How leaders can grow in evangelistic grace

John the Baptist was “sent to bear witness that all might believe” – and we all believe in Christ today because of his effective witness. What can we learn form him?

Look at this short inspirational video by Andre Kruger on growing in the evangelistic anointing. For more on his teachings and to obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

https://youtu.be/BT1q22eLDto

Scripture

John 1:6-8 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

John 1:23  He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.“ (cf Isa 40:3-5)

John 1:29-37

29  The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30  This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31  I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32  And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33  I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” 35  The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36  and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

Observations and Revelation

Context: Theses sections of Scripture introduce and record the core ministry of John the Baptist.  

1. In short, what was the main ministry of John the Baptist? [John 1:23 and 31]
2. What does it mean “to [be a] witness”? [hint: to a journalist, or to a court of law]
3. John was a few months older that his cousin Jesus. So what do you think he meant when he said of Jesus: “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me”? (verse30) [hint: you might want to read John 3:26-30 for some context]
4. What do you understand under these four phrases that introduce the ministry of John the Baptist (verses 6-8)?

• “sent from God”
• “not The Light”
• “sent to bear witness”
• “that all through him might believe”

5. What was the immediate response to John’s witness of Jesus?

 

Personal Reflection and Application

John the Baptist had the privileged to witness the Spirit of God descend on the Jesus and announce to everyone in Israel that This Man is the Promised Messiah – that all might trust and believe in Him for their salvation.

1. John the Baptist witnessed and two of his own disciples followed Jesus immediately. To whom have you witnessed recently that resulted in their belief and following of Jesus?
2. Make bullet points about your salvation testimony (or another significant thing the Lord has done in your life) and then evaluate your story in the light of John the Baptist’s effective witness of Jesus:

“sent from God” – knowing that you are commissioned by Jesus

“not The Light” – witnessing in such a way to not take the glory that belongs to Jesus

“sent to bear witness” – to simply tell of what you have seen and experienced

“that all through him might believe” ­– to witness in such a way that people will believe

3. Pray for boldness to be an effective witness of Jesus Christ’s work in your life. Prayerfully consider whom you will witness to in the next 3 days “that they might believe”. [You might want to first share your testimony above with a Christian friend, and ask for his or her input].

 

 

How leaders can grow in pastoral grace

Leadership is all about care for the well-being of others expressed through acts of selflessness and kindness to better the state of those in their care.

In this short inspirational video Andre Kruger shares on how leaders can increase the pastoral anointing in their lives. For more on his teachings and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

Scripture

Matthew 25:31-40

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

37  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Observations and reflections

1. What will Jesus honor the righteous for doing when he returns? List and describe what the Lord specifies in this text. (verses 37-40)
2. How does our Lord view caring deeds of love for people in need in this earth? (verse 40)
3. Why do you think the Lord views these loving deeds to needy people in such a way?
4. Carefully read verse 40 again. How many deeds of love does one need to do before the Lord recognizes and rewards one when he returns? And what does that suggest about the value the places on one person in need?

Personal reflection and application

The Lord loves and values each individual and therefore deeply identifies with the lack, pain and suffering of every person he created.  Therefore the Lord rewards every deed of kindness from compassion shown to each individual person, as if it is shown to him in person.

1. List three acts of kindness you have recently shown to people in need – especially those close to you.  Our Text today promises that the Lord will remember these acts of sincere kindness; how does this truth make you feel?
2. To grow in pastoral grace one simply shows compassion and kindness to people who cross your path, motivated by the truth that the Lord loves that person as he loves you. Consider the following Scripture:

Galatians 6:10 “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

• In which ways can you “do good” today – especially those close to you? List 10 practical examples.
• Whom do you know that is sick in bed, alone or feeling down?  What can you do to show care and love for them?
• Whom within your family and Christian fellowship can you show kindness today?
• Whom in your every life can you show kindness today?
• Memorize this Scripture, and mediate on it all day long as you look for opportunities to show the loving care and kindness of our Lord to those you relate to. Pray that the Lord will grace you to show his compassion, kindness and patience so you may represent him well.

How leaders can grow in apostolic grace

Supernatural signs confirm the message of the Kingdom of God.  So how does a leader grow in the demonstration of spirit and power?

Look at this short inspirational video by Andre Kruger who has seen tremendous growth in his personal life and congregation in the demonstration of spirit and power. Form more on his teachings regarding this visit his page http://heavensflow.org/

Scriptures

Matthew 4:17-24

17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” … 23  And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24  So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Matthew 10:1-8

1  And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction… 5  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7  And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Observations and Reflection

Note: Matthew, being a Jew, respectfully chose to use the euphoric phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” where the other evangelists used the phrase “Kingdom of God”.

1. List the similarities between these two portions from the Gospel of Matthew.
2. What was the message preached?
3. To whom did they preach?
4. What accompanied the preaching of this message?
5. What is “the Kingdom of God”? What synonyms could you use for the phrase “Kingdom of God”?
6. Why did these signs follow the pronouncement of the Kingdom of God? [hint: where does sickness, death, leprosy and demonic oppression come from?]
7. What was the purpose of these accompanying signs?

Personal reflection and Application

Jesus and his disciples preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God, calling the Jews to repent of their rebellion and sin and submit to the reign of God – and signs of this good reign of God followed as the blind saw, deaf heard, lame walked, the sick was healed and the oppressed were delivered, even the dead raised! These signs testify of the good and powerful reign of God.

1. Signs and wonders are more commonly observed during evangelic outreaches and gospel crusades. Have you witnessed this before? And why do you think it is so?
2. Considering today’s scripture reading, how would one grow in the apostolic anointing or demonstration of the Spirit and Power? [hint: apostle means ‘sent one, messenger or emissary’]
3. Jesus and his disciples preached ‘the Kingdom of God’ among their own people. Prayerfully prepare a 10minute message on the Kingdom of God and preach it to people you associate with. Then follow up with demonstration of the Kingdom of God by praying for sick or oppressed people. (Consider taking this message to hospitals or prisons in your area).
4. If you have not been on a mission trip in the last year, plan to join one in the next 12 months.

Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

Now and forever. Amen”

 

Leader need to grow in prophetic grace

Leaders must lead people in the will of God, inspire them with hope and encourage them to continue.  Leaders need to grow in the gift of prophecy.

In this short inspiration session André Kruger explains why leaders must grow in the prophetic anointing, and how it functions. For more on his teachings on flowing in the grace of God go to www.heavensflow.org

Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:1-4

1  Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2  For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

Observations

1. What is prophesy?
2. According to this Scripture, what is the requirement to administer the spiritual gifts? (verse 1)
3. Paul says that one should “especially desire [to] prophesy”; what does this imply about the key to function in the gift of prophesy? (verse 1)
4. Why does Paul highlight the pursuit of prophesy above the other spiritual gifts? (verses 2-4)
5. Explain in your own words what prophesy does for the hearers. (verse 3-4)

Reflection and Application

Prophecies are words from the heart of God that gives direction, correction, comfort and encouragement.  God does nothing on earth without sharing heart and plans with people who flow in this gift (Amos 3:7).  These words bring with it grace from God which gives life, hope and strength to the ones who hear.  Leaders must pursue and grow in this gift of grace.

1. What is the most inspirational, uplifting and comforting word of prophesy that you have received from the Lord? How did it affect your emotions and life as a whole?
2. How do you usually hear words of prophesy from the Lord for someone else?
3. When last did you wait on the Lord to share a word of encouragement or direction for someone else?
4. Consider this description of Judas and Silas: “And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.” (Acts 15:32)
5. At the first available fellowship gathering (either church meeting, Bible study, prayer or small group meeting) trust God to share a word of prophesy for someone present.
6. Ask the Lord to give a word of encouragement to you for someone who needs it today. Pray in the Spirit or wait on God until he puts someone in mind, then wait and pray and write down your thoughts. It sometimes helps me to start affirming the person, until I can discern what the Lord says to the person.  Work on your letter until you feel this is what God says, and it is encouraging.  Then pray and send it to the person – don’t delay.

Prayer

Consistently pray and petition God for the gift of prophesy and a heart of love.  Ask that you may increase in the gift to give direction, hope and encouragement with words of life from God.

Leaders must grow in apostolic grace

God’s not dead. As Christian leaders we must demonstrate the power of God so that the faith of those we lead’s faith is secure in God, not just our words. 

In this short video Andre Kruger shares on how Christian leaders need to flow in Apostolic Grace from God. To learn more of Andre’s teaching and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

https://youtu.be/-Y0vHIDIRdU

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Observation and reflection questions

1. Reading Paul’s letters – even this one to the Corinthians – he seems to be an excellent teacher and philosopher. In light of his ability with words, how do you understand verse one?
2. In your own words, answer the following questions to better understand the line of thought
3. What was Paul’s intent in preaching? (verse 2)
4. Why does he mention both “Jesus Christ” and “Him crucified”? [hint: person and work] Why is this necessary when preaching the gospel?
5. What was Paul’s demeanor while preaching? (verse 3)
6. Why would Paul deliberately aim to come across “weak” when preaching the gospel?
7. What was Paul’s preaching like? (verse 4)
8. Why did he opt for “demonstration of Spirit and power” rather than “persuasive words” when he clearly has the ability to win an argument?

Personal Reflective questions

Leaders must usher people into the Kingdom of God.  His Kingdom is not is not found in religious observance, laws and rituals; it is in powerful demonstration of the reign of God (Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20).

1. Jesus said “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
2. In which way does your life testify of the transforming power of God’s Spirit?
3. When last has God done a miracle through you?
4. Do you actively desire to know and experience God’s power? Why? How does your motive compare to Paul’s motive above?
5. When and where can you position yourself to experience and demonstrate the power of God “so that the faith of man may rest in God’s power” and not only your words? Schedule it.
6. Talk to a mature Christian friend about the power of God. Make a pact to agree to seek “to know Him, and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).

Prayer

 

Apologetics 5 – Conversing in grace

The aim of this devotional study is to consider the how to engage non-Christians in conversation.

Scripture

Colossians 4:5-6

5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Observation and reflection

Context: The environment in Colossi was hostile towards Christianity, especially because the conduct of believers set them apart from the pantheistic, immoral culture of their day.

1. What do you understand Paul to mean when he instructs these believers to:
   1. “walk in wisdom towards outsiders”
   2. “making the best use of your time”
   3. “let your speech be gracious”
   4. “seasoned with salt”
   5. “know how to answer”
   6. “each person”

2. What does it mean to be gracious in conversation?  How does one do that, especially when talking to someone who does not share your opinion?

Personal reflection and prayer

Especially skeptical unbelievers are keen observers of your daily conduct, looking for integrity (“the distance between your mouth and feet”).  As Edgar Guest put it “I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one, any day”

1. Consider your conduct of late, or a recent incident. Are there things which you do that disagrees with what you believe? Or (i.e. how you treat people, how you work, how you spend money, etc).
   1. Pray about it, asking the Lord for forgiveness, and grace to fix it. Then fix it.  (Should you ask forgiveness?)
2. Search your heart about talking to unbelievers. Do you sense fear / hostility / bitterness / frustration?  Bring these thoughts to God and ask that he will fill your heart with love for all people.
3. Is there an unbeliever with whom you can dialogue about faith? Pray and think about how you can gracefully and creatively engage them about their worldview and your faith in Christ.  What will interest this specific person?  How can you lead him/ her closer to Jesus?
   1. Pray about that, and make notes as you talk through this with the Lord.

Covenant 3 – The Old and The New

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on Paul’s comparison between the Old and the New Covenant.

Observations

2 Corinthians 3:6-18

6  [God] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7  Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8  will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9  For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

10  Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.  11  For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.  12  Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,  13  not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end.

14  But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.  15  Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.  16  But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.  17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

18  And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Observations and reflections

Context:  Paul contrasts the New Covenant in Christ to the Old Covenant through Moses.  It is helpful to consider announcements of the two covenants as in these two cases

Exodus 31:18  And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

Jeremiah 31:33  But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel… I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, they my people.

1. Read through 1 Corinthians 3 and make a comparative table

Old Covenant	New Covenant
Letter	?
Kills	?
Ministry of death	?
On stone	?
Temporal glory	?
Ministry of condemnation	?
No glory	?
Shame of fading glory	?

2. What does Paul mean with the phrases “ministry of condemnation” and “ministry of righteousness”?
3. Jeremiah’s prophesy promised “the law within them… [written] on their hearts”? [Jeremiah 31:33] How?
4. What was the basis of the Old Testament? (What was the conditions of the Old Covenant or Pledge?) How was it managed?
5. What is the basis of the New Testament (or the New Covenant) according to this Scripture? How is it managed?
6. What does Paul say about the glory between the Old and New covenants? What does that mean?
7. What is the sign of the New Covenant at work? (v17)

Personal reflection

In which ways can you identify the following in your relationship with God:

A. “condemnation”: a feeling of being in trouble when you are found to behave wrong.

vs “righteousness”: a sense of being tested and approved of, being found acceptable

B. “law on stones”: measuring yourself based on what you are taught in Mosaic Law

vs “law on heart”: testing your motives based on the conviction of the Spirit

C. “ministry of death”: fear of failing God’s standards and threat of hell

vs “ministry of life”: anticipation for Jesus’ return to receive the fullness of our salvation – life with God forever

D. “veiled by Moses”: all you know about God is what he expects through the knowledge of the Law

vs “freedom in the Spirit”: a relational knowledge of God’s heart and will through the Holy Spirit.

Application and prayer

Considering your answers above, pray to God for a revelation of the New Covenant in Christ, assuring God’s satisfaction and our forgiveness and righteousness based on His shed blood.

This worship song will greatly enhance your time of prayer and reflection. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI]

Eternal Judgment 4

The Aim of this devotional study of to reflect on the eternal rewards believers will receive because of service to God and his people.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 3:5-15

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  7  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

10  According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  11  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13  each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

14  If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Observation

Note: The background to the portion of Scripture is that Paul is defending his apostleship, stating that both he and Apollos serves Christ and Christ will test and reward both their labors in Corinthian church.

1. Write a short point-by-point description of the rewards one will receive according to this Text. (hint: focus on v8-9, 10, 13, 14-15).
2. Will we all be measured and rewarded according to the same scale one day? Clarify. (v10)
3. How can we be certain that this judgment is (or these rewards are) only for believers? (hint: v5-6, v12, and especially v15).
4. What is “the Day” that Paul speaks of in verse 13?
5. What could it mean that “[one’s] work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he will be saved – yet as through fire.”? (v15)

Reflection

1. Are you one who is motivated by positive or negative rewards? Do you work harder because you fear failure or punishment, or do you work harder when someone promises a pleasant reward for you?  Why?
2. Consider Jesus’ encouragement to “store up treasures in heaven.” [Matthew 6:19-21] Would you agree that Jesus aimed to inspire his disciples to do righteous / benevolent deeds?  How does that make you feel?
3. What can you do today that will ensure a reward for you in heaven?

Prayer

Jesus said to “pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” [Matthew 6:6] So take time today and press for whatever pressing need there is in the world, country, city, community of your family that presses on your heart.  If you are clueless what to pray for ask God to show you what is on his heart, and perhaps even go to www.News24.com or pray through the newspaper.

Salvation 7

The Aim of this devotional study is to better understand and appreciate the fullness of God’s salvation in Christ.

Scripture

Luke 18:9-14

9  [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

13  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Observation

This account of two men who approached God for righteousness, helps us to understand salvation and the basis of our relationship with God.

Note: “justified” is a legal term which means to be acquitted of all guilt, to be found innocent of all charges, thus to be righteous.

1. To whom was this parable told? (v9) Give three contemporary words to describe such people.
2. To see how well you understand the parable, indicate of who these verses are most true: [the Pharisee | the tax collector | or both men].

• [ ] went to the temple because they believed in God’s existence and wanted a relationship with God. (v10)
• [ ] came to God and showed that he was righteous by comparing his behavior with others. (v11)
• [ ] thought that he was acceptable to God because he lived right according to the Law.  (v12)
• [ ] approached God based on his own righteousness.
• [ ] approached God based on God’s goodness and mercy.
• [ ] was justified because he appealed to God’s mercy.

3. Justified means “made right with God” means “saved”. What does this lesson teach us of God’s salvation and our approach?

Application

1. Write down your own short parable in contemporary terms (i.e. with no Biblical characters like tax collectors and Pharisees or temples – because we don’t have that around) so that, if you told it to your small group, they would get the same message than this parable above.
2. Rick Godwin said once “each of us has a Pharisee inside of us”. Looking at the parable above, why could you agree with Rick Godwin?  What did this Pharisee do that we are easily tempted to do as well?

Prayer

Spend some time in prayer to God, while NOT thinking of your behavior (not good nor bad), but only of his mercy and goodness.  Then ask the Holy Spirit to help you see hypocrisy and pride in you life, and ask God to forgive and cleanse you of it. “His mercy never ends!”

Creation 3

The Aim of this study is to reflect on the effect of sin on creation, God’s redemption in Christ Jesus, and consider your beliefs of the creation account.

Scripture

Romans 5:12-21

12  Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned– 13  for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14  Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15  But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.  16  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

17  For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  18  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19  For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

20  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Observations

1. This Scripture can be confusing to some, so let’s break it up and summarize each sub-section with a short sentence: v12-14, v15-16, v17-19, v20-21.
2. Considering the Text above, connect the words on the left with the words fitting best on the right:

Adam                                    resulted in justification

Christ                                    reign in death

Moses                                  reign through righteousness

Judgment                            resulted in condemnation

Free gift                               many made righteous

Sin                                          brought redemption

Grace                                    many made sinners

Disobedience                    brought sin

Obedience                          brought the Law

3. God created everything very good. How did death enter the world?
4. What is the analogy between Adam and Christ in the section above?

Application

1. In this section it is clear that Paul took Genesis 1-3 as literal history. What is your view of Genesis 1-3 (Creation and Fall).  Write your view down.
2. This section states that that through the one act of obedience of Christ, the bondage of sin and death over creation brought about by Adam’s initial act of sin is nullified (for those who believe). How does that conflict with the Evolutionary view of creation with millions of years of “survival of the fittest”.  (hint: focus on the origin of death)
3. When Christ comes to fulfill His saving work and bring his reign of eternal life when he “make(s) all things new” (Revelation 21:5) – how long will it take? What does that suggest of the first creation?

Prayer

Spend some time and praise God for his creative work, including yourself, with David’s Psalm 139.

Psalms 139:1-24

1  O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

5  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. 7  Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8  If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10  even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” 12  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

13  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

17  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18  If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.

19  Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! 20  They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. 21  Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 22  I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!