Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #39

Doctrinal Standard #39

  • Q. What does God require of man?
  • A. God requires man to obey His revealed will.

Memory Verses

  • “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22b–23a, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Luke 11:27-28
  • Support Passages: John 3:36, 14:15, I John 2:3-4, Acts 5:29, Romans 13:1-7, II Thessalonians 1:6-10, Hebrews 13:17
  • Bible Story: I Samuel 15

Thoughts

  • When teaching our child about the importance of obeying God’s Law we must be careful not error in teaching moralism instead of biblical Christianity. To understand the difference between the two we must understand the difference between the Law and Gospel and how they relate to one another in the life of an individual.
  • There are three uses of the Law of God: the civil, pedagogical, and normative use. We will briefly discuss the pedagogical and normative use to better understanding how it plays a part in the life of a believer.
  • The catechism states that God requires man to obey his will (law) but what we also understand is that scripture teaches that all mankind is unable to keep the commands of the Lord.  Therefore God’s Law has a “pedagogical use (usus elenchticus sive paedagogicus), it shows people their sin and points them to mercy and grace outside of themselves” (Lems). While God’s law revels his will and standards for mankind it also brings individuals to the realization that they are in need of the gospel. What man is unable to do according to the Law, Christ did in their place by living a perfect life to the Law and paying the ransom for their sins by dying on the cross. God’s Law and the Gospel of Jesus Christ works together in the life of an individual to bring about saving faith.
  • Many people have a limited view of the Law of God and believe that it’s only purpose is to point people to Christ and then should be left alone. This couldn’t be further from the truth. God’s law is perfect and holy. God’s Law has a “normative use (usus didacticus sive normativus). Which means this use of the law is for those who trust in Christ and have been saved through faith apart from works” (Lems) [1]. The law cannot save people because people are unable to keep it. But God’s law does direct the behaviors of those who are part of the family of God. The law is what helps guide believers in becoming holy as God is holy. The commands of the Lord are an essential part in the sanctification process of a believer.
  • The distinction between moralism and biblical Christianity is rather simple but can often be overlooked if not careful. Moralism teaches that man ought to live a life of good moral character by continually doing what is right. While there is nothing wrong with this statement in itself, the serious error of moralism that it never presents the gospel message. Moralism never addresses the problem that man can never be good enough to be accepted by God. Moralism is a self righteous religion found in many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.
  • For a relevant case study on moralism in Christianity refer to a blog post on our website titled Veggie Tales and Moralism.

Discussion Questions

  • What does God require of man?
  • What is the problem with God requiring man to keep his commands?
  • Do you think God knew about this problem before he commanded people to keep his laws? Explain.
  • If God knew that man would not be able to keep his commands why did he give them?
  • How did God fix man’s problem in keeping his laws?
  • Are Christians still commanded to keep God’s law? Explain


[1] Lems, Shane. Three Uses of The Law, Reformedreader.com


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #38

Doctrinal Standard #38 (2 of 2 weeks)

  • Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
  • A. At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognized and declared not guilty on the day of judgment and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.

Memory Verses

  • And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Revelation 21,22
  • Support Passages: II Peter 3:10-13, I John 3:2, II Corinthians 12:2-4, Isaiah 65:17, 66:22
  • Bible Story: Revelation 21


Thoughts

  • Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology (Pg. 1163-1164) states that, “scripture consistently portrays this new creation (heaven) as a place of great beauty and joy. In the description of heaven in Revelation 21 and 22, this theme is repeatedly affirmed. It is a ‘holy city’ (21:2), a place ‘prepared as a bride adorned for her husband’ (21:2). In that place ‘death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more’ (21:4). There we can drink ‘from the fountain of the water of life without payment’ (21:6). It is a city that has ‘the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal’ (21:11). It is a city of immense sixe, whether the measurements be understood as literal or symbolic. Its length measures ’12,000 stadia’ (21:16), or about 1,400 miles (2,250 kilometers), and ‘its length and breadth and height are equal’ (21:6). Parts or the city are constructed of immense precious jewels of various colors (21:18-21). It will be free from all evil, for ‘nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life’ (21:27). In that city we shall also have positions of rule over God’s entire creation, for ‘they shall reign forever and ever’ (22:5).”
  • “But more important than all the physical beauty of the heavenly city, more important than the fellowship we will enjoy eternally with all God’s people from all nations and all periods in history, more important than our freedom from pain and sorrow and physical suffering, and more important than reigning over God’s kingdom – more important by far than any of these will be the fact that we will be in the presence of God and enjoying unhindered fellowship with him. ‘Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes (21:3-4).”
  • “When we finally see the Lord face to face, our hearts will want nothing else. ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you…. God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’ (Ps. 73:25-26). Then with joy our hearts and voices will join with the redeemed from all ages and with the mighty armies of heaven singing, ‘Holy holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’ (Rev. 4:8).” [1]

Discussion Questions

  • How would you describe what heaven will be like?
  • How does scripture describe heaven? (Revelation 21,22).
  • Why do you think people in heaven will fully enjoy God forever?
  • Do you enjoy God here on earth? Explain
  • Would you rather be in heaven or on earth right now? Explain
  • Does your answer to the previous question reveal anything about your heart?

 

 



[1] Grudem, Wayne (1994). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Zondervan Publishing House.


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #38

Doctrinal Standard #38 (1 of 2 weeks)

  • Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
  • A. At the resurrection, believers, raised in glory, will be publicly recognized and declared not guilty on the day of judgment and will be made completely happy in the full enjoyment of God forever.

Memory Verses

  • Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
  • Support Passages: I Corinthians 15:51, Daniel 12:2-3, Hebrews 9:28, Job 19:26-27
  • Bible Story: Matthew 25:31-46

Thoughts  

  • Below is an explanation of the resurrection of the dead taken from J. Dwight Pentecost’s book, The Moody Handbook of Theology (pg. 376-377).
  • “The return of Christ has an important implication for the believers because it means the hope of bodily resurrection. The resurrection hope is taught in both the Old and New Testaments and is foundational to the Christian faith. David spoke of awaking in God’s presence (Ps. 17:15). Korah expressed the hope that God would rescue him from the power of death and receive him to His presence (Ps. 49:15). Asaph had faith that God would guide him throughout life and when life was over, God would receive him to hope: ‘Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in dust, awake and shout for joy. For your dew is as the dew of the dawn. And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits’ (Isa 26:19). Daniel also clearly describes the future resurrection as all people will be resurrected form the dust of the earth, some to enter into everlasting life, others to judgment and everlasting condemnation (Dan. 12:1-12).“The New Testament provides added revelation concerning the resurrection. In His debate with the Sadducees, Jesus rebuked them for their mistaken notion in denying the resurrection. They neither understood the Scriptures (for the Old Testament taught the resurrection) nor the power of God (for He is able to raise the dead) (Matt. 22:29; cf. Mark 12:24-27; Luke 20:34-38). In John 5:28-29 Jesus spoke words reminiscent of Daniel 12:2 when He explained that the dead would hear the voices of Christ and come forth, some to a resurrection life, others to a resurrection judgment (John 5:28-29). Christ also promised eternal life to those believing in Him; they had the assurance that He would raise them from the dead (John 6:39-40, 44, 54). At the raising of Lazarus Jesus declared, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die’ (John 11:25-26).”

    In his detailed defense and explanation of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul cites the resurrection as foundational to the Christian faith. If the resurrection is not true then Christ has not been resurrected, faith is useless, and the sin problem remains unsolved (1 Cor. 15:17). The resurrection is also explained in connection with the return of Christ (1 Thess. 4:16).” [1]

Discussion Questions

  • What is a resurrection?
  • Explain Jesus resurrection?
  • How will man’s resurrection be similar to Jesus’ resurrection?
  • Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ so important to the Christian faith?
  • Will unbelievers be resurrected as well? Explain
  • How does the future resurrection of your body make you feel?


[1] Enns, Paul (1994). The Moody Handbook of Theology. Chicago, Illinois, USA; Moody Press.


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #37

Doctrinal Standard #37

  • Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ when they die?
  • A. When believers die, their souls are made perfectly holy and immediately pass into glory. Their bodies, which are still united to Christ, rest in the grace until the resurrection.

Memory Verses

  • For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:21, 23b, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: II Corinthians 5:1-10
  • Support Passages: Philippians 1:21-23, Luke 23:43, Romans 15:2-4, I Corinthians 15:23, I John 3:2, Job 19:26-27
  • Bible Story: II Kings 2:1-14

Thoughts

  • Grudem describes the believer’s transformation at the moment they pass from this life (pg. 816-817). “Death is a temporary cessation of bodily life and a separation of the soul from the body. Once a believer has died, though his or her physical body remains on the earth and is buried, at the moment of death the soul (or spirit) of that believer goes immediately into the presence of God with rejoicing. When Paul thinks about death he says, ‘we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord’ (2 Cor. 5:8). To be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord. He also says that his desire is ‘to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better’ (Phil. 1:23). And Jesus said to the thief who was dying on the cross next to him, ‘today you will be with me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). The author of Hebrews says that when Christians come together to worship they come not only into the presence of God in heaven, but also into the presence of the ‘spirits of just men made perfect’ (Heb. 12:23). However, God will not leave our dead bodies in the earth forever, for when Christ returns the souls of believers will be reunited with their bodies, their bodies will be raised from the dead, and they will live with Christ eternally.” [1]
  • Erickson in his book, Christian Theology (pg. 1011) provides a brief description of the glorified state of a believer in eternity. “In glorification the individual will also be perfected, morally and spiritually. Several biblical references point to a future completion of the process begun in regeneration and continued in sanctification. One of the most direct of these statements is Colossians 1:22: ‘ But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.’ The concept of future flawlessness or blamelessness is also found in Ephesians 1:4 and Jude 24. Guiltlessness is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:8. Paul prays that the Philippians’ ‘love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God’ (Phil 1:9-11). Our moral and spiritual perfection will be attained in part through the removal of temptation, for the source of sin and evil and temptation will have been conclusively overcome (Rev. 20:7-10).” [2]

Discussion Questions

  • When a believer dies where does his soul/spirit go?
  • What transformation takes place in a believer’s soul after they die?
  • How is this made possible?
  • Where does a believer’s body go once they die?
  • Does their body remain in the ground for eternity? Explain
  • What changes take place to a believers resurrected body?


[1] Grudem, Wayne (1994). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Zondervan Publishing House.

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


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

Doctrinal Standard #36 (3 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

  • “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10b, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Job 1:20-22; 2:10; 13:15
  • Support Passages: Ezekiel 14:14,20; James 5:11, II Thessalonians 1:4
  • Bible Story: Job

Thoughts

  • C.I. Williamson in his book The Westminster Shorter Catechism (pg. 167) explains how perseverance of believers does not mean that they will not experience difficulties in this life.  “One of the greatest conflicts in the history of the Church has come to focus at this point: Can a true believer fall? In answer to this question we shall have to say, yes, a true believer can fall in his diligence and faithfulness to God, but we shall have to say, no, a true believer can never fall out of God’s mercy and grace, which are unto everlasting life. This may be illustrated (as C.H. Spurgeon once said) by a man on board a great ship. If he is not careful, he may indeed fall down on board that ship, and injure himself. But so great and so safe is the ship that he will never fall overboard. This may not be literally true of any ship. But is true of God’s grace. Christ said, of all true believers, ‘I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [one] pluck them out of my hand’ (John 10:28). It is for this reason that there will always be ‘increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end’ in the life of every true believer.” [1]
  • The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 chapter 17.1 provides a good explanation regarding the perseverance true believers will experience throughout their life. “The saints are those whom God has accepted in Christ the Beloved, and effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit. To them He has given the precious faith that pertains to all His elect. The persons to whom such blessings have been imparted can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but they shall certainly persevere in grace to the end and be eternally saved, for God will never repent of having called them and made gifts to them. Consequently He continues to beget and to nourish in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit that issue in immortality. Many storms and floods may arise and beat upon them, yet they can never be moved from the foundation and rock on which by faith they are firmly established. Even if unbelief and Satan’s temptations cause them for a time to lose the sight and comfort of the light and love of God, yet the unchanging God remains their God, and He will certainly keep and save them by His power until they come to the enjoyment of their purchased possession; for they are engraved on the palms of His hands, and their names have been written in the book of life from all eternity.” [2]

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to persevere?
  • How does a Christian persevere through this life? (Discuss God’s actions and man’s responsibility)
  • Does the perseverance of the saints (Christians) mean this life will be easy? Explain
  • Look up these verses: Job 1:20-22; 2:10; 13:15 and discuss Job’s life in regards to perseverance.
  • Even though this life may be difficult why can Christians have true joy?
  • If the perseverance of the saints is true why do people who claim to be Christians fall away from Christ?

 



[1] Williamson, C.I. (2003). The Westminster Shorter Catechism – 2nd Edition. Phillipsburg, New Jersey, USA; P&R Publishing Company.

[2] London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #36 (2 of 3 Weeks)

Doctrinal Standard #36 (2 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

  • “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31–32 (ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: Romans 8:26-39
  • Support Passages: 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 10:27-30, Philippians 1:6, 2 Peter 1:5-11, John 17, Hebrews 9:13-15
  • Bible Story: Genesis 47:13-26, 50:20

Thoughts

  • Wayne Grudem does a good job explaining the joy a believer experiences when they understand their purpose in life (Pg 441-442).
  • “What is our purpose in life? The fact that God created us for his own glory determines the correct answer to the question, ‘ What is our purpose in life?” Our purpose must be to fulfill the reason that God created us: to glorify him. When we are speaking with respect to God himself, that is a good summary of our purpose. But when we think of our own interests, we make the happy discovery that we are to enjoy God and take delight in him and in our relationship to him. Jesus says, ‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’ (John 10:10). David tells God, ‘In your presence there is fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures for evermore’ (Ps. 16:11). He longs to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, ‘to behold the beauty of the Lord’ (Ps. 27:4), and Asaph cries out, ‘Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever (Ps 73:25-26).

    Fullness of joy is found in knowing God and delighting in the excellence of his character. To be in his presence, to enjoy fellowship with him, is a greater blessing than anything that can be imagined. ‘How lovely is your dwelling place O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God… For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere (Ps. 84:1-2, 10). Therefore, the normal heart attitude of a Christian is rejoicing in the Lord and in the lessons of the life he gives us (Rom. 5:2-3; Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6, 8)

    As we glorify God and enjoy him, Scripture tells us that he rejoices in us. We read, ‘as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you’ (Isa. 62:5), and Zephaniah prophesies that the Lord ‘will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud signing as on a day of festival’ (Zeph 3:17-18).
    This understanding of the doctrine of the creation of man has very practical results. When we realize that God created us to glorify him, and when we start to act in ways that fulfill that purpose, then we begin to experience an intensity of joy in the Lord that we have never before known. When we add to that the realization that God himself is rejoicing in our fellowship with him, our joy becomes inexpressible and filled with heavenly glory’ (1 Peter 1:8, author’s expanded paraphrase). [1]

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to be joyful?
  • Why can we have joy in our lives?
  • How can we glorify God?
  • Why does joy come from glorifying God?
  • Examine your own life. Do you take joy in God? Explain

 


[1] Grudem, Wayne (1994). Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; Zondervan Publishing House.


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”?

 

 


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?


"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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