Our first lesson will be on page 3 and we'll limit it to the Section titled, "What I was." There are only 6 "fill in the blanks" which should less than 5 minutes to figure out (10 minutes for Jennifer). I recommend focusing on one verse per day, and read not only the specific verse, but the entire corresponding chapter. Meaning, the first reference is Ephesians 2:1 "I was spiritually DEAD in trespasses and sins." Focus not only on Eph 2:1, but also read all of Ephesians Chapter 2 to gain context.
We will open up blog discussion for this section (What I Was) between Sunday, 2 Jan thru Sunday, 9 Jan. Ready, go!
2 comments:
Comments from Brad on "What I Was" question A, Ephesians 2:1
This talks about being "spiritually dead." We are tri-part beings (body, soul, and spirit). Everyone agrees man has a body and that it will die some day. The Bible also says we have a soul and a spirit.
Our soul is what continues to exist forever after our physical body dies. When we die, we are still “conscience” – we continue to have our senses. We can see, hear, taste, and feel. Read Luke 16:19-31. It talks of a man in hell that very much "feels." V23-24 "And in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments...and he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame." Therefore, when we physically die, our soul continues to live on in - either heaven or hell. What about the third part of our being, our spirit?
Being spiritually alive means that you have the Holy Spirit present inside you, and therefore, you have eternal life through Jesus Christ. Only those that have called upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior are spiritually alive. Those who have not called on Christ are spiritually dead. Romans 8:9-13 describes these things:
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Rom 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Christ also talks about the necessity to be saved, believing solely in Him, in order to be spiritually alive and gain eternal life. John 11:25-26:
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
In verse 25, when Christ says, “…though he were dead, yet shall he live,” He is saying that when we are physically dead, we can be spiritually ALIVE and our souls can live for eternity in heaven, not hell (for those that are saved). In verse 26, Christ forces every person to make a choice, “Believest thou this?”
The rest of the section, “What I Was” on page 3, supports the above discussion. I’m done commenting on this section. Look forward to hearing from you!
Love, Brad
Comments from Brooke on lesson #1
Lost Without A Relationship:
This lesson allowed me to recount where I was in life before my day of salvation. Funny thing, being in church all my life, I wasn't saved until 2004 - in Las Vegas of all places! Growing up I always knew and believed in God, went to church, knew how to behave in church, the books of the Bible and was happy serving at church.
But in 2004, I was faced with this question, "You may know God, but does He know you?" It's not what you know, but WHO you know. I wasn't sure God knew me. Sure, he knew I existed, he created me. But did he know me like I know George Bush? Just the mere fact that he "exists"? This is not the type of relationship God wants with us. That's just what I was missing - the RELATIONSHIP.
After reading: Rom 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." - I recognized that I needed to have this personal relationship with God. I needed the free gift of Salvation He was offering me. I knew nothing good was to come of my life if I continued to hold life by the reigns and never give up control.
At this time in my life, Madeline was 4 and Jack, 2. What a scary path I was facing trying to raise Godly children without Christ at the helm.
Thank God for the gift of Salvation through his Son, Jesus; and His mercy and love for each one of us.
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