Saturday, December 17, 2016

December 25, 2016 – Genesis and John (Gospel and Revelation) – Life, Death and New Life

Life, Death and New Life

Genesis 2:4-7 – New International Version (NIV)
This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Who made the earth and the heavens (verse 4)?

Why had no shrub appeared or plant sprung up (verse 5)?

How was the ground watered (verse 6)?

What did the Lord God form a man from (verse 7)?

When did man become a living being (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

John 1:6-14 - New International Version (NIV)
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Who sent John (verse 6)?
Why did John testify concerning the light (verse 7)?
What was John’s relationship to the light (verse 8)?
Who does the true light give light to (verse 9)?
In your opinion, why did the world, though made through Him, not recognize the light (verse 10)?
Who did not receive Him (verse 11)?
What did He give “those who believed in his name” (verse 12)?
In your opinion, what does it mean to be “born of God” (verse 13)?
What did the Word become (verse 14)?
What filled the Son who came from the Father (verse 14)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, what can we learn from comparing the way the first man was formed and given life in Genesis 2:4-7 and the way the Son “became flesh” in John 1:6-14?

Romans 5:12-21 - New International Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

How did sin enter the world (verse 12)?
How did death enter the world (verse 12)?
In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law” (verse 13)?
What reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses (verse 14)?
In your opinion, what is the difference between the gift and the trespass (verse 15)?
What followed one sin (verse 16)?
What did the gift follow (verse 16)?
How is God’s provision of grace described (verse 17)?
How many trespasses resulted in condemnation for all people (verse 18)?
How many righteous acts resulted in justification and life for all people (verse 18)?
In your opinion, what does Paul mean when he says “the law was brought in so that the trespass might increase” (verse 20)?
What happened when sin increased (verse 20)?
How does grace reign (verse 21)?
What does grace bring through Jesus Christ (verse 21)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?
In your opinion, how does Paul in Romans 5:12-21 help us understand about the way those who “believed in his name” in John 1:6-14 became children of God by being “born of God”?

In your opinion, what can we learn from the fact that Jesus, who is the one who breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2:4-7 is also the one whose righteous act Paul says in Romans 5:12-21 resulted in “justification and life for all people”?

Revelation 19:11-16 – New International Version (NIV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
king of kings and lord of lords.

What is the rider of the white horse called (verse 11)?
How does the rider of the white horse wage war (verse 11)?
What is on the rider’s head (verse 12)?
What is the rider dressed in (verse 13)?
What is the rider’s name (verse 13)?
In your opinion, what does it mean that the rider’s armies are dressed in “fine linen, white and clean” (verse 14)?
Where is the sharp sword (verse 15)?
What winepress does the rider tread (verse 15)?
What is written on His robe and his thigh (verse 15)?
In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, why does Paul show Jesus as the provider of the gift of abundant grace in Romans 5:12-21 but John sees Jesus as the one who strikes down nations and who “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty” in Revelation 19:11-16?
In your opinion, why does John in John 1:6-14 say that he saw the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” and then in Revelation 19:11-16 says that he “judges and wages war”?

In your opinion, how do you feel when you think that the one who created a man from dust and breathed life into him in Genesis 2:4-7 is also the one who judges, wages war and strikes down nations in Revelation 19:11-16?
In your opinion, what do these passages from Genesis, John, Romans and Revelation help us understand about life, new life and judgment?
In your opinion, how do these passages strengthen our desire to live in “God’s abundant provision of Grace”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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