Questions for Class - March 6, 2011

Hello Everyone!  It was great to see so many of you at the Potluck on Sunday.  Thanks again to Ami Swisher who put this together.  We look forward to several more socials in the coming months.

Please review chapter 5 completely before diving in to chapter 6.  Without a full review of the centrality of our faith and that it is a heart issue only (as we covered on the 27th) we will be absolutely without stance nor ability to move into chapter 6.

Please read Romans 6 verses 1 to 14.  We will cover (most likely) only verses 1 to 9 but having the rest of these verses would be good.

Verse 1 - What is Paul talking about?  What did we say is sin last week in class?  What could some take this verse to mean?  Have you ever known of a Christian that just shrugs their shoulder at sin and says 'thanks to God'?

Verse 2 - Paul is emphatic here.  What does it mean to die to sin?  What does it mean to live in something? Is Paul saying that it is all or nothing?  Can you make the statement that you have died to sin?  Does sin have life or do you have life?  What is actually alive?  Sometimes we make sin as alive and us as in it rather than we are alive and sin is around us.  Is sin in you if the HOLY Spirit is in you?  Can it be (remember 1 John 1:5 from last week)?  Can they be together?

Verse 3 - Do you KNOW this?  What does it mean to be baptized into His death?  How would you explain this to your child?  Write it down (you will need it for later in Romans).

Verse 4 - You show others that you have been saved by Christ through baptism much the same as Christ showed He had conquered the grave.  That He had and that He was God did not NEED to be shown but was Glory to God that He showed others.  We should want to show others our new life - free from sin.  Do you want people to look at your life?  Be truthful.

Verse 5 - Are you united with Christ?  How would someone know this?

Verse 6 - Write down 3 main things that were part of your old self that are not part of you now (after being saved).   Why was it easy not to be or do these things?

Verse 7 - Why would this be a hard verse?  Are you set free?  Before you were saved you were condemned by the law and your sin.  Sin was something that you WERE.  Do you clearly know that you are FREE from sin now?  If sin is out and the HOLY Spirit is in we then are choosing to sin.

Verse 8 - Is this life that is discussed only life in Heaven?

Verse 9 - How do we KNOW that Christ was raised from the dead?  How can you tell your children or friends that Christ really died?  How do you know that He really came back to life.  Step back for just a moment and think of someone you know that has recently died.  What if you saw them again - what would that be like?

Verse 10 - Do you know of any other verses on complete atonement?  If so, what are they?  Be ready to share in class.  Why was Christ's dying complete and taking away sin for all?  If you were to sum up verse 9 and 10 you would have the entire salvation story for an unbeliever.  Human, died, raised, for all. Why is this so difficult to tell others if we really believe it?

Verse 11 - How do you count yourself (today, as you are reading this) dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus?  If you have passed away to sin and live it God what would your focus be on "that thing" you have in your brain right now?

Verse 12 - What does this mean? Who reigns?  What does it mean to 'reign'?

Verse 13 - What would be parts of yourself rather than the whole?  What are examples of someone that would sin in one area and now in another?  Where do you sin?  What does it mean to 'offer yourself'?  Who is the master if you offer yourself (to either sin or God)?  In either case note that you are NOT the master.  If you offer yourself to God you MUST TRUST HIM.  Do we trust that sin will get us where we want to go and what we need?  Answer this honestly.  How would you explain this to your kids or friends?

Verse 14 - Are YOU saved?  Do you know that you know that you know????  For real?  If not and you want to accept His gift please please please pray to accept Christ RIGHT NOW.  What is stopping you? If you have told everyone you were saved but don't know you are what possibly would be bad by stopping now, finding a place, and asking Christ into your heart.  Knowing you are a sinner, you cannot come to Him under your power, that you need Him, and that you want Him not just as Savior but as Lord of you life, that you want to turn from sin and follow Him.  You are on your way to heaven!  Please let us know if the angels are singing for the fact of God saving YOU.

Andy