Weekly Bible Study Review

Weekly Bible Study Review

APRIL 3, 2011

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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 10

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
Romans

Romans 1:21-3:4

Let's review--the chapter 1 people were obviously immoral and openly rejected God as their God. They worshiped idols and lived an increasingly depraved lifestyle.

1:21-23 Paul tells his readers that these wicked people knew God but 1) didn't glorify Him as God and 2) didn't thank Him. So their thinking became futile and their hearts were darkened. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for lifeless idols.

v. 24-27 Three times Paul says "God gave them over." First to the sinful desires of their hearts, second to shameful lusts, and third to a depraved mind. Repetition is for emphasis. God did not lose control of them, He simply let them go their own way.

v. 28-32 "They did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God" that they were given through what they could see in the physical world. They became filled with every kind of evil, greed, immorality, etc. They were not neutral toward God, rather Paul calls them "God-haters." They know God disapproves of their attitudes and behaviors but they continue this lifestyle and approve of others who live this way.

Now in chapter 2 Paul goes from talking about "them" to directly addressing "you" (his readers in Rome). Some of his readers are relying on the law to make them righteous instead of relying on Christ.

2:1 "You" (the self-righteous) have no right to judge "them" (the obviously evil people in chapter 1) if you're doing some of the same things they do.

v. 2-5 God is a just judge. He doesn't show favoritism. If something is wrong then it's wrong for everyone--Jew and Gentile. God's patience is supposed to lead them to repent of these sins. It doesn't mean He approves. Paul is calling some of his readers stubborn and unrepentant and they're "storing up wrath" against themselves. Everyone will eventually be judged by God.

v. 6-13 There will be wrath and anger, trouble and distress for those who do evil. First for Jews then for Gentiles. And there will be eternal life, glory, honor and peace for those who do good. First for Jews then for Gentiles. All who sin apart from the law (Gentiles) will perish and all who sin under the law (Jews) will be judged guilty by the law and still perish. Again Paul is showing that God does not play favorites.

Click to read more...

Thursday Read-to-Believe Class Romans

Romans 12:1-13:14

The previous 11 chapters laid out the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Now Paul builds upon that foundation by teaching the readers how to live "in light of God's mercy." In class we went back to Exodus 20 and listed the 10 Commandments. Then we went through Romans 12-13 and made a list of the things Paul told his readers to do. As we compared the two lists we came to the conclusion that the 10 Commandments are mostly about what not to do. But Paul's list is more about "being" rather than "doing." In other words, who you are changes what you do. The 10 Commandments don't seem to describe how to live in light of God's mercy but rather in light of His judgment or wrath. There seems to be a lot of fear associated with commandment-keeping. There will be terrible consequences for violating these commands (adulterers are stoned, murderers are executed,...) But the lifestyle Paul teaches is based on gratitude for the mercy they've already received. It's filled with forgiveness, grace and love.

10 Commandments

Living "in light of God's mercy"

1. Do not have other gods

2. Do not worship idols

3, Do not take the name of the Lord in vain

4. Keep the Sabbath holy

5. Honor you father and mother

6. Do not murder

7. Do not commit adultery

8. Do not steal

9. Do not give false testimony

10. Do not covet

Offer your body as living sacrifices.

Do not conform to the world.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Test and approve (agree with) God's will.

Think of yourself with sober (serious) judgment.

Let each person use the gifts God has given them.

Love sincerely.

Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Be zealous, keep your spiritual fervor.

Be joyful in hope.

Be patient in affliction.

Be faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people.

Be hospitable.

Bless those who persecute you. Do not curse them.

Rejoice with those who rejoice.

Mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with others.

Be humble enough to associate with people of low position.

Do not repay evil for evil.

Do what is right.

Live at peace with everybody.

Do not take revenge.

Remember that God will avenge.

Feed your enemy and be kind to him so he might repent.

Do not be overcome by evil.

Overcome evil with good.

Submit to the authorities.

Pay your taxes.

Give everyone what you owe them.

Continue to love one another.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Clothe yourself with the Lord.

Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Click to read more...

Dichotomy of the Week

A dichotomy divides people into two groups that do not overlap. In other words, 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 Paul's epistles:
           "in Adam" or "in Christ"
           "under law" or "under grace"
           "darkness" or "light"

In Romans 12:1 Paul begins a section on Christian behavior by mentioning God's mercy. "Therefore I urge you brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship." We have seen previously how all of humanity is under the judgment of God because of sin. The inevitable result of that sin is death, even for those who were under the Mosaic law.

But God shows mercy on humanity through the death and resurrection of Christ. All those who believe in what God has done through Christ escape the wrath and judgment of God that is to come. That's why Paul encourages believers to live their lives a certain way. They live a new life because of the mercy God has shown them. We see once again that Paul allows for no middle ground. Everyone is either under mercy or judgment.

--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)

Romans 1:21-3:4

v. 14-15 When Gentiles do things that are required by the law (that is, when they don't steal or murder or commit adultery) they show that the law is in their hearts. Their conscience sometimes condemns them and at other times defends them.

v. 16 Notice that verses 14 and 15 are in parentheses. Read verse 13 again (skip 14-15) and then read verse 16. "This" refers to being "declared righteous" at the end of verse 13. The day will come when God will judge every man through Jesus Christ.

v. 17-24 Now it's clear that Paul is talking to his Jewish readers-- those who still rely on the law instead of on Christ. On the basis of the law these men brag about their relationship with God. They claim to know His will and think of themselves as guides for the blind, lights for those in darkness, instructors of the foolish, etc. But some of them steal or commit adultery or rob temples and see nothing wrong with it. They brag about the law while they are breaking the law. Paul quotes Isaiah and Ezekiel when he says "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Some of these Jews were living more immoral lives than some of the Gentiles. They thought the law was "the embodiment of knowledge and truth" but in reality, only Jesus is the embodiment of knowledge and truth.

v. 25-29 Jews were not safe from God's wrath just because they were physically circumcised. Circumcision must be of the heart, done by the Spirit of God, not by the written code. If the readers were doing a few outward things to gain the praise of men, Paul was reminding them that a circumcised heart receives praise from God.

3:1-2-4 So what advantage is there in being a Jew? God has spoken through the Jewish prophets and His words have been written down and preserved for thousands of years by Jews. It's a great honor for them to have been entrusted with His words. If some Jews do not have faith does that mean God is unfaithful? No. God's faithfulness to His promises does not depend on the Jews or any other nation.

Next time we'll read how everyone, Jew or Gentile, can be made righteous in God's sight.

--Sandy Blank

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Thursday Read-to-Believe Class (continued)

Romans 12:1-13:14

Paul also talks about the Christians being members of one body. Not all the members do the exact same thing but they all need each other. They're not expected to be yellow pencils in a box. Each one is unique and yet they all function together seamlessly. Paul makes it clear that each one should be allowed to use their gifts. He says, let them prophesy, let them serve, let them teach, let them encourage, etc.

Paul also tells his readers to submit to the government even though it's pagan. He says rulers are God's servants. They provide a stable social environment that's good for the believers. Of course Paul is not saying the readers should worship human rulers. In Acts we see that when believers are oppressed by the government they flee rather than attempt a hostile takeover. Paul's point here is that they need to recognize that God is the one who has put these leaders in place. They are agents of God's wrath to punish wrongdoers. Again, this is good for the believers because it helps restrain evil in society. Their taxes pay the wages of these agents of God's wrath.

Paul ends this section by telling them to wake up because time is short. The day of the Lord's return is almost here. So they need to get ready by getting rid of the deeds of darkness and putting on the armor of light. Most importantly, they are to "clothe" themselves with the Lord.

Much more next time. See you then.

--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.