========================

The righteous will live by faith

========================

1)       What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  The righteous will live by faith.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Romans 1:16-17

16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

----------------------------------------

2)       Whom does ‘I’ in verse 16 refer to?

o   ‘I’ in verse 16 refers to the apostle Paul.

 

3)       According to verse 16 why was Paul not ashamed of the gospel?

o   He was not ashamed of the gospel.

o   Because

o   It is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

 

4)       According to verse 16 whom did salvation come to and in what order?

o   Salvation came

§  First to the Jew.

§  Then to the Gentile.

 

5)       According to verse 17 what is the righteousness of God revealed in?

o   The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel.

 

6)       According to verse 17 what becomes of our status before God when we have faith?

o   We become

§  Righteous, i.e.,

§  Justified.

o   Before God.

 

7)       Whom is faith in?

o   Faith is in Jesus.

 

8)       What does it mean that the righteousness is by faith from first to last?

o   It means that becoming righteous before God is entirely by faith in Jesus alone from beginning to end without the involvement of human works.

 

9)       According to verse 17 what is the consequence for us in being righteous?

o   Being righteous, we shall

§  Live, i.e.,

§  Have eternal life.

 

10)   How do we know that the righteous will live by faith, given Habakkuk 2:4?

o   Let’s take a look at the passage.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read Habakkuk 2:4 (NASB) out loud that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4“Behold, as for the impudent one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous one will live by his faith.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

========================

The righteous will live by faith

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

It is by grace we have been saved, through faith

========================

11)   What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  It is by grace we have been saved, through faith.

----------------------------------------

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

9not by works, so that no one can boast.

----------------------------------------

12)   According to verse 8 how have we been saved?

o   We have been saved by grace through faith.

 

13)   According to verses 8 and 9 who gets the credit for our salvation?

o   This is not from ourselves.

o   It is not by our works.

o   It is the gift of God.

 

14)   According to verse 9 can anyone boast of his/her salvation?

o   No.

========================

It is by grace we have been saved, through faith

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe

========================

15)   What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

§  Faith

Ø  Does not nullify the law. 

Ø  But upholds it.

§  God's promise to Abraham needs to come by faith, so that it may be given to all by grace.

§  Abraham

Ø  Believed God’s promise against all odds. 

Ø  And so became the father of many nations.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Romans 3:10-4:24

3:10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

3:11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

3:12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

3:13“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

3:14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

3:15“Their feet are swift to shed blood;

3:16ruin and misery mark their ways,

3:17and the way of peace they do not know.”

3:18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

3:20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

3:21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

3:22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,

3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

3:25God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

3:26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

3:27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.

3:28For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

3:29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

3:30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

3:31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

4:1What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?

4:2If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.

4:3What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4:4Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.

4:5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

4:6David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

4:7“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

4:8Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

4:9Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.

4:10Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

4:11And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

4:12And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

4:13It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

4:14For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,

4:15because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

4:16Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

4:17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

4:18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

4:19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

4:20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

4:21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

4:22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4:23The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,

4:24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

----------------------------------------

16)   According to verses 3:10 to 3:18 what is written in the bible about the condition of humanity?

o   There is

§  No one righteous.

§  Not even one.

o   There is no one who understands.

o   There is no one who seeks God.

o   All have

§  Turned away.

§  And together become worthless.

o   There is

§  No one who does good.

§  Not even one.

o   Their throats are open graves.

o   Their tongues practice deceit.

o   The poison of vipers is on their lips.

o   Their mouths are full of

§  Cursing.

§  And bitterness.

o   Their feet are swift to shed blood.

o   Ruin and misery mark their ways.

o   The way of peace they do not know.

o   There is no fear of God before their eyes.

 

17)   What can we conclude about our condition based on what is written in the bible about the condition of humanity?

o   We are sinful.

 

18)   According to verse 3:19 whom is the law of Moses addressed to?

o   It is addressed to those who are under the law.

 

19)   According to verse 3:19 who is under the law and why?

o   The whole world is under the law.

o   Because

o   The whole world is held accountable to God by the law.

 

20)   According to verses 3:19 to 3:20 how is every mouth silenced in regard to righteousness?

o   No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law.

o   Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin as made clear from the conclusion.

o   That

o   We drew about humanity earlier.

 

21)   What do the Law and the Prophets include?

o   The Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament of the bible include

§  The five books of Moses.

§  And all the books of the prophets.

 

22)   How do the Law and the Prophets testify to the righteousness of God that is apart from the law, given Genesis 15:2-6 and Habakkuk 2:4?

o   Per Genesis 15:2-6 that is part of the Law, the Law testifies to the righteousness of God that is

§  By faith.

§  And apart from the law.

o   Per Habakkuk 2:4 that is part of the Prophets, the Prophets testifies to the righteousness of God that is

§  By faith.

§  And apart from the law.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Genesis 15:2-6 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?”

3And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

4Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”

5He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

6Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read Habakkuk 2:4 (NASB) out loud that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

4“Behold, as for the impudent one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous one will live by his faith.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

23)   According to verse 3:22 how is the righteousness of God given?

o   It is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

 

24)   According to verses 3:22 and 3:23 is there anyone who does not need the righteousness of God through faith and why?

o   No, because whether Jew and Gentile all

§  Have sinned.

§  And fall short of the glory of God.

 

25)   According to verse 3:24 how does God solve the sin problem of humanity?

o   All are

§  Justified, i.e.,

§  Made righteous.

o   Freely by God’s grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

26)   Do we need to do any works in order to be justified and why?

o   No, because we are justified freely by God’s grace apart from works.

 

27)   According to verse 3:25 how did God make it possible for us to be justified freely by his grace?

o   God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood.

o   We can freely receive justification by faith in Christ.

 

28)   According to verse 3:25 how had God demonstrated his forbearance of sins?

o   God had left the sins we committed beforehand unpunished.

 

29)   According to verses 3:25 and 3:26 why had God left the sins we committed beforehand unpunished?

o   He did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time.

 

30)   According to verse 3:26 what was the intended outcome when God demonstrated his righteousness at the present time?

o   God did it so as to be

§  Just.

§  And the one who justifies those who have faith in Christ.

 

31)   According to verse 3:27 and 3:28 can we boast of our salvation and why?

o   No, because we are justified

§  Not by the law that requires works.

§  But by the law that requires faith.

 

32)   Who are the circumcised?

o   Jews are the circumcised.

 

33)   Who are the uncircumcised?

o   Gentiles are the uncircumcised.

 

34)   According to verse 3:29 whom is God the God of?

o   God is the God of both

§  Jews.

§  And Gentiles.

 

35)   According to verse 3:30 does God justify the circumcised and the uncircumcised differently and why?

o   No, because God justifies

§  The circumcised by faith.

§  And the uncircumcised through that same faith.

 

36)   According to verses 3:29 and 3:30 how do we know that God is the God of both Jews and Gentiles?

o   God is the God of both

§  Jews.

§  And Gentiles.

o   Because

o   God justifies both through the same faith.

 

37)   According to verse 3:31 is the law nullified by faith since God is justifying both Jews and Gentiles by faith and why?

o   Not at all!  

o   Rather, the law is upheld.

 

38)   How is the law upheld when God justifies both Jews and Gentiles by faith?

o   We are going to find out.

 

39)   According to verse 4:1 in what context is Abraham the forefather of the Jews?

o   Abraham is the forefather of the Jews according to the flesh.

 

40)   According to verse 4:2 under what circumstances would Abraham have something to boast about?

o   He could boast of his justification.

o   If

o   He was justified by works.

 

41)   According to verses 4:2 and 4:3 why could Abraham not boast of his justification before God?

o   He could not.

o   Because

o   His faith in God was credited to him as righteousness.

 

42)   According to verse 4:4 on what basis are wages credited to the one who works?

o   Wages are credited to the one who works

§  Not as a gift.

§  But as an obligation.

 

43)   According to verse 4:5 on what basis is righteousness credited to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly?

o   Their faith is credited to them as righteousness as a gift.

 

44)   Who was David?

o   David was the greatest earthly king of Israel.

 

45)   According to verses 4:6 to 4:8 what did David say is the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works?

o   Blessed are those

§  Whose transgressions are forgiven.

§  Whose sins are covered.

o   Blessed is the one.

o   Whose sin

o   The Lord will never count against them.

 

46)   Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?

o   We are going to find out.

 

47)   According to verses 4:9 and 4:10 was Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness before he was circumcised or after?

o   Before he was circumcised.

 

48)   According to verse 4:11 what is circumcision a sign of for Abraham?

o   Circumcision is

§  A sign.

§  Or a seal of the righteousness.

o   That

o   He had by faith.

o   While

o   He was still uncircumcised.

 

49)   According to verse 4:11 who is Abraham the father of among those who have not been circumcised?

o   He is the father of all who

§  Believe.

§  But have not been circumcised.

 

50)   According to verse 4:11 what was credited to Abraham that should also be credited to those who believe but have not been circumcised?

o   Righteousness.

 

51)   According to verse 4:12 who then is Abraham also the father of?

o   He is also the father of the circumcised

§  Who not only are circumcised.

§  But who also follow in the footsteps of his faith.

o   That

o   He had.

o   Before

o   He was circumcised.

 

52)   According to verse 4:13 how did Abraham and his offspring receive the promise that they would be heir of the world?

o   They did not receive the promise

§  Through the law.

§  But through the righteousness that comes by faith.

 

53)   What does it mean that the law brings wrath?

o   The law brings wrath to those who fail to observe it perfectly.

 

54)   Can anyone observe the law perfectly?

o   No.

 

55)   What then does the law bring to those who depend on the law?

o   Wrath.

 

56)   What does it mean if those who depend on the law could actually become heirs?

o   It means that righteousness could actually be obtained through the law.

 

57)   According to verses 4:14 and 4:15 what happens to Abraham’s faith and the promise he received by faith, if those who depend on the law are heirs, i.e., righteousness could actually be obtained through the law?

o   Faith means nothing.

o   And the promise is worthless.

 

58)   According to verse 4:15 what would have been better for those who depend on the law since the law indeed brings wrath?

o   It would have been better for them.

o   That

o   The law does not exist.

o   Because

o   There is

§  No transgression.

§  And therefore no wrath.

o   Where

o   There is no law.

 

59)   What is the conclusion that is drawn in verse 4:16 since according to verse 4:15 the law indeed brings wrath?

o   The promise indeed comes by faith.

 

60)   According to verse 4:16 what is the consequence for the fact that the promise indeed comes by faith?

o   The promise

§  Is then indeed by grace.

§  And may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring.

 

61)   In accordance with verse 4:16 and the context of what has been discussed so far specifically verse 4:12 who are Abraham’s offspring?

o   Abraham’s offspring are all who have the faith of Abraham whether they are

§  Of the law.

§  Or not.

 

62)   According to verse 4:17 what is the promise God made to Abraham that he would be the father of us all?

o   As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”

 

63)   Per the question of blessedness referred to earlier is it only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?

o   It is for both

§  The circumcised.

§  And the uncircumcised.

 

64)   Per the question raised earlier, how is the law upheld when God justifies both Jews and Gentiles by faith?

o   Justification of Jews by the law has failed.

o   Because

o   No one observes the law perfectly.

o   Justification of both

§  Jews.

§  And Gentiles by faith.

o   Has been accomplished by Christ.

o   So justification by faith accomplishes what justification by the law fails to, thus upholding the law.

 

65)   According to verse 4:17 what kind of God did Abraham believe?

o   He believed the God who

§  Gives life to the dead.

§  And calls into being things that were not.

 

66)   According to verse 4:18 how did Abraham manage to become the father of many nations?

o   Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed God’s promise.

 

67)   According to verses 4:19 to 4:22 how was Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness?

o   He faced the fact

§  That he was about a hundred years old.

§  And that Sarah’s womb was also dead.

o   He did not waver through unbelief regarding God’s promise.

o   He

§  Was strengthened in his faith.

§  And gave glory to God.

o   Being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.

o   So it was credited to him as righteousness.

 

68)   According to verses 4:23 and 4:24 were the words “it was credited to him” written for Abraham only and why?

o   No, because God will credit righteousness to us too who believe that he raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

========================

Righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification

========================

69)   What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Jesus

Ø  Was delivered over to death for our sins. 

Ø  And was raised to life for our justification.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Romans 4:25-5:1

4:25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

----------------------------------------

70)   What does it mean for Jesus to be delivered over to death for our sins?

o   It means that God made Jesus the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

71)   According to verse 4:25 what was Jesus raised to life for?

o   Jesus was raised to life for our justification.

 

72)   What does it mean for Jesus to be raised to life for our justification?

o   It means that through faith in the resurrected Jesus we are

§  Justified before God.

§  And reconciled to God.

========================

Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

========================

73)   What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Romans 5:12-21

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

13To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.

14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

16Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

----------------------------------------

74)   According to verses 12 and 14 who is the one man sin entered the world through?

o   Sin entered the world through Adam.

 

75)   According to verse 12 what did death enter the world through?

o   Death entered the world through sin.

 

76)   According to verse 12 why did death come to all people?

o   Death came to all people.

o   Because

o   All sinned.

 

77)   According to verse 13 what was already in the world before the law was given?

o   Sin was.

 

78)   According to verse 13 why is sin not charged against anyone’s account before the law was given?

o   Sin is not charged against anyone’s account.

o   Where

o   there is no law that condemns sin.

 

79)   Was the law there from the time of Adam to the time of Moses and why?

o   No, because the law was given to Moses after the time of Adam.

 

80)   Could sin be charged against anyone’s account from the time of Adam to the time of Moses and why?

o   No, because there was no law that condemns sin

§  From the time of Adam.

§  To the time of Moses.

 

81)   Could anyone break a command where there is no law?

o   No.

 

82)   Could anyone break a command from the time of Adam to the time of Moses and why?

o   No, because there was no law within that period.

 

83)   Did Adam break any command and why, given Genesis 2:16-17 and Genesis 3:12?

o   Yes, God gave him the command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil per Genesis 2:16-17.

o   But he did per Genesis 3:12.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Genesis 2:16-17 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Genesis 3:12 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

12The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

84)   According to verse 14 what reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses even though no one within that period sinned by breaking a command?

o   Death did.

 

85)   Why did death reign from the time of Adam to the time of Moses even though sin was not charged against anyone’s account within that period?

o   It is because

§  Death results from separation from God.

§  Just as

§  Death of a severed plant results from its separation from the root.

§  Humanity was separated from God within that period as a result of Adam’s sin.

§  Consequently death reigned

Ø  From the time of Adam. 

Ø  To the time of Moses.

 

86)   According to verse 14 is everyone bound to sin by breaking commands of the law when the law comes and why?

o   Yes, because Adam who broke God’s command for him is a pattern of the one to come.

 

87)   According to verse 15 what is the consequence of Adam’s trespass?

o   Many died by Adam’s trespass.

 

88)   According to verse 16 how many sins did Adam commit that brought condemnation?

o   One sin.

 

89)   According to verses 15 and 17 what is the gift that came by the grace of Jesus Christ?

o   The gift that came by the grace of Jesus Christ is righteousness.

 

90)   According to verse 16 how many trespasses did the gift that came by the grace of Jesus Christ follow and brought justification?

o   Many trespasses.

 

91)   According to verse 17 how did death get to reign?

o   Death reigned through the one man Adam by his trespass.

 

92)   According to verse 17 how did people get to reign in life?

o   They got to reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ by receiving God’s abundant provision

§  Of grace.

§  And of the gift of righteousness.

 

93)   According to verse 17 what is the contrast in terms of impact between Adam’s trespass and the gift of righteousness that came by the grace of Jesus Christ?

o   Death reigned through Adam by his trespass.

o   But those who receive the gift of righteousness that came by the grace of Jesus Christ reign in life much more.

 

94)   According to verse 18 what did Adam’s single trespass result in?

o   It resulted in condemnation for all people.

 

95)   According to verse 18 what did Christ’s single righteous act result in?

o   It resulted in

§  Justification.

§  And life for all people.

 

96)   According to verse 19 what became of many through the disobedience of the one man Adam?

o   Many were made sinners.

 

97)   According to verse 19 what will become of many through the obedience of the one man Jesus Christ?

o   Many will be made righteous.

 

98)   According to verse 20 what was the law brought in for?

o   The law was brought in.

o   So that

o   The trespass might increase.

 

99)   Why would trespass increase when the law was brought in?

o   There is no trespass.

o   Where

o   There is no law.

o   So trespass began to pick up

o   When

o   The law was brought in

 

100)  According to verse 20 how did God counter sin by his grace?

o   Where sin increased, God’s grace increased all the more.

 

101)  According to verse 21 what is the consequence of God countering sin by his grace?

o   Just as sin reigned in death.

o   So also

o   Grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

========================

Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes

========================

102)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Christ is the culmination of the law.

§  So that

§  There may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Romans 9:30-10:4

9:30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;

9:31but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal.

9:32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.

9:33As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

10:1Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

10:2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

10:3Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

10:4Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

----------------------------------------

103)  According to verse 9:30 did the Gentiles put forth any effort to pursue righteousness?

o   No.

 

104)  According to verse 9:30 how did the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness end up obtaining it?

o   They obtained righteousness by faith.

 

105)  According to verse 9:31 how did people of Israel try to obtain righteousness?

o   They pursued the law as the way of righteousness.

 

106)  According to verses 9:31 and 9:32 why did people of Israel fail to obtain righteousness?

o   They failed.

o   Because

o   They pursued it

§  Not by faith.

§  But as if it were by works.

 

107)  Whom does ‘I’ in verse 9:33 refer to?

o   ‘I’ in verse 9:33 refers to God.

 

108)  Who is the stumbling stone God laid in Zion?

o   Jesus is the stumbling stone.

 

109)  According to verse 9:33 what does the stumbling stone do to the one who believes in him?

o   The one who believes in him will never be put to shame.

 

110)  In accordance with verse 9:33 what trouble does the stumbling stone cause to people who do not believe in him?

o   It causes people to

§  Stumble.

§  And fall.

 

111)  Whom does ‘my’ in verse 10:1 refer to?

o   ‘My’ in verse 10:1 refers to the apostle Paul.

 

112)  According to verse 10:1 what is the desire of Paul’s heart and his prayer to God for the Israelites?

o   The desire of Paul’s heart and his prayer to God is that they may be saved.

 

113)  According to verse 10:2 what could Paul testify about the Israelites?

o   They are zealous for God.

o   But their zeal is not based on knowledge.

 

114)  According to verse 10:3 how is the zeal of the Israelites not based on knowledge?

o   They did not know the righteousness of God.

o   They sought to establish their own.

o   And they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

 

115)  According to verse 10:4 what does Christ being the culmination of the law accomplish?

o   Christ is the culmination of the law.

o   So that

o   There may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

========================

Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead

========================

116)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Faith by itself is dead.

§  If

§  It is not accompanied by action.

§  A person is considered righteous

Ø  By what they do. 

Ø  And not by faith alone.

----------------------------------------

 

 

James 2:14-26

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?

15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

21Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?

22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

24You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

----------------------------------------

117)  In accordance with verse 14 can anyone be saved by faith that is not accompanied by deeds?

o   No.

 

118)  In accordance with verses 15 and 16 what is the proper expression of faith when a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food, given Matthew 25:31-46?

o   The proper expression of faith is to do something about their physical needs.

o   Per Matthew 25:31-46,

§  Those who take care of the physical needs of disciples will go into eternal life.

§  And those who do not take care of the physical needs of disciples will go into eternal punishment.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Matthew 25:31-46 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

119)  According to verse 17 what is the status of faith that is not accompanied by action?

o   It is dead.

 

120)  According to verse 18 what confirms the existence of faith?

o   The existence of faith is confirmed by the accompanying actions.

 

121)  According to verse 19 do Do demons believe that God exists and why?

o   Yes, because demons see God face to face.

 

122)  Why do demons shudder at their belief that God exists?

o   It is because they

§  Disobey God.

§  And are awaiting their eternal punishment.

 

123)  According to verses 20 to 22 what is the evidence in the bible concerning Abraham that faith without deeds is useless, given Genesis 22:1-12?

o   Abraham was considered righteous for what he did.

o   When

o   He obeyed God’s command for him to offer his son Isaac on the altar, thus showing that his faith and his actions were working together.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Genesis 22:1-12 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

2Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

5He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

7Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

9When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

11But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

12“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

124)  According to verse 22 how did action affirm faith as demonstrated through Abraham?

o   Abraham’s faith was made complete by his action.

 

125)  According to verse 23 how was the bible fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”?

o   Had Abraham not taken the action of offering his son Isaac in obedience to God’s command for him, his believing God

§  Would have been useless.

§  And would not have been credited to him as righteousness.

o   In that case what the bible says would not have been fulfilled.

o   But since he had indeed offered his son in obedience to God, his believing God had been credited to him as righteousness.

o   In that case what the bible says had been fulfilled.

 

126)  According to verse 23 what was the relationship between God and Abraham?

o   Abraham was called God’s friend.

 

127)  According to verse 24 what is the conclusion about the relationship among righteousness, faith and action?

o   A person is considered righteous

§  By what they do.

§  And not by faith alone.

 

128)  According to verse 25 why was Rahab the prostitute considered righteous, given Joshua 2:1-6?

o   She was considered righteous for what she did.

o   When

o   She

§  Gave lodging to the Israelite spies.

§  And sent them off in a different direction.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Joshua 2:1-6 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

2The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.”

3So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.

5At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”

6(But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

129)  According to verse 26 in what way can faith without deeds be analogized to the body without the spirit?

o   Faith without deeds is dead.

o   As

o   The body without the spirit is dead.

========================

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ

========================

130)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  A person is not justified

Ø  By the works of the law. 

Ø  But by faith in Jesus Christ.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Galatians 2:15-16

15“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles

16know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

----------------------------------------

131)  According to verses 15 and 16 what is the knowledge of Jewish disciples about how a person is justified?

o   A person is

§  Not justified by the works of the law.

§  But by faith in Jesus Christ.

 

132)  According to verse 16 how has knowledge informed the action of Jewish disciples concerning Christ?

o   Jewish disciples have put their faith in Christ Jesus.

o   That

o   They may be justified

§  By faith in Christ.

§  Not by the works of the law.

 

133)  According to verse 16 what is the outcome concerning justification by the works of the law?

o   By the works of the law no one will be justified.

========================

A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing

========================

134)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Christ died for nothing.

§  If

§  Righteousness could be gained through the law.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Galatians 2:21

21I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

----------------------------------------

135)  Whom does ‘I’ refer to?

o   ‘I’ refers to the apostle Paul.

 

136)  What is the consequence if righteousness could be gained through the law?

o   Christ died for nothing.

o   If

o   Righteousness could be gained through the law.

 

137)  What did Paul refrain from doing consequently?

o   He did not set aside the grace of God.

========================

If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

The law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith

========================

138)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn about the following:

§  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

§  The law

Ø  Does not set aside the covenant God established with Abraham. 

Ø  And therefore does not do away with the promise to Abraham.

§  The law was our guardian.

§  Until

§  Christ came.

§  That

§  We might be justified by faith.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Galatians 3:6-25

6So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

7Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

8Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

9So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

11Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”

12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

15Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.

16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.

17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.

18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

19Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.

20A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

22But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.

24So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

25Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

----------------------------------------

139)  According to verse 6 how was righteousness credited to Abraham?

o   Abraham believed God.

o   And it was credited to him as righteousness.

 

140)  According to verse 7 what is the relationship between Abraham and those who have faith?

o   Those who have faith are children of Abraham.

 

141)  According to verse 8 what is the foresight of the bible concerning justifying the Gentiles?

o   The bible foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith.

 

142)  According to verse 8 what did the bible announce in advance to Abraham?

o   The bible announced the gospel in advance to Abraham.

o   That

o   All nations would be blessed through him.

 

143)  According to verse 9 what is the benefit for those who rely on faith?

o   Those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

 

144)  According to verse 10 what is the trouble for those who rely on the works of the law?

o   All who rely on the works of the law are under a curse.

 

145)  According to verse 10 what does the bible say about the trouble for those who rely on the works of the law?

o   It is written in the bible: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

 

146)  According to verse 11 why is no one who relies on the law justified before God?

o   It is because “the righteous will live by faith.”

 

147)  According to verse 12 how does the law say those who rely on the works of the law are judged?

o   The law says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

 

148)  According to verse 13 how did Christ redeem us from the curse of the law?

o   Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

 

149)  According to verse 13 how did Christ become a curse for us?

o   It is written in the bible: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”

o   Christ was nailed to the cross for him to bear the sins of the whole world.

o   So Christ indeed became a curse for us on the cross because of our sins.

 

150)  According to verse 14 how did the blessing given to Abraham come to the Gentiles?

o   Christ redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through him.

 

151)  In accordance with verse 14 how do the Gentiles receive the blessing given to Abraham, given Acts 2:38?

o   By repenting and being baptized as a public declaration of belief in the good news, the Gentiles receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Acts 2:38 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

152)  According to verse 15 can anyone legitimately set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established?

o   No.

 

153)  According to verse 15 can anyone legitimately set aside or add to the covenant that God established with Abraham?

o   No.

 

154)  According to verse 16 to whom were the promises spoken to in the bible?

o   The promises were spoken in the bible

§  To Abraham.

§  And to his seed.

 

155)  According to verse 16 who is the person referred to as Abraham’s seed?

o   The person referred to as Abraham’s seed is Christ.

 

156)  According to verse 17 what is the chronological relationship between the law and the covenant?

o   The law was introduced 430 years.

o   After

o   The covenant was established.

 

157)  According to verse 17 what does the law not do to the covenant previously established by God?

o   The law

§  Does not set aside the covenant previously established by God.

§  And therefore does not do away with the promise.

 

158)  Why can’t the law set aside the covenant?

o   As discussed earlier, no one can

§  Set aside.

§  Or add to the covenant.

o   That

o   God established with Abraham.

 

159)  What does the inheritance refer to?

o   It refers to all the blessings.

o   That

o   God gave Abraham.

 

160)  According to verse 18 what is the inheritance based on?

o   The inheritance is based

§  On the promise God gave to Abraham in his grace.

§  Not on the law.

 

161)  According to verse 19 why, then, was the law given at all?

o   It was added because of transgressions.

o   Until

o   The Christ to whom the promise referred had come.

 

162)  What does it mean for the law to be added because of transgressions?

o   We are going to find out.

 

163)  According to verse 19 how was the law given?

o   It was

§  Given through angels.

§  And entrusted to a mediator.

 

164)  Who is the mediator of the law?

o   Moses is.

 

165)  According to verse 20 what does a mediator imply for the number of parties involved?

o   A mediator implies more than one party that is involved.

 

166)  According to verse 20 who is one of the mediated parties of the law?

o   God is.

 

167)  Who is the other mediated party of the law besides God?

o   The Israelites are.

 

168)  What is the law based on?

o   The law is based on works.

 

169)  According to verse 21 what would righteousness have come by if a law had been given that could impart life?

o   Righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

 

170)  According to verse 21 is the law opposed to the promises of God and why?

o   No, we are going to find out why.

 

171)  According to verse 22 what are the promises of God based on?

o   The promises of God are based on faith in Jesus Christ.

 

172)  According to verse 22 what has locked up everything under the control of sin?

o   The bible has locked up everything under the control of sin.

 

173)  How has the bible locked up everything under the control of sin?

o   By the law the bible has locked up everything under the control of sin.

 

174)  Who is under the control of sin?

o   We are.

 

175)  What does it mean for the bible to lock us up by the law?

o   It means that we are

§  Under the condemnation of sin by the law.

§  And therefore awaiting God’s judgment.

 

176)  According to verse 22 what is the purpose of locking us up?

o   The purpose of locking us up is so that the promised righteousness, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those of us who believe.

 

177)  According to verse 23 what were we held in custody under before faith came?

o   We were held in custody under the law.

 

178)  According to verse 23 until when were we held in custody under the law?

o   We were held in custody under the law, locked up.

o   Until

o   The faith that was to come would be revealed.

 

179)  According to verse 24 what role did the law play over us?

o   The law was our guardian.

 

180)  According to verse 24 how long did the law play the role of guardian over us?

o   The law played the role of guardian over us.

o   Until

o   Christ came.

 

181)  Per the question raised earlier what does it mean for the law to be added because of transgressions?

o   The law was added to play the role of guardian over us because of our transgressions.

 

182)  Per the question raised earlier is the law that is based on works opposed to the promises of God that are based on faith and why?

o   No, because the law played the auxiliary role of guardian over us.

o   Until

o   The faith that the promises of God are based on comes.

 

183)  According to verse 24 what happens to us when Christ came and the law relinquished the role of guardian over us?

o   We might be justified by faith.

 

184)  According to verse 25 are we still under the guardianship of the law today and why?

o   No, because faith has already come.

========================

The law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith

========================

 

 

 

 

========================

Gentile believers could be saved apart from circumcision

========================

185)  What are we going to do?

o   We are going to learn the following about the Council of Jerusalem:

§  The circumstance that led to the Council of Jerusalem.

§  The discussion that took place.

§  The decision that was rendered.

----------------------------------------

 

 

Acts 15:1-30

1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad.

4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

6The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.

9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.

10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?

11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

13When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me.

14Simon has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.

15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16

“‘After this I will return

    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.

Its ruins I will rebuild,

    and I will restore it,

17

that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,

    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,

says the Lord, who does these things’—

18

    things known from long ago.

 

19“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.

21For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers.

23With them they sent the following letter:

 

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

 

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

 

Greetings.

 

24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.

25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.

28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:

29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

 

Farewell.

 

30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.

----------------------------------------

186)  According to verse 1 what were certain people who came down from Judea to Antioch doing?

o   They were teaching the believers that they could not be saved.

o   Unless

o   They were circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses.

 

187)  According to verse 1 what was salvation contingent upon according to the teaching?

o   Salvation was contingent upon circumcision performed according to the law of Moses.

 

188)  What was the motive behind the teaching, given Galatians 5:3-6?

o   It was intended for those who were circumcised to be justified by the law of Moses in order to be saved.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Galatians 5:3-6 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

189)  According to verse 3 what is the obligation of every man who lets himself be circumcised?

o   He is obligated to obey the whole law of Moses.

 

190)  According to verses 3 and 4 what are those who let themselves be circumcised trying to accomplish?

o   They are trying to be justified by the law.

 

191)  What does it mean to be justified?

o   To be justified is to be righteous before God.

 

192)  According to verse 4 what have those who let themselves be circumcised done in reality?

o   They have

§  Been alienated from Christ.

§  And fallen away from grace.

 

193)  What does the grace in verse 4  refer to?

o   It refers to

§  Salvation by God’s grace.

§  As opposed to salvation by human work.

 

194)  According to verse 5 what do we through the Spirit eagerly await by faith?

o   We through the Spirit eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.

 

195)  Whom is the faith in and the righteousness from?

o   The faith is in Christ and the righteousness from Christ.

 

196)  According to verse 6 how is circumcision regarded in Christ when it comes to gaining righteousness?

o   Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value in Christ.

o   When

o   It comes to gaining righteousness.

 

197)  According to verse 6 what is the only thing that counts?

o   The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

198)  According to verse 2 who were brought into sharp dispute and debate with people from Judea?

o   Paul and Barnabas were brought into sharp

§  Dispute.

§  And debate with them.

 

199)  According to verse 2 what were Paul and Barnabas appointed to do along with some other believers?

o   They were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to see the

§  Apostles.

§  And elders.

o   About the question.

 

200)  What was the question?

o   The question was whether the Gentiles must be circumcised as a matter of keeping the law of Moses in order to be saved.

 

201)  Who did the appointment of Paul and Barnabas?

o   The church at Antioch did.

 

202)  According to verse 3 what did Paul and Barnabas do as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria?

o   They told how the Gentiles had been converted.

 

203)  According to verse 3 how did believers who heard about the conversion of the Gentiles receive the news?

o   The news made all the believers very glad.

 

204)  According to verse 4 how were representatives from the church at Antioch received by the church at Jerusalem?

o   They were welcomed by

§  The church at Jerusalem.

§  And the apostles.

§  And elders.

 

205)  According to verse 4 what report did Paul and Barnabas give?

o   They reported everything.

o   That

o   God had done through them.

 

206)  According to verse 5 what did some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees do?

o   They stood up and said that the Gentiles must be

§  Circumcised.

§  And required to keep the law of Moses.

 

207)  What did these believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees mean by what they said but stopped short of saying?

o   They meant that the Gentiles must be

§  Circumcised.

§  And required to keep the law of Moses.

o   In order to be saved.

 

208)  According to verse 6 who from the church at Jerusalem meet to consider the question?

o   The apostles and elders did.

 

209)  According to verse 7 who got up and addressed the apostles and elders after much discussion?

o   Peter did.

 

210)  According to verse 7 what did God choose Peter from among the apostles to do some time ago?

o   God chose Peter.

o   So that

o   The Gentiles might

§  Hear from his lips the message of the gospel.

§  And believe.

 

211)  According to verse 8 how did God who knows the heart show his acceptance of the Gentiles, given Acts 10:44-46?

o   God showed his acceptance of the Gentiles by giving the Holy Spirit to them without their having verbally expressed belief in Peter’s message.

o   Because

o   God knows the heart.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Acts 10:44-46 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

212)  According to verse 9 how did God not discriminate between the Jews and the Gentiles?

o   God purified the hearts of the Gentiles by faith.

 

213)  What does it mean for the hearts of the Gentiles to be purified by faith?

o   It means that they are justified by faith.

 

214)  According to verse 10 what was the yoke that Jews throughout history have been unable to bear?

o   Jews throughout history have been unable to observe the law of Moses perfectly.

 

215)  Could Jews be saved through observing the law of Moses?

o   No.

 

216)  Is it reasonable to require the Gentiles to observe the law of Moses in order for them to be saved?

o   No.

 

217)  According to verse 11 what did Peter and his fellow apostles believe they were saved through?

o   They believed they were saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.

o   Just as

o   The Gentiles were.

 

218)  According to verse 12 what did Barnabas and Paul tell the whole assembly as they listened in silence?

o   Barnabas and Paul told about the

§  Signs.

§  And wonders.

o   That

o   God had done among the Gentiles through them.

 

219)  What did the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through Barnabas and Paul affirm?

o   They affirmed the message Barnabas and Paul preached among the Gentiles.

o   That

o   They could be saved apart from observing the law of Moses.

 

220)  Who enabled Barnabas and Paul to work miracles to affirm their message, given 1 Corinthians 12:7-11?

o   The Holy Spirit did.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

221)  According to verse 13 who spoke up when Barnabas and Paul finished?

o   James did.

 

222)  Who was Simon?

o   Peter was called Simon.

 

223)  According to verse 14 what did God intervene through Peter to do?

o   Through Peter God intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.

 

224)  According to verses 15 to 18 how did James back up what he said?

o   He quoted words of the prophets that are in agreement with God’s choice.

 

225)  Where are words of the prophets recorded?

o   They are recorded in the bible.

 

226)  How did James understand words of the prophets, given 1 Corinthians 2:11-12?

o   The Holy Spirit enabled him to understand words of the prophets given us in the bible.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

227)  Who was David?

o   David was the greatest earthly king of Israel.

 

228)  According to verses 16 and 17 what is the purpose of God’s rebuilding David’s fallen tent?

o   God does it.

o   So that

o   The rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear his name.

 

229)  According to verses 19 and 20 what did James propose that the church at Jerusalem should do?

o   He proposed that they

§  Should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

§  And should write to them, telling them to abstain from

Ø  Food polluted by idols.

Ø  Sexual immorality.

Ø  The meat of strangled animals.

Ø  And blood.

 

230)  According to verse 21 what did James say was the reason for his proposal?

o   For the law of Moses

§  Has been preached in every city from the earliest times.

§  And is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.

 

231)  What motivated James to give the reason for his proposal, given Acts 14:1?

o   Barnabas and Paul habitually went into the synagogues to preach the gospel.

o   Oftentimes there were God-fearing Greeks in attendance who believed the gospel Barnabas and Paul preached.

o   These God-fearing Greeks

§  Were familiar with the law of Moses.

§  And would be readily able to abide by James’ proposed rules for Gentile believers.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Acts 14:1 that says,

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

232)  According to verse 22 what did the apostles and elders, along with the whole church, decide to do?

o   They decided to

§  Choose some of their own men.

§  And send them to Antioch with

Ø  Paul. 

Ø  And Barnabas.

 

233)  According to verse 22 whom did the church choose?

o   They chose

§  Judas (called Barsabbas).

§  And Silas.

o   Men who were leaders among the believers.

 

234)  According to verses 22 and 23 what purpose did Judas and Silas serve?

o   They would be carrier of the letter.

o   That

o   The church was going to send.

 

235)  According to verse 23 whom was the letter going to be addressed to?

o   It was going to be addressed to Gentile believers in

§  Antioch.

§  Syria.

§  And Cilicia.

 

236)  According to verse 24 who went out from the church at Jerusalem without authorization and disturbed believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia?

o   People who came down from Judea to Antioch did.

 

237)  According to verses 25 and 26 how were Barnabas and Paul regarded by the church at Jerusalem?

o   They were regarded as dear friends—men who had risked their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

238)  According to verses 25 and 27 whom would Judas and Silas be traveling with?

o   They would be traveling with

§  Barnabas.

§  And Paul.

 

239)  According to verse 27 what was the reason Judas and Silas were sent?

o   They were sent to confirm by word of mouth what the church at Jerusalem was writing.

 

240)  According to verse 28 did Gentile believers have the obligation to follow more rules if someone came along later and demanded their observance of those other rules and why?

o   No, because it seemed good

§  To the Holy Spirit.

§  And to the church at Jerusalem.

o   Not to burden Gentile believers with anything beyond the rules already laid out.

 

241)  According to verse 29 what rules did the church at Jerusalem lay out for Gentile believers to follow?

o   They were to abstain from

§  Food sacrificed to idols.

§  Blood.

§  The meat of strangled animals.

§  And sexual immorality.

 

242)  What is the objective evidence that it seemed good to the Holy Spirit not to burden Gentile believers with anything beyond the rules laid out in the letter?

o   The objective evidence is based on the following:

§  God showed his acceptance of the Gentiles by

Ø  Giving the Holy Spirit to them. 

Ø  And justifying them by faith.

§  When

§  They heard Peter’s message.

§  The Holy Spirit enabled Barnabas and Paul to work miracles to affirm their message among the Gentiles.

§  That

§  They could be saved by faith apart from observing the law of Moses.

§  The Holy Spirit enabled James to understand words of the prophets that are in agreement with God’s choice of the Gentiles.

 

243)  What is the compromise that had been reached in the decision rendered by the Council of Jerusalem?

o   Gentile believers could be saved by faith apart from circumcision.

o   On the other hand they need to abide by some rules taken from the law of Moses.

 

244)  According to verse 30 what did Barnabas and Paul, Judas and Silas do when they arrived in Antioch?

o   They

§  Gathered together the church at Antioch.

§  And delivered the letter.

 

245)  What is the consultation at Jerusalem called?

o   It is called the Council of Jerusalem.

 

246)  What is the purpose of the Council of Jerusalem?

o   It is for answering the question of whether Gentile believers are obligated to observe

§  The law of Moses.

§  Circumcision of men in particular.

o   In order to be saved.

========================

Gentile believers could be saved apart from circumcision

========================