Weekly Bible Study Review
December 19, 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

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

peacock 1
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

clock in sand
Waiting "FOR" God
or
 Waiting "WITH" God

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

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.

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cafeclassWednesday Cafe Class 
Hebrews


Hebrews 10:19-39  

Once again the author contrasts the Reality that exists in the heavenly realm with the physical "shadow" on earth. The Temple had a room that only the high priest could enter once a year with blood from an animal sacrifice. But the believers enter the actual Holy of Holies by the blood of Jesus. Furthermore, the believers enter it only once and stay there forever.


v. 19-22 "We" (the author & the believers) have "confidence"

(present tense) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.

                    Old                                          New

            Levitical high priest                 Jesus as High Priest

            blood of animals                      blood of Jesus Christ

            old way                                   new and living way

            enter through a curtain            enter through Christ's body

 Believers draw near to God in full assurance of faith, with a clear conscience, having been "washed with pure water."


v. 23 Their hope is sure because it's based on Jesus' faithfulness, not on their own.

v. 24-25 They need to encourage one another and continue meeting together even though it may be difficult or dangerous to do so.

 

Click to read more...


rtbclassThursday Read-to-Believe Class  Colossians


Colossians 1:1-29

This letter is written to the believers living in Colossae, about 100 miles inland from Ephesus. Paul is writing from prison.

v.1-2   Paul is an apostle by the will of God. It was not because his own father was an apostle or because one day he just decided to be an apostle. This commission from God gave Paul great spiritual authority.


v. 3-5 "We" (Paul and Timothy) thank God for the Colossians' faith in Christ and their love for the believers. This faith and love "spring from" the hope of the gospel that is stored up for them in the heavenly realm. This is similar to what Paul wrote in Eph. 1:3-14. Hope is part of their inheritance of spiritual blessings stored in the heavenly realm. This hope produces faith in Christ and love for others.


v. 6-8 Epaphras originally preached the gospel to these readers, not Paul. Nevertheless, it's the same gospel that Paul and others have been preaching all along. This gospel has been bearing fruit and growing (spreading) throughout the world.


v. 9-11 Paul's prayer for them is that God will fill them with the knowledge of His will.

(When we see the word "so" in the text it reminds us to ask "why." So why Paul? Why do they need the knowledge of God's will?)

  • so that they may live worthily (worthy of Christ's sacrifice)
  • that they may please the Lord
  • bearing fruit through good works
  • growing in the knowledge of God ("knowledge of God" sounds more personal than "knowledge of God's will")
  • and so they may be strengthened with all power                (whose power? God's power).

 This kind of fruitful lifestyle is the result of having the knowledge of God's will.

(So why Paul? What happens after they receive all this?)

v. 11-14

  • so then they may have great endurance
  • great patience 
  • and joyfully give thanks to God. 

It all starts with the knowledge of God's will revealed to them in the gospel message and ends with them receiving their inheritance.

         knowledge → fruitful lifestyle → endurance → inheritance


Click to read more...
Dichotomy of the Week
The apostle Paul often uses dichotomies to explain the gospel. 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"

This week's dichotomy comes from Colossians 1:13 and expands on the idea we started last week of light versus darkness. It says, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." The essence of the gospel is contained in this verse. Notice how Paul starts with the word "he" which is a reference to God the Father. The phrase "has delivered us" is an action that God performs on behalf of the believers. The imagery of being rescued from the dominion of darkness is very powerful. This idea of humanity being under the power of darkness is a common theme in Paul's epistles. People are helpless and unable to rescue themselves from the dominion of sin.

The second half of the verse is also remarkable. God doesn't just rescue people and leave them alone, but he transfers them into "the kingdom of the Son he loves." There is a sharp contrast between the "dominion of darkness" and the "kingdom of the Son." Notice also how the focus is on what God has done and not on what people have to do. This is the most important rescue mission that has ever taken place! Believers are in some sense already in the kingdom of the Son even while they are still living in the physical world. 

Paul uses dichotomies in all of his letters to help his readers understand some difficult theological concepts. In the next few weeks we will look at more examples.
--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

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cafeWednesday Cafe Class (continued)


Hebrews 10:19-39

A new section starts here in verse 26. Be sure to read all the way through to the end of the chapter before trying to understand what is meant by verses 26 and 27. Keep in mind the contrasts the author has been using throughout this letter.


v. 26-27 "deliberately keep on sinning" implies a rebellious attitude whereby a person knows what sin is but continues to sin as a way of life. When one has received "the knowledge of the truth" but continues with this rebellion against God then there is "no sacrifice for sin left" because the only way of forgiveness (faith in Christ) has been rejected. So what does this person have ahead of him or her? Judgment as one who is an enemy of God.


v. 28 Next the author compares this to something the readers would have known very well-- the Law. Any Jew who rejected the Law of Moses was put to death by stoning. This was done "without mercy" after the first offense and was deemed a just punishment for anyone who rejected the Law.


v. 29 But rejecting Jesus' sacrifice is far worse than rejecting the Law of Moses. Therefore, it would seem that a heavier punishment should be in order. Rejecting Jesus is referred to as:

  • trampling the Son of God underfoot
  • calling His shed blood unholy and
  • insulting the Holy Spirit.

v. 30-31 The Lord will judge. He will take vengeance on His enemies. Just because He hasn't done it yet doesn't mean He will not. This verse refers to the wrath of God toward His enemies. His enemies have reason to fear Him.


v. 32-33 But the author reminds his readers that they had shown great promise in the beginning.

After they'd heard the Gospel preached to them they'd "stood their ground" and suffered a great deal. They were publicly insulted and persecuted. Some were imprisoned or had property confiscated just because they were Christians. Why were they willing to be treated this way?

v. 34 because they had "better and lasting possessions" i.e., heavenly ones.

 

Remember the Hebrews diagram. These readers were Jews who became followers of Christ. They were being persecuted and were tempted to go back to Judaism which would have been much easier for them. But the author has been telling them through this whole letter that they must not go back. If they rely on the Law to make them righteous in the sight of God then they will be rejecting Jesus.

The Law and its sacrifices can't forgive their sins. Only the blood of Jesus can.

Click to view Hebrews Diagram...


v. 35-36 They must not throw away their confidence in Christ by going back to a system that is inferior to Him. They need to persevere and then they will surely receive the "promise" of eternal life.


v. 37 Hab. 2:3-4 is quoted as encouragement for them to wait as long as it takes. Christ surely will return. But if they "shrink back" then God will not be pleased with them. The author closes by saying "We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved."

 --Sandy Blank
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readtobelieveThursday Read-to-Believe Class (continued)

Colossians 1:1-29

 v. 11-14 God "has qualified" them (past tense) to have an inheritance in the kingdom of light. They did not qualify themselves. God "has rescued" them (past tense) "from the dominion of darkness" and brought them into Jesus' kingdom of light. In Christ they have redemption i.e., the forgiveness of sin. Who is doing the work here? Why didn't they rescue themselves?


v. 15-18 Paul says many things about Christ in this passage. Christ is

  • the visible image of the invisible God
  • the firstborn over everything
  • the creator of everything including thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities
  • the one who holds all things together
  • the one for whom all things were created.
  • the one who is before everything
  • the one who is head of the church, also known as His body.

Christ is even the firstborn from among the dead. He was the first one to be resurrected from the dead never to die again. Every person who had ever been resurrected, like Lazarus, had to die again. But Christ's resurrection was not a resurrection to physical life but to eternal life. By being the first to experience this resurrection He has the supremacy even over death.


v. 19 It pleased God to have all His fullness dwell in Christ bodily. Paul doesn't explain how it is possible for the fullness of God to dwell in a physical human body.

v. 20 God reconciled all things in heaven and on earth to Himself by "making peace" through the blood of Jesus.

Click to view the Ephesians Diagram


v. 21 Once the readers were alienated from God (before they became believers). They were enemies of God in their minds and this was proven by their "evil behavior."

That was then but this is now....

v.22-23 Now (in the first century AD) God reconciled them by Christ's physical body through death. Christ will present them (collectively) to the Father and they will be holy and "free from accusation." But if they have all sinned then how can they be free from accusation?

They can't be accused of sin anymore because of Jesus' sacrifice. That's why they must continue in their faith in Him without being "moved" from this hope they have in Him (remember Ephesians chapter six and the armor that makes believers able to stand their ground and not be moved).


v. 24-25 Paul rejoices in the sufferings of Christ and identifies with Him in his own suffering. Paul knows he's in prison because of the gospel and he's willing to suffer for the sake of the church.

Paul says again that he is a servant of the gospel because God has commissioned him for this role.


v. 26-27 Like in Ephesians chapter two Paul speaks of the mystery of the gospel that was once hidden (by God) but now has been revealed (by God) in the ministry of Jesus. The glorious part of this mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."


v. 28-29 Paul keeps teaching with only one goal in mind; that he may present everyone perfect in Christ. In other words, he expects his teaching ministry to result in greater spiritual maturity among the believers. Paul works hard at his ministry, even while he is imprisoned. Yet he says it is Christ's energy that is working so powerfully in him. Paul knows it's not his own strength.

--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.