A mid-summer special Bible study took place with my church this year. The topic: Hard Sayings in the Bible. There were a number of passages that have raised questions over the years that we have had Bible studies, so the questions presented for choice were legitimate concerns of some parishioners. However, because it was only a 3-night conversation, we had to settle on 6 main topics and passages. As a "just-in-case" there were additional reserve questions offered as "fillers" for those evenings where our main topic conversation concluded before the hour was up. This post will list the topics. Follow-up posts will offer some feedback on the sayings/passages that will hopefully provide some meaningful understanding for readers of the blog. For the sake of privacy of the individuals who participated in the conversations, I've only included my reflections on the questions in the posts. Links to my reflections are included at the end of the question.
Questions for Discussion During the Special July Bible Study
1.
This first question was submitted based
on Ezekiel 3:20; for context, verses 18 and 19 have been added[1]:
[18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely
die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil
ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their
sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you
do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their
wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but
you will have saved yourself.] 20Again,
when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put
a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn
them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will
not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.” Do
you believe in the above statement? How do you reconcile the popular
saying “Once saved always saved”? in reference to the second half
of verse 20? [see answer here]
2.
Does Genesis 22:12 contradict God’s omniscience? [see answer here]
3.
Jesus in John chapter 3 speaks to a Pharisee named
Nicodemus who came in search of him one evening, wanting to get the ‘low-down’
on who Jesus really was. Jesus responds to Nicodemus’ query with a profound
statement: “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God
without being born from above.” Puzzled Nicodemus to no end – “How can
anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the
mother’s womb and be born?” he asked. Jesus gives Nicodemus a second answer
that further puzzles him: “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom
of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Traditionally under the Mosaic Law,
one was considered ‘righteous’, favored of God, if they kept the law
“perfectly.” They believed material blessings proved they had met the standard.
So, Jesus’ response not only puzzled Nicodemus but also Christians
throughout the centuries. What does it mean to enter the kingdom and
be born again – to be born of water and Spirit? Can a person still be a
Christian but not born again – like isn’t that just an evangelical thing? Why
is it important to know the answer to this question? Tied closely to the
explanation of this is: Who are the saints, and how is their sainthood
determined? [see answer here]
4.
Why does God send people to hell if He is a God of love? (note the
emphasis) [see answer here]
5.
a. Matthew
16:15-19. Jesus held an interesting conversation with
His disciples after going a ‘round’ with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He asks
them: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They tossed out a couple of
names, then Simon Peter says: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
Then Jesus says to Simon Peter: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh
and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven has. And I tell
you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of
Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Many readers of this passage
believe that Jesus was anointing Peter to be head of the church, and the Roman
Catholics also say that Peter was the first Pope. What message was Jesus
giving His disciples at that time, and throughout the millennia? [see answer here]
b. By the power of the
Holy Spirit, Simon Peter writes to the elect in Christ the message in 1 Peter 2, beginning at verse 2 through 10 (this was part of a recent lesson preached on at a
Sunday worship service). What is being conveyed in this passage about our identity
as Christians – which Jesus was implying in His words recorded at Matthew
16:15-19? [see answer here]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The following questions are reserved for those evenings where the 2
scheduled questions do not take up the full hour.
A. How do you reconcile Matthew 18:20 (when 2 or 3 are gathered
there I am also) with John 17:20,21 (I am in the Father and the Father is in Me
and We are in them); that is, why would Jesus have said that there needs
to be 2 or 3 believers together at one time before He can be present, when we
are already individually in Him? [see answer here]
B. Jesus said that we each would need to bear our cross daily.
Many Christians have been taught that it means to be able to bear the burdens
of life, or as a way of enduring a nagging / annoying person, situation, etc. What
did Jesus want us to understand from His statement at Luke 9:23? [see answer here]
C. The Blessed Virgin Mary: we know that, in order for God’s
salvific plan to be accomplished, Jesus could not have been born through human
reproduction; a virgin was chosen to carry His human life in her womb. The
virgin, of course, was Mary; however, did she remain a virgin after Jesus’
birth? Even though she is venerated by a number of denominations, is it
appropriate to pray to her or “through” her? (Luke 1:26-56) [see answer here]
D. What does Jesus mean when He says: “‘Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with
all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”? This passage can
be found in part or in whole in the Gospels at Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, and
Luke 10:27. [see answer here]
E. In Luke 14:26 Jesus says that unless we
hate family and self we can have no part in His kingdom. Whaaat? What does He mean? [see answer here]
[1] An
even more clear understanding may be had in verses 1-17 in Ezekiel’s response
to God’s command.
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