Wk7-Q7-8: "Message (Command) of Christ and the Apostles "

7. Can you spot a trend here?

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." --Matthew 3:2 ESV

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." --Matthew 4:17 ESV

...and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." --Mark 1:15 ESV

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. --Mark 6:12 ESV

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. --Luke 13:3 ESV

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. --Acts 2:38 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, --Acts 3:19 ESV

Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. --Acts 8:22 ESV

...but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. --Acts 26:20 ESV

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. --Revelation 2:5 ESV

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. --Revelation 2:16 ESV

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. --Revelation 3:3 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. --Revelation 3:19 ESV

8. Can a similar list be made for “pray this prayer” or “ask Jesus into your heart”?


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Wk7-Q6: "Judged By What Standard? "

The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. --Acts 17:30-31 ESV

According to what standard will God judge the world?


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Wk7-Q1-5: A Helpful Analogy

Consider the case of a physician who has examined a patient and concluded beyond any doubt that the patient has a grave disease. Without a cure the patient will surely die. Currently the patient feels fine and has no idea there is a problem; and the only cure (both proven and effective) is considered by many to be inconvenient, distasteful, or even foolish.

Questions to Ponder

1. Is it unloving for the doctor to tell the patient his condition?

2. Instead of telling the patient about his condition, would it be better to disguise the cure? Perhaps coat it with candy, and attempt to fool the patient into taking them because they are "better than Skittles?"

3. Since the patient doesn't know his condition, perhaps the physician can find something the patient needs or wants and convince him the cure he offers will help the patient with his felt-need? ("This will help you lose weight" or "... improve your self-esteem" or "... lower your golf handicap")

4. If the doctor faithfully and truthfully explains to the patient his condition, patiently answering all of his questions or helping him find the answer to his questions, until the patient is convinced of the truth of his condition. How much of a sales pitch or candy coating will the cure require?

5. Hopefully the analogy is clear, what do the following represent?
The grave disease = ______________________
The cure = ______________________

Wk6-Q5: " Does It Matter to Your Christianity If These Things Are True? "

… this popular teacher also wrote (same quote as for questions 3,4):

“What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archeologist find Larry’s tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers … What if that spring were seriously questioned? Could a person keep on jumping? Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian? Is the way of Jesus still the best possible way to live? Or does the whole thing fall apart?”

“If the whole faith falls apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring then it wasn’t that strong in the first place was it?”

5. Using the author’s logic, assuming the resurrection “spring” had been proven to be false: Answer some of the author’s final series of questions:

• Could a person still be a Christian?

• Does the whole thing fall apart?

Wk6-Q3,4: " Does It Matter If These Things Are True? "

… this popular teacher also wrote:

“What if tomorrow someone digs up definitive proof that Jesus had a real, earthly, biological father named Larry, and archeologist find Larry’s tomb and do DNA samples and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the virgin birth was really just a bit of mythologizing the Gospel writers … What if that spring were seriously questioned? Could a person keep on jumping? Could a person still love God? Could you still be a Christian? Is the way of Jesus still the best possible way to live? Or does the whole thing fall apart?”

“If the whole faith falls apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring then it wasn’t that strong in the first place was it?”

3. Does the author think it matters if these things are objectively true?


4. Since he would apply this “spring” argument to the resurrection, do you think Paul means it is crucial that Christ was really raised, or just raised in a person’s own experience (whatever that means)?

ESV 1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Wk6-Q2: "Why is the Tomb Empty? "

A very popular teacher wrote:

“We live in metaphors......The tomb is empty because we have met the risen Christ - we have experienced Jesus in a way that transcends space and time. And this gives us hope.”

Is this an objective or subjective claim?

Why is this important?

Wk6-Q1: "Why Do You Believe It? "

Why do YOU believe God has revealed Himself?

... because your parents told you? ... because your pastor told you?