the power of the gospel study

8/7/2019 The Power of the Gospel Study

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Week One: The Assurance of God's LoveRomans 5:1-11

*Abstract:

Every single believer wants to become more and more like Christ. Thisis called the process of sanctification. By that is meant that we aregrowing into holiness. Believers are given freedom from bondage tosin. We never have to be enslaved by sin again. We are becoming morelike Jesus. We see that love, joy, peace, patience etc. are becomingours. The reason for this is that we have been given access to divinepower.

But how do we translate this into our practical daily experience? Webegin to find the answer not by trying to be holy, but by being assuredof Gods love and good intentions toward us. We must know for certainthat once we have believed, God is for us. We must know that.

I cant think of any thought of Gods love for me without reflecting onthe cross of Jesus. All talk of Gods love must return to the story of thebloody cross of suffering. It is at the cross that we finally find a loveunrivaled by anything that this world has ever seen. So for all of thosewho struggle with whether or not God loves them; God has an answer.We do not need to deal with childhood rejection issues or philosophicaldiscussion about the meaning of love. We need to drink deeply at thecross. We need to think about the cross more earnestly and morethoughtfully than we have ever done before. How much does God loveme? The answer is found at Calvary.

Questions:

Share a time in your life when you have been given completeforgiveness from another person. How did you feel or respond?

From Romans 1-4, how can you know for certain that your sinsare forgiven? Review.

Read verse 2. In this verse Paul is telling us that we stand kneedeep in grace? What does it mean to have access and stand ingrace? Are you completely convinced that God continuallyintends to do good to you? Are you able to see how your


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experiences are a part of Gods gracious hand? Explain.

If God has us in the land of grace, why do we suffer? Have youever wondered why you have suffered? How do you approachsuffering? Do you see it as an act of grace or something else?

Think of stories of selfless courage in which someone or some

people have given their lives for others? Why is Jesus' death onthe cross greater than that? Give examples. How does this helpyou understand Christs love for you?

In spite of what verse 9 teaches, why do we sometimes becomeso consumed with guilt?

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. Do you ever think about hell? Doyou ever fear the wrath of God. Read 1 John 4:18. To what extentdoes this passage reflect your inner confidence?

Compare verse 11 with Galatians 6:14. What is the differencebetween worldly pride and pure pride? Reference 1 Corinthians

4:6-7.

Week Two: A Matter of Life and Death

Romans 5:12-6:7

*Abstract:


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What do you know about your family tree? In other words, what do youknow about your heritage, your ancestry, your forefathers? Mostpeople can go back a few generations; some, if lucky, can trace theirfamily line back a few centuries.

But whether you realize it or not, all of us can trace our family lineageback to the beginning of creation back to Adam and Eve. Now I

realize that some in reading that may scoff and say, Come on, howcan you prove something like that? My answer to that is the same asthe Apostle Pauls: all of us bear a strong family resemblance to ourforefather Adam. What is that strong resemblance? Its seen in the factthat we all sin and were all going to die.

The great truth of the Bible is that Christ has broken the power of sin.This is first realized on the day of our conversion, when we come torealize that all of our sins no longer count against us. But, thankfully,the good news does not end there. Not only are my sins forgiven, butthe power of sin has been broken. Christians are really set free from

sin. Biblically, this is called sanctification. To put it another way,justification speaks of our acquittal from sin, and sanctification speaksof our deliverance from sinning. Both have occurred as a free act ofGods grace. And just as we must believe that Christ has forgiven allour sins, so we must also believe that Christ has delivered us from sinspower.

Questions:

What quirks did you inherit from your parents? How do you see

yourself reflected in your children? What is the bad news found in verses 12-14?

What has our forefather Adam passed on to mankind? How doesthat reflect in you? What does Paul refer to as the only hope forthe bad news of verses 12-14?

What distinct contrasts do you see between Adam and Jesus?

How does 1 Cor. 15:22 help in understanding the contrastbetween Jesus and Adam in vv. 15-19?

There is a sense in this passage that says as bad as sin and

death are they are overwhelmed by the greatness of Godsgrace. What ways does Paul refer to this in this passage? Howdoes this encourage you in your daily journey with Christ?

How does the fact that through Jesus one act of righteousness(death on the cross) help you in understanding how we are allguilty because of Adams sin in the garden? How does the truthof verse 20 help you to walk in victory and assurance?

There are two extremes that we must be aware of in our


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Christian faith. One is legalism and the other is lawlessness.Have you ever struggled with either one of those two?

If we are really dead to sin, why doesnt it feel that way? What isPauls short answer to the addict who is a slave to his habit?

What is the significance of baptism in knowing if we are dead to

sin? In this regard, how important is the experience of baptism toliving a victorious Christian life?

It seems the defining mark of the believer is his or her freedomfrom the power of sin. In what practical ways have youexperienced freedom from past sins.

Do Christians still struggle with sin? How is our present struggledifferent than what a non-Christian has?

Every spiritual power in our life is activated by faith. Do youbelieve that you are truly dead to sin?

Week Three: Raised with ChristRomans 6:8-14

Abstract:

A great many Christians spend a great deal of energy trying to win thebattle over sin. This is fine, but it is certainly not an end in itself. Thegoal of the Christian life is not avoiding sin but living the intended life.Life was truly meant to be a full, exciting, holy adventure of knowingGod. The goal of Christianity is not the austere life of avoiding certainpractices, but the rich life of enjoying what we were created to be. TheBible calls this resurrection life. We have not only died with Christ, wehave also been raised with him. The best news is not that the old life ofbeing ruled by sin is over, but that a new life of living in power has


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begun.

If you have been lacking joy, freedom and purpose, this message is foryou. It may be true that sin prevents you from the intended life. But itis also true that avoiding sin does not give you the intended life. Theintended life is lived as we realize what it means to have been raisedwith Christ.

Questions:

Share a time when your life was so fulfilling, it overflowed. Whatdid it feel like? What made it that way?

As a group, come up with a list of 10 or more characteristics offulfilled Christian life. Which aspects of this list pertain to you?

Read verse 11. Ask group members to share descriptive wordsregarding their identity in Christ. How do you describe your life in

Christ? Who are you? What kind of a Christian are you? Why is itso hard to believe that you are what Christ says you are? After allhe is God, he should know! Why is it so difficult to shift ourthinking?

Now that you have a new identity in Christ, why is it possible tosay no to sin? Compare verse 9 to verse 12. Then why are weso easily seduced into sin?

Read verse 13. Think of a body part to be given to sin. Paulmentions a number of body parts in Romans 3:13-18. How is itthat your physical body can be used for good or for evil?

Discuss how Christians should use their body in service of God or to engage the resurrected life. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4; 1Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 6:13-20. Describe how we honorGod with out body as 1 Corinthians 20 tells us.

See verse 14. What does it mean to be under grace? Explainhow you have experienced the power of grace to live a fulfilledlife.


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Week Four: You're Going to Serve SomebodyRomans 6:15-23

Abstract:

Some time ago, Bob Dylan wrote a song with a chorus that said,Youre gonna have to serve somebody, it may be the devil or it maybe the Lord, but youre gonna have to serve somebody. That thoughtis exactly what the Bible speaks about. The real issue behindsanctification is that everyone is going in one of two directions. We areeither growing in obedience to Jesus or we are growing in obedience to

sin. It is simply impossible to be neutral. Weve all got to servesomebody.

It is because we have to serve somebody that believers simply cannotbe careless about their sanctification. We simply cant treat sin orlawlessness in a cavalier fashion with the idea that we can always askfor forgiveness when we have done wrong. The fact is that sin leads todeath and sin breeds an ever increasing dependence on it. The morewe resist sin and the more we surrender to Christ, the more we createa pattern in our life of godliness. The opposite is also true. So


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believers can never take a careless attitude to life. Carelessness is themark of the unbeliever. Ours is the approach to willing obedience toJesus.

Questions:

Who was your first boss? Was this person easy to work for or aslave driver?

How does our society define freedom and slavery? How does theBible define freedom and slavery? See Romans 1:1. Compare.

Is there a difference between being a disciple of Christ and aslave of Christ? Read Luke 17:7-10. Do Christians have the optionof saying NO to Jesus?

See verse 17 and notice the word heart. How delightful do youfind Christs commands? Are there any commands that you have

a great deal of difficulty with? Why? Are there any commandsyou used to find difficulty with, but now find delightful. Sharethese with the group.

If you find yourself once again being a slave to sin, what doesthis passage ask you to do?

See verse 21. Sin always carries with it a set of negativeconsequences. Look at Galatians 5:16-21 and pick out some ofthe sins mentioned. What are the consequences to eachindividual sin?

Now look at Galatians 5:22-25. What are the consequences of

these things in a life controlled by the Spirit?

If you had acted as Gods willing servant this week, what wouldhave changed in your attitudes and actions?


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Week Five: God's Law & Christian DiscipleshipRomans 7:1-13

Abstract:

Many Christians simply do not understand the Old Testament Law, andwhat is the Christians relationship to it. This might seem to be a minor

theological point, but in fact, it is much more than that. At stake iswhat it means to be a follower of Jesus. For some people, any use ofthe Ten Commandments is simply legalism, and therefore they willhave none of it. The only law we are to keep, they say, is the law oflove. But the reality is that we often fall right back into enslavement tosin, and therefore never become followers of Jesus. But at the sametime, Paul says that all Christians have died to the law. What then isthe Christians relationship to Gods law? And more so, how does Godwant us to live? Are we to be careful to keep certain rules, or are allrules simply laws that we have been liberated from. Todays messagewill help you understand the relationship of Christianity to the rules.

Questions:

What are some of the rules that you were taught in yourreligious upbringing? What are your memories of those rules?

What is the relationship of the Christian to the Law? Given thatthe law is a) a statement of right and wrong, b) it reveals thenature of God c) it highlights human sinfulness d) reveals the


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way of sacrifice. What is the relationship of the Christian inrelationship to these four things?

Do Christians have to keep the 10 commandments? Yes or no?Under what conditions? Why?

We are dead to the law. What have we died to? Refer to sermon

notes. Discuss. Read Deuteronomy 28:15-24ff. What happenswhen you break the law outside of grace? How does this makeChrists sacrifice seem real? Read Galatians 3:10-14.

See verse 6. Note the contrast between the old written code andthe new life of the Spirit. Read Ezekiel 36:25-32. Tell of anincident in your life where the Holy Spirit has given you joy inkeeping the commands of God.

Read verse 7. Discuss: How do you know what is a sin, and whatis not

Do you feel more married to a religious code or to the living

Christ? Explain.


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Week Six: The Battle Within

Romans 7:14-25

Abstract:

Every single believer knows the reality of a battle that at timesthreatens to lead them to despair. Why, oh Lord, do I fall into sin soeasily? Why do I end up doing the very things that I promised myself Iwould never do again? Is this a sign that I am not a believer at all? Isthis normal? How can I break this cycle?

It is Christs will, that every single believer live a life of victory over sin.Christ wants us to live lives that become more and more like Jesus. The

good news is that this is not only possible, this is the normal Christianlife. But what then of the battle within? The answer lies first inunderstanding the nature of the battle. Then and only then will weunderstand the keys to victory.

Questions:

What New Years resolution have you started with good intentionsonly to have it fizzle out?

Compare 7:14 with 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. How did being fleshly

work its way out in the Corinthian church? What would happen toour church or your Bible Study group if everyone acted accordingto the flesh? What would happen to your marriage or yourfriendships?

Read Galatians 5:16-24. Define the flesh. Define the deeds or theworks of the flesh? Why is it, that the believer finds the works ofthe flesh abhorrent? If we carry on in the flesh, what is the finaloutcome?


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Why is our will sometimes overpowered by the flesh? Why doesthat happen? Is there anything we can do? What is it?

Read 1 Corinthians 9:27. How can you make your body submit toyou? Has anyone practiced fasting? What was the benefit thatyou experienced?

Discuss self denial as a virtue in the Christian life. How doesdenying yourself for the sake of the gospel give you masteryover the flesh. Discuss this in the area of tithing, service, living incommunity or other items that require self denial.

Read Romans 7:25b. How is the outcome of your life dependantupon your mind that is your thoughts and emotions? SeeRomans 8:5.


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Week Seven: Free At LastRomans 8:1-11

*Abstract:

Freedom is a desirable word. For those in prison, it is a longing to oneday be able to go anywhere they want and do anything they want. Forthose in oppressed countries, it is the longing to be able to chooseones own destiny. But for Christians, it means more than any otherlonging for freedom. For the Christian, true freedom means to be ableto do exactly what God wants us to do without the bondage of ourinclination to sin.

Is such a life really possible? Of course we might think it is not, for weknow that we will finally and ultimately be free in heaven. But, there isa freedom that is already available to us now a greater freedom thanwe ever imagined possible. It is the freedom to live according to thewill of God without the destructive power of sin. That freedom comes

only from the Holy Spirit.

In writing to the churches in Galatia, Paul asks the question: Afterbeginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal byhuman effort? In other words, if you are saved by and through theSpirit and not by your own works, why are you now thinking that youshould go back to living by the flesh and not by the same Spirit thatsaved you?

Skip ahead 2000 or so years and you find that what was taking place inGalatia is common practice for many Christians today we believe weare saved by the Spirit but when it comes to living our lives, we have a

great tendency to take matters into our own hands. In todays passagewe find Paul instructing his readers on the whys and hows of living lifein the Spirit; the same Spirit who now lives in us.

Questions:

When you were young, who had the greatest influence on thedirection of your life?


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Read verse 1. In your background, to what extent did guiltmotivate you? Do you ever fear that if guilt is taken away, youwill fail to be a faithful follower of Jesus? Is it good to tell peoplethere is no condemnation? What does Paul mean when he saysthere is no condemnation? How free should you really be fromyour sins? Discuss these questions at length.

In what ways have you experienced the complete freedom fromcondemnation?

Have your group make a list of all the benefits that come into ourlives from having the Holy Spirit. You may want to use thefollowing passages as references: Acts 1:8; John 14:15-17; 14:25-26; 16:7-15; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Corinthians 12:1-13.

Romans 8:5. What does it mean to set your mind on the things ofthe Spirit? Discuss you own experience with the Holy Spirit. Howhas the Holy Spirit made the difference in your life equippingyou to be what Christ wants you to be?

What one word would best describe your Christian life right now?Have you ever felt like just packing it in?

In verse 5, Paul contrasts a spiritually-minded and fleshly-mindedperson what do you think it means to live spiritually-minded asopposed to fleshly-minded? In your daily life do you find yourselfbeing more spiritually-minded or fleshly-minded?

Read Romans 12:2. If walking in the Spirit begins with the mind,what are some ways we can ensure that our minds are beingtransformed and not conformed to the world?

Contrast verse 6 with verse 7. In what ways does God give us lifeand peace? In what ways have you experienced life and peacethrough the Spirit?

In light of 8:3, why is it impossible to please God in the flesh asPaul states in verse 8?

What are the benefits that Paul gives in verses 9-11, of Goddwelling in you through the Holy Spirit? Take some time to look atJohn 14:15-23 for further insight.


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Week 8: Suffering & Glory

Romans 8:12-25

*Abstract:

We all know the difference between a hopeful and a discouragedperson. Hopeful people are optimistic and happy. Hopeful people knowthat the very best days are not behind them but are ahead of them.Hopeful people can bear any present difficulty with confidence,because they know that the difficulty of the present will pass away andgood times are ahead. There is something about being around hopefulpeople that is absolutely contagious. It simply lifts the spirit.

But hopeful people also groan. That is to say, being a hopeful persondoesnt make you unrealistic or blind to suffering, or evil, or injustice.Hope is not about being unrealistic or having ones head buried deepinto the sand. True hope is biblical hope. It takes the present momentwith absolute seriousness. But at the same time, because it is hope, itnever falls into despair. Hope is one of the three enduring qualities in

every believer.

Questions:

1. If we are not saved by good works, what is the motivation for doinggood works as a Christian?3. What balance is Paul trying to achieve when he says in verse 13,that by the Spirit, you put to death the misdeeds of the body.4. How does the Spirit help in fighting our battles? Do you have anypersonal examples where He has lead you through difficult times verse 14?

5. How should the fact that we have received the Spirit of adoptionhelp us from falling back into fear and slavery, as Paul states in verse15.6. What are some ways that the Spirit bears witness to your spirit thatyou are His child verse 16?7. Why is it necessary not only to believe in Jesus but also to suffer forHis name sake verse 17?8. Compare Romans 8:18 with 2 Corinthians 4:17. Think of the worstcase of suffering that you know. How can that be considered light? Be


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