Weekly Bible Study Review

Weekly Bible Study Review

December 12, 2010

In This Issue

Cafe Class

Read-to-Believe Class

Dichotomy of the Week

Class Schedule
Go to www.theocentrix.org click on the "Events" tab
for maps and more information.

Cafe Class
Culture Cafe
1359 N Altadena Drive
Pasadena CA 91104
Wednesdays 10:00 am

Read-to-Believe Class
Lake Avenue Church
Family Life Room 201
309 N Lake Avenue
Pasadena CA 91101
Thursdays 6:30 pm

Arbo Class
LA County Arboretum
301 N Baldwin Ave
Arcadia CA 91007
Saturday 12:00 noon
Once per month
January 22
February 26
March 26
April 30
May no class
June 4
July 9
August 13
September 17
October 15
November 12
December no class

PCC Class
"How to Read the Bible with Confidence"
Pasadena City College
Extended Learning Center
www.pcclearn.org
February 8 and 15, 2011

Waiting "FOR" God
or
Waiting "WITH" God

1. What's the difference?
2. Which are you doing?

Greetings!

This newsletter is sent to everyone who attends Sandy's weekly Bible studies. The left column has a table of contents and the current class schedule. Be sure to watch for the links in each article. Clicking on them will lead you to charts, diagrams and additional articles related to your class.

Anyone can subscribe to this free newsletter by using the link in the upper left corner. If you would like to forward this issue to a friend all you have to do is click on the link below.

Wednesday Cafe Class
Hebrews

Hebrews 10:1- 25

v. 1-4 The Law of Moses was only a "shadow" of the Reality that exists in the heavenly realm. Since it's a shadow it can't do what the Reality is able to do, namely cleanse people from their sin. Rather the Law existed to remind the people of their sin and their need for a Savior. Animal sacrifices do not forgive sins.

Click to view Hebrews Diagram...

Good Better

Old Covenant New Covenant

a shadow the Reality

reminder of sin remover of sin

daily animal sacrifices one-time sacrifice of Christ

priests stand in the Temple Christ seated with God

high priest enters once a year believers enter, stay forever

v. 5-9 Jesus is the one speaking in Psalm 40:6-8. He speaks to God the Father and says that animal sacrifices are not what God desires. Jesus has come to do the will of the Father and that is what God desires. Jesus "sets aside" the old sacrificial system that was inadequate to forgive sins in order to "establish" this new covenant with a better sacrifice (His physical body) that has the power to save people forever.

Click to read more...

Thursday Read-to-Believe Class Ephesians

NOTE: On Dec 16th parking may be more difficult due to a
concert at the church.

Ephesians 6:10-24

v. 10-13 Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians with a military metaphor. Believers are told to put on the full armor of God so they can stand against the schemes of the evil one, stand their ground, and after it's all done - stand. (Remember, repetition is for emphasis. So standing must be very important to Paul.) Of course this is not physical armor. Why not? Because the threat is not a physical threat. It's coming from the rulers, authorities, & evil powers in the world and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. Physcial armor would be of no use against such enemies.

v. 14-17 Belt of truth (Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life)

Breastplate of righteousness (Jesus makes them righteous)

Feet fitted with the readiness of the Gospel of Peace (Jesus

gives them peace with God)

Shield of faith (their faith is their belief and trust in Jesus)

Helmet of salvation (Jesus saves them)

Sword of the Spirit/Word of God (Jesus is the Word, also may

mean the Bible, God's promises, etc.)

So what is this armor? It's Christ Himself! Believers are in Him, protected by Him and will therefore still be standing when it's all over. That's why the armor of God is for every believer, not just the leaders or some kind of warrior-Christians. Each believer needs this armor to be able to stand against the deception and schemes of the spiritual forces of evil.

v. 18-20 Paul also tells them to pray on all occasions (not just special occasions), with all kinds of prayers (not just special ones), and pray for all the saints (because they all need to remain standing no matter what the evil one throws at them). Paul asks for prayers for himself so that he will be fearless when he proclaims the Gospel.

v. 21-24 He closes this letter without the usual list of individual greetings. Perhaps since he was in prison he felt it best to be careful in case this letter fell into the wrong hands and put others in danger. He assures his readers that Tychicus will tell them everything that has been going on.

We spent the rest of the class time reviewing the entire letter.

Click to read more...

Dichotomy of the Week

The apostle Paul often uses dichotomies. In other words, he divides people into two groups that do not overlap. It's impossible for a person to be in both groups at the same time. Here's a list of some dichotomies that are found in his epistles:
           "in Adam" or "in Christ"
           "under law" or "under grace"
           "dead in sin" or "alive in Christ"
Many more could be listed, but for now let's look at an example in
Ephesians 5:6-14 where Paul uses the dichotomy of "darkness" and "light." He describes the judgment of God that comes on the disobedient (those who are darkness) and warns the believers (those who are light) not to be involved with them. In verse 8 he says very explicitly that the believers were once "darkness" but now are "light in the Lord." Paul doesn't leave room for some middle ground that is between darkness and light.

The next few verses describe how his readers should live in the light and how the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of righteousness, goodness and truth in the children of light. Paul warns them again in verse 11 not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but to expose them. Light exposes what is in darkness. He then adds a poetic passage in verse 14 describing how Christ will shine on them. Their light comes from Christ.

Paul uses dichotomies in his letters to help his readers understand some difficult theological concepts. In the next few weeks we will look at more examples. Soon you will be able to pick them out yourself and improve your own understanding.
--Albert Baroody

Since ancient times the Bible has been read aloud to groups of people who were eager to hear the words of Life. We're really no different today. Believers still look to the Bible for wisdom and instruction. We belong in the Word together. Thank you for your participation in these classes. I hope you will pass this email on to others and invite them to attend a Bible study.

Grace and peace,

Sandy Blank

Wednesday Cafe Class (continued)

Hebrews 10:1-25

v.10-14 Jesus offered Himself "once for all." This is contrasted with the daily offerings of the Levitical priests. Jesus' one-time sacrifice of His own body will never have to be repeated. It was offered once for all time and now He is seated (not standing like the priests) at the right hand of the Father. Jesus waits with God until His enemies will be made His footstool.

v.15-18 Next the Holy Spirit is called as a witness that this new covenant is not written in stone like the old one but is written in people's hearts and minds. Since their sins have been forgiven by the one-time sacrifice of Christ there is no need to keep offering the sacrifices that were required by the Law.

v.19-22 Believers can confidently enter the Holy of Holies-- something the Levitical priests could never have done. The blood of Christ is "the new and living way." He is a living sacrifice, not a dead one. Jesus is the "great priest over the house of God" who makes it possible to draw near to the Father.

v. 23-25 Their faith in Christ is based on the faithfulness of Christ Himself. So they have a hope that is sure. The believers are told to meet together and encourage one another. This would have been especially difficult for the first century readers. They may have wanted to hide their faith in Christ to avoid persecution by their fellow Jews who did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

The entire letter to the Hebrews is a well-reasoned argument proving the superiority of Christ. He is a better High Priest, of a better order of priests, who came to offer a better sacrifice-- one that takes away sin permanently. The author was trying to convince his first century readers that they must not go back into the old Levitical system but continue on the path toward eternal life in Christ.

--Sandy Blank

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Thursday Read-to-Believe Class (continued)

Ephesians Review

Chapter 1: Believers have spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm.

The power of Jesus' resurrection and His authority at the right hand of God.

Chapter 2: Readers were dead but now are alive in Christ.

Seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (where their spiritual blessings are).

Saved by grace through faith.

Jew and Gentile are made one in Christ. The dividing wall of hostility between them was the Law

of Moses but Jesus abolished it with His death and resurrection.

Chapter 3: The mystery has been revealed. Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ.

This was predicted in the OT prophets but not understood until after Jesus came in the flesh.

The wisdom of God is being made known to the heavenly realm through the church.

Believers may approach God's throne with confidence because they are in Christ.

Chapter 4: Must keep (maintain) the unity they have.

There is only one Body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God, and Father for both Jew & Gentile.

Some believers are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the purpose of

building up the Body of Christ (the church) to maturity of faith.

Must put off the old self (identity as a Jew or Gentile) and put on the new self (identity as

Christian).

Chapter 5: Imitate God. They were once darkness (not "in" darkness) but now are light.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives submit to husbands (church submits to Christ);

Chapter 6: Children submit to parents (Christ submits to His Father's will);

Slaves submit to masters (both slaves and masters are under the same Master).

Put on the armor of God so they can stand their ground and not be moved from their faith in

Christ. Believers are not taken out of the evil that is in the world but rather are fitted with all the

armor they need to stand in the midst of it. They are to pray about everything and pray for one

another.

Verse 24 "Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love."

Next week we'll start Paul's letter to the Colossians.

--Sandy Blank

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This newsletter is maintained by Sandy Blank (Ph.D. Educational Studies, Biola; MA Biblical Studies, Grace University). If you would like further information about any of her classes or would like to know how to start a Bible study in your area please contact her at sandyblank@theocentrix.org. This newsletter is sponsored by Theocentrix, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting God-centered Bible literacy. Visit www.theocentrix.org for more information.