love. We need to love our parents. They spent their whole life caring and loving us. We need especially to care for them when they are no longer able to care for themselves.

Q2. (Luke 23:39-43) Why is the thief�s faith so astounding in this situation? What did the thief receive that day? What do you think this meant to Jesus? 2. a. Here the thief knew he was a sinner and deserved punishment but that Jesus was innocent. He believed Jesus was the Messiah (there was a knowing in him). He knew right from wrong and he had a measure of faith and reached out to Jesus at that moment with saving faith. b. He received salvation and hope when Jesus told him "This day you will be with me in Paradise" c. Jesus was amazed by his faith. Jesus rewarded him by giving him the gift of eternity with Him. Isn't it just like the Father to be there for Jesus giving him a companion with great faith to go to Paradise with Him that day. What a place - Paradise = God's Presence!!

Q1. (Luke 23:34) Who was most responsible for killing Jesus? What responsibility do you and I bear in this? In what sense was Jesus praying for us? 1.a. b. We, the whole human race are responsible for killing Jesus. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 c. Jesus is praying for all of us who put him there on the cross. He prays to the Father to forgive us and we in turn should ask for forgiveness. Thank you Lord for your mercy and your grace.

Q4. Why did Jesus' enemies heed his prediction of being raised on the third day even more than his disciples? Did his enemies expect him to rise? Did his followers? 4.a. They feared the maybe there might be the chance that he would rise and that he would have even more followers then before, so they took the precautions of securing the tomb. b. His enemies wanted a sign. He talked to them in parables. When Jesus said "Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days." They were talking about the Temple that took 46 yrs. to build. He was talking about His Body. They just didn't get it. c. He told them enough times but it did not register with them at that time. His followers did not beieve he would rise from the dead but after he arose from the dead they remembered the scriptures and recalled what Jesus had told them and then believed what he said.

Q3. (John 11:23-25) What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "I am the resurrection and the life"? What role will Jesus play in the resurrection of the dead? 3. a. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. b. The role of Jesus in the resurrection is that He is the firstfruits. 1 Cor, 15:20-23 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Q2. (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15) According to scripture, both the righteous and unrighteous will experience resurrection. What will be the result of resurrection for the righteous? 2. Death is not the end for the righteous with no hope and despair. Those who have done good will rise to live and those who have done evill will rise to be condemned. The righteous can be comforted with these words: For the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout , with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so we shall ever be with the Lord.

Q1. How does Job's vision of resurrection (Job 19:25-27) differ from the Jews' former understanding of death as Sheol? What is progressive revelation? 1.a. Job's vision of resurrection was one of hope in knowing that in his flesh he will see God with his own eyes on the last day and he longed for that day. The Jew's former understanding was that they did not believe in resurrection from the dead. When you died you were dead and were buried and that was it. b. Progressive revelation is that as time has gone by we know more today about resurrection as we study the Word and as God reveals this mystery to us.

Q5. (Galatians 6:16) Who comprises “the Israel of God” today? Who is excluded from this group? How is Romans 11:17-25 designed to temper Gentile pride? 5.a. "The Israel of God" today are those who are born of God - New creatures in Christ who are led by and walking in the Spirit. b. Excluded, are those who do not believe that Christ died for their sins and are still in their sins without a Savior. c. Not to be highminded and think you are better because you are grafted in, but to humble yourself and to be thankful for God's mercy and to stay attached to the vine which is giving us life and is the source of our bearing fruit.

Q4. (Galatians 6:15) What characterizes this “new creation” that Paul talks about? What does the “old creation” look like in contrast? What does the old creation lack that the new creation possesses? How does Jesus’ saying, “You must be born again” (John 3:3-8) relate to this concept of the new creation? 4.a. This new creation is a brand new me with the Holy Spirit living in me to give me new life. b. The old me is no more, a life of worldliness and of wanting to be like and conforming to the world, drinking, cursing, not knowing God,etc. c. The old creation lacked the ability to please God by keeping the law, which we could not keep. In the new creation we have Christ in us the hope of glory. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. d. When we accept the fact that we are sinners, hopeless and need a savior, we then place our faith in Jesus and believe that He died for our sins and ask Him to be Lord of our lives, he honors that and comes in and makes us new creatures at which time we are born again, not of the will of the flesh but of God. Thanks be to God!!!

Q3. (Galatians 6:9-10) Why do we tend to become weary living out our faith? What promise does Paul give us in 6:9 to forestall this weariness? Why should our “doing good” begin with our spiritual family, not with the non-Christians? 3.a. We become weary because we don't believe what the Apostole Paul says, that "A man reaps what he sows." b. The promise that Paul gives us is that we will reap if we faint not. That Christ will come and reward us and we will see the fruition of all the promises of God. And that our labor in the Lord is not in vain. c. Our doing good should begin with our spiritual familhy because it is our first responsibility to meet one another's needs. We are to do good to one another and bring healing to our Christian Community by our love and then to do good wherever and whenever we can.

Q2. (Galatians 6:7-8) What does it mean to “sow to the flesh”? What does this look like? What synonyms does Paul use for “sow to the Spirit” in Galatians? (Hint: see 5:16, 18, 25). What does sowing to the Spirit look like in a congregation? What are the results in a congregation of sowing to the flesh? 2.a. Sowing to the flesh is doing things that please ourselves. Romans 8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body you shall live. b. This looks like selfishness, disobedience, sinful, mocking God, reaping destruction. c. Walk, be led, live. d. Sowing to the Spirit looks like mature Christians, obeying, loving God, loving their brother and sister's in Christ, serving the Lord in harmony with one another. A congregation walking, being led, living and keeping in step with the Spirit. Reaping Eternal Life. e. The results of a congregation sowing to the flesh is one that is not hungry for God, in deception, selfishness, backbiting, confusion, not growing in God.