Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #36 (1 of 3 weeks)

Doctrinal Standard #36 (1 of 3 weeks)

  • Q. What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
  • A. The benefits that in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification are: the assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, and growing and persevering in grace to the end of our lives.

Memory Verses

  • “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2–3, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: 1 John 5
  • Support Passages: 1 John 1:6-9; 2:3-29; 3:3-24; 4:6-13
  • Bible Story: Luke 15

Thoughts

  • God’s work of justification, adoption, and sanctification in the lives of believers provides the assurance that He will never leave nor forsake His promises. God is the author of sanctification. Believers are saved because of what Jesus has done and it is not up to the believer. God has bought His people with the blood of Christ, adopted them into His family, and is sanctifying their lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is with this understanding that believers can have assurance that God’s love will also remain and never change.
  • In order to understand the assurance of God’s love and the peace of conscience that the catechism speaks of, it is important to remember God’s sovereign plan in the lives of believers. Ephesians 1:4–5 teaches us, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Understanding God sovereign plan provides a believer with greater assurance in God’s love that will never fail or forsake those who call upon Him for salvation.
  • Understanding God’s sovereign plan of salvation (justification), adoption, and sanctification gives greater insight to the parables that Jesus told in Luke 15. Each of the three parables provides an illustration on the assurance of God’s love and the peace that comes from that. Each of the three parables illustrates how God’s will never relent in gathering those who are His nor will he forsake His children who seem to walk away for a time.

Discussion Questions

  • What does assurance mean?
  • What does peace of conscience mean?
  • How do Christians have an assurance of God’s love?
  • Read Luke 15. One of the parables is often referred to as the “The Parable of The Prodigal Son.” Even though most of the story describes the son’s behavior, why is this story really about the Father?
  • What does this teach us about God’s love?
  • What do the other two parables in Luke 15 teach us about God’s love?
  • How does knowing God’s love give us a “peace of conscience”?

 

 


Yom Kippur 09/26/12 – Please Read –

Hello Emmaus Church. Tomorrow (09/26/12) Jews all over the world will observe Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Attonement . The Day of Atonement is the most sacred day of the Jewish year and involves fasting, prayers and a liturgy related to the ministry of the High Priest as commanded in the Book of Leviticus for the atonement of God’s people. Furthermore, the Day of Attonement is central to properly understanding the Chrstian faith. Levitcus 16 describes this event in detail, as it is one of the most significant chapters in all of the Old Testament. In Leviticus 16 the High Priest is given elaborate and extensive instructions on how to carry out the sacrifice needed to atone for the sins of the people. This was the only day of the entire year that the High Priest was able to enter into the Holy of Holies in order to make atonement for the sins of God’s people.

In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews tells us that “we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” (Hebrews 8:1, 2 ESV) Yom Kippur is the central event in understanding the need for a sacrifice, and why Christ was the only one worthy to fully atone for the sins of the people. For “he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”(Colossians 1:22 ESV)

In remembering and observing this pivotal day in the formation of Christianity, I encourage you to do the following.

1. Read the following article about the Day of Atonement. The Author does a great job explaining the importance of Yom Kippur and its significance to Christianity. http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/101401.html

2. Read Leviticus 16 and understand it in context.

3. Read the book of Hebrews and make note of Christ as our high priest.

4. Reflect on the majestic, amazing, and underserving gift we received through God’s perfect sacrifice, Christ.

5. Pray for Israel that they would see that Christ is the true messiah and only the high priest worthy of atoning for the sins of the world!

May you be blessed as we remember and reflect on the most central event of all history; God’s redemption of His own. Blessings.

-Russell

Posted in Study Guides, Holy Days, Russell Schmidt, Posted by Russell. No Comments

GCG Questions for Sermon on 09/23/12

1. What evidence is there for Peter’s use of faith as referring to a personal faith and not a corporate faith in 2 Peter 1:1?
2. Where is your faith? Is it strong? Are you struggling in any areas? Share with your group.
3. What does the term righteousness mean in 2 Peter 1:1?
4. How has your knowledge or understanding of the doctrine of election changed or grown over the last year?
5. How can better understanding the original languages of scripture help you in evangelizing to non-believers?


Catechism Insight – Review Doctrinal Standards WSC #27-35

Review Doctrinal Standards WSC #27-35

WSC #27
Q. How was Christ humiliated?
A. Christ was humiliated: by being born as a man and born into a poor family; by being made subject to the law and suffering the miseries of this life, the anger of God, and the curse of death on the cross; and by being buried and remaining under the power of death for a time.

WSC #28
Q. How is Christ exalted?
A. Christ is exalted by His rising from the dead on the third day, His going up into heaven, His sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and His coming to judge the world at the last day.

WSC #29
Q. How are we made to take part in the redemption Christ bought?
A. We take part in the redemption Christ bought when the Holy Spirit effectively applies it to us.

WSC #30
Q. How does the Holy Spirit apply to us the redemption Christ bought?
A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption Christ bought by producing faith in us and so uniting us to Christ in our effective calling.

WSC #31
Q. What is effective calling?
A. Effective calling is the work of God’s Spirit, Who convinces us that we are sinful and miserable, Who enlightens our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and Who renews our wills. This is how He persuades and makes us able to receive Jesus Christ, Who is freely offered to us in the gospel.

WSC #32
Q. What benefits do those who are effectively called share in this life?
A. In this life those who are effectively called share justification, adoption, sanctification, and the other benefits that either go with or come from them.

WSC #33
Q. What is justification?
A. Justification is the act of God’s free grace by which He pardons all our sins and accepts us as righteous in His sight. He does so only because He counts the righteousness of Christ as ours. Justification is received by faith alone.

WSC #34
Q. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is the act of God’s free grace by which we become His sons with all the rights and privileges of being His.

 WSC #35
Q. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace by which our whole person is made new in the image of God, and we are made more and more able to become dead to sin and alive to
righteousness.

Memory Verses

  • “And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25–27,ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Luke 24:13-35

Thoughts

  • This should be a time of reflection, assessment, and re-teaching.
  • There are a couple of different ways to approach this review lesson. First, the review questions and answers could be made into a game that forces the students to remember what they have learned while assessing their understanding. Another idea is to quiz each student on each of the 9 questions making sure to encourage and celebrate their accomplishments. Last, it would be beneficial to review each of the question and answers drawing out their central truths and mentioning how they are connected.

Discussion Questions

  • Why is it important that we understand the Old Testament in order to understand the New Testament?
  • Explain how Christ was humiliated and exalted?
  • What does redemption mean and how does it come about?
  • What does effective calling mean?
  • Explain justification, adoption, and sanctification.
  •  What is God’s and man’s responsibility in our justification, adoption, and sanctification?

GCG Questions for Sermon on 09/17/12

1. How has understanding the background of 2 Peter helped you in better understanding the book?
2. How does Peter go about preparing the church to stand firm against the attacks that are on the way? Give examples.
3. What is Peter’s method for bolstering the church so that the truth of the gospel of Christ might stand the test of time?
4. Why should this portion of 2 Peter cause us to be Humbled and stand in Awe of God? Share.
5. Are you being humble in your Christian walk?


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #35

Doctrinal Standard #35

  • Q. What is sanctification?
  • A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace by which our whole person is made new in the image of God, and we are made more and more able to become dead to sin and alive to righteousness.

Memory Verses

  • “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1–2, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Romans 7-8
  • Support Passages: I Thessalonians 5:23, II Thessalonians 2:13, Romans 6, I Corinthians 6, Philippians 3:1-16, Romans 12:1-2, I Peter 1:13-21
  • Bible Story: Genesis 12-25:11

Thoughts

  • “Sanctification is the continuing work of God in the life of the believer, making him or her actually holy. By ‘holy’ here is meant ‘bearing an actual likeness to God.’ Sanctification is a process by which one’s moral condition is brought into conformity with one’s legal status before God. It is a continuation of what was begun in regeneration, when a newness of life was conferred upon and instilled within the believer. In particular, sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s applying to the life of the believer the work done by Jesus Christ” (pg. 980). [1]
  • While justification and sanctification are connected it is important to understand the distinction between the two. Justification is what saves an individual from their sins and allows them to be accepted before God. This is made possible through the righteous life and death of Jesus Christ (see lesson #48-49). Justification is applied to an individual through faith and by faith alone. While sanctification does not save an individual sanctification is the response to the justification in the life of a believer. Sanctification is the “progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives” (pg. 1259).
  • Romans chapter seven and eight is an interesting passage of scripture that explains the connection between God’s Law, justification, and sanctification. In chapter seven, Paul explains that God’s Law is good and it is the measure by which man must perfectly live by in order to be accepted by God. Paul goes on to explain that it is impossible for man to live up to this expectation. In fact, the more Paul understands the Law, the more he realizes how much sin is in his life. Paul teaches that’s it’s the imputed righteousness and forgiveness in Christ blood that takes the place of man’s efforts to keep the Law and be accepted before God (justification). Does this mean that the Law is done away with? Paul says no! While there is no way man can keep the Law to be accepted before God, with the Spirits help we are called to live pure and holy lives which the Law points towards (sanctification).

Discussion Questions

  • Explain in your own words sanctification.
  • How does sanctification differ from justification?
  • What is the measure of sanctification?
  • Is sanctification an option for believers? Explain
  • How does God play a part of sanctification?
  • Does the sanctification process ever stop for a believer?


[1] Erickson, Millard J. (1998). Christian Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Baker Books.


Youth Focus – 9/13

This Thursday (9/13) we will be discussing the inerrancy of scripture as outlined in chapter 5 or Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology book. We will be discussing why we can trust God’s word and know that it is without error. We will also be examining various objections to the inerrancy of scripture and why these objections do not hold true.

7pm @ EV Free

-Phil


GCG questions for sermon on 09/09/12

1. What part of 2 Peter stuck out to you the most during Joe’s reading of the entire book? Why? Share.
2. Why do you think Peter began his book with the greeting he did?
3. Where are you at with your battle with pride? Are you doing well or can you use prayer in some areas? Share with your group.
4. What does it really mean to be a bond servant of Christ? Share.
5. How has God blessed you this week? (at church, work, school, home) Share.



"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

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