The Sovereign Lord has taught me what to say, so that I can strengthen the weary. Every morning he makes me eager to hear what he is going to teach me. The Lord has given me understanding, and I have not rebelled or turned away from him. I bared my back to those who beat me. I did not stop them when they insulted me, when they pulled out the hairs of my beard and spat in my face. But their insults cannot hurt me because the Sovereign Lord gives me help. I brace myself to endure them. I know that I will not be disgraced, for God is near, and he will prove me innocent. Does anyone dare to bring charges against me? Let us go to court together! Let him bring his accusation! The Sovereign Lord Himself defends me – who, then, can prove me guilty? All my accusers will disappear; they will vanish like moth-eaten cloth…”
1. What can you say about life on earth?
Answer: Life is full of discouragement.
2. Who are the people who can stand against and overcome discouragement?
Answer: Only the people of God, because they will not like to lose their salvation.
3. What did God command Isaiah to say?
Answer: To speak the hard truth to the people of Judah. He did not refuse.
4. What was the people’s response to his message?
Answer: They hated him.
5. What was Isaiah’s response to this hatred?
Answer: He was determined to do God’s will irrespective of what it would cost him.
6. Why was Isaiah determined to do God’s will?
Answer: He was confident that God would defend him, so he trusted in God’s help to see him through his mission.
7. What does the Bible say about those who trust the Lord for help?
Answer: They shall not be disappointed (Romans 10 v 11).
8. If people threaten you because of God’s message you deliver, what must you do?
Answer: You should not be moved by their threats.
Lesson: God will provide those whom He calls with the help they need to accomplish His task. Ours is to depend on Him. God indeed is our help.
ROMANS 3 V 21 – 26
“But now God has shown us a different way to heaven – not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us – declare us “not guilty” – if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins…”
1. What does a Christian life revolve around?
Answer: Christian life revolves around righteousness and faith after the forgiveness of sin.
2. How can a man be righteous?
Answer: Faith in Christ will enable us to be righteous.
3. What was the purpose of law?
Answer: It was to attain righteousness.
4. Was it possible to be righteous through law?
Answer: No, so law failed.
5. Why did law fail?
Answer: It was more physical than spiritual i.e. human effort to obey without Holy Spirit.
6. According to Paul’s teaching, how can a man stand in righteousness in God’s presence?
Answer: Paul said we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But we have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.
7. What does our faith in Christ earn from God?
Answer: (i) God overlooks our sins
(ii) God makes us justified in his presence.
8. What does self-righteousness earn man from God?
Answer: Nothing. We cannot do anything right to please God unless we place our faith in Christ.
9. What role does righteousness play in the life of a believer on earth?
Answer: It is the breastplate against the darts of the Evil One (Ephesians 6 v 14).
ROMANS 3 V 9 – 14
“Well, then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all men alike are sinners, whether Jews or Gentiles. As the Scriptures say, “No one is good – no one in all the world is innocent.” No one has ever really followed God’s paths or even truly wanted to. Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one. Their talk is foul and filthy like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are loaded with lies. Everything they say has in it the sting and poison of deadly snakes. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”.
1. How can you know the corrupt state of a man?
Answer: Sinful behaviour.
2. What does law expose in the life of man?
Answer: The law reveals the level of our sin and helplessness.
3. At which point in time does sin enter the life of a man?
Answer: We were born with the propensity to sin, so it is natural.
4. If this is so can any good come from man?
Answer: No. All of our actions tend towards sin and we cannot do any good of our own. Therefore we are unable to meet God’s standard of moral and spiritual uprighteousness.
5. How can a man be redeemed?
Answer: Redemption can only be made possible through the One who Himself is sinless – Jesus Christ.
6. Is there any other way man can be saved from sin?
Answer: No, if Jesus does not save you from sin, no other person can. He is the only means of salvation. He will cleanse you from your sin if you come to Him.
ACTS 26 V 24-32
“Suddenly Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Your long studying has broken your mind!” But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I speak words of sober truth. And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? But I know you do. Agrippa interrupted him. “With trivial proofs like these, you expect me to become a Christian?” And Paul replied, “Would to God that whether my arguments are trivial or strong?, both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.” Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. As they talked it over afterwards they agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could be set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar!”.
1. Why was Paul’s statement not sensible to Festus?
Answer: Festus was not a Jew and he did not know much about what Paul was saying.
2. Why was Paul convinced that King Agrippa knew the truth?
Answer: Because king Agrippa was a Jew.
3. What was Paul’s reply to King Agrippa’s sarcastic remark?
Answer: Paul replied that he had been praying for those who were listening to him to become regenerated like he had.
4. What was the concern of Paul that the king saw in his defense?
Answer: Paul was concerned for the salvation of these people than for the removal of his own chains.
5. What was the opinion of the King and his entourage concerning Paul’s testimony?
Answer: Paul did not deserve death or imprisonment.
6. What does the life of Paul teach us about trials and temptations?
Answer: Make use of the opportunity that comes with these trying periods to witness to unbelievers around you. We should say bravely what we believe about Jesus. We should do this even to important people.
1. What can you say about life on earth?
Answer: Life is full of discouragement.
2. Who are the people who can stand against and overcome discouragement?
Answer: Only the people of God, because they will not like to lose their salvation.
3. What did God command Isaiah to say?
Answer: To speak the hard truth to the people of Judah. He did not refuse.
4. What was the people’s response to his message?
Answer: They hated him.
5. What was Isaiah’s response to this hatred?
Answer: He was determined to do God’s will irrespective of what it would cost him.
6. Why was Isaiah determined to do God’s will?
Answer: He was confident that God would defend him, so he trusted in God’s help to see him through his mission.
7. What does the Bible say about those who trust the Lord for help?
Answer: They shall not be disappointed (Romans 10 v 11).
8. If people threaten you because of God’s message you deliver, what must you do?
Answer: You should not be moved by their threats.
Lesson: God will provide those whom He calls with the help they need to accomplish His task. Ours is to depend on Him. God indeed is our help.
ROMANS 3 V 21 – 26
“But now God has shown us a different way to heaven – not by “being good enough” and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us – declare us “not guilty” – if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins…”
1. What does a Christian life revolve around?
Answer: Christian life revolves around righteousness and faith after the forgiveness of sin.
2. How can a man be righteous?
Answer: Faith in Christ will enable us to be righteous.
3. What was the purpose of law?
Answer: It was to attain righteousness.
4. Was it possible to be righteous through law?
Answer: No, so law failed.
5. Why did law fail?
Answer: It was more physical than spiritual i.e. human effort to obey without Holy Spirit.
6. According to Paul’s teaching, how can a man stand in righteousness in God’s presence?
Answer: Paul said we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But we have been redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ.
7. What does our faith in Christ earn from God?
Answer: (i) God overlooks our sins
(ii) God makes us justified in his presence.
8. What does self-righteousness earn man from God?
Answer: Nothing. We cannot do anything right to please God unless we place our faith in Christ.
9. What role does righteousness play in the life of a believer on earth?
Answer: It is the breastplate against the darts of the Evil One (Ephesians 6 v 14).
ROMANS 3 V 9 – 14
“Well, then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all men alike are sinners, whether Jews or Gentiles. As the Scriptures say, “No one is good – no one in all the world is innocent.” No one has ever really followed God’s paths or even truly wanted to. Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one. Their talk is foul and filthy like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are loaded with lies. Everything they say has in it the sting and poison of deadly snakes. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”.
1. How can you know the corrupt state of a man?
Answer: Sinful behaviour.
2. What does law expose in the life of man?
Answer: The law reveals the level of our sin and helplessness.
3. At which point in time does sin enter the life of a man?
Answer: We were born with the propensity to sin, so it is natural.
4. If this is so can any good come from man?
Answer: No. All of our actions tend towards sin and we cannot do any good of our own. Therefore we are unable to meet God’s standard of moral and spiritual uprighteousness.
5. How can a man be redeemed?
Answer: Redemption can only be made possible through the One who Himself is sinless – Jesus Christ.
6. Is there any other way man can be saved from sin?
Answer: No, if Jesus does not save you from sin, no other person can. He is the only means of salvation. He will cleanse you from your sin if you come to Him.
ACTS 26 V 24-32
“Suddenly Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Your long studying has broken your mind!” But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. I speak words of sober truth. And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak frankly for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? But I know you do. Agrippa interrupted him. “With trivial proofs like these, you expect me to become a Christian?” And Paul replied, “Would to God that whether my arguments are trivial or strong?, both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.” Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. As they talked it over afterwards they agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything worthy of death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could be set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar!”.
1. Why was Paul’s statement not sensible to Festus?
Answer: Festus was not a Jew and he did not know much about what Paul was saying.
2. Why was Paul convinced that King Agrippa knew the truth?
Answer: Because king Agrippa was a Jew.
3. What was Paul’s reply to King Agrippa’s sarcastic remark?
Answer: Paul replied that he had been praying for those who were listening to him to become regenerated like he had.
4. What was the concern of Paul that the king saw in his defense?
Answer: Paul was concerned for the salvation of these people than for the removal of his own chains.
5. What was the opinion of the King and his entourage concerning Paul’s testimony?
Answer: Paul did not deserve death or imprisonment.
6. What does the life of Paul teach us about trials and temptations?
Answer: Make use of the opportunity that comes with these trying periods to witness to unbelievers around you. We should say bravely what we believe about Jesus. We should do this even to important people.
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