Part of the Solid Ground Sunday School "Final Exam"

1. Justification is by __________ alone through _____________ alone in ____________alone.

Part of the Solid Ground Sunday School "Final Exam"

2. Mark all that are correct. We are justified…

__ as a result of our deciding to repent
__ as a result of God’s foreknowledge, predestination, and regeneration
__ the moment we ask Jesus into our hearts
__ based on Christ’s righteousness
__ as evidenced by our repentance and faith
__ once and for all

Part of the Solid Ground Sunday School "Final Exam"

3. Monergism (salvation is a work of God alone) OR Synergism (God does his part, we do ours)

Which view:

• Is the most popular in the Church today?
• Is taught in Romans (and the rest of the NT)?
• Says Christ fails in his attempt to save most?
• Gives all the glory to God?

Part of the Solid Ground Sunday School "Final Exam"

4. True or False

• T F Struggling with sin is a sign that you may not be saved.
• T F Generally--The person who claims to be saved because of a past experience or a prayer prayed years ago but does not bear fruits of repentance is not (yet) saved.
• T F It is our place to try to figure out if someone else is saved.
• T F Giving in to (and living in) sin is a sign that you may not be saved.
• T F Since we believe God is the author and finisher of salvation, we have no reason to evangelize.
• T F Biblical faith means believing trust.
• T F The Bible teaches that we are saved by asking Jesus into our hearts.
• T F Jesus commands all men everywhere to repent.
• T F We present our bodies a living sacrifice as a response to the work of God.

Paul’s Romans Doxology:

ESV Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith- 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Fortunately for you, I won’t ask you to diagram this sentence!

Concerning this now revealed mystery:

2. What are the purposes mentioned of this revealed mystery…

• in man?
• towards God?

__

Importance of Unity:

ESV Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Confession—this isn’t just from Romans…

1. Which divide and which unite:

• sacrificial love
• pride
• doctrine

__

ESV Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

1. You are in Nazi controlled Europe during WWII and are hiding Jews in your attic to spare them from murder. The Nazis come to your door looking for Jews.

• Do you lie to the Nazis?
  
• How do you justify your response?

__

ESV Romans 14:15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.

During the lesson, we discussed the two options presented to keep us from offending our brothers/sisters in Christ.

I. Avoid the behavior
II. Enlighten the “weaker brother”

When Christian liberty and the “law of love” are taught, usually the emphasis is placed on the don’t. The bottom line: if it offends others, you give it up out of “love.”

4. Verse 15 is a strong statement, can you see both options (I & II) in it?


5. Which does verse 16 clearly favor?


6. Which actually makes your brother stronger?


7. Which, if followed consistently would lead the church to increasing bondage?



__

ESV Romans 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

ESV Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

ESV 1 Cor 5:1-3 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you…Let him who has done this be removed from among you…I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.

ESV Matthew 18:15-17 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, … take one or two others … If he refuses to listen … tell it to the church … if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

2. Do the additional verses above require a person to make judgments?


3. Describe how these verses differ from what Paul is talking about in Romans 14:

• Titus 1:9

• 1 Corinthians 5:1-3

• Matthew 18:15-17

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5. There are a lot of good rules for living, for getting along, for being a “good person” in this chapter.

• Are these teachings unique to true Christianity?

• Can a person become acceptable to God by doing their best to do these things?

• Does a person become a Christian by doing these things?

• Should it be a surprise that there are people who do these things (often better than Christians) but are not saved?

___

4. We discussed fruits of the spirit in an earlier chapter, here he speaks of gifts of the Spirit.

• What is the difference between gifts and fruits? Will all Christians have all fruits? All gifts?
  

• Can a believer have no fruits of the Spirit? No gifts of the Spirit?
  

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ESV Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

ESV Luke 10:27a And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind..."

3. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind/love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” –How does one obey Paul’s pleading and Christ’s great commandment?



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ESV Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2. “do not be conformed to this world…” –Make an honest self-examination of your own life, motivations, priorities, cares, and concerns. Be honest… writing it here doesn’t mean you have to share it with the group.

• What are the worldly standards that are [trying to] shape and mold your life?

• When you think of church life, what is it that you find most important, satisfying, etc. (what do you most look forward to at a gathering? …

• How are these priorities shaped by your culture or selfish desire, and how much are motivated by loving obedience to Christ?

_____

ESV Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1. “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” –Knowing what we now know about our fallen sinful nature, how is this possible? How can we be holy and acceptable to God?

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