Paul Writes to Christians

Transcription

1 Paul Writes to Christians Contents SECTION 1: All Have Sinned (Romans) 1. Paul s Burden for Rome Sin Invades Justified by Faith Servants of Righteousness Review and Quiz SECTION 2: A New Life (Romans, 1 Corinthians) 6. No Condemnation Transformed! The Christian and Civil Authority God s Wisdom Is Superior Review and Quiz SECTION 3: Doing Things God s Way (1 Corinthians) 11. Laboring Together With God Teachings for Orderly Church Life The Body of Christ Love Self Check LightUnit Test

2 1 Paul s Burden for Rome USING THE ATLAS ü In Baker s Bible Atlas read the first 6 paragraphs of Spread of Christianity beginning on page 249 and then do the following exercises. 1. Which civil government most opposed Christianity during the first three centuries of the Christian era? 2. Whose conversion caused Christianity to become the favored religion of the Roman Empire? Study the map on page 249 titled The Spread of Christianity and answer the questions. 3. Which city with a church lay just outside the Roman Empire? 4. Name the westernmost city in which there was a church. 5. Name the southernmost city in which there was a church. Read Your Bible Read Romans 1:1-17 Write your initials on the line when you have finished reading the passage. Bible Vocabulary just: not guilty of sin, upright, innocent Answer these questions. 6. What two nouns did Paul use to describe himself in the opening of his letter? A. B. 7. How many verses does it take for Paul s first sentence? 8. Where had Paul often prayed to go? 9. According to verses 11 and 12, why did Paul long to see the Christians at Rome? A. B. 2

3 Lesson 1 Vocabulary Words corrupt (kә rәpt ): to ruin or defile exhortation (ek sȯr tā shәn): advice, counsel, or warning salvation (sal vā shәn): being delivered from God s condemnation of sin; or from sin s control ANALYZE THE BIBLE READING The Apostle Paul was deeply concerned about each person he met. He also cared about Christians he had only heard of. He prayed earnestly for these people and preached the Gospel everywhere he went. He called all people to believe in Christ, and he strengthened and built up existing churches. Paul was also an able writer. The contents of Paul s letters range from orderly discussions of Christian teachings to brief, personal requests and exhortations. Paul longed to see God s people learn to live as Jesus lived. As Paul wrote, he often became so inspired that Life in Rome What was life like in Rome at the time Paul wrote to the Christians there? Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire. The city was home to about one million people. About half of these people were slaves and many others were idle poor folks who took advantage of the distribution of free food. Much of the Roman year was spent in observing religious holidays. The number of these holidays increased until there were 135 each year during the A.D. 100s. These holidays were celebrated with free public entertainment in circular arenas known as amphitheaters. Here gladiators fought each other or wild animals to the death. Other popular pastimes included watching chariot racing or plays staged at theaters. The Roman government s policy of keeping its people happy with food and amusement has been called bread and circuses. Today some people may say that bread and circuses led to the fall of the Roman empire. it was hard for him to break off one thought and begin another. As a result, much of Paul s writing is complex. In addition, Paul s writings are often so spiritually profound that it requires much effort to understand them. Peter wrote in his second epistle that Paul had written some things hard to be understood. Yet he has contributed more to our knowledge of important Christian doctrines than any other New Testament writer. Paul wrote at least thirteen New Testament epistles far more than anyone else. Paul was probably at Corinth when he wrote his letter to the Romans. In it the apostle expressed his concern for the Christians in Rome. He assured them of his prayers and told them that he longed to share the Gospel with them. Romans is Paul s longest letter and easily the broadest in scope and content. Originally written in Greek, Romans eloquently describes how sin has corrupted mankind and how God has provided a solution to corruption. Romans also speaks about Israel s place in God s plan. It contains many ethical and practical teachings for Christians. A beautiful and powerful book, Romans has inspired and helped Christians of all ages. In the introduction to Romans, Paul establishes that he is an apostle 3

4 Lesson 1 of Jesus Christ. He boldly declares that Jesus, though born a descendant of King David, is indeed the Son of God. We know this because Christ was raised from the dead. Jesus is the source of salvation and the focus of the Gospel that Paul preached. Having once persecuted the church, Paul was now honored to be an apostle of Christ. He felt compelled to share the Gospel with all people. This is what he means when he says in verse 14 that he is a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. Paul closes the opening portion of Romans with an inspiring declaration. He says that he is not ashamed of the Gospel, the message that Jesus Christ has provided salvation for all people. Paul goes on to announce that this message is the power of God unto salvation for anyone who believes in Christ, regardless of their nationality or background. What does this mean? When any person hears the Gospel and believes it, he comes to faith in Jesus Christ, who saves him from sin. As we trust and obey Christ, God will help us to Triumphal Arch honoring the Roman emperor Titus better understand what it means to live righteously. As we live in righteousness, we become more and more free from the control of sin in our lives. Library of Congress/Matson Collection UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON 10. Paul was likely in the city of when he wrote Romans. 11. Think! Paul s purpose in writing to the Roman believers was to. A. earn extra money B. be more influential than Peter C. strengthen the church at Rome D. silence his critics 12. Place a check in front of the statements that are true about the Book of Romans. Correct any false statements. A. contains practical teachings for Christians B. an easily understood writing style C. Paul s second-longest letter D. written in Greek E. about God s plan to solve the problem of sin F. has inspired Christians for many years 4

5 Lesson What did Paul mean when he said the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe in Christ? A. He confirmed his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ. B. He meant that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. C. He declared that anyone who believed in Jesus could be saved regardless of background. D. He explained how people can learn to become more and more free from the power of sin. 14. Read verses 14 and 15 again. What did Paul feel indebted to do for all men? THE BIBLE FOR TODAY i In Romans 1:17 Paul says that God s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith. This means that as we obey the truth, God will give us even deeper understanding of His righteousness. As we allow this deeper understanding to change our lives, we are able to understand His righteousness even better. 15. Romans contains many deep and complex truths. How can we grow from faith to faith in our understanding of God s righteousness? FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING Read 2 Peter 3:15 and 16 and then answer the following questions about Paul s writing. Note: The word wrest means to torture, misuse, or twist. Circle T if the statement is true or F if it is false. Correct any false statements. 16. T F Paul wrote some things that were hard to understand. 17. T F Sometimes people twist truth that they cannot easily understand. 18. T F Paul wrote his epistles according to knowledge gained by his good education. 19. Read 2 Peter 1:20, 21. According to this passage, who is the author of the Bible? BIBLE MEMORY Write the memory verses, including the references

6 2 Sin Invades Read Your Bible Read Romans 1:17-32 Write your initials on the line when you have finished reading the passage. Answer the questions. 1. What makes a man just, or righteous before God? 2. When men profess themselves to be wise, what do they become? Complete the exercise using Strong s Concordance. 3. The Greek word adokimos is translated reprobate in this chapter. Look up this word (#96) in the Greek dictionary in Strong s Concordance. Remember, the words following the colon and dash are the different English words that are used to translate the Greek word. A. Write the two other English forms of adokimos. B. How is the Greek word for reprobate translated in 1 Corinthians 9:27? Vocabulary Words reprobate (re prә bāt ): morally corrupt sin: intentional or unintentional failure to do God s will; wickedness ANALYZE THE BIBLE READING Paul closed the reading in Lesson 1 by declaring the wondrous truth that we can be saved by trusting in Jesus Christ. In today s passage Paul paints a grim contrast. Here he describes what happens to those who allow sin to grow in their lives. People who continue to disobey God descend deeper and deeper into sin. God has given mankind ample witness of His power and eternal rule. The whole creation speaks of God s mighty works. Think of the wonders of nature: the beauty and majesty of the nighttime heavens; the towering, immoveable strength of great mountain ranges; or the mysteries of the human brain. Because God has given this witness through His creation, all are accountable to Him. Sadly, people often love their sin so much that they do not want to obey God. They resist the truth. They become dishonest about what is plain for all to see. They claim to be well-studied and wise, but rejecting God causes them to teach very foolish things. Sometimes they even begin to 6

7 Lesson 2 worship God s creation instead of worshiping Him. We are attracted to sin because we are sinful, but sin is like cancer. When we allow sin in our lives, it continues to invade and grow. We cannot sin a little while avoiding further inroads of sin into our lives. When people resist the truth, their sinfulness increases. Their world revolves more and more around pleasing themselves. Eventually, sin hinders their ability to reason. If people resist God long enough, He will finally allow them to fall completely into sin. Paul lists some of the serious problems that arise when this happens. People abandon God s plan for one man and one woman to be committed to one another in marriage as long as they both are living. People are filled with deceit, greed, violence, and murder. They worship idols. Yet they are so blind about their sin that they become proud boasters. Furthermore, men and women who reject God s Word lose good judgment. They are no longer able to choose what is good because they are deceived by reprobate thinking. They begin to think that good is evil and evil is good. Reprobate sinners often begin to take pleasure in seeing or hearing about the sins of others. Many people openly applaud others for living in sin. They sing about evil and find entertainment in reading or hearing about it. A reprobate lifestyle brings God s wrath. However, Paul taught us that we can have a right relationship with God. As we have read, the just shall live by faith. Faith in God requires honesty about our sins and weaknesses. It requires that we recognize that God is the only One who can help us. He is our Maker and Lord, and we must seek His righteousness if we wish to be free from the corruption that comes from sinning. 7

8 Lesson 2 UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON Answer the question. 4. Look at verse 20 again. What causes all men to be aware of God and His mighty power? Circle the letter of the answer. 5. Those who fall deeply into sin, begin by choosing to. A. seek God in another church B. seek a higher education C. resist the truth D. be truthful with their own conscience 6. Reprobate sinners enjoy being around other sinners because. A. they enjoy the sins others are committing B. they hope to convert the others C. they know that there is safety in a crowd D. some religious people are self righteous THE BIBLE FOR TODAY Circle T if the statement is true or F if it is false. Correct any false statements. 7. T F Faith produces a heart that is honest about its sins. 8. T F Allowing a little sin into our lives will cause more sin to invade and grow. 9. T F Reprobate people have good judgment. Answer the question. 10. If a society favors sin, what will happen to that society? FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING i Today, many people are probably more educated and technologically advanced than at any other time in history. Yet this has not removed the problem of sin. Read 2 Timothy 3:7 and compare it with Romans 1:22. Answer the question. 11. Think! Why is it that people can advance in academics and technology and yet remain far away from God? 8

9 Lesson 2 BIBLE MEMORY Complete the verses. 12. Even the of God is by of Jesus Christ unto and upon them that : for there is no : For all have, and come of the of God. Romans 3:, REVIEW Complete the exercises. 13. Write a short phrase describing each of the following aspects of the book of Romans. A. Its teaching: B. Its writing style: C. Its length in comparison to Paul s other letters: D. One of its messages: 14. Copy the statement Paul made to show that anyone who believes in Christ can be saved no matter what his background is. Answer the questions. 15. What was Paul s purpose in writing the book of Romans? 16. What feeling caused Paul to zealously preach the Gospel to all people? 17. What must we do to grow in our understanding of the truth? 9