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Feb 12
27

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (2 of 4 weeks)

Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (2 of 4 weeks)

  • Q. Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?
  • A. From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.

Memory Verses

  • “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet” (Matthew 5:13, ESV).

Study Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22

Support Passages: Matthew 5:13-16, Matthew 13

Bible Story: Matthew 5:13-16

Insight and Application

  • Scripture teaches us that we have faith in Christ because God has chosen us for salvation. We must understand that God’s choosing has nothing to do with us but has everything to do with Him. Everything is for His will, purpose, and glory.
    • Isaiah 46:10 (ESV) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.
    • Psalm 115:3 (ESV) Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
    • Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
    • Ephesians 3:8–10 (ESV) To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
    • Deuteronomy 10:14–15 (ESV)  Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.
    • Psalm 33:12 (ESV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
    • Psalm 106:5 (ESV)  that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.
    • Haggai 2:23 (ESV)  On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
    • Exodus 33:19 (ESV) 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
    • Deuteronomy 7:6–7 (ESV)  “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
    • Matthew 11:27 (ESV) 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
    • Matthew 22:14 (ESV) 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
    • Matthew 24:22 (ESV) 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
    • Matthew 24:24 (ESV) 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
    • Matthew 24:31 (ESV) 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
    • Luke 18:7 (ESV) And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
    • Romans 8:28–30 (ESV) 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
    • Romans 8:33 (ESV)  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
    • Colossians 3:12 (ESV) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ESV) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
    • Titus 1:1 (ESV)  Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
    • 1 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV)  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
    • 1 Peter 2:8–9 (ESV)  and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
    • Revelation 17:14 (ESV) They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
    • Mark 13:20 (ESV) And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
    • Ephesians 1:4–5 (ESV) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
    • Romans 9:11–13 (ESV) though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
    • Romans 9:16 (ESV) So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
    • Romans 10:20 (ESV)  Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
    • 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 (ESV)  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
    • 2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV)  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
    • John 15:16 (ESV) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
    • Acts 13:48 (ESV) And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
    • Philippians 1:29 (ESV)  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
    • 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 (ESV) For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
    • 2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
    • Because we are chosen in Christ we must view our position appropriately with humility. We must realize that our salvation and purpose is rooted in the glorification of our great King. This is why the Lord Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth. This is why Jesus told us to love one another. This is why scriptures tell us to live as set apart and not to live like the world. Our contact towards one another and the way with live our life is to bring glory and honor to the one and true God.
    • We begin to lose a biblical perspective and start developing pride when we think that salvation and this life are about ourselves. God has chosen you and I to live in order that He may be seen and praised my many.

Discussion Questions

  • If God was not obligated to save any human being, why did He?
  • What should be the response of those who God has chosen? Explain
  • Why did God give commands to follow? Explain
  • Is salvation about God or man? Explain
  • What is this life about? (WSC #1)
  • Does your life reflect that truth? Explain
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Posted in Study Guides, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Ephesians 2:11-22, Matthew 5:13-16, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Feb 12
21

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (1 of 4 weeks)

Doctrinal Standards WSC #20 (1 of 4 weeks)

  • Q. Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?
  • A. From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.

Memory Verses

  • “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (I Peter 2:9-10, ESV).

Study Passage: 1 Peter 1:13-2:10

Support Passages: Genesis 3:15, 9:8-17, 12:1-3, 15:1-21; Romans 8:28-30

Bible Story: Genesis 19:1-26

Thoughts

  • In order to begin to understand the doctrine of election, we must fully comprehend God’s sovereignty, the result of sin in man’s life, and the grace of God.
  • The Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over everything. God is in control of everything: He sets up governments (Romans 13:1), He ordains where people will live, at what period of time they will live, and when they will die (Acts 17:26). God reigns over Satan and his demons and is able to take the worst they could possible do and turn it into our greatest good (Romans 8:28). God knows what all of our needs are, and He takes care of them (Matthew 5:8). He takes care of and provides for all the plants and animals (Matthew 6:26-28).  He knew that Adam and Eve, while created perfect, would sin and be in need of a savior. That Savior, Jesus Christ, was chosen before the world was formed, and was destined to come to the earth, die, and rise again for the forgiveness of sins (I Peter 1:20). God controls everything through His permissive will, that which He allows, and through His ordained will, that which He actively brings about.
  • In order to fully understand predestination, we must understand the consequence of sin. The result of sin is death both physically and spiritually. When someone is physically dead, they are one hundred percent bound by their condition. They cannot move, they cannot speak, and they cannot change their state of deadness. The same is true when someone is spiritually dead. They cannot change from death to life, they cannot seek what is spiritually good, and they cannot choose to follow the life found in Christ because they are spiritually dead. As it is written in Romans 3:10–18 (ESV):  “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. 13 Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. The venom of asps is under their lips. 14 Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Mankind, in its sinful state, is at odds with God and is completely spiritually dead.  Just as Christ called Lazarus out of the grave and gave him life, God is the only one who can bring to life a dead soul, creating the desire to follow after Him.
  • In order to understand how God chooses to save only some through His grace and love, we need to comprehend the true meaning of grace. As we know, the consequence or result of sin is death. Every human being is a sinner and is justly condemned to Hell and punishment. God would be just and righteous to send every individual to Hell, saving no one. God is not obligated to save anyone, but He does. He chooses to save some. This is the true meaning of grace: God shows His grace by saving some when all deserve Hell. Most often we ask ourselves the question, “Why doesn’t God save all or at least more?” Actually, the more biblical question we should ponder is, “Why does God save any?” We often consider the salvation our Lord provides as an obligation required of Him when in reality it is purely a gift that He has chosen to give to some. His salvation is not given out of duty but rather out of His gracious and merciful heart. The response of those who have received His grace should be nothing less than great humility and thankfulness for what the Creator of the universe has done for us.

Discussion Questions

  • What is man’s spiritual condition because of sin? Explain
  • The Bible teaches that the result of sin is death. It also teaches that those who sin are slaves to sin. Discuss the characteristics or abilities of someone who is dead or a slave.
  • What are the desires of someone who is spiritually dead?
  • If all of mankind is sinful and, therefore, spiritually dead and slaves to sin, do we have the ability to choose and follow after Christ? Explain
  • If no one can choose to follow after Christ, why do some people receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and follow His commands? Explain
  • The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave illustrates exactly how God gives spiritual life to the spiritual dead (John 11:1-44).  Discuss the similarities.

 

Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Acts 17:26, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-21, Genesis 19:1-26, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 9:8-17, I Peter 1:20, I Peter 2:9-10, Matthew 5:8, Matthew 6:26-28, Romans 3:10–18, Romans 8:28, Romans 8:28-30, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Feb 12
13

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #19

Doctrinal Standards WSC #19

  • Q. What is the misery of man’s fallen condition?
  • A. By their fall, all mankind lost fellowship with God and brought His anger and curse on themselves. They are, therefore, subject to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.

Memory Verses

  • “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV).

Study Passage: Matthew 25:31-46

Support Passages: Deuteronomy 28; Lamentations

Bible Story: Luke 16:19-31

Thoughts

  • We always need to be reminded that sin has resulted in a separation from or broken relationship with God. Because of our sins, we all deserve the full wrath of God. God would be just and righteous in condemning every single human being to hell for the punishment of their transgression. This truth is extremely important to understand. God does not have to save a single individual from the punishment they rightly deserve. But He does choose to save some. The fact that He saves some when He is not obligated to do so clearly expresses the true meaning of God’s grace and mercy.
  • After Adam and Eve sinned against God, they were told that as a consequence they would experience misery and pain for the remainder of life (Genesis3:14-19). This misery, like sin, is passed down from generation to generation. Suffering, heartache, frustration, and a longing for things to be perfect is a result of sin entering into the world.

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • What is the punishment for sin? Explain.
  • Is it both a physical and spiritual death? Explain.
  • Besides death, what other effects does sin have on life?
  • Would God be just to punish and send every single human being to Hell? Why?
  • If God can justly send every human being to Hell for their sins, why doesn’t He?
  • After answering the previous two questions, explain God’s grace and mercy.
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Deuteronomy 28, Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Feb 12
7

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #17 & 18

Doctrinal Standards WSC #17 & 18

  • Q. What happened to man in the fall?
  • A. Man fell into a condition of sin and misery.
  • Q. What is sinful about man’s fallen condition?
  • A. The sinfulness of that fallen condition is twofold. First, in what is commonly called original sin, there is the guilt of Adam’s first sin with its lack of original righteousness and the corruption of his whole nature. Second are all the specific acts of disobedience that come from original sin.

Memory Verses

  • ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, ESV).
  • “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 3:1-20

Support Passages: Psalm 5:9, 10:7, 14:1-3, 36:1-4; 53:1-4; Isaiah 59

Bible Story: Numbers 13-14 (14:1-10)

Thoughts

  • Adam and Eve were the only two human beings to live without sin. They did not have a sin nature until they disobeyed God by eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Since Adam and Eve, the Bible teaches that every single human is born with a sin nature. That is to say they we are “conceived in sin”. From the very beginning of an individual’s life their heart is sinful – they are an enemy of God. It is the death of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit that enables us to have eternal life.
  • As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, we display our own disobedience to the true and living God.  Our sinful heart is revealed by the words that come out of our mouth and our sinful actions.

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • What was the sin of Adam and Eve?
  • What were the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin?
  • Are individuals born sinful or do they learn how to sin? Explain.
  • If we are born sinful, we are enemies of God. How do we become friends of God?
  • What part does God play in this process?
  • What part does man play in this process?
  • What do our actions and words reveal about our heart?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Romans 3:1-20, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
29

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #16

Doctrinal Standards WSC #16

  • Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first disobedience?
  • A. Since the covenant was made not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants, all mankind sinned in him and fell with him in his first disobedience.

Memory Verses

  • “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, ESV).

Study Passage: Romans 5:12-21

Support Passages: Genesis 8:20-21; Job 14:1-6; Psalm 51:5; John 3:3-6; Ephesians 2:3

Bible Story: Genesis 6-8

Thoughts

  • Scripture teaches, and many times assumes, the position that that Adam and Eve were the only two human beings created without sin. Once their “fall” took place sin entered into the nature of man and is passed down to each generation.
  •  Below are a few scriptures that teach that mankind has inherited a sin nature from their parents:
    • 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, (ESV) “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
    • Psalm 51:5 “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
    • Ephesians 2:1–3 (ESV) “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.“
    • Genesis 8:21 (ESV) “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.”
    • Psalm 14:2–3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
    • “If we are born innocent and good, why aren’t there at least some people who have continued in this state and remained sinless? The fact that everybody sins needs some explanation. The best explanation is that we are sinners by nature. Someone might argue that the reason all people sin is because society is sinful, and thus society renders it impossible for anybody to keep themselves entirely pure. But that only pushes the question back one step. How did society get sinful in the first place? If people are born morally good, then how did it come about that they congregated into societies that influence all people to sin?” (Matt Perman – Desiringgod.org).

Discussion Questions

  • What was the covenant God made with Adam and Eve?
  • What does it mean that the covenant was “not only for Adam but also for his natural descendants?”
  • Are we able to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all mankind? Why?
  • Are you and I born a sinner or is it something we have to learn? Explain.
  • Think about your own feelings or thoughts when you have the choice to do what’s right or wrong. Which choice does your heart prefer to choose? How does this prove sin nature?
  • If we are born a sinner and are unable to keep the covenant that God made with Adam and all of mankind what hope do we have?
  • A couple weeks ago we talked about covenants of work and covenants of grace. Explain the two types of covenants.
  • Because of our sin nature what covenant must we be a part of in order to please God? Explain.
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 Corinthians 15:21–22, Ephesians 2:1–3, Genesis 8:21, Psalm 14:2–3, Psalm 51:5, Romans 5:12-21, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
23

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #14 & 15

Doctrinal Standards WSC #14 & 15

  • Q. What is sin?
  • A. Sin is disobeying or not conforming to God’s law in any way.
  • Q. By what sin did our first parents fall from their original condition?
  • A. Our first parents’ sin was eating the forbidden fruit.

Memory Verses

  • ”Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, ESV).

Study Passage: I John 3

Support Passages: Leviticus 4; Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Romans 3:9-24; James 2:1-13

Bible Story: Genesis 4:1-15

Thoughts

  • “Sin never consists merely in a voluntary act of transgression. Every volition proceeds from something that is more deep-seated than the volition itself. A sinful act is the expression of a sinful heart (cf. Mk. 7:20–23; Pr. 4:23; 23:7). Our understanding of sin must always take into consideration  the perversity of heart, mind, disposition and will.”[1]
  • 1 John 3 is very adamant that the people of God are to not be caught up in sin. In verse 10 He writes that “whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” There are a couple important words to examine to fully understand what John is telling us in this passage. The word righteousness is used in scripture in a couple different ways. Righteousness can mean our acceptance before God. We are righteous before God because of what Christ did on the cross which we had no part in. Righteousness can also refer to living right before God. We are to be “Holy as (God) is holy,” we are to obey the commands of God. In 1 John chapter 3 the word righteous has the meaning of the latter.  John is calling Christians to live a life in obedience to the commands of God.
  • As Christians we are to practice living a life in obedience to the commands of God. We are to struggle to live a righteous life before God and when we do sin we can be obedient by immediately confess it to the Lord (1 John 1:9).

Discussion Questions

  • What is sin?
  • Who determines what sin is? Can it change?
  • How does our culture view sin?
  • If sin is not conforming to God’s law, what first must we know?
  • Can we know what sin is without knowing God’s word? Explain
  • Is ignorance a valid excuse to sinning? Explain
  • Are acting upon a desire and temptation the same thing (Genesis 4:6-7)? Explain

 

[1] Wood, D. R. W., & Marshall, I. H. (1996). New Bible dictionary (3rd ed.) (1107). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 1 John 1:9, I John 3, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
16

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #13

Doctrinal Standards WSC #13

  • Q. Did our first parents remain as they were created?
  • A.  Left to the freedom of their own wills, our first parents sinned against God and fell from their original condition.

Memory Verses

  • “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, ESV).

Study Passage: Genesis 3

Support Passages: Genesis 6:5-8; Psalm 89:46-48; Ecclesiastes 7:20-29; John 6:43-44; Romans 1:24-25; I Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1-3; James 1:13-15; Revelation 21:4

Bible Story: Genesis 3

Thoughts

  • The story of creation and the fall proves that the heart of man is completely depraved and utterly dependent upon the grace of God in order to please God.
  • Adam and Eve as record in Genesis were created without sin. They lacked a sin nature unlike like you and I. Even though they lacked a sin nature their hearts were still eager to turn from their Creature and peruse the passions of self.
  • The story of Adam and Eve proves that the heart of man even when created without sin is completely depraved and can do nothing that pleases God.

Discussion Questions

  • Adam and Eve were created perfect with no sin in their lives. They were told they could do anything except eat the fruit of one tree. Given enough time what happed?
  • What does this tell us about man’s heart and our ability to obey God?
  • Can mankind on their own obey God? Explain
  • What tactic did the serpent use to tempt Eve into eating the fruit (Gen 3:1-5)?
  • Was their evil before the Adam and Eve (Gen 3:5)?
  • Adam and Eve thought God was holding things back from them, particularly the “knowledge of good and evil.” Was God keeping something from man? Explain.
  • What were the various ways Eve was tempted (Gen 3:6)? Explain
  • Are you tempted to sin in the same type of ways?
  • God knew Adam and Eve ate of the tree but He still asked them if they did. Why did God ask them?
  • When confronted about their sin. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. Instead of blaming others for our sins what should we do? Explain.
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Genesis 3, Posted by Phil. No Comments

Jan 12
9

Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #12

Doctrinal Standards WSC #12

  • Q. What did God’s providence specifically do for man whom He created?
  • A. After the creation God made a covenant with man to give him life, if he perfectly obeyed; God told him not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or he would die.

Memory Verses

“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV).

Study Passage: Genesis 1:26-2:25

Support Passages: Exodus 20:8-9, 31:12-17; II Thessalonians 3:6-15; Hebrews 13:1-6

Bible Story: Exodus 24

Thoughts

  • The traditional definition for covenant is “a contract or agreement between two parties” (Eaton’s Bible Dictionary). While this definition may provide insight in some facets of understand our relation to God more explanation is needed. The covenant between God and man is not a fifty-fifty agreement. God in is infinite power and wisdom brought us into a covenant of life with Him for His glory.
  • The first covenant made with Adam is considered a covenant of works also known as a covenant of law. In a covenant of works God enters into an agreement with an individual or group of people defined by keeping commandments. If the individual or group obeys the commands of the Lord they will be blessed. If they disobey the commands they will be cursed. Adam and Eve were in a covenant of works with God. Adam and Eve were blessed when they obeyed God. When they disobeyed God by eating the fruit they were cured and died.
  • All of the covenants can be categorized as either a covenant of law or covenant of grace. The Adamic and Mosaic Covenants are covenants of law. “Obey and you will be blessed.” “Disobey and you will be cursed.” The Abrahmic, Noahic, Davidic, and New Covenant are covenants of grace. The end result is always in God’s hands. Making Abraham as a great nation was all God’s doing, saving Noah and his family was all God’s doing, making David’s throne eternal through Jesus Christ is all God’s doing, and the perfect sacrifice for our sins was all God’s doing! Those who are saved rely on God’s doing through the covenant of grace. Those who will not be saved are relying on their own works through the covenant of law.

Discussion Questions

  • Why did God create mankind?
  • What is a covenant?
  • What was the covenant God made with Adam and Eve (Gen 2:16-17)?
  • What is God’s part of the covenant and what is Adam and Eve’s part?
  • Compare and contrast the Adamic and New Covenant (refer to insight and application for more information).
  • God told Adam and Eve that if they eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they would die. What does it mean that they would die?
Posted in Study Guides, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Genesis 1:26-2:25, Posted by Phil. No Comments

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

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